Harmony K9 Training

Review of Harmony K9’s Board-and-Train Program I enrolled my reactive Doberman in Harmony K9’s 4-week “behavior modification” board-and-train program after completing 10 weeks of progress with another well-regarded trainer. Unfortunately, our experience at Harmony K9 did not align with expectations, and several serious concerns arose throughout the process. Consultation and Professionalism Issues During the initial consultation, the head trainer displayed unprofessional behavior by speaking disparagingly about our original trainer. He showed no interest in hearing what had worked for our dog, disregarded all prior training methods, and refused any form of collaboration. The tone and attitude suggested personal bias, especially since our previous trainer had recently been ranked higher in the 2025 Rhode Island trainer rankings. The experience felt more like an ego conflict than a program focused on our dog’s success. Lack of Transparency and Questionable Practices One particularly alarming moment occurred when the trainer mentioned he was in the process of euthanizing two other Dobermans who hadn’t succeeded in his rehabilitation program—this was shared while he was actively working with our own dog. This information, combined with other questionable practices, raised serious concerns. Daily updates were promised but rarely provided unless we reached out. The few videos we did receive were recorded on extremely hot days (black flag conditions), showing our black-coated dog on a sun-exposed sidewalk, not padded turf as claimed. When we expressed concern, we were told he had only been outside for six minutes. The videos also included passive-aggressive commentary aimed at us as the handler, framed as instruction for his staff, but often dismissive or condescending in tone. The training plan we received later was generic and not customized to our dog’s behavior or progress. It felt like a cookie-cutter approach rather than something designed for a dog who had very specific triggers and history. Behavioral Regression and Lack of Follow-Up Before entering the program, our dog was making steady progress—he could remain neutral around other dogs, remove his muzzle after play, and engage in public settings like Costco and select grocery stores. By the third weekend of the program, my dog showed marked regression. During what should have been a 10-minute potty walk, he reacted aggressively toward two people and a rabbit, nearly injuring me. His threshold for other dogs shrank to over 20 feet, where previously he could remain calm in close proximity. He now stress pees when a voice is raised, something he had never done before. These changes were deeply concerning and did not reflect any progress toward behavioral stability. When I voiced my concerns, the trainer reacted defensively, refusing a joint session or even an observation of us handling the dog. He insisted he already understood both our behaviors in detail. Only after I showed him photo evidence of past training milestones did he agree to transition the dog back to our previous methods. Poor Recommendations and Follow-Up When asked for follow-up support, we were told to attend a webinar on rehabilitating rescue dogs—our dog is a well-bred Doberman, not a rescue—and to record and submit videos. I was open to that idea until he recommended buying $200 Ray-Ban recording glasses as part of the process. Additionally, he suggested sending our puppy to Ohio for a hybrid jiu-jitsu and enrichment class with a different trainer for a few hundred dollars and a 3.5-hour drive, which had no relevance to behavior modification. During our final pickup on a Sunday, we saw him hosting a public dog social to attract new clients. Yet, when we requested Sunday follow-ups, we were told he “never works Sundays” due to a promise to his daughter. When my husband pointed out he was working that very Sunday, the inconsistency was ignored. Final Thoughts The only positive aspect of this experience was the staff—particularly Sergio, who clearly cared for and connected with our dog. It was tough seeing our dog excited to see him each week, only to pee in fear when he realized he was being dropped off again. The facility is clean and thoughtfully designed, and had we not gone through the board-and-train, we would have considered it for continued basic boarding. Unfortunately, our dog returned to us in a worse behavioral state than when he left. We're expecting an five additional weeks of intensive retraining to recover the progress he had lost. Given the unprofessional conduct, lack of transparency, generic training approach, and behavioral regression, I cannot recommend Harmony K9’s board-and-train services for behavior modification—particularly for reactive dogs. Maybe for easier-to-train dogs (i.e. non-working breeds) with a clean slate, but definitely not for those looking to help grow with their dogs in a positive, balanced environment.