Expert dog training that builds trust, one wag at a time.
Underdog K-9 Academy, LLC is a Cincinnati-based, full-service dog training, boarding, day camp and education center. Led by Darah, the academy earns praise for patient, knowledgeable instruction and clear explanations that empower both dogs and their people. Offerings include one-on-one, group, and board-and-train programs, with daily updates, follow-up consultations, and practical at-home guidance.
2628 Mt Airy Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45239, USA
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Customized intensive training where your dog stays with us for 2+ weeks, learning obedience, manners, and behavioral skills with daily updates provided.
Personalized in-home or on-site sessions focusing on specific issues like leash training, commands, and owner coaching for effective communication.
Socialization and skill-building in a group setting, ideal for puppies and dogs needing practice with other pets in a controlled environment.
Safe, supervised care with training reinforcement, perfect for busy owners or vacations, ensuring dogs stay engaged and well-behaved.
Ongoing support and coaching post-training to help owners maintain progress and address new challenges with their dogs.
Gentle, effective use of tools like the Mini Educator for remote communication, enhancing obedience and safety in various settings.
Overall rating
Reese Fairbanks
A great review for an amazing trainer. From the very first session, Darah was patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in both my puppy’s progress and my growth as a handler. I have a Belgian Malinois puppy named Arrow, and Darah did an amazing job training me to better communicate with him, which made all the difference. We saw major improvements in Arrow’s obedience and leash training, and the progress felt purposeful and sustainable. Darah is an excellent communicator who clearly explains not just what to do, but why it works, making it easy to apply the techniques consistently at home. Darah is truly the perfect all-around trainer, professional, approachable, and incredibly effective. I’m extremely grateful for the progress Arrow and I have made together and would highly recommend Underdog K-9 Academy to anyone looking for real results and a stronger bond with their dog.
Robin Howard
Our dog recently completed Board and Train with Darah. This time she kept him for 2 weeks. He was 5 months at the time so it seemed like he was able to take in every concept she was giving him. - Heel - Sit - Down - Place - Gentleness with other dogs - Using the restroom outside consistently He came back with a ton of manners. This was also stressed to us. Now when your dog comes back it’s your responsibility to uphold all the things he’s practiced. She may introduce you to the e collar(the mini educator). Trust it will be comforting to the dog. We see the difference when he doesn’t wear it. Yes you will be like it’s a bit expensive but it truly is an investment in your puppy. You will be thankful you did it. We enjoy our puppy so much more now that he’s understanding a lot of what we’re going to ask of him. Thank you again Darah. We appreciate you so much!
Ebone John
Darah did an amazing job with our puppy Miniature Schnauzer, Brownie. He underwent a complete 180 transformation, even more, after being in Darah’s two-week board and train program. We have an 8 year old Miniature Schnauzer as well, who we brought straight home from the breeder at 7 or 8 weeks and he was even tempered and easy for us to train. Brownie was a completely different experience from our older dog and other Mini Schnauzers we’ve known. We got him from a pet store at a few months old , so he had already developed certain bad habits. Additionally, his temperament and behavior was disruptive and chaotic. We expected normal puppy behavior when we brought him home, but his behavior was well beyond that. He had an extremely short attention span, couldn’t be still for more than a few seconds at a time, barked regularly with or without stimulus and was very stubborn and difficult to train. We knew we needed professional help and Darah came highly recommended. Darah is deeply knowledgeable, thorough, patient and passionate about training and helping families with their fur babies. She meets your dogs where they are and develops customized training for them . She works closely with families/owners to empower them with their pets and help sustain the training their dogs receive. During the board and train program, Darah shares helpful updates and videos daily, which we are still leveraging today. She also provides a wealth of additional resources, including follow-up consultations, group play/training opportunities and more. Darah is also incredibly personable, thoughtful and fully invested in her clients. Underdog K-9 Academy is a full service dog training, boarding, day camp and education center and we highly recommend Darah and her team! We are truly grateful to Darah for turning our little Brownie around. Our experience has been game changing😊.
Destinee Thomas
Darah was been so helpful on our dog ownership journey. Even before we decided to adopt our anxious little foster, she spoke to me on phone for nearly an hour answering lots of questions, giving tips and empowering me to be a strong leader. We used her services for both one-on-one, group and board and train sessions and have had great experiences with all. We were able to fully enjoy our vacation knowing our girl was in the best hands. Darah continues to be a great support as we try hard to put everything she’s taught us into action. Highly recommend!
Anthony Talbert
I was in need of a trainer who could help me lock my new puppy in — he consistently jumped over my fence running away, leaving me and girlfriend very nervous for his safety. Darah was a great solution! Over the course of a 2mo dog training journey, Darah has proven to be an expert with training not only the dog but also coaching the owner (which is the most important part of dog training). Very accommodating, met me and my girlfriend where we were on our dog ownership journey, and was special when it came to connecting with our pup, Bear. She had a clear 2mo (and beyond) plan for training, starting with basic commands and ending with me thinking Bear might be ready for big stage dog competitions. She was disciplined when it came to not accepting less than from Bear or me. Highly recommended!
