Garrison City Dog Training
Dog Training in Portland, ME & Surrounding Areas

A dog you can take anywhere.

Real-world obedience trained in your home and neighborhood, where the behavior actually happens. From everyday manners to protection, scent work and service dog training — with Julian coaching you every session.

Book My Free Evaluation →(857) 858-6506

Free in-home evaluation · Portland, ME & surrounding areas

54+
Five-Star Reviews
In-Home
Training & Evaluations
Service Dogs
Protection & Scent Work
Portland, ME
& Surrounding Areas
Julian Hawkes coaching a client as she handles her own dog on leash
Why Garrison City

Training that goes past basic obedience — and stays with you.

Most trainers stop at sit and stay. Julian goes well past it: protection work, scent detection and service dog preparation, on top of solid everyday obedience. He trains in your home and neighborhood, where the problems actually show up, and he coaches you every session. The goal is your dog listening to you, not to a trainer.

  • Obedience that holds up in real life
  • Protection & scent work for suited dogs
  • Service dog preparation
  • Training in your home and neighborhood
  • Owner coaching every session
  • Every program run by Julian personally
Book My Free Evaluation →
Common Challenges

Tired of feeling frustrated or embarrassed by your dog's behavior?

You've tried the videos, the classes, the advice from friends. Nothing sticks. Most dogs don't need more commands — they need clear, calm leadership.

Jumping

Guests barely make it through the door before paws hit their chest. You spend every visit apologizing and holding your dog back.

Leash pulling

Every walk is a tug-of-war. You brace before the door opens — and you've started skipping walks altogether.

Door dashing

The front door opens and your dog is gone. Bringing in groceries shouldn't mean choosing between the bags and a chase down the street.

Counter surfing

Dinner disappears the moment you turn your back. Nothing on the kitchen counter feels safe, and you're tired of guarding every plate.

Separation issues

Howling, pacing, accidents, destruction. Leaving means guilt; coming home means damage.

Reactivity, aggression and biting

Lunging, growling, snapping. You cross the street, avoid visitors and quietly worry about what could happen next.

Tell us what you're dealing with →Takes about 60 seconds. No obligation.
Our Programs

A program built for your dog. Not a checklist.

Every plan starts with an evaluation — in your home or virtually. Your evaluation is free — a $100 service, at no cost. Every program is run by Julian personally.

Two handlers working a yellow Lab under red maples
Our Flagship

Expert Dog Training

Customized in-home obedience and behavior work, built around your dog and your household.

Customized in-home obedience and behavior work. Julian trains where the behavior happens — your home, your street, your neighborhood — and coaches you through every session so your dog listens to you, not just to a trainer. He handles aggression, biting and reactivity, and offers protection and scent training for dogs suited to it.

  • Obedience and everyday manners
  • Aggression, biting and reactivity
  • Protection and scent training for suited dogs
Book My Free EvaluationProgram details →

Service Dog Training

From candidate evaluation through task training and public access.

  • Candidate evaluation
  • Task training and public access
  • Handler coaching
Program details →

Client Group Sessions

Structured work around other dogs and real distractions.

  • Controlled socialization
  • Distraction proofing
  • Skill maintenance
Program details →

Lifetime Support

Refreshers and direct access to Julian for the life of your dog.

  • Refreshers when you need them
  • Direct trainer access
  • Guidance through every life stage
Program details →
Support That Continues

The sessions finish. Julian doesn't disappear.

Training only works if it holds up over time. Garrison City clients keep working with Julian through group sessions and lifetime support.

Client group sessions

Structured work around other dogs and real distractions — controlled socialization, distraction proofing and skill maintenance.

Lifetime support

Refreshers and direct access to Julian for the life of your dog.

The same trainer, start to finish

Every program is run by Julian personally, so the person who knows your dog is the one you keep working with.

Our Method

Train where it happens. Coach the owner. Make it hold up.

A dog that behaves in a training facility and falls apart at your front door isn't trained. Julian works in your home and neighborhood, where the behavior actually happens, and coaches you every session so you can handle your own dog.

Training happens in your home and around your neighborhood. Evaluations are available in-home or virtually.
Book Your Free Evaluation →
Julian Hawkes kneeling beside a dog on a leaf-covered path
How it works
  1. 1

    Take the 60-second evaluation quiz

    Tell us about your dog, what you're dealing with and what you've tried.

  2. 2

    Book your free evaluation

    In your home or virtually. It's a $100 service, provided at no cost, with no obligation.

  3. 3

    Get a plan built for the real problem

    Julian trains in your home and neighborhood and coaches you every session, so the results stay with you.

Real Results

What our dog owners are saying.

Meet Julian Hawkes

One trainer. Every session. Well past the basics.

I'm Julian Hawkes, founder of Garrison City Dog Training in Portland, Maine. I train in your home and neighborhood, I go well past basic obedience, and I coach you every session — because the goal is a dog that listens to you, not to me.

"Your dog listening to you, not to a trainer."

Work With Julian →Read Julian's story →
Julian Hawkes training a tricolor dog on a snowy street
FAQ

Questions serious owners ask.

Still unsure? The fastest way to get answers about your specific dog is an evaluation — and yours is free.

Book My Free Evaluation →All questions →

Calm at home. Steady everywhere else.

Take the 60-second quiz and book your evaluation — in your home or virtually. Julian will map out the right program for your dog.

Book My Free Evaluation → Call (857) 858-6506

Your evaluation is free — a $100 service, at no cost. No obligation.