We have had Grace working with and walking our puppy since we got him. She was great at getting him…read moreto listen to her, even on the first day! He is always so excited to see her walking around or when she comes to pick him up and I'm working from home. She's been with him since he was a little 20lb puppy and now he's a big 80lb puppy and gets to go on the big boy walks. It's nice having an affordable dog walker and trainer nearby to get the extra energy out of our dog when we are at work. He loves getting to see all of his friends a couple days a week. Grace recently started doing long hikes on Fridays and he comes home so happy when he gets to attend. I highly recommend her services.

I have known Grace for about 4 years now. She is one of the hardest working people I know and has a…read morepassion for what she does. I admire her commitment and business ethics. She walked and trained my dog, while helping me to understand him. Unfortunately I have since moved but she would be my first and only call if I were living closer. Your dogs could not be in better hand than hers!

I cannot recommend Nikki enough when it comes to dog training. Before I started training with…read moreNikki, I was seriously considering rehoming (giving back to the original rescue) my dog as I felt ill-equipped and completely lost with his behaviors. I genuinely believe that if it wasn't for Nikki, my dog would likely not be alive right now as he probably would have been marked for behavioral euthanasia. Nikki saved my mental health and saved my dog Waldo. I hold immense gratitude for all of the help she has provided us. Nikki exemplifies what it means to be an expert in the field: her methods are evidence-based & she is always staying up-to-date with the most relevant information available. I found Nikki when researching private agility lessons for my reactive dog. While I never had any intentions of performing, I knew that my high-energy dog, Waldo, would benefit greatly from learning new experiences and confidence building. The first time Waldo and I met Nikki, I knew I wanted to work with her. She wasn't phased by his loud barking or lunging. Nikki immediately started guiding me on ways I can change my posture & breathing as well as informing me what Waldo's body language was telling her. After just one session, we discovered his reactive behaviors were actually fear-based (not solely aggression-based as other trainers had led me to believe). Then came the hard part: the (unintentional) reinforcement of these behaviors that I had caused due to my own ignorance. Nikki was realistic about progress and the time it would take. She won't lie or cut corners to tell you what you want to hear. It was her honesty and humility that had me sold. I only saw Nikki once a week with Waldo, but after working with her for almost 2 years we saw SO much progress. Waldo is much more confident in high-stress situations. I have a full tool kit of tricks I can use inside as well as outside the house. The training never stops when you leave the session! Nikki taught me so much about reactivity & threshold. That training has to happen when they are below threshold!! She doesn't assign morality to dogs. I remember saying "Waldo is a bad dog and I don't know what to do with him" and she gently corrected me by saying "Waldo is not a bad dog, he is A DOG and he is scared. What we have to do is show him that he doesn't have to be scared and that takes time & trust." We were able to slowly work our way up to having Nikki approach Waldo without a fearful response. And eventually even had Waldo take treats from her hand and respond to her giving him commands. AND THEN, we were able to have Waldo in the same space as Nikki's dog Charm. Charm was so unbothered by Waldo's barking it was honestly a comedic relief. Charm lives up to her name. She is a beautiful, smart and oh-so sweet dog. Just having neutral // positive interactions around another dog was vital to Waldo's success and confidence building. Also, knowing that Nikki trusted me and Waldo to be able to interact with Charm after we spent so much time in 1:1 training helped MY confidence as well. I learned sooo much from Nikki, I could probably write a book just singing her praises. While I was devastated when I found out she was moving, knowing that she is going to continue educating dog owners and offering these valuable training lessons helped lessen the tears. Everyone in my life that knows Waldo has seen long-lasting, impactful changes in his behavior. And all of the praise goes to Nikki and her techniques! Come to Nikki with an open-mind and a willingness to learn. She very well could change your life for the better, the way that she did mine (and Waldo's!).

Nikki is amazing. She took me and my 3YO dachshund - neither of whom had ever stepped foot on…read moreagility course - and turned us into competitors in the agility space. We are so happy that we started our training with Nikki, who is kind and patient, while also pushing us to be a competitive team while running. That means that we're not only taking home ribbons, but also bonding and having a blast on the course. Dash LOVED attending Nikki's classes; he was always so excited to run, and the courses Nikki put together were always fun and exciting while also being accessible to dogs of all skill levels. We loved training with Nikki, and if she was still in our area, we would 100% still be training with her. Because of her guidance and support, I'm a better handler and Dash is a happier dog, and we're both having a ton of fun together. Don't hesitate, try out these classes. Guarantee it will be a memorable experience.

We adopted a 7-month-old, 45-pound Husky mix, and after my wife was pulled to the ground while…read morewalking her, we knew it was time to get some professional training. After reviewing all of the referrals provided by SPOT Rescue, we chose Kindred Spirits, and we're so glad we did. The experience was absolutely worth it. They didn't just train our teenage pup--they taught us how to work with her, communicate with her, and reinforce the right behaviors at home. Each week, we were given homework that helped us practice what we learned and prepare for the next class. In just six weeks, we've seen a huge difference in her behavior and in our confidence handling her. The best part is that they gave us the tools and knowledge to continue working with her long after the classes ended. We would highly recommend Kindred Spirits to anyone looking for dog training that really involves and educates the owners, too. Look at that eye contact.

We had a wonderful experience at Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center. Tanner made so much…read moreprogress over the six weeks of training, and we are so grateful for the support and guidance we received. Kate was an invaluable asset throughout the program. She gave clear examples, helped us understand the challenges that came up, and always approached training with such positivity and patience. She made it easy to ease into the process by providing supplemental reading and exercises that gave us the fundamental tools we needed to keep building Tanner's training at home. Every class was truly a joy. I loved watching the other dogs and owners succeed, and it was so encouraging to see major progress from each dog and their family. Tanner will absolutely be continuing his training with Kate. Karin was also such a pleasure to have in class, and we loved the adorable photos she took of all the pups. Everyone we met at Kindred Spirits was kind, understanding, and patient. Their ability to problem-solve, adjust, and customize each dog's training based on where they were at was incredible. We cannot recommend Kindred Spirits enough!

We could not be happier with John and his skilled approach at animal handling! We have a 6-month…read moremini goldendoodle that John has been working with for the past 3 months. Our dog has successfully learned to walk properly on a leash, sit, and down (take it with a grain of salt; at 6 months she still needs constant training/reminders, just as children need constant reinforcement as they grow). John does not use treat (food) reinforcement, which we love. My husband and I don't bribe our 3 kids with food, so why would we bribe our dog with treats?! John recommended a pronged training collar. I at first was hesitant (our pup was a tiny 6 lb pup) but after trying it on my arm, I realized that it does NOT hurt. It causes a startle effect that then causes compliance. Our sweet pup responded wonderfully to this training collar! Does she like it? Nope. Does it work? Heck yes!! We don't leave it on her all the time, just for training purposes. And it has resulted in such an obedient, compliant puppy. In addition to an all-natural training approach, John himself is such a nice guy! He truly cares about the pups he works with. Just today he spent 30 minutes on the phone with me, walking me through some puppy behaviors and advising how to best mitigate them. He does not charge for these extra 'sessions', and in fact encourages them. If you are looking for a skilled and knowledgeable trainer who genuinely will care about your dog and train them (and train you! Because let's be honest, training the humans is a huge part!) then you need to call John. Hands down, he's the best. Don't wait.

Many years ago, my husband and I paid for a package of lessons. We had the first two lessons and…read moreafter that were unable to reach John to schedule the rest. Similar story to others on here. Be weary of paying. The first two lessons included showing the use of the prong collar and introducing his dog to ours. However, after that he suggested to pay for additional sessions. After that didn't hear back from again.

I absolutely love my girl Reign, but let me tell you, an 8-month-old Cane Corso is a LOT of dog!…read moreBefore training, she jumped, pulled, and acted like a complete maniac on the leash. I'm not exactly a spring chicken anymore, and having a big, strong puppy dragging me around by my arm was not my idea of a good time! I sent Reign to Chris at Cosmo K9 for their two-week puppy board and train program, and what a difference! She came home so much calmer. She listens, follows commands, and has actually learned how to settle herself down instead of getting worked up over everything. The best part is that she's still my sweet Reign, full of personality, but now I can actually enjoy her company without the constant chaos. I wanted a companion, not a daily wrestling match! Chris gave me something I was really missing with Reign: peace of mind. I can enjoy my beautiful girl now instead of constantly worrying about what she's going to do next. I'm so grateful for what he did for both of us. I highly recommend Cosmo K9!

I just picked up my dog today and I could not be happier! I had a great experience from start to…read morefinish with the team at Cosmo K9, specifically, Sophia! Sophia handled Kodi for the 2 weeks he was there and did a fantastic job training him! Sophia kept me updated on Kodi's progress every few days sending me pictures and short videos, and always took the time to explain everything to me, as well as teach me how to best handle him when returning Kodi back to me. I live in the valley (Los Angeles) and took the 2 hour drive because of a referral so highly recommended Cosmo K9 and I'm glad I did! 5 STARS! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I can't say enough about Sam. My Lab, Maui, goes on Pack Walks and gets to interact with other…read moredogs, which I believe is crucial for her socialization. While Maui and I take long walks together, I feel it's important for her to be part of a pack. When Maui goes off with Sam, I know she's with an experienced dog handler who creates a well-balanced pack. My other dog, Ester, isn't ready for Pack Walks yet, but I've needed boarding for both her and Maui. Sam's knowledge of training and understanding of dogs has helped integrate Ester into the pack. Every time Ester comes home with Maui, she's more balanced and better off. Sam's expertise and dedication have made a significant difference for both of my dogs. Highly recommended!

We absolutely love Sam! Our very active Husky/Shepard mix, River, first fell in love with Sam…read morealmost two years ago. We knew we had to keep her engaged and entertained during the day to supplement her regular morning workouts. What we got when we entrusted her to Sam was so much more than we could have dreamed at the time. Sam not only kept River active and entertained, but she taught River, and us, the importance of boundaries. The owner/pet relationship is so crucial and built upon trust and respect. Sam helped us with instruction and tips on how we could foster these within our own relationship and tailored it our girl because she had the direct experience handling River. Each time that River goes out on adventures with Sam she comes home exhausted. We know she's had a good time and it's clear how much she trusts and loves Sam. We are regularly provided access to their adventures via photos posted to Instagram. Sam puts personal touches on all the posts, it really means a lot. We could not ask for a better person to trust the care of our very special family member to. We've referred Sam to friends and strangers alike. You will not be disappointed and will receive far more than you pay for. River gives her 5 stars and two paws up!

There are not enough words to recommend Liz and her team!…read more We looked at so many different doggy daycares and our fur baby never came out happy, just exhausted and we weren't sure about them and we found Dogs Abound and omg! Our pup gets waaaaay too excited even as we're driving up the street to drop off and he's always eager to get off the car and get to his puppy friends. It's a plus when Missy is there to welcome him! Missy is for sure one of his favorite people at Dogs Abound. Liz, Broke, Courtney and all of the Dogs Abound Team have been amazing with our pup and give this dog mum peace of mind that he's in great hands when I can't be with him. Every time I pick him up he's excited and happy and looks like he had a great day. Pic of my happy pup when I tell him we're going to see his FURiends

We began taking our puppy to Dogs Abound in April after a Zoom consultation with Courtney. I was a…read morelittle taken aback by Courtney who seemed a big standoff-ish during the chat but decided to give the place a shot... after all, I cared more about finding trainers who treated my puppy well more than treating me well. After the first visit, employee Matt said he wasn't sure if they could board our puppy until they knew he would do well with other dogs (totally understandable) but when I mentioned I wanted to do training sessions, he and Courtney got nice quickly and signed me up for everything! I really wanted my 4-month-old puppy to get out of his shell, gain confidence and make friends so I ended up paying for a 10-pack of training sessions. I also read the Yelp reviews here so decided it would work. The training sessions included a Zoom chat with the trainer, Vivien, after four classes. When it was time for our first Zoom chat, the trainer wasn't able to connect to a computer so she called me, which was understandable (happens to all of us, right?) I asked her if she could send me videos (since we didn't get a Zoom chat) of the lessons she was teaching my puppy so I could reinforce it at home and she agreed. A few days past and I didn't get anything so I texted her. I immediately received an email from Courtney telling me not to communicate to her trainer directly. Um ok? I told her Vivien told me she would send me videos because we didn't get our Zoom chat and asked how she would address the problem. Vivien ends up sending me a very lengthy email instead. Another four training sessions pass and we get another Zoom session with Vivien, which was actually helpful! I finally learned what my puppy was learning this whole time! After our final two training sessions, we get an email stating they will now charge $3 per day to feed your dog! WHAT? As though spending hundreds of dollars for training and care isn't enough, they want to profit off feeding your dog and charge more than the food itself? I immediately notified Dogs Abound I wouldn't be returning with my pup. After I canceled, my husband told me that one time when he picked up our dog, he heard one of the employees say to a dog "you little sh*t." Yup, you read that right. An employee called a dog "YOU LITTLE SH*T") I'm all about giving people the benefit of the doubt and like I said, I'd rather have them treat my puppy well than me. However, these greedy folks obviously lack any basic customer service skills. The terrible communication and more importantly, how they treat their clients (fur and human), shows they don't care. I'm also thrown off by the Yelp reviews. Maybe the employees have some hidden biases? We just transitioned to Dogtopia and we are SO MUCH HAPPIER at the level of communication, professionalism and honest love they show the dogs --which can be viewed via Webcam. (I once asked Courtney if she could send me a photo of my puppy and she said no). I suppose this is my lesson in giving people the benefit of the doubt! Not everyone deserves it! UPDATE: My husband saw the dog picked up by the owner after the employee called him a "little sh*t," but nice effort by the owner for trying to defend the verbal abuse of dogs. Good to know she isn't ashamed of acknowledging that she herself may verbally abuse her dogs from time to time.

Suzanne is such a blessing! We have an Australian Cattle Dog and a cat at home. We had a family…read morecruise planned and I was stressed trying to find a plan for my fur babies while we were gone. Suzanne was the answer! She took Spot, our dog, to stay with her and visited our home daily to care for our cat. She also cared for my plants! Above and beyond she left me a book to read about the wonders of dogs. She sent me pictures and an update daily. Look no further for the best pet care!