Maligator Kennels

I cannot recommend Maligator Kennels highly enough. Their depth of knowledge in canine behavior and psychology is truly exceptional. I first sought their help nearly a decade ago for my German Shepherd, who had begun showing signs of aggression toward other dogs. Russ not only provided effective strategies to correct the behavior, but also helped me understand the underlying causes. His ability to communicate both the how and the why behind the training made a lasting impact. What stood out most was his compassion—not just for my dog, but for me as an owner navigating a difficult and emotional situation. Thanks to his guidance, we not only resolved the behavioral issues, but also progressed through obedience training, ultimately achieving off-leash reliability. My experience with Russ and Maligator Kennels was outstanding—truly a 10/10. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone seeking knowledgeable, compassionate, and results-driven training. 10/10 would recommend to everyone with a dog!

We started with Maligator Kennels after a terrible vet appointment where my 1 year old dog Riot wouldn’t let the vet examine her. She was also barking, growling, and lunging at other dogs in the waiting room. The vet told me if she was his dog he would spank her on the butt and be a lot more bossy than I am. I called Russ shortly after that appointment, of course he disagreed with what the vet said and after explaining our situation he and I both agreed that Riot wasn’t aggressive but had impulse control issues and needed to learn proper behavior around other dogs. We started behavior modification classes and after one lesson we saw major improvements! She was able to walk next to another dog without blowing up! Fast forward to now, we just finished her last behavioral class and for her last session she was able to play with 4 other dogs without any issues. She’s now to the point where she’s completely manageable around other dogs. We’re going to be starting group classes with Maligator as soon as their next group dates drop to continue building her impulse control and strengthening our bond. Thanks Russ and team! Because of you guys Riot is out living her best life.

I can’t recommend Maligator Kennels enough. We initially only sought out Kristine to learn how to get our dog to be trusted off leash. We signed up for the ecollar course. Within one session with Kristine, our dog had improved recall. By our third session, we were talking about services our dog could provide. By the end of our five sessions, our dog was actively performing services, trusted off leash, and we had the utmost confidence in asking her to do things and taking her places. Our time with Kristine and Maligator Kennels was worth every penny, far exceeded our initial wishes or any expectation we had going in, and I wish we’d done it 2 years earlier.