Why Partners Dogs
Not just another dog trainer.
- 28 years in Arizona, not a franchise
- Two full-service facilities with boarding + training arenas
- PD360 Assessment picks the right program for YOUR dog
Family-owned. Honest. Built to last beyond your dog's first lesson.
Six things that make us different
This is not a list of vague claims. Each one is something you can verify with a phone call, a facility tour, or two minutes on our pricing page.
28 Years of Real Experience
Founded in 1997. Not a franchise. Not a pivot from another industry. Just dogs — every day, for nearly three decades.
Family-Owned + Operated
Leighton (founder, Training Director) and Christopher (COO) are both onsite and accessible. No corporate runaround, no regional manager you will never meet.
70,000+ Dogs Trained
Across every breed, age, temperament, and behavior issue Arizona produces. The depth of pattern-recognition that only comes from volume.
Two Full-Service Facilities
Scottsdale (8642 E Shea Blvd) and Cave Creek (4640 E Forest Pleasant Pl). Both have boarding suites, training arenas, outdoor enrichment yards, and grooming stations under one roof.
Transparent Pricing
Every program price is public on our pricing page. No "schedule a consultation to learn the price" games. You know the number before you call.
PD360 Assessment First
Before we sell you anything, we evaluate your dog and recommend the RIGHT program. Sometimes that means group classes instead of a $5,000 camp. We are honest about what your dog actually needs.
What we don't do
Strong positioning means saying what you are NOT for. These are the situations where we will tell you the truth, even when it costs us a sale.
We don't train every dog.
Some dogs are not the right fit for our facility — aggressive cases beyond our scope, dogs in chronic medical pain, or situations that need a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. When that is the case, we refer you out.
We don't promise transformation in one lesson.
Real behavior change takes weeks to months of consistent work — from us AND from you. Anyone promising a one-session fix for a serious behavior issue is selling you something they cannot deliver.
We don't pre-commit to one methodology.
We are balanced and tool-agnostic. Treats, clickers, place training, slip leads, prong collars, e-collars, bark collars — we use whichever serves the dog and the family best. Tools don’t cause harm. People do. Our trainers are the people who know how.
We don't sell you the most expensive program first.
The PD360 Assessment sometimes recommends a $40 group class instead of a $5,000+ camp. If that is the right answer for your dog, that is what we will tell you. The goal is your dog's outcome, not our top-line.
Honest Answers
Common questions when comparing trainers
We are family-owned and operated, not licensed out to franchisees. Every trainer who works with your dog is a Partners Dogs employee trained inside our system — not an independent operator paying a brand for the right to use a name. That means consistent methodology, consistent quality, and one ownership team accountable for every outcome.
We guarantee effort and methodology, not specific behavioral outcomes. Some dogs need more time than others, and we will not promise something a responsible trainer cannot deliver. What we DO commit to: we will work with you until we see meaningful progress, or we will honestly recommend a different path (sometimes including a referral to a veterinary behaviorist if that is what your dog truly needs).
Balanced and tool-agnostic. We use whatever serves the dog, the family, and the relationship — treats, markers, leash pressure, place training, prong collars, e-collars, bark collars. After 28 years and 70,000+ dogs, we have learned that limiting yourself by equipment limits the outcome. Tools don’t cause harm or pain — people do. The trainer’s skill, timing, and conditioning are what make a tool safe and effective. We pick what works long-term for your specific dog and your specific household, not what fits a single philosophy.
Yes — that is actually where a meaningful percentage of our DaySchool and Behavior Camp dogs come from. We have a soft spot for rescues and understand the patience and protocol they often need. If you adopted a dog with a hard history, we want to hear about them.
Yes. The full terms are on our terms of service and privacy policy pages. The short version: if we are not seeing trajectory after the first 30 days of a program, we will either adjust the plan at no extra cost or refund the unused portion. We would rather have an honest conversation early than keep collecting payments on a plan that is not working.
Yes — your dog is assigned a primary trainer who runs the daily sessions and tracks progress. Other team members may handle play groups, transports, or specific skill drills, but your primary trainer is the one accountable for your dog's plan and the one you talk to during owner coaching sessions.
Absolutely. We encourage tours — actually walking the floors, meeting trainers, and seeing where your dog will sleep and train is the best way to know if we are the right fit. Schedule a call and we will set one up at either location.
Real Outcomes
Don't take our word for it.
Are you tired of apologizing for your dog's behavior? Are you looking for the perfect place to watch your dog while you're out of town? Are you looking for a place to drain your dog's energy while improving its socialization? With 100+ years of combined dog training experience, and 55,000+ dogs trained, we have seen it all. Whatever your needs, let Partners Dog School join you on the journey to a delightful relationship with your dog.
Different Question
Comparing our programs to each other?
Are you tired of apologizing for your dog's behavior? Are you looking for the perfect place to watch your dog while you're out of town? Are you looking for a place to drain your dog's energy while improving its socialization? With 100+ years of combined dog training experience, and 55,000+ dogs trained, we have seen it all. Whatever your needs, let Partners Dog School join you on the journey to a delightful relationship with your dog.
See if we're the right fit.
Take the PD360 Assessment for an in-person read on your dog, or schedule a 20-minute call with a trainer (not a salesperson) to talk through your situation. If we are not the right fit, we will tell you.
Skip the comparison fatigue
See if Partners is right for your dog
Compared us to other trainers and still not sure? A 20-minute call with one of our trainers (not a salesperson) cuts through the noise. We'll tell you whether we're the right fit — and if we're not, we'll point you somewhere better.
- Trainer, not a salesperson
- ~20 minutes by phone
- Honest answer, even if it's 'go elsewhere'