My wife and I were searching for a dog trainer form our 4 year old Frenchie rescue named Benny. Benny is awesome on walks but does not like people he doesn't know when we have them over to the house. What we loved about Wag Time and Don (owner and trainer) is that he does not use treats or shock. He employs voice and leash control. In reality Don trains YOU how to train! Honestly I was a skeptic! BUT we saw IMMEDIATE improvement during the very first lesson!! We have had 6 lessons so far, and Benny has come a long way! Life changing for us! Meet Don once and you will feel the same we do about him, his techniques, and his love for what he does! read more

Don is fantastic! Within the first 30 minutes of our 1st session he got my 1.5 year old Labrador Retriever (full of energy) to lay down and fall asleep and not move. That was a year ago. By the time we were done with our 3rd lesson we ran into Don and another customer in a public place and he used my dog to show as an example. More importantly, he got the other dog, who was extremely reactive to other dogs, to walk along with my dog within 10 minutes. The other owner was in disbelief and asked for permission to take a video of our dogs calmly walking together at The Fountains with tons of distractions. It's been a year and we just finished our 6th lesson only to correct some of the behavior that my dog does in the car, such as getting supper excited when driving to familiar places. I have had so many people compliment how calm and behaved my 2.5 year old Lab is (often act as a much more mature dog). read more

We had a great experience working with Don! He was patient, knowledgeable, and really helped us understand how to communicate better with our dogs. We saw real improvement and learned a lot along the way. Highly recommend! read more

Wag Time Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Antelope, California

Don is very knowledgeable and patient. Our dog Lucy has a lot of anxiety issues and Don's training helped us understand how we can help her overcome some of these issues. He was very determined to help us and give us the tools that we can use to help her. Even though we have finished her training, he is still available for questions and support. read more

Don is great trainer and person. You can tell he cares about the best interests of his clients and their dogs.

Don is AMAZING and a True Dog Whisperer... I have two puppies and right after I got them, there has been a COMPLETE change in our lives... So Ive had No idea, my babies could be taught! Well, Don did it read more

We found Don last December when we brought home our 12 week old puppy. Don went out of his way to meet with us during the busy holiday season and continued to work with us the past 10 months. He is very knowledgeable, patient and supportive in explaining his techniques. Our energetic puppy has come such a long way with the skills Don has taught us. We are so grateful for the foundation he has helped us lay with our pup and in understanding how to generalize the same skills in different settings and situations. We really appreciated that Don's approach is voice command based rather than what we often see, treat based training. This worked well for us and aligned with our values. read more

We hired Don from Wag Time to help with our 3-year-old Lab/Cane Corso mix who struggled with leash walking and reactivity to other dogs. Don was fantastic! He gave us the tools and confidence we needed. After just a few months, our dog is walking calmly on a leash, listening better, and doing great even in public places with her down-stay. Highly recommend Don if you're looking for a knowledgeable and supportive trainer. read more

As an experienced rescue dog h human I never expected to be in need of a trainer. I rescued a Cocker Spaniel and he had the worst manners! Thank God for Don at Wagtime! I talked to quite a few trainer before I decided on Don. I will always be grateful. The stress was overwhelming me and I saw Don work with Roscoe and immediately he had him in the palm of his hand! Don showed me exactly what to do and how to do my "homework". He is accessible and uses positive reinforcement. I honestly can't thank him enough. Roscoe is now fantastic on walks at my pace, doesn't get excited around other dogs and tug on his leash. He has excellent manners and looks to me for guidance. My heart was full the moment I met the little rascal and now it is also nice and calm. I highly recommend Don! read more

Wag Time Dog Training - Roscoe - Pet Training Near Me - Antelope, California

Don is very responsive. His positive approach to training is perfect for us. I felt supported in the work we did together. Highly recommend!

Don is worth the hype! As a first time dog parent, I was in over my head when I brought home my 8 week old goldendoodle, Bear. Within the first few sessions, Bear knew sit on command & we were given tactical tools to work through puppy biting using leash work. Happy to say, Bear now knows what he can chew on and what not to chew on. Don also helped us work through Bear's separation anxiety. We can finally leave Bear home alone without barking. Highly recommend Don!!!! read more

I adopted a 6-year-old Maltipoo who had been surrendered along with her dog buddy. The buddy was adopted and this sweet dog was left at the shelter. She was totally traumatized. She wouldn't eat or drink. She hid behind my couch, and I couldn't get her out. I sent a message to Don, and he came over within the hour. He patiently drew my pup out and got her settled down. We discussed what was important to me, and we outlined a plan. He made time to meet with me and my pup until she and I were both comfortable, she was eating and drinking and using the dog door and walking with me safely. I can't recommend Don highly enough. He is a miracle worker. This is the best money I ever spent. read more

Wag Time Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Antelope, California

See all

We adopted TwoBit, an untrained one year old Parson Russell Terrier at the SPCA. Our previous dogs were already trained when we got them so we had no experience with training a dog. After 2 weeks on our own using YouTube videos and getting nowhere we were frazzled and called Don. His first visit was like watching a magician, he had our dog doing sit and lay down almost immediately. I couldn't stop smiling. He trained us as well as TwoBit (I think we needed the training more!) and gave us the skills and the confidence to get the job done. We couldn't be happier, well worth the money. Thank you Don! read more

Wag Time Dog Training - TwoBit - Pet Training Near Me - Antelope, California

We highly recommend Don. We were amazed at how he was immediately able to control our dog. He "trained" us and now we have a dog that is able to go on walks without pulling, lunging, and reacting. We never thought it was possible! read more

Wag Time Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Antelope, California

We asked Don to come work with our 13 week old (at the time) Bernedoodle, Charlie, with basic training as well as integrating her into our family as we also have an 11 year old senior "puppy" who initially was not having any of the craziness of the new puppy. During the initial session, Don's skill and passion as a trainer, and love for dogs was very apparent. He worked wonders before our own eyes so we knew immediately he was the right person for our needs and we decided to move forward with him. He's great to work with and is flexible in accommodating our busy schedules. I highly recommend him. Give him a call! read more

Don has really worked wonders with our pup Riley. What a difference great training makes!

We called Don after being unsuccessful in training our 1 year old Boxer. She was unruly and had some behavior issues. All of our previous dogs had been older adoptions and we had no idea how to overcome our challenges in getting a puppy to behave like a well mannered dog. During our consultation, Don taught us and our puppy more in 20 minutes than we accomplished in our weeks worth of on our own efforts. Don is professional, works magic into communication with your dog and is well worth the investment into having a long happy relationship with your pet! read more

I was in desperate need of a personal trainer for my Boxer pup. Yes she was 100% puppy and 1000% boxer. When her brain caught on fire she was out of control right from the beginning and I needed help! I called for a consultation, and by the end of that meeting I knew Don was the right choice. She was a different dog after that first visit and just continued to improve. Don not only trained Beanie, but trained me to keep it up and be a better leader for her. Beanie is now well socialized, and at only 8 months, old with my new skills with her, she is only getting better and better everyday! She now goes everywhere she is allowed! Bass Pro and off leash at the lake are her favorites Zero pressure to sign up for Don's program at the time of the consultation, and at our first official lesson, AFTER the session, he made sure I wanted to proceed before filling out paperwork and signing contracts. read more

See all

We are so happy we found Don. Our dog, Buster is almost 5 years old and had problems with me walking him and seeing people. He used to bark at everyone! Seeing another dog was a big challenge! We have had previous training than didn't work and now it's a pleasure every day with our dog. I highly recommend Don for training your dog! read more

I can't say enough good things about Don. He helped us tremendously to get our anxious, high-energy, Yorkie puppy trained. We started with Don when our puppy was only 3 months old. I was worried we were starting too soon, but after about two lessons, he was potty trained. He also walked us through getting him to sleep on his own in a crate (prior to that he wouldnt sleep unless he was in our room with us - and would wake us up every morning at 4am). After about 6 or 7 lessons, I can now leave my pup home alone, free roaming the house without worrying that he will have an accident or destroy something. It's truly amazing how far he's come. Thank you so much, Don! read more

Don seems like the real deal. We couldn't afford him at this time but I called and he gave us a few free pointers which I thought was commendable for not knowing if we would even work with him yet. Everything he said totally made sense and him not being treat based was kind of mind blowing. He sent a video and he really does training with just talking. I can see the value in his work. Stand up guy who clearly knows what he's doing. He didn't feel sales pitchy or slimy. He believes in what he does and he has the reviews to prove it. Hoping to work with him in the future! read more

We hired Don to come and work on our rescue dog, Fritzie, for some beefing up of his training. We rescued Fritzie about 3 years ago and he was traumatized and skittish/terrified about pretty much everything (including me). Before Don, we worked with some other trainers (in the Bay Area), and they helped break our dog out of his shell a bit, but we didn't love some of the methods. That being said, it did allow Fritzie to eventually start bonding with me...which actually took almost a year! Anyway, about 2 and a half years after his previous training, we decided it was time to refresh our dog on some basic behavior, such as being able to walk with my wife without me (he stopped doing this rather suddenly), general walking by people, dogs, machines without freezing up, not going crazy when someone is at the door, etc. So, after some research, we went with Wag Time Dog Training with Don Kirkish. Honestly, I believe Don thought it would be easier, but Fritzie may have surprised him a bit there! That being said, Don's calm and patient demeanor won through. No treat rewards but also no punishment (i.e., shock collar, choke chain, etc). For a traumatized and generally terrified dog, the latter point is quite important in my opinion. Don took the time to get Fritzie to do what he wanted, then Don would train and coach us on how to repeat the task. He was very involved. Don helped us with training at our house, outside for walks, and in public spaces. He even had Fritzie chilling at some (cooperative) strangers feet at The Fountains, and Fritzie let the stranger pet him! If you know Fritzie, that is a mind-blowing feat!!! So, we are very pleased with the results. Finally, I'll add that Don is exceptionally flexible. He can shift schedules easily, among other flexibilities. He was a pleasure to work with, and when the time comes to train up another dog in this house, he will be the first person we call! read more

Don was really informative and super professional as he tried to get our older family dog comfortable with our new golden retriever pup. He was giving us the best tips to assure our puppy would learn not to bite, respect boundaries, and potty training. It was quite a show as he got both dogs to learn to relax and co-exist. We now feel comfortable continuing this process as the dogs see each other more and more. Don was patient and describe his philosophy about training dogs as a way to communicate with them, not just tug and pull. I would recommend don's service to anyone looking for dog training help! read more

We have used Don with two of our dogs. Most recently we were working with Bella , our two year old wild Golden retriever. Bella is a good girl but just super excited to meet new people, pulling on walks, and basically just being the boss. Don showed us and Bella how to be calm when greeting people, walk politely on a leash, and listen to her people. Dog training is also about training the owners what to do and when I now feel prepared to tackle the world with Bella by my side. Oh, and I'm pretty sure, Don is a dog whisperer. read more

I had already packed a dog trainer by the time wagtime got a hold of me, but they were quick to respond. I didn't get a chance to talk to them, but by their quick response time I would've felt that would've been a good company to go with. Thank you for your time and effort. Ralph read more

Don is truly Sacramento's dog whisperer! My dog immediately took direction from Don. He has the canine touch!

Don was instrumental into turning our timid, sacred four year old rescue dog, Tess, into a dream addition to our family. She was a nightmare on a leash and afraid of most everything. His guidance in teaching her, and us, how to co-exist and live our best lives together was invaluable. We take her on road trips and to restaurants and wineries, and she's a gem (with an occasional doggy lapse). He even helped us through one of those lapses well after the completion of our training. Simple 30 minute refresh. We highly recommend him. read more

Don is a great trainer. He got our Australian Shepherd/great Pyrenees dog to settle down. He is a very large dog 100lb. He no longer jumps on people he's very respectful. Does very well on a leash. It took Don only a few sessions to get our dog to do what he needed to do. Our grand kids are able to run around him, and he just lays there. I am very pleased with the way Don trained our dog. I would highly recommend him. We just love the way he handled our dog. read more

Highly recommend. As the new and inexperienced owner of a Husky/Shepherd mix, I was not prepared for the unique challenges of having a large dog and needed help with training pronto. Don was amazing. Very patient, informative and our Bond responded immediately. Our once unmanageable puppy is able to go anywhere with us and gets compliments for his good behavior wherever we go! read more

Don was so great with Zoe. She's a 3 year old rescue who was afraid of everything. As a therapist, I needed her to feel safe with people so I could bring her to work. Before Don she growled at everyone of course. Now... she greets people and cuddles with them. She walks great on her leash now too! Thanks Don for your help in making Zoe more confident and happy! My clients and friends are amazed in her fast transformation. I highly recommend Don. You can tell he truly cares. read more

Wag Time Dog Training - Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Antelope, California

Don is a fantastic trainer! He was totally in tune with our Lucy, a beagle/jack russell mix who was so skittish and afraid of everything and everyone. We made progress from the very first session. After only 4 sessions, Lucy is leash-trained, sits and stays, and is almost over being afraid of my husband. Don had multiple suggestions for methods to try in between sessions, and he followed up by phone or text in between sessions. He is available to contact with questions as well. It is so beneficial that he comes to your home so the training is done in familiar surroundings. Don is a kind and caring person who really wants you and your dog to be happy and successful in your goals for training. I would welcome any opportunity to work with him again and I highly recommend him! read more

Don is an AMAZING trainer and a very nice person! We had him come out to help us train our Maltipoo puppy Gus. From the moment he walked in our door he had Gus doing everything he wanted him too with only a leash, a firm but kind voice, and gentle leash pressure. My son and I were both stunned! Before Don started with us I had a jumpy puppy that went bonkers whenever anyone came to the door, and pulled so much on his leash that walks were almost unbearable. Now I have a well behaved puppy that walks well on a leash and lays down and stays down without jumping all over our guests. You can tell that Don loves what he does and he is an incredible trainer with an amazing gift! Worth EVERY penny! THANK YOU DON!! We are very grateful! Mary Landry & Gus read more

We hired Don to help us train our new Goldendoodle puppy, Sonny, when he was only 12 weeks old. While Don may appear to be more expensive than other trainers, the quality, value, time, and customization of the training surpasses all others. With Don, it's not a set number of lessons...he continues to provide training until your goals are accomplished. In the end, he's actually the lowest price with the highest quality results. He had Sonny sitting on command on his first visit as well as being potty-trained immediately! What's important to know that he taught us is that it's about training you as much or more as training your dog. And Don cares about that...and through the process he became not just Sonny's friend, but also our friend! read more

Don has been amazing to work with. We have two dogs a 4 year old French bull dog and a 2 year old Boston / French mix. Both dogs have been through basic petco training and know sits and stays only when treats were used. After having a new baby in the house we needed someone who could help us learn methods to teach the dogs obedience and behavioral training for our everyday life. Before don, our French bull dog was refusing to walk out past the garage , I would have to drag him down the street. Walks were getting miserable. My Boston would constantly be running and jumping on guests as well as the French bull dog sitting on guests and needing all do the attention. my husband and I would usually be distracted hosting, as we'd be running back and forth to try and get them to calm down. . Since our training with don we have been able to take them on vacation and have people over (even children) with the dogs staying calm and manageable. Our French bull dog started walking again (it had been 1.5 years since I could get him to go on walks normally!!) I was amazed at how calm and obedient they have become, as well as the skill set my husband and I have learned to train them. I want to say it's literally been a miracle, as they were getting unmanageable as our lives were starting to get busier. They have been awesome at sitting calmly and staying when guests come over as well as when my husband and I want calm time in the evenings or are feeding the baby . Walks are amazing now, they both actually walk and keep going with us without stopping or dragging them- or them pulling us! (Amazing) . The only regret I have is not hiring don sooner, and saving my money on all the rewards (treats) based training. read more

Very convenient I have used there services many times and every time it was great love this place well worth the money spent

I called Wag Time because my 80-lb Boxer was jumping up and knocking my niece and nephew over whenever they would come visit. He is very excitable and couldn't control it! He also wasn't able to be walked on a leash because he would pull me over he's so strong! We got in touch with Don and couldn't have been happier with his professionalism, service, and amazing skills! Our little Gus is a changed dog! He knows how to "Heel" on a leash and his jumping habit is nearly GONE!!!! We used the techniques that Don showed us to get in touch with Gus. We took him to Folsom Lake one busy Saturday with our other two dogs and we had two different people compliment on how great he was. They said "we chose this spot because your dogs are so well behaved!" What a great compliment -- Thank you for your help, DON! read more

Wag Time Dog Training - Gus in the middle. - Pet Training Near Me - Antelope, California

We contacted Don about Murray, our rescue dog. He spent a long time in the shelter. He suffered from separation anxiety and was aggressive towards other animals. We were impressed with Don from the first visit. He was very knowledgeable and understanding. If you're looking for a trainer, I strongly recommend you give Don a call and have him come meet your dog. read more

Wag Time Dog Training - Murray. - Pet Training Near Me - Antelope, California

Dan was pretty persistent in getting a hold of me. Apparently I did not receive his message. Although he seems knowledgeable about training his prices are very high. read more

Our fearful, shy little Maltipoo has transformed in just three lessons with Don. Our little guy was terrified to go out the front door and would not go for walks with our other dogs. He's now happy to go out that front door on his leash. He knows how to sit, stay and is learning (very quickly) the down command. We are so happy with Don's lessons and the progress our guy has made in such a short time!!! We can't wait for more lessons!! read more

Don, the dog trainer, was amazing! He trained my puppy, now almost an adult dog, Cassidy for 4 months on the basics (leash training, sit while guests enter my house) and Cassidy just loved him. read more