If you have an anxious or fearful dog, I can't recommend Proactive Dog Training enough!…read moreI have a smaller dog with some pretty significant anxiety and behavioral challenges. At one point, I was even advised to consider medication--but I really wanted to explore training options first. That's when I found Javier Mendoza and his team, and I'm so glad I did. The transformation has been incredible, especially in such a short amount of time. My dog went from being afraid to walk past even a single stranger on the sidewalk... to more confidently walking through a crowded airport. The difference is honestly amazing. I've also seen a huge improvement in how he responds to other dogs and people, and his loose leash walking has gone from a struggle to something we can actually enjoy. What really stood out to me was how knowledgeable and supportive Javier and his team are. They didn't just train my dog--they took the time to explain the "why" behind everything, breaking down the science in a way that made sense and answering all of my questions along the way. Of course, I know training is an ongoing process, and I'll need to keep reinforcing what we've learned (and probably come back for a few follow-ups). But the progress we've made so far has exceeded my expectations. If you're dealing with an anxious, fearful, or reactive dog, do yourself a favor and check them out. Total game changer.

Our dog Calvin has been home from his two week stay for about a week now, and we could not be more…read morepleased! Prior to his stay at Proactive, walking him was exhausting and I'm amazed my arms were still in their sockets. He also loved to steal things and run through the dog door to the fenced back yard and either hide it (like a Christmas present he stole from under the tree until we wised up and moved them all) or just play chase (which we never won). He also would dig a lot (especially if it was wet and muddy!) and loved to make a snack of our other dog's poop. After he went through training at Proactive (we did the two week Ultimate Dog Package), he is SO well behaved. He's still his fun-loving self, but he listens and does what he is told. It only took two times correcting the poop eating and digging and he has stopped trying to do it. Walking him is an absolute joy, we've even been practicing dropping the leash in areas we feel it's safe to do so and he's been great. I HIGHLY recommend Proactive...all the trainers were great, and you can see videos daily of their progress while they're gone, as well as meet them for practice sessions. If you're at all considering dog training, just call them, you will not be disappointed!

Jeff really knows his stuff and his tips and tricks work really well. Highly recommend!read more

He's likely quite skilled but very costly. I would look around--$200 for 75 minutes seems…read moreexcessive. Maybe he has a magic wand.

Elaine is an amazing trainer who really understood our puppy Phoebe's needs. During our very first…read moremeeting she took a lot of time to gauge all of our personalities to come up with the right formula to make things work. We were amazed at just how much improvement was made in only a few weeks. She equipped us with tools to establish good leadership habits which gave us (especially me) the confidence we needed to create a beautiful bond and established boundaries. Honestly the whole process is incredible and worth every penny. Not only can Phoebe walk on a loose leash around other dogs and big distractions, but we can now take her on hikes while giving her some freedom. Pack walks! We feel well equipped to perpetuate her good behavior and know that Phoebe is a happier puppy as a result! From the bottom of our hearts....thank you Elaine!

Reached out to Elaine for help with our dog and she was rude and offered little to no help other…read morethan muzzling the dog, giving him away, or finding another trainer out of state, as she had no recommendations she could provide locally. Terrible attitude and surprised at her responses. Maybe she is a great trainer, and maybe she is right about the action to be take , but when someone reaches out for help to respond in the fashion she did is unacceptable. Good luck to those who can get on her busy schedule that is booked 6 months out.

We enrolled our dog, Winnie, in the Day Training program to help build her confidence. We brought…read moreher home at 8 weeks old and quickly realized she was a very shy puppy who became nervous whenever she encountered something new. I did my best to work with her on my own, but when I found this program, I was excited for the opportunity to get additional support. One of my favorite parts of the experience was receiving the weekly videos and report cards. Katrin took the time to explain Winnie's body language and behaviors in a way that helped me better understand what Winnie was feeling and what signs to watch for myself. I learned so much throughout the process. The progress Winnie made was amazing. On her trial day, she was so nervous that she wouldn't take treats or engage in the larger training room. By her final day, she was confidently running around, playing, and showing her silly personality in the largest room at the facility. We are incredibly proud of how far she has come and excited to continue helping her build on that success. I also want to give a special shoutout to our trainer, Katrin. She was incredibly patient with Winnie and always encouraging throughout the entire journey. I would highly recommend this program to anyone whose dog could benefit from a little confidence building.

My little pittie mix and I had such a fun time taking classes here! We recently completed the…read more7-week foundations course with Logan. I was pleasantly surprised at how much we learned in the course. I'll admit I was a little disappointed at first since the class is a lot of lecturing, however, I see why it is set up the way it is. Even with a high energy dog, the breaks between exercises were needed. I did not realize how mentally exhausting the training can be for the dogs and owners. Apollo loved the classes, but was definitely ready for a nap when we got into the car. The first class and I think the fifth(?) are primarily lecture. The instructor informs the class of this in advance so you can plan accordingly. Due to the nature of the first class, dogs are optional. After each class they send a detailed review of the class along with homework exercises. Each week has a topic and the classes are organized well. Overall, we enjoyed this class and recommend their classes to others!

The workers here are very nice, one man in particular, he may be a manager stuck out to me. He was…read morelooking for any opportunity to help someone and made sure everyone had what they needed.

We just completed our beginner's class for our miniature schnauzer pup Dexter at Petco Holly…read moreSprings with trainer Andrea Capaldo. She's amazing. Both the pup and us made great progress and we all really enjoyed the classes and Andrea's insights. She's been training pets for around 15 years and knows what's she's doing. We signed up for the second level training class and have had our first session. She keeps the classes for beginners small to minimize distraction. There were 2 pets in the beginner's class and a new student was added in this second level class. The thing that attracted us was the all positive training approach and its working perfectly on our dog.

this guy is amazing! the training he has given our German shepherd is phenomenal. The improvement…read morethat our German shepherd has made over the last couple of months is amazing. We would definitely recommend this trainer to everyone. Sam is definitely knowledgeable in the training of dogs.

From the owner: We provide a highly effective, human-canine, Transformation Process, that properly and uniquely…read moreaddresses specific needs, desired behaviors, and overall Enrichment & Fulfillment, of the lifelong Joy that Dogs bring us. We do this very Transparently and Collaboratively - with the owners involvement. We use browser based portals for VIDEO reviews, edits, narratives and "HOMEWORK" assignments, that are accessible 24/7, and add a higher level of specific pet intimacy, precise development, progress and a visible Transformation.

We sent our pit bull, Ollie, there and we are happy to report that he is now the best boy. We…read morerescued him from the shelter in 2018 and we quickly saw that we had some work to do. He pulled on the leash, barked at the door, and had bouts of aggression when he didn't get his way. I felt uneasy having guests over because I felt like I had no control over my dog. Basically, my dog owned me.. not vis versa. He did ~2 weeks of the board and train program at SMS Raleigh and even though we were nervous to send him away (it felt like forever!), we loved getting bi-weekly updates from his trainer and seeing his progress. Training Ollie will always be a work in progress but the biggest different we have seen is that HE LISTENS! Hallelujah. My friends come over and say they see a huge difference in him - he's calm, sweet, and charming. He is still a dog.. he does bark at the mailman, and sometimes pulls on the leash, but if we correct him, he is happy to obey. I also love the fact that we have free access to the group classes 2x a week and have the opportunity to continue training him. Overall, we are very happy with his progress and we are dedicated to continue training him with the SMS methods.

The training is nothing short of amazing. You and your dog will be happy with the results…read more No one was more apprehensive about going to an e-collar for my dog's training than I. Colby the owner explained it best to me when he said "It's not about punishment, it's about attention and boundaries. Dogs want to please their owners, so once you have their attention their instinct takes over and training becomes easier. The strides and response to this training are remarkable. So pleased with the results so far. I am happy and more importantly my dog is happy. We have only had 3 private whole day training sessions, and tonight we will attend our first group training. Looking forward to this as it can only help build on the foundation established in the private 3 lessons. The training is not inexpensive, however it cheaper than replacing carpet not to mention several pairs of shoes, baseboards ETC. I recommend sitting down with Colby or any of the other trainers and let them explain why this works. You won't have any regrets. Rick W

This review is well overdue. I met with Andrew to receive a…read moreconsultation for my baby one evening. Andrew was kind and welcoming. I was interested in the foundational training for my fur baby. The space was clean and well lit. I ultimately was unable to get my dog into the group classes due to his reactive behavior and couldn't sign him up for personalized training due to the lack of 1on1 availability. Andrew was nice enough to share other options with me. I do recommend the space for people who don't have reactive dogs.

Great place with multiple types of classes for your pup. We are currently taking the agility Class…read moreand it been great seeing our dog have so much fun! All the workers are super nice and helpful.

Horrible place. In a hot summer week I brought my long hair dog there and specifically told the…read morestaff that my dog cannot stay out in the sun. They assured me he will be fine and they would keep them cool. They also said I could call any time to check on him. I called once a day during the week he was there, and every time they picked up the phone they said "let me check on him", and came back and said "he is ok", asked for more details, the answer was still "he is okay". When I picked up my dog at the end of the trip, he looked not himself -- instead of cheerfully greeting me, he seemed slow and not even been able to focus on anything. When we got home, he was lying on the floor started panting. The panting got worse and he coughed very bad throughout the day. I had to take him to the vet the next day, spent $200+ dollars for the vet visit. I had no idea how he was treated during the stay at Pooch Pad but I would never ever take my baby back there!

Always kind and helpful. My pets seemed to be well treated. Unlike some other placed, my dogs were…read morenot reluctant to enter Pooch Pad. After being away for a couple of years, we're looking forward to returning to Pooch Pad for grooming, day care, and boarding!

We have had incredible experiences with Trinity for the past 6 years, first with our senior…read moreSchnoodle Everett and now with our rescue poodle Skjei! Skjei gets lots of love from all the staff, and is always happy going in and coming out, whether for an exam/procedure, daycare, or grooming. Today Dr. Killilea and Olivia were super helpful as always and made Skjei feel comfortable and happy during her exam, blood draws, etc! We've also had wonderful experiences with Dr. Romanet and all the other staff interacting with Skjei during her visits! We love having a safe and welcoming place to bring our precious girl for all her needs.

We've taken our dogs here for years, but unfortunately, we'll now be looking for a new groomer…read more Less than 24 hours before our scheduled appointment, we were told our dogs needed additional vaccinations/medications, including Bordetella within the last six months and Drontal, before they could be seen. Our dogs have current Bordetella and Lepto vaccinations and are not regularly exposed to other dogs, but we were told their current Bordetella still wasn't sufficient because it had not been administered within six months. Most concerning was having to advocate for an exception for our nearly 14-year-old Maltese, who is in heart failure, rather than unnecessarily putting her through additional treatment simply to satisfy a grooming policy. I understand businesses establishing health and safety requirements, but changing/enforcing requirements with less than 24 hours' notice--particularly when veterinary care is involved--is unreasonable. After many years as customers, we'll be seeking grooming services elsewhere.