On April 18th, I purchased a 12 week training course with Canine University for $575. Canine University's voicemail states: " to observe a class you have to have registered". On their website it states: "Pre-registration and payment is required to reserve a spot at orientation. Orientation is without your dog and does not count as one of your training weeks." So my partner and I signed up to learn more about their training, while looking at other options to determine what was best for our dog. We went to orientation on April 27th at 7pm where we received a booklet explaining their method and had a chance to ask questions. As our dog's aggressiveness was getting worse, we decided to start implementing some of their exercises in their book. We also agreed to confirm our attendance originally for May 11th and after emailing Canine University that we were struggling, we were moved to the May 4th class and confirmed our attendance. As our dog's behavior was escalating, we decided to contact another trainer that provided in-home service. We then emailed Canine University on May 4th that we would not be attending their classes and requested a partial refund. We received an email that they do not give out refunds and then they tried to convince us to go to the first class and then to private training. The cancellation policy on their website states: "Full refund if you notify us 48 hours prior to class start date. No refunds after the first class." We attended orientation and not a class. We asked where on their website the policy of no refunds after orientation was stated and have not received a response. If this business was confident in their training methods, they would operate differently and not be afraid to give customers refunds when no services have been rendered. read more

Sure, it's a bit of a trek to Malden...but totally worth it! I allowed over an hour to get to our first class, and a Mapquest direction sheet, numerous consults to Verizon's GPS software, and a lot of swearing later, Woofie and I arrived at our destination: Canine University. The place looks like an abandoned warehouse, but inside it turned out to be a sweet dog training school. I found this place thanks to Dachary C, who suggested it for agility classes. From the beginning, when I emailed Paul and Gerilyn (the husband and wife duo who own and run the place) through the seven week class, I felt that I 100% got my money's worth. Gerilyn was our instructor, and she managed all the dogs wonderfully. She just knows how to coach you and your dog, and catered her feedback to each dog's needs. (In other words, she made me feel comfortable with my unruly, ridiculous dog, which helped me manage him better and get the most out of class). These guys use operant conditioning(big word for clicker training) and sell tasty treats and foods too. And Gerilyn fielded random questions from dog owners each week, and provides resources for you on anything from training to medical advice, to where we could take our dogs for further expansion on our class. We'll definitely be back for more, since Gerilyn and Canine U totally rock! read more

Canine University - Pet Training Near Me - Malden, Massachusetts

I registered my puppy here for the 12 week lesson package (most popular) and we did 6 weeks in puppy kindergarten and 6 weeks in Good Manners. For puppy kindergarten, you cover sit, down, the beginning of leave it, and a couple of other basic tricks. It's rolling registration, so you never fully learn anything new as you mostly re-do "down" so the new puppies can catch up. In the training aspect, I don't think you would learn more than dog training videos that you watch on youtube. But, it's 100% worth it when it comes to the socialization aspect - the last 15 minutes of kindergarten are dedicated for puppy socialization, which is SO important. My pup was really nervous at first, but the dog trainer helped to coach me on how to react towards my pup's nervous behavior. By a couple of weeks in, my pup was a lot more sociable and outgoing. For Good Manners, you build up on tricks/skills previously learned and you additionally learn "place", "leave it", and dog walking. In addition, to build my pup's socialization skills after we moved out of puppy kindergarten, we enrolled her into the doggy daycare. It is run by only 1 person (for about 10 dogs in total) on Tues-Fri. After evaluation, the person that runs doggy daycare informs you of where your dog is at and how much work/time at the daycare for your dog is required to be at a good spot socially. We did it 2x/week for 8 weeks (16 visit package). The only thing that made me leave to another daycare is that they rotate and crate your dog every ~15 minutes, which leaves your dog crated for about half of the day. This is done so that your dog is rotated between different dogs that suit your dog's playstyle - do what you will with that information, but my pup still came home pretty energetic still compared to being reasonably tired. They also have a more strict approach to visits compared to other daycares, where you tell the person in charge what days you want your dog to come, and you're kind of expected to keep bringing your dog on those days. Make sure to document any days that you won't be attending in writing through EMAIL. I had informed verbally to the person that runs the doggy daycare that my pup is going to get spayed and said that she'll be out for the next two weeks, and I'll let him know when she will resume daycare - he said that was fine. I emailed the day prior to her returning daycare (they responded positively) and when I brought her the next morning, the person in charge asked me what was up with the fact that my pup hasn't been going to daycare regularly and that he was about to give up her spot on the days that she attended daycare because those days were getting full. I told him the reason why, and he told me "well this is why you tell me BEFORE hand"...which I did...and I did a package with days remaining (prepaid) so how could you give up her spot? I would only recommend the daycare if your dog REALLY needs help with socialization/gets turned away at other daycare evaluations because the man knows how to help dogs socialize better. If that's not the case, maybe come here for the training courses only! Would recommend them, especially for puppies! read more

We registered our puppy for the Puppy Kindergarten and Good Manners courses, and found the experience to be "Fine" at best. Rolling registration means every class is functionally the same, so once you've mastered "down" and "leave it" you're just waiting for the puppy playtime. You can learn everything this class can offer by watching a YouTube video and going to a dog park. We were lucky to bump from the Kindergarten to Manners course halfway through the package and it was a great move. The Manners course, while still being functionally identical week over week, covered some distracted walking on leash and off leash commands. While the staff was helpful, there wasn't much opportunity for guided training or helpful adjustments to our methods, so it still boiled down to us figuring out training on our own. Avoid Puppy Kindergarten, watch some training videos on your own, and wait for the Good Manners or above classes. read more

What a disappointment. We were charged $150 for initial lesson. No real instruction is provided. My puppy slept the entire 60 minutes. Just an intake questionnaire and sales pitch about how fabulous their school is. Notes & training videos were not delivered as promised. In fact - when pressed - Gerilyn emailed us notes on the WRONG DOG. There's a lack of professionalism here. Keep searching! read more

I cannot stress how frustrated I have been with this training program. For six lessons, all we have done is spend the first 10 minutes feeding our dog non-stop treats to get his attention. Then disorganized "training" occurs; moving a treat around the dogs' heads so that they focus, and literally nothing else!! Since this is a rolling admission operation, each week there are new "students" so there is no progression of instruction. Each week is a re-do of the week before. The owner sits on a stool in front of a dozen dogs and owners, telling everyone how well their dogs are doing, while the "assistant", who never once made eye contact with us, roams the room with a dog at her side. It is a mind-numbing experience. This is a costly program, and it is a complete "rip-off." I requested my a refund of my unused portion of the cost, but was refused. Last night I took my dog to "Unleashed" (owned by Petco) and within one hour, a young woman with six years' experience taught me how to teach my dog to "come", respond to his name, stay off counters and other surfaces, and stop jumping when the doorbell rings. PLEASE save you money. This is not dog training. read more

Canine University has a ton of classes available, a good website and a lot of very useful literature. We took our dog out for an one-on-one session with a trainer to work on his behavior with other dogs when he's on leash. The trainer, Rachel, taught us how to use a clicker with our dog. She also gave a thorough interview to get to know our pup and let him run around the big open space while we talked. Her dog was there so we could practice passing dogs on the sidewalk. It went very well! We have lots of homework to do, but also a great resource when we run into trouble in the future. I'm looking forward to signing up for group classes this summer. read more

After adopting a rescue dog, which also happens to be the first dog of my own, I decided that obedience classes were in order. After searching online, I was very happy to find a trainer located so close to me. I sent out some questions via e-mail, and they replied after a couple of days addressing my concerns and recommending some classes. The location can be a bit tricky to find at first, especially at night. It is located in a warehouse like area. I sat in on a class and liked what I saw, so I signed up for 4 weeks (twice a week) of classes for my dog. Most of the beginner's training here is done with the clicker. It works very well for me, and I like the fact that it gives the dog a consistent source of encouragement. After 3 classes, the dog is better behaved so I'm very happy with the results so far. I will update this review upon the completion of the 4-week course. read more

We have taken two dogs to classes at Canine University. 12 years ago we took our 100 pound Rottie here for puppy, beginner, advanced and therapy dog training. Because of these classes she was a model canine good citizen" her whole life. Now we have a new lab puppy who has started in beginner classes at Canine University. Gerilyn, her husband Paul and her staff are all kind, caring and knowledgable. We have also brought our dog to the doggie daycare. So nice to have a happy tired dog at the end of the day. I recommend Canine University to people all the time. read more

Canine University was an integral part of socializing our 10 week old puppy and training him out of his bad puppy habits like play biting. The Puppy K class was great for teaching my husband and me how to clicker train effectively. Gerilyn also taught us how to approach free play time in a constructive and safe way. Since graduating Puppy K, we've moved onto basic manners and our puppy is improving every day! The most valuable asset for us was the doggie daycare. Our puppy needed socialization with other dogs, but we knew he wouldn't pass the "temperament evaluation" that other dog daycares in the area require due to his play biting. Gerilyn and Paul are such experienced handlers that they assured us Severus would be fine at dog daycare with them even though I worried he might set off some larger dog with his nipping and get himself in trouble. They carefully match their play groups and mostly let him play with their adult golden retrievers, who are used to being around puppies. Severus got lots of corrections from dogs, which he really needed, but was never in an unsafe position. After about 15 days at Canine University doggie daycare, Severus was exhibiting more appropriate play behavior. He even passed the temperament evaluation for another doggie daycare which is closer to where we live! We have since stopped using their daycare services only because it's not convenient for our work locations (added an extra hour each way to my commute). However, I cannot recommend them enough to anybody who 1) lives near them 2) has a puppy that needs doggie daycare but won't be accepted into other daycares due to behavior issues. Canine University is understanding and tolerant of each dog's weaknesses and works to correct them while still being very inclusive (within reason)! If it weren't for Canine University, Severus would still be a naughty playmate, nipping at dogs' ears, legs, and jowls. I can't thank them enough for giving our puppy a chance and now I'm never afraid to take him to dog parks or other play groups because I know he'll play well! read more

Simply put.....THE BEST there is!!! Gerilyn and her team were amazing support when we trained Callie, our Golden Retriever puppy. Enroll here, you will be happy you did! read more

Canine University has changed my life and the lives of my dogs. This place is one of the top 3 things Malden has going for it. (You other 2 know who you are!) Gerilyn is an amazing instructor. Classes are fun, positive, and creative. My dogs and I have taken 4 classes there so far (adult beginner, puppy kindergarten, beginning agility and now the "wild child" class.) My 9-year-old poodle mix is learning a lot and breaking some long-term bad habits in "wild child.". Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Plus weekly attendance at day care at Canine U has given my puppy excellent dog socialization skills. read more

My adopted dog was terrified of new people and dogs. Clicker training and socialization through Canine University was definitely the way to go! Not only do they have regular classes, they also have doggie-daycare on Tue, Wed, and Thursdays. Perfect for the working doggie-parent! read more

The rolling admissions for this program mean there's not real progression in the instruction. Every week, the instructors had to teach the new comers to the class the same step as the people who had been there for 4 or 5 classes. So once you've taught your dog the "down" command, you basically sit around in class and continue to feed your dog a lot of treats and wait for the "playtime" part of the class. Plus, given that it's a fairly small room and there are 15 or so puppies all being clicker trained at the same time, it's hard to see how the puppies are distinguishing their clicks from that of the puppy three feet away from him/her. Plus in a room full of constant clicking it was impossible to even hear the instructor. I was disappointed that after week three, we weren't taught anything new for our dog who had gotten to "down." There was no instruction on how to walk with your dog on leash. I'm guessing that in order to learn anything beyond sit and down you have to enroll in the next level of class. I have taken other courses with my first puppy that provided more instruction that just the two command in this class, which is why I gave it the two stars. read more

I cannot say enough positive things to convey my satisfaction with canine university. The dog I brought to them hello Potential I was clear about that but I did not have the time or the resources to invest in bringing him to his full potential. Inside of the first three sessions she is intelligence had spiked, seemingly he all of a sudden understood English and was able to follow many of the things I asked him to do almost effortlessly. The Interventions were very simple and direct to the point but the way they were delivered. I was given simple homework instructions which in addition to the training he received in the center made him blossom into an ideal dog for virtually any social situation. He wouldn't fact make an ideal therapy dog and I may in fact start bringing him to the nursing home just to take full advantage of his fantastic gifts. Thank you canine university. I could I'd be happier. read more

My dog and I just completed our first obedience course here and we love it! Gerilyn is an awesome instructor. She really knows her stuff and helps each dog/human team get the individual help they need for their specific issues. Every dog is trainable, you just have to put in the work and time, and Gerilyn and her team will help you figure out how to motivate your dog. Love this place! read more

I went to Canine University's website and saw that they do clicker training and how they have individualized attention for dogs in their training class. And so I went to the first day (without my dog as it says to do) and talked to a wonderful woman who was knowledgeable and kind. I signed us up that night and we waited for the classes to start the following week. It is worth knowing that we have had dogs our whole life but we thought our new puppy could use some training. The lady who does the training is knowledgeable in what she does. And her staff is knowledgeable too. Week 1 we learned the basics of clicker training and why we are giving the dogs so many clicks and treats constantly. All was good and I figured we were getting somewhere. Week 2 came around and I took her to find that we were doing the same thing as we did in Week 1. There were new dogs there and we did exactly what we learned in the week prior only with minimal (extremely minimal) progress in the techniques that require more than one step. We weren't really progressing at all. It was basically week 1 all over again, but with a tid bit (like 5 minutes) of "what to do next" for some of the commands we were working on. Week 3 we were doing the same as week 1.There was no "what to do next" for the commands, not even tid bits and it was that week that I decided not to continue going there. I didn't want to keep pumping her full of treats with no progression in the training. So why do I give them 2 stars? The 2 star review is because of a lack of progression in the training weeks. You are encouraged to train throughout the week on your own (like homework) and that gives plenty of time to get that weeks training down pat. But then when you are only going back over week 1 and you are in week 2 and then week 3, it started getting annoying for lack of progression in our training techniques. Basically if something had 3-4 parts to learn for the skill, we were taught part 1 and skimmed the surface of part 2. The 2 star review is also because of the lack of individualized attention it states online. We were visited and helped individually, 2-3 times but for less than 5 minutes each time. We thought we would be getting more individualized help than we actually got. In addition, while the staff knows their stuff really well, some of the staff isn't all that pleasant when you ask for help. We stopped going after we learned nothing new in week 3 (after not learning anything new in week 2). Then we asked for a partial refund on the training weeks (we paid up front) and we were given the hardest time about it and decided it wasn't worth the negativity, hostility and unprofessionalism from them to get some money returned to us. And because it is on a rolling admission basis, there are always new students. It isn't that you sign up for 6 weeks, start and then learn more as you go with a set start date, etc. It is that every week they start new with new students and so I think that hinders progress. MY ADVICE TO YOU: Go to the initial day without your dog and talk to the nice woman. Ask to watch the training class in progress. Make sure you watch more than one week. And make sure you watch each week when it starts at 6:30pm. Then don't sign up until you have observed more than one week. If after that time you are satisfied with what you see - make sure your hesitations are addressed before you sign the paper. Then you are good to go. This place has a ton of potential, it just stinks that progress is hindered because of a constant rolling enrollment. I am actually a little apprehensive/nervous about leaving this review after the negative responses we received over the last two weeks. I don't need the stress but I did want you guys to know the potential and what you actually get with this training program. And to make sure you watch more than one class (the 6:30 start one) before signing up. The 6:30 and 7:30 classes are different so please make sure you witness the same class couple of weeks in a row. read more

The 'trainers' sit on a stool at the front of the class barking out orders. They hardly ever check in with the owners and pups to correct behavior or incorrect owner handling. Not worth the money, you could read the packet instead and get more out of it. read more

Took our playful puppy here in 2012 for training. The Puppy K class was great and just what he needed. Gerilyn was very informative and friendly. read more

I can't say enough good things about Gerilyn and Canine University. We've been taking our 1.5 year old American Eskimo for some private lessons and have been so impressed. Gerilyn has so much knowledge and insight into dogs and their thinking and behavior. ALL of her suggestions have help Koko get much better when dealing with strangers and all our dog walking friends are so impressed with how well she listens and responds to commands. read more

We are in our second course at canine university and have been thoroughly impressed by everyone that works there from the second we walked in. We started classes with our puppy when he was 5 months old and it is amazing how far he has come. I am pretty sure he was one of the loudest dogs in class the first day we started and now he knows exactly what is expected of him. Gerilyn is amazing at what she does and very helpful and willing to answer additional questions! We also brought our puppy to doggie day care here and he loved it! read more

Gerilyn and Paul are the best. They're fantastic at what they do as well as helpful and responsive. My dog and I went there for Puppy Kindergarden as well as private training with Gerilyn for my reactive dog. She also goes to daycare twice a week with Paul and it's a lifesaver. read more

We started using Canine U. in 2007 for our 7-year-old rescue dog from the shelter. He had never been socialized, and was both aggressive towards, and terrified of, other dogs. We called about a dozen places looking for help, but CU was the *only* dog training school that said, "sure, bring him in. We'll work with him." Gerilyn B. was a phenomenal trainer for him, and transformed our scared, angry dog over the course of a year into an extraordinary, loving dog who gave us joy every day of his life. Since then, CU is our go-to place for training, doggy day care, and occasional one-to-one consults for all of our dogs. Paul B. runs the doggy day care, and he is a fabulous professional who really understands dogs, how they play, what they need, and how to mingle the day's mixture of dogs. The dogs get rest throughout the day, but they also have times of vigorous play. Our dog ALWAYS comes home happy and tired. I highly recommend CU for anyone who wants to give their companion a happy, well-trained life. Paul and Gerilyn are incredible. read more