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CPT custom trains service dogs for wheelchair bound, neurologically impaired, orthopedically impaired, hearing impaired, and psychologically disab. Have a great time increasing the bond between you and your dog while enhancing your dog's strength, flexibility, coordination, and confidence. From puppy to adult; on-leash or off-leash; pet or show; basic commands, household manners, or behavior modification; the combination of CPT's group class, private lesson, in-home private lesson, and board train services will satisfy anyone's needs or budget.
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Comprehensive Pet Therapy (CPT) is Atlanta's most respected pet training company. Since its inception, CPT has trained close to 50,000 client dogs, significantly more than 50,000 human clients, and approximately 80 cats. In addition, in conjunction with Emory University's Neuroscience Department, CPT designs and performs groundbreaking government-funded research projects that are improving ethologists' understanding of canine cognition, emotions, receptive communication, and sensory perception.Ultimately, the projects' findings will benefit the training and quality of life of military explosives detection dogs, service dogs, and pet dogs.
Mark Spivak, CPT's founder, is a nationally known trainer, behaviorist, and canine researcher. The neuroscience research projects he co-founded have been featured prominently on "60 Minutes" and "Nova, " as well as many other media outlets. Mark is also an experienced expert witness in criminal and civil legal cases that involve issues of canine behavior, where he has handled cases from throughout the country.
Mark Spivak has trained dogs seriously for over 30 years. As a competitor, Mark has titled his German Shepherds in AKC obedience, ASCA obedience, and Schutzhund. In the process he has received multiple ribbons, plaques, medals, and placements, including a Regional championship and invitations to prestigious national events.
Megan Sinteff Jefferson started her dog training career in 2002 as a CPT apprentice trainer at just 16 years of age. She started by observing CPT Trainers Lisa and Jeff Carroll, who were neighbors of her parents, and then by formally entering the CPT apprentice program. Megan apprenticed for two years and then graduated to become a CPT trainer.
Reviews (20)
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Victoria Badillo
Jun 13, 2022
Our 9 month old Cockapoo, Chili, stayed with Reed for a two week board and train. Between a puppy, an infant and a 4 year old we did not have time to properly train on our own. Chili now has a great foundation for leash etiquette and basic obedience. While Chili is still a puppy and needs constant work/supervision I at least have solid tools I can rely on thanks to Reed.

Our dog is actually manageable and can tag along with us for family outings further supporting her training and behavior. We will definitely been looking to CPT and Reed for boarding and any other training. Totally worth it.
Grace Kennedy
Jun 08, 2022
Our vet recommended CPT. We needed help with walking on a leash (pulling), staying in place, recall, being destructive with plastic bags, shoes and books and general house manners. We really wanted fast results. After a two-week board and train with Reed, Milo has grasped most of basic obedience (sit, stay, down, drop it, leash walking) and is ready for intermediate classes. While he is still a work in progress, we feel it was money well spent and we are looking forward to intermediate obedience training.
Stephanie Bryan
Apr 07, 2022
At the end of last year, we enrolled our 4-month old puppy in one of the evening beginner obedience classes. We partly selected CPT because the location was close to us and similar classes at other facilities were already filled. The class was overcrowded with nearly 10 people and their dogs crammed into a small room. For a room that size, there should be no more than 3 or 4 dogs in there at a time with a trainer.

The sessions were rather chaotic, not only because of the overcrowding, but also because many of the other dogs/puppies arrived with too much pent up energy. This situation seemed to harbor a lot of excitement and anxiety in some of the dogs and does not provide an optimal learning environment. I actually think the beginner class we took was somewhat counterproductive to learning--not only was it chaotic and crowded but the trainer was stretched pretty thin.

I don't feel like the dogs or owners are set up to succeed in this training program. A first step to improvement would be cutting the number of participants in a class to at least half, or moving larger classes to an open, outdoor space, such as a big parking lot. A second step would be helping to educate the owners on the importance of daily exercise, as well as mental/physical stimulation, before even beginning to work on obedience or coming to class.

A third step would be updating the training methods and helping owners better understand how they work (there is more to teaching a dog "sit" or "down" than simply using a treat as bribery and it is much more effective and fun when a dog is allowed to problem solve). I recognize that many different training methods exist, but to anyone truly wanting to nurture a stable, confident, well behaved dog, I think you could learn a lot more from watching an hour of Stonnie Dennis's videos on YouTube than from 8-weeks of these classes.

I also want to point out that in our class there was one dog that tended to be a bit reactive (not aggressive, but likely under socialized and frustrated). Throughout multiple classes, the trainer never appeared to help the owners address the issue, instead ignoring the frequent lunging and barking while staying focused on the daily lesson. I mention this not because I found the dog annoying but because the owners were clearly frustrated/embarrassed and it seems like it could have provided the whole class with a learning opportunity should anyone else's dog ever start to exhibit similar behaviors.

I found this interesting given the first day the trainer had told us she became a dog trainer after dealing with reactivity and aggression in one of her own dogs. I'm not a trainer, but from my point of view, the trainer could have guided the owner to any number of simple approaches to help their dog (even just rewarding the dog every time it didn't bark). About half way through, we ended up dropping out of the classes, partly because our puppy developed Giardia and I didn't want to expose any of the other dogs in the class.
Christine E.
Oct 21, 2021
I have participated in several classes with two of my dogs. The instructors have been excellent. On of my dogs is a therapy dog and we learned all of the behaviors needed as well as improving my handling skills. Melissa is calm, patient and makes suggestions in a helpful manor. My other dog was in beginning and intermediate agility classes that are fun and build the foundation to continue agility.

My dog loved these classes as did I. The reason I gave 3 stars is because the floor in the building is uneven and falling apart. I have tripped on the uneven areas when working in agility. They also need to invest in some new mats and other equipment needed for classes. Other facilities I have trained and been too are newer and up-to-date. Christine E. 10/21/2021
Alan Towles
Aug 08, 2021
Absolutely outstanding Dog Training Team, we have completed Beginner and Intermediate Obedience, Canine Good Citizen, and just wrapped up Therapy Dog Training, all with CPT. Our Trainers Melissa, Meghan, Karen, Pat and Reed have all been terrific in every aspect. We even got to have Meghan's children assist in a couple sessions during specific Therapy Dog Skill Training. Each of the sessions were excellent and informative positioning us for future Therapy Dog activities.
Patricia O.
May 19, 2021
The owner and lead trainer, Mark, came to our home to work with our 110lb., eight-year-old Great Pyr/St Bernard, Teddy, who was pulling on the leash and eating everything he could off the ground while on walks. I was concerned that due to his size he would injure me or my husband. Mark used a gentle lead with Teddy and went with me to the park to review reinforcement/walking behaviors.

This was over a week ago. I walk Teddy twice a day, and he has not reverted back to his old behaviors even once. It was like a miracle. Mark's direction was so helpful and worth every penny we spent. I enthusiastically recommend him. Thanks, Mark!
Jessica Triche
May 17, 2021
So grateful to Reed and CPT for allowing me to actually enjoy walking with my dog, giving me my furniture back, and helping me feel like I actually have some authority with my stubborn beagle! My 8-month-old puppy did a 2-week board & train with Reed and he has made such an improvement. Reed is amazing at what she does, sent me videos of his training sessions almost every day, and very patient. Bring your dog to her!
Joshua W.
Apr 06, 2021
I filled out their contact request on the website. I received a quick call back, but the person on the phone wasn't pleasant to talk with. I came for help and to get more info, but I had to ask all the questions?
Mishka C.
Jan 19, 2021
The owner, Mark, really helped my dog Maggie who had developed leash aggression at the Sandy Springs location. He is very thorough and knowledgeable and uses evidence based, positive techniques. We went fir a couple hours one time where we went over the problem and then I watched Mark demonstrate how to walk and reinforce Maggie's behavior in a ring by herself, then while in presence of dogs and other trainers.

Then I repeated the walking and reinforcing in the ring while walking in ring with the other dogs. My dog responded very well to Mark and "got" the idea of what we wanted her to do quickly. I am now able to walk Maggie without worrying about her becoming aggressive. I recommend all family members attend a session or at least watch video of training session for consistency.

I highly recommend CPT -money well spent. It's impossible to help your dog improve without learning about dog behavior-yelling and pulling dog has negative effect. Once I learned the techniques and Maggie had the training experience, I felt confident and was able to effectively manage maggie's behavior.
Roshini
Nov 07, 2020
My ~5 month old puppy spent 2 weeks with Reed and it was so worth it! He had a wonderful time and I was able to travel without worrying about his well-being or him regressing. He is so much more confident and attentive after just two weeks. Reed sent me frequent updates throughout his time with her, and was very helpful during the detailed walkthrough we did at pickup.

She also sent over training notes at the end of his Board and Train which are great for future reference. We wouldn't hesitate to board or do future board and trains with CPT and I would recommend then to anyone! The price transparency is refreshing and knowing your dog is in a qualified home environment really makes it worth every cent.
Carla Strother
Apr 22, 2020
We were so pleased with the training received at CPT. Jeanne Hudson is very patient and attentive to her students. Our family and friends can't believe Sully's the same dog. Within 8 weeks he was transformed in to a calmer and much more obedient dog. We look forward to continuing our training with CPT and hope to have Jeanne for advanced training.
Chrissy C.
Nov 24, 2019
CPT could have been a great experience, if the trainer did not constantly tell me, and almost all the other 15 people in the puppy class, "you need to call the office and schedule a private training session". This started with the first class, and progressively got worse. By the 3rd class I attended, I was told this 3 times! It was very degrading and full of so much pressure to buy their private training!

I have a rescue, so to spend $90+ per hour for private training, was not in my budget. I signed up for the Puppy class to learn how to work with my puppy, but the trainer did not seem to want to spend much time giving direction in a class setting. To me, the whole class concept was only set up so they could sell private training. And when I tried to get a refund on the balance of the 3 classes I did not want to attend, the owner only wanted to direct me to another class.

He had no desire to "make it right, " by refunding me for classes I clearly felt were not right for me or my dog. (I never asked to refund for the first classes, only for the ones I did not want to continue to take.)
Athar Sanders
Feb 26, 2019
I've never used a professional dog trainer. I have been coming here for about 5 weeks now for basic obedience with my Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. Ridgebacks are very stubborn and high energy. At first, I was skeptical. But as long as we continue to practice the homework given every week, Apollo has gotten so much better. I enjoy these classes and learning alternative methods of teaching my puppy. UPDATE: I should have done this update a few months ago.

Our first training class was basic obedience 8 week class. I started my pup at 4.5 weeks. After the end of class, I waited until he was 8 months and we did boarding training with Reed for 4 weeks. This was in Aug/Sept. I wanted her to focus on specific things in addition to reinforce what he learned in basic obedience. I have people in awe of how well I handle him and asking me all the time where my puppy was trained. At 11 months old and 95lbs he is as easy to handle as my 15lbs Chihuahua. Reed is the puppy whisperer! Well worth the Investment for a stubborn puppy.
Diana D.
Jan 20, 2019
We were very lucky to find Mark at CPT to help us continue training our French bulldog. His behavioral modification technique works really well with our dog and we look forward to continuing our training with him. He extremely knowledgeable and we've seen great results. Highly recommend.
Samantha R.
Dec 17, 2018
We sought out Mark to train our 5-year old Shiba Inu mix, Sheila. She has always had anxiety issues, and though our work with previous trainers helped some, she developed some bad coping mechanisms when we moved into a new house. Her barking was out of control, and she had even bitten my husband when he tried to walk out the door. With a new baby on the way, we were honestly considering CPT as our last resort.

We had just two sessions with Mark and Sheila is a new dog! He thoroughly explained her anxiety, lack of impulse control, and what we could do to help her learn self control. After learning drills and practicing for a short time, we're able to walk around the house, leave, and have guests over, all without the barking and aggression Sheila had previously presented.

One of the best things about Mark's methods is they weren't completely reliant on treats. We used them, but we also use body language, toys, and affection in training. Thanks to CPT I now have no doubt we can keep our sweet dog!
Marie H.
Apr 07, 2018
We went to Mark for private training and it was the best decision for our dog. We had tried previous trainers with different styles from which we learned nothing, so were very happy with our experience and would highly suggest CPT. We were worried about our dog socializing and potentially reacting aggressive defensively after a previous incident with another dog.

After only a couple private sessions working on drills, Mark helped us understand how to work with our dog. Our dog did extremely well walking around and working with other dogs and just generally behaving for me. Mark was patient and explained every justification behind what he was showing us so that we understood the bigger picture. It really trained me to be a better owner for my dog. I would highly suggest taking your dog here.
Kate W.
Apr 06, 2018
Mark is nothing short of a miracle worker. We quickly learned that our recently acquired 2 yr old GSD was riddled with anxiety and other issues. We spent three months trying everything we could think of to help her and nothing was working. We didn't want to give her up, but we couldn't really see a way to turn things around and things weren't looking good.

Our family was stressed, our other dogs were stressed and she was a mess. After hiring another behaviorist and not seeing results, I was reluctant to try again, but we really didn't want to give up on her. Mark came over and by the time she left I could already see tremendous progress. Over the next few weeks, it only got better. I implemented everything that Mark taught me and she's turned into a different dog.

Not only that, I emailed Mark progress reports and he was able to help me via email with ongoing issues. His knowledge of dogs and their behavior is astounding, but so is his medical knowledge. With his help, I was able to go to my vet and have her put on the correct anti anxiety medication and other supplements and they've made a world of difference.

I cannot express how much Mark has helped change all of our lives for the better. Our dog is functioning better and happier than I've ever seen her. Our family is once again getting sleep and I'm not cleaning up after my grown dog. I really didn't know if there was a lot of hope for our situation, but Mark helped us turn it all around. You will not find a better behaviorist to help your dog.
Olivia D.
May 23, 2016
I'm so grateful to this company for helping Baylor (my service dog) and I. Not even once did I feel uncomfortable sharing with them what I needed. I never felt judged or misunderstood and I trusted 100% that Baylor was in the best possible hands. The second time Lisa (a trainer with CPT) came to get Baylor for board training, Baylor ran out to Lisa's truck and didn't look back at mom or home even once!

That really floored me. Baylor is so attached to me, and I have to admit I was a bit jealous that she loved Lisa that much! :) That moment totally silenced any questions in the back of my mind about how Baylor was getting on when she was hanging out with Lisa. Clearly they have a really special bond and Lisa has an awesome gift working with dogs. Baylor is not the same dog she was in January, and it's all thanks to Lisa.

I want to also comment on how dramatically Baylor changed each time she had her board training. The first board train, she came home much quieter and able to focus with a very expanded repertoire of commands and things to work on. However, in public she was still kind of distracted around other dogs and I don't think she fully understood her job.

This is totally understandable, since she had only spent 6 weeks with Lisa. The second board train she did was for 5 weeks and Baylor came back a dog ready to WORK. She can now restrain herself from being wild to absolutely calm in seconds. I am amazed at how many new things Lisa taught her in such a short time. Baylor is learning Heel, Back, has mastered the Stand/Stay, does a great Visit, and her Lean is perfect.

I am thrilled with Baylor's progress and I take her with me proudly. We are an awesome team now, and I think she is a great ambassador to other service dog teams and pit bulls. Even when she's not working, we get so many compliments on her good behavior and how sweet she is. I am so, so thankful to CPT. On another note, I am on the lowest dose of medication I've ever been on, and my psychiatrist and I are considering tapering me off of it completely. I have no doubt that this is entirely due to how much Baylor has been helping me since her training.
Denise S.
Nov 17, 2013
On our vet's recommendation we took our puppy to CPT for group training. I called and asked about the puppy classes and group training. The person on the phone peppered with A LOT of questions and suggested based on my answers that I schedule one-to-one training with one of their trainers in my home. I stated that I wanted to start with a class and she pushed for several more minutes trying to convince me to do in home training, which, by the way, is considerably more expensive.

She did eventually relent and signed my dog and me up for a group class but not until she had made me feel uncomfortable. We did a beginner obedience group class with CPT owner, Mark. Mark is very knowledgeable and competent. He showed up just seconds before the class started and cleared out very quickly after the class ended. There were very few opportunities to ask question during class and anything that was not a general question he would suggest a private in-home consult. Classes went well.

One of the students in the group class was one of Mark's private in-home clients. Mark used this dog for most of the demos and emphasized repeatedly how one could get better results with in-home training. I believe I got my money's worth from the class. That being said I felt annoyed by the constant push by office staff and Mark for an in-home consult. BTW.he and his trainers not only charge by the hour for the time he is in your home but also for the time it takes him to travel to and from your home.

We did end up doing private training with our dog, but used another trainer who was actually more interested in our dog than pushing high end services on us. It would be 3 stars if not for the pushy selling of in-home training.
Angel G.
Sep 22, 2011
I took my dog here last fall and though I forgot the ladies name. She was really great even with her coping with the recent lose of her dog. Think we were all in tears, when we heard. I felt really bad for her deeply respected and appreciated her for coming in to work and helping us with our dogs. Needless to say, its all human. not dog that needs the training.

I learned things and the training helped me to have a better relationship with my dog. The only thing is that the place smelled pretty bad, but whatever will still take her back for another course.