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Spaying and neutering: Is what we’re told wrong?

February 5, 2015Category : Articles
Spaying and neutering: Is what we’re told wrong?

I used to spay and neuter all my dogs. But as I got into some of the European dog sports, I started noticing that unneutered dogs seemed to have something … a maturity, a self-confidence that was hard to quantify. It wasn’t that my dogs performed less well, but they seemed like perpetual kids, caught…

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01.

What is a dog training “Certification” Can I trust it or them, does it matter?

January 28, 2015Category : Articles
What is a dog training “Certification” Can I trust it or them, does it matter?

What’s in a certification anyway? I’ve mentioned before how we often get harassed in the middle of training sessions, with people yelling at us that we’re cruel and abusive for using a prong collar. And at some point, a lot of these people question our expertise by asking, “What certifications do you have?” Obviously, we…

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02.

Let’s talk about your dogs tail

October 30, 2014Category : Articles
Let’s talk about your dogs tail

A wagging tail means a happy dog, right? Well, sometimes. I was training a Bernese Mountain dog at the park the other day—a first session with a new client—when a woman came up to me and said, “Can’t you see that dog’s tail is going down whenever you walk it? Don’t you know that means…

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03.
Google Reviews
Nitro K-9 LLC
Nitro K-9 LLC
4.6
Based on 125 reviews
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Jackie Friedrich
Jackie Friedrich
13:43 03 Sep 22
We are taking two of our dogs to Nitro and have had a great experience. They have learned so much... in just a few classes and we love that we don't need to rely on treats to get their attention. Will definitely recommendread more
Itz Burns
Itz Burns
23:23 12 Aug 22
Really welcoming environment and very skilled trainers who can identify what your dog needs! The... price is worth the product. Took my GSD and showed me how to calm him down and get him to focus on me.read more
Bill Gaskins
Bill Gaskins
06:27 01 Aug 22
We have a rescue dog that exhibited high aggressiveness and anxiety. We also had a lot of... difficulty with consistent compliance. We have worked with Steve and Matt and seen a lot of improvement. We now are able to go on walk without aggressive behavior (people or other dogs). Most importantly, with their help we have learned how to proactively work with our dog rather than needing to react to their behavior.I would recommend their service to anyone looking for all levels of training.read more
Jessica Kunstman
Jessica Kunstman
04:24 29 Apr 22
So, I fell in love with a little bundle of cuteness during covid and got my first German Shepherd.... After having raised a Siberian Husky and an American Akita I thought I had it in the bag with training him, but oh boy did I get myself into a very high strung and high energy dog that developed some pretty bad dog reactivity.I tried doing other classes with other trainers, lots of treats and very little to no results. It was extremely frustrating to see my boy shaking he was so anxious when he saw another dog. I turned to Google and started researching trainers that would understand the issues we were having and would help give me the tools to help him.Rollo is a great dog, but he's a sensitive boy and can be really unsure of himself. I love that building his confidence and engaging him is a main focus of the training. We have been able to be in the same room with another dog without him melting down and lunging and barking. After two classes so far I'm able to redirect his attention and have him focus on me instead and channel that energy into something else. It's not a just show up to class and that's it, it's putting in the time after class as well to solidify that bond.I'm so happy with the results we are already seeing and cannot wait to continue classes so I can be a better owner to Rollo and give him the tools to succeed. I'm so thankful for the whole team for what they do!read more
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
00:35 20 Mar 22
You can't teach old dogs new tricks? Well all I can say is that thank goodness Steve Walter and... Matt Pearlman don't buy into that thought process. I took my dog Champ to Steve and Matt at the age of 7.Although Nitro K-9 is the first training facility that I ever took Champ to, I had already spent years training Champ on my own. Champ is a working line Sable coat German Shepherd, and based on his level of drive I was very successful using techniques that through various resources to train him. However I was stuck using resources such as food and toys to train him. This was fine for teaching obedience commands but I struggled to gain good compliance when I did not have food or a toy, such as a ball or tug.His compliance to his obedience commands however was not my biggest challenge or concern. My biggest concern with Champ was his leash reactivity and the potential risk of liability if Champ had the chance to engage aggressively with other humans and or dogs. This concern was real, his reactivity would appear viscous and completely unhinged. The suggestion to put him down was mentioned to me many times over the years. However I knew that was not the dog I had when he was at home. At home he was a sweet gentle dog, as long as he was with his "pack", people he knew. I knew that it was my responsibility to help Champ and putting him down did not seem like an option to me, if there was something I could do about it.Throughout my time working with Steve and Matt the relationship that I had with Champ changed significantly. Champ began to know he must stay engaged and that compliance was not an option. Not only that but the changes in his behavior made a huge impact in our ability to work around other people and dogs, which greatly increased Champ's level of comfort and confidence being around other people or dogs. Now I will be honest Champ is not a new dog. He is the same dog, I still have to be smart in how I manage him, his nature is a working line GSD. However now I can work with him and assimilate him to new places and people on a much quicker basis and his compliance is much better both on and off leash. Long story short I really appreciate Steve and Matt for what they have taught me and how much it has impacted my dogs life in a better way. If you are someone who is interested in really changing the relationship you have with your dog and you don't want to rely on toys or treats for compliance this type of training will be right for you.read more
John Sanders
John Sanders
17:38 27 Feb 22
I have been bringing my GSD to Nitro K9 for several months now, and I couldn't be happier with her... progress. Training with Steve and Matt has been great, not only for my dog, but also for me as a dog owner. I now have a second GSD and have been training him at home based on what I've learned working with the first. While we've been making great progress in his training, I look forward to bringing him in for training with Steve and Matt as well. Each dog is different, each dog has different drive, motivations, and limitations.. I trust the team here to help me identify each of those and help me improve my training with my new pup based on his own personality.I chose Nitro K9 because they are the only trainer that I could find in the Seattle area that does not do treat based training. There were many other options for trainers closer to where i live, but I will continue making the 45+ minute drive from Kent to Bothell, because I trust them implicitly with my pets. I've had people ask me at dog parks, the vet, and general public where I take my 'well behaved' dogs for training and I do not hesitate to recommend Nitro K9 to them.read more
Marylou Wyatt
Marylou Wyatt
23:57 29 Aug 21
I am one of those people that walked my dogs in the dark to avoid coming across other dogs. With... Matt's help I am now very comfortable walking at any time. I highly recommend Nitro K9 and Matt, they aren't cheap but you get what you pay for! It is so nice to know I can take my dogs any where and not worry about coming across other dogs. Call them they can help you!!read more
Kacey Rosenthal
Kacey Rosenthal
18:20 25 Aug 21
I take my dog Riley to Nitro and make the drive up from Seattle... it it totally worth it. Riley is... leash reactive and I was not confident in being able to control her in any setting. We have had 5 30 minute sessions and she was able to calmly meet another dog in her last session without a single reaction. I can feel her becoming more confident and having much less anxiety in her daily life. We have worked with 3 of the trainers and are happy with every experience we have had. I am so proud of the work Riley and I have put in and I cannot wait to keep it going! Feels nice to have control of my dog without a bag full of treats and even with just my voice.read more
Christine Gasbarra
Christine Gasbarra
06:32 29 Mar 21
Steve is the ultimate dog whisperer. I’m not talking fanny full of cookies. I’m talking real dog... training ... the power of HEEL. The HERE ... eye contact , trust, the bond with your dog. The COME SIT STAY. Did you know the prong collar isn’t just for a pulling dog? It’s actually the beginning of the most intelligent way to train your dog. Steve and Matthew have been working with Bee ( my beautiful very stubborn Doberman ) since she was 6 months old. Because of Nitro my dog has the freedom to run in fields with the best recall with an immediate heel. The Off-Leash training Nitro offers is incredible... worth every penny. If you’re looking for the best obedience training for your dog I can only say Nitro-K9 is the only way. These guys have saved my life!read more
Kyler Schmitz
Kyler Schmitz
22:57 22 Mar 21
Professional and effective. Our dog comes out of Nitro like a different dog each time we visit! In... only four sessions we went from having a puppy with no recall or leash manners who jumped on everyone he met, to a dog that heels at the dog park, sits on command, comes when called, and is even beginning to work off leash! Night and day difference - these guys are no joke.read more
buttonskill
buttonskill
20:44 22 Mar 21
I knew immediately that all-positive training wasn't going to work on an unruly GSD. And you have... to ask yourself, do I want to gamble with a 75-110 lb animal with a 3600 newton bite index in your neighborhood?I'm extremely pleased with all 14 sessions I took my GSD to. He's got the foundation he needed that I've since built on every day. If you opt for the hands on training, you'll essentially be learning how to train any dog. It's an amazing deal. Folks are always commenting on Fenris' behavior. As it stands, I'd be happy with his behavior forever, but I want to take him back to Steve and Matt and see how far we can take his training.He absolutely adored his trainers too. He got excited every time we'd go.read more
Kori Tucker
Kori Tucker
19:39 22 Mar 21
We had a great experience with Nitro K-9! We rescued our husky-German shepherd mix (Obi) at 4... months old and he was absolutely out of control with over-reactivity in social settings or around other dogs. I’m a petite woman and he definitely ripped me down the street on the leash. We tried online courses and treat training, clicker training and all of the things. He’s so smart and stubborn none of them worked. We decided to try Nitro and after learning how to properly and humanely use the equipment, Obi was learning, engaging and behaving so much better! Now he’s 1 year old and we can take him places off leash without having to worry about him being the loud squirrel chasing maniac he once was! We are avid hikers and outdoor people so this has been so freeing for both us and Obi. Valerie was our main trainer and she was awesome! Thanks so much for giving my husband and I the confidence and tools to train our dog! Best decision we could have made for Obi!read more
K S
K S
19:28 22 Mar 21
I have been bringing my puppy to work with the wonderful trainers at Nitro for the past 6 weeks,... and I am really happy with the services they have provided so far. We have worked with Steve, Matt, and Jess - I have been happy with all of them, and would comfortably continue working with any of them.My 4 month old puppy already has better leash etiquette and skills than any other pup I know - not that those pups are “bad,” but this training works. However, it takes time, patience, dedication by the owner (something I don’t always have).What I really appreciate about this team is that they seem to genuinely care about my boy and his success. When we’re in session, they all are so attentive to his cues and are quick to show him love and attention to keep his confidence up, and to make sure he enjoys going there. They don’t rush his progress - I love that our sessions about Kane, and they flex to wherever he’s at that day. Outside of session, they have reached out to check in and offer support (I am struggling with hand-eye coordination of the leash corrections, and they have all been patient and tried to work with me to master it).Overall, I’m happy with the Nitro team, and I have recommended them to multiple people. My pup’s success depends on me - Nitro can only provide me with the skills, and it’s up to me to use them and work with my boy to make progress (unless, of course, you pay for the hands-off version). Luckily, Kane is smart and learns quickly, and we have the Nitro team to support us along the way.read more
David E
David E
02:24 21 Mar 21
No friend of veterans, despite the big talk from Steve and Jess. I brought my pup to Steve and his... crew for obedience training. Instead what we got was bad attitudes, choke chains, and ostensibly we were bilked out of our money because they didn’t honor our training schedule. We have since reported them to the attorney general of Washington state who is reviewing their business.read more
Serge Plex
Serge Plex
22:55 16 Mar 21
Cares more about parking spots then people or pets. Rude
Gavin Calkins
Gavin Calkins
21:43 09 Jan 21
I have a rescue heeler/pit mix named Max who came to me with so much reactivity towards other dogs... I used to have to lay on top of him on to keep him from charging dogs on the other side of the street. As such, I couldn’t take him anywhere.However, after working with Nitro K9 I am now able to talk him everywhere I go. After Max and I received Nitro K9s training, Max now trusts me to keep him safe and we have been in situations on trails where we’ve been confronted by other dogs (off leash in some instances) in close proximity and I am able to keep him from reacting aggressively.It’s been a year since we completed our training with Nitro K9 and I can not stress enough the opportunities that it has opened up for my dog. I am now able to safely give him all the life experiences he should have, it’s definitely been life changing for him. I plan on taking every dog I adopt from now on to Nitro K9. They are worth every penny. Max and I will definitely be back for more training with them in the future!read more
Genesse Castillo
Genesse Castillo
03:47 14 Oct 20
Once I am able to afford it, Pablo will be enrolled. He needs training.
Jessica Orr
Jessica Orr
16:32 04 Oct 20
**Long and overdue review! Sorry guys!**We adopted our Weimaraner mix, Stevie, at a shelter a... couple years ago. The shelter told us that he was friendly around other dogs and good around kids / just about anyone. A couple hours after adopting him, and walking him around the street, my husband and I definitely knew he was dog aggressive. He would see another dog and start barking, jumping, growling, you name it. So of course, we hired a trainer. The trainer that we had trained him in basic obedience. But the aggression didn’t stop. So fast forward, we moved up north here to Bothell. And stumbled across NitroK9. After reading everything on the website, we just had to book a consultation to see what their training was about. We met with Steve, and he said Stevie was defiantly trainable and we were both super happy to hear how they train their dogs. Then COVID happened, so we had to train him with the little knowledge we knew, until we could finally get in and see someone. We ended up meeting with Matt in May, and instantly, we knew this training program was going to work for him. Stevie warmed up really well to the training program (and now his best friend Matt lol). He listens to us way better than he ever has. His aggression is slowly getting better on his walks. He’s more focused on us and waits for the commands we give him. And lastly, you can tell he’s overall a happier and even healthier dog. This training program is amazing. They’re not very much focused on the dog, as they are focused on you. Because the second you’re a confident and trained dog owner, your dog follow suit. We are super happy with NitroK9 and we cannot recommend these guys enough! Matt, you truly have changed our lives, haha! Before, we hated going out with him and having to “deal” with his aggression shows. Now, we’re so excited to take him out and about and we know that we have control over him. Extremely, extremely recommend these guys!! Dog aggressive or not, get your dog in for training with these guys. You will overall feel better about yourself as a dog owner and your dog will show results! Thank you Matt for being so patient with us at first, answering our millions of questions and making Stevie the best boy!!read more
Tim Cirhan
Tim Cirhan
02:50 04 Oct 20
Very helpful and knowledgeable staff willing to work with you on scheduling and the best type of... training for your dog. We love our results and plan to go back for more work with their trainers.read more
Harold Abell
Harold Abell
03:21 07 Aug 20
Let me tell you. If you want your dog to reach their maximum potential, this is the spot. They have... a proven program. The product is great. I started my German Shepherd at 12 weeks on level 1. I did max 15 minutes a day doing what they showed me during lessons. I am not even done with level two and my 11 month old dog fully trained. That is, she is off leashes trained. I can go to a park or anywhere without a leash.read more
Sadie Thompson
Sadie Thompson
20:51 24 Jul 20
I brought my German Shepherd here with (honestly) little hope his aggression could be addressed,... but Steve Walter and his crew thoroughly surprised me! My pup did a 180, and went from being aggressive and possessive of me, to now he’s able to frequent the dog park with no issues. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us! I will always continue to support this business.read more
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