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The Best Dog Trainers in Washington of 2026

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David Adams

Dec 2, 2025

Dog Trainers

This is a list of the top dog trainers in Washington, based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public.

  • Jenny Black Photo

    Jenny Black

    CCPT-KA CBCC-KA FFCP

    Hi! I'm Jenny and I'm currently the Behavior Program Senior Manager at Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, Washington. I've worked in shelters in Washington State coming up on a decade now, and truly found my passion for shelter behavior here.

    I'm originally from Texas, graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in Biomedical Science. I'm a Certified Professional Dog ...


  • Keiko Swanberg Photo

    Keiko Swanberg

    Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI) AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training, Agility dog training

    Issaquah, Sammamish, Bellevue, Mercer Island, New Castle, Renton, Burien.

    Keiko Swanberg, the owner of Zen Dog Seattle, LLC is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI), a licensed AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). Keiko moved to the U.S. from Japan in 2000 and has been a long-time shelter/rescue volunteer and foster parent ever since. Her...


  • Amanda Boyd Photo

    Amanda Boyd

    In home training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training, Agility dog training

    Port Orchard, Olalla, Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Bremerton

    Amanda is equal parts dog person and people person; you and your dog are both important to her! ÔªøShe is committed to using progressive, force-free training methods to improve dog and human communication and relationships.



    After graduating from Olympia High School in WA state, she earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Stanford University and has a strong background ...


  • Katie Carman Photo

    Katie Carman

    CCS, UW-AAB

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training, Board and train dog training

    Everett, WA and Snohomish County

    I started my career in the pet industry in 2011 where I worked as a daycare attendant at a doggy daycare, boarding and training facility called The Dog Spot. In the first year at The Dog Spot, I started assisting in dog training classes and soon realized that is where my passion lay. In 2012, I got my CCS certification in dog training and behavior through the Northwest School of Canine Studies....


  • Sara Cohen Photo

    Sara Cohen

    KPA-CTP, CDPT-KA

    In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training

    Bellingham

    Sara has been working with dogs in the mountains for over fifteen years and loves bringing her diverse and dynamic background to her pet dog teams she coaches.


  • Danette Johnston Photo

    Danette Johnston

    Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certified Family Dog Mediator (CFDM), Certified Fear Free Professional (CFFP), AKC CGC & Tricks Evaluator

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training

    Seattle

    Danette Johnston, Owner or Dog's Day Out, is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP) Trainer and Fear Free Coach, and a Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM). Prior to becoming a dog trainer and behavior consultant, she worked as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) in the state of Washington. She has trained dogs (and people!) working in animal...


  • Olivia Petersen Photo

    Olivia Petersen

    CCS SAPro FDM

    In home training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training

    Seattle; all neighborhoods, Burien, Kent, Bellevue, Mercer Island

    Olivia Petersen, Owner, is certified in canine studies (CCS), SAPro (Separation Anxiety Pro Trainer), and FDM (Family Dog Mediator) of Sound Connection Dog Training.

    Olivia is passionate about continuing her learning and education and takes courses, webinars/seminars that focus on canine science and behavior. Through working with clients, she has also gained more knowledge as every fa...


  • Nikki Johnson Photo

    Nikki Johnson

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Off leash dog training

    Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Issaquah, and Sammamish WA.

    I've worked in the industry since 2003 and have a passion for helping people and dogs, because I don't want people to rehome their dogs. Most dogs are abandoned because the owners didn't know how to manage the dog's needs. I aim to help fix that in as many families as possible. My expertise is in PTSD service dogs and dogs with fear based aggression, but I most commonly work with every day fami...


  • Cynthia Howell Photo

    Cynthia Howell

    Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM) Certificate, Canine Studies (CCS)

    In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training

    Georgetown, Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill, other areas by request

    My career with dogs began in 2003 at a large scale dog daycare in Seattle. I quickly saw how this unnatural, stressful environment was detrimental to the very dogs it was supposed to care for. I started a private dog walking and pet sitting service, Road Dog Walks, as an
    alternative. Then, I was offered a position at a large pet insurance firm, Trupanion. I continued to operate my
    pet...


  • Jen Gumas Gumas Photo

    Jen Gumas Gumas

    CDBC, CPDT-KA, CBATI-KSA, M.Ed

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training

    Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, and Woodinville, WA

    Jen Gumas is the founder and owner of Wiggles and Woofs Dog Training and Pet Care. A zoology graduate from Michigan State University, Jen has volunteered with rescue dogs for many years, including with Seattle Animal Shelter and Seattle Humane. In 2021, Jen worked with a group of local trainers to launch the Humane Alliance of Rescue Trainers (HART), a national organization that connects rescue...


  • Sugako Sasaki Photo

    Sugako Sasaki

    CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT Family Dog Mediator Certified Fear Free Trainer Certified AKC CGC and Tricks Evaluator

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training

    Seattle, W Seattle, S Seattle, Burien, White center, Tukwila, Kent, Renton, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Auburn

    Sugako, originally from Japan, started her dog training career as an intern with Companion Animal Solutions and Georgia Peaches Puppy Rescue while completing degrees in Canine Behavior Analysis and Animal Assisted Therapy. She then transitioned to working with autistic children under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts. After 5 years, Sugako returned to her love of dog behavior...


  • Barbara Lombard Photo

    Barbara Lombard

    Puppy dog training, Agility dog training

    Snohomish and King County

    I have been a top Agility competitor in the USA since 2000. I competed on the AKC agility World Team traveling to Finland, Portugal and Germany earning two Silver medals. I owned and operated Turbo Charged Agility in Southern California for 15 years offering Agility classes, private lessons in home and at my facility. Now living in Washington State and offering classes at French Creek Pet re...


  • Amanda Dwyer Photo

    Amanda Dwyer

    CTC, SAPro, FFCP-Trainer

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training

    North Kitsap County: Kingston, Poulsbo, Bainbridge, Hanesville, Suquamish, Indianola

    Amanda is a co-founder and working board member of the Humane Alliance of Rescue Trainers (HART)

    They graduated from the Academy of Dog Trainers with honors, and are a SAPro and Fear-Free Certified Trainer.

    The journey into dog training started for Amanda at the Seattle Humane Society, where they volunteered as part of the Dog Behavior and Socialization team, and were promote...


  • Margaret Hughes Photo

    Margaret Hughes

    SF SPCA CTC, CPDT, AKC CGC, Trick Dog, ACT Evaluator

    Agility dog training

    Woodinville, Maltby, Bothell, Duvall, Redmond, Snohomish

    "Margaret Hughes brings her life-long love of dogs together with positive training techniques that both you and your dog will enjoy." Twenty+ years ago I wrote that sentence on my first advertising brochure. It still holds true today. I love training dogs but I love training people more. My dog training background is in obedience, family style dog training, behavior modification and aggressi...


  • Jacelyn Young Photo

    Jacelyn Young

    ADT-IAABC

    In home training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training, Board and train dog training

    Seattle, Bellevue, Bothell, Edmonds, Kirkland, Issaquah, Everett, Shoreline, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, U District, Wallingford, Ballard, Queen Anne, West Seattle

    I'm an active competitor in a variety of dog sports, such as Rally, Disc, and even protection sports! I'm passionate about helping dog owners learn about how fun and rewarding dog sports can be, as well as making them more accessible for the average owner! I also love working behavior modification training plans and seeing the long term results from those cases!


  • Tahnee Holcombe Photo

    Tahnee Holcombe

    KPA-CTP and Family Dog Mediation

    In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training

    Silverdale, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Belfair, High Harbor, Bainbridge Island, and Poulsbo

    Getting her start 10 years ago training sea lions, Tahnee learned quickly that positive reinforcement is key to working with large predators. Now a certified pet trainer, she uses the same principles working with dogs, cats, and their families. Sea Lion Way provides private training, day training, and dog walking. We focus on the whole pet (their health, environment, routine, past experiences, ...


  • Erica Wells Photo

    Erica Wells

    In home training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training

    NE Seattle, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, Kenmore, Bothell, Maltby, parts of Snohomish and Woodinville

    I came in to dog training 18 years ago when I moved to Seattle. I worked in a small dog daycare for most of those years and that really gave me insight in to canine body language and managing arousal in adolescent dogs. I also owned a very reactive dog at that time and learned how to manage him in a much bigger urban environment than we lived in prior. When I adopted my 'failed' foster, a Britt...


  • Mercedes Moore Photo

    Mercedes Moore

    abcdt, ccpdt, cbcc, fdm

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Board and train dog training

    Pierce and South King county

    I was born and raised right here in Pierce County, Washington — where today, I've built my life around dogs.

    I became a professional dog trainer in 2011, after earning my dog training certification through Animal Behavior College (ABC). But that was just the first step — I'm devoted to staying current on the most effective and humane training methods and on our evolving understandi...


  • Alexis Brinkley Photo

    Alexis Brinkley

    CCS

    In home training, Deaf dog training, Service dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training, Agility dog training

    Greater Seattle Area, Lynnwood, Shoreline, Mill Creek

    Alexis grew up with dogs and from a young age she always knew she wanted to work with them as a career. At the age of just eight years old, she was training basic obedience and tricks to her two rescued Chihuahuas, and now is trialing her dog Molly (a hound mix) in multiple sports. She has learned from some of the best positive reinforcement trainers in Washington State.

    Alexis loves...


  • Halley Hopkins Photo

    Halley Hopkins

    CPDT-KA

    Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy dog training, Off leash dog training

    Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma

    I've been certified CPDT-KA since October of 2020 and have worked with many types of personalities and behavioral challenges since I started my R+ training journey in 2018! Whether I'm teaching group classes, or working one on one, learning how our K9 friends communicate to us has always been of importance to myself, and I'm determined to spread my knowledge! My line of expertise typically fall...


See More Trainers In Washington


The Best Olympia, WA Dog Trainers In 2026

  • Jen Lewis Photo

    Jen Lewis

    Jen Lewis has been working with dogs professionally for 20 years, training for 19 years, and she has a wide variety of experience with all breeds, ages, and temperaments. She has a deep understanding of canine behavior and communication and has many professional accreditations and memberships.

    View profile

  • Heather Ringwood Photo

    Heather Ringwood

    Specializing in Agility and Advanced Manners training, Heather's heart, love, and training focus is in showing others how to have fun with her dogs. In addition to dogs, Heather also coaches and trains people. These two skill sets play a major role in her ability to help people communicate more effectively with their dogs, and learn how to embrace and engage with their dog's temperament and per...

    View profile

  • Ashley Alden Photo

    Ashley Alden

    Like many animal lovers, my dream was to work with pets. I considered being a veterinarian, but quickly discovered I couldn't hack it.



    I gave up on my dreams and decided to pursue human medicine instead.



    After college and a bit of traveling, I jumped in to a "big girl" job doing clinical research at a military hospital. I enjoyed my job, but felt like I wa...

    View profile

The Best Phoenix, WA Dog Trainers In 2026

  • Marcus Wright Photo

    Marcus Wright

    Dogs impact our lives in so many ways—the connection I have with my dogs inspired me to live out my passion. What started out as training dogs for friends and family transitioned to full-time when I established The North West Dog Trainer in 2019. Over the past 10 years, I've had the pleasure of impacting countless households including the lives of 800 plus dogs and their humans since launchin...

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The Best Seattle, WA Dog Trainers In 2026

  • Jenny Black Photo

    Jenny Black

    Hi! I'm Jenny and I'm currently the Behavior Program Senior Manager at Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, Washington. I've worked in shelters in Washington State coming up on a decade now, and truly found my passion for shelter behavior here.

    I'm originally from Texas, graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in Biomedical Science. I'm a Certified Professional Dog ...

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  • Keiko Swanberg Photo

    Keiko Swanberg

    Keiko Swanberg, the owner of Zen Dog Seattle, LLC is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI), a licensed AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). Keiko moved to the U.S. from Japan in 2000 and has been a long-time shelter/rescue volunteer and foster parent ever since. Her...

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  • Katie Carman Photo

    Katie Carman

    I started my career in the pet industry in 2011 where I worked as a daycare attendant at a doggy daycare, boarding and training facility called The Dog Spot. In the first year at The Dog Spot, I started assisting in dog training classes and soon realized that is where my passion lay. In 2012, I got my CCS certification in dog training and behavior through the Northwest School of Canine Studies....

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The Best Spokane, WA Dog Trainers In 2026

  • Diane Baker Photo

    Diane Baker

    Diane taught with Carol & Dana at Lilac City Dog Training and The Family Dog in the early 90's and has been a DITR instructor since we opened our doors in April of 1996. Diane has a soft spot for rescue dogs and helping them find success in with their new families. Her interests are competing in Canine Freestyle (dancing with your dog) and Rally FrEe.



    Diane loves tricks, g...

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  • Travis Byrnes Photo

    Travis Byrnes

    Travis provides private training lessons and behavior consults in your home or at the training studio. He enjoys helping new puppy owners and adoptive families get off on the right paw with their new friends. He has a special way with shy and fearful dogs and inspires confidence in his human clients, too. He can help you understand your dog, and help your dog understand you.


    As...

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  • Lisa Lucas Photo

    Lisa Lucas

    I've been training dogs, professionally, for twenty years. The dog training classroom is my "happy place." But when I am not with dogs, students and clients I can be found in my garden, on a hiking trail or in a music studio.

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The Best Vancouver, WA Dog Trainers In 2026

  • Rachael Davis Photo

    Rachael Davis

    I have spent my working life helping dogs with special needs - first medically and then behaviorally. My time working as a trainer for the public at a large animal shelter provided me with exceptional training mentors and a vast variety of dogs from whom I learned an incredible amount about training and communication between dogs and people. As I continued my work with dogs with greater behavio...

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Welcome to Washington’s list of top dog trainers. The Washington list is based on 2810 votes from the Sniffspot community. Only the Washington dog trainers with the top number of votes made this list. Trainers are ordered by number of votes, with Jenny Black at the top of this list with 278 votes.

Our rankings include trainers certified by CPDT-KA and CPDT-KA. They also specialize in Puppy dog training, Reactive dog training amongst other training programs.

Washington dog trainer services include:

  • Puppy dog training
  • Reactive dog training
  • In home training
  • Aggressive dog training
  • Off leash dog training
  • Deaf dog training
  • Agility dog training
  • Board and train dog training
  • Service dog training
  • Herding dog training
  • Protection/guard dog training

Dog trainers in Washington selflessly set pets up for success. Jenny Black shares why they chose this path: I always saw myself working with animals, even as a very young child. I didn't know there were other paths to an animal-focused career besides veterinary medicine, so that was my intention going into my university coursework. As I worked in more and more vet clinics in a variety of roles, I felt that I didn't enjoy working with animals in that type of setting as much as I thought I would. After graduating, I moved to Washington State from Texas and starting pursuing other job opportunities. I found myself accepting a job at Seattle Humane and quickly found my way into shelter behavior. A few years later, I decided to become certified and make it official!. All 95 trainers on this Washington list are committed to positive reinforcement. Trusted Washington trainer, Keiko Swanberg, uses the following methods: I offer fear-free, force-free, positive dog training and behavior modification based on behavioral science..

Explore the top dog trainers in Washington as voted by our community:

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See The Best Dog Trainers By City In Washington


FAQ: Meet the Top Puppy dog training Dog Trainers in Washington

Who are the top Puppy dog training dog trainers in Washington?

Our top-rated trainer, Jenny Black, has earned 278 votes for their outstanding work in . Alongside them, Keiko Swanberg and Amanda Boyd have also made a significant impact amongst Washington pets.

What motivates Washington dog trainers?

Jenny Black became a dog trainer because I always saw myself working with animals, even as a very young child. I didn't know there were other paths to an animal-focused career besides veterinary medicine, so that was my intention going into my university coursework. As I worked in more and more vet clinics in a variety of roles, I felt that I didn't enjoy working with animals in that type of setting as much as I thought I would. After graduating, I moved to Washington State from Texas and starting pursuing other job opportunities. I found myself accepting a job at Seattle Humane and quickly found my way into shelter behavior. A few years later, I decided to become certified and make it official!/. Similarly, Keiko Swanberg and Amanda Boyd have unique motivations, with I saw too many dogs who were abandoned or surrendered due to behavior issues at a high-kill shelter I used to volunteer/foster for 12 years. I hope to help more owners to prevent their dogs from ending up at shelters. andI started out working in shelters and caught the training bug. I like helping people and dogs create lasting bonds so they stay together for a liftetime. driving their passion.

What is Jenny Black biggest tip?

For Jenny Black, the best tip is to: Focus on consent. Ensure that the animal you're working with is 100% on board with what you're doing. Let them have the freedom to make choices and opt out if needed..

What do Washington trainers love most about their work?

Jenny Black finds the greatest joy in I could never hold a job that felt the same every single day. This job involves a lot of problem solving, improvisation, quick thinking, and there's always something new happening to keep things exciting! But I really found my passion helping animals through the shelter system. Being a source of comfort for them in such a difficult time can be really hard, but it's truly rewarding in every way. I love knowing that I can play a small part in so many animals' lives, doing whatever I can to ensure that these tough days lead to something better for them., while Keiko Swanberg and Amanda Boyd cherish Seeing so many smiles through working with about 90 dogs (and 90+ humans) with different personalities every week!, and Seeing so many smiles through working with about 90 dogs (and 90+ humans) with different personalities every week!, respectively.

How do you become a certified trainer in Washington?

All the top trainers in Washington have earned certifications like CCPT-KA CBCC-KA FFCP, demonstrating their expertise in Puppy dog training, 47073, Reactive dog training, 38125, In home training, 30687, Aggressive dog training, 16380, Off leash dog training, 13818, Deaf dog training, 5376, Agility dog training, 3212, Board and train dog training, 2418, Service dog training, 1290, Herding dog training, 14, Protection/guard dog training, 13 and beyond.

Why are these certifications crucial in Washington?

Qualifications like CPDT-KA ensure that each trainer is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to address a wide range of behavioral issues, from to Aggressive dog training.

How do their methods differ?

Washington’s Jenny Black describes their method as: We evaluate our animals throughout their stay, creating unique training plans to meet their needs along the way. We also provide post-adoption behavior support to ensure our animals are as successful as possible after they leave our care. We use positive reinforcement-based training, following Fear Free methods whenever possible.. Meanwhile, Keiko Swanberg says: I offer fear-free, force-free, positive dog training and behavior modification based on behavioral science.. As you can see, there are diverse approaches to in Washington.

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David Adams

Dec 2, 2025

Dog Trainers

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    Choosing the right dog park environment can be tricky, especially if your pet is a toy breed who isn’t always up to running with the big dogs. While there are always risks involved with visiting a public dog park, many cities don’t have space for large runs — which makes small fenced-in options the best way for some apartment dwellers and other local residents to let their dogs off leash.

Dogs breeds

  • Explore the German Shepherd Dog: Genuine Tips from Owners thumbnail

    Explore the German Shepherd Dog: Genuine Tips from Owners

    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.

  • Explore the Labrador Retriever: Real Tips from Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Labrador Retriever: Real Tips from Owners

    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.

  • Explore the Golden Retriever: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Golden Retriever: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the Golden Retriever, a 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.

  • Explore the American Staffordshire Terrier: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the American Staffordshire Terrier: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Considered a medium-sized dog, American Staffordshire Terriers were originally bred in the United Kingdom for baiting bulls, fighting, and hunting beginning in the 1800s — though they're known as gentle, playful lovers today.

  • Explore the Australian Shepherd: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Australian Shepherd: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the Australian Shepherd, a breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were originally bred in the United States for herding beginning in the 1950s.

  • Explore the Siberian Husky: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Siberian Husky: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the Siberian Husky, a breed celebrated for its curious, intelligent, and loyal nature. Considered a medium-sized dog, Siberian Huskies were originally bred in Russia for sledding, beginning in the early 20th Century.