Our 15-month old Boston Terrier, Skippy, has always had a fun, loving and ENERGETIC personality. While a great dog, Skippy was too excitable, too jumpy, too mouthy, wouldn't come when called, and not overly responsive to the training we attempted at home during the first year of the pandemic. We enrolled Skippy in the 19-day residency program with hopes that we could better integrate Skippy into our active family, which includes young kids. Blake and the team were very professional and responsive throughout the entire process. I was initially hesitant with the training techniques, but I came to understand and embrace them after multiple discussions with Blake. During the 19-day residency program, we could see the strides that Skippy was making. After pickup and our own "training," we worked hard over the following weeks to make sure Skippy's training stuck and that the strides we saw online came through at home. Today, Skippy is able to take part in all aspects of family life, in and out of the home. He is well behaved, able to remain calm when needed (while still being his energetic fun self when it is time for that), and consistently follows all of his on and off leash commands. He sits, goes to down, comes when called, drops items on command that he would chew previously, walks perfectly on leash, doesn't jump on our kids or others, and has very good manners and a calmness that we rarely saw before. Our relationship with Skippy, which was very good before, has hit a new level. He is an even more-beloved member of the family now, and we owe a lot of that to the Prodigal Pooch team. I would add that we definitely put in the work to develop and reinforce the training at home, so I would really recommend this program for those that are serious about following through. If we get another dog one day, we will definitely be working with the Prodigal Pooch. read more

I came to The Prodigal Pooch by a word of mouth recommendation from a friend, and I can't say enough good things about TPP, Blake and Kelly. Not only did I trust Blake given three recommendations from friends, our initial consult sealed the deal. We spent two hours talking about my goals as a dog owner, Blake's approach and method as well as getting to know my dood, Duck. I was ready to move forward before our call even ended. I knew Duck would be in good hands even beyond training as he's in home, there are only 4 dogs in residency at a time, etc. I also like to think that Blake obliged my friend & I when he allowed our pups to complete their residency together. After 19 days with Blake, Duck is calm, attentive, walks freely on his leash, knows all his commands (voice and hand), and bless Blake & Kelly for doing the Lord's work in helping Duck get through crate anxiety. Thanks to Blake, Duck is more than just cute, and I can't help but smile when people comment about how well he minds. Proud owner of a Prodigal Pooch grad alongside 4 of my friends and even more excited for my half sister to start school soon! read more

The Prodigal Pooch - Pet Training Near Me

We adopted a 2-year-old dog from the Humane Society in February 2019. He seemed like a great fit for our family of three boys (curious, playful and darn cute), but he was just impossible on the leash. He also had other charming habits that emerged over time--for instance Echo liked to chase our family cat, bark at strangers walking by, bark at squirrels in the driveway and counter surf. A friend connected me to Blake with the Prodigal Pooch, and it has changed everything. Blake has shifted our relationship with Echo and given us tools to be Echo's leaders rather than constantly reacting to his behavior. I did not want to be one of those people getting dragged up and down the sidewalk by my dog while he lunges and barks at squirrels and other dogs. Nor did I want people walking by to think we had "one of those crazy dogs" that acts like he might eat you if you walk too close to our fence. Blake works with the dogs at his home, then brings them back to you and shows you exactly what you need to do to establish yourself as in control. Of course, it takes practice at home, but Blake encourages you to check in with him; and he is so responsive to questions and concerns. Blake also offers Saturday sessions and follow up sessions to check your dog's progress. Lastly, what you'll notice about Blake is how calm and patient he is with the dogs. He never raises his voice. Everything is very structured and methodical, but he is also lavish in his praise (and encourages owners to do the same thing) when the dog gets it exactly right. I would give Blake more stars if I could! He has given us the confidence and the tools to be great dog owners, and he has also shown us how great our dog is. read more

The Prodigal Pooch - Pet Training Near Me

Blake & Kelly are the absolute best! I sent my 6 month lab puppy to the 19 day resident program, and that has BY FAR been the best decision ever! People comment ALL THE TIME about how well behaved she is and how impressed they are with her. My goal with the program was for her to be able to fit into my life and go with me places, and I am able take her with me everywhere (that dogs are allowed)! They are so trustworthy and take care of your fur baby as if he/she was their own. Cannot recommend them enough! read more

The Prodigal Pooch - Pet Training Near Me

Our 2-year-old Blu had a difficult time adjusting to our new home with little yard and many outdoor distractions, we could see Blu become more and more anxious as she watched other dogs and people walking by the house. She also was not able to play with all the new dogs because she was a "runner" and heard the "come" command as "catch me if you can." On a leash was a constant struggle, pulling in every direction, chasing everything possible and jumping on everyone she met. Our neighbors recommended Blake and The Prodigal Pooch and after meeting Blake, we signed Blu up on the spot. He characterized Blu as friendly and high energy; he was spot on. Blu attended his 19 day resident program and it has changed all of our lives. Blu is calm and confident and she no longer becomes anxious with distractions outside. She is off leash trained and enjoys walking right by our sides. She knows when she can "go be a dog" and when she needs to pay attention to her people. While the resident boarding program was great for Blu, Blake's weekly follow-up for Blu and her parents was where the training really paid off. Seeing Blake work with Blu and his calmness, patience and gentle approach taught us how to be consistent and calm while continuing to work with Blu. Blu is still highly energetic and friendly and must work really hard sometimes to stay in "place" when people come to the door or she sees someone that in her mind "must need her love" but, she knows what's expected and can quickly course correct. Blu has been home for over 2 months. We continue to work with her every day and while we loved our crazy Blu before The Prodigal Pooch seeing her confidence and calmness now makes her a pure joy in and out of our home. read more

Blake was absolutely fantastic! We brought our two year old rescue corgi mix to him with leash reactivity and behavioral issues. We did the 19 day confidence building course, and Ziggy was a whole new dog when we picked him up! You could tell that Ziggy was so excited to learn his new commands and he now is so much better on a leash. Being a working dog, he is so much happier having a job and a purpose. The first night we brought him home, Ziggy held his "place" command (stay on his dog bed!) for the whole time we were cooking and eating our dinner. Blake kept us updated with daily pictures and videos of his progress, so we never had to worry or wonder how he was doing. Blake is truly a dog whisperer! We are so excited to have our boy back with such great manners. read more

The Prodigal Pooch - Pet Training Near Me

We brought our giant Schnauzer, Blaze, here for training due to his super active and dominate behavior. We enrolled Blaze in the 19 day residency program for off leash training. Blaze has been home for 2 weeks now, and his behavior is amazing. We recently had company over and Blaze remained calm and followed commands the entire visit. He still has his fun, full of life demeanor and personality, but he is able to focus more on us. Our package includes 4 follow up visits, and meet ups around the city. We are excited to get started with these perks when ready. Blake was awesome with our puppy. read more

If I could give 10 stars I would! I wanted to update my review because Blake is absolutely amazing! It's been almost a year since we got our dog Kobe trained with Blake and he has been incredible throughout this year. I have had to text Blake a few times and ask him for tips/advice on anything Kobe is doing that needs correcting and he's ALWAYS helpful and doesn't make me feel like I'm bothering him. Most dog trainers would just train your dog and leave you alone but Blake does not, he definitely goes above and beyond. Blake's service and care is exceptional and I will always HIGHLY recommend him. read more

After following Blake online for almost a year, we finally pulled the trigger and brought our English Springer "Duke" to Blake's 19 day "off leash" residency program. Blake is AMAZING! Duke is such a different dog, he was able to help control certain behaviors (like jumping, pulling and distractions) to a place where we can actually walk with him and he listens to every command given. I would 100% recommend Prodigal read more

The Prodigal Pooch - Duke just chillin' after a day of training - Pet Training Near Me

It's been going on about 6 months since my wife and I visited the Prodigal Pooch so I figured it's about high time i left a review! We adopted our first dog ever back in April and while he was mostly well-behaved there were some areas of behavior we had no idea how to work on. Jumping on the couch, pulling us whenever he saw a squirrel or other dog, and chasing our cat around the house. We had looked around at a few training classes and had a few brief consults with some agencies when Blake came to us on a recommendation. We got on a call with Blake where he spent a whole hour getting to know us, hearing about our dog and understanding what we wanted to work on. He told us all about how he trains, why he does it the way he does and the philosophy behind his whole approach. He went so far and above what we were expecting, given that everyone else we spoke before him was so brief, that we knew this guy had the mojo. So we packed our dogs things and sent him away for two weeks. Over that time Blake kept us in the loop about what he was doing and was sharing pictures and videos of progress every step of the way. When it came time to pick up our dog... WOW! I thought for a moment maybe he had just placed a person in a dog suit, it was that night and day of a difference! Blake walked us through what all our lil' guy had learned and gave us the tools we would need to keep up with the curriculum once we went back home. Nowadays our pal heels and stays by our side at all times on his walks (no more pulling us around!) and the cat has reclaimed his throne as king of the house Not only was he super communicative throughout the training process but he has made himself available for any and all questions after the fact. You're not just getting a two or three week class, but a longtime partnership in your dogs behavioral training. My only gripe is that I wish there was a sixth star I could give . If you're interested in behavioral training for your dog the Prodigal Pooch and Blake are THE way to go! read more

My husband and I have a two year old German Shepherd named Heller. He's incredibly sweet and smart, but we had two big problems: poor leash manners and dog reactivity. Any time he was on a leash and would see a dog he would lose his mind -- growling, snarling, jumping. When I (a very small person) walked him it was always with nervousness and eventually that dwindled down to my husband being the only one to take him out. Enter: Blake. We sent Heller away to stay with Blake and were completely blown away by the dog he came back as. The same loving, funny personality, but now beyond well behaved. There was a total night and day difference in his leash walking; he now walks perfectly to heel without pulling. Blake also gave us the tools we need to communicate with Heller that his reaction to other dogs while on his leash is unacceptable. He showed us how to stop Heller's reactivity before it happens, meaning now we can walk around our neighborhood without causing a scene. The four follow-up sessions have also been key. We really liked that Blake didn't just tell us what Heller learned when we picked him up and then we never heard from him again. Training requires a lot of at home practice and long term commitment with your dog and inevitably we had a lot of situational questions -- Blake was really happy to answer any one-off questions we had and the follow up sessions have been an incredible tool. If Heller isn't responding how we want him to then Blake will observe and give corrections / suggestions. All in all -- Blake has given us an amazing gift. Our and our dog's lives will be better for it. read more

The Prodigal Pooch was my saving grace when I made the decision to get my bernedoodle puppy. As a first time dog owner with a million questions, Blake made the process so much easier from day 1. My dog and I went through puppy preschool, transitional leash-training classes, and finally a 3-week residential program where he learned both on and off-leash obedience. If you have a new puppy, I highly recommend starting them off in puppy classes which will build a foundation for success once they are a few months older. After the residency, my dog came back so well trained that I can walk him through a crowded park off-leash, and he stays right by my side. I am constantly stopped by strangers and asked how he is so well behaved at such a young age (7 months)! Thanks to Prodigal Pooch, my relationship with my dog is one of pure trust and enjoyment, and I am so glad I made the decision to trust them with his training. Could not recommend this business more! read more

I cannot recommend Blake, Kelly and The Prodigal Pooch more! I was researching dog trainers and programs due to my pup having some fear aggression issues, and came across their business. I had a 90 min consultation with Blake and learned so much about my dog, training types and information because his knowledge and insights are so vast! After a 19 day stay and follow-up sessions, my dog is a completely different pup (in the best way). Not only did Blake focus on commands, but also building confidence in my pup to teach him he doesn't need to be fearful at all. They are always ready and willing to answer any one of my million questions, no matter how small, at any time. My pup also stays with them for boarding when I leave town and I assure you I have the fullest confidence that he is completely safe and cared for - he loves to arrive and hates to leave. Training your pup is an investment, but if you work with The Prodigal Pooch and put in the time/energy to stick with it, it is ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT and you will not regret it! read more

Blake just dropped off my 9 month pup Archer after a two-week board and train program. From start to finish, the process could not have been easier, nor could I be happier with the results. The evaluation was very helpful in understanding what to expect from the training, and upon completion of the program Archer had met or exceeded my expectations. Blake was very patient with both Archer and myself, and his "training" of me is appreciated for the coming years with my pup. I also loved the frequent updates during the training so I could follow along while I was out of town. I could not be happier with the results and cannot wait to show off my Prodigal Pooch! read more

I can't say if Blake is good at training dogs because he didn't show up for my appointment that he scheduled. He called to let me know he was running 5-10 minutes late and also called me by the wrong name. I waited but he still did not show up at his house. After I had been waiting for over 30 minutes I left. If you want to waste a Saturday, the Prodigal Pooch is the service for you. read more