Knoxville K9 Academy

I can’t say enough about KnoxvilleK9 Academy. Right away I knew Tommy was the trainer I had been looking for and needed. He told it straight to the point while being very considerate of my dog’s breed and character. My dog is a boxer that came in for reactivity and Tommy was able to show me how to use the proper tools to communicate with my dog and show her how to be calm and focus on me. She now looks to me and watches my cues instead of relying on the leash to pull. Having the ability to let her off leash with the training of E-Collar was just a huge bonus that Tommy provided. My boxer is able to now run in the backyard and be free without a leash. I would recommend Tommy to anyone that is needing a dog trainer as he truly loves dogs and wants the best for the owners relationship to grow with their pet. He is very good at working with you on scheduling and times as well. Thank you KnoxvilleK9 Academy

Highly recommend! I’ve used Knoxville K9 for two of our dogs-one reactive and one a fearful rescue-with remarkable progress and results. Training with Tommy isn’t a “drop off” experience-he teaches you to form the bond and establish leadership, because your dog’s success depends on you. He begins with a foundation of basic obedience then moves into the real world situations-including being in public with your dog. He’s there to walk you through every step. I’ve also brought shelter dogs to him for assessment and obedience work. There is no area I feel he cannot address. Patient, knowledgeable and dedicated-he’s the closest trainer I’ve found to Tom Davis-whom he has worked with. Even after the training sessions are complete, Tommy is there to guide and support you. His goal is a lasting positive outcome for you and your dog.

I'm really happy for the opportunity to give a review for Tommy Blackburn and Knoxville K9 Academy! But a little history first, please...my dog, Henry, was at another training facility for two years (which should have been a red flag in itself, right?). He originally went there when he was six months old; he was a typical goofy, happy-go-lucky puppy, overly enthusiastic about life, and wanting tons of attention. We went for basic obedience training, but ended up participating in extended "day care" where he was placed in situations with too many dogs, and in situations that were too much for such a sensitive breed (he's a sighthound). He was beaten with a leash by one employee (which I was told about later since it was caught on camera), stuffed in a too-small crate right up next to other dogs, and over time, sweet Henry became very, very reactive to other dogs. In retrospect, this wasn't surprising, given the environment. I was told that my dog bit another dog in an unprovoked "attack," but no one could/would give me details. I was told a lot of things, including some unkind, untrue things about my sweet boy. They made my happy dog extremely reactive, and then blamed him for it. So, we never went back. But my boy was damaged. We tried another facility which only uses positive training, but we made no progress with his reactivity. In fact, we then took a break from training for a period so that both Henry and I could just decompress. After a while, about six months, I knew it was time to address the issues that were instilled in Henry at the original facility. I am so thankful that we found Tommy and Knoxville K9 Academy! We took Tommy's class and worked on Henry's issues. Tommy gave us tools and techniques to deal with stressful situations that trigger Henry as a result of his past treatment. We went on field trips where we could encounter other dogs, and I'm happy to say my boy's reactivity is much better! Tommy understands dogs and dog behavior, and he translates and transfers that understanding to his clients, and I have to say that I've never met a kinder soul who genuinely loves dogs and wants the best for them and their families! Is Henry totally "cured"? Not 100% yet, but the damage was severe, so this will most likely be a lifelong issue. But I have the tools now and I know that Tommy will be there for me and Henry in the future too!

Knoxville K9 Academy is the BEST, and I truly can’t recommend them enough. At our first lesson, I had little to no hope for my extremely dog aggressive pitbull. Walks left me in tears, taking her in public felt impossible, and I was even told by a vet that putting her down was the only option. After working with Tommy, she became a completely different dog, and I became a better owner. We are both more confident, able to enjoy peaceful walks, and living a much higher quality of life overall. Tommy respects your wishes while also taking the time to educate you every step of the way, which makes all the difference. He is truly passionate about his work. Because of his work, Margot now has a doggy brother, something I never thought would be possible. He has just begun training with Tommy as well, and it’s already going amazing.