Academy of Dog Training and Agility

What Academy of Dog Training and Agility does

Academy of Dog Training and Agility is a single-site dog training facility located at 89-B Albe Drive in Newark, Delaware, operating a 10,000 square foot fully matted indoor training center equipped with Max 200 agility and obedience equipment, shock-absorbing non-slip flooring, and an adjacent 25'x15' solar-heated canine swimming pool operated under the sub-brand Swimming Paws Canine Swim Club. The company delivers positive-reinforcement training (clicker, food, praise, and shaping methods) across a tiered curriculum: foundational classes (Puppy Head Start, Basic Manners/Obedience), intermediate Focus classes (Tricks, Therapy Dog, Moving Along, Jobs for Busy Dogs, Fun and Games), and advanced specialty offerings (Rally, Agility, Show Handling/Conformation, Nose Work, Canine Good Citizen, Canine Parkour). Class sizes are capped at 15 students with a 1:3 instructor-to-student ratio, sessions run 8 weeks, and enrollment is continuous year-round via a self-service ProPet online registration platform.

The business serves individual dog owners and households in the Delaware/Maryland/Pennsylvania tri-state area across four overlapping customer segments: general pet owners, competition dog handlers, show dog handlers, and therapy dog aspirants. Revenue is generated through per-class fees ($80–$325), private and family lessons (4-packs at $300), swim packages ($40 evaluation; 4-swim, 10-swim, 20-swim tiers from $100–$300), an Academy Club annual membership ($225 with 24/7 facility access and 10% swim discount), facility rentals for canine events, and a small on-site retail store. Referral partnerships with Summit Bridge Veterinary Hospital, The Doggie Playhouse, Content Critter, Sunshine Petcare, and therapy organization PAWS for People — plus American Red Cross pet first aid hosting — form the core of customer acquisition. The company is privately held and owner-operated by Carrie Eicher following its founding by Don Brown, with no external funding or parent organization disclosed.

Name

Academy of Dog Training and Agility

Legal name

Academy of Dog Training and Agility

Website

https://academyofdogtraining.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Academy of Dog Training and Agility is a privately owned, single-site dog training facility in Newark, Delaware, offering positive-reinforcement group classes, private lessons, canine swimming, and memberships to pet owners across the Delaware/Maryland/Pennsylvania tri-state area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Training Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAJAD

Strength, Conditioning & Speed/Agility Training Facilities

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Camps, Academies & Training Centers

SECONDARYHLAMACAK

Veterinary Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine & Physical Therapy Centers

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Emergency & Specialty Veterinary Hospitals

Keywords

• Dog training services
• Canine obedience classes
• Dog agility training
• Canine swimming facility
• Pet behavior education

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Group Training Classes: 8-week group training classes for puppies, basic obedience, agility, rally, tricks, therapy dog preparation, and show handling. Classes range from $80 to $225 depending on course type and duration.
2. Swimming Paws Canine Swim Club: Canine swimming services including swim evaluations, assisted swims, and unassisted swims. Packages range from $40 for initial evaluation to $300 for 20 unassisted swims. Academy Club members receive 10% discount.
3. Academy Club Membership: Annual membership providing 24/7 facility access, indoor all-weather training, agility and obedience equipment on premises. Membership costs $225 per year.
4. Private and Family Lessons: One-on-one training sessions and family training sessions for households with multiple family members interacting with the dog. Private lessons sold in packages of 4.
5. Academy Store: Retail sales of training equipment including balance harnesses, dog coats, crates, treats, and motivational dog games. Store operates during class hours.
6. Facility Rental: The facility is available for rental to canine-related events and organizations. Used for agility trials and obedience trials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Academy of Dog Training and Agility operates a 10,000 sq ft indoor dog training facility in Newark, Delaware delivering positive reinforcement-based group classes, private and family lessons, agility and competition training, therapy dog preparation, show handling, and a unique canine swimming program (Swimming Paws). Courses are sold as multi-week subscriptions with rolling enrollment, complemented by an annual Academy Club membership providing 24/7 facility access and on-site retail of training equipment.

Product overview

Academy of Dog Training and Agility is a dog training facility and canine swim club offering a comprehensive suite of in-person training services. The portfolio includes Level 1 foundational courses (Puppy Head Start, Basic Manners/Obedience), Level 2 Focus classes (Tricks, Therapy Dog, Moving Along, Jobs for Busy Dogs, Fun and Games), advanced specialty classes (Rally Obedience, Canine Good Citizen, Agility, Show Handling, Nose Work), and Swimming Paws Canine Swim Club. Training follows positive reinforcement methods using praise, food, and clickers. Classes are offered in 8-week sessions with various pricing tiers, and the Academy Club provides membership-based facility access for ongoing practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basic Puppy Head Start Class An 8-week foundational training course for puppies aged 12 weeks to 6 months covering basic commands (Sit, Down, Stay, Recall, Loose Leash Walking, No Jumping, Leave It) with a socialization session included. Priced at $225.
• Basic Manners/Obedience Class An 8-week obedience course for dogs 6 months and older teaching Sit/Down, Stay, Come, Loose leash heeling, No jumping, and Leave it commands. Priced at $225.
• Focus on Practical Tricks Class An 8-week intermediate class teaching dogs useful and impressive tricks such as closing doors, picking up toys, walking through legs, and jumping through hoops, using clicker training methods. Priced at $140.
• Focus on Therapy Dog Class An 8-week course preparing dogs for therapy work, covering loose leash walking with distractions, proper greeting, stays, recalls, settle to mat, and drop it commands in preparation for therapy dog certification with PAWS for People. Priced at $140.
• Focus on Moving Along / Jobs for Busy Dogs / Fun and Games Classes A set of 8-week Level 2 Focus classes combining stationing skills, motion training for unified walking, daily helper skills (turning lights on/off, picking up items), and interactive games with shaping, targeting, capturing behaviors, platform stations, and recall games. Each 8-week course priced at $225.
• Fun with Tricks Class II (Advanced) A 4-week self-paced advanced class where dogs work toward AKC Tricks Titles (Novice/Intermediate/Advanced/Performance) with instructors breaking down tricks for improved handler-dog communication. Working WITH dog priced at $80; WITHOUT dog at $60.
• Rally Obedience Class An 8-week course teaching handlers and dogs to navigate rally courses with signs combining sits, downs, and heeling, with Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Competition levels available.
• Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Advanced CGC Classes A 4-week CGC course (priced at $115) preparing dogs and owners for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test covering 10 essential manners skills, plus a 6-week Advanced CGCA course (priced at $150) including a CGCA patch on passage. CGC test only offered for $20 and Advanced CGC for $25.
• Agility Training Program A multi-level agility program including Fundamentals, Beginners 1/2/3, Intermediate, and Advanced/Competition classes, teaching drive, motivation, body awareness, and competition skills using Max 200 agility equipment.
• Show Handling/Conformation Class A weekly ongoing class from puppy socialization to advanced ring management for dog show competition, taught by experienced show handlers including championship-level experts. Available as single sessions ($12) or 8-week packages ($80).
• Nose Work Class An 8-week class teaching scent work skills including weave pole training, weave pole entries, reward line techniques, and pre-competition warm-up routines. Priced at $225; prerequisite of Beginners II agility or higher.
• How to Help Your Over-the-Top Dog Class An 8-week specialty class for easily distracted, overexcited dogs teaching self-regulation, clear thinking, and emotional regulation in the presence of distractions. Limited to 4 working teams. Priced at $325.
• Special Agility 2x2 Weavers Class A specialized agility class focusing on 2x2 weave pole training techniques for competition-level performance.
• Private and Family Lessons One-on-one training sessions and family training sessions (for households with multiple family members interacting with the dog) sold in packages of 4 lessons at $300. Ensures consistent commands across all family members.
• Swimming Paws Canine Swim Club Year-round indoor canine swimming facility with 25' x 15' solar-heated pool, swim evaluations, lessons, and monitored swim sessions providing impact-free cardiovascular exercise. Pricing: $40 initial evaluation, 4 assisted swims $140–$160, 4 unassisted swims $100 to 20 swims $300. Waitlist of 2-3 months due to demand.
• Academy Club Annual Membership Annual membership providing 24/7 indoor facility access, agility and obedience equipment use, and 10% discount on swimming services for advanced students. Priced at $225 per year.
• Dog Parkour Introduction Workshop Four-hour introduction to dog parkour sport teaching dogs to navigate landscape obstacles, build confidence, develop resilience, and learn creative movement. Priced at $80 with audit option for $30; limited to 10 Dog/Handler teams.
• Fun with Recall Class Class making coming when called a fun game, ingraining the dog's name and recall command for reliable automatic responses in various environments.
• Fun with Loose Lead Walking Class Class teaching loose leash walking through game-based methods, using harnesses optionally to communicate different walking styles.
• Fun with Painting Class Class teaching dogs to paint using muzzle brushes and paws, resulting in artwork creations to keep.
• Fun with Fitness Class Class making fitness fun through games, including warm-up programs, core and limb strengthening, and body awareness exercises.
• Fun with Your Senior Dog Class Four-week class for senior dogs that have completed a Focus class, designed for low-impact exercise and mental stimulation appropriate for older dogs. Priced at $115.
• Academy Store (On-site Retail) On-site retail store selling training equipment including balance harnesses, dog coats, crates, treats, and motivational dog games. Operates only during class hours.
• Facility Rental for Canine Events The Academy's 10,000 sq ft indoor facility is available for rental to canine-related events and organizations, including agility trials and obedience trials in the tri-state area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 minutes of swimming is equivalent to a 2-mile walk for dogs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PAWS for PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademy of Dog Training and Agility partners with PAWS for People, a pet therapy organization. The Academy prepares dogs for therapy work and many graduates go on to become certified therapy dog teams with PAWS for People. Customer testimonial confirms Luna achieved therapy dog certification through this partnership.
• Summit Bridge Veterinary HospitalminorOthersReferral partnership with Summit Bridge Veterinary Hospital in Bear, Delaware. The veterinary hospital provides boarding, doggie daycare, and grooming services, and refers clients to the Academy for training services.
• Peak Performance Canine Rehabilitation and AgilityminorOthersPartnership with Peak Performance Canine Rehabilitation and Agility for canine rehabilitation services. The Academy refers clients needing rehabilitation while Peak Performance provides rehabilitation services and agility training. Lauren Blackson, owner/veterinarian, is a former Academy competitor.
• American Red CrossminorOthersPartnership for American Red Cross Pet First Aid Classes and CPR/First Aid classes for people. Classes are offered at the Academy facility with future classes forming regularly.
• The Doggie PlayhouseminorOthersReferral partnership with The Doggie Playhouse for dog daycare and boarding services in the area.
• Content Critter Dog Walking and Pet SittingminorOthersReferral partnership with Content Critter for dog walking and pet sitting services.
• Sunshine PetcareminorOthersReferral partnership with Sunshine Petcare for pet care services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Camp Bow Wow: Dog daycare and boarding franchise with optional training add-ons. Comparable on the multi-service pet care positioning and recurring membership model, though daycare-led.

Broad incumbents

• Bark Busters Home Dog Training: Global franchise dog training brand offering in-home and group obedience training. Comparable as a multi-format dog training operator, though its delivery model (in-home) differs from the Academy's facility-based approach.
• PetSmart Dog Training: Largest US pet retailer offering group dog training classes across hundreds of locations. Comparable on curriculum scope (puppy, obedience, CGC, tricks) but operates at much lower price points with less instructor specialization.
• Petco Dog Training: National pet retailer offering group and private dog training including AKC programs. Comparable as a mass-market training provider; competes on convenience and price rather than instructor quality or facility depth.
• Dogtopia: National dog daycare franchise with adjacent training services and premium facility builds. Comparable as a multi-service pet care operator with overlapping training offerings, though daycare-led rather than training-led.

Direct peers

• Sirius Dog Training: Established dog training school offering puppy, obedience, agility, and behavior programs with certified instructors. Comparable as a specialty dog training school with structured multi-level curriculum.
• Starmark Animal Behavior Center: Dog training academy offering obedience, agility, and behavior modification programs at dedicated facilities. Comparable as a specialty training school with structured curriculum and certified instructors.
• Tails-A-Wagging Canine Swim & Fitness Center: Dedicated canine swim and fitness facility offering swim sessions, fitness programs, and rehab-adjacent services. Most direct comparator to Swimming Paws Canine Swim Club given the indoor pool and swim-eval + membership model.
• Zoom Room Dog Training: Franchise dog training chain offering group classes, agility, and puppy training in dedicated indoor facilities. Closest direct peer given the Academy's similar model of multi-discipline classes in a purpose-built training facility.
• Tom Rose School for Dogs: Midwest-based dog training school offering group classes, agility, and competition prep. Comparable as a regional multi-discipline dog training academy serving hobbyist and competition owners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AcademyofDog
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academy-of-dog-training-and-agility

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Academy of Dog Training and Agility