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 started training classes with our 8.5 week old puppy because my spouse and I had never had a…read morepuppy so young and wanted to start off right with our little guy. We also didn't want to use harsh training methods (like choke chains or e-collars) and the fact that Bridget doesn't even allow those in her classes made a great first impression on paper. I didn't really know what to expect when we started and was a little out of my league and a little intimidated, but when we walked out of the very first session with our wee baby dog knowing how to sit and walk on a leash in under an hour, I was impressed. Bridget is great with recognizing which dogs are better paired together and which ones likely shouldn't interact and then pairs them up for individual play time during the sessions. Having the combination of social time and training time. She truly understands their behaviors and the way they think. I've never seen dogs adjust to training so quickly. I honestly wish I had gone to her with my last dog because she's great with all ages and stages of dogs, but I just didn't know to even look for her! Our dog is now 5.5 months old and he has since graduated puppy kindergarten and just completed elementary manners. Those two classes are very similar in training, but elementary is a smaller class, more focused, and it really does help reinforce the behavior as the dog is growing and changing constantly. We plan on enrolling in more classes so we can continue our dog's growth and development because Bridget really does understand dogs and has really helped us with a crazy puppy!

If you live in the northern Virginia area and you're looking for an amazing dog trainer...look no…read morefurther! I was so nervous to take our sweet pup Kip to a dog trainer, but I'm so glad we did. Kip has some fear aggression with men and after reading all of Bridget's reviews, I thought she ma be the perfect fit for Kip. Immediately upon arriving to our private session, she was calm and sweet with Kip. Within 15 minutes into the session, he was responding to commands from her such as sit, down and leave it! We had a two hour private session and I can honestly say I saw a huge difference in Kip just after the one session. He seems to have more confidence, is listening to my commands when he becomes nervous and seems happier! She only uses positive training methods...which was a must for us. She trains using treats, eye contact and positive reinforcement! We will be going back for her elementary manners class in a few weeks and I am sooo excited to see the progress Kip will continue to make! Like I have told so many people already..she is like a dog angel! Thanks Bridget!

We just recently hired Scott to work with us and the pooch we rescued in January. Our dog is a…read moreHusky mix, and is a little over 4 years old. While basically a good dog in many respects, Riggins displays anxiety and shuts down during walks, which manifested in his past as fear aggression. This is not something we had dealt with with our previous pets, and knew that we needed to ensure against any kind of dangerous situation. We understood when we adopted Riggins we'd need to work with him on these ingrained bad habits. Shortly after we adopted him, we tried out group training sessions. It was clear the group training was for working on basic stuff, a lot of which our dog already knew. We felt the best option was to go with 1-1 training. And so glad we did. It was worth every penny. Scott gave us the tools to work with Riggins, as well as manage our expectations and learn how to deal with a variety of situations. We signed up for five training sessions with Scott, and as others mentioned in their reviews, the training started as soon as Scott entered the house. He made an immediate connection with Riggins and so amazing to see how the dog just snapped to attention for him. Such a great talent to have. Basically Scott told us we need to completely reprogram our dog. We're continuing to work on that, and probably will for the foreseeable future. But there's been a definite improvement in the way we deal with Riggins, and I see daily 'baby step' progress on walks. We've also been bike riding with Riggins, which he seems to enjoy and is great at draining his energy. The bike rides also ensure that the dog is following me, I'm in the lead and have control over the situation. So thanks to Scott for his help. We may well call him again for a tune-up, but for right now, we're putting his recommendations in place and are seeing a difference.

My fiance and I are new dog owners. We had only been relying on online puppy training videos to…read morehouse break our 8 week old goldendoodle pup, but still needed some more in-person guidance. I researched many different dog trainers in my area and ultimately decided to contact Scott. We first spoke over the phone to see if the training would be a good fit. He asked me what my goals were and then explained what his style of training was. We booked a double day session for 2 hours and it was intense, but so helpful, educational, and so rewarding! Our puppy's nipping has really lessened and she definitely is paying more attention than before. Scott taught us various ways to walk a dog and the importance of keeping them safe in different environments. He also gave us great insight on the dogs' point of view which really helped us understand our puppy's behavior more. Scott made sure my fiance and I were highly involved with the training and it helped boost our confidence for when we'd continue training our puppy on our own. Although the training already made a big difference, Scott also reminded us that our puppy is still so young and that we need to remain realistic and patient. The reassurance, constructive criticism, and encouragement created a very positive environment for the session. I am overall very impressed! Thank you so much, Scott!

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.

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.

This place is awesome... we moved from San Diego to Virginia and our golden turned 12 years old…read moretoday. She was used to us going to Fiesta Island on weekends and paddle boarding and swimming her little heart out. We haven't heard her whimper for joy in the last year since having our baby. This was such a sweet way to celebrate her 12th birthday and have. Whole hour dedicated to her. They say there's a 7 to 1 rule with dogs: one hour to us is 7 hours to them since they have such a shorter lifespan. We absolutely will come more often hoping she has a lovely rest of her time here on this side of heaven with us!

Our boy, Remy, loves this place! As he excitedly burst through the door in the morning, the staff…read morealways welcomes him by name, and when we pick him up, he is thoroughly played out. The pool is always a great treat, and it's relaxing to know he's having fun while I'm working.

Nancy the trainer/owner at Doggy Do Right was amazing to work with. Our 6 month old English lab…read moreBiscuit was notorious for eating everything on our walks and pulling on the leash, jumping on other dogs during walks. It was our first family dog and we didn't know how to communicate with our puppy. Biscuit was boarded with Nancy for a week to be trained. Our Biscuit came back a brand new obedient puppy. Nancy also did a great job training us! After he came home, he came back a different dog. Our walks with him are completely different now, Nancy has taught us the right methods to go for fun walks and to "heel", and how to discipline him. It was a very good investment to hire Nancy, and we would 100% recommend Nancy! She's the dog whisperer!

Love this place! The building is a charming historic building on the edge of downtown Leesburg…read more It is by far one of the best dog obedience and doggy daycare that I have seen! I have known the owner Nancy for the last two years and find her to be very knowledgeable and friendly. I was made to feel very welcomed and would highly recommend this dog training business.

Charlotte is amazing. My puppy came in wild and is now the best dog ever! All positive…read morereinforcement - so grateful

Signing up for classes with K9ology was one of the best decisions I made! I was a bit hesitant…read moreabout starting my puppy in classes so young, but after 12 weeks of private training and one group class under our belt, I could not be happier with the foundation we have- worth every penny! Charlotte is truly an expert and helps explain the science behind the trainings, and had helpful suggestions for every question/scenario. I would sign up for a dozen more classes if I wasn't moving!

Listen, I'm not sure where to start because there's so much I want to cover regarding OLK9's Day…read moreCamp Program. First things first, Craig [Martin] is a Rockstar trainer. Period. Our very first interaction was great...his energy was wonderful...he did not disappoint! He was very methodical with his approach...explaining every step of the process...very engaging...constant updates of the Boyz progress...videos, photos...wait! The photos that I received were Ahhhhhhh-mazing, I mean impressive...only to learn that he's a photographer as well...but I digress. The Boyz are spoiled and I have no shame in stating this...*smile*. But they needed to learn manners. I have two large and very strong Standard Poodles - Mr. Brown and Max. They're extremely smart, pretty obedient in the house, but a huge challenge on walks...my poor dog walker. I wanted to be able to take them anywhere without the extended conversations of sit, stay, what are you doing? you know better... etc. At any rate, I'd been following OLK9 Maryland for some time online. I knew that training for two dogs was going to be a budget buster. Thankfully, I was able to take advantage of the "Black Friday" or "Cyber Monday" (can't remember which one it was). I cannot say enough about the great experience I had...the Boyz were happy to see Craig each day which was a HUGE relief for me. Yes, additional work/training on my part is required...to me that's a no brainer. As a responsible pet owner, I want to make sure that there is consistency and an expectation that my Boyz are well behaved and well mannered. Which means I have to do the work. Funny, as I was driving home from our final session, I was so tempted to take them on a short walk because I knew it would be enjoyable. But decided to wait until morning... I'm so excited to be able to have an enjoyable walk with these guys... less scolding and more bonding. Well worth the time and financial commitment. Thank you OLK9 Maryland for bringing additional joy to our home... things are definitely more "manageable". I'm really looking forward to our walks, especially since there will be NO more pulling! Can't wait to be able to take them to the "brick and mortar" with me once it's open! "Life Changing K9 Training"

I wasted over $1,000 to unknowingly abuse my dog through Off Leash K9. I sought help because my dog…read morewas reactive toward other dogs, loud vehicles, and people. I was desperate to help my dog and myself and Off Leash K9 had good reviews. What these folks didn't tell me was that my dog's reactivity, what I thought was outright aggression, was actually fear - that she was scared of all of these things and trying to protect herself from them. So with the use of the e-collar (really just a shock collar let's be honest), I punished her every time she showed a fear response at Off Leash K-9's direction. This definitely changed her behavior, but rather than helping her feel more comfortable with the things that scared her, we instead punished her for being afraid and taught her to hide her fear responses. I wish I had looked at the science behind dog behavior, because I now know research shows that punishment through things like e-collars, buzz collars, spray bottles, etc. are incredibly counterproductive to changing dog behavior long term and they seriously traumatize the dog. I'm so very grateful to have met a Fear Free trainer who taught me about positive reinforcement. It has improved my relationship with my dog immensely and it has ultimately lead to the sustained behavior change I was looking for. Please do not waste your money on abusive, ignorant training through Off Leash K9.

Kitty's did a great job on my BishonPoo. Service was quick and very reasonable. Book in advance…read moreas they're quite busy (which is a good sign). They don't try to upsell you like other chains.

My dog received a nice haircut and bath today from Amy. However, I witnessed a different technician…read more(grooming another dog) while picking up my dog. She was violently grabbing a small, white dog by his hind leg while grooming him, and yanking him back towards her. She did it 3 times! He kept trying to get away from her (for obvious reasons!!), and she kept yanking him back with force. I will never return here because of what I witnessed. I pray Amy did not treat my dog this way, but what I saw seemed borderline abusive. There was no one to tell there, and I didn't feel comfortable or safe reporting her in person. Given her anger about this tiny dog, I didn't want to confront her. I'm sure grooming is not an easy job, but it's never OK to be so mean to a dog. Update: I've made 5 attempts to reach the owner over the last few weeks. She has not responded. Update: 7 months later. The owner finally responded with excuses about a failed email system and defended the behavior of the groomer. Please avoid this business. The mistreatment of that little dog is unacceptable, and blamed the DOG in a private message to me. The number of positive reviews is confusing to me (considering how she runs her business).