FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We serve much of Northern Virginia, including Alexandria, Springfield, Lorton, Annandale, Falls Church, Arlington, and parts of Fairfax. If you are not sure whether you are in our service area, please email us and we’ll let you know. We also offer sessions at Brianna’s home in Mount Vernon, as well as hands on virtual training.(/virtualtraining)

We use LIMA ((https://www.ccpdt.org/about-us/least-intrusive-minimally-aversive-lima-effective-behavior-intervention-policy/#:~:text=What%20Is%20LIMA%3F,training%20or%20behavior%20change%20objective.)Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) and balanced dog training based methods. (https://connectwithyourk9.com/what-is-balanced-dog-training/) This means, our goal is always centered around showing the dog what we'd like them to do in leu of correcting behavior. With that said, we do believe in "no", boundaries and use a spectrum of safe training tools that are tailored to the dog, their family and their environment. You can check our services (https://www.packleaderhelp.com/services)to learn a bit more about us!

Private lessons start at $150/hr, virtual training at $125/hr, and our Immersion Program is $2,999 with payment plans available. Full details on our Pricing page.(https://www.packleaderhelp.com/pricing) ​

Most of our clients and their dogs have been to other trainers. In fact, we are often the last hope for owners and their dogs. Unlike other training approaches that only focus on the symptoms (reactivity, leash pulling, aggression etc), we focus on the human-dog relationship at home and work to change the dog’s emotional state– how they view the world. Emotions dictates behavior and when we focus on teaching the owners to communicate fairly, that's when we see happy and well behaved dogs. We are considered dog behaviorist or behavior based dog trainers.

We primarily offer In-home behavior & training (https://www.packleaderhelp.com/immersionprogram)which occurs in your home environment. This includes reactive dog training, puppy training, dog group classes and more! We also offer our flagship In-Home Immersion program,(https://www.packleaderhelp.com/immersionprogram) In-home training, virtual training, group classes and socializations, day training with more details found here - https://www.packleaderhelp.com/services(https://www.packleaderhelp.com/services)

Yes and yes. We work with any behavioral issue including dog reactivity, dog aggression, and any new puppy owner trying to build a solid foundation and relationship. Regardless if your dog has bitten before, we empower owners with the tools and knowledge to create the well behaved and happy dog they've always wanted.

These are recommendations based off other clients using them. We cannot vet every person that may offer boarding. Please do not ask us to find boarding for your dog. ​ 1. Fetch! Alexandria (https://www.fetchpetcare.com/alexandria) 2. Contacting a Rover (http://rover.com/)boarder and interviewing them 3. All Friends Pet Care (http://allfriendspetcare.com/) 4. Offcollar Pet Care Please note we are not responsible for any boarding facility listed. Please do your own due diligence in researching a boarding option for your dog.

Yes! Please head to https://www.packleaderhelp.com/training-tools(https://www.packleaderhelp.com/training-tools)

In-home training (https://www.packleaderhelp.com/rehabilitation-and-training)happens right in your home on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. It’s designed for obedience work, leash manners, and moderate behavior challenges. You’ll get hands-on coaching as you practice communication and structure with your dog in real-life situations. The Immersion Program (https://www.packleaderhelp.com/immersionprogram)is a more concentrated option that still takes place in your home but over several weeks with a higher level of intensity and support. It’s best for dogs struggling with anxiety, reactivity, or more complex behavior issues that need consistent structure and accountability between sessions. Every Immersion (https://www.packleaderhelp.com/immersionprogram)client receives lifetime follow-up support and free group classes for life, so you always have ongoing guidance as your dog continues to grow and maintain progress.

Many clients see progress after the first session, but long-term change depends on your consistency and follow-through. Behavior modification isn’t a quick fix, it’s a process that builds trust, clarity, and calm leadership.

Most reactive dogs are not trying to be aggressive. In many cases they are overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure how to handle the situation when they see another dog or person. When the environment gets too stimulating and the dog does not have the skills to stay regulated, the reaction shows up as barking, lunging, or pulling on leash. In Northern Virginia especially, dogs are often walking through busy neighborhoods, narrow sidewalks, and constant dog traffic. That combination can make reactivity show up quickly, even in dogs that behave well at home. At Pack Leader Help,(/services) reactive dog training focuses on helping dogs learn how to stay calmer and more responsive when triggers appear. The goal is not just to stop the reaction in the moment, but to help the dog develop better coping skills so walks feel more manageable for both the dog and the owner.

A dog trainer is typically a good fit for teaching basic skills like sit, leash manners, or recall. But when a dog is showing deeper behavior issues such as reactivity, aggression, anxiety, or unpredictable behavior around people or other dogs, it is often time to work with someone who specializes in behavior. Behavior problems usually do not come from a lack of obedience. They come from how a dog is processing stress, triggers, and the environment around them. Simply teaching commands does not always address the root of the issue. This is one reason many dogs return home from traditional board and train programs looking obedient in a controlled setting but struggling again once they are back in their normal environment. At Pack Leader Help,(/home) behavior work focuses on helping both the dog and the owner understand what is actually driving the behavior. Instead of removing the dog from their environment for weeks, we work directly with the you and your dog in the real situations where the behavior is happening. That allows us to address the underlying patterns and build skills that last once the dog returns to everyday life.