Dawn was great with my puppy. Hopefully we can keep up the training that she needs. Great people and I would highly recommend them!

Had a evaluation with Chris in person. He recommended our puppy stay with him for 3 weeks for training although we were told that we're actually the problem. He next sent his assistant in to close the deal for $2,500. They never discussed the cost of monthly training afterwards. We decided to think about it overnight after Chris suggested we check out his website and watch his videos. My wife emailed Chris that same evening with a few questions for clarification before we signed up. 3 weeks later-no response. I guess he didn't want our business. Not a great way to run a company. As a side note, we're getting some excellent dog training now in-home with a great instructor for $1,100 less. And he's teaching US what we're doing wrong. read more

I am very proud of Scully. Thanks to all the training we've been getting at Canine Solutions Training Services after care I've seen a HUGE improvement in her behavior as well as the way I handle her. When someone walks by the house she no longer loses her shit running the length of the house while barking frantically. This is the same for the fenced in backyard. She had gotten so bad she made a dirt trail on the grass. The biting has gotten significantly better - it's been over two weeks since she even growled at me or showed me her teeth. She hasn't attempted to attack Falcor or any of the other dogs, let alone growl at them, in over a week. While on leash she was on her back being playing with Falcor which is something that has NEVER happened. She goes into her crate willingly now. When the other dogs are barking and running out to the backyard because of a squirrel, she is curious and sits up but doesn't try to join them. We had an incident a few Fridays ago but we moved past it and learned from it. Scully is still a work in progress but I never thought we could get to where we are now. read more

Having a pit bull type of dog life was wonderful. I felt my dog was the best ever, well behaved (we'll sort of) smart (smarter then me I find out) and truly our best buddy. Rigby started showing signs of aggression and then started acting on it getting into dog fights. We were besides ourselves and had no idea where this behavior came from. After going after a small sickly neighbors dog we knew we needed help and called Chris. Went in for an appointment (evaluation) Evaluation I find out is more about my husband and myself. There was a lot of laughing and teasing at my expense with my husband joining in all the fun. I have a great sense of humor and Chris is a comic so this was an ideal way to break the ice and get down to the real reasons our beloved pit was an idiot! Were my feeling hurt, no but I can see how someone may get upset over Chris's approach. He is not soft and cuddly (but trust me you will hug him when you walk away with a great dog) he will NOT sugarcoat any of you or your dogs behavior with a awe but what a great dog. NO he will tell you just what your dog is capable of and even show you, Chris and his staff (Dylan, Emily we adore you guys) will scare the hell out of you with what YOU are teaching your dog! It was hard work on my husbands and I part. It was every week two days with Chris, Emily or Dylan then every day when we came home with Rigby. I am forever grateful for the teachings of his behavior methods for us and Rigby, Chris's methods are not typical of most trainers and you need an open mind to really understand what he is telling you but trust me you will have a happy dog if you listen and work hard with Chris and his staff. read more

I can't say enough about Canine solutions training services. Chris and Dylan are amazing at what they do. Chris tells you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. You will not go wrong entrusting them with your dog. They truly care about the dog and the human end of the leash. The rehabilitation aspect is top notch, Behavior and reading the dog is something I've never witness before. Wish I would have meet Chris and his team when I first got my dog. April is also great in handling your calls and will answer any questions you may have. Highly recommend reaching out to this wonderful business.... You will not be disappointed. Yehzara and I love CSTS..... read more

Update 1/26/2015: I notice that two five star reviews have been added since I posted this review. If these reviews are legitimate and Chris F truly helped you and your dog I am very happy it worked out. I have no personal vendetta against anyone, and only want to see dogs with "issues" and their owners find a solution that works for them. The reason I really wanted to post a review is to let people know how Chris operates, and give them the strength, if they do go in for an evaluation, to simply take their dog and leave if Chris is teasing and provoking the dog in a way that makes them uncomfortable and has no benefit for the dog. One of the things that really bothered me was that Chris detailed all the injuries he's gotten from clients dogs- a broken arm, lots of punctures, etc. I have a trainer friend (outside New England) who works with serious aggression cases. He says there is no reason for a trainer to be bitten if he knows what he is doing. It may seem macho, but it simply proves Chris hasn't a clue when it comes to actual aggressive dogs (not just fear-aggression or brats). Those interested in an evaluation should go in with their eyes wide open, that is all. Original Review: I agree with Kathy V's review. Beware. Do your research before going to Chris Fraize. What I didn't know ahead of time hurt me. Be aware that a good trainer will tell you it takes two to three days to truly "evaluate" a dog. But Fraize will "evaluate" a dog in a few minutes, and based on this "evaluation" tell you one of three things- or possibly all three if you have more than one dog. a) This dog is clearly too much for you, he needs to come to me for a $2,500 (plus) board and train for 3- 5 weeks. b) this dog is too much for you, hand him over (for free) and I'll rehome him for you. c) this dog is too much for you (and also too much for me - Chris) euthanize him. If you do decide to go in for an evaluation be prepared to walk out. I wish I had. I wish I had walked out before my stressed out dog blew his anal glands and totally freaked out. What really bothers me is that Chris is playing and profiting off uninformed dog owner's fears. Personally, I believe that is unethical. It is also mean-spirited to mock someone because their dog won't sit in the evaluation room after or during extreme teasing and provocation by Chris. Seriously- unless you've worked on "sit" extensively the "picture" the dog is used to (in my case I am never sitting when I give commands, I can work on this but I haven't) is me standing, and never with a "decoy" within a few feet actively approaching on the dog. I realize "sit" should happen anywhere, but I haven't titled my dog yet, I just got back into obedience training. I told Chris I knew my dog was NOT going to sit at that time. He still wanted me to say "sit" (why I complied a psychologist would have to tell me) and of course then mocked me when the dog refused. But the dog's level of obedience really shouldn't play into an evaluation. A trainer should be evaluating the DOG not the human. I also strongly disagree with what I heard and understood of Fraize's basic philosophy when it comes to dog training. Granted, this is just what I gleaned from talking with his assistant and from the evaluation itself, if you wanted details you'd have to ask Fraize. From what I heard and saw, Chris believes that so-called "nothing in life is free" carries over into, say, dog-dog aggression or dog-human aggression. This means, basically, you don't give the dog affection unless he's done something for you, you don't allow dog on the bed or furniture, you don't allow dog out the door first, you don't give the dog anything unless he does something for you first. This approach breaks down as pretty meaningless to the dog. eg. dog-dog aggression needs to be addressed and corrected when it is happening. Simply not allowing the dog on the bed will not translate to the dog ceasing dog-dog aggression. Now, I don't know why Fraize advocates for this stuff, I'm really not interested. Perhaps his reasons are actually based in operant and classic conditioning- the base of dog training- but I think it is probably based more in his silverback-gorilla image of being alpha male. Why I didn't walk out after about two minutes, is beyond me, but I guess hindsight is 20-20. Find another trainer unless you want to pursue options a through c above. read more

I have had a great experience with these folks at their old location and the tools/knowledge they gave me for understanding my dog and also knowing how i'd need to act in nonstandard situations saved the life of my dog and also other dogs he may have attacked, if we didn't come here. Chris and April genuinely care about the animals and take their work very seriously. Now, I do agree that the first meeting was intense. He did say some of the things people are describing, and while they may shock you if you are hearing them for the first time or it is the first time they are being put that bluntly to you, I happen to think, in retrospect, that he was 100% correct. Please do your research and ask around, but for my money, I would recommend this place. read more

I got my dog four months ago from an adoption center and I was very happy till I realized that my dog wanted to chase down and fight every other dog that she set her sights on. Unable to understand this and help my dog, I decided to take her to Canine Solutions. My personal thoughts about the initial evaluation was what led me to go back. It was an extremely logical and helpful evaluation and Chris F. helped me understand what needed to be done instantly. The initial evaluation and every class ever since has been a learning experience for me in understanding the Nature of dog and how closely dogs observe us and take cues from body language and emotions and also how we must understand and mold our own behavior for the betterment of the dog. There has been hardly any point of the training period that I feel was lacking in quality or dedication. That being said, I have done my part in helping my dog by following what was suggested to me, training with her outside the class with dedication and without loosing my cool. As of today ( two months later) I am really happy with the way the training is going, I already understand my dog better and I can see that she is happier too. I personally would recommend Canine Solutions to any one who REALLY ( i mean REALLY) wants to help their dogs. On a related side note, as a responsible dog owner with an aggressive pooch, I would urge others in similar situations to take the training (wherever you may choose) seriously. If you are not willing to do your part in this process and just want someone to comfort you about your dog situation, I would suggest you stop kidding yourself and highly recommend that you take your problems to the nearest pub of your choice and giving up your dog to someone who actually wants to help them. Wishing all of you the very best and hope you get the help you seek for your dog. Best, Nar and Zora read more

We took our dog in for an evaluation with Chris for separation anxiety. Let me honestly say that I have never had anyone treat me like he did. I stayed because I was there to help my dog, but after reflection we realized that someone that treats a person the way he does can not possibly treat a dog with any respect. He is arrogant, a bully, and uses fear to make you think you need his services. Let me say that again!! He is arrogant, a bully, and uses fear to make you think you need his services!!! At no point during the consultation did we think he had our dog's best interest at heart, but instead that he enjoyed the opportunity to cut us down and make us think we were horrible dog owners. He told me my dog was "in the 7th ring of hell", that I "am his b***ch" and that I couldn't have possibly rescued him because "a rescue would require a helicopter and the jaws of life", not to mention many other serious digs he took based on no factual information. I used quotes because these are the actual words he said! When we spoke up, he backed down to some degree and by the end we were not charged for the consult, as I am pretty sure he understood he took the wrong tactic with us. I would never trust him with my dog. I have no doubt he would break my dog's personality and love of life. In Chris' opinion, the first things to do was to stop all affection, get rid of the retractable leash, and stop using the car harness which seat belts my dog into my convertible. Those are all things I find completely unrelated to the issue we went for, and would only put my dog at risk. I am positive that as soon as this review posts, a few 5-star reviews will post immediately after. That seems to be his style, and makes me question how any real client could have a positive thing to say about this business. I would caution you to think hard about going to here. If you truly love your dog, and want the best training for them, I can assure you that this is not the place! read more

My husband and I spent two weeks trying to get someone to call us back or even email us to set up an appointment to get out new puppy in for training. Still three weeks later and no call or emails back very disappointed. read more

Upon attending a $50 consultation my newly adopted dog was provoked and intimidated by Chris. She (my dog) obviously reacted to his threatening behavior by growling and barking. He took jabs at me and my reactions to my dogs behavior. He belittled me and my dog. At the end of the evaluation he sent in a kind woman who also works at his training center. I thought it was odd until she pitched to me Chris' magical $1,500 four week training. You can come 1-2 days a week to work with your dog for an hour and the rest of the time.....not really sure what occurs. I felt very uneasy with this and I could not help but wonder what he does to break down and build up dogs while they are in this extremely expensive "training". Sure he has all the bravado and knows how to push your dogs buttons but I have found trainers who are kind, inclusive, and reasonable in cost. read more

Chris and April Fraize are just straight up scam artists which is probably why they moved their shop from Maine to NH Here's how they scammed my fiance and I to which we fell for hook link and sinker. We have a troubled pitbull adoption that we wanted to get on the straight and narrow. I had heard Chris do an interview on the Morning Buzz so I decided to give him a shot. We were stressed and worried, we did not want our dog to bite anyone, we did not want the legal ramifications and we did not want to see her get put down so we were in a desperate place. Apparently Chris could smell it on us. Here's how the scam works. -Chris would ask us a question, i.e. How old is the dog now? we answered 3, Chris then responded 'Oooo 3, yeah that's when a switch flips in their brain and something changes. The intake continued like this, he'd ask the question then gave us the answer that was the worse case for anything we responded to like our dog was in the worse place possible. If you go there, your dog will be to no matter what the scenario. -Next Chris then told us we were lucky a new class was starting soon but he would really need to take our dog into custody for 2 weeks for intense training for the low cost of $1200. When we flinched at the price he laid it on thick. The class only had a spot or two left, if we didn't lock it in and pay now we could be left out of luck for 8 weeks, this is a matter of life and death for our dog and so on. We love our dog so naturally we took the bait -Chris then arraigned for us to drop our dog off the next day with the promise that our dog would be living at his house to be trained intensely to prepare for the classes to come. he would also teach our dog to run on a treadmill and start working her out to release energy. None of this happened. Our dog was kept in a crate at the shop the entire time, at first we thought she was just being dropped off on class nights so we can work with her but then staff mentioned they had to cover her crate in the day because she was getting too worked up when the cleaning ladies were there. We inquired what the intense training was as our dog still did not know how to sit on command and showed no signs of anything else changing but we never got a straight answer. We also supplied a brand new $60 40# bag of dog food for the two weeks as well as a leash and collar, all of which we never got bak even after asking for it a dozen or so times. -When we first signed up for classes Chris gave the impression we would train with him in classes . In a six month time we NEVER had Chris as a trainer. It was always a student of Chris' who was a nice kid but had no structure to any class and couldn't remember what he assigned us to do with our dogs from week to week. He's test our dog on verbal commands he never asked us to teach the dog. -April was a joke as well. April is the one who we kept asking for the food collar and leash back from, in theory there should have been at least 20# of food to return. After a few months They changed class structure to all private lessons instead of groups and you had to book with April. On more than one occasion we booked, drove an hour from Salem MA to Rye NH and no one would be there. April would just respond to an email saying they forgot and offer nothing to make it up to us. These people are Scam artists looking to leverage your dog against you to get as much money as possible out of you. Stay far far away from them if you value your dog and your money. read more

I brought a dog who had some inappropriate behavioral issues in for an evaluation from our rescue who needed some special help. I found out it was really ME who needed the help!! I set the appointment and brought the dog in for almost 1&1.5 hours of evaluation and it was then I learned that the dog was "training" me all along ! Chris had this dog being completely obedient in 20 minutes and tested him with every scenario possible. I was humbled to realize I had let this very smart dog teach me all about what he desired, and how he got his way. I was being trained by the dog !! It was a learning experience that I needed to follow through on at the foster home continuously, and I will say it took effort. Chris also said that this dog was very smart and could easily become a special needs companion dog. It was amazing how he worked with the dog without saying a word. All was calm, confident and very effectual. I tell all our rescue friends who need help with issues, to go there. Chris also donated the evaluation and did not charge our non profit rescue. He was very kind and we highly recommend Chris and his team to anyone who needs help. He knows what he's doing and cuts to the chase. BTW... the rescue dog is thriving in a loving forever home and the owners are following through with all Chris taught us. read more

I've read the other reviews. I am always amazed at how different people interpret things differently. I'm not going to argue with anyone, but I can give you my opinion. I spent six days at CSTS attending what was titled an "immersion seminar." Oh, I was immersed alright! I don't believe I (or my dog) will ever be the same. I had signed on initially for only three days of the five-day seminar. I was getting so much out of it that I signed on for an extra day, then another, and then a private session before heading back home to Connecticut. It was not easy and it was not always fun for me because I had to deeply investigate my own behaviors and motivations before being able to comprehend how I in turn was affecting my dog. But it was FASCINATING. I can see where Chris would not be a match for everybody in terms of personality, but he was spot-on for me. If you are serious about creating an understanding between yourself and your dog, then I urge you to check out Canine Solutions for yourself. read more

Just went for a $50 assessment. Worst $50 I ever spent. Total waste of time and money. They say 45 minute - 1 hour assessment. Chris pointed out things he thought I was doing wrong for 10 minutes and offered zero advise on what to do. Then some 15 year kid came in and took my fifty bucks and asked if I wanted to signup for training from this self proclaimed expert. No thanks. Now after reading some other reviews, I am very thankful I did not get any more involved with this guy. read more

A year ago we couldn't walk by a dog on the opposite side of the street without our dog losing her mind (barking, lunging, and snarling). Any strangers that came up to her would be greeted with barking and fear-based aggression. After training with Canine Solutions, we can have her walk right by strange dogs on the sidewalk without any behavioral issues and she has become accepting of new people approaching and handling her. Chris's classes do require a high level of commitment from owners, however if you stick with his training programs and continue to practice you will get results and in the end have a deeper bond with your dog. Thank you Chris and the rest of the crew at Canine Solutions for all your help! We highly recommend Canine Solutions! read more

I was on the fence about writing, but now that I have been to another trainer that actually fixed the problem -I think its best to share my experience. I want to start by saying that I liked Chris' personality for the most part. Yes he is insulting but also injects his own humor and charm into his belittling rants of dog owners..which I think stems from his past experience doing stand up. Deep down he is a nice guy, but I think his niche talent is manipulating dog owners- at that he is truly an expert. I have a little dog and he was always acting aggressive towards other dogs and barked incessantly. We took him to Chris because we couldn't enjoy walks with him, or even have visitors without constant frustration. Chris insulted me and my dog upon the initial evaluation and immediately used the reverse psychology trick of telling me I wasn't going to want to do what needed to be done for my dog- which was doggy boot camp. Of course I wanted my dog to be a happier, obedient dog so I immediately paid the 2500 and left him there that day for weeks. His training consists of crating, scruffing, and leashing the dog. When we brought him home he was more submissive but he still acted out. We did what we were told to do and that was crate him, take him out to train for a little bit, crate him, pee poop time, crate him, and at all times he is to remain on the leash- when he is not on the leash he is in the crate. This is not the life a dog should live- or the owners for that matter. When we went to his training sessions he would pass my dog around in a circle by the scruff of the neck, his kids also worked the facility and his young son nearly dropped my dog. It wasn't until my brother came over and told me about how his dogs trachea was broken because the previous owners scruffed him that I decided I needed to take my dog to the vet to make sure he was ok. When I went to the vet I saw one of the girls that had worked at Canine Solutions and had left. She no longer worked for Chris and she and I talked for quite a while. It was after that visit that I decided I would never go back. Luckily my dog was fine, but all the training and expensive boot camp did not stop the bad behavior we had gone to Chris for. We moved since then and we found another trainer who has helped my dog so very much. I don't agree with the way Chris "trains" / treats dogs and their owners. Although I'm sure his techniques have helped other dogs/owners, had I read a review of an experience like mine- I could have prevented putting my dog (and us) through that. read more

Wish we had done our homework more diligently. Please do your homework before agreeing to Chris's tactics. You may find that you realize your faults as a dog owner and be willing to accept what happens here but you will regret it in the end. Check out Mannerly Mutts in York Maine or Protection Dogs Plus in Brentwood, NH and speak to these trainers before even going to Chris! We paid $6000 for one aggressive dog and one fear dog. Not once were our boys worked together while at the 3 week training course and at the end, neither could do the basic, sit, down and stay for more than 3 minutes. Well they did that before training. We scheduled a meeting with Chris to express concerns we were beginning to have and we were spoken in circles to. Quoting Chris to me, "you have an interesting way of asking your questions to get an answer", well, we still never did get any answers other than the clues that our boys gave us in that not only were they neglected and NOT trained (crates sores) but we strongly believe that one if not both, were physically abused. We are in week 6 of them being home and we never heard back from this facility after spending so much money and already feeling disappointed. One would think that a simple phone call to see how things are going at home would have been "good business". They didn't even respond to our two posts on face book which apparently never made it to the site or was deleted before they could be seen by the public. Love your dogs, train them better than what you get here, go somewhere else. read more

Chris and his methods are not for everyone but if you are scared of what your dog might do to someone, then you should visit Chris. However, as he will tell you, there are no easy fixes and you will have to put in a ton of effort using the techniques he teaches and the groundwork he gives your dog. I can say confidently that Chris saved the life of our dog because he would have eventually been put down. My wife and I live in Somerville and adopted an 80 pound mixed-breed shelter dog that was a little out of control but no major behavioral problems had been reported by the shelter. After about a week, our dog was out of control and we could barely walk him down the sidewalk without him trying to maul nearly every adult male he saw. We followed what the shelter folks said and went to two different clicker trainers in Cambridge. They were nice, well-intentioned folks but it was clear they didn't have a clue about a dog like this. The only thing they could say was "use high value treats". In the first month of so we had our dog, he bit two people, including one of the trainer's friends. Our dog had an ear infection no one could treat and even the vet was scared to clip his nails. We were desperate. A doggie daycare facility we had visited recommended Canine Solutions so we took a drive up there for an evaluation. On meeting Chris, he will probably quickly make a joke about your dog and you. I personally was initially offended but later learned that is just him, for better or worse, and he can take as well as he can give. He tries to diffuse tense, awkward, and hard situations with humor and he is good at it. Chris explained to us how a well-trained dog should behave and then showed us how some of the dogs he was working with were progressing. I was stunned. Yes, he's been bit multiple times (as other reviewers note) but the kinds of dogs Chris works with will bite anyone until they are trained. If you are not afraid of your dog biting someone, then you may not need Chris. As I learned, when you are really in control of your dog, you don't need treats and treats won't prevent a really strong behavioral urge (like biting) that your dog might have. We shelled out the money and I felt sick over it but I can say honestly it was maybe the best money I ever spent. When we came to get our dog, I didn't recognize him. He went from being wild and out of control to a relatively safe, tame dog. However, your dog won't stay like this unless you are going to follow the things Chris teaches you without slacking. This isn't easy and not everyone has it in them to be as strict as it requires. After we got our dog home, we kept working with him daily and making visits to Chris every other week. Six months afterwards we could walk our dog through Davis Square without so much as a tiny worry and we could take him off trail without a leash. There are a few things to consider though before shelling out that kind of money. If your dog is just a little misbehaved it may not be worth it. Chris is more appropriate for seriously problematic dogs. Are your scared your dog is going to bite someone? Do people say they are afraid of it? Importantly, Chris is not a miracle worker; he can't fix every dog and you are going to have to put in very hard work when you get home with your dog. You are going to have to be strict with your dog and it does not feel good but it might save your dog's life. It saved ours. In sum, if you are scared of your dog and willing to follow what Chris teaches, then I cannot recommend him highly enough for problem dogs. If you just need your dog to learn to sit, and aren't going to consistently train your dog when you get home, then you can probably go elsewhere. But if you don't know where else to turn, I suggest you at least get an evaluation and see if you think it's worth it. read more

The team of professionals at Canine Solutions has literally saved both our entire family. Our dog aggressive 6 y.o. dog now has the skills and changed temperament to play with other dogs. Our 6 month old pup has manners and is a social and focused cattle dog, a feat in and of itself. Chris and his team have done everything from training us, the humans who unknowingly caused all the dog problem behaviors and anxieties by spoiling them, training our dogs to live happy lives, giving nutrition and diet plans to meet their medical needs and even helping us to identify areas of communication that are helping us to improve across all aspects of life. We completed the "rehabilitation" program for our 6 y.o., attend weekly training as a family, and have both dogs in weekly day school where they build on the skills we learn together. This team has literally saved our dogs from a fenced in life and saved us humans from fear and worry. If you have the ability to be honest with yourself and take responsibility for your role in your dog's good, bad and ugly behaviors Chris and his team can provide you and your dog(s) with the path to a life that is fulfilling for your dog in ways we humans don't understand until we experience it. 10 stars for Canine Solutions. read more

I met Christopher Fraize nearly ten years ago, when my partner and I brought in our first dog: a one-year-old, dog aggressive, human aggressive, 185 lb English Mastiff. Before we made the three hour drive to meet Chris, I had spoken to three other trainers who were reported to be experienced in behavior rehabilitation. Two of them refused to see me for an evaluation and advised me, sight unseen, to euthanize the dog. The third told me she wasn't sure she could help me but would be willing to take him for six weeks of in-kennel, e-collar based training for $5,000. Chris was the only trainer who offered to actually evaluate my dog in person and discuss our options. I will be honest. My evaluation was the single most difficult moment of my entire dog training journey (one which continues ten years later, though the English Mastiff has since passed). Away from the comfort of home, my dog's "concerning" behavior showed itself for what it really was: a very serious and very unsafe case of fear aggression in a very large animal. My dog refused to enter the building. Once we finally got him inside, he responded to a simple pressure test (Chris took a few steps toward him while he was by our side in a sit) by barking, growling, and peeing himself. I cried. I cried because I hadn't realized how bad it truly was and I didn't know what to do. I wanted a dog I could take anywhere in spite of his size, and instead what I had was a potential lawsuit with a tail. Chris was very firm in pointing out the severity of the situation and the ways in which we had created it. (For example, he pointed out that I circled "dog" on the evaluation form when asked if I viewed my dog as a dog or a child, and he told me I wasn't being honest. And he was right, I wasn't.) But he also tried to make me laugh through my tears. And he told us the situation wasn't hopeless. Together, we worked out a plan for intensive behavior modification. The early months of training were challenging. We had new rules to follow with regard to how we walked him, fed him, and interacted with him. We worked on correcting the aggression. There were times when I had to put my dog in situations that made him uncomfortable, and I hated that. But I was determined too. And Chris kept making me laugh. It was easy to trust him. And, perhaps most importantly, he let us work at a pace that was comfortable for us...slowly at first, and then quickly. We learned how to read our dog's body language for signs of how he might react. We watched our dog begin to defer to us in challenging situations. As we moved into agility and then obedience, we watched him build confidence and start to enjoy his training. Ultimately, our English Mastiff became what my partner and I wanted: a dog we could take anywhere despite his size. We took him to crowded parades, on long road trips, on hikes and to the beach, to large cities. Over time, we were able to relax most of the rules; once our control was established, it didn't matter where he slept, for example. We also did a lot of things we never planned on doing with our dog. We titled him in competitive obedience. And he became a canine athlete: a two-time national champion in weight pull! He loved to work. He loved to be active. Without Chris, his life would have gotten smaller and smaller. Instead, it grew exponentially. Canine Solutions Training Services is not a quick fix. It's not a crash diet. It's not easy. It's a true lifestyle change--a commitment to continue to learn and grow with your dog. We have four other dogs now, and each of them has a training story: adventures, accomplishments, titles, and even times that training saved their lives. We owe all of it to Canine Solutions and to Chris Fraize. read more

I found Chris to be overwhelmingly full of himself. My dog learned to sit, lay down, and come. All of which he could have done for $100 at Petco. He is a fearful dog, which Chris only encouraged. Since leaving CSTS, my dog has come very far under positive reinforcement and encouragement. Surprise! You don't have to scare the crap out of an anxious dog to make him obey. Now, I'm preparing to bring my dog to college and I am required to provide proof of training. I emailed CSTS to request proof, it took 2 emails and 3 weeks to get one response from an employee saying he would ask Chris for "permission" to give proof. What? Then it took almost a month to get a second reply saying that they would charge $250 to write a letter stating the River was trained there!! We already paid $1500 to get my dog trained!! Side note- we once brought in our older dog to meet Chris for some reason that I don't remember- this dog is incredibly well trained, never jumps, bites, growls. Rarely barks. Is EXCELLENT around people. Chris says she needs to be trained too! Scam? I think yes. read more

Please don't take your dog to Canine Solutions Training Services. I took both of my dogs in for an evaluation and one of my dogs has fear aggression and Chris had recommended the $2500 program where my dog would stay with them and they would work on his behavior issues. At the time we decided against doing this program with him but he said that we were desperate and would eventually get him in the program if we wanted our dog to be able to be around dogs. It is very interesting reading all of the reviews that this is the only solution when you get an evaluation this is all making sense to me now. We decided to take our 6 month old puppy for group classes. The classes were to be 1 hour long and on our first visit they kicked us out after 20 min. and stated our dog was tired and sent us home with very little training and the training that we did on the 2nd visit they said we were doing it all wrong. On our second visit the whole class was spent on one of the dogs in the class was afraid of small spaces and Chris showed us how he could make that dog go in small spaces. I'm sure this was helpful for that dogs owner but did not help us because we didn't have those problems. So no training on the 2nd visit and didn't learn any new skills other than Chris knows how to make a dog be less fearful in small spaces. 3rd visit Chris and Karen decided that I was not doing as they told me to when working with my dog and we were participating in other activities with our puppy that they felt we shouldn't be doing and so every visit they were telling me how I was a selfish person and that this was all about me and not the dog and the reason I didn't know what I was doing was because I was doing other things with my dog. So I was told to do the same thing that they showed me on the first visit in 20 min. that I was doing wrong. 4th visit Chris showed us how well trained his dog was the whole hour. Which yes his dog is well trained maybe they should have used that time to show us how to do it. In that class my puppy wouldn't sit still so he took him in front of the class and put him in a sit the whole class and said " It is pretty sad your dog minds me better than you" ok he did mind him but they have no history. In that class he continued to use me as an example of why you don't do other dog activities when you are trying to train your dog and at the end of the class he told me I was the most pig headed, stubborn person he has ever met and that he told his other trainer Karen to watch out because I would try to manipulate her into doing what I wanted. Ok I was there to learn why in the world would I try to manipulate anyone and why if I am paying would I not listen to their teaching. I showed him that we had been working on the techniques they had showed us and he said "Do you want a treat for that?" I don't know why but we did sign up for two more months because they were having a deal if you signed up for two months you got the third free sounded like a good deal but wait and see what has happened. On my 5th and final visit before I couldn't take it anymore I had Karen who Chris must have told to be really hard on. I get they want you to work hard but some times you get more bee's with honey. She was saying I was making excuses for why I wasn't doing it perfect in retrospect I think I wasn't doing it perfect is because I had only had 1 1/2 class time before that 5th visit. NOW HERE LIES THE PROBLEM!!! I TOLD THEM I WOULD NO LONGER BE COMING TO THEIR CLASSES AND SENT THEM A VERY LONG EMAIL EXPLAINING WHY AND ASKED FOR MY MONEY BACK. THEY SAID THEY COULD ONLY GIVE ME A GIFT CARD SO KNOW THIS YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR MONEY BACK ONLY A USELESS GIFT CARD. THEY SAID I SIGNED PAPER WORK THAT I KNEW THIS. I DID NOT SIGN FOR MY PUPPY AND THEY STILL WILL NOT GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ADD THE MONEY ONTO THEY GIFT CARD FOR THE TWO VISITS THEY SPENT TALKING AND NOT TRAINING. SO IF THEY AGREED TO GIVE ME MORE MONEY ON A USELESS GIFT CARD JUST GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. THEY KNOW THAT THE GIFT CARD WILL NEVER GET USED AND I WILL NEVER GET MY MONEY BACK. BEWARE IF YOU PAY YOUR MONEY IS GONE!!! It makes you wonder is it about the dogs or just about the MONEY?? read more

My husband and I never even got down to this facility. We live in Vermont. We were going to bring home a 2yr old Australian cattle dog, which was apparently kept at this facility as a training dog for the trainers there and had been there for a year. After my husband had several conversations with them, I called myself to get further info, mainly about the dog's current living condition, 'friendliness,' dietary requirements (raw, which my husband had not known), any behavior issues, etc. They also told me about crating. I was not completely on board since I knew the breed was a little high maintenance (not that I was unwilling to take on the responsibility, mind you.) told hubby my concerns but after he had another conversation with Karen - the person I also spoke with - decided to move forward and we could definitely do this. Appointment was confirmed yesterday !!and we even said we might be running a little late due to the weather. Hubby went out again and spent $200 on raw food, a nice bed, toys, food bowls and the car was ready for the trip. He'd also gotten cash$$ for the substantial fee for the dog. Our aim was to make his transition to our home as comfortable for the dog as we could (we've had other dogs, but not adult adopted dogs). Up at 6am to start our drive down to have both voicemail and email saying someone had adopted the dog last night! Disappointed and disheartened doesn't quite cover how we both feel. They knew we were coming - we'd had multiple conversations - and we feel customer service would dictate that they would have at least told the people who took the dog that he was already pretty much spoken for and that if it didn't work out with us, they would let them know. Made us feel this is just 'business' to them, despite their stance that they wanted a good fit for the dog. The people who took him (not their fault) were in to look for a puppy but took the dog we wanted instead. I would not recommend this facility to anyone but if you do business with them make damn sure the conditions are clear so this doesn't happen to you. I hope that critter has a wonderful life with his new family read more

After reading the rebuttals of my review, I have to say that my point was strongly made about Chris's methods. Yes, I know there are a lot of trainers out there. I have met and been around them . I am sure he has had some success with certain dogs , otherwise he would have been out of business by now. But I have also heard since my review that he has had a number of unsuccessful customers. You can argue that he is tough etc., but there is in no way any excuse for fearful training/tricks, intimidation, and his scare tactics. There are other ways to deal with problem dogs. My dog, by the way, is a reactive dog, not aggressive. My main problem is with distractions. It' like my dog has ADHD. Squirrel! So, Chris just went into this , your dog doesn't listen to you, doesn't respect you and is dangerous thing. I agreed with some of it and said, well, that's what I am here to learn. But then he went into a tirade on me and wanted me to leave her with him for 2 weeks for $2500. None of you mentioned how much he charged you for his services. I would be interested to know. read more

My partner and I sought Chris out after seeing other trainers and knowing we still needed help. Our female pit bull had Been kicked out of dog daycare and was becoming increasingly more aggressive toward other dogs. We live in Hampton by the beach and during the summer there are dogs everywhere. She couldnt even see a dog walk by the house with out charging the door screaming, barking and tearing into the door. Taking her for walks was a nightmare, she would lunge toward other dogs and act like she wanted to kill them. Yes, the initial evaluation was a bit intimidating. Chris doesn't hold back. He tells you what you dont want to hear. He tests the dog, but he also tests the humans ( in my opinion ). He may have used some unsavory language and told some hard truths, but by the end of the evaluation I really liked his style. We brought our dog in for a 3 week "boot camp" stay. The cost was not an issue.....if it worked, I'd have paid double. I am happy to say it is working. We have been training with Chris for 10 months. We get what we put in and probably could be further along if we were as consistent as we should be, but our pit bull has come so far! She is a work in progress and I am confident that she will continue to thrive under the training Chris gives to her and us humans. If you want an excellent trainer see Chris At Canine Solutions..... Period. read more