Dog Trainers in Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City sits at the north end of the Salt Lake Valley, with the Wasatch Range rising to the east and the Great Salt Lake to the northwest. South Salt Lake, Millcreek, Holladay and Murray fill the valley floor and east bench to the south, West Valley City, Taylorsville and Magna spread across the west side toward the Oquirrh Mountains, and Bountiful, Woods Cross and North Salt Lake climb the foothills of South Davis County to the north. Trainers are spread across the city and those suburbs, and many of them travel, so a trainer based a few towns away may still come to you.In-home and private training leads here. Positive-reinforcement and force-free trainers work in homes across the county, including certified separation anxiety trainers and a certified behavior consultant who also helps with cats, and several trainers coach owners live online. Board-and-train is just as easy to find, from programs on a large property with a climate-controlled training building to home-based stays where dogs live with the trainer, and many daycares and pet resorts fold training into a dog’s day or stay. Group classes cover puppy manners, obedience, scent work, rally, Canine Good Citizen testing and dog sports, and specialty programs train psychiatric service dogs for veterans and teach rattlesnake avoidance for trail dogs.Methods cover the full range. Force-free, clicker and science-based trainers work alongside balanced trainers who use e-collars and prong collars for off-leash reliability, and relationship-based programs focus on teaching owners to communicate with their dogs. Several trainers come from military working-dog and detection-dog backgrounds or compete in protection sports and obedience trials. Read each profile and ask how a trainer handles mistakes before you commit.
- Top-Rated Dog Trainers in Salt Lake City
- What Kind of Training Does Your Dog Need?
- Training Formats and Typical US Dog-Training Prices
- Dog Training Schools & Classes in Salt Lake City
- How to Pick the Right Trainer
- Dog Training by Salt Lake City Neighborhood
- Salt Lake City Dog Training Resources
- Common Questions About Dog Training in Salt Lake City
- 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 Salt Lake City.
Top-Rated Dog Trainers in Salt Lake City
Compare Salt Lake City’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 Salt Lake City.
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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City
Looking for a dog training school or group obedience classes in Salt Lake City? 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 Salt Lake City, or use the trainer directory above to compare every dog school and trainer in the Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City Neighborhood
The Salt Lake City 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:
Salt Lake City
The city and the center of the market, from downtown and Sugar House to the west side. Force-free trainers offer in-home training for puppies, separation anxiety and reactivity, a certified behavior consultant takes cases in dogs and cats, and clicker-based coaches teach by live video. Board-and-train runs on a large property with follow-up group classes and in trainers’ homes, a Sugar House practice pairs evaluations with a weekday board-and-train, and training-based daycares handle reactive dogs and run day school with sport foundations. A west-side center teaches scent work, rally and Canine Good Citizen classes, balanced trainers hold lessons in parks, at home and on hikes, and pet stores run group classes.
South Salt Lake and Murray
The central valley along State Street and I-15. A play-based school runs boarding school, group classes, day training and training-based daycare, a family-owned business combines puppy and behavior training with daycare and boarding, and a daycare adds reward-based training. In Murray, obedience programs drawn from detection-dog work include service-dog and Canine Good Citizen training and online courses, a positively balanced center holds evening puppy and obedience classes with shy-dog, junior-handler and service or therapy preparation, and in-home trainers offer both fear-free positive coaching and balanced work with e-collars and protection sport.
Millcreek and Holladay
The east side of the valley below the Wasatch foothills. A Millcreek facility run by a protection-sport and military K9 veteran offers group classes in obedience, Canine Good Citizen, nose work, K9 fitness and personal protection along with private lessons, board-and-train, daycare and boarding. A relationship-based trainer comes to homes for leash manners, reactivity, socialization and aggression rehabilitation, and a rattlesnake avoidance class prepares trail dogs. In Holladay, a nonprofit runs weekly classes that help veterans train their own psychiatric service dogs.
West Valley City, Taylorsville and Magna
The west side of the valley toward the Oquirrh Mountains. A balanced trainer works on young dogs’ confidence and structure with a free consultation, and a relationship-based trainer offers board-and-train, private lessons and boarding across several counties. Taylorsville adds a trainer with a veterinary-technician background and pet-store positive-reinforcement classes, and a Magna trainer with a long record of obedience, rally and agility titles takes companion, competition, service and therapy-dog work.
Bountiful, Woods Cross and North Salt Lake
South Davis County, just north of the city. A former military working dog trainer runs balanced board-and-train courses with community outings plus puppy and private training, a pet resort near the airport builds positive-reinforcement training into daycare and boarding, and a Woods Cross daycare offers a short board-and-train program. In Bountiful, a balanced team trains service dogs and introduces dogs to sports such as dock jumping, and a pet store runs relationship-based classes for puppies and adult dogs.
Salt Lake City Dog Training Resources
Beyond professional training, Salt Lake City has some excellent resources for dog owners.
Parks and off-leash areas
- Herman Franks Dog Park — A Salt Lake City off-leash area in Herman Franks Park at 1371 S. 700 E., with double gates, waste stations, a water fountain and an agility course. The park is open 5 am to 11 pm, and leashed dogs are welcome in the rest of the park.
- Jordan Park Off-Leash Area — A fenced off-leash area on the north end of Jordan Park at 900 West 1000 South, one of Salt Lake City’s full-time off-leash parks.
- Fairmont Park Off-Leash Area — A fenced off-leash area in the southeast corner of Fairmont Park at 1040 East Sugarmont Drive in Sugar House, one of Salt Lake City’s full-time off-leash parks.
- Parley’s Historic Nature Park — A Salt Lake City nature park at 2750 South Heritage Way with a full-time off-leash area, reached from the west side near Tanner Park or along Parley’s Trail.
- Millrace Park Dog Park — A fenced off-leash dog park in Millrace Park at 5400 South 1150 West in Taylorsville, beside a trailhead to the Jordan River Parkway. Salt Lake County maintains the park, and the City of Taylorsville manages the dog area and sets its rules and hours.
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 Salt Lake City area.
Dog Trainers by Community in the Salt Lake City Area
Looking for a trainer in a specific Salt Lake City-area community? Here are the local options town by town.
Dog Trainers in Salt Lake City, UT
- Let’s Train Your Dog, Inc. — 5.0★ (312)
- The Balanced Dog — 5.0★ (92)
- Shake On It Dog Training — 5.0★ (41)
- Dog ‘n Butterfly — 5.0★ (37)
- Erica’s Dog Training — 5.0★ (34)
- Quibells ‘n Bits — 5.0★ (21)
- The Underdog — 5.0★ (18)
- JP’s Premium Pets & Dog Training — 5.0★ (9)
Also in Salt Lake City: MVP Dog Training, Petco Dog Training, Kandy’s Kritter Kare Consulting, Olympus Dog Training, Three Little Pits, High Country Newfoundland Club, Innovative K9 Academy, The Canine Mind, Four Legged Scholars LLC, Liberty Bark, Dog Savvy | Positive Dog Training, PetSmart Dog Training, FETCH Daycare and Overnight, Barley’s Canine Recreation Center, Dog Squad – Salt Lake City / Sugar House, Camp Bow Wow, Classic Canine Coaching, Pups, Alpha Dog Training, K9 Behavior UT, LLC, PetSmart Dog Training, Total K9, SureFire K9, PetSmart Dog Training, Best In Mind Dog Training
Dog Trainers in Murray, UT
- Tip Top K9 — 5.0★ (722)
- PetSmart Dog Training — 5.0★ (2)
- Kudos 2 Canines — 4.9★ (291)
- Dog 2 Dog Training — 4.7★ (98)
- Cognitive K9 Dog Training — 3.5★ (2)
Dog Trainers in Bountiful, UT
- Preppy Paws Academy & Supplies — 5.0★ (43)
- Petco Dog Training — 4.1★ (620)
- The Shepherd Standard
- Happy Healthy Dog Training
Dog Trainers in West Valley City, UT
- Paws Up Training — 5.0★ (24)
- True Balanced Dog Training — 5.0★ (12)
- Petco Dog Training — 5.0★ (2)
- Serving a promise dog training
Dog Trainers in South Salt Lake, UT
- Bark & Biscuit — 5.0★ (277)
- Positively Tailored Dog Training Llc — 5.0★ (1)
- Train Walk Poop — 4.8★ (265)
Dog Trainers in Millcreek, UT
- Rattlesnake Alert LLC — 5.0★ (25)
- Marilyn The Dog Tamer — 5.0★ (15)
- B-Hyve K-9 LLC Dog Training, Boarding and Daycare — 4.6★ (27)
Dog Trainers in Taylorsville, UT
- Rue’s Dog Training — 5.0★ (11)
- PetSmart Dog Training — 5.0★ (1)
- Petco Dog Training — 4.0★ (5)
Dog Trainers in Woods Cross, UT
- Barks and Recreation — 5.0★ (47)
- Utah K9 Academy — 4.7★ (121)
Dog Trainers in North Salt Lake, UT
- Off Leash K9 Training, Northern Utah — 4.6★ (76)
- Coddled Critters — 4.5★ (448)
Dog Trainers in Holladay, UT
- Canines With a Cause — 4.7★ (24)
Dog Trainers in Magna, UT
Larger nearby communities
These have their own dedicated trainer pages: Park City.
Common Questions About Dog Training in Salt Lake City
How much does dog training cost in the Salt Lake City area?
It depends mostly on the format. A group class series usually costs the least, a package of private or in-home lessons costs more, and a multi-week board-and-train program costs the most. Daycares and pet resorts often price training alongside daycare or boarding, and some trainers sell tiered packages that bundle private lessons with ongoing group classes. Many trainers quote after a free consultation or evaluation, so confirm current prices directly.
Should I choose group classes, private lessons or board-and-train?
Group classes suit puppies and dogs that can focus around other dogs, and they train you along with the dog. Private lessons, at home, in parks or online, suit problems that happen at home or on walks. Board-and-train buys concentrated training time, and day-training programs that send the dog home each night sit in between; if you choose either, ask how the program hands the skills back, such as transition lessons or follow-up group classes.
Will a trainer come to my home?
Often, yes. In-home trainers are based across the valley, from Salt Lake City and Millcreek to Murray and South Davis County, and some also train in parks, stores and on hiking trails so skills hold up in the real world. Several trainers coach live by video as well. Ask which towns they cover before you book.
My dog is reactive or aggressive. Where do I start?
With an assessment, not a group class and not the dog park. Trainers here who specialize in reactivity, fear and aggression include force-free in-home trainers, a certified behavior consultant, training-based daycares that focus on reactive dogs and balanced trainers, and several begin every case with an evaluation. Say plainly what your dog has done when you first call so the trainer can recommend the right starting point.
Where can my dog be off leash?
Salt Lake City has several off-leash areas, including the fenced areas at Jordan Park and Fairmont Park, the double-gated dog park at Herman Franks Park and the off-leash area at Parley’s Historic Nature Park; some other city parks allow dogs off leash only in the early morning and evening. Millrace Park in Taylorsville has a fenced dog park run under the City of Taylorsville’s rules, so check its hours and requirements before you go. A reliable recall is worth training for safety everywhere, not only for park days.
When should I start training a puppy?
As soon as the puppy comes home. In-home puppy packages here start as young as eight weeks and cover potty and crate training, biting and socialization, and puppy group classes and STAR Puppy courses run at training centers and pet stores. Some board-and-train programs offer puppy courses too, and daycares run puppy socialization programs.
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 Salt Lake City on GetDogSchool.com. Compare programs, read reviews, and connect with professionals who fit your dog’s needs and your budget.
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