Ridgeside K9 NorCal Dog Training offers various dog training programs, including board and train and day training, among many other programs. However, dog owners can opt for private training. Private training entails training the dog owner to motivate and train their dog to communicate and engage.
Our expert trainers evaluate the client’s dog and the situation it lives in. We also listen to the owner to establish what works and what doesn’t. Our trainers also evaluate the dog’s temperament and behavior. After that, we teach the owner how to develop a relationship using various tools and techniques. Afterward, we develop a plan to train the dog and also equip the owner with skills to train the dog further after they leave.
We offer the very best dog training in all of Northern California! Keep reading to learn more about our team! Check out our Facebook page for more content. Contact us for assistance.
Rich Hartman is a Northstate local, born and raised in Chico, Ca. He is a 25-year veteran of law enforcement. For 15 years Rich was a full-time K9 Handler.
Rich has been a Police K9 Trainer for the last 7 years, responsible for the training of multiple Police and Sheriff K9s in the Sacramento and Bay Area region. Rich also raises puppies that are trained to work as Police K9s. He has placed several Police Dogs into service in the Northern California Region.
While training K9s, Rich has taken on several pets for people in need of help with their personal dogs. It has become clear that there is an overwhelming need for pet dog training and behavioral rehabilitation in Northern California. Rich has teamed up with Aaron Taylor (founder and owner of Ridgeside K9 LLC) to bring the proven Ridgeside K9 brand, training, and service to all of Northern California. Ridgeside K9 NorCal was born and opened in 2021.
Jason Miller is a native of the Sacramento Region. Jason is a 17-year veteran of law enforcement at a local agency. Jason has owned and trained dogs his entire life. At first, it was a hobby and consisted of training family dogs to be obedient and do tricks. The training of dogs became a full-time job when he was selected to be a K9 handler for his agency in 2014.
Jason has handled multiple K9 partners and assisted his fellow handlers with the training of their dogs. Becoming a K9 handler is when Jason took his dog training studies to new levels. Having the opportunity to work and train with the industry leaders in his region has helped Jason develop a knowledge of the positive methods of training.
Jason expanded his knowledge base by attending training events and conferences put on by trainers from around the country and world. Jason is a firm believer in ethical and humane training methods that enrich the bond between dog and owner. Jason continues to further his studies in training our four-legged companions and making a better life for them and their owners.
Jason and his wife, Kacey, currently have two dogs. The first is Jason’s current K9 partner and the second is his retired partner. Jason’s retired K9 partner, Blu, was credited with saving Jason’s life and is a K9 Purple Heart recipient.
Maddie is one of our top-notch board and train dog trainers! I have had a passion for dogs ever since I was a little girl, for Christmas and my birthday I’d always ask for books on dogs or dog training so I could train the family Golden Retriever. As soon as I turned 18, I started volunteering at a local dog rescue to get hands on experience and I was able to shadow multiple trainers from there.
A few years later I was hired as a dog trainer for a company that did severe behavior modifications and working dogs, so I got to have tons of experience with two very different extremes in dog behavior. From there I continued training but took on a job working detection canines for narcotics and even got the amazing opportunity to work my own dog in conservation detection.
One of my dogs, Hex, who does the conservation detection got to be on the A&E TV show America’s Top Dog! He was the first conservation detection dog to compete on the show. I have been training dogs full time since leaving my detection position 2 years ago.
I never actually stopped training, just shifted my focus for a bit. I have 3 personal dogs, Hex, Bruce and Rip. Hex is my demo dog and competes in PSA (protection sports association) and Rip will be following suit as well. Outside of dog training I enjoy camping, traveling and working out.
After serving in the military, Jeremy began working with performance dogs. He apprenticed under an experienced animal behaviorist and discovered a passion for protection sports. He became a certified helper and decoy in multiple protection disciplines, earning national-level recognition with honors. He has earned titles with multiple dogs as both handler and trainer. He has run a working dog club in Northern California and helped club members achieve titles with their own dogs. This experience led him into the field of police dogs, where he has supported agencies across the United States and Canada. He has also bred working line German Shepherds that have achieved significant accomplishments.
Building on his experience with protection dogs, Jeremy expanded his focus to companion dogs. He gravitated toward behavior modification, finding that work especially rewarding. Since then, he has helped hundreds of families understand their dogs and enjoy life together.
Irini is a professional dog trainer at Ridgeside K9 NorCal, serving dog owners across Northern California. She began her journey in competitive dog sport, where she developed a deep understanding of canine behavior, drives, and motivation. Working and competing at higher levels taught her how to read dogs clearly and communicate effectively, and these skills now shape her approach to practical pet obedience training in real homes and real environments.
With more than 12 years of hands-on experience working with dogs of all breeds and temperaments, Irini focuses on building reliable obedience, solid engagement, and calm, confident behavior. She is especially passionate about helping owners with high-drive, reactive, or working dogs who need clear structure and communication. Her training is designed to support families looking for dependable pet obedience, clearer boundaries, and better behavior in everyday life.
Irini holds formal certification in e-collar training from the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers (MES) and continues to expand her education through advanced workshops, seminars, and collaboration within the professional training community. She has also worked alongside local law enforcement to help resolve control and obedience issues within police K9 units, adding real-world working dog experience to her pet training programs.
Whether a family is starting with a young dog or trying to fix long-standing behavior issues, Irini is committed to helping each dog and owner team build a clear communication system and a solid training plan. Her mission at Ridgeside K9 NorCal is to create balanced, respectful relationships between dogs and their owners so they can enjoy life together with more freedom, confidence, and peace of mind, both at home and out in the world.
