Founded in 2006, Highland Canine Training, LLC is one of the largest and most respected professional dog training companies in the Southeastern United States. With headquarters in North Carolina and locations across the nation, Highland Canine Training, LLC is recommended as the dog trainer of choice by veterinarians, shelters, rescue groups, pet retailers, law enforcement and military organizations, and other industry professionals. Our expert dog trainers offer research-driven dog training and canine education programs that are proven to be more effective.
Services
Our commitment to excellence and focus on continued customer service make us a leader in the industry. We believe that science and research will lead us to a better way of training dogs and allow dogs to fully reach their capacity as "mans best friend". Highland Canine Training, LLC is a multifaceted dog training business based out of North Carolina.
Highland Canine Training, LLC boasts an expansive team of expert dog trainers and dedicated specialists with a tremendous amount of relevant, hands-on experience. Many of our staff have considerable years of various experience in law enforcement and military operations. Our experience and commitment to customer service has made us a leader in the industry.
We offer a wide variety of professional dog training services as well as customized programs to meet your individual needs. As a trusted source for professional dog training throughout the Southeastern United States for over a decade, our commitment to continued customer service is what sets us apart.
Our idyllic, rural setting is just 5 minutes from Interstate 77 in the heart of North Carolina. Set in its own landscaped grounds totaling some 23+ acres, Highland Canine Training boasts some of the most comprehensive kenneling, dog training and breeding facilities to be found anywhere in Western North Carolina.
Reviews (10)
John Devlin
May 20, 2022
Our youngest son has an autism diagnosis. We decided to get him a dog for multiple reasons. Our journey was different because we raised our puppy for the first 10 weeks. We weren't entirely sure if service training was in the cards but decided to visit Highland when they agreed to evaluate our dog. During that visit we got to know them, they got to know our son, and most importantly spent time with our dog (Maxi).
They agreed to take her in and we made our decision shortly thereafter. It was difficult to let Maxi go but we knew she was in good hands. During her 9 months of training we were able to visit as much as we liked. They were always very accommodating. It was important to us to keep the bond with her and make sure our son remained comfortable. My wife did a good job training Maxi initially, but her abilities when she "graduated" were nothing short of amazing. Carlos and Sammie spent several days with us upon delivery to practice all her new skills.
The delivery process is tremendously helpful. They will continue to support us if needed. Our experience from start to finish was excellent. We would recommend them without hesitation.
They agreed to take her in and we made our decision shortly thereafter. It was difficult to let Maxi go but we knew she was in good hands. During her 9 months of training we were able to visit as much as we liked. They were always very accommodating. It was important to us to keep the bond with her and make sure our son remained comfortable. My wife did a good job training Maxi initially, but her abilities when she "graduated" were nothing short of amazing. Carlos and Sammie spent several days with us upon delivery to practice all her new skills.
The delivery process is tremendously helpful. They will continue to support us if needed. Our experience from start to finish was excellent. We would recommend them without hesitation.
Peter M. Beaumont
Apr 30, 2022
Quinn Keller
Apr 16, 2022
Don't put your pet here. Student trainers are wonderful and I'm sure the faculty has good intentions- but never leave your dog here. We had a trainer come out to our house to work with our dog for behavioral problems like anxiety and aggression, he refused to train her (but kindly didnt charge us) and told us nothing would help but one of their board training programs.
We got our dog into a 6 Week program where she was supposed to get to be socialized with other dogs, sleep in her own bed which we provided, and get worked with on her anxiety. My mom came by to see how she was doing (albeit without an appointment) and they had moved our 50 pound dog into a cage that was meant for small dogs. Her bed was no where to be seen, they had taken it to the other facility and wouldn't tell her why.
She had no water and we found out she was not allowed to go out with the other dogs because she was too aggressive. They were rude to my mother and said they would press charges for trespassing if she came back again, gave us back our dog but will not refund our 3.5k+ expenses (which we didn't expect anyway) or return our dog bed. Take down this post if you want, but feel ashamed about how you treat these animals.
We got our dog into a 6 Week program where she was supposed to get to be socialized with other dogs, sleep in her own bed which we provided, and get worked with on her anxiety. My mom came by to see how she was doing (albeit without an appointment) and they had moved our 50 pound dog into a cage that was meant for small dogs. Her bed was no where to be seen, they had taken it to the other facility and wouldn't tell her why.
She had no water and we found out she was not allowed to go out with the other dogs because she was too aggressive. They were rude to my mother and said they would press charges for trespassing if she came back again, gave us back our dog but will not refund our 3.5k+ expenses (which we didn't expect anyway) or return our dog bed. Take down this post if you want, but feel ashamed about how you treat these animals.
Tammy Lueck
Mar 23, 2022
Our family first became interested in obtaining a service dog for our eight year-old son with autism in September of 2019. We spent many hours researching different companies. We ultimately decided that Highland Service Dogs was the best fit for our family for several reasons: they allowed our family to choose the method of payment that best fit our needs; unlike other companies, they are willing to work with younger children; they exhibited excellent customer service in their prompt responses to our questions; their application process was thorough and easy to follow; and they truly understand what it is like to be a family living with autism.
We have been extremely satisfied with our entire experience with Highland Service Dogs. From the time we submitted our application until the delivery of our service dog, Tulio, the communication and guidance we received from Carlos and the entire Highland Service Dogs staff was exemplary. They regularly communicated with us throughout our wait and greeted us graciously when we visited their Harmony campus in North Carolina to meet our service dog candidate.
Throughout the process it also became evident that the service dog candidates are loved and cherished by their trainers and the entire staff at Highland Service Dogs. The trainers do excellent work. Tulio came to us with outstanding basic obedience training and he is also able to perform very specific tasks flawlessly for our son. During the delivery Carlos and Erin helped us to learn the skills and gain the confidence necessary to handle Tulio and to continue his training on our own.
Now that we are nearly 10 months after the delivery of our son's dog, the impeccable customer service continues. Carlos is still available to support our family and our service dog. He is only a short call or text away if we have questions or need assistance with Tulio. The entire Highland Service Dogs staff is like a part of our family now. In closing, we are so happy that we chose Highland Service Dogs. Tulio's presence in our family has truly changed our lives, but most importantly, he has improved our son's quality of life in a way that only a service dog could
We have been extremely satisfied with our entire experience with Highland Service Dogs. From the time we submitted our application until the delivery of our service dog, Tulio, the communication and guidance we received from Carlos and the entire Highland Service Dogs staff was exemplary. They regularly communicated with us throughout our wait and greeted us graciously when we visited their Harmony campus in North Carolina to meet our service dog candidate.
Throughout the process it also became evident that the service dog candidates are loved and cherished by their trainers and the entire staff at Highland Service Dogs. The trainers do excellent work. Tulio came to us with outstanding basic obedience training and he is also able to perform very specific tasks flawlessly for our son. During the delivery Carlos and Erin helped us to learn the skills and gain the confidence necessary to handle Tulio and to continue his training on our own.
Now that we are nearly 10 months after the delivery of our son's dog, the impeccable customer service continues. Carlos is still available to support our family and our service dog. He is only a short call or text away if we have questions or need assistance with Tulio. The entire Highland Service Dogs staff is like a part of our family now. In closing, we are so happy that we chose Highland Service Dogs. Tulio's presence in our family has truly changed our lives, but most importantly, he has improved our son's quality of life in a way that only a service dog could
Megan Wilson
Feb 28, 2022
We recently obtained an autism assistance dog for our son from Highland Canine's service dog program and couldn't be happier. He is such an amazing dog, and they did a great job finding a dog that was a great match for our son. The first match they suggested was a breed we weren't entirely comfortable with and after talking through our concerns they agreed we should wait and they would find us a dog better suited for our family.
Once we matched with Wally they sent us pictures of him often. The best part of the process for us, though, was the delivery. The two trainers, Carlos and Christine, who came to train us were phenomenal. So knowledgeable, so helpful, super attentive to detail, and really gave us 100% of their time and attention and energy for those 4 days. Although becoming service dog handlers has been a bigger adjustment than we anticipated, with the support of the trainers at Highland we feel confident. Five stars for our dog, Wally, and for his trainers!
Once we matched with Wally they sent us pictures of him often. The best part of the process for us, though, was the delivery. The two trainers, Carlos and Christine, who came to train us were phenomenal. So knowledgeable, so helpful, super attentive to detail, and really gave us 100% of their time and attention and energy for those 4 days. Although becoming service dog handlers has been a bigger adjustment than we anticipated, with the support of the trainers at Highland we feel confident. Five stars for our dog, Wally, and for his trainers!
Todd Hastings
Feb 23, 2022
Warning: Do Not waste your money. I attended Highland Canine in January 2022, only to discovery the school is unprofessional and woefully unprepared for Covid. Of the two instructors assigned to 30 students, one was unable to communicate effectively because English was her second language and the other had graduated in the class before us. No textbooks are used for academic learning; only power point slides and disjointed lectures by a man who may be a talented trainer but is not an educator.
School was closed twice for multiple days during the month of January because of staff and student Covid exposure due to no social distancing and mask requirements. When Zoom learning was required for academic learning during shutdown, technical difficulties and a hard to understand instructor lead to frustration from students and faculty alike. Working with dogs at the outdoor facility was completely eliminated, causing a deficit in any training progress we had made.
A complete lack of academic and training structure to the program made learning impossible even in the best of circumstances. In 4 weeks the only practical skill I learned was how to lure and bait a dog using treats. You would benefit more from reading the book, A Dog's Mind then attending Highland Canine School. These people are Not educators. Save your money
School was closed twice for multiple days during the month of January because of staff and student Covid exposure due to no social distancing and mask requirements. When Zoom learning was required for academic learning during shutdown, technical difficulties and a hard to understand instructor lead to frustration from students and faculty alike. Working with dogs at the outdoor facility was completely eliminated, causing a deficit in any training progress we had made.
A complete lack of academic and training structure to the program made learning impossible even in the best of circumstances. In 4 weeks the only practical skill I learned was how to lure and bait a dog using treats. You would benefit more from reading the book, A Dog's Mind then attending Highland Canine School. These people are Not educators. Save your money
Jordan Schroeder
Feb 21, 2022
In short, the team at Highland Canine changed our family's life. When my husband and I learned we were expecting our first child, we were faced with a heartbreaking situation. Our beloved husky Goose struggled with some aggression and resource guarding that we knew we could not have around our baby boy. We didn't want to have to find a new home for him, but it seemed we had no choice.
Desperate to find a solution that would somehow enable us to keep Goose, my husband discovered Highland Canine. Not only were they the only place to give us hope that they could help rehabilitate Goose, but they were, by far, the most equipped to do so of any training facility we looked at. After three months in their care while I was still pregnant, Goose is now a new dog.
Our son is 12 weeks old, and Goose's obedience and loving behavior around him is nothing short of an answer to prayer. We cannot thank Highland Canine enough for their understanding, love for our pup, capabilities in training, and for giving us a life as a family of four. We are forever grateful.
Desperate to find a solution that would somehow enable us to keep Goose, my husband discovered Highland Canine. Not only were they the only place to give us hope that they could help rehabilitate Goose, but they were, by far, the most equipped to do so of any training facility we looked at. After three months in their care while I was still pregnant, Goose is now a new dog.
Our son is 12 weeks old, and Goose's obedience and loving behavior around him is nothing short of an answer to prayer. We cannot thank Highland Canine enough for their understanding, love for our pup, capabilities in training, and for giving us a life as a family of four. We are forever grateful.
Claudia Lopez
Feb 14, 2022
Saw another guy from my class that had left post a review about Highland that was completely rude and negative. I just wanted to come on and say that although he had a slow start due to COVID to ensure the health and safety of staff and students, Highland Instructors, Trainers, and Educators have never once backed down from any question you may have.
They try to ensure every student gets the education they deserve and every student understands the content presented as long as they are aware that you need help on the subject. I could not have made a better choice with this training program and enjoy every minute of it. From hands on or in the classroom.
They try to ensure every student gets the education they deserve and every student understands the content presented as long as they are aware that you need help on the subject. I could not have made a better choice with this training program and enjoy every minute of it. From hands on or in the classroom.
Mary Alice Mitchell
Dec 07, 2021
We rescued a sweet, spunky, tenacious pit bull mix puppy early this summer, and it became evident rather quickly that my limited training skills were insufficient to help her learn how to be a happy member of our family. My brother recommended I contact Highland Canine because he had had an excellent experience with them and his own rescue pup. To say I am pleased with the experience is a massive understatement.
While I was immediately impressed by how quickly Carlos could teach my puppy new commands, my deeper appreciation comes from the patience with which he taught me and the guidance he gave me in how I could be successful when I work with her on my own. He always took the time to explain to me what we were doing and why, and how that would help my puppy not only learn the behavior I wanted from her but also deepen my relationship with her.
He is truly gifted with dogs and people. Many trainers may be able to teach your dog commands, but that's worthless if you don't understand and follow through in your home. Working with Carlos was worth every penny and more. He provided lasting value that has made every member of my family happier and calmer. If you find yourself out of your depth with one of your pets, the best investment you can make is to contact Highland Canine. One million stars!
While I was immediately impressed by how quickly Carlos could teach my puppy new commands, my deeper appreciation comes from the patience with which he taught me and the guidance he gave me in how I could be successful when I work with her on my own. He always took the time to explain to me what we were doing and why, and how that would help my puppy not only learn the behavior I wanted from her but also deepen my relationship with her.
He is truly gifted with dogs and people. Many trainers may be able to teach your dog commands, but that's worthless if you don't understand and follow through in your home. Working with Carlos was worth every penny and more. He provided lasting value that has made every member of my family happier and calmer. If you find yourself out of your depth with one of your pets, the best investment you can make is to contact Highland Canine. One million stars!
Monica Harper
Nov 29, 2021
I worked with Carlos and Miranda at Highland Canine Training. They were both professional, knowledgeable and very willing to make the training experience work for me. I travel for a living so I wasn't able to follow the normal schedule for training. My dog Marley responded well to both of them and was always excited to work with them. Carlos made sure the training experience worked for Marley. I highly recommend Carlos for puppy training.
