Archie went to camp with Gina for three weeks and came home a different dog. I'm still a little…read moreamazed. He's a five-pound chihuahua who shakes when someone new walks in the room and basically lived on my lap or behind my knees. I'd worried a trainer would either give up on him or scare him worse, but from the very first day Gina put so much thought into making him feel safe. She texted that afternoon to say he'd already jumped into her daughter's arms. When he barely ate the first couple days and I got worried, she talked me through it and told me he'd come around, which he did. She took him on long walks around the park and the neighborhood to burn off his nerves before she ever asked anything of him. His crate became his safe spot at her house, a familiar place that was all his in the middle of a busy home with other dogs and parrots and training going on. And she started him on tiny, predictable rules, sitting before a door, coming when called, so he always had something he understood to hold onto in a new situation. She explained that for an anxious dog, knowing what to expect is half the battle. She also refused to pick him up every time he got scared, and warned me that part would be harder for me than for him. She was right. Somewhere around the second week he started smiling in the photos. He was hanging out with her little dogs and her family, going on field trips to the park and coffee shops, staying on his place while she walked away, heeling next to her. He knows sit, place, heel and here now, and he does them for me too. The turnover at my apartment took a couple hours and it was real work. She sat me down and explained everything before we ever touched the dog, then had me practice with Archie while she corrected what I was doing wrong. She's kept sending reminders and answering my questions since, including a few dumb ones about shampoo and brushes. Here's the part I still can't get over. We went to a party a couple weeks after he got home, which is a huge deal for Archie. He sat on other people's laps. He licked hands. He barely cowered. Six weeks ago he would have spent the whole night shaking under my chair. Everyone at the party noticed and commented on the change in his demeanor. I was a proud mama that day! If your dog is the anxious type, the one who hides, trembles, won't eat around strangers, or has to be carried everywhere, I really want you to hear this. A lot of trainers are set up for big confident dogs and don't know what to do with a scared little one. Gina does. She never rushed him, never forced him, and never made me feel silly for babying him all these years. She reads a nervous dog and meets them where they are, then slowly builds them up until they can handle the world on their own. That's exactly what Archie needed. I honestly feel like Gina is just getting started with him, and I'm already thinking of when I can work with her again. If you have a tiny, anxious dog and you're on the fence, go with Gina. Archie is a different dog and so am I. Thank you again for everything you did for him, and for me. Archie sends smooches. Sheri

I can't say enough good things about Brandi and Perry Bailey of RSK9. Their work has given my pup…read moreand I so much freedom and balance. Pebbles (blue heeler, 1.5 years old) would never listen to me, would not sit or lay still, and had a lot of other obedience issues that caused her to be stressed or confused. She was a TOUGH dog to train and I was concerned I couldn't find the solution for her to get basic concepts. This view has completely changed since working with RSK9's 3 week program. I would HIGHLY recommend them and their methods - you can tell they genuinely love working with dogs and it's made a huge difference in giving my dog the chance to find real rest at home. They send DAILY updates with photos and videos which was so nice. This isn't a regular class or something you just pay for; it's truly an investment that you and your dog will be using for the time you get to share together. Side note: it's worth doing 3 weeks versus 2 weeks. At the 2 week mark is when Pebbles really started to understand her marks and cues. From here there is so much more that can be refined and Brandi/Perry really capitalize on that threshold being crossed!

My experience with Lara and Shera was unfortunately not a good one…read more Lara, our assigned trainer, presented me with a prong collar at the initial assessment for our 35lb basset hound and told me that this was an "essential training tool" that is "very common". We found out later that this was not true - in fact, most people were horrified that we had allowed our dog to be trained this way. I'll front this by saying my husband and I did not do a whole lot of research on different training methods beforehand and are first-time dog owners, but looking back, we really wish we had pushed back on this. The combination of the collar and Lara's request to withhold all dry food except in training turned our formerly sweet and scared dog into an aggressive food guarder who was still scared to go on walks, but now growled and snapped at our cats. After 4 sessions, we consulted a behaviorist and told Lara and Shera we would be switching to another trainer on their recommendation. We received very defensive emails from both of them about the impropriety of seeing a behaviorist without their knowledge(!), but Shera agreed to refund our remaining sessions. When we still hadn't received a check five weeks later, I sent a follow-up and got back a reply complaining about my "combative" attitude (though she did then promptly issue a refund through PayPal.). Grateful to finally be done with them.

Shera at Pawfect Pups is the best!…read more We started training sessions for our dog Maggie when she was just 3 months old. I thought it was too early, but my husband convinced me that the earlier the better and he was right! We did a lot of research on yelp and other sources. The reviews we read about Pawfect Pups made us feel like there was something different about Pawfect Pups. Shera did such a great job addressing our problem areas at each session and worked with all of us to teach Maggie commands. Before we started, Maggie was a pretty stubborn little puppy and she was biting on pant legs, socks, blankets, and even my hair, snatching up any food that was dropped on the floor. Shera helped us work with Maggie to fix those habits and even taught us a variety of commands. Each session was focused on Maggie's concerns. I never felt like she was following a curriculum. Everything was very customized for our pup. We also really liked that we were an active part of each training session. People always compliment us on how well behaved Maggie is. My husband and I tell each other over and over again that finding Pawfect Pups was the best thing. Thanks Shera!

We adopted our puppy Storm and knew we needed to get our shy and scared puppy socialized so she…read morecould grow up to be a great dog. We started with puppy socialization classes with Colleen and were very excited to see how she interacted with the pups and their pawrents. She answered lots of questions others had about crate training, positive reinforcement and behavioral issues. We decided to put Storm into puppy obedience school so she'd learn how to interact and learn a few basic commands. She loved it! It took us a few classes to get her to be more comfortable but she's adjusted into a great dog and we know part of that is from the great training she received when she was only four months old. We also enrolled Storm into the intermediate course, because emergency recall was a concern of ours. Storm made lots of friends and enjoyed running around the classroom and drinking ALL the water! We also tried some one on one training with our older dog, a six year old Maltese with anxiety and leash aggression; but weren't able to really get to the root of the problem as every time we had Colleen over Jessie (our dog) acted like an angel! Colleen did give us some great tips on working with Jessie on leash aggression. If you're looking for some tips on training and obedience school for your furry legged children then we'd recommend giving Colleen and her team a call; we weren't disappointed and don't think you will be either. We've never used their dog walking service. So we can't speak to that.

Dog Tranquility and it's owner Colleen Dermott have truly been life savers for our family. Over…read moremany years and multiple dog training experiences, I can honestly say that our experience with Dog Tranquility and Colleen is the best we have ever had. She is very passionate about what she does and cares very much about customers and their pets alike. We have adopted dogs for years but two of our current pups were getting along so badly that they were having fights that drew blood. Since we adopt for life, giving one or both up was not an option. Colleen worked closely with our dogs and educated us as owners to address the issues. It was not easy but within only a couple of sessions Colleen had our dogs starting to peacefully interact and over time they have now become good friends. On the rare occasion when we have an issue, we now know how best to address both in the heat of the moment and afterwards to bring the two back together. I am hoping to continue working with Colleen to focus on additional basic obedience and training and to continue to address some lingering behavioral issues. I don't write a ton of reviews, preferring to only write when I have extraordinary experiences and this is one such case. I highly recommend Dog Tranquility; Colleen's experience and training far exceeds usual obedience & training options and the outcomes have been far more meaningful & longer lasting than other options we have tried.

Jennifer is a godsend! We went to another trainer and he made us feel like we were at a lost cause…read morewith our Goldendoodle, Winnie, who began developing aggressive and reactive behaviors over a span of a year. Through our initial consultation, Jennifer provided a positive, reinforcing way to assist us with training utilizing science, animal and human behaviorism with tons of analogies in between! She has a warm personality and I felt at ease with her. She really loves and understands dogs, and was very open minded! We decided to add another puppy to our family and setup another private training session with her after we realized that Winnie was having trouble adjusting to our Sheepadoodle, Linus. Jennifer helped us reading their body language and put them into situations where they would understand and respect each other. We also received homework which we worked on diligently, and now they're literally best friends! I was only hoping to have them co-exist with each other, but I'm so happy that they're getting along. I would highly recommend Jennifer and her team at Lead With Fun, as they really do understand dogs! They also have a variety of different classes as well outside of private training.

We've had Jen work with both of our dogs, with excellent results…read more Our lab mix, Cthulhu, was leash aggressive with absolutely horrific social skills and Jen help show us what was stressing our dog out and how to work with our dog. We now have a dog that is much nicer on the leash and is able to play nice with other dogs. Three years later, we fostered another dog named Ellie. Ellie had no manners and we wanted to adopt her, but we needed to make sure that she got along with Cthulhu. We used Jen again to identify the issues and sources of apprehension between both dogs. Both dogs get along well now. We also have Ellie enrolled in Jens obedience class and Ellie is responding very well. The training techniques that Jen uses make it very easy to understand how to train your dog.

Kelia was the most amazing trainer for me and my dog. He was an anxious, dog reactive guy, and it…read moreaffected every part of how and when we interacted with the world. Since he's worked with her over the five-week training period, he's made a complete 180. Now we're able to walk around the city and not have him bark at every dog we see on the street. I want to point out that because my dog is innately anxious, it affects his physical state too with eating and other issues. Kelia shared that she used to be a vet tech and made me feel the most comfortable and confident with helping me set up a plan for when he might have an episode due to the transition and what all would take place to ensure he would be okay, loved, and healthy. Long story short, she cared for him for the days he was struggling, kept me updated, and he came out of it because she was purposeful, knowledgeable, and more than capable to handle the situation. I can't recommend Kelia enough for anyone seeking support and/or confidence in how they can better work with, love, and respect their dog. Bonus, she's genuinely such a joy of a human being!

Our family highly recommends Controlled K9! We adopted our boy Mortimer last year after he had been…read moreliving as a stray, and we were really struggling when he came home with basic manners, reactivity, and having him settle in with our other dog. We ended up sending both of our boys for a six-week board and train with Kelia. It seemed to only make sense to send both dogs so they would have the same baseline training. Kelia was amazing! She kept us informed just about every day with videos and texts so we could see that the boys were happy and making progress. When Kelia brought the boys home, she spent a few hours with us, showing all the commands and techniques that she taught them, so we had a seamless transition. The "place" command alone has been lifechanging. (Although as you can see in the picture, they sometimes refuse to use separate mats, LOL.) We use the command before we feed them, initially when guests come by, and when we just need them to settle down a bit. It has reduced the stress and chaos in our house tenfold, and we actually can see the boys relax when they know they have a place to go and chill out. Kelia also gave us the tools to make leash walking and general obedience so much more successful. There are a lot of options out there for training. What set Controlled K9 apart for us was (1) our boys lived with Kelia, her family, and her dogs during training - they were not staying in a kennel and were in a real-life, loving environment, and (2) the promise of lifetime, free follow-up support. The boys have been home now for about 3 months. The training has stuck, and we feel like we really have the tools we need to make life pleasant for all of us, including the boys. Kelia has also proactively checked in to make sure things are going well, provided tips on the best way to reinforce training, and has responded quickly when we have follow-up questions, including offering a visit. Over three months later, we are still completely satisfied with the training and support provided by Controlled K9 and Kelia, and we would use them again in a heartbeat.

I tried to see Dr. Pike (who has a great reputation). Instead, they put me with another vet there…read more(Dr. Engler) who isn't great. I wasted nearly $1000, months of waiting and a 2-hour drive for nothing. Then for follow ups they insisted that if I wanted to see Dr. Pike, I would need to start the whole process again. It was a total waste of time, money and waiting for treatment. Going back to my original vet who is better than this!

We should have listened to the lower ratings. This place is an absolute money grab…read more We spent over $200 for the first virtual appointment as an "intake", then another $500+ for a second "intake" with our dog. After an hour of "assessing" our dog's behavior and throwing 2 meals worth of treats, we were told our dog needs psych meds. We were very clear in the paper work and initial intake that we would like to consider training first before going to medication. But it wasn't until after the second appointment that we were told to monitor a "wait list" for reactive training (not an official waitlist; just first to sign up gets in when the email comes out). Now after shelling out $800 and waiting 8 weeks for these appointments, we are back to square one and feeling a lot of regret for going to this business.

When I first reached out to Tommy, I was in a pretty dark place with my 3-year-old English Bulldog…read more His behavior had taken a serious turn--aggression, constant overstimulation, and a total breakdown in how we communicated. I was heartbroken and honestly starting to feel like I'd failed him. What Tommy brought into our home was a complete shift in perspective. He didn't just train the dogs--he taught us how to create structure, set clear expectations, and restore calm. After just the first session, our house felt noticeably different. The tension was gone, the barking and toy-fighting stopped, and even our older dogs--who had been keeping their distance--seemed relieved. What really makes Tommy stand out is the continued support. He's incredibly responsive, provides real tools and a step-by-step plan, and genuinely checks in on your progress. The Lifetime Guarantee is a huge comfort--knowing we have ongoing access to help if new issues arise takes so much pressure off. We're still working through things, but the difference already feels like night and day. I can't recommend Tommy highly enough--he gave us back peace and hope.

We adopted our good boy Buddie from a shelter in December. A sweet boy, but years in a shelter…read more(five!) has made him somewhat a sensitive pup prone to barking to loud noises and strangers approaching. Passing cars on walks yielded barking and lunging, doorbells ringing, more barking. We tried some "do-it-yourself" online things with zero success, and realized actual one-on-one training was the only option. Enter Tommy from Bark-Busters. His initial three-hour in-home training course was amazingly effective, so much so the change in Buddie was almost night and day to us. Upon meeting Buddie for the first time, Tommy immediately knew the kind of sensitive dog Buddie was and tailored his training to suit. His techniques were easy to understand and master and can be practiced anytime we're with Buddie. No more barking when the doorbell rings, or when a car passes, or a stranger approaches. Buddie's a lot calmer now which is more in keeping with his overall sweet nature. Highest recommendation!

I am very late in writing this review, but I wanted to share how meaningful my experience was. I…read moreenrolled my puppy, a red standard poodle, in her classes, and very quickly realized she was exactly the kind of trainer I had been searching for. She is clearly knowledgeable and skilled, but what truly sets her apart is her holistic approach and genuine care for animals. She treats every dog as an individual and tailors her training to meet each one's specific needs. That same thoughtful approach extends to her human clients. During this time, I was dealing with significant health challenges and was not able to attend every class. She kindly offered makeup sessions, which I deeply appreciated. When she learned that my absences were due to my health, she checked in on me personally and even asked if it was okay to call me at home to see how I was doing. Her compassion meant more to me than I can easily express. She showed more care and concern than many people I have known for decades. Anyone looking for a dog trainer should go to her, not only for her expertise, but because she is genuinely kind, attentive, and deeply invested in both her clients and their dogs.

I took Hazelnut here when she was a pup. She's now an AKC Grand Champion and I am back with he…read moredaughter. Bringing her pup feels like full circle, which says everything about my experience. April is knowledgeable, patient, and incredibly effective at tailoring guidance to each dog's temperament and each handler's skill level. I especially appreciate how she focuses not just on obedience, but on building confidence, socialization, and a strong relationship. Seeing the progress from one generation to the next has been really special, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with those critical early training foundations.

I highly recommend Kerry and Mark from Unleashed Abilities. We are one of those overwhelmed new…read moreowners who got a pandemic puppy--a high-energy golden retriever, named Willow. We worked with Kerry for puppy school to socialize Willow and introduce her to basic commands. Kerry was so helpful, answering all of our questions from potty training basics, to crate training, to how to get her to stop being so mouthy and eating our shoes. She created a great foundation to work from. When Willow was about 8 months old we worked with Mark on polite leash walking (Willow liked to pull us all around the neighborhood) and tightening up her basic obedience and recall (she is very independent minded). She now has a great drop and leave it and sit/down. She also comes when called! With Kerry and Mark's help, Willow is growing up to be such a great dog! We feel grateful to Unleashed Abilities for coaching us through our first year and for helping us welcome Willow into our family.

For some background, Mamba was my first ever dog I got, who was a puppy. He was originally a rescue…read morebefore being fostered before I adopted him. He had very fearful characteristics at first, "grring" and barking at new comers in the home, aggressively barking and lunging at people on walks. I had taken him to Petco for individual sessions only for my pup to get kicked out and get recommended to a "behaviorist" for his behavior. I was looking around and found Keri, and right after the consultation session I knew she was the right fit for Mamba. Mamba has gotten much better around dogs and and other people, and not only that, now I understand his behaviors and what to do in specific situations, She not only trains the dogs, but also emphasizes training the handler (me). After the 6 sessions (I am actually only 5 sessions in) -- I can confidently take Mamba around other people in crowded areas knowing in advance how he will react. Keri is not a trainer, she is a coach and I swear also a dog whisperer. She is very flexible when scheduling and even brought me homemade cookies when my dad passed away. I would 100% recommend Unleashed Abilities and Keri for anyone who genuinely wants to train their dog.

Strangers always comment on how well-trained my dog is and friends always ask me to train their…read moredogs for them. The truth is that a well-trained dog is just as much about training the handler as the dog. My family has taken 5 dogs through Dog Sense, 3 all the way through Advanced Obedience, and our dogs were taught to follow US instead of us chasing after them. My mother took our first family dog there and when my sister and I returned with our dogs, some of the same experienced trainers were still there 19 years later, a testament to their years of experience. Don't waste your money on the pet store classes, Dog Sense is the place to go in Montgomery County. A well-behaved dog is a real gem to have around!

l like it a lot because they attend to my puppy promptly and do keep him caged like in other places…read more they are very professional