Folks, be careful who you trust your dog’s training to.
The advice you follow will dictate the outcome of your dogs behaviour and ultimately guide the path you and your dog are on for years to come.
I’m working with an array of dogs & their owners right now, who have gone to other trainers before me who have suggested or employed the most bizarre, useless and in some cases harmful “dog training” leaving both the dogs and owners confused and frustrated.
Here are but a few examples of what I see and hear on a regular basis from people who have gone to dog trainers who have misguided them:
“if you don’t like what your dog is doing, ignore it” “ if you don’t like your dog nipping or jumping up, poke him in the ribs” “if he doesn’t listen, put him in his cage for time time out” “If he doesn’t listen, don’t feed him” “your dog is anxious and needs Prozac“ “your dog is hopeless. There’s nothing to be done“ “this dog is untrainable“ “Your dog is stubborn and like a dumb blonde in high heels (I actually have video of this dog on my site after I trained him and he is a lovely dog who is very trainable and his owners were thrilled to find out how wrong their original trainer was!)
This is a short and sanitized version of what I hear on a regular basis. Every single case the dogs were trainable, in most cases, very trainable, and a lot of fun to work with. The owners were unfortunately duped into believing what the trainers were telling them based on the trainers ability to “sell“. Either through Credentials (certifications and memberships), experience “… I’ve been doing this for X years“ and in some cases the hard sell (think used car dealership).
Real dog training providing quality of life for both human and dog
At the end of the day, dog training should provide results. Real results that improve the quality of life for dog and owner. Results take time and require knowledge, energy and effort, patient and consistency. Results should show themselves when things are being done properly. Is after several weeks or even months of working with a trainer and your dog, you are not seeing an improvement or in some cases things are going from bad to worse this is a clear sign that things are not working.
Hadley is a one-year-old spaniel who is extremely anxious and cannot relax her mind.
Her owners contacted me for help because she barks nonstop outside on a walk, around the house, whines continuously and show a general restlessness and unease despite all of her owners efforts. ‘from Hadley’s owner’s original email:
”We have been to different trainers and they have all given us different methods to try to help us but nothing has worked.”
”When she is inside, she is constantly barking. It gets worse when she sees birds, people, dogs (anything that moves really) from the window. I know she barks for attention, and we have tried to correct this but it has not worked.
“On walks, she lunges at cars, barks at everything and seems very aggressive towards other dogs. “
“Focusing on us in different environments. She rarely pays any attention to us when we are outside. Constantly pulling on lead, she looks like a sled dog trying to drag us along. When we stop walking and tell her to sit, she sits for a second then is back up and pulling/whining. “
“Aggressive” towards other people and dogs. If someone comes over to our house, she growls and barks, then lunges and backs off. She has never bitten anyone. The barking can last for five minutes, but sometimes it lasts for over an hour. The moment someone tries to pet her once she is calm, it starts up again. With other dogs however, they could be out of her sight and she will still be barking and lunging. Even just hearing another dog bark, she goes crazy. “
“Her vet has told us that she is anxious and has prescribed Trazodone, but only for when we know a “stressful” event is coming up.”
Take a look at Hadley in these videos to give you an idea of her progress!
Video number 1 is minute one of her arrival at the kennel. It will give you a glimpse of what she was like and you can see the transition start to take place in her very first session.
Video number 2 is towards the end of her first week of training.
Video number 3 is towards the end of week 2 of training. Upon seeing the video Hadley’s owner commented:
”Holy moly!! She’s like a completely different dog! We are so happy she is doing well and I can’t believe how quiet she was! We have tried bringing her into Chico and mondou before, and even without any dogs or staff around it did not go well. I’m beyond happy she is calming down. I don’t know what to say! “
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One year-old spaniel, nonstop, barking, and anxiety 1st session
Nonstop barking & anxiety changed in 1 week #dogtraining
Non stop barking and anxiety – 2 weeks of training – training test #dogtraining
Anxious, fearful, nonstop barking after two weeks of training. #dogtraining
Dogs love to play and most dogs love to play in a rough and physical way.
Dogs also love to use their mouths. By showing them that they can use their mouths and satisfy their need to bite, pull and thrash around with their owners it helps the dog live a much more satisfied lifestyle. It also helps the dogs spend energy and is a very bonding experience for the dog and owner.
Situations where it may not be advisable to play tug-of-war with your dog.
If your dog is a resource garter or displays any type of possessiveness or aggression to its family, it is not advisable to play tug as you will very likely create a bigger problem and potentially put yourself in harms way.
Of course, if the dog is physically incapable, or has health related issues that prevent it from playing tug this is also another instance where we need to be tuned into.
Frequently asked dog training question: will tug-of-war make my dog aggressive
Assuming that the dog has no behavioural issues and that you have a healthy relationship with your dog tug-of-war will definitely not create an aggressive dog.
If anything, it will teach the dog that there is a “time and place” rough and rowdy behaviour and that is when we initiate play with a toy.
Watch the video clip provided here and take a look at how my bulldog puppy hooligan crashes around like a madman while we were playing tug.
He’s well into it, pushing and pulling and growling and carrying on.
Pay special attention to what he does when I release :
He comes running right to me with it because he wants the game to continue. This tells us everything we need to know about what the motive of the dog is.
The dog is not trying to “possess” the toy.
He is not trying to drive me away from the toy.
He is not taking the toy and running away with it.
He is not anchoring himself over the toy and preparing for war war.
He is simply asking for me to continue the game that he loves and the toy is the tool we use to share a game toget.
Dog Training is as much science as it is an art. We have so much information about how dogs process information, adapt and learn. We have a better understanding of how a dog’s drives, DNA and early life experience can influence their behaviour. We also need to balance all of this with a keen and observant eye in training and analyzing what we do to help guide our dogs to success. We have to be able to understand our dogs’ feelings and in this particular case Odin’s feeling ran away from him like the bus in the movie Speed. It was full speed, no brakes out of control unhealthy obsession with shadows.
Training Challenging dogs
Helping dogs with specific issues like Odin is a joy to partake in. As a professional dog trainer fo 30 + years I love when people bring me challenging dogs. In many cases they bring me dogs who have already seen multiple trainers and yet they have not been able to successfully remediate the problem behaviour.
Creative Dog Training
You can’t simply force an obsessed dog to stop. We have to work on teaching skills, replacing and redirecting the dog’s focus and energy and in essence showing ther dog a new reason to get up in the morning. Very driven dogs of any breed are purpose driven. Their drives must achieve satisfaction or the frustration will bubble over like a full pot of boiling water on top of a burner set to max on the stove top.
Odin’s owners requested a consultation towards the end of last year and then he came in for Family K9 Dog Training’s Board and Train In January of this year. Since he has gone home from training they have followed up on his work and have done very, very well learning how to live with Odin and follow the condors explained to them in our transfer lesson. Everyone is living a much more content and peace filled life now – Humans and Dog enjoying their days together as it should be!
Dog Training Success Story!
Hi Nick,
I want to thank you for all that you’ve done for Odin, he is truly a man’s best friend that just wants to play all day everyday.
His favorite game nowadays is fetch! We bought these RuffDawg toys and they are seriously his favorite thing in the world. It’s his new “shadow” obsession. The great thing is he calms down and relaxes once we take it away.
Wishing you the very best and more doggos to train!
Sincerely, CJ, Seham, Reuben & mostly Odin
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Training a pitbull with shadow chasing OCD – Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Dog Training PitBull – OCD – shadow chasing – Family K9 Dog Training
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Training changed dog’s life. Pitbull W/OCD. Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Montreal Dog Trainer – Family K9 Dog Training – Dog Training plan for special needs dog
A Collection of video clips of recent in kennel dog training graduates
In-kennel dog training is a popular option for those seeking comprehensive and effective training solutions.
Understanding In-Kennel Dog Training:
In-kennel dog training, also known as board-and-train or residential training, is one fo family K9’s most popular services along with one on one lessons at your home or at the kennel as well.
During the in kennel program, your dog resides at the kennel receiving intensive training tailored to its individual needs.
Benefits of In-Kennel Dog Training:
Intensive Training: In-kennel training offers concentrated, focused attention, which can accelerate the learning process.
Consistency: Dogs benefit from consistent training routines and environments, which may be easier to achieve in a dedicated training facility.
Socialization: Boarding with other dogs and interacting with trainerand staff can improve a dog’s social skills and behavior.
Expert Guidance: Professional trainers have the experience and expertise to address a wide range of behavioral issues effectively.
Convenience: For busy pet owners, in-kennel training offers a convenient solution, sparing them the time and effort required for daily training sessions.
Not sure if in kennel training is what you want?
Send Family K9 Dog Training an email to discuss the In Kennel training option as well as the possibility of exploring other training options such as one on one private lessons if that is your preference for you and your dog!
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Dog training road trip and shopping spree! Board & Train Montreal Family K9 Dog Training
Golden Retriever obedience
Dog reactive Great Dane. Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training.
Training changed dog’s life. Pitbull W/OCD. Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Labradoodle Puppy Training– Montreal dog trainer – Family K9 Dog Training
Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training Helping street dog go from reactive to focused
Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training Will a dog listen to a whisper?
Family K9 Dog Training: Unleashing Harmony for Vaudreuil area dog owners ! 🐾🏡
Attention all Vaudreuil pet parents! If you’re searching for a canine training experience that combines expertise, compassion, and a family-friendly approach, look no further than Family K9 Dog Training. Nestled in the heart of Vaudreuil, this premier dog training service is dedicated to transforming your four-legged family member into the well-mannered companion you’ve always dreamed of.
🌟 The Family K9 Difference:
1. Expert Dog Trainer and Dog Owner Teacher with a Personal Touch:
At Family K9, your dog is not just a student; they’re a valued member of the family. Nick Zevgolis is an experienced trainer of 30 years who bring a wealth of knowledge and a genuine love for dogs. The personalized attention ensures that each dog receives the tailored training they need to thrive.
2. Family-Centric Approach:
Recognizing that dogs are an integral part of the family, Family K9 Dog Training emphasizes a family-centric approach. They believe that involving the whole family in the training process creates a stronger bond and a more harmonious living environment.
3. Comprehensive Dog Training Programs:
Whether your furry friend is a rambunctious puppy or a seasoned senior, Family K9 offers comprehensive training programs to meet every need. From basic obedience to advanced skills, each program is designed to address specific behaviors and enhance the overall well-being of your dog.
4. Positive Reinforcement Philosophy:
The training philosophy at Family K9 is rooted in positive reinforcement. This means focusing on rewarding desired behaviors rather than punishing undesirable ones. This approach not only fosters a loving relationship between you and your dog but also makes the learning process enjoyable for your furry friend.
5. Real-World Dog Training:
Family K9 understands that dogs need to function in various environments. Training your dog with the right approach will enable you to make the most out of your dog’s good behaviour and take your dog anywhere. The Montérégie region offers many outdoor activités for nature lovers and active people and why wouldn’t we want to include our dogs on hikes, walks, runs, cycling just to name a few? Being able to control and communicate with your dog opens up a world of possibilities and potential for enjoying nice outings in places such as parks and busy streets, allowing your dog to generalize their skills and become a well-behaved companion in any situation.
🏡 Serving the Montérégie Region:
Conveniently located in the heart of Montérégie, Family K9 Dog Training serves the entire region, from charming communities to picturesque landscapes. Whether you’re in Vaudreuil, Hudson, Rigaud, Saint Lazare or Longueuil, Brossard, or any other part of Montérégie, access to high-quality dog training is just a paw’s reach away.
Helena Levitt
2024-04-12
We brought our Goldendoodle home 12 years ago with no idea how challenging the puppy stage can be. Nick came highly recommended and so we reached out and he was amazing! He was patient, knowledgeable and incredibly skilled. After spending 3 weeks in his care our puppy returned with all the skills needed for a seemless transition into our family. We had such a well behaved, happy and trustworthy 12 years with her. Fast forward to today, we are bringing home our new puppy and have already secured a spot in Nick’s program. Knowing he will be part of this puppy’s journey brings us confidence that we can enjoy this next chapter with our new addition without the concerns that come with a puppy! I highly recommend his services.
Emerald Jayde
2024-03-23
I have known Nick for about 5 years now and in that time, he has trained my 3 dogs and my family dog. Needless to say, I trust him wholeheartedly with dogs and I recommend him to everyone looking for a dog trainer.
In 2019, I brought him my 1year old Frenchie and 5 year old German shepherd family dog. Neither of the dogs had any discipline, it was super hard to walk them, they had zero recall, the GSD loved to bark and runaway. Good dogs, just not easy to incorporate into our everyday lives. The GSD had been previously trained but it just didn’t stick. The Frenchie had an excessive amount of energy and he didn’t know where to direct it. The 2 went to the “Board and Train” and it was the best decision we had ever made. Both dogs came back fully trained and ready to work. Nick supported us through the transition and we ended up with amazing pets!
In 2022, I adopted a 5yr old chihuahua who came from an abused home. He was terrified and extremely towards dogs (except the ones in the house). He would lunge to kill, he didn’t care how much bigger the other dog was. He didn’t even know his name. I sent him to the program, and now he can heel, come, place, leave it and most importantly, he knows his name! I’ll attach a video of him leaving a dog alone.
The most recent one, she came back last week from training. She is a 8 month old cocker that has very low confidence and very high energy. We wanted her to speak the same language as my other 2 dogs as she was getting hard to manage. Now, everyone is on the same page, we go for pack walks comfortably, I can put everyone in a place, I can tell them to leave it and know that they will. My cocker looks to me when she’s scared instead of reacting.
The dogs are all more relaxed because they trust that I will guide them, and that is thanks to Nick’s training. I have given him 4 dogs with completely different personalities and the results have all been amazing. He tailors his training to the dog and makes sure to give the human the right tools to follow through.
Forever my dog trainer, 100% worth it!
Romy Hutman
2024-03-09
An exceptional dog trainer indeed! We've had the pleasure of working with Nick for over 20 years, and his dedication has always shone through. Maintaining a strong relationship throughout the training process, he's helped shape our fur babies into well-mannered companions. Highly recommend his services for anyone seeking expert guidance and a lasting bond with their pets!
Karel
2024-03-03
Our beloved golden retriever Rex has just finished his obedience training with Nick. We couldn't be more happy. Nick is the best trainer we've ever met. He explained each step with patience and passion. Rex enjoyed each session, and we saw the improvement from week to week. We strongly recommend Nick experience to people looking to have the dreaming dog.
Jill Gale
2024-02-21
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.
Sarah Roy
2024-02-13
I started training with Nick after having a few incidents with my 5 year old Aussie/border collie. After just the assessment, I could tell how knowledgeable Nick was and how well my dog responded right away. People told me my dog could no longer be trained being 5 years old but I knew they were wrong. We choose to do 6 training sessions one on one and after the first session, he was already learning and behaving better. I’ve never been able to walk him without having to walk very fast at his pace or without my arm extended. He would bark at dogs or people walking by along with lunging at cars. We have completed 4 training sessions and today I was able to push my daughter in the stroller and have Murphy walk right by my side for an entire walk, along with being able to walk pass people and dogs with no reaction. One person even asked if that was the same dog!
I’m excited to see how far we will continue to get with not only walks but jumping on people when entering the house, barking at the window, and overall a calmer / happier dog. I am forever grateful to have taken the one on one sessions and learning myself how to handle my dog. I can see the benefits right away and can’t wait to continue training him. I highly recommend Nick to help with any age dog and breed.
Seham Slllll
2024-01-30
There aren’t enough words to thank Nick in all the work and lessons he’s taught us and our 1yr old Odin. He is patient and takes the time to explain how we should approach situations to set ourselves up for success.
I definitely feel a huge sense of relief knowing that we are now taking the right steps in giving a healthier quality life for Odin, all thanks to Nick.
Nick - thank you for all that you do. I truly appreciate the time and effort you provided and look forward into keeping in touch for years to come!!
Michèl-e Robinson
2023-12-18
Nick delivers fantastic results and helps you develop a connected relationship with your dog! He is an incredible e-collar trainer (please don't try DIY e-collar training). I hired him for his six 1:1 training sessions plus the e-collar add-on and it changed my daily life for the better. Here's my story:
My australian shepherd Heidi was rarely engaged with me and had developed violent aggressive behaviour towards dogs at age 2. She is the cutest ever, and sweet as pie when we're alone inside the house, but walking her caused my family and I so much discomfort stress that I was mentally preparing myself to give my dear friend away. Although I learned so much and felt great about my consultation with Nick, I couldn't afford to work with him at the time. It was obvious that Nick could help me, but I opted to meet with two cheaper trainers... only to waste my time and money.
Eventually, I got the money together and took the leap!
**It has been so, so worth it**
My dog Heidi and I are living our fantasy. We are connected, happy and peaceful together. Instead of suffering through tense walks (or I should say pulls instead of walks) and tracking her down in the car after one of her runaways: now we walk on leash around the village for fun, and she comes back to me when I call her in from the field, even if she is on something's trail.
I didn't think it was possible to feel so relaxed with my dog. I'm forever grateful ❤️
Note: I don't believe I would have reached my goals as quickly and easily without the e-collar add-on. And, please don't try to train your dog yourself on the e-collar; you can really mess up your relationship and your dog's personality.
Gianni Fusco
2023-12-16
There are many dog trainers out there but those like Nick and Family K9 are quite rare. We chose Family K9 almost 10 years ago for our first Cane Corse Zoe and she remained the reference to everyone that met her of an incredibly behaved dog. After we lost her in June we contemplated whether we ever embark on this journey again with another dog. What we knew without any doubt was that any other dog would have to be trained by Family K9 as we would rather sacrifice getting another dog before getting one that wasn’t trained by them.
I’m am glad to say that we’ve decided to go forward with another Cane Corso and Kira has been the blessing we needed. We picked her up yesterday after what felt like the longest three weeks of our lives and the results are spectacular. We may sound biased after all these years but we truly cannot put in words what a difference it makes. Training any dog comes with a cost but after having trained our two dogs with Family K9 and witnessing the benefits first hand, we are convinced that it is an investment rather than a cost. What your dog will give your family back for many years after being trained by Family K9 is invaluable. Forever grateful.
Jason Wolofsky
2023-11-02
Max, our 3.5-year-old, 70-pound golden doodle, is a gentle giant who's wonderful with kids and not at all aggressive. However, his needy behavior when people come over, his penchant for pulling during walks due to his incredible strength, and his selective hearing when it comes to commands without food were starting to pose some challenges. That's when we decided to seek the expertise of Max Dog Trainer Nick. After a three-week training program, Max returned as a completely transformed dog. While he's still very needy, we now have the tools to correct this behavior. Walking with him has become much more manageable, and when he gets hyper, we can put him in his designated "place." We've heard great things about Nick from friends who've used his services, and the hype is real! We're thrilled with Max's progress, though the real work is ongoing once you're back home. Nonetheless, Nick has armed us with all the right tools, and he's been incredibly responsive via email for any questions or concerns. We couldn't be happier with the results.
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📍 Contact Monteregie Dog Trainer Family K9:
Ready to embark on a journey of positive transformation with your furry friend? Contact Family K9 Dog Training today and unleash the full potential of your beloved family member.
📞 Phone: (514) 990-5959 (K9K9)
Contact Page:Contact Family K9 via email. Emails are preferred as Nick is in training sessions all day and cannot get to the phone.
🌐 Website: www.familyk9.com
Welcome to a world where harmonious living with your canine companion is not just a goal but a reality! 🐾✨. See the results for yourself in the testimonials from past clients and the videos of Family K9 Dog Training dogs in action!
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Shelter told owner “Dog is Untrainable“ Family K9 Dog Training – Montreal dog trainer 
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Paw-sitively Perfect Puppies: Socializing Your Montreal Pup with People and Pooches
Unleashing Socialization Success for Montreal Pups
Welcoming a furry friend into your Montreal home? Discover expert tips on how to socialize your puppy, ensuring they become the bark of the town!
The Importance of Structured Socializing
When socializing your puppy or dog, it is important to have a game plan ahead of time. It is vital that you have an understanding of how a dogs mind works, basic principles of reinforcement, and how to structure your puppy’s socialization, so that the outcome is positive for your dog and you.
Having an image of how you want your future dog to look in social settings when out and about & interacting with the world is helpful in order to be able to understand the process.
Puppy Socialization Strategies
Hooligan and sister Charlotte saying hello. Charlotte apparently brought me a flower.
Structure is very important, especially in early encounters. It is advisable to set up meetings that will be controlled and predictable to help your puppy see things in a correct manner. If you have a friend/neighbour, or someone you know with a nice, calm dog you can ask them to meet you and have their dog under control. This means behaving in a calm manner, while your puppy has the opportunity to say hello and explore the other dog. This goes along way towards puppies, developing confidence.
The same goes for meeting people; ask people at first to ignore your puppy, so that your puppy has the opportunity to explore them in a calm manner.
The wrong way to greet a puppy
All too often people greet puppies in a manner that is much too excited. If your puppy is already social, that is only going to drive your puppy over the top and create hectic behavior, and set a template for future encounters with people that will be problematic.
If your puppy is too shy, the over greeting from the person will likely reinforce fear and create a belief system in the puppy that people are overwhelming, or even worse scary. Letting puppies acclimate in a calm way, and on their timeline and terms is a very smart approach that will confidence and teach calm interactions is done properly.
Have a look at the video below and how the houseguests initially ignore the puppy to help him understand that being together is not such a big deal.
If your puppy is social, this will help the puppy remain calm.
If your puppy is shy this will help the puppy, not feel overwhelmed.
The key to good dog socialization
Developing some simple obedience commands is very helpful not only and day to day life with your dog, but in social settings as well.
Teaching your puppy to be obedient and focus on you when required will not only make life easier, but will also allow you to enter into fun and exciting situations for both you and your dog much more easily. A trained dog is a dog that lives a much richer, freer life, and the owner and dog can embark on daily fun and adventures together without worry or stress.
Starting withpuppy pre school and then moving on to obedience trainingonce your pup is juts a little more mature is a smart approach to things.
Take a look at Nick’s puppy Hooligan who is 4 1/2 months old in this video to see what a good start in life looks like.
Hooligan began training with Nick the same day he first came home to join the family. Training our dogs should be a lifestyle and one that provides joy, structure, fair expectations and teamwork. This is done for our mutual benefit.
This puppy can run and play off leash with other dogs and can be called back at any time.
Hooligan can also be in settings around other dogs where he is asked to ignore them and does so with ease.
He can mingle with a house full of guests, go to and stay on his place when asked and is happy to interact and receive affection from strangers and friends and family alike. Most of the houseguests in the video below are meeting him for the first time.
Teaching our dogs on on/off switch is absolutely vital and you can see many examples of this in the video.
This ensures your pup is not just friendly but also well-mannered during interactions.
A trained dog is welcome (almost) everywhere
Would you like to sit on a terrace at a café during the summertime with your dog? How about bring your dog with you to a friends house, a restaurant or when going into shops?
With a train dog all of the above is possible with ease.
Owners of trained dogs, take great pride in their dog, their dogs abilities and their ability to communicate with an understand their king companion.
A train dog is welcome almost everywhere, and is a joy to witness and be around.
Contrary, untrained dogs, while still cute can become bothersome when the cuteness is overshadowed by bad manners and a lack of training.
This does not make them bad dogs.
Simply they are dogs in need of training and it is our responsibility to be good dog trainers, educators to our furry friends.
Mastering Focus: Techniques for a Laser-Focused Pooch
Uncover strategies to enhance your dog’s focus during training sessions. From attention exercises to mental stimulation games, we guide you through cultivating a dog that stays engaged and attentive, making training a joy for both of you. Having a dog that can focus on it’s person when required make all communication with our K9’s much easier.
Beyond Basic Commands: Advanced Obedience Training for Canine Brilliance
Take your dog’s training to the next level with advanced obedience commands. Elevate their skills and manners, creating a pet that seamlessly integrates into your lifestyle and community.
Your Dog, Your Companion: Building a Lifelong Bond Through Training
Discover how the training journey strengthens the bond between you and your dog. From puppyhood to adulthood, our guide ensures a lasting connection based on trust, obedience, and friendship.
Elevate your pup’s socialization game by learning these techniques @ with Montreal’s Dog Trainer – Family K9 Dog Training. With a curriculum that seamlessly integrates focused training and positive interactions, your furry friend will graduate not just well-socialized but as a polished, well-trained companion ready for any adventure in the vibrant Montreal community.
Popeye at a local outdoor mall during a training session. Time to have a meet and greet which he loves. So do his new fans!
Positive interactions are key for developing a healthy and balanced dog.
Here we see Popeye, flipping the switch from mingling and enjoying some affection from strangers to going into a focused heel within a split second.
Well-trained dogs like Popeye are easy and joy to take any and everywhere.
Murphy (Sheltie) is afraid of Dogs and ghost (Golden) is playful. Both dogs are learning to be neutral in order to make life camer, easier and more secure for all. There is a time and place for play with other dogs. Building the On/Off switch is key.
Dog owners need to understand how to foster emotional health in their dogs. Teaching dogs that avoidance is not only ok but is actually encouraged is a very dangerous message that will doom a dog to getting locked into fear based reactions and patterns. it is a quality of life killer for both Canine and it’s owner.
Learn how to help build your dog’s confidence and how to avoid the common mistakes many dog owners make on a daily basis without even being aware they are doing it.
Unleashing Confidence: Montreal Dog Trainer Transforming Fearful Pups into Confident Companions
Meet Nick Zevgolis, owner of Family K9 Dog Training a dedicated dog trainer whose expertise goes beyond teaching commands – Nick specializes in helping dogs overcome fear and avoidance through innovative behavioral training. In this blog post, we’ll explore the remarkable journey of Montreal’s dogs as they learn to conquer their fears and rediscover joy with Nick’s techniques and guidance.
Understanding Fear and Avoidance:
Dogs, like humans, can experience fear and avoidance due to various reasons – whether it’s a traumatic past experience, lack of socialization, or a natural predisposition. Nick recognizes that addressing these issues requires a unique approach that combines patience, empathy, and science-backed training methods.
Creating a Safe Haven:
Nick starts by creating a safe and nurturing environment for each dog. This safe haven serves as the foundation for building trust, an essential element in overcoming fear. Through positive reinforcement and gentle guidance, dogs begin to associate training sessions with comfort and security. The dogs learn that through following the lead of their person they can achieve what they crave the most – feeling secure. Their reactivity and avoidance is in fact driven by this hard-wired need. So what we do in training is replace their fear driven reactions with new behaviours that not only make our lives easier when handling our dogs but ultimately give the dogs a better quality of life.
Tailored Training Programs:
No two dogs are alike, and Nickunderstands the importance of tailoring training programs to meet individual needs. Whether a dog is fearful of other dogs, people, or certain environments, Nick employs a customized approach that gradually exposes them to the source of fear in a controlled manner. This gradual exposure allows dogs to build confidence at their own pace. Consultations are required prior to a training program in cases of behavioural issues – read about Family K9 Dog Training Consultations here.
Positive Reinforcement Techniques:
Nick relies on positive reinforcement techniques to encourage desirable behaviors. From treats and praise to play and affection, dogs are motivated to conquer their fears through positive associations, making the learning process enjoyable and stress-free.
Building Canine Confidence:
As dogs progress through the training program, a noticeable transformation occurs – fear begins to dissipate, replaced by newfound confidence. Nick celebrates every small victory, reinforcing positive behaviors and encouraging a positive outlook on life for each furry trainee.
Success Stories:
Nick has witnessed incredible success stories, where once-fearful dogs have blossomed into confident, happy companions. From overcoming leash reactivity to thriving in social situations, the results speak volumes about the effectiveness of Nick’s approach to behavioral training.
Harper a fear reactive Chihuahua trained by Nick Zevgolis of Family K9 Dog Training. harper was trained by Nick @ the age of 12. Yes, 12 years old and she and her owners are enjoying a better quality of life. Go Harper!
Conclusion:
Dogs from Montreal to as far as the west coast of both Canada and the US are finding hope and healing through the dedicated efforts of Family K9 Dog Training. By addressing fear and avoidance with patience, empathy, and positive reinforcement, Nick is paving the way for a brighter, more confident future for our beloved furry friends. If you have a dog struggling with fear or avoidance, consider reaching out to Family K9 Dog Training and embark on a journey of transformation that will not only enhance your dog’s life but also deepen the bond between you and your loyal companion.
Listen to these dog owners recount their story and experience having rescued the dog off the streets.
What it was like for them, trying to integrate the dog into their lives, an urban environment, full of distractions and other dogs.
Failed Attempt at Dog Training – Other trainers Claim Dog Cannot Be Helped
Another training school had told them that there was nothing they could do to help this dog and had relegated this dog to having to be boarded up behind sheets of plywood to keep it from trying to attack the other dogs in class.
Dog Training – Setting the Dog Up For Success
As much as I am not a fan of dog parks, we filmed this video in a local dog park in order to show the dogs ability to coexist around other dogs and humans.
Hopefully this video will reach those of you who are in need of help with your dogs and provide a glimmer of hope to not give up on your dogs, on your training and on your search for finding the right trainer to help you with your dog.
Dog parks are a popular place for dog owners to bring their K9 buddies. They get to romp around and get some exercise and social interaction. Montreal (and its surrounding areas) is a very dog friendly city and as such has plenty of dog parks. So do the surrounding areas such as the West Island, the south shore and Laval.
Montreal Dog Parks
Downtown Montreal has the well known Percy Walter Park. Westmount has Murray Hill, Landsdowne and of course the Summit. So many burrows with dogs parks for owners to bring their dogs to enjoy off leash freedom and playtime with other dogs.
The question is should you bring your dog to a dog park?
I am not going to outright tell you shouldn’t bring your dog to a dog park. It is of course your decision to make. However, I will tell you that after training dogs professionally for 3 decades the risks outweigh the rewards in just about any case you can imagine.
What are the risks of going to a dog park with your dog?
I’d invite you to read my emails regarding the impact dog parks have had on dogs who were previously social. Each day I receive emails telling me how a dog who previously was social is now terrified of dogs as a result of a fight, or an attack. In many instances just being overwhelmed by a dog or group of dogs who meant no harm but came on too strong. I also receive emails from folks who know their dog has issues with other dogs. Yet they continued to bring their dog to a dog park in hopes the situation would resolve itself. Despite their hopes – their dog has now left a path of destruction in its wake – infecting other dogs to mimic the behaviour they were exposed to.
Don’t forget that when you’re at the dog park, you are amongst other dog lovers. What that means is training your dog to not jump up is likely to be ignored by others who will find your dog “so adorable” for jumping and reward that behaviour amongst other behaviours you’re trying to discourage.
Of course it’s all done in the name of fun and they mean well but it comes at a cost and you need to understand how this impacts your training.
TRAINING YOUR DOG TO BE HYPER DOG FOCUSED AND DOG REACTIVE
You also must understand that this is teaching your dog that the ultimate high point of their day is playing with and engaging with other dogs then of course while you’re out on a walk, your dog is much more likely to be distracted by other dogs and your training is going to be much more challenging as a result.
Not to mention the fact that you will never be as interesting to your dog as the other dogs are because you train your dog that all play excitement comes from the outside instead of you.
Safe, confidence inspiring socialization between dogs @ the kennel during training and playtime
Various dogs in for training @ the kennel being well matched with similar dogs in terms of energy, playfulness, level of physicality during play. In other words: Well matched dogs who can be trusted together to be safe and have a good time and positive experience.
Becoming your dog’s real best buddy – means an investment of yourself in terms of time, energy and understanding/addressing your dog’s needs. Here are some suggestions you can use to take steps in the right direction.
Try playing fetch with your dog
Tug-of-war
Hide and seek
Train your dog in obedience or trick training
Nose games/scentwork?
Take up physical activity with your dog together, such as running/cycling, etc.
All of these things will help you form a bond and relationship with your dog that will only benefit you both for all your years to come. Have your dog interact with other known dogs who are safe and compatible as a complementary part of your lives and now you’ll have a much better relationship with your dog and still fulfill his/her need for a dog buddy.
Imagine sending your dog to a trainer and when you get your dog back, several things are wrong:
You notice immediately that your dog has scars on his neck.
Beyond that your dog is incapable of performing basic commands.
The trainer has the nerve to tell you “your dog is like a dumb blonde in high heels“. Of course this didn’t stop him from keeping the money.
This is exactly what happened to Ouspi’s owners after they sent him to a trainer for what they believed to be an obedience training program to help them live with their young, playful, dog and family, including three young children.
After this experience and by the time they got to me for a consultation they were not only doubtful about their dog and if he would be a good fit with their family, but also very sceptical of dog training, and dog trainers, since they had been burned before.
This video documents, not only Ouspi’s training journey, and the wonderful Dog that he is but also shows several important points about the transfer lesson with his owner Victor.
Dog training & distractions.Reliability is key.
Firstly, the dog has not seen his owner in three weeks. Ouspi does not know that his human will be there and I march him out, he believes it is just another day in our life together & present him to his owner and of course the dog gets emotionally charged up.
Then I tell Ouspi to go onto his place and remain there while I explain several important things to Victor.
I did this so that we would have a chance to chat but more importantly, I did this to demonstrate how controllable Ouspi is even in the presence of what is arguably one of the biggest distractions and emotional charges you can create for a dog in training.
As you can Ouspi did great.
No more pulling on leash
Ouspi used to pull on leash as many dogs do.
You can see in the video that Ouspi has a wonderful heel. He walks nicely on a loose leash, and is both attentive & cooperative.
I then teach Victor how to properly reinforce the heel command and Ouspi again works just as well for Victor as he did for me, his trainer.
We continued through our lesson going over other exercises and concepts, and then we get to the end of our lesson when they are about to go back home together and Victor presents me With a wildcard:
“My dog has never gotten in the vehicle by himself. I always have to lift him in“
“Do you think we can do something about this?”
I reply with“let’s see what’s going on” in order to determine what’s needed to fix it and voilà three minutes later, Ouspi is hopping in and out of the van for myself and then for his owner.
All said and done, pleasantries exchanged, chitchat had between us, and they drove off to go home and begin their new life together.
Ouspi is most definitely not a dumb dog. He’s a wonderful, vibrant, playful, kind, trainable dog who needed a fair chance with clear instruction. He’s actually an easy dog in many respects and was always fun to work with.
He shows not only some really nice obedience and focus but also a real love to work and interact with people which makes training easy if you are a skilled and enthusiastic dog trainer.
It is so easy and such a copout to blame the dog. A dog trainer should be an educator, a coach, and a motivator. We should be guiding & building our dogs up and challenging ourselves to continuously find the right way for the individual dog in front of us.
Make a point of playing fetch, playing tug-of-war, and teaching them that the highlight of their day and ultimately their existence is time shared with you.
Play with them like you mean it. Put your heart and soul into it.
Play with them until you’re both exhausted and then keep going.
There are numerous benefits to this that we will explore in this dog training article and video
It’s no surprise that when people don’t do this with their dogs and they “socialize“ their dogs in all the wrong ways, such as dog parks, etc. the dogs learn to be hyper social and their focus for the external creates behavioural issues. By using external stimuli such ans other dogs to play with, dog owners are teaching a convoluted value system that fun is to be had away from you. It’s wonderful that dogs like other dogs. Of course this is helpful in preventing unwanted aggression and they can have fun together, but it comes at a price. Especially if that is the primary means of stimulation and exercise. There is also the risk of the unknown dogs, fights, bullying and aggression. In the best of circumstances you risk a hyper reactive, uncontrollably social dogs.
Bad Dog Training. Unintentionally training dogs to be over excited and easily distracted
What this also means is that the hyper social dogs will lose their ability to focus on their person because they’ve been conditioned that the highlight of their day is away from their person and with other dogs.
Think about it this way: who is a dog going to relate to easier?
Another species? One who doesn’t play with them, form a bond through shared mutual interests and activities, one who doesn’t create a backdrop of adrenaline, excitement and dopamine their interactions?
Or
One of their own who speaks their native language, who can run fast to chase and be chased. One who can entice them to play, jump/chase/bite and feel free. Or a boring human who is nothing more than an Uber to the dog park.
Dog socialization is largely misunderstood by dog owners and many dog trainers and Veterinarians
True socialization is teaching a dog to be comfortable in their environment and ultimately, I want my dog to be neutral to things around him/her so that communication between us is facilitated. Friendly, open and neutral is ideal.
Hyper social and Being hell bent on interacting with everyone and everything does not facilitate living with a dog and creates a dog with a hectic mind. In our modern world think of the equivalent being trying to have a conversation and the other person is constantly looking at their phone. It renders the conversation and ultimately interaction and communication meaningless.
Playing tug of war and Fetch with your puppy and Dog
The benefits to this are so numerous. By teaching this to your puppy they will learn:
They want to be with you. You are fun!
It will make obedience training easier because you are the centre of fun. When I’m with my puppy or any dog for that matter it’s like I get to relive being a child. It’s freedom to act silly, to run around like a lunatic playing with toys and bouncing balls and by the end I’m sweaty and tired.
Work will = reward later on when the puppy has been conditioned to understand that you set the tone for the games. “Hey Puppy? Want to have fun? Gimme something (sit/stand/place etc..) and you’ll get that game you love so much.”
Do this with our dogs to help them spend their energy, to create a bond that will complement every aspect of our lives. Have a look at this video – I have been playing with Hooligan since the day he came home at 8 weeks old. It is the highlight of our days, just as it has been for all my dogs going back decades. I really hope that a few dog owners out there get this message and take it to heart. It will enrich your life with your dog more than you know. ♥️
Dogs are social creatures, which is one of the reasons why we love them so much. Is there such a thing as “too much” attention or affection?
Absolutely.
Sharing our lives, and our hearts with our dogs can bring lots of joy for everyone, but like everything else in life it’s important to understand the rules so that we don’t fall into problematic patterns.
Dogs want our attention and affection and of course we want to give it to them, it is best to understand the impact of our actions on earth dogs in order to understand how to enjoy your relationship with your dog without creating issues.
Guidelines for training your dog to not be needy and pushy
First and foremost, don’t give your dog constant attention. If you do, you’re going to create a dog, very likely won’t be able to sit idly by in life’s every day moments of when there are pauses.
Be careful not to pay attention to your dog when your dog is miss behaving or demanding your attention.
Spend a lot of time and energy focussing on your dog when your dog is giving you any behaviour you find desirable.
Obedience training is a must for any dog.
Teaching your dog a set of skills and putting them to use as a lifestyle and a way of interacting with your dog will help you create a solid foundation based on mutual respect, understanding, and will create a bond like no other.
I’ve trained thousands of clients over the years and all the dogs who come in for training learn this in just a couple of short weeks and even the older dogs take to this just wonderfully.
Dogs want to have leaders
It’s important to be a clear and concise leader, so that your dog understands what is expected of them, and how they can win what they want from us by giving us what we want from them.
Dogs often come up with creative variations of fetch.
One of them is:
“Human – you come and chase me!” .
Watch Ouspi – a young Labradoodle try this and see how we shape into a nice game of fetch in a short time.
Dogs are masters at reading body language
and you have to know what cues and signals you are giving off and what the perception of your movements and actions are in order to not trigger undesired behaviour.
Look for Ouspi in an upcoming video featuring his obedience training and the transfer lesson with his owner.
Would you like to sit on a terrace at a café during the summertime with your dog? How about bring your dog with you to a friends house, a restaurant or when going into shops?
