The Good Hound has been a wonderful experience for us and for our dog for the last 5 years. When he…read morewas a puppy, they trained him to walk off leash and come when called. Now he is so excited when they arrive to take him on his trail walk. Year round, he gets to hike in fun parks with his "friends" and his beloved Good Hound team members. They respond quickly to questions, often share photos of the walk that are really cute, and also, their staff members have boarded our dog in their homes when we travel- for us, a much better option than sending him to a kennel.

The Good Hound has been the perfect dog walking service since I started using them a few years…read moreback. They take excellent care of my dog, and when she's out on her hikes with the Good Hound pack I am free of all anxiety. Great people, great service, good hounds!

If you're a DINKWAD (double income, no kids, and a dog) millennial, crazy dog parent like I am,…read morethis is the only review you need to read. As an overly protective (psychotic) dog parent, I really did a lot of homework before enrolling our (at the time) 5 month old Bernedoodle Cooper in day school. I read a lot of positive reviews and few that were concerning to me. I requested a call with one of the owners to give them a chance to speak to the negative reviews before I made a decision. Hannalore answered all of my questions (primarily regarding "disliking doodles" and use of tools) and I felt very comfortable with her responses. Following that conversation we enrolled Cooper in day school and immediately saw improvement in his attention span, ability to understand commands, and leash manners. The staff was always super friendly, sent report cards with photos and videos, and always offered me advice and info on what he worked on. I was (and still am) over the moon with how much my little guy enjoys his time there. To be fully transparent, like any good relationship, we did hit a snag. A tool was used on Cooper that I did not consent to and like the Papa Bear I am, I was furious. I requested to speak with the owner who used the tool (Corey), and I expressed my displeasure. Now, I'm not an experienced dog trainer, so I don't think I know more than these amazing professionals, I do however believe in consent. When I spoke with Corey, I told him that a tool should never be used on a dog without consent from the owner and if Cooper was to come back, I would need to see a change in their policy to ensure that consent would ALWAYS be given before a tool was used. Corey completely understood and (as a small business) was open to suggestions for improvement - no excuses, no backpedaling, and full accountability. With that response, and the implementation of consent for tools, I was completely satisfied sending Cooper back to day school. It's now been over a month since that snag and I can confidently say I am beyond thrilled with how this was handled and the care and training my Coop is receiving at BFTD. Mistakes happen, but the fact that this amazing place was honest and open to a change in their policies is something that really sets BFTD apart from other places. I can 100% say if you're crazy like me, stop your search - you've found the place for your pup. All of the staff are amazing, but I would like to give a special shout-out to Becka and Thaloa who go above and beyond the call of duty and send me videos and VERY detailed report cards so I can continue the work at home. I can officially say my 7 month old pup is better behaved, knows more commands, and has better social skills than most dogs twice his age. I'm writing this review because finding a place to trust with your fur baby is scary, and you never know what you're going to get. But BFTD has done an amazing job with Cooper and I hope my experiences make you feel comfortable with them being a part of your fur baby's life too!

I'd advise against this organization. I attempted to work with them awhile back and was put off by…read morethe rude, arrogant owner of the place I also did further research on the owner and my gut instinct was right. My interaction with the owner after discussing my dog's needs was such a negative experience that I was surprised she was actually in this business. I guess being kind is not a requirement to "train" dogs.

Some people have a calling in life and Vera is one of these people that has answered that call…read more She is truly a dog lover and I cannot say enough great things about her & our experience with her. I found Vera through a 6 week puppy training class being held at a local doggie daycare facility. Having had a bad experience with a 'stern' trainer with my first bulldog, I was admittedly a little leery, but that feeling was immediately put at ease as soon as I met her. Though there were 5 other dogs in the class Vera not only taught us as a group, but spent time with everyone individually working on whatever specific needs our dog had. She really tuned into each owner and their interaction with their dog. I also liked that she gave the dogs time to socialize with one another, which was great for my dog as she didn't have much exposure to other dogs at the time. After the course was over, Stella had a great grasp of the basics, but we were having a few issues unrelated to basic obedience at home. We contacted Vera and she immediately worked with us to find a time that accommodated our hectic schedules. We did 3 in home training sessions, and saw a difference after the very first one. She makes you see stuff through their eyes and points out things that you would normally overlook that really help the dog to learn. She gives you all these little pointers and tricks that make all the difference. Every aspect of her training is completely positivity based, which is huge to me as I consider my dog a member of our family. I would highly recommend Vera to anyone who is looking for a trainer. She truly cares about the well being of your dog and it's very important position in your family.

RED FLAG The owner…read moredouble booked me, postponed my consultation for potential business, and did not call me on the time we agreed upon because she was upset that I corrected her when she spelled my name wrong. How do you run a business like that. Unorganized, inattentive to detail, and rude.

Sam is a great trainer. During our puppy Benji's first year, she spent many hours with him and with…read moreus. Sam's training included visits just with Benji alone, visits with Benji and with us, as well as many trips to various places to ensure that Benji is comfortable in many different settings. Sam is patient, consistent, and her instructions are very clear. Under Sam's guidance, Benji learned many commands and we learned how to continue training him. I recommend Sam very highly!

We have engaged Sam and Bear Necessities since adopting our rescue dog, Lily, last spring. Being a…read morerescue from a puppy mill, Lily needed special, intense care just to learn the basics of being a family dog, like climbing stairs and responding to commands. We subsequently learned Lily also has a seizure disorder requiring special care. Sam has helped us immensely through all these challenges with professionalism, compassion and most of all a deep understanding of what training and caring for a dog is all about. We cannot say enough good things or give enough praise for Sam's work with Lily, and we recommend her to anyone who is looking for the best possible care for their dog.

Love love love this group! Their open mindedness and flexibility and so refreshing! They really…read moretake every dog's individual experience into consideration along with their unique goals and barriers to learning. I have a young male pittie with a very strong personality and I 110% trust them with my baby. Life was frustrating and at times bleak before Paws on Dirt came into our lives! I would recommend them to anyone, especially a dog that needs gentle structure, expectations and socialization/playtime!

Excellent dog caregivers!! My dog loves Kay and Greg and they are truly so loving and caring with…read morethe dogs they care for. They are flexible and kind and has made my and my dogs life so much easier and better!!

Jay is fantastic at what he does! He took our 6 month old Belgian Malinos puppy through a 2 week…read moreintensive course and the outcomes are amazing. He took our foundations and fine tuned them while adding functional training that we can continue on our own. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a hands on dog trainer.

I'm not yet a customer but have visited the facility and observed training and how they worked with…read moredogs. Award winning business and appear passionate about animals. From their website: In Latin, the gladio is the sword. It was the sword that protected Caesar and defended Rome, and like the sword, the canine has also historically been by man's side not only as his companion but as his protector. Our history with domesticated dogs dates back at least 14,000 years, and to this day dogs have become an integral part of our day to day lives throughout society. Whether it is the family Shih Tzu curled up on our lap, the mixed breed rescue dog that goes on jogs with us, or the K9 unit German Shepherd sniffing out IEDs, our lives as we know them would be vastly different without man's best friend by our side. Owner and trainer Gerald Famiglietti has had a love and passion for dogs his entire life. After graduating with a bachelors degree in International Relations with an intense interest in security and foreign policy, he shifted his focus to one of the indispensable aspects of the day to day security that we take for granted- the role played by our four legged friends who protect our men and women in uniform and sniff out threats in the form of explosives, firearms, and narcotics. After receiving the dog trainer's certification by Animal Behavior College, he spent additional time learning to train police K9s and personal protection dogs at Tarheel Canine in Sanford, North Carolina

I'm so excited to be the first one to review Walkin' N Waggin'…read more I was introduced to Garrett through my brother and sister-in-law, who use him as a dog-walker over in Newton. I was in a crunch and needed someone to look after my cats. As we all know, our pets are like our children, and I couldn't have just anyone take on this important responsibility. But, since Garrett came highly recommended from a reliable source, I hired him sight-unseen and have been absolutely thrilled with the results. I can't speak personally for Garrett's dog skills, though I know that my dog-niece Emmy adores him, and she's a timid girl. For cats, there are a few important things that I wanted in particular with a pet-sitter. I wanted someone who would not only feed them and change the litter box, but also woud would pet them and play with them for a while. I wanted someone who would take pictures and send them to me every day to show me that all was well. I wanted someone who was at my beck and call, in case I was worried or suddenly needed someone to go over in case I needed to stay an extra day. I wanted someone who loved animals and someone who was loved by animals. Finally, I wanted someone I could trust to enter my home and keep watch while I was away. Garrett does all of these things. He never failed to text me back almost immediately when I reached out to him. He went so far as to schedule his trips to my house at a time when, if necessary, he could bring a kitty to the vet. He took pictures and sent them to me of the kitties happy and chasing their laser. On top of all of this, he brought in my mail, watered my house plants, and kept an eye on things. Garrett is a pleasure to work with, affordable and trustworthy. He is a gem and I'm so glad to have found him. I'd recommend him for any pet job.

When we adopted Noah in August 2012, we were told he was pretty shy. This turned out to be a bit of…read morean understatement. Although he is a sweet, loving, and gentle dog, Noah can be quite fearful of people, other dogs, and loud noises. He was, and still is, a work in progress. My husband and I both work during the day, so we needed a dog walker we could trust and who could handle our specific situation. When we met Garrett, we knew right away he was the one. Not only was he highly accommodating and professional, but he also showed clear understanding and appreciation for Noah's special needs. When we added Molly to our family a year later, he welcomed her eagerly and seamlessly. Garrett is the perfect combination of professionalism, reliability, and kindness. Whether for walks, daycare, or overnight boarding, he is always there when we need him. And from the notes he leaves and the photos he sends, it is clear he is genuinely committed to providing an active, healthy, and loving experience for his entire "pawsie!"

I very much appreciate you taking the time to respond but unfortunately you're comments (in my…read moreopinion) further prove my theory that you cater to your existing clients and are in no way willing to attract new clients that may have the potential to be long term, which is exactly my situation. Your assistant said quote we do NOT do dog walks at the weekend, there is not really any other way to take that and leaves a very bad first impression with even the most understanding person. I was very fortunate to find another provider and have been extremely happy with their services and I wish Four Paws "Dog Walking" the best of luck during the week. I would just like to note AGAIN that my rating was not based on there actual service because I was never able to take advantage of it, for all I know they may do a good job, I'll never know. You only get one first impression, make it good.

As a new, nervous, working momma to a puppy, I was eager to secure reliable care. We interviewed a…read moreparade of dog walkers before selecting Four Paws. Everyone had a whiz bang website, references, and a passion for dogs. But what set Al and his business apart from the rest is his responsiveness which puts a nervous momma at ease (I am sure he deals with many neurotic dog owners). Never does more than 24 hours pass without a response to an email that is sent to Al. Also, Al has a team of walkers so in the unlikely event that your walker gets sick, takes time off, gets abducted by aliens, a back up walker could swoop in and save the doggy day! Also, his walker Patrick has a way of putting nervous momma's at ease too. He seems to know just what to say and just what note to write following his visit with your pup. Also? Unlike another walker we met, Patrick has presence. Your dog won't pull a fast one on this guy nor will any hooligans who may prowl your streets (hey - I live in Framingham).