We adopted an un-trained 4 year old Olde English Bulldogge... a stubborn breed to say the least…read more.. and he liked to hump all new people... (funny but not funny) and was dog reactive to boot!! So we started looking into trainers... Thankfully I came across Upstate Canine Academy. After a very professional consult over the phone, we felt assured that this was the right place to bring our dog. We left him at the Academy for a 3 week board and train. Missed him like crazy. He came home understanding commands, don't get me wrong, it wasn't night and day, there was still a LOT of work to be done, but the work was really for us to continue the behavior instilled by the Academy trainers. We were given clear tools to work with him when they handed over the reigns. The incredible part about this facility is that they offer support for the lifetime of the dog after the board and train. (That is how assured they are of their program). Our dog has improved a lot since his initial training, and it is nice to walk him on a leash without his going ballistic when we pass by another dog... and a relief that he no longer humps our human guests when they visit our home! The staff at Upstate Academy are great. They are all dog lovers with an exceptional understanding of dog behavior. The place is clean, and you can be assured that your dog will be safe and happy while he is in training. This is a worthwhile investment.

Beware of this daycare! We have been bringing our dog here fir the past 5 1/2 years no less than 3…read moredays/week on average. She was recently out for a month with a serious gastrointestinal infection as well as an infection on her foot which resulted in two of her toes being removed. After reaching out to have Amber return to daycare with a veterinary clearance, we received the following e-mail: Hi, We hope you guys had a wonderful weekend. We miss Amber as well and are happy to hear that her vet doesn't have any concerns. That being said, daycare can be extremely active, and messy as well during play (when pools are out, mud, etc), and we would never want Amber to get further hurt or sick in a vulnerable state. Due to her extreme and sudden onset of medical issues, we feel as a team that we can no longer provide the level of specific care Amber needs at this time. As much as we would love to continue seeing her, we feel that it would not be the best decision for her medically. I appreciate your understanding, I apologize for the inconvenience, and wish you all the best. WTF??? Is upper management now veterinarians too? Who are you to override a veterinary clearance? We thought that is why you have EVERYONE sign a waiver which releases you from liability. What we see here is ageism plain & simple - you do not want to attend to a senior dog who can walk, run & play because you have no staff and cannot be bothered oh, by the way, this is after we, as loyal clients did not sue you after our dog was severely attacked at daycare by a bully dog who had only just joined. Yes, we are loyal clients, we came back, we recommended you to others, you used our dog as a test dog for meets & greets with potential new clients! We have never been in arrears for payment, oh wait, we actually paid in advance! This is NOT how you treat clients! We will be taking our loyalty, money & sweet girl elsewhere, this is all on you, you should be ashamed as there is no reason why she cannot come back, but after the way you just treated us, never again at UCA.

5 Stars!!! Liz is an amazing dog trainer!!! She cares so…read moremuch about dogs and wants all dogs to be happy and well cared for with loving families. I called Liz totally desperate after bringing our adorable puppy home at 8 weeks. We were having a very difficult time with crate training and really had no clue how to take care of a dog. I had read plenty on the subject before bringing our sweet new puppy home, but with the reality of a little ball of furry sweetness wreaking havoc on our household, my research and reading was just not enough. We needed HELP!!! We were a family who never had a dog before with limited positive interactions with dogs (many negative ones on my end as a child and young adult). We had no idea what we were doing! Liz was so patient and understanding with us, I honestly don't know what we would have done without her! She helped us to understand what goes on in a puppy's mind and taught us what to do in terms of crate and potty training, biting, chewing, jumping, impulsivity, general commands like "Wait" and :sit", as well as very important commands like "Come" and "Leave it". I never felt alone while Liz was working with us, even when she wasn't training at our house. When I texted her with questions, she always got back to me in a timely manner. She never made me feel like I was a nuisance or was bothering her, and she always made me feel like I was supported throughout the training period (and she still does!). We started out as trainer/client but now are more like friends and family. Cannot express how grateful that we found Liz when we did. She has so much knowledge and presents it in such a kind and caring way. When you work with Liz, you feel like she is a friend or family member rather than someone you are paying to teach you how to train your dog. She's the best! Hire her, you will be so glad you did!!!.

Bernie loves going to Puppy Play as we call it!! He got a bath, nails grinded and had a Play Pal…read morewhere he didn't quite feel like playing, so it was Cuddle Time, his fave!!

Our dog loves it there and the staff is amazing. If I was rich I would let her go every day just to…read moreplay for a while

I have taken three dogs to Becky and Alissa for training. Both are knowledgeable, patient,…read moreexcellent problem solvers, and take pride in their work. The classes are engaging and fun for both the dogs and the handlers. I always found the facility to be clean, comfortable, and well organized. Becky goes out of her way to make time for you as needed. If you need a talk after the class, she stays, when you call her, she calls back, if you need a little extra 1:1 for a stubborn puppy moment, she is right there. I highly recommend Good Choice Dog Training!

Becky and her staff are very educated on what they teach. Currently my dog Brooklyn is doing…read morebeginner agility which is amazing!!

I took my Golden Retriever there for a full bath, the extra nail grind, and paid for the extra 15…read moreminutes of brush. Just got back from a camping trip so my fur baby needed the extras. My groomer-who knows me and how well I treat my Pup, was just nasty. Upset she had to do a little extra work that I paid for. I've always tipped her well, usually $20 cash on a $60 bath. Maybe they are pushing their employees at PetSmart harder nowadays, but no excuse for the comments she made about me and my best buddy. Haven't been back since.

Great job with an older Labrador who had never been groomed. She came home sparkling.read more

Hounds on the Hudson has moved from Albany. Last year, a sustainable clothing store moved into the…read morespace. I don't wish to delete my previous review because I really did have difficulty getting a response from the business, but the owner did eventually contact me. I think it was months later. She seemed very nice. She was very apologetic. She said she never noticed my phone messages or emails. The business was having technical difficulties and she assured me the problem was an aberration. I'm happy to see that the business has a better website and is doing well enough to expand to two locations. Sending my best wishes.

The most amazing experience I have ever had working with people, outside of family and friends,…read morecaring for my dog. My 7 year-old Maltese, Frederick spent this last year being walked twice a week by several of the staff at HOTH. I receieved gracious notes, he had the opportunity to meet other dogs in the neighborhood, and I was always treated in a caring, professional, and thoughtful manner. Fred also made two stays at the Bed and Biscuit, being cared for round the clock by HOTH staff. I have NEVER boarded my dog, so leaving him with someone outside of family and close friends was a choice I made very carefully. The cost for walks and overnight stays was reasonable and something I could afford living on the very small budget of a graduate student. I always felt wonderful knowing Fred was getting some love and attention during my long days at work. I can't recommend their services enough to coworkers and friends with animals. One of the only reasons I am sad to be leaving the Albany area for a new job in St. Kitts, is not getting to work with Hounds on the Hudson!

I took Dylan's Puppy Start Right class with my first puppy Rosie and would highly recommend working…read morewith him. He is professional, very compassionate and focused on the dog's needs, and his training techniques are highly effective. Rosie is my first dog and a high-energy terrier, so I knew I was taking a lot on and I was nervous about getting things right. When I picked her up from the breeder, her first words upon my arrival were "Your puppy is an absolute terror". Uh, oh. I was worried. Dylan helped us through puppyhood from start to finish. He did an initial consultation with me before Rosie even arrived so that we were ready on day one. He always went over and above, helping us navigate the array of puppy products by putting together a recommended shopping list of beds, crates, etc. that were tried and true. I really can't speaking highly enough of the Puppy Start Right class. If you have a puppy, you should take it as early as possible. Dylan went to great lengths to bring in different props, sounds, textures, etc. to help socialize Rosie to a wide array of stimuli that it would have been difficult to expose her to otherwise. Puppy Start Right, combined with a puppy play group, has left us with a dog that is well adjusted, happy-go-lucky, and gets along with everyone, everywhere. She is excited and willing to try new things and even looks forward to hopping in the bath tub after a mudding walk. We finished the Puppy Start Right class with all the basic skills we needed for our puppy days. We had a reliable sit, recall, etc. Even more importantly, Dylan taught us how to examine our puppy's behavior and problem solve different situations. This has been invaluable in the interceding months as we continue to broaden Rosie's horizon. At six months old, we now have a dog that: walks courteously on and off leash has reliable recall will sit quietly and patiently at an outdoor cafe doesn't bark and gets along with two cat siblings at home I'm not sure where we'd be without Dylan's training, but I know that taking his class has helped to maximize our joyful journey with Rosie.

We worked with Dylan to train our 1.5 year old rescue dog, Birdie, who came to us with a variety of…read moreissues, ranging from reactivity, to leash pulling, barking, marking and anxiety. Dylan helped us choose the right package for Birdie, and showed us how to work with her in a positive way that was very hands on, and fun for all of us. His techniques have really proven to be effective when you put the time in. We've been working with Dylan's techniques for a few months now after our training has wrapped up and we are definitely seeing a major improvement in our pup, which is making our lives much easier! I would highly recommend anyone looking to get some guidance for dog training to trust Dylan's ability to work with your dog in a loving way, and explain things in a way that is very thorough but still approachable and adaptable to your lifestyle. We're very grateful for Dylan's help and will be in touch again if we need more help with Birdie or get another dog down the line!

I can't say enough good things about Kadeem and the work he's done with my dog, Zeus. When we first…read morestarted training, Zeus had a lot of energy and needed more structure. Kadeem's approach was professional, consistent, and tailored specifically to Zeus's needs. Thanks to his guidance, Zeus has transformed into a confident, well-mannered dog. He's now a CTC-tested Canine Good Citizen, and I see the results of the training every day--whether we're out in public or just at home. The training is truly effective and has made a huge difference in both of our lives. I highly recommend Kadeem to anyone serious about bringing out the best in their dog

From the owner: At LPD we’re all about positive, science-backed training techniques that prioritize love, patience…read moreand discipline! We truly believe that any dog can be trained and embraced. Call for a consultation. (518) 612-9109