it operates primarily as an aggressive digital marketing platform rather than a traditional local training school. It is heavily criticized for functioning as a middleman that charges high prices for generic virtual courses and low-quality localized contractor matching. They constantly harass me by calling from fake numbers each time.
Response from DogAcademyAug 26, 2026
Hi Tony,
We’re very sorry for the frustration caused by receiving unwanted calls and messages. We understand how intrusive repeated contact can feel. We have taken additional steps to ensure you no longer receive phone calls, text messages, or other communications from us unless you choose to sign up again in the future.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Warmly,
Dog Academy Support Team
BO
bob
you promised a perfect dog
you promised a perfect dog, after training at a cost of $1700, the dog is at best somewhat better on a leash. still aggressive and loud, the very things you said would be corrected. trainer was nice but said "i dont know why they tell people that", called for a refund of at least some of my money but was told no refunds, we promised nothing, so dont waste your time or money with this so called trainer service. its crap
Response from DogAcademyAug 8, 2026
We’re sorry the training experience and results did not meet the expectations set for you. We’re more than willing to review your account, training history, and concerns so we can work together toward an appropriate resolution. However, we need additional information to locate your account and complete that review. We’ve requested those details through Trustpilot and look forward to connecting with you soon.
Warm regards,
Dog Academy Support Team
MW
mary W.
This was not worth the money at all
This was not worth the money at all. I have already found all of the info presented and possible steps to take for free on YouTube. I was hoping for something more in depth. I’m frustrated that I spent $50.
There was a paragraph that didn’t even belong in the text “ Now that we’ve addressed the temperament, energy and physical characteristics of the German shepherd, it’s time to look at some of the most frequently asked questions about this breed.” - my course wasn’t about German Shepards! It was about curbing reactivity.
Response from DogAcademyJul 29, 2026
Mary, we’re sorry the course did not provide the depth or value you expected. We also appreciate you identifying the unrelated German Shepherd content in the reactivity course. Your feedback is important, and a member of our Dog Academy team will reach out directly to review your concerns and work toward an appropriate resolution.
Warmly,
Dog Academy Support Team
GW
Gerald W.
service dog training
I am an 88-year-old disabled veteran, who has experienced 2 strokes and partial blindness in one eye and my wife is 84 with the onset of dementia. Her dementia is in the early stages and is a patient in a research study with Alzheimer's Research in Stuart Florida. We have been married 66 years.
As a result of our disabilities, we adopted a rescue dog. He is a daschund mix, 5 years old at the time. His name is SammyMax and he became immediately attached to both my wife and I.
On 19 April we received an unsolicited offer from DogAcademy that included service training for SammyMax. We became interested in this offer because with the certification we could travel with SammyMax to our timeshare, restaurants, and airplanes so we signed up to the tune of $2344.99 (invoice 296793 dated 19 April 2026). I completed 27% of the videos and 2 in-home sessions with the local trainer. The in-home training did not go well. Specifically, she outlined a program to say the name "SammyMax then place a treat in front of him and if he didn't take it to place on the ground in front of him, walk away and do his 10 times. This didn't work at all. he walked away from the first. On the second visit the cage that she requested had arrived. We set the cage up and she instructed me to place his food in there so he could get used to the cage. That didn't work after several days so I returned to his normal eating routine. At night, SammyMax often slept under my bed and for some reason, she wanted him to stop so she placed the cardboard box under the bed so block him from there. In both sessions she seemed rushed. After the second in-home visit I called support and asked for another trainer. the customer rep indicated that this was not possible because the nearest alternate trainer was 50 miles away. Stacy from customer service called me today and after explaining the situation I asked for a refund. She was offering other alternatives, but I had to interrupt her to attend another meeting. Stacy called me back at 4:15 ET but I was still unavailable. I called C.S. back and the rep sent a message to Stacy to call me back at 11 AM ET tomorrow. meanwhile I have reviewed all of the one and two star comment about their experiences with Dog Academy and discovered a number of negative comments.
Gerald Weisenseel
July 1, 2026
SM
Shelly M.
This is a waste of $40
This is a waste of $40. There isn’t any information that can’t be found in a million free articles online. I was hoping to get more specific information and guidance.
NS
Noemi S.
Not worth it
The exact same thing I paid almost $40 for I have read in free articles already. Also this needs to be updated we are not living in the COVID Era and this needs to be updated.
AN
Anthony
Promises that never deliviered
Was promised weekends and in person training but could never get ethier. They keep saying "1 more virtual meeting" over and over till we passed the 30 day refund window then would not refund me for the unused in-person credits. Left now feeling very disrespected and scammed.
Editing to address the reply:
I explicitly requested Saturdays at sign-up, and your sales team assured me it was no problem. The moment I paid, you changed the rules, told me Saturdays were impossible, and forced me to accept late-night weekday sessions after 7:00 PM just to get started.
You are using a 'safety foundation' narrative as an excuse, but after our second Zoom meeting, our actual trainer explicitly told us Sawyer was ready for in-person training. When I called to schedule those physical sessions, your corporate office overrode the trainer's professional assessment, denied the scheduling, and demanded I do even more virtual sessions. My trainer even admitted to me that they didn’t believe Dog Academy actually had anyone in my area capable of handling our in-person training.
It wasn't until I called to complain and demanded a refund for the second time that a Saturday session suddenly 'miraculously' became available. By then, the trust was entirely broken.
You took my money for an in-person package, failed to provide it, forced me into virtual sessions that were completely insufficient for my situation.
Response from DogAcademyMay 20, 2026
Dear Anthony,
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. We understand your frustration and appreciate the opportunity to address your experience.
First and foremost, we want to acknowledge the seriousness of Sawyer’s behavioral challenges. At the start of training, Sawyer was identified as a high-risk case due to fear-based reactivity, including a prior bite incident that required urgent care treatment. Because of this, our trainers determined that beginning with virtual behavioral foundation work was the safest and most appropriate course before introducing in-person sessions.
Your initial evaluation session was scheduled within six days of enrollment, and accommodations were made to work within your stated availability requirements of evenings after 7 PM and preferred weekends. Throughout the process, our training staff continued evaluating Sawyer’s readiness for in-person work. Based on the professional assessments of multiple trainers, it was determined that additional virtual sessions focused on confidence-building, muzzle conditioning, and desensitization were necessary before safely transitioning to in-person training.
We understand your concern that the process felt prolonged. However, these recommendations were based on trainer evaluations and safety considerations rather than an attempt to delay services. In fact, Dog Academy provided an additional virtual training session at no charge and also arranged a rare Saturday accommodation with your trainer in an effort to better support your scheduling needs.
Additionally, we would like to clarify that Dog Academy does have multiple qualified in-person trainers located within approximately 15 miles of your area who would have been available to work with Sawyer once he successfully graduated from the behavioral foundation stage and was deemed safe and ready for in-person handling. The delay in transitioning to in-person sessions was not due to a lack of trainer availability, but rather based solely on the professional recommendation of the behavior team regarding Sawyer’s readiness and safety.
We also understand your disappointment regarding the refund request. While your account falls outside of the refund policy window, your unused in-person training credits remain active and available for future use should you choose to continue training once Sawyer is ready for in-person work. Additionally, your lifetime access to virtual support resources and course materials remains available.
Our goal has always been to prioritize the safety, progress, and long-term success of both you and Sawyer. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations and appreciate the feedback you have provided.
Sincerely,
Dog Academy Team
LW
Laura W.
I would never recommend this company to…
I would never recommend this company to anyone! They boast of a thirty day money back guarantee but the trainer they assigned my dog didn’t show up the first time then we were past the 30 days of course. The trainer assigned took my dog for a 48 hour board and train which I found out later is not something the dog academy even offers. I was told I would get pictures and videos of the training she was receiving. I got a video of the training with my dog in a room. The trainer was kicking a cardboard box and my dog ran to get a toy out took it back across the room. Then the trainer did that several more times. When I asked what that was accomplishing I got no response for a couple of weeks and it accomplished nothing just to show her playing. She was kept most of the time in a too small kennel. I know that because I saw what she was transported in and the trainer wanted to make sure my kennel was much bigger. I am now having to spend even more money to take my dog to a different trainer. No money back of course. 30 day policy and all. My dog was set back in her training from this experience. She learned nothing she didn’t already know. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE.
