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 can't begin to thank not only Farrukh, but Mike and the rest of the staff at primal canine for…read moredoing such an incredible job with my dog Bodhi. From pulling him off the kill list, through the tireless training they did to set him up for success in his future endeavors, managing finding him the perfect home, to eventually entrusting me to become his forever home. I couldn't be more in awe of the work they've done with Bodhi and the countless other dogs I've seen the update videos on, I will forever be grateful to Farrukh and Mike for their faith in me, and the continued support/guidance Farrukh has given me since he flew Bodhi out to me in August, 2025.

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.

Our dog has been going to Desjardins for a few years now he barks all the time when he is left…read morealone when he is there for the day he feels like its his second family he has his own perch top of couch and gets attention from everyone

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 a GREAT organization that does GREAT things. If you are in need of a…read moreservice dog for medical needs, this is the place. If you just need dog training for your pet, OFP can help you there as well. OFP also offers dog boarding. The staff at OFP are highly qualified and experienced and they really are subject matter experts. I can't say enough good things about this organization. Highly recommend, 10/10

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.

I contacted Steve and One Day Dog Training upon the suggestion by a close friend who had worked…read morewith him several times over the years. Lana, my 3 1/2 year-old lab mix, a foster fail that I took in as a 2 yr old, was getting bigger and stronger, jumps on anybody that comes in the door etc. She's a sweetheart, but I needed to be able to mange her energy and size My other two dogs are small and this is the biggest dog I've had. I knew going into this training that it was me that needed most of the training! Steve explained that I needed to learn how to communicate with my dogs, that they communicate differently. What an eye-opener! Everything he explained made sense and in just the few hours we spent together, Lana was already following the cues that Steve taught me. Consistency and repetition is key. We are just 2 weeks in and the process is going great! Steve was absolutely terrific to work with. Somehow, he makes the whole process easy and effortless. His follow up calls to check in are much appreciated and he's available for questions that might come up. I'm so glad I made the call and was able to work with Steve.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.