The Best Dog Trainers in Minneapolis, MN of 2026

This is a list of the top dog trainers in Minneapolis, MN, based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public.

• 

  Cheryl Gfrerer

  KPA-CTP, TAGteach level 2

  Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training

  St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN and surrounding suburbs; Hudson and western, WI; virtual training

  I founded Giffy dog in 2012 after I had spent the previous twelve years providing foster care for rescue dogs. My passion for working with dogs in the rescue community was well-established by then, but I recognized the need to refine and improve my skills with the most current, well-researched methods. In 2015, I completed the rigorous Karen Pryor Academy program and have pursued regular ongoin...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Candace (Candy) Brewer

  Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

  Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training

  Northwest Metro Area (Maple Grove and surrounding area)

  I have been teaching classes and working with clients at Cloud Nine Dog Training in Maple Grove, MN and on an individual basis. I love supporting the local dog community. I am dedicated to supporting and educating families on training manners and understanding their dog's behavior so they can live harmoniously together.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Holly Weldon-Yahnke

  CPDT-KA and C-FDM

  Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training

  It includes, but is not limited to: Lakeville, Prior Lake, Burnsville, Savage, Shakopee, Jordan, Belle Plaine, Carver, Chaska, Excelsior, Victoria.

  Meet Holly - Lead Trainer Owner of Unleashed Behavior and Training ServicesCPDT-KA and Certified Family Dog MediatorHolly is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer as well as a Certified Family Dog Mediator. Her compassion for animals and desire to assist the humans on the other end of the leash are evident. She very muc...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Carrie Davis

  LFDM, CPDT- KA

  Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training

  Minneapolis/St.Paul & Suburbs including Eagan, Inver Grove Heights

  Carrie has been in the dog industry since 2008. She started off in Veterinary Technician school and worked at vet clinics. She quickly turned to the study of canine behavior, and the relationship and connection between people and dogs.
  Experience obtained in those early years also included: intake supervisor for lost and stray dogs inside her county, working at a small boarding facility,...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Jen Laskewitz

  CPDT-KSA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge and Skills Assessed) FDM (Certified Family Dog Mediator)

  Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training

  Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Bloomington, Edina, St. Louis Park, Chanhassen

  Jen has been lead training for the past 12 years, teaching group classes and private lessons. She also served several years as the Training Director for local dog rescue, A Rotta Love Plus. Jen has spent a lifetime living with and caring for a variety of animals, with almost 2 decades of experience working with animals in an 'official' capacity, volunteering in shelters and with rescues as well...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Brit Barnhouse

  Family Dog Mediator (FDM), Canine Enrichment Technician (DN-CET)

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

  Duluth, MN

  I'm certified as both a Family Dog Mediator (FDM) and Canine Enrichment Technician (DN-CET), and am working toward earning my CPDT-KA through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
  
  I share my life with a cattledog mix named Boris (TKI) and a border collie named Winona (CGC, TKA). Some of their favorite activities include: herding, tracking, scentwork, trick training,...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Lindsay Kinney

  CPDT-KA

  Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Puppy training

  Twin Cities

  I always loved animals as a kid. When I got my first dog Rosie an adolescent Australian Shepherd, in 2013 I quickly fell in love with dog training. We pursued obedience, tricks, and sports. We even did some film and commercial work. In 2015 I became a dog trainer at PetSmart to gain experience teaching group classes and working with a variety of dogs. In 2016 I became a Certified Professional D...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Sara Reusche

  CBCC-KA CPDT-KSA CVT

  Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training

  Sara Reusche, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA, CVT, AKC CGC and Trick Evaluator, UKC SPOT Evaluator (she/her) purchased Paws Abilities in 2010 after working for the business since 2004. She has turned her love of animals and teaching into a career and is dual certified as a veterinary technician and professional dog trainer. In addition to training, Sara has worked as a groomer, vet tech, dog daycare attenda...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Reiichi Hanson

  IAABC-ADT, CCDT

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

  Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs

  My name is Rei (pronounced "ray", and my full name is pronounced "ray-ee-chee") and I live just south of the Twin Cities. My animals include: Betelgeuse the Australian Shepherd, who is my Service Dog and my best friend. We do Obedience, Rally, and Treibball! And Tootsie the African Senegal Parrot, who is a rescue from The Parrot's Umbrella. She is learning cooperative care for nail trims and mo...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Diana Waserman

  ABC certified, positive reinforcement certified, ABC reactive and aggressive training certified, ABC certified in canine massage.

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

  Twin Cities Metro, Minnesota or remote anywhere in the continental US.

  I've lived in Eagan for about 3.5 years and have been training since October of 2011 when I graduated from the Animal Behavior College (California). I did my internships with MARS (Midwest Animal Rescue) & Animal Ark. I am additionally certified in training reactive and aggressive dogs focused on getting reactive and aggressive dogs rehomed out of shelters. I am also certified in canine massage...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Ashlee Meyer

  CPDT-KA LFDM-T VSA-CDT

  In home training

  Dakota County Bloomington South Minneapolis

  I have been a professional dog trainer for 4 years now and it started the same way everyone gets into dog training - with a dog who needed help. After going through multiple certifications and working with numerous dogs and people, I found my niche in helping families navigate the twists and turns of having a dog and child. From preparing for a child coming into a home to a dog struggling with ...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Denise Nord

  Protection/guard dog training, Reactive dog training

  Denise has been training and competing with dogs for over 25 years. She has competed in obedience with multiple dogs. She has been teaching puppy classes for over 20 years. Her obedience and puppy classes are based on proven positive training methods. Denise also trains and competes in agility, nosework, lure coursing, tracking, conformation and rally.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Jane Fallander

  KPA-CTP, ANWI

  Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training

  Twin cities metro

  I have been a professional dog trainer for 15 years and a hobby trainer for 40. In my 20s I worked at an animal shelter for 9 years and love rescue dogs. My formal education includes a BS in Animal Science and Technical Communication. I'm also a Karen Prior Certified Dog Trainer and have been teaching K9 nosework for 13 years.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Kelsey Smedley

  Certified Advanced Canine Training Professional (CACTP) Certified Canine Training and Behavior Specialist (CCTBS)

  Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Puppy training

  Minneapolis Apple Valley Lakeville Minnetonka Burnsville St. Paul Savage Shakopee Bloomington Eagan Edina Eden Prairie

  My name is Kelsey and I own The Good Dog Co.
  My goal is to educate other pet parents and give them the tools and knowledge that they need to live a happy, calm life with their dogs. Whatever your behavioral issue is, there is a solution for it as long as you are willing to do the work.
  I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Missouri and certifications CACTP and CCT...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Angela Kunze

  In home training

  I have been a trainer for 22 years. To say it has been a journey is correct! I have been searching for a career that would make me happy, and help others. Retail, salon, restaurant server, cashier, etc...NONE of which was a fit for me. I worked at an upscale boarding and grooming facility, while attending school to become a veterinarian technician, which is initially what I wanted to be. Little...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Corrie Barrows

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Corrie Barrows began training at TCOTC in 2000 with her Labrador, Beef. She came to the club because Ruth Foster, one of the inventors of the gentle leader, was an instructor and the former club president. She knew Ruth's club would be the best place to learn about positive reinforcement and non-force dog training. Corrie went from being a student to an obedience assistant and then an instructo...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Meg Beisner

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Meg has been a member of TCOTC since 2013 when she signed up for Basic with her first rescue dog, Joe, and became engrossed in dog training ever since. After adopting her second rescue dog, Phoebe, Meg wanted to be more involved with the club and started assisting in 2017. Since 2018, she now teaches primarily Basic Obedience and loves having the opportunity to educate her students with the sam...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Laura Breckheimer

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Laura was 'bitten' by the training bug and came to TCOTC in 2003 for agility and obedience classes with her two Jack Russell Terriers (Greta and Zak) and Golden Retriever (Fabian). After taking classes for a bit, Laura began assisting in agility classes to learn more and watch other teams. As she completed the observers class and acquiring additional experience and knowledge in training agilit...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Katie Brittan

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Katie has been training dogs since 1980, when she first joined TCOTC. She currently teaches agility from the beginner through advanced levels, from foundation through masters, and has also assisted with Rally Obedience classes. She has participated or currently participates in agility in AKC, CPE and NADAC, barn hunt, AKC obedience and rally, lure coursing, earth dog and AKC conformation, winni...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Page DeLong

  Puppy training, Agility training

  I have been involved with dogs since convincing my parents to let me join 4H and raise a puppy for The Seeing Eye (in NJ) when I was in high school in the 70s. After all, it was only a one year commitment, I said. Well, we all know how that works out! I ended up raising 4 Seeing Eye puppies. Life is better with a dog, so I have had 4 canine companions since then. Paavo is my 3rd Aussie, but my ...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Anitra Francis

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Anitra has been a Monday night desk volunteer for many years and a recently became an Agility Instructor after serving as an assistant. She was elected as an alternate board member in January 2020 but almost immediately became a full board member after a resignation created a vacancy. She was re-elected to the TCOTC board in January 2021. She has also served on the board of a nonprofit called C...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Donna Grabowski

  Puppy training, Agility training

  I have been a member since 1991. I came to TCOTC with my dog, Shadow, She was a Norwegian Elkhound, who was a great dog but a bull in a china closet. She needed some table manners. Back in those days the classes were Level I, Level II and Level III. After the first eight weeks were over, I knew I was hooked. I started taking classes to become an assistant and then follow through as an instructo...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Trisha Hetue

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Trisha started taking classes at TCOTC in 2011 with the goal of trying out Flyball with her Brussels Griffon, Colonel Beardsley. In 2015, she was approached by a staff member about possible interest in assisting in the puppy & tweener classes and she hasn't looked back. Along with Assisting in Puppy and Tweeners, Trisha has assisted in many basic classes and multiple Tier 2 classes, she has bee...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Susanne Jones

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Susanne joined TCOTC in 2019 when she adopted her Dobermann, Prada. She took lots of classes and received so much help from the TCOTC instructors that she decided to volunteer. She started working at the TCOTC frontdesk in 2020. With the guidance of department head Jane Jacobson especially, Prada has become so confident that Susanne and Prada have started to compete in obedience and earned titl...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Meera Kannan

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Meera became a volunteer obedience assistant after training her dogs Satchel and Lilo at the club beginning in 2017. She has taken her dogs through a number of Obedience classes and also completed the Flyball program. Her background in education and understanding of learning styles aided her transition into becoming an Instructor at TCOTC. She was elected to the club's board in January 2021 and...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  LaDonna Kool

  Puppy training, Agility training

  LaDonna started training at TCOTC in 2015 when she and her husband got Maxwell, a goldendoodle, and decided that he should have some manners so he could be a good boy in public. A few years later they got Lexi, a mini goldendoodle. LaDonna and her husband went through many wonderful classes with both dogs and eventually started agility and became hooked! LaDonna spent five years being a puppy...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Marsha LeDuc

  Puppy training, Agility training

  I am a very ,very long time member of TCOTC. I have instructed at TCOTC for about 40 years teaching obedience and now agility. I've handled a variety of dogs including soft coated wheatens, American eskimos, Yorkies and papillons. I even had a Doberman live with me for about 6 months while the owner's house was being built. I have showed in agility, obedience, rally, confirmation, and scent w...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Rachel Maino

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Hi, I'm Rachel. My evenings are spent at TCOTC taking dog training classes or as a volunteer assistant instructor. I'm married and have two Labrador retrievers. We love to go camping and hiking. We also love to kayak. If I could find a way to bring my dogs on a kayak trip, that would be my favorite way to spend a weekend.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Scott McKenzie

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Scott started as a student at TCOTC in 2008 with his German Shepherd named Tucker. He began teaching at TCOTC 2013. Scott teaches Basic and Puppy Basic Obedience, as well as all Tier 2 Classes. He is certified in Pet Emergency First Aid and Canine CPR. He is also a Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen, Trick Dog, and FETCH evaluator and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through CCPDT. Scott ...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Vanessa Niemi

  CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed), CSAT (Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer)

  Reactive dog training, Aggressive dog training, Puppy training, In home training

  Twin Cities Metro Area, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Maple Grove, Bloomington, Woodbury, White Bear Lake, and more.

  I have a background in biology and chemistry. Growing up, I thought I was going to be a veterinarian. I lived on a farm and took care of the animals, including our dogs, horses, cows, cats, turkeys and chickens. I went in a different direction after graduate school and I entered the environmental science workforce as a risk assessor. I have a geriatric kitty named Oscar and a German Shepherd n...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Carol Ouhl

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Carol is the Therapy Department Head and lead instructor. She began teaching at TCOTC in 1992 and currently teaches Therapy Dog Levels 1, 2, and 3, and is also responsible for developing the program's curriculum. Carol has been a therapy dog handler for 30+ years and has been a Pet Partners Therapy Animal Evaluator of 10 species of animal for 25 years. Carol is a retired Member of the National ...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Cheryl Pastick

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Cheryl volunteers regularly for a variety of events, and is also a member of the agility setup crew. Her dog Abby earned her AKC MACH in agility and her AKC UD In obedience and her AKC Rally RAE. Her current dog Georgie earned her AKC, ASCA, and CDSP CD and she also has her AKC Rally Novice title.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Anne Schenk

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Anne moved to the Twin Cities from Detroit in 2016 to become TCOTC's first executive director. She saw it as a great opportunity to combine her experience running nonprofits with her love for dogs. Before joining TCOTC, Anne was vice president of communication and marketing for Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, where she oversaw annual fund raising, marketing, board and vol...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Paula Sotirin

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Paula has been training at TCOTC since 2012 when she started a beginners agility class with her 5 year old chessie. Since then she has progressed to competing in agility, flyball, and hunt with her two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers. Paula has been a desk staff person and an agility assistant, but has spent most of her time as an obedience assistant at both beginner and intermediate levels...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Julia Torgersen

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Julia has been an instructor in agility at TCOTC for about 12 years. She has volunteered for trials in agility and obedience in many different facets. She worked for a time as Facility Manager and has also volunteered to help with facilities at the club, including updating the agility equipment inventory, ensuring that equipment has been repaired and maintained. Julia also regularly gives her o...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Laura Waudby

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Laura has been an instructor at TCOTC since 2008. Her primary focus in teaching is ring confidence and preparation to get happy, motivated dogs in the competition ring. She teaches Advanced Obedience, Competition Obedience, Ring Confidence, and Bye Bye Cookie, a relatively new class designed to transition your dog away from relying on rewards to offer the desired behavior. She also instructs st...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Christina Wessel

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Christina has been a member of TCOTC since 2013 when she took her tentative first step into the sport of agility with her first Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Nikko. She was immediately hooked by the strong bond formed with the dog and the intellectual challenge of training skills and strategizing courses. Christina, now with two more Tollers (Sole and Presto), competes in AKC and UKI and ...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Elektra Wrenholt

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Elektra first attended a basic obedience class in 2022 with her special needs rescue, Gianni the Cocker Spaniel. Together, they have taken many tier 2 classes, freestyle, rally obedience, and nose work. Elektra has been assisting in obedience classes since the fall of 2023, and loves cheering for the successes of both canine and human students.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Sara Zislin

  Puppy training, Agility training

  Sara has been training and competing in agility for ten years with dachshunds and border collies. She got started in agility when her mom, who also does agility, was dog sitting for her, and started teaching her dog some foundation skills. When Sara returned to pick up her dog, her mom said the dog loved agility training, and helped her sign up for classes. Fun fact, her mom is still training a...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Susan Ward

  In home training, Puppy training

  Susan has been a professional dog trainer for 25 years and started pupDOGS Training in 2009.She specializes in helping owners with their companion dogs. Using humane and gentle techniques, and empathy for both species, she loves making training fun for everyone.By choosing this small business, you know you will be training directly with its owner, Susan. And if you're in a group class, you'll...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Annelise Allan

  Agility training

  Annelise has been doing agility over 25 years (since 1990). She has personally trained over 20 dogs in the sport of agility. She has trained Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Jack Russell Terriers, Pyrenean Shepherd, French Brittany and Poodles. She has competed and earned Agility Championships in AKC, CPE, NADAC, UKI and USDAA. She has competed in national competitions in AKC, CPE, NAD...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Kimberly Luskey

  Agility training

  Kim has been training dogs and teaching people how to train dogs for over a dozen years. She has had four agility dogs. Kim has competed in AKC, CPE and NADAC and earned multiple C-ATCH titles. Kim also has trained obedience, barn hunt, field work and dock diving.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Patty Fulton

  Agility training

  Patty has been competing in obedience for a dozen years. She has trained and competed with three dogs in Utility. Patty competes in AKC, CDSP and UKC. Patty is a detailed oriented instructor and a positive trainer. Patty has earned Utility titles on multiple dogs in AKC and CDSP.
  
  
  Patty also trains and competes in agility and tracking.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Patti Anderson

  Agility training

  Patti is a C.P.D.T. Pet Partners Evaluator & Tellington TTouch Practitioner. She has been doing therapy work and teaching classes for the past twenty years with six different certified dogs and several other species as well. She was also a former competitive sprint musher before that, for over seven years with I.S.D.R.A.. She teaches a Therapy Dog Skills Class (or private sessions) to prepar...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Lisa Hennen

  Agility training

  Lisa Hennen teaches Sports Foundations and Agility Handling classes. She had a very successful agility career with Booker T, her Italian Greyhound. They went to the AKC Agility Invitational for the top 5 Italian Greyhounds in agility. She earned a MACH and a C-ATCH with him. Currently she has Keylor, an Australian Shepherd, who is starting his agility career.

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Jody Karow

  In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training

  Perhaps the biggest dog behavior geek of them all, Jody has decades of experience working with dogs and specializes in off-leash play and training. She studied directly underneath famed behaviorist Jean Donaldson and graduated from the dog trainers' version of Harvard: the Academy for Dog Trainers. Prior to founding Go Anywhere Dog, Jody helped to teach and heal thousands of rescue dogs at Safe...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Emily Niemeyer

  In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training

  Emily has always loved animals. We know every trainer bio says that, but really, She belts out Disney songs for the dogs when she thinks nobody's listening. Her passion for animals comes naturally, and nobody understands more than Emily that a deep emotional connection is the best foundation for a happy, well-behaved dog. Or horse. Or cat. (Emily doesn't discriminate.) She began training for bi...

  Write a testimonial

---

• 

  Ashley Fordyce

  In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training

  Ashley joined the team in 2021 and is our newest Dog Life Coach, but she's no greenhorn! Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in zoology and has years of experience fostering rescues, volunteering at shelters, and working in dog daycare and boarding. She originally began studying dog body language and behavior modification to better manage the dogs in her off-leash group play sessions. She saw firs...

  Write a testimonial

---

Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you

Explore spots near me

See The Best Dog Trainers By Type In Minneapolis

• Aggressive dog training
• Agility training
• Board and train
• Deaf dog training
• In home training
• Off leash training
• Protection/guard dog training
• Puppy training
• Reactive dog training
• Service dog training

FAQ: Meet the Top Minneapolis, Minnesota Dog Trainers

Get your dog the safe enrichment they need by renting a Sniffspot

Explore spots