Krissy, Bree and Donovan are top notch trainers. Positive reinforcement for both dogs and owners is their key to success. They are responsive to calls and texts in between classes, so you never feel like you're on your own. With dog trainers, you get what you pay for and this is the best money we've ever spent. I only wish we trained with them with our 2 previous St. Bernards! We did the 14 day puppy board and train aka puppy camp. Our girl returned well established in her training. We're continuing with off leash training and it's been highly successful thus far. A well trained dog is a happy dog AND a happy owner! read more

Columbia Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

I will try to keep this short. I had a maniac shepherd. Love her to death but she drove me up the wall and my little girl couldn't play with her. I had enough and look around and that when I found Columbia Dog wizard. Dropped her with Sam,the trainer, for two weeks. Went to pick her up..she wasn't the dog I used to know...very calm and very well behave, take the commands so good. You know your life is a lot easier when you have a dog that listen well. And he will be there for you when you need him regarding your your dog. I highly recommend him. read more

A++++ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! We recently added a Mini Australian Labradoodle (Winston!) to our family...and the best decision we ever made was hiring Sam at Columbia Dog Wizard to help train him! We couldn't be happier with the results! After hearing great things about the Dog Wizard program in Columbia, we first signed up for the weekly Puppy Class Sam offers. The experience was wonderful so when it came time to take Winston's training to the next level we eagerly signed up for the 2 week training program. After spending 2 weeks with Sam, Winston came back a completely different dog! Before the 2 week training program we couldn't trust Winston off leash and he loved to "steal" things when you weren't looking (among other "puppy" antics). We are now able to fully enjoy being a dog owner and enjoy taking him to all kinds of places (both on and off leash!). We also became much more comfortable letting the "new" Winston interact with other kids and dogs at the park. Sam is extremely talented with the dogs he trains, and he takes the time to get to know each one - and this helps him know the best way to interact & train them! We recommend Sam the Dog Wizard (and have already) to friends ...family... and all the strangers that ask how our little guy is so well-behaved! . read more

100% recommend!!! Some of the best money I have ever spent. I have 2 dogs and we did the one on one at home training sessions with Sam. Sam does a great job of not only teaching the dogs, but also the dog owners! He is very patient with the dogs when teaching them their new skills. He also makes sure that you know as a dog owner the importance of consistency and keeping up with their training. One of our dogs, Buster, is a 90 lb. lab pit mix who is very friendly but we are not able to take him many places with us because he is too excitable and easily distracted. One of the main reasons we signed up for the training was so we would be able to take the dogs with us more places. We have already seen huge improvements and we know that with continued consistency from us things are only going to get better! The last training session involved taking Buster to the pet store. Previous trips to the pet store involved being dragged down the aisle and barking at other dogs/people. But after some basic training it was a whole different situation! He still pulled a bit at the leash and was excited to see the other dogs/people, but he was also listening to me and heeling and we were able to work on his "place" command. He calmly sat on a dog bed in one of the aisles while I walked around. Magical. I could not be more thankful that Sam has provided us with such great information and tools to help us have the best lives possible with our dogs :) read more

My sweet (but very rambunctious) pit/lab puppy went to Sam with zero manners and came home with a sweeter disposition and an understanding of her boundaries. She will still need to continue to work on her commands as she is still in her puppy phase, but she is finally manageable. This program was well worth it! Thanks again! read more

I found out about the Columbia Dog Wizard from reading the reviews on Google, and decided to enroll my 8-week old Husky/Shepherd mix in their puppy pre-school after reading numerous books and articles discussing how important socialization is to new puppies during 8-14 weeks. Puppy school was very inexpensive, and allowed my dog an hour a week for 16 weeks (8 weeks old to 6 months) to socialize with other people and dogs. It's not so much of a training class as it is a way to develop your dog's confidence and let him become accustomed to new people and experiences. This is how you develop a puppy into a well-behaved dog, rather than a dog who barks at everyone he passes, nips at children, and freaks out when you turn the vacuum on. My dog was removed from his mother too early and was denied important socialization skills he should have learned from his mother and siblings. I was pretty worried during the first day of puppy school when he flipped out after being picked up, and spent a solid minute growling, barking, and actually drew blood on the trainer, but I took him every week and we gradually worked him through his issues as he learned that it's okay to be touched and be around other dogs. Whenever strangers or friends wanted to play with him, I would hover over him waiting for the inevitable spaz out where they would touch him a little too roughly and he would go from Clifford to Cujo. By the third week I saw a dramatic improvement in his behavior and no longer cringed when people asked if they could pet him. By the end of the program, he was very well-adjusted and now he will approach any dog he sees. He has never once barked or growled at another dog and is completely fearless. I am pretty sure that I am more scared of large trucks and plastic bags than he is. Last week I even saw a relative stranger at the dog park pick him up like a small child and toss him a bit in the air. A few months at puppy school is well worth the time and financial investment to prevent a lifetime of problems later and I highly recommend it. Once my dog completed puppy school, I enrolled him in obedience training. They offer two programs - one where they take your dog for 2 weeks and do the training for you, and the program I joined, where they come to your house for 6 weeks and do the training there. We learned the commands sit, place (having your dog go to his bed or other object and stay there until released), come, heel, and down. I spent hours with my dog and several books, treats, and a clicker trainer trying to teach him commands with positive reinforcement. He just wouldn't get it and it was frustrating. My dog wouldn't care about the treats, or wouldn't associate the result with the reward. The Dog Wizard uses e-collars to train, and provide the collar with the training program. I was hesitant to use one at first as I didn't want to "shock" my dog, but after further research, I realized that if you use the correct type of collar and are taught how to use it, it doesn't shock your dog at all and is only a mild irritant. We accomplished more on the first day with one hour of using an e-collar than I did in months with treats and a clicker. My trainer, Brandon, was very knowledgeable on their use and took plenty of time to explain exactly how to use the collar and what to do and what not to do to produce the desired result. Training lessons last an hour with the trainer, and then you must do 40 minutes of training with your dog daily on your own to reinforce the skills they learned in that week's session. After the second session, I was able to "place" my dog on my front porch column, and walk 30 yards across the street without him chasing after me, and with a fair amount of confidence that he wouldn't break the command and run off after a car. Having just completed the last session, my dog has the commands mostly down pat (I still need to work with him on a few to get them perfect). Being a puppy, he has an insane amount of energy, but I can confidently walk with him off leash (they teach 'off-leash' behaviors to all dogs in the program), or leave him in a "sit" on his bed while the UPS guy repeatedly rings the doorbell. A dog who just 6 weeks ago would jump on me while I prepared his food, and knock it over in his rush to get to it as I was putting it on the floor, will now hold a "down" command and stare at his breakfast two feet away from him on the floor while I go get the paper. The obedience programs are definitely more expensive than anything else I looked at, but it was well worth it to get access to trainers Brandon and Cranston's experience and skill. They were very accommodating and answered any questions I had, and if you don't feel your dog is ready after the 6 weeks course, they will continue working with him until he is. I am very satisfied with my experience with Columbia Dog Wizard and would definitely recommend their services to anyone. read more

Columbia Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Hands down the best money we've ever spent on our dog. Training with Sam has completely transformed not only our dog, but also our whole perspective on working and living with our dog. The one on one training is fantastic. He takes on the position of a teacher, and is very encouraging the whole way through. We can't recommend him enough! read more

We couldn't be any happier! We enrolled our pup in the Columbia Dog Wizard puppy class with Ashley Campasino Sturm at 9 weeks and it was fabulous! We learned so much and loved the socialization aspect for our young pup. At 8 months old, we then enrolled our pup in the two week advanced training program with Sam Dooley. The results were amazing! Our pup returned a better version of the sweet, happy pup that she already was. Sam takes the time to work with you and your pup to get the results that you desire. It is also refreshing to work with people that are honest and truly love what they do!! We can't recommend him enough!! read more

Best dog Trainers in the Carolinas!!

I couldn't be happier with the results - A very big thank you to Columbia Dog Wizard!!! We started with puppy school with our Vizsla at 9 weeks with Ashley and it was an excellent experience all around. Basic commands and the all-important socialization really helped our puppy become well balanced. Most recently at 8 months, we had Sam train Rez for the 2 week program and we are still blown away by the results. Sam excels at what he does...our dog, without a shadow of a doubt, has evolved more than we could have ever imagined! Equally important is Sam's connection that he has with the dogs in his care - he is the real deal. So happy we made this decision!!!! read more