Canine Academy trains Athens dogs in basic obedience with off-leash results. Your dog trains at our 7-acre campus in Lancaster, about an hour up Route 33, and comes home with skills that hold up on the Strouds Run trails, along the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, and on a walk up Court Street.
Where Athens dogs use their training
A well-trained dog gets to go more places. These are spots around Athens where our graduates practice, and the skill each one calls for.
Strouds Run State Park
Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails around Dow Lake. Roots, hills, and other hikers make a loose leash the difference between a good hike and a tiring one.
East State Street Dog Park
The city's fenced off-leash park behind the Athens pool, with a small-dog area. Recall is what lets you call your dog away from play and head home without a chase.
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway
Students on bikes, runners, and strollers pass close on this paved trail between Athens and Nelsonville. We proof heel against exactly that kind of distraction before a dog graduates.
Court Street and Uptown
Busy sidewalks, patios, and a lot of students who want to say hello. Place and down-stay teach your dog to stay calm while you stop and talk.
Board & Train, step by step
Every dog is different, and our packages are designed to meet your dog where they are today. For most families that means our Basic Obedience Camp. Here is what it looks like.
Take the behavioral assessment
Tell us about your dog. A trainer follows up personally to recommend the right program.
Your dog trains at our Lancaster campus
8 to 10 days with a dedicated one-on-one trainer: 2.5 to 3 hours of training a day in two sessions, with rest, walks, play fields, and plenty of belly rubs in between.
Graduation, then we train you
Dog training only lasts when the owner is trained too. You get a hands-on lesson at pickup, a return visit a week later, 90 days of phone support, and a lifetime of group classes and office hours.
332 Mt Zion Rd NW, Lancaster, OH 43130, on the northwest side of Lancaster.
How often you drive: for Board & Train, you make the trip at drop-off, at graduation, and for one return visit. We handle everything in between.
Our graduation promise
We don't send your dog home until they have passed their graduation test against our training standards. If it takes more time than planned, we will never charge you more.
Dog training programs for Athens families
Every program builds the same foundation: functional obedience (sit, down, place, come, heel) proofed against distance, duration, and distraction.
Board & Train Obedience Camp
Immersive training with a dedicated trainer, graduation standards, owner lessons, and lifetime graduate support.
Learn more →Small Group Obedience
Foundation obedience in a small group, with structure, socialization, and handler coaching, plus lifetime access to graduate classes.
Learn more →Puppy Foundations
Socialization and positive reinforcement come first at this age. Crate training, housebreaking, bite inhibition, and confidence.
Learn more →Build Your Own Package
Reactivity, separation anxiety, or public access. A program shaped around what your dog needs.
Learn more →Positive experience training, with no quick fix
There is no such thing as a quick fix in dog training. What works is rewards, play, and praise, paired with clear communication and an honest plan for building habits that stick.
Praise does the teaching
Rewards, play, and positive experiences build the behaviors. We use LIMA techniques: least invasive, minimally aversive.
A tap on the shoulder
Our Positive E Collar method pairs a low-level stimulus with a command and praise, so it works like a tap on the shoulder and never means "I'm in trouble."
Proofed for real life
Skills are built through five phases and tested against distance, duration, and distraction before any dog graduates.
Owners graduate too
Hands-on transfer lessons, 90 days of phone support, and lifetime group classes make sure the results carry over at home.
What owners say after training
"Very much appreciate Canine Academy. They have trained two dogs for me over the last seven years… It’s a game changer for you and your dog!"
"We boarded and trained 2 dogs who were both reactive, always pulling on leashes, and made it hard to enjoy walks or be out in public. They are BRAND NEW dogs after their training, making life so much more fun and enjoyable for us all!"
"What we appreciate most is that this wasn't just about teaching Ozzy commands. Alex helped us learn how to communicate with Ozzy more effectively and gave us the tools and confidence to continue reinforcing the work ourselves."
Athens dog training FAQs
How far is Canine Academy from Athens?
Our campus is at 332 Mt Zion Rd NW in Lancaster, about an hour northwest of Athens on Route 33. For Board & Train you make the trip at drop-off, at graduation, and for one return visit a week later.
Do you train dogs in Athens, or do I bring my dog to you?
Training happens at our Lancaster campus, where we have the trainers, play fields, and controlled distractions to do it properly. Board & Train keeps the driving to a few trips. Small Group Obedience and Puppy Foundations meet weekly at the campus.
My dog is reactive on leash. Can you help?
Leash reactivity is one of the most common reasons families come to us. There is no quick fix, but basic obedience is the most useful tool there is for managing it. Every reactivity case starts with an in-person consultation so we can meet your dog where they are today.
Is there an option that doesn't involve boarding?
Yes. Small Group Obedience and Puppy Foundations are both lesson-based options. The behavioral assessment will point you to the right fit.
How long does it take to see results?
You will see improved behavior within the first week. Board & Train brings a dog to off-leash obedience in 8 to 10 days, and it takes about 90 days of consistent practice at home for the new habits to become routine. That is why every program includes 90 days of support.
Start with the behavioral assessment
Tell us about your dog and a trainer will follow up with a recommendation. There is no obligation.