Polite Pooches Positive Dog Training
Ranked #1 in Forest Hill and #2 in Maryland
Service area: Polite Pooches serves dog owners in Harford County, NorthEastern Baltimore County, Maryland, and Southern Pennsylvania. Specific areas mentioned include Churchville, Fallston, Abingdon, Street, Forest Hill, Belcamp, Jacksonville, Bel Air, Jarrettsville in MD, and Fawn Grove, Delta in PA.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Therapy Dog
- Competition / Agility
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Potty Training
- Puppy Training
- Recall
- Leash Pulling
- Fearfulness
- Biting / Nipping
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Separation Anxiety
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Basic Obedience
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- Group Classes
- Private Facility
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
Equipment:
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ Harnesses
- ✓ Head Halters
- ✓ Flat Collars
- ✓ Martingale Collars
- ✓ Obstacle Courses
Polite Pooches offers both group classes and private training sessions using positive reinforcement. Private training focuses on specific issues like house training, jumping, leash walking, separation anxiety, new baby adjustments, or fear-related issues. These sessions include assessment, goal setting, work on specific items, a summary, and a detailed training plan follow-up within 48 hours.
Group classes include:
Puppy Right Start: For puppies 8-16 weeks old, focusing on beginning manners, common puppy issues, and off-leash play. Puppies must complete the class by 16 weeks.
Basic Manners: For puppies 16+ weeks and non-aggressive/reactive adult dogs, covering about 15 cues like come, stay, loose leash walking, no jumping, wait at the door, and leave it.
Focus & Fun – Beyond Basic Manners: For dogs over 6 months who completed Basic Manners, focusing on attention, impulse control, and continued skill practice.
Intermediate Manners: Continues skill building and prepares dogs for therapy work and Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification.
Community Canine (Advanced AKC CGC): Focuses on the 10 items for the AKC Community Canine title, with an option to take the test during the course.
Specialty Training Classes: Includes Scent Work for Fun (searching for food/odor) and AKC Tricks Class Levels 1 & 2 (beginner to intermediate/advanced tricks training).
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Polite Pooches accepts cash, check, or VENMO (@Kathy-Forthman) for payments. A phone or online consultation costs $75 for 40 minutes. A one-hour private session at their training center in Forest Hill costs $105, with an additional $20 for extra dogs. All private sessions must be used within 6 months of purchase.
Group classes require full payment to reserve a spot. Puppy Right Start is a 6-week session for $240 ($40 per class) with rolling enrollment. Basic Manners is a 7-week session for $280. Focus & Fun and Intermediate Manners are 6-week sessions for $240. Community Canine is a 4-week course for $180.
Policies
Polite Pooches does not offer refunds once a training session has started. Group classes are not suitable for dogs with severe fear, aggression, or reactivity towards other dogs or people; these dogs are better suited for private sessions. Two puppies or dogs from the same household must attend separate group sessions. Group class spots are secured by paying in full.
Testimonials
“Kathy conducted a private class for our sweet golden retriever. She was extremely knowledgeable, patient and kind. We feel so grateful for the skills and tips Kathy provided. She put our dog Annie at ease and guided us to use her recommendations. Do yourself and your dog a favor, schedule training at Polite Pooches, you will be so glad you did !”
– Ellen Tracy
“My dog Pepper and I just finished up the Basic Manners course. Susan and Sharon were awesome teachers. They were knowledgeable and very patient with all of our spirited pups . I gained so much from the class and look forward to bringing Pepper back to another class to learn more.”
– Lesa S.
“I previously took my dog to a different training (NOT Polite Pooches) which left my dog in a worse state. It was overall a horrible experience for both my dog and myself. I was afraid to take her to another trainer but decided to take the leap and signed up for Polite Pooches private training session with Kathy. I am so glad we did, it was fantastic. Kathy is so nice and patient, and doesn’t cause more stress and anxiety for my dog like the other place caused. I’m excited to bring her back for additional classes and bring my other dog as well! Thank you Kathy for all you do!”
– Megan L.
About the Trainer
Polite Pooches Positive Dog Training helps dogs and their owners live harmoniously through positive reinforcement training and behavior modification. They aim to help dogs become well-mannered family members.
The business offers both private and group training classes for puppies and dogs, focusing on current, scientifically proven positive reinforcement methods. Their approach emphasizes developing better communication and a deeper bond between owners and their dogs without the use of pain, force, or fear.
Polite Pooches operates from a dedicated training center opened in 2021, providing a fun environment for basic, intermediate, and advanced group training, as well as private sessions. All trainers are nationally certified, ensuring their knowledge and skills meet science-based training standards and they have at least 300 hours of experience.
They also provide helpful resources for dog owners, including local businesses and organizations, and online information related to pet care and behavior.
Accomplishments
Polite Pooches has been helping dogs and owners since 2008. The owner and lead trainer, Kathy Forthman, holds an MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), a Certified Fear Free Dog Trainer, a Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM), and a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator. She has 18 years of experience in pet dog manners.
Other trainers include Susan Beckius, a CPDT-KA and CGC Evaluator who started training in 2010, and Maria Montgomery, a CPDT-KSA and CGC Evaluator with over 16 years of training experience, specializing in dogs with “big feelings” (reactivity). All Polite Pooches trainers hold at least one national certification.
How to Get Started!
To get started, clients can use the contact form for general questions or information. For group classes, clients should review the Class Schedule to find open classes and then send a Registration Inquiry form. Once the class is confirmed, the spot is reserved with payment. Polite Pooches does not offer online registration for group classes. Potential clients are welcome to observe a group class one time without their dog before signing up.
