Best trainer hands down! As a European Doberman breeder, I am very particular about who I trust with my dogs, and Atlantic Coast K9 training has exceeded every expectation. Their compassion, deep knowledge, and commitment to the wellbeing of the animal are unmatched. 

What makes them truly stand out is that they are always looking for the why behind a dog’s behavior, not just correcting it. They are always available to give advice, provide guidance, and go above and beyond to ensure each dog reaches its full potential. I am truly grateful for the love, care, and dedication they bring to their work. I highly recommend Ralph Smith to anyone looking for a trainer who understands not just obedience, but the true needs and temperament of the dog.

SL
Designer / Uber

I would recommend Ralph for dog obedience training! We recently completed obedience training with our dog Kane, and the positive changes have been remarkable.

Ralph’s approach was fantastic – he was patient, clear in his instructions, and used positive reinforcement techniques that our dog responded to incredibly well. Kane could be stubborn, but Ralph was able to teach him all the things we needed him to do, such as sitting, down, staying, heel, etc. Kane is even calmer. It’s been such a rewarding experience, and I would definitely recommend Ralph to any dog owner looking for effective and positive obedience training. Thanks again, Ralph, for training, Kane!!!

Aries Angel
Designer / Uber

Blown away by the results of this training program. Although we saw some progress working with a few different trainers previously, this was by far the most effective. Ralph is a true expert—not only is he a skilled and knowledgeable trainer, but he was able to adapt to both of our dogs’ unique personalities and learning styles to give them the customized attention they needed. 

We started with the silver package for both dogs and ended up adding on more time and training for one of our dogs based off the significant progress she had made (Ralph even offered to continue working on the basics for our other dog free of charge!). He was very communicative along the way and gave us  confidence that our dogs were in great hands. The safety and wellbeing of our pups is the top priority and it was a huge relief knowing that they formed a strong bond with Ralph and were enjoying their time with him (both were clearly sad to leave!). Ralph spent lots of time with us at pick up, ensuring that we understood all of the new techniques and commands to reinforce the training at home. We are so grateful for this experience and highly recommend Ralph and Atlantic Coast K9 for any breed and any training need!

Kate Newton
Designer / Uber

We recently had our 10-month-old puppy trained by Ralph, and the experience has been nothing short of incredible. Ralph not only communicated clearly with us throughout the process, but he also took the time to teach us how to effectively work with our dog.

Before training, we struggled with being pulled around by our large, energetic pup. Now, we can walk side by side with him with minimal correction—and we’re still learning too! The transformation has been amazing, and the results have far exceeded our expectations. We always believed our dog had potential, but what Ralph was able to bring out in him—and in us—was more than we could have hoped for. We highly recommend Ralph at Atlantic Coast K9 Training for anyone looking for real, lasting results

Lori Fitzgerald
Designer / Uber

My Giant Schnauzer puppy was enrolled and graduated from the 4 week board and train Gold Program. I highly recommend this program and Ralph. Prior to and throughout the training, Ralph was extremely responsive answering all of my questions. He made himself readily available.

He was also very upfront and straight forward prior to my signing up for the program about the commitment required owners have after training is complete. Throughout the program, I recieved progress and problem areas he experienced and explained potential reasons/solutions to keep my pup on track. During the face to face tutorial, I had every opportunity to address any questions or concerns. After providing me with the command tutorial, Ralph committed to follow-up questions and assistance beyond what I received that afternoon. Again, he was extremely responsive as I acclimated my pup back into the fold of my other animals. The training didn’t disappoint and was worth every penny. From the moment I got home, my pup continued to follow both on/off leash commands even with the surrounding distractions from my other animals. I am so very happy with the results.

Barbie Balenger
Designer / Uber

Before I tell you anything, if you’re looking for a trainer who is passionate about their craft, adores dogs, is an all round honest and caring person, stop reading and just call Ralph already, he is your guy. Here’s the rest of the information: We adopted two rescue beagles (2 years old and 7) back in April. One had been caged her whole life in a puppy mill and was one of 3 out of 40 that survived after being seized by authorities, the other was found roaming the mountains in NC. For strays, they both had great hearts and we bonded instantly.

We tried training them both at home but couldn’t get a whole lot done due to full-time jobs and living in a busy apartment complex full of other dogs; we were doing them a disservice by not providing them with the proper training they deserved.We did our research and found Ralph to be our top pick. Years of experience, highly decorated in the show dog world, with many people leaving 5 star reviews we thought we’d reach out. I’m so glad we did because our girls are confident and fully settled at home post-training. We opted for the board and train packages for both dogs, giving us the chance to work with the one at home while Ralph worked his magic with the dog in boarding. (Be warned, Ralph is a popular choice and gets booked up VERY quickly.) Truth be told, I am the helicopter type dog mom, but after meeting Ralph when we first dropped Mara off, I felt comfortable and fully trusted Ralph would take care of her and was happy with a weekly summary and some photos/videos when the training set in and they mastered commands. If you expect more, communicate those expectations and be honest. I’ve read a couple of reviews which I do not feel are accurate and are unfair to Ralph. Training takes time, and if you have a beagle or a hound, you seriously need to be patient. They won’t be trained overnight. Hounds are among the most stubborn of dogs. We’ve always had beagles and know they truly are their own characters, so we didn’t expect much from our puppy-mill rescue with her being older and suffering from years of trauma, but she far exceeded our expectations and came back to us as an obedient soul, a far cry from the wild and feral girl we rescued. Ralph got our girls to be the best version of themselves and that’s more than we could have hoped for them. We still wanted them to be dogs, but have the structure they needed to be confident and comfortable in our home and out in public, and that’s exactly what we got. I am taking extra 1:1 training with Ralph and my older beagle, but not because she has regressed, it’s for my own benefit. I need to be better and more confident for her when out and about, and it’s important to strengthen that bond between us and build upon the trust we have. Ralph, you’re an inspiration and an awesome person; we are blessed you were a part of our girls journey and thank you for your patience and kindness.

Cristina Berry
Designer / Uber