Moving to Alpharetta, Georgia-Need recommendations please

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

Hi.  We will be moving from Northern Michigan (Traverse City) to Alpharetta this summer.  Actually my husband will be moving there at the end of this month and my daughter and I will be joining him after school gets out for the summer.  Anyhow, we are looking for information on the following:

1. Does anyone know of any short term furnished rentals/rooms to rent?  Currently the only option we've found for my husband is staying at an extended stay hotel but it is going to be very expensive for 4 months.

2. Recommendations for a vet

3. Recommendations for a groomer

4. What are the good areas and things to do with dogs? (We have 3-a Goldendoodle, a minature poodle and a toy poodle)

5. Recommendations for a boarding facility

6. Recommendations for an obedience training facility

7. Recommendations for best family friendly neighborhood (We have a 9 year old) with houses under $225,000?

8. Recommendations for pet stores

9. Recommendations for a local realtor

Thanks in advance for any info you can give.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Hi Jennifer,  Do you mind if I ask what company your husband works for?  It will help in letting you know neighborhoods.  I live in Roswell which shares city lines with Alpharetta (we will be practically neighbors).  All the schools are great; most of the Roswell/Alpharetta schools are national schools of excellence.  And the nice thing ab out Alpharetta is it is still horse country.  So if your 9 year old is horse crazy there are lots of stables offering riding lessons (mostly English).

My vet and groomer will probably be a bit out of the way for you but depends again on where you are looking for house.

We have a couple of dog parks near by.  There is the Wills Park dog park (it also has a large kids play ground as well as horse show rings and city swimming pool).  Further west is Leita Thompson park which has a nice 2 acre large dog area dog park.

Also in Alpharetta is Atlanta Dog Trainer for both obedience and agility.  I have used them for obedience and keep threatening Harlow to use them for agility.  They do boarding as well.

BTW, I sent you a friend request so I can send you some maps of the Alpharetta & Roswell area parks.

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

Thanks for the reply.  My husband is going to be a Territory Sales Manager for Snug Seat and will be covering all of Georgia, Alabama and Tennesse.  Snug Seat does not have a physical location in Georgia so he will be working from an office in our home and traveling throughout his assigned territory.  The company wants us to live in the Atlanta area and we've pretty much decided on the Alpharetta area.    

[Jo and Beamer]

I live in Alpharetta. The vet I use is Alpharetta Animal Hospital. I use to go to Jones Bridge for 13 years but when I got Beamer in June I switched there. They do not have scheduled appointments so I love that option. They also have a good groomer named Joye. I use Fido's Market on McGinnis Ferry Road for buying dog food etc. Alpharetta has tons of Pet shops so you will not have a problem. Fidos Market also has a groomer. Beamer does not need anything but baths these days so I just bring him in to Fidos for the self serve bath.

There is a couple dog parks. One at Newton Park the other at Wills. The public Greenway space has lots of dog walkers and it is as long as you want it to be.

I have never boarded a dog but if I had to I would use Alpharetta Animal or Camp Bow Wow

Obedience class at Comprehensive Pet Therapy in Sandy Springs.

You will find that Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton all use to be Alpharetta. A few years ago each little area became there own town. There are many great schools that lead into good middle/high schools. Look at the sat's etc to find this out.

I live in Seven Oaks. The majority of the towns are based on the neighborhoods. Look for a good swim/tennis for neighborhood involvement. Look for sidewalks, bike trails.

The traffic stinks here. Any place that is good will have lots of traffic is what I have figured out.

[Frannie & Callie]

Hi Jennifer - I'm not in Alpharetta, but Atlanta proper, so I don't know the ins and outs. Callie and I look forward to meeting you and your crew though! We do try to get together, we atlanta-area doodle peeps! WIshing you all the best for your move and transition!

[Melissa McCartney]

I lived in Alpharetta (actually MIlton) recently (just moved this past summer). I loved it there, but got a divorce and had to move closer to family. My kids were at Summit Hill Elementary and Milton High School. I loved that area, it was still very rural but close enough to shops or even Atlanta if needed. 

I took my dog (Cosmo) to Wolfbrook which is a private dog park in the area. They also did boarding, daycare and training there. While I was there they had a huge 4th of July barbecue which was a blast, they cooked out and everyone brought sides and treats for the dogs. There is a creek on the property which was great for keeping cool.

I went to Roswell North Animal hospital since one of the moms I met at the school told me about it. I was very happy with them. For a groomer I went to this place in Downtown Alpharetta called the Pooch Porch Cafe.