Better Dog Co.

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Better Dog Co. A structured canine fitness studio in Market Square, Charlottesville. Private slatmill conditioning by appointment.
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Raising the standard for dogs, including those without homes.

10/23/2026

This silly girl has become one of my favorite dogs to work with. We’ve been meeting twice a week for the past few months, and I love watching her progress.

Ebba is incredibly fast and agile, loves playing in her yard with her dog friends, and is a natural with her herding ball. She’s been learning the slatmill (we love a multitalented queen) and although this pushed her out of her comfort zone initially, it’s been so cool watching her learn and get better every single session!

Big milestone: she hit 5 mph this week! I went back to using treats for motivation alongside lots of praise, something I taper off of after a few sessions typically, but I’m always learning and growing alongside the dogs and refining how I work one on one with dogs and their owners. No two dogs are the same! I’m excited about Ebba consistently hitting a mile on the slatmill, I feel like we’ve found our groove. I’m so proud of this girl!!

Honestly, the slatmill is about so much more than speed or distance, though. It’s fun to see the dogs who are amazing at this, I totally get it. But a lot of sessions look just like this. Ebba gets 30 minutes of one on one time, a problem to solve, an opportunity to focus, and consistent experiences that build positive associations. She’s also learning that car rides with someone other than her owner can be a good thing, and that new places are fun, which are really valuable life skills for dogs to practice.

Every dog learns differently, and that’s part of what makes this work so rewarding. The goal isn’t for every dog to perform the same way. It’s to give them an opportunity to try something new, build confidence, and enjoy working through a challenge.

Progress looks different for every dog, and Ebba is a perfect reminder that it’s worth celebrating every step of the way. 💙

10/22/2026

Barked at, side eyed, humbled, and possibly outsmarted by animals that eat things off the ground for a living…

anyway, same time tomorrow 🐕💃

09/23/2026

We’ve been given the disclaimer so many times that people don’t think their dogs will “be able to do it”, and it’s always so rewarding to surprise dog parents with what their dog is capable of. 🤗

09/23/2026

Charlottesville dog owners! if your dog isn’t a dog park dog, that doesn’t mean they don’t need an outlet!

Maybe they’re reactive around other dogs. Maybe new people are overwhelming. Maybe daycare is simply way too many variables. Or maybe you’re tired of feeling like your options are basically “dog park or nothing.”

That’s exactly why we created our studio. Slatmill sessions give your dog a structured, one on one outlet for movement and mental stimulation without the chaos of a crowded park or daycare. Everything happens in a controlled environment, at your dog’s pace, with you there if you want to be.

And if getting your dog out of the house is the hard part? We can help with that, too. Pickup and drop off are available so adding exercise to your dog’s routine doesn’t have to become another thing on your to do list.

✨ First session is always FREE.
✨ One on one sessions
✨ No dog park chaos
✨ No daycare overwhelm
✨ Pickup + drop off available

If you’ve been thinking, “I know my dog needs more, but I don’t know what will actually work for us,” come try it with us.

09/15/2026

If you have a high energy breed, you probably know the feeling:

You walk them.
You play with them.
You throw the ball.
You take them places.

And somehow you come home with a dog who looks at you like:

“Okay! What are we doing next?” 😂

That’s because a lot of high energy dogs aren’t just looking for more miles. They’re looking for something to think about.

They were bred to move, watch, respond, make decisions, and work alongside a person. So sometimes the answer to an “impossible to tire out” dog isn’t simply more exercise.

It’s purposeful movement + mental engagement + a little structure.

That’s one reason I love the slatmill for these dogs. It gives them a job to focus on while letting them move in a controlled, intentional way.

And no, the goal isn’t to run your dog into the ground. 😂

The goal is to give that busy brain something productive to do.

Structured movement. Balanced dogs.

If your herding dog seems to have an endless battery, you might not have a broken off switch.

You might just have a working dog who’s looking for work. 🐕

09/10/2026

I think we need another slatmill

08/30/2026

We’ve been hanging out with this guy since we started Better Dog Co. back in February, and can’t believe he’s still adoptable at Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. Niblet is SUCH a fun guy, and truly has such great reviews from everyone who spends time with him. He has a solid foundation of basic obedience, loves everyone he meets, is great at “doing a job”/trainable, and is obsessed with playing with his toys. What’s not love here people?!

We love being able to help by volunteering our time to run dogs like Niblet once a week. The slatmill helps dogs in the shelter fulfill their exercise needs and get some time outside of the kennel while they wait for their forever home. We also post these dogs to social media to help get them exposure— the more eyes on them, the more likelihood they’ll be adopted.

If you aren’t interested in adopting right now, you can help Niblet and dogs like him, by liking, sharing, and engaging with social media that showcases rescue animals.

Want to help more? A $35 dollar donation to the Better Dog Fund helps us continue to increase the amount of shelter dogs we are able to run each week. Our goal is to be able to commit a full day to the shelter every week. The link to help support The Better Dog Fund is in our bio.

So, haaaaaave you met Niblet? 😏

08/28/2026

Patience to wait your turn? Never heard of her. 😂

These girls have such a fun dynamic and definitely love a little friendly competition when it comes to the slatmill. It’s really incredible to see how the dogs teach each other, and how much they learn by watching!

We love having pairs of dogs come workout together at the studio. Bring your two from home or bring a friend and have a workout play date before you grab coffee or get lunch on the downtown mall.

Link to book your first free session in our bio. 👯‍♂️

08/25/2026

Mocha & Paloma are 1 year old sisters who live in a 5 dog household. Their siblings are getting older and their mom hurt her knee recently, so they needed a solution for the extra energy these two have. We love how Mocha & Paloma keep each other motivated, definitely a little friendly competition going on! Today they both hit a new personal best of 12 mph. So proud of these girls! 💙

Address

1110 E Market Street Suite 12-I
Charlottesville, VA
22902

Opening Hours

Monday 6am - 9pm
Tuesday 6am - 9pm
Wednesday 6am - 9pm
Thursday 6am - 9pm
Friday 6am - 9pm
Saturday 6am - 9pm
Sunday 6pm - 9pm

Telephone

+14342183774

Website

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