Scott Montoya is an incredible human being and a remarkable man. He is kind, genuine, and compassionate. His words match his actions, and his actions express his soul. Scott selflessly gives others time and a piece of himself. He fosters the self-esteem of young people and Marines teaching them Karate as a means of self-defense, camaraderie, and discipline. Scott also possesses an uncanny skill and connection with dogs, which allows him to read and match the animals to the correct veteran’s needs. Scott has personally been in charge of my Veteran Dog Donation program. During that time, Scott donated countless hours to training, boarding, and screening dogs to be matched with veterans. Scott is meticulous and has a tenacious thirst to help others. I am beyond grateful for him and his skill set. It’s an honor to know this man and to be gifted to work in his presence.

Loki is doing very well on his walks and general behavior since working with FSFV. Previously I couldn't control his pulling when we went on a walk, but now we walk about two miles a day. He doesn't pull the leash, and he doesn't even look at other dogs.  He's doing good at home also - no more jumping and much calmer. When I go to work, he does not destroy the house as he did in the past. He's like a different dog!

My dog Clean and I started training weekly with Sergeant Montoya. Clean knew basic commands but was lazy and wanted to do the bare minimum. Sergeant Montoya taught me how to motivate him and handle him better. He brushed us up on technical skills such as leash handling, switching sides, and working with distractions. Sergeant Montoya spent much time enhancing my dog handling skills and mentoring Clean and me to be a great service dog team.

I adopted Babaloo from a breeder when she was retiring, and she was clearly never socialized. She was usually sweet to my two other dogs but would sometimes be aggressive and bully or attack them. I was nervous about her attending a Board and Train program where I couldn't be with her, but it was my best decision ever. We went from keeping her leashed at home in case of emergencies to having her play and interact nicely with the other dogs. Now, she's a love bug and likes to cuddle in bed and get belly rubs all night.

My dog Charlie and I had attended training classes at pet stores before and were unsuccessful. He's a puppy and just needed some shaping up. Scott came highly recommended by a friend. We attended some group classes at the park, and between the group classes and the "homework" Scott assigned us each week, Charlie learned basic commands in just a couple of sessions. In addition to this, we live on a large property, so Scott suggested we practice long-distance recall. Charlie is improving daily, and I appreciated the personalized approach in a group setting.

My dog Rango went from a scared, loud, pushy pup to a well-mannered gentleman after three weeks in FSFV's Board and Train program. He has learned to trust people, learned appropriate playtime behavior, and learned many leash skills! We are now able to go on walks and meet new people and dogs without me having to worry.

Our dog Hades was always nervous and full of anxiety. He couldn't handle me leaving to go to the gym without panicking. Scott helped calm his energy and even taught him to go in the crate! Hades still has many personalities and can be rambunctious at times, but he knows to play nice in the house and is much calmer with my kids. My neighbors don't complain about his constant barking anymore, either! Thanks, Scott.