Getting a new dog is exciting, but navigating behavioral quirks can quickly become overwhelming. Maybe your rescue pup has severe anxiety, or your new puppy thinks your favorite shoes are chew toys. 

Either way, finding the best dog trainer in Johannesburg is key to building a healthy, lifelong bond with your furry best friend. You want a professional who understands your dog’s unique personality, much like you want care and attention from dog groomers. 

So, we’ve looked closely at the top local options to find trainers that fit different schedules, budgets, and training philosophies. Keep reading to meet who made the cut!

Training Format	Estimated Cost
Group Obedience Classes	R725 – R1,400 (per course/month)
Private/One-on-One Sessions	R350 – R600 per hour
Behavior Modification Consultations	R550 – R950 per session
Board and Train (Inboard)	R4,350 – R10,000+ per program

1. Dogs to Heal Dog training and behaviour

Website: http://www.dogstoheal.co.za/

Address: 42 6th Ave, Highlands North

Contact: 082 828 0505

Hours: Saturday, 8:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Sunday, 9:45 AM – 12:00 PM 

Rescue dogs often come with hidden trauma that standard obedience drills simply can’t fix. Dogs to Heal tackles this by blending behavior counseling with Tellington TTouch®.

This is a gentle method that uses specific bodywork to rebuild the emotional bond between you and your pet. 

Clicker training is their main positive reinforcement tool, though they’ll adapt if you prefer not to use one. They also offer structured group courses broken down by age, so your pup learns alongside peers at a similar stage. 

You can even take advantage of their doggy daycare to help your pet build social skills in a home environment while you work. 

However, their group classes only run on weekend mornings, and individual puppy lessons aren’t allowed.

I was impressed with the professional guidance from the trainer

I had the priviledge to attend a puppy training and an individual training class. I was impressed with the professional guidance from the trainer/owner and how training can be a joyous funfilled learning experience for both the owner and their best friend. 

• Elize Park, Google Review

The Sunday classes at Oaklands were superb

Adopted a very tiny, Rottweiler cross Jack Russel, called Hopper. He is cute and lovable but would growl and snap at me frequently when touched.

Tersia helped me recognize his needs as a dog taken away from the pack early, and her training has worked very well. The Sunday classes at Oaklands were superb, and Hopper really seems to enjoy the day care as well. 

• Marc, Google Review

2. Dog Handling Techniques

Website: http://www.dogtraininglonehill.co.za/

Address: Chelsea Sgl, Magaliessig

Contact: 084 566 5000

Hours: Saturday-Sunday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

Dog Handling Techniques operates on a highly flexible, month-to-month model, allowing you to join anytime and progress at your own pace. 

We had a friend take her Golden Retriever here, and she loved how the tiered obedience classes let them continuously advance without feeling rushed.

They offer a fantastic socialization course specifically for puppies under six months old to tackle early-stage headaches like nipping and digging. You also get the choice between two different training venues for added convenience. 

But keep in mind that they exclude dogs with moderate or serious aggression from these group settings. Also, they offer zero in-board training options.

The guidance, support and practical training have been wonderful

My experience with DHT has been incredibly positive and rewarding. Emma has been fantastic, and I’ve learned so much through both the puppy class and training with my older Springer Spaniel. The guidance, support and practical training have been wonderful, and I look forward to seeing both my boys continue developing their social skills and obedience. Highly recommend 😊🐾 

• Chantal Reichel, Google Review

The sessions were clear, practical, and suited to CoCo’s needs

We had a very good training experience with Emma from Dog handling techniques for our Border Collie pup, CoCo. The sessions were clear, practical, and suited to CoCo’s needs. We are looking forward to starting Stage 2 of the training. I would recommend Dog handling techniques to anyone looking for reliable dog training in the Lonehill area. Excellent, thank you. 

• Claude, Google Review

3. McKaynine Honeydew

Website: http://www.mckaynine.co.za/

Address: Entrance 2, Plot 14, Cypress Road

Contact: 082 565 6160

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM 

McKaynine operates a massive network of seven branches across the city, using a standardized, internationally certified system to guarantee high-quality training.

They strictly stick to reward-based, force-free methods that focus entirely on clear communication rather than intimidation.

One standout feature is their unique “K9Yoga” conditioning program, which focuses on core strength and flexibility to prevent injuries. For younger pets, they run dedicated two-month socialization courses to build solid foundational habits early on. 

The catch is that these puppy classes are locked into a set six-lesson structure. Additionally, your puppy must have their second multi-vaccination before starting at 10 weeks old.

She is truly amazing

Best trainer and behavioural specialist. Always has the greatest advice. She is truly amazing. I couldnt thank her enough for the help she has given us and our fur baby. She is kind, loving and best of all whole hearted. I love going to her weekly and I think I enjoy it more than my pup. She aids us in every way. Considerate and compassionate. Her fur kids are professionals and the most amazing well educated kids ever. I have experienced many training centre’s and cannot explain how Shannon is the best of the best. 

• Jamie-lee Ford, Google Review

Our puppy’s first experience at puppy school was excellent

I found the McKaynine website absolutely informative and signing up was straight forward and very easy (I did it via email)

Our puppy’s first experience at puppy school was excellent. The trainers are superb. They were warm, friendly and super patient with both the puppy and myself.

I was nervous going as I wasnt sure that I would manage or be able to control my puppy with so many other dogs around but my fears were completely unfounded. We both learnt soooo much and can’t wait for next weekend. 

•  Lindi Viviers, Google Review

4. FurryFrenz Dog Training

Website: http://www.furryfrenz.co.za/

Address: Sandringham Veterinary Clinic, 35 George Ave

Contact: 083 408 1517

Hours: Saturday-Sunday, Contact for specific availability 

Getting the whole household involved is usually the fastest way to reinforce good behavior in a new pet. FurryFrenz makes this easy by actively welcoming kids to participate in their one-hour group classes under supervision. 

We recently sat in on one of their Saturday sessions, and seeing young families working together on basic obedience drills was really impressive.

If you have an adolescent dog that missed early socialization, their specific “Furry Beginner” class caters exactly to that tricky five-to-twelve-month age gap. 

They also weave Canine Good Citizen (CGC) elements into their courses to give you a clear goal. This is perfect before visiting the best dog parks in the city. 

Sadly, older dogs are restricted to private sessions, and group classes only happen on weekends.

My puppy Rosie learnt so much in such a short space of time 

I found Nicky very professional and knowledgeable. I particularly like the fact that her training focuses on rewarding positive behavior. My puppy Rosie learnt so much in such a short space of time. I highly recommend Nicky’s puppy training. I have just received a second puppy and will be commencing training again for my new puppy with Nicky! 

• Martin home, Google Review

I definitely recommend FurryFrenz

FurryFrenz Dog Training is amazing. We took our puppy for Puppy 1 and Puppy 2 class, and it’s helped us so much to bond with our pup and to learn to understand her behaviour. Raven is a different puppy now and we are different people. She’s well trained and we can keep her safe in dangerous situations. I definitely recommend FurryFrenz to anyone who wants to help their puppies become well socialised, happy dogs. 

• Anna Stroud, Google Review

5. Koven Moodley – Smart Pet Behaviour

Website: http://www.smartpetbehaviour.com/

Address: Waterford Estate, Maroeladal

Contact: +27 71 893 3199

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Sometimes group classes just won’t cut it, especially if you’re dealing with pets with severe aggression or deep-seated anxiety. Koven Moodley steps in with highly personalized, one-on-one behavior consulting for both dogs and cats. 

He holds certifications from respected groups like the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology, ensuring your pet gets expert, empathy-driven care.

Because he focuses entirely on individualized attention, he can tailor every single technique with expertise and great awareness. This ethics-based approach is a lifesaver for complex cases that standard trainers might turn away. 

Unfortunately, this hyper-focused model has limitations, as you won’t find any group socialization classes or basic obedience courses available here.

We are so happy that we have the continued support and guidance of Koven

She came to us and did a full assessment of our pups (now 8 months old) and taught us so much! We now know our dogs had litter mate and we’re codependent (even though a different breed of dog) and how reactive they are. We were taught ways how to train our dogs separately. After two sessions with Koven and what we were taught, we saw a huge difference in our dogs. We are so happy that we have the continued support and guidance of Koven. She is 100% Animal Whisperer! Thank you 🐕 

• Claire Ross, Google Review

Small changes have led to great results

We employed the services of Koven to check in on our dogs (we had no glaring issues). She spent some time with us and our dogs before offering up some techniques we could use to keep them more engaged. We also had a training session with her to help identify some of our behaviours that could be changed to better suit our dogs.

Small changes have led to great results. We have (even) happier dogs and have seen a marked difference in their demeanours as they now have more purpose in their day. We can definitely recommend her! 

• Sam Wright, Google Review