Man & His Mutt

5.0 Stars,17 Reviews

5241 Knox St, Philadelphia, PA 19144

Service area: Serves the Philadelphia area, including Germantown and Howell Park; in-person consultations available in-home, at neutral locations, or in Howell Park.

Service Overview

Types of Dog Training

Family Dog
Behavior Modification

Specialty Focus Areas

Basic Obedience
Puppy Training
Leash Pulling
Reactivity / Aggression
Fearfulness
Separation Anxiety
Biting / Nipping
Recall

Training Formats Offered

Private Lessons
In-Home
Board and Train
Day Training
Video Calls

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

Training begins with a free consultation (virtual or in-person). Programs include Single Sessions for targeted goals, Standard Training (3–6 sessions with customized handouts and ongoing access), and Advanced Training (6 sessions with 24/7 trainer access, enrichment education, and advanced skill development like off-leash work, agility, or therapy dog training). All programs are customized and focus on owner education. Board and Train services are also available.

Pricing & Policies

Pricing Summary

Single training sessions start at $150; Standard Training Program starts at $400 for 3 weeks or $800 for 6 weeks; Advanced Training Program starts at $1,200. Walking services: Enrichment walks from $35, Training Walks from $50, High Reactivity/Bite Risk Walks from $85. Discounts available for EBT/Unemployment recipients and residents of 19144. No upfront payment required—consultation required before booking.

Policies

All new clients must complete a free consultation before booking any services. In-person consultations in Germantown, including Howell Park, are free of travel costs; other locations may incur a small travel fee. Private scheduling links are provided after consultation; new links can be requested via email. No explicit cancellation policy stated.

Testimonials

Alex and crew are top notch. He is a dog whisperer and understands dogs intellectually and intuitively. He also communicates very effectively and teaches you how to integrate the behavioral techniques into your family’s routine. He is reliable, hard working and simply excellent at what he does. Arielle has been an incredible addition to the team. She has continued to reinforce better behavior on walks and when boarding our Bernedoodle this past weekend, showed him so much love and we couldn’t have been more at ease, knowing that she was taking care of him as if he was her own puppy. The team truly feels as if they are part of our family!
– Anonymous

Alex is THE BEST at what he does. I have four dogs one of which is the baby of the family and needed a lot of beginner training. Alex quickly helped guide us into learning training techniques to master those obedience skills. My other pup, Ghosty, on the other hand is a COVID baby and also had a rough start in life. He is reactive to both people and animals… until I met Alex. He worked with my partner and I to understand Ghosty and help him with his trauma. It has been a long road and we will always have work to do to give him the life that he deserves, but we truly feel more confident in the process and Alex is the sole reason for this!
– Anonymous

Alex is amazing!!!! 10/10!!! I was incredibly anxious and frustrated by my dog’s often inappropriate engagement with people and other dogs… We worked with over a few months and my dog has never been better! We get compliments from people who knew our dog prior! I feel like my dog can live the life he deserves!
– Anonymous

About the Trainer

Man & His Mutt is a dog training and pet services business based in Philadelphia, led by Alex Cost, a CPDT-KA and CPACM certified professional. They specialize in positive reinforcement training using LIMA (Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive) principles to build healthy communication between dogs and their humans. Their services include private training sessions, reactivity and anxiety behavior modification, adaptive training for disabled pets, dog walking (including reactivity and enrichment walks), and in-home pet sitting with boarding options. They emphasize owner education, offering customized handouts and 24/7 trainer access during advanced programs. They serve dogs of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments, with a strong focus on fearful, reactive, and aggression-prone dogs.

They offer flexible scheduling with virtual or in-person consultations, and provide discounts for clients on government assistance or living in the 19144 area. Their team includes trained apprentices and is experienced with mobility aids like wheelchairs. They also offer emergency check-ins and consistent walker pairings for pet care reliability.

Accomplishments

Alex Cost is a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed) and CPACM (Certified Professional Animal Care Manager). He is trained in K9 CPR and First Aid. The business emphasizes ethical, science-based training and has received consistent praise for expertise in reactivity and anxiety cases.

How to Get Started!

Begin with a free consultation, which can be virtual or in-person (in-home, neutral location, or Howell Park). Complete a short questionnaire during scheduling. After the consultation, clients receive a private link to book training, walking, or pet-sitting services.

Book Now Contact

Free Consultation

Availability

Weekdays
Weekends
Morning
Afternoon
Evening

Certifications

CPDT-KA
CPACM

Associations

Accredited

Languages

English

Other Services Offered

Dog walker
Pet sitter
Pet boarding service

Location