I'll start off by saying I'm so glad out of all the dog trainers I was talking to for my boy, I…read moredecided to come to Matan! More specifically, the trainer Amelia is who my boy Finn, my family, and I are grateful for! My Australian Shepherd Finn is a good boy who has a lot of love to give, is goofy, and a ton of energy to go with him. But, while I love him to death, before training with Amelia he was always really reactive and sometimes aggressive with other dogs, super stubborn with commands, bad resource guarding, and even really bad leash walking. We've been training for a couple of months now, and my boy Finn has come such a long way! While he still has work to do and much more to learn, Amelia has helped us transform Finn into a much better dog in and outside of the house. I can take Finn for walks and not really ever worry about him pulling or getting reactive towards random dogs or people now. He's following his commands not just in the house, but out in public with distractions all around him. We're able to be near him while eating or even take toys or food away without him getting mad like he previously used to when he had resource guarding issues. He's even able to be in group classes now with many other dogs and he's able to participate, be engaged, and enjoy his time there with the other people and dogs! While I can't put everything that Amelia has helped us with, I can 100% say she has been such a good trainer for us and for Finn. Like I said, he still has much to learn but Amelia has helped us and my boy grow so much in the short time we've had. And even after all his training, he's still the same goofy, sweet, energetic boy he was before, just so much more mature and in control of his actions. Thank you Matan dog training and thank you Amelia!

I'm highly upset and disappointed with this company. If you didn't read my husband's review…read morealready, I want to explain my frustrations. My sweet 1-year-old German Shepherd, Oso, was scheduled for a 2-week board-and-train and came home under horrible circumstances. We've had Oso since he was a baby and taught him the basics ourselves (Sit, Down, Wait, Up, Free, Spin) using positive reinforcement. See Video 1 for an example. Oso has had high reactivity toward other dogs, which we made very clear was something he needed training on. The trainers kept saying that he likes to "pick fights" with other dogs. I understand Oso has a big bark, but he has never once been aggressive toward another dog. We understand aggression can occur, and I'm not a dog trainer, so if that's what you call "picking fights," so be it. (See Video 2 for an example.) In Video 2, you can also see two trainers come together to talk about Oso's dewclaw. They didn't even know what it was called and referred to it as "weird," which I took offense to. Keep this dewclaw in mind, because that story isn't over. Communication overall was poor. For $2,000, I would expect, at minimum, pictures or videos every day. Mind you, when Oso was home, I had a dog walker who walked him for 30 minutes every day and sent me multiple videos along with a map of where they went on their walk. With this company, the pictures we received were mostly just Oso sitting outside on their dirt patches. We received two videos of Oso on the dog treadmill, with no explanation until I asked how long he was on the treadmill for. I felt like I constantly had to ask for information, and if I didn't ask, it wasn't a priority. Oso also came home with what looks like pimples on the inside of his mouth (see image). He did not have these prior to going there, as I am very conscious of everything regarding his health and appearance. The facility may not have noticed this, but I believe they would not take responsibility for it. I'd love to hear the excuse they would give: "These things happen." On the last day of his training (go-home day), we were already struggling to make the appointment because my husband and I are both active-duty military and can't just leave work. My husband received a call that Oso was receiving his bath, and during his blow-dry session, his dewclaw got caught in the grate and RIPPED OUT. I can't imagine the pain he was in. They took him to a local pet hospital, which didn't even see him until SIX hours after his initial arrival. After many attempts to get in touch with them regarding payment, Matan finally called and said he would cover it and that "things like this happen." I would love to see the camera surveillance and a written report of what happened. I can only imagine what the excuse will be as to why I'm not able to receive these from Matan. Oso is home with us now and recovering. We are extremely dissatisfied and honestly can't forgive ourselves for giving this company $2,000 for this treatment. Matan, to make this right, a refund is due--or at least half. We should have known we made a mistake when we paid first and then signed the contract stating refunds are not given. You were so personable and reassuring over the phone before booking, which unfortunately fooled us. Never will Oso or any of us be near this company again. I hope this review helps other responsible dog owners think twice before choosing this company

My puppy was fearful and reactive on walks and struggled with basic commands, but after training…read morewith Leo, she is a completely different dog! Leo took the time to understand my dog's behavior and tailored the training to suit our specific needs. We also had a couple of train the trainer sessions so we can continue with her training. Now, my pup is more focused, calmer around other dogs, and much easier to manage. What I appreciated most was the positive reinforcement approach! I'm sure our puppy misses Leo a lot! She was always so excited to see him.

Leo knows what he's doing. He was very punctual when he would come work with my dog. He's very…read morepolite and responsive and does a good job communicating. My dog enjoyed working with him. Overall good experience and I would recommend him for dog training.

I have been bringing my dog there for about four years. She absolutely loves it. They take very…read moregood care of her and have more than competitive rates.

I have to say again just how great this business is!! Besides transforming my scared rescue into a…read morehappy pup, they have taken in dogs and cats at no charge for families that lost their homes or evacuated due to the fires out here, while they tried to find new places for their families and pets to live. Ann, Kellina, Vanessa and Matt are the hardest working people I know

Woof Woof pals!!!! Winnie here reporting in!!!…read more I am absolutely incredibly thankful for my time here at Ruff Start Training I cannot thank Gypsea's training along with wonderful Nellie enough When I first got Winnie I was absolutely happy adopting a new doggie into my family. It wasn't until a few days or weeks in of when she settled in did I see that some of her behavioral problems had come out. Where do I begin? Walking on a leash? Impossible. Freezing on walks, all the time. I had to carry her back home several times because she was soo scared to move. When I did force her to walk it would take us at least 30 minutes to walk around the block and I am not kidding. It was extremely frustrating and I was exhausted a lot of the time. I realized I needed a dog trainer immediately other wise things were only going to get worse! Winnie had so many behavioral concerns that I was NOT aware of until I met Gypsea for the first time. I did not know that Winnie was extremely fearful of the outside world and it wasn't until I did a lot of digging did I find out that she was abandoned in a cage left to die as a puppy with all of her littermates. Absolutely heartbreaking on sooo many levels. No wonder she was traumatized. Hence why she was afraid of literally everything. The first time I took her to a dog park she was glued to me and did not socialize with any of the dogs and would use me as her human shield. It was soo bad that she was so scared to even sniff or say hello to any other dogs. That is when I realized that she will need constant socialization with positive dogs to help build up her confidence. I had no idea this was possible but that is why Gypsea brings her lovely dog Nellie with her to every session which I am absolutely thankful for. There is soo much to learn in the dog world and I was thankful to have such a kind teacher explaining everything to me. Through a total of 12 sessions Winnie was successfully rehabilitated and it is all thanks to Ruff Start Training's team that did NOT give up on her and worked through her behavioral issues until she graduated. I would also like to add that Gypsea is extremely, extremely affordable in comparison to literally every other location that I looked into. I knew that Winnie needed one on one training sessions and group sessions through maybe Petsmart and Petco were not necessarily something I was looking for, but maybe it does work for other dogs and that is good too. The reason I think this is because it is unrealistic due to real life situations and circumstances. Training in a controlled setting inside a location is not the same as going for a walk and being exposed to a ton of distractions outside. Furthermore, I will always support small businesses no matter what because they actually take the time to listen to all of your concerns. Gypsea and her team helped me with this as well and eased my anxiety a lot especially with Winnie's prey drive. They assisted me with walking her around easy targets, like ducks and I mean a ton of ducks near a lake in the water and on the sidewalk. I was so scared that Winnie was going to go crazy but they really assisted me and helped calmed her down. Let's not forget about Nellie as well who helped by setting an example for Winnie But trust me, Gypsea is amazing and it didn't matter if sessions went over the time limit her and her team always ended the sessions on a positive note no matter what. Do I recommend her? 100% yes. 10 out of 10 a million times over. I really only have positive feedback for her and her business because they always kept us safe and prioritized our safety during each session. Gypsea does not lose her patience and earns each dogs trust no matter how long it will take. Contact her now and I mean it!!! To summarize, Winnie came in as a traumatized young puppy and graduated as happy successful puppy ready to take on the world on step at a time God Bless everyone thank you for reading!!

Love my experience with Gypsea, Alex and their pup Nellie! All worked really well with both of our…read morelandsharks aka German Shepherd pups they're friendly and knowledgeable in what they do. Pulling and barking walking in public was a big stressor before but thankfully now the pups can socialize and enjoy outings with us. Thank you guys for helping with our pups!! Definitely recommend if you're looking for a a dog trainer

I highly recommend LA School for Dogs. I enrolled my 9-month-old dog, Sophie, in basic obedience…read moretraining AND to address her growling and pushback attitude whenever she didn't want to do something. Jennifer and her team worked with Sophie over a three-week training program, and the results were impressive. Sophie now has great leash manners and has mastered all her basic commands. But the biggest success was the change in her attitude. I learned that her behavior was caused by a lack of confidence, not defiance, and Jennifer showed me how to adjust my approach to genuinely build trust with her. Sophie is now a happy, confident dog. If you're looking for dog training that goes beyond commands and actually addresses the "why" behind your dog's behavior, LA School for Dogs is it. 100% recommend.

I can't say enough good things about Jennifer and her 3-week training program! Our border collie…read moreMaverick had an issue with pulling on walks, and thanks to Jennifer, he now walks perfectly in heel--it's like night and day. She also worked on his place command, and now he stays calmly on his bed until released, which has made having guests over so much easier. One of the things that really stood out was how Jennifer took the time to get to know us as well as our dog. She found out we have a horse background and used that to our advantage--explaining training techniques in ways that made total sense to us. She gave examples that tied into the horse world, which made the process so much more intuitive and familiar. She also helped address Maverick's excitement around other dogs, which stems from his strong herding instincts. With Jennifer's guidance, he's now calm and focused on us. Jennifer is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and truly cares about setting both the dog and owner up for long-term success. We're so thankful for the transformation she helped us achieve with Maverick!

This is my second review for Kim, and honestly, I couldn't not write it after what she's done…read morerecently for my dog Todd (aka Cuintli, aka Benson, aka the naked, aka sausage dog) and my friend's dog Ike. Todd has his quirks, and Ike had his own set of challenges, but Kim handled both of them like a pro. She knew exactly how to connect with each dog, address their specific needs, and give us clear, realistic steps to follow at home. It wasn't just about obedience -- it was about creating a better relationship and a calmer, happier dynamic for everyone. Even after all these years of working with Kim, I'm still blown away by her skill, patience, and genuine love for dogs. She doesn't just "train" -- she transforms the way you and your dog understand each other. If you're lucky enough to work with her, take it. Whether it's your own pup or a friend's, she's the one you want on your side.

I've worked with Kim at The Trained Canine for a while now, and I couldn't be happier with the…read moreresults. I have two very different dogs -- Larry, my feisty Chihuahua, and Ike, my big, lovable Pitbull. Before Kim, Larry had a knack for trying to boss everyone around, and Ike had some challenges with boundaries. Kim understood both of them instantly. She tailored her approach to each dog, and the results have been incredible. Larry is calmer and more confident, Ike is more respectful and relaxed, and together they're finally in sync. Kim has a gift for reading dogs and teaching owners how to communicate with them in a way that sticks. She's professional, reliable, and truly cares about every animal she works with. I trust her completely and recommend her to anyone who wants a real transformation in their dogs.

We are very happy with Indy's progress and obedience. Bar is patient and kind. He gets the job…read moredone. He is very knowledgeable concerning the various training methods. He knows of and advises us on what we can use to achieve the same results at home. He helps us pick out products that will make our training at home go more smoothly. We thank him for his kindness and patience

We adopted Benny from the shelter, and for nearly 6 months we struggled with if we were going to be…read moreable to make things work - he was dog and human reactive. We had a very hard time taking our new best friend out on walks around the neighborhood. We went through two other trainers before we found Bar and just couldn't get the help we needed. Then we found bar and working with him has genuinely been the best decision we made as new dog owners. We did Bar's board and train program. After that month, Benny came home with so much improvement and skills. His engagement with us and responsiveness to us was night and day, making all things easier for us and Benny. Bar is very patient and compassionate with both dogs and people. The one thing that really sold it to us was just how much Benny loves working with Bar. Benny is always excited to see him again for training sessions and boarding when we are out of town. We recommend Bar to anyone that needs help with their K9 family members.

"Oh, he's just a puppy" ....... I'm sure you have heard that a thousand times. Well, we have had 3…read moreother "puppies" over the last 40+ years and are true dog lovers. "We" thought we had it covered - that "we" could do it ourselves since "we" had been so successful before. All "we" had to do was crate train our puppy and hope he wouldn't destroy our home before he turned one - I would just have to make sure my husband didn't have to much fun playing tug of war, excite our new puppy with his comings and goings and that I would not panic every time the puppy was invited wherever my husband went in the house - including carpeted areas. Our dogs always turned out to be great family members even though they might have gotten into trouble along the way. Ask my friends - No one would have ever thought "WE'D" need a trainer. Even my VET thought my dogs were wonderful. Thinking I had the normal training covered 'cause I was so good with dogs :) I had made a few calls regarding "therapy dog" training for sometime in the future. I visited on site locations around the Hartford area. I watched puppies get socialized and spoke to trainers - No one nor anything impressed me. AND THEN I CALLED JENA! She was not high pressure. I wasn't interested in getting a trainer for a puppy. I thought Trainers were for people who never had a dog before, have troubled older dogs or want to teach dogs tricks. Why would someone need a trainer "for a puppy" who was high spirited, ate his food veraciously (without taking a breath until he was finished), went crazy with happiness when he saw anyone, ate everything in sight from the sidewalk or grass (ugh), pulled on his leash, mouthed our hands, not coming when called, jumped up on everyone and everything, blah, blah, blah. "He's just a puppy" Don't they always behave that way? Jena asked the right questions which made me reevaluate how I went about training my puppies. Interestingly after my first conversation with Jena I called her back. Jena was the most insightful person regarding behaviors of dogs and behaviors of their owners. She educated me about dog mentality and pack behaviors. I still was unsure that I needed to pay someone so much money to help me train my puppy. I could wait and "if I needed help when my dog is older" I would hire someone to train my dog. I spoke with my husband about my conversation with Jena. He too was unsure what a trainer could do to help "us" raise a puppy. I wasn't totally sold yet, and certainly my husband had his doubts. And then my husband started to "play" with his dog :) .....hmmm, I thought maybe Jena could train my husband. I thought a lot more about what Jena said. I was unsure about some of my answers to her questions. I called her again. This time we made an appointment to meet. Not just with me, but with my puppy - and yes with my husband. There I was standing in my kitchen with my puppy, my husband, and Jena. There was a lot of conversation. Even though we had agreed to the sessions I could tell by my husband's body language that he hadn't yet bought in to what success Jena could provide. I'm sure my body language was no different than his for the first half hour or so. And then something happened. Jena showed us with her body language how she could communicate with our puppy, without saying anything, to get him to do what she wanted. Within 5 minutes our puppy no longer mouthed or gulped down his food. My husband and I stood with our mouths hanging open - and big smiles on our faces. Who would have believed it? certainly not my husband if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes. Jena then showed me what I had been doing that also encouraged bad behaviors in our puppy. She was there to train ALL of us :) Jena gave us homework to practice with our puppy until the next time we met. Because we were now believers, we did our homework and we saw great behavior changes in our puppy and each other. Jena covered many other aspects of training methods over the next few meetings. We followed her instructions and it was absolutely amazing. 100% compliance = 100% success. Over the last 2 weeks I have been preoccupied with many responsibilities which took me away from the consistency of my behaviors with my puppy. Guess what? He had started slipping. He stopped coming when I called. I just heard someone say, "he's just a puppy". It isn't that he's just a puppy, it's that I had not followed through with my responsibility as the "leader of the pack". I had failed in my consistency of requiring my puppy to follow my commands. I'm back on track, so therefore so is everyone. There is so much more to say about Jena and her ability to help all people/dog relationships. I will say that Jena has more than helped our puppy, she has given us the joy of raising a puppy, the calm of a peaceful pack. "We" know that she is worth every penny for her instruction. Thank you Jenna!!!!

I thought dog training was BS until I went to Jena! Helped me and helped my crazy pooch! Now we can…read morego and do things with other dogs or in busy places. Really thankful.