We are so fortunate to have found Brandi and Perry with Ridgeside K9! We have a nervous dog. We constantly have friends and neighbors in our home, and with Lila's nervousness we felt that she had to always be separated from people. Having adopted Lila right before the pandemic, we were not able to properly socialize her which led to her not knowing how to behave around people and other dogs. In addition to her nervousness, daily walks were a challenge. Lila would pull, run, or freeze when she would spot another dog, squirrel, or bunny. We would zig-zag across the street to avoid anyone else walking their dog. For over a year we researched board and train providers for before choosing Ridgeside. Our only regret is that we didn't do the training sooner! The change in Lila has been amazing and has truly improved our daily life. Perry and Brandi were able to teach Lila how to stay in place, heel, and follow other commands. At the conclusion of Lila's training, Perry spent an entire evening teaching our family how to implement what Lila had learned. We needed this training! He taught us how to confidently use the commands and reward Lila for her good behavior. Without Perry's training we wouldn't understand the importance of communicating correctly with Lila. It is nice to know that we weren't left on our own to figure things out. Now when friends come into our home, Lila stays in the family room on her cot instead of being completely separated from the action. Very quickly we were able to see that Lila's comfort level increased since she was near the guests in our home. Walking has become enjoyable and we no longer fear what might happen when another dog, bunny, or squirrel crosses our path. We highly recommend Brandi and Perry, and the whole Ridgeside crew! read more

We are delighted with the service of Aaron Jeter of Ridgeside K9. We are new dog owners - our first dog - and despite reading several good books about dog training, we were not making progress and decided to find a professional. Aaron was recommended to us by multiple friends and we committed to sending our relatively young pup (13 months) to Ridgeside K9. Aaron sent us a daily brief summary of the day's training and progress, complete with a photo of our pup smiling and happy. Aaron clearly loves his work and his canine clients, with whom he seems able to bond instantly. When Aaron returned with our lad, Aaron spent nearly 4 hours with us "training the parents", which was not complicated because the pup was so obedient. But the tips, and Aaron's reassurance that our pup is indeed the gentle soul we thought he was, have been useful and educating. Plus Aaron has been available by text for follow up questions (of which we have had very few). We give an A++ review to Aaron and Ridgeside K9! Nigel Ogilvie, Fauquier County, VA read more

Ridgeside K9 and Brandi are one hell of a team. Our dog, Picasso, was a somewhat out of control 60lb puppy when he arrived at Brandi's, but by the time we got him back it was like a completely different dog. Definitely still tests the boundaries as all puppies do, but I can't speak highly enough of Brandi and Ridgeside K9. (The daily pics and updates were also extremely cute and reassuring.) Super responsive and knowledgable. Another great thing about Ridgeside is that they are super down to earth and kind and polite! You can't go wrong if you go with any trainer on their crew (especially Brandi). Love, Madison and Picasso read more

Perry and Brandi are fantastic. Our puppies have learned such great behaviors from them. And the pups love both of them - whenever they see Brandi or Perry they are so excited it almost hurts our feelings! read more

We sent our 6 month old Australian Shepherd (Max) to Ridgeside K9 based on their excellent reputation. Max is a strong willed high drive dog and they did not disappoint! Max spent 3 weeks with Brandi and came back a well trained version of himself. Eager to please and a willingness to listen. He comes when called (EVERY TIME) heels perfectly on and off leash. He will sit in "his place" until he is released. While he is still a puppy and loves to test the boundaries, he is quickly controlled. Brandi updated us daily with pictures and notes about his progress. Turnover was awesome! There was a ton of information but Brandi did a fantastic job explaining the new commands and effective use of the training collar. I give Ridgeside K9 our highest recommendation. I also highly recommend purchasing the cot! We use it daily for our reinforcement training. Max loves it too! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

Zach H. at Ridgeside K9 Winchester, VA was an absolute GIFT to us and our 11 mo. old Malinois. We are so grateful to him. We are a 3x Malinois family over 30 years. We saw reactive behavior that had to be addressed. Our pup board trained with Zach for 4 weeks in his home. Zach gained his trust, treated him as a family member, and worked with him in many different situations (parks, stores, their training center around other dogs, dog pool). We received daily updates and photos/videos. The type of training he did is excellent for Mals because while firm and positive is effective, too heavy of a hand can easily backfire. Zach had great success and worked with me to understand the new techniques. All signs are that it has transferred to me. We can't thank Zach H. and Ridgeside K9 Winchester enough for turning us around. It was truly life changing for our family. We will continue training with them in the future. read more

My 1 year old GSP just finished the 3 week board and train with Andy C. & I could not be happier with the results. I was updated everyday with photos, videos, & progress. It was clear that Maverick was learning but also having a great time. I also learned a lot as well and feel 100% comfortable in reaching out to Andy if I have any concerns or questions long after the 3 week training. Ridgeside K-9 truly sets you and your dog up for success, while also creating a special bond. Maverick now has a better understanding of commands and I now have a better way of communicating with Maverick. Love Ridgeside K-9!!! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

When you have a 110lb Leonberger who would love to chase squirrels and rabbits you know you need help. Ridgeside K9 gave me back control so we can now travel and see the world including a trip to Home Depot. The training was fantastic and we get to walk everywhere now and the squirrels just fly by and we ignore them. THAT is magic in my book. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

It's been enough time (we got her back first of March)with our River home now that I can finally make a review. Before Aaron got River, it was a crazy household. She and I didn't have a good relationship. She never listened to me, she nipped at me, I had scratches everywhere, and basically treated me like a playful pack mate and not her human. She did listen to my husband and love on him. I was at my wits ends and wanted to take her back to the breeder. I held on until after Aaron got his hands on her. Best decision EVER! While we still have loose leash walking issues because that's our fault, she is now everything I've ever had and wanted in a dog. I feel secure when we are out and she is off leash. We just recently went on a long car ride to NC and she was amazing! Thank you so much for everything!! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

My wife and I recently added a new member to our family, Ranger. We picked up Ranger, our puppy Rottweiler, and began doing some initial socialization with him. Ranger was growing fast and by 7 months was a little over 80lbs. I quickly realized we needed some help because with such a large breed dog and having older family members and smaller children (with friends who like to visit) we needed to ensure his behavioral skills and manners were outstanding. We began to look for options for training and located Ridgeside K9 in Chico. We decided to do a 3-week board and train. This was a BIG decision because our pets are like our children, and we had never tried a program where our pup would be away from home. Plus, positive reinforcement training was essential, and we wanted to make sure that positive reinforcement was the foundation, and primary form, of training used for Ranger. We decided to move forward, and our initial contacts were Todd and Shelby. We were also able to meet and get to know the owner, Rich. All from Ridgeside were outstanding. We received consistent communication while Ranger was in training. We also received many pictures and videos that helped us while he was away. Their social media platforms were great, and we followed daily to see our pup progressing in training. After 3-weeks we were so excited when Ranger arrived home. Rich dropped Ranger off and first showed us Ranger's new skills and then watched as our whole family worked through commands with Ranger. I have had many dogs throughout my life, but none have been trained like Ranger. His manners and responsiveness to commands are outstanding. He will sit or lay down on his "place" for an hour without any reminders, will not jump or run to the door when guests arrive, heels perfectly on walks and bike rides, and comes when called. I believe this was the best investment we could have made for his future because in addition to his responsiveness to commands when downtown or on walk and other dogs are going crazy (barking uncontrollably, whining, or whatever) Ranger is totally under control and their bad behavior doesn't transfer to him. They did an excellent job on desensitizing him to distractions when out and about. Ranger has been home for a few weeks now and he continues to respond with the same level of responsiveness as when he was brought home. He gets it and we appreciate it! Outstanding job by Ridgeside K9 and thank you Todd (for answering all the calls and being so helpful), Shelby (for all the updates and excellent training), and Rich (for all your support and, most importantly, owning and operating such a top-notch dog training facility). read more

Nicole is a miracle worker. I cannot recommend her and Ridgeside K9 enough. We dropped off a high energy dog who just didn't want to listen and thought "playing" was chewing on our kids arms. After a 3 week board and train, we got back the very best version of our dog. She wants to learn and is so eager to train. Nicole not only taught her so much, but it was so easy to tell that she also loved her so well. I've got no doubt our dog will miss being with her. Our only regret is not sending her to Nicole earlier! And while 3 weeks felt like so long to be away from our dog, Nicole sent pictures or videos nearly every day, and called us every few days to give us updates. And as if getting back a well trained, great listening dog wasn't good enough, we know we can always call or text Nicole if any questions or concerns come up! read more

Our 105 lb pup just returned from a 4 week board and train and we could not be happier with the results! We received daily photo updates on his progress, as well as a thorough, hands-on 4 hour human training when he came home. Taking our dog on a walk is such a joy now- I feel much more confident and in control. He's much stronger than me and used to pull and be leash aggressive with other dogs, but no longer! We previously went through 2 other training establishments with minimal results and follow up support- while the board and train is not cheap, it has already been so worth it, and the follow up support is great. I cannot recommend Ridgeside K9 enough! read more

AMAZING! Our not so little bundle of joy was just too strong and energetic for us to get a hold of her to train and Mike at Ridgeside did an amazing job! Ruby loves to play and learn and play some more and Mike used that to help her understand what was expected of her. Then when she came back home he spent as long as we needed to understand how to get her to respond to us. Mind you, there is no such thing as overnight perfection when speaking of training a dog, but Ruby responds so much better to us and even our extended family has noticed how much better she is. It was amazing to see how much Mike was able to get her to do what he wanted with just 3 weeks of training. Now it's our turn to take the time daily and help her understand the same is expected from us. Obviously we cannot spend the same daily devoted time training her as Mike did, but we are learning with consistent time and devotion she is responding great! I'm so glad Ridgeside was there to get her and us started on this beautiful journey. We had her almost a year before we took her to Ridgeside and just could not handle her (no aggression just energized and playful) we should of taken her sooner. It would of made our lives so much easier. Quicker. Hindsight is 20/20. Just so glad we are part of the Ridgeside family now. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Ruby on her 1st birthday. - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

I'm just here to show pictures of my dog and how amazing Aaron and his team are! SHOUTOUT TO BRANDI! I was acting like a momma bear messaging her at 11 pm because I was scared Dexter wasn't getting enough off leash training. I wish I had words to express how much I appreciate these men and women. I get daily updates on Dex and I know he's doing okay. I wish I could give them 1000 stars. read more

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I had wrt a bad review about Ridgeside k9 before; they reached out and offered a free training session with our dog. I accepted that and removed my review from yelp after that. The reason that I am writing this review is that any time I take my dog out and she pulls strongly, I remember the money, $ 3,000 to this business to train my dog for three weeks, so she stops pulling. I understand that no bad behavior can be fixed in such a short time especially for a rescue who is so fearful and anxious all the time. However, I think it was my mistake to go with this business because of their attitude and training style using e- collar and biard them away from their families and advise them not to visit. His knows what kind of treatment they get. two years ago, my dog came back home scared and smelly . she had chewed and injured her paws, I guess, out of fear. I complained to the owner a few months later which was too late and was my fault, but I never forgive myself for putting my dog through such a horrible experience with no results using such a training style. please, consider this a friendly tip and never send your dog to a k9 service like this one. read more

we board and train our 2 big dogs (ridgeback) with Brandi and Perri. Both of my dogs did the obedience training. Came back like a different dogs with obedience. Huge improvement on all the commands and obedience. Still have the same friendly goofy personality. Ridgeside K9 did all the hard works for us. We are very very happy with the results. Worth every penny if you ask me !! read more

My family adopted a puppy hound mix a few months ago and realized quickly that she needed some leash training. We were very uneasy about leaving our dog for two weeks, but I can tell you now- it was the BEST thing we could have done for her and us. Chris, our trainer was very communicative throughout the whole process. He kept us updated daily on what she was working on and her overall progress. When he brought her home, we were all blown away, she was much more confident, relaxed, and most of all eager to continue to train. We could tell immediately the bond she had with Chris, and that's exactly what we had hoped for. He takes his role very seriously, but also allows for some fun. We have already recommended this program to many of our friends and family. It has been a complete game changer for our family and for our sweet puppy. We will continue to work with Ridgeside K9 for all of our training and boarding needs. J. Campbell read more

I cannot say enough good things about Ridgeside K9. From the start, Aaron, the owner, treated me with respect and was prompt with his communication. I told him that I was at my wit's end with my 8-month Red Heeler puppy, Ruby. (Disclaimer: I have had Belgian Shepards, Labs, and Australian Cattle Dogs my whole life, and currently have 2 Blue Heelers.) As an experienced dog owner of difficult breeds, I had never had to pay for training before, as I always trained my own dogs. Well, Aaron got right to business and explained the options, and I choose to do the 2-week board and train. Aaron also told me he was setting me up with an all-star trainer: Ryan Woellner. I cannot give enough stars to Ryan or thank him enough: He is hands down the BEST dog trainer I have ever met. My dog--before she went to training--was beyond a handful, and I am no stranger to difficult dogs. When she came back, Ryan did a demo of the training he had done and trained me. We had my dog heeling at my side, heeling beside my bike while riding, staying and coming on command--all OFF-LEASH!!! Further, he did some behavioral analysis of all my Heelers together, and we were able to develop a plan, so the dogs could behave and interact better in a pack. As a result, my Red Heeler no longer nips, jumps, or has accidents in the house. Additionally, Ryan sent me daily videos of the training progress, and he cared and loved for my sweet girl, Ruby, as if she was his own. I was like you: Googling and searching for a trainer because my dog was driving me crazy. Well, don't look any further: I would not hesitate to get Ryan Woellner in a second for the board and train. It will be the best investment you can ever make in your puppy or dog. I am proud to be a member of the Ridgeside K9 family! True Story: I took Ruby to a neighborhood cookout later that week, off-leash. Ruby was playing with other dogs and kids, and had a totally different temperament. Everybody commented how she was like a different dog! read more

Brandi and Perry were great. They trained both my GSD pups in both puppy and adult off leash. Highly recommend anyone looking for hands on and friendly folks to train your pup(s) to a high standard to look know further and go with Ridgeside and ask for Brandi and Perry. Thanks guys! read more

Ridgeside K9 was a $3,000 Mistake This is my experience with Ridgeside K9 Maryland and covers some of the issues I had with RK9. I'm writing this because reviews + social media had helped convince me Ridgeside K9 was the right place for my pup. It wasn't. Bottom Line: If you have a special dog who has an issue OTHER THAN straight forward obedience, be very, VERY careful about spending money with Ridgeside K9. I have a "special" dog. He's really quite good at everything obedience, BUT he's scared of a lot. I've found, with time and help, he can deal with a lot of the fears. However, my anxiety when he is scared, makes it doubly hard for me to help him. I sent my dog to Ridgeside K9 because I needed advice and a jump start on working him through his fear, specifically of men, the vet, and food aggression. Within maybe hours of my initial email, the owner wrote me and said Ridgeside K9 could help. I was stoked! I checked to make sure it would be a tailored program for my pup focusing on his issues. I was told: Yes, it would be tailored. So, I signed him up for 3-week training. Enough time to get familiar with the trainer and start work on his issues. At the end of the 3 weeks, I was told my dog was a challenge, but that training was successful. Got him back March 30. Turns out the Tailored Training was more along the lines of: our usual method for obedience training with ecollar didn't work for your dog (my dog shut down), so we amended how we did the obedience (trainer's wife did hands-on training with RK9 supervising) and reconditioned him to the ecollar. Twice. NOTE: my dog was NOT there for obedience and I had expressed concerns about pushing him through ecollar training. Twice after training I asked what I should be doing to help my dog with his fear issues. I was given one drill to work on and advice of "can't do much, it is what it is" and "genetics." After a month of working this drill with my dog and it not helping, I hit a wall where $3K was too much to lose without saying something. I wrote an email to the trainer and company owner stating--after working for a month with my dog using the drill--I didn't think Ridgeside K9 had helped myself or my dog and I had a hard time believing the training was tailored. A two-hour call from the trainer followed. Frustration was expressed on both sides along with some unprofessional remarks from the trainer. The call revealed that my initial eval form and context to my dog's fears (specific circumstances of food aggression, for example) were ignored. Context and insight into my dog given during initial phone call with the trainer, texts during training, and in-person conversations: all were ignored. According to the call, the trainer hadn't seen [traditional signs of] issues with men or food aggression so instead of contacting me saying "not seeing this. What did you mean?" the boxes were checked as "complete." According to texts, the trainer hadn't moved towards working the vet issue until into the last week of training. By then COVID made trips to the vet impossible. I was tentatively offered supplemental training--along with an accusation that I wouldn't take it because I just wanted to complain. However, the trainer had spent the last hour+ asking me what I wanted him to do to help my dog, so I couldn't see a benefit to continuing with him. I'm not a dog trainer, I came to Ridgeside K9 for that help and expertise. Not for ME to give a TRAINER instruction. I was asked: well what I expected from the training? My second email, again to the trainer and owner, expressed exactly what I thought would happen: a program tailored to my specific dog, working on my specific dog's issues, and how I felt Ridgeside K9 had failed to deliver. In response, I got some angry texts from the trainer; a few of which called me a liar and that I had warped what he said, and one with some good advice. It's been a week since the second email and as of 5/14 I haven't heard from the owner. Ridgeside K9 advertises help for "special dogs" including dogs with fear aggression issues. In my case, I spent $3K on obedience training my dog didn't need nor did I ask for, and got NO help for his fear aggression. So be careful. Of note: the contract I signed when enrolling my dog did state genetics was an issue that obviously couldn't be changed. However, it also said if goals could not be met, the trainer would let me know prior to the end of training and after consulting me, goals would be amended. I was told at every turn (initial eval form, initial phone call, texts, and in-person conversations) that Ridgeside K9 could help with my dog's issues with no indications--until the phone call post-training that my goals were now considered "unrealistic." read more

This was an excellent investment into our German Shepherd. We were worried sending him to another home would break our bond or be betraying our duty as new dog owners. In this time of quarantine, we also knew he was not being socialized, and isolation might be a issue with his future behavior. Ridgeside K9 got us Nicole as a trainer for our puppy. She contacted us fast, reassured us and answered any concerns we had before deciding. Our German Shepherd bonded with her immediately. She kept us updated with photos and videos and his progress the whole time. My family was so amazed when we got our dog back, he is a complete gentleman dog, and he is so happy. At 3 months old, he knows sit, stay, heel on leash, place, potty trained and she fixed his behavior issues with being very mouthy and biting as a puppy. She delivered what she said she would, and was patient at training my whole family (of four kids) on how to keep up the training. In this time of isolation, Ridgeside K9 and Nicole provided my family a great companion. We are sending him back for adult training and more socializing when he is ready. Highly recommend, happiness is delivered with this service. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

My dog has been back home for a week since doing a 3 week Board and Train with Ridgeside K9. I cannot express enough how grateful and happy I am about the decision to go with RS K9. Our experience started with Aaron, who was very responsive and eased a lot of our initial concerns. My girlfriend and I were those annoying dog parents that expected special treatment and that's exactly what we got! Aaron gave us all the information that we requested and agreed to set up a phone call to talk about our previous experiences and learn about our specific situation, which was a huge positive for me. We made the decision to book with Ridgeside and experience continued. Tommy was assigned to train Koda (my dog). We were connected via email and filled out a questionnaire with Koda's information. After that we stayed in contact with Tommy prior to the actual program beginning, During this time we emailed and had a conversation with Tommy. Initially I was hesitant to list everything that goes into a day with Koda because I frankly would not expect anyone to do everything that I do, but Tommy insisted that I tell him everything and was more than happy to treat Koda as his own. To begin our stay, Tommy came to our house and picked Koda up. He was very understanding of how tough this was for my girlfriend, Koda, and I. During our stay, Tommy not only provided regular updates but had conversations with me on what he was doing, some of his thoughts, and answered questions. We had access to see what was going on not only with Koda but also with the other dogs doing board and train via social media. Upon return, Koda has been great! I was worried that our bond was weaken and that was not the case at all! The "turnover" is when the dog is return to the owner, which was also a positive experience. It took between 2 and 3 hours and was full of education for us, recap of what Koda was doing the last 3 weeks, and some practice with Koda. Over the last week I have continued to reinforce her training and have no concerns about her behavior going forward. Again, I could not be happier with my decision to go with Ridgeside. As with anything all decision are unique to your specific situations so at the very least, I recommend that anyone considering a training program reach out to Ridgeside and see if it could be a great fit! read more

I can't think of any other word but amazing for them. Right from start, everything has been impeccable. Information given by Aaron on the first phone call I made was key, as it gave me confidence that they are what they claim. Meeting our trainers just reinforced that we were doing the right thing. Brandi and Perry made sure we had a daily update on what our boy is upto and how much he has progressed. Hand off was amazing they took time to explain to us how everything was done and what we need to do in future to keep everyone happy. As for our boy Everest, it's been a transformation, no pulling no jumping and he is way relaxed than before. Life changing. Would definitely recommend..... In fact already have. read more

After consulting with Aaron, we sent our about 3-4 year old rescued Leopard Hound mix to Brandi and Perry. Our dog Luna was rescued from a shelter and serves as an ESA for our 16 year old daughter. She had many untoward behaviors...excessive barking at anyone and anything that she was able to see out a window, she didn't come when called, she pulled on leash, she at times showed aggression toward other people/dogs when they came on her "territory" (inside the house or yard). She counter surfs. We went with the 3 week option for training and held our breath....Luna has been home 2 months now and she is so much more enjoyable. The real big, amazing difference is we now know how to communicate with her. She comes when called, she heels like a champ...I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to walk your dog and they are so well behaved, no more pulling no more barking and doing flips at other dogs we encounter. Brandi communicated thru out Luna's stay. I never once was concerned. The hand over was very informative. Perry was straightforward and concise. By the time Perry left we knew exactly what was expected of us as owners and felt confident in our ability to continue Luna's training, which is very important if you want your dog to continue to be well behaved. Being able to communicate with Luna has really made all the difference and we are very thankful to Brandi and Perry for teaching us the language. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Luna - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

Jeff did a great job training my old breed. I believe it took quite a bit of patience to work with my pup, who is beyond stubborn. My dog has great recall and has been sleeping in his crate like a champ most nights. I have been taking him out with me off leash now and he knows his "place" in the car. He still has some issues that we are working out since he loves to test limits, but Jeff has brought my dog up to level I could have never done on my own! I highly commend him for the unwavering dedication he exhibited while training my dog for three weeks. The price is expensive but worth it for my own sanity and quality of life with our dog. THANKS JEFF!! read more

Simply the Best in the Business For everyone debating if you should send your dog away to Ridgeside K9, this review is for you. We got a 4 month old rescue puppy and were debating if we could train her ourselves. We were worried about having Bella away from us for 3 weeks and were concerned about the cost and if it was worth it. Well we got Bella back from Ridgeside yesterday and the transformation was simply incredible. Nicole was our trainer and she is absolutely incredible. We are blown away with the work she did with Bella. Walking Bella was always difficult and she was skittish of other people and other dogs as she was a stray found on the highway in Mississippi. We went for an hour walk this morning and it was absolutely effortless. Nicole also did an amazing job at the turnover last night. She was extremely patient and did a great job training our family on how to continue the training. Bella listened to Nicole so attentively, we can only hope over time she listens to us as well as she listens to Nicole. We had so many questions for Nicole and she was so patient with us and we never felt rushed. We had so many questions if Ridgeside was the right choice, and I can say with 100% confidence, it is the best decision we made for our dog. So if you are wondering if you could do it yourself or if you should use someone else, don't think any more about it. Aaron's Ridgeside K9 is the absolute best choice and I don't know how you can do any better than Nicole as your trainer. read more

Ridgeside K9 did a fantastic job training our hound, Rooster. Nicole is an extraordinary trainer. She brought out the best in Rooster. He is now an obedient pup thanks to her training and great care of him. We highly recommend Ridgeside K9! read more

I just got my girl Reagan back last night and I can already tell such a difference. I can walk her now without using a harness and she doesn't pull, she comes when called and knows how to be a dog and not just a spazzy puppy! We made our first trip to Petsmart today and experienced a completely different dog! Before we couldn't walk around the store without her barking at everyone she saw, not just the other dogs! Today she kept her heel and made it so much more enjoyable. Our trainer Nicole Johnson was extremely responsive during the 2 week board & train, during turnover she answered all our questions and gave us all the tools needed to continue training Reagan! I am very happy the I chose to use Ridgeside K9! IMG_1019.HEIC read more

We sent Diesel, our year old black lab to their 3 week board and train program and our only regret is we didn't do it sooner! We couldn't be more impressed with the communication, knowledge, experience, and professionalism from both Aaron and Brandi. Brandi went above and beyond during the drop off, throughout the entire training, and during the turnover. Although Diesel is still young and full of energy, we have learned how to manage it. We also learned how to correct his negative behaviors as well as encourage his positive behaviors. Brandi has been easy to reach after his training when we have had questions such as how to correct a situation. We boarded Diesel with Brandi a couple months after his training and will be boarding him again when needed. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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I can't say enough positive about Ridgeside K9, and Perry and Brandi! They are an awesome caring team. Harley (our Cane Corso) spent 3 weeks with them for Board and Train last February when she was 16 months old, and we were thrilled with the results. Then in March we discovered Harley needed TPLO surgery for both knees. With back to back surgery's and needing to keep her mobility extremely limited, we also lost much of the training time with her. By mid-November, Harley is completely healed from her surgeries and doing really well. Our training with her had become a bit relaxed and she was in need of a refresher. By December, we were ready for a real vacation and asked Brandi and Perry if they would board her while we were on vacation for 12 days. We couldn't be more pleased with the boarding service which included keeping her refreshed on her training. Each day we would get picture updates which made it easier for us to relax knowing she was happy and well cared for. She obviously didn't spend the entire time in a crate. We received pics of her in the house, spending place time with the family. Pics of her going through healing and recall training, and more! She had a great time and looked extremely happy. She ate well (no real weight loss) while we were gone. When we went in the building to pick her up, we could immediately see that she was relaxed and "chilling" on her bed. It took her a minute to recognize that we were there (she was just hanging out). Also to note, the facilities where they keep and do indoor training with the dogs is extremely clean. They are very diligent on keeping the entire place clean. Transition to home was great - after inspecting the house, she curled up for a morning nap, just like usual. Again, the care from Brandi and Perry, along with the exceptional training, has given us a peace of mind. They both really know how to handle dog behaviors and it's obvious they have the passion for what they do. read more

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I really can not thank Brent and Ridgeside K9 enough for helping us with our GSD Bash. Bash and I were not a great combo due to prior events causing reactive anxiety within us both. He went with Brent for a three week training and came back to us with so many tools for all of us to use to help him through his own thought processes when situations arise. I was nervous we would get a totally different dog back in reference to his personality, but all we got back was a calmer dog with direction. He is a GSD so goofy is not a word I would use to reference him, but he def. takes experiences less seriously which in turn lessens my anxiety with his behaviors. Thank you for the tools and direction for all of us to grow. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

I heard about Ridgeside through a Google search. I have a 1 year old Pomeranian, Blaze, who was driving me insane. We definitely had a love-hate relationship that teetered on hate a lot. He's a very dominant pup who wants things his way, all the time. I had taken him to other trainers in the past and didn't notice much of a difference in his behavior. I've learned (through communication with Matt, Blaze's trainer at Ridgeside) that the owner actually need most of the training, not the dogs. This is definitely something I didn't get with his other trainers. After working with Matt, I can now see why the other training I had for Blaze never worked. Matt did an exceptional job of always keeping me informed of what he was doing, why he was doing it, and when he was doing it. He would video Blaze and send me the video and then help me dissect why he did what he did and why Blaze responded to it. His tone in the video was never raised, and Blaze was extremely responsive to him in every situation. Through the constant communication, I was also learning along with Blaze so the transition would be somewhat easier. Some examples of things Matt worked on with Blaze: no more lunging and barking at other dogs; no jumping on people out of excitement; no losing his s*** when the vacuum is running; teaching him how to go to his "place" and be calm and obedient; teaching him to heel; walking him off-leash; teaching him to stay, and then come on command. The list goes on. Blaze had, and still has, a lot of spunk in him so I didn't want him to return a robot. I only wanted him to return with the right skills to control his behavior when commanded to do so. Matt was amazing! During the hand-off, Matt met with me for several hours at my house to make sure I understood exactly how to use the e-collar, what commands he used, etc. He also went for a walk with me where he taught me how to work with Blaze on walks. The other piece of this that I know to be different from other trainers I've worked with is that when leaving, Matt told me to reach out to him, send videos, etc., if I ever have questions or need help. I didn't feel like he was saying that just to be nice. I honestly felt that he was invested in making sure both Blaze and I succeed. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

Couldn't be happier with Ridgeside K9 and our trainer, Tommy Loveless. He was fantastic with Zoe! Zoe was a pretty good dog but lacked clear direction and understanding and had some dog reactivity issues. At drop off, Tommy listened to what i thought were Zoe's issues, and was ready to help get Zoe back on path. After the 3 week board and train, I can honestly say that Zoe has a very strong foundation for us to build on. She is still her crazy self, her personality has not changed at all, but she has the knowledge and foundation to be a great dog! I would highly recommend Ridgeside to anyone looking for a great training program, with results! The constant communication, pictures and videos also made the 3 weeks seem like they flew by. If you're in need of some dog help, i would strongly consider Ridgeside! I won't use anyone else for my dog needs! read more

Like most dog owners on here, I was extremely nervous about sending Bella (9 month old, 50 LB. Sheepadoodle) away for three weeks. Perry and Brandi at RSK-K9 put all my fears to rest as soon as I dropped Bella off with them. They spent some time with me taking me through where Bella would be sleeping, working/training, etc. At least once a day, I heard from Perry and Brandi with progress updates and pictures. At the end of the three weeks, they actually used Bella to help train dogs that had just arrived! I couldn't believe it. Perry spent several hours with me and Bella at turnover to make sure I understood the training Bella had received and to continue on once he left. I HIGHLY recommend RSK-K9 for anyone with a pup/dog that they would like to have trained. read more

We dropped our 14 week old puppy for the two week board and train. He was with the trainer Nicole who was awesome. She kept in touch and gave me constant updates on his progress throughout. He has improved so much with his focus on leash walks and much more well mannered. read more

I probably spent a month talking myself in and out of sending my 8 month old Goldendoodle to Ridgeside K9 for 3 weeks of board and train! I was feeling frustrated that I couldn't get this little 27 pound dog to stop pulling me around on walks and follow basic commands like drop it, heel, down etc. At the very most I could get a short sit and stay. After lots of tears and encouragement from family and a few friends who had sent their dogs and talking with the trainer and office at Ridgeside K9, I was ready to give it a try! So on the 23rd of March, her 9 month bday, her trainer, Aaron Jeter, picked Ruby up from my home and off she went! Everyday Aaron sent a picture or video with a short message so I could see her progress! I thought it would feel like forever but I kept busy and yesterday he returned a different little dog! Aaron went over all the steps and things I should do, walked me through it all and though it may take ol' mom a bit to figure out the timing and such, I think we're gonna be ok! Ruby and I spent a good amount of time in my back yard off leash yesterday. She followed all my commands immediately except for a bunny visit but she was running back to me in no time! Unbelievable! This morning we walked around the park with no pulling and even practiced "place" a few times! If you're considering Ridgeside K9 but are a bit hesitant, don't be! Dry those tears, make the call!! Ruby is so much more enjoyable now! Again Aaron Jeter, you did an awesome job and I can't thank you and Ridgeside K9 enough! I promise you and Ruby, I will continue to be consistent and vigorous in "our" continued training! read more

We're so happy that our dog, Roxie, did a three-week board and train with Matt. She's more confident, obedient and focused. It's clear Roxie enjoyed her time with Matt, and she trusted him. We received daily pictures and videos of Roxie during her stay, and with each photo we could see Roxie making progress. She's the same goofy, smart dog as before Ridgeside, except now, she's not nearly as reactive, and she actually listens to us. We've recommended Ridgeside to all of our friends! read more

We cannot say enough positive things about Ridgeside K9 training. They came recommended by several friends and after inquiring we were able to schedule our 9 month old English Cream Retriever for a 3 week board and train with Perry and Brandi Bailey. About a week before our puppy was to head off we decided to also see if they could accommodate our 5 year old lab mix as we decided we wanted them both on the same training system. Hand off was easy, while of course sad to leave our boys for three weeks, the kennel facility at the Bailey household was excellent. Over the course of three weeks we were updated daily by Brandi (over 160 photos!) that made the time go by much quicker. We could see the improvement in each dog and were able to watch our 9 month old grow a BUNCH into a big strong 10 month old. Now here is where it gets really good. The turnover of both dogs. Perry came to our home in his totally decked out mobile kennel on wheels that allowed him to run AC and keep the pups comfortable. For the first two hours of the turn over Perry went over all of the training systems with us including command words, voice inflection, E-Collar use, what buttons to what. We could tell during this initial two hours he really got to know and understand each dog individually and together. While doing a dual dog turnover is rare, Perry handled it brilliantly. We started with the puppy, got him out of the van and did the leash work and exercises for all the loose leash walking they had been working on, swapped dogs and did the older pup. Then we worked with both dogs. Double healing, leader/follow healing etc. It was night and day from when we sent them both off as each pup while they walked well, still pulled us more than we realized. The next three hours (yes, Perry did a 5 hour turnover) we worked on aspects inside the home, door manners, place cots, extended place, and of course off leash in the back yard for back yard manners and setting boundaries. I can say it has been 48 hours since they have returned and it is a totally different ownership experience to have two well behaved dogs, including a 10 month old puppy. The techniques you learn if you listen and participate during the turnover are easy to incorporate into every daily routine. Even on hot days outside, when leash work may not be possible - you can put every training method they teach you into place with simple everyday tasks. Highly recommend. read more

A year and a half ago I had a two-year-old 75 pound musclebound blockhead with leash-reactivity and other assorted behavioral issues and a one-year-old death row rescue who put me in the hole for $14,000 due to his indiscriminate ingestion of undigestible objects. Dogs with "issues" are nothing new to me but these two were proving more challenging than most. I had marginal success with a couple of trainers and my "home schooling" that had previously been enough for prior dogs wasn't cutting it. I was at a loss and way overdue in finding help because I didn't know who would take two troubled pitbull mixes but the day I stumbled upon Ridgeside K9's Facebook page, I suddenly had some hope. I'm a big time "momma bear" when it comes to my dogs and was afraid of sending them off to a trainer I knew little about with worries they would be mistreated, harm themselves, or escape and become lost. After stalking Ridgeside's page and watching probably every video posted, I knew Aaron was the only trainer for my boys. During my initial meeting with Aaron and a tour of Ridgeside K9's beautiful facilities, I was immediately put at ease. Aaron explained his training methodology, reviewed his philosophy, and even discussed dog psychology, of which I think many trainers lack knowledge. When the time came to drop Cliff and Grumble (aka Black and Blue, their Ridgeside K9 "camp names") off for their board and train, I nearly had an anxiety attack but was again put at ease by Aaron's calm, confident manner and assurances that they would be fine. Fast forward a year and a half and the house still maintains a more calm energy. I can have visitors over without fearing somebody will acquire a black eye or whiplash from over exuberant welcomes and my little guy has been free of additional surgeries. Aaron has met with me a few times to help sort out issues with my big guy, Blue. When Blue and I recently had some major miscommunication and differing opinions on proper leash etiquette, my distress call to Aaron was immediately answered with, "when can I have him?". Blue spent a few days back at Ridgeside and we are now at the best place we have ever been. The follow-up training (mostly momma coaching) afforded by Ridgeside and the post-training Ridgeside Family group walks are invaluable. What once were stress-filled quick jaunts around the 'hood have become long and enjoyable training sessions (because we train everyday!) that I look forward to. We even take an extra loop around the block because it's fun now!!! I honestly can't imagine there being a trainer that would be a better fit for my boys' and my needs. Thankfully, Aaron offers boarding services for dogs he has previously trained. I am able to go away without worrying about their safety and well-being and come home to happy and relaxed. It goes without saying that I recommend Ridgeside K9 without reservation. Thank you, Ridgeside K9! Thank you, Aaron Taylor!!! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

Had the pleasure of working with Aaron, Chrissy, and Jeff to set up a two week board and train for my 10 month old dog. They were accommodating to my changing schedule and communication was open. Jeff, the head trainer, is top notch. When my dog was brought back to me after two weeks, I was amazed at the amount of progress he's made in such a short time. Jeff provided me with the tools and education needed to continue and advance the working relationship between my dog and I. V impressed with RSK9 read more