The BEST decision we've ever made. Our dog never listened to a word we said before Scott, and now she's so well trained. We were nervous about spending the money, but it was 100% worth every penny. We did the two week training program and we were able to check on her progress though Facebook. We are so much happier (especially Milly) because we can go anywhere with her now. Thanks Scott!! read more

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Austin was fantastic! She helped us get our puppy trained up in a few short weeks. Before, it was tough to enjoy anything as our dog was reactive, had no recall, and would pull on her leash constantly. After completing training with Austin, we can now easily walk our dog and let her off leash outdoors without fear knowing her recall is strong enough that she'll always come back. We cannot thank or recommend Austin enough! read more

We truly cannot speak highly enough of DC Dog Wizard and Scott! My husband and I adopted our dog Theo, a dachshund/lab mix, about two years ago. While he is a wonderful family dog, he often displayed fear-based aggression. We became nervous with him around new people and even hesitated to bring him on walks. Covid only made Theo's aggression worse, as he has the opportunity to see so few people. We are expecting our first child in January and wanted to ensure we had all of the tools to control Theo around our baby. We read the stellar reviews DC Dog Wizard received and decided this program might work for Theo. We could not be more impressed. We dropped off Theo at Scott's for the intensive two-week training and when we picked him up, he was a changed dog! He was not reactive on the leash, he was able to play in the dog park with people and dogs he had never met, and seemed so much more at ease. We found Scott's use of "Place" as a tool to get one's dog's under control to be particularly helpful. We had previously relied on keeping Theo behind closed doors, which only made him more agitated. Now, we use "Place" and whenever anyone comes into the house, Theo knows he must go sit on "Place" (a dog bed), until we allow him to get off and greet our visitor. This is a wonderful tool because it not only allows Theo the opportunity to calm down and become accustomed to people entering the house without him intervening, but it allows us to have our hands free. Scott also taught us some great tricks to help introduce Theo to other dogs. We are confident that Theo will do excellently with the new baby and are very thankful for the wonderful training program developed by Scott and DC Dog Wizard. read more

Austin is a miracle worker! I engaged DC Dog Wizard because my husband is bed bound and we wanted our new mini goldendoodle to be well-behaved enough to be a companion to him. I wanted to raise a perfectly good citizen. No one should expect the dog to be trained by Austin. Instead Austin will train you (very gently!) to practice with your pup so that she does indeed become an ideal canine citizen. And that Austin guided me through by being aa encouraging to me as she was to Blossom. The private lessons won't relieve you of your own responsibility to work with your puppy. But they will surely and positively make you more confident and more competent to do the job with joy and with absolute confidence that you're doing your dog a great service. Hats off to Austin. I could not be more pleased. read more

I waited 10 months to write my review to be fair. I have a well trained dog with one problem and one problem only - dog aggression in the dog park. This is a generic training for new or rescue dogs but it does not target a specific behavior problem. They told me results are guaranteed but I did not see any! Sorry Scott, but after two weeks and $2000, the answer was to make Ned wear a muzzle? What was the training on then? read more

My husband and I were referred to Scott by Lucky Dog for our 80-lb German Shepherd/Lab rescue, Rusty, who we adopted in June. Rusty is thought to be about a year old and had developed anxiety-turned-complete-panic around other dogs. He was starting to show aggression towards all dogs and was nearly impossible to walk because of his freak outs. In November we moved and Rusty had a very hard time. He started destroying everything in the house. He chewed a Rusty-sized hole in a door, ate a coscto-sized box of Fiber One bars (you can imagine the resulting damage from that...), and knocked my husband flat on his back reacting to a 10 lb Shitzsu in the neighborhood. He also started to have accidents in the house, something he'd never had an issue with before. All around he was kind of being an a-hole. After three weeks with Scott, Rusty is a new dog. He was originally planned for the two week training, but my Husband and I had to leave suddenly for a third week. Scott was luckily able to accommodate and began training with Rusty immediately. It was great to see the progress with Rusty via the Facebook page and kept us confident that things were going well. Scott was also very responsive, any time we asked for an update, Scott responded within minutes if not seconds. When Rusty came home it was almost unbelievable to watch him respond to Scott. Rusty heels off leash, he happily does the place command even in uncomfortable places, and we have had no pulling, raised hackles, or freak outs when he sees other dogs. He sees them still, obviously, but he stays heeled, doesn't pull on his leash at all, or he sits patiently. Walking him is a completely different experience and, once the weather gets warmer, running with him will be even better. In the house Rusty is completely fine. We've left him for up to 8 hours on his own with no accidents and no destruction. He seems to have gained confidence and independence, something Rusty seriously lacked before. The first few times we left him home alone just for a few hours we watched him via skype and he just laid down in his bed and slept. Didn't even get on the couch! He still has his personality and is still our crazy Rusty - he loves to snuggle, races around like a crazy monster in our backyard, plays with us, and begs endlessly for tortilla chips (we don't usually give in, but they seem to be his only vice!). But when he's called he comes, when he's told to sit, heel, or place he does, and he is handling other dogs nicely. The nicest thing to see, after some pictures of Rusty clinging for dear life to wet logs, was how much Rusty liked Scott. The first day back, Rusty was constantly going over to Scott looking for some love and approval, and Scott gave Rusty lots and lots of praise. He clearly cares about the dogs he's working with and is invested in making them great companions. It certainly worked for our Rusty and we are so happy we made this investment!! read more

Austin helped my cardigan corgi, Tottie, so much! Tottie was very skiddish and scared on a leash; needless to say she was very scared of other dogs and behaved very aggressively on the leash. Austin came in and helped grow her confidence and helped Tottie to become a strong, independent, dog on a leash! She now knows how to place, come, heel, sit, and more! And we can pass by other dogs with hardly any issues. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. read more

Scott was an amazing trainer. He is super knowledgeable, takes time to get to know and bond with your dog, and provides a ton of advice even after the training is completed. Luna was a terrified pup who couldn't walk on a city street or interact with other puppies. We enrolled her in a two week puppy kickstarter where she learned to play with other dogs and a ton of commands. A year later, she has a ton of puppy friends, is excellent on walks and is just thriving. I often get a lot of compliments on how well behaved she is and responsive to commands - she can run across a field when called to come. It's really all thanks to Scott! You can also tell he is really good to the pups because, in our follow up sessions, Luna ran up to him to give him lots of kisses and cuddles. Dogs don't lie - they won't do that unless they trust the person. read more

If you don't have time to read the novel I've written below, please just take away the last couple sentences: Scott's high-quality training, dedication to his clients, and confidence that all dogs and their owners can be successful with the right training makes him the best option out there. I can confidently say that without Scott, our family may not have been able to keep our incredibly sweet, bright, confident (but still high-energy) pup. If you are in a desperate place with your lovable, large, high-energy, aggressive dog, you NEED to call Scott. There's no way around it. Longer version: In February of 2018 my partner and I decided to adopt a 3 year old boxer mix from the shelter with no history and high energy. As someone who spent years working with shelter dogs in a volunteer capacity, I thought I could handle this new problem without professional support. I was so wrong... After being dragged through dewy grass one morning because of Cooper's prey drive (he saw a squirrel about 15 feet away), jumping in front of him when he tried to bite a 5 year old child in the face unprovoked, and throwing out my neck pulling him back from knocking over a neighbor trying to chase her dog, we decided we needed help. I didn't think there was hope for this dog to be honest. The neglect, poor training, and child aggression was some of the worst I'd ever seen in a dog that was as equally sweet, bright, and loving. So we called Scott at DC Dog Wizard. We told him he was aggressive with children, some other dogs, and had a crazy prey drive. Scott did an assessment and confirmed the child aggression and prey drive but was able to show us that the dog aggression wasn't actually aggression and just poorly managed energy and doggy social skills. He also told us that while he couldn't promise we'd ever have a dog who would cuddle with kids, he could help us build trust with Cooper and ensure that when children were around, he would listen to us first and foremost instead of his instincts to ensure everyone around us was safe at all times. We did the 6 week training session and saw incredible progress. With distractions like a screaming child running past our unfenced yard, Cooper will sit, come, and stay with simple commands on NO LEASH. This was incredible progress. However, we still couldn't bring him to the dog park without him overwhelming other dogs and ending up getting bit himself so we enrolled in Scott's 2 week board and train to bridge the gap. After 2 weeks, Cooper came back a changed dog with almost militant responses to commands and I saw for the first time since adopting him that confidence in himself. Does he still get excited seeing new dogs? Yes. Is he still uncomfortable around children? Definitely. But I trust him to listen to our instructions now. I no longer tense up when I hear a child nearby, I tell Cooper to "heal" and he sticks by my side no matter what. If a new dog walks by our yard, I'm more than comfortable introducing Cooper and walking with that new dog before letting them off-leash to play in the yard independently and appropriately. Scott gave us the invaluable gift of unbreakable trust with our dog (who I should note others deemed aggressive, "not a dog park dog", and untrainable). It wasn't easy - this trust was built on training, practice, rewards, and patience day in and day out but was worth every penny, every minute, and every tear. I cannot recommend Scott enough - his patience and demeanor were so incredible during times where I was ugly crying because a few weeks into training Cooper dragged me down a hill and I was ready to give up. Scott's high-quality training, dedication to his clients, and confidence that all dogs and their owners can be successful with the right training makes him the best option out there. I can confidently say that without Scott, our family may not have been able to keep our incredibly sweet, bright, confident (but still high-energy) pup. If you are in a desperate place with your lovable, large, high-energy, aggressive dog, you NEED to call Scott. There's no way around it. read more

DC Dog Wizard - Cooper (left) showing my dad's new pup Cheerio how to sit and wait patiently! - Pet Training Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Austin has been so amazing with my dog Hudson! We started when he was just over a year old, and he's learned so much. He used to pull all the time on walks, chase after squirrels, and he used to hate the crate. We've worked on all of these things over the past 8 weeks, and I have seen a tremendous change and he's doing really well. He's been able to build confidence through training, and he works really hard. I've had several people comment on how well trained he is. It makes such a big difference to have dedicated daily sessions with Hudson, and he has fun training while earning treats. I highly recommend DC Dog Wizard and Austin! Austin really cares about the dogs and will change course based on what you need to focus on each week. read more

My Saint Bernard puppy needed training to walk and obey commands. Austin was a gift from above in quickly understanding my puppy's personality and in just 5 classes, she transformed my puppy into a good walker and well behaved puppy who responded well to commands. Austin is the best dog trainer hands down, and I was lucky to have her train my puppy. I have had dogs most of my life along with dog trainers but there is only one Austin and she is simply the best! read more

Scott's board and train program gets results. He understands dogs and how to help them live happier lives with their people. Two weeks and two follow up lessons have helped us more than two other trainers. We were nervous about the e-collar approach but Scott is great at explaining everything. Thanks Scott! read more

I was initially unsure about putting my dog through a two week training class, however he was a monster when it came to pulling on the leash, had major issues with jumping on people - so I sucked it up and sent him away with Scott. Man was that a good decision! When Harrison came back, he was like another dog! By that I mean his personality had not changed at all, but he was incredibly obedient. Before he'd nearly pull me off my feet, now when we walk, hes always at my left side and there is slack in the leash, even when we are passing other dogs. I frequently let him off the leash now as well, whereas before I would never see him again if I let him off the leash. Also, when he is off the leash, I'll allow him to run around, then all I need to say to bring him back to my left side is "heel" and hes back again, just like in movies. There were a multitude of other problems that were corrected as well with this training, like he seems to be much better now with other dogs. I don't know if it is the training or just being around other dogs for two weeks, but he seems to be far better. I was also initially unsure about going with Scott's e-collar, but I am glad I did. I have a bunch of e-collars but they are not good for the type of training you'll be doing with your dog. The collar Scott uses is much more humane as you can really adjust it to avoid over shocking your dog. I would hands down recommend this training for your dog, its the fastest way to get your dog trained and its very, very effective! read more

We did a ton of research on dog trainers in the district and we couldn't be happier that we went with DC Dog Wizard. We have a golden retriever / lab puppy who was already housebroken, knew his core commands, had a ton of tricks learned, but was still a puppy and had a tendency to ignore commands if food wasn't involved. We then decided a board and train program was the best option in order to refine his training - and it worked WONDERS. After staying with Scott Dancer for three weeks, our pup Finley now knows "place", "sit", "stay", "come", all while in a public park and not on a leash. This has translated to his behavior at home where he was sometimes difficult and wouldn't listen as well. He really feel likes a brand new dog. Furthermore, Scott completely revamped Finley's leash behavior. Before seeing Scott, Finley was a HUGE puller, but now, he walks by my side and it's like he isn't even there. For those with young puppies that are destined to be bigger dogs, correcting pulling habits early is crucial. One of my favorite things about DC Dog Wizard was the clear care they showed for Finley. When we saw Scott for one of our follow up meetings (one of the great aspects of the program that allows the trainer to teach the owners and follow up on progress), Finley was so pumped to see Scott and even looked like he wanted to go home with him! Between the training, hanging out with other dogs, and being cared for by professionals, Finley was in heaven and his parents couldn't be happier with the results. We HIGHLY recommend DC Dog Wizard! read more

Scott and DC Dog Wizard exceeded our expectations! We are so happy that we can now let Riley run and get exercise without worrying that she will run off after a person, a dog, or a car. She now comes when she's called, no longer jumps on our neighbors and guests, and sits quietly in her place without begging while we eat dinner. It's supposed much more pleasant to walk her on the leash. Before Scott and DC Dog Wizard, we had worked so hard at these things and had made NO progress. Scott told us exactly what to do--and results were apparent almost immediately. Happy dog and happy owners! Thank you! read more

These guys are horrible. They can't even schedule a phone interview properly. Save your money and your time.

DO NOT use this "trainer." 1. Poor conditions and dogs are left alone and crated in a basement. 2. I believe they only care about money - as despite my describing my dogs reactive behaviors in the home but not at boarding or day camp - they insisted on board and train. ($3000). The head of franchise operations confirmed her situation should have been in home private training, not board and train. 3. After two weeks I got a call that my dog wasn't ready but that she hadn't exhibited any reactiveness to dogs or people outside. I explained that as I'd told Scott and in all my emails and paperwork, her issue was never in those situations. 4. My dog was fearful and acting like she'd been abused after. Even with the trainer she would wince every time the collar was used and even yelped at times. 5. When I tried to get a refund of even part of my money, they refused unless I signed a non disclosure to never say anything negative about them. And then threatened to sue me and the CFO said he "looked forward to it". I've since hired another trainer who has done amazing work without shocking my dog. I have screen shots and emails and can give you more details if you contact me. Don't go here -- it's a corporate chain who cares about money and their image, not the dogs. read more

Scott was fantastic with Emma. She really learned a lot from her training and almost two years later she still remembers her lessons about coming and staying in place. We opted for the longer non-boarding program and Scott came to all the appointments with his very well behaved dog and Emma learned from a canine role model! It's a great investment for happy dog and happy owner in a city environment. Sally C. read more

DC Dog Wizard completely exceeded my expectations. My 3.5 year old beagle-mix, Bella, was incredibly reactive on a leash and could not get along well with other dogs. As a result, our walks were a miserable experience and she couldn't even get her energy out at the dog park since she was negatively triggered by other dogs. After the 2-week training program with Scott, Bella is a completely different dog -- in a good way! She is still playful as ever, but now knows how to control her impulses in a way that I've never seen before. I now get compliments about how well behaved my dog is instead of feeling embarrassed about her behavior in public forums. I can go on and on about how this training program has positively impacted my dog's quality of life. If your struggling with a difficult pup or just want to have a well-trained dog, leave it up to the professionals -- Scott is worth every dime! read more

DC Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We are very happy with our one year old Red Heeler, Luke, who was trained by Scott! Luke is much more self~controlled, confident, and calmer. He isn't having the same issues of being incredibly territorial and easily distracted. Scott knows his craft of training and caring for dogs. We are so glad that we called him to help us learn how to communicate and speak Luke's language :) Everyone is much more happy in our home now. We highly recommend Scott and DC Dog Wizard! read more

Inquired about plans, pricing and logistics for classes/training for my 6 month old puppy. I understand that not everyone has answers, totally understandable. But I called and left a message detailing my inquiry for more info and if you call me back, it shouldn't come as a shock with the very basic questions I'm asking that are probably asked by customers like me on a regular basis. Just got the impression they didn't want to be helpful, instead telling me to ask my questions during a consultation which is what she wanted to setup. I didn't ask about behavior, etc. just wanted to compare plans, packages and logistics of classes/lessons and was finally was told that all plans for my 'adult' dog start at $2,000, which was out of my budget. Disappointing since they've received such rave reviews on here. read more

Well worth it! My dog Chester is a 2 year old Jack Russell, full of energy. He was starting to make the rules and I finally reached a breaking point. I got in touch with Scott and the change is amazing. We go on walks and Chester no longer pulls and will walk right next to me, I never thought this was possible! You have to put in the effort to make sure he knows you're the boss, but it is working out so well. Chester is still the same, but he knows I'm in charge now! I highly recommend Scott and the DC Dog Wizard! read more

DC Dog Wizard - Pet Training Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Scott was great! I sent my one-year old lab Jax to Scott's board and train program. Jax is a extremely high-energy lab who has a hard time settling down, especially when he is outside or greeting people. He also had a really bad reaction to runners, bikers and scooters. It has only been a week since Jax has been back but the difference is incredible. He has calmed down significantly and his reaction to runners, bikers and scooters is remarkably better. I cant recommend Scott enough and especially his board and train program! read more

Scott was amazing with our big puppy Jackson! Before training, Jackson tugged constantly on the leash during walks, jumped up on any visitors we had in our house, and was never not distracted around people or food. After two weeks with Scott, Jackson is a totally changed pup, and a much more disciplined version of his lovable goofy self. Jackson walks and heels on command, sits, places, and stays amid the greatest distractions. I even feel comfortable walking him through a crowded intersection in Manhattan without feeling so much as a tug. Also, it is worth noting that during Jackson's entire time away, Scott kept in regular contact and updated us through almost daily posts on FB. Thanks so much, Scott and Dog Wizard! Truly worth every penny. read more

We are so happy we chose to do the two week boarding training for our sweet 2 year old lab-mix, Victor. He is a much more confident dog and we feel very comfortable walking him both on and off-leash. Scott is great and we immediately felt comfortable leaving Victor in his care. We highly recommend him. read more

We recently sent our 4 1/2 month old puppy, Riley, to the 2 week board and train program. Thomas and Scott did a great job teaching him important basic commands like come and place and helped him with heeling and walking well on a leash. He also had the opportunity to get to know and play with other puppies and older dogs, giving him more confidence when he encounters other dogs in our neighborhood. He returned to us a much more confident and mature dog. He has been so much easier for us to handle at home - listening to commands and stopping behaviors like chewing and jumping. Thomas and Scott took the time to explain all that they had worked on so that we can continue to work on his skills. We would highly recommend the DC Dog Wizard to others. read more

I have a roughly 5 year old, boxer/pitbull mix that I had no ability to control. After several years of having her, it had gotten to the point that my boyfriend and I were the only two people she could be around without a muzzle or being crated, and she was aggressive towards any noise, person or other animal, both inside and outside of the apartment. I constantly worried she'd hurt someone or something. When we were alone, she was loving and snuggly and great to be around, but that was often overshadowed by the other times. I was at the point of contemplating giving her away, but was terrified of what would happen to her if I did. Scott was a lifesaver. After 3 weeks with Scott, she is now back home. She is doing amazing. I can't say that emphatically enough. Same great personality around us, but in a calm, controlled, obedient way. Here are a few examples of the changes: *She used to bounce and jump around the house and get into whatever I was doing. I now tell her "place" and she'll go to her bed and stay there until I release her. I do this when people come to the door, when I'm cooking, or unpacking groceries, etc. And she seems very relaxed lounging on her bed while I move around. No more barking every time someone walks through the outer hallways or slams a door to another unit. *Leaving and entering my apartment unit and apartment building used to be extremely stressful. I'd wait until things were "all clear" and avoid running into anyone for fear she'd snap at them. I referred to it as "the gauntlet". Now we pass people in the narrow stairwell, wait at the door with other dogs and people, and leave the mailman untraumatized. If another dog rushes up to us, I tell her to sit and stay, and she does so obendiently. No more barking, lunging, and otherwise freaking out. *She heels directly next to me when we walk. The leash is largely unnecessary. I can tell her to sit and stay and walk away from her and then tell her to come when I'm ready, even if there are dogs, people, and bicycles going by and attempting to distract her. *I used to sneak into the dog park when no one else was there. Then, she'd try to jump the fence to get to them and bark the whole time. Now, when someone walks by the park fence, I tell her to come and then sit by me, and she does until they pass and I release her. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say the change is truly miraculous. Literally life-saving and worth every penny. It is now my job to maintain the skills and socialization that Scott instilled so well in her. read more

When I first adopted Sage, my sweet pitbull terrier mix, her handlers at the shelter told me that she had a heart as big as her personality---and they weren't wrong. They also told me that Sage could not be around other creatures----and they weren't wrong about that, either. Sage was fearful of every furry-four-legged fluff we encountered-----from the big, beefy bulldogs to the tiny, yappy chihuahuas---and any other moving object was prey to be chased. Our trips to the dog park were tense and our elevator rides with other pet owners were stressful. I was honestly terrified to bring her anywhere near other dogs. I did not want others to perceive her as an "aggressive bully breed" and I did not want to take any risks, even though I knew deep down, that her fearful aggression was simply an enduring vestige of the trauma she endured at the shelter. Luckily, we found Scott and the DC Dog Wizard. After spending just under three weeks in the Home-Front Boarding Program, Sage is a completely different dog with a whole new outlook on life. Her progress is unfathomable. Our walks are leisurely (I don't have to worry about dislocating a shoulder when we pass a squirrel or a poodle) and our trips to the dog park are enjoyable. Before, Sage was blinded by fear. She would tense up any time she saw a dog and she would completely ignore any command I gave her. Now, she is confident and well-adjusted. She is still wary of some creatures, but she has the skills she needs to triumph over her fears and focus on me even when she is uncomfortable. I'm so grateful to have found this program and for all Scott's hard work. read more

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I cannot say enough good things about Scott. He probably saved my dogs life in the long run and undoubtedly saved a lifetime of stress and heartache. Some people may hesitate when they see the sticker price. But it was underpriced based on the results we got. Because of the results from the DC Dog Wizard, we have been able to take our dog off anxiety meds, meaning that the training is likely to pay for itself by the end of the year. It's really the best investment you could make to have a happy and relaxing relationship with your dog. We have a four year old 70lb foxhound. He is a rescue, who we've had for 2 years. He is a very loving and personable dog, but had a history of anxiety and aggression around other dogs. It made walks stressful and the dog got depressed since it was rare for him to socialize. We tried everything: books, special collars, behavioral therapy, medication, special diets, and even aroma therapy. Then we found Scott, the DC Dog Wizard. Scott offers different programs, but we chose the homefront plan, where we had our dog go to boarding school with Scott and his teacher's assistant, Rex. Two weeks later, our dog returned exactly the same in all the ways we loved him. But his anxiety was gone and he was confident and easy going around other dogs. After Scott spent a hour training me, our dog was incredibly responsive and obedient even when surrounded by distractions. In fact, when I was walking him off leash through the park this morning, my dog started playing with another dog on a leash. The other dog started getting agitated and the scene was looking to get tense. So I called "come" and my dog stopped, turned, and ran over to me without a moments hesitation. The owner of the other dog was blown away and asked if i was Ceasar Milan (the dog whisperer). Nope, just a pupil of the DC Dog Wizard. read more

I waited six months (or forgot) to place this review. My dog charlie is an unfixed boxer that is super playful and under socialized. When I brought charlie to Scott he he was semi dog aggressive, (only because he couldn't control his energy) pulled when he walked and didn't listen to commands. I also was very apprehensive because charlie would be gone for 2 weeks and I didn't know how he would respond to an e collar. Scott sent daily progress pictures and said charlie was doing well but when I got Charlie. When Charlie came back he slept for 3 days and after that he was a brand new dog. He took commands, we found he wasn't dog aggressive and no more pulling with walking. Scott is very good at what he does and genuinely cares. Scott understands that it takes just as long if not longer to train the human. I like that we have unlimited follow up lessons for life of hour pet. The lessons are really more for the humans because we forget. My dog came back prepared to be off leash but you do have to keep up with the training. If you are looking for training for your pet check them out Scott is great. read more

We brought our 1.5 year old leash aggressive/anxious dog to Scott after we had tried numerous other ways to try to train her -including several other local trainers, classes, bark collars, Thundershirts, you name it. Nothing had worked, so my husband was rightfully slightly skeptical when I suggested the in home consultation with Scott. After Scott and his dog came over for about an hour and met our pup, and we met Scott's dog Rex, we couldn't schedule our two week stay for our dog fast enough. We figured if Scott could get our dog to be half as well behaved as he was claiming he could, it would be worth the money. We just got our pup back and the difference is remarkable. We have been working with her now for just a week using the commands Scott taught her and she is a different dog. She is a pleasure to walk on leash (heeling, not pulling and lunging) and is enjoying meeting other dogs, etc. We have had her off leash several times, which would have given me a panic attack before, and she now happily trots along side of us or comes diligently when called, so I feel she is much safer, as well. She seems MUCH happier and less anxious. If you're having behavioral issues with your dog, do yourself a favor and don't waste more time and money on things that won't work - just call Scott. read more

I had an outstanding experience with DC Dog Wizard. I set up five weekly one-hour private training sessions for my new Havanese puppy, Ruthie. We began when Ruthie was just 11 weeks old, and we just had her 5th lesson at 17 weeks. Our trainer, Austin, was outstanding. She would begin each session demonstrating how to train Ruthie for a specific command, such as sit, come, place, leave it, etc. Then she would turn Ruthie over to me to practice the command, giving me guidance and suggestions as we went along - and giving me exercises to practice with Ruthie in between our training sessions. The exercises were highly effective and Ruthie quickly mastered the various commands despite her young age. Austin also gave me lots of great, practical tips for many typical puppy issues - such as the importance of mental exercise (as well as physical exercise) to keep Ruthie calm and suggestions for crate training. Ruthie loves her crate and often curls up in it voluntarily when she is tired or when there is a lot of hubbub around, and I attribute that to Austin's various tips. I would highly recommend Austin and the DC Dog Wizard for puppy training! read more

We adopted our dog Harper when she was a puppy and although she was as loving as it gets, she had always been a handful. We tried every type of positive reinforcement obedience training we could find at many facilities in the DC area, but never saw results that stuck. Harper remained anxious, aggressive towards other dogs and made having visitors to our home very difficult. When we knew we would be welcoming our second child, we decided for Harper's sake and for ours, it was time to invest in Scott's training program. He came highly recommended and we are so thankful that we did. Harper has been back with us for about 8 months and we've hosted many BBQs and birthday parties without incident. She also has a calmer overall demeanor. We have said many times, that we wish we hadn't waited so long! Scott came to visit last week with his Boxer Chance and Harper still remembered them both and was so happy they were here :) If you are anxious about the cost, it is a program proven to work. If you have a smart, but stubborn and very anxious rescue dog like we did, you'll probably in the long-run save money by going to Scott to start, rather than investing in a lot of other failed classes. He also does all follow-ups for FREE. He'll meet you anytime at your home or the park, which has been invaluable for us. Harper may not ultimately be a dog park dog, she has trouble making friends with everyone, but we are confident when we have her on walks and at our home, that she can be controlled - we are all confident in her and us! read more

I started training my (very stubborn) English bulldog puppy with Austin at DC Dog Wizard just 5 weeks ago and... wow what a difference it made! She went from refusing to walk, and really knowing nothing (me in addition to my pup!) to perfectly nailing basics like Heel and Sit and even doing fun things like Place. Austin took so much time to explain everything and why things worked vs wouldn't. Really was responsive and super enthusiastic to help me with my dumb questions as well as questions I had about random dog stuff including how to improve bad behavior at home like biting and house training... both of which we are now nearly done away with. I honestly don't know where we'd be without her... certainly not as well behaved (puppy) and happy (puppy and me)! Will certainly be coming back for Adult dog classes with Austin in the future and have told friends, neighbors and even strangers they HAVE to go w DC dog Wizard. read more

We have nothing but good things about Scott and the team at DC Dog Wizard. They are wonderful! A little background on Cody - he was a rescue from a kill shelter in South Carolina where he was found in a hunting trap. He practically had no socialization with other dogs or people before we got him and had obvious fear aggression (nipping, growling, lunging, you name it). Over time, it was just getting worse. Not only did he have fear aggression around other dogs and people, he was terrified of EVERYTHING. Even the shadows on the wall. It was awful. We reached out to Scott after Cody jumped the fence and bit the dog across the street who wasn't on a leash. After this incident, I honestly didn't have much hope. We knew the best program for Cody would be the home away program (that was not easy!) because he would have constant socialization with other dogs and people. We got updates on Facebook daily and progress reports regularly. Cody looked like he was having so much fun and was making such great progress, I almost felt guilty making him come home. The minute we got Cody back, we knew he was a different dog. We were glad to see that he was more confident, but his personality didn't change a bit. We did his first at home training in the front of the house, with no leash. He did perfectly! He didn't pay attention to the dogs walking by up the street, and didn't flinch at any cars that drove by. The next day, I took him running and while he normally would "stalk" other dogs, bark, and growl, he just heeled next to me the entire time. I took him to the park and he placed in the middle of the grass and just watched people play tennis. He paid no attention to the little kids running around and screaming, or the other dogs. I was so impressed! It's been a few months since we've had Cody back and we now take him to the dog park where he plays with new dogs and meets new people almost daily. We re-introduced him to the dog he originally bit, and he doesn't even pay attention to him anymore. They actually get together to play sometimes! We can leave the door open when we get the mail, because we know he's going to stay when we tell him to sit, and I'm no longer terrified of what's going to happen when I take him on runs or walks knowing we're going to encounter another dog. We're still working on the jumping the fence the problem, but it has been less and less of an issue, which is comforting. Not only has Scott helped us with Cody, but he's helped us with our other dog Jack. Jack has a disability (one of his legs is in a brace indefinitely), so training him traditionally is almost impossible. Scott taught us how to teach Jack place and help him build his confidence which will in turn help with the incessant barking. We just starting working on that, but with the outcome of Cody's training, I have no doubt it's going to work wonders. After putting Cody through the program, we now get unlimited training sessions for him with Scott and can join the group training on the weekend when we want. Just the fact that we know we can call Scott and have him come work with Cody when we need it is extremely comforting. It's not like it's two weeks away and then you're on your own. Scott really cares about Cody's progress and his well being. We recommend Scott and DC Dog Wizard to anyone we meet who is having trouble with their dog(s) and we hope our experience helps you too! read more

My husband and I adopted a 6 week old black lab mix back in May and, despite our best training efforts, desperately needed help. George was extremely friendly but he was a wild child. He struggled with basic commands, impulse control, incessantly pulling on walks and listening (at all) when off leash. We did some thorough research and chose Scott based on online reviews as well as recommendations from other dog owners at our local park. We chose the two week program and 14 days later we welcomed home a completely different dog. George was much more confident and 100 times more obedient. I was truly blown away when we were able to take him to the park on his first day home, let him off leash and successfully call him back time after time, no matter the surrounding distractions. He no longer drags us around the neighborhood on walks and we can eat dinner in peace with him sitting politely a few feet away on his bed. Scott has been available to us for follow-up questions and training, which we (thankfully) haven't really needed yet. Overall, I cannot say enough good things about Scott and his DC Dog Wizard team. We were incredibly impressed and would recommend Scott to anyone in need of an excellent trainer/miracle worker. read more

When I adopted my dog Jackson, I was told he loved people, probably needed to be the only dog in the house, and he hadn't had any formal training. The foster told me had been to daycare, and had loved it. I signed him up for 6 weeks of training, made an appointment at the daycare and figured I was ready to go... After about a week, it was pretty clear that Jackson didn't love people as we had been told. He was hard to control, and he was really unpredictable. He got kicked out of daycare before I even left to drop him off the first day as the handlers were afraid he would bite. Positive training was going ok, but we weren't able to consistently get him to listen. Not to mention, I was terrified we went to class that he would act out and get himself kicked out. I was initially unsure about an e-collar, but I saw a few review on Yelp about Scott, and figured if he could help Jackson, it'd be worth it. Jackson started out in the Freedom program, but we decided it would be best to board him because of his behavioral issues. Scott was very accommodating. When Scott came to pick up Jackson, Jackson was so excited to see him. (Remember this dog doesn't warm up to many people.) It made me a lot more comfortable seeing him go. I also liked that he updated Jackson's progress on facebook, and was always willing to talk when I was worried about him. Jackson has been home for about 3 weeks, and he's made phenomenal progress. This last week especially I have seen tremendous strides. He lets people pet him on the back now. We are able to control him jumping up and down and his overall excitement levels. Jackson is a pleasure to walk because he now heels on command. His dog walker has described him as "night and day" compared to before he left. Neighbors in the building have also commented on his improved behavior. Scott did more with Jackson in 2 weeks than most dogs learn in a lifetime. As far as the e-collar, it doesn't bother him. He doesn't hate it all! Scott really cares about the dogs he trains. It meant a lot to me that he called me up when he was in the neighborhood to have Jackson come out for additional social time. He's also continuing to work with him meeting new people, and we're no longer scared, we're excited! I highly recommend Scott for anyone who wants a well trained dog. When I get my next dog, I know I'll be calling Scott once again. Once you have a well trained dog, I think it would be impossible to not have one! THANK YOU SCOTT! read more

DC Dog Wizard changed our lives! Our energetic and loving Bernedoodle Barkley went to stay with Scott for 2 weeks and came back a totally different dog, but still with his lovable and fun personality - just with a new level of obedience. Scott taught us how to practice the obedience each day, which helped get Barkley's energy out in a whole new way, which has helped tremendously with his behavior in our home. Outside, he walks very nicely on the leash now and we have the confidence to let him off leash at the dog park. We love how much Scott loves the dogs he works with. Barkley LOVES seeing Scott at the support classes and our follow-up session. I would recommend DC Dog Wizard to anyone who is feeling stressed and hopeless about their dog's behavior. We had tried another trainer before this, doing bi-weekly private sessions, and didn't get a fraction of the results we got with DC Dog Wizard. It was hard being away from Barkely for two weeks, but Scott was so gracious to send pictures and videos whenever we requested. read more

During her first training session my puppy was distracted by something on the ground. The trainer said to kick it out of the way. I did and she went back to it. He said "just let her eat it, it's a treat." I'd never seen a treat like this but trusted his judgement because he's a trainer. He said, "it's one of those things people use to clean dog's teeth." Our session ends at the dog park and my pup seems very tired. The trainer's exact words: "I hope that wasn't rat poison she ate earlier, I THOUGHT THAT AFTER SHE ATE IT." I'm sorry, WHAT?! I assumed it was a treat he had dropped it or knew it was a treat and feel like the dumbest for trusting his judgement. I never let her eat anything off the ground that I haven't put there I know this is wrong, I am so mad at myself for listening to him. I spent 600 dollars at the emergency vet after our session, and when I reached out to cancel future sessions (kindly, without placing blame, just saying I can't afford them now with this unexpected expense) the trainer blamed me and lied about our conversation. He said he had warned me that it looked like poison but I let my dog eat it anyways. I would have never left a negative review, I would've dropped it if this conversation afterwards had not happened. I am livid. read more

Scott is the only person I would ever trust my pup with. He is an amazing trainer and my pup loves spending time with him.