KompK9 reviews

Before working with Zak, my puppy was a crazy, disobedient biter that seemed to think she was top dog, and I was sadly starting to think I wasn’t fit to be her owner. Now, after 6 sessions, I feel like I have a brand new dog! She’s obedient, well behaved, and I love having her as a part of my family. She also listens to me now wherever we are, even in crowded places with a lot of distractions like downtown Annapolis. Zak is also one of the sweetest and most patient people I have ever met; he is very personable and gives feedback in the most respectful way possible. It’s been about a year now since I trained with Zak, but to this day I still recommend him to all of my friends who have dogs and are looking for a trainer. Whenever someone comes over to my house and meets my dog, they almost always say “wow, she’s so well trained!” And I owe a lot of that success to Zak :)

Sitting down to write this review and I am not sure what amazing thing to say first! Zak is truly the best dog trainer. He understands dogs in a way that is beyond anyone I have ever met. I have worked with 3 dog trainers prior to Zak, and Zak is by far my favorite.

My boyfriend and I started going to Zak in August of 2025 to train our 7 month old pit mix. When we first saw Zak, our pup was reactive to squirrels and other dogs. Not in a bad way, but in an overly excited way. He pulled frequently on walks, jumped on people constantly, and would play bite incessantly. He did not know the "down" or "stay" command.

We did the lesson package and board and train with Zak. After our first lesson, there was a massive change! Zak taught us the long leash method of training and it changed the game! After completing a few lessons with Zak, Alfie's temperament changed and he became much more in tune with my boyfriend and I, looking at us for commands and guidance. The board and train was the final touch! We solidified all our training on leash with Alfie during the lesson pack sessions. During the board and train, Zak just took all the foundation work we did with Alfie and transferred it over to an E-Collar, allowing Alfie to be completely off leash. Now, we are able to go on walks with Alfie while he is off leash and he will stay by our side. We can let him play and run around in open fields and call him back verbally or with the recall button on the remote of his E-Collar.

Training with Zak not only improved our lives as owners, but Alfie's life as a dog! He can now enjoy life off leash being a free dog, just with guardrails and the safety of an E-Collar! In addition, its made our bond as dog owners stronger with Alfie! Working to achieve a common goal builds love and loyalty. Dogs live for their owners! The best thing we can do as owners is give them that commitment back.

As a person, Zak is kind, easy going, and personable. As a trainer, Zak brings the same energy while also being direct and teaching you in a way that is polite and easy to understand. Other dog trainers sometimes act like drill sergeants which can feel intense and unfriendly. Zak is the exact opposite of this! Zak is the kind of guy you would want to go sit and have a cup of coffee with! I wish I could rate him higher than 5 stars! For the sake of you and your dog, go to Zak!

KompK9 with Zak Kergel has been an outstanding experience for me, my granddaughter & our puppy, Duke. Duke spent 2 weeks of boarding & training & arrived home a much calmer & compliant puppy. He has been able to travel 31/2 days by car to AZ without incident. He rode quietly, getting out only when we needed to stop, staying in hotels in his travel crate, & now enjoying an extended visit with my daughter’s family & their 2 dogs & 1 cat. Without Zak’s training of Duke, which included lessons with us before & after boarding, as well as text messages to encourage & answer questions, this trip would not have been possible. We look forward to many years of enjoyment of our wonderful Duke, with many thanks to Zak & KompK9.

When I found Beatrice on the streets in Eastport I had no idea I would end up with a new French Bulldog. She had some biting issues and was very reactive to.. well, everything. I own a business, have a cat and share walls in a small space downtown so the situation was less than ideal. my first thoughts were - traditional board and train where Bea would go to camp for a few weeks and hopefully come back reformed. A friend recommended Zack from KompK9 so I reached out. His style of training and working with myself and Bea every day so we could really learn the process of training and ground rules really set the stage for her transformation. 3 weeks later and she is no longer reacting to strangers, other dogs, noise or my cat. She walks off leash and eats out of my hand.. It’s truly a transformation.

Kudos to Zak for seeing us through the process even when some days weren’t as good as others. So in other words.. I can’t recommend him more.

Zak provided constant training for both people and dogs. The behavioral changes in our older dogs is nothing short of amazing. Not that our dogs were delinquents, but all the little annoyances were addressed. Additionally, we now have skills to train the many foster puppies that come through our home.

I have been a client of both training and boarding of KompK9 for many years and have had very positive experiences with both services!! I am deeply indebted to Zac and Monica for their professionalism and commitment to my dogs. My relationship with them has transformed both my dogs and my behavior into a much better, happier, and healthier place. Walks are more enjoyable and they are more manageable inside my home. I am eternally grateful for their patience and support. Thank you!!

Zak is an outstanding dog trainer who is extremely knowledgeable and truly understands dogs. His focus on a dog’s individual mannerisms and personality makes the early stages of training much easier for owners, because he clearly explains what to look for and why it matters. Zak does a great job of setting the right skill level for both the dog and the owner, ensuring the training is effective and realistic. He is very patient when needed, but also efficient—he doesn’t waste time on training tactics that don’t fit a dog’s personality. I enjoyed every session with Zak and learned a great deal throughout the process. I highly recommend him to any dog owner looking for thoughtful, personalized training.

Highly recommend Zack. His ability to educate not only the dog but the owner was amazing. Zack is independent which means you get his creativity of working in unique situations.

He offers lots of support and helps one meet their goals and expectations in owning a well behaved dog.