Balanced Paws K9 Training

My Australian Shepherd, Quinn and I have been members of the Balanced Paws Family since January of 2024. I knew that being a first time dog owner, I wanted to take the right steps in giving Quinn the best life possible. When Quinn first came home with me at one years old, she was a reactive dog that needed some training in how to live a balanced life, as well as myself. I believe dog training is not only about the dog itself but the owner(s) as well. I grew up watching Cesar Millan and found a passion for animal psychology/behavior/training. After researching and reading that Lincoln trained with Cesar Millan, I was hooked and knew I found the support I was looking for. Ever since completing the Obedience Course I have seen a tremendous change in Quinn's behavior. Quinn has been going to Boot Camp once a week ever since, and just recently we have started E-collar Training. The staff at Balanced Paws is unmatched. The level of care and the knowledge they have never fails to amaze me. I would recommend Balanced Paws K9 Training to anyone with a furry friend. I really do not know what I would have done without their help. Thank you to the amazing staff for taking such good care of Quinn and giving me the tools and knowledge needed to live a happier and balanced life with her. I could not be happier with the results and this is only the beginning of our time at Balanced Paws.

After getting a 10 month old mini bernedoodle we noticed certain behaviors that we felt would escalate if we didn’t do something. We registered for the obedience class and during the first class I was worried that she would fail. Whether magic, voodoo, or just plain dog whispering, week after week we saw improvements. If you do the work you WILL get results. Addy now attends boot camp and continues to make improvements and is becoming the perfect dog for us. I cannot say enough about Lincoln, Megan and the whole crew that care so much and want you and your dog to be successful. Their patience is saintly and it is invaluable to know my dog is in a safe learning space where she gets enrichment.

After a lot of research we decided to give Balanced Paws a try. We spoke with the trainers on the phone and scheduled an in-home visit with 2 trainers ($350, including a custom training leash) after which we enthusiastically signed up for a 5-week training class that met every Saturday starting the first week of January 2024. The class is normally $300+ and we received a discount since we’d already had the in-home visit. We paid $200 up front for the 5 classes. We were enthusiastic about this training facility since it was one of the few that did not espouse boot-camp style domination or shock collar methods for our dog that is already anxious, and interestingly, has nothing but five star reviews on Google. In the first session we learned some basic methods for walking our dog and found these helpful. During the second session on January 13 we practiced “place work” with a cot. At the end of this session the lead trainer/owner kept the group late and wanted to talk about “nutrition”. At this point, it took a turn for worse as he described how all dogs should have raw food only, that “it doesn’t matter what your vet tells you,” that kibble is unhealthy, loaded with industrial fillers, and killing our dogs. We were held captive as the owner described - and I truly think he believes - that commercially prepared dog food is tainted with recycled euthanized animals, that veterinarians were conspiring with dog food companies to propagate lies and propaganda, and that vaccinating our animals was counterproductive to their health. Facebook was cited multiple times as the authoritative source of this information. We got our dog and made a clean exit. Clearly had I known the place was a breeding ground for anti-vax and anti-public health conspiracy theory bred in a Facebook echo chamber, I probably wouldn’t have taken my dog there or paid $550 for their services. I respectfully requested a refund for the unused classes ($160) via email and was told that since I had signed a liability release acknowledging their policy (which apparently states that there are no refunds), that I was out of luck. While I fully expect backlash for posting this review, this is hopefully more valuable than $550 or the cost of paying an attorney to demonstrate that the cited “policy acknowledgement” has no legal bearing. I caution you - especially if you recognize that cash-hungry veterinarians are not actually conspiring with Purina to have our pets cannibalize ground-up euthanized animals - to seriously consider whether giving this establishment your money is the best choice for you or your dog.

If you're looking for a dog training experience that's more magic than mundane, look no further than Balanced Paws. From the moment you step in, you'll know you're in good hands. Lincoln, Megan, Marie, and the entire team radiate warmth, expertise, and a genuine love for dogs that's truly infectious. I recently completed their basic training course with my dog, and let me tell you, it was a game-changer. Gone are the days of frantic walks and furniture acrobatics. Now, we have a calm, confident, and happy pup who actually listens! What truly sets Balanced Paws apart is their unique approach. They don't just train dogs; they build relationships. They take the time to teach you to understand your dog's individual needs and train them accordingly. It's truly a collaborative effort, and the results speak for themselves. Whether you're a seasoned dog owner or a first-time pup parent, I can't recommend Balanced Paws highly enough. They're not just trainers; they're dog lovers, dog whisperers, and magicians all rolled into one. So do yourself (and your pup) a favor and check them out! You won't regret it. P.S. Don't forget to tell them you heard about them from a very grateful dog owner!