Great Lakes Dog Training Company

I sent my dog to Great Lakes for a two-week training program, and I am beyond impressed with the results. The transformation in such a short time has been remarkable — I honestly can’t believe it’s the same dog. The team did an incredible job, and their communication throughout the process was consistent, clear, and professional. I always felt informed and confident that my dog was in good hands. This was truly a great and worthwhile investment. If you're considering professional training, I can't recommend them enough. They exceeded my expectations in every way!

In January my standard poodle was enrolled in the ten day Day Training Program. My goals were reinforcing off-leash reliability, practicing settling, and building his confidence in new environments. One aspect I genuinely appreciated was the introduction and use of the e-collar—my dog responded well to it and now wears it for off-leash adventures, hikes and walks when safe and appropriate and I really enjoy the peace of mind I can have with his recall while wearing it. The staff was consistently professional, and generally communicative. However, my dog exhibited a strong and concerning aversion to attending. By the fifth day of the day train program he would refuse to leave his crate unless I parked down the street almost tricking him into thinking we were somewhere new. This level of distress was completely out of character and it was concerning, he is typically shy but ready for new adventures and I take him many places. His back legs would also shake once I brought him inside for drop off, I had thought as the days went on he would get more comfortable but he never did. After day nine he ended up vomiting at night possibly from stress, he does tend to have a more sensitive stomach but nothing was changed in his diet. I made the decision not to send him for the final day of training. Unfortunately, we never received any follow-up communication about the missed day or the final lesson, which left the experience feeling incomplete and impersonal. With the volume of dogs being managed across their multiple facilities, I found it challenging to get a more tailored or personal experience for my dog. While I understand the efficiency that comes with running programs at scale, it seemed to come at the cost of individualized attention. I was hoping for a more play based approach as their website does boasts of leaning on thing your dogs love, my dog loves engaging in play and I has assumed that would be used for confidence building but I never saw that be used once as a tool of reinforcement or as a confidence builder. The training approach felt much more compliance-based than expected and didn’t leave much room for practice in situations that I train my dog for - exploring the park and having a strong recall when he sees another dog etc. While I’m not opposed to the use of training tools, the overall training approach didn't fit how I want to work with my dog as I had expected it to . I was hesitant to write this review for some time, as everyone I interacted with at the facilities was always very kind and courteous and did answer my questions throughout the program. In hindsight, I recognize that I could have spoken up more during the training process to express my concerns. That said, the program ultimately did not meet my expectations and did not align with what I had anticipated based on the portrayal of their training. Ultimately, I did not observe any significant change in my dog's confidence or behavior. This program may be a good fit for dogs who are starting from scratch with basic obedience, but for a dog with an strong existing foundation I had built with him, an owner with a large interest in training and spending time with their dog it is not worth the investment. This was a really large investment for my family and I cannot recommend it with the results it yielded for my dog.

We sent our two dogs, a 6 year old black lab and a 2 year old Bernese Mountain Dog to training with Great Lakes dog training this spring and had a wonderful experience. My favorite thing about their board and train experience was the communication we received daily from the trainer. We loved all the updates, learning what they were working on each day and seeing the pictures and videos. It was apparent that their priority was our dogs health, safety and wellbeing. We have been very pleased with what our pups were able to learn in their time with the trainers and look forward to building on their training and skills.

What an amazing experience. We adopted Wanda on 2/21/2025. Wanda was VERY reactive to animals, including her own reflection, pulled so hard on a leash and would jump all over anyone that came to the house in excitement. We made the decision to send her to the 2 week training program at GLDT and couldn’t be happier that we did. Wanda was paired with Jamie as her trainer. I knew Jamie would have her hands full. Jamie spent the time needed with Wanda to make her comfortable, took her time to train her on the commands and immediately we were seeing results. The daily pictures, video and written report cards allowed us to see the growth in Wanda’s training and know this was the right decision for her. Jamie was very detailed and Wanda really is like a whole different dog. We can’t wait to continue to work with Wanda and make sure we in force all she learned. Best decision ever for Wanda. She will be confident and calm going forward. Thank you.

I cannot say enough GREAT things about GLDT!!! I sent my lab/husky, Luna to Board and Train, and I am amazed at her transformation. I was very nervous sending her away for 15 days, but I know I made the best decision. Her trainer, Ellory, clearly cared for Luna. The timely report cards, pics, and videos absolutely made my day. We have been home 2 days now, and we have gone on many ENJOYABLE walks. That word is a testament to Ellory's training. Walking with Luna was NOT enjoyable and the training she received is life-changing. The commands she has learned amazes me. I continue to work and enforce these commands as Ellory taught me!!!! I HIGHLY recommend GLDT to anyone and everyone!!! Ellory....you will be seeing Luna soon for some day care!! Thank you all for the wonderful experience for both Luna and I!!! Marguerite