“My dog is too needy – he constantly demands attention!”
Needy dogs exist for several reasons:
Dogs are social creatures and enjoy our attention, affection and play.
Most dog owners do not understand how and when to deliver the goods listed above so they constantly reinforce the wrong behaviours in their dogs.
Needy dogs almost always have something in common:
An owner who gives constant attention – wether willingly or as a result of being frustrated with the dog and thinking that they will get the dog to stop what they are doing or change their behaviour through attention, reward or correction.
Once the dog learns that the owner is like a broken slot machine – the dog will keep pulling on th eleven and hitting paydirt time and again.
In order for things to change – the dog needs to be trained and the owner needs to better understand their role as well as their dog’s mind and reset how they are living with the dog.
Dogs who counter surf – thievery at it’s finest
Dogs are opportunists. Leave something out – leave an untrained dog unattended et voila! It starts young – not wanting to use a crate, or maybe taking a chance leaving the dog alone in a room for a minute while you go to another part of the house. Or maybe you are adopting an older dog who has already learned this.
Once a dog learns that they can shop @ home – well this meats Amazon Prime. it isn’t next day delivery – it is same day delivery- same minute.
a combination of crate training, boundary training, leave it, and keeping things away so the behaviour does not get further reinforced helps Depending o the dog, the dog’s level of drive, it’s history – varying degrees of all of the above are needed.
How to give your dog affection and attention the right way
Attention given at the wrong time equals broken telephone. It sends a faulty message to your dog. In terms of neediness – the dog who is being looked at, shushed or touched while whining or pushing for attention is being paid for the behaviour.
What do you think happens to a dog when it finds a reward tied to a behaviour?
In order to help a dog not become pushy and demanding – or help one who already is – you need to audit your actions to make sure there is minimal to no incorrect reinforcement going on.
Using your attention, energy and affection to motive your dog to cooperate and work with you in training
That same attention affection and energy we just talked about can be used here to great success. Show your dog how much you enjoy what they are doing when they work for you. Motive your dog like I do with Blue in the video to change your dog’s attitude towards working with you from the equivalent of a dog who hates their job to a dog who is a full partner.
Dog owners living with canines who have dog aggression often tell me how stressful their walks and outings are prior to training.
The common things that I hear are people being very selective about the time of day as well as locations they choose to go out into with their dogs.
They are constantly in fear of coming across other dogs on their walks and are very limited I where they can go.
Walks are very stressful.
Of course, making good environmental decisions is always wise, but living successfully with a dog aggressive dog goes far beyond this approach.
The single most important thing any dog owner can do is to train their dog properly.
This goes for any dog owner and any type of dog and 100 times more so for those who have dog aggressive dogs.
Managing Dog Aggression
Managing a dog aggressive dog takes a good understanding of canine psychology and instincts.
It also requires a handler to be very environmentally aware and to make sure that their obedience and means of communicating with their dog are very clear.
When you are in charge of a dog aggressive dog you have to see yourself as upper management. You give the dog direction, you make good choices as to what your employee is capable of and how much responsibility you place on them (environmental choices) and you make sure that you are a good team leader that can direct and motivate your employee.
Success or failure rests on your shoulders.
Can you “Fix ” or “Cure” Dog Aggression
You cannot fix or cure a truly dog aggressive dog.
If the dog is shy/nervous/fearful, and yet social this is a very different thing.
I’ve worked with thousands of such dogs who learned that defensiveness was not required and they became absolute “social butterflies” as a result of training.
The want to connect, engage and play with other dogs was in them to begin with (sometimes dormant). Either through the result of lack of proper socialization or bad experiences with other dogs they learned to prioritize safety over social interaction.
Do not confuse this with a truly dog aggressive dog.
In the case of the fearful or nervous dog who is indeed social, we simply work on confidence building skills and obedience.
With a dog aggressive dog, you are not going to cure or fix this behaviour because it is rooted in the dog’s character.
Meaning this is how some dogs see the world. They are adversarial and combative with other dogs.
Believing you can change is like believing you can control the weather.
We cannot alter the course of nature. All we can do is be well informed and take proactive measures to create the best possible outcome.
There are trainers who prey upon naïve dog owners hopes and dreams claiming they can change/fix/cure real aggression and the results are always a disaster. It is only a matter of time before these poor folks find out the hard way.
Why are dogs dog aggressive?
Dogs are aggressive for a multitude of reasons.
It can be genetic
It can be learned through bad experience, improper socialization and harsh or traumatic experiences.
It then gets compounded time and time again reinforcing a belief system in the dog’s mind.
Aggression is an instinct that we value or demonize depending on the circumstance.
The dog protects you from a while animal while out hiking or camping – the dog is a hero.
The dog bites the intruder who broke into your home – the dog is a hero.
The dog wants to attack another dog on the sidewalk – aggression is bad.
The dog wants to bite the pizza delivery person – aggression is bad.
Of course these examples are simplistic, but I think it illustrates that aggression cannot only be useful but desirable and other times it is completely inappropriate.
Helping owners of a giant dog aggressive Great Dane
Lexi’s owners came to me completely overwhelmed with their dog’s behaviour.
They are nice people, great dog owners with two other dogs at home who are completely fine around other dogs. They were not prepared for Lexi’s attitude towards the world and had tried to train her with another training school before coming to me. Needless to say it didn’t work out and I was contacted to consult with them and see what can be done to help with Lexi’s behaviour.
The videos here represent Lexi in training with me – and more importantly show her working with her owners at our transfer lesson.
I take great pride in not only the quality of instruction the dogs receive while in for training but equally in teaching dog owners how to maintain their dog’s training once it is complete.
Dog Training Success!
We were a little anxious about leaving our 130lbs bundle of joy for kennel training. After our initial consultation, we knew we brought Lexi to the right place. Nick takes the time to explain and make sure we understand the reasons for certain behaviours and clears up misconceptions that many owners have with regards to their dogs or training. Lexi came home today and we couldn’t be happier with the results. We are confident that with the training provided as well as instructions for us owners we will have many years ahead of pet and owner bliss. We brought Lexi because she is dog agressive and every walk was a pulling frenzy. Today, on leash walking with exactly zero strain on the leash. Truly incredible. Thank you.
Lexi's Human - Robert Vanderzon
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Helping owners of a giant dog deal with dog aggression. #DogTraining #Montreal #DogReactive 
Educating owners of a dog aggressive Great Dane pt 1 #DogTraining #DogAggression #Montreal 
Educating owners of a dog aggressive Great Dane pt 2 #DogTraining #DogAggression #Montreal 
The owner consistently puts tension in the leash, causing the dog to pull and reinforcing the pulling.
The list goes on.
Dog Training gimmicks and bandaids
There are so many gimmicks out there in dog training.
Bungee leashes, head, halters, different types of collars, magical, harnesses, etc., etc. etc..
All of these things are for people who don’t understand the core principles of dog behaviour and training and the companies know this so they market to the uninformed.
Nothing will replace the value and benefit of teaching your dog to focus on you.
Reread that statement it is an important one.
Nothing will replace the value and benefit of teaching your dog to focus on you.
The best way to solve leash pulling is to teach your dog to focus on and follow you.
Take a look at these videos for examples.
This large and powerful Doberman used to drag his owner everywhere at warp speed, pulling, barking, lunging and jumping all over.
After proper obedience training, he is now a very focussed and willing training partner and just such a beautiful and happy dog to watch in action.
Teaching your dog to focus
Teaching a dog to focus involves a skill set on the dog trainers part.
It involves fundamentals of dog training, such as understanding when and how to reinforce both what you want and do not want and how to exaggerate the positive so that eventually the dog wants what we want and our goals are in alignment.
Watch the dog in the videos and watch how he not only works and follows direction, but does so with a bounce in his step and with joy.
The movement and attitude he displays signifies a joy in his work that goes well above and beyond simply “doing his job”.
Reactive dogs
Reactive Dogs by definition are focused and reacting to stimuli in their environment. If we want to help improve a reactive dogs behavior, we have to shift their focus from whatever has the magnetic pull to the core of your dog and transfer that onto us so that the dog can follow our lead and our direction.
Building The On/Off switch for your dog’s focus
The on off switch is something I focus on with my clients day in and day out.
The more clarity a dog has with this aspect of training the easier it is to communicate with the dog, to guide, steer and direct our training partner.
Watch the second video to understand this better. This dog knows very clearly when we are healing and he is very focussed and then when I release him, he bounces around like a baby deer.
He is very silly and playful, which brings joy to work and I know how to exaggerate this for him. I love my dogs to be playful and joyful in training. It gives them purpose in their work.
This is also very useful to give the enjoyable moments and training, but it builds the dogs focus in anticipation for the next release.
Furthermore, it reinforces our on switch because the faster heat turns on the faster we get to work the sooner we can then have another release and play and then gradually we build the time to our next release.
By releasing him repeatedly and allowing him these little micro explosions the dog is also learning to control himself when he is excited and adrenalized, which goes along way towards helping us navigate through big distractions out in the real world.
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Focus and communication #dogtraining #Montreal
Focus and control. Building the on off switch. #dogtraining #Montreal
Starting to crate train a puppy is as simple as feeding them in their crate.
Once your puppy is used to eating in the crate, you can begin leaving your puppy in for short periods of time.
Make sure your puppy has plenty of time to exercise and go potty before putting them in so that you do not add any additional stress or provoke accidents in the crate.
Crate training for older dogs and rescues
If you’re starting with an older dog, the dog may have already learned that barking, whining or acting up in the crate, may provide the dog with opportunity to get out.
It’s important to condition the dog to the crate and to use an approach that teaches the dog to be calm. Using positive reinforcement when the dog is calm and quiet in the crate so that the dog realizes that it is a temporary thing and one that brings reward if they are calm and quiet
Rescue dog used to panic in crate now is completely calm and relaxed
Take a look at Skyla who panicked in her crate when her owner tried to crate train her at home.
Look at how effortlessly she goes in on command despite the fact that her brother Dexter and I are having a great time & carrying on right in front of her.
She is able to follow commands, go into her crate up upon request and remain in there calmly until we let her out.
She is able to follow commands, go into her, crate upon request and remain in there calmly until we let her out.
Teaching a dog to remain calm and follow direction will always get you much further than any form of physical restraint be it a leash/harness/collar or door of a crate.
Dog training should be about communication with the dog and teaching the dog to think and follow direction.
And dealing with only the physical aspect of the dog. Ideally, we are communicating with the dog and teaching the dog to think and follow direction.
This creates a favourable outcome and teaches the dog to be calm and focussed as you can see.
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Dog panics in crate – Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Helping a dog who had anxiety in her crate #dogtraining
How to help rescue dogs & dogs with difficult pasts
When someone comes to me for help with their dogs one of the first things I have to help the owner identify is that in addition to teaching skills to a dog, we also need to address lifestyle. That means getting the owner to change habits that feed unwanted behaviour and creates an unhealthy life for the dogs and their humans. In some cases it also involves how the owner perceives the dog. Perception can become reality – for better or worse.
If we treat our dogs like they are “broken or damaged“ because of their history, then we doom them to be stuck in the same place for the rest of their lives. In fact, they will be even worse off as time goes forward because things will deteriorate as the years go on.
Our dogs need us to be informed, intelligent and purposeful. We must aid them to be stronger through proper knowledge, training and guidance.
To assume that every hardship a dog encounters is because the dog is a rescue dog, or has had a rough past in life, is to doom the dog to a future of no hope. Such labels are limiting, soul-sucking, joy robbing death sentences.
Neither love nor pity will train a dog & neither will help a dog’s situation improve.
How to strengthen your dog and give it a better quality of life
Let’s all be strong for our dogs so that they can be strong in the image we create of them. Believe in your dog’s resilience and you’ll be amazed at where you’ll travel to together.
In order to help a fearful & reactive dog you need to understand what motivates them to behave the way they do In a word; survival.
The dog sees threats where they don’t exist and is acting upon them because in the dog’s mind this is what is required to stay safe
What does a fearful dog want?
The fearful dog wants to survive the day. Teach them a new way to accomplish this and you will alleviate a ton fo stress from your dog’s day to day existence and make your life easier in the process.
“I’ve tried training with treats and it doesn’t work!”
We are all hard wired to survive and food is not as compelling a motivator as survival. I have nothing against using food in training and do so in some instances – but it has to be the right tool for the right dog at the right time.
“Is my dog beyond help?”
It isn’t likely that your dog is “beyond help”. I regularly work with older dogs with long, complicated histories or multiple previous trainers, medications and the owners feel like they have exhausted every option available to no avail. They just needed to find a better approach.
What was evident to me from our consult is that Odin was a joyful, engaging dog who wanted to connect with me (or anyone really!) and had a lot of drive. This is typical of many OCD dog’s. Drive. It is a living organism and unless you’ve lived with a highly driven dog you just can’t imagine how powerful it is.
Odin had a serious problem chasing light, reflections of light and shadows.
This all started when his owners would play with him as a youngster with a laser pointer.
What started as a fun pastime quickly turned into an obsession and spiralled out of control.
Behavioural strategy for a dog with OCD
The strategy for many OCD dogs is actually very simple.
Replace the unhealthy with the healthy.
It’s a fool errand to get caught up in trying to simply stop a dog from doing something it is obsessed with. This is exactly like playing whack-a-mole with your dog 24/7.
Does my dog need to be medicated
In some instances medication can be helpful, but in my experience, it is largely overprescribed, overused, and done so before we have exhausted, behavioural intervention options.
The first action we should take is to evaluate the dogs behavior, assess the level (if any) of training and create a plan of action for such a dog that includes training, a healthy outlet for the dogs drive, and lots of mental and physical stimulation to give all that energy, a healthy direction to flow into.
for ore information on OCD check out the AKC website
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!
Seham, Cj, Reuben and 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
Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training Will a dog listen to a whisper?
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
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.
Bicycle touring with a dog from Vaudreuil, Quebec to eastern Ontario
Before setting out on such a large undertaking, I conditioned my puppy to be comfortable in a crate on a bicycle trailer without the trailer moving.
This meant simply parking my bike and having him hop in and out of the trailer and staying in there for progressively longer periods of time.
Once he was comfortable with this we started to go for small rides of 30 to 40 km.
I had the trailer set up indoors as well when I would be riding my bicycle on an indoor trainer and he would get in there and fall asleep while I did my workouts. In fact, he liked it so much that I would often find him napping in there on his own when I was not in that room or doing anything bike related.
Considerations when cycling with a dog
For a ride as long as the one in the video above, I had several criteria:
The weather had to be cool enough for him to be able to be outside comfortably for several hours.
I had to be prepared to stop frequently so that the ride was a pleasurable experience for the dog and not simply me hauling him around while I paddled away on a bike.
I had to make sure I packed extras that I don’t normally take along on my rides. Benadryl in case of reactions to bug bites, an extra water bottle with no electrolytes or carbohydrates in them so he would always have freshwater available, poop bags, snacks for the dog .
an extra spare tube suitable for one of the tires on my dogs trailer.
I do this bike ride fairly often and on average it’ll take me about two hours and 45 minutes door-to-door.
With a 55 pound puppy and then all the added weight of the bicycle trailer and all the extra accessories totalling approximately 80 extra pounds and not to mention the additional aerodynamic drag I imagined the right to take me about five hours of moving time and an additional 2 to 2 1/2 hours of stopped time.
This is exactly what it turned out to be and we had a fantastic time and I look forward to many more rides with my dog!
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
Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training Will a dog listen to a whisper?
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
Our K9 companions bring boundless joy into our lives, but for some, loud noises can turn their world upside down. Whether it’s thunderstorms, fireworks, or even the clang of pots and pans in the kitchen, noise sensitivity can cause distress and anxiety in our beloved pets. Today, we embark on a journey to understand and assist our canine companions in overcoming their noise-related woes.
We want to help the dog by utilizing their own motivation and their own discovery.
That means that we need to find something that motivates the dog to hang around whatever it perceives as a potential threat.
The motivation must come from within the dog.
What this does is, it will allow the dog to discover for itself that there is no monster lurking under the bed through the process of self discovery.
This is the most powerful way for a dog to learn anything.
It is the truest form of Learning, which comes directly from the dog, and has the deepest and longest lasting most durable affect in dog training.
Raise thresholds
You want to start well inside your dogs comfort zone.
What that means is if your dog could tolerate the noise at its lowest level or at a distance of let’s say 50 feet away then that’s where you want to start.
You want to set up your dog to win and have success easily and immediately.
This will encourage your dog to push forward and push through when things get a little more challenging, because the dog has already achieved success.
By doing this, we will gradually raise the dogs threshold and tolerance to the stress of the noise in a way that is not likely to push the dog into any form of avoidance.
Form positive associations with various noise and sound sources
If every time I start the mixer, I give my dog some food immediately (within one second ideally) then the dog is going to learn to associate the starting of the mixer with something very rewarding.
Eventually, the sound of the mixer will be very exciting and meaningful to my dog.
If I have followed the above recipe by respecting his threshold, and not pushing him into avoidance, using high value rewards and having good timing and practising frequently, all of this leads to the opportunity to reshape my dogs, thinking about the noise he previously found stressful.
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.
EXCELLENT
143 reviews
Helena Levitt
2024-04-12
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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
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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!
Owner's reply Thanks Emerald! It’s been a pleasure training each of your dogs. I appreciate your trust in my abilities and value our relationship through the years. Best of luck with the newest kid - stay in touch and let me know if you ever need a hand.
Romy Hutman
2024-03-09
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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!
Owner's reply Thanks Romy! Cant believe it’s been that long already. It’s been a pleasure helping you with each of your dogs.
Karel
2024-03-03
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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.
Owner's reply Thanks Karel - it was a pleasure training with the three of you. Happy to help you with Rex!
Jill Gale
2024-02-21
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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.
Owner's reply Thanks for entrusting Ellie to me Jill. It was a pleasure helping you both with her!
Sarah Roy
2024-02-13
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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.
Owner's reply Thanks Sarah! Murphy is a great dog and I am so glad you’re seeing positive changes in him as a result of our work. Keep up the practice and I’ll see you both at our next session!
Seham Slllll
2024-01-30
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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!!
Owner's reply Thanks so much Seham. I’m grateful to have been part of team Odin. He is a tremendous dog and training him was a very pleasant and linear process. Look out for a full length YouTube detailing his journey coming soon. Stay in touch and reach out any time for extra help.
Michèl-e Robinson
2023-12-18
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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.
Owner's reply Hi Michele, Thanks so much for your review. I’m really pleased to have been the trainer who managed to help you have the dog you dreamed of. Heidi is awesome and your an excellent dog owner. That was absolutely a pleasure to work with. I love the picture of her running through the fields. A dog out, running in nature, wet and dirty, and above all happy! Thanks again for your words they mean a ton to me and I look forward to seeing you both at our next lesson.
Gianni Fusco
2023-12-16
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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.
Owner's reply Thank you Gianni! It was a pleasure working with you again. Wishing you and your family many happy years with Kira - she’s a lovely puppy. I appreciate your confidence in my dog training services and am grateful to have helped you with both of your dogs. The fact that you contacted me before getting your new puppy and told that the only way you would embark on a new puppy journey is if I were to train her for you is very meaningful to me. Thanks again and stay in touch!
Jason Wolofsky
2023-11-02
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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.
Owner's reply Thank you Jason! Max is a wonderful dog and I am glad you all have some tools you can now use to live a better life together!
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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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“Rescue Dog Training: Transforming Lives Through Expert Canine Rehabilitation”
Welcome to a transformative journey where expert dog training meets the unique challenges of rescue dogs who began their lives as street dogs in other countries. In this comprehensive blog post, we’ll explore the complexities of training dogs with severe aggression issues, the invaluable role played by a specialized dog trainer, and how this training not only saved lives but enriched the experiences of the newfound owners.
The Unique Challenges of Street Dog Rehabilitation:
Rescue dogs originating from the streets of other countries often present distinctive challenges, and when aggression issues are involved, the complexity of the rehabilitation process intensifies. These challenges include fear-based aggression, territorial behavior, and difficulty in adapting to a domesticated environment.
Addressing Aggression through Specialized Techniques:
As an expert dog trainer specializing in rescue dog rehabilitation, I employ proven techniques to address aggression issues. Utilizing specialized techniques such as aggression management, desensitization, and counterconditioning, our training methods are tailored to reframe negative behaviors and replace them with positive responses. This ensures a safer and more harmonious environment for both the dogs and their owners.
Building Trust and Establishing Control:
Key to the success of training aggressive rescue dogs is the establishment of trust and control. Employing positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats, praise, and toys, becomes crucial in building a bond between the trainer, the dog, and their new owners. Family K9 Dog Training’s techniques include trust-building exercises, controlled environments, and positive reinforcement strategies play a vital role in the training process.
Video clip of former dog reactive street dog:
Take a look at the dog training video below – a clip of Mike and Topanga working together around a distracting, pushy puppy named Alfie. Prior to training Topanga would have been actively trying to get to Alfie to attack him. Not just from up close but Topanga would have had an aggressive response to him from a city block away. In the clip Alfie is no more than a few feet away, Topanga remains calm and focused on her owner Mike. You can see that she is not only obedient and focused but calm and trusts her training – so much so that she is ignoring his advances. I am purposed letting him get close in order to help proof her training and help Mike understand some key concepts in our lesson.
Rescue Dogs, Enriched Lives:
The impact of our training extends beyond behavioral modification; it enriches the lives of both the dogs and their owners. Rescue dogs, once plagued by aggression issues, transform into well-adjusted companions. Our training brings canine enrichment, through building tools that we can use to communicate and create an understanding. Through a multitude of techniques and employing positive behaviour reinforcement the dogs quickly adapt to a new way fo doing things. Good dog training is much more than controlling a dog – it is a quality of life game changer for the dog and the dog owners.
Being a Responsible Dog Owner:
Each year cities like Montreal are enacting tighter and stricter dog laws as a result of dog bites, incidences of aggression and out of control dogs Owning a dog with reactivity or aggression issues is not just a concern for the dog and owner but also society as a whole Training your reactive dog will not only give your dog and yourself a better quality of life, it will also go a long way towards being a good neighbour. If we want to be able to keep on enjoying our dogs, being able to take them to public places such as parks, shops, and enjoy the freedoms and privileges of dog ownership as we know it – having a trained dog is absolutely the best way to do so.
Saving Lives through Specialized Training:
In instances of severe aggression, dog training becomes a life-saving endeavor. Family K9 Dog Training’s approach not only gives owners and dogs tools that can be used but peace of mind.
The dog in the photo at the top of the page named Wobbles is a rescue dog who began life as a street dog in Pakistan. She came from rough beginnings, had an amputation as a result of an injury and was wildly reactive to other dogs. Wobbles took very well to training and has come back for boarding many times since her training was completed. her owners report a dramatic change in her behaviour and have done a good job maintaining the training she has received from Family K9 Dog Training. In fact after the lessons with Mike and Topanga – Wobbles was walking into the front of the kennel with her owner Emily – and both dogs were exemplary.
Empowering New Owners:
Our commitment extends beyond the training sessions; we empower new owners to continue the positive trajectory initiated during training. Through responsible dog ownership, ongoing support, and canine behavior education, Family K9 Dog Training equips owners with the knowledge and skills to maintain a positive and secure environment for their once-aggressive rescue dogs. Embark on a rewarding journey with Family K9 Dog Training’s specialized training programs. Through the lens of an expert dog trainer, witness, the transformation of street dogs with dog aggression issues into well-behaved companions. Family K9’s commitment to positive reinforcement, science based training principles, behaviour modification, and life-saving techniques ensure that each rescue dog & their family find a better quality of life. Join family, Canine and celebrating the incredible journey of overcoming challenges, enriching lives, and creating lasting bonds with our four-legged friends,In the realm of rescue dog training, where challenges meet compassion, our expert approach ensures the successful rehabilitation of street dogs with major aggression issues.
Giving street dogs & their new owners a better quality of chance at life through training
Wobbles - a three legged street dog from Pakistan in for training in April 2023.
Wobbles and Nick enjoying some play time!
Bailey was wildly dog reactive and her owners needed help to control her dog reactivity. Living in downtown Montreal, in a condo this presented many challenges just in going out for a walk. Bailey is now a well behaved dog and her owner do a fine job with her.
Bailey enjoying some play time!
Rove a Street dog from Lebanon. Rove had huge reactivity issues prior to training and could not be near other dogs. Pictured is his owner practicing with him during a lesson with dogs right by the fence.
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.
Would you like professional help with your dog’s training and behaviour?
Want a well trained dog but lack the knowledge, expertise and perhaps time to get it done? Perhaps you just want to enjoy a well trained pet & would like professional guidance on how to get there? Here is the answer:
Boarding & Training.
K9 Camp.
K9/Canine Boot camp.
Experience Matters
When looking for a dog trainer, you should prioritize experience, results and professionalism. Seek out a trainer with a proven track record in handling various breeds and behavioural challenges. A highly experienced trainer will have the skills needed to adapt their techniques to meet your dog’s unique needs.
Every dog is unique, requiring a tailored approach to training. A trustworthy dog trainer will take the time to understand your dog’s personality, history, and your training goals. They will then customize a training plan that suits your dog’s individual needs and learning capacity. Flexibility is key when addressing specific behavioral problems, and a skilled trainer will adapt their techniques accordingly.
Once your dog is trained, the trainer should then be able to teach you what your dog has learned and how to maintain the training.
Board and train programs have two distinct parts:
Part 1 Teach the dog a skill set
Part 2 Demonstrate for the owner what the dog has learned, explain the importance of the specific dog training skills and teach the owner how to maintain it.
When those two parts are properly fused together, the dog owner and dog will be able to carry on where the trainer left off.
Montreal Dog Training Positive Reviews and Testimonials:
One of the best ways to gauge the effectiveness of a dog trainer is by reading reviews and testimonials from their clients. Positive feedback that highlights successful outcomes and happy clients.
Investing time and effort into finding the right dog trainer will not only shape your dog’s behavior but also strengthen the bond between you and your furry companion. So go ahead, embark on this exciting journey of training and watch your dog flourish under the guidance of a skilled Montreal dog trainer!
First trainer didn't get it done
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 🙂
Beverley Sasson
Stanley - Lakeland Terrier
Making dog owners lives easier with good training
If you are hesitating in working with Nick, maybe I can help you make what is ultimately a really big decision easier. I booked a consultation with Nick for my 1.5 year old Kangal × Caucasian Shepherd girl.
Within 15 minutes I knew I would be working with Nick in the future. The consultation let me know that my girl was in good hands and she would make strides in her training to make both our lives easier. After 3 weeks with Nick in the board and train program, I had tons of questions which were answered in both the follow up sessions and online. Already my dog and I live a better life because of the foundation we have built. I feel like I myself have become an amateur dog trainer in what Nick has taught me. I have the tools and confidence now to continue working with my dog. I look forward to doing some advanced training with Nick in the future and so does my girl.
Luca-Xavier
Aia Kangal/Caucasian Shepherd Mix
Family K9 Dog Training Reviews (a small sample)
A small collection of Board & Train / In Kennel Dog Training Videos
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Montreal dog trainer helping fearful dogs learn to enjoy walks – Family K9 Dog Training
Dog training test – six years after the training has been completed
Mintreal & Vaudreuil Reactive Dog Training – Family K9 Dog Training Montreal Dog Trainer
Training tiny dogs!
Montreal Puppy training (with distractions!)
Dog reactive Husky training – Family K9 Dog Training Montreal & Vaudreuil Dog Trainer
Reactive Malamute mix – Montreal and Vaudreuil Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Training Dogs and Teaching Humans -the transfer lesson process
How to calm an anxious dog
Dogs are wonderfully resilient, adaptable creatures!
A big birthday party for a big (!) Great Dane
Teaching dogs not to jump up – building belief systems in dog training – montreal dog Training
Playful puppies and reactive dogs focused heeling. Family K9 Dog Training Montreal Dog Trainer
Dogs are amazingly resilient and wonderful creatures. Training blind dogs – Montreal Dog Trainer
Montreal Dog Training – structure, play and clear communication in training
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.
Most Important Things You Must Do with Your Puppy | Puppy Care Tips
Most Important Tips For New Puppy Owners
Getting a new puppy is exciting and can be challenging and even overwhelming at times. here are some of the most important things you must do with your new puppy. These tips and strategies will help you get rolling along the way to your future well adjusted and well trained adult dog!
1. Puppy Training
Puppy training is crucial for teaching your new canine companion some very important things that will life easier for all. Socialization, house training, crate training, basic commands and manners. Puppy training is about more than teaching and expecting “perfect” behaviour. It is about bonding with your puppy through fun adn games, teamwork, setting realistic expectations, and teaching your puppy to want to work with you as part of a team.
2. Socialization
Socializing is a widely misunderstood topic. Many people think that it consists of having dogs meet other dogs or even puppy socialization group classes. True socialization includes acclimating your puppy to the world around him and helping him feel safe and confident in a variety of settings, sounds, smells, surfaces, people and places. The Video below where I am feeding my 8 week old puppy at Starbucks is a good example of showing my puppy that the world going by (cars/people/noises etc…) is just a background for our activity. It is one of many things I encourage my puppy pre schoolclients to do in order to help foster a well rounded, confident puppy
3. Grooming and Healthcare
I like to have my pups get used to having their ears/tail/eyes/feet/mouth handled right away. Start when your puppy is tired and relaxed and let your puppy curl up in your lap. You can have some food in one hand while you handle your pup with the other. If need be have someone else hold the food for you. Dont feed all at once – let the puppy lick at the food and make it last in order to distract the puppy from the handling. Keep these sessions short, light and the goal is just to acclimate your puppy to being handled with as little stress as possible.
4. Play
Play is crucial to keeping your puppy happy, to encouraging good behaviour and building a bond with your puppy. Playing fetch and tug of war with your puppy will go a long way towards channeling your pup’s mouthiness and energy. Puppies want to play, they like to try and engage us and if you are proactive with these games and make them exiting, your puppy will begin to look forward to these play sessions.
5. Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Puppies have lots of energy to burn, so providing regular exercise and mental stimulation is essential. Take your puppy for daily walks, play interactive games, and provide puzzle toys to keep their mind stimulated. This helps prevent boredom, destructive behavior, and promotes a healthy lifestyle.
6. Love and Attention
Puppies need to feel safe and secure in order to be content. Part of this comes from the structure we provide and it is equally important we show our puppies love and affection. Petting, talking to them, knowing when to encourage and also understanding that scolding or reprimanding has no place in puppy raising is important. My puppy is social and loves to meet people but at 11 week sold we already have a bond developing that if he were being petted by someone other than me and I began to move away he would choose to be with me and forget about the person petting him.
Raising a well rounded, happy, confident puppy is a long and rewarding process. If you start early, have a good understanding of what is needed and know how to tailor things to suit your individual puppy you will be well on your way to the beginnings of shaping a great dog for years to come. The concepts, images and videos here are just a small sample of what it takes to raise a well rounded puppy.
For more information & puppy care tips, visit our puppy pre school page.
Bonding with new puppyGetting to know you.
Stopping to have a potty break and snack at a fast food place along the way during a 10 hour drive home from the breeder.
Bonding with new puppyFirst day home and we are exhausted from our drive and just hanging out together.
Bonding time.
8 week old puppy exploring new surroundingsExploring new surroundings
Puppy's first bathFirst bath. It is so important to start all of these grooming and handling concepts early on in order to acclimate your puppy to them.
Puppy fetchLearning to play fetch on day one.
Obedience training a new puppyPracticing Off leash recalls at a Tim Hortons @ 9 weeks old
How to socialize your new puppyMeeting friendly faces and learning the world is full of happy dog loving people.
tips for Socializing a puppyMeeting friendly strangers at a local bank.
New sights sounds, new flooring and friendly faces all help build a more confident puppy.
how to trim puppy nailsFirst nail trim, and Hooligan was barely aware because he ate a ton of treats to desensitize him to the trimmer. Everybody wins!
Teaching a puppy to play fetchLearning to play fetch, interact with his humans in a fun and engaging way, and at the same time, not eat all the grass clippings on the ground because the focus is on the toy.
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Feeding your puppy in a variety of new locations is a great idea
Family K9 Dog Training – Montréal – Teaching an 8 week old puppy to respond to his name
Montreal Puppy training – loose leash walking – Family K9 Dog Training
Montreal Puppy Training – best games Family K9 Dog Training
Puppy training – 10 week old English bulldog puppy recall practice with distractions 
Training young puppies follow up short
2 months of a puppy’s life in 60 seconds #dog #puppytraining101 #puppy #EnglishBulldog
Teachings puppies to focus around distractions off leash
Montreal Dog Trainer – Family K9 Dog Training – Socialization & obedience plan for your puppy!
Meet Hooligan an English bulldog puppy! 
Puppy’s first steps on treadmill
English bulldog puppy obedience! Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
How to deal with puppy biting. #puppytraining #DogTraining
Bulldog always wants to play with his trainer #dog #dogtraining #yourdog
Prevent deadly stomach torsion- bloat in your dog #dog training #dog safety
Top Dog Training Tips for Montreal Area Dog Owners
Top Dog Training Tips for Montreal Area Dog Owners
1. Start Training Your Puppy Early
Puppies abosrb information all day long. The earlier you start training the better the outcome will be in teaching obedience and good manners. Think of this:
Puppy jumps up and gets petted. What did it learn? Jumping up =reward. Instead, pet your puppy before the jump – or even better yet teach your puppy to sit and then ask her to sit before petting and what did the puppy learn now? Not only did your pup learn to sit which is valuable for so many things all their life – but they also learned a polite way to interact and ask for petting. Take this concept and apply it to your many moment throughout the day with your pup and you will start to see nice changes in behaviour.
2. Learn How To Speak Dog Clearly
Learning basic dog psychology and learning theory is key if you ant to be an effective communicator with your dog. It is so easy to blame the dog, get frustrated and settle for a frustrating life with your pet under the guise of “Wel… He’s juts stubborn”. Understanding your dog’s temperament, genetics (you can’t fight DNA – more on this in another article) drives and thresholds will take you a lot further in goals as a dog trainer. I work with many dogs each year who were labelled as stubborn or untrainable by not only their owners but even by other dog trainers when the reality is that the training was not done in a clear and logical way. Ouspi, a young Labradoodle is a prime example of this. His owners worked with a trainer prior to coming to Family K9 Dog Training. That trainer called him stubborn and dumb. Thanksfully they looked further into training for their pet and he is a wonderful dog and very capable of excellent behaviour.
Positive reinforcement is an effective training method. Reward your dog with praise, treats, or playtime when they exhibit the desired behavior. This will motivate them to repeat the action in the future.
4. Socialize Your Dog
Socialization is crucial for a well-behaved dog. Expose your canine companion to different environments, people, and other animals in Montreal and all over as much as possible. I often feed & play with my puppy in new environments, bring him into local shops and allow people to interact with him in proper, controlled interactions in order to help shape his view of the world. This will help them become comfortable and confident in various situations.
5. Seek Professional Help
If you’re having difficulty with your dog’s training, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Family K9 Dog Training has a 30 year track record of helping Montreal area dog owners and can provide expert guidance and tailor training programs to suit your dog’s specific needs.
6. Be Patient and Persistent – Set Realistic Expectations
Training a dog takes time and patience. Be persistent in your efforts, even if progress seems slow at times. Consistent training sessions and positive reinforcement will yield positive results over time.
7. Stay Updated with Training Techniques
Stay informed about the latest training techniques and methodologies. Attend workshops, read books or articles, and consult reputableonline resources to enhance your knowledge and improve your training approach.
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.
Teaching a dog to focus especially under distraction is a cornerstone of good dog training. If your dog cannot focus and be obedient when distracted it renders your training ineffective.
“Handling a dog that cannot focus under distraction is like driving a car whose brakes only work under 30KM/H”
Here we have Popeye, a young poodle who is full of life, very sweet and playful.
He hasn’t seen his owners in 3 weeks and has completed his training program. I have been demonstrating his new skills for his owners in order to explain to them what he know and how to get the best out of him.
Among their many requests and issues withPopeye there was some concern about his behaviour around other dogs. Popeye is a very excitable dog, not unlike many others and they would lose control around others dogs on a walk
Teaching a Dog the “On/Off” Focus switch
This is the owner’s first time working with Popeye and as you can see in the clip Popeye did great and so did his humans!
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.
The idea for this blog post was inspired by Harper the 11 year old Chihuahua pictured above.
Her owners contacted me for a consultation and then ultimately to train Harper via the internal training program.
Harper has a long history of reactivity, aggression, and more than a few bites.
It was clear and her consultation that Harper was not only a dog who had learned to reward her self through her fearful aggression, but also that she was a trainable dog who would benefit greatly from learning a new way of doing things.
When people say “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” it isn’t really accurate.
Dogs fall into patterns often by accident. They try something and if it works – why not stick with it? People often train their dog unknowingly – meaning they reinforce the wrong things, usually because they lack the clear understanding of the science of dog training and how reinforcement works.
In Harper’s case she showed a high degree of reactivity and fear – people would then back away and Harper believed that she needed to continue doing this in order to remain safe. This was compounded by her owners picking her up, or trying to offer Harper some comfort which in turn sounds like praise to a dog. So Harper’s logic was very simple: “This works!”
My job was to teach Harper some skills and then show her that we can utilize those skills to her ultimate goal of safety. This creates a huge win/win in dog training.
Can you train an older dog?
The short answer is “Of course you can”.
Let’s examine some of the key differences in training younger vs older dogs:
Training a puppy : Tabula rasa
The idea behind starting with a very young puppy is being able to shape their behaviour and even their views of the world around them. This is by far the preferred way to train. It is easier for the owner and also for the dog because there is far less chance of conflicting views and experiences. If the dog never learns to engage in unwanted behaviour there is no flip flopping back and forth.
Bru as a young puppy. His owners had him enrolled in Puppy Pre School and then into intensive obedience training immediately after. Learning good habits and using training proactively is always the easiest way to build your dream dog. If you have or are in the process of getting a young puppy – definitely start training with a professional right away.
Dog Training Review
Thanks to Harper’s owners Alex and nuance for the kind words and their trust in training their old, adorable little dog.
Harper & me hanging out. She would often hop up on me if I lay down. Summer time training and taking a break in the nice cool AC!
Upcoming dog training video featuring a wonderful Labradoodle and his owner.
Their previous trainer abused the dog and then told the family the dog “is a dumb blonde in high heels”.
Each year countless dogs are diagnosed with anxiety disorders and prescribed medication. As a Dog Trainer for over 25 years I am contacted daily with inquiries on how to calm an anxious dog. In Many cases a consultation is required to figure out the best course of action. Let’s take a look at a dog who came in for a consultation and whose owners enrolled in Family K9’s Board & Train in kennel training program named Stang.
Does my dog need anti-anxiety medication?
In this video, we will take a look at a young dog named Stang.
Stang is a young German Shepherd, whose owners were told that the dog suffered from anxiety and needed to be put on medication.
This video represents a grand total of three days of training for Stang.
At this point we are only just beginning and the progress she has made is nothing short of remarkable.
Rather than calling her anxious, I would say she’s exactly what a young German shepherd should be:
Energetic.
Driven.
Intelligent.
Needs a job.
Is my dog Anxious ?
Give your dog a job, mental stimulation, exercise. Setting up a routine and building a bond will go a long way towards keeping your dog out of trouble.
How to calm an anxious dog
Of course people immediately think of physical exercise as a key component. There is merit to tiring out your dog on a physical level. However, do not overlook the mental side of things. Your dog has a mind (and in the case of a dog bred to work) a powerful processor and this energy and focus needs to be directed and spent as well.
Here are some tips for tiring out your dog mentally:
Obedience training
Nose work
Hide toys or treats and ask your dog to search and find things
Play hide and seek
Teach/Practice trick training
Finding balance between the physical & mental stimulation, providing routine, rhythm and building teamwork and bonding will go a long way to help keep your dogs anxiety at bay.
Dog training is a language. It is a system of communication, expectations and ultimately allows us to enjoy our dogs to the fullest. Whether that means getting a handle on your puppy’s wild energy, getting an older dog to change some lingering bad habits or even learning how to manage your reactive or aggressive dog.
Dog training equals a healthy and balanced relationship with your dog
Take a look at these dogs in the video. Each has its own distinct personality. Over the course of training each dog comes to a nice balance point where they are playful, cooperative and easily manageable. This is what we are after.
A well trained dog is cooperative and focused – not a robot
I make a point of emphasizing this to both the dogs in my training and their owners. We play, hug and act silly with our dogs. We should be doing this.
We enjoy doing this.
So do our dogs.
Dog Training is a win/win for K9 and Human
You’re likely doing this already – the difference here is that we are showing the dogs that by working for us they will earn all the things they enjoy and the things we enjoy giving them.
Training reactive dogs brings its own unique set of challenges. Jack is a young male Doberman, who was incredibly dog reactive.
According to his owners, he would start barking, getting wildly out of control and lunging from well over 100 feet away from even a passive dog.
His owners brought him to Family K9 Dog training for a consultation in order to see what can be done to help Jack’s anxiety (as well as their’s) while out on walks together.
Training reactive dogs
It was apparent right from our consultation that Jack is a very trainable dog and just needed someone to harness his energy and focus.
Once his board and train program was complete, I taught his owners what they needed to know in order to maintain the training and they’ve been doing great ever since.
The Key to Dog Training: Teaching dog owners how to communicate with their dogs effectively
Here is some video footage of Jack in training, as well as Jack working with his owners for the very first time in our transfer lesson in which I brought out multiple dogs in order for them to practice with.
Dog Training necessities: focusand cooperation
I always place high emphasis on a dog’s ability to focus and his willingness to cooperate.
Take a look at Jack in this video both while he’s working with me (his trainer) as well as with his owner.
His focus as well as his cooperative, joyful nature is unmistakable.
Jack even bounces around a lot while he works, this is wonderful to see if any dog and we should foster our dogs love for working with us and understand what it symbolizes.
It really is the same thing like being a manager of a team of employees, and if they are able to be productive while whistling a tune. Why wouldn’t you want them to work happily?
I guarantee you that productivity will be up, when your employee (in this case the dog) is in amazing spirits and enjoying their work.
Wow! Nick has worked miracles with our dog. We opted for the board / train program, for our 4 year old Dobermann, and Jack has come back a changed dog. Nick’s approach works wonders. He truly understands dogs and it shows in the results. Highly recommend!!
Playing with your puppy serves many purposes at the same time.
How to play with your puppy?
Puppies bite and they do so because it’s fun for them.
When they bite you and you have a large reaction (even if you’re upset), it will typically excite your puppy and make your puppy. Think you enjoy it, and want more of the same.
Rather than playing defence to your puppies, natural tendencies, take a soft toy that your puppy can grip easily and play tug-of-war with your puppy. Do so multiple times a day to encourage your puppy to vent all of its biting energy into a toy. This isn’t a complete training methodology, but it is a good first step in giving your puppy an outlet for his/her biting.
Take a look at the Bulldogs on this page. All of them were big (BIG!) Puppy biters before training.
My own bulldog, Cow, took to this game very easily, and it made life much easier for our family.
The other dog in these videos named “Bacon” was such a little demon when he came in for training that he managed to wrestle a shoe off my foot on his first day while I was walking around the exercise yard.
It’s easy to see with the right approach that even bacon was very direct able and amenable to this game of tug.
There’s a lot more detail that goes into this and your trainer should be able to help you with puppy biting and provide a smart strategy where we don’t make our life as well as the puppies a constant stream of “no, no, no/stop it/topics/stop it”.
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Montreal Dog Trainer – Playing tug of war with your dog – FamilyK9.com
Puppy biting – teaching puppies how to play to avoid bad habits ( Bacon Chronicles pt. 1)
Training an English bulldog puppy – the Bacon Chronicles pt. 2
Socializing, a dog is a very important and often misunderstood concept.
How to socialize your dog
Our goal, when socializing should be to give her dog, a sense of well-being in the world, he/she lives in.
Many people confuse this with trying to create a dog that is overly excitable, too distracted, and trying to interact with everyone and everything around it, we also have to keep in mind our balance point and what we are trying to achieve with our dog and what our dog’s individual traits are.
If you don’t understand the basic science of how dogs learn it’s like driving somewhere without a GPS or perhaps more accurately like trying to drive with your eyes closed.
Dogs are intelligent, highly trainable creatures, and if we understand how they connect darts in training, we can be clearer communicators to our dogs about what criteria we want to see from them.
When people don’t understand or utilize, some key principles are often referred to the dog as “difficult or stubborn”.
Learning how to effectively communicate with your dog.
Basic principles of reinforcement go along way and helping our dogs learn tasks from simple to very complex. It’s amazing how we can speed things up and getting so much more focus and cooperation from our dogs when we are clear communicators.
Understanding how to work with a driven dog
Drive is a living breathing entity.
It cannot be cured/fixed/squashed or extinguished.
When working with drive ideally, we want to find a balance of teaching, the dog a limit of how it is allowed to express the drive and channel it into an appropriate outlet.
Maya’s owner thought Maya had a stick obsession when in reality, she is looking to satisfy her drive, and if we play tug-of-war with her this is absolutely a win-win for the dog and owner.
Hang around until later in the video and you’ll see my lovebird Clarence illustrate how we have to direct drive.
Her timing couldn’t be better and I was so glad I had her out with me this morning while I finished my breakfast and then sat down to film this video.
Hang around until later in the video and you’ll see my lovebird Clarence illustrate how we have to direct drive.
Her timing couldn’t be better and I was so glad I had her out with me this morning while I finished my breakfast and then sat down to film this video.
It’s a sad reality that our dogs lives are short, and although we are aware of that from the onset, it still hits us like a speeding truck at the end.
From our first days to the last
I somehow thought we had more time
We managed to create a tapestry of days running one into the next
Patterns, habits and expectations that created a sense of forever
Life with our dogs is so short and eventually we run out of time
And no matter how long we’ve had
It is never enough
Never enough time to sit on the couch and cuddle
To play in the snow
To laugh as you rubbed your back under a tree, under my desk until I yelled (while I was simultaneously laughing), rubbing yourself under the Christmas tree or anything you could reach really
To come home and find you waiting by the door
Our dogs are gifts of pure emotion, of openness, vulnerability and a life lived in the present moment
And when they go they will take a piece of you with them
A piece that is uniquely connected to that special one
It’s silly really to be so attached to a drooling, mess making, time and energy consuming creature
But it’s what we do
And then hopefully
We get to do it all again
To share our heart and home and share our life with a different species we call family
It’s weird coming home without you at the front door
Bookends of time, markers of events in our lives, of years passed and changes we lived together.
If you have a dog with aggressive behaviour causing you stress you should definitely check out these videos.
Dogs exhibit aggressive behaviour for a multitude of reasons. The key to working successfully with a dog’s aggressive behaviour issues is to understand their reason for being aggressive as well as being able to direct their energy and focus into a task we ask them to do for us. Once we do this we can them train the dog to work for us and give us it’s focus and lead them through situations that were previously unthinkable. We must also respect their limits and be fair leaders.
Rehabilitating, aggressive dogs
Videos 1 & 2
Dog reactive older husky in training with Nick and then transfer lessons with his owner.
Videos 3/4/5/6
Owner of dog with dog and human aggression speaks out about the dog training
Tina and Jack are an excellent example of how easy it can be to bring a dog back from the edge of aggression through training. Jack exhibited dog aggression as well as human aggression prior to training. Tina called Nick for help and enrolled Jack in the In Home Board & Train program. Here they are chatting at
the end of the 2 week training program.
Video 7
Dog aggression problem Dollard Des Ormeaux, Qc told to walk dog @ 5 am to solve problem
Winston is an Airedale Terrier in Montreal’s west island whose owners were frustrated with dog aggression. His dog aggressive behaviour was out of control and making life outdoors unpleasant. He’d try to attack other dogs on a walk – not iust bark and pull but reall tr to attack. Thev had taken Winston to obedience school and not achieved any really useful results. The instructor told them it would be best to walk Winston when no other dogs were out – as in 5 am or midnight. No kidding.
Video 8
Molly is dog aggressive and it is a problem to walk her…until now
Molly used to react very strongly to other dogs on her walks. You will hear her owner Pam mention it in this video. Even dogs behind a fence would elicit a strong reaction from Molly. Pam knw there had to be a better way to get Molly to focus and calm down and contacted me for help. She enrolled in an in home program that consists of 6 lessons. Here we are in lesson 4 in this video and it our first time working with Molly around other dogs. At this point Molly has the skills needed to control herself and it is more about teaching the human part of the equation how to properly handle the dog.
Teaching dog owners to handle their dogs effectively
Beryl is a standard Poodle and she is just the dog I wanted to use to bug Molly. Beryl is friendly and pushy and I allow her to constantly invade Molly’s space during her lesson. Molly reacts strongly – and Pam hesitates for just a second. Once Pam remembers to keep walking and gives Molly the heel command – things smooth out. The second time we do this Molly’s reaction is much less intense. After that it was smooth sailing and Molly just ignored Beryl for the rest of our lesson despite Beryl being a complete pest (Thanks Beryl!).
Dog aggressive dogs need to learn self control and to trust their handler and their training
This type of training is about much more than teaching a dog the meaning of the words heel or leave it. It is about an emotional state. A sense of well being and calmness. Think of it like yoga for dogs who stress out too easily. Teaching Molly to trust her owner and the training process means that Molly will feel comfortable while working and trust that nothing bad will happen to her in training. As a result she will be calmer, less defensive, less reactive dog. The less she reacts – the less stressfull each subseuquent walk is for her and this new energy just keeps feeding itself.
Learn to read vour dog’s body language
Take a look at Molly’s body language and how relaxed her face and tail are while she is working. Teaching a dog new patterns A dog has a right to exercise it’s options! At times during the lesson Molly, who normally heels on the left even switches over to the right all on her own when passing by Beryl – in orde o avoid coming too close to her. This was all Molly’s idea and one that we otten see in training when the dog understands they dont have to react anymore to the dog/cat/squirrel/person like they used to in their past lite
Video 9
Preventing dog bites
Teaching a dog to focus on you and give you it’s undivided focus is a smart premise for any dog. It is that much smarter when you have a very dog aggressive dog. Take a look at Moose in this video – Hershey has no idea who he is trying to get to play with him! Bless his heart – he is such a sweet and happy dog D Nand the onlv reason he is there is to create the correct emotional state for Moose’s training. This is onlv done once the dog in auestion has gone through extensive training and proven itself to be easv to handle – as vou can see here
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Dog reactive Husky training – Family K9 Dog Training Montreal & Vaudreuil Dog Trainer
Reactive Malamute mix – Montreal and Vaudreuil Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Jack – a story of aggression remedied through obedience and understanding.
Montreal West Island reactive dog training- centennial park – Family K9.com
Training Reactive dogs in Montreal’s West Island
Interviewing Montreal's west island dog owners
Dog training in Dollard des Ormeaux – dog aggressive Airedale – rehabilitated!
Montreal dog aggression and reactive dogs – Family K9.com
Training your dog aggressive dog – Family K9.com
Shelter told owner “Dog is Untrainable“ Family K9 Dog Training – Montreal dog trainer 
The dog in this video is an excellent example of several things:
First of all, she’s just a wonderful dog everything you could hope for when bringing a young puppy home and imagining your future with your grown-up dog.
Second of all her owners contacted me when she was young and we’re serious about having a well trained dog.
She was well trained at the time we finished our program.
All of that is well and good however what you’re seeing in this video is six years after I did my work, so what you’re really seeing is how well the owners maintained the training.
Angel was back at the kennel for boarding while her family was away on vacation and while I was spending some time with her, I thought it would be fun to play around a little with her training and see how sharp she was.
Off leash obedience, focus and a huge willingness to work
I was expecting nothing less yet at the same time super pleased to see how they’ve preserved the work we’ve done together and how focused their dog is.
The whole experience from beginning to end was truly enriching, enlightening and always fun
Too often we let good deeds and good people get pushed aside in the swirl of the day-to-day activities of life. While understandable, we believe that a general lack of acknowledgement faintly supports the idea that positive interactions are no different than negative interactions.
With that in mind, we wanted to share our experiences working with Nick Zevgolis owner of FamilyK9.
As parents of a severely autistic boy, we wanted to ensure our dogs transition in the family unit, would be a happy, healthy and balanced experience that would not disrupt (only assist and support) the inherent delicate life dynamics of a household with a handicapped kid.
We enrolled in Nick’s private intensive In Home Obedience – On and Off Leash training course hoping he could teach us how to work with our dog as well as help guide and train our young Shiloh Shepherd named Angel for our complicated lifestyle.
From our very first training session, we’ve been amazed at how professional, knowledgeable, caring and discreet Nick has been with all of us. Throughout the training course, we’ve become quite fond of Nick as has Angel. He has treated us as something other than just a customer and he has given Angel a steady dose of love and effective training.
Nick has been honest, forthright, kind and professional with us, in every interaction we’ve had with him.
We would highly recommend Nick to anyone who is looking for a dog trainer; he is hands down one of the best out there!
In closing we would like express our gratitude to Nick and let him know that our support goes beyond kind words, the whole experience from beginning to end was truly enriching, enlightening and always fun.
Dogs with fear aggression need specialized training and owners who understand how their dogs mind works
Training a dog with fear aggression is the best gift you can give both yourself and your dog.
Not only does it make your life easier but it teaches your dog that he doesn’t have to act out in order to stay safe.
Dogs with fear aggression possess a very high threat perception. What that means is they see threats behind every day normal situations, people, and things. By teaching them that they don’t have to act out in order to stay safe and furthermore, teaching them to follow our lead we put ourselves in control of the situation and put our dogs mind at ease.
How to build your fearful dogs trust in you
It is vital that your dog trusts you. What this means is that you need to be a fair leader and recognize and accept your dogs limitations.
Once you have your dogs, focus and cooperation, it is important to show your dog that you respect his limitations so that he understands that when he’s working for you, he is safe.
What is means is we ultimately end up with a win/win for owner and dog.
Passion Fruit’s owner contacted me with a request to help with their dog primarily due to dog reactivity. It was clear from speaking to her that she had major issues with walking him.
He would lunge and bark at dogs – and some people too.
He was difficult to walk due to his size, strength and intensity.
When he would focus on something they would not be able to control him during an outburst.
Reactive dogs make life challenging for their owners
Many owners of reactive dogs find themselves planning their routes carefully in order to avoid triggers. They plan their walks at times when there is less chance of activity outside. They learn to become very strategic and specially alert – trying to always be a step or two ahead of the dog to avoid problems and outbursts.
Reactive Dog Training
While training Passion Fruit (nicknamed Dan) I made sure to build his foundation training to the fullest. This was done so that when we started to add in his triggers he would have a wealth of experience and understanding to draw from.
As we began to work in more challenging situations – all that was required to bring him back into focus was a little reminder. You can see in the first video that he has an easy time working with me – remains focused and calm throughout our session. Even when I slip on the ice – he continues to walk right next to me without missing a beat.
Board & Train transfer lesson – teaching owners how to maintain a trained dog
IN the second video I am working with his owner Anne – for the first time. She hasn’t seen Fruit in three weeks.
I kept her update don his progress via email and now is time to teach Anne what she needs to know in order to capitalize on Fruit’s training.
Anne did a wonderful job in our lesson and I was really happy with just how enthusiastic she was about Fruit’s training.
From Passion Fruit's Owner
Having Nick train our dog has been life-changing – and I’m not saying that lightly. Our husky mix, Fruit, is an anxious, reactive dog. He would pull a lot when we were walking him- especially if he saw another dog or even just a person walking towards us. Nick not only did an amazing job training Fruit, he also helped me understand what I needed to do to help ease Fruit’s anxiety. I am more confident because I am in control. Fruit senses that and this allows him to relax. There is such a difference in his behaviour, that I have actually looked down a few times to make sure he was still there! Fruit’s attention is on me now, so he is less concerned with other dogs and people. The odd time he does start to react, I use the “leave it” command that Nick taught him and Fruit snaps back into place. Frankly, we are BOTH less anxious now on our walks! I highly recommend Family K9. If you’re on the fence about it, just do it. You won’t regret it.
Anne Franco
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Dog reactive Husky training – Family K9 Dog Training Montreal & Vaudreuil Dog Trainer
Reactive Malamute mix – Montreal and Vaudreuil Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Can the young, trained labrador retriever puppy follow around and listen to someone who is not a dog trainer?
This is a test of the dog’s training and gives me great insight to just how easily he will work for his family comes time for our transfer lesson.
Training a young puppy to be an obedient, happy Canine Companion
Biscuit is a 5 month old Lab puppy. he is a happy, sweet and silly pup. My daughter Nina came by the kennel to hang out and I offered her to test biscuit. She did a great job handling him and Biscuit was so obedient for her. I was so proud of both of them.
A collection of video clips highlting dogs in training from Montreal’s West Island
Montreal’s west island is a very dog rich part of the city. There are plenty of parks as well as dog parks to enjoy withy our canine companions. I have trained all over the west island for just about three decades. In that time I have enjoyed helping countless dog owners in their goals with their K9’s. From puppy training to obedience, advanced obedience and helping resolve behavioural issues.
Family K9 Dog Training serving Montreal dog owners from all over the west island:
Lachine, Dorval, Pointe-Claire. Kirkland, Greenfield Park, Beaconsfield, Baie d’Urfé, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Senneville, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Pierrefonds, Roxboro, Sainte-Geneviève,Île-Bizard
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Training an English bulldog puppy – the Bacon Chronicles pt. 2
Montreal Puppy training (with distractions!)
Reactive Malamute mix – Montreal and Vaudreuil Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Montreal Dog Training – structure, play and clear communication in training
How to calm an anxious dog
Training a large powerful dog to not pull on leash
A Dogue and a dog
Training tiny dogs!
Montreal Dog Training Montreal West Island dog training, 3 very different dogs in training
Dog Training Ile Perrot, Qc – GoldenDoodle training
Rescue dog training – Montreal – Family K9.com
K9 Boot camp Montreal's west island – Family K9.com
Does your know left from right?
www.familyk9.com – Riley the Husky
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Family K9 Dog Training serving all of Montreal’s West Island including the following regions:
Lachine, Dorval, Pointe-Claire. Kirkland, Greenfield Park, Beaconsfield, Baie d’Urfé, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Senneville, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Pierrefonds, Roxboro, Sainte-Geneviève,Île-Bizard
I was a young man, starting out having only been training dogs for a few years and eager to make a name for myself. When I think of the schedule I used to keep back then – training 7 days a week sun up to sun down….
I remember the day this article came out and I had a stack of papers sitting on the front seat of my car.
They were great times, I had a bounce in my step and wanted to share with everyone what I knew as well as my passion for dogs and making the most out of our relationships together. 30 years later and that passion is still burning brightly in me.
What a time it was back then … No GPS or iPhones. No bluetooth in cars, not even a headset/earpiece.
Just a giant flip phone,an Agenda book containing 45/50 weekly appointments and everyone’s addresses, a paper map of Montreal and the surrounding areas. Seems like a million years ago and yesterday all at once.
A clipping from the Montreal Gazettewhen invited by a now defunct pet supply store in NDG to host a “ask the trainer” night.
Over the years I have had the pleasure of appearing on CTV News with Brian Britt being a featured guest interview, CJADradio on the Tommy Schnurmacher show multiple times as well as countless .
In the modern age with the way people consume media online FamilyK9’s websiteas well as YouTubeFacebook & instagram are the defacto means of putting information and content out there.
The above photo was snapped during a play and training session. these dogs are from different families, are close in age & all have a very similar social drive to play with one another. This is very useful in training.
Puppy Distraction Training
Of course it is also tons of fun for them – but we reap the benefits of using their playful nature and friends as distractions and also as a reward for a job well done – driving the incentive to focus and work higher.
Teaching puppies to control themselves when excited
Starting training young, ideally close to the 8 week mark (Puppy Pre School) goes a long way to aid in dealing with distractions for the rest of their lives.
I am contacted by dozens of owners of reactive dogs weekly whose dogs would have benefitted from early training. in some cases the dogs were already trained but the methods were not very productive. it is important to understand how your dog’s mind works and what is important to them and how to clearly communicate if you want to be productive in training.
Testimonial from Denis - Owner of Teddy - white fluff ball above
Nick is not just the finest dog trainer you can find, he is a fantastic human being and a very good psychologist! He understand human behavior as much as dog behavior and this critical to create a perfect communication between your dog and yourself. You know your dog is safe and happy when it is in the hands of Nick and his team. He was also able to put our dog in contact with other “buddies” and they had a great time while getting trained. Their set up is great , clean , extremely professional while family oriented . I can’t recommend Nick enough. When my dog got home I was almost expecting him to answer my phone…..he almost did 🙂 All said Nick help us us turned a pretty excited , unfocus nice, gentle, goofy puppy into a more mature and “able to exercice a certain level of self control” dog! Of course we have to do our part and reinforce the dog learnings but i believe it will be so much easier to do that now. You can also see that the whole training was done with gentle method. Thank you so much Nick!
Dogs can be reactive for all sorts of reasons, ranging from over excite ability, and a lack of focus, being overly social and having learned bad habits early on in life to fear and outright aggression.
Over the years, I’ve worked with tons of reactive dogs, and every single case they can be taught to have better focus and control if we use the right techniques, and we are also respectful of their limitations.
Teach your reactive dog to focus on you
Sounds like a good concept and it is but your obedience and understanding of how your dogs mind works is going to need to be next level.
Nick can’t change a dog’s DNA, but he can help give you and the dog confidence to deal with anything
This is our sweetest little/giant boy, Rove. We adopted him from Lebanon about 8 months ago. We were told he was amazing with dogs/kids/people….turns out wasn’t so true. We found Nick and family K9 as a reference from a friend and let me tell you, this man does magic! We were so skeptical and worried to leave him for 3 weeks but Nick is so gentle and kind (and I happened to know his wife, who is just as sweet and lovely) so we trusted them. When we came to pick our dog up, the transfer lesson was a revelation. It was a DIFFERENT dog (yet the same sweet soul we know) but suddenly he’s listening to our commands, heeling at our feet while walking so calmly.
Remember, Nick can’t change a dog’s DNA, but he can help give you and the dog confidence to deal with anything. Rove is very aggressive towards other dogs and I am sure he will never change, but now we have the proper skills to correct his behaviour with confidence and to the point of him being able to sit and lie down near another dog (MIND BLOWING). If you have a problematic fur machine at home, Nick is your man. The follow ups have been so great too, anytime we have a question, his responses are so fast and informative. Worth every penny. Thank you, Family K9 <3
Matti McNicol
Perfect heel and it is much easier to manage her reactivity
Our extremely reactive doberman, Bailey, has been such a joy on walks ever since she did the 3 week train and board program. Taking her outside was once such a nightmare. I would get stressed thinking about the upcoming walk and tried to adapt by taking her out during unusual hours. We live in a neighborhood full of dogs so severe reactions were more likely to occur than not. Now I can’t wait to get outside with her. We can enjoy long walks without worrying about the other dogs around us. She walks in a perfect heel and it is much easier to manage her reactivity. Everyone that has seen her before and after Nick’s training is shocked at how well-behaved she is. Thanks to Nick, Bailey is happier and less anxious – and so are we! He’s also been incredibly supportive via email whenever we have questions.
Joshua Gordon
All beyond our expectations!
We were looking for a hero to help us with Indy, our collie/lab puppy. We were at the point of thinking we would have to re home her because of her extreme reaction to cars, bicycles, dogs etc. After meeting Nick for a consultation, it was clear, he was the hero we were looking for. Nick’s customer service, professionalism, dog training knowledge, passion, and his commitment to getting it right and getting results, was all beyond our expectations! Indy did the 3 week in kennel training and we couldn’t be happier with the results. He helped us to understand what drives our puppy and how to have a successful relationship with her. We are grateful and thankful to have found Nick and have recommended him with out hesitation to friends and family. Once again, thank you Nick.
Kathy Prophet
A+ teacher (both for dogs and humans)
We have a 1.5 year old goldendoodle named Saint who has a lot of adrenaline and was incredibly difficult to deal with. We were unable to walk him without him dragging us down, and his reactiveness to other animals (dogs, cats, squirrels) was very high. He spent 3 weeks with Nick and came back with a whole new set of fundamentals that have allowed us to gain his focus and manage his behaviour. It was absolutely incredible the change we saw in the dog, and the respect our dog had for Nick. During our transfer session, Nick showed us everything, and it felt like a tv show seeing how well trained and behaved our dog was.
Nick is a true professional in every single interaction you will ever have with him. He is diligent in his responses, he is always on time, he takes as long as needed to train your dog (and you) and he genuinely cares about your objectives for your dog. He gave me regular updates while my dog was gone, and he spent hours with us for transfer training over several sessions to make sure we had continuity.
What’s most important above all else is that Nick is an absolute wealth of knowledge. Speaking with Nick for a few weeks, and watching him engage with dogs taught me SO much that I never would have learned from any other source. He is an A+ teacher (both for dogs and humans) and I can’t imagine what more he could have done to help us.
Alex barrett
Have a look at the dogs in these videos – all of them were highly reactive before training, and I, along with her owners are so pleased with their newfound focus and adaptability.
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Dog reactive Husky training – Family K9 Dog Training Montreal & Vaudreuil Dog Trainer
Reactive Malamute mix – Montreal and Vaudreuil Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Montreal in kennel boarding and training for dog reactive,  leash pulling golden retriever
Car chasing border collie – montreal dog trainer
Training a reactive dog – montreal dog training. Directing energy and focus in a positive way.
Montreal dog trainer – client from NYC -dog with Separation Anxiety and Leash Reactivity
Resource guarding, dog reactive sweetheart!
Playful puppies and reactive dogs focused heeling. Family K9 Dog Training Montreal Dog Trainer
Montreal dog aggression and reactive dogs – Family K9.com
Shelter told owner “Dog is Untrainable“ Family K9 Dog Training – Montreal dog trainer 
Helping reactive dog and owners Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training
Her owner brought her to me for a consultation with hopes of having her trained.
It was very apparent to me early on that Luna was very capable, and able to focus in great detail, despite the fact that she’s blind.
After working with her a little bit in our consultation, her owner and I were chatting while I was holding the leash and Luna was just sitting on my foot.
As I shifted my body weight, purely out of comfort on my part, Luna immediately turned ready to follow me.
Dog trainers need to “listen” to a dogs feedback
Prior to this Luna was following me during a little training test.
As we paused so the owner and I could have a chat, Luna’s brain was still active, ready and engaged.
This is a huge sign from a dog whether the dog is cited, blind is irrelevant.
A dogs adaptability is one of his greatest strengths and this is something I try to teach all my clients so that they can make the most out of their dogs.
Teaching dogs to heel goes far beyond the basics of them not pulling us around on leash.
Heeling in its purest form is symmetry, focus and communication.
Anyone can strong arm a dog into walking by their side if they are strong enough however, this is not a true heel.
Training dogs to have a focused heel and pay attention to their owners
In this video, we have two very different young dogs:
We’ve got Luca who is a young Italian water dog and a very bouncy one at that.
He is capable of great focus as you can see, and I’m even able to enjoy a cup of coffee while walking him in training, and then the other hand, I’m actually holding a selfie stick with a camera attached which is the camera that is following us around while we walk.
Dog number two is also a young dog, a black German shepherd named midnight.
Midnight came in as a very wild, untrained dog, and she was huge Lee dog reactive.
I purposely set up the video so that we would have a dog right near us, barking at her the entire time to demonstrate how cooperative and focused, even a very reactive dog can be after only two weeks of training.
If you want to train your dog to listen reliably – especially under distraction and high levels of stimulation you need to develop a belief system as part of your training program.
What this means is that the dog believes in or trusts the outcome of the process to be favorable for him if he follow your rules of conduct.
This dog training video dives into developing a belief system as it pertains to helping Tabasco – a 4 year old rescue dog not jump up for petting or play.
This system can and should be applied to all we train our dogs to do. It is a cornerstone to having a dog who can function under stress/excitement, helps improve reliability around distractions and makes our training much more durable.
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! 🙂
Over the years, I’ve trained some dogs who have had really unique names that stand out. Here’s a small gathering of some of my favourite unique dog names.
Malamute Passion Fruit – nicknamed “Dan”
Passion fruit is a large malamute mix whose owners contacted me because he had aggression issues towards dogs and some humans. He was wonderful to train with as was his owner Anne. Here are a couple of videos, both showing him in training with me, and then working with his owner for the first time. I know they explained it to me, but I still can’t quite comprehend, how a dog named passion fruit called Dan?
Rescue dog mixed breed Fig Newton
Fig is a rescue dog who came for a consultation with his owners last year, and it was clear that he’s a very sweet and nervous dog who needed help to control his reactivity.
He’s got a very dedicated team and has done great in training. I can confidently say he’s the one and only Fig Newton that I’ve trained in my 30+ year career training, dogs.
Fig Newton and his Crew
French Bulldogs Banksy & Basquiat
Banksy and basquiat are two French bulldogs both named after artists.
Each of them are wonderful dogs with big personalities and I remember them as my French bulldog artistes!
Banksy and Cow doing place in tandem
Mochi Shiba Inu
I trained Mochi towards the end of 2022. Her owners contacted me due to her reactivity towards other dogs – which would result in her, turning and biting her owners out of sheer panic and frustration. She’s definitely a Shiba Inu, meaning a dog with very unique characteristics who doesn’t give her self away socially to just anybody and doesn’t work in obedience for free. Shiba’s are a very unique breed, and I enjoy training them very much because of their strong and unique personalities. This picture of her was taken on her first day in the kennel when she snuggled up on her bed and I wrapped her up in her blanket. Later that week, when I was shopping, I saw a box of Mochi and thought of that photo immediately.
Mochi’s first day in for training
Cow English Bulldog
What can I say about my cow?
I can’t take credit for the name. Her breeder named her and at first I thought it was a ridiculous. We had actually named her Clara after Clara Hughes the Canadian Olympian (speed skating/cycling). In time we started to grow fond of the name and alternate between calling her Cow or Clara and she’s happy to answer to both
Living with Cow was such a shift for me mentally after spending decades with working bred shepherds, all of whom carried a level of intensity most people will never experience.
Cow is a hang out on the couch, stay by your side/wake me up for dinner type dog. She is a silly, soft dog who just wants to be near you and be loved all the time.
I went from racing F1 cars to sitting in traffic on a bus dog temperament wise. She’s a sweetheart the sound of her snoring is oddly comforting to me and our family dotes on her.
Cow’s 1st Birthday
El Guapo Chihuahua
Loosely translated, it means the handsome one.
I trained Guapo from a little puppy and his owners went on to do obedience training, and we have since trained many dogs together.
Guapo without his booster seat in the bag.
Bugsy Jack Russel Terrier
Now we’re going back deep into the 90’s. Close to 30 years ago in fact. This little jack Russell ruled the roost in his home and like most Jack Russells had a giant personality. He was an awesome dog, big character, and you could train him sun up to sundow with the amount of energy and drive he had. I always assumed he was named after Bugsy Siegel the gangster.
Bugsy
Bones the Pitbull
Bones’ owner brought him to me at eight or nine years old for training and he’s nothing short of a total sweetheart. I love the name bones and the juxtaposition given his large muscular stature. I spent many a lunch/coffee break, hanging out with him in his kennel and we would just chill out together.He was one of the most easy-going, affectionate and chilled out dogs I have ever met.
Bones’ deep, soft eyes
Tuba Chocolate Labrador Retriever
Tuba the chocolate lab was a one of a kind! He would board with me regularly, and at the first meeting with his owners, they explain to me that he would not go out to relieve himself first thing in the morning, unless he first was given his breakfast.Of course, this peak my interest because I had not come across a dog like this before and I was curious to see if he would do the same thing with.So naturally, his first morning in residence at the kennel, I open his kennel door to let him out with the other dogs (who are all looking at me like “hurry up, Nick, I got to go to the bathroom”) And sure enough tuba backed up deeper into his kennel making it clear to me that he’s not ready to go out yet because breakfast has not been served.What a character! As soon as he inhaled his 2 cups of food, (took him all of five seconds, maybe) he walked out of his kennel, went outside and did what he had to do and went on with his morning.
Post breakfast outing for Tuba
Hypertension Dutch Shepherd
Hyper was my dog. He was my training partner, my buddy.We spent countless hours together both in and out of training and I miss him every day since he passed in 2014.Hyper was a Dutch shepherd and a working bread one I thoughtThere’s a special bond between a trainer and a dog, especially a working bread dog because once you ignite the working side of the dog bones, do you like nothing you can understand unless you’ve lived it.He would sit at the door when I went into the kennel or position, himself somewhere by a window, trying to get a vantage point of watching me train other dogs and shaking cry the whole time until he had a chance to be with dad.
Picking Hyper up @ the airport. March 3, 2001.Fetching an SUV tire!
These clips are quite old so the video quality is not great – but they are a testament to countless hours of work, bonding and the human K9 connection. And for those wondering – Hype got to eat the cheeseburgers once the clip was finished:-)
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www.familyk9.com - Nick Zevgolis & Hyper the Dutch Shepherd
www.familyk9.com - Hyper's defense
www.familyk9.com - Object guard
Family K9 Dog Training - Nick Zevgolis and Hyper @ work
Family K9 Dog Training
Hyper's Cheeseburger torture - familyk9.com
www.familyk9.com - more Hyper clips!
www.familyk9.com - Hyper plays basketball
Family K9 Dog Training - Nick and Hyper
Environmentally conscious dog and dog trainer
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Bacon – English Bulldog
I’ve got a hand it to bulldog owners. It seems like many of them come up with really unique important names.Bacon came in for training as a very young puppy, and he was relentless in his mouth penis.In fact, this was his families, biggest concern as they had young children and bacon would chew on them relentlessly.Understand that this was nothing more than just play for bacon and here are a couple of videos of bacon in training.The first one highlights his very first day, in fact even his first moments with me at the kennel and I’m trying to orient him towards playing with a toy.At one point you can see he removed my shoe.Talk about skill! I continue to redirect them towards a toy and overtime refine this so that he understood playing with his mouth was fine as long as it’s on a toy rather than our body parts or clothing.The second video shows him about a week later, working on some obedience skills that we were developing for a few days.Such a happy, silly and playful dog he was an absolute joy to train.
Young Bacon in training
Sherpa West Highland White Terrier
I trained with Michèle and Sherpa in the early 2000s. Sherpa was a very special and wonderful example of a west highland white terrier. We have since gone on to train Gaspard another great example of the breed.
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?
