My family and I were first introduced to Lorrie about 16 years ago when we desperately needed our…read moreRotty-Australian Sheppard mix trained. Our young Ruby was turning into a monster of sorts, treating us like cattle during walks and even getting to the point of pure destruction. Lorrie worked with Ruby and honestly saved her life. If not for Lorrie's unbelievable training we would not have been able to keep Ruby in our lives. From that point on, Ruby was a perfect angel on her walks, respected each of us as her master, and was the most loving, caring and wonderful dog we could have ever hoped for. Five years ago my wife and I decided it was time to add another member to the family. We were looking for a small-mid sized dog, and fell in love with a Shiba Inu puppy whom we named Nala. We knew right away we would be signing Nala up for Lorrie's puppy classes, but little did we know, Shiba's had a nasty reputation and it was going to take a lot more work to mold her into the dog we wanted. Lorrie worked with her diligently and as Nala's Shiba attitude peaked, she worked harder than ever training her during the day, and keeping us accountable at home during the evening. After going through Lorrie's full program Nala was TRAINED! All of those typical Shiba characteristics were gone! She stopped wiggling out of her collar and running for the hills. She stopped air biting and showing her teeth. She was an angel just like our dear Ruby. To this day, friends, family and even strangers on the street compliment us on Nala's behavior. If you are thinking about working with a trainer, whether your pup has little issues or BIG issues, Lorrie, owner of Dog's Best Friend Training Academy (located in Denver, NC) is the woman to hire!!

Dog's Best Friend you are amazing! Lorrie is the most kind, passionate dog trainer you will ever…read moremeet. Thank you so much for giving me the gift of a well trained dog.

Vic saved my marriage…read more One beautiful fall afternoon, after consuming too many edibles, my husband convinced me to get a German Shepard puppy. In a better-than-usual mood, I agreed. I've had dogs before, I am an animal lover, and I knew puppyhood was a little annoying but it's never really that bad. WRONG. German Shepard puppies are Tasmanian devils on amphetamines and no one tells you that until you get one! And then they all chuckle about it like, "Haha! Welcome to the club! Just get through the first 6 months and you'll be fine!" Well, I'll tell you the truth since no one bothered to tell me: You better have a stellar level of physical stamina, a war chest of mental fortitude, a therapist on standby and some kind of pharmaceutical grade relaxant. Once you get that god-forsaken heathen it is you against a wild animal with limitless energy, a level of intelligence that shouldn't be allowed and an unbreakable will. It's like the Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor. After 4 months with the hellhound-on-wheels I no longer recognized myself. I looked like Obama coming out of office. My hair had greyed and fine lines appeared on my once youthful face. My vibrant energy was non-existent. What's worse is that I had so many mental breakdowns that I lost touch with reality and no longer knew who or where I was. Eventually, God had mercy on my soul and led us to Vic. If it had not been for Vic, I would have left my husband and cushy lifestyle on the grounds of intolerable cruelty and moved into a studio apartment in a shady part of town just to escape the sheer madness. I had lost all hope. My world had been cast into shadows. Vic was like an angel floating down from the heavens to lead me through the valley of despair. Miracles are real and I am living proof. Our puppy/demon got weekly trainings until she was old enough to go to Board and Train. When she came back she was like a furry little soldier. I couldn't believe it! Not only had she become bearable, but I quite enjoyed her! Over the last several months, that little butthole has really grown on me! She has become a really great dog and no longer terrorizes me, it's awesome! Now, don't get me wrong, I've had to put in the work. Just like a willful child you kind of have to beat them into submission and break them like a wild horse. But man, when you do, they're wonderful! Our German Shepard, whose name is Nymeria the Direwolf of House Polo first of her name and Queen of the Hellhounds, is such a fun dog that I've almost forgotten that I went temporarily insane for 6 months! Thank you Vic, you are a life saver and the most majestic dog trainer in all the land! 10/10 would recommend to anyone losing grip on reality because of a working breed puppy!!!

My sincere thanks and highest recommendation goes to Divine Canine. The work that Vic and Mary did…read morebefore, during, and after a three-week board and train for our new puppy was nothing short of exceptional. Our new puppy came from a farm as a rescue. With Vic and Mary's help and expertise, McGuire has transitioned into a well-behaved and well-trained member of our family. We could not have asked for better. McGuire's social skills are top-notch. Does not run to jump on people when off leash and never pulls on the leash when walking in a crowd, Stays in place when commanded and understands boundaries. Moreover, Vic worked just as hard with us through multiple lessons to ensure we were able to maintain the consistency of what McGuire had been taught. Just phenomenal work from beginning to end. Personally, I couldn't ask for better and highly recommend Divine Canine to everyone who needs assistance with their fur-covered family members (Dogs only, Not Husbands and Kids)

My time at Dogs by Andy was a game changer in the best most positive way. First, a little…read morebackground: In April 2015 I fostered a 5 wk old female GSD rescued from a litter that had been rejected by the mother. I feel in love with her & formally adopted her at 8 wks naming her Daytona. I've had dogs all my life, a Poodle, Beagle, Shiba & currently a Jack Russell Shorty. But, Oh My, a German Shepherd is a whole other ball game! I read the books & tried doing basic obedience with her. Yet as she grew & grew her "little" personality showed itself more & more. She is very sweet & loving, But she is also a temperamental drama queen who wants to have her way ALL the time. Well Thanksgiving night 2015 I took her out & didn't notice the neighbor was also out with his dog, an unfixed female Pit ... ya that did not end well for me. Daytona lunged toward the Pit & jerked me off my feet before I could stop her, throwing me face first into the concret, bruising my chin, blooding my mouth & breaking my hand :( I spent the holidays in a cast up to my elbow, but the worst part was that my confidence in handling her was broke as bad as my hand. I was faced with either giving her back to the rescue to find another home or getting some professional help. Enter Dogs by Andy! The single most important decision I have ever made in my dog owner life. My husband works in auto racing so I had heard of Andy through the racing grapevine. As soon as my cast was off & I was done with PT in March 2016, Daytona & I were in for an evaluation with Andy & Fred. The eval was relaxed & comfortable taking place in their indoor training area where Daytona could safely run around as we got to know each other discussing my situation & goals. I decided on the 10 week off-lead eCollar program. I have to note how much I appreciated meeting & enjoyed talking with the owner, Andy. Although he may seem a bit ruff around the edges at first, I found him to be a highly knowledgable & experienced trainer with a exceptional commitment to giving the very best he can to making all dogs the best they can be along with their owners! One look around the facility and it is obvious how much love & care has gone into it. Also, given I'm a GSD owner, I have to mention that during my time there I was able to observe Andy interact with & train Shepherds & Malinois for his personal protection program. Frankly it was awe inspiring to watch & after witnessing Andy's connection with these strong breeds, I wouldn't consider bringing any kind of strong naturally protective dog to anyone other than Andy & his team to train. Daytona & I began our first 5 sessions of on-lead training with Fred learning sit, down, stay, heel, and come. I struggled with my timing on top of a lack of confidence, but I can't say enough how amazingly kind & patient Fred was with me. I began feeling like there actually was hope. Due to an unexpected scheduling conflict, Stephanie took over for the last 5 sessions of off-lead training & the correct use of an eCollar. Stephanie specializes in protection training & all I can say is Wow, what an absolute pleasure it was working with her. Her abilities are extraordinary, she is as strong & knowledgable as she is lovely & kind. My dear ornery girl Daytona with all her "my way" drama met her match in Stephanie & it was awesome! She also took the extra time to understand & address my personal concerns such as Daytona's aggressiveness toward other female dogs. By the end of our time with her, Daytona was head-over-paws in love willing do anything for her & I had a new sense of confidence in myself & in my beautiful German Shepherd. I was sad to see our 10 weeks come to an end as I feel everyone at Dogs by Andy have become a part of our extended doggie family. In addition to training I have boarded both of our dogs, Daytona & our shorty Jack, Duncan, at Andy's and they both do very well happy & healthy when I pick them up. I've had them do Daytona's grooming too the anti-shedding treatment is a must have! They also carry the Victor brand of dog food, which Daytona has done very well on. In the months since we have complete our training in May 2016 my relationship with Daytona has only improved. I would highly recommend learning the appropriate use of an eCollar particularly with a breed such as a GSD, it has been a godsend for us many times over. But, as will always be her nature, she still gets a little ornery so being able to bring her in for the rest of her life to get a little training refresher when I feel she needs it is an extra reassuring commitment Dog's by Andy gives you. Finally I have to acknowledge Kendall who assisted with training a few times & was a pleasure to work with. Along with giving big props to Robin who handles all the ins-and-outs of appointments & questions. She always has a smile on her face & joy in helping you no matter how big or small the task.

Excellent people to work with and they make you feel like part of the family. They help you…read moreunderstand the needs for the dog. Tess was my trainer as was awesome, but then again, everyone there was just as awesome. Thank you all for the great training experience. PS. pics to come of Tallulah

We have boarded our 2 springer spaniels here multiple times and are always happy with our…read moreexperience. During one stay one of our dogs had a medical issue and they were very prompt in notifying us and getting the appropriate medical care for our dog. Our dogs always seem happy to go there.

The staff is amazing. It's a great place for the dogs to…read morerun great place to take the dogs very friendly staff nice wide open fields

Wally is THE BEST trainer in the area! He trained my cat (the one you see in my picture) and my pet…read morerat. Yes, you read that right. Whatever four-legged pet you have is no problem. His classes will give you the tools to correct unwanted behaviors and promote positive ones with your furry friend. He's been training for over 25 years so he knows what he's doing. If you listen to his advise and then keep practicing at home you will have a well-behaved pet in no time. The key is to keep with it.

From the owner: From potty training to don't eat the neighbors we can help. With in home training for service dogs,…read moreobedience or problem dogs. We teach owners how to gain obedience from their dogs. Using only positive methods. And they give you follow-up practice sheets for everything we go over in your training sessions.

Leann was great to work with! She had our crazy 7 month old puppy under control in the first visit…read more We had the tools we needed to understand our puppy and enjoy her more! Leann will help you with all issues inside your home and out in public areas. I would highly recommend her!!! Thank you Leann for making life more enjoyable with our puppy!!

From the owner: My Mindful Pup is a locally owned family business dedicated to providing family dog training. We…read moreare here to teach owners how to effectively communicate with their dogs by providing a custom training plan and the tools needed for a balanced relationship. Our training methods are aimed at creating a confident, mindful pup by shaping and encouraging behaviors through focus, routine, and enrichment! We avidly pursue ongoing continuing education and professional development by attending behavioral and training seminars, dog events, and trials.  Certified dog training since 2007 Evaluator for the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy Evaluator for the AKC Caine Good Citizen Proud supporting member of the IAABC

We have a 1yr old pitbull, Rocko that is sweet, friendly and very energetic. He has never been to…read moreboarding so we were very nervous, but when we arrived the staff was phenomenal. They welcomed Rocko with caress making him feel comfortable as well as myself. They took their time to learn about his personality and routine. There was positive energy throughout the facility, which was spotless and smelled amazing. I appreciate the pictures and the report card that was given to me at pickup. When they were bringing Rocko to me he wanted to go back and play which said it all that he had a blast! When he got to the truck he was happy and tired which was a good thing, he slept all night. I can't say enough about this place but bring your fur baby you will be glad you did!

I visited this place and toured the facilities, very impressed with the amount of training each…read moreemployee has performed. They keep the whole facility very sanitized, dogs looked happy, and staff were enthusiastic. Parking is decent but could overflow on heavy pickup or drop off days.

I heard about this boarding facility through a friend and decided to check it out as I am always…read morelooking for a place where my dog could be comfortable and feel right at home when I was travelling or needed a short stay for my pup. I looked at the owner's website www.camp-ruff.com which describes their facility as a "lux camp" for dogs and puppies. I was intrigued and called for an appt to view the property and see the operations. I was met by the Camp Director/Owner, a delightful, sincere woman named Lucinda. She greeted me and my dog and proceeded to show me the camp home, which is divided into sections based on the needs and behaviors of the various dogs she was boarding. She listened to my description of my dogs needs, habits and observed her to judge how she would behave w other dogs. One by one she let a dog out from the house, where they have their "sleep over", cautiously to see what my dog would do. As the animals were about my dog's size everyone seemed to accept each other. Great news! Lucinda decided to take the next step by taking my dog w the small pack for some exercise on the trail in the woods behind the house. The dogs were running around having a great time which relieved my anxiety that my dog might not like to be off leash but she was running and getting some great exercise and learning to enjoy the pack mentality. No fighting or misbehaving, perfect! Lucinda works tirelessly to pamper the pooches morning and night. Morning feedings, evening feedings, medications and always careful observations of the pets. They all sleep like happy babies when the day ends in a real home environment. Prices are in line and reasonable I think for an overnight stay of $44 including feeding, walking, playtime and careful observation by someone who is highly qualified and very knowledgeable of pet behavior. All animals come in contact w other pets only when owner has documentation for boarding such as rabies vaccination, bordetello. This place is a well thought out and safe place to leave your precious pet while you are away. So relax, they got your back!

Lucinda does a great job taking care of our baby. We've been with her for over a year now and never…read morehad a problem.

After losing our 16 year old pup, waiting a while, it was time to look for our forever girl…read more We adopted our Aiko, a cavapoo and have not regretted the investment once. Although I called her our million dollar dog, she was well worth it. There is still a lot of work to do with a puppy (just like a human baby really) AND she was easy to bring along, train and get to know. Because of covid, I had to have her shipped. At the airport cargo terminal I sat in a corner, opened the door to meet her, and she climbed right up my chest and started to kiss me. She loved me immediately and hasn't stopped since. I took her outside on a leash, and she did her business. We got into my car (I came alone), and sat in traffic for over an hour. She was wonderful. She laid down on the front passenger seat, simply looking at me. OMG. From the start she was a doll. She is also a big personality and so lovable. When she was spayed, they told me she woke up and climbed up onto the nurse and started kissing her. Not only was she trained (we got her at 5 months, masters level), but she also had no issues going to the vet, getting bathed or groomed, loved all kinds of dogs and people, and have never had that shaking body response of being really scared. She was born in July, we got her in December and now it is June. Best year ever. if you can afford it, buy recherché. I will never get a puppy anywhere else again. We loved our last dog, but with vet costs, behavioral training for her anxiety and fear aggression, her 7 years on puppy prozac and all the other things she cost us well over the 18k our new baby cost. We would rather "save" a dog than get one from a breeder. Having said that, life with Aiko has been a joy. Now for a cavapoo, she really should be more laid back and relaxed. She required a LOT of playing and walking, and hours each day of fetching. It's been so great though. Ty ty ty - I would like to be able to meet her siblings!

RED FLAG WARNING. I was approved to buy a $26,000 puppy from Recherche Kennels. They sent me a…read more"puppy deposit" document. The deposit paper did not spell out the transaction details or what the total price would be, but it did state that the kennel could, at its sole discretion, change the puppy, contrary to what I expected. Worse still, the deposit agreement required me to give up any right to "disparage" the kennel for any reason. I called and spoke to Becky. I said that if I was going to commit to a $26,000 purchase, I wanted a single document outlining each party's responsibilities, including the final purchase price. I was asking for a Puppy Sales Agreement. Becky was uncertain if the "Owners" would allow such a document to be used. I went to ChatGPT, entered the various promises made by the kennel, and asked it to create a Puppy Purchase Agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the sale. I sent the document to Becky and noted that I tried to list all the promises and guarantees in one document. I added that if anything was incorrect, please make the corrections so it accurately reflects the terms of our deal. The Puppy Deposit document did not state the puppy's full price and included a vague clause stating that all puppies were subject to a $3,000 monthly maintenance fee. I understood that the three months of training would be an additional fee on top of the $26,000 purchase price. They refused to explain that charge within the document. About an hour after I sent the proposed Agreement, Becky wrote back to say they had decided I would not be a good placement for the puppy. I had been very impressed by the Recherche website and all the wonderful promises they make. I remember learning from my father never to trust someone who will not put in writing what they say. Recherche refused to provide me with a sales agreement outlining the full terms of the sale. I do not trust people who refuse to put into writing what they are promising. Buyer Beware