My Clever Canine

Where to start... we we're referred to Tim and Amy as we got a GSD that clearly had a serious fear of men and was just not a dog we wanted at the time. From the start it's been a phenomenal experience to say the least. We called on a saturday morning and tim and amy was so amazing with making time for us to come by for an evaluation so they could give there professional opinion about how they could work  to help this dog. We decided on a board and train behavior modification program for our GSD.During the time he was in the program they kept constant communication with photos and updates regarding how things are going. We have attended 2 lessons prior to bringing our boy home. And it's been a great experience. From getting lessons with how to properly operate the e collar and provide proper corrections to working with the dog. Everything Tim and Amy have done or told us has always been so honest and upfront. We have so much trust in this training facility we have now dropped off our daughters puppy for the puppy class. It's so amazing to know there are honest and respectful trainers that do nothing but provide dogs and there humans the proper tools to survive and work togethor for the present and future. We couldn't be happier. THANK YOU, TIM, AMY AND RACHEL FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND CONTINUED EFFORT WITH OUR 4 LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Tim and Amy Cutterson are the best dog trainers! My GSD two year old Reagan spent 52 days with them and came back a new better dog. When we sent her she would bark constantly at any dog that walk in front of our home or she could hear in the backyard. She was having leash reactivity and it was hard taking her places where we would encounter other dogs. She came back with no barking even if other dogs are barking and we can take her on walks without having to keep her at home. The thing I liked most is they didn't stop with training her they taught me and my family how to sustain this training consistently. It's easy to send a dog to a board and train and get them back and loose all the momentum and have them revert to their old ways. They also spent time finding out what makes her tick and our family dynamics. Reagan is more confident. She listens and responds with first time obedience.  She trusts us to remain confident and calm which enables her to remain calm. This makes not only us happy but her happy because she has clear boundaries and consistency. They also taught us what goes on in the mind of a dog. So we can understand the reason behind certain behaviors. Look them up on Facebook and see how they work with dogs. You would be happy you did!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Just got our dog back and we could not be happier. Thank you for all the hard work you have put into marking our dog a great dog!

Reviewed on Facebook

I had lost any hope of training my thick headed pitbull mix. She needed a lot of time and job scheduling didnt allow me that. I did some research and found Amy and Tim. They worked wonders with Moxxi and I'm so glad they were able to help. Thank you both for the work with Moxxi. Shes a brand new dog More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Tim is the best trainer. I have a GSD. He has helped my dog and taught me how to implement the proper techniques. He goes above and beyond when it comes to educating me on how to respond to all situations that may arise. My life is so much improved since my GSD has been trained by Tim. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Tim is the best trainer. I have a GSD. He has helped my dog and taught me how to implement the proper techniques. He goes above and beyond when it comes to educating me on how to respond to all situations that may arise. My life is much improved since my GSD has been trained by Tim. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Amy is to dogs what Michelangelo was to marble. A master. It’s clear that Amy not only understands the dog psyche but seems to speak their language. When Chief arrived at Amy’s doorstep he was little more than a delinquent, equally destructive and adorable. When he left he was a gentleman and a scholar of the dog arts, humanities, and sciences. And, an otherwise really good boy. In short I am extremely pleased. 10/10. For a little more information about Chief – he is a Shiba Inu. They are notorious for being very difficult to train. Chief stayed with Amy for about 9 weeks for the complete boarding program. When he arrived at 6 months of age he was a major flight risk, hated his crate, and pretty much only knew how to dance around in circles, dodging everyone and everything. At 8 months of age he is now reliable off leash and has a solid understanding of all the basic behaviors a normal person would ever want in a canine companion, and even seems to like his crate. In summary, I highly recommend Amy and My Clever Canine. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Amy & Tim did a fabulous job training our labrador puppy. Misha went there for a complete boarding program which took about 8 weeks. He came back home such a well-behaved dog. Labs are known to be extremely (sometimes overly:) friendly and social dogs. Misha is a perfect example. His friendliness knows no bounds; he would jump and lick people as a form of greeting. Some people are fine with it, some (especially small children) can get scared. We wanted to make sure our dog knows how to behave properly in any given situation. My Clever canine definitely excelled at it! They did an excellent job with every aspect of the training but our favorite part was how happy he was interacting with the trainers. They obviously treated Misha really well! Highly recommend Amy & Tim. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I highly recommend this business!!! Our Biscuit was a rescue dog. We didn't know much about her history except that she was about 2-3 years old. The Foster family filled us in as much as possible about her good behaviors, she slept in a crate quietly & was housebroken, but she had very little other training & was known to "bolt". We signed up for dog training taking it to an advanced level. She also passed the test to earn the AKC Canine Good Citizen Title Certificate. I continued to work with her consistently. Biscuit is very sweet, smart & eager to learn. She was highly motivated by rewards of treats & praise for good behavior. She did all her many commands 100% when practicing in our home. However on walks if  Biscuit was excited about meeting a new person she's pull on her leash to approach & most of the times tried to jump up on them. When distracted by other dogs or a cat running by she'd pull or lunge on her leash. In this heightened state of excitement she could care less about a treat. She did not respond immediately to a command, I was not the focus & I was ignored. When my husband took her out for a run she always pulled forward. Off leash was NEVER an option as I feared she'd bolt. Sure enough she bolted one day to chase after a dog that had previously attacked her. She would not come back to me no matter what I did! Luckily a passer-by was able to grab her leash & walk her back to me. At this point I knew that  there were missing pieces of the training puzzle & I needed the help of a professional! When I found My Clever Canine Dog Training, read the reviews & the descriptions of what they offer, it was a no-brainer for me! We met with Amy & were thrilled that Biscuit would qualify for the two week remote collar training course. Amy provided us with thorough instructions including commands to use so we'd know what to do once Biscuit got home.  The difference is amazing. We are so impressed with her progress. She walks at all times in a prefect loose leash, heel position. She keeps her eyes on me as I test her in changing the direction I walk always staying by my side.  When she starts to bark she stops as soon as I say quiet. When my husband takes her out for a run she stays right by his side. The other day when our cat ran by she looked like she was going to chase him but as soon as I said leave it...she stopped & changed her focus. We appreciate that although she has received excellent training we are responsible for continuing to do what has been taught, to continue to set up scenarios to test her, work with her consistently & to schedule the follow-up lessons. Why wouldn't I want to keep a great thing going? I can not say enough how impressed & pleased we are with Amy & the the excellent progress she has made with Biscuit. She is obviously passionate about what she does & she does it VERY well! The cost was well worth it, best investment we made to round-out Biscuit into a happier & an even more enjoyable dog to love! Many MANY thanks Amy! We look forward to our future classes & dog boarding needs. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Where do I start... first, I think I had more reservations/anxiety about dropping my 11 month boxer rescue than my pup did going. He did the complete board and train, which was about 10 weeks. Amy & Tim really do know what they're doing.  They are caring, patient, understanding and most of all passionate and love your pet like it's their own. I think the best review comes from Leo himself when we came back for our training and he jumped out of the car because he could hear and see Amy. It's safe to say he loves My Clever Canine. Again, thank you so much for your help!  Leo and I truly appreciate it!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

They are really effective and intelligent in their training.

Reviewed on Facebook

Amy gave me the confidence and the tools to understand how to enjoy my rescued GSD, Shelby. I have stopped blaming myself and my energy around Shelby is exactly what is needed for each situation. Thank-YOU to everyone at My Clever Canine! :) More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Amy has been great and Sy loves going to his training every week!

Reviewed on Facebook

Amy is fabulous and willing to work out crazy schedule. My boy absolutely loves her and it is amazing what differences we see in him...

Reviewed on Facebook

Amy and Tim are AMAZING!!!! I have always brought trained dogs into our home, and now have two litter mate GSD pups! They are completely different dogs upon return... best money we have ever spent!

Reviewed on Facebook

I am a trainer at Petsmart in Fairfield and have sent Amy several dogs that needed way more help. She has done such a great job with them and the owners are so happy! ! Can't recommend her highly enough. Thanks, Amy! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Amy is amazing ! I cannot say enough about about how well she has done with my Pup Remi. He is a completely different dog who is so well behaved.

Reviewed on Facebook

We had an amazing experience with Amy!! We had a new puppy and a new baby at the same time, so good training was essential. The training was personalized for us and our dogs and very effective and sustainable. We still use Amy for boarding and will as long as she will have us. Best trainer around!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

5 stars isn’t even close to the number of stars Amy deserves! I took in a rescue boxer from her and Amy was incredible thru the entire process, always answered my questions -no matter how dumb- with Care and sincerity, she was always interested in seeing pictures, and was even there for me when I had to eventually put her down due to cancer. I would HIGHLY reccomend Amy and MCC for anyone looking for training or any other service offered. This lady is a saint!!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Before discovering my clever canine I was told my dog was untrainable and was a liability. Upon hearing that news I did some research and made the call to My Clever Canine. I basically took home a dog / breed I knew absolutely nothing about and was worried we might have to re home him. All of my concerns were heard and Amy came to my home to meet my dog and see what could be done. It was almost a “challenge accepted” meeting. She made a game plan and we decided on the 8 week board and train program. Normally it’s a 6 week program but he needed more time as he showed aggression towards men in particular. He would pull on his leash and take me for a walk and bark at everything and anything that passed us. I wish I had gotten him to her sooner. He was well over a year and was set in his ways and learned that if he acted out based on his size, he would get his way. But within those 8 weeks she worked hard with him and those bad habits he learned she corrected. I can now jog with him and he trots right next to me. He doesn’t notice men when they pass by. He is much happier and so are we. We are able to control him and he likes having the discipline. He looks forward to going to my Clever Canine when we go on vacation and need someone to board him. He loves running with the pack their. It’s his home away from home. If it weren’t for Amy and my Clever Canine I don’t think Vinny would still be our dog. She is passionate about what she does and you can tell by the quality and service she provides to these animals. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Clever Canine is amazing, Amy is awesome. I am a vet student with a very high energy cattle dog with mild dog aggression, and within 4 sessions we made amazing progress. Amy has a couple traits that I feel are lacking in most dog trainers that make her amazing. She is realistic in terms of expectations and time needed to address problems, she has a good balance between using positive reinforcement first and backing it up with negative reinforcement as necessary, and she also has a great understanding of dog behaviors as they differ between breeds and disciplines (not to mention an excellent understanding of animal health). I would highly recommend Clever Canine for any issues or training needs! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We love My Clever Canine! Amy has helped us with all three of our dogs, and not only is she incredibly talented, but she has always been willing to work with us at our pace. With our last dog, I wanted to be super hands on with the training and Amy has not only been supportive of that, but has offered help and guidance whenever we need it. Our dogs all love staying with Amy and Tim any time we’re out of town, and I know they are with people I can trust completely to treat them like they are their own dogs. My Clever Canine is worth their weight in gold and then some. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We adopted our young German shepherd, Sharpe, from a shelter.  Our beautiful boy quickly became the center of our lives, but suffered from dog aggression and a generally anxious nature that made day to day living difficult and public excursions almost impossible. After a year of working with other trainers who did not understand or have the tools to correct our dog's behavioral issues, we were referred to Amy at My Clever Canine.  We made the difficult decision to leave our pup for two months for behavioral and obedience training.  His transformation is nothing short of miraculous - our psycho hose beast has been transformed into a calm, patient dog whose love, loyalty and playfulness has not been diminished in the slightest.  In fact, we think he is even more affectionate than he was before his training, and very clearly he is a happier, better-adjusted dog.Dog training is not a "pay and walk away" kind of service.  We have work to do to maintain and enhance what Sharpe has learned, and will continue to work with Amy to help us meet our goals.  We did come home with a clear idea of how to continue that, and the cost of our training included several follow-up visits to address any questions or problems that arise.The trainers here have a deep love of dogs, and just as important to their clients and students, they also have a clear understanding of dog psychology and what it takes to shape a great dog.  Our next dog will likely be a puppy, and will definitely spend time here to get an awesome, fulfilling life underway.  I would encourage everyone to spend some time and money on formal training for their dog.  The difference it makes in everyday life, reduced frustration, and a happier relationship with a happier dog is so worth the investment.Maybe the best review came from Sharpe himself.  A few days after bringing him home, we returned to My Clever Canine to drop off his training collar.  As soon as we turned down the driveway, he lit up with a big smile, and his tail started wagging! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I can not give enough praise to Amy. Finding her was the best thing we have done for both of our dogs (we have a 4 year old smaller mix and a 6 month old larger breed puppy. .. Both rescues with breed unknown)... AND US! A few specific things that I REALLY like..1. She does not judge or preach - She won't set the rules for your dogs, you do... And she shows you how to make it happen. You get to use the time to train the things that fit your personal needs, well beyond the standard behaviors you learn in some programs. 2. She comes to your home - totally worth the money for in home training. Working in their environment helps in my opinion. Also, I have a new baby and having someone come to me was the difference between being able to train (in order to keep) the puppy my husband brought home when I was 9 months pregnant (yes- he really did that) and not. 3. She knows what she is doing! She is consistent and it works. Training dogs is really about training the owner and she really sets you up for success! We noticed a significant difference after just the first lesson - although the subsequent lessons are necessary and well worth it. 4. She is fun to work with. She is clearly an animal lover (as you should be in this business) and works in a way that is healthy and fun for the dogs. She is also very clear and direct which helps gets results fast. I HIGHLY recommend and would rate more than 5 stars if I could. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I've known Amy for a couple of years now, in which she has watched my dogs while I travel, handed out helpful advice when I've had issues pop up, and has helped me find two of my dogs. Recently Amy started helping me with training my 11 month old puppy, and after one lesson I've already seen a difference. Jalapeño is an incredibly high energy puppy who really needed to learn some rules and the expert advice Amy gave us in our first lesson has been a huge help. I wanted to do as much of the training as I could myself, but I quickly realized I needed a hand and Amy jumped in effortlessly. She not only worked with Jalapeño, but she explained everything she was doing to me, and then put me to work as well. I've now been able to take what she taught us home, and continue to work with Jalapeño on a daily basis. What stood out to me the most in our training session was Amy's ability to ask Jalapeño to do what she needed to do, while still incorporating play and fun into the lesson. I'm super excited to continue working with Jalapeño on my own using the skills Amy gave us, and even more excited to know I have a knowledgeable trainer to go to when I need a more experienced hand. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I just wanted to say "Thank You Amy" for the awesome training lessons, we now have a better understand and control of our dog. If you have a dog that won't listen, drags you down the street while walking  and you don't have a clue on how to gain control of your dog...please don't wait to call, My Clever Canine Dog Training.We adopted our dog, Joey, from the animal shelter. Joey is a Catahoula leopard mix, which we knew nothing about this breed...but we quickly realized  he was a lot of dog to train, more than what I've ever experienced, and I've raised many kinds of dogsin my life time. I contracted Amy, and she was familiar with this breed and was ableto show us how to control Joey. We purchased 4 lessons and they were worth every penny. I now have Joey walking with me on leash instead of dragging me down the street. Joey knows how to sit, stay, come,down  roll over, catch, and heel. He comes into the house and is now getting along with our house cats. Joey also sleeps in our room at night and is very well behaved. If it hadn't have been for Amy, I think we would have tried to find Joey another home because we just didn't know what to do with him and that would've  been a big loss to us and Joey. Joey is a very highly intelligent, loving, loyal dog and loves us dearly.We now have a fantastic pet whom has completed our family due to the help of Amy's devoted training. Amy is very experienced with all breeds and you can tell sheloves her job and it shows.Thanks,Lore, Chris and Joey :) More...

Reviewed on Yelp