Previous Testimonials
Dre
Sharon and Al have done a remarkable job with Dre. After 5 weeks he is near perfect on and off leash. My dog seemed very happy here, at the facility, which was important to me.
Brad Gladstone
Commerce, MI
Kona
Prior to K9 Specialist Kona was great with our family of 5 (w/ 3 children), however, she began showing very aggressive and uncontrollable qualities towards neighbors/friends, other dogs and extended family members. We look forward to applying the skills learned from K9 Specialist and to see how she integrates into our home and responds to the chaotic environment with our kids and “normal life”.
Jason & Tawna Vallance
Spring Lake, MI
Hopper
I would highly recommend K9 Specialist for Advanced Obedience Training. Sharon not only established a solid obedience foundation for our dog but she also worked with us extensively to ensure we had the proper training and tools to be able to allow our dog to be the best he can be!
Brad & Jessica Hill
Kaiser
I highly recommend K9 Specialist as a training place. Sharon was an outstanding person to work with both my dog and me as an owner. My dog & I learned so much. Thank you for everything you have done to make us so much better!
Linda A. Guerrieri
Holland, MI
DaVinci
We cannot emphasize enough how happy we are with Sharon & K9 Specialist. The work they did with DaVinci was astounding. We would highly recommend their services to anyone. She was patient with both DaVinci and us and spent time with us so we could continue working with DaVinci to ensure the continued success. Thank you Sharon.
Craig & April Wright
Davidson, MI
Lucy & Lucky
Sharon did such a great job with Lucy & Lucky. Sharon showed me so many techniques to keep the dogs well behaved and I am grateful for all the work she has put into our girls.
Megan & Brian Hallgren
Milford, MI
Tank & Uzi
We are happy and feel confident with Tank and Uzi. Their time spent with Sharon was well spent. We also feel very good about getting our training with commands and training collars so we can continue the work at home.
Sherry Diez & Jeremy Campbell
Farmington Hills, MI
Champ
I couldn’t have asked for better dog trainers. I had tried lessons from big box stores to no avail. I needed my dog, Champ, to be good enough to be my service dog. I am a Marine Corps veteran, with 2 tours in Iraq, and extreme PTSD. Having Champ trained well enough to go out with me in public will increase my quality of life. I am so thankful for K9 Specialist, and what they have done for me. I am forever in-debted to you. Thanks!
Ryan Hill
Kalamazoo, MI
Luna
I’m happy with the professional training that was done with our dog. Very happy and excited to work with this new dog.
The Ordunas
Norton Shores, MI
Barkley
When we got our 6 month old GSD puppy, Barkley, he was a handful: hyper, uncontrollable at times, and wouldn’t listen to us. After training with Sharon, he is like our dream dog – calm, controllable, and sweet! We are so glad we made the decision to call Al & Sharon. Worth every penny!
Jesse & Nancy Martinez
Grandville, MI
Highland, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
Samantha and Adam Bignell
Iowa City, IA
Royal Oak MI
working with her over a couple of years and I was at my wit’s end. After
Sharon had worked with her for 5 weeks there was a huge change in Midori’s
behavior. For the first time we could consistently take her on relaxing,
fun walks instead of getting worked up and frustrated over her behavior.
She is calmer and has more self-control, exactly what we were looking for.
I knew she was in good hands while she was at the kennel and appreciated
the videos of her progress. I’m grateful for their work every time we go
on a walk.
Grand Rapids, MI
Rochester, MI
Update: Maggie and Molly got to test their training with all of the
strangers coming in, and out, of our home to see the puppies. They did very
well, and were good selling tools when we’d show their newfound skills off
to prospective buyers. After the last puppy found its forever home we
took Libby to Sharon for her training. After four weeks she’s returned
home. We’re proud to have all three dogs sitting calmly, side-by-side (as
opposed to barking, howling and jumping) when visitors enter our home.
OZZIE
SUGAR
Hi Sharon, things are going well with Sugar! Here is my testimonial…….
When I contacted Al my dog, Sugar, was a mess! She had severe separation anxiety and could not be confined. She chewed through crates, climbed out of a kennel and chewed up a door. She also was very hyper, jumped up on everyone and she hassled my cats so much that I feared she would harm them. Al assessed the situation and recommended I bring Sugar to Sharon to have her work with her for an extended period of time. Boy, am I glad I did! Sugar is a new dog! She no longer has separation anxiety. Sugar is calm and obedient, walks well off and on a leash and she leaves my cats alone! Sharon is an excellent trainer. She was very patient with both me and my dog. My only regret is that I didn’t call earlier.
This was my second experience with K9 Specialist. Approximately 7 yrs ago Al helped me with my pit/staff terrier mix. He trained him in basic obedience and helped me deal with him also hassling my cats. This too was a fantastic experience. Seven yrs later my Higgins continues to be a wonderful and well behaved dog!
BLACK JACK
We are thrilled with the way Black Jack’s behavior has improved. We can enjoy the company of our dog without the behavior problems. -Phebli Saut, Wixom MI.
BRADY
Thank you K9 Specialist! We are so appreciative of the training for our Brady. Brady has become much calmer and the training from Sharon for Brady AND us was outstanding. Sharon was patient will all of our questions and was kind when she needed to “remind or redirect” our behaviors. We feel more confident in ourselves about how to continue to work Brady and be the dog our family wants to have. Brady LOVED being at K9 Specialist and clearly loved Sharon as well, which eased us. After our visits, he woul dgo right to the door to go back inside to his temporary home. This proved to us the he liked it and that his training was working. Thank you again!!!! -Patrick and Amanda Sorelle, Grand Haven, MI.
CARRERA
The improvement in Carrera’s behavior was nothing short of amazing! She used to be a very stubborn, hard to control dog. But after her training I feel completely confident that she will be well behaved and under control from now on. -Kate Elder, Royal Oak, MI.
Sharon did a wonderful job with our two male goldens. We were at our wits end when our two pups started to have serious fights with each other at 5 months old, we could not have them together in our home. We did not know what to do. We even considered separating them and having to find a new home for one of them. Thanks to Sharon’s expertise and patience our dogs are back in our home getting along and well behaved!!
WINSTON and JACKSON
Winston and Jackson were trained by Sharon. She did a fabulous job working with and training both dogs. They are both now cal and walk well on and off leash. The dogs listen well to our commands. We now feel comfortable taking our dogs to public places and them being well behaved. -Scott and Kelly Meyer, Otsego, MI.
STELLA
I am very pleased with Stella’s progress. She is healing for me perfectly off leash. Sharon was great staying in touch with me throughout the process. I am very excited to work with her further at home! Thank you so much K9 Specialist -Dasha, Novi, MI.
MY BABY
My dog was and is “My Baby”. My dog “My Baby” was also scary aggressive. She had bitten 2 people and next time, she was being put down by “Animal Control”. I dreaded taking her for walks because she was so protective, and aggressive, protecting me. After 2 months of training my life or death situation with “My Baby” was solved. She was a different dog. Her temperament was normal. I am grateful for every second of her training and it was worth every dime. I would pay it again. I am relieved and completely satisfied. Thank you so much! – Shirley Lely and Tamara Quibell
MADDIE
-Karen & Ray Panozzo
KUMA
HENRY
-Katie & Dave
SARGE
What we appreciated most about the services we received was the excellent care and attention to Sarge’s training. When we received the video to review the training we could not believe it was the same dog we dropped off. When we came to pick Sarge up, we were thrilled with the results. Sarge was a “new” dog yet still had his adorable personality to go along with the training. Before releasing Sarge to us, we received excellent education in handling Sarge and what we needed to do to keep up with his training. We highly recommend K-9 Specialist to anyone who loves their dog and is looking for high quality training.
-Ron and April Nagy
-Maureen & Ray Hatch
-Dave & Bonnie Shidler
-Allie & Nate
-Harry Dyck
happy we found them.
-Cliff and Angela Hammer
-Summur Powers & Wynter
-Phil & Kim Nykamp
Duke
K9 Specialist training gave Duke a second chance
We highly recommend K9 Specialists!
-Mark and Sara Cooney.
 When we called Al our 1 year old Bullmastiff was completely out of control. He would take flying leaps off the couch and stand on our glass coffee table. We were at our wits end. After our first session we could notice a huge difference as each session went on he just got better and better. He helped us completely change our dogs behavior and Titan now listens when we tell him no, walks beside us, lays down, Stay, and comes. We are so happy with the results. We will definitely continue with everything Al taught us and use his training with our future bullmastiffs we get. We are so thankful to Al. Grandville, Michigan |
 Queremos Agradecer Al Senor Casimiro Por Aver Entrenado A Nuestra Mascota Bandit. Anteriormente Abiamos Tenido Un Problema Enque Bandit Abia Mordido A un nino, Desidimos entrenarlo con ayuda del senor Casimiro. Ya hecko una gran diferencia ensu comportamiento. Les Recomendamos atodos que han tenido un problema similar que se comuniquen con el Senor Al Casimiro A quien le agradesemos su ayuda.La Familia Gamez.Holland, Michigan |
| Before working with Al, Max, my pit bull/lab mix was the prince fo the castle, somewhat out of control and a bit intimidating. Now that we have had Al around the bond between Max and I and my family has grown significantly. He is no longer intimidating and I am so proud to flaunt how much of a good boy he is!! I was very impressed and put at ease with Al’s knowledge of the “bully” breeds and enjoyed how much he could share and how great he is at teaching. It sure was hard for me to learn to be the dominant one! We would definitely recommend Al to any one looking for a great training for their dog.
Ami Francis, Max and Family
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| This summer I adopted a 1 year old Pitbull from the humane society. A couple weeks after AI brought Higgins home. A stray kitten arrived in my yard. I wanted to keep the kitten but Higgins seemed too rough and possibly aggressive toward the kitten. I was fearful of letting the two of them loose in the house together. I called the humane society and they recommended the K-9 Specialist. Al came to my house and evaluated the kitten situation and reassured me Higgins did not want to hurt the kitten just play with her. Higgins and the kitten are now loose in the house together and enjoy each others company. Over the next 5 weeks Al worked on obedience training with me and Higgins. At the completion of the 5 weeks Higgins is a different dog. He still has the same sweet personality but now he is obedient and respects me as the leader of the pack. Al’s training has made me a more confident dog owner. I feel like I can take Higgins any where and always have him under control. I am so impressed with Al and his training techniques the way he is able to communicate with dogs is a real gift and is amazing to witness. Thank you Al for helping me turn my Pitbull into a dog that is well behaved and a real joy to have. Everyone that meets Higgins just loves him.
Grandville, Michigan |
Thank you Al for all you have done for us and Niko. Before he came, I had no clue as to how to train a dog and train them correctly. I can’t believe how much Al has taught me. He made training Niko fun and it is so awsome to see such a positive change in her. I have to Pomeranians who have never had training before. I tried, didn’t know how, so quit. I figured they were little, no big deal. Was I ever blind! They are good dogs, just no manners. When we decided to get a large dog, we knew we needed help in training. That meant Al to the rescue! After working with Al, learing the right way to train our Siberian Husky, I have began working with my poms. I feel more confident in training them now. When we got Niko, she had food aggression and she would run me rather than I walk her. After a few days of working with Niko,  I had “licked” the food aggression and now have all three dogs eating out of the same bowl! After less than 5 minutes with Niko, Al had her walking beside him, He as the Leader. It is a real pleasure walking her now. It is so awsome to be complimented on how beautiful she is and how well she walks with me as we stroll down the street. The comments I used to hear weren’t as complimentary, ” who’s walking who” Thank you Al for all the wonderful training you have done with us and helping us have a well behaved dog. I would recommend you to anyone in a heart beat with no hesitation at all. We will miss you, Niko will miss you most. You have become a great friend to her as well!! Dale and Cathy Zylstra Niko, Eddie and Lissi too!Grand Haven, Michigan |
| Al worked with us on training our 5-year old lab/sheltie mix, Tara. My husband and I rescued her, and thought at first that she just needed a basic review of commands. What we soon learned was that we had an extremely stubborn dog that would ignore us and bark at anything and everything! Our vet recommended Al, and from the moment he entered our home, we sensed his energy, watched his interaction with Tara, and knew he was an answer to prayer. Al trained my husband and me to be calm, assertive pack leaders and rehabilitated our stubborn dog into the sweet girl we now enjoy. Al was always patient with us, offered honest feedback, and answered our multiple questions. My husband and I will definitely continue to use everything Al taught us. We recommend Al and his methods to every dog owner we know. Thank you, Al, for all that you’ve given us!!Ryan and Carolyn Smarszcz Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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We bought a puppy without knowing how to train one. She was going potty everywhere except outside. We heard about puppy training and decided to give a try. We Googled dog training and found Al’s site. It was by far the most impressive site and he had the most reasonable prices. We set up a meeting within the week and free of charge he talked us through potty training on the phone. By the end of the week our puppy was completely house trained. In our three weeks with Al, our puppy has learned to come and sit on command. Al is very knowledgeable and you get what you pay for plus some! He gave us a ton of information and we are so pleased with the results. We recommend Al to all of our friends and family who have dogs or plan to get a dog to contact him. We can’t wait for obedience class when she gets bigger. Thanks Al!! Jeff and Rena Whelan & Allie |
| When we first brought our puppy Sadie home from the Humane Society, she quickly became a loved member of our family. We had good intentions of training her and took her to basic obedience courses. She learned the basic commands quickly, but also learned that she could make up her own mind whether to follow them or not! She became a challenge for us to control in the yard and with visitors in our home. That’s when we found Al and through his training learned that we needed to establish a new relationship with Sadie, where she was no longer the “pack leader”. Al taught us how to handle Sadie in a way that communicated our expectations to her. He worked with us in a variety of situations and gave us confidence that we were in control. Al was great to work with and provided professional guidance, patience and understanding. He has truly been given a gift and is using it to be a blessing to others. Thanks Al – we are forever grateful.Shawn, Kitra, Lauren & Erik Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| We had no plans of getting a dog when we received that email. It was yet another “Free Puppies” forward with a sad puppy face, and somehow we knew it was time. Two days later we took home two Jack Russell-Beagle mix puppies – Benny and Chloe. The honeymoon period lasted about 48 hours before we realized we had no idea what we were doing. Stubborn perfectionists, we tried to train them on our own until one day the dogs slipped off their leads and bolted across the street, with Marcy chasing after them. The fear we felt that day was the final push we needed to call in a pro. We knew we didn’t have the skill set to train them and called Al after our vet recommended him. With a structured, disciplined approach, Al used his 18 years of experience and understanding to give us the tools to both control and enjoy our dogs. He did this by training us, not our dogs, and in essence, “taught us to fish.” We now understand the effects of good energy, consistency and discipline before love. In 5 weeks he helped us transform our dogs from spastic and stubborn to respectful and manageable. As a word of caution, please only call Al when you love your dog enough to not give up on them, to accept new ideas, and to work hard. Believe us, this is a small investment of time and money for the better quality of life you’ll give your dogs and yourselves, not to mention peace of mind. For us, this training meant having the best dogs for our children to grow up with. Thank you so much, Al, for helping us to understand our dogs so we can give them the best lives possible. We can now enjoy time with Benny and Chloe on our terms and it’s an amazing feeling. Sincerely, Tom and Marcy Costa Holland, MI |
| We are so happy we called Al to help us train our new Jack Russell puppy, Pearl. He came to our home and not only helped train our pup, but trained us as well. Al was always on time and did not leave until all of our questions were answered. You can really tell how passionate he is about hiscraft. We will definitely contact Al for all of our training needs and highly recommend him to anyone in need of a dog trainer.
Thanks for all your help Al! Ryan and Claire Bos |
| We first learned about Luna, a rescue American Pit Bull Terrier puppy from our friends Lindsey and Mollie at Harbor Humane Society. At that time, Luna was a 3 month old puppy rescued by the Humane Society from an environment where a number of animals had been severely neglected, not provided even food or water. Coming from such a terrible environment, this little girl still loved everyone! She was the happiest puppy you could imagine. After meeting her, we agreed to foster Luna in our home.After a bit longer living with us, and getting her healthy and strong, we knew we would need some help to train this very headstrong puppy who liked to rough-house with our two cats, pulled on walks and tried to jump on people when she met them to lick and love them. Knowing that Luna would continue to grow and get stronger, we knew that training early would be important. In addition, because of her breed we wanted to ensure that everyone who came in contact with her could be at ease and see that she was a well behaved, loving girl. That was our goal.
We were referred to Al Casimiro/K-9 Specialist by Harbor Humane Society. After meeting with Al and his wife Vickie, we knew they were passionate about dogs. After seeing Al work with his own dogs, it was clear that his techniques worked. To start her training Luna stayed in Al’s facility for a week. Following that, we worked with Al in our home weekly on different lessons for us and Luna to practice and train. After beginning our work with Al, and spending some time fostering Luna in our home we decided that she was going to stay with us, and we were happy to be able to adopt her. Now nearly 7 months old, Luna is still a very happy girl, but much better behaved! Using the techniques Al has shown us, she follows commands very well. Here, Sit, Lay, Stay, Heel, Fetch, etc. More importantly, through the training Al has shown us how to continue to build our bond with Luna while exercising discipline. The instruction and suggestions Al presented were easy to understand and follow…and work! Al has been a patient and helpful teacher through the training and his love for dogs is easy to see. In addition to interacting with the dogs, Al has a very calm demeanor making meeting and working with him a positive, pleasant experience. We will continue to train with Luna through her life, but we’re already very proud when our family, friends and neighbors tell us she is (at 7 months) one of the best trained dogs they know. We also really enjoy when people ask what breed this well behaved little girl (OK…she’s not so little anymore) sitting next to them, and we let them know she is an American Pit Bull Terrier. We would (and have) recommend Al Casimiro/K-9 Specialist LLC to anyone seeking a knowledgeable, caring, positive, patient and effective trainer.
Best regards, Troy Westerhof and Kimberly Swartout |
| Our names are Tim and Anna, and our dog’s name is RUFUS. He is a seven month old American Pitt Bull Terrier.We were interested in having Rufus put through obedience training. We met with Al about puppy head start and we decided that we would wait until RUFUS was 6 months old and go through basic obedience. The day came and we decided to go for it and dropped RUFUS off at Al’s center. I must admit that we were more than a little concerned about being without our dog for three weeks, and dropping him off with a virtual stranger. However there was something about Al that told me he was trustworthy, and that RUFUS would be in the most caring, and capable hands. What I was looking for was a well behaved dog that could be counted on to perform under any situation. What I was given was a dog that makes me proud every time I look at him. When we dropped RUFUS off he was your typical 6 month old puppy, he was very excitable and would constantly jump up on people. When we took him for walks, he would walk us rather than us walking him. Two days after we dropped Rufus off we called Al to see how he was doing and were told that he was well and to come in for our first visit. Upon walking into the center we were awestruck, by what we saw. Al opened RUFUS’S kennel, and instead of bolting to us and nearly knocking us over, we were greeted by one of the calmest dogs we have ever had the pleasure of seeing. RUFUS calmly walked up to us and when he reached our feet he sat down and just looked up at us waiting for us to pet him. Well I’ll tell you that almost brought a tear to our eyes. Things progressed well and RUFUS surprised us at every turn. Al explained so much to us and taught us so much. Al reminded us just how passionate about dogs we really were. The final straw in making us see just how gifted this man was at what it does was when we brought our children in to work in a training exercise with RUFUS where they were to walk him and practice healing and staying. Their faces lit with pride and excitement and they shrieked with joy as they yelled “he doesn’t pull anymore!” When we saw my 9 year old daughter walking RUFUS at a perfect heal we were so proud. When she was told to put him in a sit-stay position and did so then walked away (I tried my hardest to get him to leave that position), and when he did not move until she told him it was alright we were SPEACHLESS. Very few things can make you feel such wonder as to see your best friend listen to your children as well as he listens to you.
Al, we gave you an excitable and rowdy puppy and asked that you do what you could for him and you gave us back a family member that anyone would be proud to call their own. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we will not let you down in following through with his training. Expect great things from RUFUS and expect even greater things from us. With the deepest appreciation, and the utmost respect,
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| We wanted our puppy to grow up to be a well trained, happy dog that would fit in with grandchildren, other dogs and many friends and visitors. We wanted to start training before we had problems, and train him correctly from the beginning so he wasn’t having to unlearn bad behavior or training techniques. The Puppy Head Start classes have been a tremendous help in laying the foundation we were looking for. Al’s many years of experience, as well as his training style, made the classes enjoyable and packed with fun and effective techniques and tips. We were amazed at how quickly Buddy responded to the things we learned: At only 8 weeks he will come when called, stop biting or chewing when signaled, sit on command and is also well on his way to being housetrained! We also learned many other things such as how dogs think, pack behavior, setting up a feeding schedule and practical ways to size his crate and keep him from making a mess in it every night. Al’s calm-assertive style has really made him a great teacher – both for us and our puppy. We’re looking forward to starting the Obedience classes in a couple of months.Thanks Al! Holland, Michigan |
 When we decided to get a puppy we knew we wanted a Rottweiler, but did not know how much work it would be. When we got Vegas home she was so sweet and loving and still is, but when she started growing she didn’t know how big she really was. She was a lot to handle and we didn’t help matters by letting her take over our home. We treated her like our child, a human. We tried basic obedience classes, which she did well in, but it just wasn’t enough, she still didn’t quite listen, and that’s when we found Al!Al took our female Rottweiler and turned her into an obedient dog. She is still our sweet little girl, but with manners. Bringing her to Al for the doggy boot camp was the best thing we could have done. Al not only trained Vegas, but us as well. She is much calmer now, even for still being a puppy. We own our house now not her. She listens so well now we can hardly believe it! We have received so many compliments on her from family, friends, and even strangers.We highly recommend Al, the K-9 Specialist to other dog owners. He has helped us in so many ways. We are so proud of our dog now.Thanks again Al and family, we really admire everything you do! Grand Haven, Michigan |
| Our lives will be forever changed because of our experience with Al Casimiro. We knew our dog had issues however we chose to ignore and overlook the problems for a long time. Schooner’s bad behavior eventually reached the point where it could no longer be tolerated. How amazing that the K-9 Specialist (Al) providentially came into our lives at that very time. Al’s teaching, honesty, and expertise opened our eyes to OUR bad habits when it came to properly dealing with our Springer spaniel. The training we received from Al will always be one of the best investments we ever made. We only wish we knew what we know now five dogs ago! We encourage all dog owners to take advantage of the techniques taught by the K-9 specialist – it truly is a life changing experience . Our dog, Schooner, is now under control, well behaved, and a joy to have around – even when the grandkids are visiting! We will be eternally grateful for Al’s intervention.Al Casimiro is not only the K-9 specialist… he is our K-9 hero!
Barb and Doug Nienhuis |
| Al was referred to us by a happy customer. Our 2 yr old black Lab was out of control. My daily walks with Abby consisted of me hanging on for dear life with two hands on the leash as she dragged me down the street. Abby seemed happy. I was not. Eventually I stopped walking her because I feared bodily injury. I learned from Al that Abby is a naturally dominant, high energy dog who needs a lot of exercise. Al taught my dog how to walk on a treadmill to supplement her exercise and to wear a doggie backpack on walks to keep her mind focused on doing a job. Al’s lessons on dog psychology made sense to me and enabled me to assume the role as my dogs pack leader. Teaching me how to practice calm and assertive energy around Abby taught her how to become a calm and submissive companion. Abby now looks to me to set her boundaries, rules and limitations. Today you can find both of us walking happily through the neighborhood. Me holding Abby’s slack leash in one hand as she heels to my left leg.Thanks Al, for this Miracle. Nancy Rogalsk Holland, Michigan |
| Thanks K-9 Specialist for all you do. Your Doggy Boot Camp was great for my dog. He now sits and heels very nicely. You are truly the Dog whisperer of West Michigan.Cory Reese Grandville, Michigan |
| Being an avid watcher of the Dog Whisperer I always wondered what on earth would Caesar do with my two Tasmanian Devils? My Beagle and Beagle mix are friendly and basically good dogs but WILD. I read an article in the Harbor Humane Society Newsletter about Al & K9 Specialist and jumped at the chance. I was not disappointed.Within minutes, yes minutes of Al walking into my home my two devils were awestruck by this person with the famous calm assertive energy. My 76 year old mother participated in the training because she is not strong enough to push them away or control them. By the second lesson the dogs no longer jump on her and she is able to keep them from rushing the door when someone walks in.
I receive comments from everyone who comes over to my house how much calmer the dogs are but also how I am calmer. Al had more work training ME than the dogs. The “calm assertiveness” is instrumental and I’ve gone from a raving maniac to taking a breath, saying nothing and dealing with the situation. This is a life – behavior changing commitment not a six week course and then it’s done. I want to note that one fear I had was that this would break their spirit or change the dogs’ personalities in some way but nothing has changed except their bad behavior. They are the same loving dogs who now respect and listen to me and I’m becoming a better person as well. My mom and I can not thank Al enough for his knowledge, kindness and patience with us. Barb Ambrose |
| I am happy to share my experience of working with Al, with my two dogs Tess and Henri. Al was very knowledgeable about how to communicate with my dogs, and very short order had them better behaved. I am now able to enjoy my walks with my dogs for the first time without them pulling me through the neighborhood. I have two special needs children, and Al was kind and sensitive in involving them in the training as well. I highly recommend his training. Pam Steele Holland, Michigan |
| I brought Sam, my 9 year old Shepherd Collie mix, to see Al because of some behavior problems. Sam started to refuse to get into my car or my truck. I could not take him anywhere unless I lifted in either vehicle. He could jump easily up into the back seat area before, but had developed a fear of being in both. Sam joined Al’s pack, re-learned that he follows the pack leader, learned that Al was dominate over that pack leader, and finally that I also was dominate over Sam. Al’s training was amazing in its results and quickness. Sam is back home and obeying my commands immediately. Sam seems like a more contented dog after being with Al.Mike Lawson Holland, Michigan |
| Dear Al, Thank you for taking the time to help Sadie and I get back on track. Your support and encouragement have meant so much to me and made such a difference in my confidence with Sadie. Through our time together you have taught me many things about myself and for that I am (mostly) grateful. It has been a pleasure getting to know both you and Vickie. You are very special people and I consider us blessed to have you in our lives.
Many thanks, Kitra, Shawn and Sadie. Holland, Michigan |
| Al thank you for all that you did through one of the most painful times in our lives. We would like to give you this in appreciation of you! With Prayers and blessings always
Wally, Sandy, Sassy and Molly from Heaven. Grand haven, Michigan |
| Tessa, the high energy, prey driven, tennis ball loving, leash pulling, Jack Rusell Terrier needed some behavior training. She was becoming more aggressive toward other dogs on walks and I could feel myself becoming nervous and frustrated. Not knowing where to turn I went online to look for training devices for her and came across a dog specialist, Al. I e-mailed him and he came to my home and did a consultation. We both agreed that Tessa needed to know that I was the leader of the pack and that I needed to be respected by my “Psycho dog” (as some called her).Tessa went to Al’s doggy boot camp and when she came home we went to work, and let’s just say that I was the one being trained. With consistency and work Tessa responded and eventually she realized who was in charge now. She has become a calmer, more loving dog and follows me all over the house.
I am amazed at “my new dog” and the new ME! She now looks up at me with her big brown eyes and wonders if I’m pleased with what she is doing. Yes I am! I am so grateful to Al and Vickie for the hard work they put in and love that they gave to Tessa. |
| Mr. Al, as our daughter would say, is honest, confident, understanding, very nowledgeable, patient, and well worth every cent. Let us just say he far exceeded our expectations! If anyone is considering a dog trainer look no further…Al’s the one. We would not hesitate recommending K-9 Specialist and we will be using Mr. Al for all of our dog training.Thank you much Andrew Boer. Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| At two years, our lab Chester, was still out of control. The first trainer had failed and we were not improving on our own. Upon being referred to Al, he came to our home and portrayed exactly what we were hoping for. We are enjoying our relationship with Chester so much more. And there is no doubt that Chester is happier and more of a balanced dog.Mark and LuAnn Perkins Grandville, Michigan |
| Before finding out about K-9 Specialist, Al Casimiro, we thought we had two choices, either put our chocolate lab, Gracie, down or give her away. Her aggression issues had become too much to ignore. She had shown aggression towards other dogs (mostly females) and other people but with me it was the worst, mostly over food and space. Sometimes there would be months in between times so after my anger wore off, it was easy to sweep it under the rug….until one day she snapped at me for petting her after SHE approached ME. At that point I realized that I couldn’t trust my own dog and became scared to be around her, too frightened to even touch her. It became a very touchy subject in our household, it felt like a black cloud was hovering over us. We knew we had to do something but also knew there was no easy solution, either decision would cause a lot of pain. Secretly I felt guilty that I was relieved at the prospect of having to get rid of her. I only felt bad when I thought about the pain my husband would go through because he is so attached to her. After tearfully sharing with some close friends one night, my best friend went home and immediately searched the internet and came across K-9 Specialist, LLC. At our first meeting with Al, I referred to a time that Gracie “visciously attacked” me. He explained what a real attack is in the dog world and that what she was doing was “correcting” me the same way a pack leader would do in a wolf pack. All week that idea settled in my mind. When I started to understand the pack mentality, my mind and heart opened up and for the first time I felt hope that we could indeed, face this, deal with it successfully and most importantly not have to get rid of Gracie.The first time Al worked with Gracie, I was totally convinced that he could help us. To say he had her submitting would be an understatement. It was like watching a bully finally get what he had coming to him. Al was confident in his abilities as well as my potential to become a successful pack leader. It was downright scary at first, working with a dog that had bitten me more than once. Al was extremely patient with me which helped me to trust the process and keep moving forward even when it was uncomfortable. I knew this was our last resort so I trusted him and did what he told me to do. He convinced me that if she did try to “correct” me again, I’d survive it, that’s all it would be, a correction…not an attack as I had earlier perceived her aggression.
We were able to realize that the problem was not Gracie. Our failure to take on the role of true pack leaders and our energy of fear and frustration fueled her aggression. Al taught us how to be effective pack leaders, we haven’t mastered it yet but we are a work in progress. Al has made it possible for us to keep our dog and no words can express how truly grateful we are for his presence in our lives! I would recommend Al with 100% confidence. (Thanks for believing in me, Al!) |
| I called Al after finding him on the net because of leash aggression with our Doberman-Shepherd mix. We used to be the embarrassment of the neighborhood, now I am proud to walk with Shilo. Al has an uncanny knack of getting into the dog’s head and your inhabitations and is able to correct them. On the first visit he had us walking in front of a cocker spaniel that Shilo “hated”. I was so proud of Shilo (or me, not sure which) when the neighbor’s bulldogs were off-leash and charging @ the end of their yard and Shilo ignored them.
We were so comfortable with Shilo after 4 weeks of training we decided to adopt a sister for him. She came out of a very abused situation, but Al and the rescue shelter (Wild Dog Rescue) he was working with had her to the point she could come into her new home. Lillie has been with us for 6 days now; she is a delightful addition to the house. I would strongly recommend Al to anyone who is seeking training correcting behavioral issues with their dog, he really understands what is going on and is able to correct the problem. If you are seeking a rescue dog, Al is someone to contact. He works with the rescue organizations and understands the needs that you are looking for. Gail & Mike Hammon |
| Last night was the first time Lilly had been around anyone but Mike and I since being introduced to the house. When I brought our granddaughter in she freaked, to say the least. She was barking, growling, hair on end and there was no calming her down.I asked Taylor to play in her room quietly until we could call Al and figure out what was going on.
Within mere minutes he had gotten to the root of why she was feeling so threatened and how I was feeding her unstableness by telling her it was o.k. and petting her. It was NOT o.k. and she needed to know that. I was amazed that with a simple phone call and a few minutes time he had Lilly accepting Taylor to the point of licking her in the face with kisses and letting Taylor walk her around the house with a leash. This dog is not leash trained. I have never seen anything like that, you really did have to be here to believe it. I cannot say enough good about his compassion and knowledge of dogs. Gail Hammon |
| With our first contact with Al, his passion for dogs and people was evident in his demeanor and professionalism. From helping us to choose the right dog for our family to training us to train our puppy, Al has been a resource of information and practical advice. Thanks much for all you do.
Jamy and Jennifer Smith
Dorr, Michigan.
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| We adopted a young pit bull – beagle mix from the shelter. Buddy had lived at the shelter for several months, and been in foster care for 2 months. His foster mom had done much of the hard work and Buddy really only had a few issues to work on. He came to us very happy and loving, with a tail always wagging. We wanted to improve basic commands like sit, stay and his manners in greeting guest, going out for walks etc. Initially we saw improvement in his behavior but then we reached a plateau. Quite often Buddy would look at me – trying to figure out what it was I wanted. Al was recommended to us by our daughter who had seen Al in action on one of his trips to the animal shelter. Nothing she said prepared me for our first visit with Al. In 3 minutes, Al had Buddy walking, turning and sitting … without a leash. He was able to accomplish more in 3 minutes than I had in 2 months. Honestly, it was like Magic! I can tell you that Al “speaks dog” fluently and he taught me to “speak dog” a little bit at the first lesson, Al told me there wasn’t a thing wrong with Buddy, but that we were making mistakes and sending him confusing signals. We were able to make simple changes in how we handled Buddy and give him clear leadership. The difference has been remarkable and has made us happier dog owners and no longer leaves Buddy guessing as to what we want. I would definitely recommend Al to anyone who has concerns about their dog. Cherie and Greg Wrona Grandville, Michigan |
| Dear Al,I want to thank you so much for coming to my home and helping me with my new puppy. Ginger is my first puppy and I was a little nervous about how to train her, even though I have raised 4 boys! Your advice was great, and Ginger has made great gains in such a short period of time. Your technique of using positive reinforcements is awesome. Ginger responds very well to this method and is a very happy puppy! Thank you so much for helping me train my puppy, as I know she will grow up to be the best dog in the world!!
Take care, |
| We cannot thank Al enough for helping us gain control of our 5 year old Doberman/Rottweiler mix, Ruby. Ruby has always been a good dog, however, since our other dog passed away and our 1st daughter was born she has started to take on a new role as a “guard dog” that we have not been real excited about. With our second daughter on the way we decided it was time to get Ruby’s protection instinct under control. Al spent a lot time at our home training my husband and I on how to be better dog owners and to help us teach Ruby her place as our pet, not our guardian. We are all much happier now that we have a calmer, less aggressive dog greeting our guest and watching over our family. We understand this is a lifetime commitment to continue regularly working with Ruby as well as any other dog we add to our family later. The lessons and exercises Al taught us will make our lives with dogs happy and safe. Thank you so much!Rachael & Peter Holt Ada, Michigan |
| After two years of dealing with our aggressive dog Roxy, We decided it was time to surrender her. She was incredible and sweet around humans, but completely lost it around other dogs. She even bit both of us when we tried to intervene. It was a difficult decision, but we knew that we had done so much to help her already. We had tried training from a well known trainer here in town, put countless dollars and hours into helping Roxy, and still ended up with no hope. When we called to surrender her, we were asked to try one more thing and that was Al the K-9 Specialist. At that point, we felt we had nothing to lose. By that afternoon we were on our way to see Al, doubting anything could change. Before even asking us what the problem was with Roxy, Al assessed that she was a aggressive and dominant dog. We explained all we had tried and he asked to leave Roxy with him for 10 minutes. After those 10 minutes, she was behaving like a different dog. We knew she needed to spend a week with Al and the Pack. Even as we went to pick her up after the week was done, We still doubted that anything could have really changed. Yet when we arrived, We saw and more calm submissive Roxy. Al saw our hesitation and walked her through the pack. Roxy did not bark, did not nip, and her hackles did not go up. It was amazing. She stuck to Al’s side the entire time and responded to his commands instantaneously. Through seeing the change in Roxy and hearing all the stories about the sweet dogs in the pack that Al had rehabilitated, Al has proven that he is a incredible expert. But, Roxy is coming home with us, and we did not know what to do. Thankfully we continued to meet with Al weekly over a period of a couple of months so we could be trained and so Roxy could spend more time with the pack. I would like to note we were not charged for this. Al showed us how to notice signs of aggression and how to be the pack leader. He taught us how to submit a dog, how to lead with confidence, and how to help Roxy to continue to improve. We love visiting the pack and seeing Roxy become more and more comfortable around many dogs. In the other training we had, We only learned general ideas, nothing specific for a dog with aggressive tendencies. We are still working with Roxy as consistency and calm leadership our key. But she is a different dog now than she was before taking her to Al. Before going to Al, She would pull on her leash and bark at other dogs, listen only when she wanted to, and she ran the household. Now she is amazing on a leash even when other dogs are present, She listens to her commands and she knows we are in charge. It has given us a lot of piece of mind that we no longer have to surrender a part of our family. We are so grateful to Al and the pack for helping us, without them we would not have our Roxy. Thanks much.The Jeffries Holland, Michigan |
| My fiance and I brought our 2 year old English Springer Spaniel, Marley to Al for in home behavior modification. After the 2 weeks he spent with Al, We could already see that he was a different dog. Marley had many bad habits and felt as though he was the pack leader of our home. After the help we received from Al, We have seen all of those behavior issues disappear and have established our dominance. Marley is still the dog that we loved from the second we got him, however now he behaves like we always wished he would. Al’s gift of being able to change a dogs behavior is amazing. I have never seen anything like it. We are so happy with the result we see in Marley and neither of us thought he would ever behave as well as he does today. Family and friends notice the changes to! Instead of receiving comments about him like “wow, he is a wild one”, we get compliments about how well behaved he is and how much he has changed since the training. Thank you, Al for completely changing our relationship with our dog for the better.Bob and Karrie Grandville, Michigan |
| In May of 2008 my Husband and I fell in love with a recently rescued Airedale terrier. We completed the adoption agreement and began our life with our “fur kid” Abbie Dale Abbie had been a breeder dog and lived her first 6 years in a puppy mill in less than ideal conditions. Abbie was sweet-loved everyone she met, She was great with little kids, she was a quick learner, and was a perfect fit in our home-except-and this was a huge except-Abbie was very aggressive toward other dogs. More than once I was pulled down to the pavement trying to get her under control. Everything I tried failed, I red books, watched Cesar Millan on Animal planet-all to no avail. A friend of our mentioned that their was a behavior specialist in the Zeeland area who has worked with them and their dog and was very successful. Enter Al Casimiro. Al came over to meet Abbie and observed her behavior. With in 20 minutes of our first session, Abbie was walking calmly passed dogs who in the past had thrown her into a frenzy-it was amazing. Al taught me how to control my dog and what “triggers” to watch for. Every lesson was done with patience and love for Abbie. Abbie and I now walk confidently (and safely) through the neighborhood. I know that Al is there for us if we have any question or need refreshers. Not only is Al our teacher, but also our friend.Joann Guthrie Grand Haven, Michigan |
It is difficult to describe the impact Al has had on our dogs and us. Bixby is a seven year old beagle/English Pointer Mix and Sally is a three year old Corgi/Beagle mix. Both were rescues. Bixby was fine but always did like to sniff on walks too much and he pulled on the leash. Sally was aggressive toward other dogs, especially on walks. She was absolutely out of control. Al had Sally walking next to another dog within minutes during our first meeting during which he suggested doggie boot camp and then in-home training sessions. I was devastated to leave the dogs for a week somewhere, but I knew it was best for all of us. When Al brought the dogs home, both would literally sit in front of any dog and not even move. It was as if the other dog did not even exist. It was amazing.
Then the work began for me. I needed to learn to be in control and not nervous around other dogs. I had been attacked by dogs on walks many times and I would become nervous whenever I saw another dog on our walks, especially if they were running lose. Al taught me to utilize my energy to control other dogs. During one of the sessions we walked by an unchained, red-zone dog with our dogs. Al had taught me how to stop the charging dog and it was my job to stop this dog from attacking us. Of course, Al was there, but he really wanted me to stop the dog on my own. And, I DID!! It was exhilarating. During the next session, Al brought along a rescued fighting pit bull. I controlled that dog around my dogs. Again, Al taught me to use my energy to be the pack leader.
I had read all of Cesar Milan’s books and watched all of the DVDs and I still could not implement the training. Al taught me how to be the pack leader in any situation. I now walk my dogs without fear of being attacked by another dog. Sally and Bixby walk on my left side and never pull. Walks have become peaceful and relaxing. Al, thank you for showing me I do have the energy. Thank you for giving me peace on our walks. Thank you for your time, your patience and you passion for dogs. You have made the world a kinder, gentler place for dogs and their owners!!
Gena and Paul VanderMeulen
Bixby and Sally
Grand Rapids, Michigan
My wife and I couldn’t be more thankful for Al’s help with our dog. When our 6 year old dog was a puppy we enlisted Al’s help in instilling basic obedience training. Al’s tips and techniques made puppyhood training fun and rewarding. After several years, our now grown up dog developed some bad habits that we could not correct on our own. Again we called Al, and again he came to the rescue! Al has a firm yet loving approach and is very creative when it comes to
handling unique behavioral issues. Hopefully we will not need his services again, but if we do I know Al will rescue us.
Jeff Perkins
Holland, Michigan
Thank you so much Al for helping us with our dog Bear. Since his obedience training he come and sits on command thanks again Stella and family.
Stella Russell
Grand Haven, Michigan
Al, Thank you for the obedience and protection work you provided to my Doberman Charlie. It is great to finally have a calm obedient protector. Thanks Oscar
Oscar Mier
Grandville, Michigan
K-9 Specialist LLC,
Al Casimiro was called to the rescue of our high strung, out of control, German Shepherd and in three sessions, Buddy has made a complete turn around. Learning discipline, obedience, and basic commands. We are looking forward to the rest of his training with pleasure. Thank you Al.
Sincerely,
Art & Diane
Grand Haven, Michigan
We are very satisfied with the training both Kellie and Caboose received! Al not only trained our dogs, but he also trained us which was the best lesson we could ever receive. I would highly recommend the k9specialist to anyone with dogs that have minor training issues to major aggression issues. Both of our dogs are transformed.
Thanks again Nicole and Mike.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Al took our 3 year old German Shepherd and taught us how to train/control her at different places where she would turn into Red Zone. She is so much better ! Even her Vet Dr Bader may grow to like and trust her. k9specialist taught us how to take charge of everything! Zoe Listens alot better now. Thank you k9specialist.
Geana and Thea Swart
Holland, Michigan
Al,
Thanks for training our dog Diva, before we started we were considering giving her up because we were embarrassed to take her anywhere or have anyone over with how she behaved, but with just 5 weeks of training people are saying we can’t believe this is the same dog. Thanks for all your help.
Dennis and Trish
Grand Haven, Michigan
We recommend Mr. Casimiro to everyone we know. Before he came, our dog Emma was the queen of the house and she knew it too. Now she knows her place in our family and we are all happier because of it. After only the first visit to our home we saw a huge difference in Emma’s behavior that we just couldn’t believe! Al not only teaches you the basics of obedience, but he is also willing to help you with any other issues or questions you may have. Overall our experience was priceless.
Kyle, Jordon and Emma Kamphuis
Grandville, Michigan
Working with Al was such a great experience. We knew Morgan had it in her to be a great well trained dog. We just didn’t know how to bring that out. Everything we thought we were doing right turned out to be not the best way to handle her. Al trained us on what to do. Now Morgan is very well behaved and listens to us. We would Recommend Al and K-9 Specialist to anyone! Thank you much Al.
Chad and Jen VanHill
Grand Rapids, Michigan
We Bought a Siberian Husky not looking at the temperament of the Dog but the looks of the Dog. Little did we know that we would have our hands full! Kaia had a mind of her own and didn’t care what we said to her and neither of us knew how to gain control. That’s when we called Al. Al came to the house and said that she definitely needed the training. Kaia was an out of control puppy to put in simple terms. Al now has helped us to teach her how to sit, lay, stay, heel and come. Laying being the hardest thing for a dog to deal with, and not only that but Kaia being one of stubbornness breads, she picked it up in 10 minutes and will now lay on command. Kaia also learned to stay in about minutes. Kaia doesn’t try to test our control, because she knows there would be consequences. Kaia would run at her own free will to where ever she wanted, whenever she wanted, and Al helped us to teach her the boundaries where she could not be. Our dog was also extremely food aggressive and we have that under control as well thanks to Al. Kaia has done so well that she is able to graduate early. We think this is the best thing that we could have done to our dominant dog, and we thank Al for helping us achieve the control we now have of our dog, as well as teaching us a ton more about the breed of our dog, considering the little that we knew. We would highly recommend K-9 Specialist LLC to anyone that has a similar situation that we were in.
Josh Wesseldyke and Samantha Maat.
Holland, Michigan
My boyfriend and I have a nine month old, blue pitt, who was much more than just a handful. We had tried everything and nothing seemed to work. She wouldn’t listen, certainly wouldn’t behave. And we didn’t know what to do. Then we came across Al’s card at the pet store. So we set up a meeting, and within minutes of meeting Al we knew this is what we need to do. After just one session, we were amazed at how much we were learning, how much our dog was learning, and by the progress we were already making. I didn’t know what we would have done had it not been for this program. It has even helped us when we come in contact with other dogs. We now know what to do. I know it sounds cliché but this program really did change our lives.
Sincerely,
Justine and Cory
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Al worked with us training our 2-year old boxer, Dutch. Six months earlier, we rescued Dutch from a horrible situation. He was untrained and out of control. He was extremely aggressive toward other dogs. He would pull at his leash, so walking him was exhausting. Although he was not mean or aggressive toward people, he would bark and jump up. He would get so excited that he would knock kids over. He would play so rough that it would escalate into injury. We were out of options. Al Casimiro was Dutch’s last chance.
During the evaluation appointment, we realized that Al Casimiro was exactly who we needed. After only 5 lessons, Dutch is a different dog. He generally ignores other dogs. He no longer barks or growls as other dogs pass by. He sits or lies quietly at our side on the deck. He greets adults and children by sitting still. He no longer jumps on anyone. He walks (heals) immediately at our side. He even walks very slowly next to Elaine when she is using her walker. Dutch has become a wonderful family pet and companion.
We also have an 8-year old, 120 pound Rottweiler, Carolina. She has not had training since she was a puppy. Carolina is classified as a “fearful” dog by our vet. She is very wary of strangers, guests and children and will growl and hide. Elaine applied Al’s techniques and after only one session Carolina was healing, sitting and lying on command and would sit quietly when approached by others. She is still wary of strangers, but stops growling when commanded and now approaches guests quietly and gently.
We are so happy and grateful that we found Al. He helped us with our misconceptions and training issues. Many issues we had were due to our reactions to our dogs’ problems. So, we were trained as much as our dogs. We are now a happy, “calm” family.
Elain Boxdorfer
Holland, Michigan
Al is awesome! We were so afraid to have kids and guest over because how our dog Chewie would react aggressively to others. Al gave us techniques that has changed the behavior of Chewie. By retraining Chewie to know that we are the pack leader has allowed us to share hospitality once again to friends and family.
Thanks Al!
The Walburgs
Grand Haven, Michigan
When we first got our puppy Unica she was real timid and afraid of humans. Since Al Casimiro has trained Unica she has been more confident in herself and she is no longer afraid. She has protection training and she is always aware of our surroundings and hers. Thanks to Al, Unica has went above our expectations and is exactly the dog we wanted and needed. Thanks Al!!!!
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Al was such a blessing to our family, helping us integrate Sadie to our family of four. Al was wonderful at training us how to interact with our puppy, learning to give her clear commands and having high expectations that she will obey us. We now understand that having an obedient dog is a reality, not a hope. It was amazing how quickly she caught on, once we learned the best way to instruct her. Al not only gave us adults guidance, but he spent a considerable amount of time working with our seven year old twins. Although our girls were nervous at first, they soon warmed up to Al and after following his instructions, Sadie now listens to them too! Thanks, Al, for your instructions, honest feedback during our sessions, and for answering all our questions. We are so thankful we found you!
Doug, Vicki, Morgan, Ally and Sadie (last one in our family order) Zylstra
Holland, Michigan
Samy started out as a wonderful Havenese puppy but by the time he was one he had become very aggressive, especially with children. Samy barked constantly when strangers were around and his violent barking often brought our children’s friends to tears. When we had company over we had to shut him in our bedroom until they were gone. Besides Samy’s aggressive behavior he had developed some very bad habits, like sneaking into the trash cans when no one was looking and leaving garbage all over the floor. After many failed attempts to curb Samy’s behavior we hired Al. Al was our last resort. We had decided that if Samy’s behavior did not make a drastic improvement in eight weeks then he would have to go to another home.
Al’s first visit was amazing. Samy was calm and submissive for the whole time. Since then Samy’s behavior has continued to improve. His barking has become controllable and we are working towards breaking some of his bad habits. Al has been instrumental in directing and training us to know how to modify Samy’s behavior. We are confident that he will soon be an obedient dog and wonderful family pet. We are very grateful to Al.
Steve and Rebecca Kraal
Grandville, Michigan