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    Francesca's Dogs

    4.8 (120 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Services - Francesca's Dogs

    Dog walking

    Private dog training

    Puppy socialization classes

    Francesca's Dogs Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Francesca's Dogs

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kimchi and Francesca
    Alice K.

    Francesca is THE dog trainer to learn from. I highly recommend her as she is a phenomenal teacher who truly understands how to work with both you and your precious pup. My dog Kimchi is very reactive with dogs, runners, bicycles, motorcycles, etc. It became so bad that I would purposefully make sure that I wasn't walking him through certain streets and times of the day. Feeling extremely frustrated after walks became the norm. And the anxiety knowing that I couldn't control my dog on walks was crippling. All in all, I was at my wits' end when I reached out to Francesca. Francesca stands out from other dog trainers because she is truly a phenomenal teacher. From the get-go, she exudes a very calm energy that puts you at ease during the training session. Throughout the class, she shares her wealth of knowledge with you in a thoughtful, patient, and intentional manner. She's a master at breaking things down to a tee and addressing any confusion you may have. And she's super sweet too. About the training: She builds up her students (both human and canine) in a way where you as the owner get to make autonomous, good choices because you are fully informed. She doesn't just tell you What to do - she explains Why your dog is acting the way they are, How to address it, and Why it's important to address it that specific way. There are no punitive actions taken on the dog when correcting behavior, it's about building up your dog and praising him when he engages with you. It's all super helpful. The training sessions have built up my confidence as a dog owner because I'm making better choices. My walks with Kimchi have become so much better - I don't need to time or map out my routes anymore. I don't have to worry, because I know what to do. Honestly, I feel like she's trained me more than my actual dog, lol. I have a much better connection with Kimchi now. Thank You, Francesca, for all that you do for dog owners out here in Los Angeles!! I HIGHLY recommend her to anyone looking for a dog trainer!

    Obedience class for young dogs!
    Donna R.

    We're fostering a large, young dog who was a stray and wasn't even able to walk on a leash. We immediately found Francesca & her team on yelp and luckily were able to join a beginner obedience class. The class met 3 Sundays for 3 hours each. Amazing class- and more challenging than I anticipated. Our big dog (55lbs- 2years old) with so much energy is walking on leash calmly & at my pace without pulling. I can't stress how incredible the entire team was. At times, we had to step away due to excitement or re-direction and the assistants made sure to help me one on one to help make progress and provide context of animal behavior. Francesca is knowledgeable, compassionate, clear, honest & direct and teaches us how to reflect that with our pups.

    Tumbleweed & Nuxx
    Vanessa M.

    Francesca gets right to the core of what needs to get addressed. We had originally booked our first session for Francesca to help us identity how to get our puppy, Tumbleweed, and our senior dog, Nuxx, to get along. Turns out, our senior pup and myself needed to work out some things first! That initial session was a hard pill to swallow, because Francesca pointed out the ways I needed to adjust my behavior and mindset to best support my senior dog. In doing so, this would set a foundation for both of our dogs to acclimate to each other in ways that elicited calmness and confidence. That one session truly changed my mindset and helped me develop my own confidence with my dog! We saw so much value in that initial session with Francesca, that we signed up for private sessions, which then led us to signing up for group sessions. All in all, we deeply value all that we have learned from Francesca and the pack mentality she cultivates during group sessions. Her training classes are unlike what I have done before, which is like Zoom Room classes. I really felt like her classes really prioritized how you relate to your dog; your own mindset as a pack leader with your dog; and cultivating a real unspoken bond with your dog. These things were so nuanced but so pivotal in how we decided to approach training with our pup and senior dog. We also switched from using harnesses to using only leads, which was a big change for us. Since our first session, we continue to work on and implement what we learned, and I am proud to say that our pups are developing a stronger bond each day. Our senior dog went from really hating the puppy to wanting to sit next to him during breaks on our walks; playing with him and chasing him whenever he has the energy; and they walk hip to hip sometimes on our walks too. It is the cutest! Do the private sessions if you have specific challenges you want to overcome. Do the group sessions to practice socialization with a trained professional and with other committed pet parents!

    There is a reason Francesca's Dog Training has earned 5 stars! Francesca is SO great with the dogs AND the people that come with them. Let's be honest, half of dog training (or more?) is training the *people* lol. She "gets" people, our misconceptions of how to raise a "good dog", and gets everyone on the same page. We have done both private training and group training classes with Francesca. The sooner you can invest in your dog's socialization and training, the happier you BOTH will be. I am delighted with the results in our doggie. Thank you Francesca!

    Lauren D.

    This is our second time and puppy to attend Francesca's Beginner Obedience group class and cannot recommend it enough. Her approach is simple and straightforward, but highly effective. We especially appreciate her goals of creating well-balanced, confident dogs that we can take anywhere. She easily assesses what each dog needs and provides guidance on how to improve their behavior. Francesca also allows for questions and frequent contact between classes so you get the support you need. We've also referred friends to Francesca with very different dogs than ours and they also had very positive experiences.

    Stella V.

    Francesca knows her stuff. When we initially began to search for a trainer, we knew she would be in the running since she trained our neighbor's dog and he is now an amazing and well-trained dog. It didn't take long for us to realize she is the best and would help us make our crazy pup into the dog of our dreams. After a few private sessions, we were so impressed with his progress that we signed up for a few group classes, and they have worked wonders to help socialize Charlie. Francesca believes in building a strong foundation for your dog, and I'm confident we made the right choice.

    7 year old walking 4 month puppy

    I can't say enough good things about Francesca! We have worked with her for privates, board & train, group classes and pack walks for our confident and strong Labrador puppy. Francesca has taught our pup and our family so much in such a short amount of time. She even taught our 7 year old to walk our pup on a well controlled leash. We look forward to continuing to work with Francesca for years to come. If you're considering training, do it! It's the best investment you can make for your pup and your family.

    Yanina D.

    I came to Francesca in dire need of a trainer! I have a 2 year old Sheepadoodle who suffers from anxiety. Just after the first session I saw major improvement. Within the week she was sleeping in her crate, walking properly, & learning how to greet our guest. Francesca is amazing! She's patient, knowledgeable & will tell you how it is! Highly recommend her!

    Francesca helps owners understand dog psychology and is the main method of getting the owner to understand dog's needs and behavior.
    Ben W.

    COVID19 Puppy - Nori the Shiba Inu My wife and I decided to get a dog during COVID19 and we got our puppy in April 2020. This review is being written in March 2021 after working with Francesca & Sons for about a full year. Quick Summary: If you don't read past this point in the review, just know that Francesca trains both the puppy & owner on Dog Psychology which we believe is the superior method in understanding your dog's actions / feelings; and what the proper way to care for your dog. She is not a basic obedience trainer that will just show you how to get your dog to sit, down, etc. Frankly, any other generic dog trainer or teenager running a PetSmart class could show you. With Francesca, I tell everyone you're getting the "full package" of understanding why your dog does the things they do. I can 100% recommend her for any of her services... because we've basically have used Francesca for almost all possible services. This review will cover many of Francesca's services including: Email, Texts, Video Calls, Group Classes, Community Pack Walks, Regular Dog Walks, Private Lessons, and Board & Train. Background: My wife and I have no prior knowledge/experience in dog ownership. We are millennials that love cute dogs and we see them all the time on Instagram. We have watched hundreds of dog training videos, read tips/advices on various blogs/internet sites, and consulted with various social media owners of the same breed. Even after all this self-research, we still searched through Yelp looking for a dog trainer because we wanted to make sure our puppy grew up to be a well-adjusted dog. I'm sure some individuals can train their dogs with just self-research but we knew that we could not fully raise our puppy without a bit of professional guidance. Training: We've had the opportunity to do private lessons, group classes, and even board & train our dog with Francesca. Out of these options and if budget is a concern, I would recommend doing at least one private class OR at least a private consultation with her first. She can really help address what your main issues are and then work with you on what future training opportunities makes sense for your situation. $$$ Private lessons were typically around ~1 hour long and she'll make sure you get all your questions answered. We've always had a good training session with her. We've worked in a variety of environments including privately at home and publicly in a park. You tell her what you want, and she'll focus on it BUT she'll also give you a ton of other pointers/advice on what else you can do if she notices a behavioral deficiency with your dog. Obviously, if you practice on the 'homework' with your dog, you'll get your money's worth/better training. Don't expect that your dog will be perfect without you doing the homework consistently. Expensive, but WORTH IT if you put in the work. $$ Group classes are about ~1-1.5 hours and the class we took is the AKC Canine Good Citizen / Puppy Intro Class. Classes are once a week (on a weekend) and they were amazing! The main differentiator that these classes teach compared to other places is that you get dog psychology lessons combined with the basic training such as recall, meeting another dog/person, and loose leash walking. Once you understand the dog psychology, it was a "DUH!" moment and helps you understand your dog. The classes are SO useful that I would recommend the group classes for any age dog - doesn't have to be puppies. Best bang for buck! $ Community Walks are when she hosts a group pack walk. Pack walks are a great way to get your dog socialized instead of dog park. Your pup gets to unleash their energy into a structured walk. A structured walk means your dog releases energy in a controlled, consistent, and calm way. If a dog park is your main outlet to release your dog's energy, it's like taking your dog to Chuck-E-Cheese's all the time. You don't take your kid to Chuck's all the time, so why do it with your dog? You'll see alot of like-minded owners with well-behaved dogs on these walks. She'll give all owners general advice during the walk, and its great way for your dog to learn from OTHER dogs as well as from the owner. Least-expensive. $ Dog walking services - Francesca also offers Dog walking services where she will pick up your dog and walk them with her pack about ~2x a week. This is without the owners, and it's a great way for your dog to socialize. She picks up in the morning and drops off 2-3 hours later. This could be pricey depending how often you want your dog to be walked. $$$$ Board & Train is when your dog sleeps overnight at Francesca's. Pricing depends on your dog's behavior, training/time needs. Even though this is the most pricey service, we felt this was the most worth it service because you're getting professional training 24/7. It also includes additional follow-up private lessons to ensure what they learned in B&T sticks. Highly recommend this service!

    Ella
    Lisa F.

    I can't say enough!! Francesca and Edith have completely transformed my timid rescue cocker spaniel! She has come out of her shell and gained tons of confidence on her pack walks. She walks now on a loose leash and we are able to pass dogs and squirrels without a flinch from her. I wish I could give 10 stars. Amazing business!

    I can only join the chorus of happy pet owners in singing Francesca's praises. They are all well deserved. She has really helped me work on turning Harry from a good dog into a great dog, without putting a damper on his insouciant air, in three private lessons. She is superb at checking in with you regarding whether or not what she is saying makes sense and is sinking in. After all, she is the one training you so that you can bring the best out of your dog. Her presence is calm, confident, supportive. Am so happy that Harry and I found her.

    Janice L.

    We attended the group beginners obedience class and it was a game changer. Francesca showed us simple but efficient techniques that made the difference. We have a 7 month Golden Retriever puppy which now can actually walk with us in loose leash, without fighting each other. We will attend the Advanced class to further brushing up my Golden behavior. And looking forward to able to join the paHighly recommend.

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    Francesca is amazing! We have a very active 4 month old puppy and after two private sessions we have seen massive results!

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    Ask the Community - Francesca's Dogs

    Are you booking calls at the moment?

    Hi There! Please go to my website to book a free call. My calendar is now open for new clients!… Read more

    Hi. I have questions about your dog training? How can I get ahold of you?

    Please go to my website to book a free call at www.francescasdog.com

    What are your rates?

    Hi Francesca! My puppy Emma is 3 months old - goldendoodle or shih poo - and 10 lbs to date.… Read more

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Francesca's Dogs

    With personalized training and socialization classes, Dusty can now go with us in public without incident.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    David, Howie and the rest of the crew have been absolute angels. I was struggling, having a 1 year…read moreold puppy and a 15.5 year old I'd had since college. So I did some research and came across "Obedience, Please!" I was thrilled! I had been joking that, in honor of Taylor swift, we were going to do a "Life of a Showdog" film once I got her trained. So to find out Howie trained dogs for show biz back in the day?! What a dream. Being part boarder collie, the training was much more difficult than I had previously been hoping for on my own. Despite (and maybe because of) her incredible intelligence, she also has a tremendous amount of energy, and love to give. With my chronic condition it was just becoming too much. She's been in the program for seven weeks, has taken a huge liking to David and behaves beautifully with him. I'm nervous to have her on my own but she just graduated today and I am so much more confident! She listens like spring and she talks like June, my sweet baby angel. I've been singing to her "she's a maniac" but swapped it out with "brainiac" all afternoon: lovin' it. We have already been practicing the commands at home and plan to be diligent about continuing education. Thank you, David, for your hard work, determination and diligence with her training. You clearly care very much about this work and these dogs. Aphrodite has seen great improvement since I first dropped her off and I couldn't be more grateful. And Howie, thank you for carrying on this work for a lifetime and building such a valuable practice and team. I will always be impressed by you and your work. Sincerely, Montana

    We're incredibly pleased with the training by Greta and Ina. Not only has our pup been trained but…read morewe have as well. Our little guy is a 10 month old shelter dog. Needless to say he had never had any training whatsoever. Within a few sessions he was sitting, staying, and coming on command. At the completion of training he has also learned to heel while walking. Since he quite a large dog even at 10 months, his ability to walk without pulling is crucial. Our dog is now a delightful and happy companion all thanks to Greta and Ina! I highly recommend them!

    The Urban Pet

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    Stepped into this heavenly pet store w/ some friends today & we felt like we were in a Disneyland…read moregift shop but for pets!!! The many brands of wet food / dry cereals for the paws in your life! Annnnnd my wordy... the toys, bday pet gifts, and outfits for every season! I could go on & on. I was amAzed at every corner of this store. Marcella greeted us at the cash wrap station & we immediately signed up for membership! Cannot pass up a special deals day. Lol We were even encouraged to bring our pets into the store next time so now I just want to start asking neighbors if I can bring their pet into the store as a field trip. Haha Honestly enjoyed the store & I will be back at feeding times for the koi fish in the pond. Those koi's were such a tranquil friendly vibe.

    This place has become incredibly frustrating. I have been in the shop five separate times, and not…read moreonce has anyone asked if I needed assistance. Customers are left wandering the store while employees sit behind the counter eating and socializing with one another. When the shop was located across the street, the staff was attentive and welcoming. The difference in service now is disappointing. During my most recent visit, there was an employee with dark hair standing behind the counter while the entry alarm clearly signaled that customers were coming in, yet no acknowledgment was made. At this point, I would recommend saving your time and choosing another option.

    K9 Logic Dog Training - Diego graduated after completing his training!!

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    I can't recommend K9 Logic Dog Training enough to people. My partner and I came to them to address…read moreseparation anxiety in our 1.5 year old French Bulldog. We had tried what felt like everything and his separation anxiety was so bad that it got to the point that my partner and I basically gave up our social lives, had to coordinate with one another one of us would be going to the market or if it would be a trip where we both can go but someone sits in the car with our dog. We met the team at K9 Logic Dog Training and they assessed our dog and determined what kind of training program would be best for him to address his separation anxiety and the other skills we wanted to work on. Within a week we noticed progress. We finally were able to leave the house for an hour and go to the market together. Week by week the time has gradually gotten longer where we have been able to leave him alone for longer periods of time to reclaim our social life back. I was skeptical at first, but after that first week I became a believer. We are so happy with the results that for the purpose of just giving him structure and routine we signed him up for more classes and he LOVES being at school. We've also participated in the weekend group training sessions and they are so helpful to not only give our dog routine, but it's a great way to reinforce structure and keep him sharp with everything he learned at school. Signing up for training with K9 Logic Dog Training was the best decision we could made for our dog to set him up for success.

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    The amount of change that Dawit was able to do for my dog is a crazy amount. I'm not sure I'd be…read moreable to handle my dog without his help! My very alpha dog needed a lot of training and Dawit turned him into a more calm alpha dog who knows his place at home and in public. I'm so very thankful and cannot be more happy with how much of a good boy my dog is. As a first time dog carer, I've learned so much from Dawit and would definitely recommend his training to anyone.

    Where do we even start? Our dog, Cooper, was adopted from a shelter after being surrendered twice…read more We quickly learned that he struggled with severe separation anxiety and couldn't be left alone. We became prisoners in our own home. We either had to take him everywhere with us or have one of us stay behind. It became a huge burden, and we found ourselves scheduling our entire lives around our dog. We decided to work with Dawit, and little by little, things started to improve. When we got Cooper back from training, he was like a completely different dog. He no longer pulled on the leash, was not reactive when he saw other dogs, his recall was amazing, and many of our typical worries disappeared. However, the separation anxiety still persisted. This is where Dawit truly deserves recognition. He never gave up on us or on Cooper. Our training journey probably lasted longer than most because of how severe Cooper's anxiety was, but Dawit went far beyond the typical follow-ups. Over the course of several months, the training sessions, check-ins, texts/videos, communication, and home visits finally paid off. There were times when I genuinely thought we'd never be able to return to a normal life, but our consistency combined with Dawit's continued support and new techniques made all the difference. Cooper can now stay home alone in his crate without issues. That being said, training only works if you put in the effort. We followed through with everything Dawit recommended, even when it was difficult or when we didn't see immediate results. It's easy to fall back into old habits or give up when progress feels slow, but perseverance truly pays off. Side note: Dawit is just an all-around great person who genuinely cares about what he does. Our dog absolutely adores him. We also love the boarding services he offers -- especially because Cooper comes home exercised and happy. Another huge plus is that Cooper is now off-leash certified, and we fully trust him to make good decisions. Yes, it can be costly, but it's an investment and honestly, I don't know another dog as well‑behaved as ours. I'm incredibly proud of the work it took to get here.

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    (25 reviews)

    I found Dave through his wonderful Yelp reviews so I realize that my opinion is certainly in the…read moreminority. However, I still think you should know of my personal experience. After adopting a 2 year old min pin mix from the humane society, I emailed Dave to set up a training session. I explained that she was already pretty good with walking on the leash, etc. but we wanted to definitely focus on some separation anxiety issues and just general command following. He showed up on time (a big plus in my book!) but did not acknowledge our dog at all when he came in. He said "she'll have to warm up to me." A little background - we'd had our pup for two weeks and she'd never barked. She just cuddled everyone who came over. The humane society had said they too had never heard her bark so we weren't even sure that she'd hadn't been de-barked previously. Well, Dave came upstairs, without acknowledging her, and with his big booming voice talking a mile a minute and the second he reached the top of the stairs, she barked. We should have listened to her. Dave immediately launched into telling us about training and giving us seemingly random information about how to train her to do this or that. He did not ask us about her background. He did not ask us what we wanted to accomplish, he just ran full steam ahead. It was a whirlwind but my Husband and I tried to keep up. He got out treats and commanded our dog to sit, which he did get her to do, but he did not tell us why or how he was getting her to react. Next, he said we should all go on a walk. He proceeded to ignore how she was walking on the leash and spent the whole 20 minute walk telling us stories about how he tamed giant aggressive dogs. Impressive, but that's not what we have nor what we were paying for. On the walk, he told us that we needed to get down to her eye level to show her our hand signals because she couldn't see if we did them high up. Okay, fair enough. However, back at home, he was getting her to sit some more and he said "you have to stand and give the hand signals, you're not always going to bend down for her." Literally contradicting what he had just told us on the walk. He never let us practice giving her commands so he could correct what we were doing wrong and he never seemed to take any interest in listening to us about our concerns. He also kept referring to her as a "he" and while we corrected him at least four times, he kept calling her a boy. I give him two stars and not one because my Husband and I do think he knows what he's talking about. However, he's probably much better with bigger, more aggressive dogs. When he left, my Husband and I looked at each other, exhausted from the high-energy that Dave puts out (he's loud and boisterous and constantly expelling anecdotes) and said "never again" at the same time. Dave wasn't for us and my suggestion would be to pay attention to your dog and your gut like we have. In the end, she knows all kinds of tricks now and is a great learner, but she needed a different approach.

    Let me start by stating I do think he knows how to get a dog to behave, but he's not the right…read moretrainer for my dog nor I. I am amazed at his work and respect him. However, I wished I knew the details on his work. Pros: ~Has shown results. My dog did, amazingly, behaved nicely and David was able to correct him if he wasn't. Wish there was more of that. ~He does let you practice with your dog and corrects you so you can do it when he's not around. ~Each session is at least 2 hours, he doesn't rush his work and take his time with the lesson. ~Uses his own well behaved dogs to train people's dogs. ~Has the energy to keep up with even the most hyper of dogs. ~Isn't afraid to get bit. ~My dog loves him (but that's probably not a big perk, my dog loves everyone, I have yet to see him NOT love someone instantly). Cons (with explanations): ~He uses prong collars. I understand my dog may bite him and thus the prong collar may curb his behavior. However, I am not comfortable with having to pinch my dog into behaving. David did say it doesn't hurt - he's placed it on his own leg and pulled as hard and he can and it doesn't hurt him. I did this at home to my own leg and it actually hurts me. I wouldn't want to think about how it hurts my dog. He's very adamant on the collar and I ended up having to purchase my own. Good thing my dog loves everyone cos he still loves me and David, even when he has to wear that darn collar. ~Talks a lot. Which is both good and bad. The explanations helped at first but he became very repetitive about them. He is also very passionate about some things and will rant on and on about them. He complained about how animal shelters give out dogs with behavioral issues because they don't care. I had to bite my tongue to not point out the animal shelter's purpose is population control and rehoming dogs, not perfecting dogs to adopt out. Seems to like bragging about his worst clients and seems proud of his bite scars. ~Communication skills leaves something to desire. Granted he has a older phone model but after a few weeks break (we had other things planned), he forgot who I was/my dog was when I texted him to confirm the next class. Maybe at least save your client's number and a brief description of their needs rather than having to ask 'who is this?'? ~Pricing varied. He quoted me a cheaper price for the next visits but since we skipped a few weeks, he must have forgotten and charged me the same price as the first time. But considering each lesson was more than 2 hours long, his hourly rates are still really cheap, I'm just a little annoyed he didn't keep his word. ~No follow ups? He didn't discuss a next session and just left me in the middle of a lesson to practice on my own at home. I don't know why I decided to do a second session (probably cos I didn't want to find another trainer and pay all over again) but at least his lack of interest in ensuring my dog actually learnt something made me not go with a third session. I felt weird about posting a less than 5 star review since every other review is a glowing 5 star but seeing someone else review him less than stellar made me realize I'm not the only one out there. I agree, maybe he's not the right trainer for smaller/medium sized breeds. I'm surprised none of the other reviews mention this - the prong collars, the rants, the repetitive anecdotes. I wished I have saved my money and gone with a different trainer with different methods because he wasn't the right trainer for me. (My dog has no say in this since he loves all his trainers and even his vet.)

    Wigglewag Training & Dog Care Services - Creating Calm in the Home

    Wigglewag Training & Dog Care Services

    (52 reviews)

    Bringing our pup Valentina to Wigglewag was a well worth investment! Being first-time dog owners of…read morea high-energy, but nervous rescue, we knew we needed help with correcting unwanted behaviors as well as learning more about dog psychology and improving our relationship with V. We brought her in for the 3 week boarding & training where Nestor and his team worked with V to help her with her nervous behavior, socialize with other dogs and people and there has been so much improvement. We would get constant updates on how she was doing, behaviors the team was noticing and tips for how to address things when she came home. Every dog is unique and we understood that the work would continue even after her stay. During the time she was away, we had to do our own work and research (with Wigglewag's help) to prep for her return with new routines, boundaries, and adjustments. It's a work in progress, but Nestor gave us the tools to help give V a more balanced life and both he and Cynthia have been so supportive and encouraging. V is much happier; we're still working on practicing calm behavior, but she's learning and doing better each day. We started bringing her to daycare twice per week as a way to maintain good habits and continue socializing her with other dogs that are also establishing good behaviors. I personally appreciate how lead trainers Mailynn and Mike have bonded with V and how they take the time to give me a quick summary of how their sessions with her go. It has been a great experience working with this group of people, especially during this time of high-stress and social distancing, which can absolutely have an impact on our pets. I can't recommend this independent business enough.

    This company needs better lines for communication. Left several messages and text messages with no…read morereturn calls.

    Francesca's Dogs - dogwalkers - Updated May 2026

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