Testimonials

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" Nikki Macy"

Macy was a 5yr old mixed breed when we enrolled her in the Canine Academy. We got her from the Humane Society when she was a puppy. She was always a good dog, but as our family expanded to 3 kids and things got busy with work we had less and less time work on her training. She began to take over the house and do things on her terms. She loved to be outside with the kids but would eventually lose interest in them and would leave the yard. She would not come back when we called her. We moved into a new house with a mail slot in the front door. Macy would wait for the mailman by the door for 2 hours everyday. When she heard the screen door open, she would start barking and as soon as the mail started coming through the slot she would pull it through and tear it up. Of course, the mailman would always come when the baby was taking a nap. A daily crying baby, an angry wife and torn up important mail from work lead to the ultimatum....."Find a new home for that dog or get her trained" Unwilling to part with Macy we enrolled her in the off leash program.

It was an amazing transformation after only 6 weeks; Macy definitely returned home a great dog. Once we were "trained" to train her, we were able to fix the barking and mail problems. We are so thankful to Lisa and Lea for the work they did with Macy. Sometimes she still gets the urge to wander from the yard but when we call, she comes immediately.

Our only regret with the Canine Academy is that we didn't enroll Macy in it 5 years earlier.

The Hoeglers
Birmingham, MI
Jan. 2012

" Nikki Harley" – German Shorthaired Pointer

Harlie is a German Shorthaired Pointer who was 10 months old when we decided to send her to the off leash training program at the academy. We met Lisa and her staff in Frankenmuth at the "Dog Bowl" and were amazed with how well behaved the dogs that were there representing the company were.

We got Harlie when she was 8 weeks old and had not had a puppy in 13 years. After months of the yelling and destruction we realized we were not correcting any of the puppy problems or making anything easier for our family. Having a puppy was becoming more of a problem than a joy.

After bringing Harlie home from the academy we were so thrilled with having our puppy back, being able to correct her properly and now getting to "enjoy" having her.
Lisa and her staff are absolutely amazing and this was the best thing we could have ever done not only for the Harlie but for our family.

I would highly recommend The Canine Academy to everyone who owns a dog and thinks they have a good dog, because when it's all said and done you will have a GREAT dog and it's so worth it!!!!!

Heather McInchak-Worley
Dec. 2011

" Louie Louie"

Louie's behavior was out of control when he was a puppy before you helped us with him.

Thanks to canine academy he's part of the family. Louie is so much better behaved he looks like the same dog but doesn't act like the same dog.

Thanks so much,
Carlene Long
Oakland Twp., MI
Dec. 2011

Louie From the MosserFamily – “Major” – Great Dane

We sent Major, a Great Dane, away to school because we knew a big dog like a Great Dane would need to be a GREAT dog or we would be in trouble. We started beginner classes but decided the 6 week school program might work out better for us.

We truly have a great dog now. He comes when called, goes to his place and stays there unless released. Our friends do not mind if I bring him with me to visit as they don't even know he is there unless they see him.

I truly feel the Canine Academy lives up to all their advertising and if you experience the training you will never want another dog that is not trained to the caliber that this school offers!

Bob and Sherry Mosser
Oxford, Mi
Dec. 2011

Nikki The Zolno Family – “Nikki” – Golden Retriever

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
Sept. 2011

Kawvika The Dew Family – “Kawvika” – Pitbull

I bought Kawvika from a good friend of mine in Hawaii who breeds show Pitbull's. I already had a 5 year old cockapoo named Sassy but I wanted to own a Pitbull my whole life and it was never a good time to get one. After lots of thought I did what I wanted to do for so long, and that’s to own a Pitbull. I got Kawvika, and knew when he got older I would have to get him trained at some point. Well at 9 months old Kawvika weighed 105 pounds and was still growing, so I knew it was time to get him trained. I found out about Canine Academy through the dog park I took Kawvika to. I met a guy there who said a friend of his took his dog to Canine Academy, so I did some research and set up a meeting with Lisa. I felt very comfortable with her and her training dogs. When I dropped Kawvika off for his six week, off leash training program, Kawvika would not listen to me, he wouldn’t come when I called him, he wouldn’t sit or stay, and I could not walk him-he would pull me around every time I took him out. When I picked Kawvika up from the Canine Academy 6 weeks later he was a new dog! I couldn’t believe how smart he was! Kawvika was taught 15 commands and hasn’t failed me yet. The best thing I ever did for my dog was to bring him to the Canine Academy. Lisa and her staff are great, and if I ever get another dog, I will be bringing it to Canine Academy. Thanks again for a great dog.

David Dew and Kawvika

Scout The Will Family – “Scout” – Jack Russell Terrier

Scout is yet another Canine Academy success story - his journey from "that crazy dog" to "canine good citizen" is nothing short of amazing. We continue to participate in off-leash outings and advanced classes just for the adventure and fun it brings. I love the exposure to different dogs/owners/locations and the learning opportunities the off-leash outings provide! My only regret is that I didn't find out about Canine Academy’s off-leash program sooner.

Scout was almost 8 when we teamed up with the Canine Academy and we are so pleased with his transformation! Prior to Scout's off-leash training, I was too embarrassed by his bad behaviors to take him any where. He was out of control when we encountered another dog, would only come if he wasn't interested in something else, and would spin in a circle when he was over-excited. Even an annual trip to the Vet was challenging. Canine Academy to the rescue! Scout is a changed dog and as an added bonus, I've developed a new confidence in my own abilities to handle life with my little terrier (former Jack Russell Terrorist). Thank you Canine Academy!

The Will Family

Maggie The Aycock Family – “Maggie” - Labrador Retriever

We brought Maggie to Canine Academy under pretty desperate circumstances. She had recently growled and snapped at our 6 year old boys, who love her dearly. We had had serious discussions about finding another home for her. Dave found Canine Academy after desperately looking for alternatives to giving up Maggie and we gave them a call. Lisa spent a great deal of time with us on the phone listening to our situation and advising us realistically and honestly about what she could provide and what she sensed might be the problem with Maggie. Maggie had recently been through so many changes - including moving twice and having knee surgery. And she had not been raised with these two rambunctious boys who wanted to love all over her. Maggie had also never really been trained. Lisa talked with us about how Maggie was living under the pretty constant stress of not being assured that she could rely on us for her safety. It really made sense and even more so now that we have her back. She was nervous and easily agitated before the training and now seems calm and assured. She was a huge puller when we took walks before the training - she now will walk comfortably and not pull. She was a big barker when we dropped the kids off at school - now she does none of that. She used to get very "mad" when people came to the house - now we can put her in a stay and it actually works. It's much more comfortable for our guests and our belief is that it is more comfortable for Maggie as well. Oh yeah - and now she comes when we call her :-) We highly recommend the off-leash program - it has allowed us to keep our beloved Maggie.

Dave and Angela Aycock

Swanky The Richardson Family – "Swanky" – Golden Doodle

Swanky is the happiest and most exuberant puppy. She seemed to feel that everyone who came in the front door needed her to greet them with a lot of excited jumping and many wet kisses. Sometimes it would go on for a good 3 to 5 minutes before I could curtail her. When our guests would sit down, she was sure they wanted her to jump into their lap so she could continue the process. I guess she thought they would love the attention. Not everyone did.... So I, trying to be a good host, would crate her so she would leave them alone. That would start an onslaught of yapping and barking. It was time for some training for Miss Swanky. She went into the off leash program at the canine academy. Now, Swanky's manners match her sweet happy personality. She always comes when she is called and has learned what "off" means. She can greet our company without making a scene and if she makes any noise in her crate (rare) all I have to do is say quiet and that's the end of it. She walks beside me when I ask her to, and will sit or lay down on command. What a pleasure she is to be around. Everyone who comes over loves Swanky. I'm so glad she had such a good experience at Canine Academy. Not only was she trained to behave like a lady, but she got the chance to play with other dogs and puppies, and who doesn't like to hang out with their friends. Swanky is such a pleasure to be around that she gets to be part of the party when our friends come over. Lisa and Lea, I am so happy with the results I've had with Swanky. Her good conduct recommends you to all of our friends. Thanks again.

Katie Richardson

Diesel The Gagnon Family – “Maggie” Goldendoodle

Maggie is a Goldendoodle. However, she turned out to be more Golden than Doodle - lots of energy, very loving, a people pleaser, soft, loves every minute of life. But when she was small, we called her "The Demon"! She lived to jump on me, bite at me, and steal anything paper. My goal had been to get a dog that would keep me walking every day. But more than that, I am in a period of my life where I was looking for a way to give back. Seeing Maggie's loving personality and high energy, I realized that Maggie needed a job and I needed to volunteer, and if we worked together, we could both have that. But the little "demon" needed to be tamed! After going through beginner and intermediate obedience at Canine Academy, I knew that Maggie would benefit from the Off-Leash program and that would help her get ready to become a therapy dog so that she could be busy and I could give back.

She is home from the Academy now, and what a great dog she is! She loved her training and did very well at Canine Academy. Walks that used to be difficult because at 75 lbs, her pulling on the leash was hard on me, are now a pleasure. We walk twice every day and she has many friends in the neighborhood that have watched her grow from an unruly puppy to a beautiful companion thanks to the Canine Academy. We train every day and she loves to attend the weekly training sessions that the Off-Leash graduates take part in. Lisa and her trainers gave Maggie the tools she needed to be an absolutely wonderful dog. Now we work together to fine tune those tools and everyone that knew her before is quite impressed by how well-behaved she is now. My life is so much better with Maggie in it, but part of that is thanks to the wonderful people at the Canine Academy and the great work they do with the dogs. If I ever add to my dog family, we will surely be calling them again!

Diesel The Leszczynski Family – “Zoro” Portuguese Water Dog

In 2009 we decided to add a dog to our family. I had been researching breeds for several years and we chose a Portuguese Water Dog puppy. We have had dogs before and were really not expecting any large upset. We enrolled ourselves in the beginner's training with Canine Academy and missed a few weeks because Zoro was in the hospital and almost died but they really did not know what caused it. We joined the intermediate training course and made it through 2 sessions before he was rushed to emergency again. This time he had eaten 3 articles of clothing and had to have them removed from his intestines. We still thought we could watch him better and handle it ourselves; he became our whole family's nightmare. After the 5th vet visit, thousands of dollars, and too much heart ache we called Lisa and met with her about off leash training.

Zoro is now 18 months old and the off leash program truly saved his life. He would never have stopped stealing and eating things that were not ingestible nor were we able to watch him every second of every day and enjoy life. The off leash program is not a way for someone else to train your dog, but rather a way to get the core skills taught in a controlled environment so that they stick. It did take another good 6 months of enforcement at home to really get our crazy guy to think before he acts but no more over night stays in the doggie hospital and he really is a joy rather than a burden now. Zoro is a very happy dog and we are very happy dog owners!

Diesel The Zoschnick Family – “Diesel” Portuguese Water Dog

We chose our Portuguese Water dog Diesel because this breed is great for people with allergies, smart, playful, and energetic. At the same time they can also be strong willed and stubborn.

As Diesel grew into a larger puppy things became more difficult. We had a dog that thought everything in the house was a toy to chew (even unusual items like a hammer, tools, coins, paper, and tissue). We hadn’t had a dog that was large enough to counter surf before. When we were answering the phone, he was helping himself to the whipped cream off the pie on the counter or taking the toilet paper out of the bathroom and running through the house.

Diesel loved people so much that it became hard to control his enthusiasm when he met new people. Just like any family member we wanted him to be well behaved and safe so we signed him up for puppy class. This helped but we new we needed more.

We heard about Canine Academy’s off-leash program and decided to sign him up. I was a little concerned intensive training might change his sweet and goofy personality-I didn’t want a robot dog. When we picked him up after 6 weeks he still had the same great personality that he had and now he understood that the commands we give him will keep him safe. This past Halloween was such a pleasure. Diesel was able to sit at the front door and watch the trick or treaters and I didn’t have to worry about him.

Lisa and her staff are awesome. They gave us the tools to keep Diesel safe and to have a well-mannered dog. I would recommend Canine Academy to anyone that wants their good dog to become a great one.

Thanks again Lisa and Leah.

Ernie The Denek family – “Ernie” Shepherd/Lab Mix

Ernie receives many compliments on how well behaved he is and I always tell them he received his training at the Canine Academy. He loves young children and acts almost as a shepherd with them - never leaving their sides. It is really cute. I could not be more satisfied and look forward to enjoying many years with a GREAT dog.

Pooxi The Wasserman Family – “Pooxi” Chinese Crested Powderpuff

Pooxi is a graduate from the Canine Academy’s Off Leash program. Upon completion of her training, we were off to Germany. She did great on the plane, from EST 4 PM until EST 3 AM. She is happy in Germany, no problem with airports or immigration, and now she is nesting in her new home. She is just a great dog, just like they said! Thanks, again and again.

Gary

niki The Lopez Family – "Niki " Havipoo

My pal Niki was a cute little girl that I loved but she did have me trained. After being trained herself at the Canine Academy, I now love her more. She is the star of the show where ever she goes and people ask me how she became so good after being so spoiled. I owe it all to the Canine Academy because I could not do it myself.

sully The Pullem Family – "Sully" Wheaton Terrier

This summer our granddaughter is working for the Rochester Jaycees teaching a program they sponsor called Safety Town. The program is for preschool children (ages 4 to 6 years old) that teaches safety lessons about fire, traffic, water, strangers, dogs, guns, poison and drugs.

Our granddaughter thought it would be a good idea to use Sully in the dog safety part of the program. This would be his first adventure since graduating from the Canine Academy and passing his TDI (Therapy Dog International) test.

We couldn’t have been more proud. He sat very quietly while our granddaughter read a book about safety to the class. Then each student got in line and walked up to “Safety Sully” and asked if it was okay to pet him. He calmly let over 50 kids do this without a whimper. He has since worked at five more classes (150+ kids) without a single problem.

Zeus The Rogers Family - "Zeus" Lab/Boxer Mix

Zeus came into our Family as a rescue from the Oakland Animal Shelter in August 2007. He was approximately 7 months of age and was afraid of everything and everyone. He seemed to develop issues of fear anxiety and fear aggression. As he grew older he became more difficult to train. His issues with fear became intense and uncontrollable. After a year of home training, with no success, we decided to contact Canine Academy, making it our first substantial step in helping Zeus. We made an appointment with Lisa and the rest is history... Zeus became the dog that we knew he was, underneath the fear and anxiety that he had been plagued with for so long. Zeus is now the best Zeus he can be, and we couldn't have done it without Canine Academy.

The "Off Leash" program has provided our Family with an obedient, confident, and well socialized dog. We now have the tools to help Zeus be the very best he can be. Our experience with this program has been exceptional. If you are having second thoughts in pursuing this program, please don't!

We can never thank Lisa and her wonderful group of trainers enough, for everything that they have done. Lisa, we love you guys. Thank you for all of your love and support.

The Rogers Family

Toula The Faklaris Family - "Toula" Labrador Retriever

Toula was a very rambunctious lab who loved to jump on people, listened only on special occasions and, one time, knocked over my 76 year old mother. I really needed to train Toula but did not have the time as I was relocating to NY. I knew about Canine Academy's Off-Leash program when I took my other Lab, Teddy, to their obedience class.

I enrolled Toula in the off-leash training program and it was the best thing I ever did. After 6 weeks, Toula returned home a rock star. I take her on walks and she heels like a champ. She runs around at the park and always comes when called. I take her to my nephew's soccer games and she stays in a down-stay perfectly. In fact, I have had numerous people approach me and compliment Toula's behavior. I have found it easier to tire-out a puppy with both a mental and physical 'workout'.

Canine Academy gives me the confidence to take Toula anywhere and people do not mind when I bring her to their house, to outdoor BBQs, or to the lake house.

Toula is my 4th yellow lab and I usually have to wait untll they are 2 years before they settle down and behave. Toula is 9-month old and very well behaved. In hindsight, I wish I would have taken all of my dogs to Canine Academy. I will surely enroll my future puppies in the off-leash program.

E. Maria Faklaris

Trapper Lee The Lee Family – "Trapper" Shepherd Mix

We chose our rescue puppy from a litter of four that had been separated from their mother at birth. At three months, he was ten pounds of pure energy. We named him Trapper. Like some puppies do with their siblings, Trapper liked to circle, growl and nip at us. However, as he grew into a muscular seventy-pounder, the circling-growling-nipping behavior became a serious problem. When off the leash, Trapper would not come when called; but, when he felt like it, he would come at us with the circling-growling-nipping. No one was safe from his “attacks”. When on the leash, holding Trapper back was like trying to restrain a locomotive. Both my wife and I had been pulled to the ground by his sudden moves. With bandaged tooth-scrapes and torn clothes, we sought special group and individual training for him. After spending several hundred dollars and many hours, none of these efforts helped Trapper. The prospect of being able to take walks with him on our fifteen acres seemed to fall away; and his future activities seemed to be limited to restraint cables and separation from society.

Then one day I spoke to Mark at Market Place Pets of Clarkston about Trapper. He said the only person that might be able to help was Lisa at Canine Academy. He knew of other tough cases she had solved. So, after some phone conversation and a thorough personal interview, we handed Trapper over to Lisa and her team at Canine Academy for six weeks of care and training.

On the first of August, 2009, we were greeted by our new dog, Trapper. Lisa and her friends transferred the training keys to us. Our “new” dog Trapper will walk at our side or on a five foot leash without pulling us. Off the leash, he comes when he is called and no longer circles or growls or nips at us. He walks with us, with or without the leash. He is joy to be around. He sits and lays down on command; and he is socializing with family, friends and neighbors. With the ongoing training for Trapper and us (which is provided by Lisa and her friends at Canine Academy), we are now able to enjoy and treasure the time we have with our great, new dog.

The Davenport Family - "Cindy" Lab/Border Collie Mix

When we rescued our one year old Labrador mix, Cindy, from owners who no longer wanted her we had no idea the emotional turmoil she had been through. Our poor girl had at times been in a cage for up to 13 hours straight, had no personal connection with anyone, and was terrified to the point of viciousness of men. We decided to try the personal training with her first and quickly realized our girl needed much more than we could personally offer her with a one hour training session a week. She was just such a mess.

My daughter discussed Cindy's plight with Lisa and the decision was made to allow Lisa and her wonderful team to take her and work with her away from us. They were our last chance at saving her from herself and the neglect she had suffered before we received her. The plan was to train her for 7 weeks, but at the 6th week we received a call saying she was ready for us, and that we could make the appointment to be trained on how to continue the training they had instilled in her. When we first saw her it was like seeing a different dog! She was relaxed, she was happy, she was CALM, and she followed commands like we had only dreamed her doing. Cindy is a treasure now and is enjoying her life living on a lake with our other Labrador mix, Ralph, who she constantly makes look bad with her obedience and willingness to please. We don't know what we would have done without Canine Academy's help and are eternally grateful to them for saving our girl.

The Defever Family - "Tasha" Siberian Husky

The Canine Academy Off-Leash program is amazing! We have a Husky puppy named Tasha. We were told that Huskies cannot be trained and do not even think about it. We read that they were one of the hardest breeds to train and the most stubborn. That is the reason that we went to Canine Academy. We started with the beginner program and what a difference it made. Tasha could sit, stay, lie down, and complete all the beginner commands. The one command, however, that she was being stubborn about was the come command. The one command that we needed her to know. We decided to send her to the off-leash program. It was sad leaving her for that long, but when she came back, what a different dog! She was still her quirky self, but she listened and obeyed her commands. She now can run around our 40 acre horse farm and come back when called. She doesn't try and go into the horse pasture and she doesn't bother the cats. If you have any concerns about your dog, send him/her to the off-leash program. It is amazing and well worth it. We plan on sending all of our dogs, no matter the breed, through the program.

The Martz Family - "Parker" Great Dane

We rescued a pure bred Great Dane, Parker, at 8 weeks of age. Within a week we almost lost him due to an undiagnosed virus. We gave him very special attention because of this. Of course he grew very quickly and at the same time he took advantage of the situation and decided that my wife was his favorite chew toy. He was jumping and nibbling her arms all the time. My wife was so bruised that it became a choice between the dog and my wife. We decided that Metamora Canine Academy was the answer. Their training is extensive and our dog came back a distinguished gentleman. Lisa and her staff work wonders. The training is something that neither my wife nor I could ever have accomplished on our own. Lisa and Leah made us feel that our dog was the most important dog in the world. He is now well mannered and responds to commands without having to repeat them a hundred times or raising our voices. I know he misses Lisa and Leah, the outings and all the fun they had.

Metamora Canine Academy - thank you again for everything.

Nick & Jean-Parker Martz

The D'Aoust Family – “Lili” German Shepherd

Our dog Lili is a graduate of the Metamora Canine Academy off leash program & all we can say is AMEN! She is a purebred German Shepherd & for some reason we seemed to think we could train her on our own. Needless to say, months later & many days & nights spent repeating "NO LILI" louder & louder we were totally exasperated & had almost given up. Then we heard about MCA through a friend at work who raved about the total transformation of their dog via Metamora's training. We agreed it would be the best choice, especially as our family had a new baby & my husband was deployed overseas. Lisa met with me & immediately assessed the situation, sensing my exasperation & knowing they could help. I have to admit, I was pretty relieved to drop off Lili & relished the break during her training. I was a little apprehensive seeing her for the first time but immediately felt relief as she was behaved like a totally different dog! Lisa & her trainers, especially Leah, had done what we couldn't.....no more mouthing, no more talking, no more bolting out the door & certainly no more jumping on guests. THANK GOODNESS! Lili is now a joy to be around & that couldn't have happened without Metamora Canine Academy! Thank you Lisa and all the staff....we have a great dog thanks to you!

Allen & Erika D'Aoust & the kids

The Maxwell Family – “Tyrone” Dogue de Bordeaux

After years of rescuing Bulldogs-often abandoned due to lack of training and behavioral problems-I became convinced that training the dogs we love is one of the greatest gifts humans can provide our canine companions.

Few people have the professional knowledge or luxury of time to devote to the type of training offered by Metamora Canine Academy. Dogs leave their initial training with good manners, increased confidence, a desire to please their humans...and a great number of new doggy buddies. Follow-up training sessions (mostly for humans) are a wonderful way to reinforce the training-and dogs benefit by getting to meet up with friends and "strut their stuff" at parks, outdoor concerts, city streets, and an occasional restaurant!

Deciding to take a break from bulldog rescue, my husband and I acquired a French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux) puppy. We enrolled him in Metamora Canine Academy at four months of age. We missed him during his training, but that was a small sacrifice for the happy, well-adjusted, well-behaved, well-loved, and loving dog we have today. We could not be more pleased, and we highly recommend Metamora Canine Academy. So does Tyrone. ☺.

Lori and Dan Maxwell

The Posa Family – “Calvin” Weimaraner

Calvin was a happy but uncontrollable puppy before training, almost feral. Although the six weeks seemed to pass slowly, the results were worth the wait. Calvin is still a happy boy. The off leash training has given us a dog that is wonderful to have around. We no longer worry about what will happen next, he is responsive to commands, much calmer and a great companion. We highly recommend this program!

Karen & Michael Posa

The Becker Family – “Dusty” Airedale

Imagine, if you will, a large rescued Airedale who came from a foster home that set no boundaries, guidelines, or rules because the family found him so cute. Due to mobility issues, I was unable to provide the proper supervision and training this delightful pup required. After he ate the window treatment on the guest bedroom and the front living room windows, then consumed a window mullion and almost an entire windowsill in efforts to get outside and grab the neighbor’s cats, I admitted the need for assistance and contacted Metamora Canine Training Academy.

Dusty has been home a scant few days following his six-week stint at boot camp. He comes when called – even from the windows; he walks beautifully right next to me and at my pace; he no longer jumps on guests when they arrive; and he responds immediately to the “quiet” command when barking begins in the car. Lisa and her crew fulfilled every guarantee offered: Dusty is now a Great Dog.

Andrea Becker – Grosse Pointe Park, MI

The Roweton Family – “Darcy” Doberman Pinscher

Darcy came to our family in July, 2008. We had carefully researched not only the Doberman breed in general but in particular her European ancestry. Thus we selected a breeder and were confident about our choice. In short she came into our household as a well chosen puppy and of course we fell in love with her shortly after her arrival. Then the unimaginable happened, ha! Darcy grew, and grew and grew. Go figure.

She also became self determined, impulsive and strong. We tried two obedience regimes and dropped out after about three weeks. The techniques did not make sense to us….or to Darcy for that matter! My husband still jokes about having to carry pounds of Cheerios around so Darcy would look at us. The stand-in trainers seemed to have little interest in all but the smallest dogs and younger children.

Our wonderful puppy lost control over her behaviors through the winter. Worst of all, a Doberman really enjoys being a part of and being with their family. They truly are a “Velcro” dog. She could not have that opportunity because it typically meant her crashing into doors, windows, counters, appliances, up and down stairs with no regard for what was in her way. I came to feel that we were emotionally abusing her. She had to be outside in the cold or crated. There was no difference between how she was “maintained” and the abominable habit of chaining and animal outdoors to a doghouse with little or no human companionship.

It was then I researched training options and fortunately found Metamora Canine Academy. Lisa met with us for Darcy’s evaluation and gave a very interesting and professional presentation. She also gave a sense of hope and promise for a successful experience. I knew I would miss Darcy, but I also knew I was losing my dog. Throughout the time Darcy was in training, Lisa and the staff at Metamora Canine Academy provided pictures as promised and updates so I felt in touch. They even celebrated Darcy’s first birthday. She had dog friends she enjoyed and special activities wrapped around her training component.

Darcy came home from her six weeks of training and I was frankly astounded at the difference. She is in control of herself and enjoys being a part of the family again. Lisa and Metamora Canine Academy gave me the dog that I had dreams of the day we brought Darcy home as an eight week old puppy. Most importantly, there was no doubt that it was all about Darcy. She loves being with us and her canine brothers, taking walks and being exposed to all kinds of training reinforcement options. She truly exemplifies the old saying, “Beauty is as beauty does.”

The Scott Family - "Louisa" Shepherd/Malamute Mix
The phrase “no bad dogs, only bad owners” comes to mind for various reasons when Ithink about my Louisa. She is now 21 months and is a well adjusted dog though a bit excitable at times. She has come a long way because of the fine work of Lisa and her staff at Metamora Canine Academy. Louisa got to spend six fun filled weeks at their off leash program and came back a much better dog.

Louisa’s history is a bit lacking. I know when she was born, and I know the day I got her but the in between part is mostly unknown. There times that I would like that knowledge of her early months but I am better off not knowing because she had really bad owners. What I do know is that she was chained to a tree with little or no shelter. Food and water was scarce. So she would not get away, the people had the chain around her neck so tight that it became embedded in her neck. Fortunately, someone had the good sense to call the Michigan Humane Society once winter came. Once MHS got her in to the Detroit facility they found that she was a very sick dog plus being pregnant. She soon became a favorite of the workers and she was there for five weeks of recuperating before being able to be put up for adoption.

This is where I come in. I had lost my last dog a year before. I needed a break after losing three dogs in three years especially since they all had lived into their middle teens. I knew that I would have another rescue dog and I knew the challenges they can pose. I started looking for a training program that would help me with the dog. Lisa was the first one I met and it was a pet show. Spoke with her for a long time about her different programs but the thing that I came away with is that she is not really correcting bad behavior; she is just giving the dog a new set of things to do. I spoke with numerous other trainers and almost always the first question they asked was, “what behavior do you not want the dog to do”. Well, I have been around dogs long enough to know if you correct one bad behavior it is not long before the dog finds another and you are back at the beginning. This is why Lisa’s program is totally different because it trains the dog so that the owner does the thinking and the dog follows. If the dog is not thinking it is not having behavior issues. You do the thinking, the dog follows and the two of you have a fun well adjusted life. The thing that is important is Lisa and her staff create the foundation and it is your responsibility to continuing working with the dog. I had mixed emotions the day I dropped off Louisa for her to start on her adventure but knew it was the right thing. I and others watched her daily on the webcam and believe that for Louisa, it was one big dog party. Today, when we go back for the follow up classes she gets very excited about being back and I think disappointed when we leave that she can not stay. I believe that Metamora off leash program will benefit any dog and if they are a bit more unruly then even more so. Lisa and her staff treat the dogs as if they were their own. I doubt that there is a better program going.

Louisa is living the good life now. There are no chains around her neck, plenty of food and water. She comes to work with me daily where others get to play with her and rub her neck and belly. There is still more work to be done with her training but that is on me. She is a changed dog but she is still the same dog and one that is happy and secure.

I am not enough of a wordsmith to fully express what Lisa and her staff did for both Louisa and me. To say, thank you, is woefully inadequate but it is a start.

Tim Scott

Maggie Morawski - "Duncan" Shepherd Mix (German Shepherd, Pit Bull, Beagle, Hound...who really knows?
I adopted Duncan 3 years ago. He was a stray roaming the streets of Detroit, afraid of his own shadow. In his mind, everything or everyone he came across was a threat to his safety. He was only comfortable with me and my Mom (his Gramma). I couldn’t trust him to be petted by anyone other than us. I was afraid of what he might do out of fear. Anytime someone came to the door he would bark uncontrollably and lunge at the bay window as if he would bust right through it. The clink of the mailbox door would send him into a frenzy. I couldn’t even talk to my neighbors across the fence in our back yard. He would bark and snap at them every time we tried to have a conversation. Taking him for a walk was a major chore. My arm felt like it was going to be pulled from its socket any time I’d put a leash on him. I tried choke chains, pinch collars, the Gentle Leader, you name it; he continued to pull right through them all. Getting him to come when called was always a gamble. It rarely happened on the first try. Duncan loves to go for rides in the car but would be so excited when we’d get to our destination that he would push his way past me to get out of the car first. He always liked to go in the house first, too. He’d never wait for me. He’d just bully his way right through.

I love him with all my heart but I knew we couldn’t continue living like this! Either he was going to get hurt or he would hurt someone else and I couldn’t bear to have that happen. I tried training classes, books, video tapes and nothing seemed to work. I knew I needed something more. I found Metamora Canine Academy through their website after hearing an interview with Lisa Farlin on a morning radio show. After I started reading through the multiple testimonials, I was sold. One after the other dealt with the same problems or even worse and after they went through the off-leash training, they were cured. Having to leave him for over 6 weeks was difficult, but I was updated by email, including photos as well as being able to occasionally view him live on their webcam. It was also hard to part with so much money, but I looked at it as an investment and it truly paid off. This by no means was taking the easy way out! I am 100% committed and remain active in his training. There was a lot for me to learn and at first it can be overwhelming... but attending the off-leash outings that are included for an entire year, you gain confidence and are assured of a successful outcome for both you and your dog. Lisa and all the other more than competent trainers put the power in the command, not in the person who is giving it, which made the transfer from academy to home an easy one. Duncan is still the same dog and has the same fears but he is much more confident and relaxed and knows there is safety when he responds properly to my commands.

I now enjoy taking my dog for walks and I constantly get complimented on how well trained he is. He comes to me the instant he is called. I can have him wait in the car until I get out first. I can also be the first to walk through any entry way. At home, I give him a 'down-stay command' when anyone comes to the front door and he waits patiently and quietly until I release him. My neighbors and I can actually have a peaceful conversation over the fence while Duncan is in a down-stay by my side. I can also have kids come up and pet him. The benefits are endless and I am no longer afraid of his behavior. It was an unbelievable transformation. My only wish is that we had done this sooner!

The Washburn Family - "Sky" German Shepherd
After we lost our great companion of 13 years we thought we would never come across another dog to take her place. But 4 months later we ended up with a cute German Shepherd puppy. We named her Sky, she was so cute but we quickly learned we did not have the same patience we had 13 years ago. Sky became a hand full! Taking her for a walk was a very unpleasant event and her jumping, barking and just getting into everything had us at our wits end. We signed up for a 6 week, one day a week puppy class through Metamora Canine Academy and by the end of the class we realized we needed the pros to take over. It was a BIG decision to make, not only would we not be able to see her for 4 - 6 weeks we were also apprehensive that she would lose her playfulness and worse case scenario not remember us. Well, it has been 3 months since she finished her Off Leash training and she is such a GREAT dog! Although she still has her mischievous moments, pulling it together is as simple as a one or two word command followed by praise. Life is good and Sky is a joy to have around thanks to the Metamora Canine Academy. Thanks to all of the trainers!

Joe and Barb Washburn

The Ferguson Family - "Duke" Labrador Retriever
When we adopted Duke from Leader Dogs for the Blind, we thought we had a great plan. The dog would be a little older, so we would miss the "puppy" stuff. Since he was with Leader Dogs, he would be partially trained. What we had totally forgotten was that he was a two-year old champion bred Labrador. Having trained two dogs from puppies before, we would only need a series of community based dog training classes and we would be set. Well, six weeks into it, after trying choker collars and gentle leader collars, and treats, and cajoling and whatever, Duke was still out of control on a lead.

We had heard about MCA from other folks in the community and entered Duke (and ourselves) into the Beginner Program. Duke (and we) improved so we moved on to Intermediate. While these programs produced phenomenal improvements, there were still concerns about Duke's ongoing aggressiveness when confronting other dogs while on a lead. For Duke's safety and our peace-of-mind, we entered all of us in the Off-Leash program. While Duke was the primary focus for the first several weeks, we were all involved shortly thereafter and MCA made sure we have constant opportunities for continuing success. While Duke still has his "moments", MCA's training and follow-up has put us in control of those situations resulting in Duke's safety and our peace-of-mind.

The Halteman Family - "Leo" Great Dane
Our family has always wanted a Great Dane, so when we came across a litter of pups in the paper last spring we were absolutely thrilled. Leo (short for "Leonidas"- the name of the Spartan king in the movie "300") was a lovable little puppy for us from the day we brought him home but as he rapidly grew in size we found it increasingly difficult to rein him in from his excitement. He almost never listened to us when called, jumped up on everyone at any given moment, stole things off tables, dragged and bit when leashed and he was aggressive with other dogs. In short, we had almost no control over him and that scared us. His safety was at risk.

We enrolled Leo in the off-leash camp in hopes that all that would change. Once he came back home we knew, without a doubt, it was the best thing we could've ever done for him and the rest of the family. He obeys every command almost instantly and plays with other dogs extremely well. We couldn't ask for a better dog. Thanks Metamora Canine Academy!

The Meli Family - "Dolce" Rottweiler
The first thing that comes to our minds when thinking of the Metamora Canine Academy is - THANK YOU. We love our dog like everybody else loves their dog; so the choice to get the dog professional training was not a difficult one. One day I saw an advertisement in Hour Magazine "you have a good dog make it a great dog" so I thought that is exactly what we are attempting to do. Upon calling for an evaluation, the staff from the beginning won us over. We needed three things right from the start to consider going forward with this program: competent employees, clean facilities and someone that truly loved dogs as much as we do! The MCA hit very high on all marks.

My recommendation to anyone that is thinking about this program for their dog is to go into to it very reluctant to want to do it. The staff will (I promise) show you a proven, logical, understandable and fun way to train your dog. The training that I have been receiving for my dog Dolce has made him very confident, a little smarter but not much (LOL), and the potential to be a great dog. At 10 months old Dolce has already surpassed all my dogs that I have ever had as far as enjoyment. So for all the people who really don't know if they should try this training for their beloved dog, don't do it for the dog - do for your state of mind. If you thought you knew about dog training, the staff at MCA will quickly make you realize you don't know much, but are very helpful and patient to get you where you need to be-It is all great!

Paul Meli

Todd & Kelly Petrocella-Capaldi "Gracie" Blue Lacy
There are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. Well, if you are a dog owner and leave your dog in the very capable hands of the professional staff at Metamora Canine Academy, then you can add a third certainty: a well trained and obedient dog that you will be proud to show off.

When we first brought our Blue Lacy, Gracie, home she was your typical rambunctious, mischievous, playful, and highly energetic puppy. However, she barked at other dogs, wanted to constantly go after squirrels, birds and other dogs, chewed incessantly, and made walks an undesirable chore. And her following of basic commands was inconsistent. The Blue Lacy breed is highly intelligent but very headstrong and they are use to living mainly on farms and ranches in the south as herding and hunting dogs. Those two tasks give the breed a job and a challenge. Living in suburbia we quickly realized that Gracie was going to be like a fish out of water and without being able to utilize her natural instincts Gracie was going to need other means to challenge her mentally, as well as physically. We first tried training her ourselves, then used a box store training service and still couldn't make the training, obedience and mental breakthrough we were looking for. Forty-five minute walks twice a day (basically, Gracie walking us) helped diffuse some of the energy but Gracie still needed to be stimulated mentally. Needless to say, frustration began to mount.

With the power of the internet I found the Metamora Canine Academy and quickly scheduled an evaluation with Lisa. We came away from Lisa's no-pressure presentation extremely impressed and made the decision to secure Gracie a spot at Metamora's six week in-kennel obedience training.

I am usually a rather skeptical person and mostly, if something is too good to be true, then it probably is. However, this is one of those rare exceptions. Immediately upon being reunited with Gracie, we knew the decision we made to turn Gracie over to Lisa and her staff was one of the best we ever made. The energy and playfulness that we so loved in Gracie was, and still is, present. However, it is controlled and within reasoning that all dog owners should expect. We can take Gracie anywhere, whether to a downtown area, in a store, or to friends and families, and feel comfortable and confident knowing she will be well-mannered and obedient. People rave to us about how well Gracie handles herself. Our walks together are now very enjoyable and pleasant and the twelve commands Lisa and her staff taught Gracie give her a solid mental workout. Just the fact alone that I can take Gracie off leash and know that she will not stray is absolutely priceless. And the follow up training and fun events that all Metamora Training Academy graduates can attend throughout the year ensures that Gracie's training is reinforced and honed outside the home.

Kudos to Lisa and her staff. They have loads of enthusiasm. You can tell they love what they do. And most of all they care. They don't just hand back your dog and say thanks. Lisa and her staff make sure that you and your dog's reunion goes smoothly and they follow up and always make time to answer questions or to help, whether it be days, weeks or months after the six week program ends. Is it a little tough saying goodbye to your beloved dog for six weeks? Absolutely! But six weeks is nothing compared to knowing that the next twelve years or so will be filled with having not a good dog, but a great dog!

Joe and Anne Williams "Riky" Lab/Pitbull Mix
Riky came into our lives in the summer of 2007. His mother was a black lab and his father was a white pit bull. Although he seemed extremely docile and listened to us most of the time, we felt that being part pit bull might lead to issues in the future. As he grew, he became extremely strong. Although he never just took off while on his leash, if he ever decided to, he could easily pull us down. He knew several commands: "sit", "stay", and "down", but "come" wasn't his strong suit. We had a good dog, but wanted a great dog and felt that the Metamora Off-Leash training was for us. The expense of the program and separation from Riky was an issue, but we finally decided that this was an investment worth making. We are so glad we did. From the day Riky came home he has been darn near perfect. We have five cats and we used to separate Riky from them with baby gates. Now we put him in a down stay and the cats walk right past him. We can let him out to do his business and when he's done we tell him to come and he runs, not walks, back into the house (no electric fence needed). We walk him around the neighborhood and he doesn't even need his leash. We have taken him to several of our friends houses and he behaves perfectly --even if they have dogs themselves. Everyone we meet, comments on how wonderful our dog behaves and we always tell them about Metamora Academy.

Joe and Anne Williams Rochester Hills, MI

The Schroeder's "Ellie and Zoey aka The Girls" - Bernese Mountain Dogs
     After extensive research, observing MCA graduates, and reading the testimonials of other previously frustrated dog owners, we decided it was time to take the bull by the horns and give Metamora Canine Academy a call. After meeting with Lisa and her outstanding staff, of course “The Girls” in tow, and observing first hand the facilities and what the program can accomplish, we knew this was the direction we needed to pursue.
     We are so fortunate to have two beautiful loving Bernese Mountain Dogs that are giving and with extremely gentle personalities. So, you ask, why did they need any kind of training? As Ellie and Zoey grew bigger, pushing the mid 80lb. mark, they still had lots of puppy attitude. They needed some discipline and structure and we needed some control.
     The Off-Leash Program at Metamora Canine Academy has been our salvation. Lisa and her staff worked hard with Ellie and Zoey, and of course our training too. We now not only get compliments on how beautiful our dogs are, but also what well mannered dogs we have.
     We like to sum it up this way:
     Before Metamora Canine Academy – Puppies having fun!
     After Metamora Canine Academy – Dogs making life FUN!
Thank You MCA
Ed, Pam, Ellie and Zoey

McCormick Family "Indy" Siberian Husky
A little over a year ago, we brought home a Siberian pup and called her Indy. The first few weeks were easy. She was curious, but timid, which made her very easy to manage. Then she got a little more comfortable and the mouthing and jumping on the kids started. We tried several different "tricks" to stop it, but with very little success.
When I heard about Metamora Canine Academy's Off-Leash program, I thought getting a "turn-key" dog was cheating and that I could train her myself. Indy and I took some classes and made significant progress, but my challenge of work and raising three kids along with Indy's challenge of thirty chickens to not chase was getting the better of us.
I talked with Lisa at MCA about the situation. She told me about the Husky she had as a kid and the chicken incident it got her into. She understood the challenge (while still thinking I was a bit crazy for expecting a Husky and chickens to coexist.) She explained how the Off-Leash program really worked and I signed Indy up.
Six weeks later, Indy came back a much more confident, obedient, and relaxed dog. Now we enjoy running on the trail and going places. The command set she has now is also a great foundation for training her to skijor, bikejor, and pull the kids on carts and sleds. Other Husky owners can't believe how well behaved she is. We (including the chickens) are very pleased.

Barbara and Ron Coburn "Sascha" Standard Poodle
My husband and I think the off- leash program at MCA is so fabulous and the trainers are geniuses! We have a standard poodle named Sascha and she was 7 1/2 months old when we sent her to the off-leash program. She was a sweet, fun dog but here's what we had problems with before the training: She was very hard to take for a walk outside - she was always pulling on the leash and when she saw a squirrel she yanked the leash so hard
I felt my arm was going to come out of the socket! In order to get her to go to the bathroom, we had to walk her around our house - front yard, back yard, round and round until she finally decided to poop. Then every few days my husband had to get the pooper scooper and re-trace his steps to pick it all up - it was a pain in the neck. Another thing was that it seemed like we were always saying "No Sascha" - she would take things off of counters, steal socks, chew shoes, etc. When the grandkids came over she would jump on them because she was so excited and she would get really wild. She was adorable, we loved her but she was getting harder for us to control. It's now two weeks after the training and we are amazed EVERY DAY. She is such a pleasure to be with. Lisa told us how to get her to go to the bathroom in one spot and now it's like clockwork - she goes in the same spot every day. She is so well behaved but we are having so much fun with her. We take her outside without a leash (I was so afraid to do this the first time) and she loves to run and play with us. When the grandkids come over she's so much calmer and we can always put her on her mat (we say the command "place") and she stays on her mat. She seems to be so much happier and wanting to please us and she is so lovable - we kiss her all day long. This is the greatest training program and we are so happy we did it - it makes having a dog a pleasure and so much fun!!!!!!
-Barbara and Ron Coburn

Reyna & Sameer Patel - "Kaiya" Siberian Husky
Kaiya, our Siberian Husky, is our first dog. In preparation for her arrival, we poured through several books on Huskies and dog behavior and training, watched training shows on TV, and began to research obedience schools before our little pup was even born! Several coworkers told us about Metamora Canine Academy (MCA). One in particular had several dogs go through MCA’s training classes and off-leash program, so we just had to check out a class to see what it was all about. We were pretty much sold on MCA after the “sit-in” session with our coworker.
At just over 12 weeks old, we enrolled Kaiya in the Beginner’s class, and soon after, the Intermediate class. The MCA trainers really knew their stuff and dogs that were loud, annoying, and didn’t listen were taught how to “settle” and be quiet in the first class! It was an amazing thing to see!   The trainers continuously raised the bar at each consecutive class session and by the end of each six week course, we could see marked improvements, not just in Kaiya, but in all of the dogs in each of our classes. Many of us were simply in awe of how easy the MCA trainers made learning for the dogs and for the owners. During the classes, we had the chance to meet two recent Off-Leash graduates and their family. My wife and I decided that we wanted to take Kaiya to the next level as well and soon had Kaiya enrolled for her own Off-Leash Program.
Like other proud owners here, we were really worried about leaving Kaiya for the six weeks and were wondering if our puppy would even remember us when her training was completed. The MCA trainers assured us that Kaiya would be OK and they even sent us tons of pictures during the training and made several phone calls to keep us informed of Kaiya’s progress.   She looked like she was having so much fun that our worries were quickly gone. After taking the first two classes, we knew that Kaiya was in experienced and caring hands. The six weeks went by quickly and the first day we got to see Kaiya was shocking! We were presented with a dog that was so well behaved that we couldn’t believe it was the same non-stop high energy puppy that we had dropped off! And the best feeling was that she didn’t forget us at all!!! As soon as she was given permission to break from her Stay (she is a well trained dog now after all!) she came barreling across the courtyard and buried herself in our laps!
We have since been continuing our year long Off-Leash learning process and are doing very well. The MCA trainers have always been there for any questions and concerns that we have had since day one of the beginner’s class. We have had the pleasure of attending several parades, the Novi Pet Expo, and other Off-Leash follow up sessions with many of the other Off-Leash dogs and their owners. In the process, we have made some very good friends, and even Kaiya now has a best friend (her training roommate during the Off-Leash program) and playmate to hang out with.
MCA has become more to us than just trainers for our dog. They have been there for us every step of the way with advice, answers to our questions, and genuine concern for the well-being and safety of Kaiya. As first time dog owners, I can think of nothing better than having such a strong support group there to help out.   The trainers also teach the owners how to understand their four-legged family members and care for them in the best way possible. The methods that MCA uses to train dogs really do work and are the most down to earth and dog-centric I have seen. There is no fear or pain-based training methods. No challenges for dominance. No competition to see who walks through the door first! The MCA trainers understand how a dog thinks and behaves and have tailored their training methods to use the dogs own learning process and natural instincts to help them become successful in anything they are asked to do.
My wife and I absolutely love to take Kaiya on little trips and show her off to the many naysayers that told us a Husky could never be trained to be Off-Leash. I’ve lost track of how many Husky owners have approached us in shock that we didn’t have a leash attached to Kaiya’s collar. They all wanted to know what trick we had up our sleeve and we proudly proclaim, “MCA! Does a puppy good!” We walk Kaiya Off-Leash every day now and I find no greater joy than being able to let her run free in the snow and play like a dog should without having to keep her tethered to me with a six foot leash! We have the confidence of knowing that when we say “Come!” she will stop whatever she is doing and move heaven and earth to get back to our feet and sit down. With MCA’s fantastic training and attention, we are now able to take Kaiya to dog-friendly malls, on errands, to the post office, to the party store, and many other places. She has even been an honored guest at several family dinner parties in homes that we thought she would never be allowed into!
Metamora Canine Academy has made our life-long dream of having a well mannered, well behaved dog that would listen without question a reality. For first time dog owners, I think we now have the perfect dog! My wife and I would like to extend a very sincere thank you to Lisa, Gretchen, Leah, Jamie, Tim, Noel, and any other MCA staff that we have missed for everything that you have taught both of us about being responsible and safe dog owners. Kaiya would also like to send you all a very heartfelt “AAAARRRROOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” for teaching her how to be a GREAT DOG!!!!
-Reyna, Sameer, & Kaiya Patel

The Douglas Family - "Romeo" Border Collie
We contacted Lisa when our border collie, Romeo, was about a year and a half old. At that point, we did not know were to turn. We had completed training courses elsewhere, with limited success. At one of the training facilities, he noticed the ceiling fans as soon as we walked in the door. He would bark continuously and stare at the fans for the entire course. This was not only embarassing, it was unfair to the rest of the dogs in the course. When training courses failed, I attempted to use the "Do-It-Yourself" method, which also failed miserably. With the cuteness of the puppy stage now gone, he was now a full grown dog. However, his behavior had not changed. He was now herding everyone in our family, chasing rollerbladers, bicycles, rabbits, deer...anything that moved was an understatement. We had a cat that had been down in the basement for months. It got to the point were our children's friends were afraid to come to our house. We had even resorted to a spiked choke collar to walk him on a leash. The main problem was not teaching him commands, it was getting him to obey them when his attention was focused elsewhere. After being told numerous times "He is a border collie, that is what they do", we met with Lisa and signed Romeo up for the Off-Leash program that same day. When we went to see him for the first time after his training was complete and I knew he had changed immediately when he walked into the room. He was so attentive, it was as if he had changed from a full grown puppy to a dog wise beyond his years. It has been over fours months now. We walk nearly every day in our subdivision with no leash in sight. We pass barking dogs, cars, kids, wildlife and he does not even consider leaving my side. We also take him, on-leash, to parks and downtown areas quite often. This was never even an option before. In the future, when the time comes for another dog, The MCA will be one of the first places we contact to find out "How soon can we start?".
Thanks again to everyone at MCA,
The Douglas Family: Marty, Dee, Molly, Alex & Romeo

Shelly Grewette–"Zoey"- Siberian Husky
Zoey was bought for me out of love. She replaced someone very dear to me that passed. Unfortunately, that is not always a good reason to get a dog. I loved her so much, that she became the epitome of a spoiled rotten child (dog). I’d tell her to “Come” and she would get a smile on her face and literally prance away. She would stick her nose in the air and prance in the opposite direction. Even though I would take her everywhere, she would jump on everyone. She loves people. I went to Bark In The Park with Zoey. I was looking for some help. I came across a woman who had two Huskies. She told me about Metamora Canine Academy and the Off-Leash program. I was in total amazement and disbelief, but I figured I would give it a try. Zoey was 4 years old and I wanted to do so much more with her. I cried when I dropped her off and wanted to see her everyday that she was gone. Thanks to Gretchen for the weekly phone calls, and tons of pictures sent to me, it helped the time go by. I’ve had Zoey back for almost two months now. Metamora Canine Academy was the answer to my prayers. All the staff has been incredibly friendly and helpful. Now I see a great future for Zoey and me. As they say; seeing is believing. I know I’ll not only be able to do the things I’ve always wanted to do with Zoey, but now I’ll be able to do so much more! She came back disciplined and craving the attention to be a great dog. She listens so well. I never thought a Husky could be so attentive if she wasn’t attached to a sled. So, if you have dog that you want to be a part of your life, Metamora Canine Academy is the place. For Zoey to actually “Come” when you call her and listen……..is truly a miracle. Thanks Metamora Canine Academy.
Shelly Grewette

Gabby Lawlor–"Max"- Australian Shepherd
When Max was a little puppy, he was always trying to herd things, usually people. It was scary when we had children at our house, because when they would run and play, Max would always want to nip at their heels. We took him to dog classes at Metamora Canine Academy to train him and he became smarter by the day—he loved learning; however, I still didn’t feel 100% comfortable taking him out in public because he would always jump on people, and if he got loose, I couldn’t guarantee that he would come back to me. Also, whenever people came over and I would put him in a down stay, he would try army crawling to the people, and it was practically impossible to control.
So I signed him up for the off-leash program. It was hard to be away from Max for six weeks, but when I saw how well he minded when we picked him up, I knew it was well worth the wait. Now, when we have kids over, I can call Max out of any situation and he will come running. When people come over, I can put him in a down stay, and he is perfect; it is fun for him to be a part of the action rather than a hassle. Because of his excellent behavior, he has been invited to come inside many places with me, when he would have, otherwise, been waiting in the car. Thanks to Metamora Canine Academy, I can take him practically everywhere with me. Two of the events that we have been a part of as graduates of the off-leash program are pet expos and parades. I am very happy with Max’s new training—every time I tell him a command, he responds immediately.
Gabby and Max Lawlor

Bob and Susan Madole–"Kirby"- Standard Poodle
Kirby was just a pup when we added him to our family, which included a 12yr old Standard Poodle named Cody. Everything got crazy. Kirby was in desperate need of manners. We decided to enroll him in the Metamora Canine Beginner and Intermediate Obedience classes. While his behavior definitely improved, we felt he was capable of much more. Since both my husband I work full time, we had limited time to devout. We saw dogs that had graduated from the “Off the Leash” program, and were envious. The difficult decision was parting with him for the 6 week training period. What if he didn’t remember us when the course was finished?
All doubts were dispersed when his training was over. Today Kirby is an obedient, very well behaved, yet still playful, young pup. He is eager to please and earn our praise. Cody is also appreciative as Kirby no longer ‘picks’ on him. Civility has returned to our household!
The best part is Metamora Canine Academy’s continued support well after Kirby’s training. They encourage us to participate in extra off-site classes, attend pet-friendly outings, walk in parades, etc. They realize we, the ‘parents’, need instruction and reminders on how to continue getting the most from our great dog. Enrolling Kirby at Metamora Canine Academy was one of the best things we did for him and our family.
Bob and Susan Madole

"Lola"- Boxer/Labrador Retriever
We came to Metamora Canine Academy because our adopted 1-year old Boxer/Labrador Retriever dog named Lola was uncontrollable. She had boundless energy, jumped on everyone, pulled on the leash when you walked her, and would not come when she was called. It was a big game of "chase me." The breaking point was the day she broke free from my grip on her leash and almost got run over by a snowplow.
After 6 weeks of training at the Metamora Canine Academy, I can't believe the difference in our dog! Lola is completely transformed! The dog that wouldn't listen now obeys commands! She even comes when called! She is such a pleasure to have around and many people complement us on our well-behaved dog. Everyone who knew her before is so impressed! Thank you so much Metamora Canine Academy you've made our Lola a 'Great Dog'!!!!!

Bruce & Susanna Te Paske–"Joe Muggs"- Bull Terrier
Joe Muggs is our first miniature bull terrier and we were not prepared for the difference in temperment from the Labs we had always had previously. This guy was totally doing his own thing. We couldn't even walk him on leash without him pulling. It was a struggle. Never mind getting him to come when called or any of the other commands that keep him safe from harm.
Thanks to Lisa and the staff at MCA, we can let Joe Muggs run free on the beach here at Hilton Head and run and play with other dogs. He responds to all the commands they taught him: Come, sit, down, stay, off, heel, etc. And most amazingly, they were able to teach us how to command him.. It is so much easier to enjoy him when he behaves and you know you can count on him behaving.
Here he is running on the beach!
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING LISA & MCA
Joe Muggs & Family!

Guy & Kelly Hefferon –"Cholo"- German Shepherd
The Metamora Canine Academy is great. Our German Shepherd Dog, Cholo, was basically unmanageable before we enrolled him in the off-leash program. He would be out of his crate for a few seconds before he would engage in mouthing, jumping up on people or furniture, or some other undesirable behavior. Since graduating from the off-leash program we are able to enjoy our dog, really, for the first time!
Guy & Kelly Hefferon

Joyce & Steve Surchik – "Bugsy"- Silky Terrier
In May 2007 we thought we had gotten the cutest, most adorable puppy ever, thus the name "Bugsy" because he was as cute as a bug! As this adorable, sweet puppy grew, we discovered he was really named for Bugsy Seigel, the gangster!
He was a terrier with an attitude! Anything and everything mischievous he'd do, including not listening to us. His favorite game was chase - that's where we'd chase him around the house (the longest was 40 minutes) trying to get him into his kennel. He was growing into a 10 lb. opinionated, obstinate dog ruling our house!
We had a trainer come to the house. After working with him for about 8 hours over a 2 week period, she felt he was un-trainable!
My husband and I have chronic illnesses and this dog was overwhelming us! We had heard an ad for Metamora Canine Academy and were debating about sending "our baby to boot camp".
Our final straw was Bugsy running out the door and through the neighborhood 3 times in 2 weeks. We met with Lisa at Metamora Canine Academy and enrolled Bugsy in the Off Leash program immediately!
Lisa and Gretchen made the 6 weeks without "our baby" comfortable, answering questions, keeping us updated on his progress and sending wonderful email pictures. Upon graduation, I was amazed by his good behavior, listening ability and following commands willingly!
Bugsy "graduated" in mid November and will be 1 year old the end of February 2008. He is still a very inquisitive terrier puppy but he is much more "adorable" because he now has manners, listens and doesn't run away! We can enjoy our dog, company enjoys our dog, and we can take him anywhere!
Thank you Metamora Canine Academy!
Joyce and Steve Surchik

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