Pack Leader Help: Dog Training & Behavior

Pack Leader Help: Dog Training & Behavior We rehabilitate dogs and train people. Any breed, any age, any behavior.

05/26/2026

1. Curiosity
2. Clear instructions that are REALISTIC
3. Crazy good hair

When Iris started to get closer to 8 (around 3 years ago) she reacted to a dog in a way she never had. She was not the c...
05/04/2026

When Iris started to get closer to 8 (around 3 years ago) she reacted to a dog in a way she never had. She was not the calm collected dog I had relied on for her entire life. She was the dog who ignored and managed even the most aggressive dogs. But this time was very different. She went back to fight the dog who was aggressive with her and she wasn’t goin to back down. It’s totally understandable, she was tired of aggressive dogs and she had earned every right to be left alone ( not that a dog needs to earn that right). She put in countless hours rehabilitating the most aggressive dogs the DMV had to offer. She ignored and forgave even the most intense behaviors and reactions. She is and was the ultimate teacher, the best playmate the grounded but goofy dog that everyone in the yard respected.

I had a tough time letting Iris retire. It was a selfish, I know. I needed her because she knew the dogs better than I did and I relied on her instincts to guide me in the best possible way. I knew I’d miss her by my side during socialization sessions and group classes. I had to let go of the chapter of life that was the best. Long days with my best friend by my side. I am so fu***ng lucky to have had so many wonderful working years with her. God, I wish I could go back and be so much gentler with her and many other dogs. She deserved better but she never held my mistakes against me. She’s incredibly forgiving even when it’s undeserved.

What I learned as I saw her responses increases, her alert barking starter, and overall emotional regulation decreased was a dog in more pain and needed more support. At first I was frustrated. Why was she pulling on the leash when she knew better? Why wasn’t she listening as well anymore? Age and life do that to us. She wasn’t emotionally regulating as well due to being more tired, more sore and sick of the stress of work. She needed me to adjust.

As she’s gotten older, her pain due to TPLO surgeries and arthritis has gotten worse but she is still chipper and lively. Always looking for a job, engagement, a hike some fun snack to be had. She will only be around the nicest dogs, the friendliest of puppies.

Listen to your dogs more.

Tools are sometimes necessary, they are helpful, they make life and training significantly easier, but they don’t do the...
03/25/2026

Tools are sometimes necessary, they are helpful, they make life and training significantly easier, but they don’t do the work of training and they never will.

Sometimes when we introduce a new training tool, it can feel like the dogs suddenly understand so much and the tool has fixed a behavior, but that’s not what’s happening and things won’t improve or have lasting positive behavior consequences by relying on a tool to do the work of consistency and clarity.

You should be able to use a multitude of tools and have them work well with your dog. When you chalk everything up to a training tool, you really give up so much of the power and influence you have on your dog’s behavior and it makes it easier to not do the active training required.

It’s not the gentle leader, treats, prong collar, harness ecollar etc- it’s the clarity you provide to an animal that speaks another language. If you chalk things up to a tool, you’re missing out on the incredible influence you can and will have on how your dog feels and behaves.

Over the past 12 years I’ve fine tuned 3 small things that go SUCH a long way in managing reactive dogs. Will this fix ...
03/06/2026

Over the past 12 years I’ve fine tuned 3 small things that go SUCH a long way in managing reactive dogs.

Will this fix reactivity? Probably not but it can absolutely be a massive piece to the reactivity puzzle.

If we can’t communicate properly, under intense distraction and within high arousal moments, we can’t help our reactive dogs.

Do you use any of these?🤔

02/02/2026

I want to be clear, other jobs are much more dangerous and get paid less- it shouldn’t be that way.

If one session can make or beak my entire life, show some respect and kindness and own up to what the reality of your dog’s behavior is. If they redirect, if they growl, if they lunge at ANYTHING. Your dog should be muzzled and physically managed and people at your home or interacting deserve to know that so they can make an informed decision.

Most people do this and are incredible, but problem behaviors are only getting more intense and it can be life or death with human aggressive dogs.

When clients ask, “ I feel overwhelmed, and I don’t know what to start with for how to help my dog.” I always will stop ...
12/09/2025

When clients ask, “ I feel overwhelmed, and I don’t know what to start with for how to help my dog.” I always will stop these four things in this order.

Of course there are times where we need to change the order of things to help manage or keep both human and dog under threshold, but in general, this is the approach I take.

1. Communication
2. Management and fulfillment
3. Training

11/14/2025

Is your dog hungry all the time?Are they reactive and aggressive? These things might be linked!

11/03/2025

🚨🚨This Saturday’s group class is a special one because ALL the proceeds go to ALIVE! The largest Alexandria’s largest organization preventing food and housing insecurity.

I’m also opening this up to non PLH clients - anyone with a friendly non aggressive dog who has leash control over them are welcome to sign up and attend.

I want to make this my biggest group class yet to help the families in need in the area. Alexandria VA has been hit the hardest due to government layoffs and overall pessimism about trump’s economy.

I know it’s small but it’s one way we can give back and show care for those in need around us. Please share this as many people as you can ❤️❤️

I wish I had the numbers of how many times a client has said “I never saw this behavior the first month”That’s because y...
10/28/2025

I wish I had the numbers of how many times a client has said “I never saw this behavior the first month”

That’s because you won’t. It takes time, usually months, for true behaviors to show- partially reactivity and aggression. Most dogs from shelters are so overwhelmed and shutdown or exhausted. Before you start taking that dog out and about, meeting new dogs people and new environments, spend the first month or two getting to know them, developing a relationship and for god sakes, hire a trainer 😭

So many preventable bites and additional trauma can be avoided. You don’t know that dog yet but you will. It just takes time.

Iris’ grumpy ass face🤪 man, I love our Sunday hikes. Phones off, long beautiful drive, my favorite places in Loudoun Cou...
10/27/2025

Iris’ grumpy ass face🤪 man, I love our Sunday hikes. Phones off, long beautiful drive, my favorite places in Loudoun County, VA and the most relaxing walk imaginable with my happy girl.

There are plenty of other posts about this but I’d like to throw my hat in the ring.

GET OUTSIDE WITH YOUR DOG. Find areas where they can run off leash, use Sniffspot, Ecollar train your dog for off leash.

I personally believe every dog would choose to leave how to respond to the e-collar if it meant they could be off leash more.

Dogs aren’t meant to live a life of stuck behind walls or small 10x10 yards. They need fulfillment, just like us which means when and where you can get your self and your dog outside.

For those who are physically incapable, that’s why something like a Sniffspot is a good option so you can sit and observe and may not be able to physically interact. Or work with a trainer who can help achieve more physical off leash control for you.

We all need more vitamin D but our dogs definitely need more opportunities to run at full speed and sniff like crazy in nature.

There’s so many ways to tackle this but here’s a simple plan to get started now. You’ve got a month until Thanksgiving t...
10/19/2025

There’s so many ways to tackle this but here’s a simple plan to get started now. You’ve got a month until Thanksgiving there’s a lot you can accomplish between now and then.

What are you working on with your dog?

Address

Alexandria, VA
22309

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm

Telephone

+15715703395

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