Paw and Hand K9

"Through a series of unfortunate events, we had to wait until our puppy was fully vaccinated before we could bring her home so our Breeder recommended Paw & Hand to board and train during this time. Truly, this was the BEST time and money we could have spent even if it wasn't necessary and I wouldn't hesitate to use or recommend them again. Kevin, Merissa and the whole team were fantastic during this period by sending videos and pictures to keep us updated on her progress. When we were finally able to pick her up, the intent was to bring her back to Chicago on a plane but all of the airlines said she was too big to fit under the seat. So Poppy and I rented a car and drove over 2100 miles over three days!! She was remarkably calm for the entire trip. When we got home, she quickly fell into our routines and we were able to piggyback on the hard work done at Paw and Hand and teach her to stop and sit prior to crossing a street, even if we forget. Our doggy day care guy can't say enough about how well behaved she is and how quickly she adapted to being with a handful of other dogs. I didn't realize how well Poppy had been trained until I looked back at the pictures of when I picked her up and saw she was quietly picking my pocket for treats...well done Kevin!! A huge thanks to the entire group for helping to form such a wonderful addition to our family; our home is complete again. John, Maria and Marian"

"Merissa and her team are amazing! Our pup spent 6 weeks at their board and train and we couldn't be happier! We have such a well behaved and mannered dog now. The foundation they provided has made it so easy to transfer his obedience into our home."

"Copper joined our family when he was just 8 weeks old. At the time we were in the middle of a move. I had attempted to train him myself but having two young boys who also wanted to help train was a bit of a disaster. This led to no obedience and poor manners. He was a rambunctious pup who didn’t know how to walk on a leash without pulling and lacked manners. He would jump onto guests that came over and barked excessively while in the back yard. It was as if he was the boss of the house. I knew something needed to be done because it became really hectic in the household. I was referred to Paw and Hand K9 by a young man who I had met at the park. He had the same breed dog as Copper (Australian shepherd) and he was playing frisbee with him. I observed for quite some time prior to approaching him. It was truly impressive how well behaved his dog was. I had asked if he had trained him himself and if he could share any tips and tricks. He had told me he just picked him up from boarding and he kindly gave me contact of Merissa and her team. I didn’t even hesitate to contact her. I scheduled a meet and greet with Merissa immediately. Her and I went over the different programs thoroughly and what to expect upon dropping him off. At first we were sad to send him away for so long but knowing we would meet one on one every other week made it a little easier. They also sent updated pictures and videos often which was pretty awesome to see the progress that was being made. We picked him up today after 7 weeks of him being away and the difference is phenomenal. He’s like a completely different pup. He is calm and respectful. He stays at my side during walks which makes them more enjoyable and also has great recall. Charlee was amazing and really helped me to be consistent with our follow through. The support doesn’t stop once you take your dog home. They are available for questions at any time. They provide a ton of goodies to take home with you to keep up on training after adjusting back into the home. They also provide follow-up lessons after the program to make sure you and your dog are adjusting and progressing well after their return home. I highly recommend Paw and Hand K9!"

"We sent our year old husky to paw and hand k9 due to her lack of leash skills, manners, failure to greet dogs properly, jumping, awful recall, lack of social skills. Huskies being one of the most stubborn breeds to train we initially were hesitant if she would be receptive to the training. Olivia went for the 6 week board and train freedom program. Even after the first two weeks of Olivia being there they had completely broken her out of her shell. She was following commands and doing things we never could have imagined. Kassandra was her trainer and we could not have been more pleased with her and how well she bonded with Olivia. She was communicative. We visited every week for training sessions and kassandra was very knowledgeable. Always answered any questions we had with thorough and through full answers. My wife and I have a 10 month old and are expecting our second this December. Kassandra knew how important it was for us to have Olivia safely walk at our sides or at the side of the stroller because we will soon have 2 under the age of 2. Kassandra even offered to find a wheelchair, stroller or something similar to work with Olivia until we saw her at our next prep to make sure her walking skills with a stroller were solid. I don’t feel there was anything that Kassandra could have done different to make our experience any different. We were so incredibly pleased. Ashley is wonderful. She’s on top of scheduling for appointments to Make sure it worked with our schedule as we were driving 4 hours for our appointments to meet with Olivia for her preps. We love paw and hand k9 and will continue to Recommend them to anyone who looks for any type of training ranging from behavior modification to the freedom program. Things we have always dreamed of being able to do with our sweet pup we now can. It’s all because of what they do here at paw and hand and Olivias trainer Kassandra! We will continue to take Olivia when we go on holidays, and day care. Thank you guys! You are awesome!"

"I sent in a wild animal with no control, and brought home a well behaved dog that doesn't even need a leash! Before taking my dog to Paw & Hand K9, he had more control over me than I had over him. He was nippy, rambunctious, demanding, and not afraid to pick a fight if another animal came towards his food, toys, or person. He was anxious in public, and only recalled when he felt like it. My dog also has bilateral hip dysplasia, and will need to be calm and careful during his extensive recovery period after he receives a total hip replacement in the future. Now, he is calm around the house, respectful of my other pets' personal space, walks by my side like a dream, and runs to me the first time I call his name. They took excellent care of him with his hip dysplasia, and even helped him learn some physical therapy activities while he was there. The amount of one-on-one owner training they provide during my dog's training program is amazing. They provided me with lessons both on and off the property, so I could learn how to handle his issues wherever they may arise. They also sent me weekly photos and updates so I could stay in the loop with how my dog's training was progressing. And when you take your dog home, the support doesn't stop there! They provide follow-up lessons after the program to make sure you and your dog are adjusting and progressing well, and make themselves available to answer any questions that might come up in-between visits."