Canine Ph.D. Dog Training, Inc.

I reached out to Canine PhD because my young terrier was becoming reactive: frantically barking at other dogs, jumping all over everyone she met, and constantly on alert. We tried other training centers, endless exercise and activities, classes, you name it. But being out in public was a huge challenge! Then we started working with the incredible team at Canine PhD. Every trainer we worked with was patient, knowledgeable, and deeply invested in helping us succeed. When my dog boarded with them, the kennel care experts took the time to get to know her and help her work through her big feelings. The whole team worked hard to understand my dog's needs and put together a program that allowed us to make steady, real progress. Even in my dog's most reactive moments, I felt like we (and the other people and dogs around us) were safe with them. With their guidance, my dog went from struggling to be in public to earning her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and four(!) Trick Dog titles. She also had a fantastic time learning to barn hunt and improving her swimming skills! The Canine PhD team’s professionalism, care, and passion for dogs really shines through in everything they do. They didn't just train my dog, they mentored and supported me as I figured out what my wild, wonderful girl needed to succeed. They’ve helped us build a stronger bond, and I can’t thank them enough for the skills and confidence they’ve given us both.

We were very unhappy with our Canine PhD experience. Steer clear. My wife and I are first-time dog owners and brought our ~6-month dog, Bear, to them for a 10-day Board and Train in July 2025. We spent over $2800 between consultations and board & train. Leading up to the board and train, we saw some upsetting behavior emerge with our dog showcasing anxiety & aggression (i.e., barking, snapping, baring teeth, etc.) with strangers. We emailed Canine PhD about this several days in advance of dropping him off and placed our trust in their team to address it. When we picked him up, we worked with Bear extensively and tried to exactly follow the Canine PhD team’s training instructions and acclimating him to strangers. The second we were in a real-world, non-controlled environment, we saw an immediate re-emergence of our dog’s anxiety & aggression behaviors with strangers and little to no improvement of any of basic skills the Canine PhD team said they worked on. We followed up with Canine PhD about our disappointment and requested a partial refund to right-size our payment to services received. We felt the Canine PhD team (namely the owner, Meredith, and the trainer, Brittany) spoke down to me and my wife, showcased zero accountability for the situation, and unsurprisingly denied our request. It was insulting and a horrible way to treat your customers. The reason I am giving two stars here is because there the team DID show an abundance of compassion and love for my dog during his stay. It's just everything else that is lacking here. We ended up working with another local trainer and had a MUCH better experience that included collaborative active teaching that resulted in tangible improvements in Bear’s behavior. I anticipate the Canine PhD will respond to this review with examples of how they did a great job and rationale why their training and conduct was appropriate. If you are a potential customer, take note of this around how the company approaches outcomes, accountability, and customer service. If you are someone who 1) loves and is committed to their dog and 2) is facing challenging/negative behaviors and 3) wants to work with a great trainer to improve the situation, look elsewhere.

We feel incredibly lucky to have found PhD Canine! We have a reactive little chihuahua (Mambo), and after struggling for a long time, we finally found this place that truly understands him. We’ve used several of PhD Canine’s services—including training, boarding, and more—and they’ve all been working wonderfully. The team is kind, patient, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They also keep us updated regularly, which we really appreciate. We couldn’t be happier with our experience. Highly recommended!

I was looking for a positive reinforcement training option near me in Decatur, and after seeing all of Canine PhD’s amazing reviews, I decided to give them a try. I’m so glad I did! My dog Buzz and I were paired up with Betty, and she’s incredible! She did an amazing job helping us work through his anxiety and reactivity when meeting new people, especially on walks and when we’re out and about at restaurants or patios. From day one, she made sure we had the right tools in place, starting with recommending a no-pull harness that completely changed our walks. Walking Buzz and his corgi brother Phil is finally enjoyable again — truly life-changing! I had missed our morning walks so much, as they had started to feel more like an aggravation than something we looked forward to. Training with Betty wasn’t just about teaching Buzz and me how to do better. She gave him exercises to build his confidence and receive heaps of praise, and you can see on his smiling face how much he loved every bit of it. I didn’t expect training to be such a wonderful experience for strengthening the bond between Buzz and me even more. Even if your pup doesn’t have major issues, working with Betty is such a fun, rewarding way to learn new things together. Beyond that, Betty gave us practical, effective exercises to help Buzz feel safe around new people, both on walks and at home. She taught us de-escalation techniques that make new houseguests feel comfortable and help Buzz relax faster. He’s learned that his bed is his “safe space” and now goes there confidently when new people come over. It’s been such a positive change. Buzz still has a ways to go, and he may never be perfectly comfortable, but I’m ecstatic about the progress he’s made already in just six sessions with Betty. One of the things I appreciated most was her honesty. From the start, she told me this wasn’t going to be a magic trick that made Buzz instantly comfortable with everyone — and that’s okay. Some dogs, just like people, are naturally a little socially anxious. I really valued her realistic, compassionate approach. We split our six sessions between Canine PhD and our home, which was perfect for working on both controlled environments and real-life scenarios. And between sessions, we had Betty’s helpful homework to reinforce what we were learning and keep us progressing even outside of training. The price was extremely reasonable and I feel like we got more value than what we paid for. Overall, Betty is a wonderful person and an incredible trainer! I’m so glad that after researching positive training options in the area, I chose Canine PhD and was paired with her. She’s patient, kind, and truly cares about both her canine and human clients. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate trainer, Betty is the one!

Canine PhD quite literally changed our lives. My German Shepherd, Brusky, came to me with a heavy past - rescued just two days before his scheduled euthanasia due to fear-based reactivity, anxiety, and shutdown behavior. When I brought him to Canine PhD for an initial consultation, he was a menace - barking, lunging, terrified of the world. And yet, Meredith and Casey saw through it. They saw his potential and made it clear from day one that they were in this with us for the long haul. Over the next six months, we worked together through private sessions, board and train, and practice out in the real world and at the facility. And now? Brusky is still my sensitive, quirky boy, but he is also confident, affectionate, and eager to learn. He LOVES going to school. His tail wags when we pull into the parking lot. He adores the trainers and kennel staff. The trust he’s built with them, and with me, is nothing short of remarkable. Boarding at Canine PhD is also a dream. I get detailed updates, pictures, and the peace of mind that he’s being cared for by people who truly know and love him. He’s not just kenneled; he’s supported, enriched, and understood. What makes Canine PhD so special isn’t just the results (which are extraordinary), but their unwavering compassion, knowledge, and consistency. They didn’t just train my dog, they helped us grow together. And in August, Bru will join their small-group reactivity class, something that felt unimaginable just a few months ago. If you’re looking for a team that will meet your dog where they are, and then patiently, expertly guide them to where they can be, Canine PhD is the place. I’m endlessly grateful to Canine PhD for believing in Brusky … and for helping him believe in himself.