Do you have a challenging dog? Have you tried to train your dog before with other dog trainers or dog training schools but not had success?
When Previous Training Hasn’t Produced the Results You Expected
Many dog owners come to Family K9 after already making a significant commitment to training their dog. Some have attended obedience classes, worked privately with one or more trainers, followed training programs, read books, watched videos, and tried different approaches—sometimes more than once.
Yet despite their time, effort and commitment, they may still be struggling with their dog’s behaviour.
This can be particularly frustrating when you have genuinely tried to do the right things and the results simply aren’t what you expected.
When a dog comes to me after previous training has not produced the desired results, I don’t begin by assuming that the dog cannot be trained. I begin by asking why the previous approach did not produce the outcome you were looking for.
Every dog is different. So is every owner, every environment and every situation. Sometimes the approach needs to change. Sometimes the expectations need to be adjusted. And sometimes there are underlying behavioural issues that need to be understood before meaningful progress can be made.
With more than 30 years of experience working with dogs and their owners, I have had the opportunity to work with an enormous range of personalities, behaviours and challenges. That experience allows me to look beyond the obvious, identify what may be getting in the way of progress, and develop a training plan based on the dog and situation in front of me.
My approach is not about criticizing what has been done before. It is about understanding what needs to be different now.
If you are committed to improving your relationship with your dog and willing to be part of the process, there is often a path forward—even when previous attempts have not produced the results you hoped for.
“We deeply appreciate all the time, effort, and hard work you are putting into our “10-year-old man” ;)) As I mentioned earlier today, Arsene was initially quite skeptical about the possibility of Kemy’s improvement. He only started changing his mind after meeting with you!! Today seeing the progress Kemy already made, we were absolutely amazed. We truly cannot thank you enough! We learned a lot today and are excited to apply those new insights moving forward.”
Tetiana and Arsene with 10 year old Kemy from Dubai from training
Why Other Training Methods May Not Have Worked For Your Dog and You
Every dog is unique, and sometimes standard training methods simply don’t address the root causes of their behavioral problems. Traditional trainers may use generic, one-size-fits-all techniques that don’t take into account the individual needs of your dog. These methods might focus on obedience or quick fixes but fail to address deeper issues like fear, anxiety, trauma, or insufficient bonding between the dog and owner.
Additionally, some trainers may rely on ineffective bribery, outdated or harsh training tactics that can cause stress and confusion for the dog, leading to more behavioral problems rather than solutions. For dogs with more complex behavioral issues, such approaches often do more harm than good, leaving owners feeling like they’ve hit a wall.
Real Success Stories from past Clients
Many of our clients come to us with stories of frustration, having tried and failed with other trainers. After working with Family K9, they’ve seen real improvements in their dogs’ behaviour. Dogs who once pulled aggressively on the leash now walk calmly by their owner’s side. Dogs who were fearful or reactive to other people or dogs have gained confidence and become much more manageable in social situations.
The transformation goes beyond just obedience—it’s about creating a stronger bond between you and your dog, fostering trust, and bringing peace back into your home.
"I worked with 3 trainers before Family K9 Dog Training with no progress"
I had previously seen three trainers. One used a shock collar for “discipline,” another used hotdogs to distract her, and the third yelled at her. Clearly, none of these methods worked and only made her condition worse.
Nick kept me updated on Luna’s progress, sending pictures and videos. I could see that Luna had bonded with him and was genuinely happy, which put me at ease. During the transfer lesson, Nick took the time to teach my brother and me how to communicate with Luna and how to properly walk her. Luna trusted Nick, and I could see their interactions; to me, that’s a true “leader.”
When we went home, Luna was a completely different dog. She was confident and no longer barked at school buses during our walks, which was a huge success. Now, she even walks up to my mom to be petted in the morning. He even emails me from time to time to ask how Luna is doing. He truly cares about the job he does. I can’t thank Nick enough for everything he has done. Luna is truly happy, our family is at peace, our walks are so much more enjoyable, and I can walk her at any time of the day. That’s all I could ask for.
"1st training experience a bust...Nick is wonderful!"
After having tried another dog trainer and gotten nowhere I really hesitated to try working with someone else. I was so pleasantly surprised and impressed with Nick and the results that he got from our puppy. He really cares about the dogs and understands how they think and how to get the most from them. He sets up realistic goals and teaches the owners how to use his training in every day situations and they have made the biggest difference to the way that we feel when we are with our dog.
We gave Nick a puppy that we were having a lot of trouble with and we picked up a dog that was so well behaved and pleasant to be around. He’s a completely different dog….its incredible that Nick was able to achieve this in a few weeks!
We are enjoying and loving every second with our dog and owe this completely to the time that he spent with Nick.
Nick truly is wonderful and was a real life saver for us 🙂
"I had been to 3 trainers before with no real improvement"
I have been to 3 trainers since he was a puppy and to say the least I have not seen much improvement or guidance on how to handle him or a situation that worked.
He is extremely busy but answers all your emails and when the program is done he keeps in touch and makes sure that all is going well and that you still understand what to do to continue what was taught. We also have to our part to ensure that our dog continue to succeed and he makes sure that we as the owner are properly taught as well. He is patient and very attentive.
I am so happy that I finally got the results I needed to for us to live a happier life. Thank you so much Nick! I wish I found you earlier! I cannot thank you enough!
"Cheaper alternatives were a waste of time and money"
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 ❤️
What Makes Family K9 Dog Training Different?
Family K9 Dog Training specializes in working with dogs who have not responded to traditional training methods. Nick understands and teaches on a daily basis that a cookie-cutter approach isn’t always effective and that it takes more than just basic commands to help a dog reach their full potential.
Additionally, some trainers may rely on ineffective bribery, outdated or harsh training tactics that can cause stress and confusion for the dog, leading to more behavioral problems rather than solutions. For dogs with more complex behavioral issues, such approaches often do more harm than good, leaving owners feeling like they’ve hit a wall.
Muddy Paws? Sorry… can’t help you there!
Family K9 Dog Training's Winning Formula For You & Your Dog Time proven for over 30 years!
1. Personalized Dog Training Plans
One of the key reasons dog owners find success with Family K9 Dog Training is that Nick creates individualized training plans tailored to your dog’s unique challenges.
Nick is a very experienced trainer with over 30 years in the field of training dogs and has “been there an done that” when it comes to solving complex issues that have been written off by others. Family K9 takes the time to assess your dog’s behavior, personality, and history before designing a custom program that will work best for your specific situation. This personalized approach helps address the root causes of the problems rather than just masking the symptoms.
2. Understanding the Emotional and Behavioural Roots
Nick goes beyond simple obedience commands to look at the emotional and psychological factors that might be driving your dog’s behaviour. Whether your dog’s issues stem from anxiety, fear, past trauma, or a lack of confidence, we work to understand the deeper causes. By addressing these underlying issues, we’re able to achieve better, more lasting results.
3. Effective, Positive Training Methods
At Family K9, Nick believes in using positive reinforcement and building a strong, trusting relationship between you and your dog. Family K9 ‘s training techniques are designed to make learning enjoyable for your dog while providing clear boundaries and expectations. This helps foster cooperation and ensures that your dog learns how to behave appropriately in a way that feels natural and rewarding.
4. Supportive Guidance Every Step of the Way
Many dog owners find that after their training sessions with us, they receive not only hands-on instruction but also ongoing support and guidance. Family K9 is committed to your dog’s success long after the training sessions end. Nick provides the tools and resources you need to reinforce training at home and address new challenges as they arise.
5. Results You Can See and Feel
Nick understands that you want real, measurable improvements in your dog’s behaviour. Family K9 has a proven track record of success with dogs that others have struggled to train. Owners who have been frustrated with previous trainers often find that they start seeing significant changes after just a few sessions with Family K9. Nick’s training methods work, and he’ll show you how.
Life long results after 4 sessions - 10 years later and still wonderfully behaved!
My now almost 12 year old husky mix had a visit with Nick when he was only 1.5 years old. After 2 previous trainers, it took only 4 sessions with Nick to help show me this marvellous dog I had by my side. He’s still that perfect well behaved pooch today! Now that my dog is part of a pack, we’ve added 2 more dogs to our family. Nick was right there when I needed him again to guide me through these new experiences with one of the new dogs. I can’t thank Nick enough for his dedication, his compassion and his willingness to share his knowledge. Nick makes his guidance relatable so it’s easier to stay with the training and end up with such wonderful pets. Thank you Nick!!!!
"Other Trainer's methods did not work - I wish I found Family K9 Sooner!"
At Family K9, the approach to training a dog is entirely different because the instructions provided to us were tailored to Roo. There are valuable insights that I’ve learned about Roo’s behavior that I could have never learned from reading a book or interacting with the previous trainer. These subtle pieces of information about Roo’s behavior have allowed me to understand her better and in turn helped me become a better owner. My only regret is that I did not find Family K9 sooner.
"I tried 2 trainers before Nick... with no success. Thank you Nick!"
I had tried 2 different trainers in my area with no success. One of the trainers told me it was the breed and that I would have no luck before he turns at least 5 years old !!!! I then got on the computer and searched. I found the family K9 website and as I watched the videos and read the testimonials I realized that this had to be it. I was impressed when my husband and I first met with Nick, with his professionalism, his love of dogs, and the attention he paid to my list of complaints.
I walk with a cane at a slow pace and Nick was able to take my extremely rambuctious dog and in-kennel train him to heel and walk at my pace. The dog also now respects place and I am no longer fighting him at the door when I need to open the door for guests. Miracle of miracles he is no longer jumping on guests or stealing food. Jackson (my labradoodle) is so much better behaved and he has learned, and is continuing, to self manage his excitement level. Of course, we continue to work with him at home, but he is already trained and I am able to follow-up on that.
I would recommend Nick Zevgolis to anyone that I meet that is looking for a serious dog trainer with a love of dogs. My dog`s behavour is so vastly improved, that I cannot thank Nick enough. The in-kennel training was worth every penny.
Thanks so very much Nick,
