Reviews (198)

Joey has been absolutely terrific with our Corgi. We did a 3 week board and train and the results have been exactly what we were hoping for. Joey is an excellent trainer, and is a joy to work with. As with many animal behavior issues, training the owner is the key to success and we feel much more confident and supported in this process. Our dog is less stressed and truly enjoys the training moments (mostly!). Highly recommend!!

We were a bit nervous boarding our newly adopted rescue for the first time. It was for 5 days and he had only been with us for just under 3 months. However, we learned from Charlie's Angels Animal Rescue (where we adopted our pup) that Tessa had worked with him through the New Leash on Life Program prior to us adopting him. We thought it would be great for him to go somewhere where there was some sort of familiarity. We were so right! Erika and Tessa sent daily videos and photos of our pup playing with other dogs who were boarded at the same time. I can't say enough great things about them! If you are in need of boarding or training for your fur baby, look no further than Ruff Life Dog Training Services 💕. Thank you for taking such good care of our boy! 🐶

I have a rescue dog with behavioral issues and Ruff Life is truly a god-send! I would not have been able to keep him if it weren’t for the trainers at Ruff Life. Their dedication and patience is amazing. If you have any dog training needs Ruff Life is definitely the place to go!

Tessa's definitely got a gift with critters and very knowledgeable. At our in-home evaluation, she was SO calm and patient with my "wild child" and shared loads of things I can do to help her particular temperament. I tried a bunch of those ideas right away, and my dog responded positively to them ALL! In a follow-up, Tessa helped me evaluate my pup with other dogs to better identify her anxiety triggers. Tessa is so down-to-earth and low key. She listens carefully to what you want to aim for. She's really easy to talk with, and you totally don't feel judged if your fur pal is not quite ... perfect ... shall we say? ;-D Wonderful experience.

Ruff life is the BEST! Tessa and the team are so kind, knowledgeable, and informative. I have a nervous and sometimes reactive baby who needed a lot of extra training and love. Tessa and the team worked with me (and my parents) to socialize her, build confidence, and teach us how to properly train her. We’ve done socialization and 1:1 home training. Also both my pups just tried out boarding for the first time and holy cow it was amazing! I was so nervous to leave my babies but knowing they were in the best hands put my mind at ease. I’m so grateful for Ruff Life!!

We love Ruff Life! We started taking our dog here when he was 6 months old and he’s now a little over a year and a half. It is so nice to be able to drop him off for socialization and know that he is having fun while I'm at work while also learning how to play nice with others and getting the exercise he needs. The staff are wonderful, super helpful and definitely know their stuff! They have helped me and my husband gain confidence in training our puppy, which has helped to strengthen our bond with him. In addition to some of the training courses offered, we also like taking him to Wandering Wags. These are a great way to work on your pup's ability to be in high-stimulation environments, especially if they are reactive in anyway. They are also just fun and offer an opportunity to get outside with your pup and socialize together. We have also done some drop off training for more 1 on 1 training and I love getting the little report card on how his day was. The staff at Ruff Life make you feel like you are leaving your dog with family :)

There is not enough space on the Internet for me to say how amazing Tessa and the Ruff Life crew have been for both of our pups. We have one perfect angel and one awkward weirdo, both of which have been supported amazingly at Ruff Life. Our awkward girl Sprout gains confidence every time she goes to their amazing drop off training program. It’s so fun to take her on walks after her time there and see the immediate changes! I cannot thank Tessa and crew enough for their support of Asheville’s puppers over the years. Keep up the great work!

I called Tessa as an SOS, she was recommended by my vet. I have two corgis and I was very concerned because my dogs were not getting along. I was entertaining the thought of rehoming one of the dogs. Fast-forward one year, I am thrilled to say my dogs are doing great, and all of the training/dog parenting tips Tessa gave me. were spot on. Helene happened at the “tail” end of “our therapy ,” but we stuck with program and I have nothing but praise. I am so happy their business is up and running again. How can you put a value on something that makes your life so much richer and your relationship with your dog(s) so much better. Thank you, Tessa!

I’ve been working with ruff life since my dog Alice was a puppy. Four years later and the ruff life team is still professional, responsive, and flexible. Tessa and Erica always take excellent care of Alice when she stays with them. Attentive to her energy level and her need to have a playmate or a “job” to do, they make sure Alice is stimulated and well exercised. She always comes home happy and tired having made at least a few new doggy pals. Super grateful to have this team in Asheville!

I am so happy that I found Ruff Life for both dog training and boarding. We have made big leaps with our newest pup since taking our initial class. Tessa has been both straightforward and immensely patient as we learn new skills. Boarding was so helpful and I knew that Arrow was in great, responsible and caring hands. I will recommend Ruff Life over and over to anyone! Thank you!

Tessa and her team are fabulous dog trainers. Our dog always returns home tired and happy. Highly recommend them! Jenn & Barley

We have a Great Pyrenees that doesn’t always get along with other people or dogs. Ruff life handled him easily and made us feel very comfortable leaving him. Highly recommend!

After trying out a class at Asheville Humane (nice people but way too crowded and chaotic) and meeting with another facility (way too expensive), I am so happy I found Ruff Life! After losing my sweet, very chill 14 y.o. soul mate doggie a little over a year ago, I adopted Harper, a not as chill, but just as sweet Husky mix puppy. I was not quite prepared for the energy and challenges of a high energy, young pup, but after taking the basic Ruff Starters class with Tessa, we are on our way to a happy, peaceful life together. Other than learning basic commands, I came out of the classes feeling like I understand the dog mind much better, so when puppy antics ensue, I have the tools I need to make sure Harper and I understand each other. I loved Tessa's laid back teaching style and that the class size was small (about 6 pups). It wasn't the end of the world if Harper wasn't grasping everything right away or acting out, so I didn't feel judged for my crazy little gremlin not being quite perfect yet. Once Harper is a little older, I plan on taking another class or two. For now, I am continuing to work on the basics and each day gets better and better, thanks to Tessa and her team. Thank you, Ruff Life!

Ruff Life is amazing! 1:1 training and Socialization Classes has helped my dog so much! She loves going to Socialization Classes. Staff at Ruff Life seem to take a target approach with my dog to help her gain confidence to be around new people and other dogs. I’m so happy with the hard work they have put in with her. I love that Ruff Life takes pictures of her while she is at Socialization Class!

This is the only place I will board my Kylo! Tessa does a great job keeping him entertained and treats him like he was her own dog. Kylo gets excited when I say "Want to go to Ruff Life/see Tessa?" 5 stars!

Tessa and her crew are amazing humans who obviously care deeply about helping dogs (and their owners). She has been so valuable to us in working with our reactive shepherd mix and most recently helping us to find a new companion for said reactive dog when we lost her brother. I honestly can’t say enough good things about everyone we have encountered at Ruff Life. Highly recommend!

Two of our dogs got into a fight over some resource guarding and it was incredibly scary, as neither of them had demonstrated this kind of behavior before and we were at a loss as to what to do. I did a lot of research after speaking with Tessa, if felt like the right fit. Tessa came to our home for an evaluation and talked through our options. Tessa was optimistic, but also realistic, which I greatly appreciated. JuneBug did their two week board and train program and I feel like we have been given the tools to create a happy, calm, household with our dogs. Seeing the videos of all the work they did, hearing all of the positive things they shared about June's time with them, and then seeing firsthand all of the progress that she made was amazing. Then seeing June and Apollo play together and be silly after 2 weeks of being apart just made my heart soar and knowing that we can use all of the tools they can gave us to keep this going and keep everyone safe, was just beyond my expectations. I cannot thank Tessa and everyone at Ruff Life for all of their hard work, their patience, but mostly for the gift I feel we've been given. PS - that's a picture of a very happy, tired dog :)

My dog loves Ruff Life! And I love that he becomes a better dog every time he gets to interact with the great dog trainers here. Thank you so much for helping my wild pup become more patient, obedient, and fun to handle! Best dog trainers in Asheville!

Tessa at Ruff Life does a great job with dogs of all sizes and levels of training! She has helped me with my dog's guarding issues and his off leash recall. Tessa is patient and definitely knows how to get results!

I can attest to both the socialization and boarding of Ruff Life and it is simply the best. Every single staff member is invested in knowing and loving each dog's personality and quirks. Socialization is not simply a fenced area where dogs run. Staff are actively engaged in behavior modification, playing, and rotating dogs between areas. If my dog has a rough day, they let me know what interventions they used and are conscientious about ensuring the happiness and safety of all animals. Their boarding program is equally impressive. For the first time ever, I returned from a trip to a happy and balanced dog. He wasn't anxious or clingy when we got home and he and his bedding were clean. Upon picking Brisket up from boarding, I was nervous that he wouldn't want to go back for socialization but he was so excited to see his people and dog friends again. Ruff Life has given my family a better relationship with our dog and given us the language and tools that WE need to do help him be the goodest boy.

Tessa and the Ruff Life team are outstanding. They have taught us so much and are incredibly patient and understanding. They have helped us so much with various challenges with our pup, who absolutely loves Tessa. We've had great experiences with their 1:1 training, group classes, socialization, and wandering wags. We're very grateful to have found Ruff Life.

I have used Ruff Life for the Train & Board program, as well as the Full Day Socialization program for my 2.5-year-old Belgian Malinois. I have noticed a drastic improvement in his responsiveness to commands, sociability with other dogs, anxiety/hyperactivity, and his overall obedience. Tessa is a fantastic trainer and she has a solid staff of assistant trainers. I would recommend Ruff Life to anyone who is looking to work on training their pup, or get them socialized with other dogs.

Our 5 month old puppy learned so much from the amazing staff at Ruff Life. We enrolled her in the basic obedience class and she did great. Tessa is an amazing trainer; you can tell she is very passionate about her job. Their facility is great and they offer daycare, doggy excursions to hiking trails and more. Now that we have completed basic obedience we are looking forward to doing more classes.

Tessa and her team are amazing trainers who put their heart into their work. Not only does she have years of experience to work with all types of dogs (including my randomly-aggressive weirdo), but she is a good person. I confidently left my baby with her for a week of board-and-train (for a good price!) and afterwards Tessa spent a few hours training me, too! I highly recommend trying out a few training classes or using Ruff Life for daycare. The daycare option is awesome because as trainers you are getting the care and the training all in one!

Fergus always has a fabulous time at Tessa’s Rufflife camp. He is treated like one of the family. We have much trust in Tessa’s expertise.

The folks at RuffLife have been wonderful, way above & beyond the call of duty, in helping us with our charismatic but rambunctious puppy, Cora. (60 lbs @ 8 weeks!) She’s a much more manageable & socialized dog, & even more charismatic, thanks to RuffLife.

We took our puppy, Banjo to the 4 week foundations course and continue to take him to socialization regularly. I can’t say enough good things about Tessa and the staff at Ruff Life. Tessa and the other trainers are knowledgeable and clearly have a passion for what they do. Banjo LOVES socialization and I love having a dog that knows how to engage with other dogs! After previously having a dog who I didn’t socialize and became very reactive/aggressive with other dogs, this means the world to me. I can’t wait to do more training with Ruff Life! *Picture of a tired Banjo at socialization for cuteness

If I could give more than 5 stars I would!! We have taken our first dog to Tessa's obedience class and absolutely loved it (definitely worth the value). She even worked with us when we adopted our second dog to help both of our dogs become fast friends. Tessa is very patient and knowledgeable with both the owners and their fur babies. I have recommended her training services to multiple friends of mine for their pets and have heard great reviews from them as well. We have and will continue to take both of our dogs to socialization. With their highly trained staff I feel comfortable and confident that my dogs are receiving A++ care while enjoying playing with new friends. If you're thinking about trying out their services....DO!

I found Ruff Life via an Instagram post a few weeks after getting our dog, Charlie. Having owned a dog in the past with no training at all, I knew I needed to start off right this time and seeing Tessa in action just felt right for both myself and Charlie. It's now been nearly 18 months of going to Ruff Life and the staff, environment, and other dogs and owners just feels like an extension of our own home!

Ruff Life has been entirely life changing for us, and our dog Dewey! We did a 1:1 training after trying to manage his leash reactivity and fear of strangers on our own. Before our training, we were at the point where we dreaded to take Dewey on walks or introduce him to family & friends. We learned so much from Tessa at our 1:1 that we implanted at home. Tessa also recommended socialization and drop off training. We’ve been consistent with the staffs’ recommendations and working at home and have seen so much improvement (to the point our friends & vet even commented on it). We are no longer anxious about taking Dewey in public and even if he does have some reactivity the staff taught us to handle it. We will continue to take him to socialize, train, and board there because he loves their staff and we feel at peace when he is there.

Indigo, Rhodesian Ridgeback/Lab/Plott mix loves her specialists / trainers at Ruff Life and learned all kinds of ways to play w toys on her pup care days. She returned home the next week dancing and joyfully running around tossing everything and trying to teach me how to play inside differently w things she had learned. i could tell someone had paid special attention to her “as an individual.” She is a foster/rescue through the breed group and lives w Mary, an older BBW turkey and her other pic is w Pip, a bourbon red young turkey she helped raise from 2 days old.

Tessa cares so much for her clients (people and dogs!) We took our dog to Tessa when he was a puppy and are so glad that we did. We are very appreciative of all that we learned and are now more confident dog owners. She is a great trainer and person. I recommend her to all the dog parents out there!

I am a veterinarian and I took my own puppy here for training and socialization. Tessa is an amazing trainer and person. My dog loves ruff life. I recommend ruff life to all of my clients whether it’s for basic puppy classes or one on one behavioral sessions.❤️

Tessa was prompt, professional and very focused on our needs. The review of the basic training skills was a good reminder for us to try en concentrate in our concerns.

We truly cherish having Ruff Life as part of our “village” in helping us raise our good pupper! There is no money better well-spent than a drop-off training, socialization, or one-on-one training. We’ve done all three now and have seen so much growth in our 5 month old Weimaraner puppy, Summer. We look forward to continued sessions and seeing her progress! We are also looking forward to the beginner’s leash walking class starting in a couple weeks. 🤩 Thank you all at Ruff Life for being there for our girl despite her nervousness and slow-to-warm demeanor. Photo shows how tired Summer is after daycare! Never fails 😀

Tessa and all of the folks at Ruff Life were friendly and to knowledgeable and helped me immensely when I was struggling with my new 6 month old energetic pup. We were having so many intense behaviors at home and the 6 week Basic Obedience course changed everything for us. Very quickly Stellar began responding to the training, and has even mastered a few of the commands! I am so impressed by how far we have come over the past 6 weeks. We made lifelong friends there, and will definitely be back for Socialization and the Wandering Wags Excursions. If you could use some support with your pup, check them out. Your pup deserves the best!

I take my pup there every Wednesday for socialization- he loves it! I think it’s been a great experience for him to meet new dogs and people without me around. Definitely helping him be more independent! Great group of people working there. I know my pup is in good hands when I leave him for the day! Here is a pic they sent me after he was there for Valentine’s Day.

The training and insight from Ruff Life was super helpful for our little family. Understanding how to work with the needs of my grumpy old girl is making life a bit easier :)

After about a year with our leash reactive 3 year old rescue, we had plateaued with what we could do ourselves. We read books and even took an internet course, which helped, but we made a huge and immediate leap forward once we started working with Tessa. When she handled our little hound Piper, she showed us the behavior that Piper is capable of and helped us not settle for less. When she watched us handle our dog, she was able to pinpoint where we were losing the battle, like repeating commands while our dog ignores us. Also, she has the benefit of access to other dogs for practice, which was a HUGE help. During our home visit, she facilitated a meeting between our dog and the neighbor dog so that now we don't have to avoid the neighbors on walks. In less than a month I've gone from feeling like walking Piper is a dreaded gauntlet to something that I know I can manage. We're still sending her to socialization and continuing training activities and I feel optimistic that soon she'll be able to accompany us on all of our fun summer activities and not be a source of stress.

This place, and all of their wonderfully kind and well trained staff, are a god send! Having just moved to WNC, I adopted a giant breed rescue. She was the sweetest girl, but had a lot of trauma, neglect and abuse behind her. That meant she was sweet natured but had no socialization which was initially misunderstood as dog agression. Being a now-fully-sized giant breed, there were hardly any dogs that could set boundaries with her as a normal dog would experience growing up in a socialized environment. The diagnostic appointment helped quickly identify the issues, and the exceptionally knowledgeable team was able to help her learn the ropes of proper socialization in a gentle but incredibly effective manner. I now drive 45minutes each way, once a week to keep her active in the socialization program. She also boards there when I’m traveling, without issue and clearly shows signs of enjoying her time there. She’s now besties with my partner’s older dog, and they coexist very well together. I was scared that her trauma may be beyond my ability to help her. And I was right. That’s why I’m so thankful to this team for stepping in to help her reach her full potential. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better resource!

Our Ellie has been receiving weekly drop-off sessions for 2 months. She has really begun to realize that other dogs can be her friends. Tessa and the staff do amazing work getting her to become more calm and less reactive. The staff is always friendly and keep us posted on how she's doing each week.

Tessa works miracles! My pup Izzy was feral. She’s been with me for 4 years and is very loving. Tried many harnesses to walk her but she slipped all of them. Finally decided I needed help. This is our second session with Tessa and Izzy walking on a lead is a miracle. HIGHLY recommend Tessa/Ruff Life Dog Training. 🐾❤️

Started at Ruff Life with a two-week Board and Train while I was on vacation, and have used the Socialization program a few times per week since. I love the additional reinforcement training my dog gets every time she is there. Adds value far beyond most dog care places. Top-notch business.

So grateful for all of the staff and the wonderful work they do. They helped my pup learn to have positive social interactions with other dogs so she has confidence out in the real world. Can’t recommend them enough!!

Our Great Dane puppy has improved so much in such a short period of time. He walks and heels on a leash, plays well with other dogs, has no aggression whatsoever, no accessive barking, sits, comes on command, is not destructive, and is an all around polite puppy! Tessa at Ruff Life came to our home for a private lesson and it was wonderful and worth every penny. Our pup, Zero, has also been in the puppy training class and learned so much and loves it! He enjoys going to socialize also which is just great for him because he is our only dog. I would recommend Ruff Life 10/10!!!

Absolutely love this place! My husband and I take our 2 dogs here for training and for socialization. We also have participated in Wandering Wags and plan to attend more in the future. Tessa, the owner and head trainer, is amazing and gets to know your dogs (and their quirks) so well. She has helped us identify issues and taught us helpful training methods. Our dogs have only been going to Ruff Life for a couple of months but we can already see such a positive change in their behavior. Also, the staff members at Ruff Life are always so friendly and helpful. I can tell they really love dogs. This is the first dog training service we've used and we can't imagine finding one that's better than Ruff Life. Can't recommend this place enough!

Tessa has a way with dogs! She has been training and boarding my sweet Spanky while I recover from surgery. He is doing great, finally getting some "good boy" behaviors down, and Tessa has been wonderful to work with.

Tessa and her team (Cruz, Adrienne, Ashley) are absolutely amazing trainers and truly love what they do! Their passion comes through their work and you know you are leaving your pup with people who you can trust. Tessa is great to work with and creates a fun and non judgmental environment to learn and grow with your pup. She is patient and truly listens to your concerns. We have been working with Tessa and her team since our Callie was 14 weeks old. We started with an individual class and now send her regularly to her dog socialization program during the week. It feels so comforting knowing I can 100% trust Callie is in a safe environment with people who care about her want to see her succeed as a puppy! They work with her during the day and are always giving us feedback on how we can continue to work with her. We just completed Tessa’s basic obedience class and I have learned so much and seen so much progress in 6 weeks. We can’t wait for the intermediate class! I recommend all their services! We have nothing but great things to say about Ruff Life!

We love Ruff Life! The staff, the socialization & training programs, and the facility are incredible - a true gem in Asheville, and we are forever grateful for the positive impact they have made on our dogs lives. Our social butterfly loves the socialization program! And it is no exaggeration to say that the training our oldest pup has had at Ruff Life has been life changing for him (and us)! With the positive, patient and exceptional training he has transformed from a very dog reactive pup to being able to have socialization sessions and safe (happy) greetings with other dogs on walks. He is so much more confident and happy - it has truly made his life better! Both pups jump up and race to the door when we say 'let's go to Ruff Life' If you are looking for a place that will provide the best training, care, and love for your dogs - we highly recommend Ruff Life!

I don't normally write reviews but our experience with Ruff Life was amazing! We called Ruff Life because our puppy has had ongoing issues with separation anxiety including sudden anxiety attacks. It was an issue that I spoke to our vet and dozens of trainers about but continued to have issues with. They were so kind to create an appointment for us despite them having limited openings available. Our experience with Tessa felt like a dog training masterclass. She was able to give us many training tips and techniques to not only build our puppy’s confidence but our confidence in terms of the direction of his crate training. She gave us advice across a range of training topics from how we give commands to positive reinforcement to the importance of nutrition in reaching our training goals. We still have work to do but it took only one visit to see an improvement in our pup’s behavior and how we communicate with him. If you’re on the fence: just do it!

Joey has been absolutely terrific with our Corgi. We did a 3 week board and train and the results have been exactly what we were hoping for. Joey is an excellent trainer, and is a joy to work with. As with many animal behavior issues, training the owner is the key to success and we feel much more confident and supported in this process. Our dog is less stressed and truly enjoys the training moments (mostly!). Highly recommend!!

We were a bit nervous boarding our newly adopted rescue for the first time. It was for 5 days and he had only been with us for just under 3 months. However, we learned from Charlie's Angels Animal Rescue (where we adopted our pup) that Tessa had worked with him through the New Leash on Life Program prior to us adopting him. We thought it would be great for him to go somewhere where there was some sort of familiarity. We were so right! Erika and Tessa sent daily videos and photos of our pup playing with other dogs who were boarded at the same time. I can't say enough great things about them! If you are in need of boarding or training for your fur baby, look no further than Ruff Life Dog Training Services 💕. Thank you for taking such good care of our boy! 🐶

I have a rescue dog with behavioral issues and Ruff Life is truly a god-send! I would not have been able to keep him if it weren’t for the trainers at Ruff Life. Their dedication and patience is amazing. If you have any dog training needs Ruff Life is definitely the place to go!

Tessa's definitely got a gift with critters and very knowledgeable. At our in-home evaluation, she was SO calm and patient with my "wild child" and shared loads of things I can do to help her particular temperament. I tried a bunch of those ideas right away, and my dog responded positively to them ALL! In a follow-up, Tessa helped me evaluate my pup with other dogs to better identify her anxiety triggers. Tessa is so down-to-earth and low key. She listens carefully to what you want to aim for. She's really easy to talk with, and you totally don't feel judged if your fur pal is not quite ... perfect ... shall we say? ;-D Wonderful experience.

Ruff life is the BEST! Tessa and the team are so kind, knowledgeable, and informative. I have a nervous and sometimes reactive baby who needed a lot of extra training and love. Tessa and the team worked with me (and my parents) to socialize her, build confidence, and teach us how to properly train her. We’ve done socialization and 1:1 home training. Also both my pups just tried out boarding for the first time and holy cow it was amazing! I was so nervous to leave my babies but knowing they were in the best hands put my mind at ease. I’m so grateful for Ruff Life!!

We love Ruff Life! We started taking our dog here when he was 6 months old and he’s now a little over a year and a half. It is so nice to be able to drop him off for socialization and know that he is having fun while I'm at work while also learning how to play nice with others and getting the exercise he needs. The staff are wonderful, super helpful and definitely know their stuff! They have helped me and my husband gain confidence in training our puppy, which has helped to strengthen our bond with him. In addition to some of the training courses offered, we also like taking him to Wandering Wags. These are a great way to work on your pup's ability to be in high-stimulation environments, especially if they are reactive in anyway. They are also just fun and offer an opportunity to get outside with your pup and socialize together. We have also done some drop off training for more 1 on 1 training and I love getting the little report card on how his day was. The staff at Ruff Life make you feel like you are leaving your dog with family :)

There is not enough space on the Internet for me to say how amazing Tessa and the Ruff Life crew have been for both of our pups. We have one perfect angel and one awkward weirdo, both of which have been supported amazingly at Ruff Life. Our awkward girl Sprout gains confidence every time she goes to their amazing drop off training program. It’s so fun to take her on walks after her time there and see the immediate changes! I cannot thank Tessa and crew enough for their support of Asheville’s puppers over the years. Keep up the great work!

I called Tessa as an SOS, she was recommended by my vet. I have two corgis and I was very concerned because my dogs were not getting along. I was entertaining the thought of rehoming one of the dogs. Fast-forward one year, I am thrilled to say my dogs are doing great, and all of the training/dog parenting tips Tessa gave me. were spot on. Helene happened at the “tail” end of “our therapy ,” but we stuck with program and I have nothing but praise. I am so happy their business is up and running again. How can you put a value on something that makes your life so much richer and your relationship with your dog(s) so much better. Thank you, Tessa!

I’ve been working with ruff life since my dog Alice was a puppy. Four years later and the ruff life team is still professional, responsive, and flexible. Tessa and Erica always take excellent care of Alice when she stays with them. Attentive to her energy level and her need to have a playmate or a “job” to do, they make sure Alice is stimulated and well exercised. She always comes home happy and tired having made at least a few new doggy pals. Super grateful to have this team in Asheville!

I am so happy that I found Ruff Life for both dog training and boarding. We have made big leaps with our newest pup since taking our initial class. Tessa has been both straightforward and immensely patient as we learn new skills. Boarding was so helpful and I knew that Arrow was in great, responsible and caring hands. I will recommend Ruff Life over and over to anyone! Thank you!

Tessa and her team are fabulous dog trainers. Our dog always returns home tired and happy. Highly recommend them! Jenn & Barley

We have a Great Pyrenees that doesn’t always get along with other people or dogs. Ruff life handled him easily and made us feel very comfortable leaving him. Highly recommend!

After trying out a class at Asheville Humane (nice people but way too crowded and chaotic) and meeting with another facility (way too expensive), I am so happy I found Ruff Life! After losing my sweet, very chill 14 y.o. soul mate doggie a little over a year ago, I adopted Harper, a not as chill, but just as sweet Husky mix puppy. I was not quite prepared for the energy and challenges of a high energy, young pup, but after taking the basic Ruff Starters class with Tessa, we are on our way to a happy, peaceful life together. Other than learning basic commands, I came out of the classes feeling like I understand the dog mind much better, so when puppy antics ensue, I have the tools I need to make sure Harper and I understand each other. I loved Tessa's laid back teaching style and that the class size was small (about 6 pups). It wasn't the end of the world if Harper wasn't grasping everything right away or acting out, so I didn't feel judged for my crazy little gremlin not being quite perfect yet. Once Harper is a little older, I plan on taking another class or two. For now, I am continuing to work on the basics and each day gets better and better, thanks to Tessa and her team. Thank you, Ruff Life!

Ruff Life is amazing! 1:1 training and Socialization Classes has helped my dog so much! She loves going to Socialization Classes. Staff at Ruff Life seem to take a target approach with my dog to help her gain confidence to be around new people and other dogs. I’m so happy with the hard work they have put in with her. I love that Ruff Life takes pictures of her while she is at Socialization Class!

This is the only place I will board my Kylo! Tessa does a great job keeping him entertained and treats him like he was her own dog. Kylo gets excited when I say "Want to go to Ruff Life/see Tessa?" 5 stars!

Tessa and her crew are amazing humans who obviously care deeply about helping dogs (and their owners). She has been so valuable to us in working with our reactive shepherd mix and most recently helping us to find a new companion for said reactive dog when we lost her brother. I honestly can’t say enough good things about everyone we have encountered at Ruff Life. Highly recommend!

Two of our dogs got into a fight over some resource guarding and it was incredibly scary, as neither of them had demonstrated this kind of behavior before and we were at a loss as to what to do. I did a lot of research after speaking with Tessa, if felt like the right fit. Tessa came to our home for an evaluation and talked through our options. Tessa was optimistic, but also realistic, which I greatly appreciated. JuneBug did their two week board and train program and I feel like we have been given the tools to create a happy, calm, household with our dogs. Seeing the videos of all the work they did, hearing all of the positive things they shared about June's time with them, and then seeing firsthand all of the progress that she made was amazing. Then seeing June and Apollo play together and be silly after 2 weeks of being apart just made my heart soar and knowing that we can use all of the tools they can gave us to keep this going and keep everyone safe, was just beyond my expectations. I cannot thank Tessa and everyone at Ruff Life for all of their hard work, their patience, but mostly for the gift I feel we've been given. PS - that's a picture of a very happy, tired dog :)

My dog loves Ruff Life! And I love that he becomes a better dog every time he gets to interact with the great dog trainers here. Thank you so much for helping my wild pup become more patient, obedient, and fun to handle! Best dog trainers in Asheville!

Tessa at Ruff Life does a great job with dogs of all sizes and levels of training! She has helped me with my dog's guarding issues and his off leash recall. Tessa is patient and definitely knows how to get results!

I can attest to both the socialization and boarding of Ruff Life and it is simply the best. Every single staff member is invested in knowing and loving each dog's personality and quirks. Socialization is not simply a fenced area where dogs run. Staff are actively engaged in behavior modification, playing, and rotating dogs between areas. If my dog has a rough day, they let me know what interventions they used and are conscientious about ensuring the happiness and safety of all animals. Their boarding program is equally impressive. For the first time ever, I returned from a trip to a happy and balanced dog. He wasn't anxious or clingy when we got home and he and his bedding were clean. Upon picking Brisket up from boarding, I was nervous that he wouldn't want to go back for socialization but he was so excited to see his people and dog friends again. Ruff Life has given my family a better relationship with our dog and given us the language and tools that WE need to do help him be the goodest boy.

Tessa and the Ruff Life team are outstanding. They have taught us so much and are incredibly patient and understanding. They have helped us so much with various challenges with our pup, who absolutely loves Tessa. We've had great experiences with their 1:1 training, group classes, socialization, and wandering wags. We're very grateful to have found Ruff Life.

I have used Ruff Life for the Train & Board program, as well as the Full Day Socialization program for my 2.5-year-old Belgian Malinois. I have noticed a drastic improvement in his responsiveness to commands, sociability with other dogs, anxiety/hyperactivity, and his overall obedience. Tessa is a fantastic trainer and she has a solid staff of assistant trainers. I would recommend Ruff Life to anyone who is looking to work on training their pup, or get them socialized with other dogs.

Our 5 month old puppy learned so much from the amazing staff at Ruff Life. We enrolled her in the basic obedience class and she did great. Tessa is an amazing trainer; you can tell she is very passionate about her job. Their facility is great and they offer daycare, doggy excursions to hiking trails and more. Now that we have completed basic obedience we are looking forward to doing more classes.

Tessa and her team are amazing trainers who put their heart into their work. Not only does she have years of experience to work with all types of dogs (including my randomly-aggressive weirdo), but she is a good person. I confidently left my baby with her for a week of board-and-train (for a good price!) and afterwards Tessa spent a few hours training me, too! I highly recommend trying out a few training classes or using Ruff Life for daycare. The daycare option is awesome because as trainers you are getting the care and the training all in one!

Fergus always has a fabulous time at Tessa’s Rufflife camp. He is treated like one of the family. We have much trust in Tessa’s expertise.

The folks at RuffLife have been wonderful, way above & beyond the call of duty, in helping us with our charismatic but rambunctious puppy, Cora. (60 lbs @ 8 weeks!) She’s a much more manageable & socialized dog, & even more charismatic, thanks to RuffLife.

We took our puppy, Banjo to the 4 week foundations course and continue to take him to socialization regularly. I can’t say enough good things about Tessa and the staff at Ruff Life. Tessa and the other trainers are knowledgeable and clearly have a passion for what they do. Banjo LOVES socialization and I love having a dog that knows how to engage with other dogs! After previously having a dog who I didn’t socialize and became very reactive/aggressive with other dogs, this means the world to me. I can’t wait to do more training with Ruff Life! *Picture of a tired Banjo at socialization for cuteness

If I could give more than 5 stars I would!! We have taken our first dog to Tessa's obedience class and absolutely loved it (definitely worth the value). She even worked with us when we adopted our second dog to help both of our dogs become fast friends. Tessa is very patient and knowledgeable with both the owners and their fur babies. I have recommended her training services to multiple friends of mine for their pets and have heard great reviews from them as well. We have and will continue to take both of our dogs to socialization. With their highly trained staff I feel comfortable and confident that my dogs are receiving A++ care while enjoying playing with new friends. If you're thinking about trying out their services....DO!

I found Ruff Life via an Instagram post a few weeks after getting our dog, Charlie. Having owned a dog in the past with no training at all, I knew I needed to start off right this time and seeing Tessa in action just felt right for both myself and Charlie. It's now been nearly 18 months of going to Ruff Life and the staff, environment, and other dogs and owners just feels like an extension of our own home!

Ruff Life has been entirely life changing for us, and our dog Dewey! We did a 1:1 training after trying to manage his leash reactivity and fear of strangers on our own. Before our training, we were at the point where we dreaded to take Dewey on walks or introduce him to family & friends. We learned so much from Tessa at our 1:1 that we implanted at home. Tessa also recommended socialization and drop off training. We’ve been consistent with the staffs’ recommendations and working at home and have seen so much improvement (to the point our friends & vet even commented on it). We are no longer anxious about taking Dewey in public and even if he does have some reactivity the staff taught us to handle it. We will continue to take him to socialize, train, and board there because he loves their staff and we feel at peace when he is there.

Indigo, Rhodesian Ridgeback/Lab/Plott mix loves her specialists / trainers at Ruff Life and learned all kinds of ways to play w toys on her pup care days. She returned home the next week dancing and joyfully running around tossing everything and trying to teach me how to play inside differently w things she had learned. i could tell someone had paid special attention to her “as an individual.” She is a foster/rescue through the breed group and lives w Mary, an older BBW turkey and her other pic is w Pip, a bourbon red young turkey she helped raise from 2 days old.

Tessa cares so much for her clients (people and dogs!) We took our dog to Tessa when he was a puppy and are so glad that we did. We are very appreciative of all that we learned and are now more confident dog owners. She is a great trainer and person. I recommend her to all the dog parents out there!

I am a veterinarian and I took my own puppy here for training and socialization. Tessa is an amazing trainer and person. My dog loves ruff life. I recommend ruff life to all of my clients whether it’s for basic puppy classes or one on one behavioral sessions.❤️

Tessa was prompt, professional and very focused on our needs. The review of the basic training skills was a good reminder for us to try en concentrate in our concerns.

We truly cherish having Ruff Life as part of our “village” in helping us raise our good pupper! There is no money better well-spent than a drop-off training, socialization, or one-on-one training. We’ve done all three now and have seen so much growth in our 5 month old Weimaraner puppy, Summer. We look forward to continued sessions and seeing her progress! We are also looking forward to the beginner’s leash walking class starting in a couple weeks. 🤩 Thank you all at Ruff Life for being there for our girl despite her nervousness and slow-to-warm demeanor. Photo shows how tired Summer is after daycare! Never fails 😀

Tessa and all of the folks at Ruff Life were friendly and to knowledgeable and helped me immensely when I was struggling with my new 6 month old energetic pup. We were having so many intense behaviors at home and the 6 week Basic Obedience course changed everything for us. Very quickly Stellar began responding to the training, and has even mastered a few of the commands! I am so impressed by how far we have come over the past 6 weeks. We made lifelong friends there, and will definitely be back for Socialization and the Wandering Wags Excursions. If you could use some support with your pup, check them out. Your pup deserves the best!

I take my pup there every Wednesday for socialization- he loves it! I think it’s been a great experience for him to meet new dogs and people without me around. Definitely helping him be more independent! Great group of people working there. I know my pup is in good hands when I leave him for the day! Here is a pic they sent me after he was there for Valentine’s Day.

The training and insight from Ruff Life was super helpful for our little family. Understanding how to work with the needs of my grumpy old girl is making life a bit easier :)

After about a year with our leash reactive 3 year old rescue, we had plateaued with what we could do ourselves. We read books and even took an internet course, which helped, but we made a huge and immediate leap forward once we started working with Tessa. When she handled our little hound Piper, she showed us the behavior that Piper is capable of and helped us not settle for less. When she watched us handle our dog, she was able to pinpoint where we were losing the battle, like repeating commands while our dog ignores us. Also, she has the benefit of access to other dogs for practice, which was a HUGE help. During our home visit, she facilitated a meeting between our dog and the neighbor dog so that now we don't have to avoid the neighbors on walks. In less than a month I've gone from feeling like walking Piper is a dreaded gauntlet to something that I know I can manage. We're still sending her to socialization and continuing training activities and I feel optimistic that soon she'll be able to accompany us on all of our fun summer activities and not be a source of stress.

This place, and all of their wonderfully kind and well trained staff, are a god send! Having just moved to WNC, I adopted a giant breed rescue. She was the sweetest girl, but had a lot of trauma, neglect and abuse behind her. That meant she was sweet natured but had no socialization which was initially misunderstood as dog agression. Being a now-fully-sized giant breed, there were hardly any dogs that could set boundaries with her as a normal dog would experience growing up in a socialized environment. The diagnostic appointment helped quickly identify the issues, and the exceptionally knowledgeable team was able to help her learn the ropes of proper socialization in a gentle but incredibly effective manner. I now drive 45minutes each way, once a week to keep her active in the socialization program. She also boards there when I’m traveling, without issue and clearly shows signs of enjoying her time there. She’s now besties with my partner’s older dog, and they coexist very well together. I was scared that her trauma may be beyond my ability to help her. And I was right. That’s why I’m so thankful to this team for stepping in to help her reach her full potential. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better resource!

Our Ellie has been receiving weekly drop-off sessions for 2 months. She has really begun to realize that other dogs can be her friends. Tessa and the staff do amazing work getting her to become more calm and less reactive. The staff is always friendly and keep us posted on how she's doing each week.

Tessa works miracles! My pup Izzy was feral. She’s been with me for 4 years and is very loving. Tried many harnesses to walk her but she slipped all of them. Finally decided I needed help. This is our second session with Tessa and Izzy walking on a lead is a miracle. HIGHLY recommend Tessa/Ruff Life Dog Training. 🐾❤️

Started at Ruff Life with a two-week Board and Train while I was on vacation, and have used the Socialization program a few times per week since. I love the additional reinforcement training my dog gets every time she is there. Adds value far beyond most dog care places. Top-notch business.

So grateful for all of the staff and the wonderful work they do. They helped my pup learn to have positive social interactions with other dogs so she has confidence out in the real world. Can’t recommend them enough!!

Our Great Dane puppy has improved so much in such a short period of time. He walks and heels on a leash, plays well with other dogs, has no aggression whatsoever, no accessive barking, sits, comes on command, is not destructive, and is an all around polite puppy! Tessa at Ruff Life came to our home for a private lesson and it was wonderful and worth every penny. Our pup, Zero, has also been in the puppy training class and learned so much and loves it! He enjoys going to socialize also which is just great for him because he is our only dog. I would recommend Ruff Life 10/10!!!

Absolutely love this place! My husband and I take our 2 dogs here for training and for socialization. We also have participated in Wandering Wags and plan to attend more in the future. Tessa, the owner and head trainer, is amazing and gets to know your dogs (and their quirks) so well. She has helped us identify issues and taught us helpful training methods. Our dogs have only been going to Ruff Life for a couple of months but we can already see such a positive change in their behavior. Also, the staff members at Ruff Life are always so friendly and helpful. I can tell they really love dogs. This is the first dog training service we've used and we can't imagine finding one that's better than Ruff Life. Can't recommend this place enough!

Tessa has a way with dogs! She has been training and boarding my sweet Spanky while I recover from surgery. He is doing great, finally getting some "good boy" behaviors down, and Tessa has been wonderful to work with.

Tessa and her team (Cruz, Adrienne, Ashley) are absolutely amazing trainers and truly love what they do! Their passion comes through their work and you know you are leaving your pup with people who you can trust. Tessa is great to work with and creates a fun and non judgmental environment to learn and grow with your pup. She is patient and truly listens to your concerns. We have been working with Tessa and her team since our Callie was 14 weeks old. We started with an individual class and now send her regularly to her dog socialization program during the week. It feels so comforting knowing I can 100% trust Callie is in a safe environment with people who care about her want to see her succeed as a puppy! They work with her during the day and are always giving us feedback on how we can continue to work with her. We just completed Tessa’s basic obedience class and I have learned so much and seen so much progress in 6 weeks. We can’t wait for the intermediate class! I recommend all their services! We have nothing but great things to say about Ruff Life!

We love Ruff Life! The staff, the socialization & training programs, and the facility are incredible - a true gem in Asheville, and we are forever grateful for the positive impact they have made on our dogs lives. Our social butterfly loves the socialization program! And it is no exaggeration to say that the training our oldest pup has had at Ruff Life has been life changing for him (and us)! With the positive, patient and exceptional training he has transformed from a very dog reactive pup to being able to have socialization sessions and safe (happy) greetings with other dogs on walks. He is so much more confident and happy - it has truly made his life better! Both pups jump up and race to the door when we say 'let's go to Ruff Life' If you are looking for a place that will provide the best training, care, and love for your dogs - we highly recommend Ruff Life!

I don't normally write reviews but our experience with Ruff Life was amazing! We called Ruff Life because our puppy has had ongoing issues with separation anxiety including sudden anxiety attacks. It was an issue that I spoke to our vet and dozens of trainers about but continued to have issues with. They were so kind to create an appointment for us despite them having limited openings available. Our experience with Tessa felt like a dog training masterclass. She was able to give us many training tips and techniques to not only build our puppy’s confidence but our confidence in terms of the direction of his crate training. She gave us advice across a range of training topics from how we give commands to positive reinforcement to the importance of nutrition in reaching our training goals. We still have work to do but it took only one visit to see an improvement in our pup’s behavior and how we communicate with him. If you’re on the fence: just do it!