5 Best Dog Trainers in Canberra for Happy, Behaved Pups
Welcoming a new puppy into your Molonglo Valley home or managing an anxious dog can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. Finding the best dog trainers in Canberra is crucial for building a strong, positive relationship with your furry pal.
You want someone who uses modern, force-free methods and gives you practical steps to follow at home. Busy professionals also need flexible solutions like specialised daycare to fit their demanding schedules.
To help you find a compassionate and effective professional who understands your specific needs and helps your dog thrive, we’ve evaluated the top local options. Read on to know your best fit!
How much does dog training cost in Canberra?
Dog training rates in Canberra range from about $30 to $60 for a group session and from $150 to $275 or more for specialised private consultations.
| Service Type | Average Cost |
| Puppy Socialisation (Group) | $30 – $60 per session |
| Basic Obedience Course (4-6 weeks) | $199 – $247.50 total |
| Private/In-Home Consultation | $150 – $275+ per session |
| Club Membership (Annual) | $454 per year |
1. Dusty Snoots Dog Training
Company lostysnootsdogtraining.com.au
Address: Queanbeyan, Canberra, and surrounding areas (Mobile)
Contact: (61) 0488 005 449 | [email protected]
Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday & Friday 9:00AM–5:00PM | Saturday 9:30AM–4:30PM
When you need highly specialised assistance with dog training or someone to directly handle loose-leash walking through a convenient walk-and-train service, Dusty Snoots Dog Training easily handles the most demanding situations.
They also offer dock diving expertise for high-energy pets and provide holistic nutrition advice alongside professional dog grooming.
I spoke with a busy professional in Gungahlin who used their mobile service, and they were thrilled with how the trainers customised a balanced approach right in their living room.
The team is exceptionally skilled at rehabilitating fearful or reactive dogs, creating a calm environment that makes the animal feel secure.
While they do prefer text messages for communication due to their hands-on schedule, the results are consistently reliable. Plus, their strict force-free methods for assistance dogs ensure a trusting partnership between handler and animal.
Customer Reviews
Jess is an amazing trainer who has helped my boy a lot he has come so far and more confident and is close to doing his PAT his first trainer was mostly about money and didn’t care really about the welfare of my dog and her methods where more damaging than helpful but Jess is amazing and makes sure the dog is ok and that I’m also ok she has a really great way of helping and training both me and my dog his progressing so fast and he absolutely loves Jess.
- Telisha Williams | Google Reviews
2. All Round Good Hounds Dog Training Canberra
Website: argh.com.au
Address: 20 Essington St, Mitchell
Contact: (02) 6258 5775 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Thursday 8:00AM–8:00PM | Friday 8:00AM–5:00PM | Saturday to Sunday 8:00AM–8:00PM
Finding a safe space for an anxious pet is difficult, but All Round Good Hounds offers a specialised dog boarding and day program for reactive dogs alongside a tailored puppy-specific curriculum.
They even feature a dedicated dog gym facility and conduct holistic two-hour behavioural consultations at your residence. Their all-inclusive policy means they will welcome any animal, regardless of the challenges.
I really appreciate how their puppy classes focus heavily on crucial developmental skills like desensitisation, setting a solid foundation for the future.
On the downside, you have to give a full week’s notice to cancel a session, which can be tough if your schedule is unpredictable.
Nonetheless, their willingness to send an online video version of a missed group class shows a strong dedication to client success.
Customer Reviews
Eleni and her team offer an exceptionally welcoming and levelheaded approach to working with dogs.
We have attended several courses with ARGH and have always felt heard and supported. Their approach has always been considered and respectful.
Our Labrador cross has continually had marked learning from attending courses and her board and train sessions have yielded significant improvements to all manner of behaviours.
This team deserves your attention and appreciation.
- Michael Jackson-Rand | Google Reviews
We took our 6 month old Bordoodle to Juvenile classes. Awesome.
It’s as much as us learning as our dog. Eleni has great structured program which has been transformative to learning how to train our excitable and energetic dog.
Planning to do more classes!
- Geoff Drummond | Google Reviews
3. Belconnen Dog Obedience Club
Website: bdoc.asn.au
Address: 1 Morisset Rd, Mitchell
Contact: (02) 5105 0992 | [email protected]
Hours: Thursday 7:00PM–8:30PM | Sunday 9:00AM–10:30AM
Owners looking to engage their pets in active sports will love the extensive catalogue at Belconnen Dog Obedience Club (BDOC), which features a specialised Flyball training program called “Baby Bullets.”
They also follow a three-tiered companion syllabus and provide advanced obedience classes for handlers preparing for formal trial rings.
When I attended one of their Sunday morning sessions with a friend’s terrier, the supportive community atmosphere was immediately noticeable. The instructors are incredibly welcoming to dogs of all breeds and sizes.
A notable drawback is that their group-based format excludes animals with severe behavioural issues. Their trainers can’t provide a dedicated one-on-one intervention.
For well-adjusted pups, though, the opportunity to earn recognised Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) titles makes BDOC a highly rewarding environment for dedicated handlers.
Customer Reviews
BDOC is a great place to complete training of your beloved pooch, trainers are patient and understand. There is no push to go from one grade to another and allow your dog to learn at a casual place suited to them.
- David Walsh | Google Reviews
4. A.C.T. Companion Dog Club
Website: actcdc.org.au
Address: Corner Jerrabomberra Avenue and Narrabundah Lane, Symonston
Contact: (02) 6295 7764
Hours: Tuesday 10:00AM–2:00PM | Behaviour Training: Wednesday 10:00AM–12:30PM | Thursday 6:30PM–9:00PM | Sunday 9:30AM–12:00PM
The A.C.T. Companion Dog Club structures its curriculum through a five-tiered behaviour program and runs a wonderful dogs-as-therapy outreach initiative for local aged-care residences.
Here, instructors separate lower-level classes by age and smartly utilise visual barriers to help easily distracted pups focus during lessons.
They also maintain a strict ethos that relies entirely on reward-based methods, promoting the use of toys and play alongside traditional food treats.
Take note, though, that you can’t simply pay a fee to use their grounds independently, as active participation in organised events is mandatory for access.
On the upside, their small class sizes at the foundational levels ensure that you receive adequate attention and guidance. And since they roll out fresh courses four times a year, you never have to wait long to get started on your educational journey.
Customer Reviews
Possibly the most cost effective place to train in Canberra. The club is run on volunteers who go above and beyond to help if you’re willing to learn. My dog and I went from first timers to enjoying multiple sports together in our time here and miss it dearly since we moved away.
- Amanda W | Google Reviews
CDC is a not-for-profit organisation run by dedicated volunteers who contribute their time because they love dogs and love helping people transform their dogs into paw-fect companions. The weekly training classes teach you how to train your young puppy or older dog using positive training methods. You and your dog can even go on to participate in dog sports such as agility, obedience and rally-o trialing, flyball, tracking, dances with dogs or K9 Disc. CDC is celebrating 60 years of dog training in 2018.
- Heather McPherson | Google Reviews
5. Canine Behaviour Academy
Website: caninebehaviouracademy.com.au
Address: Canberra, Bungendore, and Braidwood (Mobile)
Contact: +61 0415 281 605 | [email protected]
Hours: Available 24/7
Jane, the lead consultant at Canine Behaviour Academy, uses a science-backed methodology rooted in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to tackle complex behaviour specialisations.
Her global accreditation ensures high-quality guidance during convenient in-home consultations where the problematic actions actually occur.
Interestingly, the primary focus here is to educate humans on how to effectively cultivate good habits without causing fear or pain.
It’s also fantastic that every meeting concludes with a detailed written action plan, so you always know exactly what homework to practice.
On the downside, the premium initial consultation fee is quite significant, which might deter owners working with a strict budget.
Regardless, her deep commitment to fostering positive communication and bonding ensures that you gain the necessary skills to manage your pet confidently long after the sessions conclude.
Customer Reviews
Jane is amazing! We have a 6 month old British bulldog with some behavioural issues and we were lost at what to do. From the minute Jane arrived our dog was obsessed with her, she made the training session fun for him and us, we learnt so many things and have started implementing them and his behaviour is already improving. Jane never made us feel guilty about the way we were training him before, she was understanding and really seemed to care. I would recommend Jane if you are struggling with your dog.
- EliseD | Google Reviews
Jane has been a wonderful trainer for my dog Romeo. After moving house, Romeo was anxious and having accidents in doors. Jane gave us tricks to help him settle in and feel comfortable in his new home. We have been persistently working on Romeo’s reactivity to people and other dogs with lots of progress made! Jane is very friendly, educated and professional. Jane explains/demonstrates training clearly, making it is easy to continue in your own time, especially with the comprehensive training plan provided after each session.
- Rebekah Kampowski | Google Reviews