Blue Ridge Canine

Blue Ridge Canine offers a Hybrid Program with in-person or virtual lessons up to three times per month, group outings, and virtual meetings. Their Virtual Service Dog Academy (launching Spring 2025) provides standalone access to training videos or a hybrid option with live sessions. To earn certification as a handler/service dog team, clients must complete all courses, pass quizzes and a final test, submit a healthcare provider letter, achieve AKC CGC or CD title, and submit public access and task videos. Training includes behavior modification, leash manners, recall, and public access skills tailored to psychiatric, PTSD, and mobility service dogs.

Pricing Summary

Pricing details are not publicly listed; clients are encouraged to call for a free phone consultation to discuss customized training plans and packages, including hybrid and virtual program options.

Policies

Client inquiries are acknowledged within 1–2 business days. No specific cancellation or rescheduling policies are stated on the website.

Blue Ridge Canine is a professional dog training business specializing in service, therapy, and working dog training, with a strong focus on building strong, positive relationships between dogs and their handlers. Led by Krystal Inman, a certified Cynopraxis and LIMA trainer with a Master of Science in Human-Canine Life Sciences and over 20 years of experience, the business offers personalized training using reward-based methods combined with appropriate training aids when needed for safety and reliability. They provide both in-person and virtual training options, including a new Virtual Service Dog Academy launching in Spring 2025, designed to support owner-trained service dog teams with step-by-step videos, group sessions, and certification preparation. They also breed Labrador Retrievers every 1–2 years for their service dog program and offer free training resources like e-books, training logs, and nutrition plans. Their clients include families seeking behavior modification, individuals needing psychiatric or mobility service dogs, and those aiming for AKC Canine Good Citizen certification.

They emphasize clear boundaries, consistent reinforcement, and owner education to ensure long-term success at home. Training tools such as harnesses, head halters, and e-collars are used responsibly to reinforce learned behaviors in high-distraction environments, always grounded in positive reinforcement principles. Their team includes certified trainers with expertise in reactivity, fearfulness, and aggression cases, and they serve clients across Virginia and Maryland.

Blue Ridge Canine also provides free phone consultations, publishes educational materials like the booklet “Welcoming Your Puppy Home,” and offers certification packages that include service dog vests, leashes, and personalized information cards—though they clarify that ADA certification is voluntary and not required by law.

Accomplishments

Krystal Inman holds a Master of Science in Human-Canine Life Sciences from Bergin University, is a certified Cynopraxis and LIMA trainer, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and published author of “Welcoming Your Puppy Home” (Dec 2024). She has titled dogs in AKC CGC, CGCA, CD, and RN, and has trained and placed multiple psychiatric service dogs. She is a Professional Member of IACP and has over 20 years of hands-on experience with behavior modification, trauma recovery, and working dog training.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to call for a free phone consultation to discuss their dog’s needs, explore training options, and determine the best program fit—whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid.