Areas served: Harrisonburg, VA and surrounding Rockingham County
Harrisonburg's dog training landscape reflects the city's blend of university community and rural traditions, with trainers serving both urban pet owners and working dog handlers. Local providers range from positive reinforcement specialists working with companion animals to experienced trainers addressing behavioral issues common in the Shenandoah Valley's active outdoor environment. Training options include group classes at facilities near EMU and JMU, private sessions throughout Rockingham County, and specialized programs for dogs participating in the area's numerous trails and parks.
Ridgeside K9 Charlottesville is a professional dog training facility specializing in personalized obedience training, behavior modification, and board-and-train programs. Led by trainers with over 15 years of experience, they use positive reinforcement and balanced training methods to address pulling, barking, aggression, and reactivity issues. Their comprehensive approach trains both dog and owner, providing hands-on education and lifetime support to ensure lasting results.
“Our puppy has been completely transformed by her training with Ridgeside K9 Charlottesville. Prior to training it was difficult to walk with her and my children because she would constantly try to jump and nip them to play. My kids were quickly growing disenchanted with our new addition to the family and I knew we needed more training than I could provide on my own. I was nervous to send our pup away for boarding and training because I thought she might not have the same sweet personality when she returned. When she came home we immediately knew we had made the right decision, because our sweet puppy was more confident as a result of us having the tools and training to help her be successful in our home. My children can now run, play, and leash walk our big pup without worrying about being knocked over or nipped. Every part of this process with Ridgeside K9 was wonderful. The communication was excellent and we received detailed updates throughout the training. We had a thorough turnover lesson with a clear plan for responding to unwanted behaviors from our dog and how to use the tools and resources we were given effectively. It’s been an incredible experience and worthy investment for our family! Thank you to our trainer Trent for helping us love our family pet even more!”
— Jacqueline Simounet, Google Review · 5 ★ avg from 127 Ridgeside K9 reviewsDog Training Elite Richmond is a family-owned, professional dog training company with over 40 years of experience specializing in obedience training, service dog training, puppy training, aggression and anxiety modification, therapy dog training, and group classes. Owner Paul Hearn and his team offer flexible in-home and facility-based training programs tailored to each dog's unique behavior and situation, empowering owners with lifelong skills to maintain their dog's progress. They work with dogs of any breed, size, or age to address issues like leash walking, barking, reactivity, separation anxiety, jumping, recall, destructive behavior, and vehicle behavior.
Augusta K9 Center is a full-service dog training facility in Staunton, VA offering comprehensive obedience training, behavior modification, and board & train programs. They specialize in working with dogs of all ages and temperaments, from puppies to adult dogs with challenging behaviors. The facility provides personalized training solutions designed to address specific behavioral issues and build strong bonds between dogs and their owners.
North Star Canines, run by certified trainer Virginia Dare since 1991, specializes in positive reinforcement puppy training and dog training for the central Virginia area. The business offers in-home training, board and train programs, group classes, and live video training to address behavior modification and obedience. Virginia is recommended by local veterinarians and focuses on both teaching dogs and educating their owners to achieve lasting results.
Off Leash K9 Training of Roanoke is a locally-owned dog training business specializing in obedience training, behavior modification, and puppy training across the Roanoke and Blacksburg areas. Led by experienced trainers including former veterinary technicians and shelter volunteers, they offer private lessons, board & train programs, and aggression specialist services using proven methods designed to work with dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. They're part of the highest-rated dog training franchise in the United States and focus on creating strong owner-dog bonds through off-leash obedience.
Little Ponderosa Pet Resort & Spa is a comprehensive pet care facility near Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford, VA, offering overnight boarding for dogs and cats, doggy daycare, grooming services, and dog training. Run by passionate animal lovers who treat pets like family, they provide climate-controlled suites with private patios, spacious outdoor play areas, daily photo updates, and personalized communication to give owners peace of mind. Their expertise spans multiple service areas, from accommodating multi-dog families in King Suites to behavioral training focused on pack leadership and creating fulfilling human-dog relationships.
The Trusted Companion, owned by Brant Weller, offers comprehensive dog training in Massanutten, VA for dogs of any breed and age. They specialize in addressing behavioral challenges including aggression, separation anxiety, leash pulling, resource guarding, and fearfulness, while also providing obedience training, puppy socialization, and off-leash training. Brant's philosophy centers on building confidence and trust between dogs and their owners through customized training programs designed to fit different lifestyles, budgets, and goals.
Love For Paws offers compassionate, reward-based dog training in the comfort of your home, led by Jennifer and Aaron. They specialize in addressing problem behaviors through in-home training sessions where issues most commonly occur, using humane and effective methods. The team prioritizes continuing education and aims to strengthen the bond between owners and their dogs while providing video conference training for clients outside their service area.
Leader of the Pack Dog Training has been providing customized dog training in the Shenandoah Valley since 2003. Owner Michelle Bowersox is an IACP Professional Member and offers group classes, private consultations, and in-home training to address behavioral issues and obedience. They specialize in working with dogs whose behaviors are frustrating their owners, tailoring programs to each dog's specific needs.
Holiday Barn Pet Resorts in Glen Allen offers comprehensive pet care services including overnight dog and cat boarding, dog daycare, professional grooming, dog training programs, and individualized dog staycations. Known for their "Compawssion" approach, they provide spacious, well-designed facilities with trained staff who prioritize pet safety and socialization. Their cat boarding features multi-level condos with enrichment features, while dog boarding emphasizes a well-trained pack environment and individual attention.
Love on a Leash, LLC offers comprehensive dog training in Harrisonburg, VA, led by trainer Evan Winegard. Services include puppy pre-school, basic obedience, Canine Good Citizen certification, agility classes (beginning through intermediate), functional and advanced obedience, competition obedience, rally, and private instruction for behavior problems. Their 60x100 climate-controlled facility with rubber matting provides a safe environment for dogs of all training levels.
Woof to Hoof Pet Services provides in-home pet and farm care throughout the Shenandoah Valley since 2013. Owner Joanna offers pet sitting, dog walking, overnight in-home pet care, and farm sitting for livestock operations of all sizes. By keeping pets in their own homes rather than facilities, they reduce stress and maintain pets' routines while their owners are away.
The Successful Mix, LLC offers comprehensive dog training and pet behavioral counseling in Keezletown, VA, specializing in real-life behavior challenges like reactivity, aggression, leash pulling, and fear-based behaviors. Led by a certified professional dog trainer, the business uses positive reinforcement methods and offers private behavioral counseling, small group manners classes, and specialized training in areas like cooperative veterinary care, trick training, canine freestyle, and scent detection. They work with puppies through adult dogs and focus on building trust while eliminating forceful training methods.
Happy Hounds Doggie Day Care is Harrisonburg's premier doggy daycare facility offering full-day and half-day supervised play programs for socialized, vaccinated dogs. Located at 220 Waterman Drive, they provide a safe, affordable environment where dogs play throughout the day while owners are at work, plus overnight boarding is available for daycare clients. The facility is run by Marcie and requires a brief evaluation appointment before enrollment to ensure dogs are people and dog-friendly.
All Phase K9 Training Center is a year-round indoor/outdoor professional facility offering training, boarding, and grooming services for dogs of all ages and temperaments. Owner Laurel Strotter brings over 25 years of expertise spanning companion dog training, AKC show handling, obedience competition, Schutzhund training, and scent detection work—including specialized training for search and rescue dogs. The facility provides customized board-and-train programs ranging from basic obedience to advanced off-leash training, private lessons, comfortable boarding with individual attention, and grooming services.
Paws of Hope offers trusted pet boarding and sitting services in Harrisonburg, providing a safe, nurturing environment where pets are treated as part of the family while their owners are away. Their caring team focuses on making each pet feel loved and secure during their stay, positioning themselves as a home away from home for dogs and other pets. They operate with extended hours (6:30 AM – 6:00 PM) to accommodate busy schedules.
Complete Canine LLC is a Christian-owned dog training business in Fishersville run by Lydia, offering personalized obedience training, behavior modification, and puppy classes for pets and working dogs. Lydia tailors her approach to each dog's personality and breed needs while focusing on strengthening the bond between owners and their dogs. She combines professional training expertise with genuine care for both dogs and their people, providing education and guidance to help dogs and owners thrive together.
Wildmour K9 is a dog training facility in Harrisonburg, VA offering comprehensive training programs including obedience training, behavior modification, and board-and-train services. They specialize in working with dogs of all ages and temperaments, using professional methods to address behavioral issues and teach foundational skills. Whether you need basic obedience or help with aggression and anxiety, Wildmour K9 provides customized training solutions to improve your dog's behavior and strengthen your bond.
Mutts for Martins is a pet-boarding facility in Harrisonburg, VA that provides care for dogs while their owners are away. Located at 463 Collicello St, this locally-owned business focuses on providing a safe and comfortable environment for canine guests. They are dedicated to ensuring pets receive proper attention and care during their stay.
Liberty Canine Academy is a dog training facility in Charlottesville specializing in obedience training, behavior modification, and puppy classes. They offer both group classes and in-home training programs to address specific behavioral issues and build foundational skills for dogs of all ages and temperaments.
Petco Dog Training in Harrisonburg offers professional dog training services at their location on Burgess Road. As part of the national Petco chain, they provide dog training expertise to help pet owners build better relationships with their dogs. Their trainers work with dogs of various ages and training levels to address behavioral needs and obedience.
PetSmart Dog Training in Charlottesville offers group classes, private sessions, and virtual dog training led by accredited trainers using positive reinforcement methods. Their group classes (4-10 dogs) serve puppies and adult dogs across multiple skill levels, from basic obedience to advanced tricks and therapy dog training. Beyond training, PetSmart provides grooming, boarding at PetsHotel, doggie day camp, and pet pharmacy services all in one location.
Molly the Dog Trainer operates out of PetSmart in Harrisonburg, offering dog training services including obedience training and behavior modification. Operating since at least the mid-2000s, Molly provides personalized training instruction with flexible scheduling to accommodate pet owners' needs.
PetSmart Dog Training in Harrisonburg offers accredited positive reinforcement training for dogs of all ages, including group classes (4-10 dogs), private sessions, virtual online training, and advanced courses like therapy dog training. As part of PetSmart's broader pet services, they also provide grooming, PetsHotel boarding, doggie day camp, and pet pharmacy services, making it a one-stop destination for comprehensive pet care.
Ridgeside K9 Charlottesville is the top-ranked dog training provider with a Lantern Score of 95.41/100 and a 5-star rating from 127 reviews. They specialize in personalized obedience training, behavior modification, and board-and-train programs, and are particularly well-suited for families with reactive or aggressive dogs and owners seeking off-leash recall training.
Yes, Ridgeside K9 Charlottesville is open on weekends with hours from 12:00 AM–11:59 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. They are the only facility among the 30 local providers with weekend availability.
Harrisonburg has several local dog training options including Love On A Leash Dog Training (Lantern Score 78.42/100) led by trainer Evan Winegard offering puppy pre-school and agility training, Happy Hounds Doggie Day Care (75.59/100) for daycare and socialization, Wildmour K9 (70.22/100) for behavior modification and board-and-train, and Petco Dog Training (64.90/100) on Burgess Road for obedience and puppy classes.
Dog Training Elite Richmond (Lantern Score 84.55/100) and The Dog Wizard Chattanooga (83.85/100) are both excellent for puppy owners, offering early socialization and puppy training programs. North Star Canines (83.75/100), run by certified trainer Virginia Dare since 1991, specializes specifically in positive reinforcement puppy training and is ideal for new puppy owners seeking in-home training.
Several top-ranked facilities offer board-and-train programs including Ridgeside K9 Charlottesville (95.41/100), Dog Training Elite Richmond (84.55/100), Augusta K9 Center (83.88/100), and Off Leash K9 Training of Roanoke (83.25/100). These programs allow your dog to stay with trainers while receiving intensive behavior modification and obedience training.
Love For Paws (Lantern Score 80.65/100) specializes in compassionate, reward-based in-home training, while PetSmart Dog Training (60.96/100) in Charlottesville uses positive reinforcement methods with accredited trainers. The Successful Mix, LLC (75.80/100) in Keezletown also emphasizes positive reinforcement for addressing reactivity and aggression challenges.