MY Dog was trained up at their farm . Now He is a mentor dog and goes up to the farm one a week . It is great he loves it Laura is really fantastic with him in the van in East Falls drop off and Pick up . read more

Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training - Remi the farm dog - Pet Training Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I had a terrible experience with Opportunity Barks. The City School program keeps the dogs crated for 6 of the 7 hours they are there. The 1 hour of training includes potty breaks. When I picked up my 8 month old puppy she was so desperate to pee and poo, she went on the sidewalk in front of their building. She was so thirsty she was panting and needed water immediately. I sent food but she did not eat there. To compound the problem, Communication is awful. They don't let you into the space. You stand on the sidewalk - they crack open the door and pull her in or give you the leash to take her out. You get 1 email a week with some photos and videos. They don't appear to read the form you fill out and don't discuss goals. I told them that my puppy has had training since birth, but their first video was showing me how to hold a leash. The second video was of a different dog being trained - they said my dog was tethered watching. Throughout the entire video I could hear her crying. No one attempted to soothe her at all. I provided constructive input verbally and in writing by email. Despite my bad experience at the City School, I was still interested in the Farm School. I went to the open house and they were much more transparent about what a typical day looks like there. But before the evaluation day (which is separate from the City School evaluation), they called me to say that they were cancelling the evaluation because I am not a good fit for their program. They said it had nothing to do with my dog, who is a very sweet Labrador, it is because I am not "aligned" with them. They were not willing to even listen to why I thought the Farm School would be a better fit than the City School, saying that the decision had been made "by senior management" and it is not worth wasting time talking about it. Wow! read more

We had previously trusted Opportunity Barks with our 2-year-old dog, but our most recent 10-day stay was extremely disappointing. The manager at the boarding and training facility has changed in the past year, and unfortunately, our experience under the new management was far below the standards we had previously expected. When we picked him up, he had diarrhea and arrived with a soiled behind -- yet we were never notified of any stomach issues during his stay. He also had a deep scratch across his nose, which we only noticed in the daily photos and had to point out to staff ourselves in order to get him proper care. When we submitted a review after his stay, staff claimed they had informed us about the scratch and that he hadn't had any stomach issues while in their care. Diarrhea is very evident with our white Samoyed, as his fur gets soiled and requires extra cleaning, so their claims felt like gaslighting rather than honest communication. Instead of acknowledging their mistakes or committing to improve, staff told us we were no longer welcome and even blocked our portal login. Their response was dismissive, unprofessional, and demonstrated a complete lack of accountability. For the health and safety of your dog, stay away from Opportunity Barks and their unethical, unprofessional behavior. read more

I would give Opportunity Barks and the team SIX stars if I could! We just finished a 4-week board-to-train program - Corrinne, Alana and team are FANTASTIC! I have the tools, resources and confidence to give the guidance and leadership my dog desires. In addition, my dog has grown in confidence, and learned many important skills, and our bond has grown. As a board to train grad, we also get access to really awesome grad classes. We did a swim class and are going to do an agility course, then a paddleboarding course, later this summer. I love Opportunity Barks, I am so grateful they are part of our family now. Best decision and investment I have ever made! Before we did the board-to-train program, we did an evaluation, then we did a few lessons before Wilma went to camp. read more

Opportunity Barks is amazing! My husband and I started enrolling our 8 week old puppy here for puppy socials and then started the puppy class with Britt. She was so amazing to learn from and helped us turn our crazy baby alligator into a puppy who is trying his very best to be a good boy. We still take him there for the advanced grad classes and we love the environment every time we go. We always learn so much and can't wait to continue our puppy training journey with Opportunity Barks!!! read more

Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training - Niles graduating from Puppy Foundations - Pet Training Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

OpBarks is AMAZING!!! We brought our dog here for puppy socials and dog school and we continue to bring him here for day care. The staff is a wealth of knowledge! The puppy socials were a great way for us to socialize our puppy appropriately and learn how to read their body language. They cap the socials at 5-6 puppies and all puppies must be under 6 months. Audrey helped introduce our timid puppy to other dogs and humans; in just a few socials, he wasn't hiding under chairs anymore and was learning appropriate play manners. We used the Old City location for Puppy School; Ingrid was our trainer there and was absolutely amazing in every aspect. Each class she would teach around 5 different skills/commands (e.g. eye contact, leash walking skills, downs with distractions, etc.) and show each person and their dog how to do it. She'd have you practice it all week and then have you review it at the beginning of the following week's class to examine the progress. The class was 5 weeks long and worth every single penny. We used the East Falls location for B1 Dog School and had Rebecca as our trainer. This class was 4 weeks long and helped our dog learn how to walk on a leash and in a straight line and how to avoid distractions. Again, well worth the money and time. We try to bring our dog to day care here once a week. This is not like other day cares, where the dogs just play all day; the trainers at OpBarks actually train your dog! Our dog is out cold the moment he gets in the car to go home; it's amazing. We've seen immense improvement in his behavior and manners. If I could give this place more than 5 stars I 100% would! Eternally grateful for all the wonderful women that run this fantastic business, the education they've provided us, and the love they show our dog! read more

I was skeptical to even sign up for training, as I felt I "knew everything" already with this being my 2nd puppy in the span of a couple years, but figured I might as well sign up for a group training to allow some weekly structured time for the puppy to learn the basics. I quickly realized how naive I was to think I wouldn't get much out of this training program after the 1st group training class. My puppy George & I did the group puppy foundation classes every Saturday morning for 6 weeks and both of us learned so much! There was just enough 1:1 time, while also having a few other puppies in the class, which I felt was perfect for George to learn in a setting that could be distracting, so he could learn as he would in the "real world." The instructors were SO informative & gave us tips & tricks outside the norm of simple commands, that truly go above & beyond. They showed up for each class with so much positive energy and brought humor into the trainings. I loved OpBarks so much that I ended up enrolling George into the puppy exploration farm school program once he finished the initial group classes. He spent 6 days (in the span of 2 weeks) getting the chance to leave the city life behind and be a "farm dog." I had so much confidence dropping him off each day with the instructors as they radiate their love/care for dogs through every interaction. They ensured George got proper play time, nap time, and training time. I received videos/pictures all throughout the day further confirming that George was having the time of his 5 month old life. And now I'm a happy owner as well, with the way he seems to be a pro with things like leash walking, dropping filthy items from the Philly sidewalks out of his mouth, and recall. I cannot recommend OpBarks (and specifically the trainer Sydney) enough! George & I are so blessed to have come across your training programs. read more

The ladies of Opportunity Barks took this knucklehead in and he returned as a much calmer, more attentive pup that we had hope for when we rescued him. read more

I had an evaluation for my dog Feb 29th. It's been 11 weeks and I'm still waiting for the writeup that is supposed to follow that includes details about the session and advised next steps for training. I paid $175 to have this company ghost me after the evaluation. In April after multiple follow ups and a form submission on their website they did reach out with some excuse about having a spam issue, but I still haven't heard back despite me following up three more times. read more

Took my 6 month old puppy German Shepherd here for group training classes (definitely regret not doing private lessons instead). Our class met every Wednesday night for a month. I honestly looked forward to the class every week. Our instructor was so kind and helpful, and also had a great sense of humor. In the group class, she never made anyone feel embarrassed even when their pup was acting out. I would recommend this place to any dog owner, they are also priced great. read more

Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training - Pet Training Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The team at Opportunity Barks clearly care about every pup and their families. They take this work seriously while having So Much Fun!

I don't even know where to begin!! I found Op Barks after my previous training place wasn't offering a puppy class I needed. I didn't know what to expect at Op Barks, but I have only been pleased as punch and blown away. My husband and I have had four bullmastiffs (and two other dogs) over 20 years, and we currently have our fourth bullmastiff puppy, Stella. We have always done puppy orientation/training/obedience classes with our dogs, especially since bullmastiffs are large imposing breeds and especially need to be well socialized and need to learn not to jump on people. I first enrolled Stella in OB's 5-week puppy starter class, then quickly added weekly puppy social hour. Then, I found out about their "day school," which hands down has to be the BEST five-hour day dogs get to spend away from their home. OB staffer Alyssa constantly keeps me in the loop about Stella's day by texting me pics, and at pick up time I get a little report card that outlines what skills Stella worked on during the day. The day school is the best combination of social play, personal training, and dog sitting. Stella is absolutely POOPED OUT when I pick her up, and more importantly, she loves returning. Alyssa, Audrey, and the rest of the staff absolutely LOVE dogs, and they seem to get to know them really quickly. They seem to learn each dog's personality and quirks, and needs, and they help us get a better understanding of our dog. I can't recommend Opportunity Barks enough for all your dog training needs. read more

We were brand new puppy parents who thought we were totally ready to bring our little guy home. We had read a few books, followed some dog people on Instagram, and talked to our friends and family about their experiences. We were confident in our plan. Then we picked him up, and he had clearly not read the same material we did. We struggled with demand barking, puppy nipping, pulling like a sled dog on the leash, jumping, flopping to the ground when he didn't want to come inside and more. A friend recommended we check out Opportunity Barks and we called right away, practically in tears, because we thought we would have to give our puppy back to the breeder. From the moment we made contact, we felt like we were being heard and that the staff understood our needs. Alyssa enrolled us in Day School Foundations, Ingrid taught us privately about the importance of life rewards and on Saturdays Leigh taught us all the skills we needed while Churro was working on being a calm, relaxed, attentive dog at school. Not to mention the countless Puppy Socials we attended to get Churro feeling confident around other dogs. When Churro started Day School Foundations there was a noticeable difference in him. More importantly, there was a noticeable difference in us too. Each day when we picked him up the ladies at Opportunity Barks shared their wisdom, their experiences, book recommendations, equipment suggestions and more. Each time we needed an equipment change Alyssa took the time to work with us to make sure we were all (Churro included) comfortable using it. All of this said, the highest regards we can truly give is that we have sent countless friends, family and dog-owning strangers directly to Alyssa and Opportunity Barks. Two close-in-age puppies started Day School and Puppy Foundations on our recommendation. Additionally multiple veterinarians at our practice have been so impressed with the farm program, training philosophy and Churro's ability to "be a dog" despite living in the city. We have learned how to enjoy our lives and be enriched by our puppy with the right tools and techniques instead of feeling held hostage by him and his behavior. There is not a single dog-parent we meet that we don't sing Opportunity Barks praises to! read more

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Yessss! We took the beginner dog class here and it was great. The trainer, Audrey, was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and a great instructor. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to improve their skills in handling their dog and understand how they work. read more

OpBarks is by far The Best!!! Excellent trainers and facilities, great for boarding, superior with helping prevent and correct inappropriate behaviors. Their day school is really fun for my dog, and structured, so he comes home tired from learning and playing. I would not have such well-behaved and awesome dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks age 6 and 1) without the OpBarks team. Take your puppy there right away. The sooner, the better. My two started puppy training at 10 weeks and not only am I very grateful but I also love when people compliment me on how well behaved they are. They are both happy, sweet dogs and they love OpBarks! read more

Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training - Al loves OpBarks! - Pet Training Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Loved working with Leigh! We just had one evaluation so will update as needed, but we definitely bought the one on one package set. I already feel like the techniques she taught us have helped. She was so nice and spent a TON of time with us. Like a TON. I felt so bad that we were keeping her from something (though she never made it seem like it and she never rushed us at all). I feel the prices are very reasonable for what you are getting. I'm excited to see how our dog changes and improves. read more

My 5 month old, 20 lb, Miniature Australian Shepard, "Bowie", was enrolled in the Puppy Foundations class this summer after a 6 week waitlist. I was concerned due to COVID-19, but decided we would give it a try to see if things felt safe. Bowie was excited when first coming into class (in a manner that I deem extremely appropriate for a 5 month old high-energy puppy ie: pulling on the leash to play with the other dogs). Immediately, Bowie was tightly squeezed and restricted by the instructor in such a way that I deemed extremely unnecessary and aggressive, until he yelped in fear and discomfort in a way I had not seen before and haven't since. This "technique" did not help me feel confident in the instructor or classes and additionally did not align with the "positive reinforcement" style of training that OPBark claims they operate under. Not only was I displeased with instruction, but I became uncomfortable with the lack of social distancing inside. The instructor had us walk in a circle closer then 6 feet with other participants, indoors. Finally, class ended a solid 10 minutes early. Despite our extremely poor experience and in the midst of a global pandemic occurring, we were denied a refund. I warn anyone against taking classes here. However, we did have a wonderful experience with classes at Unleashed Training at the Pant Dog Center. I would recommend choosing Unleashed Training instead if you want a more positive-reinforcement based, COVID-19 safe experience. read more

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I'm soo happy we found this dog training place! My partner and I are puprents to a 16wk old mini aussie and while she is well-behaved for a puppy and for her breed, we knew puppy classes were critical to ensuring she grows up to be a well-adjusted dog. We attend the 5 wk Pup Starter series as well as the socials every week (sometimes twice/wk at the Old City location and the East Falls location). I chose OppBarks after doing some google searching and a so-so experience at a puppy social at Unleashed Petco. "You get what you pay for" is my motto when it comes to taking care of dogs (I also dog sit/board on Rover). If you want dog lovers with high caliber "dog whispering" (LOL aka obsession with balanced, positive-reinforcement training), then this is the place for you. I spend so much of my time outside of work to raise my pup as best as I can and I feel good knowing the trainers here ensure I'm on-track and correcting behaviors. read more

Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training - Pet Training Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I feel so incredibly lucky that we've found Opportunity Barks! We welcomed a new chihuahua puppy into our home recently, which was a decision that our older chi really disagreed with. I sent Leigh a panicked email on a Sunday night because I was concerned about the aggression the adult dog was showing to the puppy -- and Leigh wrote me back, with a personal voice memo, just a few hours later. Since then, we've worked with Rebecca and Audrey with both of our dogs and they've been absolutely incredible. After every session, I not only feel like I've seen improvement in my dog, but I feel like I went to school too! I've learned so much about to read and understand our dogs' body language, and its helped me to be a better, more conscientious dog owner. The facilities are great, and every person we've worked with has been so calming and welcoming. I've loved working with OpBarks and am excited to see what our puppy learns when he starts their puppy class next week! read more

One year ago I became the naive and terrified mom to a serious but silly 6 week old German Shepherd puppy - Luna (Lunatic or Loonie when she's in a mood). I knew right away that I wanted to have her well-trained since she would likely be larger than me and many people have a stigma towards GSDs. Also, I knew that training would help me create a bond and communication system with my dog. Also - I have a chunky tuxedo cat man in my life and I wanted to feel confident that he would be safe around her. I did my research and came across the fabulous females of OpBarks. It was important to me that it was a female owned business and that they utilized balanced training. We started out with the Foundations program, did many puppy socials, B2 tune ups, the farm adventure program, and now she is a mentor dog at Farm Dog! Fast forward to 1 year later - she is indeed larger than I am AND the trust and understanding that Loonie and I have is an unbreakable bond. She is happy, she is confident, and she is thriving. We've been off-leash hiking since she was 6 months old and despite being a pandemic puppy and a suspicious GSD, she loves her human friends and feline brother. I am confident in my understanding of her needs and when I am not, I know who to turn to for help. There have been new questions at every stage of development and the support that OpBarks provides is second to none. The ladies at OpBarks and FarmDog love what they do and want humans and are dedicated to helping dogs and their humans speak a common language. Her little heart burst with joy when we pull up for a lesson or when she gets dropped off at Farm Dog. Loon and I are so grateful for everything that OpBarks has taught us so far and look forward to learning more! read more

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tl;dr - Opportunity Barks is the absolute fucking best at what they do. You won't regret working with them. The reviews don't lie - these folks are the best. We have a very anxious, reactive rescue dog, and while we're lifelong dog owners, this is our first time at the behaviour/training rodeo outside of puppy class 101. We've picked Leigh's brain via the website - and I mean, how often does an expert offer thoughtful, considerate advice for free? We scheduled our initial meeting through Jessica, and she was a dream. And when we met Michaela, our trainer, we truly saw a light at the end of the tunnel. While our pup's behavior still needs some work, knowing that we have a team of experts who CAN help us is life changing for our family (2 and 4 leggeds alike). We're planning to start 1 one 1 training with Michaela, and while the road ahead of us might be longer than some, there's no one better to show us the way. read more

What a terrific training school! I enrolled my Pitbull in a four week Agility for Fun class and he had a ball! The class was small, about 6 dogs and humans, each class we learned a couple of new tricks then had plenty of time to practice under supervision by an awesome instructor who has the patience of a saint! Can't wait to enroll the pup in a new class. You won't be disappointed! read more

The facility is clean and easy to work in. Audrey is our trainer and she is excellent at connecting and explaining. Warm and professional. Opportunity Barks stays connected with newsletters and update. We are fans! read more

Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training - Bandit the standard Poodle puppy - Pet Training Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I absolutely love Opportinity Barks! They have taught me so many great techniques for leash handeling and getting my high energy dog to "chill out". The products that they sell are high quality and my pup loves all of them. I have taken classes and have had 2 or 3 private lessons with Leigh which have all been great, and the day school training program is fantastic - it even comes with a super cute report card that breaks down all the areas Rory worked on that day. I highly recommend this facility! read more

The staff at Opportunity Barks is super helpful. My overly friendly chocolate lab and I recently moved to Old City and needed some help with leash walking. We both learned some 'new tricks' on our first visit that have changed our walking fun already. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the Opportunity Barks staff. read more

Truly understands dogs, and their humans! Leigh really was a lifesaver for my 4 year old rescue with leash aggression. Now the gals are helping me keep my sanity with a rescued puppy addition! read more

We love these guys! We have taken a few classes with them and it's always a great experience. Beautiful location, lots of good info, and knowledgeable trainers! Highly recommend Leigh, Alyssa,and the rest of the crew! read more

I wish I could take Lily to more classes here but we're moving. I only made it to 4 of the 6 classes but I still felt like I got my money's worth. I have noticed definite improvements in Lily's attentiveness to my commands, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Lily and I enjoyed the exercises we went through in class and the instructor was great. Fun/useful time! read more

I had my first night with my 10-week old sheltie puppy and already had questions about crate training! It was amazing that I could get free pointers from Leigh at Opportunity Barks via email! I am eternally grateful for the support, and I have enrolled in the puppy classes! So far the written materials are incredibly helpful:) This puppy mom needs expert guidance! read more

I wish I could write a review like the ones below, but my experience (if you can even call it that) has been just the opposite. We have a new dog we rescued from a shelter in North Philly. He is adorable but has some serious behavior issues like barking and biting, so I sent an email to Leigh Siegfried, the owner of Opportunity Barks, stating that we were desperate and asking for help. (Interestingly, I had written a very favorable article about Leigh and her business that ran July 12, 2018, in the Chestnut Hill Local.) I got a reply stating that Leigh would contact me within four days. After four days and no contact, I sent a second email asking for her to contact me. Neither she nor anyone else did. So the next day I emailed again asking for a reply. It has been three more days, and I still have not heard from Leigh or anyone else at Opportunity Barks. I had made it clear that this was an urgent matter, so it is beyond my understanding why, after eight days and three messages, a businessperson would continually fail to respond to a potential customer who is extremely anxious to employ their services and spend money with them. I wish I knew how these other yelp contributors were able to get their calls or emails returned. They obviously knew something I do not. I gave Opportunity Barks a one-star rating only because I could not figure out how to give them a no-star rating. read more

I HIGHLY recommend using OpBarks. We've now done their dog starter class as well as 1 private session. The starter class is absolutely perfect and a great start to bonding with your pup and learning basic skills. I feel so comfortable working with their trainers, and they truly care about your pup and how things are going. For our private lesson, Leigh was such a pleasure to work with, and the techniques she taught us have already been helping a ton! Our husky, foxhound mix is super happy, as are we :) She is really well-behaved, loyal, and loves playing with her new lure toy. We can't wait to sign up for more training classes! They truly are the best in the area! read more

Trish F. We really loved Opportunity Barks! We took our 10 month old rescue terrier mix to the starter class. He was having anxiety and control issues. Our trainer Audrey was terrific. She was very animated and instructive and professional. We plan to continue with our next class very soon. We would recommend Opportunity Barks and Audrey to anyone in need of all types of dog training or dog issues. read more

Excellent training using positive reinforcement. Leigh is a highly qualified trainer who uses behavior modification methodologies that are also used by veterinary specialists in behavior. As a veterinarian, I highly recommend Leigh to help you and your pet have a strong loving bond that will make both of you very happy. I am currently having her help me with my new rescue and greatly enjoy our classes, as does my new pup. read more

OPBarks has helped me with all three of my dogs! From my obedient (on her way to CGC/therapy certification) eldest, to my shyest, who we built confidence with on the agility course, and even my Bad Boy who is learning his manners and a calmer demeanor, Leigh is in touch with all dog personalities and needs. She has a way of understanding what's behind the behavior so you can get to the basics and work from the ground up in having a well behaved, friendly, social pooch! read more

We love Opportunity Barks! We got a 9 week old Chocolate Labrador puppy who hadn't really been socialized (he had been living in a barn with his litter-mates) and was temperamental and shy around new people and other dogs. For example, he growled at the vet when she was looking at his teeth, and barked pretty sharply at my dad when he met him. We were pretty concerned about this pattern at such a young age, and and a friend who is a vet suggested taking him to a trainer. We met Leigh and she immediately put us at ease. She was great with Tuffy (our puppy), and taught us techniques to calm him down and make him relax. Since meeting her and working with him using the tips she taught us, he is a new, happy, confident puppy. He is now happy to meet anyone new, and is slowly even gaining some self-assurance around other large dogs. Leigh made us feel so much better and more capable as new pet owners. We went back to see her to work on Tuffy's normal puppy behavior (like biting my bathrobe and ankles, jumping up, or not coming when called) and she had even more tricks up her sleeve. Working with her makes training fun, as opposed to being a broken record of saying NO! to the dog all the time. We can't wait to go back for puppy classes in a few weeks. read more

I took an agility class with my pup and had a ball! Leigh was patient and very informative with advice. The class was lots of fun and creative. My pup responded well to all the commands and took over the course. This class was a great way for me to bond with my pup, and provided a different technique for teaching her commands. I can't even begin to say enough, Leigh is wonderful!! read more

I can't say enough good things about Opportunity Barks. My 2.5-year-old pup had already gone through puppy kindergarten but needed a bit of a refresher, and some leash training. Our trainer, Audrey, was amazing! I loved our check-ins at the start of class, where each owner had an opportunity to ask questions or talk about our pup's behaviors. Audrey was able to give me insight into my pup's behaviors, which was informative, and also super helpful in understanding what my pup was trying to say to me. I could see improvement from week to week, and by the end of the training, my pup was listening to me and following my cues better than I have ever seen before. I'm already planning to sign my pup up for workshops through Opportunity Barks. I would 100% recommend their services! Thank you, Audrey, for a wonderful experience! ~Amanda read more

Enjoying working with Leigh and Jessie at their Old City site. They've been helpful and patient with my sometimes stubborn lab-pit mix. Great training and useful training support equipment. read more

When we got a puppy a few months ago, I was at my wits end with crate training/housebreaking. Michaela at Op Barks was a lifesaver! We signed up for the puppy class but it was a few weeks until class started. Michaela agreed to come out and give us some tips and techniques to make it through the interim. The activities she showed me helped get or pup more comfortable staying alone in her crate. The puppy class was a blast. Our pup learned a lot. I also highly recommend the puppy social hour. While our dog of course benefited from the socialization, I learned a lot about how to judge what are appropriate interactions between dogs. She pointed out what is balance play between the puppies and when they should be separated for a time out. The facilities are nice, though a little hot in summer. Cost-wise it was comparable to other puppy intro classes. All in all it was a great experience and if we hadn't moved out of the Philly area, we definitely would've continued training with Op Barks/Michaela. read more

The website let me make a reservation and I even got a confirmation of the reservation. I then found out last minute that they did not have any available space. I am now scrambling for a boarding facility. I would not recommend this place. read more