About Castillo’s K9 – Dog Training

About Castillo's K9

Castillo's K9 Dog Training publishes the line "Teaching Humans. Training Dogs. Growing Together." and

is owned by Gil Castillo, on 231-245-7151 and train@castillosk9.com. "We provide training for all types

of dogs. Big or small, we train them all."

Gil Castillo

"I've loved dogs from a young age and quickly became fascinated by how they learn, as well as the

loyalty and respect they show their owners. My passion for dogs and especially training them grew even

stronger while working with military working dogs in the United States Air Force. After that

experience, I eventually got a dog of my own, and that's when I truly realized my passion was helping

strengthen the connection between dogs and their people." The dog is named: "Through intentional

training, I was able to watch my relationship and bond with Jax, my German Shepherd, grow tremendously."

How the business charges

This is the unusual part and the site states it twice. "We offer private training sessions tailored

specifically to your dog, your goals, and your lifestyle. At Castillo's K9, we do not believe dog

training is 'one size fits all,' which is why we don't sell preset training packages. Instead, we offer

a flexible pay-as-you-go approach, meaning you only pay after each completed session — never upfront."

A free assessment is published: "Contact Castillo's K9 today for a FREE evaluation".

What is trained

The published list is: **Reactivity**, **Protection**, **Obedience**, **Socialization**, **Relationship

Building**, **Behavior Modification** and **Aggression/Fear/Anxiety**.

Three skills are then explained in the site's own words:

– **Loose Leash / Heel** — "Teaching your dog to understand leash pressure is a key part of preventing

pulling and leash reactivity. A strong heel command also helps create focus, structure, and better

engagement during walks."

– **Door Darting** — "Dogs often jump out of cars out of excitement, and while it may seem harmless, it

can quickly become dangerous in public settings or even life-threatening. Teaching your dog to wait

patiently before exiting a vehicle is a simple skill that can truly save their life."

– **Sit / Down** — "Varying your sit and down commands helps keep training engaging and prevents your

dog from simply anticipating patterns."

Approach

"Our goal is to provide a positive, insightful training experience for both dogs and their handlers by

helping owners build clear communication through rewards and reinforcement tailored to their individual

dog. After all, behavior that is rewarded is repeated." And: "We take an individualized approach to

training rather than following one strict method or 'cookie-cutter' system."

Service area

"Training all of West Michigan including Ottawa, Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Mason County!"