I left a 3yo registered English Lab, for 2 weeks at $2,500. I wanted higher level training than what she had already been through and specifically requested not to do the basic course. Nick Morrow said he had things for her to do that were not the basic course. After 1 week, they are supposed to provide a video and they did not do that. I was supposed to be getting communication through a messenger app, but that didn't happen until the day before pickup, when they also finally provided a video. When I came to pick her up, she had a bloody puncture on the bridge of her nose, which, to me, looked like a dog bite, but Nick Morrow says it's a normal scratch the dogs get from nosing the kennel. The "scratch" has not healed after a month. Regarding the training, Nick had another person train my dog and they did the basic training, like I said not to do. My dog regressed in her training because she is highly anticipatory. The beginning training countered the higher-level training already taught. Bottom line, not only did my dog come back battered, but I had to retrain her from what they did. They don't follow specific requests and don't communicate as I would've wanted during the tenure. I wish I put her in a safe shelter, instead. Nick Morrow wouldn't return any money because he thinks he did a good job. Just don't go there. read more

The Balanced K-9 - wound from paid trainers. - Pet Training Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

See all

Our Bernese Mountain Dog has been part of the Balanced K-9 family for almost 4 years. He started with Chuck and Luciana when he was 4 years old (he is now 8), and the reason we drove him from Boston to Connecticut was because the training program and people were so highly recommended to us. We were immediately happy with the results, the love, and the attention our dog got from being with them. From the moment we walked through the doors, the team made us feel welcome and at ease. Our dog spent an initial training program with Luciana and her team, and since then, he visits every few months for a refresh or a holiday stay. They have given us sound advice on everything having to do with our dog! The trainers are incredibly knowledgeable and patient, tailoring the sessions to meet our dog's specific needs. The facility is clean, well-organized, and designed with dogs' safety and comfort in mind. They also have great customer service--always prompt to answer questions and flexible with scheduling. I highly recommend Balanced K-9 to anyone looking for professional, effective, and compassionate dog training and caring. read more

Came out a nervous wreck, would be terrified anytime a car drove by, anytime he saw the remote to the "humane" zap collar, bit someone while under the care of balanced k-9 and we are still paying for it. We told them if they were going to walk the dog out in public he MUST wear a muzzle... guess what? They didn't listen. I will NEVER forgive these people. If I see them it's on sight. We had to put my best friend down because these people are careless and greedy. They took the money and ran. Rest east Brutus read more

The Balanced K-9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Don't look any further. If you want the personal touch and incredible care, you have found it. Our little monster is now a sweet princess due to her stay with The Balanced K9. Seriously - This is the best crew to help your pet become a best friend. Charles and Luciana are so caring and will give your dog a place to call there second home. read more

The Balanced K-9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

After being unable to use my first choice, I found this place on the internet. It appeared reputable and was relatively nearby in Connecticut. Not a lot of reviews, but the ones I saw were good, and there were photos and videos. I reached out to them and after a few exchanges, decided to give it a go. I chose the 2 wk Basic Training program and was informed that "Training includes us returning your pup to you and spending several hours [] in your home and community reinforcing their training...." I wanted to meet these people and see where Blaze would be staying, so I decided to drop him off. On Saturday, February 29, 2020, I met the owners, saw three of their rescue dogs, and talked at length with Chuck. After maybe 40 minutes I left. On March 12, 2020, I received a calendar invite and the following message: "Blaze has been a wonderful student and will be ready to go home this weekend. We would like to bring him to you on Sunday afternoon around 4:00 if that would work for your schedule. As discussed earlier, we would like to go through any and every scenario that would be part of your normal routine with Blaze. For example, typically activities might include a walk as well as working on activities in the home including entertaining guests, taking deliveries, cooking, etc...." I was ecstatic! On March 13, 2020, I received another calendar invite changing the duration of the "Go Home." Okay.... On Sunday, March 15, 2020, 1.5 hours before they were supposed to bring him back, I received stating, in relevant part: "Tamala, Like businesses of all sizes, we are working to define how to best serve our clients and our staff during a period with great uncertainty around Covid 19. As a precaution we have suspended all go- homes for one week to give the US infrastructure time to catch up with the viruses. We did not arrive at this decision casually. Please know Blaze is comfortable, and enjoying his playmates and extra outside time thanks to the better weather." It's difficult to describe what I felt receiving this email less than 2 hours before I expected them to be knocking on my door, so I won't try... The email offered to meet in Port Chester for a "modified" go home outdoors, or to keep Blaze at no extra charge. I chose Port Chester but didn't hear back until the selected time had already passed. They chose the next day, but I had to work. They kept mentioning leaving him another week. Um no-they canceled b/c of COVID-19, in a week that would be worse, not better! So I drove to Connecticut to pick him up. The first thing I noticed was that he went crazy when he saw me, jumping, spinning, flipping, truly ape$hit. But that ain't supposed to be happening anymore, right? It didn't take long to realize that there was no difference between the dog I sent and the one I got back. I asked what they'd done for 2 wks: they described very basic commands, but added: "Please understand we conditioned him to take communication from an e-collar to "help" when his puppy mind lost focus. As there was no time to demonstrate that today he is missing an important tool that can help you remind him when his enthusiasm gets the better of him." My response: "Are you saying that nothing you've done will work here without an ecollar? I took him on a long walk this morning - it was a terrible experience. We saw two dogs, he went crazy seeing both. Would not listen to any command. He picked up food off the ground and didn't drop it when told. He sits when he wants to, not necessarily when told. He does not stay in place for more than three minutes at a time. All of this he could do before he left. He was gone for two weeks, and I cannot see what he learned. You said I would be proud of what he's learned, but I am so deeply disappointed I could cry." This was all on Sunday, the day I had to go get him because they were too scared to bring him back to NYC. On Monday, March 16, they sent an email asking if I would be a available "around 6:30 to do some outside work with Blaze" in my neighborhood bc "there is no reason for you to struggle outside. . . . We don't normally just hand a dog over and say good luck." I could not respond right away bc I was at work preparing for teleworking. Around 6:15p, they called saying they were near my nabe and could drop by. I was not near home, but here is what baffles me: if it was possible to come to NYC for a modified go home on Monday, one day further into the COVID-19 crisis, why couldn't they have brought my dog home the day before, as scheduled, and done the same thing? As things stand now, I paid $1,269.82 (60%) for nothing. In the interest of full disclosure, after I posted about my experience on Instagram, I got a call asking what could be done to fix this situation. I didn't respond. Really, what would be the point? I don't trust them. They took my money and gave me nothing in return - how do you "fix" that? read more

The Balanced K-9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Luciana and Chuck are truly fantastic people and amazing dog trainers. They not only helped my dog Sully to reach our training goals at their board and train program, but continued to offer help and advice for months after Sully came home. I have recommended them to just about everyone I know seeking dog training help, and I am truly so grateful to them for everything they've done! The loving but disciplined environment they provide is the key to success-thank you so much! read more

We cannot recommend more the services from The Balanced K-9! They are absolutely AMAZING! Your dog will be definitely be well cared, trained, and loved. My partner and I adopted a 2-years-old Pitbull in the end of last year, named Pudim. Our doggo started to show some reactivity right in the beginning and we had a hard time trying to find a trainer for him. Some trainers would refuse to work with him and others did not get any results. After contacting Luciana, she readily took the challenge on. She is amazingly professional and went all the way to train our dog. Since Pudim was difficult and her staff would be afraid of him, she personally spent a lot of time per day with him. We scheduled different visits in which she trained him with us. She also taught us how to use the prong collar, leash and other tools to communicate and to work with him using positive reinforcement. Additionally, we trained in public places such as big stores and parks (off leash training). Besides that, after the training period finished and our dog was back with us, Luciana and Chuck even came at our home for a training visit to teach us how to deal with a specific behavior. We figured out that he was afraid of the sound of sprays and she invented a super fun game with treats that allows us to apply medicine on him. Pudim LOVES Luciana, Chuck, and her team! Every time he sees them, he gets super happy. This also is a sign of how much they cared and loved him. If you need train your dog, it will be in great hands at the Balanced K-9. Today, Pudim is such a good boy. He is super educated, stays in place when we have visits, can go to places (stores, parks, etc.) and even walk around off leash in trails. He is so much more calm and happy, and so do we! In case you are wondering if you should hire their services, we highly suggest you do! read more

We found Luciana and Chuck in a time of crisis with our pack. We had just brought home 2 new Vizsla puppies and our older dog, Puck, was being very aggressive towards one of them. He'd had a history of resource guarding and being selective about his dog friends, so when he wasn't accepting of one of our new family members we knew we were up against a big challenge. The Balanced K-9 worked with Puck separately for several weeks to work on his aggression while teaching him some more basic manners and obedience. After that, we sent the puppies to join him for a couple more weeks so they could all learn the same skills and the pack could be integrated under the eyes of professionals. Luciana and her team did an amazing job of uniting our family and creating a set of skills that allowed us to not only keep our pack together but have them be well-trained to handle our daily life. Aside from the impeccable job they did with our older dog's aggression and resource-guarding issues, they also impressed us wildly with the change in one of our puppies. Oliver was showing high levels of anxiety and constantly crying when we brought him to The Balanced K-9 but he was like a new dog when we brought him home. He's not only very well trained, but doesn't cry or seem nearly as stressed as he used to. We still can't believe it. We cannot recommend The Balanced K-9 enough. They saved us from making difficult decisions with our pack and provided us with invaluable support. Don't hesitate to choose them for your dog. read more

Let me say that this was the absolute best experience I've had with dog training since my puppy was brought into my home at 4 months old. She is a Malinois and has anxious and aggressive issues. We had exhausted in-home training, with 2 professional trainers and without much success. After much research I discovered the Balanced K-9, which is a board & train, and have not one regret for making the decision to send our baby to her! The young lady who owns this company, Luciana, is the head trainer and truly a dog whisperer. Because she is such a disciplined person she shares that discipline with the dogs. Btw, my dog was taught in a home environment, a similar environment she would return to once home My dog went in at 12 months old, aggressive and uncontrolled, and came out a perfect lady. I could not walk her without her lunging and wanting to go after cars, people, and other animals. At 62 lbs., you can only imagine how dangerous that was! She entered into a 6 week program. After 3 weeks, when she settled in, we were welcomed to come up once per week, to work with her and our dog! They socialized her by taking her to everyday places with everyday people! When we visited, she began transitioning the training from her and her assistants to us, as that's the most important thing when using a board and train! We received pictures and a video each day, showing her progress! After 6 weeks of intensive, but loving treatment, they brought her home to us and worked the entire day, at our home, for re-entry into her familiar environment! She stressed the importance of consistency and the following of all things taught, and now 2 weeks later, she has settled into our home seamlessly! She will always be a work in progress as she is still a puppy, but The Balanced K-9 has been the difference between keeping this girl or re-homing her!! She is now our forever pup!! Thank you so much Luciana and staff and of course her husband Chuck, for taking such good care of our girl!! We highly recommend this trainer! I also need to mention how immaculately clean their home and kennel area is! That was very important to me too!! read more

The Balanced K-9 - Louise is a Malinois/Dutch Shepherd - Pet Training Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Transformational and amazing!!! Best $ I have ever spent. Thank you Chuck, Luciana and your staff! We adopted a sweet, adorable Australian shepherd puppy at 8 weeks. We've owned an Aussie before and luv the breed. Around 10 months she 'snapped' - think Jekyll and Hyde. She suddenly began showing signs of resource guarding and extreme aggression. She became jealous of our youngest child and would attack her when she walked in a room. She snarled, growled, and bit if we tried to take a toy away. We tried weekly training, but it was not working. After she bit three of us - drawing blood - I had enough and we were planning on putting her down. In desperation, my daughter found Chuck and Luciana online and begged me to call. I explained to C&L that this was genuinely our dog's last chance. I was hesitant to pay for the three weeks of boarding/training and skeptical if it would work. After we dropped off our dog for K9 'boot camp' C&L were wonderful. They checked in with us frequently sending photos and before/after videos. She stayed there for two additional weeks -5 weeks in all (last two were discounted). But, it was the best decision we ever made! Before we took her home, C&L put my family through our own 2-hour training to make sure we could reinforce all the new commands and skills she had been taught. The first month home was challenging - as we had to be consistent and follow all the new rules. But, it worked...it really worked...it's life changing. Our dog is now 14-months old, loving, and has shown zero signs of aggression over the past few months. She listens to every command and is so well behaved that people ask at the park if I'm a professional dog trainer. I then show them the before videos, and explain about the Balanced K9 training, and people can't believe she's the same dog! C&L are the real deal. They are very talented at what they do and we are forever grateful to them. It was not cheap, but it was money well spent. I would recommend them to anyone who is going through a similar experience with doggie aggression. read more

Chuck, Luciana and Bruna are incredible. 6 weeks ago, I came to them completely overwhelmed with my adorable but stubborn 1 year old maltipoo. After visiting The Balanced K-9 for our initial meeting, I knew I wouldn't be able to trust anyone else with my dog. Chuck and Luciana experts on dog training and are incredible kind, caring and communicative throughout the board and train process. I was able to follow along with my dogs journey through weekly messages and videos. Yesterday, my dog "graduated" from the program. I am over the moon with the results. My dog is still his spunky and silly self, but now he consistently listens and obeys the sit, down, stay, place and break commands. His barking has ceased, he is calmer and happier and he is able to walk on a leash properly with and without distractions. Most of all, the aggression we were seeing in him before Chuck and Luciana is completely gone. Their holistic approach to training is so incredibly effective. This was one of the best investments we ever made for our family! If you are struggling with your dogs behavior, I highly recommend The Balanced K-9! read more

When we got Rocco almost 2 years ago he was the runt of the litter of 12 pups. We had no idea he would grow to be 120 pounds. As he grew, he became fiercely protective of us. So much so we couldn't really have friends or family over. He was a lovable snuggle bug with us, and would bark, bite, and intimidate anyone else. We couldn't take him for walks or in the car. So much time was focused on not only protecting other people, but Rocco as well. One more bite and we would not be able to keep him, and believe me it was close. I knew I had to find a solution and after research I found The Balanced K-9. After speaking with the owners, I knew this was the place for Rocco. For 6 weeks I was sent pictures and videos of his progress, and our dog that was aggressive and in a muzzle slowly transitioned into the good boy I knew he was. Today, after our 2 hour "Go Home" meeting, he is finally back with us. We were able to learn all his new skills and walk him freely through Home Depot. Yes, I cried. I will forever be grateful for meeting Chuck and Luciana, and for their patience and dedication that gave Rocco a new lease on life. I could've never done this on my own. read more