I can't recommend Perfect Pooch Performance and Marie enough. Callahan has been going to her daycare for a few months now, and from the very beginning he was always so excited to go to her house, which told me everything I needed to know. Marie has an amazing setup, including a massive backyard that honestly feels like a private dog park. There's so much room for the dogs to run, play, and burn off energy in a safe, well supervised environment. After just one or two visits, I noticed a huge improvement in Callahan's behavior. He stopped jumping on people, which was something we had been working on. she also gives updates through her Instagram story so you can check on your pup throughout the day! One of my favorite things. Marie is incredibly knowledgeable, caring, and clearly understands dog behavior. She's also very affordable and offers training services as well, which I'm really interested in doing at some point. It's such a relief knowing my dog is happy, well cared for, and learning good habits at the same time. Highly recommend. read more

Ruthie has just successfully completed her AKC Canine Good Citizen training. Marie showed me how to make training fun and enjoyable for my dog. What a gift! I highly recommend her. read more

We worked with Marie for support with our two border collie mixes. They are sweet dogs, but one was very reactive and needed work especially before our first child arrived. They were easily provoked by guests coming to the front door, and would bark and rush the door. 3 sessions with Marie and both are doing so much better. They listen and stay when we put them in "place," they're responsive to a "leave it" command, and they've become much calmer and easier to handle on walks. We will absolutely be returning to Marie for tune-up training in the future! read more

There's so many wonderful things to say about her. Just start off with she's very punctual, she solved every problem I had pet related, she was direct but also kind. She really knows her stuff when it has to do with dog training. She has a lovely personality and it's very clear that she loves what she does. I will definitely be recommending her to anyone I know who needs a dog trainer and I will be reaching out to her for a few more sessions in the future. read more

From my very first session with Marie, it was clear that she truly understands and loves dogs. Before meeting her, I was worried my highly reactive 5 year old rat terrier mix was a lost cause - barking, growling and lunging at everything; people, other dogs, mailboxes, you name it. Taking walks around the neighborhood were exhausting. But after only a couple sessions with Marie, we have made huge strides! My dog is much more calm and relaxed on walks, with no more growling, and no leash pulling!! There's still progress to be made, but I am absolutely impressed with how quickly her behavior has improved. Marie explained how each dog has a unique personality and learning style, and while all dogs can be trained, different methods are needed to suit each individual dog - which explains why techniques I've learned from other trainers in the past did not work on my current pooch. If you want real results and someone who can bring out the best in your furry friend, look no further! read more

This gal knows her stuff!!! Marie's worked and trained not only her own dogs but many others. Her training facility is amazing and a lot of thought and research went into it before opening!!! Animals certainly listen to her - she knows what she's doing Couldn't ask for more - Melanie read more

In general, I am not one to leave reviews, but I left my dog with Marie at Perfect Pooch Performance for two weeks when I went on vacation. I came back to a completely new dog! Marie worked with him every day to improve his obedience especially recall with kindness and a firm hand. He was treated as one of the family, even snuggling on the couch at night before bedtime. Before Marie's training, Jameson ran away when I tried to call him back to me, at one time actually running out to the middle of Fulton Road, scaring me to death and causing traffic to (thankfully) stop in both directions! After I returned home, Marie took time to train ME so that I could continue to reinforce her teaching. Jameson is now happier and safer and he is the most loving joyful pup ever! I Highly Recommend Perfect Pooch Performance! You will not be disappointed! read more

We LOVE Lucho and his wife! They run a fabulous business and take great care of our pup!

Maria worked wonders for my reactive dog. I had given up walking since my dog was lunging and pulling with any outside encounter. Maria also clearly showed me what I was doing wrong and gave me great instruction. Now I am enjoying my walks in the mornings! We encountered a squirrel , other dogs , a few other walkers and no issues. My dog kept her walk position beautifully . Even when the squirrel seemed to tease my dog by running ahead a bit then looking back at us several times! Thanks again read more

I couldn't be happier witn the results I got from just one training lesson with me and my newly adopted 2nd pup. I contacted Marie because I wanted to address a leash reactivity issue that my new dog had. Marie was very punctual and met with me at my home to meet my dogs and create a custom plan to address my pups issue. Before the end of our first training session my pup had already improved more than I could have imagined and I was amazed. On top of all this her prices are about as fair as you will find anywhere, especially for results like this! read more

When we would walk our dog on the old railroad path, she would lunge and bark at dogs, E-bikes, and bicycles, but she loved children and people. We while walking her we would try to contain our dog and people would just look at her and turn the other way. We couldn't even say good morning or hello to our neighbors. She was so reactive! We had her in multiple puppy training classes, multiple family dog classes, doggy day care and board & train classes, etc. We made an appointment with Maria at Perfect Pooch Performance and she is just magical with our reactive dog. In just one training lesson she was able to diagnose our problem. It was us! We had lapsed in our behavior. We had to be retrained using the prong collar to make the correction at the appropriate time. Using her system of 1,2,3! Maria used my arm as an example of holding the leash. By continuing squeezing hard as when we held the leash which did not equate to a correction. Then she showed us to use heel command (leash on a J) and then a quick correction to reinforce the heel. Our dog was perfect! She told us to be an advocate for our dog and to put up our arm & hand to stop other dog owners whose dogs were not on leash. Bravo Maria! She told us our dog was not aggressive and was a sweet girl who needed to be with her people. She did not need to be with other dogs. Our dog used her brain and was fully exhausted! She was worn out by the training. Thank you!!! Maria at Perfect Pooch Performance. We took our dog home and walked her on the same path and she was not reactive to another dog, e-bike or bicycle. Wow! We will be sending other dog owners we know to her for training. Don't wait another day, call Perfect Pooch Performance to get the most comprehensive individualized training program for you & your dog. read more

Before working with Marie, my dog, Buffy, was sweet but wildly hyperactive, leash-reactive, and honestly, a bit of a handful. I always knew she was a dream dog deep down -- smart, eager, affectionate -- but I needed help bringing that version of her to the surface. Enter Marie! What My Dog Has Learned: In just a short time, Buffy has undergone a truly remarkable transformation. While Buffy knew basic commands and tricks, she really struggled on leash, especially when surprised by other dogs and people. She now heels confidently on leash, is significantly less reactive, and understands solid obedience commands like "leave it" and "here" (aka recall) -- even with distractions. We've introduced the E-collar, and her recall is now flawless! She's also learning to place and settle calmly at restaurants (she recently laid quietly while three dogs walked by, and I could eat my sandwich in peace!). She no longer scratches at doors for attention, no longer paws at me to play while I work (she used to shut my computer every 15 minutes), and she can sit calmly at the park for 20-30 minutes without needing constant stimulation. Right now, we are working on muzzle training, and it's going pretty well! Buffy is becoming the grounded, balanced companion I always believed she could be... I actually enjoy walking her now -- thanks to Marie's consistent, thoughtful, and intelligent training. What I've Learned as an Owner: This journey hasn't just been about my dog -- it's been about me, too. Marie's training is as much for the human as it is for the dog. I've learned how to lead with clarity, confidence, and consistency. I'm no longer second-guessing myself or overwhelmed by my dog's energy. I know how to handle challenging moments and, more importantly, how to avoid creating them. Through this work, I've become a more resilient, observant, and emotionally grounded handler. Marie helped me step into the leadership role Buffy needed -- not through harshness, but through fairness, presence, and follow-through. ‍ About Marie: Marie is the kind of trainer every dog owner hopes to find. She's firm but fair, incredibly insightful, and deeply experienced -- especially with working breeds. As a Doberman owner herself, she immediately understood the drive, sensitivity, and intelligence of my Doberman, and helped us channel it all constructively. She's not about gimmicks -- she's about real structure, real communication, and real results. Her ability to read both dogs and humans is unmatched. She has a gift not just for training dogs, but for empowering owners. If you're struggling with a dog who has high drive, reactivity, or just needs clear direction -- and you need a little direction too -- don't wait. Marie changed my life and my dog's life, and I can't recommend her enough :)) ‍ read more

Marie has forever changed the relationship I have with my German Shepherd, Gustavo. I can't thank her enough! I had no idea how to train Gustavo and it was putting such a strain on our relationship. Going out on walks always made me an anxious mess and half my week's salary repeatedly went towards replacing throw pillows! Then came along Marie... and both mine and Gustavo's lives will never be the same. She has all the knowledge, tools, and patience it takes to develop a healthy relationship with one's pet. Now I lead Gustavo with the utmost confidence that puts both of us at ease---our daily walks are something I eagerly look forward to! And the cherry on top of it all is that Gustavo has a new friend in Marie's Doberman, Grecko. I know where I'll be leaving Gustavo when I go out of town! read more

Marie possesses all the qualities you want when hiring someone to care for and train your dog. She is extremely knowledgeable and has answered every question I've asked regarding training and obedience. Marie has a unique ability to balance discipline and kindness, and her love for dogs and her sport are evident in the results she produces. I highly recommend PPP to anyone looking for a dedicated and compassionate professional to help with their dog's training and/or boarding needs. read more

We reached out to Marie for help getting our rambunctious dog under control during walks. We spoke over the phone re: the problems we were having and she made some suggestions for a more effective type of collar that we purchased before our first meeting. Marie came to our home and walked the neighborhood with us demonstrating techniques and then observing us as we tried those techniques. After just one session, we could see a huge difference! Marie was patient with us as well as our dog and made the whole experience so easy. I wish we had reached out sooner. read more

Excellent trainer! Marie has a compassion for her dogs and the dogs she trains. I compete in dog competitions, Marie has helped me to achieve my goals to higher levels in dog trials. Her program is well organized and she is very clean and dedicated! read more

Marie is amazing! She has a real gift with dogs and people. I have always had dogs, but when we got our new pup I realized I was out of my league and needed help if I was going to integrate her into our family. Marie was recommended to me and I got in contact with her. She has a extensive background with training dogs in different disciplines and is very dedicated to achieving results. She helped train our dog for over a year. My whole family enjoyed working with her and our dog Arrow is now a model citizen! Kudos to Marie for the magic she works with the canines! We highly recommend her if you're looking for training for your dog. read more