Im not really sure where to start with this - My sister is hearing impaired and just moved up here with her Golden, so I called Oceans Dog Club in to find out some information asking the basic questions such as whats the requirements, prices etc.... While Robert was full of information about what they offer a few red flags went up as I talked to him. First off he told me that her dog would have to do a Temperament test which involves his wife Sue assessing my sisters dog for 20-30 mins. I asked if my sisters dog would meet any other dogs while involved in the temperament test, his response was only if we felt he needed to we would then introduce him to 1 or 2 of our dogs.... isn't a temperament test suppose to see if dogs get along ? Any dog could like a person and not like a dog if not properly socialized.... I kind of brushed it off cause I knew my sisters dog would be fine - Second red flag was "nap time" what is the point in this? they nap for an hour and a half in crates from 12-1:30, that sounded odd to me cause first off these are not children they are dogs - if a dogs tired they lay down, am i wrong? - why do they need to be tucked away and forced to nap? His big thing was that they are off leash playing all day but apparently for the hour and a half they are napping doesnt count. My biggest problem i had with this conversation was what he said towards the end of the conversation. Robert was VERY nice, but as he offered all his information he mentioned that I should make sure I go check out places and make sure dogs are off leash and not working in a boot camp like other paces closer to me, I asked what he ment by that and he told me that there was a place in my town that doesn't do things they way they agree with & allows "bully breeds" for a lack of better terms (his words) that just don't belong in a daycare. I asked him if he could tell me the name of this Boot camp Place that allows "bully breeds" and he said Alpha Dog Center, so of course I had to check this place out & look up what a supposed "Bully Breed" is. Now first off a boxer, boston, bull dog, french bull dog, bull mastiffs along with pit bulls and American Staffordshire terriers are considered "bully Breeds" I looked on ODC page and why YES they do have boxers & boxer "mixes" so this tells me they have a lack of knowledge when it comes to dogs & are complete hypocrites - not to mention how unprofessional it was to talk down about a competitor, When I went into Alpha Dog center tonight I saw ALL the dogs off leash in 2 separate rooms - some laying down some being walked on a leash some playing with other dogs, they have crates in their rooms for dogs who want to get away from it all and go lay down if they are tired but some looked just as content laying on the floor while others played around them. None of the dogs are locked in a kennel at any point of the day, there is a window you can look right into the daycare room and see what is going on with the dogs. I saw pit bulls (one in a wheelchair!), German shepherds, boxers playing with goldens, labs & springer spaniels - temperaments tests are done at alpha dog center with OTHER DOGS in their daycare to see how they get along (this makes sense to me) this proves to me right there that they already know more about dogs then ODC - they don't try to tell me what I want to hear they tell me how it really is - I asked about the "boot camp" rumor and they say that structure is key to mentally drain a dog - "structure" just means they make your dog sit at a door when leaving to go home and setting boundaries so the dogs are not all rushing to the fence when being released - im not really sure what ODC sees wrong with structure or as they call it "boot camp". Metal & physical exercise seems to be Alpha dog centers main goal on top of the fact that they don't discriminate against certain dogs. I own a Doberman & a Chihuahua mix and the feeling I got from ODC would be that they would approve my Chihuahua but not my Doberman based on their opinion on who belongs in a daycare & who doesn't. Both my dogs are social and to be completely honest I set up temperament tests for my 2 dogs at alpha dog center. the staff was friendly, knowledgeable, confident, the place was nice & clean - the dogs seem very happy & the clients coming in to pick up their dogs all seemed happy & close to the staff - I normally don't write reviews but I couldn't help but think how wrong it was to put down another small business, especially knowing how good Alpha dog center was with me tonight, answered all my questions, got to tour the facility (inside & outside), saw their interactions with clients and couldn't be more pleased. Between the red flags & bad taste ODC put in your mouth about Alpha Dog Center I would say they are good at telling you what you want to hear but need to bad mouth others to get in through the door, all i have to say is dont judge a book by its cover! See You Soon Alpha Dog Center read more

I have been using Alpha Dog Center for daycare and grooming since Jan of 2012. My Bichon Brady and I love the staff and other dogs at Alpha Dog. Kendra the owner and her staff are very knowledgeable, and truly love what they do. I have had several issues with Brady trying to be the alpha dog and Kendra and saff have helped my husband and I work with Brady to train him. Kendra and staff have answered all my questions even when I have asked them the same question several times without making me feel inferior. The staff take the time to know each and every dog and owner that comes through their door. We are currently completing basic training and Kendra is very thorough and available to help with any and all issues. Karen the groomer is wonderful, Brady loves his bath times with Karen and she takes special care of each dog. Karen has exceeded our expectations with every groom. Kirby, Jess, Shelly, Dave and Derek are always smiling and offer a warm welcome when we enter to drop Brady off. It's a family atmosphere and I know when I am working all day Brady is well cared for and having the time of his life playing. All the dogs are temp tested, separated by size and off leash at all times with no crating unless the dog needs it to relax. I can not say enough good things about Alpha Dog Center. I will never trust Brady with anyone else. We are going to be boarding Brady with them very soon and I know I can enjoy my vacation because Kendra and staff will make sure Brady enjoys his "vacation".. read more

Doesn't shock me that this place has so many awful reviews. The groomer is rude and never smiles. The owner is NEVER there! The place is an old warehouse facility that has wholes in its walls and cigarettes out in the "tiny" outside area. The staff changes all the time! I don't know about you but I want my dog with people I trust not people that come and go. Also I have researched them and spoke to people that either worked there or brought their dog there and they ended up getting parasites that all had the same common place - Alpha Dog Center. Also don't let them fool you when they say they have never had dog fights because its BULL. I can not believe this place makes a profit. I heard they send dogs home daily for stupid things like biting the walls or flooring - HELLO isn't that why you have a staff? To keep them busy and not bored! Its too bad too because the owner is really good with dogs but her people skills are just not there. And her secretary up front should really get off the phone and stop arguing with her boyfriend about what he wants for dinner and talk to the clients. I was waiting for at least five minutes before she got off the phone to find out information, and there was someone there before me picking up their dog. When she finally went to collect his dog, he looked over at me and rolled his eyes. I knew then and there this was not a place I want my dog. Beware and do some research before sending your dog here I strongly recommend it. read more

I love, love, love Alpha Dog and so does my pug Cowboy! Kendra, Karen, Kirby and the whole staff are amazing. Cowboy is my baby and I love how well he gets treated at Alpha Dog. Kendra and Karen are also so knowledgeable and helpful, they make me feel so good about everything. Cowboy recently had a bad allergic reaction in the middle of the night and I was so nervous, I had no clue what to do, I called Kendra at 2am and she not only answered, she gave me the best information to save Cowboy from being hurt. I trust her more than my Vet. The next morning Karen offered to watch Cowboy personally at Alpha Dog so I did not have to miss a day of work and worry.Kirby was there at 7am to set Cowboy up so he was comfortable and Karen kept sending me pictures throughout the day to ensure me that Cowboy was doing well and back to normal. I could not Thank the girls more!!! I highly recommend sending your dog there, the customer service, knowledge and friendly staff make it #1 on my list. Plus they save you a lot of money with not charging for their knowledge that Vets mostly make you pay big bucks for! Great Place and Great People! Cowboy and I would give it more than 5 stars if allowed! Thank you Alpha Dog for everything! read more

I have a 9+ year old Chihuahua-mini-pin mix female, Rez, who absolutely LOVES Alpha Dog...I live out in Mass, and have no problem driving the 40 minutes to get there. Even if it is just for her grooming. Karen, the groomer, always gives Rez the 5 star treatment...I had taken Rez to other places before, Petco, and other small businesses, and wasn't to happy with their treatment of her, or the prices for their services...at Alpha dog, the rates are totally reasonable and she is treated like she is one of their own...I like the largeness of the facility, especially having a small dog. If I enter the building with Rez on a leash, and other dogs are there, I like that I am not forced to carry her, but am able to stand in the openness of the room with Rez at my heels. Kendra is always so very helpful as are the rest of the staff...they ALL know what they are talking about and have total respect for the dogs.I have known Kendra for years, and she has helped me tremendously with Rez, so needless to say I was thrilled when she opened Alpha Dog...They are like family! I LOVE Alpha Dog, as does Rez, and I am constantly recommending them to everyone with a dog! read more

I have been a client of Alpha Dog Center for 7 years. I have used them for all of their services, boarding, daycare, training and grooming. Their groomer is top notch rated #2 in the state, but really is #1 in my book. My dog ruptured his cruciate a month ago and could finally get groomed. I took him Saturday to groom him and the groomer personally met me at the door and asked about his diagnosis and was generally concerned about Bailey. Their entire staff was talking to me about him. In 7 years, he has always come home tired and happy from Alpha dog daycare. I have not had ANY issues here. If you watch their videos and see the photos on face book you can see how happy and well taken care of your dog is while they are there. I wouldn't trust any one else to care for my dog. The girls here are wonderful. I am not sure why the bad reviews, but obviously they haven't been customers of this establishment for long to see how they truly handle these dogs. read more

We LOVE Alpha Dog!!! Our German Shepherd Beama has been going to Alpha Dog since she was 12 weeks old. Can't say enough good things about this place. We have done beginner training, 2 rounds of private training, and intermediate training with Stacy and Kendra and have been so happy with the results. Both ladies made time in their schedules to come do the private classes at our house and also taken the extra time to go to parks and bike path's. Beama also goes to daycare every week, and she not only gets to play with all the other well behaved dogs but they also continue her training during daycare. It's so nice to know that the staff at Alpha Dog take her training as seriously as we do. Everyone is so friendly and well trained in knowing dog behavior. We do everything for Beama through Alpha Dog (Training, Daycare, Boarding, and Food) and give everything five paws up!!! read more

This place is fantastic. I love the staff, the services, and their constant posts on Facebook. They do live feeds throughout the day where you can watch your pup playing with their friends, which is adorable! My dog always comes home exhausted after playing with her friends all day. If needed, they also board dogs overnight if your dog is in their daycare program, so that has been quite useful for those last minute trips or vacations. They also offer grooming services, so I can get my dog bathed while she is in daycare so she comes home smelling wonderful! I also have completed their training classes, which has greatly helped while on walks (no more pulling!!!). I highly recommend any service provided by Alpha Dog, I love them!!! read more

We got Duke as a rescue from Tennessee. We didn't know his background. All we knew was he was a Beagle Fox Hound mix. He needed training. We started his basic training at Alpha Dog with Kendra. They are awesome. They had so much patience with our boy and the difficult phase of learning. The crew at Alpha really care about their furry friends, and Duke loves them. The grooming services are absolutely the best. When we have Duke groomed his coat just shines. He never itches after his bath unlike another groomer we had used in the past. They really know what they are doing. Thanks for all you do Alpha Dog! You guys ROCK!!! read more

I am being generous by giving Alpha Dog in Cumberland a one star review. They truly deserve a negative star rating. The staff are careless, rude and unprofessional. They are also unwilling to work with the needs of your dog despite boasting their animal certifications. Former employees have also come forward alleging that they physically abuse dogs while in their care by kicking and hitting them. If this doesn't make a pet owner wary, I'm not sure what will. I advise and urge all conscientious pet owners to take their pets to a highly reputable dog care facility UNLIKE this one! read more

My dog Nigel has been going to Alpha Dog for about a year now. We got him as a little puppy and he has been there ever since. We did basic dog training with Kendra, who is great, and use day care about 4 times a week. This is the first dog that we have ever boarded, and Alpha Dog has taken the concerns of leaving our pup with someone else away. All the "pack leaders" are great, especially Ally and Jess. We highly recommend them to anyone in the area for training, daycare or boarding. read more

Just moved to Cumberland and was in need of a groomer. Tried Alpha and they are fantastic. They give undivided attention only to your pup so your grooming appointment usually only takes an hr or two. I liked it since I knew my sweet Maltese was not sitting in a crate for 7 hours since she is such a well behaved dog. I have tried a couple of other places in the area and going back to them!! My Bumbles always looks beautiful when they are done! 5 stars from me! read more

This is my favorite dog grooming center! They show how much they love my animal and every other that comes to them. They know all our names and what we need right off the top of their heads. They are so nice and courteous. The staff here is truly amazing. I will never go anywhere else! I can and do absolutely recommend Alpha Dog! They treat you like family! read more

Our dog goes once a weekand has the tme of his life. Staff is kind, courteous, and professional. Great indoor and outdoor play space for the dogs that is clean and sanitary. All I have to say is "puppy camp" and Jakob is bounding all over the place in anticipation of going. read more

i would NEVER bring my dog here! do not trust these people! they are horrible, rude, dishonest people! management is terrible and you can tell they are under staffed and under trained! unprofessional! you need to trust these bad reviews, i wish i did! STAY AWAY! read more

Does anyone have any information on why this place was shut down? I just heard that shut down and I have had experience with my dog being abused there. I hope they finally got sued over how they abuse the dogs here. read more

I love bringing my dog to Alpha Dog Center. He's always so happy when he arrives, his tail is wagging to the point that his whole body is shaking. Its such a wonderful place, and I'm so happy to have found it. read more

Great place. Clean, very pet friendly inside. The staff were kind with both humans and animals. I would definitely recommend them.

This business is closed for a reason.