SpitzeK9 Dog Training — Local services in Scott Township

-EDITED COMMENT: There was literally a video posted on the Facebook page that showed that he was drinking creek water. Looking back at the videos, I suspect that may be part of the reason he had diarrhea. I agree the stress and when he had diarrhea may have been out of your control, and this was our first time training a dog. I also agree that you guys did take care of him and trained him the best you could esp leash training and maybe summer time wasn't the best time to train him, although walking early morning, walking indoors at a store, or later when the sun is out would serve the same purpose . But I am not happy w/ the assumption made, because we only had ONE private session, not multiple private sessions and then the board and train. We did the board and train because we thought that it would be more bang for our buck considering how expensive training is. While yes my pup was a lot to handle and there were times I felt giving up, I always picked myself up and am doing the best with what I know. I just think that now it would be better to train alongside w/ your dog and trainer as opposed to boarding so that he would not be stressed but at the same time he would still get adequate training (I was advised this by someone who takes care of malamutes after the training had already happened). I also wrote on a document that was handed when my dog came on board and train the list of problems and while leash training was covered for board and train, potty training and resource guarding wasn't. I was told that for aggressive behavior I would nearly have to pay double (I don't have thousands more to spend). In terms of swimming, if any double coated dog gets wet and isn't dried efficiently, they can get red sores.

For now in terms of my dog guarding, we have followed up w/ a different trainor for a smaller cost, followed advice, and he has not bitten my boyfriend or me since. Overall my dog is well behaved, socialized, and despite all the stress, much better to walk w/ and an enjoyable companion. He hasn't pottied in the house since after he healed from his diarrhea. Ultimately, it is up to us as owners to continue that training.

I will admit that despite all this you guys did still do a good job w/ the leash training, I do appreciate the efforts given. Because it was effective 4/5 is a generous rating. even then, my mal must be on a leash and never off leash due to their independent nature, even though they emphasized off-leash training.

-ORIGINAL COMMENT:

Honest opinion:

I took my malamute to the board and train w/ Antonio and Mel. They helped him w/ his leash training. No more unmanageable crazy pulling! He does get distracted every now and then and needs some reminding but I feel more comfortable walking him anywhere, even at the vets or grooming. While stubborn, it is easier to also give commands without the need for treats.

I will give four out of five because unfortunately my malamute did get diarrhea coming home, and I suspect it was from the creek water he drank while walking. He got medications and has felt better since, but for next time I will let anyone caring for him to only provide clean water and to NOT have him drink just any water. Future training for my future dogs will also be ideally in-home as opposed to board and train, I suspect my dog was incredibly stressed coming home due to the diarrhea, licking excessively, and becoming more fatigue.

I overall still recommend them for training but it’s better for the owner to actively participate and ideally the training should be in-home or actively going to places w/ your dog so that there is less change in environments. I think my mal has...

Our Opie is a 1 year old, 130lb+, Great Pyrenees mix that was having some dog reactivity issues. He was also over protective and with his size he was hard to control along with his lunging and pulling on walks.

Antonio obviously has endless patience and skill because Opie came back to us a different dog. When we went to pick Opie up we went on a walk with another pup, Happy, and they both did great. We walked along a busy road and Opie did not react to the passing cars and walked by other dogs and he was not the aggressor. We were shocked by his progress.

I took him for a walk the day after we picked him up and he left other dogs alone, didn’t bark or lunge and was happy to come when called. My husband and I are thrilled with the progress he has made in such a short period and we will continue working with him everyday. Antonio assured us that if we needed anything he would be available day or night and I have no doubt of that.

Antonio is without a doubt an expert when it comes to training dogs but I would feel like I was doing a disservice if I did not mention his skill at training dog owners! He explains everything so clearly and uses things we do everyday for reference. He let you know what YOU need to do to set your dog up for success, what to expect of them, and that at the end of the day your relationship with your dog is the biggest influence on their trainability.

Thank you so much for your time and patience. Opie is still the giant goofy pup we dropped off but now with more obedience, something we needed for...

Once you accept the use of the e-collar as a sensory tool for communicating with your dog, Antonio’s behavior modification program will help you to build a better relationship and give him or her a more fulfilling life. Antonio and Mel offer a professional and personal tailored service that is well worth the money and will build handling skills that will last a lifetime. We have been very happy and impressed with the results. I’ve had several conversations with other clients during joint training sessions and each has echoed the same satisfaction. Antonio has a passion for dog training and takes pride in seeing the that dogs that he has trained are well adjusted and well behaved as evidenced by patiently making sure we understood all aspects of the process, following up on our progress, and answering all of our questions even after we had completed the program. Our 2 year old GSD was exhibiting some troubling behaviors that we hadn’t experienced with our past dogs. With Antonio’s help, we now have the handling skills to manage our dog’s unique personality and he has developed into a better balanced, better behaved, and more confident canine citizen. We have also started using the kenneling service because we trust these guys more than any other place we have used in the past. Whether you are looking for a personal protection dog, are struggling with some of your dog’s negative behavior, or are simply looking basic obedience training, I would highly recommend Spitze K9 and the...