Pet boarding/training near Rutherford

“Fido Fidelis has truly made me a better person and a better dog owner—this review is long overdue. It’s a long one, but worth the read.

We started working with Fido Fidelis in 2022, and Pete has been training our dogs for nearly four years. His specialty is working with “challenging” dogs—those who are human-reactive, dog-reactive, struggle with separation anxiety, and more. Simply put, he is the best in the business.

Pete is fantastic with puppy training and general behavior work. He helped train our blue heeler/schnauzer mix puppy in just two weeks and played a crucial role in helping our high-energy pup successfully integrate into our family. But his impact didn’t stop there.

Our older dog, Rio (a pit mix), had a difficult past—she was attacked as a puppy by a resource-guarding dog at a dog park, which made her reactive around other dogs. For over a year, we worked with Pete to help her tolerate others, knowing she didn’t need to love every dog, but needed to coexist peacefully. When we decided to rescue our second dog, Bailey, in June 2023, Pete was our very first call.

He not only refreshed Rio’s foundational training but thoughtfully used that process—alongside Bailey’s training—to help Rio understand that Bailey was a friend, not a threat. Within weeks, the two became inseparable. They now play, cuddle, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company—something we once weren’t sure was possible.

Even more impressive, Rio has begun forming positive relationships with other dogs. With Pete’s guidance, we’ve taken things slowly and intentionally, and she’s now comfortable with select dogs. We’ve even started fostering, which would have been unimaginable before working with him.

So how does Pete do it?

His approach is incredibly well-rounded. He doesn’t just train dogs—he trains owners. He uses a balanced, thoughtful methodology (including the four quadrants of training), tailoring his approach to each individual dog and household. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here—Pete meets you and your dog exactly where you are.

We’ve been through a lot with our dogs, and honestly, I don’t know where we’d be without Pete. If I could give Fido Fidelis 100 stars, I would. After four years of working together, I recommend him to everyone I meet without hesitation.“

“Easy Wag is THE BEST place to take your dog in FiDi - hands down. Our dog Barney has been going here since they opened and he is in love with the place.

The staff are great - you can tell they all truly love dogs and the owner Richie is awesome - very knowledgeable… he knows what he is doing.

If you live in FiDi and need dog daycare, you should 100% go to Easy Wag.“

“I was bracing for exorbitant costs for a routine mature lady cat checkup. Dr Ball was really nice, patient, and reasonable. She is also a very good educator and I think all pet parents would benefit from all her helpful advice and care. The staff, as usual, were kind and friendly. I was quite pleased with the appointment. The experience made me want to come back and have Dr Ball keep taking care of Mochi to provide the best quality of life for the cat. Thank you!“

“My pup Luna had an amazing time! It was her first experience at a doggy daycare and interacting with multiple dogs. Posting pictures of her on their social media pages gave me a sense of joy and pride. She looked so happy! Luna and I look forward to many more visits!“

“This place is incredible. By far the best in the neighborhood for grooming, daycare (with dropoff/pickup!) and boarding.“

“Our dog was terrified of going to the groomer after some negative experiences at other groomers. Upon picking her up from Throw me a Bone, I have never seen her happier post grooming. Not only was she happy to see me, she was incredibly affectionate with the groomer—a clear sign they had treated her gently, kindly, and with love. 10/10 would recommend.“

“Joel and the team at CityTails are nothing short of incredible. They go above and beyond, and treat your dog like their own. I have a small rescue that is anxious and I've noticed such a positive difference since starting to send her to CityTails. She loves the team so much and can't wait to spend the day with her CityTails family.“

“My Cavapoo Ludo loves this place! He can’t wait to go in and pulls his leash from a block away. We love the staff and services!“

“I can't say enough about how wonderful Fur Seasons is. Everyone takes such great care of my fur baby Star. Nese, the owner, is literally a dog whisperer. Star is in love with her, Tom, Belinda, and everyone else there. Star was one of the first clients when Fur Seasons opened, and seeing her excitement whenever we pull up says it all!“

“12 weeks of separation Anxiety course with Lauren has absolutely changed our life. From a dog who panics as soon as we leave the door to a dog who can comfortably handle a duration of over an hour. I was absolutely blown away by the competency and experience of our trainer and now that th course has ended feel equipped and ready to continue our separation anxiety journey. Thank you CCA!“

“The young woman at the front was so jolly and nice as she serviced our dog. It's apparent that she loves her job. The results of the grooming say the same. I'll remain a loyal customer here.“

“Even though it has been a few years, I still think of this puppy class with gratitude. The approach was positive, modern, and compassionate, and our puppy was treated with so much patience and kindness. Jennifer was wonderful and brought such warmth to the whole experience. It was a lovely place for both puppies and people to learn, and I would absolutely recommend it.

Jennifer, if you remember us, we were the ones with the rambunctious ACD who was a face-licker. He is all grown up now (nearly 4 years old) and has become an excellent dog who's easy to live with. We cannot imagine being happier with how he turned out, and this class was an important part of that foundation.“

“Kramer’s daycare evaluation “audition” at 33 Bond was only a few hours, but he seemed to have a great time! He enjoyed meeting new friends and had lots of fun playing with them. As his hooman, it’s just as important that I feel good about leaving my boy in a new place and the staff made me feel comfortable and confident that he was in good hands. The space has a good vibe and although we don’t currently have a need for daily daycare, we look forward to returning as a recurring guest!“

“I've been taking my little Walnut here since we moved to the city around 6 months ago (started around when he was a little over 1yo) and could not be happier with how the daycare, pickup/dropoff, and walking services have been. My work schedule is variable and PupCulture has been a lifesaver to take care of Walnut when I'm not at home.

We have been doing daycare with occasional pickup (which has been seamless as I live right above the Pupculture) and walks since the summer and the whole team is always great to interact with and so caring to him. They're super understanding for the occasional last-minute request and are very consistent. They send the cutest pictures for walks/pickups/daycare. I'm very glad to have them.“

“I just have the courage to write a review about my Muffy experience at Puppy University!

Muffy was a client at Puppy University for two years while she was in town, and I truly cannot say enough about this place. They absolutely doted on Muffin and treated her like royalty.

The owner was always accommodating to our schedule, especially since we traveled often, and was very attentive—always asking detailed questions about Muffin’s health if he hadn’t seen her in a while. I never felt any anxiety dropping Muffin off, which says a lot.

One of the things that stood out most to me was their professionalism. At one point, Muffin had missed one of her shots, and as much as they loved her, they were firm in saying they could not take her. I respected that completely—it showed they were running a business that prioritizes the health and safety of all dogs.

I am so glad that my Muffy was part of their tribe. Muffin was the cutest Yorkie—she was sassy, full of personality, and lived a beautiful life, passing away at the age of 17.

I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a safe, caring, and professional environment for their pet.“

“Very happy with the care & service we receive - long time customer and hope to continue working with Riverside for years to come!“

“Couldn’t love this place more. My dog loves it. The staff is amazing and gets to know your dog. Five stars is nowhere near enough. The photos speak for themselves Happy dog.“

“Love Boxer & Dane! Extremely clean, friendly staff, and love how excited Paulie gets when I pull up to the building. Definitely recommend bringing your dog here!“

“The Big City Walkers (and overnight pet sitters -- we've used both!) have been exceptional. Just lovely people who love dogs and take great care of them. I was truly saddened that we needed to bid farewell to our walker -- we only did so as we moved out of the zone. Thank you for taking such good care of Coco!“

“The puppy socials were so great! We also were struggling with some fear/anxiety with our puppy and Suzanne and Melissa helped us solve the problem in just two private sessions. Highly recommend!“

“Today was my first time getting my dog groomed here, and I absolutely loved the experience! My dog seemed even happier too. I really appreciated how they provided examples of how much hair you can have taken off—it made everything so much easier. I’m so glad I found this place, and we will definitely be back! ?✨“

“Kind and sweet owners that care about dogs and always treat the little one with care!“

“After many visits to Arlington Dog and Cat hospital, they have been very consistent in being a clean, friendly and an accommodating environment. The support staff are very nice and always take the time to speak with me and listen to my concerns. The Veterinarians on staff are all very knowledgeable and take the time to address the issue. The prices are the prices. Arlington D&C is relatively affordable considering the cost of pet healthcare.“

“We recently used Dogboken’s overnight dog sitting service for our 5 month old puppy and had a wonderful experience. Leaving our young puppy overnight was nerve wracking to me, but the team made us feel completely at ease. They were caring, attentive, and treated him like one of their own. We received updates while we were away, and our pup came home happy and cared for. We wouldn’t hesitate to use Dogboken again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for trustworthy overnight care for their dog.“

“We could not have asked for a better pet sitter! Nellie went above and beyond with all of our crazy requests (and we had a lot ?). She sent me SO many pictures and videos throughout her visits, which made me feel completely at ease while we were away. Communication was absolutely on point—super quick, clear, and thoughtful.

The best part? The night we came home, my two cats were literally sitting by the front door… waiting for HER. I was a tiny bit jealous (lol), but mostly just so happy knowing how loved and cared for they were. ? She truly treated them like her own.

If you’re looking for someone reliable, caring, and totally in tune with your pets, Nellie is your girl. We’re so grateful we found her!“

“Michael is an incredibly talented photographer with a great eye for detail and storytelling. The entire experience felt professional, relaxed, and enjoyable from start to finish. The photos turned out stunning — natural, creative, and beautifully edited. He made everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera and captured moments perfectly. Highly recommend .michaellevyphoto for anyone looking for high-quality photography and a great overall experience!”“