The Doghouse - A Canine Academy — Local services in Stony Plain

If I could give this place a zero I would. Do not take your dogs here. Almost all of the staff are incredibly rude, make you feel as if it is an inconvenience for you to show up when I am dumping hundreds of dollars into their services. The one lady with the short hair- this does not concern you, you were always kind to me and my dog. Workers would talk crap about dogs and their owners as they were walking in which I overheard on several occasions. Several comments were made to me which made me believe he was not well liked which made me uneasy. A young girl once said to me, “Oh I’ll go get him! Everyone else hates him but he’s my favourite”. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Mind you my dog is sweet and kind and although crazy because he was just one year, there is no reason to say that. My dog would always come home with more energy than he did when I dropped him off. Started to think they spend more time locked up then playing and being dogs. If I wanted him locked up I would have saved my hundreds of dollars and locked him up at home. When I got him neutered I told them ahead of time he would be staying home until he is fully healed and I kept him home for about a month. When I asked the daycare to forward my payment for the next month (SINCE I HADN’T USED THEIR SERVICES) they told me that’s not how it works and that they will be charging me for the month my dog did not attend daycare. Had I not told them this ahead of time I would be more understanding. My dog always came home and ran to his water bowl, guzzling the whole thing down (which upon taking him to a new daycare where he comes home happy and exhausted and doesn’t act dehydrated) I realize is not normal. We also payed thousands of dollars on training, where I was told apart from his training sessions with me, he would also get to work on the things he learned at daycare. I never saw any of that happening which isn’t surprising. I tried to book a grooming appointment for him as they say they offer grooming, and I was told I could book an appointment 3 weeks from then. He was there 5 days a week I’m not sure how they wouldn't be able to squeeze him in. He would cry on the way there in the mornings and wouldn’t want to get out of the car which started raising some eyebrows with us and we never returned. I did some digging and found other people with similar issues who’s reviews continue to disappear. Concerning. If you care for your dogs wellbeing. Do...

I respect the doghouse, they are in a niche of their own and especially the way they work and run the dog house. I have found I can only learn from them, respect and fall in love with them. My dog scratches at the door to get in there! Run’s to greet the ladies in the office.They are like family! It’s run by wholehearted women who work so hard, they are so giving to the organization. The facility is so clean & welcoming & you are always free to hang out! They invite you to go & be apart of it, volunteer and see for yourself. My pup been going there since he was 3.5 months old and excels in socialization from participating in their group plays. He’s so well adjusted and I was a nervous first time puppy owner when I showed up on their door but Tia walked me through with ease and professionalism. She’s so cool! If you go there you will see a record of the dogs growth on the wall, so very sweet. They are all about the dogs & are dedicated & they are soooo committed. The doghouse as been a major part of my journey & development as a first time dog owner. They seem to support in a very hands off & unassuming way & never laying trips on you. You are guided but it’s always your choice..I am so appreciative of them. For the record.. the negative review about them punishing, OMG so not true & using E - collar, this is so out of place because the academy doesn’t EVER dispose themselves on anyone, ever! Honestly the more I get to know them, the more I want to be part off their way, their family and how they work so hard. Super...

Becoming members of The Doghouse was game changing for myself, my husband and both our dogs. I was at my wits end trying to train my youngest 5 yr old dog and had almost given up hope, coming to terms that maybe he was the dog that was kept tucked away & loved dearly by only his immediate family because that would be safest for him and everyone. Videos from The Doghouse with a variety of training techniques kept popping up on FB and I thought ‘ok, last shot!’ The journey started slow, but it is those building blocks that took Oz from getting treats thru his shut kennel door because he was scared and likely to lash out - to being able to be on the other side of a chain link fence to another dog while being able to focus on training - all within 10 days! The calmness and his overall happiness has increased 10 fold and I’m so excited he’s going to get to explore the world with us. Roxie - our older one - didn’t have any specific training needs as she is an overall well rounded, well behaved dog. She has still benefited from her membership as she’s gained more confidence, got in much needed exercise on a steady basis and is content to a whole new level than I knew possible. I cannot say thank-you to the everyone at The Doghouse, you...