Our dog Perly loves going to Dogtopia in Springfield to play in the romper room once a week…read more Everyone that works there is very nice, cares about the dogs and we know Perly is in great hands there.

Employees when I called to inquire about services gave conflicting information about their…read moreservices. What was relayed does not match Dogtopia policy. There is no "free" meet and greet and stay per the employees. The "stay" is mandatory and charged after per the employee when the larger Dogtopia company said that was complimentary. Not worth my money to take off work to do a temperament meeting and then forced to have a "stay" before a trip to test things out.

Had our first "puppy class" last tuesday led by Gwen and Charlie the tzu and I learned some new…read moretricks, got to play with the other pups and enjoyed ourselves. Training is based on positive reinforcement with treats which at 8 pounds, I'm trying to watch his figure but will probably prepare his dinner and use it for next class per trainer's recommendation. Hey boys gotta eat! Soon as you are confident, you can ween off the treats and use play and praise. Gwen even used Charlie to "demonstrate" which I laughed because good luck with my OCD puppy but low and behold, Gwen is the Dog Whisperer. Okay, I shut up now and whatever you say, I will do. First class covered simple sit, lay down, down, leave it, potty training techniques and homework to try with your pup. I learned a bit and it's up to me to practice with my puppy but I am really excited about it. Gwen even gave us her contact and is open to questions and topics inside and outside of the classroom so that's a big plus! She really cares and wants pups to succeed so be sure to "reward the behaviors you like!" Even though we attended our first class, I look forward to the next classes coming up!

I just completed four one-hour private lessons with Lisa at Kissable Canine and am very happy with…read morethe results! Lisa was so great with my 6 month old beagle and was professional, a great teacher, and such a nice person! We had gone through the basic puppy training at Petsmart (6 weeks of one hour group sessions) and that had helped with basics like sit and stay but we had problems walking him on the leash and getting him to be more obedient. The four session package was $320 and so worth it! Lisa starts out by discussing your expectations and makes sure there's no expectation gap. I told her that our big goal was to get him to walk better on a leash because he either dragged behind or ran ahead, stopped to sniff forever and it would take 5 times as long to get wherever we needed to go. Over the course of the four sessions (spread out over 2 months, per my request) my little guy has gotten very good at down, stay, staying in his bed (Lisa said this was good because if the pup is trained to stay on the bed, then you can take the pup to hang out at a coffee shop or restaurant outside); he got over a stair phobia, we're working on recalls ("come" command, even from a distance), and she gave us advice about how to walk him (apparently tugging on his Easy Walk harness is ok...he is much improved now). I highly recommend the one on one training because you can train your dog in home, outdooor, and dog park (or places with other distractions) environments. Lisa is a great teacher and gave us fundamental skills to keep training the pup. The homework is targetted at your dog's specific needs. Well worth the $320.

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.

We had our American Bully board here for a week. This what her first time boarding and being around…read moreso many new people/dogs so we were nervous going into it. The staff were super friendly, organized, and I could tell how much they cared for our dog. We could see on the cameras how careful staff was with how dogs interacted with each other. We picked up a happy, healthy bully who made so many friends. Will definitely use them again!

I can't say enough good things about Olde Towne Pet Resort. As a puppy parent, I'm naturally…read morehesitant about leaving him anywhere--but OTPR has completely earned my trust. Their live-streaming cameras let me check in on him during daycare play sessions and while he's relaxing in his suite, which gives me incredible peace of mind. The facility itself feels more like a luxury hotel than a kennel, and the team genuinely loves what they do. It's clear they care deeply for every pet in their care. If you're looking for a reliable, compassionate place to leave your pet while you're away, I wholeheartedly recommend OTPR. Their prices are competitive, and their amenities far exceed any other facility I've visited in the DMV. #GiveThemATry

We adopted our good boy Buddie from a shelter in December. A sweet boy, but years in a shelter…read more(five!) has made him somewhat a sensitive pup prone to barking to loud noises and strangers approaching. Passing cars on walks yielded barking and lunging, doorbells ringing, more barking. We tried some "do-it-yourself" online things with zero success, and realized actual one-on-one training was the only option. Enter Tommy from Bark-Busters. His initial three-hour in-home training course was amazingly effective, so much so the change in Buddie was almost night and day to us. Upon meeting Buddie for the first time, Tommy immediately knew the kind of sensitive dog Buddie was and tailored his training to suit. His techniques were easy to understand and master and can be practiced anytime we're with Buddie. No more barking when the doorbell rings, or when a car passes, or a stranger approaches. Buddie's a lot calmer now which is more in keeping with his overall sweet nature. Highest recommendation!

When I first reached out to Tommy, I was in a pretty dark place with my 3-year-old English Bulldog…read more His behavior had taken a serious turn--aggression, constant overstimulation, and a total breakdown in how we communicated. I was heartbroken and honestly starting to feel like I'd failed him. What Tommy brought into our home was a complete shift in perspective. He didn't just train the dogs--he taught us how to create structure, set clear expectations, and restore calm. After just the first session, our house felt noticeably different. The tension was gone, the barking and toy-fighting stopped, and even our older dogs--who had been keeping their distance--seemed relieved. What really makes Tommy stand out is the continued support. He's incredibly responsive, provides real tools and a step-by-step plan, and genuinely checks in on your progress. The Lifetime Guarantee is a huge comfort--knowing we have ongoing access to help if new issues arise takes so much pressure off. We're still working through things, but the difference already feels like night and day. I can't recommend Tommy highly enough--he gave us back peace and hope.

After moving to the West Springfield area, I went looking for a place to take my dog so he could…read moreplay. He'd been a regular at another dog daycare, and I knew he'd miss playing with other dogs. I checked out several in the area, and got recommendations from my neighbors. I decided on Reserved Barking because it was clear that they adore my dog as much as I do. He is always super excited to go inside to play. I love the fact that they have an outdoor play area. That's unusual and a big benefit in my opinion. I know the employees are vigilant, caring, and professional. He loves to see them every morning and I trust them completely with my dog. They get 5 stars on Yelp because they deserve it. You couldn't ask for a better place to bring your dog.

I absolutely LOVE Reserved Barking, it's owners and the staff; what a great group of people! My…read moredog loves coming here, when I first got her I was in distress to get her quality fun time when I was at work (sometimes 10-12 hour days) and my husband just deployed. I was a new dog owner and she being my first ever puppy and dog (GSD); I was sooo stressed. But the owners are so helpful and knowledgeable, this is truly the best place in the history of EVER for dogs! I also love that this is Veteran owned and you get to interact often with the owners. Thanks guys, I can't say enough great things about them. It's terrible and comical some of the reviews that I've read about this place... I'm sorry but it isn't RB's fault if your dog ate something it shouldn't have and how do you know it was at RB? Reserved barking doesn't have toys available for dogs to chew on or anything else for dogs to play with other than other dogs (and the water hose!). Reserved Barking is an amazing oasis for my puppy she gets sad when she doesn't get to come here. It breaks my heart.

I have brought my dog here several times and the service/staff have always been great…read more Easy to schedule appointments and easy to get in contact with. The doggy daycare along with the boarding is great for my dog.

Friendly staff and lots of walks! Recently boarded my pup there for a month and she was happy and…read morereceived lot of attention. Grooming was great - they even cleaned her teeth! Only quibble would be nice to revive more updates automatically - facility did provide updates/photos on request. Good value for this area.

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!

Ridgeside was recommended to us by a neighbor with a very well mannered dog. We have a 4 yo…read moreBluetick Coonhound that had a few issues that we couldn't get past on our own. Initially we checked out the Ridgeside Instagram account and then after contacting them for additional information we decided to sign Flossie up for the 3 week board & train program. We were given our trainer's contact info in case we had any questions or wanted additional info prior to the start date. Gina picked up Flossie and for the next three weeks we got pictures and videos every day of Flossie's training progress plus also information for us to learn about the training. All of this made the transition back home easy and seamless. Gina's instructions were clear and concise and she also made sure that we understood the hows and the whys of training. Since Flossie has been home Gina reached out to see how things were going and said she was available if we had any follow up questions. We are very happy with the outcome and feel the training really firmed up our loosey goosey training up to that point. Gina gave Flossie the foundational training she needed in order for us to meet our goals with Flossie and we couldn't be happier with the outcome.