FirstBarkHorrible place took my dog about a year in a half ago, forgot the name but so we could have training for our dog because of behavior problems called ahead said that she’s great with that. She told us to put her down and she could put her down herself, for no reason other then she don’t like the dog. Disappointed
A Pleasant Dog
Grand Rapids, Michigan
About A Pleasant Dog
A Pleasant Dog offers gentle, modern dog and cat training, behavior help, and grooming in keeping with the advice of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.
Training & services
Training goals
- Behavior consultation
Program details
Resource guarding, territorial aggression, fear based aggression, conflict aggression, interdog aggression, separation anxiety, and hypersensitivity hyperarousal syndrome are all challenging behaviors. We can help you modify these behaviors using evidence based training and management strategies.
- Leash training
- Obedience training
- Puppy training
- Socialization
Behavior support
- Aggression training
- Counter surfing
- Reactivity training
Program details
Reactive Dogs Are Good Dogs Too! We live by this motto at A Pleasant Dog and have a host of offerings for our reactive friends, everything from private lessons to group classes, and beyond! We are particularly proud of our group sport classes for reactive dogs!
- Resource guarding
- Separation anxiety
Program details
Separation anxiety is a complex behavior disorder. Our owner and head trainer, Jenn Gavin, has developed a method for treating this disorder that is the subject of a book, Pleasantly Independent, and scientific research demonstrating its efficacy. In person or virtual training available!
How training happens
- Board and train
- Day training
Program details
Too busy to train? Let our professional dog trainers train your dog for you with drop off day training. Drop your dog for a full or half day, and we will teach them what they need to do between fun play sessions with other dogs and/or humans. Also available for reactive dogs!
- Group classes
- Online or virtual training
- Private training
Dog age
- Puppies
Assistance and working dogs
- Therapy dog training
Dog sports
- Agility
Your dog’s background
- Rescue dogs
Training approach
- Positive reinforcement
Additional services
- Boarding
- Daycare
Program details
We offer luxury doggy daycare with a care ratio of four dogs per human on our 2.5 acres of rolling hills in the city! Our doggy daycare is staffed with professional trainers and offers the safest, gentlest doggy care in the city! Add training for an additional fee.
- Dog walking
- Grooming
Program details
Fear Free Grooming for your dog. We groom dogs one at a time and owner may be present for the grooming session. Perfect for fearful, anxious, or reactive dogs. Does your dog struggle with the groomer? We can help!
Other listed services
View 24 additional details
- Dog bathing and blow dry
- Dog ear cleaning
- Dog training
Program details
We offer group classes for general obedience and dog sports, private lessons, and behavior consultations, as well as classes specifically for reactive dogs.
- Animal Behavior Consultants
Program details
Does your dog struggle with anxiety, separation anxiety, noisephobia, reactivity, aggression directed toward humans or toward other dogs? We can help! Our behavior trainers are the best in the state, and we can help restore harmony to your household.
- Animal Learning
- Canine Trainers Academy
- Classical Conditioning
- Continuing Education
Program details
We offer continuing education to the training and veterinary industries on a diverse array of topics. Our research in animal behavior has been consistently honored with selection for presentation before the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and others. We also offer trainer workshops.
- Dog Barks
- Dog Camping
- Dog Parks
- Dog Parties
- Dog Sports
- Dog Welfare
- Education Seminar
- Family Dogs
- Flea And Tick Prevention
- Medical Treatment
- Play Groups
- Private Consultation
- Six Week Class
- Stay & Train Program
- Veterinary Behaviorists
- Walk And Train
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Business-stated qualifications
Qualifications stated by the business, not independently verified.
- Jenn Gavin
- CPDT-KA
Questions & answers
From GoogleWhat people have asked about this business.
What are your fees for taining and what specific training do you offer?
Our fees vary depending upon the service provided! We offer positive reinforcement training in private sessions for basic skills and tough behaviors, group classes, and drop off day training; together with grooming and cooperative care training sessions! As of 7/2024, our fees start at $160 for six week outdoor agility classes, $199 for our 6 week indoor basic skills classes, and go up to $350 for or reactive dog classes. Private lessons start at $100. Behavior consultations start at $250.
Community answer · A Pleasant Dog · 2024-09-21
Public community answers. Authors are not verified as business representatives; details may have changed.
Customer reviews
Google listing4.4
216 Google reviews
Mentioned in reviews
- Positive reinforcement 22
- Managing reactivity 14
- Reactive dog training 11
- Puppy class 7
- Welcoming atmosphere 6
- Anxiety management 5
All 10 topics
- Knowledgeable trainers 5
- Private training 3
- Arthritis specialist referral 2
- Small class sizes 2
Google review topics, not confirmed services.
Best classes.
We engaged with A Pleasant Dog when we realized, four months into having our puppy, Zuko, that we had absolutely no idea how to work with him instead of against him. They responded to our initial inquiry within 24 hours, which is pretty darn quick! We were on the same page about …Read full reviewClose full review
We engaged with A Pleasant Dog when we realized, four months into having our puppy, Zuko, that we had absolutely no idea how to work with him instead of against him. They responded to our initial inquiry within 24 hours, which is pretty darn quick! We were on the same page about doing a one-on-one lesson (more for us than for our dog, really!) and were promptly able to schedule one. During our one-hour session, Tara was professional and kind as she answered our questions. She thoroughly explained everything we needed to know without expressing judgement for the areas we need to improve on. Our previously "obstinate" puppy, who'd been resisting all our efforts to guide him, responded to her coaching near-instantly! She gave us a handful of incredibly helpful exercises to work on with Zuko. The second the door closed behind Tara when she left, my husband and I turned to each other and immediately said, "Oh my god, that was so worth it." "SO worth it!" "I'm incredibly glad we hired her." Within a day of our session we're already experiencing greater mutual understanding and better communication between us and our dog. We've already raved to several of our friends with dogs who are interested in engaging in the future. Tara, we cannot possibly thank you enough for setting us up for success with Zuko! If we feel a follow-up session is necessary a few months down the line, we would immediately come back to A Pleasant Dog!
My experience: every lesson, an excitable dog gets endless food thrown on the ground for an hour. Each time you come back he's through the roof with excitement. Then they say he needs medication in order to continue training.
I've owned terriers all my life and my Airedale, Martha, has been a APD Stay and Play dog since APD was in their former location. We credit Jenn and her staff for assisting us with training Martha and we truly believe her time at APD has lead to her being the happy, healthy girl we adore.
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.