Akina K9 has created such a wonderful community for dogs and their owners to come together, learn, play, and even dress up! Whether it's a group class or a private session, I'm always in awe of the passion Rich brings to every moment. He and his amazing team have built a safe, supportive space where handlers can learn how to truly connect and work with their four-legged babies. If you want to give your dog the best quality of life, book with Rich and learn alongside your pet. Put in the work to be the best owner you can be -- I promise, it's absolutely worth it. read more

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You can tell that they are super experienced in their training. Willing to work with you to set up the best program for your dog and for you, I would highly recommend their program. They were willing to help us with our highly aggressive dog when other trainers were not willing. read more

Simply the best.. My first meeting with Rich was to have my 16 week old Labrador retriever Harry evaluated... to my chagrin Rich said that Harry has "high prey drive"UGH I knew I had my work cut out for me. Fast forward, my sweet velociraptor has blossom with Rich's guidance into not a good dog but a GREAT dog!. Rich is a trainer that is patient, has great communication skills and a very calm confident attitude that is contagious. Rich you're a dog trainer who is a Rock Star. Thank you for all you do. read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Rich is an amazing dog trainer! Even though we had a Shiba Inu before and thought we knew most things about training a dog, we continued to learn a lot from him. From the moment we knew we were going to get a Shikoku, we knew that we would need a dog trainer as the breeder told us Shikoku dogs are rare and a primitive breed. We are so glad that Rich has been Miyu's dog trainer since we first brought Miyu home. He listens to our concerns and has helped guide us through the lessons so we have a clear understanding on how to be a good dog handler. The progress we've seen in Miyu has been great and we highly recommend Rich! read more

Akina K9 - Miyu chilling - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Rich was competent and professional. He helped us to train our 8 year old Golden Doodle so we could walk him without his excessive pulling and barking. read more

Nothing but wonderful things to say!! We did 8 private sessions and began seeing improvements in our dog's behavior immediately, after just 1 session. We did dog training years ago with a different business and it was such a stressful and high intensity experience that was just overwhelming - we didn't get that feeling at all working with Rich! He is so calm and incredibly knowledgeable on dogs and makes everything really easy to understand. He is really hands on in the sessions and taught us so much. Additionally, he gave us the tools to implement everything we learned at home. Dog walks used to be stressful with a lot of pulling and lack of focus and are now completely stress free, no pulling at all, and so much more enjoyable for all of us! Leo (our dog) listens so well now, I didn't think I would see this much improvement in his behavior and am so pleasantly surprised. Crazy to see this progress after only 8 sessions. Highly recommend and we will be continuing to work with Rich and his team. Thank you Rich!!! I am so grateful. read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

When Akina K9 says that they can train any dog, it's 100% true. My family and I started taking our dogs to Akina K9 after we saw the incredible progress of some of his clients. We've had everything from Pitbulls to teacup chihuahuas and each has benefited from training here. For one of my dogs I did the board and train program and would highly recommend it. She came home with foundational skills that allowed us to move on to more complicated training that I haven't been able to do with previous pets. Rich is a saint. He is patient and answers any questions you have. And I have lots! He also makes himself available outside of class when I have a question about our homework. I could not recommend this company more! read more

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I will forever be grateful to Rich and his amazing team for giving us the tools to train our energetic lab puppy! Before coming to Rich, we had a really tough time getting our dog Chili Jalapeño to control his impulses or do simple things like sit for longer than a few seconds. We were also struggling to manage Chili's separation anxiety as he would whine constantly if he wasn't around us. Rich helped us with all of the above and so much more. No matter what question we had or issue with Chili we were struggling with, Rich would have plenty of ideas and suggestions we could try to overcome it. He's given us the gift of a well behaved goofball we love and take care of. Thank you! read more

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We just finished our one on one sessions today and what a blessing it has been to see Marley's progress from where we started. A true transformation! He started as a very anxious and insecure puppy and today he is more confident and obedient. We had an evaluation so that Richard can see where Marley was and what he needed. We came up with a plan for 12 one on one sessions to help with all of our individual needs and 12 group sessions to reinforce all that we've learned. Suzana helped to coordinate classes and was available if I needed to make any changes. Each class, we learned something new along with reviewing anything we needed help with. I was thankful for Richard's patience with all my questions as we went along. These classes have helped to build the confidence that Marley needed! I can without any hesitation, recommend Akina K9 for all your dog training needs!! Looking forward to group classes! read more

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I would give Rich and his team 10 stars if I could. But, let me start by sharing a bit of my story. I brought home an abandoned puppy from the street, and as he grew, he began to show signs of territorial aggression, resource guarding, reactivity, and dominant behavior, which seriously disrupted our household. We've taken all precautions to prevent this, but it was almost like these behaviors were harbored within his genetics. It eventually became a safety concern, especially around strangers. He was always unfriendly, barking, and snapping at anyone he didn't know. This made it challenging to take him out or have new friends and family over. It felt like we were stuck, caring for a dog who might turn on us at any moment. At one point, I even considered rehoming him due to safety concerns towards my family. I had my doubts about dog training, thinking it might not work. But when we brought our dog to Rich, he conducted a thorough assessment, testing our dog's reactivity in various situations. Right then and there, it became clear that he was a trainer who knows exactly what he's doing, and most importantly, a trainer who genuinely cares about his clients' dogs. Fast forward to the end of Rich's training program, my dog has gone through an unbelievable transformation. He now behaves in ways I couldn't have imagined before. The quality of life for both my family and my dog has improved significantly, and I've never been happier. If you've ever had a reactive dog, you'll know it can be quite a rollercoaster. But I'm happy to say, life has become amazing after this training. We can now have guests over without stress, take him on walks, go out in public, and he's become a much friendlier dog. I finally feel like I have a normal dog doing normal dog things. Rich has always been responsive, answering my questions through text between sessions and providing thorough explanations when we talked on the phone. He's extremely patient, never making me feel dumb, since dog training can be hard to understand for a first time dog owner. It's clear that he genuinely cares about the dogs he trains and has an effective technique that makes communication between me and my dog clear and effective. If you find yourself in a situation similar to where I was just a couple of months ago, don't hesitate to take your dog to Akina K9. It was hands down the best decision I ever made. One more thing to note is that Rich offers boarding services for your dog, which is a huge relief when you need to go on vacation. I wouldn't trust anyone else besides Rich to take care of my dog while I'm away. He knows my dog well, and I can now enjoy vacations without any stress. read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

TLDR; If you're on the fence about working with Akina K9, just do it (or at least reach out for an evaluation). They're great and we can't recommend them enough! Rich and his team are patient and you never feel like you're asking a dumb question. He explains training concepts using human analogy that makes sense. They're not pushy or make it feel like they're upselling you on more services. It's been worth the investment for us. We heard about Rich and his team through a friend. We have a 2.5 y/o aussie (#pandemicpup) who is not always keen on other dogs and people, especially when he isn't the one who initiates the engagement. Before we found Akina K9, we already had 1) sent our pup to puppy school at 4 months and 2) worked for months with a private trainer. We were finding that we were hitting a limitation to training without exposing our dog to situations where he would display reactivity and aggression. After meeting Rich and doing an evaluation, we opted for the 45-day board & train. Since the board and train, we've seen a difference in our dog and feel like we're better equipped as handlers. Now we occasionally drop in for group classes and general boarding and plan to take private 1:1 sessions for refreshers. read more

I can't say enough positive things about Rich as a trainer and as a person. You will not find a better trainer/behaviorist in the SF Bay Area. It is well worth the drive to Gilroy from wherever you're at. Rich has helped us with our little dog that thinks she's a big dog (Pug, terrier mix), and our big dog that had aggression towards other dogs (Belgian Malinois mix). Rich is an expert in the theoretical science behind training and its practical application. If you're willing to put in the time, money, and effort, Rich will help you get the results. Thank you, Rich! read more

Akina K9 - Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Rich is the only trainer I will ever trust with my dog, Noodles and any future dogs I may have! It takes around 2-2 1/2 hours to get to him in Gilroy and it's always worth it! I'm never worried about the drive in traffic, more that I'll be late if anything! His group classes are both group and individual based, so you always feel heard or seen during each group lesson! Noodles always looks forward to his lessons with Rich, then promptly goes right into a nap after! read more

I am so grateful for all of the incredible knowledge and support with training my dog Bentley over the past few years. I came to Rich before I got my puppy (before he was even born actually), knowing I was about to take on training a working breed Labrador Retriever to be a medical alert service dog for myself. As a first time dog owner, I had no idea where to begin, but with Rich's guidance, knowledge, and support, I was able to turn my working breed Labrador Retriever puppy into an amazing (and incredibly smart/intuitive) support system, a well balanced dog, and a service animal for myself. He taught me to be a strong advocate for my dog, started me on a path of becoming passionate about dog training and the knowledge that goes along with it, and taught me how to communicate with my dog and understand how dogs communicate overall. Rich is an amazing, wonderful dog trainer who knows dogs like no other. Both Bentley and I are so grateful for everything he has taught us and all of our time spent working together. And of course, we will continue going to classes with him for a long time to come, because dog training is a life long journey! If you want to learn to understand your dog better, create healthy habits and a better relationship with your dog, and have a well balanced dog overall, Rich and AkinaK9 are the place to be! read more

We did 8 sessions with Rich and loved it! He is very kind to kids and animals alike and very thoughtful when it came to catering to what our needs and wants were for our first family dog. We learned a ton and have recommended him to all of our friends who got "Covid puppies". Masks were a must and we never felt at risk with social distancing. Rich really knows his stuff, has a ton of experience and is great with dogs. I can't recommend him enough and will be a great place to board our dog when we are able to go on vacation again. read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Choosing Rich as our trainer was the best decision I've made for my corgi & I. We recently finished our 8 week session throughout a couple months due to Covid, and as a broke college student this was very affordable & worth it !!! Rich worked with my schedule & he can train anywhere you want. Rich was very patient with me, and most of all made me feel confident with training my very stubborn corgi . The best part about our sessions was that he would teach,and then make me do the training so that he could correct me if I needed to improve. During some training he would also use his own dog Devin to help my dog with distractions, and honestly they're the perfect training duo!! Devin is our role model. My corgi is very stubborn and before training I would get anxious taking her out for walks because of her barking + being reactive to strangers. I was struggling with how to correct those unwanted behavioral issues & my goals were to improve her recall, heel, & obedience skills. Rich helped me with what I wanted & we look forward to training sessions at home now because it's fun! I can confidently say that I'm not afraid to go on walks anymore and that I can take her anywhere I want! I'm very happy with our results. Thank you so much Rich ! We can't wait to see you soon in group class. read more

Akina K9 - Perfecting her " sit /stay" for photos - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

We did the 20 private sessions and initially I felt like this wouldnt be enough for me to see any results in my dog, but I was so wrong! Its amazing to see how much my girl improved in a span of almost a year. From shy and hesitant to confident! I felt like not only did attending these sessions build my dog's confidence, but mine too! I learned so much like how to read her body language and this definitely helped me build a stronger relationship with her. Rich taught us many ways to make dog training fun for the both of us. I am a slow learner, but Rich patiently answered my questions and explained to me clearly what needs to be done. Even if I had questions outside of our sessions, he made time to answer them. Thank you to Suzana too for making the scheduling really easy! I always got an answer from her very quickly. After completing our private sessions, we started attending group classes. I was a bit concerned and nervous being surrounded with other dogs and their owners, but every class we attended has been such a pleasant experience. I felt very safe bringing my dog out and was inspired by other dog owners. Highly recommend Rich and his team if you want to see results in your dog's behavior! :) read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

I'm soo happy we found Rich (via Yelp!) and can't say enough great things about his training. We have a very high energy; smart cattle dog/shepherded mix who's a lot of fun, but also a lot of trouble at times. She went to basic puppy training a year ago and while she did well for a few lesson, the trainer didn't really equip us with the skills to handle her outside of the training setting. We're only 4 sessions in with Rich, but we can see a huge difference, not just in our pup but even in our own handling of her. He's great at explaining what we need to do, how and most importantly to me the why we're doing that. He's so patient even when I bombard him with hundreds of questions and takes the time to listen to our struggles and concerns. I also love that we do sessions in "the real world" such stores, parks and around other dogs. It's those real life scenarios that I find the most helpful. I'd definitely recommend Rich to anyone who's look for a knowledge and affordable dog trainer. read more

Akina K9 - Training with the Box! - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Starting our training journey with Akina & our new pup Flint. We are very excited to be guided & educated by Rich & the team. I feel not only safe/comfortable, but welcome with their whole team. Suzana is the sweetest, and most patient woman to communicate with. We purchased the train & board, 12 private & 12 group. 100% worth every penny, the team really shows they are passionate about what they do. Not your average trainer-you get so much more. I recommend and will continue to support these lovely folks. They are honest & show they want the best for you & your dog. read more

The change in behavior over the past year is instantly noticeable by everyone who knows my dog! I've had friends stop us on our walks as they drive by to ask if that is the same dog. My girl has responded really well to the private sessions and looks forward to doing our homework and "going to work". She is visibly more relaxed and confident and that is direct result of the dedication of Rich and team to provide the tools needed to manage dogs of all levels, sizes and temperaments. I got Lady Holiday when she was already about 2 years old and although well loved, hadn't had much in the way of training or socialization. The main goal I had was to be able to go on walks and have friends in the house without anyone getting hurt! With the guidance from the team at Akina, we can now go on walks without stress, pulling, and too much reactivity - and that is a HUGE deal! The team has been super encouraging and supportive for me too! Their encouragement to "keep at it" helps me to maintain the course and continue to do the work needed to make sure my dog gets the most our of her training. Her progress has been amazing and we are now looking forward to adding in group classes. A huge thanks to Rich, Suzana and the whole Akina k9 team!!! If you have a dog - you need to be here - the experience will change your life! read more

Awesome teacher and staff that are willing to work with my complicated schedule, plus a great environment! The training is worth every single penny. I understand my dogs better and that makes it easier for them to understand and listen to me. My dogs and I need more practice, but I finished the training feeling confident in handling my dogs. Thank you, Rich and Suzana! read more

We started private training sessions for aggressive dogs with Rich towards the end of last year (~October 2020). Prior to turning 1 year old, our German Shepherd Kekoa had no problems socializing (he was occasionally scared of people but was always submissive) until he had 3 different traumatizing incidences (all with people). He began peeing out of excitement after these incidences (he was about 2 years old at this time and was fully potty trained without issues), his reactivity began to escalate very quickly (especially on leash) with both dogs and people, he became more possessive of my boyfriend and I, and it eventually led to 2 bites. The first bite occurred 4 days after his last traumatizing incident, and the second bite was 2 weeks later in which a few stitches were needed. He knew both people but had gotten surprised in the moment. We had always been doing training with him since he was 8 weeks old, and integrated a LOT of counter conditioning which we thought helped him to improve up until the two bites occurred. We were then referred to Rich by a good dog trainer friend that vouched for him. The structure and education that was provided in our first session alone was priceless. Every session we would continue to build up from the last one, learn how to understand Kekoa's body language and collaboratively work with him one step at a time. Rich helped us to stay accountable for ourselves by providing training homework between sessions regularly, allow us to follow up with questions and reflect on how it has been going in the next session. The training techniques the Rich uses are straight forward, black and white language, that puts understanding in perspective for both the dog and the owner(s). It paints a clear pictures of how training properly can be extremely effective even in aggressive dogs. The confidence that Rich helped Kekoa, my boyfriend, and I build in training largely impacts our lives. I am an extremely resourceful, well-read, and well-researched person. My boyfriend and I have always been dedicated dog owners and proactive in training since Kekoa was a puppy, but there are some things you can't learn on your own from research. I highly recommend Rich for any and all dog owners. He is very understanding, direct, humble, educational, respectful, and extremely effective in his training techniques from basic obedience to more advanced training. read more

Akina K9 - Kekoa and his best friend Cali (boxer) - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Where to begin? We love Akina k9! To say my dog has come a long way is an understatement. When I initially started with Rich, I felt like the goals I had set for my dog were unrealistic and felt defeated. My dog knew where to be on his best behavior and it was hard to address our biggest struggle (reactivity). Rich has not only helped my dog, but has helped me become a better handler and have strong communication skills with my dog. I can confidently say that I no longer go on walks with anxiety and the uncertainty of when my dog was going to engage in an explosive behavior. Rich has truly transformed the relationship I have with my dog. We went in with so many behaviors and issues we needed to address. I was fearful that 12 sessions was nowhere near enough. We trusted the process and I am so glad I did! We are forever grateful for akina k9!! read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Very kind and helpful we never had training with them but bought a box that helped our dog out alot.

One of the best dog trainers around. I am a first time dog owner. I and my extremely energetic puppy have been training with Rich for about six months now. Rich understands dogs (and dog owners :) ) extremely well and he has a system that just works. Rich's system is simpler than what I was trying before but has been extremely effective for my energetic and easily excited puppy. I would not hesitate to recommend Rich, Suzana, and the group for anybody who is looking for a dog trainer in the bay area. read more

We started off with a private training schedule with Rich, we scheduled for 5pm but my careless ass put it down for 6pm. Fast forward to the day of training, Rich shows up to the agreed meeting place which is a local park at 5pm and was looking for me. Rich called me asking where I was and I told him how I thought it was at 6pm. Instead of getting mad and driving away, Rich actually waited for me to get there and was very forgiving. He took TIME OUT OF HIS DAY to still train a person who he has never met, who is late, and Lee in mind he doesn't even know if I'm going to flake or not. TALK ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE! We loved the training so much that we actually decided to a board and train with Rich with the focus of being able to take our dog Blu everywhere we go. (We didn't care much for basic training because we thought it would just eat at the time of focusing on the environmental training because we thought that would take awhile to train him out of his bad habits ) Basically, being able to control him at any environment like the beach, pet stores, hookah spots, Starbucks, Santana Row and any high distraction places. Before the training, our dog Blu had a lot of bad habits that made him out of control to the point we didn't enjoy taking him out because we would be so embarrassed. Blu used to mark at every single pole, tree, store isle, toys, if he could pee on it, he would. He's not neutered so you have to keep in mind, it makes it even harder to control a dog always on the prowl for bitches. Fast forward to now? He don't pee until I say go potty!! How you train a dog who pees on everything and now pee on command?! Before, Blu would cry, pull towards other dogs, bark, mark his territory, try to jump on every single person that pass by, everywhere we go. If it's the beach, if there's another dog, he will cry nonstop like we're beating him and he's calling for help but in reality he just wanted to say hi to the other dog. At hookah spots, Starbucks or any spot where we just sit and chat we would straight leave after 15 mins because we would give up cause of how embarrassing it is how vocal he would get, and rebellious he would be. Keep in mind, Blu is a bully breed; so people already have a bad biased towards them. A bully crying and whining and the owner can't control him? Yeah that's probably the most embarrassing thing that could happen to someone. People would give us bad looks, or tell us to control our dog like we're not trying. Blu wouldn't even do his basic obedience cause he wouldn't listen and would only listen when he feels like it cause of how stubborn he is. He also had irrational fears of boxes, he would literally walk over them or would try not to get on top of them. Fast forward during the 1hr private trading you get during the pick up session for the board and train, Blu now pees on command and doesn't mark his territory. Even though we told Rich we didn't care for the basic obedience, he still taught Blu those things and STILL HAD TIME to train him on what we wanted which is the environmental training. We were only expecting the environmental training and we ended up getting a bonus cause now Blu knows his obedience/ commands. Blu now knows how to heel, when he used to pull so bad that his paws would bleed. We never even took Blu to cut his nails because he would just trim it himself pulling like a damn sled dog on concrete / asphalt road. During the private training I was thinking in my head "ok this is cool and all, but how about the environmental training that I wanted him to focus on?" Then I asked the question, " how would I control him outside though" Rich was so confident he didn't even answer my question he just straight up said " wanna go to harbor freight?" And I said "can we??..." Rich just started walking out the facility towards harbor freight. In our heads we were like "damn he's so confident he's not even gonna answer he's just gonna show us" I was so surprised on what I saw, because now Blu waits patiently outside until I let him go inside. He heels next to me on my left side instead of being a wannabe bloodhound sniffing the goddamn floor. He doesn't pee on every isle, and he also ignores his urge to say to people now. He doesn't say hi until I let him. I would even go as far as saying Blu now has the behavior of a service dog. Yes he isn't trained to be a service dog, but he acts like one in terms of being a good boy and listening to me. You know how Service dogs have perfect obedience? I would say Blu is close to that now compared to what I had before. It's reassuring to have a dog trainer who actually focuses on your CONCERNS. We've had dog training for Blu before with the focus of being able to take him everywhere, and other trainers would still train him on shit we didn't want. Overall, Rich was cheaper, and better and would highly recommend! read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

We have been training with Rich for almost three years now, and we can confidently say that Rich is the best! He is professional, organized, and always gives 110%. We started with him when our pittie, Maui, was just a hyper pup. We wanted to comfortably take her out on hikes, outside dinning, and events. Well, Rich made it happen! We will continue to bring Maui and any future dog of ours. We highly recommend Rich no matter the breed or problem! read more

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Akina k9 has been one of the best decisions for our dog! We have a 4yo Frenchie and we've seen wonders in the 12 lesson package. Our frenchie came in a blank slate with not type of training and we've been able to see her growth each week! Rich is very patient and truly looks for the best interest in our dog. We trust him completely, by the end we were able to see the progression and rationale for each step of the training. He did a fantastic job with us (owners) too, making sure we understand how to implement trainings at home. Would 10000% recommend Rich & Akina k9 for any dog owners! (+ going to their facility for complete focus of your pet) read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Rich is AMAZING-Period. He is patient, encouraging, positive, and helps me understand what I need to do to safely care for my little adoptive chihuahua. I appreciate Rich meeting me where I am at and helping me learn skills that I can practice outside of sessions. Definitely worth the investment! -Liz & Dior read more

Excellent all the way around! Without Rich and Suzana along with their talented staff I wouldn't have the dog I have today. The training is top notch and professional. I have shown animals all my life and worked with many trainers but this is my first time owning a large Rottweiler and my first time working with a professional dog trainer. Rich is the real deal. Suzana is amazing as well. She is very professional and on top of everything. I regularly board my dog with her and Rich when I travel to horse shows. They take excellent care of my dog. I recommend the board and train service. I started with a package of individual sessions when my dog was 5 months old but I underestimated how hard it would be to work with him super consistently. Eventually at 11 months old I decided to listen to the recommendation of my trainer and have him in training while boarded for 45 days. I'm extremely impressed with the results! I have a male Rottweiler with a ton of prey drive who is stubborn, smart, and strong so having Rich as a trainer really helps me build confidence to work with my dog. I'm getting ready for another session today! Akina K9 is all that and more! -professional -accredited -believes in continuing education -fair and balanced -excellent communication -safe -clean facility -experienced -friendly read more

Richard is a great trainer & I thank him for helping our frenchie with his aggression towards other dogs and others around him. He has definitely taught me a lesson on how to make Leo feel comfortable and definitely learn how to have patience with Leo while training or in general. I will be attending his Weekend classes & I HIGHLY RECOMMEND him if you need help with training your dog. Thank you again Richard for everything! read more

Akina K9 - Thank you again Richard for helping us with Leo! - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

We are so appreciative of the guidance and education Rich Akina has shared with my brother and I and our 5 year old energetic rottweiler. He was extremely knowledgeable and provided insight into psychological and behavioral issues that my brother and I didn't even realize were concerns. He had great communication, set clear expectations, gave us homework, and provided resources and solutions for the questions we had. We had a total of twelve sessions and after the second session, we started seeing dramatic positive changes in our dog's behavior. Before our first session, our dog had several bad habits that annoyed and embarrassed us everyday. One of them was pulling on the leash while we were on a walk. Walking your dog should be a pleasant experience, not one plagued by pulling, chasing, or getting tangled in the leash. A second bad habit was annoying and jumping on our guests whenever we had them over at the house. The only solution that I could think of at the time was placing him in his kennel or the backyard, which I learned later that in order for him to stop that bad habit is that he needs to be in that environment and must give him a correction. The third bad habit was that his recall was extremely terrible. Whenever we call him to us, he would just run to the opposite side from where you were and I can't even explain how much that frustrates us. The last bad habit and the most important for us was that he was aggressive towards other dogs. He would bark or lunge at other dogs passing by, and we were not able to bring him to the dog park with other dogs unless he was the only one there. Most of the time I feel so bad because at the dog park we take him to there are two separate play areas for the dogs to play in. The big area is always full with dogs while the other is just our dog in there crying and I know all he wants to do is play with the other dogs, but I was just scared that another dog will get aggressive and a fight will break out since it happened a couple times before. Although he wasn't always aggressive with other dogs, in fact he was attacked by two dogs at the same dog park when he was 7 months old and ever since then he's been aggressive with other dogs. After twelve sessions, I can honestly say that we have a totally different dog and his bad habits diminished astoundingly! Our walks are more calm and a pleasant experience rather than stressful. Actually, if we stay consistent with his heel training and give us another four to six months, we will no longer need a leash to walk him. We are now able to have our dog in the house while we have people over because he now knows how to behave properly. Also his recall has gotten so much better compared to his first session. Although there are times where we have to help him after we say the command, but that just tells us that we still need to keep working on it everyday and stay consistent until he doesn't need assistance anymore. The last bad habit but still needs work is his aggression towards other dogs. Whenever we are walking him and we see a dog coming to us, I have him in a down command and surprisingly he doesn't even react to the dogs like how he used to. He just stares at them for a second then he focuses on me. Also I think the training that is helping us the most that Rich told us to do as a homework was training him at different locations and environment settings like Home Depot, etc. It helps with his distractions and it allows him to focus on us rather than the environment setting he is in. I can't give Rich Akina enough credit because seeing these results is so satisfying! Whenever we had a question about something and we texted him, he was always available to give us solutions and advice to our problems. The biggest thing he said that stuck with us was that we had to stop thinking that a dog thinks like a human, so we had to shift our thinking about it. We learned that we can't correct before or after he does something wrong because he won't know why he is in "trouble." We also learned that in order for our dog to learn anything, it just needs to be done over and over again and stay consistent, although it is tedious and takes a lot of time, it will ultimately be the best for the dog and makes training easier and easier as he progresses. I've already recommended him to several friends and if you want a well-trained, well adjusted, and happy dog, I recommend AKINA K9 to you too! read more

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My fiance and I began taking our Schnoodle Ruth to Rich at Akina K9 about a year ago after Pet Smart training failed us, and it was the best decision we've made for our dog. Ruth had behavior challenges, especially with leash aggression and Rich's teaching has changed all of our lives for the better. Ruth was out of control, and now she's a pleasure to walk with. Not only that, the training helps keep her engaged and mentally stimulated. Rich's methodology is clear, simple, easy to understand and replicate at home. He teaches discipline, whereas training at places like Pet Smart teaches you tricks. He also trains you as a pet parent to unlearn bad habits and make new, better ones. As a teacher, Rich is kind and dedicated. There have been times where we have tons and tons of questions, and his patience never runs out when answering them. He is always reassuring and whenever we need him in a crunch, he's there for us. There is no one we trust more than Rich, he is the gold standard in training and discipline. read more

Me and Emmy (pitbull) have been working with Rich for about 6 months now and I can't stress how much it has changed not only Emmy's behavior and obedience, but my life as well. Training Emmy was a daunting task, she's already 6 years old so having her learn in her puppy stages wasn't an option. Prior to working with Rich, it was even difficult for me to take Emmy on walks without worrying about her lashing out or reacting to other dogs and people. Now we go on daily walks throughout the neighborhood without a worry. I take her on hikes with me and will even let her run off leash sometimes without a worry. Emmy's impulse control has improved dramatically and she is a much better listener when I need her to follow commands. Not only have we learned necessary everyday obedience, but we've learned a lot of fun exercises as well (agility training, cross, orbit, etc). Training with Emmy has increased our bond dramatically, we both get tons of fulfillment out of it and Rich has been instrumental in this. Rich's approach is always so positive and fun, it's one of the best environments for learning new things with your pup. I'd highly recommend Rich for any type of dog / situation you have - he can help you and your pup through it! I forgot to mention that Rich also offers a board and train option which is a great deal considering all the work and care your pup gets! It is very affordable compared to other trainers I've seen and highly recommend it! read more

Akina K9 - Emmy off leash on a hike with other dogs - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

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This is a long over-due review for Rich and co. at Akina K9! I came to Rich with my rescue pup around November based on several friends who have worked with him in the past. We worked over a period of a few months and 8 sessions to nail down some of the key obedience commands that both my dog and I needed to know. I'm really appreciative of Rich because he was very real and honest about the assessment of my dog. He also helped provide confidence in me and gave great advice. I have a young pup who definitely is skittish and not as confident, but I feel training really built up her confidence and made her proud of learning all these new tricks and skills! I could go on and on, but ultimately, I think the K9 instills the confidence in you as an. owner, and what kind of behaviors/things both dog and owner need to work on. Before I headed back to Portland, where I'm based, Rich let me know he was always available for questions and gave me some key advice to help continue the training at home. If I make it back to the Bay, I will definitely hit up some group trainings to continuously make sure my pup and I are in tip top shape. read more

We feel so lucky and blessed to have had Rich train our dog. He started working with our pitbull when she was around 6 months old and helped her grow into a happy and well adjusted dog. He is super patient and knowledgeable and gives the owners the tools they need to continue on with lifelong training and reinforcement. It's always good vibes and positive energy all the time with him and his crew. Could not recommend anyone more highly. Thanks so much Rich! read more

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I stumbled upon Rich when I was looking for trainers around the Bay Area for my (now 1 year old) corgi. My boyfriend and I were getting so desperate to "fix" our leash reactive, fearful, stubborn, talker of a dog. We were about to send her off to a 2 week board and train program with another trainer, but the night I was supposed to get back to that trainer, something in my gut told me... there's something better out there (and cheaper!!! we were quoted nearly $4K at the board & train place but we were extremely hopeless at that time that we were about to follow through with it!). It was about 1 or 2 am when I came across Akina k9 on Yelp, browsed the website, and found his Instagram page -- the videos on his Instagram is what really sold me! My first impression was: "Wow! This guy really caters to every single dog and works with their handlers to meet their goals!" When I reached out to Rich, he was extremely personable; we scheduled a date and time to meet and talk about our goals for our dog right away. Rich has a variety of package deals to choose from based on your needs (I.e 8 week individual classes, 12 weeks, etc..). His work ethic is untouchable & he will literally meet you and your dog anywhere you want to train. What's unique about Rich, in my opinion, is he trains the owners how to train their dog(s). So, he'll walk you through the commands and have YOU do it with your dog during the sessions. He then gives you homework each week, and it's your responsibility to maintain that. You'll only really meet your goals if you put in the work, so that means doing your homework! Homework entails what you learned during your session that particular week and what commands you should practice and polish up on so that you're ready for the next week. I never thought I'd see the day where my dog would be able to walk side by side another dog, be around them and not fear them! But when Rich introduced his dog, Devin to my dog... it was such a game changer. Devin is a special dog and he helps Rich train other dogs who may be fearful around other animals (which is the case with mine), aggressive dogs, puppies, etc! This man and his dog.. they do it all! We're so sad that our individual training sessions have come to an end, but we are attending the group training classes now. Every Wednesdays at Pet Food Express! We just came home from our first one and I'm just at a loss for words. I'm so so so so impressed by how well my dog did around ~6+ dogs and the structure of it is super unique as well! We will continue to further our training with Rich through these group classes and maybe some more individual ones in the future. If you've made it this far in my review, I hope it gives you hope that your dog is in great hands with Rich. Interestingly enough, one day at work I was telling my coworkers I booked training sessions with Rich and 2 of them told me they went to him in the past for training as well and were NOT disappointed. I recommend Rich to everyone I work with and a few of my other coworkers have reached out him as well! I seldom write reviews on Yelp. This is probably my 7th review ever and I'm an avid yelp-er haha.. I just never find the time/value in drafting up reviews unless I'm really impressed. So the fact that I'm writing a novel right now speaks volumes as to how amazing Rich is, both as a trainer and overall human being! Thanks so much, Rich! (Enjoy the pictures below of my dog around other dogs + Rich's pup, Devin!) read more

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Rich has been a fantastic trainer for our young Boxer Hank. He is very knowledgeable and extremely patient. Hank is a bit of a pocket rocket but is really preforming well under Rich's instruction. Rich has educated my wife Tammy and I on the proper way to interact with him. He will be truly one of the best and obedient Boxers we have had. Many thanks to Rich and the entire Akina k9 team for being a true professional training facility. Dean & Tammy Scott read more

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I would highly recommend your dog to be trained here. Rich is amazing. He can train any dog. I put my corso for a month of board and train. She's very stubborn and shy. After a month of training she improved greatly. She now can focus and obey commands. Im really satisfied with the service. Rich is the man! It was worth it! read more

Akina K9 - Bella board and train - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Rich came highly recommended by a few of my friends so we ended up taking our pup to Rich once she turned 4 months old. We just finished our 8 private sessions package and our pup has learned so much from Rich, and even more important, I have learned to better communicate with my dog. He really sets you up for success and makes sure you have a great foundation of training that you can continue with your dog even after your sessions are done. I always get comments that "wow your pup is really well behaved" and I would attest that to the training we have done with Rich. I recommend him to anyone who is looking for a dog trainer for general obedience, behavioral modification, agility, socialization, etc for any breed + size + age. His prices are more than fair and we have also done board and training with him too and have had a great experience. read more