Lead & Thrive Dog Training Reviews

JennR49 2025.11.09

     

Lead & Thrive Dog Training exceeded my expectations. The trainer was incredibly kind, patient, and clearly knowledgeable, showing plenty of experience and professionalism in every session. The Dog Training Classes were well organized and the calm, supportive approach helped my dog respond quickly. Our dog, Louie and us alike needed a lot of guidance and coaching. Brendan made it seamless with his effective coaching and training skills. We would recommend their dog training to anyone looking for effective, friendly help.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.11.09

Thank you for your wonderful feedback, JennR49! We're thrilled to hear that Brendan was able to provide you and Louie with the guidance and support you needed. It’s great to know that our training classes met your expectations and contributed positively to your experience. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to helping more dogs and their owners in the future.

Kerri Francis 2025.10.26

     

Top 3 things I loved: 1) Their patience and consistent approach in every session, 2) The knowledge and kindness of the trainer, 3) The genuine understanding they showed to both me and my dog. And also, Extremely helpful for dogs with anxiety. I attended their dog training classes with a professional dog trainer and saw great improvement right away. Highly recommend Lead and Thrive Dog Training.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.10.26

Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Kerri! We're thrilled to hear that you loved our approach, the trainer's expertise, and the support we provide to both dogs and their owners. It's great to know that our classes helped with your dog's anxiety and showed immediate improvement. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to support you and your furry friend on your training journey.

Janine Gay 2025.10.20

     

I had an excellent experience with Lead & Thrive Dog Training. Brenden was incredibly patient, consistent, and empathetic, which made every session feel supportive and productive. We have 2 Weimaraner’s and he was amazing with them. His knowledge of dog behavior was obvious, and the methods he used were highly effective – my dogs now respond reliably to basic commands and show real improvement. I highly recommend his dog training classes for anyone looking for a caring and results‑focused approach.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.10.20

Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Janine! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with Brenden and that your Weimaraners are showing great improvement. It's gratifying to know our approach resonates with both dogs and their owners. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to continuing to support you and your furry friends!

Miranda Zimmerman 2025.10.18

     

Brendan and Lead & Thrive Dog Training are amazing! I found Brendan on facebook after seeing friends reposting their dog's "Graduation Day" where they walked around with their dogs in a busy outdoor mall off leash. After doing some more research, I reached out to Brendan for help with my 2 year old lab/corgi. She had the basics pretty well down but she was having issues with leash aggression. At home she is so sweet, loves to play, and is generally very relaxed but I when I took her outside and she saw another dog she would lung, growl, and bite. I did an initial consultation with Brendan where he got to see Maya's leash aggression in action, laid out a training plan, and gave me a leash handling demo. The consultation gave me a lot of confidence that he could help so I decided to move forward with the training. He took her into boarding for a week (making sure to send me updates and pictures regularly) and then brought her home to me to do training once a week for 8 weeks. In 2 short months, Maya went from being a total "gremlin" when seeing another dog to completely ignoring them! There's for sure a level of commitment required to have success with this program because it isn't just train the dog but also the owner.. but if you stick to it, your life will change for the better and be so worth it! I cannot thank Brendan enough for everything!

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2024.12.30

Thank you for your wonderful review, Miranda! We're thrilled to hear about Maya's transformation and that our training made such a positive impact on your lives. Brendan is dedicated to helping dogs and their owners, and your success story truly highlights that commitment. We appreciate your trust in us and look forward to supporting you in the future!

brandi hudak 2025.10.13

     

Lead and Thrive Dog Training was incredibly patient, knowledgeable and understanding. Our 1 year old American Bully was quite rowdy with no direction. Brendan's calm approach and expertise made our experience with dog training seamless and enjoyable. Each week and lesson helped improve our girl to listen and respond accordingly. Brendan not only trained our Stevie girl, but our family in appropriate handling techniques and responses.We felt confident with our professional dog trainer, his expertise, and tools. With a 2 year old in the house, and a newborn on the way, our household needed help managing Stevie's excitement. Brendan exceeded our expectations and was able to redirect her energy towards training, listening, and appropriate play times. We would highly recommend them to anyone needing guidance or help training your 4 legged family member.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.10.13

Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Brandi! We're thrilled to hear that Brendan's calm approach and expertise made such a positive impact on both your dog and family. It's great to know that Stevie is responding well to the training and that you feel more confident in managing her excitement. We appreciate your recommendation and are here to support you and your family in the future!

Diane Vanasse 2025.10.04

     

Brendan trained us - both me and my husband - to make the transition to our new home in Henderson and the innate high energy nature of our Jack Russell Jimmy - more enjoyable. He is a great trainer and we enjoyed working with him a lot.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.07.14

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Brendan made the transition to your new home smoother and more enjoyable for both you and Jimmy. It's fantastic to know that you found his training effective and enjoyable. We appreciate your support and wish you all the best in your new adventure!

Courtney Brantley 2025.10.01

     

I recently completed 8 weeks of basic obedience training with my Cane Corso puppy, Gangster, under the guidance of Brendan at Lead and Thrive Dog Training — and I’m beyond impressed. Gangster is being trained as a medical service animal due to his ability to alert me and my mother before certain medical episodes begin. Which will require him to meet certain obedience standards. At just 6 months old, he’s able to walk practically off-leash inside stores. something I never imagined at this stage. Cane Corsos often make people nervous due to their size and strength, but Brendan helped us build the skills and confidence to ensure Gangster remains gentle, focused, and happy in any situation. This training is only the beginning. We’re excited to continue working with Brendan for more advanced levels of training. If you’re looking for a trainer who truly understands dogs and empowers owners, Lead and Thrive is the place to go.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.10.01

Thank you so much for your incredible review, Courtney! We're thrilled to hear about Gangster's progress and how he's adapting so well to his training. Brendan is dedicated to helping both dogs and their owners build the skills they need, and it's wonderful to know that you feel empowered in this journey. We're excited to support you and Gangster as you continue to advance his training. Thank you for choosing Lead and Thrive Dog Training!

Keith Vyenielo 2025.10.01

     

Brendan gave us the tools and education to help our dog develop better manners and behaviors. He is patient and thorough and connected with our dog immediately. We’ve see great progress in the eight weeks we worked together and are looking forward to seeing more improvement as we keep working with our dog.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.10.01

We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Brendan! It's wonderful to know that he was able to connect with your dog and provide effective training tools. We appreciate your commitment to continuing the work you've started. Thank you for sharing your feedback, and we look forward to supporting you and your dog on this journey!

Teresa Alexander 2025.09.27

     

Brendan is amazing! He is so patient and gentle with both the dog and the owner(s). I have a Rottweiler mix, Zelda and she is independent and sassy, I really needed some help with her to be her best. Now I can take her anywhere and she behaves perfectly with heel and down stay. At home she will stay on her “place” for as long as I need and does not require a ton of treats to do so. I look forward to group training to continue teaching her under his guidance. If you have a sassy or spicy pup that needs to learn to behave without bags of treats and become their best self, you need to contact Brendan at Lead and Thrive today! I will be utilizing his boarding service as well and love the fact that I can feel 100% confident that Zelda will be safe and in good hands while she is there.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.09.27

Thank you for your wonderful review, Teresa! We're thrilled to hear about the positive progress you've made with Zelda under Brendan's guidance. It's fantastic to know that she's becoming the well-behaved companion you envisioned. We look forward to seeing you both in group training and are glad you feel confident about using our boarding services. Your trust in us means everything!

Alexandra Leach 2025.09.27

     

We have two mini golden doodles with two very different personalities and different needs for training. Brendan was amazing to work with! He was super knowledgeable and immediately knew how each one of our dogs would need to be approached with training. He was very patient with us as we learned what we needed to do, and he was so supportive and attentive throughout the entire process. Our dogs are night and day different to when we first started training, and I can tell they really are thriving. It was the best thing we could have done for both our dogs and our family. It was 100% worth every penny, and we couldn’t recommend him enough!

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.09.27

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Brendan provided exceptional support and tailored training for your mini golden doodles. It's fantastic to see the positive transformation in both your dogs and the impact on your family. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we appreciate you sharing your experience. We're here to support you and your pups anytime!

Teresa A. 2025.09.27

     

Verified

Highly recommend Brendan! Such a kind and gentle soul! Very knowledgeable and patient, makes all the difference in the world. I cannot wait for group training to keep Zelda doing her best.

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David Clark 2025.09.08

     

Brendan is a wizard. Our German Shephard was too reactive to take anywhere - tugging on walks, barking like crazy at everything, and going nuts when people would come to our door. Now I take her to the park and play off-leash with her. No more whining in the car. She so much less anxious and is able to play and have fun. Both of our lives are more relaxed and fun. Worth every penny. Thanks, Brendan!!

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.09.08

Thank you for sharing your experience, David! I'm delighted to hear how much Brendan's training has transformed your German Shepherd's behavior. It's wonderful that you can now enjoy more relaxed and fun outings together!

Kathryn S. 2025.08.28

     

Verified

I can't say enough amazing things about Lead and Thrive Dog Training and Boarding! When I adopted my dog Zoe from the Henderson Animal Shelter, she was extremely dog aggressive. Honestly, I wasn't sure I'd even be able to keep her--I felt overwhelmed and defeated. Then I found out about Lead and Thrive's 2 week "Doggy Boot Camp", and it completely changed our lives. When Zoe came home, she was like a different dog--calm, well-trained, and actually controllable. The trainers didn't just "fix" her behavior, they also took the time to explain everything to me so I felt confident continuing the training at home. One of the BEST parts of their program is the ongoing support. Every Saturday, graduates can join either go on a pack walk or a group training session at a park. Zoe gets to socialize, I get reinforcement for her skills, and we both leave feeling like part of a community. Lead and Thrive didn't just train my dog--they gave me the tools (and hope!) to keep her safely and happily in my life. I truly believe Zoe wouldn't be thriving without this program, and I'm beyond grateful. If you're struggling with your dog, don't give up--give them a call. Absolute game-changer!

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Adam Hughes 2025.08.25

     

Excellent local dog trainers. Friendly and very good at what they do. I recommend them to everyone.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.08.25

Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Adam! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our dog trainers. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we appreciate your support. We look forward to continuing to help you and your furry friend in the future!

Amber Larson 2025.08.23

     

Brendan and his team are wonderful! We have a GSP puppy and she is so much easier to handle after completing the program. We are so happy with our decision!

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.08.23

Thank you, Amber! I'm delighted to hear that your GSP puppy is easier to handle after completing our program. Brendan and the team work hard to make sure every experience is effective and enjoyable, and your happiness with your decision means the world to us.

Alec Hoenigmann 2025.08.22

     

TL;DR: If you are willing to learn how to lead your dog instead of having someone “fix“ your dog for you, don’t go anywhere else! Brendan is your guy! We found out about Lead & Thrive from one of my wife's coworkers. Their dog was so well behaved and able to be calm in a busy office setting, and we wanted to learn how to teach our high-energy, spazzy, easily distracted English Springer Spaniel to do the same. I was a little skeptical at first, but Brendan is flipping amazing! Brendan doesn’t ”fix” your dog; he teaches you how to teach your dog. Brendan does a great job in explaining how to communicate with your dog in a way it will understand. He teaches you how to address the root issue(s) you’re having with your dog instead of focusing on the surface level. For example, our dog, Marble, was constantly distracted by shadows and flashing lights; before training, she would pull hard after the reflection from her collar on the concrete. We brought it up to Brendan, and instead of focusing on getting her to stop that specific thing, he identified the root problem, which was Marble’s lack of impulse control. Throughout our training, he then focused on different ways we could build up Marble’s self-discipline, which has totally changed how out of control she used to be! Brendan teaches both discipline and reward, unlike other dog trainers you may find online. It seems that most other trainers lean far too much on one side or another, but Brendan strikes the balance in teaching us how to clearly let Marble know when she’s doing something wrong and how to praise her for when she’s doing something right. Brendan is always calm and helps keep the energy levels lower, despite how crazy our dog would be acting. He’s incredibly patient with both Marble and us, and explains the what and why of our training very well. My wife and I were both blown away by the utter difference between Marble’s behavior over just a few weeks, and it’s all thanks to Brendan! We would whole-heartedly recommend him to anyone in need of training!

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.08.22

Thank you so much for sharing your amazing experience, Alec! I'm delighted to hear how Brendan's approach of teaching you to understand and communicate with Marble has made such a difference in her behavior. Balancing discipline with rewards is key to effective training, and I'm thrilled it worked well for you and Marble.

Ansley Jackson 2025.08.22

     

Brendan’s training was truly a game changer for our pup, Marble. From the start he was unphased by her high energy. He helps fix the root cause of her behavior and teaches you how to teach your dog without force but with patience and consistency. He brings his dogs to training and they reflect the standard you’re trying to achieve. Would recommend any breed and age dog to him with his level of experience!

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.08.22

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm delighted to hear that Brendan's training has been a game changer for Marble and that his approach focusing on patience, consistency, and addressing root causes worked well for you. It means a lot to us that you appreciate the example set by Brendan's dogs; they truly do reflect the standards we strive to achieve at Lead & Thrive Dog Training.

Linda Piatt 2025.08.21

     

Thank you Brendan for all you did to socialize Bella!! She loved her park visits. I really appreciate the time you spent with her and your professionalism.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.08.22

Thank you so much, Linda! I'm delighted to hear that Bella enjoyed her park visits. It was a pleasure to work with her and see her socialization improve. Your kind words about my professionalism mean a lot!

Jaime Rodriguez 2025.08.19

     

The one on one training was super helpful with the hyper active pup we have.

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.08.22

Thank you so much for your kind words, Jaime! I'm delighted to hear that the one-on-one training sessions have made a positive impact on your hyperactive pup. It’s wonderful to see them thrive and I'm here anytime you need further assistance.

Skyy Guzman 2025.08.05

     

When we first rescued our Lab mix we were nervous as we had only had very small dogs before. He had a ton of energy and was very nervous. Coming from rescue, Oggee had odd triggers like the grill in the backyard or the pavilions at parks. Lead & Thrive Dog training was recommended to me by a friend who trained her Sheppard with Brendan. During the first consultation with Brendan I noticed Oggee respected and listened to Brendan different than he did to me. I immediately knew we needed his help! We did an 8 week in-home puppy course. The results still surprise me. Oggee can now work through his fears quickly and move on so we can all enjoy our day. We found out Oggee was fearful of children and would therefore bark, growl and lunge at them. Even though we don’t have kids, we have many friends and family who frequently come over to our home so this behavior was unacceptable. During our sessions with Brendan, Oggee has overcome his aggression and is able to relax and even play with the kids. After our 8 week course Oggee has learned sit, down, heel, place, and stay as well as the correct way to communicate with me. He will not break from the Command until released. Adding the structure to his day to day has changed all of our lives. He doesn’t chew, bite, jump, beg for food or pull on walks. We have since boarded Oggee with Lead & thrive, which I have never done for any of my dogs but Oggee loves going to Brendan’s. I am so thankful for the work and patience Brendan has taught us. I will recommend Lead & Thrive to everyone!

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Reply from Lead & Thrive Dog Training 2025.08.06

Hey can we reschedule? My wife woke up super sick. I need to be here to take care of the baby