Mid-Atlantic Dog Training

Our dog yams used to be very reactive and needed regular medication in order to manage her anxiety. Thanks to the help of Tom she is now a calm, unmedicated, and perfectly adjusted good girl. Tom gave very clear instruction and showed us exactly how we needed to interact with Yams to help her improve. When we made mistakes he gave gentle but firm corrections to make sure we did our best for yams so she could do her best for us. Tom made a world of difference for Yams, who had already failed another dog training, and we would recommend him to anyone looking for a great trainer.

We worked with Tom to prepare our dog for some major life changes, and the experience was beyond what we hoped for. From leash skills to preparing for a new baby, he addressed every concern with patience, expertise, and real results. Our dog had a strong prey drive and would lunge at squirrels, birds—basically anything that moved. Walks were stressful and chaotic. After working with Tom, we now enjoy calmer, controlled walks, and continue to work in high-distraction areas. Obedience was another focus—commands like “come,” “place,” and especially “down” have become reliable, and working still in challenging situations. Tom really emphasized consistency and practice for best results, which helped a lot! Overall, Tom gave us the tools and confidence we needed to help our dog thrive in a changing household. He clearly loves dogs, but just as importantly, he knows how to teach humans. If you’re looking for help with obedience, leash manners, behavioral quirks, or preparing for a baby, Tom is absolutely worth it.

We reached out to Tom when our Golden Labradoodle puppy, Kyla, was 4 months old. From the start, we knew we wanted her to be well-trained, and while we had taught her some basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “down,” we were struggling with a few key areas: leash walking, crate training, and playful nipping. Kyla was anxious outside and hesitant to go beyond the perimeter of our apartment complex. She would often pull us back toward home. She also resisted crate time, needing to be carried in and crying for several minutes afterward. On top of that, she frequently nipped and rarely responded to us when she was overly excited or distracted. After just our first session with Tom, where we worked on “place,” heel, and crate training, we noticed a huge improvement in Kyla’s behavior and her ability to relax indoors. Tom offered clear, personalized, hands-on guidance during our biweekly sessions and shared helpful materials to deepen our understanding of his training methods. Over time, Kyla became much more confident outdoors, and we were even able to play with her on a long lead in more distracting, open environments. Tom was always prompt and professional in his communication and flexible with scheduling, including weekend sessions when needed. One particularly memorable example of how impactful the training was came after Kyla’s spay surgery. The vet recommended strict rest and even sedatives during recovery, but thanks to the “place” training Tom taught us, Kyla calmly stayed on her cot throughout her recovery. We didn’t need sedatives at all. The training also prevented issues like jumping on furniture or people, as we had already set and reinforced those boundaries. Working with Tom completely transformed our relationship with our dog. Kyla is now 7 months old, has finished her formal training, and feels like a truly integrated, well-adjusted part of our family. We also feel far more confident in handling her day-to-day. We wholeheartedly recommend Tom and Mid Atlantic Dog Training to anyone looking to build a stronger, more rewarding bond with their dog.