Certified trainers and dog parks in Atlanta: find a trainer
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Certified Dog Trainers in Atlanta: Credentials and How to Choose

Updated · Sources are cited in the text

General training information. For aggression, sudden behavior changes or health concerns, see your veterinarian first.

If you are comparing certified dog trainers in Atlanta, start with one fact: anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. The title is not a license. A certification is one of the few outside signals you can check.

This page explains what the main credentials mean and lists the certified trainers and behavior professionals we could confirm. It does not rank anyone. There is no official list of the best dog trainers in Atlanta, and no certificate can tell you whether a trainer will click with you and your dog.

Dog training is unregulated

Dog training is not a licensed profession the way nursing or electrical work is. A person can print business cards tomorrow and start taking clients. Experience varies a lot, and so do methods.

That is why credentials matter. A voluntary certification shows that a trainer chose to be tested by an outside organization. It does not prove they are a good match for your dog. Think of it as a floor, not a finish line.

For a wider look at classes, private lessons and costs around the city, see our guide to dog training in Atlanta: classes, costs and how to choose.

The credentials, in plain words

CCPDT and CPDT-KA

CCPDT is the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. It keeps a public directory of certified trainers and behavior consultants. The CCPDT directory lists CPDT-KA as "Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed." The "KA" means the trainer passed an exam on training knowledge.

CPDT-KSA

The CCPDT directory describes CPDT-KSA as "Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge & Skills Assessed." It adds a skills assessment to the knowledge exam.

CBCC-KA

CBCC-KA stands for "Certified Behavior Consultant Canine - Knowledge Assessed" in the CCPDT directory. It is aimed at behavior problems such as fear, reactivity and separation distress, not just basic manners. It is not a veterinary credential.

KPA-CTP

KPA-CTP is the title for graduates of the Karen Pryor Academy's trainer program. None of the trainers listed below were confirmed through that program. If a trainer tells you they hold it, check Karen Pryor Academy's own trainer directory.

IAABC

IAABC is the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, which certifies behavior consultants. We did not confirm any IAABC members for this page. If a trainer cites it, look them up in the IAABC directory.

DACVB

A DACVB is a veterinarian who completed specialty training in animal behavior. This is the credential to look for when a dog's behavior may have a medical cause or needs medication.

Every credential above is voluntary. Always confirm it in the issuing organization's directory, not just on a business website.

Certified trainers listed in the CCPDT directory

The people below have a CCPDT directory profile showing the credentials listed. The "area" is the city and ZIP code shown in that profile. It is not a service-area promise. Many trainers travel or teach online, so ask about it.

NameBusinessCredentialsArea in CCPDT listing
Amy C. CampbellBehave AtlantaCPDT-KAAtlanta, GA 30317
Michael Robert LitzkyAtlanta Canine BehaviorCPDT-KA, CBCC-KAAtlanta, GA 30338; serves metro Atlanta
P. Leigh SansoneAnimal Behavior ConsultingCPDT-KSA, CBCC-KAAtlanta, GA 30315
Samantha SpitaleNo business listedCPDT-KAAtlanta, GA 30309
Megan Elyse BillingsleyNo business listedCPDT-KAAtlanta, GA 30316
Luke Allen BatsonNo business listedCPDT-KAAtlanta, GA 30305
Sara Alice FoltzNo business listedCPDT-KAAtlanta, GA 30318
Lynne Seibert, DVM, MS, PhDBehavior referral practice, name not confirmedDACVB (veterinary behaviorist)Lawrenceville, GA, north of Atlanta

A few notes on the list:

  • Amy Campbell, Michael Litzky and Leigh Sansone also describe the same credentials on their own websites. For the others we found only the directory listing, so we do not know their business names or websites.
  • Some ZIP codes in a directory listing may fall just outside the city limits even though the listing says Atlanta. If you want a trainer close to home, ask where they actually work.
  • Dr. Seibert's details come from a third-party veterinary profile that is not dated. Confirm that she is still seeing patients, and check the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists directory, before you call.
  • Other certified trainers may work in the Atlanta area. This is the group we could confirm, not a complete list.

Published prices, where the trainer lists them

Some of these trainers publish prices on their own sites. Prices change, so confirm before you book.

  • Atlanta Canine Behavior: a one-hour private training appointment is $175, a four-appointment Good Dog Package is $640, and a 90-minute initial behavior consultation is $240, according to the business's website.
  • Behave Atlanta: the group class page lists Puppies 101 at $245 for five weeks and Dogs 101 at $225 for four weeks. Puppies 101 meets at VCA Briarcliff Animal Hospital, and Dogs 101 meets at Mason Mill Recreation Center in Decatur. The sessions shown on that page are from 2025, so these numbers may be out of date. Ask for current dates and fees.

Leigh Sansone's and the independent trainers' fees were not published where we looked. Ask each one directly.

Comparing the credential types: pros and cons

CPDT-KA trainers

Pros:

  • The trainer passed an independent knowledge exam.
  • This is the credential most of the Atlanta trainers above hold, so you have several to compare.
  • It suits the everyday jobs: puppy manners, loose-leash walking, recall and household rules.

Cons:

  • The exam checks knowledge, not how well someone coaches in person.
  • It does not cover serious behavior cases on its own.

CPDT-KSA trainers

Pros:

  • Adds a skills assessment on top of the knowledge exam.

Cons:

  • Fewer people hold it, so there are fewer to choose from.
  • Still not a promise about any single dog's results.

CBCC-KA behavior consultants

Pros:

  • Aimed at behavior problems rather than basic manners.
  • Two of the trainers above hold it alongside a CPDT credential.

Cons:

  • It is not a veterinary credential. A consultant cannot diagnose illness or prescribe medication.
  • Consultations often cost more than a basic lesson, so compare the published rates.

Veterinary behaviorist (DACVB)

Pros:

  • Can look at medical causes and consider medication along with a behavior plan.
  • A good first stop when behavior changes suddenly, or when the cause might be pain.

Cons:

  • Few specialists exist, and the one we found practices north of the city.
  • Cost and waiting time can be higher than for a trainer.

Good fits by situation

  • New puppy: A CPDT-KA trainer who runs puppy classes. Ask about vaccine rules first. Piedmont Park Conservancy's dog park rules, for example, bar puppies under 16 weeks and require current vaccinations, so the same caution applies to classes.
  • Manners and leash skills: A CPDT-KA or CPDT-KSA trainer, in a class or a private lesson.
  • Fear, reactivity, separation distress: A CBCC-KA consultant, with your regular veterinarian in the loop.
  • Sudden behavior change: Start with your veterinarian, and consider a veterinary behaviorist.
  • Bites or aggression toward people: See your veterinarian and a certified behavior professional right away. Do not try to fix this alone or with a class.
  • Barking complaints: The City of Atlanta Code, Sec. 18-11, sets fines of $150 for a first violation, rising to $1,000 after the fourth. Persistent barking is usually a sign of an unmet need, so a behavior-minded trainer can help with the cause.

Questions to ask any trainer

Use this checklist on a phone call or in a first meeting. A good trainer will not mind any of it.

  1. Which certifications do you hold, and may I look you up in the issuing organization's directory?
  2. What training methods do you use? (Look for reward-based answers. Walk away from anyone who recommends shock, prong or choke collars, alpha rolls, scruffing or "dominance" corrections. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior advises against them.)
  3. What happens in a first session, and what will my dog and I practice at home?
  4. What vaccines do you require, and how do you handle sick or fearful dogs in class?
  5. What are the fees for a single lesson, a package and a group class? Are there extra costs?
  6. How many dogs are in a group class, and can I watch one first?
  7. Where do sessions take place, and do you come to my home or neighborhood?
  8. How do you handle a dog that is afraid or reactive, and when do you refer to a veterinarian?
  9. Do you make guarantees? (Be wary of anyone who promises specific results. Dogs are individuals.)
  10. What happens if the plan is not working?

Pay attention to how the trainer talks about your dog. You want someone who explains why a dog does something and shows you how to teach a better choice, not someone who blames the dog.

Check a few Atlanta basics before you start

Atlanta's animal rules differ by county. The city has separate animal-control articles for the Fulton and DeKalb portions, so check which county your address is in.

  • Leash rules: In the Fulton portion, the City of Atlanta Code (Sec. 18-124) requires a leash no longer than six feet when a dog is off its owner's premises. In the DeKalb portion, the code (Sec. 18-63) counts a dog as under control if it is leashed, or at heel beside a competent person and obedient to commands. In City of Atlanta parks, a leash is required except in designated off-leash areas (Sec. 110-70).
  • Licenses and rabies: Fulton County Animal Services and DeKalb County Animal Services handle licensing and registration. Both counties require current rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian. Ask your trainer to explain what a class needs, and confirm the rules with the county.

A good trainer will teach leash skills that fit these rules, and a calm walk makes everything else easier.

Our verdict

No credential on this page makes one trainer better than another, and we are not ranking anyone. The right choice depends on what your dog needs.

  • For puppy basics and manners, a CPDT-KA or CPDT-KSA trainer is a sensible place to start.
  • For fear, reactivity or anxiety, add a CBCC-KA consultant who works with your veterinarian.
  • For sudden changes, pain, or anything involving bites, begin with your veterinarian and a certified behavior professional.

Whatever you pick, confirm the certification in its directory, ask about methods, and choose someone whose reward-based approach feels right for you and your dog. Meet two or three before you commit if you can.

Sources