The Best Dog Trainers in Adelaide Who Will Treat Your Pup Like Their Own!
When my big brother turned up last month with a little fluffball in his arms, I could hardly believe it. Rusty’s floppy ears and cheeky eyes won me over in seconds. Then it hit me that this was my first time caring for a dog, and I wasn’t sure I could raise him into the good boy I hoped he’d be.
I figured it was best to get help early. I found a dog trainer who got Rusty started right away on a good routine, and I can already see him learning. He’s still a bit of a rascal, but the good boy is in there, and he’s starting to shine!
Since I know plenty of first-time dog owners around Adelaide might feel the same, I’ve put together a list of the best dog trainers in town to help you and your pup get off to a great start.
1. Adelaide K9 Services
Services offered: Behaviour consultation, aggression management, obedience training, puppy training, assistance dog training, and more
Address: 16 Hay St, Walkerville
Phone number: +61 413 067 769
Business hours:
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (MON-FRI)
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (SAT and SUN)
| Google reviews score | 5/5 |
| Total reviews | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
| Experience and certifications | 5/5 |
| Training specialisations | 5/5 |
| Training methods | 5/5 |
| Availability | 4.5/5 |
| Price fairness | 4.5/5 |
Adelaide K9 Services is the place I’d point you to if your dog’s behaviour is giving you grief. The main trainer, Scott Corcoran, is a Certified Behaviour Consultant (Canine) – Knowledge Assessed, which tells me he has put in the work to know his stuff.
They start with in-home assessments to see what’s going on, then put together a tailored behaviour plan. Depending on your dog’s needs, they can help with things like leash pulling, jumping, and nuisance barking.
A standout offering is their Owner Trained Assistance Dog Program. This allows them to work with you to train your dog into a certified assistance animal, such as a hearing dog or a mobility assistance dog, giving you practical support in daily life.
The only catch is their high demand, which can make bookings tricky. They also charge a $400 initial consultation fee, which may be a stretch for some budgets.
Scott’s approach has simply been the best
“I can’t recommend Adelaide K9 Services enough. Scott was patient, good humoured and focused on animal well-being above all else. My 4 year old Labrador has had various training and styles over the years but Scott’s approach has simply been the best. Scott trains the owner just as much as the dog and the results have been fantastic for the hound and whole family.”
-Brett Goodsall, Google Reviews
An excellent trainer, we’ve learnt so much
“An excellent trainer, we’ve learnt so much. Highly recommend Scott for anyone with reactive dog concerns. Our pup is a work in progress, fear based reactivity, but we can already see a positive improvement, and importantly, he is teaching me how to manage my own reactions to provide better leadership.”
-Mellita Cant, Google Reviews
2. Advanced Behavioural Training
Services offered: Behavioural therapy, obedience training, agility training, puppy programs, socialisation therapy, and more
Address: 41 Glenroy St, Athol Park
Phone number: +61 431 301 118
Business hours:
6:30 AM – 8:00 PM (MON-THURS)
6:30 AM – 6:00 PM (FRI)
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (SAT)
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (SUN)
| Google reviews score | 4.8/5 |
| Facebook reviews score | 4.7/5 |
| Total reviews | 4.7/5 |
| Score consistency | 4/5 |
| Experience and certifications | 5/5 |
| Training specialisations | 5/5 |
| Training methods | 5/5 |
| Availability | 4/5 |
| Price fairness | 5/5 |
Advance Behavioural Training has been around since 2011 and is a good option if you have a shy pup that needs a gentle boost. They offer a wide range of services, including behavioural therapy, obedience, agility, and puppy programs.
What’s interesting is that they have a doggy daycare, which also serves as a training space. This is where their socialisation therapy works well, giving dogs the chance to mix and play in a safe and supervised setting.
Another thing I like is their Excursion Academy, which takes dogs into everyday places to help them build confidence and practise good manners.
The only drawback is that their location can be a bit far from Adelaide’s southern suburbs. They do have online training available, but I think nothing quite matches the value of having a trainer work with your dog in person.
ABT has been amazing for me and my first pup
“ABT has been amazing for me and my first pup. K9 Kindy and the adventure classes have improved Casper’s confidence, focus, and behavior in public and around other dogs. I’m so proud of his progress in such a short time. He started off very shy but after a couple classes, he was super excited for them and loved every second. The trainers are so supportive and knowledgeable, making each session fun and effective. Highly recommend ABT”
-Vivien Zimmermann, Google Reviews
I love their style of training
“ABT is honestly the best thing we have ever done for our German Shepherd Sarge. The trainers are so helpful and knowledgeable and the advice we have received has been the biggest help. I love their style of training, it’s practical and effective, we’ve seen great results with Sarge so far and looking forward to working on more!”
-Tegan Krebbekx, Google Reviews
3. OzcorpK9
Services offered: Obedience, behaviour, and socialisation training
Address: 57 Lyons Rd, Holden Hill
Phone number: +61 481 608 943
Business hours:
7:00 AM – 6:30 PM (MON and TUES)
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (WED and FRI)
7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (THURS)
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (SAT)
| Google reviews score | 4.9/5 |
| Facebook reviews score | 4.8/5 |
| Total reviews | 4.8/5 |
| Score consistency | 4/5 |
| Experience and certifications | 5/5 |
| Training specialisations | 5/5 |
| Training methods | 5/5 |
| Availability | 4.5/5 |
| Price fairness | 5/5 |
If you want to train your pup into a good boy in a reasonably quick time, OzcorpK9 is worth a look. Founded almost a decade ago, they’re based in Holden Hill and work from a purpose-built setup that feels more professional than the average suburban trainer.
Their main draw is The Ozdog, a seven-session crash course in obedience that moves quickly and includes online revision so the lessons stick. They also run a five-week foundations audit where you watch live training and learn the theory, plus a hands-on version to help you train your pup at home.
Furthermore, they have a specific class for dogs with reactivity issues, usually capped at six to make sure every dog gets fair attention.
On the downside, they book out fast and can sometimes be slow to respond to enquiries, so a follow-up message is often a smart move.
Their well-structured puppy foundations course has exceeded our expectations
“After not having a puppy for nearly 2 decades and deciding on a working dog who could join us on our adventures we had no idea where to start with training.
The knowledge and skills of the trainers at OzcorpK9, and their well-structured puppy foundations course has exceeded our expectations and provided an excellent starting point for our training journey.
We cannot wait to begin Grade 2!”
-Jess Grotto, Google Reviews
Simply amazing at what they do and are so knowledgeable!
“The guys at OzcorpK9 are simply amazing at what they do and are so knowledgeable! My pup Molly and I learned so much during their 5 week foundations course and can’t wait to get back into training in the new year. I highly recommend them for any type of training. You will not be disappointed!”
-Sophie A, Google Reviews
4. Sherlock Bones
Services offered: In-home dog obedience training, puppy training, behavioural problem solving, and lifetime support
Phone number: +61 433 364 364
Business hours: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM (MON-SUN)
| Google reviews score | 4.8/5 |
| Facebook reviews score | 4.9/5 |
| Total reviews | 4.8/5 |
| Score consistency | 4/5 |
| Experience and certifications | 5/5 |
| Training specialisations | 4.5/5 |
| Training methods | 5/5 |
| Availability | 5/5 |
| Price fairness | 5/5 |
Rusty’s training to become a good boy has been going well thanks to Sherlock Bones. Their head trainer, Sam, has over two decades of experience and received extensive training from the Delta Canine Institute.
One reason I picked them is their free phone consultations. The tips they gave me led to noticeable improvements in Rusty’s behaviour, so I felt confident hiring them to continue his training.
I also appreciate their “no results, no fee” promise. If they can’t make progress on the issue, you don’t pay. They offer lifetime support too, which I plan to use to help reinforce Rusty’s good behaviour after training.
It’s not all perfect. They don’t have an online booking system, so appointments must be made by phone or email. And since all training is done at home, they can’t really provide an effective dog socialisation program.
Sherlock Bones offers a friendly service with a patient trainer
“Sherlock Bones offers a friendly service with a patient trainer. My dog, though not perfect, has shown significant improvement in behaviour under their guidance. Considering how crazy my dog was before, this speaks volumes. I highly recommend Sherlock Bones if you need assistance with your canine friend.”
-Rosanna Edwards, Google Reviews
His techniques are practical and easy to adopt into everyday life
“Sam was so helpful! He unraveled all of the confusing advice I’ve received in the past and within moments my dogs were behaving perfectly. His techniques are practical and easy to adopt into everyday life with consistent practice. I highly recommend Sherlock Bones to anyone who needs help with their pooch ☺️🐶”
-Chris Kelly, Google Reviews
5. Take The Lead Canine Services
Services offered: Dog daycare, boarding, training programs, behaviour support, confidence-building sessions, and adoption services
Address: 172 Middle Beach Rd, Middle Beach
Phone number: +61 429 036 445
Business hours:
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (MON-FRI)
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM (SAT)
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM (SUN)
| Google reviews score | 4.9/5 |
| Facebook reviews score | 5/5 |
| Total reviews | 4.9/5 |
| Score consistency | 4/5 |
| Experience and certifications | 5/5 |
| Training specialisations | 5/5 |
| Training methods | 5/5 |
| Availability | 5/5 |
| Price fairness | 4.5/5 |
Take The Lead Canine Services has been around for close to ten years and sits on a roomy 23-acre property that feels far more relaxed than a standard city setup.
I like that their Stay and Learn program is flexible, with 10-day stays for basic manners and longer 5-week options for behaviour that needs serious work. They even do handover sessions and homework sheets so you can keep training your pup at home.
They also run Pack Rehab, which helps dogs rebuild confidence by introducing them to friendly canine companions. It’s also good that they have an adoption program for those wanting a dog that’s already trained and health checked.
The only major drawback for me is price, with their most basic training program costing about $1,600. I suggest taking advantage of their financing options via Humm and Afterpay to lessen the blow on your finances.
It is incredible the difference I see in her after 4 weeks of training
“What an amazing service Take the Lead is offering!
We recently had our girl go in because of her reactivity. It is incredible the difference I see in her after 4 weeks of training with the wonderful staff.
You could see how much she loved it there and how much fun she was having working on the farm. It was very hard to let her go for 4 weeks, but you get 2 comprehensive updates including pictures, a week.
Thank you to Take the Lead for your help with Roxy.”
-Carly Mayfield, Google Reviews
Whether it’s for boarding or training, the staff are incredible
“Highly recommend Take the Lead to anyone who has a dog! Whether it’s for boarding or training, the staff are incredible. I have had my puppy in for a couple of day trains and recently a 10 day stay as we went on holiday – I got a photo update almost every single day which eased my mind and reminded me that she was having the best time! She loves it here and gets so excited every time we get there. The girls are amazing with her and remember her which I love, especially with how many dogs they would see every day! Every step is so personalised and eases your mind. Will always recommend these guys to anyone we speak to about our baby!”
-Shaylee Thain, Google Reviews
