Applejack K-9 Academy & Kennel

Ayana Bowman

I took my dog (at the time, 2 years old, lab mix) here about a year ago. The total cost for the board and train was about $1,200 if my memory serves me. I’ve waited so long to write this review because technically, I got what I paid for, however, I thoroughly wish I had not gone through this program. First, it’s important to note the training style used here. The trainers do not use or condone treats and the only rewards is a enthusiastic or gentle “good boy/girl, yes!” Etc., and the occasional pet/pat. Mainly, the trainers use aversion to train the dog. You are given a leather leash and a slip collar. When the dog does not listen you are to jerk/yank/tug the collar. After the board and train, you attend individual one on one training with you, your dog, and one of their trainers (it will rotate who you work with on a given week). You progress each week through a series of training patterns. When I met with the trainers, each time I was told repeatedly I needed to pull harder on my dogs leash/slip collar. The force they requested was beyond my comfort level, so after 2-3 individual sessions, I never returned or attended the subsequent group classes. The final straw was when I saw a woman arriving with her golden retriever for a group class that was beginning as I was leaving. Her dog was clearly excited / reactive when it saw my dog and barked/pulled towards us. She pulled on the poor dogs slip collar so hard it hurt my heart. The force that these trainers were suggesting and approving was simply beyond what I thought was acceptable. At each class my normally enthusiastic dog was stressed and unhappy. In previous positive only classes I had taken my dog, his tail wagged nonstop the entire class. He was eager to please and the trainers loved his enthusiasm. It was like night and day seeing him in our previous positive reinforcement classes and at Applejacks aversive lessons. While these methods certainly bent my dog to my will, we were not a team and he was not happy. Thus, I was not happy. Truly, this program was a waste of my time and money. So please learn from my mistake. While this type of training may work for some dogs, note that this is not a facility that uses positive reinforcement. They use an aversive slip collar as the sole tool when training their dogs. Fortunately, my dog was not worse for wear once we stopped attending. I later used one on one training through BFF Dog Training and my dog was completely happy and responsive. We made steady progress on his reactivity with positive reinforcement and appropriate guidance without the use of any aversive dog training tools.

Deborah Engram

Our 6 yr. old German Shepherd Utz had gotten very aggressive & was biting, in addition to other issues we were having with him. We enrolled him at Applejack K9 Academy for training with Ryan & Kyle. It was a long road, but he is getting ready to graduate & is doing 100% better. Ryan & Kyle were fantastic with the dog. He really responded to them. They just had a different way of approaching his training that really worked for Utz. I would absolutely recommend Applejack's to anyone - for puppy training or for problem training. They really know what they are doing.

Tatanishia Daring

Looking forward to a great experience for my dog and myself.

Jake Schneider

My GSD has demonstrated significant progress in the training received from the Obedience Training at Applejack K9 academy.