About Balanced K9 Training

Who runs it

The site's own title line reads "Balanced K9 Training | with sole proprietor and trainer, Josh Spice." The about page is written in the first person: "My name is Josh Spice. I have had a passion for dogs since childhood and always had one growing up. As an adult, I've had five of my own dogs." It tells the story the site credits with turning him toward training – a deaf Mastiff the family renamed Bull, who "came into our home with social and behavioral issues." The page describes working that problem: "After about a week, I realized that I needed a tool to communicate with Bull. I began using an E-Collar on vibration. I would vibrate the collar to draw his attention to my face and then reward him with a treat. Within a day or two, he was walking around making eye contact with the whole family."

The specialty the site leads with

Hearing-impaired dogs are the first thing the home page raises: "perhaps you are looking for a certified trainer that has experience working with hearing-impaired dogs. If so, I can help!" It is listed again as a service heading – "Hearing Impaired Dogs: I have experience training hearing impaired canines" – and the method is named as "vibration training for hearing-impaired dogs." Ask which body issued the certification.

What you can book, and what it costs

Four offerings are published on the home page, two of them with prices printed on the page.

– **Home Obedience Training** – "From the basics to more advanced directives, we will cater to your needs. Packages are $ 75 per hour and sold in 6 hour increments."

– **Board and Training** – "$725 per week 2-week minimum All training equipment goes home with dog owners!"

– **Personal Puppy Training** – "Personal Puppy Training focuses on puppies 10 weeks up to 9 months… I will not only help train your puppy but most importantly I will teach you about your K9's behavior and body language. Creating a balanced puppy now will help prevent you from needing a behavior modification program in the future." The page contrasts it with big-box classes: "Unlike box store training, you have your own personal trainer for you and your puppy every session."

– **Behavior Modification** – listed against "Jumping on guests, Mild aggression toward other dogs, Leash tugging, pulling and basically choking themselves to the point of passing out."

What owners say

The home page publishes several signed testimonials. Lindsay Paul writes that "Our Doberman would not move on a leash and within an hour Josh had him walking great." Melissa Thompson Luedke writes about two young labs: "He was quick to identify what areas each needed work on and how to best address based on their own specific personalities. He had both walking beautifully on a leash the first day!" Holly Mader describes in-home work with a Shiba Inu and a labradoodle: "Josh worked with us in our home to explore what may be causing the behavioral problems with our Shiba… We were given specific things to work on after each session."

Before you book

Ask whether the trainer holds a certification, how long board and train sessions run and what a week of it includes.