CPDT-KA Certified
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
AKC CGC Evaluator
American Kennel Club
4.9 ★ Average
Across 312 client reviews
LIMA Practitioner
Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive
Fear Free Certified
Fear Free Professionals
Your Dog Isn't Bad.
Your Dog Is Untrained.
2,100+ dogs trained across 8 years. Average behavior-improvement rating: 8.7/10.
2,100+
Dogs Trained
8 yrs
In Practice
98%
Completion Rate
Nothing is assumed.
Everything is observed.
The estimate visit is a 60-minute structured assessment — not a sales call. Before a single training recommendation is made, here is exactly what happens inside your home.
What the trainer observes
- Entry ritual — how your dog greets you at the door
- Threshold behavior around windows and gates
- Leash pressure response on a 3-minute walk
- Food motivation level and toy drive
- Body language during novel stimuli introduction
Questions we ask
- When did the behavior start, and what changed around then?
- What has been tried — and what briefly worked?
- Who in the household is most affected?
- What does a successful day look like to you?
- Are there specific triggers you can reliably predict?
What gets written down
- Baseline behavioral scores across 6 dimensions
- Environmental stressors and management gaps
- Owner consistency rating (no judgment — just data)
- Recommended session frequency and format
- Estimated timeline to training goals
"She spent 40 minutes just watching Mango before she said a single word about training. I knew immediately this was different."— Priya M., Austin TX · Leash-reactive shepherd mix
Three phases.
One dog, transformed.
Every plan is written specifically for your dog and your household. The phase names are consistent; the content inside them is not.
Foundation
Establishing the communication channel
Before any behavior is addressed, your dog learns that you are worth paying attention to. Marker training, name recognition, and impulse-control basics are built here. Sessions happen in low-distraction environments — your living room, your backyard.
Phase Outcomes
- Reliable sit, down, and stay at home
- Name recognition with 90% response rate
- Marker word (or clicker) fully charged
- Handler reads dog's stress signals accurately
Threshold Work
Changing the emotional response
The dog's specific triggers are introduced systematically at sub-threshold intensity — far enough away that the dog notices but doesn't react. Counter-conditioning replaces the stress response with a neutral or positive one. This is where leash reactivity, door guarding, and separation anxiety are directly addressed.
Phase Outcomes
- Dog can observe trigger without fixating
- Leash pressure response reduced measurably
- Door routine established with 3-second wait
- Owner can predict and prevent 80% of incidents
Real-World Proofing
Generalizing to every environment
Skills built at home mean nothing if they collapse at the farmers market. Proofing sessions happen in hardware stores, pet supply aisles, busy sidewalks, and wherever your dog specifically struggles. Distractions are increased incrementally until the behavior is reliable without treats in your hand.
Phase Outcomes
- Loose-leash walking past strollers and dogs
- Calm behavior in 3+ novel environments
- Reliable recall with 20-foot distance
- Owner maintains skills independently
"By week six, Marcus was walking past the dog park without lunging. I cried. I actually cried at a sidewalk."— David T., Portland OR · German Shepherd, severe leash reactivity
Not testimonials.
Documented outcomes.
Every client receives a baseline scorecard at intake and a closing scorecard at program completion. These are three of them, unedited.
Biscuit
Goldendoodle, 14 months · Jennifer & Tom W.
9
Sessions
10
Weeks
+7
Avg Gain
Presenting issue: Destructive chewing, jumping, no impulse control
Behavioral Scorecard — Before → After (10-point scale)
“We were on our third set of baseboards. The landlord had given us 30 days.”
— Jennifer & Tom W.
Pepper
Border Collie mix, 3 years · Robert & Carol S.
11
Sessions
12
Weeks
+6.2
Avg Gain
Presenting issue: Pulling on leash, balance risk for senior handler
Behavioral Scorecard — Before → After (10-point scale)
“My doctor told me I'd have to rehome her if the pulling didn't stop. That wasn't an option.”
— Robert & Carol S.
Remy
Rescue shepherd, 2 years · Aaliyah C.
10
Sessions
9
Weeks
+6.4
Avg Gain
Presenting issue: Door guarding, barking at 6am, separation anxiety
Behavioral Scorecard — Before → After (10-point scale)
“My neighbors left a note. I was mortified. Eight weeks later, Remy is a different dog.”
— Aaliyah C.
+6.2 pts
Average improvement across all behaviors
94%
Clients who complete all three phases
98%
Would recommend to another owner
From clients
“The farmers market walk was week nine. Zero corrections. I had to remind myself she was still my dog.”
Keisha B.
Rescue shepherd, Chicago
“Three trainers before Heel. None of them asked why. She asked why first.”
Michael T.
Anxious golden, Seattle
“Landlord renewed our lease. That is all I need to say.”
Danielle R.
Barking terrier mix, Austin
“I'm 68 and walk Pepper for an hour every morning now. Without fear.”
Robert S.
Border Collie mix, Nashville
“She showed me the scorecard on day one and again on day 63. The difference made me cry.”
Priya M.
Shepherd mix, Austin
“The process section on the website was the reason I called. I knew exactly what I was getting.”
Tom W.
Goldendoodle, Denver
“The farmers market walk was week nine. Zero corrections. I had to remind myself she was still my dog.”
Keisha B.
Rescue shepherd, Chicago
“Three trainers before Heel. None of them asked why. She asked why first.”
Michael T.
Anxious golden, Seattle
“Landlord renewed our lease. That is all I need to say.”
Danielle R.
Barking terrier mix, Austin
“I'm 68 and walk Pepper for an hour every morning now. Without fear.”
Robert S.
Border Collie mix, Nashville
“She showed me the scorecard on day one and again on day 63. The difference made me cry.”
Priya M.
Shepherd mix, Austin
“The process section on the website was the reason I called. I knew exactly what I was getting.”
Tom W.
Goldendoodle, Denver
The obvious next step
Ready to find out
what your dog is capable of?
The estimate is free. The 60-minute visit costs you nothing. What you walk away with is a clear picture of your dog's behavior, a written baseline scorecard, and a proposed training plan — whether you book sessions or not.
"The calmest handler I have ever watched work."
— Veterinary behaviorist referral note