Primal Needs Behavioral Solutions

Blair saved our 3 year old Lab mix, Helen. The day I decided to call Blair. I had an appointment to put her down because of her aggressive behavior and prey drive. He assured me that we could meet and begin K90Xs program as he calls it. We were at a loss on how to control her Blair went above and beyond to ensure that Helen was given the best chance at a new life. He taught and gave us the tools to be able control/​train her. I now have the confidence in myself that I am able to control her and give her the best life possible. He has also said that if a situation and problem arises in the future that he is just a phone call away. Thank you Blair from my family and Helen. My family is forever grateful for you!!!

We hired Blair a few years ago to work with our dog who was having aggression issues. I was expecting some change, but I did not expect the amazing changes that occurred due to Blair’s teaching and training! I was (and still am) blown away by how much our lives have changed; we can take our dog so many places we never could before, and have over visitors without our pooch charging at the door and barking like a maniac! Blair has a calm but authoritative demeanor that my dog immediately began to respond to… he taught us how to behave more like a leader. About three years later, our dog is still doing fantastically well — every once in a while she ‘forgets’ her training, and we have to do a little bit of work with her, but within minutes (literally) she is back to knowing what we expect and wanting to please us. Can’t say enough wonderful things about Blair — highly recommend for anyone with dogs who have any issues.

We just got out dog home and I am amazed at the difference in his behavior. He is so well behaved after coming back from the doggy boot camp with Blair. We are so proud of our dog and the work Blair put into training him. Blair is so easy to talk to and explains everything to our family so we understand. He is very professional and personable not to mention a great trainer!

We tried it all for our dog. Three different styles of training, strong feelings of defeat and lots of money later we finally found Blair. What a blessing!!! Our dog has major social issues and can get aggressive towards dogs and people. Blair came into our lives and gave us hope again that our dog could be trained and we could finally have control over her. He is our own personal hero. The best part is that Blair continues to followup with us to check in and ensure we are still always pushing ourselves to be better pack lesders for our dog. He checks in and goes above and beyond to ensure our dog is continuing to improve. If anyone ever gives a negative review has unrealistic expectations. Be patient, put in the work and listen carefully to Blair.

BEWARE, Stay away from this whack job! Blair may think he knows about dogs, but he he doesn’t have a clue about how to deal with people. We called him for help with our dog that had aggression issues. This dog had already been to aggression boot camp and had been on Prozac for a year. You wouldn’t know he was aggressive because he was scared of other dogs and didn’t show any aggression until they were right in his face. But he had tried to kill our other dog and one of our cats multiple times. But because Blair never saw any of this he didn’t believe us and seemed to think we were the crazy ones.
We bought 3 sessions with him, 2 at our house where he did virtually nothing and then he said he wanted to meet us at Petsmart for the 3^rd session. When we met him there a woman walked out the store with her dog and our dog didn’t react because he was too far away. Blair decided that our dog was cured. We tried to tell him that he doesn’t react unless the dog is right next to him where he would feel threatened. At that point he began shouting at us in the Petsmart parking lot. We told him we weren’t going inside the store with someone who was behaving that way. Then he threw up his hands and screamed some more and walked to his car and sped off and we never saw or heard from him again. So we paid for 3 sessions and only got 2. We had never seen a business person behave so unprofessionally.

Blair saved our pet. She was a year old chocolate lab when she went for training. She was extremely leash aggressive and mostly terrified of kids. She also had food aggression and attacked our yorkie. Enough was enough so I found blair who had trained a friends dog. We went up to his home to spend the weekend training with our dog, as we felt it was extremely important for us to learn how to handle our dog as well. She was only with blair for 1 week when we went up and saw an unreal change! It has been about a year since training and we still off leash walk our dog and she has not fallen back to old habits. Without blairs help I don’t know how much longer we would have been able to keep our pup but I’m so glad and grateful that we found him! Would recommend to anyone!

If your even considering training for your dog… I can promise, you won’t go wrong with Blair! Not only is he highly knowledgeable, but he is one cool dude! He loves what he does, and after talking with him for just a few minutes, you’ll have to agree!
I’m 58 years old, seen a lot and done a lot. Traveled the world, I’ve had three 4 legged Best Friends… And this is one of the few times I’ve met a guy I wished was my neighbor, because I think we’d be hanging out and shootin’ the breeze!
Seriously, for all those dog lovers who need a little or a lot of help… call Blair! You won’t be disappointed and your dog will give you a paw on the back and a atta-​boy!
Summing up this business: educated, knowledgeable, friendly, loves his work, excellent communication skills, and all around nice guy! Worth every penny and then some!

I read the reviews and called after the posted business hour and the angel Blair answered. Whadda shock. Rescued a 2 month old border terrier.
Just wanted to schedule in home training. Wow! I got so much more. Advice, practical skills to implement immediately since the next 3 – 4 wks of his development are critical. Who knew?!! Plus suggested reading before he can actually come out and train Brody.
His customer service and passion for his work were apparent during our 20 min conversation. When my Brody is age appropriate, Blair is our trainer fer sure.

I found Blair through Unilocal,so of course I had to come back to the source and share my experience! If you don’t want to read this crazy long review, the summary is that Blair is awesome and he will most definitely be able to help you have a better relationship with your dog! He is also a super rad guy and you will truly enjoy working with him.
We adopted Kyna from a shelter and we could tell she had some issues, but we had a feeling that underneath was an awesome dog that we would love. She wasted no time and immediately started displaying what seemed to be separation anxiety, and I was stuck in our house for the first 5 days that we had her because she was completely freaking out if I even walked out the door for a minute. I found Blair after utilizing trusty ol’ Unilocal and sent him an e-​mail, saying that my dog had separation anxiety and we needed help. He called me later that day (he’s a huge phone person, which I love) and he gave me some advice. I did what he said and walked out of our apartment, and we continued our conversation. 20 minutes later, he asked if she had been barking. I realized I had been outside for 20 minutes and she was completely quiet (that was a big deal by comparison), and it seemed our problem was solved. Blair said it sounded like our dog was just being a drama queen who wanted attention, and we just needed to let her know that her freaking out in her crate was unacceptable. It was really that simple. I arranged for a one on one consult with him a couple weeks later just because I figured the more we learn can’t hurt, although he insisted that I shouldn’t feel obligated just because he gave me advice over the phone… a true testament to his character, he has never once pushed me to sign up for more services or pay for more than what I need.
Three weeks later when it was time for our consultation, Kyna was fully accepting of her crate and quiet when we left, but had developed other habits… mainly growling and occasionally nipping at new people. So we were thankful to have our appointment set with Blair. He showed us how to properly correct her and show her that her behavior was unacceptable, and the hour he spent with us was so valuable. However we could tell by that point that she was a bit more complex and we decided to go up to his home in Mt. Shasta for the weekend training package. Again Blair insisted that we shouldn’t feel obligated, but that he agreed it would probably be helpful. He also gave us great advice on what to do for the time being that would help us set the tone that we are in charge.
So we went up to Mt. Shasta for our training weekend and it was such a great experience. As others have said, Blair has an amazing guest home and it was such a nice weekend. He spent hours with us every day going over his various methods, showing us why and how he was doing the things he was doing, and giving us plenty of time for questions to make sure we understood. Partway through we decided to have Kyna stay with him for a board and train since we realized although we understood what Blair was teaching us, we knew his finesse after doing it for 8 years plus the fact that he can focus all his energy on it (versus us who also have jobs and other things we have to do during the day,) would garner much faster results. So we left that Sunday and I attempted not to bawl my eyes out the whole drive home. I was so happy that we decided to have Kyna stay with Blair because he was really able to get to know her and see all of her issues first hand. It was also great to see how much Blair and his wife loved our dog and I felt so confident knowing she was in good hands, not only being well trained but being loved as well!
When she came home, we had a completely different dog. She still has some quirks and there’s still things we are reinforcing, but overall she is so much calmer. No dog will ever be perfect, but the most important thing is the tools that Blair equipped us with. Now when Kyna does something I don’t want, instead of feeling helpless and like she is in control I know how to react and communicate with her that her behavior is inappropriate. And I know as time goes by, the less she’ll need the reinforcement. I now feel like she respects me as the alpha and I don’t go into situations wondering if she will behave. Obviously her behavioral issues were the biggest goal for us, but since Blair trains all board and train dogs to be off leash reliable she came home with that ability as well… and let me tell you, it is awesome. It’s so fun to take her out on trails and watch her just explore and run around, having full confidence that when I recall her she will come. It’s also so awesome that Blair is there for you for the life of your dog; I’ve called him a couple times and he’s been happy to give me advice or reinforce things he’s already trained us on. We’re so thankful to have found him and so thankful for the relationship we now have with our dog!

Blair saved our family. We were ready to rehome Max, our golden retriever. We tried desperately to change his aggressive, dominant behavior, read many books and articles to no avail. We posted a rehoming request with an agency that specializes in GR’s, felt obligated to be upfront about his behavior and heard no response. No surprise there.
We happened upon Blair’s Primal Needs web site. Decided on the 3 week on-​site training program with one 3 day visit from us during that period. Blair has a very nice guest house. He came to pick up Max and we knew immediately there was something special about this guy.
Anyway, long story short, we went for our visit near the end of the 3 weeks and were astounded. Max had morphed into this good dog! We were the guys that needed the training. Thanks to Blair Max is a much loved family pet and gets move loveable every day. Do yourselves and your dog a favor. Put yourselves in Blair’s kind and knowing hands. He’s the one. Thank you SO MUCH Blair for saving our family.
Margaret, Mike & Max.

My dog Buster and I are one of the luckiest dogs/​dog-​owners out there. Why? Because we found Blair! Blair is amazing. His diligence, knowledge, dedication and concern surpass any dog trainer I have ever encountered. My experience with Blair started with a phone call after finding him online. He spent a half hour with me on the phone explaining his services and how he could help me and my pup. I rescued Buster at 11 months; he is a pit-​bull terrier mix and had a history of abuse. Blair had no hesitation in his willingness to work with the two of us and I was confident in him since day one. Of course I was concerned with anyone handling my dog but after talking to Blair at great length and meeting him in person, I had no doubt that Buster would be just fine. The best part about Blair is that he truly cares. It’s often hard to find someone trustworthy and sincere in their work. Blair listened and acknowledged my biggest issues with Buster and after meeting Buster, he knew exactly how to work with him. My dog was quite a challenge, as he had his stubborn tendencies as well as the effects of lack of training and abuse in his first year of his life. Prior to working with Blair, Buster could not be handled on a leash, would attempt to attack any dog in sight and would not listen to most commands. After almost 4 weeks with Blair, my dog had drastically improved. I decided on the training package that included a weekend stay at his guest house, and I highly recommend it if considering which package to choose. It was extremely helpful to work with Blair during his training and be able to witness hands-​on the learning process and diligence required. I was in shock when I came up to Mt. Shasta and observed Blair and Buster. Not only was Buster behaving as a well-​trained dog should behave (and even just after 3 short weeks!!), he was also tolerable and interested in being with other dogs. There were 4 other dogs in his training group (3 of 4 were ‘dog aggressive’ prior to Blair) and all of them were the best of buddies by the time I visited. Throughout my entire weekend there, Blair worked with us for many hours a day, patiently instructing me on the appropriate ways to handle Buster. Blair was aware of my shortcomings in managing Buster’s challenging ways and Blair took all the time necessary to help me understand better management. After Buster’s training in Mt. Shasta, I have seen Blair on many occasions for follow up training sessions. I had to relocate to San Francisco without much notice and Blair still made accommodations, all in the interest of my dog. His heart and dedication shows in every aspect of his training.
Blair truly changed my life. I now have a well-​behaved dog and one that is very different (behaviorally) than the one I rescued. One of the most endearing things about Blair is he reminds me that he will be in my life as long as Buster is in my life, which says a lot about his dedication. He truly cares and wants to make sure as a dog owner, that you and your dog are getting the most out of training and progress. I would HIGHLY recommend Blair to anyone who is dealing with behavioral issues with their dog. I truly believe there isn’t a trainer out there like Blair! I am SO grateful to Blair, and Buster is even more so. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, Blair Diamond!

A Gentlemen and A Scholar.
Blair is an awesome person as well as a fantastic trainer. My girlfriend and I took our pit bull Theo to Blair last weekend for his 3 day one-​on-​one training session. Blair was very candid and very knowledgeable about dogs. His methods of training are very logical and effective. Within three days I am able to take Theo on walks without him pulling on the leash!!! Walks with my dog have become fun! I definitely would recommend anyone who is looking to create a strong relationship with their canine to consult Blair.

This is a looooong over do review of Blair and the incredible gift he has given us through his training. I came to him in dire need of training/​advice in regards to our bossy fence jumping black lab that we were contemplating finding a new home for. After my first consult with Blair I knew I had to have him help us! We had taken him to other trainings, researched solutions on our own and finally got him a dog friend thinking that would help his anxiety and maybe he wouldn’t feel the need to jump anymore, that didn’t quite go as planned, still jumping the fence! Blair suggested getting both dogs on board with training while we were at it and so our journey began. The very first session we had with Blair I thought he must have put a spell on them, they couldn’t be the same dogs I arrived with, needless to say my husband and I had our work cut out for us. Six weeks later when our training sessions had come to an end I have to admit I still wasn’t sure we were cut out parent’s for our lab (but our daughters love for him pushed us to continue), our shepard mix was now like a show dog, but our lab was still a challenge for us. I even called Blair as embarassing as it was and I asked if our lab was adoptable, he definitely showed his concern and said I needed to try even harder and he was right, so we did and it truly paid off. We can now go most anywhere without even having them on a leash and I can barely even handle the thought that we almost gave up! Blaire, we owe you many thanks, you were a god send to us and our animal family, thank you so much and we really enjoyed working with you! Oh yeah, our lab hasn’t been jumping the fence either… Definitely worth every penny plus some.

All I can do is thank Blair for his time, his service and the HUGE difference he made in one short hour.
I love that he not only worked with my 10 month old Staffordshire Terrier, Booger, but that he also worked with Booger’s 32 year old overly indulging mommy. He helped me realize that while I am trying to do all of the right things I am not exactly following through in a way that benefits Booger.
Booger was so focused and tense when Blair arrived and by the time he left Booger was relaxed and listening. I hope that I am able to follow the instruction so that I am able to have the same effect on my dog that Blair did.
I would recommend that if you are looking for someone to help you help your dog you give Blair a call… Lord only knows he will be sick of my voice soon.

In response to the comment left by Blair from Primal Needs:
I am not aggressive, I’m assertive. There is a difference. I give excellent client service and so I have high expectations. I have been around dogs my whole life and have three other lovely dogs. I needed help with my aggressive dog from a professional. I did not find a professional when I called Primal Needs and I think others should hear what my experience was. Saying that I’m a liar is a weak defense, and a very childish one. Either way, my dog is getting the caring help he needs from another trainer who was professional and knowledgeable. She also stated that it is most likely our behavior around our dog causing the problem, which is something I do not take insult to and will fix! All the trainers I spoke with that day, with the exception of Primal Needs, were courteous and professional in how they spoke to me and we had no problems. There is a difference in being candid and being unprofessional and rude. I Called 4Paws University and will be using them to help our boy. She has been so professional with our family, and is the only certified trainer in this area.

My husband and I took our 4 month old English Mastiff/​Rott mix puppy to obedience training at another location and after our pup, Suri, growled at the trainer, she told us that we would most likely need to put her down because she was excessively aggressive.
We were both incredibly upset and were trying to figure out what we wanted to do with Suri. We have had smaller dogs in the past who were bark-​y but never aggressive but because of her size, we were definitely concerned about making sure Suri was trained correctly. I called Blair at Primal Needs and set up an appointment to get a second opinion on what our options were with Suri. He came to the house (rather than going to a group class) and engaged with Suri and quickly developed a rapport with her. He explained how she was acting out in fear and was aggressive because she was unsure of her surroundings/​individuals. He taught us how to correctly engage with her and then correct the behavior. I was beyond amazed at how well he was able to get Suri and her «sister» to behave around him. He reassured us that Suri was just fearful but that if we corrected her properly she would learn boundaries and be a well-​adjusted dog that was happy to be in our pack.
I am so thankful that we found Blair! He is absolutely amazing and worth every single penny!!!

Blair was a breath of fresh air for our new puppy. we had bouts of her biting and i was ready to find her a new home when I called Blair. he came out and identified what we needed to work on and she is so much better than she was. she listens and no more biting. His follow up is wonderful as different things come up he has given a few tips and things I can try or change and it makes such a huge difference! Highly recommend Blair if you are looking to better communicate with your dog!

Zero stars actually. Blair Diamond is a joke as a dog trainer. If your dog has aggression problems do not go to him because he is scared of dogs! Stay away from this guy-​complete and total whack job. All he does is get in your face-​literally. I can’t imagine the dogs appreciate that either. He does not listen to your specific problems. He walked my dog around the block to make him «heel» and he stuck his palm in his face about a hundred times. My dog was so confused. Go to Kristen Minnie @ The Local Bark, she is a much better trainer.

OK so Maybe has been home for a week now after finishing her training with Blair. She is a delight in every way. She stops, listens and obeys whenever she is corrected, is completely house trained and respects the other dogs in our home. It is so incredible to have her incorporated harmoniously into the family. Today Blair came to follow up on her training and make sure that everything is going smoothly. Maybe loves Blair. I am pretty sure she wanted to go home with him or at the very least to go on a walk (adventure) with him. My husband and I are so impressed with Blair and glad we found him.