I was extremely skeptical about leaving my dog with anyone, but after hearing how much training helped my coworker’s dog, I became curious whether it could make a difference for my sweet Abby. From my very first call with K9 Ridgeside, everything was explained clearly what the process would look like and what I could realistically expect.
My hesitation came from a very real place. Abby had been abused before I rescued her, and she would growl at anyone who came near her. It got so bad that I couldn’t even have her groomed properly. Abby isn’t just my pet, she’s my support animal. I struggle with severe anxiety, and having a dog who was also scared made things even harder for both of us.
Eventually, I decided she deserved the chance to get the help she needed, and I chose K9 Ridgeside. After just six weeks of training, Abby made a complete transformation. She stopped growling at people, she’s noticeably happier, and in turn, she has helped ease my own anxiety. The trainer was incredibly understanding of both my fears about leaving her and Abby’s past trauma. He made sure we were both comfortable every step of the way.
Abby left their facility wagging her tail, relaxed, and genuinely happy. The place is clean, professional, and it’s obvious they truly love animals. I couldn’t be more grateful for K9 Ridgeside and Abby’s trainer. They gave my girl confidence again and gave me peace of mind.
My dog went there to get groomed. When I came to pick him up, nail was bleeding and he was shaking like he was traumatized. I don’t know what happened, but I asked the owner. Why is my dog acting like this? He’s never acted like this before in his life. “It was almost like my dog was beaten for an hour and a half while he was getting groomed.” I’ll never go to this facility ever again. My dog, a rat terrier, Took a couple days to get back to himself
I want to give a special thanks to Mike and all the employees at ridgeside k9 they save my life because I had some issues to take care of and wasn't able to take my lil baby max with me Mike has went out of his way to take care of my dog and help me I am so thankful I had the opportunity to meet such nice and caring people if it hadn't been for ridgeside k9 I don't know what I'd do my dog is there now and its such a relief because i know he is getting took care of probably better than he would be at home so if you care about your baby like i do mine I recommend ridgeside k9 and I can't say it enough how grateful i am to all you guy at ridgeside k9 wonderful people God sent so with 5.0 being the best rating I give them a 10 thank you guys for everything you do and God bless
Reply from Ridgeside K9 Knoxville
Thanks Dustin! We’re glad you enjoyed dog boarding with training at Ridgeside K9 Knoxville. We work hard to deliver top-tier dog boarding with training and it means a lot that you noticed. Looking forward to helping you again with dog training.
Ridgeside is an awesome pet daycare. The staff there are very attentive and friendly. My dog is so happy when I say it’s time to go to “playcare”! I’d definitely recommend Ridgeside K9 for doggy daycare.
Reply from Ridgeside K9 Knoxville
Thank you Evan! Glad you had a great experience with doggy daycare at Ridgeside K9 Knoxville.
Our dog, Bindy, is always so excited when we leave her for boarding or daycare. We tell her she’s staying with Auntie Haley, Auntie Izzy, and Uncle Ray. We appreciate the way they love and care for our dog since we consider her our daughter! No place is ever perfect, but this place is as perfect as it comes. Five stars!
Reply from Ridgeside K9 Knoxville
Thank you Denna! Glad you had a great experience with dog grooming at Ridgeside K9 Knoxville.
Verified
We are always so happy to leave our dog, Bindy, for boarding and daycare. We tell her she is going to stay with Auntie Haley, Auntie Izzy, and Uncle Ray, since we consider her our daughter! This place is great! No place is ever perfect, but Ridgeside K9 is as close as it gets! 5 stars!!!!!
Our 2 dogs (9 months and 2.5 years old) recently completed Ridgeside K9’s 6-week General Obedience Training and we are very happy with the results. This was our first experience with a Board-and-Train program. To be honest, we had never even considered it before. Naturally, we were nervous about the length of the program. We were worried about our dogs “forgetting us” and if their training will change their personality. They have a pretty pampered life with very little alone time and lots of playtime, walks and a big yard. We worried about the change of environment for them. ALL our worries were just that. Worries.
After talking to Mike, the owner, we felt a lot better. He took his time and addressed all of our concerns.
Ridgeside K9 did a great job taking care of our dogs and teaching them to be well behaved pups. Sammi, our dogs’ trainer, was wonderful. She communicated with us often via text and email and we were able to contact her directly anytime. The weekly videos were very helpful for our family. Our kids are so attached to both dogs, but seeing them on videos eased their sadness and made them excited for their return home. The dogs’ health has been cared for wonderfully as well. As a veterinary technician, things like their clean and shiny coats, bright eyes and great weight caught my attention. Both dogs seemed to have a lot of fun. Sammi said they got to enjoy their daycare program along with the training.
Both our dogs now listen well and walk well on their leashes. They are still the same silly and playful dogs we dropped off and they settled right back in at home. They simply understand now what is expected of them.
We would highly recommend Ridgeside K9!
Reply from Ridgeside K9 Knoxville
Thank you Karolin! Glad you had a great experience with obedience training at Ridgeside K9 Knoxville.
Verified
Our 2 dogs (9 months and 2.5 years old) recently completed Ridgeside K9's 6-week General Obedience Training and we are very happy with the results. This was our first experience with a Board-and-Train program. To be honest, we have never even considered it before. Naturally, we were nervous about the length of the program. We were worried about our dogs "forgetting us" and if their training will change their personality. They have a pretty pampered life with very little alone time and lots of playtime, walks and a big yard. We worried about the change of environment for them. ALL our worries were just that. Worries.
After talking to Mike, the owner, we felt a lot better. He took his time and addressed all of our concerns.
Ridgeside K9 did a great job taking care of our dogs and teaching them to be well behaved pups. Sammi, our dogs' trainer, was wonderful. She communicated with us often via text and email and we were able to contact her directly anytime. The weekly videos were very helpful for our family. Our kids are so attached to both dogs, but seeing them on videos eased their sadness and made them excited for their return home. The dogs' health has been cared for wonderfully as well. As a veterinary technician, things like their clean and shiny coats, bright eyes and great weight caught my attention. Both dogs seemed to have a lot of fun. Sammi said they got to enjoy their daycare program along with the training.
Both our dogs now listen well and walk well on their leashes. They are still the same silly and playful dogs we dropped off and they settled right back in at home. They simply understand now what is expected of them.
We would highly recommend Ridgeside K9!
We brought our 3 year old gsd/belgian malinois, Gus, to RIdgeside K9 in Knoxville for extreme dog reactivity. Before training, I couldn’t enjoy taking him to public places because he became completely unmanageable at the sight of other dogs. It was overwhelming and stressful for both of us.
We started with a great phone consult with the owner, Mike Lilley, followed by an in-person consult with our trainer, Julio and Gus. After discussing Gus’s behavior and goals, we decided on the 6 week board and train program, focusing on his reactivity.
Throughout the program, Julio kept us updated with emails and videos showing Gus’s weekly progress. He answered all my questions, explained what he was working on, and suggested equipment changes when needed. We always felt informed and supported.
When we arrived for the “go home” consultation, Julio explained and demonstrated all the techniques he used while training Gus. He also gave me hands on practice so I could confidently apply the corrections and commands myself. Within the first week of Gus being home, Julio came to our house to help with the transition back into our daily routine and our new habit of daily walks.
Julio not only trained our dog-he helped train me, giving me the skills and confidence to handle Gus. I am so pleased with the work Ridgeside and Julio have done. They have truly changed our lives by allowing me to be able to share more of life’s moments with my dog.
Reply from Ridgeside K9 Knoxville
Thank you Donna! Glad you had a great experience with dog boarding with training at Ridgeside K9 Knoxville.
Verified
We brought our 3 year old gsd/belgian malinois, Gus, to RIdgeside K9 in Knoxville for extreme dog reactivity. Before training, I couldn't enjoy taking him to public places because he became completely unmanageable at the sight of other dogs. It was overwhelming and stressful for both of us.
We started with a great phone consult with the owner, Mike Lilley, followed by an in-person consult with our trainer, Julio and Gus. After discussing Gus's behavior and goals, we decided on the 6 week board and train program, focusing on his reactivity.
Throughout the program, Julio kept us updated with emails and videos showing Gus's weekly progress. He answered all my questions, explained what he was working on, and suggested equipment changes when needed. We always felt informed and supported.
When we arrived for the "go home" consultation, Julio explained and demonstrated all the techniques he used while training Gus. He also gave me hands on practice so I could confidently apply the corrections and commands myself. Within the first week of Gus being home, Julio came to our house to help with the transition back into our daily routine and our new habit of daily walks.
Julio not only trained our dog-he helped train me, giving me the skills and confidence to handle Gus. I am so pleased with the work Ridgeside and Julio have done. They have truly changed our lives by allowing me to be able to share more of life's moments with my dog.
5 stars for Ridgeside K9 in Knoxville!!
We rescued a puppy in November, and we wanted to get her started on the right foot with training and socialization to avoid any issues as she entered adulthood. We researched many training facilities but felt drawn to Ridgeside- so we scheduled a consult. Mike made us feel so welcome and answered all our questions. Nova started the 6-week board & train in January and just graduated last week! We now have a balanced, well-behaved puppy who we can trust in any setting. Her trainer Sammi was absolutely amazing and truly laid the foundation for Nova's success. We plan to bring her back for doggie day care a few times a month so she can play with her friends and keep up with the socialization (and also, she simply loves being there). Thank you to the entire Ridgeside K9 crew for taking such good care of our girl!
Reply from Ridgeside K9 Knoxville
Thank you Brianna! Glad you had a great experience with dog training/dog boarding with training at Ridgeside K9 Knoxville.
We took our Doberman puppy here for puppy training. It’s like picking up a new puppy! She listens a lot better, knows how to walk on a leash, and her overall demeanor has matured. We plan on taking her back for the 6-week training this summer. I highly recommend these trainers!
Outstanding dog behavior expertise
We brought our Malinois, Gus, to them due to severe dog aggression issues. As a former K9 Officer, I was already familiar with Mike’s expertise from seminars, and he did not disappoint! Mike and his team are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in addressing challenging behavioral issues. The improvement we’ve seen in Gus has been remarkable. If you’re struggling with similar problems, we highly recommend their services!
Date of experience: 09 March, 2026
Date of experience: 09 March, 2026
