K9KEY - Baldwin, New York

Laura A.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I can't say enough about Steve's incredible work with my dog. When we first came to him, my dog had severe resource guarding issues with food that made meal times stressful and concerning. Steve's expertise and patient approach completely transformed our situation.

Not only did Steve address the resource guarding, but he also equipped my dog with an impressive foundation of commands. The change in my dog's behavior has been nothing short of miraculous! Our relationship has blossomed into something I never thought possible - we now have a bond built on trust and understanding.

As an added bonus, Steve offers boarding services when we travel, which gives us incredible peace of mind knowing our dog is with someone who truly understands him. Watching Steve interact with my dog shows his genuine love for animals and his commitment to positive training methods.

The investment in Steve's training program was absolutely worth every penny. If you're struggling with behavioral issues or simply want to build a better relationship with your dog, don't hesitate to work with Steve. His skills have made a life-changing difference for both me and Skipper!

Miguel H.

I had a very positive experience with K9KEY for training my standard poodle, Venus. Before the program, she had some challenges with walking in the heel position and her recall off-leash, as well as some aggression and reactivity. After completing a six week board and train, I’ve noticed significant improvements.

Venus now walks much better in heel position, and her recall off-leash has immensly improved, which is a big relief. Today I even went on a bike ride off leash with her (at a park) and had her on heel for a while 🙂

Steve and the trainers at K9 Key are very knowledgeable and worked well with her. Communication was good throughout the process, and I appreciated their video updates.

I especially appreciate their Saturday classes where we can continue to improve her (our) skills. I have already recommended their services to friends of mine and hope to continue her training with Steve in the future.

Overall, I’m very happy with the results and would recommend K9KEY to others looking to improve their dogs training, communication and especially their relationship with their dogs.

Ashley M.

I have a 5 year old yorkie who spent 8 weeks with Steve. My main issues with her were reactivity while walking, leash pulling, lack of obedience for commands and stubbornness. After her 8 weeks with Steve, she is able to sit , heel, place, lay down, stay and come on command. Our walks have been more pleasant and she is more manageable. I also attended a training session after with Steve where he affirmed the teachings so I could see. When I picked up my dog she was happy to see me which was a big concern of mine , I also saw she felt comfortable and safe with Steve! I would recommend Steve as a trainer. After I picked her up he continues to answer questions I have and follow up with me. I also understand I have to do my part with consistency and training.

Kati I.

We sent our dog here to work on his leash reactivity, build confidence, and work on his socialization with both dogs and people. Our main hope at the end of this was to lower our anxiety when going outside for something as simple as a walk. We could not have been happier with the progress Saz made when he came home. He walks great on a leash and is able to play off leash with new dogs. He is also an excellent listener - and when he does have an off day or moment, we are able to control it better. He is more confident and happy to be exploring new places, while previously his tail was always down and he appeared timid. It’s a big decision but at the end of the day it was so worth it!! We are looking forward to our weekly sessions moving forward to build on what he learned during his 7 weeks.

Justin M.

Absolutely thrilled with the training experience we had with Steve! We brought our 2-year-old Golden-Irish Setter Mix, Stanley, to him for a little over 7 weeks—3 weeks longer than originally planned—and the results have been incredible. Stanley struggled with recall and had some anxiety when he wasn’t the center of attention or was startled. After Steve’s training, Stanley is a completely different dog. His recall has drastically improved, and he’s much more relaxed overall.

Steve was always easy to communicate with, keeping us updated on Stanley’s progress throughout the training. One of the best parts of the experience is the regular training classes he offers, several times a month. These sessions give my wife and me the opportunity to continue working on our skills as owners, reinforcing what Stanley has learned.

It’s been about 5 months since Stanley completed his initial training, and with the continued support of Steve’s classes and consistent practice at home, Stanley has made even more progress. If you're in the NYC or Long Island area and looking for thoughtful, effective dog training, I highly recommend Steve. The results speak for themselves—Stanley is better behaved, and we’ve become much more confident owners thanks to Steve's guidance!

Brittany B.

We sent our dog Dublin to Steve at K9Key at the recommendation of my cousin who had previously used Steve’s board and train services. My cousin raved about how amazing Steve was with their dog so we knew he was the right choice. After 6 and a half weeks we were reconnected with our perfect boy. He is much better walking on a leash now and quick to correct any unwanted behaviors. Thank you Steve!

Akber K.

Lola, our doberman mix, had serious aggression issues with other dogs and it was beginning to overwhelm us. Steve and K9Key's boarding program was perfect for our needs. They wound up needing a total of 8-weeks with Lola (at no additional cost above the quoted 4-week price), but the extra time was worth it. We were provided regular video updates as her training progressed. When we got her back she was a different dog - more obedient, less aggressive, and far easier to handle. Steve gave us good documentation on her training and how we could continue it at home, which is a crucial factor in making sure her good behavior sticks.

She had such a great time that she was very sad when she had to say goodbye to Steve. But she gets to see him again whenever we attend the Saturday group sessions where dogs that have boarded with Steve get to practice and proof the skills learned during boarding with their owners. And did I mention the sessions are free?

Can't recommend Steve and K9Key enough.

Sindhu

Our dog Moka stayed with Steve for 8 weeks for her training. Before going to Steve, our little girl lacked the obedience and socialization skills she needed in the real world. Walking her was extremely anxiety-inducing because you never knew how she would react to another dog across the street. But since her training, there has been a noticeable difference in her behavior. Now, I can confidently walk her, even beside other dogs, and know how to handle her and help her do better.

One of the standout qualities of Steve is his ability to communicate effectively with both dogs and their human counterparts. Yes, our dog needed training. But we as pup parents also needed to be taught how to communicate with our dog and continue to reinforce the training that Steve started. What has been instrumental in this are the weekly group training sessions Steve organizes that help our dog and us learn in the real-world setting.

Over the course of our dog’s stay, Steve informed us that he wouldn’t have time for routine updates since he was busy training multiple dogs each day- which is understandable. But with our pup staying away for over 8 weeks, I think the only suggestion we have is atleast an update a week, which would help immensely for anxious pup parents. But we put our of faith in Steve and we knew our pup was in good hands. And when we finally brought Moka home, we were not disappointed. Our little pup has learnt a lot in the short time she was away.

Since her training, we have witnessed remarkable progress in Moka’s behavior under Steve's guidance. The results were not only visible during the training sessions but also carried over into our everyday interactions with our dog. We are incredibly grateful for the positive impact Steve has had on our dog's behavior and our relationship with our furry family member.