Reviews
September 12, 2023
2023-11-17 | 14:37:25
"I've been THRILLED with the outcomes. Not just for Kane but for his and my engagement as a team. I always knew he was a great dog, but now I feel so much more confident as his person. And I know he feels more confident because I can advocate for him better. Zack was an incredible trainer/teacher and I am so grateful to him. He was such a champion for Kane and I, and his endless patience, amazing positivity( and incredible whistling skills) really helped set such a wonderful foundation for us both. He was such a huge resource, answering questions, giving helpful tips and treated Kane like his own. I use all of the tools daily with Kane and he's such a well behaved, neutral, goofy, happy, confident dog. Even when encountering new things(like rabbits, fish and elevators!) he's responded beautifully. I can't say enough wonderful things about ILK9 Academy, except THANK YOU and just, maybe, can y'all open a branch on the Cape and come out here for the summers?"
September 10, 2023
2023-11-17 | 14:37:20
"If you are starting to look for a trainer, this should be your ONLY stop. There is a reason why ILK9 Academy and Alex Schnell have a PERFECT 5-star rating. It is because of their professionalism every step of the way! Our dalmatian was adopted when he was 1yr old and came with some anxiety issues and reactivity around strangers in the house. Over the last 3.5 years we have gone through 4 different trainers. We found Alex out of desperation as we saw our dog’s reactivity to strangers escalating even though there was some obedience progress. We signed up for the three-week board and train program. Alex is extremely knowledgeable about the subject and knows very well how to tackle the issues at the root. He puts a lot of emphasis on STRUCTURE (more on this below) and sets high expectations from his students (dogs and dog owners). At the same time, he is very NURTURING, CARING and PATIENT. STRUCTURE - Initially I told Alex I did not care if our dog would follow commands to a “T”, that I just wanted to make sure that Toddy stopped the reactivity towards strangers at home. He explained to me that our dog’s problem was rooted in his insecurities and that he needed structure to be able to overcome them. So, obedience needed to be as close to perfection. Toddy came back following instructions to a “T” and when it comes to strangers coming to the house, we can manage the situation a lot better than before thanks to the structure that Alex has implemented. Of course, we need to follow through at home and do our part of the plan, but Alex equipped us with the right tools and instructions on how to do this. We have seen the results already and finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. What I liked the most: My dog was very well cared for, his personality remained the same (I was worried that he would come back changed), the professionalism of EVERYTHING they do at ILK9, the daily videos, the dedicated handbook with instructions and next steps, the open communication channel after training is done, and how much I learned on how to become a better parent for my dog. Like I said, look no further. This is the support system you want behind your dog’s training."
September 9, 2023
2023-11-17 | 14:37:14
"We are very happy with the results of Ivy League K9! Our family took in an abandoned female and her litter of puppies this summer, and after placing the puppies sent mom off for training. We didn't have any background on her put knew she had some issues with reactivity and impulse control. The training program established a great foundation and gave us the tools to be able to effectively communicate with our dog so that she understands what we want of her, and what we DON'T want. Ivy League does a great job of providing learning content throughout the program (daily videos with updates and lessons) and setting expectations regarding settling her back in to the home, which is a process that requires discipline and consistency from the family. After the program ends, Ivy provides a guidebook for this process as well as regular group classes. You get what you pay for sometimes, and this is an investment we are very happy to have made."
August 29, 2023
2023-11-17 | 14:37:07
"My 9 month out dog was out of control (really just a puppy) to where my husband wanted to get rid of him. I called Ivy League and wasn’t sure if the service could justify the price. Well it did. Scout came back a different pup. They did say it would take time to adjust and he will have his mishaps, but he actually came back exactly how I wanted. He listens so well, my husband allows him in the house, and now he is a very happy well behaved dog. Very happy with the results. My life is so much less stressful having Scout being so well behaved. I highly recommend Ivy League!"
August 22, 2023
2023-11-17 | 14:37:00
"Mel and Alex were amazing with training my dog Winston! Winston had a lot of anxiety and bad habits and they were able to work through them perfectly and have helped me gain the confidence to ensure Winston has a great life with all of the skills he has learned! Definitely recommend if your dog needs training as they are excellent!"
August 18, 2023