4Paws Training academy

We are breeders of high drive Belgian Malinois and are so glad 4 Paws Training Academy is right up the road. While we consider ourselves a little more advanced as handlers, we always learn something new at group training classes, individual training sessions or at board and train. I can’t count how many Malinois we’ve placed there for board and train. Even puppies that haven’t been house dogs have come back to us with MUCH BETTER manners, obedience and recall. Great job to Mary and her staff for the great care of our dogs. And thank you for being honest and telling us what WE need to work on with each dog so they can reach their potential. It’s not easy to tell someone where they are failing their dogs but we can’t fix what we don’t know or acknowledge. Thanks again, Mary!!!!!

It is always a pleasure to take my six Belgian Malinois to Mary at 4Paws. Anyone that knows this breed understands the challenges and techniques needed to properly train them. She has always treated my dogs as if they were her own and given clear communication on any issues that may arise. We are very fortunate to have a dog trainer of her caliber in our small town. If I’m on vacation or working out of town, I can do so with peace of mind that my Maligator fur babies are being cared for as well as they would be at my home.

We took our five month old dobe here because he was absolutely wild at times, smart as a whip but wild. I went to visit a few times but not many as I didn’t want to disrupt his training. He seemed fine and was always happy to see me. The day came to pick him up and she went through his commands, I was not impressed, and she told me that he may be wore out that evening and sleep a lot….well he slept ALOT and not only that night but the entire next day! He also came home with folliculitis and bronchitis. I was so upset when I got home I cried! I texted and asked about the cough and she stated that he’d been doing that for a few mornings and thought it was allergies! HA! And that the spots on hips and legs was chew marks from being stressed. Yeah right! She , the trainer, said he had cage anxiety, and that may be so, but if it is to the point he is chewing himself, CALL ME! Don’t wait to get that $750. If that was a child oh my!! And he is my fur child. He is on antibiotics and hopefully all mess will clear up! I do not recommend. She even insulted my dog by calling his a sissy because he still squats when he pees. He was 5 months old. 6-12 months is when they begin to hike.

We decided to use 4paws training academy for their service dog training and have been working with Mary for over a year. We based our decision on reviews, a personal reference, and speaking with Mary on the phone. The program required our dog doing 2 to extended stays for training (4-5 months at a time) with a couple of short stays back home. 4paws gave us the best service we could ask for. Mary assisted with fundraising, we could contact her at anytime for questions and updates, she posted regular videos online so we could see the progress, and did several in person trainings with us. Even after coming back home with us for a 2 month short stay, Anna was excited to see Mary and 4paws crew when she returned. Anna has completed training and has been back home with us full time. We couldn’t be happier with the training and service. Even though training is complete, 4paws still replies to texts and messages if we have a question. Not only was Anna trained for general service dog tasks, Mary specifically trained for one area that my daughter needed assistance in. During the year long training program, we never had concerns about the care, well being or safety of Anna. If we lived closer, 4paws would be our go to for boarding and grooming, but we will not think twice about sending Anna back for refresher training or extended boarding if needed. We can’t think 4paws and Mary enough for what they did for Anna and my daughter.