WELCOME TO SAVVY CITY DOG!
Washington, DC’s Premier Dog & Puppy Training
Raising a well-mannered, confident city dog isn’t luck—it’s training. At Savvy City Dog, we make dog ownership easier and more joyful with expert guidance, practical training, and real results.
✨ Dog Walking – More than a walk, our specialists keep your dog engaged, happy, and well behaved.
✨ Private Training – Customized solutions for real-world success.
Pawmora is more than training—it’s a community. Let’s get started.
Our Services: Dog Walking, Virtual & In-Person Private Training
Personal training sessions are one-on-one virtual coaching calls tailored to your dog and your life. Whether you're dealing with separation anxiety, housetraining/new puppy chaos, barking, or reactivity, you'll get expert guidance, a clear plan, and real progress—without leaving home.
Enrichment-focused walks designed for mental and physical exercise. More than just a potty break—our walks keep your dog engaged, happy, and well-behaved.
The fastest, most effective training. Personalized training sessions in your home or at our training studio, our private sessions are customized to fit your dog’s unique needs and behavior goals.
Why Choose Savvy City Dog for Training or Dog Walking?
At Savvy City Dog, we make dog training simple, effective, and tailored to your lifestyle. Whether you’re raising a puppy in the city, working through behavior challenges, or just want a better-behaved companion, we’re here to help.
🐾 Experienced, Certified Trainers – With 18+ years of expertise, we use proven, science-based training methods that get real results.
🐾 Personalized Training for Every Dog – No cookie-cutter programs—every dog gets a customized approach based on their needs.
🐾 Focused on Urban Training – We know the unique challenges of raising a dog in DC, from busy streets to apartment living.
🐾 Specializing in Puppies & Reactive Dogs – Whether you're starting fresh with a young puppy or need expert help with a dog struggling with reactivity, we offer customized training plans to build confidence, improve behavior, and create a calm, well-adjusted companion.
🐾 Flexible Training Options – Choose from private sessions, virtual sessions, and dog walking to fit your schedule.
🐾 A Positive, Relationship-Based Approach – We focus on clear communication, trust, and real-world success so your dog listens anywhere, not just in class.
Let’s create a training plan that works for you and your dog! 🚀
See What They’re Saying
Check Out Our Top-Rated Podcast
Michelle will help you tackle common puppy and dog training issues like potty training, separation anxiety, barking, and more. Each episode is packed with actionable advice that you can use to start seeing results right away.
But we don’t just talk at you - we want to hear from you too! That’s why we encourage you to submit questions for Michelle to answer on the podcast. Whether you’re dealing with a specific behavior issue or just want general training tips, we’ve got you covered.
So if you’re a dog owner who wants to create a happier, healthier relationship with your pup, tune in to the Savvy City Dog training podcast today!
Expert Guidance
We have the experience to help.
Meet Michelle, a dedicated and experienced dog trainer with a passion for helping dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments. With over 18 years in the field, Michelle has amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise, including a certification as a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine. This certification involves 300 hours of behavior consulting, veterinary attestation, and a rigorous exam covering applied behavior analysis, ethology, anatomy, physiology, and more.
Michelle has worked in a variety of settings, including several years as the Behavior and Training Director for a nationally-known rescue group, where she developed innovative training programs for dogs from challenging backgrounds, such as hoarding cases, feral dogs, dogs from fighting rings, and puppy mill cases. She also founded the first puppies-only day camp in Washington, DC, where the focus was on all aspects of puppy training, including potty training.
Michelle loves working with puppies and new rescue dogs, and she currently helps clients through her online courses and private sessions. In addition, Michelle offers consulting services to other trainers and rescue groups. Her numerous credentials include being a ProMember Association Professional Dog Trainer, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, C.L.A.S.S. Evaluator, and Certified Trick Dog Instructor.
With her wealth of experience, dedication to science-based training, and commitment to helping dogs thrive, Michelle is a trusted resource for anyone looking to build a strong, positive relationship with their puppy or dog.
Tailored Training for City Dogs
Living in the city with a dog is an experience like no other. The sights and sounds, the hustle and bustle, and the limited green spaces make urban dog ownership uniquely challenging. That's where Savvy City Dog comes in. Unlike many other dog training services, we specialize in tailoring our methods specifically for dogs and puppies raised in city environments.
City dogs encounter distinct situations daily—navigating crowded sidewalks, adjusting to unpredictable and loud sounds, traffic, construction, strollers, bikers, encountering dozens of novel dogs and people, being approached and pet by strangers, and having to stay calm amidst all of those distractions.
Our training programs are designed with these specific challenges in mind. With over 18 years of experience, based right in the heart of Washington DC, we've refined our approach to address the nuances of city living. From mastering elevator etiquette to behaving impeccably in tight shared spaces, we help to ensure our puppy and adult dog clients have the skills they need to handle city life with confidence.
Our commitment extends beyond just training. We've also raised our own dogs right in the city, so we truly understand the urban canine experience. Choose Savvy City Dog to benefit from a training program that not only talks the talk but walks the city walk. We're your go-to experts for puppy and dog training tailored specifically for the modern urban dog owner.
Join the Savvy City Dog family and let's navigate city life with your canine companion, hand in paw.
