Canyon Crest K-9 Training Center and Daycare

There is a lot here to address in the previous reviews, but I am going to try and make this short and sweet.
I grew up with dogs and I love dogs. I bet this is true of all dog owners. Like many things in life, there is never a short supply of people who will tell you how to do things the «right way.» My question is when it comes to dog training who really knows how to do it the right way, you with your limited experience or trainers who have worked 1000s of hours with 100s of dogs.
We did the puppy preschool classes, and our pup learned a lot of great «tricks» and we learned some basic ways of communicating with our dog. I just finished to 10 private lessons over 4 weeks, and what I learned is how to tell my dog the correct way to behave in all situations. We have not mastered this yet by any means, but like all worthwhile tasks in life it is a continuous process. I cannot recommend this place more highly for all pet owners. Having a dog is a big responsibility, and their behavior is a direct response to how you allow them to act. When dogs are poorly behaved, they are stressed, and its because they live in a human world and have not been given the proper guidance on how to behave.
Read the reviews on Google. This place is incredible. Janet did our puppy class and she was incredible. My dog loves her. Kelly did our 10 private sessions and was an incredible. The training was as much for me as it was Charlie. My dog behaved perfectly anytime Kelly had her on leash. When I work with her, it is still not perfect because I am learning to tell her how to behave.
In regards to missed phone calls, I have called this place often and have always gotten a call back when I left a message. I called once and Ron and I talked for 30 minutes.
I know I said I would make this short, but I feel strongly that this is the best investment you could make in your new dog.

Ron Pace and his team are caring professionals who will provide you with the tools, resources and hands on training required to develop your relationship with your dog. If you desire to understand how your dog thinks, what you as the handler need to do to earn your dog’s trust and obedience, and most importantly, to ensure your furry companion is well-​mannered in all social settings, you should trust Ron and team. You’ll learn functional training, based on your dog’s desire to work for you. Both of my German Shepard’s have been through puppy school, individual and group obedience as well as personal protection training at Canyon Crest. My dogs receive regular compliments regarding their social behavior, which is all based on the hard work we did at Canyon Crest.

This is the absolute worse place you could ever take your dog. Patti said I needed to pay the $ 1,000 right up front, and then they could start the training… I paid the money thinking this was a great facility for training my 1 year old sweet German Shepard.
It was a complete nightmare for me and especially my dog. The trainer Janet was horrible… she said after the fist session that she was going to put my dog into a «choke collar» which she put on my dog, and it had sharp prongs that poked into her neck. Janet said my 1 year old sweet German Shepard was «a weapon» and she needed discipline.
I tried several times to contact the owners Patti and Ron, and they never answered my phone calls, and never called me back.
After 6 sessions of the trainer Janet basically abusing my dog, while she demand I watch without saying anything, I never went back.
It’s unbelievably this facility can get away with such abuse.

My Standard Poodle is a big surprise to many who meet it. He is so obedient and well trained. Canyon Crest gave me the tools I needed to work together with him and train him. I never have to apologize to anyone for his bad behavior… because he does not have bad behavior. Thanks Canyon crest!

I have 3 dogs: a 6 year old Silky Terrier, 4 year old Westhighland White Terrier, and a 2 year old Newfoundland. The small ones are neutered, the big dog, intact. We have been to daycares in Gig Harbor and Fox Island; but the facilities and quality of care were no where near what you will get at Canyon Crest [for the same price or less] The facility is impeccably clean. There is a sheltered area with dog crates of every size so that the dogs can rest or retreat if they want. The shelter also opens up to a beautiful grassy fenced in lawn. In other words the dogs have freedom to be indoors or out and also have plenty of space to romp and play. This is the only if not one of perhaps a few facitilies that will accept an intact dog. Unlike other places that put all of the dogs together in a free for all to merely be «watched,» this facility is staffed by trainers who interact with your dogs and nip any problems in the bud. They make sure that manners are instilled in the dogs under their care. If you were to visit, you would notice that immediately. They also have awesome boarding, dog grooming, and training. The kennels are clean and the grooming although not advertised to be «full service» is exceptional. This facility is about 10 minutes from downtown Tacoma. So if you work in the area, this would be the best choice for day care. I visited several of the facilities in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and even Kitsap county, and none of them came even close to the quality of care and facility standards as Canyon Crest. Check out their website and Facebook page and you will see what I mean. Everything they do is absolutley first class. The training program is top notch and worth every penny as well: all you need to do is observe a Saturday group class or observe the graduates in day care, and you will be sold. This place really is the best kept secret for everything «dog» in the South Sound. I’d give them 100 stars if I could.

I signed my puppy and myself up for the 5 week Puppy Preschool obedience classes. I was told that they used a traditional obedience training method with positive approach.
The first class was okay and it was great seeing my goldendoodle puppy play with other dogs his age and size. I felt like the instructor didn’t really let us know when she was going to teach something new and when we were supposed to be practicing so it was hard for everyone to follow. I was hesitant to go back even though the pack of 5 classes cost $ 250 because I didn’t like some of the more physical aspects of the training.
I ended up going back the next week for the 2^nd class to give it another try and it was so horrible. The instructor was having us teach our dog the «drop it» command and the method was to give your dog something it would love that it’s never had before (in this case, a pigs ear chew) and then put your hand in its collar on the back of its neck and roll your wrist back pulling the collar tight against the puppy’s throat until it chokes and let’s go of the item. I tried it once and hated the feeling of choking my puppy out until he was gasping for breath and dropped the pigs ear so when the instructor came and «showed us» with our puppy I was practically in tears as I watched our 14 week old puppy struggle for breath while she choked him with his own collar.
At the end of the same class during «play time» one of the pit bull puppies got incredibly aggressive toward the other dogs and when she went to try to restrain him he bit her. The entire class made me feel uncomfortable and felt like borderline abuse.
I attempted to call Canyon Crest multiple times to explain that we wouldn’t be attending any more sessions and to explain why and they never answered their phone and only called me back once. I left 3 messages but still haven’t been able to talk to anyone. So my advice to a new puppy owner is, unless you are really interested in traditional/​physical training, don’t waste your $ 250, there are better options out there.