4.6Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Group classes
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Recall, Leash pulling, Puppy training, Agility
- Credentials
- CPDT-KA
Dog trainers in District Of Columbia
All 10 dog trainers listed in District Of Columbia are in Washington, and 9 have a Bark Score. 6 are labelled Force-free and 4 don't state their methods. 4 trainers are Gold Rated and 2 Silver Rated. Private 1:1 training is offered by 7, and board and train and group classes by 3 each. Susie’s Pet Care and Dog Trained LLC both have a Bark Score of 4.5.
Find the right trainer in District Of Columbia
Ranked by member recommendations, then Bark Score. Narrow the list down to what your dog needs.
Filter the list
Showing the top 10 of 10 trainers
4.5Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Online
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Reactivity, Recall, Leash pulling, Separation anxiety and 1 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP
- In business since
- 1996
4.5Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Online
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Reactivity, Recall, Leash pulling, Separation anxiety and 1 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP
- In business since
- 1996
4.3Bark Score
- How you can train
- Group classes, Private lessons
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Leash pulling, Recall, Reactivity, AKC Canine Good Citizen and 2 more
4.2Bark Score
- How you can train
- Board and train
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Recall, Leash pulling
3.9Bark Score
- Helps with
- Puppy training
- In business since
- 2007
3.4Bark Score
- How you can train
- In your home, Private lessons, Board and train, Group classes
- Helps with
- Puppy training, Basic obedience, Reactivity, Aggression, Recall and 1 more
3.3Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons
- Helps with
- Aggression, Separation anxiety, Basic obedience, Leash pulling, Recall
3.3Bark Score
- How you can train
- Day training, Board and train, Private lessons, In your home
- Helps with
- Puppy training, Basic obedience, Reactivity, Fear
- In business since
- 2007
By specialism
Aggressive Dog Trainers in District Of Columbia2 trainersAgility Dog Trainers in District Of Columbia2 trainersCertified Dog Trainers in District Of Columbia3 trainersObedience Dog Training Classes in District Of Columbia1 trainerPositive Reinforcement Dog Trainers in District Of Columbia6 trainersPrivate Dog Training Classes in District Of Columbia1 trainerPuppy Training Classes in District Of Columbia5 trainersReactive Dog Trainers in District Of Columbia5 trainers
At a glance
Dog training in District Of Columbia, by the numbers
- 10dog trainers listed in District Of Columbia
- 1towns and cities with a trainer
- 60%say they train force-free
- 3name a recognised credential
How they train
- Force-free
- 60%
- Not stated
- 40%
How you can train with them
- Private lessons
- 70%
- Board and train
- 30%
- Group classes
- 30%
- In your home
- 20%
- Online
- 20%
- Day training
- 10%
What they help with
- Basic obedience
- 80%
- Recall
- 70%
- Leash pulling
- 70%
- Puppy training
- 50%
- Reactivity
- 50%
- Separation anxiety
- 30%
Counted from all 10 trainers listed in District Of Columbia, from what their listings say.
Guide
How to choose a dog trainer in District Of Columbia
What the 10 trainers listed in District Of Columbia offer, how to check them, and what to ask before you book.
What training methods do dog trainers in District Of Columbia use?
Of the 10 trainers listed in District Of Columbia, 6 say they train force-free, and 4 don’t say how they train.
It’s worth knowing a trainer’s method before you book, rather than finding out in the first session. Every trainer on this page carries one of four labels, and nobody is hidden because of their method:
- Force-free
- Rewards and positive reinforcement, with no aversive tools such as prong, choke or shock collars.
- Balanced
- Rewards combined with corrections when a dog gets something wrong.
- E-collar-centric
- Training built around an electronic collar.
- Not stated
- The listing doesn’t say, and we couldn’t check it yet.
If a trainer’s method isn’t stated, ask them what happens when a dog gets something wrong. Their answer will tell you more than any label.
How do you check a dog trainer’s qualifications in District Of Columbia?
Look for an independent credential. 3 of the 10 trainers listed here name one on their listing.
A credential doesn’t guarantee a good trainer, but it means someone outside their business has tested what they know. That’s why credentials make up a quarter of the Bark Score.
The credentials held by trainers in District Of Columbia:
- CPDT-KA (3 trainers)
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed, from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Passed an independent exam on training and behaviour, after logging hours of training experience. Kept up with continuing education.
- KPA-CTP (2 trainers)
- Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, from the Karen Pryor Academy. Completed the academy’s dog trainer programme, which teaches reward-based training, and passed its practical assessments.
Private lessons, group classes or board and train: which suits your dog?
It depends on the problem and on how much time you can give it. In District Of Columbia, private lessons are offered by 7 trainers, and board and train by 3.
- Private lessons (7 trainers)
- One to one with the trainer, so the whole session goes on your dog’s problem. A good fit for a specific issue, or a dog who can’t cope around other dogs yet.
- Board and train (3 trainers)
- Your dog stays with the trainer for a set time and is trained for you. Ask how they will hand the skills over, because a dog who listens to the trainer won’t automatically listen to you at home.
- Group classes (3 trainers)
- A class with other dogs and owners. Your dog learns to listen around distractions, though each dog gets less of the trainer’s time.
- In your home (2 trainers)
- The trainer comes to you, so you work on problems where they happen: at the front door, in the yard or on your usual walk.
- Online (2 trainers)
- Sessions by video call. Handy for puppy questions and coaching you between visits, harder for problems a trainer needs to see in person.
- Day training (1 trainer)
- You drop your dog off and pick them up the same day, with the trainer working with them in between. Ask how many handover sessions with you are included.
Whichever you choose, the training only sticks if you practise between sessions, so ask what you’ll need to do at home and how long it should take each day.
What can a dog trainer in District Of Columbia help with?
8 of the 10 trainers listed in District Of Columbia help with basic obedience, 7 with recall and 7 with leash pulling.
Fewer take on behaviour problems: 5 list reactivity, 2 list aggression, 1 lists fear and 3 list separation anxiety.
If the behaviour is new, or your dog has started growling, snapping or hiding, see your vet before you book a trainer. Pain and illness can cause behaviour changes, and a good trainer will ask about it anyway.
What should you ask a dog trainer before you book?
Ask these before you pay for anything. A good trainer will be happy to answer all of them.
- How do you train, and what happens when a dog gets something wrong?
- What training or credentials do you have?
- Have you worked with dogs like mine, with this problem?
- What does it cost, and how many sessions are included?
- What will I need to practise between sessions?
- What support do I get once the sessions are over?
Questions people ask
Who has the highest Bark Score in District Of Columbia?
Susie’s Pet Care and Dog Trained LLC, both in Washington, each have a Bark Score of 4.5. Both are labelled Force-free. 4 trainers here are Gold Rated.
Which credentials do trainers hold?
3 trainers hold the CPDT-KA credential and 2 hold KPA-CTP. Credentials count for 25% of the Bark Score, alongside Reputation 30%, Ethics (training methods) 40% and Service breadth 5%.
Can I get help with reactivity or separation anxiety?
Yes. 5 trainers work with reactivity and 3 with separation anxiety. 8 cover basic obedience, 7 each cover lead walking and recall, and 5 work with puppies.
How much does dog training cost in District Of Columbia?
We don’t show prices for District Of Columbia yet, because none of the 10 trainers listed here publish prices on their listing, and we’d rather show you nothing than a guess. When you ask for a quote, check how long each session is, how many sessions are included, and whether help after the program ends is part of the price.
How many dog trainers in District Of Columbia offer board and train?
3 of the 10 trainers listed in District Of Columbia offer board and train, where your dog stays with the trainer for a set time. 1 offer day training instead, where you drop your dog off and pick them up the same day.
Can I find a dog trainer in District Of Columbia who trains online?
Yes. 2 trainers based in District Of Columbia also train online by video call, so you can work with them wherever you live in the state.
Are there dog trainers in District Of Columbia who help with reactive or aggressive dogs?
Yes. 5 trainers listed in District Of Columbia help with reactivity and 2 with aggression. Filter the list above by what you need help with to see them.
Also worth reading
Towns and cities
- Washington 10