Excellent training, and super knowledgeable on every question I threw at them. My puppy came back after 10 days with more respect for everything in the house. Highly recommend for a good companion. read more

We don't have enough good things to say about RSK9.  Our trainer, Britney, was fantastic.  From pick up to drop off she kept us up to date with daily pictures, videos, and updates on Taco's progress through his 3 week board and train.  Before training walks were almost impossible if there was another dog anywhere close, we are now able to take him on walks and help him manage his reactivity to external inputs.  Britney has continued to maintain contact and answer any questions/concerns that come up.  She even offered to help us integrate our next dog to the family whenever that may be.  Ahead of choosing RSK9 Aaron took an hour to speak with us and answer all our questions.  He was respectful and responsive and solidified our decision to move forward with RSK9.  We have already made the decision to send our future dogs to RSK9. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

I called Aaron Taylor on recommendation of a Florida-based dog trainer friend & he immediately put us in touch with Tommy Loveless, in NoVa. Tommy took our newly adopted, barely socialized or trained pittie for 3 weeks. She barely knew any commands besides "come", refused to sit, leash pulled, and whined & howled at people and dogs during walks. She was not by any means a bad dog, she just needed to learn manners but her stubborn pitbull nature made it hard for us to break past her shell. We dropped her off with Tommy on his 30 acre farm where she was trained, socialized, able to run off leash & met a horse (!) She was supervised with other dogs & taught to manage her aggression with them. We received pictures & videos daily & Tommy was always quick to respond to any questions we had. We picked Lola up & found a changed dog. With a mere "tone" alert on her E-collar she immediately pays attention to us, heels on walks, returns when we call her or stops mid-chase of rabbits/squirrels/etc. She is fun to walk, quickly maintaining the habits he instilled in her and we have had 100% recall with her so far when she is off-leash & racing around fields or woods. We are lucky & barely have to use any kind of electric pulse on her, just the sound of the tone and the promise of a "good girl", pet or treat. She took to Tommy's training method & clearly it's working & she's happy to do what he taught her! We would recommend Tommy & Ridgeside over & over again and will continue to use them for any future dogs. read more

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This was the second best decision I made in 2020, the first was to rescue our pup, Cody who had been used as a bait dog and was initially scared of people AND dogs. He got more and more comfortable with us and his home but then got very protective of his new life. He was lunging and showing teeth to guests and with 2 kids, we have a lot of friends over (once quarantine ended). I called and got Aaron on the phone - the owner and he didn't make me feel rushed one bit and he is BUSY, he runs a large dog training multi-location business. You would never know that by talking to him - he was kind and I immediately knew this was going to enable us to keep a dog that I was highly concerned would end up biting a child. Rob - our amazing trainer came to pick Cody up to live with him for 3 weeks. He spent 3 1/2 hours with us in our home getting to know everything about Cody. He sent pictures and videos and texts every day for 3 weeks letting me know of his progress (we also missed him a ton so this was heart-warming to us). He brought him back and spend another 4 hours with our family teaching us what Cody had learned. Rob was gentle, firm and respectful with Cody. Since then people have stopped me to ask if this is the same dog. He isn't perfect but what he does have now is confidence and confidence in us. No more lunging or growling at guests. He stays on his place then when he's allowed off, he goes to his bed. The main thing I can tell anyone is that Cody is happy now - he trots along and just enjoys his life so much since this training. Cody has brought so much joy to our family and now we are all happy and it's because of Ridgeside K9. read more

Gilbert "Iggy" trained our Sheepadoodle (Betty) at 6 months of age. Betty had previously been attacked by another dog and her behavior was unmanageable due to fear. He had her for 23 days and she came back a brand new pup. Not only had her fear been almost completely removed, she was able to learn and perform all of the usual training. Since then, Iggy has worked with Betty only two times, as we continue to reinforce his techniques at home. We constantly get compliments how Betty is one of the best behaved dogs people have ever seen. I can't imagine owning another dog without utilizing this training, as it greatly enhances the enjoyment of ownership. If you're on the fence about sending your dog here, trust me it's worth every penny. Thanks Iggy! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

My pup Sgt Nico is a 82lb lap dog that I rescued almost 2 years ago. He ate everything in my house, my mattress, shoes, everything. I reached out to Ridgeside k9 & Nico attended the 3 week program with Brandi. Amazing! He actually listens & we can hike without him pulling me down the mountain! Brandi sent me daily updates & pictures! Thank you Ridgeside k9 especially Brandi! Highly recommend Ridgeside k9! Outstanding! Thanks! Jen & Sgt. Nico read more

Ridgeside K9 - Sgt.Nico! - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

If I could give 10 stars I would! I have a two year old female Catahoula Leopard dog. She was skittish, leash reactive, and a very strong puller. Walks were stressful and exhausting, to say the least. One walk even resulted in me in the ER with bruised ribs. I contacted Ridgeside K9 for the three week training and it was the best money I've spent. Caleb and Shelbie are amazing. They kept me posted with progress reports and pictures. When they brought Nola back home, they spent a few hours prepping me for my newly trained dog. They helped me as much as they helped Nola. She is completely different. She doesn't pull. She doesn't react (negatively) while on her lead. It is no longer her first instinct to chase squirrels or birds. I can actually have her off leash in my yard! Caleb and Shelbie helped her find her confidence and helped me be a better leader for my dog. I can't thank you enough!!! read more

We enrolled our 2.5 year old Newfoundland in a 3-week board-and-train program with Ridgeside K9. He had specific issues related to recall ("Come!"), not responding to his name when interested in something else, attempting to chase runners, cyclists, and slow-moving vehicles, and jumping at any animal that appeared on the TV screen. After 3 weeks, his response to "Come!" is improved (in a fenced yard), but he still doesn't respond when he's interested in something else, he still tries to chase runners, cyclists, and slow-moving vehicles, and still jumps at any animal that appears on the TV screen. I say "still" and it is "still", unless you continually have him wear the e-collar and continually carry the e-collar transmitter and actively execute dissuasion via pushbutton. My definition of "training" would be that he does not chase runners, cyclists, and slow moving vehicles, and that he not jump the television when animals appear, either behaving properly without correction or responding effectively to a simple spoken "No!". The ONLY way he stops these behaviors is if he's wearing the collar and the collar is used as a correction. Note that almost all of the "real life" review pictures show their "trained" dogs wearing the e-collar. My dog needing to wear a collar for the rest of his life (and the associated "these things (plural, collar and transmitter) need to be charged again" hassle for the humans is NOT what I paid $3,000 for. read more

We can't say enough great things about our experience with Ridgeside K9. Trainers Brandi and Perry Bailey have been amazing to work with and our dogs love them! We were reluctant to part with our two English Golden Retrievers and send them to board and train, but Brandi and Perry put us at ease and we knew they were in good hands. The results have been better than we ever expected. Our dogs came home happy, healthy, with great listening and engagement skills, and overall very well trained. If you have been debating this type of training for your own dogs, we highly recommend it - you won't be disappointed and it's worth every penny. For more detail...we have a 2 year old English Golden Retriever and made a last minute decision to bring home another Golden puppy this past summer. Biggest worry was handling and being able to walk two 65-80 lb dogs without pulling. A friend put me in touch with Brandi and she laid out the perfect plan for us. The puppy went to Puppy Bootcamp for 10 days over the summer, then a few months later, both dogs went back for a 2 week board and train. Brandi and Perry are truly dedicated and we can tell they put their hearts into caring for and training our dogs. They ensured we were part of the process from day 1, setting expectations, walking us through everything, and then sending daily progress updates with pictures. We looked forward to the updates every day and it made being apart a little easier. They really got to know our dogs' personalities and tailored the training to what they would respond to best. Then they spent considerable time with us on the back end to ensure we are well equipped to continue to reinforce the training after they leave. End to end it was a great experience and we're looking forward to sending the dogs back to visit for some refresher training when we go on vacation in the spring! read more

AMAZING!!! Thank you for all of your help. They are truly great people who care tremendously.

I sent my 1 year old shelter mutt rescue to their 2 weeks board and train because she showed a little aggression toward other dogs during walks, pulled on the leash like crazy, and barked in the crate for hours. Matt was the trainer and I couldn't be happier. He kept me updated on her progress from day one and throughout the whole 2 weeks. He answered all my questions promptly and attentively and even shared some additional material so I could deepen my understanding of how I could address various issues to include food allergies. At at the end of the 2 weeks, not only she was crate trained, she and I had the skills to deal with things like squirrel and dog encounters in a very calm way. The new, improved home team is ready to keep up the good work and maybe learn a few more tricks! read more

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We did a three week board and train with Steve for our year old mini Bernedoodle, and we are so so happy with the results! Our lil guy had issues with jumping, recall, reactivity (especially in public) and he now does so well on those things! Steve was so great and walked us through the entire process and made us feel so much more comfortable with leaving our pup for three weeks. Every night Steve would send pictures of our lil guy with an update on how he did during the day and what they worked on, which definitely helped our anxiety with not seeing our pup! When Steve brought our pup back, he took around 4 hours and worked with us on everything and even did some practice session with us to make sure we were comfortable with everything! So happy with the results of Ridgeside K9 and especially Steve, would definitely recommend them in the future! read more

I would highly recommend Rideside K9 LLC Dog Training. I NEVER (EVER) board our dogs. I have had only bad experiences. I was referred to trainer, Scott Allen, for a board and train as we (pre COVID and pre puppies) planned a trip to Europe. Scott was very reassuring and promised us well mannered dogs, daily pictures, videos and updates. My wife and I are everything we are told not to be when it comes to our dogs. We are dog parents not owners!!! We have spoiled "our kids with fur" and they were both out of control. Jumping on people, counter surfing, aggressive barking at neighbors, chewing and fence running to name a few. Sam, our 95 pound German Shepherd and Angie, our 60 pound Goldendoodle. Off we went. Well, our nightmare Angie got homesick and became very ill. Scott took such good care of her. He took her to the ER Vet and LOVED her back to good health. He was in touch by texts and said everything was under control. He trained Sam beyond our most hopeful expectations. This guy is simply AMAZING. We got videos, updates and personalized texts. I have nominated Scott for the Best Most Thoughtful Dog Trainer Award. Sam came back saying "The Rain In Spain Stays Mainly In The Plain" A perfect gentlemen!!!!! Angie is healthy happy and terrific. We will only use Scott Allen when we go away. His Kennel is spotless, clean and immaculate with plenty of room and fresh air. His training style is loving and humane. Thank you Rideside K9 for the opportunity to have a guilt free vacation and for SCOTT ALLEN. read more

We cannot say enough positives about the results and ongoing support we receive from Matt and Morgan at Ridgeside K9. Before working with Matt and Morgan, our dogs (a 2.5 year old 80 lb. mix rescue and a 2 year old 40 lb. wheaton terrier) and we were failing each other.  They were aggressive towards each other, and the wheaton would snap at other dogs when we took him on walks.  We previously worked with other dog trainers (both at our home as well as board and train) but the dogs did not respond the way we hoped; we did not gain the approach or skills to lead our dogs.  We were at the point of considering rehoming at least one, if not both of them. All of that changed for the better after working with Matt and Morgan.  The amount of effort and care they put into helping both our dogs and us has been overwhelming.  They were in constant contact with us throughout the entire process with our dogs, sending notes, pictures and videos. From day one after transitioning home from board and train with Matt and Morgan, our dogs were incredibly responsive to our lead and commands.  Matt and Morgan spent the necessary time with us during transition to make sure we understood not just the commands, but also the approach to take with the dogs and why.  Even better than the dogs just listening is that the dogs and we are all more comfortable and confident in our roles and relationships.  Before this training, one of our dogs was "nice" to us, but completely aloof and uninterested in affection.  Now he is very open to giving and receiving affection.  He is a whole new dog! Both of our dogs have a much better demeanor since spending time with Matt and Morgan.  The dogs used to lose their minds barking through the fence at the neighbors' dogs.  Now, our dogs just go about their business and enjoy their time in the backyard while merely acknowledging the other dogs.  No more insane barking!  When we walk them, they now keep a loose leash, and are completely calm when we encounter other dogs. Our family is so much happier, and grateful for the training and guidance of Matt and Morgan! Whether you need a little help with your dog(s), or like us, have reached the point of despair, don't hesitate. Reach out to Ridgeside K9 (and Matt and Morgan); you and your dog will be so happy you did! read more

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Earlier this year we adopted Finn ( dogo/shepard mix) and decided to get some puppy training. We reached out to Ridgeside K9 and we are glad we did! Our trainer, Zach was more than the 5 star rating that we can give. He took Finn for the initial puppy training and we couldn't believe the results. He then took our pup back for the advanced training a few months later and this is where we really saw the difference. After the training Zach sat down with us and explained how he trained Finn and then worked with us so that we knew how to handle negative behaviors. Finn is now one of the best behaved dog we have ever owned. Highly recommend Ridgeside K9 and ask for Zach Hirmer! You won't be disappointed! read more

Such an amazing experience, my English bulldog is almost a year old came back after two weeks of training and now I was able to eat while he sat and stayed, Brandi and Perry are so caring I got pictures everynight and updates of his progress. The experience was exactly what I had pictured in my mind. I would highly recommend this type of training for all dogs, it's also nice for the parents of the dogs learning how the dogs learn. Thank you! read more

after reading the many amazing reviews I decided to contact ridgeside to get my puppy in for their puppy training. I sent in my information and was contacted by Chrissy who was very responsive and then completely stopped responding to any of my messages. I figured maybe she is a little backed up but after 3 follow up texts I never heard back. I had even tried calling their main phone with still no response And even sent in a new inquiry with no response. Not quite sure what went wrong with my inquiry or interest to have my pup get trained with them. read more

Brandi and Perry trained our 10-month-old mini bernedoodle, Rooney, for 3 weeks and they were incredible to work with. They were communicative and reliable throughout the training program and we took a lot of comfort in knowing that Rooney was in such great hands. Since returning home two weeks ago, Rooney now listens well to commands, walks without pulling on her leash, and stays on place while we're working/doing chores. We were so impressed by Ridgeside K9 and highly recommend their training program! read more

We got a pandemic puppy thinking it would brighten our days at home virtual learning and teleworking. Even though we are experienced dog owners, a few weeks in, we realized that we maybe had not thought through our decision. This little ball of furry energy could not be contained! Lionel was chewing furniture, pulling on the leash, launching his body with all his might into the faces and laps of anyone who dared to take a seat on the furniture. We had a couple of one hour one-on-one sessions with a local dog trainer which helped, but we soon came to realize that this dog needed more. Enter Ridgeside K9. Aaron answered my email right away and put us in touch with our trainer, Matt. Matt picked up Lionel and whisked him away for an intensive 3 week board and train. We missed Lionel immediately and began questioning whether we made the right decision, when a text message came in from Matt with an update and pictures. Matt was great about sending these messages almost every day and kept us informed as to Lionel's progress. Three weeks later, Matt delivered Lionel back to us. It was a miracle (or maybe an exorcism?). Lionel was a brand new dog! He had a calm body, was attentive, heeled during our walk, ignored other animals and obeyed our commands! Matt spent a couple of hours with us to give us instructions on how to continue what Lionel had learned and to answer our questions. Now, we are not made of money but I have to say that it was worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY!!! Lionel is happier, we are happier, and better yet, we understand each other a little better and have healthy boundaries. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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Brandi and Perry are amazing! For 2 years we have been looking for a trainer for our 100 lb. catahoula/great dane mix, Hank. My husband was very skeptical that Hank would come back well-trained and without his personality. He did not want a "robot dog". Hank came back with the same personality he left with just less on alert, which was great. Hank was an easy going, lap dog prior to the pandemic. Then due to not being around people or having people in our home he became very protective of us and our home. Many trainers I contacted told me board and train would not be effective because Hank's issues were associated with his home and his owners. Then I found Brandi and Perry! They told me they could help Hank curb his barking at the door so that we could have people in our home again and boy did they deliver! When Hank starts to bark when someone comes to our door we are able to get his attention, redirect him, and have him stay on his mat in a calm state until we release him. IT IS AMAZING! He sits with just a look because he knows what is expected of him and he is great with extended stay. He no longer barks at the neighbors over the fence. We cannot say enough about Brandi and Perry's capabilities. Brandi and Perry are wonderful people. They took Hank on many outings, sent pictures each night and took Hank into their home and treated him as one of their family. WELL WORTH EVERY PENNY! read more

Absolutely 5 stars! Nicole and Ridgeside K9 were awesome through the entire training. From the moment our 16 week puppy entered Nicole's home, he new she was in charge and instantly loved her. 3 weeks later, he was calmer, listened better, had great leash control, and new who was the leader. Nicole treated him like family and was incredibly helpful in giving us tip and techniques to continue training. I look forward to sending him back to Nicole and would recommend her whole heartedly! read more

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A month following a 3 week board and train with Gina. While our pup loves all people, dogs, kids, bikes, leaves; some correction was needed. He pulled, he was reactive, he jumped to greet, he was a huge flight risk. NOW...He has manners. Waits for permission to leave the house, he does not jump on friends and family, he does not nip, he does not hump, he stays sitting (off leash) even while the neighbor and his dog are within 15 feet of us. Our dog is transformed and living his best life. Gina is an absolutely fantastic trainer and overall person. Updated us while away training with pics and video. Patient and thorough with the handover with all of us (we kept the kids home from school so that they could be involved), and so positively loves our pup. We are so thankful that we were recommended to y'all. Gina has improved our life with a well trained pup and we could not be any happier! read more

Update on Oliver: RSK9 training lasts!! It has been over 4 years since RSK9 And Aaron Taylor trained Oliver. (Original review in the tons of reviews somewhere) Oliver was a handful with some serious dog reactivity. He went from reactive to neutral, anxious & pacing to calm & confident. He can relax. He can enjoy all that life has to offer! We can take him anywhere! He never lost his goofy, loving personality! He's great on leash and off leash. Everyone can see the Oliver we know & love. We have 4+ years of stories like this!!! If you're looking for training, we cannot recommend RSK9 enough. (Pictures from a crazy, huge extended family vacation below, couldn't be more proud if we tried. Compliments from family and strangers on his behavior and sweetness.). Forever grateful to RSK9 Check them out if you need a hand with your pup! Oliver gives him 2 paws up! (And to this day he still absolutely adores his buddy Aaron) read more

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Thank you to Ridgeside K9 and Iggy! I'm a Coodinator for Bullmastiff rescue and we had a challenging dog that needed training. Iggy was so professional and caring with Mario. He sent pics and updates daily as well. He helped Mario become an adoptable dog! I will definitely be using Ridgeside and Iggy again for training. Highly recommend! read more

If you want to pay $3k for remedial dog training, the company ignoring your emails, and the rare update on training contrary to the company's promise, then hire this company. They are rude and not even very good at training. For 3k I expect a lot more. This is absurd. The owner couldn't even return my email. Waste of money. read more

As a Rottweiler owner, we felt it was very important to have our puppy trained well. With two separate recommendations for Ridgeside K9, we contacted Aaron for more information about his training. He responded immediately and after learning more about what was offered, he scheduled us with a two week Board and Train with Brandi. Macy just spent the last two weeks with Brandi and it is unbelievable how much Macy learned during this time! The daily updates and pictures showed us how happy Macy was with Brandi and helped ease any worries we had about sending our dog away for two weeks. When Macy came home, we spent several hours learning all the tools we needed to continue her training. Even though the official training is over, it's wonderful to know that Brandi and Ridgside K9 will continue to provide any guidance we need in the future. Thank you to Brandi and Ridgeside K9 for teaching our family and Macy! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

We absolutely love Ridgeside!!! We've now had 3 of our family dogs train with Perry and Brandi. Two of our son's and daughter-in-law's dogs went through training with them a short time ago. We have seen a huge difference in their dogs behavior since they went through training and were excited about sending our dog. Hazel, our sweet rescued dog, just came back from 3 weeks of training and has been doing awesome! Not only is she better behaved (no longer dragging me on walks, no longer jumping on people, & not excessively barking at visitors as examples)--she came back super happy --she was definitely well cared for and well loved while in their care!! I think it's fantastic that they have us drop the dog at their place so we can see where our pups are staying (super clean btw!) and then at the end of training, Perry brought Hazel to our home and took several hours to go through everything Hazel had learned and "train" us as well until we were comfortable with commands and were out of questions. I also really appreciated getting a daily update with pictures from Brandi Not only that, but they have already checked in to make sure Hazel is still doing well and let us know, they are available to help out if we have any more questions or concerns. 10+ stars!!!! We highly recommend using this company! Thanks again to Perry and Brandi especially! read more

Unfortunately our experience with Ridgeside K9 was not a good one. After following Aaron on social media for sometime we were impressed with his facility and training methods and the mention of adapting to each individual dog. We decided the puppy university board and train would be a great start for our 16 week old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. Our expectations were socialization, basic obedience and house manners. She tends to jump on people as well as our couch and pulls pretty bad on the leash. We reached out to Aaron with the preferred dates and he let us know Christina would be in charge of our puppies board and train. We were confused since we live in Northern Virginia why would Christina be training our pup since she manages Ridgeside Georgia. We asked Aaron about this and he let us know she does manage the Georgia team but she lives in Gainesville Va. On the day of pick up we shared our expectations with Christina and she said "yup we'll cover all that" she also let us know our puppy would have to earn her food and we would receive updates daily on how our puppy was doing. Those updates never came which caused a ton of stress with us wondering if our puppy was okay. I reached out to her every couple days asking how our puppy was and she did respond letting me know all is well. Still we would have appreciated the updates as promised. We saw several post on FB showing Christina in other states including North Carolina, Georgia and Florida...we had no idea our puppy would be traveling outside of Virginia. We also never saw any pictures or received any details of where our dog stayed a facility, home, kennel. I have to assume since they traveled so much and such long distances our puppy lived out of her van for the 2 weeks. On the day of our turn over Christina had a family situation and was unable to be there so Courtney did our turnover. Upon arrival he informed us our puppy had peed and pooped in her crate and had been doing this the entire 2 weeks. She had never done this prior to the board and train. He told us she wasn't sick though and didn't have diarrhea. Our puppy of course was filthy and smelled horrible she also was extremely malnourished and dehydrated. During the turnover she started pooping bloody diarrhea which he said she had never done prior to that moment. He also let us know that while yes she was thin this would be acceptable for a working dog. When Christina picked her up for the board and train she was 16 weeks old and weighed 39 lbs. the day of turnover she was 18 weeks old and weighed 36 lbs. Keep in mind she's a large breed puppy and had been gaining 2-3 lbs per week. She was literally skin and bones. She also has calluses or sores from being crated so much. Now onto the training. There was no evidence our puppy was trained. Still pulls on the leash, still jumps, the only commands she knows are the ones she learned prior to going. In addition to not being trained she now dislikes her crate and has for the first time with us started peeing in there during the night. So now 3 weeks post board and train I have to get up with her during the night for potty breaks which we hadn't had to do since she was 10 weeks old. If I was just rating Christina I would give no stars however I'm giving 2 because when we made Aaron aware of this he did spend time speaking to myself and my husband. He showed compassion and also gave us a refund. We do appreciate this. That said he is also the one who scheduled our pup with Christina without telling us she is a traveling trainer. We aren't in the dog training industry and had no idea to ask such questions. I also feel like there is dishonesty on his part telling us that Christina lives in Gainesville! If we had known our pup would spend 2 weeks crated in a van traveling from Virginia to Florida multiple times we never would have sent her. Also if we knew she wasn't doing well and was starving we would have ended her training sooner. However without the communication we didn't know and therefore didn't have a choice. This situation has caused us a great deal of stress, anxiety and heartbreak and we still have a dog who needs to be trained. read more

If I could give Aaron and Ridgeside K9 more than 5 stars, I would. I sent two Dogo Argentino puppies, at the time ages 9 and 7 months, to a 2 week intensive training with Aaron. Before they went, the 80+ pound puppies pulled and forcefully yanked while on their walks. When I got them back, they were both completely different dogs! So much control, leashes loose, commands listened to. The young pups responded to voice and tones without hesitation. My mom, who is not a dog person, had zero fears of walking the dogs around the neighborhood. I was even able to walk them off leash! :-) Aaron loves his job, loves and is able to communicate with dogs from all environments, and also loves his clients. He's flexibility in working with my schedule, being able to pick up/drop off at times convenient to me (and not necessarily for him) have been a God send! Without hesitation or a shadow of doubt, I highly recommend Ridgeside to anyone asking for K9 training for even the most stubborn of dogs. read more

My 2-year old Bernedoodle did a 3-week board and train with Payton and I couldn't be happier! She communicated with me every day with updates and adorable pictures. Our turnover was extremely thorough and so helpful. She was patient with us and made sure each member of the family understood our dog's commands and new way of life. We benefitted from her training just as much as our dog did! We are beyond happy with all that our dog learned. 3 months later he still remembers everything! We are so happy with Payton's level of care and training, we are having our dog go back to her for boarding. She's part of the family now. read more

We would like to thank Brandi from Ridgeside K9. She did amazing work with our 1 year old Golden. Prior to sending her to Brandi, she would jump on you as soon as you walked in the door and was uncontrollable on walks. We have been able to take her on walks around the neighborhood and she stays right beside us. There is no pulling on the leash at all. I can't say enough about the experience we had. Brandi sent us daily updates with pictures and videos. They spent 3+ hours on the turn over to answer all of our questions and train us to keep up progress with our dog. We highly recommend the 3 week board in training. It is worth the investment. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

Ridgeside matched us up with the perfect trainer for our pup, goals, and overall situation. I'm confident this is the result of an incredible brand and recruiting process, but it was as if Mike's personality, demeanor, experience, expertise, etc were all built tailor-made to our needs - they truly knocked it out of the park. Our overall experience was outstanding! We just completed a 10 day board and train and have Gunnar signed up for adult training in a couple of months as well. Communication: stellar leading up to, during, and after Gunnar's training Knowledge and Experience: just wow - blown away by Mike's kickass experience and incredible knowledge of behavioral psychology. PERFECT fit for our working line GSD. Results: Is this the same dog? Gunnar loved to work and train before his training, but he is LASER FOCUSED now. It's unreal. We can easily stop bad behaviors and redirect. He will just eagerly cycle through all of the awesome things he knows to show off and earn his food. We can see him actively problem-solving. Crate tantrums have almost disappeared - in fact, I just crated him with zero tantrum which floored me; before we would try to crate during the day and he'd bark for an hour solid (or more) until I gave up and put him in his baby gate (there was legitimately no stop to the crate barking). Leash biting is minimal - rare, quick, and easy to correct - it was a huge problem before. Nipping/biting has almost disappeared - I won't lie here, before Mike took him, I was starting to fear my own adorable pup and would carry a toy in my back pocket to try to block his biting/jumping. Overall service: I can't say this enough. We are thrilled. Mike is an open book and his approach is perfect for both myself and my husband (we have entirely different personalities). I need more reassurance and encouragement, Patrick just needs the insight and feedback of an experienced trainer - Mike provides the perfect balance. We have a full understanding of what to do to keep Gunnar on a successful track and feel completely supported to address any concerns that may come up. We can tell how much Mike cares about Gunnar and the dedication he has to helping him have the best life. We can't thank Ridgeside enough. We are so excited for the upcoming adult training and we are also already eager to start thinking about some additional/more in-depth training even after that. The service and value is UNMATCHED. read more

Where to start?! We came to Ridgeside K9, and worked specifically with the lovely and amazing Nicole, to train our beloved 8-month old Doberman Pinscher pup, Theo. My husband and I are first-time Dobe owners, so suffice to say that we had NO IDEA what we were in store for, being inexperienced owners. Thursday evening (5/27) was turnover day, and we are still in utter shock at how much Theo has transformed. First off, Theo's foundation training (at 13 weeks old, for 10 days) was our first amazing experience with Ridgeside and Nicole because she was able to completely crate and potty train Theo (something we had a lot of trouble with, upon his arrival to us at eight weeks). He was able to stay crate trained until now, with no potty issues since four months old. Secondly, his advanced training (at 8 months old, for two weeks) has truly been a remarkable, astonishing, and mind-blowing experience. We are still at a loss for words at how much Nicole was able to accomplish with Theo, in just two weeks. Theo, being a working breed, a male, and intact Dobe, became extremely difficult for my husband and I to train and handle due to his specific breed instincts and quirks, which require professional help or an experienced Doberman owner. On drop-off day, I handed Nicole a long, printed list of everything we needed help with, and she knocked every single issue out of the park. Some of Theo's issues included: immense pulling on walks (80 lb of pure muscle vs. my 120 lb self), barking and lunging at other dogs and strangers on walks, endless barking while window watching, excitement jumping on visiting family members, and island scooping. Let's just say, our neighbors stopped talking to us, and there were a couple dangerous falling accidents! TURNOVER EVENING: We walked Theo down the busiest part of my neighborhood, during the busiest time, with my heart racing out of my chest -- and not a single bark, lunge or pull. He was happy, he felt safe, he was confident, and most importantly, he was the best version of himself that I had ever seen, and that's what truly makes me emotional while writing this review. It's makes my heart so happy to see that he's not scared or distressed on his walks anymore. Aside from those experiences being embarrassing, and even dangerous, seeing him stressed during walks made me very upset because I couldn't have my dog feel safe and happy during his strolls. We couldn't be more thankful for Nicole and what she has done for our precious Theo. Not to mention -- Theo absolutely loves her and her entire family, especially her adorable helper and daughter. I truly know that it was an amazing experience for not only us, but also Theo. Thank you so much Ridgeside and Nicole!!! Theo will be visiting very soon :). read more

We sent our almost one year old golden for a 3 week board and train program in April; she's been back home with us for 3 weeks now and it's been the best few weeks we've had since we adopted her last summer. Since coming home she's able to be off leash 99% of the time and doesn't run and tackle our kids anymore. Friends and family that knew her before training and have seen her since are so impressed and actually enjoy being around her. Having a family dog who is good with our kids, other people and animals is what we wanted most from training, and we got that and so much more from Ridgeside K9. I waited to write a review to see if the training was as effective with us non-dog trainers in control and it's been amazing, money WELL spent. read more

they ruined my dogs kidneys - worst experience ever and then they protect their trainers and go silent on you. Marcie is the worse. Do not use her if you love your dogs. She charged me 3800 plus 1300 was the vet bill after he was returned peeing blood and all dirty with some black stuff sticking to him. And now monthly expense of almost 150 to get his tests done. terrible cruel and heartless lady. never checked on him after the first vet visit. read more

Our 11 month English Setter rescue pup named Chip just came home from his board and train with Andy at Ridgeside K9, and we couldn't be happier with Chip's progress. Prior to Ridgeside K9 we had done some puppy training with Chip but we saw no results because Chip is so stubborn. We live in Washington DC with a small backyard so much of Chip's exercise has to come from walks. Despite his medium size, he pulled so hard on leash that only my husband could walk him because he would pull me into the road or dart towards birds. Three dog walkers quit because they couldn't take the pulling. It was getting to the point where we would drive him 1/2 a mile to the dog park instead of walk him there to avoid walks at all costs. Enter Andy who has transformed Chip into a model heeler, walking dutifully beside me every day since he came home five days ago. I now enjoy walking with him, and we can go for miles with him by my side. He even sits on command at intersections despite the excessive city noise and distractions. Chip's recall has also improved significantly and he no longer jumps on us. Andy gave us the tools to continue training and prevent future unwanted behaviors. Finally, it was very hard for us to decide to be without Chip for 2 weeks, but Andy sent us photos and videos each day and it was clear on turnover that Andy cared for and loved our dog during that time. We were also worried "boot camp" would change Chip's personality, but he's the same lovable pup, just much better behaved. We can't recommend Ridgeside K9 and Andy enough! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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Gilbert aka "Iggy" recently worked with our golden retriever- Murphy. Before spending time with Iggy, Murphy was horrendous on a leash, easily distracted, and selectively listened to his owners. After a few short weeks with Iggy, Murphy transformed into a dog that we look forward to take on walks, looks to his owners for approval, and has instant recall. If you have a difficult or stubborn pup, I am confident that Iggy can break through to your pup. You won't find a better trainer than Iggy! read more

Ridgeside K9 and Brandi are one hell of a team. Our dog, Picasso, was a somewhat out of control 60lb puppy when he arrived at Brandi's, but by the time we got him back it was like a completely different dog. Definitely still tests the boundaries as all puppies do, but I can't speak highly enough of Brandi and Ridgeside K9. (The daily pics and updates were also extremely cute and reassuring.) Super responsive and knowledgable. Another great thing about Ridgeside is that they are super down to earth and kind and polite! You can't go wrong if you go with any trainer on their crew (especially Brandi). Love, Madison and Picasso read more

We got our dog during the pandemic, and even though he was great with our family, he was aggressive with other dogs and people, always pulled on his leash, and barked anxiously whenever we left him in the crate. Nothing we tried was helping, so we decided to invest in Ridgeside K9 because a friend of ours swore by their training. We could not be happier with the experience--from the service provided by our trainer Scott to the results for our dog, which are nothing short of miraculous. On the service front: we had an hour-long intake call with Scott, who clearly explained the training, patiently answered our questions, and went the extra mile to make us feel comfortable with the experience ahead. On the day training was set to begin, Scott came to our home to pick up our dog. Throughout the three weeks, Scott sent daily photos and videos, updating us on our dog's progress and explaining the training concepts. The photos were especially important to our kids, who were missing their dog a lot! When the training was complete, Scott came to our house and spent three hours with our family, explaining what our dog had learned, patiently demonstrating the various commands and techniques, and giving each of us an opportunity to try them out and ask questions. As for the results, we were blown away. We feel like Scott was able to preserve everything we loved about our dog (his energy, spirit, and affection) while helping him deal with the fear and anxiety that was holding him back. Our dog now walks on a leash without pulling at all, comes when we call him, is able to walk past other dogs without engaging in aggressive behavior, and does not bark when we put him in his crate. The results are far beyond what we believed possible--and worth every penny. Since the training ended a few weeks ago, Scott has continued to check in to see how our dog is doing. And he's made clear he's available for questions or ongoing consultation if need be. We feel incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity to work with Scott and Ridgeside K9 and cannot recommend their services highly enough! Thanks to them, our dog is far happier and better behaved. And we've been able to enjoy our time with him so much more as a result. read more

We sent our 6 month old Australian Shepherd (Max) to Ridgeside K9 based on their excellent reputation. Max is a strong willed high drive dog and they did not disappoint! Max spent 3 weeks with Brandi and came back a well trained version of himself. Eager to please and a willingness to listen. He comes when called (EVERY TIME) heels perfectly on and off leash. He will sit in "his place" until he is released. While he is still a puppy and loves to test the boundaries, he is quickly controlled. Brandi updated us daily with pictures and notes about his progress. Turnover was awesome! There was a ton of information but Brandi did a fantastic job explaining the new commands and effective use of the training collar. I give Ridgeside K9 our highest recommendation. I also highly recommend purchasing the cot! We use it daily for our reinforcement training. Max loves it too! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia