MLK9 Reviews

Carlos Diaz 2026.05.04

     

Our experience with Andy at MLK9 team, has been nothing short of exceptional. From the very beginning, it was clear that Andy is not only highly skilled in his craft, but that he genuinely cares about the dogs he works with and the families who love them. Our dog Radar is full of personality—energetic, strong-willed, and easily distracted. Andy took the time to truly understand him as an individual, recognizing his temperament, his limits, and how he learns best. What impressed us most was Andy’s ability to read Radar so accurately and adjust his training approach in a way that was both effective and respectful of who he is. Radar developed a calmer mindset, better focus, and the ability to respond even in distracting situations. Andy’s approach goes beyond obedience; it builds confidence, structure, and emotional balance in the dog. What truly sets Andy apart is his patience, consistency, and philosophy. He understands that every dog is different and does not force a one-size-fits-all method. When Radar returned home, Andy took the time to train us as well, ensuring that we understood how to continue reinforcing everything Radar had learned, Radar will continue to grow and succeed. Andy’s shows his true commitment to long-term success—not just quick results. We are incredibly grateful for the strong foundation Andy has given, If you are looking for someone who not only trains dogs but understands them, respects them, and brings out their very best, that trainer is Andy at MLK9 and it's fabulous team of trainers. Rachel&Carlos Diaz

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Reply from MLK9 2026.05.05

Thank you guys so much for the kind words! We value providing our clients with lasting results and continuing support! Radar was a blast to teach and my team and I are blessed to have you all as clients! 🙏🏼

Nancy Finch 2026.04.29

     

Andy is wonderful. He connected with Skylar and with us. It takes a team!! I think the training Andy gave us was as if not more important than he gave Skylar If anyone needs a caring and well educated dog behaviorist, call Andy

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Reply from MLK9 2026.05.05

Thank you! Skylar was a doll! 😁

Mark Oakley 2026.04.18

     

MLK9 is a top tier program for working police dogs. Through multiple training exercises in patrol and narcotics detection, Mike Liley consistently delivered clear instruction and hands-on demonstrations that made expectations and outcomes easy to understand and apply in real world scenarios.

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Reply from MLK9 2026.04.23

Thanks Mark!!! We take a ton of pride in helping K9 teams reach their full potential!!! We appreciate you sir!

Emily Duff 2026.04.12

     

Andy and his crew have been AMAZING!!! My DOBERMAN puppy (9 months) is full of energy and needed some solid training to keep him from being “too much” for others. I left him 4 weeks ago at MLK9 in tears, feeling that I was abandoning him. Andy sent me weekly videos of their training process, and communicated with me via text letting me know how things were going. Today, he brought my baby back to me at MY HOUSE, and spent several hours going through what had been accomplished and how I can continue the process to insure success. I took my pup on a walk after Andy left, and it was like a brand new dog! Minimal pulling, attentiveness to my directions, and HAPPY!!! He’s responsive to his commands, and tuckered out after all of his adventures. I cannot recommend this training enough!!!!

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Amber Tolley 2026.04.02

     

Andy did such an amazing job with both of my 1 year old dogs. They went from jumping all over people, nipping, leash pulling, excessive barking, cat chasing, and counter surfing to being dogs that actually understand manners. I can walk both dogs without being pulled everywhere. My cat can walk around the house without being chased by either dog! My kids can now pet the dogs without worrying about being knocked over all the time. They still get excited when people come over, but I can manage their excitement and need to jump. Still a work in progress at home, but so much better than they were before. With continued training at home and Andy’s advice and expertise, both dogs will continue to get better and thrive with their new boundaries, expectations, and routine.

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Rachael Rhyne 2026.03.19

     

We had a great experience with the MLK9 Board and Train program! River completed the 4-week puppy/adult program, and the transformation in her has been amazing. She came back a much more enjoyable, confident, and well-behaved dog. Andy did an excellent job not only training River, but also setting us up for success at home. He gave us the tools and guidance we needed to continue reinforcing her training, which made a huge difference. Throughout the program, Andy was friendly, professional, and very communicative. We really appreciated the weekly updates and videos. It was reassuring to see how well River was doing and how much she was learning. Highly recommend MLK9 to anyone looking for quality training and real results!

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Tanja Patterson 2026.03.17

     

We just got our 7 month old golden retriever, Winnie, back from her 4 week board and train with Andy, and the difference is AMAZING. Before training she was your typical puppy...jumping, counter surfing, chewing on everything, and struggling on her leash. She also had anxiety around other dogs,new people and new places. Now, she’s calm, confident, and well mannered. No more jumping or gnawing, and walks are actually enjoyable! Andy is incredibly friendly and clearly loves what he does and it shows in the results. His communication throughout the entire process was fantastic and gave us so much peace of mind. We truly feel like we’re finally “living our best lives” with Winnie. We highly recommend Andy and his team. Don’t hesitate, you won’t regret it!

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Liz Peart 2026.03.14

     

I spoke with Andy regarding my 11 week old puppy. We spoke for over. An hour and he helped tremendously with tips for potty training, biting and hiding things from me. After our conversation we discovered he was not in my state. I would have signed up for the board and train for her. I cannot say enough positive comments about Andy at MLK9 dog training. Honestly I'm trying to figure out a way to get her from Arizona to Tennessee so he can work with her. I offered to pay him for his time on the phone with me and he refused. Very unusual in this day and age.

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Celeste Stratton 2026.03.13

     

We are so impressed with the training our dog, Rocky, received during his five week training. Andy is fantastic- Rocky is a different dog… he is gaining more and more confidence and trust each day and has already shown us that he is a capable, smart, and teachable pup. Thank you all so much for your help.

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Julie 2026.02.28

     

Andy came to our house an hour away to follow up training that was done six years ago. At the time of the training, they said it was lifetime and they followed through and did not charge us for two hours of his time. He is very knowledgeable and was very helpful with our dogs. I would highly recommend him to anybody for any kind of training or behavior adjustments.

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Reply from MLK9 2026.03.01

Thank you! We value our clients and their lasting relationship with their dogs. We are here for you whenever you need us!

Heather Phillips 2026.02.18

     

This is an early review as our dogs have only been home 3 days, but I’m super excited about their progress and potential. As I type this, I am sitting on the couch and my two dogs are both on their pillow (“place”). It will take a lot of practice (for me, since they are more advanced than I am) but I fully believe that this B&T experience will be a game changer for our family. Our dogs were good dogs, and I believe that this training will get them to great. After spending over a month training with Andy, both of our dogs adore him, and to me, that is the icing on the cake. I am assuming that these first few days are the hardest (as my family and I get used to the commands/training), but it’s been easier than I thought, and I have zero regrets with doing this for our boys.

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Reply from MLK9 2026.02.28

Those boys sure are awesome! We miss them already and are proud of your hard work! Keep it up guys!

Victor Canela 2026.02.16

     

Andy is awesome! He really knows what he’s doing with dogs. I love the communication that he ket with us, informing us of everything that was going on. The videos each week of Daisy were fantastic! I also really appreciate that he invited us out before committing to anything to show us his facility.

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Rhonda Leo 2026.02.14

     

We contacted Andy to help us deal with our Goldendoodle who had some anxiety issues. We purchased our dood from a breeder whom I believe had a puppy mill situation going on. Needless to say we believed that he had some emotional trauma from that situation. After talking with Andy about KoKo’s behavior issues, Andy helped us understand that his anxiety and other behaviors were coming from a lack of confidence in himself and feeling secure. KoKo was on Prozac and had very bad car-sickness when we took him to Andy. After being with Andy he no longer needs medication for anxiety or motion!! Andy helped KoKo overcome alot of fear. He is now a much calmer dood, he knows his place. He listens now. Before Andy he was overly affectionate, now he knows that we need personal space. We would highly recommend Andy and MLK9 training for your animals. Andy knows what he is doing. We did the 4 week program, Andy sent us a video every week with KoKo’s progress and training video’s. That was a nice feature. We also loved that when he brought KoKo home, he took about an hour and spent time with us and taught us everything that he had taught KoKo. The commands and the reasons why we need certain ones. It was a very good experience for us.

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Chrisy Awtonomow 2026.02.10

     

Andy gave our boy, Milo, a second chance at life!!! Unfortunately, after rescuing Milo and having him for less than a year, he got very aggressive towards my husband (growing, lunging and biting). We thought our only option was to put him down because we could not rehome him at that point and we were afraid of him. Also, when it came to obedience, Milo only previously listened when he wanted to. While I was an emotional hot mess with Milo’s likely fate, a quick Google search showed training could modify behavior. Then the heavens opened up and a choir started singing as MLK9 Knoxville popped up on my screen. I filled out the form on the site, and Andy called shortly after to discuss our situation. He reassured us that he 100% could fix our boy!! 2 days later, Milo started his 4 week school. Fast-forward to now post-graduation. Andy has given Milo the training he desperately needed and walked my husband & I through how to continue his lessons at home. We have been given the tools and resources needed to modify his behavior and prevent the situations that were previously leading to the aggression. And if we ever have questions or need anything at all, Andy’s just a phone call away! We’re so very thankful for Andy and having that opportunity to give our sweet boy Milo his second chance!!

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Jody 2026.02.04

     

I was definitely hesitant to leave my 8 month old boxer puppy for three weeks but I’m glad I did! She came back a different girl. She was so much more calm and she had manners! Andy and his team were great with her. More importantly, he tolerated me. I was pretty much a basket case with her gone but he was great reassuring me that she was ok and getting along well. He sent videos every week of her progress and took the time to answer my questions. I am very pleased with her progress and I look forward to working with him again on the next steps of her journey. Thank you Andy for all that you did to help her and I work better together.

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Stephanie Guthrie 2026.01.07

     

I’m a big advocate for rescue dogs, but understand they come with some baggage (don’t we all?). When I met Moped (like the scooter), he melted my heart and felt like what our home was missing. And in so many ways, he was. But it was quickly clear his beginnings on the streets had left him fearful and untrusting, which showed itself as pure aggression. I own a dog grooming business and have plenty of training in dog handling, as well as a heart built for compassion and understanding. While we made some progress on our own, Moped would literally attack with only the slightest provocation. If not for the fact that he weighs 15 pounds, I think it’s realistic that he could have mauled us severely, he was that aggressive - only about 10% of the time, and the other 90% he was an angel, but no one wants to live in fear of the next attack. I did some research and reached out to Andy. We spoke for over an hour on our first call. I explained all our pain points and told him very honestly that I don’t care if my dog can sit and stay, I just want to be able to enjoy an evening on the couch with him without worrying he will attack. I had been bitten and bleeding from numerous encounters and needed it to stop. Andy met Moped the next day. He let me know he saw his “saucy” side within minutes of me leaving, and truly understood the challenge ahead. Over the next several weeks, Andy sent videos of Moped’s progress. I was so proud of our little guy! I’ll be honest that my husband and I were very nervous when we got the call that he was ready to come home. Frankly, our home had felt more peaceful with him gone, but we’d also missed him dearly. At the same time, we didn’t want the reign of terror to return. When we arrived, Andy spent nearly 4 hours with us, training us on how to guide Moped in a way that made both Moped and us feel safe. A major pain point for me had been grooming (remember, I’m a professional groomer), and Andy stayed with me while I groomed Moped, to make sure I understood how to apply all the concepts Moped and I had learned. Before the training, I had tried every technique I knew, as well as prescription meds from the vet to calm Moped. He still viciously attacked me any time I got scissors near his face, which made for a dangerous situation for me and him both. With Andy directing nearby, I completed a full groom (medication free!) on Moped with only a tiny growl and zero bite attempts. I was literally crying tears of joy and relief at the end of the groom. He’s been home for a few days now and is a new dog. To be frank, my husband was so frustrated that he had stopped engaging with Moped as much as possible. Now we’re all the happy clan I’d hoped we’d be. Andy has also made himself available for ongoing questions. I know this is long for a review. Maybe you just needed to see the 5 stars. But I suspect there is someone else out there who is frustrated and needs to have hope, and this review is for you. The pic is of Moped and his brother Zealand, chilling on “place”. If your dog just needs basic manners, Moped does all that now too.

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Reply from MLK9 2026.01.09

Yay to no more teeth hugs! 🤣 we were glad to help, and to customize our training to your specific needs! We appreciate your kind words ma’am!

hailey meadow 2026.01.06

     

Thanks to MLK9 I now have an angel dog. I wish I could add videos to show the difference in his behaviors. My 1.5 year old dog did the 3 week program. I am a medical student so forking up the cash wasn’t something I was taking lightly. I can whole heartedly say it was worth every penny. I will definitely be taking him back for more advanced training! I can’t imagine what he will be capable of now that he has the basics down! EVERYTHING is so much easier now. It’s only been a few days since I got him back, but I feel like my world has changed. I cannot give this program enough praise. The facility, the training, the care, the communication… the list goes on! If you found MLK9, you hit the dog lottery!

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Reply from MLK9 2026.01.07

Thank you so much! Little man was a blast to teach! You guys are an awesome team!

Josh Maddox 2025.12.27

     

We sent our puppy, Millie, to Andy for his 4 week puppy training and had an amazing experience!! Andy is very thorough and sent us videos of her progress throughout the process to show us how she was progressing. Millie has come home and transitioned very well following training. Would HIGHLY recommend Andy and MLK9 to anyone looking for puppy/dog training!!

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Reply from MLK9 2026.01.07

Sweet Millie! Thank you, Josh! She was a doll 😬

Brennan Wingerter 2025.12.25

     

We are so grateful for Andy! Our boy Brooks started showing signs of aggression around one year old, mostly seeming to stem from fear and uncertainty. He's a bully mix so we knew we had to get control of him before he realized his full strength. He was fine on his own but pulled constantly on the leash if we walked him with our other two dogs, tried to fence-fight with our neighbor's dogs, and growled and barked at just about anyone and anything, including his own people if they walked downstairs too quickly or got too loud. After four weeks of board and train with Andy, Brooks came back to us with a whole new attitude... in the best possible way! He's still our sweet goofy boy who loves his chew toys, but he also actually LISTENS. Andy warned us Brooks would test us once he got home, and he has, but with our own lessons learned from Andy we now understand how to correct his behaviors in the moment without getting mad or frustrated, and we have been able to take him on walks with our other two dogs without him pulling, barking, or acting out when we see other people or dogs. We've always said he's such a smart dog but didn't know how to keep him under control, and now thanks to Andy we can actually see how smart he is and truly enjoy working with him and learning to trust him and ourselves with the tools Andy has given us. We all have more confidence and an overall MUCH improved quality of time together with less anxiety, less uncertainty, and less reactivity. We sent one of our older dogs to training several years ago in a different city and can say from comparing the two experiences that Andy is top notch in terms of patience, methods, facility, and pricing. Thank you!!

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Reply from MLK9 2026.01.07

Thanks for trusting us with Brooks! We love him so much and we are proud of you both! We are very grateful for you sharing your experience with us 🙏🏼😬!

Kelsey Bellich 2025.12.17

     

We found a dog on the side of the road roaming. Took her to Young Williams and did a "friendly find". Well, we all know how that goes. 3 days later, no one claimed her and we decided to keep her. We know very little about her- around 1 year old, probably husky mix, and 40 lbs. She stole our hearts and our 9 year old Great Dane adores her too. As time went on, we started to see extreme behavioral issues, nothing like I've ever seen before. She has severe separation anxiety, found out how to break out of the crate, unlock a deadbolt front door and would destroy the entire house. She was also defiant. Would not listen to us, even though she knew some basic commands. We were at our wits end and looking for guidance and explanation. After researching many board and train options, we decided to move forward with the tree week board and train with Andy. He was very honest with us through the process. We received weekly updates on her progress, although it was slower than normal (he agrees she is a challenge) and worked with her on a pace that didn't defeat her. He kept her longer than the 3 weeks, as he knew she was needing more time (and didn't charge). When we got her back, it was a HUGE DIFFERENCE! She was respecting our commands, understanding better of what we are requiring her to do, and we also learned how to keep training her. He has checked in with us, and is helping us work through her separation anxiety better. He came to our house to assess what she has been doing and given us options to help soothe her when we cannot be home. I think his vast knowledge and skill set in dog behavior is unparalleled. He truly cares for the animals in his care and works with the owners along the way.

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Reply from MLK9 2026.01.07

Wild child Piper! We love her and appreciate the kind words!