Pawsitive Ways Dog Training

This is the most comprehensive and incredible program. Students that graduate this program are the best there are in the field.

Reviewed on Facebook

I just started attending this academy and my oh my is it amazing. Nothing compares to this and I'm only a month in. Jean Donaldson is a genius.

Reviewed on Facebook

The Academy's program is very rigorous, thorough and challenging, yet also incredibly supportive and enjoyable. Enrolling in the Academy was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Reviewed on Facebook

An unparalleled program that prepares fully trained, ethical practitioners to enter the field of dog training. The depth and quality of information is outstanding, and the ongoing camaraderie of Academy trainers is priceless. Highly recommend!

Reviewed on Facebook

I am honestly thankful everyday for being part of The Academy. It is like no other program that I've ever done. The knowledge, the resources, the staff and friendships you make along the way are invaluable.
If I could give more stars, I would. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

As a 2009 graduate of the Academy, I can truly say that I could not have received a finer education in this ever evolving field! The academy offered a solid foundation for the career path that I wished to pursue. I currently own & operate (and work full time! yay!) a dog training company in Western NC, in large part made possible by my attending the academy. So much gratitude for the opportunity.
- Heather, Mindful Mutz Training & Behavior Consulting, Asheville NC More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I graduated the Academy in 2016. I have done quite a few courses before and since, but none come close to the Academy. It is the most complete and rigorous education programme out there. I cannot recommend highly enough.

Reviewed on Facebook

Having completed several animal behaviour courses including a Master's degree, I can honestly say that The Academy for Dog Trainers offers the most comprehensive education in dog training and behaviour counselling available. If you want to learn from the best and be the best, The Academy is THE place! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Never have I had an experience so exceed my expectations (and my expectations were very high). The quality of the material and the instructors is unmatched. The course doesn't just gloss over concepts, it ensures you obtain a complete understanding. Can't recommend The Academy enough. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

The best experience of my professional life. I cannot recommend The Academy for Dog Trainers enough-it changes the way you think, feel, and act not just with dogs, but in every aspect of your life. I'd give it a billion stars if I could! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

My Academy experience was the single most important educational experience of my life and has continued, post-grad, to be deeply valued both professionally and personally. This program and extended community is about so much more than dog training skills: it's about thinking critically, personal integrity, and professional accountability. I am forever indebted to Jean, her staff, and my fellow academy members. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

There aren't enough words to convey what a fantastic experience going through the Academy has been. I thought myself to be pretty dog knowledgeable pre-Academy, but boy was I only scratching the surface. The curriculum will teach you how to train dogs, from the basics of sit all the way through the complexities of dog-human fear/aggression but it also teaches you how to teach humans (no small feat). The support, community, and curriculum are 100% the best there is! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

The best educational program I have ever taken: not the best dog trainer education, the best of any type of education. The Academy program is rigorous, comprehensive, structured and content rich.

If you think that dog training should be based on evidence, not mythology, and you want an enriching, life-changing experience this is the place for you. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I'm a student in the Academy. It is THE most comprehensive science-based education program about working with pet dogs that is available. The education is about so much more than dog training; Jean has woven together strands of dog behavior, ethology, applied behavior assessment, and, a comprehensive approach to working with and educating people in this program (this is all necessary in dog training, esp when dealing with significant behavioral issues which is Jean's specialty).. Fear free, science-based, humane training is the wave of the future, fortunately, and this is the approach used in the Academy. The Academy is, by far, the best "training" education program out there; Jean is a world class educator (and I've been in Academia and say that very rarely). I feel so fortunate to be involved in this program - it is life changing! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

All around amazing program! Not only do you get indepth and up-to-date information about dog behavior, you also get valuable information on how best to coach your clients! This course has it all!

Reviewed on Facebook

The Academy is by far the most comprehensive training program available. The curriculum is thorough and focuses not just on dog training but on perhaps the more important aspect of training - working with and counseling humans. When you join Academy, you join a family that is supportive, encouraging and truly there for you not just for the length of the program but beyond. The education Jean Donaldson and the staff has curated is unparalleled by any other and is every growing with regular webinars to keep abreast of new studies, advances, news and case studies. Graduating from The Academy has changed my life in ways I cannot even measure. If you have an interest in evidence based dog training, look no further. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I'm a student - and couldn't be happier. I'm getting quite the education about a dog training and behavior subjects (from evolution and why dogs act the way they do through modifying serious behavior problems). I love the support the staff, students, and graduates provide one another. Jean has done a great job developing a great culture to go along with the solid and challenging curriculum. And I'm happy to see a choice which supports my ethical stance: that no dog requires pain, fear, or intimidation to be trained. I looked at other options and I'm confident I made the right choice. I'll soon be very capable of helping dog owners train their dogs and overcome problems. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Like many dog trainers, I started off by reading a ton of books and watching many videos on training and behaviour. I found however that my knowledge was patchy and I couldn't really understand how everything gelled together.

I researched various dog training schools before deciding on the Academy and while I was initially concerned about the course being entirely long distance, I quickly saw how the clever use of technology (and the ability to replay and pause!) allowed me to learn at my own pace and get the feedback that I needed to improve.

Through the well thought out curriculum, comprehensive and in depth materials, and the supportive collegiate environment, the Academy has equipped me with the knowledge and skills I needed to excel at training dogs, counseling owners and running a business. I learnt how to apply complex behavioural science to real life situations in a pragmatic yet effective way, how to handle the sales and marketing aspects of a dog training business, and how to tackle new information and developments that I may encounter, with a critical mind.

The Academy has made all that information so easy to understand without sacrificing any depth, so easy to recall to mind and more importantly, to apply in real life. I am a proud graduate of the Academy. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I am currently a student in the Academy. There is no way I can give true justice to this program in a little paragraph, but I will attempt to condense!
My expectations were high when I enrolled, but the Academy and all of it's participants are blowing my mind on a daily basis!! I feel completely comfortable recommending any Academy graduate. If Jean has certified them, they have passed some seriously rigorous training!
Jean Donaldson has created an extensive and detailed curriculum that will raise the standard of the dog training industry world-wide. I have not only (already) greatly improved my dog training skills and canine behavior knowledge, but I have also become more compassionate and effective with my communication skills with people! The commitment to "positive reinforcement" runs through every fiber of the the Academy!
I won't lie to you, this is NOT an easy program! Students need to study evolutionary biology, hone their technical skills to a level where they can train any dog efficiently as well as meet the challenge of keeping stressed dog owners happy and engaged!
Long story short:
Enrolling into the Academy was one of the best decisions I have made in my life! I hope I can make it all the way through, but even if I don't make it this time around, I already know it will continue to be my goal for the future!
Jean Donaldsons Academy for Dog Trainers is raising the bar for the profession of dog training as well as the quality of life for dogs world-wide! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I am a graduate and before I joined I was looking for reviews. Besides the words “amazing” I didn’t find many specifics, so here is what I wish I had known about the Academy.

The Academy will improve your efficiency. You won’t waste time guessing what to assess or what the next steps with a client should be. Through the course work and assignments, you will learn to give effective feedback that is client friendly and fun to deliver. In terms of behaviour modification, you will have a specific plan and a path forward for every case and mentors to guide throughout. You won’t be loaded down by technical mistakes or dog training myths, you will watch as other grads mow down cases and then be confident to take on your own.

The sections on counseling and fear and aggression were the pieces that went far beyond what I thought was available in a course format. You will become a pro at safely implementing plans designed (and tested) by the Academy. If you or a client have said “it’s not working” then you need to take this course.

Other Info: Regardless of your training background and formal education, it’s more work than you think it will be.

There are no additional fees after you graduate. You still have access to weekly webinars (check out the list on the Academy website), mentors, Jean Donaldson herself and a very supportive group of colleagues. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I graduated from the Academy For Dog Trainers program last November. I have done previous learning else where and looked into a few other programs before enrolling. The Academy is the BEST. I learnt so much and really improved my skill as a trainer! It was super challenging and requires you to put your 110% effort in. The best part? Among regularly added webinars, extensive and detailed material, and access to Jean Donaldson and her staff, you join this amazing community of students and grads! I love my academy family and so proud I call myself a CTC! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

The Academy for Dog Trainers offers an unparalleled education and support network for aspiring as well as experienced dog trainers and anyone interested in dog behaviour. I graduated in 2013 and I cannot overstate just how happy I am to have chosen the Academy. It was no quick and easy decision. Having already obtained a certificate in dog training & behaviour a few years earlier, I was determined to find a school which would not only equip me with skills in positive reinforcement training & behaviour modification, but also up-to-date knowledge of animal learning and dog behaviour, client counselling skills and business know-how. A love for dogs is simply not enough to make dog training a viable career. The Academy proved to be exactly what I was looking for: Accurate, science-based, state-of-the-art information, practical hands-on skill development, intelligent, inspiring and hilarious discussions, a wonderfully diverse group of people who continue to be an important network to exchange ideas, successes and frustrations and, finally, a springboard to make dog training & behaviour counselling my new career. Thank you, Jean and The Academy. You rock! More...

Reviewed on Facebook