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top of pageHOMEABOUT USOUR SERVICESBoardingGroomingDOG BREEDINGROTTWEILERSGERMAN SHEPHERD DOGSTRAININGGALLERYCONTACT USMoreUse tab to navigate through the menu items.Home of 1st Place 2018 USRC IPO 3 National Champion  Chiron Vom Rottburg STANDING AT STUD ​WORLD CLASS TRAINING & BREEDING REPUTATION      Leadership      Experience      Quality      Commitment      to ExcellencePhotography by Jean Walker @World Class Litters are Here! Farah has been bred to Chiron! Puppies Available World Class Breeding and Training of Companion,  Service and Working Dogs with Exceptional Temperament from Champion German Bloodlines. ​ ​ ​our_servicesOUR SUPERIOR SERVICES TRAINING   The training techniques utilized by Yolo Canine Academy have been successful in all breeds, small and large. We specialize in all behavioral and training challenges even those with dogs that have failed elsewhere. GROOMING   We offer grooming for all breeds of dogs and cats. Book an appointment or have your pet groomed during their boarding stay. All breeds and temperaments are welcome. BOARDING   Home of 29 Palms Pet Resort, a full service boarding facility for dogs and cats. Our resort offers top quality accommodations, boasting a large outdoor exercise yards and large indoor/outdoor kennel suites.  Very clean!    Renee Lancaster, owner and founder of Rotts of Friends Animal Rescue a 501c3 non-profit, was derived from her passion for all animals. , was founded in 2007 and has become one of the Nation's most esteemed and award winning rescue groups.  BREEDING   Yolo Canine Academy is the home of world famous Vom Riegelhaus Breeding Kennel. Our program offers top quality German Shepherd and Rottweiler puppies as well as trained adult dogs for sale. Dogs from our program excel in temperament, structural soundness and years of conscientious breeding from a reputable and well respected breeder.about usABOUT YOLO CANINE ACADEMY -Est 1995Background Owner and founder, Renee Lancaster has been training dogs and raising German Shepherds and Rottweilers since the age of 18. Renee purchased her first German Shepherd from Germany in 1980 and embarked on her journey into the Schutzhund sport. Since that time, Renee has trained thousands of dogs, over 60 of them for Schutzhund competition.  She has titled eight of her personal dogs to the top level of Schutzhund III and has competed in both National and World competitions. These accomplishments include being a two time member of the USA World Team in Germany and France. She is the current 2018 United States Rottweiler Club, Working Dog Champion with her Rottweiler Chiron. This win earned her and Chiron a spot on the International Federation of Rottweilers (IFR) World Team to be held in Denmark in 2019.  Her success has captured the attention of the media where Yolo Canine Academy has been highlighted for its community service as home of , public education, training, as well as becoming an advisor to local celebrities like Chris Webber, Brad Miller, Kerri Kittles, Bonzi Wells, and John Brockman who have all trusted Renee with boarding, training and private in-home lessons with their personal dogs. ​ ​ Education - Experience Renee attended college at Fresno State University earning a BS degree in pre-veterinary medicine, and became a licensed Registered Veterinary Technician in 1977. She has experience working for numerous veterinary clinics, including the prestigious University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from 1986 until 1994. Her responsibilities included working in the small animal anesthesia department, caring for surgical patients and instructing veterinary students. Renee has maintained her veterinary technician license for 42 years which gives her expertise to instruct handlers and care for her own animals as well the ability to handle emergency situations in her boarding and breeding facility. In 1994 Renee's close work and training of police K9's motivated her to become a police officer which she accomplished, graduating in the top three of her class. Her 22 year career as a police officer included 11 years as a police canine handler. She has been instrumental in starting, maintaining and managing various police units including the Roseville Police Department Canine Unit and the Yolo County Sheriff's Department. Both of her police canines were cross trained for patrol and narcotic detection achieving many awards at Police Olympics and accomplishments in real street scenarios. Renee is a POST certified canine instructor and has been deemed an expert witness in several counties for court testimony, especially in dog bite and/or training cases. ​contactKEEP IN TOUCHOUR ADDRESS34505 County Road 29 Woodland, CA 95695 ​ Email:  Tel:  (530) 681-1326KENNEL HOURS 29 PALMS PET RESORT7:30 AM - 9:30 AM 4:30 PM -  6:30 PM Monday - Saturday Closed Sundays and HolidaysTRAINING/BREEDER HOURS YOLO CANINE ACADEMY9:00 - 5:00PM BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Monday - Saturday Closed Sundays and HolidaysFOLLOW USbottom of page
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Yolo Canine Academy

Yolo Canine Academy is a dog training business in Woodland, California offering Private Lessons, Group Classes, and Board and Train, with published programs from $125.

Woodland • CA • Training facility • 4.5 ★ (12 Google reviews)

Last verified: Sep 6, 2026

Transparency Score

43 / 100

Limited information

How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.

Price transparency
44%
Method transparency
35%
Program clarity
50%

About this program

What they say about themselves

Renee Lancaster founded Yolo Canine Academy in 1995, bringing credentials that span competitive dog sports, law enforcement, and veterinary medicine. According to her site, she competed internationally in Schutzhund (representing the USA twice at world championships in Germany and France), spent 22 years as a police officer including 11 years handling K9s, and worked as a registered veterinary technician—including time at UC Davis's veterinary teaching hospital. She holds a bachelor's degree in pre-veterinary medicine and has served as an expert witness in dog bite cases.

The Woodland facility sits on 20 acres and includes a lighted competition training field, an indoor building for year-round classes, an agility course, and water access for hunting and field trial work. A separate boarding operation, 29 Palms Pet Resort, runs on the same property with what they describe as 24-hour supervision. The site also houses Vom Riegelhaus Kennels, their German Shepherd and Rottweiler breeding program—one of their Rottweilers won the 2018 USRC IPO3 National Championship and made the International Federation of Rottweilers World Team.

Programs range from basic obedience and group classes to police K9 patrol and narcotics detection training. They describe behavioral rehabilitation as a specialty, stating they accept dogs that have failed training elsewhere. Lancaster also founded Rotts of Friends Animal Rescue in 2007, a nonprofit rescue she continues to operate.

What does Yolo Canine Academy charge for board and train?

Private lessons, group classes, board-and-train, and specialized programs make up the offerings at Yolo Canine Academy. Group classes run through beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, with the advanced tier welcoming dog-reactive dogs who've completed earlier stages. Beyond pet obedience, they provide Schutzhund training, personal protection work, and law enforcement K9 programs for patrol and narcotics detection.

Private lessons cost $125 each, or $400 for a four-session package. Group classes at any level run $150 for a six-session course. Board-and-train, protection, and Schutzhund pricing isn't published on the site.

Board and Train

Police K9 Patrol Program

Best for: Designed for police departments/canine units

Focus: Advanced obedience, Recall & off-leash

Duration: 4 weeks

Dog Boot Camp

Best for: Requires an evaluation prior to acceptance into this program

Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training

Duration: 2 weeks

Includes: Follow-up sessions, Lifetime support

K9 Narcotics

Best for: Designed for police departments/canine units

Focus: Scent work, Advanced obedience

Duration: 4 weeks

Board and Train pricing at Yolo Canine Academy in Woodland, CA
ProgramPriceDuration
Police K9 Patrol ProgramNot published4 weeks
Dog Boot CampNot published2 weeks
K9 NarcoticsNot published4 weeks

Private Lessons

Evaluations and Private Lessons — $125 per session

Best for: Puppies welcome but must have at least two vaccinations for DHLP-P

Focus: Basic obedience, Aggression

Personal Protection

Focus: Advanced obedience, Aggression

Schutzhund

Best for: Not all dogs are capable of performing this rigorous sport therefore, an individual evaluation is encouraged

Focus: Agility & dog sports, Advanced obedience

Private Lessons pricing at Yolo Canine Academy in Woodland, CA
ProgramPriceDuration
Evaluations and Private Lessons$125 per session—
Personal ProtectionNot published—
SchutzhundNot published—

Group Classes

Group Lessons — Beginner — $150 per program

Best for: Dogs must be a minimum of four months old and there is no maximum age limit.

Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training

Duration: 6 sessions

Group Lessons — Intermediate — $150 per program

Focus: Advanced obedience, Recall & off-leash, Agility & dog sports

Duration: 6 sessions

Group Lessons — Advanced — $150 per program

Best for: Requires completion of beginner and intermediate levels; dog-reactive dogs welcome under this condition

Focus: Advanced obedience, Recall & off-leash, Leash reactivity, Agility & dog sports

Duration: 6 sessions

Group Classes pricing at Yolo Canine Academy in Woodland, CA
ProgramPriceDuration
Group Lessons — Beginner$150 per program6 sessions
Group Lessons — Intermediate$150 per program6 sessions
Group Lessons — Advanced$150 per program6 sessions

What training methods does Yolo Canine Academy use?

The site doesn't detail specific training tools or techniques. They do accept dogs with aggression issues, and evaluations are required before certain programs.

Method: Method unclear

Their website describes their approach in general terms without specifying which methods or tools they use.

How do we verify Yolo Canine Academy?

Certifications: Not specified on their website

Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.

Trust & facility details

Training takes place at a dedicated facility with overnight staffing. Certifications, insurance, and guarantee terms aren't listed. Whether owners can visit during board-and-train or receive video updates isn't addressed.

Facility: Training facility

Owner visits: not specified on their website.

Video updates: not specified on their website.

Overnight staffing: Yes

Insurance: not specified on their website.

Guarantee: not specified on their website.

Waitlist: not specified on their website.

Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.

Booking: Phone only

How does Yolo Canine Academy compare in Woodland?

Price: Yolo Canine Academy does not publish board & train pricing. Across Woodland, 4 programs publish prices from about $133 to $150.

Reviews: Yolo Canine Academy shows 4.5★ from 12 Google reviews among 2 published Woodland programs.

Transparency: This listing scores 43 out of 100 (price 44%, program clarity 50%). Certification disclosure is still sparse in this city.

What to ask Yolo Canine Academy

  • Ask which certifications their trainers hold and who issued them.
  • Ask for proof of liability insurance.
  • Ask how many dogs each trainer handles at once.
  • Their site describes their approach in general terms — ask which specific methods and tools they use.
  • Ask whether you can visit during the program.

Location & hours

The facility sits on County Road 29 in Woodland, a rural setting outside the main city area. Parking and accessibility details aren't mentioned on the site.

34505 Co Rd 29, Woodland, CA

Friday: Open 24 hours

Monday: Open 24 hours

Sunday: Open 24 hours

Tuesday: Open 24 hours

Saturday: Open 24 hours

Thursday: Open 24 hours

Wednesday: Open 24 hours

Contact / request a quote

Reach out directly or send a quote request through Yolo Canine Academy.

+1 530-681-1326Website

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