The Coventry School Inc

Living with a fearful, anxious, and reactive dog is exhausting! A dog that is scared of noises, smells, people, dogs, shadows, and everything else, has no quality of life. Medications help but they do not change behavior. We've been on that long, sometimes draining journey with our Aussie-Lab mix pup, Freyja. We searched for awhile for a place that offered positive, fear-free, training for our dog in the DMV area and came across the Kranky Knine (KK9) classes at the Coventry School for Dogs. Liz, Emily and Julia have been a lifeline! We have taken 3 KK9 classes since Feb 2026. Even from the first meeting time, we started seeing glimpses of the dog we know she can be and that those tiny improvements gave us so much hope. As time progressed, a moment that really stands out was when Freyja actually tried to get closer to the dogs and their pawents. She didn't meet them, but she wanted to. We have also noticed real improvements in the hallway and elevator (one of our biggest daily battles). She's starting to move away from scary monsters (aka dogs and people) more easily, and her outbursts aren't as intense or frequent as before. That said, it's still a struggle. And the elevator is still a major challenge. Our neighbors are understandably tired of her reactivity, and we feel that pressure every day. But through all of it, the KK9 team has been in our corner. Liz has been a wonderful advocate for our dog. Liz took the time to write a detailed note to our behavioral vet after we finished our first KK9 class, which helped shape Freyja's treatment plan in a meaningful way. And the ongoing support from Liz, Emily, and Julia, has made all the difference. We know recovery is a long road, but thanks to this team, we're finally walking it with more confidence and less fear. Our journey with a reactive dog has become easier with these kind people who helped us move forward, one small victory at a time. We are eternally grateful!!!

We've been going to Coventry in some capacity for about ten years. My dog has attended their daycare, beginner training class, nosework classes, and when they offered it, boarding. After trying a few other places for daycare what we liked about Coventry was they grouped dogs by both size and temperament. We've worked with 3 instructors across the beginner and nosework classes and all were/are great. While they no longer offer boarding, it was a place I could leave my dog knowing she would be well cared for.