Marcia’s Best Dogs
Ranked #4 in Durham and #39 in North Carolina
Service area: Marcia Martin serves dog owners in North Carolina, specifically the Triangle and Triad areas. This includes Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Cary, Morrisville, Greensboro, Burlington, Elon, Whitsett, McLeansville, Summerfield, Oak Ridge, Kernersville, Mebane, Carrboro, Pittsboro, Raleigh, Apex, and Wake Forest. She also offers nationwide virtual consultations.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- housebreaking
- crate
- Biting / Nipping
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- aggression
- Stealing Food
- socialization
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- In-Home
- Video Calls
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Balanced Training
Marcia offers private, one-on-one training sessions tailored to the specific needs of the dog and owner. In-home sessions typically last 2-3 hours, starting with observation of the dog’s natural behavior, followed by building a working relationship, and then developing structured routines to address challenging behaviors. Virtual training sessions are one hour long and are ideal for puppies, newly adopted dogs, timid pets, introducing a new dog, or preparing for a baby’s arrival, focusing on housebreaking, crate training, and routine establishment. Most instances require only one session for desired behavior change. Owners are required to participate in the training.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
In-home consultations range from $250 to $350 per hour, with rates varying based on travel distance. Most in-home sessions typically require two hours, but three-hour sessions are recommended for cases involving aggression, multiple dogs, or dog fights. Virtual consultations are $150 per hour for a one-hour session via Zoom. Payments can be made via Venmo, Square, or PayPal.
Testimonials
“Marcia came out to our home two days ago and what a transformation! We have three dogs and our youngest wanted to assert himself with some unwanted aggressive behavior to our other male dog. Marcia showed us very effectively how to establish order and let the youngest dog know that we were in charge. Along the way we were able to address excessive barking and rushing at the door whenever someone was coming to the home. I cannot thank her enough for giving us tools to create a harmonious home.”
– Kate OMara
“Marcia is truly amazing!!! She took the time to listen and do exposure training in the moment. We recreated all of my dog’s problem areas – in the home, on a walk in the neighborhood and even at a nearby outdoor restaurant. She gave me the tools to be empowered as a dog owner. She is highly effective in understanding the relationship between the dog and owner. My dog has already received compliments on how well behaved he is – and it hasn’t even been a full 24 hrs since he (or rather I) was trained! Thank you Marcia – our home is already feeling much more peaceful!!”
– Erikka Dzirasa
“Marcia is the best!! Definitely a dog whisperer!! She came to my house for 2 hrs. on a Saturday and had our 3 dogs walking the line before she left. She is so pleasant and teaches you how to reinforce the boundaries she has set for them. Worth every penny!!”
– Kimberly Smith
About the Trainer
Marcia’s Best Dogs is led by Marcia Martin, an experienced dog trainer with a lifelong passion for canine behavior. Originally from Brazil, she has been serving dog owners in North Carolina since 1998. Marcia integrates scientific principles from her Psychology degree with hands-on experience to create effective, intuitive training methods tailored to each dog’s unique needs.
Her expertise is widely recognized, and she is a trusted referral from veterinarians across the Triangle and Triad areas. Marcia offers in-home, private, one-on-one training sessions for dogs of all ages, focusing on building a lifelong bond through leadership, trust, and understanding. She also provides nationwide virtual consultations.
Beyond correcting unwanted behaviors, Marcia emphasizes proper socialization, teaching dogs to be gentle with children, and fostering mutual respect between dogs and owners. She educates owners on understanding canine body language and communicating effectively for a peaceful, well-balanced relationship. She has also worked extensively with animal welfare organizations.
Accomplishments
Marcia Martin holds a degree in Psychology, which she integrates into her training methods. She is a trusted referral from veterinarians across the Triangle and Triad areas. She has worked extensively with animal welfare organizations including the Guilford County Animal Shelter, Ruff Love Rescue, SPCA of the Triad, Animal Rescue and Foster Program, HART-2-Heart Rescue, and Doxie by Proxy Rescue. She has been serving dog owners since 1998 and has 25 years of experience.
How to Get Started!
Clients can schedule an appointment via the website. Before the training session, it is recommended that the dog be well-rested, quiet, and calm, and a long walk is discouraged. If the dog is skittish or aggressive with new people, it should be kept away from the entrance, preferably in a back room. Upon arrival, Marcia observes the dog’s natural behavior, builds a working relationship, and then works with the owner and dog to develop structured routines.
Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- wheelchair accessible parking
Other Services Offered
- public-socialization