Off Leash K9 Training Columbia

When we first told people we were putting our husky puppy in a board and train program, they literally laughed at us and said that stuff doesn’t work for huskies. It works at Off Leash K9 Training. Meeko was almost a year old and while she learned tricks easily, true obedience was something else completely. But after only two weeks with Andrea, she can now be trusted to stay in a sitting or lying position or to stay in place until given permission to move freely. Her recall is MUCH better and she is continually making improvements with “heel” thanks to the extra lessons provided to us at the completion of her boarding. Life is so much easier now, for us and Meeko. We’ve also done some one-on-one training through Off Leash K9 with our other dog, Zelda. Her confidence has skyrocketed and her reactivity is so much more manageable, and her sit/place/heel are awesome. Definitely recommend professional training threw Off Leash K9 to anyone who does not have the time or the talent to do it themselves, because they do. 100% convinced any bad reviews are the result of a trainer who is no longer with them (we met her) because otherwise they have been nothing but helpful, friendly, and professional and genuinely want you improve the quality of life for you and your dogs.

I paid over $1000 to have one on one advance training done with my German shepherd who was a year. Nothing new was taught to her and I tried to constantly say how I wanted to work on her focus on me when out in public and not being dog reactive. The trainer spent half the time bashing the company during our sessions and how she was the only trainer and spread thin and then telling me about her personal life. The absolute biggest waste of money and most unprofessional setting.

After reading all of the marvelous online reviews, I paid $3000 for the two week board and train program. It took two months to get my dog worked in with the trainer. At that point, I had pretty reliably taught her to sit, stay, and come. What I really needed was on & off leash heel, lie down, and for her to do all of the aforementioned with distractions. I’ve had my dog since she was 7 weeks old, she is pure-bred pedigreed Labrador Retriever, sweet tempered and quite bright. No behavioral issues! When I came to pick her up after two weeks, she had learned NO additional skills! She would not heel or lie down, and would not come to me when distracted. I return her to the trainer, and expressed my disappointment, that my $3000 was essentially spent on dog sitting. She took my dog back for an another full week at no additional charge. Afterwards she told me that she received NOTHING from her boss for doing this (the franchise owner) and took my dog back simply because she did not want me to be dissatisfied. She made some progress in that final week, but we still have a loooong way to go. I do not fault the trainer! She did her best and took my dog on for an additional week for free. The company is a franchise. She shared with me that the owner is in Greenville, he is not even a dog trainer (she described him as a businessman), and she has never met him. She also shared that she JUST QUIT! Her issue was that 2 weeks is not enough time to train a dog to do all of this things that they advertise. Customers were regularly upset when their expectations weren’t met. It takes at least 4-5 weeks to accomplish good on-leash results, let alone off leash. I feel like “Off-Leash” over promised knowing that they would likely underperform. The franchisee relies on internet marketing, and a slick phone call/email/text sales pitch. Perhaps the other training services are good, because the trainer that I met seemed excellent - but with the 2 week board and train, the trainers are set up to fail. I wouldn’t call it a “scam” persay, but from my personal experience, and that of others I have since talked with, you are VERY unlikely to be satisfied. There are other operations right here in Lexington that will do board and train for 4-5 weeks, charge about the same, and not make any “off leash promises”. That seems much more realistic and honest. Buyer beware!!!