Upstate Canine Academy - Dog Training Facility

I came across UCA via Tom Davis, I had become desperate to connect with a trainer who could help me reinforce commands and reduce the reactivity Remi was having with other animals/dogs. She was never aggressive, but her excitement levels would lead to a bark/cry and pulling on the collar/harness without even acknowledging the person at the other end of the lead nor listening to commands with distractions. Our trainer is Kasen, and we could not be more pleased and happy to have gone through the month board and train with her and the team. A month after she completed her training, we decided to do a 1-on-1 and a group class to make sure we were understanding the tools provided and to get more confident with Remi, and that was the cherry on top as they call it! We are so confident with Remi now, that our relationship has built into a mutual respect and understanding that we have done a lot of first with Remi and we no longer fear the interactions and new spaces. She has learned boundaries and understand to listen and wait for queues before approaching people/animals. I work a lot, and felt like it would be a journey to help my dog become okay with everything but Kasen and UCA built that gap between my dog and I which has allowed for us to go out and make memories together. HIGHLY RECOMMEND UCA, from the attention they provide to your furry friend, to the time and attention they provide you, to post boarding, it is worth every penny and then some! This marks our 3rd trainer, and I am happy to say it will be our last!

We recently sent our 8 month old Aussie puppy to Upstate Canine Academy for their 3 week program and are super impressed. We could not be happier with the results!One of our biggest fears when looking into a B&T for our rescue was that the training would change the dog’s personality. This did not happen at all. Cody is the same goofy dog but with better impulse control and strong obedience skills.Our experience was positive from the beginning. At the drop off appointment, the staff took the time to explain the entire process and how the dog will be trained. We were assigned Kasen and she was so wonderful with Cody. She sent us weekly videos and emailed updates on how Cody was adjusting as well as his training progress. The entire staff is passionate about what they do and took really great care of our precious pup.The pick up appointment was the most important part of training program as this is where we were taught everything that Cody had learned so that we would continue and reinforce the training at home. Board and Train is a fantastic way to build a strong training foundation that you (and your dog) can confidently continue at home.Cody now has the ability to control his impulsive behavior and it is actually a lot of fun doing training sessions with him. The training is a great way to bond with your dog and reinforce that strong foundation. The improvement is amazing and we are so happy that we made the decision to send him to UCA.

We have a 4 year old Pitt/Hound mix who had little to no training prior to her 5wk board and train. She came in to work on her obedience and aggression toward our other dog. I am amazed with how much she’s learned from UCA. The trainers we have the pleasure in working/speaking with (Zach, Kasen, Marigrace, and Alyssa) have been nothing but attentive to our emails and great working with our girl, Isla, during her board and train. I highly recommend them and will continue to work with them move forward.Update: they previously trained our other lab/cattle dog mix and she has been doing so well with her continued training at home and every day life.

We took two of our dogs to Upstate Canine Academy and are ecstatic with the results. Our two year old became aggressive towards our other two and went for a six week program at upstate canine Academy. She learned how to deal with her anxiety that was causing her aggression, and the team (we worked mainly with Zach and Kasen but everyone was wonderful to work with) taught us how to recognize her triggers and deal with them.One year old puppy went for basic obedience and e-collar training. She is 100% puppy and had no off switch. She came back to us understanding when we were trying to communicate with her and dealing with not being able to do whatever she wanted at any time.The results we’ve seen with both of our animals were amazing. We could not be happier with upstate canine Academy. We would highly recommend the team at UCA and could not be more grateful for all the hard work, the team put in with our animals.Thank you, upstate canine Academy for giving us the opportunity to truly understand our animals and enhance all our lives.

We are lucky to be part of the UCA family. The instructors are extremely knowledgeable and patient with dogs and dog parents. I would recommend both individual and group training. It is so satisfying to see your dogs progress.

We started at Upstate Canine Academy with Luca in the 5 week board and train.Before going to Upstate, Luca was reactive to both dogs and people. After working with numerous trainers we knew we needed to make a change. We got referred to Upstate Canine Academy. After doing a meet and greet with Upstate , we decided on Board and Train where Luca would be able to work on obedience, leash training and his reactivity.I cannot say enough for how thankful I am for Zach and the rest of the team for making our experience so amazing. We received weekly updates and were able to learn ourselves in order to transfer training to home after he completed his training as well as Zach sat down with us one on one and did a thorough overview of Luca’s training and progress. After our 5 week B&T we have continued to work in private training sessions and group classes with Zach. Zach really takes the time to understand your dog and support your goals as an owner. He has really gotten to know Luca and what Luca needs. We have had an amazing experience and have seen a huge transformation with Luca’s reactivity!They truly care about helping you and your pet and we now are able to have positive experiences with Luca on walks and at family events!

This review is long overdue! My golden retriever attended a 5 week board and train back in the summer of 2021, and I recently returned for a couple of tune up sessions and a group class.When I left my dog at the facility 3 years ago, I had high hopes the trainers would take all my concerns with a high energy, impulsive puppy and turn him into a controlled, well mannered, respectful dog that could eventually walk off leash. Picking him up after 5 arduous weeks of my own separation anxiety, I was met with the same joyful, happy go lucky pup that I started with, but with an obedience that appeared almost magical. The lead trainer Zach walked me through everything they worked on with my dog and showed me how to continue his education and training, with the proper techniques to set me up for success. I left feeling confident and ecstatic that my dog had transformed into the dog I always dreamed of.Although the training never stops and the responsibility falls to the owner to uphold their obedience, three years later I found myself struggling to keep my dog at 100% compliance. As UCA provides a lifetime of tune up sessions as part of their board and train package, I decided it was time to take them up on that offer. As I live three hours away, it was not a trip I would be making often. But man was it worth it! Julia and the rest of the staff welcomed us with open arms and we immediately got to work. Within five minutes it was obvious that the techniques and training methods used are incredibly impactful and drive results. My dog transformed once again right before my eyes. I cannot thank Julia enough for being so patient with us, answering all of our questions, and leaving us with full confidence to address and correct the issues that arose over time due to owner error. My only regret is that I didnt make the trip back there sooner!We will have to visit again simply to say hello because what a joy it was to be around such incredibly caring, knowledgeable, and inspiring dog educators! Montana and his parents are forever grateful!

Our family has benefited greatly with the instruction from Upstate K9! Three private lessons with Kasen, and our rescue, Oliver, improves every week. He’s smarter, more obedient, and off leash on family hikes! Thank you Upstate K9.

I took my dog, 5yr old male australian shepherd, here for the 4 week board and train. Ace has struggled with his behavior for about a year and a half. He was standoffish around strangers, and family. He did not like other dogs at all. He would often aggressively lunge, and bark at any distraction around. I felt hopeless, I couldn’t take him outside the house without being worried something bad would happen. He would hear a dog 3 blocks away and start to freak out.After his board and train it was like I got a brand new dog. Not only was his overall behavior completely different. His leash manners improved tremendously. I’m able to take him on walks without feeling worried. He can walk past strangers without getting worked up. He can walk past another dog like they don’t even exist. The tools they gave me made the transition that much easier. The e-collar is so user friendly and makes me feel that much safer when handling him outside the home. I also feel like I need to add that the training doesn’t stop after the board and train. When you take your dog back home, you need to continue and keep up with what the trainers taught you in the go-home. Otherwise, your dog will resort back to their previous behaviors! What you put in, is what you get back, like most things in life.I haven’t even mentioned the team that works here. Everyone I interacted with have been so kind and respectful. Zach, did our drop off and he made me feel so comfortable leaving Ace here for the next 4 weeks. The updates we received were very encouraging and made me feel that much better knowing I had x amount of time before seeing my boy again. His trainer Kasen, is absolutely amazing. Not only is she amazing with Ace. She has been absolutely incredible with me. She explains everything so throughly, she is kind, she is reassuring. Any questions I’ve had she’s been willing to answer as many times as needed until I fully understand. Kasen has become like Ace’s auntie, he loves seeing her. We’ve done one follow-up since his board and train and again, it was so helpful and informative. We are planning to use the lifetime follow-ups maybe a little too frequently.Overall, I could not recommend this facility more. They were my saving grace when I wasn’t sure Ace was able to be fixed. Thank you to the entire team here:)

I can’t say enough about this crew at upstate canine academy! Julia, Kasen, Zach, and Kyle have helped change our lives in giving us the best version of our dog, Stella! Anyone who comes in solely wanting to see Tom (who is amazing as well), obviously has not given his team a chance! All four of these trainers really dive into each family, and dog - they really put together the best plan to help you communicate with your dog and give you both the tools to live the best life possible.We have a 105lb Dogo Argentino who is our world, but we didn’t fully know how to handle her nervousness about meeting new people, especially men. After the board and train program we are confident to walk Stella anywhere, and have a process to her meeting new people that works amazingly well. Our dog is a complete love bug, and loves every one of these trainers now. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner!Thank you to the whole upstate canine crew!

I’ve been working with Kyle for about 5 months with my dog Maddie. He has been very thorough and worked to answer all of my questions and makes the sessions interactive and fun. Maddie’s biggest issues were with other dogs and he brought all kinds of dogs into our sessions to demonstrate appropriate training for Maddie. I would recommend Kyle and Upstate Canine academy to anyone dealing with a dog training issue, big or small!

We’ve taken one of our dogs here, who had reactivity issues and he did fantastic. Kyle was great. We now have our other dog in training and he is very helpful and explains everything really well. I have a good feeling after leaving class that this will be just as successful as the last dog.

We have truly enjoyed our training experience at Upstate Canine Academy so far! Even with a decent dog behavior/training knowledgebase, I have learned something new at every training session with Kasen. Our sessions are tailored to my puppys areas for improvement, and I see her making progress with our home practice. Kasen is knowledgeable and personable, and I couldnt ask for a better trainer. I am looking forward to many more training sessions and future group lessons.

Aren’t Frenchie puppies the cutest? They are, until you find yourself with one that becomes unmanageable even with puppy training. Our beautiful Frenchie started to become reactive at 10 months of age. We couldn’t enjoy our walks anymore as he lost control whenever he saw another dog. The barking, the pulling, it was exhausting. We were at a loss and happened upon The Canine Academy on a chance Google search on dog reactivity. We watched the YouTube videos, listened to the podcast and everything Tom said made so much sense. We enrolled in Tom’s 3 day seminar as soon as we could and what we learned was life changing for us as well as our dogs. We are fortunate to live near the Academy and decided to continue our private and group class training with their lead trainer, Zach Burt. Over the course of a few months, our Frenchie transformed from an uncontrollable, leash reactive puppy to one I can take pretty much anywhere. It’s work. It’s training for both the human and dog but it’s been worth every minute and every cent. You learn to communicate effectively with your dog and they learn what is expected. Our Frenchie has so much fun with Zach at every session and I am continually amazed how well our Frenchie handles himself during group classes surrounded by other dogs. Thank you so much to Tom, Zach and the team at Upstate Canine Academy!

Super happy with the team at Upstate Canine! I have a super reactive dog and they were so nice and responsive throughout the process of his board and train. I now feel very equipped and ready to continue the training my dog received thanks to their wonderful direction and guidance! Highly recommend!

Upstate Canine Academy is an amazing place to train your pup. All of the trainers are genuine, full of love for pups, and truly care about the trainers and their relationship with their pups. Every trainer is phenomenal. Indy and Honey love Kasen, Kyle, MaryGrace, Alyssa, and Zach! If you’re thinking of training here, do it! Do not wait!

Taking my dog to upstate canine was by far the best decision I’ve ever made. My dog, with a fight and bite history, just completed a group class with zero incidences, I could cry from joy. My dog completed the 5 week board and train, and it was worth every penny. We have tried and failed at other training types, and this was our saving grace. My dog was adopted as an adult, and I wasn’t scared that he was too set in his ways. The amazing staff changed everything around. My dog went from lunging and wanting to fight other dogs, to letting them walk around, behind, and past him without a care. If you’re thinking about it, do it. The staff are amazing, the training is life changing, I would make this decision a million times over. They saved my dog. Thank you upstate canine

We have been working with Kyle to help with our dog’s reactive behavior. Kyle coached us in a way that was easy to understand, is knowledgeable about dog behavior and offers support and encouragement. Kyle helps make us more confident dealing with our dog’s issues and is always available to answer questions or concerns. Highly recommend.

I had a working dog spot at Tom’s seminar this past weekend at his facility in upstate New York. It was absolutely incredible! Anyone that gets the chance should attend. His problem solving, insight and patience are unprecedented. His ability to overlook small mistakes to tackle the big picture was priceless to me.I left with tools, skills and most importantly confidence, as did my dog. I no longer feel I have to hide in the woods. Already this week we had 2 situations that in the past would have been disastrous but went beautifully. Tom also did an e-collar intro with us that was awesome! I can not wait to start his e-collar course now that we’ve started the process.His staff was just as kind and welcoming as he is. Taylor had the whole weekend running perfectly smooth and got amazing local donuts! I really can’t put into words how grateful I am for the experience. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, Brittany & Duke

Zachs expertise and knowledge has literally changed our lives. He has taught us how to understand and control our dog in a way that has exceeded our expectations. Prior to working with Zach, our 4 year old bullpit mix Walt couldnt control his excitement towards other dogs. It got so bad that we couldnt take him out in public. With retirement knocking on our door and having big travel plans, we needed to get Walt on his best behavior. He is so much more obedient, and we are all much happier. I cant say enough great things about Zachs patience and dedication with training both us and Walt. I highly recommend Zach and Upstate Canine Academy to anyone looking for a more fulfilled and safer life for them and their dog.

Our dog stayed for the three week board and train option as his reactivity to other dogs was becoming something we could not train/work on our own anymore. We did not know what to expect as this was our dog’s first time doing a board and train. We were thrilled with the in depth updates we received weekly. When picking him up we saw the trainer walk him through a situation that before training our dog would be out of control, after the training he calmly watched another dog walk by in close quarters. I couldn’t believe it was the same dog we brought only three weeks prior. The trainer educated us well on pick up day with the proper tools and tricks needed to continue providing our dog this neutral lifestyle. Now being home, we see him making great decisions on his own!! This was the best decision we have ever made for our boy and our relationship with him is even better now than before. We look forward to this new chapter with him and are so thankful for this entire experience!!!

When I first got my German Shepherd puppy, Mika, I asked for dog training recommendations on a local community FB group. So many people recommended UCA whole heartedly! One person wrote that every super well behaved German Shepherd that she knows went to UCA! After puppy kindergarten, I enrolled her there and am so very glad I did. I had been nervous to take her on public walks, bc she would bark at other dogs she came across. I wasnt sure of the best way to handle it. Our one on one instructor, Kasen, was so awesome at helping me read Mikas body language and vocalizations, so I could quickly correct her before an escalation. I was also shocked how easy it was to teach her to walk on a loose leash and how every dog in our group classes, also can do the same. It was great that they bring their own socialized/trained dogs in to give the dogs-in- training experience heeling and doing sit-stays or down stays in close proximity to another dog. They learn to focus on their owner and not the nearby dog. After one class with an instructors dog I felt confident to begin taking her to parks, etc. and she did amazingly. I was hesitant to register at first bc of the price being a little high for me. But you really cant put a price on having a trustworthy, well socialized and well trained companion to share your life with you. Its so worth it to start your dog off in the correct manner, rather than have the stress and struggle of undoing improper handling. Thank you to all the knowledgeable instructors of UCA, you guys ROCK!

We currently have two dogs that attend training at Upstate Canine Academy, and we could not be happier with the experience and quality of training we have received. We have been working with Kyle at the facility for over a year and he has truly improved the quality of life of our one dog specifically who was struggling with some behavioral issues. Our one dog was adopted during Covid and did not get the correct exposure to anything outside of the home. He had zero confidence and was nervous when people would come into the house. Our worry was he would become a fear biter. Hes also a high energy American Field Lab, and we just did not have the knowledge on how to appropriately guide him. After working with Kyle, we now have a confident happy dog. My husband and I are also happier as we can now manage, and direct him, and also not fear to have people walk through our door. Following his behavior modification classes we enrolled him into E-collar training. This has truly been life changing for him. He adapted quickly to this type of training which has allowed him to have more freedom to help burn his work line energy off. We get so many compliments on what a positive change people see in him. Kyles expertise on not only training but breed training specifics is unmatched. We have also started puppy classes with our show line German Shepherd. He has a completely different temperament from our Lab and Kyle takes this into account with his training. He is patient and does not push the dogs past their capabilities. Kyle has also given us many tips and considerations on how to ensure our dogs succeed now and in the future.We are grateful for the experience we had with not only Upstate Canine Academy but with Kyle as well.

We brought our boisterous, young dog, Wrigley, to Upstate Canine Academy in hopes to work on her manners. What we left with after working with Lead Trainer, Zach, is an entirely different dog. Through basic obedience and E-collar training, we’ve created a relationship with Wrigley that I could only imagine. Not only are our lives much more enjoyable with a dog who listens, but Wrigley has reaped the benefits of having our trust and is now an off leash pup who gets to frolic through fields, chase her sister around in circles, and swim in lakes. Zach not only trains dogs, but he’s a human trainer too. We learned so much from him to ensure we could have long term success with Wrigley. I highly recommend Upstate Canine and Zach in particular to work with.

I was looking for a training facility to bring my 8 month Labradoodle to and I’m so happy I found Upstate Canine. Everyone that I have interacted with has been amazing, supportive and understanding. We’ve been working one on one with Kasen and I can’t say enough good things about her. She listens to what you want to work on, while also implementing techniques that she knows. I have gained so much knowledge in just two sessions and I can’t wait to learn more.

I’m a dog trainer from New Zealand. I have been professionally training dogs for about 10 years now. Listening to Tom’s podcasts has greatly improved my techniques and guided me through my career. Huge thanks to Tom for all his incredible work—wishing you the best for a great future!

My 9 month old mixed breed puppy and I are three private lessons into training and having a great time. Kasen has been great to work with, very informative and willing to listen to my concerns/answer my questions. The facility is clean and everyone I have met so far has been very friendly. Location is convenient. I definitely recommend!

We have been working with Kyle @ UCA and HIGHLY recommend!!! We started with behavior modification training and decided to continue on with e-collar training. His experience was apparent from day one and each session we leave having learned something new! He has played such a critical role in developing our confidence as handlers which has ultimately improved the relationship we have with our pup!

Kasen Lemay was absolutely amazing! In just four sessions she helped our family take our French Bulldog from monster to manners. I would highly recommend Upstate Canine Academy. Their proven process, professionalism, and approachability is top notch.

My husband and I recently adopted an abandoned and unsocialized 5 month old (german shepherd or Malinois?) puppy from a local rescue and quickly became intimidated by his biting and barking. It would escalate to the point that my husband and I would run out of the room and put ourselves in a 30 second time out in hopes he would forget he wanted to eat us 😆. We immediately fell in love with him and didnt want to give up- but after countless efforts, training videos, etc I became completely defeated and just did my best to avoid the dog and not to do anything he may not prefer. I even stopped sitting on my own couch which was now his. After only ONE session with Tom I am completely amazed, reinvigorated to bond with my puppy, and confident that he will be a wonderful addition to our family. We specifically liked that Tom isnt an aggressive trainer. He doesnt believe in wrestling them to the ground to show who is boss (you wouldnt believe how many people were actually suggesting that strategy). Tom takes an approach that is founded on relationship building, friendship, and trust. We realize this is a long journey and we have a lot more work to do. My husband and I are looking forward to having more training sessions so we can set our puppy up for success long term. HIGHLY recommend. Feeling grateful!

We picked up our 5 yr old female dog from UCA’s 3 week board & train program. She is coming back home with a stronger foundation in obedience, more confidence, and the eagerness to keep learning. All of the trainers at UCA were thorough, kind, and communicative throughout her stay and especially at time of pick-up. We look forward to the continued partnership with UCA’s trainers to maintain our training with private and group training sessions.

Our two year old Belgian Malinois recently completed a four week board and train at Upstate Canine Academy. It was a wonderful experience and worth the investment. Our dog had fierce, immediate and explosive reactions to other dogs as soon as he saw them. When we picked our boy up from “camp” he was able to be in the vicinity of other dogs, make better decisions and control his reactions. While he was there we got weekly updates with videos keeping us aware of his progress. Most importantly, our dog really liked the trainers. It was clear that they treated him incredibly well and earned his trust and affection. A Belgian Mal is not a dog that would be forgiving of poor training. I would highly recommend Upstate Training Academy to anyone looking for an excellent dog trainer.

We had an incredible weekend with Tom in Queensland, Australia. He’s an amazing educator and I feel so lucky that I was able to spend that time learning and growing as a handler, watching Tom read the dogs and troubleshoot with honesty, compassion and clarity. Absolutely worth it, I hope he comes back!

We sent our one year old Enzo, who is a Lab/Blue Heeler mix, to Upstate Canine Academy for a five week board and train this spring. Enzo had received some training when he was around six months old. While they worked on basic obedience and introduced him to the e-collar  and prong, we were still greatly struggling with his behavior. It was clear we were lacking communication and that there was a chance he didnt actually understand what we were asking of him, as well as not totally grasping the e-collar. Kyle, Kasen and Julia worked for five weeks to ensure his basic obedience was there, as well as re-condition his e-collar. When Enzo arrived he was on two mini e-collar sensors and his working levels on those were extremely high. After five weeks of reconditioning he is now back down to one sensor and his working numbers are between four and eight. When we ask him to do things we are 100% sure he understands what is being asked so his corrections are fair. He is an extremely high drive dog, with lots of energy, and they were able to find outlets for him and teach us how to help him burn off energy both mentally and physically. We received weekly email updates of his progress and Kyle and Julia were always great about getting back to me if I had a question about something they were working on. Additionally, Enzo would become reactive at home when strangers would come over. Not having people over is not something that was going to be sustainable, so they helped us find ways to help him disengage from his initial reaction so he could see that people in our home were not a bad thing. This is something we are actively working on and have seen progress, leaving us very hopeful for a future where hell be more calm and open to friends and family stopping by. Overall I wish we had done this sooner as the Fall and Winter were extremely stressful in our household for everyone involved including Enzo. While he still has his anxieties and insecurities, I see his confidence building every day and the foundation they laid with him gave us a great place to take over. Id also like to mention that they are always on hand to respond to any follow up questions we may have, which I think is a huge benefit. I highly recommend Upstate Canine Academy if you are struggling with your pups behavior!

Upstate Canine Academy is an excellent resource when you are serious about having a well-trained, reliable, happy dog.Since December 2022, my experience with Associate Trainer Kyle Gelsomini and the entire UCA staff is consistently professional, solution oriented and transformative. I initially reached out seeking support for my newly rehomed Australian Cattle Dog, Medika. She lived in rural Maine for seven years, with basic training and 24/7 dog door access. Relocating to a third floor downtown Albany apartment was a huge change for her. Equal measures sweet, funny and assertive, Medika was impatient with walks and went ballistic encountering other dogs. I wanted to reinforce, then advance her skills set, including place, heel, wait, leave/drop it, down, off and, critically, an immediate come/recall. The goal was her comfort and confidence, but honestly, I needed training as well.The outcome of combined private and group training sessions? I am a far more informed, skillful owner and consequently Medika is highly responsive, motivated to follow known commands and learn new ones. Moreover, highly effective Group Training, led by Julia & Kasen, significantly reduced Medikas reactivity while increasing her manners. Encountering other dogs is now manageable & she patiently waits on-leash during conversations. Altogether, Kyle and his colleague’s expertise and counsel made this possible. Online training videos, while helpful, cannot duplicate real time, in-person training. UCAs trainers solutions & strategies were highly specific to Medika and me. Based on my direct experience, UCA is an essential, responsible long-term investment.

I highly recommend Zach. His knowledge of dogs and their behaviors is amazing. He explains the how and why behind the training. I have learned so much about my dog how to work on the things she needs. He always makes sure my questions are answered before we end the session. Winnie has improved so much!

I knew after the first five minutes with our Upstate Canine trainer Zach that I had finally found the right place to help my fear reactive poodle. I had tried multiple trainers previously and no one was able to help.I showed up to my first appointment at my wits end with our dog situation, full of anxiety and uncertainty about how we had gotten to the point we were at, and feeling like I must have done something terribly wrong to have ended up with such a difficult dog.Zach was able to immediately see what was going on and knew exactly how to help. He reassured me that my dog would be ok, and that it wasn’t a lost cause! He is a true professional, and so dedicated to helping dogs and their owners get to a good place!We started working with Zach weekly and I’m happy to say my dog is happier, less reactive, more obedient and all around a more relaxed dog.Beyond training my dog, Zach really helped me to understand my dog better. I learned to accept my dog’s boundaries and limits and no longer ask things of him that push him past his comfort zone.All of the trainers at Upstate Canine are great, I highly recommend the school. I am especially thankful for Zach and all the hard work he did with our pup. We couldn’t have asked for a better trainer!

Their trainers are knowledgeable and the facility is good. However, their training programs are only on site and the trainers do not do any remote work, so it was not as practical as I would like. Any questions I had about behaviors at home had to be recorded to send to them rather than supervised at-home training. Group sessions were always on site, with no feedback from the dog trainers during sessions, so you have to ask for feedback after the classes. The issue with little to no feedback during sessions is that some handlers do not know if they are doing something wrong, so I would notice a lot of wrong or unnecessary corrections that owners applied to the dogs as well as a lot of leash tension. I think the group sessions should have some more guidance than just facilitating the direction of the heel or place. Also, because they are on site, they are so quick to fill up because the facility has a maximum allowed dogs at once.I think the most successful owners in dog training are the ones who understand dog psychology - the “why”. I had to learn dog psychology outside of the private sessions, but I wish the psychology was taught during sessions.One other thing that bothered me: the first trainer at upstate canine I had said that they would provide equipment like prongs, but when I asked for one after some sessions, they said I was part of the old program which did not provide prongs and the new programs do, so I don’t get one and told me to buy a prong online. Their old packages started at $700 minimum, and no prong collar was included.

I never thought I would be able to let my stubborn, nose-ruled, Coonhound off leash, but last week, after months of e-collar training with Kyle, I finally felt ready to drop her leash. She did amazing! Right back to me with every come and I rarely had to correct with the collar. Amazing to finally see her able to run around at full gallop on her own terms! Having a happy, exhausted doggo at the end of the day is well worth the cost of training. Kyle was always available outside of training sessions for questions and responded to emails quickly. Upstate canine was flexible about rescheduling appoiontments if I needed to cancel, and using credit from previous packages towards e-collar training, which I appreciated. Kyle provided straight-forward explanations and demonstration of how to use the e-collar and training exercises, including written instructions to take home. Thanks Kyle and Upstate! Emily and Petunia

My dog has been home from UCAs board & train for about a week and a half and the difference in our relationship is fantastic! Tito is a young mixed-breed: bull terrier/german shepherd/ chow chow/ husky, (definitely not the lab mix that the rescue group stated).Im pretty good with dogs, but I knew I was over my head with this one. I am delighted that I chose UCA and Titos progress has been dramatic!Kason, Zach, Kyle, and the team taught this young dog all the basics in a few weeks. More importantly, they taught me how to communicate with him and how to listen better to whats going on with this pushy (sometimes bratty) high-drive dog.He is now polite with company at home and at the office, and he gets along better with our other dog and all the neighbor dogs. Amazing!We have a daily schedule and a plan for both physical exercise and mental activities. In the past I hadnt thought much about obedience training, but I now recognize its value for impulse control, discipline, direction, and for creating a good strong bond with my dog.Before the board & train boot camp I was frustrated and unhappy. Now I am confident and have a clear path moving forward. Most importantly, its fun! I look forward to working with Tito 2 - 4 times a day, depending on my schedule. He seems excited by the challenges and the activity.Thank you, UCA, for creating a happier dog and a happier family!

Kasen was an excellent dog trainer. She was organized and consistent in her training of my puppy Henry. Because of her philosophy of training and her caring and gentle attitude, she enabled us both to succeed and I would highly recommend Kasen along with the Upstate Canine Academy.

I’ve been doing private training with Kyle for the past month or so and it’s been very helpful. I’ve learned a lot about how to handle my dog and properly use training equipment. He’s very knowledgeable and super welcoming and I’ve made a lot of progress with my dog’s obedience/ reactivity with his help. Thanks, Kyle! :)

I so enjoyed meeting Tom at his seminar here in Queensland Australia in November 2023. Tom is kind, gentle, funny, and a considerate man. I absolutely loved being in his presence and admire his ability to teach his students communication on all levels, human and dog. Thank you for being who you are and sharing your talent with all of us.Love Max and Kathy. Come back anytime! xxx

Tom has a wealth a knowledge and a gift to understand dogs better than anyone I know. He is able to run a seminar purely being adaptive to the needs of the dogs and handler. I am in awe and have walked away with a tonne of knowledge. Thanks for your kindness, understanding and gentle approach to training us humans to communicate better with our best friends.

Our dog really benefitted from working with Zach at Upstate Canine Academy. And when I say our dog, I mean yes her behavior is better but really Zach helped us understand how to work with her to give her the best chances for success. Zach is always willing to answer our questions and seems like he truly wants the best (he isnt just phoning it in waiting for his hour to be up). We would definitely recommend Zach to others looking for traning!

So it has taken me a while to write this and that has been intentional.I had a working spot with Zella at the Toms seminar in Brisbane. I had also previously worked with Tom online in a consult.I have held off on a review - because I think its important to assess the seminar on not just the information received on the day or the changes made throughout the weekend. Instead, I think its really important to look at what I took home and implement and how Zellas behaviour and my handling of her had changed in the weeks following.While I had worked locally with a fantastic trainer who is heavily influenced by Tom. Tom was able to give me another way of looking at these things. I say Tom isnt just skilled in his knowledge of dog behaviour, but is more importantly skilled in the art of communication.Over the past months things are very different. Walking is a pleasurable experience. I have a dog who is engaged with me. I can see that our relationship has strengthened.While you tell others the cost of the seminars, they are shocked. But this is a very small price to pay if you see the results that Ive seen.Tom is also a very genuine guy. You can tell he loves what he does.If you have a dog with some behavioural issues and ever get a chance to do one of Toms seminars do it and grab a working spot.I will definately be at Toms seminars in the future, if he comes back to Australia again. Maybe her brother next time.

I cannot recommend Kasen highly enough. From the moment my dog and I started working with her, it was clear that she was committed to our success. My dog, Otis, had a few behavioral issues, but thanks to Kasen’s patience, expertise, and correction techniques, we’ve seen incredible improvement.

Just picked up our dog, Rip, from a 3 week B+T and couldn’t be happier with the progress made. Two years ago we sent our first dog to UCA, we were so happy with her training that we knew when we got a second dog they would go to UCA too.Huge thank you to everyone at UCA!! Julia was great when we had our initial phone consultation, she helped us decide what training program would be best for Rip based on our training goals. Kyle was awesome during our drop off session, we left with peace of mind that Rip was in good hands. Kasen kept us updated over the 3 weeks sharing videos and pictures of Rip’s progress, looked forward to the updates each week. Lastly, Zach took his time with us during our go home session, answered every question we had, and we left feeling confident. Forever thankful for the training team, they do a great job personalizing/customizing the training for you and your dog.

Sent my dog, Miso, to their 5-week board and train program. He was trained by Kasen. Truly such a wonderful experience and Kasen did a great job with him. Miso is a new dog! Highly recommend.

Working in person with the UCA team has been invaluable, and truly life changing for our family. After adopting a shelter-pup, we quickly learned how nervous and reactive she was in the real-world towards dogs. We met with Zach at UCA and started working with him as soon as possible. We had studied up from videos, podcasts, etc., but I cant even express the value in having a your own go-to expert to learn from, be coached by, and ask all of your questions specific to YOUR dog.Just as invaluable are the group classes...having a designated, trainer-led space to specifically work on being around other dogs and not feel embarrassed or judged when reactions do occur has been a complete game changer for our progress. When we did have tougher group classes, Zach was often around, and happy to step in to literally walk alongside us whenever able, even when he wasnt the trainer leading the class. We also decided to move forward in our training with e-collar training with Zach, which has completely catapulted our pups confidence and success.We entered with a nervous-reactive dog and disheartened humans who had already tried very hard on our own. We now have a 10x better all around understanding of our dog, relationship with her, and so so so much more freedom. She has made dog friends within our extended family, and has a significant amount of off-leash freedom because of her reliable recall. Our need for distance from other dogs on walks (and fear of even going on walks!) has greatly decreased, along with her reactions. Her trust in our leadership has noticeably increased, while our respect for and understanding of her needs, triggers, and reasonable expectations has as well.It also says a lot that for a pretty shy dog, our pup gets incredibly excited every time we go to school and she sees Zach! So its safe to say that she has thoroughly enjoyed UCA, too.My advice for anyone considering working with Zach or anyone at UCA: 100% do it. But also be committed to doing the work between sessions. There is no overnight fix, and if your journey is at all like ours, there will be ups and downs in the progress. Just trust your trainer, trust the process, and commit to the homework between and beyond sessions.

My experience at Upstate Canine Academy was remarkable. I traveled from Michigan to Upstate New York with my 5 year old Pit Bull, Eddie. Over the course of three days, we did five sessions with Tom Davis. Tom listened to my dog, listened to me and then adapted the most effective way to deal with Eddie’s anxiety and dog reactivity. Tom’s insight and approach is truly amazing!! He and his Staff have a real passion and genuine ability to help dogs, and Eddie responded quickly to their energy.Very happy to say more than 2 weeks after and we’ve maintained and continued to build on the progress made during his sessions. The positive experience and foundation built during those sessions was truly life changing. Tom really made a difference in Eddie’s quality of life and ours. Thank You!!

Wow where do I begin? I honestly still feel like I haven’t woken from my dream. What an amazing weekend. I can’t thank you enough @tomdavis for the guidance, and training with my boy this weekend. Truly unforgettable, and has changed our life together. Just when I thought I couldn’t have a stronger relationship with my dog, we knocked that out of the park. ❤️🙏🏻how understanding, fair, and intelligent you are really changes the game, but the best of all is how humble you really are. Because of this you’re above all. thank you for everything you do for dogs, and people. We love you and the team!

Kasen is amazing and we are so happy with the work she has done with our pup! We really jive with the training philosophy at UCA and appreciate their dedication to create good canine citizens.

Cant recommend the weekend session enough. The progress my pup made was transformative and more importantly - Tom highlighted the opportunities for me to improve my relationship with my pup that had immediate benefits.

Upstate Canine worked with my highly reactive dog in their Board & Train program. They took such amazing care of him, provided a baseline level of obedience, and new communication tools for us both so that we could be successful together--- and he is transformed! We have had almost no incidents since he came home vs. 3-4 times each walk. The team is amazing, and Id highly recommend their program.

Zach has made progress with our Belgian Malinois that we did not think was possible. We are beyond satisfied with Tom Davis Academy and more specifically, Zach.

After a year of putting serious effort into positive only reinforcement training with our 16 month GSD, something needed to change. Leia would listen to us in familiar environments, but as soon as triggers were around, anything wed say was ignored. Our hope of taking her along on life adventures started to seem like a pipeline dream because her excitement (and reactivity) was often uncontrollable.We wanted to learn more about other training tools, like the e- and prong collar, but were told that using such would turn our friendly, excited pup aggressive. Still, we began exploring Toms youtube channel and other balanced training content online. Tom also jumped on a call with me to address my concerns and debunk the ridiculous myths that exist within the dog training world. We were sold on his approach and drove from Michigan to NY to do 10 sessions over the course of almost a week. Tom educated us on the proper use of training tools and taught us how to communicate in a way that our dog now understands. (We previously were using food bribery to communicate). Leia made more progress in a week than she had in a year.At home, we now have the structure and knowledge needed to effectively train with our pup. Our new approach will also give her so much more freedom and happiness (shell be able to go places with us and even be safely off-leash for activities like swimming and hiking).We plan on being life long clients of Upstate Canine Academy. Tom is simply the best in the business and his philosophy makes sense to us. He also cares immensely about all dogs.

Finally found a trainer that gets my reactive dog and is able to provide real solutions to improve his quality of life and access to public spaces. Thank you Kyle and the UCA team - we are so grateful!!

I cant even express in enough words our experience with UCA. Everything about the team of trainers and the facility is outstanding. We brought our dog Jax in for a 4 week board and train for pretty explosive reactivity. Both, my husband and I, were in need of professional help. The moment we walked into the facility and met all the trainers we were beyond comfortable and we knew Jax was in the right hands. We were, and still are, very fortunate to have worked very closely with one of the trainers at UCA, Kasen. Kasen is very professional, passionate, and a dedicated trainer. We received weekly detailed reports, goals, photos, and videos on Jaxs training throughout his time there. Any questions we had while Jax was at the facility was promptly answered. At the end of the board and train, at our go home session, Kasen thoroughly went through all of the work Jax had done, the goals they had met, and answered all of our questions. We then were able to work , hands on, with Jax and Kasen so my husband and I knew what we needed to do and continue to work on. Absolutely priceless!! Jax has really come along way with the training he received at UCA and we, as his owners, have learned so much from Kasen. We have already gone back to UCA to do a follow-up with Kasen and had a great session. We plan to continue to do more follow-ups as needed. Overall, what a fantastic experience with Kasen, and the team at UCA. I cant thank them enough!!

WOW.In summary: Tom Davis taught us more within an hour of meeting our dog than previous trainers had in over two years...I first became aware of Tom through his YouTube channel, we have a reactive German Shepherd and his videos seemed to be the only ones that accurately reflected the kind of behavioural issues we were facing. Fast forward a few months and although we were implementing the techniques Tom advocates in his videos, it still felt like we were not making as much progress as we could be. Following an online training session over Skype, it became clear that Toms knowledge of dogs went way beyond that of some of the positive only dog trainers we have access to in the UK. He immediately got to the root cause of the behavioural issues and gave us helpful methods to really breakdown our training and take things back to basics (something that resulted in an instant improvement). Following the online meeting, we realised that learning from Tom in person would make a big difference, we just didnt realise how big...We spent two days with Tom, he identified the problems, demonstrated the appropriate responses and gave us an in-depth explanation of his approach, thought process and more importantly, a simplification of WHY these methods work. He introduced us to the e-collar and took the time to talk us through how it is used as a conditioning tool, as opposed to a harsh punishment. The confidence he has in the tools he uses, in turn promoted confidence in us as owners, and that had a significant impact on our approach to training, even after he left.What is so special about learning from Tom, is the sense of realisation you gain from just listening to him explain the reasons for doing what he is doing. Your brain is there telling you ... yes of course, why didnt I think of that!? Nothing he says feels unattainable or impossible to replicate and that is why he is a fantastic educator to OWNERS, not just dogs.We cannot thank Tom enough for everything he has done for us and our relationship with our dog. His training has gone from strength to strength and the confidence we have as owners is immeasurable. If you were thinking about booking a training session with Tom or with anyone at the Upstate Canine Academy, stop thinking and BOOK!

Booked a package of private and group lessons with Zach for my 2.5 yr old German Shepherd. Working with Zach has been very helpful especially when it came to my dog’s leash reactivity towards other dogs and cars! But what I really needed his help was with helping Zeus get acclimated to using a ramp to get in and out of our SUV. Zeus had a unpleasant experience with another trainer at an agility class that left him afraid to go on one.. after 45 minutes of positive reinforcement using hot dogs Zeus was going up and down the ramp without hesitation.. I called Zach a miracle worker because here we thought we need patience and go at a rate Zeus is comfortable with. Thank you Zach for helping us achieve our goals we set out to when hiring you.

I do not recommend this training facility. The owner publicly bashing a certain type of dog, or condoning hateful public comments against Doodle owners does not deserve our money. I took lessons here with my goldendoodle. My dog was one of the most obedient dogs in the entire group class. I found out on his public forum that Tom Davis (“no bad dogs”) bashes doodles. I will not be coming back to use the remaining lessons that we have… and I will not be back in the future when I get more doodles. I’ve also advised the local doodle group of 1.2k members of this disgraceful situation.

I went in with a particular goal and Tom gave me the tools that I needed to achieve my goal with my dog. After our 3 day journey I started seeing instant improvements with my German shepherd, we did work!

Kyle, Julia and all the trainers at Upstate Canine are amazing! They are super friendly and great with the dogs! If you have a dog that needs some leash or behavioral training I highly recommend Upstate Canine Academy!!!

We recently started a training package with Kasen at UCA. Weve had two classes so far and we already see a huge difference in our golden retriever puppy! Kasen has been awesome to work with. Shes so knowledgeable and teaches us so much in just the one hour sessions and she gives us very clear instructions on what to work on at home. You can tell she is very passionate about dogs and her job and we love working with her!The facility is big and clean and we really look forward to our weekly sessions. I would highly recommend this training facility, especially Kasen! It is certainly worth the investment. They are definitely making a difference in the world for dogs and their owners! Keep up the amazing work :)

What can I say? Tom is absolutly the best dog trainer I have ever met. He not only was the first person to work with Mokie, he gave me the tools to allow Mokie to live a better life. I can now have people over and can take Mokie on walks and to other places. I want to thank Tom and his team.

I recently had an online training session with Tom for my boxer-mix, Jayde. She has been exhibiting signs of reactivity towards other dogs on the leash. Tom took the time to listen to me, and answer any questions I had. He is extremely knowledgeable and gives great advice. I am looking forward to enrolling Jayde in group classes with Upstate Canine Academy in the future! I also find the Youtube videos to be really helpful! I highly recommend Upstate Canine Academy for any behavior/training needs.

We have been bringing our 3 year old boxer here for a little over a year and have seen incredible improvement in his behavior! He is a reactive dog with lots of energy and we started with the basics including going to group classes. Now, Reggie has been successful with ecollar training. We’re so happy with the positive results of his training! Sometimes we can’t believe it’s the dog we came in with when we first started coming to Upstate Canine Academy.We could not be more thankful to Kyle. He is incredibly knowledgable, helpful and always so patient with us and our pup.Thank you for all of your hard work and for giving our dog (and us!) the tools we need!

Tom is an incredible trainer! I did an hour virtual session with him this week to help with my 100 lb, 2 year old male German Shepherd who has progressively become more reactive to the front door and windows with all the people out and about during Covid19. He was also overstimulated on walks and struggled to connect with me or follow command. Toms advice/ feedback on technique and changing out some my tools (smaller prong collar and reposition the e- collar) have made an immediate difference and my dog is improving his behavior everyday. And, Im becoming a better handler. Thank you Tom, we are grateful for you and your help!

I am so happy I found upstate canine academy! Having a reactive dog is tough, especially in NYC, and I was struggling to find a solution. I knew that I wanted to be 100% all in emotionally and financially to whatever training we found so with that came a lot of research and trust. I couldn’t have landed at a better facility with the most amazing staff. They have single handedly changed our lives. Not only did the board and train build a solid foundation for my dog, but they have invested so much in training….ME! I have learned so much on how to be a better handler, an TON of information on how my dog sees the world all and have been given a tailored approach for building our relationship and being able to thrive. They really know what they’re doing here and I’m happy that we have them for Dasher’s whole life. I hope we can keep up the great work but it’s comforting to know always know I have them in case we need a refresher or support. Thanks Upstate, special thanks to Julia and Kasen!

We took our 1 year old GS to Tom for behavioral modification. Luna was reactive to some people and all dogs. Once she became reactive it was hard to calm her down. At the beginning of the three days it was hard imagining her being able to be near other dogs or near other people.The three day session was transformative for us. Tom was able to explain the root of her behaviors, show us what needed to be improved in our handling and give us the information and the tools to be successful at home. It has been nearly two months since we did the 3 day session and there has been a huge difference in her behavior. We have put in the work with her everyday and it’s rewarding seeing her become a less reactive and more balanced dog. I would recommend Upstate Canine to anyone experiencing challenges with their dogs behavior.

I booked 2 x hour FaceTime sessions directly with Thomas, and it was an exceptional experience! If I lived closer to upstate NY (I live in South Florida), I would have my two dogs board and train with him. But given Im so far away, I used these hour sessions to discuss the issues Im having with each dog. Thomas listens, takes notes, and then provides fantastic guidance on how to address each issue. Ive watched so many of Thomass YouTube videos, and while they are extremely high caliber (he explains everything in detail while demonstrating with a dog), theres nothing like talking to the source directly! Thanks for offering this fantastic service, and for all you do for the doggy community with your free YouTube videos. Cheers, Natalie (Murphy & Billie)

We got a last minute working spot for the seminar at Tom’s facility in NY and it was much more than what I expected the experience to be. From the moment we walked in Tom and upstate canine staff were super nice even though I was a little bit late. During the seminar he was fair to everyone making sure they were happy with the experience and help they were getting and he made sure we and himself were fair to the dogs. When answering questions he was honest with answers. It was a huge confidence boost to me and a huge learning experience for me and my career.

I cannot recommend Tom Davis No Bad Dogs enough. Without the hours and hours of online content and the super supportive member club, we would not have been able to keep our adopted pup. We were SO out of our depth with his reactivity. Working through Toms balanced methods every day, weve now got a pretty awesome dog whos able to handle most things confidently which allows him to experience a great life. Spending a weekend recently with Tom made me realise how far wed come in a year and consolidated a lot of our learning - honestly, GET INVOLVED. These guys are absolute legends.

UCA has been an amazing supplement to our lives and our dogs life! Zach at UCA is very knowledgeable and individualizes his training to fit the needs of each dog and handler. I could not recommend him enough!!

We had an amazing weekend working with Tom. His experience, knowledge, and ability to read dogs is incredible. Our dog Penny really struggled on the first day. She was extremely anxious and vocal. He came up with a plan to release her nervous energy and get in her in a frame of mind where she could think instead of react. He showed us ways to build her confidence while having fun with her. On the second day Penny was getting more comfortable in this environment and her personality really shone through. After putting her through a little obstacle course and running on a treadmill, she was focused and ready to work. She was able to do heeling drills and not react to everything going on around her. We learned so much and know what we need to do to keep Penny on the right path to being the best she can be. Also, the other trainers and dog owners in attendance were so supportive to one another. You have built an amazing community and we are proud to be part of it! Thank you Tom and team for making this such an incredible weekend!We had the best walk ever with her back home today!!!!Tracy & Greg

We had an hour consult with Tom yesterday and it was incredible what we were able to cover in 60 minutes. Tom is effective, efficient and REALISTIC. We also watch his youtube videos almost daily (we have a puppy) and purchased his puppy basics course which is incredibly easy to follow but effective.If you are hesitant to pull the trigger on time with Tom, dont be. It is well worth the time and the $. Looking forward to continuing to work with Tom in a variety of capacities.

We rescued our chocolate lab, Oliver, at 7 months old. It appears he was in a crate pretty much around the clock before he came to us. At first, he had some separation anxiety that quickly turned into utter destruction of our home when we were away, even for a couple of minutes. Eventually, this turned into becoming reactive and aggressive, trying to bite men, children, and other dogs. We had to start muzzling him to have company or to leave the house at only 2 years old.He started taking private lessons with Kyle at Upstate and we noticed a change after the very first visit. I was terrified when Kyle said Oliver was ready for group class after 2 or 3 individual lessons, but I left it up to the professionals and we made it. I was sweating the whole time and the trainer, Kasen, was so supportive and calm. Then, we had another group class, and another. His muzzle was off and he was in a room full of dogs. It was incredible and something I never thought would happen.My husband and I are learning right along with Oliver, putting in the work at home, and looking forward to every little improvement. If you have a dog who is struggling, I highly recommend Upstate Canine Academy. This experience has changed our lives and continues to set us all up for a much more peaceful future.

Kasen has been tremendously helpful with guiding my wife and I throughout Ramsays puppy training. The tailored training sessions showcases her dedication and skill in understanding canine behavior. I highly recommend Kasens dog training services to anyone in search of professional, personalized, and effective training for their furry friends!Bonus: Upstate Canine Academys facility and staff are top-notch!

We love Upstate Canine Academy!! They not only helped our dog beyond what we could ever have imagined, but they also helped us as dog parents. We have a male Westie who has a startle reflex, a biting issue, and would not listen to commands on and off-leash. We sent him to UCA for the 4-week board and train and let me tell you, it was simply amazing! He is listening to commands on the leash and off the leash, his biting is very minimal, and they have helped us understand our dog and to help him be successful. The whole process has been so enjoyable, from the first phone call to dropping him off, they kept you updated throughout the whole training process while he was away, answered all our questions, and continue to help us to this day. We can’t thank Kasen, Julia, Zach, and Hunter enough!!! We feel so much more confident as dog parents going through this process with them. Our little westie has been much calmer, biting less, listening to all our commands, and just enjoying life!! Thank you everyone at UCA we can’t thank you enough!!!!

I can’t say enough good things about the trainers here and the impact they’ve had on us! We’ve worked with Kyle and Kasen specifically and they have made a world of difference in our rescue dogs! Our once very reactive and fearful shepherd can now be approached on a leash and welcomes any visitors inside our home with a toy. Our other shepherd attends puppy training and is great with her commands and has gained lots of confidence. I tell everyone who needs a dog trainer or who has noticed the difference in our dogs to attend training here!

I had the pleasure of working with Tom last weekend with a reactive dog training group. My husband and I drove 4 hours and stayed at a hotel for this opportunity, but it was so worth it! I previously worked with another trainer (and spent SOOO much money) and tried so many different things to help my dog, but I was honestly out of hope. Nothing worked for us! After working with Tom I feel much more confident in being able to manage my dogs reactivity and behavior with other people and dogs. He doesnt just focus on obedience, but obedience AND behavior. Tom tries to understand YOUR dog and find a solution specifically for them. I like that he approaches everything in a very calm, easy to understand way.I can go on and on about how great this experience was, but you need to see if for yourself. Trust me.. skip the knock-offs and just go straight to the master! =)-Tara, Nick + Harry

Upstate Canine Academy is an absolutely amazing place! They are so good with my dog and they have taught him so much. Kyle is our individual trainer and he is absolutely Amazing, kind and patient with us and our dog. All of the trainers are amazing as we have had them all in group sessions and they are all so knowledgeable and understanding. I would give them 100 more stars if I could

Our experience with Upstate Canine has been nothing short of fantastic. Our German Shepherd Rocco was a handful before we started working with UCA. We put our dog in the board and train program and he came back completely changed! His obedience was better than ever and we were given the tools and knowledge to keep his training going at home. The team at UCA really unlocked his potential and we are definitely seeing the benefits. Being able to follow up with additional private and group trainings made our decision to do the board and train program easy. Rocco gets so excited every time we go back. I would absolutely recommend UCA, especially Julia and Kasen to anyone struggling with their dog.

We recently had the pleasure of meeting Tom and Taylor in a 1 on 1 capacity during their Level Up Programme while they were in the UK. We then audited Toms UK seminar for the full weekend. The advice they gave us and everything we have come away with from that weekend is absolutely priceless and we cant put into words how grateful we are to have had that opportunity. They have built an amazing business together and have inspired us to better ours and work on new things. Tom as a trainer is fantastic. He has a gift with both dogs and people, and the patience of a Saint. We were star struck and in awe watching him work all weekend and it was worth every singe penny paid. We cant wait to book tickets for next years seminar so we can do it all again. If we have more trainers like Tom in the world, specifically in the UK, the dog industry would be a much better place. Thank you both for everything!

I first have to say how wonderful Kasen and Kyle have been from the start with the training of our German Shepherd dog, Sansa. We started with Upstate Canine in 2023 when Sansa was only 4 months old.The tips and training they have provided for both Sansa and ourselves was very beneficial.My husband always said the training is just as much for Sansa as it is for us, and he couldn’t be more correct. It’s a partnership. You have to put in the work at home.Our girl Sansa is a spicy one. Lovable, but sometimes hard to manage when she gets fixated on something that triggers hers. Doorbells, vacuums, rakes, strangers, our cats and even sometimes our children can be the cause of her anxiety.Kyle recommended board and train with the E-collar. I was reluctant to have her away from home for 3 weeks, but it is one of the best decisions we made for her and for our family.She did really well during her training sessions and has continued to respond well to the E-Collar at home. This in turn has made her more manageable around family members that visit, better at responding to the commands we give and she is now more at ease in the situations that previously caused stress for her.Kasen, was hands on from drop off through pick up. Consoling me when I cried to leave Sansa and sending me weekly updates to show the progress Sansa had made.I knew that with Upstate Canine, and Kasen and Kyle and the rest of the team, Sansa was in great hands.After three weeks (and yes they were long for me), Sansa had become an even better family member to our household. Did I mention I can vacuum now and she just walks along side me? She’s still ready to pounce on that vacuum if I gave her the ok, but she refrains.I highly recommend Kyle, Kasen and the whole Upstate Canine crew for private, group and E-collar training. They have proven to be the best and we’re grateful to have them in our corner.Thank you,Adam and Amanda Brown

The trainer Casen was and is amazing ! I have a high energy Doberman, who was able to walk on a leash after one session ! She’s made my dobie happy and confident. I will forever be a loyal customer to upstate canine academy !

We have had the most incredible experience working with the entire Upstate Canine Academy team, especially Kasen! They are so knowledgeable, thoughtful, and dedicated to working with each family that comes to them. Our golden boy did a board and train program with them and it was the BEST investment we could have ever made for our family!! We worked primarily with Kasen; she has the best attitude, is genuinely so kind, and has helped us through some tough training hurdles! They are always responsive to our questions, and their follow-up training is a game changer for keeping up on all the progress our boy made during his 4-week program!

If I could give my experience at UCA six stars I would!! What I was able to witness, not only with my dog but the others that Tom was working with in our group were absolutely incredible. If you are thinking about working with Tom, DO IT!! He IS as good as you see in all of his videos and on social media. He understands dogs more than most ever will and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with him and learn as much as I did. I brought in a dog from our rescue who is really struggling and reactive to new people. In no time Tom was able to build his trust and handle our sweet boy on his own, as well as give us great tips on how to better help him & hopefully find him a forever home! It gave us so much hope!!! We are so thankful. 10/10 reccomended!!!! 🙌🏼

Zima my Alaskan Klee Kai completed a 3 week and 1 day Board and Train with Kyle and the Team at Upstate Canine Academy. This experience changed our life in New York City. I have a better relationship and clear communication with Zima. Eight weeks to the day after pick up from board and train, I was confident enough to have Zimas off-leash and have never looked back. Training never ends, we train daily and keep learning and moving forward. We are currently working on having her search by scent. Kyle she is rocking it! We cant thank you and the team enough! Everyday is a new adventure for us and it all started with the great work at the Upstate Training Academy! Zimas off-leash is solid.

Tom came to the UK and I was lucky enough to secure a working spot at his seminar. This was an extremely rare opportunity to work with a trainer with the knowledge base and experience that Tom has.Tom took the time to breakdown the issues I am having with Laura (Working line GSD) and give me realistic advice and working solutions to her reactivity, all whilst explaining to an audience of varying levels of experience so that everyone benefited from his knowledge.Throughout the 2 days Tom continued to work with Laura and I, correcting my handling skills. Helping me understand why I was having communication issues with Laura and how my actions were effecting Lauras behaviour. This has greatly benefited our relationship and our engagement.Tom took the time to fully evaluate the tools I was using, (Leashes and collars) and made suggestions of other equipment to try to achieve better resultsOn a personal level Tom treats everyone with respect and his communication style is warm and welcoming, making everyone feel valued. You can see he is truly passionate about helping both dog and handler to reach their full potential and following the Seminar reached out to me to ask if I had any further questions.As a result of Toms training and guidance my relationship with Laura has come on leaps and bounds and Laura is becoming a completely different dog in the house. I have continued with the strategies that Tom has taught me and our reactivity issues are getting better.I cant thank Tom and his family enough for making the trip across the pond to the UK to help dog owners in England. I can only hope he and his family return in the future so I can further benefit from his training and guidance. I cant thank you enough.

I brought home a rescue with no skills. The poor guy didn’t even know his name. Kasen has helped us learn all the basic skills. His house manners and leash manners are so much better.I would highly recommend using UCA to help with everything from basic obedience to behavior issues. It really speeds up the process. Outstanding.

UCA is the BEST dog training available and worth every penny! We had 2 of our puppies/young dogs go through their extensive board & train program and it is worth the investment. They were trained by Julia, Zach, and Kasen (and perhaps another trainer-- the trainers all work as a team) and our dogs were in good hands. Not only are they expert in their knowledge and skills, but they are extremely patient (especially with stressed owners!) and really take the time to listen, answer questions, educate you, and provide EXTENSIVE feedback (including emails & video progress reports) and comprehensive sessions to show you how to work with your dog. We had previously considered ourselves very knowledgable and experienced owners, after years of having dogs, but we soon realized there was a lot we actually didnt know about littermates & pack dynamics, and the UCA team was very understanding in helping us learn how to make better choices with our dogs. It was humbling to come to them feeling like we needed a lot of help with our rambunctious puppies and they were not judgmental at all, but helped us feel understood and patiently educated us throughout the training process.We still go back on & off to weekend group classes to continue the ongoing training process and they still make themselves available to us to answer questions and do follow-up when needed, as graduates of their board & train program. Another note: we had previously done a board & train with another trainer (who was good), but we still were struggling with the dogs and decided we needed a more intensive program-- UCA was able to help us! If you are wondering if it is worth it... IT IS!

Tom is incredible. Super patient listener and never makes you feel like a bad owner. Clear, calm actionable advice. Also a realist which is critical. I left the call feeling much more confident and way less overwhelmed. My only regret is that I didnt live closer to his training center in NY.

We were following Tom’s YouTube videos for a while before deciding to sign up for board & train at Upstate Canine Academy. We went through a few other trainers before and were pretty diligent with working on training, but nothing really worked to improve Cally’s reactivity to other dogs, people and other animals including our two cats, loose leash walking, impulse control and most importantly recall. After a 4 week program, we noticed such a big difference in Cally’s obedience level. They kept us updated weekly through email and sent some photos. They even take the dogs out to stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s for more realistic environments with distractions. Our trainer Zach was very thorough in explaining and demonstrating the proper use of the electronic collar and prong collar to us. He spent almost two hours when we picked Cally up to go over everything- her strengths, her weaknesses. You can tell he really knows his stuff and genuinely enjoys what he does. The biggest change was the way we handled Cally. We couldn’t be happier about the progress we have made and we are motivated to continue with training each day! The best thing about the board and train program is that we have access to free follow ups (questions through email, call, in-person group and private sessions). We already went back once for a private hour long follow up with Zach a couple months later which was super helpful. Just a big bummer we don’t live too close by!We HIGHLY recommend anyone who needs help with their dogs to sign up for UCA’s B+T program. It’s great bang for your buck! At least watch their videos on YouTube or through Tom’s No Bad Dogs members club!

The long story short, our puppy had anxiety and reactive aggression issue and we were unable to fix the problems with other trainers.We wanted to fix our problems immediately and we found Tom on YouTube. We thought he could really help us. We had multiple trainers but Tom was the only trainer that took our puppy’s leash right away and showed us what we needed to do. We spent a lot of time and money with other trainers but it was no help at all. Just made the problems worse. We were there for just one weekend but Tom changed our situation completely. We are so thankful for Tom and we 100% recommend Upstate Canine Academy.Also, we are so glad we are using the E-collar and prong collar. Its amazing tools. If you are worried about using these tools, I was the same but I can tell you its changed our life and the puppys life! Now people say my puppy is a completely different dog and we are so happy because our puppy seems like a very happy dog!!

We had a great experience with Tom Davis in Toronto, we brought our 5 month old puppy and had problems with leash pulling and barking at strangers. Tom was able to give us tools to teach us first which has now made us more confident in continuing teaching our dog. We loved that Tom reminded us that teaching should be fun and we hope he comes back to Canada again!

I can not say enough GREAT THINGS about the program and my Trainer Kyle! This is a LIFE CHANGING training facility !!!( and we have been to a few…. leaving defeated and told to re-home my ROMEO, he is to reactive).That all stopped with Kyle @ Upstate Canine. He has given me confidence with handling my super reactive GSD!! I realized that my dog did know most of his commands when Kyle the Trainer was handling him,,,,,and it was in fact ME THAT needed the Training!!!With the proper tools and practice Kyle showed me how to properly handle a Dog of such intensity.We can now go for car rides and walks and visit our friends and family!! I cannot Thank Kyle enough with his patience, guidance & encouragement, he believes in NO BAD DOGS!💯❤️🐾🐾 AND SO DO I!

We have had a great experience with our puppy and his training and he continues to make a lot of great progress!

I participated in the 3 day out of state program and it was an amazing experience. Tom is so talented and patient with all the dogs and clients. The staff was so friendly and helpful as well. I brought my 3 year old boxer named Sunny to work on her reactivity to other dogs. By the end of the program, Sunny was able to be on leash around 10 other dogs and was just hanging out and not reacting. It was so incredible to see her progress and her potential moving forward since she used to react at everything and anything. Now I know that I have the right tools to be confident on my walks that I can handle any situation. I hope to bring my second dog to this program in the future!

My previous review has suspiciously been removed. I took my anxious Brittany to have Tom train her, because when I rescued her, she had a lot of issues, but she wasn’t the least bit aggressive. I trusted him, because he came highly recommended. I sat in the training room while he was working with her 4 times and each time, she tried to get away from him and wouldn’t listen to him. I sat quietly, expecting he knew what he was doing, though it hurt to see her so scared. The last time I was there, he became frustrated and started yanking on her leash more harshly than what is normally done by dog trainers I’ve seen, to the point that she yelped a few times. He handed me the leash and told me to do what he told me to do during the training. I tried, but she was shaking and much more anxious than I’ve ever seen her, so I left early and never went back. I paid A LOT of money for his services and when I called about a refund, he gave some cockamamie response. I would not suggest anyone with an anxious dog to bring their dog there, because for one, Tom doesn’t care about the dogs as much as he cares about the money and for two, he has a problem with frustration and anger. I am grateful that my Sophie is so much better in the five years since then.

When I first got my dog I had no idea where to even start , especially with a dog who was reactive and had resource guarding issues. When I came to upstate they were so welcoming and reassuring that they would help me through it all. My dog has never been happier and more behaved. Now he can go to places with us without us being worried about what is gonna happen. I have gotten the chance to work with mostly all the staff including Tom himself when he comes to group classes and they are absolutely outstanding. Wouldn’t trust my dog with anyone else but them. I highly recommend anyone of them especially kyle who is wranglers favorite! 🐶❤️

I was warned by friends that have been to Upstate Canine Academy, they said it was a lot of money for very little education. The Monks of New Skete have written brilliant books on dog training and they were far more helpful. I think Upstate Canine Academy is waiting for people who are desperate ( as I was) and their model of being overbooked and busy is meant to make you feel like you better join quickly. In the end their “free” classes were not only difficult to get into but also wildly uninspiring. It took months and $800 to get what amounted to the barest understanding of something not that complicated. When I focused and read the E collar book by the Monks of New Skete it all became clear. I wish I listened to my dog walking friends who tried to warn me about Upstate Canine Academy.

Tom Davis has been outstanding in demonstrating not only his deep knowledge to best deal with Archie but in how to best tailor the classes to what our dog needed. He gave us the confidence and the necessary tools to succeed. Thanks, Tom and UCA!

My wife and I had a phone consultation with Tom. We were experiencing resource guarding to the point my wife had been bit by our 10 month old Presa Canario. Tom listened to our concerns and was very helpful. He provided a new perspective and a plan moving forward. I would 10 out of 10 recommend anyone experiencing behavioral issues with their dog to reach out to Upstate Canine Academy.

Tom and crew have been super helpful and worked wonders with my two huskies. Not sure what I would do without them and all the training they have taught us all.I use the tools that they gave me every day and will for the rest of my life.Highly recommend for anyone that needs help with their pups.

We participated in the 3 day out of state program. I cannot say enough about Tom, Taylor, and the entire team. On day one, 4 of us stood in the far corners of a massive room with our reactive dogs, all of us anxious and just waiting for our dog to lose their mind. On day 3 we all sat on the mat together having an open discussion, with our relaxed pooches laying next to us. Toms training has taught our anxiety ridden, reactive rescue self control, strengthened my relationship with her, and has given me confidence as her handler. We went from over a dozen out of control reactive episodes a day, to less than half a dozen brief moments in a week. From the first email to Upstate Canine Academy, to the last moments at the facility, everything was perfectly planned and executed. I highly recommend Tom Davis and Upstate Canine Academy.

I had a virtual training session with Tom just a few weeks ago & it was incredibly informative. My rescue dog already had basic obedience down, but I needed some guidance on how to use it to help him gain confidence around strangers. Tom listened to all of my concerns & made helpful suggestions. Just two weeks after implementing some more structure into my dogs life its obvious that hes a happier & more confident pup.

Upstate Canine Academy is wonderful! Jameson has made such progress in both individual and group training classes with Kyle and the other knowledgeable trainers. Would highly recommend and will be back for any/all future pups!

Tom has a special gift for understanding dogs that is almost magical to watch. After watching his YouTube videos, I knew he was the right person to help us with our German Shepherd. Logistics of getting to his training facility was the only reason I didnt make an appointment earlier. Our dog is terrified of going to the vet, and even heavily sedated, impossible to manage. I booked a one hour virtual training session with Tom. My son and I found Toms insights and suggestions to be spot on. Weve already see a huge change in our dogs behavior, confidence and connection to us. I highly recommend working with Tom!

I recently had the opportunity to have Tom work with me and our boy Remy, a minnie golden, during a weekend seminar. Toms youtube videos and podcasts are great but having this direct experience was amazing. He broke things down step by step and worked to make me be a better handler along with building a better relationship with Remy. We both made great progress over the 2 days. You can see that Tom loves what he does. Hes the best and his staff is terrific too.

Everyone here completely helped improve my dogs life! They were so kind and patient with my dog during and outside of his board and train. This training has made the biggest difference!!

I cannot recommend Zach Burt enough! His insight into how canines think is insightful, intuitive, and informative. His back ground in animal behavior sets him apart from other trainers. I leave sessions with Zach with not only fresh insight and knowledge, but also with confidence that I can go home and continue to work on the skills that was just learned. I believe that the more well-behaved your dog is, the more you can do with them and more enriched both lives will be. This cannot be done without proper training. Zach listens, is patient, and addresses all questions and concerns in a professional manner.

We couldn’t be happier with the results and knowledge learned from our out of state package in December. We completed 5 sessions with Tom over 3 days and he provided so much valuable information to us about our dog, Cooper. Our relationship with Cooper has improved and Cooper is much more calm since the training. Most importantly, we feel prepared to continue Cooper’s training at home! We highly recommend Upstate Canine Academy, especially the out of state training package!

I havent had the honor of working with Tom before, but I run my own dog training business in BC, Canada and I have learned SO MUCH from Tom and his business! Thank Tom for everything you have given me, and thank you for helping so many people and their dogs! Youre an amazing human. If you have the opportunity to work with Tom, I would say Do NOT miss your chance! Thanks Tom, hope to meet you one day, chat and maybe even work together a bit!

Zach helped me learn tremendously about my dogs behavior and helped me find my passion for dog training.

My experience at Upstate Canine Academy changed my life. I was told my several trainers, prior to meeting Tom, that my dogs were too unruly for me to walk them together. I was having a lot of issues with my dog Scout in particular - she was very reactive on leash and tried to bite every single person I encountered, especially children. It was causing a huge problem in my life, she was extremely anxious and unhappy all the time, and I had to consider rehousing one of my dogs because it was just so unmanageable. I had been working with another trainer for 6 months, using positive reinforcement with food as the main method. It was not working. Within three days Tom taught me how to walk my dogs together on leash. It has been less than a week since I finished the training program with Tom, and now I am able to walk both of my dogs at the same time in Manhattan, past children, other dogs and dozens of people without a problem. It literally feels like magic. I couldnt be more grateful and sincerely hope that everyone who is looking for a training program works with Tom. It is insane that I was told by other experienced trainers I would never be able to walk my dogs together, or at least not for years, and thanks to Tom I am already doing so, just days out of the training program. It sounds dramatic lol but I literally cried tears of joy after the program was done because my dogs are so much happier and healthier and I finally feel like I am giving them the lives that they deserve. Upstate Canine Academy is worth every cent.

First, let me just say I am forever grateful to Tom & his Team for helping me reach the level of understanding and communication with my dog. I had reached out to Upstate Canine for behavior modification with my working breed male Doberman (who had fear base leash reactivity) but gained so much more.After A weekend with Tom (a three day training session offered at the facility) I personally got to work with Tom, who I had spent several months prior on my phone, learning so much just through his YouTube channel videos. In admiration for his innate ability to reach and rehab dogs with behavioral issues I called an booked an appointment.It not only left me with a stronger bond between me and my Doberman, tools in my toolbox but an appreciation of what potential I as a handler could become and what the outcome of his behavior would look like.It was worth every penny!More importantly, it was and EXPERIENCE that inspired me.Inspired me and challenged me to be a better owner, handler and because of that I see results that carried over into real life.My Doberman is no longer leash reactive and have gone on to advance obedience because of things I learned at the training.I strongly recommend Tom or any of his team at Upstate Canine because of their professionalism, educational experience and their distinct love & understanding of dogs.Thank you Tom for taking the time to hear and see me and Rhaegar for where we were at and getting us to where we are. I truly hope to have the chance to work with you again!Ash

My German Shepherd pup was the most defiant and challenging dogs Ive ever had and Ive had Shepherds before. But this guy.. smh.. This guy was different. I was at my wits end and was so frustrated. I actually started not to like him. I did try other training with him and it wasnt working. Wether it was the trainers or Salvatore, it just wasnt doing what he or I needed.My gf at the time had been following Tom Davis for a while on social media. I watched some of the videos with her and loved how he worked with the dogs. Im usually not a fan of boot camp type training, but realized this is exactly what Salvatore needed. He wasnt aggressive or a big chewer, just not listening and doing what he wanted to do.I sent an email which led to a phone consult with Kasen, one of the trainers at UCA. After speaking to Kasen I decided to enroll him in the 3 week class they offer. Kasen suggested this was the one that would be best because it seemed to be just challenging puppy stuff and nothing more serious where he would need more time there.When we got there to drop him off, we met with Kasen. She went over what his days would be like and how she would be working with him. She could see I was hesitant with the remote collar, so showed me how it worked and how it would be used on him. I was thrilled to know it wasnt a shock collar. She made me feel VERY comfortable with his program as a whole. Its the parents that have a harder time with the training than the dogs. lolI was sent weekly updates with pics and videos of his progress. I was worried I wouldnt be able to see how he would do with his first snow fall, so they were sweet enough to send me a video of how he responded to it. Very cute! I was one of those extra type dog moms who emailed every few days just to make sure he was ok. By the middle of week two I was comfortable enough not to check in and let Kasen be the one to email me to tell me how he was. Im sure she appreciated it too. LOL! Because again, its us parents who struggle with their time away not them. Especially puppies.Picking him up and seeing what he learned amazed me. He was a completely different dog. In every good way possible. He looked amazing too! He was excited to see me, and I could tell he had a great time there. I was shown how to work with him with everything he learned.Kasen explained that with the boot camp program Sal was able to go back anytime during his lifetime to brush up on things bc he hadnt hit his teenage years yet and may act a little different during that time.When I got him home he was a joy to be around. Kasen gave simple instructions on how to keep properly training him so he doesnt get confused. He did amazing. I was so proud of him! ( and a little proud of myself) He and I were finally working as a team instead of one of us being frustrated that the other isnt understanding what they want. Sometimes I didnt know what Sal was trying to tell me with his cues. Kasen made all of this possible. She made it possible for me to start cultivating a deeper and stronger relationship with my baby.Sure enough 8 months later when Sal started his teenage phase, and he was acting like he didnt want to do his commands and was a little different with people as well as dogs. Also he was pulling a lot on his walks. I emailed Kasen and told her what was going on. She assured me that its just because of his age and she booked a weekend with in two weeks for he and I to come and brush up on some things he will need for this phase of his life. He did amazing. I love that these training weekends are a part of the program. Im sure I will utilize it on other occasions where is age affects his personality and mannerisms.Ive spoken to other people who have done different programs at other facilities and they not only did NOT have the same success as I did with Salvatore, but they also didnt get any other help during the life of their dog. I cant recommend this place enough! Thank you UCA and thank you Kasen!! We now have a great bond!Leigh Ann & Salvatore

We were experiencing resource guarding with our dog Holly and contacted upstate canine academy and worked with Kyle. With Kyles experience and knowledge Holly is 100 percent improved thank you Kyle you have given us a very loving dog and we cannot thank you enough

Let me begin with the receptionist who always greets you with a smile and is very welcoming. It is always nice to enter the building! I began taking my Cane Corso puppy for one on one training and after just a few sessions I knew that he would be more successful in the board and train program. When I brought Storm for his training initially, he would lunge for others, jump, pull the leash and bark excessively. He at times was timid and others thought he was tough. I wanted Storm to be able to be nuetral in his environment, feel successful and behave accordingly. The goal is to take him everywhere, run and hike. Well Julia and Kasen worked magic. I am even more in love with my Cane now that they worked with him. The facility was comforting to him, it was clean and it was apparent that when I returned for refresher training he loved them both! Storm is now able to go everywhere and he is successful. Both trainers taught me how to work with him and help him to be successful. They were able to answer all of my questions and made me feel as though this was Storms second home. I love that I can book as many classes and one on one sessions for the duration of his life to keep him on his A Game. I am so excited about Storms progress. It is important to invest in your pup for his life time! UPSTATE- Julia and Kasen are amazing at what they do! I cant wait to go back for more.

Tom Davis and his team CHANGE the life of my dogs...and my life with dogs. I have been the dog mom of a reactive shepard mix for the past 9 years. Before finding the No Bad Dog Army and the rest of Toms team I had no idea how to control her, how to help her, and how to keep her safe (not to mention how to keep others who did not know her tendencies safe). I went searching for answers found No Bad Dogs and Upstate Canine Academy on accident thank goodness. I started working with Charlee and shortly after we got a bernadoodle puppy to add to our pack. I started right away with training, leadership, boundaries, and regular mental and physical activity for our pup and it has been LIFE CHANGING. Zola (the puppy) is almost one now and is such a good dog. We are still working daily to increase her distractions, duration, and distance for all of her behaviors but it has been so much fun!Tom and his team have given me the confidence to train my older dog and the young pup on the e-collar (we have the Tom Davis 280c) as well. One review is not enough to promote, recommend, and support Tom and the amazing content he produces, but I hope this review encourages dog owners everywhere to utitlize Tom Davis and his amazing team to make the world a better place for our pups!Thank you No Bad Dog Army and the Tom Davis team!

This is in response to Aaron’s review below. The staff and owner of Upstate canine academy should be ashamed of how they do business. I came to them with concerns regarding my reactive dog. Was very precise with questions, I was there for reactivity. I even clarified in consult that puppy basic classes were not needed for the package I chose. What a waste. We spent 4/6 private classes on sit/stay/come/place. Place I had to stop the trainer on because I will never use that. My trainer was pushing a $4000 board and train and when I expressed that I wasn’t comfortable, his response was to tell me that I was not putting my dogs best interest first. I left that 5th class nearly in tears. I also attended 4/6 of my group classes, but was only checked in for two. I have emails confirming classes I was attending. I was very uncomfortable going back to this training facility because every time I left, I left feeling like a bad dog owner. I waited a few months and sent a very non-confrontational email asking for some sort of resolution as I feel like I wasted my time and theirs. The reply I got was so condescending and insulting I was blamed for not working with my dog and “doing the homework” I was blamed for the gaps in classes, even though on the email signatures from my trainer, it says that classes book 4 to 6 weeks out.Please keep in mind that I do take my dogs hiking with me often and I was taking Esther to a local park 3 to 4 times a week to work on her problems. I was never interested in a refund, I was interested in helping my dog, but in most communications, I was informed that there are no refunds. I ended up hiring an attorney out of principle. If anyone has ever needed an attorney we know it costs well over $200, which is what UCA sent me back. In all of this, never once did the owner reach out. I am baffled that a company with such a following has such a lack of decency. In your reply to my partner below you said you used it as a training tool to help your staff with customer service training. Lack of customer service training is evident. The two staff members I dealt with could really use not just customer service training, but maybe could rewind to third grade and learn some new words and manners. Here’s some homework your staff can work on…read the definition on a few words. ACCOUNTABILITY.APOLOGY.With that being said, I hope your future clients read this and ask questions.Will you work on what I PAY you for?Why do I have to pay up front for services with ZERO guarantee?Will your staff be honest if they can’t help, or will they blame you when there isn’t any result?

We brought our pit mix Winston (aka Burger) to Upstate Canine Academy for a 3 week board and train and it’s the best decision we have ever made! They worked on basic obedience, socialization, and ecollar training. Winston is a 63 pound pit mix with a strong prey drive which made it difficult to walk him by myself. The ecollar literally changed our lives. It makes me so much more confident when I take Winston on hikes or introduce him to a new fido friend. After board and train Winston would “heel” on command which was a game changer for me. I think the best part is that it’s been over a year since we took Winston to Upstate Canine and we still email Kasen whenever we have a question. She always responds in a timely manner and gives us great advice.

My husband and I just finished up a a weekend of private training with Tom and it was awesome! Don’t believe the fake reviews that people leave. Our dog has slight reactivity and we really just wanted to learn from the best. He helped us out and exposed our dog to everyday issues that she might come across. He showed us proper use of an ecollar which won’t hurt your dog. We learned so much in a few hours with Tom than a few weeks with another trainer. Also, every email was answered within the hour, everyone was professional and they do really care about their dogs. Anyone who is thinking about training with this company in general should you won’t regret it.

I have sent multiple friends to UCA for training after using them for my dogs reactivity issues. They are the ONLY training company I would refer. Tom and his team have a unique approach that not only will help your dog but also you as an owner. He has a special way with dogs, a true dog and animal lover. Great place to learn especially for those who have reactive dogs, Tom has the ability to teach you the necessary skills so that you and your pup can communicate in a healthy way.

Tom was great to speak with in our online training session. He helped to give me realistic expectations for our reactive dog, as well as see where we had made progress. I cannot wait to continue working with my dog, and keeping up with Toms other content such as his Youtube and podcast which I have found to also be very helpful.

I cant say enough great things about Tom Davis and the team at Upstate Canine Academy. We brought out 1.5 year old German shepherd to their out of state program and learned so much! Our dog is no longer leash aggressive, hes attentive and much more in tune with what we expect from him. No bad dogs is a real truth. Any dog just needs direction from its owner and Tom gives you the tools and know how to make your dog into an amazing companion! Thank you!

The team at the academy was superb. They are all such caring and knowledgeable people and our dog was in the best of hands. We never worried once while she was in training for 3 weeks as we knew the care was excellent. We were impressed how much our dog learned in just that short time. We cannot recommend this place highly enough.

Signed my grand dogs up for training. Best investment I’ve ever made!!! There were some behavior concerns with them. Both of them were rescues so you never really know what went on before we got them. Plus they weren’t puppies anymore. They were 3 so I worried they were too old to train. Morgan was their trainer and she was amazing. It wasn’t just a matter of the dogs being trained but us as well. She was patient with both the dogs and us and it made for a great experience. The dogs responded so well!! The change in them was amazing from day 1. The one thing I loved was that one of the dogs had a not so great session but she made sure he ended on a good note so the dog didn’t leave in a bad way. That showed me she cared about him. I would recommend them a 100 times over!! I found out a few months later that one of my clients brought their puppy their for a Board and Train and they were thrilled with the outcome. It truly is a wonderful place.

I cannot say thank you enough to Tom Davis and UCA. Tom’s methods are incredibly effective in reshaping a dog’s behavior, thus giving the dog and its owners a better relationship. He is truly gifted! We have a 2.5 year old German Shepherd who had developed some leash reactivity. I found Upstate Canine Academy on YouTube by pure chance one day, and found myself binge watching the videos. Tom Davis not only works with the dog and owners in each video, he educates every step of the way, going into detail on why the dog is behaving the way it is and why he is using the methods he is using. His videos really enlightened me as to how reactivity develops, and to the fact that I was largely responsible for it. I scheduled an online training consultation with him to help us get some clarity on a specific incident, as well as to get his input on how we have been handling her training, and advice on moving forward. After three weeks of implementing what I learned from Tom via online training and watching his videos, we are now able to avoid ~95% of the reactivity entirely; and I believe as we continue with training, it will improve even more. I have a new confidence in handling her, and I’ve seen such an increase in her confidence in me and in herself. Literally with each week that we have worked on this, she has become more and more relaxed.Please keep doing what you are doing, Tom!!!

Tom and his team are simply the best! We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Kyle, and the results have been completely game changing. I originally brought my golden retriever puppy, Izzy, in for basic obedience and severe leash pulling (walks with her were a complete nightmare). The improvement was almost immediate after the first session. Kyle always took the time to explain what he was observing and helped me work through it in real time. After the obedience sessions were complete, we transitioned into off leash with the e collar, and I’ve been thrilled with that as well! I’ve had multiple strangers comment how well-behaved and obedient Izzy is, especially for being so young. I truly owe it all to the UCA team. Thank you for everything!

My dog root was dog reactive and honestly pretty hard to handle. It made me want to withdraw her and not do some activities with people and other dogs which i new wouldnt solve anything. She new some obedience and was a good dog at the time but would just freak out on other dogs. I heard about upstate canine academy just from searching online and i only lived an hour away. I signed up for the basic obedience and after a few sessions she immediately started to improve. I worked with kyle and he was amazing, very patient and it felt like he could almost read the dogs mind. Honestly, i felt like i was being trained how to train the dog at certain points which was exactly what i wanted, just watching how he interacted with her taught me exactly what i was doing wrong and what to change. This made it super helpful for training at home. Also i could always email and ask questions.After we did obedience we started the E collar and the improvements skyrocketed from there. It was amazing, they have it down to a science, it was so helpful to have kyles dog and other trainers dogs at the location too cause they are insanely well trained and good to work with when she needed to practice meeting a new dog. After i took the E collar home i just kept up with the basics and now i really dont have to use it much, just when i do little training sessions a few minutes a day. she just listens now. Shes so much more comfortable and i can tell shes just way less stressed out. I would say the dog reactivity is 99% gone besides maybe a little disagreement around a ball while playing or something but nothing beyond normal excited dog behavior. She couldnt even be near other dogs before let alone off leash.My life has gotten much much easier because of kyle and this place. Root is much happier and im very thankful for everything they have done. They really understand that every dog is different and they adjust the training program as necessary moving forward, unlike a lot of other trainers who just use the same techniques with every dog. Im so thankful for this place and the process they use. Its incredible. NO BAD DOGS!!!

Tom and his staff are incredibly knowledgeable. They know how to pinpoint the issues and teach you how to have a relationship with your dog, building a healthy balance. Most of the time, hes training me! I have multiple dogs that each have dominance and dog aggression issues. Since working with Tom and his staff, the harmony and balance in my home has been restored and I am able to take my dogs out in public knowing that I have to tools to keep it a positive experience and have control over my dogs behavior.

I brought Asher my 1 year 6 month old German Shepard here for a board & train 2 week session. when researching other programs and trainers I found that lots had great reviews and lots has very esteemed trainers. Upstate Canine stuck out to me because they seemed the most positive and social. the fact that they have a daycare that the board and train dogs can be in when not training was a big plus. Also Tom clearly knows what he is doing, that is apparent by watching any of his numerous videos on youtube. He is able to communicate with dogs very easy and show you how to also! Asher was mainly trained by Christa, who knows a lot about dog training as well as behavior modification. She did an outstanding job. Asher had some behavior issues as well as struggled with general obedience. After 2 weeks he came back and was much more calm around other dogs, he doesnt even pull on the leash (incessantly) to go sniff them anymore. His obedience is far greater than what it use to be, and we still continue to see improvements when training him ourselves. Tom and all of Upstate Canine have my full backing in their programs, I would recommend any dog who is struggling on any level to this place. They do some amazing things, and what they say is true, there are no bad dogs.

This is a wonderful facility it is very clean and well maintained. I have used the board and train as well as attended many group classes. The trainers, Kyle, Kasan, and Zach, are extremely knowledgeable and really spend the time answering your questions before starting, they also are able to communicate a reasonable level your dog will be able to achieve with them, and they continue to answer questions after your program ends. They were able to provide me and my two dogs an amazing foundation to build on. Working with them has allowed my the freedom to bring my dogs with me wherever I go. I frequently travel to different cities for business and I have been ableTo have my dogs accompany me easily.

Uniquely awesome business. Really. From training my dog as a partner with me, building both confidence in my dog and myself, from answering my zillion questions with answers that make sense to you. These trainers are just very awesome at what they do. Then there’s the daycare side absolutely awesome staff and they take care of your pup and get to really know them. I’ve worked with both Zack and Tom and are so grateful to them. I am so grateful for their understanding, time, patience with me the human, correcting my mistakes in order to train and teach my dog correctly. I’m so lucky I found Tom and his folks, and I can tell you that no matter what or how far away I may live from the facility, my dog training and daycare will always be here! Check them out, they will not disappoint.

The only doggy daycare I trust in the capital district! Absolutely amazing owners and staff. Tom, Taylor, Alyssa and all the rest are fantastic and I feel 110% confident every time I drop my dog at daycare! I have sent River for 2+ years and will send him the rest of his life. River is always well taken care of and exhausted when he leaves which is so relieving! I would recommend this daycare to anyone looking. Upstate Canine Academy is the place to be for dogs near and far!

I brought my recently rescued 1yr. 9 month old Border Collie to Upstate Canine Academy for a two week Board and Train. She had no manners, couldnt walk on leash and wasnt able to join us on our boat. After two weeks she is walking in a perfect heel, letting cars pass with no barking and comes out on the boat for her swim lessons. I can not say enough good things about Tom, Christa and Taylor. They are professional, warm and trustworthy. It is never easy leaving your pet for two weeks, but I received phone calls, emails and video of Poppys progress. Her training has already made her life so much more fun, she is able to take long walks and play with other dogs. This has been the best investment I have made in a long time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

The Upstate team changed our lives. They not only were able to reset the foundation for my pup, Ellie, but were able to clearly and effectively communicate how to take what she learnt, apply it to me, and take it home with us.Kasen, one of the trainer at Upstate, did a phenomenal job with Ellie and the help didnt stop in person. Kasen has been exceptionally responsive and provides in depth help when questions arise via email.10/10 would recommend.

We recently did an online session with Tom for our dog, Finn. Finn was exhibiting mild signs of resource guarding and we were beginning our training with e-collars. Tom was awesome and extremely knowledgeable. Turns out, we mostly needed someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of, rather than physical training. Tom gave us many tips and even sent us links to training resources that could improve our training. All in all, I highly recommend Upstate Canine Academy for any training/behavioral needs. (Also, check out his YouTube videos & podcasts for more information!)

I totally recommend Upstate Canine/Americas Canine Educator! Our time with Tom was so great - tons of information, skill and strategies! We were there for an out of state training session so 3 days and 5 lessons. All said, for us and our needs, it was primarily 85% my skill development such as leash handling, body language, recognizing/timing of corrections. I held off writing this review only because I wasnt certain it would have been appropriate to write 2 reviews! We were thrilled when we left on that Sunday but EVEN more excited at where we are today! Charlie was so reactive to dogs and strangers that I took to walking him in the local cemetery to avoid all of the above. I was resigned that this would be our life if he couldnt overcome the reactivity. I am so happy to report that with practice, awareness and skill development and timing with my leash corrections and verbal cues, Charlie and I now peacefully walk each and everyday in our neighborhood park!!! I am and thrilled and Charlie is so much happier!!! Dont delay - schedule a session/sessions - you wont regret it!!! Thank you UCA and Tom Davis!!!

I brought my dog, Saint, to work with Tom after having issues with separation anxiety and some behavioral issues. I rescued Saint a little over a year ago, and he has come a very long way. We have worked with great trainers in the past, but Toms approach has allowed me to better communicate what I do and DONT want Saint to do. Tom is extremely intuitive and understood the issues we were facing immediately. He was able to help me fine tune my communication with Saint, and since our sessions I have already seen HUGE improvement. We are implementing the ecollar and I am so fortunate to have been able to work with a trainer who is so knowledgeable about this tool. It is helping to keep Saint less stressed and more structured throughout our day. I am so pleased with all the progress that we have made, that I am also signing up to take some group classes at Upstate Canine. I cant thank Tom enough for all of his help and look forward to all our future progress.

I recently accompanied my aunt and uncle, Elizabeth and Jude O’Grady, to upstate Canine Academy for an assessment for their German Shepard, Vito. We had the pleasure of working with Tom Davis.Vito had seen previous trainers and Tom Davis has been the best out of them all. He was able to communicate with the dog well along with also establishing good communication with Vitos owners. I was able to take some of his training tips and apply them to my own dog at home, particularly the “place” command! I will be bringing my own dog there for some training assistance now. Highly recommend him for your dog training needs.

We had a superior experience with the out-of-state package at Upstate Canine Academy a few weeks ago. We had tried other trainers and a range of approaches, but because of the surprise aggression and the bite risk we started seeing a few months ago (and learned was a reason for a previous owner’s surrender, after the fact), we were at a point with our big rescue hound where we weren’t sure we could plan to continue if we couldn’t make real progress. What Tom was able to accomplish in five sessions over three days has been life-changing for all of us. There’s no doubt we’re keeping him, because we have seen the dog he can be and know what our jobs are to help him be that dog. Being educated on proper use of tools was also invaluable — we never would have attempted them without Tom’s hands-on guidance and clear instruction. Don’t give up on yourself or your dog until you’ve given Tom and Upstate Canine a try.

It was the most amazing three days! Watching Tom transformed the dogs with behavioral issues into the well balanced dogs with a “just be a dog” moment was surreal experience. I could just watch him train the dogs for days! It was truly an art. I deeply admire him as a professional dog trainer and as a person. He not only transforms the dogs but more so transforms their owners/handlers, who gain the confidence, change of their mind-set and beliefs in their dogs’ potentialities through the training. Team UCA is such a friendly, warm, and kind people whom you could count on and be friends with. This is the dream place for every dog and their owner to spend the time for training. Thank you very much Tom, a man of passion, everyone at UCA and my doggie coach, Lakota. You really rock!! I cannot wait to see you all again very soon. No Bad Dogs, indeed!!

I cannot recommend Upstate Canine enough. We took our 1 year old lab there for a 2 week overnight Train and Board bootcamp- it was worth every penny. Our boy was an energetic “bull in a china shop” at home and Kasen and the team at Upstate Canine instilled major impulse control, discipline, and leash training that we are forever grateful for. Our pup has the same sweet and goofy personality as when he went in, and now has an incredible foundation of training and commands that make our day-to-day so much easier. Thank you Upstate Canine!

We reached out to Tom after we were a month into COVID-19 without our regular professional training sessions with another provider. Our 9 month old female GSD has been in training and socialization 5 days/week since she was 10 weeks old (at a balanced training facility) but we were still having leash reactivity issues to... everything.I had been watching Tom on YouTube and had a gut feeling that we needed to upgrade from a martingale collar to a prong collar for her to really understand the communication but had brought it up with our regular trainer who repeatedly shot it down - stating that it would actually make her worse. We then met with a positive reinforcement only trainer who reiterated our regular trainer’s opinion that it would “only make her worse”. Those responses still didn’t feel right in my gut so we decided to reach out to Tom.I wish we would’ve reached out sooner. We ordered the 2.25 collar that Tom recommended and followed his introduction recommendations. The collar was introduced on Monday evening and as of Thursday morning, my girl and I are FINALLY speaking the same language. I cried after our first full session outdoors with distractions because everything finally clicked into place. People walked by in a 6-10’ distance and she was so polite - no barking, pulling, or whining at all - and even looked up to make eye contact several times as reassurance.Meeting with Tom was amazing. We met virtually, he took notes, and gave such relevant advice using analogies to help us fully understand. He never even saw our pup but our one session with him has changed our lives. Again, I wish we would’ve reached out sooner and we’re just happy to know that we have him in our back pocket at anytime, if needed.

I have brought my German Shepherd to Upstate Canine Academy since he was 4 months old for training. Kyle knocked it out of the park for us. He taught my dog and I so much about relationship building that will last a lifetime. I would recommend him ten thousand times over!

My dogs leash reactivity was so severe I couldnt walk him between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM. We saw 6 other trainers before I took him to Tom as a last try before giving up hope. Tom was amazing. My dog left the session less anxious, and I left confident in my ability to handle him on the leash. Weve now walked past many dogs and the change is incredible. My only complaint is that I didnt find Tom sooner and I wasted so much time/money/energy on treats/harnesses/etc. with other trainers instead of correcting the problem.

Im amazed at how quickly Tom is able to understand a dogs behavior and know how to effectively intervence. He really does work miracles. His style of training is pragmatic and caring. He wants whats ultimately best for the dogs. Sometimes that means usings a prong collar or an e-collar.His videos are helpful because they are real. You see everything from start to finish...not just the highly edited version.If youre not sure if Upstate Canine is the right facility for you, just check out a few of the videos. Im sure youll be impressed!

We did the out of state package, so 5 one on one sessions over 3 days. Tom was amazing. We took for training for being aggressive with other dogs, and we saw a difference already after one session. At the end of the 3 days Tom has dogs coming in and out and our dog had no reaction, just kept walking. Were now back out in the real world and its like we have a different dog. During a walk instead of barking and lunging at other dogs, she now just keeps walking.

Had a fantastic experience watching Tom work with dogs, all dogs and handlers greatly improved over the two days. Nobody left disappointed. Thankyou to Tom and his crew for coming to Australia. Toni

My sister and i drove almost 3 hours with our 11 month old labrador, Zeus in seek of help from Tom. We did an out-of-state training package & we left feeling so proud of ourselves and our pup. Before UCA, taking Zeus outside, going for walks, getting him to leave it and not jump, talking to people was hard when an 80 lb dog is pulling you & jumping. It was hard to have guests over because he was overly excited. Meeting with Tom has changed our relationship with our dog & has helped me become a better leader for him!!! Tom really cares for your relationship with your dog & truly cares to help. After paying for so many different training sessions with other people, i felt like there was no hope until meeting Tom. Today, we walk in our neighborhood, in our local pet shop and more and our friends/neighbors all see the difference in zeus and i. i cannot wait to go back to train for e-collar! Thank you Tom for your time, your patience, and for educating me!

I had researched many training businesses and obedience trainers, finding 2 (in the U.S.) that I felt would be the right fit for me and my reactive GSD Jersey. After watching many videos and working on basic obedience training material with Upstate Canine Academy online, I made the final decision to contact UCA for more in depth training needs. I had many failed attempts to relieve my GSD’s reactivity and anxiety with people and other animals. Paid for an animal behaviorist who said that she would never be able to be around people, and recommended medication (Prozac). I didn’t like that recommendation.I am happy to say that jersey and I are making great strides and encountering people and animals in a healthy way, relieving her anxiety. The happy dog I knew Jersey could be has risen. She is a completely different dog.A very long post, only to say:Highly Recommended!!!Much love to the UCA Staff and Tom Davis for all you do!~Lorrie and Jersey

I had the privilege to go to Upstate Canine Academy to work with Tom Davis in November with my dog, Finn. A little background on Finn. He was found as a stray in TN and was fostered from 6 months to 8 months before I got him. He was scared, distrustful and not house broken, he didn’t like his hindquarters touched. It took a lot of time for Finn to trust me.What I found through Tom’s teaching is I needed to be a better leader to improve my dog’s confidence. Tom is a wonderful teacher, he taught ME how to be a better handler to my 75 lb “furry white beast” as I like to call him. I went to Tom because I believed he was havng a problem with dog reactivity,. In fact on two occasions, Finn went airborne and took my legs out from under me. I should say,, during the 2+ days we worked together, Finn didn’t display the behaviors I went to Tom for. It was coming from me not being a good leader. I learned how to improve my communication with my dog through my leash handling and commands. I learned just as with a small child, you need to mean what you say and say what you mean through your commands. i learned that using a Herm Sprenger humanely assisted me in teaching my dog what I needed him to do. There is still one neighborhood dog that Finn reacts to but I know how to squash the reaction before it gets out of control.Tom truly does speak dog, it is truly inspiring to learn from such a master.Thank you Tom!!

We purchased a 1 hour online session with Tom. He joined the video call from inside a car while someone was driving with people visible in the backseat. The experience was unprofessional and rude. Very unpleasant to speak with. We honestly felt like hanging up within ten minutes of the call. Poor video quality, poor audio, and he was very unfriendly. Biggest waste of $375. I emailed him directly afterwards expressing our disappointment and received zero response.

Trainer Katrina has been wonderful at starting my puppy out right. She is a gifted trainer and has helped me tremendously in developing a clearer way of communicating and better relationship with my pup. I highly recommend Katrina and Upstate Canine Academy.

We are from Nashville , and from our first communication with UCA we found Taylor’s (UCA Facility Manager ) customer service to be extraordinary as she was very fast to respond to e-mails & phone calls and very clearly explained our options as out of town customers . We first had a video consultation with Tom which was very helpful, from that meeting we decided on him coming to Nashville for a 3 day training session. We have a very sizable Boerboel teenage dog ( a little over a year and a half), he is a good natured, well mannered dog that already knew basic obedience, but he is such a powerful dog we wanted confirmation from a professional ( Insert Tom Davis) that we were on the right track with training and learn the e-collar to help fine tune our dogs training. Tom proved himself to be very knowledgeable & so easy to be around ( Taylor too!) . Boerboels are very unique dogs, difficult to read and Tom knew just how much to “push “ him without stressing him out or over exhausting him. We had a VERY good experience with Tom & Taylor & now have some great tools to continue our training with our big boy. If your dog is unique or is a challenge Tom Davis is your man. THANK YOU Tom & Taylor & UCA!!!

Love the Website and YouTube video from Tom Davis. I watch all the videos at least once. I have used the methods and stuff I learn to train my dogs. Love is methods and have found them to be extremely on key, do what he says, and it works. I would love to attend training classes in person, but not in the area.I want to order some apparel from the Website soon as well.Highly Recommended.

Today was our first visit - meet & greet. My 18month old shepherd mix is a good boy- he liked Tom very much, I liked how professional & friendly the atmosphere was. I toured the facility it’s clean and smells great. I am very thankful to Tom for his attention & advice -we are coming back for training & can’t wait to see my boy being perfect on his leash manners. Thank you Tom & Taylor!

As a fellow professional dog trainer, Im picky about who I recommend. Tom is clearly well educated, personable, talented and what I love most is his willing to work with other trainers to help them to help their clients. Ive been following his YouTube channel for some time and decided to do a skype session to improve my knowledge on prong collars and remote collars. That was an hour well spent! Tom didnt hold back on information, answered all my questions (some even before I asked or perhaps anticipating what I would need/want to know) and showed he was truly listening to me, not just lecturing. Thank you, Tom Davis!

We were referred to Tom from a friend in hopes of finding help with what we thought was our 125lb German Sheperd becoming “aggressive”. From the minute we met Tom and visited the facility, we were confident on working with Upstate Canine Academy. What we quickly learned was that our dog was not at all aggressive; it was us as dog owners that were not handling him properly and essentially failing him. Tom is nothing short of amazing and has changed our lives as dog owners. Our pup would pull us around town and run out the door the second it opened; and in just a few sessions, he is walking off leash and staying in place when a door opens. These are just a few examples of the success we have had, and we are only continuing to grow every week. The experience and education Tom brings to the sessions is astonishing and to see the difference in our pup is incredible. The entire staff is so welcoming and professional. Words cannot describe how thankful we are for this experience and we would highly recommend working with Thomas Davis and the rest of the staff at Upstate Canine Academy.

Having our dog trained by Tom was one of the best choices we’ve made. Our 1 year black lab/pit mix came from a shelter with so anxiety when meeting new humans, as she got older it manifested itself as fear aggression toward humans. We no longer could take her to the dog park, she would try and bite anyone who walked by our car or anyone who came to our house. It had become a nightmare and we honestly were hopeless that she would never overcome her fear. We tried trainers who didn’t really take the time to educate us on how to understand our dog and what we would be implementing. We took a shot and drove 4 hours to Tom for an evaluation, he was quickly able to schedule us in and give us an outline of what we would be doing with Balor. The time we spent there has really paid off, there has been no bites and we are now able to introduce her to new people without fear of them getting hurt. Leaving his facility with tools that we understand gave us back hope and we are so grateful for his help. Not only has life gotten easy for us but Balor now enjoys her time outside and doesn’t worry so much about who is around her. Thank you Tom!!!

Our 14-month old puppy, Duke has been going to Upstate Canine Academy since April 2021. He is a happy, energetic, rambunctious German Shepherd/Border Collie mix. Before going to UCA, I could barely walk him on his leash without him jumping all over me and always taking advantage of me, but since we’ve been working with Kyle, Duke is much more obedient and well-behaved. Of course he will have his puppy energy and craziness for a few more years, I’m sure, but I’m no longer nervous about taking him out in public or on walks on my own. He LOVES people and other dogs, and I am so thankful we found UCA! Don’t know where we’d be without you, Kyle!

Just watching Tom Davis You Tube videos has improved my relationships with dogs. I am able to understand and implement the training process for actual results. I cant thank you enough Tom for sharing your gift and making my dog & human relationships 100% better. Thank you!!! The results are happier, safer and more fun experiences for all.

Tom helped us with our German Shepherd. He was leash aggressive, chased the cat, jumped on people, and had a hard time with recall, just like our dog. Just kidding. Our dog had those problems and Tom gave detailed guidance on helping us find a solid path forward and our results have been great and practical.

I own hunting dogs a mountain cur and redbone coonhound puppy both of which are highly intelligent but can be challenging to obedience train, I cannot say enough good things about Tom and his staff. My cur has attended daycare and k9fit she has never come home with a parasite, illness, or injury unlike many other daycares in the area. She gets excited if we drive by the facility and responds to Toms voice online so she obviously had not been harmed there. The prices are reasonable and packages do not expire. I dont usually write reviews but I am disturbed by the negative reviews on here and find them to just to be bullying - they do not use shock collars and I find it hard to believe Tom would say a dog didnt need any training. They always ask me what I want to work on/ learn... All dogs can move up to higher levels of training, its up to the owner to listen, practice, and put in the work - dogs know what to do its up to us as owners and humans to learn how to communicate with them effectively to obtain the desired behavior, and Upstate Canine Academy is excellent at helping through that process.

I took both of my dogs to see Tom and it was definitely worth it. The overall philosophy that the practice and preach in terms of dog training would help any dog owner. Their overall goal is helping owners become better at communicating with their dogs so it’s a win win for everyone. Taylor was also super helpful with setting everything up and answering all of my questions ahead of time and afterwards.

My experience with Upstate Canine was fantastic. I have a high energy, very confident, impulsive, pit mix who likes to be in charge. He had a lot of leash reactivity and would just pull me along. He’d jump up on everyone, harassed my other dog, and was in all honesty, running the show. My biggest concern was that he could never reach a calm state even after a 90 min. walk.I opted for the 2 wk. board & train program. Kyle and Zach worked primarily with Petey. Both highly skilled trainers who frequently updated me with video on the progress being made.When I picked Petey up, there was a different demeanor about him. He is still his confident, goofy self, but in a much more calmer state of mind. Zach didn’t just hand him over to me and send me on my way. He spent over an hr. going over the importance of following through on a command, leash pressure, and the importance of Petey meeting those expectations. When I left I felt that I had been set up for success. I don’t normally do reviews but the other night while making dinner, Petey stayed in the place command without redirection for a little over 2.5 hrs and I even left the room and returned to find him still there. In the past that just would have never happened. Thank you for all that you guys have done!

I 1000% recommend UCA for dog training!! With only 5 lessons with Thomas over 3 days my dog Jinxton stopped reacting to everything. I was so relieved to finally see progress and seeing Jinxton calmer and happier. Tom was so enthusiastic to work with Jinxton even when Jinxton tried to bite him. He answered all my questions and was always very positive throughout the sessions. After the first session, I knew Tom would be able to help me and Jinx. I have taken Jinx to other trainer and none of them have been able to help with his severe reactivity or resource guarding. After I got back home, I was so happy to see that Jinxton did not react to anything. To this day, he has not barked or lunged at anything. I can finally have people over and take him on walks without having to worry about him reacting. If your dog has any behavioral issues I highly recommend you seek Tom’s help. He is a miracle worker. Jinxton was soooo reactive that I never expected him to stop after only 3 days with Tom. The customer service by all the employees was so great as well!! They were all so nice and helpful during my sessions. My experience at UCA was so great and I can’t thank them enough for all their help with Jinxton:)

Buyer beware when someone needs you to pay for their service up front. I paid for 12 classes(6 for each dog) in Toms own words Harley didnt need any classes after 20 minutes with him. Great we will take a refund. Nope that dont give any refunds. They wanted me to give the other classes to my other dog Lucy.Well we where not happy with his training of Lucy because of his use of a shock collar. In week 3 Tom said Lucy need know her basics. Sit, stay and come. Tom didnt recognize that she was in fear of the shock collar because of her invisible fence at home.

We love Upstate Canine Academys Doggy Daycare Program! We started our boy Beau there when he was old enough as a puppy (early last year). Not only is it great for socialization but it wipes him out! We cant even say the word daycare anymore as it has become a happiness explosion trigger. The staff are all extremely kind and respond to questions quickly. There are many reasons why a dog would benefit from daycare and if your looking to reap those benefits, this is the best place to go!

We attended the three day workshop with our very reactive, 17 month old German Shepherd. We came away with such confidence and so did our dog. She approaches other dogs now with a friendly curiosity that had been missing for a year. We are eliminating her behavioral medications. And we are able to enjoy long walks again. Still work to do, but the end is in sight.

If you have a leash reactive dog and are struggling, do not wait, just meet with Tom Davis/Upstate Canine. Our friendly 7 month old pup is reactive on-leash to other dogs from what we understand due to frustration - she is not a fearful dog. We are at a disadvantage because our living situation is insanely dog dense. It was becoming impossible for us to walk or train our dog outside at all, or even attempt to manage her behavior or environment, since we could not even get out of our dog friendly building without a scene. It was very stressful for all of us. After working with multiple local trainers and implementing their practices, taking online courses, reading an abundance of articles (scientific and popular) on leash reactivity and trying those approaches, taking endless advice from other dog owners, and watching practically every youtube video and trainer out there, the only person who made sense to us was Tom Davis. When we found out he was in New York State (we are in Brooklyn), we did not wait one second before reaching out. Other trainers told us that to solve the problem, we must never let her practice the reactive behavior and keep her at a distance from other dogs in order to practice training with endless high quality rewards, so that she could build a positive association with other dogs. This plan was physically impossible for one, and it never made sense to us -- our dog was putting on weight due to the excess treats (that she treated like popcorn) to desensitize her to dogs, while she showed absolutely no improvement with her reactivity, she was choking on the leash, and never learned what NOT to do. We felt like helicopter parents who were told by experts to never tell their kid no. After working with Tom, I cannot explain to you the difference in our dog, and in us. She can better remain under threshold, she is not choking herself on the flat collar or pulling on a harness, she is able to go on long enjoyable walks and we can keep her reactivity in check. In other words, we can actually work with her. She is learning what not to do, and being rewarded for good behavior in a calm state of mind. She is a happier dog, not just on-leash but off leash as well. It is easier for her to not practice the behavior that all those other trainers talked about, and was never possible. Id say her reactivity has gone from about 80-90% of the time to 10% or less -- we are thankful for the education and look forward to seeing progress in the coming months. Tom, keep doing what you do, you rock, and we thank you!

Toms approach to dog training is refreshing. Hes a balanced dog trainer (or as he would say, canine educator) and doesnt think one size fits all when it comes to training solutions. He works with a dog some before just throwing on a training tool. He wants to truly understand how the dog operates and base his approach off of that. He also explains the theory behind what hes doing as well which is extremely helpful.

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is the world of dog training so polarized? Why can’t I learn about what methods and tools will work best for MY dog without the dogmatic (no pun intended) politics?” I got the answer to my questions when I found Tom Davis’ YouTube channel, America’s Canine Educator! I’m a straight talker and look for the same, especially with something as nuanced as canine training. We humans need to be trained first, and Tom’s videos were the introduction that segued into my first online consultation for my 4 month old long coat GSD. The main reason for my consultation was to dissect the politics of equipment, dispel any insecurities I might have about using a Herm Sprenger prong on my pup, and that I am, in fact, on the right track based off my individual pup and his needs. My hour long consult was peppered with lots of gems as I took notes, and great back and forth dialogue to help me answer the random questions I have on a daily basis. Online training works for every circumstance especially in the new state of remote work, and it’s a great opportunity to either have a live session with your dog present, or to ask “handler” related questions to better communicate with your dog moving forward.Finding balanced dog trainers and educators in Seattle is hard to come by, and I’m happy I found Tom as a resource! Can’t wait to figure out how to get him to Seattle to train in person!!

I sent my 2 year old mixed breed for the three week board and train. I needed to help her work out her severe dog reactivity which was beyond anything I was capable of dealing with. Growling, lunging, pulling me onto the ground—it was completely unmanageable. I had already spent close to a thousand dollars on personal dog training which did absolutely nothing for us. In the end, that trainer recommended I see an expensive vet behaviorist for intervention with medications. We had to walk at obscure times of day to avoid other dogs and it was just so upsetting to see her so stressed and out of control. Miraculously, as soon as I handed the leash over to Morgan on drop off day, my dog didn’t react to any of the dogs at the facility. We got several updates during the course of the board and train stay, and we loved following her progress on the UCA Instagram. She looked happy and comfortable. When I picked my dog up, Morgan spent over an hour with us teaching us how to transition all of Murphy’s new skills to our home. I was really nervous that as soon as we got home, nothing would stick and we’d be left with all the same issues. This did not happen. Murphy has been home for several weeks and is more balanced than I ever could’ve hoped. She behaves politely toward every dog she meets and her favorite hobby is now playing with other dogs rather than growing and lunging at them. My dog’s world is infinitely bigger now that she can calmly and happily interact with other dogs. I can’t say enough how much UCA changed our lives. It was worth every penny, and I’ve already recommended UCA to other owners who are struggling to help their dogs overcome issues. Thank you so much to Morgan, Matt and everyone who worked with my dog to give her the big, playful life she deserves

Attended a 2 day training with two other training pairs. My dog is shy and front door reactive. Tom worked, patted and enjoyed the rest of the class but did NOT work or even touch my dog. Large waste of my time, travel time. Hotel expense and class expense. Im a senior on a fixed budget and no training was done with my dog thus he learned nothing either. Sad, this trainer took my money without giving back value as I was assured he would do .

Edit: Did not even ask for a refund, I asked your head trainer that they adhere to what she asked be addressed and nothing more nothing less. Being like a personal trainer? If I pay for a personal trainer and all I want to do is train biceps then as a personal trainer you either do as I the paying customer ask, or you inform me you cant do that and we dont do business. You do not then take someones monet, promise them no problem we can do that then when asked why you never addressed the issue we asked to be addressed attempt to place all blame on the paying customer. If I hire a carpenter to install cabinets and he comes in and installs floor instead thats a problem. A specific issue was paid for to be addressed and it was never addressed .I never brought up refund until it was clear after multiple interactions. That you all are unwilling to understand the issue. I simply asked that the privates be done the way the paying customer asked.You kept pushing board and train on her and had her in near tears because every time she brought up that the issue was not being worked on you all would belittle here instead of doing as the paying customer asks. The 6 month break was AFTER she had used all but 1 private and more of the group classes than you list due to not logging them for her. She then had to muster up the courage to speak up for herself and you all respond with belittlement, placing blame and taking 0 accountability for the interaction, miscommunication etc. At that time it seemed she was gping to be bullied or not taken seriously so i visited your facility. The customer service I received after visiting your facility and at first VERY politely talking with your head trainer about the issues was astoundingly poor. You called her a liar multiple times to my face, you claimed things that both did not happen happened and that were just blatantly untrue.You even went as far as trying to blame a missed CONSULTATION not training visit but a simple consultation as to why the issue cant be addressed.The point is this, 2 specific issues were asked to be addressed to give her the tools she requested. Those 2 things were NEVER addressed, never once did you show her how tonproperly correct, never once did you get the issues to come up to show her how to handle the dog in the situation, nothing. A specific service was requested, never given then you turn around to try to paint yourselves absolved of any responsibility in this.I hope you treat future customers with more respect, courtesy and understanding than you have us.

Took my dog here for a 3 week board and train. When we picked her up and brought her home, it’s like she’s a completely different dog. We’re keeping up with the training so far and plan on keeping her structured for life. We will be training our other dog the same way. Thank you guys so much! Big shoutout to Kyle and Morgan for being the best! Morgan for being so informative and answering our questions and Kyle for always being so responsive to emails.

We did a week board and train. Our dog was pretty well behaved, and just needed polishing and finishing. Tom and his staff did a great job. I expected more than I should have and Tom brought us back in for us to be trained at no cost. Very happy with his services.

I have been taking my dog here for a few years now for private sessions, 2 week board and train and group classes. The trainers are very knowledgeable, patient, understanding, flexible and not only help my dog but help me as a dog owner. They respond to emails quickly and are available to talk after group classes if needed. Highly recommend them!

We had a virtual consultation with Thomas when looking for some direction on our almost 3 year old Great Dane mix rescue who is having some issues with food aggression. He had had some pretty violent fights with our other dogs, and we wanted a professional opinion on what direction to go next. Thomas spent a lot of time asking about and noting details of each incident, and helped us to dissect the situations so we could learn from them. Additionally, he gave us a lot of good input, and also helped us to understand what to look for in finding a trainer that is local to us as we are not near the training academy. We really appreciated the way he spent time explaining his thought process, and gave us so much food for thought about how to apply our goals and plan for REAL LIFE situations that may arise. We are so extremely happy with our experience, and would recommend a virtual consultation to anyone struggling finding more balance with their dog. What I loved the most was how he gave examples of real life situations that could pop up in our daily routine, and made us think about how to make changes to avoid fights, even explaining what additional training we could do to take it even further. We are feeling confident going forward, and it’s all thanks to this virtual consult!

From YouTube videos alone I finally have control over my two great pyrenees. Im walking them individually but will be taking them out together soon. I added the prong collar after watching how to fit and use it correctly. Also learning how to use my voice during training si it benefits them. I can see the confidence they have and the relief they dont have to protect me from everything. Thanks Tom Davis!

Upstate Canine Academy has been absolutely amazing for my dogs and I. My dogs look forward to every session and our trainer, Kyle, has been above and beyond helpful— not only in our sessions but also answering any questions I have along the way. I am so proud of the incredible progress we have made in training and I can’t thank UCA and Kyle enough for all of their guidance and expertise!

Our 5 month bullmastiff...Lincoln.. goes to daycare here. He loves it and we love it. Very friendly and educated staff.

I have a reactive dog with triggers difficult to isolate. (Only at select dogs at select locations. Will be fine with the same dog at other times.) He helped me put her on the road to success in getting these blow ups under control so she can ignore them.I used the online appointment, and Thomas was exceptionally friendly and professional.

I havent been to the facility but I have been watching lot of the YouTube videos. Tom you are awesome you have helped me so much in understanding the canine in general...I have a 4 month old boxer Puppy that Im taking tips from your videos that are so helping me now, and in the future!!!I hope to do a online training session with you with some questions I have.... I wish I lived closer because I so would be using your expertise in person!! Thank you! 🐾❤️

Upstate canine academy has helped us so much with our dog. His obedience, recall, and handling has all improved since beginning training with them. All the staff is professional and great at what they do!

I have watched Toms video channel for quite a while. I recently acquired my third German Shepherd (already have two), but while my girls were adopted at 10 weeks of age, my boy, Nabucco, was adopted at 10 months. It was a case of me or the shelter. I was the 4th owner in 7 months, so we had a case of heart-breaking for a pup that had been tossed around so much. Nabucco knew sit, had some decent leash walking, but was a nightmare around food. I turned to Tom and we did an online session. I wanted to keep Nabu away from the kitchen prep area, and then out of my dinner plate in the family room. Tom told me to use place and how to do that with Nabucco. Nabu is one stubborn pup, but through constant reinforcement and rewards, hes way better now. Too bad that I dont live in NY (or Tom in IL) because he would be my trainer of choice. I love how he works with the dogs and recognizes each individual need, as well as training the owners.

Huge fan of Thomas and Upstate Canine Academy training! We did a Virtual Training because we are out on the West Coast. Virtual training does not necessarily require your doggo. Just the humans and a notepad! We had questions/concerns written out beforehand and Thomas answered each with an attention to detail and context. The best part is he is super easy to talk to and analogizes everything. The funny part too is that we have watched so many of his videos but still needed him to reiterate the importance of the slip collar for our situation and so on. He is great at avoiding one-size fits all advice and he tolerated my very interrupty style of learning. He would explain something, and I would ask a question that basically just repeated my understanding of what he said. Then he would either affirm or revise my statement. Thomas was so helpful and even though I hope we do not have to return, I really want to because he is just cool to talk to. I love getting his perspective on things and would 10/10 subscribe to his podcast (if there is one, someone lmk). Thank you Thomas and thank you Upstate Canine Academy!

Doggy daycare, Canine fit, Group classes, 1:1 training, you name it they got it, and they do it well. We Have a very goofy and active Black Lab/Shepard puppy that absolutely loves to play, go on walks and socialize. Prior to daycare he had not yet learned bite inhibition and would get a little too excited and make a mess when meeting new people and dogs, but after that first day of doggy daycare his behavior improved immensely and now is usually so tuckered out afterwards, he just cuddles with our cats. Everyone at UCA is very knowledgeable and helpful. Ive had several dogs but Poe is my first raised from a puppy with no training whatsoever. Tom, Kait, Lora and co. have cleared up many misconceptions along the way about harnesses, training collars etc. and they conveyed that training the owner is just as important as training the pup. Which is understandable, im pretty excitable too. Were currently enrolled in training classes focusing on Poes ability to respond to commands around distractions, and again the results after the first session were noticeable. Upon their advisement, we switched to a blend of daycare and canine fit. So he gets his socialization but also a mental workout with practice responding to commands. Overall, were thrilled with the results, and recommend UCA across the board for its services.

So very pleased with my virtual meeting with Thomas. He was polite and knowledgeable and explained everything perfectly. I have renewed confidence in my doggie situation and plan on consulting him again in the future. I highly recommend him to anyone who is having issues with their dog.

Upstate Canine has been there for us for over two years. Between daycare 3x a week, to training, to boarding for our pup, Obi has gained confidence and manners. We dont know where we would be without their guidance. They have never been judgmental of any question and they care for Obi like he is one of their own.

Just 2 sessions with Kyle and we have a dog who listens and tools to move forward. We cant wait to see what he learns next! Very impressed with how Kyle patiently explains everything to us and really pays attention to how Dickens responds and how we are doing. Highly recommend

I have not used this program because of the distance but after seeing my daughter do ecollar training with her dog i know now this is the way to go. To inflict pain to an fearful aggressive dog is not the answer. They were in desperate need and trusted this person. So more then a couple thousand dollars later and he is still fearful aggressive. They did not have the heart to shock their dog at 100%. We are taking his videos and podcasts and applying it to Max. It is taking time but we are getting there. Keep up the good work you do for owners. Wished you lived closer or would visit Omaha.

Great experience. Helped us understand what triggered our German Shepherd and gave us many options to help resolve the issue. Didnt take a cookie cutter approach. Rather learned what worked for our dog and tailored training for him. Gave us realistic expectation on the process and effectively communicated with us every step of the way.

Thomas Thank you very very much for sharing your knowledge, passion, and understanding of dogs. I have a German Shepard 10 years old, fearful, and behave like many of the dogs you have train in the YouTube channel. Thanks to the way you explain things I was able to understand what my dog was missing. You had help me to met one of my goals with my dog which it was helping her feel comfortable in her walk. Im forever grateful