Best Pet Trainer Cambridge Near Me

Barbara Currier: Fun first day of puppy training class!

Ellen E. Thompson: have already learned a lot - Dudley learned how to sit within 20 minutes in his first lesson.Now, the reason I am writing this. Initially I thought twice about signing up based on some reviews here. I am so glad I went despite my doubts, and I'm coming in hot to address issues I find with those reviews.First - philosophy / methods - for complaints like “the approach doesn’t work immediately” / “they should teach verbal cues first” / “they give too many treats” / “they should offer corrective measures” / “watch online videos instead” / “a different trainer gave different advice so now I know they’re wrong”, then I suspect you didn’t put in effort to search for a trainer.If you're a parent, and you enroll your kid in a random school, and then realize halfway through the first week that they’re speaking gibberish to you, and now everyone is confused… and then you talk to a teacher from a different school, and complain about how your kid’s curriculum is deficient - then everyone’s going to walk away confident that the school is bad and wrong. But why didn’t you realize that you enrolled in an Italian-immersion school? It's not the school's fault that you didn't check the curriculum and don't speak Italian.... Read the website, google positive reinforcement, watch the orientation videos they send, call for the free consult. Or, if you realize you want a different curriculum - go find one. It doesn’t make this one bad, esp. if you don’t really commit to it and then claim it doesn’t work.Second - issues with policies. “They wouldn’t make an exception for me!” Ex. They wouldn’t bend their open hours, or their refund policy, they wouldn’t give me individualized attention that I didn’t pay for, they didn’t cater the group class to me and my dog, and they don’t offer dog socialization…. One said sticking firm with their refund policy = “they encourage sick dogs to come in and compromise everyone’s safety”. Twisted logic, not their true policy, and some exceptions people complained about could actually create unsafe situations. ex. no students let in early - there are behavioral reasons dogs and owners can't mill around inside, unstructured, before class - it's not a customer service thing. I'm glad they have clear policies they stick to, it's safer for me and my dog.Finally, there are a couple accusations that the staff are malicious. Ex. Instructors are unfriendly, everyone there hates small dogs, some dogs are unfairly labeled "irreversibly problematic". Are any of these claims true? Who knows, I don’t. But I doubt a staff dedicated to dogs would tell you that any dog is beyond help… and doubt they would automatically hate 50% of their clientele for being small. Do I believe that some small dogs probably exasperate the trainers? Yes. I am sure some big dogs do too! Do I think it's likely that a staff labeled a dog "inherently untrainable"? No. I can believe that a staff may have tried to say if you, the owner, are not willing to learn new techniques, then everyone (including the dog

Christina Stephens Malloy: My experience here was disappointing. I signed my dog up for a one-on-one consult so I cannot comment on the classes they offer. I have a small older dog that shows reactivity towards other dogs, and I was hoping to learn some techniques to help curb this behavior. First, I was disappointed that the trainer did not do an assessment of my dog’s behavior to determine if her reactivity is fear based or just social aggression. I’ve been around dogs long enough to know a training plan should be built around the individual dog’s needs, not just a blanket plan. Second, I felt like the trainer spoke to me like I was clueless. I worked in vet med for 7 years, have two dogs, and am now a therapist, so I’d say I have a better than average understand of both dogs and behavior. But I am not an expert, and I was there to learn new techniques to help my dog.The training methods here use A LOT of treats. Your dog does anything? Treats! I felt this went way beyond traditional positive reinforcement methods. She also didn’t encourage any corrective training methods which is I guess is dependent on the trainer. When I questioned giving my dog treats after showing reactivity towards another dog, she told me that you cannot reinforce fear-based behaviors. This is frankly not true AND she never even determined if my dog’s behavior was fear based. I shared this comment with another trainer, and they were shocked another trainer would say this.The training plan included a lot of games (AKA more treats), enrichment activities, and a “reactive vacation” to keep my dog away from others for two weeks. Nothing in the plan to help/correct her reactive behaviors. Overall, I just feel the methods here don’t align with my or my dog’s needs. Another review said they don’t seem to like small dogs and treat your dog as a problem rather than meeting them where they are. While I’m sure that’s not the intention of the trainer, I felt the same way after our consult.I had another consult with a different trainer (not here) shortly after this and learned a lot more about my dog’s behavior and learned training techniques that my dog has been responding well too. If you feel this place isn’t right for you, it may not be a good fit.I also want to share that I arrived at my appointment 10 minutes early and the trainer told me that we needed to wait outside. It was 90 degrees out, and there were no other people/dogs inside when we arrived. It was HOT and I almost left because who makes a senior dog wait outside in the heat like that? Their client care could use some improvement.

sophia helverson: I echo Maura's review completely. I took my terrier here for a series of training classes, and repeatedly had my questions brushed off--they don't offer one-on-one help in these sessions, or any kind of coaching if you ask for help. The solution to all problems? more treats. I would say coming here set us back in training, because I became a "high value treat" ATM and these treats lost all value. Some of my concerns--which I was told by pet republic were irresolvable--were eradicated within days when I started working with a new trainer. My puppy was less than 6mos old, and they treated him like a lost cause, and treated me like a fool. I came for help, and got mostly scorn. Now, he gets treats when it is appropriate, not every step of every walk. This place is a lot of money for very little results. Go elsewhere.

Elissa Davis: 👍🏻 Highly recommend! Very nice staff

Lisa Butler: Highly recommended for training your dog/puppy.We took puppy class, level 1, 2, and currently in level 3.If you want a well behaved pup, to build a relationship with your dog, and have fun in the process- come to pet Republic.

Mary Amyot: Bought the pet stairs they are a heavy foam rubber and easy to put together my ones I bought elsewhere were made with thin wood or plastic and break easily LOVE them going to order more

Maura Hamel: I took my puppy here for several rounds of beginner classes. This was during the pandemic and before vaccines were widely available. At first I thought we were horribly behind and needed a lot of work, but after spending a lot of time practicing at home I realized their approach just doesn't work for all dogs. I also don't think it's the most practical - all the commands that we learned were hand gestures. Living in the city where we are crossing busy intersections etc, I like being able to vocalize a command and have my dog be able to hear and understand me. Perhaps just personal preference.Every time I tried to ask a question about a certain command or for a bit of clarification because my dog wasn't responding as expected, they just told me to get a one on one consultation (which are ridiculously expensive).For one of the classes (again, before vaccines were widely available), someone showed up and had forgotten their mask. The instructor LET THEM IN ANYWAY! I almost left because I am immunocompromised and their facility isn't exactly ventilated.Overall, many of their instructors weren't that friendly, all of the material they taught were little tricks you can find anywhere online, it's way overpriced, and I ended up training my dog on my own. After spending at least $400ish on classes, I didn't end up sticking with a single thing they"taught". Complete waste of money. If you aren't vibing with it/don't feel like it's a great fit, just trust your gut.

Mary-Ann D.: Honestly, I cannot say enough good things about the team at Pet Republic. So far, we have taken little & big puppy classes, level 1 classes and private training with Jill. All of the instructors we worked with are professional, super knowledgeable, and seem like they really care about setting you and your dog up for success.We've learned a lot about understanding our pup's body language and improving our communication skills with her. It's made a dramatic difference in our training sessions and overall relationship with our pup.Highly recommend

Brendan B: Great trainers, super friendly, been taking our pup here for a month or two, and have learned a lot!

happy hippoland: This place is not just over-priced. Some of the trainers are downright disrespectful. Additionally, they seemingly hate small dogs, and treat your dog as a “problem” rather than meeting him where he is. The techniques do not work and they do not care-the trainers even said our dog could not be trained out of behaviors at the age of 6mos! We worked with another trainer and got our issues fixed in weeks. Take your money elsewhere… the look and vibe seem great online, but in person, this place is a hoax.

Ian Marlier: I've been bringing my dog here for training classes, and they've been great. Really appreciate the attention to health/safety during covid, as well.

Sean Osler: High quality trainers and really nice and comfortable environment for the puppies to gain new experiences. So happy we decided to come here. Our puppy has had noticeable behavior improvements.

Toula Savvidis: I bought the puppy preschool package for 4 training classes with my friend. On October 7 should have been my puppies 3rd session he became very ill the evening prior. My friend had already cancelled that day because of a conflict but I still had every intention to attend on that day. Upon calling the vet in the morning it was on the vets recommendation that my puppy not participate until he is seen to avoid possible spread of illness to other puppies. I contacted The Pet Republic that morning informing them that I needed to cancel because of illness and to have him rescheduled. To my dismay I was told that I wasn’t within the 12 hour cancellation window and would lose the session. Even after I provided a letter from the vet stating exactly the same facts, The Pet Republic remained firm to their 12 hour cancellation policy. As I expressed to The Pet Republic, even though I was happy with their services, I will not enroll in future training sessions because it is obvious to me that they do not put your pets health first nor do I feel comfortable that they can protect our pets from illness since owners are put in a position that they must bring in their sick puppy or lose their session.Very disappointed and all over $40. They just lost much more as I was planning future training enrollments. Not good business sense. My gym is a small business and charges more per session but certainly considers doctors recommendations and life’s circumstances that come our way and members do not get penalized for being sick even when it’s not within their cancellation policy.

Eric Koscher: During the pandemic they've offered a special puppy class to help with socializing during a difficult time. Big help and our little nugget loved it!

John Peterson: First session of Basic Manners was great. Several friends recommend the trainers.

Michael Brown: The instructors clearly care about animals and have a very thoughtful approach. We took the basic manners course. It was fun and informative for our family (doggo and humans). We are planning on going back for advanced manners later this year.

Michael Duchesneau: Great small funky spot with small classes

Ryan Morrison-Westphal: We've only had two classes with them so far but the staff are friendly and helpful. I'm pretty sure our dog, as well as my wife and I, will learn a lot.

Ann E.: Came here from another dog training place, and the difference is night and day. This place has fair prices, a great facility, and phenomenal instructors. Jill has taught us so much in a few classes. I’ve gotten so much better at communicating with my dog. There is homework and a followup email with helpful videos every week. Cannot recommend Jill and Pet Republic highly enough.

Lucy Grant-Ruane: Instructors educated in the science of how dogs actually learn! Up to date training methods. Lots of fun!

Shmuel Shagalov: Positive:Professionalism,Quality

Joseph Sharkey: Excellent work done in a very nice group setting. They dont ascribe to the brutal alpha dog training nonsense. Our boy made amazing gains and now will NOT pick up chicken bones and trash when we tell him not to, and got his Canine Good Citizen award!

Rania Karim: Highly knowledgeable and caring trainers that utilizes positive only training techniques.

Thomas Sullivan: Jeff is a great trainer who clearly really cared about the happiness of our dog, and was very patient with training us(and the dog). He regularly extended the trainings to get the job done free of charge and catered where we met to meet the needs of the specific training. I highly recommend Jeff to anyone looking to get their dog into a happier and well trained state.

Carolyn May: My rescue, Winnie, and I had an excellent experience with Good Dog Boston. The trainer was very attuned to her needs and taught me to understand her better. I didn't realize how intelligent she was! Lessons were fun and useful, and she did indeed become a better dog as I became a better partner.

shouren dalvi: Jeff is an amazing trainer and I would highly recommend him and Good dog Boston to any dog parent looking for any type of training.Our 2 and half year old Pitbull mix Jack had become very territorial and protective of the house and around us.He was oki-sh on leash walking, was choppy on his SIT and STAY command and would often get anxious to meet other dogs on leash.Jeff instantly knew what the problem was and made the training sessions based on correcting the necessary behaviors.Result -1st Session - Jeff enters our house and Jack barks his heart out at him.4th Session - Jeff enters the house and Jack is sitting on his bed like a monk.5th Session - Jeff enters the house with a surprise guest. Jack treats him respectfully, on giving a command to go to his bed,Jack hops playfully and goes to his bed. That was the impact of his training.His sessions were rightly spaced out (2-3 weeks) gap before the next session and that helped us to do our homework as herightly says, its 95% training the humans and 5% is on the dog.Jeff always looked motivated in the training sessions and you will clearly see how much he loves his job and the dogs.Apart from correcting the bad behaviors, Jeff made sure the basic obedience commands (SIT, STAY, COME, HEEL, loose leash walking) are properly done until they are almost perfect(both inside and outside the house).Result - Me and my wife can now confidently walk Jack holding the leash with just a finger.There was 1 session where Jeff got all his dogs to meet Jack just to see how he behaves around other dogs of various sizesand correct any bad habits. This was very helpful as we got to know that Jack is not really fond of small dogs.The last session was outside our neighborhood that helped us to see how Jack behaves in an unfamiliar environment. This was helpful too as we are now much more confident to take him in a crowded area.Lastly I would say just to sincerely follow the homework that he gives during and after the training and your pup will be in the list of Best Dog Citizens.

Greg Boyd: Positive:Professionalism,Quality,ResponsivenessI chose Good Dog Boston because they offered intensive at home training. Finn, my puppy , really needed that 1:1 environment. Jeff did a great job in training both Finn and myself. We are walking away with great skills and tools that will help both of us have a great life together.

josh appell: Jeff is an outstanding trainer! Had a tough time with our puppy Ralph being very reactive to other dogs. Halfway through training we were able to get over Ralph's reactivity and learn new training techniques. Treats dogs with positive reinforcement and is available 24/7 for help. We learned just as much as Ralph did through the trainings!

Nikki Faria Mitchell: Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Reliability,Responsiveness,ValueWe have had a great experience with Good Dog Boston. Jeff has done an amazing job with our dog (and us as the owners). Having private classes is very convenient for our schedule and by having the classes at home, our children are able to participate and learn from the training sessions as well.

Tatiana Rocha: Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Reliability,Responsiveness,ValueToffee has been doing incredibly well since training began — so glad we are working with Good Dog Boston! Jeff is wonderful! It is great to work with him. He treats Toffee as his own dog and goes above and beyond to help me train my dog.

Chris Noonan: Good Dog Boston's private classes were a great experience! They took the time to get to know my dog and did an awesome job at making him feel comfortable and receptive to learning. Would absolutely recommend them to anyone who is struggling to communicate with their dog.

Brittany Meece: Working with Jeff was the best decision I ever made for my 10 month old rescue, Ava. Ava had a lot of anxiety issues that resulted in leash pulling and attempting to eat basically everything on walks (including potentially harmful things). She was not able to sit for more than a few seconds at a time, generally had her tail tucked and/or would shake in most environments.Jeff took the time to get to know Ava and immediately identified her biggest needs/issues. He completely customized every session and adjusted course throughout the program as we learned more about Ava, and as I had questions, feedback, and observations of what was working well for her and what wasn’t. Jeff was knowledgeable, methodical, and professional about introducing new techniques and options to find what would work best for Ava, while building her confidence in adjusting to city life. He also had the patience and skill in training me and building my own confidence in my abilities to continue Ava’s training, care, and development after the program. Jeff always has the dog’s best interest at heart and genuinely cares and is passionate about the work he does.Ava and I can now go on many more walks, enjoy them, and I no longer fear every second of the walk that she will snatch up something harmful from the ground. Ava is so much less fearful after her training and can now start to really enjoy just being a dog. 100% would recommend Jeff to anyone looking to provide the best life for their dog through training.

Craig Champion: Jeff has done an amazing job training Romeo ! As a very active and big Labrador puppy, Romeo was very difficult to handle on walks and around the house. After just a few sessions with Jeff, were were able to turn that all around. Thank you Jeff for your dedication and kindness !

Holly Slonim: Positive:Professionalism,Quality,ResponsivenessAfter working with Jeff for 8 weeks it is like we have a new dog! Our neighbors have commented on the positive changes. Jeff took the time to understand our dogs personality and tailored the training to her.

Nicole Ellis: Jeff from Good Dog Boston is THE best. Not only is this guy super knowledgeable about dogs and dog behavior, he LOVES his job. Jeff is a really kind dude who loves dogs. We brought our German Shepherd to him because he was super leash aggressive. After 2 months of training with Jeff, our dog no long goes crazy on leash. Not only that, Jeff got to the root cause of the behavior, which we discovered was our dog's severe anxiety outside the home. Jeff led us through some obedience training to help our dog relax in public as well as worked with us on the leash training. Honestly can't say enough about Jeff. He's a super pure human and genuine guy!

Lisa Anderson: Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Reliability,Responsiveness,ValueJeff from Good Dog Boston was great! He helped our new puppy, Buckley, learn basic obedience in a calm, friendly way. People are always impressed and surprised how well behaved Buckley is for his age. Highly recommend GDB, great way to establish foundation for successful obedience and more advanced training if you want it.

Jennifer Talbot: Jeff is an amazing trainer and every minute he spent with us has been so valuable. Even though my husband and I grew up with dogs, we wanted some help with our new puppy and wanted our kids to be involved too. We've learned a tremendous amount from Jeff and feel we have the tools we need to raise a happy and polite puppy. Jeff feels like a member of the family. He really has a gift. We are so thrilled to have found him.

Samantha Siegel: Jeff is absolutely fantastic! I had a lot of issues with my dog when he was a young puppy and by the end of our training sessions my dog was very well trained. I have nothing but positive things to say about Jeff and Good Dog Boston. Excellent individualized plans and attention to my concerns at all times. 100% recommend for anyone looking for a dog trainer.

Phoebe Weatherall: Jeff is a phenomenal dog trainer (and people trainer...). He understands dogs better than anyone I've ever known. He could identify Wally's unique personality (and issues) from the get-go. Jeff, Wally, and I completed a 10-week program. It was entirely worth the time and money. I'd do it all over again. And Wally certainly would too! I hired Jeff, because Wally is a sweet but reactive rescue lab. I'm able to turn off his reactivity much more effectively now. Life is so much better!

Kat Gundersen: Jeff was an amazing dog trainer (and people trainer), at the end of our sessions my dog had come along so much from when we started, even my neighbors complimented my dog. I would highly recommend Jeff and Good Dog Boston for any dog and any circumstance, they are fantastic!

Jennyfer Suero: Jeff is truly the best trainer I have come across hands down! He did an amazing job with my black Lab, he was very professional and super nice. Jeff definitely has a special gift with dogs. I recommend Good Dog Boston to everyone I know that are pet owners.

Keniaa Samantha: I got my 1 year old american staffordshire last year when he was only 7 weeks old. i thought i was going to be able to handle the trianing myself because my friends were telling me it was simple, but its not. I knew nothing, on what to do or how to handle him . now that he is one year old i needed help learning how to control him and good dog boston helped me! Jeff is super friendly and helps you with whatever you need to know, both Craig and Jeff respond very quickly to any questions you have and they never leave you questioning anything. i will deffinetly recommend good dog boston to anyone that needs help with their pup, especially if they weigh over 90 pounds and are out of control like mine :)

Daria Mamon: Jeff is an excellent trainer. He was patient and kind and worked with me to be comfortable with training Milo. My dog struggles with leash reactivity and made significant progress during our training sessions. Very happy I chose to work with Good Dog Boston, and specifically, Jeff.

dave di: Our dog started to get more protective and nippy overtime. He, also, started barking and growling more. Ruth was able to preform an assessment and determine the underlying issues. She was able to provide feedback and a tailored approach for helping our dog feel safe and comfortable. The advice and training she provided help us and our dog. He is back to be a calm, mellow, loving dog and part of the family. I recommend Ruth.

Brianna De Oliveira: These people know how to work with dogs!We went there with our fear reactive rescue completely out of our comfort zone and desperate for help. Not only were we SHOCKED when he didn't immediately go after the owner, but he was immediately able to handle what we thought was an unmanageable mutt. Our dog has completely transformed since doing the away training. He's well behaved and listens to us.The daycare program is also amazing! He goes to daycare almost every day and LOVES it. They pick up and drop off in certain areas and that has made it just SO easy. Whenever he sees the van, he drops his toy and runs to the gate. And I love that I can watch his day on their instagram story.Overall, if you have a dog you need these people in your life. I could never handle our high-energy, reactive rescue without The Happy K-9. I cannot thank them enough for all the help, care, and knowledge they have given to us!

Ginely Baltodano: I truly don’t have enough words to express how thankful I am for Nelson and his team.Nelson, Lauren and sully did everything they promised us and more. They went above and beyond in all things. Before coming to them, I had an insecure dog who lacked confidence which didn’t allow him to enjoy anything in life. Walks were a nightmare, it consisted of hiding behind cars and avoiding people, but now we can enjoy our walks together, Astro is happier, more confident and most importantly looks to me for direction. Nelson and his team not only trained my pup but also taught me and my family how to be better owners and leaders for him. We are forever in debt of what of what you guys have done for our family.Also astro now has a place where he feels understood and safe with them: with them not only providing training but also day care and overnights. Although his 5 week training is over, we will never stop going to Nelson and his team. He treated us like family and most importantly I saw the love they gave my dog throughout the whole process. Thank you, and I will recommend them to anyone struggling with their pup. I thought there was no light at the end of this tunnel but Nelson and his team showed me otherwise.

CJ Beale: We’ve just finished the three week day program and couldn’t be more grateful to Nelson, Lauren, Sully, and Katherine. The entire team is incredibly kind, informative, and so patient with our endless questions.We’ve been through quite a few different training programs where we kept leaving feeling helpless and wondering what we were doing wrong and what to do next, but today we are feeling energized and more confident than ever with our reactive and nervous pup.Watching our pup grow more confident is amazing. We’re so excited to keep working the program and cannot put into words how thankful we are for everyone here!

Kathryn Garbuzinski: Game changers! Our dog is so much better behaved, makes better choices, and learned how to relax while retaining his goofy personality. My fiance and I brought our 2.5 year old dog here for a 3 week board and train. We started with an evaluation where Nelson met our dog. He talked to us about our concerns and observed our dog before recommending a few different paths forward. His analysis was spot on and Nelson extrapolated behaviors and knew concerns that we hadn't even brought up.At the start of the 3 weeks, we were added to a group chat with all the trainers and received regular updates in addition to all of the videos on their Instagram page. Our pup was having such a great time and stayed focused even with massive distractions.At the end of the 3 weeks, we had a 2.5 hour go-home session where Nelson showed us what our dog learned and how to keep up the behavior, including a training in the facility and then a walk around people/dogs/animals. We learned SO much about dog behavior and how to reinforce good behaviors. We learned the what as well as the why.I never felt "upsold" or like I was being fed lies or told what I wanted to hear. Nelson was very honest, clear, and patient. I'm so glad I went to The Happy K9 and I'm looking forward to taking my pup here for daycare in the future. They know their stuff and care so deeply for dogs!

Paul Danehy: What an amazing team! We enrolled our pup to save her from pulling on the leash. We got so much more out of the training. The team asked us what kind of dog we wanted and tailored their training program to include specific behaviors we were looking for. The real world training was so effective. We now have a pup who enjoys her walks, knows when to play and when work, and can also hold her focus in our retail shop no matter what the distraction. We are complimented daily on our dog’s behavior. I have to admit, they did a great job of training us as well. Not sure who needed the training more our dog or us ;-).

Walden Chidelli: Highly recommend the Happy K-9 team and facility! The second we dropped Walden off we felt confident that he was in great hands. We did 5 days of day training focused on improving Walden’s on-leash walking. Prior to the training he intensely pulled, lunged at small animals, and constantly picked things up off the ground. After the 5 days, his walking transformation was a full 180 and we were excited to take him on walks vs previously dreading it. Additionally, his follow through on commands improved. The happy k-9 team took the time to answer all of our questions and helped us build the foundation for both Walden and our training as his owners. We were also really pleased with the facility. We can’t wait for Walden to continue his training with Nelson and team. We wish we lived closer so Walden could join happy k9 for daycare.

Doug Reynolds: A great place to get your dog(s) trained to be the best behaved dog they can be. Nelson and his THK-9 team do a terrific job and we already have a much better behaved dog. And THK-9 trains the owners as well on how to keep your dog behaving - that's just as important as training the dog!

Pamela Mackay: The happy k-9 has been the absolute best in training for us. They gave us the knowledge we needed to have the dog we always knew we had but couldn’t quite get him to be. Nelson and everyone of his employees has been so consistent and helpful, patient, and overall just wonderful. They answered all of our questions and helped us coax out the very best pupper that our dog could be. They really showed us how to be the family our dog needed. And all the tools to get there. I would recommend them by far to anyone with small or large training needed, boarding, or daycare they do it all. And help you every step of the way.

Melissa Brandt: We had an incredible experience at The Happy K-9, who gave us the tools we desperately needed to train our rescue. Nelson and his team were thorough and professional every step of the way. Nelson was available for phone calls and texts any time during our dog’s six week stay and would also call to update us. When it was time to pick our dog up, we were shocked at how well behaved he was but thrilled he still had the same goofy, loving personality.Nelson came for two follow up visits to our home to fine tune the training and to answer any questions we had. Even a year later, if we have a question, Nelson is always available to help. If you have a complex dog with behavior issues, or just need to brush up on manners, The Happy K-9 is the place to go!

Lisa Bonk: I recently completed a two week shadow program with Nelson and the team at the Happy K-9. I could not be more pleased with the results. First, it was an absolute pleasure to work with someone who is truly a leader, not only of dogs, but also of people. I came from the corporate world with a lot of people who claimed to have leadership skills, but they pale in comparison to what I saw in Nelson. With both dogs and people, he is clear in his communication, nurturing in his environment, and precise with instructions.Nelson did not simply tell me what to do, he showed the benefits of methods and programs through demonstration. For example, when I first arrived, I did not want to offer board and train programs. After the first week, I saw the advantages and how these programs provide a much more complete service than simple one on one lessons. We also reviewed my pricing and the new programs offer a better service to the owners and a better return for me (my weekly revenues double when doing B&T). His advice and encouragement boosted my confidence and left me feeling empowered. Empowered to turn away clients who are not a fit, empowered to teach a dog how to problem solve, and empowered to understand my challenges and conquer them.Lastly, and probably most importantly, Nelson is good natured, kind, and fun. I thought I would be drained by the two weeks, but in fact, I am more energized than ever. The long days flew by and I thoroughly enjoyed the working environment he laid out for his students and team. Working with Nelson has already changed my business for the better and I am so excited to continue on my journey, with my new tools, courtesy of Nelson Mendoza and the Happy K-9 team.

gemma santamaria: There aren’t enough good things I can say about this place. We have an anxious pup with some PTSD and serious behavioral issues. Nelson and his team have taken our dog under their wings and helped him beyond measure. Not only that, they have helped my husband and I feel more comfortable and confident in trusting and continuing his training ourselves. They are seriously the best.. don’t think twice!!

Christopher Coleman: I can’t express how grateful I am for all the hard work that Nelson along with the entire HappyK9 staff gave to me and my dog. The amount of care and attention they give each individual dog is unmatched. The training, play groups, and boarding services offered are amazing, it makes you feel at ease knowing that your dog is being taken such good care of when they can’t tag along with updates, photos and videos from the very hands on staff. In terms of training I learned so much from Nelson and completely changed my relationship with my dog. My dog who is almost 2 years old now did her training with Nelson and the HappyK9 staff and I can’t even put into words how much my dog learned, I am beyond happy of how well her behavior improved and how those skills she learned have stuck through with repetition. Even after the training concluded Nelson continued to follow up with me and came to visit my dog to see how she was working through her old behaviors and that level of sincerity and passion is something that made me feel like I was part of The HappyK9 family and my dog was truly loved by everyone she came into contact with at the HappyK9 and that brings a smile to my face knowing that she always has a family beyond her own big family. I would recommend The HappyK9 to anyone. The best feeling is bringing my dog on walks, errands and people notice her good behavior and ask how I did it and I can’t wait to tell them all about The HappyK9. If you have a dog and are looking for anything from training to boarding this is the only place I would recommend!! We’ll see you soon HappyK9!!

Brittany Jordan: Nelson and his whole team have really reshaped my biggie as a whole. He struggled a lot with anxiety and managing it. The training also showed me how important structure is for biggie. He’s such a happy puppy. Who is now is able to be more social with all different types of animals. I highly recommend for anyone needing all different types of training for their pups!

Hannah Peterson: We cannot speak highly enough of Nelson and the entire Happy K-9 staff. Our highly energetic, anxious, high prey drive dog participated in the board and train. Prior to sending him, we had almost given up that he would not be able to properly interact with other dogs. Nelson and his team worked with our dog day in and out to bring the best out of him. Not only is he off leash trained now (which was something we never thought would happen with his prey drive), but he is now living his best life understanding his role and that we can take care of him. We live in the Boston area and make sure to send our dog to daycare once a week. Again, Nelson and his team have taught us how to work with our dog so we have a strong relationship and get to truly enjoy the benefits of having a dog in our family.

Erin Collins: Nelson and his staff are AMAZING! I adopted my 3-year old Boxer mix, 6 months ago. When I rescued him he had been to a kill shelter, a rehabilitation facility, a shelter, and adopted and returned. He was very sweet with me but was reactive to any dog or person on the street and no one was allowed to come into my apartment without him viciously barking. I tried multiple other trainers but none of them seemed quite right for my dog and some were even frightened of him. When my dog and I went into Nelson’s office, Nelson was completely comfortable and calm and knew all the steps to get my dog to sit next to him. He listened to all my problems and gave great feedback on day one. My dog went to Nelson’s program and worked closely with Nelson and Colleen for 15 days, and I picked him up every afternoon. I could not say enough nice things about this program or the two of them. They treated my dog like their own and I was never ever nervous when leaving him in their care. They posted videos on their Instagram page so I could constantly check on his progress and how he was doing daily. They had a group text with me and all the trainers. At the end of the training, Colleen and Nelson both came to my apartment to help him transition and to practice people coming into my apartment. I am now able to have people come into my apartment, as well as bring him places where he calmly stays on “place.” I am more than happy with these services and would recommend this business to any dog owner! My dog has also boarded there for two nights in a row, and it is the only place I can leave him without worrying one bit. My dog transitioned from a reactive dog to a calm dog, and that is all thanks to the Happy K9! Highly recommend!!

Deb Strong: Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Reliability,Responsiveness,Value

Rosa Guambana: Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Reliability,ResponsivenessAbsolutely amazing! We send our pitbull and beagle to daycare. It is clear that the staff takes great care and give a lot structure and love to our pups. Our dogs definitely enjoy their outdoor space. 100% recommend it.

Jane Doe: Nelson and his staff have been nothing short of AMAZING! Our puppy Dallas went in for training and has grown to love Nelson and the team. They are beyond professional, great with communication, and passionate with what they do. Training is impeccable, facilities are so clean. Our dog had extreme separation anxiety and Nelson helped break that in such a peaceful way. He takes his business very seriously and is dear to him, and it is SO REFRESHING to see this. It makes us, as dog owners, feel comfortable knowing our dog is in a safe, positive, happy, and knowledgable environment. We recommend The Happy K-9, Nelson, and his team to everyone!

Tara Marchessault: I adopted Emmy, a three month old Shepard/American Stanfordshire Terrier mix three years ago. She was very sweet but from day one suffered from terrible separation anxiety. Not having much experience with separation anxiety I fed into it because I felt bad, not understanding the long term effects it would have on her mental status.She progressively became more and more dependent and needed to be my side and now, my boyfriend’s side every minute or she would cry and bark. It didn’t matter if we were gone for one minute or a few hours, she would still have the same adrenalized response. She needed a while to settle down; it was exhausting for her and us. Her anxiety mixed with a dog attack on a trail last year led her to become extremely reactive to dogs. She did not have the right coping skills to manage her thoughts which led to poor decision making: leash reactivity/pulling, dog fights, inability to deescalate, etc. Realizing what her mind must go through on a minute to minute basis was heartbreaking. Imagine being so anxious that you need to be with someone at all times and if that person is gone, you have a panic attack. We tried everything including CBD, Prozac, exercise, sound machines, anxiety vests, and (other) trainers.Nothing worked until I found The Happy K-9 Training and Rehabilitation/Nelson Mendoza on one of my friend’s instagram stories. She raved about the progress her dog had made after working with this program. After an evaluation by the Happy K9 owner Nelson, he assessed that Emmy would need 5 weeks at his board and train program. While it was one of the hardest decisions to make to not see our dog for 5 weeks we can both confidently say it was the best choice we’ve ever made for her. I can’t give enough praise to Nelson and his happy k9 team. They treated Emmy like she was family. We figured we would be quite emotional over the duration of her trip but the communication and updates showcasing her improvements put us at ease.Nelson’s philosophy on owner-pup relationships put everything into perspective. It gave her tools to make better choices and be able to cope with stressors more efficiently, much like how humans sometime need help in this regard. Nelson taught us how to lead and advocate for Emmy so we don’t just have an emotional relationship, but she can count on us for guidance. Her personality has not changed, she now knows how to manage her thoughts and decisions in a positive manner. We have only had Emmy back home for three days but have already seen a remarkable improvement. Our walks have been enjoyable, she greets us with a non adrenalized response, and is finally able to mentally and physically relax. We are overjoyed and know she already has a better quality of life, as do we.If anyone is having mild to extreme behavioral concerns about their dog, I strongly recommend happy k9 rehabilitation and training center! I would choose them over and over again. It is worth the investment as it will lead to a better quality of life for your dog and for you. Don’t lose hope! We can’t thank you enough, Nelson and happy k9 team!!

Cindy Duffy: Nelson and his wonderful staff at The Happy K-9 changed our life with our dog, Buzzy. He had become so leash reactive to other dogs that we were only able to walk him at off hours and had to anticipate and avoid other dogs; and even that did not always work. He also did not come reliably when called and would jump excitedly on visitors. In short he was, although sweet, quite a spoiled brat. We had tried other training and countless books and on-line searches to no avail. Nelson was very kind, understanding and non-judgmental and assured us he could work with Buzzy and took him into the board and train program. He was in continuous contact with us with updates, videos and photos and we could tell that Buzzy was making so much progress, especially considering how beside ourselves we had become before. He is like a different dog now; and we feel confident we can take him anywhere and are able to incorporate him into all areas of our life like we wanted to. That being said, all the wonderful qualities of sweetness and goofiness Buzzy had still exist. Most of all Nelson is supporting us in our abilities to continue with Buzzy's journey to polite canine behavior. We would give the Happy k-9 our very highest recommendation and could not be more pleased with our pup's transformation.