About Us
K9 Conditioning
About K9 Conditioning
At K9 Conditioning, we deliver real world results that matter. Family owned and based in Auburn, California, we’re committed to practical, lasting training. Our approach to dog training emphasizes the importance of obedience, exercise, and nutrition, which are the fundamental pillars of our training curriculum.
Our training philosophy goes beyond gimmicks and quick fixes, focusing instead on developing calm, confident, and consistently dependable dogs who integrate seamlessly into everyday life. From the home environment to high distraction public settings, we cultivate a level of obedience you can truly rely on. This commitment to lasting results is why dog owners, working professionals, and families throughout Northern California place their trust in our approach.
Huge thank you to our amazing community for voting K9 Conditioning “Best of the Best” in the Auburn Journal for 2025. We couldn’t do this without your support!
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Hands down the best around!! Our dog Koda was fortunate enough to do the 4 week boarding and training program with Stephan and K9 Conditioning. As a 160 pound Boreboel Mastiff, her size, weight and strength intimidated many people and trainers. Not Stephan. When we had our initial conversation and I let him know our concerns, he didn't even bat an eye and knew exactly how to help. I grew up on a farm and trained small and large animals as big as horses and cows. I had reached a point where my skill level and understanding of training fell short for teaching such a large breed dog. Stephan not only jumped right in but took control immediately. While she was away from our care being trained by the best company around, communication never stopped. Stephan texted us daily to let us know what they were working on. Not only that, but he also sent videos showing what he was doing and explained further why he was training something the way he was. It was such a well rounded experience that I would have paid extra for it but he was happy to help and explain. He not only trained my dog but also trained me on how to be a better dog owner. How to ask for exactly what I want and have clear communication with my commands. I have such confidence in mine and my dogs ability to be put into any situation and know we will not only survive but thrive. If you are looking for a dog trainer K9 Conditioning can't be matched. The absolute best around! We will definitely use them again if we are ever in need of training services. The fact that they also offer boarding will be a service we use time and time again. Highly, highly recommend!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have 4 German Shepherds, one of our pups (Thierry) has a very high work drive which made our daily lives challenging. We couldn’t bring her out in public due to her intensity and need to please. Thierry also had an obsession with any lawn litter and would repeatedly place any pine needle, pine cone, or toothpick sized stick on any part of your body that it would stay on, this was her endless task in life. Stephan and K9 Conditioning gave Thierry structure that allows her to utilize her instinct and gave us the tools to harness all of that energy. K9 Conditioning has changed her life tremendously and impacted ours just as much. Stephan was very professional and courteous and gave Thierry and us very personalized attention and support. When he brought Thierry home to us he spent time with everyone in the family making sure we were all comfortable handling her, including my children. I would definitely recommend this service to anyone seeking help with any aspect of canine training.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This experience has transformed our home. At the end of our dog’s 4 week board and train he came back a different dog to a different family. Dexter used to spend his days barking at everyone that came to the door, jumping up on people & counters, barking at squirrels, fence fighting, and doing his best to ignore any attempt to get hip stop. We were unable to take him around other dogs. Trips to the vet were a nightmare. He would bark and lunge. He now feels secure enough to let us worry about the door, he is non reactive to other dogs, and he is great on walks! I never thought I would hear someone comment on how well behaved Dexter is. They do! It was obvious to our whole family that the environment at K9 Conditioning was kind and supportive to Dexter. He absolutely loves the staff there! They keep the number of dogs in training small so our dog got the time he needed & the continued support they offer will help us to not slip back to old behaviors. We now use K9 Conditioning to board Dexter when we travel. It makes us feel good when he gets excited when we pull up. He loves going to spend time time there! I can not recommend or thank K9 Conditioning enough. They are fantastic!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. K9 Conditioning took in Kyro, our Doberman and showed him a new lifestyle of learning and understanding. The team did an amazing job creating a welcoming atmosphere for Kyro as he came from the shelter. K9 Conditioning was able to shape and mold Kyro into a permission based lifestyle . From when we dropped him off till today, K9 Conditioning kept in contact with us daily with updates and milestones Kyro has met, that meant the world to us. Overall, this experience was amazing and has now made training with Kyro a great and positive experience. We are excited to keep up with his training and attend the once a month training and be part of the K9 Conditioning community.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Transformational Experience! I sent my 1.5 year old, very busy, and playful Jack Russell/mini Schnauzer mix to the 4 week board an train program and what I got back was a calm, well mannered dog that has masted the art of "chill". Prior to training my dog Watson would fence fight with the neighbors dogs, charge out the back door to hunt lizards and attack skunks and raccoons. He would pull and zig zag on the leash during hikes and trail runs and his recall was poor. Stephen and the staff at K9 conditioning have truly worked wonders. Watson returned home with discipline and focus on hikes and runs, he can be off leash and his recall is 100%. He now sits at the back door and waits for permission to cross the threshold. Prior to training Watson would dismantle dog toys in a matter of hours, now he is content to lay calmly on his place mat and no longer has the desire to chew on toys. He has been given a purpose, to just chill and do nothing. One of the outstanding features of K9 Conditioning was the communication and supported received from Stephen. He sent texts with pics and videos daily of Watson's training and progress. He made sure that I understood the process and was well equipped to continue the work once Watson returned home. Being that this is my first go at being a dog owner, I greatly appreciated K9 Conditionings approach of not just training Watson but also empowering me as a dog owner. I look forward to continuing my journey with the K9 Conditioning team.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A Life-Changing Experience with K9 Conditioning! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We cannot express enough how much K9 Conditioning has transformed our lives—and our puppy's life! We sent our 8-month-old black lab pup, Poppy, for training, and what we got back was nothing short of miraculous. From day one, Stephen worked wonders with Poppy, helping her develop a solid routine and teaching her how to manage reactivity, which had been a major concern for us. Not only did they help Poppy grow in discipline and focus, but they also gave us the tools and knowledge we needed to be better, more confident dog owners. One of the standout improvements has been how Poppy now reacts on walks. Prior to training, she would get easily distracted by everything—other dogs, people, cars—and it made walks stressful for all of us. But thanks to K9 Conditioning, we now have peaceful, enjoyable walks with a much more focused and well-behaved pup. What truly set K9 Conditioning apart was the communication and support we received from Stephen. He kept us informed every step of the way, making sure we understood the training process and were equipped to carry on the work at home. His approach was not just about training Poppy; it was about empowering us as dog owners, and that made all the difference. Poppy’s transformation is a testament to the expertise, care, and dedication at K9 Conditioning. It’s clear that they genuinely care about both the dogs they train and the people who love them. Thanks to their guidance, Poppy is a happier, more balanced pup, and our lives have been made so much better in the process. Beyond the incredible training experience, we are also thrilled to have built such a strong relationship with the team at K9 Conditioning. We look forward to continuing our journey with them and are excited to utilize their boarding and future training services. It’s comforting to know that we have a place we trust for Poppy’s care, and we can't wait to see what’s next! If you’re looking for a team that’s truly invested in you and your dog’s well-being, look no further than K9 Conditioning. We couldn’t be more grateful!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our 4month old Golden Retriever, Sunny did the Raise and Train 4week program and we are so happy with the progress she made! Before dropping her off, we weren’t able to walk Sunny on a leash without her pulling or biting at the leash and now Sunny will “heal” and walk beside me and she will “place” until told otherwise. Her temperament overall is so much easier to manage. She was biting and not listening to us and it was so overwhelming. Since Sunny has been home she isn’t biting and she is listening to our commands sit, down, place and heel. It is important to know that training still continues once your pup is home and Steph will meet you at your home to go over what a day should look like for your dog! K9Conditioning was/is the best investment we’ve made so far for Sunny! I look forward to the complementary third Saturday of every month to meet up with those that have been trained with Steph! It will be a great once a month “recall” for Sunny and for us parent trainers as well! I would 100% recommend K9conditioning ! Everyday that Sunny was gone training we received photos and video updates to keep us in the loop and showed us her progress and what they were currently working on. We are grateful for Steph and his fiancé who both trained Sunny. They have so much knowledge that they openly share with you (us) regarding overall health and wellness, dog toys and products to use and books to help develop and maintain your dogs over all being!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was referred to the amazing people at K9 Conditioning by a coworker. When she described the incredible work that the staff at K9 Conditioning do, I was mesmerized. It sounded too good to be true. And let me tell you, she was not mistaken. It was true. Our 11 month old puppy, Laila, came back a different dog. She heels properly while on leash, her recall improved tremendously and is very consistent, meal time whether is breakfast, lunch or dinner has become enjoyable again. She doesn't demand bark, she doesn't surf into counters or look for food, she doesn't jump on the couch anymore! We got our couch back! My wife works from home and her interactions with Laila have improved so much and for the best. We will continue doing our due diligence and keep up with the training that the staff at K9 Conditioning imparted to our pup. We are ever so grateful to Stephen and his team. They are an outstanding group of people. And are always available for advice or to answer questions. Thanks K9!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We brought in a three month old German shepherd from our local pound to Steph and she is so unrecognizable now! She listens, follows all commands and is a total pleasure to be around now. Thank you to Steph and his team at K9 Conditioning for your help! We would highly recommend them for any type of dog, they will walk you through the steps and provide you with all the tools to continue training when your pup comes home. You have a customer for life!