We reached out to Family K9 Training for our Chocolate Lab, Rosie, after years of failed training with other trainers across Montreal. Rosie is a great dog but has very bad reactivity towards dogs, cats, kids, bikes, cars, squirrels—you name it. Taking her on walks was something we dreaded for a while because it would take a toll on us every time, and we would come back home more stressed than ever.

We are expecting a baby and didn’t know how we would be able to live with Rosie in case something were to happen. Thankfully, we found Nick at Family K9. Nick helped us understand our dog better, and I must say his training works! He helped us build a better relationship with Rosie, and we now look forward to walking her daily. We are very thankful that we won’t have to make that difficult decision once the baby is here. Rosie is still the same dog that we have learned to love; we just understand better how to handle her and what to look for in her body language.

Nick explains everything very clearly and loves to use real-world examples from daily life so we can understand as best as possible. It’s a significant investment but 100% worth it.

Thank you again, Nick, for all you’ve done! We are very happy with the training and recommend him to all dog owners with reactivity issues.

We recently adopted a 2 year old dog from a rescue that had been taken from a hoarding situation where she had very limited exposure to the outside world. Ellie had no training whatsoever and was very apprehensive around new people and reactive with kids. She was also a challenge to walk because she would react to any dog that barked at her. We knew we needed help with her and chose to entrust the training with Nick after reading multiple reviews (thanks for those….so helpful!) and watching his educational videos. What a great decision. The consult with him enlightened us to why she was displaying the behaviours and what training she needed to help her feel safe and more confident. She spent 3 weeks in the in-kennel training while we were away on vacation and we came back to a huge transformation. When new people come to the house she greets them calmly and confidently. She heels like a pro on the leash and we are able to use the tools we were taught (yes, you have to be trained too 🙂 to avoid confrontation with other dogs. Two days after we brought her home the grandkids came over and she was amazing with them. It is obvious that Nick is very committed to helping dog owners have the best possible life with their pet and appreciate being able to reach out to him down the road if we have any questions/concerns. It is without hesitation that we recommend Family K9 Dog Training.

With over 30 years of experience Nick was fantastic at helping us train our 9 month old maltipoo rescue, Rusty. Just trust the process and you will get results! Rusty and our entire family are so much happier with Rusty – we just needed to be educated on how to communicate with him. We highly recommend Nick!

Nick understands dogs and he understands people who have dogs. He has a depth of knowledge about dog behaviour and is able to lock into each dog’s temperament. One size does not fit all with dogs. We learnt a lot about our dog who is of a nervous and reactive temperament. How a dog interprets the world and reacts accordingly. We also learned about how our own behaviours helped or hindered the dog. It is worth listening closely to Nick and his examples – there is a wealth of tips and information there. We saw a marked improvement with our dog. I have only 1 regret: That we wasted our time with other trainers, and didn’t find Nick sooner. We love our dog. And now we have a better relationship and happier dog.

Working with Nick has truly been a life changing experience for us! Nick is professional, kind, and you can tell that he loves and values what he does. He’s been available for follow up questions and also is very quick to reply.

Tabasco spent 3 weeks with Nick and we were blown away by all of the progress he made! His leash manners are terrific, he is less anxious around people near our home, and we’ve seen improvement in all areas of concern. Would absolutely recommend Nick to all those looking for help and guidance concerning their pup, one of the best experiences we’ve had! 🙂

Nick Zevgolis is the best trainer and teacher! He shows the way to obedience in a very clear way, for both owner and dog. The change in our hyper, anxious, drivey young dog has been remarkable – and we still have two lessons to go! I have been so impressed with Nick and his foundational building blocks to training. I would give a thousand stars if the system would allow me more than 5 🙂 If you want a well-behaved dog, Nick is your go-to person! He is a joy to work with.

Nick is absolutely brilliant at what he does. Not only is he the best dog trainer around, he is just as good at teaching people!

We are first time dog owners, and adopted our little dog Luca from the Humane Society after they rescued him from a dog meat farm. He was traumatized, anxious, and scared of just about everything, including my partner. We had a consultation with Nick, and were immediately won over by his approach. He really gets to know the individual dog (and the owners) to come up with a plan for their specific situation. He sets realistic goals for the training, and explains what is possible. He told us, as we suspected, that leaving Luca at the kennel would be far too stressful for him. So we decided to drive out for lessons. You can trust that Nick always has the best interests of the dogs he works with at heart.

We learned so much just in that initial consultation. Nick distills his years of experience studying dog behaviour into clear explanations that anyone can understand. By the end of the training we were confident dog owners with the tools we needed to support our dog. Luca went from belly crawling through doorways, and spending every walk scanning for threats, to a being a happy little guy who trusts us to keep him safe. He heels and sits on command, comes when we call, and snuggles up to my partner on the couch every evening.

We really can’t thank Nick enough, and highly recommend him to anyone looking for a dog trainer, or a dog-owner trainer! We found his youtube videos really helpful before we even went in for training – check them out to get a sense of how he works! Thank you Nick!

We hired Nick to do a 3 week in kennel training with our 6-year-old rescue dachshund named Penne. She’s a very anxious dog with reactivity towards other dogs/cats and some people. Nick is very professional and gives you the tools you need to make sure you train your dog correctly. He always keeps the dog’s best interest at heart and ultimately relies on you to continue the work he’s done with your dog. He’ll also continue to support you after your training is done if you have any questions. We can’t recommend Nick enough! Thank you!

My dog recently completed the 3-week board and train program offered by Nick.

Before we committed to this program we met with Nick for a consultation where he assessed my dog, and explained his approach. It was very clear right from the start that Nick has a skill set to deal with reactive dogs like mine.

After this consultation I was very eager to sign up for the program, where he offered me a spot within a week.

Nick was incredible from the start. The attention to detail from the start was exceptional. He made sure he had all the care instructions to host my dog in the kennel, both with his food and medication. He then spent the first part of the training bonding with my dog and playing, to bond with him and earn his trust.

The training, as you can see on his social media, focuses on creating a skill set for the dog and their handler to interact more safely with the world.

Through the process Nick was regularly emailing me, providing me with updates on how the training was progressing. He also sent incredible photos too.

At the end of the program we had our “transfer lesson” where Nick gave me all the time in the world to pass on the skill set to me. Essentially for me to learn how to use this new knowledge and apply it myself. This was extremely helpful.

Having reintegrated my dog back home, we have been able to avoid previous triggers that would’ve caused a bite or a lunge without any reaction. The tools he equipped us with allow me to be more safe with my dog in the world, and allow my dog to feel more at ease being in it.

Nick has offered continued follow ups at no additional cost. It is abundantly clear how much he cares about what he does, and how he believes in it too.

I’d give Nick 10 stars if I could. He is also exceptionally kind and personable.

We are grateful for you Nick 🙂

Nick is an exceptional dog (and people) trainer. We brought our 3-year-old dachshund, Walter, to him for help with severe separation anxiety and reactivity to dogs. It was starting to take a toll on our quality of life and, more importantly, Walter’s. We found ourselves avoiding everyday situations just to prevent him from getting overwhelmed.
Nick has an amazing understanding of dogs and their behavior. He helped us see the world through Walter’s eyes and gave us practical tools to help him manage his stress, build resilience, and gain confidence — not by trying to “fix” him, but by meeting him where he is. The transformation has been incredible. Walter’s reactivity has improved so much, he’s noticeably calmer, and his separation anxiety continues to get better every day.
What really stands out about Nick is how deeply he cares — not just about the dogs, but about their people too. His approach is honest, thoughtful, and always supportive. We wouldn’t hesitate to bring any future dogs to him, and it’s comforting to know he’s always there if we need help down the line.
We can’t recommend him highly enough — he’s made a huge difference in all our lives!

Calvin, Lauren and Walter