Looking for a way to build a better relationship with your dog? Look no further than Big Sky K9! We are a dog training company based in Bozeman, Montana, but work with dogs and owners from all across the state including Billings, Missoula, Helena and everywhere in between. Our expert dog trainers are ready to help you and your pup achieve new levels of happiness, confidence, and obedience. Whether you’re looking for basic obedience training, behavior modification, or puppy training, we’ve got you covered!
At Big Sky K9, we believe that training YOU, the owner, is just as important as training your dog. That’s why we focus on helping you learn how to better communicate with and understand your canine companion. Our team is dedicated to providing the best care and training experience possible for you and your furry friend.
No matter the breed, age, or issue, our customized training programs are designed to meet your unique needs. So whether you’re dealing with reactive, anxious, or aggressive behavior, or simply looking for reliable off-leash obedience, Big Sky K9 can help your dog reach its full potential!
Are you interested in having your dog trained by Big Sky K9? Our team would love to help! If you would like to learn more about our dog training programs or have any questions, complete the form below and one of our dog trainers will reach out.
Big Sky K9 trainers have experience working with many different types of dogs. Our Bozeman-based training programs are tailored to your dog’s interests and motivation. We focus on building a bond with your dog and teach YOU how to do the same. We’ll teach your dog to learn, and we’ll teach you how to train and communicate with your dog. Our dog training programs are designed to create something you can do every day and enjoy doing! Whether you are located in Bozeman, or coming from Helena, Missoula, Billings, or somewhere in between, we have a training program for you and your dog.
This is an immersive style dog training program that is great for clients looking for fast and consistent results.
Dogs require exposure during training in order to build consistency and reliability with their obedience. We find this to be one of the biggest challenges when trying to do everything yourself at home. With our board & train program, your dog will benefit from training in a home environment as well as public and realistic environments. We aim to develop a dog who is obedient and confident and whose training can translate to anyone, anywhere.
At the end of the Board & Train program, your dog will have learned better social skills towards people, dogs, and their environment. You will see improvements in your dog’s specific issues and overall obedience. Before your dog goes home, you will receive a private training session to ensure you, as the owner, leave with the proper tools and knowledge to set your dog up for success.
Be involved in your dog’s training! We offer basic and advanced obedience training.
If you are interested in being involved in the training process, this is the program option for you.
Our private lessons consist of you working one-on-one with a trainer at our facility in a series of training sessions that will show you how to understand and train your dog. We teach you how to correct unwanted or unsafe behaviors and reward the great ones.
We offer basic and advanced obedience training.
Training programs specifically designed to target aggression, reactivity, and/or anxiety.
We offer both Board & Train Programs and Private Lessons focusing on behavior modification.
Our trainers are experienced with helping even the most challenging behavioral problems, including reactivity, anxiety, and aggression.
We will help you set the foundation for success and teach you how to implement these skills to manage your dog’s behavior and start desensitizing them to their triggers.
Early training is an important part of developing a confident and obedient dog.
Training begins the moment you bring your new dog home. Our puppy programs are designed to start your puppy off on the right paw!
These program helps to establish basic obedience, socialization, and communication. We will teach you how to implement structure to encourage consistent behavior and prevent unwanted behaviors.
These programs are for puppies over 10 weeks and under 5 months old. If your dog is over 5 months of age, see our standard programs (Board & Trains, Private Lessons).
We can evaluate, train, and certify your dog to become a therapy dog or AKC Canine Good Citizen!
Is your goal to have your dog become a therapy dog or a Canine Good Citizen?
These programs are designed to prepare you and your dog for their therapy certification test or CGC test.
Following the completion of this program, we can evaluate and certify you and your dog through The Alliance of Therapy Dogs (Therapy Dog Program) or the American Kennel Club (CGC Program).
Has your dog mastered their obedience? We offer a variety of continued training programs.
Our speciality programs are designed to take you and your dog’s relationship and skills to the next level! Once your do has completed either our Private Lessons or Board & Train Program, they are eligible to participate in one of these programs.
We offer a variety to options including scent work and trick training so you can find what best suits you and your dogs interest. Not sure what program will be best, we can help point you in the right direction after getting to know your dog better!
Our passion for helping Montana dogs and their owners began five years ago when we found ourselves with a reactive rescue dog. Like many owners, we struggled to enjoy activities and found ourselves always nervous about potential reactions. We decided to learn as much as we could about dog training and behavior so we could help our dog and later were offered an opportunity to apply the skills professionally.
Sara’s love for dogs began at an early age. Prior to training professionally in Bozeman, she spent several years working in a veterinary office, at a boarding & daycare facility before becoming a lifestyle and fitness coach. Sam also had a background in training, having worked previously as a strength coach. Coaching allowed us both to develop communication skills and teaching styles that have enabled us to effectively teach people of all ages and walks of life. We are passionate about helping you better understand your dog’s behavior and needs in a way that is easy to understand!
We have had the unique opportunity of always working as a team. With over ten years of cumulative experience, we have worked with a large variety of behavioral issues and breeds. Sara enjoys working with all dogs, but she has a soft spot for herding breeds. Her favorite part of training is helping dogs build enthusiasm and a love for working, while also showing their owners how to have fun with their dog’s training. Sam particularly enjoys behavioral and aggression cases and being able to help these dogs and their owners find confidence and clarity in their surroundings. We can’t wait to meet you and your dog and to continue helping dogs and their owners from across Montana!
Scott’s passion for dog training began when he had the opportunity to become a K9 handler in law enforcement. During his training and time working with his K9 in the department, he grew to love the aspect of training and the relationship he formed with his working dog. He now enjoys teaching owners how to build a better relationship with their dog through training.
See what other montana dog owners have to say about their expereince
We understand that every dog has a unique personality and learning style, and are committed to providing customized training programs for dog. Our aim is to facilitate the learning process for your furry friend, using tools and techniques that are best suited to their specific needs. We will work collaboratively with you to identify these needs and select tools that can help your dog thrive. Additionally, we will offer guidance on how to effectively use these tools to ensure long-term success. Our ultimate goal is to help your pup grow, learn, and reach their full potential.
Yes! Our programs are designed to build reliable obedience, both on and off-leash.
An “e-collar” is a training tool that uses the same technology as a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulate (TENS) device. You may have used one of these devices if you have been to physical therapy or a chiropractor. While these collars look similar to a classic shock collar, the e-collar is NOT a shock collar and is applied in training very differently.
The e-collar is used as a communication device in training, just like the leash. We like to think of it as a Bluetooth leash! The handler has a remote that controls when the collar outputs a subtle electrical pulse between two contact points located on the collar. The stimulation sensation can be described as a “tickle” and is taught to mean the same as a tug on the leash or a tap on the shoulder. This tool is intended to get your dog’s attention, not as a punishment. Dogs love their e-collar just like they do their leash!
We train with the Mini Educator from E-Collar Technologies.
Our trainers are located in Bozeman, Montana. Dogs in our Board & Train Program stay in-home with their trainer. This helps to make the transition back home for your pup as seamless as possible! During the Board & Train Program, your dog will train in various public environments, including parks, towns, stores, etc. We aim to build as much consistency and exposure as possible when they are with us so that you can jump right into adventures with your pup once they are home!
Private Lessons are conducted at our facility, located in downtown Belgrade. If appropriate, once your dog has completed their basic obedience lessons, we can also meet you in other environments in the Bozeman area so you can continue to learn how to apply the skills your dog has learned.
We offer programs for dogs of all ages. Our standard programs start at five months, but we also offer various program options for dogs as young as ten weeks.
Yes! We work with any breed, any age, and any issue. We specialize in working with the most challenging dogs and those still struggling, even after trying other training methods. If you are struggling with your dog’s behavior, please don’t give up; we can help!
We’re happy to answer them! contact us and we will be in touch
