Tacoma-based credentialed handlers
Local trainers credentialed by the Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA), and they are Certified Canine Behavior Consultants (CBCC-KA)
ADA-aligned standards
Tacoma Dog Training Built for Your Needs — Not Just Obedience
Find the training program that works best for you and your dog. Notre Dog Academy offers services for puppies and dogs of all ages. Advanced training, off-leash, and private coaching.
- Washington-based trainers who know Tacoma public access law
- Owner-train Your Dog
- Basic Obedience and Behavioral Training Obedience, behavior, and off-leash work
FREE · NO OBLIGATION
Talk to a Tacoma trainer this week.
15-minute call to assess your situation, your dog, and the right training pathway for your disability.
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30
Tacoma service dog trained or in training
5+
Years training service dogs in Washington
VISIT US IN TACOMA
Dog Training of Tacoma
Our Tacoma partner office for in-person consultations, temperament evaluations, and group classes. See neighborhoods covered below.
Trainer Highlight
Stephanie Beausoleil
Background
Stephanie Beausoleil is the owner of Notre Dog Academy in Tacoma and a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant who has been a dog-training instructor since 2011. Her path started with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a fascination with the science of how animals learn. While still in school she began a three-year internship at the Prison Pet Partnership, where she trained mobility service dogs, therapy dogs, and pet dogs, and completed an apprenticeship in basic obedience instruction. In 2015 she earned her CPDT-KA credential through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and later added her CBCC-KA behavior-consultant certification through the same body. Stephanie works with the full range of training and behavior challenges — basic obedience, socialization, potty training, therapy-dog and service-dog foundations, fear, aggression, reactivity, high prey drive, separation anxiety, and bite cases. Every Notre Dog trainer is certified by at least one independent international credentialing organization, is PetSaver Pet CPR & First Aid certified, and trains exclusively with science-based, reward-based methods under the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) framework: no aversive tools. Notre Dog is also the first certified eco-friendly dog training center in the Puget Sound area.
View full credential
Dogs Training of Tacoma
Powered by ServiceDogs.com — Washington-based dog training partner
ADDRESS
6036 S Warner Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
PHONE
HOURS
Mon -Friday 8am-4:30pm
Sunday 9am-5pm
Closed on Saturday
WHY TACOMA TRUSTS US
Dog training that actually meets the standard.
The dog trainers at Notre Dog Academy are CPDT-KA and CBCC-KA certified.
Backed by ServiceDogs.com
The educational authority on service dog standards, dog training, and law. Every Tacoma program is vetted against the same legal and ethical framework we publish for the public — no shortcuts, no scammy certifications, no false claims.
WHAT KIND OF SERVICE DOG?
Programs we train in Tacoma
Dog training is not one-size-fits-all. The right program depends on you and your dog.
Preschool
Structured puppy playdates; off-leash hybrid puppy classes (endorsed by Dr. Ian Dunbar).
Private Lessons
One-on-one instruction with a certified trainer.
Canine Behavior Consulting & Modification
Fear, aggression, reactivity, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and bite cases.
Group Classes
Formal small-group instruction, including Canine Good Citizen prep
YOUR PATH
From first call to fully-trained dogs
Each program offered by Notre Dog Academy is tailored to every dog and handler's need.
TACOMA COVERAGE
Neighborhoods we cover
- Downtown Tacoma98402
- Stadium District98403
- North Slope Historic District98403
- Old Town98403
- Proctor District98407
- Ruston / Point Ruston98407
- West End (Westgate)98406
- Sixth Avenue District98406
- Central Tacoma98405
- Hilltop98405
- South Tacoma98409
- Manitou98409
- Lincoln District98408
- Fern Hill98408
- McKinley Hill98404
- Eastside98404
- Dome District98421
- South End98418
- Northeast Tacoma98422
- Central Business District98402
R R
12 months ago
Long review coming up. I want to start this review by noting that my dog is my family. Before getting a puppy I signed up for a bunch of courses and thought I knew more than the average dog owner. I didn't think I would get much from the puppy classes or puppy social but boy was I wrong! Below is a review for each.
Puppy 101: Gabz is a fabulous instructor/teacher. She meets each puppy where they are and comes up with creative ways to help them. They also focus less on simple things like teaching "sit" and more important concepts that are SO important. Like good recall, grooming, preventing resource guarding etc. The commentary on watching puppies play and how to intervene mid play is also so helpful. We got so much out of these classes and highly recommend them. My puppy had difficulty with a leash and we started the classes with her constantly pulling and barking and we ended the classes with her chilling and watching other dogs in class. This is a testament to Gabzs' creative ways and setting them up for success.
Puppy Preschool: What is the worth of an hour of puppy play with an instructor present? A Lot. Seriously some of the best money I've spent for my dog. Stephanie talks through their play and what it means and when to intervene. If you can, I HIGHLY recommend watching it on webcam. I have learned so much and I'm now much more comfortable with my dog playing with other dogs and know what is okay/what isn't and when and how I should intervene. As for dogs, its super educational for them too. My puppy started preschool by thinking play = body slamming other dogs (I know, rude). Ended preschool around her 6 month mark by playing appropriately with other dogs and teaching younger puppies to play better!
Day School: Puppy is just starting day school and WOW. Everytime I have opened up the webcam I am blown away but how wonderful the team is. Gabz, John and Stephanie. The way they talk to dogs. "Thank you", "please", "good job", "okay honey"... the list goes on. You might wonder what is the value of a dog sitting with a trainer in a room while another dog plays? A lot. I recently attended a dinner and my 6 month puppy was at my feet the whole time, relaxing. The day school is definetly spendy but so worth it.
Final notes:
This team will be your dog's biggest advocates. They will politely tell you what to do/not to do and I love that. They will treat them with kindness yet set boundaries gently when needed. I can not recommend them enough. I'm hoping they continue to grow and have a huge training center and can help many more puppies! Of note, you know you have a winner when other dog trainers bring their puppy to these classes ;)
Puppy 101: Gabz is a fabulous instructor/teacher. She meets each puppy where they are and comes up with creative ways to help them. They also focus less on simple things like teaching "sit" and more important concepts that are SO important. Like good recall, grooming, preventing resource guarding etc. The commentary on watching puppies play and how to intervene mid play is also so helpful. We got so much out of these classes and highly recommend them. My puppy had difficulty with a leash and we started the classes with her constantly pulling and barking and we ended the classes with her chilling and watching other dogs in class. This is a testament to Gabzs' creative ways and setting them up for success.
Puppy Preschool: What is the worth of an hour of puppy play with an instructor present? A Lot. Seriously some of the best money I've spent for my dog. Stephanie talks through their play and what it means and when to intervene. If you can, I HIGHLY recommend watching it on webcam. I have learned so much and I'm now much more comfortable with my dog playing with other dogs and know what is okay/what isn't and when and how I should intervene. As for dogs, its super educational for them too. My puppy started preschool by thinking play = body slamming other dogs (I know, rude). Ended preschool around her 6 month mark by playing appropriately with other dogs and teaching younger puppies to play better!
Day School: Puppy is just starting day school and WOW. Everytime I have opened up the webcam I am blown away but how wonderful the team is. Gabz, John and Stephanie. The way they talk to dogs. "Thank you", "please", "good job", "okay honey"... the list goes on. You might wonder what is the value of a dog sitting with a trainer in a room while another dog plays? A lot. I recently attended a dinner and my 6 month puppy was at my feet the whole time, relaxing. The day school is definetly spendy but so worth it.
Final notes:
This team will be your dog's biggest advocates. They will politely tell you what to do/not to do and I love that. They will treat them with kindness yet set boundaries gently when needed. I can not recommend them enough. I'm hoping they continue to grow and have a huge training center and can help many more puppies! Of note, you know you have a winner when other dog trainers bring their puppy to these classes ;)
M D.
1 year ago
I've been dropping my young pup off for play sessions on the weekends. Stephanie is AWESOME: after drop-off I can watch the session on the studio webcam to see how it's going. She narrates everything she's doing, describes the dogs' behavior down to the tiniest detail, and handles each animal with care, sensitivity, and gentleness. I learn a ton just by watching and can hardly wait to enroll my pooch in the next level of classes. Four paws up, highly recommend!
Don in W.
2 years ago
Stefanie came out to our house on a Sunday to have a training session with our 6 1/2 month old pup. We were concerned ed with his barking and what we thought was reactivity. We were told by another trainer that he was aggressive, but Stefanie could see that it was not the case at all. He is reactive and she was able to help us learn what needs to be done to get him to calm himself down, We are extremely impressed with Stefanie and her knowledge and techniques. We will be enrolling him for more classes including Day-school. Thanks you Stefanie.
Mackenzie S.
2 years ago
Extremely helpful, I am so glad I called them! They responded and communicated with me quickly and gave me so much great information and instruction just in the first visit. They clearly care about the doggos as well as the people. Cannot recommend enough!!!
Selina R.
3 years ago
The owner Stephanie is a great trainer. She is friendly and very knowledgeable about best training practices. We used her to learn all the basics when we got our puppy, and she helped us train our crazy energetic pup into a well-behaved dog. Plus our dog absolutely loves her too! Our dog has been to a few days of day school and always comes home happy and tired.
Jess S.
3 years ago
I have been looking forward to working with Stephanie for quite a bit of time! We went to a workshop she hosted and even though my dog is past "the basics," she got so much out of the class! A chance to practice commands with a new person, lots of distractions, practicing impulse control around barking dogs.... I also got some much needed dog owner practice too :)
Thanks Stephanie!
Thanks Stephanie!
Hannah B.
4 years ago
My dog is half husky and half pit I’ll. Her brain is all husky. That is to say that she’s too smart for her own good, and likes to get herself into trouble. Notre Dog Academy between formal one on one training sessions and day school has helped my husband and I to build a better relationship with Nyah. She has changed a lot in the last eight months. She’s more respectful towards people and dogs, she walks better on the leash, and she thoroughly enjoys training sessions with us. Day school is her favorite thing in the world too! I feel so much more confident in knowing that she is in a safe, controlled environment, but is still able to play with other dogs. Other daycares just let dogs run wild, and often they come home with bad habits. Not with this facility; Nyah comes home tired and better behaved.
None of that would’ve been possible without the help of this wonderful facility. I have quite high regards for the main trainer Stephanie. She is talented, patient and just has a way with dogs that I haven’t seen in other people. I recommend her constantly, and I’m recommending her here. If you have a troublesome, intelligent and mischievous dog or just want to understand how your dog functions, she will help bridge that gap. I can tell you this much, I am happier, and my dog is happier after learning so much from this Academy.
Also the day school does birthday parties for the dogs!
None of that would’ve been possible without the help of this wonderful facility. I have quite high regards for the main trainer Stephanie. She is talented, patient and just has a way with dogs that I haven’t seen in other people. I recommend her constantly, and I’m recommending her here. If you have a troublesome, intelligent and mischievous dog or just want to understand how your dog functions, she will help bridge that gap. I can tell you this much, I am happier, and my dog is happier after learning so much from this Academy.
Also the day school does birthday parties for the dogs!
SarahAnn M.
4 years ago
I've worked with Stephanie both for my dog to deal with anxiety around loud noises (especially fireworks) as well as my parents' young dog. She's professional, arrives on time, and genuinely cares about her clients (both human and dog!). I appreciate her online system that really streamlines every, and I cannot thank her enough helping us with my dog. While Josie still struggles, fireworks no longer ruin Josie's day, and she recovers so much faster.
The 2026 HUD ESA Memo: What Changed and What Didn’t
On May 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued an internal memo that changes how the agency will handle complaints about emotional support animals in housing.
- HUD will now apply an “individually trained” standard to housing complaints it investigates
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question isn't here, ask in the consult form — we answer every one personally.
What training methods does Notre Dog Academy use?
Only humane, science-based, reward-based methods under the LIMA framework (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive). Notre Dog does not use aversive tools or techniques, which research associates with lower rates of fear and aggression.
Are Notre Dog Academy trainers certified?
Yes. Every certified trainer at Notre Dog has been assessed by at least one independent international credentialing organization and holds PetSaver Pet CPR, First Aid & Care certification. Owner Stephanie Beausoleil is a CBCC-KA and CPDT-KA.
What programs does Notre Dog Academy offer?
Private lessons, Day School (training while you're at work, live-streamed), puppy Preschool and off-leash hybrid puppy classes, group classes including CGC prep, and canine behavior consulting for issues like reactivity, aggression, and separation anxiety.
Does Notre Dog Academy help with serious behavior problems?
Yes. Stephanie and the team work with fear, aggression, reactivity, high prey drive, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and bite cases, building customized behavior-modification plans.
Ready to start training your Tacoma service dog?
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Get in Contact with Notre Dog Academy