I am surprised by the negative reviews. My dogs have trained with Nancy and they board with her regularly and have for many years. I have never had any of the experiences cited. Here is my experience. Nancy understands dogs at a very core level. I have two German Shepherds with one that can be people and dog aggressive. Nancy does not shy away from those types of situations but rather leans into them. She has an innate sense of what is causing the behavior and is highly successful in addressing the issues. Many trainers just go the other way when aggression is involved. But to be clear, dog training is not magic. If the owners are not willing to work with the dog, any training will be only partially successful. Nancy is a long-time trainer of search and rescue dogs. She understands what drives a dog. She works with them based on their breed and what is needed. And sometimes she needs to get their attention which is where "getting rough with them" - NOT hurting them, NOT being abusive - might be needed. On the other hand, one of my dogs is quite shy and Nancy has been instrumental to give her reassurance, building up her confidence with every interaction. Again, she is working with the dog to help it be the best dog it can be. At $1200 for three weeks, her costs are well below other local board and trains. And you are getting some of the best training available. I have had my dogs at other board and trains and what I ended up with was a dog that listened to that trainer and their signals, not a dog that was less scared, less aggressive, and more itself. With Hooks K9 Training, if your dog needs more than three weeks, she keeps them at no extra charge. She does this because she is focused on what is best for your dog not on how much she makes. Again, an amazing level of commitment to your dog being the best they can be. Once your dog has gone through her board and train program, they can then be boarded with her for $25/day which again is an amazing price. She does use a prong collar but I have always used a prong collar on my shepherds. If used properly the dog is not getting the prong correction but it is there if needed. And she does use a shock collar when a specific behavior needs to be addressed and other methods aren't working. And a shock collar is often used on the "buzz" setting as a reminder to the dog. You don't need to actually shock the dog in most cases. Sometimes simply putting the collar on is enough to remind the dog that they need to pay attention. The dogs are kenneled outside. They are well provided for, are with many other dogs and quite frankly, mine like the outdoors better. The kennel arrangement is key to them learning to be a dog and a good dog at that. Where she places your dog and by whom is done quite strategically to benefit both dogs. I will also comment on being early. I am a person who lives by the "if you are on time you are late" adage. But for Nancy, when she is working with the dogs, it is very disruptive for someone to come in early as the dogs are focused on them. She wants to use every minute of training time available so her ask is that you be on time, not early. And yes, she can be rude about it but that is because you are taking away from the dogs. Nancy loves these dogs and wants you to know they are the priority. So, don't be early. On communication, Nancy is very forthcoming on what you need to do when you get your dog home. Anytime I email her, I get a response. During the board and train, I was very nervous and she sent me wonderful stories of how the dog was progressing. She doesn't carry a cell phone as it would be distracting while she is training. But I have found her to be very responsive via email. In summary, this is not a fit for everyone. But I would highly recommend for dogs and dog owners that want results. Do your research, talk with Nancy and make your own determination. read more

Hook's K9 Training - Pet Training Near Me - Middlesex, North Carolina

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LONG POST - Important for North Carolina and people with dogs that use training and boarding camps. Our Horror Story with our gorgeous Maia ( 9 months old Golden) BE VERY CAREFUL WITH HOOK K9 TRAINING CAMP! Let me share our bad experience with Hook K9 training camp. Maia was there 4 weeks - 3 training and 1 boarding while we traveled. When we picked up Maia, she had 5 very swollen bumps on her nose and 1 small puncture. We asked them what happened and they said they had not noticed and that these were not there that morning. We took her to the vet on Sunday. She was definitely bitten by something 6-7 times in the nose area. Dog bite out ruled, because it is only on top of the those. Vet thinks she might have gotten stung by yellow jackets or hornets. INTERESTING THING - THE TRAINING CAMP OWNER LIED, TELLING US THOSE MARKS WERE NOT THERE THE MORNING WE PICKED HER UP. WE ARRIVED AT 2PM. They had been there approx 6 days ago. The camp owner was doing leash work, impossible not to see. Vet's diagnosis: Bumps were severely inflamed, were crusty and full of sick blood material and pus. They got infected. This is evidence this happened about 6 days ago (+/-). The owner of the camps answer was that "she had not noticed the swelling and our girl did not have it that morning", this was confirmed not true by vet. When we went back to her demanding answers, she denied seeing anything, and said she cannot be responsible of where dogs put their noses. In the meantime Maia is on an antibiotic, pain meds, anti-inflammatory meds and allergy meds and needs 30 days of steroids. If when Maia was stung, they would have taken her to a vet, this could have been a lot simpler. The vet indicated that swelling in the nose, near to the top of the head, could be dangerous if untreated. Our girl spend ~6 days untreated!!! Beware with your dogs, ours was lucky that nothing else happened. Save your dog! read more

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I have used Hook's K9 for boot camp training and also boarding. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the experiences. The two dogs of my own that went to the boot camp (both small dogs) came back happy and very well trained. I also loved that before I could just pick them up and take them home after camp I was put through training on how to maintain what they had learned. I was able to leisurely walk my two dogs together right at my side and they even knew which order they were supposed to be in (which one closest to me and which one on the other side). They knew the order so well that if we started out and they weren't in the right spot one would halt and let the other get in their "right spot". It was a complete transformation! No more jumping, no more reactivity, etc. I was so happy with the experience that I even sent a dog that was in my rescue there for boot camp. Again it was a totally positive experience! I cannot recommend Nancy highly enough. read more

THE ONLY REVIEW YOU NEED TO READ - UNBIASED OPINION Months ago I heard of Hooks K9 training through a random girl I had met at the dog park. She talked highly of Nancy and her training abilities. I, owning a year old German Shepherd, became very interested. A couple of weeks after I had heard of Hooks K9, my German Shepherd accidentally head-butted a 6 year old boy and caused him to bleed. This made me want to put my dog in training so he would be more gentle around kids. The first place i thought of was Hooks. The first thing I did was E-mail Nancy about my dogs situation to see if she would work with dogs around kids. She responded saying that she has grand-kids of all ages that help her with dogs that need to learn manners around kids. The other thing Nancy fully warned me about was that this is not a spa resort for dogs. It called doggy boot camp and is just that. She also told me that her kennels are out door and if that was not okay then don't bring your dog. Feeling confident, I dropped my German Shepherd off and left him for three weeks. While he was there I discovered the horrifying and misleading Yelp and Google reviews. These reviews scared me and I was interested to see my dog when I went to pick him up. When I went to pick him up, my dog looked and behaved perfectly (he did have a scratch on his nose but that was from him trying to escape the kennel and Nancy made me aware of that scratch when it happened). My German Shepherd now respects all humans, including kids, and animals. I have seen huge improvement in his behavior. Nancy fixed issues that I didn't even realize were issues. She did a great job at training the humans how to work the dog and continue training at home. I highly recommend Nancy as a trainer. read more

Hook's K9 Training - Maverick, my German, following commands and behaving perfectly after his training with Nancy. - Pet Training Near Me - Middlesex, North Carolina

If you are looking for a day spa for your dog, this is NOT the place. Nancy is amazing with the dogs and understands them on a basic animal level. She isn't going to pamper your precious pookie, but she will get them to obey and be respectful of their place. Someone described it as boot camp and that's what it is like. Some dogs need discipline and not fluffy coddling. read more

Hook's K9 Training - My beautiful, well disciplined dog. - Pet Training Near Me - Middlesex, North Carolina

My pups have been to Hook's boot camp and have returned for boarding. They come back healthy, happy, and better behaved than when they went.

We have boarded and trained our dogs with Nancy for over 20 years. The 1-hour long trek to her house from Raleigh is well worth it. A committed trainer who spends almost every waking hour, even during the summer, with the dogs. She does a phenomenal job of caring for each dog's individual needs rather than taking the easy way out and grouping them together. She requires proof of vaccination and gives a thorough report at the end of their visit. read more

Just went to pick up my puppy and he was limping and very sick! We had to take him to animal hospital right away. DO NOT SEND YOUR DOG HERE!!! HORRIBLE place. EDIT: We had to put our dog down this morning. read more

I was there to have my dog learn basics including not jumping on people when he greeted them and walking on a leash. My 15 month old Goldendoodle was trained with a shock collar and dog bark collar which prior to booking she told me she does not use. She told me she used positive training. She described taking him by the collar and shaking him to train him to come." My gentle 40 lb golden doodle was also trained with a prong collar. When she showed me how to walk him on it, she jerked the collar causing him to Yelp. He was not even pulling or misbehaving. He was there for 3 weeks and can't walk on a leash without it. In fact without it, he now pulls ALL the time. When I greeted him, He jumped on me and chewed on my hand. My dog also has a wound with scabs on his leg that she didn't tell me about. Also, I was told my dog was not given the can food I brought ( a diet prescribed by his vet) and the can food was donated to a non profit. "I was spoiling my dog. He only needs kibble." In the end, my dog is not better behaved and is a very different dog, not in a good way! I would never return here nor would I recommend her. read more

We have taken our dog here for 4 years. She always comes back in excellent condition and secure in her dog-ness, knowing her place as a dog in the family. We first boarded her with Nancy during a big trip, and invested in the boot camp training and then did follow up work at her week night training programs. These were helpful and the takeaway was that consistency is key. My husband had to learn that he was the boss of her ALL the time. The training of the Bootcamp would be useless, unless follow through on the our part was consistent. My husband, son, and I all learned techniques very much in line with Cesar, the Dog Whisperer. By the way, binge watch Cesar's shows if you are having trouble with your dog. Nancy doesn't do agility training or clicker training, so don't expect that. She does teach you and your dog to live in harmony by making sure that the dog is not the leader of the pack, you are. Our original problem, that our darling dog was nipping and lunging at others in a protective way, went away as soon as my husband assumed his leadership position with her. Nancy's understanding of dog behavior and their way of communicating with each other, particularly when applied to dominant dogs, was very helpful in understanding our dog's behavior at dog parks. Our dog is very good at putting rude dogs (in a dog world view) in their place or correcting inappropriate behavior. Nancy said that she was exceptionally good with small dogs and puppies and that she gave them a lot of grace. "Rude" dogs act like humans (are overly friendly, get too close too quickly, don't observe the rules of dog etiquette), and when we anthropomorphize them and expect them to act like humans, we create a lot of problems. A dog's "words" are very different from our "words" and we need to always keep that in mind. As we, as her pack leaders, became less anxious about our dogs "aggressive" behavior, she became more effective in her dog communication and there was less actual aggression. read more

Not impressed. May be a good place to socialize your dog with other dogs, but it is not a good place for training. She didn't train my dog. Plus the kennels are all outside which i don't like. read more

We do NOT recommend this place!! Save your dog and yourself from a heartache!! We left our dog with Nancy Hook for 26 days. She gave up on training her after 6 days. She was very rude from day one. We had many RED flags, including one complaint against her- we unfortunately chose to ignore it. We arrived to discuss the training 5 minutes early (if that...) she got mad. The same thing happened when my husband went to pick up her up 15 minutes early and this time he was sent away to return at 11 AM as we had mentioned. (We live very far away and had just turned from a trip to Europe). She took absolutely no notes when we discussed the issues we had with our dog. Our dog was afraid of dogs and people. But, little by little we were working with her not to be afraid. When my husband picked up the dog- she didn't even recognize him, and she was terrified of Nancy. It was extremely sad. We took her to the vet as she had bad diarrhea and a rash on her belly. She was given medication by the vet. We also noticed she had been bitten in two different places. Nothing was told to us of what went on. But, I can tell you it wasn't pretty! It's been a few days and she is starting to come around now. I would not trust your dog with Nancy Hook. Maybe she can teach them to sit & stay, stuff like that... But, she is not a trainer for behavioral problems. Our dog is extremely smart and she already knew all the commands. She also told my husband she thought her how to "stay back" and how not to be afraid of the lawnmower. Both, she already knew! So, she did nothing except traumatize our dog. My husband wishes he had not been in such shock when he picked her up, because he wishes he had taken a picture of the dog to post here. No words would have been necessary with a before and after picture. read more

There are a lot of mixed ratings on this site about Nancy, and her training program. Here are the unbiased facts, after putting my dog through her 3-week camp. First and foremost, your dog will be trained. She will be transparent with all methods used. Much of the negativity stems from her rougher tactics. These include stern discipline and shock collar usage. If they are not for you, keep looking. I too was hesitant at first. However, the program works, and my dog came home just as happy as when he left. Next, many people complain about the outdoor pens the dogs stay in. If this is not up to your standards, move along. However, they are sanitary, she puts coats on the dogs to keep them warm when needed, and they get constant interaction with other dogs. Last, your dog will play with other dogs, often in a rough manner, as dogs do. Your dog will likely come home dirty, and a little nicked up, with small scratches and cuts. That's just the fact of the matter. While this might scare you, just know that your dog will be PLAYING. Your dog will be having a blast while doing this. However, if you have a small, or really babied dog, this might not be for you. To conclude, I had an overall positive experience. My dog did come home dirty, he smelled, and he was a little battle worn. However, he came home a lot smarter. As a large dog, knowing he will listen is a great piece of mind. If you are looking for a spa-like treatment, this is not the place. However, if you have a hearty dog, this can be a great experience for both you and your pet. Another thing worth mentioning is Nancy's customer service. She can be rude. For sure. However, I will say she more responsive to email as any trainer could be. She will email you updates, and answer questions even after the program. read more

I have been using Hooks K9 training and boarding for three years now and Nancy is great. I took the weekly classes when my dog was 8 months and my dog is well trained. I am a first time dog owner and animal lover and know that our pup is in good hands when she stays at camp Hook. Nancy is amazing at what she does...working and training dogs. read more

Very happy customers from Nancy's boot camp program. We have 2 small children and out lab was so unruly we considered giving him up. I am so glad we didn't. We love our boy and now he can be part of the family instead of keeping him separated from our kids. He isn't perfect he's still young but he listens when we tell him to stop doing something he shouldn't. He walks better than any dog I ever walked on a leash and has manners. He no longer licks and nipples my son, he doesn't trample him, or steal his toys. He knows boundaries. What Nancy did for our family is priceless. We couldn't be happier. read more

We dropped off our 10 month old yellow lab for a 3 week training session. We picked him up on Sunday April 8th and were supposed to be shown what he had learned. Instead we had to rush him to the Vet and after testing was told he had Parvo. He was vaccinated for this terrible disease. After close examination we noticed our poor dog and been bitten multiple times, his neck was raw and the fur was missing for multiple spots on his body. today April 10th we had to put him down. Nancy does not deserve anyone to give her their business. She emailed my wife after we called on Sunday with the diagnosis and was more concerned about how this would affect her business, although she was at the bank doors an Monday cashing my check. read more

I am genuinely surprised to see such negative reviews about Hooks K9 Training - I have only had GREAT experiences working with Nancy. She has been incredibly helpful with my rescue puppy. My dog has attended the general obedience class and boarded at Camp Hook, both of which I found very effective. To address some of the concerns raised by other reviewers: 1) I was surprised to see that other reviewers did not find Nancy an effective dog trainer. I have worked with 3+ trainers with my puppy and Nancy has been by far the most knowledgeable and effective of them all. No, she did not teach my dog how to "roll-over" and "shake," but that's not what I was looking for. Yes, she reinforces basic commands (sit, stay, wait), but in doing so she helps to build a positive relationship between owner and dog, which necessitates both respecting and understanding one another. I've found that - although my dog KNOWS all his commands before boarding at Camp Hook - he comes back actually LISTENING to them. I would also disagree with reviewers who say that she is not good at working with behavior problems - I actually think it's quite the opposite. She knows how dogs think and is able to identify true behavior issues from owner-induced behavior issues. So yes, I sent my dog to Camp Hook insisting he had a behavior issue and she told me a few days in that I was actually the problem. But you know what? She was right, and she helped me to adjust my behavior to help my dog. From what I understand, she is also a well-respected Search and Rescue and cadaver dog trainer, which is no easy feat. Nancy has very clearly devoted her life to working with dogs. 2) Yes, Nancy suggested I use a prong collar on my dog - but not before she made me try it to see how it feels and make sure there were no sharp areas. At first, I was hesitant to use a prong collar, but then I realized that my dog actually liked it! I think the gentle pinch that dogs get from the prong collar is similar to that from their mother or a playmate. Therefore, my dog actually understood what it meant and corrected his behavior. On the contrary, "gentle leaders" and harnesses provided feedback that my dog couldn't understand, thus causing him more distress. Dogs don't have something pulling on their snouts or shoulders in the wild... I actually laid all three out in front of my dog before each walk and let him choose, and he consistently chose the prong collar. I would also object to anyone saying she uses inappropriate force with the dogs. In my experience, she uses the appropriate amount of force to keep the dogs safe. So yes, if your dog is pulling at the leash and barking at an unfriendly dog, she will pull him back and put him in his place, but its so that your dog doesn't get bitten or attacked. 3) Yes, Nancy does make you turn around and come back at the designated pick up time if you come to Camp Hook early, so that you don't distress the dogs. Every rule she has is for the good of the dogs. I've always found her very responsive to my questions and concerns. During class, she would stay after with me and help me with specific commands, etc. and when I've boarded my dog there, she has always addressed my questions both when dropping him off and picking him up. She may not take notes, but she knows each dog like the back of her hand. Yes, sometimes she is busy when you get there and the interaction is brief, but it's not rude. She is direct and to the point, and often says more in 5 minutes than some people say in an hour. She is also incredibly responsive via email. I email her at least once a month and she always responds within 24 hours with thoughtful and helpful emails. 4) And finally, yes - my dog does come back dirty from Camp Hook, because he's a dog... I would be surprised if he came back clean and not smelling like a dog after playing outside for a week. And yes, he may have a few scratches but no more than when I send him to the local doggy day care. (Actually far less than when I send him to doggy day care...). Both times I have picked my dog up from Camp Hook he has literally cried as we pulled out of the driveway. It's really like a dog paradise (and it's easy to forget that dogs and humans have very different ideas of paradise...). The dogs get to play outside all day long out in the country with chickens and horses walking around (fenced off of course!) - they love it! The bottom line is that every pet parent needs to choose a trainer/boarding facility that they feel comfortable with and I am happy that I found Hooks K9 Training. If Nancy isn't your cup of tea, that's okay - but she has worked very well for me and my dog. I trust her with my dog and appreciate all she has done to help him so far! read more

My dog learned nothing here except how to walk better on a leash. Definitely not worth the money. She literally listens to me less now (my dog). Do not bring your dog here!! When I picked her up, she was horrendously filthy and smelly, she had an awful rash and had a cut on her tail (which Nancy did not seek treatment for) that resulted in her needing an emergency amputation and costing me over $1100 in vet visits on top of the $925 I paid Nancy. My dog may have learned how to function in a kennel/farm environment but that surely didn't transfer to my tiny house. She's the same crazy dog she always has been. I'll never send her away again though after my experience with Nancy Hook. I trusted her to take care of my baby and she certainly did not. She also took no responsibility for what happened to my baby. She refused to give me a refund or assist with my vet bills. Don't trust this woman. read more

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Over the years, we have taken two of our dogs to Nancy Hook's training classes. Nancy is an EXCELLENT instructor. So knowledgeable. We learned a ton, and our dogs were better for it. We plan on taking our new dog to her class in September. read more

Nancy did great work with my dog. He was aggressive on-leash toward other dogs and just overall anxious. Any time I had to take him somewhere to board for a day or couple nights he would be inconsolably anxious. He actually likes going and staying with her so she's the only place I take him to board, and he always comes back updated on his training. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is the cost of boot camp. read more

I have been working with Nancy for a few years. We started her training when my pup was 8 months old. My dog learned a lot and is well behaved because of the training she received. We have boarded with Nancy many times and have had a good experience. Nancy deals with dogs all day long and cares for them well. read more

Nancy did a wonderful job taking care and training our dog through her boot camp. We took her to Nancy because our dog had aggression towards people and other dogs. After the duration of boot camp, our dog is completely different and no longer barks at dogs or people. We kept continuous contact through email and Nancy kept us updated throughout or dogs progress. It's incredible what Nancy does and that she is willing to try to help any dog, regardless of their issues (this alone would be terrifying to me). We are excited to keep up the hard work and personal changes with our dog. read more

Don't waste your time or your hard earned money a complete waste of time and money if this lady is a dog trainer I'm the captain of the uss enterprise!!! Buy a choke collar, hit your dog in the face with a closed hand and call it dog training that is this ladies idea of dog training!!! My dog was scared to death when I got him back!!! My assistant actually found this place and we took our dogs there she told me she read the reviews and they were good but little did I know she read the reviews and testimonials on her website of course they're good the reviews here are the ones that count she's not gonna put negative stuff on her on site so learn from mine and her dumb move and don't waste your money use it to go on a cruise and board your dog for a week you'll be way better off!!! Not to mention she's the rudest person which don't sway my review cause her being rude doesn't matter much to me if she was good at what she does and she's not at all good if you bad at something at least be nice right!!! read more