Bluffton · Wells County, IN

Dog Training in Bluffton, IN

Private obedience lessons and board and train for Bluffton dogs that pull on the River Greenway or run wild at the dog park, from a 5.0-rated team based in New Haven.

5.0
129 Google reviews

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5.0★ from 129 Google reviews
Free phone consultation
Training base in New Haven, by appointment
Payment plans available
Local dog training you can trust

Off Leash K9 Training is the most-loved dog training company serving Bluffton and Wells County.

Bluffton is a little under 40 minutes from our training base at 124 Lincoln Hwy W in New Haven, around 28 miles by road. That is close enough that private obedience lessons are a realistic choice if you want to learn alongside your dog. A board and train is one drive to drop off and one to pick up. Every program and price is on our plans and pricing page.

Why it matters

Why professional training is essential for Bluffton dog owners

Behavior modification

Address jumping, pulling, barking, anxiety, and reactivity at the root, not just the symptom.

Safety & control

A dog that listens the first time is a safer dog around traffic, livestock, wildlife, and people.

Stronger bond

Clear communication builds trust, so your dog looks to you for direction instead of guessing.

Skills that transfer

We hand the training over to you at pickup, so the obedience keeps working at home.

Family harmony

A calm, well-mannered dog means a calmer home for kids, guests, and other pets alike.

What we offer

Our dog training programs for Bluffton dogs

Every program is by appointment, run by Brooke and her Fort Wayne team. Here is how they break down.

Obedience lessons

Private, one-on-one lessons with a professional trainer. You are there for all of it, so the training goes home with you.

  • Come, sit, down, place, heel and off
  • Loose-leash walking and manners
  • Advanced commands in the eight-lesson package
Explore obedience lessons →

Board & train

Your dog boards with a pro trainer and trains every day, then you get a one-on-one handoff session before they come home.

  • One and two-week programs
  • Off-leash recall around real distractions
  • Daily updates while your dog is with us
Explore board & train →

Reactive & aggressive dogs

A two-week board and train built for dogs that react to other dogs, animals or people.

  • Obedience as the foundation
  • Desensitization to the dog's triggers
  • A 2 to 3 hour handoff session at pickup
Explore aggressive dog training →
Training in Bluffton

Built for how Bluffton dogs actually live

Bluffton, the Wells County seat, sits on the Wabash River and goes by the Parlor City. It has the River Greenway, Kehoe Park and Washington Park in town, Ouabache State Park nearby, and its own dog park, the Bluffton K-9 Kommons.

A dog park is a great place for a dog that listens and a hard place for one that does not. Plenty of dogs rush the gate, ignore every call and have to be chased down when it is time to go. If yours reacts to other dogs instead, our 2 Week Aggressive Dog Board & Train program is built for that: two weeks of obedience as the foundation, plus desensitization to your dog's triggers.

Then there is the Bluffton Free Street Fair, which calls itself the largest and oldest street fair in Indiana and dates back to 1898. Not every dog belongs in a crowd like that, and that is fine. But a dog that can hold a sit while people, food and noise go by is what we train toward, because the same skills work on any busy sidewalk in town.

Where your dog will shine

  • The River Greenway
  • Bluffton K-9 Kommons
  • Ouabache State Park
  • Kehoe Park
  • Washington Park
Brooke Forsyth-Zeller, owner and head trainer of Off Leash K9 Training of Fort Wayne
Who you will be working with

Brooke Forsyth-Zeller grew up in the Fort Wayne area and graduated from Northrop High School. Before training full time she spent four years fostering for rescues and placed more than 60 dogs in new homes.

She joined Off Leash K9 Training of Fort Wayne as a trainer, then took over the location. Today she and her team train dogs from across Allen County and Northeast Indiana, and she or one of her trainers is the person you will actually meet.

Brooke Forsyth-ZellerOwner & Head Trainer · Off Leash K9 Training of Fort Wayne
Where we work

Dog training service areas near Bluffton

We train dogs from Bluffton and the towns around it in Wells, Adams and Huntington counties. Our training base is in New Haven, a little under 40 minutes northeast.

Bluffton Decatur Huntington New Haven Fort Wayne
Real results

What our clients say

“Absolutely LOVED my trainer, Brooke!! She was so patient and loving with my fur baby. My dog came back a completely different dog in terms of obedience.”

Nikki BucklesVerified Google review

“This is an awesome place, I was completely amazed at the change In my boy Apollo. He listened and followed direction. He did 1 week board and train and was taken very good care of.”

Tina KeffaberVerified Google review

“Off leash k9 was exactly what scout needed. He is more confident and relaxed with his surroundings. Our trainer reminded us that he will need reinforcement with us. This help me to get that better bond with him.”

David BurdenVerified Google review
Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How far is your training base from Bluffton?

A little under 40 minutes. We are at 124 Lincoln Hwy W in New Haven, around 28 miles from Bluffton by road. Visits are by appointment.

Is my dog ready for the Bluffton K-9 Kommons?

A good test: will your dog come back the first time you call, with other dogs playing nearby? If not, work on that first. Off-leash reliability comes through our board and train, where your dog trains with a pro every day.

My dog lunges at other dogs on the River Greenway. Can you help?

Yes. The 2 Week Aggressive Dog Board & Train program is a two-week board and train for dogs that react to other dogs, animals or people, with a 2 to 3 hour handoff session so you know what to do on your next walk.

Lessons or board and train?

Lessons fit if you want to do the work with your dog: Basic Obedience is four private lessons for $700, and Basic & Advanced Obedience is eight for $1,050. Board and train fits if you want your dog to get daily practice with a trainer first: the 2 Week Board & Train is $2,500. Payment plans are available. Call us today to learn more about payment options.

Is there a minimum age?

Yes. Our e-collar lessons start at five and a half months. Tell us about your dog on a free phone call and we will point you to the right fit.

Get started today

Ready to train your dog in Bluffton?

Book your free phone consultation and we'll recommend the right program for your dog and your goals.