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 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 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 in the 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 Canine 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!
