Best Friend's Dog Training

What Best Friend's Dog Training does

Best Friend's Dog Training, legally operated as Mutt Manners LLC, is a U.S. dog training services provider founded in 1999 and headquartered across a multi-state footprint spanning New York (Suffolk County, Nassau County, Manhattan, Brooklyn), Virginia (Arlington, Richmond, Hampton Roads), and Florida (Naples). The company delivers a multi-method training approach combining food-based positive reinforcement, e-collar techniques, and leash-based methods, and explicitly positions itself as handling reactive, aggressive, and difficult dogs that other trainers decline to take. Its core product set includes Board & Train residential programs (2, 3, and 4 week options plus custom specialty formats), In-Home Private Training (the legacy service since 1999), Lifetime Group Classes (operating for over 20 years), Puppy Foundations, House Breaking, and specialty Service Dog Training for PTSD/anxiety (4-8 weeks) and Therapy Dog / CGC certification programs. As of 2025, the company added MuttManners Academy, a subscription-based online video training platform with virtual coaching, and The Obedience Lab, a free weekly virtual event, extending its distribution beyond in-person delivery.

The business is run on a direct-to-consumer, quote-based model with free initial consultations, generating revenue through a mix of one-time professional services fees (Board & Train, In-Home, specialty programs), annual subscriptions (Lifetime Group Classes), and monthly subscriptions (MuttManners Academy). Customer acquisition is driven primarily by local SEO across geo-specific landing pages, organic social on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, SMS marketing for appointment reminders and promotions, and referral reputation built over 25+ years and 12,000+ dogs trained. The company is privately held and bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding, operates with a small core headcount, and depends on a trademarked "Mutt Manners™" brand identity and word-of-mouth within the professional dog training community — where it is reportedly consulted by peer trainers on difficult cases — as its primary intangible assets.

Name

Best Friend's Dog Training

Legal name

Mutt Manners LLC

Website

https://muttmanners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Best Friend's Dog Training (Mutt Manners LLC) is a U.S. dog training services provider founded in 1999, delivering in-home, board-and-train, and group classes across NY, VA, and FL, with a 2025-launched online academy serving individual dog owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Training Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training) (HSANAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Overnight Kennel Boarding (Dogs) (HSANADAA)

Keywords

• Dog obedience training
• Board and train services
• Puppy foundation training
• Service dog training
• In-home dog training

Headquarters

HQ city

Powhatan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Board & Train Programs: Residential dog training programs lasting 2-4 weeks where dogs stay with professional trainers. Includes daily training sessions, progress updates, and go-home lessons with owners. Programs are customized to individual dog needs.
2. In-Home Private Training: Trainers travel to client homes for private lessons, teaching obedience commands in the dog's natural environment. Since 1999, has trained over 12,000 dogs.
3. Lifetime Group Classes: Ongoing group training sessions for graduates of other programs, available for the life of the dog with unlimited access to community events and support.
4. MuttManners Academy Online Courses: Virtual instruction and video-based courses for dog owners to train independently with professional guidance and virtual support options.
5. Specialty Training Programs: Service dog training for PTSD/anxiety (4-8 weeks), therapy dog/CGC certification programs, and puppy foundations courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Best Friend's Dog Training delivers professional dog training services across multiple formats, including residential Board & Train programs (2, 3, and 4 weeks), In-Home Private Training, Lifetime Group Classes, and specialty Service Dog and Therapy Dog / CGC certification programs. The company also operates MuttManners Academy, an online video-based learning platform with virtual coaching. Training is delivered across multiple geographic markets in New York, Virginia, and Florida.

Product overview

Best Friend's Dog Training is a dog training service provider offering multiple delivery formats including residential Board & Train programs (2, 3, and 4 weeks), In-Home Training, and Lifetime Group Classes. The company also operates MuttManners Academy, an online video-based learning platform with virtual coaching support. Specialty programs include Service Dog Training for PTSD/anxiety assistance, Therapy Dog/CGC certification, and Puppy Foundations for young dogs. The Obedience Lab provides free weekly virtual coaching sessions. The company serves clients across multiple U.S. locations including New York (Suffolk, Nassau, Manhattan, Brooklyn), Virginia (Arlington, Richmond, Hampton Roads), and Florida (Naples).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MuttManners Academy: Online dog training platform offering video-based courses, virtual instruction, and coaching for dog owners to train their dogs from home.

Products and services

• Board & Train Programs Immersive residential dog training programs where dogs stay with professional trainers for 2, 3, or 4 weeks (with custom specialty programs). Includes daily training sessions, in-home sessions, progress updates, go-home lessons, and owner education. Designed for owners who lack time for consistent training, are expecting a child, going on vacation, or have dogs physically stronger than they are.
• In-Home Training Private dog training conducted at the client's home where a trainer teaches in the dog's natural environment. Covers obedience commands for family pets and polite behavior around visitors, children, and other dogs. Over 12,000 dogs trained through this format since 1999.
• Puppy Foundations

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Stevenson Solutions LLCminorOthersWebsite development and hosting provider powering the Mutt Manners / Best Friend's Dog Training digital presence. Listed as the company powering the website on the footer.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Off-Leash K9 Training: Multi-state dog obedience training franchise specializing in in-home and board & train programs focused on off-leash reliability. Directly comparable service package and customer profile to Best Friend's Dog Training.
• Zoom Room: Franchised dog training concept with physical retail-style locations offering group classes, private lessons, and socialization events. Comparable group-class + private-lesson model and lifestyle brand positioning.
• K9 Training Institute: Online dog training platform offering video courses, virtual coaching, and subscriber-based content. Comparable to the MuttManners Academy component of Best Friend's Dog Training in digital-first delivery and pricing model.
• Dog Training Elite: Multi-state in-home and board & train dog training franchise with similar service tiers and lifetime-support style offerings. Directly comparable delivery model and customer base.
• Loyd's of London Dog Training: Long-running family-run dog training operation on Long Island with in-home, group, and board & train services. Comparable in geography, service mix, and reputation-based positioning.
• Sit Means Sit: Multi-location dog training franchise offering in-home, group, and board & train programs across many U.S. states. Comparable to Best Friend's Dog Training in service mix, multi-region footprint, and use of e-collar-based methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Dogtopia: Largest franchised dog daycare operator in North America with optional training add-ons. Adjacent pet-services platform with overlapping customer base and significantly larger scale and capital base.
• Petco Dog Training: National big-box pet retailer offering in-store group dog training classes across hundreds of locations. An established mass-market competitor with broad reach that competes on price and convenience.

Emerging players

• Starmark Academy: Dog training school and curriculum provider that certifies trainers and develops training programs. Comparable to Best Friend's Dog Training in content/methodology development, though operating more as a training-of-trainers platform.

Others

• Animal Behavior College: Online and onsite school that trains and certifies aspiring dog trainers. Not a direct competitor for end-customers, but adjacent to the industry and indicative of the supply side of professional dog training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2Xxfn4zURBteBha6Zm3MTA
• Facebookfacebook.com/muttmanners
• TikToktiktok.com/@best.friends.dog8
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/best-friend's-dog-training

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Best Friend's Dog Training