I cannot say enough about Brad Wilhelm and the incredible work he did with my Cavalier puppy, Olivia. At just 6 months old, Olivia was exhibiting serious resource guarding and aggressive behavior -- to the point where I was afraid to get close to her and she actually bit me once. I've had seven dogs in my lifetime and had never experienced anything like this before. Cavaliers are known for being loving, gentle dogs, so having an 11-pound puppy that I felt nervous around was heartbreaking. I truly wasn't sure Olivia and I would ever have a good relationship again. I was scheduled to travel to Mexico over Christmas but couldn't take her due to her behavior. Brad went above and beyond -- he kindly arranged to pick her up the very night I left on a red-eye flight and enrolled her in a 4-week board-and-train bootcamp. Yes, the program is an investment, but it is absolutely worth every penny. Brad and Camille worked their magic. Olivia came back a completely different puppy -- loving, responsive, and happy. It honestly feels like night and day. I know I still need to do my homework and stay consistent, but just one week after her return, the transformation has been incredible. One thing I really appreciate is the ongoing support. Brad offers unlimited texts and calls for questions and guidance, which has been invaluable as we continue reinforcing her training at home. This also wasn't my first experience with Brad. He was recommended to us years ago when we got our older dog, a yellow Labrador named Bourbon. While Bourbon has always been mellow, Brad helped us with practical training -- including teaching him to jump into my sedan in less than 10 minutes! That stuck with me and is why I trusted him when we needed serious help with Olivia. Brad once told me that good training makes dogs happier, and now I truly understand what he meant. Olivia is more confident, more relaxed, and clearly happier -- and so am I. I wholeheartedly recommend Brad to anyone dealing with behavioral issues or simply looking for solid obedience training. His knowledge, patience, and genuine care make all the difference. I am incredibly grateful for the impact he and Camille have had on both Olivia and me. read more

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My review might be more unconventional, but given the service I received, I felt it was important to share my experience. Every now and again Brad's facility will take in rescue dogs who will undergo the full board and train program. I was lucky enough to be able to adopt Tarkin, a a cattle dog mix. I believe he had been under the care of Brad and his team for almost (maybe more?) a year but did not have much like in finding a potential adopter until I saw a post on Instagram and reached out. Right off the bat, Tarkin was very well behaved, knew the basic commands (sit, down-stay, leave it, wait, place, etc). Brad even provided a collar to continue with his training, was responsive via text MONTHS after adoption, and would always offer to come by for a follow-up training session. Fortunately, we have not needed an in-person session, but to be able to continue having him as resource by phone has been amazing and I am so grateful. Brad and Camille (Tarkin's other main trainer) have created such a wonderful foundation of training that I've been able to build off of, even as a new dog owner. Given my experience with Tarkin, I would highly recommend reaching out to Brad and his team about potential rescues available for adoption, or to see what training packages they have to offer. I couldn't have asked for a better first dog! read more

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Brad and Wilhelm K-9 deserve this perfect score. He's a true, dedicated professional. You might be able to find a lower cost option, but you might be wasting your money by not going with Brad. Wilhelm K-9 not only trains the dog, but they also train the owners for sustained success. We are even able to continue training our dog with what we've learned to improve the training we received. Whether you want a well behaved family pet or an animal ready for any level of professional K-9 work... this is the place. Heres my well trained homeboy! read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Big dog Blu waiting for a command in Tahoe! - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

I brought my 4 year old Rottweiler here, who had already gone through obedience training but had began displaying some mild leash reactivity that I was having trouble curbing. Brad & his team were able to identify the issues in a one week board and train, and give me a toolbox of techniques that worked wonders. Brad's onsite follow up was very helpful. I went from being anxious walking my dog, worrying about his reactivity every time we saw another dog, to him being cool calm and collected walking on busy trails in just a few weeks. read more

They are the best place to leave your dog for boarding, or training. Our Lucky is 15 years old and needs special care and surveillance day and night, also gets stressed in new places and doesn't eat. The workers went out of their were to make sure he was comfortable and happy the entire stay. Can't recommend these guys enough. read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

Kokomo has been home from his board & train for 6 weeks now and I've recommended Brad and his team to at least 6 people already! We'd sent Kokomo to board and trains before but they never truly caught on, so we were at first a little reluctant to send him away again. But we're so glad we did! It was a long 8 weeks while he was gone, but he came back a much better behaved and less anxious pup. He's not perfect, but his recalls are so much better, he no longer fence fights with the neighbors' dogs (4 dogs on 3 sides...), he can walk by the many neighborhood cats calmly, he doesn't go berserk when a delivery comes, he actually sniffs and lets strangers he likes pet him, and on and on. We haven't used our in-home lessons yet (other than the training dropoff lesson), and I'm sure we'll have plenty more to learn. Thank you to Brad and his team, and especially Camille, who was Kokomo's trainer! read more

Highly recommend working with Brad and his team at Wilhelm K-9 Services! We have a large 2 year old malinois/shepherd mix with a lot of energy, anxiety, and reactivity, and have tried multiple trainers before. After a 4-week board & training session + follow up session, we were honestly surprised at how obedient and calm our dog could be. We are now able to take him on long hikes and walks without the constant worry of barking or lunging at other dogs, bring him to public spaces and parks, and even unleash him in safe areas to play. Brad has also been incredibly responsive and patient with our questions, and always professional with us. Thank you to Wilhelm K-9 Services for helping our dog become the happiest and best version of himself! read more

Brad Wilhelm is a dog trainer who was hired to provide lifetime training for our German Shepherds. Unfortunately, our experience with him was extremely negative. Despite spending thousands of dollars, he failed to deliver on his promises. Instead, he exhibited abusive behavior towards our dogs, prioritizing monetary gain over their well-being. We do not recommend his services due to his unprofessional and harmful conduct. He used shock treatment almost exclusively on the dogs. If you care about your dog, please don't consider his services. I believe he closed his local location in socal for suspicious reasons. read more

We've had our rescue blue heeler Pete for 2 years and over the past year, he's become protective of us to the point that we didn't feel comfortable bringing him out to restaurants or social situations. He was super anxious - one vet said he was the most anxious dog she'd even met. We tried board-and-train elsewhere but didn't see any progress. We did a lot of self-educating and training on our own but couldn't correct the behavior issues. We took a chance based on a friend's recommendation and hired Brad. It was the BEST decision for us, and most importantly, for Pete. After a month with Brad's team, he is a much more confident dog. He's less anxious and more trusting of people. We've seen a massive improvement - better than we expected, and we had high hopes. Since his training, we've taken Pete to multiple restaurants, to the office, and to friends' houses and he's been perfectly behaved. Multiple people have commented on it without knowing he'd had additional training. Brad was awesome to work with. He was so patient with us, answering all of our questions in an initial in person meeting (and two subsequent meetings.) He originally quoted us 8 weeks via phone based on what we described, but when we met in person he assessed that Pete could be trained on behavior in 4 weeks (he already had obedience down.) Brad offered us a very fair price for training him. We definitely got the impression that he loves dogs, loves his work, and values fairness and honesty as a business owner. Since Pete's been back, we've met with Brad once more and he even spent time with my mother-in-law educating her about how best to interact with Pete. This feels like an above and beyond service which Brad does at no extra charge - that's how much he believes in his results, and I can see why. I was very nervous to send Pete to training and read every Yelp review before we decided to do it. We couldn't be more thrilled with the results. Thank you Brad and team at WK9S! read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - So chill at a dinner party a couple weeks after his training - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

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Brad did an excellent job with Rottweiler Eli's canine aggression . biting and other issues. I can now lay on the couch and read a book with Eli laying next to me without fear of getting seriously injured. I am keeping up with what you told me to do thank you. Susan Fillipow read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

We are so grateful for Brad and the Wilhelm K9 Services staff. My husband and I enrolled our incredibly anxious and fearful puppy Leo in a four week board and train, and Brad returned a confident, obedient and happy pup to us. Brad won Leo, my husband, and me over within ten minutes of our first training session. Leo was so comfortable with and responsive to Brad that we knew we wanted him to board and train. During Leo's stay at Wilhelm K9, the communication was great. We texted with Brad and were able to check Leo's progress via videos on Instagram. There we could see the great work Camille, Leo's primary trainer, was doing with Leo. When the board and train was over, Brad brought Leo home, and we had our first in a series of four lessons that were part of our board and train package. Here he taught us how to maintain and build on the incredible progress Leo made. Brad is a grounded, kind, encouraging, articulate, no nonsense teacher to both dogs and people. I highly recommend him and Wilhelm K9. read more

I'm on the board of a local dog rescue group in the bay area and our group has reached out to Brad to help us with two different dogs so far. His communication has been great, he sends updates on how things are going and is extremely flexible with fitting us in. The two dogs who we sent to Brad have been very difficult dogs whom many other trainers would not have even accepted into a program or to eval -- we really appreciate his dedication and experience with the harder dogs. read more

Our 4-month old English golden puppy AJ boarded and trained for 3 weeks. Sabrina taught basic obedience like sit, down, come and heel. Leash manners are so much better now making our walks more enjoyable. AJ used to dart across the street like a pinball machine. He has mellowed out from Boot Camp! Thank you Sabrina! read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

About 8 months ago, we rescued a very energetic Cocker Spaniel named Cody. He is the sweetest dog but had ZERO obedience. A few months after we rescued him, his behavior was getting progressively worse. He would jump on our furniture and tables, he would counter-surf and steal food right from our hand, and he would jump on all our guests to the point where it was no longer safe for him to greet our friends and family. And forget about taking him on walks! He would pull so hard that our walks were no longer fun since all he wanted to do was pull, sniff and zig-zag his way everywhere. However, his biggest issue was his leash reactivity. Three months after we rescued him we noticed he would growl at other dogs during our walks. The growls turned into lunging which eventually turned into a full on fiasco of barking, lunging and puling towards the dog. We reached a point where we could no longer take him out to coffee shops, restaurants, parks or trails in fear that he might see another dog and lash out uncontrollably. I interviewed a few local trainers in our area but because of Brad's reviews, I thought I would give him a try. We had our initial meet and greet and all went well. Brad is certainly knowledgeable in his field and truly has a passion for helping dogs. So we set a date for Brad to pick up Cody and off he went. It was literally the longest 7 weeks of our lives. Brad sent us video updates of his progress and allowed us to visit him every couple of weeks. Finally, Cody was delivered back to us on Halloween day. Brad spent about an hour and a half training us how to keep Cody's obedience in tact. Well, let me tell you, the difference has been night and day. I can't begin to describe Cody's transformation. He went from an unruly, ill-disciplined pup to a well-behaved and balanced dog. He no longer jumps on our furniture or guests and he walked beautifully on leash. I have also taken him off leash and he has perfect recall. But the biggest test was how he was going to behave around other dogs while on leash. I had one follow-up training with Brad to make sure I knew how to handle Cody when he sees another dog. The following day, I took Cody out on the trail and we ran into at least 12-15 dogs on our walk. Cody did AH-MAZING. His attention was on me and not on the dogs that were passing by. I couldn't believe it. The old Cody would have barked, growled, and lunged at each one of those dogs! The following week, my sister and I took Cody to the coffee shop. There were a couple of dogs there with their owners. Cody just laid next to my feet and tried his best not mind the other dogs. To be honest, I think he still wants to react sometimes, but he now knows what behavior is expected of him, therefore he tries his best not to even look at the other dogs. His leash reactivity is still a work in process but is a hundred times better than it use to be. Cody's obedience is spot on and his impulse control has improved tremendously. I also want to add that I am writing this review a month after we got Cody back to ensure that there were no regressions as I hear a lot of board and trained dogs experience a couple of weeks after they get home. The caveat is that you have to follow the training that Brad has instructed to keep your dog from regressing. Cody's world has now opened up, and I couldn't be more happy for him. We can do more things with him that were not possible prior to his training. A huge thank you to Brad and his trusted trainer Paige! We are now going to send our second and more challenging dog to Brad to help with his fear reactivity and sensitivity to touch. But if anyone can help him, I put my money on Brad. Stay tuned for the next review! :) read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Our 2 year old Cocker Spaniel - Cody. :) - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

Can't recommend Brad and his team enough! We had just 2 in-home sessions with Brad and the techniques we learned have been so effective with our 4 year old pittie mix Denali. We had done some puppy training a few years back but slacked on reinforcing it, so fast forward a few years later and decided we needed to take action. Brad tailors his sessions to exactly what your goals are, and his instruction is super simple and easy to implement. Today I spent the morning at Contra Loma working on off leash recall, and I was so amazed and proud that Denali was listening to my commands, even with the distraction of other walkers, dogs, and geese. Highly recommend Brad and his team! Glad we made the investment. read more

The board and train was more successful than I could have imagined! I had already taken my dog to a 'bootcamp' and he had some basics down, but I could not get a hold of some of his behaviors. After working with Brad and his staff, Buzz boy came back so well behaved...and happy! Less anxious and able to listen more, we have a lot more fun together! I learnt a lot of what I need to do on my end as well. Brad is also, even post board and train, very responsive to questions and would help if ever needed to work on something. Thanks Brad! read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Place work - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

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My family is working with Wilhelm K9 Training for our 3-year old male Rottweiler, Cobain. We have been more than happy with the results and the services so far. Brad Wilhelm is an expert trainer who is completely versed in training for obedience and other specialized training. He and his staff took care of Cobain very well at their training facility while he was boarded for 7 weeks. We regularly received the videos of Cobain's progress, his interactions with other boarders and his comical daily workout on the treadmill. Brad his very responsive via text or phone when we wanted to hear about Cobain and his progress. Of course, we missed Cobain! We scheduled a short visit with Cobain during his boarded training. After the boarded training, Brad delivered Cobain with all the do's and don'ts so we get the most of the training and our beloved Cobain. It is eye opening to learn and relearn proper playing, disciplining and even as mundane as walking the dog! Even after delivering our Cobain, Brad has offered multiple visits to our home to review and refresh training and educate our family members. Brad just drove all the way from San Ramon to San Jose and spent a couple hours with my family and Cobain yesterday. What a huge difference that home visit made for us personally and most importantly for Cobain. We are very pleased and satisfied with Wilhelm K9 Training. Brad is a true professional and his passion for the animals he cares for and trains shows with the way he treated our Cobain and the way he continues to help us with Cobain. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

I am so glad I reached out to Brad to help me with my beloved 2 year old Mastador. At 115lbs, this half-English Mastiff half-Labrador is a formidable critter, when he's showing protectiveness over me and what he sees as "his space". This is why I called Brad, to correct my dog's increasing protective behavior. From day one, interaction with Wilhelm services was exemplary. We were able to schedule an assessment at our home, at a time of our convenience quickly and easily. Even upon initial assessment, it was clear that Brad knew his stuff, and had our dog in an attentive, relaxed position while we chatted about our needs and expectations. I had only ever trained my dog with reward-based training, which Brad agrees is great for puppies under 6 months, but correcting the issues my dog had developed were beyond my ability and knowledge on my own. It was comforting to know that Brad also trains police canines, so the level to which he can get animals to perform is very exacting. This was apparent as we took a walk with our dog under Brad's control. Our dog was perfectly behaved on Brad's lead, and soon Brad transferred control to me, reminding me the proper techniques to correct if needed, and the correct amount of praise and positivity to reward with for each agreeable behavior moment. Within an hour, we were both confident that my dog was already on the right path, and with consistency would be precisely the dog I want him to be. Many thanks to Brad for his help! I will be recommending his services to anyone needing help with their beloved pups. read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Happily and perfectly behaved under the desk AT WORK after Brad's help! - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

Brad and his team do amazing work with a range of dogs. It's hard to find someone who genuinely cares about dogs this much and has the credentials/experience to back up what they say they're setting out to do. Brad has helped train a dog-aggressive dog and rehome him after a tiring journey being turned away from every rescue and then some...and now is helping with a high energy rascal (with prior zero training) I've taken in. Trust worthy team with results that speak for themselves. read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Not part of training** Just my goofy dog - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

I have a 1.5 belgian malinos. I got her from a family friend and knew very little about her mother and father. We started training with her at 8 weeks old, getting a professional trainer at 10 weeks old. At 6 months we were told my the Veterinarian and Behavioral trainers and Vets that she had anxiety. We put her in a 3.5 week board a train with the professional trainer and when she returned she had many issues that she did not have going in. She could no longer socialize with dogs, she became reactive to everything while on a leash and she started to bite humans , as well as developed a GI issue where she would eat no more than 1/2 a cup of food every other day. Life was beginning to get stressful and my boyfriend and I felt trapped. The things we wanted to do with Luna seemed to no longer be an option. She could not travel anymore and would always redirect towards us after being corrected. I couldn't run with her and taking her to the park for training/exercise was stressful when I could not control her. The trainer we had ghosted us and we had to find two more trainers. We did not see much improvement. We found Brad by a wonderful accident. We knew Luna needed a board and train for reactivity and biting. Before even signing up, Brad talked with us on the phone twice, just to get to know Luna and hear our concerns. He then took her in and kept her for 8 weeks training with Alyssa (THANK YOU ALYSSA!). We got to see video updates on instagram weekly and were able to ask questions whenever. When she came home, there was no sense of blame or guilt about Luna's behavior. There seems to be a sad trend where if you have a Malinois and they have behavioral issues, you're told you're not cut out for the dog. Not helpful whatsoever, especially when you as an owner did your research about the breed and have devoted time, money, and work into your dog. What it comes down to is proper education with someone who creates a safe and non-judgmental learning environment. That is what Brad provided. He listened to our goals and lifestyle and created a boot camp for Luna that was clearly working. He drove her home and demonstrated what she had learned while at camp: treadmill, stronger obedience, calm towards dogs (he brought two dogs to show Luna under distraction), and walking without reactivity. He had to tools available for purchase if you did not have them already, as well. We were given 5 free sessions where Brad would come back and assist with whatever issues or questions we notice. So far we have not scheduled them, but will in the future. He clearly made himself available for text and phone calls for any questions and even would come down urgently if needed. I feel stronger in caring and training for Luna. Our goal was to always provide the best life for her and now, we can meet her needs thanks to Brad and his team. Board and trains are expensive, trust me, I did a lot of research before going back into it because we had a net loss with our first trainer. Brad and his team provide results on day 1 of your dog's return. I am so thankful Brad and his team take dogs who have a history of biting humans. We will definitely be bringing Luna back for enhanced boarding if we are on Vacations that Luna cannot join us for and will send her to short board and train for touch ups and more fancy obedience work. Hands down I recommend Wilhelm K9 to anyone who wants to put in time to learn and work for a better like with your dog. Thank you Wilhelm! read more

Brad has been training my Welsh Terrier pup. While an incredibly good natured dog, I wasn't making enough headway with her Terrier personality. Brad has done an amazing job with her and she loves him. He has gone out of his way to make me feel comfortable with the situations he has introduced to her and with great results. He has a wonderful, calm method which really counteracts her excitable personality. Highly recommend him and completely trust him. Thank you Brad! read more

Brad and his team are awesome. I took my rescue baby Matteo (5year old mix: half lab/half mastiff; rescued at 2yrs old fr OAS in Oakland - great place btw to adopt rescues) to get a major reboot from Brad and so far, Matteo's training is going really well. I get videos fr Brad and/or I'll text to check-in. Matteo looks soo happy and his black coat looks amazing too! Please check them out if you need any training and/or K9 service needs!!!! read more

Brad is an amazing dog trainer he really helped me better understand my Rottweiler and how to set him up for success very professional and clean facility he sent me updates and gives me great advice anytime I have a question or concern brad and his team do awesome work with dogs read more

Brad is THE nicest and most knowledgeable trainer I've ever had and my dog has been through 2 different trainers from the Bay Area (all of them said that training my Lexi is hopeless). I will say that his services can look pricey at first but it is a GREAT INVESTMENT (this is coming from a struggling college student). Let me start off with... I know it can be difficult to trust anyone with your furbaby. After a years worth of research online and narrowing my options down to two: one trainer from Sacramento and Wilhelm K-9 Services, I decided to give Brad a call for a free consultation. He was VERY informative over our phone conversation. He was not pushy about his services and gave me a quote on the Board and Train for my Lexi. We set up a meet up time and location and it went smooth. We discussed Lexi a little bit so he got to know her & then we went into detail about what we want/expect from her. He observed her doing the consultation and was already doing things to train her. You can tell that he is very focused and loves his job. He made me and my fiancé feel extremely safe leaving our 3 year old highly-dramatic German Shepherd. I was actually excited to leave her with him because I knew that she would be happy being exercised and trained and indeed she was! He kept her for 5 weeks, 2 weeks longer than the timeframe that we had talked about, at no additional cost. He sent me photos and videos every few days and always reassured me that she was doing great. These photos and videos would be of Lexi on pack walks, training around high-social locations, her interacting with bigger dogs (scared of them), down command outside of a Safeway with people walking in and out, etc. He told me that Lexi is a smart dog and has potential, something the other trainers never told me. When he was all done with her training, we set up a day and time for drop off. He was able to drive up to Davis (where I live for school) to hand Lexi back to me and train me on everything that she now knows. & OMG, she was an entirely new dog (because he also had her groomed lol). She was heeling on the leash, listening to commands, walked and jogged off leash WHILE heeling, no longer jumping/lunging at people/dogs, etc. It was hard to believe, it is STILL hard to believe. Walking her used to be so stressful that I stopped overall. Before, she would see a dog across the street and nearly drag me on the floor trying to get to them and with her prong/pinch collar on. I would have to walk her around people/crossing streets and even then she was unbearable. Now I am excited to walk her everyday because it is enjoyable for the both of us. Our bond is so much better and stronger and it is all because of Brad. He helped me trust my dog again, showed me her potential, and taught me how to maintain the expectations that we have for Lexi. He even took her to a protection training class and sent me videos of her training. We are now thinking of having Brad train Lexi in civil protection in the near future. His services are great, I am even considering putting my spoiled dachshund in his B&T program. I just dropped Lexi off for a follow-up and she was SO EXCITED to see Brad. Shows how great of a trainer and person he is. Sometimes I think that she would rather live with him than me, haha. Reasons why I chose Brad: - Passionate about dogs and you can see it in his smile when he talks about them - His program is not a "train and crate" process like some other services I've had, he takes your dog on pack walks in the hills, and everywhere he goes (Home Depot, etc.) - Not pushy about his services and really welcomes you - Does not make you feel bad about how you raise your pet (some people can really make you feel bad for some things you let your dogs get away with) - Lifelong follow-up with your pet until satisfaction - Accommodating with your schedule Overall, so worth the investment if you have a dog that is driving you nuts. I saved up my financial aid to pay for this and it is still by far the BEST investment I have ever made. read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Lexi chilling with someone's Rottweiler, Thor. - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

We adopted a Formosan Mountain Dog almost 2 years ago from Taiwan. Rambo has been super affectionate with us, and got along great with other dogs but did not deal well with visitors in our house. He was very protective of the house, and us in the house and while he never bit anyone, he definitely tried and we felt like his behavior was escalating with time. We tried working with another trainer but didn't feel like it was very effective in modifying Rambo's behavior. Rambo was also very anxious if we took him places, had a hard time walking anywhere outside of our immediate neighborhood. It felt like it was really hard to have Rambo be integrated into our lives as we couldn't have people over, and we couldn't take him anywhere other than the dog park in the neighborhood. Things got so bad that my family refused to come visit if Rambo was in the house. Our first trainer even suggested that we should give Rambo up. Then we found Brad through a friend recommendation. He came to our house for the initial session and immediately concluded couple of things: 1. Rambo was super spoiled and thought he was in charge, and my husband and I were his "dog friends" 2. He is highly anxious but deals with his anxiety through lashing out 3. He is very stubborn Brad was pretty straightforward with us and said the only way we can make progress with Rambo is 6 weeks board and train program. We were not super excited about being without Rambo for 6 weeks, but felt like we had no choice. Brad wouldn't even charge us for that session as he felt he didn't help us and just said to call him when we make our decision. Fast forward 2 weeks later I dropped of Rambo with Brad and his team. Throughout the whole process Brad was super responsive, answered my numerous questions, sent updates etc. He was very upfront about Rambo's slow process and was very careful about managing our expectations. I should mention that Brad told us that us that if we do the board and train program - it takes as long as it takes - he will give us the "finished product" and will work with us in 1:1 sessions for as long as we need to after Rambo comes back so we can ensure the training is successful when he gets back. Early on, Brad told us that Rambo will likely take more than 6 weeks. After 8 weeks, he told us he wanted to keep him for a little bit longer, and finally, Rambo ended up staying for 12 weeks. We knew that Brad had no incentive to keep Rambo for that long, in fact I am pretty sure he lost money on Rambo, as he had to engage another trainer to help with Rambo (kind of a funny story, but illustrate how difficult Rambo can be - Brad clipped Rambo's toe nails which Rambo did not appreciate, and he has a memory of an elephant, so Brad didn't think he would be effective in training him anymore, so he got another trainer to work with him that had a "clean slate" with Rambo). We fully trusted that Brad had ours and Rambo's best interests in mind and he went above and beyond to train Rambo and help him be less anxious and more comfortable with people in our house. When we got Rambo back, Brad spent over an hour explaining what to do and how to treat him and that we still need to be in "bootcamp phase" with him so that Rambo doesn't go back to his old ways. Brad came over several more time, including once when we had people over so "we can practice" with guests in the house. I was texting him regularly (still do) asking for advice and giving him updates. To summarize the results, it feels like Rambo is a different dog. We are able to take him everywhere, I go on regular runs with him, my husband took him to Home Depot, takes him bocce games in the park...Just yesterday, we had 12 people in the house most of which Rambo hasn't ever seen before and he was totally ok, focused on me, looking for approval. No barking, growling, or even showing any intention of biting. 6 months ago, we would have had a mess of shivering, shaking, growling with fur up, and snapping teeth in the direction of our guests. My mom was visiting couple of weeks ago, stayed for 3 days, and after the first couple of hours Rambo was treating her as if she has always been part of the household. We will never be able to thank Brad enough for making Rambo the best dog he can be and enabling him to be fully integrated into our lives so we can enjoy our time with him without stress and anxiety. I can also honestly say that Rambo is a much happier dog - he enjoys running with me, he is much more relaxed and less anxious. He understands now that we are in charge and that he doesn't have to be which makes him less stressed out. We are certainly thankful to the other trainer that worked with Rambo, Kiley, but it was Brad who recognized what Rambo needed and made the effort to engage her (and I assume pay her from what we paid him) to continue working with Rambo after the infamous toenail incident. He loves dogs and genuinely cares for them and their well being. Thank you Brad!! read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - 3 month old Rambo - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

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I only wish I could post the text messages you sent after I pickup up my dog, people will come in to your facility now and st least look before they trust. I wish I read your yelp reviews first and saw the comments about the dog that had just died in your care. Yes I write reviews on yelp when I have good or bad experiences, they are honest and factual. You will see more positive reviews thAn bad, usually the bad is when I fail to do the research. FYI my dog still has two large scars on his neck from your safe clean cool environment. Anyone reading this I hope at least checks any place out before leaving there pets there. read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

This review is slightly overdue and my apologies for not getting this in sooner as I owe a great debt of gratitude to Brad and his staff. In particular, Brad as I know he went through quite a process to transform my stubborn young Beagle into a nearly perfect and obedient dog, who I now enjoy every moment with. When we first got Jax as a pup, he was a little Tasmanian Devil! I had heard about Brad and finally convinced my fiancé that we send him off to the Board and Train program, though she did not want to part with him for such a lengthy period at first. It is obviously a multi-step process and still requires you to continue training at home. Brad always made himself available for questions and future training at any time after the program was completed. The end result was night and day. Our dog listens , waits, sits, does virtually what we ask and we now let him roam free in our home without a tacky doggie gate! Brad, I cannot thank you enough as I almost gave up on my adorable Beagle and you will have my highest recommendation to anyone that asks for a dog trainer in the future. read more

I was referred to Brad by a young lady from a pet store who had seen great progress with Brad working with her reactive German Shepherd rescue. Given that I also have a reactive German Shepherd rescue, I thought I would give Brad a shot. Very glad I did! All it took was one session, and Brad taught my boyfriend and I how to handle our dog in a manner that showed our dog that we were the leaders and that he was to follow our every direction. We had worked with one other trainer and one of the local humane societies, and their methodology (although nice) was not working for our dog. Brad definitely showed us how to teach our dog that we are the leader and that he does not need to bark/lunge at every dog he sees because we are protecting him. We'll definitely be using Brad for other services in the future. read more

Brad is magical! He has been working with us to train our very animated, 6 month old black lab puppy, Wilson, for the past month. We have also engaged his team to take Wilson on pack hikes and runs. Wilson has responded phenomenally to Brad and his team. We now have a well behaved Lab puppy, which everyone told us was an impossible feat. K9 Services is effective, reasonably priced, and offer many services beyond training... this is such a plus. We look forward to continuing to work with the K9 Services team. read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

I am a registered veterinary technician and rescued a GSD with minimal socialization and boundaries. I knew if I wanted her to integrate into our family lifestyle I would need some help and am so so thrilled to have found Brad! Right from the start he was calm and clear about what we needed to do to get our dog back on track. We opted for the board and train package which was very fairly priced and the best investment we could make for our new family member! I loved getting updates and videos while our dog was staying with him! He and his staff took excellent care of her and made her health top priority. When he was finished he delivered her to our home and offered as much of his time as it took to make sure my husband and I knew how to communicate with our dog in a way she understands. Love love love K-9 Services and will be recommending Brad to all my clients! read more

Brad worked miracles with my out of control german shepherd puppy who was extremely leash reactive. We went from not being able to walk her at all, to being able to walk her past other dogs off leash. After the board and train Brad continued to do in home follow up session with us. Highly recommend for reactive dogs. read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

Brad contacted me right away after I left him a message requesting help. He provided a phone consultation today and I was so pleased with his professionalism, knowledge and suggestions. He asked great questions and requested some follow up information, which helped him to give us guidance with our 9 month old dog, who has been pooping in the house. I got off of our call feeling like we have a plan to put into effect tonight. Thanks, Brad, for everything! read more

We did a free consultation with Brad back in November/December of 2017 for our little mixed breed dog. We adopted our 3 year old dog from ARF, and didn't know much about his background. Rizz started showing signs of aggression/fearfulness, not towards me, but towards other people and kids (sometime even to my husband as Rizz was so protective of me). We finally made the commitment to put Rizz through Brad's boarding training. It was the longest 5 weeks of my life, but with the videos and pictures Brad and his team were sending, made the time go by a little bit faster. From the beginning, Brad was very open and really knew everything about dogs and their behaviors. We even met his personal dog, a rott, who is probably the most behaved dog I've ever come across. It took awhile for Rizz to warm up to Brad, but the results were amazing. When we got Rizz back, he was well behaved. We can now take him out in public without him lunging, barking, or growling at people. We can even walk him off leash! The day we got Rizz back my husband and i also went through a training with Brad and rizz. We learned how to continue the training and how important it it to really keep rizz busy. Brad told us that we could reach out to him anytime if there was something we still needed help with, at no charge. This was truly a great investment. If you're looking for some training for your dog, you can't go wrong with Brad! read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

Brad is a master of his craft, the reviews speak for them selves. I wish i can rate him more stars but his services are definitely a 5/5! He has helped me accomplish my goals with my dog and continues to unlock new potential in our training. The relationship he has helped me build with my dog is priceless. Brad was not the first trainer that i reached out to. I had tried 2 other trainers before working with Brad and i was not seeing results. I was even told by one trainer that my dog is a "special case." Sure my dog had a few problems and a bit more energy than the average dog, but i just felt like that could not be the answer as to why i wasn't getting the results i wanted. During My consultation with Brad i was sold as soon as i met his dog Sookie. His dog is so on point with her obedience its clear he knows what he's doing. He told me everything i was doing wrong within 15 minutes. The way he was able to pick at my bad habits i could tell that he's seen it all too many times before. It was like a ray of daylight over the frustrating relationship i had with my dog. After realizing i was the stem of most of his issues i was finally beginning to feel like i was going to get the well trained dog i always wanted. I came into contact with brad a little over a year ago when my breeder referred me to him. My Rottweiler, at 6 months old was beginning to pick up bad habits quick. He was very defiant, mildly aggressive, anti social, and was bouncing off the wall with energy that i did not know how to control. The most worrisome part for me was the aggression towards other dogs, anytime a dog would cross our path it was just an awful experience with lunging, barking, pulling, and snapping. Taking your dog out should be a pleasurable and peaceful experience. I told brad my goals with my dog, which was to have a well balanced and obedient dog with manners. After hearing of other people who have had success with Brad i was eager to get to work. Fast forward to today my dog is 1 and 1/2 years old and is my personal service dog. Brad helped me flip my rambunctious, hard headed Rottweiler into a true gentleman. I can take him anywhere and put him in a down stay command with all kinds of distractions and be confident that he will stay there like a statute! He has good manners when it comes to playing with other dogs, and the best part is he never pulls on the leash anymore because he walks perfectly at my side at all times! I am honestly comfortable enough to where i can take my dog in any setting or environment leash-less and know i will have his full attention and he will stay on my side. At first that was really all i wanted but after realizing that if you put in the work and are willing to believe what Brad says, possibilities are endless. Im convinced that Brad can teach a dog to do anything you want it to. The reason i feel so strong about his services is because he has helped me raise the best dog i can ever ask for and anyone who has trained with him probably feels the same way about their dog. My dog "Rhino" and i both have a new confidence that is so positive i want everyone to be able to know what that feels like. Brad offers many different services ranging from basic obedience to personal protection and I will keep working with him in the future to learn as much as i can. Having a dog is a huge liability and making sure they are well trained is not optional, it is MANDATORY! I am definitely looking forward to working with Brad again in the future. read more

Wilhelm K-9 Services - Calm down stay command with no leash in Home Depot. He is also this calm around food places such as restaurants And grocery stores. - Pet Training Near Me - Concord , California

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We had a consultation to understand what I was having issues with and what the goals were. After the training session both my dog Russell and I were better trained. Brad was very knowledgeable and helped me dial my dog in. Recommend him to anyone! read more

My King Shepherd Stella just completed Brad's board and train program and she's a completely different dog. She's very well behaved. She will sit outside a store while I grocery shop not on a leash. She just waits patiently. He's amazing. I meet him at the park for follow ups and Stella freaks out when she sees him. She loves him so much. Please don't listen to these other people whom are making things up. Brad goes the extra mile and is a dog whisperer. If you would like to meet my dog Stella feel free to reach out to me on yelp. BRAD IS 5 STARS!!!!!! read more

Highly recommend Brad! We have a 1.5 year old GSD who did not walk on a leash well, with high anxiety and occasionally aggressive towards strangers. Within minutes of a one hour training session, you could see the difference in how our dog responded to Brad and his training techniques. He was so personable and patient when instructing us through proper handling and body posturing. With consistent practice and training, using his methods, we've seen our dog transfer in just a week. He came highly recommended, and now we'd like to also to pass along this information to anyone looking for a dog trainer. read more

I met with Brad today for some training. I can honestly say within five minutes, my dog had a different attitude. Brad is super nice and professional. A few hours later he met me at Petsmart, where I had problems in the past. He showed me how to handle them and I was suprised how quickly my dog responded. He took time out to meet and train with me on his visit to AZ. I highly recommend Brad for any problems you may be having. read more

Brad is awesome! My little dog is sweet, but has a lot of unexplained fears and wasn't properly socialized on my part. I decided to send her off for a little while for proper training as a last option on how I could possibly help her. Brad had her for a few weeks and she came back so brave and confident! I can't believe it. She's still got her little quirky fears we can't peg, but it's certainly easier to address them now that I can take her places and know that she'll finally allow people and dogs to touch her. She's a whole new girl! Brad is really great with dogs and they seem to really like him. He even came all the way to pick her up from me and bring her back, which was very appreciated. Highly recommend! read more

We will always regret the decision to put our dog in the care of Wilhelm K9 Services Dog Training. Our family's beloved 6-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog died there after almost five weeks of a six-week board-and-train program. Our dog was healthy upon entering the program, having seen a veterinarian less than four weeks prior. Weighing about 145 pounds, our dog entered the program on June 17, 2018. A month later, on Friday, July 20, Brad Wilhelm texted that our dog had the "runs." He didn't seem concerned, saying that it was probably just a "bug" because several other dogs "had the same symptoms last week and it passed in 3-5 days." The next communication from Brad was a call late Saturday afternoon, July 21, as he was on the way to the veterinary urgent care, informing me that our dog had died. After getting Brad's call, our family rushed to meet him at the veterinary center. Our dog was indeed dead. The veterinarian could not say exactly why our dog had passed away. We left wondering about the care our dog received in the program. After we left the veterinary center, Brad never called to discuss the situation in more detail. So, the following Tuesday, my wife and I went to his training center to talk to him. Brad claims there is nothing he could have done. We wish, at the very least, that he would have communicated more with us. We also wish he had sought veterinary care when our dog got sick, especially considering that our dog had lost at least 25 pounds during his stay. We knew that he would get exercise there, but that seems like an excessive amount of weight to lose in less than five weeks. In hindsight, there are certain aspects of the way the business is run that concern us. Brad said he has about 100 dogs per year go through his facility. We wonder how much individual attention each dog receives given how much help he has and how busy he and his staff are. Brad said he would text twice per week with updates. Instead, we heard from him about once a week. He never sent any updates unless we wrote to him first, after which he would respond. He also asked that we not visit during the weeks of training, claiming that it interferes with and can set back the training. We regret following that request and wish instead that we had visited regularly to check on our dog's welfare. We believe Brad should also have informed us as soon as our dog became sick. He told us only after we texted to ask how our dog was doing. We believe that we placed far too much trust in Brad and gave too much deference to him. I wish we could comment on the quality of the training. We can't. Our dog did not survive for us to see if there was any benefit to the training. Please carefully consider whether you want to risk putting your dog into any kind of board-and-train program unless there is a way to monitor your dog's care and condition. You will have little recourse if the unimaginable happens, as it did for us. My wife, daughter, and I have been distraught since the passing of our beloved family member, who spent the last five weeks of his life away from home. Though we cannot say exactly what happened in our case, we want to raise awareness so that others will weigh carefully the risks of this type of program versus the rewards. read more