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The Best Puppy Trainers in Columbus, OH of 2026

David Adams photo

David Adams

Aug 7, 2026

Dog Trainers

Welcome to the Sniffspot list of top-rated dog trainers for Puppy training in Columbus, OH. Based on feedback and votes from our Puppy training community, we've curated a list of top-rated trainers in the Columbus area.

  • Sarah Dugger Photo

    Sarah Dugger

    Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)

    Reactive dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training

    Dublin, Worthington, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Grove City, Westerville, Gahanna, New Albany

    I first realized the power and impact of training in 2012. At the time, I was working at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, observing Wouter Stellaard, a world-renowned animal trainer, train rats to complete an obstacle course. The five rats all named after different types of cheese, took the stage together. Four scurried around a pool, while one swam across, using the shortcut to get to th...


  • Elissa O'Sullivan Photo

    Elissa O'Sullivan

    Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Agility training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training

    In-home visits: Columbus, Gahanna, Westerville, Upper Arlington, Dublin, Powell, Pataskala, New Albany, Worthington, Bexley, Delaware, Marysville

    Private practice since 1993.


  • Ellie Salyers Photo

    Ellie Salyers

    Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training

    Meet Ellie, a valued team member of our business. With a deep passion for canine companionship, Ellie brings boundless energy and dedication to her role. Her love for dogs shines through in every interaction, as she delights in caring for them and engaging in playful activities that bring out their best.When Ellie isn't at work, you'll often find her with her loyal German Shepherd, Knox, by her...


  • Phil Reale Photo

    Phil Reale

    Agility training, Puppy training, In home training

    Phil is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner! Phil started training pups in 2006 through volunteering in The Ohio State Universities Puppy Kindergarten classes. After working with the OSU animal behaviorists Phil found his love of dog training and has never looked back.Phil has helped Animal Care Center at Cherry Way build a behavioral department since 2010. With over 17 years of ex...


  • Selena Schaney Photo

    Selena Schaney

    Agility training, Puppy training, In home training

    Selena is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. Growing up there was never a time in her life when she didn't have a pet to take care of. She is a 2022 graduate of The Graham School. Selena originally wanted to be a Veterinarian Technician, but in her senior year of high school she interned at Reale Dog Training. I never thought I would find such a perfect job for me, she says. Th...


  • Miranda Steenburgh Photo

    Miranda Steenburgh

    Agility training, Puppy training, In home training

    Miranda is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She has been working in animal care for over seven years. She started training after getting her dog, River! After experiencing the bond that was created with River through positive reinforcement training, she made it her career!


  • Desiree Osterloh Photo

    Desiree Osterloh

    Agility training, Puppy training, In home training

    Desiree has always wanted to work in the animal field. She's had many exotic and non-exotic pets in her lifetime. She found Reale Dog Training which satisfies her desire to work with animals in a positive environment as well as make a change for the better in the animal world! She plans to enroll in the Karen Pryor Academy in the near future.


  • Abigail Curtis Photo

    Abigail Curtis

    Protection/guard dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training, In home training, Agility training

    Abigail has been training dogs since 2002. Her personal dogs have competed in agility, obedience, rally and barn hunt and she is captain of the flyball team here in Columbus. 'At home she has Gina-an ancient border collie mix, Sulley-a chihuahua mix, Flux-a Border Collie Jack Russel mix, and Mouse a whippet.‚ Some of her qualifications include:Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State ...


  • Trish Wilson Photo

    Trish Wilson

    Off leash training, Puppy training, Agility training

    Trish teaches all of Adventure Unleashed's Nosework classes.

    Trish is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). She is also a C-Wags Scentwork judge.


  • Jennifer markiewicz Photo

    Jennifer markiewicz

    Puppy training, Agility training

    My name is Jennifer Markiewicz; I am a happy wife, loving mother and North Linden resident. Making my dreams come true while helping serve my community. I am the proud owner of Proper Pups Dog Training. My whole life I knew I was supposed to be working with animals, so after High School I went to Vet Tech school where I graduated in 2009. Shortly after I graduated from Vet Tech school I complet...


  • Paige markham Photo

    Paige markham

    Puppy training, Agility training

    My name is Paige, I am a devoted cat mom of 3 fat cats, who probably have more say in my life than I do, and have been happily married since 2021! Growing up we always had dogs which led me to my first job working with dogs. I knew I had found my passion in the animal world and started looking for ways to expand my knowledge and find a way to ensure I could stay working with dogs. In 2018 I sta...


  • Mitchell Christian Photo

    Mitchell Christian

    Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training

    Mitchell Christian, is the owner and head trainer at Christian K-9 Academy and the president of the non-profit German Shepherd Rescue Ohio. Mitch's love for dog training started in childhood, but it really blossomed while serving in the United States Marine Corps, where he spent some of his time around the handlers of the military working dogs and his passion grew. At the end of his active duty...


  • Dean Harris Photo

    Dean Harris

    Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training

    Dean is a versatile member of our team, serving not only as one of our skilled pet dog trainers but also as a dedicated decoy for our police and protection dogs. His passion for training extends to police K9s, where he finds great joy in honing their skills and ensuring they are prepared for the field. In addition to his work with dogs, Dean is an accomplished horse handler and frequently showc...


  • Tommy Cross Photo

    Tommy Cross

    Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training

    Tommy is our dedicated kennel manager, ensuring that operations run smoothly and that all the dogs receive the highest standard of care. In addition to overseeing daily kennel activities, Tommy expertly sets up training scenarios for our police and protection dogs, helping to prepare them for real-world situations. As an Iraq combat veteran, he brings a wealth of experience and discipline to hi...


  • Marty Ferguson Photo

    Marty Ferguson

    Aggressive dog training, Board and train, Reactive dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training

    Marty was born and raised in Ohio. He has spent his entire life living with dogs and is very familiar with many different breeds and mixes.

    Marty formally started dog training in 2012. His specialty is e-collar and off-leash obedience training and we were excited to welcome Marty to the Off Leash K9 Columbus team in 2019.

    When he is not training, Marty enjoys spending time wit...


  • Austin Schuetz Photo

    Austin Schuetz

    Aggressive dog training, Board and train, Reactive dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training

    As a seasoned handler with several years of professional experience, Austin truly fell in love with dog training when he realized that a dog's freedom, through proper training, was making a huge impact on the bonds between owner and dog. What a rewarding job! He believes life with your dog shouldn't be confined to your home but that it should be full of traveling, hiking, patio dinners and more...


  • Tiffany Copley Photo

    Tiffany Copley

    Puppy training, In home training

    Tiffany has spent her whole life working with dogs. As a small child, she trained the family dogs, and started working at the local animal shelter as a teen. At age 16, she started teaching dog obedience classes, and has helped people and dogs improve their relationships for over 20 years now. She has titled several dogs in obedience, agility, rally, and conformation, including the first Anatol...


  • Casey Goldberg Photo

    Casey Goldberg

    Off leash training, Puppy training, Agility training

    Casey has been training dogs since 2014. Her personal dogs, a husky and a chow mix, like to play at agility, rally, barn hunt, and doing so many silly tricks for husbandry and for fun.

    Casey is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) who likes to puzzle out the Good Dog in any dog, and in particular enjoys fluffy dogs with a lot to say.


  • Kevin Ivasku Photo

    Kevin Ivasku

    Agility training, Puppy training, Protection/guard dog training, In home training

    Owner of Capital Canine Dog Training, Head Trainer and proud small business owner. When I started Capital Canine I began my mission to help as many dogs and to educate as many human as possible. I believe that dogs are truly an amazing gift the world has given us and we should do everything in our power to build a strong, meaningful bond and give them the best life possible. I've been training ...


  • Molly Miller Photo

    Molly Miller

    Protection/guard dog training, Service dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training

    Molly was born and raised in Cincinnati, Oh. After graduating from Ohio University with her bachelors in Communications and two minors in Marketing and Social Media. She started her career in the Marketing and Social Media industry. After graduating college, she adopted a Red Heeler mix named Bear. Bear sparked her interest and passion in dog training which encouraged her to change career paths...


  • Hannah Lairmore Photo

    Hannah Lairmore

    Board and train, Puppy training

    Hannah Lairmore is our Support Trainer as well as the Administrative and Communications Director. Hannah is the one you will communicate with during onboarding and for scheduling. She tries her best to make becoming a pack member super easy and fun! Hannah, raised in Columbus, has a degree in anthropology from The Ohio State University and loves seeing the similarities and differences between h...


  • Karey Dufour Photo

    Karey Dufour

    Puppy training, In home training

    Karey has always had a love of animals and a desire to teach and care for those in need. She was the kind of kid that brought every stray or injured animal home to nurse, recover, and train. However, she took a different approach in life and joined the Air Force in 1995 as a nurse. Karey retired from the Air Force after 26 years of service in June 2021. While serving as a flight and trauma nur...


Sniffspot’s top-rated list of dog trainers for Puppy training in Columbus, OH is based on rankings from our community of dog owners as well as the general public. For Puppy training, we received 113 total votes, resulting in 22 dog trainers who focus on Puppy training. Our top-ranked dog trainers are listed in order of votes, with the top-ranked trainer for Puppy training listed first.

Dog trainers for Puppy training on this list are certified by CPDT-KA, FDM, or another trusted organization. We're proud to feature Sarah Dugger, who has been voted the top dog trainer for Puppy training in Columbus, OH. Sarah Dugger’s favorite part of their job is: Witnessing my clients have success with their pet.

At Sniffspot, we prioritize trust and expertise. Sarah Dugger, as well as the other dog trainers on this Puppy training list, ensures they bring the highest standards of care and training to your dog. Sarah Dugger encourages owners with this dog training tip: In order to be a dog trainer, you must also be a dog listener. Learn how to speak their language by observing their body language, and then you can build towards two-way communication..

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Frequently Asked Questions About Puppy Training in Columbus

Who are the top-rated Puppy training dog trainers in Columbus?

Find out which Puppy training trainers in Columbus are recognized for their exceptional skills and services. Trainers like Sarah Dugger, Elissa O'Sullivan, Mitchell Christian are noted for their outstanding contributions to the Columbus dog training community.

What motivates Columbus dog trainers to excel in Puppy training?

Explore the inspiration behind the success of top Puppy training trainers in Columbus. Sarah Dugger and their colleagues are driven by their passion for canine training and commitment to helping local dogs , as shared by Sarah Dugger: I recognized a need in the pet owner community for ethical, positive, and skillful trainers. In my 'zoo bubble' I was surrounded by the best of the best trainers, but in our everyday society, there is an overwhelming amount of traditional and behavior-suppressing methods. I feel motivated to show people that there is a better way, and that we can get results that leave both the pet parent and the pet happier and more bonded..

What are the specific Puppy training services available in Columbus?

Trainers in Columbus, including Sarah Dugger, provide tailored solutions for various behavioral issues. Their services, such as R, I, O, are designed to address the unique needs of dogs in the area.

What training tips does Sarah Dugger offer for Columbus dog owners?

Sarah Dugger advises: In order to be a dog trainer, you must also be a dog listener. Learn how to speak their language by observing their body language, and then you can build towards two-way communication., which is crucial for successful Puppy training training. Additionally, Elissa O'Sullivan recommends: Your dog is your partner, not your slave. for improving your dog’s behavior in Columbus.

How do I select the most suitable Puppy dog trainer in Columbus?

Choosing the right Puppy training trainer in Columbus involves evaluating their services, such as Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Agility training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training and Board and train, In home training, Protection/guard dog training, Puppy training, along with their qualifications and certifications like Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP).

Why are certifications important for Puppy dog trainers in Columbus?

Certifications such as Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP) are essential for Puppy training trainers in Columbus because they ensure that trainers possess the expertise and knowledge required for effective training. These credentials validate their proficiency in Puppy training.

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David Adams photo

David Adams

Aug 7, 2026

Dog Trainers

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