Our dog Moose did the 14 day Board & Train with Sam and we are so happy with the results. We wanted the focus of her training to be on e-collar obedience and Sam did an excellent job helping her and us learn. We can now take Moose off leash comfortably knowing she will come when called, sit and stay even in busy environments. I feel like we are happier humans and she is a happier dog thanks to Sam's help. The training style used was also based on rewarding Moose with play rather than food or negative reinforcement, which I really appreciate and didn't know much about before. We couldn't be more pleased with the results. Highly recommend Dog Wizard and Sam! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Moose practicing "Place" - Pet Training Near Me

Probably my highest review ever for a service I haven't used yet. hear me out. I just rescued a Rat Terrier puppy called Raffi from Texas, who showed signs of abuse and trauma upon arrival. I've parented/known many rescues in the past and never seen anything like the fear she exhibited. fully freaked out, I shot a message to Atlanta Dog Wizard with an SOS to help. Kat quickly got in touch and we had about a 30-min call, which provided me with INVALUABLE insight into my urgent situation. That information she gave me--keep in mind, I had paid no money for her advice or training to this point--gave me some practices I could use, right away, to make Raffi feel more comfortable. I still might officially use Atlanta Dog Wizard in the future, if Kat is any indication how the company does things. She has a passion for rescues and turning around challenging situations and making dogs (and humans) shine. Cannot recommend highly enough. read more

My husband and I have known Justin for years, so when we rescued a 5 year-old Springer Spaniel with an unknown background, we called Atlanta Dog Wizard. Our dog is very sweet, but had been largely ignored by humans in his prior life: no one had ever taught him any basic commands and after months of work we'd had no luck even getting him to sit. ADW sent Rob to come train our pup and he was AMAZING. He came to our home, which helped minimize distractions and maximize comfort for our pup. He bonded with our dog immediately and was so kind and patient. During the very first session, through extraordinary patience and use of a gentle snoot loop, Rob got our dog to sit. It took almost the whole session, but Rob never gave up on him. Now, doggo can "sit," "lie down," "stay," and "come" with the best of them. Not only was Rob a pleasure to be around -- we looked forward to his visits, even early on Saturday mornings ;-) -- but he genuinely saw the best in our dog and helped him to grow into a more confident, relaxed pooch. Rob clearly loves dogs and loves his job. The fact that he only used praise, treats, and positive reinforcement made our doggo love Rob right back. Highly recommend Atlanta Dog Wizard to anyone looking for a great experience! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Our springer spaniel - Pet Training Near Me

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We've just finished our 8-Week/Class in home 'Freedom Training' package with James who was a true delight to have help us. I tried training our rescue on my own for 2 years before I called in help for reactivity, some dog aggression and just general communication failures. Dog Wizard was recommended to us through 3(!) neighbors! Robin was a great introduction to the team during the induction call. Shannon was very helpful for scheduling and James was our trainer. James really was just excellent. Very friendly & easy to talk to, super supportive and respectful of what we knew or thought we knew. Our dog was very happy with him straight away and got excited every time he turned up. James gave us all sorts of opportunities to practice what we learned while he was present, very clear homework instructions and happy to answer questions whenever we needed to clarify something out of 'class' time. We worked inside the house, in the yard, on the street, in the park and at several very busy public locations which helped reassure me this wasn't a fluke... our reactive frightened nervy little brown pup has indeed learned some confidence and we have learned different ways to communicate with him. Thank you James! read more

Atlanta dog wizard was the best decision ever for us and our rescue puppy Ollie! We just finished our 5th training with Rob, and it is incredible to see how far Ollie has come in confidence and skill in a very short period of time. Thank you Rob!! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me

Our trainer, James was amazing! We just finished all our sessions and wow, what a difference! I have two well behaved dogs now that I can take with me anywhere. One on my dogs, a 9 lbs poodle mix was dog aggressive and he used to get very anxious whenever we took him out on trips with us. We just recently took him on a 3 day trip and he was super calm and well behaved. We were even able to leave him in the hotel room alone and he just slept. He also didn't react to any dogs we saw. My other puppy is a 10 month old pit mix and I'm now able to walk her on my street without a leash, she follows all my commands and doesn't leave my side unless I give her the command to break. I 100% recommend their services! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me

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Incredible results for obedience training with my 7mo. old, very high-energy boxer (2 week boarding program / living with trainer) - very glad that I used Atlanta Dog Wizard and well worth the price. Anthony was my dog's trainer, and he did a wonderful job across the board but especially with 'leash walking' improvement. And, he did a great job of training me how to continue helping my dog maintain and improve going forwards. read more

Shout out to Rob and James for loving on my girl. So excited to keep using these new tools! The board and train was so great totally recommend. Especially for reactive dogs !! It is great exposure read more

I can enthusiastically recommend Phil from Atlanta Dog Wizard for anyone who is looking for dog training! We have a rescue puppy, BIlly Ray, who had been starved and was very skittish, fearful, and had food aggression issues. Phil was our trainer, and he was patient, kind, and wonderful to work with. He showed us that we had to be trained, as much as BIlly Ray, and explained the best ways to correct his behavior. BIlly Ray and I both have a problem with ADHD, (which can make training challenging for everyone), so he tailored his approach to both of us, making changes when necessary. Although BIlly Ray still has a lot of growing up to do, he is much more calm, much less skittish, he knows his commands, and is well on his way to being an excellent dog citizen! Thanks so much Phil and Atlanta Dog Wizard! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - BIlly Ray getting to work! - Pet Training Near Me

I just finished my fifth in home puppy lesson with Rob. Although I am more than happy with the training, I am sad it was our last lesson! I reached out to ADW on the recommendation of some friends shortly after I brought my puppy home. I was overwhelmed with a new puppy, but rob came to the rescue! Working with Rob not only increased my dog's confidence, but mine as well. I cannot recommend this more! Rob was energetic, patient, and a pleasure to be around. Can't wait to go to the group puppy class! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Happy, confident pup! - Pet Training Near Me

We love the Atlanta dog Wizard!!! Kat is our trainer and helped us train all 3 dogs. It was a lot of work but totally worth it! She helped us every step of the way and she is truly a dog wizard. My previously stubborn (and unreliable) dog has completely changed. And this training program helped our two puppies have structure and good manners. Thank you Kat and team! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me

Meet Benson and Bailey. They became friends 6 months ago in an open lot between our two homes. Bailey was off leash running happily, potting. His mom Jess said "Bailey come" and there Baily went darting across the space. Mean while my dog [who is as cute as a teddy bear] was biting his leash, and taking off towards a leaf blowing in the street. Bailey would walk right beside Jess on a walk and was completely off leash reliable. Jess worked with the Dog Wizard. The day i called Justin was the second best day of the year. Benson did the two week at home boarding and came home a well behaved boy [and not just for the time Justin was still in sight]. Walks that use to take us 45 minutes [because the fluffy one would sniff everything and get into everything] are now a pleasant 15 minute stroll. Benson enjoys running in the open spaces now in midtown and my crazed fear of him a. becoming a hood ornament or b. taking off and just keep going have all been put to sleep because of the wizard. My only regret is that I didn't call the Dog Wizard sooner. We have been going to the Saturday refresher classes which have been excellent practice [for me...Benson got with the program along time ago] and you meet all shapes and sizes of well behaved dogs while exploring state parks I never knew were here. Thank you thank you thank you for loving and training Benson as though he were your own. read more

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I have no reservations in recommending Atlanta Dog Wizard. Although I am a first time dog owner, my husband grew up with labrador retrievers. When we got our yellow lab, Clyde, as a puppy, we wanted to be sure he had proper training. I called ADW and was given 2 options: 2 weeks boarding and training where they take your dog to the trainer's home for intensive training, which was described as "highly transferrable", or a trainer could come to our house for 8 weeks for short sessions. We chose the option at our home, which was more cost effective but also meant we didn't have to let out puppy go away for 2 weeks. Paul came to our home for the first few sessions, and later we met at dog parks to further Clyde's training in high stimulation situations. Clyde essentially mastered a new command each session (Sit, Come, Stay, Place, Off, Heel), and we worked on his ability to avoid common distractions (people or other dogs walking by, etc). I am happy to say that a year later, Clyde is still responding very well to his commands. It has allowed us to have complete confidence in situations where he is off a leash-- he stays near us and will always come to us on command. Neighbors and visitors often remark on how well behaved he is, especially for a dog who is still quite young (1.5 years). Professional training isn't cheap, but we really saw it as an investment in our dog and our sanity for Clyde's entire lift. I can't reiterate enough how nice it is to have a dog who reliably listens and obeys. Our dog is definitely a happier boy having gone through this training, and I would recommend Paul and AWD to anyone with a dog! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard, aptly named, has frankly been magical. Paul is amazing. His training has greatly improved both our and our pup's lives, and the results have further deepened our bond with our four-legged kiddo. Our daily walks are now a dream. So chill, so enjoyable. Obi is calmer, happier, and we're all more confident. Truly life changing. TL;DR: Well worth the investment, and highly recommend! For those interested in more details: Obi was always leash reactive, and I honestly thought that was normal. I thought some dogs were good on a leash and others weren't, and he was simply in the latter category. Walks took so much energy: he was all over the place, darting, pulling, sniffing EVERY square inch of everything in sight, and totally distracted. The main issue that concerned me most, though, was his fear aggression (growling, lunging, snarl barking) toward larger dogs, which made our walks increasingly taxing and stressful on both us and Obi. We got to a point where we were avoiding other dogs altogether in an effort to make our walks a little easier. Obviously, that was not a sustainable option, and actually quite counterproductive, but it's all we knew to do. We had worked with other trainers in the past, utilized clicker training, etc., but the effects were pretty limited. Enter Atlanta Dog Wizard! I had an in-home consultation with Paul, and I was so impressed with his knowledge and explanations of dog psychology and how their training program tackles these issues. Turns out, leash reactivity is super common, AND super fixable. Hoorah! Paul was kind, thorough, took time to answer all of my questions, and made me feel incredibly confident in their methods. In addition to positive reinforcement, one tool they use that I was apprehensive about is an e-collar. After learning more about it, testing it on myself, and understanding exactly how it's used, I'm sold. It's completely humane when used correctly, and in hindsight a way better and more humane option than constantly yanking on a leash while your dog pulls incessantly. If you're wary of e-collars like I was, keep an open mind and learn more about them from these experts. We opted for the board-and-train program, and it was worth every damn penny. Obi stayed with trainer Paul for two weeks and got extensive training and socialization in that time. He sent photos and videos of Obi's progress throughout, and I seriously could not believe my eyes. He was heeling, passing other dogs, and even interacting with other dogs, all with an abundance of chill. Incredible. At the end of the two weeks, Paul spent a good hour and a half with us going over all of the new training, and addressing any questions we had. A huge benefit to their programs is that we now get unlimited access to the trainers and group classes for the rest of Obi's life, so there are no excuses not to keep up this training -- we have all the support we need. The weekly group classes have been an amazing practice for us, and offer much-needed (structured) socialization for Obi. Thank you, Dog Wizards! read more

I was recommended by a friend to try out Atlanta Dog Wizard to work on building my relationship with my older dog and to start a training program for my newest puppy. Phil was chosen as our trainer to accommodate both dogs and their journey to become proper canine citizens. Phil connected immediately to both dogs and allowed me to put my trust in him with my fur kids. We went through adult training for the older pup and she thrived with his guidance and it additionally has helped her self confidence. The puppy went through both programs, puppy and adult and while he's still a puppy he's much more attentive and well behaved with all the training he has received while at the same time starting our bond off much stronger. We appreciate all Phil and Atlanta Dog Wizard has done for me and my pups! read more

I couldn't speak more highly of this company or our Freedom trainer, Phil. I've owned dogs all my life and prided myself on always having a 'good dog' that I trained myself. But after adopting a new lab/pitt mix that had undiagnosed behavioral issues and my expecting baby #2 in just a few months, I knew that we needed 3rd party help, and fast! Dog Wizard helped us walk our dog with a relaxed leash, not jump or bark at squirrels/runners/bikes/anything that moves, stay in 'place' in the house, 'come' even when off leash in a high distraction environment, and so much more. They taught is that a tired dog is a happy dog; but tired doesn't mean just physical tiredness. You have to work the dogs brain! Even more they taught is how to read our dog and learn how to modify our actions for his specific needs. Is dog training a financial investment? Yes. Does it require the owner to do their homework EVERY week and after program completion to ensure continued success? Yes. Is it all worth it? Yes. Yes. Yes. I would absolutely recommend this company and Phil the trainer. read more

We highly recommend Atlanta Dog Wizard and Kat!!! Asher has been home a little over a week now and the difference is amazing. He is so much better behaved, which makes our lives much easier and more enjoyable. He now comes when called, sits and goes to 'place' when directed, and walking him is much less stressful and worrisome as we now feel like we have control. Kat was an awesome trainer! She sent videos and pictures throughout the two weeks Asher was with her, letting us know he was happy and doing well, and continues to be responsive to our texts as we continue training. Kat truly loves your dog as if he is her own, which makes it much easier to have your baby go away for the two training weeks. read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Asher - Pet Training Near Me

My wife and I had been given a recommendation by a friend to speak with Atlanta Dog Wizard for training our two year old Vizsla. I was skeptical having previously done training through another group with what I felt were subtle results. We elected to do board and train with Kat since we keep busy schedules. I cannot recommend their services, and specifically Kat, enough. From the minute they returned to the house after 14 days, you could see the bond the two had formed. This was very important to my wife and me as we wanted to be comfortable with the individual overseeing Belle's training as she can be a bit finicky. The results are greater than what we anticipated and are so thankful for Atlanta Dog Wizard's services. We greatly appreciate Kat and the time she invested, she has changed our lives and Belle's for the better! read more

Kat from Atlanta Dog Wizard was such a joy to work with! She is a skilled and patient trainer who helped my husband and me to gain the skills and confidence we needed to use an e-collar with our 2-year old, 60 pound golden doodle Ellie. We sought training because Ellie pulled on her leash, wouldn't listen to commands off leash, she chased children barking and had a problem with counter surfing. Kat came to us weekly for 7 weeks and showed us how to handle Ellie in all kinds of settings and was always responsive to texts if we had questions that came up in between our sessions. We worked together in our home, on our normal walking route through Piedmont Park and along the Chattahoochee. Ellie is now a joy to walk on a (loose) leash, can play off leash fetch with my full trust and has learned that the kitchen counter is not her personal buffet. Ellie is happier now and so are we!! I can't say enough good things about Kat and Atlanta Dog Wizard. read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Practicing "place" in the park. Thanks Atlanta Dog Wizard! - Pet Training Near Me

I was pretty convinced that my dog could not be saved but I was completely wrong. My pup, Apollo, has been a completely different dog since he has come home (in an amazing way). Justin was such a delight to work with...he is honest, reliable, and makes you feel comfortable with the entire process. My boyfriend and I could not be happier with the results! I would recommend (and do recommend) the dog wizard to anyone! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me

Kat was so amazing! I moved here about 5 months ago and had a semi aggressive, scared, unfriendly dog and man oh man did she whip us both into shape! Apollo now greets people in a healthy manner and we go to the group walks to be around other trained dogs. We still have work to do but Apollo and I are so much more confident. Kat has changed the way I interact and understand Apollo and his needs in situations. I am so thankful to have found them and have had Kat as our trainer! read more

My little baby Bowser is the center of the world for me and my boyfriend!! Bowser is an adorable 65-ish pound pitbull mix from the streets of Atlanta and he's as sweet as it gets. Bowser is full of puppy energy, cuddles, playfulness, and happiness, but he could also be handful to reign in his affection and need for attention. When it was time for training, Justin Hall was my first thought and single option as as a trainer. Not only did Justin work his Wizard magic on Bowser, he also taught my boyfriend and I consistent commands that help us in our daily work with Bowbow. We get so many compliments on Bowser's new manners and our friends have noticed a difference in his demeanor. All of which we attribute to Justin and his training methods. Justin is extremely professional and enthusiastic about his work; you can tell he truly cares about each dog he works with and is passionate about establishing loving homes for them. We're excited to be continuing Bowser's training with Justin and can't wait to start the weekend meet-ups!! read more

Our two large, but lovable, dogs have always been "leash tuggers", barkers, "door rushers", and generally, unresponsive to any of the commands we tried to teach them, outside of "sit", "shake", and "wanna treat?" With a new baby at home, we wanted the peace of mind of knowing they wouldn't knock over every visitor we had coming over, and I could take them for a walk without stressing about potentially being dragged with a stroller. Justin introduced us to using e- collars, which he then had us test on ourselves, so we would know how it would feel for our pets. It's obvious that Justin loves and respects dogs, and is passionate about what he does. We never questioned that he knew what he was doing, and was an excellent judge of each of our dogs' personalities! After only two sessions with Justin, we could already tell a huge difference in our dogs' behavior, and they continued to improve over time (and at-home practice). Their problem behavior has improved so much that some of our regular visitors have noticed as soon as they walk in the door! We are grateful to have worked with The Wizard and would definitely recommend him. read more

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Caesar and Lucy, our completely adorable and spoiled French bull dogs had had two previous trainers. Until We found Justin, THE dog wizard they were not at all trained!!!!! When we first met Justin we said...."you won't be able to train our dogs!!!" He said "watch me!" He trained them fantastic. We couldn't believe it!!! If you want a kind, loving approach...you need Justin. His communication skills are exceptional. He not only trained our dogs but us too! He helped us and our dogs understand each other. We will never be able to thank him enough!!!! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me

We had an incredible experience with the Atlanta Dog Wizard and our trainer, Kat. We have a 3.5 year old French bulldog who has fear based aggression and had developed some handling issues over the years we needed help managing. We enrolled him in the 2 week board and train program and he came back a different dog - for the first time in 2.5 years, we are able to perform general bulldog handling with ease (face wipes, bottom wipes, etc) and recently bathed him for the first time with no issues. Kat has helped him become a confident adult dog who now loves handling, is able to go on walks and responds to come and heal which has been a total game changer! We highly recommend her and the Atlanta Dog Wizard. read more

Highly recommend Atlanta Dog Wizard and our trainer Phil. Our puppy Teddy is 8 months old, had finished initial puppy training in the summer and was ready to learn more. Phil picked up exactly where Teddy was ready to learn. Phil was very professional, patient, courteous and instructive for both Teddy and I! It was obvious the Teddy enjoyed our training sessions and responded really well to Phil. I found the training easy to do between sessions and notice a big difference over the course of our training. One time, Phil postponed training last minute (he was already at my house) as he discovered I mistakenly scheduled too close to Teddys neutering procedure. That showed a lot of care for my dog. The office staff was great by phone and email too. All around 5 stars!! read more

If you are reading this and you're on the fence - stop hesitating and sign up! My 1.5-year-old rescue Cattle Dog, Uma, was a VERY difficult dog. Her siblings were all put down by the shelter because they were deemed "bite risks" and "untrainable." Luckily, she is a sweet pup, but she was also a NIGHTMARE to walk. My right arm constantly hurt because she pulled so hard. I called Atlanta Dog Wizard and opted for in-home training with Anthony. He was absolutely amazing. He was patient, consistent, clear in his directions, incredibly kind to my dog, and flexible with my strange work from home schedule. Uma absolutely adored him (literally, she cried when he left). Anthony really listened and went over all my goals with me - heel, you're through, place, recall, stop jumping up on people, etc. He taught me how to communicate clearly with my dog. I can now reliably "loose leash" walk her. I can tell her to "place" in a busy park, and she will go where I point and stay there until I say "you're through." This training has seriously changed my life. It is 100% worth it. And Anthony was fantastic. read more

My husband and I adopted a dog that had been returned for "behavioral issues" and Anthony changed our lives! Our puppy is so well behaved we can take her anywhere without worrying about her pulling or jumping. We were able to customize the training towards the goals we had in mind and goals we didn't know we needed! Anthony was personable, professional, and always flexible with our schedules. You will not be disappointed in spending the time or money. read more

I cannot recommend the Atlanta Dog Wizard enough. Our sweet dog was having issues with letting other people come into our house and around other places that he felt territorial over and it was getting to the point where we were afraid to have any one come by. He went to stay with Justin for 2 weeks and came back a much more confident and obedient dog. We are now so excited for people to come over and see the drastic improvment. He is a dream to walk on a leash and seems to be much happier now that he has gained so much more confidence. The group classes are so great and Justin is always willing to help if you have any questions or issues that come up no matter what, even trudging through the mud in the park behind my house just to find other dogs for Fred to practice interacting with. If you have a "speical needs" pup like we did, please contact the Dog Wizard as soon as you can! read more

I just completed my first set of in home Freedom lessons with Phil at Atlanta Dog Wizard. I am compelled to write this review after a recent amazing experience with Zelda, my mixed breed, high energy, 8 month old puppy. I had a small business meeting at my house this week and this trained dog impressed everyone there. She stayed on place as everyone arrived and greeted her. Then she continued to behave calmly for the remainder of the time. Phil has been such a perfect trainer for Zelda and me. He obviously loves dogs, respects the owner's wishes and always explains the program patiently and without judgment. My adult children were present at the meeting and were astounded that their previously unequipped mom had complete control over this new companion! I was so proud of myself and my sweet pup. This training is SO worth the money and time (of course, it does take a commitment). Ask for Phil! read more

Atlanta Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me

The Atlanta Dog Wizard has changed the relationship I have with my best friend. Our highly skilled trainer, Justin Hall truly has the patience of a saint. Before he took our beloved 85 lb. Frankie to his 2 week training camp (which I lovingly refer to as Hogwarts), Frankie was one of 'those' dogs. Wonderful and super loving, but so much so that he wanted to jump all over our guests and lick them to death. Frankie is a Weimeraner-Pit Bull mix with the energy of a Weimeraner and the strength of a Pit Bull. The kind of dog that would take you on a walk, instead of the other way around, simply because he could. The kind of dog who would jump the fence or run out an open door and make you chase him for hours before you could get him back inside. Thankfully, those days are over. With positive reinforcement, dog psychology, and gentle training aids, Justin was able to make Frankie feel important and find his inner zen. As it turns out, all dogs are different and respond to different reward systems. Mostly what they want is for you to communicate with them more effectively, in a way they understand. Once he returned from summer camp, so happy to show off and super eager to learn, Justin sat us down with and explained the 'language' to us, followed by a training session (in which we were the ones being trained). We have spent the last few weeks leisurely walking our dog each morning, being the envy of dog owners that pass us with their jumping and barking dogs. It is a truly amazing gift to go to the park, for car rides, or simply hang out leashless in the front yard with a dog who listens - and he LOVES the freedom! I can't wait for fall season so we can take him camping and hiking and not have to worry that he will stray. The training and support that Atlanta Dog Wizard gives is unparalleled - and the best part is, we have Justin's 'guaranteed' guidance for life! read more

Look no further than the Atlanta Dog Wizard. I truly mean this whole-heartedly. I searched high and low for the best dog trainer and Atlanta. Interviewing countless people to find the finest. Justin Hall from the Atlanta Dog Wizard is it. Justin tailors a program that fits your dog's needs. He cares about YOUR dog. He traveled to my home to work and give my pet the attention she needs. The best part about his training is that is it not just a 4-6 week class. It is guaranteed results for the life of your pet. Justin does Saturday group classes that are fun and very interactive for you dog. I thoroughly enjoy this class! Justin keeps your pets in the place they need to learn with distractions. Squirrels, people, cars, other pets, and more! My pet story is about a 3 year old, aussie mix. She had an extremely high prey drive. For countless years, I struggled with her disobedience. I never believed her problems could be solved. If she saw squirrels, birds, and cats- she would bolt. My dog's life flashed before my eyes when she ran across North Highland Avenue. At that point, I was determined to find the best trainer who will help me trust my beautiful girl. Our relationship has never been better. I enjoy running and walking with her. The most important part is trust. I never want to feel that I am not able to communicate with my dog. Be active about your dog's actions to save your sanity and best friend. I feel confident on busy streets with Lily. She is a happier dog too- I'm able to exercise and stimulate her more on walks It has been truly the best investment I have ever made. I will highly recommend any Atlantan that is searching for the best results for your best friend. It's all they deserve- the best! I didn't think it was possible to love my best friend even more than I did before. read more

The training I got with Justin was remarkable. I adopted my pup about a year ago and struggled in group classes due to her reactivity with other dogs. Justin was so understanding and not only helped train my dog, he helped train me to be a better dog owner. Before working with the Atlanta Dog Wizard, I never dreamed of being able to take my dog for a walk on the Beltline (so many other dogs, runners and bicyclists- it was her worst nightmare.) now we go for walks daily on it. The training program we went through in just a month and a half turned everything around for us and I'm so thankful read more

Pretty amazing experience with the Atlanta Dog Wizard. From start to finish, the trainers made me feel a part of the process and not just something where they give our dog some guidance and then tell us 'best of luck'. They work with you to adopt and implement the methods they worked hard to instill in your pup. Bloo is a mighty, mighty beast with the head the size of a basketball, but acts like a loving lap dog thanks to Justin and his team. Always recommend The Dog Wizard to anyone we meet, with a new dog or even a weathered gent in need of some manners. read more

Could not be more grateful for Atlanta Dog Wizard! My dog Lucca, a 1 year old, 80 lb lab had more energy and strength than I was able to handle. Lucca used to be a leash puller and our previous walks were very difficult. It was also hard going outside with him since he would get so excited and jump all over the door, and me -- especially if a tennis ball was in sight! Guests were also difficult to have over due to his excitement and inability to sit still while they tried to come in the door. Atlanta Dog Wizard has changed both of our lives. We had the pleasure of having Justin as our trainer. Lucca did the 2 week boarding program and came home a totally different dog - best part being that despite his new discipline, he didn't lose any of his amazing personality! Our walks are infinitely better than they used to be. Lucca is calm now, and getting out of the door has been made super easy. The "place" command has been my favorite and has helped the most while at home - both when guests are over and when Lucca gets a little too excited when he can tell we're going out to play. I simply walk him to his bed and he remains there, tail wagging uncontrollably, until I am ready to go and release him from his place.. he then immediately goes and sits by the door (without jumping on it first!) and then we are ready to go. Such a different experience than from before the training program and I could not be more thrilled with his progress. Atlanta Dog Wizard also does Saturday walks for dogs that have gone through training. We have attended the walks a couple of times in order to keep up the progress which have also been great. Extremely grateful for the experience we had with Atlanta Dog Wizard - very highly recommend! read more

I was definitely skeptical about this service because it is relatively expensive and you are away from your dog for quite a while. My family went on vacation for a week and my dog was gone for the duration and an extra week and she came back the exact same dog but with an amazing demeanor and she was way way less anxious. I was wanting to bring her to work with me and there a lot of distractions there in the door keeps opening and closing and now she handles herself just fine. She is the same dog. I was worried about this, I thought her personality would change. But she's just happier and so is everyone around her. She doesn't jump on anyone anymore, she doesn'tBark incessantly., But she does bark appropriately. Which was really important to me because I like having a dog bark for safety reasons. We used Paul and he was amazing. When he comes to visit there after my dog absolutely adores him and he sent us a picture updates and video updates when I just cannot say enough good things I would definitely hire these guys and have Paul as your man! good luck to you! read more

We have two Miniature Australian Shepherds, Letty (1) and Dylan (10). Both were already great dogs, but with a baby on the way, we wanted them to be a little more reliable. We always said our commands were negotiable to them and now we wanted them to be non-negotiable. That is when we called the Dog Wizard! We were referred by a friend in our neighborhood who used them previously when they were about to have a baby. I talked to Paul on the phone first and while they are so busy now, they don't normally do home visits before you sign up now. My husband and I wanted to meet Paul so he (without hesitation) set up a meeting at our house to answer our questions and meet the pups. He showed us the tools that he uses to train the dogs and let us get familiar with them. Yes, they use e-collars (which is electric, not elizabeathan). This was something I wasn't sure about, but after failed previous training with just positive reinforcement, I was open to the idea. We felt the collars and they feel more like a somewhat uncomfortable vibration than any kind of shock. After going through this program with two dogs, I am a believer that the best training is done through positive reinforcement (treats and praise) and correction (the e collar). It also makes training move a lot quicker! So if you are on the fence because of the e-collar, don't be. Back to the initial meeting- Paul answered all of our questions and suggested we do the 6 week freedom program for both pups. Once a week we met with Paul and Kat at our house and at parks. We have one session left, but it is like we have different dogs in the house. The dogs "place" in their beds when guests come over or when we eat (or when I need them to relax), they no longer pull on leashes and come when they are called. What more could you ask for in dogs? If you're on the fence in general, just do it! This is an investment and it pays off in such a short time. This training also built confidence in the dogs that I didn't realize they were lacking in. I can't say enough great things about this program and Paul and Kat. They were accessible, knowledgeable, and I trusted them with my dogs and our growing family. :) read more

The Atlanta Dog Wizard does a great job. I had my 7 month old Border Collie, Micco, undergo the board and train program with one of the trainers. Paul did a great job and exceeded my expectations. You can truly see that the Dog Wizard cares about the dogs and wants to see them succeed. I would recommend them to anyone looking to have their dogs be off leash reliable and to know the basic obedience commands. read more

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Justin and his dog training techniques were a lifesaver for my dog and me. My large dog Toby (about 3 y/o at the time) would bark and lunge at bikes, small children, and at seemingly random times. He would choose when to listen to me, which was about 40% of the time! Once we started training with Justin, Toby was a changed dog. He was still goofy and playful, but he stopped barking at random things and actually listened to me. We had an impending move to NYC which I was DREADING, I could not imagine Toby in NYC, and was stressed about the move because of it. I took Toby to one of Justin's weekend group classes on the Beltline and actually teared up when we got home from it. Toby didn't park or lunge at any of the bikes/children/scooters etc on the Beltline that morning and it was such a relief! Fast forward a year, and Toby loves his life in NYC. He runs off leash at Central Park in the morning and comes when called, and listens to me on the busy sidewalks. Justin truly changed our lives for the better! If you're considering Justin for dog training, I would HIGHLY recommend him! read more

Justin did an AMAZING job with my 3 year old Australian Shepherd, Maisy. Before her two week boot camp, Maisy was all over the place! She pulled when walking on the leash, jumped on friends and strangers alike, and constantly stuck her nose where it didn't belong. Her biggest issue was that she was so headstrong and just a terrible listener! Post-Atlanta Dog Wizard Maisy is a completely new dog (with the exception of her amazing, happy personality--that's still there). Friends and family are completely shocked with her 180 behavior turnaround. She enjoys heeling off leash (read: OFF leash! Amazing!), hiking, safe trips to the dog park (she removes herself from potentially dangerous dog piles and her recall skills are incredible), and calmly greeting and visiting with humans and animals. She can walk right past other dogs along the Beltline without pulling me to the side. She can enjoy more time with the family, as she knows how to hang out quietly and chew on a bone; she doesn't feel the need to jump/climb/eat everything in sight. The "off" and "place" commands are the perfect tools. Thank you, Justin! Our next pup will definitely be an Atlanta Dog Wizard dog! read more