The Best Dog Training in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia is a sprawling city and one of the most popular locations in Pennsylvania. While the city is known for its cheesesteaks (Philly cheesesteaks), it’s also known for its historical culture, gorgeous skyline, and friendly people. That said, Philadelphia does have a rowdy side when the Philadelphia Eagles win the Superbowl or make it deep into the playoffs. For these reasons, owning a dog in Philadelphia can be a blessing, a curse, or both.

The good news is that we’re here to help today. With proper dog training, you and your furry companion can make the most out of Philadelphia. You won’t have to worry about excessive barking, your dog getting lost on busy city streets, or lunging at every food item they see in someone’s hand. While Philadelphia has many dog training options, we’re going to take you through a handful of the best options to help you make a decision. Read on to learn more below.

A Look at the Best Dog Trainers in Philadelphia

Online vs. In-Person Training

Professional dog training has been around for centuries. If there’s one thing people love, it’s a well-trained dog. While dog training has been around for a long time, it’s evolved from what it used to be. Dog training used to only be in-person, and you’d have to take your dog to a training location. Today, online and in-person dog trainers are more flexible. In-person dog trainers do home visits, and online dog trainers let you choose when and where dog training occurs.

That said, there are some differences between in-person and online dog training that are worth noting. They each have perks, so we’re going to take you through them down below.

Perks of Online and In-Person Training

Dog training in Philadelphia can be done effectively in person or with online services. However, both methods of dog training have pros and cons that are worth noting. Primarily, in-person dog training is better for groups of dogs and the face-to-face experience that trainers get with your dog. On the other hand, the pros of online dog training are that dogs can be trained from anywhere, the cost is lower, and the schedule is more flexible. Overall, you get more value from online dog training courses than in-person dog training. This is because you get more sessions online, and the quality doesn’t decline.

The Best Dog Trainers in Philadelphia

We recommend starting with an online dog trainer if you’re new to dog training. Online dog trainers are easy to work with and can help you determine if the courses are right for you. However, in-person dog trainers are sometimes required for advanced training or group sessions. Below is our list of the best online and in-person dog training in Philadelphia.

1)  Dog Academy

Online or In-Person: Both

Types of Training Courses: Obedience Classes, Behavioral Issues, Puppy Training, Psychiatric Service Dog Training, Emotional Support Animal Training, Specialty Classes (e.g. Canine Confidence, Separation Anxiety)

Price Range: $49.99 – $349.99

Phone Number: (605) 223-1971

Link to Website: Dog Academy Basic Obedience Training Program

Dog Academy is always the best in the business when it comes to dog training. Dog Academy is the leader in online trainer, and many of the company’s resources are dedicated to making the online training experience more effective. However, they also have a nationwide network of the best trainers, including ones who service Philadelphia, so you can get personalized private training or group lessons that let you socialize your pup. Furthermore, their mission is to keep prices low to ensure that everyone has access to dog training; when this is combined with the platform’s flexibility, they’re hard to beat. However, Dog Academy takes dog training a step further. The company continues to add new training modules, and the quality of dog training is incredible even though it’s affordable.

2) HD Dog Training

Online or In-Person: In-Person

Types of Training Courses: Dog Boarding, Dog Boarding with Training, Daycare for Dogs, Grooming, Obedience Training, Aggression and Reactivity, Behavioral Modification, Dog Nutrition, Emotional Support Animal Training (ESA), Group Sessions

Price Range: Consultation-based

Link to Website: http://www.hddogtraining.com/

Address: 450 N 18th Street Apt #416, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Phone Number: 484-443-3641

HD Dog Training has been around for many years and continues to be one of Philadelphia’s best in-person dog training options. The lead trainer is Robert McLaughlin, and he began training dogs in 2014 with his mentor, who worked as a state trooper. Given his background, McLaughlin is excellent for behavior and obedience training. He uses the same tactics used to train K9 police and military dogs, requiring high levels of awareness, alertness, and obedience. While the training is more intense than other dog services in Philadelphia, McLaughlin uses a reward-based system to keep dogs happy and healthy.

3)  Dog Training Depot (Canine Coach)

Online or In-Person: Online

Types of Training Courses: Video Sessions, Basic Commands, Advanced Skills, Behavior Modification, Obedience Training, Leash Training, Activity Sheets, Potty Training, Biting Reduction, Teething, E-Collar

Price Range: $97

Link to Website:  http://www.dogtrainingdepot.com/

Email Address: dogtrainingdepot@gmail.com

Dog Training Depot has a Canine Coach program that blows away the competition. The program comes with 12 weeks of digital dog training that goes from basic commands to advanced concepts and behaviors. Canine Coach also comes with 35 additional videos and PowerPoint presentations to help students train their dogs by themselves; think of it as extra credit or coursework. Another unique feature of this program is that the course holds you accountable, which is rare to find in online dog trainers. One example of accountability is the weekly activity sheet. It helps you log sessions and track your progress. Ultimately, Canine Coach is one of the most well-rounded dog training programs available. You can also choose from additional content, like subscriptions to bi-weekly seminars.

4)  Tuff Pup Training

Online or In-Person: Both

Types of Training Courses: Dog Daycare, Leash Training, Dog Walking, Obedience Training, Behavior Modification, Behavioral Consulting, Manners, Puppy Classes, Adolescent Classes

Price Range: Consultation-Based

Link to Website: https://tuffpuptraining.com/

Address: Services Philadelphia

Phone Number: 631-379-6850

Tuff Pup Training is a puppy-focused operation that’s been around since 2007. The team comprises CTC and CPDT certified trainers who know how to handle behavior issues in puppies. With Tuff Pup Training, the training is all done at the pet owner’s convenience. This is because training sessions are based at the pet owner’s home, so there’s no need to worry about traveling. While Tuff Pup Training is best for puppies, the team is also adept at working with adolescent dogs. However, if you need training for older dogs, we recommend working with an alternative like DogAcademy or HD Dog Training.

5)  Stronghaus Dog Training Center

Online or In-Person: Both

Types of Training Courses: Dog Boarding with Training, Dog Grooming, Pet Daycare, Behavior Modification, Dog Companion, Drug Detection, Medical Care, Advanced Dog Obedience, Personal Protection Dogs, Pet Adoption, Sport Dogs, Virtual Training, Dog Obedience

Price Range: Consultation-Based

Link to Website: https://www.stronghaus.com/

Address: 12323 Wyndom Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154

Phone Number:  732-371-5664

Stronghaus Dog Training Center has two locations. There’s one in Philadelphia and another in New Jersey, so you get trainers who are comfortable with more than one environment. Stronghaus Dog Training Center is also unique compared to other dog trainers in Philadelphia because of its training methods. They include a handful of different training options for specialized dogs like service dogs. Some examples include police dog training, military dog training, and even virtual training. Virtual training is great because it helps Stronghaus Dog Training Center function as an in-person and online entity.

6)  Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution

Online or In-Person: Online

Types of Training Courses: Obedience, Leash Training, Walking Without a Leash, Socialization, Basic and Advanced Commands, Behavior Modification, Puppy Courses, Dog Walking, Dog Park, Agility Training, Tricks

Price Range: Free to $15

Link to Website: https://www.dogtrainingrevolution.com/

Email Address: zakgeorge@me.com

Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution is a YouTube-based service. Zak George became popular by producing free videos on YouTube, then wrote training books and expanded his operations across the rest of the internet. Today, his YouTube channel has more than 3.5 million subscribers, and he posts new content weekly. Compared to other online dog trainers, the amount of content that Zak George creates is impressive. Additionally, he has a guide that takes you through everything you need to know about dog training in the United States and around the world. Zak George has even been the star of his own dog training shows like Superfetch.

Find the Right Dog Trainer for You

Finding the right dog trainer in Philadelphia is easier said than done. There are many dog trainers to choose from, and most of them are reputable and easy to work with. For these reasons, you have to narrow down your options based on your schedule, budget, and how many sessions you want to have. We recommend online dog training for Philadelphians who need flexibility and budget-friendly sessions. Additionally, online training makes it easy to get more sessions for your money. However, in-person dog training is great if your dog is hard to work with or if you need more advanced training.

Overall, we recommend working with DogAcademy; they’re the best place to start because you can get a feel for working with a dog trainer. From there, you can dive into more in-depth courses with DogAcademy or move on to in-person dog training. Regardless of the training method or trainer you choose, you can take comfort in knowing that each dog trainer in Philadelphia has been verified and vetted by us every step of the way.