Stephanie Bennett's Believe in Dog

Melanie Simpson

2024-04

We have done two different training group classes (Adult Intermediate and Fitpaws)at Believe in Dog and have absolutely loved it as much as our pup. The mental stimulation and chance to build positive relationship with our pup is well worth it! The staff is friendly, informative, and supportive. Lily has been our trainer and she is amazing! Her love for dogs and helping build that connection with their owners is clearly evident and her patience is infectious. We will definitely be looking for more classes as they have a diverse range of classes.

J. Brooke M

2024-02

Our puppy Sebastian has been attending puppy day school here and completed puppy class part one. We are pleased with our experience. His favorite day of the week is any day he gets to go to Believe in Dog! The staff are amazing. The training is next level. I highly recommend sending your puppy here as soon as you get him. Sebastian is such a confident, fearless and playful puppy. We know Believe in Dog had a lot to do with this. Thank you Believe in Dog. We are grateful for all you have done and continue to do for Sebastian as he grows.

Melissa Fordyce

2024-05

We had such a great experience at Believe in Dog! Our puppy went to the day school and loved it, all while learning and being socialized in a safe environment. They gave us lots of great tips for raising a puppy, and he had the best time. He quickly adjusted to his crate at home and it helped with giving him some structure to the days.

Jennifer Graham

2024-01

Wonderful training experience for not just my dog but myself as the owner. My dog and I are both more confident in our trust and relationship after working with the team. My dog was always ecstatic to come to class and enjoyed it immensely. Highly recommend! 10/10 They do not believe in punishment, which is huge.

Lindsey Herrera

2024-03

I am so glad I found Believe in Dog! I have a reactive girl that needs help. We met with Stephanie and she was amazing with her. She listened and cared about our concerns. She provided tools to help my pup and they have made a huge difference in our lives. We are excited for our next classes and session. Everyone that works there is so nice and welcoming. I cannot recommend Believe in Dog enough!

Shenna D

2024-04

Our 4 month old puppy, Lucy, started Puppy Class One when she was about 3 months old. Initially, she was nervous around dogs and would hide under our chair. She slowly came out of her shell and was comfortable enough to eat treats near other dogs, but still prefers to play with humans. We wanted her to build more confidence so we emailed Believe in Dog and Joanna quickly replied with suggestions. We decided to sign up for the bundle that includes the class we were already registered for (Puppy Class One), plus a private 1 hour lesson and 3 days of Puppy Day School. Lucy gets excited the moment we drive up and she always seems happy and exhausted at the end of the day. The trainers were great about summarizing her day and providing useful tips. I always look forward to reading her report card and I appreciate the time and effort they put into creating a video of Lucy’s first day! The trainers seem to truly care for the puppies and are able to expose them to new experiences with gentle encouragement. Looking forward to Puppy Class Two!

Natalie Keeton

2024-04

Simply the best. I couldn't imagine raising a puppy without the Believe in Dog program.I was nervous about potty training and socializing my puppy in a high-rise apartment downtown until I found Believe in Dog. They’ve socialized my dog and taught him all the necessary cues to navigate the human world.I can't believe, and most people cannot either, that my puppy is only four months old and knows how to sit, stay, and leave it, down and off. He is happy to play with any dog, no matter the size, and is not skittish when I take him places. He's also basically potty trained, with a mistake now and then(extraordinary progress for four months old).If you're considering their puppy day school program, then don't hesitate. You won't regret the investment in your dog's future.I am considering getting a second dog, and I will use the Believe in Dog program again!

Royce Karina

2023-10

I cannot recommend this place enough! I think this place is a great start to new puppy parents, and as a solo puppy mom raising a doberman- I was glad to be in the right place.I came in with Blu- a 16 week old doberman that did not have a lot of socialization. I got her as a 4 month old pup and I knew I had to act quick before the critical socialization period closes. I bought the puppy package that came with a 1-1 session, 3 day schools, & 6 week puppy course.We worked with Julia and she was phenomenal (btw all of the staff are really nice and well educated about this subject). Julia gave me guidance and provided lots of resources during our hour long session. Yes, the information is already out in the internet for all to view but we learned so much during our 1-1 and we walked through the fun toys and gadgets I can provide my pup! Blu was very cautious and shy at first but later on Julia helped her feel more relaxed and enjoy the space. The hour long session was great and it was a lot of value added knowledge that I learned to apply for raising Blu!The puppy day school and classes were a great addition to my dog’s socialization experience. Dobermans are naturally not stranger friendly dogs, and I wanted to my pup to be comfortable with strangers. The puppy classes were great because it taught us how to handle our dogs during play time and my pup was able to meet lots of strangers and help her feel more comfortable with people. I also liked that they gave you a socialization checklist- this is very critical for puppy development and they sent us plenty of resources and books to help our puppy during this time period.Day school was also very exciting for Blu because she got to play with dogs that are similar to her play style and my dog was very excited - loves to body slam and play chase. She got to experience playing with different puppies and different trainers. It was also so cute because you receive a first day photo, first day vlog, and a last day vlog. I can see the difference with Blu from her first day to her last day within the 6 weeks she spent with BIDT. She was shy at first; very cautious and only played with a few dogs. Later on she blossomed into a social butterfly and she looked very confident during the fitness course!TLDR; my puppy was afraid of strangers. She hated the vet, did not like to be touched, and had cautiously approached every environment. Now she has built her confidence, she’s not afraid of strangers and can confidently walk into the vet! Thank you BIDT for being a critical part of Blu’s puppyhood, she absolutely enjoyed this place and we are excited to tell everyone about our experience :)

Mortimer Putnam

2024-04

I absolutely loved my experience at Believe in Dog! I attended the reactive rover course on scholarship with my people-reactive dalmatian Virgil and we learned so many wonderful techniques to help manage his reactivity. As someone who is in school to be a trainer myself, Stephanie's experience and knowlede is invaluable to me both as a reactive dog owner and future trainer. Through what I learned I've taught Virgil better emotional regulation and our walks have become much more peaceful for both of us. The facility was always clean and well taken care of, and all the staff are very kind and knowledgeable. Beside just really knowing what they're doing it's obvious they really love dogs! I appreciate them so much for being so understanding and accommodating for my boy. I absolutely highly recommended their courses!

Jane LaCombe

2023-12

Yesterday may have been Skye's best day ever!!! She had a fabulous time attending Believe in Dog's Fall Festival - romping on the ranch, jumping and swimming in the river and meeting new friends. She even had her tail tip painted blue. It was a perfect event with obvious care and planning.. And none of this would have been possible for Skye a year ago. She was a sweet, smart and energetic 6-month old rescue when she became part of our family, but she was also shy, fearful and reactive. BIDT changed her life...and also ours.This summer we completed BIDT's Adolescent Basic Manners class with trainers, Lily Conine and Megan Mitchell. Make no mistake, we were definitely being trained right along with our baby which seems to be the key to success. Lily and Megan were fantastic with all of the dogs and their humans. The class was informative, interactive and fun! Skye made such wonderful progress and LOVED going to class. Of course, none of it would have been possible without the foundation of Reactive Rover training with Stephanie and Lily. We can highly recommend the whole team at BIDT for their training approach, in-depth knowledge and personal dedication to making the world a better place for dogs and those who love them.

Lauren Donelson

2023-12

Believe In Dog is the absolute best. Our border collie Holden has completed basic adult manners as well as intermediate skills. He LOVES going to class, and every instructor has been so wonderful. I love that their methods do not involve any sort of punishment or force - only fun, love, and compassion. I have truly seen how these gentle methods not only teach you how to communicate more effectively with my dog, but also strengthen our relationship. I’m so glad we chose this place and can’t wait for more classes!

Astrid Gomes

2024-02

Absolutely love Believe in Dog! Our pup has been attending puppy day school and just graduated from puppy class part 1 and has learned so much and gained a ton of confidence. Kuzco (our puppy) always has so much fun going and loves all of the trainers and staff! Can’t wait to continue his learning journey by attending puppy class part 2. 1000000% recommend to everyone wanting to socialize and train their puppy in a fun and loving environment.

Lanette Ramey

2023-05

When I adopted a leash reactive 4 year old collie mix last year and needed help with training, I immediately sought out Stephanie who I had worked with in the past. We did a private session with her, then enrolled in her Reactive Rover class. I am so happy I did, as it has made a huge difference in our walking experience and bond. Stephanie and all her staff are awesome, caring, and know their stuff. I get so many compliments when I walk him now on how well behaved he is. I would not hesitate to recommend Stephanie and BiDT to anyone.

G Sanders

2023-12

I cannot recommend Stephanie Bennett’s Believe in Dog enough. I signed up for several private sessions with Stephanie. Upon meeting my pup, she determined he didn’t need private lessons and advised that I spend my money in group classes. She could’ve easily drawn out our sessions and recommended group classes on top of that but she evaluated my dog, listened to exactly what I am looking for and recommended the best course of action. I really appreciated that. I signed my pup up for Puppy Day School and Puppy Class Part One. My puppy loves this place and the people and I do, too. We are looking forward to Puppy Class Part Two once he graduates from part one. He graduated from Puppy Day School today and is looking forward to Teen School. He has gained so many skills and so much confidence. Everyone that works there is amazing with my pup and so kind to me. If you have a dog and haven’t been here, you are missing out! Also, they have a fantastic selection of very reasonably priced dog products from dog enrichment puzzles, lick mats, toys, chews, treats, and more.

Salwa Ansari

2024-05

Truly amazing! Everything is just awesome. They have amazing trainers, facilities, knowledge, and tools. We attended their Reactive Rover classes and learned so much. Thanks to all the staff members and Stephanie for organizing such courses.

Kari Taylor

2023-12

Believe in Dog is quite possibly the happiest place in the world! I’ve been continuously pleased with their guidance, and the private lesson I most recently had with Julia today was the icing on the cake! She’s so knowledgeable and sweet! Looking for training for an adult dog can be difficult so I was initially hesitant because I saw such amazing puppy programs here, but (OMG!) the training my five-year old chihuahua has received here has been phenomenal. They really can meet you and your dog exactly where you are and make you feel so much more confident and equipped to build a wonderful relationship with your fur baby. Nothing but tail wags from Sasha! :)

Raphaëlle Zilio

2023-05

We got our German shepherd puppy, Athena, in august. Before she even got home with us, I started researching training facilities in my area. Most of them seemed to employ aversive techniques that I wasn’t comfortable with. Enter Believe in Dog. From reading through the website, to exchanging emails with the admin staff, I was quickly certain I had found the place. I took a package that included a private class, puppy class part I (a weekly small group class over 6 weeks), and puppy day school. Athena started there shortly after we brought her home and I have nothing but good things to say. Even my husband enjoyed the group classes, and we plan on going through all of the ones BiDT offers! Currently waiting on a spot in the reactive rover class, as our girl tends to be “aggressively friendly” towards other dogs and people while on leash… all the staff at BIDT are incredibly talented trainers, who clearly love dogs and will problem solve to find what makes your individual dog tick, and help you develop a strong bond with your pup.

Deborah Barrett

2024-02

I've owned dogs all my life and been through several training sessions, but I learned more in our initial 1 1/2 hour with Lilly than ever before. Truly an informative and valuable session. We are signing Bella up for group training asap.

Emily Borromeo

2021-05

We are beyond thrilled we found this place for our puppy, Kona. We have taken their Level 1 Group puppy class and have learned so much about how to build desirable behaviors through positive and empowering methods. We are signed up for level 2 as well because we love this place so much. Our trainers for this class were Caroline and Lily and they are fantastic. We also purchased Puppy Day School days in which you drop off your dog for the day and the dogs get lots of socialization and training time with other puppies and individualized training sessions. I like that they only have a few dogs per trainer so that the dogs get close attention and supervision. Also these playtimes are kept positive and structured-- meaning they don't just leave the dogs for long periods of time...They separate the dogs during playtime according to play style, so that all the dogs are happy and within their comfort zones, and they give them breaks and watch for when the pups might get a little over excited/rowdy and they keep all the dogs safe. This was very important to me. They give your pup a report card at the end of each day which is adorable, and you get notes on what they worked on each day and what you can continue to work on at home. I'd highly recommend speaking to Joanna to purchase a bundle pack which gives you a private session, some day school days, and a group class. Everyone at BID is super friendly and compassionate and we cannot recommend them enough. They are all about introducing new experiences through positivity and a strong bond of trust between you and your dog, ensuring your dog will enter the world with more confidence and resilience in new environments and situations. I've noticed tangible differences in my dog's behaviors (he jumps up less, doesn't lunge forward on walks, walks nicely by my side, is not as bothered by loud noises or scary real world objects, comes running back when called, defaults to a sitting behavior when I'm standing still, and more!). Invest in your dog, invest in yourself. You will be so happy you did!

Leisha Kempf

2024-02

Wonderful class for adolescent dogs who are learning to grow and gain confidence. We have already witnessed a remarkable improvement in our pup, but it does truly take commitment by the dog owners. It is so worth it.

Veronica Ramos

2023-05

I’ve been taking my boxer hound pup to training here for the last 4 weeks and he loves it! The trainers are knowledgeable, the pups in his class are all fantastic and such great students. Front desk staff is very attentive and helpful. We will continue to use BID for Túks training needs.

Valerie Anderson

2023-09

I brought Dynamo to BiD when she became too reactive to take group rally classes. I was feeling pretty hopeless, but after a couple of private sessions and a Reactive Rover class, I saw a dramatic improvement. I still take the occasional class here, it helps me gauge our progress. Dyna has improved to the point that one morning as we were leaving the dog park (if you have a reactive dog you understand the peace of 6 am exercise), we came face to face with two loose dogs and she didn’t react. She looked at them calmly, then willingly walked with me back into the dog park. She then proceeded to play through the fence with the smaller one. Not one bark or screaming frenzy. Don’t get me wrong - this was an incredibly good experience but she is still reactive. It’s just that after BiD her reactivity is manageable and she is still improving. The skills BiD has taught me has improved our quality of life immensely. Highly recommend.

Gabriella Rangel

2023-05

BIDT is truly a one of a kind, magical dog wonderland!We take Giuseppe to Puppy Day School and also did Puppy One (a group training class). Giuseppe started off as a very shy, nervous puppy. He didn't really feel great playing with other dogs and wanted nothing more than to be in our laps. After ONE day of PDS, he was obsessed with other dogs and was a totally different dog - confident, fearless, and SO HAPPY! Throughout Puppy One, he learned so many things and it was really helpful to talk to other puppy parents and get some structured training! I would recommend puppy one to any new parents to build a really solid foundation with their pup.PDS on the other hand, has single-handedly made having a puppy a much more enjoyable, stress-free, and EXCITING experience! The investment is 10000000X worth it. It is so obvious how much time, effort, and intention is put into the curriculum and the structure of the program. This is not a doggy daycare - this is a true training program where they think of absolutely EVERYTHING! From desensitization, crate training, potty training, confidence building, socialization, leash walking, decompression.. they really do it all. They specialize training for every dog and give them a lot of 1-1 time, too. They are absolute experts at what they do and it really shines through. Both PDS and puppy one helped us teach Gio balance and helped strengthen our bond with him. It has really been an invaluable experience!Most importantly, the people at BIDT is what makes this place really special. From the front desk, the trainers, Stephanie - they all make us feel like Giuseppe is the most special boy ever and shower him with so much love! He has worked with several different trainers and all of them are absolutely incredible - it is so obvious how passionate they are about training dogs. They make the most out of his time there and are invested in his development. When I drop Giuseppe off, he is leaping out of my arms to go inside and see his favorite people! He is so happy to be there which truly shows how much time and thought they put into their puppies having an amazing experience. Leaving your dog with strangers can be a scary experience and BIDT has been so kind so patient with all of my concerns and I know he is in great hands there. A huge shout out to Joanna who has answered endless questions with grace and kindness!BIDT has allowed us to raise a happy, well-rounded, and very confident puppy. They are a huge blessing and I would recommend them a million times over to anyone with a puppy or dog - for obedience, reactivity, socialization, tricks - anything! The results are incredible and you will not regret giving your dog a training experience at BIDT.BIDT staff - thank you for being you and doing what you do so incredibly well. You are an extremely special group of people and we are SO grateful for you! We are forever Believers!! :)

Chris Zaborowski

2024-02

We did Believe in Dog's (BID) 10-day puppy daycare and completed puppy school 1 & 2. In the end, BID's training did not produce the behavior we were looking for in our dog.Positives: Our puppy did learn commands such as sit, stay, down, touch, leave it, and spin. Our boy got first and second place in two of the puppy class 2 final exam games, which were largely build off these commands. Also, the employees were nice.Negatives: Our dog did not learn any self-control, especially when seeing other dogs, riding in the car, or going out in public. Personally, I think putting our dog in BID's puppy daycare taught him nothing but bad habits from other puppies who don't know how to act appropriately. Our dog would go berserk anytime other dogs were in sight, even though we strictly followed BID's no contact while on a leash requirement and really committed to their program for the better part of 9 months. The response from BID time and time again was "he just a teenager". We were essentially told this is all part of the dog's process of growing up and to push through it. And don't even get me started on how he would act if we took him to the dog park to play with other dogs. At that point, my wife and I did not exist to him anymore.Our dog also destroyed our house and would jump on the counter and steal food. BID told us the only way to solve this was to just block off the kitchen, which ended up being false. Another thing we disliked was how much of the program is built off of bribing the dog with food. BID does tell you to eventually ween the dog off of the treats, which we did, but the damage from the ineffectiveness of the training had already been done. The end result of BID's training was our dog did not respect us and did whatever he wanted, and according to BID it was because "he's a teenager". BID's treating bribing, positive reinforcement approach left us with a complete terror of a dog.After 9 months of consistent training and a lot of money, our dog was so erratic and out of control that my wife wanted to give him away.Thankfully, we found another facility nearby that undid all of the bad habits our dog picked up from BID. This facility uses correction collars, which BID was vocally against, but I can't argue against the results. We are 2.5 months into this new training, and our dog has made a complete 180. He no longer freaks out when he sees other dogs and keeps his eyes up at me when we walk, even when walking past another dog going berserk. He no longer gets on our furniture, destroys our house, or counter surfs, and has built incredible self-control regulation. He is easily one of the best-trained dogs anytime we go to the park or out in public. He is doing so well that we are considering training him for obedience competitions. Funny how we went from wanting to give him away to competition training in less than 3 months. Under this new facility, our dog is much happier now, and so are we.

Jennifer Truong

2023-07

Believe in Dog is the best investment we've ever made for our dog. We adopted our corgi/beagle mix through a rescue. She came with a lot of anxiety and no former training at all. We always thought she was a reactive dog from how she would interact with other dogs, so we decided to do a consultation with a trainer at Believe in Dog. When we met with our trainer, Lily, we learned so much about our dog and how she communicates and that she is actually not considered reactive. Lily set us up with the Basic Manners class from there and we've now graduated from that and Intermediate Obedience. I've watched my dog become so much more confident since taking their classes. She can train and learn new tricks around other dogs, something we never thought we could've done before. Going to class with our dog every week has strengthened our relationship with her and we're so excited to take more specialty courses!! Believe in Dog really does a great job of providing a fun, safe and positive environment for you and your dog. They only use positive reinforcement and really tailor your experience for your dog's personality. I always tell people that the classes are almost more for us owners than for the dogs, because they give us the tools necessary to guide our dogs and be their advocates. Not to mention, everyone I've met there has been so kind and helpful. I also love their little store in the front, it has everything we need to keep our dog enriched.

Sydney Moore

2023-10

Believe in dog was great for both our pup (Kali) and us! We took the adolescent/adult basic manners class with Alyssa and it was fantastic! Alyssa is clearly very passionate about what she does and was great with Kali and all the other pups in the class. She went above and beyond to ensure Kali was comfortable in the space as she is a bit timid to start. We learned so much and Kali has grown in her manners and confidence. Couldn’t recommend believe in dog more!

Anh Tran

2022-05

Believe in Dog Training holds a very special place in our hearts (my pupper and me). I’m glad I made the choice to enroll my pembroke corgi in the puppy 1 class, puppy 2 class, and puppy day school since she was 9 weeks old. She’s now almost 7 months old and I’m so proud of the well adjusted, confident, and cooperative dog she’s become with the help of BIDT! This is definitely a safe place for positive reinforcement training and we’ve learned so much. The trainers work at your dogs pace and are so empathetic and knowledgeable. Not only did they help us foster a wonderful connection with our dog, she’s also made so many good puppy friends that we continue to keep in touch with for play dates! Special shout-out to trainers Lily and Caroline! We can’t wait to be back for more classes.

Sarah

2023-06

Five star ratings can be too good to be true sometimes, but this place is a wonderful resource for puppy owners, whether you’re experienced with dogs or not. The people here are really compassionate and caring, and I’m very happy to have chosen them. I started with the puppy 1 class because I have a lot of experience with dogs, but I thought it would be a good opportunity for socialization and a way to outsource the structure for training. I went on to puppy 2, and when my pup started to have issues with reactive barking, the staff recommended some puppy day school. There was some initial miscommunication, and Stephanie took the time to have a nice conversation with me that really reassured me. The progress with my pup is undeniable, and although she’s got a great temperament to begin with, the work she’s done with Believe in Dog really took things to the next level with her. I’ve been telling everyone I know to do puppy classes here because it’s so fun and informative.

Brianna Blatchley

2023-05

I signed up for the puppy training course and it has been fantastic so far. It's great to have the training program so you are held responsible for the progress of your pup. All the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable.

Donna Braunreiter

2024-04

Great place for our new puppy! All of the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. The boutique for dog gear is so cute and fairly priced…. Love this place!