How much does dog training cost in Annapolis, MD?

Private in-home dog training with Dog Principal is $175 per session, billed after each visit. The first session runs about 1.5 hours to allow time for a full evaluation, and follow-up sessions are typically an hour. There are no packages, bundles, or long-term commitments, just honest, pay-as-you-go training.

What areas do you serve?

Dog Principal provides private in-home dog training throughout Annapolis, MD and Anne Arundel County, along with the greater DMV area, including Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and surrounding Maryland communities. Concierge training is also available further out, including Delaware and Virginia Beach, VA.

Do you only train at my home, or can we meet elsewhere?

Training starts in the home, then moves to the dog's own neighborhood, and eventually public areas as the dog is ready. Dog Principal is happy to meet dog parents in a public location near their neighborhood if that fits better, whatever setting helps the dog and parent progress.

Can you help with dog aggression or reactivity?

Yes. Aggressive and reactive behavior is one of our specialties, including reactivity toward other dogs, strangers, and situational triggers like car rides or walks. Dog Principal also works on and rehabilitates food aggression and human aggression cases. Every plan begins with an in-home evaluation to understand what's actually driving the behavior, not just suppressing the symptom.

Do you offer puppy training?

Yes. Puppy training covers foundational obedience, house training, leash manners, and controlling nipping or jumping, taught through structured play so puppies learn good habits while burning off their energy the right way.

Do I need to buy a training package?

No. Dog Principal does not require packages or contracts. Sessions are billed individually as needed, so every dog parent only pays for the training their dog actually requires.

What makes Dog Principal's training method different?

Training is built around five pillars: Evaluation, Cooperation, Fulfillment, Socialization, and Authority, always starting with positive reinforcement. Instead of chasing a quick fix, this approach rebuilds real trust and communication between a dog and their parent, so the results actually last.

How many sessions will my dog need?

It depends on the dog and the behavior being addressed. An exact number can't be promised before the first in-home evaluation, but most dog parents notice real change within the first few sessions.

Is Dog Principal insured?

Yes. Dog Principal is fully insured for pet training services, giving every dog parent peace of mind during in-home sessions.

What is the Tarheel K9 training background?

Adam Hartman, founder of Dog Principal, is a graduate of Tarheel K9 in Sanford, North Carolina, a hands-on training program known for real-world, reality-based methods rather than classroom-only theory.

Does Dog Principal train dogs in Washington, D.C. neighborhoods like Georgetown or Capitol Hill?

Yes. Dog Principal trains dogs throughout Washington, D.C., including Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and Navy Yard, addressing city-specific challenges like elevators, hallways, and close-quarters dog encounters.

Do you provide dog training in Northern Virginia?

Yes. Dog Principal regularly trains dogs throughout Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Vienna, McLean, and Falls Church, working through real-world triggers like busy sidewalks and close-quarters dog encounters.

What Maryland towns does Dog Principal serve besides Annapolis?

Beyond Annapolis, Dog Principal regularly trains dogs in Bowie, Rockville, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Clinton, Laurel, Gaithersburg, Columbia, Glen Burnie, Waldorf, Upper Marlboro, Crofton, Severna Park, Pasadena, and Edgewater.

What is Concierge Dog Training, and do you travel outside Maryland?

Concierge Dog Training is for clients further out, including other states like Delaware or cities like Virginia Beach, VA, roughly four hours from Washington, D.C. Instead of single sessions, Adam stays in a nearby hotel or Airbnb and runs multiple sessions in one day to speed up progress. Out-of-state cases typically require a minimum of 3-4 days booked in full, and the exact length is determined through a phone consultation.

What is Board and Train, and how is it different from Concierge Training?

Board and Train is different from Concierge Training. With Board and Train, available to new clients, the dog stays at Adam's home for a minimum of two weeks, allowing time for real behavior modification. Concierge Training, by contrast, is Adam traveling to stay near the client's home, not boarding the dog.

Are you a dog behaviorist or a dog trainer?

Both. Dog Principal combines behaviorist-level evaluation of what's driving a dog's behavior with hands-on, reality-based training to actually change it, not just manage the symptoms.

Do you train reactive dogs or pitbulls?

Yes. Reactive dog training and bully-breed and pitbull-type training are core specialties, including cases involving dog-to-dog aggression, leash reactivity, and dogs with a history of being surrendered or given up on.

Can you help with separation anxiety, resource guarding, house training, or leash pulling?

Yes. These are some of the most common issues we address, especially with puppies and newly adopted dogs, using structured, hands-on training in your home and neighborhood. Separation anxiety and resource guarding usually stem from a specific root cause that has to be identified first, before real improvement is possible.

Do you use positive reinforcement or correction-based training?

Positive reinforcement always comes first, paired with classical conditioning to build calm, healthy associations with people, environments, and triggers. If a dog remains stubborn or unresponsive, we progressively introduce positive punishment or negative reinforcement, completing the four quadrants of operant conditioning, to achieve genuine, lasting behavioral change. This balanced methodology mirrors real-world scenarios rather than relying on a single technique.

Do you offer training for dogs anywhere in the DMV, including Southern Maryland?

Yes. Beyond Annapolis and the immediate DMV core, Dog Principal also serves Southern Maryland communities, along with Howard and Baltimore Counties, for in-home training and evaluations.

Dog Training Teamwork

Sep 8

Written By Dog Principal

Pepe, Willow, and Sasha’s story is one of dedication, persistence, and transformation, highlighting how teamwork between a trainer and dog guardians can truly reshape a household.

Living in Alexandria, VA this trio of dogs brought different challenges to their training sessions, but the journey we took together allowed for remarkable growth—not just for the dogs, but for their guardians as well. Before we began, all 3 dogs had developed a habit of barking at everything: people walking by, cars passing their home, and joggers making their way down the street. Pepe, the lively 4-year-old Papillon, was especially reactive. His natural energy, though playful, led to excessive barking whenever something caught his eye near the house. Meanwhile, Willow, the gentle 10-year-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, needed confidence-building. Despite her age, she too would join in the barking when people passed by. Then there was Sasha, the youngest, a 4-month-old Border Collie who was beginning to mirror her older siblings’ behavior, barking at every disturbance as if it was her duty to protect the home.

From the first session, we focused on establishing a foundation of trust and communication. We started with the eye contact command, teaching each dog to focus on their guardian instead of distractions around them. This helped not only with obedience but also in breaking their habit of reacting to every little thing outside the home. Once they mastered eye contact, we moved on to fundamental commands like sit, down, stay, come, and loose leash walking. Pepe, Willow, and Sasha responded well, and soon enough, these commands became a way to help them refocus when distractions appeared. But the real test was teaching them to control their barking, not only at passersby and joggers but also at the cars that frequently passed by their house. Each dog had used barking as a way to respond to their environment, but now we were guiding them to stay calm, using these core commands to redirect their energy.

The next stage of our training took us beyond their home environment and into public spaces like The Plant in Alexandria VA, where more distractions awaited. This setting gave us a controlled environment to work on socializing around people and other dogs while maintaining calm behaviors. It was an opportunity to reinforce everything we had practiced at home—focusing on staying calm, walking well on the leash, and not reacting to outside stimuli. Throughout this journey, the dogs made remarkable progress, but what truly stood out was the unwavering commitment of their guardians. They practiced the techniques we discussed after every session, sending me videos of their training efforts at home so I could review and provide feedback. This step was essential because training doesn’t end when I leave the session—it’s a daily commitment, and Pepe, Willow, and Sasha’s guardians embraced that wholeheartedly. Over time, we saw a transformation in all 3 dogs. Pepe no longer barked at cars or joggers, and Willow became more confident, no longer needing to alert us at every passerby. Sasha, though young, learned to focus her energy and follow the lead of her older companions. Each dog had their own challenges, but with patience and consistency, they overcame them. Training dogs like Pepe, Willow, and Sasha is never a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about understanding their personalities and teaching them to trust their guardians as leaders. Through structured exercises, socialization, and positive reinforcement, we’ve built a foundation of trust and calm behavior that their guardians can continue to build on. If you’re struggling with similar behaviors, whether it’s barking, leash pulling, or reactivity in public spaces, I’m here to help. My personalized approach to dog training in Alexandria VA, and the surrounding areas focuses on addressing your dog’s specific needs. Together, we can create a calmer, more connected bond between you and your dog.

dog trainingdog trainer

Dog Principal

Adam Hartman
Founder & Head Trainer, Dog Principal

I'm a dog trainer based in Annapolis, Maryland, working across Anne Arundel County, the wider DMV, and Northern Virginia.

I specialize in the hard cases — aggression, reactivity toward dogs and people, anxiety, food aggression, resource guarding, and conflict between dogs in the same household. Most of the dogs I see have already been through another trainer.

I trained for six months at Tarheel Canine in North Carolina and worked hands-on at Woof Dogs in Florida alongside one of the top trainers in the state. My approach is reality-based: we work in your home and in real public settings, because that's where the behavior has to hold. I train the dog and the parent equally — that's the idea behind the name.

Sessions are pay-as-you-go. No packages, no contracts.

https://www.dogprincipal.com/

Dog Training Teamwork

4438087373

Dog Principal

Annapolis, MD

Info@dogprincipal.com

Serving Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and the greater DMV

Dog Training Teamwork

Baxter and the Battle of the Bone

Involving Owners for Lasting Results

4438087373

Dog Principal

Annapolis, MD

Info@dogprincipal.com

Serving Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and the greater DMV