About

About XL K9 Coach Vegas

XL K9 Coach Vegas is a professional dog training service serving Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada. The work is structured, the communication is clear, and the focus is on reactive, aggressive, and high-drive dogs — the cases group classes cannot handle.

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The XL K9 Coach Vegas family — two adults, one child, and two working dogs (a Rottweiler and a Rottweiler) on a grassy hill with mountains in the background

The XL K9 Coach family — Extra Love, two kids, and two working dogs.

The Trainer

Meet Your Coach

You work directly with the trainer — no handoffs, no assistants, no rotating staff. Every session is delivered by the person who built your dog’s plan.

At XL K9 Coach Vegas, the “XL” stands for Extra Love—because every dog deserves patience, clear guidance, and the opportunity to succeed, regardless of breed, size, or behavioral challenge.

My passion for dogs began early and has grown through years of working with dogs of all personalities, from small Chihuahuas to powerful Mastiffs and high-drive working breeds. Each dog is different, so every training plan is built around the individual dog, the owner’s goals, and the realities of daily life.

My approach is based on balanced training, combining structure, accountability, and clear boundaries with praise, high-value rewards, affection, and relationship-building. The goal is not simply to teach commands. It is to create clearer communication, better control, and a stronger partnership between you and your dog.

As a Las Vegas dog trainer, I understand the challenges that come with living and training in our environment—from busy neighborhoods and crowded public spaces to extreme desert heat. Training is designed to be practical, realistic, and tailored to your family’s lifestyle.

I work best with owners who are ready to participate, practice between sessions, and stay consistent. When the owner and trainer work as a team, dogs are given the structure and support they need to make meaningful progress.

Beyond the Work

Beyond Dog Training

When I’m not working with clients and their dogs, I’m usually spending time with my family, training Jiu-Jitsu, or working with my own dogs.

I especially enjoy training my personal dogs for ring sports, and one thing that surprises a lot of people is that I genuinely love getting into the bite suit. I enjoy being hands-on with working dogs and continuing to learn through every training experience.

Dogs are a big part of our family life, but they’re not our only four-legged obsession. We also love riding horses and spending time together outdoors.

For me, dog training is about more than obedience. I want every client to feel more confident, more comfortable, and better able to understand and communicate with their dog. My goal is to help build a relationship based on clarity, trust, structure, and connection.

A trainer in a bite suit working with a dog leaping toward him during sport training — Hands-on in the bite suit during sport training — part of the ongoing, practical experience behind the work.

A Few Fun Facts

Jiu-Jitsu

One of my favorite ways to train outside of dog work.

Ring Sports

I train my personal dogs for ring sports.

Bite Suit

I genuinely enjoy getting into the bite suit.

Horseback Riding

My family loves dogs and riding horses.

Extra Love

“XL” stands for Extra Love.

My Goal

Helping owners communicate clearly and confidently with their dogs.

XL K9 Coach Vegas with a child and a tan Rottweiler dog on a black mini-bike in a gravel lot with a workshop and mountains behind — Life outside training is rooted in family, connection, and the dogs we love.

Two children sitting with a black-and-tan Rottweiler dog on a concrete patio in front of a house — The bond between family and dogs is at the heart of everything we do.

Life Outside Dog Training

Family Life Outside of Dog Training

When I’m not training dogs, I’m spending time with my family and enjoying the everyday moments that matter most. Family, connection, and real life are a big part of who I am — and that carries over into how I work with dogs and their owners.

I understand that dogs are not just animals to train — they are part of the family. That’s why I believe training should support real life at home, create better relationships, and help dogs fit more confidently into the people and routines they love.

Whether it’s time outdoors, family activities, or simply enjoying life with the dogs who are part of our everyday world, this side of life helps shape the patience, perspective, and care I bring into my work.

Training Philosophy

How the Work Is Built

Four principles shape every session. They are the reason the work holds up after sessions end — and the reason it is not a fit for owners looking for a quick fix.

Structured, Not Random

Every session follows a plan with clear progression criteria. Training is a sequence of steps, not a series of guesses. You always know what phase you're in and what comes next.

Clear Communication

Dogs do not fail because they're stubborn. They fail because the communication is unclear. We build a shared language between handler and dog before asking for complex behavior.

Real-World Control

The goal is not a perfect obedience routine. The goal is a dog you can walk, manage, and live with in the real world — on leash, around triggers, in your actual life.

Committed Owners

The work continues between sessions. We coach handlers, not just dogs, and we're honest about the homework required. Owners who want a quick fix are not a fit.

Reactive & Aggressive Dogs

How We Handle the Hard Cases

Reactive and aggressive dogs are the core of this practice — not an edge case. The approach is structured, safety-first, and honest about what progress actually looks like.

A safety-first protocol is established before any behavior work begins. Muzzle training, leash handling, and management come first.
We work with dogs that have a bite history. A bite history does not disqualify a dog from training — it changes how we structure the work.
Aggression is treated as a symptom of an underlying conflict, fear, or arousal problem, not as a personality trait to be punished out.
Progress is reported honestly. We do not promise instant results or guaranteed behavior changes. Setbacks are part of the process and are discussed openly.
Owner coaching is central. The handler's mechanics, timing, and consistency determine whether the work holds after sessions end.

Specialization Areas

What We Train For

Reactive Dogs

Leash-reactive, barrier-frustrated, and over-aroused dogs. Structured desensitization at the dog's threshold, impulse-control foundations, and clear handler mechanics.

Reactive Dog Training

Dog Aggression

Leash aggression, territorial responses, conflict aggression, and dogs with a bite history. Safety-first, structured rehabilitation with honest reporting on progress.

Dog Aggression Training

High-Drive Dogs

Working breeds and high-arousal dogs that need a structured outlet. Channeling drive into controllable behavior rather than suppressing it.

Training Programs

Community & Continuing Education

Experience / Dog Sport Community

Training is never a finished education. I stay active in the dog sport community, working alongside other trainers who push each other to get better. The people in this photo are part of that network — trainers I trust, train with, and learn from.

Being around other working-dog handlers keeps the work honest. It exposes me to different dogs, different lines, and different approaches, and it is where a lot of the practical experience behind the training actually comes from.

Community also means mentorship. New trainers, new puppies, and new handlers all benefit from people willing to share what they have learned. That exchange is part of why I keep showing up — and part of why the dogs in my care get the benefit of more than just one person’s experience.

Three dog trainers posing together with a small black puppy — With fellow trainers and a young dog — the community behind the ongoing learning.

A Belgian Malinois leaping mid-air over red-and-white agility hurdles with a trainer standing to the right at a dog sport event — Jumping Maverick over a hurdle in a French ring trial.Photo credits to Chipperton Photography.

Ready to Begin

Request a Training Consultation

If your dog fits the work described here, reach out through the contact page to request a consultation. We'll discuss your dog's behavior and whether this approach is the right fit.

Request a Training Consultation