I went to see her for the CGC exam, and we went through all 10 parts. My dog did a great job with…read morejust a few prompts. She tried to nitpick a couple of things, but nothing major. The only part he couldn't complete was staying alone for 3 minutes with the evaluator--which, from my understanding, can be waived since he's my service dog. Then she claimed he failed three portions, which was simply not true. I was so upset I asked her to redo the test. She ran through everything on camera again, and he did great. Then she brought out another dog and started clicking while bringing it over--something no trainer should do. My dog gave a subtle growl but stayed in place. She jumped on that, said he failed, refused to continue the evaluation, and tried to push me into training with her. What a crook. If you use her, I promise issues will come up eventually. I paid $75 for that evaluation, and my dog passed the test with flying colors. WHAT A CROOK! FKIN SCAMMER. I thought I replied to her comment, but I sent her a message directly, so I am sharing with you what I said to her. Please work to uphold the integrity of the business: She contradicted herself, calling my dog sweet while claiming "aggression" was the issue. He passed every requirement except the 3-minute stay, which she refused to complete. Yes, he whined, but the entire interaction felt off from the start. Thank you for the refund, but it was well deserved. The whole process was shady--you were clearly ready to fail him. Completely inappropriate.

I wanted my dog to be a therapy dog, and after researching lots of dog trainers, I settled on…read moreEmily. And I am so glad I did. She was knowledgeable, patient, friendly, and it was obvious that she had tons of experience. She created a really open and enjoyable environment for both my dog and I to learn. I think what I'm more grateful for beyond the fact that my dog was able to pass the AKC CGC exam with Emily's training, but I have so many more tools at my disposal to connect with my dog. Emily was worth every penny.

I found Happy Dog Obedience on Yelp and feel so lucky to have connected with Dawn! She worked with…read moremy Pom-Pug, Titus, over the course of five lessons--and the progress has been incredible. From the very first session, Titus was immediately receptive to Dawn. She has such a calm, confident presence and a clear gift for connecting with dogs. What really set her apart, though, is that she didn't just train Titus--she trained me, too. Once she showed me how to properly work with him using clear, consistent commands and rewards, everything clicked into place. The improvement in his behavior has been fast and honestly kind of amazing. Dawn is patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about setting you and your dog up for long-term success. I can't recommend her enough--if you're looking for a trainer who really knows what she's doing, look no further than Happy Dog Obedience!

I think Dawn is a literal dog whisperer. When we met her initially, our dog (who we were desperate…read morefor help with, and on the verge of trying to rehome - and we have a LOT of prior dog experience!) immediately clued in to what she wanted him to do like he had always known her and we knew immediately we wanted her help. Her pricing is incredibly reasonable compared to other options as well, we were so, so happy and relieved to hire her for a training course. Our dog is a Mallinois/Boxer/Black Mouth Cur mix with a lot of energy and he is STRONG at 85lbs. After just 2 of our 5 sessions with Dawn, he is already infinitely better behaved and happier, too! We all are. It is very important that you are consistent with your dog and keep up what you and your dog learn from Dawn between and after sessions to get the results you will want, but wow, what a positive change you get from that effort! If I could give 6 stars, I would.

I've had the chance to see firsthand how much Melanie genuinely cares about every dog she works…read morewith. This isn't just a job for her--it's something she's truly passionate about. She takes the time to understand each dog's personality instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. Her patience, knowledge, and calm demeanor help dogs build confidence, not just learn commands. She also does an amazing job communicating with owners so they understand the "why" behind the training and can continue the progress at home. If you're looking for someone who truly loves what they do and will treat your dog like family, I couldn't recommend Ryker Dog Training more. Five stars without hesitation.

We recently enrolled our dog in the Ruff Edges Program and I want to share our experience for other…read moredog owners who may be considering this program. For dogs dealing with fear and anxiety, they use extremely intense correction methods. We were initially open to these tools, but things went downhill very quickly. Day one involved towel rolls being thrown at our dog, loud air-canister interruptions, and immediate use of a prong collar. Rather than working at our dog's pace, trainer Mel dragged him along on the prong collar until he submitted. This is not an exaggeration, he was physically dragged while thrashing and panicking. It was shocking and honestly heartbreaking to witness. Right after this forced submission, she handed him to my fiancé, and shortly after our dog jumped up and bit him on the arm. For context: he is five years old and has never bitten anyone in his life. It was devastating. Dogs give plenty of warning signs before a bite (growling, lip raises, body posture) but all of those signals were suppressed as he was forced into submission. In his mind, the only option left was to bite to escape the fear. After the bite we were told, "Oh yeah, that can happen sometimes," and that if it happens again we should "hang him by the prong collar until he sees Jesus." Honestly, we should have walked out immediately, but we trusted the 'professional' and assumed this program was designed for dogs like ours, so it must work. The bite happened again at the next session, totaling three bites under Mel's supervision. We never "hung" our dog by the prong because that is abuse, plain and simple. Meanwhile, his anxiety skyrocketed. He began howling, shaking, and crying at any attempt to get in the car. He even bolted out the front door to avoid going, behaviors we had never seen before this program. By week three, our dog was losing trust in us. He stopped cuddling (which is completely unlike him), avoided closeness, and generally shut down. Heartbreaking, to say the least. After experiencing this firsthand, I truly believe these methods do nothing but force a dog into submission (when they "work") and when they don't, they create dangerous behavioral fallout. The techniques used here are unnecessarily harsh, rooted in impatience, and a blatant lack of respect for the animal. They claim the program is tailored to your dog, but when the methods failed, the only advice was to correct harder: hang him, use an e-collar, throw the towel harder. No alternatives, no adjustments, no real understanding of his behavior. That is not tailoring, that is pushing until the dog breaks. In researching modern training science, I've learned there is simply no justification for these outdated methods. They ignore what we now know about canine behavior and emotional wellbeing. These techniques appeal to owners who want fast control, not true behavior change. I love my dog. After this experience, I'm choosing the slow road, the one that builds trust, not fear. I don't want a dog who obeys because his spirit is broken. I want a companion. If you're considering the Ruff Edges Program, please understand the risks and research these methods thoroughly. I wish we had, and I regret staying as long as we did. "The dominance remedy is so out of proportion that entire schools of training are based on the premise that if you can just exert adequate dominance over the dog, everything else will fall into place. Not only does it mean that incredible amounts of abuse are going to be perpetrated against any given dog, probably exacerbating problems like unreliable recalls and biting, but the real issues, like well-executed conditioning and the provision of an adequate environment, are going to go unaddressed, resulting in a still-untrained dog, perpetuating the pointless dominance program." -- Excerpt from The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson.

I left my XL bully in the 2 week board and train and let me tell you, the trainer Sabrina took my…read morereactive dog into an obedient dog. she was about about 5 months when she went into the training and she is doing so week with her commands when we brought her home. It's been about 2 months since she's been home and she is listening to her commands pretty easy with enough practice and consistency. I definitely recommend if you are having trouble with your dog.

READ THIS: THE REAL STORY ABOUT K9- OFF LEASE FRESNO…read more First I will start by saying that with persistance, my 70lb Male Husky did get trained well. BUT HE IS STILL NOT OFF-LEASH. He does however know all the commands and performs quit well with collar. Price: $4,000 and I had 5 weeks the first time and then 2 weeks back again. My Husky may have ADHD and can jump over 6 ft, so he is just young and very excitable and hard to train....... 1. Unless your dog is under 10lbs, you most likely will need 4 -weeks of training - Zak (sales guy) promotes a 2 week class for $2,500. This is not enough time for most dogs. 2. I bought 4 weeks and was told this would be enough. Matt (Owner) thru in an extra week at the request of the trainer. So, my first round with this company was (5) weeks. My Male Husky would mind the commands with collar on only, when coming home first time. I worked with him for over 30 days and then took him back for the LIFETIME GUARANTEE. 3. Lifetime Guarantee: I had to be persistant, but Matt did put my dog back in school for another (2) weeks. (I worked with my dog extensively for 30 days between the 1st visit and taking him back). 4. 2nd time around, (2 more weeks) dog had a different trainer and the Dog showed more improvements. He really knew all commands and minded very, very well with collar on. Still got out and ran away a couple times, but when he is in house and/or on leash, with collar, minded very well. A+ 4. SUMMARY: 7 weeks total. 5 weeks and then another 2 weeks. COST around $4000. 5. E-Collar: If your dog is over 50lbs, the e-collar they give you may not be strong enough. I had them upgrade me to the 1200. My Husky is stubborn, has very thick hair and is very determined to do whatever he feels like. 6. So, i have had our hunting dogs trained professionaly. IT TAKES 4 MONTHS TO train a professional hunting dog to hunt ducks and still you have good dogs and Great dogs. BEWARE: IT TAKES AT LEAST 4 WEEKS TO TRAIN ANY DOG WELL. I GAVE THEM 4 STARS. SOME DOGS MAY ONLY NEED 4 WEEKS OF TRAINING BEFORE THEY ARE TOTALLY OFF-LEASH. HOWEVER, LARGE STUBBORN DOGS MOST LIKELY WILL REQUIRE 4-8 WEEKS OF TRAINING TO ACHIEVE THE TOTAL OFF-LEASH CLAIM. MY DOG NEVER ACHIEVED THE "OFF LEASE CLAIM". PROS AND CONS: K9 - PROS: VERY GOOD TRAINERS AND MATT (OWNER) Is fair and reasonable. Be persistant though..... K9 - CON: ZAK (sales) TENDS TO OVER SELL THE REALISTIC TIME IT TAKES TO TRAIN A DOG. 2 WEEKS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR MOST DOGS so the 2 week plan for $2,500 should be avoided, in my opinion. Go with the 4 week plan and pay the extra money. K9-CON: Email system is a little difficult. Communication, pick up drop off could impove. Does take some time TO CONTACT OWNER FOR LIFE TIME GUARANTEE. Would be better to let phone answering service schedule this, however, you must contact owner. I assume this is because owner must now pay trainers "out of pocket" and this reduces profit. BE PERSISTANT........ OVERALL: GOOD EXPERIENCE AND RECOMMEND THEM, but you need to go with at least 4 weeks and then you can use your Life time if needed.

I continue to take my little dog to this wonderful place. Groomers are so patient with my Dottie…read more Love that they take an appropriate seasonal picture!

I love this place my Payton enjoys coming to get groom, the staff is always so friendly to us, and…read morelove how they set up the different holiday photo booths for my little fur baby, differently my groomers to keep.

If I could give Jo more stars, I would. She truly cares about dogs and goes above a beyond for…read morethem. My girl, Sky, let me know it was time to go a year ago. She was 16 and I had her for 13 years. She became my soulmate and that happened because of Jo. When I adopted Sky, she had some serious issues. I took her to various trainers and not one helped me. After one class with Jo, Sky showed major improvement. Jo has a presence with dogs that is truly a gift and if you are committed to your dog, Jo will be dedicated to training you so your dog can live a happy life. After my girl died, I began dog sitting because working from home without her was unbearable. I have a booked schedule that I wasn't planning on. I owe Jo the credit for helping me be a dog owner who knows what dogs need.

I took my first dog to Jo 17 years ago and now I'm back with another. Jo is still the most awesome…read moretrainer around. We do the 10 week beginner course. My dog was more obedient after just one session. Thanks Jo, you are an amazing dog trainer ( and human trainer :-).

I contacted Joe regarding our puppy that was about 14 weeks at the time to help with our family. We…read morehave 2 daughters, 4 and 2 that were both terrified of our puppy, Boba. Boba would constantly jump and bite anyone near her. Joe helped us tremendously by teaching us as a family how to interact with Boba. In a 4 hour session, we learned a ton of info and it has taken some work but it has made a world of a difference, it was especially helpful to teach Boba, indoor and outdoor energy. Thank you again. Boba is still jumping and biting but she's much better and we know how to train her to be the family dog we want her to be

I have a new puppy and two older dogs that have been through training in the past. I had Joe meet…read morewith the whole family for a 3 hour session. He does training very different than I know as it is not treat based. His session started out with the puppy and then we introduced the other 2 dogs. He was great and gave some excellent tips to jump start the training, thanks Joe and we will be in touch with further needs!!!!! Highly recommend Joe!!!!

Everytime we leave our pet we attempt to leave a detailed message with the staff on just what we…read morewant and want to pay. But each time we pickup our pet there is always extra charges that we did not want costing us more money and in at least 2 cases it was substantial. There is always an apology but still ,,YOU must pay for the misunderstanding. Yes the staff is great, the treatment of the animals seems great but getting sticker shock for a package you didn't want is frustrating .

Amazing place! Everybody is supee friendly. My dog loves it and gets so excited when waiting to be…read morepicked up from the lobby. Highly recommended!

Our family has brought several of our dogs to Melody Dagg's Dog Training over the last 10 years and…read morewe feel this is the best facility in Fresno. This review is specifically for the trainer Sam at Melody Dagg's Dog Training. I adopted my puppy Mabel (husky/shepherd) at around 8 weeks old from Fresno SPCA in April of 2020 (the height of Covid). My parents live in Fresno and I live in San Diego. I really needed help with some of the typical puppy issues (this was my first shepherd mix and they can be a handful) we were having and could not find an in-person trainer or anyone remotely reasonable in Southern CA. For that reason, I decided to return to Fresno to attend the 4-week puppy program with Sam. Sam exceeded my expectations in what guidance she provided, was a great communicator, and even brough humor to the experience. I also felt extremely safe with all the Covid precautions she took (small class size, face masks worn, etc.) As Mabel grew older, I wanted to put her in a training class but came across the same issue with everyone being extremely overpriced or only offering virtual classes in Southern CA. I contacted Sam and she provided 7 days of board and train for Mabel. She was able to solve Mabel's issues with pulling, made significant improvements in recall, etc. When we picked Mabel up, she even gave us an hour-long lesson in how to continue Mabel's training. She provided the tools we needed to really make efficient strides with Mabel. We will continue to see Sam for private sessions monthly to reinforce what we have learned and hopefully learn even more. I cannot recommend Sam and/or this facility more. Sam also attends dog training seminars and stays up to speed on dog training methods. Melody Dagg's Dog Training is truly the best and who you want to take your dog to if you want quality training at a reasonable price with true experts.

Melody is THE BEST for your dogs training. She has so much insight and experience in where your dog…read moreis coming from! My Golden needs "firm consistency " in his continued training. He's still a teenager at 2, but worth it all. You will appreciate all you learn!

Apparently my yelp account was deleted. I previously posted that I took my dog to Lauren for…read moretraining and she was very knowledgeable and had a great personality. My dog loved her. He made so much progress it was unbelievable. I still deal with dog aggression with him but that's something I need to continuously work on. I would 100% recommend her for your dog training and she's very flexible!

From the owner: Hello!! My name is…read moreLauren and I own Small Town Board N Train. I believe that all dogs are unique and different in their own special way and need a training plan that is geared towards them!