Online Private Training
Get help with your dog online with our video conference dog training sessions. Work with a trainer one-on-one and implement a customized training plan. Clients do not need to be local to the Washington, D.C. area to take advantage of online private training.
$130 One hour-long lesson
$65 One half hour-long lesson
$335 Three hour-long lessons (paid at the time of the first lesson)
(Fee is negotiable for those struggling financially during the current social distancing conditions. Please contact us for details.)
$130 One hour-long lesson
$65 One half hour-long lesson
$335 Three hour-long lessons (paid at the time of the first lesson)
(Fee is negotiable for those struggling financially during the current social distancing conditions. Please contact us for details.)
Online Classes
Puppy Kindergarten
We currently offer online classes for puppies through Your Dog's Friend. This class uses a rolling enrollment process, so you may begin in any of the classes as long as there is room. Sarah teaches Puppy Kindergarten classes on Sunday evenings, and Monday evenings as well as Monday and Wednesday mornings. Puppy Kindergarten consists of six hour-long classes at a price of $165. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Concerned that an online class isn't right for you? Read this review from one of our former students:
Advanced Puppy
This four-week online class is for students whose puppies are under 1 year and have graduated from our Puppy Kindergarten, Adolescent, or Basic Manners class, or have the instructor’s permission. This is a great way to continue training online while the Training Center is closed. You’ll strengthen your puppy’s skills and start adding distractions. $130 for four hour-long classes. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Puppapalooza! Training and Playing with Your Adolescent Dog
In this class we will do training that strengthens your bond with your puppy, helps you teach good manners in a fun way, and will keep both of you entertained in this period of social distancing. This class is for people who have completed Advanced Puppy, Puppy First Grade, or permission of the instructor. $165 for six hour-long sessions. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Online Reactive Dog Class
This online, four-session class uses fun training games to strengthen good manners. Have fun with your dog while working on skills like polite leash walking, stay, coming when called, focus around distractions, and more! Teach tricks to improve your bond with your dog and find new ways to keep your dog busy and happy. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Online Reactive Dog Class
Does your dog lunge, bark, growl, or overreact to dogs, people, or other stimuli? Our online class will teach you how to handle the difficult situations that arise when you live with or walk a reactive dog. It consists of six online webinars, and is designed to help your reactive dog become more focused and confident. Registration in the course also includes access to a Facebook discussion group where you can pose specific questions about you and your dog. This class is not only good for dogs that react to other dogs, but it is also appropriate reactive to people, including those coming into your home, dogs that have caused serious injury to others, or dogs spooked by trucks, balloons, bikes, or other indoor or outdoor triggers. $145 for six 75-minute classes. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Resource Guarding: Help for Your Dog Who Doesn't Share
Does your dog guard food or toys? The couch? His bed? You? Learn techniques for peaceful coexistence and successful sharing. This six-session class combines live demonstrations ad coaching with topical video and discussion to give you the tools you need to help your dog. $180 for six hour-long classes. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
We currently offer online classes for puppies through Your Dog's Friend. This class uses a rolling enrollment process, so you may begin in any of the classes as long as there is room. Sarah teaches Puppy Kindergarten classes on Sunday evenings, and Monday evenings as well as Monday and Wednesday mornings. Puppy Kindergarten consists of six hour-long classes at a price of $165. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Concerned that an online class isn't right for you? Read this review from one of our former students:
- "Adopting a puppy was easy; coming up with a plan for training during a global pandemic was not. I came across Your Dog’s Friend through my searches, and from the first few things I found on their site, I knew I had found a great resource. None of their advice sounded gimmicky or “too good to be true.” The online/remote puppy kindergarten class I took with Sarah Stoycos (Laughing Dog Academy) was something I looked forward to every week. It was so structured, yet so fun, and my puppy and I learned so much. Sarah is the type of trainer who truly has a passion for helping every person and every animal. She has an inexhaustible energy, and such a warm and kind approach. She is an enthusiastic and talented instructor, and she adapted her extensive knowledge to make the class a personal experience for every family and their puppy. I also took the reactive dog class that she and Marnie Montgomery (Joyful Dog) teach, and their insights and guidance have been instrumental in working with my reactive pup. Your Dog’s Friend is such a great organization, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Look no further, you’re in good hands!"
Advanced Puppy
This four-week online class is for students whose puppies are under 1 year and have graduated from our Puppy Kindergarten, Adolescent, or Basic Manners class, or have the instructor’s permission. This is a great way to continue training online while the Training Center is closed. You’ll strengthen your puppy’s skills and start adding distractions. $130 for four hour-long classes. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Puppapalooza! Training and Playing with Your Adolescent Dog
In this class we will do training that strengthens your bond with your puppy, helps you teach good manners in a fun way, and will keep both of you entertained in this period of social distancing. This class is for people who have completed Advanced Puppy, Puppy First Grade, or permission of the instructor. $165 for six hour-long sessions. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Online Reactive Dog Class
This online, four-session class uses fun training games to strengthen good manners. Have fun with your dog while working on skills like polite leash walking, stay, coming when called, focus around distractions, and more! Teach tricks to improve your bond with your dog and find new ways to keep your dog busy and happy. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Online Reactive Dog Class
Does your dog lunge, bark, growl, or overreact to dogs, people, or other stimuli? Our online class will teach you how to handle the difficult situations that arise when you live with or walk a reactive dog. It consists of six online webinars, and is designed to help your reactive dog become more focused and confident. Registration in the course also includes access to a Facebook discussion group where you can pose specific questions about you and your dog. This class is not only good for dogs that react to other dogs, but it is also appropriate reactive to people, including those coming into your home, dogs that have caused serious injury to others, or dogs spooked by trucks, balloons, bikes, or other indoor or outdoor triggers. $145 for six 75-minute classes. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Resource Guarding: Help for Your Dog Who Doesn't Share
Does your dog guard food or toys? The couch? His bed? You? Learn techniques for peaceful coexistence and successful sharing. This six-session class combines live demonstrations ad coaching with topical video and discussion to give you the tools you need to help your dog. $180 for six hour-long classes. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Private In-Home Training
Currently offering some outdoor socially distanced appointments following an initial online appointment.
We offer private in-home training for dogs and puppies. The benefit of private training is that you will be given one-on-one instruction on how to implement a customized training plan, taking into consideration your dog's particular issues and the set-up of your home. Private lessons can address basic manners as well as more complicated behavioral problems. Lessons may be paid for one at a time or multiple lessons at a discount may be paid for at the end of the first lesson. Appointments are arranged directly with the trainer to take place at a mutually convenient time. Saturday and some evening times are available.
$145 One hour-long lesson
$390 Three hour-long lessons (paid at the time of the first lesson)
$615 Five hour-long lessons (paid at the time of the first lesson)
We offer private in-home training for dogs and puppies. The benefit of private training is that you will be given one-on-one instruction on how to implement a customized training plan, taking into consideration your dog's particular issues and the set-up of your home. Private lessons can address basic manners as well as more complicated behavioral problems. Lessons may be paid for one at a time or multiple lessons at a discount may be paid for at the end of the first lesson. Appointments are arranged directly with the trainer to take place at a mutually convenient time. Saturday and some evening times are available.
$145 One hour-long lesson
$390 Three hour-long lessons (paid at the time of the first lesson)
$615 Five hour-long lessons (paid at the time of the first lesson)
Leash Walking 101 Private Training
For many people, having their dog walk nicely on a leash is an enormous challenge. Dogs naturally tend to pull on the leash and become easily distracted on a walk. But teaching your dog good leash-walking manners isn't impossible. It just takes a little know-how and consistent practice. Even older dogs can who have been pulling for years can be taught to walk nicely on a leash. Our Dog Walking 101 package of three sessions will give you the tools you need to motivate your dog to want to walk with you. We never use prong collars, choke collars, or electric collars to achieve our goals. We will help you teach your dog to be a great walking buddy using only positive reinforcement methods.
$390 Three hour-long sessions
$390 Three hour-long sessions
Puppy Classes (currently offered online only)
Currently offering only online classes with the exception of Puppy Party.
Laughing Dog Academy trainer Sarah Stoycos offers classes for puppies at the Your Dog's Friend training center in Rockville, MD.
Puppy Kindergarten: This class is for younger puppies. Any puppy who has had his/her first round of shots is encouraged to begin right away. It is important for puppies to begin a well-managed socialization process as early as possible to prevent problems that may crop up later without that proper socialization. The class uses a rolling enrollment process, so you may begin in any of the classes as long as there is room. Sarah teaches Puppy Kindergarten classes on Sunday evenings, and Monday evenings as well as Monday and Wednesday mornings. Puppy Kindergarten consists of six classes at a price of $175. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Currently offering online classes.
Laughing Dog Academy trainer Sarah Stoycos offers classes for puppies at the Your Dog's Friend training center in Rockville, MD.
Puppy Kindergarten: This class is for younger puppies. Any puppy who has had his/her first round of shots is encouraged to begin right away. It is important for puppies to begin a well-managed socialization process as early as possible to prevent problems that may crop up later without that proper socialization. The class uses a rolling enrollment process, so you may begin in any of the classes as long as there is room. Sarah teaches Puppy Kindergarten classes on Sunday evenings, and Monday evenings as well as Monday and Wednesday mornings. Puppy Kindergarten consists of six classes at a price of $175. Please register on the Your Dog's Friend website.
Currently offering online classes.
Puppy First Grade: For puppies who have completed Puppy Kindergarten, this class reinforces skills learned in Kindergarten, gives puppies a chance to try out agility games, and helps parents to teach their puppies how to maintain focus in the face of life's many distractions. Your puppy will even get a chance to try out a skateboard! Classes are six weeks long at a price of $175. Unlike Kindergarten, First Grade does not use a rolling enrollment process. Classes are usually held on Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings, but check the Your Dog's Friend website for details as these times sometimes change. Currently not being offered.
Puppy Party: On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. and Saturdays at 12:30 p.m., you may bring your puppy to a session of organized and well-supervised play with other puppies that is good for both outgoing and shy puppies. The class gives your puppy more opportunities to meet new puppies and people, and helps them hone their socialization skills and build confidence. Once you are registered, you may attend on a drop-in basis. The cost is $20 for each 45-minute class. Sign up at Your Dog's Friend. Sarah teaches these classes with fellow trainers Susan Sanderson and Lisa Arant.
Puppy Party: On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. and Saturdays at 12:30 p.m., you may bring your puppy to a session of organized and well-supervised play with other puppies that is good for both outgoing and shy puppies. The class gives your puppy more opportunities to meet new puppies and people, and helps them hone their socialization skills and build confidence. Once you are registered, you may attend on a drop-in basis. The cost is $20 for each 45-minute class. Sign up at Your Dog's Friend. Sarah teaches these classes with fellow trainers Susan Sanderson and Lisa Arant.
Classes for Dogs and Older Puppies (currently offered online only)
Out and About: Put those training skills to use out in the real world! In Out and About, we hit the road for four classes. Each is held in a different location, ranging from parks to more urban areas. Participants have the opportunity to work with a trainer in settings closer to real life rather than in a training center. It's a great way to take your training to the next level and to learn how to use all the tools you have learned in other classes. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. Days and times of the class varies. The fee is $130.
Come! Oh, do you mean me?: Come to this two-hour class and learn how to help your dog really want to come to you when you call him/her. You and your dog will practice targeting skills and recall games that make coming to you fun. To participate in class, your dog must be friendly with people and other dogs. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. This class takes place on Saturday every few months. The fee is $50.
Leash Manners: Have you taken a training class but your dog still pulls every which way on walks? Maybe some focused work will help. With lots of practice during this two-hour class and then at home, you will have the skills needed to start enjoying more pleasant walks wherever you go. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. This class takes place on Saturday every few months. The fee is $50.
Please Stop Jumping!: Embarrassed by your dog jumping on visitors? Tired of finding your dog counter-surfing for tasty forbidden treats? In this two-hour class, you will learn ways to work on keeping your dog’s four paws on the floor. Together we will explore training exercises and management techniques that will help make your dog a more polite member of your family. To participate in class, your dog must be friendly with people and dogs. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. This class takes place on Saturday every few months. The fee is $50.
It's All Just Fun and Games!: Use games to strengthen manners while having fun. Games strengthen skills like polite leash walking, attention to handler, sit, down and stay. Dogs also learn to improve their ability to focus in the presence of distractions. Prerequisites: completion of a basic manners or puppy class at Your Dog's Friend or, with instructor’s permission, other previous positive training. Dogs should be comfortable with other dogs and be non-reactive. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. The fee for this six-week course is $165.
Treibball for Fun: Learn the basics of the game of Treibball, a herding game for dogs of all kinds. Dogs learn to push large balls into a goal. Herding breeds are not the only dogs who excel. Great for dogs of any size. It's fun and also helps dogs improve impulse control. Dogs should have had a Basic Manners or Puppy Kindergarten class (or the equivalent) and have a good sit or down stay. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. The fee for this six-week course is $165.
Online Reactive Dog Class: In this class, you will learn how to handle the difficult situations that arise when you live with or walk a reactive dog. It is designed to help your reactive dog become more focused and confident. The online class is good not only for dogs who react to other dogs, but is also for dogs who are reactive to people, including those coming into your home, dogs that have caused serious injury to others, or dogs spooked by trucks, balloons, bikes, or other indoor or outdoor triggers. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details.
Come! Oh, do you mean me?: Come to this two-hour class and learn how to help your dog really want to come to you when you call him/her. You and your dog will practice targeting skills and recall games that make coming to you fun. To participate in class, your dog must be friendly with people and other dogs. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. This class takes place on Saturday every few months. The fee is $50.
Leash Manners: Have you taken a training class but your dog still pulls every which way on walks? Maybe some focused work will help. With lots of practice during this two-hour class and then at home, you will have the skills needed to start enjoying more pleasant walks wherever you go. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. This class takes place on Saturday every few months. The fee is $50.
Please Stop Jumping!: Embarrassed by your dog jumping on visitors? Tired of finding your dog counter-surfing for tasty forbidden treats? In this two-hour class, you will learn ways to work on keeping your dog’s four paws on the floor. Together we will explore training exercises and management techniques that will help make your dog a more polite member of your family. To participate in class, your dog must be friendly with people and dogs. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. This class takes place on Saturday every few months. The fee is $50.
It's All Just Fun and Games!: Use games to strengthen manners while having fun. Games strengthen skills like polite leash walking, attention to handler, sit, down and stay. Dogs also learn to improve their ability to focus in the presence of distractions. Prerequisites: completion of a basic manners or puppy class at Your Dog's Friend or, with instructor’s permission, other previous positive training. Dogs should be comfortable with other dogs and be non-reactive. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. The fee for this six-week course is $165.
Treibball for Fun: Learn the basics of the game of Treibball, a herding game for dogs of all kinds. Dogs learn to push large balls into a goal. Herding breeds are not the only dogs who excel. Great for dogs of any size. It's fun and also helps dogs improve impulse control. Dogs should have had a Basic Manners or Puppy Kindergarten class (or the equivalent) and have a good sit or down stay. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details. The fee for this six-week course is $165.
Online Reactive Dog Class: In this class, you will learn how to handle the difficult situations that arise when you live with or walk a reactive dog. It is designed to help your reactive dog become more focused and confident. The online class is good not only for dogs who react to other dogs, but is also for dogs who are reactive to people, including those coming into your home, dogs that have caused serious injury to others, or dogs spooked by trucks, balloons, bikes, or other indoor or outdoor triggers. See the Your Dog's Friend website for more details.
Payment for Services
Payments are required at the time of service. We accept cash, checks, and major credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover.
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