Before choosing a dog trainer, we looked at countless options online. Ruff House was the only one…read morethat got back to us and was accepting new clients, or in some cases, got back to us at all. We weren't sure what to expect, as we are new to dog training. We scheduled an initial appointment for private in-home training that was $150 and was listed to be up to an hour and a half. Following the payment, we received an email with the trainer's availability and requested a time within it. We then had to go back and forth to find a time that worked for the trainer. It would have been much more helpful to just receive a list of dates/times that were still available instead of just a general schedule for booking. Again, we weren't sure what to expect but got up bright and early for an 8:00am session in our home the morning after Thanksgiving. The trainer was 8 minutes late. I know that isn't a huge amount of time, but it was our first meeting and we were ready on time and waiting. We received some helpful tips on how to start working on the main concerns we had with our dog, but felt like we didn't receive clear instruction on what to do if the dog didn't do the command, etc. We contemplated booking more sessions, but ultimately decided against it for the amount of money we paid vs the information we received. Maybe dog training just isn't for us. Maybe we just didn't mesh with the trainer. This was our experience.

This review is my personal opinion and not that of OVPD. We just completed Intermediate Behavior…read moreclass, which is another in a series of classes I have had the privilege of taking with Ari. They do an outstanding job of training both the dog and me. They have transformed Ari from a hyper uncontrolled dog to a well behaved sweetheart. Thanks Ruff House!

Life changing training taught with love and respect…read more I cannot say enough great things about Susan & the services she offers at N.D.O.T. It was soon into our initial consult with Susan that I knew she was offering something special with the training methods and communication structures that go into her Board & Train services. At the time of our consult we had a 2-year-old energetic blue heeler that was a perfect storm of energy, anxiety, and smarts. Arriving from HSSA, we are the second home for our little girl and knowing she's a working breed we tried to keep her both physically and mentally stimulated. We had already been through courses with another highly rated training facility here in Tucson (multiple individual 6-week courses: beginner-advanced as well as private lessons with trainers from the facility focusing on reactivity). One of the difficulties we still ran into was leash aggression and her anxiety around other dogs. Concerned she was going to hurt another animal or cause health problems to herself we were struggling to find a path to harmony with our little one. During the initial consult we discussed our backstory and the current training methods we were practicing. Susan shared the outline for how her typical board & train program progressed and then she spent time discussing how she planned to tailor the program to focus on the areas we were most concerned with. We left the first meeting with a boarding start date, some diet adjustments [we were overfeeding / treating :( ], and a ton of relief knowing how much we clicked with Susan's outlook/experience/reassurance. After starting and throughout the program Susan gave us regular updates on our little one's progress. It was incredible to witness the growth of confidence and trust this cattle dog gained during her first week with Susan and the pack. She transformed from an anxious, reactive, & lungeing terror around other dogs to a playful, curious, and happy member of Susan's pack. She was getting along with and safely learning how to interact off-leash around dogs of all sizes. During the final half of the program Susan went out of her way to ensure life 'post-graduation' was going to be set for success. We were able to join pack-walks at N.D.O.T. to learn and demonstrate the communication techniques Susan provided us. Susan brought our little one home prior to finishing training to join us for neighborhood walks in our own streets (helping us discover new opportunities for successful play and training in the future). We even got the opportunity to join Susan for multiple field trips with the pup. The communication had improved so much that we were practicing public training outings at everywhere from hardware shops to farmers markets. The program ended after enjoying a wonderful meal on a Resturant patio the pup calmly resting throughout (this is something 3 weeks earlier I never would have believed possible!) I am unable to overstate the gratitude I have for Susan's training and the improved communication skills we have developed with our four-legged loved one because of it. This training pays dividends. Keep Susan's contact info saved because even if it's not today someday you will want it. To me N.D.O.T. is the equivalent of a low-key amazing restaurant or bar. If you know someone who could benefit from working with Susan and you want to give that person the gift of a lifetime then just share Susan's info and let them know she really is life changing.

I can't say enough about the amazing work that Susan does with dogs. Our young Corgi,Benny, missed…read morepuppy classes because of Covid. At the same time I broke my wrist so five months later I had a young dog who had not been socialized and was totally out of control. I was completely overwhelmed. Susan took Benny and after three weeks he was a totally different dog. He is socialized so I can now take him out in public without him causing total chaos. He is now attentive and well mannered. Susan constantly stays in touch with me to check on his progress. It was worth every penny to have Susan work with our dog. I am very grateful for what she has done. Roni Woolston

They may be very good. But repeated attempts to call, text and email have gone unanswered. Too bad.read more

Tamison has been incredible We had a little bit of a strange situation as my son had to go to Iraq…read moreand I live in Massachusetts the dogs had to go into boarding for several months and then before they went to live with my sons girlfriend we wanted to make sure they were trained as they would be living with other animals and small children and we wanted them to have some bad behaviors(chewing furniture and jumping) curbed. They are big rambunctious loving pups! Tamison spent several weeks getting basic commands down and a training program the my sons gf could continue at home and it has been terrific they are so much easier to handle and control and they are much happier pups know that they are busy learning every day!

I adopted Roama (1yr old chow/shepherd/cattle dog/pit mix) from PACC in late June. There was very…read morelittle known about her other than she'd seriously bitten the ppl who found her as a stray. I was very nervous bringing a new dog into my very comfortable pack with 2 small, 9 yr old dachshund mixes. My dogs had always been chill with other dogs but since Roama was a wildcard, I enlisted help from Terra to make sure I was prepared. Terra came to my house before the adoption, gave me ideas how to set up the space, tips for feeding in case there was resource aggression, and general training planning after meeting my 2 littles and getting their vibe. When Roama arrived, she made another visit to the house to see them (and me) interact. Let's face it, the human is usually the problem and I'm not exception. She helped with great tips, especially the magical squirt bottle (the horror!!) Roama has a lot of puppy energy that her elder siblings aren't able to match, and Terra invited her to the socializing play group! This has been a game changer. Roama can spend the day with pups that match her size and energy, then come home tired for cuddles with the sibs! It's been so great for her! Terra even let me join to watch her play and see how she shows her emotions (all in that toothy mouth of hers.). Hoping she'll be ready to try a dog park soon! Can not recommend her enough if you're anxious about adopting a new friend (DO IT) or if your current pup just needs a nudge in the right direction! Rise Above is amazing!! Enjoy the happy dog photos!!

I am so grateful to have Just completed my five weeks of training and lessons with Terra, for my…read morehigh energy Border Collie, who was having reactivity issues to other pups as we were on our daily morning walks through our neighborhood. Terra 's professional, caring , focused training taught me the exact skills I needed, to help my pup get over her reactivity issues. We are now able to have relaxing , fun walks , through our neighborhood, every morning. I know what to do to help my pup, should she become distracted, so we can continue at a leisurely manner during our walks. Terra came to my home, in a space where I and my pup were relaxed. She even brought her sidekick "Bucket", to help us with our reactivity issues. We were given homework to do after every lesson, and did it faithfully, 2 times a day. My pup now looks forward to going on walks and reinforcing what we have learned. Terra was always available for any questions I had and returned my text messages promptly. I am truly grateful to have found Terra and Rise Above Dog Training. I know , soon, there will be a day, when reactivity is a thing of the past, but, I will continue to train my pup, as she is a member of my family, and deserves to have the best of care. With all of this said, I highly recommend Terra for your dog training /owner of dog training needs. My pup and I thank you Terra.

Just finished a 5 week puppy training class with Liane - she was great. Class size was limited to…read more3 puppies and their masked people due to Covid. We covered all the basics: sit, down, stand, stay, come when called, and loose lease walking. But we also learned a lot about how dogs think and how they perceive various situations, which I found particularly helpful. Everything we learned is "sticking" with daily practice at home. Liane teaches with a lot of humor which made it highly enjoyable for the human students. Highly recommend her. We are going to try the drop off adventure camp next!

Liane, trainer at Empire Ridge Ranch - excellent; smaller classes; gives good advice after…read moreassessing your dog & you, as an owner. Top notch - recommend. Many types of training, including Barnhunt. @empireridgeranch.com Not your average cookie cutter trainer! Now, also offers online training.

I take my 15 1/2 year old Queensland healer mix to see Kate to work on maintaining his rear…read moreagility. Jaimme's experience is one of fun and enjoyment and he has shown improvement in his rear strength and balance which allows him to continue his daily walks and other doggy's routines. In addition, Diablo a foster with Valley fever has benefited from the gym routines as the valley fever he has has riddled his body with bone damage and it is clear that the therapeutic benefits are helping him develop a more normal range of motion.

Our dog had an injury that will require months of rehab and therapy, and our vet recommended A…read moreLoyal Companion. Our dog needed a custom made brace with adjustments and A Loyal Companion not only created the brace but came to our home in Phoenix (two hour drive from Tucson) and fit him and instruct us on how to put it on and take it off him. We also were given two free adjustments and they have a great pool especially for dogs. I highly recommend them!!

Rebecca is amazing and super knowledgeable. She has a great space with appropriate amounts of…read morepuppies in class. We felt very safe secure and confident We learned a ton in just one hour!! We highly recommend her!!

My wife and I were freaked out by the idea of a board and train, but as soon as we met Rebecca, we…read morefelt at ease and knew she was someone we could completely trust with our sensitive vizsla puppy. Not only did our pup come away from the board and train with newfound confidence and obedience, but we gained a friend and mentor in Rebecca. I knew she not only trained our puppy but loved on her like one of her own the entire time. She has continued to help us in private lessons since. Rebecca's patience and confidence in her methods of training make her one-of-a-kind. Would recommend her a million times over.

Our rescue pup was a disaster, she ATE a sofa. Three weeks with a wolf whisperer and she was a…read moredifferent dog. Quiet, Obedient, communicative with non verbal cues. Always always listened. I ended up training her as a therapy dog for distressed clients, so ten years later we are inseparable. This was amazing training. We may have moved 1500 miles away but it will be worth the trip when it's time To add another pup to our home.

Absolutely horrible place. She had no other dogs there. My dog was ignored in a concrete cage. She…read moredoes not allow visits. I was promised a well behaved, chilled dog. I don't think she worked at all with him. I called several times and she said he was doing well. He became very aggressive when he came home. If someone says part of training is you are not allowed weekend visits, they are probably abusive or ignoring your animal. I doubt you are still out there but my daughter was 12 at the time and our dog came back afraid of people and not able to leave the house. He was no longer our friendly boy.