We rescued a wild and rambunctious husky/shepherd mix named Amber that was about a year old, according to the pet shelter. Although both of us have had dogs before, we didn't think things through, and the new dog quickly turned our life upside down. The biggest problem was that she was chasing our cats everywhere around the house and had terrible manners. We were worried that we would have to return her to the shelter if she couldn't cohabitate with our 4 cats. I scoured reviews on Google and Yelp and came across Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions. I reached out and Blair was willing to hop on a call right away. He patiently listened and answered several questions, then explained he offers two programs; a month board and train or virtual training with Zoom session checkpoints. Although it was an investment, we opted for the board and train for Amber. At the same time, we did the virtual training for our other dog Ginger, a golden retriever. While Blair worked one on one with Amber at his house, we went through the online modules in the virtual program. The program is very detailed, including videos and narratives for each section. Blair was readily available for any questions or concerns we had along the way. The program does use an e-collar and we were initially apprehensive, but once we understood this was simply a tool to get our dog's attention and tried it on ourselves, it was not an issue. Like most programs, you get out what you put in. We did the work, learned a ton from Blair, and made a friend for life, but most importantly, Amber came back behaving like a different dog and the training worked! She is still a sweetheart, but now listens and behaves well. Blair has taught us how to communicate, correct, and redirect our dogs when needed. The transfer training sets Blair and Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions apart from the rest. We couldn't have done it without Blair and highly recommend his training. Jenn & Astin read more

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I was referred to Blair's Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions Virtual Guide Program and purchased it for $1,249. I appreciated the clear upfront pricing on the website, and Blair himself reached out to me the same day. You'll need a few extra tools (kennel, e-collar, retractable leash, etc.), and Blair provided a full list with direct Amazon links to the best pricing, which made things simple. I shared my goals and my dog's starting point with Blair--my 2-year-old Husky mix (male) loved to jump and pull on the leash. The program is self-paced with pre-recorded videos, required reading, and Zoom sessions with Blair to review progress. The program foundation is a daily schedule. The schedule can be modified to fit your day to day routine like for people who work M-F. I'll admit--I was originally against e-collars. I thought they were cruel. Blair took the time to educate me, and I even tried the collar on myself first. It's not torture--it's a communication tool, and when used correctly it makes all the difference. Blair is incredibly responsive. I would apply what I learned, record myself working with my dog, and send him the video. His feedback and corrections were always constructive and on point. The biggest takeaway: learning how to correct your dog correctly. Once you understand that, you can teach your dog just about anything. Results? My dog no longer jumps or pulls on the leash, and as a bonus, he'll stay in place while I eat meals! If you're dealing with behavioral issues, it's often just a breakdown in communication--and Blair teaches you exactly how to fix that. Plus, his videos are entertaining and humorous. I highly recommend this program. If you take it seriously and commit, it truly works. read more

Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions - Pet Training Near Me

We cannot recommend Blair enough! Working with him has been a truly life changing investment in ours and Koda's livelihoods. We came to Blair at a desperate time and he helped us get right to work with immediate adjustments and reworked the program to fit around our ideal board and train schedule. On top of that, he was able to work directly with our vet to adjust the training and program goals to benefit some health concerns/chronic pain Koda was having. Almost a year later, and he looks like a whole new dog! Blair's continued dedication to Koda's success has been a reassuring presence we didn't even know we needed. Investing in an experienced professional was the best decision we ever made, especially when working with aggressive-prone dogs. After trying to navigate an online dog training world where there are so many conflicting theories, going with someone with a tried & true method is the way to go! read more

Before working with Blair our lives and our dogs lives were in complete chaos. We were dealing with a multitude of issues with our dogs. We had food aggression, one dog initiating fights with one of our other dogs and another dog that was completely crazy, into everything and wouldn't respond to any corrections. We learned through working with Blair how to take control, effectively communicate with our dogs and restore balance in our home. It has been so fun to put into practice what Blair taught us and see our dogs respond. I highly recommend Blair! He works with the dogs and trains the humans! read more

Working with Blair has transformed our lives and the lives of our dogs! We were desperate when we contacted Blair. The amount of energy and stress we were under trying to navigate our dogs was overwhelming. Our dogs had bad manners, whined constantly and fought with each other. Blair offered us solutions and training that were realistic and effective. His hands on no nonsense approach made a significant impact immediately. His continued instruction and feedback help us continue to improve our relationship with our dogs. The investment was worth it. With Blair's help we are now able to enjoy our dogs and reincorporate them in our lives. read more

Blair was a total game changer for us and our dog, George!!! George was a pandemic puppy who we never really socialized enough with other humans. We took the lockdowns pretty seriously and so he went about a good year without interacting with anyone outside of our household. Needless to say, he developed some serious behavioral issues -- he had severe separation anxiety and aggressive behavior towards people that came anywhere near my boyfriend and I. We got really worried about things escalating so we did the virtual training with Blair. Today, George is a changed dog. He doesn't pull on the leash anymore, he doesn't bark/lunge at people/dogs walking by, doesn't howl his brains out every time we leave the house, and is learning to welcome people into our home without immediately lunging at them and barking like a maniac. We really liked the virtual training because it allowed us to move at a pace that accommodated our schedule. You'll get what you put into it, so be prepared to spend lots of time practicing what you learn with Blair, but even after week 1, you'll see a total shift in your dog! read more

Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions - Pet Training Near Me

Blair has been a huge part of our lives for the last 7 years. We adopted our first dog and found out she was reactive towards other dogs when she burst through our screen door to attack our neighbors dog. We did the board and train with Blair, and hands down that was the best decision I've ever made. Blair taught us how to look for visual queues and correct the dog before it becomes an issue. He's given us the tools to be responsible dog owners. After the training we were able to take our dog with us anywhere. After that dog passed due to old age, we thought we'd adopt 2 dogs this time. And although not reactive towards other dogs, seem to have issues with each other. This time we did a hybrid training and were able to send videos to Blair and have him correct issues as they arose. Simply put, Blair is the best investment you can possibly make if you have dogs. If you want a peaceful home with happy dogs, pick Blair. Blair is incredibly insightful and well spoken. He takes really complex issues and breaks them down into easily digestible solutions. He's helped us time and time again. read more

Blair was my 3rd and final trainer for my dog aggressive Great Dane, Rue. She had already bitten 3 other dogs and I was completely turned off to the idea of introducing her to anymore. My partner had a dog Rue needed to get along with for the relationship to work. Blair worked with my partner and I to re-train us on how to train them and in a few weeks we were able to get them completely comfortable with each other. I never thought she would get to this point. Additionally, the leash training has allowed rue to be off leash in areas and parks I would have never taken her to before. I can happily say I have full control over her and she didn't have to learn the e-collar "the hard way." My only regret is that I didn't find Blair sooner. read more

Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions - Rue and Tucker - Pet Training Near Me

Blair is a miracle worker! We have a Great Dane that had significant anxiety - meeting/interacting with Blair to learn about his services was a breeze and he quickly took our boy on for a board and train. Fast forward 3 weeks and we saw a massive difference! No longer pulling on the leash, settling in his crate on his own, and overall having a more calm temperament. Our only regret is not finding Blair sooner! Thanks so much Blair!!! read more

Blair Diamond is by far the best dog trainer I know. He works with the dog and owner the best training for both animal and human. Blair took my Morkie Buddy up his training center for three weeks and Buddy is almost 9 years old and to this day Buddy knows his training. Although Buddy has regressed a little since his first training which is my fault due to my circumstances and what I've allowed him to get away with but I can call Blair to get a refresh of what I need to do to keep Buddy remembering the rules! I've never met a trainer like Blair who is no nonsense with both dog and owner! Thank you so much Blair! read more

Our family worked with Blair in person at our home in Sacramento several months ago and we are forever grateful to him! We are first time dog owners and he really helped us to understand Camo and his behavior and temperament and how to make him really part of our family which was the most important thing for us. Having him at our house helped to really see how he acts with us in our environment and sculpt a plan that was right for our family. We have two boys (7 and 9 yrs) and it's been amazing to see them all bond and play together. It was not just about learning dog tricks and commands, but learning how to really bond and live with him and teach Camo what was expected of him. We are able to go some places and have him off leash which we absolutely love, as does Camo. People are always amazed with how well behaved he can be for his age (now 1 yr old). Blair is amazing at what he does. We had to put in the work as a family but his guidance laid down the foundation for what we needed to work on and he did check-ins and in person follow ups. He also helped us with Camo's diet and I still reach out to him for advise from time to time on things and he never seems put out and is very helpful. Thank you Blair! read more

Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions - Camo - Pet Training Near Me

Today I walked my dog Larry off-leash. That is really not something I would have thought possible before working with Blair. Definitely worth it. Initially we were hesitant about a training program delivered remotely via video calls and phone instead of meeting in person. But we felt like we had tried our other options so we gave it a shot. We had previously worked with in-person trainers and not made any progress with Larry's cat aggression problem. Blair had a very structured program for us to begin re-training my dog Larry. It wasn't just a few commands like take-it and leave-it. Throughout the process he answered any questions we had, and adjusted our program as Larry's behavior improved. Now our life has improved as we do not have to constantly be closing off portions of the house to prevent the dog from attacking our cats (bonus, we also argue less about dog training) And we don't have to worry about tugging or marking when we take him out for a walk. read more

Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions - He's a good boy now! - Pet Training Near Me

Blair Diamond saved my life with my rescue dog, Wilma. He has changed my relationship with dogs, and there is not a day that I regret investing into my animal. After all, Wilma will not be my only dog, and his lessons will transgress from animal to animal. I adopted Wilma (8 month old pitbull mix) from a local shelter in Sacramento. When she was at the shelter, she showed no signs of animal aggression (she shared a pen with another older dog). When I brought her home, I quickly realized that she was a level 10 aggressive towards all animals and that I might have a potential lawsuit on my hands if I wasn't careful. Wilma was so intense, she nearly broke through a glass window in my home to get to another dog. I lived in midtown Sacramento at the time and I could barely walk her without being fearful that she may bite me or another dog if quarters got too close. She's a very strong dog, so yanking me down a few blocks was an easy task for her. In addition to her aggression towards dogs, Wilma would often jump up and bite me if she couldn't get to the other dog. Essentially, walking her was a f-ing nightmare and I hated my life with her. Inside the house she had very 'puppy' like behavior. She was always biting me too hard and bruising me, jumping on guests and couches... like I said, total nightmare. I reached out to Blair and opted for the weekend session (3 days of training). He has an awesome home in Shasta. The experience is very much like Air BnB. Blair runs you through a 3 week program over the course of three days. Each day is designated to a different skill the dog will learn, with the intention of you leaving and running the three week program at your own home. The first week is a lot of crate training, the second week your dog gets a little more freedom and learns where their 'place' is, and the third week is training your dog off leash. The benefit of visiting Shasta to learn how to create the program yourself, is that your animal looks to you for guidance, rather than the trainer. Blair has an awesome disposition and a passion for his career, which makes his teachings easy to follow and enact on my own. After the three week program that Blair taught me in three days, Wilma's behavior improved 1,000,000%. Here's what you should expect from your dog after training 1. Your dog will walk by your side. 2. You have the ability to teach your dog well behaved mannerisms, like waiting on their bed while company comes to the door. 3. You will have a better relationship and more control over your animal. Wilma is hands down the best trained dog of any of my friends. She will walk by my side in a 'heel' command, as long as I instruct her to. She doesn't bite me anymore. She still shows aggression w/ animals, but it is 1,000,000% manageable. My expectations with her are reasonable, I don't ever expect her to enter a dog park, but I still want to enjoy my walks with her and 'normal' human dog activities. Don't have unreasonable expectations from Blair. If your dog has killed another dog, don't expect that your dog will come out of training looking for other dog friends. Set yourself up for success and think about what behavioral issues are absolutely non-negotiable, and what behaviors do we as humans WISH we could change? I know the price may be a bit of a choker for you.. but ask yourself two things. 1 - If my dog had a broken arm, would I pay a couple grand to fix it? If you answered yes, then there's no reason you wouldn't want to fix your dogs brain if it's broken.. It's just a covered ailment versus an overt one. 2 - If your dog has 10 years left, 3,650 days and you spent $2,650 for training.. then that's less than a dollar a day you just bought yourself the most well trained pooch, ever. Lastly, I'd like to finish up this review by thanking Blair for being there for me after training. He's a man that's true of his word. He told me, "you're dog is in AA, and I'm her sponsor". He's always answered my calls and I went to Shasta in October. He has never charged me for additional sessions. When he says he cares more about his reputation than money, he's not full of crap. I put my word on it. Thank you Blair. Here's pics of my well behaved pooch. I love her. PS he was on Good Day Sacramento, here's the clips for reference https://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/video/3980563-think-like-a-dog-pt-2/ https://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/video/4097032-think-like-a-dog/ read more

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Blair was amazing at helping me achieve my goals with my rescue pup. I rescued my girl in March of this year, she immediately became my best friend but was extremely fearful of other people. Even family and friends she had met multiple times! I couldn't have people at my house without her reacting/barking, could not go for walks without her trying to run the opposite way of anything that scared her. I reached out to Blair for his board & train, and he was very honest that this wouldn't be the best option given her personality. I was definitely skeptical about doing the virtual program, one because I've never behaviorally trained a dog & two because I really did not think I had the time for it with a full time job. The virtual program was great. Blair modified the schedule to fit around my work day, he was always in constant communication and made me feel very supported. I'm glad I went the virtual route because now I know how to lead my dog. We still have a lot of work to do, but walks are much more enjoyable (we are even off leash at times!), she does not bark at the doorbell or guests who are entering the home, and she is a lot less fearful over all. I thank Blair everyday for his help and would recommend him to anyone! read more

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We are prepping for a baby and the virtual training from Blair has really helped us establish boundaries and respect from our dogs. We have an aggressive frenchie and although we are still working on it he has become so much better. I feel like my dogs are way more reliable now and I am not nervous at all with them around other dogs or people. Thank you! read more

Blair truly is a gem. His one of a kind training taught us how to communicate with our dog in a calm productive way to get the results we want. Our dog is just under a year old and we have already had three trainers work with him. Of course, his problem behaviors which included dog anxiety, excited jumping, chewing on things he shouldn't, and just generalized anxiety, were exacerbated by our behaviors. I was coddling and over loving all over him and my husband and I both were amping up his excitement and not setting healthy boundaries. Blair worked with our dog, JoJo, first for three weeks on his own and then we joined him for three days of training at his guest house. He was able to teach us and watch us put his lessons into practice, encouraging us and correcting us along the way. After the guest house training there's three follow up appointments in our home. And lifelong access to Blair's guidance as JoJo's "sponsor." We would unreservedly recommend Primal Needs. Blair is a fantastic person and a truly stellar dog trainer. You will be so glad you invested in your relationship with your dog for the happiness of both of you! read more

Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions - JoJo barking out the window before his training with Blair! Also looks like a great match.com profile pic :) - Pet Training Near Me

I would give Blair Diamond 6 stars if I could! He is beyond phenomenal! We rescued a four year old German Sheppard who we would come to find had some aggression, big time anxiety, and behavioral issues. We had the dog for about six months and had tried several other trainers who could not handle our dog. Trainers we tried previously gave up. Then, we were referred to Blair. We did the 3 week board and train (Blair takes the dog for three weeks) followed by an intensive 4 day hands on training in Mount Shasta (You go there to be trained with your dog). First, and foremost, Blair takes the time to get to know your dog and trains them and you for what is needed by your dog. This is not a cookie cutter one size fits all training program. But as much care as he took training our dog, he took with training us. Blair is not just an amazing trainer but he is an even more amazing person and is a no BS, tell it to you straight, kind of person who truly cares about what he does. Blair is simply the best! It took major stress off our family and I can now walk my dog instead of my dog walking me. My dog listens to me too! Not everything is magically fixed or exactly perfect, as it will take work and consistency on our part, but I now have tools and I am empowered that we will get exactly where we want to be and we are light years past where we were. Can't even begin to express our gratitude. If you are even considering Blair, don't hesitate, as it is well worth it. read more

About a year or so ago I was having trouble handling my puppy who struggled with aggression and anxiety (along with the regular barking, chewing, etc that come along with getting a puppy), I called around to other dog trainers trying to get help because my cute little puppy with a grumpy growl started to turn into a big strong dog that I couldn't control! She was still under a year and all the places i had called and talked to told me that it was just "normal puppy behavior" and that it would go away with time... I knew that wasn't it, being that I had many puppies and dogs growing, i knew it wasn't normal. When I came across Blair's ad on yelp, I read all the reviews and it seemed to me that he was some kind of miracle worker, so I gave it a shot. Let me tell you, this guy is probably one of the most generous, caring, and knowledgeable person I've ever met. He made things so simple when breaking down the process, and made me feel so comfortable about sending my dog away with him. Time goes by and it's time to pick up my girl, the weekend stay was definitely very helpful in the process, because it gave us enough to to learn how to handle our dog correctly. He made sure to explain everything he was going to cover,step by step and when it was finally time to see her, we were AMAZED. She was still the same happy goofy wild puppy she was before, but she LISTENED! She went from going CRAZY when trying to put her in a cage, to now knowing it was quiet time, and just walking in there with no worry's when she was told. I couldn't believe my eyes. She now walks PERFECTLY on a leash and doesn't rip my arms off anymore, so easy, they kids could walk her! She knows to go to her place when anyone new comes in, rather than going wild and jumping all over them... it's just perfect, we are now loving life with Lucy no more stress, for us or her, I can't thank Blair enough, he really is just THE BEST there is. If you have a dog you don't know how to handle and it's beginning to get to stressful, really consider him and his programs. I know I sure am glad I went straight to him rather than blowing money and time on a bunch of programs I knew wouldn't work for her, especially since they couldn't see the problem to begin with! Thank you thank you THANK YOU Blair! I really am so grateful for you, Lucy is doing FANTASTIC still, it's like a dream come true read more

I have 14 month old GSD - very lovable yet very strong willed and one that has a prey drive that would make a rock concert seem like a Sunday morning sermon. I have been through other training classes and they were very good, the methods used were not proving to be effective with my dog. While at another school with previous pets, we had achieved GREAT results, however, this time around not so much. It was not the trainers or their caring for animals as much as I needed to learn how to communicate with my dog differently. After speaking with other trainers and friends, we decided on Blair. In just a few short weeks with Blairs techniques we now have a pet that can be near us while eating, walks off leash in busy areas with lots of distractions, he plays as he should and listens to commands without question. My dog has not become compliant or one who waits for a food reward he has learned where his position is within the family. He has become accepting of our kittens - they however are still weary of him, as they should be, they are 6 lbs - he is 88lbs. Blair is a kind individual that takes on the responsibility of providing you with the tools of becoming a understanding and responsible dog owner. How you choose to use those tools is up to you. Use the tools and you will have a wonderful companion. He expects you to work with your dog. Blair is not a hands off person - with you or your dog. I would like to add that Blair did touch my dog but NEVER did he hurt him, nor did at any time did feel like my dog was in any danger. In fact when we introduced our dog to the kittens, within 2 minutes my dog was at my feet relaxed and not paying attention to the kittens. Blair worked magic with him on the indroduction. Examples of progression 15 weeks ago I could not be around horses, cats, goats with my dog on leash. It was all I could do to contain him. within 5 weeks I was able on leash walk with my dog near the above animals without pulling and extreme barking I can now walk near all the above animals off leash and my dog has gone from barking and pulling on the leash to literaly rubbing noses with horses. He still requires vigilance around fast moving critters like squirrels and cats but he is getting better. Over labor day - we were in the mountains and he was never on leash. Day and night. With Bliars guidence and care we went from a family with a "dog" to a family with a new four legged member. Trust in Blair, trust in his techniques, trust in yourself and most of all trust your dog. If you leave out any of those things you will continue to have a dog and not a lovable and trustworthy pet. We highly recommend Blair for any size, type or breed of dog.... read more

All I can do is thank Blair for his time, his service and the HUGE difference he made in one short hour. I love that he not only worked with my 10 month old Staffordshire Terrier, Booger, but that he also worked with Booger's 32 year old overly indulging mommy. He helped me realize that while I am trying to do all of the right things I am not exactly following through in a way that benefits Booger. Booger was so focused and tense when Blair arrived and by the time he left Booger was relaxed and listening. I hope that I am able to follow the instruction so that I am able to have the same effect on my dog that Blair did. I would recommend that if you are looking for someone to help you help your dog you give Blair a call.... Lord only knows he will be sick of my voice soon. read more

To say that Blair saved our family would be a gross understatement. Our miniature American Eskimo was so aggressive and unable to be around any other dogs or people. It was embarrassing to have to put her in another room when we had any guests or try to fight her away from the door whenever anybody knocked. The list of negative behaviors goes on and on. We happened across Primal Needs on Yelp and after reading the reviews decided to give Blair a call. After speaking with him we decided for the three week package with the three day on site training. We were super excited and nervous when he came to pick up our dog. But he assured us that he was only a phone call away if we had concerns. Over the next couple weeks as we approached our on site training at Blair's facility we became very excited to see for ourselves the changes that he said had taken place in our dog. We did not expect what we saw though. Every behavior was corrected or at the very least almost corrected. We learned so much in the three days we spent at Blair's. When our dog was returned home we had a group of people come over to see how much she had changed. Our friends were astonished to see how different our dog was. To this day we follow Blair's suggestions for training and our dogs are perfect now. If you have issues and need an answer Blair is it. read more

A Gentlemen and A Scholar. Blair is an awesome person as well as a fantastic trainer. My girlfriend and I took our pit bull Theo to Blair last weekend for his 3 day one-on-one training session. Blair was very candid and very knowledgeable about dogs. His methods of training are very logical and effective. Within three days I am able to take Theo on walks without him pulling on the leash!!!! Walks with my dog have become fun!! I definitely would recommend anyone who is looking to create a strong relationship with their canine to consult Blair. read more

I'm not exaggerating when I say Blair (the owner and trainer) changed my life. I have a 12lb chihuahua mix who wasn't a huge fan of strangers or other dogs. He trained my dog, yes, but more importantly he trained me. I learned a massive amount about how to interact with your dog and how to "speak their language". She's my first dog so I was flying by the seat of my pants until we worked with Blair. He's also a super cool guy that has stayed in touch, checking in to make sure she hasn't reverted in her behavior. My only wish is that I did it sooner!! read more

We tried it all for our dog. Three different styles of training, strong feelings of defeat and lots of money later we finally found Blair. What a blessing!!! Our dog has major social issues and can get aggressive towards dogs and people. Blair came into our lives and gave us hope again that our dog could be trained and we could finally have control over her. He is our own personal hero. The best part is that Blair continues to followup with us to check in and ensure we are still always pushing ourselves to be better pack lesders for our dog. He checks in and goes above and beyond to ensure our dog is continuing to improve. If anyone ever gives a negative review has unrealistic expectations. Be patient, put in the work and listen carefully to Blair. read more

Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions - Our dog (in the back) running around without leash with my parents dog (front) without us stressing! Big improvements! - Pet Training Near Me

Blair has done some amazing things with our pups. All 3 of them have gone through his program with amazing results. The behavior of our pups was questionable in weather the negative behavior was even correctable. Well it was and now our pups are happy healthy non aggressive pups. Blair has such a way with dogs and works with you every step of the way. The big picture is, it is actually is as humans that need training on how to communicate with our pups, not the other way around. I highly recommend Blair for training as the results will blow you away. Thanks Blair for all you have done for our new pack, could not have done it without you. read more

If your even considering training for your dog... I can promise, you won't go wrong with Blair! Not only is he highly knowledgeable, but he is one cool dude! He loves what he does, and after talking with him for just a few minutes, you'll have to agree! I'm 58 years old, seen a lot and done a lot. Traveled the world, I've had three 4 legged Best Friends... And this is one of the few times I've met a guy I wished was my neighbor, because I think we'd be hanging out and shootin' the breeze! Seriously, for all those dog lovers who need a little or a lot of help... call Blair!! You won't be disappointed and your dog will give you a paw on the back and a atta-boy! Summing up this business: educated, knowledgeable, friendly, loves his work, excellent communication skills, and all around nice guy! Worth every penny and then some!! read more

After months of trying to train my puppy myself and practically at my wits end, I waived the white flag and called Primal Needs. Blair is nothing short of magic. My dog came home incredibly well behaved, which, to me, seemed like a miracle. But more importantly, Blair taught me how to properly communicate with my dog, which is invaluable. My only regret is not reaching out for help sooner. The next time I adopt a new dog, Primal Needs will be my first call! read more

We are so thankful to have found Blair! We had 2 dogs with aggression issues towards each other and a puppy and needless to say were in need of some major help to enjoy our lives together. Searching for some help we came across Blair and after one phone call knew he was exactly what we all needed. We sent our first 2 older dogs with him first and were absolutely amazed when they returned. First we understood how much of the problem we actually were but Blair helped us to understand how and when to properly discipline them. A walk with these 2 before Blair was not enjoyable for anyone. Our beagle would have her nose in the ground the entire time and the bulldog was all over the place. After the initial excitement from seeing them we set off for our first walk. Blair guided us through the entire process and we walked them for about 2 miles with them following a lose leash behind us. Our beagles nose did not touch the ground once and the bulldog stayed exactly where she was supposed to. Being able to enjoy walks was worth it all but we got so much more out of it. While we and the dogs are still learning our lives are so much more enjoyable together. We look forward to our walks instead of dreading it and worrying what might happen. We know we can control the dogs and they know to look to us to lead them. We recently sent our puppy to Blair as well and just got her back. We now have 3 dogs that we can walk, have fun with, and know how to properly discipline them. I recommend Blair to anyone who has a dog. He will make everything about your relationship with you and your dog more enjoyable and healthy for you both!! read more

I read the reviews and called after the posted business hour and the angel Blair answered. Whadda shock. Rescued a 2 month old border terrier. Just wanted to schedule in home training. Wow! I got so much more. Advice, practical skills to implement immediately since the next 3-4 wks of his development are critical. Who knew?!! Plus suggested reading before he can actually come out and train Brody. His customer service and passion for his work were apparent during our 20 min conversation. When my Brody is age appropriate, Blair is our trainer fer sure. read more

BEWARE, Stay away from this whack job! Blair may think he knows about dogs, but he he doesn't have a clue about how to deal with people. We called him for help with our dog that had aggression issues. This dog had already been to aggression boot camp and had been on Prozac for a year. You wouldn't know he was aggressive because he was scared of other dogs and didn't show any aggression until they were right in his face. But he had tried to kill our other dog and one of our cats multiple times. But because Blair never saw any of this he didn't believe us and seemed to think we were the crazy ones. We bought 3 sessions with him, 2 at our house where he did virtually nothing and then he said he wanted to meet us at Petsmart for the 3rd session. When we met him there a woman walked out the store with her dog and our dog didn't react because he was too far away. Blair decided that our dog was cured. We tried to tell him that he doesn't react unless the dog is right next to him where he would feel threatened. At that point he began shouting at us in the Petsmart parking lot. We told him we weren't going inside the store with someone who was behaving that way. Then he threw up his hands and screamed some more and walked to his car and sped off and we never saw or heard from him again. So we paid for 3 sessions and only got 2. We had never seen a business person behave so unprofessionally. read more

My husband and I took our 4 month old English Mastiff/Rott mix puppy to obedience training at another location and after our pup, Suri, growled at the trainer, she told us that we would most likely need to put her down because she was excessively aggressive. We were both incredibly upset and were trying to figure out what we wanted to do with Suri. We have had smaller dogs in the past who were bark-y but never aggressive but because of her size, we were definitely concerned about making sure Suri was trained correctly. I called Blair at Primal Needs and set up an appointment to get a second opinion on what our options were with Suri. He came to the house (rather than going to a group class) and engaged with Suri and quickly developed a rapport with her. He explained how she was acting out in fear and was aggressive because she was unsure of her surroundings/individuals. He taught us how to correctly engage with her and then correct the behavior. I was beyond amazed at how well he was able to get Suri and her "sister" to behave around him. He reassured us that Suri was just fearful but that if we corrected her properly she would learn boundaries and be a well-adjusted dog that was happy to be in our pack. I am so thankful that we found Blair!! He is absolutely amazing and worth every single penny!!! read more

This review is long overdue as I sent my dog to train with Blair of Primal Needs in January. As we're now in August, I can say that it was absolutely worth it. I adopted my dog in December last year knowing that she had separation anxiety. I didn't realize however, that she would keep me hostage at home because if I left, she would howl, bark, tear through the trash, scratch the cabinets, and basically lose her mind with fear. If I tried to crate her, she would get so worked up I'd come home to a bloody mess. After researching for several months on how to handle a dog with separation anxiety, the results I found online were not promising; many sites stated that it was a condition which could not be helped without pharmaceutical therapy. Not wanting to jump straight to meds, I decided to at least give training a shot to see if the behavior could be addressed at all. After reaching out to a handful of trainers in the area, I decided to go with Primal Needs for several reasons. I liked not only the 3-week board and train aspect of it, but more importantly, the weekend training that I could attend to learn how to handle my dog in a direct and personalized manner. Blair taught me that my dog needed to know she was not in charge; A lot of her anxiety had to do with the fact that she thought she had to make the decisions. With an e-collar, very strict rules, and consistency, she started to get the ease and confidence she was missing. Blair was patient during our weekend training and took the time to adapt his training techniques specifically to the personality and needs of my dog and her home environment. She's now great on the leash, I can take her on hikes off leash, and she responds well to my commands. One aspect that surprised me the most was driving. This was not a specific area that I worked on with her, but I think because of the new stricter rules, and her knowledge that I will make the decisions, she no longer whines and paces the entire time we're in the car. She can sit quietly, though a few corrections are still required, and I can finally drive safely again. Though my dog doesn't love her crate (she was not properly crate trained as a puppy), the training with Blair has taught her to at least tolerate it without throwing a fit. I can now leave the house and know that she is safe, I've even been able to leave her out of the crate at home alone for several hours without any harm. While I still have more work to do with my dog and her anxiety, I feel like Blair gave me the tools to do so, and my dog the confidence to make it work. I would absolutely without hesitation recommend Primal Needs training to anyone looking to train their dog, and more specifically, a dog with separation anxiety. read more

We have two English Bull Dogs. Moe and Maya. Moe is our four year old and was not getting along with our puppy Maya. We called Blair and have been totally satisfied with his ability not only to train Moe, but to train us! Moe and Maya are getting along great and we have much better control of Moe. He is very strong so the ability to stop him in his tracks when needed is so important. Walks with him are much for fun and relaxing. Thanks Blair! You are truly amazing. read more

Blair was a breath of fresh air for our new puppy. we had bouts of her biting and i was ready to find her a new home when I called Blair. he came out and identified what we needed to work on and she is so much better than she was. she listens and no more biting. His follow up is wonderful as different things come up he has given a few tips and things I can try or change and it makes such a huge difference! Highly recommend Blair if you are looking to better communicate with your dog! read more

OK so Maybe has been home for a week now after finishing her training with Blair. She is a delight in every way. She stops,listens and obeys whenever she is corrected, is completely house trained and respects the other dogs in our home. It is so incredible to have her incorporated harmoniously into the family. Today Blair came to follow up on her training and make sure that everything is going smoothly. Maybe loves Blair. I am pretty sure she wanted to go home with him or at the very least to go on a walk (adventure) with him. My husband and I are so impressed with Blair and glad we found him. read more

Blair saved our pet. She was a year old chocolate lab when she went for training. She was extremely leash aggressive and mostly terrified of kids. She also had food aggression and attacked our yorkie. Enough was enough so I found blair who had trained a friends dog. We went up to his home to spend the weekend training with our dog, as we felt it was extremely important for us to learn how to handle our dog as well. She was only with blair for 1 week when we went up and saw an unreal change!! It has been about a year since training and we still off leash walk our dog and she has not fallen back to old habits. Without blairs help I don't know how much longer we would have been able to keep our pup but I'm so glad and grateful that we found him!! Would recommend to anyone! read more

My dog Buster and I are one of the luckiest dogs/dog-owners out there. Why? Because we found Blair! Blair is amazing. His diligence, knowledge, dedication and concern surpass any dog trainer I have ever encountered. My experience with Blair started with a phone call after finding him online. He spent a half hour with me on the phone explaining his services and how he could help me and my pup. I rescued Buster at 11 months; he is a pit-bull terrier mix and had a history of abuse. Blair had no hesitation in his willingness to work with the two of us and I was confident in him since day one. Of course I was concerned with anyone handling my dog but after talking to Blair at great length and meeting him in person, I had no doubt that Buster would be just fine. The best part about Blair is that he truly cares. It's often hard to find someone trustworthy and sincere in their work. Blair listened and acknowledged my biggest issues with Buster and after meeting Buster, he knew exactly how to work with him. My dog was quite a challenge, as he had his stubborn tendencies as well as the effects of lack of training and abuse in his first year of his life. Prior to working with Blair, Buster could not be handled on a leash, would attempt to attack any dog in sight and would not listen to most commands. After almost 4 weeks with Blair, my dog had drastically improved. I decided on the training package that included a weekend stay at his guest house, and I highly recommend it if considering which package to choose. It was extremely helpful to work with Blair during his training and be able to witness hands-on the learning process and diligence required. I was in shock when I came up to Mt. Shasta and observed Blair and Buster. Not only was Buster behaving as a well-trained dog should behave (and even just after 3 short weeks!!), he was also tolerable and interested in being with other dogs. There were 4 other dogs in his training group (3 of 4 were 'dog aggressive' prior to Blair) and all of them were the best of buddies by the time I visited. Throughout my entire weekend there, Blair worked with us for many hours a day, patiently instructing me on the appropriate ways to handle Buster. Blair was aware of my shortcomings in managing Buster's challenging ways and Blair took all the time necessary to help me understand better management. After Buster's training in Mt. Shasta, I have seen Blair on many occasions for follow up training sessions. I had to relocate to San Francisco without much notice and Blair still made accommodations, all in the interest of my dog. His heart and dedication shows in every aspect of his training. Blair truly changed my life. I now have a well-behaved dog and one that is very different (behaviorally) than the one I rescued. One of the most endearing things about Blair is he reminds me that he will be in my life as long as Buster is in my life, which says a lot about his dedication. He truly cares and wants to make sure as a dog owner, that you and your dog are getting the most out of training and progress. I would HIGHLY recommend Blair to anyone who is dealing with behavioral issues with their dog. I truly believe there isn't a trainer out there like Blair! I am SO grateful to Blair, and Buster is even more so. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, Blair Diamond! read more

I really don't even know where to begin with describing how amazing our experience has been with Blair and Primal Needs. I cannot imagine a better experience and result. My wife and I adopted a rescue a few years ago ("Darwin")that has had just about every type of undesirable behavior - pulling on the leash, aggressive around other people and dogs, hyper-territorial, even biting us at times. We couldn't have friends over or guests in our home, because of Darwin's aggression. Walking him was a pain. Going to the vet was a nightmare. Darwin was introducing massive stress, and impacting our life negatively in just about every way possible. By the time we contacted Blair, the situation was so bad that I truly did not have hope that it could be fixed. When Blair showed up with Darwin after their time together, I just could not believe my eyes. Darwin, who has never done anything but pull and tug at the leash on walks for his entire life, was absolutely magneted to Blair's heel and constantly looked to him for direction. Blair was able to understand Darwin's psychology and how to best communicate with him so that he understands our directions. Blair laid out a comprehensive plan for reintroducing Darwin to our home, so that the time he spent with Blair and the mindset Blair established for him are constantly reinforced, and Darwin learns that he no longer runs the house (or our lives). It has been a truly unbelievable transformation. Whereas before, Darwin used his intelligence to manipulate us, Blair "unlocked" his potential, realized how smart and responsive Darwin is (apparently - ha!), and created a system of communication that is smart, simple, and allows us to benefit from how responsive he is! Talk about turning the tables! Now, just a couple weeks later, we are already able to do so much with Darwin that we previously never thought possible. And perhaps even better, in the few scenarios here and there where Darwin still needs to learn/needs corrections, we feel as confident as ever about our ability to clearly communicate to him what he needs to do. He seems happier than ever, and the same goes for myself and my wife! I could easily write another 10 pages but I will leave it at this - bottom line, my wife and I were absolutely overwhelmed in every way with this experience and cannot recommend Primal Needs enough!!! read more

Our dog Symba is a 5 year old pit bull mix who was the sweetest, most lovable dog but, unpredictable at times. After a couple of incidences and going through another dog trainer and lots of research on our own, we were at our wits end. He had bitten another dog on one occasion as well as a lady while out on a walking trail another time. We loved our dog very much but the stress of his unpredictable behavior was taking its toll. We had heard about Blair before but had not yet reached out to him. But we were at a point where a big change was needed. When Blair and I first spoke, I felt incredibly comfortable with him and confident in his ability to handle our pup. We decided on the board and train which would have us up at his guest home for a weekend in addition to the 3 weeks of training. Before we let our "son" go stay with him, my wife wanted to meet Blair face to face and give her stamp of approval. We met with him a couple days before Symba was to leave and he was just as calm and cool in person as he was over the phone. We hung out for about an hour and he calmed any nervousness or fear we may have had about shipping our pup away for 3 weeks. Bottom line, coolest dude in the world. Blair picked Symba up on the morning of December 1st 2016. It was a very tough moment for my wife and me, but we knew it was for the best. A little over a week later, we drove up to his house in Shasta for a weekend of training. After about an hour of instruction, we met our dog and immediately began on leash walking all around town. Once Blair showed us the proper way that we should be walking our dog, we could immediately see the behavior change in Symba. For once, he was following OUR lead and looking to us for direction. Before it was a case of him walking and us dragging him where we wanted him to go. We walked all over Shasta that weekend and seeing the change in our pup was an absolutely life changing experience. Blair taught us first and foremost how to communicate with Symba and how once that communication was established then the behavior change would follow. It seemed too simple and too easy, but after one weekend with Blair, I had no doubt that our relationship with our dog would improve dramatically. Two weeks after our trip to Shasta, Blair returned Symba home to us. Blair, Symba, and I went out for an hour long walk to ensure a proper return of Symba to our house. The walk was one of the most enjoyable I have ever had. All of the things that would normally distract Symba and cause him to get overly excited were still there, but he would not react to them as crazily as before. And if he did, I would give him a simple correction and he would be back following my lead. Fast forward a month and a half later. I walk Symba every day and it is one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. I can even let him off leash (obviously only when its appropriate) and either let him go ahead and sniff around or follow at a heel position. I do not worry about him taking off after any sign of movement. There were times in the past where I would take him off leash. As soon as the leash was unhooked he would be gone as if he were shot out of a cannon and I would be sprinting to catch up. Now, when he starts to become overexcited I give him a correction and he calms back down and looks to me for guidance. It is getting to the point now when we walk by any kind of overexcited dog, Symba will just look up at me and keep walking. Before, he would start getting wound up and start pulling on the leash to get at the other dog. Blair taught us what Symba needed and how we could meet his needs properly. Before, I would always try and take him out either running or on a bike to try and "exhaust" him out. He would come home and nap for a couple hours, but then would be right back to his crazy self. Blair showed us that for Symba, walking is adequate exercise. What a relief for me knowing that I didn't have to be out for hours and hours trying to exhaust an animal that could outlast me no matter how long I went for. Overall, my wife and I both noticed a change in our dog. He still had the same personality, and was his same spunky self, but he seemed much calmer and more content with his life. He is a much mellower fellow, which in turn has helped me a great deal. I no longer stress about what he may do if he sees another dog, or if he is getting enough exercise to live a contented life. So my wife and I sincerely want to thank Blair for helping us to "see the light" when it came to interacting with our dog. He is an amazing guy and incredibly helpful and so easy to talk to. Even after returning Symba home, he has reached out to us to make sure everything is going well. And he always stressed to us that even though our training with him was done that we still had access to him to answer any questions or issues that may arise. We cannot recommend Blair highly enough!!!!!! read more

We just got out dog home and I am amazed at the difference in his behavior. He is so well behaved after coming back from the doggy boot camp with Blair. We are so proud of our dog and the work Blair put into training him. Blair is so easy to talk to and explains everything to our family so we understand. He is very professional and personable not to mention a great trainer! read more