Best Dog Trainers in Indiana

Mad 4 My Dog is Madalyn McKenney's training center in Ellettsville, established in 2004 according to her site. She lists the CPDT-KSA and is a Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach. Group classes start with Mad4MyPuppy Preschool and Basic Foundation, and Focus Sessions cover reactive dogs and homes with babies or toddlers. Trick Dog and Treibball & Nosework classes give dogs a job to do. The site says it won't use pain or fear to motivate dogs, and it rejects alpha theory. Therapy dog and CGC evaluations are offered too.

Pawsitive Partners calls itself the place for dog sports in Indianapolis. Its agility center teaches agility from a pre agility class up to Advanced Agility for dogs and handlers of any skill level. The obedience center in Beech Grove runs Puppy and Basic Obedience classes, plus competition obedience for AKC, UKC or CDSP trials from Novice to Utility. Flyball and disc dog classes are on the schedule too, and treibball is described as a good fit for fearful dogs. Group classes are the format here, with online enrollment, and grooming is available as well.

Dogs of the Dunes is a Valparaiso training and pet care business that also serves Portage and Michigan City. The site names owner Theresa Armstrong as CPDT-KA and Fear Free certified, and she belongs to the Pet Professional Guild. You can book one on one sessions or group classes, and virtual sessions and board and train programs are offered too. Training is fear free and reward based, and the site says it doesn't use shock or prong collars. Listed problems include reactivity and leash pulling. The first 30 minute assessment is free.

Canine Body and Mind in Granger puts veterinary care and dog training under one roof. Beth Belock, DVM, is the named veterinarian, and the practice describes its visits as low stress. Group classes and private lessons take puppies through senior dogs, and a Cooperative Care Course and Nail Trim Training help dogs who struggle with handling. Behavior modification plans cover fear and aggression along with reactivity and anxiety. The site describes force free, reward based methods only. Video consults are available, and in person visits are by appointment.

Salty Dog Ranch is Ferreh Anderson's all breed stockdog training facility in Mooreland, once known as Stockdog U. The site says Ferreh has trained dogs for about 20 years. Border Collies and Australian Shepherds train here, and the site also mentions Samoyeds and Great Danes. Some clients work their dogs on their own livestock farms. Most don't keep livestock at all and come so their dogs can burn off energy and use their brains. The site doesn't list lesson formats or prices, so ask how a first visit works.

Dogwood Farm in Williamsport trains handler and dog teams in herding, from real stock work to trial competition. Our listing names Mary Lou Hayden with the farm. The site says it works with all recognized herding breeds, and it prepares teams for AKC, ASCA, AHBA and USBCHA trials. Small pens with calm sheep suit beginners, while large fields with very light sheep test experienced dogs. Training runs on most weekends through the year, and the farm is aimed at people serious about learning to handle a stock dog.

Whitewater Valley Dog Training Club teaches group classes in Richmond. Puppies 12 weeks to a year old start in the 7 week AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class, taught by an AKC approved CGC evaluator. Older dogs take the 7 week Family Pet Class, which comes with weekly homework. From there you can move to Canine Good Citizen and then a Therapy Dog class that prepares dogs to visit nursing homes and hospitals. Rally and Beginner Novice obedience are offered too, and a Beginning Scent Class starts January 12, 2027.

The Greater Lafayette Kennel Club has been around since 1945, and its classes are open to the public. New dogs start with STAR Puppy or Beginner Clicker Training, and Canine Good Citizen is part of the same fundamentals group. The club also teaches competition obedience and agility at several levels, and rally has a drop in option. Scent work and therapy dog skills classes are offered, along with conformation. Classes run 8 weeks and are listed on their site as $120 for members and $160 for non members.

Barkefellers Columbus is a lodging and daycare business with a structured training program. In Day School, you drop your dog off by 9 a.m. and pick up after 4 p.m. Each day includes three learning sessions plus a short class for you at the end. Stay School adds overnight lodging. Level 1 Day School is listed on their site as $225 for a week. The site describes positive reinforcement with treats or toys. Dogs train on a flat collar and regular leash, and retractable leashes aren't allowed.

Barkefellers Westfield adds weekday training to its lodging and daycare business. In Day School your dog trains Monday through Friday and goes home each night. Stay School is the board and train version, which the site calls Lodge and Learn. Programs come in levels, and the month long Puppy Prep Day School is listed on their site as $825. The site says training uses positive reinforcement, and trainers size dogs for Gentle Leader or Easy Walk gear. A second dog enrolled at the same time gets 20% off.

Train Loyal Companions serves Monroe County and nearby towns. Our listing shows Leslie Hudson with CPDT certification, and the site says a certified professional dog trainer provides its services. One hour sessions happen in your home or out in your neighborhood. The Perfect Puppy Starter Program takes pups from two months old. Recovering from Reactivity, which the site calls its most popular program, covers leash reactivity and barrier frustration. Behavior consults can be virtual or in person, and the first 15 minute phone call is free.

Advanced Canine Techniques is Bonnie Krupa's training business, and our listing shows her as a NADOI Certified Instructor in Albany. The site's title points to Muncie, and the business serves all of Delaware County, from Albany to Daleville. You can choose private lessons or group classes, and board and train is available if you want the trainer to do more of the work. Therapy dog testing and pet first aid classes are listed too. The site names recall and leash pulling among the problems it helps with, along with dogs who play keep away with their things.

Purpose Driven K9 is Margaret Bridges's training business in Indianapolis, serving the city and surrounding areas. The site says Margaret is a certified trainer with about 15 years of hands on experience who keeps studying with professionals around the country. You can send your dog for boarding and training or book private lessons, and group classes are offered too. A Doggie Social Club gives dogs time to socialize, and service dog training is listed as well. Methods and prices aren't posted, so ask about both.

Bark Tutor trains dogs in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis. Day training is the main program. Your dog spends the day with a trainer, and Puppy Preschool is the version for young puppies, focused on socialization and manners. Group classes have you train alongside your dog so the skills carry over at home, and private lessons work on the skills you choose. The site describes positive reinforcement for dogs of all ages. Day training families get a written plan plus photos and progress updates from the trainer.

Windsong Kennel near Elkhart trains hunting dogs. John Faigh founded it in the 1990s as a boarding kennel and later shifted to training. The site says he has about 30 years of experience with retrievers and pointing dogs. Dogs get one on one work and also learn to behave around other dogs. A 60 acre property about five minutes from the kennel is set up for upland work, with a small pond for retriever drills. The site describes gentle positive reinforcement at home and in the field.

Barks & Recreation in Evansville trains at The Training Retreat, a building set up like a house so dogs can practice with doorbells and visitors. Camps run two to four weeks. Puppy Camp, for pups 10 to 20 weeks old, is listed on their site as $1,500, and Premium Camp for severe cases like aggression is listed as $4,200. Every camp ends with a private lesson at pickup and follow up lessons at home. In home sessions are listed at $350 each, and boarding and grooming are offered too.

Charlie's Dog Obedience Training works by appointment in Richmond and says it serves Indiana and Ohio. New puppies start in a pre basic course that leads into basic obedience, where dogs learn sit and stay along with leash manners. Two advanced courses follow. One takes the skills into public places, and the other focuses on off leash obedience and recall. Reactive dog training works with dogs that react out of fear or aggression. The site describes a no nonsense style but doesn't name its methods or tools, so ask on your first call.

Foundation K9 is a family owned training business on a 10 acre property near Valparaiso, open by appointment. Its Day Train program runs 6 to 8 weeks. You drop your dog off one day a week, pick up with a one hour coaching lesson, then practice at home. Dogs that bite or show severe anxiety go to Board & Train instead, which runs 4 to 8 weeks and includes outings to stores and parks. Private lessons and Canine Good Citizen prep are offered too, and the first evaluation is free.

Muncie Obedience Training Club is a member club that teaches pet and competition classes in Muncie. The 6 week STAR Puppy class is listed on their site as $90 for non members, and 8 week Basic Obedience is $120 for non members or $72 for members. Performance Fundamentals introduces four dog sports, including agility and scent work. Competition classes cover obedience and rally, and Friday Night Open Training offers 30 minute practice slots. Many sessions fill up, so check the schedule early and contact the class lead listed on the site.

Over the Rainbow Dogs is Deb Dolak's training business in Muncie. She holds the CPDT-KA, and the site says she attends several seminars a year. Group classes meet at the Westview Woof Academy at Westview Animal Clinic and follow an Oz theme. Puppies can start at 6 weeks in Lollipup Kids, and Yellow Brick Road is for dogs a year and older. Emerald City 1 and 2 are listed as Canine Good Citizen courses. Private training covers separation anxiety and resource guarding, plus fear and reactivity.

The School 4 Dogs trains in Mooresville with indoor and outdoor space and serves nearby towns, including Greenwood and Plainfield. Board and train keeps your dog at the facility for daily structured work, and every graduate gets four free group classes afterward. Private lessons focus on your goals, such as leash training or a behavior problem. The site says its trainers are certified and have more than 15 years of experience, but it doesn't name them. It describes positive reinforcement and also mentions balanced training, so ask which tools they use.

Jolly Dogs LLC is Steve Jolly's training business in Bloomfield, serving Bloomington and southern Indiana. The site says a certified dog trainer leads the team and that the business has more than 20 years of experience. Basic Obedience covers on and off leash commands and puppy socialization. Advanced work includes personal protection and detection, plus tracking and emotional support dog training. Behavioral reconditioning takes on aggression and anxiety, and boarding dogs stay on an outdoor lot of more than 5 acres. The site mentions positive reinforcement but doesn't describe tools, so ask.

Jäger Elite K9 is Chad Dulin's training business in Knox. The site says Chad has more than 20 years with dogs and is a certified K9 trainer, and he has served twice as a police K9 handler. Obedience classes come in three tiers, and the program also covers agility and scent work. A separate Socialize Your K9 program builds confidence by introducing dogs to new places and people. The site describes positive reinforcement training and flexible class schedules. You can book a free meet and greet with Chad before you sign up.

Special O.P.S. K-9 Academy in North Webster is owned by Stephanie Gagye, who the site says has run the business for more than 11 years. Pet owners can sign up for basic and advanced obedience, and behavior modification teaches you to read and communicate with your dog. Puppy imprinting starts as early as 8 weeks. Protection and tracking training are offered, and dog psychology classes are by appointment. The academy also trains police K-9 teams and offers boarding and daycare. Prices come as a custom quote.

Bark Busters Louisville is a Louisville, Kentucky franchise run by Doug Rountree, a Bark Busters Master Dog Trainer working in the area since 2006. Our listing places it in Bethlehem, and the service area reaches southern Indiana towns such as Jeffersonville and New Albany. Doug trains one on one in your home, then moves to your neighborhood once you and your dog are ready. The site says he teaches owners to use body language and tone of voice, and he doesn't use physical punishment or shock collars. He's also an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator.

Flying Feet Agility is Trisha Koetter's training center in Floyds Knobs. It teaches obedience from basic pet manners up to advanced skills for the show ring. Agility classes take newcomers as well as handlers aiming at national level competition, in an indoor arena of more than 8,000 square feet with cushioned turf. Group classes and private lessons are both offered, and online classes help if you can't make the drive. The site says training starts with building a communication system you and your dog both understand.

Flying Paws Agility Club is a nonprofit in Bloomington whose stated mission is a place to practice agility at a reasonable cost. Classes run in 6 week sessions of about an hour a week and are listed on their site as $140 per session. Everyone starts in Agility Foundations, which takes dogs at least 10 months old, and the club recommends basic manners like sit and stay first. From there, teams move through obstacle classes and on to handling and course work. Junior handlers are welcome, ideally 10 or older.