Harvard's K 9 Center, Inc.

My dogs love Harvard's K-9 center. Safety is my number one concern when deciding where to board my dogs. I am certain that they are safe when boarded at Harvard's. I made a pre-board visit to their facility before I made my first reservation. I was impressed by their setup and the way that they explained to me exactly how my dogs would be accommodated. There is no question that the staff at Harvard's is professional and puts the safety of each dog first. During a cross country move my dogs boarded at Harvard's for over a month to ensure that they would be safe during the transition. It was the right thing to do, but let's be honest, no one wants to board their dogs for that period of time. Miraculously, even after having boarded for so long, my dogs still jump in circles when I ask them if they want to go to Harvard's. Unbelievable. If they had not been treated well they would fight me tooth and nail before placing one whisker back in the facility. Knowing, without a doubt, that my dogs are going to be happy and enjoy themselves when they are boarded makes me feel comfortable making plans to travel in the future. Because of our positive experience boarding my dogs have become more involved by attending the dock diving classes offered by the center. Lori, the instructor, is exceptionally patient with them. The attention and training that she gives my dogs has benefited them tremendously. One of my dogs has mobility challenges due to having bad knees. Getting in the water with Lori every week has changed his life. It is a joy to see him run around with abandon after his swim lessons. I will admit that I have shed a tear over seeing him come so far in his recovery. He would not be at his current activity level without attending Harvard's dock diving classes. I am extremely grateful that Harvard's and Lori provide a much needed outlet for my dog and others with similar needs. On a human note, I also enjoy the class time spent outside with good people and enthusiastic canine company. Harvard's is located on a lovely piece of land and there is a lot to enjoy about their meticulously dog friendly setup. Attending a dock diving class is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and I encourage you to try it! See you at the dock!

I am sure they know what they're doing, but they were rude to me and my partner about our 4 month old puppy. Making accusations that we were poor owners and that we didn't socialize our dogs nor use treats, which is quite the contrary. My dog is smart. She knows when she's getting treats to do something she doesn't want to do and knows when she's getting treats because she performed well. Instead of getting to know my dog upon meeting her, the trainer threw a leash on her and immediately started dragging her through the water, causing her distress. My dog is a strong swimmer and loves the water. My dog immediately improved and was herself fetching the ball in the pool as soon as the trainer unleashed her and removed herself from the situation. The trainer needed to adjust her approach and be more compassionate (just as you would with humans because dogs are not all the same), but instead she was rude and accused us of being poor owners.