I have three dogs. The largest, a 65 lb. boxer mix, began to get reactive to some other dogs, and completely without advanced notice. Although they were all well behaved, I knew I had to do something more for socialization and training. I initially tried a school closer to my home before K9 Basics. To give a comparison, the first school I went to was like a kindergarten; K9 Basics is like a university.

K9 Basics has multiple staff members assisting in most classes rather than only one or two instructors, each with their own unique experiences handling animals of various types. Each instructor is patient and, most importantly, without attitude. They are knowledgeable and good people, not only with dogs but also with humans. They use the same techniques and training collars on their personally owned dogs, with some instructors even bringing their dogs to classes.

Initial instruction is dedicated to having both the dog and the owner learn how to appropriately use the electronic collar. It isn't used for punishment - it is a training aide. After that, as long as there are no significant behavioral problems, the dog and owner graduate to the intermediate and advanced "open classes". These are the classes with which I am most familiar.

Each dog and owner begin with good leash manners. You'll work on healing without having the dog pull, maintaining a sit and down position, changing positions, and recall. As you progress, you will eventually have your dog sit and stay in a fenced in yard with all other class members, while all owners leave the yard. Instructors may stay with the dogs to ensure safety. The dogs must maintain their position until the owner recalls them, one at a time. It is amazing to see a group of 20-30 dogs, all sitting or laying down without any owners in sight.

To keep your dog safe, any dog that is still reactive to other dogs is required to wear a soft rubber muzzle. This ensures that no innocent, well behaved dog is ever injured. This goes for every class, from absolute beginner through highly advanced exercises. The instructors make the determination and will not allow aggressive dogs to participate without the muzzle.

Lastly, the instructors always ask for feedback from participants on how classes and exercises are going, on behavioral problems at home that need work, or even how other instructors are doing. I could not give a higher recommendation or feel any better about the level or instruction and quality of the people working at K9 Basics.