Client Reviews/Testimonails
Dog Training Reviews & Testimonials
At Dog Training Now Charleston, nothing makes us happier than seeing dogs and their families succeed together. Our professional dog training programs help Charleston and Mount Pleasant area families improve obedience, communication, confidence, and everyday behavior through practical training designed for real life.
From puppy training and basic obedience to Board and Train, Day Training, private lessons, and off-leash training, every dog comes to us with different needs and goals. Read what local dog owners have to say about their experiences with our trainers and the positive changes they have seen in their dogs.
Real Results From Charleston Dog Owners
Great dog training goes beyond teaching commands. Our goal is to help dogs develop reliable manners while giving owners the knowledge and confidence they need to continue reinforcing those behaviors at home.
Whether you’re dealing with leash pulling, jumping, poor recall, puppy behaviors, or simply want a more obedient companion, Dog Training Now Charleston is here to help you build a better relationship with your dog.
Ready to See What Training Can Do for Your Dog?
Discover which training program is right for your dog and your family. Contact Dog Training Now Charleston today to get started with professional dog training in Charleston and Mount Pleasant, SC.
Happy Dog Owners
Chris Bostwick
6 months ago
Ms. Mary is the Best. Our family dog walks with our three year old mix went from chaos to family fun. Proof a slightly older dog can learn new/better behavior.
Response from the owner:Thank you Chris! Keep up the good work!
Adam Lefkowitz
11 months ago
Amazing! Not enough stars to give an accurate review. Mary is an incredible dog trainer. Our cavapoo did two weeks of training with her and we couldn’t be happier with the results. He is attentive and compliant both at home and in public settings both on and off-leash. All while maintaining his normal level of playfulness. We sent her a very good puppy and he has come back an amazing one. Can’t recommend enough!!
Response from the owner:Thank you Adam for your kind review! We absolutely adore Finn and know you'll keep up all the good work!
Nicole Morgan
12 months ago
Life with our very energetic 8 month old golden retriever, Enzo has never been better. After bringing Enzo home, it quickly became clear that we needed help. From our first meeting, Mary immediately understood what we were struggling with and we agreed on the 2 week board and train program. Enzo went from nearly pulling our arms off on walks to getting compliments on his leash manners. In just 2 weeks, Mary gave us the tools to curb his barking and build manners in public settings. We’re finally able to enjoy adventures with Enzo - off leash activities are so fun! I can’t recommend this enough to anyone looking for help. (P.s the Instagram account and updates are the best!)
Response from the owner:Thank you, Nicole for taking the time to do this awesome review. #DogtrainingnowCharleston
Andrea T.
1 year ago
My baby, Arlo, graduated from the ‘board and train’ program back in April. I was experiencing major puppy blues after two in home visits with another trainer showed little results. I met with Mary and we decided that the board and train program would be best for my schedule & Arlo. The daily social media posts were great to be able to see the progress & my handsome boy’s face while he was away! 6 months later and still worth every penny. Highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Andrea! Thank you so much for the kind review! We miss Arlo! We are so proud you BOTH have been keeping up the good work! We hope to see you at our upcoming alumni events!
Julie Nance
1 year ago
Our puppy has been in training with Mary all week. She has mastered some basic behaviors around walking, leash control, sit and stay. I feel more confident that she we'll develop good habits as she matures and will be easy to manage around people and in various situations. Mary has been very open and spent a lot of time showing us what to do and talking with us about behaviors at home. I would highly recommend Dog Training Now to develop good lifelong habits. My puppy loves going there and enjoys all the other dogs. It has helped her be well socialized.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Julie, for sharing your positive experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that your puppy is making great progress in her training sessions with Mary. It's wonderful to know that she's enjoying the socialization and learning new behaviors. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to continuing to support you both on this journey towards good lifelong habits. Keep up the great work!
Robert Knake
2 years ago
Love
Love
Love
Miss Mary is the best.
Maverick - doberman puppy
Henley - mixed puppy
Pixie - adult doberman
Yes... we took all 3 dogs to them (not at the same time)... but all 3 are great.
Our older dobbie was not leash trained when we rescued her... she was a sweet baby, but a walk on a leash was an exercise in frustration and some very sore muscles.
We had tried training her ourselves and that didn't work out well.. in just 4 days... I have a great dog on a leash.
Thank You for all you did for our fur babies...
Response from the owner:Thank you Robert for your kind words and review! It was a pleasure working with all of your fur babies and you! Keep up the good work and stay in touch! We hope to see them all at alumni events!
Maggie Figueroa
2 years ago
Sending our mini Australian shepherd puppy to train with Mary was the best decision we made. We signed up for the 10-day boarding program, and it is worth every penny. We dropped off a very energetic puppy who didn’t listen to us, and we picked up a very energetic puppy who follows every command she learned. I highly recommend dog training now to anyone who wants to train or socialize their dogs.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure working with you all and we hope you come back for Alumni Days!
Tracey C
3 years ago
Mary has been nothing but perfect for our family. She is always fast to answer questions and was able to get our girl walking like a pro. Feeling comfortable when you leave your baby with someone is the best feeling and Mary is the best!
Response from the owner:Thank you Tracey for the rave review! We love our Ivy! Keep up the good work! We are so proud of all of you!
Adrienne
3 years ago
Mary is an absolute gem. She is professional, talented, and patient. Mary did an amazing job working with our pup, training him into the confident, well behaved dog people enjoy being around. It is unbelievable the manners she taught in 2 weeks. We highly recommend her.
Response from the owner:Adrienne, thank you for your kind words and support of our small business! We are so happy that Preacher is doing so well! Keep up the good work!
Amanda Ranahan
3 years ago
We have sent our dog to Mary and Dog Training Now twice, one for basic obedience and then for advanced off-leash training. Both experiences have wonderful! He has learned the exact skills we wanted him to have, but more importantly he has had a fun, positive experience while away! We really liked how Mary takes only small groups of dogs at a time, and it is clear that he receives plenty of personal attention. Both times he has come back well-trained and still his loving, goofy self which was so important to us. We would absolutely recommend Mary to anyone!
Response from the owner:Thanks y’all so much for your kind words! We love Ranger, and he’s welcome back anytime! He’s our favorite student to throw the ball too, and give belly rubs! Keep up the good work!
Dana Bollato
3 years ago
We highly recommend Mary for all your dog training needs. Mary is wonderful. We took our 2 golden retriever pups to Mary for the 10 day training program. They learned so much. We are so pleased with what they accomplished. Mary is honest, thoughtful and more importantly loves your dog as if it were her own. Her training techniques work very well. We are so appreciative of her work. Mary is the absolute best!
Response from the owner:Dana! What a heart felt review, we really appreciate it! Thank you! Keep up the good work, and give our two little knuckle heads some belly rubs from us!
Garrett Watson
3 years ago
Mary is a true dog whisper!! Sending my pup to her for 10 days of board and train was a great decision. I’m going to send her back yearly. She came back so well behaved and had learned so much.
If you’re considering a dog trainer look no further!!
Response from the owner:Thank you Garrett! Annabelle made my job easy! She is so sweet! Keep up the good work!
James Bond
3 years ago
There's nothing like owning a well-trained dog!!!
Mary and her team are AWESOME! Mary was able to unlock my 2yr-old GSP's potential. I chose the 10-day program and couldn't be happier. Daisy came back to me a better dog and she was already the best. The program included a training collar and a one-hour training session for me & the family (so thankful for that)! I've been practicing "our" new skills and loving it. I can finally enjoy peaceful WALKS with my dog. I'm on cloud 9. My dog is more balanced and respectful of other's space and my commands. My girl came home smelling fabulous and very happy. Can't wait to attend the follow-up appointment to make sure we are all on track. I can contact Mary anytime with questions/concerns. It's obvious she loves her work and is a knowledgeable and professional trainer. I 100% recommend this business. Thank you so much Mary!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you Paige! It was a pleasure working with you and sweet Daisy Duke! She is a doll, keep up the good work!!
Mary Gallivan
4 years ago
We are so grateful to have found Mary. This was Quinn’s second time at bootcamp. He is a three-year old black lab mix. The first time at bootcamp, he learned basic commands. He went back three months later for off-leash training. Now he can be off-leash at the beach with the other dogs. Mary is a phenomenal trainer. Quinn learned so much in 10 days each time. And Mary takes extra time to train the owners too (including providing videos you can refer back to). She has fantastic customer service and runs a phenomenal program. Her daily Instagram posts help you stay connected to your pup while he/she is away. We would highly recommend Mary!
Response from the owner:Thanks Mary and Sean for your kinds words! It means a lot coming from you two! Quinn is a special boy and made training fun! Keep up the good work!
larry sarner
4 years ago
We took our 7 month old poodle for two weeks of training to help us with her leash manners. We got back so much more! NIght and day difference in Monet walking and general obedience. Mary is an absolute master of training dogs, and us, and an amazing person. Cannot recommend her enough!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Larry for taking the time to do this awesome 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review for us. #DTNC
Jackie J
4 years ago
Mary is truly such a caring and thoughtful trainer. You can tell she has an absolute love for the dogs she trains and gives each of them special care and attention.
We did the 10 day board and train program with our 6 mo puppy and she did an incredible job with her. Her focus on praise as positive reinforcement was perfect for our dog, who is a pleaser and loves a job.
It’s important to note that this is not a “get the dog trained and never talk to Mary again” kind of situation. This is now a long-term relationship, as we will be checking in with her periodically to make sure WE stay on the right path and continue enforcing the good behavior that Mary has taught our dog. She is always available for questions, hosts alumni events, and is continuously supportive of our dog’s training journey.
We thank her for her continued guidance and strongly urge others to seek her expertise!
Response from the owner:Jackie, thank you for your kind review and for trusting us with training Charlie. We appreciate your business, and look forward to seeing Charlie at our alumni events!
Dan Kump
4 years ago
I chose Dog Training Now based on the outstanding reviews and to be honest, was a little skeptical of the very high rating. Reviewers wrote that after only a week, their dogs were transformed into obedient companions. Really? Yes REALLY
Dog Training Now is not a training factory with dozens of trainers. It is a locally owned boutique sized facility run by Mary, a seasoned dog whisperer who trains every dog herself. We booked the 10 day boarding package and while we waited for our Bernedoodle puppy to reach the proper age for training, I was able to email Mary and ask for advice with everything from dog equipment to behavioral issues. I tease Mary about practicing some type of dog witchcraft because she was solving our pup problems via email. Whatever she said to do worked! Amazing.
Our dog Esmé LOVED her training camp and LOVED Mary. We are thrilled with the results and highly recommend Dog Training Now. This is the real deal!
Response from the owner:Dan, Joy, and Esmè- thank you for the kind review. I enjoyed working with your family and I’m so happy YOU are so happy! Keep up the good work and please stay in touch! Esmè is a special girl and she is so lucky to have dedicated owners like yourselves!
Stephanie Lee Phillips
5 years ago
We are so grateful to have met Mary and have her train our little puppy!!! Dolly came back from training with so much knowledge and composure!!! We have 4 young kids and Mary took the time to help them work with her as well! We truly couldn't recommend her enough!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you Stephanie!! It was a pleasure to work with Dolly and the whole family! Keep up the good work!
Katie Kinley
5 years ago
Mary was fantastic for our newest dog LadyBug. Someone had dumped LadyBug in the country, and she was a very shy, cautious, and uncertain young puppy. After 2 weeks with Mary, LadyBug's confidence has grown in leaps and bounds. She is no longer constantly timid with my husband, and she seems proud of herself when she is praised for her new tricks and skills. Every day LadyBug came home exhausted, but happy and a little bit smarter. Mary was always willing to answer my questions, and help make sure I was learning how to work with Bug in corrections.
Response from the owner:Thank you Katie! We absolutely loved working with LadyBug and you! Keep up the good work!
Sarah Hawley
5 years ago
We brought Ruger to see Mary about a month ago! It was definitely life changing not only for him but us too! I learned how to better structure his environment and walks to set him up for success and have a better relationship with him. Before coming to see Mary, Ruger lasted about 5 minutes on walks and had to wear a muzzle due to eating every single thing. Since we left Mary we threw away our muzzle and have not used one since. Ruger goes on hour long walks now and is enjoying the outside a LOT more then he used to. He is still his happy, sneaky, crazy golden self but in a much safer manner. I would recommend Mary to everyone I know as she is truly outstanding. Ruger definitely misses seeing her every day as well! Thank you Mary!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you Sarah for that amazing review! We absolutely miss our Ruger and hope you come to visit soon!
Amy D
5 years ago
Mary was amazing. We have a 65 pound 6 month old puppy that was so powerful he pulled me down the street for daily walks. It got to the point we were afraid to walk him so after checking reviews we found Mary. She was prompt in responding to our inquiry and found her to have a very good program (we did one week on/ one off/ one on). Needless to say the puppy came back a different dog after just one week! We made it clear up front what our expectations and needs were and boy did she deliver. She has been an invaluable resource to us. Could not be happier and highly recommend her to anyone (just check her reviews!). Very knowledgeable and just loved on our sweet Charlie.
Response from the owner:Amy, thank you for your kind words and amazing review! We appreciate you! We miss Charlie and please stay in touch! Keep up the good work!
Karen Pankowski
5 years ago
It was the best investment we ever made! Mary was wonderful with Chloe. Even our neighbors noticed the difference. It is now a joy taking Chloe for walks and to the beach. She listens!
Response from the owner:Thank you Karen! We sure miss Chloe! Keep up the good work! ❤️
Tracy Goitein
5 years ago
If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Mary is incredible! Our 2 goldendoodles are completely different dogs after being with her for 2 weeks. They are so well behaved. Mary gave us step by step instructions at pickup each day with commands that were easy for us and our kids to understand. We can’t wait to continue training in the future. She truly is a dog whisperer! I can tell my boys miss her already, and truthfully, so do I. She’s not only a great trainer but also a wonderful human. Thanks Mary!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much Tracy! We greatly appreciate your business!
Heather
5 years ago
We rescued a young puppy during a pretty stressful time, we had just had a baby, middle of the move, covid, and just life. We found Mary and honestly had a hard time justifying the cost of the 12 day boarding training but we had zero experience with puppies so we went ahead and committed. We counted down until the day for the boarding camp, while we loved our puppy, he was a lot and he was rapidly growing and just a massive ball of lovable energy, which was great but stressful. When we picked him up from Mary, we were blown away. Our sweet boy had turned into such an obedient listener! He knew commands and would listen and follow directions but he was still the same lovable dog. Her ability to teach our dog while encouraging his sweet temperament is just amazing. She was posting pictures daily which I truly appreciated. She also is super responsive to any and ALL texts! She always answers and it’s abundantly clear she truly cares. Her services are well worth the cost associated, honestly, her services are priceless to me! She has a gift and I’m so grateful we found her!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much Heather! We greatly appreciate your business!
Meredith Van Dyke
5 years ago
We sent our 2 year old mini Aussiedoodle, Willow, for the 2 week board & train with Mary. She's very smart but due to not being able to socialize her with Covid-19, initially was very jealous and not the biggest fan of other dogs. I CANNOT stress enough how transformative this program was for Willow! She knows (and LOVES!) her place command, she heals when we walk, does not bark at other dogs on walks to protect me anymore. While she is still a "people" dog, she now will warm up to other dogs after about 30 minutes on leash in a room with another dog. She's SO obedient that when we release her, she typically chooses to just stay put. 😛 Can't wait to take her back for refreshers every now and then. THANK YOU MARY!
Response from the owner:Wow! Thank you for the awesome review Meredith! Willow is one of my best students! Thank you for your trust in me to train her! I can’t wait for our alumni workshop!