Our family highly recommends Controlled K9! We adopted our boy Mortimer last year after he had been…read moreliving as a stray, and we were really struggling when he came home with basic manners, reactivity, and having him settle in with our other dog. We ended up sending both of our boys for a six-week board and train with Kelia. It seemed to only make sense to send both dogs so they would have the same baseline training. Kelia was amazing! She kept us informed just about every day with videos and texts so we could see that the boys were happy and making progress. When Kelia brought the boys home, she spent a few hours with us, showing all the commands and techniques that she taught them, so we had a seamless transition. The "place" command alone has been lifechanging. (Although as you can see in the picture, they sometimes refuse to use separate mats, LOL.) We use the command before we feed them, initially when guests come by, and when we just need them to settle down a bit. It has reduced the stress and chaos in our house tenfold, and we actually can see the boys relax when they know they have a place to go and chill out. Kelia also gave us the tools to make leash walking and general obedience so much more successful. There are a lot of options out there for training. What set Controlled K9 apart for us was (1) our boys lived with Kelia, her family, and her dogs during training - they were not staying in a kennel and were in a real-life, loving environment, and (2) the promise of lifetime, free follow-up support. The boys have been home now for about 3 months. The training has stuck, and we feel like we really have the tools we need to make life pleasant for all of us, including the boys. Kelia has also proactively checked in to make sure things are going well, provided tips on the best way to reinforce training, and has responded quickly when we have follow-up questions, including offering a visit. Over three months later, we are still completely satisfied with the training and support provided by Controlled K9 and Kelia, and we would use them again in a heartbeat.

We have been raising a Great Pyrenees mix puppy (who rather looks like a Border Collie) since she…read morewas 9 weeks old. She is (too) smart, friendly, playful, easy to teach but very stubborn. And this last personality trait caused several issues. She grew used to the freedom of a large property and was very resistant to being on a leash. Pulling and too excited to walk nicely. She loves playing with our 7-year-old but was too rough, jumping and nipping. She had an electric fence collar that she respected when she wanted to, and would recall when she felt like it. Our home training was ineffective as she grew older and as she started to develop new bad habits, we were looking for training options. Finding Controlled K9 for Board and Train was the best scenario as we had an upcoming month-long family trip planned. Lexie was so confident with her from the first moment that we didn't question that we were leaving her in the best hands. We regularly received pictures and videos showing her progress and we could see how our puppy was doing. It was unbelievable. After 4 weeks we got back an almost different dog. At first we were concerned that she might have lost her puppy spirit, but she returned to her cute silliness and endless affection very quickly. Meanwhile she had learned great manners. Walks on the leash without pulling. Stops when we stop. She stays at the property line and waits until we return. Runs with our child without jumping. She recalls reliably despite distractions. And no longer chases the cats. And a bonus, we can now even take her out in public easily. She calmly stays next to our table without bothering other people or dogs. She learned Respect. And while not perfectly, we have been able to maintain the learning. Thank you Lexie! And thank you Controlled K9!

Brandi and Perry did an awesome job training our 10-month-old mini bernedoodle. She is a pleasure…read moreto be around now. The e-collar training is absolutely life-changing. I wish I had done this sooner- it would have saved me from a lot of stress and aggravation. Communication with Brandi was awesome. She was always quick to respond and gave us updates with pictures everyday. It's definitely a worthwhile investment to have an exceptional companion for the next 15+ years!

I can't say enough good things about Brandi and Perry Bailey of RSK9. Their work has given my pup…read moreand I so much freedom and balance. Pebbles (blue heeler, 1.5 years old) would never listen to me, would not sit or lay still, and had a lot of other obedience issues that caused her to be stressed or confused. She was a TOUGH dog to train and I was concerned I couldn't find the solution for her to get basic concepts. This view has completely changed since working with RSK9's 3 week program. I would HIGHLY recommend them and their methods - you can tell they genuinely love working with dogs and it's made a huge difference in giving my dog the chance to find real rest at home. They send DAILY updates with photos and videos which was so nice. This isn't a regular class or something you just pay for; it's truly an investment that you and your dog will be using for the time you get to share together. Side note: it's worth doing 3 weeks versus 2 weeks. At the 2 week mark is when Pebbles really started to understand her marks and cues. From here there is so much more that can be refined and Brandi/Perry really capitalize on that threshold being crossed!

Kevin can teach you how to train your dog to be the perfect companion. We took Dog Obedience 1…read more(offered through Arlington County Parks & Recreation) when we adopted our first dog 10 years ago. Many adopted dogs later, we realized that we had gotten a little lazy. We took the same class this Fall with our two newly adopted dogs and we learned a lot and were able to teach basic commands and modify behavior in our 2 rescues. Kevin can help you with barking and other behaviors that you would like to change in your dog. He watches and corrects you if you are ding something not quite right to improve your dog training skills. Right away he read that both our dogs watch me, so wee need to be together in small group work and he'll watch and follow and let you know when you need to do X. We had a great experience and our dogs are so much better behaved.

My dog has done well so far, I saw a difference in walking on the leash after the first class. Good…read moretrainer, very helpful and willing to help with any issues or dog behaviors.

I adopted my approximately 6 year old Lab mix ("Fletch") in early November 2021 and he soon began…read moredisplaying some behaviors that concerned me. I knew that he was really smart and sweet but didn't understand the root of the behaviors and where to begin with training. I was impressed with the many positive reviews of Jeanie with Bark Busters VA Beltway and after an introductory call with her I knew she was the right fit for Fletch and me. Fletch responded to the techniques and exercises shown to me by Jeanie immediately and by the end of the first session he was like a different dog. He was listening and respecting me in a way that he had not previously. Jeanie gave me several exercises to practice with Fletch in between our first and second session and he has continued to make progress every day. Subsequent sessions have built out further training goals such as loose leash walking, ignoring other dogs/critters/people while out on a walk, and being respectful and calm when guests are over my house. Her positive approach to training, experience in working with a range of different behaviors, and clear love for the dogs she works with has really made a difference for Fletch and me. Highly recommended!!

I am amazed at the level of success my dogs achieved after one session with Mark. The techniques…read moreare based on tone and posture as opposed to harsh techniques or treats. Mark simply breaks down the behavior and how to speak dog so your pup understands what you want from him. It's amazing how responsive dogs are when they have clear direction from the pack leader. I highly recommend Bark Busters. They guarantee their training for the life of the pet. You've got nothing to lose and a lifetime of joy with a well behaved dog to gain.

For some background, Mamba was my first ever dog I got, who was a puppy. He was originally a rescue…read morebefore being fostered before I adopted him. He had very fearful characteristics at first, "grring" and barking at new comers in the home, aggressively barking and lunging at people on walks. I had taken him to Petco for individual sessions only for my pup to get kicked out and get recommended to a "behaviorist" for his behavior. I was looking around and found Keri, and right after the consultation session I knew she was the right fit for Mamba. Mamba has gotten much better around dogs and and other people, and not only that, now I understand his behaviors and what to do in specific situations, She not only trains the dogs, but also emphasizes training the handler (me). After the 6 sessions (I am actually only 5 sessions in) -- I can confidently take Mamba around other people in crowded areas knowing in advance how he will react. Keri is not a trainer, she is a coach and I swear also a dog whisperer. She is very flexible when scheduling and even brought me homemade cookies when my dad passed away. I would 100% recommend Unleashed Abilities and Keri for anyone who genuinely wants to train their dog.

I highly recommend Unleashed Abilities for dog training. My husband and I have always had pets but…read morenever sought expert training advice. We decided to go for it with our rescue dog Mabel and we are so happy we did! From the minute we met Keri, we knew it was going to be an excellent experience. Mabel loved her instantly and we started learning immediately, no exaggeration. Keri is fantastic at providing clear, achievable goals and things to work on between lessons. I am confident that Unleashed Abilities can make a world of difference for dogs with any training needs, big or small. Life is so fun with a happy, well-balanced dog!

I recently brought my dog, Fred, to FurgetMeNot for an evaluation and a half-day of daycare, and I…read morewant to share my experience to help other pet parents make informed decisions. The evaluation fee was $25 (nonrefundable after online registration), and while the staff member who conducted it was polite, I left with the impression that she didn't particularly enjoy working with dogs. Fred is a very social, playful, and well-adjusted dog--he has attended daycare regularly since 4 months, plays comfortably with dogs of all sizes and ages, and has never been described as anxious. Despite that, I was told during the evaluation that he seemed nervous, though he was ultimately "cleared" for daycare. For his first half-day (about $36), I was told again that he was nervous and might only be suited for weekends. This didn't match the written "report card," which described him as social, well-behaved, and playing well with others. When I asked for clarification, the explanation shifted back to him being "anxious." Given Fred's long history of thriving in daycare environments, this inconsistency raised red flags. What concerns me most is not the evaluation itself, but the communication and transparency. Before the evaluation, I called to confirm whether there was weekday availability (since that's when I need care). I made it clear that if there wasn't space, I didn't want to waste time or money. Unfortunately, no one followed up, and after investing both time and nearly $60, I was told that Fred should only come on weekends. I was being "encouraged" to bring Fred only on weekends--something that doesn't meet my needs, but still generates revenue for the business. The manager would not speak to me when I came to pick up my dog and did not follow up with a phone call (I shouldn't be surprised no one ever returned a live call or voicemail before my visit....I should have stayed away). The facility itself is small, with play areas that appeared quite limited (approximately 10-15 feet across, divided into small sections with several dogs in each). While that setup may work well for some pets, it isn't what I would call spacious or enriching. It was very clean. That is the one bright spot. In short, I wish FurgetMeNot had simply been upfront about their capacity constraints. I can respect a business being full; what I can't respect is unclear communication and the suggestion that my dog's behavior was the issue when the real problem seemed to be limited weekday availability. Pet parents: if you are looking for consistent weekday daycare, I would recommend asking very directly about space before investing in their evaluation process. I personally won't be returning, as I value honesty and clear communication in any service that involves my dog. I wasted 2 days and $60 dollars on this place. Don't get scammed like me.

Yeah, it's a no for me, dawg…read more I took my dog to Fur-Get Me Not on Monday, December 9 at 3:15 PM for a daycare evaluation. Upon entry, I wasn't greeted particularly warmly by the front desk staff, but they did direct me to the person who would be completing my dog's evaluation. As the staff member, Christopher, who was actually completing my dog's evaluation was friendly and inviting, I did not think too much about the front desk staff. The evaluation cost $25 and it took about 20 minutes. Christopher took my dog to the back and had her meet other dogs and staff members. When the evaluation was over, he informed me that she had passed and answered most of my questions. I asked him what the pricing was for daycare, because it was not listed on the FAQ page that he provided me. He told me he didn't know, but that the front desk staff would be able to answer my question. After wrapping up to the evaluation, I walked over to the front desk to inquire about pricing for daycare. Keep in mind that while this is a full-service dog care facility, it seems that the main service-- or at least one of the most popular services-- that this facility provides is dog daycare. I asked the woman sitting at the desk about pricing. She told me something along the lines of, "we don't have the pricing listed on the brochure, but it is online." I then asked if she could just tell me the pricing. (I'm literally standing at the front desk at this point where they are supposed to answer questions about their services-- wouldn't you just tell me the price instead of directing me to go look it up for myself?!) She then responds "for what?!" with an unmistakable air of annoyance. Now, I would expect a front desk staff member to say something like, "sure, for which service?" The way she phrased her question seems like I was bothering her. I responded "for daycare" and then, she said "well let me just pull up the website and look..." The entire interaction was odd, like she was doing me a favor by providing pertinent info about the business at which she works. Also, why there isn't signage with the pricing for daycare at the front desk, who knows? I do know one thing though: if you act like I'm bothering you by asking you to do things within the scope of your job, I won't bother to spend my coins.

A really great trainer!…read more Maria has given us some real great training tips and our puppy has really responded to them. Maria gave us some great advice for crate training before we even had our 1st session and they really solved our Pup's potty training issues! I highly recommend her!

We adopted a rescue pup last year and wanted to start training before she got too big for us - she…read moreis part shepherd, part fluff and a tad crazy. We heard about Maria from a neighbor whose son worked with her on their super-obedient Rottweiler. Maria is a wonderful trainer of people, as well as dogs. She taught us how to get the most out of our exuberant new dog, getting her to focus, listen and know where she stands in the family hierarchy. She also had valuable tips for smaller and older dog, a shy, scared soul. Both dogs adore her. Maria is also a wonderful person, always willing to talk by phone and make time when you need her. My sister also consulted with her for her shitzu-bichon mix. We can't say enough good things about her. Highly recommend for any type of dog - and person.

We adopted our good boy Buddie from a shelter in December. A sweet boy, but years in a shelter…read more(five!) has made him somewhat a sensitive pup prone to barking to loud noises and strangers approaching. Passing cars on walks yielded barking and lunging, doorbells ringing, more barking. We tried some "do-it-yourself" online things with zero success, and realized actual one-on-one training was the only option. Enter Tommy from Bark-Busters. His initial three-hour in-home training course was amazingly effective, so much so the change in Buddie was almost night and day to us. Upon meeting Buddie for the first time, Tommy immediately knew the kind of sensitive dog Buddie was and tailored his training to suit. His techniques were easy to understand and master and can be practiced anytime we're with Buddie. No more barking when the doorbell rings, or when a car passes, or a stranger approaches. Buddie's a lot calmer now which is more in keeping with his overall sweet nature. Highest recommendation!

When I first reached out to Tommy, I was in a pretty dark place with my 3-year-old English Bulldog…read more His behavior had taken a serious turn--aggression, constant overstimulation, and a total breakdown in how we communicated. I was heartbroken and honestly starting to feel like I'd failed him. What Tommy brought into our home was a complete shift in perspective. He didn't just train the dogs--he taught us how to create structure, set clear expectations, and restore calm. After just the first session, our house felt noticeably different. The tension was gone, the barking and toy-fighting stopped, and even our older dogs--who had been keeping their distance--seemed relieved. What really makes Tommy stand out is the continued support. He's incredibly responsive, provides real tools and a step-by-step plan, and genuinely checks in on your progress. The Lifetime Guarantee is a huge comfort--knowing we have ongoing access to help if new issues arise takes so much pressure off. We're still working through things, but the difference already feels like night and day. I can't recommend Tommy highly enough--he gave us back peace and hope.