We have a large (100+ pounds) 2 year old rescue pup who is great at home, but struggles with…read moreoverarousal around new people and other dogs. After our local training place closed we were looking for other options and committed to positive reinforcement training. Unfortunately a lot of trainers use aversives, especially with large strong dogs. We were so excited to find Julia, and after our meet & greet we were confident she was a good choice. Julia did a 2 week board & train with our dog while we were traveling, mainly focusing on leash skills and practicing calm behavior around exciting things. We noticed an immediate improvement, but have also been continuing to work on the training at home after our follow up. I'm happy to report that we are continuing to see improvement using Julia's methods.

From the owner: At Guiding Tails, I focus on building real, lasting relationships between you and your dog through…read moreclear communication, trust, and understanding. Rather than using tools that suppress behavior, my approach centers on changing how your dog feels, so they can move through the world with more confidence and less stress. I guide you step-by-step through real-life situations, helping your dog learn that you’re a safe, consistent source of support, especially when things feel overwhelming or uncertain. As an IAABC-ADT and Family Dog Mediator, I’m committed to ongoing education and science-based methods, so you always receive thoughtful, up-to-date guidance tailored to your individual dog. Sessions are available in-home, virtually, or through Zoom, making training accessible no matter your needs.

Our very aggressive Westie had become uncontrollable. I eas ready to give up. Alex very calmly…read moreworked with us and suggested changing meds. Angus is a new dig. Back to his snuggly self. Even the groomer asked what happened. Thanks for making us not give up

We tried two other trainers before getting in touch with the dog sensei. We met with Alex just…read morethree times and the instruction and techniques he used were exactly what we needed to help get our giant now 11 month old puppy to be well behaved in the house. If you watch, listen, and stay consistent with what he says I think anybody would have good results with their dog.

I went to Canyon Crest K9 after a recommendation from my vet, and a nasty fall breaking my arm when…read moremy larger dog lunged unexpectedly. I can't give Canyon Crest K9 high enough praise as my dogs behavior improved dramatically after even just a few lessons. I took their full course and instructions were clear, easy to understand and easy to use. I really like their combination of abundant praise and mild correction. My dogs actually seem happier as well, and visitors to my home have stated they are so much better behaved. I intend to take further courses from Canyon Creat K9. I had taken two other courses from another large dog training facility that uses food rewards, and positive reinforcement only. That training was confusing, critical of my learning and tied to food rewards being high value to the dog and often changing those rewards to get the response that was needed. My dog actually reverted to the behaviors that ended up with my broken arm. in other words, the training didn't stick with either the dog or me. My dogs with Canyon Crest K9 respond to my praise, treats are not involved and I feel like I am communicating with them on a much higher level. With the instruction Canyon Crest K9 supplies an illustrated book written by their founder, provides access to a video that directly links and repeats the exact instructions that are given during the one on one training sessions. I believe they've been in business close to 50 years and it really shows they know what they are doing. I am over 70 with two large dogs that now are a pure pleasure to be around!

"I was doing some research looking for a reputable dog trainer in the Tacoma area. I found Canyon…read moreCrest K-9 Training online and I called them. A really nice lady answered the phone and invited me to watch a lesson at Canyon Crest K-9 Training. Right away I liked what I saw. The trainer was calm, clear, and direct in her teaching, and she was easy to understand. I signed up for the 10-lesson program, and by lesson three I could already see a difference. My dog was paying attention and actually making the choice to respond to what I asked instead of ignoring me or doing whatever she wanted. One of the things I really appreciated about the training was learning to read my dog's body language, and watching my dog start to read mine. While I was taking my lessons, I noticed some things on the wall about a program called Dogabetics. I told the trainer I was pre-diabetic and didn't need my dog to alert me, but I was interested in watching a lesson where they train service dogs to alert their owners in case someday I might need one. They let me sit in on a service dog training lesson, and it was really interesting to see how they work. By the end of the program, I had a solid working relationship with my dog. I later went on to do personal protection training with Ron Pace, the owner, because as an older woman I wanted to feel safe walking by myself and know my dog could help me if I needed it. I would recommend Canyon Crest K-9 Training to anyone looking for real, practical training that changes how you and your dog communicate."

I cannot say enough about Ron and his wife through the last 13 years if I have had any issues or…read morequestions they have always been prompt and very helpful. It is rare to work with a company always consistent. I would recommend them hands-down over any other company.

Recently my invisible fencing failed. After calling the company who installed it, I was only able…read moreto make an appointment weeks out. In addition, I was tired of paying top dollar for their proprietary batteries, which required expensive replacement too often. In frustration, I started investigating alternatives. My search uncovered DogWatch Northwest. They came out the next day, provided me with new collars and control panel which worked beautifully on my existing perimeter wire. Considering how much I'll save in service fees and batteries, it was a easily less expensive to move to the DogWatch Northwest system. Besides super fast service, this system is superior in several ways: 1. It's on FM radio waves avoiding interference with my garage door opener 2. The batteries are inexpensive and last forever, comparatively 3. The system has finite controls that are easy for me to change and can be customized for each of my dogs 4. The technician was very informative and educated me on how to use and adjust the system, but also left an easy to follow guide 5. The installation process was quick So far, neither of my dogs, who breached my past system, have tried to test the system. I couldn't be happier with Dogwatch Northwest. Invisible Fence may be the original, but not necessarily the best alternative.

My experience with Deborah has been very mixed. My dog is very well behaved with one exception -…read moreshe barks at the door. I scheduled a private session at my home with Deborah since this is the only place where my dog barks. She called ten minutes past our appointment time, asking if we were supposed to be meeting (we had scheduled this two days prior). Deborah and her trainees finally arrived, the training did go relatively well. My dog responded well to the techniques used, but I was very surprised that I was not involved in the training. I did not practice with my dog at all during the session. Also, the only thing my dog learned during the $150 session was to make eye contact when her name is called in order to earn a treat. A majority of the time was spent with Deborah and the two gentlemen she was training giving my dog treats in order to warm her up to them. In total the session was a little over an hour. While I was impressed that my dog stayed engaged for that long (usually during training she gets bored after about 20 minutes), I did not feel that the amount of improvement was worth $150. I emailed Deborah for advice the next day. My dog sleeps with me and was running to the front door to bark before I could command her to calm. This lead to a good amount of barking before I was able to get to her. It took two weeks to get a response and I was told that I was the problem and I needed to crate my dog at night. Crating is not an option because 1. I need my dog to sleep with me and 2. when we tried crating her originally she multiple times hurt herself trying to get out. The response was that I needed to spend more money on more training. I understand that one session can only do so much, but I really feel more could have been taught to me and that for the amount I paid there should be some more advice via email/phone to follow up.

Continuing from first review:…read more We were DEVASTATED by what Kori had said to us. We absolutely love our two dogs, spend lots of time and money to help them be the best that they can be. I am curious to know how many people they've said this to?? Again feeling sad and hopeless, my husband almost put Loki down...but I refused and found a trainer that ending up saving his life. This trainer was the best thing that had happened to our dogs!!! Here's the thing. We listened, tried everything they told us. They gave us bad advice, did not teach us how to work our dogs and put us and our dogs in a bad situation at the dog park. It gives me a terrible stomach ache just thinking about what we all went through with this place and all the money wasted. -Deborah talks the talk, but does not walk the walk -Does not have experienced training staff -Uses only harnesses -They did not teach us the tools to be successful on our own -Found ourselves asking what we're supposed to do when we weren't at lessons, even when we asked for answers -Told us to put our dog down and to give the other away -Deborah only cares about getting paid. Loki did not get his third private lesson that we paid for.. And did not complete the full board & train If you have a dog who really needs help, especially with obedience or behavioral problems, message me and I'll tell you where we got real help and real results. I promise that you will not be disappointed. Don't make the same mistake we did.

Gina @ PacwestK9 is amazing! This is a truly exceptional facility for anyone seeking high -quality…read moredog training, daycare, or boarding. As a cautious pet parent, my spouse and I had high standards for who we trusted with our dog, and the PacwestK9 team met them all. Gina's training skills are outstanding, providing a perfect balance of structure and care. Additionally, Evie provides an excellent client experience by keeping scheduling organized and stress-free. We are so thankful for their services and the positive impact they've had on our dog.

I first took my dog to Gina about 7 years ago for behavior modification when he was about a year…read moreold. Gina graciously helped us through my dog's reactive behaviors and taught me how to better understand him. My dog had Parvo as a puppy and unfortunately became very reactive towards people and other dogs afterwards. Gina is extremely knowledgeable and she was very kind and patient with me and my pup. She truly has a way with dogs and can tell you everything just from their body language. I have recommended her to friends and family, and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a high quality trainer in the area. I recently went out of town for 4 days and was so thankful to board my dog with Gina because I was confident he would be well taken care of which allowed me to enjoy my vacation. Gina is the only person I trust with my dog and we are so grateful to be working with PacwestK9!

Garrett Stevens is truly one-of-a-kind when it comes to dog training. His unorthodox style may not…read morebe what you'd expect, but that's exactly what makes him so effective. Our Great Pyrenees was stubborn, independent, and we honestly weren't sure if we'd ever get through to him. Garrett changed everything. Instead of relying on cookie-cutter methods, Garrett took the time to really understand our dog's personality and gave us tools that actually worked. His approach is calm, intuitive, and based on building trust and respect--not just obedience. The difference has been night and day. Because of Garrett, our Pyr is finally on the right path to success. Walks are no longer a battle, our home is more peaceful, and most importantly, our dog is happier and more confident. If you're looking for a trainer who gets results, thinks outside the box, and truly cares about both the dog and the owner, Garrett Stevens at Alpha and Omega Dog Training is the best there is.

Garrett changed my way of handling dogs and he saved Makos' dogs life. We have overcome being…read moreHIGHLY reactive to everything. We loose leash walk and can even run wild and free in remote locations with full recall.

Ally (the black and white dog) loves this daycare. She's a super shy timid dog and doesn't take to…read morepeople easily. Shout out to Corvus and Delaney as they've done a great job with her. Also I love being able to check in on her at any time during the day with their cameras. Also very affordable for $35 a day on weekends which I often work on weekends. I live in Kent and I won't take my dogs to any other daycare because Positive approach is so good. I drive over for them!

Where do I even begin? I'm not someone who usually leaves negative reviews or speaks up about a bad…read moreexperience. I genuinely try to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume everyone is doing their best. Unfortunately, after today's experience, I feel like I need to say something. This is not our first visit. Our dog Goose has been here several times, and today was our puppy Maple's first visit. When I walked in this morning, there was no warm greeting or even a simple hello. The first things said to me by the groomers were, "Do you not get our texts?" and "We need you to be on time. We run a tight schedule." I walked in at 11:05. We are coming from Port Orchard, and when I received the text asking me to bring the dogs in earlier at 10:20, I was already on the road heading there. I understand that being on time is important, but the attitude I was met with immediately was completely unnecessary and set the tone for the entire visit. During the consultation, I explained what I wanted for both dogs. Because I was apparently considered late, I told Danielle that if she didn't have time to give Goose a full haircut, I at least wanted his face, eyes, and chin trimmed and for her to do whatever she could with the time available. Maple's groomer (will call her the lady with purple hair) asked if this was her first visit and I explained that it was and that she is about 6-7 months old. She then told me that I should have gotten her in much sooner for haircuts and to get her used to grooming. I explained that we had actually been cancelled on multiple times by them and that I booked her as soon as she had all of her vaccinations. I wasn't going to argue with her, but I found the comment unnecessary and condescending. I completely understand that a puppy's first grooming experience may need to be shorter depending on how they handle it. What I don't understand is the attitude surrounding it. Our puppy desperately needed a haircut, and I was never upset about them taking things slowly with her. I was upset by the way the entire situation was communicated. When I came back to pick them up, the attitude from both groomers continued. I was told the dogs were "a handful" and reminded again that I needed to be on time. What makes this even more frustrating is that I dropped them off around 11:00 and both dogs were ready to be picked up around 11:45. I was expecting full haircuts and baths, yet neither dog had much of a haircut at all. I'm not upset about Maple not receiving a full haircut because I understand she is a puppy and it was her first visit. However, Goose has been here multiple times, and he didn't even have the areas trimmed that I specifically asked for, including underneath his chin and around his eyes and head. I was also basically told by Danielle that Goose had "one last chance." Maple's groomer also spoke to me as though I didn't know my own dog, telling me that Maple has dew claws and that I need to play with her face and paws more. We do this regularly at home, so again, the way the information was communicated felt unnecessary and condescending. Then there were the charges. PART 2 & 3 in attached photos.

Amanda was a great trainer and we had absolutely darling puppies in our puppy class. She was very…read morehelpful with troubleshooting issues we were having with our puppy. The location was great- less than five minutes off the highway and beautifully located. The building we were training in wasn't heated so that was a bummer on colder days. The space was large enough to accommodate the number of dogs in class. She offered classes that grew with your puppy which was also nice. The classes were moderately priced and affordable for what is available in the area.

We have been very pleased with Amanda's approach to training, the small class sizes, and the help…read moreshe provides to dogs and owners. Amanda really focuses on the positive and helps the owners work as a partner with their pet. Our pup really looks forward to going to school.

Great experience with the Pawder Room. Flexible scheduling…read more Reasonable prices. Quality work.

I took my little guy here all the time. I was always happy with the service and my little man was…read morevery comfortable go to this establishment. Great serve and very good prices.