How thrilled I am with my year-old Corgi Wellie after his 2-week stay with Aaron Jeter at Ridgeside K9. Aaron did an AMAZING job. I have a beautifully-trained dog now who still has his puppy spirit and silliness, but no longer bolts out the door to the neighbor's house. And he *always* comes when he is called. Hallelujah! While Wellie was in his care, Aaron kept us in the loop with texts and photos everyday. And Wellie came back so happy! The little guy used to run off at any chance he got, barking and getting under horses' feet when I took him to the barn, but no longer. Now I say "come," and Wellie stops whatever he's doing--chasing a rabbit or a squirrel--and redirects his energy by running towards *me*. His happy obedience puts such a smile on my face! Off-leash control is really important to me as I DO want Wellie to explore, but just come when he's called. And now he does! btw, Ridgeside training fee includes a Garmin electronic dog collar which is high quality and has two signals -- an audible tone Wellie hears, and a mild electric stimulation if Wellie does not respond to the tone. We never have to use the electric stimulation because Wellie responds to the tone, and most of the time we don't even use the tone because Wellie responds to "Come!" Aaron is worth every penny and more as Wellie now has a solid base. Plus after we got Wellie back, I called Aaron practically everyday for a week with some question or another, and he'd get back to me within the hour. Aaron Jeter is THE BEST. I am so happy, and so is Wellie. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Wellie is the *happiest* dog after training with Aaron at Ridgeside K9! - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

Brandi & Perry are brilliant dog trainers. I am thrilled with the results for my 18 month old Lab/Dane mix and highly recommend their service. We went from pulling and obstinate behavior to a calm, listening, and responsive dog that we can communicate with. She is great both on and off leash, and is the talk of the neighborhood :-) You'll love them too, they keep the owners up to date with daily photos on the training, and also are providing post training support when I need to brush up on my techniques or encounter new situations. Fabulous experience all around, you will be amazed at the results. read more

Gina was incredible with our Doberman puppy, Copper! She sent us photos and updates everyday. Gina was very patient with our questions and showing us everything at the turnover. Copper had the best time being trained and the improvement was immediately obvious. Thank you!!! read more

We sent our 5 month old golden retriever to Brandi and Perry and we couldn't be happier. We've had a few friends send their dogs and only had the best things to say. The trusted referrals meant a lot to us as we are incredibly protective of our dog! They were amazing with her for three weeks. Brandi would text us every night with pictures and updates -- my kids always knew to expect a text at a certain time. Nala came home happy, healthy, and so well trained. Perry spent four hours with us to make sure we were comfortable with how the training works and to help us ensure Nala's ongoing success. I'm sure all the trainers at Ridgeside are wonderful, but I know we are so fortunate to have had Brandi and Perry work with us. read more

We recently sent our two pups to Ridgeside for the three week board and train with Aaron Jeter and couldn't be more thrilled with the results. Our two rescues had a few issues they each needed to work on from a lack of recall to a "disaster on a leash." They came back the same, playful dogs, just with an understanding of their boundaries and a respect for our commands. Recall is amazing, heal is amazing (we can walk them without dislocating a shoulder) and their place/stay is on point. We recently took them to NYC and were shocked at how well they handled the high stress environment. One of our pups even went to a dog park, which we never thought would be possible due to some dog aggression issues. In terms of Ridgeside and Aaron, nothing but great things to say. Super communicative (pics each day), the handoff was perfect and he's answered all my annoying questions since we got them back. The pups will continue to need work (in a good way - you always have to keep learning), but Ridgeside and Aaron created the baseline and gave us and the pups the tools we need to continue to be successful. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

Please think twice before sending your dog to K9 Ridgeside. We had a terrible experience and if we can save at least one dog from going there we'll be happy. At no point did Ridgeside K9 deal with us clearly or honestly. First, there was never any mention of their use of e-collars for training. After raising this, we were told that there was language in our contract to notify us of the use of e-collars. However, we sent them their contract and showed them that there was, in fact, no mention of the use of e-collars anywhere in that contract. If we had known they used e-collars, we would have not sent our dog to them. In addition, we were specifically told, "While training, you will be sent daily progress reports and photos, keeping you in the loop throughout the training." This ended up not being true. After our dog was returned to us, we raised the concerns. The owner of Ridgeside K9 wrote in response to the concerns raised, "Yes, I acknowledge the trainer should have had more contact. Absolutely agree with you." The trainer also did not follow their standard procedures during the "hand-off" when our dog was returned to us. Apparently there was supposed to be a manual to explain the use of the e-collar and additional information. We had no idea this manual existed until the owner of Ridgeside K9 raised it with us. After explaining we never received the manual he replied, "Yes, I am sorry. Trainers are supposed to provide the client with the guide the day of the turn-over. I am sorry she did not send it to you." Our concerns aren't about a difference of opinion--they're clear black/white, yes/no deficiencies and lapses on Ridgeside K9's part that they agreed happened. Ultimately, there was little benefit to the training--despite our dog spending three weeks with Ridgeside K9 and wasting $3,300 (their fee for a three week program) on this. We tried to raise our concerns with Ridgeside K9 before writing this review. Their response was to suggest sending our dog to them for another three weeks for another training session (this was after being gone from him for three weeks already). We didn't ask for a refund, but we were offered one, which we reluctantly accepted. However, of course, that refund never came. Do yourself a favor and either ask plenty of questions and get things in writing or, more easily, go to a well-respected and trust training center and not this place. read more

TLDR: Ridgeside K9 was worth every penny, Brandi was an amazing trainer and I now have a solid training foundation and stellar communication skills with my beloved Am Staff! I had been researching Ridgeside K9 for a couple of years before I had saved up enough to be able to get some help for my 5-year-old Am Staff, Gnar. Aaron responded to my inquiries right away and we were matched with Brandi over in Charles Town, WV! Training in the past for us was a challenge. I have a dog who is reactive, incredibly distracted, and goes from 0-10 in about 1 second. He is super smart with a high drive and would always find little loopholes in previous training methods to get what he wanted or to never fully complete what was asked of him. I was at the point where I could only take my other dog on outings because he was an absolute nightmare to control on the leash in public places. He didn't respond to any commands, screaming as other dogs would be walking by (we called him our wild hyena) and constantly pulling in all different directions trying to smell/mark things. Completely different dog than he is inside the house - so that was where he, unfortunately, had to stay whenever we would go places. At the start, Brandi took the time to answer all my email questions before dropping him off and allowed me to come and see where he would be staying for his 2-week board and train! Her home was beautiful and the kennel set up was next level, a very nice place. I was so happy and felt very safe knowing I was leaving him in good hands. She let me take the time to ask more questions, go over his history, talk about how the training would most likely go and patiently let me explain his somewhat-complicated feeding and medication regimen :) Every day, we would get pictures or videos of his progress - our favorite part of the day! She would talk about his hurdles, accomplishments and he genuinely looked so happy working with her. I was surprised more and more each day with what they were having him do, especially around other dogs! I couldn't believe she would have him in place as dogs walked within 5 feet of him, that would have never happened before! When it was time for Gnar to finally come home, Brandi spent close to 4 hours with me going over what they have accomplished, where I should focus to keep progressing, and how the training methods allow me to communicate Gnar in a way that he understands. I couldn't believe that was the same dog coming out of the van! He heeled BEAUTIFULLY, was giving eye contact - so much that he didn't even notice us until he was 10 feet away :) We practiced extended stays, heeling around the neighborhood, learned how to continue working with him being distracted/how to get him back on track if his drive gets too high and some tips for how to catch him before he becomes reactive. Since he was dropped off, it has been wonderful! I can now walk him without a completely loose leash. HE HAS A RECALL and is genuinely happy to come when called. His RSK9 cot is his new favorite bed and he enjoys our training sessions, so excited to put on the collar and do some work. I am so happy that I made the decision to invest in his training and I can't wait to see what we are able to do in the future together! Thank you so much Ridgeside and Brandi, you have definitely made a positive impact on our family. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Happy boy in training :) - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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Ridgeside is incredible. Five months ago, our family adopted a pit lab mix. She was awesome. She was great with our kids. She was great with our neighbors. She knew the basic commands. She was really awesome with other dogs, and she loved to play. We really loved her! But she had a few issues that other trainers could not fix -- our dog's off leash recall was terrible (like completely non-existent), and she would pull like crazy on the leash. We wouldn't let our daughters walk the dog by themselves because of how hard she pulled. A neighbor, who saw our struggle, recommended Ridgeside and Nicole. We opted for the three week training. Over that time, Nicole worked magic! Our dog does not pull. She heels like a champion. She is a delight to walk! We trust her to walk with our kids! We trust that if she's off leash that she'll listen and respond. The improvement is remarkable. Nicole also gave us the tools, tips, and tricks to continue training at home and to reinforce the learnings. We are thrilled. Three other things: 1) I like to act tough, but I am a total softie and missed our dog like crazy. Nicole's daily updates, pictures, and videos made us feel so much better and kept us apprised of what was going on. We really looked forward to her updates. 2) You never know what might happen during boarding. One day, Our dog wasn't feeling well (through no fault of Nicole). Nicole over communicated (in a good way!). She was thoughtful, and she was caring. She prepared rice and chicken for our dog. Nicole had a plan in case she needed to goto the vet. Truly, I believe that Nicole took care of our dog like she would take care of one of her dogs! What else could you want when your dog is living with someone else? 3) I was worried that our dog would come back robotic or without personality. Nothing could've been further from the truth. Our girl still has her personality. She's still fun. She still plays. She's still the same awesome dog. Now, however, she is incredibly well behaved and a delight to be with at home, at the park, on a leash, or wherever. Bottom line. Nicole is awesome. Ridgeside is awesome. Both are highly recommended read more

Ridgeside K9 did remarkable work transforming our rescue dog, Maximus. We researched several dog training programs in the area, and selected them due to the trainers having law enforcement backgrounds, K9 handling experience, and knowledge working with different types of dogs. Above all else, they train your dog to function in a high-stress environment and amid distractions. The two week training program did not disappoint and in fact we were shocked at Max's transformation. Our trainer Aaron Jeter was great to work with and sent us daily photos and videos. He was very attentive to our dogs needs and kept us apprised of his progress. We felt very comfortable leaving our dog in his caring hands for 2 weeks. The team at Ridgeside K9 is extremely professional, experienced, but most importantly delivers results. Our dog, who was a bit wild and rambunctious, now listens to commands and responds to us. Well worth the money and they stand apart from other companies. We are so glad we chose Ridgeside K9 for our dog. Thank you! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Happy well trained Maximus! - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

Gina Furtado was a truly incredible trainer for Paige, our 6-month-old Aussie-mix puppy. She emailed in advance to explain the training process, and took the time to answer my questions at the start of training. During the training period, she texted every day with pictures, videos, updates, and tips. It was so fun watching Paige learn new skills! Gina also ensured that Paige had fun social time with other dogs. She prepped us before returning Paige, and spent time teaching my whole family how to keep working with Paige to solidify her new skills. I appreciated how Gina boiled the training down to a few accessible categories of work that we could continue at home. We are amazed by how much Paige advanced in two weeks, and we are so grateful to Gina for making the process so smooth and successful! We could not be more happy with our experience working with Gina as a trainer! read more

Ridgeside K9 has been amazing for my 19month old German Shepard rescue. We have been through several trainer, before we went to Ridgeside K9. When I rescued Loki he was 10 months old, with no manners. He would lung at other dogs and people. Try to play tug of war with his leash and was very mouthy. Shortly after I rescued him, Loki became very protective of me and would not let anyone approach me. Our first trainer was positive only and basically told me she would not train my dog until he was on Prozac. So I took him to the vet and she said he does not need Prozac I need a new trainer. This is where the second trainer comes in. I did not know where to start on looking for a new trainer so I called German Shepard rescue to see who they recommended. We ended up doing a 2 week board and train with the second trainer. After our 2 week board and train (with prong collar) the trainer told me I had to stay on top of my dog. He said one of 3 things will happen in a year, I will have to rehome him, euthanize him or I will have the best dog. This was pretty scary to be told but I was up for the challenge. The trainer had a few group classes but they stopped for the winter. When I tried to call and ask for additional training or had questions he did not respond. After my 5th unanswered call I decided to find a different trainer. This is when I contacted Ridgeside K9. When I called I was shocked that the owner Aaron answered the phone. I explained my situation and I was not interested in doing another board and training. I would prefer to do one on one training. He told me that was no problem. (Our trainer before this trainer number 2 would only let me board and train). We decided to start with the 5 secession package and work from there. We started training with Ryan who was wonderful, he was able to explain to me why Loki reacted the way he did when I was holding the leash to tight and tensed up. As our training progressed we worked with Brittney, and Aaron the owner. Who are both amazing trainers and we both able to help me with different things. Loki is now going to the group classes and did amazing on the pack walk. He is still a work in progress, but with the help of the team at Ridgeside K9 he has dramatically improved. We recently took a long road trip to Florida and I was able to take Loki with me into all the rest stops without a problem. Aaron also talked to me about a dog treadmill, he said a tired dog is a good dog. He was 100% right. Loki loves the treadmill and behaves so much better since we got him one. One of my favorite things about Ridgeside K9 is any time I call with a question someone is willing to talk to you and help. It's usually just a simple question of what do I do in this situation. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Loki working on place in Florida. - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

We just finished up a 2 week puppy board and train with Perry & Brandi "The Dynamic Duo". From the moment I had my first conversation with Brandi until the completion of the training program, she was top notch!! I received daily updates on the progress of our 15 week old lab named Birdie. Birdie was struggling with typical puppy behavior, and potty training! We are working on day 3 of her being home and zero accidents so far! We are getting on a great routine and the foundation that Brandi and Perry have provided Birdie has made her a much more confident and happy pup, and very aware of what is expected of her! I can't thank Brandi and Perry for loving my girl like one of their own. I'd call myself a helicopter parent, and a father of only 4 legged animals, but my dogs mean the world to me, and after the initial shock not having her home after a few nights, I knew that I had chosen the best for giving her the foundation that she needed. Thank you! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

This review is way overdue! We are so thrilled with the results of the training provided by Brandi and Perry Bailey this past December. Our black Lab puppy, Chili, came back to us after the 2-week board and train program as a more confident and well-behaved puppy than when we left her in their care. And now after a couple of months, we have no doubt it was the best decision we ever made for Chili (and our family). Right after Chili returned to us, we took a trip for the Christmas holiday which consisted of a 9-hour drive and being around a lot of people, toddlers, and other dogs. Chili was such a good girl and much easier to control than before the training. Chili is our third Lab and definitely the most well-behaved. We have been able to walk her with ease and not worry about her being overly anxious with passing cars and no more pulling while on leash! And we were very appreciative of the thorough training Perry provided to us when he brought Chili back. Thank you, Brandi and Perry! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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Great school and great staff. I signed my dog up for one on one training and each class I had a different trainer. Each trainer seemed to have been briefed on my dogs behavior and my expectations. I will be boarding him once I go on vacation and can't wait to see even more results. Trainers didn't tell me the type of training method they use but I believe it was balanced training definitely not pure positive which is exactly what I was looking for. Results happened in as little as one session for my dog. Give your dog and yourself the best guidance at ridgeside k9 read more

My only regret is not sending my stubborn little monster to the the board & train program any sooner! Chunky Charles Barkley (yes, that's his real name ) was 2 1/2 years old and had already developed some pretty bad habits - jumping on people, going after skateboarders and scooters, poor leash habits such as excessive pulling or just lying down like a potato when he didn't feel like walking. I g. I live in an urban environment and walking with him daily was becoming quite frustrating and I was running out of patience. The final straw was one morning when Chunky jumped in front of a moving car during traffic because he smelled a piece of food. I knew I had to do something quickly because it was becoming dangerous to walk him. I did a lot of research and landed on Ridgesidek9. I was able to get him rather quickly into a 2-week board & train with trainer Andy Cummings. The entire process was great and I felt comfortable from the very first call with Andy who took his time walking me through the program and talking through Chunky's needs. Andy was even accommodating with moving the start date because I was traveling. Andy sent pictures and texts daily and took great care of Chunks (he has special diet and skin care needs due to his allergies). From the videos, I could see improvements in Chunky's leash walking in just two days. Andy was communicative and responsive. Upon coming back, obviously the key is for me as the owner to reinforce the learning and proof his behaviors. Andy continued to be a great resource and shared tips whenever I had a question. It's now been over 4 weeks and Chunky continues to impress me daily - he's like a whole new dog! Can't say enough good things about Andy and Ridgesidek9. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

we sent our german shepherd puppy to Brandi and Perry Bailey for a board and train session at 3 months and at 6 months, and they did a wonderful job. After the second training at 6 months which just ended, she became much more disciplined and compliant when we gave her instructions off leash to come, sit and stay, and she also was very good at heeling properly when we walk her on the leash. The e-collar they used and gave us is very effective and does not shock the puppy, and she already is following instructions without having to use the e collar very much. Our puppy seems to now have a very solid behavior foundation as she grows past the puppy stage. Since she is already 70 lbs and is likely growing toward 100 lbs , we felt it was important to get her behavior under control before she got too big, and this training seems to have been very successful in doing that. read more

Loved our experience with Ridgeside K9 and specifically Gina! We received daily updates and pictures of our boxer, Schatzi, and when her 2 weeks were up, I felt like Gina left us with the tools necessary to successfully continue the foundations of training she started. I feel much more confident and equipped to guide Schatzi to be a well-mannered and happy dog! Thanks Gina! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

I will be recommending Iggy to every dog owner I know for now on. I have a pitbull husky mix, I did one on one training classes with her through another establishment for around two months but there wasn't much improvement. I sent her to the three week board n train with Iggy and I was elated to see an immediate difference when he dropped her off. He was also great about sending updates and pictures everyday which was very comforting. Overall, couldn't have asked for a better or easier experience! read more

We sent our 9 month old Goldendoodle, Iggy, to three weeks of basic training. Best experience and decision we could have made. Ridgeside made everything easy, from scheduling her time, payment, organizing a drop off and brining her home. She had daily photos and updates sent, that we all absolutely loved. I could tell they just care so much and really pushed giving her real life training. Being at home with kids, in stores, with other dogs. It was all great. However, the best part was how amazing she was upon coming home to us. Ridgeside spent almost 4 hrs teaching us all the new techniques she had learned. How to walk with her, basic obedience training and how best to transition her home. She was always a sweet girl, but I can't imagine how long it would have taken us to get her to the point Ridgeline did in 3 weeks. Having had her back now for about a month. The results are 100% worth it! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Taking lots of trips to Lowe's now to show off how good we are. - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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We couldn't be happier with our experience with Caleb and Ridgeside K9! We were really nervous about sending our young lab mix away for three weeks, but ultimately we just had so many training struggles after our baby was born and needed extra help. Specifically, we were having issues with his barking and whining for attention, his walking habits (either pulling or just not walking at all), and general issues stemming from lack of discipline/impulse control. The result has been truly incredible. When Caleb came to get our dog, I knew right away he was in good hands. He had some great initial (and accurate) observations and really took his time making sure our pup got comfortable with him and his van before taking him away. It was comforting to know he had the patience and understanding of a dog's body language and behaviors to ensure they got off to the right start. During the training, Caleb kept me updated with progress and photos. I felt like I understood where our dog was in the training process, what he was working on, and what he still needed to do to improve. Caleb didn't rush the training phases and only progressed when our buddy was ready. After training, we had a really informative and helpful transition phase. Not only that, but Caleb actually did us a huge favor and delayed the return a couple of days while we dealt with some emergency construction (really took a lot of stress away!). When he arrived at our place, we spent about 45 minutes discussing the training approach, how to use the e-collar, and asking questions about specific scenarios. I found it really empowering because it gave me a clear path to continue the training, which we all know is critical! Once we finally got to see our buddy, the best thing was not just seeing his disciple and walking abilities, but that he also still had his fun, goofy personality. He's not a robot, and we don't want a robot! It's been about three weeks since he returned at the time of writing this review. Caleb has continued to check-in and answer questions, and I've been able to use the tools he's provided every day in different scenarios. My relationship with our dog has improved, and I'm excited to see how we progress over the next year. If you are on the fence, go for it! read more

Our trainer answered every question and made the whole process very easy. There was no cutting corners, either. everything was very thorough from start to finish. our dog improved dramatically, and walking him is now so much more of an enjoyable experience for both him and I. highly recommend! read more

I sent my sweet Bernedoodle, Jennifur, to 3 weeks of board and train with Gina. Jennifur needed help with confidence building and being more consistent with her commands, and Gina transformed her into a new pup! I no longer have to worry about Jennifur dragging me down the street on walks or hesitating to come when I call her. In fact, during our last walk, multiple strangers stopped to say how great a dog she was. I'd highly recommend Ridgeside and Gina! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

My wife has felt captive in our house since the beginning of the pandemic because she alone has been unable to take the dogs out in public due to their size and rambunctious nature. We've tried the YouTube stuff and even another trainer, but with no realistic improvements. She's been begging me to reach out to Ridgeside K9 and at last I said yes.... BEST MOVE EVER! Worth every damn dime. And we immediately sent the other dog, no second thoughts. Now if I can just get my wife and dog to stay home! Lol read more

We sent our 11 month old crazy pup to RidesideK9 for the 3-week board and train with Brandi & Perry. They did wonders with Hunny, and we are so pleased with her progress. Brandi & Perry are an amazing team, they sent daily updates, and spent many hours with us during turnover to explain the full process, making sure we knew how to move forward. We look forward to taking Hunny to public places, knowing she has the good behavior skills to be around other people. Thank you RidgesideK9! read more

I want to start off by saying that Ridgeside K9 exceeded any expectations we had with our puppy, Milo. My boyfriend and I recently moved to the city, and our Aussiedoodle, Milo, was having some anxiety issues. To add to his anxiety, Milo was attacked by another dog at the dog park. After his attack, Milo was extremely anxious. He was constantly barking, extremely reactive, and exhibited fear aggression towards other dogs. He was basically afraid of his own shadow, and thought every dog he saw, big or small, as a threat. This behavior made him an absolute menace on the leash, and his reactions toward other dogs caused both of us significant stress. It got to the point where we only wanted to take him out at odd times of the day, to avoid any unwanted encounters. We knew we had to reach out to a professional. We spoke with a couple of trainers, and weren't confident that they could help us. Then we came across Ridgeside K9. As you can see, Ridgeside has incredible reviews. It was these reviews that compelled us to reach out to Aaron, Ridgeside's owner. He was very professional, and reassured us that he could help. For the first time since Milo's attack, we felt optimistic. Aaron put us in touch with Brent, who ended up being Milo's trainer. Brent was extremely professional, and passionate about dog training. Moreover, Brent was a no BS type of guy, and was very realistic in what he could do for us. He took Milo for three weeks, and kept us updated every step of the way. After three weeks, we met with Brent for the turnover. Milo was like a new dog. He was obedient, calm, and seemed more confident in his surroundings. He went from reacting to any dog he saw, to ignoring any distractions on walks. Brent assured us that it was up to us to continue Milo's training with him, and after 2 months, we feel as though Milo has continued to progress. Milo now plays with other dogs daily and is no longer reactive on walks. He is also extremely good on-leash. I realize this is a long review, but reading the reviews of others was a big reason why we chose Ridgeside. I truly cannot say enough about how Ridgeside has helped us. We went from being afraid to bring our dog out during busy hours to being eager to bring him on walks. Brent trained Milo well, and then trained us to continue his training. We are so grateful for Ridgeside, and would recommend them to anyone who has a dog in need of training. read more

Are you on Yelp wondering if all the five-star reviews are too good to be true? They're not: though expensive, Ridgeside K9's three-week board-and-train can transform your dog. Me, my dog and her issues: I am an experienced dog owner who rescued a 6-year-old Brittany Spaniel, Zoey, in June 2020. Zoey had spent her entire life tied to a porch. She had no experience walking on leash and little experience being inside. Indoors, she was highly trainable, and within a few days, her house manners were an absolute dream. Outdoors was another story: Zoey pulled on leash worse than any other dog--even any other bird dog--that I've encountered. It made walking/running her miserable and was starting to give me hip issues. This behavior continued even after I engaged a private trainer to work with us: for a few months, I spent over an hour a day practicing walking Zoey but saw no significant improvement. Zoey also had no recall. And she loved car rides so much that she would yelp, whine, and bark the entire ride-- making for a stressful experience for everyone in the car. Our experience with Ridgeside: When I was planning to leave for a three-week post-covid trip, I reached out to Ridgeside to talk about board-and-train. Aaron listened to my concerns and assigned Zoey to Caleb. Caleb and I had a separate conversation in which we went over Zoey's issues, and then he came to pick her up on the agreed-upon date. Caleb transformed Zoey's leash behavior. Instead of pulling like a *maniac*, Zoey now walks (or runs) next to me, usually with a loose leash. She's not perfect--given her life history and her insane drive, she often needs reminders that pulling does not, in fact, get her where she wants to go. But she is at a place that is completely manageable for me-- and immeasurably better than where she was before Caleb picked her up. Caleb also got Zoey 95% of the way there on recall. After a week or two of additional long lead practice when she got home, she was good to go, and now she gets to do what she wants to do most: hit Rock Creek Park and sprint up and down the hills completely off leash. Perhaps even more extraordinary than the training itself is the ongoing support from Caleb and Ridgeside after Zoey got home. After a few days when Zoey seemed to be falling off the wagon--going back to her old ways of pulling--I messaged Caleb. He made the time to drive into town to practice running (!) with us the very next day, giving me tools to better reinforce Zoey's training. When I was going away for a weekend, I boarded Zoey with Caleb and his wife Shelbie, who spent the weekend reinforcing good car behavior (which is now, by the way, stellar). And when my dad had a health crisis, Caleb offered to take Zoey for as long as I needed to go to California to care for him. In short, when you send your dog to Ridgeside, you really do become part of a family. The board and train is expensive to be sure. But Caleb transformed Zoey, and in turn her quality of life, giving her the control that allows us both to enjoy car rides, runs, and off-leash time. Thanks to everyone there for the work that you do! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Zoey enjoying her new off-leash lifestyle! - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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Let me start with my headline of RIDGESIDE K9 IS AWESOME! Our English Golden Retriever (9 months now) is a sweet boy, super smart and loving, but he needed some obedience and manners. The major issues we had to correct was that he would jump on people (adults and kids) when he was excited and was horrible on a leash. He forgets he's 70+ lbs when jumping and when on a leash that 70+ lbs of muscle is just pulling in every direction except the one you want. LOL One of our friends had sent her dog to Ridgeside and raved about how great it was. So we were interested in enrolling Winston. From initial inquiry to turnover, the process was so outstanding. Aaron was awesome to work with. He provided my boyfriend and I the details we needed to get started and ultimately got assigned Mike as our head trainer. We ended up signing Winston up for the 2-week board and train program. For the 2 weeks, Winston was trained by and lived with Mike and his family. We always got the most positive updates on how well he was catching on, how great he was with his kids and other things. Mike sent us pictures and videos when he could, and would answer any questions we had during. When it was time for Winston to come back home, Mike came inside to "train" us (because, how can you fix your dog's behaviors if we don't fix/learn our own and what to do?). He went through everything from A-Z on what he did during the training and how we need to continue on including how to use the e-collar. After that was completed, we were able to see our boy! We went outside and did some more training, with Mike, Winston and us. We walked Winston around the neighborhood and I was in shock at how good he was! Loose leash, paying attention to us and walking in our cadence. I said this was all worth it for just this. It opened up all the opportunities we could have for Winston to be out in public with us and not pulling. I was so happy. Mike also explained the lifetime guarantee with us, which is another benefit of working with Ridgeside K9. Overall, this was such a great experience and I loved working with the Ridgeside family. I am glad that we are now a part of such an awesome community of people. I would over and over again recommend this to anyone and everyone. Thank you!!! read more

Ridgeside K9 - L to R: Winston, David and Mike. Mike teaching us how to walk with Winston. - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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Reviews are easier to read when they are "short & sweet"...but I simply have too much to say about Aaron R Taylor and Ridgeside K9 to make brevity a priority.  Ferris, our 9 month old Yellow Lab, was the perfect addition to our family last year. Who knew perfection could be improved upon?! Aaron R Taylor did! He delivered Ferris to our home this past weekend after his two week board & train and spent several hours training US (my husband, our son and me), detailing what Ferris has learned and how to continue his training.  His connection with Ferris was undeniable but his PATIENCE with us was even more impressive. While processing this new (amazingly free) way of life for Ferris, I was also overthinking all of this new info. He spent extra time with me, breaking it down and working with me "controlling" Ferris real-time until it started to become more intuitive for me.  The confidence he has given us by offering such open, direct communication with him post-training has enabled us to continually achieve successful moments like the ones in this post (working on place outdoors and inside).  One unplanned teachable moment happened today that I couldn't get pics of because it required my full attention. I was outside with Ferris and a walking salesman appeared in our cul-de-sac. Ferris heard him before we saw him and because I'm still developing/improving my own response time, I wasn't quick enough to sort him. He ran directly to the guy and went 100% puppy all over him! I quickly recalled what Aaron taught me and was able to get Ferris under control in a matter of SECONDS! He stopped "saying HI" to the salesman, got still for a moment, then returned to me and heeled all the way back to the house. I'm sorry I couldn't record the moment, but I'm even sorrier that I didn't recordy my happy dance when we got inside! I love being part of the Ridgeside Family now, seeing everyone's successes. We are incredibly excited about joining upcoming pack walks and continuing to grow with our awesome pup! Thanks, Ridgeside K9! read more

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We're so thrilled with the training our adopted 1 yr old GSD received from Brandi in Charles Town. He is a sweet dog to begin with but a wild child who needed proper schooling! We missed him a lot and her daily updates of pictures and updates were so comforting. We jokingly said he was having too much fun at camp " Learn A Lot " and wouldn't want to come home! Lol The handover was very informative and is definitely needed to continue what he learned in training. This human had first hand knowledge of all he learned. Brandi was so patient with us as we fumbled with the collar training. I think I dog learned faster than we did..lol. To grasp the command, collar and training was a great sense of achievement and to see our dog following commands seamlessly was huge! We hoped for a "New Dog" after training and we got it, he's great! From the initial meeting and follow up hand off training at home we couldn't be happier!! We highly recommend Brandi / Ridgeside K9. read more

Ridgeside K9 - Brandi & Tigger in Harpers Ferry training. - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

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We had a wonderful experience with Ridgeside K9 and highly recommend them. We did a 3-week board and train for our 5 month old puppy. We absolutely loved our trainer Chris. You can tell there is a sincere love for what he does and a vested interest in not only training your dog but ensuring the pet parents are educated to continue the training upon their return. Before training, our (rescue) puppy would not let us put a collar or leash on him and Chris fixed that. Our puppy came home trained in all of the basic commands, the results have been amazing! Bottom line: this professional training was well worth it and we would entrust K9 with any of our pet training needs in the future. read more

We had already gone through a few different trainers when we first contacted Ridgeside K9. We dealt with leash reactivity and leash tugging with a 60lb dog despite using positive reinforcement training, high value rewards, gentle leader leash, etc. We sent our dog for a 3 week board and train after much deliberation, and were glad he did -- he picked up better leash walking skills and some improvement in his leash reactivity. When he got back to us, he seemed like an entirely new dog - walking right by our side and ignoring the other dogs in our high traffic neighborhood. However, after the first few days back home, he started barking and lunging at other dogs/squirrels/rats again while on a leash. We appreciated their service because their program gave us additional tools to manage our very high energy, reactive dog. Our trainer came back to our home when our dog's behaviors got challenging again, and offered additional tips and support. We wish the outcomes were more durable, but we continue to work on the skills that our trainers have started working on with our dog. read more

I have two stars before but it's one now since the ranting owner (see his response to other negative reviews) decided to get yelp to remove it initially. I used their facility a couple of times as a daycare. It 'seemed' ok. I think it's SO important for new customers to see how the owner will handle you if there's an issue with your dog or $$. The owner is hands down rude, and has no customer service which is sad because it could be a great buis if they weren't so money hungry and rude to customers who have legitimate concerns. I WAS going to book a board with them and asked prices they gave me the 'training' prices as well but I told them my dog was already trained to a decent level and so didn't need to pay $2900 for a 2 wk board & train, just the boarding which was $1500 (still expensive as it did not include anything) Before I was about to call back and say I changed my mind (after I read owners response to negative reviews) I got a txt msg telling me they only would board my dog if I paid for the training program & didn't have room for 'just' boarding? Again money...I guess they had someone agree to $2900 and put them over any boarding slots. Regardless would never use them again. They claim veterans buis but I'm a 22 year veteran and I don't treat people like this especially other vets. read more

Andy and Ridgeside K9 did an amazing job with our 1 1/2 year old Australian Labradoodle, Kona. We did the two week board and train session and we very impressed with the results. Going into the training we had two main concerns, recall and leash skills/leash pulling. Andy did an amazing job addressing these areas and provided us with guidance and tips on how we can continue to reinforce the training. Andy provided daily updates throughout the two weeks and made sure all of our questions were answered quickly. Going into the training we knew that Kona can be nervous at times and that it would take a special trainer to get through to him. Andy did just that and he knew exactly how to connect with him, teach him, and reinforce his skills. We highly recommend Andy and Ridgeside K9! read more

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

After calling and speaking with this company and finding out that they use shock collars, I would never and my dog to this place. Look at the pictures and you'll see the dogs all wearing shock collars. There are many ways to train dogs - I can understand if you have a dangerous pit bull, but I can't believe they out shock collars on very sweet dogs. Anyone can "train" a dog using a shock collar - just shock them and scare the hell out of them. This is a horrible way to "train" a dog. read more

My Rottweiler Micky Died 4 days into his Board & Train program with Ridgeside K9 on September 11, 2019 ! Yes it has been some time but Aaron and I came to a 5 item agreement in the summer of 2020 and a contract was to be signed. I received the contract via email. I then text Aaron stating not all 5 items were listed in the contract only the money, his reply was "I'm ready to sign". I only agreed if "ALL 5" ITEMS were included, not just the money! Aaron did not fulfill his agreement terms, Therefore I did NOT sign the contract. I will now post pictures of Micky on his last day and how he looked at the ER Vet when I got there. I'll also post the Necropy Report from the Warrenton State Lab Final report November 2019. "You" decide who is responsible! "You" decide whether or not that it is unjust that my heart is still broken over his horrific death! "You" decide on all Aaron's responses to me on whether they are harsh, unkind, belittling, redirecting responsibility OR, are they kind, understanding, empathetic, supportive or take ownership in this tragedy. "You" decide. read more

Super Happy we selected Ridgeside K9 Training for our one-year-old Lab Blue. Brandi and Perry Bailey were great to work with, professionals in every sense of the word. We did the 3-week training plan, and we got back a different Dog. This training team knows what they are doing and take great care to keep you informed throughout the process, set your mind at ease, and lay the groundwork for you as the owners to continue to build on your dog's progress. We happen to live close by to where Brandi and Perry do their work and that made this experience all the more enjoyable. If you are contemplating dog training, you can't go wrong with this training team. read more

I recently solicited training for my 7-month old pup from Ridgeside K-9. Our trainer,Payton, took this rambunctious, high energy pup and transformed her in two weeks! Bella is now an obedient and calmer pup. We already loved her, but now we truly enjoy her! I highly recommend Ridgeside K-9! read more

My pup and I (I add myself to the mix because I realize a lot of training is on the owner) could not be happier with our Ridgeside experience. Scott was our trainer. He worked with my pup every day on recall, heeling, reactivity to other dogs - all the things! He also sent video updates each day so I would know what they were working on. The outcome (for a senior dog...almost 8 years old, I'll add)...seriously, fantastic. Scott truly proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks! I look forward to continuing the work Scott started! read more

Ridgeside K9 - Pet Training Near Me - Bluemont, Virginia

We had our golden retriever trained by them for two weeks. When the trainer (Tommy) brought him back to us, he was a completely different dog. Well behaved and followed instructions. Before the training we had a difficult time just walking him as he would always jump at my wife and I and be a bit aggressive. After the training, our walks were enjoyable as he'd walked alongside us and never jumped at us again. He's tuned out to be a great family dog and we owe a lot of that to Ridgeside K9. We've also utilized their day care at the Winchester facility. They'll take good care of your furry family member and make it enjoyable for them as they can play with other dogs and be social. We completely trust them and our dog seemed very happy having been there. read more

I have so much to say about Ridgeside K9 and trainer Kelsey. I had an amazing experience with them while they were training my 6ish year old rescue German Shepherd. No only did Kelsey take the time to meet with us when she came to pick our dog up but she sent daily updates and photos. Further, she was able to figure out some medical related issues we were not aware of. When our dog came back he was no longer running away and urinating all over the house. He listens, is calm and now we all can actually enjoy each other. I am so grateful for Ridgeside and Kelsey. read more