I chose Mike/K9 Mentor because he had a Great Pyrenees (named Dakota) like my dog Maximus. So I figured he would do best or better than others knowing the breed. In short: Best investment ever for my dog. Mike arrived at 8am. We had a 50-55 minute learning session on DOGs from their culture, through the do's & don'ts, then we brought Maximus in and slowly applied the training methods. What Mike taught us, and what he did with Maximus, is absolutely fabulous. Maximus is more calm & less "high-strung", listens better, responds to me better, seems happier than before K9 Mentor training. PLUS, his aggressiveness has seemed to diminish greatly since the training session. Mike's training is simple, straight-forward, easy to learn (& eventually master) methods. I am completely satisfied with Mike/K9 Mentor Dog Training and would highly recommend him, especially with large dogs. Happy Dog Training & Fight On! read more

Thanks to Marti for being a great evaluator for both Canine Good Citizen and Trick dog. This handler was a bit nervous as there was a lot of distractions. Marti just asked us to start doing things instead of reading it off of the list and my nerves subsided. We passed! Yay! This young boy even exceeded my expectations! Much thanks to Marti for our sweet scarf and ribbon too! Love it! Highly recommend! read more

The K9 Mentor - Thank you for the CGC scarf! - Pet Training Near Me

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We had Marti come to our house this week to help with our two Labradors (3yo and 2yo). They have good behavior but we were struggling with how they play off each other, especially upon the arrival of anyone to our home. Marti was excellent! She listened to our comments about the situation and observed that they both calmed down fairly soon after she arrived, but WHOA did she get a welcome. By the time Marti left, we had them sitting patiently for knocks on the door and arrivals and we had the tools we needed to continue to work with them. She also helped with leash pulling from the 2yo. I would recommend Marti to any dog owner looking for in house training. read more

The K9 Mentor - Pet Training Near Me

I called Marti after experiencing several instances of my 2-year old Border Colie mix (rescue) showing aggression towards people visiting our home, and the behavior seemed to be getting worse. Marti was able to scope out the indoor/outdoor area of the home and pinpoint areas where I can provide more structure and boundaries for my dog. She also helped refine basic obedience commands. We were even able to practice reactive training while the plumber was visiting (a friend who we called to be there at that time). Overall, I learned my dog was displaying signs of fear/anxiety because I had given her too much space without showing I was the pack leader. Marti was on-time, patient, listened to our concerns, and provided a comprehensive toolkit/plan to improve my dog's behavior. She also gave ample time during our session to address all my dogs/my needs. While my dog was showing aggression/fear at first, she was very responsive to Marti's training techniques and commands and fell asleep with her in the home by the end of the session. It was a great investment for my dog and I, and I highly recommend Marti's services. read more

Mike came to our home several years ago for an escape artist Labrador and ended up changing our whole pack dynamic, of which our Beagle was the apparent alpha. At the end of one session we had a clear understanding (and homework) of our role as humans/leaders and our dogs' role as loyal companions. Our dogs were different - less stressed and much better behaved. They seemed relieved that they didn't have to be the alpha any longer. Years later I tested Mike's lifetime warranty with an email regarding our new adopted puppy. He called within an hour and talked through our issues in-depth. Again with the homework and we're already seeing results. Sometimes the humans need the most training. read more

We are experienced dog owners that have trained our other dogs without any issues, but our newest pup needs some help. We called for a consultation and Marti, the owner had zero customer service skills, she was flat out rude, condescending and judgmental towards us as dog owners. We will not be using her and I'm really surprised she even has clients. read more

WOW!!! Move over Cesar Millan, there is a new dog whisperer in town! Our dog Hollywood was a crazy guy. He was the sweetest most loving dog to us, our friends, and our family, but with strangers he was nuts. Some examples include him barking constantly at our neighbors, wanting to attack every pizza delivery/UPS/repair man who came to our house, nipping at our friends that he didn't know, aggressively barking at every person we encountered on a walk, and even getting snippy with some men who he knew, but didn't know all that well. We had tried a couple different training courses through cities or Petsmart - all a waste of money. He never listened to us, no command or threat or punishment mattered to him. He did what he wanted. The final straw was in July at a party at my parent's house, he snapped at a 16 year old girl who was walking towards me, which resulted in him ripping her dress - thankfully not her skin!! - and leaving me to feel embarrassed about his behavior and hopeless about the situation. So I turned to Yelp and looked up dog trainers. I emailed The K9 Mentor and they called me back the same day. We set an appointment for Eddie to come out to our house on a Saturday. Before Eddie arrived he sent me a three page questionnaire that he requested I fill out for both of my dogs, even though Almond didn't need training. As soon as Eddie arrived he went through all the paperwork and asked us a couple questions in regards to the answers I had filled out. Then training began. In about two hours Eddie showed us that Hollywood is not a mean or bad dog, he is simply fearful of people and overprotective of us (me especially). We needed to show him that WE are the alpha dogs, not him. By doing that, he now knows we can control situations and he does not need to protect us. Eddie also taught us some simple commands and body language to use with Hollywood that stops him from doing things we don't like. At the end of the session Eddie said he didn't believe we needed another lesson, but if we ever wanted one in the future, he would gladly come back out. Any questions we have will be answered by him via email or phone call for free, another session would cost money. The K9 Mentor's rates are very reasonable and well worth it! That night we could tell Hollywood was a different dog! He listens to us all the time now, he obeys perfectly on walks, and when he does start to bark at something (which is a rarity now) one command from me gets him to knock it off. He hasn't barked at the neighbors again, I had people come to deliver our new bed and he did bark but as soon as I told him to stop, he remained quiet for the duration of their time here. I waited about two weeks to post this review, even though I wanted to shout from the rooftops the next day about how great Eddie was. I wanted to see if everything would stick, and it has. I am so glad that we were provided the tools to use to show Hollywood that we are in charge. It has resulted in him being so much more calm and happy, and us being less stressed and happier with him. If you have any sort of behavioral issue with your dog, I really cannot recommend The K9 Mentor, especially Eddie, enough! Not only did Eddie solve all of our problems, but he was a really friendly, nice, funny guy who made us feel comfortable, answered all of our questions, and didn't rush us. Don't bother with basic obedience classes, you may save a little money, but the results will not be the same and definitely won't happen as quickly. I wish we had called The K9 Mentor years ago! read more

A few months ago my husband and I were sick and tired of trying to train our French Bulldog and getting no results. So I found Mike on Yelp and set up an appointment for him to come and train both of our dogs. The Frenchie was the one with the most issues. Mike did an awesome job at explaining why dogs behave the way they do. It was like taking a class on dog psychology! Our dogs responded beautifully! They have so much more respect for us now and listen to all of our commands! Thank you Mike for teaching us how to teach our dogs! read more

The K9 Mentor - My little Sammie waiting for my next instructions. She knows now she has to be invited off the mat. - Pet Training Near Me

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We booked an appointment with Mike around Christmas for our dog, Mack. Mack is a chihuahua/terrier mix that has needed training for a while. After doing some research, we decided individual training with K9 Mentor was the way to go. Mike came to our home and immediately started going over the steps of getting our dog relinquish his role as the alpha dog and have a healthier role in our pack. Our dog is 7 pounds but has the mindset of a 150 pound dog. He also has severe separation anxiety. We ended with the alpha dog walk and was amazed in just 15 minutes how well our dog was listening to Mike. Then it was our turn. Towards the end of our session, our dog was calmly relaxing and enjoying the sun on the leash. Something we had never seen. Normally he is on high alert. We will continue working on our homework with him and being consistent. We look forward to taking over the role of pack leaders and having a relaxed dog. read more

Just wanted to update. It's been eight months since our visit with Mike, and as suspected we only needed one session. Odie is a changed dog, and EVERY DAY we still marvel at how much he changed literally overnight. Best money we ever spent, and if we ever add to our fur family, we're gonna bring in Mike as soon as he's familiar with walking on a leash. It was the best investment we could have made in our VERY spoiled dog. :) read more

The K9 Mentor - Pet Training Near Me

Marti came to our house today because our puppy was out of control: biting - even our children, pooping in house, barking excessively, etc. The puppy was causing chaos in our house. We tried everything...nothing. What a difference she made! You can tell immediately she has had extensive experience with dogs. It was immediate. She was able to immediately see the problems and provide incredibly effective techniques to stop the behaviors. By the time she left we had our angel back. Thank you Marti, you saved us! JP read more

Thank you Mike! I just recently bought a rottweiler puppy and I knew proper training was needed as soon as possible so I came on Yelp and found The K9 Mentor. Mike was amazing, he really knows how to communicate with dogs. His instructions were clear and easy to learn and just after 2 days of using my new learned skills, my rottweiler (RU$K0) already understands that I am the boss lady. Totally worth the money! I also have another dog (Tiger) who's aggressive to strangers but now after taking Tiger on the "Alpha Walk" and using the techniques Mike showed me, Tiger is getting better and not being so crazy and annoying when strangers come. What are you waiting for?!? Call Mike! I promise you won't be disappoint! :) Thanks again Mike! PS: RU$K0 says woooff wooooooooof (hiii!) read more

The K-9 Mentor with Mike has been the best investment we've ever made for our dogs. We have a Siberian Husky and a German Shepard, both now 7 months. There were so many issues with them I don't even know where to begin, but Mike addressed each one individually which was great! Only training on one dog was needed then we implemented what we learned on the 2nd dog and our lives were changed with just one visit! Let me start by saying in this time of crisis with Covid-19 Mike took our safety very seriously, he followed all safety precautions with keeping a 6-foot social distance, hand sanitizer was applied and we all wore face masks which we appreciated. We had no control over our dogs because we failed to take the role of the ALPHA! once Mike showed us how to do that everything changed. As long as you do your homework and be consistent you will see the difference and really appreciate how wonderful these beautiful creatures are. It's amazing to now see how much our dogs want to work for us, invest in us and just make us happy! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Thank you so much Mike worth every penny! read more

Dog training session with my Rottweiler puppy, I was sceptical that whole training can be done in one session,but we nailed it. After training you have to train your dog by yourself, otherwise all money you spend here goes for nothing. I'm writing this review almost one year after training session, and I'm recommending. Isn't easy but it's worth it. Thank you read more

I'm REALLY excited about this. We are already seeing immediate results with our little chihuahua mix. She used to be so anxious and unpredictable. After her session with Mike, she was already appearing more relaxed. Mike is super passionate about what he does and wastes no time. You definitely get your money's worth. Just a note: I recommend listening first and asking questions later! If you are willing to commit to your pup, there's no reason you shouldn't see strong improvement. Looking forward to more amazing results as we keep working with Boo! read more

I can't recommend Mike enough for safe and effective dog training. The previous training and correction methods we had been using with our 7 year old dachshund since he was a puppy had been laborious and produced poor results. Three hours on a Sunday afternoon with Mike changed our entire attitude about dog training. Mike was straightforward and to the point about teaching us the basics of dog psychology. We learned so much in so little time and we finally felt equipped with the method and tools to help our dog understand his place in our pack. Our dog went from being highly anxious, high strung, and sometimes aggressive to being calm, at ease, and affectionate in our home and out in public. The secret: We (the humans) had to change! If you commit the the three hours of training with Mike and the 1-2 weeks of homework (done correctly) your dog will change for the better. Mike is very open that his training technique works for most dogs, but he carefully explains before the training starts that some dogs will not be a good fit for the training and he will be able to tell very soon into the training if this is the case with your dog. With Mike, everything is laid out ahead of time and you don't have to worry about upselling, extra training sessions, or three hours of your time invested to find out the training doesn't suit your dog. Mike has a flat fee, he guarantees training with 1 session, and he tells you where to find the best deals on training supplies. We met with Mike in August and two months have gone by. Our relationship with our dog is greatly improved and continues to improve with the consistent commands and praise that Mike taught us to use with our dog. The only time we've had setbacks is when we (the humans) dropped the ball on being consistent. Our friends and neighbors are amazed with the results and are in awe that the quiet, nonchalant dog we bring outside is the same dog that barked at every moving thing or sound, growled and barked at other dogs, and destroyed things when we weren't home. Call Mike. You won't regret this investment! read more

I never thought the day would come when anyone would comment on how disciplined my dog is. But it happened two days ago and it was amazing. Riley used to be really rambunctious. He would jump on my guests, hump strangers, pull the leash, bark at me. He's a changed little pup after a session with Mike (and subsequent practice with me). Mike teaches you the ins and outs of dog psychology and explains exactly why the techniques work. You might be a little concerned about the prong collar like I was. But now I'm sold on it. And my pup actually likes it! I've always loved my little Riley, obviously, but now my friends and family love him too! Thanks Mike! read more

Okay Folks...he is the real deal! He just finished with Stella and im in awe :0 ! He did such a great job and was able to thoroughly address all the problems my dog Stella was having. He was able to address the separation anxiety, getting on the bed/sofa, leash pulling, kennel training, and all my other issues. Rest assured that if you have come to the realization that you need any help with your dog the K9 Mentor is more than qualified to solve your problems. There is no issue that he cannot solve. I really appreciate that he was patient in explaining each step and when i had doubts i felt comfortable asking questions and re-doing the exercise. Others charge over double his rate and i definitely see it as an investment in my dog. It improves our relationship and helps prevent stress and other problems. Calm owner, calm dog...and vise versa. I literally feel calmer already read more

Mike was Amazing!!! We have been having issues with our dog, Rufo listening to my wife. But he wasn't always listening to me as well. Mike really explained the psychology of dogs and how they naturally behave. This was so helpful to my wife and I. To some this may seem odd and they may be set in their ways of what they should do when training. I even had my preconceived ideas of how you should train, but was really pleased to learn I could improve and not cause any confusion with Rufo. Here's why I really like Mike and why I think he is the best trainer ever; 1) He is very blunt and tells you straight! If you are letting your dog dominate you, he will tell you, AND tell you how to fix the situation, so you can have a harmonious life with your dog. 2) He gives you a lot of analogies! Everyone responds differently to being taught. My perspective is always right to me. So to change my perspective I need someone to show me and give me analogies to help change my thinking and perspective. He really shows you what to do by example and it really helps. 3) He really cares! It is really evident to me that Mike, puts it all out there. He is passionate about dogs and about people enjoying their relationship with their dog. Because of these reasons, I would not ever hesitate to refer Mike to a friend or family. If you want someone to just pacify you, or tell you and your dog you are amazing and tickle your ears and not be honest, then don't call Mike. He is a great trainer, and really knows his stuff. Right away the next day, when my wife and I implemented what Mike taught us, we noticed a change in our dog Rufo. My wife was very happy with Mike, she said his examples really helped her understand that Rufo is a dog and not human. So we need to love him the way he understands love. Mike, THANK YOU!!! read more

I just adopted a West Highland Mix (terrier mix poodle) 2 years old at a pound - Klouds. Klouds is a sweet and smart guy. He had potty training before. However, Klouds was very aggressive toward new people/other dogs/ my rabbits/ even my family members. When he was by himself, he did not show any aggressive to other people, not even barking, (he came to pet spa every 2 weeks and the groomer absolutely loved him.). But when he was with me, he was very aggressive. As first, I thought he tried to protect mommy. My friends said they would not come to my house anymore!!! I tried a 1 hr class at PetSmart but it did not work. Klouds barked at that trainer non-stop and he was stil very aggressive after the training. I yelped and found out about Mike Cruz. He came to my house at 7pm and left at 10pm. Mike has a lot of dog training experience, is very logical, funny and absolutely a good listener After the session, my husband and I had to do the Alpha walk homework. Now Klouds is still very sweet, protective but calm and listens to my commands. I feel like I can communicate with him better. Thank you very much Mike! read more

The K9 Mentor - Klouds is calm and able to listen to mommy and daddy. Thank you uncle Mike! ^_~ - Pet Training Near Me

We adopted 2 dogs recently and needed help for several issues: barking, pulling on the leash, begging at the table, nervousness around people, play biting, and jumping. In particular, our 2 year old chihuahua mix Banjo would not listen to ANYTHING we said. Mike arrived, and Banjo did his usual thing, barking nonstop. Mike established himself as the alpha, which made Banjo throw an epic tantrum. Screaming, yapping, biting, peeing, and pooping ensued (all from Banjo, not from Mike!). It wasn't pleasant, but Mike had warned us that these things could happen, and at the end of the tantrum, Banjo was clear about who was in charge. Mike taught us how to communicate with the dogs, and we practiced the alpha walk exercise with Banjo. I thought there was no way that this dog would ever be calm and obedient, so I almost had a heart attack when I turned around and saw Banjo sitting quietly at Mike's feet, with the leash on the ground! In public! At the end of the exercise, when Mike took the leash off of Banjo and stepped back, Banjo went straight over to Mike (not us) for approval and affection, which showed me that Banjo really understood Mike's message. Since the session, Banjo has performed beautifully in our alpha walk practice. I never thought I would be able to meander on the street with a completely loose leash, Banjo quietly trotting behind or beside me and stopping immediately when I stop. We are still working on the barking, but he is definitely improving. I feel like we have a dog we can finally work with, and Banjo seems much calmer and happier overall. Sadly, during our session, our other dog Shadow broke out of our yard and ran away. We were devastated and I emailed Mike to let him know. He called me right away with lots of tips on how to go about finding her and lots of reassurance that lost dogs are usually recovered. He was right -- Shadow returned on her own that night! She's a nervous dog, and her anxiety was up again after the escape, but we've seen a noticeable improvement almost immediately after practicing the techniques that Mike taught us. It's only been a few days since we met with Mike, but I am truly amazed at the improvement. Now when we eat, the dogs run to their open crates and sit quietly until we are done. When we go outside, they wait inside the threshold until we allow them to come out. And today, they have been sitting on the floor quietly until I invite them to jump up on to the couch. My husband doesn't like spending too much money on the dogs, but even he says the K9 Mentor was worth every penny! I would recommend Mike to anyone who has issues with their dogs. He has also been very patient with all of my questions and emails both before and after the session. Thanks, Mike! read more

The K9 Mentor - The view from the breakfast table: Banjo and Shadow waiting quietly until we are done eating. - Pet Training Near Me

We were going crazy with our chihuahua's incessant barking We love her to bits but just didn't know what to do! In one lesson that all changed I became the alpha dog and my dog was visibly relieved The barking is almost gone and quickly resolved when she forgets. All this after one lesson!!!! read more

I don't even know if words can describe what a pleasure it is to work with Mike! He came over yesterday for a thorough training with my new rescue dog and I am still in shock over how quickly my new dog respects and responds to me. My new dog has a TON of energy, would drag me all over the place on walks(sniff everything, pee on everything), jump on me and anyone who came up to him, bark at loud noises or if he didn't have my full attention, I could go on and on... Mike came over and explained his training techniques in great detail and showed me how to properly correct unwanted behaviors. He is a great listener and you can tell that he loves what he does. In a matter of hours, my dog's behavior completely changed - my jaw was on the floor(still is). I am following Mike's homework/recommendations to a T!!!! And on top of being a great guy(he's funny too!), animal lover and phenomenal dog trainer, he also offers 5 star customer service. I emailed him a long list of questions I had after training and he answered them promptly and thoroughly - it makes me feel really supported and that I am not in this alone. I had previously worked with another trainer, and she was nice but not effective. Mike delivers results and gives you the confidence to train your dog! If you are looking for a dog trainer, LOOK NO FURTHER, Mike is the only dog trainer to call. He is worth his weight in gold and any other dog trainer is a waste of time, energy and money. I am actually excited to train my new dog and can't wait to get home after work to train. Thanks Mike, you are the BEST! read more

We have two dogs, a 4 year old golden and a BRAND NEW LAB PUPPY (5 months old) and this lab named Biscuit was a crazy devil until the good people from K9 MENTOR came over and FIXED EVERYTHING in ONE LESSON. Now I know what you might be thinking..that this is BS and that nothing gets fixed in ONE LESSON.. I thought the same thing... and to be fair, you do have to do about a week of follow up on your own for 30 mins or so a day BUT, My crazy puppy is now a dog that listens, he is a dog that is not perfect, but he is 90 percent better than he was. I feel better, my wife feels better, and I think little Biscuit feels better. I can not recommend them enough, I don't give BS reviews, this place is the real deal, and the sooner you call the better life will be. read more

In August of 2014, I adopted a 3 year old male husky who had never had any training what-so-ever. A friend recommended Mike to me so I decided to give him a call. Mike was able to come down that same weekend and we were able to start getting trained fast. I will admit that when I saw the "choke chain" I was scared that we would hurt my dog during the process and Mike could see the worry on my face. He let me feel the collar and it turns out that the edges were rounded and he explained the process and I definitely felt better about the situation. My dog is such a drama queen that during the training he kept yelping and trying to resist, but once he understood the concepts, he thought it was a game and he was really enjoying himself. I am a crazy dog lady so hearing my baby yelp was hard, but let me tell you, it was worth it. My dog is now the happiest dog!! The thing about Mike's training is he not only starts the dog off with a great start for training, but he also trains the owners. My boyfriend and I had gotten family dogs before, but they were never really trained except for the basics, potty trained, sit, ect. After Mike's training, my friends have seen how well behaved my dog is and has asked advice from ME. Please don't be scared of the "choke chain". If you use it right and be consistent, the dog is never "choked". I don't even use that terminology anymore because for me, it's just a training collar. The results are here: Before Mike: Peed everywhere, chewed on papers and shoes, pulled so hard of the leash, barked at everyone, ate our food right out of our hand, didn't play nice with dogs. After Mike: Potty trained and uses a bell to tell us when he has to go, only chews on toys, NO PULLING ON LEASH, understands that food time is for us and if he even has a chance at getting people food he knows he has to behave, dog parks every weekend. What's great about Mike's service is that he is available for questions for LIFE. We just got a new 6 year old girl husky that has quite a few issues and is slightly aggressive towards our current dog. I emailed Mike a list of questions and he asked for my number and gave me a call within 24 hours. Thank you so much Mike!!! read more

I am traveling with my dog to PA from AZ in a few weeks and called K9 Mentor (who previously helped me with my dog) to get this process started. Marti helped me out over the phone and gave me incredible insight on what to expect..from TSA, to treats, short leash training and overall airport behavior. I definitely feel like I know what I am getting into and can take the help and tools she provided to make sure my dog is trained before then. Thanks so much Marti!! read more

I am so impressed with Mike. Here's why: About a month ago, we added a second Siberian husky to our home. Everything was fine for a couple weeks, but then all of a sudden both of our dogs were lunging, snarling and trying to attack other dogs on our walks. They went after every dog they saw, including neighbors's dogs. I couldn't walk them without my husband because they were too much for me to control on my own. The final straw was when they went after my mother's dog, who we see all the time and will be dog-sitting in a few weeks. Mike worked with us one time for about 3 hours, and taught us how to show both of our girls that we are alpha. He also taught us how to stop them from digging and wetting on the carpet (which they both have done occasionally even though we have a dog door). Now, (four days later) our original husky Mya is back to her sweet, gentle self and our new husky Zoe is well on her way to being one of the best dogs I've ever owned. Ninety-five percent of the time, she walks by dogs with no reaction. A couple of times she has lunged and growled, but now we know what to do and it stops immediately. Best of all, Zoe and I went for a walk with mom and her dog Louie today. Zoe snarled at first, but I corrected her any she immediately changed her behavior. Louie even growled and snapped at her later on the walk, and she didn't even react. Thanks to Mike, we have two super dogs! read more

Mike is a wealth of knowledge. He is able to really put everything in a way that makes it so easy and so logical. I thought it would take forever to get my dog trained, but it was really so easy once we applied the steps that Mike taught us. Before he even left our house we already had a better handle on our situation. Look no further if you need help with your dog, Mike is the one to see! Thank you so much Mike! read more

Mike is incredible! My husband and I would give him 10 stars if we could. He's definitely a genius with dogs. We rescued a little terrier mix last year and since then she's been running wild & free....and not in a good way. In one appointment he was able to.... - leash train her - get her to stop jumping on everything and everyone - get her to stop crying and whining - get her to stop being aggressive toward people and other dogs - AND...BIG bones here....he also resolved issues our other two dogs had a s well It's been 2 days and I cannot believe the transformation!! Walks are fun again. Spending time with our animals is more enjoyable and we have peace in our home. Can't thank him enough. Anyone with any type of dog issue needs to call this guy FAST. We should have done this a long time ago. Don't suffer with a disobedient dog any longer. read more

Mike is one of the best dog trainers around! We have a rescued pitbull puppy who was really acting up. She is a very sweet dog but totally took us for granted - she would be very "alpha" - not listen to any commands, completely ignore us when we called her to the point where we thought she was deaf :), was play- aggressive with other dogs, etc. Mike came in - explained dog psychology to us and showed us how to change her behavior. We did everything he said, and even though it was hard initially, she is now a completely different dog - so sweet, listens to everything, gets rave reviews from anyone who meets her and gets along wonderfully in doggie play groups. The best dog I have ever had - all thanks to Mike! I don't understand some of the negative posts on Mike - he is completely upfront and honest with you when he walks through your door - so if you do not like what he is saying or his methods you can stop him right away. He does not contradict himself or try to tell you anything he does not firmly believe in or pretend to be something he is not. You have to decide for yourself if you/your dog are ready for these techniques and not blame the trainer if your dog has issues to begin with. The best thing I would say is to check out Mike and his methods for yourself. He offers a money back guarantee so it is easy to do that. read more

Mike, the K9 Mentor, is seriously amazing! We had him help us train our Australian Shepherd this past weekend and I already see a big change in her. Mike's training is a lot about training YOU to be the alpha and it really works. He teaches better ways to communicate with your dog and will help you with each issue your dog has. He gives 2 different recommendations for training collars, we went with the one that "looks" aggressive but is actually much more humane when you give corrections to your dog. Be prepared for some comments from uninformed dog owners who don't understand though. After his training session, which lasts about 2.5 hours in your home, he is available to you for email and phone support for life! The only way his training won't work is if you don't keep up with the training or are uncomfortable stepping up and being authoritative with your dog. I highly recommend him to anyone with a dog who needs a bit of extra guidance. read more

So I put off writing this review for a week or so because I wanted to see if my dog's improvements and Mike's advice actually stuck... I rescued a terrier mix (of unknown breeds...) from Irvine Animal Care Center back in August, and he turned out to be a bundle of insecurities. Don't get me wrong, Nelson (my puppy) is the biggest momma's boy and is the most precious angel to me! But, he has a BIG BIG BIG fear issue with men and strangers. He slowly progressed from growling to barking and lunging, which was obviously an issue. I tried everything from google to Petsmart training classes, yelling at him, comforting him, keeping a journal of what set him off blah blah blah, but his fear aggression really just didn't have a specific source for me to pin down and nail. I called Mike, and after multiple failed attempts, finally got in touch with him. While I think normally, you have to expect a couple of weeks before a session with him, I actually was lucky enough to be able to fill a spot someone had cancelled on, so Mike came in the very next day after I called him. He was very up front on the phone, very sincere and personable. He had me fill out a questionnaire (which I thought was very helpful in assessing our situation and getting things started), and showed up for our session early. We sat down and hammered out a few details, talked about what we wanted from the session and then went through everything he would show us in advance so that nothing was a surprise. :) Mike was very professional, making sure we squeezed everything we could out of our one hour session, and even was willing to stay over his session to work with us until we were comfortable as long as he wasn't late for his next client! After Mike left, Nelson was like a different dog. Yeah, he has moments where he still gets scared of some loud, abrasive dude that comes through our door, but we have seen a non-exaggerated 95% improvement in his behavior. His separation anxiety is less severe and is a DREAM to walk on leash! I am completely confident that the 5% is soon to follow as long as we stick with what Mike taught us! Thanks so much Mike!! Oh, and Dakota (Mike's Great Pyrenees) is the sweetest, fluffiest thing! read more

Not working... Doesn't any train at all!! Just few hours. When mike Overborne at my puppy.. And choker chain.. He just do alpha walk.. No potty training TT.. I'm so sorry for my puppy !! read more

We recently lost our 5 year old Boy Elvis to osteosarcoma cancer and rescued a new pup, GRONK (indeed named after the best TE in NFL, #87 Rob Gronkowski) early this year. GRONK's DNA test revealed that he is GM/Mastiff and AmStraff Terrier Mix, with expected adult weight to be around 100-110 pounds. Though we tried the day care training facility and some puppy obedience classes (all based on treats rewards), with GRONK's personality being the total opposite to Elvis, being very independent, Alpha and frankly a "Rascal", I decided to do some research and look for the best trainer I can get. As a dog lover and a dog parent for many years, I feel we have the responsibilities. One is to love our dogs as family and take care of them no matter what the situation, the second one is to be a responsible dog owner. Given the fact that dogs are animals, we as humans need to be certain we provide proper training, so the dog behaves well and does not get killed or puts anyone in a dangerous situation. Especially with a large/giant breeds. I found Mike, The K9Menthor on Yelp and researched his tactics/believes based on an "easy tactics", a natural "food chain/pecking order" believes of "who is the Alpha Dog in your household". It is really back to basics training/technique, however, some folks either do not take their time OR are too soft, so the end result is bad behaved dog or kids running their stressful life. Now do not give me wrong, I love my dog more than anything else in the world, he is spoiled with orthopedic mattress (his own on the floor)bully sticks, toys and plenty of attention, however, he is expected to listen to my commands and behave well. When that does not happen, he faces the consequences. Not in an abusive way but in a "back to basics" reminder of who the Alpha is. At 75 pounds/7 months today, I think that is the least I can do for him, so we both can lead happy and healthy life in harmony. Mike showed up on time for our scheduled Sunday training (back in Apr2016), was very friendly and professional and we went over the materials and situations before we included GRONK in his training. The session lasted about 3 hrs and by the end of the day all of us at home were exhausted, but it was worth it. We followed Mike's instructions and today my energetic pup no longer pulls on the leash, listens most of the time (he is still a pup so work in progress) and never leaves the entry way (house or courtyard gate) before I tell him it's OK after I go ahead first. I am so glad we found Mike and started early at age 4 months, so it gives the pup the right training foundation into his behavior for life. Sincere thanks to Mike and his dedication to our K9 kids, we really appreciate the help and I know whenever I need to call for any other questions, he always calls back and takes the time to discuss any issues or new questions. I would recommend Mike to anyone who has a dog with existing problems and especially to those that get a new pup. Why not help them into their short lived lives here on Earth with logical basic training, so they can live happy and without the stress of being the Alpha dog themselves. read more

If you want to increase the quality of your life by having a companion that loves and respects you, then call K9 Mentor immediately. We had the pleasure of having Mike Cruz as our mentor and we have to say he was AMAZING. Within the first 10 minutes of our alpha walk, we saw results almost immediately. Our puppy, Izzy, was about two and a half months old before we started this process, and while we didn't have any real issues that needed correcting, we wanted to make sure that we started this relationship off right. We did a ton of research and spoke to several trainers before deciding that K9 Mentor was the best fit for us. When Mike first arrived he briefed us on what the process was going to be like: dog psych 101 followed by an alpha walk, followed by additional questions. He did note that there would be a choke chain involved in the process. I never thought I would be one to implement this device, but after Mike explained it to us and gave us a quick demonstration on himself we agreed to proceed. After a little bit of fussy behavior from our pup, she quickly complied and we were off to training. Since our training we have had several questions about dog behavior (from teething to dog diet) and Mike has been super quick to answer with some pretty sage advice. Sometimes more practical than you'd think! Raising a dog is hard, K9 mentor helped us lay the building blocks to make this process so much easier. And the best part is, Mike gives us the tools to make this training possible, ultimately giving us the love, respect and recognition from our dog rather than just from the trainer as is so often the case. Thank you Mike! J&K read more

Mike, the K9 Mentor, is truly a master at what he does. He truly understands dog psychology and alpha/pack leadership which ultimately helps us better understand dog behavior. His approach is very "alpha" oriented, showing us that our nearly 2 year old dog had thought she was alpha when in fact, we the humans need to act as alpha. Our dog has dealt with separation anxiety and necessary barking at people/the tv for most of her life and thanks to the single training session Mike requires, we have seen a major shift in her behavior. My wife and I are the alphas and she follows in our daily routine. We are seeing less barking and her ability to sit on her bed without the need to run after us. Results will only happen if the owners put in the work. It's 50/50 dog to human training. Mike has a full guarantee and trust me when I say he is worth every penny. Thank you, Mike! read more

5 plus stars for Marti! I am a first time dog owner who one month ago adopted an older dog from a neighbor. I was at my wit's end and felt so alone during that first week: non stop barking, jumping, nipping, food aggression. After calling multiple dog trainers in the area, Marti was the only one who answered my call. She was so helpful and gave such clear guidance on how to set boundaries. Happy to report my dog is still with me and thriving. Couldn't have done it without Marti! read more

Mike is absolutely amazing and his in-depth yet practical knowledge of getting your puppy to "behave" is priceless!!.... We rescued a sweet-looking 12 weeks old pit-mix (Jazmine) only to find out soon after that she really wanted to to be an alpha and rule our house. Well, that was totally unacceptable to us. I wanted to find the best trainer there is. I spent enormous amount of time talking to at-least dozen trainers and interviewing them about their training methods. Positive reinforcement methods, Treats galore and Series of lessons based on what level of training the dog needs !! all sounded very commercial and confusing at that time... So, when I finally spoke with Mike, it was an eye opener. He did not try to sell us any "package of lessons". He did not have multiple tiers and price points for his services. He was upfront about what to expect and how much work goes into effectively training an alpha-wannabe-puppy. Mike easily over-delivered and gave us new appreciation for how to correctly integrate a new puppy/ dog into the pack. I have already recommended him to several of my friends and they all are thrilled with his method, effectiveness and outcomes. Today, Jazmine is the most well-behaved and loving 2 year old member of our family and Mike gets full credit for that. read more

Thanks Mike! We called the K9 Mentor after we had our new dog for about 2 weeks. He had a couple bad habits that I wanted to break immediately and being a pretty militant dog owner I have a low threshold for misbehaving pets. My chief complaints were that although our doggy seemed like a loving, loyal pet but he would growl, bite the leash and try to shake it away from me on walks. Additionally he would air snap at all of us, which the previous owner said wasn't aggressive, but when you see that jaw air snapping it sure seemed a little aggressive to me. I took our previous dog to another dog trainer who cost us hundreds of dollars plus hours and hours of time for many weeks and in the end did little for us as dog owners. We hardly came away with the useful tools needed to maintain an obedient pet. So this time around I wanted someone who could teach us the tricks of the trade efficiently. I did a little research and came across Mike's reviews on Yelp. I'm so happy I called. First of all, he's extremely reasonable. He came over that day and went over all of my concerns. At the end of the training it was like a miracle. I followed his instructions and it's like we have a new pet! Our dog understands who's alpha, follows commands, walks perfectly and even runs along side the bike now! Such a relief!! I could've gotten away with one lesson but I wanted him to work with my husband and child so I had Mike come back the next day and go through the whole lesson again. Let me say that if you have children it's so important for them to know how to work with a dog. Our dog follows our daughter now, and by all of us using his training method EVERY DAY we pretty much have our perfect pet! Thanks Mike!! If you need a dog trainer, don't waste your time and money with anyone else - call Mike he's the best!! read more

Mike is fantastic! We had him come out last week to work with our two puppies for a variety of issues... overly aggressive play, anxiety, disobedience, etc. I suspected their issues were due to a lack of leadership on our part. Mike changed all of that and made it easy to understand how to correct their behaviors by showing the dogs that we are alpha. He explains everything in a way that is very easy to understand, and his straightforward approach has been simple to continue and implement. He is very professional and completely transformed our dogs in just a couple hours. This is the best money I've spent as a pet owner!! read more