Above the Standard Dog Training

My experience with Above the Standard was so much better than I expected. We did the Board & Train because we wanted to make sure he received consistent correction for his habits that needed to be fixed. Jay taught a lot about the natural behaviors for his breed so we could better understand the things he was doing. My main issue was reactivity to people and dogs that ended up causing me some injuries because I could not control him. Since completing the program, he is focused on me when he is around people and other animals. He sits and stays next to me instead of taking off. He no longer pulls on his leash for walks and doesn’t act like he’s going to attack when going into the crate. His behaviors are so much better which allows me to feel comfortable and not so anxious when he’s with me. The icing on the cake was taking him to the vets office that had other dogs in the lobby and he remained calm at my side. In the end, it’s the best thing I could’ve done for my family.

Above the Standard team is extremely professional. The trainers are knowledgeable, honest, upfront, and genuinely care about the welfare of each trainee. I learned so much from Jay—from understanding my dog’s body language to properly correcting unwanted behaviors. He is very consistent and highly knowledgeable, and I always felt confident that Kaiser was in great hands. I highly recommend the board-and-train program, especially for busy dog parents. They truly focus on proper, effective training. While it can be stressful to leave your dog in someone else’s care 24/7 for three weeks, I could clearly see that my dog was safe, well cared for, and trained exceptionally well. What really sets them apart is that the training doesn’t stop after the three weeks are over—they remain available and supportive if you have any questions even after bringing your dog home.

We sent our dog Waylon to Above the Standard for a 4-week board & train, and the difference when he came home was immediately obvious. Throughout his stay, the team kept us updated with regular photos and progress check-ins, which made it easy to feel confident he was in great hands. The biggest wins for us were leash walking, recall, and loading into the back of the car. Before training, walks were chaotic at best. Now Waylon walks calmly on leash and actually listens. His recall is reliable in real-world situations, not just in quiet, controlled settings. And the car situation? Completely transformed. He now jumps into the back on command instead of turning it into a full-blown situation, me having to pick up a 70 pound lab. What really set Above the Standard apart was how intentional and practical their approach is. Waylon lived in a real home environment during training, and when he came home, they came to our house to train us with him in his own environment. That made a huge difference. They didn’t just hand us a trained dog and wish us luck. They showed us exactly how to reinforce the behaviors where it actually matters, day to day. If you’re considering a board & train and want results that truly translate to real life, Above the Standard Dogs is absolutely worth it. Waylon came back happier, more confident, and dramatically easier to live with — which is the goal.

We had an incredible experience with Above the Standard. We sent our 1 year old German shepherd to the 4-week board and train with Jay for reactivity and leash pulling. He returned a whole new dog! Jay is a dog whisperer and has completely transformed not only our dog’s behavior but also our mindset when it comes to dog training. We are so impressed by the improvement in leash walking and recall. Even though the 4 weeks are over and we have our dog back home, Jay continues to schedule lessons at our convenience and is always willing to answer any further questions we have. I would recommend Above the Standard to anyone who wants to improve their dog’s behavior by learning to truly understand their dog.

Five stars is not enough for the wonderful experience we had with Jim and the Above the Standard team. Our dog Lily was chaos defined and they gave us back calm. She can now experience more with us and enjoy activities in a new way. The team kept us constantly updated with videos and text. Jim really took into account what we needed, not just a one train for every dog approach. They also take time as they train you to make sure you are comfortable and ready for this new dynamic with your dog. Lily is just thriving and we couldn’t be happier!