Canine University

Gerilyn and Paul are the best. They’re fantastic at what they do as well as helpful and responsive. My dog and I went there for Puppy Kindergarden as well as private training with Gerilyn for my reactive dog. She also goes to daycare twice a week with Paul and it’s a lifesaver.

Canine University was an integral part of socializing our 10 week old puppy and training him out of his bad puppy habits like play biting. The Puppy K class was great for teaching my husband and me how to clicker train effectively. Gerilyn also taught us how to approach free play time in a constructive and safe way. Since graduating Puppy K, we’ve moved onto basic manners and our puppy is improving every day!
The most valuable asset for us was the doggie daycare. Our puppy needed socialization with other dogs, but we knew he wouldn’t pass the «temperament evaluation» that other dog daycares in the area require due to his play biting. Gerilyn and Paul are such experienced handlers that they assured us Severus would be fine at dog daycare with them even though I worried he might set off some larger dog with his nipping and get himself in trouble. They carefully match their play groups and mostly let him play with their adult golden retrievers, who are used to being around puppies. Severus got lots of corrections from dogs, which he really needed, but was never in an unsafe position. After about 15 days at Canine University doggie daycare, Severus was exhibiting more appropriate play behavior. He even passed the temperament evaluation for another doggie daycare which is closer to where we live!
We have since stopped using their daycare services only because it’s not convenient for our work locations (added an extra hour each way to my commute). However, I cannot recommend them enough to anybody who 1) lives near them 2) has a puppy that needs doggie daycare but won’t be accepted into other daycares due to behavior issues. Canine University is understanding and tolerant of each dog’s weaknesses and works to correct them while still being very inclusive (within reason)! If it weren’t for Canine University, Severus would still be a naughty playmate, nipping at dogs’ ears, legs, and jowls. I can’t thank them enough for giving our puppy a chance and now I’m never afraid to take him to dog parks or other play groups because I know he’ll play well!

I can’t say enough good things about Gerilyn and Canine University. We’ve been taking our 1.5 year old American Eskimo for some private lessons and have been so impressed. Gerilyn has so much knowledge and insight into dogs and their thinking and behavior. ALL of her suggestions have help Koko get much better when dealing with strangers and all our dog walking friends are so impressed with how well she listens and responds to commands.

My dog and I just completed our first obedience course here and we love it! Gerilyn is an awesome instructor. She really knows her stuff and helps each dog/​human team get the individual help they need for their specific issues. Every dog is trainable, you just have to put in the work and time, and Gerilyn and her team will help you figure out how to motivate your dog. Love this place!

We have taken two dogs to classes at Canine University.
12 years ago we took our 100 pound Rottie here for puppy, beginner, advanced and therapy dog training. Because of these classes she was a model canine good citizen” her whole life. Now we have a new lab puppy who has started in beginner classes at Canine University.
Gerilyn, her husband Paul and her staff are all kind, caring and knowledgable.
We have also brought our dog to the doggie daycare. So nice to have a happy tired dog at the end of the day.
I recommend Canine University to people all the time.

Canine University has changed my life and the lives of my dogs. This place is one of the top 3 things Malden has going for it. (You other 2 know who you are!) Gerilyn is an amazing instructor. Classes are fun, positive, and creative. My dogs and I have taken 4 classes there so far (adult beginner, puppy kindergarten, beginning agility and now the «wild child» class.) My 9-​year-​old poodle mix is learning a lot and breaking some long-​term bad habits in «wild child.». Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Plus weekly attendance at day care at Canine U has given my puppy excellent dog socialization skills.

My adopted dog was terrified of new people and dogs. Clicker training and socialization through Canine University was definitely the way to go! Not only do they have regular classes, they also have doggie-​daycare on Tue, Wed, and Thursdays. Perfect for the working doggie-​parent!

After adopting a rescue dog, which also happens to be the first dog of my own, I decided that obedience classes were in order. After searching online, I was very happy to find a trainer located so close to me. I sent out some questions via e-​mail, and they replied after a couple of days addressing my concerns and recommending some classes.
The location can be a bit tricky to find at first, especially at night. It is located in a warehouse like area. I sat in on a class and liked what I saw, so I signed up for 4 weeks (twice a week) of classes for my dog.
Most of the beginner’s training here is done with the clicker. It works very well for me, and I like the fact that it gives the dog a consistent source of encouragement. After 3 classes, the dog is better behaved so I’m very happy with the results so far. I will update this review upon the completion of the 4-​week course.

Canine University has a ton of classes available, a good website and a lot of very useful literature. We took our dog out for an one-​on-​one session with a trainer to work on his behavior with other dogs when he’s on leash. The trainer, Rachel, taught us how to use a clicker with our dog. She also gave a thorough interview to get to know our pup and let him run around the big open space while we talked. Her dog was there so we could practice passing dogs on the sidewalk. It went very well! We have lots of homework to do, but also a great resource when we run into trouble in the future. I’m looking forward to signing up for group classes this summer.

Sure, it’s a bit of a trek to Malden… but totally worth it!
I allowed over an hour to get to our first class, and a Mapquest direction sheet, numerous consults to Verizon’s GPS software, and a lot of swearing later, Woofie and I arrived at our destination: Canine University.
The place looks like an abandoned warehouse, but inside it turned out to be a sweet dog training school.
I found this place thanks to Dachary C, who suggested it for agility classes. From the beginning, when I emailed Paul and Gerilyn (the husband and wife duo who own and run the place) through the seven week class, I felt that I 100% got my money’s worth.
Gerilyn was our instructor, and she managed all the dogs wonderfully. She just knows how to coach you and your dog, and catered her feedback to each dog’s needs. (In other words, she made me feel comfortable with my unruly, ridiculous dog, which helped me manage him better and get the most out of class).
These guys use operant conditioning (big word for clicker training) and sell tasty treats and foods too. And Gerilyn fielded random questions from dog owners each week, and provides resources for you on anything from training to medical advice, to where we could take our dogs for further expansion on our class.
We’ll definitely be back for more, since Gerilyn and Canine U totally rock!