Friendly K9 | Canine Behaviorist

We HIGHLY recommend Friendly K9 to anyone struggling with leash walking, reactivity, recall, or just general manners. Our dog Leo was really struggling with reactivity to dogs and strangers, over excitement, leash walking, and recall before enrolling into Friendly K9's 2-week board and train. It's been 2 months since Leo completed his program and he is a completely changed dog. We never thought walking could be stress free with no barking or lunging and being able to hike off leash with full confidence in his recall. We continue to use their boarding services on a monthly basis and when we drop Leo off he is so excited and always has a blast. We cannot thank Sal, Jordan and the Friendly K9 Academy team enough for all their support and truly changing Leo’s life!! More...

Truly the best!!!! We took our Doberman to another training facility prior to coming to Friendly K9 and was not impressed. A neighbor told us about Sal and Friendly K9 and it was the best decision we’ve ever made! Sal and Chris are extremely knowledgeable and are so nice and fun to be around! My Doberman is so amazing in and out of the house now! Highly recommend their 2 week Obedience program. I wish giving 6 stars was an option! More...

I took my golden retriever Daisy to Friendly K9 and it was the best decision I could have made!

They are immensely knowledgeable and made a difficult transition to dog life SO much easier. Daisy is now 9.5 months and everyone we meet comments how well behaved she is. Thank you for guiding me when I felt SO lost!!! Cannot wait to continue working with you guys. Highly Recommend. More...

Prior to working with Friendly K9, our large Newfoundland was very stubborn and didn’t always respond to commands. He was also reactive with some dogs when walking on the leash. This made walks anxiety-provoking and stressful! After working with Sal, we have noticed a significant difference. Harvey is much calmer and much more responsive. He listens on walks and so far has not been reactive. His off-leash recall is amazing! Walks are much more enjoyable now. We definitely recommend Friendly K9. Sal is very professional, knowledgeable and extremely understanding to work with. Thanks again Sal. More...

I was happy trying to start the programs I paid for but unfortunately their was a lot problems wear the cancel the programs and the promised refund they promised never happened.

We had a wonderful experience with Friendly K9 while training our first dog, Teddy. From the very beginning, Sal made us feel supported and confident as new dog owners. He helped us learn how to walk Teddy on leash calmly, which has been a game changer. Sal even recommended getting our kids involved which we loved the idea. They can now take him on walks with confidence and ease.

Even though Teddy picked up the training quickly and was showing great behavior from the second lesson, Sal and Richard continued to check in with us about his behavior at home. We have lifetime support through a private group chat that really helped us with any questions we had. They provided thoughtful guidance and practical tips to ensure we could continue to lead Teddy effectively beyond the structured training lessons.

We are very grateful for their expertise, professionalism, and ongoing support. Friendly K9 has not only helped Teddy thrive but has also given our family the tools to enjoy life with him to the fullest. Highly recommended! More...

Friendly K9 is the best decision we made on training our little puppy!
Sal is extremely knowledgeable on puppy development and explained the growing process through canine neurobiology which was a game changer for us being able to understand our little guy.
As the first-time dog owners, we greatly appreciated his insights into dog/wild animals instincts and behavior.
He taught us essential commands, helped teach us to potty train and crate train him and how to handle the early teething stages which has made a huge difference in our confidence as pet parents.
I honestly can't imagine how we would have navigated this year with our puppy without his support.
And yes, he was always just a call or message away, ready to help with any questions we had. If you're looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable trainer, look no further! Highly recommend Sal and Friendly K9 More...

We have taken our 2 dogs to Friendly K9. I truly appreciate the knowledge that Sal has for training dogs. His Fear-free approach and helping us increase our bonds with our dogs is amazing. It’s such a great feeling when you can see the moment our dog understands what we are requesting. I would highly recommend Sal with Friendly K9 for anyone who needs puppy training. Will be back next year for some Obedience and off leash lessons. More...

We completed our Private lessons with Sal in the end of Oct and it was fantastic! Our 2.5 year old terrier, Lizzie, had a wonderful time building confidence and learning new skills. She was so keen and eager and warmed up quickly to Sal! What a wonderful experience and were so proud of Lizzie and grateful for everything Sal has taught us. We hope to be back in spring to start with Off-Leash Lessons! Thank you and highly recommend. More...

We had a great experience at Friendly K9. Sal is extremely knowledgeable about leash reactivity, dog behavior and handling. He was really kind, patient and professional. We learned the skills needed to manage our dog's attention and set boundaries. Thank you for helping us and Ruby become more confident on our walks! More...

I had the opportunity to work my personal dogs with Sal owner of Friendly K9. I consider myself lucky to have met someone as kind, knowledgeable and supportive as him. As a dog trainer, myself, I was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and overall experience. If you are looking for somewhere to train you dog, I highly suggest choosing this company. More...

My family and I had purchased Zoom session due to the fact we are almost 4hrs away from the facility. Given the challenges of in-person gatherings these days, their virtual training sessions proved to be not just convenient but also highly effective.

From the first class, I was impressed by how well-organized and engaging the sessions were. The trainer did an excellent job of keeping everyone involved, whether through interactive discussions, live demonstrations, or Q&A sessions. They made the experience very enjoyable.

The curriculum was well-structured, covering a range of important topics from basic obedience to more advanced tricks. I appreciated the clear explanations and the step-by-step guidance provided during each session. The trainer encouraged us to ask questions and share our experiences, which created a supportive community atmosphere and hearing other talk about some of there struggles and listening to the feedback from the trainer i was able to take note on “if this happens to us”.

One of the standout features of the Zoom classes was the ability to receive immediate feedback. The trainer was attentive and provided personalized tips based on our individual situations, which was incredibly helpful. It felt like I had a front-row seat to expert advice tailored just for me and my dog.

The flexibility of taking classes from home allowed me to integrate training into our daily routine seamlessly. I loved being able to revisit recorded sessions to reinforce what we learned, ensuring that my dog and I could practice at our own pace.

Overall, the Friendly K9 Zoom classes exceeded my expectations! I’ve seen great progress in my dog’s behavior and training skills, and I feel more equipped and confident as a pet owner. I highly recommend these virtual classes to anyone looking to strengthen their bond with their dog while enjoying the convenience of online learning. Thank you, Friendly K9, for such a fantastic experience! More...

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Reply from Friendly K9 | Canine Behaviorist

thank you

Richard was quick to respond to my request & provide information in order for me to make an informed decision.
I look forward to working with Friendly K9! :)

Sal and his team did a great job with Kloe in the 4 week puppy program. She used to be overwhelmingly energetic and immature and very rarely listened to commands. She was also a very hard dog to walk because she would always pull and get distracted by anything and everything. After their solid foundation work and intense leash training she is much easier to handle and can tell that her training moving forward is going to be much easier thanks to the ground work done at Friendly K9 training. Sal has also been very responsive when I need help with her and am confident in the lifetime guaranteed help. He has reassured me many times that even when she has bad days or a misbehaves on a walk that it’s all a process. Looking forward to seeing more results the more I work with her! Thanks again Sal and team! More...

Sal and his team were able to transform our 5 month old female GSD from a scared, and skiddish puppy into a more confident one. He was able to show us how to get her to stop pulling and get her in the heel position with no prong or e-collar- just the same collar she was dropped off with. Sal also follows up and is there to help answer any questions or concerns. If your puppy or dog is having social issues, or just a pain to walk with- give Friendly K9 a call. It is the best investment for your furry friend! More...

Sal and his crew have been diligent in their approach to correcting my dog's aggressive behavior which was not resolved by a prior dog rehab facility claiming they were experts in dog aggression resolution - they merely masked the issues with e-collar training by suppressing the dog's natural behavior. There were no weekly reports or videos showing what they were claiming and how they were training him and there were no live chat updates - I had to call and request for updates and even then they were not of substance. When I got him back the aggression issue was still there.

Sal updated me with my dog's progress 3 times a week with videos and commentaries on the work they were doing and Sal followed up weekly with a one-on-one discussion about the progress. Sal was the last resort for my dog and because of Friendly K9, my dog is back at home and we are enjoying him without the aggression issues that were both a liability and hindrance to my dog being a family dog in my home. Sal has also offered to come to my home to follow through and introduce me to proper e-collar training post aggression resolution on a flat collar. Sal also has offered unconditional support going forward - once a client of Friendly K9 - always looked after by Friendly K9. More...

We originally were recommended Friendly K9 from a friend of ours. We had a 3 month old German Shephard which needed puppy training. It's been two months since we brought her in and I couldn't be any happier. When they say life time support, they're not kidding lol. Between my wife and I, we must have reached out 3-4 times. They were quick to respond and great to work with. I HIGHLY recommend using Friendly K9. Will be going back in the near future for the off and on leash training. Keep up the great work. More...

Sal and his team of trainers did an amazing job on my 2 seven month Dachshunds in the 3 week program. Over the 3 weeks I got video and audio updates to see and hear about their progression. They are obedient, well behaved, and they don’t annoy my sister’s older dog anymore. It was hard being away from them that long but absolutely worth it! Last night and this morning we had our meals in peace without them jumping and begging for food. Of course after I had to reward them with a couple treats just to let them know how pleased I was. Since they’ve been home there have been no accidents and I still have a bit of work to do to maintain that but so much better than before their training. I am so pleased to have my puppies back and not be worried about how they’ll behave around other people or dogs. I can be proud of how well behaved they are now and that’s all thanks to Sal and his team at Friendly K9. Thanks guys! More...

If your dog is suffering with anxiety and socializing. Please don’t bother to waste your money on any other training/behaviour correction facility I did a lot of research when we finally realized our beloved springer was out of control. We must all realize that not only humans have been affected by the pandemic. Our pets have been just as stressed. Thank heavens I found Sal at Friendly K9 training. Please call and talk them . All the trainers are professional,caring,and devoted to giving your fur baby the best life possible. Everything was explained to us in detail and regular updates with video were sent. I have just had my first full day with my boy back and the change is like I have a new dog. Please take my experience . Don’t hand your money or trust your dog to another training service. They will not be able help you like Sal.

Don’t waste any time get the help you need now. I have just had the best day with my happy calm loving dog. More...

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Reply from Friendly K9 | Canine Behaviorist

Thank you so much for the review and VERY VERY well said, I have to reply to this. A lot and I mean A LOT of owners get fooled by the, "I will come to your house and train your dog and as soon as the Trainer realizes this can not EVER be done for Aggression and Anxiety cases they blame the owners OR simply tell you there are no refunds. People who are truly looking to better not only their life but their dogs life reach out to US and do not make excuses or find the cheaper non effective "routes" which ruin the dog more with the lack of experience MANY trainers have in this particular area. We have had and still have coming in many dogs that have already been to other schools in there programs and unfortunately they were not able to turn the dog around and curve the behaviours as this area of training takes skilled trainers. Hence why we tell potential clients do NOT get fooled by great sales guys, LOW prices and fancy websites as there is a catch to it all! I am so happy to hear this news, we are happy you made the right decision the first time around!!!

I normally don’t run to write reviews but when it comes to Friendly K9 Training Academy- I had to!
I have never dealt with a trainer who was willing to call me multiple times just to answer questions and trust me there was a lot of them!
He made sure I felt comfortable and that I knew he would be there every step of the way to help me.
I absolutely love that they do everything themselves, including muzzle training which was not offered to me by any other company- especially when you have a reactive German shepherd rescue.
I truly believe in this company and appreciate how knowledgeable they are.

They go above and beyond to make your experience the best it can possible be.

There’s not enough I can say about this fantastic team who really had your dogs best interest at heart! I definitely recommend Friendly K9 Training Academy! More...

Thank you Sal!! We are so happy with FriendlyK9 and how they have helped our lives. Our Belgian Malinois we have had since a puppy and she is now 4yrs old. Her behaviours were really getting out of hand. She had nipped two friends of mine and became pretty aggressive towards just about everything.

After making calls to various schools, some told us this can not be fixed and to look at putting her down which was completely out of the question. We reached out to Sal and you can tell this was not the first case he has heard of. He recommended the 6 week aggression program which we were sad to loose her for so may weeks BUT the results are mind blowing.

She is a totally different dog. Sal gave us home work to do for 20 minutes a day to keep up the training which we have been doing and we are just so thankful. There were never any promises made to us except Sal would do everything he could for us. Now it is a pleasure to go on walks, go through high traffic areas and just enjoy her as we were when our dog was younger. Thank you so much Sal, this review does not justice for what you have done for us. More...

I had my dog with Friendly K9 for 6 week agression course as my dog was extremely aggressive with other dogs. I am amazed at how my dog has turned out. I never ever thought i would be able to take him on walks with out the freak outs he would have towards other animals. Its made our lives so much easier. More...

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Reply from Friendly K9 | Canine Behaviorist

Hello Lauren! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can be of further assistance for you and your pup! The team at Friendly K9 Dog Training Academy

Sal and Walker were such a great help. Extremely professional, they showed up with short notice and provided my family with exceptional service. Highly recommend Friendly K9 if you need a K9 detection team. More...

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Reply from Friendly K9 | Canine Behaviorist

Hi Jessica! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience. We are so happy to have worked with you. The team at Friendly K9 Dog Training Academy