About Wonder Dog Training & Games

Wonder Dog Training bills itself as "The #1 In-Home Dog Trainers in Town" and runs from Bartlett, with a second city operation in Austin, Texas. The Memphis line published on its own site is (901) 248-9282.

The in-home argument

The site's central claim is about location rather than technique: "The #1 issue in dog training is WHERE you train him. If you train him at a store or park, then it will be VERY difficult to fix the problem behaviors happening AT HOME that are driving you crazy!" Their answer is to train only "where they live, play, eat, run and poop, which makes sense because that is where their triggers are!" Sessions teach what they call the 7 basic life commands and, in the same visit, address the household problems – jumping on guests, bolting out the door, pulling on the leash, playful biting and ignoring commands.

Method, in their own words

They are explicit that they are not a treats-only operation. Their About page says trainers who do come to the home "use positive-only stimuli (treats and praise) which is thoroughly ineffective to get rid of unwanted problem behaviors that require corrective stimuli like pulling on the leash, bolting out the door, pooping on the rug, barking at the mailman". Owners are trained alongside the dog, which they frame as the only way the work holds after the trainer leaves.

What else they offer

Two things are unusual in their line-up. The first is the Wonder Dog Games, described as "a fun family environment to play with your dog no matter how basic or advanced their training is, meet other dog lovers and re-enforce all of the work you are doing at-home". The second is what they call regression insurance, offered free with every program: "if your dog forgets his training in any way, or if new problem behaviors arise later, then just call us and we'll be out to get him back to good again." They also advertise payment plans through a bank rather than payment up front.

Who runs it

The founder published on the site is Corey McDaniel, described as a Master Dog Trainer who grew up around border collies, later owned a Belgian Malinois, attended a North American dog training school and returned to Memphis to start Wonder Dog. Consultations start with a free training evaluation booked through the site.