Opportunity Barks provides dog training in Philadelphia and Bucks County using Lifestyle Dog Training, a real-life approach focused on behavior, communication, and everyday function, not just obedience.
We offer puppy training, private dog training, reactive dog training, and Board and Train programs designed for real-world results. Clients also have access to Day School in our Philadelphia studio for consistent, hands-on support.
Our farm supports Farm Dog® Adventures, with transportation from Philadelphia, giving dogs the space, movement, and environment most are missing, so behavior actually carries into daily life.
We’re also home to Sport & Social Club, a place to connect and build a real life with your dog.
Training & services
Training goals
Behavior consultation
House training
Leash trainingProgram details
Leash training for dogs that pull, lunge, or struggle on walks. We help dogs learn how to move with their handler in a calmer, more connected way, creating walks that are more manageable and less stressful.
Puppy trainingProgram details
Puppy training focused on socialization, house training, and early behavior development. We help puppies learn how to settle, interact appropriately, and navigate real-life environments with more confidence and clarity. Available through private training, classes, and drop-off programs.
SocializationProgram details
Puppy socialization classes designed to help young dogs learn how to interact safely and calmly with other dogs, people, and environments. These are structured sessions, not chaotic play. Puppies learn how to regulate, recover, and make better decisions in real-world situations.
Behavior support
Fear and confidence
Reactivity trainingProgram details
Reactive dog training for dogs that bark, lunge, or struggle around other dogs, people, or environmental triggers. Training focuses on improving regulation, communication, and real-life behavior so your dog can move through the world more calmly and predictably.
How training happens
Board and trainProgram details
Dog boarding with training combines structured care with training support while you are away. We reinforce good habits, maintain routines, and support behaviors like leash skills and settling so your dog comes home more stable, not set back.
Day trainingProgram details
Drop-off day training programs in Philadelphia where you drop your dog off and we handle the training. Dogs build skills through repetition, structure, and real-world exposure. We then coach you through private lessons so the progress translates into your daily life.
Group classesCustomer-reported
Owner coachingCustomer-reported
Pack walks
Private trainingProgram details
Private dog training in Philadelphia tailored to your dog, your home, and your daily life. We work with you and your dog on leash skills, household behavior, reactivity, and communication so training actually holds up outside of a session.
Dog age
Puppies
Training level
Beginner trainingCustomer-reported
Support between sessions
Follow-up support
Progress reports
Dog sports
Agility
Scent work
Additional services
BoardingProgram details
We offer farm based dog boarding with transportation from Philadelphia to our 6-acre farm, designed for dogs who who have completed training programs with Opportunity Barks. Dogs have access to nature trails, woods, and training while in our care.
Daycare
Grooming
Other listed services
View 5 additional details
Dog trainingProgram details
Dog training in Philadelphia focused on real-life behavior, not just obedience. We help dogs and owners build clear communication and skills that work at home, on walks, and in everyday life
Farm Dog TrainingProgram details
Dog training programs at our 10-acre farm just outside Philadelphia. Dogs get access to open space, woods, and natural environments, helping them decompress, explore, and build more balanced behavior alongside structured training for off leash reliability in our fully fenced space.
Lifestyle Dog TrainingProgram details
Lifestyle Dog Training is a real-life approach to dog training focused on how your dog actually lives with you. We work on communication, structure, fulfillment, and behavior in everyday environments so your dog can function at home, on walks, and in the real world.
Farm DogProgram details
Farm dog daycare and training just outside Philadelphia on 10 acres of fully fenced land, woods, and open space. Dogs spend the day moving, exploring, and settling in a structured, natural environment designed to support their biological fulfillment.
Dog Sport & Social ClubProgram details
Exclusively for Opportunity Barks clients. This is not play. Structured group work focused on activity, training, and real-life behavior. Dogs learn how to engage, disengage, and function around other dogs with clarity.
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Questions & answers
From Google
What people have asked about this business.
Can anyone give me information about board and train program for older puppy. I have an 19 month old reactive Shepard mix. He’s reactive toward dogs and people. He had basic training at petsmart, had private trainer for 6 weeks. He needs more intensive training. He is smart but distracts easily outside.
Hey Maria,
Thanks for reaching out, we'd be happy to chat and give you more details. And...if you are dealing with reactivity and are feeling you need more intensive dog training, it's typical for dogs working with behavioral training/behavior modification or "b-mod" as we call it- for 3 weeks. This allows us plenty of time to get to know your pup, establish sturdy foundations and then build from there and work in proximity to dogs to be able to proof training in real time and in real life scenarios (passing by, walks, etc). Yep and with shepherds of course, we're also looking at where they are in guarding mode/secure my people mode. So, lots of things can contribute, and it's all about building drive and engagement with you, getting the dog to look to you in the decision making process and to help them co-regulate in scenarios that feel intense. Feel free to shoot us a message here and we can send you more details, and available dates. https://www.opbarks.com/
Community answer · Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training · 2025-09-21
My Henri is 4 yrs. old and rarely will go in the car and only if there is at least one other person going to. This mini aussiedoodle is overall fearless, fun, sociable but the only dog companion who
Welcome. dreads going in the car. Suggestion
So are you saying that this dog needs to be in a car with at least 2 people? I'm unclear- please share more details via our Get in Touch form here: https://www.opbarks.com
Thanks!
Leigh
Community answer · Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training · 2025-09-21
Do you do Dog Theray (Service Dog) certificate and how much please?
Mimi,
We do offer workshops and training programs to prepare dogs and handlers for Therapy Dog Certification Testing. We offer one on one dog training lesson programs, dog training classes, therapy dog preparation classes and workshops for dogs and their owners in the greater Philadelphia area. Therapy Dog Certification Testing and Therapy Dog Workshops is held a few times a year at our locations in Old City, Philadelphia, East Falls, Philadelphia and Quakertown, PA.
Community answer · Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training · 2018-09-21
I have an almost 2 year old Rottweiler. How much are your sessions and what's the hours?
Hey Robin, because we offer a variety of training options, we'd love more details about what you and your Rotti are looking to work on! If you email me at Alyssa@opbarks, I'd be happy to help you get squared away!
5/5This is our second venture into dog training with a new family pet and we knew exactly where we wanted to go for professional and thoughtful help tailored to our needs. Opp Barks has a team of professional women who know dogs (and know their owners) and really deliver a fantastic…Read full reviewClose full review
This is our second venture into dog training with a new family pet and we knew exactly where we wanted to go for professional and thoughtful help tailored to our needs. Opp Barks has a team of professional women who know dogs (and know their owners) and really deliver a fantastic program. They are also taking pandemic precautions as serious as they do their business. Our dog is happy and tuckered out after each session and is becoming a wonderful four-legged citizen in our home and in our community.
M
missaunttara
5/5
I brought my 11 week old puppy for his first puppy social yesterday. It was super easy to reserve a spot and their Covid friendly pick up and drop off procedure was seamless. We were greeted by a friendly face and other friendly pups and my pup could hardly wait to get in there. We’ll definitely be going back for more socials.
L
Lauren House
5/5We were brand new puppy parents who thought we were totally ready to bring our little guy home. We had read a few books, followed some dog people on Instagram, and talked to our friends and family about their experiences. We were confident in our plan. Then we picked him up, and …Read full reviewClose full review
We were brand new puppy parents who thought we were totally ready to bring our little guy home. We had read a few books, followed some dog people on Instagram, and talked to our friends and family about their experiences. We were confident in our plan. Then we picked him up, and he had clearly not read the same material we did.
We struggled with demand barking, puppy nipping, pulling like a sled dog on the leash, jumping, flopping to the ground when he didn’t want to come inside and more. A friend recommended we check out Opportunity Barks and we called right away, practically in tears, because we thought we would have to give our puppy back to the breeder. From the moment we made contact, we felt like we were being heard and that the staff understood our needs. Alyssa enrolled us in Day School Foundations, Ingrid taught us privately about the importance of life rewards and on Saturdays Leigh taught us all the skills we needed while Churro was working on being a calm, relaxed, attentive dog at school. Not to mention the countless Puppy Socials we attended to get Churro feeling confident around other dogs.
When Churro started Day School Foundations there was a noticeable difference in him. More importantly, there was a noticeable difference in us too. Each day when we picked him up the ladies at Opportunity Barks shared their wisdom, their experiences, book recommendations, equipment suggestions and more. Each time we needed an equipment change Alyssa took the time to work with us to make sure we were all (Churro included) comfortable using it.
All of this said, the highest regards we can truly give is that we have sent countless friends, family and dog-owning strangers directly to Alyssa and Opportunity Barks. Two close-in-age puppies started Day School and Puppy Foundations on our recommendation. Additionally multiple veterinarians at our practice have been so impressed with the farm program, training philosophy and Churro’s ability to “be a dog” despite living in the city. We have learned how to enjoy our lives and be enriched by our puppy with the right tools and techniques instead of feeling held hostage by him and his behavior. There is not a single dog-parent we meet that we don’t sing Opportunity Barks praises to!
K
Katie Marshall
5/5
Rating only; no written comments.
J
Jonathan Lowe
5/5
Rating only; no written comments.
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.
FirstBark