Testimonials

I first found Sarah and Ralf when I was searching for any type of service dog programs or trainers. I quickly decided that a program dog wouldn’t be the best for me, because they wouldn’t be trained for the specific tasks that would be helpful for me, not to mention the long wait times and that most programs “pre-match” you to a dog that might not be the type you envisioned for your team.

I then started to look for trainers that would work with me to select and train a puppy. Sarah and Ralf were the only ones that I spoke to that provided a full service. They would find a breeder and temperament test puppies. While this could be a long process, I was lucky that the perfect puppy was available shortly thereafter.

My service dog lived virtually full time with Sarah and Ralf until he was 2.5 years old. They trained him perfectly in everything from basic obedience to his task work. He was also exposed to a wide variety of situations and potential triggers ranging from doctor’s offices to small dogs. One of the unique aspects of this program is that I was able to actively participate in my dog’s training. I would visit Sarah and Ralf for training sessions and public access sessions and I got to take my service dog home every so often for bonding and making sure that the flawless behavior he was demonstrating for Sarah and Ralf translated to my home. They truly loved my dog and sent me regular updates on his progress and were always available for calls/questions.

As a handler herself, Sarah is particularly empathetic to how vulnerable the process of receiving a service dog can be. Ralf does a great job of explaining not just what to do with your dog, but also why doing so is in line with dog’s natural instincts.

A service dog isn’t for everyone, which Sarah and Ralf also recognize. However, if it is determined that one is right for you, you can’t find a better place to work with than Total K9 Focus.

Kelsey Ann, California (read on Google)

I received my service dog, Harrison, from a program in December 2016. He has been a great dog from the start, but I felt that the program released him too young (he was only 1) and he was not fully ready to start working. I, also, was not trained enough on what to expect and do having a large service dog (I’d only had small dogs) and how much work it would require of me to keep up his skills. Along with that, I was living away from my family for medical treatment and was being frequently hospitalized — all leading to Harrison losing a great deal of his training in only a few years. When my treatment ended and I returned to my family, I was still using Harrison in public, but he was barely, if at all, meeting service dog task criteria and had some behavior problems. So I was referred to Sarah and Ralf who really saved the day. Harrison went back into training, this time boarding with Sarah and Ralf to be retrained. Because Harrison was already 5 and having a few health troubles, we chose one task to retrain and of course lots of retraining for behaviors and manners. Harrison has always made a life-saving difference in my life, and the training he completed in their program renewed his ability to help me completely. He now behaves excellently in public, reliably completes his task on command, and makes me proud, and healthier, every day. He is really a different dog than before they retrained him and my partnership with him now is truly amazing! I would still be a very ill person without the assistance of Harrison and I will be forever grateful to Sarah and Ralf for the kindness they showed us, and the excellent teaching they provided.

Elizabeth Anderson, California (read on Google)

If you are considering collaborating with a dog trainer for a service dog, there is no better than Sarah Gill. For years, I have had the goal of getting a service dog to assist me with medical alerts and mobility assistance. Due to my hectic college and work schedule, owner-training was not an option. I needed an expert. Training programs with pre-trained service dogs didn’t sound appealing either. After all, I am unique and so are my needs. I need a dog trained to fit my specific needs. After months of researching service dog trainers (a specific specialty that not many dog trainers are capable of), a dog trainer friend of mine recommended Sarah Gill. As a person who has had her share of health issues, Sarah understood what my needs were. Together, we traveled hundreds of miles to find the perfect dog, Cinder. Through the process, she was always available for any questions I had. During about a year of training, she visited my office, and my school, and met my other dog children to help see the specific environments in that Cinder would be working in most often. She loves my baby like her own, and she trains dogs like she would train her own service dog- with patience, love, and strength. I cannot say enough good things. Sarah also is not shy about advocating for my needs even when I am scared to! Having a service dog means navigating other human’s ignorance with the right attitude. Through her tireless work and our public outings, we worked together to get both Cinder AND myself ready for being a service dog/handler team. Any questions on how great Sarah is? Text me. Please. I cannot say enough good things.

Ashley Guidry, Master's Student, Communication Studies

Sarah recently devoted many, many hours of her time helping us with an animal aggressive bite dog. I cannot thank her enough for all the hours of free training time she committed in helping us guide, manage and train. I will ever be indebted to her for all the tips and tools that were provided. I love you, Sarah, and wish you great success as you continue to move forward. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will be sending people your way and will use you someday when I adopt again!

Lisa Thorne Brazell, Auditor for Office of Compliance