Northern VA's Premier Dog Training Services

We dropped off our sweet but very rambunctious Link at My Dog Listens about three weeks ago. Link is a 15 month old Golden Retriever and was very true to the “puppy” part: he pulled, tugged, jumped, humped, and generally believed the world revolved around him. With our first child on the way, we were understandably concerned about getting some of those behaviors under control and making sure we could safely and confidently have Link around our growing family. After doing a ton of research, we found My Dog Listens, and I’m so glad we did. Link stayed with Danny and his son, Calyb, and the difference when we picked him up was honestly incredible. He was still our happy and goofy Link, but he actually listened. He wasn’t pulling. He wasn’t jumping. Most importantly, Danny spent almost 90 minutes with us at pickup teaching us how to continue everything Link had learned. By the end of that session, Link was responding to us the same way he responded to Danny. He seems so much more eager to please and aware of what we’re asking of him. He will, of course, always be the king of our castle, he’s just much more respectful about his reign now. A huge thank you to Danny, Calyb, Mike, and Sarah for taking such great care of Link and giving us so much more confidence as we prepare to welcome our son into the world. Link was already a very good boy, but now he has the manners to prove it. They also sent us home with a high-quality, dog-safe e-collar and gave us detailed, step-by-step instructions for continuing his training. I really appreciated that they emphasized that the work doesn’t magically end when your dog comes home… the owner has to stay consistent and reinforce what the dog has learned. We’re relocating back to North Carolina soon, but I can genuinely say My Dog Listens would be worth the trip for us. If you’re going to invest in professional dog training, you want to know you’re getting the quality and results you’re paying for. Based on our experience with Link, we absolutely did.

My dog stayed with Danny for a few weeks for training and clearly had a great time while he was there. He came home knowing all of his basic commands, and I noticed a definite improvement with his walking and overall leash manners. An added bonus is that Danny is also an animal photographer, so I received some really beautiful photos throughout my dog’s stay, which was a nice touch. Overall, it was a good experience and I appreciated the training and care he received.

My niece made the right decision when she chose My Dog Listens to train my French Bulldog fur baby! My niece opted for the three-week adult board and train. Our trainer, Danny, and his son, Caleb, were really helpful and communicative throughout the process. I felt safe and sure that my dog, Marley, was in capable hands. During pick-up, Danny took his time explaining the e-collar and demonstrating how he trained Marley so that I could continue training. Before the training, Marley was constantly distracted by everything. I can now take him out in public without any worries. He listens and walks alongside me the whole time. He is calm, observant, and patient. I’m overjoyed with the progress, and I believe both of us are less worried and are simply enjoying time together. I am really pleased with Marley’s positive results, and I highly suggest My Dog Listens.

Miley, my 11-month old Brittany, came home from her three-week Board and Train with Mike and Sarah/My Dog Listens, and the difference has been night and day. She is now remarkably well-behaved and thoughtful about the choices she makes. She pauses and looks to me for direction, responds beautifully to the structure she learned, and plays just as freely and happily as always when it’s time to have fun. What I appreciate most is that the training didn’t change Miley’s personality – it helped her become a calmer, and more confident pup. Mike and Sarah spent the time with me and gave me the tools and confidence to reinforce her training at home and continue building a great relationship with her. Mike and Sarah have been incredibly responsive and supportive since she returned home, answering my questions thoughtfully and offering practical guidance for everyday situations. It’s clear they genuinely care about the dogs they train and want both the dog and owner to succeed long after the program ends. I couldn’t be happier with Miley’s progress or our experience with My Dog Listens. The investment was absolutely worth it, and I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a Board and Train program.

I can’t thank Sarah and Mike enough. I brought my new puppy—an 8‑month‑old Golden Retriever/Great Pyrenees mix—along while visiting my sister. It was his very first trip to Virginia, and he struggled with even the most basic manners. He was demanding, disrespectful, and full of attitude. He’s a sweet boy, just incredibly headstrong. After spending a couple of weeks with Sarah and Mike, he’s truly a different dog. We’ll keep working on his manners as he grows, but without their guidance I’m certain someone would have ended up hurt. Sarah and Mike are nothing short of amazing. I highly recommend My Dog Listens to anyone needing dog training.

The whole experience of setting up a two puppy board and train was so easy. Mike and Sarah were incredibly responsive and I was able to line board and train right away. The pups were in good hands with Danny and we can already see the differences in the pups’ manners and obedience. We picked up very happy pups after the two weeks was up! Danny is hilarious and he is very knowledgeable about all dogs.

Luca is a 7 month old puppy who HAD severe fear of human interaction, severe anxiety with absolutely zero confidence, and HAD no interest in pleasing. 3 week board and train with My Dog Listens and Luca is a changed boy. Luca heels with perfection in crowded areas, sits on command every time, devours his food, and places for hours in complete comfort with no anxiety. Throughout the training, they kept me updated with photos and things to be aware of when we completed turnover. The training truly isn’t just about the dog, but ensuring you as the owner are ready to accept the responsibilities of continuing training and good habits. My Dog Listens does not sugar coat anything and will tell you when you’re failing as a dog owner. You paid for it, don’t let it go to waste, become a better owner. They will make sure you have all the tools you need to be successful as an owner and will always answer any questions you might have. Their Amazon store has great products that have helped Luca adjust during the changing environments. We couldn’t be happier with the results and I’m so excited for this boy to reach his full potential. 100% recommend!!

Sarah and Mike are both so amazing in what they do. My dog is a different dog in the absolute best way and we can’t thank anyone but them!! Will forever use Sarah and Mike for boarding and training in the future

We dropped off an absolute terror of a dog (she had us all fooled), and thank god we did, because the dog we brought home is more than what we could’ve expected – and I don’t mean that lightly. Sarah and Mike, outside of the training aspect, are just fantastic individuals and there’s nobody else we would trust to put in the effort that they do. A puppy that once couldn’t self-soothe, will now sleep willingly in her crate at night, she walks on a leash (before MDLK9 I was practically dragging her) and she’s eager to please when we are working with her. During the day she sits quietly by my desk, where before she would get anxious and pace. My wife and I are beyond thrilled and are so grateful to this family-run business!

We had such a GREAT experience leaving our dog Bergie for a 3-week Board and Train with Sarah and fam. We thought it was comforting that the dog was a part of the home and Bergie came home a changed and MUCH improved boy. Bergie had some basic training but his energy was all over the place, counter surfing, jumping on guests, etc. and just had a lot of work to do. When he came back from training he was incredibly responsive and very focused on us. He heels beautifully (without any prior training), he doesn’t jump on the counter or furniture hardly ever (compared to 10+ times a day), and he knows place now and responds immediately making everything much easier when he needs to focus. Just can’t believe the improvement and training has gone from a chore to something that is actually enjoyable. I am really happy we did the board and train program and would recommend My Dog Listens to anyone looking for significant behavior improvement in their dog. Our dog went from a concern with a new baby in the home to a dream. We felt like he was in good hands the entire time. And MDL took him on short notice when that new baby suddenly arrived a little early. Thanks so much!! We love the “new and improved” Bergie.