If you have an anxious or fearful dog, I can't recommend Proactive Dog Training enough!…read moreI have a smaller dog with some pretty significant anxiety and behavioral challenges. At one point, I was even advised to consider medication--but I really wanted to explore training options first. That's when I found Javier Mendoza and his team, and I'm so glad I did. The transformation has been incredible, especially in such a short amount of time. My dog went from being afraid to walk past even a single stranger on the sidewalk... to more confidently walking through a crowded airport. The difference is honestly amazing. I've also seen a huge improvement in how he responds to other dogs and people, and his loose leash walking has gone from a struggle to something we can actually enjoy. What really stood out to me was how knowledgeable and supportive Javier and his team are. They didn't just train my dog--they took the time to explain the "why" behind everything, breaking down the science in a way that made sense and answering all of my questions along the way. Of course, I know training is an ongoing process, and I'll need to keep reinforcing what we've learned (and probably come back for a few follow-ups). But the progress we've made so far has exceeded my expectations. If you're dealing with an anxious, fearful, or reactive dog, do yourself a favor and check them out. Total game changer.

Our dog Calvin has been home from his two week stay for about a week now, and we could not be more…read morepleased! Prior to his stay at Proactive, walking him was exhausting and I'm amazed my arms were still in their sockets. He also loved to steal things and run through the dog door to the fenced back yard and either hide it (like a Christmas present he stole from under the tree until we wised up and moved them all) or just play chase (which we never won). He also would dig a lot (especially if it was wet and muddy!) and loved to make a snack of our other dog's poop. After he went through training at Proactive (we did the two week Ultimate Dog Package), he is SO well behaved. He's still his fun-loving self, but he listens and does what he is told. It only took two times correcting the poop eating and digging and he has stopped trying to do it. Walking him is an absolute joy, we've even been practicing dropping the leash in areas we feel it's safe to do so and he's been great. I HIGHLY recommend Proactive...all the trainers were great, and you can see videos daily of their progress while they're gone, as well as meet them for practice sessions. If you're at all considering dog training, just call them, you will not be disappointed!

Jeff was great. Explained training techniques clearly and gave us tools to use that worked…read moreimmediately! Highly recommend.

Jeff really knows his stuff and his tips and tricks work really well. Highly recommend!read more

Elaine is an amazing trainer who really understood our puppy Phoebe's needs. During our very first…read moremeeting she took a lot of time to gauge all of our personalities to come up with the right formula to make things work. We were amazed at just how much improvement was made in only a few weeks. She equipped us with tools to establish good leadership habits which gave us (especially me) the confidence we needed to create a beautiful bond and established boundaries. Honestly the whole process is incredible and worth every penny. Not only can Phoebe walk on a loose leash around other dogs and big distractions, but we can now take her on hikes while giving her some freedom. Pack walks! We feel well equipped to perpetuate her good behavior and know that Phoebe is a happier puppy as a result! From the bottom of our hearts....thank you Elaine!

Reached out to Elaine for help with our dog and she was rude and offered little to no help other…read morethan muzzling the dog, giving him away, or finding another trainer out of state, as she had no recommendations she could provide locally. Terrible attitude and surprised at her responses. Maybe she is a great trainer, and maybe she is right about the action to be take , but when someone reaches out for help to respond in the fashion she did is unacceptable. Good luck to those who can get on her busy schedule that is booked 6 months out.

My little pittie mix and I had such a fun time taking classes here! We recently completed the…read more7-week foundations course with Logan. I was pleasantly surprised at how much we learned in the course. I'll admit I was a little disappointed at first since the class is a lot of lecturing, however, I see why it is set up the way it is. Even with a high energy dog, the breaks between exercises were needed. I did not realize how mentally exhausting the training can be for the dogs and owners. Apollo loved the classes, but was definitely ready for a nap when we got into the car. The first class and I think the fifth(?) are primarily lecture. The instructor informs the class of this in advance so you can plan accordingly. Due to the nature of the first class, dogs are optional. After each class they send a detailed review of the class along with homework exercises. Each week has a topic and the classes are organized well. Overall, we enjoyed this class and recommend their classes to others!

I have been taking my dog Milou to All Dogs Allowed since he was a puppy and I'm so happy I…read morediscovered it! They only use positive reinforcement methods which is really important to me, and I love how much they value the comfort and happiness of their dogs and humans. I've taken several different classes here and it's been amazing to see how much we've learned and how much I've grown as a handler. Also want to give a special shout out to our trainer Katie who has been amazing and a part of Milou's training journey since the beginning. I love it here and can't imagine bringing my pup (and future pups) anywhere else!

The workers here are very nice, one man in particular, he may be a manager stuck out to me. He was…read morelooking for any opportunity to help someone and made sure everyone had what they needed.

We just completed our beginner's class for our miniature schnauzer pup Dexter at Petco Holly…read moreSprings with trainer Andrea Capaldo. She's amazing. Both the pup and us made great progress and we all really enjoyed the classes and Andrea's insights. She's been training pets for around 15 years and knows what's she's doing. We signed up for the second level training class and have had our first session. She keeps the classes for beginners small to minimize distraction. There were 2 pets in the beginner's class and a new student was added in this second level class. The thing that attracted us was the all positive training approach and its working perfectly on our dog.

this guy is amazing! the training he has given our German shepherd is phenomenal. The improvement…read morethat our German shepherd has made over the last couple of months is amazing. We would definitely recommend this trainer to everyone. Sam is definitely knowledgeable in the training of dogs.

From the owner: We provide a highly effective, human-canine, Transformation Process, that properly and uniquely…read moreaddresses specific needs, desired behaviors, and overall Enrichment & Fulfillment, of the lifelong Joy that Dogs bring us. We do this very Transparently and Collaboratively - with the owners involvement. We use browser based portals for VIDEO reviews, edits, narratives and "HOMEWORK" assignments, that are accessible 24/7, and add a higher level of specific pet intimacy, precise development, progress and a visible Transformation.

We sent our pit bull, Ollie, there and we are happy to report that he is now the best boy. We…read morerescued him from the shelter in 2018 and we quickly saw that we had some work to do. He pulled on the leash, barked at the door, and had bouts of aggression when he didn't get his way. I felt uneasy having guests over because I felt like I had no control over my dog. Basically, my dog owned me.. not vis versa. He did ~2 weeks of the board and train program at SMS Raleigh and even though we were nervous to send him away (it felt like forever!), we loved getting bi-weekly updates from his trainer and seeing his progress. Training Ollie will always be a work in progress but the biggest different we have seen is that HE LISTENS! Hallelujah. My friends come over and say they see a huge difference in him - he's calm, sweet, and charming. He is still a dog.. he does bark at the mailman, and sometimes pulls on the leash, but if we correct him, he is happy to obey. I also love the fact that we have free access to the group classes 2x a week and have the opportunity to continue training him. Overall, we are very happy with his progress and we are dedicated to continue training him with the SMS methods.

The training is nothing short of amazing. You and your dog will be happy with the results…read more No one was more apprehensive about going to an e-collar for my dog's training than I. Colby the owner explained it best to me when he said "It's not about punishment, it's about attention and boundaries. Dogs want to please their owners, so once you have their attention their instinct takes over and training becomes easier. The strides and response to this training are remarkable. So pleased with the results so far. I am happy and more importantly my dog is happy. We have only had 3 private whole day training sessions, and tonight we will attend our first group training. Looking forward to this as it can only help build on the foundation established in the private 3 lessons. The training is not inexpensive, however it cheaper than replacing carpet not to mention several pairs of shoes, baseboards ETC. I recommend sitting down with Colby or any of the other trainers and let them explain why this works. You won't have any regrets. Rick W

Great place with multiple types of classes for your pup. We are currently taking the agility Class…read moreand it been great seeing our dog have so much fun! All the workers are super nice and helpful.

Going to Zoom Room for training has been an excellent experience! We adopted a puppy who was about…read more3-4 months old. He has been going to training for about 2 months now and has learned a lot! All of the trainers really care and remember things about your dog as well. I love the class structure, how you can book a class like a workout studio that fits your schedule. Definitely recommend!

I am very grateful for my dog Shelby's time she spent with the phenomenal staff at Pooch Pad. I…read moretraveled from Florida to the Cary/Raleigh area for Christmas and I needed a place to board Shelby at the last minute (as her mother and sister both have cats); and I originally booked her at another boarding company but realized it had bad reviews when I arrived in Cary. I cancelled the other boarding facility and quickly needed to find another place with better reviews. I called around to a ton of places on Christmas Eve before finally getting in touch with Pooch Pad and saw they had great reviews, and their ability to fit Shelby in after a cancellation on Christmas Eve was a lifesaver!!! I am really particular about places I would trust with watching Shelby, as I usually board her at my veterinarian's pet resort in Florida. Seeing Pooch Pad in person I saw that there is a good amount of team members working there and was not a small operation; and the staff's response times were top notch; the facility is really well cared for and very clean. You can tell this group of people truly cares about the safety and wellbeing of pets they care for. Thank you to Cat, Eden, and Cherokee who assisted me while Shelby was there. I highly recommend Pooch Pad as a trustworthy business to watch your pet if you're away!!!

Always kind and helpful. My pets seemed to be well treated. Unlike some other placed, my dogs were…read morenot reluctant to enter Pooch Pad. After being away for a couple of years, we're looking forward to returning to Pooch Pad for grooming, day care, and boarding!

This was so good.. They are the best.. Professional, kind…read more Healing. I'm glad we came here..

Just a lovely group. Saw Dr Jess for a first time visit with my pooch and had a great experience…read morewith the whole place. Front desk and tech staff were wonderful. Look forward to a long relationship with them.