Excel Dog Training Inc
Service area: Serves St. Cloud, MN and surrounding areas within the local community.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Competition / Agility
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Puppy Training
- Basic Obedience
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- resource_guarding
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Group Classes
- Private Facility
Program Formats
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
Types of Dogs
- Small
- Medium
- Large
- Giant
- Herding
- Sporting
- Working
- Terriers
- Doodles
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Balanced Training
Equipment:
- ✓ Clickers
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ Harnesses
- ✓ Flat Collars
- ✓ Martingale Collars
- ✓ Pinch Collars
- ✓ Obstacle Courses
Excel Dog Training offers group classes in obedience, agility, and conformation, with an emphasis on positive reinforcement and balanced methods. Training includes foundational skills and advanced competition-level work. Clients are expected to practice at home. Programs are ongoing and structured around weekly sessions.
Testimonials
I took my first dog Gemma there as a pup I loved the socialization she got and helped me with any questions I had through her puppy hood. I will definitely be going back with my new Shepherd pup to do puppy and obedience classes.
Edit, currently now in agility. Loving it, Margaret and pete do an excellent job.
This is a great place to get your dog a little training. The course is good and they help you along the way. You are still expected to do a lot of the training at home but that is to be expected. Owners were great. I took off a star because the place can be hard to find initially. We would go back again for follow up training!
I was at the class when Naomi’s puppy was swatted on the butt as it was aggressively going after a chocolate lab puppy over a food toy – not the first time, either.In the incident described, their shepherd puppy was quickly escalating, growling and hackles up, going for the neck of the lab puppy. Because the owners did not intervene, the trainer swatted him to divert attention so she could grab him without getting bitten and defuse the situation. My own dog had disciplined their puppy just minutes before this, and sent him running under a chair after he got in my dog’s face.
People need to understand that there are many drawbacks to what is called “purely positive” training – one of them being that there are times and places for a physical correction, same as they would get from their mama. Excel Dog Training uses Balanced Training methods. This includes attention getters like a touch on the butt, a pop of a collar, teaching dog that it’s okay to be held and squirming and fighting is NOT acceptable through “puppy holds”… (Do you want them to have to be sedated every time they go to the vet because you didn’t teach your dog it’s okay to be touched? I doubt it!!)
I have been going to Excel for years, and will continue to. Pete and Margaret know what they’re doing, and they’re very honest and professional about it. With years of experience, they can quickly recognize a situation that needs attention, and will be up front with you about it. I trust their methods.
Attended the fun match. Great experience for my puppy.
About the Trainer
Excel Dog Training Inc, founded by Margaret and Pete Leither in 1990, provides dog training services in St. Cloud, MN, with over 40 years of combined experience. Margaret previously served as Director of Training for the Granite City Kennel Club. The business offers group classes focused on positive reinforcement and balanced training methods, including advanced obedience, agility, and conformation training. They emphasize building a strong relationship and understanding between dog owners and their pets, and train dogs of all ages—from puppies to seniors. They no longer sell dog food, treats, or supplements, focusing solely on training services.
Their approach includes attention getters like light collar pops and puppy holds, which they describe as necessary for safety and behavior correction, distinguishing them from purely positive-only trainers. Clients report success with puppy socialization, obedience, and agility training, though some have raised concerns about physical corrections during sessions.
Accomplishments
Margaret served as Director of Training for the Granite City Kennel Club and has been training dogs for over 40 years. Excel Dog Training Inc has been operating since 1990.
How to Get Started!
Prospective clients can contact the business via phone or email to inquire about class availability and enrollment.
Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Associations
- AKC
- APDT
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- wheelchair accessible entrance
- wheelchair accessible parking
Location
3446 2nd St SE # 1, St Cloud, MN 56304Listing Tools for Trainers
For Excel Dog Training Inc Only
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