Gracie

Gracie, an English Golden Doodle exuberantly bounced into my life 7 months ago.   She was extremely energetic, and the play was never-ending.  She loved to bite, eat absolutely everything she found on the ground, chew anything she could, and run around the house like a tornado.  She is a very flexible dog and could squeeze into almost any tight space where I couldn’t reach her when she had something she shouldn’t. She broke things in the house with her love of the “chase game” when I complied with her wishes and played the game to rescue her from swallowing whatever she had in her mouth. As adorable as she was, I was exhausted and frustrated and although my previous dog had been through all the courses at Canine Academy including off-leash and had turned out to be a very Great Dog, I felt like no one could tame this little puppy that I loved. 

After completing the beginner and intermediate obedience classes, Gracie went to off-leash and I got a break from all this energy. While watching the posts of Gracie training in various places and sitting in a store on her own and, even better, BEHAVING, I would just laugh with glee.  I couldn’t believe it.  The people at Canine Academy told me they had seen it all and that Gracie was indeed trainable, and they were right.  She is still very energetic which means that I get a lot of exercise, but the bad behavior in the house is gone. 

In my past experience with Canine Academy, they are always there for you and your dog.  The day training classes are great to keep improving your dog’s behavior and to give you a little break.  There are lots of outings to participate in to get your dog used to being out in crowds and around other people and dogs.  They are always available if you have a question or a problem with a particular behavior.  Lisa was even with me when my other dog, Maggie, took her last breath, and I will always be grateful.  She has a way with dogs and knows how to train the people that love them.  So, now my little best friend has become a Great Dog, and I have become a Great Dog Mom! 

With deepest thanks always Canine Academy,

Colleen Gagnon & Gracie

Ted

Our American Bulldog, Ted Williams, is the second dog we have trained through Canine Academy.  We are so happy and pleased with the training, that we tell everyone we meet how wonderful it is. We have referred several people to the program.  We would never ever have a dog that we didn't train through Canine Academy.

Joe, Anne and Ted

Merlin

I picked up my dog, Merlin, at the end of June from Canine Academy, when he became a successful graduate of the Off Leash Program.  Woo Hoo!  Merlin is a mix between an Australian Shepard and a Poodle.  Another heartfelt Thank you to Lisa who gave me a much appreciated lead on him as I rescued / adopted him, from the K9 Stray Rescue League in Oxford, when he was 5 months old.  It was love at first sight but admittedly, I didn’t know what I was in for with him, as his personality and energy level is so much different than my previous dog, who was a Bouvier.

Merlin is the second dog that I have had that has gone through the Off Leash Program and I would not hesitate to do it again. My first dog, Sosie, was a Bouvier, and she went through the program later, when she was a bit older.  She was the greatest dog ever, as Merlin is and is becoming, more and more each day. 

Even though I had been through the program before (many years ago), I still wondered about the 6 week time frame, but was assured that the time would pass quickly.  And it really did, even though at times it was a bit agonizing.  I read some of the other Testimonials on the website and I can relate to so much of what was written by other great dog owners.  Merlin is super high-energy and was a terrific puller on his leash and harness.  It was super high-excitement (really over the top), whenever we would encounter anyone (people and dogs) on our walks.  We stopped walking him for a time and just played fetch in the back yard as walks were becoming so difficult and stressful.  He was a digger and a stick and acorn eater.  Now, that has changed.  I can also attest that his personality has not changed after going through the Off Leash Program.  He is the most loving dog and is still very excited, high energy, and he runs like the wind.  His energy is just channeled differently, if that makes sense.

It was very helpful and reassuring to watch the instructional tapes and to see pictures of Merlin on the Blog and videos (of him and other great dogs) on Facebook.  They were so much fun to watch.  I checked the Blog countless times while he was in the Program.  That was wonderful, although I did shed a tear now and then.  That wasn’t available with my first dog when she went through the Program.  It was such a pleasure to see him as he was making progress.

One of the other great things that I love about the Off Leash Program and Canine Academy, in general, is that when I bring Merlin in for Day-training or Boarding (even though I don’t go away too often), I know he is safe and is with other great dogs.  It is such a comfortable feeling.  I also cannot say enough good and positive things about the Staff.  Everyone has been so helpful and reassuring and the information shared with me has been invaluable.

I hope this information may help some of you who may be deciding if this is a good option for you and your dog.  Again, I would not hesitate to do this again, and take part in the Off Leash Program again in the future.  We do have work and practicing to do together, Merlin and me, but what a joy and a difference I see ahead of us.

We look forward to the outings we would like to take advantage of and participate in, in the near future and all of the other great things I know is in store for us.

Thank you to Canine Academy and Staff from Merlin and me.  You are the greatest!!

Sincerely,

Teresa and Merlin



 

Mollipop

Last September, our family adopted a 4 month-old mixed-breed puppy from the Rochester Humane Society. At first, Mollipop was as sweet as her name suggests. As she grew a bit older, though, she exhibited an excessive amount of hyperactive energy and was constantly in motion. She never paused to cuddle and wouldn’t nap unless we crated her. She often resorted to mischief to cope with her nervous energy, and we were convinced she didn’t know how to relax. Mollipop surfed the counters regularly, stealing anything she could reach. She shredded mail, homework, instruction manuals, etc. She destroyed three pairs of our daughters’ prescription glasses, a universal remote control, several shoes, and eventually some furniture. She lived for the game of chase that ensued after this naughty behavior in order to stop her, therefore creating a frustrating and expensive cycle of negative attention. We realized  quickly we did not have the tools to train this puppy effectively. We were exhausted and desperate for some relief when we learned about Canine Academy.

I enrolled Mollipop in the Beginner training class and day-training twice a week. This combination of training definitely helped curb her destructive behavior, but I could tell we had bitten off more than we knew how to chew with this pup. You see, Mollipop was a 45 pound mix of pit-bull and boxer. In addition to being extraordinarily cute, she was very strong and very stubborn. I’d leave the one hour class exhausted from wrestling her into position. While I couldn’t deny her slow but steady progress, I knew we didn’t have the the kind of time necessary to devote to training to guarantee her success, and the inconsistent use of commands at home from my husband and our three teenage kids was terribly confusing for all of us. Mollipop’s training was admittedly an afterthought because of our crazy schedules, and her bad behavior was taking a negative toll on our family.

I felt bad for Mollipop. I had wanted to give her a loving home with a family who adored her. Instead, the chaos she created caused our stress level to go through the roof and we began to resent her because she seemed like constant work. So instead of enrolling her for her the Intermediate Class, we opted for the Off Leash training program. 

At the time, it seemed like an exorbitant amount of money to spend on a dog. We had some very real concerns: Would she remember us? Would she be mad at us for sending her away for 6 weeks? Was Mollipop even capable of being a GREAT dog or was this a hopeless waste of money? If it worked, would she still be playful or would she lose her personality? We agreed the time and expense was worth the risk. We dropped her off in Oxford and wished the staff the best of luck. At 8 months old, we were pretty certain Mollipop was going to give their trainers a run for their money.

Week 1: I won’t lie - we didn’t miss Mollipop AT ALL. In fact, her absence felt pretty amazing. The house stayed clean. We didn’t miss the cold trips outside to take her potty. The stress level in the house lowered dramatically. The break from her mischief felt like a breath of fresh air.

Week 2: Mollipop started to make some pretty impressive photo appearances on Facebook via the Canine Academy blog. She was sitting. She was staying. She was obviously LISTENING to commands! This was very exciting to see.  There was hope! She was doing it! 

I called to check on her:  I about fell out of my chair when Lindsay told me she was doing great and everyone loved working with her! She wasn’t driving them crazy?!!! Amazing.

Week 3: Photos of Mollipop all over town started to pop up on the blog! Videos demonstrated her ability to calmly stay in one spot even with the distraction of strangers and other dogs surrounding her! Our hope for our puppy quickly turned to PRIDE. We started to remember all of the fun things about Mollipop. How she was always so happy to see us. How much she made us laugh. How we named her because she would “pop” her little butt up in the air when she was excited. We began to miss her terribly and couldn’t wait to see her! 

I called to check on her: She was ahead of schedule!!! How could this be possible?!! There’s no way we could have done this on our own!

Week 4: I now checked FB every day for more amazing photos and videos of our trained dog. She continued to surface - inside classrooms, stores, nursing homes, etc. But I noticed something very different now. Her ears appeared relaxed and borderline floppy. Her demeanor was calm and relaxed. It was obvious the work was no longer hard for her and she was enjoying herself. Our dog rocked and we couldn’t WAIT to bring her home!

I called to check on her: Mollipop has gained confidence and is beginning to understand that humans and training keep her safe. The feeling of “safe” is comforting so she looks forward to commands to avoid danger!

Week 5: Mollipop sightings continue via the Canine Academy Blog. We anxiously prepare for her arrival. We buy her a welcome home basket of toys and treats and talk about her incessantly.

I didn’t call to check on her: I know she's in GREAT hands and doing just fine!

Week 6: My husband and I went to Canine Academy to work with Mollipop for three 1 hour training sessions. 

                Day 1: We were nervous and excited. I think she was too. She was happy to see us and worked very hard with great success. We felt anxious and a bit overwhelmed. We were worried we’d mess up her training!

                Day 2: We were much more relaxed going into this session. When she saw us, she was ecstatic. She dropped at our feet and rolled over for the biggest belly rub with excitement. She worked hard with great success, and was definitely relaxed.

                Day 3: We felt confident with the information Kara and Christine had patiently shared with us to educate us about our Great Dog. We understood we would make mistakes, and so would Mollipop, but ultimately everything would be okay. Mollipop was happy to hop in the back of our car to go home with us, but we never got the feeling she was impatient to leave Canine Academy. It brought us joy to see how comfortable she was there and how fond she was of her trainers. We were happy for our girl.

Since she’s been home.

We are happy to report that Mollipop continues to be a GREAT DOG!!! Still a puppy at 9 months old, she is extremely well behaved. We take her with us everywhere with great confidence! We even opted to stay local for Spring Break so we could spend time with her and reap the benefits of her training! We took her for a two night staycation at The Townsend Hotel (the staff there is amazing) and shopped with her in Birmingham. She was happy to be along and very polite in every store we visited no matter what distractions presented themselves.

We then took her to the country for a few days where she enjoyed the freedom of wide open spaces and the room to run like the greyhound she thinks she is. We are most amazed by her willingness to stay close to us. It’s obvious she trusts us to keep her safe and that brings her great comfort. Mollipop no longer presents as an anxious dog with nervous / hyper energy. Instead she is calm, gentle and loving. She enjoys relaxing and cuddling with people. She is polite when meeting strangers and friendly with children and other dogs. While she is still tempted to dig (as it really is great fun), she now stops when we tell her to leave it. She no longer surfs the counters because her OFF command has taught her that’s not a safe choice. She rarely gets into trouble because she chooses to be near us, and is almost always within eyesight. Therefore, we can catch her before she makes mistakes and correct her with ease. 

In reality, we spent far less money on Mollipop’s training than we would have spent on a Spring Break trip with our family of 5. By foregoing one week of vacation, we now feel like we LIVE ON VACATION WITH OUR GREAT DOG! It’s truly the best decision we could have made! We are so grateful for the staff at Canine Academy! They treat Mollipop like family, and are incredibly invested in her success. We never hesitate to call to ask questions and are so thankful for their ongoing support! Mollipop's training affords us the luxury of peace of mind whenever she is with us. As a result, we play with her all the time and she receives the love and attention she deserves. She brings our family an immense amount of joy and we are so very proud of her! She IS a GREAT dog!!

The Myers

Maggie & Sullivan

Five years ago on a beautiful fall evening we brought a new yellow Labrador retriever puppy into our home.  “Maggie” became our “girl” and part of our family.  We enrolled Maggie to take the beginner and intermediate training classes with Canine Academy.  While this training provided Maggie with the tools she needed to follow our commands, under high distraction she was still unpredictable.  The following Spring while on a walk on Paint Creek Trail, Maggie had the urge to go swimming. She pulled her leash out of our hands, jumped into the creek during the spring high water runoff and was swept downstream where her leash got hung up on a branch of a submerged log.  Sue and I looked at each other with horror as we both thought Maggie was going to drown.  Somehow the leash came undone and Maggie swam to the bank and climbed out wagging her tail, smiling!  It was at that moment we decided to enroll Maggie in Off Leash Training. It was a difficult 6 weeks without her around but after completion of the training we were elated with the entire process and the Canine Academy staff that trained and cared for Maggie.  Off Leash training was just what we (and Maggie) needed allowing us to travel, walk downtown Rochester, shop in pet friendly stores and shopping malls, go to outdoor concerts in parks and dine in pet friendly restaurants.  She learned to always come when called ensuring her safety. In other words, having a dog that we could make part of the family on any variety of outings.

So fast forward to the fall of 2017.  A phone call from Lisa about another young Labrador retriever that has a medical issue, needs post-surgery care and a forever home. He’d been a Leader Dog in training with Lisa until sidelined by elbow dysplasia and would be making a career change.  “Would we consider a brother for Maggie”?  So after thinking it over, we said yes!  We met “Sully” and discussed physical therapy and surgical after-care with the veterinarian.  We knew we were in for a lot of work and the work turned out to be more than either one of us imagined but we were committed.  We followed doctors’ orders and grew to love Sully as much as we love our Maggie!  It was a long 3 months of crate rest, therapy and veterinary visits but in January of 2018, Sully was finally off restrictions and entered Canine Academy for Off Leash Training.  The Canine Academy staff did a marvelous job training Sully and now we are the proud owners of two off leash graduates!  We are so grateful for the dedication, the caring and compassion of the Canine Academy staff as they train and care for our dogs. Just this past week, both dogs used their skills as they accompanied us to a local elementary school where the children read to them as part of March Reading Month activities. We couldn’t be prouder of both of them!

After Sully completed his Off Leash training, Lisa set up visits for Maggie to be re-introduced to her brother and it went very well.  When we took Maggie and Sully home, Sully entered the house, got a nice long drink out of Maggie’s water bowl, looked around, sighed and laid down on his bed.  Sully knew he was home and settled right in.  It was like Joanna Gaines was saying. “Welcome home Sullivan, welcome home!”   Thank you, Lisa and Canine Academy staff, for enabling our dogs to be Great Dogs!

David and Sue Boes

Bella

We adopted Bella (1/2 Doberman, 1/4 Staffy and 1/4 Weimaraner) when she was six months old. Bella has always been full of personality, loving and enthusiastic.  However she was not very disciplined, she jumped on people, licked faces, barked relentlessly at other dogs and vigorously pulled us along on her walks.  She would occasionally even snatch unguarded food (potentially off plates!).  She did all of these things in the best of humor often looking at back at me or licking my hand to say “aren’t we having a great time?”  Her rescue organization had recommended obedience training and I located Canine Academy on the internet.  We began beginner classes and day training.  The classes changed a  lot of Bella’s behavior and things were really improving at home, but if you added any distractions (other people or dogs) she would not respond to commands quickly, or at all.  I left a few pet stores to put Bella back in the car and then went I back in to the store complete my purchase.  People were intimidated by her behavior and it was embarrassing.   The trainers in Birmingham suggested that off leash training would help Bella overcome distractions.  I was very nervous about a six-week separation and worried that all of Bella’s personality would be trained away.  But I read a lot of other testimonials on Canine Academy’s website and I thought that it would be unbelievable if  Bella could respond to all the commands described in off-leash training.   So after meeting with Linda and Lisa who explained the whole program, Bella attended off-leash training for six weeks in November and December.  All of the Canine Academy trainers and staff helped me survive the six weeks while Bella was away at “boot camp”. I watched the blog and the Facebook page and made an occasional phone call and the time flew by.  When Bella came home, I had the same experience that other people described. She still had all her quirky and endearing traits (somersaulting into you for cuddles and defining her conditions for watching television as a family (must be touching!).  She immediately sought out and began playing with her favorite toys.  The difference is that she does all these things in a well-behaved fashion and listens and responds to all her commands under all sorts of distractions. Her behavior is amazing and we continue to take her into more and more new situations with great success (she even recently attended a party and did not sample anything off the buffet).   Bella is now a Great Dog!  We wholly recommend off leash training. Everything Canine Academy said was true and we am very happy we did it!

Paul, Jane and Bella

Oscar

To those of you considering this off-leash training program, this was the best money I have ever spent. I have a Shiba Inu who like most (all), have a mind of their own. I love an outdoorsy lifestyle and wanted my dog to enjoy it as much as I do, which was not possible when I’m in constant fear of him running away absentmindedly. After a little over 6 weeks of a strangely quiet home, I was able to pick my dog up. I am now able to take walks off leash and know that as soon as I call him, he comes running back to me with his tail wagging and a smile on his face... every time. That’s all I really wanted, but I got so much more. I have a confident dog who knows how to behave in all sorts of situations. Things I never realized, were corrected. The entire staff is fantastic and so supportive. The daycare is perfect for a little refresher and I feel happy leaving Oscar for boarding knowing that everything he has learned is being maintained and strengthened. Long story short, I have an off leash dog, something I never really was possible. It makes my heart happy that he is happy, and that’s an investment well worth it. 

Kelsey

Bucky

Thank you so much for taking such good care of my Bucky he always enjoys his stay and I know he is well taken care of and safe.  It was a long stay for me and I sure missed him.  He slept on my bed last night and could not get close enough to me. I wish you all the best with all your new programs and new facilities, they all sound fantastic. Canine Academy is a wonderful place and I have one of your Great Dogs.  Thank you again! I wish you a Happy New Year and a successful 2018.   

 Joanie and Bucky

Kody

We were not supposed to have another dog after our dog, Gracie, passed; but along came Kody, who needed a home.   We looked into those blue eyes and how could we resist?

Kody "moved" in at 12 weeks old and we knew immediately we had our hands full.  He's a mini Aussie Shepherd full of boundless energy.   Walking became a challenge, he would pull us down the street.  We'd  prayed we wouldn't see a squirrel or bird, especially geese.  Kody would become almost uncontrollable, jumping up and down,  barking, and pulling. Our arms soon began to hurt from all of his pulling. He was terrible when passing other people walking their dogs.  It wasn't unusual for others to avoid us because of Kody's behavior.   It was so embarrassing.  He was constantly barking at the children as they walked to school in the morning and home in the afternoon.  He would not come when we called him. The back yard was a challenge, he was always chewing on sticks, pine cones, and digging holes.  We made so many trips to the vet.  If we'd try playing with him in the back yard, it was not fun.  He loved herding us. He would nip our ankles and it hurt.  It didn't take long to figure out that Kody definitely needed training. 

We often drove by Canine Academy, read the reviews,  and eventually called.   Linda went over with us what the Beginner class entailed and we signed Kody up. After Beginner class, we did  Intermediate and Advanced classes.  Kody did great, life improved but we wanted more. We had hopes of doing some traveling.   The skills that Kody had learned were not quite enough. We talked with the trainers and all agreed how much Kody would benefit from Off Leash training.   We soon learned that Kody would spend 6 weeks at Canine Academy,  no coming home at night.   We were not comfortable with that.  Would Kody forget us? Would he still love us after leaving him there for so long? Would he ever want to go back to Canine Academy after he came home? Would his personality change?  What if he got sick? So many doubts ran through our minds.  Even though we had these thoughts plus so many more, we made an appointment with Lisa to discuss Off Leash training. 

Our meeting with Lisa went great!  Lisa carefully went over everything about Kody's behavior issues and how Off Leash training would improve both our and his life. Lisa explained what a typical day for Kody's training would be like.   Kody would be traveling around town to Birmingham,  Rochester,  Oxford,  Detroit,  and to the farm for daily outings and training. One thing for sure, he would not be bored.  It sounded so good, we wished we could sign up for Off Leash training too!  Lol.  Lisa explained the process and gave us access to videos to help us prepare for Kody’s return home.  Once Kody completed Off Leash training,  there would be weekly outings we could attend with other owners and dogs to help us master the use of Kody’s training.   Lisa also told us that if any health problems occur, Kody would be checked out by the vet.  We were told that Kody's personality and enthusiasm would not change.  He'd be the same energetic guy only well trained.   

It wasn't easy leaving Kody at Canine Academy.  Lots of tears and needless worry.  We would email, we'd check Facebook constantly to see a picture or video of him, and  lots of calls to check on him.  Every time we called,  we were always reassured how great Kody was doing.  We must admit, there were some silly questions.  Was he eating, how's his poop, did he make friends, was he happy.  We must have drove them nuts, especially Lindsey.  Just before Kody was done with Off Leash training, we met with Lisa and Kara to discuss Kody s progress.  Kara explained how to use the training and worked with us and Kody. Our next meeting,  Amanda helped us in working with Kody.  We had lots of questions and they were always answered.   On our third meeting,  we finally brought Kody home.  Little did we realize our life with Kody was about to change dramatically!

When we got Kody home,  it was like he'd never left ,only now he obeyed!  Kody actually came to us when we called!  No more barking at the kids as they walked by.  A simple come command and Kody came running to the door.  No more eating sticks, pine cones or digging.  A leave it command,  and Kody would stop herding.  Walking became a pleasure, no more sore arms. We were actually able to talk to other dog owners with their dogs while Kody remain in a down stay.   It was definitely noticed.  So many times we heard what a great dog Kody was,  he listens so well.   One day a squirrel was in a tree over head of us, Kody looked up and continued walking like the squirrel didn't exist.  We were amazed!

We finally took Kody to our cabin in northern Michigan.   We were always afraid of taking him because of his behavior.   He loved it, especially all the new smells.  The best part for us was that he listened even when the neighbor's dog came over to visit uninvited.   We enjoyed having Kody with us.  We now have plans to go to Florida for a few months after Christmas.  We can honestly say that we have confidence in Kody to be a great dog on our trip.

When Thanksgiving day arrived, we knew it would be a test of Kody's Off Leash training.   He was thrilled to see everyone.  While on his mat, the children wanted to play with him.  Kody wouldn't leave the mat until we released him!  It was very impressive.   Dinner was great. No begging for food or under foot.  So many times we heard what a great dog Kody was.  We are so very proud of him.

We continue to drop Kody off for day training and an occasional over-night. It's great to see him so happy when we pull into the parking lot.  He loves seeing everyone. This gives us so much peace of mind knowing he's so well taken care of and loved at Canine Academy.   We know that if any questions or concerns arise, we're just a phone call or email away from an answer. 

We can't thank Lisa and her staff for all the wonderful training and love Kody has received and continues to get. We feel so blessed to have found Canine Academy.   Kody was a good dog but now he's become a GREAT dog!  We're no longer embarrassed to take him anywhere.  We are now truly enjoying Kody.

Thank you,

Janet and Larry Dougla

Wilson

Happy owner … Happy dog!

We brought Wilson, a Yellow Labrador, into our home on July 25, 2016 at eight weeks old.  We watched him grow from the moment he was born.  We loved him … unconditionally.  Wilson has always been a charmer.  Good looks, great personality, ready to please, curious, tons of energy.

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The challenges we were having with Wilson involved him barking for attention, putting his mouth on us (not nipping at us), pulling on the leash during walks, jumping on our senior golden Lab, jumping on us when we entered the house, chasing squirrels and birds, jumping on counters.  So here we are with a wonderful puppy with so much potential!  We tried and tried, but we couldn’t get through.  We weren’t sure what to do, and he wasn’t sure what he should be doing.  We wanted a well-behaved dog and most importantly, we wanted him to be safe.

We reached out to Canine Academy on a weekend.  That same day we received a returned email letting us know when the next available opening was.

Wilson has gone through the Canine Academy Beginner through Advanced training session, achieving his Canine Good Citizen and Community Canine Certificates.  We weren’t sure he would pass.  During one test during a “heel” command he picked up an orange cone mid-stride!  I thought I was going to die (I had to admit this was funny, but not when your testing!)  I though Lisa would tell us he had work to do.  Instead, she said, “Wilson gets extra points for that!”  At this point Wilson has overcome most of our concerns and he acts appropriately in public settings, but distractions such passing another dog, birds and squirrels were still a struggle.  Here’s me:  “Oh no there is a bird”, and Wilson: “Watch me, I’m going to run as fast as I can to get that bird!”  Wilson’s really a great dog, it’s just the distractions!  But you take a dog for a walk and you’re going to get distractions!

We decided to enroll Wilson in the Off-Leash training program to overcome these distractions.  Six weeks of solid, hands-on training with experienced trainers and staff.  Lisa and her awesome trainers worked each day with Wilson to teach him the skills he needed to be overcome those distractions.  They taught him to listen to his 15 commands, the first time.  What I am most impressed with is they made the learning fun.  Wilson worked hard for six weeks to learn everything he needed to be successful at the training.  We were not going to let him down.  We faithfully watched the videos.  We anxiously awaited for Wilson’s return.

Through Wilson’s training at Canine Academy, Wilson is now confident; he knows what is expected of him; he listens to what we say, when we say it, the first time!  Canine Academy guided us through every step of the way.  They continue to guide and support us through day visits and weekly outings.  Canine Academy wants Wilson to be just as successful as we want him to be.  Wilson knows the commands better than we do!  He knows when we mess up, but he forgives us!  Good thing Canine Academy has several outings a month that we can attend to practice our skills!  Canine Academy is there every step of the way if we have questions or notice we are struggling with something.

Food falls on the floor, distractions come upon us, everyday situations.  We know the commands to help Wilson overcome all of these things.  We now know what to do to help him be successful.

The kids came home to visit and said, “Wilson’s different”.  I said yes, he is.  He now knows what not to do.  He knows not to jump on you when you come in the door.  He knows not to jump on the counter.   But he is still the same, loveable, quirky dog he was when we first invited him into our home!  He still loves to play, he still loves to cuddle, he still loves to be with us wherever we are.

Remember the birds?  This is me now, “Hmm, there’s a bird.”  Wilson: “Stupid bird!” Remember the orange cone?  Yep, he still wants it, but will he try to get it?  Nope! That dog on our walk he wants to meet.  Will he pull to go meet it?  Nope!

Through Lisa’s good humor, love and passion for dogs, hard work, and team (this is not possible without her awesome team), we are pleased to say that Wilson is an obedient, well-mannered and awesome canine companion!

In closing, we thank Lisa and all of the trainers and behind the scene staff at Canine Academy for your encouragement, support and guidance and most of all, love you have shown to not only Wilson, but all of the dogs that go through your wonderful program!  The training you have provided our family is invaluable.  We could not have achieved these results without you!

Canine Academy is, well … Priceless!

Love Wilson and his Parents!