Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately, a large percentage of our clients have been through multiple trainers and veterinary behaviorists. The great news is we’re the last dog training program you will ever need.

We’ve found that many trainers are focusing on just managing behavioral issues and finding ways to just mask behavior problems without actually solving the root cause of these problems. Unlike many other trainers/behaviorists who focus on only bribing a dog with treats, avoiding problem situations, using compulsion/excessive corrections, medications, or just managing a problem without solving the problem, our unique program has been developed using dog psychology to optimize a dog’s state of mind.

By understanding your dog’s state of mind we can tap into the root causes of what is causing the behavioral problems. Once we understand where your dog is coming from, we can then address that unbalanced state of mind and come up with a custom blueprint for success with your individual dog. By also assessing your energy as an owner/leader we will teach you how to become a leader and effectively communicate with your dog to achieve the calm, balanced and happy dog that you’ve always dreamed of.

We don’t train dogs. We rehabilitate dogs and train people how to understand and lead their dog in a natural way based on Dog Psychology!

Dog Psychology refers to the study and understanding of canine behavior, communication, and instincts. It involves observing how dogs naturally think, behave, and interact with their environment, other animals, and humans. This understanding is used to build a balanced and respectful relationship between humans and dogs, helping to address behavioral issues and create a harmonious living environment. In our humble opinion, the human needs to understand their dog before learning how to “train” their dog. This is why we focus on training the human how to understand and lead their dog. Learn More About The Core Concepts Of Dog Psychology Here.

We provide dog training, puppy training, boarding, daycare, and virtual training, with our proprietary approach all based on dog psychology.

Pack Leader Dogs is the company that specializes in dog psychology-based training and canine care.

The Maddie Ranch is our beautiful 8-acre ranch in nature and the physical location where Pack Leader Dogs operates from.

Our 8-acre private dog ranch, The Maddie Ranch, is located in West Milford, NJ.  We have clients who come to us for our training services from all over the country. If coming to us in person is not possible, we offer personalized virtual coaching which are 1-hour, 1 on 1 video call coaching sessions. Please visit our Personalized Virtual Coaching page for more information, pricing, and scheduling.

We also offer pick-up/drop-off service for specific locations. For more information, please visit our Dog Daycare page.

We do offer Members Only Canine Care.  This includes our Daily Canine Social Club (daycare) as well as our Overnight Lodging (boarding). Both of these proprietary services are not open to the public and require application and acceptance to become part of the Members Only Canine Care services.  Please visit our Dog Daycare page and Dog Boarding page to learn more about the services, requirements for approval, and pricing.

Due to high demand, we are not taking any severe aggression cases at this time. We are taking cases that are reactive or showing signs of aggression. If you are unsure, if your dog’s behavior would qualify for one of our training programs, please fill out our contact form and someone from our team will reach out to discuss your particular case.

Yes. Positive reinforcement is a great way to teach a dog new behaviors.  However, positive reinforcement, by definition, does not stop any behaviors. That is why we use a combination of all quadrants of operant conditioning, including positive reinforcement. Every dog and owner are unique which is why we customize our training program for every dog and owner we work with. We do not use coercion or compulsion when teaching a dog what not to do but instead, if necessary, teach a dog what not to do in a clear, fair way using calm energy. Teaching a dog what to do is very important but teaching your dog what not to do is just as important. Teaching you how to lead your individual dog, the dog psychology way, is most important of all!