STSK9 Review: Don’t Buy Before You Read This in 2024

Last Updated on November, 2024

Choosing an online dog training service provider can be a challenging task because there are so many other sensitive factors involved apart from you supposedly wasting your time and big bucks on a program that ends up being useless.

You have to consider several factors like training approach, duration of access, online support, past user experiences and many more. 

STSK9 is an online dog training service provider that has gained much attention of late.

If you are considering this program but want to learn more about it, you must read this article on STSK9 review for an in-depth insight into what training with STSK9 will be like.

The Good

The STSK9 has a small variety of training programs. The MVP program is the start of all programs. It is truly a revolutionary framework that covers an elaborate area of dog training.

The Not So Good

The content of the STSK9 programs is not really exclusive. Of all programs, the MVP program offers value, but it is ridiculously priced. In some cases, optional training tools may need to be used based on the dog’s drive. 

The Bottom Line

The expensive price tag alone is a good reason for not recommending the STSK9. Instead, you should try out the completely FREE K9TI, which offers the ultimate total transformation class by adopting scientifically driven, purely positive techniques to drive results. 

About STSK9

The logo for stk9 specialized training system

STSK9, or Specialized Training Services K9, is a platform that offers online dog training courses for dogs and handlers of all experience levels.

Nino Droweart founded STSK9 in 2016 after being disappointed by the flawful, traditional methods in the dog training industry.

Behind STSK9 is a supportive team of coaches and trainers to provide online guidance and beneficial feedback to progress and unleash your dog’s potential. 

Read on to learn more about how STSK9 came to be.

The Face Behind STSK9

Nino Droweart is the founder and head coach of STSK9. Nino is a veteran who has almost two decades of expertise. He was a nationally certified head trainer and supervisor for Belgium’s largest Police department (APD).

He was also Europe’s first police instructor who traveled to RAAF to conduct a session on implementing his unique training system for law enforcement and military regiments.

Nino developed his unique dog training system focused on creating the best foundation for the dog and the handler to excel in any discipline. 

Without further ado, let’s look into the details of this so-called unique training system developed by Nino.

Training Programs Offered By STSK9

A Banner containing some of the Programs offered by STSK9

STSK9 offers five remote learning programs focused on different end goals.

All the courses are structured to follow a step-by-step informational guide, professional footage, demonstrations, tutorials, and the required instructions you will need to take you through.

The courses allow open access to all course materials, and you can follow through any of your smart devices.

STSK9 also offers a course guidance assessment where you take a quiz. You can input the relevant information asked on the questionnaire to find out what kind of training you and your dog need.

The following are the five dog training programs offered by the STSK9;

1. Master View Path (MVP)

The MVP course is the real deal of all the courses. It is a revolutionary masterclass providing a complete learning framework.

Features of the course;

  • 70+ modules spanning over 100+ hours
  • Dual certification
  • Interactive individual feedback
  • Single investment, lifetime access

Modules covered;

  • Understanding your and your dog’s control mechanism
  • First steps to selecting and bringing a puppy home
  • Puppy University for MVPs
  • All about Movement
  • Basics on world-class obedience
  • Leash skills
  • Drive management
  • Heeling styles
  • Controlling vocals
  • Fading lure
  • Troubleshooting aggression/ reactivity
  • And many more modules are covered

2. Puppy University

Puppy University is a foundation program derived from the revolutionary MVP program. This program helps you set the stage for success in the future in daily life and any discipline of dog sport.

3. Positive Only

This is a purely positive program free of any training tools. It was created based on STSK9 methods with innovation and careful analysis of the handler’s and dog’s needs.

4. Heeling Styles

This program focuses on 12 different styles of heeling, an essential yet hardest part of dog training.

5. Drive & Focus

This course teaches you the methods and technical skills to build and channel your dog’s drive to elevate dog training and performance.

Key Considerations You Should Make Before Signing Up With STSK9

Pictures of the STSK9 Training Center

The STSK9 training system is not only for the dog. It is also for the dog handler. Creating a strong bond between dog and handler is how you achieve fun, uplifted, and improved performance for ultimate results. 

The Teaching Technique Used in the STSK9 Programs

STSK9 programs use a unique skill-based system. This system was driven by well-established scientific principles and validated methodologies to assess and unveil inherent talent.

As a result, an entirely novel and sophisticated scientific method was extrapolated and meticulously crafted.The refined techniques of STSK9 are designed to cater to the dog and their handlers.

The system focuses on a holistic approach to harnessing a dog’s natural ability and talents while preserving its true spirit.

This scientifically validated psychometric method aids in talent and skill development to provide ‘ultimate control over a dog through five key concepts of dog training pillars;

Five key concepts:

  • Pillar 1 is Drive or Energy 
  • Pillar 2 is Movement: this is the most difficult aspect for both handler and dog. 
  • Pillar 3 is Visuals: full control over the dog’s head, what the dog is looking at 
  • Pillar 4 is Vocals: can you always ‘activate’ or ‘deactivate’ a dog? 
  • Pillar 5 is Grip: everything that has to do with a dog’s mouth (holding, biting, releasing, etc.), full control over what a dog can do with its mouth.

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Program

  • This is a remote learning and self-paced dog training class, so you have to DIY
  • The training is centered around scientifically validated psychometric tools.
  • May use training tools such as e-collars based on requirement 
  • The training techniques are focused on multi-disciplinary end goals through skill development.

Cost of Training Through STSK9

STSK9 Program Pricing Bundles

Each training program offered by STSK9 is priced differently based on the content coverage and focus area. The revolutionary MVP course is priced at $2499 while other training courses fall from $149 to $399.

To make the investment more digestible, STSK9 offers monthly payment plans, and most courses offer lifetime access. 

Most of you would have been taken aback by the $2500 price tag because it can be a hefty price even if you are not on a budget.

Below, I have discussed an excellent, decently-priced alternative that covers all the essentials any dog owner would look for. 

User Reviews on the STSK9 Programs 

The STSK9 website boasts an average of 5.0 star ratings on both Google and Facebook. Most user reviews discuss how meticulously laid out and detailed the MVP course is.

At the same time, I stumbled upon a conversation thread on Reddit where users who had purchased the program thought it was an absolute waste of money. So, user experiences widely vary.

Below are screenshots of a few comments on STSK9 to help you get a better view of what sort of an experience you can expect;

Leveled up my training technique as a new sport dog owner, my skills as a pet dog trainer, and confidence as a
handier overall! MVP program is constantly growing and has become more than I hoped for!!

Figure 1. The user appreciates the program as a sport dog owner.

Absolutely DO NOT buy one of his courses. It was easily the biggest waste of money I have ever spent and I’m arguing with the company now about getting a refund. I bought the heeling styles course because I have a nine month old Belgian Malinois and I wanted to do some fancier stuff with him. He knows how to do a casual contact heel and we are working on his focus heel. But I have had trouble teaching him how to walk between my legs, getting him to walk backwards, etc. please do not waste your money like I did.

Figure 2. A disappointed user on his experience with the heeling course.

My Thoughts on Training With STSK9

Since it was high time my dog and I went through a refresher course, I thought I should try a different course than what worked for me in the past. 

If you are a new puppy owner or a dog owner looking for a refresher course like me, it’s best to go with the MVP course.

Unless you know exactly what you want, I don’t see the point of choosing any of the other courses offered by STSK9 because they don’t serve much on their own.So, I went all in and invested in the MVP course. I know it’s fairly expensive.

But I had to try it, given all the hype around it. In my defense, the student highlights and reviews on the website lured me. Plus, the website looked all cool and flashy. Little did I know what I was getting into.

Well, at least I can share my experience to help you choose better.

The website advertises that the programs are suitable for all dogs of any level, regardless of the end goal. That includes new puppy owners, dog sport owners, professionals, etc.

But from what I see and understand, most programs are best for high-drive and sport dogs, not pet dogs. It may work for pet dogs, but it definitely will work for sports lines and working dogs. 

I suppose it is expected and understandable given Nino’s, the founder’s, background as an avid sport dog enthusiast who has competed in the Belgian ring.

You’ll notice the mention of focus and drive throughout the website, which you find mostly effective for high-drive dogs. 

Anyways, cutting to the chase, I do not think the STSK9 MVP program was worth my investment.

Yes, it has quality video instructions, coach guidance, insights, demonstrations, etc.

Trainers training dogs at STSK9

But I felt like I could have accessed all this content through a dog training course that is more affordably priced or even on the internet free (not all, but at least to some extent)

So, I wish I stuck to the program that has worked just fine for me and my dog. I will lay out the details of this program in one of the upcoming topics so you can also try it out without draining your wallet.

Pros & Cons of STSK9

Pros

Completely remote and self-paced
Dual-certified MVP star program
High-quality video recordings with slow-motion effects reveal minute details.
Lifetime Access
Offers group coaching calls at a fee.
Offers private coaching if required (at a fee)

Cons

The MVP course is expensive
It may require the use of training tools, so not all courses are purely positive

A Better Alternative to Consider: The K9 Training Institute

As I mentioned above, the dog training program that has worked for me in the past is the K9 Training Institute (K9TI).

Behind K9TI is an outstanding team of experts.

The stand-out faces are that of an animal behavioral scientist, Dr Alex Diaz, who has 20 years of expertise in the service dog industry, and Eric Presnall, the lead presenter and trainer of K9TI. 

These amazing minds brought K9TI to life and revealed secrets used to train a service dog to help you develop and nurture the perfect companionship with your dog.

The K9TI is an institute that offers remote learning, just like the STSK9.

Through K9TI, you can access the FREE dog training online workshop and the total transformations class. These two together will transform your dog training journey.

The teachings adopted in the K9TI are focused on the three key areas as listed below;

  • Body language
  • Operant conditioning
  • Acknowledgement of the fact that dogs need a task to keep them occupied

Like the STSK9, K9TI offers video-based lessons with clear demonstrations and voice guidance. Plus, if you need additional help, you can turn to an expert trainer to get your issues sorted and questions answered if you ever need personal guidance.

So here’s what you can expect from the K9TI total transformation class;

  • House training
  • A variety of body language commands
  • Training on eliminating unwanted barking and alerting in the presence of strangers
  • Come back training
  • Leash and loose leash walking
  • Tuning out distractions (even in high-distraction settings)
  • And so much more 

You wanna know why this is a better choice than STSK9? Well, it’s FREE yet effective. That’s right, FREE!

Other dog training program reviews:

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the STSK9 Programs are certified. Upon completion of the relevant program, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion to verify their knowledge and understanding of dog training.

At Puppy University, puppies must be 8 weeks or older to participate. The ideal age range is 8-24 weeks old, as the earlier a puppy joins, the more likely it is they learn good habits.

End Thoughts

Although training a dog can be challenging, it is definitely doable with any dog as long as you use the correct techniques, stay consistent, and have patience through the process. And that’s why I recommend choosing the K9TI program

The program uses the best communication mode proven to deliver guaranteed results. And since it is free, you don’t have to worry about your budget. Also, just cause it’s free, do not underestimate the quality of the content. The K9TI is a must-try.

You and your dog can enjoy a fun and stress-free training journey with the right choice of dog training program.

OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION
K9 Training Institute
K9Ti Product Image
Effectiveness
Ease of Training
Price

4.9

4.9

5.0

Overall Score

4.9

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Pros
The institute has a free online dog training workshop.
Training works well for both puppies and adult dogs.
It is suitable for any type of dog with behavioral issues.
The K9TI offers unlimited personal coaching for specialized training.
Get the BEST PRICE valid until the end of November
Cons
The paid dog training program can be a bit expensive, but there is a free workshop too.

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Author
Lauren Klein
Lauren Klein is a freelance writer who originally comes from rural Arkansas. She has a Canis Panther Dog Breed. She loves to visit pet training schools with her pet, and give her fair share of thoughts through IPetGuides.

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