Our board and train services are perfect for busy pet owners who may not have the time or resources to train their dogs themselves. Your dog will stay with us in a comfortable and safe environment while receiving expert training from our team of skilled trainers.We use positive reinforcement and balanced methods to train your dog, we reward good behavior and encourage positive habits. This approach not only helps your dog learn faster, but it also strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend.
Wag Mates (wagmatesacademy.com) has 35 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5.
Also known as
wagmatesacademy.com
Website
wagmatesacademy.com
Category
Pet Services
Location
Watertown, South Dakota
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
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The company replied to 80% of reviews.
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Most recent review: October 2026.
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If I’m reviewing in the right place, “Wag Mates in Colorado” Heather Haag was rude and unprofessional online. I posted on facebook I needed help with my puppy malinois because I am a new owner to this breed. SHE said that my dog was going to end up in a shelter. I let her know i am never giving up on my puppy and she then said to me that she doesn’t care, and basically said my post was BS! I have the screenshots, I have emailed asking for management. She is actively commenting now, I am sure i will get more rude comments from her. PLEASE address this now.
PA
Page
Paid in Full, Poor Communication, and $500 Retained
I paid $2,500 in full for a board-and-train program after providing my puppy’s age and vaccination information. They knew her age from the beginning and represented that they could accommodate her.
After taking my $2,500 payment, they did not contact me for 7 days. When they finally reached out, they asked me for additional payment for the date I needed. Shortly thereafter, I was told my puppy could not proceed because she was not old enough to meet their vaccination requirements—something they already knew when they accepted my payment. They knew the date I needed, they knew my dogs age, and they knew the appropriate age for puppies to receive required vaccines.
They refunded $2,000 but kept $500.
I completely understand having vaccination requirements for the safety of the dogs in their care. What I do not understand is accepting $2,500 from a customer when you already know the dog does not meet those requirements, failing to communicate for a week, then requesting additional payment, and ultimately retaining $500 when the service cannot be provided.
This was a serious failure in communication, transparency, and customer service. I would strongly recommend getting every eligibility and refund requirement in writing before giving this company any money.
LK
Linda K.
I would strongly caution anyone…
I would strongly caution anyone considering this dog training program.
While the person who initially set everything up was very friendly and seemed knowledgeable, the actual training experience was extremely disappointing and concerning. The trainer who worked with my dogs appeared inexperienced, and the results were the opposite of what was promised.
After several weeks in the program, both of my dogs came back worse than when they left. One of them was noticeably underweight because they were so anxious they wouldn’t eat. That alone should never happen in a professional training environment.
I also learned that they were being kept in an apartment with children and other dogs and were kenneled for most of the day. This is not what I expected when I paid over $5,000 for what was supposed to be professional, structured training.
This was a very upsetting experience, and I regret trusting this program with my dogs. If you’re considering sending your pets here, I strongly encourage you to ask detailed questions about who will actually be training your dog, their experience level, and the daily living conditions.
I would not recommend this program.
JF
Jess F.
Awesome services.
Awesome services.
Their services is excellent.
FZ
Faisal Z.
Good great idea
Good great idea
JJ
Judah J.
Wag mates Academy horrible the worst
Absolute Nightmare: Zero Progress and Wasted Thousands
Do NOT waste your money here. This was a profoundly disappointing and completely ineffective experience.
I enrolled my dog, Tyson, in the Boarding and Training program on September 3, 2025, hoping for significant improvement in his obedience and behavior. Instead, I received nothing but disappointment.
After weeks of services with trainer Whitney, there has been LITTLE TO NO IMPROVEMENT in any of the core behavioral issues we paid to address. Tyson's training is the equivalent of starting from scratch. It feels as though he has simply been boarded, not trained. The promised results never materialized, leaving me with a serious crisis of confidence in Wag Mates Academy’s program.
This is more than just a minor hiccup; it is a total failure to deliver on the agreed-upon training goals. I have been extremely disheartened to see such a complete lack of measurable progress. This is an exorbitant amount of money spent for absolutely zero value.
I am currently seeking a full resolution, including a refund for services that have demonstrably not met any acceptable standard. Future customers, please consider this a major warning: if you are looking for real results, look somewhere else. Save your money and your frustration.
JH
Jacqueline H.
Wag Mates Came To The Rescue!
I rescued a one and a half year-old puppy - a German Shepherd mix from a local shelter. When I brought him home, he had major separation anxiety, and I was concerned about his behavior around other people . I contacted several certified dog trainers, and they all told me that there was no hope for this type of behavior- that’s just the way the dog is. They wanted to medicate him. I found Wag Mates and spoke with Bianca and expressed my concerns and she said they could absolutely help me! Luke entered a six week board and train program and they assigned Carlos as Luke’s trainer as he specializes in separation anxiety and aggressive animals- Carlos picked Luke up and he provided videos of Luke’s training every step of the way-Luke finished his training and was returned to me this morning. Luke is a completely different dog. He is full of confidence & so obedient. I am so glad I chose Wag Mates and they chose Carlos to be Luke’s trainer. He actually trained us both. He went above and beyond. I needed a crate for Luke and no way to pick it up-Carlos picked it up for me and installed cameras for me in my backyard. He addressed and handled every single concern I had! I highly recommend Wag Mates!
Response from Wag MatesOct 22, 2025
Thank you so much for sharing Luke’s story, it truly means the world to us 🐾 We’re beyond proud of his transformation and so happy you felt supported every step of the way. Carlos will be thrilled to hear your kind words, he really does go above and beyond! 💛 Wishing you and Luke all the best on this new chapter together!
HR
Heather R.
Phenomenal Dog Trainer
Phenomenal Dog Trainer – Highly Recommend Brittany!
Brittany is an absolute rockstar when it comes to dog training! She worked with our pup, Griddy, through her onboarding program, and the results were beyond our expectations. From day one, she was patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly effective in teaching both Griddy and us as owners.
Griddy responded so well to her methods, and we saw improvements almost immediately. Brittany not only helped with obedience and behavior but also gave us the tools and confidence to continue reinforcing the training at home. Her passion for dogs and her ability to tailor her approach to each pup’s personality truly set her apart.
If you’re looking for a dedicated, skilled, and compassionate dog trainer, Brittany is the one! We couldn’t be happier with the experience and highly recommend her services to anyone looking to bring out the best in their furry friend. Thank you, Brittany!
Response from Wag MatesSep 11, 2025
Thank you so much for the amazing review! 🐾 We’re thrilled to hear how well Griddy did with Brittany, she was over the moon reading this! So glad the experience exceeded your expectations and that you feel confident continuing the training at home. 💛