Elaine is awesome and so accommodating.The main issue we had with our dog was him"going crazy"…read moreseeing other dogs while on leash.Not only embarrassing but sometimes dangerous.So Elaine taught us how to handle it with one session.Did I mention she's accommodating?She also helped with the pulling on leash issue.She came on time right to the door.And we had a wonderful time with someone so kind and brilliant

Elaine is an experienced trainer who knows everything about dogs. She doesn't just work with your…read moredog but works with you so you better understand the training and how to make it successful for you and your dog. She has worked with all of our dogs over the past 15 years. She is outstanding and I highly recommend her.

We've been working with Micaela and her team for the past five years and cannot imagine where we…read morewould be without their support, community and guidance. We have a very high-drive, high-energy Shetland Sheepdog named Bruce. Like most Shelties, Bruce is smart, sensitive, and social but he is also highly triggered by movement and very VERY very vocal. He developed pretty significant leash reactivity, especially towards other dogs, when he was an adolescent. Bruce wasn't technically a covid puppy, but a gotcha day of Halloween 2019 means he got the combo of isolation and overrun dog parks that were typical of that time. We live in busy Coolidge Corner and began to dread taking him outside. I was often in tears I was so embarrassed. We had resorted to excessive fetch and taking him outside the city to run off his energy. We 100% were "those people" shouting "he's friendly!" as he charged, off leash, towards other dogs. We were pretty desperate by the time we found Community K9. Micaela is talented, educated and effective. She understands and applies dog psychology like no one else. She taught us about barrier frustration, biological fulfillment and frustration tolerance training, emotional regulation and so much more. She is empathetic and supportive and never made me feel embarrassed or anything other than empowered. Through introduction of an ecoller, brain games, teaching him and off switch, focusing on making sure he is biologically fulfilled every day and structured walks with other (non-reactive) dogs, Bruce has thrived (and re-earned off leash privileges). After each training session, we are sent a long document reiterating everything we had learned and with many other resources included. I have assembled all her guidance into a training book of sorts and consult it often. Micaela doesn't just train your dog, she trains YOU. Investing in this type of service is not cheap regardless of who you go to. If you do find someone cheaper, my advice would be simply to remember that you get what you pay for. Micaela's prices are industry standard and as described above, the value you get for that money is exceptional. Bruce still hikes with Zack from Mikaela's team twice a week to fulfill his need for socialization and play with other dogs in a safe environment with dogs who are all trained to the same high standard. Zack is kind, enthusiastic and skilled. Bruce adores him. We also board with Community K9 for all vacations and holidays. We have had the pleasure of working with Annie, Clara, Micaela & Zack as well as other wonderful former employees that have gone onto great things! Micaela's team is so top-notch that I ultimately ended up becoming very very close friends with one of her former employees (Amanda) whom Bruce and I regularly went for structured walks with so he could learn from the good example set by Amanda's dog Gracey. I also recommended Micaela's team to my sister who worked with Annie for her large (part Great Pyrenees, lab and husky) fearful, reactive rescue dog. My sisters dog had always been nervous around children and Annie successfully helped my sister prepared for the birth of her first child and a seamless integration. I see Cannoli and my niece now and it's hard to believe anyone ever worried which is such a testament to the skill Micaela cultivates in her team. This short (haha) review is all to say that Micaela is outstanding, and her business name is on point. She skillfully and compassionately teaches you and your canine to live harmoniously within your existing community, and then she provides a like-minded community for you and your dog that is worth its weight in gold. I cannot imagine either of our lives without Community Canine. I HIGHLY and without reservation recommend Micaela, Zack, and the rest of her team. You will find the answers you are looking for with them.

We've been working with Community K9 and Michaela's team for over five years with our dog Scout, a…read morerescue lab-pit mix, who has significant reactivity issues. We knew that Scout needed a special kind of training: patient, consistent, and grounded in a deep understanding of dog behavior. Michaela and her team deliver that and so much more. What started as basic obedience evolved into a long-term partnership to help Scout navigate his fears and reactivity toward strangers and other dogs. From group classes to private sessions, Michaela and team were with us every step of the way to make sure Scout could be successful and safe in our home and around our growing family. I remember having the team come help us prep before we had our twins, setting up our house and establishing guidance for how things should work in the house long before the children arrived. Scout's not always easy, but because of Community Canine, we've been able to give him a safe, loving home. He adores our kids, we've learned how to introduce him to new people, and we feel supported every step of the way. We also rely on their weekly group hikes and boarding services, which we love. Scout gets excellent care, attention, and even some training refreshers while we're away. Everyone on the team--Michaela, Beth, Clara, Marie, and others--car deeply about the animals they work with. If you have a dog with complex needs, are looking for thorough training, or just want to give your pup a great start, we couldn't recommend Community K9 more highly.

I found Perfect Paws from a Google search. I had a private training session with Amanda and my…read more4-year-old cocker spaniel. We learned so much in 60 minutes! We stayed in my neighborhood because my dog is familiar with the area. I learned a few techniques that are easy to practice and I can already tell my pup is catching on! From filling out the intake forms to the end of the lesson, our experience was great. Looking forward to booking another lesson in the future.

If I could give 6 stars I would! As a new puppy mom, I was so nervous about where to send my little…read moreguy for daycare. I found out about perfect paws by visiting the Newton dog parks and I got to know some of the trainers. Janie was so helpful in getting Hunny onboarded and he absolutely loves daycare. I even take him on his off days just so he can see his fr Amanda and Tracy are such amazing trainers and dog lovers!! I can't say enough great things about perfect paws and their staff. Hunnys second home for sure!!!

We started working with William shortly after bringing home our Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, Henry,…read moreand we're so glad we did. His guidance helped us lay a strong foundation, not just for Henry's training, but for our own confidence as first-time dog owners. William's approach gave us practical tools that made a big difference during the more challenging "teenage puppy" phase. Walks used to feel chaotic, and now they're something we actually enjoy as a family. Friends and strangers alike often comment on how well-behaved Henry is, and we credit a lot of that to the early work we did with William. Puppyhood can be overwhelming, but working with someone who really understands dogs made it feel manageable. We had a great experience and highly recommend William.

From the owner: We offer private reward-based dog training services. Accepting new clients, call now!read more

I have never brought a dog to this trainer, but I've dog sat for those who have. The dogs were…read moreclearly so well trained, recall was a breeze, and walking them on leash was the best experience. I contacted the dog owner to ask who trained them. That's really my only connection, but the owner's recommendation spoke volumes.

I wanted to share my experience with Tom and Marilyn ( Owners and Trainers ) When my bf and I…read morereached out to them our two dogs ; a boxer and a Olde English Bulldoggee, both males began having problems getting along. They were resource guarding, fighting, and we lost complete control over our dogs. It got so bad to the point we were considering getting rid of them which was an ABSOLUTE last resort. Tom came over to our house TWICE to review their behavior, educate us on what the process would be and worked out a financial plan that was going to be fesible for my partner and I. Not to mention both of them were VERY respectful that we are a LGBT couple. Tom ended up doing a in home board and train with Vance, our bulldogge who we believed to be the agressor, didnt listen at all and was very defiant. Opie our boxer recieved in home training as he caught on alot easier then Vance. Tom continously would answer our calls or texts when we had problems. Things settled down for awhile and due to the fault of my partner and I not being as consistant as we should have began to have issues again. At that point Tom picked up the training right where we left off and this time my partner and I took training alot more seriously. We had to utilize muzzle training while dogs where in the house along with place command in order to reaclimate them to living with each other and understanding that neither of them were the Alpha. During this period Tom advised to keep dogs completely seperate, it was hard at first but since following his training and putting our trust in him our dogs now can walk properly on a leash, be in the house in place without muzzles ( we can even leave the room ) and put them in the backyard again together with toys. Although nothing is perfect in life the freedom that Tom's knowledge gave us has allowed us to gain control again over our home and our pets. We utilize his techniques everyday ( Not to mention we learned how to cook pasta the correct way from Tom hahahaha ) Tom and Marilyn truly make a great team. Marilyn brings a more hollistic approach to training which I think is amazing and very helpful if you have a very tense dog , plus its great for the owners too, because dog never bit there were times I felt uneasy because I couldn't read his body language or behavior. Tom is the disciplinary one who is excellent at teaching how to run a pack. A thousand thank yous to them both. Steve and I will FOREVER be in debt to them for what they provided us. Please, if your at the end of your rope and you feel you have no other alternative, reach out to them. Nobody can guarentee it's going to work but I assure you that their confidence, experience and professionalism will shine through! I look forward to doing some fence training with Vance our bulldog this spring/summer. Justin, Steve, Vance & Opie

If you're a DINKWAD (double income, no kids, and a dog) millennial, crazy dog parent like I am,…read morethis is the only review you need to read. As an overly protective (psychotic) dog parent, I really did a lot of homework before enrolling our (at the time) 5 month old Bernedoodle Cooper in day school. I read a lot of positive reviews and few that were concerning to me. I requested a call with one of the owners to give them a chance to speak to the negative reviews before I made a decision. Hannalore answered all of my questions (primarily regarding "disliking doodles" and use of tools) and I felt very comfortable with her responses. Following that conversation we enrolled Cooper in day school and immediately saw improvement in his attention span, ability to understand commands, and leash manners. The staff was always super friendly, sent report cards with photos and videos, and always offered me advice and info on what he worked on. I was (and still am) over the moon with how much my little guy enjoys his time there. To be fully transparent, like any good relationship, we did hit a snag. A tool was used on Cooper that I did not consent to and like the Papa Bear I am, I was furious. I requested to speak with the owner who used the tool (Corey), and I expressed my displeasure. Now, I'm not an experienced dog trainer, so I don't think I know more than these amazing professionals, I do however believe in consent. When I spoke with Corey, I told him that a tool should never be used on a dog without consent from the owner and if Cooper was to come back, I would need to see a change in their policy to ensure that consent would ALWAYS be given before a tool was used. Corey completely understood and (as a small business) was open to suggestions for improvement - no excuses, no backpedaling, and full accountability. With that response, and the implementation of consent for tools, I was completely satisfied sending Cooper back to day school. It's now been over a month since that snag and I can confidently say I am beyond thrilled with how this was handled and the care and training my Coop is receiving at BFTD. Mistakes happen, but the fact that this amazing place was honest and open to a change in their policies is something that really sets BFTD apart from other places. I can 100% say if you're crazy like me, stop your search - you've found the place for your pup. All of the staff are amazing, but I would like to give a special shout-out to Becka and Thaloa who go above and beyond the call of duty and send me videos and VERY detailed report cards so I can continue the work at home. I can officially say my 7 month old pup is better behaved, knows more commands, and has better social skills than most dogs twice his age. I'm writing this review because finding a place to trust with your fur baby is scary, and you never know what you're going to get. But BFTD has done an amazing job with Cooper and I hope my experiences make you feel comfortable with them being a part of your fur baby's life too!

I'd advise against this organization. I attempted to work with them awhile back and was put off by…read morethe rude, arrogant owner of the place I also did further research on the owner and my gut instinct was right. My interaction with the owner after discussing my dog's needs was such a negative experience that I was surprised she was actually in this business. I guess being kind is not a requirement to "train" dogs.

Ejay and his team at Ruff Translating (Cara, George, Sam, Michelle, and others) have literally…read moresaved my dog (and me!). After doing extensive research on trainers and training methods, we landed on Ruff Translating for our service dog prospect, Mercy. Mercy is now an (almost) two year old Great Dane. It was important to us that our trainers were reliable, professional, and experienced. I feel so unbelievably lucky to have found Ruff Translating. They care for Mercy like she's their own dog. She not only gets excited to go to "school", but she also is motivated, brave, and on her BEST behavior with each member of their team. It's clear that they have taken the time to get to know Mercy and develop a relationship with her before jumping headfirst into training. Ruff Translating uses a balanced training model which incorporates corrections and tools with treats and praise. Mercy knows what is expected of her and gets a lot of love; but also knows when she has made a poor choice and is given the opportunity to change her behavior without any fear. Ejay and his team work TIRELESSLY to build relationships with their dogs and their human handlers. They are also an important staple to the Boston community and their local neighborhood. There are a lot of dog trainers in the Boston area to choose from - do yourself and your dog a favor and research each team & organization before making a choice. Ruff Translating will likely be the BEST option for you and your dog.

TLDR: I made the right choice with Ruff Translating. My dog adores everyone there and has turned…read moreinto an amazing service dog. He has been abroad with me in the Caribbean and given me a new lease on life. He was trained so well that he loves his job and loves to work. He even recently responded to a medical emergency I had without any gear on or expectation he work because he was in my apartment and off duty. He chose in that moment to help me because he was trained to truly love his job. That is an extremely positive reflection on the people who trained him. I trusted my lifeline (aka my service dog) with Ruff Translating and it has led to me having a solid dog who is always ready to work and has led to me having more independence than I've had in years due to my disabilities. I spent a year and a half researching before I decided to get a service dog and train with Ruff Translating. Ejay spent so much time answering my questions and sharing his knowledge before I even became a client formally. I had never done any dog training before so I was at first worried about tool usage like e collars and transitional head halters, etc. What sealed the deal for me was shadowing a lesson and seeing the joy with which these dogs train. The expectations are clear and I saw no stress signals. Only dogs happy to work. Never once was any tool used that I wasn't comfortable with and educated on also. They truly do train the dog in front of them and different styles are used for different dogs. My dog isn't super food motivated for example so right off the bat I was introduced to play as an alternate reward and form of engagement. The way we use any corrections down to even a verbal no was customized to what communication method worked best for my dog. The thing I love about Ruff Translating is they didn't just train my dog but they empowered me to be a strong handler and to understand how to troubleshoot issues even on my own. They gave me the confidence to work my dog and trust that I could handle all the various situations we come across as a working team. I also have grown as a person as I worked through my own internalized ableism and learned to embrace my disabled identity as not a negative but just one aspect of who I am as a person. I have found such great community with the other handlers and with Ejay, Kim and Michelle. Ruff Translating has had my back through so much including some severe medical emergencies. I'm honestly so lucky to have found them and highly recommend them. They will not just train you a service dog but genuinely help build you as a strong and confident team ready to tackle the world together.

We have been happy customers of Brookside walk and train for 9 years! Dinyee is a fantastic trainer…read moreand fundamentally understands dog behavior. She centers on communication and structure for our dogs; this has helped keep our dogs calm and less anxious. She has helped our family with approaches to use at home to build those skills. We starting with training for our rescue dog and now for our new puppy. With both dogs we learned so much and this continues to improve everyones quality of life! We also use Brookside Walk +Train for daycare and boarding. Both services keep our dogs environment consistent and are really convenient!

Had a 1:1 consultation with Dinyee to see if this place would be a good fit, and she was so…read morealarmingly hostile we left in the middle of the appointment. She also did not look at or interact with our dog, and kept correcting us about information that we clearly would know as the dog's owners. Based on the positive reviews she must be doing something right, but I'm not interested in interacting with her again (and I usually like everyone). My partner and I still talk about that bizarre experience.

Great services. Shitty pricing for the walks times offered ($26 for 20 mins!!) I would stay with…read morethe company if their pricing wasn't so ridiculous.

Joel and the team at Paws to Consider are awesome (or should I say paw-some)! I personally have…read moreonly met and spoke with Joel - the owner - and the service and communication has been nothing short of exceptional! I love that Paws does free meet and greet consultations to get to know your dog prior to just scheduling a walk (like Wag or Rover). Our adopted pup Rosie needs an experienced walker with the patience and care that Joel was able to provide, completely understanding as she is settling in and also getting leash-trained. We had a terrible dog-walking app experience because the walker was not a professional but just a college student who wants to make money while also getting the chance to pet a dog (despite us noting our needs). Long story short our girl got out of her harness AND collar as the walker was not able to properly approach the situation. Joel made the effort to acquaint himself with my pup and every time he walks her, he sends multiple photos and detailed accounts of the walk - including any good, bad, or odd behavior your dog may have exhibited/engaged in. Huge for learning how your pup may be developing - especially without you there - and if there's anything you can address sooner. Great visibility, easy to schedule service, candid and open communication, & one happy pup. Definitely recommend Paws to Consider's services for your furry friend.

Woof Woof Karen & Erika (which means "thanks" from my puppy!) :)…read moreMy 18 week-old puppy spent a night at Karen & Erika's, and it was his first time away from home. He had a GREAT time, met new dog friends, and when I picked him up at the park the next morning (during the morning romp for all the Urban K9 dogs), he barely acknowledged me. When we got home, he slept for HOURS. He was happy and exhausted, which made me happy as well. I am so glad someone recommended Urban K9 to me, and you should check it out!

Service: Feeding my cat and cleanning his litter box…read more I'm very happy with the Urban K9. I was going away for a week and I needed someone to come and look after my 13lb-black-long-haired cat. They came to meet me and Iggy, that's his name. They made the process very simple. I completed the forms, gave them instructions. I left the payment and they left me a paid invoice with a report on my cat. They feed him and cleaned his litter box as requested. I look forward to doing more business with them in the future.