FirstBarkJason (and Tiffany) were amazing! Our golden has been a dream since spending a month with Song Dog! It was so worth the investment!!!!
SongDog Kennels
Vanderbilt, Michigan
About SongDog Kennels
At SongDog Kennels, we believe dogs deserve better than quick fixes. Our scientifically grounded approach combines decades of behavioral expertise with individualized training programs designed to create lasting change for both dogs and their owners. Led by Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major, we specialize in board and train programs, behavioral therapy, aggression rehabilitation, puppy development, and advanced obedience. Every dog receives personalized attention through our small-scale, immersive programs, followed by comprehensive owner education to ensure success long after training is complete. Located in Northern Michigan, SongDog serves clients throughout Michigan and across the United States who are looking for expert dog traini
Training & services
Training goals
- Behavior consultation
Program details
Meet with Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major for a comprehensive behavioral assessment and customized training plan designed to resolve behavior challenges and improve your dog's quality of life.
Meet with Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major to develop a customized training plan for your puppy. Learn how to build confidence, prevent behavior problems, and establish lifelong habits from the very beginning.
- Crate training
- House training
- Leash training
- Obedience training
Program details
Professional obedience training focused on reliable commands, loose-leash walking, impulse control, and everyday manners. Individualized programs create confident, well-behaved family companions.
- Puppy training
Program details
Give your puppy the best start with early socialization, crate training, potty training, obedience, and confidence building. Our Puppy Program builds the foundation for lifelong success.
- Recall training
- Socialization
Behavior support
- Aggression training
Program details
Specialized aggressive dog training in Michigan focused on understanding behavior, building confidence, and creating lasting change through individualized rehabilitation and proven behavioral science.
- Barking
- Fear and confidence
- Reactivity training
Program details
Personalized behavioral dog training for reactive dogs. Reduce barking, lunging, and overstimulation while building confidence and improving focus in real-world environments.
How training happens
- Board and train
Program details
Premium Board & Train in Northern Michigan led by Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major. Personalized programs build obedience, off-leash reliability, confidence, and lasting results through science-based training and owner education.
- Owner coaching
- Private training
Program details
Personalized one-on-one dog training tailored to your dog's unique needs. Work directly with Applied Animal Behaviorist Jason Major to build obedience, improve behavior, and create lasting success through individualized coaching.
Dog age
- Puppies
Program details
Develop a confident, well-rounded puppy through structured socialization, environmental exposure, foundational obedience, and positive learning experiences during critical developmental stages.
British Labrador Retrievers bred for health, temperament, intelligence, and trainability. Carefully raised to become exceptional family companions, hunting dogs, and lifelong partners
Training level
- Advanced obedience
- Advanced training
- Beginner training Customer-reported
Support between sessions
- Personalized training plans
Assistance and working dogs
- Hunting dog training
Additional services
- Boarding Customer-reported
Other listed services
View 4 additional details
- Behavioral Dog Training
Program details
SongDog specializes in behavioral dog training for dogs experiencing fear, anxiety, reactivity, and difficult behaviors. Our scientifically grounded approach identifies the root cause of behavior rather than masking symptoms, creating lasting change through individualized training and owner edu.
- Fear & Anxiety Rehabilitation
Program details
We help fearful and anxious dogs build confidence through customized behavior modification. Our science-based approach addresses the root cause of unwanted behaviors for lasting success.
- Off-Leash Dog Training
Program details
Build reliable off-leash obedience with advanced recall, distraction training, and real-world proofing. Personalized programs strengthen communication, confidence, and trust between you and your dog.
- Safety Training
Program details
Our Safety Training program is a behavioral modification process that eliminates aggression by de-arousing your dog's nervous system, targeting the root emotional triggers rather than just blocking or suppressing them.
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Questions & answers
From GoogleWhat people have asked about this business.
If my dog goes away for training, will my dog remember me when they return?
This is probably our most commonly asked question. The answer is yes! It has been Jason Major’s experience that if you have known the dog for at least two weeks, the dog will remember you for life. Actually, if the dog did not remember you, it would make our job easier. We could simply remove the dog from your environment, complete the training and send the dog home, and that is how they would act from that point on. We know this would not work. Your dog will remember you and remember how they acted with you before the therapy and transfer of training.
Community answer · SongDog Kennels · 2021-09-21
What types of dog behaviors can Songdog help me control?
Aggression, unruliness, separation anxiety, inappropriate elimination, barking, digging, running away, jumping, spinning and just about anything else your dog can think of!
Community answer · SongDog Kennels · 2021-09-21
Will training or therapy break my dog’s spirit or change their personality?
Many people are concerned about this. This is where science meets art. It is possible for the trainer to become so overbearing that the dog simply shuts down. We have all seen dogs that, while they responded to the handler, do so without drive and motivation.
Community answer · SongDog Kennels · 2021-09-21
Public community answers. Authors are not verified as business representatives; details may have changed.
Customer reviews
Google listing4.9
84 Google reviews
Mentioned in reviews
- Leash pulling 10
- Obedience training 6
- Listening to commands 4
- Therapy dog training 3
- Foundation program 2
- Obedient dogs 2
All 10 topics
- Off leash recall 2
- Older dog training 2
- Responsive to questions 2
- Weekly updates 2
Google review topics, not confirmed services.
As a travel nurse, I needed my dog to be well behaved in public places and in hotels. I dropped off a overly hyper 6 month old Labrador. I picked up a well behaved traveling companion. He is a totally different dog. Now he knows when it’s play time and when he need to stay at my side. He no longer jumps on strangers or drags me on his leash. I will definitely bring my future dogs to Songdog!
A month ago I called and left a message . “ Jason(?)” called back and I explained that I was a service connected Veteran that the VA gave me a replacement “service dog “ ( puppy) and a vest and told me maybe a trainer will contact me within 6 months . I expressed an opinion if h…Read full reviewClose full review
A month ago I called and left a message . “ Jason(?)” called back and I explained that I was a service connected Veteran that the VA gave me a replacement “service dog “ ( puppy) and a vest and told me maybe a trainer will contact me within 6 months . I expressed an opinion if he could help with a couple of basics , heal /no jumping , and he said he would call the following week .. I am still waiting… 2nd star is because he at least called me back
Left our dog for 3 weeks and we picked him up, received our training, and our dog has been great. He's better behaved, listens to our commands, and we have more trust with him around our house and yard and know he'll stay around and we worry less about him. So far it's been everything we had hoped we would get out of this.
Sending my dog to Jason for training was the best decision I could have made. He made me feel like my dog was the most important student he had and he was personally invested in her success. She went to him as a hyper, easily distracted dog that would not come back when called. S…Read full reviewClose full review
Sending my dog to Jason for training was the best decision I could have made. He made me feel like my dog was the most important student he had and he was personally invested in her success. She went to him as a hyper, easily distracted dog that would not come back when called. She now has the most reliable recall I’ve ever had in a dog. Jason also worked with my husband and I to help us continue working with my dog to help her grow into the well behaved dog I was hoping for. I cannot express how appreciative I am for the work that Jason did. He is awesome.
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.