Sidney is the BEST dog trainer hands down!! We have tried other trainers for Ellie and comparing…read moreour experiences, Sidney has changed our lives for the better. He is a retired k9 police officer from Chicago and does REAL WORLD training. No tricks or treats. We first knew of Sidney when we saw him hold classes right outside of the dog park and we thought it would be the perfect training for Ellie. She would get easily distracted even by a leaf or a butterfly and take off. Also, she needed some obedience training. Fast forward, we have been training with Sidney for almost a year and we keep coming back. He knows how to read your dog to bring out the best in each of them. We went in wanting to learn obedience, and we keep wanting to learn more to see what else she is capable of doing. We truly enjoy the time we spend with Ellie in training classes each week and incorporating these skills in our routines at home. Ellie is a very well trained dog and we can actually walk her off leash with confidence that she will not wander off. We have also competed and placed in AKC rally competitions in her first weekend. If you're willing to put in the work with your dog and want to meet other hard working dog owners, come check out Total Control K9 College. We practice at Bill Archer Dog Park every Saturday morning around 9-11 AM and Wednesdays at Preppy Pet parking lot on Highway 6 and Rippling Waters at 7PM - rain or shine. Also, check out his Facebook live videos on the Total Control K9 College page to watch him work his magic on dogs who come in with behavioral issues or with high energy and within minutes he calms them down. I have witnessed this with my own eyes every week... I just can't make this stuff up!

We had a gone through 2 trainers (and thousands of dollars) before coming to Sydney for our…read moreEuropean Doberman puppy. Wish we had found Sydney sooner to save ourselves the hassle and time with trainers who don't know how to handle a purebred working breed. Our boy's main issue was reactivity with other dogs while walking him on a leash in the neighborhood. Sydney trained and educated us by giving us the tools to manage our stubborn, and strong, puppy. We've been going to Sydney for over a year to keep up the obedience and our boy is doing things we never thought would be possible before, such as sitting quietly in a room full of other dogs, and walking past reactive dogs in the neighborhood without incident. Thank you Sydney.

We chose to train our new dog Daisy that we adopted from the SPCA with the 8 basic & advanced…read morelessons and it was worth every penny! Our trainer, Monica, was excellent with Daisy and what I loved most about her was that she would explain to us how she was training our dog and also why she would do something a certain way. A lot of times she would comment about how this reinforces some sort of behavior or would boost Daisy's confidence, etc. At one point of our training Daisy didn't take well to the previous lesson (down lesson) and Daisy wasn't receptive to the next training session and was extremely nervous and jittery. Monica picked up on this right away and instead of just charging through, took a step back to assess the situation and told us that this lesson would be free since Daisy wasn't herself and even considered bringing another trainer in. We were extremely appreciative of this gesture and found it to be very considerate and professional. We were a little nervous starting out the training because Daisy is an extremely sensitive and submissive dog, but at the end of the training (which was today) her confidence levels are much higher and she seems to be a much happier dog!!! Daisy is far from perfect but her discipline and manners are getting better every day and we love seeing her progress and growth. We highly recommend Off Leash K9 Training. We did a ton of research and even met with other companies but we could not have been happier with our choice.

We paid $2k last August and were promised a lifetime guarantee. The guy kept our dog for five weeks…read moreand when he came back, he had very minimal training. We tried to reach out to the trainer, but he wouldn't answer our calls after a year. I finally got a hold of corporate and they let me know that the guy was ripping people off and using their name. They said they would make it right we went to do an assessment last weekend. The gentleman told us everything would be covered since they were filing a federal case against the old trainer that took advantage of us. We just got a call that we would have to pay another $3000 and they were gonna give us $200 off. I can't believe they took advantage of us like this. I would not recommend this company to anyone. They also act like they all for veterans. My husband and I are both beds and I'm a disabled vet. Our hard earned money was stolen with zero remorse or accountability.

Michael was referred to us by our vet after our dog Sweetie attacked one of our other dogs. The…read moreaggression had escalated over the months to the point that we feared for the second dog's life. Michael very quickly assessed our situation by observing each dog alone, then the others together (we have four). He outlined a step-by-step training plan for Sweetie that has led to an incredible bond between Sweetie and me. Our work with the mat, the leash work and the other training tools have made a huge difference in Sweetie's demeanor: She's calmer and more receptive to my guidance in tense situations. For the first time since the aggression issues surfaced, I feel optimistic that we can overcome these negative behaviors -- what a relief!

Michael helped our dog Che overcome his separation anxiety. He is great to work with and has…read moreexcellent, easy-to-implement suggestions.

This company is a scam. You pay a ton of money for a three hour consultation to tell you to growl…read moreand spray water on your dog. That's it. Oh and they send you newsletters that you can find for free online to tell you to continue to growl and grunt at your dog and show them you are the pack leader. 1,700 dollars for that. You never see them again. This company should be reported and investigated for fraud. There reviews are probably friends or paid . See for yourself.

When Bob says: "training for the life of your dog" he means it!! We met Bob five years ago when we…read morebrought home Diesel (our Doberman). Great initial training, helped us learn how to successfully walk such a big powerful breed, we were off to a great start... Fast forward to this winter, we've moved to a new house and neighborhood, much bigger yard, and Diesel nearly refuses to go out side. It's the week after Christmas, we left Bob a message and we're thinking, I doubt we'll hear back from Bark Busters till the new year. We were HAPPILY surprised to hear back from Bob and within a few short hours, Diesel is HAPPILY going out with us to the back yard. Bob is truly dedicated to making sure you and your dog know how to communicate. That you have all the tools and training you need to have a happy and healthy relationship with your pup. (Even if your 'pup' is an 85lb dobie-dog.)

Don't even bother taking your dog here, they assure you your pet will be trained within a two week…read moreperiod, but that is not the case. I took my dog here to get trained, I paid $1,450and received rude customer service and my dog isn't even properly trained. Coming here was a waste of time and money.

I recently got a 8 week old German Shepherd and we new from the start I wanted training for her to…read moremake things best for her and our home lifestyle. After research after research, and calling different places and doing my own research on training locations I finally Googled a trainer in our area that works with German Shepherds and after much searches I came upon Joyful Tails. Finding the website and seeing all the awesome resources and info was just the start to our training journey. I contacted Kerstin, and from the start I new this was exactly what we needed for Shelby. Kerstin gives something so many other places lack and that's guidance for not just the puppy but the owners. I was just as lost bringing in this new puppy to my home as Shelby was coming to us, but Kerstin guided me through with hour long phone conversations, to house proofing my home, to doggy toys that I thought would be a wast of money, but they have been lifesavers and worth every dime. Our family and Shelby have been blessed to find a trainer that dedicates herself and her time to not only making Shelby a priority but is also there to answer any and all our questions. Many of us want to learn how to get our puppies to just listen to us, and do as we want, but take it from me, its not gonna happen overnight. Many times I find myself picking up the phone and talking to Kerstin about tips and training ideas I can learn how to use on Shelby. Its amazing what a phone consultation does when you put Kerstin's words to use. We are still in training and Shelby is still a work in progress but I wouldn't recommend anyone else. Kerstin is what I would call a Dog/Puppy Whisperer. For anyone wanting that one on one time and that's eager to learn more about there dog, Kerstin is your trainer. I have learned so much and so has Shelby through such a short time and her website is filled with resources. For anyone questioning her ability to train, the videos and phone conversations will blow you away with her passion and her knowledge of these animals. So thank you Kerstin for being such a wonderful friend to me and my family but also to our newest addition. "Shelby"

Kerstin was/is a tremendous help and constant resource when we added a 4 month old rescue to our…read morefamily. She has always provided great advice, resources and information to assist us with our first puppy. We are thankful and grateful for willingness to always be available for help when we need it. Highly recommend her for boarding/training and anything puppy or dog related. -sh

We're about half way through the training sessions now, and I can already see the progress. If…read moreyou're patient and committed to training with your dog you will see the results. You'll get plenty of support you need along the way as long as you'll ask for it. I text Michael, sometimes daily, all my questions and concerns regarding the training, and I've never been left without an answer! He'll also provide a ton of materials (videos, books, articles) you need to familiarize yourself with to set you up for success. Me and my dogs are working on solving the fence fighting issue, and so far one of them is actually responsive to my efforts. When I reached out to Michael I didn't think that much can be done, but now I see a light at the end of a very, very long tunnel :). All our sessions have been online so far, as few days before our first scheduled meeting the stay at home order was placed. Online conference worked just as well for us, and we didn't have to delay the training any longer. A recent addition- online "support group" where his customers can share ideas and chat is a great idea too! Overall, I couldn't be happier with the decision to work with Michael.

We contacted Michael for help with our big golden retriever…read morepuppy. He was overexcited most of the time. Playtime was not fun for us because he would get too worked up and end up with what I called a "zoomy meltdown", which involved a lot of jumping and nipping. Michael taught us to recognize the signs before he got out of control and helped us to keep OUR stress level down and redirect his energy. Finn is much more relaxed now, around us and guests. Thanks to the training, we have an energetic sweet boy instead of a lot of stress and worry.

Tremendous experience with the organization! We have participated in several training sessions…read more(Puppy, Day camp, Advance and Private). Ivan, Katie, and the team there truly love and care for you dogs. Highly recommend.

Fantastic Staff, facilities are clean and well kept. Also, they really love dogs and treat them as…read moreyou would.

I found this wonderful place for my dogs when we are taking longer trips! I love the fact that…read morethey're further out from the city and have property for the dogs to be able to wonder like they used to when we lived in the suburbs. My dogs are accustomed to being around, just our family and don't always be friend new people readily. They immediately took to the owner, Brian. Our dogs are on a diet where they have a mixture of dry and wet food that require refrigeration or freezing. That was no problem at all for the owner to accommodate. The fellas looked well cared for when my son picked them up! My son forgot to check for the dogs blankets when he picked them up and Brian kindly drove them down to the city where we live so that the dogs would have them. I will definitely use Hicks Farm again and I highly recommend them!

Zelda, our German shepherd/husky mix, boarded with Brian for nearly two weeks while we were on…read morevacation. Before she went, I'd worked with her on sit, down, take it, leave it, and some spins with decent success. Brian took what she had and built on it, adding heel, come when called, turn, and stay. He returned a noticeably different dog. When we hit some bumps shortly after, he came back out and spent a solid hour with me going over what was actually happening...not just commands and corrections, but why she was behaving the way she was and what she needed from me to feel secure. (Spoiler: she needed me to be more confident and consistent.) He has a way of cutting straight to what matters without overcomplicating it, and more than once he said exactly the right thing at exactly the right moment. What struck me most across both experiences was how much genuine wisdom he brings to his work. He's clearly someone who has learned his craft through deep experience and observation, and it shows in every interaction with the dog and with the owner. On top of all of that, his pricing was incredibly reasonable; boarding and training combined for what many trainers charge for training alone. We felt genuinely taken care of. Kind, patient, perceptive, and exactly what we needed. Highly recommend.

I don't even know where to begin! I was so nervous being a first time puppy mum and even more…read moreconcerned about how I would manage with work. I contacted Jayce and he arranged an appointment at my house immediately. We had a great chat, gave all the in's and outs of my puppies needs, set up the lock box and it was done!! There is something to be said for first impressions and this has continued with each interaction with all the team members. Tahnya is amazing managing all the schedule updates and the dog sitters are too awesome for words!!! I get pictures and a detailed update from every visit which makes my heart jump every time I receive the updates (during a challenging work day!). Can't thank the team enough, absolute professionals, I wouldn't trust my milly with anyone else. Highly recommend!!!

The absolute best. Their walkers are great and seem to truly care about your pet. Their app is…read moreuser-friendly and I love the detailed walk reports and photos. They do their best to accommodate last minute requests and are quick to reply. Highly recommend!