Obsessed with Senior Trainer Jimmy Got a simple dog you need to just sit and stay? Go to Petsmart on a Saturday with all the other commoners and basic dogs - follow pee smell to the paper sign-up form. Stop reading here. Got a four-legged friend you want to see become their best furry selves, motivated to behave, and eager to build a trusting relationship with you? Go see Jimmy. Continue to page 2 of ramble for why. What you get from Pack Place K9: Tactical and actionable guidance backed by canine ethology explanations and anchored with strategic relationship building and communication maturing goals True, true, true and deep expertise BEYOND breed stereotypes, Cesar Milan soundbites, and other Frankensteined tips Astute insights to help you understand behavioral nuances so your training works for him/her FISCALLY responsible and wallet-respectful advice and programming that works Also, it's really nice to have a service that has a modernized customer experience (centralized portal, automation, etc) and is simply well-ran/organized. What you DONT get from Pack Place K9: Aggressive upsells of unnecessary products or irrelevant services Pushy training schedules and timeboxes counter-productive to your pet's learning (or your busy life) Canned, generic, and rigid training programs don't deliver results you thought you paid for My Story Max-Gaston is a 3 year old oversized Husky mix too wicked smart and skillful for his own good. That's OK - he ain't my first dog; I figured we'd figure it out. At 9 weeks, Max already scaled his playpen on the first try. By 3mo, Max mastered all fundamental commands. By 5mos, he figured out how to open doors. Around 6mos, he figured out how to turn the key to UNLOCK the door in order to open it because we started locking those damn doors. Currently weighing around 100lbs, Max matched my size but was equipped with a pulling instinct possessed by Togo himself. Walking him became an impossible task. With 90%+ obedience rate across a rich vocabulary spanning 3 languages, Max was perfect....indoors. As soon we exited those doors, he forgets his own name. I thought I'd have to Rapunzel this guy forever. By the time I got to Pack Place K9, I already sought services with a 5-starred celebrity hunting dog trainer and former SeaWorld animal trainer - they were great but not meant for Max. I've invested in swimming and boarding and other memberships and about anything you can waste money on - Max had fun; Max was not impressed. At the end of my Pack Place K9 FREE evaluation with Jimmy, I was handed practical tips to achieve Goal #1 without wasting any sessions on it. By the time I got to session #1, it was already night-and-day. Honestly, by the end of Session 1, I questioned every cent I've wasted in the three years of nonsense that I thought I was happy with. I walked away from Session 1 understanding Max's behavioral drivers and nuanced body language within reactivity that was substantiated with environmental props...of other dogs positioned as stimuli. I am out of character count to rave about Session 2. Jimmy is changing Max's life...literally because I no longer have to Mother Gothel this furry son and there's hope he won't have to be a "house husky." TL;DR: My furry nieces and nephews are getting Pack Place K9 training this Christmas. I will try to buy some sessions of their humans too. read more

Pack Place K9 - Agility Room - Pet Training Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

Pack Place K9 has been treating my baby boy, Benito, the absolute best. He's a puppy with so much energy and very confident in himself, so I needed a place to teach him basic obedience and other areas we were struggling with at home. He has been working closely with Julia (thank you Julia!) who has taught my baby boy so much and she is able to keep up with his crazy energy! After he completed his 3 week new member orientation, Julia patiently demonstrated to us the training to continue doing at home so Benito can enhance his skills. I continue to use their daycare/training service so Benito has the opportunity to continue learning and socialize with other pups. Plus, Benito is always so excited when we walk up to the front door of the facility, and always greets staff with excitement-- which is a definite green flag when putting trust in leaving your fur babies all day somewhere without you there. Pack Place K9 has staff who are very professional and trustworthy. read more

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This is my third dog I have brought to Pack Place K9 for training/agility/daycare. Bentley is a very active pup at 1.5 years old! As he was a stray, he knew no boundaries. During the new member training sessions, Julia did a fantastic job in curbing this as well as increasing Bentley socialization skills. I loved seeing the many videos/pictures during this period, which kept me informed and showed me Bentley was having a blast! Julia, you are like a dog whisperer! You know what Bentley needs to be able to thrive to be a good and happy pup! Julia reviewed all the training tips with us so we can do the same at home. Bentley even had a little graduation, which was so nice. Everyone at Pack Place K9 works hard to care for and love all the pups! I will continue to keep Bentley here to continue his training and to just have fun with the staff and pups! read more

Pack Place K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

I was recommended Pack Place K9 when crossing paths (and thanks to my puppy, leashes) with a polite Australian shepherd and her dog owner. Her adolescent dog was notably well behaved which warranted commenting. I was told that she participated in training courses which modified her excitable behavior quite significantly. I was so impressed I called the Pack Place K9 for a temperament evaluation within a week's time. In short order my puppy started working with her trainer, Julia. In addition to dramatically improved behaviors and obedience at home, she is able to discharge her immense social energy with other puppies who have a complimentary level of rambunctiousness. We have learned a great deal as owners and been able to implement these things at home, which has made our lives much easier. Julia is also a very focused and serious trainer who is extremely competent at honing our dog's skills. We will continue to use Pack Place K9 for daycare, boarding and training and encourage others to as well. read more

Pack Place K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

So grateful for Pack Place as they have helped my girl break out of her shell and realize how amazing adopted life can be! With their support, especially from Julia, Ruby has built confidence and happiness with each visit. Now attending for her second year, Ruby is so excited for her day care days with a wagging tail and is so exhausted when she comes home. She LOVES her zoomie time as well as her playtime with her playmates. I LOVE her training time knowing she is building herself to be a confident dog with necessary skills to be the best dog she can be. Julia has been phenomenal with training, confidence building and communicating with me to ensure Ruby's needs are met and she continues to blossom. So grateful for Pack Place and its staff! read more

Pack Place K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

I was looking forward to getting some basic training for my dog and to have a comfortable place for her to be boarded when I go out of town but I was left with nothing but disappointment by this place. The first few training sessions were fine but then they kept canceling due to not having trainers. They charged me $50 for a bath that I wasn't asked beforehand. The last training session I showed up for at 7am and was told it was cancelled. I did not receive a call but I did receive an email the night before confirming the session. Paying $700 for 6 training sessions and not even given the courtesy of them to even attempt to complete these sessions is absolutely unacceptable. Management at this facility needs to be changed, they have zero customer service skills and have no problem just taking your money but when it comes to actually providing the service you paid for they fail miserably. Just one big disappointment and a waste of $700. read more

Jimmy is an amazing dog trainer! We wish we could find him earlier! Nowadays there are just too many dog "trainers" and "professional videos" on the Internet, but you've gotta make a wise choice. And Jimmy is that choice! We have a 2-and-a-half-year old reactive mini Aussie. He's been just reactive to every moving things when he's with us, barking lunging showing teeth to every stranger and dogs while on the walk. There were several times that he got too crazy that he's paws were bleeding but still he didn't stop. He's only 16 pounds but I felt like I couldn't control him anymore. We really wanted to know why and how to make him a normal dog. Some "professionals" even told us to drug our dog. Glad we didn't listen! We finally found Jimmy! Jimmy was able to correct the behavior on the first evaluation without treats! That's exactly what we want ---balanced training, not treat training. To be honest, I think the "treat training" we took from another facility from two years ago contributed a lot to his crazy behavior. Just like what Jimmy said, we don't want the dog to think that they can get paid for their good behavior. They should do what we ask because we are the leader. Carrying a treat pouch everywhere is not a good relationship between you and your dog. And relationship is the foundation. And Jimmy UNDERSTANDS our dog. He saw the problem at the first meet. We, as the owners, were misunderstanding our dog for a long time, which we felt really bad. Jimmy guided us to build a strong and healthy relationship with our dog and we could see the changes one week. I did not expect that because we were already doing wrong for 2 years. He trained us how to let the dog be a dog, how to blend training into fun for the dog, how to satisfy our dog's needs, And how to be a good leader. Jimmy tailors his methods based on different dogs, that's why he's professional. He understands dogs. And as the owner, you have to change your mindset, in order to change you and your dog's behavior. In the day camp here, Jimmy gave our dog a good opportunity to socialize with other calm dogs, which we don't have at home. And our dog experienced lots of new things here. Jimmy is very good at what he does and he's very responsible! After the day camp series, now I can finally walk my dog without frustration or nervousness because Jimmy showed me how to handle all the situations. read more

I have been looking for a reliable day care for my dog & this is definitely not the place. Upon arrival I saw attendant walking dog in the parking lot asphalt. It was 100 degrees out. Dogs do not receive water during stay & are not consistently supervised. Unfortunately, these are important aspects to me. I wouldn't recommend leaving your pet at this facility. Owner is dismissive of concerns & made assumptions about my political viewpoint due to the concern of my dog? Not sure how that matters. read more

My experience with Pack Place K9 has been great. Really caring Group. Able to view training on the Internet via customer portal.

What a difference this place has made for our puppy! Before we brought him to Pack Place K9, he was tugging on the leash, jumping on people, and not getting along with our other dog. He wasnt socialized and it's hard to find other dogs to socialize with now during COVID. The moment we met Mark, the owner, we knew our puppy was in good hands. Mark is clearly passionate about what he does and during the evaluation appointment our puppy was basically clay in his hands! Even after the 4-day New Member Orientation I can already see a HUGE difference; he doesn't jump on us or our other dog anymore, and he rarely pulls on walks. The fact that they let you know when a training session is about to start has been very helpful to reinforce what they teach at home. I can only imagine the kind of progress he will make the longer he stays here. Our puppy is deaf and I appreciate that they not only modified their training program to suit his needs, but also that they took the time to explain to us why they do what they do. We initially felt guilty about bringing him to day camp, but we just didn't have the knowledge or time to help train and socialize him on our own. We are very glad we made the choice to bring him to Pack Place K-9! read more

My sister, mother, and I brought in our rescue Siberian husky for an initial evaluation and to check out the place. We're three short Persian women with a huge dog. On its hind-legs the fur baby is taller than all three of us. We were greeted by a very nice young woman and then Mark the owner (who was fantastic and patient). Our Husky, Storm, seems to have some listening issues due to having been left alone so frequently by her previous owners. She's incredibly calm for a husky, but easily distracted. I know, it sounds ridiculous. After taking our initial information, and a brief history of the dog, Mark gave us a tour of the facility. It was cool (temperature) and very clean. And most importantly it didn't smell like dog at all even though I know there had to have been several there. Mark answered all of our questions thoughtfully and insightfully. He gave us a detailed explanation of Storm's behavior, and certain behaviors that needed to be corrected for her benefit. Things that we would have never guessed! He was extremely patient while all three of us asked questions about the facility, the training, and his programs. This place is beyond professional, and we have decided to bring Storm here. All that's holding us back currently is we are in the process of updating her her medical records! Mark you will be hearing from us soon!! read more

Pack Place K9 - She's such a cutie - Pet Training Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

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My 4 year old shepherd lab mix is the bestest boy buttttt oh man does he pull and bark when any dog comes in sight. I read, watch, asked suggestions from others dog owners but could never get him to calmly take walks without pulling and tiring us all out with 5 minutes.I joined one Saturday meet up lead by Mike from Pack Place K9 and what a difference I saw in one meet up. Mike showed us just a few commands that quickly made a huge difference. My good boy started walking calmly, listening to my commands, and finally acting like he had some home training! I definitely recommend giving pack place a try, you won't regret it! read more

We have been using PPK9 since they opened, with superb experiences. We started with training sessions to learn how to manage our reactive Australian Cattle Dog, added socialization play days for the ACD and our elderly cocker (who has since passed), and have continued using PPK9 play days for the ACD and a new pup (mixed rescue). On days we take them, the dogs get happily excited as soon as we turn the corner into the parking lot! Last year we began using PPK9 boarding services when we traveled, and it has been the only boarding place where our dogs come home relaxed and sane. We can travel comfortably, knowing they are alright. Working with Mark and the team at PPK9 has made huge difference in our dogs' relationships with each other, with us, and with others. We definitely recommend them! read more

Their customer service is alright, not too shabby. The reason I am writing this review is bc I left my dog in their hands for a little over a day (overnight stay), but when I picked her up she seemed to be very hyper and seemed like she had barely gotten any proper walks. Having said that, I noticed her paws were red and swollen. Her paws are normally black. If the asphalt is that scorching hot, why walk my dog on that road? Pick a shaded spot. But nope. Never again. In retrospect I should have complained directly but their employees especially one of their female employees seemed aggressive and offhanded in her mannerisms, so just avoided the whole altercation. But definitely should have complained! read more

On May 6th my 6 years old dachshund Dewey was brought in to Pack Place K9 to spend a day at their daycare. It was our 4th visit and we have not had any problems... things changed on May 6th. Dewey is blind with SARDS and prior to me using Pack Place K9's services I introduced Dewey to the owner (Mark) and specifically asked if they will be able to provide an appropriate care for a blind dog. The answer was 'yes'. As I said after our initial visit I used them 3 times with no problem, but what happened next left me appalled by their negligence. I was away in Richmond for training for my new job so my roommate J dropped her off and picked her up. Upon getting Dewey back at the end of the day I received a distressed call form J. She was on a speaker with the staff of Park Place K9, saying that Dewey was attacked by another dog cause 'Dewey was annoying that dog and it did not want to take it anymore'. So that dog snapped and bit Dewey's ear. She started bleeding profusely and was taken to a vet close by. So now she was put on antibiotics and ointment for her ear for the next 6 days. No one called me as it happened, to inform me of the incident, even though they have my cell phone number and the owner himself texted me in the morning to say that Dew was successfully checked in. The vet's bill was $153. They never made an attempt to contact the vet I go to (on file, 5 minutes away), who would provide better care and would not be that expensive. They never apologized for neglecting my dog's special needs, even though I specifically asked wether or not they are able to accommodate them. This is absolutely unacceptable. And on top of that, Dewey doesn't 'annoy' other dogs. She recently became blind and she is scared of other dogs so she stays away. I hope this review will make you think twice about using Pack Place K9. read more

My 8 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback was attacked by another dog while under the supervision of an "inexperienced" dog-handler. Dog's get into scuffles at daycare, I get it, but two lacerations to the ear, one to the eyebrow and another to the forehead and lip? Come on! Wait it gets worse. I did NOT receive a phone call and he was NOT taken to the vet as per the agreement. I wasn't even given a full refund. And you want to plaster my puppy's pictures on your home page? Please take them down. Thank you. read more

The owner, Mark is so good with the dogs, It's obvious that he loves them, and feels a connection to them. I feel safe when I drop off my 6 month old furry energy ball that he will be well cared for. I have tried out different places, but there isn't anyplace I would use after finding Pack Place. Mark and the staff will take time and answer questions, and they are constantly working with and training the dogs. This place rocks! Seven months later and I still LOVE Pack Place and so does Navi (my dog). He doesn't go as often because he doesn't need to, but when he does go he is so happy! It's like a second home to him. I 100% trust them to take good care of my Navi! read more

I used to yelp about food, now I just yelp about my dog's favorite businesses. If only those little paws could type. My dog loves camp (and Mark the owner). I took my pup-pup to Pack Place so I could stay late at work without feeling guilty about my dog being bored, but I got way more than I bargained for. I had always described my dog as as "a good dog, but a bad listener" -- he doesn't really do anything wrong, but only because HE has chosen not to. I didn't really think he had any "problems", but after his first two orientation sessions with Mark, I began to notice improvements in loose leash walking, waiting for me to go through doors, and not jumping for pets. These are all issues that I never paid much attention to, since Beetle's a small dog, but it's decreased the amount of effort I have to put into our daily activities together and really increased the amount of trust I have for him. I'm pretty content with where we're at now, but we I know Mark will continue to help us improve in ways we didn't think we needed! read more

Horrible. The owner claimed I had used all my time slots and even had fake information saying I had been there certain days and that I had picked up my dogs when I clearly would have been at work mid day. So...money stolen and no playtime for dogs. read more

Our vet recommended Pack Place K9 for our 2 year old black lab / pit bull mix who was a stray found in South Carolina. They have done a fantastic getting her socialized with the pack, training her to walk on the treadmill, agility training, and taking care of her when we are away. We recommend Mark and his staff of skilled trainers 100%. Thank you! read more

I love this place. Without Marc's help I probably would have gotten rid of my dog. The obedience classes are a must for anyone with a problem dog. read more

Enjoyed a very informative and helpful training walk recently in Germantown at Pack Place K9. Highly recommend! Jon C. Frederick, MD read more

Mark and Pack Place K9 saved us and our relationship with our dog. Our family had recently adopted a rescue puppy from Kentucky. Crosby is a nine month old basset mix. He was a wonderful dog with the sweetest disposition....but, unfortunately, his enthusiasm and high spirits mixed with our "bad" dog ownership skills created a terrible situation. Crosby was definitely the "top dog" in our house, feeling very comfortable counter-surfing for food, climbing on our furniture, dragging us all over the neighborhood on our walks, bolting out the door and running around the neighborhood, and relieving himself all over our house. We were at the end of our rope and didn't know how to continue with Crosby. We turned to Mark for help. After a thorough review of our situation and a long walk with Crosby, Mark reassured us that he could help. While we were on vacation Pack Place K9 "hosted" Crosby at their facility and initiated a thorough training regimen. Rather than simply staying in a kennel, Crosby benefited from the daily "doggy camp" that Mark runs plus a lot of one-on-one special training. Basically Mark and Pack Place K9 taught Crosby his role in the pack and how to be a good member of the pack. All during our vacation, Mark would send us videos of Crosby's progress...exercising on the tread mill, walking calmly on the lease, walking calmly OFF THE LEASH, ignoring a juicy steak on the floor and walking around it to Mark. We are amazed. Most importantly, when we returned Mark took the time to train our family on how to be better dog owners and how to help Crosby to continue to understand his place in our family, our pack. So, far it has been smooth sailing. We have more relaxed walks, Crosby comes when he is called, and most importantly no more "accidents" in the house. We couldn't be more happy and relieved. Pack Place K9 did a great job and helped us be better dog owners. read more

I love pack place. My pup was a maniac. Now when he greets me he is calm and much calmer. Pack place is more than just dropping your dog off to play. They teach them how to to respect each other and the owner of needed. They now how to read the dogs really well. We are still working on obedience but he is exhausted every evening so I don't mind. read more

I absolutely love Pack Place! I have been taking my pup there (not regularly enough) for almost a year now. She actually cries in the backseat when she recognizes the street we're on because she gets SO excited to go on hikes and hang out with her friends all day. Mark is exceptional with dogs, he truly understands the behavioral meanings behind different actions by pup does and is able to explain them to me in lamen terms so we can work towards correcting them. When I first adopted my pup she has major separation anxiety issues when I would have to leave the house, now she is content and understands that I will be back and she is not going to be left there alone forever. Whenever I pick up my little lady, she is exhausted, content and I can tell she had a great day in the outdoors! I am so happy to be a part of the Pack Place family and highly recommend it to DMV residents! A++ read more

My overly excited 6 month old puppy, Roxy T (as she's known there), came here with very little listening skills, pulling relentlessly on her leash, and only knowing one command - sit - which she only did if you glared at her. Otherwise a sweet puppy just untrained and living wild lol. We stopped in once for a free socialization class and Mark the owner was very nice and attentive. A couple weeks later I decided to do an eval and Mark talked to us individually about Roxy's needs, walked around outside with her, watched her interact with Fenway, tested her out in the agility room, and even gave us tips during the free evaluation session. After 2 weeks (8 days, she attends camp 4 days a week) I have a overly excited but way more manageable Roxy!! She's on her third week now but after day 1 she was a noticeably different walker. Currently she watches me for direction when we walk, no more leash pulling, no more charging out doors as soon as they are opened, sits and comes on command, knows to settle down to get a response from me, rides nicely in the car, and best of all no more jumping on strangers (she struggles still with people she knows lol but she's now only 7 months old but she's learning)!!!! She loves coming to this place and her tail wags excitedly when she sees the parking lot and she's eager to get inside. All the workers are friendly and professional and give me updates on how she does while there and if she ate or not. And she's so exhausted from playing and learning all day she jumps in her bed and sleeps all night lol I'm thankful for them and all they have done and continue to do for my Roxy! read more

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I cannot say enough good things about Pack Place. The Staff is amazing with our formally challenging 6 month old GSD. The turn around from an overly exuberant Puppy to a fine young Man of a Dog has been astonishing. The Staff are patient and professional and communication with Pet Patents is excellent. Our Boy is happy and excited to go to "school" everyday. Mark&Company are a Godsend. The training program can't be beat. Thank you Pack Place read more

I wouldn't leave my lab, Chip, with anyone else! Mark absolutely loves the dogs in his care all the while teaching our furry friends how to respect their human owners and friends. Chip gets so excited driving up to Pack Place K9 in the morning. However, he knows to patiently sit and wait until the door is opened and he is invited in Mark's home. I leave Chip with a smile on my face and feeling NO guilt whatsoever when driving away. Chip has become a well-behaved one year old lab because of this amazing day care. read more

Mark is an amazing trainer and "dog whisperer." I have 3 English Bulldogs who were completely out of control. Prior to going to Mark I paid for in-home training that I prepaid and didn't even bother to do the latter sessions after the first one was such a disaster. All 3 of my babies went thru board & train with Pack Place K9. Prior to training the most difficult of the 3 was incapable of being near any other dog without attacking it. By her second day there she was in a room full of other dogs and completely calm. Although she may need additional training, the other 2 came out of the board & train as completely new dogs and have been incredible ever since. I spent a lot of time looking for and interviewing trainers due to the severity of my pets' issues. Mark is truly one of kind. It is also evident that Mark spends a lot of time training his staff as each of them have been able to use his techniques and get my dogs under control when they are out of line. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who needs training, boarding, or both. read more

Pack Place K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

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This place will change your life and bring peace of mind to your dog!!!! I came in with a black lab/pit bull mix who was filled with all sorts of anxious energy and food aggression. At first I was filled with skepticism and doubt but three weeks later my dog is completely changed and much more calm. The owner mark showed great compassion and patience, not only did he do a tremendous job working with my dog, but he took the time to show my girlfriend and I the proper way to accommodate my dog. My entire family is very grateful to this great organization and highly recommend this for dog owners struggling with various issues. read more

Our lab, who is lovely but WAS pretty uncontrollable on the leash is now transformed. Mark does a great job with training the dogs in a controlled but fun way. Pepper loves going to Mark's for training and day care and always comes back exhausted. Happy dog, happy owners! Would highly recommend Mark's services. read more

My dogs love this place. I appreciate that they always have room for my little ones. They walk them enough. Feed them when they should and give them plenty of time to play. The walkers are great. They endeavor to treat them well, but there are a few things I don't like. They maybe great with dogs but not particularly humans. I've called during open hours repeatedly to either check on my dogs or to call about picking them up with no answer. I was promised pictures and check ins, that promise is not consistent, I only received it once in the times my dogs have stayed there. To pick my dogs up I have to spell my name for them to check the system and my information is constantly wrong when I get there and when I receive my receipts my name is spelled wrong. They spell my dogs names wrong as well and call my smallest dog a girl when he isn't. They also don't keep my dogs as clean as they were when they came in (I have them groomed regularly, not at Pack Place). For a place that offers grooming I would expect them to stay clean and not smelly. There is upsides and draw backs to this place such as they take good care of the animals, but don't treat them how I do. Great place when you have emergencies. read more