Compatible Canine Center

If I could give 10 stars, I would! Lance has helped me through a very difficult time where the older dog that I rescued started displaying aggressive behaviors in my home. He has a gift for explaining why dogs act the way they do. He helped me break down what triggers were in order to prevent them and he even came to my home to help me modify the environment. Above all, Lance provided superb training for myself and my dog. I am indebted to Lance, and couldn’t recommend him any more highly. His facility is basic/​not fancy and no-​nonsense. If you’re looking to work hard and get results for both you and your dog, then this is the place!

Dog training comes in many forms: puppies, adult dogs with socialization problems, aggression, adopted dogs with transitional issues, etc. Lance and his trainers have infinite patience and will work wonders, and help you and your dog with issues large and small. It’s one thing for a dog to do well for a trainer. Hey, they’re smart. Dogs quickly figure out that if they behave and do well: lots of positive feedback and TREATS! Dog training also involves owner training and that is one of the things that separates Lance & staff from most other trainers. They will help to make you a better, and smarter dog owner.

I took my dog to Lance and Francis when he was a puppy for a bit over a year (I stopped when I lost my car and the trip on the T from my house to the Center was too long). I couldn’t be happier with how they trained my dog. When I first got my dog at 2 months, I didn’t have a clue on how to train him. As soon as I could, I enrolled my dog in their puppy school for training and went to evening classes so I could learn how to walk my dog properly and have him follow commands. I boarded my dog with Lance when I traveled which was a great opportunity for continued training and fun and as my dog mastered obedience classes was also able to participate in the agility classes when I could. The trainers are very experienced and skilled. They are hilarious and friendly yet consistently disciplined both with the dogs and dog owners. My dog loved going to the Center and the classes as did I. My dog is now three and is awesome. He is very social, super sweet and still follows all the commands he was taught. He has been such a great addition to my life and I thank the team at Compatible Canine Center for all their great work!

Lance and Francis are truly excellent! I have brought several dogs here including my current foster dog. They truly work wonders and are available for questions etc. I would recommend this training facility to anyone interested in changing their dog’s behavior and living in harmony with their fluffy friend. They will do their absolute best to ensure your and your dog’s success. Amazing place — Boston dog owners are very lucky to have them!

These guys are great, all of them, safe, careful and very caring. My Italian Lagotto was a handful, not neutered either and quite active. They have helped us train him and now he is much less wild and he is much more confident in himself and able to participate in all kinds of things with other dogs. I take him for an off leash walk now in our neighborhood and out in woods/​beach and he actually follows commands. They have also boarded him for up to two weeks and he always comes back happy and safe and has learned a lot from them. These people are «dog trainers extraordinaire»

I couldn’t be happier with the results and the experience. Francis is totally dedicated to his work, and he teaches in a way that makes it easy to learn. I’ve been bringing my 1.5 year old Jack Russell here for almost a year, and she’s gone from being pretty wild to being very reliable. Recently, my parents housed her while I was on vacation for two weeks. She got glowing reviews, and they were reluctant to give her back!
Francis is demanding, but he always treats the dogs and owners with the utmost respect. That formula leads to a dog that works hard and owners that really enjoy building a relationship with their animals.

My husband and I are so incredibly happy that we started bringing our ~2 y/​o mixed breed rescue here six months ago. When we adopted him, we were told that he needed consistent training and a strong pack leader, but, other than through voracious viewing of the Dog Whisperer, had no idea what that meant. Francis, Lance and Diane have worked with him, and as importantly with us, to shape our dog into one who comes when called, looks to us, instead of his instincts, when confronted with stressful situations and who is far more balanced and happy than he was six months ago. Whenever a new issue arises, their advice is invaluable in addressing it (and they are always happy to provide advice – the best way to catch them is when you pick up your dog). Our dog is expecting a human sibling this fall, and they have been great at helping us understand how to create a safe space for both dog and baby. We highly recommend them.

Lance and Francis are, hands-​down, the BEST there is. Years ago, I rescued my best friend from the MSPCA. He was an absolute mooch who loved everyone and everybody… but it turned out that he hated other dogs. «Hated» is perhaps not a strong enough term to describe the unstoppable ball of dog-​seeking rage who flunked out of SIX Boston-​area dog training facilities. Trainers literally just threw up their hands, refunded my money and told me that there was nothing they could do. I figured that if «professional» dog trainers said it was hopeless, then I should just accept that my little Hanibal Lecter would have to live out his life in solitary confinement. Despairing, I remembered that a cousin of mine bred and trained Rottweilers out west, and I decided to see if she knew a lion-​tamer anywhere in New England. To my suprise she said «Lance Woodley is one of the best, and actually he’s right near you.» (that was back in 2001, so Al Gore hadn’t finished making the interwebs what it is today and finding things on line wasn’t too much better than using the phone book).
I went over to Brookline and discovered that beneath a run-​of-​the-​mill pet supply/​grooming place was the subterranean-​layer of the original dog whisperer.
I had an evaluation session, during which my little brindle bundle of madness tried to punk out every other dog he saw a la Popeye from Blood In, Blood Out. Lance and Francis, unlike all the trainers I’d been to, were totally nonplused by his behavior. They were like, oh yeah, we’ve seen worse, no problem. And they weren’t kidding. After some intensive therapy, my dog got to the point where he could not just be in the presence of other animals, but even walk off leash around them! The folks at this place are god-​damned miracle workers.
Are there any downsides? None that I can figure. Apparently, some of the tenderfoots out there are put off by the fact that the facility doesn’t look like a Boston Sports Club. But luckily I’m not there to admire the artwork or do pilates. All I care about is that my dog gets trained. Also, yes they’re not always 100% about returning phone calls. But that’s because they probably get tons of calls from weirdo Brooklinite tire-​kickers who want to talk about cleansing their dog’s chakras, or making sure that the feng shui of their dog kennel is just right. Don’t be a weirdo– just bring your dog in for a visit and you will be a convert.

We adopted our little Boston terrier Achilles when he was 2years old. Soon after we picked him up we learned he had some serious trust issues. He had food aggression, he went crazy barking and growling at any dog in the area, he wouldn’t let anyone pet him aside from my husband and I. We thought he just needed time to adjust but when he started snapping at me anytime he was disciplined I started to become scared of him. After 2 months of trying training tricks we found on the Internet we came across the compatibility center. We started with 3 days of training a week which included morning drop off and pick up after work (8hrs). They also gave us rules we incorporated at home which showed immediate results. Like no marking, only allowing him to chew on chew toys if we held them so he understood the house hierarchy, etc Many of these tricks we still use today 3years later. After 3 months we started participating in the weekly training classes with him so WE could now be trained. we were surprised to see the trainers using HIM as the example in the class for a lot of skills. he was so calm and comfortable with all the trainers. it was awesome to see. dogs still made him anxious (hed sometimes shake when dogs got too close) but he was no longer aggressive.
At about 2 months in to the 2 – 3 day a week training we got a call from the center that Achilles had had a big seizure. It lasted several mins. They brought him straight to Angell Med Center and stayed until I could get there from work. They were wonderful. Achilles was eventually diagnosed with epilepsy (grand mal cluster seizures). The center could have easily said they weren’t comfortable keeping him around for 8hrs of training knowing he could have a seizure which required rectal Valium administration, but they didn’t. We showed them what to do if he had a seizure, kept my contact info and pinned his med bag on a board behind the desk so it was fast and easy to access.
Since bringing him to the center he’s done a complete 360. He LOVES people. Little kids pet squeeze and chase him and he just takes it. Not a single ounce of aggression in this little guys body. In fact people dont believe me when I tell what he was like when we got him. He goes to dog parks and although he doesn’t play he’s comfortable being in close proximity to other dogs. If it wasn’t for the great training and care we got at this center neither Achilles or us would be as happy as we are today. Don’t be fooled by the underground space. It’s not flashy but the people there are absolutely awesome.

I have been bringing my Rhodesian Ridgeback here for almost 2 years and can’t imagine a better place with people who really care about his well-​being and training. Francis and Lance are amazing with the dogs and really connect with them. Yes, it is in the basement of Brookline Grooming, and yes it’s a little off putting with the concrete ceilings and mirrored walls, but these guys really know what they are doing. I mean, Francis works with Boston Police Canines. Day school is $ 40 and boarding is $ 60. My pup comes home after day school tired and worn out.
Words of advice: don’t try calling. They are really bad with answering the phones. It’s probably better if you just «stop in.» As for classes, you don’t really «schedule» classes. They are every 2 weeks and if you have questions about when the next class is, you just stop in and the trainers will let you know. To the review about the crates piled on top of one another, they don’t stay in the crates the whole time. They come out for training and lessons. Each dog is given training time in school.

I heard about Lance at Compatible Canine through a friend. I made an appointment and brought our new dog to meet him. The place upon arrival was a bit frightening with dog crates stacked on top of each other, dimly lite but I stayed as we were really struggling with our dog. Lance really seemed to connect with the dog and gave us a great tip that allowed us to finally sleep through the night. I did not really want to go back to the location so we set up an appointment to have Lance come to our house. When I left I told him I needed to check the time. He told me to call back if there was a change. When I got home I called him back right away to move the appointment back and hour. It took 4 more calls to finally speak with him and make the change. I had a bad feeling as the day approached that he may not show given his lack of responsiveness. Sadly I was right. He did not show up. Did not call. and I have not heard from him since.
It was $ 300 for an hour that I did not spend so that was the good thing but I am really in need of help. This kind of service is important to the folks who make the appointments. I wasted 3 weeks anticipating this visit. Now I have to start over. I think lance would have been great if he showed up.

I just realized that we never reviewed Compatible Canines and Lance Woodley… must fix that immediately.
We adopted our first (and only, as of now) dog in March 2011, and as parents of two girls aged 10 and 5 we wanted to make sure that Maggie Mae behaved properly. She did not have any major issues: just pulling on the leash, getting excited about small critters that we met on the walk, and overall having no training whatsoever — par for the course for an adopted 1 year old dog.
The 10 lessons we took with Lance (bought as a package and spread over almost 6 months, giving us a few weeks after every lesson to apply what we just learned) got us to where we wanted to be, and we are grateful for the lessons we learned. Not only we learned how to handle Maggie Mae so that she is a happy, well-​adjusted dog, but my now 12 year old daughter is now walking other dogs in the neighborhood, and her customers first noticed her when she was walking Maggie Mae because of how happily, easily and comfortably her 80 lb dog walks by her side.
And yes, besides heaps of positive reinforcement, we do use a prong collar during her walks. We were initially uncomfortable initially since it kind of looks like a medieval torture device, but after educating ourselves on the topic and noticing the improvement in Maggie Mae’s behavior as a result of using the prong collar as part of her training, we realized that like with any other tool, it works great when used correctly and as a needed complement to positive reinforcement, and Lance /​Compatible Canines went to great lengths to ensure that we were trained in how to use it.
Yes, the place does not look like a 5 star hotel, but we went there to learn how to work with our dog, and we got everything we hoped for. The trainers are among the best in Boston, they take the time to understand what the dog’s issues are in order to determine what type of training the dog needs, and deliver great results. I’ve sent multiple friends and neighbors to them and everybody was very happy with their results.

We first found Lance 15 years ago, when we got our first dog and needed puppy training. When our beloved dog passed away this spring at age 15 ½, and we adopted a new puppy, there wasn’t even a question in my mind of where to go for training. Lance is truly THE BEST. He understands dogs, he feels them, he innately knows what they need and how to approach them. He’s a true «dog whisperer,» and there is no one better.
Regardless of your dog’s possible «issues» (or even no issues at all!), this is truly THE place to go for traning, behavior advice, and learning how to be a better dog owner.

I paid for a 12 sessions training and have been trying to contact the them for over a year to schedule my 4^th session without success. They never return calls, never answer the phone, very unprofessional.
Also, their training may be effective but I would not want to take my dog there for daycare or similar, it is a small basement and dogs are tied to a treadmill to make them tired!

I can’t say enough good things about this place! My classes with Lance have been great. Lance makes sure that people bring up questions on behavior I now have a well behaved, well trained dog. Not that there isn’t room for improvement and I am planning on taking more classes with CC.
The main reason I am prompted to write a review is that recently I became ill and was unable to properly exercise my rather large mastiff puppy. Some neighbors stepped in and offered to walk him for me until I was up to taking him out for the type of exercise he needs. They raved about how well behaved and well trained he is. I would never have gotten my dog to this point on my own. Thanks Lance! We couldn’t have done it without you.

Based on the reviews here and their proximity to me, I decided to check out Compatible Canine Center during my search for a dog trainer. I gave them a call and scheduled an «interview.»
They are located in the basement of Brookline Grooming and Pet Supplies, and like others have noted, the interior isn’t exactly luxurious. You can’t help but miss the myriad of trophies on display in the corner though, which I found rather impressive. One of the trainers, Francis greeted me and listened carefully as I addressed the issues I was having with my dog, a rottweiler mix with a bad attitude towards other dogs and a short-​attention span. He quickly came up with a plan to improve my dog’s behavior, and explained each step of the program. I felt comfortable with it and decided to sign up for some classes.
Training with Francis has been great. He goes over each step very carefully, demonstrating to us what to do and explaining the reasons behind each exercise. So far, after only 2 months of training, my dog has shown tremendous improvements. Gone are the days of lunging and barking at other dogs on walks, making life a lot easier for me.
They also provide day care and overnight boarding as well, and other classes such as schutzhund and agility classes. There’s a wide variety of dogs there, from German Shepherds to Yorkshires, so they seem to have experience working with all varieties of dogs.
Definitely give Compatible Canine Center a try if you are looking for a dog trainer, they’re great!

Lance is the best trainer. He understands the mindset of dogs and their owners. We took our french bulldog Sadie to Lance when she started to display aggressive tendencies to children and she needed to reestablish her manners.
What sealed the deal for us was the fact that Lance owned a french bulldog. French bulldogs are interesting creatures so it was important for us to have a trainer/​handler that understood their temperment. He taught us a lot about Sadie, her breed tendencies, and even pointed out bad behaviors that we were instilling in her.

I don’t write reviews often, but this place is great. I rescued a pit bull and have been training with Lance and Francis for about a year. They have been very encouraging and my dog loves both of them. I leave her with them when I go on vacation and I am never worried about her.
They are willing to talk to you and explain your dogs behavior until you understand and feel comfortable. They have a great variety of classes and I completely recommend them.

I have been working with Francis at CCC for 6 years. No matter what, Francis and all of the trainers at CCC have been able to teach me and my dog, not just show how it is done, but also explain the theory behind the training. They are great trainers who care about each dog and pay individual attention to each dog and their owners. They are not a cookie cutter shop! You will have individualized training that meets the needs of you and your dog at every stage of their development.
I have used all of their services including: doggie day school, boarding, basic-​advanced obedience, protection training, agility training, and trial training.
Whether you are an experienced dog owner, first time owner, or training your dog for competition, you need to check out CCC!

Don’t let the hole in the wall basement appearance fool you. This is the most amazing dog trainers in Massachusetts. You enter the place throught the grooming center and down to a plain old low ceiling basement. There you find Francis, Lance and Diane. Three of the best trainers in Massachusetts. I have interviewed three other Boston trainers and other Brookline trainers and this is by far the best. I was lost with my male Havanese. The LOVE/​HATE relationship was starting to tip on HATE and Francis taught us how to be a leader and alpha dog.
They are reliable, friendly and understanding. They are the only people we trust with our dogs.
It may not be the NICEST looking place, but you can be sure they are safe and treated well.