Client Testimonials
See what our clients have to say...
“I am a professional Animal Communicator, and he (Michael) is now the only dog trainer I will recommend. Anyone lucky enough to work with him is fortunate indeed.”
I just wanted to write you a note about how incredible Michael Mandell is. I met and watched a demonstration of Michael & his dog Denver back in 2005. I had already seen his dog in action over at my home once, but to watch him perform in public is something I will never forget. I have never in my life seen a dog respond & understand commands in English, German & even sign language, and all this in front of a large crowd of people. I told my husband that if we ever get a dog, Michael would be the one to train it. And I am proud and happy to say we did get a dog and Michael is working with us both. After only a couple of lessons my dog is totally doing what I ask her to. We are working as a team. He is gentle and yet totally trains the person as well as the dog. I recommend Michael to all of my clients who need help training their dogs (and often themselves) and I have received nothing but rave reviews from them. After one session there is massive improvement. I am a professional Animal Communicator, and he (Michael) is now the only dog trainer I will recommend. Anyone lucky enough to work with him is fortunate indeed. Feel free to give me a call if I can answer any questions regarding Michael’s services. I would be happy to brag on him.
Sincerely,
Pam Baca
Animal Guidance LLC
Animalguidance.com
303-816-4800
“ We met Michael when Make-A-Wish chose Alpha K-9 Obedience as the trainer/animal behaviorist out of a list of trainers to help our son to make the most of his wish. Our oldest son Jamie, was a cancer patient who decided to get a German Shepherd for his Make-A-Wish. ” He is truly the “Dog Whisperer”.
We cannot say enough about Michael and Connie. Even before Venus was conceived, Michael offered his training services. We have always had dogs, but never had well trained dogs. We didn’t realize all of our shortcomings as dog owners. Michael came to our home and quickly assessed what needed to change. We have 3 other dogs, for the first year, Michael asked us to keep Venus apart from them as much as possible, so she wouldn’t become more attached to them than Jamie. Also, for her to be a confident dog, it was important that she didn’t have a bad experience with another dog. Michael patiently taught us the importance of leadership and energy in raising this very special puppy. Before Venus arrived Michael realized that this dog had to form a strong bond with Jamie. The puppy would naturally want to bond with the rest of the family, because Jamie wasn’t physically up to caring for her needs. He had us send out personal clothing items that Jamie had worn that had his scent to the breeder. The day Venus flew in, Jamie had disturbing scans that indicated the possible return of his cancer. He was able to put those thoughts aside and focus on his puppy. She arrived at the airport and instantly caught Jamie’s scent and her ears perked up. At 5 months of age, Venus was in uniform as a service dog at Jamie’s side throughout most of his treatments and surgeries. Michael made that possible. Venus is a very energetic dog, but through leadership and energy, she has been an amazing companion for our child. Many of his lessons transcend dog training and have taught us much about life. Michael is genuinely gifted with reading dogs, owners and circumstances. He is truly the “Dog Whisperer”.
The Stout Family, Twin Lakes, CO 81251
“Michael's knowledge of working with dogs is a step above!”
There aren't enough wonderful things to say about Michael! I am a groomer and have referred him out to many of my clients... they all absolutely love him! His energy is So calm. He has come in the grooming shop several times and the dogs all love him as much as the humans! His knowledge of working with dogs with behavior issues is a step above anyone I have ever met. Thank you Michael for giving it your all and caring so much for our 4 legged furry friends. Sincerely,
“Thank you for giving us hope!”
Terra’s Story Terra is a 3-yr. old Samoyed/Shepherd mix. Our journey begins when Terra was about 6 months old. We had her outside in our breezeway when we hear the dogs barking and carrying on. We go out to investigate and turns out a Pitbull had made his way into our yard. We did not know but the start of our dog being forever changed. Well fast forward a few months my wife and I were afraid with our busy schedules the dogs were not getting enough exercise. We had our son start walking them around the neighborhood. Most of these walks were without incident. One while walking my son was walking the dogs and they encountered another person doing the same. My son tried to restrain Terra but not before she went after and attacked the other person’s dog. Well this led to the person calling the authorities and it’s here we learned we are in the possession of a dangerous animal according to the police report. We go to court a realize that as part of the proceedings we must get behavior modification for Terra. We think wow this is going to be expensive. We call some of the numbers recommended by the courts and we found Mike’s number we set up the first appointment. We went into this very skeptical that this would work. But we proceeded. In the mean time our landlord let us know that we needed to move. So we are like oh no. She now has to get used to all new surroundings and behavior modification wonderful. So the appointment took place at our new residence Mike gave us some pointers right off the back because he said we would all need to be on board to make this work. We learned to walk Terra and be in control of her. We thought everything was going to be fine. Then enter another dog where we moved the scrap is on. She became very aggressive very fast. The control collar we had he in was not deterring her behavior she wanted at the other dog. We saw a minor set back but continued to go the sessions with Mike. Then came a new behavior she would listen to us somewhat but growled at strangers to our home. Including our then 6 month old granddaughter who was at this point starting to walk. Well let me tell you we were like this dog has got to go if we can’t have our granddaughter around. But we continued to work. Then the breakthroughs started to happen. We started seeing real improvements in her. She was not so antsy and easily agitated. She started to let strangers come in the house and would not growl. We really saw amazing growth in her and found that same growth in ourselves to effectively make her feel safe with us being in control. We continued sessions and then we said ok we need to see if this is really working. So we said lets get her around some other dogs. So we slowly integrated her into dog parks which first couple times took a ton of correction. Well we started with our old thinking here we go again. Well she surprised us and did the unthinkable. We went to the dog park. We stood outside first then we went inside. She let other dogs come up to her no anxious at on her part. Social hour was on. Then there were two very little dogs real barkers that came into the mix she stayed calm and took our direction to leave it and did not respond to the barking which before she would have surely been engaged. Since she crossed that milestone right before our eyes we said let’s take her off leash and let her free. Talking about a happy dog. She was running and playing and did not even mind the other animals. We let here run for 20 minutes no incident at all. We saw another change in Terra at the begging I mentioned a Pitbull was the start of these behaviors for Terra well we moved into our home and right next door lives a Pitbull. We saw the dog and instantly thought she would react. Well Terra surprised us again. The dog somehow got into our yard and our three dogs were just having a good ole time. Amazing!!!!!!!!!. Mike, we want to thank you for helping with our family. We love Terra and because of your training and help with us we are proud to say Terra is a changed dog. We have included a picture of our granddaughter, so we can see the difference. As you see no problem with children at all. Thank Alpha K9 Obedience for giving us hope and our good friend and family member back.Sincerely,
“It is a brand new relationship with a man's best friend!”
Michael, It has been several weeks now since your last session with our dog, Tibbers, and I wanted to let you know how happy we are with the results! Tibbers, as you know, is our 90-pound German Shepherd mix rescue pup who came with a strange name and a bit of an attitude. He obviously had some previous training as he responded to his name (which was the only reason we didn’t change it) but would not obey commands or perform consistently. He pretty much obeyed when he felt like it. Sure, if I had a pocket full of treats, I could get him to sit or shake but event that wasn’t on a consistent basis. The biggest issue was he was a bit aggressive, not toward us, but toward other animals. While at doggie vacay, he would “bully the smaller dogs and had to be the first through the door every time and then would “run down” the smaller dogs. He was playing too rough and exerting his dominance to the point we were worried that he might not be allowed back in the future. We had completed both beginner and intermediate level dog training elsewhere and I always felt, while Tibbs knew what to do, I wasn’t able to get him to behave consistently, and his aggressiveness began to worry me and my wife, who was once literally pulled off her feet when he decided to chase a rabbit on one of our walks. Our sessions with you changed all of that and both of us were surprised how quickly and how well Tibbers responded to your methods. Within two sessions, he was obeying basic commands consistently and we were learning as much as he was. One of the most valuable lessons was that Tibbers generally wanted to obey, but we had to learn how to communicate with him and let him know what we wanted him to do. I must admit that I didn’t know the difference between a dog trainer and a dog behaviorist before we started with you, but I know the difference now. Trainers rely on performance and rewards while you teach and emphasize how to communicate with a dog to get the desired response. I no longer need a pocket full of treats to get him to obey or perform. He can look at me and I can immediately tell I have his full attention and he is going to do what I want him to do. What a difference! I know it will sound strange to anyone reading this, but you taught us how to communicate with our dog and now the confidence and trust level has grown with and with him. It is hard to believe, but he and I have become much closer as a result of our sessions with you. It seems like a brand-new relationship with a man’s best friend. Now Tibbers has learned to sit and wait at the door before going out and no longer must be first through the door. The walks are pleasant and less stressful, and he is no longer the bully he once was. He even stopped mid-chase and sat down on command when chasing a rabbit! Something I simply could not believe! Please feel free to list us as a reference for your services and I will be more than happy to speak with anyone interested in our experience working with you. We are not only pleased with the results; we are believers in your methods. Thank you again for helping our dog reach his full potential and for teaching us how to achieve this result. Sincerely, Mike S.
“He is a master of his craft!”
Our Doberman puppy, Luna, came to us when she was three months old. We wanted her to grow to her full potential so I knew we needed to start training right away. Michael was recommended to us by a well respected businessman in town. At our first meeting with Michael I knew right away he was special, he has a very calm aura. Although Luna was just a small pup then, she responded to Michael’s energy every time he would enter the house. It was an amazing connection to watch and as if she knew Michael was there to help her. As Luna grew Michael tailored her lessons to be more challenging but at a pace that was comfortable for her. To this day I am amazed how much Luna has learned. She knew all her commands, hand signals and proper leash walking by the time she was six months old. Michael also taught me a little bit about tracking. I did a tracking exercise with Luna and to this day she can find my son’s pajamas, stuffed in a ziploc bag, hidden on our property. I would not have been able to teach her that without Michael’s knowledge. Michael continued to work with Luna just before her first birthday. At that point we had to relocate out of state due to my husband’s work. It was not easy for me to not have Michael work with Luna on a weekly basis. As Luna grew we ran into a few hiccups (chasing squirrels and jumping on the fence). Although Michael was not physically here he was there for me over the phone and still to this day he continues to be there for me whenever need be. I will never forget the first day I met Michael, he told me the most important thing is to create a bond with Luna that is based on trust. He was right, that was the key to my success with Luna. Luna is now 1 1/2 years old and thanks to Michael she is continuing to flourish to her full potential. We consider ourselves fortunate to have Michael in our lives. He is the most extraordinary Canine Behaviorist and the sweetest man I have ever met. Any dog owner, weather they have a new pup or a dog that needs correction, would highly benefit from Michael’s guidance. He is a master of his craft! Debra Anton
“He was able to make the best out of a bad situation, and he turned it into a blessing!”
My wife and I are proud owners of a full breed American AKita weighing 140 lbs. His name is Nephilim or "Neph". If you know anything about Akita's, they are one owner dogs. For Neph, I'm that one owner and my wife finds it frustrating that the big fluffy dog picks and chooses when to listen to her but he'll always listen to me. I have tried to be an adament dog owner and have had him in training classes and social groups early on in life. I have previously worked at a doggy day care; Bark Doggy Daycare + Spa, where Neph was allowed to come with. While also enrolling myself in Animal Behavioral College to better understand dog training. Which grew into working as a Dog and Cat Manager at Petco, as well as a dog trainer at Petco. Nephs dislike for other dogs has grown over time and is ending now with me getting an aggressive dog ticket for poor timing based off a broken dog park gate, which resorted to Michieal Mandel being offered to help. I try not to let the price of things discourage me from when things are truly important but let me tell ya, his are a little high. After I sat on the phone with him for an hour or so, the energy I got was insane. I knew from then on that if anyone could help me better understand Nephs aggression it would be him. Michael ended up coming over for 2 hrs and realized right off the bat that it wasn't aggression at all. That it was a fight for being alpha, and bad experiences. In turn we as parents needed to take the control over the situation, which takes the stress off of Neph. Michael gave us great tips to do so. He was able to help us figure out simple and subtle ways to form Nephilim in to better behavior. Such as us walking through the door before him, or us taking a bite of something before he eats his food. My wife is a massage therapist and really connected with Michael's talk about feeling the energy. He was able to help her show her dominance towards Nephilim in better ways. All in all Michael was a huge help to us. He was able to make the best out of a bad situation, and he turned it into a blessing. Moving forward I know his tips have worked not only on Neph, but on our lab/pit mix Zoola too. We see a positive change in the energy in our home.Sincerely, Mike S.
“You said Baby's behavior would change. WOW!”
I want to write a few words of thanks for your behavioral classes you had with me and my dog, Baby. These classes were for me as much as they were for Baby. I learned through all of your tools (material), that you shared with me, that alot of the problems with Baby were my fault, for not taking leadership. You showed me I needed to be steadfast and consistent with Baby. You said Baby’s behavior would change. WOW! I had no idea on how your teachings were to effect me in caring for Baby. He was always the Boss and I thought that was the way things were. No, through your teachings, Baby is not the Boss, I am. By putting your techniques in play Baby’s a calmer animal and quick to do what I now teach him and he is not always on the defense when he encounters other dogs or people. I love the way he looks up at me to see what is expected of him. He is learning that I am taking care of matters. He seems much more at ease, more confident that I’m in charge. Through your techniques, I continue to see Baby learning to depend on me for commands than before, when he went ahead of me doing his own thing. I am happier and I see a pleasant change of confidence in Baby, to know he can relax and enjoy being a well behaved animal, and receive his praises for obeying my lead. Thank you so much Michael for your patience with me, it took me longer to learn your techniques than my dog. You taught me to stay persistent in your teaching to achieve our goal of a happy obedient dog. That’s my Baby now! With much appreciation! Patricia and Baby Bracker P.S. Your wisdom on how to train up an animal (my dog Baby) to have a happier demeanor is overwhelming to me. Thank you!
“I am not kidding when I say after applying Michael's ideas it worked like MAGIC!”
In late 2016 we contacted Michael Mandell looking for someone to teach us (husband, wife and 5 kids) the things we need to do to have a happy, loving, obedient German Shepherd puppy. After browsing his website and reading the testimonials our brief phone conversation led us to believe that we had the right man. After that first conversation with Michael, he made it clear that it was going to be myself and my families actions that would determine how our puppy adjusted to life. He explained what an enormous responsibility we had in front of us and he told us he would help us every step of the way. Little did we know that making that first appointment for a private lesson that we would end up with our pup Muphy being such a wonderful part of our family. For the first appt. we had a list of questions for Michael as soon as he walked through the door. But he wanted to watch our puppy Murphy. He watched how she interacted with the family and himself. He was so impressive to watch. He most definitely knows his way around dogs. We were in awe at his ability to read Murphy (our puppy) and bond with her in such a short time. After watching him for 5 minutes with her we knew that we made a great decision having Michael help us with Murphy. During that first session, Michael made numerous suggestions after watching my family work with Murphy. He also suggested some "homework" for us to do in order to start us on the road to having a loved and well-behaved dog. I have to say it was overwhelming to feel so helpless at times. Michael made the training with Murphy looks so easy. When I tried I seemed to be back in grade school, nervous at the chalkboard. But I think that is why, in our case, he helped us so much in the first lesson. He showed us it was going to be our actions that dictated how well Murphy progressed through her training. We went on to have 4 other sessions over the past year and I can say that without a shadow of a doubt Michael is amazing. We are so happy with our Murphy's performance. She is wonderful to have around. With Michaels help, we have bonded with Murphy and in the short time we have had her she can learn so very quickly. She is in and out of her crate on command, waits to enter and exit homes, doors or vehicles. Downs on command almost anywhere. Waits to eat, the list just goes on. With almost ZERO experience training dogs we now have a German Shepherd that is the most loving obedient creature I could ever imagine. I believe this would not have been possible without help from Michael. I know that anytime I have a problem all I have to do is call Michael. Any question involving training we have had with Murphy was quickly taken care of after following Michaels advice. I am not kidding when I say after applying Michael's ideas it worked like MAGIC. To summarize I will tell you that I would most highly recommend Michael to anyone who was ready to take on the responsibility of training a dog. It takes a lot of work. I feel that Michael can show anyone the road to having a wonderful dog if they can just commit to following Michaels instructions consistently. Mike S.
“Michael truly has a gift and we are so thankful that he shared that gift with our family.”
My husband and I adopted a six year old black lab, Donnie, from the Denver Dumb Friends League in December of 2016. As we knew almost nothing about Donnie's background, we are not experienced dog owners, and we have cats, we decided to have a professional help us with Donnie. We did not want someone with a one-size-fits-all or intimidation-based approach, but rather someone who would evaluate Donnie as an individual and come up with a customized plan just for Donnie. That person was Michael. Michael is not a dog trainer but a dog behaviorist. He is however, a people trainer, and a good one. During our sessions, Michael taught Donnie all the basic commands and trained me and my husband to be effective pack leaders. My husband and I were amazed at how quickly Michael was able to get Donnie to respond to commands - Michael truly has a gift and we are so thankful that he shared that gift with our family. Thanks to Michael, we have a wonderful dog. Donnie is an absolute pleasure: he is a great walking partner (he doesn't pull on his leash and heels on command); he is calm and confident around other dogs; and he is respectful to our cats. We couldn't have asked for more - Michael far exceeded our expectations. Marleen ComoDebra Anton
“He was highly recommended.”
I adopted Flo as an adult dog from a Labrador rescue in Golden. I raised both of my previous dogs from puppies. I had used a couple of different training methods with various degrees of success. The Lab rescue thought Flo was around 2-3 years old. The vet estimated her age closer to five. Flo was different than working with a puppy. She appeared to know only a couple of basic commands. She was not particularly interested in listening to me and was inconsistent with following commands. In the back yard Flo chased squirrels and was fixated with the neighbors chickens. On a leash she would twist and twirl, distracted by everything. When she saw a squirrel her behavior would escalate to out of control. I found Michael through a girlfriend. I had never worked with a dog behaviorist before. He was highly recommended. I needed help with learning dog and changing Flo's behavior. The difference with Michael is he concentrates on discipline. I had to be the pack leader and step up and lead. I have worked with Michael since August 2016. Michael has taught me about structure, discipline, boundaries and leadership for Flo and my other dog an eleven year old Lab. Flo has started to respond in ways I could only imagine. She now looks to me for leadership. She knows basic commands and responds to my leadership. Her leash skills have also improved. I can now walk both dogs together and the distance has increased. Most recently Flo and I have been working with Michael on the "come" command. I still have many things to work on with Flo. I want to be able to take my dogs to the barn and have them around horses. I also want to hike and camp this summer with both of my dogs. I am pleased with the success I have had working with Michael. I plan on continuing working with Michael to achieve these goals. Sheilagh
“Michael Mandell's behavioral approach fundamentally differs from the three other dog trainers.”
Michael Mandell's behavioral approach fundamentally differs from the three other dog trainers we have tried: Michael very quickly (in about 2 hours, though of course every dog is unique) taught us to understand and control our dog Daisy's instinctive behaviors, rather than trying to teach the dog human instructions. We are now able to walk Daisy in our neighborhood without her leaping at other dogs, barking her head off, yanking our shoulders out of their sockets, etc. And amazingly, Daisy seems happier and calmer on the walk too. Everybody won. Thanks, Michael. Regards, Keith PorterPatricia and Baby Bracker P.S. Your wisdom on how to train up an animal (my dog Baby) to have a happier demeanor is overwhelming to me. Thank you!
“Michael taught us how to be strong pack leaders.”
Working with Michael was one of the most helpful training tools we did for our dog. Our pup was very gentle and playful towards most people. But whenever he saw other dogs, and sometimes other people, he would lunge and bark aggressively. He is so big that we were afraid that if we let this behavior continue, he would break way from us and get in a fight with another dog or attack a person. Michael helped us understand that our dog needed stronger leadership. He didn't understand that we were his pack leaders and that he could relax when we were around. Michael taught us how to be strong pack leaders for our dog by helping us understand how our dogs think. He has mastered the "leave it" command and he can walk past other dogs without lunging at them! Our dog has made huge strides in how he acknowledges our leadership. He still struggles in his red zone, but we know that with time he will be a perfect pup. Sheilagh
“Michael used guidance and respect.”
When my normally relaxed dogs developed issues with the newest member of the pack, the common advice was to hire an “obedience trainer”, which I did. But after a short introductory session with this supposed professional – and the most frequently used in Evergreen – my sweet, tender dogs were traumatized and suddenly fearful. Another friend, after witnessing this dramatic transformation, said this so-called trainer’s harsh tactics were outmoded and unnecessary and she recommended an animal behaviorist. From Michael Mandell’s first contact with my dogs, the atmosphere was completely different. Not only were my dogs not fearful, they loved him. Seriously. Even though Michael could be stern and made them work, the pack always greeted him enthusiastically. While that dog trainer relied on fear and domination, Michael used guidance and respect. He was unfailingly patient and kind. It is the same technique he used with the dog owners, regardless of their inability to learn. It should also be noted that while the dog trainer never began training, he refused to return a nearly $700 check. In the time we worked together, not only did Michael alter the dynamics of my pack, I gained a new friend. It is with the utmost confidence that I whole heartedly recommend Michael Mandell both as a professional dog behaviorist and friend. Diane DodgeKeith PorterPatricia and Baby Bracker P.S. Your wisdom on how to train up an animal (my dog Baby) to have a happier demeanor is overwhelming to me. Thank you!
“Within 10 minutes of being in our house, he had Baron listening and following commands!”
We wanted to let everyone know how great it was to work with Michael. Our Weimaraner Baron is a rescue and had spent some time as a stray. When he came in to our home it was obvious he had had some basic training, but he pulled when on a leash and was very small prey driven. This made walking him very difficult if not impossible. He also did not like our neighbors cat that would wander through our yard on a regular basis. The rescue group recommended a couple of dog trainers and we contacted one lady who came to our house a couple of weeks after we adopted Baron. She informed us that we would not be able to get Baron to follow any commands without giving him copious amounts of treats. She watched him in the house and saw how he would pace from our door to the window, if he saw a squirrel or bird. Her recommendation was to close the blinds so he could not see outside. She then worked on walking with him on a harness in the house for a little before moving outside. On the way out of the house the neighbors cat was sitting on our porch and Baron hit his red zone. We could not get out of the house as he was uncontrollable. The trainers told us to put Baron into a room with the blinds closed and leave him there until he calmed down and that we would have to do that every time he got that way. As you can imagine that really isn't acceptable as that guidance give you absolutely not method to deal with the situation unless you are in a house. Our next session with her was at her training facility. She had me walk him around the room and if he pulled I had to stop walking and wait. That worked great in a room with no distractions, so I asked her what we should do if he saw a small animal while out walking. She suggested that when we encountered an animal we should just turn around and go the other way. We realized after this class and a very frustrating and unhappy couple of walks that we needed a different trainer. We contacted the other trainers on the list that we had from the rescue group and explained our situation, but they all said that they would not be able to help. On the recommendation of another member of the weim group that we are part of, we contacted Michael. Within 10 minutes of being in our house, he had Baron listening and following commands. He explained to us that Baron needed to know his place in our pack and when he did he would be calmer. He worked with all of us for the rest of the first session and by the end Baron was walking to heel with us in the house. He also worked on stopping Baron reaching the red zone when he saw birds or squirrels while in the house. After he left we worked with Baron outside and had him walking to heel very quickly. The next session we worked outside with Michael concentrating on how Baron responded to me, as he had bonded very closely with my husband. It was comforting for me to have this training as I had never handled a dog as large as this before and I was a little intimidated by Baron. By the third session, we were able to walk Baron past birds without him lunging, to try to catch them. The advice we received from Michael and working with Baron over the next months have helped us make our highly strung rescue dog into a clam and chill member of our family, who loves to hike, run and walk with us. We would recommend Michael to anyone. David PriceSheilagh
“K-9 Obedience and Michael Mandell - THE most amazing program!”
I have two coonhounds. One was the most loveable dog to everyone he met, and then he got a sister… he became protective of both her and me. I had lost the alpha dog in my pack; Bodean thought he needed to be alpha. This caused so much anxiety in him he acted out being offensive instead of letting me be in charge. Bodean reacted to people that came around us our home setting lunging, snarling, barking and completely different then he was when I got him. Michael came to my house to work with us. The first day he came, Bodean acted the same way with him for about 15 minutes (he was on leash). We sat and talked then worked together. I walked Bodean on leash healing, sitting, down all the commands Bodean knows. By the end of the first session Bodean would go up to Michael for treats, petting and just to sit next to him. Next time Michael came, Bodean barked for about 30 seconds, sat and looked at him in anticipation. He walked on leash and off leash (leash was hanging on Bodean) around him excited to have him there, to work. We walked outside on heal (amazing for a coonhound, they want to smell everything), I was alpha and he wanted to please me! The change in my confidence changed my dog! Michael came for several other visits; we worked on walking around humans on the street, having others coming over. He helped me work on my alpha commands to help Bodean remember I am in charge. The most amazing transformation was my new boyfriend, at the time. Bodean had been threatening, grumpy towards him. Just after one visit from Michael, they have become BEST FRIENDS! Bodean went from being crated most of the time he was here, to playing and wrestling together. My boyfriend did not believe that a behaviorist was going to help that it was going to have to be “old school teaching”. When he came into the house after that first session we both had with Michael, Bodean barked at him for 15-30 seconds then sat and looked at him like “OK”. My boyfriend gave him a couple of treats. Told me to let him go and he went over to him and licked his hand, laid there and just chilled. I let the second dog out and he still sat next to him chilling even when the other dog demanded attention. Michael is amazing! He told me it would take 4-8 times for Bodean to turn his behavior around, it was 2! Michael is still working with us on Bodean being around large crowds of people at the same time. We have had one visit and it was good but Bodean still needs work to be okay with that many people in one small area. Michael told me at the time he will be able to do it but will probably be much happier in his own crate away from the crowd and the noise, he is much happier in there. He still has to be reminded that I am in charge and “I got this”. I can never say enough about Michael and his training techniques! He works with both the human (I was 90% of the problem) and the dog to change both of our behaviors! Without his help I am sure Bodean would not be the sweet lovable dog he is again! Every time I hear of a dog that is having problems in my state, I give them the number to K-9 Obedience, tell my story and say “please, call he is worth every penny and minute of your time!” Thank You Michael Mandell from Bodean and me, for all the security and comfort we now have in the house. Cheryl OsgoodMarleen ComoDebra Anton
“Don't wait to call Michael - things certainly don't just get better on their own!”
I adopted Louie nearly three years ago after my sweet terrier mix Pixie passed away at the age of 14. Louie was only 10 months old when he was found running the streets and taken to Every Creature Counts, a no-kill shelter in Fort Lupton, Colorado. I fell in love with Louie's picture online - an adorable looking Chihuahua mix with most likely some Min Pin. It didn't really register to me that Louie was a puppy - it had been many years since I had a puppy, and I didn't remember much about raising a puppy or about how much energy a puppy has! And Louie is a Chihuahua mix which I really didn't know anything about. Shortly after I adopted Louie, he and I went to group puppy classes for several months; and as Michael says, these classes weren't that helpful. Louie and I learned more from Michael in two hours than we did during the many months we went to group classes! And for a lot less money! After puppy classes, I tried to teach Louie on my own, which wasn't very successful. Louie bit several people, and having guests come to my house was a disaster. Walking Louie was fine unless we encountered a cyclist or runner or skateboarder, and then Louie would go crazy. He was constantly chasing my kitties around the house which was stressful to them. Thankfully, Pam Baca, animal communicator extraordinaire, recommended Michael to me! She actually recommended Michael to me shortly after I adopted Louie - I sure wish I had called him then and not waited a couple more years! Don't wait to call Michael - things certainly don't just get better on their own! Michael truly has a gift and is a talented Dog Whisperer. When he came to my house, Louie went into his usual craziness - barking and growling. Michael worked his magic; and literally within minutes, Louie was calm, stopped barking and eating out of his hand. Michael taught me to do the same and to take the lead so Louie can relax and not have to be in charge. We both learned quickly under Michael's calm and expert guidance, and the two hours flew by. Louie's whole demeanor changed as did the energy in the house - my kitties even felt safe to come out while Michael was here since they knew the energy in the house had shifted - in a good way! I'm so grateful to Michael for giving me the tools and confidence to interact with Louie in a whole new way. I'm happier, Louie is happier, my kitties are happier, and I know my guests are happier! I highly recommend Michael! Teri, Littleton, COAs you can imagine that really isn't acceptable as that guidance give you absolutely not method to deal with the situation unless you are in a house. Our next session with her was at her training facility. She had me walk him around the room and if he pulled I had to stop walking and wait. That worked great in a room with no distractions, so I asked her what we should do if he saw a small animal while out walking. She suggested that when we encountered an animal we should just turn around and go the other way. We realized after this class and a very frustrating and unhappy couple of walks that we needed a different trainer. We contacted the other trainers on the list that we had from the rescue group and explained our situation, but they all said that they would not be able to help. On the recommendation of another member of the weim group that we are part of, we contacted Michael. Within 10 minutes of being in our house, he had Baron listening and following commands. He explained to us that Baron needed to know his place in our pack and when he did he would be calmer. He worked with all of us for the rest of the first session and by the end Baron was walking to heel with us in the house. He also worked on stopping Baron reaching the red zone when he saw birds or squirrels while in the house. After he left we worked with Baron outside and had him walking to heel very quickly. The next session we worked outside with Michael concentrating on how Baron responded to me, as he had bonded very closely with my husband. It was comforting for me to have this training as I had never handled a dog as large as this before and I was a little intimidated by Baron. By the third session, we were able to walk Baron past birds without him lunging, to try to catch them. The advice we received from Michael and working with Baron over the next months have helped us make our highly strung rescue dog into a clam and chill member of our family, who loves to hike, run and walk with us. We would recommend Michael to anyone. David PriceSheilagh
“Michael - the dog whisperer who can help every type of dog from every type of situation”
We have always been “dog people.” But we were stuck on how to help our rescue puppy, Marley, who had come from a shelter with horrible beginnings and had a past we didn’t understand. So when Michael was recommended as a “dog whisperer who could help every type of dog from every type of situation,” we called him. From the moment he walked in our home, and Marley responded to his connection, we knew that he could help us – actually help Marley. Michael’s focus was on eye contact, praise, leadership and good energy. It was about understanding why Marley was fearful, so we could help her feel safe. It was about understanding why she didn’t always listen, so we could teach her to respond to hand signals and commands. Michael taught us about why some dogs, especially some rescue dogs, have fear – and how to convert that fear into trust. Once Marley trusted us, the teaching was seamless. She is the most loving, affectionate dog (now one year old), and we feel grateful for how Michael helped us understand our puppy’s needs and teach her good behavior. Diane A.Cheryl OsgoodMarleen ComoDebra Anton
“Moca is a different dog now, he is polite, happy and well behaved.”
We want to thank you for work well done training Moca our 3 year old standard poodle and us. Moca used to be the leader pulling on walks, charging out to door, almost knocking us down going down steps, and charging at other dogs to play. Moca is a different dog now, he is polite, happy and well behaved. Thanks Tom and KDTeri, Littleton, COAs you can imagine that really isn't acceptable as that guidance give you absolutely not method to deal with the situation unless you are in a house. Our next session with her was at her training facility. She had me walk him around the room and if he pulled I had to stop walking and wait. That worked great in a room with no distractions, so I asked her what we should do if he saw a small animal while out walking. She suggested that when we encountered an animal we should just turn around and go the other way. We realized after this class and a very frustrating and unhappy couple of walks that we needed a different trainer. We contacted the other trainers on the list that we had from the rescue group and explained our situation, but they all said that they would not be able to help. On the recommendation of another member of the weim group that we are part of, we contacted Michael. Within 10 minutes of being in our house, he had Baron listening and following commands. He explained to us that Baron needed to know his place in our pack and when he did he would be calmer. He worked with all of us for the rest of the first session and by the end Baron was walking to heel with us in the house. He also worked on stopping Baron reaching the red zone when he saw birds or squirrels while in the house. After he left we worked with Baron outside and had him walking to heel very quickly. The next session we worked outside with Michael concentrating on how Baron responded to me, as he had bonded very closely with my husband. It was comforting for me to have this training as I had never handled a dog as large as this before and I was a little intimidated by Baron. By the third session, we were able to walk Baron past birds without him lunging, to try to catch them. The advice we received from Michael and working with Baron over the next months have helped us make our highly strung rescue dog into a clam and chill member of our family, who loves to hike, run and walk with us. We would recommend Michael to anyone. David PriceSheilagh
“Then along came Michael Mandell, a Dog Behaviorist, to our rescue.”
We rescued Ricky, a Blue Heeler-Cattle Dog mix. We got him at The Animal Rescue of the Rockies and he was a puppy mill survivor, he was 1 year old in March 2013. He was nervous and fearful of all things, stairs, visitors, loud noises, you name it and he was fearful of it. We knew we had our work cut out for us but we were ready. We took him to obedience classes but he could never get comfortable in class, too much going on, too many people and dogs. We did not finish the classes, as Ricky could not relax and he would have diarrhea after class at his next bowl movement. We could not keep putting him through that. We tried two different private trainers and he did better with this but we still had problems taking him on walks. He kept trying to walk in the front of whom ever was taking him for his walk. He would fixate on other dogs and go into a kind of hunting mode and none of the corrections we had taught previously had much of an affect on his problems. He would even go into a tantrum if we did not let him have his way when he got laser fix on another dog, not any fun to go through. We were frustrated and walks were not any fun to go on anymore. Then along came Michael Mandell, a Dog Behaviorist, to our rescue. Michael came to our house and just sat in a chair and talked to us with Ricky in the room and on a leash about 10-12 feet away from him. He soon won Ricky’s confidence and was allowed to get closer to Michael. After several minutes Ricky settled down and then laid down on the floor just a foot or two away from Michael. This was a big step for Ricky and his trust issues. We talked about Ricky and his problems and how we were concerned as to how to make any headway with Ricky and about all the training we all had been through. The next session was to be some walking and healing inside our house. When Michael arrived we went through the same introduction with Ricky 10-12 feet away from Michael. Ricky warned up to Michael much quicker. We started to work with Ricky and do some walks around the house in a heal position and Michael instructed us how to become a stronger leader for Ricky, how to get him to make eye contact with us and just listen to our commands. We were instructed to work with Ricky on these walks in the house for a week and then our next session would be outside, oh boy here we go. We, Pat and I, walked Ricky around the house several times a day for the week and thought we were ready to take on the outside walks. We were still taking Ricky for outside walks every morning and still having the same problems with his pulling, even though it was not a hard pull still he was pulling. He still had his issues with other dogs once and a while, not all the time or every dog, just the ones that set him off for whatever reason. He also has issues with bicycles, little kids, and loud noises and whatever flips his switches. We had our next session and started walking outside with Ricky as Michael demonstrated how to make our walks enjoyable for all of us. Michael would take the leash and walk Ricky and it was like Ricky knew just what to do. When I got the leash back it would fall apart and Michael would give me further instruction on how to get Ricky back in the groove. Michael explained to me, when we were back inside the house, that Ricky was taking on the role of “Alpha” and that is why the walks were not improving. The corrections I was making were not getting through to Ricky that I was the leader and he was trying to fill that role. Michael talked to us about the proper position and use of a collar and why Ricky needed additional correction techniques to get him out of Alpha mode. We got the collar sized for Ricky and headed out the door to the driveway where Michael showed us the proper way to give a correction to Ricky when he needed one. We started our walk down the street and on to the green belt. Ricky was doing well with no distractions and after a couple corrections he even started to walk beside me just like I wanted. As we walked down the green belt we saw a couple dogs coming from another direction and Ricky started to get into hunting mode and Michael instructed me to give Ricky a quick sideways correction, and then another. Ricky settled down until the dogs got closer and then he went into one of his little tantrums and started to lunge towards the other dogs when Michael explained that I needed to give Ricky a more firm, quick correction and I ended up giving him a couple more to let him know I was the leader and it worked. He settled down and started to look up at me, asking what I wanted next and just sat there. Michael told me that I had just taken the Alpha role from Ricky’s shoulders and that he could just be a dog and not worry. Then Pat took Ricky and Michael helped her work with Ricky, as there are always dogs on the green belt, and he fell into place. Our next session, after a weeks worth of me taking Ricky on morning walks and asserting my leadership, went well and our walks were even becoming enjoyable. We still have some work to do with Ricky but the basic walk is getting better every day. When Pat had her turn walking Ricky, as she has not done so for some time as he acts out with Pat even worse than he did with me, Michael soon had Ricky like putty in Pat’s hands and had a lady with another dog help in our training of Ricky. He had the lady stand with her dog and had Pat and Ricky walk by the dog and Ricky did stare at or even look at the other dog. They made a great team and Pat also feels much better about taking Ricky for walks now. If you need some help with your dog, we highly recommend that you give Michael a try, he does very nice work.
“He is so much more than just a dog trainer, he is a true animal behavior specialist.”
We are so grateful for the enormous help we received from Michael Mandell when he helped us train our Newfoundland puppy, Winnie. We had been searching for a compassionate trainer who could understand the needs of our puppy and help her learn how to be a civilized member of our family. But we were deeply concerned that a harsh trainer would break our sweet girl's spirit and do more damage than good. We were so relieved when we found Michael. He is so much more than just a dog trainer, he is a true animal behavior specialist, which is exactly what we were looking for. He seems to understand canines on an organic level, and his warmth and compassion for the dogs he works with is evident. He truly loves his job because he truly loves dogs. Our Winnie grew to love Michael as though he were part of our "pack," and she always wanted to please him during her sessions. If someone loves their dog and wants to live harmoniously with them, there is no need to go to extremes to train them with aggressive tactics or cruelty. A dog does not need to be "broken" or yelled at (that only frightens and confuses them) they need to be understood. We learned so much more than we expected from Michael about how our dog thinks and the role that we play in how she thinks and acts. Once we understood this, we were able to apply what Michael was teaching us, and the positive results we saw in Winnie were instantaneous. Many thanks, Michael! Courtney and Chris Winfrey
“The girls would turn to each other and go into a fighting frenzy!”
We fostered and adopted Fritzie and Sugar Bear over 2 years ago. They were two five year old females that had been raised together. We thought we were savy dog rescuers/owners until they presented problems that we could not control. We took them to the dog park and on walks which turned into disasters. When approaching other dogs on leash they would lash out and try to attack the other dogs, then turn to each other and go into a “frenzy” fighting. My husband and I have many years of experience as dog owners. We have gone through all of the training courses and different techniques from the old fashion “choke” to the positive clicker training. We have experienced many trainers. When we found Michael and started training with him, it was different. He communicated energy and leadership with the girls. He noticed our frustration and immediately calmed all of us down by using his unique skills. He explained to us that his and our leadership would make the difference. Michael came to our home for the first time to “train” us, not the dogs. When he drove up, he waited outside for a few minutes, then came to the door. Previously, the girls would go into the “red zone” barking wildly, scratching on the door and then redirecting their anxiety towards each other. This time was different. They sat at the door and were quiet! Michael knocked, came inside, and the girls sat still. We knew right then that Michael had a gift! Michael told us that we would see incredible results quickly due to what the girls were communicating to him. It was true! We learned about leadership, pack behavior and living without stress! After 5 lessons, we walk both girls daily at our local parks without incident. We walk by other dogs calmly and controlled. The girls know all of their commands, both of them walking by my side. Thank you Michael! You changed all of our lives forever!
“We are so grateful to Michael and would recommend him to anyone that has a dog with aggression issues. He is a truly talented trainer and animal behaviorist!”.
I would like to commend Michael for the excellent work he has done with our dog, Darcy. We adopted her from a shelter and initially she was very well behaved. But after a couple of months, she started attacking other dogs at the dog park and we couldn’t even go on walks because she would go after dogs we passed on the trail. We had no idea where the aggression had come from and even less of an idea as to how to deal with it. I was worried that we were going to have to get rid of her. Michael came highly recommended and his initial visit set our minds at ease that we would be able to correct the problem effectively and permanently. Michael gave us a thorough understanding of how pack dynamics work and why Darcy was displaying the behavior she was. There was nothing wrong with her; she just needed to know who the leader was! Based on this, we understood the kind of changes we needed to make in our behavior so that Darcy could progress. And progress she did! Over the course of just a few training sessions, her behavior did nothing but improve and the aggression has faded away. We can now go on walks and when we see other dogs, she wags her tail and eagerly sniffs noses with them, rather than snarling and lunging at them. And we now have the tools to deal with any issues that resurface. We are so grateful to Michael and would recommend him to anyone that has a dog with aggression issues. He is a truly talented trainer and animal behaviorist! Thank you Michael!
“If you have been through the exhaustion of other trainers or training systems, you need to call Michael. He will be the last dog trainer you will ever need.”
Woodrow, my 5 year old Weimaraner would bite other dogs. 3 in one year, in fact. After the third incident, which was more of a dog fight than just a bite, I started the journey to find yet another dog trainer that could correct his behavior. After expressing my story to a local dog trainer, her advice was that there was nothing that could be done and Woodrow would need to be isolated from dogs for the rest of his life. The End. I was devastated. Really? That was it? Upon relaying this story, a friend told me about “The Colorado Dog Whisperer”. Apparently, this would be the last dog trainer I would ever need because HE could help me fix the problem. Boy, was she right. In our first conversation, we talked for an hour about Woodrow, but also about me, too. Michael was very clear that I was going to be the one that would determine Woodrow’s success. If I applied what he taught me, Woodrow would get better. I was skeptical, but also hopeful. How would this be different than any of the other dog trainers? The difference is Michael teaches you how to work with your dog to not just establish dominance in your relationship (any trainer can do that) but to create lasting, positive change in your dog’s energy. He taught me that Woodrow’s aggression came from fear, from a need to fill a leadership void. I am not sure about his life before I adopted him from a rescue, but I take ownership of not doing the right things to “be the leader” for him after his adoption. Now, this is where it gets hard to stay concise: there are so many small steps which lead to big change that I am not sure what to highlight. So, here is one story: Our goal on our first walk with Michael through my neighborhood was to find dogs that would bark at Woodrow through the fence. Woodrow’s typical reaction was to pull, lunge, snap and bark, complete with his entire back hair standing on end. The goal was to get Woodrow to sit, look away from the other dogs and look up at whoever had the leash. I will admit, I wasn’t looking forward to this training session. Michael started out by walking Woodrow with me walking on the other side. Before we made it past my neighbor’s house, Woodrow tried to cross in front of Michael to get closer to me. Michael gave him a correction and Woodrow had a meltdown, complete with throwing himself on the ground in a classic toddler-like temper tantrum. The correction was not severe, but completely appropriate. We proceeded on our walk, Woodrow being a much better boy and walking right next to Michael. We walked over to where 2 Chows live behind a chain link fence. Michael walked Woodrow past the dogs and Woodrow started to have the same old aggressive reaction. Michael corrected him and Woodrow sat down, looking away from the dogs. They continued to bark away at Woodrow. Michael said to me that the other dogs sensed Woodrow’s aggressive energy. Finally, Woodrow looked up at Michael and INSTANTLY the 2 Chows stopped barking and laid down. My jaw dropped. Woodrow’s body language changed as well, the hair on his back went down. I couldn’t believe it. So Woodrow and I tried it and it worked for me, as well. As soon as Woodrow accepted my leadership and trusted that I was in control of the situation, his energy changed. And that is the key. Training, insisting on the outcome you want, is the most important part to establishing leadership. Unlike other dog trainers, Michael trains and supports not just the dog, but you as well. Even though Woodrow and I were able to overcome his aggression in about 8 official sessions with Michael, we are not done. We still practice on every walk. We practice our basic obedience commands every day. As soon as I get lazy or think “well, I am done doing that”, Woodrow will take my place as the leader and we will be back at square one, giving other dogs puncture wounds that require medical attention. My friends and family have seen such a dramatic change in Woodrow. He behaves well for them, is calmer and more obedient. All are nice side effects of me understanding my role as a leader. In fact, two of my friends are now Michael’s clients! Woodrow is a true walking advertisement. I can’t thank Michael enough for his work with Woodrow and I. He ultimately saved Woodrow’s life. If you have been through the exhaustion of other trainers or training systems, you need to call Michael. He will be the last dog trainer you will ever need. Sincerely, Karen
“You will see amazing results, like we did!”
We wanted to comment about our experience with Michael Mandell, Animal Behaviorist and the services he provided to us. I contacted Michael after seeing a write up about him in the local Serenity paper and we couldn’t be more pleased with his help! He instructed us on the areas we needed to improve our behavior in order to get the results (behavior) we wanted to see in our dog, Starley and he was spot on!! We saw immediate results in her and continue to see improvement. Our Vet and family have even commented on the positive change they see in her. We would recommend Michael to anyone who owns a dog and feels they have behavior issues that need improvement. You will need to expect to work with your dog, and evaluate and possibly change how you look at the situation. If you are willing to do those two things, we feel confident you will see amazing results, like we did! Sincerely, Sandy & Jim
“Alpha K-9 Obedience helped us achieve the stability and trust that we want with our canine companions.”
Knowing firsthand the confusion and sadness when a beloved dog shows violent and costly aggression towards other dogs, I can attest to how hopeless the situation can feel. On far too many occasions, I witnessed a seemingly gentle dog become so intently focused on injuring our other dog that the disparity between the two personalities seemed impossible. It nearly always resulted in a vicious fight that left both our dogs and us with injuries, and it became clear that the current situation just wasn’t sustainable. Few options exist for dogs with canine aggression when previous training hasn’t adequately addressed the issue. Rehoming them can be dangerous as few people can undertake this responsibility, and taking them to a shelter would lead to their euthanasia. It wasn’t until Michael Mandell of Alpha K-9 Obedience was strongly suggested as an expert in this area that a way of managing this behavior began to emerge. With a degree of skepticism and no other options, an initial meeting with Michael was set. The first meeting occurred after a phone conversation where Michael gathered information regarding specific behavior and temperament of both dogs. At the onset of the first home visit, he already understood the environment within our household and was quickly able to explain the approach he would utilize. We have now worked with Michael for approximately 10 weeks and employed his techniques that stress consistency and leadership. During these 10 weeks, real progress has been made and a set of skills have been learned which enable us to understand and better manage the chaos which had become our norm. As our dogs progress in their training, we will work with Alpha K-9 Obedience to achieve the stability and trust that we want with our canine companions and would recommend their services for others in the same situation. This client testimonial was written by Tyson Faussone regarding the two beloved dogs, Sasha and Lance, which are the passion of him and his partner Shannon Reiswig. Sasha is a 4 year old boxer/shepherd mix that is every bit as wonderful as a she is a frustration when she gets aggressive. Lance is a 1 year old husky mutt with a personality that has resulted in his being known as a canine comedian. They are wonderful dogs and well worth the effort to work towards a harmonious household. Tyson
“With Michael, we made great strides with Sarge.”
It had been a while since we had a dog around the house and we thought it was time. We found Sarge. We got Sarge when he was 8 weeks old and he has changed our lives. We found Michael too, and we have made such great strides with Sarge. Michael has helped us to enforce our leadership with Sarge. He reminded us of the pack dynamics and how Sarge needed us to step up and be the leader. When we first started with Michael, Sarge was pretty unruly, typical puppy behavior and with no leadership established at t his point, it was to be expected. But after a few sessions with Michael, his behavior changed and he knew he didn’t have to be the leader. We continue to work with Sarge as his dominant personality tries to creep back in but with an appropriate correction, he’s right back on track. We would recommend Michael and Alpha K-9 Obedience for sure. Michael was a pleasure to work with and he really understands the dogs. Angela and Andy
“I am amazed at the changes in Ranger.”
Last July, my two sons gave me a wonderful Mom's day gift - my new best buddy, Ranger. When we rescued Ranger, he was about 1 1/2 years old and full of Lab puppy energy. Ranger was a big boy when we got him and would only get bigger and I wanted to be sure that he would be social and friendly to others. I got Michael's business card from one of the stores in town and I'm so glad that I gave him a call. The first session that Ranger and I had with Michael was amazing. Ranger was so full of energy and not ready to listen but Michael showed me how to work with Ranger and after the first session I could already see improvement. We now laughingly refer to that first session as "the blanket vortex". Ranger was so wound up that we put him in his crate and covered it with a blanket to get him to settle. Ranger proceeded to pull the blanket towards him creating the vortex affect. Within about 30 minutes, Ranger knew that he needed to settle if he wanted to be able to interact. Ranger and I have had several sessions with Michael and I can truly say that I am amazed at the changes in Ranger. He is a well-behaved boy and knows several commands - both verbal and hand signals. Michael helped to change the whole dynamic of how I dealt with Ranger and I can't thankMichael enough. Ranger is a delight and such a sweet boy. I would highly recommend Alpha K-9 Obedience! Julie
“We highly recommend Michael as a trainer (for your dog and you!)”
Fritz is a German Shepherd that was 16 weeks old when we brought him home. It wasn't very long before we realized he had a wild streak that needed taming. We called Michael after watching his video of his shepherd, Denver. We learned a great deal about dog behavior from Michael, all of it spot-on. Michael taught us a great deal about dogs: pack behavior, proper correction and rewards, repetition, types of collars and leads, proper eye contact and tone of voice, and many other things too numerous to mention. We highly recommend Michael as a trainer (for your dog and you). My advice: Listen to Michael, he is truly an expert. Do what he says to do. Do not do what he tells you NOT to do. Fritz is now VERY obedient, knows his place in our 'pack', and is content with his role in our family. We could not ask for better results. Thanks Michael! Scott & Cindy
“Michael Mandell understands how dogs think. From the start it was clear that Michael has a gift.”
Michael Mandell understands how dogs think. And he can help you do the same and give you the tools to lead your dog to be a better canine citizen. We strongly recommend Michael's services for anyone challenged by furry behavioral issues of the canine kind. You... and your dog... will be thanking Michael once he's set you on the right track. About a year ago we brought home Greta, a purebred Norwegian Elkhound, when she was just 8 weeks old. She's what you'd expect - very energetic, talkative, tough, but a real sweetheart at home. From her puppy weeks she was always tentative with other dogs even though we took every opportunity to socialize her. Throughout Greta's first year we instilled some good behavior through multiple training efforts working with some different trainers mostly in class situations and sometimes 1:1. Despite training Greta became very confrontational with other dogs in public as she matured. On seeing other dogs when on or off leash Greta would go into assault mode. We require a polite, reliable leash walker that doesn't scare other people and dogs every time we come into any proximity when out on a walk. It got to the point where we just didn't want to walk her at all. We were determined to fix the problem. Michael Mandell was referred to us and we decided to give him a try. From the start it was clear that Michael has a gift. He assessed Greta's angst very quickly, and then empowered us to understand how to correct her issues. It only took a handful of 1:1 sessions to set us on the right course. With Greta, it's about knowing what to do and when to do it (measured in milliseconds), and then consistently stimulating at the right time to shape new behaviors. Michael immediately showed us how to change how Greta thinks when she's coming into proximity to other dogs. Now Greta focuses on us, knowing that she can trust us be the leader and protect her so she can meet other dogs politely without immediately feeling threatened. It's also about rules, boundaries and limitations. As we set those up and enforce them consistently, Greta becomes more reliable and predictable all the time.
“Michael is not only an amazing trainer and behaviorist, he is a kind and caring person that has been there to support us through every step of this journey. ”
We had tried 6 other trainers over the past 6 years, only to learn that our dogs can be obedient, however none of the trainers were able to help us overcome the behavior issues. We heard about Michael through a friend about 6 months ago, but we put off engaging yet another trainer. It was not until we cared for a client’s dog that had been working with Michael the we changed our minds! We could not believe it was the same dog. We felt inspired and ready to move to the next level! It is hard to find words for how we feel, but what we have found through Michael has left us in awe. We have been able to overcome all of the behavioral obstacles that we have not been able to in the past. In our very first session with Michael I was brought to tears when I witnessed my husband walking our dog Riley in a heel, a struggle that has lasted 4 years! The power of what this man does is just so hard to express, especially to those that have tried so many trainers before. We will never use or refer any other trainer going forward! We can never thank Michael enough for all that he has done to change our lives, we have never felt happier, the closeness and bond that we have with our dogs is so much stronger now. He is not only an amazing trainer and behaviorist, he is a kind and caring person that has been there to support us through every step of this journey. Sincerely, Nikki
“OUR leadership habits were completely transformed.”
Michael completely transformed our leadership habits, enabling us to train Moses and reinforce healthy habits. Our move to Denver and into an apartment rattled Moses, and our complete lack of leadership caused an internal struggle within him that resulted in skittish behavior we had not seen before. We began training Moses when he was 10 weeks old with a trainer in San Diego. Unfortunately, that training did not instill leadership qualities within ourselves, causing us to bend to every whim of our dog. When in Boise, our trainer helped with off leash training, but we still did not receive the training we needed to really establish pack leadership. We constantly struggled with seeing him as our baby, and thus giving in to every request he made. He pretty much ran the show. Michael taught us to establish a healthy relationship and boundary with Moses that we had not established previously. By stepping up our leadership, Moses has calmed down, eats better, listens to us and seems to respect the boundaries we have established. We are still working on training and working with Michael on continuing to establish leadership and remain consistent. We look forward to the future with Moses and can't wait to continue training with Michael. Eric Altstatt
“We have a better understanding of what makes Betsy tick! ”
Betsy was a stray picked up by animal control on the streets of a small town in the Denver metro area. After no one claimed her the shelter contacted one of the foster moms of our local animal rescue. We saw her on the website, applied for adoption and took Betsy home with us about a month after she was picked up by animal control. Betsy is a Shetland Sheep Dog and appeared to be about two years old. Because we knew nothing about her history we felt that it was important to engage a professional who would be able to "read" Betsy, tune into her energy and give us guidance into how to work with her and help her to become a part of our family. Group, one-size-fits-all obedience classes just didn't seem like the best place to begin. Betsy was perfectly house trained and had no bad habits when we got her but she did have a very strong herding instinct (typical for her breed). That instinct went into overdrive when we were out on walks and encountered a runner, bicycle, other dogs or wild game. She also took to "herding" our blind smooth coat collie which the collie loved. But she would also sometimes try to "herd" us - a behavior we were not too crazy about. In addition Betsy had had no basic obedience training. So we decided it was time to search for an animal behaviorist/trainer who could help us understand Betsy better, perhaps gain some insight into her earlier life, modify her herding instinct and begin teaching her basic obedience. After contacting our veterinarian, the local animal rescue and a couple of our local pet stores, Michael Mandell's name began to surface repeatedly. I spoke with Michael on the phone and arranged for an initial consultation. Michael was able to immediately pick up on Betsy's energy and insights into what might have happened in Betsy's life prior to her coming to live with us. While she had a nice energy and is a sweetie, she shut down easily and appeared to have been leaned on too much at some point. I am a horse owner and Michael's emphasis on leadership, energy and pack behavior resonated with me. He explained how my being a fair leader would help Betsy become confident, live longer and be happier. Dogs relax when they don't have to be the alpha; it's a relief. So we began training. Michael trains the human versus the dog and I liked that approach. He first taught me how to give Betsy a soft correction. Soon we began teaching her how to not enter the red zone - that place where her herding instinct kicked into overdrive and she ignored me. We began heeling on a loose lead right away. In our second lesson we went to the lake and park and practiced calmly walking by and approaching other dogs, geese, people, strollers, etc. I was amazed at how quickly Betsy learned to ignore all of those "activators". It was especially gratifying to see Betsy relax and start looking to me for leadership. Training and outings were fun! Our most recent lesson took place on the sidewalks of our little town. Not knowing Betsy's history we didn't know whether she had ever been in a downtown environment before. It became obvious that she hadn't but with the prior work we had done with Michael she quickly acclimated and relaxed. Surprisingly we found that she was afraid of climbing steps. So we spent perhaps a third of our lesson teaching Betsy to calmly and slowly climb stairs. Betsy was so proud of herself with this ccaomplishment. We now have a better understanding of what makes Betsy tick and, thanks to Michael, have established a good foundation for moving forward with training and being the fair, confident leaders that Betsy deserves.
“We were frustrated and realized we had a problem and needed help. Thankfully Michael was recommended to us.”
We decided to get a rescue dog and we found Rudy. He is a high energy dog and though we walked him twice a day it didn't seem to be enough. After watching many episodes of Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer we put Rudy on the treadmill and he loved it. He was nervous around people but loved other dogs. After a few months we adopted Gracie, another rescue dog. We thought Rudy could use a playmate. Gracie was the opposite of Rudy. She is calm and submissive. Gracie's presence seemed to calm Rudy. After a few months Rudy began to be aggressive towards Gracie. The aggression was escalating. We were frustrated and realized we had a problem and needed help. Since we had watched so many episodes of Cesar Millan, we knew we wanted a dog whisperer. Thankfully Michael was recommended to us. Michael told us that Rudy was a good dog and that alleviated our worst fears. Rudy was the leader of our pack because we didn't know how to be. We needed training. Michael is a wonderful and patient teacher. Making a commitment to follow Michaels instructions resulted in a remarkable change in Rudy and in us. With Michael's help we are taking over the pack. We have had some setbacks, but we have learned this is a process. We are thankful for Michael Mandell and highly recommend him. So does Rudy.
“I wish we would have met Michael 9 years ago. It certainly would have saved us so much pain, heartache and embarrassment. We now have the tools we need to enjoy our “little Trumpy” for many more walks and many more years.”
Let’s see, where do I start? Well, the last time I walked my dog before calling Michael, my husband and I ended up in a heated argument, I ended up ashamed and in tears, and our Yorkie was covered in a sticky, strawberry smoothie on a walk home from Starbucks. That’s it! We are calling a dog trainer! It was my husband that fell for the “doggie in the window” during a sporadic trip to the mall 9 years ago. That is how we ended up with Trump, the Yorkie. With no children of our own, Trump had successfully earned his place as our “furry kid” and was treated as such. From sleeping in our bed, to cuddling on the sofa, licking my face and barking at squirrels, he was our child. Trump is very energetic and walks seemed to help burn some of the endless energy and we even taught him to run on a treadmill. Our lives changed drastically in 2009 while on a walk with Trump. A large, neighborhood dog jumped a 6-foot fence and started circling us. As my protective instincts kicked in, I picked Trump up, only to have the dog latch on to his hind legs, while he was in my arms! After a trip to the ER, some staples and some stitches, Trump would be okay. I, on the other hand, was terrified of walking Trump by myself ever again. Needless to say, dogs are extremely keen on human energy and my dog was no exception. I tried to walk Trump on several occasions over the next 4 years, but the walks were painful and terrifying, for both of us. Trump’s behavior, especially on walks got worse and worse. He would bark and spin uncontrollably at every bird, squirrel, dog, runner, biker, skateboarder, stroller, the list is endless. We could not control him, inside or outside, and I was ashamed and terrified. After following the recommendation from a friend to call Michael, we discussed the issues we were having. We could tell immediately that Michael was different than the 3 other “dog trainers” we had worked with before. Previous methods we used were short lived and unsuccessful. We were convinced we were unlucky people with a horribly behaved dog and it would be a waste of time to try and change it. But Michael is different, he is an Animal Behaviorist. He has helped us to understand the types of horrible behaviors that had developed, could change by simply changing the relationship we have with Trump. We started with baby steps. Keeping Trump on the floor, so he learns his place in our family, we are the leaders. Keeping Trump on a leash, when we are working with him, so we can enforce the commands we give him and reward him with endless treats and praise. I could not believe the difference we saw in Trump in a matter of hours. He was sleeping comfortably on his dog bed and was much more calm and obedient. We progressed to taking walks and perusing outside of a dog park. The barking, spinning, “Cujo” that we had come to accept in our lives, was sitting obediently and looking to us for treats. I wish we could go back for one minute to gather video evidence of his transformation. I would not have believed anyone if they would have told me that we could make this much progress in a matter of weeks. It’s hard to believe, I know. Small dogs can have big personalities, but that does not mean they can’t be polite, obedient and loveable. I wish we would have met Michael 9 years ago. It certainly would have saved us so much pain, heartache and embarrassment. We now have the tools we need to enjoy our “little Trumpy” for many more walks and many more years. Sincerely, Lindsay Highlands Ranch, CO
“Dogs that have not responded to other trainers and methods, respond quickly to Mike (Owner of Alpha K-9 Obedience). The results are fast and lasting.”
I’ve known Mike for several years now, first through the internet and email and then through phone calls as we shared dog training ideas and insights. Mike is both knowledgeable and skilled. His handling of dogs is intuitive. Relying on positive energy and his own insight into the canine mind, Mike is able to bring about the transformation in many dogs. Dogs that have not responded to other trainers and methods, respond quickly to Mike. The results are fast and lasting. Dogs that were flying out of control have been transformed into settled canine citizens. Best of all, Mike and his wife, Connie, are kind and gracious with the human at the other end of the leash. Their caring to restore happiness to the human/canine relationship is sincere. Elizabeth Kohl German Shepherd Breeder candlehillshepherds.com
“I have done much obedience and agility training with my dogs. However, the concept of what it takes for the humans to maintain the proper pack leader status in order to keep all the dogs under control at home and away, is something new that I did not get through my obedience and agility training.”
I had a heartbreaking situation that Michael Mandell turned around. I have had terriers for many years. I THOUGHT I had trained them well and had them under control. However, I discovered that was simply not the case when I added a male puppy to my household that already had two spayed bitches. The additional commotion the puppy caused resulted in the alpha bitch going overboard in keeping the pack under control. Since the puppy was forceful, when something ruffled the household tranquility (a small noise, a smell, a noise from one of the dogs), the alpha bitch strongly went after #2 bitch, whether she needed correcting or not. This eventually resulted in a horrible dog fight with the #2 bitch suffering damage that required surgery. After that the two bitches were “on the hunt” for each other, intent on finishing what was started. I kept them separated visually and physically for a month. Their attitudes did not change – “I am going to find that other bitch and kill her.” This APPEARED to be consistent with an OLD WIVES TALE that once two terriers have a nasty problem, they will never get over it. My husband and I were heartbroken; how do you rehome one of your precious child-substitutes. The pain at this prospect was way too much. ENTER MICHAEL MANDELL – “IT IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE THAT ONCE TERRIERS TANGLE, THEIR PROBLEMSWILL BE FOR LIFE. THIS IS QUITE POSSIBLY FIXABLE!”. Yes, it WAS not only POSSIBLY fixable – but IT IS NOWFIXED!!! The fix required retraining the humans to be strong pack leaders and understand that while we had abdicated our pack leader status through ignorance, we had to absorb Michael’s education as to what being a pack leader entails and practice it on a constant basis. In ONE AFTERNOON, this has already enabled our pets to stop hunting for each other looking to kill. They can now be in the same room and be relaxed and content (yes, on a leash or some way under our control). We can again be a family all together, two adults and three terriers. I have done much obedience and agility training with my dogs. However, the concept of what it takes for the humans to maintain the proper pack leader status in order to keep all the dogs under control at home and away, is something new that I did not get through my obedience and agility training. We have more work to do. However, without Michael Mandell, we would never have understood what we needed to do. When I scheduled Michael Mandell to come to my house and see if he could help, I had only a very dim, distant, tiny ray of hope that anything could be done to save my situation. I fully expected that rehoming one of the two girls was the only viable solution. Mostly, I scheduledMichael to help me be a better pack leader for whichever two of the three dogs remained in my household. One day later, my household is already under control. I have much to do to handle all kinds of situations, especially where we go out of the house. However, the GREAT NEWS is that we now can keep all three of our extraordinary and wonderful pets and fully expect to be able to maintain this status. THANK YOU, MICHAEL. You took our tragic situation, helped us rework living with our dogs and gave us the tools we needed. We are now able to have a wonderful, livable, happy home in which all three dogs can thrive, know their place and be both happy and content. We simply cannot thank you enough. Pam and Bob
“Michael quickly established a leader role with our dogs in a calm and confident manner. While a lot of dog trainers focus on harsh discipline or trying to make dogs learn how to understand human commands, Michael teaches the humans how to communicate in dog language, which culminates in quick and amazing results.”
In the summer of 2011 we rescued a fox/coon hound mix. While having a wonderful personality this animal was two years old and had never received any type of training. She would get up onto the counter and raid cabinets to steal food, behave wildly out of control dismantling rock walls and woodpiles in the pursuit of chipmunks, exhibit extremely high anxiety during storms and when left alone, and only followed her nose outside - completely disregarding our calls. After attempting to do some basic obedience training on our own and coming to the conclusion that “hounds are untrainable” as many people told us, we reluctantly decided to bring in a professional. Upon Michael’s first visit to our home and watching our family interaction he quickly noted that in order for A.J., our hound, to be receptive to the training we would first have to do some work with our Old English Sheepdog, Shelby, as she was the matriarch of the family! While Shelby did have some basic training as a puppy it was clear that our 7 year old sheepdog was running the household. Without realizing it we had let Shelby take over as she barked commands to us for food, attention, exercise and would take toys away from A.J. if she wanted them, and jump all over house guests. Despite these huge obstacles we started to notice change immediately! During our first official session with A.J. we witnessed what we thought to be a stubborn dumb hound display very intelligent qualities and respond to Michael’s energy and commands. I’ve never seen anything like it, I wish we could have had a video camera for this initial session! Michael quickly established a leader role with our dogs in a calm and confident manner. While a lot of dog trainers focus on harsh discipline or trying to make dogs learn how to understand human commands, Michael teaches the humans how to communicate in dog language, which culminates in quick and amazing results. During the training Michael learned the personalities of our dogs and tailored the style of behavior modification specifically to each dogs needs. After two months of training they not only have mastered basic commands but their behavior issues have been curbed as well. A.J. is becoming a very well adjusted dog and Shelby is assuming her appropriate place in the family. Michael truly has a passion and innate ability for working with dogs and their humans. The funny secret is, it’s not so much dog training as it is human training! We highly recommend Michael’s services to anyone who wants to learn how to truly communicate with their dogs and have a happy well adjusted animal of which you can be proud. Sincerely, Glen & Angel Evergreen, Colorado
“Before training commenced, Titan dominated the house. We struggled with walking on a leash, barking at the cat, ripping up mail and toilet paper, and coming back into the house after going out to use the bathroom. Within only a few sessions, Titan’s behavior improved tremendously.”
Titan, our Bernese Mountain Dog, has made great strides since we starting training with Alpha K-9 Obedience. Before training commenced, Titan dominated the house. We struggled with walking on a leash, barking at the cat, ripping up mail and toilet paper, and coming back into the house after going out to use the bathroom. In addition, we struggled with Titan Following basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and leave it. Within only a few sessions, Titan’s behavior improved tremendously. We no longer fought when coming back into the house and he greatly improved on leash walking. The improvement was incredible. After several weeks of training, Titan’s overall improvement has been amazing. He is mastering basic commands, leaving the cat alone, and seems much more relaxed. Michael has taught us not only how to train Titan, but how to be leaders for him which enables Titan to want to please and obey. We have learned how to talk to Titan, how to respond to his positive and negative behavior, and how to begin retraining Titan’s mind that he is not the alpha in the family. Our training has included in-house training and outdoor training with distractions. In house training has focused on basic commands and needs that we have had such as the cat. Outdoor training has focused on dealing with distractions such as people and other dogs as we move into preparing for Titan to become off leash. I highly recommend Alpha K-9 Obedience training! Our experience has been wonderful. Michael’s commitment to helping us train Titan has far exceeded our expectations. Lori and Paul Evergreen, CO
“His core values of compassion, fairness and accountability are clearly evident in his approach to creating partnership between us humans and our dog companions.”
Mike is a very decent human being and extraordinary dog trainer. His core values of compassion, fairness and accountability are clearly evident in his approach to creating partnership between us humans and our dog companions. His principles and extensive knowledge make for a very rewarding experience. Thank you, Jeff and Robbie Evergreen, CO
“In October I adopted a shelter dog. While at the shelter, she exhibited no aggression problems, but after I got her home, it was a different story. Mike showed me an exercise to do with my guests, It works like a charm!”
In October I adopted a shelter dog. While at the shelter, she exhibited no aggression problems, but after I got her home, it was a different story. Whenever, I had a guest in my home, she exhibited classic fear aggression, which entailed snapping at the person while urinating on herself. I decided to seek professional advice, as I really loved the dog and didn’t want to return her to the shelter. In one two hour session, Mike showed me an exercise to do with my guests, which involves keeping the dog on leash, while the guest offers treats to my dog. It works like a charm! Now, when I have repeat visitors, we don’t even have to do the exercise. Thank you, Michael! Phyllis
“Michael is so much more than a "dog trainer" and that is why we and our dogs had such a great experience with him. He strives to really understand both dogs and owners and seems to grasp very quickly the energy between owner and dog”
Michael is so much more than a "dog trainer" and that is why we and our dogs had such a great experience with him. He strives to really understand both dogs and owners and seems to grasp very quickly the energy between owner and dog and how the behaviors of issue can be corrected and what is needed to accomplish that. He explains very clearly, using stories from his experience to demonstrate, the points he wants to make that will assist the owner in how to create the desired behaviors. It's really true that it's the owners who get the most important training as they begin to understand their pet in a new way and what their role needs to be to achieve the desired results. There is nothing "cookie cutter" about Michael's approach, which means that each client receives instruction and direction that is unique to each situation. Michael has a real and sincere love for dogs, wants both owner and dog to be happy, have a mutually respectful and loving relationship, and he's willing and very capable of directing all concerned to that end.We (my husband and I and our 2 big dogs) are so very pleased with the results of our time with Michael! C Richards, Littleton, Colorado
“He truly has the best interests of both owner and dog at heart. He gracefully combines his keen awareness of dog behavior with a desire to teach the owner how to best interact with their pet.”
When we decided to get a new dog, Michael from Alpha K-9 Obedience was one of the first people we contacted. He walked us through our needs, desires and lifestyle and guided us through our decision process. Once we decided on a German shepherd, Michael worked closely with us to find an appropriate breeder. After the puppies were born he personally contacted the breeder, discussed our requirements with her, and helped us determine the correct puppy for our family. Michael’s expertise, caring, patient and attentive manner was invaluable during this process. Our dog, Smokey, is now 6 months old and everything we expected. Michael’s assistance was instrumental in making the right decision for breed, breeder and individual puppy. Michael from Alpha K-9 Obedience is an expert at reading and correcting dog behavior and attitudes. We asked Michael to help us work through several developing negative behaviors in our dog: chasing cats, chasing the kids while riding bikes, and introducing our puppy to another “dog aggressive” family dog. In each case I was very impressed with Michael’s ability to distinguish subtle canine behaviors that signaled impending misbehavior. We were able to gently correct and train before behavior became an issue. Michael taught us what to look for and gave us a method to train out the unwanted behavior. His compassionate and intuitive methods work well, and serve to strengthen the bond between dog and owner—leading to a much more fulfilling relationship. What I love about Michael is his servant’s heart. He truly has the best interests of both owner and dog at heart. He gracefully combines his keen awareness of dog behavior with a desire to teach the owner how to best interact with their pet. Furthermore, his willingness to assist on the phone after the training session is amazing. This assures you will never be left with unanswered questions. Your success is very important to him. We are pretty informed dog owners. We’ve read numerous books, watched video’s, gone to dog shows, questioned trainers, and trained a dog before. In addition, we have attended numerous dog training schools in the Denver metro area. Without question, Michael Mandell is a premier trainer. His methods are intuitive and well-grounded in success. His results speak for themselves. We will never use anyone else. Alpha K-9 Obedience is the best we have ever worked with…our dog is living proof! We want to thank you for all your help with Smokey, our German Shepherd pup. He is so amazing and such a joy to have in our lives. When we got him we wanted to socialize him so we took him to Denver to a puppy class. He would be allowed some free play time with other puppies and as we want to be able to take him everywhere with us we decided that would be a good fit. The first day we walked in with him and as we were waiting for the other pups to arrive he put his mouth on my hand. As we have children putting his mouth on any human is something we NEVER want him to think is ok. So I looked him right in the eyes and said, “Naaaah”. The trainer immediately flew over to us and admonished me – we never give corrections she said! (As she, ironically, corrected me). The rest of the class was based on never giving corrections, all negative behavior was to just be ignored, and all training was done with treats. Needless to say both Smokey and we were confused. A couple of days after the class ended my daughter was reaching for something Smokey had in his mouth and he growled at her. That was it!! I immediately called Michael and set up and appointment. He came to our home and spent time watching Smokey interact with us and he spent time petting and getting to know Smokey himself. Within minutes Michael realized Smokey needed a different sort of behavior modification. Michael had a plan to work with Smokey after reading his temperament. He used a different type of behavior modification method and within 10 minutes our children could remove a (super juicy) bone from Smokey’s mouth and make him wait to get it back until they allowed it. Smokey was more relaxed. Michael spent time with each of our family members showing us exactly how to work with our pup. The very next day I took Smokey for our morning walk. I can’t describe the joy I found being able to walk him. Just walk him. No pulling, no lunging, no dragging me down the trail. Being able to spend time in our beautiful Colorado with my pup – priceless! Michael called within days to check up on Smokey’s progress and offered additional tips to keep things moving in the right direction. We are so grateful to Michael for showing us how to be the leader our dog needs! Thank you! The Born Family Evergreen, CO
“They are both gentle yet firm in their expectations for proper dog behaviors. They taught us ways to handle our dog but it required our follow-through. We had to practice daily, but it was in a familiar place: our home and yard.”
We have nothing but the best to say about Connie and Michael’s Alpha Canine Dog Training. Michael provided us with a variety of commands to use to communicate with the dog and demonstrated using various leads, leashes, collars and simple treats and appropriate. We enjoyed Connie’s informative talks about wild dog pack behavior as it related to our dog, Scooter, and what she was demonstrating to us at the time. Connie gave us advice about ways to better communicate commands and reminded us when we were confusing Scooter. They are both gentle yet firm in their expectations for proper dog behaviors. They taught us ways to handle our dog but it required our follow-through. We had to practice daily, but it was in a familiar place: our home and yard. Our 10 month-old dog, Scooter, still responds to Michael’s presence with alert obedience. When we thought Scooter needed a refreshers course, we called Michael back and on arrival, Scooter immediately got into her proper greeting behavior and followed his every command! She had not forgotten a thing! We had. You did not just rectify the symptoms, but you cured the disease. Ginny and Tom Evergreen, CO
“As an avid fan of Cesar, I was delighted to discover we have our own version of dog whisperer right here in Alpha K-9 Obedience whisperer right here in Colorado!”
We cannot express our absolute amazement with how quickly and dramatically Casey, our 6 yr old German Shepherd/Belgian Mallinois mix and Zora, our 2 1/2 year old German Shepherd (East German working lines) have responded to the training we are receiving with Michael at Alpha K-9 Obedience. I really need to point that there is a remarkable similarity between Michael's approach to dog "rehabilitation and human retraining" and Cesar Milan's example of calm energy and how it affects training. As an avid fan of Cesar, I was delighted to discover we have our own version of dog whisperer right here in Alpha K-9 Obedience right here in Colorado! We were looking for a trainer with the ability to identify what triggers were being activated that made out dogs act out, and actually fight quite viciously in what appeared to be dominance challenging. Most of the time they are fast friends but once they start they don't stop fighting. In the past we had used the standard training, pinch collars and classrooms etc. to train our dogs. Zora turned out to be way more dog than could be handled in a group setting. Zora was a handful as soon as she arrived. She went to puppy classes at 3 months old and did well, but was clearly bored silly after a few days of training. We tried an in board trainer who claimed he would make her "love to work for you". Training was to be based in positive reinforcement, with the focus on building good behavior through stimulating her natural drive with lures and balls etc. to direct training. When she came home 2 weeks later, she had knots in her neck where he used an e collar to force her to work. Hard core training for a 5-month-old puppy! Unfortunately she was no better behaved when she came home. Fortunately she took it all in stride with only a higher level of tolerance to pain. We decided that perhaps a second dog would help burn off some of that excess energy. We began a search that ended at the Colorado state prison dog rescue program, where we found Casey. (4 year old at the time) The two were fast friends, but just to be safe, we put Zora into the prison system for a few weeks, with daily access to Casey to be certain both dogs got along. During that time Zora adhered to the same training program Casey was in. Training was done by the inmates, with the basic compulsion obedience training with prong collars and verbal praise. Casey was a bit timid when she came to stay with us, and she resisted the training, testing us every day. Heel only meant heel when it was sharply reinforced. Zora was (once again) unfazed by the training. After several months of struggling on our own with what could be gained by books and past experience, we hired a training company (chain) that used e-collars, buts with adjustable levels. The idea being just use the amount of stimulation it takes to get the dogs attention focused on you. I used the collar on myself to be certain that it was not the harsh correction Zora received in the earlier fiasco. It was not. We used the e-collars for about a year, but Zora behaved based on if what she wanted was worth taking the shock or not. In addition, you had to take the controllers everywhere you went to correct the dogs. It was cumbersome and only so effective. Although it did work in basic obedience to some extent, it actually worsened problems in other areas. It actually seemed to be amplifying Zora's now growing aggression! When the trainer suggested we needed to have 2 e-collars on her to double the strength of the shocks to "raise the stakes", we knew we had to part ways. Then the dogfights began. Casey and Zora were going out of control and attacking each other. After several trips to the emergency vet, (and even a trip to the ER when breaking up a fight went very wrong) we thought we were beaten. One of the dogs had to go. It had been 2 1/2 years since Zora arrived literally on my doorstep, and 2 years with Casey. How on earth do you choose? We couldn't. We decided to try one time with a trainer/behavioral specialist. It took 2 tries to find the right fit, Alpha K-9 Obedience and Michael Mandel. Michael's approach has literally changed our world practically over night. Yes, It sounds smarmy. Never the less, it has. We thought Casey was suffering from anxiety, as she had been in at least 4 homes that we knew of before we got her from the rescue. Mike told us Casey, (who by this time had so totally checked out that she would not make eye contact with us once we left the house) was insecure due to inconsistent leadership, and needed a full time pack leader to get her back to being a pack member, not Alpha by default. Zora too felt the position was vacant, so she was constantly challenging Casey for the Alpha seat. Michael told us Zora was a very strong dog, good-natured and wanted to please. She just needed a strong pack leader to keep her in line. Two dogs, two totally different mind sets with one answer. We the humans had to step up as Alpha every day, all day. Bringing the proper energy to the table every time. We have relied heavily on Michael's direction to get ourselves in the proper energy "state of mind" and do it in conjunction with the proper correction to achieve much better understanding between the dogs and us. It was interesting trying to be aware of the energy we gave off. It is not as easy as it sounds, but definitely doable. 3 days after our first session I was calling Mike to say that for the first time in the 2 years we had her, Casey was playing ball. She was relaxing because she did not have to be Alpha any more! Every day she plays reminds me why we committed to this training. We have had 4 sessions with Mike so far. Here is a list of the changes we have observed. 1) Both dogs are heeling nicely. Never really got the true heel before. 2) The dogs have completely stopped fighting. Not even a growl. 3) The fence "smack talk" as we pass our neighbor's houses has decreased by about 80% and getting better every day. 4) Both dogs seem happier, calmer and more attentive. 5) Both dogs are much more respectful in the house, no door charging or pushing past us to get what the want. 6) We have learned a lot about our own energy, and how to best use positive energy to get the best from our dogs. We are still in the process of learning and have high expectations of ourselves in getting complete control of our dog situation. I am just glad it is in our hands and not the dogs to be able to effect change. Alpha K-9 Obedience training module empowers us, as owners/pack leaders to see things from the dogs perspective and adjust our approach accordingly. We are looking forward to continuing our journey with Alpha K-9 Obedience. Eric and Kat
“After just three sessions with Michael, Angel has stopped growling when the doorbell rings and is a lot more comfortable around strangers.”
I rescued Angel, a one year old Border Collie, from the Western Australian Shepherd Rescue in February, 2013. After she was with me about a month she started growling and nipping strangers. I knew this was a problem that I had never encountered before and needed help. A friend of mine suggested I call Michael Mandell. Michael came to the house and worked with Angel and me (mostly me) for a couple of hours on our first meeting showing me how to “control” the situation. Angel and I worked really hard on our own and with Michael’s instruction and encouragement for a couple more weeks. After just three sessions with Michael, Angel has stopped growling when the doorbell rings and is a lot more comfortable around strangers. Michael was awesome with Angel and me. I had a feeling that the problem was with me from the beginning, but he never made me feel like a failure as a dog owner. He has a very gentle and understanding way of training dogs, and people as well. I truly appreciated that he would call every few days just to check on us and see how the training was going. I highly recommend him as a dog (and people) trainer. Thank you, Michael!!! Jody & Angel
“If you listen to the direction, and are willing to apply the lessons your puppy or dog will feel safe and happy too. My boys no longer potty in the house, they sit on command, will stay (most of the time), don’t jump on company, and rarely fight.”
I have never had my own dog before. My husband had a Catahoula Leopard, and he was the best-behaved, kind and loyal friend. When we lost him, I was very apprehensive about getting a puppy, but my husband assured me that we would be okay. I did research and we decided on a bloodhound. I knew bloodhounds are stubborn and curious breed but I figured I could handle it. I was wrong. We brought Whiskey home on his 8-week birthday. He was 3 pounds and the runt. No matter how many times I took him out to potty, he would pee all over our house. I was in over my head with one when my husband talked me into a second puppy. We picked Cointreau up at 11 weeks old. Cointreau was twice the size of Whiskey. Instead of Cointreau teaching Whiskey to potty outside, he just started peeing in the house, also. Then they started chewing on everything until we lost a couch, a coffee table, a couch table and two chairs. I was in tears every day. We tried getting them into training at 12 weeks but because Whiskey was so small the organization kept putting us off. That is when both boys started jumping. We could not get them to stop. We tried stepping toward them when the jumped. We tried turning our backs on them. Finally at 16 weeks we were told that we could bring them to class. They were so horrible that we paid for a private lesson first. In that lesson we were told to talk to them in baby talk and give them a high pitched “ouch” when they jumped. During the 6 weeks of puppy class, we were told to tell the boys they were good every time they walked through the room without peeing but to not address them at all when they did pee in the house. Nothing got better and I got more and more frustrated. Then the boys started fighting. We were warned that bloodhounds are resource aggressive, but they were getting too big for us to keep them apart and if we separated them they just tried to get back together. It was to the point that we were considering giving one back. How do you decide which goes? It was an impossible decision. That is when my sister told me about a German Shephard at the dog park. She was afraid of it and would try to keep her puppy away but then one week everything was different. At first, she didn’t recognize the dog because his behavior was completely different. She really thought it was a different dog. She asked the dog’s owner what happened and Michael was the answer. The transformation occurred after one session with Michael. Immediately, Michael made an impact. It turns out there really was nothing wrong with my dogs. They are sweet, smart and eager to please. Michael pointed out that bloodhounds are also very sensitive. I was the problem. I didn’t know what to do with them. I didn’t know how to make them feel safe. I thought we needed to teach them not to pee in the house, not to jump and not to fight but really, Michael just needed to teach me to be a leader and how to read my dogs’ moods. With a few tweaks like no more baby talk and calm but firm direction we knew we didn’t have to make a choice on which puppy to keep. Michael calls it “energy” and I’ll tell you that it doesn’t matter what you call it- the process works. If you listen to the direction, and are willing to apply the lessons your puppy or dog will feel safe and happy too. My boys no longer potty in the house, they sit on command, will stay (most of the time), don’t jump on company, and rarely fight. While training will never end, I only spend about 20 minutes total a day to keep them progressing. Michael is always available to answer questions and to come by to refresh our lessons. My husband and I are very pleased with the progress we have made with Michael’s guidance. It allowed us to keep both our boys and our sanity. Dusty and Rick Highlands Ranch, CO
“I think the biggest surprise from working with Mike is how relatively easy it is to change a dog’s behavior once you know how to be a leader. In fact we saw some changes in just a day – the basement steps were conquered in just one strong leader moment. ”
Our dogs, Jackson and Champ, are the center of our domestic life. We have had Jackson since he was nine weeks old. Since we both work, I convinced my husband to find a buddy for Jackson and that is how Champ came into our lives. Champ, a black Labrador mix, came to us through a rescue organization after surviving Hurricane Katrina. We know little about his background other than surviving Katrina and his previous owners declining to take him back after his rescue. Champ is a very sweet and gentle dog, but needless to say, Champ came to us with some baggage. Although sweet and gentle by nature, there were situations where we just didn’t know what he would do or his behavior was not desirable. From ‘counter surfing’ to get food to aggressive behavior towards other dogs, refusing to go down the basement stairs, Champ’s behavior was a constant question mark. Champ’s behavior was not so severe that we could not deal with him, but there were some things we knew were “red flags” that we tried to avoid as much as possible because in the end, Champ’s basic nature is that of a very sweet and gentle dog. After many years of just dealing with Champ’s bad behavior we decided to seek help by working with Mike Mandell. It was not an overnight process – some things were easier than others to change. Mike gave us the tools to be effective pack leaders which we now know is what Champ needed. As we learned these tools and stepped up, Champ understood we were in control. With consistent communication to Champ of what was acceptable behavior, the bad behaviors became less and less. Champ is still not the perfect dog , but his capacity to be a much better dog is there – what is required from us as pack leaders is to lead consistently. I think the biggest surprise from working with Mike is how relatively easy it is to change a dog’s behavior once you know how to be a leader. In fact we saw some changes in just a day – the basement steps were conquered in just one strong leader moment. Mike’s love of dogs is apparent. He was always patient even though it sometimes took more than a few attempts to get it right. And he was creative in pursuing solutions. One of Champ’s more challenging behaviors was aggressive barking and jumping when he and Jackson were in the back of our SUV. Mike brought us a training collar and after some familiarizing with a dummy version we used a charged version to catch Champ in the act of aggression. It worked, and he is much more contained when in the car. As we had always heard, training your dog is more about teaching the owner than the dog. We are overjoyed to have found such a good partner and trainer in Mike. He is someone that we would (and have) recommended to friends. His guidance and expertise have allowed us to regain our old loving friend, Champy, and now we know how to help make that happen. Peggy P. Quines
“Your instruction is low-key, knowledgable, and directed at the owners rather than the dog. We were amazed at the change that happened to Max. ”
Robin and I just wanted to thank you for you for the work you did with Max. Max was a stray that was found by our daughter and her husband about six months ago. We believe he is a Bearded Collie and he is quite cute(see the attached picture and you will agree). He, however, did have some behavioral issues that we believe came from previous experiences. More specifically, he was quite nervous and unpredictable around strangers, especially unkown men. He growled and nipped at our niece's husband, growled at one of our female friends,as well as a number of other people visiting our house. We had him in basic behavior training, which was working fine for the basic commands of sit, stay, etc. but he was still not behaving well around other people. We called Pam Baca, who has done some work for our daughter and her dog, to see if she had any recommendations and she pu us in touch with you. In just two sessions, the first of which started out very difficult with Max and you, you were able to help us learn how to manage him, take control in a non-violent way, and change Max's behavior. In fact at the end of the first session when we were attempting to have Max interact appropriatly with one of our neighbors, your instruction to me was remarkable and resulted in Max completely changing his demeanor toward others, and us, as well as his behavior. Your instuction is low-key, knowledgable, and directed at the owners rather than the dog. We were amazed at the change that has happened with Max. Besides being cute, he is much happier, more comfortable around other people and a joy to have around. Thank you for your help, and especially your professionalism and caring for both Max and us. We would highly recommend you to other dog owners to help them with making an animal a joy to have around. Bob and Robin
“Michael’s unique approach to dog behavior and training has forever changed my relationship for the better with my 90 -pound German Shephard, Aria. ”
Michael’s unique approach to dog behavior and training has forever changed my relationship for the better with my 90-pound German Shephard, Aria. In only a matter of a couple of months, his training transformed my dog from being fearful and aggressive to confident and calm. As background, Aria was a very timid and skittish puppy. I tried socialization, dog parks, and doggie daycare; but nothing seemed to make a meaningful difference. We went to multiple trainers and while we mastered the fundamentals, I just couldn’t build her confidence to the point where much of her fear alleviated. After a while I accepted that this is “who she is” and I would manage around it. Fast forward to adult Aria (five years old) and the fear morphed into aggression around other dogs and people. She would aggressively lunge and bark at anything that was near us. This was especially challenging to manage given I weigh just a few more pounds than she does and live in the Denver metro area with a ton of other dogs and people. The quality of our lives began to erode as I felt I could not take her anywhere with new people or dogs or introduce her to family and friends. I wanted to confront the problem head-on, but most of the trainers I came across offered “off-the-shelf” programs and were often quick to dismiss a fearful or aggressive dog. From my initial phone call with Michael I knew something was different. Michael’s approach was tailored to address not only dog training, but behavior and rehabilitation for fear and / or aggression if needed. He immediately gave me a renewed sense of hope for Aria through his energy, positive outlook and confidence in ability for ridding her of her aggressive and fearful behavior. Michael’s unique approach is based on the relationship with the owner / handler and the dog. I was not showing my dog leadership and he gave me the tools to do so almost overnight and on a consistent day-to-day basis. He also has this innate sense for what’s going on with the dog – it’s almost like he can see the world through the dog’s eyes which is incredibly unique. The results of Michael’s training more than exceeded my expectations. I cannot tell you how much Michael has improved the quality of our lives. Today I can walk with Aria by any dog or person and she is calm, confident, and gentle on the leash which is a result of her newfound respect for me as her leader. I have even gotten several remarks for how well she is behaved. What an incredible blessing it was finding Michael after so many failed attempts at working with other trainers who simply refused to work with or gave up on Aria. I HIGHLY recommend Michael for basic training and especially for anyone with a dominant breed or a dog with aggression – you will be beyond amazed with the results.
Google Reviews
Sky Roetzel
We found Michael through a simple Google search, after reading reviews we thought he might be a good person to meet with to talk about our German Shepherd Finn. Interestingly enough, Michael actually encourages his clients to read reviews and we would encourage whoever is reading this to read some as well. They allow you to see the excellent work that he does with the dogs he has worked with. Michael is not a dog trainer, he is a behaviorist and he makes that very clear upon meeting. Training with Michael feels somewhat unique but all makes perfect sense, it is focused on being a leader and someone for your dog to look up to, making your dog feel comfortable and understanding why your dog does the things it does. Our dog Finn is a great dog and we want to make sure people know that training with Michael is not just for aggressive dogs, even good dogs can become great. Finn was never very aggressive but he did have some outbursts and it was hard to get him to focus, he was very distracted by other dogs he would meet and never really realized how big he was. After a couple weeks with Michael Finn is more calm, has less anxiety, looks to us for guidance and protection as opposed to trying to do it all himself. We can see the difference in the way that Finn looks at us, he is happy and (occasionally) calm. Just remember at the end of the day it's your dog and you need to be willing to put in the work! Sky & Allie
Angel Saunders
Michael had made it possible for me to become the leader I needed to be so I could keep my 2 1/2 year old 108 lb dog that I rescued. Thunder spent 24 hours a day in a kennel in a bedroom in an apt. He didn't have the opportunity to develop social skills so he had aggression towards other dogs when he was on a leash. On the first visit with Micheal, I was able to have Thunder heal and respond to other commands. I was shocked that this dog who had been pulling me around the park was looking to me as the leader. Walking was a joy now that I had the confidence I needed. Michael showed me how to correct his bad behavior when other dogs were in the area. I can now say Leave It and he responds. Michael has a special connection with Thunder and Thunder responds to him positively as soon as he walks through the front door. I would never had imagined that Thunder and I would have experienced this much progress and success in this amount of time. I will continue to utilize Michael's services so I can continue to become the best leader and owner for Thunder, because he deserves that. Thunder and I will never be able to thank Michael enough. Angel Denver, CO
Chris Rodriguez
Our experience with Michael has been excellent. Michael has worked with us for the last six months and has been invaluable in helping us effectively communicate, train and be viewed as a leader by Bruno, our rather large and stubborn Alaskan Malamute. Michael is always available via phone and is very responsive. Michael taught us how to lead so Bruno learned his place in our pack. We have peace in our household and a happier Bruno. We highly recommend his services.
Austin Cagaanan
I called Michael because my dog Luna was aggressive towards strangers coming into our home and dogs on a leash. I've done a lot of my own research, seen a trainer when Luna was just a puppy, and he was definitely the right person for the job. Instead of avoidance techniques that we had already tried we were going to rehabilitate her and just simply tell her what I want her to do more simply. She would bark, growl, lung, etc. It was difficult because her basic obedience (come, sit, lay down, stay, heel) was already pretty solid but when put in these specific situations she would get tunnel vision and nothing I said could get her attention or pull her away from what was going on. It was like all of a sudden I didn't exist at all. Michael was able to show me how to communicate to my dog that she does not need to protect me, I will protect her and I am handling the situation. I really appreciated and resonated with his approach to dog training, which again is why I chose him. It was really cool to learn how to better communicate with my dog as it made our bond even stronger. Luna is so smart and attentive she just happily tuned into me and what I was trying to tell her. Now when people walk in our house that she doesn't know I tell her "Friend" and she instantly starts wagging her tail and wanting to go greet them! When we pass dogs outside she will sit and "leave it" as they pass by. People are always complimenting us and I'm so proud of the transformation she has made!! We still have work to continue and I know she will continue to show improvements until she's perfect. I knew Luna would be able to learn quickly, as she always has, but Michael made the process so much easier. His energy and confidence was infectious to both Luna and I. After every session I had a renewed sense of focus and excitement to move forward. Thanks Michael! - ALLIE (I don't have a google account so used a friends)
Dennis and Kali Kouanchao
My husband and I have so many wonderful things to say about our experience with Michael! It all started with adopting our sweet girl, Miko. She is a 1-2 year old Great Pyrenees who was found roaming the streets of New Mexico and brought to Colorado via a local rescue. We started out by doing a lot of reading about her breed online and were quickly overwhelmed by the common thought that a Pyr would be impossible to train, due to their independent nature. Miko's intense protective nature made her vibe around the house extremely different from our sweet chocolate lab we have spent the last 13 years with. She was attacking our privacy fence, constantly roaming the house for perimeter checks, barking/lunging at every dog who came our way on walks, was not interested in snuggles or toys, and even nipped at me in our first few days together as I was trying to pull her away from attacking the fence. We knew the first time we met with Michael that this would all change. He helped us see that Miko really is the sweetest girl. She needs lots of loving and praise to increase her confidence and really does respond well to having us in charge instead of her running the show. In helping us learn how to be good leaders for Miko, Michael has given us the gift of a full and happy life with our new baby. We are now able to enjoy taking Miko on adventures with us and our toddler, whether that means a quiet walk in the neighborhood or a hike in the forest. She now knows not to pay any attention to other dogs, because she knows that we have got her back. She is also much more relaxed at home. Daytime naps are her favorite and although she still does her perimeter checks at night, she is not barking for hours at a time anymore. I cannot thank Michael enough for helping us feel the connection we have with Miko now. We went from feeling nervous about our new friend to being incapable of imagining a life without her and the bigger than life love she has for her pack of humans. I highly recommend you give Michael a chance and keep an open mind. Be honest with yourself and own up to the poor patterns you were unaware you had with your pups. I truly believe that if you put in the work, you will absolutely be rewarded on the other side. We are looking forward to continuing our work with Michael and will call on him for all of the new fur babies we welcome into our lives in the future. Michael, we need to work on cloning you!
Kathleen Burkhardt
Alpha K-9 Obedience is THE training solution you need for your dog. Our dog, Benny, had been through obedience training and was acclimating pretty well to our family when our older dog died suddenly and unexpectedly. Benny changed overnight and the trainers we were working with told us the only things they could recommend were medication or bringing another dog into the house. Benny became afraid of people, territorial and displayed signs of anxiety near-constantly. We became tethered to our home, either only leaving for a few hours or taking Benny to doggy daycare anytime we had to leave for longer periods. Having people over was also almost impossible and even when we were able to get Benny to stop barking and growling at our visitors, he'd remain on edge the entire time someone other than us was over. This didn't feel sustainable. We couldn't keep up with accommodating his needs and it was heartbreaking to watch Benny appear anxious and ill at ease almost constantly. We researched other solutions and were turned off by what we found. Board and trains and negative reinforcement programs only seemed like they'd make his anxiety issues worse. What Benny needed was confidence! We finally found Michael's website and had it pulled up a full *year* before we pulled the trigger. When Benny bit the vet and got into a fight with another dog a few weeks ago we knew we couldn't wait any longer. And we never should have waited in the first place! After initial conversations we knew two things: 1. Michael's approach sounded different than anything we'd encountered before. 2. But it made sense and we were willing to try anything. Fast forward to our first training session. Benny responds as usual when someone comes over and is completely beside himself. But within 20 minutes, using Michael's guidance, we've calmed him to a level I hadn't seen Benny achieve since our other dog had been alive. This isn't some miracle cure, but if you follow the training protocol you will see results FAST. Benny was instantly a different dog. That weekend after our first session, we had a friend visit on our patio and after some initial and short-lived unease, Benny fell asleep at our feet. He doesn't bark at every passerby anymore. He's CALM. I cannot describe to you how constantly on edge this dog seemed before. After Michael showed us that Benny's issue was a lack of consistent leadership in the household and we learned the initial techniques of how to assert our Alpha dominance, Benny was able to relax. We're still working on these new skills and habits, but the change has been sustained over three weeks and just two training sessions now. It's a relief for all of us that Benny's able to enjoy life more and we're able to enjoy life more with Benny. One of the best things about Alpha K-9 Obedience is that it is NOT "one size fits all". Michael will give you techniques to help your specific dog with his or her specific needs. Bottom line: DON'T WAIT LIKE WE DID! If you have even an inkling that Michael's approach could help your pup, please call Alpha K-9 Obedience today! Michael shouldn't be a last resort training option, he should be your first call. For anyone who's witnessed the power and effectiveness of Cesar Milan, you have an idea of what Michael can do for your household. You won't regret it.
Mallory Meyer
Michael is incredible. We started working with him when our puppy was 10 weeks old. Whenever we’re out we get comments on how well behaved she is - people can’t believe she’s as young as she is. The best thing about Michael is that he is an animal behaviorist, not a trainer. He reads our dog so well & we’re able to work on exactly what SHE needs to work on, not whatever a training schedule says we need to do. The appointments are done at our house (so the environment is familiar to our dog) and we do the majority of the work with our dog (so she learns to see us as the leader). I can’t imagine not working with Michael - besides adopting our sweet pup, the best decision we’ve made!
Kendra Pulkrabek
Michael is amazing! I love my girls more than almost anything in this world. They are both female bull terriers from the same amazing breeder, 1 year apart. Desi (brown) is 2 and Wink (white) is not quite 1. So when they started to act possessive over me and aggressive towards each other a few months ago I was a mess! They got into a huge fight causing Desi to get stitches and Winks face getting pretty mangled. After calling many "trainers" and time and time again told that it would be $1000's upon $1000's and shock collars, boot camps and non stop kenneling and being told you can never train aggression out of a dog, I had lost hope. I then called Michael and he took the time to listen to me, (and calm me down because I was a hot mess thinking the worst) he assured there was hope! It was refreshing to hear that he took a different approach and had a huge success rate with aggression, charged reasonable pricing per appointment and would come to my home because that is where the problem was. He also told me to read his reviews first so I knew what we were getting into before making the appointment. I knew then and there he was not just about taking my money and not truly helping my dogs. He came to my home and and quickly became a hero to me and my girls! What I thought was aggression, actually turned out to be a very insecure and stressed Wink and awful leadership or lack of leadership skills on my part causing her stress. The girls also have drastically different personalities. Desi is extremely stubborn and only cares about pleasing herself and Wink is very insecure and only wants to please you so the training was very different for both. Michael was with us every step of the way and tailored the training to each dog. I am happy to say that both of my girls are happier than ever, listening to me not even a grumble at each other after my sessions with Michael. He saved my family and gave me a lifelong skill set that I could never thank him enough for. If you need help with your pooch, please look no further! You cannot find a better person than Michael for your furry loved one!!! (And the dogs absolutely love him!)
Jill Brewer
We have been working with Alpha K-9 Obedience for our dog Toby who we adopted about a year ago. Toby is a very energetic dog that sometimes displays anxiety for reasons we didn't understand. Our biggest issue was that Toby barked insistently and loudly whenever he wanted something (mostly surrounding going outside), and we were unable to control these behaviors. We wanted to partner with a behaviorist and trainer that could give us the tools we needed to ease Toby's anxiety and direct his energy appropriately. We worried that working with a trainer that had aggressive compulsion tactics could worsen Toby's anxiety (he's a sensitive guy). Our experience with Alpha K-9 Obedience has been phenomenal. This program is not food based, so you aren't just bribing your dog. This program is about building respect through leadership. We noticed a change in Toby after the very first session. Toby is now more relaxed and happily listens to various commands. We've been able to utilize tools that allow us to tap into Toby's intelligence (and we found that he is INCREDIBLY smart and eager to please). He is now learning many new things, is excited to learn, and happy to have the appropriate leadership in the house. He can now sit, wait, stay, stand, back up, heel, go to bed, leave it etc. We've continued to work with Alpha K-9 Obedience because we're interested to see what else Toby can learn! We're no longer frustrated with Toby or confused by his behaviors. I would recommend Alpha K-9 Obedience to anyone who is having difficulty understanding their dog. Please consider giving Alpha K-9 Obedience a chance prior to rehoming or giving up on your dog. You'll be amazed at what your dog is capable of.
Eric Moffitt
Our experience with Michael Mandell has been fantastic. We started working with Michael when our puppy was around 10 weeks old and the results have been phenomenal. Michael is an animal behaviorist, not simply a trainer. His approach focuses on what our dog is telling us through her behaviors and what we need to do to bring out the best in our dog. People are amazed at how well behaved and obedient our dog is at such a young age. I highly recommend working with Michael.
Bethany Sigel
Michael is a wonderful trainer and very pleasant to work with. We rescued Odin - a 6 year old lab mix - who quickly showed signs of separation anxiety. He nearly ruined a crate to escape. He severely damaged two doors and he did significant damage to our truck. Michael trained us to train Odin. We can now leave Odin home alone and not worry about damage to the house. He walks well on a leash and has learned to sit and stay when told. Odin is now a happy lab and we are happy, too. We are very pleased and highly recommend Michael.
Demetri Jones
Mike is great at his craft. he helped us with our Dog Terra. We were thinking she was beyond help. She was timid and has some aggression issues. We were not sure anything would help her.She was so timid we were not sure if we could have around our granddaughters that come to our home often. With Mikes help we have our dog back and she great around kids. Thank you Mike we love your work The Jones Family Westminster
Clare Faulkner
Thank heavens that myself, my husband, and our four year old German Shepherd found our way to Michael and his incredible gift! Griffin came into our lives a few years ago and it did not take long to notice that this beautiful red and black plush coated shepherd did everything to avoid eye contact, would demonstrate necrotic behaviors and a restless pacing soul with bouts of what seemed like aggressive behavior towards other dogs and my horse. Griffin particularly took a disliking to men and would lunge with a focus on the hands of people. I couldn't feel a connection with this dog, something I have never even had to work or earn with previous fosters or family members. I hired a dog trainer and spent a year meeting weekly for "training" sessions. Although we learned some neat tricks and honed our basics, I never ever got to truly understand what made Griffin tick! I was left feeling very unsatisfied. I desperately wanted to find that magical connection with Griff but I felt no closer to bonding or earning his trust after a year of training than the day we brought him home. Then one morning working on fence my new neighbor came down to the fence-line to visit me and catch up, rather an impromptu visit but all the dogs were enjoying the sunshine by the tractor and I thought nothing of a quick visit. Griff was unmoved at the time. As my lovely neighbor walked towards me Griff suddenly triggered, hackled, and charged her and ran a tight loop around the back of her legs! That was the worst experience I could have ever imagined and absolutely unexpected and unacceptable behavior. I knew I needed someone special, someone gifted, firm but kind, someone who could teach me and help me understand what it was that was going on in Griffin's head, and most importantly how on earth I could learn to help my dog. Seeing all the same statements and promises from trainers during my Google search I was feeling completely dejected. Then later that day my husband came out to the barn with iPad in hand and sat me down to read the website of Alpha K-9 Obedience, "I've found someone" my husband said with conviction!! I spent the next few hours captivated and feeling a renewed sense of hope as I poured through Michael's website and all the incredible testimonials so many wonderful families had taken the time to share. I contacted Michael and he spent hours with me over the phone before our first session. He was responsive, set expectations clearly, and seemed to somehow have Griffin figured out within the first 5 minutes of our chat, which was remarkable! Michael came to the house with his assured, calm, kind, and no nonsense leadership abilities leading the way. After our first session Griffin was calmer and after a month of hard work and all the homework Michael had left us with that day, Griffin was a different dog! I stuck to the homework religiously, that is important to note. Michael told me that it was all up to us, myself, my husband, and Griff, and that if we did not put in the work we would be wasting everyone's time and my money. Michael is the most talented reader of energies and instinctively reads how to unlock that leadership role of human with their dog and therefore provide the tools to unlock a mutual state of respect and reverence between dog and human, myself and Griffin! It has now been 3 months, no longer does Griff avoid true connection and contact, no longer does he charge at my horse, or pace relentlessly. He has a new sense of peace and calm. He seems confident and rather than figuring it out himself, he looks to me in moments of uncertainty. That newly found and earned reverence and respect between us is the most warming, rewarding, and hopeful feeling, something that would have never been experienced or harnessed but left undiscovered by the both of us without Michael. I cannot recommend Michael enough. Thank you so much Alpha K9 Obedience and Michael for sharing your gift with us!
K Mercer
Highly recommend Michael for help with any dog training/aggression issues. Our young dog showed signs of territorial aggression at the home front door, and Michael taught us how to use consistent leadership skills with our dog to resolve this behavior, as well as helping us with overall puppy training. It is amazing to watch your dog respond to Michael's calm approach. He is a gifted animal behaviorist and works with you and your dog to not only resolve specific behavior issues but to also strengthen the bond of mutual respect between owner and dog. The time working with Michael was so rewarding; highly recommend his services.
Wendy Johnson
If you are looking for a great dog trainer, our family highly recommends Michael at Alpha K-9 Obedience. He trained our chocolate lab six years ago and we just reengaged him to train our lab puppy. He is an animal behaviorist and communicates with your dog in their own language. His training develops a leadership role for the owner where your dog not only loves you, but respects you. This leads to a lifetime of happiness for both you and your dog. Michael works with the owner to teach them how to continue to work with the dog each day so the dog continues to improve daily. All of the training is done in a safe, humane and even fun way. My dogs love Michael and get so excited when he arrives for training. We could not recommend him more!
Jack Sparks
Michael is amazing to work with. He is a behaviorist instead of a trainer and he truly reads & understands dogs. We did not have an aggression issue (though he is expert in that area) but do have a strong willed puppy and all the challenges that entails. In just a few sessions - as well as work on our part that Michael taught us - our puppy is settling in well and many of the bad habits she came with are diminishing. Most of all, Michael helps his clients build a strong and very loving relationship with their dogs. We highly recommend his services.
Holly Nichols
Michael is the best there is in the Denver Metro Area! Our dog showed signs of aggression the first night we brought him home. He is a miniature golden-doodle (adorable, right?) so we didn't pay it much attention until he finally bit a groomer and a child. At this point he was two years old with possession and aggression issues. He was well behaved 98% of the time but the two-percent of his life where he acted out was growing more and more concerning. We had hired multiple trainers and even went to a dog psychologist. We tried CBD, prescription drugs, dog psychics, changed his diet, literally everything we possibly could to curb his aggressive tendencies. Nothing worked. We were finally referred to Michael. In ONLY one session, our dog was different. He has completely changed to become a sweet, respectful dog 100% of the time. I no longer walk him and feel terrified of what might happen. He has no more anxiety and just seems really happy. I highly recommend Michael to anyone who wants a well-trained, well-behaved dog that can function and be happy in any social setting, including grooming.
Anthony Demarco
We recently rescued a large breed dog that had beenHORRIBLY mistreated since she was a puppy. Upon getting her to our home we knew she had many issues. We have tried two other dog trainers with NO success! In fact we think some of that training did actually more harm than good. In searching for a solution, we heard about Alpha K-9- and heard nothing but the HIGHEST praise. So we called Michael! I’ll tell you I never knew the difference between a “ dog trainer” and a “dog behaviorist” until I met Michael! His philosophy and approach was far different then we had experienced and we IMMEDIATELY saw positive changes in our dog! Michael not only understands these animals but he loves them and his plan is give the dogs the life they deserve and long for! It’s hard to explain in writing, but Michael connected with our dog and guided us through every step and answered every question! We are AMAZED and ECSTATIC at the change in our dog’ behavior! Any dogs we ever get in the future and every dog owner I know, I will confidently and gladly recommend calling Alpha K-9 and Michael! There’s NO comparison to his methods and his caring! 5 stars PLUS!
Jeff Baca
I have known Michael for many years. I have a dog that became dog aggressive after being attacked by 2 dogs. Within a very short period of time( we're talking a couple of months) she is able to go anywhere & be around every type of dog. I have also worked with Michael professionally. I am an animal communicator. He is the only animal behaviorist I will recommend. Do yourself and your dog a favor, and give him a call. He is worth every penny.
Susan B
Words cannot express the joy of having a well behaved dog thanks to Michael Mandell. Our dog, Murphy, a 1 yr old mix, was out of control. He definitely thought he was the alpha in the family. During walks, he would pull on his leash and go crazy with joy when he saw other dogs and people. Walks were a challenge and not very enjoyable. Murphy would jump on people. In the evening as we were settling down to watch a movie or some TV, Murphy would bark constantly in our face and want our attention. We had tried a group dog training session in Evergreen where treats were the reward for good behavior. However a group setting was not right for Murphy due to him always being in the “red zone” (overly happy, never aggressive) and he is not a food motivated dog. It was also a pain to always have to take treats on walks to coax him into heeling and behaving on leash and food based training just didn’t work for him. We decided the best approach for Murphy would be private one on one training. I took to Yelp and found excellent reviews for Michael Mandell, Alpha K-9 Obedience, a dog behavior specialist located in Evergreen, CO. We set up an initial consultation appointment at our house in Evergreen. From the minute Michael stepped into our house, Murphy knew Michael was the alpha of the pack and showed a respect to him that Murphy had never shown to us. Immediately after the first session, Murphy was a changed dog and respecting us as the alpha of the pack. Over the course of multiple sessions along with “homework” which involved us repeating the behavior exercises taught to us during the session, Michael showed us how to become the alpha of the family and change Murphy’s behavior. There were no treats involved, just respect and trust between our dog and us. Murphy became a different dog – heeling on leash, dropping toys/items out of his mouth on command, leaving items/plants alone on command (especially beneficial if you encounter a poisonous mushroom on a walk), staying in place even with distractions, coming when called, no longer barking in our face in the evenings and no longer going crazy when we meet other dogs and people on walks. We love our walks now and can go into town, walk on crowded sidewalks, eat dinner on outside patios and Murphy is so well behaved – no treats needed. The “before Michael” and “after Michael” Murphy is so different. We have a respectful and trusting relationship now with Murphy and all of our lives are better because of Michael. Thank you, Michael!
Suzanne Barger
We recently contacted Michael Mandell of Alpha K-9 Obedience as we were have some behavior problems with our dog. We quickly found out that he is so much more than a dog trainer, he is a dog behaviorist specialist. What does that mean? He understands dogs and how they need their owners to be the alpha. His methods are very different from the traditional dog trainer and the results speak for themselves. I have had dogs almost my whole life and haven't had a problem training them until now. We have a two year old Bernese Mtn dog who chased vehicles, terrified delivery people and has pulled me down a number of times while hiking. Notice I am posting in past tense! Michael came to our home and taught us how to be leaders to our dog. We had two training sessions with Michael (yes only two!!) and I am totally amazed. Our dog is no longer chasing vehicles, terrorizing delivery people, and best of all he is behaving and listening to me when we hike all of the time, not just when he wants to. I highly recommend Michael if you are having any problems with training your dog.
Amy Tepel
Michael has done a great job training my husband and I how to train our young Lab mix, Otter. Otter was starting to cross the line being aggressive playing with other dogs. I'm a dog sitter. That's not good.There were days that if Otter had been my client? I would have fired him. Michael seemed to have Otter's "number" in minutes. His personalized attention, experience and skills working with dogs and people made for a great experience. Otter is doing great. Michael has also worked with some of my clients who had similar issues. All are welcome back as guests in our home.
Courtney Winfrey
We are so grateful for the enormous help we received from Michael Mandell when he helped us train our Newfoundland puppy, Winnie. We had been searching for a compassionate trainer who could understand the needs of our puppy and help her learn how to be a civilized member of our family. But we were deeply concerned that a harsh trainer would break our sweet girl's spirit and do more damage than good. We were so relieved when we found Michael. He is so much more than just a dog trainer, he is a true animal behavior specialist, which is exactly what we were looking for. He seems to understand canines on an organic level, and his warmth and compassion for the dogs he works with is evident. He truly loves his job because he truly loves dogs. Our Winnie grew to love Michael as though he were part of our "pack," and she always wanted to please him during her sessions. If someone loves their dog and wants to live harmoniously with them, there is no need to go to extremes to train them with aggressive tactics or cruelty. A dog does not need to be "broken" or yelled at (that only frightens and confuses them) they need to be understood. We learned so much more than we expected from Michael about how our dog thinks and the role that we play in how she thinks and acts. Once we understood this, we were able to apply what Michael was teaching us, and the positive results we saw in Winnie were instantaneous. Many thanks, Michael! Courtney and Chris Winfrey
Pablo Brescia
Excellent training academy, highly recommend it.
Maureen Oja
I have two, now three year old miniature schnauzers, litter mates. Anyone having schnauzers knows that they are very intelligent and stubborn. Mine are no exception. Since they need plenty of exercise, we had taken daily walks of 3-5 miles a day. That ended when I became ill. My boy, Sisu, started acting out with inappropriate behavior from reverting on his house breaking and aggression towards men. I suspected it was because he took over as pack leader because I was vulnerable from hospitalizations and surgeries. Michael came to the rescue! With his expertise and guidance, Sisu has returned to his sweet self. With additional surgery to come, Michael and I will continue to work with him so he doesn't feel he has to return to pack leader. Michael takes a team approach. You need to invest time and effort, as well as be consistent. If you follow Michael's instructions, you and your dog will be successful. It's well worth it when you see the dramatic change in you pets behavior. Michael is Colorado's "dog whisperer."
Karen Babcock
Woodrow, my 5 year old Weimaraner would bite other dogs. 3 in one year, in fact. After the third incident, which was more of a dog fight than just a bite, I started the journey to find yet another dog trainer that could correct his behavior. After expressing my story to a local dog trainer, her advice was that there was nothing that could be done and Woodrow would need to be isolated from dogs for the rest of his life. The End. I was devastated. Really? That was it? Upon relaying this story, a friend told me about “The Colorado Dog Whisperer”. Apparently, this would be the last dog trainer I would ever need because HE could help me fix the problem. Boy, was she right. In our first conversation, we talked for an hour about Woodrow, but also about me, too. Michael was very clear that I was going to be the one that would determine Woodrow’s success. If I applied what he taught me, Woodrow would get better. I was skeptical, but also hopeful. How would this be different than any of the other dog trainers? The difference is Michael teaches you how to work with your dog to not just establish dominance in your relationship (any trainer can do that) but to create lasting, positive change in your dog’s energy. Fast forward 5 years and Woodrow never had another incident. I recently got a new Weimaraner puppy and of course, my first call was to Michael to help me train another happy, confident dog!
Geri Virtue
We contacted Michael when we had problems with our 7 year old Weimaraner Coco. She had always been very attached to my husband but after he was diagnosed with cancer, her attachment turned into an unhealthy obsession. If other dogs approached my husbands on walks she would growl and lunge at them. And then we were asked by a family member to keep their dog (Herc) for a couple months while their new house was being built. It was very stressful in our house with Coco attacking Herc regularly. And then one day when she tried to go after him, she accidently nipped my husband’s leg. That is when we knew we had to do something quickly. Michael was highly recommended by a friend whose dog had been helped by him. On the first visit to the house Michael assessed the situation and said the Coco was treating my husband as a possession. We immediately had an “aha” moment that that was exactly the situation. He said that Coco had taken on the alpha role to protect my husband but that dogs do not actually want that role and that was causing stress for her. He showed us different exercises to show Coco that she was not alpha. And that the humans in the house were. Within a few days her aggressive behavior ended and she actually started playing with Herc. On Michael’s second visit there was amazing improvement. We were hoping for that but we were actually surprised by how quickly the situation turned around. We continue to do the exercises and the atmosphere in the house is very peaceful now. We are so grateful for all the help that Michael has given us. He truly has a gift to read the energy of dogs. And mor important is the way he changed our behavior – that was key in getting Coco to change. We highly recommend Michael for any animal behavior problems you may be experiencing.
Nikki Sagliani
We had tried 6 other trainers over the past 6 years, only to learn that our dogs can be obedient, however none of the trainers were able to help us overcome the behavior issues. We heard about Michael through a friend but we put off engaging yet another trainer. It was not until we cared for a client’s dog that had been working with Michael the we changed our minds, we could not believe it was the same dog! It is hard to find words for how we feel, but what we have found through Michael has left us in awe. We have been able to overcome all of the behavioral obstacles that we have not been able to in the past. In our very first session with Michael I was brought to tears when I witnessed my husband walking our dog Riley in a heel, a struggle that has lasted 4 years! The power of what this man does is just so hard to express, especially to those that have tried so many trainers before. We will never use or refer any other trainer going forward! We can never thank Michael enough for all that he has done to change our lives, we have never felt happier, the closeness and bond that we have with our dogs is so much stronger now. He is not only an amazing trainer and behaviorist, he is a kind and caring person that has been there to support us through every step of this journey.
David Horton
In late 2016 we contacted Michael Mandell looking for someone to teach us (husband, wife and 5 kids) the things we need to do to have a happy, loving, obedient German Shepherd puppy. After browsing his website and reading the testimonials our brief phone conversation led us to believe that we had the right man. After that first conversation with Michael, he made it clear that it was going to be myself and my families actions that would determine how our puppy adjusted to life. He explained what an enormous responsibility we had in front of us and he told us he would help us every step of the way. Little did we know that making that first appointment for a private lesson that we would end up with our pup Muphy being such a wonderful part of our family. For the first appt. we had a list of questions for Michael as soon as he walked through the door. But he wanted to watch our puppy Murphy. He watched how she interacted with the family and himself. He was so impressive to watch. He most definitely knows his way around dogs. We were in awe at his ability to read Murphy (our puppy) and bond with her in such a short time. After watching him for 5 minutes with her we knew that we made a great decision having Michael help us with Murphy. During that first session, Michael made numerous suggestions after watching my family work with Murphy. He also suggested some "homework" for us to do in order to start us on the road to having a loved and well-behaved dog. I have to say it was overwhelming to feel so helpless at times. Michael made the training with Murphy looks so easy. When I tried I seemed to be back in grade school, nervous at the chalkboard. But I think that is why, in our case, he helped us so much in the first lesson. He showed us it was going to be our actions that dictated how well Murphy progressed through her training. We went on to have 4 other sessions over the past year and I can say that without a shadow of a doubt Michael is amazing. We are so happy with our Murphy's performance. She is wonderful to have around. With Michaels help, we have bonded with Murphy and in the short time we have had her she can learn so very quickly. She is in and out of her crate on command, waits to enter and exit homes, doors or vehicles. Downs on command almost anywhere. Waits to eat, the list just goes on. With almost ZERO experience training dogs we now have a German Shepherd that is the most loving obedient creature I could ever imagine. I believe this would not have been possible without help from Michael. I know that anytime I have a problem all I have to do is call Michael. Any question involving training we have had with Murphy was quickly taken care of after following Michaels advice. I am not kidding when I say after applying Michael's ideas it worked like MAGIC. To summarize I will tell you that I would most highly recommend Michael to anyone who was ready to take on the responsibility of training a dog. It takes a lot of work. I feel that Michael can show anyone the road to having a wonderful dog if they can just commit to following Michaels instructions consistently.
John Stevens
Michael, I wanted to let you know how happy we are with the results! Tibbers, as you know, is our 90-pound German Shepherd mix rescue pup who came with a strange name and a bit of an attitude. He obviously had some previous training as he responded to his name (which was the only reason we didn’t change it) but would not obey commands or perform consistently. He pretty much obeyed when he felt like it. Sure, if I had a pocket full of treats, I could get him to sit or shake, but even that wasn’t on a consistent basis. The biggest issue was he was a bit aggressive, not toward us, but toward other animals. While at doggie vacay, he would “bully the smaller dogs and had to be the first through the door every time and then would “run down” the smaller dogs. He was playing too rough and exerting his dominance to the point we were worried that he might not be allowed back in the future. We had completed both beginner and intermediate level dog training elsewhere and I always felt, while Tibbs knew what to do, I wasn’t able to get him to behave consistently, and his aggressiveness began to worry me and my wife, who was once literally pulled off her feet when he decided to chase a rabbit on one of our walks. Our sessions with you changed all of that and both of us were surprised how quickly and how well Tibbers responded to your methods. Within two sessions, he was obeying basic commands consistently and we were learning as much as he was. One of the most valuable lessons was that Tibbers generally wanted to obey, but we had to learn how to communicate with him and let him know what we wanted him to do. I must admit that I didn’t know the difference between a dog trainer and a dog behaviorist before we started with you, but I know the difference now. Trainers rely on performance and rewards while you teach and emphasize how to communicate with a dog to get the desired response. I no longer need a pocket full of treats to get him to obey or perform. He can look at me and I can immediately tell I have his full attention and he is going to do what I want him to do. What a difference! I know it will sound strange to anyone reading this, but you taught us how to communicate with our dog and now the confidence and trust level has grown with us and with him. It is hard to believe, but he and I have become much closer as a result of our sessions with you. It seems like a brand-new relationship with a man’s best friend. Now Tibbers has learned to sit and wait at the door before going out and no longer must be first through the door. The walks are pleasant and less stressful, and he is no longer the bully he once was. He even stopped mid-chase and sat down on command when chasing a rabbit! Something I simply could not believe! Please feel free to list us as a reference for your services and I will be more than happy to speak with anyone interested in our experience working with you. We are not only pleased with the results; we are believers in your methods. Thank you again for helping our dog reach his full potential and for teaching us how to achieve this result. Sincerely, Mike S.
Yelp Reviews
David H.
In late 2016 we contacted Michael Mandell looking for someone to teach us (husband, wife and 5 kids) the things we need to do to have a happy, loving, obedient German Shepherd puppy. After browsing his website and reading the testimonials our brief phone conversation led us to believe that we had the right man. After that first conversation with Michael, he made it clear that it was going to be myself and my families actions that would determine how our puppy adjusted to life. He explained what an enormous responsibility we had in front of us and he told us he would help us every step of the way. Little did we know that making that first appointment for a private lesson that we would end up with our pup Murphy being such a wonderful part of our family. For the first appt. we had a list of questions for Michael as soon as he walked through the door. But he wanted to watch our puppy Murphy. He watched how she interacted with the family and himself. He was so impressive to watch. He most definitely knows his way around dogs. We were in awe at his ability to read Murphy (our puppy) and bond with her in such a short time. After watching him for 5 minutes with her we knew that we made a great decision having Michael help us with Murphy. During that first session, Michael made numerous suggestions after watching my family work with Murphy. He also suggested some "homework" for us to do in order to start us on the road to having a loved and well-behaved dog. I have to say it was overwhelming to feel so helpless at times. Michael made the training with Murphy looks so easy. When I tried I seemed to be back in grade school, nervous at the chalkboard. But I think that is why, in our case, he helped us so much in the first lesson. He showed us it was going to be our actions that dictated how well Murphy progressed through her training. We went on to have 4 other sessions over the past year and I can say that without a shadow of a doubt Michael is amazing. We are so happy with our Murphy's performance. She is wonderful to have around. With Michaels help, we have bonded with Murphy and in the short time we have had her she can learn so very quickly. She is in and out of her crate on command, waits to enter and exit homes, doors or vehicles. Downs on command almost anywhere. Waits to eat, the list just goes on. With almost ZERO experience training dogs we now have a German Shepherd that is the most loving obedient creature I could ever imagine. I believe this would not have been possible without help from Michael. I know that anytime I have a problem all I have to do is call Michael. Any question involving training we have had with Muphy was quickly taken care of after following Michaels advice. I am not kidding when I say after applying Michael's ideas it worked like MAGIC. To summarize I will tell you that I would most highly recommend Michael to anyone who was ready to take on the responsibility of training a dog. It takes a lot of work. I feel that Michael can show anyone the road to having a wonderful dog if they can just commit to following Michaels instructions consistently. We had him in basic behavior training, which was working fine for the basic commands of sit, stay, etc. but he was still not behaving well around other people. We called Pam Baca, who has done some work for our daughter and her dog, to see if she had any recommendations and she pu us in touch with you. In just two sessions, the first of which started out very difficult with Max and you, you were able to help us learn how to manage him, take control in a non-violent way, and change Max's behavior. In fact at the end of the first session when we were attempting to have Max interact appropriatly with one of our neighbors, your instruction to me was remarkable and resulted in Max completely changing his demeanor toward others, and us, as well as his behavior. Your instuction is low-key, knowledgable, and directed at the owners rather than the dog. We were amazed at the change that has happened with Max. Besides being cute, he is much happier, more comfortable around other people and a joy to have around. Thank you for your help, and especially your professionalism and caring for both Max and us. We would highly recommend you to other dog owners to help them with making an animal a joy to have around. Bob and Robin
Jord R.
Highly recommended in Denver metro area for anyone with training needs, dominant breeds, and / or behavior issues. Michael Mandell (owner of Alpha K-9) is without a doubt one of the best dog trainers / behaviorists out there. Michael's unique approach to dog behavior and training has forever changed my relationship for the better with my 90-pound German Shepherd. In only a matter of a couple of months, his training transformed my dog from being fearful and aggressive to confident and calm. As background, my dog was a very timid and skittish puppy. I tried socialization, dog parks, and doggie daycare; but nothing seemed to make a meaningful difference. We went to multiple trainers and while we mastered the fundamentals, I just couldn't build her confidence to the point where much of her fear alleviated. After a while I accepted that this is "who she is" and I would manage around it. Fast forward to adult dog and the fear morphed into aggression around other dogs and people. She would aggressively lunge and bark at anything that was near us. This was especially challenging to manage given I weigh just a few more pounds than she does and live in the Denver metro area with a ton of other dogs and people. The quality of our lives began to erode as I felt I could not take her anywhere with new people or dogs or introduce her to family and friends. The results of Michael's training more than exceeded my expectations. I cannot tell you how much Michael has improved the quality of our lives. Today I can walk with my dog by any dog or person and she is calm, confident, and gentle on the leash which is a result of her newfound respect for me as her leader. I have even gotten several remarks for how well she is behaved. What an incredible blessing it was finding Michael after so many failed attempts at working with other trainers who simply refused to work with or gave up on my dog. I HIGHLY recommend Michael for basic training and especially for anyone with a dominant breed or a dog with aggression - you will be beyond amazed with the results!
Julie M.
Michael is excellent at what he does. He was very good at communicating with our dog. We knew our pup was smart, but when Michael gave us the tools to properly train him, we realized he's brilliant. Michael taught us skills that we will be able to use for all our dogs to come.
Sandra B.
Words cannot express the joy of having a well behaved dog thanks to Michael Mandell. Our dog, Murphy, a 1 yr old mix, was out of control. He definitely thought he was the alpha in the family. During walks, he would pull on his leash and go crazy with joy when he saw other dogs and people. Walks were a challenge and not very enjoyable. Murphy would jump on people. In the evening as we were settling down to watch a movie or some TV, Murphy would bark constantly in our face and want our attention. We had tried a group dog training session in Evergreen where treats were the reward for good behavior. However a group setting was not right for Murphy due to him always being in the "red zone" (overly happy, never aggressive) and he is not a food motivated dog. It was also a pain to always have to take treats on walks to coax him into heeling and behaving on leash and food based training just didn't work for him. We decided the best approach for Murphy would be private one on one training. I took to Yelp and found excellent reviews for Michael Mandell, Alpha K-9 Obedience, a dog behavior specialist located in Evergreen, CO. We set up an initial consultation appointment at our house in Evergreen. From the minute Michael stepped into our house, Murphy knew Michael was the alpha of the pack and showed a respect to him that Murphy had never shown to us. Immediately after the first session, Murphy was a changed dog and respecting us as the alpha of the pack. Over the course of multiple sessions along with "homework" which involved us repeating the behavior exercises taught to us during the session, Michael showed us how to become the alpha of the family and change Murphy's behavior. There were no treats involved, just respect and trust between our dog and us. Murphy became a different dog - heeling on leash, dropping toys/items out of his mouth on command, leaving items/plants alone on command (especially beneficial if you encounter a poisonous mushroom on a walk), staying in place even with distractions, coming when called, no longer barking in our face in the evenings and no longer going crazy when we meet other dogs and people on walks. We love our walks now and can go into town, walk on crowded sidewalks, eat dinner on outside patios and Murphy is so well behaved - no treats needed. The "before Michael" and "after Michael" Murphy is so different. We have a respectful and trusting relationship now with Murphy and all of our lives are better because of Michael. Thank you, Michael!
Nikki S.
Michael was referred to me by a mutual friend for behavior work with my two adopted male weims. By the time we met Michael we had invested in several different trainers and still were not seeing any results, so we were leery to spend even more money. We were so impressed with his unique and effective approach. We put in the work and with Michael's support every step of the way, we overcame every single behavior issue that we had been dealing with. Our once wild and reactive weims were now calm, happy, and well adjusted. We learned through this experience that a lot of our dogs issues were caused by what we were doing, that was hard to admit because we work with dogs for a living! We cannot thank Michael enough for his patience and time, he literally changed our lives! What we learned helped us not only with our dogs but all of our clients dogs as well!
Jennifer F.
There aren't enough wonderful things to say about Michael! I am a groomer and have referred him out to many of my clients... they all absolutely love him! His energy is So calm. He has come in the grooming shop several times and the dogs all love him as much as the humans! His knowledge of working with dogs with behavior issues is a step above anyone I have ever met. Thank you Michael for giving it your all and caring so much for our 4 legged furry friends.
KC L.
I have used Michael not only for my personal dog but for the dogs that come into my rescue. Michael has an ability to not only see the dogs individual need but MY need too! Michael has a very unique approach that sets him apart from any other trainer or Behaviorist I've worked with. He never disappoints and I'd recommend him anytime...to anyone REALLY wanting to do the work to help their dog be better!
Maureen O.
I have two, two year old miniature schnauzers, litter mates. Anyone having schnauzers knows that they are very intelligent and stubborn. Mine are no exception. Since they need plenty of exercise, we had taken daily walks of 3-5 miles. That stopped when I became ill. My boy, Sisu, started acting out with inappropriate behavior from reverting on his house breaking and aggression to strang men. I suspected it was because he took over as pack leader because I was vulnerable from hospitalizations and surgery. Michael came to the rescue! With his expertise and guidance Sisu has returned to his sweet self. With additional surgery to come, Michael and I will continue to work with him so he doesn't feel he has to return to pack leader. Michael takes a team approach. You need to invest time and effort, as well as be consistent. If you follow Michaels instructions, you and your dog will be successful. It's well worth it when you see the dramatic change in your pet. Michael is Colorado's 'dog whisperer.'
John S.
I could not be happier with the results from this company. My 90 pound German Shepherd rescue pup was a bit aggressive, not towards me or my wife, but toward other animals. While at doggie vaca, he would "bully" the smaller dogs and run them down. He was playing too rough and exerting his dominance to the point we were worried he might not be allowed back in the future. In addition, he literally pulled my wife off her feet during a walk when he decided to chase a rabbit. Our sessions with Michael changed all of that and both my wife and I were surprised how quickly and how well our dog responded to Michael's methods. Within two sessions, our dog was obeying basic commands consistently and we were learning as much as he was. What we learned was our dog generally wanted to obey, but we had to learn how to communicate with him and let him know what we wanted him to do. I must admit that I didn't know the difference between a dog trainer and a dog behaviorist before we started, but I definitely know the difference now. Trainers rely on performance and rewards while Michael teaches and emphasizes how to communicate with the dog to get the desired response. I know it will sound strange to anyone reading this, but Michael taught us how to get our dog to understand what we want him to do and now the confidence and trust level has grown with us and with him. It's hard to believe, but my dog and I have become much closer as a result of our sessions with Michael. It's like a brand new relationship with man's best friend. I can't say enough about how happy we are with results of working with Michael. This is a guy who really cares about what he does and how he does it!
K M.
Highly recommend Michael for help with any dog training/aggression issues. Our young dog showed signs of territorial aggression at the home front door, and Michael taught us how to use consistent leadership skills with our dog to resolve this behavior, as well as helping us with overall puppy training. It is amazing to watch your dog respond to Michael's calm approach. He is a gifted animal behaviorist and works with you and your dog to not only resolve specific behavior issues but to also strengthen the bond of mutual respect between owner and dog. The time working with Michael was so rewarding; highly recommend his services.
Holly N.
Michael is the best there is in the Denver Metro Area! Our dog showed signs of aggression the first night we brought him home. He is a miniature golden-doodle (adorable, right?) so we didn't pay it much attention until he finally bit a groomer and a child. At this point he was two years old with possession and aggression issues. He was well behaved 98% of the time but the two-percent of his life where he acted out was growing more and more concerning. We had hired multiple trainers and even went to a dog psychologist. We tried CBD, prescription drugs, dog psychics, changed his diet, literally everything we possibly could to curb his aggressive tendencies. Nothing worked. We were finally referred to Michael. In ONLY one session, our dog was different. He has completely changed to become a sweet, respectful dog 100% of the time. I no longer walk him and feel terrified of what might happen. He has no more anxiety and just seems really happy. I highly recommend Michael to anyone who wants a well-trained, well-behaved dog that can function and be happy in any social setting, including grooming.
Suzanne S.
We recently contacted Michael Mandell of Alpha K-9 Obedience as we were have some behavior problems with our dog. We quickly found out that he is so much more than a dog trainer, he is a dog behaviorist specialist. What does that mean? He understands dogs and how they need their owners to be the alpha. His methods are very different from the traditional dog trainer and the results speak for themselves. I have had dogs almost my whole life and haven't had a problem training them until now. We have a two year old Bernese Mtn dog who chased vehicles, terrified delivery people and has pulled me down a number of times while hiking. Notice I am posting in past tense! Michael came to our home and taught us how to be leaders to our dog. We had two training sessions with Michael (yes only two!!) and I am totally amazed. Our dog is no longer chasing vehicles, terrorizing delivery people, and best of all he is behaving and listening to me when we hike all of the time, not just when he wants to. I highly recommend Michael if you are having any problems with training your dog.
Eric G.
We have a Weimaraner that we got as a rescue who was loving but did his own thing, frequently blowing us off. After working with Michael, we discovered that dogs operated in a pack mindset. In a pack there is an alpha. He worked with us mostly and the dog to help us establish ourselves as alpha causing the dog to look to us for instruction and to fulfill his desire to please us instead of stressing out, trying to take the alpha leadership role. This brought about a calmer, obedient dog. Michael is really good to work with. He's professional, cares very much for the dogs insomuch as his approach to training them and has a great attitude-enjoyable to be around. I cannot imagine him not being able to help even the most difficult, seemingly "dumb" dogs unless the owners don't follow through with assignments and maintain consistency.
Jeannie M.
We have been working with Michael Mandell / Alpha K-9 Obedience since our Weimaraner puppy was 8 weeks old. She has just turned a year old. Her breed is high energy and smart and loving, and Michael has guided us through all phases with her. He has shown us how to be strong with her, and yet gentle. He never raises his voice when he corrects her and is lavish with praise when she does it right. He is a marvel to watch as he interacts with a dog and teaches them. Every session we work on something new, unless we say we need more time on a problem we're having. His whole priority is teaching us and our dog together. Michael always shows up on schedule and is available for phone consultation in between visits. We can't say enough about him as both a trainer and a person!
Karen B.
I contacted Michael to work with my dog who was displaying aggressive behaviors toward other dogs. He had gotten into two fights with other dogs and I was concerned I wasn't going to be able to improve the behavior, especially since other trainers told me it didn't seem likely there was much I could do. Michael's calm energy and approach made all the difference for my dog. We did an initial phone conversation and I had to complete a questionnaire about my dog's behavior and medical history. All of Michael's work was in and around our home, ensuring practical application of the strategies we were working with. Today, he is a happy dog that plays with his friends and ignores other dogs behaving aggressively toward him! I couldn't be happier with the life long lessons I learned from him.
Client
I have known Michael since 2005. I am also a professional animal communicator. Michael is the only trainer/behaviorist I will refer clients to. Sometimes you can talk to an animal & get them to change their behavior & sometimes you just need training. I have gotten nothing but positive feedback from my clients on how he has helped them. I also have used his services when my dog got attacked by two dogs. She went from being friendly around everyone to dog aggressive. Michael worked with us both & now I can & do take her everywhere with me. If you are willing to listen to what he says & apply it, you will have a dog you can be proud of. I really cannot recommend him enough. See for yourself. You won't be sorry!
Client
Best Behaviorist Out There! I have worked with Michael personally & professionally for years. I am a professional animal communicator(recently retired) & he is the only trainer/behaviorist I have ever recommended. I have been referring clients to him for since 2005 & have received nothing but great feedback. I also have used him when my own dog became animal aggressive due to two dogs attacking her. I worked with Michael & he taught me how to work with my dog to help her overcome her fear aggression. I went from not being able to have my dog around other dogs to taking her to a dog park & having her calmly be around other dogs & not be reactive. If you are willing to listen to him & follow his guidance you will have an animal you can be proud to take anywhere.