The Best Dog Training in Albuquerque, AZ

From dog parks to hiking to museums to trolley tours to pet-friendly restaurant patios, there are a surprising amount of activities to do with your dog in Albuquerque. However, many of these pet-friendly activities only welcome well-behaved dogs.

Even if you could bring an unruly pup along, you likely wouldn’t want to. Trying to keep your dog in check would be more frustrating than fun, and it could even be a bit embarrassing to have a dog that is barking wildly or lunging at other dogs or people.

Whatever the case with your dog, there are plenty of experienced trainers in Albuquerque that can help you achieve your dog training goals. Whether you’re raising a puppy or have a fearful dog who needs some behavior rehabilitation, the trainers we’ll share with you in this article can provide solutions.

We’ve put together a list of the best dog training options available in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Keep reading to find the perfect trainer for your situation!

A Quick Look at the Best Dog Training in Albuquerque

Here, we’ve put together a chart that provides a quick overview of the top training options in Albuquerque. We’ll provide in-depth information on each trainer later in the article, so be sure to keep reading.

Online Vs. In-Person Training in Albuquerque

Both online and in-person dog training can be effective. They each have their pros and cons, but one is not necessarily better than the other. Online training tends to be the most affordable and the most convenient — you can study from anywhere with an internet connection.

In-person training, on the other hand, can be great for socialization. Both you and your dog can make new friends. Since both options are effective, which you decide to go with is up to your preference.

Perks of Online and In-Person Training in Albuquerque

We said both online and in-person training have their pros and cons. Here’s a quick chart outlining those pros and cons.

The Best Dog Training in Albuquerque

Finding a trainer can be difficult as there are often many options that result in a lot of time spent sorting through them all to find the ones actually worth learning more about. Well, we’ve already researched for you—so here’s a list of the best trainers in Albuquerque.

1). Dog Academy

• Online or In-Person: Online and In-Person
• Types of Training Courses: Obedience Classes, Behavioral Issues, Puppy Training, Psychiatric Service Dog Training, Emotional Support Animal Training, Specialty Classes (e.g. Canine Confidence, Separation Anxiety)
• Price Range: $49.99 – $349.99
• Link to Website: Dog Academy Basic Obedience Training Program
• Phone Number: (605) 223-1971

Dog Academy offers private training, group classes, and online courses. They have a dozen experienced trainers servicing every city in the United States, including Albuquerque. However, if in-person training isn’t the right choice for you, then take a look at Dog Academy’s extensive catalog of online training classes.

You can find puppy training, basic obedience training, psychiatric service dog training, emotional support dog training, leash manners training, trick training, crate training, and more. There are even courses that address problem behaviors such as barking, reactivity, and separation anxiety.

Dog Academy doesn’t just have dog training classes – they also teach important skills to dog owners. For example, you can learn how to groom your dog at home and even administer canine CPR or first aid. All of Dog Academy’s online courses are designed by AKC-certified trainers with over 25 years of experience. If you need help with an online course, you can easily contact Dog Academy via phone, email, or the contact form.

2). Pawsitive Training ABQ

• Online or In-Person: In-Person
• Types of Training Courses: Puppy Training, Adolescent Dog Training, Behavior Modification, Basic Obedience
• Price Range: $1,260 for 6 sessions, $1,620 for 8 sessions
• Link to Website: https://pawsitivetrainingabq.com/
• Phone Number: (505) 553-5300

Pawsitive Training ABQ is owned and operated by Georgette Lombardo. She is a force-free dog trainer who teaches her clients how to effectively use a clicker to teach new behaviors. Pawsitive Training ABQ specializes in puppy and adolescent dog training, but can also help adult dogs.

Georgette gets puppies started on the right foot by teaching them where to go potty, what to chew, how to wait at doors, come, walk nicely on a leash, and more. If you have an older dog struggling with manners or other unwanted behaviors, Pawsitive Training ABQ can help them, too.

Georgette can solve problems such as “selective hearing,” barking, lunging, destruction, jumping, and bad manners. All sessions are one-on-one and take place in your home. Some training packages offered by Pawsitive Training ABQ include field trips outside of your home so that you can work on teaching your pup to behave in the real world as well.

3). Arie’s Dogland

• Online or In-Person: In-Person
• Types of Training Courses: Puppy Training, Behavior Modification
• Price Range: $150 per 75 min session
• Link to Website: https://www.ariesdogland.com/
• Address: 3530 Pan American Fwy NE suite h, Albuquerque, NM 87107
• Phone Number: (505) 884-4335

Arie’s Dogland offers more than just dog training: they host puppy playgroups, offer grooming, and sell pet food and supplies. However, we will focus on the training since that’s what this article is all about! Arie’s Dogland believes in using a positive, force-free approach to dog training.

They can help with issues like separation anxiety, fear, destruction, impulse control, housetraining and marking, resource guarding, reactivity, and poor manners. Most training is done privately in the comfort of your own home, but Arie’s Dogland does offer a six-week group class for puppies under four months of age.

This puppy class teaches basic skills like sit, leave it, down, wait, come, etc. Puppies will also be taught impulse control, polite interaction with other dogs and people, and how to tolerate basic handling such as they would face at the vet or groomer’s.

4). Canine Zen

• Online or In-Person: Online
• Types of Training Courses: Behavior Modification for Fear-based Behaviors: Separation Anxiety, Aggression, Barking, Reactivity, Destruction
• Price Range: Contact for details
• Link to Website: https://www.caninezen.com/
• Phone Number: (505) 657-3346

Canine Zen specializes in solving issues that are caused by fear, anxiety, or trauma. As such, Canine Zen is the perfect trainer for dogs that have separation anxiety, are reactive, or even aggressive. Their website states that Canine Zen is for you if your dog has destroyed property, bitten or hurt a person or other animal, is fearful, aggressive, or uncontrollable, barks all the time, or displays other such unwanted behaviors.

The training is done completely remotely, though in-person sessions may be provided in specific cases. According to Canine Zen, remote training is a great option for pet parents whose dogs suffer from fear-based behavior issues. This is because some of these dogs will feel a lot more stress and fear if a stranger comes into their home, often to the point where they are too worked up to be able to learn.

Remote training allows dogs to learn in a safe space without any scary strangers. This allows Canine Zen to help pet parents set up a foundation of training that will make it possible for the dog to be calm once strangers are introduced to the equation. Canine Zen uses the LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) approach to dog training and is Fear-Free certified.

5). Karma Canine Coaching

• Online or In-Person: Both
• Types of Training Courses: Puppy Training, Behavior Modification, Cooperative Care
• Price Range: $660 for six 1-hour sessions, $1,320 – $1,980 for Day Training
• Link to Website: https://karmacaninecoaching.com/
• Phone Number: (505) 585-1932

Karma Canine Coaching uses force-free dog training methods to teach puppies and old dogs new tricks. They are certified Fear-Free, and their preferred training method is clicker training. They offer several different training options, including in-home training, virtual training, and day training.

With the first two options, you will be directly involved and responsible for training your dog (with the help of a trainer, of course). If you choose day training, however, then a Karma Canine Coaching trainer will come to your home and do all of the training for you.

Karma Canine Coaching offers puppy training, behavior modification, and cooperative care training (teaching dogs to be calm during nail trims, vet visits, etc.).

6). Ralph Clever Working Dogs & Rehabilitation

• Online or In-Person: In-Person
• Types of Training Courses: Service Dog Training, Socialization, Behavior Rehabilitation, Therapy Dog Training, Emotional Support Dog Training
• Price Range: $81 – $350 for non-service/working dog packages, $244/month for 4 sessions of service or working dog training
• Link to Website: https://www.ralphcleverworkingdogsrehabilitation.com/
• Phone Number: (505) 515-5635

Ralph Clever Working Dogs & Rehabilitation (RCWDR) specializes in training assistance dogs. This includes service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals. They even offer a discount to military and first responders.

Though RCWDR specializes in service dogs, they also offer behavior rehabilitation for dogs who are hyperactive, fearful, nervous, anxious, reactive, destructive, or obsessive barkers. Socialization classes are available to help puppies start off on the right foot; socialization is also available for reactive and fearful dogs.

An especially unique service RCWDR offers is “One-of-a-Kind Dog Training.” This service caters to very specific requests, such as training a dog to participate in a wedding. Ralph Clever Working Dogs & Rehabilitation uses gentle, positive dog training methods.

Find the Right Dog Training for You

There are a plethora of dog training options available to you, but which one you pick should be based on what best suits your needs. If your dog has fear-based behavioral issues like separation anxiety, try Canine Zen or Ralph Clever Working Dogs & Rehabilitation. The latter is also a great choice if you hope to train a service dog, emotional support dog, or therapy dog.

If serious behavioral issues aren’t a problem, and you’re looking for more general dog training, try Dog Academy or Karma Canine Coaching. To set up a new puppy for success, check out Pawsitive Training ABQ or Arie’s Dogland, as they have some really great training options to help set puppies up for success.

Whatever your dog training goals, we know you can achieve them. You just need to be patient, loving, and consistent. Good luck!