I took my little Huckleberry Finn to Ellie when he was a puppy. We started this summer and are just reaching the end of our training. Ellie helped me gain the tools needed to help Huck even when I am not with her in class. Her group classes were a great chance to socialize my puppy and also for myself to gain some basic understanding of dog training! We are excited to continue to drop-in so that Huck can visit all his dog friends. Definitely recommend!

Ellie is an amazing trainer, not only for the pups but for the owners as well. She can help you on any level of your training! She is patient and uses a positive training method. Mazie and I have completed her classes and now I have a new puppy. I can’t wait to get her in the class!! Her ability to deal with all different levels of training in the same class is admirable! Schedules are so flexible! It will surprise you how easy it is to attend her classes! You gotta check it out. And the icing on the cake...affordable!! Strongly recommend her!

I would highly recommend Ellie. I started the group sessions with my 20 month-old golden retriever because I needed help with his manners. The group sessions are great for doggie socialization. She was prompt and courteous. She takes time to explain and will tailor training to specific issues pertaining to your dog. Even in group sessions she finds time to help in an area your dog is struggling with. When COVID hit, I explained I was no longer comfortable working in group sessions because of my role in healthcare. Without hesitation she switched me to private lessons at no additional cost. I can happily say we finished our training program yesterday and have seen much improvement with our furry friend and his manners. Highly recommend and will return to her for help in the future if needed.

Best value in the Flathead anywhere! If your dog doesn’t come away better behaved, understanding your commands and obeying! It’s not your pups fault! Ellie is an amazing dog trainer! Yes you have to work with your dog but Ellie shows you the quickest easiest way! I would give her a A+ results in 1 lesson. I would highly recommend!!

I would recommend Ellie Bell to anyone because she does an excellent job of teaching the owner how to train their dog! I thank her for all she taught me and my dog in just one month. I am now able to take my dog out in public without fear of him being over protective and yanking me off my feet. My dog is now much more pleasant and courteous.

Ellie is amazing, Detailed and listens to the need of the client

Ellie knows dog behavior better than anyone I have met! She is kind and patient in her teaching. She helped me understand my dog better and the ways in which he learns best. I am so thankful I chose to go to Ellie for dog training, and I know my future self will be as well!

I am very impressed with Ellie. In one month of training, my aunts dog went from a crazy wild child to a much more controlled lovable dog, learning to sit and stay, heel and not charge at the door when someone comes to visit. Ellie was very professional and gentle, speaking kindly to the dog and not yelling commands. I learned a lot about how to train and handle dogs. Thanks for everything you have done Ellie!

Great trainer, explains things well and gets the owner to understand how to think like a dog and speak their language a little better. My puppy did the doggie boot camp and my puppy really did learn everything Ellie said she would teach in those classes. Rate is very very reasonable for the amount of classes and time you get. Highly highly recommend.

Ellie was professional, to the point, honest and a wonderful trainer! She helped me gain the knowledge, tools and confidence to train my dog at home. Would highly recommend her!

We (My mom and myself) were recommended to try Best Friends by our vet. We had recently gotten a new puppy and decided to give Ellie a try. Merlin (Our Pyrenees puppy) needed to be quite well behaved due to his future size and the fact my nieces/nephews visit quite often.Well worth the money! What youll end up with is a well trained dog and lessons you can reuse for a life time. Weve used what we were taught, with Merlin, with our other dog, Aspen. She wouldnt do the lay down command for years! With Ellies methods (plus a clicker) and guidance from a book she recommended (Dont Shoot the Dog, highly recommended read btw) Aspen had lay down down in minutes.Ellie is an excellent dog trainer and teacher. Well be using what weve learned with future dogs for years to come. I could not recommend her more. Keep in mind this is not a class just for your dog. Its a class for you as well. Youll learn new and better ways to train your current and future dogs. So going in- keep an open mind. Youre also a student.

She was very curt, rude, and treated my husband and I as if we were idiots. Would definitely NOT recommend. Also treats customers as if she is hiring them to pay her. Doesnt care about what the customer wants, just tells the customer what she wants to do with the dog. Website and card says complimentary consultation, however she tried to charge me for ours. I will not be recommending her to anyone.

I have been bringing my dogs to Ellie for over 10 years. I breed, raise and show Shetland Sheepdogs, and Ellie has helped me get my dogs ready for the conformation show ring, as well as helping my dogs and me with basic obedience. She has helped me work through problems with young dogs so that they become productive happy, well socialized dogs both at home and on the show circuit. I would (and HAVE!) recommend Ellie to anyone. She is extremely knowledgeable, she has years of experience, and she knows dogs through and through. I would trust her with my dogs in a heartbeat! - Connie Schnackenberg, Toddhills Shetland Sheepdogs

I Was not impressed.I was treated as thou I where a child, and as if I knew nothing about dogs. (When Ive had two dogs and trauned one my self)She labeled my dog as vicious. (When in fact my dog loves ppl and loves being around them)Simply because she (The trainer)Walked up to my dog (who did not know her)Took a toy from my dog, witch in turn nipped her because she didnt say leave it.She also said the classes we signed up for where 90mins well in reality they were 45minsAnd we really didnt learn anything it was more her talking and not showing. So needless to say it was a complete waste of time.

We had a German Shepherd puppy that was very aggressive and terrified of people even though she was around other dogs, and other people while we had her. We began classes with Ellie, desperate for help. She did NUMEROUS tests with our puppy which proved this dog came from a very aggressive mother most likely and that this dog might always be this way. Long story short (and it is a long story), we brought our puppy back to the breeder (puppy was originally delivered to us for a small fee.) we saw their dogs all caged up and our puppys mother was, indeed, VERY fear aggressive just as the Ellie suspected. Our puppys mother passed this behavior to her offspring which is why we learned you should always see the parents, breeders property etc BEFORE making a decision. We were given a full refund for the puppy. It was very sad but it was exactly the right thing to do, esp before we were seriously attached. Ellie was caring and very insightful in nudging us to consider this decision.

Ellie is a master and she can teach you how to be a dog whisperer

Very trustworthy and talented!

Disorganized, chaotic and overall a bad experience for my dog and I. I would not recommend.