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
About these reviews
Replies
The company replied to 80% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
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Outstanding communication from my initial research inquiry, to our final talk at Mako’s homecoming with Bill.
Awesome progress reports and videos giving us the confidence and tools to make our land shark into a great family member. Thank you Bill, and Wag Mates.
G. & D. DeJarlais.
Response from Wag MatesSep 11, 2025
Thank you so much! It means the world to us to hear Mako’s transformation made such a positive impact. We’re so glad the updates and support helped along the way , Bill loved working with your land shark turned family superstar! 🐾💛
AM
Alicia M.
Wag Mates saved our pup and family’s sanity!
David was an amazing trainer and guide for our little one year old puppy. She learned alto understand many commands, and most importantly, we all learned how to ensure she has no more indoor bathroom accidents. She had a great time, and we could share in the learning through multiple daily videos and photos. What a new path forward with our Frenchie, and what a great training program with David and Wag Mates!
Response from Wag MatesNov 13, 2025
Thank you so much for the lovely review! 🐾 We’re so happy to hear your Frenchie had a great time and made such wonderful progress. David truly enjoyed working with her, and we’re thrilled the updates helped you feel part of the journey. Here’s to a fresh start and many happy, accident-free days ahead! 💛
EM
Emily
Worked Wonders for my Puppy
Amy trained my 11 month old puppy. She had a previous owner that was unkind to her, so she was shy around strangers and scared of some household things. She was also an unruly puppy in general who had little to no previous training. Amy helped get her started on basic obedience and leash manners. She also got her potty trained and dramatically reduced her destructive chewing. She is now much more comfortable around strangers, has better impulse control, and is a lot more attentive to her owners. I live a somewhat busy life and I’m very pleased with the help I received getting my dog off to a great start. Thank you!
Response from Wag MatesDec 13, 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re so glad to hear you’re happy with the progress your pup made during her training with Amy. It’s always rewarding to see such positive changes, and we’re grateful for your trust in us. Your support means so much! 🐾😊
DM
David M.
Dave Talbot our trainer
Dave Talbot our trainer, was absolutely amazing! What he accomplished with our dog "Nugget" (3.5 year old American Bully) over just six weeks was stunning. The progress far exceeded my expectations. Being able to see Nugget through multiple videos a day, including drone video, was beneficial so I could learn alongside him virtually --I can't imagine going through this process without it. I was also comforted by the fact that I could observe all of the love and attention, as well as training, that Dave was providing every day. I couldn't be more grateful! DON'T HESITATE -- GO FOR IT -- YOU WILL BE SO HAPPY YOU DID! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DAVE TALBOT 100%
Response from Wag MatesDec 13, 2024
Thank you so much for your incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear how much Nugget thrived during his time with Dave. It’s amazing to see such impressive progress in just six weeks, and we’re so glad the videos helped you feel connected and involved in the process. Your kind words and high recommendation mean the world to us—thank you for trusting Dave and Wag Mates with Nugget’s training! 🐾😊
TD
Travis D.
Jason with Wagmates LIED
Jason with Wagmates lied from the beginning. We reached out for help with our dog that bit my 9 year old brother. Upon talking to Jason, he assured us he could stop this behavior. We were also guaranteed daily videos of our dog. Neither of those claims held up. Throughout the 2 week training we were only sent videos when asked multiple times. Jason did not seem to care. We were so excited to have Coach, our dog, come back and on the first day he bites my little brother, unprovoked, we were forced to bring him to the animal shelter. Wagmates will not offer any sort of refund. I get this is a business and a full refund is not expected. I hope we can come to a fair agreement on how to settle this.
Response from Wag MatesOct 30, 2024
Hi Travis,
We’d like to address a few points to provide more clarity on this situation.
First, it’s important to note that Coach was described to us as a dog who “nipped,” not one with aggressive tendencies or a history of biting. Nipping is quite different from biting and requires a distinct approach, which is why we placed Coach in a three-week basic obedience program rather than an intensive rehabilitation course.
Regarding the video updates, while we missed two of the eighteen scheduled videos over the three weeks, we provided consistent updates as promised, contrary to your mention of only two weeks. We do apologize if our communication didn’t meet your expectations, but our records show that Coach’s progress was documented and shared regularly.
After the program, we offered in-person follow-up sessions—free of charge—to directly address the behaviors Coach was displaying at home and to help your family understand the root causes, especially given that they seemed to be occurring with a specific individual. You declined our attempts to assist further, however, opting instead to seek a refund. In fact, you even mentioned that your decision to surrender Coach was influenced by your family’s stance on either receiving a refund or parting with him.
It’s unfortunate that, despite our efforts to reach a resolution in Coach’s best interest, there hasn’t been flexibility on your end to collaborate further. We’re disappointed that you chose to leave a review that omits these details, but we stand by our efforts to support you and Coach throughout the training and beyond.
Best regards,
Wag Mates Customer Service
NS
nicole S.
Wag mates and David were phenomenal
Wag mates and David were phenomenal! David trained and loved my doberman as if he were his own pup. David updated me on a daily basis with photos and videos of my pups progression throughout his stay with him. Taught myself and my husband how to continue my pups training at home. Provided me with homework to study for when my pup came home and even spend as much time as we needed to go over everything my pup learned so we could continue his training. I can't say enough fabulous things about David! I highly recommend him as a trainer! Thank you again! The bond that David made with Cyrus and also with us is unbreakable! Cyrus loves you and trusts you as do we! 💚🐾🐾💜
Response from Wag MatesSep 26, 2024
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear how happy you are with Cyrus’s progress. David’s passion for training really shows, and we’re so glad it made such a positive impact. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
JA
J A.
My little guy went in for the 6 week…
My little guy went in for the 6 week training program to focus on recall/impulse control, leash walking and general socialization issues, he came back a much more obedient, calm and patient dog! It is amazing to see his transition and walking him is so much more enjoyable experience for both of us now that he knows what I want him to do and he’s not always pulling. Excellent job by Dave with constant feedback and videos on his progress and interactions with people/pets. Would highly recommend!
Response from Wag MatesAug 29, 2024
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy to hear about your pup's amazing transformation after the 6-week program with Dave. It’s great to hear that you can both enjoy a good walk now! Dave's dedication to providing constant feedback and videos really shines through. 🐾😊
JG
Julia G.
worth every penny!
We had a terrific experience using Wag Mates to train our 6 month old puppy. During his 3- week stay with David, we were constantly updated and informed of his progress. David focused on everything we asked for help with and our puppy returned with a new set of skills for us to continue to work on. Our pup’s impulse control is night and day, he now sleeps soundly in his crate, and he hardly needs a leash walking. David spent over an hour with us at drop off making sure we understood how to keep working with our pup to ensure success. We would use this service and David again in a heartbeat.
Response from Wag MatesJun 14, 2024
Hi Julia, thank you so much for leaving this awesome review for David and Wag Mates. We are very happy that the training exceeded your expectations! Please feel free to keep in touch with us, we want to keep seeing your baby grow.
