Dog Training
Dog Training
All dogs should know basic obedience commands like sit, stay, down, come and heel.
Positive reinforcement training provides a method of communication that your dog can understand. Once she knows what you want her to do, your dog will be much happier and calmer.
We offer private lessons at our facility, or boarding and training. Lessons will be tailored to your dog’s specific needs. We use a clicker and treats for training. We do not use shock, choke or prong collars, or any aversive training methods. Positive reinforcement makes training fun for everyone!
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Puppy Training
Building a Strong Foundation for Your Dog’s Future
Puppy training is the key to raising a well-mannered, confident dog. Early training sets the foundation for a lifetime of good behavior, making it easier for your puppy to adapt to your home and routine. Our puppy training program focuses on essential skills like potty training, helping your pup learn when and where to go, reducing accidents and stress for both of you. We also cover obedience training, teaching fundamental commands like sit, stay, and recall to ensure your puppy listens and responds reliably. With positive reinforcement techniques and expert guidance, we make training an enjoyable experience for you and your pup, fostering a strong bond while building good habits that last a lifetime.
Behavior Consultations
Most aggression in dogs has an underlying cause and can be successfully managed with our dog aggression training here at K-9 Divine, located in Nanjemoy, Maryland, just south of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. Your dog should not feel the need to growl, snarl or snap at people or other dogs. We can evaluate the cause of your dog’s aggression and devise a treatment plan.
Puppy socialization
As soon as your puppy is properly vaccinated, he or she needs to go out in the world and explore! We can teach your puppy how to behave at the vet or groomer and how to react appropriately to new dogs and people. Proper socialization at a young age will prevent many behavior problems like fear and aggression.
Puppies can begin housetraining at 8 weeks of age, but it is never too late. You don’t have to live with messes in the house! We will instruct you on how to reliably housetrain your dog and on the use of a crate in the housetraining process.
Many people decide to give up their dog when they have a new baby on the way. This is not necessary! We can give you strategies for preparing your dog for the baby’s arrival, and we can teach children and dogs to behave appropriately together.
Excessive jumping and barking is a huge frustration to dog owners and is usually the symptom of another behavior problem, such as dominance or anxiety. We can evaluate your dog and devise a behavior modification plan to treat the problem.
We will help you choose a dog that is right for your household and lifestyle. We encourage you to save a life and adopt from a shelter or breed rescue group.
Dogs with separation anxiety are excessively destructive or noisy when left alone. There are many ways to treat this condition. We can teach you and your dog how to manage absences appropriately.
Dog Training FAQ
What training methods does K-9 Divine use?
K-9 Divine uses exclusively positive reinforcement training methods with clickers and treats. We do not use shock collars, choke collars, prong collars, or any aversive training techniques. Our approach makes training fun for both dogs and owners while building a happy working relationship. Positive reinforcement provides a clear method of communication that your dog can understand, resulting in a happier, calmer, and more obedient pet.
What does basic obedience training include?
Our basic obedience training covers essential commands that every dog should know, including sit, stay, down, come, and heel (loose-leash walking). We offer private lessons at our facility or boarding and training programs. Each training session is tailored to your dog's specific needs and learning pace. Once your dog understands these basic commands, they will be much happier, calmer, and better behaved in everyday situations.
Do you offer training for aggressive dogs?
Yes, we provide specialized dog aggression training at our facility in Nanjemoy, Maryland. Most aggression in dogs has an underlying cause and can be successfully managed with proper training. We evaluate the root cause of your dog's aggression—whether it's towards people or other dogs—and devise a customized treatment plan. Your dog should not feel the need to growl, snarl, or snap, and we can help address these behavioral issues through our behavior consultation services.
When should I start training my puppy?
Puppy training should begin as early as possible to build a strong foundation for your dog's future. Puppies can begin housetraining at 8 weeks of age. As soon as your puppy is properly vaccinated, they need to explore the world and learn proper socialization. Our puppy training program covers potty training, basic obedience commands, and proper socialization with other dogs and people. Early training prevents many behavior problems like fear and aggression later in life, making it easier for your puppy to adapt to your home and routine.
Can you help with separation anxiety and other behavioral issues?
Absolutely. We offer comprehensive behavior consultations for a wide range of issues including separation anxiety, excessive jumping and barking, house training problems, and helping dogs adjust to living with children. Dogs with separation anxiety are often excessively destructive or noisy when left alone, but there are many effective ways to treat this condition. We can teach you and your dog how to manage absences appropriately and address the underlying causes of behavioral issues. It's never too late to work on these problems—we can help dogs of any age.
