We absolutely loved our experience with Taking the Lead. We adopted our dog from the shelter, and she was very anxious – it honestly felt overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. After browsing reviews for different programs, we decided to take the leap and schedule an initial visit.
Seeing how well Winnie responded to Lindsay at that very first meeting made our decision easy, and we’re so glad we joined. Over the ten weeks she attended, Winnie truly blossomed. She gained confidence, learned essential skills, and developed a much more peaceful way of living at home. We went from “What have we done?!” to “Look at our well-adjusted little lady!” (She still has opinions… they’re just more socially acceptable now.)
Marco was Winnie’s primary trainer, and we can’t say enough about the patience, skill, and genuine care he brought to every session. Kaitlyn also worked with Winnie and was wonderful – supportive, thoughtful, and clearly invested in her progress. Thanks to them, our home is calmer, our walks are actually enjoyable, and we finally feel like we understand our dog…which is impressive when we think about where we started with our Winnie.
We’re incredibly grateful to the whole team for giving us such a strong foundation to build on. We’re excited to keep working on everything we’ve learned and are really looking forward to the alumni events. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to begin, we can’t recommend this program enough!

We were struggling with our rambunctious Goldendoodle puppy. My friend had taken her two dogs to Take the Lead and was very happy. I was impressed with all the questions that were asked when we initially spoke with the intake person. The program was explained in very precise language and we knew what was expected of us as dog parents. Our sessions were very helpful to have a one on one lesson after our dog’s day at the facility. We had awesome trainers who took the time to not only get to know our dog, but got to know us too. Karla and Teigan were our trainers and they both were very knowledgeable and always made sure we were comfortable with the lesson before we left. I love that I could text or call if I had any questions or concerns. I am also happy that we are now a part of the Take the Lead family where we can participate in alumni activities and still have access to text and call if we have any questions for the rest of our dog’s life. It is well worth the price of this training. I highly recommend.

We brought our two dogs to Taking the Lead with very different challenges — Cooper was scared of everything, and Thanos was over-excitable. The progress has been incredible. Cooper is noticeably braver and more confident, and Thanos can now go out in public with us and stay calm and focused.

We highly recommend Taking the Lead for anyone working through real behavioral challenges and looking for a more intensive 1:1 approach. We worked with several trainers, but Karla truly stood out — she went above and beyond to answer our questions, and it was clear how much she genuinely cared about our boys.

10/10 highly recommend Taking the Lead for dog training! We adopted our dog, Goose, who had been surrendered twice, and was having issues with aggression, resource guarding, and basic commands.

We fell in love with the staff here when they pointed out our Goose’s need for confidence was the reason for his behaviors. They presented us with a plan to support and train him according to his needs.

Lindsay, Allie, Marco, and Anthony were amazing and you can tell they really enjoyed working with our dog! They gave us homework, which challenged and enriched Goose both in the training center, and in our home. They even took him to several parks, and Home Depot.

After the training program, Goose is an entirely new dog. Before we worked with Taking the Lead, he had trouble sleeping, was very reactive to other dogs, and had major separation anxiety. Now, he is happier, listens to commands, and loves playing with other dogs. Lindsay was also kind enough to send us before and after videos of leash training, which I’ve attached too!

Thank you all for your hard work! We are so proud to have a graduate from Taking the Lead.

I cannot say enough good things about TTL dog training. I adopted my rescue last year, and quickly learned he needed proper leash training. He had leash reactivity and would bark and pull every time we saw another dog on our walk. I found Taking the Lead online and it was the best decision I could have done for us. Not only do I have the proper tools and knowledge now for my dog, but I also walked away being trained myself. Lindsay and her team are amazing at what they do. I love how the training is hands on and you are given all the tools and proper direction to build onto your partnership with your dog. Not to mention, the continual education with alumni events AFTER your dog has graduated from training. Don't let the cost scare you away, this is one of those things in life that is worth the long-term investment. And this is coming from someone who has never used a dog trainer before. We now have more enjoyable walks, no barking and pulling, and now we know how to properly introduce ourselves to new dogs. I couldn't be happier with the improvement from when I first got him. You will not be disappointed – you will be so thankful you did this for your dog and for yourself!