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The Best Protection/Guard Dog Trainers in Columbus, OH of 2024

David Adams photo

David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

Welcome to the Sniffspot list of top-rated dog trainers for Protection/guard dog training in Columbus, OH. Based on feedback and votes from our Protection/guard dog training community, we've curated a list of top-rated trainers in the Columbus area.

  • Shannon Busher Photo

    Shannon Busher

    Aggressive dog training, Agility training, Herding training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Shannon has been a certified Canine Academy trainer for the last 3 years, and has trained over 375 dogs with positive experience techniques! Before finding her true passion as a dog trainer, Shannon was educated in Equine Studies. Shannon began her dog training career as an agility handler where she competed in CPE trials with her dog. Shannon believes that dog training is important because dog...


  • Mitchell Christian Photo

    Mitchell Christian

    Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training

    Mitchell Christian, is the owner and head trainer at Christian K-9 Academy and the president of the non-profit German Shepherd Rescue Ohio. Mitch's love for dog training started in childhood, but it really blossomed while serving in the United States Marine Corps, where he spent some of his time around the handlers of the military working dogs and his passion grew. At the end of his active duty...


  • Karin Coyne Photo

    Karin Coyne

    Protection/guard dog training, In home training, Board and train

    Karin has been training dogs since 2005. Her personal dogs have competed in flyball, agility, obedience, rally, barn hunt , disc and dock diving. At home she has Kevin-a Malinois Border Staffy, and Carl a Sports Mix and Lyra-a cat who acknowledges she exists. Some of her qualifications include: Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed Founder of the International Dog Parkour Asso...


  • Kayla Crist Photo

    Kayla Crist

    Aggressive dog training, Agility training, Herding training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Kayla is a graduate from our Trainer Apprentice program. Prior to starting her own apprentice training, Kayla was a member of our care team for over 2 years, helping got make sure all of our dogs were happy and loved while at school! Kayla has spent her life around animals, which started when she joined her local 4H program and continued to support that program as a leader and mentor. Kayla lov...


  • Tommy Cross Photo

    Tommy Cross

    Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training

    Tommy is our dedicated kennel manager, ensuring that operations run smoothly and that all the dogs receive the highest standard of care. In addition to overseeing daily kennel activities, Tommy expertly sets up training scenarios for our police and protection dogs, helping to prepare them for real-world situations. As an Iraq combat veteran, he brings a wealth of experience and discipline to hi...


  • Abigail Curtis Photo

    Abigail Curtis

    Protection/guard dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training, In home training, Agility training

    Abigail has been training dogs since 2002. Her personal dogs have competed in agility, obedience, rally and barn hunt and she is captain of the flyball team here in Columbus. 'At home she has Gina-an ancient border collie mix, Sulley-a chihuahua mix, Flux-a Border Collie Jack Russel mix, and Mouse a whippet.‚ Some of her qualifications include:Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State ...


  • Alex Ebert Photo

    Alex Ebert

    Aggressive dog training, Agility training, Herding training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Alex's desire to become a trainer started in 2011 when he had an out of control German shepherd puppy named Titan. His mom gave him an ultimatum to get him trained or he had to go! That led him to Alex seeking ecollar training. Alex and Titan did so well with the training that Terry offered him a job as a trainer.Alex is passionate about training because he loves to see the better quality of l...


  • Dean Harris Photo

    Dean Harris

    Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training

    Dean is a versatile member of our team, serving not only as one of our skilled pet dog trainers but also as a dedicated decoy for our police and protection dogs. His passion for training extends to police K9s, where he finds great joy in honing their skills and ensuring they are prepared for the field. In addition to his work with dogs, Dean is an accomplished horse handler and frequently showc...


  • Kevin Ivasku Photo

    Kevin Ivasku

    Agility training, Puppy training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Owner of Capital Canine Dog Training, Head Trainer and proud small business owner. When I started Capital Canine I began my mission to help as many dogs and to educate as many human as possible. I believe that dogs are truly an amazing gift the world has given us and we should do everything in our power to build a strong, meaningful bond and give them the best life possible. I've been training ...


  • Sarah Karr Photo

    Sarah Karr

    Agility training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    "I absolutely love helping dogs and owners learn how to have the best relationship possible. I have been working with dogs in a daycare and in training settings for 3 years. My favorite things to work on are "party tricks" and socialization, but above all I just love watching dogs learn and engage with their people! I have two rescues pups! Hunter is a 3 year old Pittie Hound mix, Roscoe is an ...


  • Allison Linkous Photo

    Allison Linkous

    Agility training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    "When I was young I dreamed of being a dog trainer. In November of 2019 my fiance and I rescued our dog Nova from Virginia. Nova (pictured on the right) is a 3year old Australian Shepherd and Corgi mix. In 2021 we also adopted a 5 month old Australian Shepherd/Poodle/Border Collie mix. Henry (pictured on the left) is now about 1.5 years old and has settled nicely into our home. Henry has taugh...


  • Carissa Maney Photo

    Carissa Maney

    Aggressive dog training, Agility training, Herding training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Carissa grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and began working at an animal shelter at the age of 18. She has been working with dogs ever since. Carissa is familiar with many breeds and has a background in veterinary medicine.

    Carissa became interested in training while working at the animal shelter. Many of the dogs who came in did not have great manners, so she assisted the training team in t...


  • Molly Miller Photo

    Molly Miller

    Protection/guard dog training, Service dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training

    Molly was born and raised in Cincinnati, Oh. After graduating from Ohio University with her bachelors in Communications and two minors in Marketing and Social Media. She started her career in the Marketing and Social Media industry. After graduating college, she adopted a Red Heeler mix named Bear. Bear sparked her interest and passion in dog training which encouraged her to change career paths...


  • Ellie Salyers Photo

    Ellie Salyers

    Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training

    Meet Ellie, a valued team member of our business. With a deep passion for canine companionship, Ellie brings boundless energy and dedication to her role. Her love for dogs shines through in every interaction, as she delights in caring for them and engaging in playful activities that bring out their best.When Ellie isn't at work, you'll often find her with her loyal German Shepherd, Knox, by her...


  • Emma Sines Photo

    Emma Sines

    Aggressive dog training, Agility training, Herding training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Emma joined Canine Academy in early 2022, but her desire to become a trainer started with her grandparents' yellow lab, Sunny. At a young age, Emma would spend time training Sunny in her grandparents backyard and attributes her love of dogs to the bond dogs created between her, her Grandfather and her uncle, Shawn. Since joining Canine Academy, Emma has trained and tutored over 100 dogs! Emma b...


  • Jacey Torrisi Photo

    Jacey Torrisi

    Aggressive dog training, Agility training, Herding training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Jacey grew up around a lot of animals as her mother is a veterinarian. She spent a large portion of her childhood volunteering at veterinary hospitals and animal shelters.Jacey worked as a veterinary technician while majoring in biology in college. After college, Jacey rescued her Belgian Malinois, Akira, who at the time had some behavioral issues. Akira really set Jacey on the path of being a ...


  • Jacey Wentz Photo

    Jacey Wentz

    Aggressive dog training, Agility training, Herding training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Jacey is our second successful graduate from the Canine Academy Training Apprenticeship Program. She has trained over 100 dogs! Before becoming a trainer, Jacey worked as a Kennel Technician on our Care Team where she worked diligently to ensure every dog on our property was cared for while not in training. Jacey's passion for dogs originated from her childhood pup, Milo, and while she might ...


  • Trish Wilson Photo

    Trish Wilson

    Protection/guard dog training, In home training, Board and train

    Trish teaches all of Adventure Unleashed's Nosework classes.

    Trish is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). She is also a C-Wags Scentwork judge.


Sniffspot’s top-rated list of dog trainers for Protection/guard dog training in Columbus, OH is based on rankings from our community of dog owners as well as the general public. For Protection/guard dog training, we received 0 total votes, resulting in 18 dog trainers who focus on Protection/guard dog training. Our top-ranked dog trainers are listed in order of votes, with the top-ranked trainer for Protection/guard dog training listed first.

Dog trainers for Protection/guard dog training on this list are certified by CPDT-KA, FDM, or another trusted organization. We're proud to feature Shannon Busher, who has been voted the top dog trainer for Protection/guard dog training in Columbus, OH.

At Sniffspot, we prioritize trust and expertise. Shannon Busher, as well as the other dog trainers on this Protection/guard dog training list, ensures they bring the highest standards of care and training to your dog.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Protection/Guard Dog Training in Columbus

How can I get in touch with these dog trainers?

Each of the trainer profiles contains a link to their website. You can click through to their website where you can find more contact information.

Are these dog trainers certified professionals?

Each dog trainers certifications are listed in their profile. Dog training is not regulated at the federal or state level, so there is no standard dog training certification. However, many private institutions offer certifications. Some of the top certifications in the dog training industry are CPDT- KA, IAABC, Karen Pryor Academy - KPA certification, Jean Donaldson's Academy - CTC certification and Fear Free Certification.

What methods do these dog trainers teach?

There are many methods for teaching dogs. All of the trainers included on this list are positive reinforcement only, as defined by no force, fear, intimidation, or aversive methods used. You can see more information in each trainer’s profile regarding their training specialties.

How much do these dog trainers cost?

Dog trainers have a wide range of costs for different services. We recommend first picking a trainer that provides the services that you are looking for, then reaching out to them to get up to date pricing.

Is training a dog good for the dog?

Yes! Training has many benefits for dogs. Going through a training process with your dog can improve the bond that you share with them. Also, training can do a lot to improve the confidence of a dog; it gives them more certainty that they understand how the world around them works. And lastly, it’s just fun for the dog and for you. Training can be very stimulating and enriching for a dog.

Can an aggressive dog be trained?

Yes! Any dog behavior can be worked on through training. Aggression is a serious issue, but it is also a term that is used very broadly. Many dogs that are thought to be aggressive are actually reactive, which is a different behavior altogether. If you believe you have an aggressive dog, we recommend reaching out to one of your local top trainers to get their diagnosis and advice.

I am a trainer. How can I get listed here?

We update this list once per year, normally starting in January. Make sure to keep an eye on our social media and sign up for email updates with Sniffspot in order to be in the loop on the next round of nominations.

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David Adams photo

David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

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