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Dog Gone Smart

Norwalk, Connecticut

4.2/5· 108 Google reviews

About Dog Gone Smart

Dog Gone Smart has been serving generations of pet lovers in our area for over 30 years and pride ourselves on being a family, not a franchise! Our dedicated professional staff will take care of all your dog's needs to make Dog Gone Smart a loving, safe, fun and happy home away from home for your dog!

Training & services

Training goals

  • Obedience training
    Program details
  • Socialization
    Program details

How training happens

  • Board and train
    Program details

Dog age

  • Puppies
    Program details

Additional services

  • Boarding
    Program details
  • Daycare
    Program details
  • Dog walking
    Program details
  • Grooming
    Program details

Other listed services

View 4 additional details
  • Dog sitting (in-home)
    Program details
  • Other pet sitting (in-home)
    Program details
  • Dog Hikes
    Program details
  • Dog Swims
    Program details

Confirm current programs and availability directly.

Questions & answers

From Google

What people have asked about this business.

What are the requirements and costs for overnight pet boarding for a medium-large breed dog?

For overnight pet boarding of a medium-large breed dog, certain requirements and costs apply. Every pet must undergo an evaluation to determine the right playgroup before boarding. Health requirements also need to be met, such as ensuring your dog's vaccinations for DHPP, Rabies, and Bordetella are up-to-date. As for the pricing, the boarding cost for a medium-large breed dog is $75 per night under the Standard Accommodations option. Additional activities like personal walks or swim sessions can be arranged if desired.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google
are you open christmas day for dropoff for boarding?

No, we are not open for drop-offs on Christmas Day for boarding.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google
What kind of training methods do you use for aggressive dog training, and how are they tailored to address specific behavioral issues?

For aggressive dog training, our center uses a mix of understanding natural canine instincts and positive motivational methods. This means we focus on how dogs think and behave naturally and use rewards and encouragement to guide them to better behavior. Each training session is tailored to address specific issues, like aggression. We start with one-on-one lessons to get to the root of the problem, whether it's fear or resource guarding. This personalized approach helps create a calm and predictable environment at home, making life better for both dogs and their families.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google
Can you tell me more about the one-on-one dog training sessions and how they can help improve my dog's obedience and behavior?

One-on-one dog training sessions are designed to help improve your dog's obedience and behavior by focusing on positive bonding between you and your pet. These private lessons can either take place in your home or at the training facility, which makes them really convenient for busy pet owners. The sessions are personalized and can address general manners, obedience, or more specific behavioral issues like fear, separation anxiety, or reactivity. By combining natural canine instincts with positive reinforcement tactics, these sessions aim to promote predictable behavior and a calm household environment. You can reserve a lesson online or contact the training team directly to decide the best way forward for you and your dog. Each session costs $175, providing an effective option for tackling behavioral challenges.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google
What specific services do you offer for puppy training that can help socialize my young dog and build good habits early on?

We offer several specific services designed to help your puppy socialize and build good habits. One popular program is our Puppy Swim sessions available for dogs aged eight weeks to a year. These sessions let your puppy gain confidence in the water in a safe setting. We also have comprehensive puppy programs that focus on understanding canine behavior, helping your pup develop good manners and positive behavior early on. Through structured training and group activities like playtimes and hikes, puppies can interact with other dogs in a healthy way, learning essential socialization skills. All services are managed by experienced professionals who ensure a fun, safe environment tailored to puppy development.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google
Do you offer dog daycare services where my pup can interact and play in a safe environment?

Yes, we offer dog daycare services where your pup can safely interact and play. Our specialized daycare program provides a fun and active day for dogs, with plenty of exercise and socialization under the careful supervision of experienced professionals. It’s a great way for your dog to enjoy engaging in playtime while staying safe and well-cared for.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google
What does your specialized puppy training program involve and how can it help improve my puppy's obedience and behavior?

Our specialized puppy training program helps your puppy learn good behavior and obedience in a fun and positive way. We use natural canine instincts along with motivational methods to teach your puppy how to listen and behave well. This is great for building a strong bond between you and your pup right from the start. Our trainers guide you through common issues like manners, obedience, and things like separation anxiety. It’s all about helping your puppy grow into a happy, well-behaved dog that fits in perfectly with your family. You can even enjoy one-on-one lessons at home or at our center to make sure the training fits your needs.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google
Is there any flexibility with the dog daycare drop-off and pick-up times to accommodate a busy work schedule?

The dog daycare provides open-door policies with flexible drop-off and pick-up times during the mornings and mid-day. This setup is designed to accommodate a variety of schedules, making it easier for busy pet owners to fit daycare into their day without too much hassle. Additionally, there’s a convenient curbside valet service to help with drop-offs and pickups, which can be coordinated through their text-only number.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google
I'm looking for a place to bring my dog swimming on the weekends. He is a Plott Hound mix 100 pound. He needs to loose weight I've heard swimming is good for dogs that are overweight. Could stay with him and can I get in the pool with him??

The weekend swimming option for dogs over 100 pounds, like a Plott Hound mix, isn’t available because in the described services, Puppy Swim sessions are specifically designed for younger pups aged eight weeks to one year. These sessions are scheduled during the weekdays, from Monday through Friday at 10 AM. If you're interested in weekend options, consider checking with local facilities that offer weekend swimming sessions or consulting your vet for exercise alternatives to help your dog lose weight safely.

Community answer · Dog Gone Smart · 2025-09-21

Question on Google

Public community answers. Authors are not verified as business representatives; details may have changed.

Customer reviews

Google listing
4.2
out of 5108 Google reviews

Mentioned in reviews

  • friendly staff 14
  • dog daycare 11
  • caring staff 6
  • swimming lessons 4
  • dog safety 3
  • boarding 2
All 10 topics
  • cleanliness 2
  • nail trims 2
  • puppy socialization 2
  • reactive dog training 2

Google review topics, not confirmed services.

100 collected reviews

Text reviews first · newest first
Sue Haynie
5/5

Our dog has been going to Dog Gone Smart for several years. It's a wonderful place that offers dog hikes, swimming, and dog comraderie. The staff is always friendly and they clearly all love dogs.

Ann Susan Brenner
5/5

My dog is happy when I pick her up!!

Chloe VP
5/5
I don’t write a ton of reviews, but felt like I had to share my very positive experience yesterday with Todd. Todd came over to our house for a private 1:1 training and I got more out of that one hour than I had in 5 private trainings in NYC. He came in and immediately helped and…Read full reviewClose full review

I don’t write a ton of reviews, but felt like I had to share my very positive experience yesterday with Todd. Todd came over to our house for a private 1:1 training and I got more out of that one hour than I had in 5 private trainings in NYC. He came in and immediately helped and gave pointers about our reactive dog, showed some leash training, and really helped us understand how we can be showing leadership. We walked away from that experience feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time that our pup will be just fine and live such a happy life with this new structure. We would definitely book with Todd again.

Susan DeRosa
2/5
I cannot in good faith recommend this faculty after my recent experience. They called my vet without permission after I brought him in for having a runny nose ONE DAY. DGS decided he had kennel cough (vaccinated and not accurate) and took over two weeks to return multiple emails …Read full reviewClose full review

I cannot in good faith recommend this faculty after my recent experience. They called my vet without permission after I brought him in for having a runny nose ONE DAY. DGS decided he had kennel cough (vaccinated and not accurate) and took over two weeks to return multiple emails texts and phone calls. I was left stranded without care. I just received notice from the owner that if he is not neutered (which will negative impact bone development at 6 months) they will now go from $53/day to $230! I do NOT recommend this facility.

Paul Polishan
5/5
Dog gone smart does an excellent job training our dogs. They are so thorough with messages and feedback and sending daily updates of progress. They really know what there are doing and in Fairfield County they can’t be beat! Maybe you can find cheaper prices at some other place b…Read full reviewClose full review

Dog gone smart does an excellent job training our dogs. They are so thorough with messages and feedback and sending daily updates of progress. They really know what there are doing and in Fairfield County they can’t be beat! Maybe you can find cheaper prices at some other place but not much cheaper and you get what you pay for “Cheap things ain’t good and Good things ain’t cheap!” They are the best.

Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.

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