This is a list of the top dog trainers in Washington, based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public.
CCPT-KA CBCC-KA FFCP
Hi! I'm Jenny and I'm currently the Behavior Program Senior Manager at Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, Washington. I've worked in shelters in Washington State coming up on a decade now, and truly found my passion for shelter behavior here.
I'm originally from Texas, graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in Biomedical Science. I'm a Certified Professional Dog ...
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI) AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, In home dog training, Off leash dog training, Agility dog training
Issaquah, Sammamish, Bellevue, Mercer Island, New Castle, Renton, Burien.
Keiko Swanberg, the owner of Zen Dog Seattle, LLC is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI), a licensed AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). Keiko moved to the U.S. from Japan in 2000 and has been a long-time shelter/rescue volunteer and foster parent ever since. Her...
Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, In home dog training, Off leash dog training, Agility dog training
Port Orchard, Olalla, Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Bremerton
Amanda is equal parts dog person and people person; you and your dog are both important to her! ÔªøShe is committed to using progressive, force-free training methods to improve dog and human communication and relationships.
After graduating from Olympia High School in WA state, she earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Stanford University and has a strong background ...
CCS, UW-AAB
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, In home dog training, Off leash dog training, Board and train dog training
Everett, WA and Snohomish County
I started my career in the pet industry in 2011 where I worked as a daycare attendant at a doggy daycare, boarding and training facility called The Dog Spot. In the first year at The Dog Spot, I started assisting in dog training classes and soon realized that is where my passion lay. In 2012, I got my CCS certification in dog training and behavior through the Northwest School of Canine Studies....
KPA-CTP, CDPT-KA
Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, In home dog training, Off leash dog training
Bellingham
Sara has been working with dogs in the mountains for over fifteen years and loves bringing her diverse and dynamic background to her pet dog teams she coaches.
Jen Lewis has been working with dogs professionally for 20 years, training for 19 years, and she has a wide variety of experience with all breeds, ages, and temperaments. She has a deep understanding of canine behavior and communication and has many professional accreditations and memberships.
Specializing in Agility and Advanced Manners training, Heather's heart, love, and training focus is in showing others how to have fun with her dogs. In addition to dogs, Heather also coaches and trains people. These two skill sets play a major role in her ability to help people communicate more effectively with their dogs, and learn how to embrace and engage with their dog's temperament and per...
Like many animal lovers, my dream was to work with pets. I considered being a veterinarian, but quickly discovered I couldn't hack it.
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I gave up on my dreams and decided to pursue human medicine instead.
After college and a bit of traveling, I jumped in to a "big girl" job doing clinical research at a military hospital. I enjoyed my job, but felt like I...
Hi! I'm Jenny and I'm currently the Behavior Program Senior Manager at Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, Washington. I've worked in shelters in Washington State coming up on a decade now, and truly found my passion for shelter behavior here.
I'm originally from Texas, graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in Biomedical Science. I'm a Certified Professional Dog ...
Keiko Swanberg, the owner of Zen Dog Seattle, LLC is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI), a licensed AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). Keiko moved to the U.S. from Japan in 2000 and has been a long-time shelter/rescue volunteer and foster parent ever since. Her...
I started my career in the pet industry in 2011 where I worked as a daycare attendant at a doggy daycare, boarding and training facility called The Dog Spot. In the first year at The Dog Spot, I started assisting in dog training classes and soon realized that is where my passion lay. In 2012, I got my CCS certification in dog training and behavior through the Northwest School of Canine Studies....
Diane taught with Carol & Dana at Lilac City Dog Training and The Family Dog in the early 90's and has been a DITR instructor since we opened our doors in April of 1996. Diane has a soft spot for rescue dogs and helping them find success in with their new families. Her interests are competing in Canine Freestyle (dancing with your dog) and Rally FrEe.
Diane loves tricks, g...
Travis provides private training lessons and behavior consults in your home or at the training studio. He enjoys helping new puppy owners and adoptive families get off on the right paw with their new friends. He has a special way with shy and fearful dogs and inspires confidence in his human clients, too. He can help you understand your dog, and help your dog understand you.
As...
I've been training dogs, professionally, for twenty years. The dog training classroom is my "happy place." But when I am not with dogs, students and clients I can be found in my garden, on a hiking trail or in a music studio.
I have spent my working life helping dogs with special needs - first medically and then behaviorally. My time working as a trainer for the public at a large animal shelter provided me with exceptional training mentors and a vast variety of dogs from whom I learned an incredible amount about training and communication between dogs and people. As I continued my work with dogs with greater behavio...
Welcome to Washington’s list of top dog trainers. The Washington list is based on 2810 votes from the Sniffspot community. Only the Washington dog trainers with the top number of votes made this list. Trainers are ordered by number of votes, with Jenny Black at the top of this list with 278 votes.
Our rankings include trainers certified by CPDT-KA and CPDT-KA. They also specialize in Puppy dog training, Reactive dog training amongst other training programs.
Washington dog trainer services include:
Dog trainers in Washington selflessly set pets up for success. Jenny Black shares why they chose this path: I always saw myself working with animals, even as a very young child. I didn't know there were other paths to an animal-focused career besides veterinary medicine, so that was my intention going into my university coursework. As I worked in more and more vet clinics in a variety of roles, I felt that I didn't enjoy working with animals in that type of setting as much as I thought I would. After graduating, I moved to Washington State from Texas and starting pursuing other job opportunities. I found myself accepting a job at Seattle Humane and quickly found my way into shelter behavior. A few years later, I decided to become certified and make it official!. All 95 trainers on this Washington list are committed to positive reinforcement. Trusted Washington trainer, Keiko Swanberg, uses the following methods: I offer fear-free, force-free, positive dog training and behavior modification based on behavioral science..
Explore the top dog trainers in Washington as voted by our community:
We evaluate our animals throughout their stay, creating unique training plans to meet their needs along the way. We also provide post-adoption behavior support to ensure our animals are as successful as possible after they leave our care. We use positive reinforcement-based training, following Fear Free methods whenever possible.
Focus on consent. Ensure that the animal you're working with is 100% on board with what you're doing. Let them have the freedom to make choices and opt out if needed.
Discover the Australian Shepherd, a breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were originally bred in United States for herding, beginning in 1950s.
Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Considered a medium dog, American Staffordshire Terriers were originally bred in United Kingdom for baiting bulls, fighting, and hunting, beginning in 1800s — though they're known as gentle, playful lovers today.
Discover the Golden Retriever, a breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game, beginning in 1860s.
Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs.
Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?
You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dogs have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being "dangerous breeds." Rottweilers are among them. Like pit bulls and other large, blocky-headed types of dogs, these powerful and beautiful animals are often assumed to be aggressive.
Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
Does your dog display reactivity to other pets or people? Maybe they’re a new rescue pup and are still settling into your home. Or they were sick growing up, so you missed their critical socialization period. Possibly they’ve had a bad experience after being raised as a normal puppy.
Do you have a reactive dog or suspect you may have one? You’re not alone!
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.”
Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.
Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.