Training your dog shouldn't feel like a fight.
In home training in Layton area and northern Utah. We work with you and your dog to build foundations that hold up in real life, not just in a classroom.
I'm Chris Weeks, and I'm building Summit Canine Academy from the ground up in Layton, Utah.
I'm 19, and I don't have decades of experience to sell you. What I have is a lifetime of obsession with how animals learn, a German Shepherd, a Border Collie, and multiple other species who have been my daily teachers on animal behavior.
My approach is balanced: I build every behavior on a deep foundation of positive reinforcement, and I use pressure tools like slip leads and e-collars only when the dog is ready & the handler has earned the skill, when the situation genuinely calls for it. No shortcuts. No dominance nonsense. Just honest, modern behavior science applied to the dog in front of me.
I document my work publicly because I believe training should be transparent. You'll see my wins and my messy days. That's on purpose.
If you want polished marketing from a trainer who has been doing this forever, there are plenty of options in Utah. If you want someone who actually cares about teaching you and your dog real skills, let's talk.
Summit Canine Academy, LLC · Layton, Utah · Insured · (385-575-4750)· Chrisweeks@summitcanineacademy.com
Your Dog's 4-Week Transformation
Our flagship program. Twelve in home training sessions over four weeks, built around your dog and your home. We finish with a dedicated two-day owner handoff, because lasting change requires the human to learn alongside the dog.
Best for: dogs 6 months and older who need real foundations. Leash manners, recall, focus, impulse control, and the daily skills that make life easier.
Our Services
Start Your Puppy Right
A focused four-session program for puppies 8 to 20 weeks. We cover socialization, name response, crate training, potty training, leash introduction, bite inhibition, and handling. The critical window for puppy development closes fast. This program is built to take full advantage of it.
Best for: new puppies in their first few months at home.
Fix What Drives You CRAZY
A focused two-week, six session program for dogs with specific manners issues, such as leash pulling, jumping on guests, door dashing, counter surfing, ignoring their name. We pick the three behaviors that are affecting your life most, and we fix them.
Best for dogs who already have a basic foundation but have developed habits that are making daily life harder than it should be.
By application. Limited spots each month
Your Questions, Answered
What kinds of dogs and problems do you take?
I work with adult dogs and adolescents on foundations, manners, and leash skills, things like recall, impulse control, leash manners, jumping, door dashing, and focus around distractions. I also work with young puppies in their critical socialization window.
At this time, I don't take cases involving aggression, severe reactivity, or bite history. Those cases deserve a specialist, and I'll gladly refer you to one in northern Utah if that's what you need.
What training methods do you use?
Balanced. That means I build every behavior on a deep foundation of positive reinforcement, food, praise, play, and clear communication. Once that foundation is solid, I introduce pressure tools like slip leads or e-collars when they're the right fit for the dog and the goal. No dominance nonsense. No fear based methods. No cheap tools. Just modern behavior science applied with skill.
How is Summit Canine Academy different from other trainers?
Three things. First, every program ends with a dedicated owner training handoff, because training that doesn't transfer to you doesn't hold. Most trainers skip this or tack on a 30-minute call at the end. Mine is multiple sessions, hands-on, and built into every package.
Second, I work in small numbers with high attention per dog. I'll never be the cheapest trainer in northern Utah, and I'll never be the highest volume one. I take on a limited number of dogs each month so the work actually gets done right.
Third, I'm obsessive about the craft. Animal behavior has been my focus for nearly a decade, not as a career, as a way of life. I study daily, and have worked with multiple species trying to truly bridge the gap between animal and human communication
What happens on the free discovery call?
We'll talk for 30 minutes, no pitch, no pressure. Tell me about your dog, your daily life, and what you want training to accomplish. I'll ask questions, give you my honest take on what I think is going on, and tell you whether I think I'm the right trainer for your situation. If I am, I'll recommend a program. If I'm not, I'll tell you who to call instead.
How much does training cost?
Programs start at $800 and go up to $2,500 depending on which one fits your dog. During your free 30-minute discovery call, we'll figure out which program is right and I'll give you the exact number. I don't discount, but I'm honest about which program you actually need — sometimes the cheaper one is the right answer.
Book Your Free Discovery Call
A free 30-minute conversation about your dog. I'll ask about what you're hoping to change, share my honest take on what's going on, and we'll figure out together whether I'm the right fit.