Smarty Paws Canine Coaching

I have been to Smarty Paws several times, and Julie has always been transparent, honest, and upfront. I travel from Arizona specifically because I trust her expertise and dedication. She has trains numerous puppies from my dogs and consistently puts each dog's needs first. What sets Julie apart is her ability to recognize what works best for each individual dog. If a dog isn't suited for a particular task or training path, she takes the time to find an approach that better fits the dog's strengths, ensuring they have the best opportunity to succeed. Her knowledge, patience, and commitment to the dogs in her care are truly exceptional. I highly recommend Julie and Smarty Paws to anyone looking for a trainer who genuinely cares about the success and well-being of their dog.

I would rate 0 stars if possible. I am incredibly disappointed and frustrated with the complete lack of professionalism, organization, and basic business ethics at Smarty Paws. ​The issues started on day one. When I first called the facility to ask basic questions, the front office staff had zero information available. They couldn’t answer simple operational questions and just kept repeating that 'Julie is a great trainer' before telling me to text her directly. The administrative side of this business is completely disorganized and provides no paperwork or clear onboarding. ​I texted Julie as directed, explicitly laying out my strict timeline and the urgency of getting my dog started right away. She simply replied that her first opening was May 30th—three weeks away. Because they booked the appointment right then, I sat tight and waited three weeks for this date, operating under the assumption that we were ready to evaluate and get to work. ​Fast forward to this morning: while checking the route, the map showed Smarty Paws was actually closed. I had to text Julie just to figure out what was going on, and only then did she mention that she is located in an completely unlabeled building around the back. Had I not reached out myself, I would have had no instructions on how to actually find the place. ​When we finally met, the lack of professionalism was staggering. Julie looked completely sloppy, unkempt, and entirely uninterested—like she had just rolled out of bed with unbrushed hair. It was then that she casually proceeded to tell me that she has a long waitlist. ​Why was a massive waitlist not disclosed three weeks ago when I first laid out my tight timeline? If she had been transparent from the start, I could have spent the last three weeks exploring other facilities. Instead, Julie and the Smarty Paws staff completely disrespected my time, energy, and resources, forcing me to wait weeks and drive across town just to find out they couldn’t actually accommodate us anytime soon. ​I was so disgusted by the unprofessionalism and lack of care that I walked out. Do not waste your time here if you expect transparency, organization, or basic respect for your schedule.

I enrolled my dog in obedience level 1 training with Julie who came highly recommended by another dog owner. From week 1, Julie has been such an amazing trainer. She does not make you or your dog feel bad about the areas you are struggling in. But instead, she offers reassurance, and encouragement. She mad each week enjoyable and entertaining. And I have see tremendous growth from my dog from week 1 to week 6. I am looking forward to level 2 with Julie!! I can’t wait!