Best Dog Trainers in Maryland

Maria Montgomery runs Plum Point Pooch out of Aberdeen in Harford County. She offers private in person training around Aberdeen and towns such as Havre de Grace, Bel Air and Edgewood, plus remote training and behavior consults for owners farther away. Home alone training and live webinars are listed too. The site calls her approach cooperative and force free, and much of her work is with dogs that bark and lunge on leash. She lists more than 19 years of experience, including time as lead trainer at a Baltimore animal shelter.

Leash Free Living trains from locations in Annapolis and Millersville and serves Anne Arundel County and nearby central Maryland. You can pick private lessons through its companion dog programs or join group electives and advanced classes. It also runs puppy training and a board and train program, and its daycare training lets your dog work on skills during a day stay. Virtual training is offered on a separate site. Leash Free Living calls its method balanced and relationship based. Ask for its Quick Start Guide for pricing.

Canine Training Association is a group class program with buildings in Beltsville and Davidsonville, so it reaches owners in both Prince George's and Anne Arundel County. New obedience classes start every ten weeks for new puppies and established dogs. After some obedience, your dog can move into rally or freestyle, and conformation classes are offered as well. Agility classes and practice sessions also run. The site doesn't describe private lessons or list prices, so contact the club about current classes.

The Force Free Way Dog Training is Joanne Ometz's business, and she holds the CPDT-KA and a Turid Rugaas certification, according to our database. Her site lists small group classes and private sessions, along with workshops for puppies and adult dogs. She also coaches owners who want to train their own service dog. Training is reward based, and the site says she doesn't use shock collars or prong and choke collars. She serves College Park, Berwyn Heights, Greenbelt, Hyattsville and nearby towns.

Tomas Kaufman-O'Reilly runs Tom's Dog Training from Bethesda. Behavior consulting covers fearful dogs, resource guarding, excessive barking and conflict between dogs that share a home. Obedience training is aimed at new dog owners and covers sit, stay, down and come when called, along with leash handling. He prepares dogs for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, and his site shows a CGC Evaluator certificate. A backyard agility program called Canine Cardio is offered, and our database also lists online training.

Christina McCauley's BFF Pet Services trains dogs at two temperature controlled locations in Charles and St. Mary's County. Group classes cover obedience and dog sports, and there's a therapy dog course and private lessons too. Our database also lists puppy classes, agility, rally, tracking and a Canine Good Citizen course. Self paced online courses cover obedience and sports for owners who'd rather learn at home. The site doesn't describe methods or post prices, so ask about both. Both sites serve Southern Maryland owners.

Sit Means Sit Frederick is run by owners and head trainers Kari and Gary Pigott, and the site says it has operated since 2013. Its day train option lets you drop your dog off and get a lesson at pickup. Private lessons teach you marker training, and puppy preschool runs one on one or in a group. The site describes a balanced approach that pairs a remote electronic collar with reward based marker training. Day camp is listed on their site as $64 for a single day.

The Dog Wizard Maryland Metro works by appointment from College Park and covers towns such as Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Silver Spring and Rockville. Options include private lessons in your home, day training, group classes and board and train, plus a rescue dog program. Behavior work covers aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety and socialization. The site calls its approach balanced and says trainers use food rewards along with collars, including remote collars. Programs are listed on their site as starting at $250.

Karen Decker's PUPS Dog Obedience Training works out of Columbia. The core offer is a basic group obedience course, and from there you can move into advanced obedience or rally. Private lessons and behavior modification programs are available, along with puppy sessions and boarding and training. PUPS is the only trainer in this guide that teaches IPO and Schutzhund, and it hosts seminars on both. Remote sessions run by Zoom. The site says each dog and owner are assessed before methods and tools are chosen.

Dauntless Dogs has a training center on Energy Parkway in Curtis Bay. Group classes run from puppy level up to advanced and focus on real life skills around distractions. Private training is for behavior concerns and custom plans. The center also offers day training and board and train, plus daycare and boarding. Its Walk This Way leash walking seminar is listed on their site at $65 per dog for 90 minutes, and the site says it isn't meant for serious leash reactivity.

Based in Easton, Lisa Benshoff's Dogs Behaving Better serves Oxford and St. Michaels across Talbot County. Her site lists the CBCC and CPDT credentials after her name, along with 15 years of experience. Training is private. Programs include Puppy Foundations, an adolescent program for dogs 6 to 18 months old, leash walking help, and Big Feelings for dogs dealing with fear, anxiety, reactivity or aggression. Her methods are positive and science based, and the site says she uses no force or corrections. No prices are shown.

Maryland K9 Training is based in Elkridge and brings private lessons to your home across Howard County and Central Maryland. Programs cover puppies, obedience, off leash work and behavior problems such as jumping, pulling, aggression and destructive behavior. The site says its trainers are National K9 School certified and Canine Good Citizen Evaluators, and they belong to the International Association of Canine Professionals. It describes its techniques as science backed. The site offers a free 60 minute evaluation to start, and prices aren't listed.

Pat Miller runs Peaceable Paws in Fairplay, south of Hagerstown, and her site says she has trained dogs for more than 40 years. Her site lists her as CBCC-KA and CPDT-KA, and three members of her team hold the CPDT-KA and PMCT1. Group classes include Basic Good Manners, Beyond Good Manners, Low Stress Handling and Care, and Nose Games, and workshops cover shaping and cooperative care. Private lessons and behavior consultations handle more serious problems, including aggression. Training uses positive reinforcement with no coercion or force.

Breakaway Action Dogs is a not for profit training club on East Patrick Street in Frederick with two indoor buildings side by side. It runs a range of classes and says it uses a positive training approach. The club is also a busy trial site, hosting agility and rally trials along with obedience and scent work events. Run thrus offer practice in a trial setting. Instructors aren't named, though the site says they have many years of experience. Check the Classes page for sessions and fees.

Kim Yocklin is a Pet Professional Guild member, and our database links her to Canine Character, a Frederick training business. The Canine Character site describes positive, non aversive training and mentions clicker training. Group classes include Good Manners I and II and a Tricks class, and puppy classes cover things like vet visits and grooming. Private training is offered too. The site keeps free resources on reactive dogs and dog body language. No prices are posted, so call to ask about current class dates.

Atta Pup Training is Heather Gruber's Hagerstown business, with classes at Central Dawgma on Pennsylvania Avenue. Our database lists her credentials as LBS, MS, CPDT-KA and PMCT. The business offers group classes, private coaching, day training and behavior consultations. For owners who can't come in, there are video consults and an online reactivity course. The site describes its training as dog friendly and positive and says it puts the dog's emotional needs first. Payment plans are mentioned, but prices aren't posted.

The K9 Class trains dogs from Howard Avenue in Kensington and serves Montgomery County towns including Bethesda, Olney, Germantown and Poolesville. Its boarding training program keeps your dog for training and then teaches you to handle it. Private lessons train you and your dog together, and the day school mixes structured activity with play and socialization on weekdays. The site says it works on reactivity and fear aggression. It doesn't name trainers, credentials, methods or prices, so ask those questions on your first call.

Lela Schreiber owns Fitnacity Dog Training in Knoxville, west of Frederick, and the site says she has trained dogs in the Frederick area for 14 years. She is a Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer and an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Manners classes run from puppy level up to the CGC test, and sport classes cover nosework and tricks. Group classes are capped at five or six teams. Private lessons and conditioning work on professional equipment are available too. Training uses positive reinforcement.

Clayton Newton owns Dog Training Elite Montgomery County, based in Olney, and serves towns such as Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Rockville and Sandy Spring. Training happens in your home, and group classes give dogs practice around other dogs. Programs cover puppies, potty training, leash walking, barking, aggression and separation anxiety. This is one of three trainers in this guide that list service dog training, and therapy dog prep is offered too. The site describes a balanced method and starts with a free consultation at your home.

Poolesville, in western Montgomery County, is home to K9netic Pack's training facility, and it serves nearby towns too. Its board and train program keeps your dog in a structured setting with daily training, and its structured boarding keeps dogs on their routines while you travel. Private lessons focus on communication between you and your dog. K9netic Pack also trains service dogs and works with reactive and anxious dogs. The site calls its approach balanced and says it follows Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive principles.

Talbot Kennel Club teaches classes in a climate controlled, matted building on West Belle Road in Ridgely, and non members are welcome. Pet classes include Puppy, Family Dog, Canine Good Citizen, Focus and Tricks. Competition classes cover agility, Barn Hunt, obedience, rally and scent work. The club trains with reward based methods under the motto Training with Kindness and Compassion. Puppy and Family Dog classes for rescued or adopted dogs are listed on their site at $75 for two classes. A new fall session began the week of October 26, 2026.

Dog Sense Unlimited on Dover Road in Rockville has offered obedience training since 1974. It's open for private obedience lessons and small group classes, and it also runs puppy lessons and a boarding training program. Problem solving covers loose leash walking, recall, housebreaking, separation anxiety and aggression. Training runs from basic manners up to competition obedience for dogs of any breed or age. The site calls its approach time tested. No trainer names or prices appear on the home page.

DogiZone's training center on East Gude Drive in Rockville keeps long hours, opening early on weekdays and staying open through the weekend. Its menu lists dog training camps, private training, group training, puppy training and a basic obedience class. It also offers at home training for owners who'd rather not travel. The home page says its trainers are certified and educated in obedience and behavior. It doesn't name its trainers or post prices. You can request a free consultation online to talk through which program fits your dog.

Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club is the lower Eastern Shore option in this guide, with classes at its own training center. The Family Dog Program covers pet manners, and our database lists STAR Puppy and Canine Good Citizen classes as well. For dog sports, the club teaches competition obedience and rally, agility, scent work and canine freestyle. Conformation handling classes are offered too. The site doesn't describe methods or post prices, so check the class schedule and ask whether a class is open to non members.

Limitless Canines trains from Severn and serves Crofton, Gambrills, Glen Burnie and other Anne Arundel County towns. Ashley and her team run private lessons for obedience and behavior problems such as leash pulling, barking, biting and resource guarding. Kamp K9 is a day training program with drop off as early as 8 a.m. and pickup by 6 p.m. A board and train program is offered too. The site describes positive, balanced methods and lists membership in the International Association of Canine Professionals. Discovery calls are free.

The Barkitect is a family owned trainer in Thurmont, about 20 minutes from downtown Frederick. Its day school is the most popular program, with drop off training plus exercise and enrichment. In the board and train program your dog lives with the trainer, and private lessons come with weekly oversight from a trainer. The site lists problems it handles, from leash pulling and jumping to food aggression and chasing small animals. It cites a combined 30 years of experience and describes a LIMA based method. Calls start with a free 30 minute phone consultation.

Linda Kaim is a NADOI Certified Instructor, and our database links her to Lionheart K9 in Carroll County. The Lionheart site lists the trainer as Linda, an endorsed NADOI member with more than 40 years of experience. Private training happens in your home around Westminster and Eldersburg, and online training serves owners anywhere in the country. Puppy training and seminars are offered as well. Behavior work covers biting, food guarding, barking, lunging and jumping. The site describes humane methods and a focus on teaching you to read your dog.

My K9 Buddy teaches reward based, force free training on Airport Drive in Westminster. Puppy and manners classes meet in one classroom, and dog sport classes such as agility and nosework use the other rooms in the building. Private training covers puppies and everyday behavior problems. The site also lists agility ring rentals, a Focus and Fun class, events and a page of handouts for owners. Instructor names and prices aren't listed on the home page. The building sits off Route 97.

Wesley Jenson Sr. trains dogs at Arrowwood Shepherds on Florence Road in Woodbine. Saturday classes are running, and they adjust to each dog and owner as the class goes. Obedience is the base, and he specializes in behavior modification for dog and people aggression and separation anxiety. His site says he has worked with many breeds and temperaments, and he also helps rescues and shelters. Arrowwood also raises German Shepherd litters. You can watch a class or book a consultation before you sign up.

Bark Busters Nation's Capital is listed in Accokeek in southern Prince George's County and trains in your home. Trainer Andy Pascoe is described as a certified dog behavioral therapist. His service area runs from Fort Washington down to La Plata and Port Tobacco in Charles County. Lessons start at home and move into your neighborhood once your dog is ready. The program covers puppies, obedience, leash pulling, nipping, reactivity and separation anxiety. Owners learn to use body language and tone of voice instead of bribes or punishment.