Services
Metropolitan Dog Training
In person and online, private and group, puppy and dog training, behavior consultations and modification,
day training, and service dog task training in Montgomery County and surrounding areas:
Potomac, Rockville, Travilah, Bethesda, North Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Olney, North Potomac,
Gaithersburg, Derwood, Silver Spring, Leisure World, Colesville, Germantown, Redland,
Cabin John, Glen Echo, Seneca, Poolesville, Laytonsville, Darnstown, Boyds,
NW DC, and parts of Northern VA.
In person group classes offered in Montgomery County, MD.
Please contact for more information.
Basic Good Manners for Puppies and Dogs
Behavioral Modification such as Reactivity and Fear
General Confidence Building
Therapy Dog and Service Dog Training
AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and AKC Tricks Evaluations, DMWYD Evaluations
Virtual Evaluations for AKC Tricks & Video Home Manners
Preparing/setting up for success before puppy or dog arrives
Help selecting breeds that best fit you and your lifestyle
Guiding and training through most dog sports
Certified Fear Free, Collaborative Care Training
Specializes In:
Reactive Dogs, Fearful Dogs, Guarding, New Puppy & Dog Parents, Troubleshooting Any Undesired Behavior
In person and online, private and group, puppy and dog training, behavior consultations and modification,
day training, and service dog task training in Montgomery County and surrounding areas:
Potomac, Rockville, Travilah, Bethesda, North Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Olney, North Potomac,
Gaithersburg, Derwood, Silver Spring, Leisure World, Colesville, Germantown, Redland,
Cabin John, Glen Echo, Seneca, Poolesville, Laytonsville, Darnstown, Boyds,
NW DC, and parts of Northern VA.
In person group classes offered in Montgomery County, MD.
Please contact for more information.
Basic Good Manners for Puppies and Dogs
Behavioral Modification such as Reactivity and Fear
General Confidence Building
Therapy Dog and Service Dog Training
AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and AKC Tricks Evaluations, DMWYD Evaluations
Virtual Evaluations for AKC Tricks & Video Home Manners
Preparing/setting up for success before puppy or dog arrives
Help selecting breeds that best fit you and your lifestyle
Guiding and training through most dog sports
Certified Fear Free, Collaborative Care Training
Specializes In:
Reactive Dogs, Fearful Dogs, Guarding, New Puppy & Dog Parents, Troubleshooting Any Undesired Behavior
Behavior ModificationConsult & plan behavior change
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Private and Day TrainingOne on one in person & online
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Service Dog TrainingVariety of task & alert work
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Group Classes Offered
- Basic Manners & Adolescent & Puppy Kindergarten - All the basics: attention, loose leash walking, sit, down, come, stay, leave it, drop it, and much much more. Learn how to speak with and listen to your dog or puppy. It's an all-around "everything you ever wanted to know about your dog or puppy" class. A great place to start!
- Puppy First Grade - Take the skills learned in Puppy Kindergarten or Adolescent and use them in a more distracting environment, through games! Fun and fantastic for puppies and adolescents. Play is incorporated when possible. For puppies and dogs under 1 year who have taken Kindergarten or Adolescent or with instructor approval.
- Tricks Novice - This class is in person. A fun class that introduces and expounds on clicker / marker training and timing, and teaches tricks from the AKC and DMWYD Novice and Intermediate levels. Different tricks are learned in this class versus the online version. Some agility equipment is used. Optional in person tricks evaluation; treats allowed during testing, and tricks are performed twice.
- Tricks Intermediate - This class is in person. The tricks keep getting tricker! After Novice Tricks, the tricks in this class increase in difficulty and are from the AKC and DMWYD Intermediate Level and Advanced levels. Different tricks are learned in this class versus the online version. Some agility equipment is used. If going for a title, tricks completed during the Novice evaluation cannot be repeated. Optional in person tricks evaluation; no treats allowed during testing, and tricks are performed once.
- Tricks Advanced - This class is in person. After Intermediate Tricks, the tricks in this class increase in difficulty and are from the AKC and DMWYD Advanced Level. Even tricker tricks! If going for a title, tricks completed during the Novice and Intermediate evaluations cannot be repeated. Optional in person tricks evaluation; no treats allowed during testing.
- Rally Novice - Also known as Rally-O, Rally Obedience, or "Fun Obedience". A fun class that helps with attention, communication, and leash walking skills in general. Learn new behaviors and how to read rally signs. Engaging game that encourages you to talk with your pup, use all sorts of cues, hand touches, fun sounds, and of course lots of treats! AKC signs are used and are very similar to Cynosport signs.
- Rally Intermediate - Introduces a few new signs; focuses on increasing visual and auditory distractions while keeping each dog in their comfort zone. Some distractions introduced include the sight of the other dogs, food bowls, toys, and a "judge" walking around. To be taken after Novice Rally or with instructor approval.
- Rally Advanced - Introduces more signs and more difficult behaviors. Visual and auditory distractions are present as well as other teams. To be taken after Rally Novice and Intermediate or with instructor approval.
- Scent Games Novice - Introduces the game of scenting, using your dog's highly developed innate scent ability. Unlearn telling your dog what to do and learn how to step back, watch, and learn. You'll feel a deep sense of discovery as you watch your dog do what they do best - use their sniffer! Understand your dog's alert signs. Build teamwork and develop trust in your dog. Help "ground" your dog when either of you are stressed. Learn great games to play on rainy days or just to drain some extra brain energy!
- Scent Games Intermediate - Increases both auditory and visual distractions and difficulty. Introduces odor. To be taken after Scent Games Novice or with instructor approval.
- Scent Games Advanced - Even more distractions and difficulty. Introduces other approaches and types of scenting. Multiple odors used. To be taken after Scent Games Novice and Intermediate or with instructor approval.
- Dog On Game Show - Learn new skills and use already known behaviors to play games with and without your classmates. We'll play games that strengthen behaviors such as loose leash walking, leave it, come, stay, sit, and down. Let the games begin!
- Patterned Pup - Begin understanding and working with patterns and how to use them in everyday situations as well as to alleviate stress. These learned and practiced patterns are a reliable tool that both you and your dog can depend on to navigate through more difficult situations and distracting environments.
- Confidence Building - Help your puppy or dog feel safe in the world. Understand how to best introduce new situations, people, and environments, as well as surfaces, sights, and sounds. Create positive associations with new and novel objects and learn how to help your pup with specifics they already fear. Find the power of certain games and watch your pup's confidence grow!
- Manners Minded - Does your dog jump on people? Help guide them to greet humans with four paws on the ground. Do you have a dog that busts through doors and gates? Help them understand how to calmly walk through the door with you. Do you have a dog that almost knocks you over when going up or down the stairs? Learn how to ask them to wait so you can safely get to the top or bottom and then "release them" to follow. Do you have a dog that just can't seem to stop barking after the doorbell has rung? Teach your dog how to not continue barking if asked. This class is for troubleshooting common dog behaviors as well as specifically addressing each team's needs. Please, this is for dogs that may, for example, bark at the doorbell - this is not a class for reactive dogs that may bark at other dogs or people on or off the leash. Please contact if unsure. This is also a great class to take if you're interested in getting your AKC Video Home Manners title. Optional video evaluation.
- Loose Leashing 101 - Do you have pully-pullerson? A no-way walker? Focus on going back to the basics of loose leash walking. This class will help you regain your footing and get to a place of loose leash walking with your dog. Really enjoy the outing you have with your pup. Get lots of tips and tricks as well. This is not for leash reactive dogs, please ask if unsure.
- Cultured Canine - Explore a variety of sports! Each week focuses on a different sport, with an introduction into scenting, agility, tricks, and rally.
- Remote Rewards - Do you have a dog that won't do anything unless you hold up a cookie? Do you still have to lure your dog into a sit? Have a dog that won't work with you until you strap on your treat pouch? Introduction to several alternative ways you can use to reward your dog. Learn how to increase your value, and make YOU the most valuable reward out there!
- Read All About It! - Be amazed at how incredibly smart your dog is. Learn to teach your dog to discriminate between colors and shapes. Help them discern one object from amongst many. And, yes, even teach your dog how to read!
- Fetch! - Does your dog run after the ball but then run off with it? Do they seem generally uninterested in the ball you try to get them to chase after? Are you wanting to play a fun game of fetch with your pup? If so join us in this Fetch! class that'll show you ways of helping your pup see just how fun the game of fetch can be! Retrieving is a great way of exercising your dog, even when you can't move around very much. It also activates their brain and sniffer. Learn other important behaviors such as drop it, wait, and find.
- Tug! - Do you want to have a high value reward in your back pocket all the time? Do you want to play a fun, engaging, interactive, and physical game with your pup? Look no further! Tug! will help you help your pup understand the game. Great for toy driven dogs or pups that aren't food motivated. Learn important "rules of the road" of playing the game of tug with your pup. You can even teach fun tricks once they know how to play a solid game of tug such as pulling off your socks and opening doors! Learn other important behaviors such as wait and "out" (let go of the tug toy).
- CGC - Canine Good Citizen. Prepares you for the CGC Evaluation. A great goal for some pet dog owners, and a stepping stone for a service or therapy dog to be. Tests 10 different known behaviors and skills that display teamwork. Often best suites teams who have completed at least a handful or more of classes. An important aspect of this class is troubleshooting with each individual team. Basic behaviors should be familiar, contact if unsure. Optional test scheduled soon after the last class.
- CGCA - Canine Good Citizen Advanced also known as Community Canine. Next level after the CGC. Prepares you to take the CGCAdvanced Evaluation. Each class is held at a different local outdoor park type location. Held indoors on occasion. Tests 10 different and more advanced behaviors than the CGC that display teamwork. Separate title from CGC and CGCU. Optional test scheduled after class.
- CGCU - Canine Good Citizen Urban. Next level after the CGC. Prepares you to take the CGCUrban Evaluation. Each class is held at a different local outdoor urban location. Tests 10 different more difficult behaviors than the CGC and CGCA that show teamwork. Separate title from CCG and CGCA. Optional test scheduled after class.
- Out and About - Fun outdoor class held at four different local outdoor locations. Focus on loose leash walking. Learn new skills, tips, and tricks to aid with real life distractions you may face during your outings. Locations for all out and about classes may change depending on class, season, and current weather.
- Out and About Advanced - Fun outdoor class held at four outdoor locations. Advancing leash walking and building overall skills outdoors. More challenging behaviors such as long line recalls past distractions and and passing dogs on leash. For students who have taken Out and About or with instructor approval.
- Out and About Winter Lights Edition - Fun outdoor class held in the evening at three different local outdoor locations. Practice loose leashing walking through distractions in urban settings with beautiful lighted scenery. For students who have taken Out and About or with instructor approval.
- Puppy Party - Guided puppy play session where puppies are matched with appropriate playmates. Great learning experience if you'd like to know more about play and behavior between puppies! Help build your puppy's confidence around other puppies and people.
- Puppy Social - Guided individual sessions where your puppy is individually introduced to novel items and experiences. Learn how to best work with your puppy if something becomes overwhelming for them. A great confidence builder for young puppies!
- Agility Special - Guided individual sessions where puppies and dogs of all ages are individually introduced to agility equipment. Equipment used is appropriate for age of each individual pup. A great confidence builder for any age!
- Heel 2 Heel 1 - 100% focus on heeling. This isn't meant for any sort of "loose leash walking"! This is a very particular behavior which your dog does for a brief period of time. From navigating through a busy sidewalk to planning for competition sports. Also included are changing speeds and an automatic sit when you halt.
- Heel 2 Heel 2 - Take your dog's well-known heel to the next level. Behaviors learned are useful for navigating tight areas, busy streets, passing upcoming dogs on leash, and competition sports. Advanced heeling such as tight pivots and backing up are included, as well as a mid-stride down stay and return to heel. Learn to vocally cue your dog to switch heeling sides both while moving and while stationary.
- Lights! Camera! Conformation! - Is your dog a show dog to be? In this class you'll be introduced to your specific breed standard, and what the judges are looking for. Get a firm understanding of body language so you can determine in real-time how your dog is feeling about being in the ring and, even more crucial, being examined by the judge. Understand how to gait, handle, and stack your dog. We'll go over entering the ring as well as movement patterns you may be asked to perform. Covers how your particular breed is to shown; be it on the floor, table, or ramp. Introduction to teaching your dog to self-stack. We'll go through good and better bait, grooming and what not to do, as well as the different showing options available to you and how to get started. Suggestions about additional possibilities you and your dog may prefer if we find they may not want to be in the ring.
- Tricks ONLINE - This is an internet group class. A fun class that introduces and expounds on clicker /marking training and teaches tricks from the AKC and DMWYD Novice level. Optional video tricks evaluation. Fantastic option for fearful and reactive dogs!
- Tricks Level 2 ONLINE - This is an internet group class. After Tricks class take it up a notch and learn increasingly complex tricks. Tricks are from the AKC and DMWYD Intermediate level. Optional video tricks evaluation. Fantastic option for fearful and reactive dogs!
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