Professional dog training in Winston-Salem, NC
Get to know us
Piedmont Canine Training is led by Abigail Stephens, a professional dog trainer serving Winston-Salem, Clemmons, and surrounding areas of Forsyth county. She has hands-on experience working with pet dogs, service dogs, and working dogs, and creates custom training plans for each family.
Abigail helps with puppy training, obedience, and behavior challenges, focusing on skills that work in real homes and real-life situations.
As a mother of two young daughters and a dog owner herself, she understands the realities of busy family life and what it takes to raise a well-behaved dog.
Our services
Private lessons
One-on-one training tailored to your dog, your goals, and your home or training environment. These sessions focus on practical skills and clear communication that carry over into everyday life.
Board and train
Structured board and train programs where your dog stays with a professional trainer and builds reliable obedience, better behavior, and real-world skills that carry over into everyday life.
Group sessions
Structured training sessions held with a small group of dogs and handlers in a controlled setting. Group lessons help strengthen focus, confidence, and reliability while working around real-world distractions.
Frequently asked questions
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Training at Piedmont Canine is tailored to the dog’s age, temperament, and learning stage. Puppies are trained using positive reinforcement to build confidence and strong foundational behaviors. As dogs mature, training may incorporate a balanced approach focused on clear communication, structure, and consistency. The goal is always to help dogs understand expectations in a fair, humane way that supports long-term success.
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Most dogs are. We work with puppies, adolescent dogs, and adults across a wide range of behavioral needs, from basic obedience to more complex challenges. A phone consult allows us to understand your dog, your goals, and your home environment so we can recommend the right path forward before you commit.
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All training starts with a phone consult. This gives us a chance to talk through your concerns, learn about your dog’s history, and explain how training would work for your specific situation. From there, we’ll recommend private lessons, board and train, or group sessions and outline next steps clearly.
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Most families see improved focus, clearer communication, and better behavior in everyday situations like walking on leash, greeting guests, or listening around distractions. Progress depends on the dog, consistency at home, and the goals you’re working toward. During your consult, we’ll set realistic expectations and talk through what success looks like for you.
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Private lessons take place where training matters most. This often includes your home, neighborhood walks, or real-world public settings like parks, sidewalks, or pet-friendly areas. Training in these environments helps dogs learn skills they can actually use in daily life. While Winston-Salem is our home base, we regularly work with families in Clemmons, Lewisville, Advance, Pfafftown, and nearby communities.
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Working with us is structured, supportive, and personalized from day one. We start with a consultation to understand your dog and your goals, then create a clear plan tailored to your home and lifestyle. You’ll receive honest feedback, practical coaching, and step-by-step guidance so you feel confident leading your dog and maintaining lasting results.
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Yes. Abigail is an official AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator. Many therapy dog programs, advanced training paths, and some housing situations require CGC certification. We prepare dogs through private lessons, board and train, or group sessions before scheduling the official evaluation.
How it works
1. Reach out
Fill out this contact form to get the conversation started. We will follow up to schedule a short phone consultation.
2. Phone consultation
We’ll talk through your dog, your goals, and answer any questions to make sure we’re a good fit.
3. Get started
If it’s a good match, we’ll send next steps, including an intake form and scheduling details.
