About Willis Wolfpack Dog Training

Willis Wolfpack Dog Training is run by a couple who introduce themselves on the first line of the site: "We are Joe and Megan, the founders of Willis Wolfpack Dog Training." They describe the business as "Leadership, Obedience and Behavior Modification Dog Training in the Roanoke region".

Where the training happens

Almost all of it happens at your house. The site is emphatic: "Most of our training will be done at the dog's home." The reasoning given is retention – they believe the dog holds the training better in the environment where it spends most of its time – and that the owner is being taught as much as the dog.

How it is structured

Training runs in blocks: "Training is scheduled in 5 session increments; one session per week for five weeks", with sessions usually running an hour to two hours. Everyone starts in the Foundation level, which covers becoming the pack leader, personal boundaries such as jumping, basic impulse control, an introduction to leash walking in heel position, and leash and in-home reactivity. Intermediate adds obedience through movement, recall, obedience on first command, holding position until released, leash walking with more distraction and open-space boundary setting indoors. An advanced level follows.

Method

The philosophy is communication-first: "We show our clients how to communicate with their dogs in THEIR language. Dog communication consists of body positioning and creating healthy boundaries." They add that "We do not believe there are any hopeless dogs out there, just dogs that need structure."

Practical notes

They work with multi-dog households and encourage the whole household to train together. The site warns that "We typically have a waiting list and it is on a first come first serve basis." Contact is through the website or social media; ask about prices and certifications there.