New Hope Dog Training Center

I was really impressed with Gene’s work with my dog, Poppy, and his training of me as an owner so that I can continue to work with my dog and build on her skills for years to come. I was a little nervous to leave my new dog for so long, but Gene put me at ease and sent me updates on Poppy when I asked showing how well she was doing. He gave me a tour of the facility so that I knew Poppy would be comfortable and well taken care of during her stay. Once I got Poppy back, I especially appreciated how his training method fit in with my life without requiring me to spend extensive amounts of time to reinforce skills. Poppy practices her stay when I am brushing my teeth or studying. She is a joy to take in public and barely barks at anything now! For a 7 month old puppy, she listens like a champ and came back having learned not to jump on people or chew things she shouldn’t, which was pretty miraculous. She is more confident and less nervous about new people, and she is getting better every day at her leash skills. Gene really knows how a dog’s mind works from his years of experience and does a great job passing on the important parts to clients so that they can be successful at handling their dogs too. Don’t expect your dog to come home perfect without any work on your part, but Gene gives you the tools and your dog the foundation to build a successful training relationship where both dog and human are happier. I really recommend New Hope Training Center!

We cannot say enough good things about Gene Lonsway and New Hope Dog Training. From the moment we walked in, it was clear this program is unlike anything else out there. Gene has built something truly special — his approach to dog training is unique, thoughtful, and genuinely effective in a way that generic obedience classes just can't compete with. What really sets Gene apart is the program he's developed over years of hands-on experience. You can tell this isn't some cookie-cutter method pulled from a manual — it's been refined and perfected over time, drawing on real experience with all kinds of dogs and behavioral challenges. That depth of knowledge really shows! The facility itself is state-of-the-art. It's clean, well organized, and clearly designed with both the dogs' and owners' experience in mind. You can tell Gene has put real time and care into creating an environment that sets dogs up for success rather than just running them through the motions. We brought in our young pup who had some pretty significant puppy type behavioral issues, and honestly we weren't sure what to expect. Gene was incredibly kind and patient from day one, taking the time to really understand our dog and knew just what was driving the unwanted behavior. In three weeks, the transformation was remarkable. Our puppy is calmer, more responsive, and so much easier to manage. What impressed me most is that Gene’s method isn't a quick fix — it's a real, lasting change in behavior. He clearly knows dogs inside and out, and his passion for what he does shows! Thanks for working with Ace & we look forward to follow-up lessons to continue putting your system in place so he will be a good boy for years to come.

I love how Gene told us his goal was to make our dog less of a jerk. So true... Diesel was such a playful pain in the backside.... chewed everything, jumped up on everyone, annoyed our other dog, etc. We tried several other trainers with no success. After the training, we still have a playful, goofy and sweet Diesel but the jerk and annoying behaviors are gone. We can control his behavior so much better and the negative chaos we once experienced is far, far diminished. Thank you Gene and Berk!

After seeing all of the amazing reviews, my boyfriend and i thought taking our energetic 1 year old german shepherd to Gene for his lack of trust (from being in the pound) was a good way to help with his submissive urination. Whenever I got the call from Gene, both my boyfriend and i were unable to have 5 minutes to speak about our dogs personality, behavior, or problems (so pretty much anything you needed to know about him.) he just kept insisting that our dog was exactly like this other german shepherd he had dealt with in the past. At one point in the 12 minute conversation he brought up his twelve kids.. ??? This whole interaction was super frustrating especially for the $2,100 price tag attached. Would definitely recommend going to someone else if you want to be heard. UPDATE TO OWNER RESPONSE: Sir, you must have me confused for another person. Not once in the conversation did you say you were unfit to train our dog. WE decided not to use your services, not the other way around. It’s quite odd that after 3 years we’re finally getting a response… maybe because you assumed I wouldn’t see at this point? regardless, nothing I stated in the review was taken personally. but from my point of view, it seems as if you’re taking it to heart since you like to use the words “illogical and hurtful” when nothing in my previous review was either. Moving forward I suggest you let your potential clients speak as they are there in the best interest of their pets.. unfortunately it doesn’t matter how many animals you’ve seen, until you stop talking and give the opportunity for the owner to speak, you will never know who the dog is or how they act. Our dog is doing well, thankfully we were able to find someone who catered to his needs. If you have any other comments feel free to reach out to me since this is clearly bothering you. UPDATE TO OWNER RESPONSE (AGAIN): It’s embarrassing that you’re still choosing to respond to a person who decided not to use your services YEARS ago. my reviews are honest depictions of my experiences, negative or not. I (along with a whole bunch of other people) use google reviews as a way to make suggestions for the owners to change.. so yes, if i have a problem i let it be known. i suggest seeking a good therapist, you clearly have problems.