Best Behaved Dogs
Service area: Serves Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Vienna, South Riding, Oakton, McLean, Springfield, Lorton, Burke, Annandale, Clifton, Reston, Herndon, Centreville, and Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Behavior Modification
- Competition / Agility
- Therapy Dog
Specialty Focus Areas
- Puppy Training
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Separation Anxiety
- Potty Training
- Biting / Nipping
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- In-Home
- Day Training
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
- Intensive Program
Types of Dogs
- Small
- Medium
- Large
- Giant
- Herding
- Sporting
- Working
- Hounds
- Terriers
- Doodles
- Brachycephalic
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
Equipment:
- ✓ Clickers
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ Harnesses
- ✓ Flat Collars
Training programs include In-Home Puppy Training, In-Home Behavior Training, Individual Obedience Training, In-Home Day School (two-week intensive), and Advanced Obedience Training. All programs are tailored to the dog’s age, breed, and specific behavioral goals. Day School involves daily in-home training for two weeks, followed by a family session to teach maintenance techniques. Advanced training includes AKC CGC, therapy dog prep, tricks, off-leash reliability, and parkour.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Pricing details are not publicly listed; clients are encouraged to contact for customized quotes based on service type and needs. Packages include in-home sessions, intensive day school, and advanced training programs.
Testimonials
“Obedience training with Janet McMillan saved my dog’s life. When my black lab mix puppy, Indy, got spooked, wriggled out of her collar and backed into the first lane of traffic on a busy street, I thought she was a goner. The car in that lane stopped and waited as she sat frozen in the middle of the lane, pleading to me with her eyes to do something. I thought about it and told her to “come”. Because Janet had helped me teach Indy to respond to “come”, she jumped up and came right to me.”
-Tracy, Arlington VA
“I first met Janet when I contacted her about training for my 1 year-old rescued miniature schnauzer, Mitia. Janet’s individual training sessions were ideal; I preferred the one on one focus and being able to ask lots questions. Janet’s training techniques were so easy to follow and understand, and miraculously Mitia responded.”
-Audrey, Arlington, VA
“We asked for her to help us with our new Golden puppy. She gave us the tools we need to help him fit into our family with small children. We are so thankful for Janet’s compassion and expertise!”
-Client, N/A
About the Trainer
Best Behaved Dogs is a professional in-home dog training service based in Northern Virginia, founded by Janet McMillan, a certified dog trainer with over 25 years of experience. Janet provides personalized, one-on-one training for dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments, focusing on obedience, behavior modification, and advanced skills like agility and rally. Her approach is rooted in empathy, positive reinforcement, and understanding each dog’s unique motivations, making training enjoyable and effective for both pets and their families. She specializes in helping first-time dog owners, addressing reactivity, separation anxiety, leash pulling, and puppy manners, and offers programs ranging from basic obedience to AKC Canine Good Citizen and therapy dog preparation. Training occurs in the client’s home or local public environments to ensure real-world reliability.
Janet also offers an intensive In-Home Day School program, where she trains the dog directly at the home for two consecutive weeks, followed by a family session to ensure continuity. Her services include puppy training, behavior correction, advanced obedience, and trick training, with a strong emphasis on building strong human-dog communication. Clients praise her calm, patient style and her ability to turn challenging behaviors into manageable, joyful interactions.
She maintains an active YouTube channel showcasing real-life training successes and provides free resources on puppy tips, dog reactivity, and living with a new baby.
Accomplishments
Janet McMillan has trained over 4,000 dogs from more than 125 breeds since 1996. She is a certified professional dog trainer with AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluation experience and has helped clients achieve competition, therapy, and behavioral success. Her YouTube channel features real-life training demonstrations with dogs from the community.
How to Get Started!
Client engagement begins with a phone call or email to schedule a free initial consultation. During this meeting, Janet assesses the dog’s needs, discusses the family’s goals, and recommends a customized training plan.
Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Hours
10am-8pm
Certifications
- CPDT-KA
Associations
- AKC
- APDT
- IAABC
Languages
- English
Other Services Offered
- Pet trainer
Location
8617 Woodlawn Ct, Alexandria, VA 22309Listing Tools for Trainers
For Best Behaved Dogs Only
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