Aggression & Reactivity Dog Training Reviews | K9KEY Long Island & NYC

We had an incredible experience with Steve at K9Key dog training. He was able to squeeze us in during my third trimester when we were really concerned about recent behavioral changes in our 3.5 year old dog, Murphy. Around that time, Murphy started acting out and resource guarding me—even from my husband—which made us worried about how he would adjust once the baby arrived. He became less friendly towards people and was afraid of other dogs on the street, sometimes refusing to walk past them.

Steve immediately understood the situation and was calm, knowledgeable, and reassuring. He worked closely with Murphy and even kept him for extra time until our baby was born and we were settled at home, without charging us for the additional care. That level of support meant so much to us during a very stressful time! We missed Murphy terribly and having him away from us during the late stages of my pregnancy was hard, but it was so worth it.

When Murphy came back, he was a completely different dog in the best way—more obedient, relaxed, and warm toward people again. We feel so much more confident having him around our newborn. Murphy is also much more sure of himself during his walks and never hesitates to pass other dogs! Steve provided us with clear instructions when we picked Murphy up for ongoing training as well as ways to keep Murphy and our baby separate, especially while we all adjusted to this new chapter. We’re truly grateful for Steve’s help and would highly recommend him to anyone dealing with behavioral challenges in their dog.

- The Greens

Training two young doodles (Mochi age 3 and Nori 2) with significant leash reactivity was a daunting task, but the "Board and Train" program with Steve provided the reset our household desperately needed.

The Challenge We sent our dogs in because they had become increasingly difficult to manage. Despite knowing their commands, they simply chose not to listen. The situation was particularly serious with our eldest, who had five prior incidents of biting other dogs. As relatively new pet parents, we realized we had unintentionally fostered this environment by providing too much freedom and not enough structure.

The Training & Results Steve provided a solid foundation that was missing. The "trust the system" approach was nerve-wracking, but it paid off.

Behavioral Shift: They returned as much better-behaved versions of themselves. The foundation Steve built has made them significantly more manageable.

Acclimation: While we were worried about how they would settle in, Steve noted they adjusted to the new environment and structure within about a week.

Personalized Advice: One of the biggest takeaways was the instruction to walk them separately. Steve identified that they were bonding too much with each other rather than with us; separating their walks has been a game-changer for building that individual focus and bond.

Communication The only area for improvement was the frequency of updates. As nervous owners, the wait between check-ins was difficult. Updates, photos, or videos typically came once every 7 to 10 days. While the results speak for themselves, more frequent communication would have helped ease the transition.

Final Verdict If you are struggling with leash reactivity or dogs that "know" commands but don't follow them, Steve’s program is highly effective. It was a hard lesson for us to learn regarding structure versus freedom, but we are grateful for the foundation now in place. We finally have the tools to be the leaders our dogs need.

Although I’ve owned a Siberian Husky in the past, Monty had some issues that I felt needed professional help. He didn’t respect boundaries at home and showed a lot of anxiety around things like putting on his collar or leash especially if I had someone else dog sitting him.

Once I contacted K9KEY Jay got back to me very quickly. I set up a consultation with Steve, where he explained what to expect from the program, and we scheduled Monty’s start date. I packed a duffel bag for him like a crazy dog mom with food, treats, vitamins, a blanket, and toys and Monty spent 12 weeks with Steve and his family in their home.

Before choosing K9KEY, I had looked into several other board-and-train programs and noticed that many rely heavily on crating and don’t have someone present with the dogs overnight once the facility closes. It gave me a lot of peace of mind knowing that Monty would be living in a home environment with consistent supervision and interaction.

I did receive occasional updates, and of course I would have liked to hear more but I made a conscious effort to trust the process and respect Steve as a professional. I’d rather know that their time is spent caring for and training the dogs than sending constant photos and texts to each client. With 24-hour care, that alone is more than a full-time job.

The reunion with Monty was very informative. Beforehand Steve will provide a list of items he recommends for training, which you should be prepared to bring to the pickup session. And afterward he provides a video of the exercises he wants you to continue at home.

I am 100% happy with the work Steve has done with Monty. He’s much calmer, and I truly think he needed the structure that Steve’s training provides. He’s learning and understanding what is expected of him and respecting boundaries. He drops items he shouldn’t have when asked, stays off the couch, and doesn't go upstairs. I train with him for a few minutes every day, and he does great at home with no distractions. We can now walk without leash pulling, and we’re even working on off leash heel in the backyard. When I call him while he’s free roaming, he actually comes.

We’ve attended one group class so far, and both Monty and I still need work in more distracting environments. However, since Steve offers these opportunities and ongoing guidance, I’m confident it will continue to improve. I'm grateful to be able to train with other dogs around.

Steve also offers boarding services for a reasonable fee for graduates of his program, which is a great option. You know your pup is in good hands, and their training continues to be reinforced.

If you think K9KEY can help you and your dog, don’t hesitate and don’t stress if updates aren’t as frequent as you want. They’re professionals. Trust them to do their job, and more importantly be ready to do yours once your dog comes home.

I think this was the best decision I could have made as an investment in Monty’s quality of life and for everyone he interacts with.

Thank you to Steve and the K9KEY team for all the work you put in, and especially for dedicating your free time to providing free group classes for clients. It really shows how much you care and stand behind what you do.

I am truly not exaggerating when I say that Steve and his fellow trainers changed our lives. My husband and I got our dog, Stanley, just before the pandemic started and we had been dealing with behavioral issues since the beginning. He would be the sweetest boy one minute, and the next he would be snapping at us because we pet him in a way that he didn’t like. We went to countless behaviorists and trainers and they all had a tough time understanding Stanley and nothing really seemed to click. My husband and I knew we wanted kids, so we were desperate to find some sort of training for Stanley because the thought of rehousing him would absolutely break our hearts. Thank goodness we found K9Key School. Stanley stayed with them for 11 weeks during which we got the occasional picture and videos showing us his training journey and his results were astounding! Behaviorally he feels like a different dog. We were given instructions on how to continue Stanley’s training at home so we can keep progressing with him.

If you are at all worried about leaving your furry friend, I hope this review helps you feel some relief. I had read horror stories from other overnight training programs about people getting their dogs back and they seemed like they had completely lost their personality, but I can say with absolute certainty that Stanley is still the same sweet, adorable goofball that my husband and I fell in love with. Also, Stanley is absolutely obsessed with Steve and loses his mind with happiness every time we see him at the group training sessions. Please know that you dog is in amazing hands with this company. 5 stars doesn’t feel like nearly enough!

We reached out to Steve to train our two 2-year-old American hairless terriers. We had an initial consultation where he explained what the expectations would be for the upcoming weeks of training. He spent the time to get to know our dogs and their demeanor. He did an excellent job of reinforcing their basic commands like sit, stay, come, place, down, etc and explaining some of their behavioral responses. The return home meeting was highly informative on how to carry out continued training with our pups and we have continued support for any issues we may encounter. Our dogs are much more responsive now, and we have the necessary tools and guidance for continuous training.

Our 75 pound Ausie/ Great Pyrenees rescue came back a different dog. His recall was non existent, couldn’t get him to stay, he would go crazy every time someone would come to the door. 9 weeks later he comes as soon as you call him, he stays where he’s told, he goes to his place every time someone comes to the door and waits to be greeted. Bonus he is now crated trained as well. Took longer than expected and missed him terribly but the results are great.

I came to Steve desperate for help with my 6.5-year-old German Shepherd, who had been dog-reactive since she was two. I had never sought professional help before, but things had reached a breaking point. While Steve isn’t a magic fix, he provided the tools and guidance I needed to finally manage her reactivity. I’m so grateful to have found his services!

I can’t say enough wonderful things about K9Key and our trainer, Steve. My dog, Scar, had been living on the streets of Texas before being rescued. When he came to me, he had very little experience living indoors and needed help adjusting to a normal home life. One of my biggest worries was how he would react to people entering my home — especially young children.

Before training, my nephew and Scar were very uneasy around each other, which only reinforced my fears. Now, after working with Steve, the difference is unbelievable — they play fetch together outside as well as practice commands inside. It’s heartwarming to see how far Scar has come and how other people can enjoy Scar’s company as much as I do.

Scar spent 7 weeks in training with Steve, and the results have been incredible. He came back the same goofy, loving dog I fell in love with, but now with manners, structure, and confidence. He knows several commands, listens beautifully, and appears much more comfortable in all different environments. The transformation has been night and day, but without losing his wonderful personality.

What really sets K9Key apart is the continuing support. Steve offers weekly follow-up classes so owners can continue learning and reinforcing their dog’s skills. It’s been such a great way to keep Scar’s progress going — and to build my confidence as an owner, too.

If you’re looking for a trainer who truly understands dogs, cares deeply about their success, and takes the time to set both the dog and the owner up for long-term results, Steve at K9Key is the one. I’m so grateful for what he’s done for Scar and for us!

So i have a 3 year old pitbull who when I adopted him was an intact male that got neutered shortly after I got him. He was hyper and lived on the street for the first 10 months of his life so had zero social skills.With in the first month of me adopting him he got into a fight with another dog at dog park and showed signs of aggression to a family member. I then got his first dog trainer which was basically a guy saying what I should do but not really spending the time with me and chester to get him where he needs to be. I then seek out a new trainer that is where I came across k9keys web sight online and reached out for help. Chester spent 12+ weeks with Steve and I have been working with Steve every week i can make to his classes and chester is a new dog. I haven't had any probles with people or dogs. I have control of him and understand his tendencies to other animals. I would like to say thank you too Steve at k9key and to anyone needing a good dog trainer don't think twice get k9key too help and see you at class when Steve does his thing.

Amazing trainer,

Helped straighten out our dogs behavioral issues. And pulling, now my wife, who is 100lbs can walk our fully grown German shepherd all by herself.

Steve is incredible and if you have any doubts on his results, let me tell you. He delivers!!!

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.

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!

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.

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.

We have rescue pups who displayed anxiety (masked as aggression and over-excitement). Trying to walk them was, frankly, exhausting for all. Though It was a bit daunting to hand over our beloved pets for an extended stay, they came home happy, healthy, and calmly adapted to leash walking. They walk alone or together, ignoring passersby and other dogs/distractions. Come/Sit/Stay/Place, etc. are all attended to. Obviously it is up to us to maintain what was learned but Steve and his crew are wonderful trainers and caretakers--we could not be more pleased with (and grateful for!) the work he did.

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.

We learned about Steve and K9 Key through his countless positive reviews here on Google. We got our 2 year old Aussiedoodle Draco at 3 Months during COVID in 2021 and we worked with two different trainers. Draco learned very basic obedience and commands. However, due to a tragic accident where he was hit and run by a car and it was such a miracle that he survived with no physical long term effects but at the expense of being chased by first responders in our town and other pedestrians trying to help us get him back, Draco lost so much trust in people other than myself and my husband. The mental trauma that he experienced that day changed him completely. Thankfully he made a full recovery but after this event he became very reactive towards everyone other than us. We worked with a local trainer and after a year and some change we saw some positive change however he would still bark at people and children, lunge at others on the street and also pull us and lunge at others when on walks. Thankfully, we took a chance and we live in New Jersey and we made the almost 2 hour commute to meet Steve. Steve was extremely kind, honest, and up front after meeting Draco telling us realistically that with his training program and following up with his classes he could see us getting to be better but that this would be a journey not just with Draco doing his part but for us as his parents as well. He stressed the important of his training but also how critical training is after a few weeks working with him and his team. I think this part is most critical. After working with Steve we are beyond grateful for what he and his team were able to accomplish with our Draco and what we’ve learned to keep him safe. Draco now is much less reactive than before Steve has helped us harness tools to control his reactivity and how to correct his behavior. We have been beyond impressed with Steve’s knowledge on dog behavior and especially his Saturday classes. Steve’s attention to detail is second to none in group classes he remembers every dogs name, their strengths, and their weaknesses and is able to harness a safe environment for parents working with dogs like our Draco who has reactivity. What Steve has built is a community of dog lovers trying to learn better communication with their dogs. We cannot recommend his program enough and believe his program is well worth the investment. We cannot thank you enough Steve!

Great experience for my 5 year old aussie, we have had to move twice in a year and he was very unsettled and very reactive to things, Steve helped us and Bauer. Also for a bonus Bauer can now sit and stay for much longer. Bauer is now much calmer and confident.

I would highly recommend K9KEY to anyone looking to train their dog. Steve and his crew really did an amazing job with our dog Blu. She was showing aggression on a daily basis including lunging at the windows, people outside/on our property which also made it almost impossible to take her on walks or control her on or off leash. We had looked time and time again for a dog trainer in which we could trust (or even just show up for an evaluation after a few failed attempts of this) and after doing some research came across K9KEY. After going in for an evaluation on Blu, Steve was honest with what he believed he would be able to achieve with Blu based off that interaction with her and was very thorough with how the process would go. He was extremely responsive and sent videos updating us on Blu’s training and how she was adjusting which was great. After Blu’s training we learned how to continue her training in the way Steve taught us and have really enjoyed it. It gave our dog structure, and she really enjoys it as well. Her listening skills are better than we could have hoped for. Our vet mentioned how well behaved she was when we brought her after her training. The best part is we will be able to continue her training with K9KEY at the weekly meet ups. We can’t thank Steve and the K9KEY staff enough for the care and education they provided for Blu and our family.

Steve is a lifesaver! He is the best dog trainer and we had such a great experience. Our dog Louie is an Irish doodle and he displays food aggression and guarding. Steve trained Louie-he stayed with him for 6 weeks-on his behavioral issues. He patiently went over with us (many times) what we needed to do at home. He was always available to answer a text or give us a moment of his time after the Saturday training sessions. Louie is a gem and we love him! Louie also stays with Steve when we go away and he’s always so excited to see him. Thank you Steve and K9Key!

Steve and K9Key changed our lives. We rescued a 6/7 month old GSD who we realized we could only walk after 11pm because she was THAT reactive to people and dogs.

After 7 weeks with Steve, our girl came back unfazed by crowds and was able to walk past dogs at a distance. She had been given rules and structure that allowed her to feel more confident and safe. We continue to take our dog to the free Saturday classes and the whole family (human and canine) improves with each visit. Now, dogs are even less of an issue! Our dog is showing less fear and greater curiosity.

Had we not sent her to K9Key, I don't know what we would have done. Put your trust in them and it will pay off ten-fold.

This was my first time bringing my dog to a summer camp and I have to say I was very hesitant. But I am so happy I did ! Steve did an amazing job with my German Shepherd ! Before Risky use to give us the hardest time, with trying to walk him, he would always pull me, try and leap towards other people walking on the street or riding their bike. We had a very difficult time with him listening to us and him being so overreactive. Risky stayed with Steve for about 8 weeks and it was so difficult for us, but I know he was getting the training he desperately needed ! I use to think that we waited too late to take him to get trained, he was 2 years old when we decided to take him. We were told by other dog owners we waited to long he won’t be to be trained, but I am very happy we took him. I am very grateful we found K9 key ! Steve has taught us on how to handle Risky and how we should go about training him. It is definitely worth the money! I would recommend K9 key to anyone with puppies or older dogs!

Our dog, Dakota, gained some serious anxiety issues during the pandemic and became very protective of our home and the new baby we had during that time. When we started to let people back into our home again Dakota was aggressive and we had a few issues that frankly we didn’t know how to handle on our own. Steve was reassuring and didn’t show judgement to us as bad pet owners. He had compassion for our situation and took the issues as seriously as we did. Dakota did not return home to us until Steve felt comfortable with his new skill set. There is a lot of work we need to do as pet owners and Steve made that clear from the beginning as well, but the change that Dakota has made on his own is drastic. We are forever grateful for the work that Steve and his team have done!

I rescued my dog 5 years ago from the shelter. He is a pitbull, lab, and boxer mix. My dog is my life’s purpose and subsequently I am also his; because of our codependent relationship and a past where he was (presumably) abused, he believes his job is to protect me. This made him reactive and protective in situations even when it was unwarranted; other people could not even be within his line of vision of hearing. He had a tendency to lunge, pull on his leash, & had the ability to be dangerous to others because of his strength and their ignorance on large dogs. Meeting Steve has saved my dog - Steve has used my dog’s strengths to make him better and has helped create confidence with my dog’s insecurities. Not only that, Steve has made me a better owner - someone my dog deserves and who understands him better. After a board and train - where Steve really gets to know and learn your dog - we continue at classes, typically 1x a week, with others like us, where we learn how to handle situations that may not be in the dogs control and how as people to keep our dog safe. My dog gets better, smarter, and learns something new every time we are with Steve; I also, get better, smarter, and I learn new things every time we are with Steve. Now my dog is an extremely picky dog with who he allows within his circle and even pickier when it comes to who gets to be near mama and he is an excellent judge of character - he loves Steve and looks so his affection and approval every time we see him. We will always be grateful to Steve for everything he has done for us and continues to teach us - here’s to years and years of this relationship!

I knew I needed a professional trainer for our year-old German Shepard puppy when he started nipping at me and wouldn't listen to any of the commands I would give him. Every time I tried to put his leash on him, he would nip at me, which became an agonizing process. He also became challenging to walk and jumped on every stranger he encountered. We started working with a trainer once a week at home, which we soon found out was not going to be enough.

I searched for a board and train program online for weeks and spoke with multiple recommended trainers, but I didn't feel confident leaving our dog, Sam, with them. I finally found K9Key, and after our first meeting with Steve, I felt completely comfortable with him and knew Sam would be in the best possible care. The process of getting Sam set up was very professional and completely seamless. K9Key accommodated our schedule and fit Sam in at a time that worked for us.

During the training, Steve was very communicative and updated us on how Sam was doing with videos and photos. From the beginning, we were told that Sam would probably have to stay over four weeks, which we are so happy he did because he returned a completely different dog. He no longer nips at me and finally obeys the commands I give to him.

Steve is truly a dog whisper, and the ongoing training sessions are priceless. Every time Sam sees Steve at K9Key's free weekly training session, it's like he sees his best friend again. I honestly cannot say enough amazing things about K9Key and Steve, because they have changed not only our dog's life, but ours as well.

K9KEY Dog School was great for our Black German Shepherd, Loki! We are first dog owners and looked for a dog trainer to correct Loki’s behavior issues.

K9KEY Dog School changed Loki’s bad behavior and taught us all about controlling Loki and keeping him healthy.

Now, Loki is such a well-mannered dog, he is confident to socialize with other dogs and he is great with kids. Thank you K9KEY!

We're *incredibly* grateful to Steve & the K9Key crew-- they took our anxious, reactive, bossy rescue who for over 3 whole years would lunge at passing dogs and people but cower at the sound of any passing truck, and who would sometimes turn on her handler as they handled her collar or harness. She had become something of a nuisance in our building and on our block, and we felt over our heads in managing her. We had been working with professional, well-respected trainers, our vet, and the behavior vets, and it all helped to some degree-- but she would still lunge and attempt to bite, sometimes, and after she bit a dog walker after a walk, we reached out to K9Key.

K9Key offers a 4-week board and train that sometimes gets extended as needed (more weeks, no additional charge) so that they can give each dog the time it needs to acclimate and work through their behaviors and learn new foundational skills. Our pup ended up being there for 10 weeks total (lol/sigh. she's a knucklehead), and the wait was... really hard? They sent a few videos, but we really didn't know what to expect when we went to pick her up.

What we found when we picked her up was a dog who was her same goofy self indoors, and, outdoors, a dog who was completely nonchalant around dogs she used to lunge at (she now in fact looks at them like *they're* nuts when they lunge at her as she trots by), stays in a heel when passing between TWO garbage trucks (unbelievable!), and is able to hold a down on a relatively busy corner a few blocks from Barclay's Center that used to be a huge stressor for her. She no longer needs her muzzle in the hallway and elevator of our building (though we still use it occasionally to keep her comfortable with it-- and she no longer causes a fuss when we fiddle with the buckle), and hold her down in the elevator without an issue. Her new foundations are *amazing*.

One of the best aspects of working w/ K9Key, though, is the ongoing weekly lessons. We've only had one since picking up our pup, but during that session, we continued the work of building Bailey's focusing and heeling skills around other dogs and also received personalized feedback that has continued to help our leash communication skills.

We are incredibly grateful to the K9Key team-- they may seem magic, but they're not. They're just great with dogs, and are committed to helping everyday people become more skilled with their dogs, too.

K9KEY is the best training our dog Ace could have received. Steve and the team are so patient and eager that Ace had to stay an extra 3.5 weeks with them and they wanted to make sure that he was trained to perfection for his new little brother. The Saturday classes are so helpful in making sure you are keeping up with the trainings. Ace is an 80 pound German Shepherd who we know get so many compliments out about his behavior. For the price this training is completely worth it and it is an investment to have a well trained dog especially it was important for our growing family. We will definitely be bringing our next dog to Steve and K9KEY.

Max, our adopted 90lb German Shepherd, was a handful when we first met pre-COVID. I'm no stranger to large dogs, coming off my third 120 lb+ Bouvier de Flanders, but this guy, with absolutely no real supervision pre-adoption, had a serious mind of his own, not to mention he needed to be attached to our hips at all times. He regularly lunged at dogs on the street, no one else could even walk him and having visitors to our home or boarding him for a vacation were pipedreams.

After unsuccessful attempts to handle it on our own and a few forays into established and expensive training programs, we had no luck. At the end of our rope and considering some serious and unpleasant options we were introduced to the team at K9KEY. We met at their new offices and within minutes I knew this was going to be different. Steve asked some specific questions, immediately identified habits and patterns, and by the end of the consultation agreed to take Max on.

We left Max with K9KEY for what was planned to be a three to four week program. It turned into a ten week long session and upon our return we literally had a new and improved super-Max. Our GSD follows basic commands without hesitation, takes a spot when guests arrive and acts like a gentleman, heels like a champion (no more lunging), retrieves, and is learning new skills every week.

Max has never been happier now that he has a "real job" and we have a new lease on life, using a dog walker, boarding him for vacations and generally walking the streets in NYC with our quadruped bodyguard and off-leash at the beach with no drama.

The bottom line is that K9KEY literally saved our dog's life and delivered a best friend that is a joy to spend time with. The fee was reasonable for the agreed upon proposed four week program didn't change when it extended to ten weeks. They are real life dog whisperers and we continually witness their professionalism during the regular Saturday complimentary group training sessions. Our experience was not unique as we meet other families that share their stories of success.

Our 1.5 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi came as a spunky, intense puppy who was both funny, clever and difficult. He was easy to house break but he decided that if he wanted his own way he could nip or bite, bark or become extremely difficult. His behavior got to the point that we considered rehoming him but felt he simply needed training that was beyond our expertise, despite owning dogs for 30 years. Steve did an amazing job getting Nigel to listen and respond appropriately. He is the first dog we've ever owned that feared any kind of wheels, thunder, some sounds (look at his ears!) and resorted with aggressive biting, nipping or intense barking to avoid situations. We met with Steve who felt confident he could make things a lot better...WOW! He's back at home and his behavior is so much better. He continues to improve. If you have a troubled dog or simply a dog that needs solid training, I would recommend Steve over and over again! It takes special skills to deal with really difficult dogs...and ours was! Thank you K9key!

After completing training with Steve at K9Key, Tucker came home a changed dog (in the best way possible). I had adopted Tucker from another family at 10 months old during the pandemic - he had behavioral issues with resource guarding, getting very territorial & being aggressive. He would constantly pick up things off the floor & eat them. If you tried to take it away, he would get aggressive & snap at you if you tried to get near him. Tucker was incredibly affectionate & loving but it became very stressful at times. I had researched for weeks & went on other consultations, but I didn’t feel confident in other programs. After meeting Steve & hearing what the program had to offer, we were immediately relieved - you can tell that Steve really understands dogs & cares about them. The program is 4 weeks, but can be extended as Steve will continue to train the dogs until he believes they are ready. After we brought Tucker home, we were also provided a training video & guide so that we could practice & maintain Tuckers training. Steve also holds weekly training session on Saturdays for graduated dogs to maintain the progress - another bonus. Tucker is still the same affectionate dog, but SOO much more well behaved & manageable. We are no longer worried about him biting or getting aggressive. It has completely changed our lives & we 100% recommended Steve & the K9Key Team.

Steve at K9KEY is a true professional who is totally committed to helping dogs and their humans to live together comfortably and joyfully. He is kind, understanding, and knowledgeable. As a psychologist myself, I know all about the scientific principles of learning. However, my dog, Finn, needed training. Of course, Steve knows all about learning too. He also really understands dogs - dog behavior, motivations, developmental stages, typical vs.atypical behaviors…he can explain why a dog is doing what it’s doing. He has a true gift. He listens to the owner and observes the dog. And then he gets to work! He works so hard to address the client’s concerns about any behaviors and he also teaches the dog all the commands. When I received my pup back after his board and train time was over, he was a new dog. No more counter surfing, jumping up, barking at dogs and people, pulling me down the block on the leash…he was a happy pup who actually loves practicing his skills. Our family is happier and we are grateful to Steve.

We are incredibly grateful to Steve and the K9 K9Key team. We adopted a 3 year old mutt during the pandemic as a buddy for our corgi. He was sweet as can be but incredibly protective/territorial and fairly anxious unless right next to us. He began becoming aggressive towards other dogs unless he was in the safety of our home. After our consultation with Steve we were excited to move forward with the program. We were nervous to leave our dog George for a month but the time he spent with K9Key was the best thing we could have possibly done for him. He is a much happier and safer dog. His obedience continues to improve and both his confidence as well as our confidence have grown incredibly. Steve emphasized that the first four weeks were for George and the weeks to follow would be to train us. He offers weekly refresher courses which are absolutely crucial. We get the opportunity to continue working on things as asking questions with other dogs and owners that have gone through the program. We weren't sure we would be able to enjoy the routine we had hoped with George because of the early aggression, and while we still have work to do Steve and his team gave US the tools and resources to make positive changes and achieve the relationship with our dog that we had hoped for.

It has been 4-months since my dog Elliot came home from his 7-week long board and train with Steve and his team at K9 Key. When I enrolled Elliot into the board and train, I asked Steve to work on very specific things with Elliot. All I can say is Steve heard me, and our life has been changed since Elliot has come home. Every month since being home, he becomes a more balanced dog and more in tune with me. I would recommend Steve to anyone. Steve also has training sessions on Saturdays for alumni that are super helpful to help you keep up with your training.

K9key was the second program we called to ask for support around our dog's reactivity and guarding behaviors. We were excited to find such a family-oriented training program, and had a wonderful experience in the boarding program as well as the follow-up weekend classes!

Steve met with our pup in January for an evaluation, and he provided the most thorough assessment of our dog's aggression. He gave affirming and honest feedback about the ongoing training that would be needed post-program and explained the strategies and tools used throughout the board-and-train program. He was really great with communication, and our dog came back significantly less aggressive with us, and with reliable knowledge of the basic commands. Machi has also been responsive to the ongoing daily training and we feel more confident as dog handlers. We highly recommend k9key for anyone in need of training their dog as well as building their relationship together!

K9key took our two year old shelter Pit Miles who was having behavioral issues we couldn’t tackle on our own. He was extremely anxious and would constantly guard shoes and clothing to the point that if you got near him, he would snap or try to bite. We read books and watched videos to try to help him but we had no previous dog experience and frankly, some of us were afraid so that made it worse. We realized we needed professional help - we first saw a behaviorist that was referred by our vet who said that Miles’ behavior could not be fixed and he needed to go on medication or be put down. We were devastated because we knew that he was a sweet boy but definitely needed help. While doing research, I came across K9 academy and decided to give them a calI. I am so thankful that I did! Steve is truly a dog whisperer & his team is amazing, too! We got updates on Miles while we was with them and we really enjoyed to see that he was bonding with the team very well (it comes to show that your dog is well taken care of). Miles came back a completely different dog, he is confident and well behaved. We recently hired a house cleaner and have construction going on inside our home and he listens to all commands and stays in place while they are working (never would have occurred before, we used to have to lock him in our bedroom). My family and I are amazed at what this smart boy is able to do! Thank you so much Steve & the K9 team!! If you’re thinking about bringing your dog here, do not hesitate, trust me, you will not regret it!

After months of research and hesitation(nervous to board) I finally decided to send my 2 rescue pups Gunner and Bandit to K9key. I adopted my 2 boys right before covid and boy did they keep me busy. They are both fearful of strangers and I tried my best to break them of that but quarantine did not help. Gunner around 1 year old showed fear aggression and started biting people who would enter home. Also they were always so focused on each other that it was hard to get them to train. Wild dogs from Texas They needed help with overall obedience and structure and Steve gave them that foundation. They stayed with him about 8-9 weeks which was hard but I knew they were in good hands. This is in no way a quick fix but something you have to continue to work at with your dog. The Saturday morning class Steve offers for free (to train the humans, poor guy lol) is a great help but you also have to keep up the training at home. My boys are still a work in progress, I’m hoping to walk both at the same time one day, for now separate walks, but I get compliments all the time when out and my dog is heeling at my side. They are overall more obedient and confident which helps with their fear of strangers. I’m forever grateful that Steve gave my dogs and I a better quality life and look forward to working with Steve..if you are reading these reviews over and over hesitating like I did to send your dog away, just do it you won’t be sorry and neither will your pup!🐶

Our experience with Steve and K9Key has been really excellent! We sent our Chocolate for training because he is a very anxious dog and was showing some signs of aggressions. We were really concerned about this and took the decision to have him properly trained.

He stayed at K9Key for longer than anticipated (and this was really not easy for us because we really missed him) but the result is nothing short of astonishing! He is much calmer now, behaves really nicely when walking on leash and does not show any signs of aggression anymore!

Steve runs classes for all graduates on Saturday (free of charge once you have completed the program) and those are also extremely useful to help Chocolate relax in a busy setting.

Our life has been completely changed by Steve and K9Key and we will always be grateful for this! THANK YOU!

My two pit bull mixes were having aggression/dominance issues and we were in a very desperate situation. I came across K9KEY after Aden and Bosco had a bad fight one evening while we were having dinner. Steve and the K9KEY team took both our dogs for 8 weeks total! The program was meant to be 4 weeks and even though they had learned their obedience commands already, he kept them on to ensure that they would get used to interacting with each other. Now, they are getting along with each other and have learned to co-exist! On walks, Aden and Bosco would lunge at other dogs, people, and sometimes each other before Steve worked with them. Not only has K9KEY given the dogs a foundation for us to continue to work on but they have also brought peace to my household. On top of that, Steve hosts weekly group training sessions so that he can see how we are progressing and give us much needed feedback! If you feel that you need help with your pup's behavior, do not hesitate to contact Steve and K9KEY!

K9Key was a godsend to us. Our boy Harley was exhibiting signs of aggression (towards other dogs) and excessive barking. This was a problem since we have another dog at home. We really were not sure if we would be able to keep him. We than found Steve and K9Key. He explained the process and Harley was put into the training program. Upon his return he is much calmer and his barking is significantly less. Steve was a godsend to us. On the weekends Steve holds a training class that all the graduates are invited to. This keeps them on track and also trains the doggie parents. I would recommend K9Key and Steve to everyone.

We sought out K9Key for our 5 year old French Bulldog, Tippy, due to her aggression with other animals in our house as well as family members. From our first meeting with Steve he clearly understood Tippy and her behaviors and the dynamic between her, our other animals, and the humans in our house. Tippy spent 7 weeks with Steve and I am so impressed by the progress that she made in that time. Each time he sent a video of her progress we were amazed at how well she was doing! He gave several video updates of her training while she was with him and was available to answer my questions and check ins about my dog via text. Since coming home Tippy has been behaving much better around our other dog and our cats. She has made great improvements walking on the leash as well, when we go on walks she walks nicely by my side without pulling. I’m so glad that we made the decision to send our dog to K9Key and we are looking forward to continuing to work with Steve in the group training classes to help Tippy be the best dog that she can be.

I’ve sent 2 dogs to Steve. I trust Steve completely train and care for my dogs and both times, my dogs came back as the absolute best versions of themselves. My most recent dog went to Steve as a puppy. I knew already Steve takes very good care of your dog while they’re there and he was in good hands. I have a corgi which when we got him, we knew they were smart, independent energetic and a herding breed. We struggled with getting him trained because of his stubborn and independent personality. We literally had to wear oyster shucking gloves to put a collar on him because he’d bite as hard as he could when we put a collar on. He also would whine and cry the second he went in a crate at night (because he was big on chewing up our couch) Steve helped us navigate the fact that yes, our dog will always be independent but he can be taught whos in charge. Our dog does not chew anything besides his toys and bones, willingly goes in the crate and no, we don’t wear gloves to put a collar on anymore! Steve is the best hands you can put your dog in to get trained. Our dog is an absolute angel and joy and we CONSTANTLY get complimented on how well behaved he is and that’s all thanks to Steve!

We enrolled our two puppies (both around 7-8 months old), Coffee and Cola, into K9Key's board & train program. Raising two can be a handful so to make sure they'd have a good foundation in discipline, we decided to enroll them. They stayed with Steve and his team for approximately 7 weeks, which felt like an eternity but it was well worth it. Both of our pups came back more obedient and more manageable (as manageable as puppies can be of course!). K9Key sets the foundation, but you have to commit and do the work at home.

The weekly group sessions are definitely an added plus since it's structured in a way where your dog will not experience the type of environment at home. We're really glad that our pups were in great hands, and are looking forward to the even greater dogs they will become.

Thank you K9Key!!

Steve and his team are outstanding as my husband pointed out below (Michael Leboff), Jimmy was a very difficult dog. He was seen by many trainers and Steve was the only one who didn’t give up on him. We were so lucky to find him and although Jimmy ended up having several other issues, none were related to the intense rehab and care that Steve provided him. Now, our pup Elvis, has been working with Steve and after only 1 session, there was an immediate improvement. I couldn’t recommend him more! He’s a DOG WHISPERER :)

Very amazed and pleased with my dogs behavioral progress. K9Key is very communicative, and professional. Our family knew instantly that our Pitbull Terrier was in good hands and would get the proper training we could not give him at home. We especially love that our pup gets to go to Saturday training classes to keep his memory refreshed with all that he learned in the program. We are knowledgeable now in how to handle our dog in all different situations. Thank you to Steve and the team at K9Key. We are very glad we took the time to do our research and make sure we were making the right decision on sending him to your camp.

Our King Charles Cavalier mix Toby started showing aggression toward visitors when he was about a year old. It worsened over the next year where he bit some of our guests and we were unable to control him in situations when unknown people came into the house. When we tried to keep him in another room he would bark and cry and throw himself against the door. We loved Toby so much but we were feeling desperate because we could not live our lives normally. We tried some training and medicine which didn’t work. When we consulted with Steve he understood how seriously we needed help and we felt confident that he understood dogs and their behavior and that he could help us and Toby. Toby stayed with Steve for 5-6 weeks. Toby now understands and obeys commands heel, stay, down, come and no most importantly we understand how to control him. While we still need to work with him we have the tools we need so we can have a peaceful home. We are happier and we believe Toby is happier. The Saturday trainings are so helpful and Will keep us from backsliding on the training. If you need help I highly recommend K9 Key.

Our 4 year old corgi, Leo, started showing signs of dog aggression and separation anxiety at around 1.5 years old. Even with help from other trainers, his behaviors got worse over the years. We couldn’t walk Leo without him lunging at other dogs and redirecting his aggression towards us. We couldn’t leave our apartment without Leo biting us and barking desperately. It was so hard because, aside from those situations, Leo is the most loving, loyal, and affectionate dog. By July 2020 we were finally at our wits end feeling stressed and defeated. Board training was never something we felt comfortable doing (I called 4 different places) until we found K9KEY. After meeting with Steve at our consultation, I felt a level of trust and comfort that I didn’t feel with any other B&T. Steve was honest and realistic about his expectations of Leo’s success. We spoke to Steve weekly and would get update videos and pictures of our boy’s progress. Leo was with Steve for 7 weeks and is now home. He is the same dog, just better. He is more obedient, no longer has separation anxiety, and we now have complete control of him on our walks (no more pulling or lunging). What Steve has taught us is that we cannot change Leo’s instincts and character. The most valuable thing we have gotten out of this experience is a foundation for us to work on with our dog. We are now able to communicate with him effectively and have complete control of him at all times. We just went to our first group class and Leo did AMAZING (proud dog mama). If you are in a similar situation that we were in, look no further. We are so happy we found K9KEY when we did. Thank you Steve and his team for changing our lives.

Tom, Victoria, and Leo

My dog Kai, a 6 yr old husky-pitbull mix, started showing aggression towards other dogs once she turned 3yrs. After failed attempts to curb her growing disobedience myself and with a help of a trainer (weekly sessions) I started thinking of finding her a more qualified owner. As a last resort, I researched board & train classes and found Steve. What convinced me was good reviews, Steve's experience and the post-training weekly sessions geared towards owners learning how to avoid slipping back into old habits. I was warned it may take more than 4 weeks as Kai's already 6yrs old (it took 7 weeks), but it's been a life changer. From simple little things like no more pulling, to having her come back when off leash and distracted by wildlife, it's been amazing to see her do so well. There are things we are still working on, but with Steve's help I know how to do that properly, and we can enjoy more time outdoors.

Steve and co at K9KEY are worth every penny! I cannot begin to express my admiration of Steve's talents and commitment to giving dogs and their owners a better life together. If you’re considering putting your doggo in board and train because you’ve exercised multiple other trainer options in NY, like me, Steve is your guy. I will be honest, while my dog was away (please note that this was during the initial outbreak of COVID19) I was panicked that I had made the wrong decision, because Steve was not being as communicative as I had hoped and I was worried that my dog was not in good hands (because I didn’t have many updates at first). HOWEVER, I’ve now come to learn that Steve is a perfectionist, a professional, and a straight up guru. He kept Scooby for an additional few weeks to make sure he was satisfied with the training, and sent me videos to show me Scooby’s progress once I had expressed my concerns as an anxious dog dad. It’s hard being away from your dog (they’re like a child!) and you just hope that they’re being well taken care of. I can assure you that Scooby was attached to Steve’s hip when I went to retrieve him and seemed like he had learned a lot the obedience that he lacked before the board and train. The real win of this program is the complimentary group trainings that Steve offers for alumni after they finish the board and train process. Not only does this help you learn how to be a better trainer for your furry friend, but you are able to see how talented Steve truly is with dogs (he somehow keeps an eye on all 10+ dogs at the training at once and gives individual tips to us throughout the lesson- it’s very impressive). Before Steve I didn’t think I would ever be able to control Scooby, but now I have the tools and resources to give my dog the companionship he deserves, as well as the continued brushing up on his training at the group lessons. Thank you Steve!

We are so glad we found K9KEY and Steve. Our dog, Quinn, started showing signs of aggression at around a year and a half old. The aggression finally came to a head when I was bitten on the nose when he was just over 2 years. Steve instinctively understood Quinn and the dynamic of our household and very honestly and plainly explained how we could train Quinn to understand his limits and to learn better habits. Quinn was in training with Steve for 5 weeks, and though it was hard, we knew we were doing the right thing. Quinn came back to us as the dog we always knew he could be! He is obedient, engaged, happy, and eager to please. Steve truly changed our dog and our lives. You MUST continue to train at home; it is so important to keep up all the good work Steve and team have put it in. The more consistent you are with daily training and follow up sessions, the happier you and your dog will be. Thank you Steve, and the K9Key team!

Thank the universe for Steve and his team. When we adopted Charlie we were unaware of her aggressive behavior towards other dogs. Six weeks with Steve and Charlie is on the right track! She’s more obedient, more attentive and, most importantly, her dog aggression behavior is under control. I highly recommend Steve as a dog trainer. He’s professional, caring and an absolute pleasure to work with.

etey is my eight month old English Bulldog who is our second from our breeder. Our previous beloved Bear had spoiled us with a well tempered easy to train dog for 11 years. Petey on the hand is more of a handful. We looked for a trainer to help us out and I found Steve. Steve was able to read Petey and gave us advise on how to handle him right from the start. We entered him into the Board and Train program and was given updates on Petey's progress and challenges. Steve suggested a longer stay to work with Petey and kept us in the loop as Petey progressed. We reunited with Petey ,after 6 weeks, who was much more balanced and he fit right back into the family only with a new positive attitude.

The training of my family was as important as Peteys progress and this program will provide weekly support from the group for future challenges as Petey goes through adolescence. This support is currently on hold due to the virus concerns but Steve is available for our questions. We are looking forward to a long relationship with K9Keys thanks to this positive experience.

My dog Fletcher, a purebred 20lb Pomeranian, was 3 years old when I was first introduced to him at the Southampton Animal Shelter. At the time, Fletcher was not adoptable as he was aggressive towards people. I decided to foster him and started him on medication to address his behavior disorders. Fletcher also needed a Board and Train school, led by someone who specializes in aggressive dogs, small dogs and has an understanding of how to balance medication with behavior training. That’s how I found K9KEY Dog Training School. Steve and his staff evaluated Fletcher and were able to train Fletcher despite the challenging circumstances. Today, Fletcher is no longer aggressive to me and is obedient when I utilize the principles Steve has taught us. As an advocate for the adoption of sheltered pets, I believe every animal deserves a second chance. K9KEY Dog Training has made that possible for Fletcher.

Richard Schefer, Founder Have A Heart Adopt A Pet Foundation Inc.

I couldn't take my dog King anywhere. He would lunge bark at everything and anything. He was just to much to handle. Until i found K9KEY the first time he met him he took to him right away I was shocked. He listened and now i have a great dog. Thank you Steve I recommend your program to everyone. 👍👍👍

K9Key is great! They took a flat fee for training Noodles and kept her for more than 4 weeks to make sure that she was properly trained. However, the classes after the board and train are the most important aspect in my opinion. This is where the knowledge transfer happened. I can see so much improvement in Noodles already.

My dog Banks and I moved to Brooklyn in June. He has always been fairly anxious, nervous, sensitive to sounds and once we move to New York everything was amplified. Our block is fairly active, and one night a little girl threw a popper (not on purpose) right behind him, and after that he would not go outside. It was always a struggle, he would pee on the stairs going outside, we would either have to drag him or physically pick him up to bring him outside and it was not enjoyable for either him or us. We had him in training in Atlanta, but we weren’t consistent with it so he was not learning how to deal with new people, new animals, and new surroundings. After a couple of months, we knew we had to do something. Because of his breed (pit bull) we needed someone with some experience with strong dog breeds. Banks does not like new people or dogs right away. We contacted a few places, including K9Key, and came to the decision to go with Steve and his team for a number of reasons. 1) During the consultation, he was a very calm presence. He didn’t try to approach Banks, or have Banks approach him. He talked to us and was able to see Banks would be a challenge but he had high hopes. 2) the price of what you receive from this service cannot be beat. It is an investment to train your dog, and to know that your dog is in good hands is worth the money. After the board and train, you continue to get support through trainings every Saturday. 3) The board and train gives your dog the opportunity to be introduced to different people and be around other dogs (other clients and Steve’s personal dogs). With that said, your dog is never put into a situation that they are not ready for.

The board and train is a 4 week program, but dogs may stay longer if they need the additional training for no extra cost to the owner, which is amazing also. Banks stayed with Steve for a total of 7 weeks. No, he did not forget us!!! Steve kept us up to date with pictures and videos the whole time, which was greatly appreciated. Since we have gotten Banks back, we continue to work with him daily, but we are now able to control him outside and get him to walk further than 15 feet past of our front door. We are able to go on walks to and through the park, which is a part of the reason we moved to where we did!! Even just yesterday on a walk, Banks had a positive interaction with another dog on a walk. This is something so small that is such a huge improvement in his behavior that I don’t think we would have gotten to without Steve and his team. I was so excited I texted Steve to tell him the good news!!

Steve has very reasonable goals for dogs, and he also trains you as an owner on how best to lead your dog. He is very patient with me, a very nervous person which leads to a nervous dog, but he makes the training fun and personable even if there are 7 other dogs and owners in the class and he does that for everyone!!

I can truly say that with Steve’s help, having Banks in New York is now fun and I am excited to see how much more Banks continues to improve. I recommend Steve with confidence to anyone!!

Steve did a wonderful job training Benji. We got Benji at 2 months and from then on we saw signs of aggression, and alpha. At around 9 months it got worst and we needed to get him trained asap. He would bite my rugs, not listen to us, attack my boyfriend when ever he got near me, attack anyone that came near him while he had a bone and just hands down controlled us. Steve sent pictures and videos of his progress and even kept him for 4 extra weeks!! When Benji came home he had no aggression at all and listens when we say no. Steve really put Benji in his place and has made him into a great dog that we can now have under control. I would recommend his training to anyone that has a dog out of controlled.

TL;DR: Steve and his team are hands down the best trainers we've tried and helped us with a situation we thought was hopeless. If you struggle with your dog's behavior Steve can 100% help you and your pup lead a better calmer life!

Our dog, Satchmo, is a 5-year-old shiba inu. He was never friendly with anyone but my partner and I, and our closest friends, and exhibited fear aggression to people and dogs by the time he was 1. He barked and snapped when he got scared, and he would never listen to a command once triggered. He is an incredibly picky eater and not motivated by food or treats - - which made it even harder for us to draw his attention away from his object of aggression.

Over the years, we tried multiple trainers and vet-prescribed medication but Satchmo never got to a stable point. Finally, we thought it was time to look into special aggression programs, and after weeks of research my partner and I decided to call K9KEY and Steve for an evaluation. Steve was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us clear goals and expectations that reassured us. His focus on addressing not only Satchmo's behaviors but also our relationship with him was clear since the initial evaluation meeting

We signed up Satchmo for the board and train program as soon as Steve had availability. He warned us that Satchmo would likely have to stay longer than the average 4-weeks as shibas usually take longer to bond with the trainers - - mind you, we had not really seen Satchmo bond with anyone new prior to that. Steve ended up keeping Satchmo for 7 weeks, at no additional charge. Throughout he sent us videos of Satchmo that we couldn't believe - - we saw a dog that was completely obedient to trainers that he had only met a few weeks prior!

We took a significantly calmer dog home. After his training, Satchmo was not only more obedient but also a lot more relaxed and less anxious. The biggest change however was that after spending close to two months with Satchmo, Steve had a clear understanding of his personality, behavior and triggers and gave us very direct instructions on how to behave with him in different situations. Before we had no way to reprimand him or let him know when he did something wrong, since he became aggressive. Steve setup a system with which we could teach or dog and control him in situations when he was anxious and aggressive.

The follow up group training sessions on weekends have already been extremely useful. Steve provides us with a controlled environment with other dogs, where we can safely train Satchmo in situations which trigger his aggressive behaviors. Not only is Satchmo feeling better, but we have a better understanding of him and ways to work towards alleviating his anxiety.

We recommend Steve's program for anyone who struggles with controlling or understanding their dog's behavior! None of the other trainers we tried even came close to helping us as much as Steve did! Make yours and your dog's life better by reaching out to Steve!

K9 Key is amazing! I literally couldn't believe how well-behaved my dog was when we picked him up. We went to Steve because we weren't sure we could keep our pitbull - bordercollie mix because he was extremely dog aggressive and we live in NYC where there are small dogs at every corner. It was impossible to walk and exercise him properly which compounded all his aggression issues. After Steve, our dog Bodie, no longer pulls when we walk him, sits and stays on command, focuses on his handler during walks rather than other dogs or distractions and can even go to dog parks with no problem. He even has dog friends now! The best part is his spirit was never broken during his training. He is still a spritely happy dog, he just learned some puppy manners and was cured of his fear-based aggression toward other dogs. We are literally complimented on how well-trained he is all the time. No way this would be possible without Steve and his K9 Key family. Best decision we ever made!!

I am the owner and parent of Prince, my 3 year old pit-bull mix who I love with my whole heart. When he was about one year old, he started showing very concerning signs of aggression. He became possessive of random objects, food, and space in my home. He showed guarding behavior and would growl and snap if anyone came close. I am sad to say that he bit multiple of my family members and friends. He became the “alpha” while I lost complete control of the situation. I was completely depressed and saw no way I would be able to keep Prince and keep him safe. To me, he was an unpredictable and dangerous dog who I simply could no longer control. His behaviors escalated and I began to expect the worst possible outcome.

The moment I met Steve, this all changed. He instantly radiated calmness, authority, and focus. I felt at ease. His demeanor and professionalism gave me the first glimmer of hope that somebody might be capable of handling and teaching my dog. When I came to pick Prince up from the 4-week boarding program, he was transformed. Off the bat, he listened to every command, stayed right by my side, and clearly understood right from wrong. Being able to simply tell him “no” and “drop it” and have him instantly obey was an amazing feeling. His “episodes” became completely manageable and there was no longer a standoff in my apartment every day. I could finally enjoy my time with my dog and the stress faded away. Steve made it clear that his method isn’t “magic” and that Prince’s training would be a process that required my dedication. Prince will always have his quirks but Steve taught me how to be a better leader and I finally have control over my dog’s behavior.

While other trainers straight up told me that they couldn't help me or work with my dog, Steve immediately provided the support and guidance we needed. He is an absolute pro. He knows these dogs better than anyone I’ve ever seen and I will be eternally grateful for what he did for me and Prince.

Steve was the best thing for our dog Kato and also for my husband and I as owners. We adopted Kato from a shelter a few years ago and found that once we would leave our house to walk him, he would act out towards strangers and other dogs. Kato would show aggression, he would lunge and eventually redirect on the leash. It was very difficult and frustrating because we worked with other trainers with no show of improvement after the sessions were completed. Steve had Kato in the board and train program and after his training was completed, it was like Kato was a new dog. He was still the dog we always loved but with a better handle on his emotions and aggression tendencies. Without Steve and his team, my husband and I would still be struggling to handle Kato but now we are more confident taking him out for walks as well as having people over to our house.

I was running out of ideas of how to deal with my bulldog puppy Yogi. We moved into Manhattan and he did't like it at all. He was becoming aggressive and started to fight for his leash every time we went for a walk. He would do it in my crowded lobby and was making it impossible to take him out for walks.

I was looking at aggression videos on Youtube and saw the K9key video. I set up an appointment for a consultation and Yogi went to K9KEY for 2 months. Yogi is truly a different dog now. The first time we entered my lobby after training he instantly went for his leash again. But one zap with the e collar and he stopped and listened to me. He still goes for his collar at random times, but will instantly stop with a simple verbal command.

Yogi is s very fit and athletic bulldog with a lot of anxiety. He is much more calm now and is showing a very playful side at times. He really seems to enjoy the Saturday morning training as well as he is in a great mood when we gets home. I trusted K9KEY because they have a long history of dog training. If you have nowhere else to turn, give them a call, hopefully they can do the same for your little family member.

K9key trained my Japanese Akita, Niko, & they did an AMAZING Job! I would have never thought he would be trainable due to aggression & really bad habits he had. But now he is a totally new & improved dog! I can’t thank them enough for all the hard work they put into Niko. I have already recommended them to all my family and friends because they were impressed by Niko. I HIGHLY recommend them! Best trainers in Long Island and NYC!

We have a 2 year old male French Bulldog who has been anything but easy since the day we got him. Our dog, Leo, started to show early signs of aggression around 4 months old. His aggression began as small growls when we picked him up or when we got near his food bowl or a preferred bone/toy. We shared our concerns with trainers at our puppy classes in NYC, but his aggression escalated pretty quickly. At this point, Leo had bitten us, my mom and a dog walker a handful of times and he was getting worse everyday. We had two outside trainers come into our home to work with Leo after completing the obedience classes. The training was reward based and we worked with trainers for about 6 months. The training helped us manage his issue, but Leo would have good weeks and bad weeks. My husband and I felt pretty hopeless and started to have the difficult conversation of what the future would look like if we continued on this path. After days of googling board and train programs, we found K9 Key. Within minutes of Leo meeting Steve, he came to the conclusion that Leo was a "super" alpha male that would definitely be with him for longer than the standard 4 weeks of his board and train program. Leo ended up staying with Steve for 2 months and I can honestly say he came home a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT dog. Steve's balanced approach of positive and corrective reinforcement is exactly what Leo needed. Not only has he not shown any signs of aggression since he came home, but Leo is also a completely obedient dog. My husband and I went from feeling like we would not be able to keep Leo to gaining full control over him and his aggression. We continue to use Steve's training methods at home which include an e-collar, prong collar and a strict feeding regimen which has really changed our lives for the better. We also have attended some of his group sessions and have found them to be extremely helpful to maintain Leo's skills. We will be forever grateful to Steve for all of his help with Leo! We highly recommend Steve's program for any difficult or aggressive dogs!

Steve Hong is a one-of-kind dog trainer. He's passionate about dogs and will put 110% into your pup! He really helped us with our rescue dog, who is a big 90 lb rottie mix. Anxiety, Fear and Aggression were the main issues. Highly recommend!

Steve is AMAZING!!!

He trained my German Shepherd Bex for a month while we went away on vacation. I was worried the whole time I was away only to come back and to my surprise Bex was the happiest dog ever. I think he might have even loved Steve more then he loves me lol. Bex came home disciplined , eager to listen and obey

So much more relaxed and calm. I’m finally am able to leave him out of the crate full time in my home even when I am gone. So so many positive changes along with keeping his fun loving personality was exactly what we wanted. It is always on ongoing process but with the help of Steve and his father on Saturday training classes which they do for free weekly, helps me constantly learn more and continue success with Bex.

Every time we go to training Bex is so excited and eager to see Steve and his father. They both treat him as one of their own. Steve will help you with any issues and answer any question you have. If you are looking for a top quality, KNOWLEDGABLE trainer K9Key is for you and your dog

Serious game changer! A year with another local trainer and the fighting just wouldn't stop! We reached out to Steve from K9Key about a year ago. NO FIGHTS SINCE! Granted it works if you work it, but if you do as Steve says and don't give up I have no doubt in his ability to rehabilitate any dog. Reinforcing the training he does when he boards and trains is the most crucial part. My guys love going to training classes also, that is how i know Steve and all the people at K9Key are great! The relationship he creates with your animal while he has them is personalized. Both of my boys are rescues, and 1 was put off by men. He just doesn't respond well. But with Steve he slowly built up a bond and now both of my guys adore this man! I would recommend everyone to go here!! A trainer who genuinely cares is hard to find!!!!

Steve was and is hands down the best trainer we've had. K9Key is incredibly professional, reliable, easy to work with, and has proven results through a dedicated training regimen and many years of experience. They're dedication to training is unparalleled from coming up with an effective action plan, providing feedback throughout, curtailing said plan as needed, and continuing training as an ongoing method of assuring you and your dog understand practicing these new found behaviors are not a one time fix. They not only train your dog, but they also help you understand the psychology of your dog, its behaviors, how to break them, and the steps you need to take as an owner to be the true pack leader your dog seeks. We will continue to go to K9Key, and we absolutely love and adore Steve and family. Every time I have to go away on vacation or for work, I have zero worries that Mar will be taken care of. Not a lot of people have the ability to handle him due to his very grumpy nature at times/need for dominance/specific aggression, but I never have to worry as I know he is ALWAYS in the best of hands. There isn't a better trainer around, and I wouldn't recommend anyone else for any type of dog training needed. Stop looking for training, and call K9KEY! It'll be the best decision you ever made for you and fido!

Steve's work with our dog Ziggy was incredible. Ziggy is a 70lb siberian husky who came from a shelter as a rescue; he'd been surrendered by his owners at age 1, and had lived in the shelter for six months. Presumably he had not been adopted successfully because Zigg is a big, energetic hyper dominant male. He loves people but was a handful and a half to try to control. I have had Sibes before, and am very confident, but this was a next level case. On leash he was a mad puller, in the house he'd leap all over everyone who entered, and he claimed space and was territorial/aggressive even though he loved us and wanted to be close all the time. He was suspended from his doggy day care for being aggressive with other, smaller dogs and for snapping at a handler. He bit me in an altercation over our couch at one point. We were at our wits end after this biting incident - it was obviously just a dog being a dominant dog, he wasn't ever taught how to behave properly, and living in a backyard for a year, and then a shelter, had not installed any discipline or rules in him. This is when I found Steve / K9key, and reached out. After chatting through these issues with Steve, we sent Ziggy out for his "boot camp". One month is the usual period of re-training time, but Steve (for the same price) kept Zigg for a further two weeks to ensure that he was properly re-trained. Ziggy is a changed dog now; while he still has the same bubbly, energetic personality and love of people, he is now controlled on the leash, well mannered in the house and controllable (thanks to Steve's training and the ongoing use of the e-collar) in any situation. I feel safe and in command, and Zigg has rules to live by that help him behave in a settled and calm way. We barely have to use the e-collar anymore, as his habits have settled down and he knows his rules. I couldn't recommend this program - and this trainer- more highly. We also use Steve's facility whenever we need to travel - Zigg gets to go hang with his pals there and always comes back well behaved thanks to his refresher courses! We are so grateful for this amazing help - the boot camp meant that we could keep our crazy rescue boy and in fact have WAY more fun with him than we were before. Thank you Steve! From Ziggy, Jesse and David.

I had my GSD Thor trained with Steve for advanced obedience. Not only did Steve keep him for extra weeks at no charge to make sure the training was perfect but the results are impressive. Steve will not only train your dog he will train you into understanding the specifics of the training so that you can read your dog better, develop a stronger bond with him and become a better owner yourself. Steve has also been very available for follow up questions and organizes weekend training sessions that you can attend for free to keep the training going. Amazing experience!

We cannot recommend Steve Hong enough for the work he did with our two year old Pomeranian Bear Bear. When we reached out to Steve, we were really frustrated by Bear Bear's behavior. She was leash aggressive, very territorial and would bark uncontrollably at anything and everything. We had issues with our neighbors and were avoiding guests coming over the house because of how Bear Bear was behaving. After 5 weeks with Steve, Bear Bear is a new dog! She walks great on the leash, is comfortable around other dogs and her barking has gotten significantly better. She seems so much more calm and is a joy to be around. Steve is truly a miracle worker and would recommend him to anyone that is in need of Dog training. In addition to being a great trainer, we felt Steve truly cared about Bear Bear and her well being. Can't thank Steve and the group at K9 Key enough!

I have a two-year-old Border Collie named Charlie, who at 1 years old started to show signs of aggression towards anyone who did not live in our household. As time went on her behavior became worse and worse. She would try to bite anyone who came into our home, and when we walk her she would lunge at people and other animals. Due to her behavior I was afraid to walk her, and she wasn’t getting the exercise she needed and loved. At almost two years old Charlie bit our 13-year-old cockapoo, and I knew I needed to find help.

I found K9 Key while searching the internet, and calling was the best decision I ever made for my dog. Charlie did the board and train program, and Steve had her for seven weeks. He sent us pictures of her the entire time she was gone, and she came back to us a different dog. The Saturday morning classes after the board and train program have made me a better owner. Steve helps me understand how control Charlie, so that I can walk her without fear and she can live with us without taking over the house. I would like to thank Steve and K9 Key for all of their help with Charlie. It has really made a tremendous in our lives.

We are so lucky to have found Steve! Our rescue dog suffers from issues stemming from her anxiety, including leash aggression on walks. Living in a crowded NYC neighborhood, this was a very challenging issue for us to manage. It was so bad that just seeing another dog across the street would easily push her past her threshold. We were desperate to find a solution and tried everything - multiple trainers, group classes, anxiety medications, using different types of collars and harnesses - to no avail! We found Steve by chance, after our original dog boarding plans unexpectedly fell through. We were scheduled to leave the country for a business trip a few days out and were suddenly left with no one to take care of our special-needs dog.

We were so relieved to find Steve! He was extremely accommodating about the drop off and pick up dates and he kept us informed about our dog’s progress. Throughout her stay, he sent us several photos and videos of her interacting with other dogs - we couldn’t believe our eyes! He even weened her off her anxiety meds, after letting us know that he felt that she was ready for this. He ended up keeping her for an extra week, which gave him extra time to work with her and also worked great for us due to a conflict that had arisen in our travel schedule. When we picked her up, he had recently given her a bath - and she was so fluffy and clean, we couldn’t have been more thrilled to be reconnected with our happy pampered pooch!

We now make it a point to drive over an hour on a weekly basis to attend Steve’s group training class, which allows her (and us!) to gain more confidence around other dogs. These free classes are a complete godsend! It is incredible to watch Steve handle so many difficult dogs with so much poise, confidence and expertise. He has an individualized approach, and takes time to ensure that the techniques he demonstrates are well understood by and adapted to each dog and owner. After each class, he sticks around to answer any questions.

Steve is endlessly patient and compassionate and he truly understands how difficult it is to commit to bringing a special-needs dog into your life. Although one would hope that this would be more common, Steve is the only trainer that we have worked with who has prioritized the success of our dog’s training over opportunities to make extra money (the free classes and the fact that he kept her for an extra week in the board and train program are both a case in point!). He is clearly driven by his passion and gift - Steve is truly rare pearl in the dog training world!

Because of Steve, we’ve become much better owners and understand our dog so much more and are so much closer to her. We highly recommend K9Key to anyone with a difficult to train dog!

Steve is one of those truly amazing trainers. He has been working with and taking care of my dog since he was just a puppy. I now have the smartest most obedient well trained dog I have ever owned. I highly recommend K9Key to anyone who has a dog. The results are remarkable and they take such great care.

I brought my 1 year old lovable German Pinscher named Pia. Although very sweet she had a few aggression and obedience issues which made it difficult to have visitors come to my apartment. After doing some research and meeting with Steve, I knew right away Pia would be in good hands with Steve and the people at K9key. After a number of weeks Pia came back the same sweet Pia but now much more obedient and disciplined. Steve patiently asked all my questions and worked with me to further Pia's development. I highly recommend K9Key to anyone looking to improve their dog's obedience wth discipline and love.

About three years ago I decided that I was going to rescue a dog… such a wonderful thing to do! There are thousands of dogs without a home and I wanted to provide a loving environment for one of these poor, lost, sweet souls. I fell in love with Ellie at first sight… literally warm fuzzy feelings in my chest when I saw her (and I am not really a super mushy person like that). We were meant to be- like a fairytale, THIS is my very best friend- we found each other!!

The first 2 weeks were awesome, magical, sweet, fantastic… and then the tide turned... oooufff... I struggled so much with her, and she was not the first dog that I have lived with, I have always had a dog around. I worked with 3 different trainers, until Steve was recommended to me. When I called Steve, I was fighting back tears on the phone describing my situation. Ellie had been in 3 dog fights, which she instigated with my sister’s 13 year old dog, bitten 4 people, mail delivery stopped coming to my home if my front door was open, which eventually led to the mail not coming to the house at all because she would get out of the fenced backyard. I could no longer walk her as she was severely aggressive toward strangers, I was afraid to take her to the vet and to the groomer. She would get out of the yard on a consistent basis and thought it was a game as I chased her through the nearby park (once in the snow), with a major highway nearby as well as the streets by my home. It was very stressful to hear cars screeching and horns beeping as I was trying to locate my dog that somehow got out of the fenced yard. My anxiety was consistent around her and would obviously get elevated when there was an incident with her, which happened on a regular basis. I worked with other trainers before and was using techniques that were taught to me, such as correcting her as we walked toward others, but she would still lunge toward the stranger across my body. I had no control, did not know how to handle her and was afraid to bring Ellie anywhere. Ellie- my very best friend who I thought I was going to take everywhere and she was going to be friendly, cool and well behaved. THIS is the soul that I rescued?! THIS was who I was riding off into the sunset with…

The day I met with Steve to get her evaluated, she was barking very aggressively at people walking in the streets on the car ride to meet him, I thought she was going to go through the window. Once we got inside, she of course was going crazy, barking so aggressively, hair standing up, and growling at Steve. I was to the point where I thought I was going to have to put her down, or she was going to bite someone and then she would have to be euthanized. I felt like I had no other options. And this man gave me so much hope. He was so kind, nonjudgmental, understanding, patient and compassionate. Quite frankly, like no other person I have ever met. I went with my mother, who is elderly and set in her ways and the way he was with her was incredible as well. This man knows behavior, not only of the dogs, but of the dog owners. We were in tears as we met with Steve for the evaluation. I thought it was going to take a miracle to tame this crazy, aggressive beast (that’s right- my very best friend). He said himself that she was one of the most aggressive females he has met.

Ellie was going to doggie boot camp with Steve, our last option. If I knew now, what I didn’t know then, it would have been the only option. We had to wait a few weeks for him to take Ellie, in order for him to give her the attention she needed, which I really appreciated because he could have just taken her and she would not have gotten what she really needed. Once I dropped her off, I truly didn’t know the amount of stress I was under, there was a constant hum of stress that was ever present, and it was alleviated once she was gone. Seriously, felt tlike the Empire State Building was off my shoulders. She was definitely there for longer than most dogs, about 9 weeks. Those 9 weeks were great! Of course I missed my very best friend, but I was able to visit her and was sent pictures of her and updated of her progress. Again, the constant hum stress was not there, as I knew that Ellie was in the best hands I could find. It gave me a chance to reset myself and recover from all the dog fights I witnessed, the calls from home- ‘she got out again’, Ellie lunging toward people minding their own business in the streets, calling home with my anxiety level through the roof asking- ‘how’s the dog? What did she do today?’ This is a horrible way to exist, this dog was meant to be a stress release, not induce stress and sky rocket it! Steve also made it perfectly clear, that he could not change the dog’s personality, that I would learn how to handle her. Which makes perfect sense, because you would have needed a magic wand and fairy dust to change this dog’s personality. But, when I got her back, she was a different animal. It was absolutely incredible and astounding what he did with Ellie! Truly a miracle! She listens, she is calm, she really knows what the command ‘No’ means, she knows sit, come, stay (even with distractions); she is even walking off leash at this point in a controlled environment. It has been about a year since I got her back and I still attend training class on the weekends. Now that just speaks true to the character of this trainer. He is not looking to get my money and move onto the next one. He cares about his clients and really wants them to learn how to handle their dogs. He doesn’t judge anyone in class; he wants us to get better and will practice with all his clients, who have a variety of personalities and ages. He is so patient and really knows what he is doing. I feel very safe in his class. He instilled confidence in me, not making me feel like I am wrong, I can’t do it, it is my fault that she is the way she is. He took all those harsh judgmental feelings that I had and had been told by previous trainers and helped to handle my situation and my dog. I have been to other group classes with previous trainers and was put into uncomfortable and scary situations, but not with this guy, he met me where I was and really worked with me and Ellie to get us to a more comfortable level. I have no problem walking Ellie on the streets of my neighborhood now, the mail comes to my house again, she met my boyfriend’s children (age 6 and 9) and is super loving with them, she stops barking when I command and correct her, she stays in the yard, and she listens to commands (sit, down, stay).

Now THIS is my very best friend!!! This is what I signed up for when I decided to rescue a dog! Steve is a wonderful trainer and a wonderful teacher. Bringing Ellie to him was a game changer; I got a piece of my life back. I would not be in this state of relief if I had not gone to him. Well worth it, I cannot put a price tag on it. And the fact that he continues to work with me and Ellie is truly great, as this is a continued process with her.

I highly recommend Steve and K9 Key, I have no regrets at all, I only wish that I had found him sooner. The next dog that I get, will go to him immediately without any doubt or hesitation. He really knows how to work with dogs and puppies and most importantly the dog owners, very respectful, patient, never critical or judgmental. He’s awesome!!

When I found K9Key, I was looking for a miracle. Despite the work of other trainers, my 8 year old Shiba Inu, Casey, had become increasingly difficult to deal with, and my family was at our wit’s end. I knew we needed a professional. My father and I met with Steve and told him everything we had been experiencing with Casey. Immediately, I felt assured that we had finally found the person who was going to help us.

While Casey was in the Board and Train program, Steve kept us updated with pictures and videos of Casey’s progress. Watching these videos was almost like watching a different dog! He even kept her past the standard 4 weeks until he thought she was ready to come back, with no extra charge. Upon Casey’s return, Steve helped us get her accommodated to a new home in a co-op apartment, where she passed her doggy interview with flying colors. Casey was the same dog I had always known but she was in a much better state of mind to receive training and love.

Having hit the reset button on Casey, we now attend free group training with Steve and other Board and Train alumni. During these sessions, Steve adjusts the training to deal with every dog in the group, each with their own past and current issues. He checks in on how progress is going at home and offers suggestions to questions we may have. I even sent Casey to live with Steve while my husband and I went on vacation. I had complete peace of mind leaving her with him and hope to do so again in the future.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank Steve and his team properly for everything they did for Casey. She is a much happier, calmer, confident version of herself, and therefore, so am I.

I can’t thank Steve and his team enough for what they have done for Rio. Living in an NYC apartment especially with large dog breeds is something many people wouldn’t consider due to the potential of scaring other tenants or even worse hurting someone if left untrained. German shepherds are known for their fierce loyalty and protective nature. By the time he was 6 months old, he had a huge problem with biting furniture, barking excessively, and leash aggression especially if it was another family member trying to walk him.

Thankfully I found Steve who pinpointed key points to his behavior and how to correct them. During our first session, Steve explained how overconfidence can also be a potential risk for dogs since they wouldn’t hesitate to bite someone, which Rio came close to few times. Rio will always be a protective dog he was bred this way, but as an owner I need to be able to control him at all times, which is why I enrolled him into boarding. It was hard giving him up, but Steve made this whole process easier to deal with by providing updates via text and videos throughout the process. I did not expect such a positive change in Rio’s attitude in such a short period of time. He came back a reformed dog his behavior around the house is excellent he no longer destroys furniture, walking him on a leash became much more controllable for my family, they now come to my house and look forward to walking Rio, in my absence. Everyone loves him but of course, I always keep an eye on him to ensure bad habits don’t come back.

Even more importantly Steve continues to provide training on a weekly basis so I can better control Rio under a stressful situation. He’s made so much progress since meeting Steve and I can honestly say I didn’t expect it so quickly. Meeting Steve was a he’s someone I would recommend if you’re serious about improving your dog’s behavior or simply want to elevate training to a higher tier. I look forward to future training sessions and advanced protective work with Rio in the future.

If you have ANY issues with your dog, give Steve a call now. He has changed my dog for the better and I wish I had done this years ago. She no longer fights us about going in the crate, she knows her place in the pack now, and is not as reactive around other dogs. I used to cry daily trying to get my dog to go in the crate so I could go to work-it was so stressful and not a good situation for any of us. Steve's training has alleviated so much stress in our household. Worth every penny trust me.

Steve Hong did an amazing job training me and my German Shepherd, Roxy. Roxy was bred from solid "working lines" and she is very intense. I live in NYC so I needed a very obedient dog. Roxy displayed some aggressive tendencies at around 12 months so I took her to Steve. Steve worked his magic with Roxy and coached me on being a better owner. Needless to say, I now have a happy and obedient dog today. I am a fan and highly recommend Steve and K9Key.

Steve and the trainers at K9KEY have done an incredible job helping us with our 4 year old toy Australian Shepherd! We are so glad we decided to do the board and train program, she now immediately listens to our commands and is just much easier to control. We knew we needed some professional help with our Riley once she began showing aggression towards people and certain dogs, so after searching the internet for a board and train program we came across K9 Key and set up our consultation. Considering Riley's stubbornness and energy level we knew she needed a very structured program and plenty of attention, which is exactly what she got with Steve and has clearly paid off. Riley still has her quirky personality and all the traits we love about her, but she is just overall a better behaved dog who now listens to us consistently. We also love the Saturday classes available, and know it will be critical in keeping Riley's training current and in helping us learn how to better control her behavior going forward

Bringing my dog to training was the best decision we've ever made. The boarding program definitely improved my dogs behavior over the course of a few weeks. Do note however it's as much of a learning experience for the dog and the owner. Stephen does a fantastic job teaching us the techniques and exercises vital to obtaining an obedient well behaved dog. My only regret is not enrolling sooner.

Steve probably saved my dog's life. I was at my wits end with my rescue pit bull that I had for 2 years. I've had a 'Brooklyn Terrier' before - so knew the breed and what I could be getting into. But Francis was different. Not only was he super cute and high energy, but aggressive and possessive of me. Why? His not-really-the-alpha-dog owner is a single mom who works long blues and doesn't spend enough time w him. I had a trainer in Brooklyn. And he'd get a couple walks a day but I just wasn't there enough. And my trainer/boarded who is awesome - just didn't have the time to spend w him that he needed.

And we had a really bad patch where he bit a couple of people including someone in my building. And I thought for sure they were going to report him and he'd be gone. And that's what finally got my butt in gear. A friend of a friend recommend Steve - and he's out on Long Island but WORTH it! So he met me and Francis.

At this point - after biting someone in my building - I just didn't think I had he strength to keep him. I know. That sounds horrible. I love dogs! But things were bad so I told Steve I was thinking of getting him trained and then giving him away. My job was getting crazy. I'm single. No time and didn't see that changing. After Steve met Francis he was like "ok, he's dominant, assertive... all those things but clear-headed. Knows what he wants. And that's a good thing. We can work with that. I've had much worse. So let's just TRY this."

I swear Steve is the Yoda of dog owners. And if he can fix what was wrong between me and Francis he can help anyone. He's so calm and focused. So try, we did.

Francis enrolled in Steve's board and train. And at first it seemed like a lot of money. But it wasn't. He saved his life. Made me a better owner. And you can't put a price on that. Francis needed so much extra work that he kept him just over 7 weeks - instead of the regular 4 - and didn't charge me extra. He cares that much about the dog's and their owners. Of course he needs to and should be paid A LOT for what he does. But it showed me how dedicated he is to training and the dog's. And that meant the world.

Steve also has free Saturday classes for his former train/board pupils. He just asks for a donation for the school where he holds the Classes. The best part, though, is its all former pupils so they tend to be aggressive dogs or dogs w extra issues - and their owners who often have as many issues! So it's like group therapy.

I can't say enough about Steve and his business. He loves dogs. all of them. Not just the easy ones. And he makes us owners better dog owners and better people. You can't put a price on any of that. But you can and should let Steve help you and your dog.

Jennifer

Steve is AMAZING! We were not sure what to do with our German Shepherd as he was displaying a lot of anxiety causing our family and friends to be afraid of him. After working with Steve he came back a new dog! Steve was able to educate us on our dogs anxiety issues and identify triggers while teaching us the best ways to approach stressful situations. As a result our dogs anxiety levels drastically decreased. Steve provides you with all the tools you need to make sure you have a happy dog!

K9 key is a truly professional dog training service. It is refreshing to find a trainer that has not only your realastic goals in mind but also sees the true potential in your dog. Having trained horses for years, I can appreciate a gifted trainer which is what Steve and Ki are - remarkable talented trainers. I highly recommed K9 Key for any of your K9 needs!

Steve Hong is the best! He trained our dog and changed our life. We were about to give up on being able to keep our very difficult German shepherd. Steve said he could train him and he did. I would recommend him highly.

I'd recommend Steve hands-down. He helped me work through all my dogs aggression issues. Steve is also there if you need follow up training. He's helped me take my dog to the next level in dog sports.

With all the people out there who claim to be dog trainers, the real ones are few and far between. Steve is the real deal. He is more than a trainer. Most "trainers" try to bandaid the problem. Steve is able to figure it out the root cause and work the dog past the problems. I am pleased to say that with Steve's guidance we were able to get our dog under control and make him a great pet and member of the family. If it weren't for Steve we would have most likely had to rehome him. Thank you again Steve for all your dedicated hard work, we would be lost with out you.

When I first bought my 90 pounds bulldog Vinny to K9 Key it was my last option before have my dog euthanized. Vinnys aggression towards strangers had begun to turn on to me as well. I had been turned away by numerous trainers who claimed to deal with dangerous dogs and didn't know what to do. Thanks to Steve Vinny is still with us, 3 years later. Steve taught me how to read my dog and how to be a successful leader, which apparently I wasn't. Vinny will never be the kind of dog who runs up to strangers with kisses but I can now have people round to my house and take him away with me. Working with Steve and K9 Key is the best decision and best money I've ever spent and for anyone who thinks that their dog is beyond help, talk to Steve first.

Steve and the team at K9 Key are superb. We asked them for help training our 6 month old German Shepherd after having unsuccessful experiences with three other trainers. Not only did our dog's behavior improve tremendously over a few weeks, he absolutely adores Steve. They regularly sent videos and photos of the progress and have been very easy to communicate with. Furthermore their weekend classes are fantastic for brushing up his skills and a great way to discuss the fun challenges of dog training with other people in similar circumstances. We've also used K9 Key for dog boarding twice and will continue to use them when we head out of town.

I strongly recommend K9 Key!

Dear Steve,

We cannot thank you enough for what you have done for our dog Finley and our family. We were at our wits end when we found you. Finley was very hard to control, so much so that we were afraid to have people come to our home and I was afraid to take him out of the house. We had about 5 trainers you, they all cost plenty of money, but did not make any difference. I was always told that his behavior was my fault because I was not listening well enough, following through or being stern.

After working with you, Finn came home a completely different dog. I thought you might have returned a different dog. He listens to commands, plays well with the children, and is overall a wonderful pet for our family. Your hard work has really paid off for us. If it wasn’t for you, I am not sure we would have been able to keep Finn. My dogs are like my kids, but he was so very difficult. Finley and The Birk’s LOVE Steve!

We are truly grateful!

Brian and Britt Birk

Ps. We are also so thankful that you will have him back when we are away. He loves going to the Steve Hong Hotel!

I just want to thank Steve and his family for once again taking care of my prince Vince over the Christmas holiday. It gives us a huge amount of peice of mind knowing that he will get the extra bit of attention than the alternative kennel option while also topping up his training. Getting to collect a perfect gentleman at the end of his stays is amazing and really helps with maintaining his behavior. Plus he always comes back exhausted, which can only be a good sign; the only time we put him in kennels he came home like the Tasmanian devil due to being cooped up 24-7. So, thank you Steve & Co, you really have changed our lives by helping my increasingly well behaved devil dog

Rosie Waller

We first met with Steve when our puppy “Lincoln” was eight months old. We had seen a variety of other trainers, but no one seemed to tune in to us or our dog as well as Steve. Steve quickly figured out the situation and in a gentle, but firm manner engaged our dog and helped to alleviate may difficulties that are common to a German Shepherd puppy – agitation, restlessness, and leash aggression. Steve worked with us to give us a much better understanding of our boy. And now, several months later, he is a well-behaved, loving, very well-socialized dog.

We are so grateful to Steve Hong.

He has an enormous intelligence about dogs and in his quiet, playful manner, was able to turn a potentially difficult situation around. I recommend him wholeheartedly. He is wonderful.

Lynne

Brooklyn, NY

There are no words to describe how grateful I am that I found K9key!

Mini (mutt) came to stay one night at my house and has been here 3 years later!!!!

Mini was a stray dog that made her way here from the streets of Puerto Rico. As a new dog owner I had no clue on how to train or teach a dog anything. I tried a group class at a local pet store and wanted more personalized attention. I asked around for a recommendation for dog trainer, through a friend I came across K9KEY! Mini had several issues that we needed to work on. At each session, Steve explained what was going to take place in the session and by the end of the session Mini did exactly what was taught. I was and still am so impressed with her training and the knowledge & skills that K9Key has shared with us. If anybody wants to call me to get a reference I will be more than happy to do so!!!!!

With much thanks!!!

Stacey B

Oceanside, NY

My dog Belle and I recently moved to NYC from Boulder, Colorado. We did not know many people, but had heard about Steve’s dog services (NY Dog School) through people at the dog park. A couple of months ago I left Belle with Steve for 4 weeks. While I was gone, he kept me updated on her daily activities and sent pictures. If you’re like me, your dog is like your child. It can be stressful leaving your pet, but having your pet stay with Steve alleviates all dog-related stress and worry.

Jennifer C.

Brooklyn, NY

Having an out of control Doberman was hardly what I imagined when getting Hera. Before getting Hera, I did a ton of research, and decided that I wanted a Doberman – a dog highly trainable, sharp, intelligent, and magnificent. But things hardly turned out that way. By the time Hera was 8 months old, she was out of control – exhibiting all the dreaded problems that dog owners faced – food possessiveness, dog aggression, handler aggression, destructive behavior in house, etc. Luckily, I was able to find Steve and his father, Ki. After boarding Hera with Steve, Hera came back a completely different dog – a more manageable dog that I can enjoy living with. More importantly, Steve and his father continue to provide valuable guidance to me so that I can better understand Hera. It has been almost a year since I first met Steve and we have made a lot of progress and continue to. Since meeting Steve, Hera and I have been training in the sport of Schutzhund and preparing her for the BH in Spring 2011. I would have never imagined that this would have been possible a year ago. I am truly grateful to both Steve and Ki for the incredible work and time they have put into training Hera. I truly lucked out when I found K9Key!

Jimmy M.

Brooklyn, NY