I take my dog Riley to Nitro and make the drive up from Seattle... it it totally worth it. Riley is leash reactive and I was not confident in being able to control her in any setting. We have had 5 30 minute sessions and she was able to calmly meet another dog in her last session without a single reaction. I can feel her becoming more confident and having much less anxiety in her daily life. We have worked with 3 of the trainers and are happy with every experience we have had. I am so proud of the work Riley and I have put in and I cannot wait to keep it going! Feels nice to have control of my dog without a bag full of treats and even with just my voice.

I am one of those people that walked my dogs in the dark to avoid coming across other dogs. With Matts help I am now very comfortable walking at any time. I highly recommend Nitro K9 and Matt, they arent cheap but you get what you pay for! It is so nice to know I can take my dogs any where and not worry about coming across other dogs. Call them they can help you!!

I have been bringing my puppy to work with the wonderful trainers at Nitro for the past 6 weeks, and I am really happy with the services they have provided so far. We have worked with Steve, Matt, and Jess - I have been happy with all of them, and would comfortably continue working with any of them.My 4 month old puppy already has better leash etiquette and skills than any other pup I know - not that those pups are “bad,” but this training works. However, it takes time, patience, dedication by the owner (something I don’t always have).What I really appreciate about this team is that they seem to genuinely care about my boy and his success. When we’re in session, they all are so attentive to his cues and are quick to show him love and attention to keep his confidence up, and to make sure he enjoys going there. They don’t rush his progress - I love that our sessions about Kane, and they flex to wherever he’s at that day. Outside of session, they have reached out to check in and offer support (I am struggling with hand-eye coordination of the leash corrections, and they have all been patient and tried to work with me to master it).Overall, I’m happy with the Nitro team, and I have recommended them to multiple people. My pup’s success depends on me - Nitro can only provide me with the skills, and it’s up to me to use them and work with my boy to make progress (unless, of course, you pay for the hands-off version). Luckily, Kane is smart and learns quickly, and we have the Nitro team to support us along the way.

Steve is the ultimate dog whisperer. I’m not talking fanny full of cookies. I’m talking real dog training ... the power of HEEL. The HERE ... eye contact , trust, the bond with your dog. The COME SIT STAY. Did you know the prong collar isn’t just for a pulling dog? It’s actually the beginning of the most intelligent way to train your dog. Steve and Matthew have been working with Bee ( my beautiful very stubborn Doberman ) since she was 6 months old. Because of Nitro my dog has the freedom to run in fields with the best recall with an immediate heel. The Off-Leash training Nitro offers is incredible... worth every penny. If you’re looking for the best obedience training for your dog I can only say Nitro-K9 is the only way. These guys have saved my life!

We’ve been bringing our 3 year old mini aussie to Nitro K9 for the past 14 weeks and have absolutely loved the experience! Our dog has come out of each lesson better than the last and we are more than impressed by the results. Matt has been so positive and patient working with our pup and she has come to absolutely ADORE coming to lessons and seeing him! Overall we couldn’t be happier and are blown away by all the progress our dog has made during her training. THANK YOU MATT!!!

We had a great experience with Nitro K-9! We rescued our husky-German shepherd mix (Obi) at 4 months old and he was absolutely out of control with over-reactivity in social settings or around other dogs. I’m a petite woman and he definitely ripped me down the street on the leash. We tried online courses and treat training, clicker training and all of the things. He’s so smart and stubborn none of them worked. We decided to try Nitro and after learning how to properly and humanely use the equipment, Obi was learning, engaging and behaving so much better! Now he’s 1 year old and we can take him places off leash without having to worry about him being the loud squirrel chasing maniac he once was! We are avid hikers and outdoor people so this has been so freeing for both us and Obi. Valerie was our main trainer and she was awesome! Thanks so much for giving my husband and I the confidence and tools to train our dog! Best decision we could have made for Obi!

Brought our rescued 2 year old pit/husky mix here. At the start of training I was walking her at 5 in the morning or 10 at night because of her reactivity to other dogs and walkers. After 3 months and a lot of work I can walk her to the dog park and she plays with all the other dogs! The staff at nitro know dogs, and they gave my wife and I the tools, training, and resources we needed to get our dog to a happier and healthier life.

A huge thank you to Nitro K-9, specifically Matt Pearlman! I purchased my first gundog, a field bred Springer in 2020 as a pup. While his temperament and drive are great, when he was close to one year old, his drive took over. His hunting instincts overrode any obedience I’d previously done. He was constantly pulling on the leash while on walks or on training grounds. His recall went out the door. I tried every “positive training” method, primarily involving food, to turn his behavior around. When drive took over, the tastiest morsel had zero affect. Nothing I tried gave me the peace of mind I needed to not only let him off leash as a companion dog, but as a reliable hunting partner. I was getting super frustrated, and knew I needed a firmer approach. Not only was I not accomplishing my goals, but I was afraid for my dog’s safety. I searched the area for someone that could help me navigate training with an e-collar, as I’d never used one before. That’s when I found Nitro K-9, and set up an evaluation. It was literally life changing in my dog world! Matt dove right in from day 1. He worked with us first in the studio, exercising a lot of patience as I navigated through a new look on dog training. But with homework and Matt’s keen eye and attention to detail, we started making progress and eventually moved to off leash outdoors. Plus, he was able to blend his knowledge into some of the practices particular to this sport. Now I am thrilled to say on 100+ acres of training ground, I can heel Stash to a starting position, let him work, and when I need him to recall, he does!! I’ve received multiple compliments on what a different dog I have compared to earlier. His drive has not diminished ONE bit, our relationship has gotten better now that I’m a stronger leader, and he is doing more of what he loves to do because I trust him.I plan on entering a hunt test over Labor Day, a first for Stash and for me. Would not be happening if it weren’t for Nitro K-9. Thanks to Steve as well for a great lesson early on, and to Jess for helping juggle scheduling.

Professional and effective. Our dog comes out of Nitro like a different dog each time we visit! In only four sessions we went from having a puppy with no recall or leash manners who jumped on everyone he met, to a dog that heels at the dog park, sits on command, comes when called, and is even beginning to work off leash! Night and day difference - these guys are no joke.

I have a rescue heeler/pit mix named Max who came to me with so much reactivity towards other dogs I used to have to lay on top of him on to keep him from charging dogs on the other side of the street. As such, I couldn’t take him anywhere.However, after working with Nitro K9 I am now able to talk him everywhere I go. After Max and I received Nitro K9s training, Max now trusts me to keep him safe and we have been in situations on trails where we’ve been confronted by other dogs (off leash in some instances) in close proximity and I am able to keep him from reacting aggressively.It’s been a year since we completed our training with Nitro K9 and I can not stress enough the opportunities that it has opened up for my dog. I am now able to safely give him all the life experiences he should have, it’s definitely been life changing for him. I plan on taking every dog I adopt from now on to Nitro K9. They are worth every penny. Max and I will definitely be back for more training with them in the future!

We hit the jackpot working with Crystal at K-9 Nitro. She was thoughtful in her approach with our golden retriever pup - tailoring training efforts to meet the goals of our family, while focusing attention on strengths and challenges for our pup. Our family is now equipped knowledge and feasible techniques, with a pup we are thrilled and proud to show off. This experience has elevated our experience as dog owners - THANKS CRYSTAL!

Badass training! if you want to put in the work then I highly recommend Nitro K9. Steve has so much knowledge about dogs and the trainers there are awesome. Matt and James are very good at explaining things and taking the time to show you whats what. They love what they do and it shows. I have a 7 month old German Shepard mix and she is lightyears ahead of most dogs. Nitro will give you all the proper guidance and tools to get the job don, it up tp you to put in the work. I had a amazing time and looked forward to going every week and look forward to coming back!

Best trainers Ive been able to find! You have to be willing to put in the work, but its definitely worth it.

Calling Nitro to help me train my doberman puppy was the best decision I have made. We are training our now 9 month dobie to be a service dog and at 7 months (just after 8 lessons) Steve and his team had Cairo heeling off leash in addition to all his basic obedience. I frequently get comments on how well behaved and how well trained my dog is. He was able to go everywhere with me with his service training just after the first lesson. No more pulling on leash and he would sit on command. Steve and his team have a wealth of information to help not only train your dog but you as a trainer. The bond between my Cairo and myself has grown stronger because of the training tactics of Nitro. I dont know what we would do without them knowing we can call anytime about any behavior or concerns.

Let me tell you. If you want your dog to reach their maximum potential, this is the spot. They have a proven program. The product is great. I started my German Shepherd at 12 weeks on level 1. I did max 15 minutes a day doing what they showed me during lessons. I am not even done with level two and my 11 month old dog fully trained. That is, she is off leashes trained. I can go to a park or anywhere without a leash.

I have absolutely loved my experience at Nitro K-9!! We got a covid puppy (like the rest of the world it seems) who is a Siberian Husky at the beginning of the pandemic. She is not food motivated, which made her IMPOSSIBLE to train... especially with her being a stubborn wild husky to begin with. We went through 5 different trainers and spent thousands of dollars to no avail. Finally, I expressed my frustration to a friend who had used Nitro with her dog, so I decided to give them a chance..... and they have been LIFE SAVING. We have worked with both Jess and Matt (Matt is my primary trainer) and they both have been patient, knowledgeable, and very professional. They were able to sense my frustration and provide relief in light hearted jokes, education of my dog breed that wasnt obvious on the internet, and a regimen that put us on the path to success. We have had 7 lessons with them and now when I bring my husky around family and friends, every is shocked on how well behaved she is! THANK YOU NITRO!

How many fully off-leash trained akitas do you know? Exactly. Cannot recommend highly enough.

I knew immediately that all-positive training wasnt going to work on an unruly GSD. And you have to ask yourself, do I want to gamble with a 75-110 lb animal with a 3600 newton bite index in your neighborhood?Im extremely pleased with all 14 sessions I took my GSD to. Hes got the foundation he needed that Ive since built on every day. If you opt for the hands on training, youll essentially be learning how to train any dog. Its an amazing deal. Folks are always commenting on Fenris behavior. As it stands, Id be happy with his behavior forever, but I want to take him back to Steve and Matt and see how far we can take his training.He absolutely adored his trainers too. He got excited every time wed go.

Matt was a great trainer. I learned a lot and got very good results training my dog.

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff willing to work with you on scheduling and the best type of training for your dog. We love our results and plan to go back for more work with their trainers.

Took my dog Riley from a tense, angry and anxious 100 lbs German Shepherd to a happy, carefree dog that I can take with me to Petco. Very happy with their training.

Fake reviews. Untrustworthy.

I brought my German Shepherd here with (honestly) little hope his aggression could be addressed, but Steve Walter and his crew thoroughly surprised me! My pup did a 180, and went from being aggressive and possessive of me, to now he’s able to frequent the dog park with no issues. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us! I will always continue to support this business.

Back in 1994 when I was 14 years old, I got a golden retriever puppy. My parents expected me to take full responsibility for training him, so I read all the books on dog training I could find in the Boise Public Library. I set to work with a traditional “choke” collar, a 6 foot leash, a 40 foot leash, and lots and lots of treats. Long story short, I did okay. We just learned to tolerate the fact that his heel was sloppy, that “come” was unreliable, that “stay” lasted about a half-second, and that treats were always required to ensure obedience. After all, he was a pretty good dog and we loved him.When I decided to get a pup this year, I searched for a dog trainer in Seattle that could help me get farther than I had gotten with my old retriever. My goal was reliable and consistent off leash obedience that could be achieved without a dependency on treats. I wanted a dog that was great to live with. I wanted a dog I could confidently take anywhere. I wanted a dog that was a pleasure to walk. I wanted a dog that even dog haters would like. I wanted a dog that was well socialized with other dogs. And I knew I would have to work for all these things with some professional help.Enter Steve Walter and Nitro K9. Thanks to Nitro’s expert guidance and my hard work, my relationship with my dog Rolo is beyond anything I ever imagined possible. And he’s only 7 months old! I have had 8, hour-long training sessions spread out over the past 4 months and have already achieved all of my original goals. No joke, in 8 sessions we have completed all of Level 1 training and most of Level 2. It’s fun to think up new goals, ones I had never allowed myself to imagine. For example, we’re currently teaching him to stay in a standing position, which is useful for toweling off and grooming. I would like him to back up on command. I would like him to pick up his toys and drop them in a basket at home. I know I can train these things. Nitro K9 has helped me become a competent and confident dog handler, which, combined with my dog’s focus (on me, not on treats), makes anything possible. Rolo and I are having so much fun together!At the first training session, Steve fit my dog with a Sprenger training collar (aka prong collar), and then taught me how to use it responsibly and effectively with precise leash work to encourage focus. Like some people, I came to that first session with concerns about using this kind of collar on my dog. Wouldn’t that be cruel? Wouldn’t he hate it and begin to fear me? After all, he was a 20 lb. Labrodoodle puppy, not a 100lb Rottweiler. Let me just say this: the results were astounding. With hardly any leash pressure at all, I could encourage my pup to focus his wandering eyes (and nose) on me and the training at hand. And with that focus, we have done amazing things! Rolo doesn’t fear this collar; he wags his tail and gets excited every time I put it on him. I have come to regard a Sprenger collar as a genius communication tool that, unfortunately, has gotten a bad rap from being misused by dog handlers that don’t know what they’re doing. I will gladly join Steve and the Nitro K9 community to set the record straight about these training collars. If you’re still concerned, come hang out with us and our dogs. You’ll change your mind as I did.In my time as a Nitro K9 client, I have interacted with Steve and Matt (for training) and Crystal (for scheduling). All have been professional and extremely responsive to my needs. Steve Walter is the strongest advocate for dogs having good, long lives of anyone I have ever met. He and his team absolutely LOVE dogs, and everything they do is in the service of dogs. They literally save dogs’ lives by ameliorating aggression and anxiety-related problems. They take a holistic approach to canine well-being, and are enthusiastic to discuss nutrition and other subjects related to my dog’s health. It’s great being part of this community of dog-lovers. My dog and I both have a better life because of Nitro K9.

**Long and overdue review! Sorry guys!**We adopted our Weimaraner mix, Stevie, at a shelter a couple years ago. The shelter told us that he was friendly around other dogs and good around kids / just about anyone. A couple hours after adopting him, and walking him around the street, my husband and I definitely knew he was dog aggressive. He would see another dog and start barking, jumping, growling, you name it. So of course, we hired a trainer. The trainer that we had trained him in basic obedience. But the aggression didn’t stop. So fast forward, we moved up north here to Bothell. And stumbled across NitroK9. After reading everything on the website, we just had to book a consultation to see what their training was about. We met with Steve, and he said Stevie was defiantly trainable and we were both super happy to hear how they train their dogs. Then COVID happened, so we had to train him with the little knowledge we knew, until we could finally get in and see someone. We ended up meeting with Matt in May, and instantly, we knew this training program was going to work for him. Stevie warmed up really well to the training program (and now his best friend Matt lol). He listens to us way better than he ever has. His aggression is slowly getting better on his walks. He’s more focused on us and waits for the commands we give him. And lastly, you can tell he’s overall a happier and even healthier dog. This training program is amazing. They’re not very much focused on the dog, as they are focused on you. Because the second you’re a confident and trained dog owner, your dog follow suit. We are super happy with NitroK9 and we cannot recommend these guys enough! Matt, you truly have changed our lives, haha! Before, we hated going out with him and having to “deal” with his aggression shows. Now, we’re so excited to take him out and about and we know that we have control over him. Extremely, extremely recommend these guys!! Dog aggressive or not, get your dog in for training with these guys. You will overall feel better about yourself as a dog owner and your dog will show results! Thank you Matt for being so patient with us at first, answering our millions of questions and making Stevie the best boy!!

Nitro K-9 changed our world! We brought in a jumping lab, with no focus, pulling on the leash, and essentially running our world. During the evaluation, Steve had our dog listening and heeling immediately. It was unbelievable. We signed up for 7 lessons and had the best experience working with Crystal. Our black lab pup is very loving and smart, but as a field lab, she needed very specific commands and communication. Crystal educated us about how to use the leash and collar system and gave us the confidence to lead our dog. Crystal was patient, positive, and professional. Now our 9 month old lab is confident and calmer - changing our life. I can walk and take our dog anywhere - knowing she will listen to us. Crystals insights and knowledge about our dog was invaluable! Now we have life long skills - look forward to Level 2 training!

Cares more about parking spots then people or pets. Rude

Steve and the Nitro K9 crew are top notch. Before we started training with Nitro K9, our Belgian Malinois was leash reactive with dogs. He would see a dog, start growling, and then redirect onto the leash. With the help from Steve, we were able to achieve our dog’s focus and eliminate the reactivity. In addition to the training, Steve educated us on different avenues – conversations on diet, neuter/spay, and vaccinations. It showed us how much we just didn’t know. Our dogs are now on a raw diet and see a holistic vet. All thanks to Steve our dogs will live a happier, healthier life.

Just classic obedience.

I would recommend Nitro K-9 as the top of the line dog training company without any hesitation at all. If you are looking for help with your dog that is *effective*, professional, and always reliable - you found it. Steve and his crew are amazing. Steve says we just treat people the way we would like to be treated, and make no mistake, they sure do. These guys are genuinely awesome. They are excellent at what they do (and your dog will prove it).

These guys REALLY know what they are doing. After just one lesson my pup was behaving 100% better. Absolutely fantastic group of trainers.

Once I am able to afford it, Pablo will be enrolled. He needs training.

I have not been here, because its in Seattle, but I found them online and was intrigued by their approach to dog training - especially their viewpoint on prong collars. Steve (the owner) does not believe in treat training and debunks the misinformation about prong collars. Because I live in a different city he offered to do a Skype call to get me started on how to train my dog with a prong collar. The results have been amazing! I now enjoy taking my dog for walks. I use to dread it because he pulled like a freight train, now he is calm and rarely pulls after only 2 weeks. If I lived in the Seattle area I would definitely go to him.

Seattle Metro has many options for dog training and if you want someone to be direct with you , hold you accountable to training your dog and truly managing your relationship this is the place.Ive been a nitro customer for about almost 11 months now and gone through two levels of training and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the knowledge I’ve gained and the results. Steve and his group of trainers are consummate professionals, some may say Steve is harsh but he’s just honest and direct. You will get out of this training what you put in and the results speak for themselves.

Wow what can I say about Steve other than he went above and beyond any expectations I had for training my husky. I came to him because my dog had gotten out of control. I was altering my life to accommodate his bad behavior and the food based training programs I tried did nothing but ultimately reinforce his bad behavior. I came to Steve and within a few weeks I had a new husky. For the first time ever, my husky was focused and looking to me for guidance. I had many people tell me that huskies are impossible to train but Steve knew exactly what he was doing and gave me the techniques I needed to know to teach my pup impeccable obedience.On another note, Steve always made himself available for questions. I am sure I drove him crazy with all my text messages about training but he never showed it one bit. He was always kind and supportive with anything I asked.The other trainers are also fabulous. I would recommend anyone of them, especially Christina, who worked wonders with my pup as well. The training facility is brand new and beautiful! One of the best I’ve seen. You can tell a lot of love and work was put into the facility.Overall, if you’re looking for dog training that works and impeccable trainers, I wouldn’t waste time on food based programs and go straight to nitro K-9. If I could do it all over again, I would’ve gone here first. Absolutely the best investment I have ever made with my dog.

Known Steve since August 2017 working as his CPA. Although we have not used his service for dog training, as an owner of a small dog now and a potential guard dog in the future, I have been reading his posts, learning a lot on what to think about in regards to ownership. He has made me rethink some things and have to thank him for his candidacy, meaning his advice helps me make the right decision as opposed to being a sales pitch hoping I will just buy the dog only then needing extensive training that may not be right for me. Appreciating his guidance on this very important decision.

Look no further. There is no one better than Steve and his crew at Nitro K-9. Steve has trained two of my German Shorthaired Pointers and he’ll have my business forever. Steve has the knowledge and experience to train all breeds, of all ages, of all temperaments. Beyond training, Steve had educated me on how to properly feed my dogs. I recommend every dog and every owner get trained by Nitro K-9.

I got in contact with Steve & Christina at Nitro K-9 because my dog was becoming aggressive towards certain other dogs. He would be fine with some dogs, and instantly aggressive with other dogs and there wasnt much of a warning sign.I love my dog, so I wanted to find the best dog trainers in Seattle. Then I stumbled upon the Nitro Team and its been such a blessing. I got the intensive training package where someone would come out everyday and work with my pup. They showed up on time and brought my dog back mentally and physically exhausted. In a very short period of time, my dog stopped being leash aggressive and started listening to commands.I guess the saying you cant teach an old dog new tricks was wrong. Theyve made a significant impact on my 8 year old dog in a very short amount of time. It was well worth the investment, no matter what some of the other complainers are saying. These guys work hard and have very high integrity!If you are looking for a great dog trainer, call Nitro K-9.

Steve and Christina are great. My lab came in with some weird adrenaline junkie/reactivity issues with other dogs, and just general high drive issues. I had four dog walkers give up on her and she had been banned from two groomers.Steve and his team had her over those issues in about 4 sessions, it just took a little longer for me to trust her. She can now be off leash with any stimulus I can think of and stay in her heal and even if she jumps she controls her own impulse and stops before I can even give her a command. My family jokes that she judges their dogs for being poorly mannered. Since she is by far the best behaved dog any of us have every owned. She interacts with other dogs now with no issues, and it is a pleasure to take her for a walk around any setting.The only time I have issues now, is when I am not being consistent with her, or keeping her active enough. That is on me, Steve was very honest that training is a constant responsibility and with a high drive dog like mine I have to in a training mindset for life.

Steve is a really great trainer. Hes smart and knowledgeable and most importantly trains dogs how they are meant to be trained, leaving dog and owner with a special bond as opposed to a dog that is only motivated by treats or clicks.I took my 12 year old Shepherd mix with leash aggression issues to him. He warned me up front that due to her age he may not be able to help. I decided to give it a shot anyway and saw tremendous improvements in just 6 weeks.I would recommend Steve to anyone looking to turn their furry friend into a well behaved, loyal companion.

Steve and the rest of Nitro K9 are top notch. They are respectful over everyone and they get real results with the dogs. Ive always thought myself to be great with dogs and Steve sure showed me a lot that I never had even thought about. The relationship between us and our Mal has grown every day since working with Nitro K9. I highly suggest them for any level of training that you seek!

Got my dog and I back on track in a matter of months. Leash anxiety is mostly gone, and hes not barking at everyone who walks by anymore. While I was timid about using a prong collar initially, my dog is excited to put it on and WAY more emotionally stable. He was an anxious wreck before, and now hes happy and confident. Thanks Steve and Matt!

We just completed Level 1 training with Nitro K9 and couldn’t be happier with our results. We had a very leash aggressive dog that would bark and lunge at nearly anything that moved (dogs, cars, people, etc.) making walks a dreaded daily routine. We had signed up for a series of food-based training sessions with a different dog trainer that left us feeling rejected, and hopeless. They literally had us stay outside during each lesson (all 6 of them) because our dog couldn’t be in the same room with the other dogs without freaking out…total waste of money. Enter Nitro K9. After a desperate search online, I signed up for a meet & greet with Steve. Within seconds of meeting our pup, Steve had her sitting and standing next to a group of other dogs with no reaction (our jaws dropped). We signed up for Level 1 training immediately and 4 months later, we couldn’t be happier! Im not going to lie, I struggled at the beginning…there is a lot of training on the human side as well but Steve, Christina, and the other trainers were so encouraging and answered all of my questions and concerns. Today, we look forward to our daily walks, where recently we’ve been able to pass other dogs without any freak-outs or anxiety. There is still progress to be made, but she is under control and HAPPY! Steve is a no BS kind of guy, he is up-front and honest. Some may not like that, which I suspect is why there are 1 star reviews here. For us and our dog, Nitros training and advice worked. I look forward to our continued training with Nitro, and all the possibilities we now have in front of us because of it.

Within the 1st lesson there was a massive improvement in communication. By learning to focus on the lesson at hand, my dog was able to relax, shed her anxiety and listen; something that was hard to come by during the 4 year span of positive reinforcement training. Of course, the deep-rooted anxiety cant be cured overnight but the improvements in her behavior are incredible. All of the hesitancies and misconceptions I had about prong collars and their use have vanished and now I am simply looking forward to the progress my dog and I will make. All thanks to Steve!

Training is for owners and dogs alike. No matter the experience you have, Steve will help you sharpen those skills and make your experience doing so engaging. If you have a problem pup, or just not sure what is needed to make your dog thrive in training, this group of trainers will be there for you.

Top Notch! The trainers at Nitro really know what they are doing. Polite, professional, and at the same time very down to earth and easy to talk to.

Steve and his team have been outstanding. I found them via google and reading reviews...and we were not disappointed. They clearly are the cream of the crop. Our dogs learned more in 6 one hour sessions with Steve than in three 8-week sessions with other organizations. His knowledge is unsurpassed by others and he is eager to share that knowledge. He reads the dogs well and knows exactly how to work with them. Most importantly, they are training US to teach our dogs well. Our dogs in turn absolutely love their time training. Weve noticed a huge difference in heeling, demeanor, behavior while out and about in the community, and commands while hiking. In addition, Ajase and Greg stayed with our pups while we were out of town, giving them excellent care and training while we were away. I appreciate not only the extensive knowledge of Nitro K-9, but also the communication, the attitude, and the adaptability of their entire team. We are lucky they are part of our family.

I first met Steve shortly after we moved to Seattle and needed a hand helping our dogs adjust. After our first contact with Steve over the phone I felt relaxed and confident wed found the right person to help us. At the time he was running a dog daycare that was close to our location in West Seattle and him being there gave me the peace of mind to leave our dogs there when we needed to be our of town on business for extended periods of time.Knowing that Steve had extensive experience working with all sorts of dogs from the easy to train puppy to aggressive dogs, I recommended a friend to him that had just adopted a rescue dog. The dog was high energy, and out of control on leash and would go crazy if it saw another dog. My friend went to Steve and reported how amazing her dog responded to just one session with him.Our dogs love Steve and he is who I completely trust and recommend anyone to go to who wants to improve the lives of their dogs and themselves.Thank you Nitro K-9 and Steve for changing our dogs and our lives for the better.

Best. Dog. Training. In. Seattle. Period.Trained all our dogs with Steve & Crew over the years.Whether you need the basics, off leash, hands-off, or Protection...look no further.

Steve and Nitro K9 are amazing. We worked with them on my Alaskan Malamute - one of the more stubborn / harder to train breeds - and the results came in almost immediately. She is extremely good on her obedience and the training allowed us to walk her off leash without having to worry about her running off. With everything, do not expect overnight perfection and you will need to invest work and time into getting there but the training also will enable you to read and understand your dog so much better and in depth and it will help form the bond.Our dog LOVES Steve and his team and she gained significant confidence through her time with them too. If you seek training which works outside we are trying to get our dog to sit and sometimes it might work, choose Nitro.

I dunno who that Lisa Daly 1 review person is either, but let me tell you that our highly reactive dog has turned a major corner after just under 2h with Steve and crew. I know that certain techniques can seem harsh to some humans, but they need to understand how to speak the dogs language. The dogs want to understand us, and us speaking their language is actually a gift to them

We went through level 1 and 2 training with Clive, and saw really great progress from the day we met Steve - literally from the moment we put a prong collar on Clive. He went from a fearful, aggressive 7 month old dog who could hardly walk in public without losing his mind and dissolving in screaming barks, or worse, getting close to another dog while doing exactly that, to a dog with a tool kit of obedience understanding that allowed us to most human or dog interactions and emerge unscathed. Dont get me wrong, its not like we could throw a leash on Clive and wander outside and assume he would behave - but with good leash work and focus (from human and dog) both Clive and we as owners felt much more confident in the world. We could walk by almost any dog without incident, and we started to introduce Clive to more human strangers with some success. We know Clives mom died when he was born, so many of his issues are due to poor socialization that I dont think many dogs ever overcome. We are so lucky to have found Nitro K9 after going through two different positive reinforcement trainers with very little success - one of them even told us to put Clive on prozac, and to their credit let us exit the class when it wasnt working for anyone. We work hard with Clive, but we are not professional dog trainers, were just normal people doing the best we can for a little dog we really love.Heres the best part of our story yet - after we finished level 2 training, and Clive was really quite a good dog by most standards at this point, we decided to hire Danny to walk / train Clive 3x week to keep up his training on Steves advice. We didnt think it would be much different than continuing lessons ourselves. Were we wrong. While Im so appreciative of learning the skills we needed to help Clive be his best doggy self, the progress Clive has made with Danny in 2 months is truly remarkable. Recently Ive had him out, letting him out of a heel so he could do his business, and weve rounded a corner only to be surprised by a dog or multiple dogs romping along, not under much control. A few months ago that would have been such an incident that I would have had to take Clive home to help him calm down, even after getting him into a heel - it wouldnt have been possible to bring him back to a workable threshold to enjoy a walk together. Now hes totally blown me away by getting into that same situation, looking at the other dogs in shock, then immediately looking at me, and doing nothing except look at me and wait (he will glance back and forth at the other dogs if I dont praise him and ask him to heel) - and twice even just sitting right down with military precision!Steve & team you got us a LONG way with Clive when we honestly had no idea what to do, and werent sure if a dog with no socialization and tons of fear could ever have a normal city life. Danny, the extra mile of difference weve seen in Clive is something we could not have imagined when we brought him home. We are now the proud owners of two very very good dogs, and one of them is entirely due to your team.

We came to Nitro with a great dog who had developed some dog aggression problems that were leading to the typical avoidance of taking him on walks and only walking him at hours we were sure no one would be out. We had tried other places in the past and had seen some improvement but were still a far cry away from where we hoped to be with our dog. Within 5 weeks I’m already running during peak dog walking hours with my dog. I can now see us being able to take him on hikes someday. Big thanks to Danny for all his work with our dog and with training us owners too!

I found Nitro k9 by googling leash aggression dog trainer. Rocket our Austrlian cattle dog lunged, barked, charged at dogs while on leash. I was desperate enough to make the drive from Federal Way to Shoreline for classes. And guess what? Steve got Rocket in a perfect heel in 5 minutes.In fact, During our classes, Steve spent 90% of the time correcting me because I was the one who needed the help! I might not have the talent when it comes to being a pack leader, but I was determined to put into the work to become one. Practicing at home, There were many moments of joy and frustration during these weeks, Steve was ALWAYS there for Rocket and me. Steve is full of knowledge and wisdom, but what impressed me the most is his love for all dogs. ❤️Rocket loves Steve and his method. Rocket now sits down calmly when he sees his collar and leash. There is no longer yelling, scolding, or a huge selection of treats in my pocket. We just finished our level 1 training today. I feel very fortunate to have found Nitro K9.

I came in with a dog that was scared of the world and Steve and his team more than helped with giving my dog a task to do while on walks so she doesnt feel as much anxiety. She has significantly less fear aggression on walks when encountering other dogs. We took the level one course and will be definitely thinking about going back for the level 2!

Steve helped my dog Lola and I in so many ways these past months. Lola is almost 9 years. She has been through some trauma in her life, and we just moved to Seattle alone and away from the only 2 dogs she could safely be around. She was going through severe seperation anxiety, was barking and lunging at any dog we walked by, and started getting sick. The infection in her face was not going away after 2 rounds of antibiotics and 4 visits to the vet. Steve got us started on a while food diet. He coached me through the transition off kibble and was always available to answer questions about the diet AND her training. Her face cleared up in a week! As for our training, I dont know where to start.... Lola cant wear a collar around her neck and had no interest in treats as rewards. I was feeling hopeless. Steve modified out training sessions and figured out a way to teach this old girl new tricks. Literally. Because of her neck injury, we used a vibration collar as a correction tool. No discomfort, but a great reminder. Now, half the time, I forget to turn the collar on! Lola has a new confidence and sense of security. Her skin and coat are healthy and shiny. She has energy! We walked 3.5 miles yesterday, and could have doubled that. Thank you, Steve and Nitro K9! U r amazing!

Steve Walter and Nitro K9 Rocks - My wife and I started out clicker-treat training 2 years ago with our adult female Doberman-Boxer-Rescue. What clicker-treat training got us were dumb-tricks and fake obedience. Sasha had aggression problems on and off leash, poor recall and poor leash walking. She just return to her naughty behavior, no matter how awesome the treat was. The punctuation to Sashas naughty behavior occurred when she was running off-leash and knocked my wife in the jaw as she was bending down. Thats when we started looking at serious training. When we started training with Steve and Christina there were instant results from the first 5 minutes. My wife and I were amazed at the immediate change when Steve was handling her. We couldnt help but laugh, because this is a side of her we had never seen. Sasha became instantly compliant with the training and handling. The handling skills we learned became the way to communicate and provide a positive connection and leadership to Sasha. We love Steves philosophy and his approach to developing K9 relationships with people.

Found Nitro K9 from google searching “no food dog training” because though treat training worked okay for the basics, I started to feel a lack of respect from our little buddy after awhile. He wouldn’t obey unless he saw I was ready with a treat. He is also very very strong and his leash pulling made walking him hell. We tried literally every harness and leash system the pet store had. The gentle leader showed some promise but after two walks with that contraption, Morty ran away when he saw it. He fought it tooth and nail like it was a torture device.I looked up “no food” because I was tired of 1) buying stupid amounts of treats just to have an okay dog in public 2) finding treats in every pocket of every article of clothing I own and in the washer and 3) experiencing pure panic on the occasions I forgot the treats at home. Morty was a sweet, goofy, loving boy but wild. After the EVALUATION with Steve he never pulled on his lead again. We got 6 lessons and Morty is still sweet, goofy, and loving but with a much calmer energy and focus.Steve and his team’s training recently prevented a potential dog fight. Morty was going to meet a beautiful blue pit new to our neighborhood. Everything was going well but I suddenly saw the pit’s body go really rigid so I gave Morty a stop, then had him come and just focus on me while the other owner got his pup settled down. He obeyed without a second’s hesitation and didn’t break focus despite the growling and lunging and yelling going on 6 feet away from us. It was amazing. So glad I found Nitro K9! I cannot thank them enough for everything they do!There is no one I recommend more if you want a happy, confident, healthy, focused dog in your home.

My experience with Steve was very disappointing and I feel that given the nature of his business, it’s important for people to know what this place is all about. I don’t take 1-star reviews lightly, but again, given his business, I’m looking at this from the “big picture”.First of all, this place is a little cramped for dog training. The parking lot is extremely busy next to one of the busiest streets in Mill Creek/Bothell area. This is no way to train your dog IMO. You could eventually lead into a scenario like this once you and your dog are comfortable, but if you have a puppy or an untrained dog, this is such a terrible location to train in. I mention that because I saw some folks walking their dogs outside with a trainer. If they were only inside, that would have been a different story.Before we brought our dog in, we had told Nitro that our dog was aggressive and that she will bite if she needs to protect herself. To my shock, not only was the inside cramped, they had this really weak/flimsy baby gate dividing the training area from the entrance/exit area. A dog in fear (especially one that is 50 lbs or bigger) is going to go through that gate like nothing IMO. Not only that, but there was another dog within 20 feet of our dog which automatically becomes a distraction (not just for my dog, but for the other couple training their dog as well). If this was a group session, I would understand, but this wasn’t.Second, Steve made some comments to me that really had me concerned. When we were putting on our muzzle, we had asked him about size and fit of the muzzle. During that little piece of conversation, one of his responses was “if your dog bites me, that’s not my fault”. What kind of trainer would put themselves in a situation where the dog could bite them in the first place? (side tracking for a moment, after our visit with Steve we took our dog to a completely different trainer who remained 15+ feet away from our dog the entire time to ensure everyone was safe. She knew not to get to close to provoke our dog and she kept throwing treats to our dog to gain her trust. Even then, she never approached our dog and was talking to us from a safe distance. Steve was within 3~5 feet which was absolutely terrifying me so I had to really hold my dog down and you can tell she was terrified. During my time with Steve, I didn’t see one doggie treat.Then came the deal breaker… Steve pulls out a pronged choke chain. I basically said no we aren’t doing that and he tries to tell me how long he’s been training dogs with them. I understand that there are many arguments for and against choke chains. IMO, they don’t build trust and bond. They are just a Band-Aid. I asked Steve if he had any other training techniques or methods and he said no. By the way, all of this was within a 5~10-minute visit. He had only asked a few questions about our dog, but really didn’t take the time to understand our dog. The other trainer we went to spent 2 hours talking to us, understanding the issues, giving us tips and what to look for. It was important for that trainer to understand what she was working with before diving into training. How do you train something you don’t understand? For Steve, it was just a quick, here’s a pronged choke chain, you’ll be fine….Maybe Steve and his staff know how to train smaller dogs or dogs with lesser behavioral issues. I don’t know. I know that my dog was abused before being released to a shelter and I need to find solutions on having her trust people again (or at minimum, tolerate the presence of people). Presenting a mid-evil torture device will not solve that. I hope my experience with Steve was an outlier and that he is able to train dogs without a pronged choke chain. I do not have any ill-will towards Steve and his staff. If they are able to bridge the issues between people and dogs, I wish them all the best. I just wanted to let people know that if they are concerned with pronged choke chains, this should be a strong consideration for you.

I had an excellent experience! I came to Steve and the other trainers at Nitro K-9 with a tough husky mix that I was having a really hard time training. She was fearful aggressive and wasnt responding well to food-based, positivity training. She started lunging at other dogs and people (out of fear). Steve taught us how to build confidence through a good heal. Though it took work (you have to work hard!), my pup now walks confidently next to me right by strangers and other lunging dogs without a problem. I would highly recommend Steve and Nitro!

Nitro K-9 is the ONLY dog trainer in or around Seattle who could properly handle and train my dog -- who was displaying leash aggression, lunging and snapping; our walks were getting shorter and shorter, and I found myself avoiding other dogs... Like thats even possible! I feel so lucky that I found Steve before trying one of those food training programs! How am I going to feed my dog a hotdog when hes barking and lunging at something?!In my journey training my dog with the different Nitro K9 Trainers, I have experienced the highest level of compassion and fantastic customer service. They always have the right advice for my dogs needs -- and are experts at encouraging me through the difficult process of training a reactive dog.Now, finally, I have the freedom and confidence to walk my dog without worrying about him reacting! Hes so much happier now, and the bond between us is absolutely inseparable -- and its because we went through this Nitro training program. Instead of my dog being obsessed with food like my previous dogs used to be, my four-legged friend (Steele) is superbly bonded to me. I love my dog so much, and I am so thankful for the Nitro team for saving him! There is just no way this dog would have survived if he continued behaving the way he used to... he was going down a dark path, and without Steves help it would have only gotten worse.Oh, and for any aspiring dog trainers, dog walkers or pet sitters... I have seen out-of-state trainers apprenticing under the Nitro staff... there is such a wealth of knowledge between Steve and Christina that Nitro is the only dog training business in the ENTIRE Pacific Northwest that has the proficiency to teach their trainers how to handle aggressive, reactive and fearful dogs to this high degree of excellence. Wow! If I ever wanted to become a dog trainer, I wouldnt even think of anything but Nitro K-9! They handle all breeds and can train basic leash obedience, off-leash, and advanced handling -- Top notch skills here.THANK YOU NITRO for saving Steeles life and teaching me how to deal with my leash reactive dog!

Most of these 5 star reviews are suspicious. This place is great if you dont mind being charged too much just for them to be abusive towards you and your dog

The training we received from Nitro K9 and our trainer, Danny, has been so incredibly valuable. When we adopted our dog, Jack, as a 1-yo Staffy mix, he absolutely kicked our butts for the first few weeks. He was mouthy and jumping, a sweet dog but totally out of control. We tried positive-reinforcent, treat-based training and it made no difference. We were getting frustrated and wondering how to cope with our dog situation. Then, we met with Nitro K9 and everything changed in the first 30 minutes. They taught us how to effectively set boundaries for Jack and we learned practical skills for handling a strong, rambunctious dog. With our trainer, Danny, we have completed the Level 1 obedience and Level 2 off-leash training series. Thanks to this training - and lots of practice at home - Jack has become a wonderful, responsive dog who is a pleasure to walk and take to the dog park. Today, we even took him on the city bus for the first time. No kidding. In those first few weeks, I’d never have imagined that was possible. Thank you to Danny, Steve and the whole gang at Nitro K9. We are so grateful for your help. Thanks to you, Jack has become such an amazing dog and an important member of our family.Craig, Joanna & JackSeattle, WA

Nitro K9 has provided me and my dog the only behavior support that has had a major impact and breakthrough for my formerly fear aggressive rescued Labrador. I never though I would turn to the prong collar, but using it as a training tool has dramatically increased the quality of life of both Farley and myself. Anxiety is wayyyyyy down! Farley is doing wonderfully and our bond is better and stronger than ever before. She is extremely well behaved and her on leash and off leash manners are superb, thanks to Nitro K9! Farley also has struggled with separation anxiety and Nitro K9 was able to support both me and Farley through the process of overcoming the anxiety. I am eternally grateful for finding Nitro K9 when nobody else was able to truly help!

When we first brought our dog Chappie home from the shelter, our excitement quickly turned to frustration and confusion as our pup started displaying undesirable behavior. Chappie was biting guests entering the home, terrorizing the cats, barking constantly, showing serious resource guarding issues, and lunging at people, children, and other dogs on the street. I found Nitro K9 after searching for trainers specializing in reactive and aggressive dogs, and it changed our lives. Steve equipped us with the proper tools and knowledge to communicate efficiently and effectively with Chappie. But even more than that, Steve gave us the confidence that we could turn our stressful connection with our dog into a beautiful relationship. My dog went from being a constant stressor in my life to being an enjoyable companion, and I really could not have done it without the help of Steve at Nitro K9.

TL:DR - Nitro K-9 is awesome and my adult dog and I have a much better life together because of the excellent instruction we received.I moved my almost-5-year-old dog George from a single-family home in Kansas City to an apartment in downtown Seattle. My dog had been attacked by another dog when we lived in KC and exhibited intermittent dog aggression afterward. I quit taking George to dog parks and always had to have a good drip on his leash during walks, but I told myself it was fine. In an apartment building with a lot of other dogs and shared potty area, I had to admit it wasnt fine. George growled and lunged at other dogs in the building and was the pariah of the potty area. With so many dogs in Seattle, I couldnt walk George anywhere without constantly worrying that wed encounter an off-leash dog or turn a corner and unexpectedly be face-to-face with another dog and I wouldnt be able to control him.I picked Nitro K-9 because the training isnt treat-based. I had tried some treat-based and clicker training programs in the past. George would do whatever I said when I had a treat, but that never translated to general obedience and definitely didnt deal with aggression.After graduating from the 7-week Level 1 class last week, George is an obedient dog. After about the third class, I had totally forgotten that my initial concern was aggression. That melted away once George and I learned to communicate. Now I bring him to work, to softball games, to dog-friendly bars, etc., without anxiety about his behavior. Is he perfectly obedient 100% of the time? Not quite, but strangers come up to me at LEAST once a day to tell me how well-behaved he is. Is he better than pretty much every other dog I encounter? Yes.Im so pleased with this training, because George and I are able to communicate so much better with each other. I didnt think my relationship with George needed work - hes always been pretty much obsessed with me (and vice-versa), but I realize now we were both frustrated by communication failures. He wanted to please me, but I didnt communicate what I wanted in a way that he understood and I unintentionally reinforced behavior that I didnt want. Not the case now! Just hanging out at home is so much easier with our shared language. I know what to say and do to get him to do what I want and he doesnt react to unfamiliar situations out of fear, because I tell him how to respond and he trusts me.Regarding the negative Yelp reviews, obviously, theyre outliers. Crystal, the office manager, is really on top of things. Shes really quick to return phone calls and emails and she makes scheduling a breeze. I read some negative comments about Steve. Steve has always been punctual, professional, and clearly invested in my results with George. One review mentioned something about fear as a component of the training and that couldnt be further from what I experienced. Sure, we arent using treats, but theres still a big focus on positive reinforcement. Steve constantly talks about how important it is for George to enjoy training and he definitely did. George was pumped to see Steve every week. Also, Steve is always available to answer questions over the phone, which he emphasized during my last class. Not worth spending a lot of time addressing the few negative reviews, but they caused me some apprehension at first, so I want to make it clear they are inconsistent with my experience.Also, I bought one of the leashes Steve sells and its AMAZING. Since Steve has them custom made, I dont know where else to post a product review, so figured Id mention it here. Its the best leash Ive ever had, hands down. Looks good, feels good (no sharp edges like the flat nylon kind), light-weight, extremely durable.

I am very grateful to Steve, Crystal and Danny for helping me get started with training my dog. We had a unique situation in that my family and I were moving 8 weeks after my initial consultation with Steve. Despite that timeline Crystal was able to help me schedule 7 sessions with our trainer, Danny and was very encouraging about getting us started on the right path.Our dog is a mixed breed, 70 lbs, rescue dog who we have had for the past 5 years. After multiple moves for job related reasons, having a baby, and having someone move in to our house who he wasnt as familiar with we started noticing behavioral changes. He became more territorial in the house, barked at every little thing passing in front of the house, very impulsive, unable to greet guests at home without becoming overly excited to the point where we just had to put him in a bedroom, and eventually became reactive/aggresive towards other dogs, people, and even our nanny who he had known for several months. Oh and to top it all off, Im pregnant with baby 2.Meeting STEVE was great and the consultation with him was enlightening. I appreciated his honesty about aggresive dogs. You can never guarantee that an agressive dog will be trained to the point of never biting or lunging at someon again. And I knew this to be true, but hearing it from Steve reinforced it for me. What I liked was his honesty about it and that he still had some solutions for me to help manage my dog. Prong collars arent for everyone, and I get that, but for our dog it worked miracles. It is not a torture device despite its appearance. Its a tool to help correct unwanted behavior, and when I was shown how to use it correctly it changed everyhting for me and our dog. AFter the consultaiton, CRYSTAL was even more of a miracle worker helping us fit so many sessions into such short time span, so she just rocks in my opinion. She was very thorough in her follow up emails and super organized about it all.Lastly DANNY was our trainer and he was just so awesome to work with. He was honest, realistic, encouraging, available for questions, and just a really nice genuine person to learn from. HIs motivations to be in this industry are pure and it showed in how he interacted me and my dog. AFter training with him I do see a difference in my dog. Our walks are so much more pleasant, he doesnt react to toher dogs the way he use to, and his demeanor in the house is much better. There are still issues that I am dealing with, but again I moved after 7 sessions. If I had stayed in the Seattle area and continued with Nitro I have no doubt things would have just gotten progressively better. I am encouraged to continue training in our new location because now I know that things can be improved!!Thank YOu Steve, Crystal and Danny for help this preggo get a hold of at least one her children!!!!

This review has been totally delayed and Im finally getting the chance to write it. This is an email I sent to Steve a couple of months ago regarding our dog who had been having some anxiety/reactive barking behaviors on walks and in our home-I felt inspired to write you tonight after hosting a dinner party at our house with multiple friends (including males!) attending. As you know, one of the biggest issues we had with Flora was her barking at people, especially men, who came to our house. After we finished Level 1 training with you, we really worked on the bark collar, and generalizing the stuff we learned with you on her walks with us and in our home. She is still working, but even now, she is a completely different dog. Our walks with her are amazing - no pulling, no misbehaving. And, she has really transformed her behavior in our home too. Tonight, we had friends over, including male friends, one of whom is 67, and she didnt bark once. She laid on her bed and waited to greet people after they had arrived and settled in at our house as you taught us. She stayed in her bed while we ate dinner, and after dinner, I let her get up and greet people, and she went over and sat with 67 friend! People stayed for hours after dinner, and Flora was great. I know she was working hard to keep it together sometimes, and she really did it. It was awesome, and we couldnt have done it without your help!Thank you!We are still working with our dog using the skills we learned in training with Nitro K-9. We know this is an ongoing process, but feel like we have a completely different dog now. She still has work to do, but we know we have the tools to keep her on the right track as well as to correct behavior when we have to. This training truly changed our lives.

We had been trying to get ahold of Steve for quite some time now, he left 2 voicemails stating he would call back after 7pm when he was free and so far no return calls after 7pm. We were finally able to reach him and excited to learn more about his experience with training certain breeds and the different package options that he offered and what he would recommend for a new puppy of our specific large mixed breed. In an extremely condescending voice, he told me it’s on the website as if we were wasting his time. I don’t know about you but when I’m prepared to spend several thousand dollars, I personally enjoy speaking directly to a human being, especially the one who will be training my dog. Everything about the conversation was extremely negative, and his condensing attitude was highly unappreciated. Sorry but I am in capital equipment medical device sales, so I am on the road 5-7 days a week, until we are able to bring our new puppy home and then I will be able to spend more time at home. Being on the road constantly for the last several months, I appreciate those who take the time to pick up the phone to have a real conversation. After that poor interaction I will absolutely be spending my money elsewhere on our new puppy training experience.

Last fall, soon after my 90lb rescue was dropped off the van from Texas, whatever trauma he experienced in the first 8 months of his life began to manifest. He would stand guard at windows and bark at any movement he saw... a single leaf blowing down the street turned into five minutes of anxious alarm. On walks, the sight of another dog precipitated a stage ten meltdown - lunging, whining, cyclonic contortions, etc. Embarrassing for me, painful for JJ, and obviously a huge impediment to our relationship with the outdoors.Nitro was a last ditch effort to save my sanity. And Danny has been an absolute blessing of a trainer.Because of my dog work schedule and general feelings of ineptitude when handling my dog, I elected to have JJ trained through two packages of the Hands-Off Program. We have our last lesson tomorrow, and WOW is the first word that comes to mind. My dog was by no means a breeze to train... and to this end I am so grateful for the patience and honesty Danny came to work with every day.Through the combination of a prong collar, e-collar, and repeated corrections, Danny has completely turned JJ’s behavior around. He sits-stays-heels and in general tries his best to ignore the triggers that used to send him up the wall. The method is no frills... if you stick with it, it works, period. While JJ might always have his own special brand of anxiety, I finally see a clear path forward with an animal that made me feel hopeless only a month ago. It’s also not just simple dog training, you as an owner are being thoroughly equipped with knowledge & power. I am confident, self-aware, and genuinely excited when I take JJ out. We owe so much to Danny; he is inspiring, professional, and doesn’t take any BS. He will also be a true friend to one’s pet during their time together. My pup is sure gonna miss him.Thank you to the whole Nitro team for consistent communication and moral support. JJ has a road ahead of him, certainly, but I have taken back control of my life shared with this dog and that is such a major milestone.10000% recommend! The team at Nitro can handle anything thrown at them and they do so with real effort & grace.

Where do I even start? Steve and his team changed my entire thought process around my relationship with my dog for the better. Ive raised my dog from age 8 weeks, and have done puppy classes and other one on one, (positive) training sessions throughout the 3 years Ive had my dog. We moved to a condo complex where a number of really reactive dogs live and who would bark incessantly at my overly anxious dog, which in turn created some bad leash/dog reactivity with my boy. I had seen something at Nitro K9 on Instagram and spent hours pouring over and reading their website and finally making the call and setting up an assessment with Steve back in March.Right out of the gate, even though I was nervous as hell, I heard metal playing in the background..softly, which not only made me laugh (softly playing metal!) but I knew it was the right kind of place for me, and set me at ease, or as much ease as my anxious self could be. But I digress, music taste has nothing to do with this review other than I freaking loved it.Steve was able to see in 2 seconds what my dog Enzos issues were. Yes, he had anxiety, but also a lot of that anxiety came from me, and my own skills as a first time dog owner and the fact that he and I live alone, hes a mamas boy who is fiercely protective and yet dependent on me. Within that first 30 minutes, I knew I would get A LOT from working with Steve. And I was right.Fast forward to today, our second to last class in this first session of classes. Enzo can heel walk, come, sit, stay and stop with focus that he couldnt do at all before, and I didnt know how to ask him. He didnt react towards two of the very aggressive dogs in our community this morning. And I have a better understanding of why my dog does the things he does, and that hes not a mean or aggressive dog, he was just a scared dog looking for guidance from me. Yes, Steve and his team train dogs, but they are also training humans.I am very excited to continue working with Steve and his team this summer and am looking forward to seeing how far Enzo and I can go as a bonded dog/human pair. My only regret is that I didnt find them sooner. They dont make me feel like just another customer, they make me feel like a friend. Steve and Sue patiently listened when I gave some back story about being a recovering alcoholic and that my dog is a huge part of my sobriety (which I think gives insight into why the dog and I are so dependent on each other now). I tend to overshare when it comes to that part of my life, and Steve had a super open mind about it, rather than being judgmental. I think it actually helped him better understand me as a client, and why my dog was suffering from extreme separation anxiety, like other people couldnt even hold his leash even when I was right next to them..Never once did Steve make me feel like a dumb girl. I felt welcome and appreciated every week, even when I was doubting myself and upset that I (and Enzo) wasnt perfect yet. Steve told me otherwise and not to be so hard on myself. But there were times when Steve would be direct about this or that, and rather than letting that make me feel offended I took it for what it was, non sugar coated advice, and used it, and practiced and it paid off. You get what you put into it in just about everything you do in life, and dog training is no exception. But dont come to Nitro K9 once a week and then not practice at home and expect your dog to be perfect, because that wont happen. You can expect to be treated with respect and honestly and to be given the tools to succeed from Nitro K9.10/10 would recommend.

Hello. Ive not yet hired you . I live in sandiego calif .. do you ever get down this way ?

By far the best experience I have had with a dog trainer. I adopted a rescue with several issues including anxiety and fear aggression. Steve and Christina worked with me on how to use a prong collar to redirect his attention and improve his obedience. I also have had Ari (my dog) stay with them while I go out of town and they re-enforce the training while Im away which is great!I have learned so much from them and appreciate their training approach by not relying on food. At first I was weary about prong collar training but it has really paid off and now I know that if it is used correctly, it is a good way to manage leash pulling and encourage obedience at all times while in public which is really important for me as I work with my dogs fear aggression and anxiety.Thank you Steve and Christina, you are truly the best dog trainers in Seattle, cheers!

I have many years of experience with dogs and I can say without a doubt these guys are fantastic & know their stuff. I had a pitbull I brought though obedience training with them and she heeled beautifully after training, everywhere, large crowds, parks, Greenlake, on and off leash. I also have a Mastiff puppy I will be bringing them soon. They love dogs.

Quick version: reactive dog, steve and nitro k9, then amazing results. best money i’ve ever spent.long story, small dog:a 9lb mutty chihuahua can cause a whole lot of heart ache, angst, worry, and bandaids for bitten fingers. theo came to me after living under the freeway, abused, and flea infested. he was difficult (to say the least) from the first day. he was hyper vigilant, constantly listening and barking at any real or perceived movement/sound. heat turning on? barking. heat turning off? bark at that too. he would burst into uncontrollable barking fits at just the idea of a leaf falling outside. nothing was safe from his (failed) attempts to control! he was extremely possessive and would guard any prized possession. no matter what it was, i would never dare take something from him. he would bite me if i startled him and i learned to never let other people pet, walk, or interact much with him. needless to say, after several years, we were isolated and miserable! it was obvious that theo was very unhappy. i tried other classes for reactive dogs but all were treat based and we failed miserably. given that he was unreliable at best with this kind of motivation, it all fell flat, leaving me even more discouraged. worst of all, his behavior seemed to be intensifying. it was obvious that in addition to his chihuahua attitude, theo was fearfully aggressive and trying to control the world.now for the good part! after several years of living under theo’s reign, i researched trainers for reactive, aggressive dogs. i came across steve and his team at nitro k9. filling out the initial forms describing his behavior was telling...i needed help! after submitting my online forms about his behavior (it’s a lot of information but worth it!), crystal contacted me almost immediately and i was on the schedule within 24 hours. after just several sessions, theo’s behavior was massively changed. almost immediately theo went from fearfully trying to control the world (and then biting out of fear) to a being a calmer, sweeter, happier guy. steve taught me through basic skills how to show theo that not only is he NOT the boss, but he’s terrible at being in charge (especially given the no thumbs, tiny brain etc) and that i am in charge. once theo learned this (thanks to the lessons from steve), theo was able to relax and just be a dog. and then he literally crashed...he slept for months because apparently years of being terrible at being in control of the world, worry, and angst is exhausting! he was finally able to relax. i did too. when he is scared, he quietly walks over to me and lays at my feet. the skills that steve taught me (us) were not overly complex, just simple commands that with lots of practice showed fast results. while theo will likely always need “tuneups,” i can honestly say that he is finally the dog he was supposed to be. i would have settled for him just not biting me but the rewards were so much more. steve and the team and nitro k9 were compassionate, attentive, and responsive. even a year later, when he had a lapse in behavior, i contacted them and they quickly got me in and theo was back on track. there is still progress to be made, and we will likely always be doing “maintenance,” but after shedding the layers of his fear based aggression, i can finally have a relationship with the real theo.i’m not going to lie, it’s hard work. steve is a no BS kind of guy, he trains and works hard. but given the circumstances, it’s exactly what both theo and i needed.steve and team at nitro k9, thank you for your transformative work!

I worked with Steve and Ajase and I was blown away by their dedication. My dog has done a 180. At first I wasnt sure if I could keep him because of constant barking and other behavioral issues. He is a completely new dog now and people always comment on how well behaved he is. I love that I can unleash him and take him with me anywhere. Steve and Ajase also go above and beyond in their support for you!

We’ve been taking our working line German Shepherd Dog Here since he was 3 months old. Steve and his crew have a way with my pup who responds eagerly to all the trainers, always excited to learn more.That being said, Steve trains the dog 10% of the time and the handler 90% of the time. He’ll make sure you’ve got the tools and skills to be a responsible dog owner. I always recommend NitroK9 and Steve to anyone looking to have a well mannered dog and to have a better foundation for communicating with their dog. Sick of the pulling, lunging, barking? Talk to Nitro. Want a good start with a new puppy? Talk to Nitro.It’s more pricey than petsmart or petsco, but for the one on one training and reliable handling we’ve gotten with our pup- it’s been worth every penny.

Its hard to know where to start in expressing my enthusiasm for Steve and his crew at Nitro!I have a 1 yo female GSD (Maisie) that I took to Nitro for level 1 private lessons a few months ago. Before discovering Nitro, I struggled with this dog!! She is not very interested in food, and so she would not work for food rewards beyond a very short and unenthusiastic couple of minutes. She plays with toys a bit, but not enough to use toys as a training reward either. Basically every single training method I could find was brokenby these two basic facts about her!Most more-normal and less-obsessive people would be horrified by the amount of time I spent researching and trying things, the number of books I bought, and the amount of money I spent on in-person or online trainers -- all to try make the training work. Meanwhile, poor Maisie was starting to freak me out with her reactivity to other dogs: she couldnt see another dog at 20 yards without losing her mind!But wherever I looked, I ran into the same basic training paradigm, with trainers calling themsvea force free, purely positive, even some balanced trainers. These methods seem (to me) to be so ascendent not because of their effectiveness, but because of their rhetorical power. In hindsight, I now think that these schools of thought, while they may work ok for some dogs, are fundamentally flawed. In my assessment, they get it wrong in their understanding of the nature of the dog, and it affects their entire training system. It would take a while to explain why, but thats what I can now see, clear as day.Now I know that so much more is possible! How do I know this? Because of my experience with Nitro. Steve (along with a much-harder-to-find category of trainers scattered around the world) has a fundamentally different philosophy of dog training, manifesting as a strikingly different approach. No food bribes needed! No harsh corrections either! Just the leadership that the dog needs and wants, and some artful technique with the leash handling and handler movements. What is more, Steve is a patient, compassionate and skillful teacher -- evidenced by the fact that he teaches so many dog owners to learn and apply his method effectively.The proof is in the pudding: at this point (Im a couple weeks into level 2 now), Maisie is a transformed dog! She snaps into obedience mode at a distance, off leash, with a couple hand gestures. She comes on command. She can do a sweet looking off leash heel (head in, eyes looking up at me) for 15+ minutes without missing a beat. She can do all kinds of maneuvers, all in a public park (not yet with crazy distractions but a couple other dogs are ok!) and off leash.What is most amazing is how her overall disposition has changed! She is calmer, more confident, and generally happier! She responds to me now because she trusts me, and WANTS to follow my lead! Its really, really remarkable.I have been so emboldened by my experience with Steve that I now have a second dog -- an 8 mo Doberman -- and Im confident that I can turn this boy into a happy, well-mannered member of my family with the help of Nitro.I would be remiss if I didnt sing the praises of Steves crew as well! Crystal made the initial contact and subsequent scheduling into a fantastic customer experience. She really goes above and beyond and its a delight to interact with her! Matthew has helped me during several training sessions, and he has been a huge help as I sorted out the important nuances of the training techniques. Danny helped me during one session as well, which was a blast. Im looking forward to meeting the great Christina in Jan as I do a hands off training with my new Dobie to get him in top form quickly!Seriously -- if you have a sneaking suspicion that training your dog with food rewards and a clicker is maybe missing out on something basic...and you suspect that those challenging behavioral problems may be need something fundamentally different...call Steve, you will be so happy that you did!

I met with Steve for a consultation and was not impressed. My dog gets anxiety occasionally and acts out when hes scared. Its not even a major issue, I just wanted to learn some coping mechanisms and ways to calm him down when hes scared. The trainer, Steve, told me that my dog is special needs, I just have to live with it and the best I could do is stick my dog in a kennel with a bark collar on when hes panicking. There is no way I would EVER do that, my dog is already afraid. It doesnt take a genius to realize that would only make the problem worse. WORST PART: he didnt even actually see the behavior! Just made assumptions!

This review is long overdue. I brought Freya a German sheperd to Steve. Freya was lunging and barking at other dogs. I had bruises on my hands from our walks. Freya is a high drive working dog that had been rehomed. The previous home she had been in she had been inside a lot and had barked at any noise. This turned into Freya barking constantly at everything. This of course followed her to her new home. She barked when her kids left for school when they came home she barked at every noise she heard. She jumped at the fence at the neighbors walking their dogs ect. She knew a couple basic commands but could not focus and if she saw another dog all bets were off.I knew pretty quickly that I needed some help to get Freya on the right track.Then we met Steve. Freyas world changed, literally in the first five minutes I saw a change. I regret not having video of her first meeting with Steve.I got to the meeting location a little early, a had to bring an umbrella so I could block Freya view of other dogs, this was how bad her reaction to dogs was. Finally Freya got to meet Steve. He talked to me and her explained the prong collar and got one out. We put the collar on her she had not seen another dog in a few minutes so she calmer. While Freya had her new collar on another dog came on view she started with the barking lunging and was given a corrections. She stopped barking then a second dog came into her view she started to lunge and bark but not with the same intensity, after the second correction I saw her look at Steve and breath a sigh of relief kinda of like I get it I don’t have to worry about that. She got into a fantastic heel had a more confident look about her. She still tried to eyeball another dog but with a little correction she kept going. Now this is the part where I learn how to do the correction the timing and practice with Freya. She had two years of habits that she had to unlearn. We have worked with Steve and Freya is super amazing.People watch her do her obedience at parks and ask if they can applaud for her. Freya can now channel her drive. She loves her obedience and she loves the attention and the applause.I will warn once Steve gets your dog he will make your dog hungry to learn. After Freya got her aggression and anxiety under control. Her drive is now focused and I can’t teach her fast enough. She’s wat hinge everything I do no joke she saw me use a hand dryer twice and the third time she waited till I turned the facet off and walked over and started the dryer for me. She watched me sit on a concrete wall and swing my legs over to avoid a puddle so instead of walking around she followed my actions.Freya and I will be lifelong students she loves training so do and she can’t get enough. Freya will start nose work soon she’s been practicing and loves it.About prong collars for anybody worried Freya loves her collar it saved her life. From day one her stress dropped. After her first time wearing it and meeting Steve and the end of her evaluation she looked up at him and he said go ahead she jumped up and licked his face. Steve said she’s been waiting all her life for this how true. What a turn around I can’t thank you enough.Marcie and Freya

I have never posted a review befor but I believe it is important that people know that Nitro K-9 can not be trusted to do what they say. Do not believe them. They can not be trusted with your pet or property.

These guys do a great job.

I called, left messages and was promised a call back. Never got one... Very disappointed

Great, easy going positive dog training.

Amazing trainers, very professional and skilled

Experts with amazing results

Great staff

Tall to steve

Nice