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 training
House training
Leash training
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 training
Socialization
Behavior support
Aggression training
Barking
Chewing
Fear and confidence
Reactivity training
Resource guarding
Separation anxiety
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 coaching
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 dogs
Puppies
Training level
Advanced obedience
Advanced training
Support between sessions
Personalized training plans
Assistance and working dogs
Service dog training
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 training
Additional services
Boarding
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.
Grooming
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 Course
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 Behavioral
Emotional Support Animals
Intensive Training Program
Leash Classes
Pet Therapy
Training Lessons
Training Sessions
Self-Serve Dog Wash
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
5/5Nugget was 5 years old going into training(and part chihuahua!) so we had a lot of bad habits(enabled by me) that we had to break! Rowan was patient and thorough and very knowledgeable, and we progressed through all the commands with him being able to stay down in place for 5 min…Read full reviewClose full review
Nugget was 5 years old going into training(and part chihuahua!) so we had a lot of bad habits(enabled by me) that we had to break! Rowan was patient and thorough and very knowledgeable, and we progressed through all the commands with him being able to stay down in place for 5 minutes with me leaving the room! Rowan obviously loves the dogs and admits the dogs are easier to train sometimes than the owners. All in all I am very pleased with Nuggets achievements and will continue to build on them through group classes and the knowledge I gained. Thank you paw by paw and thank you Rowan!
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Jonathan Correia
5/5We cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible experience we've had with Paw by Paw Training, particularly with our trainer, Rowan. From the moment we walked in with our pitbull, Petunia, we knew we were in good hands.
Petunia had been struggling with aggression towards o…Read full reviewClose full review
We cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible experience we've had with Paw by Paw Training, particularly with our trainer, Rowan. From the moment we walked in with our pitbull, Petunia, we knew we were in good hands.
Petunia had been struggling with aggression towards other dogs, which made walks and outings a stressful experience for us. However, Rowan's expertise and dedication shone through as he tailored a training program specifically for Petunia's needs.
Rowan's approach was not only effective but also compassionate. He took the time to understand Petunia's behavior and patiently guided us through various techniques to help her overcome her aggression and general stubbornness. His knowledge of dog behavior and training methods was evident, and he provided us with invaluable insights into better understanding and communicating with Petunia.
Thanks to Rowan's guidance and support, Petunia has made tremendous progress. She's now more relaxed and confident around other dogs, and walks have become enjoyable bonding experiences for us all.
Moreover, Rowan didn't just focus on training Petunia—he also empowered us as dog handlers. He taught us practical skills and strategies to reinforce positive behavior and maintain consistency in our interactions with Petunia.
Overall, our experience with Paw by Paw Training and Rowan has been nothing short of amazing. We wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone seeking professional and compassionate dog training services. Thank you, Rowan, for helping us become better dog owners and for transforming Petunia's behavior for the better!
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Vanessa Stiffler
5/5We found Paw by Paw when looking for a place to train our new puppy, and are so happy we did. Beyond the puppy training which is top-notch and results in a well-balanced and wonderful dog to be around, we were excited to see all the other offerings that help support us in ongoin…Read full reviewClose full review
We found Paw by Paw when looking for a place to train our new puppy, and are so happy we did. Beyond the puppy training which is top-notch and results in a well-balanced and wonderful dog to be around, we were excited to see all the other offerings that help support us in ongoing bonding and training with our dog - graduate classes, agility classes, and nosework classes are activities we both look forward to each week. When we recently took in a foster dog, there was no question that he would also be enrolled at Paw by Paw for training and the supportive environment of the facility, trainers, and other dog owners. It's absolutely worth the investment in your dog and family!
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Christina Landrum
5/5Bubba and I love Paw by Paw Dog Training. Nothing but great things to say about all of the coaches who helped him throughout his journey. Especially Rowan, he listened to everything I wanted to improve about Bubba and never saw him as a bad dog just as one who could be a better v…Read full reviewClose full review
Bubba and I love Paw by Paw Dog Training. Nothing but great things to say about all of the coaches who helped him throughout his journey. Especially Rowan, he listened to everything I wanted to improve about Bubba and never saw him as a bad dog just as one who could be a better version of himself. He also did a great job of working with my schedule and of teaching me the right and wrong ways to train my dog at home. Everyone who sees him from the start of training to now has nothing but positive things to say about all of his improvements. I will definitely be taking more paw by paw classes now that we’ve graduated from the intro class.
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Ed Bloom
5/5
Paw by Paw was fantastic. Exceeded all expectations. My puppy went from jumping and play biting to a perfectly well behaved gentlemen. Everyone raves about well behaved he is and what a good dog. Jessie was wonderful. Thank you!!!
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.
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