This place saved my dog and my sanity. My dog went from over 100 days in a shelter to a rescue that heavily sedated him. When I got him he was biting and wild.I was in a very bad spot. I called multiple training programs and this was the place that felt like it would be the best fit. They were super professional. Jay even called and talked me through things while i was waiting for our training to start. We did 8 lessons and he is a different dog now. No more biting or destroying things. He walks like a dream on a leash . He is happy confident puppy and my household is at peace. Jay was an awesome trainer. read more

I cannot thank Jay and K9 Connection enough. When my German Shepherd rescue got out of hand, it really worried me, and I lost a lot of sleep over it. I am as attached to him as he is to me, but I could not let him place us in jeopardy just because he (or I) might lose control of a situation. I did not know really what to expect when I brought him in, and I figured he would be a tough case. At the end of it I got my buddy back, for which I am grateful. read more

Joby, our two year old rescue had become leash reactive to other dogs, so I researched trainers and Tyler Muto of K9 Connections kept being recommended. I booked a morning with him. Within minutes, we had identified what I needed to do differently, and Joby was great! We went on a neighborhood walk and he was perfect. Turns out, I was speaking human to my dog. Which, ya' know, as a dog, he just wasn't getting, and Joby and I were increasingly unhappy with each other. It manifested in Joby barking at me, pulling on walks, and growling and charging other dogs. Tyler changed the way I communicate with Joby. It's only been three days, but Joby is a different dog. Quiet, happier, relaxed on walks and NO PULLING!! In fact, he quietly follows behind me. I now have a very, very good dog. I would recommend K9 to anyone! read more

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Yeah, I harbor a furry terrorist....um terrier. He used to bark his little head off and run circles around me with his 17 lbs of bad ass Jack Russell energy whenever he saw a hipster or another dog during our walks on Elmwood Ave. Yeah, it was embarrassing. I mean, it's Elmwood Ave aka Hipster Haven so this dog be acting a fool every time we went for a walk along The Gauntlet of E.V.. The alternative to skipping the walk was he would pee in the house and I wasn't having that. Oh no little dog. I pleaded with him, had pep talks, tried withholding dessert, and even tried bribing him with a promise of an Ipad but they were all efforts wasted in vain. Enter Josh Moran and K9 Connection. I signed up for the 6 month "Ultimate Package" which includes 3 private training sessions and 6 months of unlimited group classes. It's been two months and golly gee my little guy really changed his attitude (if only men were this easy to train :/ ). But yeah, Marco is a new dog! Both local pet store owners on Elmwood even commented on how polite lil Marco had become and we frequent those stores often enough that they recognize his bark. But seriously the service is top notch. You can call in with your training questions in between session. You get a courtesy call to remind you of your upcoming private session and this is helpful if you tend to forget why you put that string on your finger reminding you of your dog training appointment. Try them out. Your dog will be a better behaved companion in no time! read more

I went to k9 connection with my pup and signed up for their combo package that gave me 3 private lessons and 6 months of unlimited group sessions. They teach you the basics of their training in the first 3 sessions, to ensure that your dog can handle group class distractions, and then off to group classes you go. I started taking my guy there at around 4 months, so he obviously improved drastically from start to finish. The thing about the group classes is that they really only covered the basics (ad nauseum). Lots of heeling, sitting in place, downs, and recalls, but not much else. What really disappointed me was when my dog was having problems with barking at people on our walks at home; he didn't display those behaviors in class. When I brought these problems up with the trainers, they told me that since he wasn't acting up in class, I'd have to pay for private lessons to fix the issue. I was very disappointed that they didn't try to help me out in the group classes that I had already paid for (at $80/hr their private lessons aren't cheap). So, the group classes are great for basic obedience, but if you have more unique problems, I'd suggest the private sessions if you can afford them. p.s. if you can choose which group class you can attend, I recommend Myles-he's good at keeping the whole class engaged. read more

I started bringing my 45lb lap pittie here because I hated leaving her home alone. So, I figured at least one or two days a week she would get to play and interact with other dogs. She loves it here! Every time I bring her home, she's pooped... she's usually sleeping in the car on the way back. Everyone I've met here is fantastic and friendly and obviously great with the animals. My only negative is that if you don't schedule in advance, it's sometimes tough to get a hold of anyone "last minute" -- the phone is answered by a machine. They only take so many dogs per day - which is great they don't overcrowd, however, the only thing I can think is maybe posting something on facebook at the end of the day such as "we still have room for 1 or two dogs tomorrow if anyone should have the need arise, etc". I guess part of that is poor planning on my part, but sometimes my schedule changes or things come up and I think "I wish I could bring her in the AM if I knew there was room!" That's a small quibble -- the important thing is they're awesome to the dogs and the dogs love it! (edit: maybe an online booking system?? That would be awesome!) read more

Updating my review: it's not every day you see a business owner who checks social media pages, let alone cares enough to respond or do anything about the issue. Let the record show that I am satisfied with their daycare services. When I picked my dog up the other day she was happy, tired, and squeaky clean. Thank you K9 connection, for caring about your customer base read more

My wife and I adopted a pit/lab a little over a year ago now, she was great but had some issues with getting over-excited around other dogs, particularly smaller dogs. We did try an obedience school, which helped my wife and I understand handling dogs and proper training techniques...it just wasn't enough. We ended up having a minor incident with another dog and it was hard to determine whether or not her actions upon the other dog was out of aggression or just pure excitement and her not knowing her own strength. Shortly following we were given not so favorable advice about our dog. I didn't want to lose her, it was devastating to think about to say the least. No one wanted to adopt her (in hindsight THANK GOD!!) and we were faced only with the alternative. I spoke with a friend of mine out of town who had similar experiences with a dog of his and he mentioned a behavioral modification training. He had taken his to a trainer in New Hampshire and he was more than pleased with the results. We immediately started searching for these types of trainers and when I tell you how ecstatic I was to find K9 right here in our home town. We called and went down that very day to check it out and talk with the trainers, we explained our situation and what was more relieving than anything was they weren't surprised and knew in full confidence they can correct her issues...they made it seem like it was no big deal and that was reassuring to both of us. We ended up putting her through the 2 week boot camp and I have no regrets. When we picked her up she was like a different dog, same fun personality but with a lot more 'class'. What's more is that they trained her to do things that we didn't think of that helps us a lot. They taught her to run on a treadmill! Which is fantastic when the weather outside isn't favorable for a walk, we just have her go on the treadmill for 15 minutes! Also, she's great on walks, doesn't beg for food, understands her place (literally and figuratively) and makes good choices with other dogs now. Everyone that see's her today that saw her before always ask if we swapped dogs and want to know where we took her. I recommend K9 to everyone that asks. Thank you for saving our dog! read more

I cannot say enough good things about this facility. I adopted a dog from a local shelter with a bite history and some behavioral issues - we took him to K9 Connection for APS and a 3 month training program and it was worth every single penny. They have transformed my dog into someone completely different. Because of K9 Connection and the talented staff, I have an amazing relationship with my dog, a much closer bond. I also volunteer at a local shelter and am currently trying to help improve the images of "pitbull type dogs" in my community - because of the training program that my dog has been through at this facility, I'm able to take him to events and group presentations as an ambassador for the breed and to show people truly what wonderful dogs they are. read more

I recently attended Tyler's shadow program in May at K9 Connection. Was one of the best weeks I've had in years. I'm very green in the dog world and this was my first big investment into my formal training to become a dog trainer and understand dog phycology. Tyler was with us from the moment we arrived in the morning till it was time to go home at night. We also had full access to the facility, watching his trainers classes, questions about anything on his business, even made friends with the employees... it was an emotional week as well, when dealing with dogs that this might be their last chance before the owners giving up and able to witness that listening to the dog and able to communicate properly was able to keep family's together with their dogs... as a personal awaking for myself I realized that I still do have a fear of dogs, I spoke to Tyler about this and he said that's absolutely ok, not every trainer needs to deal with aggressive dogs... however I think that was just the support I needed and by watching how he and his staff handled aggressive situations, when I just came across a situation myself just a week ago I found that I was able to handle it quickly, effectively and safely! This is one of many things I am so grateful I was able to take away from this week up there. I am planning to attend his next seminar on ecollars... as a trainer in training I plan to keep studying as much as possible from Tyler. Thank you so much Tyler and K9 Connection staff! I'm looking forward to my next trip up and see everyone again! read more

Amazing!!! They fixed all problems I was having with my dog. At first I was hesitant and intimidated by the cost. I put off pursuing using K9 Connection, and tried other trainers and home/self training.... Although we made a little progress with basic commands using a positive rewards (treats) approach, my dog was still aggressive and reactive, and had a lot of anxiety. Our lives were stressful, and we were running into daily problems. This dog turned my life upside down, and I was miserable and didn't know what to do to help the dog. Things were so bad, I brought her to the SPCA so they could re-home her; but because of her aggressiveness, they were going to put her down! :( At that point, I took the dog to K9 Connection, they did a free evaluation/observation and saw a lot of potential in my dog. We signed up for 3 Individual training sessions and 3 months of Group Training (1xweek), and invested in an e-collar. After the first training session, I saw immediate improvements with my dog's behavior; by the end of the 3 months ALL OF THE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS WERE GONE!!!! The dog became a part of the family, and we live in peace, no more stress! We have continued to practice the training exercises at home on a (near) daily basis, and my dog loves it! We walk in streets, parks, and stores; and constantly get compliments from strangers for how well the dog behaves! We have not had an episode of aggression since we started at K9 Connection! My only regret was not making the investment from day one; but better late than never! The results were worth the cost! Tyler is the owner and the main trainer. He took extra time to explain the behavioral issues he saw in my dog. We worked with Amber, one of other trainers, and she literally worked a miracle with my dog! Amber was very patient and explained things clearly, and trained me as much as she did my dog. It was a great experience! There is a time delay when you call and they get back to you.... But in all fairness, it's understandable that they spend most of their time with dogs. Bottom line.....If you're having dog problems, go to K9 Connection...THEY CAN HELP YOU! THEY HAVE ANSWERS & SOLUTIONS!!!! THEY ARE WORTH THE COST!!!!!! I will always be grateful to them!!! read more

K9 Connection - Pet Training Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Our family adopted a dog back in September 2013. We thought he was a calm, mature dog just right for our low-key family. It turns out he was just sick. After he was treated for pneumonia, we met the REAL Shep. The real Shep had hardly any training and a ton of fears. He feared bikes, buses, strange men, strange dogs, people coming to the door, car noises.....the list goes on. And he showed it with growling and barking and lunging at what he was scared of. After he had bitten multiple people, I was about to give him up. I couldn't take any more, and we couldn't excuse the behavior away as just a fluke or some phase. I tried to research dog training and practice at home, but nothing I did cut through the panic that Shep experienced. We've just finished our third training session. We signed up for five altogether. I am thrilled with the progress. Shep stayed in place for an hour....several times. He comes immediately when called. Today, we worked on walking politely on the leash. Yes, the collar works. I am a believer in the electronic collar, which gets his attention when nothing else does. Our trainer, Amber, is super patient and relatable. I can't say enough good about this place, and while I still gulp at how much we've paid for this service, I see the evidence every day that it is worth it. read more

I wrote my initial review earlier this week... yesterday, after getting in touch with K9 Connection to discuss a concern I had with my dogs, I received a call from Tyler. We talked for about 20 minutes and he talked me through the stages of resolving the issue. I know that if I have other questions, I can call him again... What terrific customer service! read more

We highly recommend K9 Connection. K9 Connection helped our nearly 5 year old Golden Retriever and us overcome his anxious, fear reactive, grieving behaviors and our own fears of aggressive dogs. Danaher was the perfect trainer for Griffin's concerns. She was very calm and steady with him and he responded very positively to her direction. By the end of the first week, she solved the issue of him not wanting to get out of the car, to come reliably when called and to stay in Place (we learned this but never truly understood the immense benefits of utilizing this command). We sent her videos of problems we had during our weekend times together and she would respond back how we should approach the problem -- corrections we needed to make so he would respond the way we wanted. She also could see what issues she needed to work on for the next week of training. She literally sat in the bathroom with the fan on and walked him by a building with a noisy outside A/C for week to help desensitize him to the noise our A/C units made. What a relief as the week he came home after training, the temperatures were in the 90s! During our end of week training session, Loren showed us what Griffin learned and then taught us how to procure the same response she could get from him. She gently pointed our learning opportunities and how we may be sending him mixed/confusing messages. Loren continued to be responsive to e-mails and questions during weekends and the months following his completion of the program. The Facility: K9 Connection Facility is neat, clean, spacious, and well-maintained. Griffin had multiple walks in a real neighborhood, passing dogs, distractions, and noises that were real life scenarios he had difficulties. Everything was new for him and he learned to feel more confident and safe. Griffin and Us after six months: We followed their post-training instructions exactly and I highly recommend everyone who invested their resources in training to do so. Griffin was, as many reviews say, a "different" or "well-behaved dog" after he got home. However, we were prone to making the same mistakes that reinforced his problem areas in the first place. The two month protocol was important to keep his training and ours reinforced. When we strayed from the instructions, we knew it immediately, because he responded to reverting to our old ways of being with him with his old undesirable behaviors. Not his fault--he is looking for his cues on how to behave from us. When he starts to relapse to undesirable behaviors, we know that the first thing we have to do is check our own behavior. He has a reliable recall--we can even have him off lead and on his remote collar only in safe locations. We can use A/C without him freaking out. We can use the stove/oven and he will come in the kitchen or not retreat to the farthest corner of the house. He still notices new things and with simple encouragement he will "check it out" vs run from it or refuse to pass it. He doesn't lunge at other dogs. If they are approaching him when they are out of control, he will react but we recognize this is normal behavior for a dog under these circumstances. Loren taught us that we are protecting our dog when we cross a street or avoid the poor behavior of other dogs. Loren also taught us that we are protecting our dog when we cross a street or avoid the poor behavior of other dogs. read more

I have had much experience with K9. Boot camp, one on one, day care. I HIGHLY. Recommend Tyler and his staff. No question is too small, and no situation too big for him to handle. They staff is professional, caring, educated and experienced. read more

I can't say enough about working with our dog and the staff at K9 Connection. Our pup went through their puppy school and a few months later we worked with their 6 week program. What a difference! Thanks to their leadership and teaching us how to work with our dog we have a new respect for how our dog thinks, feels and processes everything. She walks better than I ever imagined, her stays and recalls are improving daily as we work through the program outline they provided for us. I have told family members and friends about the wonderful experience and would highly recommend them to anyone! read more

I cannot say enough about K9 Connection. When we first got our shepherd we thought we did everything "right" but he started displaying random aggression. When we started taking him to K9 they gave us the tools and techniques to work with him. We have noticed a huge improvement over the past 2 years! They truly know what they are doing. Plus, their doggy daycare is a lifesaver! He LOVES going and is always exhausted when he returns! K9 truly has a passion for helping dogs that would otherwise be labeled as impossible! read more

Danielle at K9 Connection is excellent, she worked with our 2 difficult dogs and the results were amazing, the money we paid was well spent. I would recommend this facility and especially Danielle to anyone who is experiencing problems with their dogs. read more

My husband & I have been bringing our dog Bella Blue to K9 Connection for nearly a year now. We were very impressed when we met Tyler (the owner) at the Home Show and his facility has continued to impress us ever since. Bella was extremely afraid of other dogs since she was attacked as a puppy and we had been unable to introduce her to other dogs as a result. Tyler had Bella do a socialization test & worked with us to get her into a program that was right for her. We never felt pressured to purchase more training or that what he was recommending was unnecessary. We trusted him from the beginning and are glad we did! We have been training with Josh (the lead trainer) since June of 2012 and have seen amazing progress!!! Since her first private lesson where she cowered in fear of Josh's dog who was 10+ feet away to this past week when she participated in a pack socialization class with nearly a dozen other off leash dogs, the progress brings me be to tears! Bella is an amazing dog and her happiness is so important to both my husband and I! Her improvement over the last year is nothing short of incredible and the ability of the training staff at K9 Connection is remarkable! We are so grateful that we found them! We are continuing Bella's training, in both obedience and socialization, and are now also introducing our other dog so that they can both be balanced & happy together! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you K9 connection for all of your expertise, help, & support! We are fans for life & will continue to recommend you to everyone we know (and anyone else who will listen :) read more

My boyfriend and I got Buster 2 1/2 years ago. He was sweet, got along with our other dog great and seemed to quickly blend in with our little pet family. Over time, though, his little behavior quirks got worse and harder to ignore. We live in a dog-heavy part of North Buffalo and every time we saw another dog, Buster would become a snarling guard dog: biting and snapping at whoever we saw. We knew that at some point, he was going to mess with the wrong dog and could really get himself hurt (not to mention hurt another dog). We had gotten our other dog as a puppy and she was easily trained through a basic positive reinforcement program. That training worked great for her, but when we tried to use what we knew on Buster, it did NOT work. There was also the issue that when we would leave, he would bark for 2 hours every day. We tried everything: thunder shirt, pheromone collar, Prozac, clomipramine, Rescue Remedy, herbs, gentle leader, the list goes on. It was not until I went to K9 Connection that I had any hope that there would be any change in my little guy. By the third lesson, he was socializing with other dogs and not barking when we left anymore. 5 months later, he's not perfect, but we are not scared to take him to parks or for walks anymore. The improvement is remarkable and he is a happier dog. K9 Connection may be more expensive than other training facilities, but what they do works and it is worth every penny. When I leave my house with my dog, I know that it is very unlikely that he will get in trouble with another dog now and I 100% owe that to K9 Connection. The trainers are great-they are easy to talk to and are not condescending. We have a great time every week at socialization class-so much so that we started bringing our other dog so she wouldn't miss out! I would highly recommend their training services for any dog owner who is worried about their dog's behavior. read more

We worked with Josh to train our Great Dane puppy. It s a lot of dog to handle and I needed to feel secure. Josh had her holding place in the first session by the third she was walking on leash like the Princess that she is!! Can t wait too get back for group classes! They were nice enough to hold our start date until she gets better from being sick. Never had a bad interaction with anyone there. Very highly recommend by me. Anyone that tells you that they are horrid and want you to hurt your pet is giving you a very bad representation of what K9 Connection is about. I was given a reward based training with my dog and the tools I need to keep my 100 lb puppy in check. No pain for her or me! read more

The trainers at K9 Connection are absolutely incredible! My 3 year old black lab, Jackson, attended a two week boot camp, two private lessons, and three months of group lessons for obedience training and socialization. He is a different dog thanks to the trainers and I am no longer worried about his behavior and feel confident taking him to the dog park and day care. I was sad on our last day of training since we can no longer go because we moved to Texas. I would highly recommend them to anyone, they are the best! read more

I met Tyler and Josh in Virginia in 2011 at a seminar. I had the opportunity to see them train their dogs and help those around them at the seminar. Since then, they have helped me deal with some issues with my aggressive dog via e-mail, since I am 6 hours away. K9 Connection's staff is full of well-educated dog trainers that know the proper usage of the many tools available to get results from the many problems dog owners may experience with their dog. Every dog is different and learns differently. If you want to know what good results are, look at their personal dogs. Happy, healthy, eager to please dogs that love training with their handlers. They have helped so many people improve their relationship with their dogs. I highly recommend them. read more

K9 connection is an answer to prayer! My husband and I adopted a rescue dog, Otto, who we thought had a calm, relaxed demeanor, but after 3 weeks, he suddenly flicked a switch into a fear aggressive monster. He had bitten several of our friends and had some heart-pounding near disasters with children. We immediately signed Otto up for private lessons at another local training center, but nothing changed. We were saddened by our results, but knew there had to be something better....and there is! K9 Connection! Using their techniques, Otto has become a confident, obedient dog and we are amazed by the results! Now we are able to invite people over, go to new places, and take more adventures together. Otto is a happier dog! My advice: sign-up, do what they say, do the homework, and don't give up on your dog! Your dog deserves a better life! P.s. Ask for Dave as a trainer, too! He was easy to talk to, answered all of our questions, and is passionate about his job. read more

We brought the cutest American Bulldog on the planet (biased mom) 5 years ago into our lives. He was a very good dog until about 1.5 yrs of age when he was attacked by a dog on a walk with me. Then he became a monster- lunging at people, growling at anyone who came in the house, dragging me (literally) down the street to get animals or people, getting in fights with our other English bulldog, and one day he bit the vet - she ended up in the ER.....not pretty. Suggestions were made to put him down and my husband and I were devastated. Tyler, Josh, and Amber saved our baby. We enrolled in aggressive dog classes, then graduated to the obedience training classes all with the help of an electronic collar. Now, we participate in socialization and recently had Josh at our house for treadmill training. Our dog is not a saint, far from it, but we are no longer afraid to have him outside and finally feel peace of mind when animals or people walk by because we can control him. This does not come at a cheap price, but we would pay it again and again for that peace of mind. Recommend 100% read more

This is a copy of the message I sent to the wonderful trainers at K9 Connection after our German Shepherd attended a 2 week bootcamp with them. You don't have to have a dog with serious issues to benefit from their wonderful training. They truly have helped us achieve the goal of owning the German Shepherd i have always dreamed of! I just wanted to take a minute to give an update on Remy, our GSD, who was there for a boot camp in early October. We brought her in with high hopes of bringing home a better mannered girl and I can say without hesitation our expectations were exceeded on every level. A special thanks to Josh (who did our evaluation) and Amber (who did our final training session). The time and attention they both provided us was exceptional. It sounds so simple and easy, but the truth is we just didn't know how to make her "listen" consistently. She is now such a pleasure and even seems to be proud of herself! :) A well behaved dog is a joy. She is able to participate in so many things that she wasn't able to before ... case in point I took her out with myself and oldest son for 2 hours of trick or treating and she was such a lady ... waiting (and sitting) patiently with me at the end of the driveway at each house. Many people commented on her and her manners! We have even been able to have her off leash in large areas to play extreme tennis ball fetch! We still need to work a bit on over excitement with new people/situations, but at 9 months old we are very happy with her and feel we have the tools to continue to progress. We hope to bring her back for some group classes after the busy holiday season. Thank you again! read more

I adopted a rescue dog thru a local group. My dogs foster mom had started working with K9 Connections and recommended that I follow up with them for any continued "reactiveness" issues that Remy still had. After meeting with Tyler for an evaluation and recommended course of action, I had the series of personal lessons followed by group lessons. The entire staff has such a positive and encouraging way of letting you know that they can help you achieve the type of behavior you are looking for from your dog. Let me just end by saying that there is nothing more satisfying than watching Remy run full speed (off leash) to get his much needed exercise. After all as Miles told me, "A tired dog is a good dog" - so very true! Both inside and outdoors I swear that I can actually watch the "wheels turn" in Remy's mind as he chooses to" most times" make the correct decision. read more

We sent our 2-year-old German Shepherd here for a 6-week board and train. He had been working with trainers since he was 9 weeks old, including another board and train that gave us mixed results. Tyler and his team worked wonders on our boy. He had a new level of discipline but was also happy and motivated. On top of that, he had structured socialization to help him build his confidence around other dogs. Equally important were our follow-up sessions, which unfortunately were fewer than usual because we live in Brooklyn. Alex took a ton of time explaining the concepts and techniques to us and answering any and all questions we had before bringing the dog out so we could practice working with him. She also showed us new ways of integrating training and play. She and Tyler taught us about how canines communicate with us and with each other, and how to pay attention and respond to cues. They sent us home with week-by-week protocols to help with a smooth transition back home while maintaining the skills and structure our dog learned during his stay. They also recommended a trainer near us. Our only regret is that we don't live closer to Buffalo we could do regular classes there, but we are definitely coming back! read more

this training facility is awesome - hands down the best ive been to (and ive been to many in the area over the years - i foster dogs and take them here to become adoptable 'trained' dogs) - compassionate, caring and generous - i trust these trainers completely and they have helped my dogs with issues become completely manageable - i love these trainers!!! read more

When you feel like you have nowhere to turn, because your dog has been labeled 'bad' due to reactive or 'aggressive' behavior (or just plain having bad manners) - this is the place to go. The staff will never tell you that there is nothing or nothing more that they can do for you. And they will probably also tell you that your dog is not THAT bad (they see a lot!). They do try to address individual issues in group class if applicable or if the behavior occurs in class. But as we all learn, it's the owners that need training! K9 also has many different training packages and services include day or overnight bootcamp, and Tyler works closely with several local rescue groups to ensure that shelter dogs with 'issues' can benefit from training and become more adoptable (for free). The K9 staff also assists homeless dogs by volunteering one day a week at the local shelter to train staff and dogs there. There are free training videos available on the K9 website: http://www.connectwithyourk9.com and the staff suggests specific reading material and youtube/website links depending on your needs. Tyler has offered endless free advice to myself, other customers and other rescue groups on how to handle various situations. Tyler and his staff strive to be open minded to all training viewpoints and tools and ensures that he and his staff attend seminars, training weekends and other events held by other trainers / dogmen. My impression is that the goal is to have as many tools and knowledge as possible, and then tailor training depending on the dog. No place is perfect and this IS a business, but it can also be a godsend. And keep in mind, some of your money may be going to help homeless animals become more adoptable! read more

I have seen representatives from K9 Connection at home shows in the area. I always wondered about their facility, but never used them. I have tried almost all of the dog training facilities in Buffalo, and the surrounding area. I decided to try K9 Connection in March of 2015 for my lab puppy, then five months old. I selected the five private sessions. It was more expensive than other places, but as I found out you get what you pay for. It was worth every penny! The first thing I noticed was how clean, roomy, and comfortable the facility was. The climate was nice and cool for me and my dog, and what was immediately absence was the strong urine smell I have found in other facilities. I was assigned to Amber. She was professional, knowledgeable, and very engaging with me and my puppy. She did not just teach me how to train my dog, but she taught me how my dog thinks, and how to communicate and build a relationship with her. By the end of the first night I was well on my way to mastering the place command as well as the usual sit and down commands. K9 Connection uses a very balanced approach to training. Rewards and praise are an integral part of their training. Amber was very liberal with the treat rewards. However, I have found that treats are not always enough to fully train dogs, especially labs. The training at K9 Connection also makes use of consequences for misbehavior. Forget the negative connotations associated with that term. There is no pain, punishment, or negativity used here. It is a very balanced, consistent and caring approach where my dog learns how to get my attention and rewards, and how to avoid the absence of those. I found my puppy responding quickly in ways that fostered true and long lasting learning. From Jessica at the front desk, to Amber, Tyler, and other staff, I was made to feel very comfortable. Everyone was very friendly with me (and my dog), I could feel the dedication, passion, and commitment that all of the staff had for the animals in their care. I also started my dog in their day care program and will be signing up for the group obedience sessions. They do not just accept large numbers of dogs in their day care, and end up with an overcrowded conditions. They are careful about the number of dogs attending day care, and it is about training and socialization for them, not just a free for all.As it turns out, their pricing is really very competitive for what you get. If you are looking for a training facility where they are serious about the human/dog relationship, and helping you to have a well rounded obedient member of your family and community, look no further. This was one of the best gifts I could give my puppy, and a very glad I decided to give them a try. read more