Kathy Santo Dog Training

Updated Review: Since posting my review, the situation has only become more revealing. Instead of addressing a single concern about my dog’s treatment, KSDT’s response was to flood Google with suspiciously timed “positive” reviews. Quite an embarrassing attempt to bury the truth rather than face it. Meanwhile, my email to Kathy has gone completely unanswered. The silence from leadership is deafening. And here is what makes this even more disturbing: I am still being refused access to my dog’s records. Information I am fully entitled to as the owner who paid for every one of these services. I have the right to obtain all documentation tied to my dog’s care, including notes, logs, behavior reports, invoices, training records, and anything else created during services I paid for. Yet KSDT continues to withhold them. That alone is a massive red flag and raises serious questions about what they are trying so hard to hide. To make matters worse, within hours of my post, I was flooded with messages — from former clients and former employees — describing nearly identical experiences. Crating. Dehydration. Lack of disclosure. Dogs regressing behaviorally. No transparency. Someone even detailing their own deeply troubling experiences inside the facility before resigning. I’m not repeating their allegations here, but their statement is visible anonymously and speaks for itself. The pattern is undeniable: Real concerns from actual clients and staff are met with silence, while the facility scrambles to push out last minute five star reviews to protect their reputation. The contrast is rather embarrassing and telling. A facility confident in its practices would respond with facts, transparency, and documentation. Instead, we’re met with silence from management and a frantic rush to mask criticism. My experience along with countless others — make one thing painfully clear: pet owners deserve transparency, honesty, and safe care. Many of us did NOT receive that here. I stand by every word. And I will continue updating.

We have had two dogs trained by Kathy and her staff, and we loved it! Our first dog was there a lot, as he was a rescue and needed lots of help. When we got the next dog, we didn’t have to go as much, because everything we were taught stuck with us, and we were able to train on our own. But that would not have been the case without the incredible patient, hard work, and dedication of Kathy and her staff. We would highly recommend!!!!

I think it’s important for people to hear from long-term clients as well as new clients. I’ve been bringing my three dogs to KSDT for three years, and we honestly could not be happier with the care, professionalism, and communication we receive. All three of my dogs absolutely love going there. We tried a different facility for a month, and it became clear something was wrong — my dogs refused to get out of the car and were visibly uncomfortable. At KSDT, it’s the complete opposite: they are ecstatic as soon as we pull in and can’t wait to get out of the car. One of the things I appreciate most is how the entire team knows every person and every dog by name. That level of personal attention makes such a difference. They treat each dog as an individual with specific needs, not just another face in the crowd. Their communication is constant and transparent. I’m always updated about how my dogs did, who they played with, their behavior, their energy levels — everything. I never feel left guessing about what kind of day my dogs had. The structure at KSDT is also a huge part of why my dogs thrive. They have organized playgroups that are rotated between different areas, and the dogs are placed based on temperament, size, and play style. This is incredibly important. Throwing all dogs into one big area all day isn’t safe and isn’t real socialization. Proper grouping prevents overstimulation, fear, and unsafe interactions. The groups are highly supervised, and the staff maintains very intentional play–rest cycles. Rest periods are absolutely essential in a stimulating environment — they keep dogs from becoming overwhelmed or exhausted and help maintain calm, healthy social interactions. And on a more personal note: one of my dogs started out very nervous and lacking confidence around people. The transformation he has made thanks to the team at KSDT is incredible. They worked with him patiently, consistently, and kindly. Over time, they helped him build confidence, overcome his fears, and truly blossom. Today, he is a happy, thriving dog who loves people and loves going to playcare — and that is 100% because of the dedication, skill, and compassion of the KSDT staff. After three years, I trust KSDT completely, and my three dogs show me every single visit — with their excitement, wagging tails, and eagerness to run inside — that they feel the same way.