“Maggie”

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!

“Zoro”

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 Staff.

“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.

"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 untIL 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"

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.

Have a good dog? Want a GREAT dog? ™