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 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!

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!

They're amazing. I saw such a huge difference in my dogs behavior after just a few training session…read moresessions added to his daycare.

This boarding facility has restrictive pick up times closed for lunch 2 hrs during weekdays and 5…read morehrs lunch on weekends. I came to pick up my dog 2 hrs early on Sunday and even though they have staff they say they are not allowed to give the dog to you until 3:30. I am letting you know as this is not posted on the office or on confirming appointment times.

We adopted our puppy Storm and knew we needed to get our shy and scared puppy socialized so she…read morecould grow up to be a great dog. We started with puppy socialization classes with Colleen and were very excited to see how she interacted with the pups and their pawrents. She answered lots of questions others had about crate training, positive reinforcement and behavioral issues. We decided to put Storm into puppy obedience school so she'd learn how to interact and learn a few basic commands. She loved it! It took us a few classes to get her to be more comfortable but she's adjusted into a great dog and we know part of that is from the great training she received when she was only four months old. We also enrolled Storm into the intermediate course, because emergency recall was a concern of ours. Storm made lots of friends and enjoyed running around the classroom and drinking ALL the water! We also tried some one on one training with our older dog, a six year old Maltese with anxiety and leash aggression; but weren't able to really get to the root of the problem as every time we had Colleen over Jessie (our dog) acted like an angel! Colleen did give us some great tips on working with Jessie on leash aggression. If you're looking for some tips on training and obedience school for your furry legged children then we'd recommend giving Colleen and her team a call; we weren't disappointed and don't think you will be either. We've never used their dog walking service. So we can't speak to that.

Dog Tranquility and it's owner Colleen Dermott have truly been life savers for our family. Over…read moremany years and multiple dog training experiences, I can honestly say that our experience with Dog Tranquility and Colleen is the best we have ever had. She is very passionate about what she does and cares very much about customers and their pets alike. We have adopted dogs for years but two of our current pups were getting along so badly that they were having fights that drew blood. Since we adopt for life, giving one or both up was not an option. Colleen worked closely with our dogs and educated us as owners to address the issues. It was not easy but within only a couple of sessions Colleen had our dogs starting to peacefully interact and over time they have now become good friends. On the rare occasion when we have an issue, we now know how best to address both in the heat of the moment and afterwards to bring the two back together. I am hoping to continue working with Colleen to focus on additional basic obedience and training and to continue to address some lingering behavioral issues. I don't write a ton of reviews, preferring to only write when I have extraordinary experiences and this is one such case. I highly recommend Dog Tranquility; Colleen's experience and training far exceeds usual obedience & training options and the outcomes have been far more meaningful & longer lasting than other options we have tried.

BEST INVESTMENT you'll choose for your Dog-Mandy is AMAZING!…read moreI have worked with my dog from the moment I brought her home at 8 weeks old. She came from a well tempered background and has had positive experiences and multiple training sessions, she was doing great on commands but needed tweaking and was missing confidence that had a fear attachment I could not change on my own. I reached out to OFF Leash/Nova and after reading lots of reviews, I thought Mandy was a perfect fit for her. I was nervous about enrolling in a board and train. The moment we met Mandy, I knew she was the perfect match! Her knowledge and demeanor on dog training and especially when it came to my breed was remarkable. We couldn't be any more happier with the results of her board and train experience!! Mandy checked in with videos, messages every night! I was so relaxed after the second day! We now have a completely different dog! She's calm, confident and so easy to walk and enjoy out and about! Don't look any further and choose Mandy! Her passion in helping dogs and training us humans to have a better life with them is impeccable! Mandy also has checked in with us multiple times even after we completed her board and train! Truly the best money you will spend on your fur baby! Thank you Mandy!!

**Moderators removed my original review (after 4 years?) so I am resubmitting with screenshots that…read moreback up my experience** ## I heard good things about OLK9, but our experience was nothing short of bizarre, and resulted in a full refund. Had a reservation for 2 week board and train with Ian Galliano while we went out of town. Within 2 minutes of meeting him meeting my dog, a 12 lbs mini aussie, Ian tried to reject her from the program because she freaked out on the choke collar. I was able to advocate for my dog and she calmed down within minutes. Ian then questioned me on her behavior in new or crowded locations, as if he was attempting to again reject her, even though that was precisely the reason we were bringing her to him. She apparently passed his test and he said he'd give it a shot for a couple days. He seemed hesitant, but my dog was heeling perfectly with him as a I pulled away. 20 minutes later he called me and told me he was rejecting her and I needed to come pick her up immediately. Apparently he put her in a kennel to transport her to another location a couple hours away (which I didn't know about in advance of dropping her off, but whatever) and then immediately tried to pull her out of the kennel when my dog backed to the rear of the kennel and got defensive. He did this all within 30 minutes of meeting her and didn't give her any time to get accustomed to him or the kennel before trying to pull her out. I returned to the location, called my very scared dog out of the kennel, and we went home. Ian told his boss that my dog wouldn't even come out of the kennel for me (untrue) and so he couldn't be expected to work with her. They offered to apply my payment ($3,000) to day training (no boarding) but to be honest, we were attracted to OLK9 because of the board and train option and there are many options in the area for training. They processed the full refund the next day. If you can get your dog into OLK9- great, but be aware they may try to reject your dog for bizarre reasons, so if you are planning the program around you being out of town, have a backup for your dog's care. Like I said, considering their reputation in the area we were shocked at the bizarre treatment. If they didn't leave us scrambling to find last minute boarding for our dog we would have laughed at the situation and Ian's behavior, but in reality they just created a stressful situation. ##

I called, emailed, and even yelp messaged this place as we needed immediate private lessons for a…read morepuppy we had adopted who had severe anxiety issues. I never received a follow up and ended up having to give the puppy back to the rescue. I still wonder sometimes if we could have had a different outcome if this place would have called me back. Unfortunately, the quality of life for her is as getting worse by the day and it was unfair to keep her in our environment where we couldn't make her feel safe.

We LOVE Krazy K9 Dog Training! Ken and team area a pleasure to work with and really know their…read morestuff. They are able to adjust training to the dog's needs and use all the tools in the toolbox available- martingale collars, pinch collars, ecollars, etc. and always praise and treat driven rewards. The training work has made a very positive difference in my rescue dog. She is much more confident than she was before and her leash manners are envied by other dog owners in our neighborhood. During Covid everyone involved wears masks (properly over both nose and mouth) and all training takes place outdoors or in a pet-friendly location like Home Depot or Pet Supplies Plus. Would highly recommend Ken and team!

When I first reached out to Tommy, I was in a pretty dark place with my 3-year-old English Bulldog…read more His behavior had taken a serious turn--aggression, constant overstimulation, and a total breakdown in how we communicated. I was heartbroken and honestly starting to feel like I'd failed him. What Tommy brought into our home was a complete shift in perspective. He didn't just train the dogs--he taught us how to create structure, set clear expectations, and restore calm. After just the first session, our house felt noticeably different. The tension was gone, the barking and toy-fighting stopped, and even our older dogs--who had been keeping their distance--seemed relieved. What really makes Tommy stand out is the continued support. He's incredibly responsive, provides real tools and a step-by-step plan, and genuinely checks in on your progress. The Lifetime Guarantee is a huge comfort--knowing we have ongoing access to help if new issues arise takes so much pressure off. We're still working through things, but the difference already feels like night and day. I can't recommend Tommy highly enough--he gave us back peace and hope.

We adopted our good boy Buddie from a shelter in December. A sweet boy, but years in a shelter…read more(five!) has made him somewhat a sensitive pup prone to barking to loud noises and strangers approaching. Passing cars on walks yielded barking and lunging, doorbells ringing, more barking. We tried some "do-it-yourself" online things with zero success, and realized actual one-on-one training was the only option. Enter Tommy from Bark-Busters. His initial three-hour in-home training course was amazingly effective, so much so the change in Buddie was almost night and day to us. Upon meeting Buddie for the first time, Tommy immediately knew the kind of sensitive dog Buddie was and tailored his training to suit. His techniques were easy to understand and master and can be practiced anytime we're with Buddie. No more barking when the doorbell rings, or when a car passes, or a stranger approaches. Buddie's a lot calmer now which is more in keeping with his overall sweet nature. Highest recommendation!

I took Hazelnut here when she was a pup. She's now an AKC Grand Champion and I am back with he…read moredaughter. Bringing her pup feels like full circle, which says everything about my experience. April is knowledgeable, patient, and incredibly effective at tailoring guidance to each dog's temperament and each handler's skill level. I especially appreciate how she focuses not just on obedience, but on building confidence, socialization, and a strong relationship. Seeing the progress from one generation to the next has been really special, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with those critical early training foundations.

April is fantastic! April is also very accommodating and kind. She genuinely cares about her…read moreclients. She makes sure that you walk away from each class with the tools you need to keep practicing with your pup. Everything that's covered in class were taught in bite size pieces so when I left class I could keep practicing it. I enrolled my pup in her kindergarten puppy class and we will be doing her middle school class! My pup had so much fun in her classes and learned so much (I probably learned more than my pup!). We had to miss one of our regularly scheduled classes and upon notifying April quickly made arrangements for us to go to a different class the next day.

Once upon a time I owned a pet-care company - so I know you can't please all the people, all the…read moretime. However from start to finish this was a less than stellar situation. Alpha Pets was recommended to me after asking one of my networking groups for insight on pet-service in our new hometown of Manassas. Since I trusted the source I presumed the company was going to be great with our elderly dogs. We had some trouble pinning down a time for a meet and greet. I also had some trials with their online system (It's not user-friendly) and apparently to get through to setting up even a human contact you have to use their system. When Jen came out to do our visit we explained, with emphasis, how attached we were to our dogs and how important it is to us to know exactly how they're doing -- one of our dogs lives with lyme disease and has severe skin allergies, the other has IBD and various knee and hip challenges due to her age and a previous injury. Jen assured us that she could change our minds about pet-care in the area and even told us about someone on the Board of Supervisor's who trusts her and her team to care for their dogs. I assumed that was to impress us? We left detailed notes and specifically asked (in person and in our notes and in our correspondence) for regular, detailed updates on the dogs. Within 24 hours of our departure we'd heard nothing. The only form of contact I had received for the company was the 800 number on the website and Jen's facebook message account. I called the 800 number -- but there is only a generic greeting and no indication of whom was reached -- nothing that said Alpha Pets at all. I also emailed Jen via Facebook -- asking what was up with our dogs -- the response was disheartening. I was told that since we had only been gone a day she didn't think we needed any updates. To be honest, I was upset -- whether or not she thought we needed updates -- we had specifically asked for them. I was told that they wouldn't text because then we'd have her or her team's phone numbers. Fair enough -- then why not simply pre-empt my requests and send me a detailed update? Here is part of our FB conversation: "Hey Jen --re they eating? is K's belly okay? is D chasing bunnies and squirrels? and any other newsy bits.... NO RESPONSE Dec 7th, 8:04pm Jen -- do me a favor-- can you text me within the hour? and give me a number where I can text you? actually -- also like a call at either number please {NO RESPONSE} Jen:We really do not give out our personal numbers. What questions did you have? Dec 7th, 10:18pm (note the time lag between second attempt to contact and response) Basically, we just want to know what's happening. Please let us know - either by text or calling or emailing my personal email Jen: I figured since you just left Saturday and we messaged yesterday that would be good for that day. Both are eating and drinking and walking fine. They seem perfectly happy and healthy. I will can send you an update on here at the end of their last visit each day but really they are fine. Me: I'd appreciate you indulging us. Jen: They are doing well. They are eating, walking, seem to be happy. As I said, if they weren't I would let you know. I will message you after the last visit tomorrow and let you know how they are doing. Me: great -that would be awesome. every day after the last visit Dec 8th, 10:14pm (last visit was supposed to happen by 9pm) Me: Jen -- how did the last visit go? any accidents in the house? {NO RESPONSE} ME; okay...now I'm worried???? JEN: I am just now finding my last animal. They are fine. No accidents. ME: I'm guessing this doesn't mean you were looking for our girls.I'm glad to hear they are fine.Please do me a favor and at least give us a heads up each night by 10 at the latest. even if it's to say, "I'm on the road, your girls are safe and sound." text or emails are perfect. {included my phone number} I appreciate your job is a hard one, but we definitely consider these two as our children and want to hear how they are each night just as if we had left human children in your care." This went on the entire trip. nightly check-ins were: "They're fine" We came home early to avoid the stress. We didn't bother to ask for the fee paid for the remaining visit to be returned. We did however ask for our keys to be returned. That was 2+ weeks ago. No keys and no way to contact as Jen has closed all forms of communication. I've tried to contact her before writing this to no avail. Hire at your own risk. Petsitting is a hard way to make a living. I get it. This, however, was unacceptable.

Jen and her crew are dependable and have been a godsend. It's alway tough to find someone who you…read moretrust with your fur kids and alpha pets has been just that. We've done everything from daily walks to overnights and never been disappointed. Thanks!