Mid-Atlantic Dog Training

If I could give Tom 10 stars I would! Honestly, Tom is worth every penny and much more. We adopted our schnoodle at 6 months old and he’d had absolutely no obedience training, he’d never even been on a leash. We were able to get started on some training basics but quickly we realized he’d developed reactivity to dogs and people while on the leash. We found Mid-Atlantic Dog Training and because of the great reviews we quickly set up a consultation with Tom. Even before our first meeting, Tom had provided us with a ton of resources and background on his training philosophy as well as tips to get us started. Tom has so much knowledge from his extensive experience as a dog trainer and teacher as well as all of his continued learning in the field and his own dogs. He doesn’t sugar coat anything and is very clear about what it takes to make progress in training your dog. He provides all of the guidance, support, teaching and structure but as dog owners we need to put in the work to continuously practice all of the exercises – and let me tell you they work! Tom’s training philosophy really leads to results. In just a few short months, our schnoodle went from having regular accidents in the house, barking and lunging at dogs and people and not being able to settle down to a dog that knows a lot of commands, knows his place in our home and understands our routines and expectations and doesn’t escalate when he sees dogs and people while we’re out. He still huffs and barks a little bit but he stays in position and looks to us without escalating further – we still have some work to do in continuing with Tom’s teachings but the change is drastic and truly life changing! We are much better dog parents because of Tom and we can’t thank him enough! If you’re experiencing reactivity with your dog like us or any other issue – contact Mid-Atlantic Dog Training now…the sooner you do, the happier you and your dog will be. Tom is the real deal and he wholeheartedly cares about his clients – both human and canine.
-SAMANTHA SCHWARTZ

Mid-Atlantic Dog Training was the best investment we have made. Tom is a patient, flexible and understanding trainer. At times when we as owners were frustrated or concerned, he encouraged us to keep going and provided extra guidance. It only paid-off for us.

We contacted Tom after adopting our Lab/Hound mix and discovering how dog-reactive she was. At our consultation, Tom explained in great detail his training methods, process, and why he trains the way he trains.

We got more than we could have asked for with Tom. Our dog is not only more confident and less anxious, but we are more confident and knowledgeable dog owners. Dog training with Tom has taught us how to be the best leader for our girl. We now provide her with the structure she needs and do things in her best interest that we didn’t know about before.

About half-way through the 3 months of training, we felt such a significant difference in our dog, that if training had ended then, we would have been satisfied. We only continued to learn even more techniques and commands that continued to help our dog thrive during the second half of training.

We would recommend Mid-Atlantic Dog Training to all dog owners.
-STEPHANIE LOTT

We reached out to Tom when our Golden Labradoodle puppy, Kyla, was 4 months old. From the start, we knew we wanted her to be well-trained, and while we had taught her some basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “down,” we were struggling with a few key areas: leash walking, crate training, and playful nipping.

Kyla was anxious outside and hesitant to go beyond the perimeter of our apartment complex. She would often pull us back toward home. She also resisted crate time, needing to be carried in and crying for several minutes afterward. On top of that, she frequently nipped and rarely responded to us when she was overly excited or distracted.

After just our first session with Tom, where we worked on “place,” heel, and crate training, we noticed a huge improvement in Kyla’s behavior and her ability to relax indoors. Tom offered clear, personalized, hands-on guidance during our biweekly sessions and shared helpful materials to deepen our understanding of his training methods. Over time, Kyla became much more confident outdoors, and we were even able to play with her on a long lead in more distracting, open environments.

Tom was always prompt and professional in his communication and flexible with scheduling, including weekend sessions when needed.

One particularly memorable example of how impactful the training was came after Kyla’s spay surgery. The vet recommended strict rest and even sedatives during recovery, but thanks to the “place” training Tom taught us, Kyla calmly stayed on her cot throughout her recovery. We didn’t need sedatives at all. The training also prevented issues like jumping on furniture or people, as we had already set and reinforced those boundaries.

Working with Tom completely transformed our relationship with our dog. Kyla is now 7 months old, has finished her formal training, and feels like a truly integrated, well-adjusted part of our family. We also feel far more confident in handling her day-to-day.

We wholeheartedly recommend Tom and Mid Atlantic Dog Training to anyone looking to build a stronger, more rewarding bond with their dog.
-JEN DARRAGH