Our sweet English Bulldog puppy loved her time at puppy camp. She returned home with a new set of skills that have made our lives so much easier!

Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
About Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland
Pawz For Health Dog Training Maryland, provides in home dog training servicing areas: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Kensington, Olney, Rockville, Ashton, Fulton and surrounding areas. We use positive reinforcement dog training methods and never support the use of shock collars ever! We work with puppy behavior problems such as: Puppy manners, crate training, housebreaking, jumping, puppy biting/nipping, separation anxiety, leash walking, off leash walking, coming when called, obedience (sit/down/stay/off/leave it/drop it/door manners. We train owners to train their dog through developing a trusting respectful relationship. Janet Oquendo is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer & Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. Call a Certified Trainer now.
Training & services
Training goals
- Behavior consultation
Program details
We work with all dog and puppy behaviors, from basic obedience / manners training : Sit, lay down, come when called, stay, door manners, jumping and leash walking. Using positive reinforcement dog training techniques only.
- Crate training
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- House training
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- Leash training
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- Obedience training
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Basic puppy manners; sit, down, stay, no jumping, leash walking.
- Puppy training
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Our puppy obedience training programs are fun, simple, and effective. We use 100% positive reinforcement dog training techniques, and do not support the use of any harmful dog training techniques. Your puppy’s physical and emotional wellbeing is our commitment.
Our services are unique in that all puppy training is carried out with the home of the trainer. Ensuring your puppy continues to gain skills within a home/ living environment. We never kennel dogs outside, all puppies will get crate training, housebreaking, leash walking, socialization.
We offer puppy training in Maryland and surrounding areas. We are certified Professional Dog Trainer (CCPDT-KA) and Certified Dog Behaviorist (CDBC).
We offer a unique puppy board and train program. Your puppy will live in our home for up to two (2) weeks working on crate training, house breaking, basic manners, leash walking, as well as receiving invaluable puppy socialization with other puppies and socialized adult dogs in our home environment. we never use pain to train, we use 100% positive reinforcement dog training techniques only.
Puppy manners, crate training, housebreaking, leash walking, puppy socialization
- Socialization
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Behavior support
- Chewing
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- Fear and confidence
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Helping shy and fearful dogs overcome their anxiety. Working with dogs and owners to help their dog develop confidence and reduce overall fear and anxiety through positive reinforcement dog training techniques.
- Reactivity training
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- Resource guarding
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- Separation anxiety
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How training happens
- Board and train
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- Day training
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- Group classes
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- In-home training
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- Owner coaching Customer-reported
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- Private training
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Dog age
- Adult dogs
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- Puppies
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Working with puppies who are puppy biting. Helping the puppy learn how to use their mouth appropriately and not to bite their owners. Teaching bite inhibition (soft mouth) and understanding how to interact with the family without biting.
Training level
- Beginner training
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Support between sessions
- Follow-up support
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- Personalized training plans
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Your dog’s background
- Rescue dogs
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Training approach
- Positive reinforcement
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Additional services
- Boarding
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Other listed services
View 22 additional details
- Dog training
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Our Dog training programs are providing to all breeds of dogs, of all ages, exhibiting undesirable behaviors. We recognize that once dogs reach their adult developmental stage, their behavior changes. We provide dog training programs to meet all needs.
- Animal Behavior Consultants
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- Animal Rehabilitation
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- Animal Rescue
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- Certified Dog Behavior Consultants
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- Certified Dog Trainer
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- Certified Dog Trainer - CCPDT-KA
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Certified professional dog trainer, through council for certified professional dog trainer. Using positive reinforcement dog and puppy training techniques only.
- Challenging Behavior
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- Day Stay
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- Dog Bark
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- Dog Behavior Assessment
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- Dog Bite Prevention
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- Dog Leash
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- Dog Parents
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- Dog Training Maryland
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We offer dog training in Maryland and surrounding areas. We are certified Professional Dog Trainer (CCPDT-KA) and Certified Dog Behaviorist (CDBC).
- Dogs Health
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- Kids And Dogs
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- Overnight Camp
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- Shock Collars
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- Shy Dogs
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- Veterinary Behaviorist
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- Pet training in Maryland
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If you are looking for a pet trainer in Maryland please get in touch with our certified dog and puppy trainer. We are only using positive reinforcement.
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Business-stated qualifications
Qualifications stated by the business, not independently verified.
- Training team
- CDBC
Questions & answers
From GoogleWhat people have asked about this business.
I have a 2.5 yo male chesapeake bay retriever not fixed who is very stubborn. Growls at us shows his teeth etc. Need a good trainer. Maybe a long term setting Any advice
Maybe he just doesn't like you.
Community answer · Harrison DySard · 2024-09-21
Yes. Please get in touch with me by filling out the contact form on the website. Thank You.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2024-09-21
What is positive reinforcement training?
Positive reinforcement training is scientifically proved to be the most effective method of training, using rewards! Rewards can consist of high value food, praise, toys, attention..i.e. anything the dog wants and views as a reward. Positive reinforcement ensures your dog is more likely to repeat the behavior consistently and is the most highly used method in this modern day to change your dog's behavior.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How do I deal with a dog that has aggression?
First of all seek out a certified professional dog trainer or a certified dog behaviorist. Aggression can be the result of many emotional issues and it's important that you are able to identify the underlying cause of this behavior. Once the underlying cause has been established working with a certified professional who utilizes positive reinforcement dog training techniques is key. Aggression can often be the result of lack of trust or fear so in order alleviate fear in your dog trust must be established using positive reinforcement techniques. It's important to avoid any punishment based training at all costs. Punishment will only result in mistrust and is likely to escalate the dog's aggressive behavior.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How do I choose a good dog trainer?
Always check the credentials of a dog trainer. There are many professional organizations which certified dog trainers in specific skill areas. The majority of positive reinforcement dog trainers often belong to professional certification organizations. Find the organization and check if the trainer you are considering using is certified. Always research dog trainers, get references. If you identify that a dog trainer uses any techniques other than positive reinforcement dog training techniques avoid them at all cost. You should always use a trainer who is positively motivating your dog and not using aversive training methods which results in fear and intimidation.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
Is it possible to train an older dog?
YES! It certainly is. There are however factors to consider. If your dog is older it's likely he or she has had a significant amount of time to practice and exhibit undesirable behavior or bad habits. So bearing that in mind it can take a little while to undo some of those habits, but as with any training as long as you maintain a high level of routine, repetition and patience there is no reason why your older dog cannot achieve the same goals as a dog who is much younger - it just might take a little more time.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How do I deal with a dog with anxiety issues?
This is a specialist area! Dogs that exhibit anxiety usually have underlying issues. Therefore contacting a certified professional or a veterinary behaviorist is likely the best option as they will be able to identify the triggers and the best solution to address the anxiety. Anxiety can be a medical condition which will require the intervention of a veterinary behaviorist.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How can I train my dog to stop barking excessively?
As with any behavior we have to identify why the dog is barking. There are several reasons why dogs bark i.e. Territorial / protective barking, fear and anxiety, or boredom. So each of the reasons require different techniques and responses. If possible provide your dog with safe doggie activities to do throughout the day to alleviate boredom, i.e the use of Kongs, or stuffed marrow bones, give your dog plenty of exercise to burn of excess energy helping them to relax and sleep as opposed to barking, as tired dog does less barking! You can also teach your dog the command “quiet” in a calm but first voice say ‘quiet” and when they are quiet for a period of time they are rewarded. Whatever the reason is for your dogs barking, ensure it's not allowed to continue as it becomes a habit and is difficult to stop.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How do I teach my dog to come when called?
This is a “simple” one: always reward your dog for coming when you call them. At first you can use a piece of high value food.. you call your dogs name and reward with a treat. Once your dog is responding well and coming consistently using a high value treat you can then call your dog and provide them with 5-10 seconds of physical praise i.e. rubbing them playfully on their torso. Repeating this exercise will teach your dog every time you call them “something good happens” as a result calling your dog results in them responding consistently.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
What should I do if my dog is not responding to training?
Assess why your dog is not responding to training! Are you communicating clearly to your dog what behavior you are looking for? Dogs often get mixed messages from their owners as a result the dog becomes confused and is unable to respond to your training requests. Other factors to consider is your dog fearful? Is the environment conducive for your dog to learn and respond to training? i.e. is it free of distractions? Are you using high enough value food? Are you giving your dog enough time to process the training requests so he understands? Are you providing enough motivation for your dog to respond? Once all the factors have been resolved there is no reason why your dog should not respond to training.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How long does it take to train a dog?
There is no one time frame that fits all when you are training your dog. There are so many factors to consider when training. i.e. the age of the dog, how much training the dog has previously had (if any), the stress level of the dog-stressed dogs take longer to learn as they have to ensure they trust the process before they can progress and this can take time again. Each dog is different. If you remain patient and consistent, your dog will achieve the desired goal.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
What is the best way to train a dog?
The most effective way to train a dog is first of all ensure you utilize positive reinforcement dog training techniques. Positive reinforcement training is where we provide the dog with a reward every time he or she performs the behavior we desire. The Use of positive reinforcement ensures your dog will reliably repeat the behavior he or she is being rewarded for. When you start training your dog, be sure to minimize any distractions to help your dog remain focused on you, and train in short segments to avoid your dog losing interest and becoming disinterested and overwhelmed. Be sure to exercise patience and consistency as all dogs learn at a different pace and only move onto a new training area once your dog has mastered and fully understood the basics. Also ensure you and your dog have fun as it enhances learning and develops a lasting bond between you and your dog.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
Can I train my dog to do tricks at home?
YES you can! Usually training at home is easier and more relaxed for dogs to learn. Training your dog at home provides the dog with a familiar environment which is familiar and relaxing as a result training tricks at home becomes fun and rewarding.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How much does dog training usually cost?
It all depends on what dog training service you are looking for. The cost for group classes is significantly less than private in home training. If you use a certified professional through an accredited association the cost is likely to be more expensive as you are utilizing the services of a trained, qualified expert with qualifications to back up their knowledge. You can also use a trainer who is not certified but you run the risk of limited knowledge without any expertise to back up the training being provided.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
Can I train my dog myself, or do I need a professional trainer?
There are many do it yourself training books on the market as well as a variety of resources on the internet. Oftentimes the resources available are great references and many dog owners have been able to follow them with some success. However as all dogs are not the same and all have varying degrees of behavior training requirements using some of the generalized training resources may not apply to the specific challenges you are having with your dog. Seeking out the help of a certified professional dog trainer or behaviorist allows the professional to identify exactly what your dog needs and modify training to accommodate your dogs behavior to meet your training goals.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How can I tell if my dog is enjoying training or not?
This is all about body language! Reading your dog's body language is an important factor when you are trying to gauge how your dog is feeling about training. If your dog has a soft wriggly body, mouth open (looks like he or she is smiling), tail soft and wagging, eyes are soft and focussed on you, the owner, they are playful and enthusiastic. It's highly likely your dog is enjoying training.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
How often should I train my dog?
Every dog is different, as all dogs learn at different levels and some have a different capacity to retain the information than others. Depending on your dog, You should consider training little and often. Dogs learn quicker and more consistently if you train in shorter durations. It doesn't have to be every day it could be 2-3 times a week but whatever the training schedule you afford your dog, be sure to provide it consistency. It's more effective to train your dog 10 minutes a couple times a day rather than 1hr once a week with no follow up reinforcement after that 1 hr training session. Repetition is key to ensuring you get consistent results from your dog.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
What are 3 common mistakes to avoid when training a dog?
Some common mistakes people make when training their dog is 1) the dog owner assuming the dog knows exactly what you want. Ensure you have effectively communicated the behavior you are desiring your dog to perform and ensure you reward immediately. 2) rewarding too slow! If the dog provides you with the behavior you are looking for you must ensure you reward that behavior immediately as it occurs. This ensures the dog makes the connection between the behavior he or she has performed and the reward. 3) Yelling at your dog. Yelling at your dog during training is not effective and will not result in your dog performing the behaviors you desire any quicker, actually its highly likely the dog will begin to show fear and shut down from training all together. Always make training fun and positive.
Community answer · Pawz For Health Dog and Puppy Training Maryland · 2023-09-21
Public community answers. Authors are not verified as business representatives; details may have changed.
Customer reviews
Google listingMentioned in reviews
- crate training 44
- positive reinforcement 42
- leash training 41
- potty training 23
- calmer dog 11
- board and train program 8
All 10 topics
- puppy socialization 7
- holistic approach 5
- dog behavior expert 3
- board and socialize program 2
Google review topics, not confirmed services.
We feel so lucky to have met the amazing Janet @ Pawz for Health! Our English Lab puppy Lacy (~14-16 weeks) spent two weeks with Janet in August while we were on vacation and the positive changes are nothing short of remarkable. Prior to Pawz, Lacy would not cooperate on a leash,…Read full reviewClose full review
We feel so lucky to have met the amazing Janet @ Pawz for Health! Our English Lab puppy Lacy (~14-16 weeks) spent two weeks with Janet in August while we were on vacation and the positive changes are nothing short of remarkable. Prior to Pawz, Lacy would not cooperate on a leash, was difficult to walk (especially for our daughters), used her sharp puppy teeth for everything (including chewing furniture, grabbing clothes, nipping), and was still working on potty training. When we picked Lacy up, she was a different dog — calm, walking nicely on leash, sit, stay and down on command — we couldn’t believe it! Janet accomplished all of this in just two weeks, all with positive reinforcement and repetition. Perhaps most valuable is the time, education and coaching we received from Janet at our pre-meeting and after training in order to ensure we’re doing our part, as well as learning strategies for continued training and bad habit correction. Our whole family is able to walk her now, she is 99% potty trained, doesn’t jump or use teeth like before — and if she does, we have positive reinforcement techniques to use. Everyone is happier and fully enjoying the wonders of raising a well-mannered puppy. Janet is truly the DMV’s Dog Whisperer!
An easy 5 stars for Janet’s services. We can’t thank her enough for all she does. Prior to consulting Janet, we were doing virtual training classes 1:1 with a behaviorist who made us feel a bit alarmed at our Aussie puppy’s behavior. However, Janet was very grounded and non-alar…Read full reviewClose full review
An easy 5 stars for Janet’s services. We can’t thank her enough for all she does. Prior to consulting Janet, we were doing virtual training classes 1:1 with a behaviorist who made us feel a bit alarmed at our Aussie puppy’s behavior. However, Janet was very grounded and non-alarmist in her assessment. After a reactive visit to the vet, Janet thought Maxie would benefit from more socialization with other puppies that would help with his reactivity and puppy biting that he would get at her camp. We opted for 14 days given how highly reviewed Janet was. From the get-go, Janet was extremely prompt in her communication with us, always offering support via email and suggestions for improvement. She is genuinely interested in the puppy’s wellbeing and assessed our puppy thoroughly, as well as assessing our own behavior with the dog. We truly appreciated her feedback to us as dog owners, given this is our first puppy and we are novices. In regards to her training camp, what we really appreciate was: - she does the camp in her home - she has a massive backyard for the puppies to roam - she sends updates with videos approximately every other day or every few days - there are no e-collars or anything of the like In terms of our puppy “transformation”: - prior to the camp, our puppy could not loose leash walk for he became far too distracted by the outdoor environment, no matter what treat we had in our hands - he was growling and puppy biting at us constantly like a piranha - we had to bribe him to go into his crate - we had a dog pen to constrain him because he was a constant terror despite having a house line Post puppy camp: - Maxie loose leash walks like an absolute pro, it’s quite remarkable. We barely have high value treats on our walks now, using only kibble here and there. - Maxie mostly goes willingly into his crate when asked. He settles more quickly in his crate post-camp. - He constantly offers sits and downs, just by looking at him - We got rid of the puppy pen per Janet’s recommendations and he does well on a house-line - Growling has completely stopped. He does nip/puppy bite at us still somewhat regularly, but not to the extent previously. - Overall, just a more calmer puppy I appreciated Janet’s instructions post puppy camp to assist us in understanding how to exactly loose leash walk him, how to avoid bribing him for normal behaviors, and how to have him go into his crate willingly. Thank you Janet 😊
I would absolutely recommend Janet at Pawz For Health for your puppy training needs. She provides a very thorough and honest intake session to learn more about your dog and what you’re looking for. She took our once shy puppy for training camp and worked to build his confidence, …Read full reviewClose full review
I would absolutely recommend Janet at Pawz For Health for your puppy training needs. She provides a very thorough and honest intake session to learn more about your dog and what you’re looking for. She took our once shy puppy for training camp and worked to build his confidence, leash skills, basic commands, and more. He is much more confident on walks and does incredibly well socializing with other dogs now. Upon pickup, Janet invested a lot of time to ensure I understood the various commands and cues to continue with to ensure lasting success. It’s clear she has a true love for and understanding of dogs and I couldn’t be happier with the results!
We can’t thank Janet Oquendo at Pawz for Health Dog Training Maryland enough for transforming our puppy! Janet began by offering a detailed consultation to get to know us and our puppy, Solé. From the very start, we were incredibly impressed by her remarkable ability to read both…Read full reviewClose full review
We can’t thank Janet Oquendo at Pawz for Health Dog Training Maryland enough for transforming our puppy! Janet began by offering a detailed consultation to get to know us and our puppy, Solé. From the very start, we were incredibly impressed by her remarkable ability to read both puppy and human behavior. Janet’s expertise and genuine compassion made enrolling Solé in the 10-day socialization and training camp an easy decision. Before enrolling in Janet’s camp, we were overwhelmed first-time puppy parents dealing with biting, anxiety in new situations, and fearfulness around people and city noises. Our puppy would even refuse to leave our yard due to her fears. Janet worked absolute magic. After the training camp, our once anxious puppy now confidently walks past buses and cars without batting an eye. Biting and nipping have completely stopped, and she calmly greets strangers and children, something we never imagined possible before Janet. Playtime is now enjoyable and safe, as our puppy knows exactly how to interact without biting hands. Janet also equipped our dog with fantastic obedience skills, including a rock-solid sit/stay and down/stay, and exceptional loose-leash walking abilities. She also taught Solé to love her crate, which significantly improved our potty training efforts, allowing us all to sleep through the night. Beyond training our puppy, Janet empowered us as dog owners by thoroughly teaching us how to maintain these skills at home. She remains consistently available, regularly checking in and answering all our ongoing questions with care. Our puppy is now happy, confident, and gentle all thanks to Janet’s expertise and genuine care. We can’t recommend Janet at Pawz for Health enough!
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.