Best Dog Trainers in and Near Stamford, CT

203K9 Training Service is a Stamford business run by Steven Cordoba and Marc DiCicco. Their site says both graduated from the National K9 School for dog trainers and completed its Master Trainer Program, and the business has been an associate member of the IACP since 2016. You start with a free evaluation, then pick from private lessons where you learn to handle your own dog, basic and advanced obedience, behavior modification, and personal protection and sport training. You can also drop your dog off for day training, or book board and train, which the site calls its most popular program. The site says competition training isn't right for every dog. Puppy classes and group classes aren't listed as services, so ask if that's what you're after.

This Bark Busters office is listed in Bethel but drives to homes across lower Fairfield County, including Stamford, Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Cos Cob, Darien, Norwalk and New Canaan. Michael DiStassio, a Bark Busters master trainer and behavioral therapist, works with Cassidy Lewis, who is Bark Busters certified, and the site says Michael has worked with more than 4,000 dogs over 15 years. Michael starts one on one lessons inside your home, then takes them out to your street and, when it helps, a local dog park. The site lists puppy training from 8 weeks old, help for newly adopted dogs, and behavior work for aggression, separation anxiety, reactivity, leash pulling and resource guarding. The method uses your body language and tone of voice instead of food, and the page says they don't use shock or choke collars. A Life of Dog Support Guarantee gives you phone support at no extra cost.

Nicole Martel runs this Bark Busters office, which is listed in Amawalk and covers Westchester and Putnam counties plus the East Bronx. Her service list names New Rochelle, White Plains, Scarsdale, Rye and Bronxville, so most of lower Westchester is in range. Training happens one on one at your home and then moves into your neighborhood. The site says a first lesson usually runs 1.5 to 2 hours, with a follow up about two weeks later. Puppy work covers potty and crate training, chewing, play biting and leash manners, and behavior work covers aggression, separation anxiety, reactivity and barking. Bark Busters trains without treats or clickers, and the page says Nicole doesn't use prong collars, shock collars, pinning or alpha rolls. A Life of Dog Support Guarantee comes with the Gold Service option.

Beth Hrnciar runs Follow My Lead Pets from Riverside in Greenwich. Our records list her CPDT-KA and CPN credentials and her Pet Professional Guild membership, and her site calls her a certified pet health coach with more than 20 years in animal rescue. She pairs positive reinforcement training with pet health and nutrition coaching, starting with a health assessment of your dog. The site names anxiety, reactivity, fear and impulsive behavior as the problems she works on. She also teaches pet emergency preparedness classes and posts events on a calendar page. Her site doesn't spell out whether lessons are private, group or virtual, so ask which format she offers. Her site lists a free 15 minute consultation.

Canine College in Redding traces back to 1946, when John Behan, described on the site as an Army K9 Corps pioneer, founded it. It's now family owned in its third generation, with Sharon Lanoue and Stephanie Kassner running it. The training side is called Dedicated Training, and the site describes programs built around each dog's needs and goals. Their approach centers on teaching owners, and each dog gets one on one attention in a calm, structured setting. Canine College also offers boarding. Ask how a program runs when you call, since the site doesn't say. Bookings go through the office by phone, and the site lists hours six days a week with Sundays and major holidays closed.

Central Bark in Danbury is a day care first, but it runs real training too. The site lists classes for puppies and adult dogs, from basic obedience to more advanced skills, and you can build training into your dog's day care days with individual sessions. They describe their methods as force free positive reinforcement. Puppy owners should look at the free Puppy Hour, a supervised play session for puppies 8 to 16 weeks old that comes with training tips for owners. The location also offers boarding and grooming. Weekday hours run from 6:30 in the morning to 6:30 at night, and weekends are by appointment, so drop off works before a weekday commute.

Kate Naito runs High Ten Dog Training in Stamford and holds the CDBC through IAABC and the CPDT-KA, and her site adds a Fear Free certification and a master's degree in education. She offers lessons in your home and private courses for puppies and behavior concerns, using force free methods. Her site says she has written three training books, trains therapy teams with The Good Dog Foundation and appears on AKC TV's Ask the Expert. One limit to know: the site says High Ten isn't taking new clients whose dogs show aggression toward people. Her private courses cover new puppies as well as manners and behavior concerns. Her posted hours show Fridays closed.

Lisé Polard runs Creature Comfort LLC from Trumbull. Our records list her CPDT-KA and Elite Fear Free certification along with Pet Professional Guild membership. Her site describes positive reinforcement and force free training with a plan built for each dog. She offers private training outdoors and teletraining, which matters if you live in Stamford or Greenwich and want someone who can work with you by video. The areas she lists as strengths include puppies, basic through advanced obedience, Canine Good Citizen prep, scent detection, cooperative care for handling and vet visits, and leash reactivity. She also names German Shepherd Dogs as a specialty. Her service area is Trumbull and the surrounding towns, so ask whether in person sessions reach your part of the county or whether virtual lessons are the better fit.

Mary-Elizabeth Simpson owns Joyful Canine Training and has trained dogs since 1987, starting her own business in 1990. She's listed in Stamford and is a NADOI associate member in our records, and her site lists memberships in the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the International Association of Canine Professionals, and in the AKC as well. She comes to your home for behavior problems and new puppies, and she teaches classes in competitive obedience, agility, Rally-O and breed handling. Her site says she has taught at Port Chester Obedience Training Club and the White Plains School of Animal Training, and the club's instructor page calls her a balanced trainer who has taught there for more than 25 years. Her own site describes positive reinforcement with toys and food, and her dogs have earned titles in agility and obedience and in the conformation ring.

This is the Westchester listing for Sit Means Sit, and it's the same business as the Stamford Sit Means Sit card in this guide, with one training facility in Valhalla. Neil Cohen, one of its two owners, is a certified professional dog trainer, and Chris Pennella is the lead trainer. The Westchester page names Valhalla, White Plains, Scarsdale, New Rochelle and Elmsford among the towns served. Dream Puppy Academy takes puppies 4 to 11 months, and Dream Dog Academy takes older dogs. A separate special needs program covers anxious or aggressive dogs. Each training day ends with a private lesson for you, and graduates can join lifetime group classes on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This page doesn't mention training tools, but the company's Connecticut page says the system uses a remote electronic collar, so ask about it on your first call. Graduates who qualify can take K9 Caring Angels therapy dog training at no charge.

The Stamford listing for Sit Means Sit serves Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Norwalk, Wilton and Weston, and its page says Fairfield County clients train at the company's Valhalla facility. It's one business with the Westchester Sit Means Sit card in this guide, so you'll meet the same team through either listing. The page says Neil Cohen, one of the two owners, is also a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator. Dogs and puppies come in for a full day at the facility, usually once a week for four to six weeks, and owners get lifetime group classes. A special needs program covers anxious or aggressive dogs. The page explains that the system uses the Sit Means Sit remote electronic collar, which it describes as an adjustable tap used to get a dog's attention. Lifetime guarantees are listed for the dog and puppy programs. The page says cost depends on your dog's age and temperament, and a free demonstration and consultation comes first.

Off Leash K9 Training is a franchise with a Stamford listing, and its site says its trainers are recognized by the AKC and by the company's own training academy. The trainers call themselves balanced and mix treat and clicker training with electronic collar work, and the advanced program uses a waterproof electronic collar. The menu is long: basic obedience, an eight week advanced course, puppy and potty training, private lessons and behavior consultations. There's also an eight class course for aggression and behavior change, plus an eight class therapy dog course that leads to certification through Therapy Pets Unlimited. A two week board and train is on the list, and the site mentions payment plans and a free consultation. The site refers to Stamford and Westchester but also mentions other regions, so confirm the trainer covers your town before booking.

Pet Degree Dog Training Center works from a facility in Trumbull. Its site lists training, board and train, puppies that arrive already trained, day care and grooming, and it says the center is licensed and insured and belongs to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. The home page doesn't name an owner or lead trainer and doesn't describe its training methods or tools. Ask who will work with your dog and what equipment they use. Also find out how often you'll get updates during a board and train stay. Trumbull is a drive from Stamford, so this pick fits best if you want a stay instead of weekly lessons.

Port Chester Obedience Training Club was founded in 1940 in Port Chester and now teaches in a heated and air conditioned facility in White Plains. It's an AKC member club run by volunteers. Its Family Manners program starts with AKC Star Puppy or Puppy Pre-K classes for dogs up to 20 weeks, then a Foundation class for older dogs, a Skills class, and an intermediate class that works toward reliable off leash behavior. The club uses positive reinforcement, brings in clicker training in the puppy and Foundation classes, and keeps classes at no more than eight students per instructor. Beyond manners you'll find agility, obedience, rally, K9 Nose Work, Canine Good Citizen, therapy dog prep, disc dog and freestyle. Instructors listed on the site include CPDT-KA holders and trainers with long records in obedience competition.

Room for Paws Pet Resort in Stamford runs day care and boarding, and it also runs training. Our records note its puppy socialization and preschool program, and the site describes private and group training classes for pups of all ages. Lessons run from basic commands and leash walking up to some advanced agility work, and the resort runs five week puppy obedience sessions with sign ups for group puppy classes on its booking page. Beyond training it offers suite style boarding and grooming, plus small group nature hikes by van for day care and boarding dogs. The site says it serves Fairfield County and the New York metro area, which makes it a handy option for Stamford families who want training and care in one place.

Sabine Hellge runs Talking Animal Language in Stamford. Her site says she has worked as a reward based, force free dog trainer since 1997 and has attended conferences and seminars in Europe and the United States. It lists accreditations with the APDT and the Pet Professional Guild, along with DogGoneSmart, and our records list private and group training plus behavior consulting for separation anxiety and reactivity. She trains in your home, and her group classes, offered through DogGoneSmart, are for behavior problems such as aggression and fear. Her methods include Tellington TTouch, nose work, obstacle courses and counterconditioning. She serves southern Fairfield County and southern Westchester County. Her website still shows a launching soon notice, so call to confirm which classes are running.