Don's Pals LLC

When I say that Don's work with my dog and me has changed our lives, I don't mean that lightly. When I called Don I was a bit in shambles. Having recently become a single dog owner, I was completely overwhelmed with the needs of my german shephered / pitty mix who had grown reactive. I was contemplating whether or not I could continue to be his handler. Don heard that in my voice when I reached out and came over the next day to help me assess. He spent hours with us that first day observing, explaining, not sugar coating, but truly teaching me about my dog. After that, he not only suggest tangible next steps, he helped me understand my dog and how our relationship / behaviors were driving his reactivity. I've worked with a lot of trainers, and Don has a unique ability to communicate both with owner and pet to address your dog's temperament. He truly cares for a dog's best interest, and knows what they need to feel comfortable, know that their safe, AND enjoy life to the fullest. Over a year later and life looks so much different, in the best way! My dog and I are both able to relax and engage with the world with more ease and joy. Whenever a new challenge comes up, Don is always there to help me problem solve and overcome it in a way that makes me and my dog better for it! Everyone in my life comments on how amazing of a dog I have, and I am grateful every day to continue to have Don's support, and to know my dog gets to have fulfilling and enriching days in his care with the rest of his pals. If you're having trouble with your pup, please don't hesitate. Reach out to Don and get help!

Don is truly the dog whisperer. We were struggling with serious fighting between our two female corgis, so bad that it often ended in injuries and left us feeling hopeless. After a disappointing experience with a local trainer who told us to give up and rehome one of our dogs after just one meeting, I reached out to Don for guidance. Even though we do not live near him so we could not do an in-person visit, Don generously took the time to connect with me virtually for nearly an hour, listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, and giving us practical, positive steps to try. His advice was instrumental and every tip he suggested made a real difference. Thanks to his expertise and reassurance that rehoming wasn’t the answer, our girls are now back to their happy, normal selves. Don has such a natural gift with animals and a true passion for helping families. His honesty, compassion, and skill set him apart, and I’m so grateful to know I can reach out to him when I need guidance. If you’re looking for someone who will not only train but truly care about your pets, I can’t recommend Don enough.

When I first moved to Pittsburgh, Don and his structured dog daycare services came highly recommended by a friend of mine, and I'd recommend him just as enthusiastically to anyone looking for someone to care for their canine family member(s). Don suggested that our first session be one where he could take time to get acquainted with my dog Oliver, and his unique philosophy and approach to caring for dogs was apparent from the start. It was immediately clear that he is deeply committed to knowing and understanding each dog as fully as he can. He spent time not only observing Oliver, but also observing all the ways in which Oliver and I interact with each other. It didn't take long for Don to get a sense for Oliver's personality, his behavior, and his emotional needs. He not only came up with a plan for how he would approach Oliver's training and care, but also offered helpful suggestions for how I could work on building Oliver’s confidence in our everyday routines. That kind of attention to detail and partnership really stood out to me. On top of that, Don has always been incredibly kind in accommodating my schedule, which has often meant that I've had to look for accommodations for Oliver without much advance notice. Don has never hesitated to make room for Oliver or to do whatever he can to help - Don just has a heart of gold, and you can tell that the dog's well-being is always his highest priority. I highly recommend Don to anyone looking for a thoughtful, flexible, and truly individualized approach to dog care and training.

Don is everything we could ask for in a dog whispering, care taker for our fur baby, Kona. He provides heathy socialism, training, mental and physical stimulation and what seems to be a first girlfriend for our furry boy. Teehee. After traditional day care around town proved to not be a good or healthy fit for us, we are beyond grateful to have found and welcome Don into our family! Thank you for everything! :)