Best Dog Handlers In Boston Near Me

Ana polanco: From my personal experience: I sent my dog for half a year for school classes to let him socialize, and he always came with more energy. When I picked him up, he was on all the time on create.They never sent me updates or pictures about activities with him, even when I asked them what they do with him.I told a girl (I don't want to say her name) working there that my dog has a really bad reactive problem at home, and she said that he is perfectly fine and that maybe I was the problem, and was on my head.I paid for a private 1;1 trainer at home, and the same girl who came as a trainer, realize that he has a big reactive problem, barking at everything and being aggressive with everybody and basically only showed me to pull him on the leash all the time when he barks.And I was using her advice which didn't work and made my reactive dog get worse. I email her and did get an answer because I really needed help and I was starting to use medication for him but I had to stop it because I didn't have a trainer for him.Later I decided to pay for hiking classes and I had to pay around $200 just to see if my dog qualified for that, and after that, the hiking basically was to pick up my dog and give him a short 30 minutes or less walk with a prong collar. So disappointed, I thought will be real hiking in the woods.And was upset because they had good reviews. And I realize that they are different with some people, and I was feeling apart.I really need help with my dog and I trusted them. I have a low-income salary and I lose money and time that is not coming back and makes me really sad because I could invest that money in a better trainer for my dog that didn't deserve that. After reading all those comments, makes me sad. And it makes me feel like a bad dog mom.

k k: I and many others have had concerning experiences with BFTD, as explained below.Open Letter to Boston-area Dog Owners About Concerning Business Practices by Boston for the Dogs663 SUPPORTERS as of this reviewAs former employees and clients of Boston for the Dogs (BFTD), a dog training company that services Boston and surrounding communities, we feel compelled to share our collective experiences using BFTD's services and/or working for the company.In late 2022, several employees and clients left our positions with the company and/or ceased using their services due to a number of incidents we found concerning. Online posts about these experiences were seen by other former employees and clients who'd had similar experiences. After talking with each other, we couldn't ignore the clear pattern of incidents and behaviors and felt they are troubling enough to warrant being shared publicly.The concerns that follow were each expressed by multiple former BFTD employees and/or clients from 2018 through 2022. Any isolated incidents experienced by only one person have not been included. Furthermore, all incidents below were verified by written records, screenshots, or other documentation prior to inclusion.- Trainers, including BFTD's owners, had little to no formal education (through schooling or apprenticing with other qualified trainers) in training service dogs (SD). However, the company offered this service, and BFTD's principal owner told clients that their trainers were qualified to task-train dogs.- Several service dogs from their program could not perform any tasks for their handlers' medical needs after significant training time and financial investment, failing to meet their training expectations. Progress reported verbally and in writing was inconsistent with what dogs were actually able to do. Some lacked basic obedience skills, which presented safety concerns for handlers who could not reliably have their medical devices in public.- Reactive and/or aggressive dogs were handled inappropriately. Several bites to both humans and dogs occurred during active company services and required urgent care.- The conditions at the facilities for day-training clients and overnight boarding were unsanitary, including dogs present with highly contagious illnesses. Vaccination records were not up-to-date in the company's system.- BFTD ownership often did not report incidents such as bites and illnesses to clients.Many staff lacked adequate training for their positions and reported being put in situations where they felt unsafe or unqualified on multiple occasions.- Safety concerns that were brought to BFTD's owners were disregarded and/or went unaddressed.- Employees, including BFTD's owners, were frequently drinking during work hours, including during lessons and classes with clients.- BFTD's owners shared information and feelings with employees that pushed the boundaries of a professional relationship without permission.- Medical letters with personal information about service dog clients were stored unsecurely in a shared Google Drive folder.- Several former clients and employees filed reports with the Massachusetts Attorney General and Boston's Animal Control offices.Our motivation for writing this letter comes from a place of deep concern for the safety of dogs currently in the care of BFTD and for owners considering using BFTD's services in the future. During our time as employees and/or clients, attempts to raise these concerns were not taken seriously. Negative reviews posted online were often removed by the owners while other people didn't feel safe going public on their own. We hope anyone who's had similar experiences with this company, or knows friends, family, neighbors, or others who have, will join our effort to alert the greater Boston dog community about the pattern of behavior and treatment at Boston for the Dogs. Our collective experiences go back as far as 2018. And no matter where you are in your life at this time, we welcome your support as a signer.

Madi M: I am a former client and employee. It has taken me years to feel comfortable sharing my experience with this company but in light of the other stories being shared I feel wrong staying silent. As an employee, I was overworked and underpaid, and still spoken about in an incredibly poor fashion. Employees are paid 35-40% of the cost of the services with NO base pay, are expected to use their own cars and pay for gas with no reimbursement, and use their personal cell phone for work. On top of this, they’re expected to handle 5-6 dog packs with minimal training (1-2 weeks of shadowing another handler at most). Dogs with high levels of reactivity are given to handlers, and expressing discomfort or lack of experience when assigned dogs will lead to your schedule being cut down resulting in little to no income. I developed anxiety so bad as a result of multiple bites and having to break up fights between dogs that I was not equipped to handle, that I developed severe panic attacks and migraines. The one time I tried to call out I was told I needed to give more notice in the future as it was a major inconvenience, but ironically enough the owner stays home sick with no notice whenever she pleases.Both clients and employees are favorited or talked down on in a manner you’d expect from a sorority or high school clique rather than a professional environment. Clients are expected to buy copious amounts of expensive gear for training and activities, sign up for classes that are incredibly expensive, and do so happily. People who can’t or won’t are treated as though they don’t care about their dogs and are the subject of major ridicule behind closed doors.I could go on about the awful experiences I had but I will end by saying please, if you value your relationship with your dog and want to be treated with compassion and respect, choose another facility.

Victoria D: I do not recommend Boston for the Dogs. My dog Josie and I used their services for under a year to find out their training facility was extremely unorganized — it was impossible to get any updates on what my dog was doing in school (I have emails and messages to prove this), the owners + staff consumed alcohol on the job (we witnessed this at a chiropractic visit at the owners house where Hannalore was slurring her speech), the facility continuously had giardia and kennel cough outbreaks, we had an unpleasant 1:1 lesson with Corey where he told me to correct my dog for avoidance behaviors on an ecollar. Don’t be fooled by the many positive reviews as the owner gives out free group classes for writing one. Do your research when looking for a reputable dog training facility. I really regret coming here. Stay far far away from BFTD.

Adam Zeidman: If you’re a DINKWAD (double income, no kids, and a dog) millennial, crazy dog parent like I am, this is the only review you need to read.As an overly protective (psychotic) dog parent, I really did a lot of homework before enrolling our (at the time) 5 month old Bernedoodle Cooper in day school. I read a lot of positive reviews and few that were concerning to me. I requested a call with one of the owners to give them a chance to speak to the negative reviews before I made a decision. Hannalore answered all of my questions (primarily regarding “disliking doodles” and use of tools) and I felt very comfortable with her responses. Following that conversation we enrolled Cooper in day school and immediately saw improvement in his attention span, ability to understand commands, and leash manners. The staff was always super friendly, sent report cards with photos and videos, and always offered me advice and info on what he worked on. I was (and still am) over the moon with how much my little guy enjoys his time there.To be fully transparent, like any good relationship, we did hit a snag. A tool was used on Cooper that I did not consent to and like the Papa Bear I am, I was furious. I requested to speak with the owner who used the tool (Corey), and I expressed my displeasure. Now, I’m not an experienced dog trainer, so I don’t think I know more than these amazing professionals, I do however believe in consent. When I spoke with Corey, I told him that a tool should never be used on a dog without consent from the owner and if Cooper was to come back, I would need to see a change in their policy to ensure that consent would ALWAYS be given before a tool was used. Corey completely understood and (as a small business) was open to suggestions for improvement - no excuses, no backpedaling, and full accountability. With that response, and the implementation of consent for tools, I was completely satisfied sending Cooper back to day school.It’s now been over a month since that snag and I can confidently say I am beyond thrilled with how this was handled and the care and training my Coop is receiving at BFTD. Mistakes happen, but the fact that this amazing place was honest and open to a change in their policies is something that really sets BFTD apart from other places.I can 100% say if you’re crazy like me, stop your search - you’ve found the place for your pup. All of the staff are amazing, but I would like to give a special shout-out to Becka and Thaloa who go above and beyond the call of duty and send me videos and VERY detailed report cards so I can continue the work at home. I can officially say my 7 month old pup is better behaved, knows more commands, and has better social skills than most dogs twice his age. I’m writing this review because finding a place to trust with your fur baby is scary, and you never know what you’re going to get. But BFTD has done an amazing job with Cooper and I hope my experiences make you feel comfortable with them being a part of your fur baby’s life too!

Nancy Zimbalist: Boston for the dogs, Hannalore & Colie are our trusted go to resources. When we were stuck in training and we needed help, it was BFTD that got us through. Now, our dog so looks forward to all classes and environments we are able to train in with them.Can’t thank them enough!

Christina Wood: I am incredibly impressed with Boston for the Dogs! I have used 1:1 lessons, structured day school, practice in the park group class and canine good citizen training class. They even came to our house for a lesson to work on better behavior with a neighbor's dog. The trainers are amazing - experienced, clear, well-organized, supportive, non-judgmental and fun. Group classes are excellent. Our 110 lb Newfie has made huge progress and loves going to school. Thank you, BFTD!

Genevieve Dupuis: There are not enough words to say how grateful we are for BFTD! Our rescue pup Gus was such a nervous little guy when he started there, and we were brand new owners, but less than a year later it’s a completely new and happier situation all around. We owe all Gus’s confidence skills to the team at BFTD and are incredibly grateful for their patience in answering questions and helping us be good owners. Best place to go for all your dog training needs!

Dani English: Adopted my service dog in training through BFTD & have met so many wonderful, caring folks through this org! The five star review is seconded by my pup who does happy bunny hops every time she comes to day school or sees one of the trainers for a lesson :) Even group classes have opportunities for individual instruction catered to the human and the dog, too, as every trainer I’ve seen for groups will check in and help adjust the handler or take a moment with the dog.

Colleen Cohen: Hannalore and her team are AMAZING! They are all so impressive handling many different types of dogs simultaneously, reading body language, advocating for their dogs. They also have a really cool indoor training facility and teach great classes! They all seem to truly put their heart into their work and I’ve always been a huge fan!Update, two years later and their growth has been astounding! I’m continually wowed by their community and service level. They are all truly dedicated to bettering dogs, humans, and the greater Boston area as a whole.

Brianna Molter: Boston for the Dogs is truly a gem. Hannalore’s dedication to her clients and their dogs is unparalleled. BFTD provides an incredible experience for dogs and owners at all stages of training. As a veterinary professional I would feel confident referring any of my clients to BFTD!

Andrea Smith: Would never recommend using this company. I was getting an 8 week old puppy and wanted to start socialization. They required a 2 hour one on one booking costing over $200 and couldn’t even confirm that I would be able to utilize the services after. He can’t even stay awake that long. I was still willing to give it a shot because they seemed reputable, but the puppy was having diarrhea, so I needed to cancel. I was not able to cancel online and was not able to speak to someone over the phone. They still charged the full fee even though my puppy was sick. I do not recommend and will never use their services.Previously, they had no issue immediately responding to text messages, but did not respond when I needed to cancel due to a sick puppy. If they had responded to my message, I would have explained more sooner but their immediate response was that I was being charged for the full session even though in the handbook, it says you will not be charged for a sick animal.

Alanna Wong: Reasons why we love BFTD:— structured day school: love that it’s not a free- for -all play day. It gives Atlas a balance of mental and physical stimulation. School creates an environment for Atlas to learn new skills and continue to work on basic obedience to prepare her for success in the community. She also gets to release her inner beast by spending time on the slatmill. She always come home happy and tired. Best part of it all, the report card I receive summarizing what she worked on and how to continue practicing with her at home.- group classes: such a wide variety of classes available to choose from! I can choose the classes that will best help us achieve our goals together. Our personal favorite so far is “practice in the park”- training in the real world with real world distractions.- Since joining the BFTD family, the bond I have with Atlas has definitely grown. We have so much fun training AND playing together. BFTD trainers provide the tools to help us succeed.Excited to continue this journey of learning and growing together with Atlas! Thank you BFTD!

Rachel Dubiel: I honestly couldn’t say enough good things about BFTD. The staff truly cares about you as a person and they want the absolute best for your dog. Whatever your goals are BFTD is a safe space for you and your dog to work hard and achieve those goals. They offer a variety of trainings and aim to accommodate people’s schedules. Because of them, Tucker has earn many certifications but more importantly a better quality of life. I feel confident taking my dog out in public and have such a deeper relationship with him that I didn’t think was even possible. Truly an inspiring company to learn from and so happy to be part of the BFTD fam!

Brittney Cahill: I was just walking my dogs around Ashmont and was handed their business card and was reminded of my awful experience and felt compelled to post this review. I reached out to Hannalore in 2019. She rescheduled our first appointment due to a family emergency. Because I’m human, I understood, of course. Thought she was great with my dog and I learned so much from her in the initial consult and was excited to move further. Then my dad died, tragically. I reached out to her a while after to express that regrettably I wasn’t able to keep up with the training, as life got in the way, and was looking for board and train ideas. (As life got in HER way and she was unable to keep our first appointment…..) Her response was ice cold. Apparently I wasn’t “committed” enough because I did not want to schedule daily sessions/hikes with her random new hire (Elon or Ethan or something?) I was then kicked out of the FB group like Friday’s trash. Thank god I found the Urban Hound and met hands down the greatest trainer, Nick Miller. He runs his own buis now in Concord and it may be a hike but I would NEVER send my dogs anywhere else! “ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” Maya Angelou

Natalie Ellis: Paws down the best training in Boston! BFTD is so kind, patient, and knowledgeable. They helped me navigate lots of behavior problems with crate training, leash pulling, and basic commands with my 5 month old rescue puppy!

Emma Louise Browne: Boston for the Dogs has been great with 2 Labradors. The day school program has really helped them with everyday social skills and helped them work on any reactivity issues they used to face. We love Boston for Dogs and would highly recommend them for all your training and dog walking needs.

Amanda Muñoz: My dog LOVES coming here for day school. It makes me so happy when I drop her off and she starts wiggling her butt and wagging her tail because she's so excited for a day with her BFTD fam!

Jennifer Nguyen: Love BFTD! Our pup always comes home super tired from his hikes (and from day school when he used to go!). We like all the trainings that are offered, especially practice in the park! All the trainers and handlers are super nice and knowledgeable about dogs and they all take the time to learn all the dogs names. Highly recommend!

Alejandra Yablonski: BFTD was recommend by a friend when we got our puppy Daisy in 2020, and as all pandemic puppies, she was very scared of all noises and things on the outside, the team was super welcoming and patient, training the Daisy and us on how to handle all the new situations we had with her, and she has grown to be an incredible dog, a lot more confident and still as sassy and lovable! The team is also great at training the humans to advocate for their dog, which in my case, was more than necessary.. I owe them my amazing Dog, would recommend to anyone at any stage of their dogs life!

Maggie Holtzberg: Can’t speak highly enough of Argos Dog Training. Martin Wright has compassion and an intuitive understanding of both dogs and their humans.Came in with a serious problem of Celeste being aggressive to me in certain situations. We basically had to reestablish our relationship - like being in couples therapy with my dog.Learned the value of setting boundaries, consistent communication, and the need for repetition while training.

Caitlin Schumann: Argos dog training is WORTH. EVERY. PENNY. Our 7 month old cattle dog was incredibly reactive to everything and couldn't be walked around our neighborhood AT ALL because he lunged at every single car, dog and person that walked by. After just the first 5 of the 10 day program and one owner training session, we could walk around our neighborhood with zero stress and a bunch of tools in our toolkit to keep him calm and focused on us. Throughout the training, Martin takes daily videos of what he's doing with your dog and how he's learning to best communicate with your dog. The videos were incredibly helpful to us while our dog was away, and helped us ask more intelligent questions during our follow-up training sessions. A huge THANK YOU to Martin and Nil for all of your hard work with our pup. I'm so glad to have Argos as a resource moving forward. Our lives together have drastically improved, and I look forward to continuing to work together!

Antwon Ward: Martin is amazing at explaining the very best approaches to achieving communication goals with our puppy. The best of Boston kind of trainer. Do yourself a favor and connect with Martin at Argos!

Christopher Funnell (US): I highly recommend working with Martin to train your dog! We did a month board and train with our highly energetic dog and are so happy we chose Argos Dog Training. Not only was Martin able to help correct unwanted behaviors (lease pulling, over exicitedness in walks when seeing other animals, etc, he also was able to teach our dog valuable skills (recall, heel command, off leash walking, etc).One of the best thing that Martin does is take the time to invest in the dog owners to make sure they understand what he is trying to teach. Martin is so good at communicating with dogs (our dog gladly will listen to any of Martin’s commands) but he also teaches us how we can learn to communicate with our dog in a similar way. He posts daily videos of his training so we were able to learn what he was teaching and why.We were a little nervous with how our dog would do being away from us so long but every time we would drop him off at Martin’s house, he would be so excited to see Martin and was more than happy for us to leave him there. This shows that not only is Martin strict yet patient with his teaching techniques, he also communicates in a way that excites the dogs so they want to continue learning from him.

Colin Burns: Thank you Martin! My wife and I just completed a series of private lessons with our 1yr old pit mix Penny. From the initial phone conversation to the in-person evaluation and then the eventual training sessions- Martin’s professionalism and proven learning curriculum have left us very happy with the entire process. Martin knows how to speak “Dog” and he will teach you as well. It takes some dedication on the owners’ side, but the results speak for themselves. We’re absolutely going to continue with other programs Argos has to offer as we can see a big difference in Penny since she started the sessions (not only in the areas we specifically worked on, but in her overall confidence and happiness). Also a shout out to Moo who helped us with a scheduling issue and is always there to answer any questions you may have. -Colin & Sena

Luke Utley: Complete transformation in our dog's behavior. Before, our dog was aggressive and hard to control around other dogs. Now walks are a joy! Best of all, Martin helped us understand how to communicate with our dog and how to bring out his best.

Jessica Cohen: Martin is without a doubt the best trainer you will find. He is patient, incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, wonderful with clients and a champion for all dogs. He teaches dog owners how to understand where their dogs are coming from and how to communicate better with them. He never talks down to clients and always tries to give the advice that fits within their life.Our dog is a rescue from Puerto Rico who has a lot of the fears and anxieties that street dogs can have. When we came to Martin, our dog was pulling on the leash, barking at children, jumping on people and was always so scared and insecure. Martin has helped us bring the absolute best out of our dog who is now so much calmer and more confident, more disciplined and also so much better able to interact with other people.Martin teaches everything from the basics of leash walking, through calming techniques and up to off leash training. He is such a pleasure to work with and you will be amazed at your dog's transformation.I feel so lucky that our family found Argos and that we have Martin on our side in making our shaggy mutt a happier, more balanced and obedient dog.You absolutely will not find a better place than Argos.

JTC: We just completed six private lessons with Argos training, working on improving behavior in our 5 year old Decker Terrier. Over the last couple months, since starting working with Martin, we have noticed marked improvement in our dog at home, around our children, and in our ability to communicate with him effectively.Overall, this has been a great experience. Martin is understanding and has a positive attitude. I appreciated how he could see the best in our dog and has helped us to bring that out. There’s some human-training too, which is helpful and necessary!His team is professional and very responsive. He’s busy, but it was totally worth the wait to get a spot with him. We still have work to do, and plan to continue working with Argos in group training moving forward.Worth mentioning our dog loved Martin and his time in our sessions too!Highly recommend.

Samuel Sutherland: Delta and I have completed Puppy Kindergarten and Puppy Kindergarten 2. We cannot be happier with the results we got. I have a dog that transformed from a puppy velociraptor to a well-adjusted adolescent dog. Classes like these are not just about dog training, they are also about OWNER training. I walked away with plenty of tips and tricks that I used to re-enforce our lessons from Argos Dog Training at home. Training never ends.Everyone from veterinarians to groomers to randos have complimented my dog's demeanor, and it's all thanks to the lessons we both learned at Argos. Make sure you do your homework. And ask questions. Training never ends. Thanks Martin!!

Melissa Gugliotta: We had such a great experience with Martin at Argos Dog Training! We started when our pup, Hollie, was just about nine months old. She'd been struggling with some anxiety and pulled so badly on her leash that I actually got a stress fracture in my foot from walking her!I knew we needed help, especially as Hollie grew bigger and stronger, and I'm so glad we found Argos. After six sessions with Martin, her confidence has increased tremendously, and her anxiety is significantly less in almost all situations. I was looking for a positive reinforcement trainer, and Martin's methods are balanced and realistic. Hollie would get so excited to get in the car to go play with her new friend! She took to all of the instruction really well - walking her now is a LOT of fun.Most importantly, Martin worked to train *me*! I'll admit I didn't catch on as quickly as Hollie did, but I'm working on it, and she's very patient with me. ;) I feel like I have the tools and understanding now to continue working with Hollie in my own, in a variety of situations, and that's ultimately what I was hoping to come away with.We'd recommend Argos Dog Training over and over. Can't wait to join a group class in the future!

David Lowe: We did the 6 private lessons with Martin for our 8 month old goldendoodle. We had an awesome experience and our dog has improved his leash walking and command response significantly. The techniques that Martin uses are effective and easy to do on our own so that we could work with our dog between each weekly lesson and after the program wrapped up. We would absolutely recommend Argos Dog Training for other dog owners and we will also continue to use Martin for future training.

S S: We recommend Martin for dog training to ALL our friends with dogs - he is great!! Martin provides the ultimate service in educating and training you to better manage, interact, and enjoy your dog.We were seeking a more hands-on and one-on-one training approach for our one-year old pup, Woodford, as we are expecting our first child. Martin's presentation, attentiveness, and coaching is focused, direct, and supportive! We learned so much in our 6-class, on-leash training package and could not be more thrilled with the results. We are better owners for it and continue to incorporate the principles learned daily.Looking forward to partaking in group classes now. Thank you Martin!

Nicholas Flores: Martin is very nice to you and your dog and is methodical with his teaching. You will get the best training around once you decide to work with him.

Jeffrey Anderson: Great family environment. Very knowledgeable trainer. Well organized structured activity for the Pup.

Luke Reisch: We worked with Martin at Argos over 6 private training sessions and the difference was night and day. Martin was amazing with our sassy dog and immediately earned his trust and helped us understand why he does the things that he does. His training program was something we could immediately buy into and we're eager to continue our training!

kim salmon: We were lucky enough to find Argos via referral from about of state trainer. I reached to Argos and learned that Martin is a very sought after trainer and waited about 8 weeks to get our first appointment. He is worth the wait and effort and drive to get there. He is an incredibly pleasant and patient man who took his time with us to explain what he noticed and how his plan for training would be developed. When he took the leash of our anxious dog, the dog responded beautifully to his demeanor and skills. We have been working on the training plan at home, and we notice an absolute difference in his attention and anxiety. The communication from his office is excellent and very clear, so you understand the expectations for success. They will answer any questions thoroughly. Please do consider Matin a truly professional and competent teacher in understanding and helping your dog. He is so patient and such a great educator. It is clear upon the first visit that he is a wonderful man who enjoys his work and wants to help pets and their families. It is worth your every moment of your time and effort to reach out to him.

Brittany Gannon: Martin was incredible with our anxious rescue dog. He was so patient- yet rigorous, focused, and effective. I don’t think I’ve ever seen our dog so happy and engaged during any other activity like he was in this training program. Martin has the perfect demeanor for this work, and it’s evident he has a true understanding and connection with dogs. He zeroed in on tiny behaviors and reactions that our dog was exhibiting and helped me to better understand what they meant, what triggered them, and how to work with them. I’d recommend Martin to anyone. He was so professional and friendly, and taught us so much in a short time. Thanks Martin!!

Rod W: Martin, Johnathan and the rest of the guys at Argos are amazing. They know what they are talking about and truly care about you and your pet. We started training with Argos when Ace was a puppy, at 11 months he’s not perfect but he is so much more well behaved and much better in social settings.

Kathleen Hughes: I’ve loved working with Martin and the team at Argos. So far I’ve taken my pup to socialization classes and individual lessons and his behavior has improved significantly. Martin is very understanding of both the person and the pup! My pup was shy at first in socialization but there was no pressure in him to rush it and he came out of his shell on his own. Martin covers all the essentials and also offers alternative solutions when necessary so you can find what works for you and your pup. After a handful of lessons, we get praised for how well behaved he is even as a young dog!

Liz Polich: We started working with Martin when we adopted our Airedale puppy early last summer. We began attending puppy socialization classes when he was 8 weeks old (an awesome experience and plenty of good tips for puppy parents!) which really helped properly socialize our pup for appropriate play as an adolescent/adult. We've also worked with Martin in private basic obedience sessions which has really helped improve our communication with our dog. Our relationship and quality of life with our dog has improved meaningfully, all due to Martin's hard work, great communication, and patience. Martin is passionate about teaching dogs and their owners a common language! Thank you Martin!

Sarah Franzblau: Working with Maggie Mader has changed my anxious pup into a playful love bug! My new dog Daisy came to us after 4 previous housings and she was extremely anxious. Daisy has a complex case of severe anxiety, trauma, and distrust. Maggie came in for the consult and she immediately realized just how fearful my poor dog was (we couldn't even look in her direction!). With Maggie's help in just 6 months Daisy is totally different. Maggie helped Daisy come out of her shell and now she loves pets, walks, and, with Maggie's help, has built a strong trust between us. I highly recommend colonial dog training and Maggie Mader for anyone with an anxious or fearful dog. (Pictured is Daisy just a few weeks ago snuggling on the couch, which she never did before her training)

Shelby Marinello: Maggie at Colonial has been nothing short of incredible with helping us train our pup. She met Cooper as a 15 week old head strong puppy who loved a good temper tantrum and helped him grow up to be a good, good boy. I always wanted a dog who could be off leash, was great at recall and didn’t pull while on walks and that’s exactly what we got with Maggie’s help and guidance every step of the way. I have, and will continue to, recommend Maggie and Colonial to anyone who mentions they want/need dog training!!

Yasmeen Alsumait: Jenna was amazing! As soon as she met our puppy she knew exactly what his personality was like and what we needed to do. He is now the best pup ever all thanks to her! Also she was easy to get ahold of and was always super helpful!

Anna Daniels: I reached out to Maggie Mader over Labor Day Weekend last year based on a referral from a family member. I contacted for help with a cavachon puppy i had gotten from a breeder a couple of months prior. I explained that he had serious separation anxiety as well as nervousness that presented with lunging with people as well as dogs. He would bark excessively indoors as well as outdoors. I truly had concerns that I made a mistake by taking on this little guy. Fast forward to six months later and I can't imagine a day without this lovable guy. He loves people and even more, he loves his doggie friends. Maggie helped me understand what Auggie needed and how to bring order into Auggies world. Auggie came to me afraid of the world and did not know how to begin to deal with noise, people, dogs and even unfamiliar objects that he encountered. Maggie has brought calm and focus and order to Auggies world and in turn, mine. I am so grateful to Maggie and to my cousin for the initial referral. I highly recommend Maggie as a trainer.

Caitlin Morris: Scooby was a recuse from Mississippi and came into our lives in September. The rescue estimated he was about a year and a half and with that being said he was a complete street dog with high anxiety with under developed manners. My husband and I invested in training and it has been the best decision yet, Maggie has been absolutely spectacular and I couldn't be more thankful that Colonial Dog Training bought Maggie into our lives. After the first session Scooby had a different look out on listening skills and proven himself to be a very smart fella. From our consultation in October to now mid April the magic that Maggie gives out has made Scooby do a complete 360. My favorite part of these home sessions is that each visit she will bring a positive new game plan to the table and it will constantly advance Scooby in the next stage of training. I could not recommend Colonial Dog Training enough, Maggie changing lives one session at a time!

S RB: Update: our dog’s behavior 2 years after completing the training lessons has remained so improved. This program really works as long as you stay consistent and committed. Using Colonial Dog Training has been a game changer and I highly recommend it.We have completed two out of five training sessions and already see a big change in our dog. Instead of “selectively listening” he now follows commands and is even happy and excited to do so. His anxiety has decreased as well, making for a more calm and predictable dog. So far, Jenna has been fun, communicative, and patient throughout this process. She makes herself available for questions and provides constructive feedback. This program relies on the owner to be committed to daily training with their dog. You need to be dedicated to the program and put in the work—we followed Jenna’s guidance for training and have already seen the work pay off.

Kellie Fuller: Jackie has been awesome to work with! She has really helped me not feel like a complete failure when it comes to the struggles we've been having with our 2.5 year old dog. The tips, pointers and approach Jackie has shared has been really easy to learn and figure out ways to add on to continue improving our dog's behavior.

Kayte Hutchinson: We rescued a puppy named Tilly in October, and although she is a smart, easygoing girl and had no behaviors (outside of being a puppy), we decided to invest in training to help her reach her full potential. We were on the fence given how expensive private training can get, but it was hands down the best decision we could have made. We’ve been working with Maggie who has been nothing short of incredible - she taught us how best to communicate with our pup and has already gotten her to a place at only 6 months old that we never could’ve achieved on our own. Maggie is so friendly and personable, our sessions never feel like work. Not to mention, Tilly absolutely goes nuts when Maggie comes over and has officially granted her auntie status 😜 We constantly receive compliments on how well behaved Tilly is and everyone is always surprised to find out that she’s still a baby. Although we still have the teenager phase ahead of us, we feel so much more confident knowing we have Maggie’s support to get us through it. If you’re sitting on the fence like we were - we promise, you won’t regret investing in your dog. We are endlessly grateful for Maggie and Colonial Dog Training and cannot recommend them enough!

Meghan Groom: My dog Reese and I have been working with Maggie from Colonial Dog Training for almost a year now and I cannot express enough how amazing she is. She adapts each lesson to our needs and answers any questions I (or my family) have at any time. She celebrates every victory and genuinely cares about her clients. I can't believe how much progress Reese and I have made!

Lindsey Dubb: I could not recommend Colonial Dog Training and Maggie enough! Since our very first lesson, Maggie has addressed our specific training goals and has worked thoughtfully and patiently with my dog. Maggie is incredibly knowledgeable about dog training, patient, professional, and responsive. My dog and I absolutely love working with her!

Elvira Figueroa: I work with Maggie and she is just amazing. From consultation to where we are at now with my dog has been such a pleasant process. She listens to me wants and needs with my dog who was very reactive outside. With patience and hard work from everyone my dog has gotten so much better. Excited to see where we go from here. 100% recommend colonial dog training

Kimberly Arvidson: I cannot recommend Maggie and Colonial dog training enough! Maggie was so professional and patient with my dog. She gave us plans that worked specifically for him and I cannot believe how quickly she got him from non-stop pulling on the leash to having good manners and even being off leash with ease. Maggie was available outside of lessons if we had a question which really helped. My dog also LOVED Maggie and loved when she came for training sessions!

Tarah Lauren: I cannot say enough wonderful things about Jackie & Colonial Dog Training. I was not expecting my first puppy to be such a handful and I didn’t know what to do with him or how to handle him and desperately contacted Colonial to set up training. My first session with Jackie I was completely relieved. She is such an incredible trainer and human being and I look forward to every session my puppy has with her. He has made so much improvement so far and she has an answer to every question I have ever asked her and a solution to any problem I may have with my puppy. I am so so grateful to have found Jackie and highly recommend her to anyone who owns a dog. She is such a blessing in me & my puppy’s lives!!

Roseann Zelny: Had my first consult with Maggie. She is awesome, knowledgeable, very pleasant and is so good at explaining things. My dog liked her immediately. Looking forward to our ongoing training

Sarah Mattern: Can't say enough amazing things about Kim at Colonial Dog Training. From meeting her at the consultation, I immediately felt like she understood they why behind why my dog Kiki was behaving the way she was, and had confidence that the training program would help us. We are a few months in, and I regularly text Kim with updates in between lessons (often with happy tears) of things we're doing that I didn't think were possible - sitting by the beach calmly, going on walks with no reaction to strangers and minimal reaction to other dogs, having my friends come over and her being excited to meet new people! She also goes above and beyond just our lessons - I have reached out when Kiki was anxious during a storm and I didn't know what to do, and when I was going away and leaving Kiki with a friend for the first time, she was more than happy to give my friend her number and be a resource just in case she was needed. She also offered to help me find someone trustworthy watch Kiki another weekend when my friend was unavailable! She's helping us both (Kiki and I) have the tools to be successful, confident and safe and I am so, so appreciative and thankful that I found her! 100% the best investment I have made in Kiki's care so far.

Merrill Pickerill: If you're questioning signing up for this dog training, do it! It was the best $1500 I've ever spent on my dog. The first session, my trainer, Maggie Mader, came and did a consultation where we talked about my dogs issues I was trying to correct and Maggie talked about her background etc. and how she approached training.I signed up specifically to help with my dog's issues getting along with other dogs - she essentially tried to hunt/attack all dogs but was great with people and overall has a great temperament. We had training once ever two weeks (the great thing is that they come to you so it's so convenient!), and not only did we work on my dog's specific issues, Maggie gave us training for other issues that I didn't even recognize we were having! Ellie now has her "place" so she doesn't jump up on people entering, knows sit and down EXTREMELY well and will stay in down until you let her "free", and heels PERFECTLY. On top of that, she also not only attacks other dogs, but actually PLAYS with other dogs now! I can't describe enough how amazing Maggie was and what a difference it has made for us!

Rainy Capton: I am so grateful I found this company to help me learn how to communicate with my dog! Maggie Mader came to teach me how to communicate with my dog and help his anxiety habits. He was having anxiety all the time and biting/attacking people because of it. I thought I would never be able to have him around anyone again. Maggie came to my home to meet Sunny and see what she thought the problem might be, and then she came 4 times after that for 4 different lessons to teach me new habits and ways of communicating with him. His behavior and moods changed in a couple of months and I am so grateful to have these tools now. I never would have been able to see such a change in his behavior and moods, or take him places around other people and dogs again if not for Maggie’s help. She really understands where the feelings are coming from and knows exactly how to help! I don’t know what I would have done without this training. Everyone experiencing behavioral problems with their dogs should definitely use this company. Even when the training is all done, Maggie is still always there to ask questions to, whether it’s about my own or my roommates dog. She always knows the answers!

John Costello: Kim came over and helped us with our two dogs (puppy and 3 year old) who were acclimating to a new city and needed some help with city walks and training and did a wonderful job

Dana Ceva: I reached out to Colonial Dog Training because I adopted a leash reactive Pittie mix back in June 2021 and knew she needed behavioral help to be her best self. Colonial Dog Training goes by a lump sum agreement which I was attracted to since I had no idea how long this training would take for Piper. We've been working with Jenna since October 2021 and we have made some great progress. Jenna has been very helpful answering all questions, taking videos to get additional advice from other trainers (since Piper is EXTREME), and always makes herself available. I feel much more equipped to take Piper on walks, know what to do to keep her under her reaction threshold, and know what to do in the event of a reaction. 6 months later and we've still got plenty to work on, but I know Colonial Dog Training and Jenna will be with us the whole way. This is a great option for people with reactive dogs because you aren't going to a puppy training class. You are meeting one on one with a trainer. You put in the work with your pup, and then meet with the trainer for your next set of things to work on. So far we've met with Jenna maybe 5 or 6 times but have made SO MUCH PROGRESS. I get compliments on how well behaved Piper is all the time. Thanks Jenna!

B A: I grew up with dogs and thought I knew it all - I was wrong. Working with Maggie was like befriending a magician who makes you question if magic is real and then completely ruins it by telling you exactly how she did it and why magic isn't real. She can do that dog whisperer thing where suddenly your insane dog is perfectly behaved around her, but then she'll not only explain how she did it but why it worked and how you can do it.She's extremely knowledgable about animal psychology and explained what our dog was thinking throughout the training, which not only helped us understand what to do when Maggie wasn't around, but helped us bond with our puppy.We also hired Maggie to house sit and train while we were away. She sent us video updates every day, and we came home to a better version of our dog.I can't recommend this enough. Trust me, YouTube videos aren't enough. Hire the magic lady from Salem.

Steve Craig: The entire team at Zen Dog was great to work with. Their program was well deigned, effective, and fun. Would highly recommend.

Tiffanie Rodriguez: Had a wonderful, fun, and hands on experience with Gordon and all the other wonderful trainers. Ozzy and I learned so much and he is so well behaved, especially in front of guests and new friends. Highly recommend!

Emily Leadholm: Gordon is a great dog AND people person. We learned so much in his class. He connects with all the dogs and is patient with the owners. He approaches puppy training in a comprehensive, sensible and effective way. We really bonded with him and others in the class because he creates a safe and fun environment. Gordon and his assistants facilitate dog socialization so all the dogs get to play with other dogs and learn the signs of happy and balanced play and what to do when dogs need to take a break. Our dog met a best friend in Gordon's class and now we meet up with the owners for puppy play dates. I can't say enough about how great Gordon's puppy class is. Every new puppy owner should take his class.

Madeline Shea: Gordon is the BEST! We had an at home visit, and signed up for puppy class. His materials are easy to understand, he provides a lot of the background of how/why we train dogs the we way do.

Amanda Healey: We worked with Neil on some behavioral issues we were having with our 1.5 year old dog, Ollie (barking when people arrived to our home, counter surfing, play biting). Neil was SO informative and gave us solutions to implement immediately. I am not kidding when I say the play biting was resolved within 2 days of our first session; the other behaviors improved at rapid speed as well!Not only did Neil help us address our concerns, but he also was super friendly and shared a wealth of information about other behaviors/ training ideas and concepts that we've incorporated into our day to day. Our relationship with our dog and our peace of mind has improved so much thanks to Neil. Would 100% recommend Neil and Zen Dog Training- it's well worth the investment.

Sophie Schmid: Zen Dog was recommended to us by our vet. We initially planned to do puppy classes but had a hard time getting into one so ended up going with two puppy training sessions at home and socialization with friends’ dogs. Emily Fleming was our trainer and she was EXCELLENT. Emily is smart, patient, funny, and clearly loves dogs. The first session consisted of an hour of teaching the humans then we moved onto working with our pup. She gave us the tools and confidence to train our pup and there was an immediate noticeable difference in her behavior. A few months later she came for our second session and helped us with a few difficult behaviors that came up. We can’t recommend Zen Dog and specifically Emily enough!!

Kevin Zhang: Gordon is amazing!!! We learned so much through the puppy course and would highly recommend! If you are willing to put in the effort you will see amazing results!

Lily Linke: After working with a different trainer for a year, we were feeling frustrated with our lack of progress and started looking elsewhere. Finding Gordon was such a blessing, and we saw a shift in our dog's behavior within just a few weeks. I would send anyone to Zen Dog training!

Seth Hurwitz: I can't say enough good things about Gordon! He provides such an incredibly well-balanced approach to dog training: warm, encouraging, humorous, peaceful, direct, and firm.We adopted a very anxious dog about a year and a half ago. He unfortunately did not get much in the way of socialization, training, or exposure to the larger world when living with his previous family.For a long time, walking him around our neighborhood was exceptionally difficult because he was so fearful of cars and other dogs. At home, he would bark nonstop upon hearing our upstairs neighbors or seeing a car go down our street. He'd bark nonstop at *us* whenever he wanted our attention. We had tried working with some other dog trainers before we found Gordon, but we saw minimal to no improvement with our nervous little guy.Thankfully, we learned about Gordon. When we met him, we could tell right away that he'd be able to provide a valuable perspective on our dog's situation. And after applying the principles that Gordon taught us, we've seen an incredible improvement in our dog's behavior! Although there's undoubtedly more progress for him to make, he is SO much more confident and happy on walks now. We're so glad we got to learn from Gordon and bring his knowledge to our dog's life!

Scott Ouellette: We had our chocolate lab in a puppy class at Zen Dog training recently and had a fabulous experience. Gordon is a wealth of knowledge and provides you with ample information for you and your pup to succeed. The classes themselves are jam-packed with invaluable socialization time interleaved with bits of 1x1 training and teaching.I would say: please don't expect to just attend the classes alone and see success. There is an expectation to take the course seriously, do your homework, and invest time into your relationship with your pet.Our dog came in with a terrible problem play biting, and is honestly the sweetest angel now after going through the course. I would attribute this further to an at home visit we scheduled with Gordon for which he took the time to adjust some of our techniques for handling her when she got riled up. I don't joke when I say that Gordon literally saved me a significant amount of money in bandaid costs 🤣

Rocco Donohue: Do yourself and your dog a favor by taking a class with Zen Dog. You won't regret it!We attended Zen Dog this winter and I can honestly say Gordon is a dog whisperer. Each lesson is a building block and the best results came from repetitive practice in and outside the classroom. The classes always started with socialization and play time followed by that weeks training exercise. Gordon always makes it a point to come around and work with every owner to see how puppies are taking the lesson or if there are any corrections the owner needs to make. Throughout the course, Gordon was always updating our class with emails on the current weeks activities, providing supplemental material available on the website, and sharing what to expect in the following week.

Jim Wilton: Elissa was wonderful -- very knowledgeable and caring. The training is all positive reinforcement. She was great with our dog Ziji. It was amazing how quickly Ziji picked up on the "games" that taught him basic behavior reinforcement and commands. Elissa gave us real confidence that we can have a Zen Dog.

JP Connors: We learned so much from Elissa at Zen Dog in our very first session.Our puppy is already feeling more comfortable in her crate. She isn’t whining every time she goes in the crate and she actually likes spending time in her crate now.We learned practical tactics to manage our puppy’s behavior and we’re playing fun games with our puppy that Elissa taught us. Elissa is a true professional that takes time to explain her whole methodology and approach. She answered all our questions and really put as at ease. If you are looking to teach your dog to be confident and well behaved, I highly recommend working with Elissa at Zen Dog!

yuval yaari: Emily came twice to help us with training our new pupp Mars, and was absolutely the best. First time she came through she spent a lot of time teaching us very clearly why dogs behave the way they do and how to take that understanding and implement in a way to build good habits and behaviors for Mars. She came back the second time to work more on improving his recall, and taught us so much about dog behaviors and how to make work on recall to make sure Mars will be safe in off-lease situations. If you need help... scratch that. If you have a dog, you should have Emily/zendog come and help with the training, your dog will thank you for that, and you will thank yourself because it made such a big difference!

Julia Deney: Emily was so incredible and was exactly what me and my dog needed! Whenever something came up, she is there with the perfect solution. Her calm reassurance also helped my anxiety as a dog mom and for that I can’t thank her enough. I’d recommend Zen dog to anyone who asks!

Grace Ramsdell: We had a great in-home training and puppy class experience, and I feel well equipped to keep training with my puppy moving forward!

Meredith Quinn: Elissa from Zen Dog Training is fabulous! She visited us at home for just 90 minutes, but that was enough to teach all of us (2 adults, 2 kids) how our miniature schnauzer, Pluto, “thinks” and specific approaches to common situations. After moving to a new house, we asked her to come for a one-hour refresher session 4 months later to address new issues. It is invaluable to have Elissa in our home, showing us how to handle these situations and then benefit from her coaching as we try it ourselves. I appreciate how well she connects with each of us, including my kids. She is supportive, funny, and kind. The best!

Samantha Maida: Gordon was the absolute best trainer! Class was always so much fun and we loved how there was so much time spent on puppy socializing. Our golden retriever had a blast and has learned so much from each lesson. What I enjoyed the most, was that even though it was a group class Gordon made sure to provide individualized 1:1 time with each puppy and their owner to touch base on their needs/issues and ensure comprehension of all training topics. 10/10 recommend!

Jessica Cerchiari: Emily is the kindest, most helpful and understanding dog trainer ever. She was very skilled at teaching the information we needed to help our puppy out. I learned so much about how dogs think and why my dog was doing those negative behaviors. 100% highly reccomend Zen Dog, and Emily if she’s available!!

Kelly Stewart: We LOVE working with Elissa! Zen Dog Training was recommended to us after we had some new behaviors arise in our dog during Covid. Our dog is a bit older, so we knew we needed a well-trained professional to help. Elissa took the time to understand our dog, our routine, and our environment. She then trained my partner and I on how we can best support our dog moving forward. We saw results so quickly! We even did a second outdoor training session with Elissa after a couple months later to 'expand our tools' (as she says) in how best to help our dog. Our once huge puller is now a pro at walking on leash. She is down-to-earth, kind hearted, an animal lover, personable, and so knowledgable. We have all loved learning with her - our dog the most! We would highly recommend her and the Zen Dog team to anyone.

Kaleigh McMurray: The only place I trust with my dog because they truly feel like family. Every single staff member is incredibly welcoming and actually cares about your dogs well bring. Couldn’t recommend this place enough.

Sarah: I had went to Falco K9 because my pup (less than a year old at the time) was having resource guarding issues and reactivity towards other animals/people. After 7 weeks of boarding and thousands of dollar sent at Falco K9, no progress was made. I was texted this by one of the traininers."not much im gonna be able to do with the situation he is in. im not even having success with two trainers assigned to him in a structured environment. with the nature of his aggressive tendencies being so sporadic its really difficult to have effective sessions that are a productive use of time. the extra week plus we did with him has led me to the conclusion that he is better suited for a single dog home since i havnt been able to actually knock out the behavior personally in training i have accepted that he is not mentally or physically able to be conditioned in the way we need him to be in ANY multi-dog environment. i will try try try with any and every dog multiple courses of action but when the dog shows me over and over again he is not capable of the training im repeatedly showing to him it becomes a question of accepting who he is and that he is not able to fit into the parameters we wish him to through no fault of his own but it still leads me to the conclusion that this is not a trainable issue."I was heartbroken hearing that news. After stopping Falco K9 services, we had found a new trainer at a different facility through a friend of mine. Even after one class with the new trainer, my pup's behavior had significantly improved. At the new facility, I was educated and shown how to teach my pup how to respect people and his earning his resources, which Falco k9 had lacked.Communication and being ghosted by the trainers was another issue.

Skarlyn Rodriguez: This program truly works! We dropped off our 9 month Aussie-poodle to Falco’s 14 day board and training program to learn some “good doggy manners” and wow, she came back better, smarter, well mannered! Joey, was great and communicated with us her progress daily. Would highly recommend!

Tricia: From the time we arrived to check-in to when we picked up Freddie, everything was fast, efficient and organized. Freddie enjoyed his stay at Falco and will be coming back for another boarding visit soon!

natalie berte: This is the most unprofessional and horrible place I have ever taken my poor puppy to. I took my GSD (9months) here to do a bite evaluation. I walked into this place and heard music BLASTING so loud that I could not even hear the people talk. The guy who was supposed to do my puppies bite evaluation (evaluated him for a total of 2-3minutes at most) did not even introduce himself to me or my puppy. He never pet my dog once or interacted with him and he is supposed to be a dog trainer…. Then, after my puppy did not interact with the trainer or show any interest or focus on him (because there was no proper introduction), the trainor stopped the evaluation after about two minutes and began giving me a very staged salesperson speech about how my dog absolutely NEEDS this and that and there special training that they have there m. To top all of this off, I look over to the other side of the room and see a staff pizza party going on. There were workers eating and dancing to the blasting music while dogs were in crates out back, during my puppies evaluation and other dogs being trained all in this one tiny room. It was extremely messy and disorganized. My puppy was so overwhelmed by this place that he ended up vomiting bile. If I knew what this room was going to be like, I would’ve taken my puppy to a frat house to be trained, it would’ve been the same thing. If you care about your dog AT ALL do not take them here. It will also be a COMPLETE waste of your money. If zero stars were an option I would do that.

Ryan Good: Cannot recommend Falco enough!!!We dropped off our energetic 3 year-old Pitbull for the 2-week boarded obedience training with our trainer Tammy. We had only had her for 2 weeks and she was very difficult to control in the home during work hours. She was getting more than sufficient physical exercise, but would still have bouts of energy where she was very difficult to calm down.Falco was extremely communicative throughout the training sending daily videos and photos showing our dog's progress. The video's also included explanations of what Tammy was doing and why, as well as recommendations on how to continue her training at home. We knew that as owner's we had as much to learn as our dog did, and Falco could not have been more understanding and helpful considering that.When we picked our dog up we were amazed at her progress. She was much easier to calm down and wanted to be given a job, she waited for commands to execute. We also learned how much we could improve on and how to work with her at the house. Since bringing her home, she has been 100x better than before. We've continued the training daily and our dog is happy and obedient, when she has her energetic bouts we are able to calm her down immediately. Tammy has been very accommodating making herself available after the training as well, answering any questions we have and always being there to assist if needed. We will certainly be sending our dog back for further training!

Manuela Evans: Great to work with Falco. One class 30 min great progress, I can't wait to see how my dog will progress. I hope it works really well. Prices are high however I believe they know exactly what they are doing. I recommend Falco 100%

Derrick Vail: Professional, respectful, knowledgeable...

Judi Ferri: Very assuring staff

Samantha Langlois: Falco K9 is no joke! They are completely worth the money. We used them for the first time when we had our dog attend their board and train academy for 6 weeks. It was a big investment but we were so pleased see such an improvement in his behavior and responsiveness to commands. We received regular updates from them and could tell they really cared for our dog. We’ve used Falco K9 once more for boarding and additional training sessions and felt very at ease that he was in such good hands. Our dog’s trainer, Joey, is truly the best - so dedicated and professional! We will definitely be using them again in the future.

Mark Fitzgerald: They have worked wonders with my new rescue! Great Staff who have been very flexible and easy to work with! Highly recommend!

ROWENA HALL: Falco K9 to the rescue!!!!!!We are being held hostage by the cutest most unruly puppy I have ever met.After looking for a training facility with good reviews and close to home we settled on Falco K9. We had our one on one and we are sold. Just the short time that we were there our pup learned a few things from Joey and so did we. Very nice guy I might add!!!! We are signing up for the 12 week program.

Ashley Brann: My dog Baxter and I met with Luc today for what was supposed to just be an initial brief consultation, but I think he could sense my desperation and ended up moving his schedule around to fit in a full training session. I cannot even begin to put into words how awesome he was, or how QUICKLY he figured out what was going on with my pup AND began helping me understand how to fix it. I’m just a few hours after my pup’s first session and I’ve already seen huge improvements and feel like I better understand what was going wrong in my pup’s training. I am beyond thankful I found this wonderful facility (everyone there was so nice and it is just a fun atmosphere). I already scheduled my next session and I cannot wait to continue to watch my pup (and myself) progress! Thank you, Falco K9!

Matthew MacDonald: Luc taught my boy Amos the best recall in the game. I highly recommend working with their trainers. I did individual sessions (or you buy like a pack) and they were very knowledgeable.Can’t speak about boarding or day care but they said he was welcome back!

Chris Reidy: Awesome trainers. Seems like my dogs are already making progress after a few days

Mylee A.: We had a great experience with Falco K9 before we had to move! After obedience training, my dog Yasu was not recognizable!! Our trainer Stefan gave me all the tools I needed to communicate effectively with my dog. He showed me how to reinforce certain behaviors and gave me “homework” to hold me accountable to the training. We got the service we desperately needed. Yasu has amazing recall now, I have complete confidence that he is going to stay by my side even when he is off leash. I can bring him out with me anywhere and know that he will be a good boy. I always recommend Falco K9 to other dog owners because they’re a local business, underpriced for their value, and their staff is incredibly helpful and professional!

Amanda Gordon: My dog is well trained after 3 weeks of board and training.

Patricia Knight: My dog enjoys day school at Falco. She is very high strung and gets to release her energy in a constructive way. The trainers are knowledgeable and work well with the dogs. My dog also went to a two-week boarding program there when I first got her. The training has stuck and certainly adds value. I highly recommend Falco K9 .

Katie Corcoran: I will be forever grateful to Falco K9 and their trainers for helping me with my newly adopted dog with behavioral issues. They were able to properly assess and train her so that I could manage on my own. She loves going to visit them! I highly recommend them to anyone in need of help with their dog.

Jen Reid: Love Falco - we have been using them since puppy school and love learning and challenging our boy with new tricks and training systems!We have used them for :-puppy school, group classes, board and train, day school and academy!Tuukka loves his days with Luc and we always get compliments on how well behaved and good he is when we are out.

Emily Strainchamps: Really great experience with Lance! He’s excellent at teacher you how to manage your dog’s behavior. I highly recommend him.

Z ZY: Lance can train your dog to be a combat dog that goes for Normandy Invasion, or just a lap dog that sits on his bed until you forget you have a dog.And remember, the training is majorly for YOU, not the dog. So do your homework cause dog will always obey, but human do not.

Kira Bol: Lance is the best trainer!! I trained my two dogs with him with fantastic results !!

Mark Alston-Follansbee: I'm blown away by the evaluation, the insight, and the encouragement to relax.

Kiva Leibowitz: Anything below 5 stars is crazy! Lance and his team are beyond wonderful and fantastic!! He really understands how dogs think and why they do what they do. He takes that and helps me understand how to help my pup the best way for my pup! He uses real world experiences to help teach! I will not go anywhere else to train a dog! Thank you lance for helping me be the best dog mom I can be!

Cara Hendricks: I honestly cannot say enough about the exceptional quality of training. Lance has trained and worked with all of my dogs and foster dogs for over 10 years. We are a Compatible Canine Center member for life. I think many people don't realize it's about the dogs, not the owners. There are many choices of where to take your dog, but there is a reason why Lance has been in business for so long with repeat customers. He's THE BEST! My husband and I actually agree on this.

Anat Stemmer: Lance is an exceptional dog trainer. We always had dogs and they were all trained - so i am not new at this. He was by far the best trainer I ever worked with. He breaks down tasks in a way tge dog understands and teaches the owner what to do to stop unwanted behavior. Yes, his place is not fancy and he is not good with answering phone calls but he us an amazing trainer and that is what really counts. Highly recommended.

bitehardgsd: Amazing dog training, Will is the best!

Christopher Mark: Lance has been a fantastic dog trainer. He takes a realistic approach towards training dogs and will not shy away from difficult dogs. He has helped us learn to train our aggressive pitbull who we thought was beyond help. Lance helped train us how to help our dogs, a key difference from other trainers who can make you feel helpless when your dog behaves for them but not so much when you take them home. His approach is tough, but compassionate towards the animals. We've learned tons from taking classes and our dog is finally tolerable on walks.

Jeffrey Durr: First time using Lance and had a wonderful experience. We contacted Lance and explained we had a new addition to our family and he needed to be evaluated. Having Cane Corsos we are use to the guardian breed mentality. We took in a 18 month old that had become aggressive. We took the dog but we also were were for vacation 2 weeks later and didn't want our dog sitter to deal with a dog that had not adjusted to us. I drove 3 1/2 hours to Lance on a Monday night to have him evaluate the dog after one of his classes. Went well and a week later we dropped Bruce off for a week. Lance worked with him while we were away and was very open to meeting us late at night when we returned.Bottom line is A+ all the way. I wanted results and we got that. If the dog stayed aggressive or Lance thought he couldn't be corrected he would have been put down. Yes it's in a basement, yes crates are stacked, it's in Brookline big deal. End of the day we aren't petty and all we care about are results and we got that.

Justin: Confused why there are so many good reviews. Shady about pricing, poorly run, bad location, and rude unresponsive staff. We had a terrible experience. Found perfect training elsewhere without the hassle that is less expensive!

donna rossetti: Results Matter! Compatible Canine Center produces results!It is very important to me to have a well-trained dog for many reasons, including the dog’s safety. I was referred to Lance Woodley, owner of Compatible Canine Center (CCC), and was quickly and efficiently set up in new puppy obedience classes. These classes are not held on a demanding schedule and I wondered how my dog would learn. What I learned is I was really signing myself up for “people training” because we have to train our dogs, it isn’t magic, it is work and it’s an ongoing process. If you think you can teach your dog how to behave by going for an hour a week or send them away for resident training and not continue to work with them every day, you probably should get a cat. At CCC we are taught progressively each week how to train our dog; one lesson builds upon another. Our homework, for both owner and dog, in between classes was to keep reinforcing the lessons at home with our dogs. I admit, I was pretty nervous, I have a big, strong dog that has to behave, not jump on people, not pull me down the street when we walk, not be aggressive to other people, children and dogs. I asked the question the day I signed up, what can I realistically expect at the end of the puppy training session? Answer: “If you do your part, your dog will be trained so that she will behave for you off leash.” Right! I thought No Way - that can’t be possible - but figured it would be worth the effort if that could potentially be the result at the end of puppy training, even half that result would be great. The result is 100%!! She is still a puppy so I will continue to work with CCC to continue training. I highly recommend Compatible Canine Center, they know what they are doing!

Ian Marlier: Lance and his staff have worked with my very troubled pooch for a number of years, including both day boarding and training classes. They're on the very short list of people that he'll put up with, and they've been exceptionally helpful in addressing some of his more troubling tendancies.

Milan Merhar: Great dog training, day boarding, and overnight boarding too.

Lia DiFranco: Compatible Canine Center and Lance Woodley are the best things that happened to the dog training/behavior business in the Boston/New England area. I've never seen or heard of anyone who understands the dog as Lance does. He'll show you how to manage your dog so it's not ALL about the dog. Or you can just go for basic training, which is better than most others because the dog understands how you are trying to train them. Whatever the issue may be, contact CCC and give it a try. He'll make no guarantees because that's unrealistic, but he won't give up on you!

Susan Altman: I had no idea what I was doing with my first dog. I had heard of Lance through a friend of mine who also owns a Rhodesian. She raved about Lance, and Compatible Canine, so I gave it a shot with my then 5 month old puppy (He's now 11 months and I am still going for classes happily). Not only did Lance and the other trainers work with my pup, but they have given me tremendous support as I begin life with a dog. You must be able to look past the space, and trust that they know how to make it work. I would recommend the whole crew to anyone.

donna wilbur: Lance and his team at Compatible Canine Center are excellent trainers for you and your dog. They train YOU and your dog. They understand one size does not fit all and develop a plan that meets you and your dogs needs. Don't let the basement training center fool you, the place is top notch. Also, they are hard to reach on the phone and some have mentioned that. They are very busy with "word of mouth" referrals and are super busy so if you can be patient with getting a call or going in person they will help you. Everyone has a system and if you leave a message they will get it. If you have a challenging dog then Lance is your man as he really knows how to handle some of the tough cases. He is training me and may dog for service work presently and we go every two weeks so we have time to practice what we have learned. donna m. wilbur

Teresa Herd: I heard about Lance at Compatible Canine through a friend. I made an appointment and brought our new dog to meet him. The place upon arrival was a bit frightening with dog crates stacked on top of each other, dimly lite but I stayed as we were really struggling with our dog. Lance really seemed to connect with the dog and gave us a great tip that allowed us to finally sleep through the night. I did not really want to go back to the location so we set up an appointment to have Lance come to our house. When I left I told him I needed to check the time. He told me to call back if there was a change. When I got home I called him back right away to move the appointment back and hour. It took 4 more calls to finally speak with him and make the change. I had a bad feeling as the day approached that he may not show given his lack of responsiveness. Sadly I was right. He did not show up. Did not call. and I have not heard from him since.It was $300 for an hour that I did not spend so that was the good thing but I am really in need of help. This kind of service is important to the folks who make the appointments. I wasted 3 weeks anticipating this visit. Now I have to start over.I think lance would have been great if he showed up.

Celeste De Palma: Vera's expert canine knowledge and tailored solutions to my dog's challenges are life-saving! Before working with Vera at The Cooperative Dog, Luna's loose-leash walking skills were very poor, which made for frustrating outings for all of us. Luna loves all people and dogs, so this social butterfly used to be too distracted pulling to meet every dog on sight. Not anymore, thanks to Vera! My relationship with my dog and my confidence in meeting my dog's needs, have improved tremendously. So has Luna's walking skills. I am now much more aware of what my dog needs to succeed and how to advocate for her. I am forever grateful to Vera for helping us become better dog advocates. The knowledge I gained has helped me identify and prevent unwanted situations and I cannot recommend her enough to help you overcome any challenges you may be facing with your dog.Vera's decades of experience show. We trained indoors and outdoors, which was super useful for us. Go to her. You won't be disappointed. She is the absolute best! Luna 100% approves 👌

Jon Abrams: I highly recommend The Cooperative Dog. Vera is an expert! She has been super helpful! She provides clear and effective positive training strategies. She is patient and caring in her approach with dogs and their owners! Vera is passionate about her work, uses positive training, and appreciates the individuality of each dog and the importance of developing the relationship between the dog owner and dog!

Nataliya Yufa: Vera is a life-saver! She came and helped us completely re-tool how we treat our rescue dog, so that her life and ours have improved dramatically.

Howard Block: I have known Vera for decades. We first met on the streets of Brookline, while I was walking my Greyhound, Bran. We struck up a conversation, which led to a friendship. Vera always had great dog advice for me, so it was only natural for me to hire her for my next dog, and every dog ever since. Vera has a unique and positive perspective. There is rarely a problem that she can't solve, and when the solution doesn't work perfectly, it's clearly me, not Vera and not the dog. If there is one rule of dog ownership in this area it's this: contact Vera! You won't regret it.

Katharine W: Vera is a true lifesaver! We adopted a rescue from the south about a year ago and have been working with Vera for almost 8 months now. Our dog has struggled with anxiety and became extremely reactive one day on a walk. We found ourselves with a dog that was barking and lunging at every other dog and everything that ran or walked by. The first class we went to, our dog was triggered by a collar that was used on him by a previous trainer we attempted to work with. After seeing the collar, our dog jumped up and bit Vera on the arm. We were completely mortified that we had a dog so out of control. After almost 8 months now and with a lot of training and tons of positive reinforcement, we go 4-5 days without a reaction on our walks, a significant change! Our dog used to bite us out of fear when leaving him alone or in situations he was not comfortable in. We now are able to leave him home alone without any howling or crying and no fear and absolutely no biting!We have a ways to go with our dog and I’m not sure what we would have done without Vera’s help! I would recommend Vera to anyone struggling with their dog, no matter how big or small the problem is. She is patient, kind, and supportive. It is clear that she absolutely loves being with animals and supports them no matter how difficult they might be! She is so understanding of dogs and can read and help with any situation you give her. Thank you, Vera for all of your help!!

Clara Heiden: Vera is the absolute best! She helped my husband and I with training our 8 week old rescue pup. We did 3 private sessions with her and one group puppy class. She helped us with everything from how to teach him to get used to vet visits, how to walk on a leash, and fun tricks like how to roll over. Our little pup has come so far and we absolutely could not have done it without Vera's years of experience and knowledge in dog training. I could not recommend her more!

Josh Stiles: Positive:Professionalism,Quality,ValueVera is the best of best in regards to dog training. She provided invaluable sessions and recorded several to share for future use and reference when training our dog. I strongly recommend her for training dogs of all ages and experience.

Heather Walsh: Vera is an amazing dog trainer and has been so helpful to us with our rescue dog. It's our first dog and Vera has been with us every step of the way to support us and help us understand what is normal dog behavior and how to use positive training to help us see results. She truly understands dogs and has a way with them that is so impressive to watch. Her knowledge of dogs is unparalleled. You would be very lucky to have Very work with you and your pup! Highly recommended!

Ellen Tani: I contacted Vera when I moved from Maine to Boston with my then 6-y.o. large rescue dog in 2018, as she was still grappling with some of her demons. I'd worked with other positive behaviorists before, so I knew what we needed, and wanted to have a reliable support in our new home - the change from a more rural to a more urban, dog-dense neighborhood was stressful, and I was moving in with my partner, who had less experience with my dog. We scheduled an in-person assessment to familiarize my partner with how to manage my dog's behavior and to problem-solve some logistical challenges that came with our new living situation (building and neighborhood). Vera was patient, direct, and appropriately cautious with my dog, who has fear-based reactivity that can manifest as aggression. She helped us develop a meet and greet protocol so we could have guests over to our house (a major issue before!) and accompanied us on a walk to assess our leash walking skills (my dog is super leash reactive), giving us lots of helpful tips on the go. I highly recommend an in-person assessment - you get a lot out of it.After that, we attended her reactive dog class, which gathered 6 dogs max outside in a park every weekend to engage in low-risk training, leash handling, and communication. As the only form of socialization (distanced, at that!) with other dogs that my dog had, this class was invaluable, and I appreciated the opportunity to practice reactivity management in a controlled environment (this is almost impossible to find otherwise). When we moved indoors during colder weather, it provided a novel setting for the same skills. If you are feeling plateaued or stuck with your reactive dog, or want a safe and proactive maintenance class to keep your communication up, OR if you are bringing a partner into your dog's life who isn't as familiar with their issues, I can't recommend this class enough.In summary, if you have a challenging relationship with your dog, practice is the only way to make progress, and Vera is a great coach to have on your side. Training takes time - years - and a good trainer can help your dog retain the good stuff while minimizing the bad.

Deanne Sullivan: It is with heartfelt gratitude that we write this review of one of Boston’s hidden treasures, the Pawsitive Dog, a business catering to dogs and their bewildered owners. The Pawsitive Dog ,tucked into a small downstairs space on Southampton Street, saved our lives this past year by educating, retraining and reshaping the behaviors of both our dogs and us. We originally found the Pawsitive Dog and its’ team of trainers, Jennifer Vickery, Francis Holder and Aileen Whitty in a desperate attempt to “fix” one of our beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels who developed some frighteningly aggressive behaviors. These behaviors were serious enough that he was accepted into the accelerated program which meant that Jennifer kept him with her for four weeks while we attended evening classes. When he came back to us, a chastened, obedient, relaxed, happy pup, we were hooked. This launched our 10 month relationship which included putting both of our dogs in day school and ourselves in night school for owner/parent classes. These rigorous educational sessions transformed the way we thought, approached, and related to our dogs.We adopted our first dog in 1981 and have had 9 beloved canines during our adult lives including the present two. They are everything to us.Jennifer and her team educated us in ways that we never anticipated, and to our surprise both four legged and two legged creatures finished training with stronger, happier lives. The Pawsitive Dog staff, Jennifer, Francis, Aileen and Rebecca are among the finest professionals with whom we have worked. They are available to their clients without hesitation through phone, text and email, and offer outstanding advice which is always dead to rights honest, yet sprinkled with kindness and compassion. Our relationships with our dogs, and their interactions with the world have been so much better since we knocked on Jennifer’s door. We cannot say enough about how much this experience has altered our day to day lives, nor can we ever express how much the people at the Pawsitive Dog mean to us. We will always be grateful. We offer our highest recommendation of this wonderful team to all seeking behavioral help with their canines. We look forward to further experiences at “Camp Pawsitive Dog”.Deanne Sullivan and Mary Jane Farley

Marta Stepien: Working with The Pawsitive Dog has been the most impactful thing we've done to build a strong partnership with our dog, Fuji. One of the first things we learned in class was that though people start with dog obedience (sit, down, stay, etc.), that's not even half of it; teaching your dog good manners, relaxation, and patience are what yields behaviors that make you and your dog happy. Now try doing that yourself?!Jen, Francis, Aileen, and Rebecca make the most incredible team. They are knowledgeable, have so much experience, and have been able to teach us (& talk us) through all of our questions. For example, as a first-time owner of a livestock guardian dog, I needed expert guidance on understanding and complementing how my dog thinks; he's a bit more shy and observant, and knowing how to handle that in a highly-populous area to ensure he is comfortable was really important to me.I trust them with taking care of Fuji during the day and for camp (overnight stays) as if he were their own. We are so grateful for them!! Thank you team 3

Pat Tauro: The hardest thing to do is hand your dog over to somebody to handle and care for them. I got over that immediately once I started sending my two year old dog for day school at The Pawsitive Dog a year ago.At the time, he had a very basic grasp of obedience commands, but showed signs of separation anxiety. I had never crate trained him as a puppy, and he would go into freak out mode anytime he did go in to the crate.The trainers at The Pawsitive Dog have helped him immensely, starting with basic building blocks to motivate him to be calm on his own, and voluntarily offer behaviors I want.I got a new puppy a few months ago and he immediately started attending day school as well. I’ve seen so many positive changes since getting him into The Pawsitive Dog at a young age.Jen, Francis, Rebecca, and Aileen treat my dogs wonderful and have been instrumental in raising both of my dogs, to which I’m extremely grateful for.

Daniel Maddox: We’ve been clients of Pawsitive Dog since 2020. Each member of their team is professional, enthusiastic, and dedicated to their craft. From every interaction, you can tell these people just love dogs and love what they do.Pawsitive Dog has helped us build a strong relationship with our dog Goose through both classes and day school. Goose loves his day school visits and they provide a great foundation for our training at home. The classes we attend with Goose help us problem solve behavioral challenges at home. These classes also help train us so we can practice training at home that reinforces good behavior while also keeping our dog physically and mentally engaged (and a tired Goose is a good Goose!). My wife and I can’t say enough good things about this business.

Eryn Carlson: I can't say enough good things about Pawsitive Dog. Jen, Francis, and Aileen are so knowledgeable, personable, and helpful, and their personalized approach to each dog they work with is unmatched. They have not only helped our dog with obedience and good manners, but they have also given us the tools to continue giving him the physical and mental stimulation he needs for life. In the process, they've made training fun instead of stressful, and have truly changed our relationship with our dog, making him into the well-trained and adaptable dog he is today.

Mishka Murad: We’ve sent our pup there for over 6 months now & weve seen some major changes in him. Not just that but the classes we attend have been helpful in teaching us how to train him. I read a lot of books but they weren’t near as helpful as Francis and Jen have been. I do think it’s costly (but I’m a student not a full time employee), but i also think if you have the cash this is a smart choice if you have a dog with issues or if you just want a day off (soooooo much better than daycare!)

Patricia Moran: Fantastic trainers who really care about your dog. We’ve seen a lot of improvement from coming here with our dog Indy- our walks are much calmer now! She loves coming here!

Joe Public: Jennifer, Francis, Breslin, Scott, Rebecca & Geoff are the greatest training team in the world. Their hard work saved our rescue's life, she is a brand new dog because of these amazing people.

Melissa Barry: The trainers at The Pawsitive Dog are AMAZING!! They are all very knowledgeable about dog behaviors, how dogs process situations and dog training methods. Jen and Francis show their expertise in every class with a passion that is unparalleled. They are completely dedicated to the dogs and their humans! They are always there if you have questions or issues even outside of your own class time.This week Storm has hit her 1 year anniversary of being at the Pawsitive dog! I want to say THANK YOU for helping us save her!! If our home did not work for her, she would have been euthanized. When we rescued her, she had already been returned to the rescue 5 times for her various issues and energy level. She was an untrained dog who never had any rules, structure or consistency in her life. She was fearful of a lot and did not trust people. She came into our house just as her name described - the "Storm" had arrived!! Without all of the knowledge and training that you have taught us, Storm would not be where she is today! She now is well behaved, has manners and knows how to relax. Does she still have quite a way to go -- of course she does -- but she has shown how amazing she is!! She has come a long way in one year and we could not more PROUD of her!! A HUGE THANK YOU again for helping us save Miss Storm!

My Thoughts: Incredible trainers!

K Frances (DrKF): Enjoying the company of your dog. Living peacefully. No yelling. No scolding. Setting your dog up for success & reward: that is what you will learn and practice here. This is not about "obedience" or "commands", rather communication and trust. How do you command Trust? You don't. It is earned. The trainers: Jen, Francis, and Scott, are brilliant coaches. Whether it is at the beginning when you are learning how to be consistent, or in more advanced work (think 11 dogs relaxed and lying down in the middle of the room [humans are sitting] with a 12th sprinting past them toward it's human who is calling it, joyfully. The 11 don't move), the trainers meet you where you are. Do professional athletes still get coaching? You bet. No matter the level of your relationship with your dog, The Pawsitive Dog will get you to the next level of calm enjoyment.

Silvia Leonard: Very reasonable prices! Lucky does not seem to mind going here. Positives also include an animal medical center located adjacent to the "resort and spa." I will continue to bring him here unless I find out they are mistreating my dog...

Harry TheDog: Harry, here! I just took my human walking on the VERY icy sidewalks in Boston. Thank goodness for + Dog!!! because "we" trained her well! She walked right by my side today, so there was no chance of a slip or fall. She walks very nicely even though she is 3/4 of a century! Phew! She learned so much at + Dog, I can take her everywhere...the MV ferry, the subway, outside restaurants, even bed and breakfasts! (I love room service!) I have so much fun training her, so sign your human up today! You'll be thrilled you did! XO Harry

Jesse Struebing: Jen, Scott, and Francis do an unbelievable job with our Doberman Beau. They are extremely organized in the class structure is perfect. When you drop your dog off for days school they provide very intensive training but you also have to go to classes once every other week to back up the training they do. This helps a lot because it shows me where I am allowing disruptive behavior without even knowing it. They give you all the tools you need for success and I highly recommend this facility to anyone looking for intelligent and intensive training.

Scott Mustard: Francis, Jen and Scott are great and our dog and many of our neighbors have gone through the day school programs and the bi-weekly evening training. We highly recommend them!

Joe Crinkley: Extremely knowledgeable and competent staff. They have an arsenal of training techniques suitable for all kinds of dog, behavior issues, or unique training needs. They are very thorough in ensuring they understand your training needs/goals and providing the guidance to improve your confidence in handling your dog and managing their behaviour.

Amy Taylor: The trainers here are fantastic! They are super knowledgeable and all of their dogs are incredibly well trained. They teach you to raise a healthy adjusted dog that is obedient but not submissive. Classes are great and really enjoyable. If you ever have any questions you can call and they will give you great advice

Al A: We brought our deaf dog to Pawsitive Dog for over a year and a half. While our dog did gain noticeable confidence around people, thanks to the controlled environment Pawsitive Dog provided, many other issues persisted despite our dedication inside and out of the classroom. One of his biggest problem areas - fear of walking outside - actually worsened despite our dedication to the Pawsitive Dog training. Feeling frustrated we decided to do some research and found that much of what we were learning was based on out-dated science. Given what we read from multiple scholarly sources, we decided to see a different trainer with a positive reinforcement approach rooted in current behavioral science. Within two visits at the new place we learned that what we had been taught to do at the Pawsitive Dog - "desensitizing" him to being outside by having him outside all of the time, feeding him outside, etc - was actually solidifying our dog's fears and rapidly dissolving his trust in us. We threw out the pinch-collar Pawsitive Dog had strongly suggested everyone use (admittedly, we were never that comfortable with in the first place) and went with the new trainer's suggestions. After less than a month with the new trainer our dog was actually able to go on night time walks with much less anxiety,(literally) stopping to smell the flowers. It was an amazing breakthrough. He is at the point now where he is even able to tolerate people walking across the street from him.Leaving Pawsitive Dog and switching to training methods based in more up-to-date behavioral science has tremendously helped our dog, as well as our relationship with our dog. While we did learn some useful information from the trainer at The Pawsitive Dog, I am not likely to recommend it based on our experiences there. For the sake of fearful dogs like ours, I truly hope Pawsitive Dog has updated their methodology since we left their program.