Live a Happier Life with Your Furry Friend
How It Works
We offer a wide range of dog training programs designed to fit your goals, whether you need board and train, private lessons, puppy training, or group classes. Each program is led by certified trainers, with flexible scheduling and lifetime support after graduation.

Free Evaluation
We assess your dog’s needs and create a personalized plan that fits your lifestyle.

Customized Training Plan
Certified trainers guide you and your dog through proven, positive methods for behavior improvement.

Hands-On Training
Choose from in-home, mobile, or facility-based programs designed for lasting results.

Ongoing Support
Receive tools, guidance, and follow-ups to maintain progress and reinforce skills at home.
Our Dog Training Programs
and Services
Meet Your Dog Trainers
Every dog trainer on the The Dog Wizard Cincinnati team is extensively trained and experienced in balanced training techniques that address a range of behavioral issues to help your dog reach their full potential.

Cranston Blanks
Business Manager and Lead Trainer
Cranston is what we would consider a serial dog loving entrepreneur. He has definitely taken the hands-on approach to where he is today. Way back when, he knew a career in dogs was in his future in some way shape or form. Not knowing where to start, he decided to start at the base of learning and spend years on the play lot of a dog boarding and daycare facility. This experience taught him a lot about dogs and how they interact organically. At the same time, he experienced a lot of behavioral problems and wanted to be able to help these dogs and owners. So, Cranston decided to dive into the training side and contacted the Dog Wizard in Charlotte, NC about working and learning how to help dogs with behavioral problems. This was where he found his passion and knew he wanted to do this for the rest of his life.
Fast forward a couple years, Cranston opened his own Dog Wizard franchise in Columbia, SC that became a great success with a lot of hard work, passion, and dedication to his clients. Several years later, Cranston was pulled back into the corporate side of the business to help new trainers and franchisees achieve their dream of a successful dog training business. Although successful, there was something missing on the corporate side of the fence for Cranston. That something turned out to be the daily contact with the dogs in training. Cranston missed the interaction and satisfaction of helping owners and dogs on a daily basis, so he decided to turn in his corporate office for face time back with the dogs and owners.
Today we are happy to say Cranston is back where he belongs and has the best of both worlds with The Dog Wizard Cincinnati. "I feel lucky to be a part of such a business minded team at The Dog Wizard Cincinnati?, says Cranston and adds "the expansion plans and daily interaction with clients, dogs, and trainers are exactly what I love, and I couldn't be happier?.
Cranston also enjoys art, stock market trading, music, and just enjoying nature and the outdoors.

Gina Shawhan
Trainer
Gina has been training dogs professionally in the Dayton area for the last 6 years teaching group classes, private lessons and managing a board and train program. Her lifelong passion for dogs led her to pursue competing in various dog sports since the age of 12.
Currently, Gina breeds, raises and trains her ever growing family of Border Collies. Among her accomplishments are 25 different titles in conformation, agility, dock diving, tricks and therapy work. We also take regular herding lessons and I have qualified for dock diving nationals twice.
Her passion and goal is to help owners become better trainers and help dogs become better citizens by having fun, learning new things and working as a team.
The best thing that my mentor ever told me was to always "Make Your Dog Successful?. If the dogs are successful then the owners will be happy and I can go home with a smile on my face knowing that I have made a positive impact.

Pam Hooker
Trainer
Pam has always had a passion for animals large and small. Originally from the Chicago area, Pam began her career working with pets in an established boardingdaycare facility. She moved to Cincinnati in 2014 and joined the Pet Nation Lodge family. Quickly Pam grew into a leadership role and became Head Team Leader. Her dedication and commitment has opened Pam up for an opportunity to shadow a dog trainer. For several weeks, Pam continued working at Pet Nations while shadowing a dog trainer. She was able to receive hands on experience with different breeds and behavioral issues. Pam quickly realized how enjoyable Dog Training is to her. The difference she is able to make in each dog's life and their owner is extremely satisfying to her. Pam is an invaluable asset to our Pet Nation Lodge & Dog Wizard Family.

The Clegg Family
Owners
The Clegg family has been active in breeding, showing, training, and conditioning dogs for over 40 years. Their love and devotion to the preservation of Golden Retrievers and Kuvasz (a Hungarian guardian breed) has led them all over the world as judges, competitors and breeders. They have bred over 100 champions, piloted many successful careers to top in their Breed,Group and All-Breed status as Professional Handlers and members of the Professional Handlers Association.
Daughter Caroline earned her first championship on her beloved Golden Bella at the age of six. Today, at age 18, she is the youngest and most successful Junior of all time achieving over 10 Best In Shows, two group placements at the coveted Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and holds the record for winningest Kuvasz female of all time.
Their passion for caring for pets with their needs in mind rather than the bottom line led them to develop Cincinnati's premier pet care facility, Pet Nation Lodge in Loveland, Ohio which offers personalized Lodging, Daycare and Grooming services as well as the super fun Dock Diving Pool!
Together, they bring years of valuable experience to the Dog Wizard family and are excited to offer this incredible training program to the Cincinnati community.

Rachel Williamson-Witzel
CPDT-KA CTDI AACE CCFC SDJ Trainer
Rachel began training animals at a young age working and showing horses across multiple disciplines. She began training professionally 15 years ago while working with exotic and domestic animals for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. She made the switch to working with dogs almost 14 years ago.
Rachel has experience teaching a wide variety of private and group classes- everything from manners and tricks to competition obedience and high-level agility. She has also worked extensively with aggressive and reactive dogs. In her spare time, she trains and competes with her dogs in conformation, agility, barn hunt, nosework, rally, obedience, heelwork to music, tricks, and parkour.
Rachel is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through CCPDT, a Certified Trick Dog Instructor, an Animal Actor Certified Evaluation, a Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach, Stunt Dog Judge, AKC Fit Dog instructor, a Drink With Your Dog instructor, and is an evaluator for Canine Good Citizen, Trick Dog, and Temperament tests through AKC. She is currently undergoing training to become a Canine Parkour instructor and certified behavior consultant.

Katie Wedgeworth
Trainer
Katie has always had a passion for training animals both small and large! After growing up working and training horses since she was four years old, going to college for an equine based degree, she found her way into dog training in 2014.
Katie enjoys training dogs and coaching people to help improve the relationship between dog and owner. There is nothing like a well behaved dog that you are proud to have as a part of your family.
Katie has a background in horse training, service dog training, pet dog training and aggressionbehavioral cases. She worked in veterinary medicine for two years as a vet assistant but never stopped training, and was back into training full time in 2022.

Alex Williams
After his time working as a kennel assistant, Alex expanded his scope and joined our team as a trainer. He never tires of learning new things and he has an immense love for dogs. He enjoys having the chance to make a difference in so many dogs'' lives through the Dog Wizard. He is proud to help each of his clients to live happier, more fulfilling lives with their dogs!

Mike Walsh
Trainer
Mike Walsh is a passionate dog trainer with the dog wizard, having joined the team in 2024. Born and raised in Connecticut, Mike grew up in a multi-dog household, which fostered a deep love and understanding of canine behavior from an early age. Mike is dedicated to helping dog owners create lasting bonds with their furry companions. With a focus on basic obedience and clear communication, Mike tailors training to meet individual needs of each dog and owner. Whether it's working through behavioral issues or helping dogs and owners develop a deeper connection, Mike is committed to fostering trust and harmony between families and their pets.
See What Other Dog Owners are Saying

My dog was a hurricane. She destroyed everything in her path. Like a Category 5 hitting the Outer Banks, she left a trail of destruction, sadness and despair. She's a 1 yr old Rottweiler. A machine that needs direction and activity.
We tried other trainers in the city, then we found The Dog Wizard and David in West Chester. He saved my relationship with my dog and I'm so grateful for his efforts and the current results.
She remains a work-in-progress and we are all working together to provide her the resources to be a long-term success story. She's more of a heavy tropical storm nowadays and that's a huge win.
David is amazing. Patient, knowledgeable, and an effective communicator.
I HIGHLY recommend contacting them.
Frankie has come leaps and bounds from day one. We continue to have check up visits with David and we’re all growing together, and much appreciate the time he’s taken.
We’re planning a trip over the new year and plan to use them for boarding!
Thank you. 🐶
He would not come when called, wouldn’t sit or hold place, walking was a train wreck, puppy-biting, peeing on the floor, and most of all, not wanting to be crate trained and wouldn’t sleep at night. He would bark for hours!!. He was like an infant, toddler and teenager all wrapped up into one!!
After working with his trainer, Pam, Jack has become a brand, new man! At only seven months he now sits, lays down, housebroken, holds place, walks like a champ, recalls from wherever he is, avoids and does not acknowledge distractions. Most impressively though, he is sleeping 10 hours in his crate through the night without making a sound.
Pam truly is a dog wizard and she found a way to communicate with our little man! Most importantly, she has educated us on how to be better dog parents and how to advocate and communicate with Jack.
I thought I knew enough about puppy training that I could handle him. I had no idea there was so much to learn and the trainers at The Dog Wizard have opened up a whole New World for us and our time with our dog.
The group support sessions on the weekends as well as in-home follow up training has been unbelievable! He continues to learn every day and we are able to enjoy his company and welcome him into our family with open arms.
The day after he came home from training, we went on a weekend trip hiking and stayed in a pet friendly hotel. We ate at restaurants, traveled through stores, and navigated trails and caves with hundreds of people, and he was the most well-behaved dog there!
Dozens of people complemented him on his obedience, training and overall cuteness, and we owe it all to The Dog Wizard!
Thank thank you, Pam, for taking such good care of Jack and for caring for him as if he was your own! We are forever grateful!!
About The Dog Wizard Cincinnati
Our dog training goes beyond basic commands like Sit, Come, and Down. Our approach focuses on helping your dog make better choices and respond to you instead of their impulses.
We cover all the essential obedience commands you need to communicate effectively with your dog. But more importantly, we teach your dog to stay engaged and follow through with these commands, even in the most distracting environments.
Our goal is to enhance your dog’s understanding of obedience, making it a natural part of their behavior, not just a few tricks they perform when they feel like it.
Treats or no treats? Collars or no collars? Too much praise or not enough praise? Positive or negative reinforcement?
They all claim to create the ?perfect dog.? The truth is that most methods have proven a certain amount of success, but few have proven the ability to withstand different circumstances, settings, and conditions. Our ?recipe for success? has produced successful results for hundreds of dogs. Together, we will teach your dog things you had no idea he was capable of learning. You will obtain an obedient, trustworthy, and calmer companion for the rest of your lives. Sure, a reliable dog makes your life easier, but more importantly your dog?s life just got a lot better!
Why Choose The Dog Wizard
Magical Methodologies
All of our trainers use balanced training techniques that are proven to be effective in and out of the classroom.
Everywhere Dogs Are
With over 100 locations — the majority of them being mobile — we have the ability to bring balanced dog training right to you.
Trained to Transform
Our knowledgeable trainers complete a rigorous dog training curriculum through The Dog Wizard Academy that teaches them methods that truly work
A Lifetime of Support
Those who complete our obedience programs have access to indefinite group class training support.





























