My girlfriend at the time (now wife) and I brought Stanley (English Bulldog) home as a 3 month old puppy 2 weeks into our relationship. Everyone thought we were crazy, and we probably were. But he gave us so many great memories and experiences that brought us closer as a couple, and also taught us the responsibilities that come along with parenthood. Around the 4 year mark he had an incident where he was attacked by another dog in a dog park and was never really the same behaviorally after that point. After we got married and it was time for us to welcome another (tiny) human into our family, things got a little more difficult for Stanley. We started setting firmer boundaries for him throughout our home in preparation for the baby (not jumping up on the furniture, no longer being in our bed, etc.) which he didn't respond well to. Completely our fault, as we had babied him for the first 5 years of his life, but things were coming to a head when he started exhibiting signs of extreme aggression towards people culminating in him biting my sister's lip during Christmas back in 2019. At that point I knew I had to take action to protect my growing family and brought in a few different trainers who all told me the same thing: this dog is broken beyond repair and needs to be put down for the safety of your family. Then I met Harold Hamilton. From the beginning, I could tell Harold was unique in his approach and what struck me most about him was unwavering confidence that he could not only train my dog, but make him a functioning member of my family again. Having dealt with other trainers in the past and watching Stanley literally draw blood from them in front of me, I was incredibly skeptical that Harold could deliver on his words. But after listening to his approach and methods my wife and I decided to give it a try. The result: Harold singlehandedly saved Stanley's life and effectively doubled his lifespan. He came back to us a completely different dog who obeyed commands and had a completely different attitude. We were also able to utilize Harold's boarding network and had the peace of mind that Stanley would be properly cared for and not lose what he learned during his training when we were out of town, which was invaluable as well. Sadly, Stanley's health had rapidly deteriorated over the last year and he had to be put to sleep earlier this month at nearly 12 years old. But looking back, my wife and I are both incredibly grateful that Harold came into our lives when he did and allowed our children to make memories with Stanley. I couldn't possibly recommend Harold Hamilton more highly. He is truly a Master Dog Trainer, and my family and I are forever in his debt. Harold, thank you for everything my friend. read more

Harold and his staff of trainers are Amazing! When we rescued Nala our Pitbull at 5 months old, she had very little training. She would jump on our company, our bed, couches etc... When we tried to take her on walks, she would pull us down the block. We brought our dog to Harold and trusted in him with our baby for 2 weeks. I was stunned when we got her back to see how well she listened and performed the commands. From day 1 of bringing her home her demeanor was much calmer. No more jumping on the furniture and both me and my wife were able to take her on walks without her pulling us down the block. Harold and his staff work with you and teach you how to connect and bond with your dog. He doesn't only train your dog he also trains you on how to deal with the dog and how to recognize certain behaviors and how to correct them. There are no shock collars or treats used, just verbal commands. We continue to go to training every Saturday and Sunday, and I can tell you when I pick up her training lead, she runs right down the stairs, and her tail is wagging 100mph. She is so excited to go. The weekend classes are group classes, where the dog gets to learn how to act and respond around other dogs. It prepares them for public environments. We are now able to take her to public parks, fairs or festivals and people are always impressed by how well she behaves and how well she listens. We have been going to Harold now for about 6 months. (You also must put the work in at home). We are in advance training (off leash). We train with her walking right next to me and still following all the commands, heel, sit, down, stay, etc... Not only can I put her in a down/sit position and walk 100 feet, and she will not move (even if there are other dogs around) until we give her the command to come, where she will come and sit right in front of me. It is such a great feeling when you see all the hard work you put in pay off. None of it would have been possible without Harold and his entire staff. If you are looking for someone who you can trust with your dog and provide you with results, then Harold Hamilton is your man!!! read more

Harold and his team of professionals has been the best thing since sliced bread. I have a cane corso, which is a naturally aggressive dog. Not suitable for first time owners. The older he got, the harder he was to control. I've spent thousands of dollars on multiple trainers , which at first I thought were great, until I stumbled across Harold and his team. The first trainer I had, used treats but then my dog would only respond when treats were present. The next trainer I had introduced the shock collar, that worked when it was on and charged but when it wasn't on my dogs behavior was extra aggressive and people in my neighborhood were saying that the collar was cruel and in humane. I searched and searched Google endlessly looking for a great trainer and then came across Harold and his team. At first I thought it was a gimics but still had to try something because my dog was starting to act like he runs the place at one year old and my son was only 5. My wife told me either the dog goes or they will. After Harold's training my dog no longer needed to use the shock collar nor did I have to use treats. How doesn't only train the animal he also trains us how to deal with the animal. How to recognize certain behaviors and how to correct them. Now I can leave my dog in a park and walk away hundred yards and he won't move. Don't have to raise my voice at him. And he gets along my son just fine. I don't advise anybody to come down to just one of the sessions when we're training on the weekends and see for themselves. I live in the Bronx and I drive 18 miles to Long Island just for the training every weekend when I get a chance. read more

Harold is hands down the best trainer on the island. I welcomed a Dutch Shepherd to my family last fall and admittedly did not fully understand what I was getting myself into. I foolishly thought they were similar to German shepherds in temperament, not the case! Harold eased all of my concerns from the start noting his expertise in working dog breeds. I will admit that I was a bit skeptical to send my pup off for 2 weeks along with a substantial price tag. However, this training was absolutely and unequivocally worth every penny. Harold's training leaves no room for gimmicks and is solely based on the dog respecting you and growing a relationship with your dog. Our pup came back from these 2 weeks impeccably trained and I was so pleasantly surprised at the outcome. The training continues on the weekends if you wish, every Saturday and Sunday and I can't recommend it enough. I attend every weekend and genuinely enjoy going. In my opinion, this part of the training is invaluable compared to any other training because it teaches your dog how to act around other dogs and in a public setting. My pup is now 10 months old and is consistently complimented in public with how well behaved she is and how well she listens. Harold offers a no gimmick training experience and if you as a dog owner put in the work at home, I assure you that you will not be disappointed. Harold also offers boarding for his clients should you need it and at a reasonable price as well. Look no further for your training needs, no gimmicks, no treats, no nonsense. Just respect and great training. read more

We came to Harold because our American Bully, Scrappy, was out of control. He was people and dog aggressive and even began to bite us. We were devastated because it was coming to a point where we thought we wouldn't be able to keep him. Once we got in contact with Harold it changed everything. He was the only trainer who gave us hope and made us feel like we would be able to help our dog. He's extremely knowledgeable in his craft. Him and his staff are super helpful and supportive. After boarding the dog he teaches the owner how to properly handle and lead their dog. It hasn't been an easy journey but with consistency and hard work we've made tons of progress and know that it will just continue getting better. Because of Harold we were able to keep Scrappy and we are so grateful. We have another dog who was the complete opposite, overly excited and friendly towards everything and everyone. She was unbearable with the leash pulling and would run away from us every chance she got. With Harold's techniques and guidance we were able to transform her behavior and now she is able to enjoy off leash time. We can take her every where now without worry and that has brought us a lot of peace. He always makes himself available to his clients and is there for the life of the dog. Harold and his staff have become like family to us and we will forever be grateful to him. Couldn't recommend him enough! read more

Here is what can be said about Harold Hamilton dog training. The trainer himself is a man of integrity honesty punctuality in good cheer. I dropped my dog off for the first time at four for the two week training process. I have many questions many comments, many concerns and he answered them all with a long I know I don't have. He was always truthful about the results that I could get and how much work it would take for me to get there I can speak for myself. I was not an easy client. I do many things wrong however when I would say is that there's a beauty in the philosophy that is able to work through human error when someone does everything right yes, the results are to be expected but what happens when you don't. In my case I didn't and my truthful response is that the training has still allowed me to keep my door if I didn't I would've had to give them away a long time ago, so my honest opinion is the training is what you make of it and as long as you put something form of you won't lose you'll leave with something and once again to speak of integrity I training for about 6 to 7 months and he didn't have to his job is I'm able to go and take him and do whatever I need to do with him, but he kept in touch with my mom kept tabs on the until I returned and for that, I am extremely grateful. read more

Milo came to us at five months old with very little training, and we were his third home. My niece introduced me to Harold Hamilton, and I'm so grateful she did! Milo spent two weeks boarding and training with Harold, and I was skeptical that much could change in such a short time--but I was completely wrong. He came back knowing nine commands and truly transformed. I also doubted a dog could be trained without treats as motivation--again, proven wrong. Milo listens, loves to interact, and lights up when he's praised. He waits intently for his "good boy" and his favorite belly rubs. The biggest change was in me. Through Harold's weekend classes and consistent practice, I learned how to connect with Milo and communicate effectively. Our walks are now calm and enjoyable, and I have a deeper appreciation for his temperament. I highly recommend Harold Hamilton and his team--they are patient, skilled, and genuinely care about both dogs and their owners! read more

My name is David Rugolo, About 3 yrs ago i was interested in purchasing a personal protection dog for work. i own a bar and liquor store in a very busy section of Baltimore as well as a small realestate company in which I buy and rehab houses as well as doing traditional listings with my wife . I can only say Wow! Harold is great!!! He sold me Belgian Malinois her name is Fia and this dog has literally become my everything!!! she is AWSOME! in every sense possible super obedient extremely intelligent and has a serious bite! This dog has absolutely no fear. and is extremely protective of me and my family. I honestly couldn't ask for more in a dog. She's great with the family and my 2 cats. Harold if you are reading this thank you from the bottom of my For introducing me to this little stick of dynamite !!! Luv what this dog is and I hope to continue to do business with you in the future. Much love to you my friend and keep up the great work. read more

I can't say enough good things about Mr. Hamilton, when we first got our boy Liam (Dogo Argentino) we had tried 2 other trainers before finding him and their methods did not work. He took the time to understand my dog's personality, behavior issues, and even our own concerns. After spending 2 weeks boarding and training with Mr. Hamilton our boy came back like a whole different dog!! Imagine me 5ft walking down the sidewalk with 100 lbs. dog (all muscles) with FULL control....no pulling, no chasing after other animals and listens to every command. Soon Liam will be doing his home protection training and I have no doubt that Mr. Hamilton will exceed our expectations again. So if you're looking for someone who is knowledgeable, professional, and truly invested in your dog's progress, I highly recommend him and his team. The results will speak for themselves. read more

I went to Harold to get an evaluation on Diesel about 3 years ago and have been attending classes. I am extremely satisfied with our results. Diesel and I have developed a really strong bond. The training is great, before going to Harold I went to numerous trainers and all left me the same results no foundation. With Harold not only does the dog learn but you learn so much more about your dog and how to make everything so much fun. I highly recommend Harold as a dog trainer. Diesel - Staffordshire/Pitbull mix. Classes are made for you to bond with your dog and learn together. This is like everything you don't practice or participate in a class you will never succeed with your dog. read more

Our dog, Wesley, is 4 years old and we had all but given up on getting him under control. Wesley barked at the squirrels, all delivery personnel and would jump on guests; he also insisted on sitting on the couch. I saw Harold in action one weekend and took a leap of faith and put Wesley in his care for 2 weeks (it was scary to let Wesley go for 2 whole weeks) but Wesley came back as a brand new dog. Gone was the incessant barking and running all over the house. Wesley actually listened to commands! We also follow up w/weekend classes. It's been 3 months and no complaints. Harold and his staff are dog people and it clearly shows. We recommend w/o reservation. read more

I cannot recommend Harold--Master Dog trainer and his staff enough! We brought our Goldendoodle Biggie to them because we were struggling with pulling and jumping over furniture and on guests. The trainers are incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and compassionate. They didn't just train our dog--they trained us on how to communicate effectively and build a stronger bond. Within just a few weeks, we saw a massive improvement in Biggie's behavior. The positive reinforcement methods they use are kind and highly effective. If you are looking for a professional and caring dog trainer, this is the one to choose! read more

I have been associated with Harold and his training methods for a number of years. Without question he is the best trainer we have come across. We tried trainers before Harold and it was one disappointment after another. Those trainers all used gimmicks ( treats , cluckets , etc. ). Harold applies the science to his training in terms of establishing the owner as the pack leader. We have two dogs who where both rescues. One was very dog aggressive. Now we can take him anywhere and he listens. You can try the treat route but I assure you the results are not even close. read more

Harold is definitely one of the best dog trainers I met. A year and half ago my six month old Rottweiler had some behavioral issues and I try to work some obedience training with her it didn't go well. However one day I stop by a training class and I was so impressed how all the dogs in the class are well trained. I was sold. I brought my dog to Harold so he can train her for two weeks. When I got her back she was a totally different dog. I was very happy with the results. I put in the work every day. She is one of the best dog's in the class. read more

If you need a service dog, or a family dog trained well enough to be part of a special-needs or disabled household - Harold can do it, as long as you are willing to work too. And he does not charge $40,000 like all the private, unregulated service-dog "Schools" out there. My family was struggling. I thought we had to give up our Hazel, because we suddenly had too many health problems to be dog owners. It was devastating. He reunited a family who loves their dog and wants to keep her. Thank you Harold - from Hazel and all of us. read more

What can I say about Harold and his program....A life saver. I have a large breed dog and it became evident that she was walking me! I really needed some help and guidance. I asked a friend who at one time raised big dogs and he recommended Harold. It has been an eye opener in so many ways. Harold has a calm way of explaining his program and yet getting the results from us (yes, us humans), the dogs already have learned. Come and see for yourself! Thank you, thank you Harold. L. Boyer read more

Harold is amazing! Our Doberman, who was about to turn one, had become a handful! jumping on people, running off when I called him, and testing every limit even though he's such a sweet boy. We enrolled him in the two-week training program with Harold, and the difference has been incredible. He listens now, and we can finally enjoy walks without me getting dragged along! It's still a work in progress (mostly for me ), but thanks to Harold, I feel so much more confident walking with my Enzo. read more

I have a Basenji. A wonderful addition to the family but he is our first dog and we made some pretty basic mistakes. His energy and our mistakes made for a lot of lunging toward strangers, reactive behavior and the inability to socialize him. While he respected us, we had no real control. After going through Harold Hamilton's board and train, we have control over our dog. The difference is night and day. I highly recommend their expertise. read more

Harold and his team are a professional group of expert dog trainers. We took my 16 month old Golden Retriever to his class and never looked back. Our rescued pup went from resource guarding and biting to a respectful and disciplined family dog. Our pup also listens to our commands and follows the voice. My family couldn't be happier without Harold's training program. Not only is it for the dog, it's mostly for the human too read more