Ohio has 263 dog trainers listed across 136 cities, with the biggest groups in Columbus (21), Cincinnati (15), Dayton (8), Akron (7) and Toledo (6). Of these, 73 train force-free, 35 are balanced and 8 are e-collar-centric, while 147 haven't stated their methods. 230 have a Bark Score. Pinnacle Pets Play & Stay in Grove City and Toledo’s PET Bull Project in Toledo both score 4.8. Private lessons and group classes are the most common formats, and 25 trainers offer online sessions.
Find the right trainer in Ohio
Ranked by member recommendations, then Bark Score. Narrow the list down to what your dog needs.
Of the 21 trainers in Columbus, 9 say they train force-free, 1 balanced, 1 e-collar-centric and 10 don’t say how they train. 11 offer group classes, 9 private lessons and 6 board and train. 1 names a credential such as CPDT-KA.
Of the 15 trainers in Cincinnati, 8 say they train force-free, 2 balanced and 5 don’t say how they train. 11 offer private lessons, 10 group classes and 7 board and train.
Of the 8 trainers in Dayton, 3 say they train force-free, 1 e-collar-centric and 4 don’t say how they train. 5 offer board and train, 5 group classes and 3 private lessons.
Of the 7 trainers in Akron, 4 say they train force-free, 1 balanced and 2 don’t say how they train. 4 offer private lessons, 3 board and train and 3 group classes. 4 name a credential such as CPDT-KA.
Of the 6 trainers in Cleveland, 1 says it trains force-free, 2 balanced, 1 e-collar-centric and 2 don’t say how they train. 3 offer in your home, 2 private lessons and 1 board and train.
Of the 6 trainers in Delaware, 1 says it trains force-free, 2 balanced and 3 don’t say how they train. 4 offer private lessons, 3 group classes and 2 board and train. 1 names a credential such as CPDT-KA.
What the 263 trainers listed in Ohio offer, how to check them, and what to ask before you book.
01
What training methods do dog trainers in Ohio use?
Of the 263 trainers listed in Ohio, 73 say they train force-free, 35 balanced, 8 e-collar-centric, and 147 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.
02
How do you check a dog trainer’s qualifications in Ohio?
Look for an independent credential. 19 of the 263 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 Ohio:
CPDT-KA (12 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 (4 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.
CBCC-KA (2 trainers)
Certified Behavior Consultant Canine, Knowledge Assessed, from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Passed an exam focused on behaviour problems such as fear, aggression and anxiety, after logging hours of behaviour consulting.
CPDT-KSA (2 trainers)
Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge and Skills Assessed, from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). As the CPDT-KA, plus a hands-on assessment of their training skills.
IAABC-CDBC (2 trainers)
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Certified to work on behaviour problems, after a review of their knowledge and written case studies.
IACP (1 trainer)
International Association of Canine Professionals, from the International Association of Canine Professionals. A membership association for dog professionals. It also runs its own certifications, so ask which one, if any, the trainer holds.
03
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 Ohio, private lessons are offered by 136 trainers, and group classes by 126.
Private lessons (136 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.
Group classes (126 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.
Board and train (85 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.
In your home (39 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 (25 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 (24 trainers)
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.
04
What can a dog trainer in Ohio help with?
202 of the 263 trainers listed in Ohio help with basic obedience, 146 with recall and 130 with puppy training.
Fewer take on behaviour problems: 56 list reactivity, 49 list aggression, 20 list fear and 27 list separation anxiety. 4 hold a behaviour credential (CBCC-KA or IAABC-CDBC), which means they’ve been tested on exactly this kind of work.
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.
05
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.
1How do you train, and what happens when a dog gets something wrong?
2What training or credentials do you have?
3Have you worked with dogs like mine, with this problem?
4What does it cost, and how many sessions are included?
5What will I need to practise between sessions?
6What support do I get once the sessions are over?
Questions people ask
How many dog trainers are there in Ohio?
There are 263 dog trainers listed in Ohio, spread across 136 cities. Columbus has the most with 21, followed by Cincinnati with 15, Dayton with 8, Akron with 7 and Toledo with 6. Every trainer is listed and labelled by method, and 230 of them have a Bark Score.
How many Ohio dog trainers use force-free methods?
73 trainers in Ohio are labelled force-free. Another 35 are balanced and 8 are e-collar-centric. The remaining 147 haven't stated their methods, so it is worth asking them directly how they train before you book.
Which Ohio dog trainers have the highest Bark Score?
Pinnacle Pets Play & Stay in Grove City and Toledo’s PET Bull Project in Toledo both have a Bark Score of 4.8, and Delaware Pet Stuff in Delaware has 4.7. All three are force-free. In total, 2 Ohio trainers reach Platinum Certified and 21 are Gold Rated.
Which credentials do dog trainers in Ohio hold?
The most common credential among Ohio trainers is CPDT-KA, held by 12 of them. 4 hold KPA-CTP, 2 hold CBCC-KA and 2 hold CPDT-KSA. Credentials make up 25% of the Bark Score, alongside reputation, ethics and service breadth.
How much does dog training cost in Ohio?
We don’t show prices for Ohio yet, because none of the 263 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 Ohio offer board and train?
85 of the 263 trainers listed in Ohio offer board and train, where your dog stays with the trainer for a set time. 24 offer day training instead, where you drop your dog off and pick them up the same day.
Can I find a dog trainer in Ohio who trains online?
Yes. 25 trainers based in Ohio also train online by video call, so you can work with them wherever you live in the state.
Are there dog trainers in Ohio who help with reactive or aggressive dogs?
Yes. 56 trainers listed in Ohio help with reactivity and 49 with aggression. 4 hold a behaviour credential (CBCC-KA or IAABC-CDBC). Filter the list above by what you need help with to see them.
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