Kansas City’s Top Obedience School
Turn Your Dog’s Behavior into Something Pawsitively Golden
Midas Touch Dog Obedience School in Kansas City
Clay County’s Canine Obedience School
I am convinced that training dogs is my true calling. After starting Midas Touch Dog Obedience School, it felt like a gift to myself. I just love training dogs and people on how to communicate more effectively. I also love the challenge of rehabilitating damaged, aggressive canines. I am proud to be among Kansas City’s few local 5-star dog training services. As such, I will never truly work again.
Certified as a master dog trainer for IDTA and a mentor through the Instinctive Dog Training Association.
A BIT ABOUT MIDAS TOUCH DOG OBEDIENCE SCHOOL
Hello, my name is James B. Stokes, my love of training canines started many years ago when my parents bought obedience lessons for me and my dog, Joe. Are you looking to try something new and enjoyable? Need a bit of one-on-one guidance from a reliable professional? Sometimes all it takes to really understand a concept is a considerate instructor who knows how to teach at your pace. Having worked with canines for most of my life. I bring a depth of teaching experience and knowledge to those who are eager to expand their minds and improve their relationship with their canines. Contact me to see how I can be of service to you.
Our Process
1. Learning About You and Your Dog
I specialize in providing insights into canine behavior, even when they are puppies. So the first step is to learn about your dog’s behavior, whether that includes fear, anxiety, or aggression.
2. Meeting Your Pet
Next, I like for you to introduce me to your pet. In doing so, I can begin to form a relationship of my own with the dog. It also offers me the opportunity to observe your relationship as dog and owner.
3. Introducing Commands
As a top instructor in the Kansas City area. I’ve provided the tools and guidance needed to help all of my students excel. Take advantage of the vast professional experience I have. Get in touch today to find out more and to reserve your private session today. Animals can not tell us what happened to them, before they found their way to us. Whether their present-day fears come from a traumatic experience or neglect, your dog can make great strides and in a shorter period of time than you might’ve imagined possible. All you need is the correct technique and the right attitude.
I specialize in teaching insights into canine behavior, even when they are puppies. Get in touch asap to book a session today.
4. Continue Training Techniques at Home
Now that you’ve found some peace at home, it’s essential that you continue to reward positive behavior and practice giving commands. As your dog masters obedience, you will discover new, fun ways to challenge them.
Eric Cummings
20:56 19 Aug 22
James was extremely knowledgeable and a great trainer! My favorite part of the program was how it was focuses on... training us as owners to properly communicate/train our 2 English Setters. Truly feel like we have unlocked our dogs and it our relationship with them as well as their behavior has grown exponentially. Can’t recommend James enough!read more
Chelsea Welch
16:39 24 Jul 22
James is a very experienced and very impressive trainer. My dog changed his behaviors right after the first session.... WOW, I could not believe how much improvements within one month. He is a different dog now. I also like the fact that James does not use the electronic collar on the dog, it is all about leash and how to use it.Will recommend others to send your dog to Midas Touch. Great work and wonderful times.read more
John Sanders
23:34 20 Jul 22
We just got done with our training. I would recommend them to anyone. I have two young German Shepard, Bo and Sammie... (aka girl dog). The first class they drug me across the parking lot. Out last class today, they walked to the truck like angels… well almost angels… angels that know we stop for ice cream on our way home from training. Actually I will take my dogs back soon for a more advance class. James is awesome, he know his dogs. I have never seen anyone as good with dogs as he is. That is another reason to brag about this training, my dogs love it and him. They will be sad next week when we don’t go back.James is a tremendous trainer, I highly recommend him! My fluffy family gives him two paws up!!!Bridget, Bo, and Sammieread more
A
19:23 15 Jul 22
James is very knowledgeable and helpful with obedience training. I saw a flyer at the local park and told my boyfriend... when we got a new dog that we should look into Midas Touch. Our dogs behavior has improved. She listens to the commands he teaches you. He gives you a proper leash that is best for your dog to use and learn from. Would be happy to come back for other trainings in the future.read more
Larry Pritchett
20:57 08 Jul 22
James did a wonderful job training our young English Mastiff “Cannon Belle”. We just finished the basic leash... training and it has made a huge difference in Cannons behavior. Cannon had difficulty with pulling and not following directions. However with James guidance, love for our dog, and clear instructions she has now learned, to heel, sit, stay, down, release come and is much easier to walk with. At 9 mo. Old 120lbs this is a real gift to be able to manage her safely. We look forward to the next level more advanced training.read more
dana schickedanz
14:45 28 Jun 22
If you’re on the fence about obedience training here is your answer! We contacted James about our Great Pyrenees mix,... Hazel. We were struggling with her walking on a leash, jumping on new friends and generally not obeying us. Within the first few minutes James showed us just what a good girl Hazel is! We just didn’t know how to be her leader! James makes it simple and easy to understand and bond with your dog. This will be the best money spent on your dog, trust me! We couldn’t be happier with her progress and will go back for future training work. Thanks, James!read more
Emily Page
18:43 22 Jun 22
James helped me understand my 2-year-old dog in a completely new way. It is no exaggeration to say his training and... insights transformed my relationship with my dog in less than two months. He takes a no-nonsense approach that is rooted in dog psychology. The primary focus was actually on my behavior and how I cue my dog/model the behavior I want to see from her. I recommend James and his methodology to anyone!read more
Tammy Thompson
21:02 16 Jun 22
My Australian Shepherds just turned 7 years old, they dragged me when I had them on the leash. James showed me in one... lesson how well they could behave when the person holding the leash was actually in charge. James has given me the tools to make my dogs know that I am the alpha dog. They were wild banshees with our first lesson and walked out the door calm and collected on our last. We still have work to do but I am confident in the lessons that James has taught me that soon we will be the envy of dog owners at the park with how well behaved they are.read more
Rachel Voss
16:05 03 Jun 22
James did an amazing job training our dog (in reality just training us). He helped us understand the things we were... doing wrong that were leading to negative behaviors. It is a little more intense, but understandable considering these are dogs. He knows how to properly communicate with them to make us and the dog understand what is expected and that they are safe with us. James is always willing to listen and help provide a solution to your issue and will continue to help even after training has finished.read more
G Mathes
00:47 24 May 22
I have a cairn terrier who I enrolled in leadership training. He is 4 years old so I wondered how much progress he... would make. The difference in his behavior is remarkable. We can now walk without him trying to attack every leashed dog we encounter. He barks less and seems generally calmer overall. I was doubtful that I would see these kinds of results but I am a believer after our sessions. I have tried for 4 years to train him not to lunge, bark and pull at dogs while walking on the leash using positive reinforcement but didn’t have much success. After just a few short weeks using the leash pressure method I can finally see results. Duncan also barks much less. I have no reservations in recommending James at Midas Touch. 5 starsread more
Lisa Berry
23:20 18 May 22
Our experience with Midas touch was exceptional. James is knowledgeable, but more Importantly knew how to train us to... handle our extremely stranger aggressive German Shepherd. We began to notice a difference after the first session and each subsequent session has brought further progress. We are much more confident in handling our dog in public and when friends and family come into our home. We were at the point that if training didn’t work we were going to have to give our dog back to the organization we adopted him from. We are so thankful we chose James and for his structured training and reasonable price point. We cannot recommend James and Midas touch enough.read more
Georgia
18:34 26 Apr 22
I cannot say enough wonderful words about James and his training. I have been to countless other trainers, even done... board and trains (my mistake) that have always been about fixing her issues while not helping me be more confident as a leader. My dog Athena WAS a reactive dog and would rip my arm off anytime we saw any other dog on a walk or just letting her out. After only 10 minutes in our first session, James had Athena walking right next to his dogs and keeping her focused. I can now take Athena on walks, she sees other dogs, and she is relaxed and we both enjoy our time together. James does an amazing job of helping you feel confident with your dog and making you into a leader that helps them. This training has built an even deeper bond between us as she sees me as a leader. I drive over an hour to get to the session but after seeing how amazing Athenas transformation has been, I would drive 10 to get her there. Thank you so much James we will be back!!read more
Taylor Grier
22:32 20 Apr 22
James did a great job at teaching me how to be a better leader for my dog! He handled my German Shepherd very well and... she responded amazing to him! She’s a loving dog, she just needed better guidance from me and I didn’t know how to give her that. Thanks to James and his leadership course, I can now better guide my dog and she has more confidence now!read more
Anita Habibi
16:35 17 Apr 22
James was very helpful in teaching us to communicate with our dogs. I can see a huge improvement in their behavior. One... of my dogs was not capable of enjoying the yard, because he only was guarding our house from cars. It was becoming an obsession with him. I also couldn't take him for a walk without him pulling my arm. We have both of these issues under control. We still need to practice more, but he finally is able to play with his brother out in the yard. I already know that if I can afford, I will hire him again to teach me more communication skills. My dog is able to enjoy being a dog. Thank you James!read more
lou2107
17:06 10 Apr 22
We adopted a boxer/lab mix from a local shelter, who we felt had a lot of potential, but we needed some guidance on how... to help him transition from stray and shelter life to a part of our family/pack. James was recommended to us and quickly helped us establish boundaries and reminded us how to communicate with our new pack member. James is helpful, understanding and truly wants what is best for the dogs he trains. With weekly lessons and a lot of homework and practice, Bodi has made huge strides and is becoming more balanced and confident, but only because we are becoming better leaders…all with James’ help.read more
Rosa Vega (Rice)
14:27 08 Apr 22
My Caesar was in a great need of guidance and discipline. We adopted Caesar in Arizona and with his many scars both... physically and emotionally we can only guess what he had been through. We had considered surrendering him, but knew they would euthanize him because of his temperament.James showed us how to gain his trust which in turn strengthened his heart.He can now be taken on long walks, to the vet and walk among children with no worry.Thank you James for Everything!read more
Emily Caraway
14:33 30 Mar 22
We had a very great experience with James. We went through the leadership training and were able to 100% change our... dog's behavior during the five week course. James was very attentive and answered all of our questions. He was fantastic working with our dog and she really responded to him. Seeing how his own dogs behaved was a testament to his credibility as well. I would definitely recommend Midas Touch for your dog training needs.read more
STACEY MERICA
14:39 27 Feb 22
My experience working with James was absolutely positive in every aspect. I was able to start classes right away with... my Great Dane, Denali. She loved him and was very responsive to him. He gave me the tools and training needed to elicit the same response to me. Denali was always excited to go to our sessions and to see James. I asked a lot of questions and he was always patient and supportive. I would highly recommend him and his training to everyone that might need it.read more
DeeJay Rhodes
05:54 31 Jan 22
If you're reading this, perhaps you have a dog and something is missing, things have gone wrong, or you may even think... this is the last resort. When our 11 year old German Shepard passed away, we eventually opened our hearts to the possibility of adoption. We met a lot of rescues before Princeton, he was found living on the streets, was skin and bones, and generally a nervous wreck. He couldn't sit still or relax unless he was exhausted enough to sleep. We think he must have been abused because he would cower when approached with a leash or anything, really. Then he tried to attack our cat and nipped at our teenagers. When we called James, he listened to our story and immediately offered advice and reassurance before we ever agreed to come in for classes. Within the first few minutes of meeting, he introduced us to a brand new way of thinking and our nervous wreck of a dog was following him around as though they had been friends for years. Over the following weeks, James showed us not only how to be a good leader, but how to build a lifelong relationship. We saw our new family member finally begin to relax and blossom into one of the best behaved dogs I've known. He seems to have been born again, he has allowed himself to be vulnerable with us and in turn melted our hearts. If you have any doubt in your mind that Midas Touch can do the same for you, please feel free to leave your email or number in a comment. I would love to share more about my experience and answer questions for anyone. I stand to gain nothing by promoting this awesome program James has going, but you have everything to gain. No amount of money can compare to the love and friendship a dog has to share with us humans.read more
Anthony Zaragoza
14:59 06 Jan 22
There is a reason why Midas Touch has over 150 5-star reviews. Before going there, our dog Ollie and puppy Maverick... were at each other's throats everyday, multiple times a day. My wife and I were at the end of our rope with them, extremely worried that they would end up seriously hurting each other. We called James in desperation for help and he was not only responsive but understanding. During the classes, James showed us how to be the leaders of the pack by asserting ourselves and not being timid to discipline the dogs when needed. The dog's fighting has since stopped after attending the classes, and our dog's have become so much more attentive to what we are telling them. Something else we love about James is how prompt he is at responding. Day or night, if something comes up and we need immediate answers, James is there to answer a call or a text. Even once the classes end, James will not stop answering any questions you may have. Whether your dog has pressing issues or just needs some basic obedience, take them to James. It is the best thing you can do for yourself and your dog.read more
Kimberly Williams
14:46 03 Dec 21
Great experience with James teaching us how to interact with our dogs. We have 2 pups that were running wild but now... they have more focus and pay attention to our commands. We still have a few challenges but James gave us the tools to keep moving forward. He really understands dogs and worked well with our dachshund and chihuahua who proved to be extremely stubborn and resistant at times. Highly recommend you call James for your training needs as he trains the owner and the dog to communicate.read more
Stephan Caine
04:10 01 Dec 21
Five minutes. Five minutes was all it took James to transform our hyper border collie pound pup into a well mannered... and obedient doggo (well, there was a little more to it than that, but there was a very significant and almost immediate change with our dog on the very first night.) James is truly gifted with regard to training dogs and his courses are well worth the money. I am not sure that you would be able to find a better dog trainer anywhere. All of the five star reviews are spot on and well deserved. We look forward working with James in the advanced training course.read more
Lyla Pekarsky
03:04 29 Nov 21
I can’t rave about James enough! Our youngest of two had some issues we needed to work on and James taught us about the... corrections and leadership we needed to help guide her to do better! She has definitely made some significant improvements, and we have even been able to implement the same discipline with our other dog. I look forward to continuing to work with him, since our dogs love him and we do too!read more
Ashley James
15:30 19 Nov 21
James worked wonders for us and our highly responsive dog!! We adopted a puppy this year, and found Midas Touch online... once her fear and skiddishness began turning to aggression. She would hardly walk on a leash, she would either try to run away from everything or just freeze. After our first session she was walking on a leash like a totally different (and calm) dog.The training not only improved her walks, but all around obedience. Us knowing how to lead her ultimately made her much more comfortable and confident around us, and more attentive and responsive to our commands, even with distractions.We definitely recommend Midas Touch! We get compliments all the time about how well behaved our pup is - from strangers, family, and friends.Thank you James!read more
cierra mitchell
16:14 06 Nov 21
James was amazing with my puppy, Louis Vuitton. I started taking him to training when he was about 7 weeks old. He... caught on very quickly, and he LOVED James. James is very knowledgeable and patient, and reasonably priced. I couldn’t find anyone that would train Louis as young as he was, so I searched for a while and came across James. He’s a life savior, and I highly recommend him!read more
Eva Stomboly
08:55 22 Oct 21
Best experience ever. I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Helped to train for obedience and well as extreme socialization. I... can’t believe how fast my dog was responded to the training. Only after 5 sessions, she is able to obey so many commands! No shock collars used!read more
Tyler Donelson
16:40 05 Oct 21
James has helped us immensely by primarily teaching us how to be good leaders and advocates for our pup, Benji. We feel... so much more confident now that we know how to communicate and instill good behaviors in the dog, and that confidence and assuredness has translated directly to Benji as well. That line of communication between the dog and owner is so valuable, and James has done an amazing job of helping us to open it up. We have been through puppy and obedience training now, and are looking forward to socialization training.Thanks, James!read more
Mariah Thompson
00:36 02 Oct 21
James has done an amazing job with my dog Cairo! We left another trainer that would do these puppy classes where... instead of training, it was puppy socialization time 100% of the time. Which is important however that’s not what Cairo needed. James came in and showed me how to properly take control and assert myself as the boss between us two, while facilitating trust between myself and Cairo.If I’m being 100% honest, I live in a dog-friendly apartment complex next to a large walking trail/park and I still have yet to meet a dog that is as well-trained and polite as my Cairo. If I say “heel”, Cairo’s right by side. If I say “sit”, he’s immediately in a sit. If I say “stay”, he’ll hold his position. Doesn’t matter if there’s another dog lunging and barking at him, he knows to trust me and look to me. And Cairo is only 9 months old! I have James to thank for that.You won’t regret going to James! Just keep in mind that you will have to take the tools and lessons James provides you with and do your homework! Don’t show up to class without doing your homework because he will always be able to tell.read more
Emma Shoemaker
02:35 30 Sep 21
Highly recommend!! We saw major improvements in our dog's behavior after the first session!! We completed the... leadership package, which taught us how to take charge and learn how to better communicate with our dog. He no longer pulls me around on the leash or pulls to get to other dogs when we go on walks. James really knows what he is talking about and has a way with dogs!! We will be signing up for more training packages in the future!read more
Anna Funk
21:21 18 Sep 21
AWESOME experience. James knows his stuff and our dog was better behaved after just one session. Super effective and... James is great to work with. Our 6 mo old puppy isn't just better behaved when we ask him to do what James taught him (basic obedience: heel, sit, stay, come) but all the time!!!read more
Tiffany Stewart
11:29 14 Sep 21
James has an amazing ability to get you to understand that training yourself is just as important as training the dog.... Maggie loves her time with James and we are beyond pleased with her progress in just a few sessions. We are excited to start the next round! We HIGHLY recommend James for your dog training needs.read more
Kevin Roberts
02:48 13 Sep 21
An absolutely amazing training experience! So professional and educational. My Mom’s dog was trying to become the... alpha of the house. Through the training sessions my Mom soon regained the alpha position and was able to help her dog learn so many great qualities through the training. He’s a different dog, for the better. We have had follow up questions and everything has been answered quickly and professionally. I would highly recommend this training!read more
Tyler Eaton
20:16 12 Sep 21
Well worth the money and time! He is so good at what he does for a living that my German Shepherd has changed... drastically because of this course! My dog was stubborn at first and even nipped the trainer but he was completely cool with it and wanted to continue his training for the better of my dog. Eventually my dog took to the trainer well and looked forward to his training every day and his one on one time with the trainer every week of this course!read more
Natalia Vides
15:04 28 Aug 21
Before James we had a year and a half old cattle dog. He would be aggressive towards people at times, would attack the... tires of cars, and would just be very out of control. But all of that changed when we started working with James! We currently live in saint Joseph Missouri, and had decided to drive down to Kansas city( 45 minutes away) and it was the best decision we could’ve made! Thanks to James, my baby boy is no longer aggressive as he once was. He is more obedient and much more calm around others. There is not any other trainer I would rather choose than James. He knows exactly what he is teaching you and the dogs, and is just an outstanding dog trainer!! i cannot thank him enough for what he has done for me and my family.read more
Karen Moran
16:34 14 Aug 21
James is an OUTSTANDING dog trainer! 🙂 We cannot thank him enough, as he has helped us more than we could ever... imagine with getting to know our german shepherd and responding to and training him better!I believe that no matter what a persons thoughts are in regards to their dog being a hopeless case, James is the man that will help you fix it!THANK YOU JAMES! 🙂read more
Alexis Barbosa
21:13 13 Aug 21
James is an EXCELLENT and knowledgeable trainer. We took our 6 month old pup to him and she fell IN LOVE. She responded... to him and respected him almost immediately after they started working together. James also really helped my boyfriend and I get on the same page training-wise. Not only did we get a dog trainer, we also got a human trainer. 😂 We can’t wait to take Vega to the advanced classes. Thanks James!!read more
Karisa Webster Booker
02:52 03 Aug 21
We recently completed the leadership course with Midas Touch Dog Obedience and have signed up for the next level. We... did basic training with him as a pup, but had lapsed in working with him and Covid didn’t help his social skills leaving us with a 2 year old pup who didn’t mind well. The changes we have been able to see in our dog have been amazing - not just the commands he knows but overall behavior and social skills have shown great improvement! I can’t recommend enough!read more
Kylie Waterworth
14:31 03 Jul 21
We rescued our german shepherd mix, Whiskey, when he was six months old. We had no idea of his background, but we did... know we needed help training him and getting him to be the best he can be. I contacted Midas Touch and explained my situation and they were able to help me determine the best class to put Whiskey through and walked me through why they thought that way. Through the classes Whiskey is so much more well behaved and now we have a better understanding of how to handle him when he does act out. Now that we’re out of the classes, the help doesn’t stop. It has been made known to us that we can call with questions at any time! I highly highly recommend Midas Touch to anyone who is looking for that extra help with their four legged kiddo! You won’t regret it!read more
