Dog trainer

George Gombossy

I have a seven month old mini golden doodle who is a wonderful dog but like all puppies has issues. The biggest are failing to come to me consistently and jumping all over people. My groomer recommended Mike and I was so happy she did. Mike provides a free consultation. We spent an hour with him and decided on private lessons. He suggested we get a vibrating collar that is used to get the dog’s attention without hurting her. He came out to my house and spent two hours explaining and showing how to use the device to train our puppy. I have been using for only one day and it’s already starting to make a difference. I will probably have two more sessions at my house and then use him as needed. Highly recommend Mike. He explains everything well and makes sure you understand what you need to do to positively train your dog.

Lisa Babler

I have a 7 year old Maltese and my first question to Mike was Is there any hope? She was aggressive, lunging on her leash and would even bite a male stranger coming in to our house. After only 2 months she is a whole new dog. We were at Bayfront Park today and she rocked it! Both her and I enjoyed it so much! I am so grateful for all we have learned. Don’t think twice about choosing Mike for your trainer!!

Emily Gershen

Working with Mike Harvey these last few weeks has been just what we were looking for for our small (but mighty) rescued Terrier mix Goose. We found Goose after he had been dumped on the beach in the Caribbean; after several weeks fending for himself, he was uncertain, anxious and, at times, aggressive. While several months of living in our home calmed many of these issues, he still was dog-aggressive and suffered from separation anxiety.

While visiting Sarasota for the summer, we wanted to do what we could to get these issues under control and after researching MANY options in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, we were happy to schedule a free consultation with Mike. Mike arrived promptly and explained his own history with dog training and detailed his system before taking us outside to see his own dog Missy. Typically, when confronted with another dog, Goose goes into a frenzy (lunging, baring his teeth, growling). However, in this situation, wearing one of Mike's test collars, Goose stayed focused and listened to my directions despite a new dog running all around him in "his" yard. This was supposed to be a demo for us to see how well-trained Missy was, but I was sold by seeing how well my dog had responded.

We scheduled our private lessons (2 at home, 1 out with Mike's dogs) and have been attending his group classes now that we have completed all of the basics. Training has been as much about my boyfriend and I learning how to command Goose properly as it has been about him learning how to respond they way we want. Mike was flexible with our schedule and our budget and worked with us being that we are not Sarasota residents (or snowbirds). I only wish we were more permanent residents so we could take advantage of his "group lessons for life" package! We owe a big debt to Mike and truly appreciate what he has done to make the future look brighter for Goose.

A Note about E-Collars: I was mildly apprehensive before discussing them with Mike and seeing them in action myself. E-Collars have evolved quite a bit over the last few decades so take the time in the consultation to ask questions and feel the collar on your palm. Goose's anxiety caused him to become so overwhelmed that he lost the sense of everything going on and would act out accordingly. The e-collar has been amazing for keeping him focused so that he is better able to listen when we give him a command (whether it be to sit when we are at home, or more importantly, to heel when there is a dog he would much rather go investigate when we are out and about). It has been an unbelievable training tool for us and know that for a dog like Goose, whose anxiety and aggression overwhelmed any reaction to a treat or a clicker, it was the right choice.

Fletcher Ray

Mike is a great trainer. He gave us the tools we needed to turn my dog from a very people reactive dog into a dog that can go anywhere with me and have no issues on or off leash. Was it easy? No. Did it require a lot of patience and frustration? Absolutely. Was the frustration because I have a cattle dog? Probably. Mike is a trainer that will not let you fail as long as you put forth the effort. He is tough, but that’s why he is great at his job.

Thanks again Mike,

Fletcher, Danielle and Cooper.

David Gallagher

"I have the pleasure of working with Mike, an outstanding dog trainer who truly exceeded all my expectations. From the very first session, it was clear that he possessed a deep understanding of canine behavior, coupled with an effective training approach. He was patient, not just with my dog, but with me as well, ensuring that I understood the training process every step of the way. The techniques he used resulted in remarkable improvements in behavior in just a short period of time. I highly recommend Mike to anyone looking to enhance their relationship with their dog through positive reinforcement and effective training methods. A truly 5-star experience!"

Heidi Thomas

Mike has made a big difference with "Sancho,"our Pit-Bull mix we adopted from the Sarasota Humane Society. Sancho is only 14 months old (but 50 lbs); and his puppy enthusiasm and head strong- powerful-personality were a little more than my husband & I could handle. A couple of our neighbors recommended "K9 Coach"--so we gave Mike a call. After one visit, there was noticeable improvement in Sancho's behavior. Mike's training techniques have really made a difference for Sancho AND us! In just a few weeks Sancho is like a different dog--and is becoming a wonderful addition to our family.
Thank You K9 Mike 😊

MAD4you Mary Ann Dewes

Highly recommend Mike.
He KNOWS animals, and we’re learning that he knows humans. . We are fostering our sons very sweet and energetic dog who has some behavior issues and PTSD. ( we also have 2 very senior labs as well) Kota wears a training collar, and we use a remote to alert her with a vibration signal. I know many dog owners are hesitant about these collars. They really shouldn’t be. The pulse signal simply gives them a reminder to listen up. IT WORKS , and eventually the behavior they exhibit is corrected, and their anxiety, whether it be by another dog , or the doorbell etc is lessened. . WE are, as pet owners, being trained to train. It takes work, of course, but it's so worth it, and actually is fun. Kota, after just a couple of private lessons is more obedient to commands, is relaxing, and less anxious. Mike really
"gets" it. THANK YOU from Joe, Jody, Maggie, Mary Ann and Millie and Betsy!
Mike! You're wonderful!

Gwen Auxt

The Best of The Best! Mike has been a beacon of trust and guidance with my boy!
Highly recommend his services as they full
package training includes group sessions and when you’re consistent, your dog becomes more and more fine tuned!
A great experience! Ten Stars!