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I Heart K9 is a dog training business in Riverside, California offering private lessons, in-home training, and group classes, working from a dedicated training facility. They describe their approach as balanced training (rewards and corrections), accept aggression and reactivity cases, and publish pricing from $40 per session to $100 per session.
Riverside, CA • Training facility • 4.9 ★ (37 Google reviews)
Last reviewed: Aug 8, 2026
90 / 100
Highly transparent
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
Based on what the business publishes about itself
I Heart K9 runs an outdoor training field in Riverside where the focus leans heavily toward working dogs and protection training. The program is led by Jim Erickson, who according to their site has taught the advanced obedience and protection class for over 30 years, spent a decade as a K9 handler with the Riverside Sheriff Department, and worked with Adlerhorst K9 for more than 27 years. That law enforcement and working-dog background shapes much of what they offer.
Their Saturday classes follow a structured progression: a beginner level, intermediate instruction under Randy Gulick, and Jim Erickson's advanced class, which includes a second hour dedicated to protection work and drive building. They also run a Wednesday evening session for puppies and newer dogs. For owners dealing with reactive or aggressive dogs, the site indicates they offer private consultations, which can take place at the field, in-home, or another agreed location.
The facility itself is straightforward, an outdoor field with on-site parking at Iowa Avenue and West Citrus Street. They note on their site that a 2023 relocation cost them their original obstacle course, and they've been using a makeshift version while fundraising to rebuild. Inquiries about puppy classes, all-breed training, Canine Good Citizen prep, or service dog lessons are handled through Aleah Erickson.
Group classes range from beginner puppy obedience on Wednesday evenings to advanced Saturday sessions that combine obedience with civilian protection training. I Heart K9 also offers private lessons at their training field or in-home for owners in the Riverside area, with a travel fee for locations more than 20 minutes out. Protection work requires prior participation in their obedience program.
$75 per session
One-on-one obedience sessions held at the K9 training field, tailored to address specific issues like leash pulling, reactivity, desensitizing, socializing, or advanced obedience work.
Sessions are billed hourly and take place at the training field rather than the client's home.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash reactivity, Socialization
$100 per session
In-home private obedience sessions offered locally in Riverside, covering the same customized training goals as field sessions, from basic manners to advanced work.
Billed hourly with an added travel fee if the home is more than 20 minutes from the training field.
Requirements: Local in Riverside only; travel fee applies if more than 20 min away from field.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash reactivity, Socialization
$20 per session
A Saturday morning obedience-focused group class held at the K9 training field, mirroring the Wednesday evening beginner session. It's designed as an entry point before dogs progress to protection work.
Owners bring their dog to the field with required gear and pay a class fee before starting.
Best for: Suited to beginner dogs or puppies just starting obedience training.
Duration: 1 session
$20 per session
A weekly evening obedience class at the K9 training field for puppies and beginner dogs, mirroring the Saturday morning beginner session and focused solely on obedience, without protection work.
No registration call is needed, owners bring their dog and required equipment, fill out a waiver, and join the class, paying $20 cash at the field.
Best for: Intended for beginner dogs or puppies; owners can attend Saturday, Wednesday, or both sessions.
Requirements: We only work obedience on Wednesday nights, we do not do protection work on Wednesday nights.
Duration: 1 session
Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience, Socialization
$40 per session
A Saturday morning group class held at the K9 training field that covers both obedience work and protection training for civilian dog owners. It runs alongside the beginner obedience track for those ready to move into more advanced work.
Requirements: Must participate in Obedience to do Protection
Duration: 2 days
Group classes run $20 per session for obedience-only options, or $40 when protection training is included. Private lessons cost $75 at the training field and $100 for in-home sessions. All prices are clearly published on their site with no packages or hidden fees.
| Program | Price | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Private Lessons - Obedience | $75 per session | Not stated |
| Program | Price | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Private Obedience Lessons at Home | $100 per session | Not stated |
| Program | Price | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Group Class - Obedience | $20 per session | 1 session |
| Group Class - Puppy Obedience | $20 per session | 1 session |
| Group - Obedience & Protection | $40 per session | 2 days |
The program explicitly describes its approach as balanced training, and they state they accept dogs with aggression issues. Specific tools and techniques aren't detailed on the site.
Public materials reviewed by Barklen do not specify which training tools are used.
As described in the business's own materials
According to their site, has taught the advanced class for over 30 years and worked with Adlerhorst K9 for more than 27 years. Spent 10 years as a K9 handler with the Riverside Sheriff Department, later serving as Lieutenant overseeing the department's K9 unit.
According to their site, has years of experience with working dogs and has taught in a variety of settings, helping handlers refine skills before moving to the advanced field.
According to their site, has years of experience working with dogs of all breeds, including companion dogs, pack work, daycare, massage therapy, and working dogs. Also runs his own business, Shepherds Den K9 Training, in Los Angeles County.
According to their site, point of contact for questions about all-breed group training, at-home puppy lessons, Canine Good Citizen prep, and private service dog lessons.
According to their site, worked for years in veterinary management, emergency medicine, and small animal care before specializing in canine rehabilitation. Trained through the University of Tennessee's Canine Rehabilitation Program and later earned a second rehab certification from North Carolina State University, becoming one of the first in the country to hold both credentials. She also teaches at a veterinary assistant school and was invited to give a fundraising talk on injury prevention and rehab for I Heart K9's dogs.
Credentials listed on their site: CCRP, CCAT, and RVT. Barklen has not independently verified these.
I Heart K9 operates from a dedicated training facility in Riverside, CA, offering private lessons, group classes, and in-home training at the client's home.
Their site says they serve owners of all-breed dogs and puppies seeking basic obedience or Canine Good Citizen prep, as well as handlers interested in working-dog training, protection work, or help with reactive/aggressive dogs.
Outdoor K9 training field located at the intersection of Iowa Avenue and West Citrus Street, used for both group classes and private lessons.
Training happens at a dedicated field on Iowa Avenue. Parking and accessibility details aren't published.
Barklen analysis
Barklen analysis based on 7 published Riverside listings (20 with published pricing). These comparisons are computed by Barklen, not claims made by I Heart K9.
Price: too few Riverside programs publish pricing in the same categories for a like-for-like comparison yet.
Reviews: 4.9★ from 37 Google reviews, among 7 published Riverside programs.
Transparency: 90 out of 100 (highly transparent), with 100% price transparency and 61% program clarity. 3 of 7 Riverside listings show certifications; this business does not list any.
Generated from what their public materials leave open
689 Iowa Ave, Riverside, CA
Barklen reviewed I Heart K9 against the business's public materials and published this listing. That is not a check of licenses, insurance, or certifications. See our methodology for what a verified listing does and does not mean.
Details the public materials do not address (owner visits during programs, progress updates, overnight staffing, insurance, guarantee, certifications, and others) are turned into the questions above rather than filled in.
Last reviewed by Barklen: Aug 8, 2026
Contact I Heart K9 directly by phone or through their website, or request a quote through Barklen and we will pass it along.
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