About The Happy K-9 Training & Rehabilitation
The Happy K-9 Training & Rehabilitation is a family-owned structured daycare and training center dedicated to creating a safe environment for dogs to learn socialization skills. Located in Massachusetts, they offer daycare services covering areas from Boston to Salem and provide training throughout the state and neighboring regions. The facility is particularly known for its Board and Train program, which focuses on advanced obedience and behavior modification, both on and off leash. Clients consistently highlight the professionalism and quality of service provided by the team, especially Nelson and his crew. They appreciate the personalized approach, recognizing that each dog and family has unique needs. Many reviews emphasize the positive transformations experienced by dogs, including increased confidence and improved behavior. Clients note that after training, their dogs learn not to jump on people or pull on leashes, allowing them to participate in family activities comfortably. The trainers maintain regular communication with owners, updating them on their dogs' progress and teaching them how to reinforce training at home. Additionally, follow-up visits are offered to ensure owners feel confident in maintaining their dog's training. Overall, The Happy K-9 is praised for its commitment to helping dogs thrive and for fostering strong relationships between dogs and their owners.
Highly recommend Nelson and THK-9 family!! We have 2 dogs that have gone through training and we couldn’t be happier. As a dog owner, you have to be willing to put in the work everyday and continue training. Nelson and his team helped get our dogs trained and gave us as owners the confidence to lead our pack.
I recently completed a two week shadow program with Nelson and the team at the Happy K-9. I could not be more pleased with the results. First, it was an absolute pleasure to work with someone who is truly a leader, not only of dogs, but also of people. I came from the corporate world with a lot of people who claimed to have leadership skills, but they pale in comparison to what I saw in Nelson. With both dogs and people, he is clear in his communication, nurturing in his environment, and precise with instructions. Nelson did not simply tell me what to do, he showed the benefits of methods and programs through demonstration. For example, when I first arrived, I did not want to offer board and train programs. After the first week, I saw the advantages and how these programs provide a much more complete service than simple one on one lessons. We also reviewed my pricing and the new programs offer a better service to the owners and a better return for me (my weekly revenues double when doing B&T). His advice and encouragement boosted my confidence and left me feeling empowered. Empowered to turn away clients who are not a fit, empowered to teach a dog how to problem solve, and empowered to understand my challenges and conquer them. Lastly, and probably most importantly, Nelson is good natured, kind, and fun. I thought I would be drained by the two weeks, but in fact, I am more energized than ever. The long days flew by and I thoroughly enjoyed the working environment he laid out for his students and team. Working with Nelson has already changed my business for the better and I am so excited to continue on my journey, with my new tools, courtesy of Nelson Mendoza and the Happy K-9 team.
I adopted Emmy, a three month old Shepard/American Stanfordshire Terrier mix three years ago. She was very sweet but from day one suffered from terrible separation anxiety. Not having much experience with separation anxiety I fed into it because I felt bad, not understanding the long term effects it would have on her mental status. She progressively became more and more dependent and needed to be my side and now, my boyfriend’s side every minute or she would cry and bark. It didn’t matter if we were gone for one minute or a few hours, she would still have the same adrenalized response. She needed a while to settle down; it was exhausting for her and us. Her anxiety mixed with a dog attack on a trail last year led her to become extremely reactive to dogs. She did not have the right coping skills to manage her thoughts which led to poor decision making: leash reactivity/pulling, dog fights, inability to deescalate, etc. Realizing what her mind must go through on a minute to minute basis was heartbreaking. Imagine being so anxious that you need to be with someone at all times and if that person is gone, you have a panic attack. We tried everything including CBD, Prozac, exercise, sound machines, anxiety vests, and (other) trainers. Nothing worked until I found The Happy K-9 Training and Rehabilitation/Nelson Mendoza on one of my friend’s instagram stories. She raved about the progress her dog had made after working with this program. After an evaluation by the Happy K9 owner Nelson, he assessed that Emmy would need 5 weeks at his board and train program. While it was one of the hardest decisions to make to not see our dog for 5 weeks we can both confidently say it was the best choice we’ve ever made for her. I can’t give enough praise to Nelson and his happy k9 team. They treated Emmy like she was family. We figured we would be quite emotional over the duration of her trip but the communication and updates showcasing her improvements put us at ease. Nelson’s philosophy on owner-pup relationships put everything into perspective. It gave her tools to make better choices and be able to cope with stressors more efficiently, much like how humans sometime need help in this regard. Nelson taught us how to lead and advocate for Emmy so we don’t just have an emotional relationship, but she can count on us for guidance. Her personality has not changed, she now knows how to manage her thoughts and decisions in a positive manner. We have only had Emmy back home for three days but have already seen a remarkable improvement. Our walks have been enjoyable, she greets us with a non adrenalized response, and is finally able to mentally and physically relax. We are overjoyed and know she already has a better quality of life, as do we. If anyone is having mild to extreme behavioral concerns about their dog, I strongly recommend happy k9 rehabilitation and training center! I would choose them over and over again. It is worth the investment as it will lead to a better quality of life for your dog and for you. Don’t lose hope! We can’t thank you enough, Nelson and happy k9 team!!