Ridgeside helped fix a problem rescue more than two years ago. They've been a home away from home…read morefor my fur babies ever since.

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 not recommend Scott and Suzy at Dogs by Dancer highly enough. They are thoughtful and…read moreprofessional and my dog loves Scott and is always so excited to see him. I had such a great experience, I am going to send our other dog to Scott. Scott clearly cares about the dogs, is proactive with outreach and has also followed up regularly to see how my dog, Taco, is doing post-training. Taco had several behavioral issues and is so much better, calmer and more confident after his board and train. The follow up group classes are such huge bonus. If you are looking for effective and professional training by someone who clearly loves dogs, Scott Dancer is your guy.

I do not recommend Dc dog wizard, "Dogs by dancer" or any dog training program by Scott Dancer…read more Scott made unsafe choices for the dogs in his care. My dog was returned to me covered in feces/urine. The progress I made with my dog's challenges is gone due to whatever occurred with Scott. Communication was unclear & poor, Scott was incredibly unprofessional & disorganized. Save your money & go elsewhere.

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.

What a difference a day (with Atlas) makes! After just one visit with Thomas my puppy is remarkably…read morebetter behaved! I have a 8 month mini golden doodle. She's incredibly smart and before finding Atlas she was pretty well behaved but I had sort of hit a wall with her undesirable behavior (barking, separation anxiety, jumping up on people). I knew she needed better instruction than my partner and I were giving her, but knowing how social my dog is, a group puppy class didn't seem ideal. Luckily I met Atlas owner, Danny, and immediately I felt the right vibe. He seemed to have a training approach based in dog psychology, and I knew I was gonna have to think like my very intelligent dog if I was going to effectively communicate with her. I then met with Thomas (who I thoroughly enjoyed on a personal level too!) for only 2 hours and we went over a lot... all sorts of tips and tricks and it helped me to understand the overall philosophy of dog training. I was so busy going over every training mistake i had made, that I didn't even notice that Thomas was efficiently correcting her and my dog began to be on her best behavior... quietly cuddled next to me. Later on that night the change became more apparent when my partner was also like "um did you notice how obedient puppy is being?" We began joking that it's like we brought over a military school recruiter and now she's like "I'll be good! I'll be good!" We're not 100% sure which tip that Thomas gave us was so magical (but I suspect correcting the pack hierarchy was a major point) but it worked! Barking has turned into a low growl or nothing at all, she's stopped pestering us for fetch in favor of waiting for "play time", the results are kinda mind blowing! But the best part I never saw coming. Until seeing the after effects of Thomas I didn't realize how my stressed my puppy was. So now everyone in the house is happier! This is one of those business I love to support! Great people doing great work!

Stay away. Staff isn't trained on dog behavior, they'll onboard problematic dogs, the dogs will…read moreshare the same water bowls, and their philosophy on allowing all dogs to sleep in a kennel-less environment is dangerous.

So this is just an exceptional service that my little dog loves. My vet recommended this company to…read moreme when my biscuit started gaining some weight. We are usually too busy to give him all the exercise he needs so this was perfect for us. They basically do a variety of different exercises at a bunch of different places so it is a lot more vigorous and exciting than just normal dog walkers. I also like that Biscuit it matched with other dogs his size so we don't have to worry about him getting trampled. And then to top it off, we get a daily report and sometimes even pictures so we can see him in action. Everyone is very professional and clean-cut, which is important to me since they have unabridged access to both my home and my dog and I've never had any problems getting in contact with them, so I'd give their customer service 5 stars as well. Even though it is more expensive per month that other places, I think this is the best bet for Biscuit!

We couldn't be happier that we found Pant & Wag! It has been a lifesaver living in DC with our very…read moreactive lab mix, Koa (Koa has been going on Pant & Wag adventures for over 2 years now). Sean, the business owner, is an incredibly trustworthy, fair and dependable person and you can tell he absolutely loves our dog like his own (and she loves him). It really shines through that the business and spending time with dogs is something he loves to do. Koa is always tired and happy when she comes back from all her adventures. It's been really fun for us to receive the photos and description after each adventure of where they went that day - all throughout the city. She's explored more of the area hiking trails than we have. We always joke that she is having a better life than we are! We feel so much better knowing that she is getting proper strenuous exercise at least a couple of times a week during her adventure days. It really is a great service

Hi. Let me start out by saying Please forgive all typos and grammar errors as this isn't what my…read morereview is about. I come to tell you all the truth as to what my experience with Bark Busters is like. I got in touch with Bark Buster on August 15, 2021. What sold me on them is the guarantee life time of your dog. My puppy at meeting his trainer was a little over 9 months old. The trainer is Andy who was extremely nice. As that is to be expected when you're charging $1400 and you're trying to make a sell which I bought. Although he did give a $55 discount. Well, the truth of the matter is I feel like a fool to have given up that much money for what I received. Andy, as sweet and as professional as he was didn't do much. He gave my husband and I this sound to make which is "egh". You know like you would say to a child when they're about to get into something they shouldn't, or that could harm them. Anyway, that was it. Although Andy mentioned that we could call or text him and he said texting would be better. When I did, I felt I was being made the reason for why my dog is not doing what I want him to do. For the cost, I feel the trainer should contact you at least once a month to see how training is coming along and or make a monthly house visit to reinforce his training. Also in my opinion and what's happening in our house is, my husband and I have taken notice that your puppy will pretty much follow you and if you just be patient enough you will see his/her progress or him/her growing up as they get older mimicking your household. Needlessly to say, we probably used that "egh" sound for maybe a week when we thought about using it which wasn't often. Not because my puppy wasn't just being a pup but that you just didn't think about it. I don't know if the fact of living in SE, DC had or has any bearing on how my visitations we're going to be but after reading some other reviews, I see Andy came out somewhat frequently to you. My bottom line is keep your money. I just gave you the word to use if you choose too. Or as I stated earlier just be patient and the pooch will fall in line in time. Also, I went on the Better Business Bureau website to file a complaint and to let people know of this company's practice. What I found on the BBB website is that I'm not alone in my complaint and it's state wide. From state to states. Check it out for yourself. I know some would probably call this buyer's remorse and you would be right. However, if just a little more was done for my money then there would be no need for the negative review. Best wishes to you and your good boy (s) or girl (s). Save your money! I wish I had and that someone would have put this information out there for me. Also, Andy asked me to give a good review on our first day of meeting. I told him that I would. However, from my practice I'm in the habit of waiting to see how things go before giving a review this way you'll get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Most things are always good in the beginning or at first meeting but how is the follow through? This is what people want and need to know. Save your money and enjoy your ball of fur! Bye.

I was referred to Bark Busters by a good friend that specifically recommended Andy…read more This experience has been not only wonderful but life-saving for me. I am a first-time dog owner and was completely clueless on how to properly train a puppy. Andy was amazing. He created a plan, showed me exactly what to do and even shared his contact information for me to continue to update him on progress and to ask further questions. He still supports me and my pup on his continuous growth. I would highly recommend Bark Busters and I assure you it is well worth the investment!

We had a great experience with the basic obedience class! The instructions were really clear and…read morethe lessons moved quickly enough that my dog stayed engaged the whole time. I'm already seeing improvement in her recall when we're at the park! Highly recommend these trainers and will be back for more classes.

Classes are great. Staff is wonderful. I had a few follow…read moreup questions and received a comprehensive response that was pages long.

We have 2 - 10 year old spaniel/retriever litter mates that we've had since they were 6 weeks old…read more We've also had them in both puppy training and remedial training a few years ago to help with fearful behaviors. The pandemic did not help their socialization either. On top of everything, we recently moved to a more densely populated area with more noise, people and dogs. The change of moving for the 1st time (for them) was already a big stressor - adding these other things on top was making their barking and reactive behaviors even worse. After interviewing several trainers in the area, I immediately connected with Vivian. She's easy to talk to and has a great program for getting started. I explained to her that we simply didn't know what to do when our girls over reacted - something we had never learned from the other trainers. But even more importantly, she really understands how to positively encourage change rather than punish, which is something I was specifically looking for. We just finished the Gold Program with Vivian and I am thrilled with our girls' progress. Vivian did a great job of assessing their issues, helping us understand what we can do to help them and then guiding us through the process to help them overcome their fears. Now, we can continue to practice with them. Their progress in such a short period of time has been nothing short of a miracle. Our girls are so much calmer and less reactive. We are truly grateful to Vivian and recommend her without reservation.

Vivian is incredibly empathetic and warm person with a vast knowledge of dogs and owners. Honestly,…read moreshe made us better owners which impacted our pup's behavior drastically. Our dog was pretty reactive and anxious and she provided some useful activities that developed Charlie's recall and discipline. Fully recommend Vivian for any owner looking for a better relationship with their dog.

Scott Dancer is a great dog trainer!! Without him, I don't think we could live in DC with our…read morereactive cattle dog, Marvin. We were out of options when we sent Marvin to board and train. When we got him back and Scott trained US on new techniques, it was a whole new world. Marvin is now so much happier on walks and we can take him out with confidence. I grew up training our family dogs, one of which I trained to be a therapy dog, but Scott had that next level training that made the difference with Marvin. I recommend Scott to anyone with dog training needs. I will also mention Scott has a huge heart for dogs. He helped us out with a foster dog when we and the shelter could no longer take him. Scott saved and housed this wonderful pup for a year out of the kindness of his heart! Scott is a great dog trainer and a great dude.

Scott was a FANTASTIC trainer, his weekly sessions and homework were just what we needed to get our…read moredog under control. We could not leave him alone without howling and didn't trust him to come at the park. After working with Scott that all changed. High recommended!!!

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.