About Magic Mountain K9 Training

Magic Mountain K9 Training works out of Rixeyville in Culpeper County and sums itself up in its own tagline as one-on-one training. The business publishes its address, phone, email and hours of "M-S 8:00-8:00".

What they train

The stated focus is narrow and clear: "At Magic Mountain K9 our specialty is family dog obedience and behavior modification." The site menu carries Behavior Modification, Obedience Training and a Baby Dog section. Beyond that core, the business lists "professional canine temperament assessments and rehabilitation programs for rescue dogs", help choosing a prospect "be it a rescue or a well-bred purebred dog from a preservationist breeder", and, at the Rixeyville location, "conformation handling seminars, swimming lessons for dogs, carting lessons and nosework classes, in addition to our obedience and behavior modification courses".

How they work

Every session includes the owner: the business caters "to those who want to participate in every aspect of their dog's training", and "all our sessions are customized to each dog-owner team and their families, using balanced training methods". There is one explicit exclusion worth knowing before calling: "We do not do board-and-trains." The stated philosophy rests on the dog-owner bond – "At Magic Mountain K9, this bond is our magic wand!" – and on tailoring, "always tailoring to each and every individual dog-owner pair, their lifestyle and their environment".

Who runs it

The owner is named and her history is published: "Stella L. Matheos has been a K9 Behavior Specialist and family-dog trainer in Germany, Greece and the US, since 1996. She has trained over 1000 dogs in protection, conformation and obedience, produced in-person seminars and been a member of 11 rescue organizations." The site also notes that "Stella is the partner of a 6 year old AKC champion and elite level detection dog, a Giant Schnauzer named Kouros."

What to ask

Ask about certifications, prices, class schedules and program lengths. Contact is by text on the published number.