I believe this is the "original" Dave's location, and I do prefer it to the Springfield location…read more Here's why: 1) great selection of small pets (hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, snakes, frogs, lizards, fish, etc) and birds. Everything is clean and the animals are well cared for. I especially loved the walk-in aviary. 2) the bottle redemption center is cordoned off to a back corner and has walls around it to help reduce the noise. The one in Springfield is just in the back and it can get very loud at times. They also have great soda for sale, can mix and match to your heart's desire. Lots of local craft soda from New England. We just bought 12! I do love that their toy section prices seems to be right on target for other big-box pet stores, but I have found that they tend to carry *more* of the pricier/better food, and less of the more generic types. Their prices on the generic pet food is a few dollars higher than what you'd pay at Wal*Mart. I will stick to buying fun toys and treats at Dave's, and splurge on sodas for the humans.

They have a very good selection of pet supplies. Dogs love going in and it's a good training spot…read more Also self wash dog baths are convenient and towels and shampoo provided.

Amazing trainer!! She is so experienced, and deeply understands dogs. She gave me great practical…read moretips to train my rescue :) I love that she was able to tailor her training to approach my dog.

Essential Canine offers both indoors, outdoors, and private classes. I met Hitchcock…read moreserendipitously through her family, who still live in Forest Park, where I also reside. I was walking my vivacious puppy, Duke, and noticed that the woman passing by had a really calm dog, who happened to also be around Duke's age. The woman turned out to be Hitchcock's daughter; I mentioned I was looking for puppy training; and the rest is history! Duke and I first took private lessons with Hitchcock at our home, to learn the basics of loose-leash walking. The first couple of weeks after adopting Duke, I was about to go crazy, because he was such a puller while walking. Within the first lesson, I started to regain my sanity--and dignity! I knew Essential Canine was going to be my new best friend in training Duke to be a good little pup. Since then, we've taken multiple training sessions, both indoor and outdoors, with Essential Canine. I recommend graduating from private lessons at home, where there is less distraction, to basic obedience classes hosted in the training ring at Dave's Soda and Pet Food City in Agawam. Going to a foreign location to your dog increases distraction--shoppers, toys, new scents, and even Hitchcock's own dog--offer up new challenges to overcome. This summer, Duke and I also graduated from Essential Canine's Group Obedience Class, which takes place in the picturesque Hilltop Farm in Suffield, CT. We joined a class of similarly-aged puppies who were in need of group distraction, like us. Duke, per usual, was an energy ball, but Hitchcock gave me specific techniques for working with his high energy. "You've gotta be more exciting than everything else around" was one of the nuggets I've taken with me. If he's excited by the other dogs, I just act a buffoon and redirect his attention! I also learned that he's highly treat-motivated and will do just about anything for chicken or cheese. The thing that stands out about Essential Canine, and Hitchcock as a canine massage therapist and trainer, is that she really works to customize the training experience for each dog/human team.

Great experience for us with our two dogs. It has taken some time, but we have been able to…read morecorrect many behaviors with Ashley's help. She taught us the proper way to use collars safely as well as other equipment for our walks. With her help we have learned to become the alpha in the household. Their reactivity is so much better now. I can feel confident I can control them in any situation.

Ashley is such an amazing trainer. She is so knowledgeable and really shows her passion for dogs…read morethrough her sessions. She knew exactly how to help me and my 3 year old Shiba Inu to address his resource guarding and reactivity. Ashley helped me to understand the different tools to use & how to implement them effectively and safely. I have seen such tremendous progress after our 6 sessions, and I am so grateful for the work she did with us. She told me the first day I met her that she would help us and that we would fix the issues. She gave me hope when so many other trainers turned me away just based off his breed. I 100% support and recommend her services!

Sandy Meadow Farm is the very best! Missy Kielbasa uses only positive reinforcement and guides the…read moredog owner/handler along the route of training and managing your dog. The information is plentiful and presented in a clear and understandable way. There is scaffolding for the dogs, learning steps toward success. It's clean, bright, and so worth the time and energy to go and train yourself and your dog to be a great team!

We have taken a total of five classes with Missy Kielbasa with both of our dogs. As a veteran…read moreteacher of 30 years, I know how hard it is to make every class fresh and a useful learning experience. Over the years, I continue to be impressed with Missy's enthusiasm for what she does. She just loves teaching people about dog behavior, and it shows in every class. Also, she is incredibly helpful with any questions one might have about a dog. She asks questions, makes a thoughtful suggestion, and then follows up the next week with a "how did that work out?" Other classes we have tried left us feeling unsatisfied as the trainers didn't have the level of commitment and enthusiasm that a good teacher needs. Another thing is that, during class, Missy will notice something I am doing and bring it to my attention. It is amazing what a difference changing a simple behavior on the owner's part can make in the dog's. I have no hesitation in recommending Missy for any class, from puppy kindergarten to advanced training.

We had our first session with Scot today and it was extremely helpful and informative. We saw our…read moreAmerican Bully respond positive to his direction right away and we addressed some issues that have been very concerning for us. He taught us how to effectively communicate with our dog and I feel very optimistic that we will have an even better relationship with our dog now.

Scott was good to work with. He put things into terms that we humans can understand and he…read moreconnected very easily with my Neuro divergent son, which I had some concerns, about if someone was going to be able to,..... but my son picked it up beautifully. Scott in very matter of fact, very black-and-white terms, which was very helpfu! And our dog is kind of scary. She's a biter and I think with Scott's help we may be able to end that and repair the way we look at our dog and our dog looks at us. I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress with our dog. Thanks for the help Scott.

The BEST trainer for my dog Phoebe who struggles with anxiety, reactivity, and aggression towards…read morepeople/dogs. Not only did she transform Phoebe into a more confident girly, she boosted my confidence in handling her. Ang came into my life when I was really struggling with my dog. I truly don't know what I would have done without her!

I was originally nervous to do a board and train because my dog is like my child. However, I've…read moreknown Angela since high school so I was able to trust that my Doberman would be safe and cared for. I rescued my dog around 6-7 months old. Adopting him at this age meant he already had some ingrained bad behaviors that were hard to break. Angela was able to come up with a training plan that not only addressed my dogs issues but also my own issues/fears. She really made the process comfortable for both of us. Thanks to Angela's expertise and patience, my Doberman and I are now able to accomplish so much more together.

Sarah is an amazing trainer!!!! She took the time to demonstrate each skill and helped us at every…read morestep. She was so patient with us and our two puppies. We highly recommend her for anyone looking for dog training.

Our family was impressed with the training we received from Sarah at K9Elite! She was timely,…read morethorough, and more than patient with both our puppy as well as us human clients! She delicately showed us that we had as much to learn as our newly adopted puppy Bubba did! She informs you exactly what to expect before each lesson, asks if there are any particular struggles you'd like to work on and happily fits them in the course. We were given paper copies of each lesson with detailed items to work on as "homework", which was fantastic given our families' opposite schedules, we all had something concrete to read and see where exactly Bubba was at in his training if one of us was not able to attend class. We went from having an overly hyper, semi-destructive puppy with no boundaries to a playful, mentally and physically challenged pup who is now understanding that there are rules and rewards for following them. Highly recommend!

We recently adopted a new puppy (Nala) to keep our 3 year old Golden doodle (Augie) company…read more Although the two dogs are siblings from different litters, they didn't immediately take to being together. Unlike Augie, who was always sweet and extremely mellow even as a puppy, Nala bit us in the face, barked, destroyed things in our home and terrorized Augie to the extent that he would run away from her. We weren't sure we could keep her because she was so badly behaved and seemed untrainable. In the span of 3 weeks, David transformed Nala from a challenging puppy into a dream puppy. She obeys all the commands, walks off leash in our wooded neighborhood, sleeps hours later than when she left and most importantly she is able to play well with Augie who now seeks her out and willingly allows her even to sleep in his own bed. David sent dozens of videos so we could watch her while she was in training and learn the language she was learning from David. He kept in contact and was even able to drop her off and meet our other dog for a walk with Nala. Without Massachusetts Dog Training, we would likely have given our wonderful puppy away and never realized what a gem we had. David helped to uncover Nala's true potential and helped us to realize how smart, sweet and special she is. We will be forever grateful for his wisdom, expertise and love for our Nala.

I cannot say enough good things about David and his incredible training skills. My dog, a husky…read morewith a strong personality and a history of aggressive behavior toward other dogs, came home completely transformed. On the very first day with David, he was already playing calmly with other dogs, something I never thought I'd see. David kept me updated every step of the way, sending daily videos that showed my dog's progress, which gave me so much peace of mind. When he came home, he could finally walk on a leash without pulling (a major win for a husky owner!) and he no longer jumps on guests the second they walk in the door. Now, he greets people calmly and listens better than ever. It honestly feels like I have a brand new dog. He is happier, more obedient, and much more social. I'm beyond grateful for David's help and would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a professional, compassionate, and highly effective dog trainer. He truly works wonders!

This is by far the best place to bring your dog. Not only are they experts on dog behavior and…read moretraining, but they will truly go an extra mile to prioritize your dog's specific needs. Sergio's love and passion for animals is very evident, as well as the staff that accompany him at K-9 & Pets Training Center. They are creative in their programming and will take the time to know you and your dog's needs to ensure their success. I am impressed with their professionalism and generosity. We love the family of staff at K-9 & Pets! - Carissa, Milo & Morchella

If you are looking for quality dog training or doggy daycare this is absolutely the best place to…read morego! Sergio and Rocio and their team are second to none! I call it my girl Ivy's home away from home, she loves them and being there! She started with them when she was about 13 weeks old doing puppy boot camp then daycare. They care for each pup as if they were their own. Go check them out you will love them too and so will your pup.

We recently moved to town and I was so nervous looking for a new groomer. I went completely off…read morereviews from yelp and Google and am so thankful I did! Dominic did an absolutely amazing job on our little havapoo and he text me 15 min prior to being done so I had time to drive back. Our previous groomer said she always needed a second person to help hold her because she doesn't like her nails being clipped but Dominic was able to do it on his own. She smells great and looks so cute!! We will definitely be back and I'm so grateful to have found our new groomer!! He is the best!

We are always happy with the treatment and outcome for our long haired Persian and 20 year old cat…read morethat needs some grooming help