About Heart Mountain K9 Billings

Training across many disciplines

Heart Mountain K9 is a dog training center in Billings offering pet obedience, behavior modification, detection, protection and dog sports. It says it has worked "since 2016" and credits itself with over 10 years in business and hundreds of dogs of various breeds trained. Its method combines modern reinforcement behavioral science with what it calls a balanced, inclusive approach, summed up in a line from trainer Michael Thomas: "Training is less about teaching, and more about creating opportunities to learn."

Programs and classes

Formats include private lessons, monthly group classes, board and train, day training and puppy training. Group classes cover Basic Obedience, taught by a Canine Good Citizen evaluator so graduates can earn the CGC title; an ongoing Puppy Kindergarten for pups up to 5 months; Advanced Obedience, which introduces electronic collars; Intro Detection Dog Trials classes taught by a DDT judge and evaluator; an Advanced DDT club; and Bite Nite for bite development and scenario work at $85 a night. Behavior modification addresses reactivity, anxiety and aggression, and protection work focuses on bite development and decoy work.

What owners say

One client wrote that a dog-aggressive Frenchie "is like a whole new dog" after training.

What to ask

Ask about pricing for board and train, private lessons and monthly classes.