not your
average
dog training
Why settle for good,
when you can have DAMN GOOD?
ANY BREED. ANY BEHAVIOR.
results guaranteed


Why choose
Damn Good Dog Training?
_
- Customized Programs for Every Dog and OwnerFrom private lessons to board & train, we offer solutions tailored to fit your needs.
- Transforming Behavior Through the Power of PlayUnlock your dog’s potential with an approach that’s fun, engaging, and highly effective.
- Reliable Training Anywhere, AnytimeWe prepare your dog to succeed in real-world environments, not just at home.
- Certified Expertise You Can TrustBacked by the Training Without Conflict® certification and real-world success stories, we bring world-class training to your doorstep.
what is play based dog training
all about?
Radically Different. Shockingly Effective.
meet the owner

Shanell Assmus
Founder & Certified Professional Trainer
Here's What Our 'Damn Good Dog Owners' Are Saying...
Stacy SpragueNovember 6, 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. After Remi, our frenchie, joined our family, we quickly knew we would need some professional assistance when it came to training. We have been sideline supporters of Shanell for years and knew of her love, commitment, and dedication to dogs. It was a “no brainer” that we would choose her to train our Remi. Shanell is so kind, thoughtful, and educated when it comes to her training. She trained Remi daily while loving on her like she was her own. Remi came back with an excellent understanding and foundation of basic commands that provide safety for her as well as a building block for us to grow on. I highly recommend Shanell and trust her with all of my dogs training needs. James DobsonSeptember 11, 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks". YEA RIGHT! Shanell is training 2 of our dogs and our 9 year old has the best recall she's ever had in her whole life. Prior to K918 our dogs couldn't be in the same room without hackles going up. 3 weeks in and they are laying on the couch next to each other with no issues. I have no doubt that if we take the foundation that has been laid for us, that things will be fully back to normal. Jamie DeBoerJuly 26, 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Shanell was absolutely amazing to work with! I did virtual training and was nervous I wouldn’t make much progress since it wasn’t in person. She was invested and cared about my progress/my dog just as much as I did. If you are willing to put in the work and time, you will see results. My dog has so much more confidence and listens well because it is communicated clearly what he needs to do. I would recommend Shanell to anyone! Dani RossMarch 15, 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Y’all. I got a friend’s referral to call Shanell after my pup had eaten TWO pairs of eyeglasses, a flip flop, a pair of sandals, scissors ✂️ 😱 … basically anything I had touched, she wanted and destroyed. (High energy much?!) I made the choice to send Scrappy to have intensive training with Shanell - so bye bye pup for three weeks! I got periodic updates - not only texts but pictures and videos. She let me know how they were progressing and what skills she was mastering. This dog came home with so much more confidence! She’s not afraid of the leash, can walk and have manners on it, rides in the car, does basic commands, and we’re still working on more! We have had our first download - (read: train the mom to be a better pet parent for Scrappy!) and she walked ME through how to play and incorporate some of the training/lessons. Scrappy is still high energy, which we love, but now we’ve found a way to get her brain working and tired at the end of the day. I was literally at my wits end! This dog destroyed a room when she busted out of her crate one night (before the training), and now we’re using her play drive to wear her out in a healthy way. And another happy side effect - she’s even more lovable. Bethany DickieMarch 1, 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We cannot thank Shanell enough! We had an awesome experience working with her. She was very adaptive to our dog’s personality and our specific goals. She gave us tools and techniques to have safe and fun experiences with our dog. Our dog loves the freedom and we love the trust we built! Thanks again! Will DudneyDecember 13, 2023Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Shanell did an excellent job, and we really enjoyed working with her. We have a 2-year-old goldendoodle, and we were needing some help with improving several behavioral concerns, including obedience, sensitivity with being groomed, and occasionally being a little aggressive to unfamiliar people/dogs, before we had our first baby. We had previously sent our dog to a different boarding training program, and while this is definitely a good option for other people and their pups, we found the in-person sessions extremely helpful in practicing and implementing the training ourselves and getting real-time feedback. Shanell was very professional, timely, great with communication, and fun to work with. We saw a ton of improvement in our dog’s behavior and have been totally comfortable with him being around our newborn. Would highly recommend Shanell! Callie DeereDecember 12, 2023Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Shanell was wonderful! We have a belgian malinois/german shepherd mix and we did in home training. She truly took the time to assess and understand what our dog needed, was nothing but helpful the entire time, and was always there if we had any questions in-between our sessions. Her way of training builds a great relationship between you and your dog while having structured training at the same time! Highly recommend and she is so easy to get along with as well! sorcha hardingDecember 16, 2022Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I reached out to Shanell after finding her on instagram and seeing dogs she had previously worked with. I am not based close by so I initially reached out to see if she had a recommendation of someone near me who has a similar training style to her as I loved what I saw. Shanell suggested the virtual option, which initially I was a little skeptical of, worried that it would be too much for me. It has been the best thing ever! Shanell is so knowledgable and I’ve learnt so much. The video platform she uses is very easy to use, and Shanell is very prompt with her responses to any questions and providing feedback. Through the videos we send, she sees how our pup responds in different scenarios and tweaks her advice so it’s tailored to us! Shanell helped us get into a great routine with our high energy Vizsla puppy, and introduced us to the world of structured play which has been a game changer for our pup. Our initial sessions with Shanell were so helpful that we are continuing to work with her and are well on our way to off leash freedom with bullet proof recall! I would highly recommend working with K918 dog training. We are very glad we do!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
