Canine Coaching Puppy School

We are currently halfway through the 6 week puppy course with Andy at Canine Coaching Puppy School, and the improvements in our pup have already been incredible. Andy is extremely patient, knowledgeable, and very thorough with her training approach. What really stands out is how she supports the training outside of class as well. She sends valuable information and helpful "homework" to make sure the training continues at home. It makes a huge difference and keeps everyone consistent. Highly recommend Canine Coaching Puppy School to any new puppy owners looking for structured, positive, and effective training!

What an incredible experience working with Andy. She has taught us so much about training a dog, discipline, play, behavior, and what to watch out for. She goes above and beyond and is incredibly helpful, dedicated and experienced. Her classes are well planned and fun. I have since recommended her to anyone I see who has a puppy 🤣

Andy has such a passion for helping owners and their pets. As a qualified animal behaviorist her courses are well planned, thoughtful towards the dogs well being and force free. My reactive dog was comfortable and mentally stimulated.

Andy was absolutely wonderful with our pup, Kano. From the very first session at her puppy coaching school, she created a calm and structured environment that helped build his confidence. Her methods are gentle yet effective, and we saw a real difference in Kano's behavior and focus. You can tell she genuinely loves what she does, and the dogs love her right back! Highly recommend Andy to anyone looking for a trainer who truly understands pups and people.

EDIT: I am in no way affiliated with Andy - her business merely rents next door to me on the same property so I get to watch some of her activities and don’t like seeing her attacked. I meet a lot of Andy’s clients and hear the majority sing her praises. I watch how hard she works and how she continues to study to ethically give dogs (her passion) of her very best. I also see how most dogs are quick to respond to her. Unfortunately, I also get to see how one or two owners wanting a quick fix with no accountability are quick to blame the trainer (publicly) when this lack of accountability is detrimental to their dogs’ progress. Sadly these are also the type of people who, when they find there is no magic wand but a lot of consistent work and homework, are quick to criticise in a most destructive manner, conveniently forgetting all positives.

I have recently taken Dice to one of Andy's classes. Andy is so patient and knowledgeable on how to help the dog and owner learn valuable lessons and have fun while doing so. Thank you Andy for your encouragement and the lovely atmosphere at your classes🥰

After 4 years of loyalty, I have nothing to show for it but regret. I trusted Canine Coaching and Andy Ording with the training of my Boerboel, Bindi, from the time she was just 10 weeks old. Over the course of four full years, I attended everything on offer—puppy socialisation, basic obedience, dog yoga, Hoopers, Canine Good Citizen prep, swimming, parkour, and private one-on-one sessions. I gave this business my time, trust, and thousands of rands, believing that eventually, with enough commitment, we’d see lasting progress. We didn’t. Despite all this effort, Bindi still struggles with the very same behavioural issues we started with. There was no structured training plan, no meaningful feedback, and no measurable outcomes. As a client, I felt completely unsupported, especially when I needed clear guidance the most. I kept showing up, week after week, clinging to the hope that things would improve. Looking back now, I realise I stayed far too long out of loyalty—while many others quietly dropped out in frustration. The early classes were often overcrowded, chaotic, and poorly managed. Instead of building confidence, they seemed to overstimulate and destabilise the dogs—especially large, sensitive breeds like mine. By the time Bindi was six months old, most of her original class had become reactive and stopped attending. What’s most disappointing is the lack of professional accountability. After all this time, no one at Canine Coaching ever paused to reassess, to ask if things were working—or not. There was always another class, another event, another activity… but never real progress. Even when I raised concerns, I was met with vague reassurances rather than real support. My dog deserved better, and so did I. I have since moved to a new trainer and already feel the difference. I only wish I had left sooner. Finally, after posting an honest review of my experience, I was blocked from the Canine Coaching Facebook page. I can no longer view or respond to any replies. This kind of censorship only reinforces the feeling that negative experiences are being silenced, while positive reviews are promoted. This action suggests that negative feedback is not welcomed, and that open dialogue and transparency are not priorities here. Also it seems she has recruited friends and business partners such as Leslie o’ Brien and Cheryl Cavanagh (who rents space at The Market Durban North to Andy) to leave positive reviews leading to an inaccurate impression of her competence. Consumers have a right to share their experiences — both positive and critical — especially when it concerns the care and safety of their dogs. If you’re considering long-term training for your dog, especially with a strong, complex breed, I urge you to look elsewhere. Don’t confuse busyness with progress, or friendliness with professionalism. I stayed for years because I wanted to believe in this program—but in the end, I left disillusioned, and heartbroken for all the time my dog and I lost.