Sending our 6 month Bernadoodle puppy, Dolci, to First Choice Canine was the best decision we ever made. Dolci has always been a very smart puppy, and we taught her basic commands on our own. But we always struggled with some important things - loose/off leash walking, stay commands, and consistent recall. Despite how much we loved her, Dolci was adding significant stress into our lives. Walking her became a chore, as we struggled to prevent her for lunging at birds and eating anything and everything that was on the sidewalk. We also had a scary incident where she escaped from a fenced-in park off leash and ignored her recall. At some point, we realized that this was an unsustainable situation, and admitted that we didn't have the time or expertise needed to train Dolci on our own. Since taking Dolci to her first consultation at First Choice, we have been blown away by their professionalism, knowledge, and care. Ashy was Dolci's main trainer and was always excellent. She would always provide us detailed explanations of training concepts, kept us up to date about Dolci's progress (with Ashleigh's help!), and we always felt like she loved Dolci as much as we did. Deciding to pull the trigger on sending Dolci away for the off-leash training program was not easy. I worried that the Dolci we got back 4 weeks later would not be the same dog I knew and loved. But ultimately I had in faith the people we met and was heartened by other reviews I had read online. Since getting Dolci back, we have been blown away with what Ashy and First Choice were able to accomplish. Dolci has mastered sit/down/ bed (all with implied stays), recall, and off-leash heel/walking. But the changes went far beyond the commands - Dolci was more confident, and was able to focus in a way she never had before. She responds to our more subtle cues, which has increased our trust in her 10x. Walking her, which used to be stressful, is now a joy. Taking her to off-leash parks is now a normal part of our routine. At the end of the day, our lives have improved dramatically as a result of the training. And Dolci, who I once feared would have her personality "trained out of her", is happier and more herself than ever before. We would highly recommend First Choice to anyone looking for training for their dogs. read more

Truly one of the best facilities and trainers we've met. KB and staff treat the dogs as their own and train each dog according to their personality. Piper is our 3.5 yr old lab mix rescue and she has always been anxious, sensitive, cautious and yet so sweet and happy since we got her. Once we got our new puppy, Whiskey, we saw he was taking on some of her traits. When Whiskey was 5.5 months old we decided we definitely needed help. We met with KB for a consult and knew immediately he was the one for the dogs, especially Piper. We boarded them for training for 5 weeks and what a difference!!!! KB and Ashleigh were fantastic with providing weekly updates, pictures and were always there should we have questions. Once the 5 weeks were over, we spent two sessions one on one with KB so he could train us as well and continue the progress. We also take the dogs to group classes when we can. Piper's confidence has skyrocketed, she can settle down in any situation and responds perfectly. She will always have an introverted personality, but seeing her progress and relax has been amazing. Whiskey is perfect with commands off leash and on, has manners, and is a typical happy goofy retriever puppy. We trust KB and his staff without question and have also boarded the dogs with them when we needed "babysitters". Highly recommend First Choice Canine! read more

I want to start off this review by saying that KB and his team at First Choice Canine truly did save my dog Scout. Here's our story: I adopted my then 2 year old Scout from a shelter in Houston and quickly realized his anxiety and fear aggression were completely omitted from his description. Over the next 3 years I tried every trick in the book to alleviate his aggression towards other dogs, strangers, noise, you name it. Nothing truly worked. He would bark and lunge at other dogs on walks, people who came into the house, and essentially display aggression at everything or everyone he was not comfortable with. All the while I stayed hopeful and knew he was a good boy at heart because he always was kind and affectionate towards his people and handlers. The breaking point was when my partner and I found out we were having a baby. I was so scared for the unknown about whether Scout would be aggressive towards our new little human and knew I needed to find a permanent solution; whether that was finding the right training program or giving him up, which would have broken my heart. This is when I set up a consultation with KB and First Choice Canine. KB and his team were honest and insightful during the consultation and showed me the results that I could expect. He did some tests with Scout to diagnose what was really going on with him. He answered all of my questions and provided solutions for every little scenario I could think of. We made the decision to do the board and train program for 5 weeks and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Throughout the 5 weeks away from my scruffy best friend, the team at First Choice Canine would send me updates, photos, and answer any questions that I came up with. 5 weeks later I arrived at pick up day and I had a new dog. There's no other way to put it. He was still his energetic, fun, spunky self but now was able to follow handlers' directions in a way that I thought was not possible. KB and his team gave me the tools to control Scout's behaviors and have allowed him to live a happier life. A dog who would lunge and bark uncontrollably at other dogs and people on walks was now walking completely off leash, at my pace, past other dogs/people/squirrels without making a peep or leaving my side. The results really are unbelievable. It's been about 5 months since we finished the board and train program and Scout is doing great. I walk him off-leash essentially everywhere we go. The best part of this whole process is that he has acclimated himself to our new baby girl and our new family seamlessly. This would not have been possible without the training that not only Scout received, but the training and skills they gave to me at First Choice Canine. I can't recommend this place higher. Thank you so much KB and team! read more

Khaled and Ashleigh are great. I brought my dog to his class because she had nipped a couple of people and had general walking issues - trying to lead etc. We started with me going to all the training classes for about 6 weeks and then due to my schedule switched to broad and train. My dog now walks beside me with no leash and stays beside me. She sit or lay down and stay there until I give the magic command at which point she runs right to my side. It was really a great transformation and I feel much more comfortable about taking my dog for nice long walks. As someone else mentioned, they do use e-collars. But it's not in a traditional sense of just punishing the dog, it's a slow process of associating not paying attention to the owner with the collar and praise plays JUST as much of a factor in their training method. (And what I found is my dog is now responsive to just the vibrate setting on the collar.) The negative review here is someone who stopped at the consultation level. That doesn't seem fair. I went through the entire process with Khaled and could not be happier with the results. Remarkable. read more

I'm here to sing Khaled's praises, but first I would like to address the review posted by H.M. from Cambridge, MA. This person posted a rather long and what I assume he/she believes is a well-informed review after a consultation only. This is the equivalent of reviewing a restaurant after meeting the owner in the parking lot. Khaled was recommended to me by another amazing dog trainer (Tom from Walky Walk - see my Yelp review) who I hired to train my formerly super-aggressive mini-schnauzer, Charlie. The training was very successful, but Tom moved away and I wanted to train my 1-year-old mini-labradoodle (Beau) just like Charlie. Although Khaled does work with many aggressive dogs, Beau is super sweet, loves everyone, and has no behavior issues at all. Khaled's ability to read and communicate with dogs is immediately evident and extremely impressive. He was equally helpful in training Beau and training me. He taught me how to work with and understand Beau. My two dogs are very different, and, although the end-results were the same, the training with Beau was in many ways different than the training with Charlie because Khaled knows how to tailor the training to the individual dog. Both my dogs are exceptionally well-trained: off-leash walking, 100% recall, sit/down-stays, etc. I can command Beau and Charlie to lie down, and they won't move until I tell them otherwise. It's amazing. Khaled is without a doubt one of the best trainers out there. To address one more thing mentioned by H.M., I used an eCollar for the training my mini-schnauzer which, admittedly, took some convincing. But since I actually went through the training, I know the eCollar is not about "shocking," punishment or fear as H.M. mentioned (who would hire a trainer that does that?). Khaled is ADAMENT that the training only works if it is a POSITIVE experience for the dog. For those of you who don't know, to put it simply the eCollar is used to create mild physical stimulation for conditioning purposes - and it works amazingly. I did not hesitate to use the eCollar for Beau's training. I continue to use eCollars for both my dogs and they LOVE our training sessions. read more

Khaled is a great trainer, even if you have a dog with aggression issues. We rescued a very sweet dog who was overly defensive and KB was very good with her. We learned a lot during training and happily recommend FCC to the many misbehaving dogs we see out and about :). read more

Hi my name is Eric,after going to 5 différent trainers I decided to get in touch with Khaled and I am so glad I did.Here is why. I have cerebral palsy and Max is my mobility service dog(German Shepherd) I explained to Khaled my situation.max was pulling me too much and was walking too far from me which defeated the purpose of having a mobility service dog. Met with Khaled for a consultation and we decided to go for a weekly or once a week training. After four sessions Khaled realized that it was no working so He suggested a week of board and train. Khaled and Vanessa trained Max for a week and when I went back to pick him up I could not believe that was the same dog I left behind. They are also training me on how to handle max. I just would like to end by saying thank you to Khaled and Vanessa and by saying to anyone looking for a great trainer look no further First choice canine is it. read more

First Choice Canine - Pet Training Near Me - Brentwood, New Hampshire

Im on my 3rd dog, (One shepherd and one Doberman before) and both of the other 2 were trained elsewhere so basically KB is my 3rd trainer. The others were good but not even close to the talent KB has. One of my dogs was chasing a frisbee which went out into the street cause of a strong wind. He got hit by a truck and died in my arms. From that day forward I swore that would never, ever happen again. Long story short, KB taught me how to command my dog to drop to the ground and let the frisbee keep going and to also have the dog to turn around and come right back to me while the frisbee keeps going. If your thinking of an electric fence, save the money and invest in your dog like I did. KB should have his own TV series he's that good. Watch the videos like I did. You wont believe what he can train dogs to do.. I'm actually thinking of asking him to train my current Doberman to be able to drive for Uber for additional household income! I wouldn't be surprised if he said he could do it. Also, my dog is an intact 117 pound European Doberman that is very dominate and aggressive towards anything walking on 4 legs. KB literally, on my dogs life, fixed that problem in less than an hour. KB had three other dogs come in all at once and individually had them hop on my dogs back with their front paws and eat treats from the trainers hand. The entire time my dog did not move. To this day, I walk around Home Depot totally leashless without any fear of something happening. Even walking by other dogs in Home Depot my dog is right on my hip and paying no attention to anything but me and my next command. Sorry so long but I cant emphasize enough how KB truly changed my entire life by just training my DJ. Do yourself, your family, and your dog a favor... Don't be the next person writing a review about losing your 2 year old dog due to lack of training. There is no better feeling in the WORLD than walking around with no leash and hearing comment after comment on how well he is trained along with probably the most popular, "I wish my dog would listen like that!" I can't thank KB, the staff at First Choice Canine/Protection Dogs Plus enough. I would never,ever, ever, even consider someone else. Thank you all at First Choice!! PS: Ignore the Cambridge liberal who thinks a shock collar is cruel. Does he know they use level 5 on a collar that can go up to 157 levels? The guy sells fully trained dogs for over 50 grand.. I think he knows what hes doing. On the other hand, what would you expect from a liberal living in a sanctuary city. Go wash your Prius then sit on your front steps and watch the unicorns fly over your house while they sprinkle pixy dust on you. Let me guess,,and I'm just reaching but who's your pick for 2020? Elizabeth Warren or Michelle Obama? Your an idiot. read more

Rosie, my 20 month old standard poodle and I just finished the On & Off-Leash Obedience Training program at First Choice Canine. While Rosie did not have any aggressive or major behavioral issues she was definitely in need of better manners and was difficult to walk. From day one Khaled was just incredible to work with, he was not only patient with Rosie he was very patient with me. His manner of addressing Rosie was always level tone, quiet and never excited and I would watch in amazement to her response to him. Khaled would take his time explaining what he was doing and why, I never felt rushed. My goal from the training program were not only reached it far exceeded my expectation. I now feel comfortable walking Rosie on or off her leash. I would also like to mention the training facility; it was immaculate and had I not seen or heard other dogs I would never had known there were other animal there .. the place always sparkled. Khaled and his team are professional, knowledgeable and friendly and you can just see they love what they do. Thank you Khaled for these past 20 weeks, Monday mornings will not be the same. read more

First off --- I noticed a review that claimed there was no in home boarding or training which is untrue. My dog and other people I know of have had their dogs board at the owners home. They are thoughtful especially with shy or small dogs that might not do as well in a kennel setting. The biggest difference with FCC is that they follow through. Khaled takes pride in his training, and wants to ensure that the owners are able to handle them the same way that he is. He doesn't pretend he can do something with a dog that isn't fit to do those things. He recognizes that some dogs will never lose certain behaviors, but teaches the handler how to have control in the situation to make sure the behaviors are managed if not completely corrected. The owners are not LAZY. This is huge. They will go above and beyond to make sure things are done right. This includes not only training but maintainence of the kennel as well. Some other kennels are absolutely disgusting and cleaned poorly. Ashleigh and Khaled would sooner scrub the kennels themselves (and they do) then allow them to be in poor condition due to call outs or weather issues etc. Lastly--- Khaled is literally a dog whisperer. My big dumb shepherd responds to him (with or without the ecollar) incredibly. He has an energy when talking to the dogs that just gets them excited and focused. HIGHLY recommend !!! read more

I worked with an other dog trainer, who unfortunately was not a good match for my young dog. To the point she was shutting down. It took me a long time to find a trainer like KB. He helped undo what the first dog trainer did with my dog. KB's philosophy is different then other trainers. He takes the necessary time with the dogs in his program to train them correctly. It's not a rushed job. With his patience and skill my dog's confidence returned and her obedience improved. My dog was enrolled in their board and train program. The facility is clean and well care for. KB is a highly skilled dog trainer with an in-depth knowledge of dog training and dog behavior. He is also extremely patient, not only with my dog but with me and my many questions. I highly recommend First Choice Canine and their team. My only regret is I didn't go to them first!! read more

Save the $50 you would have to spend on a consultation... here's what we learned. We went to see Khaled about potentially sending our dog to in-home stay and train, and it was a total waste. We were attracted by their very professional website and training videos, but in retrospect, the website and videos don't contain a lot of information about how their business and training works. First, apparently in-home stay and train doesn't really exist. They keep boarded dogs in a kennel. And even said that isolating our dog would only facilitate the training. Which I'm sure is true because a lonely dog will work harder for human attention. Second, we learned that their training depends on punishment, namely the shock collar (which we didn't see on their website). While they promise "results," I don't believe that fear of being shocked is the best way to train a dog, even though he claims to have figured out how to use it "without changing your dog's personality." I understand that the eCollar can be useful for training and is not just for being mean to dogs, but he didn't appear to listen to us or be open to not using the eCollar on our sensitive dog. He even talked about figuring out each dog's response to the collar-- that some dogs freak out and run away, and others cry and cry! But apparently they accept that as a normal and necessary part of dog training. But we'd rather have modest training results than a traumatized dog! And ours seems to be permanently wary of things that hurt him-- he still doesn't trust the shades after one fell on him on a windy day. I could see how this trainer might attract people with problems dogs who are desperate for a solution. But we have a dog who is already pretty good, and just wanted a trainer to reinforce and solidify some of the obedience that is harder to master (like a rock-solid stay), and only because we are going on a 3-week vacation and we thought why not include some training with the boarding while we're away? Finally, First Choice was strangely unprofessional after meeting us. They didn't send any follow-up information, as they said they would. Maybe they sensed that we weren't enthusiastic about them, or maybe they're happy to collect $50 consultation fees even when they're not serious about accepting a dog? Anyway, we left unhappy, as they didn't turn out to be what we hoped they would be. read more

I don't write a lot of reviews but felt that First Choice Canine needed a presence on Yelp! Backstory: I adopted my 3-year old lab/beagle mix a year ago, and quickly learned she has a serious case of fear aggression around large dogs and any strangers. She barks, growls, and is generally a frightened and aggressive mess around anyone and anything she doesn't know - which is clearly a problem living in Boston. Fast forward a year: 3 dog trainers later, I was about ready to give up and accept this is how she will always be. Contacting First Choice Canine was my last ditch effort. Upon my consultation, Khaled immediately had a plan to attack the problem - which involved a solid foundation in obedience and then layering in behavior modification. We are not even halfway through our training and I already see marked improvements in her obedience and overall confidence. I've learned that it's not all about the dog - a lot of the training is for the owner! I'm excited to see how far she will come with continued training, and I have a renewed confidence that with the right trainer, you can make a difference! I highly recommend Khaled & First Choice Canine. I'll be back with a follow-up once our training is complete. read more

We took our rescue Izmir to first choice on a friends recommendation and I have to say it was a fantastic decision. Izmir was anxious, fear reactive and couldn't be taken anywhere. Chris has worked absolute wonders with her and also with me as I needed as much training as the dog. We tried several trainers prior to bringing her here and none did her any good. This place is amazing and I could probably write a dissertation about the trainers we worked with and the entire program. I can not recommend them highly enough. Thank you Chris mostly but also Vanessa and Khaled. read more

We brought our German Shepherd to First Choice Canine for training. We did an 18 week program and have had amazing results! Chris did a great job with Dixie and us (we were the bigger challenge). I actually enjoy taking her for walks now and I'm not being pulled down the street. Our confidence is growing with her off leash training. Chris would be proud that I've been taking her off leash and I'm getting more confident with it. I would highly recommend First Choice Canine! Dixie is going to miss her training every Saturday. read more

I can't thank Khaled and his team at First Choice enough for working with us and our dog Rosie. We adopted Rosie through petfinder at 4 months and as she grew (and we grew), her behavior intensified over time: a new baby, a move to the suburbs, a change in dogwalker and less social interaction with other dogs. We met with a behaviorialist that diagnosed Rosie with Seperation Anxiety and Fear Aggression. We worked with other trainers throughout her life, some with the ecollar where she didn't react well to pain where it was used inappropriately, some using only positive reinforcement (clicker) and were unsuccessful with her behavior modification. Medication was not an option we were willing to take, as the two disorders each require different medications that stimulate the other. We were scared that we couldn't do what was best for Rosie and even considered a different home may be in her best interest. At 4 1/2, we found Khaled. He took Rosie for a 4 week boarding period where part of the time Rosie was in the kennel by herself and trained periodically throughout the day, alone and with other dogs. The remaining time, she was with John at his house being trained inside and outdoors, in public settings. When we picked up Rosie, it was our turn to be trained. We learned how to successfully use the leash as well as the ecollar. We learned what behavior Rosie needed from us to help her be the best dog she could be. I have tested the ecollar myself - on my body. The level that is set for training is so small, I could not feel it. Even when I doubled the setting, I still could not feel it. I tried to increase it to the point that I would notice and it was a very high level that I finally felt a mark - for my dog of 75 lbs, this setting was not used during her training. It is true, my dog is conditioned to not want to feel the ecollar correction. But the theory that the collar "shocks" the dog into submission with pain is not one that is supported by Khaled or his team. Khaled has conducted follow up trainings with us based on our needs and was flexible to come to our house. If you have ever watched Cesar Milan, I can relate my amazement of Khaled's actions to what I've seen on TV by Cesar. In my home Khaled helped us work near a vent, an area that has always been one of fear for Rosie. She now can pass that vent without hesitation. First Choice Canine knew the right balance of what Rosie needed - to help reduce the neurological issue of fear aggression and give her the confidence she was seeking. Now that we have Rosie back in our home, I am confident she is under my control and the fear aggression is no longer an issue. We have worked with her on our own for a couple of months and our job is to not ruin what Khaled and First Choice Canine have done :) We are able to walk Rosie off-leash in situations that we have avoided in the past - near men (especially with baseball hats), around other dogs that she would normally lerched towards and even birds or squirrels. We are in control of her behavior. We have a loving part of our family back and are happy to report us as a success story. Thank you to Khaled and John. We are forever grateful for the relief and life you have given us. read more

Review part 1. We have three dogs. None had formal training. Our newest is a boxer and she's a large playful puppy. We realized we needed help handling all the dogs so everyone was well behaved and polite. My older dogs are little and bark at everything. One has fear aggression and has always been a handful. On consultation Khaled recommended on and off leash training just for the boxer puppy. He would give us tips to work with the others. After the first session and a bit of reinforcement we were able to walk the boxer on a leash with her staying at my side loose leash. We were thrilled! Now after a couple more weeks, she's able to sit (and stays) go to down (and stays). My aggressive older dog can be leash walked no barking or lunging. We are now working on no barking in the house. They would go BONKERS with some one at the door. Coming or going. Not anymore. Been three days. I fully expect it to continue to get even better. I truly cannot say enough how pleased I am so far. My boxer loves Khaled and has a great time while we are there. She's happy and excited when we get there. Even if you're not interested in full off leash training. Working with some one who is knowledgeable, loves what he does and the confidence he brings, I highly recommend for obedience. Review 2 to come upon completion of advanced off leash! read more

I have a 2 year old Norwich terrier who can go anywhere with me, off leash and collar-less, under all circumstances. Khaled is to thank. "Jax" and I began working with Khaled when Jax was 9 months old. He loves to "train" and is very enthusiastic and attentive. I just read the review from 2013 from Cambridge: my dog was trained with the aid of a collar. To call it a "shock collar" is truly misleading. My dog was given the gift of training. He responds to my voice and is so happily reliable. To have used a sensation thru a collar, to get his young attention led my dog into a level of training even his breeder could not believe. Jax's training has saved him in a stand off with a skunk (I called him and he immediately came). A trained dog is a safe dog. We have Khaled and training and his keen sense of my dog, to thank. read more

This is an outstanding place to get your dog trained. I signed up for 15 weeks with the goal of being able to have my dog walk off-leash. My golden retriever was very excitable and out-of-control when I started, even though I had been to several group classes and we'd learned the basics of sit, down, stay. He pulled on the leash so hard I couldn't control him so the first few weeks we worked on leash control and getting him so it wasn't crazy. The electronic collar is used now every time we go out and it's wonderful having a dog that is a delight, not a wild, crazy, jumping puppy. I am so glad I invested the time and money into doing this with Khaled and Vanessa and Chris. They understand dogs and know how important positive reinforcement is to getting your dog to behave. I highly recommend this training facility. read more

First choice canine is an unbelievable asset to the northeast. I have two show/working Rottweilers. Before finding Khaled and his team I was shipping my dogs all over the country for training. Khaled was referred to me by a close friend when I met his dogs and saw the caliber and reliability of their training. Since then I have worked with Khaled on a number of occasions and a number of subjects. We have worked on high level off leash obedience all the way to family protection work. I would not hesitate to recommend Khaled and his team to anyone. My dogs are family and I trust Khaled to handle my dogs without any reservations. If the best is what you are after then it's clear this should be your first choice. read more

Amazing!! I can't say enough praises about Khaled and his team in every dimension of our training!!! CALM, CONFIDENT IN WHAT THEY DO, CARING, PUNCTUAL, and most importantly for me, PATIENT! I was a wreck and felt I was in over my head with a dog who outweighs me, and I was beginning to think was a dog I could not handle. We saw this training as serious as raising a child properly. This training would be their "college". Here was hoping not to flunk :) A bit of history: The doggy daycare where he went in his early months allowed a free for all where he ended up on the receiving end of getting bit, torn ear, and too rough play. Living what he learned and experienced at that daycare, he in turn upon meeting other dogs on our walks/outings would get all wound up and wanted to play rough with other dogs we came across. With a bad rap sheet of play issues with other dogs, getting kicked out of doggy daycare my two giant sized dogs with two giant size issues, and a very distraught human mom, with a serious lack of confidence, called Khaled. At the beginning, I was in a panic. Zeus, (my Newfoundland/Neopolitan Mastiff mix) then 130 lbs at 16 months, who I know is not bad, needed manners in how to be around other dogs. Most importantly, his human mom, needed training on how to be confident with him. KHALED KEPT CALM AND HELPED ME GET PAST MY FEARS AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING FROM DAY ONE! It scared me to tears how helpless I felt. Zeus is my baby, and I want to do right by him. I did not want to own a dog that is not behaved, I can't take with me everywhere, and have to wonder "what do I have to be worried about in this situation." We opted for the 18 week on/off leash obedience. It was so worth the 1 hour trip each week for Khaled's personal training. The training was to be every week, but due to family emergencies, horrible commute times we had to reschedule a few times. Khaled was VERY ACCOMADATING. If that wasn't enough with Zeus, my other dog Maia (a Black Shepard, Doberman, Great Dane rescue) who being of the giant size persuasion as well, was aggressive towards other dogs lunging forward on the leash barking at them as they passed. It made taking the dogs anywhere a challenge! Having gone to Khaled initially for Zeus, we decided to train Maia at the same time. It was a different type of training that I was unfamiliar with at the beginning. I had heard of and seen pinch collars used inappropriately and also their benefits when used properly. As for an e-collar, that was completely new. I am very happy with the results that have been achieved using the e-collar with my dogs, and Khaled's use of it is more than humane. He uses it as a TRAINING TOOL and does not use it to hurt or make the dogs fearful. My dogs looked forward to our sessions with Khaled and their ears perk right up at the mention of his name. The training collar we used on our dogs has a range of up to 127 levels of stimulation, and the option of a vibrate button as well. Zero being the lowest setting and 127 being the highest, my dogs respond to a 5-20 stimulation, and lately only need a vibrate ocassionally to break their focus when needed. The e-collar is to help the dog, not hurt it, and when used properly, like Khaled does, the e-collar is very helpful. From a dog that played way too rough borderline aggressive, and another dog that was starting the aggression issue early, we now have two well mannered dogs that go with us on hikes in the woods, on trips to the park, outings to dog friendly stores, meeting new people, children and dogs along the way. Everyday I take them on their walks, with a new found confidence, and the two dogs are able to stay right next to me off leash as well as on leash. Of course leashes are brought, but just knowing they have the ability to be behaved either on OR off leash is an amazing feeling! I wouldn't change a thing about our training! Khaled delivers the results you see on his website. You won't be disappointed. THANKS SO MUCH KHALED FOR EVERYTHING! YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE WONDERFUL!!! Zeus and Maia say "hello"! read more

I am extremely happy with our experience with First Choice Canine. I first learned of FCC by watching their videos on youtube and decided to get in touch. Ashleigh responded immediately and she explained the services they could provide for our German Shepherd Kolbie. After meeting Khaled for the consult, I was very impressed and decided to sign Kolbie up for the off-leash obedience course and help with our dogs aggression. Since we were going to board and train our dog for five weeks, we were a little nervous but Khaled explained in great detail how they were going to train him and how they were going to gradually ease him into situations so that he was not overwhelmed and that put our mind at ease. We received regular updates from Khaled and Ashleigh regarding Kolbie's progress during the course, and if we had a question they would respond immediately. When the course was over, Khaled was very thorough teaching us how to use the e-collar with Kolbie and took time to answer our questions. Khaled followed up with us by phone a week after we left to make sure everything was going well with the training. We went up twice more for follow up consults and Khaled took Kolbie around other dogs and around groups of people to make sure the training had stuck. They were genuinely interested in his training and progress, and they were very accommodating with my schedule. I would gladly recommend First Choice Canine to anyone. read more

I am really sorry to hear that H.M. didn't have a good experience with First Choice; our experience has been just the opposite. After two previous trainers we were at wits end with our 2 year old Boxer. We are home number 3 for this guy who came to us with practically no socialization skills; he was very fear aggressive with other dogs. Taking this dog for a walk was a project. We have two other dogs, one is a 10 year old Boxer so we thought we had this under control. I wasn't sure about the ecollar at first, but Khaled explained the concept and suggested we read up on it.Thank goodness we found First Choice. Here we are about two months later: no more bolting out the door; no more dragging me down the street; he can be walked off leash; no more jumping on people. The aggression/fear with other dogs is coming along greatly. Khaled has been there 100% for us. I would recommend First Choice training to anyone. Our Boxer (and ourselves) now live a much happier and social life. read more

We first brought our dog to Khaled Behisy and First Choice Canine in January 2014. Up to that point he had several instances of showing aggression toward people and other dogs and things were getting worse since our recent move to Boston. It was becoming a situation where we were not comfortable bringing people into our home and were avoiding situations that involved another dog or having him meet new people. He was a loving dog, loyal to his owners and gentle toward anyone he had ever known. The problems came when he met new people or dogs. During our consultation, Khaled listened carefully to all of our concerns and exactly how each scenario had unfolded. Khaled was able to identify the issue we were having as fear aggression. He was not a bad, aggressive dog, just one that lacked confidence and used aggression to remove the anxiety he felt when meeting new people and dogs. We did a combination of the board and train program with training sessions. When we came back to pick our dog up from the board and train, we could not believe the transformation. He was following all his commands, and at one point was lying in the middle of the room while other dogs ran around chasing balls. Khaled and the team had given him a solid foundation of training for us to begin our sessions. After the one on one sessions were complete, we were able to walk our dog off-leash in a park past other dogs and people without him paying a bit of attention to the distractions around him. It was truly remarkable. We would never have imagined that would be possible. The amount of follow-up and availability Khaled gave us during the process really displayed how much he cares about his clients and their situation. He was willing to try anything and even drove down to our house one afternoon, which was over an hour and a half away, to work with us in our neighborhood. Our dog still has his same personality but is less anxious and now has positive confidence. We are finally able to enjoy taking our dog out in public places. We will be forever grateful to Khaled and the team at First Choice Canine for everything they have done for us and encourage anyone needing some help with their dog to give them a call and understand you will be working with the best. read more