We've been working with Madi for over six months and can't say enough good things about her. She is…read moreincredibly kind, thoughtful, and responsive, but she is also deeply professional and reliable, which is such a rare and valuable combination when it comes to pet care. Our lab adores his walks, adventures, and overnights with her, and we always have complete peace of mind knowing he's in such capable hands. Madi communicates clearly, handles everything with care, and charges fair rates. She's a total gem, and we're so grateful to have found her!

If your dog could write a review, they'd give Donner Dogs six paws up!…read more Madi at Donner Dogs in Truckee is basically a dog whisperer, adventure guide, and cuddle expert all in one. She treats every pup like her own, which is saying something, because my dog is literally soooo spoiled. Whether it's dog walking or boarding, she goes above and beyond to make sure your furry friend is happy, safe, and having the best time ever. Need someone to take your dog on an epic Tahoe adventure? Madi's got it covered. Want to make sure your pup gets more attention than you do at home? Also covered. Honestly, I'm pretty sure some dogs leave her care wondering if they can trade humans. If you want your dog to have the best time while you're away (or just too busy to give them the adventure they deserve), Donner Dogs is the place. Just be warned--your pup might come home looking at you like, "So, when do I get to go back?"

Carla @ Savvy Dog is awesome. We adopted a 5 year old dog, (Abby) from the Humane Society in…read moreTruckee a few years ago, (this review is long over due). She would attack other dogs at random. Nothing too serious but she would scare other dog owners and make us uncomfortable to be around other dogs. Carla analyzed our dog and told us what we needed to do. 3 private sessions and we left with the confidence we could get our action packed lab more comfortable around people and especially around smaller dogs. Carla trained us on how to work with our dog using award style reinforcement. It was a quick turnaround from a dog that scared other dog owners into a social, friendly, happy dog that loves everyone, (and small dogs too!) Savvy dog is great!

Carla is a true find! We started with her by joining two classes with our border collie that we…read moreadopted at 9 weeks. At the end of the two six week sessions he had mastered all of the basic skills, plus the classes gave him the opportunity to socialize with the other pups which is so critical at that age. To say she "knows her stuff" is an understatement. She is not only a great trainer, she understands behaviors - and she knows how to teach dog's parents how to train. we also booked her for a couple private sessions which were reasonably priced and helped us plan for Freddie's future development. We remain very grateful for the outstanding experience she provided.

What can I say??? Samantha, the owner is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! I was very skeptical about getting a…read moredog walker, bc I see most dog walkers take all their clients dogs to the dog park and play on their phone.... SO... when I met Samantha and learned about her business, Pawsitopia, I was very impressed. She has a extensive background with dogs and training. She offers multiple services, but the service I used was the, "Walkies." My dog, Trigger, was picked up on MWF and those were his favorite days of the week. A little background on my dog, is that he is very friendly with other dogs, but gets a little nervous around people he doesn't know. So, when Samantha came for the 1st time, it took her over a half a hour to get my dog out of the house. SHE was AMAZING and PATIENT with him that made him feel comfortable to leave with her the 1st day. After that he would run down the stairs and wait for her at the door. My dog also does not like to be handled, (wiping paws and getting wiped down) Samantha, slowly was working with him to feel comfortable to let her touch his paws. She was so patient with him and understood him. Also, the bonus.... my dog was already a good off leash walker, but, Samantha trained him to be better.... so impressive! I love the way she loves my pup and the way she treated him. She is by far the best investment I made for my pup. I hope that you find this review helpful!

Samantha is simply AMAZING! Our dog loves Samantha and just the time to get the energy out of him…read moreand give him time with other dogs gave us a wonderful dog at home. But the best part of Samantha was her ability to train our unconventional dog. For example, he still doesn't respond to words, but Samantha taught him to keep focus on her (and when he's with me ... me) and even when off having fun, he's checking in and responding to me. We just did a vacation at the beach and allowed him to be off leash in a manner I never imagined. Samantha speaks dog and has been the best decision I made to ensure we have a happy, healthy, well-behaved member of our family.

I can't say enough good things about Buddy. Our dog, Matty, is incredibly sweet and smart, but due…read moreto puppy trauma, can be highly reactive. Matty, has been working with Buddy for several years and today she's a different dog. She does outings 2-3 times per week with the most phenomenal humans on the Buddy team. You should see Matty bound down the stairs to shower them with kisses every time. Likewise, she comes back tired and deliriously happy. But, where Buddy has really helped us is in training, both basic commands and due to safety issues, shock collar training. Lilith, the owner of Buddy, was very concerned about Matty's reactivity and strong prey drive which affected her recall. Lilith knew if she ran off after something like a wild animal, bikers, runners, or other dog, Matty could get gravely hurt or worse. I was very against collar training due to my own trauma where my stepfather would torture our family dog for fun with a shock collar at full capacity when I was a child. Just the mention of a shock collar sent me into tears so when Lilith suggested it, I was highly resistant. However, after much thought and a few sketchy situations on the trail with both bears and other dogs, I finally caved. I felt like I couldn't stomach shocking Matty, but the one thing I really couldn't stomach was losing her. Throughout the training process, Lilith was with me and my husband every step of the way, explaining the process as well as having great empathy for my unique trauma. Slowly, I got used to using it and only had to use the vibrate mode and never the shock setting. My husband had to use the shock once and thankfully Matty is so smart, that imprinted on her so quickly, that vibrate was all that was needed for her to run back our sides when called. It was like walking a different dog and because she loves to please us, I think she was relieved to finally understand what we wanted too. She seemed happier instead of confused. Then, one day I was in the forest and Matty was off leash. I saw her tense up, so I looked off into the bushes. A coyote was stalking us. Matty took off running at full speed. I pushed vibrate. No response as her drive was too intense. They were so fast that they made it into a grove of trees about 100 years away by the time I pressed shock. I heard a yelp and then saw the coyote run out of the trees and up the hill, but no Matty. I feared the worst because of the yelp, but then Matty came trotting out of the trees, wagging her tail. The yelp was from the shock collar which startled her enough to call off the chase (which never would have ended until the coyote ran back to their pack). One could say that the collar saved my beloved dog, but really it was Lilith & the Buddy Team who saved Matty. She was the one who could see that Matty's intense drive could lead her to being hurt, but she loved our dog enough to push me to overcome a childhood trauma in order to keep her safe. I'm forever grateful.

A 15 lb, 2 year old rescue with feisty energy and sweet eyes paired with a senior citizen couple…read more Lilith knew how to deal with the three of us! Although there's more to work on, we have a happy home for now (as long as motorcycles don't follow us). Thank you Lilith for helping our Jaxon.

First and most important my dog was well cared for. Luke is meticulous in greeting, good-bye,…read morewalking, giving corrections gently. He's an effective business man who makes registering, scheduling, transacting as painless as can be. His upbeat, easy going nature makes interaction a pleasure. Don't miss Luke if your doggie needs!

Our five year old Lab had a blast with Luke during our stay in Tahoe over Labor Day weekend. He…read morereceived lots of exercise and attention. He was tuckered out each day and happy on returning the next day. Luke is a pro with pups and people, and we appreciated his updates, photos, and thoughtful treats and suggestions. He cares about his clients ( the dogs) and makes sure they are comfy and happy. We will definitely reach out to him again when in town.

If the contract asks for payment in full, before any "services", just don't do it! If the contract…read morestates absolutely NO REFUNDS, just don't do it. This company lists all kinds of fluff and promises, but after all is said and done, regardless of dissatisfaction, they will not give $$$$ back, nor will they explain just where your money went, nor will they offer to actually do what they originally promised. A 100% RIP OFF. I am in Denver, but this company has locations all over. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY! You will get a "foundation laid for further training", but you will not see any changes in your dog if you send him or her away for 3 weeks, and you certainly won't see any of your $3000+ refunded. RIPPED OFF IN COLORADO.

I just wanted to take a quick minute to say what a fantastic experience I had with Sean. Eight…read moreweeks ago, I was sobbing because I was afraid I may have to give up my beloved mutt, Cupcake. Now? She is the best possible version of the dog I always believed she could be. Before training, Cupcake was sweet and loving with my family, but uncontrollably reactive to outsiders. She would dash out the door to chase people walking by. I couldn't walk her because if she saw someone across the street, she would lunge and bark and lose her mind. It was humiliating and dangerous, and I was terrified she would bite someone. I hired a purely positive trainer last year. Cupcake wouldn't work with her. She just stared and refused to move. No amount of treats would convince Cupcake to walk a step, and it eventually felt like she only stopped barking in terror long enough for me to stuff more chicken in her face. At the trainer's suggestion, I talked to my vet about medication. Medication got me a dog that was both stoned and reactive. Finally, the trainer gave up, suggesting more drugs, more chicken, and more of the same. After a few months of increasing medication without any behavioral improvement, I realized that I needed to do something to help Cupcake or we were going to lose her. I knew she could be a great dog because she was sweet and loving with us. I just had no idea how to help Cupcake or manage her behavior. Enter Sean. Immediately, he was unphased by Cupcake's reactive tantrum. Sean just exuded confidence--of course he could help us; of course I could have a dog who behaves. His confidence helped me be confident. Cupcake's behavior began to improve during our first training session. You could see the gears turning in her head as she began to sort out what was expected of her. Soon, Sean had us practicing in public--taking her to dog friendly stores. Sean provided constant, regular feedback and coaching, teaching me to be a better trainer for my own dog. I felt like I was able to communicate expectations to Cupcake in a way I couldn't before. Her training was overwhelmingly positive, but Sean gave me the tools I lacked to correct Cupcake when needed. Eventually, I took Cupcake back to a park where we had once attempted a miserable walk while she lunged and barked at every passerby. This time? She walked and sat and practiced "down" while completely ignoring everyone around us. In consultation with her vet, I've been weaning her off her medication. She's a happier and healthier dog, and she's no longer stoned off her face. I feel confident taking her places, so she gets to live a more full life and I get to enjoy the dog I always wanted. Hiring KoruK9 and Sean was the best decision I could have possibly made for Cupcake and I. I'm confident in my ability to help her progress even further, and I'm also confident that I can  better introduce any future dogs into our family and avoid the issues we developed with Cupcakes. I cannot say enough good things about Sean, and would recommend him and KouK9 without hesitation to anyone whose dog needs training or behavior modification.

We feel very fortunate to have found Hassan. Our 10-month old pup used to get quite scared of some…read moreother dogs as well as groups of dogs. With another dogwalker, she reportedly refused to get out of the car and then sat in the corner at the house - so I was stunned to get video and pictures from her first day with Hassan playing with other dogs and having a 'tail-up' experience at the beach. Hassan was very thoughtful in how he introduced her to his 'pack', which I think sets him apart. We have observed her confidence around other dogs improve, and Hassan gave us a valuable tip that we're using. Thanks to Hassan for helping our pup to thrive.

My dog had an excellent adventure with them for a week. Upon returning, my doberman mix was well…read moreexercised and happy. Very easy to work with, reasonable price, and excellent communication -- they're a dog sitter, walker, animal behaviorist, and loving companion all rolled in one! Hassan was able to work with some specific issues and gave me clear instructions on how to address them. Couldn't recommend them more. It's very clear that Hassan has deep understanding and love of dogs! Would definitely use their service again!

Victoria is amazing! She was so loving and kind to our dog -…read moreVictoria comes to meet your dog before the first drop off day so both she and your dog are familiar with each other. She takes the dogs off leash and runs and plays with them. The dogs have in and out privileges at your home where they can play or rest when they'd like. Our dog was extremely tired from playing so much and in great spirits when we picked her up. This will be the only place I'd ever bring my dog in Tahoe! Highly recommend Victoria!!!

I'd really avoid working with this kennel and Victoria. She has a lot of experience, and seems to…read moretake good care of the dogs. On an interpersonal level, she is an absolute nightmare to work with. When we dropped our 14 week-old puppy off with her for the first time, we had a miscommunication where she said she was going to take him inside, and then talk to us. She had meant over text, and then came out to yell at us to leave (I think she wanted clean separation when dropping him off for the first time). She then sent us angry texts for the next half hour (see screenshots). We decided we didn't want to work with her, NOT because we had concerns about the care our dog would receive, but because she was so abrasive. That was 200% confirmed when we went to pick him up. She first yelled at me about being paid before she'd release my dog, which I was fine with. I understand that we had booked a slot even though it had only been an hour (why yell though). She had put a special collar on him, and while she was struggling to get it off my dog was screaming in pain the entire time. During this whole process she called me a "dumb fuck" and an idiot multiple times. I was concerned about my dogs safety and only called her "mam" (well..I lost my temper once we finally got him back). There aren't many dog sitters in Tahoe, and my wife and I were very polite to Victoria through the entire process. She was abrasive throughout, which we chalked up to poor communication. After this experience though, I could never recommend her. She seems to take good care of the dogs, but has a few screws loose. I'd avoid this kennel unless you want to be treated this way.

We were prepared to give up on our 2 yr old overactive lab. Wagamore was going to be our last…read moreattempt at training. After one week with Kate, our dog started behaving and listening and is now a great family companion

Katie is a miracle worker, she truly speaks dog. We sent our Aussie to her at 6 months old because…read morefrankly, she was kind of a little turd. Within the two weeks Katie did so much good work. Bindi came back a new dog. Katie explained everything she implemented with Bindi and it was super easy to apply to everyday life. Also, once your dog has completed training with Katie she will dogsit for you. Its absolutely amazing, Bindi is happiest after a few days with Katie and her crew of dogs. If you can give your dog this gift you will not regret it!

Nancy did such an outstanding job working with both my 6 month Doberman pup as well as my senior…read morechihuahua mix. Focus was on improving behavior for the reactive Dobie. New techniques for me such as sniff games and hide and seek to release energy and achieve a calm and balanced state. Our old chihuahua was more or less just along for the ride but he really engaged with the games and was acting just like a puppy again during and after. He even pitched in as a pack leader to help manage the puppy's reactivity. We give her an enthusiastic 8 paws up!

Nancy is amazing. She is professional, reliable, kind, and positive. She has a wonderful way with…read moredogs and their owners too. Our dog (Harper) has become very attached to her and it's no wonder given the amazing adventures that Nancy takes her on around the lake. Just check out some of Nancy's pictures and you'll understand how committed she is to the dogs she cares for. We were lucky to meet her and I couldn't recommend her more highly.