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Dog training in Saint Augustine, FloridaTraining that goes beyond the leash.

Reliable training for the real world.

Private training at your home anywhere in St. Johns County, a four week board and train, and long term protection programs. One trainer, one dog at a time.

Find your program Call or text
  • 1 on 1Every session, with Zac
  • In homeAcross St. Johns County
  • TrustedBy sheriff's departments

Training programs

Every dog. Every goal.

From a puppy that won't stop mouthing to a dog that can protect your family, there's a program built for where your dog is today.

In home training

Obedience & puppies

Leash manners, recall, place, door manners and focus in the real world. Single hours or packages from 5 to 20 hours.

$120per hour

Training & rates Four weeks

Board & train

Your dog lives and trains with Zac for four weeks. Then you get a full hour learning how to keep it.

$3,000Free consultation

See board & train Behavior

Aggression & reactivity

Dog aggression, people aggression, resource guarding and reactivity, with a plan built at your home.

$120per hour

How it works 10 to 12 months

Protection

Social, personal and family protection, built in phases over a year. By evaluation only.

$200per session

The protection program

Training packages

Every dog starts at T1. How far you go is up to you.

Buy a block of hours at a better rate and train on a schedule that keeps the momentum going. Each package has a use by window, because dogs learn in streaks.

T1

Foundation

5 hours · use within 60 days

  • Loose leash walking
  • Sit, down, place and wait
  • Recall on a long line
  • Door and greeting manners
  • Puppy routines and basics

$575$115 per hour

T2

Reliability

10 hours · use within 120 days

  • Everything in T1
  • Duration, distance and distractions
  • Calm around people and other dogs
  • Training in public places
  • Behavior plans for reactive dogs

$1,100$110 per hour

Best value

T3

Off leash

20 hours · use within 6 months

  • Everything in T2
  • Off leash reliability where it's safe
  • Proofing at beaches, patios and downtown
  • A dog you can take anywhere
  • The first step toward protection work

$2,000$100 per hour

Package hours work for obedience, puppy and behavior training. No travel fee anywhere in St. Johns County. Full rates

Everyday training

Fix the everyday stuff.

Not everyone needs a protection dog. Everyone needs a dog that walks nicely, comes when called and stays calm when the doorbell rings. That's where most training starts.

Pulling on the leashWalks you actually enjoy again Jumping on guestsDoor and greeting manners Ignoring recallA dog that comes back the first time Barking and lungingCalm around other dogs and people Puppy biting and potty trainingThe right start, at your home Crate and house mannersPlace, crate and freedom earned

See training and rates →

Heeling through distractionsOff leash focus, a down at a distance and a recall. Tap to play.
Zac Thomas walking two dogs at heel under the live oaks

Your trainer

One trainer. One standard.

Every session is 1 on 1 with Zac Thomas. He has trained animals most of his life, and he lives with the work every day.

  • Trains dogs for sheriff's departmentsAgencies stay private. References on request.
  • Working dogs and rescues at homeFrom his Dutch Shepherd, Asena, to two rescues, Daisy and Baldr.
  • Breeds working line Dutch ShepherdsBred for protection and easy training.

Meet Zac →

How it works

Three steps. No runaround.

Reach out

Call, text or send a note. Tell Zac what's going wrong and what you want your dog to become.

Train at home

Your first hour happens where the problems happen: your front door, your yard, your street. Training starts that day, and you leave with a plan.

Keep the streak

Pick the package that fits, do the homework between sessions, and come back for tune ups when life gets busy.

Real dogs. Real progress.

Straight from Zac's phone. No stock photos, ever.

An owner practicing a down stay with her dog beside a sitting Belgian Malinois
A blue and white pit bull holding place on a raised dog bed
A brindle Dutch Shepherd lying calmly while a toddler pets its head
A young Lagotto holding place with kibble scattered around him
A shaggy black dog in a calm down beside a Belgian Malinois
A white shepherd resting on a raised dog bed during place training
5.0 on Google

Real reviews from dog owners Zac has trained. Read them on Google, and if you've trained with Zac, add yours.

Read the reviews Leave a review

Protection dog training

Protection is earned.

For families who want more than manners: a 10 to 12 month program, built in phases, for a dog that's safe with everyone and serious when it counts. It starts with an evaluation, and not every dog qualifies.

T3 is named for three people: Zac's wife and his two daughters. Every protection dog he trains is held to one standard. Would he trust it with them?

See the programWhat T3 stands for
Valkyrie, a Belgian Malinois trained by Zac's daughter, lying belly up and relaxed in her lap
Relaxed and trusting with a child. That's the standard.

Dutch Shepherds

Bred for the work.

T3 breeds high level working line Dutch Shepherds for families and handlers who want a dog built for protection from day one: clear headed, driven and easy to train.

  • Puppies, started dogs and trained protection dogs
  • Bred and trained by the same person
  • Litters announced to the waitlist first

Dutch Shepherd puppies & dogs →

Asena, Zac's working line Dutch Shepherd, holding a down on a raised dog bed

Service area

We come to you.

In home training anywhere in St. Johns County with no travel fee. Outside the county, travel is $2 per mile.

Board and train dogs live and train with Zac in St. Augustine.

No travel fee

  • St. Augustine
  • St. Augustine Beach
  • Vilano Beach
  • Ponte Vedra
  • Nocatee
  • Palm Valley
  • World Golf Village
  • St. Johns
  • Fruit Cove
  • Julington Creek
  • Elkton
  • Hastings

$2 per mile

  • Jacksonville
  • Palm Coast
  • Green Cove Springs
  • Palatka

Questions

Before you call.

Where do training sessions happen?

At your home, anywhere in St. Johns County, and out in the places your dog needs to behave: your neighborhood, parks, patios and the beach. Board and train dogs live and train with Zac in St. Augustine.

Do you offer a free consultation?

Yes, for board and train. For in home training, the first hour is a real training session at your home, so you get progress and a plan instead of a sales pitch.

How much does dog training cost?

In home training is $120 an hour, with T1, T2 and T3 packages that lower the hourly rate. Board and train is $3,000 for four weeks. Protection training is $200 per session.

Do you charge for travel?

Not inside St. Johns County. For homes outside the county, travel is $2 per mile.

Do you work with aggressive dogs?

Yes. Dog aggression, people aggression, resource guarding and reactivity are all part of the work. If your dog has bitten, say so when you reach out so the first session can be planned safely.

What breeds and ages do you train?

All of them. Puppies getting started, adult dogs with bad habits, and working breeds that need a job.

From the blog

Training notes from Zac.

Behavior · 5 min readCan leash pulling lead to aggression?Why a dog that drags you down the street can turn into a dog that lunges at every dog it sees, and how to stop the slide.Puppies · 3 min readCrate training vs free roam: which is right for your dog?Crate first, freedom earned: how to use a crate the right way and move your dog toward free roam safely.Local · 3 min readHow much does dog training cost in St. Augustine?Real prices for in home training, packages, board and train and protection, and how to compare trainers.

All articles →

Get started

Tell us about your dog.

Call or text Zac, or send a quick note. Tell him what's going wrong, or what you want your dog to become.

Book a session Call or text