Positive Approach Dog Training & Daycare

Minwoo C

2024-01

Alora was an amazing trainer! Our Australian Shepard Kylo, was able to learn so many tricks and is such a good boy. She was able to teach him things in less than 10 minutes that I struggled to train him on myself! If you are looking for dog training, Alora is the one!

Sarah Jeter

2024-05

I reviewed them last year after boarding our dogs, but apparently it was removed?We boarded our dogs a little over a week for boarding and daycare. Our big guy came home with a cough that staff said "started yesterday" he was beyond lethargic and coughing up yellow sputum. I had to take him to an urgent vet, diagnosed with pneumonia. His chest xray was completed whited out (should be clear) bc his lungs were filled with fluid. He needed IV fluids, IV antibiotics and IV diuretics before being cleared to come home on oral antibiotics and diuretics.It took him days before he started to turn around.I reached out to the manager and was told "this happens with boarding sometimes" which I understand... but I was lied to by the staff. There is no way that severe of a pneumonia develops in 1-2 days. If he had stayed longer, would they have taken him.to see a medical professional or let him suffer and possibly die there?I had felt comfortable taking him there for daycare and boarding. But never again. Agter looking back, they have way more dogs in daycare than any other facility ive taken dogs to. Which then translates to hugher transmission of disease.I hope this helps someone else make a better informed decision.

Marguerite J

2024-03

I boarded my dog for the first time with Positive Approach, and was so very happy with my experience there! The staff was very friendly and answered all my questions, and followed up with me to let me know how Kida was doing during her stay there because I am a worried dog mom. Will definitely be using Positive Approach for my doggie daycare and boarding needs!

Andrea Huerta

2022-05

I love Positive Approach! It's a great option if you need to board your reactive dogs or have dogs that just don't want to be in a day care setting. I've been taking my personal dogs here for years and they have always done a great job with them.I also have a 501(c)(3) dog rescue and board my rescue dogs here from time to time. The staff takes such great care of them and truly care about all the dogs that I've housed there.All of the staff is super friendly and Di, Dan and Dawn are amazing. I highly recommend the staff at Positive Approach!

Kathy Brodock

2023-08

Extremely pleased with all the love & care Positive Approach gave to my little Dog Sophia over many years of caring for her. The compassion when I lost my daughter in law to Covid was wonderful helping to take care of Sophia. I ended up being taken to CCU for an emergency and they accommodated my family taking care of her for over a week. Sophia loved going to Positive Approach. THANK YOU all for your kind words on your card to me. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Positive Approach!

Alyssa Boggs

2024-01

I would give Positive Approach more stars if I could! I've been taking my reactive rescue to daycare here for almost a year since he arrived from Romania and the attention and sheer love they bestow on him is unimaginably kind. Roman is a special boy and can be reactive to people he doesn't know due to his time living on the streets but the staff here really make a point to engage with him and relay to me how good he does while at daycare. He gets so excited when it's time to go to daycare and loves to smile at the front desk girls. I also can't believe he did so well his first time being groomed at the location which I think is a testament to the trust he has in the staff. I can't say enough about how grateful I am for a place that I can trust is taking care of Roman when I drop him off, but also how happy it makes me to know that he loves going. We've also started private training classes with Alora that have made a big difference in Roman's reactive behavior. Alora's attention to detail and moral support has meant a lot to me since having a reactive dog can sometimes bring down your spirit, she not only supports me with solutions in redirecting Roman but also reaffirms to me that I'm doing the right thing and we're making progress.Thank you so much for all the you do! Roman loves you all!

Erin Frost

2024-04

Our small, anxious dog is usually shy and aloof with other dogs at daycare, but she’s made some friends and bonded with the staff. Now she gets excited when we pull up to drop her off. And she gets plenty of exercise, too.

Glen Carpenter

2021-05

Great variety of different doggy treats. I came away with raw bones, elk antlers, and several hard chew toys for my two pitbulls that eat cow hooves like soft candy.The store is a little pricey but the selection includes only good quality healthy foods, treats and toys.I don't know anything about their daycare for dogs, grooming or training; I don't use those services, nevertheless, they seemed very well organized and professional. Great store.

Nicholas Davis

2024-03

They took such good care of our neurotic old Corgi when we were out of town for 2 weeks. Highly, highly recommend. With every cent, and a tip as well.

Jim Tutton

2023-10

We recently boarded our Cocker Spaniel at Positive Approach for 8-days. The boarding and service provided by Positive Approach boarding staff was excellent. They handled our dog's special feeding needs without a problem. Bedding used was returned to us washed and neat.My wife and I would highly recommend Positive Approach for your dog boarding needs whether for day care or long term boarding.

Caleb Booker

2022-05

We love Positive Approach! Our pup Kulshan has been going there since he was a baby, and he starts whining with excitement as soon as we turn onto the street. During his entry test they had a trainer on hand and actually walked me back to the room to watch through a window, explaining all of the behaviors they were seeing and what they were looking for, which I really appreciated. The staff is super nice and knowledgeable, and I love having the retail section easily available so we can buy Kulshan a treat or two during pickup if we need to. I recommend Positive Approach to all of my Tacoma friends!

Veronica Vickas

2023-05

I have been taking my dog Jim Hopper to positive approach for about a year and a half. They are the best doggie daycare I have ever experienced, and Hopper loves it there! We recently moved to the Midwest so unfortunately we are having to find a new daycare, and I am quickly learning that the service provided by Positive Approach is unparalleled and should not be taken for granted! Hopper and I both miss positive approach! Thank you so much for all your work and taking good care of our fur baby!

Becky Renzi

2023-08

I absolutely love it here!There's a ton to say about this place but here are the key points!One day I had my 2 year old son in the car with me. I was unable to get him out as he was sleeping. I called ahead and asked them for help and they delivered my dog food to my car and ran my card for me. She was so nice to me and totally understood my dilemma being a mom herself. Their products are amazing, grooming staff are so sweet. ( My dog is not allowed back because she exorcist pooped on the groomer, she is an anxious dog so I get it 100% ) after I went to pick up my dog they didn't belittle me or make me feel bad ( even though I did regardless ) and gave me suggestions for at home resources or what I can do next time to calm her down. They have collars, food, CBD items, grooming items ...I love this place SO much!

Kevin Thorne

2024-03

This would be the second time I've used there service and I'm totally disappointed with the results and considering how much is spent on grooming you expect simple request to be followed like how short the hair should be cut so if your looking to get your pet groomed at this place be sure to have things in writing that way there's recourse for any mistakes made.

Rebecca Moore

2022-05

UPDATE: They reached out and tried to remedy the situation, which is hard to do after the incident. But it was a great gesture by them to do so!We have used Positive Approach for almost a year now, for training classes, and daycare. I have been happy for the most part UNTIL last week.I took my dog in for daycare, I typically do once a week. When I went to pick him up, they said his ear had been bit and they applied “blood stop powder” and he’ll be fine. At the same time he shook, and it was like a horror film. I had blood splattered on my face, he did as well, and blood was dripping everywhere!On a positive note, the employees DID help me find a vet to take him to ASAP, they DID hold pressure and try to wrap for transport.What I am SUPER upset about is they didn’t even try to notify me as SOON as this happened (regardless of severity) and now a week later have not bothered to call us and ask his outcome.A week later, and HUNDREDS of dollars later, and MANY vet visits, he is STILL recovering.

Natalie S

2023-05

Our pup loves to go to doggy daycare and boarding here. We have tried another location closer to home but did not have the same confidence in them as when we dropped her off she was obviously nervous, which we haven't experienced at Positive Approach.The staff have been really great with us and have been flexible for our daycare/boarding needs when my husband went on military orders for training. This was really appreciated during that time and only further grew my confidence in their business and pet care. We recommend them to all our other doggy owning friends!

Martha Francisco

2024-01

Always friendly and helpful. My dog was always excited to go here - they really do a great job with the puppers!

Melissa Hager

2021-05

We’ve taken all our dogs the last 20+ years to training at Positive Approach. Our third dog, London, just completed level 1 Well Trained Puppy. We’re going to do much more! She loves daycare - great socialization with all the dogs and exercise for her. And the people are pretty awesome too! 🐶💕

Elle Martin

2021-05

Finally! I've been looking for a place that puts my dog first and not what she might look like. I want her to feel safe during a groom. If she comes out with tufts if she's having a bad day...I don't care! She's been traumatized before and this place is a haven.

Stacy Gargalione

2023-05

I was so happy to find Positive Approach last min for my little guy as we went out of town for a week. For never being there before I was thrilled to walk in and it was storefront for all the things you need for your fur baby. I loved the text messages that I received about caring for my dog while I was away. It made my mind more at ease while I was on vacation. When we got back. He was such a happy boy. Somehow the leash was misplaced and they were amazing enough to go ahead and let me grab a comparable one off the shelf. We will definitely be returning to this place. They definitely know what they are doing here.

Agi Brown

2023-05

The short review: My dog’s grooming appointment was canceled without a courtesy call or email and I find that unprofessional. Also this is a busy spot and you must schedule weeks in advance. However, the quality of work is good.The detailed review: This morning I called to find out how early I could drop my dog off for her appointment this week. The front desk person didn’t see my appointment scheduled. As she looked further into it, it turns out the groomer went in and canceled the appointment and noted due to too many missed appointments. (I’ve made 5 appointments in a year. Went to the first, canceled 2, no-showed 1, and they canceled 1 without notice.) I’m not leaving this review to complain about the groomer’s decision. Being that we aren’t established regulars who were going through tough times (more on that below), I can understand. We ended up speaking over the phone. She said that she works on commission and it’s difficult to schedule other dogs in to those unexpected openings. I get it.Nearly a year ago I brought my then tiny puppy to be groomed for the first time. It was a great experience and the result was perfect. Unfortunately since then I’ve been challenged with getting there. My family unexpectedly suffered the loss of loved ones last year and traveled often to manage the fallout.Every time I was unable to make it, including the one I no-showed out of sheer overwhelm, I called with as much notice as I could and tried to reschedule. The groomers here are popular and very hard to schedule with. It requires planning at least 6-8 weeks out, minimum. Once the wait was over 2 months when they were down a bather. Then summer came and scheduling rough (hard to get in) so we cut our dog's hair super short for the season.Finally I was able to sync up. My dog would be ready for a haircut when the groomer had availablilty. It’s a miracle! I scheduled for Nov and for Jan. Then, the day before the Nov appointment I came down with the ‘flu’ (yes that one) and my child a raging ear infection. Therefore out of caution I canceled the appointment and left the Jan one as is.What I am complaining about is that no one told me. A courtesy call or email would be the professional thing to do. Otherwise I would’ve shown up this week without a clue. Additionally what the groomer does not know is that I’ve tried to reschedule or schedule new appointments many times and hit a wall.My point? If you need a groomer with flexibility this is not the place for you. If you are able to confidently schedule your appointments a couple months or more out on the regular then this is a good place for you. Because I’ve went to other groomers near and far while trying to sync up for Positive Approach, what I’ve learned is that dedicated grooming businesses have more flexibility. I will guess this business has a tight schedule because of the number of ways their canine clients are fed in - the boarding, the daycare, the training, and straight up grooming only.Lastly, the pricing structure is a confusing so be sure to clarify what’s what. Ultimately between the rate and a 20% tip I paid about $80 if I recall. While my puppy at that time was tiny and weighed 5-6 pounds, I didn’t mind the cost due to the quality of work, and the care taken to acclimate my puppy. One thing I appreciated is that the groomer recommended easing in and didn’t over promise. She said she didn’t want to force anything so my puppy would be comfortable with ongoing grooming sessions. Luckily for me my dog is friendly and easy to groom, and the groomer didn’t have to omit or skip anything. It was a good start and it’s unfortunate it didn’t work out.

Brent Snyder

2023-12

Always professional. Everyone there loves dogs. Open for early drop off and dog hygiene services are always available.

Bryn Hartman

2023-07

My humans heard about Positive Approach through a bumper sticker and after reading other reviews decided to try it out. I've been making lots of trips here since!I've done the kennel only boarding, doggy daycare(this one is my favorite and I am always so tired by the time my humans pick me up that I just sleep the rest of the day!!), and have had my nails dremmelled once.I also just graduated from Level 1 Obedience class today. The trainer, Alora, always greets me with enthusiasm and treats!! She helped my humans out when I was too distracted and wasn't following commands. She is the best, I love seeing her during my daycare stays.-Ruby "Wiggle butt" Hartman🐾

Tori Osteraa

2022-05

We had our dog groomed today at Positive Approach and I’m so happy with the result! Our dog has a very thick undercoat, 3 legs and an autoimmune disorder so grooming him can be challenging! The staff was communicative and very welcoming and Dana did a fabulous job. We’ll definitely be back.

Valarie Bethel

2022-05

I am so thankful for Positive Approach, and most importantly, my dog loves to go to "School". I've used their training services and Doggie Daycare. I'm thankful to have a safe, happy place for my dog to attend when she can't go with me - gives me such peace of mind. The staff is attentive and kind and obviously loves dogs. Thank you so much!

Deb B.

2023-05

We feel they took good care of our fur baby for a week. We would have preferred a kennel over a crate, but we didn’t book early enough. Staff was friendly and appeared to connect well with our dog and others based on our observations. We were very disappointed the cameras were down the entire time because apparently only one employee knows how to use them and he was on vacation. When customers choose a boarding facility because we can observe our dog, it’s frustrating to not be able to do so even once for his entire stay.We had our boy bathed for pick-up and they did a nice job. Good place for an urban boarding kennel, but probably not my first choice. Our boy has never had to spend time being crated so we definitely want a kennel next time. Also hope the cameras all all operational.

Brandon Moore

2020-05

Great place for all of your pup's needs. Staff are friendly and very easy to work with; I can't imagine taking our dog anywhere else. We've gone through all the puppy and well-behaved dog courses and it was a great experience. Angie is an excellent trainer and does a great job adapting to the needs of the class. Groomers have done a great job with our young pup as she learns to deal with the grooming process. Our dog now attends daycare 2-3 times per week and we couldn't ask for a better place for her to expend some energy. In addition to the great services, they have a wonderful retail space that is very well organized and stocks new products regularly.

Chris

2023-05

My Dog was there for daycare and one day she went to their groomer for her nails to be clipped and they said she tried biting the groomer and snapped at her. I know my dog and she’s never done this with other groomers or people in general so I know she’s not the problem. The workers name was Danielle and she put my dog on a list which prevents her from getting her nails done there ever again.

Catalina Aragón

2020-05

We have used Positive Approach’s Day Care, Boarding, Grooming, and Dog Training Services for over three years. Our dog loves staying here! We feel at ease knowing she is in good hands and having a blast. The owners and staff are all very nice, helpful, and caring. Our dog even loves the groomer (although she is still not a fan of baths).We have also taken some of their group and one-on-one dog training classes. Our 80lbs anxious and playful mutt is now a better walker and more relaxed in new settings.I highly recommend this business for all your dog needs.

Chris Gibson

2022-05

Great dog daycare place! Whenever we have things to do during the day we bring our pup here. The people that work there are super friendly and our pup LOVES going. He gets super excited when he get out of the car and is always sad to leave when I come to get him. They also do dog boarding which we have done for a weekend and that was also good stuff. We haven’t done the dog grooming yet, but I’ve heard good things about that as well. I highly recommend this place to anyone reading, and I also tell other people about how great it is if they are looking for a dog daycare.