iHow the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%86+46.9Reliability 24%79+19.2Value 14%91+12.9Replies to reviews 7%96+6.8Experts Score= 86Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.86SCORE
AGradeiLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#51 of 75 dog trainersiPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 32%
4.9★★★★★397 Google reviews · 24 photos
96%five-star reviews
4.83★last 12 monthsiAverage stars on reviews from the last 12 months only.
3.7%1–2★ in 2 yearsiShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
Customers praise the board and train, private coaching, and puppy programs for improving leash manners, reactivity, and obedience, noting that trainers provide progress videos and clear home exercises. Recurring themes include strong communication during training and effective results for various breeds. However, low-star reviews criticize inconsistent updates, missed appointments, and concerns about the use of negative reinforcement tools, with some clients reporting that their dogs’ behavioral issues did not improve or worsened after the program.
Google rating: 4.9 out of 5 from 397 reviews (96% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 397 Google reviews (382 with written comments, 108 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 99% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 22, 2026.
Service: Dog Trainer serving Cary, North Carolina.
Data from Google, last updated October 26, 2026.
Score profile vs other dog trainers
Score per factor (100 = best)iEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: momentum and replies to reviews; weakest: reliability.
Cornerstone K9Dog Trainers median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactioniSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Cornerstone K9: 86/100 on this factor. Category median: 95.A
86
ReliabilityiReliability · 24% of the scoreHow rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Cornerstone K9: 79/100 on this factor. Category median: 94.B
79
Craft & serviceiCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Not enough reviews for this factor yet. Category median: 100.–
–
ValueiValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Cornerstone K9: 91/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
91
MomentumiMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Cornerstone K9: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
100
Replies to reviewsiReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Cornerstone K9: 96/100 on this factor. Category median: 51.A
96
Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.
Star ratings
397 Google reviews we collected
4.9of 5
5 stars38096%
4 stars51%
3 stars21%
2 stars21%
1 star82%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 382 written reviews
97%praise
Praise57197%
Complaints193%
PriceiGoogle asks reviewers whether the price was great, reasonable or overpriced; these are their answers.
Price verdicts customers left with their Google review
97%fair
Great price2134%
Reasonable3861%
Overpriced23%
Not sure12%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Would recommend14825%
Staff & attitude13924%
Quality & results9416%
Communication8114%
Speed & response549%
Honesty & trust549%
Price & value203%
What customers talk about
We read 382 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“I would recommend this company to everyone looking for anything that has to deal with their fur babies.”
“If you’re looking for training for a reactive/aggressive dog, I would recommend the K-9 commander or Sit Means Sit.”
“She was attentive to our puppy’s needs and executed the training as planned.”
“Sandy did an absolutely amazing job training my puppy Kilo!”
“Was never refunded for this terrible experience and I haven’t trusted a trainer since.”
“We sent our dog to stay with him for 3 weeks and when she came back he explained everything we need to know to keep her consistent.”
“What was supposed to be a 2-week training program turned into nearly 5 weeks of emotional distress, poor communication, and zero real results.”
“I could immediately tell how much she genuinely cares about the dogs she works with.”
“You can tell how much she genuinely cares about the dogs in her care, and that meant so much to us.”
“…he training poured into him, I think the price overall was very much worth it.…”
“n she left she said they would contact me with recommendations and a quote, after a month she txt me asking how we are doing, would never recommend to…”
People customers mention
Karissa32 reviews
Jeff25 reviews
Erin24 reviews
Sandy20 reviews
Sierra19 reviews
Gina17 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Reviews for your job
Customers hired Cornerstone K9 for 1 kind of job. Pick one to see what they paid and said.
Gary1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 3 days ago★★★★★
Sandy was great! She was attentive to our puppy’s needs and executed the training as planned. The videos were extremely helpful as they allowed us to see our puppy’s progress. Now that our puppy is home we are seeing evidence of her training daily.
Reasonable priceDog boarding
Erika8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · Edited 4 days ago★★★★★
We’ve used Cornerstone K9 for several board and train sessions as well as private sessions. Jess had been amazing to work with and our pup Hank LOVES her! He’s learned so much in his time with her is really proud to show off his skills. We’ve also learned a lot and everything they’ve taught us has really made life…
Dog boarding
Abigail1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 weeks ago★★★★★
Mike did an amazing job with our dog. We came to him with our highly energetic German Shepherd that we had recently adopted. She now listens extremely well and is so well behaved.
Reasonable priceDog boarding
Sean8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 weeks ago★★★★★
Mike was great! We sent our dog to stay with him for 3 weeks and when she came back he explained everything we need to know to keep her consistent. It’s been over a month and we couldn’t recommend it enough!
Great price
Jennifer2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 weeks ago★★★★★
I would recommend this company to everyone looking for anything that has to deal with their fur babies. They are great at what they do with the dogs, from what I have seen they treat every animal that comes to them as one of their own. so If you are looking for dog training I would recommend giving them a try.
Ben6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 3 weeks ago★★★★
Closer to a 4.5. Communication could have been better and quicker. Pancho is a very stubborn dog so I know he was a problem. Karissa is talented and experienced and dedicated to her job. We will board Pancho with her when we travel and cannot leave him with family.
Sandy was great! She was attentive to our puppy’s needs and executed the training as planned. The videos were extremely helpful as they allowed us to see our puppy’s progress. Now that our puppy is home we are seeing evidence of her training daily.
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Services: Dog boarding
Response from the owner · 3 days ago
Thank you, Gary — we really appreciate your kind words. We are so glad Sandy was attentive to your puppy’s needs and that the training and videos were helpful. It is wonderful to hear you are seeing daily progress at home. Thank you for trusting us with your puppy and for sharing this feedback.
Thank you - Jeff
Erika Koteff8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Erika has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We’ve used Cornerstone K9 for several board and train sessions as well as private sessions. Jess had been amazing to work with and our pup Hank LOVES her! He’s learned so much in his time with her is really proud to show off his skills. We’ve also learned a lot and everything they’ve taught us has really made life with a puppy a lot easier. Highly recommend Jess and Cornerstone K9!
Services: Dog boarding
Response from the owner · 7 months ago
Thank you so much for trusting us with Hank and for sharing this wonderful feedback. We’re thrilled Kaleigh’s three-week board and train helped Hank become calmer, more responsive, and comfortable going to place on his own. It’s fantastic to hear the whole family is enjoying walks and more pleasant interactions. Please reach out anytime for refreshers or support as Hank continues to progress.
Thank you - Jeff
Abigail Reilly1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Abigail has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Mike did an amazing job with our dog. We came to him with our highly energetic German Shepherd that we had recently adopted. She now listens extremely well and is so well behaved.
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Services: Dog boarding
Response from the owner · 2 weeks ago
Abigail, thank you so much for your kind review. We are thrilled Mike was able to help your energetic German Shepherd settle in and gain such great listening skills. It is wonderful to hear she is now so well behaved. We appreciate you trusting us with her training and are so happy for your family.
Thank you - Jeff
Sean Reilly8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Sean has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Mike was great! We sent our dog to stay with him for 3 weeks and when she came back he explained everything we need to know to keep her consistent. It’s been over a month and we couldn’t recommend it enough!
Price assessment: Great price
Response from the owner · 2 weeks ago
Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Sean. We are thrilled Mike and the team provided attentive care and helpful guidance to keep your dog consistent after her stay. It means a lot to hear she is doing well and that you would recommend us so highly. We look forward to caring for her again whenever you need.
Thank you - Jeff
Jennifer Jones2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Jennifer has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I would recommend this company to everyone looking for anything that has to deal with their fur babies. They are great at what they do with the dogs, from what I have seen they treat every animal that comes to them as one of their own. so If you are looking for dog training I would recommend giving them a try.
Response from the owner · 2 weeks ago
Jennifer, thank you so much for the kind words and recommendation. We are thrilled to hear you feel our team treats every dog like one of our own and that our training and care made a positive impression. Your support means a lot and helps other pet owners feel confident choosing us. We look forward to caring for more fur babies in the future.
Thank you - Jeff
Ben Castro6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Ben has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Closer to a 4.5. Communication could have been better and quicker. Pancho is a very stubborn dog so I know he was a problem. Karissa is talented and experienced and dedicated to her job. We will board Pancho with her when we travel and cannot leave him with family.
Price assessment: Not sure
Services: Dog boarding, Service not listed
Response from the owner · 3 weeks ago
Thank you for the thoughtful review, Ben. We appreciate your kind words about Karissa and are glad you feel comfortable leaving Pancho with her when you travel. We apologize our communication could have been quicker, and we will work to improve response times. Thank you for your patience with Pancho and for trusting us.
Thank you - Jeff
Eva Vannoy2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Eva has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Sandy did an absolutely amazing job training my puppy Kilo! From the very beginning, she was patient, knowledgeable, and so great with him. I could immediately tell how much she genuinely cares about the dogs she works with. Kilo has made such a huge improvement with his training, behavior, and listening, and I’m so happy with his progress!
Sandy was also wonderful about keeping me updated and showing me how to continue working with Kilo at home. I couldn’t have asked for a better trainer, and I would highly recommend Sandy to anyone looking for someone who truly knows what they’re doing and treats your pup like their own.
Price assessment: Great price
Services: Dog boarding
Response from the owner · 3 weeks ago
Thank you, Eva. We are thrilled Sandy made such a positive difference for Kilo and that her patience and guidance helped his progress. Sandy will be so happy to hear your kind words. We appreciate your recommendation and are grateful you trusted us with Kilo. We look forward to continuing to support you both with tips to reinforce his training at home.
Thank you - Jeff
Princess Jenkins5 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Princess has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We are absolutely AMAZED by the progress our boy Kilo made during his three weeks of training with Sandy! 🥹🐾
From the very beginning, Sandy made us feel so comfortable leaving our doodle in her hands. She is not only an incredible trainer, but truly the sweetest soul. You can tell how much she genuinely cares about the dogs in her care, and that meant so much to us.
Throughout his training, Sandy kept us updated with photos, videos, and little progress reports, which made being away from him so much easier. Seeing how much he learned and how far he came in just three weeks has honestly left us in awe!
We know training doesn’t stop when he comes home, and we’re so grateful Sandy gave us the tools and foundation to keep his progress going.
Thank you SO much, Sandy, for taking such amazing care of our boy and loving on him while he was away from us. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Kilo definitely hit the jackpot with you! 🤎🐶✨
10/10 recommend Sandy to anyone looking for someone they can trust with their fur baby!
Response from the owner · 3 weeks ago
Thank you so much, Princess, for the wonderful review and for trusting Kilo with Sandy. We are thrilled to hear about his progress and that the photos, videos, and reports helped make the time apart easier. Sandy will be overjoyed to know her care and training made such a difference. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are so glad we could give you the tools to continue his success at home.
Thank you - Jeff
Nikki Harris1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Nikki has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Jess was an amazing trainer. She stayed in close contact with us throughout the whole 4 week session. She made us feel very comfortable and I know our dog had a making time with her. It was almost hard to get her to leave Jess cause she loved her so much! She also came back with a great understanding of different commands. We really enjoyed our time with Jess and appreciate everything she did!
Response from the owner · a month ago
Thank you so much for the lovely review, Nikki. We are thrilled Jess made you and your dog feel comfortable and kept in close contact throughout the session. It is wonderful to hear your dog loved working with Jess and came away with a strong understanding of different commands. We appreciate you sharing your experience and look forward to supporting you both again.
Thank you - Jeff
Cat ChoLocal Guide · 9 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Cat has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Edit: The team has since reached out and offered to continue training services. I am changing my review and will continue to keep you updated!
————
It’s with a heavy heart that I write this review, but I cannot recommend Cornerstone K9. Both of my dogs, Jjangu and Binky, went through training programs earlier this year. Jjangu did the 4-week reactivity recall training (which ended up running 5 weeks), and Binky did the 2-week reactivity training with follow-up sessions.
Both dogs came back more reactive than when they went in.
Reactivity was the primary concern I flagged during the consultation for both dogs. So it was surprising when, upon pickup, the trainer told me she had never seen either dog display reactive behavior. We tested this on a walk together immediately after — the first dog we passed, both of my dogs reacted strongly. The trainer again said she hadn’t seen this before.
I understand reactivity can be situational, but what’s hard to reconcile is that in 4+ weeks with Jjangu, he was apparently never once put in a position — with a controlled level of exposure to another dog — to actually work through his reactivity. When I raised this, the trainer explained that she always kept enough distance that his reactivity never triggered. That defeats the purpose of training for a reactivity-specific concern I was explicit about from the start.
Since finishing the program, we’ve had multiple one-on-one follow-up sessions and have been doing everything asked of us, but both dogs remain just as reactive as before.
If your dog struggles with reactivity, I’d strongly recommend looking elsewhere — that’s what I’ll be doing.
Services: Dog boarding
Response from the owner · 2 months ago
Hey Cat Sho sorry your journey with your pups have been a rough one. Dogs can be complicated sometimes, especially when there is reactivity involved. BUT, Cornerstone K9 never gives up on delivering to our clients and their dogs. From what you wrote, it seems like we need to change tactics on getting your pups squared away. Remember, when you train with us, and your dogs go home, the training is not over, especially with us. We are right there with you every step of the way. Saying that, if we need to bring on additional trainers to your refreshers and tackle these issues as a team, we will. If we also need to bring some of our personal dogs as distractions to help replicate issues, we will. Whatever Cornerstone K9 needs to do to get you and your pups on the same page, we are always down for. Please reach out to us, so we can formulate a much more advanced refresher lesson plan for you. Cornerstone K9 is the best in NC when it comes to reactive dogs. Most don't know this, but other dog training companies call us frequently for help with their client dogs. Some of them have even had their clients contact us for training because the dogs were to much for them. I couldn't tell you how many ties thats happened. I tell you this, so you know, you are in good hands. Sometimes training takes longer than a board and train timeframe. When it does, we are right there with you and are not trying to ask for more money on something you have already paid for. We hope to hear from you.
