Testimonials & Reviews

Raina - 1 Year Old Rottweiler/Hound Mix - Owned by Jenna M.

I’ve waited two weeks to post this review because I was too in awe of my dog’s progress with The Canine Mind. I enrolled my 1-year-old hound mix, Raina, in the two-week board and train program. And I’m telling you that this team is literally a group of doggie cognitive psychologists — and this is coming from a human cognitive psychologist. In two weeks, my dog received a level of training that I probably couldn’t have achieved in my lifetime (let alone two weeks). She is excellent off leash now, generally more responsive, and better at overall manners (no longer jumping on visitors in my house, for example). If I were to chat with younger me, I would have totally enrolled my first dog in this type of program. This foundation is essential for having a good quality of life with your dog. It still takes a lot of learning + work on the human side, but I’d say this program was absolutely worth every dollar. My dog is better in every aspect of behavior, despite maintaining the fundamental personality traits that make her who she is. THANK YOU!

Bucky - 3 Year Old German Shepherd/Blue Heeler - Extreme Dog Reactivity

Wow—where to begin. We’ve been working with The Canine Mind since March 2024, and I can say without hesitation that they are the best dog trainers in Utah.

Regardless of your dog’s needs, they’ll teach you how to build a respectful, rewarding relationship with your dog. Whatever you put in, you get back tenfold! We’re endlessly grateful to Alex, Steven, Persephone, and the whole team for everything they’ve given us and our dog, Bucky.

We rescued Bucky (a German Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix) when he was 7 months old. He was sick, and as first-time dog owners, we missed out on key opportunities to guide him during the critical early months. As he got older, he began showing signs of reactivity. We tried multiple training groups around Salt Lake, but nothing clicked—they didn’t offer what we needed, and honestly, it felt like a waste of time and money.

Things got worse. We tried every training method: prong collars, e-collars, clickers, and positive reinforcement. But Bucky grew increasingly aggressive toward other dogs, didn’t respect us, and made walks and outings miserable. We couldn’t give him—or—ourselves the life we wanted, and we were heartbroken.

So we got serious. We searched specifically for a trainer who understood aggression, reactivity, and high-drive breeds. We vetted everyone in the Salt Lake Valley. Then we met Alex. From our very first (free!) consultation, we were struck by his calm, confident presence—and his deep experience with dogs like Bucky. We signed up for The Perfect Pet Package right away.

It wasn’t easy or fast. Bucky is incredibly intelligent, sensitive, and strong-willed. But we committed. We met in our home, out in public, and at their facility in Millcreek. There were tough days and setbacks, but we stuck with it. We did our homework. We worked through frustration. And little by little, we started to see a shift—not just in Bucky, but in ourselves.

Because the real secret? We were the ones being trained. And that’s what makes The Canine Mind special. Alex helped us truly understand our dog—his genetics, his instincts, his behavior—and gave us the tools to communicate clearly, confidently, and calmly. That changed EVERYTHING.

After completing our 1:1 sessions, we moved into their unlimited Group Classes (an incredible value). These classes were a whole new challenge for Bucky, who struggles being around other dogs—but Alex and the team adapted each session to support us. They never made us feel like we didn’t belong, and made sure we found wins in every class.

One of the biggest milestones came when we felt comfortable leaving Bucky for boarding. The team treated him like their own and continued his training while we were away. That peace of mind was priceless.

Bucky still isn’t a “park” dog, and that’s okay. With Alex’s guidance, we finally understood that forcing socialization wasn’t fair to him. He’s calm, well-behaved, and happiest with his people—and now, we don’t feel guilty about honoring that.

Today, our walks are the best part of my day. I genuinely enjoy spending time with my sweet, responsive dog. We get compliments everywhere we go, and we will never stop recommending The Canine Mind to anyone who wants to transform their relationship with their dog.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for changing all of our lives.

Indy - 1.5 Year old Bernedoodle - Extreme Dog and People Reactivity

I can’t thank Steven and The Canine Mind enough! I used to have an extremely reactive dog to people and dogs. After only 4 lessons, I already have a much calmer dog!

She is doing so much better with people and has gained more confidence. We still have work to do around dogs but I have noticed such big improvements!!

My fiancé and I had our doubts but I am so happy we decided to go through with training. I have cried happy tears with how much my pup has improved.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
- Hannah, Tanner + Indy

Enzo - 7 Month Old Mini Schnauzer - Owned by Bailey R.

I cannot say enough good things about The Canine Mind. Alex, Steven and Persephone are seriously amazing. We were recommended by a friend to start puppy training class with them, and after our first class we knew that it was 100% worth the money. Our dog was super, super shy at first and then pretty much became a whole new dog by the time he was 6 months old. It was really fun to see how puppy class helped him not only with basic commands, but with socialization and confidence.
Yesterday we picked our puppy up from his 2 week board and train with them. Steven did his turnover lesson with us and answered allll of our questions. The board and train was amazing, and seriously some of the best money we’ve ever spent. We were a bit nervous to drop our puppy off, but we had full confidence in the Canine Mind staff. Plus, they send update videos every single day which was awesome. My husband and I have decided that we’d never get another dog without the Canine Mind’s help 😂 I could not recommend them enough!!!