REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS

"...And that’s how Downtown Henry came into our lives. Before coming to Paws Pet Resort, we took a basic obedience class from a chain pet store. That was a good introduction to very basic commands, but I wanted to continue learning and building a bond with Henry.

There are two key aspects of the training at Paws that I think are most beneficial. 1) They don’t train the dog, they train the humans and give them all the tools they need to achieve the desired results with their dog. 2) The instruction is based on positive reinforcement, which builds confidence for both canine and human.

Henry has been enrolled in Sami Jo’s classes, but Taryn has assisted in several of them and even filled in as instructor. Their teaching styles are complementary and I think it’s beneficial to be exposed to both instructors as you will get different suggestions of things to try.

While there was little doubt Henry would grasp the concepts in class, I was a bit of a mess in the early days – super nervous, freaking out over the little things and intimidated by classmates who seemed to have no trouble perfecting every skill. I got over myself because I could plainly see that Sami’s instructions work. Henry’s sits came quicker, his down stays lasted longer, he walked next to me more and more and didn’t pull on the leash as much.

Success in training classes takes work and practice outside the classroom. It’s not work like you do at your day job, though. It’s fun! And it pays off in ways that you can never imagine when you start.

From basic obedience to dock diving lessons and learning to be a Canine Good Citizen, Henry has demonstrated his two best traits – pleasing his humans and learning. With each lesson, our bond has become stronger. He is a gentleman walking around downtown on a busy Friday night. He goes to dog-friendly stores and is getting better and better about not shoplifting treats!

This testimonial is likely longer than desired, but there is probably nothing that attests to how great Paws is than sharing how Henry starts to whimper at 69th and Cliff in sheer excitement because he knows where we are headed. He bounds out of the car and has to muster every bit of restraint he gained studying to be a Canine Good Citizen so he doesn’t leap into Jeanine or Sami Jo’s arms when he enters the building!" ~Susan Hoffmann

I cannot say enough good things about Paws Pet Resort, the trainers and the training process. It has been absolutely amazing and so beneficial for our miniature Aussiedoodle, Alice. We started private lessons with Addison when Alice was 8 weeks old. Addison was an amazing trainer, she showed us how to work with Alice in a positive way and get the results we were looking for with our puppy. Addison would give me tips and pointers on training and was even available after training for any questions I had. We continued the private lessons until our puppy was old enough to participate in Paws Stay and Train program. Alice was a part of this program for 4 weeks. The trainers would communicate with us every week to let us know how she was progressing with her training, often sending pictures of her. The Stay and Train program really helped Alice hone in on her basic training skills learned through her private lessons and build upon them. Stay and Train was worth every penny! She is still very much a puppy, but she definitely knows what is expected of her at our home. We are now starting Puppy 201 group class and this has been a blast. It is great to work with Alice in a group setting, where she can be easily distracted by other dogs and people in the room. Paws Training program really is top-notch, from private lessons, to stay and train to group lessons. The trainers give you the skills and tools that you need, along with the support to make your dog the best it can be! ~ Mindy Stevens

As new dog owners, we quickly found out that not only is it important for our dog, Finn, to be trained, but it is also important for us as owners to be trained, and Paws Pet Resort is the best place to do so. We have enrolled in many classes such as Puppy 101 and Puppy 201 and have learned so much! With the help of the best trainers in Sioux Falls, we received the education on how to train Finn ourselves and grow our bond together to give him the best life possible. From group obedience classes to even fun classes like dock diving, trick classes and more, Paws Pet Resort truly has a place for every dog. - Shanya Burt

"I can't say enough good about Paws Pet Resort!! My Labrador puppy, Brynn, started Puppy University two days after I picked her up at 8 weeks old. I was like a nervous, protective new mom!! She went on to their Master's Class, Puppy 101 & 201, Basic 201, 301, & 401. We also did AKC Trick Dog, AKC FIT Dog, and day train. Needless to say we have had many opportunities to work with Sami, Addison, Taryn, Sophie, and Emma. These trainers are beyond phenomenal!!! Their knowledge of canine behavior, their willingness to share tips and tricks when you are having difficulty with something, and perhaps most importantly, the love they genuinely show your puppy means everything!!
Today, Brynn at 14 months old is still very much a puppy but when we are out in the community she knows her expectations and we are constantly told by store managers, employees, and customers how impressed they are with her behavior .... that's because of the training at Paws Pet Resort!!

Paws Pet Resort's mission statement calls for them to be a blessing. I wonder if they can even comprehend just how much of a blessing they are to this community!!!

~ Lori and Brynn Saville ~