Pet Boarding Training near Gilroy

“We’ve been with Akina K9 for over a year now and wanted to take the time to thoughtfully share our experience with Rich and his team.

Before meeting Akina K9, I thought I understood what it meant to be a dog owner. I loved my dogs deeply, but when it came to training, my knowledge was limited to the basics: sit, down, go home, and come. There wasn’t much structure or true obedience. Looking back at our two dogs of 10 years, I now realize I could have given them an even better quality of life—if only I had understood what real training meant.

Fast forward five years, we decided to bring a larger breed into our family. This time, we agreed that proper training would not only make our lives easier but also give our dog the best life possible.

Throughout our journey, Rich has been incredibly supportive—always available whenever we needed guidance. He’s patient, understanding, and knows exactly when to step in and help redirect us when we’re struggling.

Now, more than a year later, we’re still training with Akina K9—and plan to continue. The transformation in our household has been amazing. Our dog is thriving, confident, and his recall improves every single day.

We can’t thank Rich and Akina K9 enough for the positive impact they’ve made in our lives. If you’re looking for real, lasting results and a stronger bond with your dog, this is the team you want by your side.“

“I am so glad I found a trustworthy boarding facility that puts your dogs first! The booking process starts with an email that spells out what is included in the service plus a questionnaire so they can better understand the needs of your dog. Suzana provides you with all the details you need and if you have questions she gets back to you quickly. A contract and invoice is provided via email and then drop off and pick up times are set. They are by appointment so no drop ins but having a booked time makes sure you get individual attention at drop off and pickup. The boarding facility can accommodate any type of dog you have. Plenty of parking. They accept all major credit cards and offer payment plans. The staff and owners are great and some of the best customer service around. The focus is on what is best for the dogs and that is what matters most. It is a small operation and small team so I recommend booking as early as possible to confirm your stay. You can reach them by email, text or leave a voicemail if you call. I always recommend my friends, family and clients to them!“

“We’ve been working with Tessa at Dogs with Ties for about 8 months and have seen remarkable changes in our dog Mika. Mika is an energetic rescue dog, who was anxious around other dogs, would drag us by the leash, and was unable to pay attention to us whenever anything else was more interesting (which meant whenever we were out of the house!)Tessa helped us form a stronger connection so that Mika looks to us for cues on what to do, and this has helped alleviate her anxiety and reactivity. I appreciate that Tessa respects our preferences about which tools and techniques to use, and always helps us find solutions that work for us. Mika’s leash walking and recall have improved immensely, and training (which used to be frustrating) has become more fun and playful. Amazingly, she’s now able to calmly rest in a down stay around other dogs, so we can enjoy taking her out in many more situations.We have used Tessa for private training, drop-in care and long-term house & dog sitting. I trust and recommend her!“

“The property is clean and well kept. It is fenced and secure for our poochies! Good parking area. The agility lawn is very manicured. The designated potty areas are also very well kept and clean. We had a great fun match event, and the crew had it very well organized and fun for the attendees! Thanks MHDS!!!“