If you're looking for a trainer--stop looking, because Rich is The One. I honestly believe Tucker wouldn't be the well behaved pup that he is today if it wasn't for Rich. With Rich's structured sessions, his patience, and ability to accommodate our schedule, I'm beyond thankful for the progress Tucker has made over the last 6 months. Whether you're looking into board & train, group, or private sessions...Rich is who you need to go to. We've done it all with him, and will continue our private sessions with him for as long as we can! read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

I've worked with Rich for a couple years now, even before he started this business. He has the most patient and calming presence and was able to really break down our goals with our pup to achievable milestones. I highly recommend the investment for your pup, we have said it's the best money we've spent. Why we prefer Akina K9: -Rich is able to come to you, so you're able to work in settings in which your dog is prone to misbehaving -The group class optionality is awesome for practice in-between the private sessions -Rich is extremely patient and attentive when you're there, he won't try to couple you in with other clients out of convenience, so you really get the undivided attention to work on specific problems -He also leverages his own pups to help with the training, which we've found to be super helpful Basil is now pretty much off-leash obedient, not reactive at all towards cats, squirrels, small dogs, puppies, and her 'out / drop' command to completely disregard something incredibly high value is 100%. It was a huge time investment, and certainly did not happen overnight, but I know that without Rich's expertise -- we would not be where we are now! read more

First off, a huge thank you to Rich and Suzana. Rich is so knowledgeable and patient when it comes to training. No matter how many in depth questions you have, he is always willing to explain in a way you understand. His expertise shines through in every session, and as long as you dedicate time to consistently completing your assigned homework with your pup, Rich will guide you down the right path. Suzana was also amazing to work with when it came to setting up the training schedule. She was also very understanding if I had to reschedule a training day and always responds in a timely manner. I can't begin to express my appreciation for the two of them and the lessons they have taught Moose and I. We're excited to continue additional sessions and help Moose and I be the best we can be. read more

The best you can get with dog training! We recently adopted a 3yr old bulldog, Hank, and we hired Richard to help us make sure our dog receives the structure and training he needs to be happy. We are first-time owners of a bully breed. Not only does our bulldog benefit from Akina K9 services, we as owners feel more confident in handling our dog as well. Every concern we have about Hank, whether it's his mouthing or water intake, Richard always addresses it right away and gives us doable steps to make sure the issue is resolved. He is calm and detailed throughout the training session and encourages us to contact him if we have any questions when he's not around. He gives us homework every week to work on with our dog so that by the next training session we have, Hank is ready to tackle the next step. All in all, I definitely recommend Akina K9 and will continue to consult with Richard in the future for all of my dog training needs. read more

No lie, before I brought my son to be trained I didn't think he would ever be able to be by other dogs. After going through the 12 week training my son can now be by other dogs and also be able to play with them. I say this because before training my dog attacked 3 other dogs and hurt them badly. Now he is well trained doesn't drag me down the street and obeys commands. I highly suggest Akina K9. Also my son is a blue nose pit bull. Thank you for helping us and ensuring our son won't get taken from us for attacking other animals. read more

Rich was great to work with over almost a year of training. He was always gentle with our dog but also extremely precise in what was expected of him. Our dog (and mostly us!) learned to communicate in a clear way, with no ambiguity. Our relationship with our dog has improved greatly because we now understand how to "parent" him and that most of the failures are actually ours, not his. Rich was very patient despite us being very slow learners, and just consistently reinforced his techniques over and over until we finally started to get it. He even worked with my oldest kids so they could be consistent with our dog too. His technique seems so simple and apparent now but it's not initially intuitive because it's so foreign to most dog owners. It really takes specialized knowledge and experience that Rich definitely has in spades. I feel like a much, much better dog owner and trainer to our dog after what Rich has taught us. Thanks Rich! read more

My boyfriend and I got a quarantine puppy. We were in search of a training facility that catered to our puppy needs. We were referred to Rich at Akina K9 by a friend. He was responsive and even offered to have us be the first morning appointment. We bought 8 private sessions. We drove down from San Jose to his facility in Gilroy for our first appointment. Aside from his great covid measures, he also sanitized his facility every morning for our puppy. Fast forward we have now bought additional private sessions and attend his group classes. Rich is straight forward and definitely knowledgeable when it comes to anything dog related. It's a huge commitment but you definitely get out what you put in. He has always been there to support us and help with our pup. He's always available by phone and text whenever a concern or question arises. A big plus is that our pup Zoë loves him! Our puppy gets complemented all the time about how well behaved she is & its all thanks to Rich. If you're looking for a no BS & effective trainer you have to go to Rich! read more

Akina K9 - Zoë in her box - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

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My wife and I have been taking our pup, Hana to Rich at Akina K9 since January. Within 2-3 sessions we started to already see results in her behavior. Prior to the classes, Hana had high anxiety very skittish. After those few sessions, she started to have more confidence outside and started to warm up to friends and neighbors. Now in about our 5th month with Rich, Hana listens to commands in different environments, is now off leash at home, and a lot more confident than before. Rich was definitely able to unlock the potential Hana has and continues to help us achieve the goals we had at the start of our training. We highly recommend Rich and Akina K9's services and training methods. From behavior to protection training they got you covered and will help you achieve your goals for you and K9! read more

HUGH SHOUT OUT to Rich and Akina K9. Just want to say that Akina K9 is AWESOME. Their board and training program is OUTSTANDING , it was a complete night and day difference with my Koda. He's so dialed in, they took my Koda to a whole new level. Complete transformation. I CANT WAIT to see them take Koda to the next level. read more

Akina K9 - Just look how well my Koda did Thank you Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Rich is the best trainer, very patient with the human trying to keep up with their dog!

Rich (The Owner) is an amazing trainer. Before coming to Rich, I was worried that my dog was at a point that he could not be changed, but I was wrong. Not only is Rich extremely knowledgeable in dog behavior but he is also very professional and patient with his clients. Rich has taught me how to properly communicate with my dog in order to teach and enjoy his good behavior while eliminating bad and unwanted behaviors. I have yet come up with a question, issue, or behavior to which he does not have an answer or solution. I highly recommend Akina K9's services to every dog owner I know. The fact that he can come to your home or meet you in public to work with your dog is a huge advantage in the dog training world. read more

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Rich is the absolute best. My wife and I did 12 sessions with him and the change in our dog was night and day. His manners were better, he was a much better listener, and just overall much more well-behaved. One of the best things about Rich's training is he caters every session to the specific things you want your dog to improve on, he adjusts his training to your dog, rather than vise versa. We hope to join some of his group classes and will recommend him to anyone and everyone! read more

Rich is a amazing trainer. He helped train my pitbull Bella who was pretty reactive as a young puppy (she barked at every dog she came across and some people). We have learned so much from rich and I'm am comfortable and confident in taking my dog off leash. I will be forever grateful for what Rich has taught us and all the progress we have made together. read more

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

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Once my girlfriend and I realized how intensely leash-reactive (lunging, barking at other dogs while on leash) our Border Collie/Shepherd/Husky mix was after we took him home from the rescue, we quickly realized that we needed to find a professional trainer in the area. A close friend of mine mentioned Rich Akina and how much of a positive impact he made on their dogs. Honestly, we were a bit skeptical at first of professional dog training in general (like, how would you really know it's worth the money?), but Rich took the time to answer our questions from the beginning and made us feel comfortable. Upon our first private lesson, Rich immediately had our pup doing easy-to-understand drills, and the positive changes to his behavior was apparent from day one. Although we ended up purchasing more equipment from him (leash, box, collar, flirt pole), not once did Rich pressure us or get pushy with selling anything. He even suggested different stores and alternatives to his training equipment - that earned our trust immediately. We've finished our private sessions at this time (strongly considering purchasing more in the future to continue improving our dog's behavior), but we have a lot more group sessions to go, and we're very excited to continue seeing improvement. For all those who are considering dog training - keep in mind that you're not really paying for someone to train your dog for you, but instead investing in training for yourself as the owner. This is way more valuable, as you'll have the knowledge moving forward around how to handle different situations and feel completely comfortable handling your pup. PS - due to the pandemic, Rich is temporarily only doing sessions out of his Gilroy location. With that said, we're based in San Mateo, and the over-hour-long drive we've been making every time for a session has been completely worth it. read more

Rich really helped us understand how to communicate with our puppy, Mylo. My husband and I were both inexperienced puppy parents, so we knew we wanted to work with a private trainer. Rich answered all our questions, and geared each session to what we wanted to work on. After each session he writes down homework, so you can practice the training at home as well. He also has group classes, which are a great way to practice commands around other dogs. Thanks to Rich, Mylo is a (mostly) well behaved, well trained puppy. read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

If u are looking for some one good for your bad dog then look no further,here's your man "Richard" .He' s known to me for couple of years now and is nothing but sort of an amazing dog trainer who sits well both the dogs and the dog parents. He can train just about anything and has trained me many times too :))) Without any hesitation or doubts ,call him for all your canine needs and trust me you wont be disappointed. He's one of the best in the bay and very affordable. He's available all the times and very flexible with your schedule. Call him now, thank me later!!! read more

I have two dogs who get complimented on their training all the time. Not only are they now well behaved I also feel as though I have the tools to address any other behavioral issues. Other than the actual dog training component, Rich is a joy to work with! Made the sessions very enjoyable and is a great teacher. I would recommend him to anyone. read more

Rich is an amazing, knowledgable, and patient trainer. Ronan, our 1 year and 9 month Rhodesian Ridgeback, started to become leash aggressive and after trying out a few methods my husband and I knew we needed to get some professional help. Ronan now knows how to heel, look at us for guidance in situations, recall, place on the box, ignore distractions, among a lot of other valuable skills. Not only that, but his leash aggression has gone down greatly which says a lot since Ronan is a very stubborn dog. We loved the one-on-one training sessions and how Rich included his dog, Dev. Like others have mentioned, this training is not only for dogs but their owners as well. After each lesson we were given homework for us to work on and as they say, "practice makes perfect!" We now feel very confident that no matter the situation we have the tools necessary to ensure everyone's safety. Without Rich, we are sure we would not have been able to reach this point. Additionally, whenever we had questions Rich was happy to answer them whether it be in person or over text. All in all, we highly recommend Akina K-9 for your training needs. The staff are all great and your pup will be better off for it. read more

Akina K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

Richard is a fantastic instructor, worth every penny! We enjoy our dog and he enjoys pleasing us. Highly recommend Akina K9. My wife and I went together to the sessions and we did our homework with him. read more

Rich was recommended to us by our vet and i think it was the right decision to take his help. We were new dog parents and had adopted a 6 month old rescue, lab and border collie mix(Joey) Joey was very distracted when we started. He would bark at other dogs on walks and he is a very strong dog. Rich started from the basics and made us equipped to handle Joey. Joey had his quirks during the training also but it definitely helped us bond with him. Rich was patient in explaining everything to us and answering all our questions. Even during the lockdown during the past 6 months, Rich was very accommodating of our time and schedule and helped us find the time to train Joey. Training is a continuous process. Rich helped us understand how to deal with difficult situations which is very important. We are really happy with the training Joey got and the training we got with Joey and would totally recommend Rich and Devin( his dog ) to everyone. read more

If you're searching for an honest and effective trainer for your dog, look no further - Rich at Akina k9 is as good as it gets! Like many others, I adopted a pandemic pup (Aspen) back in June 2020 and quickly realized I needed to work with a trainer to help with her fear-based reactivity. Being a rescue, she was afraid of nearly everything - new people, dogs, places and even inanimate objects. Before finding Akina k9, I worked with 3 other trainers with little to no results; I thought it was a lost cause. Enter Rich and Akina k9. I initially booked an 8 session private lesson package with Rich, and began to see immediate results. Rich quickly diagnosed and understood the extent of Aspen's fearfulness, and knew exactly how to work with her to develop that initial trust. Rich tailors each session to work on the specific issues that I was experiencing with Aspen, and has always been patient yet assertive with his overall plan to help Aspen. He gives a thorough, custom "homework" sheet to work on between sessions. This helps me stay on track as an owner, as it's critical to be consistent with training in order to see the results you want. I have since booked an additional set of private lessons and also regularly attend group trainings on Saturday evenings in order to stay sharp and continue improving with Aspen. The improvement I've seen with the help of Rich is night and day. During the first private session, Aspen was too scared to even walk into the training facility and barked/growled at any unfamiliar person or dog around her. Fast forward to today, Aspen confidently attends group sessions surrounded by 10+ dogs and their owners. Without Rich and Akina k9, I can definitively say that this progress would not have been possible. Throughout Aspen and my training journey, Rich has been nothing but professional, honest and thoughtful. His dog training knowledge is unparalleled and it's refreshing to be treated with care and respect as a client. Rich truly wants to see you and your dog succeed, and is committed to helping you get there. Thank you, Rich and Akina k9 for all the help so far. Aspen and I look forward to continue working with you in the future! read more

Akina k9 is very knowledgeable and made it very easy for us to train our corso. His dedication and passion shows thru his training.Would highly recommend anyone that needs help with getting their dog trained. Thanks again Akinak9 read more

It's hard to put into words how grateful we are to have found Rich. My dad adopted Alfie from a rescue and we fell in love with him instantly. The only problem was that he had a long list of issues and we were told by some people that he was a lost cause. From reactivity to dogs and people, resource guarding, separation anxiety, aggression, it looked like we had taken on more than we could handle. He was destined to live a life locked in the house. I can happily say that in less than 2 months, Alfie is well on his way to live a more fulfilled life and it's all thanks to Rich. Our ultimate goal was to have a family BBQ attended by Alfie and my own dog, Jess. Because Alfie has made such great progress, that will happen in the next week. Rich is so patient and knowledgeable. Every week we were sent home with clear written assignments. If I had a question during the week, he was available via text. We even spent part of our class time in the parking lot to work on Alfie's reactivity and separation anxiety in my car. BTW, I hardly ever write reviews. In this case, I had to make an exception. This is the best investment you can make for you and your dog. Rich, thank you for helping us communicate with Alfie better and for opening up a whole new world for him. read more

Best dog trainer ever! I never thought my dog would progress as much as she has but she's doing amazing now! I'm confident with my dog now and she keeps learning new things and she gets excited when she sees him. I have a reactive dog and she has made so much progress with him to the point where I can take her on walks and feel calm and confident. Will never go to any other trainers. He is by far the best we've been to read more

Rich has been working with us on training our Rottweiler puppy, Koda, for over a month now. And we couldn't be happier with his progress. We really appreciate Rich's positive training techniques that focus on building our communication with our puppy. He answers all of our questions and provides us with any guidance we need with so much patience. And Koda is always so excited to see him every week! read more

Akina K9 is amazing! Richard is the owner and he really knows his stuff! His prices are very fair, he offers home visits, out and about sessions and is very flexible. He came to my home to evaluate my dog and we spoke in depth about the issues I was having and he made a recommendation for training. I am currently doing private sessions about one a week and as soon he starts group classes I am there! He is the closest you will get to a real dog whisperer. I have seen results quickly, he explains everything over and over and never gets annoyed with me! Also once you meet his dog Devin the Dude you will never go to another trainer. They are an amazing team!! read more

One of the best and affordable dog trainers around. Knows what he's talking about and can get your dog to be where you want them to be. Is able to come to you as well and is always on time. Really good trainer read more

Temple and I have been going to Rich since early/mid February and wow! He has been nothing short of helpful. I adopted Temple when she was about 8 or 9 months and although I've had family dogs in the past she's the first dog I've been able to call my own. I noticed Temple struggling with some serious aggression issues and had no idea what to do in order to fix them so I decided to reach out to Rich. He has helped in so many ways and I cannot thank him enough! He is knowledgeable, friendly and patient. He helps me understand what I'm doing wrong or what I could do better without making me feel stupid (lol) It is blatantly obvious he is passionate about the work he does. A couple months ago I couldn't ever imagine Temple being around another dog but Rich has helped me make that possible! I highly recommend him to anyone dealing with an aggressive pup. I couldn't ask for a better trainer! Thank you!!! read more

Akina K9 - Temple getting over her dog aggression (-: - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

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When I first brought our pup Xena to see Rich back in December she was very reactive to other dogs. Today we attended our first group session. I was blown away to say the least. Rich makes instructions clear to understand and he has lots of patience for handler and pup. We will continue to do group classes as long as we can. Thank you Rich! read more

Rich really knows dogs!! He taught us a lot, besides the training which our dog received. He is excellent at explaining how to interact with your dog. I first saw him training another dog and was attracted by his soft voice and gentle demeanor. He was calm and patient with our boy and with us. We saw results right away - our boy enjoyed the sessions and so did we. Another plus is that he came to our house and was always on time. He is truly excellent and we highly recommend him. read more

Rich ruly knows his stuff! We could hardly even walk our dog, Jack, when we first adopted him-58 lbs. at about 6 months. Rich's calming personality and firmness in his commands immediately made our unruly pup listen. In our training sessions, there was always an element of trust and fun which allowed us to create an incredible bond with our dog. Jack is accountable for all of his actions and in turn is living his best life. We highly recommend Rich! He is the best in the business! read more

Akina K9 - Amazing trust built with the help of Rich! - Pet Training Near Me - Gilroy , California

My husband and I just finished our 12 sessions with Rich and we have a brand new dog! We adopted our small mix dog when he was 4 years old and it was obvious his previous owner let him do whatever he wanted. He was very misbehaved, he barely knew sit when we first started, he was always pulling on the leash, lunging and barking at dogs and people, and overall didn't listen to us. He has gotten MUCH better over the course of our training with Rich and we feel much more at ease to bring him places with us. He learned the basic stuff that all dogs should know but also some cool fun tricks as well as ways to overcome his more severe issues. Rich was very patient with him (which is saying a lot because he is very stubborn!), and he made sure to focus our lessons on things that we wanted him to learn. He also gave us homework after every lesson which I think was a crucial part to my dogs development. I am so thankful for how much Rich has helped us and I would recommend him to anybody who is thinking about doing training! read more

We've had 8 private sessions with Rich so far and are continuing with more private sessions as well as group classes. My dog has problems with aggression and reactivity towards people and dogs. We've brought him to different trainers when we lived in SoCal and even completed a 3-week board and train, but we weren't getting the results we wanted. I wish we could have started training with Rich from the beginning. Since I had a very poor experience with my last trainer, I was very unsure of finding yet another one. Despite my worries, Rich was able to build a strong rapport with us just within the first couple of sessions! His professionalism and his genuine attitude towards helping us has led us to trust him and the process! He is extremely patient and does a great job of ensuring we understand the what and why of things. We've made great progress so far and we are excited to continue our journey with Akina K9! read more

Rich is AMAZING. He has been helping me train my service animal and with my disabilities, I get frustrated easy. He is so patient with me and my pup. He is so gentle and willing to explain things repeatedly and never gets frustrated with me. He is awesome with our pup and so encouraging! Words can't express how grateful we are we found Rich. If you are looking for the best trainer around, Rich is your man HANDS DOWN! read more

I've been working with Rich for the past two years. He knows his stuff and how to get results. He maps out a training plan from day one, and as long as you do your part and get in the reps, the results will follow. Getting my Cane Corso to become compliant was an arduous undertaking, but Rich showed great patience and was positive, even when I had all but given up hope. The persistence has paid off and I am thrilled with the results. One thing I really love about Akina K9 is the variety of environments we expose the dog to. In addition to in home lessons, we have been to the mall, the park, and several stores. My dog has benefited greatly from training in the various environments. Akina K9 has earned my business for life. read more

Our family has been working with Rich for the past month. He has helped our family dog and he's great to work with. Rich is very knowledgeable and while training our dog we have noticed our dog growing into a obedient, loving part of our family. We will continue with training and recommend his services. read more

My dog has leash reactivity, and eventually I knew I had to get help. I tried 2 different trainers before coming to Rich, and Im so glad the first two trainers didn't work out! Rich is an amazing trainer. Kind, educational, understanding, and patient. You can tell he really loves what he does. Can't reccomend him enough! Thanks for helping me and my girl out!! read more

Rich was extremely helpful and everything we needed in a dog trainer for our adopted 2 year Aussie. Right from the start, he helped us teach him basic and advanced commands, proper control in different situations, and how to look for bad & good signs in our dog's behavior. We also agree with his method of training balancing obedience and freedom with our new dog. Just a handful of weeks of training with Rich and hole reinforcement led to huge improvements in our new dog. Would highly recommend Rich's Akina K9 training as it's very effective and affordable compared to others you'll find in the Bay Area. read more

It's my pleasure to provide this review for Rich and Akina K9. We were referred by a friend to Rich and couldn't be more pleased with the entire training experience. Our dog Sammy, a 2 year old Lab mix, immediately took to Rich and benefited greatly from our 8 private sessions. His expert instruction was flexible, fun and directed to our specific needs. Sammy and I both gained significant knowledge from the training and continue to work with the tools Rich gave us daily. I give Rich and Akina K9 my highest recommendation and look forward to continued training with him on an ongoing basis. Thanks Rich and we'll see you all soon!!! read more

Rich is an awesome trainer. He's very professional and takes his job seriously, but at the same time makes training fun for you and your dog. My only regret is that I didn't start training with Rich sooner. I highly recommend the group classes as well as private lessons. If you attend these classes and put in the work you will 100% see results with your dog. read more