Dog Training

Find a dog trainer near Herndon, VA

Find a dog trainer near Herndon, VA

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Top 4 Dog Trainers near Herndon, VA

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Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

How much does dog training typically cost?

The average cost of dog training ranges from $60 to $155 per hour. But, your dog’s training might cost more or less depending on a number of different factors. For example, you might pay less if you schedule group classes instead of private instruction. The type of training (aggressive behavior, basic obedience, off-leash training, etc.) could have different prices as well. 

Get an exact cost estimate by contacting several dog trainers near you

Learn more about dog training cost factors.

Is dog training worth the money?

Dog training can be a highly rewarding investment for most dog owners. With dog training, you can establish a better, healthier relationship with your dog, who will learn to understand your commands and wishes. Your frustration levels may decrease, and you might be able to resume activities you’ve put off, such as having people over or taking your dog to public places (though, this is hard to guarantee because each dog is unique). 

Just remember that no amount of dog training will pay off if you don’t practice and follow the directions the dog trainer gives you. Consistency is the most important factor.

Is it ever too late to start training a dog?

It’s never too late to train your dog — “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a myth. Whether you adopt an older dog from the shelter or simply want to have a better relationship with your elderly dog, hiring a dog trainer can be a good investment.

What do professional dog trainers do?

Dog trainers can perform a range of activities, ranging from training law enforcement dogs to working with therapy dogs or search-and-rescue dogs. However, most people hire dog trainers for obedience training. This is largely a process of training the human — much of how a dog interprets our behaviors, commands, tone and body language is counterintuitive at first. The trainer will typically come to your home to observe your relationship with your dog, teach you how to train a command and give you guidance for reinforcing it.

Do dog trainers offer remote or virtual services?

Although dog training is traditionally performed in person, the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused some professional dog trainers to move to remote training and virtual services. You can contact dog trainers near you to ask about the possibility of remote or virtual services. Also, ask whether all aspects of the process can be digital, including payment.

How old should a puppy be for training?

Dog training shouldn’t wait until you’re having behavior problems. If you get a new puppy, start from the beginning with professional training to give both you and your puppy the tools you need for a healthy relationship. Dog training is as much about teaching the owner how to interact with their new dog as it is about the dog learning to behave. Puppy training can start as early as eight weeks old. Trainers who offer puppy training programs may works specifically with dogs between the ages of 8 and 18 weeks old. Trainers can teach owners about potty training and how to deal with accidents, working with separation anxiety, and training your pooch out of destructive behaviors like chewing, biting and demand barking. Puppies will start to learn to walk on-leash and other basic skills.

In addition to behavior training, socializing your puppy is an important part of dog training. Socializing your dog means they become comfortable and confident in a variety of settings and have a great foundation for becoming a well-adjusted adult dog. After your puppy has had the proper vaccinations, you can start to introduce it to a variety of different dogs and people in safe settings.

What is a dog boot camp?

A dog boot camp is basically a board and train program that focuses on training your dog or puppy. The trainers will work with your dog to curb unwanted behavior, teach them basic skills and show them how to walk on a leash.

Dog boot camps and training programs might differ when it comes to their services, so it’s always a good idea to do your research and ask them to explain exactly what they offer — and how much they charge.

How long does it take to train a puppy?

Dog training depends on the dog and how much homework the dog owner is willing to put in. Puppy training is similar to dog training in that the onus of the work depends on the owner learning new ways to interact with their dog. For a quick crash course, you can opt for a single, two hour smart-start puppy training consultation to teach you the ins and outs of being a new dog parent. You can learn how to manage potty training and what to do if the puppy experiences separation anxiety. As long as you’re willing to work on dog training a little bit each day, your puppy will quickly learn these new behaviors. If you’re not confident about training your puppy yourself, you can enroll in a 6- to 8-week puppy training course, with weekly lessons touching on everything from bite control to obedience. Puppies usually need to be at least three months old for group training classes. If you want more intensive one-on-one work, you can opt for private lessons. Some behavior problems can be resolved in one session if the dog owner learns and can implement new skills. In the case of more serious issues, 3 to 10 private sessions can typically correct challenges.

Which dog training method is best?

The best type of dog training for both you and your dog depends on the outcomes you hope to achieve. If you want your dog to learn agility training, go to someone who specializes in those techniques. Regardless of whether you want your dog to learn basic behavior or competitive-level tricks, the majority of dog training is actually about training the owner how to communicate with their dog. Most professional dog trainers agree that a model of training based on positive reinforcement breeds a happy, healthy, well-adjusted dog. The alternative to positive reinforcement training is using force or aggression techniques like physical punishment or shock-collar training to get the dog to do (or not do) a behavior. While the dog may learn how to behave as you direct, it is also learning to communicate with force and aggression, and will in turn use those behaviors on other dogs (or people) that are smaller or weaker than it is. Before signing up with a dog trainer, meet with the trainer and ask for references. Watch the trainer interact with your dog, and make sure they treat your dog with patience and firm kindness. Ask them questions about their training methods:

  • What type of training methods do you use?
  • What is your background and training, and how did you become a dog trainer?
  • How long do you expect that we will work together before we achieve the results I’m after?
Reviews for Herndon dog trainers
Paul m.
Victoria was very helpful showing us things we never realized our dog did not like. She gave great suggestions for treats, toys and training advice. She demonstrated her training techniques to help with our dog Archer. We could actually see our dog responding immediately to her style of training.
Malibu HuskiesMalibu Huskies
Siddhesh c.
I had a horrible experience with Cerberus Training school. I had enrolled my Dog for 3 day basic obedience program ( only for leash training) and before enrolling I was promised that ‘you can video call the dog any time.’ I must say this was really a false promise i had to beg each day to padraig to allow us to have a 2 min video call with the dog. But He always denied saying we are busy in the ‘training’ At one point my wife literally cried on call at that point he allowed us to speak with our own dog. This is so disrespectful that we had to ask so many time to speak to our own dog. Coming to the training part I did not observe any improvements in my dog once he was back to home. Honestly I did not expect him to do magic in 3 days but what SHOCKED me was he had big bruise on his nose and his lips were bleeding. This was not communicated to us in those 3 days. Also my dog was stinking like he had been kept with many dogs. This also reminds me I was promised that there will be 1:1 training and no other dog will be there. This is totally false as when they came to pickup the dog they had other dog in the car. We took him to vet and confront this to Padraig and Alec to which they simply said dog has anxiety and they were blunt enough to say dog has zero to no obiceiece at all. “When we sent our dog to someone we expect a clear communication.”. If he was injured inform us so that we can bring him back home. As first time owner this is also a lesson for us as well, if you feel something is not right trust your gut. I had sent many videos to padraig showing my dog understands all the basic commands he is crate trained and maybe it’s you who he is not comfortable with. Again I wouldn’t have posted this review if my dog had fail to learn, I am posting this for Padraigs poor communication not being customer friendly and not keeping my dog in good condition. In short i had very bad experience with my dog and will never do business with Cerberus training.
Cerberus Protection DogsCerberus Protection Dogs
George C.
Our dog , picked up very quickly on the training. Great Technique. We will so how it works in the long tun but I am confident now.
Perfect PoochiesPerfect Poochies
Cynthia R.
Kathryn is calm, professional and amazing with our dog and very clear in explaining to us what we need to do to accomplish our training goals. I highly recommend her.
Perfect PoochiesPerfect Poochies
Flo K.
I’m glad I was able to find a trainer for my puppy . J9 K9 was very responsive to my emails and calls . My puppy in which I was extremely scared of having anyone over was slowly warming up to her . She came explained herself very well took the time and patience to work with my puppy . I can see the love and affection she has for our animals. The confidence in her ability to work so well with dogs was amazing . We look forward in working with J9 in next couple of weeks . I think my puppy will be a different positive and secure dog after this training. 😀 .... highly well recommend as well respected . Thank you
J9&K9s Dog TrainingJ9&K9s Dog Training
Veronica D.
I cannot say enough about Ryan! We started looking for a dog trainer after realizing something needed to change when it came to taking our 4-year-old dog, Sandy, on walks. She was very defensive and my husband and I could not redirect her focus once she started barking at a person or another dog making walks VERY stressful. When Ryan said an hour and a half is all he needed to address and fix the problem, I was skeptical with what we experienced with Sandy, but with such excellent reviews, we went ahead and booked a weekend appointment shortly after finding Ruff House. Ryan showed up, and within 30 minutes, Sandy was no longer lashing out at other dogs or people passing by! Ryan assesses your situation and adjusts for that rather than trying to change everything you and your dog do on a daily basis. We are so excited with the results Ryan was able to instill in us and are thankful for such a wonderful experience!!!
Ruff House Dog TrainingRuff House Dog Training
Maria N.
I adopted Blu as a puppy, thinking that it would be easy to train him and to socialize him. I quickly found out that there was a lot more to it then just taking him to the dog park and getting him to sit. I went through two other trainers but I still wasn’t seeing much improvement. I, myself was going through anxiety and depression and my frustrations would be taken out on Blu for not listening and not doing as I said. I decided to look into another trainer and found Kimberly. Instantly, I knew she was going to change my life. I learned so much about dogs and how to take care of them but I learned even more about myself. I realized the difficulties I was having with Blu was all on me, and that I needed to have confidence in myself so that my relationship with Blu could succeed. Not only did Kimberly help us while being her clients, but she continues to be a source of information and support that I am extremely grateful for, and so is Blu!”
PackFitPackFit
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