Frequently Asked
Questions

Click Sign Up, fill out the form, and we will contact you to schedule your evaluation. After the evaluation, we build your training or dog walking plan.

Yes. The evaluation is required. This is where we assess your dog, identify problems, answer questions, make recommendations, and build your plan.

We assess your dog in our training school with your behavior history from your sign up form.

If we are doing an in home assessment we can assess anywhere you like.

If your dog is showing aggression, anxiety, reactivity, or fear, sign up immediately for an evaluation. Early intervention matters.

Yes. We take phone calls every night from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Because that is marketing, not training. Nitro K-9 builds true off-leash reliability by starting on leash first. That is how control, clarity, trust, and relationship are established.

Many trainers start immediately with e-collars. We build the dog first, then layer advanced tools only when needed. Many clients see off-leash results without ever needing Level 2.

Only session length. Small dogs usually fatigue faster, but the training standard is the same. If your small dog has drive and stamina, we train accordingly.

Daily. Even 10 to 15 minutes makes a major difference. Training is not only something that happens when you bring out the leash — every interaction with your dog is an opportunity to reinforce what you are learning.

Level 1 builds the foundation: leash control, communication, focus, structure, and relationship.

Level 2 is for advanced reliability, increased distraction, and off-leash work when appropriate. Not every dog needs Level 2 to see major off-leash improvement, but the foundation always comes first.

Yes, when appropriate. After the evaluation, we can determine whether dog walking, training, or a combination of both is the right fit.

For Level 1, you will need:

• A properly fitted prong collar
• A 6-foot Nitro K-9 Brahma web leash, made in-house

We use Herm Sprenger collars exclusively. We will make sure your dog is properly fitted when you start training with us.

Yes. Most clients purchase their prong collar and leash from us during the evaluation or first lesson. We normally have what you need in stock, or we can arrange to get it quickly.

Because the leash is a communication tool. Soft, stretchy, or designer-style leashes reduce clarity and control. The right leash gives the handler better timing, feel, and communication.

Our Brahma web leashes are made in-house for serious training and real working pressure.

• Weather-resistant
• Strong and durable
• Firm and responsive
• High grip and easy to handle
• Built for structured obedience and working-dog handling

Pet-store leashes are built for casual walking, not precision training. Our Brahma web leashes are built for control, clarity, and consistency — they give the handler the right feel for the leash work we teach.

We generally recommend a 3.0mm or 4.0mm Herm Sprenger, depending on the dog. We size your dog at evaluation and recommend the correct fit.

We generally recommend a 2.25mm or 3.0mm Herm Sprenger, depending on the dog. We size your dog at evaluation and recommend the correct fit.

We recommend a 6-foot × ¾-inch Nitro K-9 Brahma web training leash.

We recommend a 6-foot × ½-inch Nitro K-9 Brahma web training leash.

A service dog is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability — physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other. Tasks may include retrieving items, interrupting anxiety, blocking, grounding, or providing deep pressure support.

A Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) is trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a psychiatric disability. These are not emotional support dogs. A PSD must be task-trained and held to a high behavioral standard.

A psychiatric service dog is task-trained and may have public access rights when fully trained and under control. An emotional support dog provides comfort but is not task-trained for public access and does not carry the same legal protections.

Therapy dogs visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and similar settings to provide comfort to others. They do not have service dog public access rights.

We start with a behavior assessment to determine whether your dog is capable of the work you need. We evaluate:

• Trainability
• Temperament
• Leash behavior
• Environmental stability
• Task suitability
• Handler needs

The handler is responsible for the dog at all times. The dog must:

• Be under handler control by leash, tether, voice, or other reliable means
• Be housebroken
• Follow vaccination and licensing laws
• Not create a direct threat, disruption, or safety issue

Calm, neutral, and controlled at all times.

• Four on the floor: no jumping, climbing, or standing on hind legs
• Quiet profile: no uncontrolled barking, growling, or whining
• Close handler position: under a chair/table, next to handler, or in a controlled sit/down
• No running around, pulling away, or engaging the public

Tasking is the trained work your dog performs to mitigate your disability. Examples include deep pressure therapy, grounding, blocking, panic interruption, anxiety interruption, item retrieval, or trained alert behavior.

We ask clients to provide a letter from their psychiatrist, doctor, or qualified healthcare provider stating they have a disability and identifying the type of tasking being trained. Our completion letter can support your records, but does not replace medical documentation.

Nitro K-9 does not offer a federally recognized certification because no official federal certification is required. We train the dog to the highest practical standard and prepare the team for real-world reliability. Practice must be done legally in dog-friendly environments until the dog is fully trained.

Yes. Training must be completed successfully before we support final travel documentation. Some airlines may have service-dog-in-training programs. If your dog is temperamentally ready and trained well enough to cause no harm or disturbance, we may be able to provide a letter for that purpose.

Yes. If you are considering breeders or specific dogs, we can help evaluate temperament, size, cooperation, and working suitability.

Yes. There is no law that says you cannot have more than one service dog.

No. We do not currently offer fully trained service dogs for sale.

No. A vest is not required in Washington State. Always check current state and local laws if you travel.

No. However, the dog must be trained to perform specific tasks that assist with a disability. Basic obedience or emotional comfort alone is not enough.

There is no required breed. Choose a dog based on temperament, size, cooperation, calmness, trainability, and working ability — not breed alone.

No. There are no breed restrictions for service dogs.

No. A service dog in training does not have the same public access rights as a fully trained service dog.

No. A city cannot require service dog registration as a condition of access.

No. Service dogs must comply with vaccination and licensing laws.

As a practical matter, no. This should be discussed with your veterinarian. A female in heat may create public access problems and could disqualify the dog from being worked in public during that time.

Yes. This is one of the most common and valuable psychiatric service dog tasks. Ask us how we approach this training.

Yes. This requires extremely specific training and must be evaluated individually.

Yes, but we do not recommend it. Too many dogs have consumed medication and died.

No. Use an alarm.

No. You must lead your dog. Your dog cannot lead you.

No. A working service dog must remain neutral, focused, and handler-oriented. Allowing frequent dog play can increase distraction, anxiety, and fixation on other dogs.

No. You and your dog should be invisible in public. The dog is there to work, not socialize.

No. Not a chance.

Yes, but it can be costly. Service dog training requires time, precision, handler involvement, and consistent follow-through.

Yes. Service dogs may be trained for physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other disabilities when the dog is suitable and the tasking is appropriate.

No. Denying housing because of a qualified assistance animal or service animal may violate federal housing laws.

This is more complicated. In employment settings, accommodations are handled through disability accommodation rules. An animal may be allowed as a reasonable accommodation in some circumstances, but may be excluded if it causes disruption, safety issues, or undue hardship.

Students with disabilities may be protected under the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and in some cases IDEA. The exact rules depend on whether the school is public, private, post-secondary, religious, or federally funded.

It depends on the type of transportation. Public transportation, private providers, and federally funded programs may each be governed by different parts of the ADA or Section 504.

Air travel is governed by the Air Carrier Access Act and Department of Transportation rules. Airlines may require specific DOT forms and behavior standards. Service dogs must be trained, controlled, and able to behave safely during travel.

We recommend reviewing the Washington State Human Rights Commission service animal guidance and the ADA directly.

The ADA website provides federal service animal information including Title II and Title III guidance.

In many instances, yes. Contact us to discuss your situation.

Because this work is personal and real. Steve Walter has worked with trauma survivors, battered women, first responders, police officers, soldiers, and firefighters — people facing serious life challenges. He understands how critical these dogs can be for the people who need them.

Nitro K-9 trains for real-world reliability, public stability, handler focus, and task performance under pressure. These dogs are not accessories. They are lifelines.

Regular obedience training is conducted approximately once per week with the handler involved, with practice time between sessions.

Hands-Off training is condensed into 14 total training hours where we do the training, then transfer the handling back to you.

Yes, but not automatically. You need to be trained too. That is why we include handler transfer lessons — to show you what your dog has learned, how to handle the leash work, and how to maintain the commands.

Dogs need recovery. Proper training includes work, rest, and mental processing. You hired a professional trainer, and trust us — your dog will need the break.

Yes. We evaluate the individual situation and provide clear guidance, structure, and techniques for you to use. That is why we are here.