Awesome trainers hands down and New facility location nestled in the Potomac Valley shopping…read morecenter! While the location of facility is just recently opened, the business itself has actually been around since 2017. We decided to go with them in 2022, signed up for the Board and Train and hands down, the best investment I've ever made for my pooch (and myself ofc). I wish I knew them then with my first doodle. We had David then for our 2 weeks B&T, fast forward 2 years later we are still getting on going support from Caroline, David, Dylan (aka the treat guy for Bailey..lol) with weekly pack walks, pop up training class, group lessons, etc. If you are serious about getting your dog trained and better behavior or you simply need guidance to be a better dog owner, get in touch with them! Signed, ~Bailey, the pooch with attitude who used to bite/tug on his leash during walk, to a confident dog who can behave in public and proudly earned his CGC after :)

Very clean training facility with easy parking. Andrew was very responsive and described the…read moreprogram well. Our dog was afraid of him. The training/boarding program is expensive, and we were worried that it wouldn't lead to our long-term goals.

We live in DC and it's a 45-minute drive to Your Dog's Friend, but chose them anyway after *lots*…read moreof research about the best puppy kindergarten and dog training classes in the DC area. I love that they are a nonprofit organization, how experienced their trainers are (with all relevant certifications), and that they are positive-only (as recommended by AVSAB- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior - and is best supported by research). We started with puppy kindergarten with our golden retriever (6 sessions, starting around 14 weeks) and LOVED it. I can't say enough good things. The trainers at Your Dog's Friend are so knowledgeable about research-based, positive training and socialization. Everything we learned from Sarah Stoycos and the other trainers we have put into practice with our puppy, Griffey. After puppy K, we signed up for puppy first-grade and will be starting this weekend. We hope to keep going all the way through Canine Good Citizen and potentially do some of their nosework and agility classes, as we think Griffey would enjoy them!

We had a great experience with the basic obedience class! The instructions were really clear and…read morethe lessons moved quickly enough that my dog stayed engaged the whole time. I'm already seeing improvement in her recall when we're at the park! Highly recommend these trainers and will be back for more classes.

Archie went to camp with Gina for three weeks and came home a different dog. I'm still a little…read moreamazed. He's a five-pound chihuahua who shakes when someone new walks in the room and basically lived on my lap or behind my knees. I'd worried a trainer would either give up on him or scare him worse, but from the very first day Gina put so much thought into making him feel safe. She texted that afternoon to say he'd already jumped into her daughter's arms. When he barely ate the first couple days and I got worried, she talked me through it and told me he'd come around, which he did. She took him on long walks around the park and the neighborhood to burn off his nerves before she ever asked anything of him. His crate became his safe spot at her house, a familiar place that was all his in the middle of a busy home with other dogs and parrots and training going on. And she started him on tiny, predictable rules, sitting before a door, coming when called, so he always had something he understood to hold onto in a new situation. She explained that for an anxious dog, knowing what to expect is half the battle. She also refused to pick him up every time he got scared, and warned me that part would be harder for me than for him. She was right. Somewhere around the second week he started smiling in the photos. He was hanging out with her little dogs and her family, going on field trips to the park and coffee shops, staying on his place while she walked away, heeling next to her. He knows sit, place, heel and here now, and he does them for me too. The turnover at my apartment took a couple hours and it was real work. She sat me down and explained everything before we ever touched the dog, then had me practice with Archie while she corrected what I was doing wrong. She's kept sending reminders and answering my questions since, including a few dumb ones about shampoo and brushes. Here's the part I still can't get over. We went to a party a couple weeks after he got home, which is a huge deal for Archie. He sat on other people's laps. He licked hands. He barely cowered. Six weeks ago he would have spent the whole night shaking under my chair. Everyone at the party noticed and commented on the change in his demeanor. I was a proud mama that day! If your dog is the anxious type, the one who hides, trembles, won't eat around strangers, or has to be carried everywhere, I really want you to hear this. A lot of trainers are set up for big confident dogs and don't know what to do with a scared little one. Gina does. She never rushed him, never forced him, and never made me feel silly for babying him all these years. She reads a nervous dog and meets them where they are, then slowly builds them up until they can handle the world on their own. That's exactly what Archie needed. I honestly feel like Gina is just getting started with him, and I'm already thinking of when I can work with her again. If you have a tiny, anxious dog and you're on the fence, go with Gina. Archie is a different dog and so am I. Thank you again for everything you did for him, and for me. Archie sends smooches. Sheri

I can't say enough good things about Brandi and Perry Bailey of RSK9. Their work has given my pup…read moreand I so much freedom and balance. Pebbles (blue heeler, 1.5 years old) would never listen to me, would not sit or lay still, and had a lot of other obedience issues that caused her to be stressed or confused. She was a TOUGH dog to train and I was concerned I couldn't find the solution for her to get basic concepts. This view has completely changed since working with RSK9's 3 week program. I would HIGHLY recommend them and their methods - you can tell they genuinely love working with dogs and it's made a huge difference in giving my dog the chance to find real rest at home. They send DAILY updates with photos and videos which was so nice. This isn't a regular class or something you just pay for; it's truly an investment that you and your dog will be using for the time you get to share together. Side note: it's worth doing 3 weeks versus 2 weeks. At the 2 week mark is when Pebbles really started to understand her marks and cues. From here there is so much more that can be refined and Brandi/Perry really capitalize on that threshold being crossed!

We worked with Julie to have our 10mo old Australian Shepherd trained. The entire process was very…read moresmooth, from the consultation to training, to the transition home. We spent a lot of time reviewing our goals together and our trainer followed through with the plan that we set together. She stayed in constant contact with transparent updates about the puppy's progress and answered any questions we had. Given the puppy's breed and determination, she required quite a bit of foundational training. Since returning home, she's a pro on the leash (complete transformation). Walks are far more enjoyable - no more barking, pulling, lunging towards moving vehicles, and now has a peaceful relationship with the mail box and trash can. Another high priority was addressing the puppy's reactiveness to our child - puppy is now able to follow my lead during potentially chaotic interactions. Overall our program length was 6 weeks long and completely worth it. We are thrilled to have these foundations instilled by a professional who also cares for the dog. Highly recommend!

Our family highly recommends Controlled K9! We adopted our boy Mortimer last year after he had been…read moreliving as a stray, and we were really struggling when he came home with basic manners, reactivity, and having him settle in with our other dog. We ended up sending both of our boys for a six-week board and train with Kelia. It seemed to only make sense to send both dogs so they would have the same baseline training. Kelia was amazing! She kept us informed just about every day with videos and texts so we could see that the boys were happy and making progress. When Kelia brought the boys home, she spent a few hours with us, showing all the commands and techniques that she taught them, so we had a seamless transition. The "place" command alone has been lifechanging. (Although as you can see in the picture, they sometimes refuse to use separate mats, LOL.) We use the command before we feed them, initially when guests come by, and when we just need them to settle down a bit. It has reduced the stress and chaos in our house tenfold, and we actually can see the boys relax when they know they have a place to go and chill out. Kelia also gave us the tools to make leash walking and general obedience so much more successful. There are a lot of options out there for training. What set Controlled K9 apart for us was (1) our boys lived with Kelia, her family, and her dogs during training - they were not staying in a kennel and were in a real-life, loving environment, and (2) the promise of lifetime, free follow-up support. The boys have been home now for about 3 months. The training has stuck, and we feel like we really have the tools we need to make life pleasant for all of us, including the boys. Kelia has also proactively checked in to make sure things are going well, provided tips on the best way to reinforce training, and has responded quickly when we have follow-up questions, including offering a visit. Over three months later, we are still completely satisfied with the training and support provided by Controlled K9 and Kelia, and we would use them again in a heartbeat.

Strangers always comment on how well-trained my dog is and friends always ask me to train their…read moredogs for them. The truth is that a well-trained dog is just as much about training the handler as the dog. My family has taken 5 dogs through Dog Sense, 3 all the way through Advanced Obedience, and our dogs were taught to follow US instead of us chasing after them. My mother took our first family dog there and when my sister and I returned with our dogs, some of the same experienced trainers were still there 19 years later, a testament to their years of experience. Don't waste your money on the pet store classes, Dog Sense is the place to go in Montgomery County. A well-behaved dog is a real gem to have around!

l like it a lot because they attend to my puppy promptly and do keep him caged like in other places…read more they are very professional

Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Reliability, Responsiveness, Value…read moreI don't know where to start- Dari came highly recommended via another GSD owner, I reached out and I feel like the rest is history! Not only did we have private lessons at an affordable fee, we have continued to use all Back In The Pack services! I would never leave Leo with anyone but Dari, and I think Leo feels the same :) There is something about her voice and her personality that immediately got Leo to listen! She worked with us on basic obedience but we had bigger issues including nipping , walking control on leash, commands and reversing bad behavior. You are provided hands on training and so is the puppy/ dog :) I had very high standards when selecting a trainer, and all exceeded . As a trainer she keeps it real, Dari will let you know a) the dog is doing this because xyz and B) you as a owner and handler are doing xyz which isn't consistent with trining and your goals. Dari is also a wonderful person, mother, wife and family woman with a contagious drive to do better and more! Wonder Trainer and Wonder Woman!!! Leo and I adore you.

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Dari! She truly knows dogs and is naturally gifted with…read morethem. One of our dogs was scared of everything and barking anxiously at everything. He also couldn't go for a walk more than 4 houses from ours. Within a week of boot camp, he was walking on a leash without any issues. He was more confident with so much less anxiety. He was a completely different dog and Dari was able to train him with positive reinforcement to live a happier life! We highly recommend Dari whether it's boarding or training as your dogs will be in good hands!

If you reach the point you need an animal behavior expert things are probably not going well with…read moreone of your pets. We are a multi-dog home and one of our dogs had increasingly become aggressive and difficult to control. She was anxious and transferred her anxiety onto our other dogs. After a complete exam with our regular vet we were referred to Dr. Meyer. Her staff is kind and competent and Dr. Meyer is professional and offers a compassionate assessment of your pet. I wish our outcome had been better but we felt that Dr. Meyer gave us our last best hope.

Dr. Meyer was wonderful with our dog Echo. Although only 20 lbs, he had significant fear/aggression…read moreissues and was a biter. We came to Dr. Meyer at our wit's end, as training hadn't helped. We had exhausted every other option we could find. She spent a lot of time with us, gave a comprehensive evaluation of Echo, and prescribed medication that really helped stabilize our pup. The change was dramatic, and while Echo would never become a therapy dog, his biting reduced from every few weeks to at most once a year, he began sleeping through the night, and he developed more confidence. Dr. Meyer also continued to be available for email consultation and met with us annually. When it was time to say good-bye to Echo, she helped us with resources to get us through this tough time. My husband and I would definitely say that Dr. Meyer's work helped Echo have a better quality of life for a longer time.

Obsessed with Senior Trainer Jimmy Got a simple dog you need…read moreto just sit and stay? Go to Petsmart on a Saturday with all the other commoners and basic dogs - follow pee smell to the paper sign-up form. Stop reading here. Got a four-legged friend you want to see become their best furry selves, motivated to behave, and eager to build a trusting relationship with you? Go see Jimmy. Continue to page 2 of ramble for why. What you get from Pack Place K9: Tactical and actionable guidance backed by canine ethology explanations and anchored with strategic relationship building and communication maturing goals True, true, true and deep expertise BEYOND breed stereotypes, Cesar Milan soundbites, and other Frankensteined tips Astute insights to help you understand behavioral nuances so your training works for him/her FISCALLY responsible and wallet-respectful advice and programming that works Also, it's really nice to have a service that has a modernized customer experience (centralized portal, automation, etc) and is simply well-ran/organized. What you DONT get from Pack Place K9: Aggressive upsells of unnecessary products or irrelevant services Pushy training schedules and timeboxes counter-productive to your pet's learning (or your busy life) Canned, generic, and rigid training programs don't deliver results you thought you paid for My Story Max-Gaston is a 3 year old oversized Husky mix too wicked smart and skillful for his own good. That's OK - he ain't my first dog; I figured we'd figure it out. At 9 weeks, Max already scaled his playpen on the first try. By 3mo, Max mastered all fundamental commands. By 5mos, he figured out how to open doors. Around 6mos, he figured out how to turn the key to UNLOCK the door in order to open it because we started locking those damn doors. Currently weighing around 100lbs, Max matched my size but was equipped with a pulling instinct possessed by Togo himself. Walking him became an impossible task. With 90%+ obedience rate across a rich vocabulary spanning 3 languages, Max was perfect....indoors. As soon we exited those doors, he forgets his own name. I thought I'd have to Rapunzel this guy forever. By the time I got to Pack Place K9, I already sought services with a 5-starred celebrity hunting dog trainer and former SeaWorld animal trainer - they were great but not meant for Max. I've invested in swimming and boarding and other memberships and about anything you can waste money on - Max had fun; Max was not impressed. At the end of my Pack Place K9 FREE evaluation with Jimmy, I was handed practical tips to achieve Goal #1 without wasting any sessions on it. By the time I got to session #1, it was already night-and-day. Honestly, by the end of Session 1, I questioned every cent I've wasted in the three years of nonsense that I thought I was happy with. I walked away from Session 1 understanding Max's behavioral drivers and nuanced body language within reactivity that was substantiated with environmental props...of other dogs positioned as stimuli. I am out of character count to rave about Session 2. Jimmy is changing Max's life...literally because I no longer have to Mother Gothel this furry son and there's hope he won't have to be a "house husky." TL;DR: My furry nieces and nephews are getting Pack Place K9 training this Christmas. I will try to buy some sessions of their humans too.

Pack Place K9 has been treating my baby boy, Benito, the absolute best. He's a puppy with so much…read moreenergy and very confident in himself, so I needed a place to teach him basic obedience and other areas we were struggling with at home. He has been working closely with Julia (thank you Julia!) who has taught my baby boy so much and she is able to keep up with his crazy energy! After he completed his 3 week new member orientation, Julia patiently demonstrated to us the training to continue doing at home so Benito can enhance his skills. I continue to use their daycare/training service so Benito has the opportunity to continue learning and socialize with other pups. Plus, Benito is always so excited when we walk up to the front door of the facility, and always greets staff with excitement-- which is a definite green flag when putting trust in leaving your fur babies all day somewhere without you there. Pack Place K9 has staff who are very professional and trustworthy.

Andrew is superb! He is knowledgeable and professional. He took my head-strong pup and brought out…read morehis calm, loving, and obedient side. Andrew is ideal for boarding too!

My dog just completed training with Andrew Horan at Citizen K-9 and returned a well behaved pup…read more Macie is an Eng. Bulldog and is very stubborn. She more or less did as she pleased when she wanted. She had us trained. We camp almost every weekend and she goes with us on all our trips. It had been a nightmare, she would pull on the leash when walking her and grab the leash out of our hands, jump up on people and their dogs, and rush out of the door of the RV with little recall. We were unable to relax and enjoy our time with her outside of the RV. Mr. Horan said he would make it his mission to teach Macie to become a better behaved dog. He did an excellent job. She returned to us a better behaved dog while still being her loving self. We are enjoying her much more at home and while camping. I highly recommend Citizen K-9 for training.

I sent my greyhound/lab mix here for the 2 week boot camp program, and I approve of the results…read more My dog is a resuce and even though he is very trainable, he is also very excitable so he needs a certain level of discipline from training. Scott trained him for the majority of the time he was there, and whenever my dog sees him now he becomes excited by his mere presence. My dog already had key obedience skills and needed help with socialization for the most part. Scott did exactly what we asked for, and of course my dog still has his flaws after the training was finished. However, keep in mind doggie boot camp will not be the end of training for any dog. It is a great option for building on your dogs training already or giving him basic skills. Afterwards though, it will be up to you as an owner to follow through and solidify any training given to your pet. Plus, 900+ dollars is much cheaper than some of the other boot camps in the area. Final note, it is important to talk to the boot camp instructors before deciding to leave your dog here. My dog has certain training methods I wanted done, and I made sure of that before leaving him here. If you have certain ways of dealing with your pup, it is best to speak to the trainers here before you leave your dog. You may find some of their methods intense, but if your dog is anything like mine that may be needed in controlled doses.

Super cool puppy day care spot. They have been taking care of our boy Caramelo since we got him…read more Did puppy train through them as well. Boy did it pay off!!