Looking for a dog trainer in Venice who comes to you? I offer private, in-home training for puppies and adult dogs in Venice, so we work on the things that make everyday life easier, right where they happen.
No cookie-cutter plans. Just practical training built around your dog, your home and your goals.
Your dog doesn’t live in a training facility, so their training shouldn’t all happen in one, either.
We start at home, with door manners, leash walking and settling. When your dog is ready, we take it out to your neighborhood, downtown Venice or the Legacy Trail, so the skills hold up where you actually use them.
You’ll learn right alongside your dog, so the progress holds up long after our lessons wrap up.
Let's Talk About Your Dog
From new puppies to dogs with bigger challenges, here’s what I help Venice dog owners with most.
Leash manners, door manners, jumping, impulse control, begging and counter surfing
Reactivity, anxiety, fearful behavior, confidence building and resource guarding
Raising a new puppy, potty training, socialization and the basics of obedience
Destructive chewing, excessive barking, nipping, chasing and hyperactivity
Reliable recall, off-leash reliability, and more advanced obedience work
...and more. If you don’t see your dog’s specific challenge listed, reach out anyway — chances are I’ve worked with it before.
See How I Can HelpFrom everyday manners to bigger behavior challenges, my personalized training programs offer different levels of support to fit your dog, your goals, and your lifestyle.
For adult dogs and teens: manners, leash walking, barking, reactivity and more.
The skills every great dog needs, built around the one thing you most want to change.
Everyday manners for the dog who's a little too much, a little too often.
Perfect for busy owners who want real progress, without having to find time to train every day.
Best for owners with bigger goals or bigger challenges, who want the most hands-on help I offer.
Start puppyhood off on the right track: potty and crate training, nipping, first basics and socialization.
Start puppyhood off on the right track, with all the essentials and a trainer in your corner.
Everything in Puppy Foundations, plus real-world adventures so your puppy learns to handle life outside your living room.
The full puppy experience, with me doing the heavy lifting while you're busy living your life.
Brohard Paw Park is the only beach area in Sarasota County where dogs are allowed, and it’s one of the best days out you can have with a dog around here. It’s also a busy, exciting place, so a little preparation goes a long way.
| Address | 1850 Harbor Drive S., Venice, FL 34285 (between Maxine Barritt Park and South Brohard Park) |
|---|---|
| Hours | The City of Venice lists it as open daily, 7 a.m. to dusk. Check the posted signs. |
| Cost | No fee or permit is mentioned on the official park pages |
| What’s there | A fenced dog play yard that leads to the dog beach, a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, benches, dog waste bags, showers, drinking fountains for people and dogs, and parking |
A dog beach is fun, but it’s a lot: loose dogs, waves, birds, kids, smells everywhere. Before you go, ask yourself whether your dog:
If the answer to any of these is “not really,” that’s not a reason to stay home forever. It’s a reason to build those skills first, so the beach is fun for your dog and not overwhelming.
Reliable recall, calm greetings and coming away from a fun game are exactly the skills we build in training. If you want your dog to be the one everyone at Brohard admires, let’s work on it together, starting at home and working up to the beach.
Park details: City of Venice: Brohard Paw Park · Sarasota County: Brohard Paw Park · Venice Code of Ordinances, Ch. 46, Art. III. The county lists hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; this page uses the city’s.
Hi! I’m MJ, the owner and trainer behind Highwater Dog Training.
I’ve been professionally training dogs for over 10 years, and I’m an Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer. Over the years, I’ve worked with dogs of all breeds, ages, personalities, and behavior challenges.
My approach is pretty simple: I want training to make your everyday life with your dog better. That means looking at the whole picture, figuring out what’s contributing to the behavior, and building a training plan that makes sense for your household.
I also believe that my job doesn’t end when our training sessions do. My programs include support between lessons and long-term guidance so you have someone to turn to as you continue working with your dog.
Animal Behavior College
International Association ofGetting started is simple. Here's exactly what to expect, step by step.
First, fill out my contact form to tell me a little about your dog and what you're hoping to accomplish with training!
Once I receive your inquiry, I'll reach out by phone, text, or email so we can chat about your goals, answer any initial questions, and see if my services are a good fit for you and your dog.
Next, I'll come to your home to meet you and your dog, get a better understanding of what's going on, and talk through your training goals in more detail.
Together, we'll come up with a personalized training plan and decide which program makes the most sense for you, your dog, and your lifestyle.
You'll also have a chance to get to know me and my training approach before moving forward!
Now the fun begins! We'll get started with your personalized training program, focusing on the skills and behaviors that matter most to you and your dog.
Every session is tailored to your goals, and as your dog makes progress, I'll adjust our training plan to keep things moving in the right direction. You'll also learn how to put those new skills to use in everyday life so you can enjoy the results long after training ends!
I service all of Venice, including Venice Island, Downtown Venice, Venice Gardens, South Venice, East Venice and Wellen Park.
Not sure if you’re in my area? Just ask. I also train in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, Babcock Ranch, Englewood and Placida.
Training starts at home. When your dog is ready, we take it out to your neighborhood and places like these, so the skills hold up where you actually use them:
Sarasota County’s only dog beach: recall, calm greetings and coming away from a fun game.
Polite walking past shops, patios and people on Venice Avenue.
Loose-leash walking with bikes, joggers and other dogs passing by.
Golf carts, neighbors out walking, delivery trucks and the dog behind the fence.
Every town has its own everyday challenges. Here’s what I see most with Venice dogs, and how we work on it.
Brohard Paw Park makes Venice one of the best places around to have a dog, and it asks for a reliable recall and good manners around other dogs.
Sand and sidewalks get hot fast. We train inside on hot afternoons and save outdoor practice for cooler mornings and evenings.
Ponds, preserves and Bufo toads after rain. We keep “leave it” and recall sharp.
Season brings more traffic, visitors and dogs on the sidewalks. Training can fit around your season, too.
Aaryn Goding
My dog and I had a wonderful experience with MJ! She is patient, understands doggos, and their humor! She was always available for questions and willing to work on anything we needed help with. Levi and I would highly recommend her! (I think Levi secretly had a crush on her too - or maybe it was just her treatos!) 4 paws up!
Highwater Dog TrainingThanks Aaryn! It was a JOY to have Levi in class and you've done a wonderful job with him!
Patti Hartsfield
I adopted a rescue from Texas in mid-March. We had multiple challenges, especially separation anxiety. But after 2 lessons with MJ, Sofia is now walking great on leash and I can leave her safely on her own in the house for up to 6 hours. MJ is so knowledgeable and a very good teacher--I would highly recommend her services. She also is very responsive to texts and email if you have questions/concerns between lessons. Dont hesitate to consult with her!
Highwater Dog TrainingThank you Patti!
Kristin Schuch
MJ has been an incredible resource for our German Shepard and Dutchie (and occasional rescue). She pairs knowledge & skill with experience in an effective real world way that makes training dynamic for each dog’s unique needs. We love her balanced approach, and value her sincere commitment to her work.
Highwater Dog TrainingThanks Kristin! I can't wait to get some updates on their progress in the future!
Ryan Nelson
MJ was extremely professional, knowledgeable and effective when training my French Bull Dog. She always took the time to answer my questions and exceeded my expectations. It was a great experience for me and my dog.
Highwater Dog TrainingThank you Ryan!
Kathryn Kujawski
MJ was fantastic to work with. She helped us with a very sensitive German Shepherd puppy and we really appreciated her knowledge of the breed and reactive/sensitive dogs. She taught me so many things about working with dogs as well as super useful training methods. I appreciate the way she uses a variety of tools and tips and does not fall into only using one technique. I highly recommend working with her.
Highwater Dog TrainingThank you! I loved working with you and Calvin, he's such a smart pup! I'm so glad I was able to help.
Erica Stevens
MJ did a fantastic job with our job and was a pleasure to work with! I feel like we have more control over Norman and can better handle his issues with our other dog. She's incredibly professional and great with dogs.
Highwater Dog TrainingThank you so much for the wonderful review, I'm so glad I was able to help you with Norman - he's such a sweet boy!
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Read moreYes. I offer in-home private training throughout Venice and the nearby communities.
The county describes it as an off-leash beach area for dogs. Outside the marked dog areas, dogs must be on a leash of 6 feet or less.
The official city and county park pages don't mention a fee or permit. Check the posted signs when you arrive.
Yes. Recall is one of the most common things I help with, and we'll practice it in places with more and more distractions before you try it at the beach.
Sessions generally land somewhere in the 60 to 90 minute range.
Get in touch and tell me about your dog. We’ll talk through what you’re working on and which program fits.
