Most behavior problems are fixable with the right help — and a good trainer is often what keeps a dog in its home. The trainers below work across our region. Nearly all of them use force-free, reward-based methods, which is what we recommend for rescue dogs: a dog that's already been through something hard doesn't need to be intimidated into behaving.
Trainer, consultant, or veterinary behaviorist?
These three titles get used loosely, and picking the wrong one wastes time and money.
A dog trainer teaches skills — sit, recall, loose-leash walking, polite greetings. Start here for puppies, manners, and everyday obedience. Look for CPDT-KA, CTC, or KPA-CTP after their name.
A behavior consultant handles emotions rather than skills — fear, reactivity, separation anxiety, resource guarding, aggression. Look for CDBC, CBCC-KA, or ACAAB.
A veterinary behaviorist (DACVB) is a veterinarian with a behavior specialty. They can diagnose medical causes and prescribe medication — the right call for severe anxiety or aggression that training alone hasn't moved. In our region that's Veterinary Behavior Specialties of MN.
Dog training is an unregulated industry — anyone can use the title without a single credential. Best Friends has a good primer on what to ask before you hire someone, and our General Pet Care page collects free training guides you can start with tonight.
Trainers & Behavior Consultants
Showing all 14 trainers.
-
Maple Grove, MNServing the Twin Cities metro and surrounding areas.
-
Maple Lake, MNCruelty-free, motivation-based training school. Small-group classes in obedience, puppy, reactivity, scent work, and agility, plus private lessons.
-
St. Paul, MNForce-free training and behavior consulting.
-
Twin CitiesPositive reinforcement, puppy training, group classes.
-
Sioux Falls, SDIn-home training and behavior modification — private lessons, day train, and board & train for obedience and behavior issues.
-
Richfield, MNIAABC-Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. Specializes in trauma-induced behaviors and rescue dogs.
-
Champlin, MN (classes in Albertville)Academy for Dog Trainers (CTC) graduate. Force-free, fear-free, rewards-based training and behavior modification, including fear and aggression cases.
-
Twin Cities + Western WIBehavior consulting and training.
-
Sioux Falls, SDCPDT-KA certified trainer with a background in animal welfare. Private behavior modification, obedience, and group classes — with a focus on fearful and rescue dogs.
-
Twin CitiesFamily-dog specialist, certified through CATCH Canine Academy.
-
Stillwater, MNPositive reinforcement training, in-home, fear/aggression specialty.
-
Twin CitiesBehavior consultations and group classes.
-
Serves MN/SD/ND/WI/IA/NEThe only board-certified veterinary behaviorists in our region — for severe behavior issues, can prescribe medication.
-
Le Center, MNHunting and field-dog trainer offering obedience and upland/waterfowl programs. Note: uses e-collar and force-fetch methods — a different approach from the force-free trainers listed here.
No trainers listed in that area yet. Try — several trainers travel, and the veterinary behaviorists serve the whole region.
Know a trainer we should add, or had a great experience with someone on this list? Tell us — this directory grows from what our adopters and fosters report back.
Note: We don't formally endorse every trainer listed — these are resources we've compiled to help you find support. Methods, pricing, and availability change, so please research what fits your dog and your situation best.