Don's Pals LLC

We have been using Don's services (daycare, boarding, some light training) for our small, young, energetic dog (~15 lbs) for just under a year. We highly, highly recommend Don for all dog services! At previous daycare/boarding spots he's gone to, our dog would become wary of going after some time, but with Don's Pals, he immediately is running to Don tail wagging, ready to go and excited for the day. Don has been incredibly helpful on working through some problem behaviors (pulling on the leash, some excitement reactivity towards other dogs) with our dog. Over time, he takes the time to understand each dog really well so he can give informed training approaches depending on each dog's temperament and abilities. Since we've started with Don, we've noticed significant improvements in our dogs ability to be a functioning member of "dog" society and grow his confidence. Don also does an excellent job of understanding different dogs energy levels, and makes sure that the larger dogs aren't too rough with our little guy. Our dog is always exhausted when he comes home after a long day of training, play, and exercise. As long as we are in the Pittsburgh area we will continue to use his services. I've never trusted anyone more with our pet!

Don is absolutely incredible!! My dogs get so excited when he comes to pick them up and exhausted when they come home. He's worked hard with one of my dogs who has a little to much excitement when he meets new people or dogs. Ive followed what Don has told me and now im no longer nervous for Jasper to meet new peolpe and four legged friends! I trust Don completely and highly recommend him for any one having any kind of issues or just for a super fun play day!! Don is the best and I'm so happy he's our pal!!!

Don has watched my dog since he was a puppy and I genuinely can’t say enough good things about him! He’s helped so much in with my dogs manners, behavior, structure, and confidence over the past 2 years, while also making sure he still gets to be a dog and enjoy adventures and outings. Every time I go out of town, Don is always reliable, flexible, communicative, and someone I fully trust with my dog. I’m incredibly grateful for everything he’s done for Denver and highly recommend him to anyone looking for someone experienced, trustworthy, and passionate about dogs.

To say Don has changed our lives would be an incredible understatement. We were blessed with our 3 month old German Shepard, Zofia in July 2024. We wanted her to have the best life using her brain, working as intended for her breed, and going on adventures with the right tools to keep her safe, and socialize with all pups. We didn’t want Zofia just to learn some tricks, we wanted her to know all about the abilities she has as a German Shepard and how to funnel those into appropriate behavior that far exceeds her just being within the confines of us and our home. Don set up a visit with us and within the first moments he was already teaching us how to better our commands and learn with Zofia inside of our home. Next came Zofia’s first day with her pals. She already was beginning a relationship with Don and trusting his guidance. Each new day with her pals she was learning life skills and how to interact in a pack. Don picks up on new things every time she is with him and teaches us valuable skills to help her and us become better versions for one another. Through Don’s guidance, we began to know our pup in every way and became so close to her, understanding her needs and how to help her learn and grow. Don is so knowledgeable about each breed, that he knows exactly what every pal needs to succeed. We crate trained Zofia, and the day she felt ready, she sat poised on our couch and told us that we can fully trust her energy and that she was ready to work and protect the house all day. She has never gotten into a single thing while we were not present, which can happen with many dogs when bored and not equipped with the tools they need to be independent. She understands what her role is and knows our expectations. When we are home, she matches our energy, one of the best tools Don has given us. Some of my favorite things is how many compliments we receive when we are out and about. She will sit or lay as we may be in a crowded area and she observes. On walks, many dogs in the neighborhood will lose their minds and bark and pull, she simply makes sure they aren’t a threat to my husband or I, looks at us, and proceeds to walk with intention. But my most favorite thing about coming to Don is that I know Zofia IS living her best life, walking through it with the tools and guidance she needs. And when Don’s car pulls up, she can’t wait to go learn and adventure with her pals! I am so proud of the actions each day I see from Zofia and honored that we have someone always in her corner to nurture her and help her excel in everything she does. He makes each dog’s time with him special and unique. My advice is to run with your dog to Don, it’s one of the best decisions you will ever make for your family. I can attest a billion times over.