Your Dog's Friend

Your Dog's Friend Your Dog's Friend is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose goal is to help keep dogs out of shelters by educating and supporting their humans.

Dog training classes (online & in person), free webinars, advice, and referrals

We'd love to see you and your pup in our ✨ Online ✨ Basic Skills class, starting next Monday, June 23 at 6:45 pm ET!Lear...
06/19/2025

We'd love to see you and your pup in our ✨ Online ✨ Basic Skills class, starting next Monday, June 23 at 6:45 pm ET!

Learn more & register at YourDogsFriend.org/Basic-Skills

Using a positive, force-free approach, we will practice coming when called, loose-leash walking, building attention around distractions, and more!

Our Online Basic Skills class is adapted from our in-person version of this class, and, being online, it is appropriate for dogs who have trouble focusing in stimulating environments, react to other dogs, are too fearful or overwhelmed to take an in-person class, or live too far away from our training center (you can join from anywhere!).

We don't get to hold weeknight Tricks classes too often...so that's why we're extra excited that one starts next week! 🐕...
06/17/2025

We don't get to hold weeknight Tricks classes too often...so that's why we're extra excited that one starts next week! 🐕

Join us for Tricks class, starting next Tuesday, June 24th at 8:00 pm!

Learn more & sign up at YourDogsFriend.org/Tricks or see full schedule of classes at YourDogsFriend.org/Schedule

Learn while you play! Trick training can hep build your dog's confidence, strengthen your bond, and improve your training skills!

Finally...a Rally class on a weeknight! Beginner Rally starts next Tues, June 24th at 6:45 pm, and we'd love to see you ...
06/16/2025

Finally...a Rally class on a weeknight! Beginner Rally starts next Tues, June 24th at 6:45 pm, and we'd love to see you in class! ✨

Learn more & register at YourDogsFriend.org/Rally

This is a class that some of our dear students and pups love so much they repeat, and go on to intermediate and advanced levels of the class! 🤩

In Rally, you'll enjoy practicing real-world skills (like leash walking!) with your dog while navigating a course with signs that ask for specific skills or activities. You and your pup progress at your own speed, with an emphasis on teamwork and communication.

FREE Welcome Home, Pup! webinar coming up next Sunday, June 22nd at 2pm ET with !Sign up for free at https://yourdogsfr...
06/15/2025

FREE Welcome Home, Pup! webinar coming up next Sunday, June 22nd at 2pm ET with !

Sign up for free at https://yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops/

If you've recently adopted a dog or brought home a new puppy, or if you're fostering for a local shelter or rescue organization, your pup has experienced a big change and will likely need some time to adjust. This webinar is designed to give you the skills you need to help your pup through this transition.

We'll discuss helping your dog feel safe; prioritizing training skills; developing daily routines; and tips for organizing a dog-friendly home.

All dog parents are welcome to attend, even if your dog has been with you for years.

There will be plenty of time for questions!

Eager to start taking a class with your dog ✨soon✨? At Your Dog's Friend, we have classes with openings within the next ...
06/14/2025

Eager to start taking a class with your dog ✨soon✨?

At Your Dog's Friend, we have classes with openings within the next 2 weeks, some as soon as this Monday! (We also have more classes posted with openings later into the summer!)

These are some of the classes you could start super soon!

- Tricks
- Rally
- Puppy Party
- Puppy 1st Grade
- Out & About
- Puppy Kindergarten
- Urban CGC Prep
- Passing Dogs on Leash
- Basic Skills for Adolescent & Adult Dogs (in-person and online options!)

Plus even more in the following weeks!

See the details & sign up at YourDogsFriend.org/Schedule.

We have two fun specialty classes scheduled for Tuesday nights starting June 24th! 🙌 Which would be most fun for you an...
06/14/2025

We have two fun specialty classes scheduled for Tuesday nights starting June 24th! 🙌

Which would be most fun for you and your pup, Rally or Tricks?

In Rally, starting Tues, 6/24 at 6:45 pm, practice real-life skills while navigating a course with your dog, following signs that ask for specific skills or activities!

In Tricks, starting Tues, 6/24 at 8:00 pm, learn while you play! Learning fun tricks together can help build your pup's confidence while you strengthen your bond!

Learn more & sign up at YourDogsFriend.org/Schedule

And as always, you can message or email us at [email protected] with any questions! We love hearing from you!

FREE WEBINAR, Kids & Dogs: Safety First!, coming up Sat, June 21st at 2pm ET with Rebecca Melanson, RVT, KPA CTP, .the.f...
06/04/2025

FREE WEBINAR, Kids & Dogs: Safety First!, coming up Sat, June 21st at 2pm ET with Rebecca Melanson, RVT, KPA CTP, .the.flock!

We love our kids and we love our dogs! When they interact peacefully and playfully, many wonderful memories are made. Unfortunately, all too often, misunderstandings occur that can have devastating consequences. These relationships require learning and management on both sides of the equation, in order to keep everyone safe. Join us as we discuss important aspects of the children+dog dynamic, such as learning how your dog communicates, identifying signs of stress in your pup, managing the home environment to avoid confrontation, teaching your children practical rules for respecting and interacting with your dog, and knowing when and how to intervene.

Sign up for free at https://yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops/!

Will we see you and your dear pup in classes in June!? I hope so!!! 🤗 We have a bunch of online and in-person classes co...
06/04/2025

Will we see you and your dear pup in classes in June!? I hope so!!! 🤗 We have a bunch of online and in-person classes coming up, and our wonderful trainers will be there to encourage you every step of the way! https://yourdogsfriend.org/schedule-at-a-glance/

✨ Basic Skills for Adolescent & Adult Dogs (in-person & online options) - beginner class for any/everyone to begin or continue building skills
✨ Puppy Kindergarten - beginner class for pups up to 18 weeks
✨ Puppy Party - supervised play & socialization for pups up to 6 months
✨ Puppy 1st & 2nd Grades - for Puppy K & 1st Grade grads
✨ Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Prep & Urban CGC Prep (CGCU) - for pups preparing to take the CGC test or who want to continue building skills
✨ Control Unleashed (online) - to increase focus for your reactive, fearful, or exuberant pup
✨ Tricks - fun for everyone!
✨ Rally - navigate a course with your dog, following signs that ask for specific skills
✨ Leash Walking - to build or continue building leash skills
✨ Passing Dogs on Leash - for pups whose leash skills break down when they joyously spot other dogs
✨ Out & About - build on leash-walking skills and gain confidence in outdoor locations (in and around Rockville, MD)

📞 As always, please reach out with any questions! You can reach us via DM or email at [email protected], and we're always happy to jump on a call to help you find the right fit for you and your pup (even if it's not with us but with another group or dog pro who we recommend)!

Two of my favorite classes are coming up, Leash Walking and Passing Dogs on Leash, and they'll both help with leash skil...
06/03/2025

Two of my favorite classes are coming up, Leash Walking and Passing Dogs on Leash, and they'll both help with leash skills - but what's the difference!? Which one is right for you and your pup?

Leash Walking is for pups who pull every which way on walks and their humans who want to begin or continue building their leash skills. Learn to reduce pulling and increase enjoyment for *both* of you in Leash Walking class, starting on Tues, 6/24 at 4pm.

Passing Dogs on Leash is for our pups whose walks and skills break down because - oh my gosh! - they're just absolutely jazzed to see a potential friend over there. Build focus and leash skills for dogs who *love* other dogs in Passing Dogs on Leash class, starting on Thurs, 6/26 at 8pm.

Sign up at YourDogsFriend.org/Schedule

As always, feel free to DM or email me at [email protected] with any questions and I'll be happy to help. And we can chat through things if you want to set up a time to talk on the phone, too. 😊

We have ONE opening available for Beginner Agility starting tomorrow, June 4th, with ! Sign up at YourDogsFriend.org/Sc...
06/03/2025

We have ONE opening available for Beginner Agility starting tomorrow, June 4th, with ! Sign up at YourDogsFriend.org/Schedule

Want to start taking a class with your dog ✨soon✨? Your Dog's Friend has classes with openings in the next 2 weeks (and ...
05/26/2025

Want to start taking a class with your dog ✨soon✨?

Your Dog's Friend has classes with openings in the next 2 weeks (and beyond)!

Here are some of the classes you could start soon!

- Puppy Kindergarten
- Puppy Party
- Play & Games for Small Dogs
- Basic Skills for Adolescent & Adult Dogs
- Puppy Agility Games
- Reactive Dog Class
- Scent Games
- Sports Sampler
- Agility
- Control Unleashed
- Rally

Plus more in the following weeks! See more at YourDogsFriend.org/Schedule.

We have openings available in Basic Skills for Adolescent & Adult Dogs class as soon as next Wednesday, Feb 26th! Regist...
02/20/2025

We have openings available in Basic Skills for Adolescent & Adult Dogs class as soon as next Wednesday, Feb 26th! Register at YourDogsFriend.org/Basic-Skills

Learn how to set your dog up for success, strengthen communication, and reward behaviors that build the life skills your dog needs to live happily in a human world.

Using a positive, force-free approach, we will work on coming when called, loose-leash walking, stay, drop it, relax on a mat, building attention around distractions, and more.

Over the course of six weeks, you and your dog will learn (or continue) to love training while having fun!

Our trainers will encourage and help you every step of the way.

Address

12221 Parklawn Drive
Rockville, MD
20852

Telephone

+13019835913

Website

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An Award-Winning Non-Profit

Our goal is to help keep dogs out of shelters by educating and supporting their humans. We believe that fewer dogs will be given up to shelters if we can help people understand what their dogs need and how their dogs learn.

Why YDF?

We have manners, puppy, behavior, sports, play, and kids classes.

Our free behavior and training workshops are presented by local positive trainers and other pet professionals. Monthly workshops for adopters too!