FirstBarkContacting the team at Songdog Kennel was the best decision we made for Bella! She’s such a good girl! She was before, but she had the team at Songdog Kennel teach her lots of new GOOD behaviors and now we can go out for long walks with her NOT pulling on the leash, reacting to cars or other dogs and we can even head to the beach. SongDog Kennels Dog Training for the WIN!!!
SongDog Kennels
Vanderbilt, Michigan
About SongDog Kennels
At SongDog Kennels, we believe dogs deserve better than quick fixes. Our scientifically grounded approach combines decades of behavioral expertise with individualized training programs designed to create lasting change for both dogs and their owners. Led by Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major, we specialize in board and train programs, behavioral therapy, aggression rehabilitation, puppy development, and advanced obedience. Every dog receives personalized attention through our small-scale, immersive programs, followed by comprehensive owner education to ensure success long after training is complete. Located in Northern Michigan, SongDog serves clients throughout Michigan and across the United States who are looking for expert dog traini
Training & services
Training goals
- Behavior consultation
Program details
Meet with Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major for a comprehensive behavioral assessment and customized training plan designed to resolve behavior challenges and improve your dog's quality of life.
Meet with Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major to develop a customized training plan for your puppy. Learn how to build confidence, prevent behavior problems, and establish lifelong habits from the very beginning.
- Crate training
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- House training
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- Leash training
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- Obedience training
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Professional obedience training focused on reliable commands, loose-leash walking, impulse control, and everyday manners. Individualized programs create confident, well-behaved family companions.
- Puppy training
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Give your puppy the best start with early socialization, crate training, potty training, obedience, and confidence building. Our Puppy Program builds the foundation for lifelong success.
- Recall training
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- Socialization
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Behavior support
- Aggression training
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Specialized aggressive dog training in Michigan focused on understanding behavior, building confidence, and creating lasting change through individualized rehabilitation and proven behavioral science.
- Barking
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- Fear and confidence
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- Reactivity training
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Personalized behavioral dog training for reactive dogs. Reduce barking, lunging, and overstimulation while building confidence and improving focus in real-world environments.
How training happens
- Board and train
Program details
Premium Board & Train in Northern Michigan led by Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major. Personalized programs build obedience, off-leash reliability, confidence, and lasting results through science-based training and owner education.
- Owner coaching
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- Private training
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Personalized one-on-one dog training tailored to your dog's unique needs. Work directly with Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major to build obedience, improve behavior, and create lasting success through individualized coaching.
Dog age
- Puppies
Program details
Develop a confident, well-rounded puppy through structured socialization, environmental exposure, foundational obedience, and positive learning experiences during critical developmental stages.
British Labrador Retrievers bred for health, temperament, intelligence, and trainability. Carefully raised to become exceptional family companions, hunting dogs, and lifelong partners
Training level
- Advanced obedience
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- Advanced training
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- Beginner training Customer-reported
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Support between sessions
- Personalized training plans
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Assistance and working dogs
- Hunting dog training
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Additional services
- Boarding Customer-reported
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Other listed services
View 4 additional details
- Behavioral Dog Training
Program details
SongDog specializes in behavioral dog training for dogs experiencing fear, anxiety, reactivity, and difficult behaviors. Our scientifically grounded approach identifies the root cause of behavior rather than masking symptoms, creating lasting change through individualized training and owner edu.
- Fear & Anxiety Rehabilitation
Program details
We help fearful and anxious dogs build confidence through customized behavior modification. Our science-based approach addresses the root cause of unwanted behaviors for lasting success.
- Off-Leash Dog Training
Program details
Build reliable off-leash obedience with advanced recall, distraction training, and real-world proofing. Personalized programs strengthen communication, confidence, and trust between you and your dog.
- Safety Training
Program details
Our Safety Training program is a behavioral modification process that eliminates aggression by de-arousing your dog's nervous system, targeting the root emotional triggers rather than just blocking or suppressing them.
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Questions & answers
From GoogleWhat people have asked about this business.
If my dog goes away for training, will my dog remember me when they return?
This is probably our most commonly asked question. The answer is yes! It has been Jason Major’s experience that if you have known the dog for at least two weeks, the dog will remember you for life. Actually, if the dog did not remember you, it would make our job easier. We could simply remove the dog from your environment, complete the training and send the dog home, and that is how they would act from that point on. We know this would not work. Your dog will remember you and remember how they acted with you before the therapy and transfer of training.
Community answer · SongDog Kennels · 2021-09-21
What types of dog behaviors can Songdog help me control?
Aggression, unruliness, separation anxiety, inappropriate elimination, barking, digging, running away, jumping, spinning and just about anything else your dog can think of!
Community answer · SongDog Kennels · 2021-09-21
Will training or therapy break my dog’s spirit or change their personality?
Many people are concerned about this. This is where science meets art. It is possible for the trainer to become so overbearing that the dog simply shuts down. We have all seen dogs that, while they responded to the handler, do so without drive and motivation.
Community answer · SongDog Kennels · 2021-09-21
Public community answers. Authors are not verified as business representatives; details may have changed.
Customer reviews
Google listing4.9
84 Google reviews
Mentioned in reviews
- leash pulling 10
- obedience training 6
- listening to commands 4
- therapy dog training 3
- foundation program 2
- obedient dogs 2
All 10 topics
- off leash recall 2
- older dog training 2
- responsive to questions 2
- weekly updates 2
Google review topics, not confirmed services.
We are extremely pleased with our experience with SongDog Kennels and the Labrador Retriever we welcomed into our family. From the very beginning, it was clear that careful thought and intentionality went into the breeding and early development of her litter. Our dog, Phyllis, ar…Read full reviewClose full review
We are extremely pleased with our experience with SongDog Kennels and the Labrador Retriever we welcomed into our family. From the very beginning, it was clear that careful thought and intentionality went into the breeding and early development of her litter. Our dog, Phyllis, arrived already comfortable with crate training and displayed a warm, affectionate nature from day one. Jason and Tiffany were exceptional communicators throughout the entire process—from our initial inquiry to the day we brought Phyllis home. Their responsiveness, transparency, and evident care for their dogs made the entire experience smooth and reassuring. Even after bringing Phyllis home, they have remained in touch and supportive, which we have greatly appreciated. Phyllis is not only healthy and beautiful, but also wonderfully goofy, intelligent, and affectionate. She has taken to training with ease and has quickly become an irreplaceable member of our family. We highly recommend SongDog Kennels to anyone seeking a well-bred, well-cared-for dog. Our experience has been outstanding, and we are so grateful to Jason and Tiffany for the joy Phyllis has brought into our lives.
We are so grateful for SongDog Kennels Dog Training for training Rowdy so quickly! When we did the board and train program in the fall as a new rescue 1yr old border collie who was still getting used to his new home, he came back home as a totally different dog in terms of obedi…Read full reviewClose full review
We are so grateful for SongDog Kennels Dog Training for training Rowdy so quickly! When we did the board and train program in the fall as a new rescue 1yr old border collie who was still getting used to his new home, he came back home as a totally different dog in terms of obedience and ability to easily walk on a leash. After his tune-up boarding/training in the spring, he is walking off-leash, can sit in a room once we leave and wait for us to return before moving, and is ready for his K9 Good Citizen testing this summer so that he can proceed onto therapy dog training
My Goldendoodle, Cooper, 15 months old, exhibited all the “bad” puppy behaviors of an energetic puppy. He was obnoxiously excitable around new people , jumping up, pulling on leash, having zero impulse control. I’m amazed at the difference after training. He walks on a loose leas…Read full reviewClose full review
My Goldendoodle, Cooper, 15 months old, exhibited all the “bad” puppy behaviors of an energetic puppy. He was obnoxiously excitable around new people , jumping up, pulling on leash, having zero impulse control. I’m amazed at the difference after training. He walks on a loose leash, hasn’t jumped on anyone since he came home, and always comes when called. He is still his loveable, goofy self, just under control and a joy to be with.
We sent our 1.5 year old pup to SongDog for their Ultimate Companion program. The results exceeded our already high expectations! The worst part was being away from our little guy for a month--but we are frequently reminded of how worthwhile it was, given we can now take him anyw…Read full reviewClose full review
We sent our 1.5 year old pup to SongDog for their Ultimate Companion program. The results exceeded our already high expectations! The worst part was being away from our little guy for a month--but we are frequently reminded of how worthwhile it was, given we can now take him anywhere & know that he'll be comfortable and well-behaved. He's still the same goofy, loving dog as before the program, but now just listens to us really, really well and is the perfect family dog :) We'll absolutely take future dogs back to Jason & Tiffany and can't recommend the program enough!
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.