About Cross Rifle K9

Who runs it

Cross Rifle K9 was founded by Stephen Gowing, whose published background is "service in the United States Marine Corps as a Military Police Officer and Military Working Dog Handler," including high-level protective assignments, followed by federal law enforcement "as a K9 handler and instructor with the FBI." The business describes itself as a small, family-owned business and runs under the line "Training With Integrity".

That background is a credential rather than a service list: nothing on the site offers protection, detection or police-style work to the public.

The program

There is essentially one training product, and it is described in full. The 3 Week Customized Board & Train covers sit, down, place, loose leash walking, recall, door manners, basic impulse control, structured socialization and daily routine integration. It includes daily hands-on training, boarding during the program, a go-home transfer lesson and follow-up support. Pricing is published as "Starting at $3,500", with a remote e-collar and place board listed as additions.

The customization is the pitch: the site gives examples of what it trains toward — family home structure, busy household manners, walking in public, crate routine, calm behavior around guests — rather than a fixed command set delivered identically to every dog.

Separately, an Adventure Day runs at $75 per trip and includes home pickup and drop-off, visits to parks and scenic locations, hiking, exposure to new environments and reinforcement of obedience skills through the day.

Terms worth reading first

Cross Rifle K9 publishes its refund policy in full and it is strict: once a dog has been dropped off for training and the program has begun, "no refunds will be issued for any reason", including early removal, changed personal circumstances or owner dissatisfaction. Deposits may be non-refundable per the signed service agreement. The same page states plainly that no specific behavioral outcome or guarantee can be made, since results depend on the dog's temperament, health, genetics and environment and on the owner maintaining the training afterward. That is more candid than most, and it is worth reading before you book.

What to ask

Ask for a street address if you need one, who trains besides the founder, and what boarding costs on its own.