A Pleasant Dog

My husband and I have seen Roxi twice (one visit per dog, both for anxiety related instances.) They truly listened to our concerns and were a sounding board without us ever feeling judged and helped us find best course of action for both dogs moving forward. We never felt rushed or pressured into anything, and their suggestions were thoughtful, practical, and genuinely helpful. It never once felt like a money grab. A Pleasant Dog clearly runs their establishment as people who really care about helping you and your dog succeed. Highly recommend A Pleasant Dog, and thank you especially, Roxi! - Sara & Raleigh Rushing, Burt & Alfie

A friend of mine recommended A pleasent dog to me for puppy training and I'm so glad she did. My dog is a reactive dog and the trainers and staff here have been a true blessing to myself and my pup. not only do I feel seen and heard but they see my dog for who she is and have given me the tools to help her succeed. I can't recommend A pleasant dog for training enough. Thank you so much. We are so grateful for you. ❤️

I paid for a private consultation at A Pleasant Dog, and unfortunately, everything they taught us backfired. Their approach of using only positive reinforcement did not work for our dog. We were also sent photos of our puppy destroying a stuffed animal while in daycare - something she has never done under our supervision. This happened while a staff member watched and found it “cute and funny.” This is not acceptable when I am paying a training facility to safely monitor my pet and work on corrective behavior. Our experience with A Pleasant Dog left us feeling like our puppy was the problem, that we knew nothing, and that they could “fix it all” with just a swipe of a credit card. Fortunately, we found a local trainer who offered corrective training with deep knowledge of our dog’s breed. This trainer understood our dog’s needs and tailored their approach accordingly. APD’s “gentle parent” approach is not only unfortunate—it can be dangerous. Their method reinforces negative behaviors by distracting the dog with treats. For example, giving an intelligent herding dog a treat when she barks at the window only teaches her that barking earns rewards. It took fewer than three instances for our dog to figure this out. It is also worth noting that A Pleasant Dog made us feel as though using e-collars and training collars was inherently abusive. While these tools must be used responsibly, many dogs benefit from a variety of training methods, and it’s essential to use the approach that works best for your specific dog. In summary, I would not recommend A Pleasant Dog. Their exclusive reliance on positive reinforcement did not work for our dog, their communication was inconsistent, and the overall experience left us feeling frustrated and unsupported. It is also deeply concerning that a friend of mine went to APD and was told her dog should be euthanized due to behavior issues. I referred her and her dog to our trainer, who discovered the puppy had significant neurological issues, potential blindness, and a stress-induced seizure disorder. This experience solidified for me that APD is not a safe or reliable place to train your animal. I would very seriously take into consideration the negative reviews on their Google listing before allowing them to have access to your dog.