This is a list of the top dog trainers in St. Louis, MO, based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public.
ACAAB, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, FFCP
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
St. Charles County, St. Louis City, remote sessions
I have a masters degree in behavior and am proud to be the only board certified applied animal behaviorist in the eastern half of Missouri. I also hold my Certified Behavior Consultant Canine and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (knowledge assessed) certifications, and I am a Fear Free Certified Professional dog trainer as well. I have been training professionally for 16 years. I served one y...
CPDT-KA
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Agility training, In home training, Puppy training
St. Louis
I'm obsessed with my cattle dog and my foster-fail rescue mix! We love exploring together. We also welcome foster dogs into our home and we'd love to see our current foster, longest shelter resident, Blaine, find his forever family!
Board and train, Puppy training
St.Louis, St. Peters
Jon has been training dogs for about 10 years now, but his whole life has been centered around training animals. He grew up on a farm and often showed farm animals there, as well as trained the farm dogs how to work and herd livestock.
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Jon has seen all scenarios in his 10+ years of training, including shelter dogs who were on their last chance. He was able to take those dogs, train th...
Located in the heart of St. Louis, Thaer Abdulkarim, owner of Ultimate K9 Training, brings his exceptional dog training expertise to your doorstep. With over two decades of experience as a certified behavioral dog trainer, Thaer has sharpened his skills in a multitude of dog training disciplines, including obedience dog training.Thaer's passion for dogs extends beyond standard training. He has ...
Puppy training
Lucy retired from the Saint Louis Zoo. She enjoys training her dogs and teaching Rally, Obedience, Tricks, Earthdog, Barn Hunt, Lure Coursing, Conformation, Breeding and Puppy Training. All of her volunteer activities are related to the Greater St. Louis Training Club.‚ I have had the pleasure to be part of the Greater St. Louis Training Club's transition to clicker training. I have seen the cl...
Puppy training
Fran is a retired High School math teacher. She enjoys participating with her dogs in Dog Scouts. She also enjoys training her dogs in obedience, rally obedience, scent work, and barn hunt. Fran also volunteers with the Humane Society of Missouri as a puppy foster parent. Training is essential for building a successful relationship with your dog. It should be fun and rewarding for both of you. ...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Meet Alecia! She has worn several hats during her tenure with DTE, but now keeps the train on the tracks as our Operations Manager. "Had I been told 5 years ago I would be switching careers into dog training, I would have more than likely laughed! I didn't foresee this industry in my future having spent 15 years in the medical field. However, now I can't imagine things any other way. Helping cl...
Puppy training
Bob is a professional dog trainer and Mayor of Fenton Missouri. His term ends in 2021. He is active in American Sighthound Field Association lure coursing (ASFA), Large Greyhound Racing Association (LGRA) and AKC Rally. Bob also volunteers with Greyhound Companions Of Missouri as a training consultant, St. Louis Area Sighthounds (SLASH). He has served as the Director of Gateway Buick Club. This...
In home training, Puppy training
Sue's interest in animals began at a very early age. She has taken family dogs to training classes, and then trained new pets on her own. She found she had a skill for it and has helped many friends with training solutions for their pets. Sue owned horses for many years and assisted a breeder/trainer with training young horses. She began volunteering at animal rescues in 2009 gaining experience...
Hi, my name is Kristina Carpenter and I'm one of the Rock Hill trainers. I've been in the pet industry for over 15 years and have worked in almost every department, but have enjoyed most of my time as a trainer. I attended the Tom Rose School of Professional Dog Training in 2014 and completed the Professional level. I then spent 3 years in addition to that apprenticing with another trainer to g...
Mikayla is a Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Specialist with over 14 years of experience in the pet industry and 11 years of experience in dog training and dog behavior. With certifications in obedience, behavior, K9 police dog Training, assistant dog training, scent detection training through the APC and Canine Conditioning by world renowned trainer, Kyra Sundance, she knew she had to creat...
Cody Checkal is our Trainer, pictured here with his demo dogs L.A. on the right and Pharaoh on the Left. Cody graduated trade school with an Advanced Masters. He has thoroughly studied Pet Obedience, competition obedience, competition tracking, competition agility as well as K9 Theory and many other topics. Cody is K9 CPR certified and can offer a variety of specialized methods to help our pet ...
Education:
Will has a B.S. in Psychology from Regis University and completed service dog training at Yavapai Community College.
Experience:
Will spent the last 2 years training at the No Leash Needed Rock Hill location
Personal Pet:
Louie 3 yr old Golden Retriever
Will's Why:
Will has always had a passion for animals enjoys the hand...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training, Agility training
Leah is a graduate of Animal Behavioral College in animal behavior. She is also a graduate of Casey Ray's STL dog trainers. She has trained therapy dogs for children with disabilities as well as hospice training and enjoys being a mentor for other trainers in animal behavior college. Leah loves to understand the psychology of dogs and figure out the what and why to problem behaviors. She is a s...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Meet Chelsea! She hails from Illinois and her life has always revolved around a passion for helping dogs. Its quite evident as she owns 6 rescue dogs! Chelsea began her journey working in local shelters. There she assisted in screening and training the incoming dogs. "I've always been drawn to the more challenging cases. While most employees shied away from the more reactive and aggressive dogs...
Isabelle's career in training actually started with a different animal, horses! As much as she loved working with horses, she knew her heart was with the dogs. In January 2023, she started at No Leash Needed as a front desk host, then moving to supervisor. Isabelle Eimer is a 2024 graduate of both ISCDT and NVA's Canine Training program, and is currently working toward her CPDT-KA! She is const...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training, Agility training
Juan is an expert in dog aggression and canine body language. Since 2012 he has been working hands-on with the most aggressive dogs around town. If your dog has been deemed too aggressive to work with by other trainers in the past, Juan would be interested in meeting you and your dog.You won't see Juan around the facility often as he usually performs in-home lessons working with our most challe...
Board and train, In home training, Puppy training
A transplant from Southwest Michigan, Danielle moved to the St. Louis area in 2016 to pursue dog sports at a higher level. She has performed in big exciting environments like the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, NFL halftime shows, fairs, festivals, private events, and in more than a dozen world championships across several sports with several dogs. While her hobby lies within the dog sport sec...
Puppy training
Lisa is an Information Technology specialist and a dog and cat trainer at Columbia Animal Hospital in Columbia, Illinois. At the hospital she uses her Fear Free certification knowledge to help the clients and their pets feel more accepting of veterinary exams and procedures. She enjoys training her dogs tricks, just for fun. I came to training through a fear aggressive dog and have a special in...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training
Kimberly's interest with dogs began at an early age. As well as training her own dogs, she reached out to assist friends and family members' dogs. Kim began volunteering and participating with different organizations to help dogs in need.At this point in her life, Kim was working in the counseling field helping individuals. After her experiences with educating and improving dogs' behaviors, she...
Aggressive dog training, Board and train, Puppy training
Trent was born and raised in St. Louis. Some of his favorite things include camping, road trips, cooking, and playing soccer and volleyball in his free time. Of course the road trips and camping include his baby, 6 year old husky Luna. She is the one that really inspired Trent to do what he does today. He started by training her, and watching her grow and learn so fast. It amazed him how much s...
Puppy training
Owner and Trainer Erin King (She/Her) got started in the world of dog training at age ten with her first Border Collie, Finn. Together they competed in dog sports, performed in half-time shows, and moved across the country. Though no longer with us, Finn is a big part of this story, he was an excellent teacher and friend. In 2015, after graduating with a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Tru...
Puppy training
Barb is a clinical child psychologist, specializing in learning and adjustment problems. She enjoys training her dogs in obedience, Canine Good Citizen skills and tricks. She enjoys walking the neighborhood, hiking on local trails, and meeting new people with her dogs. She is involved with Brittany Rescue and she trains and socializes shelter puppies at the Humane Society of Missouri. She is a ...
Puppy training
My name is Jennifer Maurer, and I am the founder of PetImpact! a positive reinforcement and relationship based dog training service serving St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles and Illinois. We are committed to making an impact in the life of you and your dog!I am a dog trainer that coaches you on how to create a strong bond with your dog based on mutual love, trust and respect. From t...
Puppy training
Carol works as a Special Imaging Technologist in Cardiology and Electrophysiology and is a part time Professional Dog Trainer. She enjoys doing Canine Scent Work, obedience and trick training, dabbling in field work training, taking long hikes and playing ball in a big field with her dogs. She is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), the North American Canine Scent Wo...
Puppy training
Shawn is a higher education career and educational specialist, animal behavior instructor, and textbook author. She enjoys training her dogs obedience and scent work (nose work). All of her volunteer activities are related to the Greater St. Louis Training Club. I love being a trainer with the Greater St Louis Training Club because the wonderful people utilize clicker training, an evidence-base...
Puppy training
Although I just recently got into dog training, I have been around dogs and owned many dogs my entire life. As a dog trainer I have thoroughly enjoyed helping clients train their dogs. Having the knowledge I do about canines has transformed my life in so many ways. My focus is on creating pleasant and respectful relationships between people and the animals that enrich our lives every day.
Puppy training
Shelley is a professional dog trainer who specializes in puppy development and behavior. Two of her dogs help her teach K-12 classes about kind animal care, welfare and safety at the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO). She helped them earn conformation, Canine Good Citizen and Tricks titles. Each summer, Shelley and her dogs team teach 200 children dog-training skills at HSMO's 'Kids for Critter...
Puppy training
Liz is a full time accountant and a part time Professional Canine Fitness Trainer. She enjoys training and competing in Scent Work, Rally Obedience, Canine Freestyle, Agility, and Barn Hunt. I have been training in various dog sports since 2014. I have taken several classes and workshops with the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy since 2015 to enhance my training. I love to learn about dog training and ...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Meet Michelle! She has been an animal lover her whole life and was always bringing home dogs and critters. Michelle began her journey working at local boarding and daycare facilities around St. Louis. After gaining years of experience in canine behavior, she shifted to animal rescue and adoption. There she screened incoming dogs, helped train and acclimate them to their new surroundings and fac...
Aggressive dog training, Board and train, Reactive dog training, Puppy training
Matthew Sulhoff is the Head Trainer for OLK9 St Louis. He was raised in the Lindbergh South County District, after graduating high school he joined the Navy. After serving his country, he used his military training to become a chef, and he eventually moved back to Missouri.
His interest in animal training is a result of being raised by a mother who often fostered animals and volunteere...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Meet Jon! He grew up in Arkansas and his family always had a pack in the house. After college, Jon spent over 10 years in the coaching profession instructing high school swimming. In 2020, Jon began participating in Disc Dogs STL with his pups and realized his passion for training and dog behavior. "My first competition was a disaster, but we improved immensely after educating myself and traini...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Matt grew up in Austin TX in a house full of animals. He began training the family dogs at an early age. Raised in a hunting family, he learned retrieving, tracking and the responsible way to incorporate e-collar use in different training aspects."I always aspired to work with animals as a career but it just didn't happen for me."
After 20 years in wholesale distribution, that chance finall...
In home training, Puppy training, Agility training
Anna Wilsman has been training and showing dogs for 30+ years. She has shown and titled in AKC conformation, obedience, and tracking. She is a past member, trainer, and fun match judge for MCOTC and past member and trainer for GSDCSTL. She has also trained and shown in Schutzhund and PSA.Anna is committed to providing the most effective, convenient solutions to her clients' dog training needs. ...
Puppy training
Alane is happily anticipating retirement, so she can spend more time with horses and dogs. When I was 13, my mom tried to convince me that I really didn't like or need horses and suggested a dog instead. It didn't work though: horses have always been top dog but dogs do run a close second. I got my start with GSLTC via Molly in puppy kindergarten in 2012 and am a trainer on Monday nights. Curre...
Aggressive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training
With over a decade of experience in Dog Training since September of 2010, I have honed my expertise through extensive education and practical application.During the years 2010 to 2012, I completed a rigorous 2-year hands-on training course that provided me with comprehensive knowledge in reading canine body language, dog behavior, handling, and training by working with shelter dogs. During this...
In home training, Puppy training
After working animal related fields for nearly two decades, Mandy is well known in the community for her expertise in animal behavior and rehabilitation, fighting animal cruelty and breed discrimination, educating and advocating for responsible pet ownership and her work rescuing dogs in need. Her professional experience over 20 years includes dog training, vet technician, kennel management, an...
Welcome to St. Louis’s list of top dog trainers. The St. Louis, Missouri list is based on 63 votes from the Missouri Sniffspot community. Only the St. Louis dog trainers with the top number of votes made this list. Trainers are ordered by number of votes, with Jody Epstein at the top of this list with 54 votes. We also counted 879 votes for Missouri, with the remaining trainers listed outside of St. Louis.
Our rankings include trainers certified by CPDT-KA and CPDT-KA. They also specialize in Puppy training, In home training amongst other training programs.
St. Louis dog trainer services include:
Behind every successful St. Louis training session lies a passionate professional. Jody Epstein shares why they chose this path: I struggled with some behavior challenges with my heart-dog, Cashew. When I couldn't find a professional who could help me without causing pain or fear in my beautiful dog, I dedicated my life to learning as much as I could about canine learning and behavior. I returned to graduate school to study the subject. I began training basic skills at a local big box pet store, and continued educating myself in behavior challenges. As my knowledge and skills grew, I began taking on behavior cases and my work has grown from there. My business name, Nutz About Mutz, is an homage to the dog who got me started on this career path.. All 37 trainers on this St. Louis list are committed to positive reinforcement. Trusted St. Louis trainer, Kailey King, uses the following methods: At CARE STL we are proudly force free and positive only as much as we possibly can (given our stressful shelter environment)..
Explore the top dog trainers in St. Louis as voted by our community:
Ordered alphabetically, only included cities where there is enough data to compile a list
I struggled with some behavior challenges with my heart-dog, Cashew. When I couldn't find a professional who could help me without causing pain or fear in my beautiful dog, I dedicated my life to learning as much as I could about canine learning and behavior. I returned to graduate school to study the subject. I began training basic skills at a local big box pet store, and continued educating myself in behavior challenges. As my knowledge and skills grew, I began taking on behavior cases and my work has grown from there. My business name, Nutz About Mutz, is an homage to the dog who got me started on this career path..
Every interaction is a training interaction. Meaning, every time we engage with a dog, we are telling that dog how to engage with us.. This advice is particularly relevant for dog owners in St. Louis looking to improve their dog’s behavior.
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?
You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dogs have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being "dangerous breeds." Rottweilers are among them. Like pit bulls and other large, blocky-headed types of dogs, these powerful and beautiful animals are often assumed to be aggressive.
Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
Does your dog display reactivity to other pets or people? Maybe they’re a new rescue pup and are still settling into your home. Or they were sick growing up, so you missed their critical socialization period. Possibly they’ve had a bad experience after being raised as a normal puppy.
Do you have a reactive dog or suspect you may have one? You’re not alone!
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.”
Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.
Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.
Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection, and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.
Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs. As one of the most popular types of retrievers, Labs are ideal companions for various lifestyles and are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as an excellent breed for families.
Discover the Golden Retriever, a popular breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game beginning in the 1860s. Today, they're recognized by the Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club (AKC) as one of the most beloved companion dog breeds.
Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a distinct breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Often confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a separate breed of British origin, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff) is considered a medium-sized dog. While both breeds share some similarities, the AmStaff is generally larger and has been developed as a distinct breed in the United States.
Discover the Australian Shepherd, an AKC breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd is actually a native breed to the United States, originally developed to breed on farms and ranches. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were bred for herding beginning in the 1950s. As one of the high-energy breeds, Aussies are known for their boundless energy and need for regular exercise, including aerobic exercise.