We are so pleased with the training Cris has provided for both Isa and Gus. He has a great knowledge of dog behavior and much patience with training us humans as well, which is the more difficult task. Cris is very methodical and thorough in his teaching, but is also good at simplifying the techniques when appropriate. We had a few specific problem areas that Cris helped us solve, such as waiting by the door before going out and how to use place as a calming technique when guests and visitors are coming to the house. Both dogs are now doing great and we all have a good basic skill sets that we can continue to build upon. Less

We have nothing but gratitude and AMAZING things to say about our experience with Elaine and Lead the Way. Elaine started out by reinforcing the basics, and each week, she gradually built on skills that led to improving Sesame's overall trust and comfort of our leadership and, in turn, minimizing his reactivity to triggers. Elaine's approach was amazing and exactly what we needed; rather than allowing my husband and I to continue to be reactive to negative behaviors, she taught us how to be proactive in reinforcing good behaviors, which ultimately reduced the negative behaviors. Before Lead the Way, we worked really hard to train Sesame the best we could on our own, but he still had deficits that we just could not get under control, and managing these behaviors was proving to be impossible. We would never have thought to approach training the way Elaine did, and her approach trained our whole family to take control of the behaviors in a way we never would have been able to do, even with our best and most diligent efforts. I thought that we were just going to have to live with 10+ more years of Sesame barking and lunging in response to triggers, and this caused me a great deal of stress and anguish. It was exhausting and discouraging to think of living with these behaviors for the rest of his life, as many of his triggers are everyday tasks and sounds which we simply cannot prevent while just living our lives. Since we started training with Lead the Way, everything has changed for the better. We marvel daily at Sesame's improvement- not just with his trigger behaviors, but overall: he is a much more relaxed dog, both at home and out in public. He is much less reactive on walks, and we're equipped to know how to handle him when he does react; even if he does lose his cool, he's able to calm down much more quickly than he ever has. Elaine always put me at ease when I needed reassurance that building on the basics would lead to seeing the outcomes we wanted, and she MORE than delivered. Each step of the way, she was incredibly competent and knowledgeable and has helped us achieve the results we were desperate to see. Now, all of my anxiety and stress over Sesame has melted away, because Elaine has empowered us to take control in areas where we thought it was hopeless. She trained not just Sesame, but my husband and I as well, and we feel so much more empowered and at peace as a result. We can't thank Elaine and Lead the Way enough for the peace of mind that this training has brought us. Less

Incredibly competent, loving, professional, knowledgeable are but a few of the words that describe Elaine and her expertise with training my lovable dog Cooper. She adores challenging breeds like my GSP and it shows in all her actions. I have previously tried other trainers; she is vastly superior to anyone I have experienced. Every training method she has attempted has shown immediate improvement; it is always done with patience and without punishment. Some of her comments, “protect him Larry”, “you are the boss Larry”, “reward him and appreciate what a good dog he is Larry”, “10 feet Larry”, don’t look at him, he’s being a pest Larry”, are but a few of her memorable comments that continue to resonate with me. She clearly does what she does out of love. Thankful beyond words for how Elaine has helped both Cooper and me. Less

Elaine is awesome. We enjoy our dog Olive so much more and we can take her anywhere - and it’s all because of Elaine. She has gone out her way to make time for us despite our busy schedules. Elaine is knowledgeable - high energy - and passionate about dogs. She’s a great educator and is fun to be with! Thank you so much for sending her our way - we would like very much to work with her again in the future! Less

I’d love to share what a positive experience it has been working with our trainer Elaine, from Lead the Way K9 Training. Before committing to the Good Dog training program I was a wreck everyday. I’d end up calling my mom crying on a daily basis because I was feeling so frustrating and helpless with Hank’s reactivity when I’d take him out in public. I had tried to do my research and my own training with him, but my tough work schedule made developing a routine very challenging, and I lacked accountability. I’ll be honest, as a single women in her 20s, and a first time dog mom, the price of any private training that I had looked into intimidated me a lot. However, as an unvaccinated puppy, Hank’s choices as far as training were slim. I decided his training couldn’t be put on the back burner anymore because his reactivity (excessive barking in response to people and dogs around him), was really disrupting my life in a negative way. Training with this program gave me structure and accountability, as well as lots of hope…everything I desperately needed. I cannot speak more highly of our trainer Elaine. Her enthusiasm and passion for what she does is so evident. She is patient and kind, and although the program has a specific structure, she allowed for flexibility within the program in order to meet Hank and I’d needs. She was the perfect fit for us. The summary emails she would send me each week were very helpful because we always covered so much in a single training session. I remember after the first one trying to take notes immediately after the session, because I didn’t want to forget anything-everything she said was pure gold! The next thing I knew she had sent me a very detailed summary of what we had focused on and plans for the upcoming session. Elaine constantly checked in with me each week. She helped me understand how Hank sees the world around him, which helped me better understand his behaviors. Each week I worked with Elaine, I gained more confidence outside of our training sessions, and felt more comfortable incorporating training into Hank’s day to day routines. We miss Elaine a lot already, but the techniques she taught me will continue to be the foundation of Hank’s training as I continue traveling for my travel nursing contracts. Unfortunately, I was only in VA short term, and I was grateful to have just enough time to fit in the 6 weeks of training. I would have loved being able to make it to a group class or pack walk, but we are so grateful for the time we did get with Elaine! I think the biggest perk during Hank’s training was that we could go to different destinations each week, depending on what we wanted to work on. Getting Hank out and exposed to different sights and sounds was key in his progress & success. This was proven when we took a trip to Brooklyn, NY at the completion of his training, and he navigated the streets of NY in a calm, relaxed, and loose-leash manner. It was truly an incredible feeling. I cannot recommend Lead the Way K9 Training enough-I promise you, you will not be disappointed. Less

I brought my 9 month old Sheepadoodle (Max) to Chris Calhoun’s day school 2 years ago, and the tools he taught us have completely transformed our life together. I had a small amount of experience with previous dogs, but found nothing I was doing would work with Max. Chris was so patient and tried over and over again until he found a way through to both of us. We are able to have guests over again, we are able to sit calmly at a coffee shop while other dogs walk in, we sat through the fireworks on the National Mall in DC, and we are able to go to off leash areas with extremely strong recall. All things I thought would not be possible for Max and I before Chris. Thank you so much! Less

I brought my 2 year-old yellow lab, Ophelia, for day school in May. We worked with Cris. He was an absolute wizard of a trainer- pure magic. He seemed to "get" Ophelia from the very beginning, and worked so well with all of her quirks. Ophelia was so excited to arrive at training each time. Cris was also so accommodating to me and my dynamic schedule. I cannot recommend Lead The Way K9 Training enough. Shoutout to Heather for organizing our training and answering all the questions. Less

I am so glad I found Lead the Way K9 Training! I reached out to Heather for some help with my 1 year old doodle, Charlie. Heather is extremely knowledgeable, professional and even helped me during the week outside our lessons when I had questions about training. Charlie is a different dog and I am a more equipped owner. I highly recommend Lead the Way K9 Training and am looking forward to groups classes and walks after Charlie’s program is over to have continued practice and support! Less

We sent our two mini dachshunds to the 4 day/3 week camp with Chris Calhoun and we were very pleased with the training. Even over time our pups can fall in line with what Chris taught them. They also provide adult training on Saturday during the day camp so Chris can show you what your dog is working on. He provides good directions so you can follow through after training. Even after training is over Chris is always there to answer questions. I highly recommend. Less

Veronica and actually all the trainers in Lead the Way K9 training are awesome! I adopted Bruni, a papillon mix, in January 2021 and due to his unlucky past (being abused and became a stray) he had a lot of behavioral issues. This is the first time I have a dog with these issues and I have no idea how to handle him. I got bitten several times, and I could not walk him in public because he would get aggressive and attack people and other dogs, and he barked all the time at home which affected my work, and he had serious guarding issues. He also reacts to everything outside the window and I had to block the window everyday to avoid him breaking the glass (he already destroyed the blinds). I tried to find a personal trainer but it was not a success after two sessions. I was really desperate for help and luckily after contacting Lead the Way training, Veronica agreed to take Bruni for a 3-week Board and Train program. Now I can walk Bruni in the downtown area, bringing him to work and meeting people. My colleagues had I was lying about how Bruni misbehaved because they thought Bruni is the sweetest dog (but I told them Bruni wanted to murder everyone several months ago.) He does not attack the vacuum cleaner when I clean and he does not bark as much. I can finally have the blinds up and see outside without him reacting all the time. He still has a lot of room for improvement, but he is very well-behaved now compared to the Bruni 3 months ago. I highly recommend Lead the Way K9 training to everyone who needs to find a trainer. Some amazing service from them: Veronica took videos and posted them on Facebook every day during the training so that I knew what Bruni was learning. She also met with us one day within the 3-week period so that I can get prepared to learn how to keep up with the training after the 3-week program. She answers text messages frequently and is super patient. Even though the board and train is just 3 weeks, the actual training and guidance continues. I still text Veronica about Bruni's progress and she will come to help us whenever necessary. Lead the Way K9 training offers Group class, pack walks during weekends which are very helpful. They have a client facebook group which is great as a support group. It is very frustrating to have a dog with behavioral issues and Veronica (and other trainers) and also the facebook group give tremendous support which is very encouraging and helpful throughout this training journey. One important thing I realized is that having a reactive dog I need to change my mindset and expectations. Bruni had a very tough life before I got him. Veronica realized that he reacts to shoes (I only knew Bruni was scared of belts, and also some of his teeth were filed down). I need to know that he may never be a "normal dog". I should see more good things that he shows and reward his good behavior (and not taking them for granted), and learn how to catch the right time to reward his good behaviors and correct his bad behavior/ thinking. I also have to keep in mind that he is afraid of other strangers and dogs and have to keep in mind to protect him from what he is scared of by creating space between him and triggers (and putting myself in between) so that he does not have to worry. Before having Bruni, I used to just walk past any dogs or strangers with my other dogs and did not even think about that. It is a life-changing experience and I highly recommend them to everyone who needs help to train their dog! Less

Veronica has been an amazing trainer. From day 1 she was calm, communicative, and extremely knowledgeable when challenged with our incredibly anxious dog. She showed me the difference between anxious and aggressive and the nuances that anxiety brings out in a dog. Veronica has been patient, encouraging, and wise with our training. When issues have arisen, she has alternative methods that have helped us tremendously. I cannot say enough about Veronica! She continues to gain knowledge and experience in her field and I admire that. Thank you so much, Veronica! Less

We adopted Nelson about 11 months ago. He is a GREAT dog, and we were excited about him enjoying life on our small farm. But, he regularly bolted out the door, ran away for hours at a time, and sometimes harassed nearby cows in the field! Heather's patient and knowledgeable approach was what our family needed. Nelson is a changed dog, and we are no longer frustrated or worried he'll be hurt on one of his expeditions. With Heather's help, we learned how to communicate expectations to Nelson in consistent, clear ways. And it's clear that he is happier as a result! I also appreciate the ongoing support that Heather and her team provide us. Nelson and I have participated in Saturday group classes to reinforce what we've learned in our private sessions. Heather is a delight; personable and professional. We're so happy we found Lead the Way K-9 Training! Less

My year old lab just graduated from Lead the Way K9 Training and I couldn't be more pleased. He's learned a good vocabulary for interacting with us and Heather's thoughtful, articulate, detailed instructions, observations, and recommendations were perfect. In addition, Heather takes her job so far beyond simple training and behavior and gave strategies and suggestions for Theo at home and traveling. She was creative and innovative with her lessons so Theo has experienced many, many situations that he'll encounter all his life. We are both so much more confident thanks to Heather. Theo is an 85 lb lab and without this good training I would not be able to take him off my property. Now, I can handle him in interactions with other dogs, in suburban areas, on hikes, and at the dog park. I'm so impressed with how much I've learned, and in turn, been able to teach (and learn from) Theo. I'd recommend Heather to any dog owner of any dog. Less

Lead the Way K9 has allowed me to learn how to understand my dog and how to work through any issues he has had, and continues to help with any new issues that may arise. My dog has gone from an anxiety filled mess, to be able to easily and comfortably walk in public and around strange dogs. He’s now off leash reliable and very obedient. I’ve also been able to use what I’ve learned to apply to my new puppy. I have nothing but great things to say, and would happily recommend them to anyone looking for a dog trainer! The group classes they offer are a great way to practice and continue learning. Less

Hi Heather! Wanted to let u know we took Sir Bigley with us to a LARGE RV show in Tampa Fl today. He was awesome- so well behaved! Thanks to your training! Everyone came up and greeted him and petted him. He was the hit of the show; even posing for pictures. Several admirers named him Best in Show. There were about 20,000 people there so it was a real adventure for him. He’s pooped tonight. So, thanks again! Less

I'm so happy to have had Heather help me with my dog Liberty Belle. When I adopted her from the shelter she expressed her fear through aggression with strangers and other dogs. With Heather's help we were able to introduce her to positive dog-on-dog interactions and she's now able to play at the dog park and meet new people. I would highly recommend Heather to anyone struggling to socialize and acclimate their shelter dog. Less

I'm so happy to have had Heather help me with my dog Liberty Belle. When I adopted her from the shelter she expressed her fear through aggression with strangers and other dogs. With Heather's help we were able to introduce her to positive dog-on-dog interactions and she's now able to play at the dog park and meet new people. I would highly recommend Heather to anyone struggling to socialize and acclimate their shelter dog. Less

We were lucky enough to find Heather when we got Zora as a puppy. Heather is a great trainer and incredible resource. Even before we opted for her “puppy package”, she offered really helpful tips and information about raising our new puppy. On several occasions, both during our training period and afterward, I reached out to Heather asking for her expert advice and she always made herself available. This was not our first time with a puppy or with a training program, but boy did we learn some new tricks thanks to Heather! I love her level headed and informed approach to training. She really knows what she is doing as a dog trainer and, just as important, she is good at teaching humans how to train dogs too. Any lapse in my dog’s behavior is a failure on my part to be consistent with the things Heather taught us. I always recommend Heather when I meet people with puppies- or adult dogs!- who are looking for a good trainer. Less

Heather is a gifted, committed, transformative trainer. We adopted a 7-month old lab mix foster, Gracie, who was totally untrained at adoption and despite our years with many dogs this pup was overwhelming until Heather entered our lives. Heather taught us, taught Gracie, with knowledge and loving discipline. The change in Gracie is so remarkable that at her last vet visit the vet called me to ask who transformed Gracie - we went from Gracie needing canine acupuncture to calm her down to Gracie's most recent vet visit where acupuncture was no longer needed -- and that's a tribute to Heather's training. We've all grown working with Heather and highly recommend her. Less

Heather was amazing with Maverick, our GSP puppy. She gave detailed training sessions at our house with handout instructions to reinforce the teaching. She also met us at off site locations such as the Downtown Mall and Stonefield shopping center to help with socialization. Her attention to the details of dog behavior is impeccable. I wish I had her around when my kids were smaller because a lot of what she said about puppies seems to hold true for toddlers too�. Our family highly recommends Heather- time and money very well spent. Less

Heather is a fantastic trainer and I could not have asked for more. She was flexible, knowledgeable, and attentive to both me and my dog. Truly went above and beyond what she was contracted to do and has helped us achieve all of our training goals with our dog. We went from having a poorly trained Golden Retriever puppy to a dog that we can take in public, on hikes, and even to our wedding. I will absolutely be going back for all of my subsequent dogs and I would recommend Heather to anyone. Less

Fantastic trainer - I could not have asked for more. She was flexible, knowledgeable, and attentive to both me and my dog. Truly went above and beyond what she was contracted to do and has helped us achieve all of our training goals with our dog. We went from having a poorly trained puppy to a dog that we can take in public, on hikes, and even to our wedding. I will absolutely be going back for all of my subsequent dogs and I would recommend to anyone. Less

Heather has been invaluable to us as we got a new puppy for the first time. She was so patient and taught us so much about being good puppy owners! She involved our children in all of the training. Heather gave us confidence in training our puppy, for which I am so thankful! We are enjoying our dog so much thanks to Heather teaching us how to have a well behaved puppy. She was also always so available for any questions we had. We also boarded our puppy with her for a week and she sent us updates on him all week and took such good care of him. I couldn't recommend Heather more!! Less

Heather is such an amazing dog trainer! She worked with my wife's and my Australian Shepherd, Kenan, and was incredibly patient with her! Heather was very clear and direct in her instructions to Kenan and was very hands on with us so that we could learn how to command the obedience of our dog. She made the training fun and exciting, which was perfect for our Aussie. The best decision we ever made for our little puppy was doing the off-leash training with Heather, and I would highly recommend it to anybody. We hardly ever use a leash with Kenan, and it eases so much stress that typically comes with taking a dog out to use the bathroom, playing outside, or going on road trips. Heather also went out of her way to meet with us and made us and our dog feel like a priority at all times! Everyone with a dog should definitely work with Heather! Less

Heather was amazing when my mom and I first got our puppy Conley. She was patient with us and him! She knew how to explain things in such a way where we would think about the messages and signals we were sending Conley, this explaining his reactions to us and his behaviors. She also provides a judgement free zone and works with you and is not pushy at all. She gave us so much comfort and a place to ask questions. Conley is doing really well with us thanks to Heather's great foundational work with him. Her lessons progressed each week as we accomplished each training method or trick we were given. It was a great experience and I emphatically recommend Heather to anyone thinking of training their dog. Less