Testimonials

I adopted my dog from a no kill shelter when she was five years old. For over two years I had constant leash aggression problems with her. I adapted, walked her at night when no one else was out, crossed the street when other dogs approached. Avoidance was my watchword. Things reached a head when a dog mounted her and she, in turn, bit the dog. I finally contacted Koru K9 and entered her in the board and train program. I wish I had done so sooner. They even drove out to pick up and drop her off (a good two hour drive).Heather frequently contacted us during Emma’s training program, sending updates and letting us know what they were doing in training and how we would do the same. When she was done with the program Heather did the one-on-one, and an additional one on one a few weeks later. For the first few months with her at home we trained and trained, and about 50% of the time she wouldn’t react on leash. Then suddenly, three months after training, she wasn’t reacting to other dogs anymore. I am SO PROUD of her and thankful for the training. Perseverance is key, you can’t just drop them off at the trainer and have the magic cure. Not only is she not reacting to dogs, but she is extremely obedient. We can off leash heel to our hearts content. Thanks Heather and Koru K9

We sent our pup, Luke, to a 3 week board and train with Sofia and are so incredibly happy with the results. Sofia is an amazing trainer who speaks dog fluently and truly connected with Luke. We have been keeping up with the training she taught him and us and over a month later he is still improving. Our relationship with Luke is better than it has ever been, and I can thank Sofia for that! Sofia definitely put in the time and work to make great strides with Luke, and was very dedicated to his improvement. Thank you Sofia!!

If it weren’t for Kareena from Koru K9 (Denver), I would still have a very leash aggressive, explosive, door-rushing, out of control dog.

My sweet, sweet 3 year old, 42lb. Border Collie/Pit Mix was until she was attacked a few times when being introduced to “nice, friendly dogs” after we adopted her. She slowly began becoming aggressive to the point where I would walk her after dark and cross the street if any dog, bike or runner was coming towards us to try and eliminate the dirty looks and frustration for both Lola and I. She was not welcome to come to river to fish with us anymore and we had to take her to the dog park when no one else was there just so she could play with her frisbee.

I had been researching in-home dog trainers in the Golden, CO area for a while and never pulled the trigger because I was never sold on the philosophies of other trainers in the area. They weren’t specific enough.
What caught my interest in Koru K9 was their philosophy of Balanced Dog Training. Not positive reinforcement only training. Not harmful/dominate training….Balanced. It is truly amazing and it has changed how I see my dog for the better. The cost is extremely do-able and our training was tailored to Lola and the goals we wanted to reach with her.

I was very nervous for Kareena to meet my dog for the first time as I had a laundry list of bad habits and incidences that Lola had acquired within the last two years. Within the first 10 minutes of the consultation (HUGE BONUS of Koru K9) Kareena had evaluated that her aggression started as fear based but had turned into a game for Lola. Game on.

The first session/consultation we had Lola walking in the heel command which we were never able to do before and making slight corrections. We just kept building from there. I could tell right away that Kareena has a passion and immense knowledge of dogs and a passion for helping owners gain knowledge to better understand their dogs. Kareena brought her dogs for a couple sessions to work on leash aggression which was beyond helpful. She also wanted to try an E-Collar with Lola. We spend a solid 30 minutes learning how and when to use it and how to gauge the levels based on her behavior so that we felt comfortable using it. It is humane and Kareena described it as a “tap on the shoulder” which I now use to explain it. We also got comfortable with the life-changing “place” command. 5 sessions later, I was walking my dog in Wash Park on a Saturday afternoon without one aggressive episode towards other dogs, bikes and runners. She was executing her “place” command where ever we asked her to. Lola has more confidence in herself and it is showing through her actions. I also am so much more confident with my understanding of Lola and what she needs from me as her owner to be successful. What I appreciate so much is that Kareena explained everything to us each session as “here is the behavior to look for” and “here is how to correct”.

We had to re-locate to Bozeman, Montana shortly after our last session and I am able to confidently take Lola on hikes, fishing, floating and in public with out stress. There is still things to work on with her but I now have the tools to keep the training going thanks to Kareena. I am beyond grateful for Koru K9 and Kareena!

My neighbor has started using this company to help train her aggressive dog and the difference is amazing after just two lessons with Tierney! Our complex is a thousand times more peaceful thanks to this company, thank you!

Our husky was aggressive and bit a few people (mailman, biker & teenager) so we were really worried about him & having 2nd thoughts about rescuing him. But after 3 weeks with Koru K9, he’s like a different dog! He goes to his “Place” and stays calm when the same people come over that he was lunging at before, he heels, and he seems happier. Thank you!!

Marianna at Koru K9 was a miracle worker! We rescued Solomon at 2.5 years old, we could tell he was a sweet dog but had major leash aggression, and he was jumping our fence to attack dogs walking by. Decidedly NOT good from a 80# pitbull! We were either going to be sued, he would be euthanized, or both. This was our last ditch attempt after a failed experience with a “Positive Reinforcement” type trainer. I am happy to report that Solly is a different dog today after doing a 4 week Board & Train. Marianna taught us how to be a good team leader, and communicate with Solomon in a way that he could understand what is expected of him, and what is not permitted. Walks are a pleasure now, and overall the whole family is calmer and more well adjusted. LIFE IS GOOD! Thank you Marianna and Koru K9!!

I cannot say enough good things about our experience with Koru K9, their staff and their trainers. We researched trainers and training programs extensively for our two year old French Bulldog who had developed reactivity towards other dogs and strange people.

From the moment I reached out to Koru K9, I felt heard, supported, encouraged and didn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed of our baby’s behavior challenges with everyone I spoke with. We did the Muttamorphosis Board & Train program in Denver and I trusted our trainer, Kareena fully. She is absolutely amazing! She took wonderful care of our baby and we were totally blown away by how much they accomplished in just the three weeks he was gone!

We have so much incredible support from Koru K9 as we continue the amazing workKareena did at home now. Their whole approach and philosophy of a balanced dog and successful communication between you and your dog is truly something I believe in. I would highly recommend Koru K9 to anyone who struggling with any sort of behavior challenge, they will truly change your life❤️

My baby girl Maya came home today after 2 weeks of board and train with Koru trainer Jeremy. I rescued her from the pound in April and though she was a very sweet girl with me, she was very fearful of men and lacked confidence, she chewed on everything and would not always come when she was called. My mom has sent both of her dogs for training with Koru (trainers Becca and Samantha) and had amazing results so I thought it would be good for Maya to get some professional help. I could not have asked for a better trainer and a better company. Maya came home knowing her place command, heeling well, responding to her ecollar with ease, much better recall, and she walked right past my slippers without grabbing one! She definitely bonded with Jeremy and was very comfortable with him which was a huge step for her in terms of her confidence. I am beyond thrilled with the great work he did and I would definitely recommend Koru to anyone who needs a little extra help with training, especially if you work as much as I do. I am very excited to continue progressing her skills at home and will definitely send her for round two with him in the next few months. I give koru and their team members 10 out of 10. They are very quick to respond to inquiries and Jeremy sent me many updates via email with attached videos so I could see how well Maya was doing. When he brought her home today he spent ample time teaching me her new commands and how to use her training tools properly, I did not feel rushed, he was open to any and all questions I had and made sure I knew how to continue building on her training before he left. Thank you so much for all of your help and for taking such good care of my girl. I feel confident that I will be a much better dog owner with the knowledge that I have now thanks to Jeremy and Koru K9.

This review for Celeste and Tino from KoruK9 is long overdue from our end.
As a backdrop, we adopted Hendrix a Siberian Husky when he was about 18 months old. We are first time dog parents so my wife and I were learning a lot about pets, dogs and huskies at the same time. Hendrix was awesome however he did not have much training and did not know much commands. He also too excited during walks and with other dogs. We needed to get him training and also get some help for ourselves.
At this time, we reached out to KoruK9 for their board and train program. Celeste and Tino picked up Hendrix for 4 weeks of training. They were friendly and explained quite a bit to us upfront.
After the training, Hendrix has learnt quite a few commands, walks much better on leash and is much more calmer with other dogs. Hendrix has always been an awesome puppy with tons of energy and always friendly towards humans. The training provided him and us the tools to be successful over a period of time.
As parents we are still training ourselves and reinforcing things with him however he has been awesome following the training. Celeste, Tino and Brian (who was our trainer) were patient and answered quite a few questions during the first 2 weeks back.
As a family, Hendrix still tests us as a puppy with extremely high energy however KoruK9 provided us a solid foundation to be successful as a new family and pack!
We would recommend them, and a ton of patience as a dog parents, if you are looking for training for your furry family member!

It is very expensive but saved my dog and saved my marriage.

I was just looking up the contact info for my latest referral and noticed I never gave a review. I tell everyone who doesn’t have control of their dog that they should send them to Koru. Out of control dogs are dangerous and potentially heartbreaking. Koru gives you the tools to have a happy safe dog.

I’ve now used KoruK9 for a second time and am beyond pleased with my experience – would highly recommend them to anyone – from behavior modification to puppy training! The first time was to help manage our leash aggressive and very high energy hunting dog. After working with them all I get is compliments of how well trained our dog is – I rarley have to use a leash on him at all.

Recently my spouse wanted to get a puppy. This caused a lot of anxiety because our dog didn’t hardly tolerate other dogs when out on a walk and he was very aggressive with young dogs – we couldn’t imagine him living with a puppy. We worked with Cory from the first week we brought our GSP puppy home and after 8 weeks of hard work, the puppy is very well trained and obedient, and the two dogs play together but also have a very respectful relationship. Cory helped not only to further our older dogs training and making him less reactive and even better behaved, but also helped us to start our GSP puppy off correctly and ensure that not only she become an amazing dog but also have the correct skills to be able to live with an older, anti-social dog. Extremely happy with every part of our training experience with Cory.

If you have a puppy and don’t know where to start, or any age dog that needs some brushing up or even some severe behavior issues that are causing you or the dog stress give KoruK9 a call!!! I guarantee you will not regret it.

I signed my dog, Indi, up for the Rover Reboot due to her leash reactivity and not feeling in control of her anymore. I felt like my life with her was revolving around avoiding situations in order to remain feeling in control. I was hesitant at first due to the cost, being I only make minimum wage and I am a student, but it was definitely worth it. John Garcia was Indi’s trainer for the boarding portion, and I can not say enough to express how grateful I am for him. He was so kind and made me feel comfortable about Indi going away. He clearly had SO much experience training dogs and always gave me phone calls and photo updates on Indi’s progress. Each week I was amazed with her progress! John was always honest and now my and Indi’s quality of life have improved drastically. Before Indi went with John, in order to feel somewhat in control of her on walks, I would put a muzzle and harness with a handle on top. Now all Indi needs to walk is a pinch collar and muzzle only if I am worried we will encounter an off-leash dog. She walks right by my side and now listens to me and my family. She is great about going to her place and staying. John answered all of my questions thoroughly and even though Indi is back with me, he told me I can call or email anytime with any additional questions. An added bonus was that John was very safe about wearing his mask and being mindful of distance during this pandemic! With hard work, everyday Indi is improving. I am so glad I chose to have Indi do this program and if you decide to, I definitely recommend John Garcia!

Heather and the KoruK9 program were awesome! Exactly what we were hoping for to get our pup off to a good start. We got updates and felt in the loop the whole time. She came back significantly better at hanging in her crate, has the basics of walking on a leash, place, appropriate play, and we feel significantly more aware of how we should be working with Frankie to promote really good behavior going forward. She went into the program at ~14 weeks.
The in-person lessons have also helped quite a bit to figure out how to manage real world scenarios. We’re looking forward to more work with Heather.
By the way- for those concerned that 2 weeks is a long time for a puppy and they’ll come back way bigger and you’ll miss important time with them- we can assure you they still come back a puppy and the time goes by extremely quickly .
The board and train boot camp is well worth it! I wouldn’t get a puppy in the future without it.
Thanks Heather and KoruK9.
-Charlie and Lucy (and Frankie!)

Koru K9 did amazing work with our 2-year-old dog. Our dog was starting to become much more protective of my husband and me vs. other dogs. He got jealous when other dogs came up to us and wanted to be petted. He was becoming randomly reactive to other dogs and we really struggled to understand why his behavior was changing so quickly and so much for the worse. Also he went bonkers when someone knocked on our front door.

I called Koru K9 and we started with weekly training with Irini, who was wonderful. Unfortunately though it became clear we needed more serious training and put him in a 3 week board and train with Heather. It was absolutely incredible what Heather was able to achieve with Wallace in just 3 weeks. Heather quickly identified for us some of the issues for our dog: too much freedom at home, he lacked confidence and felt insecure. She did so much work with him to bring him confidence and calm. She sends photos and videos every few days to provide updates on how Wallace is doing, what training they are working on, and the videos help preview what exercises you will need to start doing for your dog once he comes home.

Wallace came back and was a totally different dog. He didn’t react to the doorbell at all. That was an incredible transformation. And he was extremely obedient, calm and confident. Importantly, Wallace loves Heather so much haha. So I know he loved all the training and she took such good care of him in her own home!

Now, here is where you have to be realistic and honest with yourself. Once your dog comes home, maintaining your dog’s progress takes real work on your own part. A trainer is not just going to deliver a perfectly behaved dog and you do nothing. It takes serious work (and coordination :) ). And I can tell when we are being lazy about it because I notice our dog behaving less well. Dogs like boundaries, obedience, structure, etc. So you have to give it to them. It takes work but it is worth it. The best part is that your trainer stays in touch with you to help you through this. I share videos and texts with Heather to get her advice on how to handle our dog

If you get anxious because of your dog’s behavior in various situations, I highly recommend Koru K9 and Heather if you can request her in the Bay Area. I am much more at ease taking our dog out and to other people’s homes, when a few months ago, I was so nervous to do it in case he reacted if my friend’s dog tried to come up to me.

We were looking for a dog trainer who could do in home visits. Because that’s where our problem was. Since we added a new pup (3 yo Olde English bulldogge) to our household our first dog (1 year old pug. Yeah I know 😝) became extremelt territorial. Both dogs showed strong signs of resource guarding, and instigated fights over toys, treats and attention. But ONLY at home. We found KoruK9 and Rebecca is our trainer. We have learned so much from her. The way she breaks everything down is easy to understand and follow. Everything she teaches builds on one another and that ensures you are successful along the way. Which then builds confidence in your dog and yourself as owner (handler).
13/10 would recommend

Sean in STL helped our dog become much more confident and better behaved.

Kim and Damian are absolutely fantastic trainers and the only I would recommend! I have an 8 month old Siberian Husky that was honestly the most difficult dog I’ve ever seen. He would pull so hard I would have to hold on with both hands walking him anywhere, jump on anyone he ever got near, extremely crazy around any other dog he even saw, and really would not listen to anyone at all. I decided to try a board and train program and was very worried he was too out of control for any trainer, but was wrong! Kim/Damian from the start of the program kept me up to date on his progress extremely well. He got home from the board and train and is a completely different dog! It was completely unreal and unexpected how fantastic he is doing after a month with them. He walks on the leash with no tension at all, sits, lays, stays, listens extremely well, and looks like the most well behaved dog, even in very busy places! After the board and train was done I wanted advice on something’s for him so contacted them. Within minutes they were on the phone with the exact answers I needed! Kim and Damian have been a lifesaver and I would not recommend another trainer but Kim and Damian!

Koru K9 and Damian are friendly, professional and knowledgeable about dog/owner training. We signed up for one training session and after that day purchased a package. There was one visit where we expressed frustration with the slow progress of our puppy. Damian reassured us this was normal and it was ok to feel like this way. And he was spot on on! Things have improved so much and we just love our German Shepard puppy. We have one session left and we have already talked about extending so we can continue the progress we have see with ourselves and our puppy, Star.

My husband and I adopted an adorable rescue named Foxie. She had been picked up from a non-profit rescue after winding up at a Modesto kill shelter and unfortunately, they were not honest about her needs. Foxie had scars on her face for a reason, she had clearly fought for resources and depended on her teeth for survival. I’ve had rescue dogs my entire life and never had any extreme type behavioral issues, I was not equipped to handle it. After bringing her home, and weeks of severe separation anxiety (she’d cry and howl for 8-10 hours straight), we hired a ‘positive-only trainer’ which is what the bay area really pushes. As weeks advanced, Foxie showed us leash aggression and it quickly went from bad to unbearable. Neighbor’s were staring and we were desperate for help. The positive only trainer’s solution was to hide behind cars and other exercises that resulted in no improvement. She learned to sit however, the aggression built and only got worse, it ended up in her attacking a dog who got too close. As devastated as were, we knew this positive only trainer was not remotely qualified to help and we cut our losses at week 7.

After hours of google research, we chose Koru K9 as a balanced trainer and it was our last shot at keeping our little rescue. We were matched with Heather. The training worked. We chose the 3-week board and train and Heather warned us it’s a commitment but works. We are now 5 weeks out and Foxie is a different dog. It has been a commitment to learn how to train and how to mold her towards a different way of life and together, we’re doing it. We love her and are so so proud of her. Listen to the podcast, read the recommended books, and DON’T GIVE UP. I can’t imagine my life without this little soul. She was fixable…. And that was thanks to Heather! Heather beats with a dog heart, she shared a personal story with her background that resonated with me. She see’s hope in the not easy dogs – and I’m convinced there are more dogs with issues than non (like humans). It is truly remarkable to see a dog with severe issues turnaround, it simply takes a good trainer. I am forever indebted to her for believing in our furry and showing me the potential too. I love my little Foxie. If you deal with leash reactivity, please know I almost gave my dog away over it – traumatizing for me. . . and I am so glad I didn’t. If you’re on the fence, feel free to reach out to me directly. This was worth every penny. None of Koru’s or Heather’s practices made me (the biggest animal advocate ever) uncomfortable, I’d actually argue it saved our rescue’s life. We couldn’t recommend Heather more and truly thank her. Foxie saw 9 dogs today on a walk without a reaction and after training finally has an appetite! She’s turned into a dog and we couldn’t love her more.

I must say absolutely without a doubt that working with Koru K9 has been far and above beyond expectations. I was at a loss with my 3 year old husky, Dean. He was people aggressive, dog aggressive and had awful leash manners and boundaries. I knew I couldn’t find the solution on my own and I’m SO glad I found Koru K9 to help! His trainer, Kim Rosin, totally came to the rescue. From the very first session together she was attentive to everything we needed and were worried about. She made us feel comfortable with the whole process and I felt she did a fantastic job explaining everything and making sure we knew exactly what to expect and do to help our boy.

Between the day she came for the intro session and a week later when he left for the 4 week board and train we already saw a huge difference just implementing what we had been taught. After he came home it was like night and day! He’s still the same stubborn little man he has always been but now he’s got a very firm foundation of manners. He gets SO excited to go on walks and loves showing off his new skills. It’s incredible to see my previously very nervous and anxious pup be able to lounge outside the dog park and be calmly curious about the goings-on with the other dogs! You can practically see the pride in his eyes when he corrects himself without having to be told.

I feel Kim was the perfect match to train him, she read him like a book and got him to warm up to her at an awesome pace. He’s known to be a very sensitive and particular dog but she figured out his quirks and made very effective strides regardless. I was wary of the use of stim collars and prong collars because this is a dog who will act as though he’s lost his foot if he gets a blade of grass between his toes. However, with gentle introduction and adjusting for his sensitivity he is very very comfortable with using them and gets excited to put them on in the morning and get started!

I can’t wait to keep working with Kim and my boy and will readily recommend Koru K9 to ANYONE in need of help, big or small. It’s so beyond worth the investment to see my Dean so happy and carefree when he’s out and about. I’d do it all over again just to see him glowing with curiosity and excitement instead of hackles raised with anxiety. Thank you SO SO much. My boy gets to love his life now and it’s all thanks to this amazing team!

I highly recommend Koru K9 San Francisco for expertise in learning to work with your dog. Sofia, the trainer we worked with, helped us to understand what we had been doing right, taught us to use different tools and methods that met the individual needs of our dogs, and supported us and our efforts as we learned to work with our easily excitable corgi. We contracted for 7 training sessions which took place over 3-4 months. We saw improvement after the very first session and at the end of 7 sessions, we have a dog who is considerably better behaved and less reactive. Even our neighbors comment on the difference. Again, I highly recommend Koru K9 San Francisco. For those interested in a bit more detail of our experience, read on.

We reached out to Koru K9 San Francisco to address our 2 year old Corgi’s reactivity issues toward other dogs. As a puppy, he had been through different group training sessions was a star pupil, and was happy to be around and play with other dogs. At about 11 months old, he suddenly became reactive with other dogs, he even went after our other Corgi. We chalked it up to “challenging the pack order” as that fit with his age. Also, we noticed his reactivity was heightened if I showed attention to another dog. We worked with a dog trainer (NOT KORU K9) to try to address this behavior. While we had some success, a year later, we were still dealing with the behavior issues. After learning of Koru K9, I had a phone consultation and scheduled an in person evaluation. The phone consultation helped me to understand Koru K9’s balanced training approach. The in person evaluation let me know Sofia, the trainer we’d been matched with, had the skill and expertise needed to help us work with our dog. Over the 7 sessions, Sofia taught us methods to work with Pickles and taught us how, when, and why to use a prong collar and e-collar with Pickles. In addition, she offered different suggestions to improve our other dog’s behaviors. I was really impressed with her ability to see the differences in our two dogs and to quickly identify different methods that would work with each dog. It was not a one size fits all approach to working with your dog. Also, very importantly, Sofia set a reasonable expectation for us. She told us, “I can’t make him like other dogs.” To which I replied, “I’m okay with that, I just need him to not lunge and growl at other dogs.” She said that aiming for “neutral” was a reasonable expectation and achievable.

THE RESULT: After 7 training sessions, Pickles walks in a heel (this happened in the first 10 minutes of the 1st training session), while Pickles will notice another dog and may bark or growl, he no longer lunges at the other dog or pulls my arm trying to get to the other dog (more improvement to come on this), we’ve successfully dined out at a restaurant with both dogs with other dogs passing the patio where we sat, Pickles runs off leash in off leash parks with large open spaces and comes back with the aid of the e-collar, play time includes games that utilize Pickles natural energy level AND reinforces training, and most importantly, our household has far less stress as we better understand Pickles needs and how to communicate with him (and he understands what it is that we are asking of him).

I went to Koru K9 after noticing unusually aggressive behavior from my 2 y/o pit bull mix, Mara, around other dogs. I had begun working with a positive reinforcement trainer and wasn’t seeing any results, in fact, it was getting worse and she got into it with my roommate’s dog. After having a small meltdown on the phone as I told my story to Koru’s kind and empathetic owner, Bridget, she reassured me that they had the tools to help me, but was also super real about the fact that I’d need to put in the work to see results.
I signed Mara up for the 3 week board and train program for behavior adjustment, and while I was hesitant at first about spending the money, I know now that it was worth every penny. My situation was unique in that I was heading out of town before the b&t began and didn’t know what to do with my newly aggressive dog, but Bridget bent over backwards to get Mara in early and it worked out that she was able to work with not one, but three badass trainers: Sofia, Celeste, and Tino. They sent me lots of videos and pics of training sessions, along with updates on her progress, and Bridget also checked in with me throughout the 3 weeks.
Sofia is amazing. She’s so fun to work with, and her warm hand-off when the b&t was up helped set us both up for success as Mara transitioned back home. While Mara’s response to commands isn’t yet flawless, she’s paying MUCH better attention and trying so hard to get it right, and she’s even begun looking to me for guidance during our daily routine.
My advice for b&t clients: Take advantage of the resources that Koru provides. Read the book, listen to the podcasts, ask a ton of questions, and be prepared to put in the work.
These folks are super profesh, and I can’t recommend them enough.

This is the best group of trainers you will find anywhere. They are knowledgeable, use balanced training methods, and truly love dogs! Every interaction I’ve had with one of the trainers has been positive and left me wanting more. Can’t thank these guys enough for being such a stand-up group of dog trainers.

When I contacted Koru K9, I was at my wits end with our 7 year old Shepherd Mix, Brodie. I had lost all trust and confidence in my relationship with him. We had Brodie since puppyhood, but as he matured and after the passing of our dominant German Shepherd five years ago, his behavior and personality began to shift throughout the years. Brodie is very intelligent, an independent thinker, but it was becoming more obvious his obstinance dictated his listening skills and how he behaved, it was on his terms.

Although he is not dog aggressive and lives with two other German Shepherds, he became increasingly leash reactive to other dogs. Our walks became stressful and not enjoyable; the environment was over stimulating and controlled unwanted behaviors, preventing him from staying focused on me. His recall was non-existent and he could not be trusted off leash, especially in front of our home. All in all, I saw this as a recipe for disaster unless I got help, which lead me to Koru K9. The owner, Bridget Murphy, connected me to one of their trainers, Samantha Lee.

Samantha came to our house to discuss the areas of concern and evaluate Brodie. During the evaluation session, I saw immediate results with her working with Brodie, including his aggression to other dogs while on a short neighborhood walk. She educated us with his body language, “when to” and “how to” apply the proper correction during his heightened state of mind. She was a miracle worker in the two-hour period. I liked what I saw and without hesitation, I was excited to start training with her.

I have always been an advocate for prong collars and found them to be an effective training tool when used correctly. However, Brodie is one of those dogs that required the use of an E-collar. Before I incorporated the E-collar into our training, Samantha taught me how to use it properly, and the results have been amazing. Surprisingly enough, Brodie gets excited to see the E-collar and sits for me to put it on him. He knows it is time to work, loves it and I love working with him.

Fast forward, I have completed four training sessions with Samantha and beyond pleased with the outcome. Samantha was my navigation system when I became lost. She was an integral component to reinforce proper leadership and respect between me and Brodie. Brodie no longer fills in the blanks on his own, and when he does, I help him make the right choices. We are still work in progress, but my relationship with him has transformed 180 degrees beyond words can describe. Brodie was only going to be as good as I was. Samantha was the key to our success, training me to help bring out the best in Brodie. Her wealth of knowledge and dog training skills is truly invaluable.

Over the years of being a dog owner to German Shepherds, I have used good trainers, but I have to say Koru K9 training philosophies and Samantha are at the top of my list. Anyone who does not get the proper training and guidance is really doing themselves and their dog a disservice. My only regret is I wish I would have contacted Koru K9 much sooner. Thank you Koru K9!

Koru K9 Training ROCKS! Best investment I have ever made and I would do it again and again. Very knowledgable owners and trainers who are truly in it because they care – you can tell they love what they do! My dog fell in love with his trainer and WE both learned so much from Koru K9. They are still there for us anytime we need advice and encouragement. I recommend them ten times over!!! I trusted them SO much that I drove from TEXAS to Colorado and it was worth every mile and every dollar!!!!

I can’t express how grateful I am to Koru K9! Kareena and Bridget are rock stars in my book!!

Axl completed a 3 week board and train with Kareena and the difference in him in that small amount of time is nothing short of AMAZING. We have received so much support – before, during, and even after Axl’s training – and I have learned so much. Kareena spent several hours and several sessions with me over the course of the weekend I came to pick him up, to insure that I was comfortable and had the tools I needed before heading home to Texas. She is thorough, fun, energetic, talented, and full of so much knowledge that if I could have taken her home with me, I would have!! And Axl just adored her fun loving spirit that I don’t think he wanted to leave her at all HA!! :)

Koru K9 – Bridget and Kareena – are phenomenal! I just can’t say enough about what they gave to Axl and to me. My dog is a confident dog and I am now a confident handler; the relationship with him has grown tenfold in this short amount of time because he looks to me for direction, and I know how to give it to him. Of course, I am still learning but the most amazing thing about Koru K9 is that they are STILL there for me and Axl with support, guidance, and encouragement every step of the way. First class trainers, all the way!! Thank you for everything!

Just like to say that if I live in the area of koru k9 I would choose these people over anyone. They are amazing people who do fantastic work with dogs of all breeds shapes and sizes. Simply the best

Koru K9 has saved the lives of at least three of my client’s dogs that otherwise would most likely have been ordered destroyed though the court system. Highly recommended for problem dogs. My recommendation is to contact them BEFORE the police/courts have become involved and it may really save your dog’s life and save you a lot of heartache.

Phenomenal coaches! Really made a difference with our sweet puppy’s behavior!

Amazing trainers who truly care about their clients and clients dogs, they pour their hearts into every dog they work with. Highly recommend!

Koru K9 has saved so many lives through their approach to dog training! I really appreciate the level of care they provided and helped us achieve a better relationship with our dog in a sustainable way. It’s hard to know who to trust when it comes to dog training, and it can be super easy to give up on your dog when another trainer tells you it’s a lost cause. Koru K9 never gives up and they help you rekindle the love you first felt when you welcomed your fur baby into your home. 100% recommend!

Our dog, Moxie, a Belgian Malinois, became stranger aggressive around 15 months of age which coincided with the birth of our first baby. The timing was terrible. But Samantha, Bridget and Jefferson, the amazing folks we’ve worked with at KoruK9, jumped right in to help us with Moxie. We ended up putting Moxie with Samantha for a 4 week board and train program and we are SO happy we did. Moxie returned a more confident dog which made it easier for us to train her as well! We always knew we would have to religiously train and exercise this breed of dog so we were prepared for the work involved. But this work has really paid off. Moxie can hold her place with strangers and we no longer worry we can’t handle her when she becomes fearful. These guys are awesome and anyone looking for strategies to work with a dog who has developed behaviours not compatible with modern life should turn to them. They are practical and kind and they work hard to help the dog fit into the family life. I couldn’t recommend them more highly.

It is very expensive but saved my dog and saved my marriage.

I was just looking up the contact info for my latest referral and noticed I never gave a review. I tell everyone who doesn’t have control of their dog that they should send them to Koru. Out of control dogs are dangerous and potentially heartbreaking. Koru gives you the tools to have a happy safe dog.

We have a five year old, charismatic, loving, excitable, energetic pitbull named Vader ! He is probably the goofiest yet most loving dog around who…

We just completed our fourth and final in-home session with Sierra who trained our lab puppy, Rambo. Rambo was a diamond in the rough, but we didn’t know it…

Leaving a review for the INCREDIBLE trainers we had (Tino & Celeste). Ultimately, we’re thrilled with the results of our board & train program and have had…

Our dog was disobedient and didn’t listen to any of the commands (recall, quiet, etc) we taught him, and our trainer Brian took him for a few weeks to help him manage his anxiety and listen to commands. He now is a totally different dog, but in the best way! Same personality, new tricks! We now have a calmer, more controllable dog who can go outside without a leash without any worry of what he might do or where he might go. Brian was exceptional; he was responsive, reliable, a true expert, thorough, and truly cared for our dog. Our dog definitely missed him when Brian dropped him off! He is a person of true quality and is 100% capable of any training need you may have!

Koru K9 and Damian are friendly, professional and knowledgeable about dog/owner training. We signed up for one training session and after that day purchased a package. There was one visit where we expressed frustration with the slow progress of our puppy. Damian reassured us this was normal and it was ok to feel like this way. And he was spot on on! Things have improved so much and we just love our German Shepard puppy. We have one session left and we have already talked about extending so we can continue the progress we have see with ourselves and our puppy, Star.

Our dog was disobedient and didn’t listen to any of the commands (recall, quiet, etc) we taught him, and our trainer Brian took him for a few weeks to help him manage his anxiety and listen to commands. He now is a totally different dog, but in the best way! Same personality, new tricks! We now have a calmer, more controllable dog who can go outside without a leash without any worry of what he might do or where he might go. Brian was exceptional; he was responsive, reliable, a true expert, thorough, and truly cared for our dog. Our dog definitely missed him when Brian dropped him off! He is a person of true quality and is 100% capable of any training need you may have!

I’ve now used KoruK9 for a second time and am beyond pleased with my experience – would highly recommend them to anyone – from behavior modification to puppy training! The first time was to help manage our leash aggressive and very high energy hunting dog. After working with them all I get is compliments of how well trained our dog is – I rarley have to use a leash on him at all.

Recently my spouse wanted to get a puppy. This caused a lot of anxiety because our dog didn’t hardly tolerate other dogs when out on a walk and he was very aggressive with young dogs – we couldn’t imagine him living with a puppy. We worked with Cory from the first week we brought our GSP puppy home and after 8 weeks of hard work, the puppy is very well trained and obedient, and the two dogs play together but also have a very respectful relationship. Cory helped not only to further our older dogs training and making him less reactive and even better behaved, but also helped us to start our GSP puppy off correctly and ensure that not only she become an amazing dog but also have the correct skills to be able to live with an older, anti-social dog. Extremely happy with every part of our training experience with Cory.

If you have a puppy and don’t know where to start, or any age dog that needs some brushing up or even some severe behavior issues that are causing you or the dog stress give KoruK9 a call!!! I guarantee you will not regret it.

I signed my dog, Indi, up for the Rover Reboot due to her leash reactivity and not feeling in control of her anymore. I felt like my life with her was revolving around avoiding situations in order to remain feeling in control. I was hesitant at first due to the cost, being I only make minimum wage and I am a student, but it was definitely worth it. John Garcia was Indi’s trainer for the boarding portion, and I can not say enough to express how grateful I am for him. He was so kind and made me feel comfortable about Indi going away. He clearly had SO much experience training dogs and always gave me phone calls and photo updates on Indi’s progress. Each week I was amazed with her progress! John was always honest and now my and Indi’s quality of life have improved drastically. Before Indi went with John, in order to feel somewhat in control of her on walks, I would put a muzzle and harness with a handle on top. Now all Indi needs to walk is a pinch collar and muzzle only if I am worried we will encounter an off-leash dog. She walks right by my side and now listens to me and my family. She is great about going to her place and staying. John answered all of my questions thoroughly and even though Indi is back with me, he told me I can call or email anytime with any additional questions. An added bonus was that John was very safe about wearing his mask and being mindful of distance during this pandemic! With hard work, everyday Indi is improving. I am so glad I chose to have Indi do this program and if you decide to, I definitely recommend John Garcia!

Heather and the KoruK9 program were awesome! Exactly what we were hoping for to get our pup off to a good start. We got updates and felt in the loop the whole time. She came back significantly better at hanging in her crate, has the basics of walking on a leash, place, appropriate play, and we feel significantly more aware of how we should be working with Frankie to promote really good behavior going forward. She went into the program at ~14 weeks.
The in-person lessons have also helped quite a bit to figure out how to manage real world scenarios. We’re looking forward to more work with Heather.
By the way- for those concerned that 2 weeks is a long time for a puppy and they’ll come back way bigger and you’ll miss important time with them- we can assure you they still come back a puppy and the time goes by extremely quickly .
The board and train boot camp is well worth it! I wouldn’t get a puppy in the future without it.
Thanks Heather and KoruK9.
-Charlie and Lucy (and Frankie!)

Koru K9 did amazing work with our 2-year-old dog. Our dog was starting to become much more protective of my husband and me vs. other dogs. He got jealous when other dogs came up to us and wanted to be petted. He was becoming randomly reactive to other dogs and we really struggled to understand why his behavior was changing so quickly and so much for the worse. Also he went bonkers when someone knocked on our front door.

I called Koru K9 and we started with weekly training with Irini, who was wonderful. Unfortunately though it became clear we needed more serious training and put him in a 3 week board and train with Heather. It was absolutely incredible what Heather was able to achieve with Wallace in just 3 weeks. Heather quickly identified for us some of the issues for our dog: too much freedom at home, he lacked confidence and felt insecure. She did so much work with him to bring him confidence and calm. She sends photos and videos every few days to provide updates on how Wallace is doing, what training they are working on, and the videos help preview what exercises you will need to start doing for your dog once he comes home.

Wallace came back and was a totally different dog. He didn’t react to the doorbell at all. That was an incredible transformation. And he was extremely obedient, calm and confident. Importantly, Wallace loves Heather so much haha. So I know he loved all the training and she took such good care of him in her own home!

Now, here is where you have to be realistic and honest with yourself. Once your dog comes home, maintaining your dog’s progress takes real work on your own part. A trainer is not just going to deliver a perfectly behaved dog and you do nothing. It takes serious work (and coordination :) ). And I can tell when we are being lazy about it because I notice our dog behaving less well. Dogs like boundaries, obedience, structure, etc. So you have to give it to them. It takes work but it is worth it. The best part is that your trainer stays in touch with you to help you through this. I share videos and texts with Heather to get her advice on how to handle our dog

If you get anxious because of your dog’s behavior in various situations, I highly recommend Koru K9 and Heather if you can request her in the Bay Area. I am much more at ease taking our dog out and to other people’s homes, when a few months ago, I was so nervous to do it in case he reacted if my friend’s dog tried to come up to me.

We were looking for a dog trainer who could do in home visits. Because that’s where our problem was. Since we added a new pup (3 yo Olde English bulldogge) to our household our first dog (1 year old pug. Yeah I know 😝) became extremelt territorial. Both dogs showed strong signs of resource guarding, and instigated fights over toys, treats and attention. But ONLY at home. We found KoruK9 and Rebecca is our trainer. We have learned so much from her. The way she breaks everything down is easy to understand and follow. Everything she teaches builds on one another and that ensures you are successful along the way. Which then builds confidence in your dog and yourself as owner (handler).
13/10 would recommend

Sean in STL helped our dog become much more confident and better behaved.

Kim and Damian are absolutely fantastic trainers and the only I would recommend! I have an 8 month old Siberian Husky that was honestly the most difficult dog I’ve ever seen. He would pull so hard I would have to hold on with both hands walking him anywhere, jump on anyone he ever got near, extremely crazy around any other dog he even saw, and really would not listen to anyone at all. I decided to try a board and train program and was very worried he was too out of control for any trainer, but was wrong! Kim/Damian from the start of the program kept me up to date on his progress extremely well. He got home from the board and train and is a completely different dog! It was completely unreal and unexpected how fantastic he is doing after a month with them. He walks on the leash with no tension at all, sits, lays, stays, listens extremely well, and looks like the most well behaved dog, even in very busy places! After the board and train was done I wanted advice on something’s for him so contacted them. Within minutes they were on the phone with the exact answers I needed! Kim and Damian have been a lifesaver and I would not recommend another trainer but Kim and Damian!

My neighbor has started using this company to help train her aggressive dog and the difference is amazing after just two lessons with Tierney! Our complex is a thousand times more peaceful thanks to this company, thank you!