Reviews

Cooper, our 2 year old mini golden doodle was full of energy and had an extreme bout of “selective hearing”. After our consultation with Matt, we signed him up for the board and training. Ashley sent daily videos, pictures and messages with his progress. We were blown away with what he accomplished in such a short amount of time. It’s been 3 months since his training and he is doing great! He has a level of confidence about him now that going on walks is so much fun. We continue to work with him to strengthen what he has learned. Cooper loved his training and Ashley! This was the best investment! Thanks Ashley and Matt!

We were lucky enough to get our new bernadoodle Sully in for the two week board and train course. Matt did a fantastic job getting our puppy proficient with commands and giving us a jump start with crate training. He was in near constant communication about all of our dogs behaviors and progress. At the end you come equiped with everything you need to tackle the puppy phase, even a potty schedule! Couldn’t recommend highly enough.

Matt and Ashley are absolutely wonderful. Our pup did the Board and Train for two weeks at 7 mos old ( and also did the board and train at 8 weeks) to learn the ecollar and it was extremely effective. Two months later, he has retained all that he learned. Also Ashley and Matt are so caring and loving to our pup and he adores them! The collar does not bother him; he is just significantly calmer and more in control since the training. Highlyrecommend Matt and Ashley!

I met Matt a little over a year ago in Lowe’s when he was there with a puppy. That was the beginning of a wonderful experience for me. Caprino went to month board and train from the breeder. When he came to me I was amazed at the training he had already accomplished with Ashley. From there we continued with puppy classes and then advanced training. Cap and I worked hard at this and both Matt and Ashley were always available for assistance when not in class. I am happy to say Cap has attained Certification as CGC and also certified as a therapy dog. I could not have done this without their help and excellent training. I am looking forward to having Cap go out in the community and help others as much as he helps me.

Our dogs, Isaac and Olive, were out of control. They each had their own behavioral issues. Isaac pulled on leash, was reactive to other dogs, and had a mind of his own when on an animal trail. Olive pulled on leash, barked at everything and nothing. A blowing leaf would set her off. She jumped up on everyone she met. And a whole host of other issues for both.

We live in Alaska and I called so many board and train entities (mostly in Arizona because we were going to spend a bit of time there.) I looked at countless websites. I didn’t feel comfortable handing my dogs over to any of them for one reason or another. Most took in many dogs at a time and they were kept in kennels.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and was going to spend three weeks there visiting family. Upon recommendation of my brother and sister-in-law I contacted Control is Key.

From the first phone call, I knew my dogs would be well taken care of. My dogs would be living with their trainers. Matt and Ashley were fantastic.

We got many videos and texts everyday showing Isaac’s and Olive’s progress. I could also tell my dogs were happy and enjoying the attention and training.

After we picked up our dogs, Matt and Ashley began the arduous task of training us. They have amazing patience and kept training until we felt comfortable with handling our dogs on our own.

We are now driving back home to Fairbanks and are so incredibly happy that we trusted our dogs to Matt and Ashley of Control is Key.

If you are on the fence trying to decide if you want to send your dog to board and train, give Matt a call. You will be happy you did.

I took my young English Springer Spaniel to Control is Key and equally worked with Ashley and Matt for 8 sessions. They were both excellent at understanding what I wanted in terms of training for my dog, in addition to clarifying MY learning style so that I could best utilize the training techniques implemented. Matt and Ashley are easy to communicate with and ask questions that help determine exactly what goals are trying to be accomplished. The trainers opened my eyes to goals I didn’t even know I had in regards to dog-training. If you have a young dog, or are wondering exactly what sorts of components of training need to be worked on, I would definitely recommend using Control Is Key.

I owe many thanks to Control is Key Dog Training! My dog and I would not be doing therapy work if it wasn’t for the one on one consistent training we received on a weekly basis! Some weeks it took more than one session! Matt, the owner, as well as Ashley gave me the confidence that I needed to become my dog’s handler! All the hard work that my dog and I did was so well worth it! I highly recommend Control is Key!

I found Matthew on the ecollar web-side and even though I was skeptical at first because a beagle is a hunting dog and especially ours was VERY reactive and not a loose leash walker at all. Now I get compliments when walking her in dog approved stores since she is so well behaved now. I had her off leash recently and she did not chase after a very close by rabbit. Mostly I like that his priority is ALWAYS to use the lowest setting possible which depends on the given distraction level. So really it was not just him teaching my dog but he was teaching me as well. It was a great experience and I myself learned so much!!!

Matt and Ashley are wonderful people who truly care about the quality of training you get. They are genuinely good people and worked wonders on our two dogs. Both my dogs now get along great and since working with Matt and Ashley I haven’t had any issues with them behaving negatively towards each other. The service you get will last you forever and is worth the investment for you and your pups.

We cannot thank Matt and Ashley enough for the training we received for our puppy Beau. When we got Beau, despite being so loving and sweet, he was full of energy and had become quite destructive in the house. We had become extremely frustrated and didn’t know where to begin with training. Luckily, we met Matt and Ashley who have both helped us tremendously throughout our 8 week training program. They are so knowledgeable and patient with their training and have helped to make our Beau so well behaved and have helped his temperament so much. You can tell that both Matt and Ashley care about each dog and family they train and are passionate about what they do. We are extremely grateful and highly recommend them to anyone who is in need of dog training!!

Both Ashley and Matthew were excellent with our Doberman puppy named Titus. From our initial board and train consultation we knew how passionate they both were about understanding our expectations and what was most important to our family throughout the whole training process. We highly recommend them to anyone!! I promise you that you won’t be disappointed!! I wouldn’t recommend anybody else.

We gave Matt and Ashley our 11 month poodle mix in the late summer of 2023 and could not be more happy with the results. He was almost uncontrollable on walks and in public. It’s January of 24 and still is the same obedient boy they gave us back after his 2 weeks of training…. Thanks again.

I deemed my 1yr old golden retriever/bernedoodle mix as “untrainable” due to how many repeated incidents we had and lack of control I had of him. He was always a loving dog, but there were no rules to him, and I let it go that way for far too long. My anxiety was always a 10/10 in social settings because he’s a runner and a jumper.

Matt and Ashley took my “untrainable” dog and showed me he was actually an extremely smart and loyal dog who loved to work. No more leash pulling, completely transformed demeanor, can go off leash without me having an anxiety attack, and more.

Both Ashley and Matt were always checking in and willing to help through out the entire process. It wasn’t just 8 weeks of training for my dog but for me too. And now I have the skills and equipment to continue training him with new skills!

We are so grateful for the training we received. We were literally losing our minds with a super wild and active puppy. We didn’t know where to begin. Matt gave us everything we needed and more. She is now 8 months and is very lovable but also obedient. We couldn’t have asked for me.

Matt and Ashley are wonderful! They took our puppy at 8 weeks from the breeder and had him for two weeks. He learned many commands and was crate trained. Matt was firm but so warm and kind with him. We will sending him back in a few weeks for e-collar training as a 7 mo old. Very impressed with Control is Key.

We sent our puppy to Matt and Ashley for 3 weeks and he came home absolutely perfect. He sleeps through the night, has very good manners, and listens well! Matt and Ashley are amazing and will go above and beyond to help you. We plan to send him back when he is 9 months old for more training.

Matt and Ashley are calm and worked so well with our children to ensure they are also able to keep our puppy in line. They sent videos every day of them working with our dog, and spent time teaching us how to use the commands they taught him. They asked us for our daily routine to train our puppy to have him work around our lives. I highly recommend them!

DJ, my pit-bull pup, is my very first pet. I was clueless about everything. I am a teacher and got him this past summer while I was off. Come fall and back to school I did a lot of “wrong” things. I signed DJ up for the 2 week board and train in November. I didn’t know how I would do without him so long. Ashley sent videos and texts everyday! Now, my life is so much easier. Matt and Ashley are the best. I’m so grateful for all they have done for me and DJ!!!

We knew we needed to get our pups trained but really didn’t find the right fit until we discovered Control is Key with Matt and Ashley. They are not only great trainers but are really good people. They will make you feel comfortable instantly. We were training 2 dogs in separate sessions which was a lot of work but in the end it was all worth it. Matt taught us to understand our dog’s body language, pay attention to them, know where their limitations are and then know when to push the boundaries. One of Matt’s comments to us was I gave you the tools you need, now it’s up to us which translates to you need to constantly train those pups. He is totally right. We left each session seeing our dogs thrive and being totally in awe at what they can do. There were also times I think our dogs may have impressed Matt which showed by the expression on his face. To wrap this up, if you are thinking of training your dogs this is the place to be. I can’t thank them enough for helping us to help our dogs.

I just want to say how pleased I am that I chose Control is Key to do training for my dog, Sophie.

Mark and Ashley are very kind and patient with Sophie and I.

I will be taking Sophie back for her advanced training. I highly recommend taking your pet to them, you won’t be sorry. Out of a five star rating, I rate them a 5+.

We enrolled our 1.5 year old German Shepard, Bear in the two week board & train program. All of the things we struggled with were all fixed when we picked him back up! Ashley taught us how to continue with the all the training her and Matt taught Bear. They kept us informed the whole process and kept great communication. I’d recommend them to anyone!!

Ashley and Matthew were absolutely fantastic with our two puppies. They are very passionate about understanding our expectations and what was important to our family throughout the whole training process. Both Ashley and Matthew communicated with us frequently. The follow-up trainings were very helpful and allowed us to transition from their training to the day to day routine. We highly recommend them to anyone!!

My husband and I were very frustrated with the behavior of our two two year old dogs. Matthew and Ashley were so amazing in helping us with solutions. With hard work by the whole team (dogs included) we were fixed! Matthew and Ashley we so hands on and had answers to all of our questions. We highly recommend this knowledgeable company to everyone!

From our initial contact until our final pick up we were so happy. The communication they provide during the entire process is amazing. Answering any and all questions, videos, pictures. It was great. We sent our bernedoodle puppy for a 3 week board and train, she came home doing all the things we were told she would. After the pick up they have continued to ask how she is doing and helped with any questions we have.

We could not recommend Control is Key enough!

Matt and Ashley are not only wonderful dog trainers but incredible people as well. They are both extremely kind, fun and easy to work with. They both possess a great amount of knowledge about dogs, such as how to control various behaviors and how to communicate effectively. I reached out to them this past March to inquire about training my 3-year old Cockapoo (Tillie) to become a therapy dog. Thanks to their amazing training experience, Tillie passed her AKC Canine Good Citizens test after 12 sessions and is now on her way to becoming an AKC Therapy Dog. I highly recommend using Control is Key for any level of dog training you may be seeking!

I enrolled my 7-month mini golden doodle, Denver in Control is Key’s two-week Board and Train program. I can’t say enough good things about my experience (especially after trying two other training programs that I was very disappointed in…)

During the program, Matthew kept me updated on a daily basis with photos, videos, phone calls and facetime calls. Denver learned so much and came home happy, healthy and very well trained. She is listening so well and is a joy to be with.

The best thing about this program is that Matthew and Ashley accomplish all of the training goals with so much love, affection and nurturing toward the dogs they’re working with. This balance was really important to me. Denver was well cared for the entire two weeks while learning so much!

I highly recommend Control is Key…no doubt about it!

Matt and Ashley had our new Aussiedoodle puppy, Roxie, for a 3 week board and train. Matt kept us informed of all of Roxie’s progress the entire time he had her and gave weekly summaries. He set her up on a schedule, potty trained her, taught her basic commands, and taught her how to walk on a leash. Even after driving 5 hours to bring her to us, he spent time with our family to teach us how to continue working with her. Matt was always available for questions during our transition. Control Is Key totally exceeded our expectations.

Matthew and Ashley helped us with our formerly unruly Frenchie. After having Toby for 4 months, we quickly realized we would need help with bad habits both human and canine.

Toby came out of the experience with leash manners, people manners, door manners and in general was happier. We came out of the experience with realistic expectations and the confidence need to be the head of our pack.

The biggest transformation was seen when we were able to have Toby off leash with children from our neighborhood running around and playing while he waits patiently to be allowed to join.

Truly a wonderful experience and we can’t thank and recommend Matthew enough.

My beloved pit/boxer mix Brighton was already a sweetie, but had become pretty reactive to other dogs, especially on walks. She did a two-week board and train program with Matthew and his team, and the difference was almost magical. He did an amazing job not only training Brighton, but training me to make it stick afterwards (which is of course the goal!). Now she stays attentive to commands no matter the stimulation. Matthew combined professional and effective dog training with a care for my dog that was above and beyond, and his availability and follow-up after made all the difference. I would recommend Control Is Key to ANYONE!

Took my Dalmatian Aries for the 8 week command training and it’s made a world of a difference! She can be reactive to other dogs so it gives me such a piece of mind I’m in better control of situations whenever we’re out and about in public or even just around the house.

I could not have asked for a better experience. Matt and Ashley worked patiently with me and my pup from the beginning. They worked with my schedule. They provided guidance both in session and out of session and always answered all my questions. I came to them with the goal of training my dog to be a therapy animal and they got us there! My pup is AKC good canine citizen certified and has tentatively passed his therapy certification. They worked so hard to train ME so I could be the best handler for my dog. I can’t ask for a better dog and I can’t ask for better trainers.

When our Dog “Miss Coco Chanel” had her last litter of puppies my fiancé and I desperately wanted to keep a puppy out of the litter so Coco could have at least one of her many puppies in her life long term. However, between our busy work schedules we knew that we did not have the time necessary for training an 8 week old puppy. Luckily, Jaci, with West Penn Doodles (The breeder and breeding programs that manages Coco’s litters), suggested we speak with Matt regarding and hire “Control is Key” to get our puppy, Eleanor Rigby, some basic training.

After speaking with Matt we settled on the two week boarding program (Which my fiancé and I affectionally began to call “Puppy Bootcamp”), before taking Eleanor home with us. I cannot begin to say enough good things about Matt, Ashley, and the program. Throughout the 2 weeks Ashley stayed in contact with us nearly every day updating us on Eleanor’s progress as well as sending us videos and pictures of her training. I have had quite a few dogs and puppies in my lifetime and I can say that the progress that was made with Eleanor in the two weeks she was with “control is Key” was nothing short of amazing.

When we picked Eleanor up she was already performing her commands of sit, down, here, come, and place with an almost 100% success rate. Furthermore, her house breaking was phenomenal. She was and still is incredibly proficient in alerting us to when she needs to have a break outside resulting in very few accidents since coming home. Something that I see as nothing short as miraculous for a puppy that is now only 13 weeks old.

I would highly recommend, Matt, Ashley, and “Control is Key” to any family and friends looking for a dog trainer. Plus the cost of the program, in my opinion, is an absolute bargain for what you end up getting.

We cannot thank Matt and Ashley enough for helping us get our wild child Copper under control. She lived on the streets for the first 4 months of her life and came to us with zero manners. Matt and Ashley helped us teach her, by teaching us. Our girl is off leash, listens to commands whether at home or in public and is all around happier with the structure they helped us create. They were patient with Copper as well as with us. We cannot thank Control is Key enough for getting us where we are today.

My puppy went to the two week board and train, and the results were out of this world. I had high expectations for the behavior of the dog, but Matthew blew those expectations out of the water. Everyone who has meet the dog is extremely impressed with how well behaved the dog is, and how well the dog listens to commands. I cannot recommend this training enough!

Matt and Ashley have been involved in the training of my puppy from the beginning. He was picked up by them at the breeder’s and taken straight to a 4 week board and train. I have had him with me approximately 3 weeks now and the experience has been like no other with a puppy and I have had many dogs. Caprino has learned so much it is unbelievable to me.!!!! I feel like I am in control of Caprino following their instructions instead of the other way around!!! That is a first for me!!!!!! I still continue training with Ashley and Caprino has been taught and continue to work on socialization skills with people , other dogs. He has been to multiple stores without issues. I walk him in a neighborhood where there are many dogs and he is a pleasure to walk instead of worrying about what he might do. Ashley and Matt are available for any concerns at any time!!! I have used other dog trainers and hands down this is the best experience I have ever had!!!!

We rescued our dog at 7 months old and he was UNCONTROLLABLE! We were planning a 28 day RV trip and there was no way we could take our new pup. We contacted Matthew and left Wylie in his care. When we returned, what an amazing transformation! I could play fetch and not get knocked over from Wylie trying to get the ball out of my hand. We were concerned about being able to keep up the commands, but it was very easy, 10 minutes a few times a day kept him on track. I would definitely take my next dog to Matthew and Ashley

Matt was highly recommended and did not disappoint. He not only trained Leo but trained us as well. We now have the understanding and tools that are needed for a well behaved dog. It is now possible for us to have guests at the house and enjoy walks without stress. Matt and Ashley are wonderful to work with, they truly love what they are doing!

Hi we adopted a Great Dane/giant schnauzer puppy and he doesn’t realize how big he is- he thinks he is a 120lb lap dog. We were having difficulty taking him places, because he loved to jump on people and he was awful on walks. After the board and train, Duke is like a new dog! We can take him anywhere and he knows how to behave. I can take him on walks, without pulling and he no longer jumps on people. Truly wished we would have done this sooner.

Matthew is hands down the best trainer we have ever worked with! We came to him with a challenge- an abused, rescued, German Shepherd that had a fearful aggression toward strangers, especially men, and was not motivated by treats or praise. He slowly and skillfully gained Nova’s trust while working with us to work with her in a way that she would respond positively. Matthew handled her with confidence and understanding. His training is not one size fits all and Nova had him thinking creatively at every lesson! Watching him work, you can see how much he loves dogs and genuinely wants to help them become the best dog they can be! In the end, not only did we leave with a dog that responds beautifully to us, but because of Matthew’s unwavering patience, A dog that no longer shows aggression or fear.

Matt is truly knowledgeable and patient. He listens to his customers; he does not apply a one way fits all dog’s method of training. He specializes the training to what works for the dog and owner. He has trained my two Czech Shepherds. He had to apply different training techniques on each dog. I am extremely happy with the outcome and continue to train my dogs with him. I would not go to anyone else. If you are looking for a quality trainer that collaborates with you and your dog, do not look any further. You have found the best.

I had high expectations when I signed up for training with Matt, but he far exceeded my highest expectations. My first encounter with Matt was at our first lesson. Matt walked outside and saw me desperately trying to control my dog who was standing on his hind legs barking and growling at his previous customer’s pet. Matt told me at that moment, he would help me get my dog under control, and that he did. I knew during the first lesson we found the right person to help us correct our dog’s behavior. I cannot find the words to describe my gratitude for the truly transformational experience Monte and my family experienced because of Matt’s canine training expertise, his passion for canine training, and empathy for our situation. If you are serious about controlling your dog’s behavior, and are looking for an expert and passionate trainer, we recommend Matt.

We adopted our dog Huck when he was 6 months old. Shortly after getting him we realized he had some reactivity issues as well as very poor leash manners. We completed the 8 week basic and advanced training. Matt was awesome from start to finish! He really personalized the training sessions to focus on what Huck needed most. It truly has changed our lives and we are able to take him anywhere on or off leash! I highly recommend him to anyone even thinking about dog training!

I had zero reservations about Control is Key B&T- Matt was highly recommended. My only concern was how was I going to make it through the 2 weeks! Matt and team kept me updated daily on Titan’s progress. It was incredible to see how fast changes were happening for Titan. It’s been six months since B&T and Titan is continuing to progress. I am overly pleased with the dog he has become. Using an ecollar was so scary for me but now I understand how one is used and when. A wealth of education I received to be a better dog mom for Titan.

Hands down best experience for my pup. Thank you Matt, team, AND family!

I adopted a German Shepherd puppy in Dec. 2022. I knew I wanted to get him into training to manage his energy and so that I could know with full certainty that I have control over him. Matt and Ashley were so wondering with my dog, Bayne from the very beginning. During the consultation, Matt and Ashley made me aware of what my dog would be learning and the activities he would be partaking in. While Bayne was in their care, they sent me daily check in videos and kept me up to date on his progress. I have had Bayne back for about 8 weeks now and he is absolutely incredible. He continues to impress me with his intelligence and knowledge of commands. Matt and Ashley continue to check in with me to see how Bayne is doing. We can’t wait to take him back in July for his second round of training! Thank you Matt and Ashley!!!!

Matt and Ashley were great to work with. Down to earth and very knowledgeable about the training they provide! They helped us get our big girl to be responsive and actually have manners. These two get results. Highly recommend!

We adopted a corgi puppy in march of 2022, and wanted to get him into a puppy class to get him potty trained, crate trained and have some leash manners. We researched numerous companies and came to finding Control Is Key. After talking with Matt on the phone, he was so enthusiastic about his prior experience and his programs and hit all the key elements we were looking for. However he never made us feel like we were obligated to anything. After we came to our consultation for puppy classes, we decided to bring in our 3 year old pompsky-poo for a consultation since we live on a busy highway and want him to have good recall skills and would listen to commands when they were given. We decided to do the program where we came to 1 session a week and did the rest of our training on our own at home with the guidance of Matt and Ashley in between. I am speechless with the dedication of both Matt and Ashley’s patience and devotion to achieving the goals of not only yours but the dogs! They would give their undivided attention during your classes and give you alternative options if something was not working and they always had a backup plan and in the end the goal was still achieved! They checked in consistently throughout the period of time where we would be in control of the training at home between our sessions and give us advice and ask for videos and provide feedback which was extremely helpful and lead us to such an extremely successful program! Our corgi would howl and scream in his crate and would not go into it, he now knows his command kennel and goes straight to his kennel and does not bark and cry! Our pompsky-poo has exceeded our expectations and has nailed the commands of heel, come, place and stay! He even can be walked unleashed in our front yard — which is on a busy highway! I would recommend Control Is Key to anyone!!

I’m proud to say my dog went to Matt and Ashley. They are dedicated and have great intellect when it comes to training the dogs. I send everyone that asks me where my dog was trained right to them!

My sweet Macey had bad habits of barking, jumping, pulling, no recall and you may be there, too. Matthew’s Board and Train program rescued me and Macey! The good sit was a sweet surprise to me, and Macey is so cooperative that we just approach the door, and she sits. Same with the walk to the mailbox, Macey takes her position 40 feet from the road and waits for release. Most touching is the meet and greet when we’re cruising a store. Folks are attracted to her cuteness, and she can properly say hello. I loved her before and love her more after Control is Key’s training! It’s easy to refer my friends to their service.

We have a six-month old Australian Shepard puppy, Piper, that we were seriously consider re-homing. We enrolled Piper in a 14-day Board & Train with Ashley and Matthew. Ashley was our trainer and did an outstanding job with Piper!! We are so pleased and appreciative and have been enjoying our well-trained puppy. Piper is a completely different puppy. She knows and obeys each command; Ashley taught her to run alongside her off leash while she ran through the park. We couldn’t be more pleased with the love shown for Piper and the professional training she received. Of course, we did have high expectations because Matt trained our other dog via weekly lessons and he did an outstanding job.