-
November 2024 by Ellen Chung
Gina Furtado at RidgeK9 deserves a million trillion zillion stars. I drove five hours with my doberman Simon to board and train with her and it was the best thing I could ever do for us.
A little backstory- Simon is a stray with an unknown history and is approximately 2 years old. He’s a sweet boy but has impulse control issues and is highly reactive to people on motorcycles, scooters, and bikes. He tries to bite them and has unfortunately succeeded. I joke (while crying inside) he’s like Jekyll and Hyde.
Because we live in NJ, although I had heard of Gina from Simon’s foster, I sent him to a different trainer in NY who had extensive experience with dobermans (FYI who competed and won global doberman championships and trains personal protection dogs), with lots of 5 star reviews. A month after Simon returned from this NY board and train, I was still having the same issues, even though I was doing everything the trainer had taught me. I even spent an afternoon at the police station after Simon jumped out the car window at a VERY busy four way intersection and bit a neighborhood man who was riding his bicycle down the street, minding his own business. This was a very dangerous situation and the worst Simon had ever reacted.
I couldn’t afford to send him to yet another board and train unless I knew it was someone who could really help us. I was stressed out and hopeless. ENTER GINA! From the moment I reached out, her communication was so crystal clear. I knew her communication skills as a dog trainer would be just as excellent, if not more. She considers every angle and then breaks it down in simple terms I can understand. I told her Simon’s history, and just from this limited information she told me exactly what she thought the issues were and told me what I could do in the meantime, and what she would work on during the board and train.
During the three weeks Gina had him in Virginia, she sent me a very detailed daily update about what they worked on together, accompanied by the most beautiful pictures and videos. I love that Simon was trained by a woman, not some macho man, and such a kind and caring one at that, who not only showed him exactly what he should do, but gave him so much love during the whole process. She is so calm, patient, and clear, and this made all the difference! Although I was a bit delirious from the drive when I went to pick him up, we had a three hour turnover where she educated me on exactly what I should do in specific situations. We practiced on each other and then she patiently supervised and guided me while I practiced those skills and new knowledge on Simon.
Also, Simon was getting very chubz. Gina weighed him, got him lean and supermodel sexy in 3 weeks and even gave him a bath the night before pick up!
As soon as we got home that night, I took Simon out for a walk, and while on the walk, he suddenly just sat and looked at me. I was like, what are you doing cute boi? And then I saw the bike that had passed by us. LET ME REPEAT: Simon saw the bike before I did and simply sat and looked at me WITHOUT ANY CORRECTION. I immediately shoved pieces of steak in his mouth, and even though Gina told me I needed to be buddha level calm at all times, I almost cried with joy.
Being back home, I honestly felt a bit overwhelmed, questioning if I can really do this and am I going to mess it all up? But Gina continues to send me key pointers, encouragement, and offers me advice so that I can continue the good work.
Thank you Gina for all that you have done for us. I really can’t thank you enough. If I listed all the ways you went above and beyond, this review would be a hundred pages. The board and train was “bootcamp,” but Simon had the time of his life. You are truly a magician and we will never ever forget you.
-
November 2024 by Anna Robinette
I do not have the words to express what Gina was able to do for me and my baby but I'll try! I waited about a month to review so I could observe the changes in both my dog and myself. Reginald is my very reactive German shepherd and I was scared for a long time that we wouldn't be able to live life with him outside of our apartment and I felt shame for not being able to figure out how to manage it, I thought I was a bad dog mom! But Gina helped show me that there are things that I came manage when it comes to my own anxiety and how I can help him relax and feel safe. A month after boarding with her and I am truly feeling like the both of us are working as a team! It feels so to be able to communicate with Reggie and show him that WE don't have to be afraid. We have been working on freedom lately to do he can do the things he loves like playing fetch! I'm am so grateful for Gina and she has continued to provide support even after and I would recommend her any time especially for reactive dogs! Best dog therapist ever.
-
November 2024 by Robin O'Neail
Ridgeside K9 did a fantastic job with our lap/pit mix. Rachel was our trainer and took her time to make Doug feel comfortable with her and in her home. She gained his trust and then started training. He is a bit Leary of strangers and Rachel saw that and went the extra mile to ensure that the training was going to be effective for him and work when he came home to our family. This type of dog is often misunderstood and we are so grateful for Rachel and her dedication to him!!
-
November 2024 by Carrie Taylor
Katybeth has been amazing, not only with training our pup (and us) but with boarding and as a resource when problems arise. We’ve been so impressed with how well our dog responded to training AND the fact we’ve been able to keep it up, we as a family now have the confidence to get a 2nd dog. Training for a dog is life long and we are fortunate to have a partner like Katybeth on this journey with us.
-
November 2024 by Rob Schrauth
Rachel, with Ridgeside K9, has been amazing with Riggins puppy training. I highly recommend Ridgeside K9 for anyone that has a puppy.
-
November 2024 by Austin Lasseter
My wife and I sent Blackjack, our one-year-old GSD, to a three-week board and train with Ridgeside K9 in Winchester. We are very happy with the results. Prior to his training, Blackjack was difficult to control, especially outside the house. After his training, his behavior has improved a thousand percent. He is so obedient and it's easy to take him on walks. He sits, stays, and comes when we call him. All of this is thanks to Brandi and Perry, who patiently worked so much with him and with us.
On the first day of training, Brandi visited with us and got to know Blackjack at our house. Throughout the 3 weeks, she sent daily updates and photos. On the last day of training, Perry came to our house and spent over 5 hours teaching us to use the e-collar and then walking with us and Blackjack. The next day we still had a lot of questions, so Brandi and Perry both returned for another very long session, making sure to practice walking with Blackjack during the evening when lots of other dogs were out in the neighborhood. Blackjack did great, and Brandi and Perry patiently answered all our questions.
It's been more than a week since then, Blackjack has been great. Brandi has reached out several times via text just to check in and see how things are going. We're so glad to have him back, and we're very grateful Brandi and Perry for taking such good care of our dog, and of us. Throughout the entire process they communicated constantly. The daily updates and many photos kept us informed and allowed us to see the progress that Blackjack was making.
My only suggestion for improvement is about Ridgeside K9 itself. I felt that communication from their Winchester office could have been better. I had to ask several times before they sent me the "Agreement", which spells out expectations. Even after receiving it, I did not feel like I had a good understanding of what to expect until I began communicating directly with Brandi and Perry. I feel lucky that Ridgeside assigned us them as Blackjack's trainers.
I highly recommend Brandi and Perry to any dog owner who loves their animal but struggles with obedience like we did. You will be trusting your dog to a loving couple who will treat him with the same care and attention that you would, but with years and years of training experience.
-
November 2024 by Todd Brunjes
Super Experience with Brandi and Perry (Ridgeside K9 in Charles Town, WV)
We recently had the pleasure of working with this outstanding team. They trained our Sheep A Doodle’s behavior and strengthened our bond with her.
From the very first session, their expertise and passion for training were evident. They have a very high work ethic.
Our young dog Freia, whom we recently adopted, has a strong herding instinct and we had difficulty with getting her to listen, especially in the face of distractions such as other dogs or small children. We researched multiple dog trainers in the NOVA area, and chose Brandi/Perry for the following reasons.
We had the recommendations from 2 separate individuals that spoke very highly of the success they had seen with their dogs. Their facility is clean and well organized.
Perry a former policer, has over 20 years as professional working with K9 police teams.. He is clear and concise and patient. Brandi also a former police officer, and highly experienced with dog training. We were a bit nervous about leaving our pup anywhere for a board and train, but from the first day, they provided daily communication, including photos on progress. They were responsive to questions and comments; often within minutes.
They employed a Garmin e-collar in a thoughtful and humane way, focusing on positive reinforcement techniques that complemented the device. Their approach not only improved our dog’s obedience but also built our confidence. They took the time to explain the principles behind each technique. With their program the dog is delivered to the owner’s home. Then our “training” began. We were taught the techniques and the philosophy of the training thus making us feel empowered as owners.
The couple was incredibly patient and attentive, tailoring their methods to suit our dog’s unique personality. Once we were on our own, we had questions, which Brandi responded to either by text or phone call. Freia now responds beautifully to commands, and walks have become a joy rather than a challenge. We do have to keep reinforcing the training but with the guidance they provided it really works.
We wholeheartedly recommend this dynamic duo to anyone looking to train their dog. Their professionalism, knowledge, and genuine love for animals shine through in every session. Thank you for helping us create a happier, more harmonious life together!
Todd and Janette
Herndon VA
Brandi and Perry
Ridgeside K9, Charles Town WV
571-271-5595
-
November 2024 by Luke Olzawski
Ridgeside hooked me and my pup Jet up with Zach. He also has black labs so I was pretty comfortable right off the start with handing over my little dude for 2 weeks. He knocked out some basic training and obedience, and got him geared up with a solid foundation for me to start working on retrieving with Jet later on. I was out of town and busy during his training, but still got daily pictures and updates from Zach, which meant a lot to me seeing him happy and learning. 2 weeks later I got Jet back, still a puppy but a much smarter one, puppy spirit still fully in tact, and a sense of eagerness to learn more. Very happy I went with Ridgeside and their team. 10/10
-
October 2024 by Dan Berg
We couldn't be happier with our experience with Ridgeside K9. Our 1 year old beagle was quite the challenge to train, so we sought out Ridgeside K9 through several recommendations from friends who'd also used their training.
Brandi and Perry were phenomenal throughout the entire process: from initial contact, to dropping off our pup, to the daily updates on her progress, and dropping her back off to us and spending over five hours with us ensuring our pup's training continuum could be sustained with us building upon the foundation they set.
If anyone is cautious about the price, I'd implore that you consider what quality training from professionals who provide regular updates and superb services actually costs. We never questioned the safety or welfare of our dog throughout the process, and there was no signs of traumatic training resulting in an emotionally broken pet when she came back to us. Same adorable and spoiled pup; just with much better manners.
To choose a cheaper option simply isn't viable unless you're willing to risk the safety and emotional well being of your pup with untrained and unprofessional trainers.
Our family can't recommend Brandi and Perry enough! They are exquisite trainers with kind hearts for all the dogs in their stead, on top of being fantastic people.
-
October 2024 by Jay Knisley
Having Brandi and Perry train and board our Arlo for the 2 week program has been a Godsend. We chose this program to keep our boy safe. Since Perry brought him home, he has gotten even better.
Recall is fantastic and greeting folks has gone from chaos to excited.
The thing we are most appreciative of it the balance. Arlo has much needed discipline but still maintains his goofy personality.
We have been told Goldendoodles are not the easiest breed to train. The Baily's rose to the challenge and helped an important member of our family become more responsive and safer.
-
October 2024 by Vanessa Gomez
Brandi & Perry had our 1.5 yr old for two weeks. She is a very high energy and anxious pup which was causing anxiety for me and my older pup. My initial questions through the website left me a bit incomplete with answers, but the team took my call to really talk me through how some of my concerns could be addressed. The team was very open and flexible to work our scheduled training session and drop off/pick up dates and time. They were so friendly and professional we left our lovable pup knowing she was in good hands. The daily updates and pictures really helped ease any concerns and we could see her growing and learning.
Having our baby back we’ve noticed many corrective responses that have helped her and us understand the best way to get positive results. Perry was great spending time with us to really understand what had been accomplished over the two weeks and how we can continue to work on developing her training plan. I feel so much more confident working with her and know she is building her confidence which calmed her presence.
I highly recommend Ridgeside K-9 and can’t say enough positive things about my experience!
-
October 2024 by Jagannath Chakravarty
Highly recommend Ridgeside K9’s puppy all-inclusive program.
Our trainer Erin Henry was very involved and detail oriented from the beginning. She sent us photos and videos daily to keep us posted on our puppy Pepper’s training.
During turnover, she spent a considerable amount of time teaching us how to communicate effectively with Pepper and give her a solid structure and foundation to be a well behaved dog. We are so grateful and happy with the results.
Thank you Erin and RSK9!
-
October 2024 by Mehroz & Karem
We were looking for a program for our 14 month old bernedoodle, Milan, & saw great reviews online for Rachel at K9 Ridgeside. Our pup had some bad tendencies that we needed help with (ie recall, door dashing, and jumping). Rachel’s 3-week board & train program helped Milan (& us!) incredibly and he came back SO much better than before! We continue to implement the tools taught to Milan & his hoomans and have seen even more progress months later. We are so grateful for Rachel’s training and experience!! Rachel is so easy to work with & sent us updates daily. She has her own pups that she adores - which put us at ease knowing that our puppy will be in good dog-loving hands. 10/10 would 100% recommend!!
-
October 2024 by Nkumu Mandungu
Amazing and incredibly effective obedience training! Rachel did an incredible job with our pup! We now enjoy him so much more and take him just about everywhere we go. In addition, she spent several hours training us and giving us a highly effective hand off. We will use her again with our next puppy. Consequently, I highly recommend Rachel and Ridgeside K9!
-
October 2024 by Grace B
Payton was amazing! She trained our puppy, Bullet. She gave us daily updates with pictures and videos. It was great getting the updates. When it was time for him to come home she came to our house and trained us on what he learned. So far things have been great. We are so happy we invested in Ridgeside K9 and can't wait until Bullet goes back for Adult training. Thank you so much Payton!