Dog Trainers in Annapolis, MD
Dog training around Annapolis covers the city and the Anne Arundel County towns around it, from Arnold, Severna Park and Pasadena on the Broadneck and Magothy side to Edgewater, Davidsonville, Crofton, Odenton, Millersville, Severn and Glen Burnie. The area has training centers with group classes, puppy programs and board and train, a long-running club with obedience and agility classes, several franchise territories that teach in your home, and many private trainers who handle puppies, reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety and off-leash work. Some list a service area rather than a street, so ask which towns they cover.
- Top-Rated Dog Trainers in Annapolis
- What Kind of Training Does Your Dog Need?
- Training Formats and Typical US Dog-Training Prices
- Dog Training Schools & Classes in Annapolis
- How to Pick the Right Trainer
- Dog Training by Annapolis Neighborhood
- Annapolis Dog Training Resources
- Common Questions About Dog Training in Annapolis
- Start Here
This page is your starting point. Whether you need puppy socialization, basic obedience, off-leash training, or help with a serious behavior problem, we’ll help you understand your options, what to expect, and how to connect with the right professional in Annapolis.
Top-Rated Dog Trainers in Annapolis
Compare Annapolis’s top-rated dog trainers below — each listing shows real Google reviews and, where we’ve checked them, certified credentials, so you can reach out with confidence.
What Kind of Training Does Your Dog Need?
Before you start comparing trainers, figure out which category your dog falls into. This determines the type of training, the format, and the realistic timeline.
Puppy (8 weeks to 5 months)
Priority: socialization and foundation habits. This is the most time-sensitive stage — the critical socialization window closes around 16 weeks, and what your puppy is exposed to during this period shapes their temperament permanently. Group puppy classes are ideal. Read our full guide: Puppy Training in Annapolis.
Adolescent dog (5 to 18 months)
Priority: obedience and impulse control. This is the stage where most owners hit the wall — the cute puppy has turned into a teenager who jumps on guests, pulls on the leash, and has developed selective hearing. Group obedience classes or private lessons work well here. Consistency is everything.
Adult dog — new to training
Priority: basic obedience and household manners. It’s never too late. Adult dogs are often faster learners than puppies because they have longer attention spans.
Adult dog — specific behavior issue
Priority: targeted behavior modification. Reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, resource guarding, excessive barking. These issues need a qualified trainer or behaviorist — not a group class. Start with a behavior consultation.
Any dog — intensive training needed fast
Priority: results on a compressed timeline. Board-and-train programs offer intensive daily training over 2 to 6 weeks — the fastest path to results when done right.
Training Formats and Typical US Dog-Training Prices
The formats below are the same everywhere; the figures are national ranges, not Annapolis rates. Prices vary by city and by trainer — confirm directly with the trainer before you book.
Group classes
Best for socialization and foundation obedience. Meet once a week for 5 to 6 weeks with other dogs. Most affordable option. Typical US range: $150 to $300 for a full course.
Private lessons
One-on-one with a trainer at their facility or your home. Best for specific goals, reactive dogs, or customized plans. Typical US range: $100 to $175 per session (facility) or $125 to $200 (in-home).
Day training
Your dog goes to the trainer during the day and comes home at night. Great for working professionals. Typical US range: $75 to $125 per day.
Board and train
Your dog stays with the trainer for 2 to 6 weeks. Most intensive option. Typical US range: $1,500 to $6,000+ depending on length and complexity.
Behavior consultation
A diagnostic assessment for serious behavioral issues — a professional evaluation that produces a treatment plan. Typical US range: $200 to $400 for the initial assessment.
Dog Training Schools & Classes in Annapolis
Looking for a dog training school or group obedience classes in Annapolis? Plenty of local trainers and facilities run weekly group classes — a structured, affordable way to cover socialization and basic obedience alongside other dogs. Browse dog obedience classes in Annapolis, or use the trainer directory above to compare every dog school and trainer in the Annapolis area by specialty, reviews and price.
How to Pick the Right Trainer
Choosing a dog trainer is a lot like choosing a doctor — credentials matter, but so does communication style, philosophy, and whether you trust them with someone you care about.
Training methodology
This is the most important factor and the one most people skip. Dog training ranges from purely positive reinforcement (rewards only) to balanced training (rewards plus corrections). There is no single “right” approach — but there IS a right approach for your dog. A fearful rescue needs a different approach than a confident, drive-y working breed. Ask every trainer what tools and methods they use, and don’t commit until you understand and agree with their philosophy.
Credentials
Look for recognized certifications — CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer), KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy), IACP, AKC CGC Evaluator, or for complex behavior, a CAAB or veterinary behaviorist. Credentials aren’t everything — some of the best trainers built their skills through decades of hands-on experience — but a trainer with no credentials AND no verifiable track record is a risk.
Transparency — red flags and green flags
Red flags: won’t let you observe a class or tour the facility, gets defensive about methodology, guarantees specific results, pressures you to sign up immediately, or trash-talks every other trainer. Green flags: welcomes questions, offers to let you observe a class first, gives references, is honest about what training can and cannot achieve, and tells you upfront if your dog’s issue is outside their expertise.
Dog Training by Annapolis Neighborhood
The Annapolis metro is large, and driving 45 minutes for a weekly class isn’t sustainable for most people. Here’s a quick overview of training availability by area:
Annapolis
Annapolis itself has training centers with puppy programs, membership-style group classes, private lessons and board and train, a balanced-method training team, a trainer who offers in-home, meet-out and online lessons with in-home stay-and-train programs, and force-free trainers who work in your home. Several franchise territories based here also serve the surrounding towns with in-home lessons, service dog and therapy dog programs.
Arnold, Severna Park and Pasadena
North of the Severn River there is a trainer running a five-week board and train in her own home with in-home follow-up classes, and a Pasadena trainer who teaches force-free manners, leash walking and recall. Other trainers in these towns list a street address with few details online, so call to ask what they teach and where sessions take place.
Severn, Millersville, Odenton and Glen Burnie
The western side of the county has a behavior consultant in Severn who takes reactive and aggressive dogs and offers home-based board and train, a second location of an Annapolis training center in Millersville, a dog sports venue where nose work, connection and agility classes meet, a Glen Burnie trainer focused on off-leash obedience and puppies, and a Glen Burnie trainer who prepares service dogs, including diabetic alert dogs.
Davidsonville, Crofton and Edgewater
South of Annapolis, Davidsonville has a large training facility with board and train, puppy training, private lessons and service dog work, plus a dog training club with obedience classes every ten weeks and agility, rally and freestyle. An Edgewater trainer offers one-on-one puppy, advanced and off-leash training and behavior work.
Annapolis Dog Training Resources
Beyond professional training, Annapolis has some excellent resources for dog owners.
Parks and off-leash areas
- Quiet Waters Park dog park and dog beach — Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis has two separate enclosed dog areas for small and large dogs, with agility equipment and benches, and a dog beach with an off-leash sandy shoreline where dogs can play and swim. The beach is only partly enclosed, so the county recommends a good recall.
- County dog parks around the area — Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks sets aside off-leash dog areas in several parks, including Broadneck Park, Bell Branch Park and Loch Haven Park, with a dog beach at Downs Park. County rules allow two dogs per adult, require dogs to be healthy, vaccinated and wearing identification, and keep puppies under four months out of the dog parks.
These parks are great for socialization practice AFTER your dog has a foundation of training. Taking an untrained dog to an off-leash park is asking for trouble.
Veterinary behaviorists
For complex behavior cases that may require medication alongside training, ask your primary vet for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist serving the Annapolis area.
Dog Trainers by Community in the Annapolis Area
Looking for a trainer in a specific Annapolis-area community? Here are the local options town by town.
Dog Trainers in Severn, MD
- Sit ‘n Stay Training — 5.0★ (23)
- PAWZAZZ Agility — 5.0★ (1)
- Limitless Canines — 4.8★ (49)
- Omo Dog Training
- Danni’s k9 Concepts
Dog Trainers in Glen Burnie, MD
- Engaged K9’s — 5.0★ (19)
- PetSmart Dog Training — 5.0★ (3)
- PetSmart Dog Training — 5.0★ (1)
- OzLand Dog Training
Dog Trainers in Millersville, MD
- Pawsitive Behavior Solutions, LLC — 5.0★ (119)
- Leash Free Living — 4.9★ (210)
- See Spot Grin
Dog Trainers in Arnold, MD
- Dog Training Elite Annapolis — 5.0★ (17)
- Serenity Pet: Training and Behavior Solutions — 5.0★ (15)
Dog Trainers in Pasadena, MD
- Balanced K9 Services — 5.0★ (239)
- You Silly Dog, LLC — 4.9★ (52)
Dog Trainers in Severna Park, MD
- Happy Homes Dog Training — 5.0★ (3)
- Petco Dog Training — 3.0★ (1)
Dog Trainers in Davidsonville, MD
- AmericanK9 Dog Training, LLC — 4.9★ (578)
- Canine Training Association Inc — 4.5★ (10)
Dog Trainers in Edgewater, MD
- Total K9 + — 4.8★ (12)
Dog Trainers in Crofton, MD
- Ridgeside K9 Central Maryland — 5.0★ (43)
Dog Trainers in Gambrills, MD
- Petco Dog Training — 5.0★ (1)
Also in Annapolis: Always Faithful Dog & Puppy Training Annapolis MD, Bark Busters Home Dog Training Greater Annapolis, KompK9 LLC, Nedra’s WAGZ LLC, Bliss Dog Services, Petco Dog Training, PetSmart Dog Training, Leash Free Living, Chesapeake Dog Training, LLC, Paws and Possibilities – Maryland, Free State Canine LLC, Zoomies Unleashed
Dog Training by Specialty in Annapolis
Annapolis-specific guides for each type of training:
- Puppy Training
- Puppy Socialization
- Dog Obedience Classes
- Aggressive Dog Training
- Off-Leash Dog Training
- Separation Anxiety Training
- In-Home Dog Training
- Service Dog Training
- Therapy Dog Training
- Dog Training Prices
Also live across Maryland: Baltimore · Columbia · Frederick · Rockville · Salisbury · Silver Spring · Towson · Waldorf.
Common Questions About Dog Training in Annapolis
How much does dog training cost around Annapolis?
It depends on the format. Club classes, group class memberships, private lessons, in-home packages, day training and multi-week board and train programs are priced very differently, and behavior cases often start with a separate assessment. Many trainers offer a free consultation. Ask what a package includes, how many sessions it covers and whether follow-up support is part of it.
Are there group dog training classes near Annapolis?
Yes. A Davidsonville club runs obedience classes that start every ten weeks, plus agility, rally and freestyle, and several Annapolis and Millersville training centers run puppy and group classes, including membership-style classes that combine in-person and virtual sessions. Ask about vaccine requirements and class size before you enroll.
Can a trainer help with a reactive or aggressive dog?
Yes. Several local trainers and behavior consultants work with reactive and aggressive dogs, mostly in private sessions at home or in home-based board and train programs, and one Annapolis center runs a reactive dog program. Be open about any bite history and ask how the first assessment works and which tools are used.
Is board and train available in Anne Arundel County?
Yes. Training facilities in Davidsonville and Annapolis, trainers who board dogs in their own homes in Arnold and Severn, and in-home stay-and-train programs all offer immersive training, usually with lessons for the owner when the dog comes home. Ask how the handover works and how many dogs the trainer takes at once.
Where can my dog run off leash near Annapolis?
Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks runs fenced dog parks with separate small and large dog areas at Quiet Waters Park, a dog beach there, and off-leash areas in other county parks such as Broadneck Park. The county limits each adult to two dogs and keeps puppies under four months out of the dog parks.
Start Here
The best time to start training is today. Whether your puppy needs socialization, your adolescent dog needs impulse control, or your adult dog has a behavior issue that’s been building for years — the sooner you start, the faster things improve.
Browse dog trainers in Annapolis on GetDogSchool.com. Compare programs, read reviews, and connect with professionals who fit your dog’s needs and your budget.
Find Dog Trainers in Annapolis →
Ready to find the right trainer for your dog in Annapolis?
Get matched with a trainer in Annapolis →