The Canine Mind

Just wanted to share our amazing experience we had with Alex and his whole team. We took our dog persephone in for the 2 week board and train. The price is steep from a glance but the benefits you get are amazing. Having an amazing team to guide us, answer questions, direct me where to go and what to do. Has been by itself priceless. But then giving us such a good foundation to work towards our dogs service dog training. And the resources we need to do so. If anyone were to ask me where to get their animal taught and to continue to benefit for their life. Canine mind is where I would recommend.

Alex is so patient and great with our pups. His team had them for 2 week train and board. We've done the puppy classes and now adult training classes learning the ecollars. Its so great to have his team answer questions answer we go and have our dogs behavior issues figured out. Great work!

I’ve waited two weeks to post this review because I was too in awe of my dog’s progress with The Canine Mind. I enrolled my 1-year-old hound mix, Raina, in the two-week board and train program. And I’m telling you that this team is literally a group of doggie cognitive psychologists — and this is coming from a human cognitive psychologist. In two weeks, my dog received a level of training that I probably couldn’t have achieved in my lifetime (let alone two weeks). She is excellent off leash now, generally more responsive, and better at overall manners (no longer jumping on visitors in my house, for example). If I were to chat with younger me, I would have totally enrolled my first dog in this type of program. This foundation is essential for having a good quality of life with your dog. It still takes a lot of learning + work on the human side, but I’d say this program was absolutely worth every dollar. My dog is better in every aspect of behavior, despite maintaining the fundamental personality traits that make her who she is. THANK YOU!

Our dog Anubis learned so much during the puppy foundations classes! Alex, Stephen and Persephone are able to explain everything so simply. They always provide minor corrections and suggestions in a way that just makes sense and contextualizes things from your dog's point of view. Highly recommended! We're even bringing him back for more advanced training with a board and train visit while we're out of town for vacation. *UPDATE* We got our boy back from his 2 week board and train and he has gained so many valuable skills! The commands we started with in puppy foundations classes were solidified and enhanced but they also added a few more to his repertoire. He's still our little guy, but much better rounded and less reactive. **UPDATE** Anubis has been solid, but we came back for a refresher with the graduates class. They always make sure to change things up and introduce new challenges. We're going to schedule some more visits just to keep ourselves improving

As a pet professional myself, my standards and expectations were very high for a trainer. Alex, Steven and his team were very professional and met our families specific needs with the 2wk board/train. Our pup was super happy and well cared for. The daily video updates were so exciting to see his progress. Gnarly came home with a solid training foundation that has improved our relationship with him. We are looking forward to working with canine mind for years to come.

Wow—where to begin. We’ve been working with The Canine Mind since March 2024, and I can say without hesitation that they are the best dog trainers in Utah. Regardless of your dog’s needs, they’ll teach you how to build a respectful, rewarding relationship with your dog. Whatever you put in, you get back tenfold! We’re endlessly grateful to Alex, Steven, Persephone, and the whole team for everything they’ve given us and our dog, Bucky. We rescued Bucky (a German Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix) when he was 7 months old. He was sick, and as first-time dog owners, we missed out on key opportunities to guide him during the critical early months. As he got older, he began showing signs of reactivity. We tried multiple training groups around Salt Lake, but nothing clicked—they didn’t offer what we needed, and honestly, it felt like a waste of time and money. Things got worse. We tried every training method: prong collars, e-collars, clickers, and positive reinforcement. But Bucky grew increasingly aggressive toward other dogs, didn’t respect us, and made walks and outings miserable. We couldn’t give him—or—ourselves the life we wanted, and we were heartbroken. So we got serious. We searched specifically for a trainer who understood aggression, reactivity, and high-drive breeds. We vetted everyone in the Salt Lake Valley. Then we met Alex. From our very first (free!) consultation, we were struck by his calm, confident presence—and his deep experience with dogs like Bucky. We signed up for The Perfect Pet Package right away. It wasn’t easy or fast. Bucky is incredibly intelligent, sensitive, and strong-willed. But we committed. We met in our home, out in public, and at their facility in Millcreek. There were tough days and setbacks, but we stuck with it. We did our homework. We worked through frustration. And little by little, we started to see a shift—not just in Bucky, but in ourselves. Because the real secret? We were the ones being trained. And that’s what makes The Canine Mind special. Alex helped us truly understand our dog—his genetics, his instincts, his behavior—and gave us the tools to communicate clearly, confidently, and calmly. That changed EVERYTHING. After completing our 1:1 sessions, we moved into their unlimited Group Classes (an incredible value). These classes were a whole new challenge for Bucky, who struggles being around other dogs—but Alex and the team adapted each session to support us. They never made us feel like we didn’t belong, and made sure we found wins in every class. One of the biggest milestones came when we felt comfortable leaving Bucky for boarding. The team treated him like their own and continued his training while we were away. That peace of mind was priceless. Bucky still isn’t a “park” dog, and that’s okay. With Alex’s guidance, we finally understood that forcing socialization wasn’t fair to him. He’s calm, well-behaved, and happiest with his people—and now, we don’t feel guilty about honoring that. Today, our walks are the best part of my day. I genuinely enjoy spending time with my sweet, responsive dog. We get compliments everywhere we go, and we will never stop recommending The Canine Mind to anyone who wants to transform their relationship with their dog. Thank you, thank you, thank you for changing all of our lives.

Alex, Persephone, and Steven did an amazing job boarding, training, and taking care of our dog. In just two weeks our dog learned so much and came back to us with an entirely new skill set. The free group classes that follow the boarding are amazing and a great opportunity to continue practicing the training. I would highly recommend The Canine Mind to dog owners of any age. Our dog was 3 1/2 when they went to the Canine Mind and still was able to learn at a rapid rate due to the expertise of Alex and his team. Amazing!

Really hard to describe how incredibly excited we are after working with Canine Mind!!! We brought Bruno in for the free consultation to discuss how we could get some help with our puppy. While we have owned dogs, we were looking for advice on how to work with our little guy. After Steven took the time to answer so many different questions, we felt comfortable enough to opt for the 2 week board and train. We are absolutely astonished at what our little guy has learned over the last two weeks!!!! Alex, Steven and Persephone have exceeded all expectations. Our biggest fears were centered around it changing our little guy's personality, but ultimately they have just helped train us (humans) how to better communicate and understand Bruno!!! The constant communication they provide during the training and continued support after his training makes the experience that much better! While they have certainly helped our Bruno learn many of the basics, I can't stress enough that their guidance and help is making us better dog parents. Very grateful for all three of them and the amazing work they have done. Would highly recommend and will be forever grateful to the Canine Mind!

If you’re looking for a training experience where you can learn and grow with your pup, The Canine Mind is it. While my girl is incredibly smart, sweet and goofy, she was showing some reactivity. Due to her breed, she can be very intense, especially on leash. She pulled and was obstinate pretty often. So, I sent her to work with Alex and his team for a whole month. It is pricey, for sure, but I knew it was an investment I would never regret. And boy did they prove my intuition right! Cocoa is night and day different. Through their guidance and teachings, the beautiful sides to her personality have been allowed to flourish while we work on and through her more challenging attributes. I am so grateful to have found this team, and to have trusted them with my girl. Their love and devotion to teaching dogs and their respective humans is palpable! And I am forever grateful. Also, having access to training classes for the rest of her life will be a godsend. I cannot recommend this organization enough! Thank you, Canine Mind Team!

The Canine Mind helped out our family a lot. I have a male German Shepherd and my boyfriend has a female pitbull mix. We were planning on moving in together because we’re expecting. When we first introduced our dogs it didn’t go very well. His pitbull attacked my Shepherd the first chance she got. So we looked into a training facility and I found the Canine Mind. We met with Alex, he really understood our situation and boosted our confidence in how to handle our dogs. We went through a few months of training before we were able to have one of our dogs off leash with the other. I’m glad to say they are now living together and are the best of friends, cuddling and playing any chance they get.