X Learning K9s - South Weber, Utah

Kristen

Our experience with X Learning K9s & Valentina was AMAZING! We enrolled our pitbull puppy in her 3 week puppy program and it was SO worth it! Valentina was incredible with our pup and we’ve decided to invest in additional, weekly skill based training for our girl because the experience was so fantastic. Valentina made me feel like I was leaving my puppy with family; she will love and care for your pet like it was her own. If you’re considering dog training - look no further because this is the best experience you could hope for!!

Trevor E.

Being born during Covid, our Pitbull-Boxer mix dog, Riley, is now three years old and never really got the chance to “socialize” as dogs should do during her earlier puppy years. She would bark and then growl incessantly whenever anyone other than family was around. She was very fearful of anything in the outside world but would be as sweet as can be to our family. We talked to a vet and also tried a couple trainers who both felt that she had anxiety, and they gave her medication for that. It did calm her a bit, but not to our liking. The vet finally recommended Valentina’s X Learning K9s School. At Riley’s first session Valentina informed us that Riley didn’t have anxiety—rather she was fearful to the point of shaking. We felt confident that Valentina knew what she was doing. Eventually we had Riley boarded at her K-9 school for six weeks. Now that’s she’s home, she’s a much more confident dog when outside of the house. Barking is now at a minimum and very little growling, even around strangers. Thus far we are happy with the results. We’ve been able to take Riley off of the medication, and she’s been a much happier and more livable doggie. Valentina also equipped us with the skills we would need for ongoing training, which we understood would be necessary. She’s adept at the selection of training tools, too, such as dog collars and leashes. She also recommended a diet that Riley has done much better with. Valentina’s X Learning K9s School has been worth every penny.

Cheryl Y.

Val had my dog for a board and train to address some issues with redirecting on the handler during protection work. He also had some confidence issues she was helping him with. She did a fabulous job with him and would highly recommend her program for any of your training needs, from minor issues to what may be major ones. She is very good at getting inside the dogs head.

Thom R.

This is Fergus, he is two years old, before sending him to X Learning K9's, I had him at to different training programs. He proved to be a dog with a very independent nature. He learned his lessons, however, he, like little children listened when he wanted to. I then heard of X Learning K9's. I had an initial diagnostic appointment with Val to see what help she could give me. She was very receptive to my concerns and took time to listen to the difficulties I was having. She immediately gained the confidence of Fergus. Fergus spent some time with Val for training and came back a different dog. He now is a courteous and well behaved companion. Val is a great trainer she is respectful of the dogs she trains and truly cares for her charges. I was given a tour of her facilities and they were clean and well kept. The kennels clean and spacious, there was no doggy smell as I've experienced at other training facilities. I even saw a doggy treadmill she uses doing inclement weather. I would highly recommend X Learning K9's for your dog train needs.

Sam A.

Look no further than Valentina’s X Learning K9s if you want a trainer that will bring the potential out of your pet!

From the moment we met Valentina, you could feel the love and respect that she has for animals along with the knowledge and professionalism that she has for her craft. She is very attentive to details and knows just the right approach to take for training several breeds of dogs.

We signed on for the 5 week boarding and training for our almost 6 year old French Bulldog Bruno. He is very loving to his family, but could not handle the stimulus of the outside world with kids, adults or other unknown dogs. He was unapproachable and had a few close calls with kids and other dogs. He was not trusting and would eventually growl or nip towards others. Because of this, we never felt comfortable enough to walk around the neighborhood with him in fear we might have a bad confrontation. He was only allowed in our fenced backyard. We finally decided to get help as we just didn’t want any close calls with family or friends and wanted Bruno to be able to visit parks and expand his world. This is when we stumbled upon to X Learning K9s.

Valentina had a 2 hour consult with us and Bruno prior to boarding. She gave us a detailed plan on how she would work on correcting his behavior and then gave us a tour of the area where Bruno would be staying. She provided a very safe and comfortable space with soothing background sounds and soft lighting. I had no doubt that she would take special care of Bruno.

Valentina also provided details on what we were doing that unintentionally reinforced the bad behaviors. This helped us understand what we needed to change and also to prepare us for home training afterwards so Bruno didn’t slip back into his old routines once he completed the 5 week training.

Valentina provided updates to us with pictures on Bruno’s progress throughout the program. This helped us and our kids a lot as we missed him very much over those 5 weeks.

The transformation that she was able to do with Bruno was amazing. He went from an antisocial anxious dog that would growl, bite or cry when he didn’t get his way, to well behaved dog that could socialize around people and pets without being over stimulated! I was just able to walk him for 25 minutes today in a new part of our neighborhood and walk past a small child sprinting to the mail box, dogs barking along the fence, neighbors jogging on the sidewalk and teenagers playing soccer in their front yard with barely a look! He made a subtle cry to the teenagers as we walked by, but all it took was a slight double tap on the leash and Bruno regained his focus and trotted along his way. That earned him a “jackpot” of treats as Valentina would say!

We are forever grateful for the work Valentina did. Now both Bruno and our family can enjoy outdoor events all together!

Gina G.

Valentina is an amazing trainer! She is passionate about helping every dog be the best they can be. Scent detection training has been really fun and beneficial for both my dogs. I love seeing my dogs gain confidence as we build a stronger bond through training. Valentina is very knowledgeable, well educated, and very professional. I highly recommend her if you are looking for a true professional in dog training.

katie R.

I recently had the pleasure of entrusting my furry companion, Eddie, to the expertise of Valentina for a 3-week board and stay training program. I am absolutely thrilled with the remarkable results achieved during Eddie's training journey. Valentina's dedication, skills, and passion for her work are truly exceptional.

From the moment I connected with Valentina, her genuine love for dogs and commitment to their well-being were evident. She took the time to understand Eddie's individual needs, temperament, and specific behavioral challenges, creating a personalized training program that catered to him perfectly.

During Eddie's stay, Valentina provided an outstanding nurturing and stimulating environment. The facilities were clean, safe, and designed to ensure Eddie's comfort and happiness. Regular updates and photos shared by Valentina allowed me to feel connected and reassured throughout Eddie's time away.

The training progress Eddie made under Valentina's guidance is nothing short of amazing. Valentina's expertise and innovative training methods brought out the best in Eddie, addressing behavioral issues and fostering desirable habits. Eddie's transformation in just three weeks exceeded my expectations, and I am immensely grateful for Valentina's dedication to his progress.

Beyond the training itself, Valentina's ongoing support and communication were outstanding. She provided valuable feedback on Eddie's progress and offered guidance on how to reinforce his training at home. Her commitment to Eddie's long-term success was evident, and her willingness to answer any questions or concerns I had was greatly appreciated.

In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend Valentina for anyone seeking exceptional dog training services. Her professionalism, expertise, and genuine love for animals are evident in the incredible results achieved during Eddie's training. Eddie's improved behavior and newfound obedience are a testament to Valentina's dedication and skill. Thank you, Valentina, for your remarkable work in helping to transform Eddie into a well-trained and happy guy.

Lexi C.

We are so grateful for the incredible work that Valentina does! Several weeks back, my husband and I took our Mastiff mix, Trooper, to Val for a consultation. Trooper had a history of being reactive with anyone outside of our family group; more so since losing his housemate, Abby. We had tried basic obedience training and home training to curb the behavior but to no avail. At the end of the consultation with Val, Trooper was happily accepting treats from her and even went on a brief walk with her! He was more comfortable with her than we had seen him be with a stranger in a long time. She taught us that Trooper was acting out due to fear and that we had become his safety blanket. We immediately decided to enroll Trooper in the 5 week Board and Train program that Val offers.

Honestly, it was emotionally hard to drop Trooper off for 5 weeks. We had never had him away from home before, and knowing he would be away for 5 weeks was a little daunting. Val was amazing about sending us pictures and updates on Troop's progress though. It really helped confirm to us that we had made the right decision for Troop.

While Trooper stayed with Val, he learned so much and gained a ton of confidence. (She also helped him lose the extra weight he had packed on from the table scrap treats he had been receiving. He looks great and you can see that his energy level has increased as well.) Throughout the 5 weeks, Val sent us pictures and videos of Troop walking and playing with other dogs, relaxing around people he hadn't met before, hanging out in his kennel without panicking, and even bringing his toys to her husband. All of which were things I didn't think were possible with him. Honestly, seeing the physical and mental transformations Troop has gone through has been amazing. You can tell that he is happier and more at ease.

Trooper is now home with us and the next part of the training has begun: training my husband and I how to properly act with Trooper. We have the bad habit of pulling Troop away from dogs and other people when we are out on walks. Val has explained to us that this is partially what led to the original problem with Troop. We had taught him that dogs and other people were to be feared. She has been great at explaining how my husband and I can break the bad habits we have formed so Troop can continue to lead the happy and confident life he has gained. Knowing that I can reach out with questions or even set up a time to have Val help us in person has been awesome.

Thanks to Val with X Learning K9s, we now look forward to taking Trooper camping, out to the park, and to farmer's markets; things that we never thought he'd be able to enjoy with us.

Thank you, Val, for giving Trooper (and us) a new lease on life.