Great. I cannot count the number of times people complement me on how well behaved our dogs are. They are full of energy. One of them cannot play enough. The other one can be stand-offish. But when I give them a command they do it. When I walk them, I can stop and have a conversation with someone and they are behaved. Bruce has a method. I followed it for novice training. Now we are in advanced training and agility. My dogs are happy dogs. And they are good citizen dogs. I would say Bruce didn't train my dogs though. He trained me (and my daughter) on how to train them. There are fun events through the year too - Christmas parties, Halloween parties, for the dogs and the people. read more

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My Siberian Husky graduated from the Puppy Class last week and while it's our 3rd time training at Bruce's First Friend K-9 we can't ever get over how important and onpoint Bruce's training is for a new puppy. We adapted our puppy 2 weeks before we started our class and we right before adapting knew that First Friend would be the only place to be for training our puppy. In 8 weeks, we had an amazing, well trained puppy who was so obedient, and well mannered. This was done through weekly classes and reaffirmation of 10 mins training everyday. I didn't have the time to train more but I stuck to the same schedule and Bruce's training concepts and it was GOLD! Highly recommend Bruce for your First Friend, you will NOT REGRET it! This is so essential to create the best experience for your puppy and YOU! read more

We have been so happy with our experiences at First Friend! We started our puppy in their Puppy Kindergarten class when she was about 3 1/2 months old and this was a huge help! They train with "sugar and spice" which is great. She is a husky/gsd mix. The training is really for the humans . After she graduated from this class she took their Novice class. She looked forward to her training sessions with us each week and loved class night. Now she regularly goes to daycare and visits when we go buy her food and treats. She LOVES all the staff and gets so excited when we get close. She is such a great dog on walks and very social! We can take her in trips and she does great with strangers, other dogs, and crowds. We plan on doing more classes for all of us this year! read more

First Friends K-9 - Graduation photo - Pet Services Near Me - Fishers, Indiana

It's been about 20 years since my first briard was trained at first friend K9. and almost 20 years later, I am happy to report that the level of training my THIRD briard received this October, was just as skilled and impeccable as my first! I literally drove across the country from Phoenix Arizona so that my pup and I could benefit from the renowned skill and expertise that only Bruce McNabb and his crew can deliver. Dog training is unregulated in Arizona and anyone can call themselves a "trainer"and believe me, you can tell who's worked at PetSmart and now calls themselves an "expert". I won't and can't afford to trust my dog's training to just anyone with a t-shirt and business card. Bruce's training methods AND results (then and now) are truly amazing, long-lasting, and solid if you continue to reinforce what your dog has learned at first friend K9. Once again, I am grateful to Bruce and his staff for their dedication and the quality of training they invest into their dogs. It was totally worth every bit of the 1750 miles I drove to get my dog Sugarbear here to First Friend for their in kennel training program I cannot recommend First Friend K9 training services ENOUGH to anyone who is serious about having a well-behaved dog that will be accepted everywhere it goes and will be beloved and respected by all who encounter it's amazing manners and obedience. Highly satisfied and forever grateful, Melisa Lalich PHX AZ. **a special Thank You to Gabrielle for her dedication, consistency, and amazing results. TY read more

First Friends K-9 - Still AMAZING after all these years!!! THANK YOU - Pet Services Near Me - Fishers, Indiana

Amazing, wonderful, excellent. Best place in town to take your dog for training. We are on our fifth dog going through Bruce's training and it is top notch. read more

My dog made a dramatic transformation during the 8 week course. He was very skittish, afraid of people and other dogs, and he is now well behaved and social. read more

First Friends K-9 - Pet Services Near Me - Fishers, Indiana

I waited to do this review because I was wanting to really give them a second chance but I have been very unhappy with each time I have picked my dog up from them. My first experience was the worst and I should've walked away after that. I took my dog for their train and board and they had him for 3 weeks. When I dropped him off he was a very healthy, filled out (but not fat), shiny coated Doberman. Did they do a decent job with training him? Yes, that is where the 2 stars comes. Although the few times I talked with the trainer I wasn't very confident that she knew what she was doing. She called me at one point telling me she couldn't get him to sit...which he already did very well at home. Again, benefit of the doubt given as dogs, especially young dogs, can act up in new places. But she just did not give me much confidence in her abilities after that phone call. Fast forward to me picking him up and taking him home. My dog was SKIN AND BONES. I was trying so hard to not cry when I saw him so skinny. His spine was sticking out of his back. His coat was very dull and he was clearly very unhealthy. I was able to get him back to good health again after a couple weeks and I decided I would try them for boarding for just a night. I premade his food so I knew he was getting a proper feeding. I picked him up after one night and he was COVERED in dried piss. I almost puked smelling him in my car for the 40min drive home. When I got home I immediately took him to shower him off and the entire tub turned yellow due to the amount of pee I was washing off his body. I have no idea how long my dog was forced to lay in urine but it was disgusting and that was the nail in the coffin for me. They will never get my business and I'll be sure to tell many to stay far away. read more

After hearing lots of positive reviews from people I know and trust, I decided to take my rescue dog to First Friends. This was a big mistake. I hate giving negative reviews, but this place has altered my dog's life in a very badly. After adopting her from the humane society, I quickly discovered that my dog has issues with reactivity and aggression. I did not realize how much the prong collar training would worsen her behavior. First Friends training is based off of negative reinforcement and inflicting pain onto the dog when they don't immediately do what you want. They claim it's a mixture of "sugar and spice" but the positive reinforcement they allow is little to none. She became so much more aggressive and reactive toward me and others. Her anxiety was through the roof, and so was mine every time I stepped into that building. The place itself is such an unpleasant environment. I recently hired a new trainer and when I told her that I had originally taken my dog to First Friends, the first thing she told me was, "we all make mistakes." I recently started going to a new vet and when I told her I went to First Friends, her face instantly dropped and she said, "Oh. I see." She went on to talk about how she can't see any dog benefitting from that style of training. I find it pretty jarring that two other industry professionals KNOW and TALK about how poor this training method is. I know this review is harsh, but I want to warn others about this place. I am ashamed I went down the First Friends route. It has done nothing but hurt my dog and me. I would avoid this place at all costs. read more

We LOVE first friends! Bruce and his team do an absolutely excellent job of preparing owners to be the alpha in the relationship with their dog. They use techniques that align the dog's behavior and their pack tendencies. I highly recommend them! read more

DO NOT SEND YOUR PET TO First Friend K9 in Fishers, IN. To say that I am disappointed would be an understatement. As a lot of my family and friends know from my Facebook photos, my boyfriend and I have a beautiful German Shepard named Otto. Otto is very sweet, never aggressive with other dogs and really aside from getting into the trash is very well behaved. We went out to AZ this past week and decided to board Otto with First Friend K-9 Training in Fishers. I've heard nothing but great things about the training side of their programs, and I figured since they have branded themselves on being the best in the business of training GSDs that we would give them a shot. We boarded Otto with them from 5/6-5/15. When I dropped Otto off he was full of energy and a healthy 75lbs. He was going to be boarded, with "daycare" for each day that he was there - which included a full day of interaction with other dogs. He was also supposed to have a solo walk and a peanut butter kong 3 times during his stay. I eagerly made the 30 minute drive to pick Otto up this morning, after a long trip of annoying my boyfriend by saying how much I missed him. As I arrived to the facility, I watched a girl walking a large, what looked like, mountain Shepard dog. As she walked him she snatched hard on his pinch collar 3 separate times and when the other girl she was walking with watched me enter the parking lot they both looked at me as if they had been caught doing something wrong. I understand pinch collars are training collars and it is sometimes necessary to correct a dog, but that was not correction. Also, apparently walking the dogs in the parking lot is their "15 minute daily walk and play", which I confirmed with the guy checking Otto out. They were not even walking them in the grass. I entered the facility to find it dark, hot, humid and loud from the dogs barking and whining. The man working behind the counter let me know that they didn't groom Otto as scheduled because there was no running water or electricity. I could tell, as it was hot and humid. I asked where the dogs were being kept and why they were kenneled and was told because of "low visibility". At no point this morning prior to me picking up Otto were we informed that there was not running water or electricity. How were the dogs being tended to with no running water. The guy then told me how much I owed, $250 less than I was expecting. When I asked why it was so cheap he told me it was because they had not put Otto in the "daycare". When I asked why the man could not give me an answer, only that he would have to call to explain later. We were later told that Otto had not been apart of daycare for more than the first two days because he had jumped their 3.5 foot fence. (what boarding facility located next to an interstate has 3.5 foot fences?). This means that he was in his kennel the other days with one 15 minute walk a day and that is all. The agreement when I dropped him off was that if for some reason he could not be a part of the daycare they were to call me and add extra walks every day. We even called on the 2rd day to check and never got a response. We assumed because we did not hear back that everything was going well. The very first thing that I said and noticed was how skinny our boy is. I sent a 35lbs bag of food with him, so there is absolutely no reason why he should have lost the amount of weight that he did. I wish that I had a scale at home so I could weigh him to truly get an accurate understanding, but his appearance speaks volumes. You can see his ribs, his spine and his hips. I've said a few times today that it looks like he was on the street for a couple of weeks apposed to a boarding facility. I understand that it is common for dogs to not eat when separated from their people, but they should have called to inform us and try and make something work with him to make sure he was eating. As soon as he came into the house he went straight for his food and water bowl and has since had 2 bowls of food and at least 4 bowls of water, which makes me feel like it was more than him simply not eating. His glossy black coat is dull and dusty. He smells awful and his spirt is so down. I picked him up around 10, I had to wake him up for a walk at 4:30 this afternoon. My boyfriend and I are both in the Army. We are supposed to leave on 30 day orders this Friday. We were supposed to board Otto with First Friend K-9 Training for that duration and the ONLY thing that is good to come from this is that I now know that our pet cannot be trusted with that company. I'm disgusted and disappointed and I never want any other person to feel the way I felt when I picked my pup up this morning. If I can take any responsibility for this it will be to say that I overlooked the negative reviews that this place has because "a Karen is a Karen", but I should have paid attention and decided against this place based on the negative reviews. DO NOT SEND YOUR PET HERE. read more

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Completed the Novice class this week. Learned a lot and enjoyed the class. Bruce keeps the class moving and fun. He always took time after class to take questions and to give behavior advice for my dog. Highly recommend the class and I will continue with advanced training. read more

Not a very clean facility. Our puppy caught kennel cough here two times and he's vaccinated for Bordetella. Smelt like urine when we picked him up from daycare. No nanny cams, check out verification, or status updates. Staff is sketchy. Seemed like there was one person doing the work and the rest were in the office on their phones. There are a ton of other dog facilities in the area that are comparable in price but much nicer and have engaged staff members. read more

Love First Friends! We are in week 5 of 6 of their puppy kindergarten program and have noticed dramatic improvements in our high energy puppy! There's a lot of homework and the class is intense but if you put in the work it pays off tenfold! (Admittedly we sometimes slack on the homework and we notice it when we do). We've also done drop off day care and will be using them for boarding too. Everyone who works there is well trained and clearly loves dogs. Bruce is firm but has passion and experience for days!! If you don't like a dry sense of humor or being held accountable for your dog's success this is not the place for you. But if you want to work hard and have a terrific dog that you can feel proud knowing you trained, then sign up for class today! We can't wait to start the novice then advanced and agility levels! (And as a bit of background, our puppy- a Beauceron is our 2nd dog together, First was a GSD. And my husband's 3rd dog raised from puppyhood, first was a Rottie. We are not newbie dog owners and still feel like we are learning a ton in class through Bruce and his team!) read more

First Friends K-9 - Week 3 (2nd week with puppy) of kindergarten - Pet Services Near Me - Fishers, Indiana

AMAZING PEOPLE! We have taken 6 dogs there over the last 25 years. Every one turned out terrific from the training they provided. The most important part of the process is training the owner. The dog learns from you and if you are prepared to learn what to do and put it into practice, the result will be a happy dog and a happy owner. If you do your homework, the puppy will learn quickly and be a delight. Bruce and his staff will be an endless resource for helping you to be a good owner and assisting your puppy to be a good part of the family. The only failures in puppy training are the fault of the OWNER who will not do their homework. A puppy will only be as good as you make them. More than 20 years later I am still learning from the Master. Pay attention to Bruce and you will be thrilled to be a puppy owner. INCREDIBLE PEOPLE.......SUCCESFULL PROCESS......WORTH 10 TIMES THE FEE. read more

We've trained several of our dogs at First Friends K-9 classes. Over the years, we consistently received compliments regarding how well behaved our dogs are. Bruce is awesome with how to manage difficult behavioral "issues". It's so nice to be able to take your dog anywhere and know you can trust them. read more

Please think hard and long before enrolling in a group training with this company. We recently added a puppy to our home and quickly sought out training to work on potty training, basic commands, and submission. After calling the company to get more info about their "Puppy Kindergarten" classes and asking specifically if our almost 10 year old daughter could be the handler we were told that would be just fine and prepaid for the class. A few weeks later we went to their facility at the scheduled time with our puppy. Apparently we weren't supposed to bring him to the first class so they boarded him free of charge for the duration of the class. Totally fine. Class started and the lead instructor/owner, Bruce, gave some info about the number of puppies euthanized or given up during the first year of their life. He also covered some basic first aid and safety info, a list of foods toxic to dogs, list of needed supplies, and went over their training handbook. We had the impression based off of his body language, tone, and phrasing that he is a very authoritative person with perhaps a drill sergeant/military background. The forceful commands issued to German Shepherds going through police dog training (one of their services) make sense so I didn't think much about it at the time. The following week we got to training a few minutes early. We checked in with another staff member and were given name tags and a mat to kneel on during certain portions of the class. As expected, there was a lot of barking from overly excited/nervous puppies. Again, nothing unexpected. Once the demos got started everyone was pretty attentive. The most distracting/stressful part was the 25 clickers all being pushed randomly throughout the 90 minute class. Our puppy was stressed out and was understandably nervous and distracted. About 15 minutes into the class, a staff member noticed that our daughter wasn't able to get our dog to cooperate with the commands and asked what she could do to help. I suggested that she come back more often to help her out and all that was done was for her to tell her to "listen to your mom" a couple of times before she walked away. The training went on for another 15 minutes or so and while the staff walked the room and helped some of the other puppies my daughter continued to be ignored to the point that when given a quick sitting break she started crying because she was frustrated and the only thing they did to "help" was to tell me, the parent, to help her and for my daughter to "chill". She was so upset that some of the other adult students/handlers that were attending did their best to soothe her and tell her she that she was doing a good job. I have had dogs for over 30 years and have actively taken a part in caring for and training them during the duration of that time. We didn't enroll our daughter and dog in the class to be to told to "help her" several times without them actually helping her as they were being paid to do! Bruce did come over once during the submissive training where you place the puppy on its side to help look over it's body, teeth, etc to help our daughter get him into position, but all that resulted in was him (Bruce) getting frustrated, telling me (the paying parent), yet another time to "help her", and him walking away. When we got home our dog was so physically and psycyhologically traumatized that he slept for 5 hours while we (my daughter and I) did our best to decompress after more or less being yelled at and told to do it ourselves for an hour and a half. We came in today and asked for a refund for the remaining classes which was given, but only after being told that he and his team did none of the things mentioned above. Completely unprofessional, and to be honest, a horrific experience for our entire family and pet. read more

If you want a well behaved pet and you are willing to do the work this is the place to come. We'll behaved pets are like children - they don't just happen. You will learn pet parenting using both sugar and spice. Warning if you don't do the homework you'll look like a fool and everyone knows it's not the pets fault it's your. Plus if you choose you can train with like minded owners and pets continually throughout your pets life - learning and bonding never stop. read more

I have been taking my dog here for several years now and I could not be any more pleased with the results! Bruce and his staff have gone above and beyond to make sure that everyone is accommodated during our sessions. He is great at creating and maintaining relationships with all of the people and dogs at his training services. I come every Wednesday and look forward to it every week. I have recommended him to my close family and friends and plan to keep coming here for as long as I can! read more

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I can't say enough good things about First Friends K-9. Kelsey did an amazing job training our very stubborn Siberian Husky! I have seen a big change for the good in his behavior since bringing him home. I had another dog trained here 25 years ago and would not consider going anywhere else! read more

Great trainers at First Friend K9. Bruce has guide me in raising 17 service dogs and 3 personal dogs. He helps you and your dog to achieve the basic commands with confidence and consistency. He encourages the best strategies for each dog and encourage individual coaching for handlers. If I hear people say they have heard anything negative About this school, they have no first-hand experience or they have problem dogs and are problem handlers!! Bruce has either trained or been the mentor for most trainers in Indianapolis! read more

We dropped off our 12 week old German Shepherd for in boarding training class and couldn't be happier with the results. Our trainer, Brian, called and gave us updates throughout the week while we were in New York and upon picking up Charlie we received a walk-through of the commands and training techniques. Seeing Charlie respond to Brian was very satisfying and we can't wait to work with Charlie further to put develop this training. Looking forward to using first friends again soon for the novice training. read more

I would highly recommend First Friends for training. We have been through both the Puppy and Novice classes. Excellent! Bruce and staff are dedicated to helping you learn how to give your puppy their best life! read more

Can not say enough nice things about FFK-9. Staff is excellent. Owners are amazing. Always willing to help you with your pet. It is such a good feeling when you drop your pet off for play day and they can't hardly wait to get inside to play. Taking Billy (our dog) to FFK-9 for training and play days is the best decision we made in his up bringing. read more

We have taken our Australian Shepherd here for puppy, Novice, and advanced training for a year now. Very effective training and great staff! Bruce has been very helpful and taken extra time to help us with our pup! read more

First Friends K-9 - Pet Services Near Me - Fishers, Indiana

Went to my first puppy kindergarten class. This first class is without your dog. It's like an orientation. Very informative, and interesting. Bruce is an excellent teacher. When you enroll in the class you get 3 free daycare days. I took advantage of one of my free days just this past Monday. My little Rottweiler puppy seemed to enjoy herself. She was wore out from playing/learning. She slept all night. I could tell they had worked with her some. My little Brooklyn is my demon child. LOL! I was happy to hear she did good during daycare. Def gonna take advantage of my other 2 free days. read more

DISCLAIMER: I personally am a fan of positive reinforcement techniques and NOT aversive techniques. I wanted to write this review so that people who sign up for these classes are aware of the techniques used. According to the humane society's website, there are generally 2 types of collars - regular collars like flat ones and harnesses and aversive ones like prong/pinch collars and shock collars. First Friends K9 is a school that believes in ONLY using aversive collars. It is touted as a training collar and this is taught as the standard to be used. According to the humane society website: "Aversive collars rely on physical discomfort or even pain to teach the dog what not to do. They suppress the unwanted behavior, but they don't teach him what the proper behavior is. At best, they are unpleasant for your dog, and at worst, they may cause your dog to act aggressively and even bite you. Positive training methods should always be your first choice." I understand that used correctly prong collars can be useful but personally I believe it should only be used in certain situations and should not be taught as standard for all dogs. If you are interested in dog training and believe that your dog should be taught using non-aversive techniques, then this place is NOT for you. It certainly wasn't for me. read more

As a first time dog owner, I was in tears trying to train my Golden Retriever puppy... Then I got two separate referrals from co-workers for Bruce and First friends K9. I immediately enrolled, while completing her vaccines and prior to the puppy class starting, I read "Puppies for Dummies" and a training manual written by the monks of New Skete. I will say Bruce's training methods are closely aligned with the New Skete monks who raise and breed GSD. The premise being, the owner, is the alpha, and the dog is a loved member of your family. Just like raising children, puppies need to know the 'house rules' and what is expected of them. I liken the negative reviews to episodes of the "Nanny" TV show, it's never that the kids are just bad seeds, it's the training, or lack there of of the parent. My personality is definitely NOT alpha, so I knew this would be a good fit for me. Yes, there are corrections and yes, he does recommend the prong, or "Everyday" collar, but after witnessing my puppy nearly vomit and choking herself because she was pulling so hard on a flat collar, I gave it a try. For us, prong collar has been a game changer. It is merely a means to get their attention, and then you can give the command ie: sit, down, heel, etc. Vs. "sit, sit, sit, please sit!" The collar itself is not used as 'punishment'. Bruce also provides a lot of written hand outs, one of which is a study on the prong collar, and the findings (on autopsy) of dogs who wore such, had virtually zero trachea and neck chronic injuries, whereas those who didn't showed chronic changes from repeated trauma. Likely a life of pulling on flat collars. In addition to training Bruce provides basic care and instruction: toxic foods, dog's body language with class time to demo coat brushing, ear cleaning, nail clipping, and tooth brushing. He teaches you how to be a responsible dog owner. After completing the Puppy class, I enrolled my now 5 month old in the Novice class. While we waited for the novice class to start, I enrolled her in another puppy class with a "positive reinforcement only" method, and let me tell you, it's night and day difference. The premise there, was catch your dog doing a behavior you want, and praise and treat them... Ummm ok....? With most of the time 'play' time for puppy socialization. First Friends K9 is a Professional training experience, and your participation in home work is required. If you are looking for puppy play time, you will not be a match. I really feel like this should be required training for anyone who brings a dog into their family. Do yourself and your pup a favor, give it a try. read more

We considered taking our dog here for training but none of the staff were wearing mask and many of the people taking class were not either. This business is a great example of why Hamilton county cases are on the rise. We may try again after our community is not in the middle of a health crisis that this business thinks it can ignore. read more

My German Shepherd was so animal aggressive. After the class she was able to sit and stay amongst the other dogs. Her photo is above with the other animals. Thanks Bruce. read more

First Friends K-9 - Pet Services Near Me - Fishers, Indiana

DISCLAIMER: First and foremost, I have to say that the 6/21/2014 review from Nate H. really rocked my husband and I. This review is specifically limited to the puppy obedience class, and our experience. While not wanting to take something from the internet as absolute truth, even if a shred of that review is true, we cannot and will not in good conscience leave our dog with First Friends K-9 without our supervision. As for the training, we have absolutely loved it. Our GSP puppy Booker has responded so well. In talking with other dog owners we have heard mixed reviews on the methods, but we are not fans of the solely positive reinforcement methods (if you only want positive reinforcement for your dog, this place is NOT for you). We are completing Puppy Obedience class next weekend and Booker has come leaps and bounds. As a high octane breed it was important that we stimulate our dog both mentally and physically. These training sessions work. If you do your homework and are patient with your dog (tough for me!) you are rewarded with a puppy well on his way to being a respectful, well behaved member of your family. The sense of pride when your four month old puppy doesn't jump up, is child friendly, and can do a sit stay in the middle of Broad Ripple's Three Dog Bakery is awesome. Regarding the day care/boarding: when enrolling in a class, you are offered three free days of doggie daycare. We used all three, and after the third time Booker came back with some pretty serious scratches on his shoulder and scruff on his neck indicative of some pretty rough play. It is my guess that these scratches bled because they scabbed over and we are waiting for the fur to regrow. I was pretty hesitant about their facilities and doggie daycare from the start, but after the scratches and the review, we will not be leaving Booker in their care. Lastly, the jury is still out on whether or not we will advance to any of their other obedience classes. I just won't take away from them the success we have already had there. read more

Amazing experience so far only in week 3 of their novice training class and our Belgian Malinois "Reyna" has shown considerable progress and she has only been to one class. Bruce does a fantastic job of creating a light hearted and comical environment for the handlers to enjoy while their dogs learn to be "civilized" read more

First Friends K-9 - Reyna being a good girl - Pet Services Near Me - Fishers, Indiana

For starters, if I could put less than one star, I would. I am a HUGE animal lover and wanted only to make my dog behave better. Background, he was adopted from the shelter and we had limited information about his background prior to his adoption, as most shelters protect the privacy of those who surrendered them. We decided our dog needed a little help in the manners department and decided to enroll him in the In-Kennel Training program for one week. On the website, they list what they focus on with the animals for that time frame. I specified at the dropoff that I wanted my dog to be focused on: walking properly on a leash, aversion of trashcan-diving, barking/separation anxiety, and car rides. I was told we would be contacted mid stay with an update on his behavior. Wednesday came and I decided to call the facility, was told the message would be relayed to the trainer and I would receive a call back. After no word, I decided to call again the next day and was beyond less than impressed with the information that was relayed to me about how his training was going. They told me they were working on his sits (which he already knew how to do prior to training class). Nothing I asked to be worked on had been at the half-way point in his stay. I tried to remain hopeful. Upon picking him up and $575 later, they had not worked on anything aside from leash walking. I did think they were a bit forceful with the pinch collar while they were demonstrating what had been worked on and how to reinforce his training at home. Flash forward to us getting him home, he is BEYOND TERRIFIED of us, has an open wound in his back that was not there prior to his being dropped off, he has little to no bark as it sounds his windpipe has been damaged due to the excess use of the pinch collar and force, is now fearful of a leash and collar being put on him and proceeded to pee all over himself when we attempted to take him outside for a walk. The once jovial three year old puppy of mine is now scared if I lift my arm to fix my hair and runs away from us after a verbal correction of misbehavior (stern voice and no physical force). This is certainly NOT a facility that I would recommend sending any animal to because no dog deserves the treatment that I truly believe in my heart was given to my dog. Furthermore, I am taking my dog to the vet this weekend to have his wounds and windpipe looked at as well as the MULTIPLE large knots he has around his neck (most likely from the pinch collar) and to inform her to never recommend this facility to any of her other clients or their pets. I am heartbroken over what I can only imagine my dog went through the long seven days he was at this facility. I should have trusted my gut when I dropped him off and the horrid state of the lobby as well as the smell (smelled like feces and garbage). read more

First Friends is the only dog training facility I would ever consider taking our dogs- puppy or adult dogs. By far, Bruce's methods are the most effective in developing a well trained dog, suitable for any purpose, rather it's simply for a super companion dog or a therapy dog. I have never seen a dog not respond to his gentle, but firm approach. But, not only are his methods correct and affective, he makes each class fun and entertaining. read more

We have gone through novice, advanced, and agility classes with our now 1 year old Greyhound pup. Bruce and his team have always left us satisfied and excited to come to classes twice a week. We have made some great friends, with two and four legs. Would highly recommend classes here to everyone, and we will be bringing our next dog here read more

Was really excited about starting our puppy in training tomorrow. Except now we are not because the young person on the phone gave us all the wrong information over a month ago when we called to sign up. We were told that we didn't have to pay up front (you do), was told we didn't need to make a reservation (you do) and now the class is full so we will miss out on puppy training. Everyone says First Friends is good, but do yourself a favor and don't trust the person on the phone unless it's an owner. read more

Bruce and First Friend staff offer a great training and learning program. I was hesitant to get another puppy because of the energy needed to raise a puppy. Now I know it's one of the best things I've ever done. Bruce and his staff have helped so much with me learning to train and handle my dog. A well behaved dog is truly a "good dog", and a fun first friend, for sure. read more

Do not take your dog to this facility EVER. We took our 10 month old dog for intermediate training. These people are flat out bullies and treat every one like the are complete idiots. We did not finish the training, after about 5 weeks and one of the helpers jerking his pinch collar so roughly that his neck began to bleed, we were done. That wasn't the first incident but it became the last. Our boy was always a bit shy around new people but now he is fear aggressive and we need to seek help from an animal behaviorist to undo the damage from First Friend. After consulting our vet he said we aren't the first people to tell them of the same issue with First Friend. Avoid this place !!!! read more

The approach they have on training should be used as a last resort when other training methods haven't worked. The idea of using "corrections" instead of positive reinforcement is something that always rubbed me the wrong way, and since having my dog trained there that idea has only become stronger in my mind. We boarded our dog there for a couple of days, and when we came to pick him up he could barely walk. His feet had become swollen from walking around on concrete all day, and his joints were raw from where he would lay on them. When we got him home he ate and drank like he was being starved there. His fur is covered in slobber dirt and whatever else he would've gotten into, and he smells like a farm. I do not recommend this place for boarding. From what my dog had to go through I hope is a good enough warning to not board your dogs here, and hope I was able to persuade you to find other methods of training before coming here. read more

I was hesitant to start this type of training, but since the "positive reinforcement only" style of training has literally cost me thousands of dollars with little/no effect for my other dogs, I gave this one a shot. I completed the novice class with my rott/great pyr mix. The pricing is more than fair for what you and your dog learn. The prong collar does look intimidating at first, but it is only to get their attention or correct a behavior. It does not hurt them. Try it in your arm, or neck if you're into that. For my 100+ lb puppy, it was a necessity to get his attention and keep his focus. Treats will only get you so far... The novice class moves quickly and you MUST do your homework. Beyond the weekly 70min class, expect to spend at least 1-2 hours a day working on exercises. As for what people say about the trainer/owner being rough with the dogs, I never saw anything like that. They all obviously care about the dogs and want the dogs and the handlers to succeed. Some calmer/quieter/submissive dogs may not need this type of training, but it has been amazing for my puppy and I'll be working with my other dogs using the same techniques. read more

Several other posters have given low ratings for this facility. Let me give both sides of the coin. Yes, true yank and crank is not good, but neither is shoving a constant stream of treats in your dog's face. Neither technique will produce a solid dog. So you say, "I'm not shoving a constant stream of treats." Well, some people do. So you say, "I don't yank and crank." Well, some people do. I have trained at First Friend and prefer its use of "pop and praise." That's what it is. Those who "choke" their dogs should be called out on it by the instructor, and it should not be allowed. If you, as a student believe the instructor is mistreating a dog, you should speak up! You are paying good money!! My rottweilers are very solid dogs and are approachable in public. In fact one year, my dog, Caesar was included in a K9 demonstration with another training facility at the Boat, Sport and Travel Show. After his demo, a small child ran up to him, screaming, "doggie!!" and grabbed him around his neck. I don't have kids, so Caesar was not used to this. He looked over at me for a visual confirmation and not a treat. More examples would entail chapters. I haven't used any form of yank and crank on my dogs, have never used a pinch or shock collar, and none have ever needed to be muzzled at my vet. At times, treats might be useful, and at times, a short, quick pop accompanied with praise is useful -- keep an open mind. Just as training with treats (or a clicker), training with pop and praise; timing is everything. Giving a treat, clicking, or using pop and praise at the wrong moment is confusing to the dog and teaches nothing. You must learn from a professional how to teach your dog. If the instructor doesn't act like a professional, look elsewhere. This is just my opinion and I realize many will disagree, and that's fine. Results can be achieved by using a variety of methods. Of course, I DO NOT recommend the TRUE yank and crank. If you've ever seen it, it's horrific and abuse seen anywhere should be reported. Oh, btw, in some of FF photos, treat pouches are easily seen being worn by dog owners during training sessions, therefore, what is commonly known as "positive reinforcement" is encouraged there as well. The reason for 4 stars? I very rarely give 5 stars to anything. read more