New puppy, or a dog that's testing your patience?
In-person training at your home or from my place, with one clear plan built around your dog and a trainer who works it with you every session. Whether you have a young puppy or a dog struggling with leash pulling, recall, reactivity, crate training, housebreaking, socialization, or everyday manners, the goal is the same: real-life behavior you can trust, enjoy, and take anywhere.
Welcome to Steady Steps Dog Training
Dog training near you in King & Snohomish County.
Looking for dog training near you in King or Snohomish County, WA? You're in the right place. Steady Steps Dog Training provides professional, in-person dog training for dog owners across King and Snohomish County. Below you'll find our training programs, positive and effective training methods, service locations, and what makes a reputable dog trainer.
Whether you're a new puppy owner or facing behavior challenges with your adult dog, effective dog training matters. It helps build trust, reduces stress, and creates a happier life for both you and your dog. You can start with private coaching, day training, board-and-train, or puppy training, depending on what your dog needs and how hands-on you want to be. The work is reward-based, practical, and customized for owners who want help solving behavior problems and building better habits.
See all programs →Where do you want to start?
Two common dog training starting points.
Find the one that sounds like you, and I'll take it from there.
Start them off right, from day one.
Build the house habits, socialization, and early foundations that head off the problems most owners never see coming.
See puppy training → Struggling with behaviorGet your dog back on track.
Pulling, reactivity, not listening, chaos at the door. We work on what's actually happening in your home and on your walks, one steady step at a time.
See behavior training →What I help with
Real dogs, real-life goals.
Whatever you're working on, the plan starts from your dog, not a script. Find what sounds like yours.
Day-to-day manners
- Loose-leash walks
- Greetings without losing it
- Settling in the house
- Recall that holds up
Dog behavior and reactivity
- Leash reactivity
- Door reactivity
- Pulling & lunging on walks
- Reactions to other dogs & the doorbell
Puppies & foundations
- Socialization
- Crate training
- Basic manners
- Sit, down, stay, come, place
Bringing them with you
- Trail & hiking manners
- Cooperative care (vet, nails, grooming)
- Cafes & dog-friendly stores
- Travel & car rides
Programs
Available programs
Puppy Crash Course
Everything a new puppy needs, in one guided package: house habits, socialization, and the early foundations that head off problems before they start. For puppies 8 weeks and older.
Read details →Puppy Foundations Board & Train
An intensive two-week board-and-train package where your pup trains with me and comes home with real skills already in place, so you skip the hardest part of the learning curve. For puppies 16 weeks to 6 months.
Read details →Puppy Foundations Day Training
The full foundation curriculum through daytime training on weekdays, with your pup home each evening. Serious, lasting progress without an overnight stay. For puppies 16 weeks to 6 months.
Read details →Private Lessons
You set the goals; I build the plan to reach them. Hands-on coaching for real behavior change and the everyday results you want most from your dog. Sessions run 45 minutes to an hour and can be scheduled around specific issues, and are a good fit for fearful dogs or dogs unsure in group settings.
Read details →Day Training
Day training is drop-off training in full eight-hour days, flexible to your schedule. You set the goals, I put in the reps, and your dog comes home having made real progress. The same range of work as private lessons, at an accelerated pace.
Read details →How it works
How to get started.
Fill out an evaluation form, book a free consult, get training.
Short evaluation form
Tell me about your dog and what you're working on (about 10 minutes).
Free consult call
We talk it through, make sure it's a fit, and find a time that works.
Begin the training journey
We build your dog's plan and get to work in the format that fits best.
How I train
Built on rewards, clear signals, and consistency.
I use positive reinforcement with clear, consistent signals your dog can actually follow: humane, proven techniques that teach the behavior I want, reward it the moment it happens, and shape it into a reliable habit through steady, well-paced repetition. Rewarding your dog for the behaviors you want reduces anxiety, improves behavior, and strengthens your bond. When something isn't working, I change the approach, not the dog, and I coach owners so you can keep the communication going at home.
The goal is a dog who responds because the behavior makes sense to them, not because they're being managed in the moment. Keeping training fun matters, because dogs learn better that way, and that's what makes it hold up in the real world.
More on how I work →Choosing a trainer
What to look for in a dog trainer.
Choosing the right dog trainer matters for your dog's well-being and your peace of mind. Here's what to look for.
Trains you, too
A good program coaches the owner alongside the dog, so the results actually last at home.
Adaptability
Methods that flex to each dog's unique needs and personality, not a one-size-fits-all script.
Clear communication
Clear signals and instructions that make it easier for both you and your dog to understand.
Fun in training
Sessions your dog enjoys, because dogs learn better when training is fun.
About Dani
The person you talk to is the person you work with.
A solo practice, run by one person who spends every day with dogs. My personal pack is the reason I do this work: living with genuinely well-trained dogs is better in a hundred small ways, and that's what I want for you and yours.
More about me & my pack →Where I work
King & Snohomish County.
I train where you and your dog actually spend time: your street, your neighborhood park, your regular patio. Sessions within 25 miles of South Snohomish include travel; beyond that, a flat travel fee applies.
See service areas →Reviews
What clients say
“I couldn't recommend Steady Steps enough! I have two very large, very different dogs who both needed a little extra training, and I was so impressed at how knowledgeable Dani was about such different training issues. My German Shepherd worked on impulse control and my Great Pyrenees on leash anxiety. Thank you so much, Dani!
Taylor, with Lucy & Walter
“Dani worked with my highly busy, high-energy dog on loose-leash walking and decompression, and the videos they sent me looked like a whole different dog! He was walking politely and seemed extremely calm and at ease, rather than his usual neurotic, high-energy, leash-pulling state.
Stephanie, with Walnut
“Dani was super helpful with fundamental training for my Dachshund Edgar: sit, stay, and recall. Edgar is very stubborn but treat-motivated, which Dani applied to training, both one-on-one with Edgar and giving me tips on how to integrate recall into our daily routine. I'll definitely continue working with Dani and would highly recommend them!
Rachael, with Edgar
Book a free consult.
Start with a short evaluation form, then a free 15-minute call, and we'll take it from there.
Get started