We can never thank the team at Atlantic enough for the absolute transformation they did on our Ollie. We reached out the Atlantic at a complete loss of how to help our sweet Ollie boy succeed. They were nothing but kind, communicative and supportive during our initial conversations, and put us completely at ease about sending our boy to the two-week bootcamp, a choice that was incredibly hard for us! Ollie is a five year old Australian Shepherd/Poodle mix who went to training pre-pandemic and has always been incredibly shy with strangers. Before 2020, this manifested as leash reactivity and we were working hard at it when social distancing went into place. Post-pandemic, we tried every method we could find to try and help him with this, but despite all efforts, his reactivity increased tenfold to include dogs and small children. Sometimes he would he completely fine, and other times, he would aggressively bark and lunge at dogs and kids. It was so stressful that we started keeping him away from other dogs, and our small nieces and nephews to be safe. Ollie's alert barking additionally reached an all time high in the summer of 2023, and his counter-surfing was out of control. We decided it was officially time to get professional help. My husband and I want to start a family soon, and were terrified to think that Ollie's unpredictability could jeopardize his relationship with our future kids. His alert barking was creating a near-constant level of stress in our home, and we couldn't imagine how Ollie would be able to function happily or be involved as our family continues to grow. Throughout the two weeks of bootcamp, we got daily communication about Ollie's progress from the team and pictures of him playing happily during break times. Most importantly, however, K-9 Atlantic has completely transformed our boy, and given us the utmost confidence that Ollie will be the BEST big brother someday. He is literally like a different dog in all of the best ways. He's still our sweet, snuggly, silly boy, but without all of the incessant barking and sneakiness! His reactivity is now basically nonexistent, and he happily plays with our little nieces and nephews when they come over! He is a rockstar on and off-leash. We've even slowly integrated meeting new dogs in controlled settings, and he has been so very successful. He hasn't even counter surfed (despite us purposely leaving chicken on the counter in his reach in order to practice!!!!). Ollie's newfound confidence shines in his ability to meet new people and have experiences without all of the anxiety that he displayed prior to his time at K-9 Atlantic. He is the best version of himself, and we are so beyond proud of the good boy his has become!!! I don't know what magic the K-9 Atlantic team did with him while he was training, but we cannot believe that he is the same dog. He has been SO good, and an absolute angel while practicing. We are beyond grateful for everyone at Atlantic for truly transforming our boy and our lives. We can never thank you enough! read more

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I originally reached out to Atlantic K9 Training because my one-year-old Cane Corso/Pittie mix, Brinley, was getting a little too strong for me to handle. She's incredibly sweet and submissive with other dogs, but she loved to jump on people and had a habit of pulling hard on the leash during walks. At 60 pounds, it was definitely a lot to manage! From the start, Kylie and the Atlantic K9 team were amazing--professional, knowledgeable, and so caring. Brinley attended their two-week bootcamp, and I'll admit, it was hard sending her away for that long with no visits. I was worried she might feel abandoned, but Atlantic K9 made the experience so much easier. They uploaded pictures every day of her playing with other dogs, looking happy and confident, with a smile bigger than I've ever seen on her. It was clear she was having the time of her life--more like a fun vacation than "training camp." When Brinley came home, the transformation was incredible. She has great recall, walks beautifully on leash, and I can now even let her walk off-leash with full confidence. She's learned to stay in her "place," respond to "no" consistently, and--best of all--she no longer jumps on people! I'm so grateful to Kylie and the entire Atlantic K9 team for their compassion, communication, and the amazing results they delivered. Brinley is happier, calmer, and more connected to me than ever. I can't recommend Atlantic K9 Training enough! read more

Atlantic K9 Training - Pet Training Near Me - Boxford, Massachusetts

Working with Atlantic K9's staff has been life changing for us and for our dog Dax. We adopted Dax in April 2021 when he was 3 months old, and immediately set to work with training. Both my partner and I grew up with dogs, but neither of us had ever "raised" one, and we wanted to be sure we got it right, setting Dax up for success. We did some research and opted for a several week training course at a local small training business in our town. Dax failed out of the class. We felt like we had failed Dax, and the trainers seemed to agree. We tried a few other training solutions - both on-site and at our home, with basically no progress. Dax is 100% chocolate lab and has the energy of 100 chocolate labs. He's an incredibly sweet, cuddly, loving, and entertaining dog. We always say that every moment is the best moment of his life. But Dax struggles to focus, which made for challenges in training we just weren't getting even close to overcoming. We couldn't take Dax on walks. We couldn't have guests over. He got kicked out of daycare after only a few hours. We left vacations early when "professional boarders" couldn't (or wouldn't) keep him any longer. We were frustrated, Dax was frustrated. The vet was frustrated. Our cats were frustrated. Our friends and family were frustrated. We just weren't in a good place, but we also recognized we had made a commitment when we adopted this dog. It was time for something "drastic." I'll say up front, I was pretty scared of "boot camp" training. I had heard horror stories of dogs being "broken" and returning home not the same dogs. We couldn't imagine breaking Dax's spirit. We had been preached to about the absolute evils and abuse of using prong and electric collars. And then I came upon Atlantic K9 on Google. I did a triple take: except for one four-star review, they had all five-star reviews. That just doesn't exist, so I paused. And it wasn't just the stars; there were stories. Stories that started to change my mind about what a boot camp might be like for us and for our dog. We were soon on the phone with Ari to see if Atlantic K9's boot camp would be a good fit for Dax. Ari was incredible: a kind person who cares about dogs and their humans. She understood our frustrations and, for the first time, we felt heard and validated, not blamed. We were sold. We were able to reach out to check in on him at any time and see how much fun he was having in the photos that were posted. Then we started to notice something interesting. There were photos of Dax sitting. There were photos of Dax on a leash, there were photos of Dax focusing on the trainers. These were things we never thought would be possible, and here was proof of his progress. We got a call about a week into the camp to hear about his progress and to ask any questions we had. Upon pickup at the end of camp, we got a deep training with Jenny on how to use the tools (prong and electronic collars), the commands, and the structure Dax now expects and needs. A week or two after he got home, we had a call with Kathleen to check on progress. We learned that we were not using all the tools and techniques exactly the right way, so the timing of that check-in was perfect. About a month and a half later, Jenny came to our home to see how we were doing and to address some lingering issues. When we first scheduled the session it felt like too long of a time gap. However, these folks know what they are doing. We had the opportunity to implement the training on our own. Because the things that needed tweaking had not yet become fully learned, we could pivot without Dax getting confused. Our lives and Dax's have improved so much we cannot even quantify it. We can take Dax for walks. Dax has manners. Dax is noticeably HAPPIER. We are finally able to enjoy our dog. We are not perfect. We have not managed to reinforce every single thing Dax learned, but we are trying. When we do try something, we get results thanks to the tools and understanding of Dax and his motivations that Atlantic K9 has given us. And when we get stuck, they are responsive to questions big and small. We can now go away and know that he is safe and cared for in boarding. We can also now send Dax to a daycare where he is not only welcomed but loved. The best part is that there is training reinforcement built into the day. Okay, maybe the best part is how tired and happy he is when he gets home. We tell anyone who will listen how wonderful Atlantic K9 staff were and continue to be for us and for Dax. Their care, support, and sheer knowledge and understanding of how dogs interact with the world around them cannot be overstated. We only wish we found them sooner. read more

I originally contacted Atlantic K9 for our German Shepherd Kaiser who was a little over a year back in September 2022. Kaiser is overall an amazing Shepherd, great with kids and people but we started seeing signs of aggression with other dogs around 6 months. It got worse for us because I had a really hard time walking him in our neighborhood. Kaiser got leash reactive, barking at other dogs, lunging towards them and pulling me constantly. I took Kaiser to a few k9 training facilities with no success. His behavior had not changed. My neighbor recommended Atlantic K9 but I was hesitant at first since we had no luck with the other trainers we took him too. I decided to call Atlantic K9 and spoke with the owner Kathleen. We spoke for quite a bit. She was very friendly and helpful. She was very honest and didn't promise me anything that she couldn't fulfill. She did promise me that if I would send Kaiser for the 2 week boot camp that I would be able to take him for a walk around my neighborhood or anywhere without him lunging, barking and pulling. I had a hard time believing her since all the other trainers promised me the same. I was so desperate to get help and my neighbor spoke so highly of Kathleen and her staff. My husband and I decided to send Kaiser for the 2 week boot camp. When I picked up my baby I had Jenny teach me everything I needed to know to continue the training at home. The next day I walked Kaiser around the neighborhood and I couldn't believe my eyes. He did not lunge, he did not bark and he did not react. I can't tell you how happy I was. Kathleen and her amazing team did such a wonderful job. It's been now over 4 month and I can walk my dog in peace. Kaiser is still the same dog, just more obedient and he feels safe since he looks at me as the leader now. I can't thank my neighbor enough for recommending Atlantic K9. We send Kaiser once a month now so he can play with other dogs. They are so knowledgeable and know exactly what dogs to put together so they can play together. I am so happy with Kathleen and her staff. I highly recommend sending your dog to Atlantic K9. read more

I originally picked Atlantic canine training based on their reviews, and I really enjoyed talking to Kathleen she was very positive and upbeat. When I first brought my dog to the training facility for the Boot Camp program they said the first week he was not the type of dog that could do be a service dog. But they soon change their mind on the second week he's very intelligent sometimes a little stubborn but he is the perfect perfect gentleman now. At first I did one single lesson with Jenny. I could not get my dog to walk on a leash he was always on guard to make sure I was protected. Jenny was absolutely amazing and one hour my dog was trained to walk on a leash. I was leery of the prong collar at first thinking it would really hurt my baby boy but it's really nothing more than a reminder as his mother would give him. I don't know where to start with Ari. I have never met anyone so knowledgeable about dogs than her. She is super amazing and super nice she treated my dog as if it was her own. She knew that my dog was an Emotional support animal. I wanted him to be my service animal for my mental disabilities he helps me tremendously. I had a follow up lesson with her and we did every command that she had taught us and Tucker. Like before I was leery of the E collar burning my babies neck. She went over the whole thing . we found my dogs threshold for training. My wife and I both felt the so-called shock that comes out of the collar. To tell you the truth we didn't feel anything at all even on the highest threshold. The type of dog I have is a corgi and a pug mix his name is Tucker. I think that he is now the most amazing dog in the world. Soon we are going for our GCT. I can't wait. The next time we need training or even boarding or even a one day play date that is the place I am going. I wish I could give them 1 million stars. Thank you so much Steve read more

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Purchased a Jack Russell Terrier from them . We were so excited to pick him up some 6 months ago that he has become an incredible part of our family ,funny full of energy he learns quickly . He is great with or kids and grandkids they all love him. Atlantic K9 was great ,they interviewed us to help tailor the perfect puppy for our needs . We highly recommend them to all looking for Jack Russell puppies, especially if they have younger children . They are always there to help with any need or information you may need. We love them all. read more

My dog began behaving aggressively about the time she turned 2. She was a rescue and I do not know much about her history before she came to us at 6 months. I was worried I'd have to keep my dog muzzled and always on a leash because of her behavior which was scaring me and the runners and cyclists she had begun trying to chase and terrify. She has an extremely high energy level and needs to run wild in the woods or beach every day to be happy and good. Anyway I had heard about Kathleen and Atlantic K9 training through two local dog friends and I signed my dog up for 2 weeks of bootcamp with Kathleen. My husband was nervous and upset because of the thought of negative reinforcement scared him. Long story short my dog came home after two weeks happy and under my voice control (after my lesson with Kathleen) . I can walk her easily on leash now and I can let her run free with me keeping her close and under voice control now. I can't tell you how good and friendly she now behaves towards strangers when I'm out and about with her. Kathleen and her trainers saved our dog from a very different kind of life than the one she has now. Thank you Kathleen! read more

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We have had the privilege of using Atlantic K9 for many years and with many dogs. A variety of sizes and issues. Atlantic K9 is simply the best. It's a big leap of faith to trust someone with your beloved dogs. Kathleen and her staff are knowledgeable, professional and the results are impressive. The training improves your relationship with your dog and consequently improves your overall quality of life. Linda and Ray G read more

Beautiful grounds and incredibly professional and knowledgeable trainers. They took our crazy, quirky pandemic puppy and taught her how to listen. And they did so without taking away her quirkiness. They trained Vivi, and they also trained us, which is key. Can't recommend them enough. read more

Atlantic K9 Training - Pet Training Near Me - Boxford, Massachusetts

WOW! Atlantic K9 is outstanding! Ari genuinely loved our Hank as her own. She spent the time teaching us how to continue the success at home. Money well spent! ‍ read more

We were looking for help with our 5-month-old Lab puppy Ginger. She learned basic commands quickly although we had difficulty with getting her to respond consistently. She was also into everything, making it impossible to work at home, chasing the cats and chewing on everything she could get into her mouth. She would get overly excited and her jumping on people was out of control. Especially since she was already 55 lbs. at 5 months. The jumping issue is what sealed the deal with making the decision to send Ginger to boot camp. It was tough to send her away although a google app was shared with us where we were able to see pictures of her daily. She was having a blast with the other dogs which made us feel better about our decision and we cannot say enough about the staff. They are responsive and truly love what they do. It is amazing they were able to turn the bad manners around inside of 2 weeks. There was a follow-up call scheduled with Kathleen which was great as it gave us a chance to have any questions answered. We were interested in continuing with some form of training for Ginger and continue socialization with other dogs in a controlled environment. Kathleen was able to help us and explained different options to us. Emmy did the follow-up training with us and she clearly is doing what she was born to do. She was training us to train Ginger which was so helpful. Ginger continues to go to the daycare periodically, play with her puppy friends and receives reinforcement training. Ginger and the cats can now be in the same room without total chaos breaking out. The house is a happier place for all of us. When Ginger is feeling her oats a bit, we are able to calmly redirect her with the tools we were given and the training we received. We all can't thank Kathleen and the staff at Atlantic K9 enough. read more

We have a two-year-old mini goldendoodle and have always been interested in more formal training for him. He has always been a sweet and playful boy with excitable behavior. However, he started showing extreme regression this past fall and displayed new territorial behavior in the home. At this point, we knew that getting the proper training needed to be a priority. After doing some research and hearing about the experiences of others, we knew that we wanted to contact Atlantic K9 Training. Right from the beginning, Jenny was extremely patient, understanding and truly wanted to help us. She hopped on several calls with us to discuss our current situation, our goals, and their training approach. We knew that Atlantic K9 Training would be the perfect fit and that our dog, Beau, would benefit greatly from their bootcamp program. In addition to boarding and training at bootcamp for two weeks, we also had a lesson on-site when we picked him up and an in-home lesson. Our one hour lesson with Kathleen and Jenny at home was truly the cherry on the sundae for us. We had already seen such improvement with our boy after his time at bootcamp, but being able to put it all together in the home with them was beyond valuable. They helped us to gain confidence with Beau in and out of the home and also assisted us in accomplishing our biggest goal, which was to have success with a dog walker when we are not home. We truly feel in more control and have a better understanding of his territorial and anxious behaviors, which has not only helped us, but him. Most importantly, Beau is still Beau. We were nervous that he may change or come back as a "different dog" even though we were very confident in our decision, and that was not the case at all. He truly loved the staff at Atlantic K9 and is still our boy. This investment was worth every penny and bit of time for us and for Beau. We couldn't be more grateful for Kathleen, Jenny and ALL of the amazing staff at Atlantic K9. They did an excellent job of keeping us updated while he was at bootcamp, which really made the whole process easier. They are all so passionate and amazing at their jobs and we are forever grateful to have found them! read more

We originally contacted Atlantic k9 when we adopted our super high energy pitbull puppy who we knew would need alot of training. Our experience has been great and exceeded our expectations for the course. We loved being able to get daily photos of Blue while he was staying for bootcamp and the communication after was really great too. We learned how to continue implementing all of the training and it has been great having him back and totally trained. We were worried that his prey drive was so high that he might not listen but that wasn't the case at all and now I can feel safe having him off leash and not have to worry that he might take off. I highly recommend the bootcamp program for anyone considering. read more

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Our experience with AtlanticK9 training was A+++! I had heard from two different people that they're dogs had returned home as different dogs, and got to experience that myself. My 1 year old French Bulldog Eddie was nothing short of a nightmare....destructive, aggressive, and virtually untrainable in certain areas. He returned home as an absolute dream. We worked with Jenny and couldn't have been more impressed with the results. Eddie learned many commands which we continue to reinforce at home, and he is no longer running the household. I have my sanity back and a wonderful companion. read more

Amazing place. I have both my puppies, one now 14 months and the other 10 months to the Boot Camp and then back when I was away and they are great, the people are wonderful, the trainers are amazing and patient with the dog parents for sure. The place itself is a dog wonderland, the grounds are beautiful and the dogs are so happy. There are pictures of the dogs posted daily so you can see them and what they are doing... I cannot recommend it enough. I wish it were closer to my home so I could have them there daily for doggy day care. I feel completely comfortable leaving them and know that they will be fine and well cared for while I am away. read more

I first called Atlantic K9 when we were looking for a GSD breeder. They didn't have any upcoming litters but referred me to a wonderful local breeder. That was the beginning of an amazing partnership! Fast forward to getting our GSD puppy in May of 2020, we did a puppy basics class elsewhere and quickly learned that our pup Ada would have some challenges. I had grown up with German Shepherds but she was giving my husband and me a run for our money. We struggled with biting, leash pulling, and challenging us constantly. She's incredibly smart but also sensitive to everything. We called Atlantic K9 and though we were hesitant to have her away from us for the two week bootcamp (oh yes, she's a pandemic puppy for sure), it was everything she needed and more. It was such a relief to me that the staff really understands the complexities of GSDs, though it is obvious that they work wonders with all breeds. The property is so beautiful with so much space for the dogs, and the photos you could see uploaded every day showed just how much they all love it - Ada included. The crucial part of the bootcamp of course, is the two follow up lessons. We did one onsite and one at home in our yard, to handle a few issues at home like rushing the back door and overaggressive play. My husband and I were able to learn how to continue her training and keep up the work at home. I also want to acknowledge how knowledgeable the staff is about the right way to train a dog with an ecollar. This was also something I was nervous about until Kathleen and her staff educated me on how it worked. It has helped us have such a better relationship with our dog, who loves being able to be off leash in the backyard. Atlantic K9 has also helped with the many questions we have had as we raised our puppy - what supplements they recommend for her joints and sensitive stomach, the right type of harness for the car, what longbone and growing pains look like, and more. They have been a true partner of ours and I am so grateful we found them! Ada looks forward to daycare every week, and the daily included lesson is helpful to keep her training refreshed. We have also boarded her on a few occasions and it's such a relief to know she is around all the trainers she loves and is comfortable and well cared for. I can't recommend Atlantic K9 enough! read more

I chose Atlantic K9, after a friend recommended it. Kathleen and her crew were great! I have 2 labs, and they worked with me to train them, both separately and together. Their personalities are complete opposite, so this enabled the dogs to get the best out of the training. Throughout the whole process, Kathleen was available for any and literally all questions and concerns. She took the time to explain everything. The training for myself was a huge help, and they even welcomed me back and gave me additional time when I felt I needed more training for myself. My dogs and I are happy and we now can enjoy walks on and off leash. Would definitely recommend read more

I have a 90+ lb German Shepard (Tutli) who became extremely leash reactive at around 7months. Pregnant with a three year old daughter, I had exhausted myself and all of my own training tools. I sent tutli to a 2 week train and board at Atlantic K9 and it was life changing. Of course it's a not one and done fix (which was promised to me by a number of other training facilities who assured me I'd have a "remote controlled dog", which is both not what I wanted and unrealistic), but with their guidance, I was able to maintain training and we've made huge progress. Now at 14 months, I am able to walk her safely in my neighborhood with my new baby. There is nothing more I wanted than a smart, safe, loyal family dog- thanks to Atlantic K9, that's what we have! She is perfect with my kids and a wonderful family pet. Could not recommend them more. read more

Atlantic K9 was the best choice ever! Their expertise and professionalism was very impressive. We were very nervous and apprehensive to leave our anxious girl while we were away. It was hard but we knew it was necessary in order to help her through some behavioral issues and instill proper manners while implementing basic commands. Needless to say, Jenny and the entire team worked diligently to make our Lilly the best she can be while maintaining her adorable personality. I also loved how upbeat and positive they were and would reply promptly if you had any questions and or concerns. My husband and I have learned a tremendous amount and love working with her daily and seeing the incredible progress. It has been life changing for us All. We could not have done it without Atlantic K9 and their wonderful staff. Kudos to you all! read more

Lilys experience at Atlantic K9 was very special for her and I. Lily recently completed the two-week bootcamp program and has since been thriving. Lily is an 11-month-old mixed breed rescue who came into our family during the summer of 2022. I have been around dogs my entire life and was confident I could begin training basic commands. Pretty quickly after adopting Lily I began researching training programs as I wanted Lily to master not only the basics but wanted to challenge her in being the best she could be. This included wanting a no-pull leash walk, strong recall and the ability to listen off-leash. I can confidently say that all of these goals and more were achieved with Atlantic K9. During my research in looking for a reputable training program I was lucky to find Atlantic K9. I was looking for a place where I thought would produce not only results, but I also needed to feel that my puppy would be safe and would be treated for properly. I looked into various programs at various places, and I kept coming back to Atlantic K9. The endless reviews of incredible experiences with Atlantic K9 was something I just couldn't resist and was drawn too. To be fully honest I would randomly google Atlantic K9 just to see if a new review popped up because I was so excited to hear another success story. It provided me with excitement, and I finally reached out. From the first time I emailed/called and discussed my goals and aspirations for Lily and the program I felt comfortable. The team at Atlantic K9 is knowledgeable, confident but they also just get it. They get the "nervous" dog parent worries, they get the concerns, and they listen. They were supportive before being enrolled, during enrollment, during Lilys stay and have continued to be supportive since the program. During Lilys bootcamp I was able to see photos of Lily each day. The team would send over random messages and provide updates. They also encouraged me to reach out whenever I wanted too if I had any questions or simply wanted an update. I had a lengthy phone call halfway through the program and got the full scoop on Lily and her progress. I was shocked when I first heard Lily was learning "heel". I mean I understand one of my desired goals was a no-pull leash walk but I never thought she would learn heel. Lily was also working on her recall command and was beginning to step into her off-leash training. At the end of the two-week program and upon pick-up I spent an hour on site to be trained on everything Lily learned and techniques that I would need to continue to use at home. The team at Atlantic K9 continued to check in on Lily and I was able to text/call back and forth with them if I had any questions. A month after the program we had a second in person follow-up training. Lily was able to showcase everything she learned and had continued to work on over the month. It was a great session in which I was able to further my education on more techniques and tweak anything that I was possibly doing incorrectly. It's now been not even two months since Lily completed the bootcamp program and she is thriving. I am able to walk Lily with such ease. This means Lily gets to come everywhere with me! She can loose-leash walk, and she can go into heel upon command. Lily has such a strong recall thanks to Atlantic K9. As soon as I say, "come here", she instantly comes over to me. Lily was playing with a dog the other day and during mid-play I said, "Lily come here" and she came over without hesitation. The other dog parent was so impressed and jokingly asked its dog why it can't listen that well. It was a light-hearted moment but a moment that reinforced how well the training went. Lily is now also able to roam off-leash. I feel confident in her recall that we venture through the woods, play at the beach and roam around outside the house without a leash. Thanks to Atlantic K9 I have the resources, tools and education to continue to challenge Lily. Lily is so engaged with me and its really helped me in providing a more fulfilling life for her. Lastly, I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to Jenny, Kathleen and the entire staff at Atlantic K9. The experience has been incredible, and I am thankful for all your hard work and efforts that go into making such positive experiences happen. Lily and I can't say thank you enough! read more

Incredibly professional and knowledgeable staff. Property is beautiful. Their attention to detail and personal attention to my dog was more than I ever could have hoped for. My husband and I have visited multiple facilities to get help in training our rescue and we were blown away by the difference at Atlantic K-9. Top notch all the way. I didn't hesitate for a second to hand over our dog to be in their care. Very loving with her. The results from our 2-week bootcamp have been remarkable. She is a happier dog, and we are happier dog parents as a result. If you are considering training for your dog-don't waste your time going to other places. Atlantic K-9 is what you are looking for-for your dog and for you! read more

We had the privilege of purchasing our German Shepard from a small private breeder in Maine. This was our 1st family dog and we instantly fell in love with him. He is loveable, intelligent and energetic. Honestly for a shepherd he is pretty chill. At about four months Jax started exhibiting the typical puppy behavior; jumping on people, furniture and nipping. We also had a lot of difficulty walking him on a leash. We knew we needed some help when he jumped on the grill to steal a raw pizza dough! Jax was food crazy. Atlantic K9 was recommended to us through a chance encounter with a neighbor. It was honestly the best decision we ever made. I knew that Jax was going to be a big dog and I wanted to make sure my entire family was able to control and manage his behavior. We just wanted to be able to enjoy our dog. I did a lot of research about training and specifically board and train programs. I felt that I would be able to handle the training but realized that I needed professional help. When I initially contacted Atlantic K9 I had the opportunity to speak directly with Kathleen. She was so informative and patient with all of my questions. I felt instantly at ease and enrolled Jax in an upcoming board and train. Jax attended the 2 week board and train program when he was 6 months old. He came back to us trained and ready to learn. The transition back home was easy and we all followed the training recommendations provided by Jenny. Jenny is amazing. She is calm, firm and was able to really demonstrate to me how to manage Jax. I was originally nervous that I wasn't going to be able to be consistent but it really was easy. Jax was great at leash walking and very receptive to corrections. He will be next month and I barely need to use the e collar on him. He wears it all the time but honestly he just gets it. Jax has zero issues with jumping. Board and train is an investment but it is a smart investment for your dog and your family. My family and friends always talk about how well behaved he is. I agree, he really is a well behaved boy. Post board and train Jax loves to come to day camp at Atlantic K9. I love how I receive pictures of the dogs having fun and playing outside. Also when you drop off and pick up you are able to have a real conversation about your dog and what is going on. From my experience this is not true of all dog camps. I can't recommend Atlantic K9 enough. You will be equipped with the tools you need to be able to enjoy your dog. read more

We have a 1-year-old mixed breed dog named Luna who is really affectionate with people and other dogs. She would get really excited to see other dogs and the barking was uncontrollable. Also, her behavior on a leash was really difficult to handle. A friend recommended Atlantik K9 and we could not be happier with the result. She is a pleasure to walk on and off leash and we now feel like we have the ability to correct her in a way she will continuously respond to. The crew at Atlantic K9 has been so positive and great to work with, we feel like the investment we made in Luna will serve us well for many, many years! read more

We definitely would recommend Atlantic K9 Training. Our family adopted two 8-week old puppies from the same litter a year ago, and they were now 16 months old. While sweet and lovable as can be, they were very "untrained" in terms of jumping on people, not coming when called, and being "leash aggressive" with other dogs when walking. We interviewed several different dog trainers, and when we met Kathleen at her facility, we were impressed with her thoughtful answers to our (many) questions, her calm demeanor, incredible expertise and personal approach with each dog. We left our two babies in Kathleen's care for two weeks, and now that they are home, we could not be happier. They're very well-trained, and the particular issues of jumping, not coming, and being leash aggressive are well under control. One extra thrill is that we can take them "off leash" when we go for walks in the woods, which we would have never thought possible. It's really made a difference in our family, we can truly enjoy the dogs now, both at home and when walking/hiking. Again, we highly recommend Kathleen and Atlantic K9. read more

Atlantic K9 staff are supportive , kind and dedicated to you and your dog. They helped tremendously with my large breed dog who was incredibly reactive on leash and with other dogs. He has been an amazing turn around. Thank you!! read more

I have a four-year-old dalmatian, who because of lockdown lost his socialization manners, became over protective, became leash reactive, and who we couldn't keep off the counters. When a family friend recommended Atlantic K9, we were initially not entirely comfortable with him being gone for two weeks. However, Kathleen and Jenny were so wonderful with him, and the improvements that we have seen from him since he has been home, and when we went for a follow up lesson, we couldn't be happier. They are incredibly professional and knowledgeable, we are so grateful to them for their foundations that they helped us to create with our dog, and we would choose them again in a heartbeat read more

When Harry Met Sammy We had adopted Harry from a local rescue organization in November, 2019. Harry is a two year old, 20-pound ball of love, a mix of something, we aren't quite sure what, but maybe terrier or Havanese. He had a wonderful personality from the get-go, he just wanted to be loved. But as the weeks went by after we brought him home, we also saw he had some dangerous habits - the biggest one was dashing out after cars. And although he liked playing with other dogs, whenever we were on a walk and another dog would go by, he was just beside himself, barking, pulling, almost aggressively. And Harry, who only has 3 1/2 legs, because one of his front legs is just a stub, he was able to wriggle out of his harness a few times while on walks  and he would take off like a bullet, not listening to us at all, he was gone!  I was so afraid he was going to get hit by a car or run away.  We tried going to traditional, rewards, treat based training, and he learned some basic commands. But those dangerous habits seemed very ingrained. Nothing we did was working. I wasn't enjoying walking him, I was always on guard. Then one day, while while we were together in front of my house, two hugs security type dogs walked by with their owner. Harry went crazy and suddenly he was out of his harness running full speed right at the two dogs. Their owner tried to control them, but Harry went right up into their faces. I lost 10 years off my life, how he came away unscathed I don't know - but I realized I needed to take his training more seriously and that I needed help. I called around many different places, but kept coming back to Atlantic K-9. From their detailed website, and then from when I spoke with Kathleen and Jenna, I felt this could be the answer I was looking for. I did have a lot of concerns though and they patiently talked to me and answered them all.  I didn't know much about e-collar training and I wanted to know things like: would it would hurt him; would it change his personality; would he be distrustful of me if we sent him away to boot camp after having rescued him?, etc, etc. They walked me through step by step of the boot camp process and their holistic approach to dog training. My husband and I made the decision to invest in Harry so he could have a safe, happy future for him.  We both agree it was literally the best money we have ever spent! Dropping Harry off at Atlantic K-9 for his boot camp was easier than I thought because I did have confidence in Kathleen and her team already at this point. They are so warm, caring and professional. They sent me updates throughout his stay, and I could see he was getting along well with the other dogs. Because of his 3 1/2 legs he did get tired more quickly than the others, and they adjusted his training to accommodate his needs.  When Harry came home, he was exhausted from his hard work of learning new things, but his personality hadn't changed at all. In fact, he seemed more loving and settled knowing his boundaries.  Kathleen did a session with myself and my husband to teach us how to keep up the training at home. I was skeptical if this was all going to really work - but I can't tell you how the training transformed Harry and his bad habits. But I know with my own bad habits,  I usually wind up regressing back to my old ways, but Harry has not. We have to give minimal corrections - he just knows what to do and he does it. He's so well behaved and happy.  As I write this, it has been five months since his training and he is still on point. I had a second follow up session with Kathleen and she took Harry and I into the woods with one of her dogs - and we off-leashed Harry for the first time. Something I never thought I'd be able to do! He listened so well, stayed right with us, and enjoyed the walk so much.  When dogs walk by or cars whiz past, he is calm, cool and collected! But he's still our fun loving Harry, he's just so much safer - and I'm so much saner. I can't thank Kathleen and her team at Atlantic K-9 enough. I recommend them with a grateful heart! Sam T., Georgetown, MA read more

Can't recommend them enough! We sent our lab mix rescue to their 2 week boot camp program when he proved too difficult for us to train. Our biggest issues were barking, pulling on leash, and not coming when called. They fixed all of those issues making all of our lives drastically better. We can now go for walks without a struggle, he's no longer pulling or barking at everything he sees, and we can use the heel command when needed. He's now living his best life running off leash at the beach, dog park, etc. as we can trust him to come when called. This has literally been life changing for our family - we can take the kids and dog out together without being stressed the whole time. Communication was excellent, methods were made clear, questions were answered. The trainer took her time with us going over everything when we picked him up. Photos posted daily. Price on par with other similar programs in MA, but I truly believe the quality of this place is better than others in the area. 100% would recommend and if we ever get another dog we will definitely send them to Atlantic k9!! read more

We brought our dog, Luna, to Atlantic K9 for boot camp because of assertiveness/ aggression towards other dogs and cars, especially when on leash. I was hesitant to send her to boot camp initially, but we couldn't be happier with the results. Since she got home from boot camp, she is a completely new dog. She doesn't exhibit any aggression anymore, and we are able to take her on walks without worrying about what she will do. If you are on the fence about it, I urge you to take the leap! It was more than worth the cost for the peace of mind and change in Luna's behavior. We want to thank the team at Atlantic K9 and specifically Jenny, who met with us twice after the boot camp to make sure we felt comfortable following through with the training once we got home. Sending Luna to boot camp was life changing! Thank you, Atlantic K9! read more

I would would highly recommend Atlantic K9 training programs. We have a six month old German Shepherd puppy that was exhibiting some Obsessive behavior after the two week puppy boot camp she is like a different dog. Kathleen is very good at instructing the handlers on how to read and understand there dog. I look forward to working with Kathleen and her team in the coming months improving and finishing our dogs basic obedience. Rick C read more

We wish we discovered this place so much sooner. What a caring and talented bunch! Our dog came home so well behaved and learned so much during his time at their boot camp. We look forward to sending him there for day care and are so grateful with the experience we had at Atlantic K9 read more

I highly recommend Atlantic K9 Kathleen is very knowledgeable about dog behavior I was referred to Kathleen's for much needed training for my high energy smart but stubborn dog when he was not able to attend day care due to his energy level and unwillingness to obey. Kathleen did a GREAT job training my boy as well as me. Soot really responded to the techniques we were taught and he is now able to go anywhere I take him on or off leash. The training Kathleen provided was priceless it has allowed us to really bond and enjoy every minute with our boy. We wouldn't board him with anyone else. Kathleen keeps us updated and sends pictures while he is boarding. Soot also gets some reinforcement training when we board with her. I know when he is at Atlantic K9 I can rest easy because he is being cared for in a safe environment. read more

I highly recommend Kathleen and her team. I had a very negative experience with a former service that was supposed to both train and walk my dogs. They didn't do either and the consequences were not good. To say I was afraid to bring my dogs anywhere else is an understatement. But Kathleen and her team made me feel comfortable. They answered all my questions and eased my concerns. I now have two awesomely trained dogs. They continue to check in on my pups to see if they can be of any further help. I really appreciated that! I would recommend Atlantic K9 every time! read more

Atlantic K9 was recommended to us for a 2 week bootcamp training. Our Shiba Inu would not stand strangers in the house and would blatantly ignore our commands (typical of breed). After the bootcamp she was a different dog. She is now amazing with strangers and is a very good listener! We also adopted a GSD from Kathleen and sent him to the bootcamp as well, and same results! Amazing dog and Kathleen is amazing to work with. I highly recommend for the bootcamp and even every day day care! read more

Kathleen and her team are amazing! I run a small dog rescue and have worked with many trainers but Kathleen is heads and shoulders above the rest. She is so intuitive with each dog we have had her work with-- and she has been successful with each dog meeting he/she where they were and getting them to where they needed to be. Kathleen truly cares about each dog and identifies the best way to help each dog. I know whenever we get her involved with a shelter dog's "cob-webs" she will assess what they need and find a way to get he/ she to the next level. She is also fantastic and helping owners know how to work with their dog. Kathleen is truly an amazing person and trainer!! Karoline Carlson Founder, Freedom Street Rescue read more

If you are from the school that says if you don't have anything nice to say keep quiet, then don't read this. I placed my dog with Kathleen under the word that she would be training him and then work with me when he finished his boarding time. Instead I got a young girl that had absolutely no idea/experience about how to train a dog or its owner. The only thing she knew how to do is zap my dog with negative reinforcement. What they did was use the e-collar and burn my dogs neck in multiple places and scarred him permanently. The trainer tried to tell me when he was yelping from the pain that it was fine and not to worry. I ended it right then and there. If you want your dog sitting in a dirty crate and zapped at high levels this is the place to go. Run!!!!! read more

We have been thrilled with the training that our yellow lab, Murphy, received at Atlantic K9. The entire team is approachable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. We were apprehensive about sending our needy, one year old COVID puppy away to Boot Camp for two weeks, but we were made to feel welcome right off the bat at drop off and Murphy walked away from us with his tail wagging. Atlantic K9 kept us updated on Murphy's progress and uploaded daily photos of him in obedience training and playing with other dogs, which made the us feel confident that we'd chosen the right spot for him. Murphy came home to us a very well-behaved dog. He is lovable, smart, silly, and a huge part of our family, but before Atlantic K9 he had some bad manners that prompted our initial inquiry to Kathleen... jumping up on people, pulling on leash, mouthing, and demanding attention. Murphy learned so much from this experience and we are so impressed with the outcome, he is an absolute pleasure to have around and to travel with. We continue to send him to daycare at Atlantic K9 at least a couple times a month so he can socialize with other dogs and get reinforcement of his obedience training. We are forever grateful to the staff at Atlantic K9 for the love and lessons they have given and continue to give to our good boy. read more

If I could sum up my review with one word it would be AMAZING. I recently brought my English Bulldog for training with Kathleen. Although I do give myself some credit for Kingston's success, Kathleen deserves the majority of it as she knew exactly what Kingston and I needed from day one. I have had English Bulldogs for more than 20 years. I consider Kingston to be one of my biggest challenges. Prior to our training, I never thought it would be possible to effectively socialize him or comfortably walk him on a leash. He will always be a work in progress, but thanks to Kathleen I have a healthier relationship and understanding of Kingston. I highly recommend Kathleen and Atlantic K9. I am forever grateful!!! read more

We sought training with Kathleen in preparation to welcome a baby into our home. We have two terriers who would get aggressive with each other mostly due to jealousy over human attention - a scary situation when expecting a baby. We had tried training that only used positive reinforcement, and it did not work. In fact sometimes it made the situation worse as the dogs clamored for treats. Kathleen introduced the static collars at a very low level, we could not even feel one and the other for the bigger dog felt like a cell phone vibration. Kathleen trained them to know the words "quiet" and "off", which was invaluable. We very rarely even need to use the collars anymore because they remember their training. One of our dogs is more sensitive to the collar and we don't keep it on her long to avoid any irritation - but this is easily preventable by removing the collar frequently. The benefits of a safe household and the dogs being able to enjoy environments such as sitting on our front porch that we would not have included them in prior to their training far outweigh my initial reluctance to seek training that included negative as well as positive reinforcement. Once I saw the results, I understood that dogs, like humans, need to avoid consequences and cookies alone will not motivate in all circumstances! When Kathleen came back for the dogs' follow up, they were happy to see her, and we continue to board the dogs with her when we travel. Kathleen welcomed us into her home to see the dogs' accommodations and we had no concerns - and we are picky! I recommend Kathleen very highly to anyone concerned with their dogs' behavior, we are so relieved that the dogs' interactions are much more pleasant and the jealous aggression is no longer an issue. read more

This is a hard review to post because the people for the most part seem to be nice but my interaction was very limited with anyone but the teacher of the class. She was nice enough, a bit scattered but very knowledgable. The class itself was not that great I just expect an obedience class to teach the fundamentals: sit, stay, come, down and other commands needed for everyday. Instead we mostly 'played' with agility-like obstacles. I am enrolled in another class at another facility and learning the basics that I was hoping to learn here because they came highly recommended. So please take this as constructive criticism - teach obedience in obedience class and save agility for another class when dogs have a more solid foundation on the basics. read more