Nikki is amazing. She took me and my 3YO dachshund - neither of whom had ever stepped foot on agility course - and turned us into competitors in the agility space. We are so happy that we started our training with Nikki, who is kind and patient, while also pushing us to be a competitive team while running. That means that we're not only taking home ribbons, but also bonding and having a blast on the course. Dash LOVED attending Nikki's classes; he was always so excited to run, and the courses Nikki put together were always fun and exciting while also being accessible to dogs of all skill levels. We loved training with Nikki, and if she was still in our area, we would 100% still be training with her. Because of her guidance and support, I'm a better handler and Dash is a happier dog, and we're both having a ton of fun together. Don't hesitate, try out these classes. Guarantee it will be a memorable experience. read more

A Dog In Motion - Dash winning his first 1st Place Ribbon! - Dog Walkers Near Me

I cannot recommend Nikki enough when it comes to dog training. Before I started training with Nikki, I was seriously considering rehoming (giving back to the original rescue) my dog as I felt ill-equipped and completely lost with his behaviors. I genuinely believe that if it wasn't for Nikki, my dog would likely not be alive right now as he probably would have been marked for behavioral euthanasia. Nikki saved my mental health and saved my dog Waldo. I hold immense gratitude for all of the help she has provided us. Nikki exemplifies what it means to be an expert in the field: her methods are evidence-based & she is always staying up-to-date with the most relevant information available. I found Nikki when researching private agility lessons for my reactive dog. While I never had any intentions of performing, I knew that my high-energy dog, Waldo, would benefit greatly from learning new experiences and confidence building. The first time Waldo and I met Nikki, I knew I wanted to work with her. She wasn't phased by his loud barking or lunging. Nikki immediately started guiding me on ways I can change my posture & breathing as well as informing me what Waldo's body language was telling her. After just one session, we discovered his reactive behaviors were actually fear-based (not solely aggression-based as other trainers had led me to believe). Then came the hard part: the (unintentional) reinforcement of these behaviors that I had caused due to my own ignorance. Nikki was realistic about progress and the time it would take. She won't lie or cut corners to tell you what you want to hear. It was her honesty and humility that had me sold. I only saw Nikki once a week with Waldo, but after working with her for almost 2 years we saw SO much progress. Waldo is much more confident in high-stress situations. I have a full tool kit of tricks I can use inside as well as outside the house. The training never stops when you leave the session! Nikki taught me so much about reactivity & threshold. That training has to happen when they are below threshold!! She doesn't assign morality to dogs. I remember saying "Waldo is a bad dog and I don't know what to do with him" and she gently corrected me by saying "Waldo is not a bad dog, he is A DOG and he is scared. What we have to do is show him that he doesn't have to be scared and that takes time & trust." We were able to slowly work our way up to having Nikki approach Waldo without a fearful response. And eventually even had Waldo take treats from her hand and respond to her giving him commands. AND THEN, we were able to have Waldo in the same space as Nikki's dog Charm. Charm was so unbothered by Waldo's barking it was honestly a comedic relief. Charm lives up to her name. She is a beautiful, smart and oh-so sweet dog. Just having neutral // positive interactions around another dog was vital to Waldo's success and confidence building. Also, knowing that Nikki trusted me and Waldo to be able to interact with Charm after we spent so much time in 1:1 training helped MY confidence as well. I learned sooo much from Nikki, I could probably write a book just singing her praises. While I was devastated when I found out she was moving, knowing that she is going to continue educating dog owners and offering these valuable training lessons helped lessen the tears. Everyone in my life that knows Waldo has seen long-lasting, impactful changes in his behavior. And all of the praise goes to Nikki and her techniques! Come to Nikki with an open-mind and a willingness to learn. She very well could change your life for the better, the way that she did mine (and Waldo's!). read more

A Dog In Motion - Never thought it would be possible to have him this close to another dog without lunging / barking. All while remaining in "place". - Dog Walkers Near Me

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We've been doing agility classes with Nikki for over 6 years. She's a really clear, positive teacher and so patient with dogs and people. Our dogs absolutely love her and think agility is the most fun thing ever. And don't think that if you do agility that you have to look at it as a competitive sport. It's been a great way to build a better relationship with the dogs, help them to listen off-leash, and just really have a lot of fun. read more

A Dog In Motion - Goofy puppy Aspen with Nikki's dog Charm - Dog Walkers Near Me

We absolutely adore Nikki! We tried a couple agility places prior to and ended up driving an hour each way every week because of the positive and valuable experience we had with Nikki. Nikki is an awesome trainer and I love her positive reinforcement training methods. We are so sad she moved because I don't think I we'll find another that measures up to her! read more

A Dog In Motion - Dog Walkers Near Me

Nikki is a fantastic agility teacher. We've been taking lessons from her for a few years and I have been amazed at how much progress my wheaten terrier Orla has made. She went from being afraid of going over one jump to running through entire courses thanks to Nikki's gentle approach and willingness to work with us. Now when we get close to the agility field Orla gets excited and is ready to spend an hour having fun. read more

Nikki has been great with working with my dog, Maggie, to help us to be able to compete. She goes out of her way to make sure you and your dog get individualized attention, when needed. Couldn't recommend her more! read more

I took my two pit bulls to agility class taught by Nikki for about 6 years! The only reason we had to stop was that Nikki moved . She not only taught us agility, but also helped with basic obedience. She wants to help each dog/owner pair be the most successful they can be and works with you to find the right way for you to handle your dog. She also helped give me confidence to trust myself and trust my dog. She was probably my dog Domino's favorite person and we miss her greatly. read more

My dog loved agility class with Nikki! She shows you how to connect with your dog. That connection is the real fun and goal of agility.

Nikki is a wonderful agility teacher! After initially training with other teachers, my Australian Shephard, Guinness, and I worked with Nikki for several years in both group classes and privately. Nikki helped me to adjust my handling so that I used my whole body to communicate to Guinness, and boy, did Guinness respond! With Nikki's encouragement, I gained confidence in my handling, and learned to trust that Guinness would know exactly what to do and would do it immediately. Nikki also spotted quickly if Guinness was having a problem and knew why and what to do. I recommend Nikki fully! read more

Nikki is a great trainer and a lot of fun. She has a lot of insight into dog behavior and gets success with positive training techniques. Our 2 Aussies loved doing agility with her and she helped me with loose leash walking, making it a lot easier to walk in the neighborhood despite squirrels and coyotes as distractions. read more

Started basic level training here with my pup on Sunday mornings. I signed up for 6 class sessions, and you have to pay upfront. Mikayla was our trainer, and she was great! Very calm and kind to our pups. I joined right before COVID-19 safer-at-home orders, so we only got to do 3 of our 6 classes. In those 3 classes, however, my pup was doing really well. I loved the pace of the class, and it was overall a great experience. Given current pandemic situation, however, we decided to stay home and not continue training, and the refund process was smooth as well. Refunded for the 3 classes we ended up not completing. Once things go back to a bit more normal, I look forward to purchasing future trainings. read more

Nikki and A Dog In Motion are FANTASTIC! We have used for walking and pet sitting. They give great attention to our dogs and are available to help with all of our needs. We have used 4 times now and have been very happy every time. Service is reliable, friendly and professional. Happy we have piece of mind when we are out of town knowing our dogs are being well cared for and are in good hands. Would definitely recommend if looking for pet care! read more

We've been taking agility classes with Nikki for the past few years. Our two dogs have really benefitted from the experience, but most importantly, they very much enjoy the class! It's been great for them, and us, to learn new skills and practice consistently. Nikki is a patient and helpful instructor, and I appreciate that she approaches agility with us (who don't plan on competing) with a sense of humor. read more

Nikki is fantastic! Our golden doodle, Copper, and I have been doing agility with Nikki for about two years. It has been a great way to stimulate and challenge our active dog both mentally and physically. Copper LOVES going to agility and drags me to the gate as soon as we get out of the car because he is so excited to be there. Nikki makes the classes both fun and informative. She is extremely patient and very positive and encouraging. Each class offers new courses and new challenges so you never feel like it is repetitive. I highly recommend her classes. read more

I have been working with Nikki in her Agility Classes at I Dig My Dog in Pasadena for over 2 years now with my 10 pound terrier mix. Chelsea is an anxious and moody little dog. Nikki is consistently kind and patient and tolerant with us both. She is experienced in working with all types of dogs and keeps up on the latest developments in the Agility field. After working with Chelsea, Nikki suggested trying Prozac for her extreme anxiety. We are so happy we took her advice as we saw a big difference once Chelsea was on Prozac for about a month. She was, and continues to be, much less anxious and able to focus. When we began working with Nikki, we had difficulty having Chelsea obey us. However, overtime with Nikki's coaching and suggestions, Chelsea obeys us on and off the course much better. All of the dogs and owners in our Agility class have made huge strides since we began working with Nikki. In fact, one dog and her owner will be soon begin to compete in Agility Trials. Nikki is creative, coming up with ingenious ideas to help us become better handlers and to help our dogs to reach their highest potential. Nikki always focuses on the positive and what we are doing right, and keeps the Agility training fun for both the dogs and owners. I absolutely love the Agility class because of Nikki: the courses are challenging, the suggestions are constructive, the results of our hard work are evident and the fun-filled hour flies by. Nikki's experience and education are obvious, she knows what she is doing and is able to impart her knowledge to the owner, allowing your dog to be the very best they can be. Working with Nikki has not only built our confidence as owners, but also has allowed our dogs to become more comfortable in trying out new things while depending on us to show them the way. Nikki is a friendly and approachable trainer as well as knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with all sorts of dogs and behaviors. I highly recommend Nikki, she is an exceptional trainer who is an expert dealing with the dog as well as the human. read more

Nikki is a great trainer. She is patient and keeps challenging her students, both dogs and handlers to achieve new skills. Sophie and I have been working with her for almost 2 years. We are now successfully competing in agility trials with the skills Nikki has taught us. read more