Man's Best Friend Inc

My husband and I debated a while before deciding on a rescue dog from a Dachshund group in Spring. Once we had her about a week we decided that we needed help with potty training so I looked into Mans Best Friend and it was the best thing we could have done. Sure, the programs are an investment, but when you break it down over how long you will have your dog, it's not that much. We've had Mocha for 7 years and training has worked out to about $15 a month. Tha't's worth every penny to me and my family. You have to understand that it takes time to teach a dog anything...just like kids. It won't happen overnight. It takes coming back for lessons and practice at home. My husband is much better at working with our little Mocha, but she ROCKS! It took a lot of lessons and a lot of working with her but now she is what they call off leash and obeys the hand commands at a distance. Our kids even can work with her and the neighbors are so impressed. We went in looking for housebreaking help and got so much more out of the lessons. Our dog understands what we want from her and she listens to us If you have the patience, this is a wonderful way to make your dog a happy lifetime member of your family. Our experience was great. Our tainer is great...we still come back for lessons on occasion and it's been 7 years since we first trained her there. Anyone that says otherwise probably didn't follow their instructions and has not benefitted from the training that they provide like we have. Pros: they know their stuff Cons: none more

I have never taken my dog to Mans Best Friend, but I have been thinking about taking him there after income tax comes in. Therefore, I wanted to read some reviews. I do want to say though, you cant just call these negative comments disgruntled employees and brush them off, thinking that just because you think your dog was treated well, doesnt mean he was . I worked for a Dog Kennel/Training Facility before. Its true, the employees there may like your pets, but to them, this is just a job, giving them a small paycheck every two weeks. Never, ever, did we actually do "Playtimes" with the dogs, even those that paid for the extra ones. (Unless you just happen to have to cutest dog in the world and we wanted to spend our break playing with them.) Our day consisted of coming in, taking the dogs outside for about 5-10min while we cleaned the 4x4ft kennel, bringing them back in, feeding them. squeeging out any pee-pee, scooping up doo, making sure they had water. At about 4p we would feed them again wait about 30 min and take them outside again. then go home for the night. that was it. ever. no exceptions. never went above and beyond to take care of the animals. never cared enough. We didnt get paid enough for that if we got mad at a dog for making a mess, we left him there until we got yelled at to clean it, which wasnt too often, usually only when an owner wanted to come see the kennels.... so dont just brush these "disgruntled" employees off. because perhaps they werent so disgruntled. i loved that job. EASIEST JOB EVER. i just would NEVER EVER EVER allow my dog to be boarded there. Ive also had a friend at another kennel tell me the same thing. and reading those comments, i believe it isnt any different any where. more

Very disappointing as I had every intention of using this service before attending the 'evaluation'. However I felt there was no real interest in my dog but more what program they could get me to commit to. 'What Evaluation' pretty much said everything I wanted to say. Pros: Marketed like it's a great place. Counter staff was very friendly. Cons: Appears to be nothing but a money maker. more

I WORKED FOR MBF FOR MANY YEARS. THEY LOVE DOGS.THEY TREAT ALL OF THEIR CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEES WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT. AND AND ITS SAD THAT THIS HAS BECOME A SITE WHERE EVERY MORON WHO HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN MAKE UP A BUNCH OF B.S. CAN POST A MALICIOUS COMMENT. ANYBODY WITH ANY KIND OF I.Q SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE RIGHT THROUGH THIS GARBAGE. YOU DONT STAY IN BUSINESS AS LONG AS THEY HAVE BEEN OR TRAIN AS MANY DOGS AS THEY DO IF YOUR NOT" DOG PEOPLE" AND DO THINGS PROPERLY. DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE'S ARE A DIME A DOZEN Pros: AWESOME PLACE TO WORK Cons: SOMETIMES REAL BUSY more

Has anyone noticed that out of the 15 positive reviews, 100% of them were submitted between April 9 and April 20 of 2008. Did MBF hire these people to say nice things? It?s atrocious that Man?s Best Friend (MBF) continues to be in business considering their gross mistreatment of animals that they call ?normal?. MBF neglected and starved my dogs. All four of my little dogs were badly emaciated when I picked them up (underweight, ribs showing). That's in addition to the fact that they weren?t trained. MBF is big on sales hype, loves money, but abuses pets. They used choke collars on dogs with a history of collapsable tracheas. During my visits, my dogs relieved themselves as though they hadn't been out of their kennel the entire day. MBF refuses to let you see where the dogs are kept. I wonder why??? They said that weight loss was normal because of the extra "exercise" they get. My dogs were healthy, happy, and plump when I took them to MBF. When I picked them up, they were weak, sick, and had rib bones showing. This place needs to be investigated and shut down!!! Pros: None I can think of Cons: Everything about this place is horific. Different answers from each staff person more

You call MBF, and you inquire about getting your puppy trained, and how much it will cost. The response they usually give you is "we need to evaluate your dog BEFORE we can give you a price!" Then they set up the evaluation. Sounds good so far. So you bring the entire family and the puppy to the store. They sit you in a room, have you fill out some very general questionaire sheet . Then comes in the evaluator. All they do is look at the sheet you filled out, and secretly assess whether or not they think your family can even afford training. Hardly ever do they even try to assess the dog in any way! I have experienced this first hand. It's a total let down. You think your coming to see the experts and let them truly evaluate your dog, but the fact is, there main goal is to get you to sign that contract and get your money as quickly as possible. Also check out there training staff. None of them have studied dog training. They don't have any credits from any college, training seminars, or competition experience. It's a bunch of people who THINK they know how to train dogs. Who goes to a doctor that doesn't have a degree? The quality of trainer is terrible. That's why so many cases of dog neglect are happening in this place. They don't know what there doing. Pros: none Cons: nobody is certified to train more

I took both of my dogs to be trained at Man's Best Friend about three years ago and they still have retained the training as if they had just left the program yesterday. The staff is very friendly and the trainers were excellent with my dogs. It saddens me to see the review two positions below, this is obviously a just a disgruntled ex-employee. Man's Best Friend is an excellent family run business who I would recommend (and have plenty times) to any friend with dogs. My family is planning on rescuing another dog, and Man's best friend will be one of the first places we go after we have our new puppy. The training is excellent and well worth the cost! Pros: Great employees and Variety of Services Cons: Beltway location is a little tricky to get to. more

Over the past decade, we've had 2 dogs go through the training program at Man's Best Friend. It works and they are the best. One of our dogs was especially stubborn and needed a few days of extra training. They took the extra time to make sure he "got it" and, eventually, he did. It's really nice to know that each of our dogs now respond to a number of commands and behave much better around strangers than before their training. The people at Man's Best Friend really know what they're doing and seemed to really care about our dogs. I'd recommend them to anyone looking for better behavior from their dog(s) or looking for a place to board their dog(s) while their out of town. Knowing they're well-taken-care-of while you're gone translates into valuable peace of mind. Pros: Professionalism, Experience, Covenience, Affordability Cons: None more

If you only knew what really goes on in that place. The dogs are not truly cared for it is an illusion they are put in unsanitary 4foot by 4foot kennels and forced to sit in their own mess. The puppy play time is a joke your dogs are taken out 1 time a day if lucky and tied to a post and some kid with no training pets or just sits there with your pet for 10 min or less. There are trainers there that truly love to work with dogs and there are some who are just there to fill there pockets (if you could see how some trainers there train Protection and AOC you would be enraged). The management is only there for your money they DO NOT CARE for your pet only your Cash. They say there is a vet but I never saw one in my time there and I saw many sick dogs they just pump meds into the dog and charge you for a Vet charge and meds. They also say that someone is in the building 24 hr's a day this is a lie go check your dog from 8pm to 12am the place is empty. I had to leave this place I wanted to help but I was over whelmed by the mess and could not take seeing dogs put thru that kind of treatment. Some one needs to shut them down and keep them from ever having any further contact with the pets of Houston. Pros: a few good trainers and a few good kennel people but not enough to make a difference. Cons: the manegment and the lies and the lack of cleanliness more

Eight years ago I decided to get a dog for my son. We went to Mans Best Friend and the owner Bob Bolander spent over an hour helping us decide which breed would work within our lifestyle. Thanks to Mans Best we have a wonderful dog. We board Denver with Mans Best and he is thrilled when we ask him if he wants to go see Brenda. When we walk in every staff member knows me and Denver and makes us feel welcome. I have never worried if he is "ok" when he is there. I highly recommend Man's Best Friend. Pros: wonderful staff clean facility Cons: none more

Pearl is an English Setter with floppy ears and paws that need special treatment, and she always receives it at Man's Best. I had so many issues with other groomers before coming to Man's Best. The staff here is incredible -I walk in and immediately get an "oh hi Pearl". They know what she needs before ever looking at a computer or file. I have even boarded her their on a number of occasions and have always felt positive about it. The fact that she is pulling on her leash to get INSIDE the building is a much better response than I've gotten from her at any other places more

Three times and three dogs I have had trained at Man's Best Freind. Clearly, I think they do a wonderful job. After reading the reviews, it seems to me that they are not getting the credit they deserve for their excellent boarding facility. We like the location on the Sam Houston Tollway. It is fairly new, extra clean, and a place my wife and I do not hesitate to drop off our dogs off for a weekend or a week or more. We are short notice customers, and they always had room (even during the holidays.) The groomers are great, and we know we can trust them to take care of our "kids." The staff is very friendly, and most of them know us and our dogs by name. I am sure you'll get the same treatment if you stop in. -ask for Brenda. She's our favorite! more

We took our puppy, Cooper, to Mans Best Friend and they did an outstanding job. Our pets are a major part of the family so I am as concerned about leaving them some place as I am about caregivers for my son. We got a new lab puppy that was adorable but labs can be a handful. We were too busy to train Cooper ourselves so we took him to Mans Best Friend. Their staff did a great job of explaining their process and how they handle the pets -- totally put my mind at ease. Cooper was really awesome when he came back -- frankly made our life much easier and we enjoyed him even more than before. I asked Mans Best Friend if I could leave my son for a couple of weeks but they told me no. : -) Honestly, their staff was really helpful and very nice and I was always amazed at how clean they kept the place. We couldn't have been more pleased with the experience. Pros: great staff, professional, excellent service Cons: Wish they were closer to my house -- but it it was worth the drive. more

We took our Cavalier King Charles spaniel Jasper to the MBF on Louetta in Spring. Jasper was / is pretty spoiled and we were nervous at first. Jerry, the manager at the Louetta location and also one of the trainers put us totally at ease. He worked with us over a series of Saturdays with Jasper and we saw improvements pretty quickly. We wanted the basics - sit, stay, come and for Jasper not to bolt out of the front door when it was opened. We accomplished all of these things because truthfully we were all there/family of 4 and trained right alongside Jasper. If you leave your dog, pick it up trained but don't go back for the parental follow up part, I can see where there might be a problem. The dog is trained but the parent doesn't have it down or is inconsistent. Jerry trained all of us and it was a challenge at first to stay consistent with what we learned but it eventually became habit. Jasper is for the most part calm, he comes when he's called, he stays and doesn't bolt when he sees a bird. We no longer stress if the front door is open - major accomplishments! We take him back for regular grooming and the staff knows him by name and greets him like a family member. Misty at the front is also super friendly. more

I never hesitate to pass along the good service I have had from Man's Best Friend. From the minute you walk in the door, you are treated as a friend. The front desk is always ready to help and answer questions. Bob has trained two of my dogs and it was the best thing I did for them and for me! My oldest dog is almost 15 and has been the best dog since she returned home from her stay! I have also boarded my dogs several times and each time I have picked them up they have smelled good and were happy. I know when I take my "girls" to Bob, he and his staff treat them like his own. Keep up the good work MBF. You're awesome!!!! Pros: Awesome, clean environment Cons: Wish they were closer to my house more

We have been taking our Boxer to MBF for 4 years now and would not have it any other way. The professional trainers and staff there have been nothing but great with our pet. Our pet had a serious aggression issue but once we signed him up his trainer worked with him and now he is much better! Our dog enjoys MBF, when I tell my dog "Let's go see John and Brenda" (his trainer & second mother) he rushes to the garage door sits and waits for me to open the door so that he can get into the car and we can be on our way to MBF. I think 1 reason he enjoys going there is because he is treated like a "King". It is a great feeling to know that we can go out of town and he is well taken care of. At times we take him for 2-3 day just because he enjoys going and having fun. I highly recommend MBF to all who want a well trained pet. Pros: Great staff and professional trainers Cons: There are no cons in my opinion more

Many people told me I was crazy when I obtained my first Heeler. After two, I was starting to go a bit crazy. They are high energy dogs. If you don't keep them busy, they will find ways to stay busy - usually involving expensive clothes and furniture. Man's Best Friend taught me the techniques and concepts to handle these challenging dogs. I now have 4 very well-trained Heelers. The oldest is now 14 years old. I have had them all trained at Man's Bewst Friend and have boarded my dogs there numerous times. Everyone knows them by name and it's obvious how much my dogs love going there. No, they are not the Marriott of facilities for dogs but their passsion for their well-being keeps me coming back. I have used Man's Best Friend for over a decade now. They have consistently provided top quality service. Pros: dog lovers, compassionate, experts Cons: location more

My dog was a biter and I was afraid we were going to have to get rid of him. We took him to Man's Best Friend hoping they could take care of this problem. He came home a very well behaved dog ! I do believe they work miracles! The staff is friendly and caring. They truly care about the animals and people that come there. I highly recommend them. Not only did they take care of my problem, they have taken care of many of the people I have sent to them. If you want a well trained dog this is the place to go. Pros: friendly, caring staff, clean Cons: can't think of any more

Our Boston Terrier is so scared to be around other dogs, but when we board her at Man's Best Friend they are so sweet with her. They really take the time to give her attention and love. We use to leave her at the vets's when we left town, and felt terrible the whole time we were on vacation, knowing she was unhappy. But now we can board her and KNOW that she is being well cared for by people that really know what they are doing. I recommend MBF to all of my friends. If you love your animal like we do, you won't be sorry. Pros: clean, friendly and caring staff more

Man's Best Friend is the most professionally run, caring facility that you could find anywhere around. Their training is done by knowledgeable caring individuals who give their heart and soul to our "best friends". We would never consider letting anyone else handle our dog. In addition the owners are always generous to the community they work and live in. Anytime we have had issues with our dog they were right on the money when it came to advice and training. more