Live a Happier Life with Your Furry Friend
Certified
balanced trainers you can trust
Since 2005
helping families nationwide
Lifetime Support
to keep training on track
National Network
of local trainers near you
Free Evaluation
to start your dog’s training
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 or mobile 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 Dayton 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.
Erin Helmick
Owner/Manager
During college, Erin discovered her passion for dogs. She became involved with a local service dog agency as a volunteer foster home for service dogs in training. After graduating with her degree in Strategic Communications, she took a job at that agency. She worked as a Service Dog Socializer and was later promoted to Volunteer Coordinator.
Erin had always been interested in professional dog training, which led her to accept a position with The Dog Wizard in 2017. Erin has trained four service dogs in years past, and in February 2022, got her new Golden Retriever puppy, Keeper. They’ve been working together on obedience, scent work, and dock diving.
In addition to spending time with her training dogs and Keeper, Erin is also a mother to her son, Jack, and partner to Trainer Chuck. Her areas of expertise include: service dog education, socialization, puppy training, and the use of essential oils with animals. In addition, Erin is working to obtain more education in dog nutrition. She’s also the main person potential clients will speak with during their evaluations.
Trainer Erin is excited to step into her new role as Head Trainer and lead the Dog Wizard Dayton team to provide the best, most professional dog training in the area!
Jordan McCaskey
Trainer
Jordan discovered her passion for dog training when she adopted her rescue dog, Moose. Shortly after adopting Moose, he began to show some behavioral issues, such as human reactivity. This made it very hard for Moose to enjoy normal activities that other dogs do.
Jordan was determined to help him work through these issues so that he could live a full and adventurous life. This led to her start at The Dog Wizard. She began as an assistant trainer where she was able to learn about dog behavior and training.
After doing this for a year, she was promoted to a full-time trainer! She has been working on her continued education and has completed NePoPo Silver School. Jordan is passionate about building her knowledge in dog behavior, as well as helping owners have a great relationship with their dogs so they can live a full and enjoyable life with their owners!
Chuck McClinchy
Head Trainer
Chuck’s dog training career started in 2017 when he became a training assistant at a local service dog agency and was amazed at just how much a dog had the capacity to learn. He was especially interested in how dogs used their noses in order to find missing people or detect certain odors in a room.
After about a year of working with service dogs, Chuck decided to further his education and take a K9 training internship in South Carolina for 15 months. Here, he learned about obedience, scent detection, and tracking for search and rescue. Chuck has two dogs of his own. His bloodhound, Gadget, has worked tracks as old as 4 hours over a few miles.
His labrador, Robo, has learned to source cadaver odors in addition to having exceptional obedience training. Next to training dogs, Chuck also has a son, Jack, with Head Trainer, Erin H. He’s also one of the people you may speak to during your evaluations. Chuck is excited to continue his dog training career with The Dog Wizard!
See What Other Dog Owners are Saying
Erin was our first point of contact, and she was very responsive and thorough in the initial phone screening process.
She helped us every step of the way and she was great to work with.
As Chuck worked with Cappucino we noticed a huge improvement in his behavior. Chuck explained things very well and is very informative.
Overall, we highly recommend The Dog Wizard Dayton for training, especially for high energy dogs such as our German Shepherd!
His first training was at 4 months. This was totally a treats rewards based twice a week with a trainer at our home. The trainer essentially gave up near the end of the program and said Gunar was too hyper for any meaningful training at this point. We were told to let him mature till he was about a year old. That would have been a big mistake.
His second training session was at about 8 months of age at a board and train for 6 weeks. There was no interaction with us for the duration of the training. This was with multiple trainers with the main focus on the e-collar. Videos were sent weekly. When we picked him up at the end of the program I received a half hour of instruction on use of the e-collar and how to continue with the training. There were weekly follow up group sessions per reservation. Gunar was still extremely leash reactive with me towards other dogs and people. I was totally unprepared for use of the e-collar.
The third training was at about 3 years of age at another boot camp 5 days a week board and train, and home for the weekends. This was also with multiple trainers with daily videos presented. At the end of the week pick up there was total review of the progress with demonstration and home work given for the weekend. This was treat rewards driven training. The e-collar was not used. There was a year follow up group sessions. Gunar was still moderately leash reactive, leash pulling, and non-responsive when distractions were present.
From the interview process with Erin, I could tell this would be a custom training program to meet Gunar's needs. This is not a one size fits all deal. There was also going to be owner participation with demonstration and review at every pick up. Only one trainer would be working with Gunar. Communication was very easy with Erin when questions and issues came up prior to the start of training.
Chuck literally saved my relationship with Gunar. Chuck first built trust with Gunar. Training and field trips for socialization. The program was custom made from the extensive interview with Erin, and observations from Chuck during the first week. Within 2 weeks there was significant improvement in obedience and almost all leash pulling stopped. Not just reduced, but STOPPED!
Chuck made the e-collar simple. One button for most uses. I have started using the vibrate button for excessive barking control. Gunar knew what to do as far as the commands, he just needed to understand there is "a time to play and a time to obey". Training has become the "new play" for Gunar. Training with
Gunar is now actually fun for me and I look forward for it.
We are now training with a dropped leash for the most part. We are actually doing dropped leash heeling with down stays and return to heeling while I keep moving. We are up to about a 200 foot dropped leash down stay with a full speed recall in the field. Distractions from other people and other dogs is significantly reduced. Training at this point is non treat rewards driven, with e-collar reminders as needed. Chuck found what Gunar views as the best reward, a large “tug toy” and a good tug session.
Gunar is now in a much better place mentally. I feel I have become a better dog parent. Gunar is still a handful at times, and will still challenge me, but we have a much better mutual understanding and respect. His personality will always be a little bit puppy, very inquisitive, and highly protective. With Chuck, Gunar has learned that there is "a time for play and a time to obey". I highly recommend Chuck and his training philosophy. Thank you Chuck and Erin!
Highly recommend! Thank you Chuck and Erin!
About The Dog Wizard Dayton
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.
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.
