I can't praise Ashley and Calm K9 enough for turning my dog life around. I adopted my 5.5 year old…read morePug/Chihuahua mix from a rescue back in February after she was surrendered by her previous owner. She was incredibly timid, anxious, and didn't know even the most basic command. Sit, for instance, was next to impossible. She would lock her back legs if you tried to guide her little butt to the floor, refusing to do it because she had no idea what was going on. Fast forward to a month out of the Board & Train with Ashley. She sits. She stays. We don't use a leash on walks anymore. She stays right by my side on walks or within an arm's length in front or behind me, constantly checking to make sure I'm still close every few seconds. At every curb she sits. I used to have to tell her, but now she just knows to sit, and not to move until I tell her "come". The best part for all of this, however, is that it's all a result of her overall confidence being boosted by knowing all of these new skills. She used to be super skittish and bark at people, jump when cars passed by, and freak out. Every person who walked near us on the street she would lose her little dog-mind over. Now she not only glides right past them, but if they're friendly and she sees that I'm ok with it, she'll wag her tail and allow them to approach (assuming I've given her/the person permission). She actually walks better and is more calm off-leash, which is also a huge advantage for me now that it's getting cold because I can keep my hands in my pockets. I still do bring a leash in my pocket just in case, but I haven't run into a situation where I've had to use it once. Lastly, I was really apprehensive about using an e-collar. Not only because I thought it was going to be cruel, but because of how big the thing looks on my 10lb. dog! I can honestly say that the brand of collar they have you purchase is so adjustable with it's settings that she's never shown any sign of it hurting or even bothering her. She actually gets excited when I put it on her in the morning because she knows we're about to start our day and go for a walk! Calm K9 came recommended from a friend, and I think since seeing the positive change my dog has experienced as a result of the training I've recommended them to anyone and everyone who's interested in getting their dog towards a better place, behaviorally. Lastly, it's been amazing to feel what her being trained has does for me, mentally. With everything else one has to deal with in their day-to-day life, having a happy, calm, well-behaved and confident dog-companion has been overwhelmingly positive. A+ from me. Highly recommended.

They state that they get back to you in 24 hours.. but both mine and my wife's form submission on…read moretheir website (which states that is the fastest response) have gone unanswered for the last 3 - 4 days. Very disappointed that they didn't even have the courtesy to call or reply.

My experience with Lara was very positive and productive. She was able to help me understand my dog…read moreand how to clearly communicate with her. She kept us both really motivated to practice and the results were awesome. Not only am I happy, but my pup is much happier too! Now we frequently receive compliments on my pups behavior. We go for long walks without pulling or acting crazy when she sees another dog. She was jumping, nipping, not listening and destructive. My grandchildren were frighteNed by her. Now they are able to play with her and life is good! I highly recommend Lara without reservation!

Those who know me know that my entire world is run by two miniature schnauzers…read more Granted, they are cuddly, cute, and have personalities the size of St. Bernards, and because of these reasons (amongst many), they have turned me into one of those crazy dog ladies that swears up and down that I'll never be able to have children because how -- HOW I ASK YOU?! -- could I possibly love anyone or anything more than I love these two creatures? Yes, Harry & Daxter are the fluffy little loves of my life, and boy oh boy, do they know it. It's not that they're bad dogs, really, it's just that they know how to get away with all the bad things that they do. Because, you know, they're cute. And while they have both gone through basic obedience and already knew how to do all the "normal" dog things like, sit, stay, and even high-five (Daxter gives excellent high-fives, FYI), a few commands does not a perfect dog make. And between the barking at every living thing (and sometimes even non-living things -- hello UPS truck) that passes by the house, Harry's penchant for eating my leftovers straight off of the coffee table, and how Daxter literally backs away from me when I say "come," it eventually got to a point where I needed to call in some professional help to turn my pups into more than just cuddly bed buddies. So thank GOODNESS for Lara and For Pup's Sake training! Under Lara's patient tutelage, my dogs now actually know how to go to their "place" before mealtime, and we're working on sending them there when folks come to the door as well. Their recall is better, they're generally more obedient, and, heck, better mannered, too! After all, a tired pup is generally a well-behaved pup, and with Lara's training these boys definitely get a mental work out. Lara comes and works with you in your home, so your dogs are learning in their environment, and gives you all the tools to continue the training when she's not there in person to guide you through it. We've worked on everything from leash-training to place-training to perfecting their patience and willpower with variations of the leave-it command I didn't even know existed. Beyond that, Lara truly cares about your dogs and wants to make sure they're set up for success from the get-go. My boys still have a bit of a way to go before they're truly the perfect pets (and I have a LONG way to go before I'm the perfect owner, hehe), but I'm so happy to have Lara and For Pup's Sake leading the way there.

Pat was amazing! He was able to teach us the skills to train our 1 year old Great Pyrenees/Golden…read moreRetriever puppy. After only 6 weeks, she's so well behaved, doesn't pull on the leash and is much better at obeying commands. Pat was friendly, always right on time and very knowledgeable. I've already recommended him to all of our neighbors.

We are so happy with Pat and James River dog training! I was hesitant at first because of the price…read morebut after reading reviews we signed up and we have seen such a huge difference in our dogs behavior. We love that the training is in the dog's home, where they feel most comfortable. Before committing to the training, we chatted with Pat for almost 2 hours during the consultation about what the program entails and what our main goals were. Things to note: this is prong collar training (we tried treat motivated training but found it didn't work too well for us bc we didn't always have treats), in-home training for both the dog AND owner. You also receive a training guide and can call anytime you need training on something with no extra fee. Our dog's anxiety has decreased significantly and everywhere we take him, we receive so many compliments on what a good dog he is! We highly recommend Pat and James River dog training!

We had an excellent experience with Dory, our dog trainer and saw a noticeable difference in our…read moredog right away, our English bulldog, Kovu. What really stood out was how she took the time to explain the specific traits and characteristics of our dog's breed and personality. That insight alone helped us understand our dog on a completely different level. Her training techniques were clear, effective, and easy to apply at home even though we only have few sessions. Instead of just telling us what to do, she explained why certain methods work, which made a huge difference in how consistent and confident we felt during training. You can tell she genuinely cares--not just about training the dog, but about making sure the owners are set up for long-term success. The guidance she provided has made everyday interactions with our dog so much smoother. Highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, patient, and effective dog trainer. Thank you Dory! Will see you soon.

Dory Hoffman is a God send for our rescue dog Tux and us! Our dog was neglected and crated outside…read moreby the previous owner and suffers from extreme separation anxiety displaying destructive behavior. The night before her home training she gave us instructions on how to crate him at night and IT WORKED! He slept peacefully all night. The day of our training, we learned techniques only someone with her decades of expertise would know. My husband who had pets since childhood was surprised by what he didn't know. Dory taught us how to teach him boundaries and how to make the crate a positive experience. Dory's in-home assessment, training tools and positive learning techniques set us up for success. We are looking forward to joining her group training as our next step. Thank you Dory for what you do!

So glad I called Zach to help me establish a solid relationship with my cane corso/pit bull mix…read more Zach was beyond helpful during our month together, and my dog quickly became his biggest fan. We did training sessions at the park, the dog park and the farmers market together to work on training in real world scenarios. Since working with Zach I'm much more confident in my role as my dog's owner and I'm more confident in handling different situations that come up. As promised, Zach has remained available as questions have come up since our month wrapped up, and it feels great to know that I have an expert in my corner as Bodhi grows and continues to change. The things Bodhi and I learned from Zach continues to help us today and I know they will help for many years to come! I continue to teach Bodhi new things using techniques that Zach taught me. I highly recommend Zach for a training approach customized to your family and your dog, rather than some cookie cutter approach from a bigger company.

Zach is exactly what we were looking for! Most trainers were pushing board & train and/or using…read moree-collars, and we'd just adopted a 3-month-old puppy. We're not using an e-collar on a puppy and honestly, we didn't need her disciplined. We needed to establish a relationship and be given proper communication skills. Enter Zach! He gave us this and more! He has given us skills that we will carry with us all our lives and has transformed our relationship with our puppy. We will forever be grateful to him.

I bought a male sable that was born 2-5-2012 from Gayle. He will be 13 years old soon. Axel is…read moresweet, protective and listens very well. Best Gsd I ever had. Will be getting another gsd and will check with Gayle when that times comes.

I am very happy I found this place. When we first started to look for a puppy we weren't sure what…read moreBreed would truly be a good fit. I am not familiar with pups let along breeds. We finally decided on trying to find a Belgian Melnois. It was really hard to find one around this time frame. We would have had to wait for a few more months. Until Gayle feel Unto our shoulders. Let me just say she has been amazing and very upfront. She answers your questions and guides you how to prep for this particular breed. They are not easy breed which I will soon learn. We have done some homework but am sure the fun will soon begin. We had to wait a few weeks for him but finally he is home now. I am in love with this little guy. He is adorable. I am in love with this little guy. He is adorable

If you have a special needs dog, there is not another daycare on the Southside like it. I have a…read morevery anxious dog. They go through a meet and greet process every single time he comes. No other day care in the area (we have been to most) cares about the special need dogs. The just deem your dog non compat (because they don't have the training, supplies, or staffing) and send you away. If you want the best, you want this location Dogtopia! A Quality, caring staff for your precious fur babies.

Pit bulls are allowed at these facilities, are not kept separate from other animals, and one…read moreattacked and injured my much smaller dog. Staff at first claimed my dog mounted the pit bull, which I have never seen him do to any dog or anything, then later corrected themselves and said he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time... at pick up they started telling me "when this usually happens..." indicating it's a repeated occurrence at this facility. Absolutely unacceptable.

Kelli was awesome! We bought a border collie puppy who was food aggressive at 8 weeks and had…read moreseperation anxiety and hyperactivity. After the first visit, Oliver was getting in and out of his kennel on his own, and i was sleeping peacefully through the night.His food aggression ended. He know brings me his treats and rawhides like he is sharing. Second visit and third visit we learned basics at my request and learned basic manners (no leash pulling and jumping, no mouthing) and he is doing 80% better. She also taught me how to calm down his hyperactivity. Third visit we continued these things. I never felt rushed by Kelli, she took her time and often our appointments continued over the hour. I will def be using her in the future.

Kelli is a wonderful trainer to work with. She has helped numerous dogs that have come into my shop…read morewith training tips and solutions to problems such as pulling, recall, and aggressive behavior. She uses positive reinforcement and educates her clients on overall health of their dogs. She is also an advocate on animal rescue and takes the time to help dogs other trainers have given up on. I recommend her 110%. She is truly the best.

Yes, we would definitely hire Diana to work with us again. We had a great training experience over…read morethe course of about 6 months. Our dog (now 3 years old) was roughly 5 months old when we began our training...ours and our pup's. Even though we've had pets before, each animal/situation is unique. We very were grateful for Diana's expert advice, positive training approach and encouragement along the way. Thank you for teaching us things that worked fast and long term. And for helping us navigate the puppy stage with confidence.

Diana has helped us integrate a puppy into our home that includes two older dogs who did not ask…read morefor a puppy. She's training us to be better dog parents! We love that she comes to our home for training sessions. Our puppy is so smart! Our trainer is so smart!!

Julia was absolutely incredible with our hyper anxious dog. I can't recommend her and her partner…read moreenough! We did 3 sessions with them and it made a huge difference in our doodle.

Dawg Boss is extremely knowledgeable in what they do. They can train any type of dog and really…read morelove what they do. Your dog is safe with them and exceptionally cared for. They have helped me many times with my dogs and I know if I have a question I can always turn to them. Definitely recommend!!!