Our 2 dogs (9 months and 2.5 years old) recently completed Ridgeside K9's 6-week General Obedience Training and we are very happy with the results. This was our first experience with a Board-and-Train program. To be honest, we have never even considered it before. Naturally, we were nervous about the length of the program. We were worried about our dogs "forgetting us" and if their training will change their personality. They have a pretty pampered life with very little alone time and lots of playtime, walks and a big yard. We worried about the change of environment for them. ALL our worries were just that. Worries. After talking to Mike, the owner, we felt a lot better. He took his time and addressed all of our concerns. Ridgeside K9 did a great job taking care of our dogs and teaching them to be well behaved pups. Sammi, our dogs' trainer, was wonderful. She communicated with us often via text and email and we were able to contact her directly anytime. The weekly videos were very helpful for our family. Our kids are so attached to both dogs, but seeing them on videos eased their sadness and made them excited for their return home. The dogs' health has been cared for wonderfully as well. As a veterinary technician, things like their clean and shiny coats, bright eyes and great weight caught my attention. Both dogs seemed to have a lot of fun. Sammi said they got to enjoy their daycare program along with the training. Both our dogs now listen well and walk well on their leashes. They are still the same silly and playful dogs we dropped off and they settled right back in at home. They simply understand now what is expected of them. We would highly recommend Ridgeside K9! read more

We brought our 3 year old gsd/belgian malinois, Gus, to RIdgeside K9 in Knoxville for extreme dog reactivity. Before training, I couldn't enjoy taking him to public places because he became completely unmanageable at the sight of other dogs. It was overwhelming and stressful for both of us. We started with a great phone consult with the owner, Mike Lilley, followed by an in-person consult with our trainer, Julio and Gus. After discussing Gus's behavior and goals, we decided on the 6 week board and train program, focusing on his reactivity. Throughout the program, Julio kept us updated with emails and videos showing Gus's weekly progress. He answered all my questions, explained what he was working on, and suggested equipment changes when needed. We always felt informed and supported. When we arrived for the "go home" consultation, Julio explained and demonstrated all the techniques he used while training Gus. He also gave me hands on practice so I could confidently apply the corrections and commands myself. Within the first week of Gus being home, Julio came to our house to help with the transition back into our daily routine and our new habit of daily walks. Julio not only trained our dog-he helped train me, giving me the skills and confidence to handle Gus. I am so pleased with the work Ridgeside and Julio have done. They have truly changed our lives by allowing me to be able to share more of life's moments with my dog. read more

We cannot say enough good things about this place! We are absolutely obsessed with Ridgeside k9!!! Our dog has been going to doggy daycare here just about every weekday for about 2 years now, has had grooming here multiple times, and has also participated in their 6 week board and train services as well as standard overnight boarding many times. The staff is incredibly helpful and friendly and does such an amazing job not only at training our dog but also educating my husband and I on how to better care for and train our dog. Our dog constantly looks forward to coming here and is always pawing at the car door when we get close to the building. Our dog gets so much stimulation and play time here during daycare and boarding whether it be playing with other dogs or running on the treadmill (his favorite activity). The owners and staff take such good care of our dog and you can tell they truly love and care about him. We love seeing update photos when we're out of town or when he's participated in water day. Our dog is so much better behaved after attending training here and we appreciate this place so much more than we can describe! read more

My baby Harley, a GSD/Mal mix just went through a four week board and train at Ridgeside. Her trainer is Erica and we are very pleased with the level of care, love and professionalism Eric has shown Harley. Erica truly loves her job and builds special bonds with the dogs she trains. She is also excellent at teaching the humans so that training can be reinforced. At just six months old, Harley now has a solid foundation of training for us to build upon over the next year. Mike Lilly, the owner of Ridgeside, also took the time to meet with me to explain his training theory and how it would benefit Harley. His love for what he does is evident and appreciated. I truly feel like Harley is now part of the Ridgeside family and I know that Erica will always be available to address any questions or provide guidance we may need as we continue our training journey with Harley. If you are looking for experienced, genuine dog loving trainers, then Ridgeside K9 is your answer. read more

I recently attended a 40-hour law enforcement-based tracking seminar put on by Mike Lilley. Mike was extremely knowledgeable and able to articulate and teach his tracking system in a way that was digestible and relatable. He taught 12 law enforcement K9 teams the foundational steps to take to build a reliable tracking dog and I absolutely intend on following through with the training moving forward for myself and my K9 partner. Mike was able to apply his prior life/work experience when explaining tracking philosophies and ways to troubleshoot and work through issues you may experience when applying the tracking training yourself. I was able to contact Mike after returning home from the seminar when I was experiencing some issues with my partner and Mike used his own time and talked with me on the phone for 20 minutes to help troubleshoot and remedy. Very happy with the training and more so with the follow-up. Thank you guys for your help! read more

Wanted to take a moment to share my experience about an incredible tracking class put on by Mike and Ridgeside K9. Even though the class was designed to teach experienced Handlers that the dogs tracking abilities reach far beyond vegetation tracking, he also took the time to evaluate each dogs abilities, focusing the training for each team, based on their current abilities. Mike was able to move from team to team and progress each at a pace appropriate for quality learning. The training was informative, provided at an appropriate pace, and easy to understand. I was shocked at how quickly Mike could observe a team, apply his knowledge, and make the K9 teams more effective. I look forward to applying his methods to my training days and becoming a stronger K9 team. Highly recommend Ridgeside K9 and hope to attend more of his training. read more

The initial consultation set the stage for what I hoped to achieve. The owner and trainer listened and responded to my concerns and questions. They spent more than 30 minutes explaining the process they used and showing me how and what to do. There was absolutely no pressure to sign up for training classes. The facility was clean. Staff were friendly and professional. It was apparent that other customers were regulars. I decided later to sign up for 5 classes and couldn't be happier with the results thus far. The next step is to meet the trainer in a "real world" setting such as a pet store. Great idea! The facility offers grooming services as well. The groomer, Flora, was exceptional. When my husband saw the dog that night, his response was "best ever." And that is exactly my response to the whole experience. read more

Ziek has been a proud dog-member at Ridgeside K9 (RK9) for a while, and he LOVES it there! He started at RK9 with their basic training, and he ROCKED it! He also spent a week at RK9 in their boarding program while my human family and I vacationed. Ziek now enjoys hanging with his RK9 pals Monday thru Friday at the awesome RK9 daycare. Ziek knows when we're on the way to daycare each day and as we turn off Alcoa Highway, he becomes excited and starts his happy dance in the backseat. LOL. Ziek also gets a monthly pampering session by their groomer and comes home smelling so fresh and so clean clean! (iykyk). I appreciate the white-glove customer service provided by the RK9 staff, and I'm truly grateful for the convenience they've added to mine and Zieky Boyy's lives. Well done, RK9, well done!!! read more

Rarely do I take the time to leave on online review... I honestly can't avoid it here. My husband and I adopted/rescued a 2 year old German Shepherd from a "breeder". We got him home and found out we had a "biter". Traumatized by previous efforts to rescue dogs that couldn't be "saved" I called the vet to do "what needed to be done". She recommended Ridgeside K9 and we took a chance. My dog, my marriage and my life will never be the same since!! Julio and Lisa have taken this terrified, anxious, biting, majestic, beautiful animal and worked a true miracle. I would pay their fee 5 times over (already plan to send them 2 more dogs). Have a dog you're trying to save or just need a puppy potty trained? PICK RIDGESIDE K9!!! read more

I would like to thank Mike and his wife they went out of there way to help me and my dog it's a great feeling to know when my lil dog max is there I know he is being took care of better than he would be at home because they know how to care for the dog and love them so thankful for you guys and recommend them to anyone hands down Mike and his wife are two of the best people I've met in a long time and anyone that says anything negative about ridgeside k9 in Alcoa TN doesn't know what there talking about these guys have helped me just like family God bless you guys and keep up the good work Sincerely Dustin Fleenor read more

My pups absolutely love to go here for boarding and day boarding. The minute I pull into their parking lot my pups start whining because they are so excited. That alone tells me that my pups are treated so well here. It is always so clean, the staff is always super helpful, and the facility is setup up so nice that my pups even get water days outside which they love. As far as training l, I couldn't have picked a better place. my pups are so well behaved and also get compliments on their behavior when we are out and about. Thank you Ridgeside for always making my pups feel so loved and exceeding my expectations! read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the care and training my Standard Poodle puppy has received here! The training has been exceptional! I've seen such an improvement in behavior, confidence, and overall responsiveness. They have different options to choose from. Their boarding services are just as impressive. I can travel with complete peace of mind knowing my puppy is not only safe, but genuinely loved and cared for. It's clear the staff treats every dog like family. Great groomer!!! My Standard Poodle always comes home looking fabulous, handsome, and happy. read more

Highly recommend Ridgeside K9. Mike and his team of trainers and groomers are exceptional! They truly care about the dogs and their owners. I board trained my dog 2 years ago. The level of training is so impressive that I can take my dog anywhere. People always comment .. wow.. what a well trained dog! The groomers make my dog look and feel like she's ready to show at Westminster. The facility is impeccably clean. I wouldn't board my dog anywhere else. Thank you Ridgeside for doing fantastic and keeping high standards all these years! Good job! read more

I have been taking my rescue Pitbull to ridgeside K9 to get his nails cut because nobody else could successfully do it. They are professional, very helpful. They help me find a collar that actually fits him and works. And I have just scheduled to board him and my parents to outdoor dogs there in a week. They were so amazing they let me do a walk-through, and then did another one when my dad showed up so he could see it as well. They have been completely responsive and good at explaining everything that will happen. I highly recommend them! read more

My dog Zero and I love Ridgeside K9 Knox! Mike and Susie are wonderful business owners and are passionate about dog training and dog care. My pup goes once a week to daycare and overnight boarding. He has dog friends there he loves to play with and he lights up when he sees Izzy, she is great with the daycare dogs. Zero likes treadmill time- between that and daycare, he comes back content and chilled out. They are a full service boarding and training facility, with grooming, daycare and more. It's a great place for your dog! read more

I recently moved to the area and have a 10 year old Husky who can be a handful. Without having anyone in the area to help I took him to Ridgeside K9 for Daycare and grooming. They have been excellent and my dog has been happy and relaxed after daily pickups. The staff are awesome and facilities are excellent. I highly recommend them for your dogs overnight or daily care and grooming! Thanks Ridgline! read more

I recently attended a tracking class with Mike instructing in Oregon. We started with a classroom session talking about his tracking progression. For the following few days we ran dogs and put his methods to work. Hands down the best tracking training I've had. I never thought a dog could track on hard surface the way my guy does now. It was very nice to meet both of you. Thank you!! read more

Ridgeside K-9 Grooming is absolutely amazing! The care, patience, and attention to detail truly sets them apart. My pup is always excited to go and never fails to come home happy, relaxed, and looking fantastic. It's so clear that their staff genuinely loves what they do and treat every dog like family. Highly recommend Ridgeside K-9 Grooming to anyone looking for top-notch care! read more

We have boarded our 2 dogs with Ridgeside K9 in Alcoa for the past 3 years. They have always been very accommodating with our schedules, and our dogs love going there! This year we have added another dog to the family, and I am sure that she will be just as happy as the others. Even though it's a drive for us, it's worth it for the care our pups receive. read more