Olde Towne School For Dogs

Alexandria, United States

4.3

Open now

20 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 703-836-7643
Website:
www.otsfd.com
Address:
529 Oronoco St, Alexandria, VA, 22314
Old Town Alexandria
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.6 miBraddock Road
0.9 miKing Street
1 miAlexandria
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Today

Today 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Alexandria) 11:47 Friday, 29 November 2024

Business hours

Monday 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Dog Training — Puppy Head Start-​Private Lessons-​Day School

Grooming-​By Appointment –all breeds to the standard

Retail– Premium dog and cat foods, accessories for dogs and cats, specialty items

History

Established in 1975.

Carlos and Sandy Mejias opened the school in November of 1975. It has grown over the years to be a landmark in Old Town Alexandria with an alumnae of well over eighty thousand dogs. The grooming department is second to none and clients who are patient will get an appointment. After your dogs first grooming the school will try to work them into the rotation for the year as most of our clients book their appointments one year in advance. Our retail has grown from a few shelves of product in 1975 to a large selection of dog and cat products. We screen our products and carry only the best quality foods, treats and toys.

Meet the Business Owner

Carlos M.

Business Owner

Carlos Mejias has been training dogs since the late 1960’s. He began training with Capt. Arthur Haggerty in New York. Capt. Haggerty gave him a strong solid foundation as a dog trainer. Carlos has also worked with Matthew Margolis prior to opening the school. Carlos is on the Board of Directors for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. He is very active in many of the league’s fund raisers, He also is very hands on with his business working along with his staff on the day to day running of the business. You will find Carlos, his wife Sandy and his son Gabe working in the store on just about any day you come to visit.

Olde Towne School For Dogs also recommends

Belle Haven Animal Medical Centre

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Carlos M. says,

«Dr. Lynn Schutt’s veterinary hospital is state of the art with an excellent and caring staff. Many of the clients from our school use this hospital.»

The Dog Shop — CLOSED

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Pet Shops

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Banho & Tosa

,

Adestramento de Animais de Estimação

Carlos M. says,

«A former manager and trainer at the Olde Towne School for Dogs, Jane Huelle is an excellent dog trainer and business person.»

Olde Towne Pet Resort

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reviews

Banho & Tosa

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Adestramento de Animais de Estimação

Carlos M. says,

«The resort offers a much needed upscale boarding facility for your dog or cat. Carlos was the CEO the first two years of operation.»

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20 reviews of Olde Towne School For Dogs

No registration required
Place rating: 3
Vienna, VA
This place is «dog central» in dog friendly Alexandria. For that reason, VISIT this vibrant business which also harbors one of the best pet supply stores in the area. However…
I can’t recommend going here for grooming. First, their services are in high demand and, therefore, more expensive than other groomers. $ 95 for sheered cut. +40 for hand clipping. Also, during my one/​only visit, I found the owner to be inflexible with addressing simple requests I had as a customer.
Place rating: 5
Arlington, VA
Dan is two years old now and he still gets groomed here. They do such a wonderful job that I am often stopped on the street and asked if he is a show dog. What a friendly and positive place to do business. You rock Olde Town School for Dogs.
Place rating: 5
Alexandria, VA
Dogs are Westminster Dog Show beautiful after being groomed here, including my Maltese! Sandy and Carlos, the owners, are nice and helpful, as are their staff. We also got some great training here, too!
Place rating: 5
Tampa, FL
I have a very shy dog and Jillian took the time to meet our dog and pair her up with a wonderful dog walker who took time to get to know Gus and let our dog get comfortable with her. It was incredible to see our shy, timid dog, who has run from other walkers, joyfully greet her dog walker and be excited for the outing. Jillian hires caring professionals and is always interested in how satisfied we are with the services. I also appreciate her use of technology with the efficient billing system and daily dog walk updates sent to my email. I would highly recommend our dog’s nanny.
Place rating: 5
Alexandria, VA
I took my dog Jack in for training and absolutely loved it! Yes its a bit expensive but if you price around their very competitive with the cost. Our trainer was a god sent to us… When we’ve gone back to shop for his food if Jack sees his trainer he gets beyond excited! We hadn’t shopped in their store until we had training there now that Ive had time to browse their vast selection I see that their reasonably priced AND they take the time to talk to you and ask questions to help you make informed purchases. As for their method of training I can only speak for my dog we saw a 110 degree turn around in just ONE week. We are a month out with completing our class and Jack is still doing great the training he learned has been invaluable to us as a family I HIGHLY recommend Olde Town School for dogs
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Our dog is strong willed. The folks here at OTSFD provide excellent training for him (and for us). We also appreciate the (regretfully, expensive) nail-​trimming service.
They have a full range of products for dogs and cats, including healthy foods.
Much nicer than the big-​box stores.
Place rating: 5
Centreville, VA
Olde Towne School for Dogs offers the best in professional, friendly, and kindhearted dog training. I know firsthand — as I have been a client for over 26 years. All four of my dogs have been students at OTSFD. I often hear, «Wow…your dogs are so good on a leash. How do you get them to walk with you and not pull? I can’t believe how obedient they are.» My response is always, «OTSFD, the best dog training in the area.» My dogs are always excited when we pull up to the store. It doesn’t matter if they are getting groomed (the best groomers in the Washington area) or there for a lesson — they can’t wait to go in and be greeted. Everyone on staff is very nice and helpful. OTSFD offers a variety of services — dog training, breed consultations, grooming, and an incredible assortment of retail items. I highly recommend OTSFD. You and your pet won’t be sorry.
Place rating: 5
Alexandria, VA
Everyone on staff is extremely helpful, knowledgable and all are dog lovers of course. I started my dog there as a puppy and then did the 5 day training. Later on when my dog was showing some problems when he was on the leash (he would lunge at other dogs and since he is 85 pounds he looks aggressive.)
Carlos (the owner) was indespensible in helping me change this behavior using treats and effective corrections. The best proof of effective training is that I can take my dog anywhere and he is well behaved, sociaI, calm and engaged with me. Instead of restricting my dog out of fear that he is unpredictable I now have the confidence to take him everwhere with me. I highly recommend Olde Towne for training. I have never had my dog groomed there (except to have his nails clipped). I do get dog food & treats there also.
Mary Frances
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
What a fantastic little shop! I strolled in on a whim with my dog, since he needed a new collar. The selection here is really incredible, and the prices fair. They’ve got it all: food, natural treats, toys, supplies, leashes, etc. The friendly staff members were super helpful, fitting my dog with the size of collar that was right for him.
I haven’t used their training or other services, so I can’t comment on those. I will say, however, that I saw a trainer working with a dog while I was there. I was impressed by how patient and kind her demeanor was while working with the dog. It was clear that she knew what she was doing. I wouldn’t hesitate to bring my dogs here for anything they need.
There are several stores in the Old Town area that are similar to this one. I’ve been to them all, and I’ll definitely choose Olde Towne School for Dogs in the future.
Place rating: 3
Lorton, VA
Excellent job with grooming but totally overpriced!
Charges twice as much as Old Town Pet Resort in Springfield with less impressive facility and much less friendly staff
Will not be returning!
Place rating: 5
Dania Beach, FL
i’ve got my first Golden here trained several years ago and this is by far the best training program best facility. I can’t find another training program that meets the quality and outstanding service that I’ve gotten in the past from this school. I have a third goldn and now she’s only 11 weeks but I’m looking into sending her to the Oldtown school for dogs as their reliability very good from the results I’ve had with my last Golden.
Now here’s the thing I live here in South Florida before I used to live in Alexandria Virginia. I am returning to the Oldtown school for dogs to train my third golden the reason for this is because so Florida does not have a A school as good as this yet there are some schools I’ve checked into and looked around but nothing as nice as well done program as the Oldtown school for dogs.
I have spent all morning and about the entire two weeks looking for a place here in South Florida that has a good reliable program and none of them I have been satisfied with in fact most of them have had horrible customer service and a horrible response.
I much rather spend the money and go down to the Oldtown school for dogs as I am very comfortable and positive with the results that I’m going to be getting.
so if anyone from the Oldtown school for dogs is reading this I’ll be seeing you guys in the few months when I’ll travel to northern Virginia stay with my mother and take my golden retriever to your day program.
and the reason I’ve chosen Oldtown school for dogs is I’m looking for a good reliable place because my future goals are to train her into a therapy dog/​emotional support/​agility up to AKC standard and this I’m sure I will get results with this School as I seen from the past with my first Golden.
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
My dog has been coming here since he was a puppy. He received obdience training and is a now a regular for grooming. Obdience wise I think this is a great place to train your dog if you are willing to pay the price and it’s a big number.
Is my dog and extraordinarry creature with hidden talents after attending obdience training here? No. Is he obdient? Yes, but only when he is on the premises. But that may just be because he is a terrible little animal who controls me rather then me controlling him. The staff there seems to love him and carries him around the shop while he’s waiting to be picked up from grooming. So he must have learned something, right?
Grooming wise they have been doing a great job on my dog since he was a puppy. There is a long waiting list for grooming and it is generally open for newbies in August. Regulars get first dibs on appointments and you can book them for the entire year. From my experinece grooming can cost you anywhere from $ 75 to $ 120 depending on what type of dog you have. Hand scissor cuts are generally
Place rating: 5
Alexandria, VA
We recently had to say good bye to our amazing 16 year old Cairn Terrier. OTSFD provided professional and beautiful grooming services for him the last 7 years of his life upon our moving to Alexandria. Sandy always greeted not only me, but Gus by name even if she was coming from the back of the store. The front staff are organized and kind, and work hard to make sure that customers are attended to promptly. As his aging progressed and his vision became compromised the staff always worked the schedule to accommodate him so that he would have a expedited visit. This despite the fact that we started coming later and later in the morning because he slept in late. Once he could no longer take the stairs due to his vision they had me take the leash home to ensure that no one accidentally tried to have him walk down. Its a subtle, but thoughtful and effective way to communicate the dog’s needs.
After Gus died I called to cancel future appointments. The following morning I received a phone call of condolences and a sincere reflection on what a great dog he was from the owner, Sandy Mejia. She also said that she would be available to help me with finding a breeder or making a decision about what breed would be a best fit for my young family. I know that a past reviewer had a different experience, and I am sorry that they did but it is not the norm for this business. Sandy and Carlos have an excellent team and truly care for the well being of all dogs (and cats) that come through their doors.
Their dog food lines are premium and their prices are in-​line with other vendors in the area. While some of the accessories might be priced a little on the higher end, that is to be expected for a small boutique business with a smaller buying power compared to a box store. I prefer to support local and small businesses whenever possible to prevent my options being limited to chain stores.
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
I’m not a dog owner or a dog lover, and I LOVE Olde Towne School for Dogs. I’m one of those crazy cat people that didn’t grow up spending a lot of time around dogs, and developed a wariness about dogs. Not «fear» per say, but caution and frequent, suspicious side eye.
I live a few blocks away from these trainers, and constantly see them putting their expertise on a variety of dogs — they’re instantly recognizable by their skill, and I feel absolutely no wariness walking by them. I don’t know a lot about dogs or dog training, but the trainers seem to focus on exposing dogs to a variety of situations and teaching them to handle all kinds of strange people in the world — hence the hanging out on random sidewalks around town. The dogs are always extremely focused and very well behaved. It’s kind of amazing. I’m so glad this place exists to help train unruly dogs (and often, unruly dog owners), and make living and walking in a dog-​friendly city happy for everyone — even the wary people like myself.
Place rating: 3
Arlington, VA
I like walking by here because people congregate around this store on weekends with their cute dogs. But I don’t have dogs, I have two cats. I was therefore pleased when I peaked in the window and saw they also have a «Kitty Korner!» They had some good stuff in the Korner, including desperately needed replacement feathers for Da Bird. Our cats are OBSESSED with Da Bird and rip the feathers off and tear it to pieces all the time. They also had bowls of cute, colorful mousies for less than $ 1 each. I bought those for our younger kitten who is obsessed with racing around the apartment with a mouse in her mouth. She is pleased. Tons of other toys too and some treats. Unfortunately, the cats hated the treats I picked up here. However, they hated the treats I picked up at PetMac in Arlington too. I guess these places are trying to sell «healthy» treats and then the pets don’t like it. Guess we will have to stick with plate licking after the humans eat a fish dish as being their treat — or licking the cottage cheese spoon.
Good to know that even though there is «Dog» in the title, the place serves cats too. Cute place and I recommend checking it out!
Place rating: 3
Alexandria, VA
Tried the private one-​on-​one training and not only is it overpriced but there are better options in the area. The trainer I worked with insisted on using a prong collar and shaming against our desire to break his leash aggression and it didn’t work.
Place rating: 5
Alexandria, VA
My dog, a rescue who knew nothing, was a hot mess before I brought him to Old Towne School for Dogs. He was impossible to walk on a leash, either pulling hard or cowering between our legs.
After a recommendation from a neighbor (also a OTSFD customer) we paid for the private lesson package — Six one hour lessons, one-​on-​one with the trainer, the dog, and ourselves ($ 600 if I remember correctly).
Our trainer was a true professional, not a high schooler or college student who owned a Labradoodle and did this part time. And the proof was in the pudding: After the first session it was if we had a new dog. Whereas before walking on leash used to be a chore and painful, it was now suddenly enjoyable.
Two years later and after continuing our training on our own with what we learned at OTSFD, we can now walk our dog off leash in many places and we get consistent compliments on how well behaved and well disciplined he is. I would highly recommend OTSFD.
Place rating: 2
Washington, DC
THIS REVIEW IS FOR GROOMING ONLY
I cannot believe there is a one year waiting list for the grooming appointments here. I brought my two poms here for a grooming excited to see what they would offer based on the reviews. I came back 4 hours later to find clean dogs, which is the only reason they have 2 instead of 1 star in this review. Everything else was disappointing. They were left entirely too long all over but especially in their undercarriage, where a traditional pom cut would have it shorter and curved. Their tails were cut too short but around the butt left too long. Within one week they were a mess. I’m sorry, but take your dogs somewhere else. I’m going back to the place I trust which is close to home and does an amazing job for much less.
Place rating: 2
Silverdale, WA
Came here while in Old Town because I was looking for a specific brand of dog chew treat and found they didn’t carry it, had just a pretty generic selection of items, and wasn’t overly impressed.
What did make an impression was the $ 100/​hr+ training fees for obedience classes– are you kidding me??? The trainers I watched while in the store were not $ 100/​hr quality either. Go someplace else– to shop and to have your dog trained.
Place rating: 5
Loudoun County, VA
My hound Huckleberry did both Puppy Kindergarten and Day School at OTSFD. (PK with Shannon, now of Capital Heel, and DS with Kathleen.) He’s a dachshund who will never, ever win any obedience trials for reasons much more significant than his silly, floppy way of sitting… but Shannon and Kathleen certainly did the best with what we gave them. The staff is crazy knowledgeable and passionate about dogs. They will always take the time to help you out, even when they’re so busy it feels like the backstage area of Westminster.
Puppy Kindergarten got Huckleberry to walk decently on a lease, sit when you asked him *and* he felt like it, and do an adequate job of coming when called. (Keep in mind he was 4mo old.) Two years later, we returned for Day School with Kathleen. At this point, he was trained to … um, be cute and not much else. A good, well intentioned creature, Huck hadn’t been exposed to hardcore training. Kathleen took care of that and taught us how to follow through at home. He didn’t lose any ‘personality’ — as we had worried he might — but he was solid at the following commands on a 15′ lead:
— sit
— sit, stay
— sit, down, stay
— come
— go to place
— heel
He’s calmer, yet still that sweet monster we love. I also want to point out how flexible and available Kathleen was. She accommodated our schedule around the holidays and was always proactive in communicating with us. Our doggie daycare, Reserved Barking, ‘taxied’ Huck a few days and OTSFD made things seamless on their end. We really appreciated that and, judging from what I’ve seen in the store, Kathleen’s behavior is very much the norm amongst the trainers. This program is *not cheap* and we certainly procrastinated signing Huck up because of that cost. However, it was worth it. There is literally no other program like this in the area — at any price. If you’re lucky, your dog will be with you for a decade. OTSFD will train your dog (and you!) so that decade is one you both enjoy.