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The Best Dog Trainers in Pittsburgh, PA of 2024

David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

This is a list of the top dog trainers in Pittsburgh, PA, based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public.

Beth McGonigal
Certified Behavior Consultant Canine, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Fear Free Professional
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Pittsburgh
Hi there, I'm Aunt Beth! At NPAB we focus on nothing but positive reinforcement-based, fun & effective training the whole family can do. As a certified professional trainer, I offer a variety of services, including in-home dog manners training, behavior consultations and behavior modification, and group classes at our training & education facility, as well as at local veterinary offices and cou...

Vanessa Wheeler
Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Vanessa (she/her) has been involved in the dog world since 2010 with roles like volunteer dog walker, volunteer manager, staff kennel attendant, dog sitter, and foster parent. She cites her most notable experiences as: joining several of her rescue friends out of state assisting in dog fighting confiscation efforts (#367), interning at the Humane Society of the United States in their state leg...

Debby McMullen
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC)
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Allegheny, Fayette, Butler, Beaver, Green, Washington, Mercer, Westmoreland, Indiana counties
I am the author of the How Many Dogs? Using Positive Reinforcement Training to Manage a Multiple Dog Household, which has also been translated into German. I write as a contributor for Victoria Stilwell's Positively website as well as on my book's website.

I began my training career in 1998 as a volunteer instructor at Animal Friends shelter in Pittsburgh. I have taught literally thou...

Rachel McMichael
CBCC-KA, CCDT, IAABC-ADT, CTDI
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Rachel McMichael is the owner and founder of UpSwing Canine Behavioral Services and UpSwing Total Pet Care, LLC. With nearly 20 years of experience working with dogs and an entire lifetime around them, Rachel now specializes in the most shy/fearful dogs as well as dogs with moderate behavior issues. Rachel goes beyond the basics for dogs in need and puts concentration on humane, positive and ef...

tena parker
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI)
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Southwest PA, Allegheny County, southern butler county, Pittsburgh neighborhoods
Tena Parker has been working with dogs for over 15 years. She earned her Master's Degree in Education and her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (with a minor in Physics, just for fun) from Sarah Lawrence College and is the head trainer for and owner of Success Just Clicks Dog Training. She is a nationally Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) with IAABC, a nationally Certified Professional Dog...

Selena Johnson
CPDT-KA FDM
Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Board and train, In home training, Puppy training
Allegheny County
I am a disabled dog trainer who specializes in basic and advanced obedience. I am hoping to also help others train their own service dog for their disabilities. I've been helping others train their dogs for a year now while training my own animals for 4. Everything from donkeys to ferrets no animal is too big or too small.

Zee Altherr
Puppy training, Agility training
Zee earned their Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner in December of 2021, and joined the SJC team shortly after to focus on strengthening their teaching and training skills. They are a big proponent of continuing education and puts a lot of time into it to stay relevant and well-rounded in the field. In addition to assisting at SJC, Zee can be found managing the training department a...

Katherine Anselm
Puppy training, Agility training
Katherine is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer , Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) as well as a Fear Free Certified trainer.She got her start in training working with her own dog Kuzhaar. She realized her love for training and decided that helping people learn to train their dogs effectively was her calling. She strives to always provide her students with the most scientifically sound, compassion...

Lisa Bartel
Puppy training
When my family decided that we wanted to add a furry family member we adopted Jasper. We discovered that Jasper was fearful as well as people and dog selective. We realized we needed help, so we found a local positive reinforcement trainer and worked together with our dog to become a trusting team. Because of my desire to learn about dogs in order to help more dogs, I began to volunteer at a lo...

Lauren Coates
Aggressive dog training, Puppy training, Herding training, In home training, Board and train
Lauren Coates is a certified, professional dog trainer who graduated from the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior in 2022. She is a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers as well as a professional member of the Alliance of Modern Pet Professionals of Pittsburgh. Lauren has been working with dogs for the majority of her life in many different ways in...

Vince Conrad
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training, Agility training
Hi, I am Vince. As a youth in rural western Pennsylvania, I learned the special level of trust and bonding that occurs between a well-trained dog and its handler while training and working hunting dogs. When you and your dog understand each other, your relationship is able to reach new levels of confidence and joy that were previously unattainable.
I have always loved dogs but put that inte...

Coleman Fish
Puppy training, Agility training
Coleman spent 4 years in an apprentice program at SJC working up to teaching entire classes on her own. She spent her time learning training skills, the science of training, our training process, plenty of training techniques to problem solve issues, and solid classroom management and human teaching skills. She put all of her knowledge to the test and recently passed her Certified Professional ...

Meg Grabe
Puppy training, Agility training
Meg recently started working at Success Just Clicks this year as an assistant and an official apprentice but has enjoyed training her personal dogs for the past ten years with Tena. Over the years she's gained an incredible body of knowledge and skillset for training. She loves competing in numerous dog sports and spending time outdoors hiking with Penny and Randy. Her goals include new skills ...

Rebecca Hilbert
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training
I began my journey into dog training in 2017 when my adolescent corgi, Bunsen C. Honeydew, began to display aggressive behavior in human directed resource guarding and leash reactivity. I finally found hope in a local Pittsburgh based positive reinforcement trainer. What I experienced with the positive reinforcement trainer and training methods would change the trajectory of my life. In 2018, I...

Nadine Josephs
Puppy training, Agility training
Nadine has been working at Success Just Clicks for a while now to continually improve her knowledge of dogs and dog training. She enjoys working with likeminded professionals, in a positive environment. Watching the progress between people and their dogs as they participate in the variety of classes offered, is what she enjoys most. Nadine shares the SJC philosophy that a well trained dog, can ...

Richard Kerlin
Rich has been training dogs and their owners for over 20 years. With immense experience, he gives each client %100 focus and a custom training plan based on both the handler and the dog. His passion is gun dog training and he is often a guide for Gobblers Knob Hunting Preserve.

Andrea Lamping
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training
Andrea J Lamping is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Certified and Knowledge Assessed Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), as well as a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI). All these letters mean that she cares about offering the most current evidence-based methods available and is committed to learning from high caliber industry leaders, mentors, and peers.While Andrea has ...

Sarah Stephens
In home training, Puppy training
Sarah is the owner of FurEver Good Dog Training. She connects so well with dogs that some consider her bilingual. She has eleven years experience in positive reinforcement training with dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. Because of her approach and effectiveness, Sarah is beloved by dogs and depended upon by their owners.

Sarah successfully trains by building bonds and respecting bou...

Vanessa Wheeler
In home training, Puppy training
Vanessa has held various positions since becoming involved in animal welfare in 2010. She spent a decade working her way from volunteer dog walker to shelter staff, foster parent, and full-time professional dog handler for a local victim's services agency. She even presented her master's thesis on dog bite prevention at an annual public health conference. Throughout this time, she put in work s...

Kelly Wilson
Puppy training, Agility training
Kelly is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer with CCPDT and is a certified Canine Good Citizen and Star Puppy Evaluator for AKC. She started her path to dog training as a volunteer at The Western Pennsylvania Humane Society (now Humane Animal Rescue) 20 years ago cleaning dog kennels and walking dogs. She moved into vet tech training, assistant training, and eventually became a lead trainer f...

Welcome to Pittsburgh’s list of top dog trainers. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania list is based on 436 votes from the Pennsylvania Sniffspot community. Only the Pittsburgh dog trainers with the top number of votes made this list. Trainers are ordered by number of votes, with Beth McGonigal at the top of this list with 235 votes. We also counted 1963 votes for Pennsylvania, with the remaining trainers listed outside of Pittsburgh.

Our rankings include trainers certified by CTDI and CBCC-KA. They also specialize in Puppy training, In home training amongst other training programs.

Pittsburgh dog trainer services include:

Puppy training
In home training
Reactive dog training
Aggressive dog training
Agility training
Board and train
Service dog training
Off leash training
Deaf dog training
Herding training

Behind every successful Pittsburgh training session lies a passionate professional. Beth McGonigal shares why they chose this path: Save dogs from going to shelters. All 20 trainers on this Pittsburgh list are committed to positive reinforcement. Trusted Pittsburgh trainer, Vanessa Wheeler, uses the following methods: All of my lessons have a basis in science and force free methods. Many of our learners aren't familiar with concepts like thin slicing, adjusting criteria, or how to be clear and consistent. This informed the design of our weekly lessons, how they flow, and the additional resources that are provided. During orientation I ask our learners what they hope to get out of the course and adjust/adapt specific lessons as much as possible. Certain requests can be difficult to address in a group setting but I am lucky to have great assistants that can help provide additional one on one time if needed. Each group level focuses on engagement, foundation behaviors, handling/technical skills and communication basics for humans. As our class levels progress we build on proofing and fluency. Upon graduation, I assess the progress each team has made and advise our training department manager on what I think would be most beneficial for them..

Explore the top dog trainers in Pittsburgh as voted by our community:

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Ordered alphabetically, only included cities where there is enough data to compile a list

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FAQ: Top Dog Training Services in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

How were the best dog trainers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania selected?

We gathered 436 votes from local dog owners to identify the top trainers in Pittsburgh. These trainers, including Beth McGonigal, are experts in Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, and other diverse areas of training and offer tailored services in Pittsburgh to meet your dog’s needs.

What services does Beth McGonigal provide in Pittsburgh?

In Pittsburgh, Beth McGonigal specializes in offering Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy dog training, In home dog training, Off leash dog training. Their services are designed to address a variety of behavioral issues, including: Aggression, Reactivity, Fears / Phobias.

What are the qualifications of Pittsburgh’s top dog trainers?

Beth McGonigal and other leading trainers in Pittsburgh hold certifications such as CTDI, CBCC-KA, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), IAABC-ADT, CCDT, which demonstrate their commitment to excellence in Pittsburgh dog training.

What is the most important tip from Beth McGonigal?

According to Beth McGonigal, the key to successful training is Build a healthy relationship with your dog.

Why are these trainers the best choice for dog owners in Pittsburgh?

Beth McGonigal and others in Pittsburgh are the best choice for dog owners because of their specialized services, including Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, In home dog training and Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, In home dog training. Their methods are effective in helping dogs overcome behavioral challenges.

How do Pittsburgh dog trainers stay up-to-date with training techniques?

Trainers in Pittsburgh regularly participate in continuing education and certification programs, such as CTDI, CBCC-KA, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), IAABC-ADT, CCDT, to ensure they are providing the most effective and current training methods. Beth McGonigal and their colleagues also frequently work with animals at Pittsburgh shelters, rescues, and so on.

Get your dog the safe enrichment they need by renting a Sniffspot

David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

David Adams

About the author

David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development. David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners. Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature. David is based in Salem, MA.

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About Sniffspot

Sniffspot provides the best experiences and fun for you and your dog. Our dog parks are designed for the ultimate dog exercise. Our private spaces help you minimize distractions or triggers and maximize time with your dog. We provide off leash enrichment - exploration and activities you can't get anywhere else; wear your dog out for days. We make it easy to have playdates. Socialize your pup in a controlled, private spot - it's great exercise and it's fun for you and your dog.

The Best Dog Trainers in Pittsburgh, PA of 2024

Beth McGonigal

Vanessa Wheeler

Debby McMullen

Rachel McMichael

tena parker

Selena Johnson

Zee Altherr

Katherine Anselm

Lisa Bartel

Lauren Coates

Vince Conrad

Coleman Fish

Meg Grabe

Rebecca Hilbert

Nadine Josephs

Richard Kerlin

Andrea Lamping

Sarah Stephens

Vanessa Wheeler

Kelly Wilson

See The Best Dog Trainers In Other Cities Near Pittsburgh

See The Best Dog Trainers By Type In Pittsburgh

FAQ: Top Dog Training Services in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

How were the best dog trainers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania selected?

What services does Beth McGonigal provide in Pittsburgh?

What are the qualifications of Pittsburgh’s top dog trainers?

What is the most important tip from Beth McGonigal?

Why are these trainers the best choice for dog owners in Pittsburgh?

How do Pittsburgh dog trainers stay up-to-date with training techniques?

David Adams

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