Client Reviews

K9 Forever Dog Training place picture
5.0
Based on 13 reviews
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Angel Benoit-Swyers profile picture
Angel Benoit-Swyers
22:27 12 Feb 26
We had Mark come do a 1:1 session with our dog Wilson for help around food manners with treats and not touching all food in sight. After one session we noticed a big difference in Wilson. Mark helped us with strategies to reinforce with Wilson and also involved the kids in the training to ensure all humans in the house were doing the same thing. His approach was excellent. Would recommend anyone needing training assistance.
Emily Casebeer profile picture
Emily Casebeer
02:54 12 Feb 26
Mark is one of the most intuitive, gifted, and skilled canine professionals I’ve had the honor to learn from. He keeps learning fun and accessible, supportive and engaging. When I’m working through a problem, or a dog throws a curveball, he’s one of the first mentors I think to reach out to.
Blake R profile picture
Blake R
23:31 09 Feb 26
Highly recommend.
Mark has just left the our house and we feel so enriched. We knew what we want from our puppy, we were just unsure of how to get there. We have been given tool to bring out the best in our puppy; not an overload of "do this and do that and try this" just simple techniques that make sense.
Thank you Mark.....we'll be in touch to let you know how things are going.
Russell Brown profile picture
Russell Brown
00:45 06 Feb 26
Mark Hall is one of the best in the business. His extensive knowledge on all aspects of dog training is balanced with his ability to deliver the information in understandable dialogue. I would recommend him to anyone looking for help with their dogs in any capacity.
Diane Lister profile picture
Diane Lister
03:11 03 Feb 26
It is my pleasure to recommend the services of Mark to dog owners looking for grounded and practical training guidance. We had the benefit of working with Mark during K9 SAR training and see the magic he can work in coaching human and dog. He is a very skilled and insightful handler and trainer, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking to improve life with their dog!
Tim Evans profile picture
Tim Evans
13:16 23 Jan 26
Mark is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to K9’s. He is able to handle all types of dogs and does fantastic training.
If I wasn’t so far away now he would still be working with my dog for sure as she always gets better after Mark works with her.
Lastly one more point to note is the training isn’t just for the dogs he helped me as well to be a better handler and dog owner overall
stirling profile picture
stirling
14:50 18 Jan 26
We had an excellent, first session, at-home training session with Mark for our 6-year-old Golden Retriever. We were given this dog about a year ago. Mark focused on improving control both on and off leash, especially when greeting people and other dogs. We still have work to do (more us than the dog) and plan on booking another session shortly. We’re confident that sticking with Mark’s approach will lead to continued improvement. We’ve already seen positive changes and appreciated how clear and supportive he was. Highly recommend.
Beth Kingsbury profile picture
Beth Kingsbury
20:02 11 Jan 26
We had our first in-home training session with Mark today and it was a great experience! Mark was quickly able to determine that my 8.5-year-old Labradoodle, Winston, is a very intelligent, but stubborn and dominant dog who just needs some rules and leadership put in place. Winston quickly learned to respect him and, within one hour, was beginning to act more submissive and was following the expected commands. We now have a better understanding of why he was behaving the way he was and have some tools which we can use to deal with his reactivity. Mark’s balanced approach of positive reinforcement as well as correction techniques worked great for my dog. I really appreciated his non-judgmental attitude and reassurance that any dog, regardless of their age, can learn. The best part was, I had a very tired, calm dog by the end of the session!
Tabatha Durling profile picture
Tabatha Durling
20:25 04 Jan 26
We had our first session with Mark today with our 4 month old German Aussie, Jasper. Mark's knowledge of dogs is beyond impressive. He was so helpful in helping us not only understand Jasper's needs and behaviours, but also in guiding us to balance correction with praise and calm energy. We will 100% continue working with Mark. I would recommend his services for any dog. Here is a picture of something we thought would not be possible for quite a long time, and it happened today!
PTP profile picture
PTP
16:23 19 Dec 25
We have a rescue pup, and while she is overall quite good, she began exhibiting some anxiety when passing other dogs and people, and started to growl. After one session with Mark, he quickly helped us correct the behaviour (mostly training for us) so that we knew how to deal with it.

The instantaneous change was amazing to see, but Mark was so confident and great, you can tell he loves dogs, and really knows what he's doing. Can't add more than 5 stars, but I would if I could.
 
I highly recommend K9 Forever for any dog training needs. Mark is a fantastic trainer and the results far exceeded expectations. His passion and expertise for the craft is clear in every training session. It has been an incredibly positive experience working with Mark.
 
Benjamin – Hammonds Plains, NS

I highly recommend Mark Hall for anyone in need of puppy/dog training. It’s been 12 years since we’ve had a puppy, so of course all the training we did years ago with our last pup flew out the window. Mark helped us realize it’s like riding a bike, we just needed a little push. Daisy is a little over 3 months old so she is a sponge for learning. Mark demonstrated calmness and natural leadership and had Daisy watching his every move within minutes. His easy-to-remember effective tips have been invaluable for us as we navigate around puppy biting and barking (amidst all that puppy love and cuteness!). We can’t thank you enough Mark!

 

Susan F – W Hampton, Nova Scotia

Daisy

Today we, Dean, Cindy, Sage and Davey met Mark for the first time. We had been looking for an understanding, compassionate trainer to help us with our dogs. The wait paid off. Mark oozes confidence and calmness and made very quick adjustments to our training methods. The direction we were leading our dogs, were confusing them, in asking them for what we wanted from them. Mark very quickly had both dogs standing at attention awaiting his next suggestion. The whole experience was magical. We learned we had been doing much of the training correctly but not consistently. Much of our dogs issues were related in not training guests properly! The dogs were confused when we would try to make them mind when guests were allowing them to jump all over them and then being rewarded for this. At Marks suggestion we have asked people not to visit for 2 weeks so we can train the dogs to react to us. The human training will be harder than the dog training!!! We would recommend Mark and his training ability to anyone who needs that extra nudge toward happy dogs and happy humans! Mark was engaged with both us and the dogs at all times. Taking his time and listening to us and behaviour traits the dogs were sending him. We were beginning to think one of our dogs had mental issues and couldn’t learn. We were relived to learn we and other humans were confusing her. Mark has the love of dogs cruising through his veins and we are so grateful to him and what he does. I have “lick sticks” in the freezer!

Cindy, Dean, Sasha & Davey – Bridgetown, Nova Scotia

We had a consultation with Mark Hall today for our nervous, scared & sweet rescue pup Charlie. I can’t say enough about him. I’d go as far as calling him the “English Dog Whisperer” 🤣. If you’re looking for someone who knows his stuff, Mark has been training for 30 years, so, understandable that he really knows our furry friends and how they tick so well. 
We’ll definitely be having him back…we have to succeed with our homework first 🙏🤞
Thanks again Mark!
 
Celine H – Kentville, Nova Scotia

We just had a session with Mark Hall of K94evr. He came to our house to work with our people aggressive dog. We were very impressed with his confidence, knowledge and manner of teaching. He worked with us as owners to come up with a game plan for our dog and worked with our dog. We saw immediate improvement. Mark was honest and helpful and made sure the instruction was clear. He also didn’t make us sign up for “10 class pack” or anything like that. He came, assessed the situation and was honest about a plan that he felt was appropriate for our specific situation. I highly recommend Mark! His pricing is extremely fair and his methods tried and true. Thank you Mark, we look forward to seeing your training positive impact our pup!

Tori D _ Paradise, Nova Scotia

We had Mark Hall visit and do some training with Ollie, who is highly reactive to other dogs. We went for a walk to find other dogs and Mark showed me some great hands on tactics to help Ollie. We saw immediate results. He also helped me better understand Ollie’s temperament and behaviours. He is a wealth of knowledge and experience and clearly understands dog behaviour. He has given me and Ollie some confidence and tools to move forward. Thank you Mark! 

Scott B – Coldbrook, Nova Scotia

Mark never ceases to amaze me with his energy and enthusiasm when it comes to working with dogs. He’s great at reading a dogs body language and behavior and always has a solution for any problem that may arise. Training with Mark has made me and my k9 SAR partner better at what we do. There are very few people that I would trust leaving my dogs with, Mark is one of the few.
Thank you Mark.
 
Valerie B  – North Saanich
Mia
Reya

We were so happy to find Mark & Yvette! Our St Bernese loves her weekly walk and I always get a summary of the route and a picture of a very happy dog!

Darlene – ‘The Loud Macaw Farm’

Maggie
I am very grateful to have met both Mark and Yvette as they are true animal lovers, and they are wonderful with my crazy (but loving) Shepherd, Thea.  Mark has such a calm demeanor with Thea that she instantly relaxes around him.  Thea can be very reactive with other dogs, but when she is with Mark she feels totally safe with him, and her behavior is excellent.  Mark is such a pleasure- kind, punctual and genuinely has my dog’s best interest at heart.  When Thea sees Mark coming to take her for her walk, she starts jumping in excitement.  She always comes home from her walks with a smile and is tuckered out.  Mark inuitively knows dogs and is an excellent trainer.  I would recommend him without reservation!
 
Dr. Corrie Graboski
Thea

Mark has an amazing rapport with dogs and a deep understanding of dog behavior. He instinctively reads their body language and is able to give them what they need when they need it. His help and feed back has made me a better handler and deepened my understanding of my SAR K9. Thank you Mark for your positivity and willingness to share of your time and knowledge.

Trish – North Saanich

Ziva

I have had the pleasure of training and instructing with Mark and have known very few that have his gift for connecting with dogs. Along with this Mark has a friendly, understanding and positive way with his human students that makes training fun and not at all intimidating. I wholeheartedly recommend he and Yvette for any and all types of dog work.

Jay Pugh – Search Dog Instructor 

Mark & Yvette looked after our senior boy “Buddy” when we when on vacation for two weeks. Buddy had a great time, he was treated as one of their family. We received regular updates on how he was doing as well was pictures of him asleep on various sofas. I felt perfectly at ease leaving our boy in Mark and Yvette’s care and can fully recommend them should you require a dog sitter. Mark and Yvette are very knowledgeable when it comes to dog care and I know that they love all dogs and will ensure that any dog who comes into their home is made to feel welcome and safe.

Natalie L – Cochrane, AB

Buddy
Mark was very personable with a professional calm demeanour. Cooper who is usually very skeptical of new people accepted him very soon after meeting him. 
 
Mark gave us , as owners , very useful tips and tricks  that we can continue with Coopers training moving forward .
 

Christine R – Sidney, BC

 
Cooper

I had the good fortune to train with Mark Hall for three full days at Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment’s 2023 Winter Course, and I left being a much better handler — and a stronger K9 team — thanks to Mark’s insightful instruction. Mark is one of the most gifted K9 pros I have encountered in 12+ years as a search and rescue K9 handler, able to diagnose a problem when he sees it, and effectively and patiently work with handler and dog to develop a training plan to address the issue. His focus on developing a solid foundation by mastering and always returning to the fundamentals of whatever discipline that is trained—obedience in particular—is an inspiration to us all.

Ted Katauskas, K9 Technical Lead, Vail Mountain Rescue Group

Stryker

Mark and Yvette have been an incredible team for our German Shepherd, providing not only professional walking services but also a genuine care for her well-being. Their expertise and dedication shine through in every walk, ensuring our dog enjoys every moment outdoors. We particularly appreciate the post-walk route information and the delightful pictures they share, which add a personal touch to their service. Their reliability and attention to detail have made them an invaluable part of our dog’s routine, and we can’t recommend them highly enough.

 
Alicia – Victoria, BC
Cedar

Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to training sessions coupled with excellent communication skills. He has a knack of seeing and bringing out the dog’s potential. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Kathie B – Victoria, BC