Certified dog trainers in
Madison, WI
Hand-Picked Trainers

Learn from the best, certified trainers in

Madison, WI

Discover skilled and certified trainers with a heart for dogs and a proven track record, ready to help enhance the bond between you and your pet.

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Local & Skilled

Learn & grow with local Trainers

All of our Trainers are certified to have proficiency in all basic, intermediate or advanced skills, are educated in animal behavior and canine communication, and are suited for most pet training tasks.

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Positive Training

Positive Vibes, Positive Training

Meet trainers who believe in kind, positive reinforcement methods, making training a joy for both you and your dog.

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Top trainers

John James

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Amanda Peet

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Julia Styles

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Gen Anderson

USA

Gen Anderson

Gen's journey into the dog world began when she adopted Sasha in 2016. Sasha was a possessive, reactive, and self-entitled dog, but through consistent work and training, she became a respectful, loyal, and accountable pup. Gen's passion for training became reality in 2020 when she completed her dog training certification. She has extensive experience with dogs of various breeds, ages, and temperaments, having volunteered with Fetch WI Rescue, a foster-based dog rescue.

Training Philosophy

Gen describes her training style as a balanced concept trainer, using a mix of training tools including treats, games, toys, collars, and love. She believes dog training tools are communication methods and works to speak the same language as the dog. She tailors training plans specifically for the goals and desires of the dog owner. Gen emphasizes concept training, teaching concepts that can be translated to new situations, and believes in positive reinforcement, redirecting dogs towards something more desirable instead of just saying "no". She also emphasizes the importance of the owner's active involvement in the training process.

Services

  • Dog Training:
    • Doggy Day School: Structured daycare with basic training, starting at $35
    • Private Training Sessions: Tailored training plans to address specific challenges, starting at $65
    • Board & Train Programs: Intensive training programs with varying lengths, starting at $600 for a 5-day program
  • Pet Care:
    • Dog Daycare: Structured, supervised socialization with a small group of dogs, starting at $28
    • Dog Boarding: In-home boarding with playtime, walks, and crate training, starting at $55
    • Small Animal Boarding: Boarding for rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, and other small animals, starting at $22
    • Drop-in Visits: Food, water, medication, and playtime, starting at $12
    • Walks: Short walks around the neighborhood, starting at $12
    • Hikes: Longer walks, starting at $50
  • Additional Services:
    • Pet Transportation: Transportation for grooming appointments, vet visits, etc., starting at $50
    • House Sitting: Light house sitting duties, starting at $15
    • Farm Chores: Care for farm animals, starting at $50

Certifications

Gen is certified in dog training and pet first aid and CPR.

Specializations

Gen specializes in training high-energy dogs and has experience with a variety of breeds, ages, and temperaments. She also offers training for dogs with behavioral concerns, including reactivity and lack of socialization.

Training Methods

Gen uses a balanced approach to training, incorporating positive reinforcement, redirection, and a variety of training tools. She emphasizes concept training, teaching dogs concepts that can be applied to new situations.

Customer Reviews

Gen has received positive reviews from clients, highlighting her accommodating nature, daily photo updates, experience, understanding, and kindness.

Social Media Links

Gen has social media profiles on Facebook and Instagram.

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Brenda Scidmore

United States

Welcome to Dogs Welcome! Dogs Welcome! This professional dog training and daycare center offers group classes, private lessons, in-home behavior consults, daycare services, building rental, and more for dogs of all ages and levels.

The team uses various training tools, including food treats, while advocating for the use of flat buckle collars, front-connect no-pull harnesses, and occasionally, Gentle Leader head collars. Their training philosophy emphasizes prevention and the importance of early and ongoing socialization and training for puppies and adolescents. They focus on improving human-dog communication through positive reinforcement.

Dogs Welcome! Training and Daycare Center is conveniently located just off the Beltline Highway in Madison, WI, serving clients from across southern Wisconsin. The center is open Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm, offering classes seven days a week during daytime, evening, and weekend hours. Visit their website for the current or upcoming class schedule and stop by at 813 Post Rd., Madison, WI.

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Chelse A. Wagner

United States

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Laura E. Strimpel

United States

Taproot Dog Training, LLC, owned by Sarah Johnson, is committed to providing effective, compassionate, and reliable dog training services. Sarah, a dedicated and experienced trainer, takes pride in helping dogs and their owners build strong, healthy relationships. She offers personalized training programs tailored to each dog's unique needs, focusing on positive reinforcement and clear communication. Through obedience training, behavior modification, and socialization exercises, Sarah helps dogs develop the skills they need to thrive in various environments. Her goal is to empower dog owners with the knowledge and tools necessary to foster well-behaved and happy companions.

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Stephanie L. Edwards

United States

Welcome to Terrific Terrier Training with our experienced dog trainer. With a passion for helping owners and their terriers build strong, respectful relationships, the trainer offers effective training techniques based on positive reinforcement.

The trainer understands that each terrier is unique and requires tailored training methods. Through patience, consistency, and clear communication, the trainer aims to help terrier owners develop well-mannered and well-adjusted pets.

Whether it's obedience training, socialization, or behavior modification, the trainer is dedicated to providing a positive and enriching experience for both the terrier and its owner.

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Sarah B Kalnajs

United States

Blue Dog Training & Behavior LLC offers in-home training and behavior consultations provided by a certified professional. The services include new puppy, new dog, and new baby consultations, board & train, as well as educational seminars.

The company serves Dane County for in-home consultations and training, while clients from out of the area are seen at the office in Madison, WI on Sundays to accommodate travel time. Phone consultations are also available for out-of-town clients when appropriate.

Behavior Consultations: With a strong educational background in psychology and canine behavior, along with over a decade of hands-on experience in shelter and private consultation settings, Sarah Kalnajs, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, offers expertise to effectively treat serious behavior problems in dogs. Behavioral consultations involve a thorough history taking, diagnosis of the behavior problem, and a comprehensive explanation of the training, management, and behavior modification necessary to address each pet's particular issues. Behaviors addressed include aggression (toward people and other animals), fear/phobias, separation anxiety, leash reactivity, attention-seeking behaviors, housetraining, barking, chewing/destruction/digging.

In-Home Dog Training: For those unable to attend classes due to scheduling conflicts, or seeking a personalized approach to dog training, Blue Dog Training & Behavior LLC offers in-home training sessions. This fully customizable program enables clients to work one-on-one with a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in their own home, focusing on refining existing skills or teaching new ones. The training methods are firmly based in psychology and learning theory, fostering clear communication between owners and their dogs. In-home private training is available for both puppies and adult dogs.

Blue Dog Training Sessions work on skills such as basic obedience (sit, down, stay, etc.), leash manners, greeting/door manners, reliable recalls (coming when called), foundation behaviors (attention, wait, targeting, location stays), as well as tricks and games. Outdoor private training sessions are also available from May to November. For further details, please visit the website at www.bluedogtraining.com.

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Mackenzie Lee Holmes

United States

Mackenzie Lee Holmes

Mackenzie's first professional training experience was in 2001 with Tooey, a lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo. That was her introduction to clicker training and shaping behaviors, and thus to training as a cooperative task shared by learner and teacher. When she began training dogs professionally in 2011, Mackenzie found that cooperation just as compelling. Facilitating partnerships between dogs and humans and seeing teams become extensions of one another made her love the work.

Training Philosophy

Mackenzie describes her goal as simple: to create joy. Training should be a joyful experience for both the human and the dog. She believes that great things are possible when everyone is having fun, and when training is consensual.

Services

Busy Dog offers a variety of training services, including:

  • Puppy Classes: Social & Confident Puppy, Puppy Skills, Dream Teen, AKC Star Puppy
  • Good Dog Classes: Good Dog Basics, Really Good Dog (Intermediate), Good Dog Outdoors
  • Canine Good Citizen: CGC, CGCU, CGCA
  • Drink With Your Dog: Brewery Manners, Coffee Shop Manners
  • Kids Classes: Busy Kid, Busy Dog, Junior Handler Agility, Fun and Games Workshop
  • Scent Work: Intro to Nose Games, Nose Games - Birch, Please, Intro to Shed Antler Retrieves
  • Parkour: Intro to Parkour, Intermediate Parkour, Fit Dog Parkour Walk, Online Parkour- Getting Started
  • Agility: Intro to Agility, Agility Fundamentals, Advanced Fundamentals
  • Tricks: Tricks for Titles - Novice, Tricks for Titles - Intermediate, Tricks for Titles - Advanced
  • Freestyle: Freestyle Foundations, More Freestyle Fun!
  • Private Lessons: In-home and outside of home
  • Online Classes: Getting Started in Dog Parkour, Beginning Mat Work
  • Scholarships: Financial assistance for those who need it
  • Gift Certificates: Available in various denominations
  • Fit Dog Club: Free monthly Fit Dog Train Hike
  • Parkour Meetups: Free bi-monthly parkour outings

Certifications

Mackenzie is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), receiving her accreditation through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). She is also an IDPKA-certified dog parkour instructor and evaluator, an AKC CGC and Trick Dog Evaluator, and a certified Drink With Your Dog Instructor and Evaluator.

Specializations

Mackenzie specializes in dog parkour, agility, tricks, and freestyle. She is also experienced in puppy training, obedience, and Canine Good Citizen.

Training Methods

Mackenzie uses positive reinforcement, rewards-based training methods. She is a force-free trainer and believes in building a strong partnership between dogs and their humans.

Customer Reviews

- "Inara was largely unsocialized and inexperienced in her first year. She was still mastering walks, stairs, and eating out of bowls a year ago. I'm beyond grateful Busy Dog has provided so many safe and novel encounters for her. Thank you for creating such a wonderful training environment!" -Katie Martz

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Emma Cross

United States

Emma Cross

Emma has been with Teacher's Pet since March of 2016, and holds a B.S. from UW - Madison in Conservation Biology, Environmental Studies, and Community & Environmental Sociology. She has had a lifelong love of animals and became especially interested in animal training after becoming a puppy raiser for the seeing eye dog organization, Leader Dogs for the Blind. After adopting her own dog, Copper, and beginning to work through his socialization and training challenges with the help of Teacher's Pet, she became interested in learning to help others with their furry friends. The bond between Emma and her dog was fostered and strengthened through science based training methods, and she is passionate about helping others build pawsitive relationships with their own pets using these meaningful tools. She earned her CPDT-KA in 2019, and her training partners are Copper the energetic German Shorthaired Pointer, and Hazel the spunky coonhound mix puppy.

Training Philosophy

Emma firmly believes that training should be a fun, low-stress experience for all involved (humans & pets), and she focuses on methods rooted in positivity. She strives to find what motivates our pets (food, praise, petting, play, etc), and then we give them access to those things when they offer "good" behaviors. She will not use or recommend aversive techniques (choke chains, shock collars, etc.), as these have the risk of creating stress, fear related behavior problems and/or physically harming the dog. Instead, she will work with you on finding out your pet's favorite activities or items, and she will coach you on using those to your advantage! You and your pet(s) should enjoy training as you reach your goals.

Services

Emma offers a variety of services including:

  • Group Classes: Puppy Kindergarten, Doggy Elementary School, Doggy High School, Doggy College, Gym Class
  • Private Training: Initial consultation (virtual), Traditional Training (in-person or virtual), Day Training (in-person)
  • Off On The Right Paw Package: Includes two private sessions, a group class, a training pouch, and a package of high-value training treats.
  • Smart Walks: 30-minute or 60-minute walks with training and socialization elements.
  • Homeschooling: Intensive training program with multiple sessions per week in the client's home.

Certifications

Emma is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).

Specializations

Emma specializes in positive reinforcement training methods and is passionate about helping people build positive relationships with their pets. She has experience working with a variety of dogs, including puppies, adult dogs, and dogs with behavioral challenges.

Training Methods

Emma uses force-free, positive reinforcement methods. She focuses on finding what motivates each dog and using those motivators to reward desired behaviors. She does not use aversive techniques such as choke chains or shock collars.

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Deborah Crawley

United States

The Dog Den Certifications: The Dog Den, owned and operated by Lisa Smith, offers a variety of certifications for dog trainers. Lisa has over 10 years of experience in dog training and behavior modification.

The certifications provided by The Dog Den are recognized by the National Association of Dog Trainers and are designed to ensure that trainers have a comprehensive understanding of canine behavior, learning theory, and training techniques. With a focus on positive reinforcement and force-free methods, these certifications aim to promote ethical and effective training practices within the industry.

The curriculum includes in-depth lessons on canine communication, behavior problem-solving, and practical training exercises. Graduates of The Dog Den certifications are equipped with the knowledge and skills to work with dogs of all breeds and temperaments.

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Anne Elise Strouse

United States

As a dog trainer, she specializes in assisting dog owners in developing positive behaviors and obedience in their canine companions. Her training approach emphasizes clear communication, consistency, and positive reinforcement to help dogs understand and follow commands.

Through personalized sessions, she tailors her methods to suit each dog's unique personality and learning style. By focusing on building a strong bond between dogs and their owners, she aims to create harmonious relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. Her ultimate goal is to empower owners with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster well-behaved and happy dogs.

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Peter Joshua Barinski

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Jechyl James

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Sandra Verbitski

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Lauren McKentire

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Guy Pearce

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Wesley Jachson

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Dingi Bells

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Mushita Babilon

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What’s essential in choosing a Dog Trainer?

Are you struggling to train your furry friend? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of professional dog trainers in Madison, WI to help you and your canine companion thrive. Each trainer provides personalized, effective training methods tailored to your dog’s unique needs. With their expertise and experience, you can build a stronger bond with your pet while addressing behavioral challenges. Whether you need basic obedience training or help with specific issues, these trainers are equipped to support you every step of the way.

Personalized Training

Tailored approach to address your dog’s specific needs and behavior.

Effective Techniques

Utilize proven methods to achieve positive results in training and behavior modification.

Behavioral Problem Solving

Address and correct challenging behaviors such as aggression, anxiety, or excessive barking.

Bond Strengthening

Foster a deeper connection and understanding between you and your furry friend.

Expert Guidance

Access to professional advice and support to navigate training challenges and achieve your goals.

Personalized Training

Learn to effectively communicate with your dog, enhancing cooperation and understanding.

Are you ready to take the first step towards a happier, better-behaved dog? Explore the expertise of these professional dog trainers in Madison, WI. Whether you’re dealing with puppy troubles, obedience issues, or complex behavioral problems, these trainers are committed to helping you and your canine companion live your best lives together.

Unleash the full potential of your canine companion with expert dog trainers in Austin. These seasoned professionals bring years of experience and a deep understanding of canine behavior to every training session. No matter the breed or age, we tailor our approach to suit the unique needs of your furry friend.

Personalized Training

Tailored approach to address your dog’s specific needs and behavior.

Effective Techniques

Utilize proven methods to achieve positive results in training and behavior modification.

Behavioral Problem Solving

Address and correct challenging behaviors such as aggression, anxiety, or excessive barking.

Bond Strengthening

Foster a deeper connection and understanding between you and your furry friend.

Expert Guidance

Access to professional advice and support to navigate training challenges and achieve your goals.

Personalized Training

Learn to effectively communicate with your dog, enhancing cooperation and understanding.

Ready to embark on a transformative journey with your dog? Contact trainers today to schedule your first session. Our team is here to support you and your canine companion every step of the way.

We've got the answers for your questions

What types of dog training services are available in Madison, WI?

There are various dog training services available in Madison, WI, including basic obedience training, behavioral modification, puppy training, agility training, and more.

How do I choose the right dog trainer in Madison, WI?

When choosing a dog trainer in Madison, WI, consider factors such as their training methods, experience, certifications, client testimonials, and whether they specialize in specific breeds or behavior issues.

Are there dog trainers in Madison, WI that offer in-home training sessions?

Yes, many dog trainers in Madison, WI offer in-home training sessions, which can be beneficial for addressing behavior issues within the dog's natural environment.

What are the average costs of dog training services in Madison, WI?

Dog training costs in Madison, WI can vary depending on the trainer's experience, the type of training, and the location. Generally, group classes may be more cost-effective than private training sessions.

Do dog trainers in Madison, WI offer training for specific behavioral issues such as aggression or anxiety?

Yes, many dog trainers in Madison, WI specialize in addressing specific behavioral issues such as aggression, anxiety, fearfulness, and separation anxiety.

Are there dog trainers in Madison, WI who offer training for specific dog breeds?

Yes, some dog trainers in Madison, WI have experience and expertise in training specific dog breeds, understanding their unique characteristics and behavior traits.

What are the training methods commonly used by dog trainers in Madison, WI?

Dog trainers in Madison, WI may use a variety of training methods, including positive reinforcement, clicker training, leash training, and marker training, tailored to suit the individual dog's needs.

Are there dog trainers in Madison, WI who offer training for competitive dog sports such as agility or obedience trials?

Yes, there are dog trainers in Madison, WI who specialize in training dogs for competitive sports such as agility, obedience trials, rally, and more.

How long does it typically take to see results from dog training in Madison, WI?

The time it takes to see results from dog training in Madison, WI can vary depending on the dog's age, behavior issues, and the consistency of training. However, many owners notice positive changes within a few weeks.

Do dog trainers in Madison, WI offer follow-up support after the training sessions?

Yes, many dog trainers in Madison, WI offer follow-up support, including phone consultations, email support, and additional training sessions if needed to ensure continued progress and success.

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