Dog Training Does Matter

Private training, one-on-one, usually at your home or place of business and shaped around your dog’s temperament, age, and the specific behaviors you want changed. Scheduling is flexible.

Group classes are built for reactive dogs and dogs that are uncomfortable around others. The rule is distance – dogs work at a range they can handle and are brought closer only as they are ready, so they practice around other dogs without going over threshold.

Puppy training covers early socialization, basic obedience, housebreaking, crate work, and heading off biting and chewing before they set in. Both private puppy sessions and a group puppy class are available.

Behavior work covers reactivity and aggression, fear and anxiety, leash pulling, nipping, excessive barking, jumping, and recall. Therapy dog training is also available.

Pricing Summary

Prices are not published. Group training is described as affordable, with rates given over the phone.

Phone consultations are free – call (754) 227-9876.

Policies

The group class runs on one hard rule: keep your distance. Dogs work at a range they can handle and are brought closer only as they are ready, which is what keeps the class safe for reactive dogs.

Dog Training Does Matter is Tom Savoca’s dog training business, based in Margate, Florida and working across North Broward – Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Tamarac, North Lauderdale, Parkland, and Margate itself.

Tom’s approach starts with the person, not just the dog. His line is that dog training has to do with both ends of the leash, and that a leash is there to communicate, not to control. He teaches owners how to read what their dog is telling them and how to stay consistent enough that the changes hold after he leaves.

He is straightforward about method. For teaching a dog a new behavior, he believes positive-only work is usually all you need. For changing an unwanted behavior that is already established, he finds a balanced approach – positive reinforcement plus training tools that are used properly – often gets there faster. Which route he takes depends on the dog in front of him.

Private sessions are usually held at your home or place of business, which puts the training where the problems actually happen. He also runs a group class built specifically for reactive dogs and dogs that are uncomfortable around other dogs. The number one rule there is distance: dogs join the pack slowly and calmly rather than being dropped into the middle of it. Owners of dog-aggressive dogs have written that this pack work was the only thing that finally moved the needle.

Beyond pet dog training, Tom is a therapy dog handler and trainer. His German Shepherd Coco (2011-2025) served as the City of Margate’s therapy dog and worked crisis response after the 2018 Stoneman Douglas shooting in Parkland and the 2021 Surfside condo collapse.

Accomplishments

Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), with a public IACP trainer profile.

Listed as Best Dog Trainer in Margate, FL for 2024 by Quality Business Awards.

Tom’s German Shepherd Coco served as the City of Margate’s therapy dog and worked crisis response after the 2018 Stoneman Douglas shooting in Parkland and the 2021 Surfside condo collapse – work that was recognized at a Margate City Commission meeting.

Rated 5.0 across 31 Google reviews.

How to Get Started!

Call or text (754) 227-9876 for a free phone consultation, or use the contact form on the website. Have your dog’s name, breed, age, and weight ready, along with a short description of what you are running into.