Zen Dog Training

We highly recommend Lola for dogs at every stage and for many types of training. She has a deep well of knowledge and experience. Additionally, she chairs the Service Dog Committee for the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and stays abreast of current developments in dog training. She works with dogs of every size, from the smallest dogs to the largest, including shy and aggressive dogs, family pets, and service dogs. She utilizes the LIMA approach: Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive. Lola provides her expertise through Zen Dog Training and also owns Mission Service Dog. We have been fortunate to work with her in both capacities with our German Shepherd, Jett. He completed individual puppy training and is now training as our service dog. Jett enjoys play breaks with the other dogs in training, and we have watched Lola expertly work with multiple dogs at once. Lola is adept at working not only with the dogs but also with their people. She teaches both. She makes herself available for many kinds of training: at her facility, out in town, in stores, in groups, and even at your home for specific environmental training. She creates realistic training situations that reflect everyday life with your dog and astutely observes how dog and handler interact with each other, other people, other dogs, and respond to distractions. Her rates are reasonable, particularly given her experience and the lifetime access to training support.

I truly don’t know if I can adequately put into words what Zen Dog Training and Lola Carter have done for my family. Before Zen, Gunner and Roscoe couldn’t be together for even a minute without growling, fixating, and fighting. We ended up in the ER THREE times. Gunner is twice Roscoe’s size, and I lived in fear that eventually one would be seriously injured. For TWO YEARS, I paid someone else to care for Gunner. I’ve had him since he was a tiny puppy, but sometimes saw him only once or twice a week. I spent thousands essentially paying “rent” for my own dog because he couldn’t safely live with Roscoe. Giving either dog up wasn’t an option. Roscoe had already been homeless multiple times before I rescued him, and I made a commitment to him. I loved them both. Another training organization told us they would NEVER live together again. I refused to give up. After being off social media for three years, I reactivated Facebook specifically to find help. Someone recommended Zen with one sentence: “Zen Dog Training was the only place that was able to help my dog.” I contacted Lola. From day one, she never sold me a miracle. She made no guarantees and never promised they’d become best friends. But she also didn’t believe our situation was hopeless. Her realistic goal was simply to teach them to coexist. Roscoe entered a four-week board-and-train, and unlike programs where you drop off your dog and don’t see them until pickup, Zen keeps owners actively involved. We had weekly private lessons involving Gunner, plus regular photos, videos, and updates. Week one was tense, but they safely shared a room for the first time in almost a year. Week two: no growling, attacking, or snarling. Week three: Lola brought Roscoe TO MY HOUSE. Eventually, both dogs were calmly lying on separate beds in my living room, ignoring each other. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Week four: both dogs trained together inside Lowe’s with muzzles for safety while Lola taught us to recognize their triggers and body language. Week five, Gunner joined Roscoe at Zen. Two dogs who once couldn’t look at each other without fighting were lying across the room from one another, relaxing and SLEEPING. And now BOTH OF MY BOYS ARE HOME. ❤️ For the first time in two years, Gunner and Roscoe are living under the same roof. For the first time in two years, I don’t have to choose which dog I get to love in my own home. Are they best friends? No. That was never the goal. THEY ARE COEXISTING. We still follow strict safety protocols including crates, supervision, muzzles during movement, “place,” and gradual progression. Lola didn’t pretend aggression magically disappears. She gave us the knowledge and structure to manage it responsibly. They can now lie peacefully in the same room, sleep, enjoy treats and toys, and have their crates in the same room without growling or fixation. Another incredible part of Zen’s program: FREE PRIVATE LESSONS FOR THE REST OF THE DOG’S LIFE. Lola even offered virtual sessions between lessons if needed. That level of commitment to long-term success is unheard of. I came to Lola carrying fear, guilt, tears, and two years of being separated from a dog I loved. She never judged me or told me what I wanted to hear to make a sale. She educated us, set realistic expectations, prioritized safety, and supported us. Lola gave me hope without giving me false hope—and then delivered more than I ever allowed myself to hope for. I have six dogs, and they are my children. For two years, I believed loving Gunner and Roscoe meant accepting that I couldn’t live with both. Zen Dog Training gave me my family back. I’m forever grateful to Lola, Sarabeth, Jordan, and Zen for their patience, honesty, hard work, and love for my boys. Two dogs who couldn’t safely spend ONE MINUTE together are now sleeping peacefully under the same roof. Thank you, Zen Dog Training, for giving me both of my boys home. ❤️🐾

I honestly can’t say enough good things about Zen Dog Training. I had my Bernese Mountain Dog, Georgia, trained by Lola before I ever started working with Zen, so I’m speaking from personal experience when I say the difference has been HUGE. Before training, Georgia had absolutely no manners and honestly, she pretty much ruled me 😂 She’s a big, strong dog and I loved her dearly, but I didn’t always know how to communicate with her or set boundaries in a way she understood. Working with Lola completely changed that. I learned that training isn’t just about teaching your dog to sit or stay. It’s about understanding your dog, communicating clearly, and creating structure and consistency in everyday life. Georgia is still very much Georgia 😂 but she is so much more manageable, responsive, and confident. And I feel like I actually know how to communicate with her now instead of constantly feeling like she was running the show. What makes this even more meaningful to me is that I now get to work with Zen and see the same kind of transformation happen with other dogs and their owners. If you’re in Bentonville or anywhere in Northwest Arkansas and you’re struggling with your dog’s behavior or manners, I genuinely recommend Zen Dog Training. I’ve experienced the difference with my own dog, and I’ve seen firsthand how much the right training can change the relationship between a dog and their person. ❤️🐾