Essential Canine offers both indoors, outdoors, and private classes. I met Hitchcock…read moreserendipitously through her family, who still live in Forest Park, where I also reside. I was walking my vivacious puppy, Duke, and noticed that the woman passing by had a really calm dog, who happened to also be around Duke's age. The woman turned out to be Hitchcock's daughter; I mentioned I was looking for puppy training; and the rest is history! Duke and I first took private lessons with Hitchcock at our home, to learn the basics of loose-leash walking. The first couple of weeks after adopting Duke, I was about to go crazy, because he was such a puller while walking. Within the first lesson, I started to regain my sanity--and dignity! I knew Essential Canine was going to be my new best friend in training Duke to be a good little pup. Since then, we've taken multiple training sessions, both indoor and outdoors, with Essential Canine. I recommend graduating from private lessons at home, where there is less distraction, to basic obedience classes hosted in the training ring at Dave's Soda and Pet Food City in Agawam. Going to a foreign location to your dog increases distraction--shoppers, toys, new scents, and even Hitchcock's own dog--offer up new challenges to overcome. This summer, Duke and I also graduated from Essential Canine's Group Obedience Class, which takes place in the picturesque Hilltop Farm in Suffield, CT. We joined a class of similarly-aged puppies who were in need of group distraction, like us. Duke, per usual, was an energy ball, but Hitchcock gave me specific techniques for working with his high energy. "You've gotta be more exciting than everything else around" was one of the nuggets I've taken with me. If he's excited by the other dogs, I just act a buffoon and redirect his attention! I also learned that he's highly treat-motivated and will do just about anything for chicken or cheese. The thing that stands out about Essential Canine, and Hitchcock as a canine massage therapist and trainer, is that she really works to customize the training experience for each dog/human team.

Amazing trainer!! She is so experienced, and deeply understands dogs. She gave me great practical…read moretips to train my rescue :) I love that she was able to tailor her training to approach my dog.

I have been using Megan since she was at Dave's in Northampton. I then followed her to Wagging…read moreTails and now to her own business in Easthampton. I drive from Amherst, which should show everyone how much I trust and like Megan's work.

Always great service!! Our GSDs love the care they receive and the doggie spa! Our place to go when…read morewe need pet care.

Very cheap and lots of fun activities for your fury friend to do. Cool add on such as pictures,…read morebirthday parties and more. Highly recommended by me

Sam enjoys going to Wagging Tails. He loves to play with the other dogs! The people are also very…read morenice and accomodating!

I didn't even have to step foot in the door to this place to write this review. I scheduled my 2…read moreshih tzus for grooming, made the appointments 2 days ago. One of them is 14 years old and is in CHF. Before I say what I'm about to say - I completely understand that if a facility does not have oxygen tanks and other medical resources/staff to aid in the event of an emergency, that they will not take my dog in CHF for grooming - I get that part. I spoke to THREE different people about this, thoroughly explaining my dog's condition and each time I was NOT told that that was a dealbreaker. I continued to make their accounts, requested bookings, and uploaded their vaccination records and medical records (particularly for my dog with CHF). Everything was approved and verified by the staff - per what their portal was saying - and the appointments have been on the schedule for 2 days. To add on to this, they actually had to last-minute reschedule one of the dog's appointments due to a staff emergency. I was fine with that, but again, there was no implication at all that the appointment was at risk for being cancelled due to my dog's condition, hence being rescheduled. It was rescheduled and I waited another day with no sort of outreach from Wagging Tails about anything.... until THIS MORNING (both appointments were supposed to be today) I get a text message because god forbid they have the decency to make a phone call, saying that both appointments have been cancelled due to my dog's condition and the lack of equipment/medical resources on hand. THAT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP ONE TIME, EACH TIME I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE ABOUT MY CHF DOG'S APPOINTMENT. I am extremely displeased with the lack of communication and professionalism, as well as overall respect by this place. When I called this morning to ask again, WHY, this was being done in the first place, but more so WHY was this not communicated to me beforehand when I scheduled the appointments days ago... AND SPOKE WITH YOUR STAFF DIRECTLY ABOUT THIS CONCERN???? Of course, whoever picked up the phone with me this morning had no idea why I was so displeased... claiming that my dog's condition was "never brought up in discussion prior to now"... don't even get me started. I truly could keep writing about how this place is a huge waste of you and your animals' times, but now I have to start the whole process over and desperately search for grooming for my dogs all over again! Wagging Tails, I strongly suggest you do better on your end because this isn't looking great for you guys, and I can confidently claim that I will not be considering this place in any future, let alone recommending it to anyone. I also see that I am one of MANY poor reviews about your establishment... yikes!

Junior loves his groomer, Whitney! Always does an amazing job. I highly recommend her.read more

We love taking our dog to Groomtastic. Our dog, Freddie, always looks amazing after Shadie is done…read morewith him and she is always so good and patient with him.

We had an emergency and couldn't be home for nearly a week. After exhausting our friends & family…read morenetwork, I was at my wit's end about how to best provide some much needed outdoor time for our poor dogs. I found Noah on Yelp at the last minute (Thursday night) and, on the off chance he could fit us into his schedule, contacted him to see whether he could walk our dogs the next day. Noah got back to me fairly quickly, taking the time to answer my inquiry an hour AFTER his posted closing time. (Maybe it was my tone of desperation?) He also allowed me to ramble on, via text, about how great my dogs were for a good 10 minutes. He made the process simple and painless, was clear about pricing and what he would deliver, and provided his services in a laid back but quick and professional manner. I would DEFINITELY recommend him to anyone needing companionship for their pet.

Noah Steinberg of EPS provided in-home care/sitting for our three kitties several times during the…read more2018-19 academic year. He was always available, flexible, and able to come in extra days when our return home was delayed. More importantly, our three kitties loved him! He took a number of photos of himself cuddling/playing with all three of them- quite an achievement, since our calico baby Samsara does not usually care for strangers. Noah even patiently provided additional recommendations when this was requested of him. We highly and unconditionally recommend him as a pet-sitter; when your dog or cat is in his care, you can travel anxiety-free. Thanks for all you've done, Noah!

Lynne has been our pet sitter for several years and we can always relax while away knowing that…read moreTeddy is in such good hands. He loves her and we are grateful that he will get such loving attention, long walks, play, and excellent care. Lynne is the best! We wouldn't use anyone else and couldn't recommend her more highly!

My dogs have been with this dog daycare provider for many years. They run to the car when she picks…read morethem up and return tired and happy at the end of the day. The owner is very responsive to/responsible about special requests regarding food and medicine, and my dogs have frequently stayed overight with her. The setting is ideal -- two huge fenced yards (one for quiet dogs, one for more active dogs), a cozy basement for hanging out inside (no crates unless you want your dog crated) and off-leash walks and swimming on the owner's property. My dogs have never come home with injuries from other dogs or appeared to be upset or traumatized. I highly recommend this service to any discriminating dog owner looking for dog day care and/or overnights.

The owner of the business, Ms. Lora Saltis, is by far the laziest woman I have ever had the…read moredispleasure of meeting. She would rather spend her day doing her own errands and being a social justice warrior on Facebook than spend time with the dogs she charges clients $40/day for. On top of that, her daycare is bland, and entirely boring. There are few toys for the dogs to play with, and the ones she has are disgusting, destroyed, or both. There is nothing for them to climb on, or interact with except each other and one employee on staff each day. Fights break out far too often, and she does not separate the dogs into play groups to keep control over this. Multiple dogs who are allowed in her facility should not be there, as they are aggressive, nor are they muzzled (though, quite a few dogs who attend her daycare who ARE forced to wear muzzles, she constantly feels the need to remove the muzzle, discounting the safety of the other dogs and her employees). I will never send my dogs to this daycare again, Ms. Saltis is a horrible business owner, who doesn't even have the proper permitting to run the business she has.