Google reviewers rate Island Dog Training 4.9 out of 5 based on 57 reviews, highlighting knowledgeable instructors, clean facilities, and effective positive reinforcement methods for various needs like agility and reactive behavior. Customers frequently praise the thorough education provided to owners and the supportive atmosphere during classes. One low-star review criticized the training as ineffective for a specific jumping issue, alleging that safety concerns were not adequately addressed for a disabled handler.
Google rating: 4.9 out of 5 from 57 reviews (98% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 57 Google reviews (45 with written comments, 5 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 12% of reviews.
Most recent review: September 8, 2026.
Service: Pet Trainer serving Decatur, Alabama.
Data from Google, last updated November 3, 2026.
Star ratings
57 Google reviews we collected
4.9of 5
5 stars5698%
4 stars00%
3 stars00%
2 stars00%
1 star12%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 45 written reviews
91%praise
Praise3291%
Complaints39%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Staff & attitude1749%
Would recommend823%
Quality & results411%
Speed & response26%
Communication26%
Price & value13%
Honesty & trust13%
What customers talk about
We read 45 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“The trainers are very knowledgeable and supportive and great at helping you work through problems.”
“I highly recommend Island Dog Training to help with training a reactive dog.”
“Would not recommend, training supplied was completely ineffective after weeks of consistent use.”
“The instructors are fantastic and the classes yield great results as long as you put in the work with your dog.”
“…ract her from things that make her bark and most importantly how to quickly get her away from whatever is causing her to crazy bark.…”
“Margie gave me a wonderful tour and answered all my questions.”
“The training is not always easy but the results are very much worth it.”
“They make me feel like they care about me as much as they do my dog and they seem to genuinely like my dog!”
People customers mention
Margie3 reviews
Manners3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
We love Island Dog! I've been taking my two dogs to classes there for the past three years. We've done agility, scent games, and trick training classes, and all of them have been really fun for both me and the dogs. The trainers are very knowledgeable and supportive and great at helping you work through problems. The facility is also very nice and easy to get to. Highly recommend!
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Lili SmithLocal Guide · 12 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Lili has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, MB Morgan! We're thrilled to hear that your dogs love coming to 'school' at Island Dog Training. It's our goal to make training a fun and enjoyable experience for both dogs and their owners. We look forward to seeing you and your furry friends again soon!
J
Judy FinchLocal Guide · 50 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Judy has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
My dog Jack and I have been training here for several years. The instructors are amazing and caring. Classes are available from basic foundations to agility, therapy, service and even reactive dogs.
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Services: Dog training
Response from the owner · 7 months ago
Thank you Judy! You have done fabulous work with Jack. He's such a kind, gentle boy.
D
Darlene ONeal10 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Darlene has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I highly recommend Island Dog Training to help with training a reactive dog. My dog is so much calmer and at ease after working with their amazing trainer. They taught me to how to teach her to relax, keep her attention, distract her from things that make her bark and most importantly how to quickly get her away from whatever is causing her to crazy bark.
They provided a great training book that helps me refresh my knowledge and exercises to help train my hyper dog to relax. The weekly logs have helped me document her progression and have notes to know what to work on with her trainer.
C
Cindy Ray8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Cindy has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude to Margie and her staff. When my health became extremely fragile, Island Dog expedited and intensified Lilly’s service dog training. Thanks to their hard work, I now have a fuller, more independent life.
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Karly RayburnLocal Guide · 39 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Karly has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
There are so many wonderful things I could say about Island Dogs. I attended classes with my new puppy and while the training was excellent, what made this place so special for myself and my dog was the education we received. Margie, Kay, and Leah saw the problems I was having with my dog and were there walking alongside us for the whole 7 weeks of instruction. I cannot thank Island Dogs enough for all that they did for us and for our dog. If you have a sensitive dog like I do, this is the place to take them for training!
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Local Guide CTLocal Guide · 18 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Local has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Margie and staff have been delightful. I cannot say enough good things. I had paid for about 7 visits and only got to meet these kind people 3x before becoming swept up in packing and prep for moving away out of state. As my first class was for humans only, and the 2nd one for the dogs + humans, my dog only got his meet and greet and one class evening. But I'm telling you that even such a small number of brief encounters will have changed our lives for the better and is worth what I paid. The level of attention, kindness, compassion, flexibility, respect, and patience is such that even one encounter changes myself and my dog for the better. We will fondly remember our one evening of class with Margie and two excellent instructors, and will take our book of lessons and advice we received from them, and endeavor to keep up practicing when in our new home. Bravo and cheers!
P.S. Editing because I failed to mention the facility, grounds, parking including handicapped spaces, and neighborhood are perfect. There is a butterfly and hummingbird garden with paths that is entirely enchanting, there is at least one and maybe multiple fenced yards for training outdoor, then the expansive indoor training room, a nonprofit also operating onsite to train the animals that go into care facilities and provide patients with positivity, the office, and the kitchen. These are what I encountered and there may be more. The classes are scheduled at hours accessible to various people including we who work during the day. I was doing the Family Manners course, but there is a full course lineup. Margie expressed very much and appropriate concern that my dog maximize his ability to support me with my multiple disabilities, and in short, I doubt I'll find such a full-service trainer and facility again. You will find a variety of needs may be met by Margie et al at Island Dog.
K
Kristin PearsonLocal Guide · 203 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Kristin has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
