Dog and Puppy Training in Baltimore County Maryland

Dog and Puppy Training

in Baltimore County Maryland

Exceptional training for exceptional dogs!

 

Baltimore County Maryland’s Most Experienced Dog Training

Puppy training, dog obedience training, dog boot camp, behavior counseling, competition dog training

N.A.D.O.I. Certified Dog and Puppy Training in Baltimore County

The Nation's Oldest Dog Training Organization, The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors

Linda is certified by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, the oldest organization of its kind globally.

Admittance to this prestigious organization isn’t automatic; each candidate undergoes a comprehensive assessment, evaluating experience in dog training and effective instructional skills.

As a N.A.D.O.I. certified member in Baltimore County Maryland, Linda is committed to assisting owners in fostering cooperative companions. Using inventive methods, she helps owners reshape dog behavior for enhanced enjoyment and meaningful inclusion.

Linda’s dedication to understanding canine learning has gained her international acclaim for her proficiency in working with puppies and young dogs.

We are committed to your progress

Since 1972, Linda Kaim has immersed herself in various aspects of dog training and management, gaining experience in disciplines like upland bird dogs, retrievers, AKC Obedience, and Conformation. Known for her knack in addressing diverse dog behavior challenges, she blends practicality with a meticulously crafted training approach.

Here are some of the more common problems our Dog and Puppy Training clients in Baltimore County have needed help with!

  • Chronic barking

  • Pulling on the leash

  • Growling or snapping

  • Running through doors

  • Fearful Behavior

  • Housebreaking

  • Chronic Chewing

  • Separation Anxiety

  • Jumping

  • “Humping”

  • Counter Surfing

  • Running Away

  • Begging

  • Resource Guarding

  • “Nipping” or Biting

Lionheart K9 Offers Dog and Puppy Training for Baltimore County Maryland residents

Every dog is different! Customize a training program to fit your goals!

We custom tailor programs to meet your dog’s emotional and mental needs, recognizing the uniqueness of every individual. Our programs stand out from others as we consider breed predispositions and behaviors shaped by age and early experiences. With over 50 years of study, practice and experience, Lionheart K9 is an outstanding choice for owners looking for dog and puppy training in Baltimore County Maryland.

Dog and Puppy Training Westminster Maryland

Dog and Puppy Training in Baltimore County Maryland

Connect with Linda in person to address your dog’s most concerning behaviors in your home. We now offer personalized, in-home dog training sessions throughout most of Baltimore County Maryland, ensuring exclusive attention to you and your dog.

Customized programs are designed for dogs of all ages, providing an individualized, hands-on, and unique learning journey for those seeking a personalized training experience.

Dog Boarding and training in westminster maryland

Dog Boarding and Training

We limit the number of dogs we care for at any one time in our home-based dog boarding and training camp. We offer 24-hour concierge care, providing a thoughtful, enriching, personalized experience.

Dogs get to experience visiting different locations throughout Carroll, Baltimore, and Frederick Counties, practicing their new skills in novel environments, with people and other animals.

We offer world-class care and our numerous 5-star reviews reflect our commitment to our clients!

Westminster Maryland's only NADOI certified dog training

Experience – Professionalism – Results

No canine behavior challenge is beyond the expertise of a N.A.D.O.I. certified dog trainer in Baltimore County. Transform your troubled pup into a calm companion! If you need answers, it’s time to contact the most logical choice for your dog’s behavioral issues.

Anticipate durable, effective results with Baltimore County Maryland’s most experienced professional dog trainer. We are dedicated to our work and strive to ensure our owners achieve success.

Work With The Leading Expert For Dog and Puppy Training in Baltimore County Maryland

Learn what to do and how to do it the first time, from a N.A.D.O.I. certified dog trainer in Baltimore County Maryland.

Take the guesswork out of what to do between lessons with our industry leading support and feedback.

Improve your dog’s behavior through our clear, transparent training instruction and support material.

Westminster Maryland's most experienced dog training

It’s never too late to teach your dog how to be calm around distractions…

Baltimore County Maryland, is filled with dozens of opportunities to show off your dog’s mad skills in public, with inviting dining, hiking and shopping opportunities for the well-trained companion. With hiking trails and dog parks to pet-friendly cafes and accommodations in every Baltimore County community, there are plenty of activities to keep you and your dog occupied!

 

 

Tired of getting complaints? Start getting compliments!

Help your dog become the best dog ever

Imagine the ability to entertain guests without your dog being a nuisance. Think of the exploration you can enjoy by being able to take your dog anywhere, confident of their model behavior around unfamiliar people or even other animals. Allow Linda’s expertise to assist you in achieving remarkable improvements in your dog’s behavior that  will surprise and please you!

  • No More Pulling On Walks
  • No More Destructive Behavior
  • No More Jumping On Furniture
  • No More Stealing
  • No More Molesting Your Guests, Kids Or Spouse
  • No More Barking
  • No More Messes In The House
  • No More Door Dashing
  • No More Anxiety
  • No More Running Away
  • No More Resource Guarding
  • No More Begging
  • No More Counter Surfing

Some of the questions we get from our Baltimore County Maryland dog and puppy training clients:

 

Where will my dog live while at training camp?

We don’t house your dog in a kennel. They live in our home as a guest, with concierge 24/7 supervision, on-call veterinary care, opportunities to interact with appropriately behaved dogs, travel in secure accommodations, under the banner of appropriate zoning, licensing and insurance.

What will my dog do each day?

Our day starts at 5:30am, taking dogs out on leash to assure they relieve themselves adequately. We feed breakfast between 6:30 and 7 am and prepare for the day. Each dog is individually aired a second time after breakfast before being loaded into our transport vehicle if it’s a ‘travel’ day. We are generally on location by 9 am and training commences.

  • Individual training sessions between 9 and noon.
  • Afternoon break and crate rest between noon and 2 pm
  • Custom tailored fitness program including treadmill time or free range play with appropriate dog or dogs from 2 to 5 pm and additional leash work
  • Dinner time at 6:30 pm
  • Evening relaxation involving “quiet rest” with humans
  • 10:30 pm: Last call for potty and good night!

Dog boot camps helps facilitate training because it allows the dog to be ‘immersed’ in the training process. Each dog is housed in a very controlled setting, where the routines of living have been designed to maximize our training efforts. From how the dog is housed (crated in our absence and overnight, on a leash when we are present) to how the dog is expected to behave in the presence of many other dogs and distractions in my personal home enhances the learning proces.

Our Boarding and Training program helps create a more cooperative dog so the transition back to your home is considerably easier. Our job isn’t over, however. We continue to work with you to help maintain and improve the trainng that has already been started for you!  

Dog Boot Camps cost more than private lessons because we are including your dog a a member of a household and are providing essential needs that include multiple daily walks just to potty (never less than 4 generally more like 8 to 10, depending on weather) and opportunities to interact with humans in a home setting. This is a critical distinction from trainng facilities that house dogs in kennels, where intimate interactions are far less frequent.

Lionheart K9 has provided video and written training support for all of our owners since the advent of the internet (yes, I am that old) and continue to do so with every dog. We routinely hear positive feedback from owners that prefer to watch our video taped sessions with them over our prepared instruction!

Will my dog listen to me when he comes home?

We provide you with multiple lessons with your dog while he is in training, and are willing to schedule as many as you need to feel confident. We offer unprecedented follow up and support for you even after your dog has gone home. If you continue to practice the skills you and your dog have been taught, there is generally no diminishing of response, but you must remember that training is an ongoing process. In order for the training to ‘stick’, you must practice!

Do you use Positive Reinforcement?

Yes, we do use positive reinforcement. We use anything that has value to the dog, like toys or games. We tend to fade the use of food as a reinforcement pretty early, once the dog grasps a concept, and replace it with a more tangible reward. We employ many scientifically sound principles in our training, but we are not married to one philosophy, nor do we engage in rhetoric or dogma. We train dogs.

We advocate for results-based dog training, in a timely manner and do not engage in the rhetoric of “positive”, “negative”, “punishment based” or “fear”. We are well-versed in the use of all contemporary training philosophies and tools and are able to create a unique experience for our training clients, one that helps them meet their goals and expectations.

The intelligent use of reinforcement to motivate willing cooperation creates thoughtful, well-trained problem solvers that are a pleasure to own. We create positive relationships where none existed and improve those relationships where conflict has taken the place of companionship.

What training tools do you use?

We use a variety of tools to help facilitate communication between dog and owner. We follow a policy of “Least Invasive, Minimally Aversive” with all of our training, regardless of tool use. A training device is simply a tool like any other. It’s principle role is to disable the dogs’ ability to escape or avoid something it doesn’t want to do. We don’t yank on dogs or beat them up with collars, but enable them to discover boundaries in a thoughtful way. We have several great videos that show the equipment we use and clearly the dogs are working happily. You can view them on our FaceBook page or the many videos we post daily on our YouTube Channel.

Will my dog always have to wear training gear?

Our goal is to teach the dog right action so we can fade the use of the tool altogether. Through the way we train, you are taught precisely how to get your dog free of tools that simply manage his behavior. We select tools that help you control your dog more effectively throughout the training process. We don’t limit ourselves by using only one type of tool. Dogs are as unique as fingerprints. What may work for one, may not work for another. Being able to select based on the dog and the owner’s ability to control him, is a strategy that has served us successfully. With the appropriate guidance, any tool can be used safely and humanely.

Will my dog always have to wear equipment?

Our goal is to teach the dog right action so we can fade the use of the tool altogether. Through the way we train, you are taught precisely how to get your dog free of tools that simply manage his behavior. We select tools that help you control your dog more effectively throughout the training process. We don’t limit ourselves by using only one type of tool. Dogs are as unique as fingerprints. What may work for one, may not work for another. Being able to select based on the dog and the owner’s ability to control him, is a strategy that has served us successfully. With the appropriate guidance, any tool can be used safely and humanely.

Do you offer any other training options?

We offer a variety of training programs that enable you to choose based on your availability, comfort level and price range. We offer private training and online training as well. The boot camp option puts the ‘heavy lifting’ on your trainer to do the bulk of the work, while the private training and on-line options require you to find the time and do the work yourself. Each one has a trade-off. Boot camp offers results faster, private training is beneficial for owners that wish to learn along with their dog, and the online option enables the owner to work at their own pace.

Will my dog's personality change?

Your dog’s personality will remain intact. What will change is his behavior. Which is essentially, the point of training, right?

What can I expect my dog to know after training?

A better question would be what can YOU expect to know after training. You and your dog will have been introduced to basic obedience commands, like heel, sit, down, and to come when called, but you will need  to continue reinforcing those commands. The duration of the training and how frequently these skil are practiced determines how fluently your dog performs these exercises. Training the dog is only part of the equation. Teaching owners how to be more effective communicators is the real task. Your continual daily practice will help him develop lasting memory.

As with any learned task, what you don’t use, you lose, and it is the same with dogs. Your persistent practice of the things your dog has learned on a daily basis will help keep him trained.

What kind of training do you do?

We train dogs. We don’t get into mental gymnastics about methods or tools, ‘positive only’ or ‘balanced’ training discussions. Training ‘methods’ are as varied and unique as the dogs themselves, with each dog determining the best way to teach. Just like human children (and even adults), everybody learns differently, so it takes experience and the nuanced applications of skills created and practiced over time to best determine how to approach each dog, and each problem.

Although the results may seem pretty similar, how one achieves that is always a unique path!

Where can I find your price list?

We do not publish our prices for the same reason your mechanic, dentist or contractor doesn’t. Every encounter is different, and often the scope of the work or the lenght of time until completion is going to look different for each individual. We want to speak with you in person to deterine if we are a good ‘fit’ for each other and if we can provide you with a program that will help you. We work with dogs of all personality types and behavior issues, but occasionally an in-person evaluation is neccessary to make that determination.

Transform your dog’s behavior!

Contact Baltimore County Maryland’s most experienced dog trainer today!

Welcome to Lionheart K9, where we go way beyond ‘basic’ dog training, unlocking your dog’s potential to be the companion you’ve always wanted! As the most experienced dog trainer in Baltimore County Maryland, we have a proven track record of delivering enduring results with both kindness and efficacy. Lionheart K9 is dedicated to employing humane and effective methods, following industry-recognized best practices to achieve lasting improvements in your dog’s behavior without altering their personality. From our first contact to the final lesson and beyond, we work in partnership with you to address your dog’s behavioral issues, creating a respectful relationship. Let us assist you in building a conflict-free, mutually rewarding connection with your dog that brings you happiness, not stress. Reach out today to schedule your complimentary 30-minute phone consultation and unleash your dog’s potential!

Read what your neighbors have said about their experience with our Dog and Puppy Training in Baltimore County Maryland!

Gretchen C. writes:

I am so grateful to Linda and Lionheart K9 for the work she/they did with my Australian Shepherd, Koda. They took my head strong and anxious 3 year old herding dog and gave him the language and tools he needed to exist and function happily in our family and home.

Erin B. writes:

I have been taking lessons and group classes with Linda now for about a year. I came to her with a specific goal in mind, which was to be able to show my dog in beginner novice obedience. We have far exceeded my goals and aspirations for my dog thanks to her. My dog and I are thankful for her tremendous amount of knowledge and her guidance both in and out of the show ring.

Darren G. writes:

Finding Lionheart K9 has been a key factor in getting to the next level. Linda’s decades of knowledge have been extremely valuable, over and over again. When I have an oddball situation – Lionheart is my go to resource. Linda has been there, done that, several times. She knows her stuff and is very good at teaching others. Can’t thank or recommend Lionheart enough.

Kyle L. writes:

Over the course of the training, Lady’s behavior and overall demeanor have improved markedly- calmer, more responsive, and probably happier as well. Lionheart K9’s teaching allowed us to build a new relationship with Lady after a difficult start. Linda’s keen intuition about and understanding of dogs brings the training method to life, and I highly recommend Lionheart K9 to anyone serious about understanding and training their dog.

Jen T. writes:

I have had a really great experience training my dog with Linda. Her knowledge on dog behavior is beyond anyone I have ever met and her ability to translate what your dog needs from you is incredible. Thank you for showing us what can be accomplished!

Schedule your FREE, no obligation phone consult today!