If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more
If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more
About
With over 20yrs of dog training experience, we pride ourselves on the same loyalty, honesty & commitment that we receive from our canine family members. We are known across the country for training solid dogs trained with our proven techniques. We provide many training services (ie. behavior modification, basic to advance obedience, personal/home protection, scent detection, sport, prep for a puppy, aggression control, & much more. Board & Training & In-home training beginning soon.) This is a Veteran owned company by a former military working dog handler. We have also won many awards and earned national certifications over the years.
Overview
Hired 26 times
Serves Mount Airy, MD
Background checked
4 employees
8 years in business
Business hours
Sun8:00 am - 4:00 pmMon3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Cash, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.
Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
2023
2022
Services offered
Dog training package
Dog size
Extra Small (1 - 15 lbs)
Small (16 - 25 lbs)
Medium (26 - 40 lbs)
Large (41 - 70 lbs)
Dog training type
Private lessons
Board and train
Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, work quality, and responsiveness.
Great 4.8
20 reviews
5
95%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
5%
Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our review guidelines.
Read reviews that mention:
Rebekah S.
Jul 8, 2022
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Hired on Thumbtack
James has been simply amazing! From our consultation to our first emergency session. He came all the way to Baltimore when he was in Virginia because my German Shepard was starting to bite me for corrections. James made this special trip to Baltimore just for us and even let me borrow his prong collar while mine comes in so I could have more control over my new rescue. He wanted to make sure I felt safe with my new dog and had the confidence to manage his behavior. In one session , James completely stopped my dog biting me (he was seriously bruising me when he bit me) while making me feel in control of the situation. James is kind, friendly, patient with owners, explains dog behavior and his methods and does not leave until you feel like you have control of your dog. I can’t wait to start our 5 week training course with James - if he could cut out this major issue in one session, I can’t wait for what he can do in 5 weeks! If you need a trainer who is compassionate but to the point, James is your guy! Many thanks to you James! - Rebekah and Gideon.
Details: 1 - 2 years old • Large (41 - 70 lbs) • Private lessons • Aggressive behavior modification • Barking • Biting • Destructive behavior • My home, venue, etc.
Dog Training
Marin C.
Sep 29, 2022
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Hired on Thumbtack
James was very responsive and it was a personalized experience. He was encouraging that our issues were not un-fixable and that we have a good dog. We only had one session so far and it was productive and our puppy is already showing improvement. We still have work to do but I'm looking forward to continuing to work with MHG K9
Details: 6 - 12 months old • Large (41 - 70 lbs) • Private lessons • Aggressive behavior modification • Leash pulling • Barking • My home, venue, etc.
Dog Training
Christine L.
Jan 2, 2023
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Hired on Thumbtack
I am a dog owner to Mandu, a Korean Jindo mix, that was rescued because he was abandoned as a newborn by the mom. My partner and I dealt with a lot of fear & anxiety based behaviors from Mandu where he was showing a lot of aggression to other animals and even to us sometimes (we have gotten bit badly from trying to calm him down while he was lunging and growling at other animals). We spent 5 sessions with James and on the very first one, we saw a HUGE improvement & it just kept getting better each session. James has significantly changed how our little family gets to spend time. Our walks aren’t as exhausting/frustrating/scary anymore because we now know how to communicate with our dog better. It’s not just the walking too. Mandu is much calmer at home now and seems less anxious overall. I feel like his bond and trust with us got stronger. If you’re considering getting training due to a similar situation, I recommend MHGK9. It’s so worth it and James really teaches you so much about what you can do as an owner to communicate and interact better with your dog. If you want to actually enjoy your walks with the dog and want to be able to provide more experiences for your dog (hiking, going to the city, etc.) training is the way to go!
Details: 1 - 2 years old • Medium (26 - 40 lbs) • Board and train at a facility • Aggressive behavior modification • Leash pulling • House training • Barking • Biting • Destructive behavior • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.
Dog Training
Jackie J.
Jun 23, 2022
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Hired on Thumbtack
Mr. James is amazing. Half of the training is for the dog and the other half is for us, the owners. He carefully plans out and explains every step so we know what we did well and what we can do better. He imparts you with knowledge and training so you don't feel lost after he leaves. Most importantly, he gave us the confidence to walk our dog again and keep everyone safe!! Thank you James!!!!
Details: 2 - 10 years old • Large (41 - 70 lbs) • Private lessons • General obedience training • Leash pulling • Barking • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.
Dog Training
Lisa R.
Jun 20, 2022
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Hired on Thumbtack
James is knowledgeable about his profession. He listens intently to our issues, asking questions where necessary. He rationalizes the problem from the viewpoint of our dog and explains that viewpoint to us. He provides steps we must take to fix the problem and indicators to look for that show progress or lack thereof. He has helped us turn our "pull" dog into a pleasurable "loose leash walk" dog. He does not shy away from problem dogs; that is his joy. Solving problems. Though still a work in progress our dog is also aggressive to other dogs on leash. We (the dog and the owners) are learning how to handle such situations. Making our dog feel more confident in us and what we ask of her. Thus stopping the aggression to other leashed dogs. This is getting better after just 3 sessions. Our next session will be to work with our teen daughter so she can also walk our dog confidently. He continuously asks questions as to what else he can do for us. He is a fellow veteran and his company is enjoyed by our whole family. Though the day may come that we no longer need his services, we enjoy our time together now. We highly recommend James and MHGK9 for any of you dog problems.
Details: 2 - 10 years old • Large (41 - 70 lbs) • Private lessons • Aggressive behavior modification • Leash pulling • My home, venue, etc. • At the pro’s location
Dog Training
Credentials
Background Check
James Peppins
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Fixed prices and programs are prepared with add-on options. Some discounts are available.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
First to have a phone conversation to understand what the customer is looking for in training and then meet us for an evaluation with your dog. After that, we will discuss what training program best fits to meet your expectations.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
US Military working dog handlers course, petsmart trainer course, I.R.A dog trainer course. Also, 20+ yrs of working with dogs.
