Off Leash K9 Training Maryland — Local services in Columbia

I cannot say enough great things about Off Leash K9 Training Maryland! From the very beginning I knew this is what we’d been looking for. To start, I received a response to my email inquiry from the owner, Jennifer, within a few hours. I had a wonderful conversation with Jackie, the receptionist, who helped me set up our Basic and Advanced training sessions and assured me we could definitely work on “heel” because Albert was a major leash puller. We also wanted to focus on recall training.

We did that and much more with the help of the incredible trainers at OLK9. I also love how the prices were listed up front and there was no up charging for anything (which Jennifer assured me about in our initial email conversation- she did warn me about their retail selection:) We have a few new balls and a cool new leash). The facility is just GORGEOUS. It’s clear time, attention, and practicality all went into the creation and planning of the space.

Now to the great stuff! We worked with three trainers: Alex, Amy, and Craig. I love how they all explained everything to my husband and I in a way that was practical and useful. They were all so kind and it is clear everyone at OLK9 LOVES all dogs. All dogs, no matter what the temperament. Albert is a highly excitable 80lb bundle of energy who was not a polite greeter by any means. So, for one lesson we focused on greetings with Alex and the help of Sabrina, one of the receptionists. And I don’t know what magical “Heel” dust Amy sprinkled on him but our walks have totally transformed. I greatly appreciated that the four Beginner lessons cover the same topic, no matter what trainer you have. It made it so nice knowing there was a clear plan in place and that we were able to have different trainers but cover the same program!

We had the majority of our lessons with Craig. He is absolutely phenomenal! Before OLK9 my husband was semi-interested in training, but it was mostly me (and Albert of course). From the beginning of our first session, with Craig, he completely transformed. Craig taught us the how, why, when, and so much more about each command and part of the process. He clearly knows so much about what he does and presents it in such a down to earth way. His passion for dog training is inspiring. He was also very complimentary of Albert, and the things we’d taught him so far. It was so empowering! He has guided us through each step of the way and was so quick to respond when I’ve had questions throughout the week. Our expectations were by far exceeded.

After each lesson we got into the car and just went on and on about how AMAZING it was and how we couldn’t wait to work on our homework and come back the next week. It only got better with each and every lesson! One of the biggest things my husband said was “I love how they just don’t tell you what you’re doing wrong”- which had been one of our past experiences.

This wasn’t our first dog training rodeo but I wish it had been! We just completed our last Advanced lesson and really can’t wait to come back for more. It’s been the highlight of our weekends and has totally transformed our relationship with Albert and our little party of 3.

Like I said in the beginning, I can’t say enough great things. The only con is that I didn’t find OLK9 sooner! The results, customer service, and love for dogs are unmatched by anywhere we’ve been before. Thank you all for...

I can't say enough about Off Leash K9 Training and especially our trainer Lauren. I adopted a beagle rescue (we named Ziggy) and he was definitely not what I was expecting. Being a former owner of 3 beagles I still wasn't prepared for this dog's behavior. When we got him, he made little if any emotional connection with us - rarely looked us in the eye and didn't care if we petted him etc., he has a very strong hunting drive and constantly chases our cat, to the point that the cat hides in our basement when Ziggy is in the house. For the first time in my life I thought about returning a rescue - something I have never done. I was really at my wits end when a friend recommended Off Leash. I didn't know what to expect but knew I had to try something.

We initially signed up for the Basic Obedience package but soon realized Ziggy really needed some intense work. We decided to sign him up for the 2 Week Board and Train....enter Lauren the beagle whisperer! First of all - Lauren kept Ziggy kenneled at her home which was a huge relief for me as I didn't want him to be alone at night. In the two weeks with Lauren, Ziggy learned several commands very well. The most amazing thing that Ziggy learned was to walk "Off leash" by Lauren's side. He would go on command and stop when she stopped. It was truly amazing watching his progress via photos and videos that Lauren posted throughout the week. After the two weeks we went to pick him up and he was actually happy to see us.

We had our own training session to learn how to correctly use the eCollar with commands. When we got him back home we found that he needs practice, practice and more practice. He's quite stubborn and at first acted like he had broken out of jail but soon learned that things were the same. With the exception of his actions with our cat, he has become a very loving family dog. He now seeks attention and actually gets quite jealous if we show our other two dog's affection before showing it to him.

We have been successful with the basic commands but if he's on a scent sometimes it is still difficult to get him to listen. We have learned that we have to be consistent with him because he "forgets" his manners if we let him. Not long after he came home we had another dog go through knee surgery. Her recovery has taken much time and attention and we slacked off on Ziggy's discipline. He quickly realized that he wasn't receiving continual reinforcement and his behavior declined. It is interesting to see how well he really does know the commands when we "restart". He's still a very stubborn boy and probably always will be, but thanks to Off Leash training, we have to tools to make things better. We haven't solved the cat problem yet except to keep them separate. Hopefully one day that will change and we can all be together in one room without bedlam.

Many thanks to Lauren - I don't think we would still have Ziggy if she hadn't been such a diligent instructor. She was painstakingly patient while training Ziggy and we so appreciate her manner with him and also with us. K9 Off Leash personnel are all professionals and it's obvious they all love what they do. We know Ziggy was treated as if he was Lauren's own dog and for that we are...

I rescued Moose from my local shelter. I've always wanted a dog and I was finally ready for the responsibility. She was a skinny little thing but quickly gained weight and wiggled her way into my heart. She was picked up as a stray so I don't know her history but I knew she was skittish, afraid of loud noises, and wary of new people and other dogs. Though I tried to socialize her as much as possible, she very quickly adopted a "I'll get you before you have a chance to get me" attitude. With my family, she was okay, but any other people, any sudden moves could result in her lunging and lashing out. With other dogs, she was anxious - half wanting to play, half afraid. She constantly misread any moves the other dog would make and I couldn't take her to the dog parks anymore. I wanted her to be a well-adjusted furbaby so after our basic puppy training at a pet store, I hired a personal dog behaviorist and trainer to come to our home and work with us.

Our trainer did tell us things that made sense, but after 6 months, I still hadn't seen the results that I wanted to see. She was still too much with strangers and when she felt trapped or cornered, she got aggressive. When she big my friend's Mom, I knew I needed real help. I've seen Off Leash K9 Training videos pop up on my Facebook news feed and was very impressed. I thought about it for awhile, I asked friends and family for advice and decided to go for it. For the price, I saw it as an investment. And I figured it would be cheaper if I didn't go for it and Moose had bitten someone else and they made me put her down. I couldn't risk it.

I waited 4 long weeks before it was her time. Two weeks away from each other! I worried she wouldn't remember me, or worse, forget all of her training once she returned home. When we walked up to the space, Moose quickly responded to Jen and Scott. She loved them already! Jen put me at ease as she told me everything that they would be doing and addressed all the concerns that I had. While she was training, they set me up with a Dropbox folder where I could see pictures and videos of her training. She looked like she didn't miss me at all! She stayed with Jen and her family and they took great care of her.

Two weeks went by fast and I was anxious as I pulled up to pick her up. She seemed different already, a lot calmer. Jen and Scott spent 2 hours showing and teaching me all of the things that Moose has learned and gave me all the tools that I needed to continue her training at home. In some ways, she's still my goofy, playful Moose but OLK9 has helped her feel more comfortable and secure. Moose has (mostly) dropped her "I'll get you!" outlook and now looks to me to protect her. I can't tell you how proud of her I am when she heels right by my side, go to a specific spot and wait for me, and actually ignore anyone we walk by! One person even said "Your dog is very well-behaved".

Moose isn't perfect yet, we are still training and doing our homework, but we are well on our way thanks to OLK9. They are still supporting Moose and I, even after we left. I know if I ever get another dog, OLK9 is where our training will start. Thanks Jen and Scott! You guys...