Craig A. Murray Dog Training
Six named trainers, recap emails, and mid-week mobile access — this school trains the owner as much as the dog.
From the 50 reviews analysed, every named trainer — Emma, Kelly, Nikki, Karia, Cass, and Nelly — draws individual praise for patience, responsiveness, and adapting advice to the specific dog in front of them, which suggests quality is distributed across the team rather than concentrated in one person. The business suits first-time owners particularly well, especially those with large breeds, rescues, or dogs showing early anxiety or guarding behaviour; several reviewers mention being reassured rather than judged when they arrived with a challenging dog. If you're weighing up which trainer or location to request, it's worth asking at enrolment — reviews suggest trainer-to-owner fit matters, and the team appears open to those conversations.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (288 total)
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 21 dog trainings in Brisbane
Credentials & background
Sourced from 5 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Craig A. Murray Dog Training
Craig A. Murray Dog Training operates a structured, multi-stage curriculum — Puppy Preschool, Manners, Foundation Obedience, Juvenile, and Intermediate Obedience — giving owners a clear pathway from the first week home with a puppy through to advanced control. What sets them apart from a typical puppy school is the emphasis on teaching the owner, not just the dog: trainers routinely send recap emails, share their personal mobile numbers for between-class support, and run small enough classes that one-on-one attention within a group setting is normal. The business operates across multiple South-East Queensland locations (including Coomera, Loganholme, and Berrinba) through a team of named trainers, each with a distinct following. Emma Arnold is praised most frequently for ongoing obedience work, therapy-dog preparation, and private in-home sessions with anxious or dominant dogs. Kelly draws strong loyalty from first-time owners of large and challenging breeds, consistently described as going above and beyond with mid-week availability. Nikki is the standout name for Puppy Preschool and Manners classes, particularly in the Coomera area, while Karia, Cass, and Nelly each attract repeat clients across puppy and behaviour-modification work. Both group classes and private in-home sessions are available, making the service accessible for dogs that aren't yet ready for a group environment.
Best for: first-time puppy owners wanting a structured multi-stage training pathway, owners of rescue or anxious dogs needing individually tailored strategies, and anyone who wants ongoing trainer access between sessions rather than a one-off class.
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Craig A. Murray Dog Training
Which trainer should I request and does it matter which location I attend?+
The business operates across several South-East Queensland locations including Coomera, Loganholme, and Berrinba, and each site has a lead trainer with their own loyal client base. Emma Arnold is frequently mentioned for Foundation and Intermediate Obedience as well as private sessions; Kelly is especially praised by first-time owners of large or challenging breeds at Berrinba; Nikki draws strong feedback for Puppy Preschool and Manners in Coomera; and Karia is well regarded at Loganholme. It's worth contacting the school to ask which trainer covers your nearest location and whether they have experience with your specific breed or behavioural concerns.
What's the difference between group classes and private in-home sessions?+
Group classes follow the structured course pathway — Puppy Preschool, Manners, Foundation Obedience, Juvenile, and Intermediate — and provide socialisation alongside the training curriculum. Private in-home sessions are available for dogs that aren't ready for a group environment, or owners who want intensive one-on-one coaching focused on specific problem behaviours. Several reviewers mention booking a private session first before transitioning into group classes, and a number reported seeing significant behavioural change within a single two-hour home visit. Trainers like Emma and Nelly are specifically praised for private work, with written lesson summaries emailed afterwards.
Is this course suitable for rescue dogs or dogs with anxiety and behavioural issues?+
Multiple reviewers bring rescue dogs, dogs with separation anxiety, fear-based reactivity, or guarding behaviour, and report that trainers adapt their approach rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method. One reviewer specifically noted that, unlike other trainers they'd contacted, Craig A. Murray staff didn't write off their dog based on breed or history. Trainers are described as discussing individual behavioural strategies one-on-one within group class settings when they notice an issue, and private sessions are available for dogs that need more tailored intervention before joining a group.
What kind of support do I get between weekly classes?+
Between-class support is a frequently mentioned differentiator in reviews. Several trainers share their personal mobile numbers so owners can reach out mid-week when issues come up — one reviewer described regularly texting their trainer when feeling overwhelmed with a Great Dane. Recap or wrap-up emails summarising that week's lesson content are sent after classes, and at least some private session clients receive written lesson summaries covering everything discussed. This level of ongoing contact is mentioned by reviewers across multiple trainers, suggesting it's an organisational standard rather than something specific to one instructor.
Do they use positive-only training methods?+
Craig A. Murray Dog Training uses a mixed-method approach. One reviewer explicitly notes that classes include both positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement in the form of a quick leash correction, and flags this as something to be aware of for owners seeking positive-only training. The majority of reviews don't focus on methodology, instead emphasising practical results and clear instruction. If this matters to you, it's worth raising directly with the school before enrolling to confirm the approach used by your specific trainer and class level.