Over 90 five star stories

"I highly recommend Smart K9! Before Smart K9 I had quite the rambunctious little Corgi (Baylee) who would never really listen to me unless I had food. Now, after Smart K9, Baylee and I have a clear way to communicate with one another, and she learned to be more relaxed and confident which makes life easier for everyone."

"Knowledge. Execution. Care. Those are just a few, of many, words to describe Emilee, Lucas and the rest of the Smart K9 staff. Pike went into his 2 weeks with basic obedience but ended with many more useful commands and tools that only make our communication with him stronger. We are so fortunate to be able to gain from their knowledge and to continue to have their support. They truly care and want to see your dog succeed and get better! 

Smart K9 Training is not only for those with dogs that have major issues, but for ALL dogs!

"Emilee was a great help with my super fearful/aggressive dog Chacha. I could not imagine living another 14 years with this dog before I brought her to Smart K9. My house is way more peaceful, dog walks are fun again, and my two small Chi dogs are happier as Chacha is calmer and listens better. She will always have her quirks and I will always have to be working with her but enjoying my dog now versus not wanting to even come home to her after my work day prior to training is so great. Emilee took extra time to really help me learn how to handle Chacha and talked with me quite a bit which was so helpful and answered every question I had. I'm so grateful!!!!"

"I absolutely LOVE this place, anytime Someone talks to me about their naughty pup I always plug the name Smart K9 into the conversation! They are so dedicated to what they do and every single dog that’s brought to them. When I brought my dog in I felt like a horrible dog owner with an out of control pup but after I picked him up from his board and train program he was stellar! They showed me how to be a better leader for my dog and gave me the confidence to really feel like I could be! Now I live a peaceful, bonding life with my dog and that is priceless. All thanks to Smart K9"

"Lucas and Emilee did such a great job training our Jade! Jade is a very excitable dog, just petting her can be a struggle as she thinks it’s like winning the lottery, but through the work they did with her and our commitment to maintaining that work, our Jade has turned out to be a great fit for our family, even our 2 year old is able to work on commands that Jade responds to. Thank you Smart K9 Training!"

"Emilee is an amazing trainer. Her company saves and rehabilitates so many dogs. She is the best of the best."

"I had a sweet Collie puppy, who suddenly changed into a very aggressive dog. He had changed so suddenly, I took him to the vet for fear he had a brain tumor or other serious health issue. I had been a dog trainer for many years, and had been taking Remi to dog school for a year. He would behave well in school and 99% of the time he was a good dog at home. Then suddenly, he would change into a vicious dog I did not recognize. He bit me 3 times. I search the internet for a solution, desperate to avoid having to euthanize my sweet Collie. I have never given up on a dog and did not want to give up on Remi. I had my evaluation with Emily in November 2019. Emily was sure that they could help Remi with his issues. January 3rd, I took Remi in for a 4 week Board and Train. This turned out to be the best decision I could have made. Lucus was able to reprogram Remi into the companion I had hoped to have. When I picked Remi up from his training, he was not the perfect dog I had hoped him to be. He was the smart brat I had dropped off. He was perfect for Lucus but he thought he could return home and have things go his way like they had before. He was resistant to give up his previous life of having things his way. I stayed strong and persistent and I followed EVERY rule Lucus had taught me. Within a week, Remi gave up and realized his old behavior would never be tolerated again. Remi is a huge success story. If it weren’t for Smart K9 I would have put Remi to sleep. I can not say enough about Smart K9. They will make your dog better!! No question. Follow their instructions and be persistent and your life with your dog will be calm,safe and happy!! Susan Havery & Remi"

"I recommend everything about Smart K9! Our black lab Olive was at a board and train for three weeks! Now being at home for the last week I am getting more confident with my handing skills with her and she is thriving!"

"I cannot recommend Smart K9 Training enough!! 

We have a black lab mix named Fred that we rescued as a puppy and found that at a year old he was having behavioral issues and extreme dog reactivity and aggression even though he had been in training with another training facility since he was 5 months old. We knew we needed professional help when we couldn’t even take him to the vet or for a walk or from the house into our vehicle parked in the driveway for fear of him hurting someone. I found Smart K9 Training after a lot of research and decided to schedule our initial consult. It was very eye opening and Emilee was confident that they could help us train Fred and ourselves. We wanted to be the best owners we could be for Fred and knew we needed to learn how to handle him as much as he needed to learn obedience. Fred went through a 3 week board and train with Lucas and WOW! Don’t get me wrong, it was hard to leave him there for so long but we knew he was in great hands. Fred made tremendous progress and we were so grateful for Smart K9 Training for helping Fred to be a well behaved dog! We can actually walk him now without being dragged around or white knuckling his leash, he doesn’t completely lose his mind around other dogs, he is more relaxed and not constantly stressed and anxious. 

Lucas and Emilee are very encouraging, they give you all of the support and tools you need and they want you and your dog to succeed! I recommend Smart K9 Training for anyone who owns a dog - they’re seriously the best!! Thanks Smart K9! 🐾"

"I rescued my 6yr old dog a little over a year ago. He was extremely overweight, scared of everything, and had aggression issues related to his fearfulness that kept getting worse as the year went on. For a smaller dog, he pulled incredibly hard on his leash. It got so I couldn’t take him for a walk with out being super nervous about encountering other people and other dogs and he needed to wear a harness because he’d pull so much he would choke himself. I even stopped taking him places and did not have people come over to my house because of his behavior.
Being a Jack Russel mix, he’s pretty smart & playful, but needed more direction and leadership than I had been giving him. I knew there was a sweet and silly dog in there somewhere but no where I took him for training worked; the experiences made him more fearful, more aggressive, and rather grumpy. I found SmartK9 on Facebook and heard from friends that had heard good things about them so I scheduled a consultation.
My dog did a 2 week board & train with SmartK9 Training in August. Emilee and Lucas worked a miracle with him!! When I had my 3 hour go home lesson it was all I could do to keep from bursting out in tears. They “fixed” my dog!
I was so impressed because now my dog is obedient, completely manageable and the best part- his quirky personality that I love so much shines through so well! He still gets timid and a bit scared- and we still have work to do with his “yard guarding” and some recall- but he’s so much more calm and happy now. He loves “working” and is excited to go through obedience commands at home.
He now goes to daycare a few times a week at SmartK9, which reinforces his training. The handlers are amazing and my dog loves it there!
I’m so grateful for Lucas & Emilee & their staff! Training is NOT a “one and done” type of thing- as an owner you need to continue to work on things at home. The communication and leadership you continue to work on with your dog is essential to continue seeing success. I really appreciate that both Emilee & Lucas encourage and expect owners to continue daily training exercises at home. It’s a very wholistic approach and it’s creating a good life for me and my dog! I’m incredibly grateful and highly recommend them, especially if you have a dog that is driving you up the wall no matter what you do!"

"We sent our dog Remmy to Smart K9 Training for a 2 week board and train. We have a busy household with three young kids, and Remmy needed a jump start on nice manners and existing calmly at home. 

The initial intake meeting with Emilee was great. She answered all of our questions and came up with a plan covering everything we were looking for.

We were very impressed with how far Remmy progressed in 2 weeks. Lucas put on a great go home lesson. Lucas was very patient and explained everything we needed to know to continue Remmy’s progress at home. 

If you have a dog, and there you have any frustrations with their behavior or worse, you’re thinking of just getting rid of it because if it’s behavior, know that Smart K9 will listen to you, with no judgement and come up with a plan to help. You will not regret it!"

"I signed my dog Bea up for a two-week board and train with Smart K9 in March 2019. Smart K9 was the 5th—and I’m happy to say final—training format/company that Bea and I have completed. My priorities during our evaluation with Emilee included: dog reactivity, anxious state of mind (prior to board and train, she was either “on alert” or sleeping), and separation anxiety. 

I was amazed at the progress Bea made during her 2-week session. During our take home lesson Bea was sitting on the climb roughly 5 feet away from Finnegan, quiet and checking in with me for direction. In the 4 years I’ve had her, she had never sat calmly in the presence of another dog. Now, 3 months later, she’s able to loose leash walk with/pass up to 2 dogs at a time on our walks without barking, lunging, pulling or standing up on her back legs. Our walks have gone from stressful to enjoyable.

After working with Smart K9 Bea is also significantly calmer at home. She no longer rams herself into closed doors when I’m in another room of my apartment, doesn’t run barking to the front door every time she hears a noise in the hallway, and regularly uses and stays on her climb. She now knows how to relax. 

Not only was it a fantastic initial training experience, but I couldn’t be more pleased with Smart K9’s ongoing training support and client exclusive boarding/daycare. Emilee and team have gone above and beyond in caring for and training Bea. Plus, they appreciate her for the smart, lovable, yet stubborn pup that she is. I'm so grateful and happy to have found an awesome training team in Smart K9 Training, Fargo."

"My fiancé and I are SO THANKFUL for SmartK9 and Emilee! She worked with our extremely anxious, fear reactive Catahoula named Koda. We continue to work with him on the commands Emilee taught as well as a base to build his confidence up.
Thank you, thank you, thank you and 10/10 would recommend!"

"We brought our dog Rio to Smart K9 to work on his manners and his fear/anxiety issues. Prior to training Rio would not walk on our hardwood or kitchen floor (he is still working on the kitchen 😃) and he was terrified of everything. Having company over scared him to death. His kennel would be soaked with drool from panting even after a few hours. Now he walks through most of the house with confidence and slowly approaches people when they come over. Oh and the kennel is completely dry! His manners as well as his state of mind are so much better. The first night we were home he had his tail up and was wagging it for the first time since we adopted him 7 months ago. We are excited to have Smart K9 continue to work with him with their daycare training and to watch him grow! We are so grateful for everything that they did with him!!!"

"When we sent Presley to Smart K9, we were expecting a more obedient dog and that was about it; however, what we got was above and beyond our expectations. Presley is not only more obedient, but she is now equipped to handle situations that make her anxious and nervous. Presley went to the 2 Week Day Training and now continues to go to daycare twice a week for continued training. Emilee and the staff at Smart K9 are easy to work with, patient, and personalize training to specific needs for each dog and family. The one-on-one attention was just what our family needed to ensure Presley was getting what she needed for her best life. We have learned so much from Smart K9 and are excited to continue working with them. We are so thankful to have found Smart K9.

Thank you so much,
the Seelig family"

"Smart K9 training changed our lives. Our dog, Zeke, went through a 3 week board and train program due to his fear and growing aggression. In a matter of a few weeks Emilee helped our dog change his state of mind and learn ways to calm himself. We loved the honesty through the experience and that even after our board and train ended she didn't just send us on our way and say "good luck". We had 3 follow up one on one classes and we get awesome perks for going through board and train. Our dog attends daycare weekly where she works with him while he's there and he loves it. We will also have a peace of mind boarding him there for longer times knowing he will be well taken care of and get to work on his training when we are gone! We appreciate the continuous suggestions on training and ways to help our dog even more. It's not just a one time and it's over, they're here to help you for the long haul. It's exactly what we needed for our dog and for us! Our life at home has become more calming and less stressful. We couldn't be more thankful! Highly recommend!!"

"We had been looking for a dog behaviorist for quite a while for our 3 year old German Shepherd, Panzer. Due to some encounters with less-than-friendly off-leash dogs, Panzer had some pretty intense dog reactivity. Just by chance I stumbled across a Facebook post for Smart K9 Training right after they opened, so I attended their first open house.. and eventually we signed up Panzer for a 4-week board and train for his dog reactivity, as well as helping calm his very anxious mind. Leaving Panzer for 4 weeks was one of the hardest things we have done.. but it turned out to be the best thing! He is so much more calm and comfortable in situations, even at Xmas in a room full of people (when before, he would be extremely wound up). He hung out on his "climb" the whole time! He has made great progress with his dog reactivity, and we look forward to having more private lessons to keep working on his skills! We cannot thank Emilee and Smart K9 Training enough for helping our Panzer!"

"Emilee is great! Our dog, Bella, did a two week board and train and continues to go to daycare at Smart K9. Emilee took time to really understand our dog and her needs. She provided us with great information on how to continue her training at home and answered all of our questions. Looking forward to continuing Bella's training there!"

"We rescued our dog Tilly 2.5 years ago. We quickly came to find that she was VERY dog aggressive.
We tried training at home with online videos and slowly worked our way into just flat out avoiding other dogs at all costs.

After an incident over Christmas with another family member’s dog, we knew we had to seek professional help.

We scoured the internet for trainers in our area. I’m not one to make a quick decision. We looked at every possible trainer, comparing reviews, prices, etc. Ultimately we settled on Smart K9 Fargo. It was a bit of a wait to get in for an initial evaluation, but I cannot express to you how happy we are that we chose this place.

From our initial evaluation we could tell that this would be life changing.
We considered a 3-week board and train, but there was a lengthy wait. We felt like we had already waited too long into our dog’s life and we needed some sort of help/training right away.

We bought a package of 5 one-on-one sessions. In just THREE sessions (once/week), we’ve decided to wait with our next two sessions because Tilly is progressing so well.

In these past few weeks I have cried MULTIPLE times. It has truly been life changing. The knowledge that Emilee has that comes through in the training is unparalleled. It’s like she gave us a way to “talk” to Tilly.
When Tilly first showed signs of aggression I, of course, went to google for some recommendations. One of the first ones I came across was to have our dog put down. I cried and cried. How could this dog who is soo sweet and cuddly at home be so aggressive out in public with other dogs.
With Emilee and Smart K9 Fargo, we now have the tools and knowledge to continue moving in the right direction. Almost immediately Tilly learned to loose leash walk and all around had more self control. Every single day I see improvement with her, it’s crazy. It takes a lot of work on this end as an owner, but is 1000% worth it.
My only regret is that we didn’t bring her here sooner.

"Em is the best! Hank had major anxiety and often lunged at people, barked, and growled. He even bit a past trainer and one of our friends. Em took him in for a 3 week board and train and he is completely different. He is able to relax and just be a dog instead of always being alert and uncomfortable. He listens to us and has not barked or shown aggressive behavior since he has been home! Thank you, Em and Smart K9 for your help. We would recommend to anyone."

"I’ve brought my two dogs in for one-on-ones. Emilee is very knowledgeable and patient (with me and my dogs). She has given us a lot of information and helpful corrections in just two short lessons. Don’t wait out your dog’s bad behavior. Trust me, I wish I would’ve started sooner!"

UPDATE: "My two dogs were heavily dependent on each other and were reactive towards other dogs. Smart K9 Training helped show me how to be a confident leader for my dogs and curbed their unwanted behaviors. They have made huge strides. 10/10 would recommend!"

"Emilee is so knowledgeable about every different breed of dog and sees issues then puts together a individual training plan. My Boxer Bodie just spent 2 weeks at a board and train, he is progressing so much and I really enjoy training him, that is thanks to Emilee. Best investment for your dog and family is to be part of this great training program. I am so excited to continue working with Emilee and watch how Bodie continues to turn into a well mannered obedient dog. P.S. Being a client of Smart K9 Training is you get to board your dog their and I wouldn't want my dog with anyone else."

"We brought our Dog Sherman to Smart K9 training for a 2 week day training program. Not only did Sherman learn & improve on everything that we requested, Emilee also put extra time & effort into treadmill training Him! I Can’t wait to utilize the daycare option where I know he will continue to exhibit his new learned behaviors. Thank you Emilee!"

"Emilee did an amazing job with our 8 year old, Cooper. She recognized that he was a high energy, stressed out pup and worked with him during his two week stay to calm his state of mind. We cannot recommend Smart K9 Training enough. Thank you...thank you....thank you!!!"

"Emilee is amazing - we tried a few places for training before Smart K9 but were not comfortable with some of the methods being used by others. We then met Emilee and loved her approach, temperament, and how she customizes her techniques and programs for each dog. Emilee was also very patient with us first time puppy parents - she answered every email, text, and phone call with patience and understanding. We just dropped off our six month old puppy for a two week board and train, and although we miss her, we feel perfectly at ease knowing she is with Emilee. I will update this post when we pick her up but so far, working with Emilee has been a dream and we would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a training program.

"Emilee has been AMAZING with our two dogs! We never really felt comfortable with putting our dogs through training, until we started with Emilee. The change is their behavior is VERY evident. We even had a dog showing some aggression towards other dogs, but now she’s very confident and has no issues! I would recommend Emilee and Smart k9 to anyone!"

"Smart K9 did something to my dog that I would have never expected - they taught him how to calm down! Flash is a 3 year old golden retriever who has struggled for much of his life with fear and anxiety that led to some dog aggression, and with a mind going a million miles a second never was able to properly walk with a loose leash. We had tried multiple trainers before with little success in treating his fear and anxiety, but we went through an evaluation and really began to understand Flash's perspective thanks to Emilee and Lucas.

After two weeks of a board and train, Flash has been noticeably calmer at home and on our walks. Emilee did an outstanding job and is so passionate about the field of dog training, providing so many resources and suggestions to us. She made sure that we were comfortable with Flash's training and commands with a thorough go-home appointment, and followed up quickly with a (virtual) appointment to answer any questions that we have. We are sending Flash to day care once a week where we get updates on how he does and what was worked on. I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a great trainer!"

"Smart K9 Fargo is amazing! By the time we found them, we had been through a few sessions of pet store classes, worked with a local bird-dog group, tried another local group class, and even had a private session in our home with the owner of yet another local training organization. That’s right, 4 previous trainers.  

Cosmo was about 18 months old, and 60 pounds of terror! He would grab items from the counter and dash around to avoid us, swallow our son’s toys whole, knock our 5-year-old over and mount him. He played way too rough, grabbing our clothes or limbs and shaking his head.  He would pull on walks, regardless of the countless collars and harnesses we tried.

With our previous training, he knew the basic commands, and would comply for treats... if he wanted to.  But, with no consequences for disobedience, he was ruling, and ruining, our lives! We loved the idea of having him more than we actually loved having him.

We left him at Smart K9 for a board and train experience last February, and he is like a different dog!  He is not perfect, he’s a dog.  And it takes ongoing effort and thought to maintain his progress.  But he LISTENS!  We can leave things on the counter without him grabbing everything.  Our youngest son can play with his toys around him.  We can take him on loose-leash walks and runs.  He doesn’t ambush house guests or grab us anymore.  

Treats and positive training are wonderful. But Cosmo needed limits and consequences, too.  Smart K9 helped us find the balance we desperately needed and Cosmo is a better dog because of them."

"The last dog trainers you'll ever need. These folks are the best at what they do. They taught my dog obedience and stopped her reactive behaviours. Can't recommend them enough."

"Smart K9 Training is LIFE CHANGING.

Our working line German Shepherd and Bernese Mountain Dog pup had worked with two other trainers in the area before we found SK9. Our dogs would listen long enough to receive a treat and then go right back to running our world.

Both of our dogs completed SK9 Board and Train programs within the last month and we could not be happier with the positive improvement we see every. single. day. As Emilee and Lucas frequently share, training never stops; however, the foundation that they set has left our dogs’ state-of-mind significantly more calm. There’s notable motivation to work for us and be obedient. It’s great. For the first time ever, we went on a controlled, enjoyable walk. There was no lunging at cars or pulling towards dogs or people. Instead, both dogs walked on a loose leash and looked to us for leadership. Two months ago, I would not have been able to imagine a walking experience like that.

Prior to training, we had ourselves convinced that our dogs were they were they were (especially our Shepherd) and thought we’d just have to deal with the craziness. We’ve learned that is not the case, nor does it have to be our standard. Emilee and Lucas taught our dogs communication and then set them up for success by teaching US what we needed to know when it was time to pass the baton. Education is a huge part of the journey and these two will not let you go until all of your questions are answered and you’re feeling confident. We spent hours in prep for going home (we had a LOT of questions and wanted to ensure we got things right) and when we left, we felt ready and empowered to lead our dogs in a way they understood. A mutual understanding of behavioral expectations has been been established. There’s consistently for our dogs living a human’s world, which has made day-to-day living far less confusing for them (yay!!).

All of our lives recently got a whole lot better because of Smart K9. These folks are elite and care so much - we truly can’t recommend them enough."

"Very genuine and loyal trainers!!"

"Lucas and Emilee are dedicated and balanced trainers. Their attention to detail creates the best learning experience for each individual dogs needs. They have built and continue to expand on a safe, low stress facility to provide the best training environment for every dog they train."

"Smart K9 gets the results other trainers don't. They are clearly heads above the others! There's a reason that they are usually the third or fourth trainer a dog has, because the others don't cut it. Their love and dedication to not only their pups but other fur babies are glaringly obvious. You can't go wrong with this amazing duo. Your dog will thank you! Keep up the great work!"

"Smart K-9 is an amazing place! They allow you to get a real insight into how the dog thinks and what steps you need to take to create an environment that is safe and calming for your dog. Highly recommended!"

"I recommend everything about Smart K9! Our black lab Olive was at a board and train for three weeks! Now being at home for the last week I am getting more confident with my handing skills with her and she is thriving!"

"Smart K9 is the place to train."

"Emilee is amazing! She sets her goals & achieves them!! She is an excellent dog trainer ♡ she helped us with our mastiff mix when him & my daughter weighed nearly the same! After training with Emilee my daughter was able to have the skills to handle such a large dog!! I would highly recommend Emilee!!"

"Spent some time with these guys while they visited Arkansas. Great training and genuine people. Loved every second of it!"

"Smart K9 Fargo is the BEST! We have many clients who have used their training services and have made our job so much more enjoyable. The before and after is night and day! I am so grateful for them and will continue to refer all my clients to them!"

"Emilee does an amazing job, and Smart K9 was the best investment we have ever made for our dog, Bodin. Bodin is a high energy blue heeler mix who is sometimes too smart for his own good. Emilee taught him to focus his energy and to behave in a calm manner. More importantly, she taught his humans how to be the best leaders possible for him. Additionally, Emilee is always available to consult on any behavioral issue that may come up. We are very impressed with Smart K9 and highly recommend Emilee's services."

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