NEVER bringing my dogs here again, and neither will my parents. Which sucks because before the dogs…read moreseemed happy going there previously. SO MUCH went wrong!! First off my dogs stayed Friday to Wednesday and on Sunday they called and told me one of my dogs was going to run out of her medicine (I have 3 and my parents were boarding their 1). I knew before dropping them off me and my boyfriend triple checked we brought enough pills. We do not pack extra because I'm scared we will forget it there and run out. They called me Sunday morning telling me I did not pack enough. I knew I did so I asked if they dropped any or double dosed her. They told me that it was my fault I did not pack enough. At the time I figured maybe I did make a mistake, so I said just half her dose so she has some each day at least. When I got home I checked her pill organizer. We even have a one month long pill organizer for her to make sure we give her her pills each day. I found I pulled the correct days/amounts for her stay. It proved to me that this was not my fault but they made a mistake (which wouldn't be a huge deal if they would admit to it honestly). Instead they were rude and just repeated that it was my fault. On to the next issue. One of my dogs has an extremely sensitive stomach. She eats different food than my other two. So we packed them each a bag of food each day. At drop off my boyfriend emphasized that she could not eat any other food due to allergies. They should have not had enough food for Wednesday as they didn't need it since they were being picked up that day. When I picked them up they even said that had enough of their bags of food to eat today. This was a major red flag as it meant they did not feed them one day or they fed them kennel food which will make my sensitive stomach dog sick. When asked about it later they said they got kennel food. Which she can not have! And that it was our fault it was not on her file. THEY WERE TOLD AT DROP OFF. Also they did not have permission to feed kennel food to them, and did not call before hand to make sure it was okay. So they either lied when I picked them up saying they had enough bags or they lied to my boyfriend they they told him they gave her kennel food. So somebody lied. Now for the BIG ISSUE. My three dogs and my parents dogs were there. My three and my parent one had not had contact since May before going to the kennel in July. They have also been nowhere and are UP TO DATE ON ALLL VACCINES. When we got them back alll we're coughing and snotty and runny eyes. After taking to the vet we were told that it was not kennel cough but a virus that was from unclean conditions! We reached out to the boarding facility and they informed us their place is clean and they took no responsibility saying what do you expect it's like bringing your kid to daycare. The attitude from Dani and other who were speaking to us about the incident was awful and they were doing nothing but shoving blame on us even though the vet said it was a type of virus that is result from unsanitary conditions. All three of mine and my parents caught this, and when they started to show symptoms the vet counted dates for incubation periods and they didn't go in with it they got it there. Only two of them shared kennels as well and the other two had their own. But they all got it. They also posted on social media that one family pups have a cough so they are canceling daycare for the week. That is untrue two different household of dogs have it and it is WAY MORE THAN JUST A COUGH! My parents dog is old, and on three medications for this and NOT improving!! I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone, because if anything happens to your dog they will not take any kind of responsibility, they will give you generic responses that are filled with nothing but attitude. Also they weren't even telling the whole truth it's not just a cough it's worse., and it is terrible watching my dogs go through it due to their poor cleaning abilities at Three Oaks. Never recommending them again and can never trust them again either.

This is a great place! I came from out of town to take care of my dying father, and needed a place…read moreto keep my dogs during the day. The staff and owner at Three Oaks Pet Resort were absolutely wonderful and caring. I am very picky about where I take my dogs, and I was a little nervous and wanted to try it out before I committed to bringing my dogs back. I knew after the first day this was the place to bring my babies. My dogs were excited to come there every day, and that says volumes about how they were treated while they were there. I have 2 German Shepherds and they don't mince words about their experiences! They loved their time there, and I so appreciate that the staff and owner were so accommodating during this very sad time. Thank you for being such a great and reliable place to bring my beautiful pups. May God bless you each and every day.

Wyatt is terrific and the positive reinforcement training is top notch. We got a rescue dog that…read morehad a few issues and Wyatt is working with us - retraining both the dog and the people - for a better life. Really appreciate the great information he imparts and the calm, effective training he's doing with me and the dog. We've already seen improvement after only a few sessions. He explains that our job is to get the dog to "want to do what you want them to do." We accomplish this through lots of love and positive reinforcement. Kuddos Wyatt!

Thank you Wyatt for helping us with our 4 legged big baby. At 125 pounds, it's so important that…read moreour girl is socialized, obedient, and a good canine citizen. You're training for our pup as well as our family has been invaluable.

Had a great experience with Judy and Kevin at Austin's German Shepherds! We brought home our happy,…read morehealthy little guy just over a week ago and couldn't be more in love with him! Communication was great and Judy and Kevin were super easy to work with!

Wonderful people to help you with your next puppy. Super…read morewell bred dogs. Austin's put their Shepherds first. My family has been welcoming Austin's GSD's into our family for seven years. We now have 3. We couldn't be happier with our breeder choice.

Where do we begin with providing a proper client review of such a WONDERFUL and WELCOMING…read morehome-away-from-home for your beloved furry family members, and where you will be a returning client? Is it with the: 1) CARING and KNOWLEDGEABLE client/pet-oriented family Team; or, 2) WELCOMING and INDIVIDUAL luxury boarding suites and adjacent fenced exercise areas; or 3) CALMING and RELAXING clean air environment and walking trails set in the Blue Ridge Mountain region????? As "parents" of two shelter-rescue Rottweilers [Cola (f) and Moose (m)], in early 2024 we were in need of the "purrfect" boarding team and environment as we prepared for an March/April trip to Europe. Significant considerations included the facts that neither pet was very social, nor had ever been apart from us or away from home. To say we had anxiety about this issue is an understatement; but then, we found Miriam and her family-based team at Shady Mountain Pet Retreat in Amherst, VA. Our initial engagement was so successful we returned recently for 2 weeks in October when we attended a family wedding. Below is our attempt to inform accordingly so you may also experience such joy...... Firstly, the TEAM: No business can operate to its highest degree of precision absent having the highest caliber TEAM to execute flawlessly and achieve such performance. Factor into the pet-boarding business equation is the fact that our pets are beloved family members and we strive to entrust their training and care to the most qualified and caring professionals of integrity in the safest environment. Have no concerns on this front, as Miriam and her family are the highest caliber cohesive TEAM who exceed client (and furry guest) expectations. From the moment we engaged with Miriam, we knew we made the purrfect choice. Miriam listened to us and understood our concerns, and suggested an initial meet and greet with Cola and Moose. We eagerly made the 2-hour drive from Mineral, VA to meet Miriam, who is a well-accomplished author and expert in the field of animal behavior, training and care; and her clients and their pets are the direct beneficiaries. I stress the fact Miriam listened to our concerns and provided insightful information facilitating our collective best-informed decision to entrust Cola and Moose with her for a 1-month board and train period during our upcoming trip. I assure you that we did not have any guilt-based regrets as we departed on drop-off day of either of our two visits to date (March/April and then October). You can trust that Miriam sincerely wants you and your pet(s) to be happy, comfortable and free of any stress, emphasizing her positive reinforcement approach which serves as the corner stone of Shady Mountain Pet Retreat. You can even follow your pet's daily adventures through various updates Miriam posts thoughtfully on social media and her website: https://www.shadymountainpetretreat.net/ Secondly (but equally), the BOARDING SUITES/EXERCISE AREAS: Discard any concerns you may have that you will find institutional-style stress creating chain link fence-type boarding "cages" or rooms at Shady Mountain Pet Retreat. Rather, at Shady Mountain your family member will reside in a very comfortable, climate-controlled individualized roomy suite, separated by solid walls from neighboring guests. A raised off-the-floor style pet bed is a plus to afford more comfort while resting. The suite doors have a full length glass window (with drop blind as needed) so residents can watch the daily "office" activities, and a rear-exit pet door leading out to the fenced in exercise area. Each guest enjoys their own supply storage cubby which facilitates the management of feedings, etc. External fenced in exercise areas are divided into separate sections which permits greater staff flexibility for training, etc. See website for all the other possibilities for your pet's stay: https://www.shadymountainpetretreat.net/ Lastly (but equally), the clean air mountain ENVIRONMENT and WALKING TRAILS: As you ascend Shady Mountain to reach the Retreat, you will be filled with a calming and serene sense, taking in the peaceful natural Amherst, VA environment. Cola and Moose love taking in all the smells of nature as we drive up the mountain. Peaceful and calming are the words we would use to describe this environment. If pet appropriate, Miriam's team can take your loved-one on nature walks through trails in the surrounding landscape, with the potential to see deer and other varieties of wildlife. Cola and Moose told us they so enjoyed these nature walks on their most recent visit. We conclude our review by recommending, with the highest regards, the Shady Mountain Pet Retreat, Miriam and her team. At the Shady Mountain Pet Retreat all three elements of knowledgeable and caring people, well-apportioned boarding/training facilities and a serene environment combine to provide the most wonderful and trusting of experiences. Thank you!!

As someone who's worked in canine behavior and training for years, finding a place I will entrust…read morewith my dogs is no easy feat. Now that I've found Shady Mountain I may never leave Virginia. Miriam is the real deal. Besides l the numerous books she's published on dog behavior and training the facility is perfect. It's set up impeccably, has appropriately strict health screening for entry and the services on site are too notch. I left my dogs for their first stay and walked away with ease and comfort knowing they are in the best of hands. It's worth every penny and then some.

Responsive and helpful. Very knowledgeable staff and so friendly. Can't wait to start our pup next…read moreweek!

We took Archie for his first puppy play school today and I'm so glad we did!…read more We worked on a few different commands (sit, stand, eye contact, and touch) and then they're was socialization time. Our dogs are elderly so he doesn't get to play as much as we'd like and this was the perfect thing. It took him a while to warm up to play time but when he did, he was great!

My experience with Lara was very positive and productive. She was able to help me understand my dog…read moreand how to clearly communicate with her. She kept us both really motivated to practice and the results were awesome. Not only am I happy, but my pup is much happier too! Now we frequently receive compliments on my pups behavior. We go for long walks without pulling or acting crazy when she sees another dog. She was jumping, nipping, not listening and destructive. My grandchildren were frighteNed by her. Now they are able to play with her and life is good! I highly recommend Lara without reservation!

Those who know me know that my entire world is run by two miniature schnauzers…read more Granted, they are cuddly, cute, and have personalities the size of St. Bernards, and because of these reasons (amongst many), they have turned me into one of those crazy dog ladies that swears up and down that I'll never be able to have children because how -- HOW I ASK YOU?! -- could I possibly love anyone or anything more than I love these two creatures? Yes, Harry & Daxter are the fluffy little loves of my life, and boy oh boy, do they know it. It's not that they're bad dogs, really, it's just that they know how to get away with all the bad things that they do. Because, you know, they're cute. And while they have both gone through basic obedience and already knew how to do all the "normal" dog things like, sit, stay, and even high-five (Daxter gives excellent high-fives, FYI), a few commands does not a perfect dog make. And between the barking at every living thing (and sometimes even non-living things -- hello UPS truck) that passes by the house, Harry's penchant for eating my leftovers straight off of the coffee table, and how Daxter literally backs away from me when I say "come," it eventually got to a point where I needed to call in some professional help to turn my pups into more than just cuddly bed buddies. So thank GOODNESS for Lara and For Pup's Sake training! Under Lara's patient tutelage, my dogs now actually know how to go to their "place" before mealtime, and we're working on sending them there when folks come to the door as well. Their recall is better, they're generally more obedient, and, heck, better mannered, too! After all, a tired pup is generally a well-behaved pup, and with Lara's training these boys definitely get a mental work out. Lara comes and works with you in your home, so your dogs are learning in their environment, and gives you all the tools to continue the training when she's not there in person to guide you through it. We've worked on everything from leash-training to place-training to perfecting their patience and willpower with variations of the leave-it command I didn't even know existed. Beyond that, Lara truly cares about your dogs and wants to make sure they're set up for success from the get-go. My boys still have a bit of a way to go before they're truly the perfect pets (and I have a LONG way to go before I'm the perfect owner, hehe), but I'm so happy to have Lara and For Pup's Sake leading the way there.

My dog has been at ATP daycare for a year and a half now. We've also done overnight boarding and…read moreobedience classes with ATP. All have been excellent experiences! The staff is personable and looks out for the dogs. The dogs are matched with playgroups that work best for their personalities and play styles. The staff will update you with a daily report if you ask! My dog is always happy and well exercised when he returns from daycare. The staff is responsive and responsible. We love ATP!

My pup has been here once for his "interview" and once for daycare. Since then, I have made a…read morerecurring weekly appointment. Overall, the staff was extremely friendly and ATTENTIVE. They put a ton of time and effort into making sure each dog maxes out on fun while staying safe and happy. I feel very comfortable leaving my dog here and the hours of operation make it convenient to do so. I will say that the prices are significantly higher than what I'm used to paying for the same quality of care, though I can't blame them too much from a business perspective (not a lot of competition in C'ville). If they lowered the cost per day by even $5 I'd definitely consider switching to twice a week!

If you have a special needs dog, there is not another daycare on the Southside like it. I have a…read morevery anxious dog. They go through a meet and greet process every single time he comes. No other day care in the area (we have been to most) cares about the special need dogs. The just deem your dog non compat (because they don't have the training, supplies, or staffing) and send you away. If you want the best, you want this location Dogtopia! A Quality, caring staff for your precious fur babies.

Pit bulls are allowed at these facilities, are not kept separate from other animals, and one…read moreattacked and injured my much smaller dog. Staff at first claimed my dog mounted the pit bull, which I have never seen him do to any dog or anything, then later corrected themselves and said he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time... at pick up they started telling me "when this usually happens..." indicating it's a repeated occurrence at this facility. Absolutely unacceptable.