I can't say enough positive things about this business. Patrice one of the trainers is the…read moreabsolute best trainer in the world. Our extremely stubborn French Bulldog stops all foolishness when Patrice is in sight. Their training program is outstanding but their retail service is just as outstanding! My dog did not received a salmon bone that was recommended. I returned the rest of the without issue. The location, the service, the items available make this business my go-to. #HappyShopping

We took our puppy to Saul for both private puppy training and private off leash training. We…read moreabsolutely loved Saul's expertise and teaching style. He helped us to create a stronger bond with our dog through the problem solving that naturally comes up throughout training. We love the freedom that the off leash program has given our family. We cannot recommend Saul and OTSFD enough!!

I am very late in writing this review, but I wanted to share how meaningful my experience was. I…read moreenrolled my puppy, a red standard poodle, in her classes, and very quickly realized she was exactly the kind of trainer I had been searching for. She is clearly knowledgeable and skilled, but what truly sets her apart is her holistic approach and genuine care for animals. She treats every dog as an individual and tailors her training to meet each one's specific needs. That same thoughtful approach extends to her human clients. During this time, I was dealing with significant health challenges and was not able to attend every class. She kindly offered makeup sessions, which I deeply appreciated. When she learned that my absences were due to my health, she checked in on me personally and even asked if it was okay to call me at home to see how I was doing. Her compassion meant more to me than I can easily express. She showed more care and concern than many people I have known for decades. Anyone looking for a dog trainer should go to her, not only for her expertise, but because she is genuinely kind, attentive, and deeply invested in both her clients and their dogs.

I took Hazelnut here when she was a pup. She's now an AKC Grand Champion and I am back with he…read moredaughter. Bringing her pup feels like full circle, which says everything about my experience. April is knowledgeable, patient, and incredibly effective at tailoring guidance to each dog's temperament and each handler's skill level. I especially appreciate how she focuses not just on obedience, but on building confidence, socialization, and a strong relationship. Seeing the progress from one generation to the next has been really special, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with those critical early training foundations.

Thomas has helped us a lot with learning to work with our Akita "Carter". Not alway the friendlyest…read moredog in the world but Thomas has been able to help socalize him, and is one of the few stranger that Carter lets into the house with out a problem. We interviewed a few dog sitters that just weren't interested in working with a dog with "issues", but Thomas took on the challenge and we are the lucky winners of his doing this. I can't thank him enough for now letting us have vacations again and not having to worry about Carter at the Kennel (he never was happy there) or at home alone with just some one letting him out. He had 6 mile walks, lots of TLC and supervised play dates. Giving us peace of mind to enjoy our vacation. Thomas had the insight to work up to gaining Carters trust and knew just how to work with a large scared dog. I would recommend him highly.

I have used For the Love of Dog for over a year walking my Vizlsa and my two Greyhounds. I would…read more and have recommended them to friends. I trust their walkers completely and have never had a problem with them. The prices are competitive, but the communication between Thomas and the clients as well as the work ethic of the company is what puts them above the rest of the walkers in the area.

Chose this company to watch our cat while we were on a trip last month. Staff were attentive,…read moretimely, and sent frequent updates while we were away. Pricing was affordable and fair for the work involved. Got some extremely kind comments from every staff member that showed their genuine care for and experience with animals. Would recommend to anyone in the area.

I have been using Alexandria Pet Care for years to care for my fur babies when I'm out of town…read more Their care team is very responsive, and they always provide details/pics of my pets to put my mind at ease. Their client app is user friendly and allows me to change pet care information effortlessly. I would recommend them in a heartbeat. Thank you, APC for all that you do!

We've been using Dog Gone Walking & Pet Care for a couple years now - starting with when we got a…read moreyoung husky pup who needed some attention midday. I've always been happy with the service, but the owner Mike really has kicked it up a notch. He personally walks many dogs, including mine, and is enthusiastic and is above and beyond committed. He loves his dogs and the ones he, and by extension Dog Gone Walking, takes care of and you can really tell. At the end of each service you get a pet journal, where the walker or sitter gives a little report of what your pet was up to or accomplished, as well as a photo and - I won't lie - they're the highlight of my day. This holiday season we also used them to pet sit our two dogs. I was very nervous leaving them, but Mike (and the others - especially Brittany) were great at handling my questions and giving updates. And I think the dogs loved staying at home with people to play with! Their commitment to quality service, working with the customer, and most of all taking good care of our fur babies is priceless.

Mike and his team are reliable, caring, and trustworthy! I get pictures of my two cat daughters…read moreevery day that I'm on vacation to put my mind at ease while I'm away. I truly couldn't ask for a better service to take care of my babies. I highly recommend them!

Brandi and Perry did an awesome job training our 10-month-old mini bernedoodle. She is a pleasure…read moreto be around now. The e-collar training is absolutely life-changing. I wish I had done this sooner- it would have saved me from a lot of stress and aggravation. Communication with Brandi was awesome. She was always quick to respond and gave us updates with pictures everyday. It's definitely a worthwhile investment to have an exceptional companion for the next 15+ years!

I can't say enough good things about Brandi and Perry Bailey of RSK9. Their work has given my pup…read moreand I so much freedom and balance. Pebbles (blue heeler, 1.5 years old) would never listen to me, would not sit or lay still, and had a lot of other obedience issues that caused her to be stressed or confused. She was a TOUGH dog to train and I was concerned I couldn't find the solution for her to get basic concepts. This view has completely changed since working with RSK9's 3 week program. I would HIGHLY recommend them and their methods - you can tell they genuinely love working with dogs and it's made a huge difference in giving my dog the chance to find real rest at home. They send DAILY updates with photos and videos which was so nice. This isn't a regular class or something you just pay for; it's truly an investment that you and your dog will be using for the time you get to share together. Side note: it's worth doing 3 weeks versus 2 weeks. At the 2 week mark is when Pebbles really started to understand her marks and cues. From here there is so much more that can be refined and Brandi/Perry really capitalize on that threshold being crossed!

Kelia was the most amazing trainer for me and my dog. He was an anxious, dog reactive guy, and it…read moreaffected every part of how and when we interacted with the world. Since he's worked with her over the five-week training period, he's made a complete 180. Now we're able to walk around the city and not have him bark at every dog we see on the street. I want to point out that because my dog is innately anxious, it affects his physical state too with eating and other issues. Kelia shared that she used to be a vet tech and made me feel the most comfortable and confident with helping me set up a plan for when he might have an episode due to the transition and what all would take place to ensure he would be okay, loved, and healthy. Long story short, she cared for him for the days he was struggling, kept me updated, and he came out of it because she was purposeful, knowledgeable, and more than capable to handle the situation. I can't recommend Kelia enough for anyone seeking support and/or confidence in how they can better work with, love, and respect their dog. Bonus, she's genuinely such a joy of a human being!

Our family highly recommends Controlled K9! We adopted our boy Mortimer last year after he had been…read moreliving as a stray, and we were really struggling when he came home with basic manners, reactivity, and having him settle in with our other dog. We ended up sending both of our boys for a six-week board and train with Kelia. It seemed to only make sense to send both dogs so they would have the same baseline training. Kelia was amazing! She kept us informed just about every day with videos and texts so we could see that the boys were happy and making progress. When Kelia brought the boys home, she spent a few hours with us, showing all the commands and techniques that she taught them, so we had a seamless transition. The "place" command alone has been lifechanging. (Although as you can see in the picture, they sometimes refuse to use separate mats, LOL.) We use the command before we feed them, initially when guests come by, and when we just need them to settle down a bit. It has reduced the stress and chaos in our house tenfold, and we actually can see the boys relax when they know they have a place to go and chill out. Kelia also gave us the tools to make leash walking and general obedience so much more successful. There are a lot of options out there for training. What set Controlled K9 apart for us was (1) our boys lived with Kelia, her family, and her dogs during training - they were not staying in a kennel and were in a real-life, loving environment, and (2) the promise of lifetime, free follow-up support. The boys have been home now for about 3 months. The training has stuck, and we feel like we really have the tools we need to make life pleasant for all of us, including the boys. Kelia has also proactively checked in to make sure things are going well, provided tips on the best way to reinforce training, and has responded quickly when we have follow-up questions, including offering a visit. Over three months later, we are still completely satisfied with the training and support provided by Controlled K9 and Kelia, and we would use them again in a heartbeat.

Knowledgeable, dependable, and meticulous…read more We've known Katie and her family for 30+ years and she's the real deal. Trust your furry family with Katie!

Absolutely fabulous!! All the critter sitters (especially Karen N.) are tremendous! They send…read morelovely updates from all their visits, including cute photos of my kitties. The sitters have even cleaned up cat-created messes and brought in packages, just to be helpful. Never once had a problem and they've always been there to help. FIVE STARS!!

They have a mobile groom service. Lauren (Kibby) has come twice now and groomed my Morky . My puppy…read more hated going to the groomers and would act up. He just loves Kibby and when he is done looks super cute. Having the groomer come to me is terrific. Kibby definitely loves dogs and gives my pup the special care he needs.

I used this groomer I think once when I lived in Alexandria. If I recall correctly, my two dogs…read morelooked cute in their bandannas afterward but were still somewhat damp at pickup. Wasn't great grooming, wasn't terrible. I don't remember exactly when that was but I think around 2013. I moved away from the area in 2016, so certainly no later than that. Both of those dogs have been dead for years now. But I appear to be on VIP Pet Elite's text spam list until the end of time. The last text I got from them before today, I responded politely to ask to be taken off the list. No reply either way. Today I got one that isn't even about dog grooming; it says "Hi. ViPs! Great News! VIP Pet Elite partnered with Goldmine Realty ([link redacted]). Refer, Sell, or Buy Real Estate with Goldmine Realty and get 12 months FREE GROOMING with VIP Pet Elite! Call for details at 703-586-5976" Like, who does that? this is NOT why I gave out my phone number. Don't you give them yours unless you want to get crappy real estate spam texts in 2032.

Lauren and her team do an excellent job taking care of our pets! I don't have to worry about them…read morein their care, even with my dog being a bit dramatic on walks

Here is an update to my original review. As I said before,…read moreI LOVE my pet care team. Off Collar has been a God send for me. Yesterday I was diagnosed with the flu. Oh misery All it took was a text message to Lauren Flannigan (owner) and favorite pet sitter, to ask if she could help me out by taking my Mila for daycare. There was no hesitation on her part. She was here early this morning to pick her up and will have her back to me in the afternoon giving me the day to rest. She will do the same tomorrow. Even though we weren't scheduled for these days, she was very willing to help me out. If you need pet care and want the best for your four legged furry friend, you would be remiss in overlooking this amazing service. I have had dogs my whole life and excellent pet sitters are hard to come by.