Black and white dog with tongue sticking out during behavior training at Animal Welfare Association.

AWA Pet Behavior & Training

Affordable, Effective Dog Training

Animal Welfare Association offers group and private dog training lessons that have helped pet owners in South Jersey, Philadelphia and beyond.

Our Certified instructor will give you and your pet the tools to successfully learn new skills or work on correcting old behaviors.

Obedience

Our experts will teach you and your dog the foundational skills, including sit, stay, heel, and more.

Walking

Work on loose-leash walking, including tips and tricks for successful daily walks.

Social

Our Well-Mannered Dog and Pub-Ready Pooch classes will ensure your pup behaves in pet-friendly public spaces.

Recall

Our Certified Instructors give you and your dog the tools and confidence to develop a reliable recall command.

Behaviors

If your dog jumps, chews, acts aggressively, or has any other issue that concerns you, we can help!

And More

Come in for a consultation and we can help with any issue you're having with your pet, and set them on the path to success!

Group Classes

Our group classes are offered in a 3-week series or single sessions. 

Each series allows you to create, observe and sustain positive behaviors in your pet and make progress at home before coming back to learn more.

Single-session classes work on improving specific behaviors and getting your pet ready and trained to excel in scenarios that are common issues.

Private Lessons

Have a behavior issue with your dog that’s been difficult to crack? Does your dog have trouble focusing or behaving when other dogs are around? Just want hands-on, 1-1 training?

Our private behavior and training lessons are for you!

Private lessons are appropriate to address issues big and small, or just teach your dog new behaviors that can last a lifetime.

These lessons are available for either 30 minutes or 1 hour.

Lessons cost $60 for half an hour and $120 for an hour.

*Note: to book 1-hour lessons, please add 2 consecutive 30-minute lessons to your cart. Subject to availability.

Meet the Instructors

Animal Welfare Association Behavior Assistant Abby Pukenas petting dog.

Abby Pukenas

Hi! My name is Abby and I am the Behavior Assistant here at the Animal Welfare Association.

I’m a lover of all animals! I have been working primarily with dogs in a professional training setting for over 4 years and I am currently studying at CATCH Trainers Academy to further my education.

I am always curious and eager to learn everything I can about animals to help better understand them. Learning about and helping animals is my passion!

Jenna Barrett and Lambert - Woman with tattoos holding young black dog

Jenna Barrett

Hi! I’m Jenna, I’m one of the behavior assistants here at Animal Welfare Association.

Since starting a career in the shelter world in 2022, I’ve been devoted to learning everything I can about animal behavior and training. My goal is to become CPDT-KA certified and to continue learning about and understanding animals.

I have three fur babies; two dogs (one of which is an AWA foster fail) and a very needy cat. In my free time I enjoy being at home with my dogs, hiking, and collecting oddities.