Wizard of Paws is a dog training and grooming centre like you’ve never seen before. It’s the brainchild of Maddisen Phelan, a local dog trainer who got so busy doing private, in-home dog training and grooming from her home that she needed to open a storefront location to keep up with the demand – she just couldn’t get to everyone driving from appointment to appointment.

Now, she says, she can help more dogs, holding all her private training appointments in her new facility on James Street in downtown Georgetown, with clients bringing their pooches to her.

While small puppy classes will eventually be available in the boutique-sized store, Maddisen says her clients love the one-on-one sessions, being able to ask questions and cover behavioral challenges that couldn’t be covered in a class environment. They also really appreciate her ongoing follow-up availability for support.

What really makes Wizard of Paws such a rare find is their specialties. In addition to puppy socialization groups, drop-in off-leash play sessions, private training and a grooming facility, pups and their people can register for puppy camp, a day-care program that includes structured training time and nap time, and two levels of trick training classes.