German Shepherds have a naturally protective nature -- it's part of their DNA. Our Misha, a white…read moreGerman Shepherd, was no exception, and it was very important for us to help him develop positive social skills and friendliness toward people and different environments. Since he was 2.5 months old, we enrolled him in Exception Pets' Socialization Class, where he interacted with other dogs and their owners. The classes are professionally organized and supervised, and they made a huge impact on his growth and confidence. Donna and Sandy, his instructors, provide great insights into dog behavior and help both pets and owners understand each other better. Thanks to their guidance, Misha is growing up to be a very well-socialized and happy dog. You won't regret enrolling your pet with this wonderful team of professionals!

My puppy (now a 10-month-old Lab) and I have taken two classes with The Exceptional Pet so far (and…read moreI just signed up for our next one)! I'm looking forward to even more classes in the future - they offer a wide variety of fun things to do with your dog. The trainers have been great (I've worked with Donna and Sandy so far). They really know what they're doing - with dogs and people. I highly recommend them; you and your pup will be glad you did!

5 stars -- Empire State K-9 changed my dog -- and honestly, changed me, too…read more I don't write reviews like this often. But this deserves it. My dog Coco is family. She's also high-energy, distractible, reactive, social to a fault -- the mayor of every block. Walking her was a full-time job. I'd resigned myself to always having a leash-yanking, sidewalk-sprinting, bird-chasing kind of pup. Then I found Empire State K-9. After almost two weeks of immersive training, Coco came home a different dog -- not in spirit, but in structure. She still has her spark, but now there's focus behind it. She heels. She respects boundaries. She listens. She can walk by my side, calmly, even in high-distraction environments. A pigeon flew by today -- she started to glance, and with the smallest tug, she turned back to me and kept walking. That kind of transformation doesn't happen by accident. It's built through consistency, skill, empathy, and serious time on the ground. And that's exactly what Empire State K-9 delivers. From the moment I dropped her off, I felt like I was handing her over to someone who truly cared -- not just about dogs, but about people, too. The trainer spent hours with me upfront: walking me through the theory, the tools, the transitions, and the work I'd need to do when she came back. I got worksheets. Real-time walkthroughs. Space to ask questions. Time to process. He even drove me to and from the train. Brought me lunch. Gave me trash bags when I forgot them. The care was constant, not performative. Coco came home with a new collar, a new leash, and a completely new relationship with the world. She now lies down at my feet when we enter restaurants -- something I never could have imagined before. I can finally take my hand off the leash and trust that she won't bolt. Even now, I get unlimited follow-ups for three months -- real access: calls, texts, whatever I need. No nickel-and-diming, no weird fine print. If I had to offer one piece of constructive feedback, it's that sometimes the sessions ran a little long -- the wrap up one especially. I was promised two hours and hit closer to three. I was totally fried by the end. But to his credit, he noticed immediately, read the room, and got me to the train with kindness and care. So even the one "flaw" was handled with grace. Was this worth the cost? Yes. Would I recommend it to anyone who feels overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure where to start? Absolutely. Will I be continuing to work with Empire State K-9 moving forward? 100%. Three months of training post I dont know of another bootcamp that offers that. This wasn't just training. It was transformation -- for both of us.

Look no further!!! Rick truly is a one of a kind dog trainer and animal behaviorist. If you need…read morechanges, this is who you need! What makes him stand apart is he trains the family as much as he trains the dog so you get a complete understanding of your dog's behavior and the how, why, and when to apply what you learn in the course. We, as a family, learned just as much or even more than our dogs learned! He includes the entire family in the classes which was awesome because it kept my husband and I on the same page so we didn't confuse our dogs and he taught my kids proper dog safety and proper engagement which is crucial! We found Rick about 8 years ago when we got our first dog, Scout, a shepherd/Doberman mix, who was extremely anxious, fearful and aggressive towards anyone outside our family and other animals. It was impossible, stressful, and downright embarrassing to take him anywhere due to his insistent barking, pulling, and lunging... so we sought out help. We had a hard time finding a trainer who was willing to even take on the training of Scout and actually had multiple trainers tell us just to put him down!!! As soon as we met Rick, he was not only willing to work with Scout, but was enthusiastic that he could treat Scout's individual issues and get us the results we wanted which was such a relief!! Scout entered Rick's program and he had a COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION. He gained so much confidence and control through the program and through Rick training us as the handlers, Scout was comfortable in whatever situation he was in because he could trust us as his alphas and that he was safe under our command because of the skills Rick taught us. Flash forward to 2020, my father bought a Rottweiler puppy that ended up being way to much for him to handle so he asked us to take her and my first phone call was to Rick... She was OUT OF CONTROL. We adopted Phoenix, and started her training right away. She had entirely different issues than Scout, mostly no control, no house manners, and had no social skills. Rick worked with her and almost instantly she was a different dog. She was still her happy-go-lucky self, but had manners and control. Through her growth, Rick worked with her and us to mold her into the ideal family dog! Scout & Phoenix are able to enjoy life much more as we are able to handle all settings and bring them along with us anywhere with confidence. He just has a complete understanding and nature with dogs and it's astonishing to watch him work. We are so grateful for what Rick has brought to our family and will always go to him for our dogs in the future!

Not gonna lie I was kind of scared to board my dogs here because of some of the reviews but I'm…read moreglad I did! It seems many local doggie daycares do group play and sleep. Unfortunately my dogs can't do that. One is scared of other dogs and one can be aggressive. So I liked that Cassio did individual boarding but also let dogs in a family board together. We did the test run overnight with them and all seemed well. So we used them when we had to go out of town for two weeks. I got my babies back in perfect condition! I even added on the grooming service and they looked good! I would definitely use them again when traveling away from home without my dogs. One star off because I wish they would send pics of the dogs throughout the stay. My previous daycare in Florida did and it helps a lot with the anxiety. I did call and ask but got like 2 pics and one vid over the course of the two weeks. 5 stars if they provide pics daily/every other day.

I was very skeptical because of the reviews. However, I was visiting the area for the weekend and…read moremy dog was freaking out when left alone in the hotel, so I didn't have much of a choice. Firstly, I called probably 20 other places in the area and Cassio was the only place that answered their phone on a Saturday morning, which I greatly appreciated. They didn't need to do a meet and greet, which every other place that I spoke to seemed to require in advance. Upon arrival, I shared that my dog is scared of other dogs and can be aggressive when there's toys or food around because he's possessive. They let me know that they don't do group play or keep multiple dogs in a space together which I was happy to hear. They said that during the operating hours, minus a break from 12-3, someone would always be with my dog. We only boarded him at Cassio for about five hours on a Saturday and Sunday, so I'm not sure what the overnight protocol is. There seemed to be a fair amount of staff members each day and the services were fairly priced. It cost about 41$ each day. The only thing I was hesitant about was that they required his collar to be removed, which has an Apple air tag on it, so that made me nervous because I was worried he'd somehow escape the facility. They remove all collars and leashes so the dogs don't get caught on the cages and get hurt, so it makes sense. The facilities seem very large, there were multiple outside areas that had large fences around them, and an open air cage area that had an overhead covering. We weren't offered a tour of the facility, but we also didn't ask. This was our first time doing a doggy day care situation, so we weren't sure of the protocol but I wish I would've asked to see where my dog would be spending a few hours. Overall, if I had to do it again, I would use Cassio for doggy daycare.

Phenomenal service - we had an accidental break in the line that we couldn't locate this week. We…read moregot an appointment for repair within 2 days. Tim arrived and in less than 10 minutes figured out the location and had it repaired. He also ensured that our pup had a fresh battery and our service plan was up-to-date. The fence has been fantastic for our energetic labrador and the training and access to training was key to the success and safety of the system. Tim was so easy to work with and really efficient and we appreciated his fast work!

Todd, Tim & Jamie are awesome. We had a really bad situation with our 6mos old Newfoundland pups…read morethat was headed towards certain tragedy. We assumed that there wasn't a fence, real or imaginary, that could contain our beasts. Skeptically, we had Todd come out for an estimate. He made us immediately comfortable and explained all the options. Most of all, he reassured us that it would work and his team would be here until we were 100% satisfied and had happy safe pups who could have their freedom. They delivered. The install, training and follow up was flawless. We are their biggest fans!! If they can contain 2 150# Newfy's, the can do anything:)

Gina is the best. My boy Gunner needed help learning to walk on leash without pulling me. After one…read moresession I saw great improvement. I highly recommend. He always looks forward to seeing her.

From the owner: Basic Obedience, Leash Training, Remote Training & Specializes in Aggression & Behavior…read moreModification Training

Beezys pack was so quick and communicative and we had a great session! She understood our dog…read moreimmediately and gave us great feedback and instructions to fix some of her behavior issues. She also set us up with some helpful guides for the future! 10/10 recommend.

Beezys Pack provided me with great resources and tips for my pup who was dealing with bad…read morereactivity. She works with many rescues and also helped with some of the pups I was fostering. Aubrey is so caring, passionate, and knowledgeable, you can tell she really cares about the work she does / helping pups, and it makes a BIG difference. So grateful to have her as a continuous resource.

Working with Cassidy has been incredible. The bark buster methods really work if you stick to them…read moreand are consistent. My reactive dog has made incredible progress in the past month and I couldn't be happier. We still have some work to do, but I'm confident we'll get there working with Cassidy. I'm eternally grateful. Thank you!

I called Mike for our dog Bruno, who has SEVERE separation anxiety (he is the famous ROOF DOG)…read more Our initial session with Mike occurred in August and lasted over 3 hrs. Mike was professional, knowledgeable, fun to work with and loved by my whole family (pups included!). His training techniques are easy to learn and effective. We saw a HUGE improvement in our dogs' behavior immediately. What earns Mike a 5+ STAR review from me is his responsiveness. It's been over 90 days since our first session and Mike is as accessible today as he was the day of our first session. Every call and text is responded to promptly, even when Mike has been out of town. Separation anxiety is not an easy fix. It's a huge relief knowing that we have Mike available when needed. Mike is a committed, compassionate, honest, and gifted dog trainer with a big heart. I highly recommend him.

I have been meaning to write this review for a while, Amanda started working for us back in July…read more2013 when my husband and I moved to a new town, so it has almost been a year! Not only does our dog love her but she is the most reliable person we have ever worked with which has given us incredible peace of mind. She promptly replies to any notes I send her. In a year, she has never been a no show, never cancelled last minute, and has only requested one day off and it was for Jury Duty. She leaves us a small note every day and takes notice to things happening with our dogs behavior and other things as if she was her own. She is truly awesome and we would be lost without her.

From the owner: Dog Walking - Pet Sitting - Obedience Training…read more On The Move, pet services offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity that provides in-home, pet sitting, dog walking and dog training services while your at work, away on business or on vacation. private in-home dog training, puppy training, dog sitting and daily dog walking that is custom fit to you and your dog's individual needs. Our dog training programs are proven to be effective. We also offer free in-home consultations for dog sitting and walking Why use a Professional Pet Sitting Service? - Pets are happier and healthier at home in their own environment - Avoid trauma and loneliness of being left in an unfamiliar surrounding - Eliminate the hassle of transporting your pet to and from a kennel. - There is no exposure to other animals, avoiding; stress, sickness and parasites. - Your pet follows their normal diet and exercise routine - Your home looks lived in, with lights turned on and off and mail and newspapers brought in -

WARM & WONDERFUL!! I would recommend Virginia Dare to anyone who has any type of dog training…read moreneed. She is professional, warm, easy with pets and children as well as adults. Virginia is non-judgmental, patient, attentive and truly loves animals. Her pricing is reasonable and if I have any future needs, I am going back to her! There are levels of training - even if your dog is already good with basic commands, she can get him/her and you to the next level. I have a rescue who had a number of behavior problems (jumping, nipping, uncontrolled enthusiasm) - much of this is related to his age, but Virginia gave us tools that reduced and even eliminated his poor behavior. Training approach - Rewards-based (although there are alternative methods she will work with you on if you'd like) Technique - Praise / non-responsive to poor behavior (no military-style approach!) Responsiveness & Availability - Any question I had I was able to ask her either during the training session or in follow up (email or phone). Virginia's goal was to ensure we were getting the behavior we wanted to see. Whenever I had to reschedule a training session, she was very flexible and understanding. Overall character - Virginia is someone I'd love to call a friend - she is warm and friendly and is kind and consistent with everyone! I'd though my children (both 9) would be 'in the way', however, Virginia included them in the training sessions and it was great! My daughter became very skilled in training our Ivan. Virginia is very gentle with everyone and has a refreshingly open view of living with dogs. Follow-up - Virginia always followed up after each training session to ask if there were questions. She provided detailed reference for us that we could review and more deeply understand the 'why' of the training. She did explain everything during the training, but it was very helpful to have written material to refer to afterwards.

From the owner: North Star Canines provides private training lessons for good manners and obedience skills, and…read morebehavior consultations to resolve a large variety of problem behaviors. Training techniques are very effective, humane, and based on positive reinforcement. Certified trainer Virginia Dare has over 30 years of experience in the field. Serving Scottsville, VA and surrounding areas in Central Virginia.

I first took my cat here to see an opthamologist last summer. I had taken him to 2 separate vets…read morefor issues with his eye due to allergies and scratching. (We tried a new vet local to us since moving, but decided to go back to the one we trusted, an hour away). Both vets prescribed prednisone drops among trying other things. Our regular vet suggested it was time for a specialist. I'd called several places and no one had an available appointment for months. Some had an office visit charge of $400+ and insisted on doing bloodwork although he already had recent bloodwork done. Finally I called Newtown and got him an appt for the same week, and it was under $300 for the exam. The opthamologist we saw that day is no longer there, but our experience was a positive one. I found out his eye issue was a herpes infection that was not resolving due to the prednisone. Something completely missed by the regular vets. She also recommended entropion surgery for his eyelid that was turned in (later discovering his eyelash had fused to his eye). Fast forward to last week... I brought him back to the vet because of changes in the appearance of his eye. He had a "corneal sequestrum" which is dead scar tissue from trauma. We were monitoring it to make sure it didnt become an issue. Back to the opthomologist in Newtown - this time we saw Dr Crabtree. The cost of the visit was only $202, billed as a followup from last year. I feared surgery, but she told me his eye was attempting to heal itself by pushing out the dead tissue, which was a good thing. Surgery would be $4000, but she is confident he wont need it. She prescribed antibiotics drops but didnt make me buy them there, since I had some at home already. The plan is to recheck him in a few weeks, and remove any loose tissue at that time. Such a relief to hear good news. My worry woth specialists is that they want to do expensive procedures and testing, but this was not the case here. Contrary to another review I read, my cat was treated with care by all staff we encountered.

I got a cut and paste response to this second post after my call and hold . Apparently what I wrote…read morewas not read or responded to personally. Wow. "Pet Wellness Team S. Business Owner Apr 9, 2026 Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Rodney. We are pleased to hear that you have confidence in our doctors, but we understand your frustration with the communication issues you've encountered. Your feedback is important, and we are committed to improving our service. Please call (203) 270-8387 and ask to speak to our hospital manager so we can address your concerns directly. We appreciate your patience and hope to provide a better experience in the future." So I called the next day and was on hold to 7 minutes before being to that you were in a meeting and could not speak with me. They could not have known that in less than 7 minutes? This is exactly the sort of service that is so poor and beneath the level of medical care. Let's see if I get a call back as promised?