K 9 Solutions By Sylvie

The Triangle is lucky enough to have some great dog trainers in the area, providing classes for all kinds of sports and fun. But one that I believe is at the top of the list is K9 Solutions, co-owned by Sylvie Pleasant and Donnie Hult, and staffed with excellent trainers and assistants. Where some trainers have a fixed training facility, K9 Solutions offers classes in different locations and at different times, making it easy to find a location and time that works for your schedule. I've taken dogs through the Basic Manners and Advanced Manners classes, and at the end of Advanced Manners I've gotten Canine Good Citizen certifications for one of our dogs and two of our foster dogs, I've taken Off-Leash Dependability, Feisty Fidos for our reactive boy, and the fun, fun, fun Search and Rescue class. I can't emphasize enough how much I learned during these classes and how much fun they were. Who knew that obedience classes weren't just about teaching your dog to 'sit' or 'down' but their also about teaching the owner how to be a good leader to their dog? After you take the Basic and Advanced classes, there are several continuing education classes offered: Real Life Advanced Manners, which has you taking your dog out in different settings and working them there, even with all the distractions, Off-Leash Dependability, which does just what it says, maintaining control of your dog even when it's off leash (very important skill to have), Donnie's Feisty Fidos class teaches you how to handle your reactive dog when around other dogs, and Donnie's Search and Rescue class which I've taken and will take again because it's sooo much fun being outside with your dog while it finds human ""victims"". That just covers the group classes. In addition, K9 Solutions offers private school and boarding school. In addition to great classes, Sylvie has stepped up to address the issue of being a great leader for your dog, by offering two different human-only seminars, ""Leadership/Behavior"" and ""Empowering Dog Owners"". I've attended both seminars and say, ""Don't walk, run to these seminars"". Sylvie is an engaging and entertaining speaker who wants to help the community to understand their dog. She explains how to be a leader and why it's important for you to be so. We hear and read about leadership but we aren't always given tools to implement that concept in our homes. These seminars will help you begin a new relationship with your dog. But as good as the seminars are, Sylvie's help doesn't stop there. Every participant has Sylvie's contact information and she encourages you to use it if you have more questions. She also has great contacts around the Triangle and can steer you in the right direction for whatever dog needs you have. In addition, she sponsors the Yahoo site, K9 Connections, a list of dog-related activities in the Triangle and surrounding cities, and she sponsors the growing ""City of the Dogs"" website at, a resource for all things doggie that supports local rescue organizations. Speaking of rescue, I can't thank Sylvie, Donnie and all the other trainers and assistants enough for all their support of our rescue group, Doberman Rescue of North Carolina. If your looking for great classes for dogs and humans, K9 Solutions ROCKS!!! Leslie Nuccio more

Assertive, willful, stubborn, strong and high energy. These are the words that describe the breed of dog that I wanted to adopt. Having never owned or trained a dog, I knew that I would need help! Both rescue foster mom and a good friend (with two `difficult? dogs) recommended K9 Solutions, so without hesitation I signed up for the Committed Owner Package. Four months later, there is no doubt in my mind that this was the right thing to do! My family, friends and neighbors all comment on what well-behaved dog he has become. Those words still describe my dog, but now he is a pleasure to walk, listens to commands (usually!) and is a joy to be around. We are still going to classes and continue to learn and bond. Thanks to Sylvie, Donnie and the others at K9! I could not have done it without them! more

People often comment about what a good, well behaved dog I have.....and it is true he really is a ""dream dog"". I give credit to Sylvie and K9 Solutions for achieving this. From the time he was a very young puppy he attended classes and training groups with Sylvie and Donnie and not only did my dog benefit but I learned correct ways to work with him and thus maintain the good behaviors. Things have gone so well that now in addition to being a pleasure in our home among friends and family, he is a certified Therapy Dog and is invited to schools and the library to listen to children of all ages read. I am so grateful and appreciative to Sylvie and K9 Solutions. more

When I first moved to Raleigh 5 years ago I had an issue with an elderly dog meeting 2 new puppies. I asked around and everyone recommended Sylvie from K9 Solutions. A trainer arrived at my home who dealt with aggression, named Donny, and he basically told me I was the problem!!!! He told me I had to be the Alpha in my home and clearly I wasn't. Soon after the pups were old enough for puppy training, Sylvie and I began working with the 2 pups, and then the next dog, and then the next!! Sylvie taught me to be the Alpha I am today. I am 100% different with my dogs then the day she met me. I run the house, the dogs don't run me. They are all well behaved, trained beautifully and I am so proud of my dogs all because of Sylvie's expert hands on training. My 4th dog needed the most care as she was the most spirited, and still is, but with Sylvie's help, I truly believe that is why she became a 6 time Best in Show Junior Champion. When I say STAY... she listens. I cannot praise Sylvie and K9 Solutions enough. more