I cannot recommend Zen Dog Training enough! We took the puppy class led by Gordon. It's truly…read moreamazing all of the content that he can fit into six sessions, and we loved that the five to ten minutes of "play time" at the beginning and end of the class gave our puppy a chance to meet other dogs and learn how to play nicely. (Side note: we always felt so safe during this time as Gordon is great at keeping an eye on pups and recognizing signs of play getting too rough). Our puppy, Puck, learned a variety of commands throughout his six weeks in the class: sit, down, stand, stay, his own name, leave it, "let's go" to get moving on walks, and "heel" to stay by our side on walks. He also learned many behavior corrections. Puck literally stopped play biting in 2 days after using Gordon's "out of the pack" technique (that alone made the class worth it to us), and Gordon's "leash step" tactic is already working on curbing his jumping on new people. Most importantly for us, WE learned so much as dog owners! Gordon taught us about puppy socialization, how to help our dog build confidence, which training tools we should have, and how to make sure we are recognizing and responding to any signs of him becoming a "fearful" dog. The experience with Gordon was truly invaluable and I think we would be lost as new puppy owners if we hadn't done this class. We were on the fence about paying for a puppy class and thought maybe we could find all of our resources on Google and using podcasts alone. Folks, I am here to say that you should not try to take dog training into your own hands. You truly get what you pay for -- this class is so worth it, and Gordon is a true professional. We have zero regrets about our decision to attend! One thing to keep in mind with this class (and probably any good puppy class) is that you do have to put in work outside of the class. Gordon really stressed this and made sure we all understood what our "homework" was for the week, and had access to training materials that we could review in between classes. I think if you are looking for a perfect solution where the trainer will train your dog for you, then this might not be the class for you -- but if you are looking to learn how to train your dog, and are invested in making sure you work in training sessions every day for the 6 week duration, then you truly couldn't find a better place than Zen Dog! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Thank you Gordon for all of your work with Puck - we will miss the Tuesday class :) --Mary & Brandon

Gordon was great at helping to guide us through the unique challenges we had with our dog. His…read morepuppy class was so much fun and we looked forward to it each week. He gave us so many games to play with our dog to reinforce good behaviors and helped us correct behaviors like barking and biting that we didn't want in a way that wasn't scary or painful for our Nessie which was so great because I probably wouldn't have been able to be harsh towards her. We got so much confidence from his classes and our tiny puppy is brave enough to play with all the bigger dogs we see around boston.

I have now brought four of my dogs to NEDTC for training. The trainers I have worked with…read more(Melissa, Donna, Jessica) are excellent. They are professional, friendly and really care about making you and your dog successful together. (It really is more about training YOU!) After Puppy Kindergarten, they offer five Step programs you can progress through: Attention, Self Control, Real Life Distractions and Canine Good Citizen (CGC). If you want to take the CGC test, they offer that here. They also offer Rally, Utility, Nosework and Competitive Obedience classes if interested. I like the sense of progression you get with this program. They use a check box system to keep track of what you and your dog can do and what you still need to work on. The classes are held at Crate Escape in Belmont. In the summer, classes are held outside in Danehy Park in Cambridge (back of Fresh Pond mall)! The NEDTC program is also flexible. You buy class cards to be used within a certain number of weeks. If you need to miss a class, there is no penalty or lost class. Great program. Encouraging, knowledgeable trainers. Highly recommend!

We have worked with NEDTC with our rescue dog, Gus…read more Gus has now mastered basic training (sit, stay, down, come, touch, paw, leave it, etc.) We are working on loose leash walking and keeping chill in the context of lots of distractions and other dogs who might be seriously scary. The trainers have a lot of patience for the dogs and shape us up as owners pretty well. We have a lot of faith in them, and turn to them with sticky situations/problems that we can't seem to solve ourselves. We have invested a LOT of time and effort into these lessons, because it seems like the right thing to do. Importantly, we have learned to communicate with our dog in a way that we did not fully understand before. This is a great resource and highly recommended.

I don't really have the words to describe my experience. I came here twice. My dog was clearly…read morestruggling. He was not feeling well (he got sick in the car on the way there) and he was not responding to the treats that I brought with us due to being distracted by other dogs and not feeling well. I looked desperate and kept telling the trainers that he is not responding to my treats, so the exercises are not working. They made me take a bag off of their retail shelf and pay for it. They have TONS of soft, pre-cut meats at their disposal. I asked if he could please try some of those and they said no. The first time I came there they had no problem handing me their treats while I was trying to get his attention. It was a full class but only, in total, about five people. The instructor of the class was beyond militant. No one was being helped individually with their needs. I came ten minutes late (due to my dog being sick) and they didn't walk me through the exercise at all. There were three instructors there supervising and no one came to show me what to do. The entire class was essentially my begging instructors to help me, saying that he won't take my treats, and just petting him so that he would not be distressed. I also wanted to note the very obvious and uncomfortable stares I was getting from the instructors as I was flailing around trying to train my dog with no guidance. I felt like I was being shamed. I truly thought I was going to burst. It took everything to not cry and/or leave immediately.

We've been taking our 1.5 YO rescue pup here for the past month. I love their methodology and our…read moredog has really responded to it. If you're looking for a place that doesn't use punitive measures for dog training, this is a place to consider. All positive and treat based training and they even discourage from using pressure on the harness/leash. The facility is well organized and flexible . You can schedule a class whenever it works for you in the levels based training rather than needing to commit to the same time every week. The trainers are really knowledgeable and helpful. I'm so excited to move up to some of the more advanced classes with our dog.

We started working with William shortly after bringing home our Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, Henry,…read moreand we're so glad we did. His guidance helped us lay a strong foundation, not just for Henry's training, but for our own confidence as first-time dog owners. William's approach gave us practical tools that made a big difference during the more challenging "teenage puppy" phase. Walks used to feel chaotic, and now they're something we actually enjoy as a family. Friends and strangers alike often comment on how well-behaved Henry is, and we credit a lot of that to the early work we did with William. Puppyhood can be overwhelming, but working with someone who really understands dogs made it feel manageable. We had a great experience and highly recommend William.

From the owner: We offer private reward-based dog training services. Accepting new clients, call now!read more

Our puppy had an injury when he was little and missed out on early socialization activities. He was…read moreafraid of people and other dogs. Janet helped us to reintroduce him to the world and gain comfort with his surroundings. Now he is excited to meet every new person or dog. Later, as he entered adolescence, he became more reactive to his environment. Janet taught us additional techniques and recommended a relaxation technique that has significantly reduced his level of anxiety in new situations. We highly recommend Janet for anyone looking to work on their dog's behaviors. She is extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.

I had the most amazing dog training experience with Janet! She was totally pawsative, non reactive…read moreand in just an hour she had Alfie settling, calm and listening to commands! I honestly thought the best I could get with him was half of that! She even taught Tessie to be less demanding (anyone who knows Tessie, this was amazing, she is seriously THE Queen) I'm sooooo happy! Obviously I'm a bulldog parent, they are quirky, stubborn and way to smart to be trained, however Janet knew exactly what to do with them! I called because my baby, Alfie, who just turned one started jumping and nipping his dog walker... we needed to nip that in the bud right away! Janet knew exactly what to do, she even had his dog walker stop by so she could see their interaction and helped both of them learn how to have a better experience! Janet truly is a dog whisper! She really loves dogs, understands the breeds 'quirks' she knew exactly the temperament and personality of my bulldogs! I can not recommend her enough! Tessie, my old lady bulldog wanted to follow her home

There is no better way to describe Lance and his two other trainers as miracle workers. I have a…read more1.5-year-old cattle dog/husky mix who is extremely fear reactive. It was impossible to walk by other dogs without a huge scene or even people without him growling. Baths and nail cutting were out of the question as the local groomer told me to never bring him back, and when I attempted, he would become aggressive towards me. I have always believed in Kevin and thus have been to A LOT of trainers in search of helping him reach his full potential of being a great dog. Away from his fears, Kevin is the sweetest dog. The number of people who told me he was "incurable" and that I would have to simply manage with what I have the rest of my life left me deflated and hopeless. Then I stopped to chat with a woman who was walking her German Shepherd one day and she told me I had to go see Lance. A week later I was sold. Lance has been a blessing. He has achieved more with Kevin in a matter of months than others said Kevin could accomplish in his entire life. While Kevin still has some work to be done, he now can walk by dogs without a scene, LOVES pets from people and even just this week had his first bath and nail cutting without any issues. Kevin's sister is another shining example of Lance's work. She was returned to the rescue by a family who said she was heavily resource-guarding and acting aggressively. My mom adopted her but was worried she was too much to handle. Since working with Lance, Luna is a new dog and easily the best dog my mom has ever owned. It is not just Lance's abilities to train dogs that are so incredible, he is also there for the owners. He understands and allows us to speak our minds and even vent with frustration about the different obstacles we have faced during the training process. He is ALWAYS available to the owners and truly loves what he does and the dogs he works with. I really cannot say enough great things about Lance and his team. If you are struggling with your dog, Lance is the answer. I rarely write reviews but this one was necessary because I empathize with the difficulty of finding great trainers--Lance is beyond great.

Wisdom, experience, care and intuition! We highly recommend training at Compatible Canine!read more

Jake, James, and the entire training team at BDB are absolutely phenomenal. When we first adopted…read moreour dog, we had no idea how many training challenges we'd face, especially living in a busy seaport apartment building with a leash reactive dog. We felt completely overwhelmed at first. Enter James and Jake, who truly saved the day. From the start, they were patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly invested in our dog's success. The progress our dog has made in just six months is nothing short of amazing, night and day from where we started. What really stands out is how much Jake genuinely cares; he treats our dog like his own, and it shows in the results. If you're on the fence about training, don't be. BDB is worth every penny. We couldn't recommend them more highly!

We used Boston Dog Butlers for daily dog walking and they are fantastic! From the initial call to…read morethe meet and greet, and then the daily dog walks, they were professional, friendly and all-around great people. Our dog Shea absolutely loved her walks with Emily who was our main walker. Emily was amazing and formed a great rapport with our pup. Emily's communication was always proactive, helpful and clear. We really miss Emily, Jenny and the rest of the team since we've moved away. Plus its SO easy to schedule and pay on the app. I highly recommend BDB.

Actually my pup was enrolled in a training program. It was great,…read morethe trainer was so patient and Loki was happy to learn and play with the other dogs. Would highly recommend if lessons are still available. Andie G.

A balanced review, for store, pets hotel/play dates and grooming. I have a yorkie (yes, I think he…read moreis the bestest of ALL the restest) and have been going to this branch for 5 years now. So, a review: Five stars for pets hotel/play dates! My dog loves them. Tail wiggles and lots of kisses on the way there, fond farewells on the way out. I snuck in once only to see him cuddling with the caregiver during afternoon nap time. I love the attention, care and professionalism of all staff. And the few times we had to leave him at the hotel, he seemed that he didn't want to come back with us A special shoutout to Hannah, his trainer. She is his favorite human ever, and loves seeing her. Yorkies are super smart dogs, sometimes challenging to train. We started with puppy classes when he was only 5 months old with Chris (who is not there any more) and continued with Hannah. What an amazing individual! She gained his trust right away and taught us (humans) how to better communicate and work with him. When we were away, we book some one-on-one training with her too; keeping the dog both entertained and engaged is important! Three stars for grooming. I don't have a favorite groomer, but a couple of times his nails are overtrimmed and he is really scared going in there grooming salon... Three stars for the store. Nothing special. Overall... we are enthusiastic fans of the petshotel. Thank you to all there for great experiences!!

If I could give 6 stars I would! As a new puppy mom, I was so nervous about where to send my little…read moreguy for daycare. I found out about perfect paws by visiting the Newton dog parks and I got to know some of the trainers. Janie was so helpful in getting Hunny onboarded and he absolutely loves daycare. I even take him on his off days just so he can see his fr Amanda and Tracy are such amazing trainers and dog lovers!! I can't say enough great things about perfect paws and their staff. Hunnys second home for sure!!!

I found Perfect Paws from a Google search. I had a private training session with Amanda and my…read more4-year-old cocker spaniel. We learned so much in 60 minutes! We stayed in my neighborhood because my dog is familiar with the area. I learned a few techniques that are easy to practice and I can already tell my pup is catching on! From filling out the intake forms to the end of the lesson, our experience was great. Looking forward to booking another lesson in the future.

I originally reached out to Atlantic K9 Training because my one-year-old Cane Corso/Pittie mix,…read moreBrinley, was getting a little too strong for me to handle. She's incredibly sweet and submissive with other dogs, but she loved to jump on people and had a habit of pulling hard on the leash during walks. At 60 pounds, it was definitely a lot to manage! From the start, Kylie and the Atlantic K9 team were amazing--professional, knowledgeable, and so caring. Brinley attended their two-week bootcamp, and I'll admit, it was hard sending her away for that long with no visits. I was worried she might feel abandoned, but Atlantic K9 made the experience so much easier. They uploaded pictures every day of her playing with other dogs, looking happy and confident, with a smile bigger than I've ever seen on her. It was clear she was having the time of her life--more like a fun vacation than "training camp." When Brinley came home, the transformation was incredible. She has great recall, walks beautifully on leash, and I can now even let her walk off-leash with full confidence. She's learned to stay in her "place," respond to "no" consistently, and--best of all--she no longer jumps on people! I'm so grateful to Kylie and the entire Atlantic K9 team for their compassion, communication, and the amazing results they delivered. Brinley is happier, calmer, and more connected to me than ever. I can't recommend Atlantic K9 Training enough!

We can never thank the team at Atlantic enough for the absolute transformation they did on our…read moreOllie. We reached out the Atlantic at a complete loss of how to help our sweet Ollie boy succeed. They were nothing but kind, communicative and supportive during our initial conversations, and put us completely at ease about sending our boy to the two-week bootcamp, a choice that was incredibly hard for us! Ollie is a five year old Australian Shepherd/Poodle mix who went to training pre-pandemic and has always been incredibly shy with strangers. Before 2020, this manifested as leash reactivity and we were working hard at it when social distancing went into place. Post-pandemic, we tried every method we could find to try and help him with this, but despite all efforts, his reactivity increased tenfold to include dogs and small children. Sometimes he would he completely fine, and other times, he would aggressively bark and lunge at dogs and kids. It was so stressful that we started keeping him away from other dogs, and our small nieces and nephews to be safe. Ollie's alert barking additionally reached an all time high in the summer of 2023, and his counter-surfing was out of control. We decided it was officially time to get professional help. My husband and I want to start a family soon, and were terrified to think that Ollie's unpredictability could jeopardize his relationship with our future kids. His alert barking was creating a near-constant level of stress in our home, and we couldn't imagine how Ollie would be able to function happily or be involved as our family continues to grow. Throughout the two weeks of bootcamp, we got daily communication about Ollie's progress from the team and pictures of him playing happily during break times. Most importantly, however, K-9 Atlantic has completely transformed our boy, and given us the utmost confidence that Ollie will be the BEST big brother someday. He is literally like a different dog in all of the best ways. He's still our sweet, snuggly, silly boy, but without all of the incessant barking and sneakiness! His reactivity is now basically nonexistent, and he happily plays with our little nieces and nephews when they come over! He is a rockstar on and off-leash. We've even slowly integrated meeting new dogs in controlled settings, and he has been so very successful. He hasn't even counter surfed (despite us purposely leaving chicken on the counter in his reach in order to practice!!!!). Ollie's newfound confidence shines in his ability to meet new people and have experiences without all of the anxiety that he displayed prior to his time at K-9 Atlantic. He is the best version of himself, and we are so beyond proud of the good boy his has become!!! I don't know what magic the K-9 Atlantic team did with him while he was training, but we cannot believe that he is the same dog. He has been SO good, and an absolute angel while practicing. We are beyond grateful for everyone at Atlantic for truly transforming our boy and our lives. We can never thank you enough!