As new dog owners, my family wanted to have the best investment in our Labrador Retriever puppy's…read moretraining so we could build a mutually rewarding life with him. I began exploring all kinds of programs with various trainers around the idea and Primal Canine stood apart from the get go because: (1) Erin is an amazing, kind and professional person to work with. She is prompt, yet not pushy. She worked with the facts and empathy for our needs and budget to help us get to the right program. (2) The trainer we were assigned to was forthcoming, efficient and excellent with the training. He was clear with what we could expect and what the constraints were. (3) Primal Canine is local to where we live, and we really preferred to go with a nearby small business, as both one we could support and build a relationship with, and for convenience. Within the 3 weeks of board and train our puppy went through, he came back with solid foundations and ability to understand and respond positively to basic commands. Primal's role does not end with the program - they constantly support with our needs and questions even after graduating from B&T, and actually offer a lifetime of resources to help us grow and flourish with our new best friend. We could not be happier we went with Primal and would recommend them to anyone who is looking to build a rewarding relationship with their dogs. Special shout-out to Erin and the trainer we worked with - you've been amazing to our family. Thank you!

I paid Primal Canine $6,500 for a Board & Train for my small, reactive dog. Now I have a dog that…read moreis still reactive at home, a replacement program they agreed to and then changed, and a refusal to refund anything. The facts below are in their own emails and texts. The promise: Before I paid, the general manager, Erin, wrote that if the training goals weren't achieved, they would "keep them longer for no additional cost to achieve the training goals." My #1 goal was reactivity, including barking at the windows and sliding door at home. The trainer, Ryan, highlighted that goal as one he could deliver. When I asked whether the results would carry over to my home, he wrote: "Yes, as long as you're consistent with her training I think she'll do really well." What happened: I was consistent. She did well with Ryan, and she did well with me in public. At home, nothing changed. I'm a military psychologist and see patients from home. Every time a delivery truck pulls up outside my house, she goes berserk, in the middle of my sessions. I can't have friends or family over. My own home isn't somewhere I can invite people, and even having workmen over is incredibly stressful. That's what I paid $6,500 to fix, and it's exactly what didn't change. When I raised it, Ryan said the guarantee only covered how she behaved with him during her stay, then wrote, "I apologize if we had been unclear about what exactly it was that was guaranteed." After that, his answer was to put it back on me: my leash technique, where I lived. And to recommend a prong collar or e-collar on my 4-pound dog, after my intake form had already asked for no prong collar. Erin later wrote that she addressed his e-collar pressure with him. If they say I didn't finish my transition lessons: I did transition lessons with Ryan. When they made no difference at home, I asked for an in-home session instead, and Erin agreed to send him to my house. Her own later email says she "bypassed the original plan" of lessons at their facility. The in-home times he offered were in the middle of my workday; evenings were "not the best way," and the earliest was a month out. I was done with a trainer who pushed an e-collar and blamed me, so I asked for a refund. If they say they offered a second program: They did, instead of a refund, and I accepted on two conditions: we agree on the trainer and agree on the goals. We agreed on a trainer, and Erin wrote that she would "travel to you for the transition lessons." I waited months for her to recover from an injury. Then they changed the terms: that trainer would no longer come to my home, and the in-home lessons would go to the owner, who was not the trainer we agreed on and whose methods, from what I've seen, are too forceful for a 4-pound dog. When I asked Erin to do them herself, she declined. I never backed out. They changed the deal, then refused a refund and told me I could continue only "under the terms in which the company trains dogs." I'm still willing to do it on the terms we agreed to: the trainer we both approved doing the training, coming to my home for the follow-up lessons, and achieving the agreed-upon goals. If they say the contract says no refunds: They refunded a friend of mine under the same no-refund contract, around the time my dog's training ended. And before I signed, I read a review in which the owner agreed to refund an unhappy client. That's partly why I trusted them. Also: Ryan posted a compilation of my dog's training on Instagram to advertise results she never achieved at home, presenting her as a success story and implying I was a happy client. To me, that's false advertising. When I told Ryan in writing that it misrepresented her results, he removed it from his Primal Canine account but kept it on his personal account for months, until I took it to Erin. If your dog's problem is at home, ask Primal Canine in writing, before you pay, whether their guarantee covers your dog at home or only with their trainer. Mine turned out to cover only the trainer, and even what they put in writing wasn't honored.

We had an absolutely fantastic experience with overnight care for our Ella at Confident Canines…read morewith Mike and his amazing team! From the moment we dropped our Ella off, we immediately felt at ease knowing she was in such caring, loving, and capable hands. Mike and his team went above and beyond to make sure our Ella was happy, comfortable, safe, and incredibly well cared for. Their genuine love for the dogs really shines through, and the level of attention and care they provide gave us complete peace of mind while we were away. Our Ella came home happy, relaxed, and clearly had a wonderful time! Thank you! Vazquez Family

The team at Confident Canines Academy is amazing. Mike welcomed and guided us through the…read moreboard-and-train program. Although we were hesitant, Mike encouraged us to trust the process, and we are so happy we did. At our two-week check-in, we met and trained with Camila. Her education and passion were very apparent. Her ability to explain our girl's needs and the analogies she used were incredibly informative and useful. We really appreciate her and Mark's enthusiasm for the training. We felt very comfortable seeing our girl interact with them. At the end of our training, Camila made sure we were both confident in taking Nala home, and we really appreciated that. Thanks, team, for everything! Liz, Yuvi and Nala

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Thriving Canines! Before choosing a trainer, I looked…read moreinto several different options, and I'm so glad we chose Chad. He has the perfect balance of holding the dogs accountable while genuinely caring about them. It's obvious that he truly loves what he does and is passionate about helping people train well-behaved, obedient dogs. One thing that really sets Chad apart is how much he genuinely cares about each dog's success. At the end of every course (our first one is seven weeks long), the dogs are tested on everything they've learned. If a dog isn't quite ready to graduate, Chad allows them to continue attending classes until they meet the requirements- at no additional cost. That says so much about his character. It's clear he's focused on helping dogs and their owners succeed, not just running people through a program. I've also talked with several people in class who have brought multiple dogs to Chad over the years, and every single one of them had wonderful things to say about him. That really gave me confidence we made the right choice. We feel incredibly lucky to have found Thriving Canines and are so excited to continue this journey with Charlie. I highly recommend Chad to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, honest, and dedicated dog trainer.

I found Thriving Canine shortly after adopting my high energy, smarty pants young dog, Lola…read more I was literally in tears the first time I went. I was super stressed and overwhelmed and we were both frustrated. She was bouncing off the walls, stealing everything, I was trying not to yell but my vibe was not good. I purchased Chads book about separation anxiety, it's the best 10 bucks I've ever spent. It's a quick, easy read that helped me tweak some little things that made a big difference, and to better understand Lola's thinking. We've only done 2 sessions so far, and I'm blown away by the change in behavior. Enough so that I came on here to write this review. We did one in home session, that was really helpful for learning tips on how to greet guests, counter surfing, and basic manners and boundaries in our home. I think I needed the training more than Lola did! Chad has a really great energy, he's calm and patient but has firm boundaries. He's able to explain what he's doing in a way that makes it easy to understand and execute. I felt like he really understood our situation, and didn't just give me cookie cutter advice. Lola loved him. Seriously, her new best friend. I'm excited for our journey with training and extremely grateful we found Thriving Canine.

I've boarded my Aussie, Lucy, at Desjardins for both short and extended stays over the years, and I…read morecouldn't recommend them more. Kevin and Sara are wonderful, and their beautiful, spacious property is perfect for an energetic dog like Lucy. Before her first stay, they gave us a tour of the property and had Lucy complete a daycare trial, which gave me so much confidence. One of my favorite moments has been running into some of the staff on our walks. Lucy gets so excited and runs right up to them, which says everything about how well she's cared for there. I've also referred family friends, and they've all had great experiences. Desjardins is a place I trust completely, and I know Lucy is always happy and well cared for.

Best puppy camp ever!!! So glad we found them!! Beautiful site. Amazing owners. Our dog is one…read morelucky guy to stay with them!!!

Five Stars. Rich, Suzana, Taren, and team are the absolute best. I started my 4 month old Corso…read morepuppy with 30 days of board + train in October 2022. I dropped off a blank slate and picked up a (slightly larger) puppy with more commands than I knew what to do with. The pickup session was clear, informative, and they patiently walked me through the pertinent things my pup had learned. I continued the sessions and have been going for the past year. Highly recommend at least 5 sessions after board + train so that you can get up to speed with all the things your dog has learned. If you do the homework and give it 5-10 minutes a day - it will change you and your dog's lives. Admittedly, there are still things my pup randomly seems to know that I later find out she learned in Board + Train as a 4 month old. Overall, this is the best place to send your pup. Responsive, punctual, extremely clean, and strangers will routinely tell you how well-behaved your dog is (if you do everything Rich tells you to do :)

My dog was well cared for. The instructions were easy to understand and follow. Great…read morecommunication and valued care for your four legged child that gives you a peace of mind while you are away.

Operation Freedom Paws is an amazing organization. I am a veteran and a client. They have trained…read moreme and my service dog. It has made an incredible impact on my life. It has given me life when I was ready to give up all hope. Please support them so they can help others.

Participated in their 6 week obedience class session with my lab. LOVED the experience! The class…read morepackage price is reasonable and similar to what I've paid for other pup trainings. Also grateful to support an organization that provides service dog training to Vets and people with disabilities. The classroom setting was great, giving us appropriate challenges and experiences with other dogs/people. I appreciated that they gave 1-2 commands to learn a week (3-4 if your dog is a quick learner). The staff were warm, hospitable, flexible & knowledgeable. Also gave great dog knowledge and education.

Steve is a miracle worker!!! I was at my wits end with my 2 1/2 year old Yorkshire terrier…read moreClementine. He was anxious, pulled on walks, barked, and was incredibly difficult. After just a few hours of training with Steve, Clementine is a new dog!!! He doesn't pull the leash on walks, doesn't bark when people come inside and most importantly he is calmer and less anxious. Steve is THE BEST dog trainer and I highly recommend him.

Steve at One Day Dog Training is truly one of the most special and remarkable people I have ever…read morehad the privilege of learning from, and an absolute delight to spend a day with. I have decades of experience fostering dogs and personally adopting many of my own, and over the years I've worked with a wide range of trainers. Without question, Steve is in a league entirely of his own. His talent, intuition, and depth of understanding when it comes to dogs is extraordinary. He doesn't just train dogs; he teaches humans how to truly understand them. What made the experience even more unforgettable was the joy he brought into the day. We laughed constantly. At one point my cheeks genuinely hurt from hours of smiling and laughter. And yet, amid all of that warmth and humor, we walked away with an incredibly clear, grounded, and practical understanding of his methods and a deep sense of confidence in our ability to apply them. Steve's approach is refreshingly doable: just five minutes of training per day, paired with his ongoing availability as a resource. That combination alone feels invaluable. We literally just completed our training day today, so I plan to update this review in a few months with more detail about long-term ease of execution and results with our dog, Griffin. But one thing I feel compelled to share now is this: throughout the entire day, even while Griffin was dramatically protesting (vocally, and with flair), Steve remained calm, steady, and completely unfazed. Griffin didn't love everything he was being asked to do, but he clearly adored Steve. He never cowered, never shut down, never showed fear. That level of trust speaks volumes. At one point, I asked Steve about scheduling an additional training day for one of our other dogs. His response was thoughtful, sensible, and deeply ethical: he told me it wouldn't be necessary. He explained that the principles I was learning with Griffin would absolutely apply to our other dogs as well, and that he'd be more than happy to answer questions along the way. That moment really matters to me because it so clearly reflects that Steve is driven by genuine passion and care for people and dogs, not by squeezing every possible dollar out of his clients. I also want to wholeheartedly acknowledge Tasha, who was incredibly kind, responsive, and compassionate throughout the scheduling process. We had to cancel our original training day due to a traumatic injury our other dog, Enzo, sustained: a spinal stroke. Tasha immediately offered to refund our deposit without hesitation. When I shared that I still very much wanted to work with Steve, she later went out of her way to find us an earlier date than originally offered after I asked to be notified of any cancellations. That level of care and humanity meant so much during a really difficult time. I am profoundly grateful for Steve and his entire team. This was one of the most positive, affirming, and empowering experiences I've ever had as a dog guardian. If you're looking for the best, congratulations. You have found it with One Day Dog Training!

Akina K9 has created such a wonderful community for dogs and their owners to come together, learn,…read moreplay, and even dress up! Whether it's a group class or a private session, I'm always in awe of the passion Rich brings to every moment. He and his amazing team have built a safe, supportive space where handlers can learn how to truly connect and work with their four-legged babies. If you want to give your dog the best quality of life, book with Rich and learn alongside your pet. Put in the work to be the best owner you can be -- I promise, it's absolutely worth it.

You can tell that they are super experienced in their training. Willing to work with you to set up…read morethe best program for your dog and for you, I would highly recommend their program. They were willing to help us with our highly aggressive dog when other trainers were not willing.

Jake is great! He is professional and really knows what he is doing. I trust himand do not…read morehesitate to ask his advice even though our training is over. He may be young but he knows dogs!

Edited to Add: Shortly after the business owner's response to my review, I received an email…read morestating that Yelp had received a complaint about it, in an attempt to have it removed. *** PLEASE READ *** We met with Jake in Nov 2024 for an assessment for a pup we had just rescued in Oct 2024 that has severe anxiety from egregious physical trauma. When Jake modeled how to put our pup in the crate, he had her hanging w/her 2 front feet off the ground (choking), & he then proceeded to knee her into the crate. Yes, he knee'd her. When we brought out our existing dog, he actually hit him in the face! My family & I were totally stunned. I very sternly told him that we do not hit our animals in this house under any circumstances. He was extremely dismissive. This was my first experience with a private trainer & did not know what to expect, nor did I know much about the world of dog training. As the weeks went by I did reach out to Jake again because we felt desperate & the idea of what he was selling sounded like it would be good for our dogs' needs. However, I could not get past the first encounter, nor the pit in my stomach. I, personally, did not trust Jake to treat our animals with kindness & respect that they deserved. The other off-putting thing that Jake shared while he was at our home for the evaluation was that he once put his dog in down-stay & then forgot about her. He fell asleep & awoke the next morning to find her still in down-stay, but had soiled herself. He was very proud of the obedience she had shown. I just couldn't help but feel awful for her, and continually thought that this was not a story I, personally, would be bragging about. I saw how he treated my dogs on our very first meet, I absolutely could not move forward whatsoever. I feel ashamed that I did not stop him in the middle of the evaluation. I should have. I should have asked him to leave & I did not. That haunts me. Our rescue pup is doing AMAZINGLY well with an AMAZING facility called RFRD!!! She is SO happy, calm, & every day learning how to be a calm pup despite her traumatic beginning. Their custom, well-rounded program, with honest experts, has changed the life of our pup, as well as our own. Harnessing Potential was not for our family, nor for our pups. Jake did not treat our animals with kindness or respect in our presence.

Cali Pet Goodz is great! I've taken one of my dogs in a few times for quick nail trims. Luckily,…read morethey'd been able to accommodate my dog right away and were finished within 10 minutes. I have another dog that is very shy and timid. I talked to the staff a bit about how best to handle a bath and grooming for her. They made me feel like they'd take really good care of her. They said they would start with a bath and go slow with the blower and see how she does. They assured me they'd stop at any point if she got too anxious with the process. She did well and I picked her up a few hours later with her smelling great with a nice trim as well. She looked amazing. I am really happy with the staff at Cali Petz. Everyone is very kind and willing to talk about any concerns I had throughout the process. I will definitely be going back for dog grooming. It's nice when you find a spot near your home that does a great job. Thanks Cali Pet Goodz!

I did a review here when I first started using CaliPetz but, that changed today! Awful experience…read morefor our family. I am very disappointed with them now! It started very well in the beginning early last year. But, today I picked up my dog and she was shaved again! They had her in there for 3hours! Just to shave all her fur! :( I asked for a trim half an inch on the body (I don't want her shaved, keep her fluffy) shave the tummy, clean private parts, teeth cleaning and bath. I had her groomed to be ready for a photo and now she's shaven. I'm so upset! This is the second time they did this to us. And, I can't be understanding anymore. Last time was last November 2025. So she's, ready for the holiday festivities and photos. But, she was shaved! I had to have her wear sweaters all winter because she was getting cold and looked malnourished. And, they offer a free grooming for next time! Why in the world would I bring my dog to them again. No consistency! Both times it was the same person at the drop off. I have nothing good to say to this place anymore.