Proven and reliable canine training based on innovation, service, and passion to create the best life for you and your dog!

Our Services

Obedience Training

As a dog owner, you will be exposed to well-intended neighbors, friends or even your vet offering their opinion on how to train your dog. We have the passion and experience to bring you well-balanced solutions to the real-world issues you may experiencing, whether they are temperament or environmentally based. Each dog is an individual & we believe their training should be treated as such!
Service Dog Training

With a reliable obedience foundation in place, our clients can receive certification for AKC Canine Good Citizen and AKC Advanced Community Canine, foundational requirements for therapy and support dogs. Depending on our clients’ goals and needs, additional training is available for scent-specific medical alert dog certification.

Training Methods

Marker training is a method in which a specific signal (or “mark”) is utilized to clearly communicate to your dog what behavior is correct and desired. Through precise timing and consistency of usage, your dog is able to associate the mark and reward with the behavior that preceded it. Over time, this science-based teaching method simplifies communication and enhances the bond between you and your dog, all the while reinforcing a recall to you for reward & stimulating your dog’s brain in this reliable, thinking-style obedience style.

Our Story

Head trainer, John Forbes, a graduate of the University of Vermont, has worked in law enforcement for over 17 years. His passion for dog training led him to the K9 Unit and becoming police canine trainer. John has worked both a dual certified patrol and narcotics detection canine, and a single purpose narcotics detection canine. In his time as a law enforcement canine trainer John has trained and certified canines in the detection of illicit substances, electronics and other substances. He has also trained canines to track suspects, apprehend criminals, locate evidence of crimes, and assist in the search and rescue of missing people. He is an approved evaluator for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen program.

John and Mandy are an Exeter, New Hampshire-based team who founded Great Bay K9 in 2021 when they recognized the need for personalized one-on-one training sessions based on their client’s specific training goals and lifestyles that could be completed at their own home. Since then our goal at Great Bay K9 has been to provide the greater Seacoast area in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts with exceptional training results through the use of innovative and advanced techniques.

Mandy is a lifetime dog lover and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where she studied animal sciences with a specialization in veterinary medicine and a minor in kinesiology. Mandy assists in the training sessions and manages the scheduling and social media accounts.

Training Plans and Cost

We believe that each client and their dog each have their own learning styles and goals. Each session is approximately an hour long and will be focused on those goals and learning styles. The introductory session costs $100 and is a time to meet and discuss the goals and begin establishing the training plan going forward. Each session after that is priced at $125 and will be designed to achieve and surpass the goals of each client and their dogs!