Dog Training in Pontiac, MI

Professional Dog Training in Pontiac, MI

If your dog pulls on the leash during walks, jumps on visitors, reacts to other dogs, or becomes less responsive when distractions appear, professional dog training may help you work toward more manageable everyday routines.

Off Leash K9 Training of Detroit serves Pontiac, MI with several training formats. Available options include private in-home obedience lessons, a Two-Week Board and Train, Basic Marker Mastery™, Puppy Training Consultation, Aggressive Dog Training, and Therapy Dog Preparation.

Why Pontiac Dog Owners Consider Off Leash K9 Training

Training Options for Different Needs

Use a free phone consultation to discuss your dog's age, behavior, training history, and your goals. View formats and owner involvement with the team.

In-Home Private Training Available

Basic Obedience and Basic + Advanced Obedience offer private lessons in or around your house, with direct owner participation throughout the training.

Practical Skills for Everyday Routines

Programs teach everyday skills, including commands, loose-leash heel, and daily manners. Off-leash and distraction work depend on your chosen program.

Owner Education and Participation

In-home obedience involves owners directly. Board and Train includes a two-hour owner session to cover learned commands and sound dog handling skills.

Multiple Training Formats

Seven programs offer obedience, Board and Train, marker training, puppy basics, aggression work, and therapy dog preparation. Formats vary by program.

Experienced Michigan Training Team

Head Trainer Katie Cook has been with the Detroit team since 2018. Her background covers an Animal Science degree, rescue work, fostering, and sports.

Clear Program Information

Review the site for curricula, lesson counts, duration, equipment, scheduling, and owner involvement before discussing options with the training team.

Find the Right Training Program for Your Dog

Basic Obedience In-Home Training

Basic Obedience is an in-home program consisting of four private lessons. Training takes place in or around the owner’s home, with direct owner participation.

Commands covered include:

  • Come
  • Sit and extended sit
  • Down and extended down
  • Place and extended place
  • Loose-leash heel
  • Off, meaning to stop doing an unwanted action

An e-collar and 15-foot leash are included with the program. The in-home format allows owners to participate directly while working through the published Basic Obedience curriculum.

Best for: Owners seeking foundational obedience with direct participation.

Basic Obedience In-Home Training
Basic + Advanced Obedience In-Home Training

Basic + Advanced Obedience In-Home Training

Basic + Advanced Obedience consists of eight private in-home lessons. The first four lessons cover the Basic Obedience curriculum. The final four introduce advanced obedience, including:

  • Extended-distance obedience
  • Heel
  • Watch
  • Through
  • Front
  • Stand
  • Additional advanced commands

An e-collar and 15-foot leash are included.

Best for: Owners seeking both foundational and advanced obedience instruction.

Two-Week Board and Train

The Two-Week Board and Train lasts 14 days. During the program, the dog boards with a professional trainer.

Training includes six commands:

  • Sit and extended sit
  • Place and extended place
  • Heel, including on- and off-leash walking
  • Down and extended down
  • Come
  • Off

The program also includes full off-leash recall, work around multiple distractions in multiple environments, greeting manners, door manners, and meal manners.

An e-collar is included. After completion, the owner receives a two-hour, one-on-one session reviewing what the dog learned and how to handle the dog properly. Continued owner practice remains important. The current program information also lists lifetime refreshers.

Best for: Owners considering immersive obedience training who are prepared to continue practicing afterward.

Dog training in Pontiac MI: golden retriever playing outside
Basic Marker Mastery™

Basic Marker Mastery™

Basic Marker Mastery™ is a four-week program consisting of four one-hour sessions using reward-based training methods.

The curriculum includes:

  • Introduction to come and sit
  • Place
  • Introduction to the OLK9 slip lead
  • Loose-leash walking

A 15-foot leash, clicker, and slip lead are included.

Best for: Owners interested in a reward-based foundational training option.

The Puppy Training Consultation is intended for puppies under five months old and provides guidance on:

  • Basic obedience foundations
  • House-training
  • Teaching the puppy to communicate when it needs to go outside
  • Crate training
  • Socialization
  • Household structure
  • Common puppy questions

The consultation provides new puppy owners with guidance they can continue applying to early household routines and foundational skills.

Best for: Owners of puppies under five months who want guidance on early training routines.

Puppy Training Consultation

Aggressive Dog Training

Aggressive Dog Training is an eight-week program consisting of eight lessons for dogs with aggression or reactivity concerns involving other dogs.

It includes the Basic Obedience curriculum plus additional lessons working around other dogs in different scenarios.

The program focuses on:

  • Basic Obedience
  • Work around other dogs in different scenarios
  • Training skills and tools
  • Desensitization
  • Improved owner control

Owners should provide complete information about their dog’s behavior and discuss the program with the training team before enrolling. Individual outcomes vary.

Best for: Owners who want to discuss dog-to-dog aggression or reactivity.

Therapy Dog Preparation is an eight-week, eight-lesson program preparing the dog and owner for therapy-dog testing.

Following successful completion, evaluation and certification are available through Therapy Pets Unlimited. Preparation does not guarantee certification or test passage.

Best for: Owners interested in preparing for therapy-dog testing.

If you are unsure which program fits your dog, use the contact form to request a free phone consultation.

Therapy Dog Preparation
Common Dog Training Concerns Owners Discuss

Common Dog Training Concerns Owners Discuss

Leash Pulling and Difficult Walks

Basic programs teach loose-leash heel. Board and Train adds off-leash heel. Keep practicing at home.

Barking, Lunging, and Reactivity

Discuss barking and lunging with the team. Aggressive Dog Training focuses on dog-to-dog reactivity.

Jumping and Poor Household Manners

Board and Train covers greeting, door, and meal manners. Household skills vary by selected programs.

Ignoring Commands Around Distractions

Two-Week Board and Train includes distraction work in multiple settings. Confirm the training goals.

Aggression Toward Other Dogs

Aggressive Dog Training combines obedience and work around other dogs. Share their behavior history.

Puppy House-Training and Early Manners

Puppy consultations cover house-training, crate routines, socialization, and early obedience skills.

Recall and Off-Leash Reliability

Two-Week Board and Train includes off-leash recall and heel. Check other programs against the goals.

Our Dog Training Process

Tell Us About Your Dog

Call (313) 401-0820 or use the contact form. Share your dog's age, behavior, training history, goals, and any concerns about aggression or reactivity.

Complete a Free Phone Consultation

Discuss your goals during a free phone consultation. The staff can explain programs, formats, equipment, and how you will participate in dog training.

Choose a Training Program

Review Plans & Pricing for program details. Pay in full before scheduling lessons. After payment, the team sends a calendar link to book the sessions.

Begin Training

Start the chosen program, with lessons or Board and Train. Session counts, duration, training methods, and curriculum depend on the option you choose.

Maintain the Training at Home

Practice commands and handling at home after training. Board and Train includes a two-hour owner session reviewing learned skills and proper handling.

Meet Trainers

Meet the Off Leash K9 Detroit Team

katie cooks with dogs

Katie Cook, Head Trainer

With Off Leash K9 Training of Detroit since 2018. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University and grew up showing in 4-H. Has personally fostered and adopted out over 80 dogs through local rescues and shelters, and shares her home with a pack of five rescues of her own.

josh wilson

Josh Wilson, Owner

Based in Hampton Roads, VA, Josh has built a multi-location Off Leash K9 Training enterprise across several states since he started training in January 2014. He’s married to Devin, has two children, and shares his home with a Black Lab named Charlotte and a Rottweiler named Rocky.

Tons of ​​5-Star Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Training in Pontiac, MI

How much does dog training cost in Pontiac, MI?

Program pricing depends on the selected training package. Review the current Plans & Pricing information or call (313) 401-0820 for a free phone consultation to discuss the available options.

At what age should puppy training begin?

The Puppy Training Consultation is intended for puppies under five months old. It covers early obedience foundations, house-training, crate training, socialization, household structure, communication about going outside, and common puppy questions.

Can an older dog still be trained?

Adult and older dogs can continue learning and strengthening obedience skills. The appropriate program and expectations depend on the individual dog’s current behavior, previous training, and owner goals.

Is therapy-dog preparation available?

Yes. Therapy Dog Preparation consists of eight lessons over eight weeks. Following successful completion, evaluation and certification are available through Therapy Pets Unlimited. Preparation does not guarantee certification or test passage.

Start Dog Training in Pontiac, MI

Get Started with Professional Dog Training Today

If you’re looking for dog training in Pontiac, MI, start by telling the training team what is happening with your dog and what you want to improve.

During the free phone consultation, discuss your dog’s age, current behavior, previous training, daily routine, and goals before reviewing the available training options.

Off Leash K9 Training of Detroit serves Pontiac with in-home obedience, Board and Train, reward-based foundational training, puppy guidance, dog-to-dog aggression or reactivity training, and therapy-dog preparation.

Call us for a free consultation and sign up for the training program that will change your life—and your dog’s!

About Off Leash K9 Training
Dog Trainers Who Are Recognized Around The World!
Nick White, Founder Off Leash K9 Training
Photo: A&E

Nick White is the Owner and Founder of Off Leash K9 Training.  Nick is a former US Marine and former US Secret Service. He currently has over 130+ dog training locations throughout the United States. 

Nick is globally recognized as being one of the top dog trainers in the world.  He has 2 official world records in off leash obedience, named on Wikipedia as one of the top 20 dog trainers in the world, recently named top 10 trainer in the world by bestdogtrainers.org, has been featured in many magazines and shows, and he is regularly requested by the top celebrities and athletes! He has been called upon by people such as actor Ryan Reynolds, WWE’s John Cena, MLB All Star Max Scherzer, UFC World Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, and many more!

You can visit our YouTube Channel and watch over 1500+ before/after videos of Nick and his team’s work!  Off Leash K9 Training has more documented videos than any dog training business in the entire world!