Cannot recommend enough! I went to CanineKind thinking I wanted just for a quick refresher for my…read more3-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog. After just one session, Heather helped me identify key problem areas and brand new things to teach him that have made my life so much easier. She is so patient (with humans and dogs) and has a way of explaining things that just makes sense, to both of us. We worked entirely via Zoom, but I never felt like trainings were impersonal or unproductive. She's extremely flexible and really takes the time to understand your family, your pup and your situation and implement strategies that work best for YOU! And without any guilt trips for not doing things 100% perfect or "by the book" all the time - she's totally understanding of what it means to have a dog you love and a busy human lifestyle. I feel like I learned HOW to train Rocky as much as what to train him, which has been invaluable! Now I can apply what Heather taught me and make new progress on my own. Will definitely be coming back for check-ins now and again.

I cannot say enough good things about Heather's training! As a first time dog mom, to a rescue…read morepuppy whose mix was full of highly energetic breeds (German Shepherd, Husky, Aussie mix) I knew I needed to get my puppy in class right away! From about 14 weeks old we worked on the basics, and then tailored our sessions to meet mine and my pups needs. Working with Heather not only set my puppy up for success, but gave me as a pet parent the tools I needed for future successes in my home. For anyone looking for training for their pet, do not hesitate to call Heather! She did a fantastic job meeting our needs in person and virtually!

The dog trainer Lilian Akin has worked in the dog-training industry since the 1990s. She is a…read moreCertified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) as well as a Certified Behavior Consultant for Canines (CBCC). She offers in-home training and behavioral consultation for dogs that suffer from anxiety or aggression, and she uses positive reinforcement techniques to change their behaviors. Specific techniques might include using treats, head halters, harnesses, toys, clickers, and others. She does NOT use choke collars, prong collars, shock collars, or other forms of correction-based training. Most other dog trainers in the Pittsburgh area combine positive reinforcement with correction-based training, so I searched long and hard for a trainer who uses only positive reinforcement. My dog is very anxious and sweet, and I think that based on scientific studies, she would do best with positive reinforcement, not to mention that the shelter's contract forbid correction-based training. I felt very happy when my friend recommended Lilian Akin, and Lilian agreed to work with my dog and me. Please note that Lilian is an attorney during the day and a dog trainer only in the evenings and weekends, so she is very busy. My consultation was about 1.5 weeks after I first contacted her. She accepts payment via cash, check, Venmo, and Zelle. On the day of the consultation, Lilian arrived at my house on time. She wore a KN95 mask, and she said that she is vaccinated and boostered--which I greatly appreciate during this pandemic. Lilian had a very warm personality, and I enjoyed talking with her about my dog's behaviors and possible training methods. After 1.5 hours, Lilian handed me a two-page paper on which she had summarized what we had discussed. My dog does not go outside to pee and poop, so Lilian suggested that we 1) bring out the leash when we give the dog food and treats, 2) feed her near the front door, and 3) teach her hand targeting so she follows us. For the last 1.5 weeks, my husband and I have been using these techniques, and the first two have helped our dog to feel less nervous about the leash and front door. My dog is so nervous that we will likely need to train her for months, but I feel relieved that she is making some progress. For future appointments, Lilian said that we can hire her per session or with a package of three sessions for a discount. Lilian does make herself available via email and text if we have questions in between sessions.

Lilian Akin came to observe my pup, Kizzie, who was having behavior issues such as resource…read moreguarding, fear biting, unsociable actions towards my other dogs and also people. Lilian was here for more than 2 hours, asking questions and making notes. I'd known Lilian from my pit bull rescue work and knew she'd tell me what I needed to hear. At the end of this session, she gave me a plan of action to follow, notes to share with my vet, worked with me on some exercises to do with Kizzie and my other dogs, and gave me literature to read up on. Lilian was teacher to not only Kizzie, but also to me. She listened to the behaviors I noticed, helped me work through them, and celebrated the milestones we accomplished. It's always scary when you see your dog is struggling, but Lilian helps you not feel alone and provides you with sound exercises and cues to work on. She's calming to both you AND your dog.

Trained & boarded our goldendoodle for 2 weeks while we we're traveling! Did a great job teaching…read moreher & keeping us updated through videos & photos. Highly recommend for boarding/ training

Matt is an amazing trainer. I worked with him to get my dog potty trained and his method worked…read morewhen other trainers failed. He also helped with walking on a leash and again when I did what he suggested our walks improved greatly. Matt is very warm and friendly but most of all he is honest and fair. I had planned on spending a lot of money to have my dog board and trained but he told me he didn't think I needed to after evaluating my puppy. Instead I spent a nominal fee and implemented all of Matt's suggestions. They all worked!

I am writing this having been a customer of DPD for 2 months now and have used their service…read moremultiple times during this period. Prior to DPD, I had spoken with and considered multiple different dog walking services in the area. I personally feel Downtown Pittsburgh Dogs is one of the best services I have ever used period (dog walking or otherwise, in any region). Kevin, the owner, is incredibly professional, organized, and responsive. Scheduling is easy (via an online interface), you get a nice email with details about the walk (and often a photo!), and service has been truly excellent and incredibly accommodating. My dog is also a bit fearful and shy and her walkers have been lovely and patient with her. Kevin also knows his dog-walkers well and he has been great about matching people up with Mia (my dog). I sincerely cannot recommend highly enough and I am afforded incredible piece of mind knowing that they are around to help out on busy days. Thank you!

DPD is absolutely amazing. They are always so compassionate with our dog Murphy. There have been…read moredays when he was sick and Jen took such great care of him. He always is super happy on the days he gets walked. They are also great on the administrative side. Any time we have had a problem with payment/scheduling they are super quick to respond and fair. I would recommend them to anyone who wants their pets to be properly cared for and loved.

I travel A LOT for work, and when I can my Swissies come with me and because of that they are…read moreconniseurs of Doggie Daycares and Boarding nationwide. And the Dog Stop is by far theirs and my favorite. With out the knowledge of how well my dogs are cared for, I would not be able to travel as much as I do. I have been taking my dogs here for over 3 years and will continue to do so. Both the facilities and the care are great, but the people make the absolute difference. If you are looking for Doggie Day Care or Boarding in Western PA, the Dog Stop is your best choice.

Rated 10 out of 10 by Hema Patel I love the Dog Stop…read moreCenterville and have used the grooming services and my dog Pluto's basic training which have been fantastic. The staff is very helpful, and attentive to the dogs. They treat customers' dogs as their own and the accommodations are new and clean. Highly recommended. They offer dog daycare, dog boarding, and grooming and have a very nice retail store. It is easy to find too, 6001 Centerville Crest Ln, Centerville. VA 20121

EDITED - 11/21/19 I have reduced a few stars because Two…read moreDads reduced 30-minute walks to only 20-minute walks. The price has actually increased, not decreased, which I found to be odd. As an owner of an athletic / energetic breed, I'm not sure if we will continue to pay for a mere 20 minutes when many other insured Pittsburgh companies charge the same price for 30 or even 45-minute visits. We still love the people behind Two Dads, and continue to support them, but they are now seemingly out of our budget.

Michael and Luis make a fantastic team and we are so lucky to have them as part of our pup's…read morefamily! Booking is easy and painless. Luis is gentle with our girl who can be a bit timid around strangers which has been so helpful. These guys are professionals, and I'd recommend them to absolutely anyone.

Our Westie has high energy and stubbornness. The trainers were so kind and supportive as were all…read moreof the puppy owners in the class. They were positive and caring. We are signed up for the next session in July so we and our little buddy can achieve more socially acceptable behavior.

I have been training at the Beaver County Kennel Club for many years with numerous of my dogs. The…read moretrainers are knowledgeable and extremely helpful. They offer individual help when needed and try to address any problems you might be having with your dogs. The classes are fun and educational. Homework is suggested each week - if you don;t do it you might not advance in your training as quickly as you wish. This is a happy, fun place to train and they offer many different levels of training.

Our older dog was being very aggressive towards our new puppy, to the point where we were worried…read morewe would have to give the new puppy away. We tried multiple dog trainers, none of whom were really able to make much of a difference. We finally contacted Crystal at Stellar Pets after finding her name on the official list of certified behaviorists, and she was able to completely fix the problem within two sessions. She is extremely positive with the dogs, and you can see the changes in behavior almost immediately. One of the biggest differences I noticed between Stellar Pets and the other places we tried was that Crystal was the only one who actually customized her behavior training to the specific personalities of our dogs. I highly recommend Stellar Pets!