We recently worked with Nikki from Off Leash K9 Albany/Saratoga, she was a godsend. I cannot rant and rave about her or her services enough. If you were even slightly considering sending your dog here/to her - this is your sign to do it!!! Also, please do not think your dog is too far gone to be helped like we did at one point - this board and train was our last ditch effort to save our dog and that's exactly what Nikki did. We sent him for the 3-week behavior modification board and train program. He ended up staying with her for a month and 6 days! The fact she was willing to extend his stay by that long to make sure he was actually ready to come home was amazing. She was honest and upfront about what he needed, she kept us updated the whole time, and she easily could have sent him home within the time frame with the commands down pat but she genuinely cared about improving his quality of life and knew she could help him further.  I have no doubt that Nikki could dramatically change most dogs for the better in 2 weeks or less - but Dusty was a special case - in her words, the most severe case she has dealt with. She went above and beyond because she truly cares. She was nothing short of kind, honest, understanding, and professional at all times. Dusty LOVED HER so I know he was well cared for.   We were given Dusty under false pretenses - told that for our large rehoming fee we were getting a family dog with no behavioral issues, they only were rehoming him as they were "losing their housing due to COVID" - I use quotation marks because so far not a word they had told us has been true. The dog we got was SO severely anxious and fear aggressive that he genuinely could not function. Before we even got back in our car from picking him up they drove off with our rehoming fee and went MIA. Dusty is terrified of everything really, but in particular men. If a man was near him (even ignoring him), spoke to or around him, or even made eye contact with him he would VICIOUSLY growl and bark, but he would also cower in fear, shake uncontrollably, and desperately try to get away at the same time. There were even a handful of occasions where he was so afraid of eye contact with a man that he had an accident due to the fear, which is as heart wrenching to watch as it sounds. He was not able to live comfortably with the men of the house and they were unable to live comfortably with him in the house as well (unable to walk around, speak or look at the dog without sparking reactivity). We did not know what to do because we knew we could not continue like that, and we were afraid that rehoming him could be detrimental to him. We were SO conflicted and I personally cried almost every day for a month on a rollercoaster trying to figure out what to do next.     *****For reference on how severe our dog's issues truly were -We tried bringing him to a trainer for conventional lessons and were told it is possible he will never get better, rehoming him would essentially break him (continuing the cycle of constant rehoming) and that EUTHANIZING this 7/8 month old puppy might be in HIS BEST INTEREST over rehoming. Despite the fact the "aggression/reactivity" was out of  pure fear and not actual aggression and he had never been known to bite - he always tried to get away not towards what was scaring him******   To say we were heartbroken would be an understatement. We could not live with the idea of putting this dog down for being afraid, we saw glimpses of potential behind all his issues, and as a last ditch effort we decided to look into this board and train program. Seeing the results now I have no doubt it Is worth it. Dusty has never wagged his tail so much before! He genuinely enjoys doing his commands. He is visibly a HAPPIER and more confident dog. The day he came home he walked right up to the men of the house and allowed them to pet him - it literally brought me to tears.  He is not perfect, but he IS 100% better than when we brought him to her. Overall, YES ... YES... 1000 times YES I recommend you bring your dogs to Nikki. We cannot thank her enough; she quite literally saved our dog (and taught him all his basic commands while doing it). If she can help DUSTY, she can help your dog. ALSO- the adoption center of NY is hosting a fundraiser to help offset the cost of Dustys rehabilitation- if you could please donate and share the link it would mean the world! https://gofund.me/c53ccd57 read more

I will never be afraid to go outside again. My dog's aggression has been minimized drastically. Nikki makes you feel welcome, and your dog is in good hands with her. She literally goes out of her way (and I mean this in the literal sense because she picked up my dog in manhattan when I had a trip to France) to make sure you understand your dog and your dog understands you. I will not take everyone's time on this review but know that I did EVERYTHING to train my 100-pound Anatolian shepherd in the city and I HATED EVERY SECOND OF MY LIFE. I was always on edge; I would cry and get jealous of other dogs meeting each other and feeling that my own couldn't do the same. I hated being controlled by my dog; most of all, I was embarrassed to let anyone know I couldn't handle him. I tried hours of trainers and youtube tutorials, but nothing worked. I was initially hesitant to do the e-collar training, but seriously it's okay, and it has made a difference. Think of it as a baby not touching fire; you need to let your dog know that he can not do things that might harm others or him. I always thought shock collar training was for cruel people, but it's the opposite. Nikki, let me ask as many questions as I wanted. Mind you, I have a significant learning disability. I asked so many questions that any average person would've stabbed me with annoyance. But let me promise you that she works magic with these dogs, and you will be able to keep up the training. Who knew that Nikki was a phone call away and all my doggie and life problems faded away. My dog can meet other dogs, and I can go on long walks without feeling like im going to fly off the end of the earth from anxiety. If I would've known sooner, I would've sent him right to Nikki. Your dog is in safe hands, and trust me, I spoil my dog to the fullest, she updates you with videos and pictures, and she's the sweetest person alive. So PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO REACH OUT. I go to NYU and study classical conditioning, but I had no idea how to apply it to my dog; I tried everything I knew, and she is beyond brilliant. Most of all, she is kind. Tears roll down my face because I do not think this review does justice to her hard work. I never gave up on my dog, but let me tell you, there were days when I wanted to. No more lunging toward other dogs, no more terrible interactions; it's all gone. Nikki, Thank you read more

My fiancé and I rescued our little Lily when she was 7 weeks old. We started her training with the basic 'puppy classes', which she did great with, but we knew she needed a little more training to help with her little stubborn ways that were starting to settle in. We came across a video for Off Leash K9 training and we were amazed at the change the pups had from the beginning of the training to the end! The thought of leaving (my now 7 month old little girl) for 2 whole weeks was devastating for me, but I knew that it would be the best thing for Lily and our whole household. So we sent her with Alex (aka the Blonde lady ‍) for the 2 week board and train... From the moment I dropped her off on that snowy Tuesday morning, I felt more than comfortable leaving my Lily with Alex! Lily loved her from the moment they met and didn't hesitate staying with her and her pup as I left almost in tears! We got almost daily updates (videos, texts, pictures) of the progress Lily was making! And I can honestly say that after 2 days, the progress was amazing!! We couldn't believe what we were seeing! Lily was not a bad pup by any means, but she is a puppy and kinda ruled the roost (The broom could not be in site without her wanting to chew it and drag it around the house)! The video that was sent after 1 week of training that showed Lily calmly laying in place as Alex swept the floor around her and folding clothes, made my heart so happy!! We picked up Lily with the ability to have her walk loosely on a leash, sit in place until she's told and her jumping had stopped almost 100%! (And she was the same happy go lucky puppy that she was when we dropped her off!) We took her and her older brother for a hike yesterday and we had her off her leash 75% of the time with her coming to us when called 100% of the time!! This again made my heart soooo happy and grateful for Off Leash!! We know there will still be work to do with out little pittie, but the foundation that has been laid for us will make it so much easier for us to have the best pup ever!! Thank you so much Alex and Off Leash!! Love-Lily, Theresa, AJ and Joey read more

Absolutely amazing!!! Nikki trained our dog Moose and I was stunned with the results! If you have any issues with your dog, or just want a more well behaved dog please do yourself a favor and hire Nikki immediately!! We were very close to giving up on our 7 year old Great Dane mix. We rescued him as a puppy at about 5 months old. Add two kids and less time on our hands and our dog Moose was adding a lot of stress to our home. He became extremely protective and developed separation anxiety. Moose was dog reactive - whether on a lease or if a dog so much as walked by our house. Constantly barking, exhibiting signs of aggression and causing destruction to our home. We stopped walking Moose regularly because it was so stressful, especially with our children. Forget about eating - Moose would be at our feet or be waiting close by to pounce on any food that dropped on the floor. I am so grateful that we found Nikki. Moose did a two week board and train with Nikki and came home a new dog. We barely even know he's in the house he is so quiet! Our neighbors cannot believe the change in Moose. I now look forward to my walks with Moose and hope we see other dogs on our walks! I can now stop and have conversations with neighbors walking their own dog and Moose sits calmly at my side. Moose now hangs outside without making a peep and just watches neighbors and dogs walk by. Moose won't even enter our kitchen during family meals and I basically have to beg him to clean the food our children drop on the floor! It has only been a week and our lives have changed dramatically. Moose is currently the most well-behaved living being in our home. THANK YOU Nikki for bringing peace to our home and giving Moose a new lease on life!!! read more

Nikki was absolutely amazing. From our first phone convo, I knew she was the perfect fit for us and our pup, Chance. Nikki was very thorough, and spent nearly an hour on the phone with me, asking questions about Chance, why we selected this training program, what areas we would like worked on with Chance, etc. It was very clear she was knowledgeable and experienced. We couldn't wait for Chance to work with her. We watched several of her videos and were absolutely amazed by how well she trained dogs. When it came time for Chance to leave for the program, I was very upset about the 2 week separation. However, Nikki was so understanding. She allowed me to take all of the time I needed to say goodbye to Chance before he left with her, and was able to put my mind at ease by addressing any concerns I had. From the night he left until the morning Nikki brought him home, I received photos, videos, and text updates letting me know how he was, what he was learning, etc. In all of the photos/ videos I could tell what a wonderful time he was having. I was truly worried he wouldn't want to come home, after seeing him have such a fun time with Nikki and the other pups. On the morning he came home, Nikki was awesome and spent 3 hours with me, teaching the commands, how to reinforce them, how to use the collar, etc. I can't say enough great things about her, and the experience we had with her. We feel so lucky to have gotten such a great trainer. Thank you to Off Leash k9 training, and Nikki, for helping Chance be the obedient pup we always knew he could be. We would recommend Nikki at off leash k9 to anyone! read more

Saying that the training I received through this company helped me get my and my dog's life back would be an understatement. When I adopted my rescue over a year ago, I didn't know what to expect as a first time dog owner. I surely did not anticipate his growing fear aggression and unpredictable behaviors stemming from the abuse he suffered before we met. I contacted COUNTLESS local trainers who encouraged me to return the dog I love for a more agreeable puppy, flat out said no, or accepted him into training but to use extreme/boarder-line abusive methods to get him to behave. I couldn't bring my dog anywhere and had to be afraid of people getting too close to him for fear he would bite (which did end up happening). Off Leash K9 Training was the only place that made me feel even hopeful I would receive help, and when I spoke with their aggression specialist, Nikki, I felt immediately confident she could help us both. The results did not disappoint. I can bring my once very reactive dog to strangers to be pet and he doesn't lunge at them or even show signs of discomfort. He can be left to wander around the house while there are unfamiliar guests present and he won't be remotely bothered. I can see a better future for my dog and I now. Nikki is confident in her methods, very laid back and understanding, and is determined to make every dog succeed, no matter where they are at when they come to her. Absolutely mind-blowing results. Highly recommend! read more

We sent our 7 year old lab Jase to the 2 week board and train with Nikki. He has pretty severe anxiety so he has trouble obeying basic commands when he gets so anxious. When other people are around he will get so nervous that he tries to sit on my lap or my husband's lap and he will pant or whine excessively. We take him for long walks or runs everyday but he pulls on the leash and has to be leading. We picked Jase up yesterday from Nikki's and are so happy! He listens to all basic commands now and will stay in the place command for long periods of time so we can eat dinner in peace or work in the yard. And there is no whining or panting while in a command! We went for our first walk post training this morning and I didn't even have to use the leash! He stayed in the heel command by my side the whole time, even with distractions such as wildlife and people. Nikki kept us updated throughout the 2 weeks so we knew how he was doing. She was super patient with us when we came to pick him up and spent over 3 hours with us. She made sure we felt confident and comfortable with everything before we left and made sure we knew it was ok for us to reach out to her at anytime if we had more questions. We can't believe how well behaved Jase is now and we are looking forward to all the new things we can do with him. I highly recommend Nikki and just wish we had done this sooner! read more

Three months after our Maltese, Ralph, returned from his stay with Nikki, he remains a reformed boy! At age 10, Ralph had developed what could generously be called a "Napoleon complex" over the previous few years - aggressive, protective, and even going so far as to snarl and bite not only family members and friends, but my husband and I as well! When we found out we were expecting a baby, we knew we had to find a solution. We tried various training methods and met with other instructors in our home with little to no success. However, after the Two Week Board and Train program with Nikki, he came home a different dog! While maintaining he fun personality, he now has so much more confidence and does not feel the need to attack anyone and everyone both in public and at home. People who have known Ralph for some time remark that he must have been swapped for a doppelgänger! It has been a massive relief with the addition of our newest family member and has made it possible for us to welcome and enjoy all of the visitors that come along with a new baby. Perhaps what's most impressive is that the change has stuck with barely any reinforcement on our part. While he was away, she kept us at ease with constant communication and fun updates too. We cannot recommend Nikki highly enough and our only regret is not making this investment sooner!! read more

We sent our 4-year old Lab mix rescue dog to Nikki, for a 2-week board and train recently, and WOW! We adopted our dog 5 months ago, and she had spent her life crated, abused, and neglected. Needless to say, the poor girl was a mental mess; terrified of anything and everything, clinging to me, cowering and shaking at the approach of other people or dogs, skittish about every sound, etc....we were desperate to find a way to give this otherwise sweet, gentle pup a happier life. I contacted Nikki, and since our girl has spent 2+ weeks with Nikki, the difference is immeasurable!! Our previously shy and neurotic dog is now (albeit a bit slowly) finding her confidence and greater happiness about life in general. She responds to all commands fairly easily, and is doing just super when she's off-leash! She knows that she's pleasing us, and one can tell that she's so proud of herself when she does. During the board and train, Nikki was in routine contact with me, sending pictures, videos, and comments. She is communicative and never made us feel guilty or silly for asking questions or voicing concerns. Thanks to Nikki, with her kindness, understanding, patience, and love for dogs, our Molly has a brand, new lease on life, and we're gaining greater pleasure and enjoyment from being a part of that. read more

We highly recommend Alex from Albany Off leash K9 training. She took on our 2 year old Bernadoodle Finn for 2 week board and train- who is a VERY big boy but had a big problem with jumping on people, consistently obeying basic commands, and leash pulling. I was constantly afraid that he would inadvertently knock over a child or elderly person with his "enthusiasm". I dreaded having visitors over our home because Finn would "greet" aka attack them at the door and it would take several minutes for him to calm down. Within 2 days, Alex sent us videos and texts showing Finn "place" on command. She then showed us his daily progress introducing more and more distractions. He demonstrated focus I never imagined he possessed! He is still our silly boy Finn - but a better calmer version of Finn. He walks/heels on leash with ease and no pulling. He will "place" when a person enters our home. He walks off leash without fear he will wander away. He obeys all commands immediately. Alex is a miracle worker! This has resulted in a better relationship between Finn and us- because he is no longer a source of constant frustration. We can just enjoy him and reinforce what Alex has taught us. We wish we did it sooner! Gerri R & Matt P read more

My dog has had aggression issues where she'd lunge at other dogs and has actually bitten a few people. I was so terrified of her being around anyone. I knew she needed help so I sent her to the 3 week aggression boarding program and it was the best decision I've ever made. My dog's trainer, Nikki Licciardi, was incredible. I couldn't have gotten a better trainer! I cannot believe the difference in my dog. She is so relaxed now. I take her for walks and we'll pass by other people who are walking their dogs and she just keeps walking without barking or straining on the leash. The trainers show you how to keep your dogs training up. They show you exactly what and how to do everything so you can keep up with all they've learned. It's really straight forward and easy. I cannot recommend Albany dog trainers highly enough. It is an absolute must if you are having behavioral issues with your dog. I can now take my dog anywhere. Also, if you are worried and anxious about not seeing your pup for a little while, like I was, fear not, they send you updates with pictures and videos of your dog which absolutely saved me from losing my mind. Thank you so much to this amazing company and to Nikki for helping my dog and me! read more

I sent my dog Kane to Tiffany in Nassau 3 weeks after I adopted him because I needed elbow surgery and he wasn't leash trained yet. Needless to say, it was a very nerve-wracking time for me, but I am so pleased and grateful for finding you guys and to now have Tiffany as a resource. She's been absolutely amazing! I got daily report cards, pictures and videos on what they were working on and his progress. As a bonus, their fall refresher clinic was the weekend he graduated so I brought him there and it was such a great experience for both him and I. We worked in small groups with our trainer then had playtime. I was a little unsteady being in a sling still and managing the leash and controller, but Tiffany spent all the time I needed helping me work it out and get comfortable and confident handling my boy. And the dogs all got along great and had a ball playing with each other & the complimentary toys and treats they had for us. I want to extend my thanks to the entire staff at OLK9T and at the kennel. This was exactly what I/he wanted and needed and it's helped me immensely during this post-surgery period and set us both up for success! We both are forever grateful. Nicole & Kane :) read more

Nikki at K9 off leash was fabulous! We chose basic training for our 8 month old black lab puppy, Blue. This was our first training experience, as any previous dog we had, was easily trained at home. But Blue was not like any dog we've had before. Nikki helped get our lives back. Our dog Blue was so high energy and couldn't concentrate on anything. Of course, that's the lab in him. Before training, Blue was stubborn, he jumped on everyone who came through the door, jumped up to every counter and rummaged through the trash daily. He was very smart so because of that, and his curiosity, he was VERY sneaky, getting into anything he could. Every day and every night was a struggle, trying to find a way to get Blue to listen to us. It really put a strain on our sanity! Nikki gave us the tools we needed to regain control over our crazy, jumping, easily distracted puppy. She was only a quick text away and answered any questions we might've had and she checked in with us throughout every week to make sure Blue was on the right track. We couldn't be happier with Blue's transformation and we are so grateful to Nikki for all of her help! read more

I brought my almost 4 year old yellow lab Hope to Nikki after dealing with an escalating aggression issue. Anytime someone came to our house, we would need to put her outside or in a bedroom to shield them from her. If we went in public, we would put a muzzle on her - which grew many more questions than I wanted to answer - I mean, what yellow lab isn't sweet as can be right? In fearing for the worst, I knew I needed intervention fast! During our consult, Nikki immediately put me at ease, explaining the program and reassuring me that Hope was not in fact hopeless and just needed to build confidence and know her role. After our 1st lesson it was obvious that this is exactly what we needed. She learned the basics - sit, come, break - and we could immediately see the change in her behavior. Week 2 brought "place" and all I can say is this is life altering! Within 4 weeks Nikki helped us go from having to keep her locked away when guests came over and rarely going out in public, to a dog that sat in Congress Park allowing complete strangers to come up and pet her. Thank you Nikki - you are my lifesaver! read more

This has been an amazing experience working with Nikki and the Albany Off Leash K9 Training program. It has literally changed our pup for the better overnight. Before starting the basic training program, our 7 month old vizsla named Brooks was extremely difficult. Although he knew his basic commands (sit, come, stay, place, etc.), he was very inconsistent on whether he obeyed them or not. To make matters worse, he would counter surf in the kitchen, jump up on people that he just met and chew our good carpet, among other items around the house. He also was nearly impossible to walk as he would constantly pull hard on the leash. In just a few short lessons with Nikki, Brook's bad behaviors are completely gone (off command). He sits, comes and places on command every time and stays there until released. In addition, he is a pleasure to walk now and stays by my side with or without the leash. Finally, I can bring Brooks to places and let him run around and get exercise without having to worry about him running off. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Nikki and the e collar training program to anyone!!! read more

An amazing program worth every cent! We have tried numerous training programs, with no success for our very stubborn 13 month old English Bulldog. After a ton of research we stumbled upon Off Leash K9 Training program. I had some reservations at first because he is an English Bulldog with very "special" daily care and breathing sensitivity, I was very nervous to send him away for the 2 week program. Our one request was he be matched with someone with English Bulldog experience. Natalie who I spoke with matched us with Sarah Eggelhoefer. Sarah was AMAZING! Not only did she send us daily pictures and videos of his progress she took extraordinary care of our baby. We sent our very special pup to Sarah, jumping on people and kids, chewing, barking nonstop, amongst other naughty and embarrassing behavior ;). He came back to us a brand new dog with exceptional manners! We can not thank Sarah enough for all her hard work with our fur baby. I highly recommend this training program as well as our amazing trainer Sarah Eggelhoefer. read more

So I brought my dog Ryker to the two week board and train program through off leash k9 training to help improve his behaviors- walking next to me, not zigzagging, not stopping on walks every scent he smelled. Also to work on not jumping on people, no more begging, not plowing through doors whenever I opened one. Ryker did GREAT with Nikki! She's so cute and worked so well with Ryker, especially since I knew he'd be difficult with me leaving him. It's a complete 180! As anything in life, it will continue to take consistency and repetition, but as long as I utilize the commands on a day to day basis, I will eventually not have to use a high shock at all! Day one home ryker was great walking off leash right next to me, was able to "place" and "stay" and was able to "break" by running around and chasing sticks, then was able to "come" and "heel" while we walked back to the car. Thanks so much Nikki for boosting mine and Rykers confidence and improving our relationship overall! I highly recommend! read more

I just want to Thank Alex and Amy for all their excellent, professional, and passionate work with our boy Maveric. He is a very active 1 year old Goldendoodle who needed some help getting control of his energy and listening skills. He went with them for the 2 week board and train and came home still energetic but in control. Before his time with them he was ALWAYS on leash whenever out of the house. I now have him OFF leash all the time except when in publuc areas. He actually looks forward to having his collar on because I honestly believe he knows the collar means he's free to run around Off leash. Thank you Alex and Amy for helping us get to a place where we are excited and not nervous about playing and being outside with our pup. After his trsing they were just a patient with our (human) training. They made sure each family member was comfortable before releasing us from training reassuring us that if we needed them they would always be there, and they are always only a text or call away. read more

Cannot say enough good things! We sent our two year old lab/shep mix up to Nikki and she was absolutely amazing! We got our pup 6 months ago from a shelter and she's very smart but ignored commands and had no leash manners. We live in NYC and weren't able to let her run around in the dog run (due to aggression over toys) or go off leash (due to ignoring us when we asked her to come back). We tried an e-collar ourselves and other training collars but she liked to be a selective listener so we couldn't trust her fully off leash and she just always pulled. After just two weeks with Nikki, she's a different dog. Still the same sassy personality but she's happy to listen and gets to run around off leash every day which makes her, and us, much happier. She gets excited to see her collar; the communication between us is much improved and she gets to be a dog! Can't say enough good things about Nikki who was so kind through the entire process and sent lots of updates. Would highly recommend! read more