Need some hope? Hire Bruce. Seriously. Let's be real, if you're reading this, you've already decided you need a dog trainer for one reason or another. I was you just two short months ago - desperately researching dog trainers and frantically reading review after review. We even consulted with a couple reputable places but we couldn't find the right "fit."...... until we met Bruce. Back story - our 2yr old dog (Beacon) is very reactive. We rescued him from the humane society in February 2020 and shortly after discovered he had some serious issues (barking/lunging/jumping towards neighbors, kids, other dogs, etc.) It got so bad that I was too afraid to even walk him by myself. To make matters worse, our HOA wanted him gone because of his "dangerous" behavior. That when Bruce came in. Within 15 minutes of meeting Bruce, Beacon was actually calm! It was a miracle - needless to say, we hired him the same night. Fast forward to now and we're already at our last of our 8 sessions. It is kind of bitter-sweet because we certainly love our visits from Bruce each week but we are absolutely THRILLED at the progress Beacon has made. Not only have we, as humans, learned how to communicate with Beacon, but Beacon has learned trust, obedience, patience, and overall that the world isn't such a scary place. We even got to take him to the park this week! Aside from Bruce being an amazing dog trainer, he is also an amazing human and I think we were just as excited to see him each week as Beacon was. I don't know how but Bruce took a VERY stressful situation and made the whole process a ton of fun. We learned how to be better communicators, and we've been able to strengthen our bond with our pup. I don't even want to think about where we would be without Bruce's help. He is obviously very dedicated, passionate, and enthusiastic about his work. I know that we have made a dog-friend for life and I HIGHLY recommend that you decide to put Bruce on your team. It'll be one of the best decisions you ever make! read more

In May 2015, my husband and I got a Shih Tzu Puppy, Cooper. We wanted help with his basic puppy training and were looking for someone to visit Cooper while we were at work. Groovy Dogs Pet Care came highly recommended to us, so we schedule a meet and greet at our house. Bruce was very attentive to Cooper and us, as he told us about the services he offered. Cooper seemed to like Bruce from the moment he met him. My husband and I were sold when he said he only used positive reinforcement methods for training. We actually became part of his Groovy Dog Team that night. Bruce is very patient with Cooper and beyond patient with his needy human parents. For almost three years, Uncle Bruce has been coming to our house four days a week for a play/potty session. I actually get some hilarious texts from Bruce describing some of the antics he goes through usually when it is raining, to make sure Cooper "goes potty". I hope Bruce does not mind me sharing this recent one..."Well Cooper didn't want to go out because it was raining. So I rush out into the yard in play mode and run around a little bit and turn around to see him still standing in the screened in porch staring at me. Okay so I figure I have to ramp it up a little bit - so I start running around in circles whooping and hollering like a crazy guy before I notice your neighbor staring at me as if I am insane. I just waved. Good news is that Cooper finally came out, and peed and even pooped! Achievement unlocked. Back tomorrow, thanks." This speaks volumes about why I would recommend Groovy Dogs a.k.a Uncle Bruce. All of this just to make sure my little man Cooper "goes potty", gets to play and get treats while his mommy and daddy are at work. We have been using Uncle Bruce four days a week since 2015. HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED read more

Bruce is not only a Grade-A Top Professional trainer and dog lover, but truly a life-changer. Somehow I wound up with 4 dogs (ahhh! - I can't say no to rescues), but one of them (Daisey) was exhibiting aggressive behavior toward my eldest dog of 16 years (Bear) and I did not have the heart to return her (she was rescued from a kill center), and it was killing me that she scared Bear so I determined to find the best trainer to train me and her as I had never has the experience in dealing with this over-reactive behavior. I spoke with several other dog trainers/companies before selecting Groovy Dogs - and I choose Bruce for multiple reasons - 1) He doesn't use adverse methods like e-collars, shock/choke collars, etc... My beagle had been through enough and I wanted to learn how to help her. 2) His prices were reasonable. 3) His schedule was flexible, and 4) when he showed up for a free consultation, all my dogs loved him. As a result - one month later - Daisey and Bear can be in the same room. Daisey doesn't pull me on walks. She doesn't rush out the door when I open it. She sits, stays, comes, and listens. She's still a little vocal (what Beagle isn't) at times but there is a 2000% improvement in just a month. And I'm going to practice with her more on some of her triggers like cars going by on a walk, and other dogs. She's done really well in just a month even with that. I'm amazed! I'm so impressed with Bruce that I've recommended him to the local rescue I volunteer with as a reference for anyone who adopts and needs extra help with their new fur-ever friend. read more

Bruce has been a HUGE help to our little family! Our boy Dicky suffers from separation anxiety (he's a rescue Pitbull) and he's also a very reactive dog - he gets super excited around new people and other dogs. He's completely harmless but loved to lick strangers walking by and greet them with a lunge. Since training with Bruce (we completed in Oct 2019) Dicky's attention span has gotten so much better. He can now ignore new people/dogs passing by on our walks, he learned the Sit, Down, Stay, Wait, Leave It, Drop It and "With Me" commands. He no longer freaks out, whines and shakes when he goes to his crate either. He used to bark uncontrollably the entire time we'd leave when he was in his crate - now there are times he'd prefer his crate over hanging out with us. Bruce isn't a one and done trainer by any means, he still checks in on Dicky and even comes to see him. On top of that he's set up multiple dog park dates since completing the training to help Dicky get used to socialization and come when called when he's preoccupied. We're 100% happy with how Bruce has helped us all (he trains the owners too lol). If you're wondering - Bruce's method is food driven and positive reinforcement only. He doesn't do the fear driven training like a lot of trainers around here. He's got a way that gets the dogs to really take to him. Dicky loved him within the first 30 seconds of Bruce's initial meet. read more

My rescue dog, Shiera, is the sweetest thing at home but she had become so protective of me she was aggressive to everyone else to the point that it was impossible to have anyone to my home or take her around others at the park. I contacted Bruce based on a recommendation from her doggie day care (she does great there when I am not around) after a particularly bad incident. Bruce got back to me quickly and immediately wanted to meet her. We got off to a rocky start as she was snapping and growling to the point it was impossible to talk during our first meeting. But Bruce shocked me by asking if he could spend a week trying to get to know her to get a better idea of what her triggers were and easy her into feeling comfortable with him. Bruce's care and consideration for her blew me away and he quickly ran over Shiera so that he is now one of her favorite people and those snarls have been replaced with eager kisses. Bruce was patient with Shiera and taught me so much about using a trust based approach that I think it even strengthened the bond between Shiera and I. I am also a doctorate student with a crazy schedule that Bruce was always willing to work around. I will never be able to thank Bruce enough for all he has done for Shiera and I! He has a great connection and care with dogs that is unmatched by any other trainer I have worked with and I highly recommend him! read more

Bruce is a deligent and knowledgable trainer. He really cares. My daughter adopted a large scared rescue dog (Great Dane/Mastiff). He has worked with our family all the way. We appreciate his commitment when many turned us away as soon as we said she was scared/aggressive. He understands a dog who has an unhappy background. There is no weekend cure on some issues, it takes time, love and commitment. If you are fortunate to have Bruce work with your family, it is a great beginning. Just remember...you have to do your part too. I am adding a note now that it has been a little over 6 months since Lena has come into our lives. She is Velcro to my daughter and is no longer scared of ceiling fans, car rides, or vacuums. She can now go through a drive thru without attacking the window. She can go on walks and will sit on command when another dog walks by. She no longer fears joggers are running at her. Her biggest fear- bikes, are still a work in progress but as long as they are not close, she no longer reacts. She no longer acts like she is going to attack as often (her scare tactic of leave me alone and stay away from my mommy) but still gets jittery. With time we know she will continue to relax and trust. We are so glad we had Bruce work with Lena. She just loves him. He has helped us save her when we had some other trainers tell us to take her back to the shelter. read more

My experience with Groovy Dogs and our fantastic trainer, Bruce, has been nothing short of amazing. We enrolled our beloved pup, Goose, in their training program, and the transformation has been remarkable. From the beginning, Bruce exhibited a deep understanding of canine behavior and a genuine passion for helping dogs and their owners thrive. Goose, who used to struggle with anxiety around guests, has now blossomed into a more well-behaved and confident companion, all thanks to Bruce's expertise. Bruce's approach to training is not only effective but also tailored to the unique needs of each dog. His patience, kindness, and clear communication style made the learning process enjoyable for both Goose and us. We appreciated how Bruce took the time to explain the training techniques and provided us with valuable insights into understanding and connecting with our furry friend. If you're searching for a dog trainer who not only understands canine behavior but also genuinely cares about the success of your furry family member, look no further than Groovy Dogs and the incredible Bruce. Our family is immensely grateful for the positive impact he has had on Goose's behavior and overall well-being. Thank you, Bruce, for your dedication and expertise - you've made a world of difference in our lives! read more

We interviewed 2 different dog trainers at the house and didn't find anyone who seemed to love and care about dogs like Bruce. One was just super pricey and didn't even touch our dog one time, only wanted our money. The other came once and never returned or called for another visit. Then there's Bruce...he's the real deal!! We have a new Bullmastiff 9mth old who is growing very large and fast, and starting to take over our lives due to size, so we needed someone not only good at his profession, but GREAT at what he does. Diesel our "puppy" wasn't listening to his name, obeying commands, was getting up on counters every second and Started pulling us on walks! Now, after just 4 weeks of sessions, we feel like we can continue training Diesel to make him a disciplined and friendly dog who isn't ruling US. Bruce has the techniques and tools to get the job done. He definitely isn't in this for the money, he does this because he loves to see people love their dogs properly and enjoy them like they should be enjoyed! Don't waste your time looking for other trainers, it's not worth the effort. Don't let his location scare you, he comes to Lakewood Ranch too! Bruce is amazing and we feel so lucky we called him, he will be a lifelong friend who loved our Diesel like his own! Thanks Groovy Dogs!! read more

Bruce, or as we call him, Mr. Treats, has truly changed our dogs in an unbelievable way. The Groovy Dog Rules have helped us endlessly and they are techniques we practice daily. Mr. treats has become family to us. He has completely changed the way that our dogs walk outside, interact with other dogs and humans, respond and listen to us, and their overall attitudes. Before knowing Mr. treats, our dogs were getting into a lot of trouble and never listened to any of us. But thanks to Mr. Treats and all of his dedication to our sessions and constantly going above and beyond to answer our questions and stay in touch with us as well as sending us helpful strategies, our dogs' temperaments have changed for the better. When choosing a dog trainer, it can be overwhelming and is a big decision, but our family would recommend Bruce each and every time and he will be your greatest asset when it comes to your furry friends. Mr. Treats, we appreciate you so much and we are so thankful for all of your dedication and care you have invested into our family. read more

Bruce has been providing pet services to our family for three years. His services have included regular daily pet walks and play for our three dogs (Lily, Daisy and Sissy). He has also trained two of our dogs when they were puppies to help learn basic commands and establish positive dog behavior. He was patient and informative, not only training the puppies, but training our family on dog behavior and handling, as well. With our very busy schedules, we needed that extra help in making sure our dogs were properly trained and received attention and play time during the day while we were at work. We evaluated several pet services and gravitated to Bruce because of his knowledge, experience and passion for dogs. We are forever grateful for his flexibility, reliability, trustworthiness and the care he showed for our beloved family pets. A couple reviewers referred to Bruce as "dog whisperer" and "Uncle Treat" and these labels are so accurate. Our dogs loved him and I know they will sure miss their daily visits with him. read more

Chip and I cannot say enough complimentary things about Mr. Bruce! He is a patient, gentle teacher when it came to my training and the treatment of my one year old puppy. Chip was CRAZY about him from the moment he came through the door. He just loves him - but more importantly, he trusted him completely. Chip's puppy behaviors we were struggling with have improved dramatically over the course of his training, and as far as I am concerned, will only continue to improve with time. He is now housebroken, the accidents stopped after about week 2 of training. That was not part of the curriculum, but a welcome bonus. Field trips are a great time and really boosted my confidence as we ventured out into public supervised, and shown the right way to interact with both the public and other dogs. If you are shopping for a trainer that uses positive reinforcement, kindness, and a game plan tailored to your dogs needs, Look no further. Mr. Bruce is worth every penny!!! read more

We searched far and wide for a trainer to help us teach our 4 year old maltipoo some boundaries and manners. I spoke to lots of trainers, and Bruce stood out right away for his thoroughness and what I've come to understand as a respectful, evidence-based philosophy on dog training. We've only had a few sessions, and already, we are communicating SO much better with our doggo. He's jumping significantly less on people, walks with us, stays until we ask, and overall listens to us, and us to him to make sure we are giving him what he needs. I feel so much more comfortable going out with our pup in public, especially with a toddler, and know it will just get better and better because of everything we learned from Bruce. Bruce is a joy to be around, and our doggo (and toddler!) also adore his calm, kind, and fun energy. I can't recommend working with Bruce enough. You will develop a new relationship with your doggo you didn't think possible! read more

My wife and I recently hired Bruce to train our 2 month old cockapoo. We interviewed several trainers and Bruce was by far the best choice. He immediately connected with our little Sadie. She was so happy to see him for each session. Bruce's methods are all positive and he makes sure you have th knowledge and practice to train your pup. We have seen a huge difference and Sadie is becoming a well trained little girl. We have Bruce to thank for this. She is now 6 months old and the love of our lives. Bruce is still in touch with us to make sure we are happy and avaialable for any questions or follow up visits if needed. Bruce was very reasonable and compared to other trainers his caring and love for animals is what won us over. You can't go wrong working with Bruce and I would highly recommend him to anyone who would listen. read more

After contacting this pet sitter, and before hiring him, I asked if he was licensed and he said yes. When I asked for licensing info he changed his story and said No, he wasn't licensed. That made me a little ambivalent. So, I did a social media search. All I can say is, you should know who you invite into your home and his very public opinions (loud and brazen) concerning being an "anarchist" (his own words), thinking the police are "pigs" and not to ever be trusted (his own words), often using the F word in many of his posts about police, law, regulations, etc. He's evidently a writer on a site called Medium.com where he posts very obnoxious opinions as fact. I'm not saying to not hire him, but in this day and age one should be fully aware whom they entrust their pets and a key to their home with. read more

At 2 years old, our rescued pomchi, Marvel, had developed fears and habits that made it difficult for everyone in social situations, and to get along with other dogs. Bruce was patient with both us and him, while teaching us all. He even gave us extra time to really deal with the issues Marvel was struggling with. Bruce is a great teacher. With his help Marvel has learned to trust us, and we have learned to help him - which is so very different than training a "bad" dog to behave. I would highly recommend Bruce as a trainer, and wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of his sitting services if the need were there. He is very knowledgeable, and truly understands and cares for the dogs. He even checked up on us when he was in town. read more

Bruce is absolutely wonderful! He came to help us with an extremely shy shelter puppy and he did wonders. He not only trained our girl Daisy but also trained us. He did not take over but worked with us so that we were confident in working with our dog. He went above the basic training and worked on any issues that we had with the dog and we will forever be grateful for the wonderful work he did and the knowledge that he gave us. I will forever remember how he saved my sanity by showing me how I was inadvertently teaching my dog to continue whining in the crate while crate training her and how to stop that behavior and make her love her crate! Thank you Bruce for being you and being so wonderful with my furry child!! read more

We enlisted Groovy Dogs/Bruce for help training our 1 y/o french bulldog puppy. Bruce was great! He was very patient throughout the whole process, and very flexible with our schedules. He made sure to customize our private lessons to our top priorities, and we revisited our progress and priorities before each lesson which kept us on track. Bruce treated us and our pup with respect throughout the entire process, and our dog loved him. Highly recommend! Our dog now knows all the basics. Bruce gave us so many techniques that we use to this day to keep our dog well-behaved. Since hiring Groovy Dogs we have noticed a huge improvement in our dog's daily behavior. Thanks Bruce! read more

Bruce helped my Coco go from door mauler, to sitting nicely when the doorbell rings. All in a matter of a few weeks! I will be forever thankful. We are still working on being less anxious on walks, but armed with Bruce's strategies, I feel confident that Coco can go from neighborhood hooligan to most beloved in no time. When interacting with Bruce he was always prompt and encouraging, which was appreciated. Also, upon entering my house, Coco about wanted to take his head off. It only took a few seconds before he had her begging for belly rubs. No doubt, this guy's the real deal. Caring, informative, quick, professional...call him; you won't be sorry! read more

Bruce has been so amazing with our dog, Brady. He has helped us overcome a lot of troubling behaviors, like jumping on strangers and over-excitability. My husband and I now have the tools and understanding to continue trust-based training with Brady. We are grateful for Bruce's flexibility and willingness to work with our schedule. He does not put a hard stop to our one our visits, rather he makes sure we feel comfortable and understand everything on the learning agenda. Bruce really cares about satisfying his clients. He's also so passionate about his work, and it is clear in the playful interactions he has with Brady! I'd recommend him to any dog owner! read more