ARF! ARF! Welcome to K-9 University, training ground for several of the brightest, most lovable dogs and their human owners. Our university is like most institutions of higher learning. We have very committed students, loving parents, wonderful and successful alumni, a pretty campus, a great, highly qualified professorial team, but, alas, we are sorry to admit, no football team.
Reviews (25)
Candace Burton
May 15, 2022
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 it was extremely hard to receive our refund.
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 it was extremely hard to receive our refund.
Jess C.
May 11, 2022
We paid $190 (back about 5-6 years ago) for the first level training. We went to the first 3 classes and all we did was constantly stuff the dogs with "high value" treats. From there it was teaching them to sit - but nothing else. Waste of time and money. Back then I left a very honest review on Yelp but it's been flagged as one that doesn't count toward their overall rating. I recommend you read the reviews yelp doesn't recommend for any business but you will see ours there.
Troy F.
Dec 28, 2021
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.
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.
Xio Lopp
Dec 25, 2021
We rescued a 2 yr old extremely reactive dog that we weren't sure we would be able to keep. Gerilyn gave us the tools and support to make him a lovable and gentle part of the family! She was extremely responsive to our needs and problems. It did take time to see progress but we are so happy with the results after months of hard work. If you're willing to learn from Gerilyn and work with your dog you will see results!
Tapani Ronni
Dec 21, 2021
Michael Crouch
Jun 28, 2021
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 sent us notes on the WRONG DOG. There's a lack of professionalism here. Keep searching!
Dan S.
Apr 11, 2021
Once you get past the warehouse location, you'll quickly be surprised by how knowledgeable and tuned-in the people at Canine University really are. They can read your dog almost instantaneously, in a way that I imagine only comes with decades of experience. More importantly to my specific situation, I was very frustrated with the slow progress of my new puppy, and Canine University was accommodating, more flexible, and more supportive to me than they had to be, to try to get me restarted in classes with more success on the second go.
Their daycare is also a cut above the rest, with a individually tailored curriculum of small group play to keep your doc not just exercised and safe, but also to build the dog's socialization and behavior skills through structured activities. Highly recommended.
Their daycare is also a cut above the rest, with a individually tailored curriculum of small group play to keep your doc not just exercised and safe, but also to build the dog's socialization and behavior skills through structured activities. Highly recommended.
Kevin B.
Mar 14, 2021
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.
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.
Karen O.
Aug 20, 2020
Karen Riek
Mar 17, 2020
We are in class #4 and can not say enough good things! It's a nice pace.and you start wherever your dog is. There is structure and affection built into each class and the class size is easily manageable by the 2 fabulous ladies! Treats and clicking really do compliment each other and our 1 year old boxer is learning every day! From the moment we walked in.we could see the descriptions on the website matched what we were seeing.and we were sold!
Kat Z.
May 04, 2019
Finally I found a good trainer who answered all my questions. They are the best, I have gone to so many trainers over the years to help me address a few issues with my dog and I had no luck untill I found this place. After each session, I get a very detailed email with all the notes from our training session. Email also has all the details, step by step of what I need to do at home until next session. I wish I could give them 10 stars, they are that great.
Jacques Dupuis
Jun 04, 2018
Great place, good rates, friendly and organized trainers! E: Wanted to update after having been through a couple classes. The trainers are excellent and incredibly patient. Our pup struggled a lot with barking all the time during the classes, so she wasn't the.best student. But the techniques that we learned in class were so good, and I feel like the clicker training has made her into a kind and gentle dog with good instincts for how to behave. She went from being a bit of a terror to being a really wonderfully behaved dog, and I have to credit our classes here for teaching us how to get her there.
Holly H.
Feb 09, 2018
Beth E.
Feb 06, 2018
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.
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.
Colleen C.
Jun 04, 2017
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.
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.
Melissa T.
Nov 17, 2016
Julianne C.
Feb 21, 2015
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!
Susan P.
Jan 13, 2014
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.
Najely S.
Jan 11, 2013
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!
Jill S.
Dec 30, 2012
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.
Barbara B.
Jun 23, 2012
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.
Vincent R.
Nov 17, 2010
Andre C.
Jan 15, 2010
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.
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.
Hillary M.
Apr 21, 2009
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.
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.
Allison R.
Dec 24, 2008
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!
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!