Training for Dogs With Aggression, Anxiety, Reactivity
Jonathan Wong, dog trainer in the East Bay specializes in complex cases
Jonathan's number one priority is human safety above all else. Babies, children, and the elderly are especially at risk if you have a human aggressive dog at home. It is not a question of IF but WHEN you should start training your dog, and the answer is ASAP.
If your dog exhibits these behaviors:
- Aggression towards people, dogs, small animals
- Environmental fears
- Fear of strangers or objects
- Generalized fear or anxiety
- Handling sensitivity to touch, petting, grooming, vet procedures
- Leash reactivity
- Noise phobias, noise sensitivity
- Recovery from trauma
- Resource guarding/possessive aggression
- Under-socialization
You must have your dog on a leash when Jonathan arrives. Yes, we have had cases where the dog broke a staircase banister off the wall to charge and say hello to Jonathan. Yes, we have had cases where the dog actually ran out of the gate forever lost because it was never properly secured. So please, secure your dog prior to Jonathan's arrival. He will also fit your dog for a properly sized muzzle if needed and introduce you to proper equipment to ensure your dog's safety.
In the meantime, you can:
- Schedule a vet check to rule out pain. Some behaviors stem from an inflamed gut, leaving your dog feeling terrible
- Keep everyone safe with leashes, gates, and a separate space.
- Have a crate and indoor management plan
Next Step: Call Jonathan for a Free 15-minute Phone Call & Schedule Training Evaluation
After an initial phone screening, there will be a 90-minute in-home evaluation to be paid upon completion starting at $220. From there, private dog training packages are to be paid in full upon the first training session. The hourly rate is $180 and up, pending the level of aggression and distance travelled to your home. Every situation is unique, and Jonathan will base his estimate on the severity of your situation.
Jonathan can address the following during training:
- Basic obedience training
- Behavior modification training
- Crate training
- Walking properly on a leash
- Public access training and off leash training in public settings
- Focus work (distraction training)
- Territorial behaviors
- Anxiety, separation anxiety
- Pre-baby preparation
Optional: E-Collar Training - Learn to Utilize the "Invisible Leash"
For those who are interested in e-collar training, Jonathan can teach you in four 1-hour training sessions once your dog passes basic obedience training.
- Reinforce behaviors your dog already knows
- Get control of your dog when it's aroused in the presence of other animals or people
- Recall your dog from a distance
- Drop it command from a distance while out on a walk.
- Move your dog away from a tricky or dangerous situation.
- Place command from a distance amidst high distractions
Customer Who Had Aggressive Dog Review
Check out the review below about Jonathan's work with an aggression case.
"Jonathan literally saved our dog's life and saved us from having to put our dog down. Jonathan taught us how to handle and train our Belgian Malinois because we did not know how to handle her and she was becoming very aggressive with our older German shepherd...It got so bad that they couldn't be in the same room together. We were at our wits end when we contacted Jonathan and he came and talked to us and did the evaluation and we signed up for an 8 week training program. During those 8 weeks he really trained us on the fundamentals of dog training and how to be better dog owners...We chose to continue onto the e-collar courses in addition to the 8 week training program, which was a game changer. We appreciated Jonathan's candor and feedback throughout our time with him. Thanks to Pack Leader Dog Training our house is well-managed and full of happy pups!" - Lena S., Castro Valley, CA
Optional: Three Week Board & Train Program
Jonathan's philosophy to board-and-train programs is that they require owners to really put in the hard work of go-home lessons once the three week program draws to a close because otherwise, your dog will become his dog in the sense that the authority will not transfer if you do not implement the training at home. Here is the run-down of the three-week board & train program at Pack Leader Dog Training Headquarters.
- Personalized, in-home training led by Jonathan; not a kennel facility, so your dog learns in a real living environment
- One-on-one training sessions throughout each day
- Structured daily routine covering obedience, leash manners, boundaries, and impulse control
- Ongoing communication with photo and video updates throughout your dog's stay
- Go-home lessons post board & train so the training transfers home with you, not just with the dog
- Follow-up support after board and train ends to reinforce long-term success
Puppy Training
Equipping You for Successful Ownership
- Crate Training
- Potty Training
- Socialization to noises, objects, and people
- Desensitization to being handled and touched
- Leash manners
- Addressing mouthiness or chewing
- Address any jumping issues
- Name recognition
- Basic obedience: heel, sit, down, and recall
- Focus and impulse control
- Address barking
Dog Boarding
Let your dog stay in a quiet, structured, and relaxing home environment while you travel
- For previous and existing dog training clients, we offer professional dog boarding.
- A mandatory trial run of a three day, two night stay are required to qualify to board with us.
- We provide individual crates, outdoor commercial kennels, daily walks in the neighborhood, supervised individual free time in the living room, and training sessions.
- Dogs do not interact with other dogs in order to prevent negative outcomes.
- For an additional fee, we can accommodate special diets and can administer medication.
- Must be crate trained, up-to-date on all vaccines and in good health
FAQ
Please reach us at jonathan@bayareapackleader.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Jonathan will hear your case during the free 15-minute phone screening. If you both agree to move forward with next steps, there will be a 90-minute in-home evaluation to be paid upon completion by cash, check, debit card or credit card starting at $220 by cash, check, debit card or credit card. From there, private basic obedience training come in either 4- or 6 session package is $720 or $1,080, respectively. That is $180 per session. Final cost pending the complexity and distance travelled to your home.
Jonathan's number one priority is human safety above all else. Babies, children, and the elderly are especially at risk if you have a human aggressive dog at home. If you both agree to move forward with next steps, there will be a 90-minute in-home evaluation to be paid upon completion starting at $220. From there, private dog training packages are to be paid in full upon the first training session. The hourly rate is $180 and up, pending the level of aggression and distance travelled to your home.
You must have your dog on a leash when Jonathan arrives. Yes, we have had cases where the dog broke a staircase banister off the wall to charge and say hello to Jonathan. Yes, we have had cases where the dog actually ran out of the gate forever lost because it was never properly secured. So please, secure your dog prior to Jonathan's arrival. He will also fit your dog for a properly sized muzzle if needed and introduce you to proper equipment to ensure your dog's safety.
Listen, if you already have a dog with excellent basic obedience and you would like to take dog training a step further, Jonathan can train you on using a remote collar in just four sessions. Once you master the e-collar, you will experience a whole new level of dog ownership. The cost is $180 per session for a package of four sessions. If you do the math, that's $720. That's the equivalent of two Costco trips (or 480 Costco hot dogs).
The BEST outcome for your family is to train you on how to address problematic behavior by doing the slow and unglamorous work of disciplined dog training with a professional trainer. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. We will consider board-and-train if the case is compelling enough to warrant that route, with the caveat that follow-up lessons are a must-have to continue the dog's behavior at your home, starting price $4,000 for about 21 days, which includes 2 to 4 mile structured walks per day.
The most affordable option for owners of puppies 4 months and up is to sign up for group classes at either Pet Food Express Albany or Pinole. Jonathan can effectively handle up to three dogs per class, so sign up fast. First come, first serve basis. $300 for four 1-hour weekly sessions. However, if your dog is aggressive, you will need private in-home training.
There really isn't any place quite like Pack Leader Training HQ. Your dog basically lives with Jonathan's family and receives care and attention from the comfort of a cozy living room, plus walks every day. Your dog will never interact with any other dogs because we believe that an ounce of prevention is more than a pound of cure. In order to be considered for this service, you must be a past or current client, your dog must be crate trained and up to date on all vaccines, not be actively ill, and pass a 3 day, 2 night boarding evaluation. Each stay is $85 per night. For holidays, the price is $100 per night.
At the heart of dog ownership is trust. Jonathan's rule of thumb is that dog training is about 90% owner training and 10% mechanics. Start with a vet check to rule out pain or medical triggers. From there, Jonathan can identify the underlying causes of aggression and anxiety during an in-person evaluation and build a plan around them. Jonathan has the reputation, for better or worse, of handling dogs that other trainers have walked away from. His methodology combines technical training, the ability to read dog body language within seconds, and a tailored plan for your family, with email and text recaps afterward. That's what you can expect from Jonathan.
Contact Jonathan 415-706-7188 today.
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