Why Choose Us/Pricing

Why choose our dog obedience training in the Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, Land O Lakes, Lutz and Carrollwood, FL, areas

Experience You Can Trust

North Tampa Dog Training has proudly served the Tampa Bay area for more than 15 years, providing professional dog training programs built on reliability, consistency, and attention to detail.

With over 25 years of hands-on dog training experience, owner Chris Meverden has worked with dogs of all breeds, temperaments, and training needs. His background includes experience with a variety of proven training methods, allowing him to tailor programs to each individual dog and owner.

Our goal has always been to provide effective, real-world dog training that creates lasting results and stronger relationships between dogs and their families. Over the years, North Tampa Dog Training has earned a reputation throughout the Tampa Bay area for delivering personalized training and dependable results.

Learn more below about Chris’s background, accomplishments, and experience as a professional dog trainer and breeder.

We Don’t Hire Dog Trainers. Owner-Led Dog Training in Tampa

At North Tampa Dog Training, every dog is trained directly by owner Chris Meverden, who brings more than 25 years of professional dog training experience to every program.

Unlike larger companies that rely on multiple rotating trainers, Chris personally works with both dogs and their owners to ensure consistent, high-quality training and communication throughout the process.

To stay focused on what matters most—training dogs and helping families—our administrative, marketing, and facility support tasks are handled separately so Chris can dedicate his time to hands-on training.

During busy periods, Chris is assisted by Vince Hoffman, who has trained alongside him for nearly 15 years. Chris and Vince work together as a team using the same proven methods and training philosophy to provide a consistent experience for every dog and owner.

Because we prioritize quality over quantity, we intentionally limit the number of dogs we train at one time. This allows us to provide personalized attention and better long-term results for our clients.

Owner & Handler Training

Board and train programs have become increasingly popular because they can produce fast, effective results for many dogs and owners. At North Tampa Dog Training, we believe that if you invest in professional dog training, you should receive lasting value and the knowledge to maintain your dog’s success long after the program ends.

One of the biggest shortcomings in many board and train programs is the lack of owner education and real-world transition training. A dog may respond well to a professional trainer, but true success happens when the owner can confidently handle the dog at home and in everyday situations.

That is why our programs focus heavily on owner involvement and practical application. We do not limit training to a controlled training room environment. Instead, we work with owners in real-world settings, including public spaces, neighborhoods, and the home environment where behavior challenges actually occur.

For clients using remote collar (E-collar) training, we place a strong emphasis on proper education and ethical use. E-collar training is a highly effective communication tool when used correctly. Successful implementation requires more than simply pressing a button when a dog makes a mistake, as we have heard from previous customers of pop up dog trainers and franchise dog training businesses. We teach owners the theory, timing, communication, and proper application behind the tool before it is ever used with their dog.

Our training process includes multiple private lessons and scenario-based exercises designed to recreate real-life situations where owners may have previously struggled with their dogs. This hands-on approach helps owners build confidence, improve communication, and achieve reliable results in everyday life.

We believe lasting dog training success comes from teaching both the dog and the owner to work together as a team. While this approach may take more time, it creates clearer communication, stronger relationships, and better long-term results.

Breeding and Raising Dogs

I also have a very small but successful breeding program. My breeding program is designed to produce dogs that I can compete with. Everything is scrutinized from health, temperament, structure, and genetics. When breeding dogs for a specific purpose (working and performance dogs) you must really have a great understanding of genetics. Genetics greatly influence a dogs temperament and abilities. If you understand what a dog has genetically then you know what is possible and what is impossible. Some dog’s genetics limit what they can do and regardless of what methodology used, it won’t be successful. You must learn to work within the dog’s capabilities and not try to make him something they are not.

Successful Dog Obedience Training

Experience is great, as long as you have had experience with success. I have 25 years of experience with dog obedience training that has spanned the globe. I have seen and experienced many different methodologies and techniques. My career and experience competing in IGP (formerly Schutzhund) is where I have learned the most. IGP is the most widely used test for breeding working military and police dogs. It has evolved over the years to become a very competitive sport that tests dogs in many ways: Tracking, Obedience, Agility and Protection. The dogs are tested in their ability to use their nose and mental focus in tracking. The dog obedience training and agility portion of this sport has become so extremely difficult in the past 10 years due to the development of training without stress in this discipline. Dogs must show a happy, stress free attitude in obedience. The dogs must show that they want to offer behaviors and NOT be forced into behaviors. This type of dog obedience training has helped my pet program to have dogs that want to work and are not forced into it. The protection of handler phase of the sport is very complex and requires great understanding of aggression and control. This phase has also given me a much clearer understanding of dog aggression issues. Dealing with aggression and learning how to create and control it in competition, has been a specialty tool that helps with those unique problems. Working with big aggressive dogs is a valuable tool that most other dog trainers don’t get to experience. Dog obedience training plays a pivotal role in harnessing a crucial advantage.  Understanding how to work with these dogs through obedience training not only contributes significantly to safety but also enhances communication between pets and their owners.

Lastly, my competitors may say they “train” in schutzhund or dog sports, but there is a HUGE difference in the person that trains at a local club versus National Champions or International Competitors. I have won five National Championships and have been Top 10 at the World Championship twice. I have qualified and been invited to the biggest National German event (Germany is considered the pinnacle of our sport), the VDH Deutsche Miesterschaft, as an American. These accomplishments were also achieved with a dogs I have bred myself and raised/trained from a puppy.

Pricing For Our Programs

Board and Train Packages

2-week course($2200)- Consists of mostly manners and etiquette, such as jumping on people, excessive barking, counter surfing, pulling on the leash and drop it command. Obedience that the dog learns are place command and an off-leash recall. 

3-week course($2800)-  Consists of  manners and etiquette, such as jumping on people, excessive barking, counter surfing, and drop it command.  This course has more intense obedience exercises. Obedience that the dog learns are place, heeling, and an off-leash recall. 

4-week course($3500)– Is designed for the ultimate well mannered dog with strong engagement and obedience. This includes all the manners and obedience of the previous courses, but also includes the down under distraction and off leash capabilities.  All of the courses come with private lessons at the end, that we call our handler’s course.  The handler’s course is the most critical part. It is designed to teach the owners how to maintain the training. Handler’s relationship in most cases, is the reason for most of the dog’s unwanted behaviors. The handler’s course includes  private lessons that trains the owner on how to handle the dog. We cover modern e-collar application/training, how to ensure your dog follows the commands when it doesn’t want to, working with the dogin  many different situations/scenarios, and how to have a better relationship and communicate better with your dog. All necessary training equipment is also provided at no extra cost.

In-Home Lesson

Our in-home lessons are offered in a 6 lesson package for $1100 plus the cost of any necesarry equipment. Our in-home lessons are only available in the New Port Richey, Trinity, Hudson, Spring Hill,  Land o Lakes and Odessa areas. Each lesson is roughly an hour long at your residence.