My 120 pound rescue dog is VERY reactive, to the point where I used to plan his walks and outings…read morearound avoiding people and other dogs. He'd done puppy training, but at 4 years old, I assumed his barking/lunging behavior was his "personality." Then, a vet who had trouble treating him (because of his reactivity) strongly recommended Pet Degree. It has been a life-changer! Each lesson has built upon the next (we've done 4 lessons, so far), and Max is walking in parks. Calmly passing bikes, kids, joggers--without any reactivity. He's a different dog! Last week, I started bringing his sister, who is so fearful! The owner, Lynne, immediately introduced a calm, confidence-building atmosphere. I cannot recommend Pet Degree highly enough. This is a trainer who knows the psychology of dogs, and how to help them!

Great staff, great training. Lynne and her staff love the dogs as there own…read moreGrooming does a great job, dogs look great when done

Sound, proven training techniques (obedience and agility) that are flexible, forward thinking,…read moreupbeat and fun. Heather has been training dogs for 30 years and will modify techniques according to each dog's personality and breed, and owner's ability. She is veterinarian recommended and teaches both private and group classes with individuals or families. She is also a One Mind Dog agility instructor. Visit: www.heatherwitt.com

We got Maggie (10 month old boxer mix) a little over a month ago, and every day seemed to be worst…read morethan the last. From leash pulling to barking, and even separation anxiety, Maggie was testing our every nerve. Michael came and showed us that it was not about dominating your dog, but leading them. Through just a few verbal and visual cues we were able to help Maggie understand that she did not have to be the leader, and that we would take care of her. Now she is happy to sit back, relax, and let us take the reins. She is an absolute gem on walks now. Knowing that we will have Michael throughout Maggie's lifetime is a relief, because we know that he will be able to guide us through any future life hurdles. Thank you, Michael!

I am thrilled with Bark Busters. I have 3 pit bulls and was having problems with my third…read moreadoption. Owen had guarding issues around the other dogs. After our first session there was great improvement. Richard used positive reinforcement and it was fun for our dog. I found it simple to incorporate the training methods into our everyday activities. It's been a few months now and and Owen no longer has issues. I used what I learned with all three dogs and it's made a huge difference in our home. No more stress, all the dogs get along nicely and play together. All three dogs pay attention and listen to me. I am so happy I found Bark Busters. I couldn't ask for a better outcome. Prior to our training, Vickie explained everything to me and answered all questions. The fees are very reasonable too. I highly recommend Bark Busters and wouldn't go anywhere else.

Expert Dog Training, customized to your specific needs and interests. 5 stars across the board!…read moreErica is excellent, thorough and prompt. We recently adopted, and were looking for dog training for a young pup. When we stumbled upon "All That Canine", we were ecstatic to discover the 4 Week Online Video program option. With the pandemic, it made complete sense and Crosby our 5 month pup is doing AMAZING. We are mid program, and the amount of value that Erica provides to you for the price is money well spent. Additionally the feedback that she provides in addition, makes a big impact overall. My wife and I very happy and we look forward to talking more in the future, as we continue to improve Crosby's skills and knowledge. I would highly recommend "All That Canine" to any dog owner, who is committed to improving their dogs lifes

Tried to get a hold of them for the past 2 days. No call back or anything. Also talked to them on…read moreFacebook asking them to call. No call back still. It would be nice to keep the business in the town you live in but it doesn't look that way.

I loved working with Jody and my dog from minute one. After that, I was completely annoyed to see…read morehow well she managed my Bullmastiff. :) It was if they had been working together for years. Jody gave me great advice, worked with me and my dog and is a wealth of knowledge on all things animals. Jody also has such great warmth, spirit and personality that she is so easy to work with. She was also very honest and practical, not judgemental, just really wants to help and her love for dogs radiates in her work.

From the owner: I am a Dog Trainer Behaviorist specializing in problem solving and the rehabilitation of rescued…read moredogs. As owner/operator of The Bark Stops Here, I offer House Calls, Phone Consultations and small Group Class at the Southport Veterinary Center in Fairfield, CT. Review Sheets are emailed after each session to facilitate your following through on your own. What sets my work apart, I'm told, is that I empathize with dogs and people equally, enabling me to help each better understand the other and craft compromises that endure. Clients commonly call me "intuitive" or a dog "psychic." Though I don't promote myself as such for fear of sounding too "woo woo," my hunches, backed by science and experience, usually prove true. Whether yours is a shiny new puppy or a weathered elder who's been around the block, my new book, "Imp, The ImPerfect Pup: Lessons On Being Good Enough,"is designed to make your home Imp's last.

Working with Cassidy has been incredible. The bark buster methods really work if you stick to them…read moreand are consistent. My reactive dog has made incredible progress in the past month and I couldn't be happier. We still have some work to do, but I'm confident we'll get there working with Cassidy. I'm eternally grateful. Thank you!

I called Mike for our dog Bruno, who has SEVERE separation anxiety (he is the famous ROOF DOG)…read more Our initial session with Mike occurred in August and lasted over 3 hrs. Mike was professional, knowledgeable, fun to work with and loved by my whole family (pups included!). His training techniques are easy to learn and effective. We saw a HUGE improvement in our dogs' behavior immediately. What earns Mike a 5+ STAR review from me is his responsiveness. It's been over 90 days since our first session and Mike is as accessible today as he was the day of our first session. Every call and text is responded to promptly, even when Mike has been out of town. Separation anxiety is not an easy fix. It's a huge relief knowing that we have Mike available when needed. Mike is a committed, compassionate, honest, and gifted dog trainer with a big heart. I highly recommend him.

Stopped in for the first time today and had a wonderful experience! The staff were super…read moreknowledgeable and friendly and the prices were reasonable. Will definitely be back!

Sometime in mid-July to early August I paid cash for 2 bags of dog food. After you purchase 12 bags…read moreof the same brand, you get one free. They don't give you a receipt, so when there is a discrepancy there is no way to prove you made a purchase. I really miss Monica. The current manager Maria is arrogant and useless. She absolutely refused to hep figure out why I did not get credit for the two bags, literally just shrugged her shoulders. I asked about it a couple times when I went in and they did nothing to even look into it, just told me there was nothing they could do. I told them the approximate dates and they knew the cost of 2 bags. The third time I asked I was informed that they have customer notes that said "You have tried to do this to us before" ...insert hard eye roll here... Like a Seinfeld episode or something! Yes I have been trying to get it resolved but NPO don't care! Really horrible customer service! Blaming the customer for THEIR failures! The owner Ray actually called me and threatened to post the camera footage of the exchange in response to any bad review I might leave! Only thing that will do is show everyone how incompetent your manager is! Regardless you do not have permission to post any footage of me!

For those who have been challenged with handling a reactive dog , you understand the mental toll it…read moretakes and how isolating and hopeless it can feel . You thought you did everything right by giving your dog so much love and socialization only to now be faced with questions and comments like " why didn't you just train your dog ?" , " you're not the alpha to your dog", " you shouldn't be a dog owner" on a regular basis. I have a 6 year old boxer ( the social , goofy clowns of the dog breeds) . I've worked with dogs in the past as a kennel attendant, and grown up with dogs my entire life and never thought I would be in this situation . I struggled to find a trainer whose techniques showed progress which lead to inconsistency, a lot of frustration and doubt . Eventually taking him places like the vet and groomer caused me such extreme anxiety. When I met Tom , my dog was unapproachable by strangers , including Tom initially. It took a month or so of meeting up , going on walks and practicing techniques at home but I was seeing improvement! Not long after Tom was able to take the leash from me and walk Gus, and we could walk near other people without Gus acting like a total maniac , lunging , barking and snapping. It was like he was a normal (ish) dog . Gus is 6 , so it will be a slow process to break him out of this behavior , but he has improved so much in the last 6 months .. I never thought I would get this far. I still have my work cut out for me but this training has also helped me increase my confidence as a dog owner and learn to trust my dog again. I'm not longer so nervous to take him out on walks because I feel like I'm in control.( Holding back an 80 pound boxer is not an easy task ) . I definitely recommend Tom if you are struggling with a similar situation. It probably has been the best thing I have ever done for Gus!

Highly recommend, they know their business and can handle highly aggressive dogs. Tom is ver…read moreinformative.

German Shepherds have a naturally protective nature -- it's part of their DNA. Our Misha, a white…read moreGerman Shepherd, was no exception, and it was very important for us to help him develop positive social skills and friendliness toward people and different environments. Since he was 2.5 months old, we enrolled him in Exception Pets' Socialization Class, where he interacted with other dogs and their owners. The classes are professionally organized and supervised, and they made a huge impact on his growth and confidence. Donna and Sandy, his instructors, provide great insights into dog behavior and help both pets and owners understand each other better. Thanks to their guidance, Misha is growing up to be a very well-socialized and happy dog. You won't regret enrolling your pet with this wonderful team of professionals!

My puppy (now a 10-month-old Lab) and I have taken two classes with The Exceptional Pet so far (and…read moreI just signed up for our next one)! I'm looking forward to even more classes in the future - they offer a wide variety of fun things to do with your dog. The trainers have been great (I've worked with Donna and Sandy so far). They really know what they're doing - with dogs and people. I highly recommend them; you and your pup will be glad you did!

5 stars -- Empire State K-9 changed my dog -- and honestly, changed me, too…read more I don't write reviews like this often. But this deserves it. My dog Coco is family. She's also high-energy, distractible, reactive, social to a fault -- the mayor of every block. Walking her was a full-time job. I'd resigned myself to always having a leash-yanking, sidewalk-sprinting, bird-chasing kind of pup. Then I found Empire State K-9. After almost two weeks of immersive training, Coco came home a different dog -- not in spirit, but in structure. She still has her spark, but now there's focus behind it. She heels. She respects boundaries. She listens. She can walk by my side, calmly, even in high-distraction environments. A pigeon flew by today -- she started to glance, and with the smallest tug, she turned back to me and kept walking. That kind of transformation doesn't happen by accident. It's built through consistency, skill, empathy, and serious time on the ground. And that's exactly what Empire State K-9 delivers. From the moment I dropped her off, I felt like I was handing her over to someone who truly cared -- not just about dogs, but about people, too. The trainer spent hours with me upfront: walking me through the theory, the tools, the transitions, and the work I'd need to do when she came back. I got worksheets. Real-time walkthroughs. Space to ask questions. Time to process. He even drove me to and from the train. Brought me lunch. Gave me trash bags when I forgot them. The care was constant, not performative. Coco came home with a new collar, a new leash, and a completely new relationship with the world. She now lies down at my feet when we enter restaurants -- something I never could have imagined before. I can finally take my hand off the leash and trust that she won't bolt. Even now, I get unlimited follow-ups for three months -- real access: calls, texts, whatever I need. No nickel-and-diming, no weird fine print. If I had to offer one piece of constructive feedback, it's that sometimes the sessions ran a little long -- the wrap up one especially. I was promised two hours and hit closer to three. I was totally fried by the end. But to his credit, he noticed immediately, read the room, and got me to the train with kindness and care. So even the one "flaw" was handled with grace. Was this worth the cost? Yes. Would I recommend it to anyone who feels overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure where to start? Absolutely. Will I be continuing to work with Empire State K-9 moving forward? 100%. Three months of training post I dont know of another bootcamp that offers that. This wasn't just training. It was transformation -- for both of us.

Look no further!!! Rick truly is a one of a kind dog trainer and animal behaviorist. If you need…read morechanges, this is who you need! What makes him stand apart is he trains the family as much as he trains the dog so you get a complete understanding of your dog's behavior and the how, why, and when to apply what you learn in the course. We, as a family, learned just as much or even more than our dogs learned! He includes the entire family in the classes which was awesome because it kept my husband and I on the same page so we didn't confuse our dogs and he taught my kids proper dog safety and proper engagement which is crucial! We found Rick about 8 years ago when we got our first dog, Scout, a shepherd/Doberman mix, who was extremely anxious, fearful and aggressive towards anyone outside our family and other animals. It was impossible, stressful, and downright embarrassing to take him anywhere due to his insistent barking, pulling, and lunging... so we sought out help. We had a hard time finding a trainer who was willing to even take on the training of Scout and actually had multiple trainers tell us just to put him down!!! As soon as we met Rick, he was not only willing to work with Scout, but was enthusiastic that he could treat Scout's individual issues and get us the results we wanted which was such a relief!! Scout entered Rick's program and he had a COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION. He gained so much confidence and control through the program and through Rick training us as the handlers, Scout was comfortable in whatever situation he was in because he could trust us as his alphas and that he was safe under our command because of the skills Rick taught us. Flash forward to 2020, my father bought a Rottweiler puppy that ended up being way to much for him to handle so he asked us to take her and my first phone call was to Rick... She was OUT OF CONTROL. We adopted Phoenix, and started her training right away. She had entirely different issues than Scout, mostly no control, no house manners, and had no social skills. Rick worked with her and almost instantly she was a different dog. She was still her happy-go-lucky self, but had manners and control. Through her growth, Rick worked with her and us to mold her into the ideal family dog! Scout & Phoenix are able to enjoy life much more as we are able to handle all settings and bring them along with us anywhere with confidence. He just has a complete understanding and nature with dogs and it's astonishing to watch him work. We are so grateful for what Rick has brought to our family and will always go to him for our dogs in the future!