After thoroughly researching dog training facilities in North Carolina, we chose New Hope Dog Training Center. Although we live in Charlotte, we decided it was worth the drive to Chapel Hill for our new puppy. We adopted Felicity at 11 weeks and had her for 4 months when we brought her to Gene. After a lifetime of cats, this was a new venture for us with a dog and we wanted to have a fun and rewarding life with her. Basically, we were clueless with potty training and knowing how to best handle play biting and jumping and getting her to listen.Felicity went to stay with Gene for three weeks and quite literally came back a different puppy! Gene provided 4 training lessons for us (which is really the important part!) while she was with him and after she came home via Zoom. Gene has been doing this for many years and his knowledge is evident. He loves his work and it shows.Now that Felicity has been home for over a month, the change is so awesome to see! She is potty trained, she listens when told to come or stay or sit and she is just generally a joyful little fluff to be around!She will continue to be a work in progress since she is young, but we have the tools we need to know what to do at this stage.A huge Thank You!! to Gene from all of us!! I sing his praises on a regular basis!

Gene knows dogs like the back of his hand. We rescued an 8 month old black lab mix who had more energy than any new dog owner could know how to handle. After four months of trying to train him on our own, we were feeling overwhelmed with little progress. One of our biggest issues was walking on a leash, in which our dog Dakota would pull like crazy, making it unenjoyable taking him on walks. We decided to send Dakota to Gene for three weeks, and the results were unbelievable. When Gene walked Dakota back out to us upon pickup, we thought he had brought the wrong dog! You could tell Dakota was so excited to see us, but was staying controlled and right by Genes side with a loose leash. Its been three weeks since we got him back, and Dakota has continued to improve every day. Gene didn’t just train our dog, he trained us as dog owners how to continue to teach Dakota what we expected of him, and how to build a relationship with him. The lessons after getting Dakota back were so helpful in setting and maintaining a new way of life with our dog. Dakota is still learning how to navigate the big world, but we are now confident that we can continue to positively grow Dakota into the companion we want him to be.

I highly recommend New Hopes services. I am a new dog owner, and was overwhelmed with trying to train my 4-month-old Portuguese Wager Dog. I had worked with a different trainer before, but did not feel like I was learning how to manage my relationship with my dog in a way that made sense for us. Mr. Obedience taught me how to build that relationship with boundaries that work for me and my dog, using language that made sense to me. Both of us live a much more harmonious, happy life after her training at New Hope. The best investment I couldve made for me and my dog!

I brought in my 6 year old beagle-pyranese mix who I adore, but who had some behavioral issues with barking, jumping, climbing on furniture, and poor leash manners. After leaving her with Gene, I couldnt be happier with the results. Shes calmer, better behaved, and actually listens to me. The boarded training process was smooth, and the zoom lessons were excellent. At several points Gene made extra time for me to answer questions and provide support, even after my scheduled lessons were over. All in all, an excellent experience, and I would definitely recommend this program to other dog owners.

I dropped off my one year old pup for a three week boarding training package. She was extremely hyper all the time, jumping, excitement tinkling, biting, and ripping up everything in sight. She came back more calm and attentive to directions. Gene kept up with us after getting her back to guide us into keeping up with her new skills and building them. He also taught me how to be a confident dog owner and not let my pup bulldoze me (as Gene would say lol!). She is still as hyper as ever but my mom and I are so happy to have her back with new skills and ability to listen making living with her even more amazing!

There website says that they guarantee aggressive dogs to become more manageable. I called New Hope Dog Training to talk to them about it. I was on the phone with the owner, he said my dog was on the low end of aggression but, he word for word told me “i make too much money right now that I do not need your dog. We have two trainers and we can not guarantee that your dog will follow your rules. But we can guarantee that he will follow my rules.” I would not send any of my dogs or recommend this center to ANYONE. This is FALSE ADVERTISEMENT!!!!!!

I was hesitant to send our 8 month old yorkiepoo, Coco, away for obedience training. Now that we have gone through the process, I can say it was the best decision and well worth the cost. We were too busy with work to devote the time and consistency it takes to train a puppy. I started my research and found Mister Obedience. His reviews are stellar….and I see why. Before, our home was somewhat chaotic with lots of yelling and getting nowhere with Coco’s training. It was sad to drop her off for three weeks, but I knew it was for the best. The Mister Obedience facility is very nice and the property is beautiful. The staff is very pleasant and helpful. Gene really knows dogs! Not only are they training your dog, but you get trained as well. It was comforting to know we were learning how to be good dog owners so we could transition over Coco’s training at home. The changes in Coco are wonderful and there is much less yelling at our house! If you are at your wits end with your misbehaved dog, you definitely need to see Mister Obedience. Think of it as sending your dog away to camp, but they come back better behaved! Thank you Mister Obedience!

After seeing all of the amazing reviews, my boyfriend and i thought taking our energetic 1 year old german shepherd to Gene for his lack of trust (from being in the pound) was a good way to help with his submissive urination. Whenever I got the call from Gene, both my boyfriend and i were unable to have 5 minutes to speak about our dogs personality, behavior, or problems (so pretty much anything you needed to know about him.) he just kept insisting that our dog was exactly like this other german shepherd he had dealt with in the past. At one point in the 12 minute conversation he brought up his twelve kids.. ??? This whole interaction was super frustrating especially for the $2,100 price tag attached. Would definitely recommend going to someone else if you want to be heard.

I brought my two dogs because of the websites promise on we specialize on multi-pet households. This is my personal experience and I understand that every dog is different. Both dogs went through the same training and i personally really liked the trainer. John knows what hes doing. Wallace, my GSD, was a good dog going into the training, and he came out a great dog. Foster, my lab, had a rough start as a rescue and struggles with anxiety and is aggressive to other dogs.I followed up with the one on one training, for a few months but Foster did not change or benefit at all from the training. My directive from the training sessions was to keep training him at home slowly, one step at a time and i did just that.I didnt inquire about a partial refund until after I just kept trying and trying and nothing was working. Of course, after following that directive, time had passed and i now did not meet the required time frame for the money back guarantee.Their response: I’m sorry to hear that Foster hasn’t responded well to the training. My advice would be to continue to work with him at low levels of difficulty and maintain control of the situations that you encounter, as you learned to do in the 6 follow-up classes that you attended.While i get it, it is very clear on the website that the money back guarantee is within a certain time frame, I would have to say, the program/trainers could have done things differently. I should have asked for my money back right after the 6 follow up classes, but i didnt. Because i followed their directions and kept trying to train Foster at home by myself.I would recommend this place if your dog struggles with a (few) number of things as opposed to my Lab who struggles with all the things. (i.e. hes anxious, dog/leash reactive, pulling, jumping and so on..) Wallace, the GSD, only struggled with a couple of things and hes perfect now.Also, i wouldnt trust the money back guarantee as they dont really follow up on the no questions asked part. I get it, youre a family owned business. Not trying to bash you. But i would advice them to remove that if thats not really something they plan to carry through. Also, the owner, Gene, suggested i got rid of one of my dogs and it would help with the training. That was rude and uncalled for, even for a dog trainer. These dogs are my entire life and i am spending thousands on training to make sure they are good dogs. Which I will continue to spend money on training, but with someone who specializes in anxious dogs this time.

My wife and I are the proud owners of a Tibetan Terrier. Not a mean dog but high energy, noisy, and in general wouldnt listen. We took him to training at Mr. Obedience when he was 13 months old and when he was done with class he is such a better dog. We can now get him to come when called, doesnt jump on people, and he is so much better in public. He now listens and we continue to work with him to make him more obedient. The best thing is that not only are we happier as owners but so is our dog.Matt B.

Gene is very kind and funny. Once I sent in my inquiry he called me very shortly after on the weekend and was very generous with his time. Although he could not help me in person due to COVID with the special needs with my dog, he gave me his time to offer support and examples in what I need to do at home to train her and work with her aggression. I am very grateful for his advice and hope that once COVID restrictions are over that I may be able to do additional training with him and/or bring her for a visit to show the progress. He is extremely knowledgable and experienced and I cant wait to see how she does now after his input. One of the best. Thank you! I recommend to anyone who may need training or support.

We had adopted a rescue dog that turned out to be quite a behavior/training challenge. We had a little success on our own modifying some behavior and had become resigned to it is what it is going forward. Then we found Mr. Obedience. The combination of re-setting the dog and re-training us as trainers has given us a whole new experience. Our methods of training and, as Gene calls it, operating the dog are much more effective. The dog is much more relaxed, happy and better behaved as a result. Interesting side note - she sheds a lot less now. We can only guess that she was extremely stressed out before the training and is more relaxed now. Perhaps the business should be renamed Mr. Obedience Dog and Owner Training Center.

I took my Bernese Puppy to them to correct a few typical puppy issues, puppy biting, jumping up, and chewing. When we got the pup back his manners were improved, and his leash skills had greatly improved.COVID 19 hit just as we were picking up our pup, and we were only able to attend the go-home discussion with the promise that Zoom lessons would continue and we would be contacted to set them up.Well that never happened, and my gut tells me other families that put their faith in this staff were also not contacted. I finally reached out to the owner, via email. He responded a few days later with a bunch of apologies, and telling me how his staff was panicked and he was sorry they did not follow up on the remainder of the training. We agreed to meet on a call a few days later, at a specific time. Gene made a point multiple times to tell me he had it on his calendar.Well the day came for the training, and he was a no-show or should I say no call. Today two days after the appointment he calls me out of the blue to talk again. Of course I cant because I am work and not with the dog or my wife which he stressed was important to understand how to operate the dog.I get it that COVID was and is a tough event! But my time invested in the actual training, class ie: go home and personal discussions with the owner were not what I would have expected of a business like this, lots of folksy stories with little or no real content.My personal recommendation would be to find a different place to take your dog, the value for the cost is not there. And forget about trying to get your money back, that just will not happen. In fairness I have not asked for the refund, but the owner, is operating on tight budget, so it is not worth it to me to even ask for the refund.

We were a little anxious leaving our 4 month old puppy in a training center for 3 weeks, but it was the best decision we could have made for our new family member! John, Gene and the rest of the staff were amazing with our little girl. When she returned to us, she was comfortable and quiet in her crate, stopped biting and nipping completely, and listened to our commands.In addition, the follow up lessons have been fantastic. We have learned so much and see improvement on a daily basis. I highly recommend this training center for anyone with a dog, even if they dont appear to have any problems. We would give a 6th star for this review if we could!

Mister Obedience is an incredible organization and John our trainer is the best we have ever seen. John is extremely knowledgeable and the transformation of our Goldendoodle has been incredible. John worked with our family, including our special needs child, to ensure we know exactly what to do at home to implement the principles learned with Stella. Stella was totally re-programmed to be the perfect pet without the jumping on the table, tearing up toys, mouthing people, etc. I cannot express our gratitude enough. Also, included in the 3 week stay are 4 lessons afterward one-on-one with John. I highly recommend Mister Obedience as the facilities, trainers, and staff are top notch.

Dropping our rescue Moxie off for three weeks of on site training was the one of the most difficult things we’ve done, but what a great decision! At the time, was perfect in every way - except for severe leash aggression and a tendency to bolt out the door. Three weeks later, she was the same happy dog, but her behavior was sooooo much better. Yes, we’ve been working with her ever since, to transfer the skills she learned with John (AMAZING trainer!) to us. But it’s so well with the time. We now call her Moxie2.0 - our same sweet and spunky girl, but now she plays well with others and safely stays inside when the door is opened to let in guests.Best. Decision. Ever.

We were absolutely exhausted trying to train our puppy. She was anxious, hyper and barked at her own shadow. When the vet brought to our attention that her behavior wasnt normal we actually contemplated finding her a new home. Out of desperation, we went to Mr Obedience. His training service is worth every penny! This guy understands dogs! Rest assured, you play an important part in this process. He lays the ground work and you have to maintain it. Our puppy is such a delight now. She actually freezes when we say No! Instead of dreading being with her, we enjoy every minute of her company. We highly recommend Mr Obedience!

I just walked my 60-pound boxer/terrier mix dog around the block with no issues. It may not seem like a big deal. However, two months ago that would not have been possible. He would have lunged and barked at any jogger, neighbor, rabbit, bike rider, or anything else that moved. He was a rescue dog with behavior issues, no social skills, and was not food motivated. As a last resort, we enrolled him into Mr. Obedience’s In-Board Training Program. The results were more than impressive. Gene assessed our dog and implemented training strategies and techniques that changed his behavior. He also trained me, as the owner. He taught me the skills to continue working with our dog at home. We now have a dog that enjoys his walks and we have a dog that we can enjoy. I would highly recommend Mr. Obedience for any dog and dog owner.

Gene, the owner, obviously cares more about us and the dogs, than money! We went to him with 2 littermates, males, that were so out of control, that I dreaded getting out of bed every day. They are English Mastiffs, and at 14 months already weigh 150+ pounds...destined to get to around 200-260 each!He pointed out that with us being 67 years, and my health failing, that we simply had way too much dog to be safe...much less happy. He offered to keep Jeremy, continue his training, and find him a new, and frankly a better forever home. There was no charge for this. He said he didnt plan to sell him, so he didnt need his AKC paperwork.The boy we brought home, Joshua, is an absolute joy now. He is obedient and respectful. We still continue to work with him on leash manner issues...after all he is still a puppy.It is imperative for you to attend the classes after the 3 week school is done. THAT is the time for you to get your training!!I cannot say enough good things about Mr. Obedience, Gene, and his trainers. Theyre all a class act and they earn every penny of the tuition.Thanks to all of you.Katie Hunter

My dog was under-socialized when I got her, and had problems with jumping and destructive chewing. House training was also an issue. This program is great. She doesn’t jump or chew any more, is much less timid, and Gene showed me how to effectively house train her and help her be a more outgoing dog. Well worth the price to solve so many issues in just a few weeks. The dog and I are now both happier. I recommend this program highly if you are having similar issues.

Mr. Obedience did a great job with our dog, Sierra. When we made the decision to take her to get proper training we were unsure what to expect after 4 weeks. After we picked her up right before Thanksgiving 2015, we realized right away that she was more well behaved than when we first dropped her off. Then it was time for us, the owners, to be trained. That was interesting and maybe even a little challenging to change a humans mindset how how to interact with our dog. He helped Sierra learn how to listen and helped us learn how to keep her in check. We are very pleased with the results. As the previous poster mentioned, if you break down the cost to the lifetime of the dog, the value is surely there. Great experience and well worth the investment; your dog will thank you!

I called Gene when my wife and I needed help with our dog. Gene gave us the tools to ensure our dog is a great member of our family. Most importantly our dog came back to us as a new dog. The training was the best thing we did for our family and dog.

Amazing. Just Amazing. Our Pomski Puppy, Cairo was a handful. We had tried reading the manual and had a trainer come to our house but his will was too strong and we were not disciplined enough. After Gene worked with Cairo we have a much mellower and obedient dog. Still very strong willed but much more controllable. And Gene did a great job of training us also and explaining in easy to understand terms how dogs think and respond to their environment. I cannot speak highly enough of Gene and his team.

Might not be able to afford the training, but when I called the dog trainer spent a lot of time walking me through how to house break my dog and the whole training process!

Changed our life!We were struggling with our dog who had started to show aggressive behavior. After a five week training stay our lives are so much better. Our dog is no longer charging the door or aggressively barking at strangers. During our follow up lessons with Gene we learned what to do in our home to make the training he received effective. I only wish that we had done this sooner. We have continued to use the kennel since the training and our dog is always happy to go. I highly recommend Gene for any training help you may need.

Our two year old lab was a handful for us. We had almost given up until a friend recommended Mr. Obedience. We live in southern Virginia, and I was not sure about driving almost two hours one way to Chapel Hill. I am so glad that we did! Gene Lonsway was the best! Not only did he spend three weeks training our Coby, but he gave us the tools we needed to continue at home. We are so happy with the results. We now have a dog that is a joy to share our home with.

Mister Obedience turned my two spoiled poorly behaved dobermans into wonderful well behaved members of the family. Prior to attending the board and train my dogs were completely unruly. The 75 lb. female was mouthy and jumped on everyone including my mother and mother in law. She would get up speed and run full force into anyone who dared come into our house. Our 110 lb male was the sneaky one. He’d chewed apart uggs, Birkenstock’s, whatever he could get his mouth on. And the barking was non-stop. Both would run our fence line barking at whoever was walking past. Gene gave us rules commands that allowed us to take back our house. Now our dogs are a wonderful part of the family. They are respectful and even my mother said she thought she could take them to her house for a visit. This was money well spent. I would recommend it to anyone with a dog.

Mr. Obedience is an amazing trainer and really knows his skill. My dog and I were trained very well and I couldnt be happier with the outcome!!!! The training is well worth the price and I highly recommend his program. Thank you Gene!!!!!!

We just finished our final follow-up session at the Mister Obedience Dog Training Center. To say we are amazed at how far our Beagle/German Shepard has come would be an understatement. We, like many people, were initially apprehensive about investing so much in a training program. So, before visiting Gene and going through the in-board dog training program, we spent $500 with various trainers who came to our house and attempted to help us get control of our dog. In retrospect, I wish we would have just enrolled her in the training program from the start. When we dropped Isabelle (our dog) off, she was barking at strangers, pulling hard on the leash whenever we took walks, lunging towards other dogs, jumping on people and furniture, etc... When we picked her up, she was completely controlled. She had the same loving personality, but she had matured mentally and she would resist doing things that she knew were wrong. We will be sending all of our future dogs to Gene to be trained because he provides an outstanding value and makes it his personal mission to make sure you have the tools and knowledge you need to ensure the training does not end when you pick your dog or puppy up. To people who may still be apprehensive about the cost, think about how many more years you will have with your dog and divide the cost by the number of years you will get to spend with a perfectly trained and respectful dog - that is what we did and we are so happy with our new well behaved family member.

Gene is very friendly, and the training is very thorough. He helped our golden retriever and our small Maltese mix for different issues! Would definitely recommend to a friend!

Took good care of our dog while we were gone for the night.

Great staff! Excellent service! Very impressed with the operation!

In a matter of 2 months I went from having a wild, destructive dog to one that could hangout with my cats! Such an amazing improvement!

Great!