Kelia was the most amazing trainer for me and my dog. He was an anxious, dog reactive guy, and it…read moreaffected every part of how and when we interacted with the world. Since he's worked with her over the five-week training period, he's made a complete 180. Now we're able to walk around the city and not have him bark at every dog we see on the street. I want to point out that because my dog is innately anxious, it affects his physical state too with eating and other issues. Kelia shared that she used to be a vet tech and made me feel the most comfortable and confident with helping me set up a plan for when he might have an episode due to the transition and what all would take place to ensure he would be okay, loved, and healthy. Long story short, she cared for him for the days he was struggling, kept me updated, and he came out of it because she was purposeful, knowledgeable, and more than capable to handle the situation. I can't recommend Kelia enough for anyone seeking support and/or confidence in how they can better work with, love, and respect their dog. Bonus, she's genuinely such a joy of a human being!

Our family highly recommends Controlled K9! We adopted our boy Mortimer last year after he had been…read moreliving as a stray, and we were really struggling when he came home with basic manners, reactivity, and having him settle in with our other dog. We ended up sending both of our boys for a six-week board and train with Kelia. It seemed to only make sense to send both dogs so they would have the same baseline training. Kelia was amazing! She kept us informed just about every day with videos and texts so we could see that the boys were happy and making progress. When Kelia brought the boys home, she spent a few hours with us, showing all the commands and techniques that she taught them, so we had a seamless transition. The "place" command alone has been lifechanging. (Although as you can see in the picture, they sometimes refuse to use separate mats, LOL.) We use the command before we feed them, initially when guests come by, and when we just need them to settle down a bit. It has reduced the stress and chaos in our house tenfold, and we actually can see the boys relax when they know they have a place to go and chill out. Kelia also gave us the tools to make leash walking and general obedience so much more successful. There are a lot of options out there for training. What set Controlled K9 apart for us was (1) our boys lived with Kelia, her family, and her dogs during training - they were not staying in a kennel and were in a real-life, loving environment, and (2) the promise of lifetime, free follow-up support. The boys have been home now for about 3 months. The training has stuck, and we feel like we really have the tools we need to make life pleasant for all of us, including the boys. Kelia has also proactively checked in to make sure things are going well, provided tips on the best way to reinforce training, and has responded quickly when we have follow-up questions, including offering a visit. Over three months later, we are still completely satisfied with the training and support provided by Controlled K9 and Kelia, and we would use them again in a heartbeat.

I called, emailed, and even yelp messaged this place as we needed immediate private lessons for a…read morepuppy we had adopted who had severe anxiety issues. I never received a follow up and ended up having to give the puppy back to the rescue. I still wonder sometimes if we could have had a different outcome if this place would have called me back. Unfortunately, the quality of life for her is as getting worse by the day and it was unfair to keep her in our environment where we couldn't make her feel safe.

We LOVE Krazy K9 Dog Training! Ken and team area a pleasure to work with and really know their…read morestuff. They are able to adjust training to the dog's needs and use all the tools in the toolbox available- martingale collars, pinch collars, ecollars, etc. and always praise and treat driven rewards. The training work has made a very positive difference in my rescue dog. She is much more confident than she was before and her leash manners are envied by other dog owners in our neighborhood. During Covid everyone involved wears masks (properly over both nose and mouth) and all training takes place outdoors or in a pet-friendly location like Home Depot or Pet Supplies Plus. Would highly recommend Ken and team!

Andrew is superb! He is knowledgeable and professional. He took my head-strong pup and brought out…read morehis calm, loving, and obedient side. Andrew is ideal for boarding too!

My dog just completed training with Andrew Horan at Citizen K-9 and returned a well behaved pup…read more Macie is an Eng. Bulldog and is very stubborn. She more or less did as she pleased when she wanted. She had us trained. We camp almost every weekend and she goes with us on all our trips. It had been a nightmare, she would pull on the leash when walking her and grab the leash out of our hands, jump up on people and their dogs, and rush out of the door of the RV with little recall. We were unable to relax and enjoy our time with her outside of the RV. Mr. Horan said he would make it his mission to teach Macie to become a better behaved dog. He did an excellent job. She returned to us a better behaved dog while still being her loving self. We are enjoying her much more at home and while camping. I highly recommend Citizen K-9 for training.

Absolutely amazing service and advice. Mike worked with me and tailor a plan that was specific to…read moremy dogs needs. Very responsive and always extremely helpful with questions

It has been a couple of months since my 1yo Samoyed, Olly, came back from the 10-day in-home…read moretraining that Mike and Jerri offer. At first, I was very nervous about letting someone have Olly for this long. He would take off after everything and was very hard to control. But, they made sure to send pictures of Olly on his daily excursions. I would see him sitting at various stores and I was delighted to see he was doing so well. When we went to pick him up, I couldn't believe how much he had improved. His basic obedience was on point, like never before. He was also more polite in unexpected ways. He's a very vocal dog, and we noticed that while he spoke just as much, he was literally softer in volume, as if he now understood that he can be too loud. He stopped going into bathrooms and creating messes. Best of all, I was able to take him out into the world on a leash and prong collar, and we both enjoy it. I will admit, I am bad at keeping up with the training - which is why I decided to do this program in the first place. OIly is definitely not problem free, but he's way more of a delight to own and, if I do better with the training tips Mike and Jerri offered, then I'm sure I can get him back into shape in a week or so. But, truthfully, just the fact that I can now take him anywhere I want with me and have a pleasant experience made it worth the price and the 10 days of separation.

Archie went to camp with Gina for three weeks and came home a different dog. I'm still a little…read moreamazed. He's a five-pound chihuahua who shakes when someone new walks in the room and basically lived on my lap or behind my knees. I'd worried a trainer would either give up on him or scare him worse, but from the very first day Gina put so much thought into making him feel safe. She texted that afternoon to say he'd already jumped into her daughter's arms. When he barely ate the first couple days and I got worried, she talked me through it and told me he'd come around, which he did. She took him on long walks around the park and the neighborhood to burn off his nerves before she ever asked anything of him. His crate became his safe spot at her house, a familiar place that was all his in the middle of a busy home with other dogs and parrots and training going on. And she started him on tiny, predictable rules, sitting before a door, coming when called, so he always had something he understood to hold onto in a new situation. She explained that for an anxious dog, knowing what to expect is half the battle. She also refused to pick him up every time he got scared, and warned me that part would be harder for me than for him. She was right. Somewhere around the second week he started smiling in the photos. He was hanging out with her little dogs and her family, going on field trips to the park and coffee shops, staying on his place while she walked away, heeling next to her. He knows sit, place, heel and here now, and he does them for me too. The turnover at my apartment took a couple hours and it was real work. She sat me down and explained everything before we ever touched the dog, then had me practice with Archie while she corrected what I was doing wrong. She's kept sending reminders and answering my questions since, including a few dumb ones about shampoo and brushes. Here's the part I still can't get over. We went to a party a couple weeks after he got home, which is a huge deal for Archie. He sat on other people's laps. He licked hands. He barely cowered. Six weeks ago he would have spent the whole night shaking under my chair. Everyone at the party noticed and commented on the change in his demeanor. I was a proud mama that day! If your dog is the anxious type, the one who hides, trembles, won't eat around strangers, or has to be carried everywhere, I really want you to hear this. A lot of trainers are set up for big confident dogs and don't know what to do with a scared little one. Gina does. She never rushed him, never forced him, and never made me feel silly for babying him all these years. She reads a nervous dog and meets them where they are, then slowly builds them up until they can handle the world on their own. That's exactly what Archie needed. I honestly feel like Gina is just getting started with him, and I'm already thinking of when I can work with her again. If you have a tiny, anxious dog and you're on the fence, go with Gina. Archie is a different dog and so am I. Thank you again for everything you did for him, and for me. Archie sends smooches. Sheri

I can't say enough good things about Brandi and Perry Bailey of RSK9. Their work has given my pup…read moreand I so much freedom and balance. Pebbles (blue heeler, 1.5 years old) would never listen to me, would not sit or lay still, and had a lot of other obedience issues that caused her to be stressed or confused. She was a TOUGH dog to train and I was concerned I couldn't find the solution for her to get basic concepts. This view has completely changed since working with RSK9's 3 week program. I would HIGHLY recommend them and their methods - you can tell they genuinely love working with dogs and it's made a huge difference in giving my dog the chance to find real rest at home. They send DAILY updates with photos and videos which was so nice. This isn't a regular class or something you just pay for; it's truly an investment that you and your dog will be using for the time you get to share together. Side note: it's worth doing 3 weeks versus 2 weeks. At the 2 week mark is when Pebbles really started to understand her marks and cues. From here there is so much more that can be refined and Brandi/Perry really capitalize on that threshold being crossed!

When I first reached out to Tommy, I was in a pretty dark place with my 3-year-old English Bulldog…read more His behavior had taken a serious turn--aggression, constant overstimulation, and a total breakdown in how we communicated. I was heartbroken and honestly starting to feel like I'd failed him. What Tommy brought into our home was a complete shift in perspective. He didn't just train the dogs--he taught us how to create structure, set clear expectations, and restore calm. After just the first session, our house felt noticeably different. The tension was gone, the barking and toy-fighting stopped, and even our older dogs--who had been keeping their distance--seemed relieved. What really makes Tommy stand out is the continued support. He's incredibly responsive, provides real tools and a step-by-step plan, and genuinely checks in on your progress. The Lifetime Guarantee is a huge comfort--knowing we have ongoing access to help if new issues arise takes so much pressure off. We're still working through things, but the difference already feels like night and day. I can't recommend Tommy highly enough--he gave us back peace and hope.

We adopted our good boy Buddie from a shelter in December. A sweet boy, but years in a shelter…read more(five!) has made him somewhat a sensitive pup prone to barking to loud noises and strangers approaching. Passing cars on walks yielded barking and lunging, doorbells ringing, more barking. We tried some "do-it-yourself" online things with zero success, and realized actual one-on-one training was the only option. Enter Tommy from Bark-Busters. His initial three-hour in-home training course was amazingly effective, so much so the change in Buddie was almost night and day to us. Upon meeting Buddie for the first time, Tommy immediately knew the kind of sensitive dog Buddie was and tailored his training to suit. His techniques were easy to understand and master and can be practiced anytime we're with Buddie. No more barking when the doorbell rings, or when a car passes, or a stranger approaches. Buddie's a lot calmer now which is more in keeping with his overall sweet nature. Highest recommendation!

Christine and her team did an amazing job training our dog Pippa. She came home behaving so much…read morebetter and the primary issues we wanted help with were resolved. As with all training, it's a work in progress, but we are excited to continue in group classes. Highly recommend Sit Means Sit in Manassas!

We rescued Tiberius during COVID, and it was a disaster. He was extremely aggressive. We could not…read morehave people over to the house. He was food-focused and would growl and bite at us over food. Taking walks was a nightmare that could only be done when no one else was around. He had a psychiatrist and heavy meds with no real impact. Just as we were about to give up on him, two different people recommended Sit Means Sit. Christine and Mickie came for an in-home evaluation and offered a two-week summer camp with bi-weekly follow-up training. Today, it is hard to believe that this happy, kind, and patient dog is the same animal. He even waits to be given permission to eat. I can't recommend Sit Means Sit Manassas enough.

We had a wonderful experience with Good Dog Workshop and can't recommend them highly enough. We…read morereached out for help with behavior issues we were having with our rescue dog, and from the very first session, we felt supported, understood, and empowered. Their approach was calm, clear, and incredibly effective -- they helped us understand why our dog was acting out and taught us how to respond in ways that built trust and confidence. One thing that really stood out was how thoughtful and hands-on they were -- they even brought two of their own well-balanced dogs to help with socialization. That made a huge difference in helping our pup feel more comfortable and learn from positive role models. We saw real results quickly and now feel so much more connected and in control. If you're facing behavioral challenges -- especially with a rescue -- Good Dog Workshop is the team you want in your corner. We're so grateful for their help in bringing out the best in our dog.

Brian did an excellent job matching me and my retired racer up with Marina. She was a perfect fit…read morefor us and has helped me immensely in creating a happier and more secure environment for my dog. Her training method is straightforward and effective; there was no need for overly-complicated training exercises or special tools. I am still amazed by how quickly we fell into better habits and behaviors, and therefore a better relationship. My dog was very serious and somewhat-aloof when I first adopted her; now she is a huge goofball who loves to snuggle and be best friends with anyone who comes in to the house. I have met with Marina twice, and plan on working with her again in the future. I highly recommend Good Dog Workshop-they know what they're doing!

Will not return. After several emails and one phone call in which I expressed concerns regarding my…read moredog's issues making the timing of training a challenge, I was enthusiastically encouraged to "just come once" and "come to training once, if there are issues, you can get a refund." I took notes during the phone call, and recorded being told several times "refund ok." Went once, determined that this environment at this time would be unnecessarily stressful for the dog. Asked for the refund and was told "no refunds after you have attended one class." I communicated that I felt I had expressed my concerns clearly and was encouraged to 'attend "just one class" or I could have a refund.' I was then told I could have a credit towards other training, but no refund according to their policy, regardless of what I was told. I may have returned at another time, when my dog had completely recovered from his experience, but the refusal from them to entertain what I understood to be a verbally promised refund has soured my opinion of this company. I believe I was cajoled into attending the "one class" so that they could deny my request for a refund based on their policy. Warning: If you are told a refund is possible, you will not receive it if you attend a class. Their policy is buried on the website, they will verbally tell you a refund is possible, but will not honor that. The reason for my concerns: As a result of another dog attacking mine that same week, my dog had 5 staples from the wound, and exhibited a new response to other dogs. He previously enjoyed other dogs but now exhibited both fear & aggression.

When the trainer first meet my dog she said he needed Prozac before she would work with him. I took…read morehim to the vet and my vet told me my dog did not need Prozac I needed a new trainer. After doing more research I found a trainer that fit us better. This trainer may be great for some people but not us and I would suggest that you do your research before drugging your dog.

Meg and Ivy are super - they take A-1 care of our little girl. It is obvious when they arrive -…read moreMaggie does zoomies welcoming them. We give Meg an absolutely super recommendation.

Meg's Loving Pet Care, the name says it all!!! Meg's has been helping me take care of my pack for…read moreover 7 yrs. She and her crew are amazing caregivers that provide you with the comfort that your babies are in great hands when you are not there. The best part is the pictures! You can tell your pets are happy, even when your gone!