Lakeland Dog Training Center

I do not recommend taking classes through Lakeland Dog Training Center, especially not during the winter as the classes are held in a crowded gymnasium with as many as 30 dogs taking the course. With so many pups, you receive very little individual attention and it creates a chaotic learning environment for human and dog alike. The class moves very slowly with a lot of waiting around for everyone to get organized. I was also taken aback by the aggressive tactics used, a prong collar was highly encouraged and the advice for increased control over your dog was just to yank on it harder. The final straw for me came when one of the trainers grabbed my dogs leash from my hand and yanked so hard that my dog’s front feet hovered above the ground and he squealed in pain/fear. When I confronted Pat (the main trainer) she stood behind the trainers action and said if I was unwilling to do this I would never be able to take my dog in public. She was inconsiderate and unwilling to adjust to my comfort level. We went to most of the classes in the course but officially quit after that. By the way, there’s no refunds. I’m surprised there aren’t more negative reviews as several people/dogs dropped out of the class and were unimpressed with Pat and her training methods. I have since found many wonderful resources on YouTube teaching positive reinforcement with a focus on creating a strong bond between you and your dog. It works and is the method recommended by professional dog training associations. Even if you do train with force (prong collar, e-collar, etc.) you’ll learn more on YouTube than in this course. My “reactive” dog comes with me wherever I go. He has done great at indoor bars, outdoor restaurants, family reunions, etc. He is even doing well learning how to skijor! I’m enjoying the process of training him. To anyone else who might feel intimidated by threats that their dog won’t do well without the harsh measures taught by Pat, take heart. There are better ways to train a dog.