Tara has been training dogs for decades. Before her, her Mom, Lana trained dogs for decades. Tara has extensive training in working with dogs from extremely shy to aggressive dogs and breeds. She doesn't use the One Size Fits All method. She trains in a way that best works for you and your dog. She doesn't push any specific tools for learning. She lets you choose what tools you want to use and helps you use them properly. She is patient. She listens. She is always willing to answer dog related questions (whether they are training related or not). She doesn't charge extra for sharing her advice and extensive experience regarding dogs. Tara genuinely cares about a dog's life and the quality. Several clients reached out to Tara after their dogs were critically ill and they weren't able to get seen at the Vets. Tara called all over Puget Sound to get the dogs checked in and get medical help. Tara knows dogs. She trains the owners as well. She helps dogs and owners succeed in getting their AKC certifications. I have personally seen shy dogs come out of their shells. I have seen nervous owners become so confident with themselves and their dogs. Many of these transformations happened within a few classes so it was amazing to watch it. At the facilities, she has strict rules about keeping your distance (before Covid, it was so that the dogs would be under owner control and not get into trouble. During this pandemic, she also has strict recommendations for keeping humans and dogs socially distant). During a recent Kennel cough outbreak in 3 counties, she thoroughly cleaned her facilities and grounds so as to not bring illness to any dog. read more

Dissatisfied & do NOT recommend. Told that all animals in the obedience class had met specific criteria for up-to-date shots/vaccinations. Not true. Our pets were exposed to Parvovirus from here. No verification done by owners/trainers. When confronted about parvo exposure, they said it wasn't their problem. Not going back. Beware, not up to health standards. The owner criticizes & berates animal owners. She singles out an owner and gets on her soapbox about ridiculous things. Very unprofessional *Additional update to original post: Ongoing unprofessional & harassing behavior by the owner who has sent me several threatening messages due to my review/experience. Won't go into the specifics as this not the forum, but want others to know the type of service they can expect from here. read more

This school uses aversive dog training (for example, they taught "down" by having you stand on the edge of the leash next to the dog's neck). This style of training was not a good fit for my black lab/pitbull mix. After class, my dog came home and played aggressively which was unusual for him. Also, during my time there, I was called out in front of class. One of the trainers said that my dog did not have any boundaries because I was not correcting his behavior. While this was an unprofessional way to treat a customer, it was also frustrating because throughout the class I was consistently and frequently correcting using their methods. After she said that, she then went on to publicly make false assumptions about how my pet acts and how I train him at home without consulting me. Despite the fact that other dogs were having similar issues as mine, I felt specifically singled out. read more

Tara is wonderful. We have used her for all of our dogs and recommended her to all of our friends who are equally pleased. Her mother and her have been doing this for so many years and are extremely educated. Tara has always gone above and beyond helping us with our dogs including coming to our house. She even boarded our dog after I had a baby to prepare him for this life change. Tara is definitely a caring trainer and I definitely recommend her! read more

This is by far the best place to go for dog training and it's reasonably priced. I've gone to other places that charge more and don't give you your money's worth. Not only do they teach you the basics but they are also understanding that you can run into problems that are not usually taught (every dog is different after all.) The trainer is caring and is willing to work with you and is able to come up with ways to help you and your dog to be the best. read more

Not professional. You get to know more about the dog trainers medical history than anything else. They take cash before getting to know the place. They will provide a scroll copy upon completion of class something that anyone can print. Should have provided class with AKC pack instead of a simple printed sheet. Place is not clean and classes not well organized. Will not be coming back. Trainer does not provide the AKC documentation & certification to include ribbon. Waste of time. read more

We have owned dogs our whole life. Have had numerous experiences with trainers along the way. Tara and Peggy are the best trainers that we have ever met. They are compassionate , responsible, and extremely well equipped for dogs of all kinds. We enjoyed taking the puppy class and learned so many helpful and useful methods not only for our dogs , but us as well. read more

We are five weeks into a six-week beginning class with our dog Sammy. We had previously done a beginning class with another trainer but made more progress in two weeks with Tara than we did in six weeks elsewhere. Sammy has made progress every week and we are very happy. Tara is firm and in control. If what you want is someone that tells you that your out of control dog is fine, you need to find another trainer. If you want to make progress and have a dog that is a pleasure to live with, Tara is the best. We are already signed up for the intermediate class with Sammy. read more

The greatest trainers I've ever met. No BS. Tara and Lana are able to handle all types of dogs. They do not shy away from breads. Yorkies and Rotties in the same training class, this helps the dog and the owner handle any situation. Because you never know who's around the corner. I love their style of training the owner before the dog. Then you are ready for anything your dog comes up with. I've taken all of my dogs here since we met them. My first was a Great Dane that Tara helped to become a service dog. She taught us how to get our dogs to do commands by sight only, not by sound. So there is no BS clicker training. We've came out with extremely well behaved dogs. I always recommend any dog owner to Allways Dog Training. read more

All Ways Dog Training - Penny doing the "watch me". - Pet Training Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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I recently got my first dog every (well first one I have owned and was responsible for. The family dog that my mom got when I was in middle school doesn't really count as my dog.) Not only is this dog my first dog, but I am training him to be my autism service dog. Training a dog for the first time is one hell of an intimidating experience, training that dog to be a service dog increases the intimidation and difficulty by 10 times. If it wasn't for the amazing help and training that All Ways Dog Training has provided, this is a challenge I wouldn't be able to overcome--but thanks to their help, not only am I successfully training Fox to be my Autism Service Dog; he is learning faster than I could have ever expected. All Ways Dog Training has truly been a real blessing in my life, and the trainer, Peggy, has exceeded my expectations in every way possible. I am both Autistic and I am a full time college student. Both of those cause a very unique set of barriers that most people don't face. I have limited income, I need things communicated in a specific way, I need to ask lots of questions, my schedule is extremely tight, etc. Half the challenges that I face as an Autistic College student would normally be enough to make training a dog impossible--but All Ways Dog Trainer Peggy has gone above and beyond in making sure the services that she provides are accessible so that I can be successful. She has absolutely gone out of her way to make sure that I had access to All Ways Dog Training and the training she provides. She has been able to answer each and every one of my questions--even when they are at 1 in the morning! She has been able to work with my very tight college schedule! She has done so much that words alone can never truly express just how thankful I am for everything she has done. When it comes to providing accommodations that I need as an autistic, she has exceeded the ADA 10 fold! Thanks to her wonderful instruction, ability to answer questions, and ability to meet my unique needs--Fox was able to handle being on the bus--perfectly--on just his third day of training! The knowledge and skills Peggy has as a dog trainer is nothing short of exemplary! If you are looking for a place to get high quality dog training that you can count on, at a place that will meet your unique needs--this is absolutely the place for you. I honestly can't give them enough praise for how wonderful a job that they have done. I can promise that you will not be disappointed in their services! read more

Great for puppy play, but terrible if you want any instruction. Most class time spent with the instructor, Tera, bragging about how many dogs she has saved. I would not recommend! read more

Tara is an absolute lifesaver!! I brought my Boskimo to her in the midst of his terrible twos, and was worried that we would be "those students" in the class. My dog had some pretty bad aggression towards male dogs, didn't come when he was called, pulled so hard in walks that my arm was sore after, and couldn't be left off a leash even in an enclosed house. I was even scared to board him or take him to dog parks for fear that he would be too much for someone else to handle, or that he would get into a fight. We went through all of her classes from beginner to advanced, and now he is a totally different dog! Tara made classes un-intimidating and accessible. When mistakes were made, she gave clear instruction without making me feel bad for the mistake. She was so skilled at recognizing each individual dogs and owners needs, and adjusting the lesson accordingly. Now my dog (who will be 5 this summer) is so much easier to handle. When we go on walks, his leash is completely lose. When we are at someone else's house, I can leave him off leash and he stays by my side the entire time, even as I move throughout the house. I feel so much more confident with him around other dogs, as he's no longer aggressive (he can even be around bigger breeds, which used to be the trigger for him). And I've been boarding him (with Tara!), and he is able to be around other dogs and even sleeps in his kennel willingly (and Tara takes great care of him, and spoils him in all the best ways). I absolutely cannot recommend Tara (and her mom Lana) enough as trainers. Their services are so affordable and they will absolutely help you get your dog to a point that will make your life a LOT easier. I'm so grateful for them! I would give them 10 stars if I could. read more

Started my dog here for basic training. The instructor is great, is always willing to answer questions and give advice without charging extra for it. She explains why she does what she is doing and has a great common sense approach. There are rules and she has them for good reason but they all make sense. My dog is doing great and I am learning alot too. Will continue with other classes after this one! read more

Traumatized my dog, made him very skittish of me. Their training is out dated, may work for you but my dog needs a-lot of help getting over his issues caused by this place. Treated unequally and would never come back. They say rules but don't stick to them had a dog try to attack my dog, they were double his size. Had multiple instances where a dog nipped, sniffed or got too close to my dog. Ridiculous, would never recommend. read more

All Ways Dog Training has helped me train 7 dogs over a span of 10 years. There is no better training than these gals. They're extremely knowledgeable about different breeds needs and different training methods. Tara and Peggy are always available to talk and bring new ideas for different situations. The best part about training at All Ways Dog Training, is the safe environment that is created to work with, learn and grow with ones dog(s). From last chance rescue cases to service dog training, All Ways Dog Training has you covered. read more

You will never find a better trainer than Tara! Tara never gave up on Norman. He showed some aggressive tendencies as a youngster. He was a big guy and knew it. Not only did All Ways dog training help me to train my dog but she helped me to understand how to communicate with him. Norman turned to be such a smart dog and so well behaved. If I ever I had a question regarding training, Tara was always there. Even after my relocating out of state, she still helps me to this day. My Norman has since passed away. I still call her for advice. I now have two male German Shepherds 1 is a young fella and just as stubborn as Norman was. All Ways Dog training is truly on your side and there to guide you and to cheer you on even when you are frustrated. You will never find anyone that cares for clients and their relationships with their animals than All Ways Dog Training! read more

I went though Tara's basic and intermediate dog training classes with my lab-pit mix, Charley. Tara and the other trainers at All Ways Dog Training are very knowledgeable about dog training, and about all aspects of having a dog- they often give talks about selecting food, choosing a vet, and other things that were helpful for a new dog owner to hear. Their training methods are specific for each dog, and they will work on specific issues with dogs turning the training classes, dedicating a lot of time and specialized energy. They also offer a puppy play time before class in a big fenced field, which has been great for teaching my dog proper socialization and for getting pent-up energy out, so he's able to be calm during the training class and learn well. Tara was very helpful with evaluating my dog's behavior, and the confident, helpful manner of training at All Ways Dog Training has helped me feel empowered in training my dog. I'd absolutely recommend them to anyone else with a dog read more

I've talked with and watched many trainers in the area, and was losing hope that I could find one with a balanced approach to dog training. I was thrilled to discover Tara at All Ways Dog Training! Not only is she extremely knowledgeable, but she takes the time to get to know each dog and listens to you (the handler). Her recommendations are clearly communicated, easy to follow, & backed up by intense on-going research and consideration for the well-being of the dog. She instills the confidence needed to train even the most difficult dog. She sets her expectations high, then gives you the skills necessary to attain even the loftiest of goals. She truly cares about each client, and will go the extra mile to help you succeed. read more

I have experience with dog trainers. 40 years worth as a matter of fact. Tara is excellent. Is she loud? Of course she is....., she has to be heard by everyone! She knows how to train both dog and handler. She knows theory and anatomy/physiology as well. I find this reassuring in that she understands the physics of movement and how it impacts the dog. I am very happy to be one of her students. Ripp. Shelton, Wa read more

Love All ways Dog Training. Very friendly, very knowledgeable, & really care about you and your pet. Thankful for Tara & Crew.

The genuine love of dogs is readily apparent by the owners, Tara and Lana. They go above and beyond to ensure that every dog they encounter gets the individualized training it needs. We have taken both of our dogs through several of their classes and are always shocked at the improvement every single dog in each class has made! Regarding the negative review that someone left, maybe it was based on the puppy class? That class is geared toward socialization and puppy basics. The real behavior training starts when you get into the obedience series. Our dogs are better dogs because of the training we have done there. I highly recommend them to everyone! read more