I want to start this with I the fact that I am grateful that she could take in my dog on a few days notice and my dog is okay now. This review is only about my dog and the owner's business practices. This review will not contain my opinion on the owner herself as it is irrelevant. I just picked my elderly dog up after a 10 day trip. He's much skinnier than when I dropped him off, had thorns in his paws (as pictured below), and has a very obvious case of kennel cough. His nose is severely runny and he has a really rough cough. He had a small one before but the one he has now is deep and gruff. Her hours are random and inconvenient. With only two 2.5 hour windows for pick up and drop off (one in the morning and one in the evening). I had to call out of work just to bring him in. I understand that the owner is a busy woman with training, however, when I ask to come in just a tad bit later (6:45-6:50 instead of 6:30) she would not accommodate. We are in the 21st century and the fact that she only accepts cash or check is weird. Also, her website is inaccurate, she knows it's inaccurate, and she hasn't changed it. It's $40/day not $35/night. She also charged for the pick up day. Bringing my total to $465 instead of $430 (updated price with bath)/$350 (online estimate). I'm just glad I brought enough cash to cover it because she doesn't accept card. When I dropped him off, she made me keep him in the car on a hot day while we did paperwork. She also did not give me a tour of the facility to show me where he would be staying or the yard he would play in. Told me that he could have his own run because I wasn't sure how he would be with other dogs. When I picked him up she stated that he had been running around with another elderly dog being kept there. She offered a bath and a basic groom (No cut but nails, glands, and ears for $30) and claimed to have a Dremel tool for his dark nails. But when I arrived at 4:45pm she hadn't completed his groom. Used clippers and had me hold him while she did it. What would have happened if I picked him up in the morning?? Would he have been groomed at all?? Again I am thankful that she could take him in on such short notice and he will recover just fine. However, I will not be going back to her for any services and I do not recommend anyone else do so. read more

Yolo Canine Academy - Some of the thorns I found in his foot. - Pet Training Near Me - Woodland, California

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We've boarded our two shepherds here many times. Sometimes its a few days, but it's been as long as two weeks. I always know they'll be well taken care of. The drop off/pick up schedule time is rigid, but easy to make work. The best part for me is Renee understands the personality and temprament of our dogs and their breed, which I greatly appreciate. As our dogs have become "senior dogs", I've appreciated Renee's input as we navigated some medical issues that cropped up. I know our dogs are in good hands here. read more

I have never used a kennel before and I was really happy I found YCA. My dogs seemed to have a great time. The kennels are updated and they have nice yards for running around time. Give them a chance!! read more

Don't expect anyone to call you back! Was told to call between 10-1 to discuss issues I was having with my dog after going to her first round of obedience classes. She didn't answer so I drove to her facility only to be told she was busy and to call and leave a message. It's been 2 weeks and no return call. Don't waste your time or money on this place! Renee has the disposition of an overwhelmed business owner with no people skills at all!! read more

I have been bringing my dogs to Renee for training the last 2 years. I can't say enough good things. She is able to get your dog to follow her commands almost immediately. She has taught me so much since I started with her. One of my dogs took her Good Canine Citizen class and passed his test. In my opinion, she is really training the owners. Once the owners understand what they need to do, the dog will follow their lead and obey commands. I have also boarded my dogs with her. They came home clean, healthy and happy. I feel good about leaving them, since Renee is vet tech and could assist the dogs if needed. Renee is so busy, she can't afford to chit chat. She gets right to the point and some people are put off by that. I know that she loves all the animals as if they were her own. I wish there were more people like her. read more

STAY AWAY! Not only do they not list their hours or return phone calls, when you show up to inquire about a dog, expect the worst customer service you've ever experienced. Why can't you give negative stars? read more

Called this woman to find out about her training services and evaluate whether I would want to place my dog with her. All "attitude". I asked if I could come out to meet her and was told that for $50 or 60/hour she would talk with me and "evaluate" my dog. I said I was trying to evaluate her first, not the other way around, and I'm not interested in paying her to find out if I want to use her facilities. Can't see how she is in business. Perhaps she is good at what she does but as a business woman she is zero. Hard to give her even 1 star. read more

I have to give a huge shout out to Renee. I boarded my dog through 29 Palms Resort for 3 days (longest I have been away from my dog). He seems to have had a great time. The care and attention the staff pay to the animals is beyond expectation. Thank you!!! read more

How this wretched woman stays in business is beyond me. I had an appointment and was sent in the wrong direction by my GPS. I called to let her know I was running behind and she said OK. When I arrived she wasn't there. I waited over 10 minutes to find she had gone to get gas (which had to be done then, knowing I was on the way?). She laughed at me for getting turned around by GPS. I should have left then. She talked trash about my former trainer (who I loved but he moved out of state) saying he could "never do anything right". It was windy and my allergies were bothering me and she mocked me saying I was crying because she didn't like my trainer. Several times she left me to go do other things, even though I had an appointment and she should have set aside time for me. During this time she berated the girls working, calling them stupid and saying they were doing a terrible job and yelled at someone doing a working interview (which the employees said she called "free labor") for putting a bowl in a kennel too slowly. The dog was food aggressive, though she hadn't warned him. She has a non-profit so she gets donations. She gets whatever dog food is donated. The dogs get an inconsistent diet of garbage food. She doesn't pay for a decent or high quality diet. She instructs employees to feed her food because feeding what the client brought takes too much time. Some dogs are adopted out but many waste away in her "rescue" so she can maintain 501c3. She often puts a few hours training into a dog then sells them as "personal protection" or "service" animals. There are much more caring, responsible trainers and boarding kennels out there. Do research and find someplace else for your pet. read more

I did not know much about dogs when I got my Doberman; I was truly overwhelmed and felt at loss. Then I found YCA, I'm for ever indebted to Renne for teaching me "the do's and donts" and training my dog. When my dog is there, I'm at peace that he's going to be treated very well and like one of her dogs. Love you yolo canine, happy Valentine's Day. read more

Renée is amazing! Have acquired my 3 GSD, since 2004, from her & go through her training & boarding. My first big boy, 110 lbs, passed away at 14... what a line!!! Also have worked with her on saving animals from other shelters & Fire zones. Though she doesn't have time to placate the wantie needy humans, she does WONDERS with the dogs!!! Highly recommend her. read more

Not a place to go. Went through 3 months of classes, did the homeworkb6 days a week. Came away hating the dog and feeling incompetent. She is inconsistent in instruction. read more

I wish I had done more homework on this place. We sent a deposit for $50 for a training course. We had a conflict for the date and time and was told by Renee that we could roll the deposit over to a private training. Renee cashed our check and we never heard back from her. I emailed her over 3 times and left 3-4 voicemails. I can't believe it. I feel like a sucker. read more

This review pertains to Yolo Training Academy. I took my baby (2yo rescue Rottie) through Renee's basic and intermediate obedience classes. I came in a "good" trainer in my mind. I could do basic leash/sit/stay/down manners relative what's needed for a fairly well-behaved companion animal. I needed extra help with this guy. He was dog-reactive and a TOTAL spaz in high-stimulation environments. This group class was PERFECT for us! I needed to work with him in a safe but high-stimulation environment (our home life is CHILL!). I came out a WAY better trainer and his behavior has improved immensely in public! I observed similar results with the other dogs....some strolled in on day one looking already well-trained.....some owners needed help just to get their dogs in the door. I saw MAJOR improvements in everybody that completed the class. 100% awesomeness. BEWARE!!! Renee takes the quality of these classes and the safety of all two and four-legged participants VERY seriously! She is HARSH! If you are doing or not doing something that endangers the aforementioned, she WILL yell at you! Repeat....she WILL yell at you! Just know this going in. Don't take it personally. Work on it. Reap the awesome doggy rewards! read more

I brought my border collie here in November 2010 on the recommendation of a friend with several dogs. My dog was fine for a long weekend and I thought this would work out for a longer stay - 10 days. When I came to pick up my dog after the 10 days, the food I brought (200% of what he should have eaten!) was gone, and his rear end was full of poop! Apparently they ran out of his food (didn't let me know) and fed him something else! I was so embarrassed I drove directly home to clean him and he was a mess! I called Renee to give her a piece of my mind and all I got were excuses. Now three days after picking him up he is presenting with a serious upper respiratory infection that is not responding well to antibotics... and still no call back from her. Based on the unsanitary state I picked by pup up in, and now this illness... we are never going back. read more

We have been taking our dogs to 29 Palms pet resort for the past 8 years. Our dogs are very well taken care of and get a chance to socialize and play with other pets. They have always returned home healthy and happy. Renee really works hard to ensure that the dogs are well taken care of. I recommend this kennel to any dog owner. read more

Once again, Renee and her kennel staff took great care of my dogs. I appreciate having a place to take them where I know I don't have to worry when I'm of town! Thank You!! read more

Awesome experience at Yolo Canine Academy! Renee is knowledgeable and has been very helpful with our new furry family member. We appreciate all the hard work, time and love she gives to them. read more

Continued from below..... I told her that I did not appreciate her criticism, or suggestion, nor her very poor timing. She dismissed me, told me that "once I got over being mad at her, and the emotions of my mother's passing," that I should seriously consider her "generous" offer. She began crying, telling me how sorry she felt for the dog having to live with humans like us. She had NO emotion for humans however, or idea/care of how much her behavior was hurtful to us. And talk about manipulative. I know that this type of dog, trained, can easily be sold for tens of thousands of dollars. Even though his breeder didn't see him as a working dog, Renee apparently disagreed, and was trying to position herself to make quite a bit of money herself, however with no offer to actually pay us. I told her that I'd never work with her again, and that I wanted a refund for the training sessions unused. She refunded two sessions, however disputed the third, and said that she'd figure it out with her books, and contact me or mail me my remaining money. Six months later, I have still not heard from Renee, nor do I think I will. $50 is a small price to pay for not having any more contact with this woman. If you end up working with this woman, I certainly hope that your experiences are NOTHING like the above, however, in my opinion, anyone who is willing to behave in the above manner in a professional, client paying circumstance, is not somebody who I'd willingly work with again. My husband, our dog and I are happily living together these days. I continue to walk/train him, and he is the BEST family dog. He's loving, obedient, willing to please, and yes, while very strong-tempered, we ARE capable of handling him. I see no benefit or truth in Renee's suggestions.... she was dead wrong. She was mean. She was heartless. She was abusive, and I believe she was dishonest and willing to take advantage of a very vulnerable person's weak moment, for her own potential profit. --Horrible experience read more

Very bad first impression... The trainer yelled at the dogs in the yard to shut up. She wouldn't get off the phone to help us. Very Rude, turned me off from the start. Told an employee I was letting my leashed dog "run around". Terrible customer service... Not the kind of trainer I want working with my puppy!!! read more

Completely unethical business practices. Be careful not to send in a deposit without a clear contract for services expected, or you may not get what you think you are paying for. And you will have no recourse to correct the situation... you will be out your money while Renee continues doing business. read more

I've been going to group training classes once a week with my 15 months old retriever mixed pup for 3 months and am very happy with what we've both learned. After doing the beginner class twice (she allows to repeat a level at no cost if you are not ready for the next level), my dog walks and runs on a leash with no pull (I run with her 4 miles 3 times a week), sits, lays down, and stays on command without fuss (most times ;)) Renee is very knowledgeable about how dogs think and how to communicate with them as a human. While her social manners can sometimes seem a little rough, she knows how to be and make you a great pack leader, which is how you will gain respect and obedience form your dog. Her "no bs, straight to the point" approach allows her to keep a safe learning environment with multiple large and sometimes reactive dogs despite frequent inadequate handling from clueless dog owners. If you are looking for clear and efficient ways to train and communicate with your dog, this is the place to go. read more

I have boarded four differrent dogs over the last 14 years with Yolo Canine Academy and 29 Palms Pet Resort. I'll stay home before I board my dog with any other kennel. My AmStaff is always happy to go to the kennel and is ecstatic whenever she sees Renee. They are great at giving meds and tending to a high-maintenance dog. I have referred many friends and co-workers to this kennel and every single one of them has had nothing but good things to say about the care their dog received and every one of them has returned their dog to this kennel for repeated boarding. read more

This Academy owned by the same person that owns the nonprofit Rotts of Friends is mixing ALL her "for profit" business and her "non profit" businesses together. She tried to force me to take her classes in order to adopt a dog. Her classes are $125.00 for six classes. On the nonprofit website there is no mention of that requirement. She makes up the requirements as she goes. Also it's different requirements for different adopters. When I refused to take these 6 classes, she refused to let me adopt the dog. One I don't know her and I wouldn't take a class from someone who is two hours away from where I live when we have trainers in the City I live that are just as good if not better. I don't believe in her methods, pinch collars are cruel as far as I am concerned. When I refused and called her on her business ethics, she called me a Sonoma snob. I can only conclude that this was all about taking advantage of where I live and trying to extort more money out of me. Not anything to do with the dogs needs, especially since I had my own behaviorist on board to work with this particular dogs issues in the County I live in. It did not matter to her. Renee Lancaster needs to be investigated by California State, the IRS, and any local tax boards for her very questionable business practices. read more

The place is fairly priced. The drop off-pick up hours are limited (I wish like crazy that they had at least a few hours on Sunday for pickup), but my dog is happy there, which matters more than anything else. When I got there to pick him up once, I could see down the hall to where he was boarded, and when he saw her, he was happy and excited and spent time greeting her just the way he does when he likes people. When we pull up to drop him, he's happy and excited to get in there - that's the most I could ask for. I'm glad I found this place. read more

Hello. First, I have to preface by saying that I have never written a review of anything on Davis Wiki, Yelp or in any similar space. I feel compelled to warn future clients of Renee Lancaster, however, of her cruel, unprofessional, unethical, manipulative, dishonest and abusive business practices. I do not use any of these words loosely, and my experiences with Renee took place over 6 months ago, and I believe that I have had ample time to gain perspective and reflect fairly on my interactions with her. My husband and I first came into contact with Renee as a trainer for our 10-month-old German Shepherd who we'd recently adopted. He came from professional working lines (both mother and father were Czech Republic-imported police dogs, and all 11 siblings were sold to police/narcotics agencies for a lifetime of service). Our dog, however, did not appear to be cut out for a professional life by the breeders - apparently had little scent tracking desire or any other "working" desire, but was given to us for a very small fee to be our family companion. He was, however, trained in basic Shitzhund commands. We were very excited to have this dog, and wanted to make sure that we became equipped to handle such a genetically strong-tempered and well-trained boy. Upon our first meeting with Renee, we were immediatly deflated. We were immediately and incessantly challenged by her long list of criticisims of our dog, his "poor" and not up par to Schitzhund training, the fact that he didn't have a tatoo (which American-born dogs rarely do!), and the fact that he had a "serious AKC flaw" in his underbite, therefore rendering him ineligible for breeding. We never said we wanted to breed him. When I asked about the possibility of further Schitzhund training, she looked me up and down, and having evidently judged that I wasn't physically up to the "strenuous sporting challenge," said I wasn't up for it. (Dang!) She did give us some training, however peppered with continuous put-downs of us, our abilities and our dog...... We did pay in advance for 6 sessions however, so kept going back, even though it was a dread. The real mind-blower was still to come though. After just three training sessions, I needed to board my dog somewheere as my mother suddenly passed away in Southern California. Dropping off my dog turned out to be another traumatic experience, unfortunately. As my husband brought the dog into the facility on his leash and pronged-collar, Renee marched up, huffing and puffing, scolded (yes, yelled!) my husband telling him that our dog did not respect him (husband), was out of control, and violently grabbed the leash from my husband's hands, threw the clipboard like a frisbee accross the field, and marched the dog into his kennel without another word. When she was out of site, her assistant trembled, apologized profusely for Renee's tantrum, and did the paperwork with me . Wow.... nobody has ever yelled at me or my husband like that! And respect? Where was her respect? Kindness? Nowhere.... I thought I'd just witnessed a two-year-old's tantrum. With little alternative, however, I left my dog with Renee's boarding facilities for approximately one week. I often attempted to call to check on the status of my dog, and to keep Renee/her staff updated as to when I thought I'd return to retrieve him. Renee was never available, however, and did not return my multiple calls/messages. As I was heading back up to Yolo County I called Renee several times to let her know that I'd like to pick up my dog that day. I finally talked with her, and she and I agreed on a time-window to pick him up. However when I arrived, nobody. A car was in the lot, so I rang the bell, and after some time a worker finally rendered herself. She reluctantly called Renee on her cell (?), however Renee prohibited this worker to release the dog to me, stating that she "wasn't qualified," and that Renee wouldn't be available to do it herself for several hours. I just wanted my dog to hug. I'd just lost my mom. I'd made arrangements with Renee to get my dog.... where was the problem??? Insult on injury....When I arrived with my husband later that evening, Renee made no apologies, but instead lunged into a tirade, scolding us AGAIN, trying to diminish our confidence in our ability to "handle" this powerful dog, telling us that she had years of experience with this type of thing, with owners like us who "don't have a clue," stating that our ownership of our dog "wouldn't turn out well." Amazingly, she had an alternative for us.... she would generously take the dog "off our hands," and therefore allow him to live his true genetic and behavioral destiny with her as a working dog. She related to us that, while we paid for his boarding at her facility, she tested/trained him a bit, and "discovered" his potential. (Unethical.... we NEVER gave her permission to do this, and she NEVER attempted to contact us to gain our permission.) I'd had enough. read more

Not at all a good place. Renee's very limited hours and accessibility seem a common experience. Leave a message? Go ahead--no guarantees about getting a call back, though. Renee is super rigid and wants everyone to work on her very limited schedule (see other reviews). Pet boarding is like a lot of businesses in that some level of responsiveness and service is expected--Renee runs this place like the customer is lucky if they get to work with her. If I was out of town, boarding my pet at 29 Palms, I'd worry that I'd be effectively punished if I needed any flexibility, or even wanted to make contact with Renee about my pet. While I am impressed with Renee's dog training credentials, I'm appalled at her human interactions--she has treated my elderly mother, who adopted a dog from 29 Palms, in a very discourteous way. Anyone who is mean to an old woman on Christmas Eve is someone to keep your pet, and your business, away from. read more