Paw by Paw Dog Training provides professional dog training, puppy training, obedience training, and behavior modification in Kensington, MD, serving Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Washington, DC, and the surrounding area. Our veterinarian-recommended trainers help dogs of all ages and breeds build better manners, confidence, and reliable obedience through customized training programs. Services include Doggie Day School, Board & Train, private in-home training, puppy classes, group obedience classes, nosework, agility, therapy dog training, daycare, and professional grooming. Join the thousands of local families who have trusted Paw by Paw to help their dogs succeed. Schedule your complimentary evaluation today!
Training & services
Training goals
Behavior consultationProgram details
Our behavior modification program helps dogs overcome reactivity, fear, anxiety, aggression, resource guarding, excessive barking, and other challenging behaviors. Help your dog build confidence and learn healthier responses in real-world situations. Includes unlimited private lessons.
Canine Good Citizen preparationProgram details
Take the official AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test in Kensington, MD. This 10-step evaluation measures obedience, leash manners, behavior around people and dogs, and responsible dog ownership. Passing earns the nationally recognized AKC CGC title.
Take the official AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test in Montgomery County, MD. This 10-step evaluation measures obedience, leash manners, behavior around people and dogs, and responsible dog ownership. Passing earns the nationally recognized AKC CGC title.
Crate trainingProgram details
House trainingProgram details
Leash trainingProgram details
Obedience trainingProgram details
Build better communication and reliable manners. Training covers sit, down, stay, place, recall, leash walking, and impulse control while addressing jumping, pulling, nipping, chewing, separation anxiety, and other everyday challenges. Includes private & group lessons, plus lifetime support.
Puppy trainingProgram details
Our Puppy 101 program covers potty training, crate training, socialization, leash walking, recall, basic obedience, and common puppy challenges like biting, chewing, jumping, nipping, and separation anxiety. Program includes private lessons and group training, plus lifetime support.
Recall trainingProgram details
SocializationProgram details
Behavior support
Aggression trainingProgram details
BarkingProgram details
ChewingProgram details
Fear and confidenceProgram details
Reactivity trainingProgram details
Resource guardingProgram details
Separation anxietyProgram details
How training happens
Board and trainProgram details
Accelerate your dog's progress with immersive training. Dogs stay with one of our trusted boarding partners and receive daily professional training focused on obedience, manners, behavior skills, and real-world reliability. Includes owner coaching to help maintain success at home.
Group classesProgram details
Build skills and confidence in a fun, supportive group setting. Our dog training classes focus on obedience, socialization, impulse control, focus, and real-world manners while helping dogs and owners strengthen their bond through guided practice.
In-home trainingProgram details
Our in-home dog training program provides one-on-one coaching tailored to your dog's needs and lifestyle. We work on obedience, behavior issues, puppy training, and household manners in the environment where challenges occur most.
Owner coachingProgram details
Private trainingProgram details
Private dog training lessons provide individualized support for puppies, obedience training, behavior concerns, and advanced skills. Work one-on-one with a professional trainer to address your dog’s unique needs and achieve lasting results.
Dog age
Adult dogsProgram details
PuppiesProgram details
Training level
Advanced obedienceProgram details
Advanced trainingProgram details
Support between sessions
Personalized training plansProgram details
Assistance and working dogs
Service dog trainingProgram details
Therapy dog trainingProgram details
Prepare your dog for therapy work in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and community settings. Our therapy dog training program develops advanced obedience, calm behavior, confidence, and handler communication while helping teams prepare for therapy dog evaluations and certification.
Prepare your dog for therapy work in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and community settings. Training focuses on advanced obedience, calm behavior, confidence, and handler skills needed for evaluations and certification.
Dog sports
AgilityProgram details
Build confidence, focus, and teamwork through agility training. Dogs learn jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and real-world obstacle skills while improving coordination, fitness, and communication. Suitable for dogs of all ages, breeds, and experience levels.
Scent workProgram details
Tap into your dog's natural scenting abilities with Nosework training. Dogs learn to locate target scents, solve puzzles, and build confidence through rewarding search activities. Great for mental enrichment, focus building, and dogs of all ages, breeds, and experience levels.
Training approach
E-collar trainingProgram details
Additional services
BoardingProgram details
DaycareProgram details
More than daycare, Confident Canine Playcare helps dogs build confidence, social skills, and focus through structured enrichment activities, supervised play, agility, and training games. Ideal for dogs who thrive with routine, mental stimulation, and individualized attention.
GroomingProgram details
Other listed services
View 18 additional details
Dog trainingProgram details
Professional dog training for puppies and adult dogs. We offer customized programs for obedience, behavior modification, leash manners, puppy training, socialization, and off-leash reliability. Build better communication, confidence, and lasting results with your dog.
Self-Serve Dog Wash | Rockville, Bethesda & PotomacProgram details
Our self-serve dog wash makes bath time easy and convenient. Wash your dog using professional bathing stations, shampoo, towels, dryers, and grooming supplies provided for you. Perfect for keeping dogs clean without the hassle of bathing at home.
Doggie Day School & Training | Rockville, Bethesda & PotomacProgram details
Doggie Day School combines professional dog training with the fun of daycare. Dogs receive structured training throughout the day focused on obedience, social skills, confidence building, impulse control, and manners. Ideal for busy owners who want consistent progress and enrichment.
Canine First Aid Certification | Rockville, Bethesda & PotomacProgram details
Be prepared for canine emergencies with our Canine First Aid & CPR Certification course. Learn CPR, first aid, choking response, injury care, poison prevention, and wellness checks while earning a certification designed for dog owners and pet professionals.
Free Dog Training EvaluationsProgram details
Our free dog training evaluation helps identify your dog’s behavior, training needs, and goals. We assess challenges like obedience, reactivity, or manners and recommend a customized training plan tailored to your dog and lifestyle.
Pet CPR Certification | Rockville, Bethesda & PotomacProgram details
Be prepared for canine emergencies with our Canine First Aid & CPR Certification course. Learn CPR, first aid, choking response, injury care, poison prevention, and wellness checks while earning a certification designed for dog owners and pet professionals.
Day School Program | Rockville, Bethesda & PotomacProgram details
Doggie Day School combines professional dog training with the fun of daycare. Dogs receive structured training throughout the day focused on obedience, social skills, confidence building, impulse control, and manners. Ideal for busy owners who want consistent progress and enrichment.
Dog Bath | Rockville, Bethesda & PotomacProgram details
Our self-serve dog wash makes bath time easy and convenient. Wash your dog using professional bathing stations, shampoo, towels, dryers, and grooming supplies provided for you. Perfect for keeping dogs clean without the hassle of bathing at home.
Dog CourseProgram details
Off-Leash Dog Training | Rockville, Bethesda & PotomacProgram details
Enjoy greater freedom and confidence with reliable off-leash training. This advanced program focuses on recall, responsiveness, and obedience around distractions so your dog can safely enjoy hikes, parks, and outdoor adventures while maintaining dependable control.
Dog's BehavioralProgram details
Emotional Support AnimalsProgram details
Intensive Training ProgramProgram details
Leash ClassesProgram details
Pet TherapyProgram details
Training LessonsProgram details
Training SessionsProgram details
Self-Serve Dog WashProgram details
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Questions & answers
From Google
What people have asked about this business.
How can I adopt a puppy?
Thank you for contacting us. We recommend Operation Paws for Homes or Pet Connect Rescue for adoptions!
Community answer · Paw by Paw Dog Training · 2024-09-21
What is required for my dog to be accepted to attend dog training ?
All we require is for your dog to be up to date on our required vaccines (Bordetella, Distemper, Rabies and Canine Influenza) and for you to attend a free training evaluation first so our trainers can put together a customized training program for you!
Community answer · Paw by Paw Dog Training · 2023-09-21
5/5This is a review that is a long time coming! Paw by Paw was great and we truly can’t recommend them more!
We worked specifically with Jesse, he was incredibly clear, knowledgeable, and helpful, not just in training our dog Taki, but in teaching us humans how to communicate clear…Read full reviewClose full review
This is a review that is a long time coming! Paw by Paw was great and we truly can’t recommend them more!
We worked specifically with Jesse, he was incredibly clear, knowledgeable, and helpful, not just in training our dog Taki, but in teaching us humans how to communicate clearly and effectively with our dog.
Before coming here, we had worked with a few other trainers and saw small improvements but were left not really knowing what to do. But with Paw by Paw, especially with the day school program and follow-up training sessions (more for us than Taki), we saw truly transformative changes in our day to day lives. Taki now has the confidence, trust, and practice to settle calmly throughout the day, walks nicely on the leash, and listens to our basic commands. We are truly all enjoying our time together so much more after working with them.
We’ve been unable to attend the group classes but have been working on down stays in the wild and no one has run off yet :)! Once things settle down for us a bit we will be going back to the group classes to keep building on the skills!
We truly appreciate Jesse and everyone at Paw by Paw and couldn’t recommend them more!
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Corinn Clark
5/5In January, both my dog and I were aggressively attacked by an offleash Rottweiler. After the attack, Honolulu became much more leash reactive. It got to the point that I was almost afraid to walk her, I had lost all confidence. I had such a perpetual death grip on the leash that…Read full reviewClose full review
In January, both my dog and I were aggressively attacked by an offleash Rottweiler. After the attack, Honolulu became much more leash reactive. It got to the point that I was almost afraid to walk her, I had lost all confidence. I had such a perpetual death grip on the leash that I would wake up with swollen, stiff hands. I needed help and reached out to Paw By Paw. Honolulu and I immediately started private sessions with Jesse. I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am for Jesse’s support, compassion, and creativity. Honolulu and I are now in group classes; our confidence and trust in each other continue to grow. I highly recommend Paw By Paw. Thank you so much!!
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Carrie Brunacini
5/5My husband and I have 2 very reactive hound mix dogs, and we have worked with a handful of other trainers without any improvements. We've been attending weekly, private, behavior-modification lessons with David, and not to sound cliche, but the training has changed our lives. My …Read full reviewClose full review
My husband and I have 2 very reactive hound mix dogs, and we have worked with a handful of other trainers without any improvements. We've been attending weekly, private, behavior-modification lessons with David, and not to sound cliche, but the training has changed our lives. My dogs would lunge, bark, and bite when bicycles, dogs, kids, cars, etc. would pass by on walks, and now I can confidently walk them without fear of them reacting. We can comfortably walk our dogs on a loose leash, and also, put our dogs in 'place' when guests come over. The pricing for training is extremely fair and the results speak for themselves. Highly recommend Paw by Paw for any training needs!
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Raquel Canales
5/5My dog, Ezra, has had the pleasure of going to Paw By Pay for many years - and will continue to do so! This facility is truly a gem!!! I can't express how all of the staff go above and beyond to make me and Ezra feel comfortable in his training. Leena, the manager, is so empathic…Read full reviewClose full review
My dog, Ezra, has had the pleasure of going to Paw By Pay for many years - and will continue to do so! This facility is truly a gem!!! I can't express how all of the staff go above and beyond to make me and Ezra feel comfortable in his training. Leena, the manager, is so empathic and you can tell she truly cares! Her customer service skills are impeccable! Through the years Ezra has interacted with other trainers and I can say they are all dedicated! Ezra's main trainer, David, has cared for Ezra's training like he is his very own; he pushes Ezra's impulse control and proves to me that he can stay in a command of because of all our training. Along with weekly group class (that come with the graduation of obedience training!), and all the other activities that are available (from movie night to off leash field trips), Ezra and I both enjoy nose work class. I can see Ezra have fun and it truly is entertaining to watch the dogs learn how to find a specific sent. Ezra has THE TIME OF HIS LIFE every time he goes because he knows that whatever he's doing (yes, even training) he has fun!
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Gretchen Skidmore
5/5We can not say enough good things about Paw by Paw Dog Training. Everyone has been so friendly and helpful from the first day that I called. Our rescue dog Norman worked with Radiance and Hannah for the 3 week Doggie Day School and their training with him was awesome. They gave…Read full reviewClose full review
We can not say enough good things about Paw by Paw Dog Training. Everyone has been so friendly and helpful from the first day that I called. Our rescue dog Norman worked with Radiance and Hannah for the 3 week Doggie Day School and their training with him was awesome. They gave detailed reports and genuinely were as excited as we were when he made progress. He learned so much about impulse control, how to stay on his place, do down and sit and so much more. Rowan is an exceptional trainer as well and during our lessons he taught us how to provide praise and structure for Norman which has been a game changer for his happiness and for our family. We are continuing to learn and reinforce everything with Rowan and Jesse in the outstanding graduate group classes. We are really grateful to everyone for their guidance and encouragement.
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.