Cincinnati Canine Companion Center

I went into this class looking for something fun to do with my dog that would benefit us both. I have a six month old puppy who I have worked hard with since day one and who has gone to other training school programs to learn the basics. I started this class to have a place to practice and work with my dog while she was on break from her original program. I also was very interested in starting dog sports such as agility with her. My first session I was a little surprised by the different set up and methods used. They seemed outdated and very different than what I was used to. I decided early on I was just going to use this facility as practice for my dog and not take on any of their methods. The website is misleading, the training here is very aversive and outdated. No positive reinforcement. It is alpha centered and they use significant physical corrections on the dogs. The trainers are entirely too comfortable putting their hands on dogs. If a dog is sensitive or has any fear or reactivity, this is not the class for them. They will make it worse and lead to long term aggression and reactivity. If you’re looking for a beginner class to help you with long term training, it is not for you. The dogs are thrown in and expected to know basic commands. If they don’t, they are harshly corrected with prong collars they have not been trained to. If I had not already done a training class my dog would have been a difficult position. The pups are also thrown together causing fights and worsening reactivity. Ultimately, these methods are outdated and harmful for dogs. I’m surprised this facility is still operating and I was not the only one to walk out of the class, which should speak volumes. I finished the first few sessions but will not be returning. I do not recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy training with their dog or have long term success.

My dog and I only made it through 3 minutes of our session before I decided that the training philosophy is not one that I would be comfortable with. When I booked the private lesson, I had shared that my dog is a rescue who is extremely fearful of other dogs and people; we were coming to training to help work on gaining confidence so that she can start to be socialized. The trainer did not take any time to introduce herself to my dog (who was barking and shaking because other dogs and people were still in the facility) before she began shouting at the dog. She then grabbed lemon juice as a deterrent. I was uncomfortable but willing to still give it a shot, until a second trainer joined in and shouted “shut up” 3in from my dog’s face. Two trainers standing over me and my dog aggressively shouting is just not worth $100. They were causing more fear and anxiety in my pet. I was afraid she would bite one of the women as they got in her space and yelled. The trainers did not seem to have any awareness of the dog’s body language and how stressed she was. She could have quickly shifted from a reactive barker to a reactive biter if I allowed their methods to continue. Research shows that shouting at a dog to stop barking is generally not an effective or humane training method, and using lemon juice as a deterrent is generally not recommended. While a loud sound might temporarily stop a bark, it can create fear and anxiety in the dog, hindering the training process. Lemon juice can be harsh and unpleasant, and while some dogs might avoid things with a sour taste, it can also cause a dog to develop a negative association with the trainer or the training environment. Elaboration: Shouting is not a constructive training tool: Yelling at a dog won't teach them why their barking is undesirable or help them learn to stop barking. It can damage the relationship between the dog and the owner and may lead to the dog associating barking with fear or anxiety. Lemon juice can be harmful and ineffective: Lemon juice is acidic and can cause irritation if it gets into the dog's eyes. While the sour taste might deter a dog from chewing on something that smells of lemon, it's not a reliable or humane training method.