Find a DogPro

Polite Pooches offers group classes and private training sessions utilizing positive reinforcement, force free methods only. We offer puppy classes through advanced manners. All private sessions & group classes are held at our safe, quiet, clean training center in Forest Hill, MD. All of our trainers have achieved at least their CPDT-KA certification. We teach using humane methods, and go at a pace each dog is comfortable with.

After nearly 30 years teaching high school, I retired to work with animals. I am certified through Animal Behavior College as a Dog Walker, Pet Sitter, and Zookeeper Assistant. I am also a Certified Dog Trainer through Petco. I have two small dogs, a 12-year-old Spitz and a 3-year-old Border Terrier. I’ve been a pet mom for the past 25 years of both dogs and cats. I have also owned fish, mice, hamsters, and a rat. I LOVE animals, and I will care for yours as my own.

Truth is I love dogs! Big, small, furry, bald, stinky or clean I love them all. I will cherish each as my own. I am just staring out and would love to start by walking them, then possible dog sitting in my home. I have owned a bulldog, and cocker spaniel in my life so far. I am pet free at the current time. Please trust in me, meet me and let me love on your babies!

I have been dog sitting & caring for pets for well over 30 years. We started our paid sitting in 2012 when our son wanted to pet sit to raise money for a school trip. I feel like our pets are more like children and are an expansion of our family. They deserve to showered with love, kindness & patience. I was raised in the country where we cared for a myriad of farm animals. I have worked with veterinarians assisting during surgery, medication administration and training. While I am not a paid professional trainer I have trained our last 3 dogs (2 Huskies and a Lab). I love the opportunity to meet new people and fur children and look forward to spending time with them throughout the day.

We treat your pets like family and give your furry friends the same love and care they would receive from you! It brings us great joy to see them happily wagging their tails, living life to the fullest! We offer a variety of services: dog walking & hikes, private walks, kennel-free boarding, drop-in visits, cat care and house sitting. We practice safety, trail etiquette, and are committed to assuring your pet has a great time with his or her pack mates! Whatever the dog-venture we will bring you home a calm, happy, and relaxed best buddy!

I always use Positive Reinforcement and Rewards-Based methods in all my training. Behavior Modification is always done using scientifically proven methods to modify, reshape or extinguish the unwanted behavior. I believe in being patient, compassionate, helping the dog to reshape its behavior at a comfortable pace for the dog, and doing it with confidence. That is where training you - the person - to train your dog, comes into my training philosophy.

I started walktime in 2019 after working for someone else for a year because I knew that working with dogs is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Also I wanted to provide a trustworthy service that’s owner operated to people in a city full of question marks.

I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) who has been teaching group classes and working with private clients for over 20 years. My goals as a trainer are to give owners the skills necessary to build better relationships and solve behavior challenges with their dogs using reward-based, positive training methods grounded in learning theory. I work 1:1 with clients to solve their training challenges including leash manners & reactivity, behavioral problems, training fundamentals for new puppy/dog, preparing for baby and child/dog relationship training. Force Free Certified, Member APDT, IAABC, and PPG.

Sage Dog Training was born from over a decade of hands-on rescue work and a deep commitment to advocating for dogs in need. After years of fostering and rehabilitating dogs with behavioral challenges, the work evolved into a certified dog training practice. Today, Sage Dog Training blends experience, empathy, and evidence-based methods to help dogs and their families build lasting, respectful bonds rooted in trust and understanding. www.thesagedogtraining.com for more information including certifications