I have been working with Jenn and Gus at Optimum Dog for 1.5 months now with my 5 month old GSD including a ten day board and train. When he came home after his stay he was a new dog- nice leash manners, no more nipping, excellent place and call off for a 5 month old pup. Everywhere we go people comment on how well behaved and socialized he is. I have also done one-on-one training for me and my boy which has been invaluable for me to gain confidence and learn new ways to engage with my dog. I would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone wanting results and willing to put in the work! read more

Very happy with the training there. Ringo is the best. You all did so much for him. Thank you so much. He the perfect gentleman. read more

Optimum Dog - Ringo is amazing!! - Pet Training Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

Don't waste your money. Our dog has issues with ingesting socks and other items, so we asked them to focus on that along with staying in place during her three week stay at Optimum. Our dog was home for a month and swallowed a sock and had to have emergency surgery to remove it. The training cost and surgery cost were well over $5000! We were supposed to have scheduled times to visit and train along side them, since this is important to success when you bring your pet home, and we had to call to remind them. We only had one training with them while our dog was there. They are not very professional and when I raised concerns with them, they put the blame on me. But I believe if you are paying for a service, you would hope that some of the training sticks after your own comes home. read more

I would be very careful about using these folks. You need to be specific on what you wish to accomplish. We had a positive experience with one person and an absolute nightmare with another. Our dog was handed over to this person without our consent or prior knowledge for "training" we had not discussed. ​ read more

Thanks to Jen and her staff, I can co-exist w/my very stubborn English Bulldog, without continually telling her "no", "stop", "don't do that". I. know that Optimum Dog uses STEM collars but I wanted to try using positive reinforcement methods first. Going in for board & train, my EBD knew all of the commands but, in typical Bulldog fashion, she literally didn't give two $%#&@ about following those commands, unless it was her idea. Jen and her team were on board with starting with positive reinforcement methods, with the hope of not needing to move to STEM. My EBD came home, and was better at listening, but within a couple of weeks time she was back to giving ole mom the paw if she didn't want to do something. Additionally, we spend time at my fiancés house, on five acres, not fully fenced. I needed my furry little angel to come when called, not run out into the road because she was chasing a deer and to "leave it" when told to do so...because...being kissed by this love muffin, who just ate a pound of chicken *&^%, is not my idea of a good day. So back to Optimum Dog she went, this time for STEM training, and I wish I had done this from the beginning!! This was just the little push she needed to be a secure, well rounded, obedient and happy pup! STEM training, for her, looks something like this; she wears her collar, her STEM number is 6 (0-100), it is so mild that I cannot feel the STEM when I put the collar on my skin to test it out. It's just enough of a gentle tap to get attention, much less even than tugging on a leash/collar to redirect her. I reserve "vibrate" for "leave it". Vibrate gets an immediate reaction of "I'm not touching it mom, I promise"; who knew?! I always thought vibrate would be less annoying but turns out, with my pup, that isn't the case. Anyway, I am grateful that Jen and her team walked me through this training, utilizing the methods that I was comfortable with and then training me on how a STEM collar really works. It's not about "shocking" or "pain", which was the misconception that I had going into this initially. If you are looking for a great trainer, Jen is one of the best! If you are looking for warm & fuzzy and a woman that is going to make excuses for being strong and independent, not going to find that here. Jen is a strong woman with strong opinions and ideas. She has a profitable, flourishing business, in an industry run by men. That alone, garners my respect!! As a bonus: My brand new SUV broke down just outside of her parking lot. I text her that I was stuck and she came running....like literally, running. I was sitting in my car, blocking traffic and a driveway, cars speeding by giving me the "bird" and yelling at me; my anxiety at an all time high. Jen grabbed my keys, did some GM magic, popped the hood, messed with the battery, put gas in my car, because maybe the fuel sensor wasn't working...who knows...When OnStar didn't call/text or show up, after over an hour (ultimately they called SEVEN HOURS LATER...that's another review...I digress), Jen was on the phone with the tow company getting me a tow truck and on the phone with her husband getting me help and a ride home. She didn't have to do any of this, but...she did. Shine theory!! When one woman shines, we all shine!! I've read all of the reviews for this business, the good and bad. While I can understand the frustration in a couple, with not being contacted or missed appointments, there are some reviews that are simply pet owners not taking responsibility for their own issues. It's often easier to shrug the blame on to someone else, rather than to look in the mirror and ask "what part do I play in this situation". Take all reviews, mine included, with a grain of salt. Not every person or every business is going to be the right fit for everyone. But, if you are looking for a good trainer, in a clean, safe environment, I suggest reaching out for a tour and conversation. **I am not paid to leave this review** **I am not a personal friend or scared employee (as was suggested by a previous reviewer) **I will not, did not, have not, received any compensation for this review** (I think I covered all the have not bases...bwawawa) read more

Optimum Dog - My babies!! - Pet Training Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

See all

Lisa is great!!! Attached pic of us in class then 1st competition read more

See all

Hello again. This will be my last post about my dog, Fred, that Jen trained several years back. I had been posting updates from time-to-time to report to everyone that Fred continued to be the best dog after his training. We were also able to keep up what Jen taught us as owners. It is true that you cannot just train your dog, you have to be trained as well and keep up the training. Fred enjoyed his life after his training. He was a happier dog and less stressed. Read my past posts to see what Jen did for Fred. Last night Fred went to visit his granddad in heaven. This morning I am shattered into a million pieces. But I will forever be grateful for the training he got that turned him around. read more

Optimum Dog - My love, my heart, Fred. - Pet Training Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

Unfortunately I never even had the chance to bring my dog to them. I messaged them inquiring about training and we set up a time for them to call. That call never came. I texted the next day and set up another time for them to call. Again, they didn't call me. I reached out and left a message. I finally was able to get them on the phone after some back and forth. We set up a day for me to bring my dog in for an evaluation, pending them getting back to me on the time. That never happened. I reached out again, they apologized and said they would get back to me in about 10 days. That was almost a month ago. I know the head trainer had personal things going on and I tried to be understanding, but there was a severe lack of communication from anyone working there. read more

Jennifer S. aka Jenn was consistently rude and not responding to my calls/messages regarding an update on my Dog's progress. After 90 days of boot-camp (originally it was scheduled for 70 days but she is so lost never reached out to inform me about completion of my dog's boot-camp) my dogs lacks basic household manners. Training and goals: More than 50% of goals were missed even after 90 days of training. When finally we came for pickup, She asked money for extra stay while earlier she was not even responding to my text messages regarding an update on progress. She blamed my dog for not being able to meet even 50% of goals. She said it's a mixed dog, and it has personality problems, Something to notice, my dog is an Australian Shepherd dog one of the most intelligent breeds on earth. Dog wellbeing: She kept my dog 'thirsty' and used 'shock collars' on the dog, my dog behaved like always thirsty for a couple of weeks after he returned from her torture center. He is so scared of everyone because of the horror he had gone through that he pees on the floor if he hears a sudden noise, or you talk to him for his mistakes (guilty dog mode). I am planning on suing her and already shared all the documents and communications to my lawyer. Her training center is a torture house, and it should be closed for what she is doing to the dogs. read more

A trainer at this facility, McKenzee, nearly killed our dog. He was sent to them for board and train, as he was a shelter dog that needed a little extra help. McKenzee took him home, and refused to provide updates for weeks, even to her boss Jenn. When he was finally presented he was nearly dead due to starvation. Jenn spent hundreds of dollars getting him healthy, which is great, but she never disclosed any of this information to us. They hid it all. I have seen her, personally, use extremely aversive tactics that are inhumane and abusive on dogs in her care to get them "in line". Do yourself a favor and take your beloved family member to a trainer that really knows what they are doing and is aware of science based training, which clearly states that punishment based, aversive training only makes a dog worse, not better. You will be wasting your time taking your dog here to be "trained" read more

Jen helped trained our first dog, a German Shepherd rescue from a backyard breeder. When looking for a second paw companion, she was fostering a surrender from a Cali dog pound, and she helped us introduce them and make sure they were a good fit. We did board & train, regular 1-2hr sessions, at the training spot in Mt Vernon but also in parks around the general area. We learned how to responsibly use an ecollar & prong collar. (And for those of you that think positive training is the only training, do yourselves a favor and read and learn about some opposing views with real world examples). All throughout the training process we were actively involved and asked questions when we had them, so when I read some other negative reviews about this place, and how people are expecting a final delivered perfect product, all I think about is that they should get a toy, or something that requires zero effort from them. We are in our third dog now, a Belgian Malinois also a rescue from Cali, and Optimum dog is and will still be our spot to go. I can't say enough good things about them. read more

I adopted a dog the day after I moved across the country (Oct. 2019); he came from South Korea, didn't understand English, and was basically feral. Within a week with me he had a bad experience with a daycare owner (man) he was going to do half-day daycare and training, that "broke" him. He was then-uncontrollable and tried to attack all men. After calling 15+ trainers, I was referred to Optimum Dog and they took him the next day. I could not be more grateful. They saved Sam Adams's life (I was told to put him down or return him by multiple "trainers"). Working with Jenn and McKenzie has been incredible. I sent a list of "must haves", "important to haves" and "would be nice to have..." focus areas for Sam specifically (i.e. NOT must be good at fetch). One example: he must not try to attack men, as we live in a multi-unit building. Nice to have? I'd love to bring him to work some day. They helped manage my expectations, to understand that Sam had a lot to unlearn (behaviors/fears) before he could start to learn, but they focused on the top-down list. Every dog is different, not every dog will end up the "perfect" specimen. I received updates every couple of days, and asked for updates on the occasion - they sent pictures with updates because I was so sad to have left him there after a short time together. Did Sam come back knowing 100% of the tasks on the website? No, because no dog will; he's not a computer awaiting programming. But he came back about 75% of the way improved with his fears, and he and I worked through them within 1-2 months of being home (#1 fear - statues). Did he pee in the house once when he got home? Yes (once), he was over-stimulated! But with a solid routine, changes in *MY* behavior (I'm his alpha, not his best friend (shh, don't tell anyone, I'm both) - I use easy commands, not deductive reasoning) and the work I've put in, he is a new man. At-home side-note: we constantly work on Sam's confidence. I celebrated every single win for him when he was first home from training, and I kept it up in smaller bouts. Examples: If he walked by a statue or a construction site, I praised the heck out of him. He's more independent about retrieving toys from underneath a bookshelf, because I say "it's okay, go ahead!" and celebrate him when he does it himself. A lot of the at-home success depends on the work we humans put in, and how we adjust to the dogs' new skills and their needs. Within a week of being home, after 1+ hour a day regular confidence builds and training, Sam could come to work with me for half-days, rolling over for treats and belly rubs from anyone he met. This was less than a month after he tried to attack any man or masculine-presenting person! Jenn and McKenzie even came to my office (ah, pre-quarantine life) to do some office-training with us, which meant I could get more work done with him there. They were always available for one-off questions - i.e. "how do I get him to look at my eyes, not my treat-hand when I tell him 'look'." Sam and I consistently work on training and drills and confidence work. At home he is so good at drills (which work his mind), and he now knows over 20+ Tricks in addition to the necessary commands for safety (come, sit, stay, place, out). He has gone back for shorter training sessions -i.e. when he decided to start ignoring me entirely because I backslid on training, and if he sees McKenzie or Jenn he loses his mind with excitement. He loves them and doesn't even look back when I drop him off...thanks, Sam. I've seen some vitriolic comments about the eCollars. These aren't "shock" collars. I was hesitant at first (given the stigma and my limited knowledge), but Jenn and McKenzie taught me how to use an eCollar safely and effectively. I now use it on the lowest setting Sam will respond to just to get his attention when he's being a turd (he's smart, he knows how to be one). I primarily use the vibrate function, which vibrates like a smart watch. Don't rush into dog training. Ask questions, think more about the dog you want for your lifestyle (a dog who comes camping, one who isn't afraid of men, a dog who loves the car), and understand that learning is a process. Be clear about what you're asking for, because they can tailor the experience to the dog's needs. Expect to adjust your own methods as well, and be ready to manage your expectations. If you're ready for that, text Jenn and team now, because they're amazing. My final note is - I've referred at least 5 colleagues to Optimum Dog, and every single one has had glowing reviews. In group email chats about dog training I see them also bring up the success in their own dogs from coming here. Not one of their dogs had the same reason for going (puppies, older dogs with nervous aggression, dogs who needed help being not-jerks on leashes). I'll keep suggesting Jenn, McKenzie and team whenever I can! read more

Optimum Dog - Taking his education very seriously on class picture day at Optimum Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

See all

We just want to reiterate that his actual training is not in dispute. He was very receptive to the signals and commands he learned. Our review is directly related to his very underweight condition of which he was returned to us. It was the lack of communication with us regarding his day to day updates regarding his weight decline. This company/personnel were informed that he had stomach and digestive issues upon relinquishing him to their care. The specific feed he did well on was provided. We knew that the feed provided to him at the time they took possession of him was not enough to last him for the duration he to was to be in residence. We asked during his stay if we needed to provide additional feed and were assured their "was plenty." We had no idea that he had been experiencing bowel, digestive issues, or was experiencing weight loss which led to the company/personnel to provide him with their decision to provide him with higher calorie supplements and feed as they noticed he was losing weight and mass. His condition was NEVER addressed during his stay. We never knew that this company said he arrived constipated until they just recently disclosed this to us regarding our negative review. We asked directly if we needed to provide him him additional feed. This would have been the optimum time to address his weight loss and their "professional" observations to add feed and or supplements to increase his calories. We could have been given the opportunity to consult with our veterinarian regarding this issue. This did not happen. We choose not to meet with this organization for follow up training. We did address our dissatisfaction with his returned physical condition in person. We offed to pay in full the training fee, however the owner refused our payment due to our dissatisfaction regarding his health. We did post a negative comment on Yelp, A widely used consumer review site. 2 months after the fact, this company now wants full payment. We have been accused of slanderous content which cannot dispute the fact the he lost a pound per day while in their care. When asked about the amount of time he spent on a treadmill, we're told 4-5 times per day for approximately 45 minutes each time. This company was NEVER authorized to make unilateral decisions regarding his dietary needs. There was no signed authorization to grant this authorization. And there was no information or outreach provided to us regarding his overall health during his residence. They now want to take us to court. Well, bring it on! We're more than prepared read more

Optimum Dog - Creek"s rib and hip bones after 11 days of being with Optimum Dog. He lost 11 lbs on 11 days. - Pet Training Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

See all

I have been taking my GSD puppy to Optimum since Lulu was about 6 months old. Jenn was referred to me by some friends who had seen her work with dogs and called her, "the dog whisperer." We have worked with Jenn, Charlie and Elner. Their team provides a great balance of training for teaching not only Lulu but also great handler techniques for me! I now have the knowledge and tools to take my puppy and my toddler out for walks, on public trails, hikes, to parks etc., without any worry of dealing with bad puppy behavior. I have boarded Lulu with them multiple times and they are amazing with communication and even sending photos! I usually pick Lulu up without any notice and when I show up I always see a bunch of happy dogs! We will definitely be lifelong clients. read more

Optimum Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

See all

On August 4, 2021 "puppy trainer" Elner Troupe used cruel, abusive and deceptive techniques as part of their "puppy hybrid program". She placed a concealed prong collar on my 16 week old labrador retriever puppy and stepped on the leash 6" from his neck. My puppy screamed and struggled for over 30 seconds, until he collapsed at her feet. This is NOT in alignment with AKC STAR puppy program. read more

We first met Jenn back in spring 2020 as my fiancé and I realized we needed help in guiding our German Shepherd puppy, Falco. Falco stayed with Jenn for 5 weeks and she was able to show us how to make our dog work for us. Falco was not good on the leash and was very reactive but with the right tools (e collar, etc.) we learned to shift his focus so that he would pay attention to us. We also did some nose work with her and we found that Falco was really good at it so that was our training during winter. Through this entire time Falco threw up randomly and had chronic diarrhea so we suspected he wasn't a healthy dog. Jenn was kind enough to share with us some recipes that helped him at first to control his diarrhea but he kept getting worse. Through summer and fall of 2020 she was Falco's advocate sending me research and medicine/supplements that could help us make him feel better. She was more knowledgeable and helpful to us than any vet we encountered (2 regular vets and 1 specialist). In fact, she was the reason why we even found out Falco had IBD. I'm sure with all the years of experience she has seen it all and she helped me ask for the right tests and medicines for him. She spent countless hours on the phone with us and she always was there to answer any questions we had. She was truly a blessing for us.. ultimately we had to put Falco down back in spring 2021 but she was still there with us through this process. Jenn is not only a good trainer but she is a CARING and EMPATHETIC guide that has helped us (first time German Shepherd owners) learn how to truly care for a dog (from cleaning ears, clipping nails to obedience training). We realize in hindsight that the only ones that needed training were us and that training is every day and constant. No good trainer will get you a "fixed" dog... also if you want that kind of dog then get yourself a stuffed animal. You HAVE to put in the work. It has been a hard process and we miss our Falco everyday but thanks to her we met our rainbow dog Baker that we adopted through an organization -Woof project - she introduced us to so we are lucky we still get to see and train with her. We highly recommend Jenn and her team and hopefully you are lucky enough to get to truly know Jenn because she is the best there is out there and I know that the dogs are her number 1 priority read more

Optimum Dog - Falco and baker in training - Pet Training Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

See all

We have worked with Jen, Charlie Elner and we cannot say enough good things about all of them. They really care about the animals they work with, helping their clients learn the skills they need to be a better handler, and offer all kinds of suggestions on tools to train the best dog possible. After 6 months with our Belgium Malinois rescue who had no prior training, was pretty crazy when we brought him home and we weren't even sure if it we could make it work to keep him... his recall is amazing, he has learned to live with our cat and livestock (despite his high prey drive), he walks well on a leash, knows a plethora of tricks and commands, he has turned into a happy, hard-working dog.... We love him so much! And we are excited to keep learning together with Optimum Dog! Thank you so much you guys, Dallas can't wait till he sees you all next time! read more

My first experience with Jenn was 15 years ago when she trained my first Dobie. During those years she has boarded and trained both of my Dobies. Both of my Dobies were so well trained my neighbors would ask where did I train them? I recommended Optimum and they all have said they were more than pleased with Optimum. As to boarding, every year, including this year, Optimum as taken my dog for at least a week. It is a no worry experience for me and my dog loves to see Jenn. I would not board my dog anywhere else. read more

Do yourself a favor and if your looking for a professional dog trainer, optimum dog training is the best their is and you should defiantly hire her. My dog was very insecure dog and had become aggressive. I took my pup to another trainer and unfortunately was a complete waste of time and money and not to mention amateur hour compared to Optimum Dog training. My pup had bitten a friend and I was advised to put him down and really didn't have it in my heart to do so and by the grace of god I found Jen. When she came to get my pup it was only supposed to be for 16 days but my dog was/is a stubborn dog so she wanted to make sure he was solid when he came back to me so she kept him for 30 days, and after those 30 days I got him back I couldn't believe the difference and how well behaved he is. You do still have to work him and be solid with him but Optimum Dog Training is WELL WORTH the money. It's nice to see your friends and family who thought I had a crazy dog, to see the difference in him and how well he is behaved. Optimum Dog Training continues training after the dog is trained and the tough part is training me so I can be solid dog owner which is another great asset of this company in making sure the owners know how to handle their dog. If I get another dog I will without question hire Optimum Dog or refer anyone that needs a trainer. read more

We had a great experience with OptimumDog. We had a dominant, I'm going to rule the world personality type black lab. He didn't listen at all and he was impossible to walk. After training he still has those traits but we know how to deal with it now. We chose to do the in person training rather than the trainer taking him home. I'm glad we did, we felt part of the step by step process. Chelsea was our trainer and she was great. She gave us tons of advice and the tools needed to make him a great dog. He waits at the door now, comes when called and I'd say about 75% of the time he walks right next to me, loose leash. Does he need some work? Yes, that's to be expected but there has been a dramatic change in his behavior and we know how to work with him now. Thank you Chelsea and Optimum Dog. read more

This place is not good. They do not do what they say they are going to do and their training methods are questionable. Jen "The Punisher" is probably using abusive methods to "train" dogs when no one is looking. They might say they are well versed in the most recent and positive training methods but that doesn't mean they themselves are practicing those methods. It's a strange place. Lots of promises but no follow through. I'm sure some explanations and excuses will be made to defend against anyone who questions them but there's really no good excuse for it. Anyone could watch a few YouTube videos and train their own dog better than what they could show you and for a great deal cheaper. I would definitely not leave my dog alone with them. Yikes!! Trainers who scream at dogs telling them to shut up is bizarre - red flag I would say. Save yourself some money and avoid this Cracker Jack establishment. read more

Optimum Dog is fantastic! Our trainer Chelsea has done an amazing job teaching us how to work with our Vizsla Pup, rusty. She gave us the tools that have enabled us to teach Rusty to be a great family dog that listens and obeys. We have recommended Chelsea and Optimum dog to our closest friends. They have been very accommodating to our family's busy schedule. I can't say enough good things! read more

Khaos lived up to his name before we went to Optimum Dog. He now is so much better with other dogs, and us. He doesn't pull when we all him and he LISTENS. I would recommend this trainer anytime. read more

Optimum Dog - The one and only Khaos! - Pet Training Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

We paid for a 15 day program for $1700. The list of things our dog was supposed to learn is listed on their website. After the program our dog can not do most any of the things listed. He does not listen to "Place". The trainer couldn't even get him to stay on place without reminding him every minute or two to go back to place or "tapping" him and showing back to place. Tapping is using a ecollar. She used a shock collar on our puppy without letting us know that is how she trains dogs. He does not wait at open doors, does not heal, does not respect personal space or no jump up, doesn't know what "kennel" means and is not potty trained with a potty bell - I could go on and on. We told her in the beginning that using a potty bell was our number one priority and he can't do it. He does not ring it to go outside. He does not ring it when you tell him "touch". He peed on the carpet right next to us the first day back. He basically learned nothing in the 23 days she had him. He has the same EXACT behavior and has not changed at all. She was "tapping - as she calls it) using the shock collar almost constantly on him when she was trying to show us what he learned. Our poor puppy. She tried to blame it on us that its our fault. But our puppy learned nothing. Horrible waste of money. read more