Lily

When my two sons moved to homes of their own they took their fur babies with them. I knew I wanted another dog, but waited until 2019 when I retired. In May 2019 I brought Lily, an English Cream Golden Retriever into my home. Two things I knew for sure, 1. She was going to be a big girl, 2. I wanted her well trained.

Lisa had been a neighbor of mine years ago, and I knew she had started a stellar training program for dogs, it was a no brainer. Lily started at 4 months with the beginners class, then intermediate and finely advanced.

The staff inquired if I would be interested in enrolling Lily in the off leash program. I hesitated because of the cost, I was planning on a trip to Italy October 2020 and more training was not in my plan. But—at 55 pounds and strong as an Ox, an off leash program was less costly than a broken hip, so I signed her up. That was a year ago, we are still a work in progress but I have a well-trained dog that I can take anywhere. I’m glad I didn’t wait until after my trip since that’s postponed until 2022!

Lily continues to go to day training once a week, it keeps her current and she loves the staff.

Thank you Canine Academy

Vicki Smith

Barley

To Lisa Farlin and the excellent staff at Canine Academy

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It is four weeks since Barley came home from Off Leash Training and I wanted to take a little time to let you know how pleased we are with the outcome.

As you know, Barley is a sweet dog but we were unable to achieve the outcomes we desired with the levels of training we had gone through.  He was able to get away with quite a bit as the corrections didn’t phase him. 

The biggest problem for us at home was his jumping on people who came over to our house.  And eventually he was jumping on Wayne as he tried to get out the door in the morning for work.  It forced us to put him in his crate or other rooms by himself.  During his day training stays he was giving the girls a hard time and unfortunately starting to nip at them.  Having a dog who could potentially bite someone was not an option for us.  Our yard is unfenced and we could not go out in the yard without him leashed.

After Off Leash Training the dog who came home with us is still our sweet, silly, loving  Barley.  He did not forget us!  He is so attentive and well behaved.  Our expectations of what our dog would be like when he  came home  are blown away!  We now have a dog and a gentleman in our house.  He has not once jumped on us or any guest in our home.  We have the tools to correct him should he need it, but I must say it is very seldom.  Our family and friends are truly amazed at the changes in Barley.  We tried for quite a long time to manage Barley on our own but were limited and thus unsuccessful.

We enjoy Barley so much more now.  There are no ‘bad times’ with him or plans we change because of his potentially bad behavior.  He is confident in what is expected of him and we are confident taking into challenging new situations.

Finally, I would like to say that I worry less for his safety.  I know he will listen to me and that in the off chance that he doesn’t, I have the tools to correct him.  I know he will not dash off after a squirrel or deer on a walk or jump and run at a startling noise.  He will ‘leave’ or ‘drop’ anything he should not have (including a piece of chicken fat that fell on the floor in the kitchen yesterday).

So, I sign off with much thanks from the Richards family for transforming our dog into the dog we always hoped we would have!

Joan and Wayne Richards.....and Barley too of course.

Maggie

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We got our Golden Retriever Maggie as a puppy.  We loved her from the moment we brought her home.  We were looking for a family pet to cuddle and play with our growing boys.  As Maggie got older and bigger, she would get into all sorts of trouble.  She was a counter surfer and would eat anything she could find in the house, including socks.  She would constantly pull on walks and jump all over our kids.  The bottom line was she just wouldn’t listen.  We closed off all rooms in our house and tried everything we could think of to keep her off of counters and tabletops.  We would walk her multiple times a day and she was still crazy.  It was not fun to have her around.  I felt like I could never relax with her out of her crate. 

 My cousin recommended Canine Academy and said it was definitely worth the investment.    After doing the off leash program, Maggie listens!  I mean she LISTENS.  She is confident and calm. She is amazing.  We understand Maggie and she understands us.  My boys used to avoid Maggie and now they love spending time with her.  We enjoy having Maggie at home and taking her various places.  Lisa and her team have been amazing.  It has been a complete change and I am so grateful to have the amazing dog we always wanted.  We always loved Maggie and now we love her behavior.

Thank you, Lisa

Bob and Sarah 

Bentley

"Bruce"

Soon after we brought our Golden Retriever puppy, Bruce, home I realized I was in trouble. With three very busy kids and a 4-year old Golden Retriever already at home, I realized that I had bitten off a little more than I could chew. I just did not have the time to devote to the weekly training sessions that I did with my other dog. My cousin had sent her very "exuberant" lab to Lisa so based on her recommendation we decided to send Bruce to Canine Academy. Overall, as far as puppies go Bruce was a great puppy. However, he was a puppy, doing all those "naughty" things that puppies do. He left for training as a feisty 7-month old puppy that did not follow directions and loved to chew on area rugs. He came back as an unbelievably well behaved 9-month old puppy that follows commands and as a result can go anywhere with us. He is calm and confidant. He does not jump on guests, walks on the leash perfectly and sits calmly on his mat next to me at my kids' soccer games. People are just amazed by his good behavior when we are out and about. I wish I had known about Lisa and Canine Academy when my other dog was a puppy. I spent over a year and a half taking her to weekly obedience classes with mediocre results.

“Nikki”

The Zolno Family – “Nikki” – Golden Retriever

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We got Nikki, our 7-month Golden Retriever in March and knew we would be enrolling her in the Canine Academy's Off-Leash Program. Lisa has trained 3 other dogs of ours in the Off-Leash Program. As a result, we have become complete "canine snobs" and are unable to imagine having a dog that had not been trained by Canine Academy.

We got Nikki back in July, and as usual, we have a remarkable dog with unbelievable abilities at only 7 months old. Nikki goes to work with me every day and will sit in my office on her "Place" during meetings without anyone knowing she is there. We live on 5 acres with no fencing and are able to let her roam free with absolutely no doubt that she will "Come" when called.

The difference this training makes in the life of your dog, and you, is remarkable. We highly recommend Canine Academy for anyone considering training for their dog. 

Mary and Roy

"Jake"

The Collins Family - "Jake" - Golden Retriever

Prior to the Off-Leash Program, we were considering giving our one-year-old Golden to anyone who would take him!  He would drag us on a leash, not come when called, and chase everything that moved.  We did the basic obedience and even had a trainer come to the house.  Nothing worked.
Jake enrolled in August of 2002 with Canine Academy.  We were re-united with a changed dog.  He is obedient to any of 11 commands.  He remains in our sight when he is outside.  His spirit remains and can be a rambunctious as ever, but responds to his commands at any time. He always accompanies us when we go anywhere during the day.
We cannot say enough positive things about the Off-Leash Program and Jake, the “Wonderful” dog.