"Happy Training! Play with your Dog!" Rich and Suzana's hard work and dedication to you as their clients is unmatched from my experiences with various other places. Not only did I learn how to train a dog properly, I learned how to handle two dogs with two separate learning methods. I came in with my cousin and her two dogs, my cousin has difficulty hearing so I was there as a note taker and a second handler for their sessions from start to end. One dog was more prey driven and her other dog was more food oriented, learning two different methods was mind blowing at first but once you retain the information and start seeing the small details, it's those small steps that set you and your dog up for success. Seeing the difference in the dogs behavior from the beginning of this year to nearly the end of this year has been nothing short of incredible. Putting in the time and effort in the right direction with the best methods of training instead of a generalized approach is what makes the difference in results. Rich is attentive to your dog and thinks on the spot, he also shares other techniques and sees if your dog is more receptive towards that approach and continues on doing so every single session. Being in those sessions and assisting handling the dogs training at home opened my eyes as a fellow owner about the actual responsibilities of owning a furry friend. Looking back at my younger self who begged for a dog(s), the things I was taught about training a dog were not accurate at all. So being able to get the proper education on how to handle the doggos was one of the best parts of my life so far this year. I've also grown as a person and have come out of my shell a bit more and socialized better with Rich, Suzana, and fellow dog owners. I can't thank Rich, Suzana, Devin, and Mana enough for helping my cousin and I,her dogs, and helping us connect with a dog community that is so supportive of each other and uplifts one another. I also really recommend going to group classes (once approved) before your sessions are done because it's perfect to get more insight on how to help your dog in new environments and being around other dogs as well as understanding how to do certain commands that are issued during the group class. It's also really inspiring to see other owners with their dogs and knowing that one day, slowly but surely you'll be able to do advanced commands like them. If you're reading this and doubting it, the fact that you're doing the training and putting in the work, it'll only be a matter of time before you realize how far you have come. The first day of Group Class will definitely test everything you have learned but Rich is there to help and give advice. But don't feel discouraged because it shows that he is attentive enough to all clients present and it gives you more insight on what you can do at the moment and what you can go over during your sessions. I highly suggest looking at the whiteboard after each session and asking questions about anything there that interests you and see if your dog is at a stage where those commands might be possible. If you're still hesitant about choosing this place, schedule a consultation at least and experience it for yourself. read more

I have been procrastinating about my review of AkinaK9/AHappyPetTail not because it's bad but because there is so much good that I really don't know how to be succinct enough to capture one's attention to how great a trainer Rich is. We adopted our dog Indy from GGLR 3 years ago and he was 4 at the time and had failed the program 'Dogs for Diabetes' but he came with a foundation of commands. He has this incredible personality that is smart, lovable and goofy but he has an underlying aggression that is a real liability. I used to say he was bi-polar but now refer to him as Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. For 2 years we tried many different methods but were never able to work through the aggression. Indy had a bad confrontation with our daughter's boyfriend's dog which prompted us to realize we needed to try something different and she convinced me to work with Rich. This was the trainer she had at CaliK9 many years ago that she was extremely impressed with. We started a 12 private session program right after Christmas 2023 and what a program it has been. Rich has this incredible level of patience like no other and I'm not referring to working with the dog but with the dog's owner. Let's face it, dog training is 90% about training the owner to be dedicated and consistent in working with their dog. A dog needs to trust their owner and working with them helps develop that trust. I have had dogs all my life and have never had such a hard time with training a dog until Rich helped me through the process with Indy. There was a long series of time to acclimating Indy and I to the E-Collar. I now can see why it takes so long as the E-collar should never be something the dog is afraid of. When I finally got to the ability to use the 'NO' command, OMG what a difference it has made. From that point Rich was able to bring other dogs into our training sessions and it finally gave me confidence that the aggression was something that could be dealt with. One quick side note...The BOX - this simple thing is the foundation of the training, and we have one at our front door, at work and at a weekend site. Indy loves to be sent to the box and always jumps on it with delight because he knows he's going to get treats. He is very food motivated which is a big help in training. We are now doing the group sessions and I was pretty nervous at our 1st group but Rich was sensitive to this and kept an eye on us. Others in the group were pretty supportive and the comment was made "We've all been there" and it made me realize how fortunate Indy and I were to have started our dog training with AkinaK9/AHappyPetTail. All paws up to Rich, Suzana and Taren! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Rich. He is INCREDIBLY knowledgeable about dogs in general. We brought in our senior dog, and Rich created a custom training plan for our dog's age, abilities, and needs. We needed to focus on muzzle training, tolerance, and the basics too after our dog bit our vet! After working with Rich, our dog will happily walk into a muzzle and it's not scary or annoying for him to do. In busy settings, our dog can still focus on us. Now, when we go to the vet, our dog can get his care while keeping the staff and our dog safe. Our dog had fun and was engaged during training sessions both at the Akina K9 headquarters and also when we did our training at home with our dog. Rich was extremely patient with us and our dog. He paced sessions well so our dog could take breaks as needed. Our dog also liked going in for training sessions with Rich. He would eagerly get out of the car to go inside and meet up with Rich. Rich answered our many questions and also reviewed videos with us to help us understand how to improve. We did a 12 session series with Rich, and we have been able to continue expanding on the techniques he taught us to teach our dog more things. We are so incredibly appreciative to Akina K9 for making our vet visits much easier for everyone involved and giving us a fun way to bond with our dog through training! If you follow the directions rich provides, you will get results. Highly highly highly recommend Akina K9! read more

8 Private Sessions and 30 Day Board and Train Program We have been proactive with training since we got our golden retriever, Mango but there are many things you can't learn from doing your own research. Our friends referred us to Rich and we started doing private sessions with him since Mango was 5 months old. Our main concerns were pulling while on the leash, reactivity to dogs, humans and sounds, and separation anxiety. Every session we would gain more knowledge on how to handle her. Rich was patient, answered all our questions and provided feedback. Suzana was communicative with all scheduling needs. After Mango turned one year old, we had her do the 30 Day Board and Train Program. Rich, Taren, and his team provided updates on their Instagram with progress videos. We saw such an improvement by each video. When we brought her home, she was seriously a different dog. The change was night and day. Mango is almost 3 years old now and she can walk on leash in a heel position, can be fully off leash (with an e-collar), and can be left at home alone in her crate for a full work day. We also had her board at the facility while we were on vacations. It's definitely a huge commitment and get in what you put in, but it has been the best investment we've made. We are more confident owners and our quality of life has improved significantly. We constantly get compliments on how behaved and trained Mango is and we owe it all to Rich and his team. read more

I started taking my 3 yr old corgi Jacks to Akina K9 (Rich) about a year ago. Jacks was terrified of loud noises and had really bad reactivity towards other dogs and humans. He was walking me instead of me walking him. It was really hard to do my day to day with Jacks because of his behavior. Rich's personal training has honestly changed our lives and ability to do more things with Jacks. He is very patient and provides step by step instructions, homework for you to practice at home and practical solutions to your problems. He customizes each class to focus on the problem at hand and replicates the behavior so he can show you how to correct it. He also adds a level of fun throughout the training so your dog doesn't feel stressed out. Jacks was terrified at first, but warmed up with time. Jacks is not a perfect dog, but has completely adjusted his behavior with Rich's training. I would 10/10 recommend our training experience and will continue to attend group classes because Jacks enjoys them! read more

Want to build a strong bond and relationship with your dog and learn more about dog training/psychology/behavior? Then Akina K9 and a Happypettail is the place for you. I previously had training with my cockpoo and wanted to learn more and take it to the next level and taking him to Akina K9 was the best choice I made. Rich is an extremely knowledgable, explains clearly, works with you on your goals, and really cares about your dog! I enjoyed learning so much in private sessions, had fun in group classes with my dog, and did a board and train when I went on vacation. On vacation I knew my dogs were well cared for and trained thanks to Rich and the Akina K9 Team. PLEASE if your dog has any behavior issues, is reactive, want to build the next level relationship with your dog and most importantly if you want to understand and enrich your dogs life, Akina K9/ahappypettail is the TOP NOTCH PLACE to be!! read more

I have had nothing but great experiences with Akina K9 and Ahappypettail. I took my energetic and feisty Jack Russell Terrier and wanted to be able to find a path for her energy and turn it into a positive outlet through training. Rich is not only very knowledgable about dog psychology and training techniques, he also is a natural teacher and genuinely cares about you and your dog's progress. He was able to explain the training techniques and theory behind them in an easy to understand way. Private classes are an excellent place to learn and group classes are very well organized and a great place to continue to work on training. Both me and my dog went through such a transformation during our time at Akina K9. Not only does Akina K9 provide a great space for your dog training needs, Ahappypettail also provides excellent board and train services. read more

Rich Akina is most definitely and highly recommended dog trainer. Brought in my husky knowing huskies need a lot of work as they are known to be too smart for their own good breeds. Rich took us in for private classes and was very patient with us, as dog training is not just about teaching the dogs but also teaching owners as well. Rich was able teach us focused heel , sharpening our obedience, increase confidence, and how to free shape train. Rich was very easy to communicate with and reasonable pricing! Keep in mind this is no pet smart training, and owners must also be held liable with keeping up with homework for success! Will definitely be picking up a few more private sessions, join their group sessions and take all my future fur babies here! read more

Rich and his team changed my dog Zara in the most amazing ways, and I can't express my gratitude enough. Prior to sending her to training, she lacked obedience, confidence, and just wouldn't listen to me at all. Taking her out in public was such a shit show (literally). I now have a fantastic dog due to Rich's patience, guidance, and expertise! Zara now obeys commands and her newly discovered confidence has been a game changer. I am no longer hesitant about taking her out in public and It has been such a relief and joy to see this transformation. I highly recommend Akina K9 if you're having obedience trouble with your dog! read more

I'm thrilled with the results of my dog Ollie's board and train program. Before meeting Rich and his team, Ollie would bark at strangers for both excitement and fear. It was challenging to have conversations with people around him. Additionally, he didn't know any commands. After a month of training with Rich and his team, Ollie has become a much more confident pup. He no longer barks at everyone and everything. He also knows a variety of commands, which I'm gradually learning to use with him. With Rich's guidance, I've gained a deeper understanding of my dog's behavior and am excited to continue his training. read more

Rich is the best there is. I'm so blessed to have been able to work with him with multiple dogs. He's taken us from can't be in public, to, can be off leash in public. It's like a miracle, a totally different dog. Rich is an excellent teacher, he's got patience to spare, never gets his feathers ruffled, no matter how difficult the situation. I can't recommend Akina K9 highly enough. We drove seven hours round trip for the better part of a year go to go him. He's worth driving ANY distance! He will help you have a relationship with your dog you never thought was possible. read more