We worked with Tom to prepare our dog for some major life changes, and the experience was beyond…read morewhat we hoped for. From leash skills to preparing for a new baby, he addressed every concern with patience, expertise, and real results. Our dog had a strong prey drive and would lunge at squirrels, birds--basically anything that moved. Walks were stressful and chaotic. After working with Tom, we now enjoy calmer, controlled walks, and continue to work in high-distraction areas. Obedience was another focus--commands like "come," "place," and especially "down" have become reliable, and working still in challenging situations. Tom really emphasized consistency and practice for best results, which helped a lot! Overall, Tom gave us the tools and confidence we needed to help our dog thrive in a changing household. He clearly loves dogs, but just as importantly, he knows how to teach humans. If you're looking for help with obedience, leash manners, behavioral quirks, or preparing for a baby, Tom is absolutely worth it.

We have a 2 yr old pit mix from the shelter. He had several issues including separation anxiety and…read moreleash reactivity. Tom clearly shows he's a professional and cares about your relationship with your dog. Admittedly I was skeptical if our dog would really learn to calm down but with consistency and time we have found he has made significant improvements!

Paul was so helpful. He met us where we were and helped us make a plan to address our specific…read moreconcerns. Our pup is very reactive on walks. He's a good boy and does a lot of things right, but we've been lost on how to handle his reactivity. Paul listened to us and really paid attention to our dog's behavior and personality. He packed so much advice into our one on one session and we finally feel like we have a plan that makes sense. As the name would suggest, he has a very positive style of training, which is awesome. While some trainers would recommend using aversive training techniques to "control" dogs (no thank you), Paul's approach was to take our situation (excessive barking at other dogs on walks) and to make a plan that is fun and engaging for both us and our dog. It's going to be a big improvement in how we work with our dog. It will take work & intention to change our habits, but that's the whole thing with dog training. It's really us humans who need the training. There's no magic button to "fix" your dog. Paul helps you see that your dog is responding to your routines and the way you communicate with him/her, whether you're communicating on purpose or by accident. I should also mention that the plan he gave us is very doable--we are not very experienced with dog training & we have full time jobs, but we can definitely fit this training plan into our daily routines. We haven't had time yet to see the results, so I plan to update in a few weeks. I really believe that our plan can only make our dog (and us) feel happier, more confident, and far less confused about our communication.

We contacted Paul about our Cane Corso, Duke (110 Lbs. Dog) who we rescued about 7 months ago now…read morefrom BARCS Animal Shelter. He recently began having issues with meeting new people, minor biting/nipping with said new people, sound anxiety and walking near people/dogs in general which we attributed to him becoming possessive of us. Paul was incredible right from the start. Without us even knowing, Paul evaluated Duke and knew what kind of dog he was. He implemented techniques and strategies that Duke caught onto immediately and thrived with. I am honestly shocked how quickly and easily Paul engaged with Duke and had him laying on the floor and staying in place on command, something he's never done before. We now have several techniques and strategies that we will be using daily to help Duke become the best dog he can be. I would 100% recommend Paul to anyone who need assistance with dog training, one session is really all you need!

Scott Burgess is absolutely The Best! Don't waste your time and money on any other trainer or…read moretraining. He is a true expert in the field with over 40 yrs of experience and we are so grateful that we found him! He's a true professional who cares deeply about your pet. He drove 2hr each session to provide us with the most effective in-home no treats training techniques. Our 10wk old lab/husky mix puppy "Apollo"responded immediately to his training! He is 14wks old now and he's so well behaved that he gets complements wherever we go! Thanks to Scott's training , we feel in full control of our puppy instead of the puppy ruling our household. Scott's knowledge has been instrumental in our puppy training and he provided all of our family members with tools needed to enforce and continue his techniques easily by ourselves! Scott Burgess, we are forever grateful to you! Thank you for all the love and care you gave our pup and our family! You're Simply The Best!!!!

Scott was amazing in helping us with our dog Asher! Asher was aggressive when people came in and…read morewhenever he saw a dog on his walk. Scott came in and explained everything to us with tons of detail so that we understand how to train him and why he needs to be trained this way. Asher is doing great now! Thank you so much!

Love Those Paws was great from the moment I messaged them for a quote until I returned from…read morevacation. Stewart guided me through setting up a time to go over all the particulars. Despite me typing up a whole instruction sheet, he insisted on walking through again just to be sure (which is very reassuring). The actual pet sitting was spectacular. The pet sitter who was assigned was Kim. She spent plenty of time with the cats and made sure they were well cared for while I was away. The visit reports they leave are really cute as well. Could not have gone smoother! I'd also like to add that they were available with very short notice (3 other pet sitting companies were unable to handle our request). Also want to add that Stewart (when he came for the home visit) was wearing a mask and gloves to protect against COVID (a welcome sight). Pet owners would should have their minds at ease if they select Love Those Paws. If I go on vacation again (few and far between these days) I would definitely use them again!

We've been using Love Those Paws since 2015 to watch our cockatiels when we go on vacation. It is…read moremuch less expensive than boarding them at the vet and less stressful for the animals. The sitters vary but all are enthusiastic based on the reports they leave. After every visit the sitter leaves a note of when they came and left and what they did. They also usually text us an update and a picture of our birds. We come back to a stack of reports. The sitter stays a while after the food, water, and paper are changed to make sure the birds aren't acting weird, and I hear that some singing goes on. We've never had a problem and have be accommodated at very short notice when we want to go away for the weekend. I highly recommend this company. 1/27/20 Update: Just used them again during a ten day trip to Hawaii. I'm pretty sure our birds are in love with Alex, who came for most oF the visits. Now they are just stuck with us. As always, a great experience and we love being able to travel without any worries.

I adopted the most wonderful 13 year old boxer/pitbull mix from one of our great local shelters. I…read morewas her third home (which I still can't comprehend why) and she had pretty bad general anxiety and separation anxiety. Given her size and anxiety, I knew I would need some help. I was given a business card for East Coast Academy of Dog Training. The best recommendation ever. Initially, Paige was unmanageable on a leash. Her fear and anxiety caused her to be hyper reactive to wildlife, sounds, sudden movements. She would not respond to commands and she pulled me wherever she wanted to go. The first time Rob walked into my house, the whole energy changed. Rob has the most wonderful voice. He is soft-spoken. He never raises his voice. He has endless patience. Paige loved him from the first moment. For the first several visits, we worked inside on basic behaviors - come, sit, wait, etc. Paige caught on pretty quickly. So did I! It was as much about me learning as it was Paige. Rob always leaves detailed notes covering the lessons of the day. And consistent practice between visits is paramount. Then we began working on leash training for walks. Rob has given me valuable tools to make walks a positive experience for both Paige and I. We are still a work in progress and, weather permitting, I make a point of walking every day. Paige is so much happier and so much calmer. After 5 visits, I kept telling Rob that I needed more training. In his wonderful, calm way, he said that I didn't need more. That I had the tools to be successful and that he was only a phone call away if I needed to talk through anything. Rob never pushes additional visits if he feels you are ready to fly on your own. He has decades of experience. Go check out his website for additional detail. I appreciate Rob so much. He has made both Paige and I so much more confident. I cannot recommend Rob Hirsch and East Coast Academy of Dog Training enough!!!!

We're very thankful for Rob's assistance! We had been to other training facilities but knew we…read moreneeded someone to come to our home to deal with our 3 dog + family dynamics. Rob conducted a free consultation and I felt assured that he was able to quickly assess the situation and he came up with a plan that everyone was comfortable with. After 3 sessions in our home, and with practice and consistency, we have made great strides in establishing order to our pack. Thank you Rob!

I wasted over $1,000 to unknowingly abuse my dog through Off Leash K9. I sought help because my dog…read morewas reactive toward other dogs, loud vehicles, and people. I was desperate to help my dog and myself and Off Leash K9 had good reviews. What these folks didn't tell me was that my dog's reactivity, what I thought was outright aggression, was actually fear - that she was scared of all of these things and trying to protect herself from them. So with the use of the e-collar (really just a shock collar let's be honest), I punished her every time she showed a fear response at Off Leash K-9's direction. This definitely changed her behavior, but rather than helping her feel more comfortable with the things that scared her, we instead punished her for being afraid and taught her to hide her fear responses. I wish I had looked at the science behind dog behavior, because I now know research shows that punishment through things like e-collars, buzz collars, spray bottles, etc. are incredibly counterproductive to changing dog behavior long term and they seriously traumatize the dog. I'm so very grateful to have met a Fear Free trainer who taught me about positive reinforcement. It has improved my relationship with my dog immensely and it has ultimately lead to the sustained behavior change I was looking for. Please do not waste your money on abusive, ignorant training through Off Leash K9.

Very knowledgeable and friendly. Tim is a great trainer but they are all so great and helpful. They…read morereally know how to get the best out of the training with lots of positive reinforcement. My puppy is so attentive now. Thank you Off leash K9!

I adopted my best friend here in December of 2009 when he was six months old. Shadow celebrated…read morehis Barkmitzvah combined with a fun Superbowl Party in Feb. of 2023, where guests brought birthday gift donations. He's doggone charitable. Taking the donations to the MDSPCA, I was able to see just how awesome the staff still is, how clean and organized the kennels are, and just how beautiful the building is. The dogs awaiting adoption were clean and looked comfortable in their cozy kennels with toys, blankets, cots, etc. Of course, I wanted to take them all home with me, but Shadow's my bestest boy and being 13 1/2, he's my one and only for now.

My partner and I recently adopted two cats from SPCA Hampden, and we couldn't be happier. The staff…read morewas kind, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the animals. The facility was clean, warm, and welcoming, and it was evident the cats were well cared for--many were in foster homes, which we loved to see. What really stood out to us was how thorough the adoption process was. They carefully vet adopters to ensure the best match for both the pet and the family. We appreciated the thoughtful questions and attention to detail in finding the right fit. Our two kitties had a wonderful foster, who we got to meet, first on a zoom call, then in person on the day of adoption, and we were given all their medical info, plus a solid plan to help them adjust to their new home. It's been lifechanging having them with us, and we're so grateful for the care and dedication of everyone at SPCA Hampden. Thank you for everything!

After searching online and taking recommendations from friends, I contacted Premier about their…read morethree-week board and train program for our bernedoodle puppy. When talking with them, they recommended their puppy orientation (which is more like a tailored training session to cover general information and whatever you specifically want to talk about), the cost of which goes towards the bootcamp, so you aren't losing anything in taking the class. I was already going to proceed with the bootcamp, but after our session, I was even more excited for our pup to go. Jessi worked with our 14-week puppy for just about two hours, during which time she made huge strides in her "leave it" and in walking and jumping. Jessi gave me easy tips that I used the next day on a walk, and it was like a night and day experience in getting her to heel. I can't wait for her to attend her bootcamp. Another huge perk to this location (and something I specifically wanted when searching for locations) is they also do general overnight boarding, where they will keep up her training. You can even leave notes about specific concerns if you did their bootcamp with them. They are also so so close to BWI, which is great for us in planning boarding. It's also really not far from DC (just over 30 minutes) for anyone in the District!

Nelson is a 1/3 cattle dog rescue. He is a busy boy and a great squirrel hunter. After 6 months…read morewith us he had gotten so obsessed that he would be walking along calmly and then try and pull your arm off on a walk. There was no interrupting his stalking. Premier DT got him turned around. He came home after 3 weeks so happy to show off all he learned and his knowing how to please us makes him a more pleasant member of the family. Given a choice, he would go live with his trainer Connor. No questions asked. He LOVES Connor. When he comes for boarding or on Connor's home visit Nelson was/is a puddle of love. We have continued to work with him on our own, using the commands, and now a year plus later he walks off leash most of the time, leaves squirrels and everything else on command and does the right thing 99% of the time.

Love this place and so will your dog! The staff are kind and always greet you and your dog with a…read moresmile. Somehow, the young lady who collects the dogs at the door knows every dog by first name.. we love this place! Mamba and Theresa

They know the dogs so well. They get the right mix of canines based not just on size and age but…read moretemperament. My dog loves going there. It's an old building and because it's used 24/7/365 I'm sure it needs a deep clean. The smell is strong. But I forgive that easily.

Loved our trainer, Diamond She provided a great experience…read morewith your board and train. Our boy learned much from her obedience training.

We love this place! Been training here since July when we rescued this big energetic boy who was…read moredesperately in need of training. (Us too) We never had a large intense breed so it's been a process for us both. They have been so helpful with us and I truly believe they really care for these dogs. He did a 10 night board when we went on vacation and the daily updates with video put my mind at ease. Loved the kennels very clean and they prepared his meals just they way I would. He came back freshly groomed and smelled so good. I read the negative reviews and your not gonna make everyone happy but all I can say is my boy is going to be great thanks to there help and I def couldn't have done it without them. Thanks!!!