SpitzeK9 Dog Training

AJ Lykens

2023-10

Within one singular training session my dog changed drastically. After a few more sessions and a few more months of training, he is now a completely changed dog! Antonio was also very helpful throughout the whole process and always gave me any information I needed! My dog was about a year and a half old and acted just like a puppy, by pulling the leash, jumping, no recall, etc. He is now almost two and is off leash, listens to a recall, knows multiple commands, etc . I am more than satisfied with the way my pup now acts! I would like to thank Antonio, and would recommend SpitzeK9’s services to everyone!

jason kessler

2023-12

It has been just over a week since we picked up our girl, an adopted 15-month-old, 150-pound, Great Dane from SpitzeK9 and we’ve been pinching ourselves ever since believing we must be dreaming. Before dropping her off for the two-week board and train, we had her for a month and knew we needed professional help. She has come home as a completely new dog. She stays in “walk” at our left hip, without a leash if we choose, even with high distractions like other dogs, deer or squirrels. She immediately drops into “sit” or “down” and will stay in down while we walk away up to 50 yards (probably further, we haven’t tried) and not come until commanded. We’ve never had a dog, and we’ve had lots of dogs, with better recall. We are so grateful and in awe of how well trained she is and can confidently take her out anywhere in public and know she will be a masterful example of the breed. Most importantly, Antonio trained us upon pickup and took all the time we needed to feel confident bringing her home. He was responsive to calls and text messages and regularly updated us with videos of her progress. Both he and Mel are expert trainers, and we couldn’t recommend SpiteK9 any more highly.

Jennifer Grillo

2023-06

I’m so glad a friend recommended that I call Antonio to help me with my rescue dog, a Great Dane mix. Ace seemed like the perfect dog, until he became very reactive on the leash when he would see another dog. I could no longer handle him safely.Without Antonio’s knowledge and guidance I would never have been able to keep my dog.He helped me to be a better handler and I’m grateful for the amazing training!!

Amanda S.

2023-07

We absolutely adore Antonio and his Team! I had a lot of anxiety bringing home a new female puppy (Cora) with our established 9yr old male (Thor) after years of him being the top dog. Both are very strong breeds and felt my confidence was lacking in situations where I would be the only person around to correct and control undesirable and possibly dangerous situations. Thor fully responded to Antonio's methods within moments, I was amazed! I can now enjoy so many new and exciting activities with my pack like going to dog-friendly restaurants, walking off-leash with ease and highly populated areas without the stress of my dogs being an issue. We get so many compliments on how well-behaved the dogs are, seriously life changing! I am so grateful to Antonio and recommend SpitzeK9 to everyone!!

Theresa N

2023-08

Antonio was amazing. We came in needing help with training our Shepherd pup. Our new shepherds personality was very different from our first girl and our basic training wasnt working. We particularly looked for someone who knew and understood the breed. He was very knowledgeable, easy to talk to and really took his time with training.I couldn't walk her with her ripping my arm off, dragging me down the street it was dangerous for both of us. She was aggressive when passing other dogs on walks and almost to much for me to handle.We worked with Antonio for 4-5 weeks on training her and US and it paid off. We couldn't be happier. This isn't like going to Petco for training, you have to put the work in with your dog be dedicated to the program. In the beginning of the training I thought I was in over my head and became flustered easily, but I'm happy we stuck with it! I'm now able to walk with her off lead and keep her with me. I can't thank him enough!

Steph Cornelius

2023-07

Antonio was great and very knowledgeable and kind. He was patient with my husband as I when he was teaching us how to train our dog. I'm excited to continue our training with him. If you are looking for a dog trainer, definitely go with spitzeK9.

Andrew Nau

2023-12

Once you accept the use of the e-collar as a sensory tool for communicating with your dog, Antonio’s behavior modification program will help you to build a better relationship and give him or her a more fulfilling life. Antonio and Mel offer a professional and personal tailored service that is well worth the money and will build handling skills that will last a lifetime. We have been very happy and impressed with the results. I’ve had several conversations with other clients during joint training sessions and each has echoed the same satisfaction. Antonio has a passion for dog training and takes pride in seeing the that dogs that he has trained are well adjusted and well behaved as evidenced by patiently making sure we understood all aspects of the process, following up on our progress, and answering all of our questions even after we had completed the program. Our 2 year old GSD was exhibiting some troubling behaviors that we hadn’t experienced with our past dogs. With Antonio’s help, we now have the handling skills to manage our dog’s unique personality and he has developed into a better balanced, better behaved, and more confident canine citizen. We have also started using the kenneling service because we trust these guys more than any other place we have used in the past. Whether you are looking for a personal protection dog, are struggling with some of your dog’s negative behavior, or are simply looking basic obedience training, I would highly recommend Spitze K9 and the services they offer.

Louis Volle

2023-05

We spent 1 hour with Antonio and his staff and the results are unbelievable. We have a 5 month old Poodle- German Shepard puppy and the instructions we were shown have improved the behavior of Rufus. Highly recommended to any puppy or dog owner. Everything Antonio explained to us made sense and works. Thank you Spitz K9.

Jamie Kean

2023-11

My husband and I have had many puppies over the years. We did not realize now that we are in my 60’s, we did not have the strength to handle one. As our 3 month old black lab puppy got older and larger, we could not even walk him anymore. To the rescue came Antonio and Mel. He went to their 15 day board and train and returned a puppy that we could handle. He can be walked off leash and follows all our commands. It’s actually beautiful to see. When we are on the trail together people are always saying how well trained Koda is. We were worried he wouldn’t be a puppy anymore but that’s not the case. His personality did not change at all. Our training is going slower than Koda’s. Again, Antonio and Mel to the rescue. They have spent hours with us and Koda to ensure we am doing the training correctly. They are the absolute best as what they do and are committed to making sure their clients are happy. We cannot recommend them enough. I think President Biden needs to use them for his German Shepard’s!

Jesse Anzelone

2023-07

Antonio and Mel were great, our two dogs stayed with them for the two week board and train. The results were fantastic. We got updates on the dogs regularly and they spent time training us when we went for pickup. Both of the dogs came home happy, we can tell they were well taken care of!

Lauren Merante

2022-05

We used SpitzeK9 for private in-home training sessions when we first got our puppy. Antonio was very receptive to our and our puppy’s needs, and gave us solid tips and assignments to work on in the weeks in between our sessions.

charlotte vehec

2023-05

I had my 5-year=old German Shepherd boarded and trained at SpitzeK9 for 3 weeks. My family and I were able to view daily videos of her progress. We were surprised and pleased to see her responses and improved behavior. This is what we expected and we were certainly not disappointed. Antonio brought her home and patiently went through the training process with me, explaining the techniques and asking frequently if I had any questions. My amazement was when he removed her leash and had me walk with her giving her the commands. I was very apprehensive at first. We were walking outside on our street but she performed well, as she did on the leash. Antonio expressed joy in seeing her performance. He shows such concern in promoting excellent behavior from the dogs in his care. I certainly would recommend him to anyone who needs help training their dogs. It is very personal to him to make your dog a good K9 citizen.

Susan Terlingo Saxon

2022-05

Antionio has helped us so much, we have a 10 month old very smart and feisty Australian Shepherd, I could not take her on walks because she barked and was out of control anytime she saw a dog, a child, or an adult walking towards us. I was skeptical about the e-collar and now understand that it is a necessary tool in modifying and eliminating these behaviors. We now can take walks thru children at the park, she can sit next to other dogs, and we are no longer fighting her instincts in public. She is happy too as she was anxious and that is corrected. He clearly loves dogs and has a great sense of what they need. He also helped me to understand that it about safety as well.

Kyra F

2023-08

-EDITED COMMENT: There was literally a video posted on the Facebook page that showed that he was drinking creek water. Looking back at the videos, I suspect that may be part of the reason he had diarrhea. I agree the stress and when he had diarrhea may have been out of your control, and this was our first time training a dog. I also agree that you guys did take care of him and trained him the best you could esp leash training and maybe summer time wasn't the best time to train him, although walking early morning, walking indoors at a store, or later when the sun is out would serve the same purpose . But I am not happy w/ the assumption made, because we only had ONE private session, not multiple private sessions and then the board and train. We did the board and train because we thought that it would be more bang for our buck considering how expensive training is. While yes my pup was a lot to handle and there were times I felt giving up, I always picked myself up and am doing the best with what I know. I just think that now it would be better to train alongside w/ your dog and trainer as opposed to boarding so that he would not be stressed but at the same time he would still get adequate training (I was advised this by someone who takes care of malamutes after the training had already happened). I also wrote on a document that was handed when my dog came on board and train the list of problems and while leash training was covered for board and train, potty training and resource guarding wasn't. I was told that for aggressive behavior I would nearly have to pay double (I don't have thousands more to spend). In terms of swimming, if any double coated dog gets wet and isn't dried efficiently, they can get red sores.For now in terms of my dog guarding, we have followed up w/ a different trainor for a smaller cost, followed advice, and he has not bitten my boyfriend or me since. Overall my dog is well behaved, socialized, and despite all the stress, much better to walk w/ and an enjoyable companion. He hasn't pottied in the house since after he healed from his diarrhea. Ultimately, it is up to us as owners to continue that training.I will admit that despite all this you guys did still do a good job w/ the leash training, I do appreciate the efforts given. Because it was effective 4/5 is a generous rating. even then, my mal must be on a leash and never off leash due to their independent nature, even though they emphasized off-leash training.-ORIGINAL COMMENT:Honest opinion:I took my malamute to the board and train w/ Antonio and Mel. They helped him w/ his leash training. No more unmanageable crazy pulling! He does get distracted every now and then and needs some reminding but I feel more comfortable walking him anywhere, even at the vets or grooming. While stubborn, it is easier to also give commands without the need for treats.I will give four out of five because unfortunately my malamute did get diarrhea coming home, and I suspect it was from the creek water he drank while walking. He got medications and has felt better since, but for next time I will let anyone caring for him to only provide clean water and to NOT have him drink just any water. Future training for my future dogs will also be ideally in-home as opposed to board and train, I suspect my dog was incredibly stressed coming home due to the diarrhea, licking excessively, and becoming more fatigue.I overall still recommend them for training but it’s better for the owner to actively participate and ideally the training should be in-home or actively going to places w/ your dog so that there is less change in environments. I think my mal has separation anxiety.

Steven Kleinman

2023-07

I can not begin to say enough good things about Antonio, Mel and their team. We sent our 8 month old shepherd to them for 15 days of in-house training. We sent them a rambunctious uncontrollable puppy and they returned the most well mannered, well adjusted dog and well behaved dog you could ever ask for. I can not say enough good things.

Kelly Welnick

2023-05

After only our first session/introduction I've seen a difference in my 2 yr old pitty. I've had issues with her pulling me on walks, jumping in excitement when seeing/meeting people and just overall listening to commands.

Bethany Cadez

2023-05

Antonio and his staff were great with our lab, Marco! He was very responsive to all of my questions and concerns, and they were great about posting video updates during Marco’s training. We are so excited to utilize all of the new skills Marco learned at his training. We will absolutely be back for boarding in the future. Thank you!!

amberlee murphy

2021-05

I have two seven month old German Shepherd puppies that are siblings. I've been struggling with a few hurdles during their training, leash pulling being one of the main concerns. Today, Antonio came to train my pups for the first time and it was wonderful to see how much progress they made within such a short period time. Antonio was great with my babies, he made the session fun and engaged. I look forward to seeing the progress in them and working with Antonio in the future.

joy hoffman

2021-05

Antonio was courteous and professional throughout our entire experience. We have an 8 month old German Shepard puppy and she is very friendly however very energetic and we wanted to have her respond to our commands and have a positive experience out in our neighborhood. Antonio is very open to any questions we have and will work with our schedules so he can help us communicate better with our wonderful puppy. We look forward to working with him again soon. Thanks so much Antonio!

Ruthie Miele

2021-05

Met Antonio today for an evaluation with my German shepherd.. He is extremely knowledgeable, engaging with the animal, and very energetic.!!He had my dog totally listening and engaged! It was incredible!! We plan on doing the train/board Antonio was very honest and advised what to expect. I will update my review once the board/train is complete:)

J Se

2021-05

Antonio is great to work with. I have an 11 week old German Shepherd that I am going to work to have titled. As a first time handler, I also am being trained as well.Antonio doesn’t just train the dog, but he also is telling me why we are doing things the way we are, so I know what to look for, and won’t allow for problems we have to fix down the road.My dog loved the first session. You could see that he really loved doing the training, and that is what is most important. You can tell Antonio has a love for dogs, and my pup really responded well to that.We are looking forward to having Antonio help us achieve the Schutzhund titles!!

Elizabeth Vahaly

2022-05

Antonio was extremely knowledgeable, professional and above all friendly and personable. He taught us so much in such a way that he seemed like like a long time friend. Dog training to me is more of owner training so we can be good pet owners. He made us feel comfortable and confident that we can get our pack under control. Looking forward to working with Antonio and his company.

Nakul R

2021-05

We had a great experience with Antonio. He came in and very patiently worked with Calvin and answered all our questions. We felt a kind of calm assurance about him and he is certainly good at what he does. He taught us how to effectively train our dog with positive reinforcement thus setting us on a path to success. We plan on scheduling future sessions with him and strongly recommend him for your dog training needs.

Trent C

2022-05

My girlfriend and I had a great experience with both Mel and Antonio. They worked wonders on our 9 month Australian Shepard. Highly recommend them for training. We did board and train program and Antonio responded to all our messages and check ins on our pup. They posted a bunch of videos and it was cool to see the process and the progress they made with my dog. Can't thank them enough!

Jennifer Stubbs

2021-05

I am very pleased with my first training session with my puppy. Antonio was very knowledgeable and thorough with his training session. He answered all questions and concerns I had about my puppy habits and behaviors. I highly recommend SpitzeK9 Dog training they truly care about your pet and are passionate about their profession.

Jacqueline Genovese-Lucas

2021-05

After only one session with Antonio, we learned so many valuable and effective ways to correctly communicate with our dog to obtain desired behaviors, and to eliminate undesirable ones. We were very impressed with his knowledge and skills, and our dog loved him! We look forward to continuing to work with him!

E kreutzer

2022-05

It was clear that we were struggling with our doberman and needed help. SpitzeK9 did an amazing job with his training. Antonio and Brittany were great! While our boy was in their care, they always answered or returned calls quickly. Sent a quick video to update us on his progress, and took very good care of him. They were patient and took the time to answer every question, and made sure we understood what we were doing. We are excited about the difference in our boys behavior, and look forward to further training with them

Megan Juiliano

2022-05

Antonio and Mel preformed a miracle on my dog. My boyfriend and I couldn’t believe the progress they made with our 9 month old Australian Shepherd and we couldn’t thank them enough. I felt safe knowing that Mel and Antonio definitely care about the dogs they train and treat them with the upmost love. We got to check in and see all the progress and love my dog was getting. Cannot recommend them enough!

Emily Ward

2022-05

Antonio did a fantastic job helping us train our 1 year old shepherd mix rescue. He is a joy to interact with and has a great knowledge of dogs, not only with training itself but providing us with tips anywhere from dog food to dog parks. Definitely worth the investment.

Deja Bryant

2021-05

Antonio was amazing! He gave me a great amount of tips and tricks the first day. My dog is already listening better and I could not be happier. Very excited to see where we’re at when we have completed training!