My dog Buzz and I absolutely loved working with Betty at Canine PhD! After reading so many glowing reviews for Canine PhD, I decided to give them a try after looking for positive reinforcement trainers near us in Decatur. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made for both Buzz and me! Buzz struggles with anxiety and reacts nervously when new people approach, especially on walks or in public places like restaurant patios. From our very first session, Betty made both of us feel comfortable and confident. She immediately recommended a no-pull harness that made a huge difference. Walking Buzz and his corgi brother, Phil, is finally fun again! I truly missed our morning walks, and it feels amazing to enjoy them again without constantly worrying about Buzz pulling away or Phil getting loose because my attention was elsewhere. What stood out most is that Betty doesn't just train dogs -- she trains their owners, too. She helped me learn how to communicate more clearly and understand what Buzz is feeling. Betty gave us exercises to build trust and confidence. He's already such a happy pup, but he lit up even more during each session, as you can see in his picture! You could tell how proud he was every time he got something right. The whole experience strengthened our bond even more, and I ended up enjoying training far more than I ever expected. Betty also gave us fantastic techniques to help Buzz stay calm when meeting new people, both out in public and at home. He's learned that his bed is his "safe spot," and now he'll go there on his own when guests arrive until he's ready to say hello. It's been such a big, wonderful change seeing him so much more relaxed and secure. We did three sessions at Canine PhD and three at home, which was the perfect balance. It gave us the chance to practice in both structured and real-life settings, and between sessions, we had Betty's helpful homework to reinforce what we were learning and keep us progressing even outside of training. The pricing was very reasonable and the value we got from the training far exceeded what we paid. What I appreciated most was Betty's honesty and empathy. She set realistic expectations right from the start, explaining that this wouldn't be a quick fix -- and she was right. Some dogs are just naturally more anxious, but she gave us the tools and confidence to help Buzz make real progress. I can't recommend Betty and Canine PhD enough! She's a wonderful person! Super patient, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in helping both dogs and their humans succeed. If you're looking for a trainer who truly understands behavior, builds trust, and brings out the best in you and your pup, Betty is the one to call! read more

Canine PhD - Buzz loving training and confidence boosting exercises at Canine PhD with Betty :) - Pet Training Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Excellent training and boarding, especially for reactive dogs that need their own space. Boarded my dog here and they sent me pics every few hours to see him having so much fun and not missing me at all. Training was very customized and effective as well. He loves this place and everyone there. read more

My dogs love it here! and you can tell this facility and company loves your dogs! Dock Diving, Barn Hunt, Agility, Tracking, my dogs have done it all at Canine PHD. read more

If you have a puppy with specific issues (e.g. hyper anxiety), their general puppy training may not be a good fit. When I adopted my pup during the pandemic, I signed up for Canine PhD's perfect puppy training after seeing good reviews on them. Unfortunately my pup was from the shelter and likely had a traumatic experience his first two months so he was extremely fearful and anxious even as a puppy. During the class, all he wanted to do was the bark at the other dogs (which is very disruptive to the other participants). The instructor put us in the very corner of the classroom in an attempt to help but after a few sessions, we decided to withdraw because many of the things taught in the classroom we already taught to our pup. Even though we continued to express concern regarding our pup not benefiting from the classes, I felt like the instructor dismissed us. Unfortunately, due to some personal circumstances, we weren't able to reschedule private classes and our money just went to waste. read more

Initial Consultation Review I filled out the online form and within minutes received a call from Brian at Canine PhD. He was able to get Bowie, our black lab puppy, on the books for the same week for a consultation. He let me know the cost,t he deposit, walked me through what it would be like. He also allowed me, actually encouraged me, to bring my son who will be involved with the training. There was plenty of parking when we arrived. We were greeted promptly and brought into this large room with tons of running area and toys. Brian sat down with my son and I and we went through all of Bowie's strengths and Areas of Development (wow this sounds like an evaluation for work). After we talked through it all, Brian started working with Bowie, showing us what to do and what words to us and also had my son join in. We were there for a bit over an hour and Bowie already was picking up on good habits. We have signed up for some private lessons which I am super excited about! Briarlake Animal Hospital recommeneded them to me, and I am so grateful that they did! read more

I boarded my dogs for the 2nd time ever this week. The 1st place they went to, they were traumatized. I decided to try Canine PhD and I was not disappointed. I received updates and pictures everyday they were there. They were happy and NOT traumatized when I picked them up. Needless to say, I will not board my dogs anywhere but Canine PhD. Meredith and her staff were great and extremely helpful with me and my dogs. read more

I brought my 12-week old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy to see Meredith about food bowl and resource guarding. We were pretty worried before bringing her in, but we stuck to the training she recommended by adding treats to her bowl, having her eat special things like pumpkin out of the bowl while we held it, and also increasing her food portions. I'm telling you, starting the very next morning it was like she was a different puppy. We've been continuing to work with her, but now more than four weeks later, I think we've left this resource guarding thing in the past. I'm able to get her to leave even the most delicious possessions with a firm "leave it," and I always have something better in my pocket just in case that's not enough. I even had a friend comment the other day when I told her to "leave it" and she sat right down and looked me in the eye. They were very impressed. I can't tell you how much I appreciate Canine Phd for their help with my new pup. I'm so glad that, 10 years after we first met with my previous dog in puppy class, Meredith and Canine Phd are still doing this work. read more

Canine PhD - My sweet baby Ridgeback! - Pet Training Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

I brought my then reactive dogs, Zola & penny, here after multiple calls to dog training companies. I was a single mom about to have my first child & at a loss because I loved my dogs more than anything, but they were not getting along. Meredith assessed & assured me her method of positive training would help my dogs. I bought two packages with her and spent close to 4 grand. Meredith wasn't even the one to work with the dogs... she has beginner trainers working with them & they were using food & toys to train food/toy aggressive dogs . They actually got worse during this time & Meredith told me I would need to put down one or rehome. I was appalled. I pulled them out of the program & she would not give me the 1,000 Dollars I had left in the package. Let's fast forward to now 5 years later.... MEREDITH- stop ripping people off! I found an amazing trainer out of cedarcrest animal hospital in canton who is highly trained with reactive dogs. He worked with them for a year and my dogs haven't fought or been reactive since. They are amazing with my son as well. I will give this place one star for the rip off of pretending to be able to help reactive dogs, the not letting me have the money I gave you we didn't use, and for telling me to put down or rehome my dogs. BYE MEREDITH. Also, Meredith was always very unpleasant & condescending. read more

Hands down best dog trainers in the metro area. Instead of just training the owner they also help you understand why your dog behaves the way they do. They help you learn that a certain action from you will most likely result in a particular behavior from your dog. And they train using positive reinforcement not training collars or other devices. If they can train the very stubborn dog in the picture, they can train any dog! read more

Canine PhD - Pet Training Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Fantastic, caring team, highly certified professionals. My Golden Doodle is very sensitive and had a couple behavioral issues. Meredith even "dog whispered" my Doodle in the first 10 minutes into the consultation, with her instructions my dog stopped barking at me and layed down and was calm. It was magic. I attended Family Manners, and had one session of Good Citizen left when the pandemic lockdown started. I also had "in home training". The classes and training were fun and the trainers knowledge base is incredible. My doodle happily sits at my feet while at a public patio. Sits and stays while I answer the door. Amazing results. Don't go anywhere else. read more

Meridith and her team at Canine Ph.D are awesome. They provided such a great environment for our Standard Schnauzer. She had some behaviors that kept her from being a dog we could take to public places but with Canine Ph.D's help she was finely able to go with us to any location that allowed pets. Thank you. read more

We adopted our first rescue 2 years ago from a county shelter and unwittingly entered the world of dog reactivity. As new dog owners, we felt trapped and helpless. We found Canine PhD and Meredith and she turned it all around. Meredith was patient, kind, knowledgeable, flexible, and above all else, loved our dog. She provided both excellent dog training and reassurance to us as owners of a difficult dog. We spent about a year doing private lessons, both at the facility and our home, and then we moved on to the reactive dog classes. I don't know if there are any other classes like it in the area. We became confident dog owners with Meredith's guidance. After our dog died suddenly from medical issues, Meredith was there for us once again. She offered her services in matching us with another rescue whenever we were ready. When we decided on a dog rescue organization, she looked at all the dogs and recommended good matches for us. That would have been enough, but she then contacted the manager of the shelter to get a better sense of a good match for us, and even offered to meet us at the shelter on our adoption day to help us take the right dog home. We ended up with a wonderful deaf dog, and of course, we are trusting his training to the staff at Canine PhD. read more

Cannot say enough good thing about Canine PhD! They are knowledgeable, patient, and kind. We have a reactive foster dog that is skittish and snappy around people. Meredith gave us tips and training to help understand our pup and manage with her issues with ease. read more

I took my newly adopted 1.5 year old poodle here for their basic training class, Manners 101, and saw great results. Our instructor was Betty, and she really knew her stuff. She and most of the staff have certifications in dog training. Manners is a group class with up to 4 other dogs and their owners where you cover the basics of sit, stay, responding to the word "no", and walking on a leash. It seems like basic stuff, but covering these topics in a setting with other dogs around really helps you learn your own pet's personality and how to handle them. Plus all the dogs in my class seemed to have a great time. The training tips I learned have really paid off, and I've even recommended Canine PhD to friends who are looking to adopt a dog. They also offer classes like Agility and Nose work plus special classes for dogs with behavioral issues. It was $200 for a 6 week class, which seems to be in line with other classes offered in the area. I think it was money well spent. read more

I have a human reactive/ fearful pitbull that is highly misunderstood . He doesn't like special pressure and is seemingly a "normal dog" at a distance. He lunged at some dogs and all people who got too close in his space and I was highly insecure and scared he would eventually bite someone. We had been through 6 trainers, 3 board and trains and two types of ecollars before we found Meredith with Canine PHD. I knew Meredith was different because instead of getting in my dog's space and trying to take the leash she gave him bones and Bully sticks why she explained to me why any new human should never attempt To get in my dog's space and we came up with a plan to conquer his issues. We did several private lessons and the indoor and outdoor reactive dog classes. I see HIGE changes in my dog and an emotional response change in how he perceives humans (curiosity now instead of threat). The changes were slow - but that's how you know they're sustainable! Meredith is so knowledgeable and helpful - our work isn't done but if we make the same progress in the next 5 months I'll have a totally different dog that I can live a social life with. Please please if you have a fearful aggressive dog don't do a board and train or use aversive tools. Use a professional like Meredith who takes it slow, respects your dog's spaces and teaches you the "why" behind the mechanics! I have more control over my dog with just a harness than I ever did with an ecollar read more

Canine PhD - Pet Training Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Great service. They really helped my wife and I target and fix my scaredy cat of a dog who was aggressive when nervous. Marley was the best, most calming, and knowledgeable teacher I've ever met. Gave us skills that we will keep for a lifetime and helped us better understand our dogs psychology and how our actions were effecting the climate in our house. It was very comfortable working at their location and they were very helpful and loving with my animal. It was a little expensive, compared to others, but you get what you pay for and was worth every penny. Thank you Marley and Canine PhD. read more

I have attended three courses at Canine Ph.D for my puppy and I cannot express how much I recommend them to anybody considering dog training classes. Initially, I did a one on one session with MarLee. My pup was about 10 weeks old at the time and MarLee did a great job kick starting the training. From there I did Puppy Head Start and Family Manners 101, both with Betty. Betty is amazing! She has the patience and knowledge to make courses like this effective and fun. The trainers are really training the dog owners on how to train their dogs, so having a warm personality to accomplish that goes a long way. One of the main benefits of these courses is a controlled environment for your dog to learn with strange people, other dogs, and environmental distractions. It's up to the owners to do most of the training outside of the class environment. But if you are up to it, by the end of the class it's astounding the progress your dog will make. Most memorable to me is an exercise where my puppy was walking on a loose leash, weaving through other dogs, their owners, and other distractions, sitting when commanded, and focusing on me when prompted. Seeing how crazy my puppy was at the beginning of her Canine Ph.D training, it seemed incredible. This was the culmination of weeks of training and just can't be taught outside of a class environment like this. If you are looking for effective dog training, you can stop here. You will not be disappointed, as evidenced by the repeat customers in the Family Manners course who were also in the Puppy Head Start course. It was so effective (and we liked Betty so much) that we kept the training going. read more

We've taken classes and private training with our dogs at Canine PhD. We and our dogs have enjoyed our training experiences very much. We've gained a lot of understanding about how to improve our relationships with our dogs and help them live fulfilled lives. Everyone at Canine PhD uses a positive approach to training, so we feel good that nothing negative is done. Our dogs are always happy to be involved in training at Canine PhD. It's obvious that Meredith and her staff truly care about her two and four-legged clients! read more

I had such a wonderful experience at Canine PhD. Meredith and her staff went above and beyond when I brought in a lost dog. They cared for him like their own and even reunited him with his family! Meredith is incredibly knowledgeable and kind hearted. She kept me up to date throughout the entire process of finding the dogs owners. I can't recommend them enough. Thank you for helping me and caring for little Pip until he was back with his family! You guys are the best. read more

My puppy is participating in Family Manners 101 w/Betty (trainer). We have all learned so much. Betty breaks down commands into easy steps and provides ample support and oversight. Having the assistant also helps with back-up support. The trainers provide direction on the smallest of details, which really helps our communication with our puppy. I think the value of the 'Family Manners 101' course is great! Thank you so much. read more

Canine PHD is so wonderful. Betty and Rachel are so kind and informative. My boyfriend and I got an 8 week old puppy and were totally clueless. We signed her up for puppy class right away, and it's the best decision we made with her. We have learned so much and she is a way easier puppy because of these classes. We are planning on signing her up for more classes! read more

They are great. Meredith is a really good trainer. I've gotten a lot of great tips from her. The manners class is really good.

My dogs and I have been doing scent work with Meredith for nearly three years and highly recommend her and Canine PhD. The sport classes provide such a great introduction to all sorts of fun activities and allow you and your dog to keep advancing and even prepare for trials if you are interested - and equally important is how much fun Meredith makes it. She clearly stays up to date with new and improved training methods and theories and works with the individual dog in front of her to tailor the experience to them to make it successful and rewarding. read more

Meredith Minkin and MarLee Thompson have been incredible trainers and behaviorists to work with over the past six months. Our German Shepherd, Nico has been attacked by 7 off leash dogs in the first year we owned him. We have some pretty bad luck. He was on leash all but one of those times which was at a dog park. These experiences have understandably resulted in Nico being dog reactive while on leash. We're not sure about off leash because at this point it isn't safe to experiment. Meredith guided us through weekly private lessons, at her facility, outside, and at our home. The process was slow at first (as it should be) but we trusted her guidance and continued on. Suddenly we started seeing vast improvement. We're now in Indoor Reactive Dog Class with Meredith and MarLee and some of their other students. Nico has been doing absolutely amazing. I'm stunned at what we can accomplish. No training or behavior modification is an instant fix, and it requires practice, and more practice. It's been a long process but I wouldn't change a thing. Except that we would have taken Nico to Meredith's puppy classes from the start. I cannot recommend Canine P.h.D. enough. read more

Meredith and MarLee have been working with us and our 9 month Labradoodle puppy who has acute separation anxiety, hyper-attachment to me, crate phobia, etc. We are using Canine Ph.D for day training for 4-6 hour stays a couple of times a week. Our dog gets three our four structured training sessions in a day stay that are tailored to his issues. Day training also includes socializing him with other dogs that are in and out of the center. They have taught our dog to relax on cue, learn basic manners (sit, stay, drop, walk, etc.), play scent tracking games that stimulate his mind, and to start gaining confidence. All of this is helping him start progressing to being able to be alone and not so anxious. They have also been training us to do what they do with him to ensure consistency! They have helped us feel hopeful that we will have a balanced dog! Great experience for all of us. read more

Just finished Puppy Headstart with Betty-, who is awesome and amazing with the dogs-Already signed up to do the next course (Manners 101). The class provided tons of useful tips for puppy training (e.g., verbal commands, leash walking, playing nicely with other dogs, learning new environments etc) and gave us plenty to work on in between classes (I took a Sunday afternoon class). The content was easy to grasp and implement and my pup has already improved in so many ways. Looking forward to the next round. Highly recommended! read more

We brought our new puppy to Canine PhD for help with aggressive mouthing. Six sessions later the problem remains unabated. Canine PhD had great reviews so I contacted them and promptly scheduled an appointment for an assessment. We brought our new puppy to Canine PhD for help with aggressive mouthing. Six sessions later the problem remains unabated. After several conversations with Meredith (owner or manager?) our problem was ignored or dismissed with comments that said behaviors did not happen at their premises.The person who conducted the initial assessment was great with our puppy, reassured us that the puppy was not aggressive but rather lacked stimulation. We followed her instructions and purchased a ton of equipment she recommended. The trainer seemed very knowledgeable so we signed the puppy up. We chose the five day in-house training (which included an assessment, five days in-house training sessions, and one transfer over session) for $835, although much more expensive than I had anticipated we bit the bullet with great hope and confidence in Canine PhD. I also paid them $50 for the initial phone consultation and $185 for another assessment to see if the puppy could be accepted into the program. During my puppy's time at Canine PhD she was taught basic puppy commands, which was great; she also enjoyed playing with other dogs and people (not possible otherwise in times of Covid-19). However; I would never have paid over $1,000 for these services, not in times of Covid-19 financial uncertainty. We specifically went to Canine PhD for help for what we deemed aggressive mouthing and other behaviors. Canine PhD did not deliver even after numerous conversations about our concerns and needs; and other aggressive behaviors that developed during training (while she was put in her crate). Meredith always came back with some comment dismissive of our concerns or sounding as if there was no problem or the problem only happened at home--as if we were bad puppy parents and it was our fault we were having these problems. Meredith's comments were: the puppy loves to be in her crate here or she loves to be walked (she does not like to go for walks at home) or the dog does not present aggressive mouthing behavior while at their premises. Not only were these comments condescending and insulting but dismissive of our concerns and the pup's behavior. We opted to stop taking the dog to Canine PhD with one session and the transfer over remaining in the package we purchased because we lost confidence that they could deliver on what they had promised to do to help our dog. Additionally, one can only take being dismissed and treated in such a condescending manner for so long. And as that were not enough, only one staff (Alexandria) at Canine PhD wears a facial cloth. I find this to be so cavalier and irresponsible towards the staff, dogs, and clients that I brought it up to Meredith's attention. She replied with platitudes and lies, saying among other things that each staff member was issued one N-95 mask, but only one wore a face cloth and there were no N-95s visible anywhere. Meredith also misstated conversations and facts on numerous occasions and once you have been fed misstated truths so many times, or the it has been stretched beyond logic, it is difficult to trust what you are being told and what is going on behind closed doors. read more

Marlee came to our home to help us work with our energetic 5 year old boxer mix who we just adopted from PAWS. I was referred to Canine PhD from PAWS, as a trainer from this group had worked with our dog at the shelter in the past. Marlee was excellent. The hour and a half that she worked with my husband and I and Maggie our dog (and with our second dog and also our 3 cats!) was well worth the cost of the session. We had scheduled the home visit to get help assessing Maggie for safety with our cats and Marlee did assess her and also gave us a lot of support and guidance around working with adjusting our new pup to the cats, helping our new dog and old dog get to know one another, and familiarized us with basic training concepts that we have been using in the week since the visit. I cannot say enough good things about Marlee. She was very professional and knowledgable and a wonderful teacher. She is warm and personable and encouraging. We enjoyed working with her and our dog(s) engaged with her easily. Some of what we learned was from what she showed us and we also learned by imitating her calm and happy way of interacting with the dogs. We plan to have Marlee return for follow up visits. Today, we are beginning a 6 week "Manners" class at Canine PhD with our new dog! read more

Wow what an incredible group of people! My Daisy girl has her quirks but Canine PhD really brings out the best in her. Tonight she was happy to see me after boarding but had clearly had an awesome time playing and being pushed a little to use her nose and her manners. I picked up a relaxed and happy dog. What more is there to say? I definitely recommend starting a training or boarding relationship with canine PhD - the staff alone with blow you away. read more

Betty is a master. She teaches puppy school and puppy social hour and makes house calls. She works magic. Plus she is just a really great person. She taught us so much and continues to do so. read more

Thank you to Meredith for reaching out to discuss our concerns. In spite of our not so favorable first experience I found her to be extremely professional and compassionate in addressing our concerns. We are thankful that they have been responsive and are working to establish an ongoing relationship. read more

My experience with Canine PhD has been amazing. Meredith is a wonderful person and trainer that really dedicates herself to animal welfare, strengthening the bond between animals and their humans, and teaching people how to communicate with their pets. Training classes are positive for the dogs and for the people--both gain confidence and mutual respect through her guidance. My experience with Betty has also been wonderful. The dogs love her and the people do too. She takes her time with the pets and is patient with us people as well. I have met Richard once, and he was able to give me helpful pointers on things I could do at home that were beneficial to the dog I was working with. All around an amazing group of people who will truely care about your pet, you, and the relationship you mold together. They explore new and positive training methods and are always eager to learn and improve. This is the first training facility I have been to where I felt completely secure and confident that I was doing the right work with the dog I love. I know all the courses would be great, but I personally recommend the reactive dog class for those of you who have found yourself a little over your head! read more

I love Canine PHD. I put my 1st dog through the manners 101 and had such a wonderful experience that when I got my 2nd dog, I put him into the nose work class. My 2nd dog has some sight issues and Meredith does an outstanding job helping me to train him. I would recommend Canine PHD to everyone! read more

For what it's worth, stay clear. Uses an ineffective treat-based training for dog aggression that just doesn't work. The dog comes to respect the treat and not the owner! Sweet people, but steer clear and look for an inbound solution! read more

Meredith is incredible. She had to help us make a very difficult decision about re-homing our dog, and we appreciate her honesty. She told us up front that this dog could make great strides, but was not meant for our home with kids. As heartbreaking as the decision was, we are thankful that someone who makes their living training dogs with behavior problems was genuine enough to not take financial advantage of the situation and have us keep coming back when she knew the dog's limitations. Thank you, Canine PhD! read more

I love this place. I've taken four classes here with two different dogs. The trainers are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and helpful. The new space is beautiful and well equipped. My dog and I have so much fun taking different classes here, and it's a great way to bond with and mentally challenge him. They also offer a variety of different dog sport intro classes, which is a great way to try something you're curious about. I look forward to our classes each week, and you will too! read more