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.“

“We had such a wonderful experience at this dog daycare! The staff is incredibly friendly, caring, and welcoming. It's obvious how much they love and care for every dog, but what really impressed us was how kind they were to our child. Our little one absolutely loves dogs, and the team took the time to interact, answer questions, and make the visit so special. They never made us feel rushed and genuinely created a warm, family-friendly atmosphere. It's rare to find people who care so much about both the animals and the people who visit. We highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a daycare where dogs are treated with love and families feel truly welcome.

Thank you for making our day so memorable!“

“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!“

“Today was my doggys first day ever of daycare! I was nervous but immediately felt at ease with the friendly knowledgeable staff & the clean, bright facility! They posted pictures on their social media so I could see my boy happy & interacting! When I picked him up I got a play by play of his day!! He came home happy & tired so I know he played all day with his new friends!! We are so happy & relieved that we have found a great place for our pup when we need daycare or boarding!! 5 stars!!“

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

“My dog gets so excited when we pull in the driveway of the facility. We have done the beginners 5 session and have already seen improvement in our dog’s behavior. He also uses up a ton of energy in the 4 hours so he comes home calm and relaxed. Met with some of the trainers and they were knowledgeable and answered all our questions about the program. We can’t wait to see the progress he makes as we continue.“

“We absolutely love Fur Seasons. Our cavapoo Whiskey has been going there for daycare, grooming and boarding ever since he was a little puppy and he is 3.5yo now. Nese, Tom and the team are the best, they truly love and look after the dogs in their care and are just amazing people. The moment whiskey sees that blue door he goes nuts to go inside and play, it is his happy place. We don’t know what we would do without you guys!“

“I took my pup Cooper for a haircut and was very pleased with the grooming. The appointment was easy to book, and the front desk was very quick and responsive over email. I had a couple of pointers for the grooming, and everything was done to my satisfaction.“

“I called Dominik (tearfully and desperately) less than a week into having our 6 month old rescue puppy, who is a mix of working breeds including German shorthair pointer. We knew Birdie was very smart and had a lot of potential, but we had no idea how to properly parent her and found ourselves extremely overwhelmed with her energy, zoomies, and teenage testing phase. After just a few sessions with Dominik and following his methods, we felt like we had a different dog. We were able to understand what motivates her, how to better structure her days and exercise her, and overall how to communicate more effectively with her. Dominik instantly recognized Birdie’s high potential and effectively coached us in how to train her and show leadership. We now have a dog who is able to listen and relax and settle and with whom we are able to have a fun, rewarding relationship with. I truly don’t know if we would have been able to get to this place, particularly in NYC, without Dominik. We are very grateful! Dominik is responsive, helpful, clear, and able to understand both dogs and humans effectively!“

“Bruno loves Throw Me a Bone so much!!! He has gone to 2 of their locations and pulls me to the door each time. They take such great care of him and love his as their own. His big smile and wagging tail say it all!“

“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.“

“Pupculture Tribeca has been a life saver for me and my dogs with separation anxiety. The employees there love dogs and are very flexible and friendly - I’ve been a few minutes late to pick up a few times and everyone is kind about it. They are reliable - open even during snow storms!! And have long hours to accommodate work schedules. The groomers also do a great job.“

“Before choosing Le Pooch Chateau, we tried several daycare and boarding facilities and even did trial stays at different places. The moment I walked into Le Pooch Chateau, I knew it was the perfect place for Aiwa. The facility is cage-free, extremely clean, and truly feels like a home away from home for dogs.

What gave us the most peace of mind was the daily updates. Throughout Aiwa’s 21-night stay, we received photos and videos that reassured us she was happy, comfortable, and well cared for while we were away.

The owner and staff are incredibly friendly, caring, and accommodating. They treated Aiwa as if she were their own dog, and that means everything to us. When we picked her up, she was happy, healthy, and honestly seemed to miss all the friends she made during her stay!

Leaving your fur baby for an extended period can be stressful, but Le Pooch Chateau made the entire experience worry-free. We are so grateful for the love and care they gave Aiwa, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a safe, clean, and loving place for their dog.

Thank you, Le Pooch Chateau, for taking such wonderful care of our girl! ❤🐾🐶“

“Danielle is so amazing with all the dogs, and has been huge in helping Rango get adjusted to daycare. He started off so anxious and scared, but now is always so excited whenever we're headed towards the daycare doors. Thank you, Danielle and Throw Me A Bone team for providing such great care in the comfort of our own apartment building“

“I have been using Pupculture since Rocco was a pup he’s now 1 years old . The day care is great for him to socialize and he is exhausted when he comes home from all the playing . Pupculture sends me pics and videos of him through the course of his time there and clearly he is having fun . He is also groomed there and Fatima is the best . He always comes home even more handsome than when I left him .“

“My dog Winston loves daycare at Paws in Chelsea! He has separation anxiety and they make sure to make him comfortable while he adjusts after drop off. He comes home happy and tuckered out from all the fun play time :)“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“My boxer/staffy mix has been going to PuppyU for years, and we love it! The location, facility and staff are great. They take such good care of my baby whether it is daycare or for boarding. I never have to worry!“

“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 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! ?✨“

“I am taking a training course with my 4-year-old Cavapoo, Charlie, and I’m thrilled with the results! After just two sessions, he’s already behaving so much better. He used to pull and go wild when passing other dogs, but now he's much more relaxed. The trainers were great, and their tips really worked for us. Highly recommend this course for anyone struggling with their pup! 🐾“

“Wonderful small business that takes good care of my baby! I don’t go often because it’s a pain to get to DUMBO but I will go out of my way for a grooming“

“Lola and I enjoyed our visit yesterday at Camp Bow Wow. We were greeted by Ariana who was lovely and courteous. She explained the process (Lola was there for an interview - look it up) and made sure I had no questions. Lola passed her test and has been approved for services. We’re so happy.

There are video feeds you can stream and these help calm any fears you may have.“