Dog Academy of NC, LLC

I only have one word to describe my experience with this "trainer" HORRIBLE!!!! I left my dog with him for the boarding training program, during the first week you are not allowed to see your dog, because he needs to "bond" more like he need to terrorize your dog until is so scare out of its mind that of course it would do what is asked. The first day I was able to see my dog I was horrified! Her neck was RAW ( not just red but she actually had bloody wounds!) from him over using the pinch collar! not only that but she also had infected sores all over her body! I had to take her back home im sure she was not going to survive the 3 weeks he wanted her to stay! Not only she was physically ill (which end up costing me $400 in vet bills) She was terrified of even me! she came home and she would hide in the closet or under the couch. Couldn't even touch my own dog because she would freak-out! STAY AWAY FROMM THIS PLACE! I read the reviews before taking my dog there but didnt realized that they are all old and most likely made up by this "trainer or his family.

There needs to be a 5 star rating. This is the place for dogs of all kinds. It was by far the best money spent for our family and for our dog Izzy. Michael did an excellent job of turning our stubborn and out of control puppy into a well mannered puppy. We have a french mastiff that by 4 months was a 40lb torpedo tearing through our house. We also have a one year old and both work full time jobs so we new that this puppy was going to need an intervention that we couldn't provide. Not to mention that she was soon going to be the proverbial "bull in a china shop". We researched and visited numerous local and not so local trainers and new immediately when we arrived at the Dog Academy that this was the place for Izzy. The dogs were free to move around the fenced in area and were not confined to kennels all day every day like many of the training facilities we visited. The area was clean and the resident and visiting dogs were an active part of Izzy's 3 weeks at the Dog Academy. (Yes 3 not the normal 2 weeks of boarding school because like I said...she was ridiculously stubborn and determined to not walk on a leash!) It was the perfect socialization opportunity that all puppies need and many don't get because who in reality lives with a pack of dogs of all shapes and sizes that respond to a barely audible "pshh" sound when they are misbehaving. Michael worked with us on how to calmly contol our dog without needing to take treats with us everywhere to bribe her and without yelling and frustration. He mixes correction with praise, so that eventually it is only praise because your dog is actually doing what you tell her to do! We now take her everywhere with us and get so many compliments on how well behaved she is. If you are concerned about leaving your dog, don't be. I was able to be a part of Izzy's training from day one including the training sessions and the long daily walks that he provides. Michael was very open in allowing me to visit Izzy and train with her. If you don't have the ability to visit everyday then take my word that Michael treated our dog as if she was his own. He even took her to the vet when she had a rogue baby tooth that looked like it was getting infected. He lives and breathes his philosophy of calm and confident energy equals a calm and confident dog. And it does. And if you are looking for a puppy, then check here first because they seemed to always have adorable puppies that they have rescued and are finding new homes for. If you aren't looking for a puppy, then put your blinders on because they are so cute and extremely hard to resist!