Canine Ph.D. Dog Training, Inc. in Decatur offers patient, professional training, boarding, and more, with a focus on positive reinforcement. Reviews praise the team’s knowledge and safety, and highlight personalized programs that helped dogs earn AKC CGC and four Trick Dog titles, plus progress in public settings. Clients value regular email updates, and a mix of in-facility and in-home sessions that strengthen bonds.
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Location
245 Dekalb Industrial Way #2203, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
Amazing training practice here! As a veterinarian myself, I can’t recommend Canine PhD enough! My puppy has been coming here since we picked him up at 10 weeks old- at first for puppy classes, where he started shy and hiding but ended when he aged out running the place. Then we did their perfect puppy classes and family manners. We also have done their day training program where he has learned so much! We get an email update on how he did every day with pictures. They offer so many classes- we plan on trying a new sport starting this week!
Everyone has been great but we have worked with Betty, Alexandria, Casey, Sarah and Myria the most consistently. I think the training is well priced and a good value for what we gained. Meredith and Michael have been great and easy to communicate with as well.
Sampson loves going to Canine PHD to see his “friends” and is on his way to being a very well behaved, loving dog.
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Deana Bearden
via Google
· 10 months ago
Canine PhD has been so wonderful to work with. They trained my very anxious rescue dog to comfortably wear a basket muzzle so that he could get to the vet to get his vaccines. We did a mix of facility trainings and in home sessions to achieve his goals. Michael was always willing to work with us to get our appointments scheduled. All of the trainers at the facility greeted my dog and I with enthusiasm and he became very comfortable with a variety of different people working with him. A special shoutout to Casey who is literally the BEST trainer ever! My dog and I LOVE her and we are so thankful for all of her help!
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Kate O'Connor
via Google
· 11 months ago
I reached out to Canine PhD because my young terrier was becoming reactive: frantically barking at other dogs, jumping all over everyone she met, and constantly on alert. We tried other training centers, endless exercise and activities, classes, you name it. But being out in public was a huge challenge! Then we started working with the incredible team at Canine PhD.
Every trainer we worked with was patient, knowledgeable, and deeply invested in helping us succeed. When my dog boarded with them, the kennel care experts took the time to get to know her and help her work through her big feelings. The whole team worked hard to understand my dog's needs and put together a program that allowed us to make steady, real progress. Even in my dog's most reactive moments, I felt like we (and the other people and dogs around us) were safe with them.
With their guidance, my dog went from struggling to be in public to earning her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and four(!) Trick Dog titles. She also had a fantastic time learning to barn hunt and improving her swimming skills!
The Canine PhD team’s professionalism, care, and passion for dogs really shines through in everything they do. They didn't just train my dog, they mentored and supported me as I figured out what my wild, wonderful girl needed to succeed. They’ve helped us build a stronger bond, and I can’t thank them enough for the skills and confidence they’ve given us both.
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Diana Vazquez
via Google
· 11 months ago
We feel incredibly lucky to have found PhD Canine! We have a reactive little chihuahua (Mambo), and after struggling for a long time, we finally found this place that truly understands him. We’ve used several of PhD Canine’s services—including training, boarding, and more—and they’ve all been working wonderfully. The team is kind, patient, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They also keep us updated regularly, which we really appreciate. We couldn’t be happier with our experience. Highly recommended!
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Josh Stone
via Google
· 11 months ago
I was looking for a positive reinforcement training option near me in Decatur, and after seeing all of Canine PhD’s amazing reviews, I decided to give them a try. I’m so glad I did!
My dog Buzz and I were paired up with Betty, and she’s incredible! She did an amazing job helping us work through his anxiety and reactivity when meeting new people, especially on walks and when we’re out and about at restaurants or patios.
From day one, she made sure we had the right tools in place, starting with recommending a no-pull harness that completely changed our walks. Walking Buzz and his corgi brother Phil is finally enjoyable again — truly life-changing! I had missed our morning walks so much, as they had started to feel more like an aggravation than something we looked forward to.
Training with Betty wasn’t just about teaching Buzz and me how to do better. She gave him exercises to build his confidence and receive heaps of praise, and you can see on his smiling face how much he loved every bit of it. I didn’t expect training to be such a wonderful experience for strengthening the bond between Buzz and me even more. Even if your pup doesn’t have major issues, working with Betty is such a fun, rewarding way to learn new things together.
Beyond that, Betty gave us practical, effective exercises to help Buzz feel safe around new people, both on walks and at home. She taught us de-escalation techniques that make new houseguests feel comfortable and help Buzz relax faster. He’s learned that his bed is his “safe space” and now goes there confidently when new people come over. It’s been such a positive change.
Buzz still has a ways to go, and he may never be perfectly comfortable, but I’m ecstatic about the progress he’s made already in just six sessions with Betty. One of the things I appreciated most was her honesty. From the start, she told me this wasn’t going to be a magic trick that made Buzz instantly comfortable with everyone — and that’s okay. Some dogs, just like people, are naturally a little socially anxious. I really valued her realistic, compassionate approach.
We split our six sessions between Canine PhD and our home, which was perfect for working on both controlled environments and real-life scenarios. And between sessions, we had Betty’s helpful homework to reinforce what we were learning and keep us progressing even outside of training.
The price was extremely reasonable and I feel like we got more value than what we paid for.
Overall, Betty is a wonderful person and an incredible trainer! I’m so glad that after researching positive training options in the area, I chose Canine PhD and was paired with her.
She’s patient, kind, and truly cares about both her canine and human clients. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate trainer, Betty is the one!
