DogwiseAcademy.com Reviews - 120

So it seems Dogwise has an interesting

So it seems Dogwise has an interesting approach to handling dissenting opinions – they simply flag them to keep negative feedback under wraps. Quite a revelation. My recent encounter with them was far from satisfactory. I entrusted them with a hefty 30+ pound bag of dog food for my two voracious girls, only to have it returned after two weeks with a mere quarter of its contents consumed. For a fortnight, my girls apparently went hungry. The assurance that the trainer would exclusively focus on my dogs proved to be false, as the trainer had two sizable canines of their own and was concurrently working with another. A video they sent depicted the unsettling scene of their dogs cornering and overpowering mine. I had requested three basic commands to be taught, yet not only were they ignored, but my dogs seemed to have forgotten the commands they already knew. In response to my dissatisfaction, the owner offered an additional two one-hour classes. The question arises: what can be achieved in four hours that couldn't be accomplished in two weeks? Unfortunately, my concerns were met with evasive language and a failure to comprehend the gravity of the situation from a pet parent's perspective.

I wanted to provide an update

I wanted to provide an update to my previous review. I had an ongoing exchange with the CEO, Sean, over the course of a few months following my dog training experience. Unfortunately, we couldn't come to a resolution, as we had differing opinions on the matter. In the end, I felt that my concerns were not adequately heard or professionally addressed. I thought it would be helpful to share this update for anyone who might have had a similar experience with this relatively new company and interacted with their customer support services or management team.

Avoid sending your dog to this

Avoid sending your dog to this board and training program. They lack professionalism and don't prioritize your dog's well-being. I adopted a pitbull with a troubled past, likely bred for fighting. After an unfortunate cat attack, my dog developed fear and aggression issues. Hoping to understand her better, boost confidence, and improve obedience, I enrolled her in the board and training program for behavioral aggression. Right from the start, things went south. The assigned trainer remained elusive, and I couldn't even communicate with her before handing over my dog. This lack of connection raised concerns, but I was desperate for a solution. The trainer's communication was sporadic, and she blamed her busy life for the lack of updates, messaging me separately about it. Scheduling pickups became a hassle, with me adjusting to her timetable. Keeping an open mind, I hoped the program would bring positive changes. Unfortunately, the trainer focused on basic obedience and resorted to using an e-collar, citing my dog as "stubborn." She suggested a muzzle as a solution, disregarding my dog's traumatic past, claiming it doesn't matter. Trying the e-collar left my dog scared and broke my heart; I discontinued its use after just one day. The trainer couldn't identify the root of my dog's aggression. Upon expressing my disappointment to Dogwise, they defended themselves, claiming to hire the best trainers. Their response lacked empathy, urging me to stick to the trainer's method. All I got for $6k was basic obedience, an e-collar, a muzzle, and a dog with diminished self-esteem. I eventually had to hire a local trainer for in-person lessons, shelling out an additional $3k. Save your money and find a trainer you can work with directly.

Dogwise Academy's conduct contradicts

Dogwise Academy's conduct contradicts its reported concern for "harmful or illegal content," evident in my flagged review. Despite choosing them based on positive feedback, my dog's 5-week stay resulted in a distressing $6,000 ordeal. The terms and conditions absolve them of responsibility, leaving pet owners vulnerable. My pup returned neglected, underweight, and sick, while requests for training were ignored. Attempts to address concerns were met with dismissal, gaslighting, and unprofessionalism from owner Sean. Legal mediation was fruitless, met with hostility. Avoid Dogwise Academy, opt for a reputable company valuing respect and pet well-being.

I had the joy of working with Cal to tackle

I had the joy of working with Cal to tackle some behavioral issues with my dog, Nala, like leash walking, barking too much, jumping on visitors, and general obedience. Cal gave clear, useful advice that started to show results right away. My dog used to pull hard on walks and bark at every little thing, but now she walks nicely next to me. The barking has gone down a lot, and the jumping problem is nearly fixed. Most importantly, my puppy is more obedient and listens to commands way better. Cal used positive, reward-based training, which made it fun for Nala, and I know she loved her time with him. The changes have been life-changing, and I couldn't be more happy. If you're having similar problems, I highly recommend Dogwise Academy and asking for Cal to be your dogs trainer! Cal is a fantastic trainer who really gets dogs and their needs.

We had Lauren as our dog trainer for 3 weeks.

We had Lauren as our dog trainer for 3 weeks. We talked to her about 4 problems we were having. Lucy is an American Bulldog, around 75 pounds and 5 years old (practically untrained). Somehow, all 4 problems were fixed when she came home. I didn’t expect a miracle, but something close to it happened. Lucy is now a well-trained and loving dog, which I can honestly say for the first time. It’s been about 3 weeks since she returned. I've had friends over and she's been around other people and dogs for the first time! Sometimes my kids think their dog is sick because she behaves so well. They still can’t believe it’s the same dog! I don’t know what more to say except “thank you” for giving me another chance and a fresh start with my dog. I wouldn’t have been able to keep her without Lauren and Dog Wise!

Hiring Ryan to train our puppy, Sofia

Hiring Ryan to train our puppy, Sofia, was a great choice for our family! His positive training methods really made a difference. Sofia, who was shy at first, has grown so much with Ryan's help. She's doing great on walks and can handle stairs now too! Ryan's advice and dedication to Sofia's success were really helpful. He even noticed a health issue that was affecting her potty training, and things have improved a lot since then. When Ryan brought Sofia back after two weeks, he showed us how to keep up with her training. We're using his methods every day now. Ryan's knowledge and care have made us better pet owners and helped Sofia a lot. We'd definitely recommend him to anyone who needs a dog trainer who really cares about your pet's happiness. Thanks, Ryan, for everything!

I was more than happy and amazed with my time here.

I was more than happy and amazed with my time here. My 2 Shiba Inu’s were quite difficult. They had fear and confidence problems. They would pull when walking and were generally very jumpy. Lauren Shelly was a great trainer! I can’t say enough about how much she did for my dogs. She was constantly in contact with me through videos and messages to update me on their progress. Always giving feedback. Even after returning them, she keeps in touch to see how they’re doing and offers advice. My dogs came back completely changed for the better! I couldn’t be more happy with the results. I would highly reccommend this service for anyone really looking for good training. If you can get Lauren Shelly depending on your location, I would say go for it. It’s totally worth it.

I have nothing but positive things to say about Dogwise

I have nothing but positive things to say about Dogwise Academy and our trainer, Njoud! She worked wonders with my puppy, Nala. Before the training, Nala had issues with potty training, recall, and chewing on everything. Now, she waits for me to let her out to go potty, which is a huge relief since I'm busy with work and school and didn't have much time to train her. The chewing and nipping have stopped, and her recall is much better now! What I really like is that Njoud will return after four weeks to check Nala’s progress and make any needed changes. This level of follow-up and care really shows how much she cares about the dogs and their owners. I'm really happy with the experience and highly recommend Dogwise Academy to anyone who wants great dog training!

This team was very responsive, fair, and supportive!

This team was very responsive, fair, and supportive! We’re very happy with the outcome for our puppy Mochi. It's the basic stuff, but those basics are so key to everyday life, and we really needed the expert guidance. Being new dog owners, all we really knew was how to shower him with love. The program lasted 2 weeks, and we did it while we were away in Toronto. Brandon broke down every part of the training and lessons in a clear way. My wife took care of all the planning, but as a family, we’re super glad we went with this team, they were great

Buyer Beware

I got approved by them and then got cold feet a day later, they refused to refund me because you can't cancel 14 days before your appointment, I told them I didn't confirm an appointment and they said " Well is Sunday good for you then." They refused to try and refund my money and I even got more emails from them trying to confirm a start date, which is further proof I never confirmed a start date, I haven't even received a call back from this company or spoke to anyone on the phone and they are saying I confirmed an appointment already I cant get a refund, and I just got approved the day before, so I thought you know what I am stuck they got me, lets just do it, for 3 days all I got was some photos and my dog sitting once, hey I am okay with you taking your time training my dog, but the last day I didn't get any updates for 23 hours, once again I am okay with going at your own pace with training but not getting any photos or updates for a full day, Long story short I got my dog back after 3 days and now they are refusing to refund any money , buyer beware if you get approved for a loan there is no going back even if you haven't done a day yet , signed anything, or made any agreements.

Dogwise disappointed me with their

Dogwise disappointed me with their handling of my dogs' training. Despite assurances that only my dogs would be under the trainer's care, I discovered otherwise. The 30+ pound bag of dog food I sent lasted only two weeks, leaving my hungry pups. Tasks I requested were ignored, and the trainer's dogs were seen bullying mine in a video. The promised two extra hours of classes felt insufficient. The owner's response lacked understanding, leaving me frustrated with their dismissive attitude towards a pet parent's concerns.

I signed my puppy up for the obedience train-and-board

I signed my puppy up for the obedience train-and-board program after dealing with his usual (and annoying) puppy habits—biting the leash, jumping all the time, and ignoring me. I felt like I wasn’t making any progress by myself. Turns out, he’s just really headstrong. Cal, our trainer, was great. He was patient, smart, and always took the time to explain not only what to do, but why—which helped me a lot as a dog owner. He used different methods until he found the right one for my pup, and the results are clear. Now, about a week after the program finished, my puppy is still doing well with the training. He’s more focused, listens more, and is easier to handle. He’s still a puppy, of course, but now he’s a better behaved one—and that means a lot to me. Highly recommend this program if you’re feeling lost or stressed. It really helped us get on the right path!

I have a Bernadoodle who is one year old.

I have a Bernadoodle who is one year old. He is really strong, and I couldn’t manage him well. He would just stare at me and start barking to get my attention. I thought I might have to give him away because he was too hard to handle, but I wanted to try one last time. I signed him up at Dogwise Academy for 3 weeks, while I was on vacation. They sent daily updates, videos, and told me what they worked on. We worried he wouldn’t calm down, and we might have to find him a new home. Our little (95 lb) dog is a new pup now. It’s hard to believe. When I was in the living room, he always tried to jump on my lap, barked nonstop, and jumped on guests. Now he does none of that. He is the dog I always wanted. He wasn’t a bad dog, he was a "doodle" and both of us needed help. Thanks Heather and Dogwise Academy!!

I reached out to Dogwise when I got my 6 month old German

I reached out to Dogwise when I got my 6 month old German Shepherd puppy. I never trained a dog before, so I knew it would be hard. After looking online, I chose Dogwise and they connected me with my trainer, Mrs. Njoud. She was really great with my puppy K.O.. I couldn’t have hoped for a better trainer. K.O. stayed with Njoud for two weeks. She taught crate training, potty training, leash training, door manners, and a lot more than I thought she would. Thanks Njoud for everything you’ve done and still do. I also appreciate the follow-up sessions that help keep K.O. on track.

Great team

Dogwise is a fun, supportive place to work where we genuinely care about helping dogs and their owners. Every day is dynamic, filled with engaging conversations and problem-solving. I’ve learned so much about dog behavior and sales strategies. Management is approachable and always willing to help. The workplace culture is upbeat and team-driven. The hardest part is when a client isn’t the right fit, but the most enjoyable part is seeing happy owners excited about their dog's progress. It’s rewarding to be part of a team that makes a real difference!

Rina was really great!

Rina was really great! We were worried about leaving our new dog with someone we didn’t know well. But she made us feel really safe and calm, especially since we were out of town the first week. She kept us updated with pictures and videos every day! She answered all of our questions and took care of our specific worries. She followed up with us and was always there to answer more questions even after Bandit came back home. We really liked Rina. She gave us a list of products and recommended food and things we might need for our Rottwieler.

Cal at Dogwise is really great!

Cal at Dogwise is really great! When we sent our dog, Talen, to him, we needed help with his anxiety, bad behavior with other dogs, and being around kids. After four weeks, Talen learned commands, walks nicely, and is more relaxed with children. At drop-off, Cal took time to work with Talen and us, helping us learn how to keep training at home. We can’t say enough about the care, daily updates, and effort that Cal gave to Talen, and we are so glad with how the month turned out for Talen. Thanks to Cal, we are ready to keep working at home.

Our time with Wise Academy was positive.

Our time with Wise Academy was positive. The trainer they assigned us, Njoud Aghabi, was a great choice for us. She did a wonderful job with our dog Leah. Njoud was professional and knew a lot about her work. She was gentle and caring with Leah, meeting her needs and ours. Leah has a disability, but Njoud came up with creative ways to train her. Njoud kept us updated with regular videos and information to show us Leah's progress. We feel Njoud really did her best. Thanks to Njoud Aghabi and Wise Academy.

Our time with Dogwise was very good from start to finish

Our time with Dogwise was very good from start to finish. Our trainer, Theresa, was very nice! The communication was great while Winnie was in training, and it was clear Theresa truly cared about our dog (even took her to the vet!). She still helps with our follow-up questions. Winnie had a lot of issues before Dogwise, but she returned as a new dog! She now knows several commands, and best of all, she doesn’t jump anymore! Highly recommend this company and Theresa!

Luis greatly assisted our worried and scared dog

Luis greatly assisted our worried and scared dog, Lacy. It was a hard choice for my husband and me to send her away, but we're glad we did. Lacy returned more joyful and courageous. While she still has some work ahead, Luis managed to boost her confidence and provided us with the tools to keep her on the right track. Lacy really trusted Luis - it was clear he was gentle and patient with her at all times. Luis was also wonderfull with communication. Many thanks!

My dog Beans stayed with Ryan for 3 weeks!

My dog Beans stayed with Ryan for 3 weeks! When he came back, he was still his happy and playful self, and we noticed some changes! He now stays in his crate without howling or needing constant attention, he doesn’t pull on his leash anymore, and the jumping has gotten a lot better… we are still working with him daily, but I’d recommend Ryan anytime! He’s always available for questions or advice when we need it for our pup! Thanks Dogwise!

I’m really happy with Dogwise Academy

I’m really happy with Dogwise Academy for their great help in making my dog, Magnolia, calmer on the leash and less reactive. Their commitment and care have been great—they’ve kept in touch with us to make sure Magnolia keeps improving since returning home. Sean, the owner, has been very helpful, and our trainer, Rina, was fantastic. She was very kind and really wanted Magnolia to succeed. Thanks, Dogwise, for all your support!

It's great to hear about

It's great to hear about the progress your 9-month-old Yorkie, Vinnie, has made with the help of trainer Aaliyah. It's wonderful that Vinnie's reactivity issues and door manners have improved, and it's clear that Aaliyah went above and beyond to address other triggers as well. It's always a good sign when you see a difference in your dog's behavior. Best of luck in continuing Vinnie's success at home with Aaliyah's guidance!

Thanks to Njoud for taking care of my dog

Thanks to Njoud for taking care of my dog Teri for three weeks. I'm sorry for the delay in this review. Njoud and her family showed Teri lots of love and care. Teri's behavior improved with Njoud's help, especially with house manners and walking. Njoud came for a follow-up visit, and Teri was thrilled to see her, following her commands happily. During our walk, Njoud provided additional training tips. Thanks, Njoud!

I had the chance to have Rina train my puppy for two weeks.

I had the chance to have Rina train my puppy for two weeks. She did a great job. My puppy returned potty trained and crate trained, and there was a big improvement in her ability to listen. After the board and train, Rina provided me with all the information I needed to keep training my puppy, and she stayed in touch during the entire process. I’m really thankful for her and would recommend her to anyone!

Luis was great to work with - very responsive

Luis was great to work with - very responsive, professional, and patient. In three weeks, he transformed Tallulah from a scared puppy to a confident one. She's not scared of going outside or stairs anymore, noises don't scare her, and she's fully potty trained. All with positive reinforcement! Even though I missed Tallulah, I knew she was in good hands. Thanks, Luis!

Big shoutout to Rina

Big shoutout to Rina, the best trainer! My dog Blue used to be a handful, pulling on the leash and chasing everything. Now, thanks to Dogwise Academy, she's much better behaved. She walks nicely on the leash, waits for me, and follows commands well. I wish we could have done more, but it's good for now. Me and Blue are having a good time together now.

Our trainer, Tressie, was wonderful to work with!

Our trainer, Tressie, was wonderful to work with! She did a great job with Finn, our nervous pup, and gave both him and us strategies and routines to continue training after his time with her. We got detailed daily updates and clear communication. Can’t say enough nice things about Tressie and the program overall. Highly recomended!

I highly suggest this for anyone looking to train their dog.

I highly suggest this for anyone looking to train their dog. I have noticed a lot of progress! Before, my dog used to be wild when going outside, but now he listens very well! Every week, I saw changes in my dog from the videos Rina shared. I feel much more sure and relaxed when taking my dog out in public places!