For those who have been challenged with handling a reactive dog , you understand the mental toll it…read moretakes and how isolating and hopeless it can feel . You thought you did everything right by giving your dog so much love and socialization only to now be faced with questions and comments like " why didn't you just train your dog ?" , " you're not the alpha to your dog", " you shouldn't be a dog owner" on a regular basis. I have a 6 year old boxer ( the social , goofy clowns of the dog breeds) . I've worked with dogs in the past as a kennel attendant, and grown up with dogs my entire life and never thought I would be in this situation . I struggled to find a trainer whose techniques showed progress which lead to inconsistency, a lot of frustration and doubt . Eventually taking him places like the vet and groomer caused me such extreme anxiety. When I met Tom , my dog was unapproachable by strangers , including Tom initially. It took a month or so of meeting up , going on walks and practicing techniques at home but I was seeing improvement! Not long after Tom was able to take the leash from me and walk Gus, and we could walk near other people without Gus acting like a total maniac , lunging , barking and snapping. It was like he was a normal (ish) dog . Gus is 6 , so it will be a slow process to break him out of this behavior , but he has improved so much in the last 6 months .. I never thought I would get this far. I still have my work cut out for me but this training has also helped me increase my confidence as a dog owner and learn to trust my dog again. I'm not longer so nervous to take him out on walks because I feel like I'm in control.( Holding back an 80 pound boxer is not an easy task ) . I definitely recommend Tom if you are struggling with a similar situation. It probably has been the best thing I have ever done for Gus!

Highly recommend, they know their business and can handle highly aggressive dogs. Tom is ver…read moreinformative.

We needed a last minute sitter for our beagle pup, Banana, while we were coming to New Haven from…read moreout of town for the day. Samantha from Westville K9 Adventures was so kind and accommodating. She was very responsive and understanding of our situation. She was great at sending us text updates and pictures throughout the day, which was so comforting for me and my partner. Our pup was returned safe and happy after spending all day playing with his new furry friends at Samantha's. I would highly recommend Samantha and Westville K9 Adventures!!

Decisions, decisions, decisions. It is Abracadabra's labradoodle birthday party time. Once again,…read morewe need to find the perfect gift for the perfect dog who has a perfect life. The perfect place to shop was Petsmart. They carry a full line of dog toys, beds, collars, leashes , bowls, and even clothing and shoes. Fortunately, we found her favorite treats and some new plush squeaky toys. Since Abracadabra is one of the sweetest and happiest dogs, we are confident she will love her gifts and especially all her company!

If I could give this store zero stars, I would…read more *This is a warning to those looking to adopt a cat or dog from this store.* PetSmart was in a partnership with Halfway Home Rescue for 17 years up until recently. Halfway Home is a well noted rescue with high standards who values the care and placement of cats and dogs. PetSmart had an area where you could see adoptable cats from Halfway Home in the store. PetSmart decided that numbers of animals moved in and out of the store were more important than the well being of the actual animals. Halfway home always takes the time to make sure to check references, vet history, home environment, and makes sure each animal has the medical care they need. Halfway Home was asked to leave because PetSmart wanted cats moved every 22 days out of the store. For anyone who has ever adopted an animal, you know this is a slower process to ensure happiness for both owner and more importantly the pet. In short, PetSmart is more concerned with the all might dollar and ultimately corporate greed. I along with many others will be boycotting this store in all locations.

I cannot speak more highly of Paws 'N Effect. This crew is a talented, knowledgable bunch…read more We should have known from the beginning - as my husband and I were poised to adopt our first dog from a rescue, we emailed many trainers in the area asking for any pointers on what to do when we first met our dog. Kathy was the only person to respond to us, even calling my husband and answering his questions and giving some advice even before we signed up for classes. When we were ready to bring our dog to group training, unfortunately he did not react well to their facility. It's just one of those things you can't predict and is likely a reflection of something with his past. Fran and Stephanie were understanding and were able to make some modifications for small improvements, but they were also able to facilitate a transition from group to solo classes. Being able to work with Fran in our home has made a world of difference for our pup. She is a great support and has given us lots of tips and resources to continue this journey.

Wonderful classes and staff! Offering and assortment of lessons and resources for all!read more

We got Maggie (10 month old boxer mix) a little over a month ago, and every day seemed to be worst…read morethan the last. From leash pulling to barking, and even separation anxiety, Maggie was testing our every nerve. Michael came and showed us that it was not about dominating your dog, but leading them. Through just a few verbal and visual cues we were able to help Maggie understand that she did not have to be the leader, and that we would take care of her. Now she is happy to sit back, relax, and let us take the reins. She is an absolute gem on walks now. Knowing that we will have Michael throughout Maggie's lifetime is a relief, because we know that he will be able to guide us through any future life hurdles. Thank you, Michael!

I am thrilled with Bark Busters. I have 3 pit bulls and was having problems with my third…read moreadoption. Owen had guarding issues around the other dogs. After our first session there was great improvement. Richard used positive reinforcement and it was fun for our dog. I found it simple to incorporate the training methods into our everyday activities. It's been a few months now and and Owen no longer has issues. I used what I learned with all three dogs and it's made a huge difference in our home. No more stress, all the dogs get along nicely and play together. All three dogs pay attention and listen to me. I am so happy I found Bark Busters. I couldn't ask for a better outcome. Prior to our training, Vickie explained everything to me and answered all questions. The fees are very reasonable too. I highly recommend Bark Busters and wouldn't go anywhere else.

Gina is the best. My boy Gunner needed help learning to walk on leash without pulling me. After one…read moresession I saw great improvement. I highly recommend. He always looks forward to seeing her.

From the owner: Basic Obedience, Leash Training, Remote Training & Specializes in Aggression & Behavior…read moreModification Training

Art of k9 I can not…read moresay enough good things about Angelo and Art of K9. When we found him we were in a desperate situation. Our dog was totally out of control and having recently but our baby, we didn't know what to do. Angelo took our dog within a week and a half of contacting him and helped guide us along the way until we were able to drop him off. We committed our dog to the 8 week program, unsure of what to expect but hoping for the best. We knew this was a last resort. It's now been about 6 months since we have picked our dog up from the program and I can confidently say that it was the best decision we could have made for our family. Not only is he more controlled, he is actually a joy to be around and have around our child. He listens to commands and we find ourselves very rarely needing to correct bad behavior as it doesn't really happen. We went from having a dog who would never come when called, bark uncontrollably, destroy toys and furniture, to a dog who immediately goes to place on a cot when someone knocks on the door (without being prompted) and lets out a few alert barks and stops once i say enough. We no longer have to worry about aggression with our child. He is great about listening when we get him away from her and often will walk away from her on his own when before he would growl. Additionally Angelo has checked in to see how our dog is doing, if any issues have come up, and whenever he needs a training refresh we have been able to bring him back. We will be sending all future dogs to Angelo for training

Angelo saved our dog's life -- and I mean that in the most literal sense possible…read more Oliver is a rescue who had been surrendered by two families before us. We took him in, loved him, and still found ourselves in crisis -- biting, aggression, resource guarding. We were scared of our dog and desperate for help. Oliver was our fifth dog and as a family we were seasoned users of positive reinforcement as the primary training method. We turned to Angelo at Art of K9 and made the decision to board Oliver for 8 weeks. He took on Oliver after a thorough consultation. Angelo worked through Oliver's aggression and resource guarding using the e-collar and other training tools. These methods gave us the ability to communicate with and control our dog in a way positive reinforcement couldn't. The transformation is hard to put into words. Oliver is now relaxed, cuddly, and genuinely at peace. He still has his moments -- but now we have the tools to handle them. This has changed everything. If you have a dog with serious aggression or resource guarding and you're at your breaking point, I highly recommend Angelo. He didn't just train Oliver -- he saved his life and we are so thankful.

Woodbridge Pet Sitting is an awesome pet sitting service. Josh and Bonnie are presently watching…read moreour two Shelties and they are doing a great job taking care of our babies! We'll use them again for sure. Giving the pups food and water is one thing but spending time with them and playing with them and talking to them and caring about them is a step beyond. I recommend Woodbridge Pet Sitting to anyone in the area who is nervous about leaving their dogs to go on a trip. They do a first rate job. We had them stop in twice for an hour each visit and they stayed a minimum of an hour each time. Feeding, play and letting them do their business outside! Just awesome!

II have not used this service as I have no pets, but my review is based on the character of the…read moreowner Josh, who "rescued" my friend & I in the Woodbridge Land Trust on Wednesday. We had stopped to rest on. a bench near the waterfall and were wondering if we would be able to find our way back, since we had been on several trails. Josh came along so we asked him for directions. He started to show us an app we could use to find the general direction. When we sheepishly admitted that neither one of us had remembered our phones he immediately said I'll lead you out. We didn't want to take him out of his way, so we said just point us in the right direction. We are two older ladies, and he insisted on leading us out saying that he didn't want to be worrying about whether we made it out safely or not. Even when we saw landmarks that we remembered were close to where I parked, he woudn't leave us until I actually spotted my car. If josh showed so much care, compassion, caring and sense of responsibility to two strangers he had just met int he woods,I can't imagine that he wouldn't bring the same qualities to his business. Thank you, Josh! Debbie

I should have wrote this review closer to my pet sitting visits, but I couldn't remember my Yelp…read morepassword! Four Legged Care is a very trustworthy company! My husband and I recently moved to New Haven and needed a pet sitter for our little menagerie (five cats and a dog!) when we travel. To complicate matters even more, one of our cats is 19 y/o and on four different medications. Four Legged Care has been completely awesome! They have affordable pricing and are extremely communicative. Colleen has been our sitter and is very sweet and thorough. She follows the instructions we leave for our pets and sends us tons of adorable videos and photos. She goes above and beyond every time. Most recently, our flight was canceled coming home from a trip and within minutes of notifying Colleen, she figured out a way to accommodate our last minute, extra day request. I highly recommend this company!

Can't say enough about our dog sitter, Jill C., and the care she showed our dog during our recent…read moreweekend getaway. Showed up on time for every visit, left us detailed updates and pics each time, and gave our pup love and attention all weekend. Would definitely use Four Legged Care again!

I researched multiple different training programs and approaches to try and find the best way to…read morehelp control my overly excitable galoot of a Bernese pup, and the folks at Sit Means Sit were by far and away the most obvious choice. Everything about their instruction is focused on both the person and their dog learning TOGETHER, not simply drilling commands. The dedication of the trainers and love of their work is evident, and their success is delightfully undeniable when you meet their own dogs that come with them to work and see how beautifully behaved and happy they are. A billion stars, 1000% positive experience.

My 140lb mastiff is 1 1/2 years old and behaves everywhere we go. Took him to a cul de sac party…read morewith 12 kids on bikes, scooters and electric cars. He sat by my side the whole time without needing any behavioral corrections. When the kids wanted they came to pet and play with him. He was friendly and welcoming without getting wild on them. The trainers really do stay with you for life after getting your dog trained at their facility. The only way to train yourself and your dog!