About K9 Instincts

Training and boarding in Portsmouth

K9 Instincts is a professional dog training and boarding kennel in Portsmouth. Owner and trainer Matt Betts is described as a graduate of Pro Train in San Diego whose foundation covers basic to advanced obedience, competition obedience, guide dogs, service dogs and police K9 work. His specialty is behavioral problems, behavior modification and separation anxiety, and he deals with many aggression cases, including fear aggression, possessiveness and territorial behavior. He began his obedience training school in 1999 and later added a boarding kennel and a breeding program for German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds and Malinois. Manager and assistant trainer Brittany Raymond joined in 2009, and trainer Emily Nesby started in 2014.

How training works

The team describes its approach as a balance of praise and correction, aimed at a well-behaved dog that is an enjoyable member of the family. Training starts with a consultation at the facility to meet the dog and evaluate its temperament, and each program is customized to the dog and its home.

What owners say

One client wrote that after a few in-home puppy lessons and a 4 week boarding program, her puppy "knows all of her commands, respects boundaries and rules". Another said their dog is "great on the leash, off the leash at the park and has amazing recall."

What to ask

Ask about program lengths, pricing and current availability.