Great Lakes Dog Training Company

Great Lakes Dog Training looks amazing on the surface, and that's where I went wrong. PLEASE READ THIS and other reviews before choosing to send your dog here. I was first interested in GLDT because me and my fiancé were going on a trip for 8 days, and instead of having my puppy be boarded, I thought it would be more fun for him to do a training program where he would get much more interaction and enrichment. Plus, I reached out when they were marketing a deal. Still expensive at $1,800 but a discounted package for sure! I started feeling like something was off right away; I dropped off my dog the day before my trip. Unfortunately, I had no backup plan for my dog and given the reviews and testimonies I had seen for this establishment, I thought that maybe my instincts were wrong and pushed through. After the intake meeting where the very general overview of training was given, my pup was taken back with all of his belongings happy and ready to go! The updates were sporadic so I reached out - I was told that there are no updates on weekends. Then I asked how my pup was really doing. The updates that were given were clearly pre-written and in a lot of the pictures, my pup did not look happy. The folks I spoke with said that he was actually doing wonderfully and sometimes the dogs just don't photograph well. I thought that was odd considering the hundreds of photos I have of my dog don't reflect depression. I took note of when he looked like himself, and when he didn't. This is important later. Then, on day 8, the day we were scheduled to come home from the trip, we got a call saying that our pup was sick and that we needed to come get him. I'm going to pause here and let you (the reader) know that you can skip ahead here because it's the same story that everyone else has. Anyways, my puppy was DISGUSTINGLY SICK. I love this little guy, and I picked him up covered in snot, wheezing, coughing, sneezing. He was a mess. I was given no information, no follow up, no direction, absolutely nothing upon pickup, despite me asking. When I reached out to GLDT to ask what my next steps were, they said to bring him back into training. Once again, my gut said no and I had a real honest conversation with the owners and with my other point of contact about my concerns. They all assured me that basically, I was overthinking things and my puppy would be much better off with completing the training program. Plus, they weren't going to give me any money back, so my investment would be for nothing. After taking my puppy to the vet, I was told that it wasn't just kennel cough; it was a full respiratory infection because of the severity. Plus, a bladder infection because he wasn't given enough opportunity to go potty. PLUS, dehydration. I'll keep it short here - I dropped my puppy back off to GDLT ONLY BECAUSE OF TAMAR (a trainer at West Bloomfield). In the updates, Tamar was the only one to pack it with information, show exactly what was worked on that day, and my puppy looked like himself with her. Tamar agreed to be the only trainer to handle our pup for the remainder of his stay and that is the only way we were comfortable moving forward. I'm very skeptical of this business. No one runs deals all of the time, no business should shirk their responsibilities of care for animals or customers. Please, for the safety of your animal, do not send them here.

Great Lakes Dog Training has truly been life-changing for our family and for Marty, our French Mastiff. Seeing the photos of Marty with owners Jacob and Liz’s dog Bones still brings a smile to my face—those moments perfectly capture the trust, confidence, and joy that GLDT helped build in him. What Marty has accomplished would never have been possible without the passion, patience, and deep knowledge of the entire GLDT team. He completed a two-week board and train, and the transformation was remarkable. The structure, consistency, and genuine care they provided set him up for long-term success, and we’re proud to continue his journey with ongoing boarding and daycare for our Big Buddy. Beyond the results, what truly sets Great Lakes Dog Training apart is their compassion—for both dogs and owners. They take the time to understand each dog’s personality and needs, and it shows in every interaction. We’ve since referred multiple friends to GLDT, and their experiences have echoed ours every single time. Hands down, I’m forever grateful to Great Lakes Dog Training for the training, dedication, and heart they’ve shown Marty and our family. If you’re looking for a team that genuinely cares and delivers incredible results, look no further.