Wilder Wags

Wilder Wags Canine behavior consulting and training based in SW VA. Philosophy. No force, no fear, no intimidation, no domination. That pretty much sums it up. It should be!

I believe that at their core, all dogs and humans are good. That people want to do what is ethical and right, and that they want to treat their dogs with trust, dignity, and respect. Unfortunately, a lot of what we see in the mainstream media about dog training is geared toward making owners think that they have to force, coerce, or intimidate (aka “dominate”) their dogs in order to manage their d

og’s behavior and establish themselves as the “pack leader.”
I don’t think so, and neither does modern behavioral science. Time and again, aversive-style training has been shown to have detrimental effects on dogs’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being. What’s more: science has also proven that these methods are not necessary, and, in fact, inhibit the learning process, which can be better facilitated by creating an environment where dogs feel supported by their humans. As an obedience trainer and a behavior consultant, I believe that we should set up constructive learning opportunities for our dogs that mimic those we would want for ourselves. Think about the way in which you would like to be treated when learning a new skill, and ask yourself critically: is that how I’m working with my dog? Dogs learn best when their humans become their teammates and advocates. When humans strive to understand their dogs’ individual personalities: what they love, what they hate, what excites them, and what scares them. It is my distinct pleasure to help dog-human teams not only perform to the highest standard, but live happy and harmonious lives together.

Happy 4th birthday, Lola. We can’t wait to see what wild adventures await this year. ♥️
05/01/2026

Happy 4th birthday, Lola. We can’t wait to see what wild adventures await this year. ♥️

Rainy days make for good days to stay inside and work on grooming skills ✂️
04/29/2026

Rainy days make for good days to stay inside and work on grooming skills ✂️

Holly is working on all of her good puppy skills with Bobbie. She’s also working on this charming “plz give me treats fo...
04/03/2026

Holly is working on all of her good puppy skills with Bobbie. She’s also working on this charming “plz give me treats for free” smile.

As behavior consultants specializing in fear + aggression, it’s not every day that the dogs we meet are happy to see us....
03/05/2026

As behavior consultants specializing in fear + aggression, it’s not every day that the dogs we meet are happy to see us. But Luca smiled this very happy smile throughout the entire duration of our training session today. We felt the same, dude. 🫶🏻

your mom says we’re not fetching because the yard is a huge mud pit, but you go ahead and bring all of the balls anywa...
02/19/2026

your mom says we’re not fetching because the yard is a huge mud pit, but you go ahead and bring all of the balls anyway because who knows, she might come to her senses when she sees your sad eyes.

Oscar led me on a tour of alllllll the neighborhood Little Free Libraries — because people leave dog treats in them. He ...
02/12/2026

Oscar led me on a tour of alllllll the neighborhood Little Free Libraries — because people leave dog treats in them. He says you should always make sure you’re adequately refueling when you exercise.

Personally, I’m kinda tired of playing frozen fetch. But I guess they aren’t. 🤷🏼‍♀️
02/05/2026

Personally, I’m kinda tired of playing frozen fetch. But I guess they aren’t. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Happy gotcha day to Jemma! We’re celebrating 12 years together today, which makes her, by our best approximations, about...
02/01/2026

Happy gotcha day to Jemma! We’re celebrating 12 years together today, which makes her, by our best approximations, about 14 years old.
We’re definitely in our senior years now — lots of sunny naps, car rides, and snacks just-because. But Jemma still enjoys a good romp in the yard with Ollie, and she’s always ready to go when the leash comes out.
This dog is one of the most precious things in my life — she has been since the day we met.
Thanks for being my ride or die, Beeps. I’m grateful for every day with you. ♥️♥️♥️

Hawthorn did Very Good Boy Stuff ™️ on our socialization outing to a pet-friendly retail store. For young puppies, our g...
01/14/2026

Hawthorn did Very Good Boy Stuff ™️ on our socialization outing to a pet-friendly retail store. For young puppies, our goal is to maintain the connection between human + puppy despite distractions. This is such an important foundation skill, best built early, and refined slowly over time with increasing complexity.

Happy second birthday, Leo! There hasn’t been a dull moment around here since you came into our lives last spring… and w...
01/11/2026

Happy second birthday, Leo! There hasn’t been a dull moment around here since you came into our lives last spring… and we wouldn’t have it any other way. ♥️

I’m a sucker for a boxer. But two of them?! What can I say? 🤩
01/05/2026

I’m a sucker for a boxer. But two of them?! What can I say? 🤩

Address

Roanoke, NC
24018

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+19192659483

Website

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