"This is my second time taking puppy class and I am excited for us to move on to novice!"
"Excellent training center. I did the basic class with my border collie mix and I'm looking forward to advanced and agility. They have a focus on safety and clear communication. Yes you use the chain collar but it's to train, and now my dog listens and I rarely have to pull on it. My dog listens well now, she was a street dog with no training and now I see how smart she is from this basic training class. I recommend this place 100%. Effective and affordable."
"My dog recently graduated from their novice obedience academy and she has a huge boost of confidence!! I recommend this center to anyone who has a dog!"
"We have our puppy in the intro training class. We are learning and she is too. Caring and attentive staff. Good value for lifelong lessons."
"Great job taking a wild pup to getting him back on track and be a better behaved dog."
"The best dog training center in town! Trish and her crew are amazing; when I first brought my Dog Patches here she was jumping on everyone, and was very wild. In a matter of a few months she is a completely different dog who obeys commands. We have taken Novice, and now Advanced Novice, and will soon be taking other courses here. I would highly recommend this place if you want excellent training for your dog!"
"Trish is a true dog behavior specialist. It is crazy to watch how other people's dogs almost instantly obey her commands"
"The obedience class has helped us and our dog so much! The trainers at A coma were incredibly helpful and kind!"
"Hands down the best dog training place in town! I've been going here for years with all my dogs. The people that are saying it's all pain and fear based clearly don't know what they are talking about. Acoma has help me to build a better/stronger relationship, built in trust, with each dog I have taken there. I'd be lost without Trish's help!"
"I love it. My dog loves going. The trainers are knowledgeable and love my dog."
"Great place for all ages of dogs and owners to get a little fundamentals and continue through agility and advanced training."
"I am so grateful to Trish and the loving staff at Acoma. I had rescued a 2y/o who had some stress related behaviors and was worried he would ultimately hurt someone seriously. With staff and training, the transformation was amazing. He eventually became a part of a loving family with other dogs and is a great helper dog. Thank you all so much and would recommend this facility for all."
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"It was the best place ever my little Nova did very well the people were awesome we will be back"
"Acoma was recommended by NM Animal Humane when we got our new dog, so we gave them a shot. Completely blown away! Trish is amazing! She really helped our shy, scared little puppy come out of her shell. Trish understands dogs and makes a point to get to know them to focus their training.
We haven't done any advanced classes yet, which they offer, but Acoma is totally worth the investment for, if anything, the basic training."
"Went and got fired for and a muzzle and got advice on a tough training issue. They were very helpful."
"Great for training you're special doggie . Trish is great with all breed's."
"These folks are so helpful. They are the go-to resource for dog training in the ABQ area and beyond. I've met people in the park near our house, which is at least 12 minutes by car away from Acoma and they have told me, "Trish is as good as they come," and "Say Hi to Trish from so and so (owner) of such and such (dog)." I really like how thorough she is and how if you have individual questions to ask her afterwards, she takes the time to help you. We have a GSD puppy who has no issues per say (but is a puppy 🤪) and a rescue dog, 1 year, who is full of quirks and issues. The rescue is a novice graduate and has made leaps and bounds since we got him. I feel like taking him to obedience training helped me reach the goal of helping him become a less fearful, confident and happier dog. The GSD puppy in soon to graduate Novice class, has been attacked when walking him along the arroyo (I used pepper spray on the other owner's dog and contacted animal humane), and he's getting better and better with training. If these dogs aren't taught what to do, they can totally run amok. I appreciate that Trish uses a firm, but loving, disciplinary approach. She is super safety-conscious as well, and our dogs are thriving from going to classes there. Thank you Acoma for all of your help with training our dogs as "novices" ourselves! 😘"
"Acoma does an amazing job, they train the dogs but just as important they train the owners so we can be better pet parents. Thank you for the difference you make."
"Trish is amazing! Basically a dog whisper. Totally worth the money for dog training. If you live in the Albuquerque or Rio Rancho area. Go to to Trish for a 8 week training with poison proofing and snake proofing!"
"I trailed my dog about 30 years ago here. 8 weeks ago I went back with my new dog Coco and let me tell you he is something else. Love the training. Trish teaches you not your dog as how to train your dog and if you follow the steps you will love to walk with your dog enjoy him/her not pulling you, sit when you tell them stay when they are told to do and most importantly keep them safe. Nothing good come without discipline, you have to have that for greater cause.
Thank you Trish and team for what you all do for our animals. Your business wouldn’t be around if people wouldn’t see results."
"This is one of the best training facilities you can ask for. They train you, then you train your dog. This is well run, kind staff who is full of experience in helping people speak dog. Can't recommend them enough."
"These people are awesome. Exceptional experience for your fur babies and you."
"I started puppy school with my 4th dog to go through the series this morning. Trish is amazing and I'm never disappointed. It feels like home to return and the quality of skills learned are paramount for the life of any dog."
"They really understand dogs here. They have helped my good dog be a great dog!"
"We had a fun time this morning wished I had dressed for the weather.Everyone was so cool,very warm environment.Jazz and I are looking forward to next week."
"Acoma is an excellent training facility with wonderful staff. I am taking one of my rescues for training classes and we have such a fun time. My mom has even been taking her dogs there to be trained since she was a kid!"
"Trish is a dog whisperer, she's amazing. It's truly magical seeing her work with my dog"
"The training staff at Acoma take the time to learn your dog and you to help make sure they can really help train your dogs for what is needed. The variety of classes gives you the ability to teach your dogs different skills and with the number of classes you have so many chances to take the classes. The price is fair for the training you are getting. An additional great class you get is snake proofing which helps teach your dogs about snakes to keep them safe or yourself! Would recommend this training center and the lovely ladies here to anyone! They love what they do and it really shows!"
"We brought our first pups in many years ago. Because we were delighted on how they teach and it's effectiveness, we have come back with our two new babies."
"I started taking my chi to this place when she was 6 weeks old, she now 3 yo. We still take her there because the staff love her, she loves them and I like that they know us by name. I also had to put down my 24 year old chi (another pet) and they were the best during this time. We live this place, especially Ms. Januce who works in reception."
"Two decades ago, I took my two of my doberman dogs to Acoma. They turned out to be some of the most well-behaved dogs I have owned. I went running with them when I was pregnant and I had no problems with them pulling me or making me fall.
Now, the number one reason a dog is euthanized by owner request is that the dog has behavior issues. When dogs bite people, children, or other dogs, you are looking at some serious legal and financial issues. Dogs that run from you can get hit by cars or cause any type of havoc.
While I see that many people here find prong or slip collars inhumane, and I don't disagree with you, some dogs can only be trained or controlled with them as they do not respond to other types of harnesses or collars. I currently have such a dog, who btw. did not attend training at Acoma.
When you fall on the pavement because your dog pulled you down or you end up in the road because your dog pulled you there, your choice of humane collars isn't working for you and your dog is causing you and him/herself harm.
I look at it from the perspective of which will cause less harm: a slip/ prong collar or you slip and fall on the pavement and your dog gets hit by a car."
"The owner Trish is way too talented. I took my children to simply watch and in one nights time they were accidentally trained by simply watching the hands as I told them to of Trish the magician. She obviously has more talent that is advertised and being so close to the base entrance my guess would be ...Seriously folks this place is top tier and if you find yourself in any way lazy even during just one day a week with your dog, then this place is too much for you. However if you want to learn how to communicate with your dog then by all means prepare yourself to see things you did not believe in previously....(and by all means don't stare at the ladies hands while she teaches!!!!"
"We went through an 8 week puppy training at Acoma with our last dog 9 years ago. We were extremely happy with Trish, her crew and the overall training experience and results. Trish is an incredible dog trainer who obviously loves her work.
We now have a new puppy and just attended our first class at Acoma with this dog. We were glad to see Trish is still the hands on lead trainer. Slip "choke" and prong collars are not required. Slip collars are very effective and not at all abusive for training more problematic dogs. A prong collar is a requirement when dealing with larger dogs that have potentially aggressive behavior. This is a matter of safety for the trainers and other dogs.
Our dog is a family member that we always treat with loving dignity and respect. I have had many dogs throughout my life. We feel in no way are Trish's training methods "outdated" or create aggressive tendencies as others have reviewed. This is just not true. Sternly correcting a dog when training is doing zero harm physically or emotionally to the dog. Quite the opposite it is an effective and efficient training tool that helps achieve the goal of a well disciplined dog and long term companion."
"Well established pet training center. We've been very happy with the training provided, both for the pet as well as the owner."
"The trainers really love dogs, and their experience shows when they are teaching. Love the environment and the info I receive every week. I will continue to take my dogs to multiple classes"
"I completely understand where everyone is coming from with the negative reviews. I was one of those people who was TOTALLY against prong collars, slip leads, muzzles etc but thats my fault. I had no education about the tools that were used for corrections. So my husband and i adopted our german shepherd Cooper from the animal shelter on the westside. They informed us that he is DOG AGGRESSIVE and we were informed that he needs to be the only dog. We took that risk and we adopted anyway. Before training our dog would pull, he would react to other dogs, bicyclist, people, he was very reactive mostly to other dogs who were being walked. We had enough so we did our research with prongs. We watched countless videos on animal behavior, dog handling, prong collar videos, e collars, behavior modification, basically anything related to dog training and we started to understand that our dog isnt Agressive BUT has signs of aggression is he a bad dog? NO. Weve taken Cooper to the dog park and he literally took off and ran and played with all the other dogs. So I completely understand the negative reviews because i was that person. But i suggest everyone to educate themselves before you write the review. Because without the prong colar my dog probably would still be dragging me into the dog parks. Now im able to bring my shepherd anywhere and he is very obedient. He wont even leave the house without the prong collar and i am dead serious. If you need any education my husband and I watched Upstate Canine Academy on youtube and this is where we learned alot of our knowledge. But acoma training center i wouldnt want to be anywhere else. Theyre really professional and they DO want to help theyve been nothing but kind and compassionate with us. I highly recommend them"
"My wife and I rescued a dog that had been subjected to a fighting ring in southern NM. It was our first Corgi and we were nervous about whether or not we could handle such a fierce breed with a rough past.
However, our little killer was one happy puppy pacifist by the time he was done at Acoma! Highly recommend. The water bonding session was our favorite!"
"Trained 5 dogs here. All turned out to be well mannered in the community thanks to this training. Trish believes in training for life and that's exactly what she does.
Highly recommend!"
"Excellent training and learning opportunities. I have been going here since we got our first dog in the early 1980's. I would highly recommend."
"The trainers really know their stuff and work with each owner to get the most out of their dogs."
"Is very good place for training your's dogs the people work there the very nice they know what they doing I am learning a lot about how training my dog the really recommend this place for any dog"
"They're really patient and great with my dog. Even in a group setting, my dog gets one on one attention every class. :-)"
"The staff is superb! They are knowledgeable, patient and fun to work with. I recommend seeing them no matter what issues your dog may have. They really get it! Thank you Acoma😊"
"I took my shelter dog to Acoma when he was a puppy. We went to the general 8-week training course. I had just adopted my dog when we started the course -- definitely helped us bond."
"Nice facility with absolutely top notch staff. Can't say enough good things about them."
"We first trained with Trish about 37 years ago and have returned again and again as older dogs passed on and we got new dogs. Trish and her staff do an excellent job. Their love of dogs is obvious and we have always been completely satisfied. Acoma provides both standard classes (puppy obedience, intermediate obedience, etc. ) that are generally 8 weeks per class type and also personal/private instruction for those that want it. Classes are open to visitors. If you have questions I would call, find out when classes are held, and come watch."
"I have been going to Acoma Training Center for over a year, and have just introduced a new puppy to them to begin training.
I find all of the staff to be very friendly and knowledgeable. They take every precaution to make sure all dogs and dog parents are safe throughout any training session.
I had gone to thee other training sites prior to Acoma, and none of the others paid as much attention to each dog, making sure they got equal amounts of praise. I will never go back to the others.
I would highly recommend Acoma Training Center to anyone who is interested in getting the best training for their dogs. It is great."
"Love this place. I have taken many of my dogs there for obedience training overany years. Great people. Great service."
"Amazing! I highly recommend this place. The owner is a dog whisperer. Classes were reasonably priced & I learned a lot of useful tips."
"The Spradleys have been the First Family of everything pets in Albuquerque and the surrounding area for generations! Got all my puppies and supplies at the store in the 80's and 90's. Pat and Marge Spradley founded the original Acoma and were loved by all. Pat even brought agility to New Mexico before anyone had heard of it. He was a great trainer, and his rottweiler, Tank, was a legend. I recently went to puppy class. This was my 17th set of classes over the years. Trish Spradley created this state-of-the-art academy for every stage and specialty of training. It is awesome! The trainers had a very special relationship with our puppies, each other and even us. They were very patient with my ever-errant ways (I am the puppy ruiner). It's also a one-stop shop for all the necessary and cool stuff. The training is quickly effective, the atmosphere professional and comforting."
"Excellent place to train your dog for life. We have learned so much in the past year. We started in novice with our dog, knowing nothing. Now we are in advanced novice and the Special Needs therapy dog class and our dog has excelled in the past year. Trish really knows her stuff and cares about the dogs and people. Love Acoma!"
"Having been to three other dog training faciities, I can say with confidence, Acoma is the best dog training center in the Albuquerque area, and Trish, the owner, is a dog-loving, excellent trainer. My dog started her training here when she was a four months old "wild child" puppy and is now a 2 1/2 year old mostly obedient, though still mischievous, full grown dog. All the trainers are extremely friendly, capable, and patient. It is obvious they all love dogs and will take the time to offer advice and assistance with any and all issues. Acoma Training Center offers a variety of courses, and I highly recommend them. If you're looking for a place to take your dog to train, dance, or practice agility, this is the place for you. Thank you, Trish, from both of us!!"
"This is a great place for dog training. The classes start out large, and you can't believe those dogs will ever settle down and learn anything. But if you keep coming and keep working with your dog, you'll be amazed at the results in just a few weeks. Owner Trish Spradley helped me train my first Rottweiler in 1984 and my first Papillons in 2013. She's an asset to the community and works incredibly hard with her students, teaching us in classes, helping us at dog shows and competitions, and really caring about our dogs."
"Three years ago I adopted MoJo, a large, energetic lab mix...(he now weighs 80 lbs.) He was exuberantly ill-mannered and WAY too much dog for me. I needed serious, immediate intervention with him, or else I would have to give him up. Acoma saved us. Novice and advanced novice classes groomed us for agility training. If only you could hear my dog squeal with anticipation and delight every time we turn into the Acoma parking area. I hold great respect for the trainers who exhibit compassion, expertise, and professionalism. Without them, I would have lost my best friend. I am Acoma's greatest advertisement!"
"Having a aggressive, problem dog in 1999 brought me to Acoma. Just like Cesar Millan, Trish Spradley, Acoma Owner and Trainer, believes all dogs are worth the time, effort and patience to train into balanced dogs. Like Cesar, she believes that the handler must be the alpha (discipline comes first), otherwise the dogs will try to assume that leadership position and problem ensues. My Pit/Lab Mix could drag me down the street looking for trouble, but after exploring all pieces of training equipment and being CONSISTENT with my actions, Trish and her staff helped me turn this once aggressive dog into one of the very best Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers Therapy Dogs, who could visit along side other Therapy Dogs without aggression. While I thought it would be wonderful to just spend all my time loving my dog without correction, Acoma taught me that it only teaches the dog that they are the boss. Acoma also teaches that the balanced dog is one that is obedient ( he knows where he ranks in your pack and it keeps him and you safe) and loved (he gets affection at the appropriate time without reinforcing bad habits). If not for Acoma Trainers, my Pit/Lab Mix would probably have had to eventually been put down because he was heading for trouble. His life was enriched, and saved, through his training at Acoma. Since 1999, I've had 2 other dogs trained at Acoma and worked with a Service Dog there. Any dog can be obedience trained at Acoma; they specialize in problem dogs. As I found out, the real problem is not training the dog, but training the handler; it is a lot harder to train the handler to be consistent with the training and training tools, when all the owner really wants to do is love his dog and allow the dog to be the center of his world. My current dog, a Boxer, is the center of my world and we do all our obedience training at Acoma, putting obedience first for manners and safety and, love and praise for her appropriate behavior. Whether she is out in public or at my home, everyone comments at what great manners she has "for a Boxer"! We Train for Life at Acoma! I'd recommend it to anyone."
"I started going to Acoma for the Conformation drills. We live in a remote location and my dogs were not exposed to other breeds often enough. At times the drills could be one tornado short of total chaos with many breeds lined up one after another but I quickly learned there was total control by Trish. Aggressive dogs were placed where they could stay under control while still participating while the extremely timid dogs received extra, non threatening, attention. Sometimes that attention was nothing more than casual touches on the back and head, until the dog gained enough confidence for a more thorough exam.
We started Agility this last January with, as someone pointed out, immediate introduction to the equipment. My boy learned each piece of equipment, then how to put them together, while working around an eclectic mix of dogs and handlers. He has graduated into the practice sessions with emphasis on working an entire course
At class last week I saw a dog that had not been able to 'find' her back legs on the walks. And I've heard from someone who has known this dog that she came to her owner a 'hot mess' with no previous training and a lot of fear issues. And at this class the light bulb went off, she found herself and linked into what her person wanted...and is now trotting confidently along those narrow walkways.
So many of the dogs coming to Acoma need intense help, and their owners start out clueless. The team growth is astounding."
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to train at Acoma. The things I like:
Their flexibility. They're open to your needs as an owner/trainer; individuals are not boxed into little molds. In my case, along with agility drills, I've been warmly welcomed to the Advanced Novice to work on competition proofing. Because of Acoma's flexibility, my dog kid (who needed significant proofing when we started) is now comfortably working in chaotic obedience trials.
The welcoming, nonjudgmental atmosphere: It makes no difference that some of the folks are just starting out with their dog journey and some have been coming to Acoma for years (and years!)--we all go with the flow, and we celebrate each others' successes at whatever level they occur.
Their supportive approach: Any number of the dogs in the Novice (and ongoing Advanced Novice) classes come with behavior issues--difficult ones. Acoma meets the needs of these owners, and also offers private lessons to further support them. At the beginning of each of the Advanced Novice classes, for instance, there's time to discuss individual concerns about new behavior issues or questions.
I like the emphasis on safety. The dogs are there to learn to focus on their people, and that they aren't to approach other dogs on their own whim. It's a relief to be in a place where correct doggy etiquette is being taught.
What speaks to me the most about Acoma is how many folks have been going there for years and years and...years! I suspect one day I'll be one of them. PS Holy cow, Google--no paragraph spacing? Really?"
"I'm with the reviewer who gets where these other folks are coming from, but would urge you to push through your initial discomfort and really give Acoma a chance. I get why many people have distaste for slip and prong collars, but if they're recommending one for your dog, you don't have control over your dog with a flat collar. If your dog is constantly pulling, you're miserable and she's miserable too. The staff may seem a little standoffish to begin with, but keep in mind how you'd feel if so many people in the classes you taught had the same attitude many of these reviewers have and thought you were mean. They've always taken the time to teach me and to answer any questions I've had, politely and kindly. I've watched the changes in the dogs in my class over the course of the class, and dogs who came in totally unable to walk on a leash are now able to trot along without distraction. The trainers' dogs who do demonstrations seem to genuinely be having fun with what they're doing. I do agree that I wish there was a little more time for the dogs to socialize with one another, but I completely understand that a) there may be dogs in the class who are working through aggression issues and b) a doberman and a teacup chihuahua just don't mix well. My puppy is learning through these classes, and so am I; I will be continuing with them for her future education (and mine!) and would really encourage you to sit in on more than just one class if you're hesitant. The staff and Trish know what they're doing and are willing to work with dogs of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments."
"I understand where these negative reviews come from. They mirror the way I felt after the first lesson I took my two Aussies to. But here's the thing... I was 100% wrong.
Acoma is fantastic. I recommend it to every dog owner I know. I get to recommend Acoma a lot, because my dogs continuously receive compliments on their behavior... which I assure you was not the case before I took them there.
If you go, you need to trust Trish. She has a tremendous amount of experience. One reviewer commented on being pushed to buy specific leashes and collars. Yes, Trish will insist on a specific collar and leash. But here's the thing... it will be the *right* collar for your dog and the *right* leash for you. I was highly skeptical at first, but Trish was spot on.
Here's the deal. Before I went to Acoma, I was concerned that I was going to have to get rid of one of my dogs for behavior issues. Now, I do competitive dog-discing with them where I can let both of my dogs off leash in a field surrounded by barking dogs and send them running 50 yards away from me *knowing* that I still have control over them. Every time.
If you believe in being compassionate towards dogs, and if you consider yourself a dog lover, go to Acoma and disregard these negative "I went once" reviews. Compassion and love for your dog is opening up experiences for them. To do that, you need to be confident in their behavior.
Acoma will get you there."