We adopted an un-trained 4 year old Olde English Bulldogge... a stubborn breed to say the least…read more.. and he liked to hump all new people... (funny but not funny) and was dog reactive to boot!! So we started looking into trainers... Thankfully I came across Upstate Canine Academy. After a very professional consult over the phone, we felt assured that this was the right place to bring our dog. We left him at the Academy for a 3 week board and train. Missed him like crazy. He came home understanding commands, don't get me wrong, it wasn't night and day, there was still a LOT of work to be done, but the work was really for us to continue the behavior instilled by the Academy trainers. We were given clear tools to work with him when they handed over the reigns. The incredible part about this facility is that they offer support for the lifetime of the dog after the board and train. (That is how assured they are of their program). Our dog has improved a lot since his initial training, and it is nice to walk him on a leash without his going ballistic when we pass by another dog... and a relief that he no longer humps our human guests when they visit our home! The staff at Upstate Academy are great. They are all dog lovers with an exceptional understanding of dog behavior. The place is clean, and you can be assured that your dog will be safe and happy while he is in training. This is a worthwhile investment.

Beware of this daycare! We have been bringing our dog here fir the past 5 1/2 years no less than 3…read moredays/week on average. She was recently out for a month with a serious gastrointestinal infection as well as an infection on her foot which resulted in two of her toes being removed. After reaching out to have Amber return to daycare with a veterinary clearance, we received the following e-mail: Hi, We hope you guys had a wonderful weekend. We miss Amber as well and are happy to hear that her vet doesn't have any concerns. That being said, daycare can be extremely active, and messy as well during play (when pools are out, mud, etc), and we would never want Amber to get further hurt or sick in a vulnerable state. Due to her extreme and sudden onset of medical issues, we feel as a team that we can no longer provide the level of specific care Amber needs at this time. As much as we would love to continue seeing her, we feel that it would not be the best decision for her medically. I appreciate your understanding, I apologize for the inconvenience, and wish you all the best. WTF??? Is upper management now veterinarians too? Who are you to override a veterinary clearance? We thought that is why you have EVERYONE sign a waiver which releases you from liability. What we see here is ageism plain & simple - you do not want to attend to a senior dog who can walk, run & play because you have no staff and cannot be bothered oh, by the way, this is after we, as loyal clients did not sue you after our dog was severely attacked at daycare by a bully dog who had only just joined. Yes, we are loyal clients, we came back, we recommended you to others, you used our dog as a test dog for meets & greets with potential new clients! We have never been in arrears for payment, oh wait, we actually paid in advance! This is NOT how you treat clients! We will be taking our loyalty, money & sweet girl elsewhere, this is all on you, you should be ashamed as there is no reason why she cannot come back, but after the way you just treated us, never again at UCA.

Hounds on the Hudson has moved from Albany. Last year, a sustainable clothing store moved into the…read morespace. I don't wish to delete my previous review because I really did have difficulty getting a response from the business, but the owner did eventually contact me. I think it was months later. She seemed very nice. She was very apologetic. She said she never noticed my phone messages or emails. The business was having technical difficulties and she assured me the problem was an aberration. I'm happy to see that the business has a better website and is doing well enough to expand to two locations. Sending my best wishes.

The most amazing experience I have ever had working with people, outside of family and friends,…read morecaring for my dog. My 7 year-old Maltese, Frederick spent this last year being walked twice a week by several of the staff at HOTH. I receieved gracious notes, he had the opportunity to meet other dogs in the neighborhood, and I was always treated in a caring, professional, and thoughtful manner. Fred also made two stays at the Bed and Biscuit, being cared for round the clock by HOTH staff. I have NEVER boarded my dog, so leaving him with someone outside of family and close friends was a choice I made very carefully. The cost for walks and overnight stays was reasonable and something I could afford living on the very small budget of a graduate student. I always felt wonderful knowing Fred was getting some love and attention during my long days at work. I can't recommend their services enough to coworkers and friends with animals. One of the only reasons I am sad to be leaving the Albany area for a new job in St. Kitts, is not getting to work with Hounds on the Hudson!

I took Dylan's Puppy Start Right class with my first puppy Rosie and would highly recommend working…read morewith him. He is professional, very compassionate and focused on the dog's needs, and his training techniques are highly effective. Rosie is my first dog and a high-energy terrier, so I knew I was taking a lot on and I was nervous about getting things right. When I picked her up from the breeder, her first words upon my arrival were "Your puppy is an absolute terror". Uh, oh. I was worried. Dylan helped us through puppyhood from start to finish. He did an initial consultation with me before Rosie even arrived so that we were ready on day one. He always went over and above, helping us navigate the array of puppy products by putting together a recommended shopping list of beds, crates, etc. that were tried and true. I really can't speaking highly enough of the Puppy Start Right class. If you have a puppy, you should take it as early as possible. Dylan went to great lengths to bring in different props, sounds, textures, etc. to help socialize Rosie to a wide array of stimuli that it would have been difficult to expose her to otherwise. Puppy Start Right, combined with a puppy play group, has left us with a dog that is well adjusted, happy-go-lucky, and gets along with everyone, everywhere. She is excited and willing to try new things and even looks forward to hopping in the bath tub after a mudding walk. We finished the Puppy Start Right class with all the basic skills we needed for our puppy days. We had a reliable sit, recall, etc. Even more importantly, Dylan taught us how to examine our puppy's behavior and problem solve different situations. This has been invaluable in the interceding months as we continue to broaden Rosie's horizon. At six months old, we now have a dog that: walks courteously on and off leash has reliable recall will sit quietly and patiently at an outdoor cafe doesn't bark and gets along with two cat siblings at home I'm not sure where we'd be without Dylan's training, but I know that taking his class has helped to maximize our joyful journey with Rosie.

We worked with Dylan to train our 1.5 year old rescue dog, Birdie, who came to us with a variety of…read moreissues, ranging from reactivity, to leash pulling, barking, marking and anxiety. Dylan helped us choose the right package for Birdie, and showed us how to work with her in a positive way that was very hands on, and fun for all of us. His techniques have really proven to be effective when you put the time in. We've been working with Dylan's techniques for a few months now after our training has wrapped up and we are definitely seeing a major improvement in our pup, which is making our lives much easier! I would highly recommend anyone looking to get some guidance for dog training to trust Dylan's ability to work with your dog in a loving way, and explain things in a way that is very thorough but still approachable and adaptable to your lifestyle. We're very grateful for Dylan's help and will be in touch again if we need more help with Birdie or get another dog down the line!

I had high hopes for this course, despite a lot of reservations…read more I actually feel my dog has worse behaviors than before she went to the two week board and train and the original issues were not resolved at all. I liked the trainer and wanted to continue with her - as is their policy, a forever guarantee if not effective - but was essentially ghosted after 2 follow up visits. I am extremely disappointed- for the time away from my dog and the money spent. It was my own fault for falling for the gimmick, but I would.NOT recommend them.

We rescued our pup Thea from Philadelphia back in March. As a second time using Off Leash K9 we had…read moreEric train our girl. He was absolutely amazing! We received daily updates, videos and photos of our girl every day she was there for her 2 week board and train. Thea is now a finely tuned pup, who listens and obeys all commands. I cannot recommend this training facility enough. Thank you Eric!

In just a few short weeks working with Micah we have seen a huge improvement with our dog. Micah…read morehas taught us how to work with our dog, and improved our communication skills and relationship. She's very flexible with her schedule and well worth the cost

Rachel is amazing! I couldn't believe how quickly my dogs responded to her training. With her…read morecoaching, I was able to enforce the training and rules in my home so that my pups responded and listened to my commands. Now our dogs are calm and listen when the doorbell rings, and wait for guests to arrive rather than charging and barking at the door. She also showed me how to loose leash walk my two dogs, which makes our long walks a lot less chaotic. So happy we were able to work with her!

James is incredible. We sent our 7 month puppy to James for four weeks last year. We were, and…read morecontinue to be, so happy that we did. She did not have any problems (and continues to be a wonderful dog and that's probably because we sent her to James). She had basic commands down. After James, she became excellent at multiple commands. She would sit at her bowl for hours if you don't release her (by verbal command). You can leave her with steak in the next room and won't eat it if you don't release her. You get the picture - James knows what he is doing and will set you, and your pup, up for success. He was very thorough in explaining what to expect and how to continue her training at home. We could not be happier. Our pup is also happy, and she loved James. When we brought her back for boarding a couple nights she couldn't wait to hang out with James. We had to save up to send her, and it was worth every penny. We would do it again. Highly, highly recommend. For any pup!

We got a deaf Miniature Bull Terrier @ 13 weeks old that after 6 months, seemed hopless to train,…read morejust basic commands. As a last ditch effort we called James @ Empire K-9 2.5 hrs away from our home. After 5 weeks of training with Ross he was transformed into the best dog we have seen anywhere. James spent a whole day with myself and my whole family to train us on how to handle and communicate with our new family member. Here we are over a year later and if we call James with a question he is quick to respond back with a helpfull answer. When we need to board Ross we drive him down to James @ Empire K9 2.5 hours away because he is the only one we trust with our Ross. Thank you James for this gift of being able to communicate with our deaf dog, you have no idea how much joy this little Miniature Bull Terrier bring to our family now.

My dog Harry and I learned a lot during Basic Manners training. Shannon is an excellent trainer who…read moreis very tuned in to what the dogs need to succeed.

Shannon is not only a great dog trainer, she is amazingly tactful and patient with the real…read morestudents, the owners. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a reward-based training program.

my visit was great. Anastasia was helpful and patient. she made me feel valued. good selection too.read more

Store Manager Zac at the Wolf Road branch was outstandingly helpful. I've been shopping here for…read moreyears and the service is always to notch. Their "Welcome Adoption Bundle" program is outstanding.

Kaila the groomer at Healthy Pets of Delmar is AMAZING!!! She treats each dog like her own! My dog…read moreplays freely without a cage while waiting her turn. Kaila is quick and grooms my dog within the hour (unlike the big boxed chains). Our poodle-mix has gotten matts before but Kaila has taken care of them, no problem. I highly recommend Kaila!!

Finally made it here before closing hour. I have to say, I loved my experience there. There were…read morecats hanging out throughout the store, and dogs in the back barking hello. There's an adoption center and I believe they do grooming and possibly training classes(?). I went to buy dog food, and they had a GREAT selection at really decent prices. Locally-produced foods from anywhere ranging from New York State to Michigan, not China. Prices were very fair, employees were nice and super helpful, and their "if your pet doesn't like it, return it for a full refund" made me feel very comfortable trying a new brand. My dog loves the new food, too, so it's unlikely I'll switch back. I highly recommend this store. They're only open until 6pm most days, so make sure to get there earlier than later. Worth the trip.

Our dog is a brat. He's an elitist. He's a loner. He's also adorably neurotic, paranoid, and…read moreskittish. Though his name is Watson, he's a lot more like Sherlock. Naturally, my husband and I are to blame for his behavioral indiscretions, and coke habit. It all started when we let him sit at the dining table with us--for the record, he's always eaten from his dog bowl on the floor, and we never shared our food with him. It's really not that ridiculous; it's not like we let him sleep in our bed. At any rate, a post-breakfast sobre-mesa was immortalized in my yelp photo. But when he snapped at his best dog friend, we realized that maybe his haughtiness was getting out of hand. It seemed that other dogs were a painful reminder that he too did not have opposable thumbs. You hate those who are most similar to you. A couple years earlier we had taken a group obedience class with Sharon at K9s Only. She was great with Watson and all the other dogs. She understands the psychology of dogs and humans, and yeah, we're basically the same. Not to mention she runs a rescue/adoption and therapy dog program, so she's an all-around good person. When I saw she had her own business I was excited to enlist her help for dear Watson. Her free consultation was an eye-opening lesson in itself. She acknowledged that Watson had down the basic obedience, but that our boundaries were a little murky. I was comfortable moving forward with the four private lessons she suggested. After the consultation, she emailed me a detailed synopsis of our meeting, our concerns, and what we need to do to ensure that Watson is happy and comfortable when face to face with other dogs. She gave us several exercises to practice (after every lesson she'd do this so you don't have to worry about taking notes during the session). Probably the most essential thing we learned was that he should work for our affection. It's all about making sure he knows we're in charge and that he actually listens to us because when he does good things happen. That will also make him feel safe and protected, not like he has to protect us. One suggestion that helped immensely was telling him to go to his bed. Whenever we cooked, Watson would stand beside us waiting for that bruised piece of bell pepper, carrot or apple, sometimes a nice piece of gouda or goat cheese, a crumble of tuna. He always sat and waited for it, so we thought he was minding his manners, and deserved the treat. But now, whenever he's in the kitchen or any time he's a little too close for comfort (licking my legs), we tell him, "go to your bed." These four words have become our "Nam myoho renge kyo." Watson will now chill out and wait for us to give him a snack or love or whatever it is he wants--usually food related. Friends and family have noticed a huge difference in Watson. He's calmer and definitely listens to us more, and when we say leave it, for the most part, he does--dogs included. We have Sharon to thank for that. Watson is still very Sherlockian, he's just more controlled, and happier as a result.

Hi! My name is May, I recently moved to the States last September and in this trip I have brought…read moremy two Thai-Lab mixed dogs with me. I adopted them when they are 4 months old and notice that they do scare of people as well as some other dogs. They are really protective of the house and no one can come close to our gate, except our family members and a number of friend. Interestingly, when they are outside, they are very scared and hardly want to take a walk. Though I tried to train them by myself and took them to obedient classes in Thailand, it didn't work. I think the problem is I do not know for sure what the problems are, nor hoe to solve them correctly. In addition, I was coming to live with my boyfriend who also has a dog. After I got here we started to look for a dog trainer, finally, our employee met a client of Sharon, and said we should call and consult with her. The impression has started right at the first call, a lady who really listen to your problems and is willing to do the first free consultation at home. I remembered the very first day when she met Mocha and Latte, she asked us to let the dogs out to see her. My two dogs were trying to charge at her and jumped up and down. Sharon, explain their reaction and ways to improve them and what are our expectations. The way she works, is not teaching your dog, rather giving you the knowledge and let you do the work itself. Of course, I am their owner, I have to control them. I find this very beneficial, because I am not only be able to help my own dogs, but suggest it to friends. In every session, Sharon would start by asking for the things happened during the week and she would take down notes and explaining why did it happen and how to solve. Right after the class, you get an email of all the how-to-do lists that you have just discussed plus the new exercise for them. After 4th session, my dogs behave themselves better and they stop barking at Sharon plus they get along with my boyfriend's dog. Towards the end of the 8th session, I can tell them not to eat anything I drop on the floor or treats that I do not allow them. I mean, my dogs have been giving lots of problem and Sharon did helped us get through and make them better dogs. Not to mention the crate resistant that one of my dog had, he would literally have us wait for an hour dragging in, pushing in, tricking him inside. Sharon was devoting her time waiting and fixing him. Believe it or not, today I can have him in the crate just in a matter of second! There are a lot more to talk of what my dogs have been improved after training with Sharon. We are still in the training program which now focusing on taking them to the outside world. We are glad, we have met Sharon. She is a very nice, sweet and patient person and on top of that a PROFESSIONAL. I do believe that she has a right potential to train any dogs, after experiencing it myself. Our little brats are doing better day by day and we are soon to reach our goal. I do recommend the service of Holistic Dog Expert.