We adopted our dog, Junie, from a shelter in August 2025. She was around a year old. On walks, she would bark at other dogs and sometimes people which made walks miserable and embarrassing. Indoors, it was jumping, and a constant need for attention and stimulation. It felt like she couldn't relax, or didn't know how, or maybe just didn't want to. So by extension, we couldn't either. We live in an apartment and even just taking her to the rooftop relief area was becoming a hell. I went down the same training rabbit hole many people do. YouTube videos weren't helping. They didn't explain what to do if the method in the video didn't work--which they never did for me. We decided to do some weekly training classes with a dog trainer we found through Rover. She taught Junie plenty--like any German shepherd, she's a very quick learner. She was trying to use counter conditioning to help Junie stop reacting so strongly to other dogs. And while Junie learned a lot, things weren't getting any better. She understood all the commands, she knew what was expected of her, but she almost never chose to do what we asked. It felt like we were constantly competing to be the most interesting thing in her world and we were fighting a losing battle. It was extremely frustrating and we were tired. It was clear to us that there was something important we were missing. We so badly wanted a dog we could bring to breweries, hikes, and backpacking trips and we were starting to wonder if we weren't a good fit for Junie. Assuming you've also been down the internet dog training rabbit hole, you've probably also seen people talk about how board and trains are a waste of money. We were nervous, but Tom came highly recommended by a friend of ours and we were at our wit's end. We didn't want our lives to be so entirely ruled by our dog--it wasn't healthy for any of us. We reached out to him in October and she stayed with Tom through the month of November. Best decision EVER. We were right about there being a missing link--it was our relationship with Junie that needed to be adjusted. Yes, we are her loving caretakers, but we are also people she needs to respect and listen to. It's now January and we can take her anywhere that allows dogs. She will stick by our side in a heel without a leash, whether on a sidewalk, at the beach, or in the forest. She can walk past a dog a foot away without reacting. She lays down next to our table at breweries. She stays in place until we release her. When she's playing off leash, she comes when we call her. We genuinely couldn't be happier! Here were my worries going into this: Would WE get enough training through this process to be able to continue things once Junie came home? --Absolutely. There was a learning curve of course on our end with the ecollar, but I truly did feel prepared by the time we got her home to continue her training. Tom is great at answering questions along the way and after your dog comes home. It hasn't even been 3 months since we adopted her--will it have a negative impact for her to have such a big change so soon? --If this is the position you're in, please don't keep suffering, just make the call! Dogs in general are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for. I honestly feel that sooner was better--it meant less time for her bad habits to get worse/more ingrained. No regrets here at all. Will the training stick? --Yes but it's entirely up to you. As long as you're continuing to keep your dog accountable, you'll definitely keep having the dog you want. Maybe my dog just needs more exercise? --I mean exercise is important, but you shouldn't have to exhaust your dog to get it to behave. We had started renting out Dog Yard through Roam three days a week to try and exhaust her. Probably exhausted us more than her lol. You can absolutely trust Tom and his trainers with your pup and I promise you if you've been struggling and things haven't been working--reach out to Tom! I can say wholeheartedly that this was the best investment we've ever made. read more

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I want to start by saying how much I wish I wasn't the first person to leave a less than 5 star review. I really wish we'd had the amazing experience everyone else has had-It's why I chose Tom and Leaps N Bounds. My dog is a rescue who was found on the streets and drove several states away in a crate in a van-crates are traumatic to her. She had broken teeth and hurt herself in the past when kept alone in a crate. It's been hard to work with-for the first year we had her, someone always had to be at home and boarding and grooming were high-anxiety. I expressed all of this to Tom-of course my dog would be in a crate for training and I really hoped that training could help-but extremely worried that my dog would break another tooth. I expressed this exact worry to Tom almost every time we spoke. He even said to me once in reply that I "was so caught up in (dog's) past that I couldn't see her future." I thought maybe I was overly worried about it and decided to trust Tom with the training and gave him dog's Trazedone to manage her just in case she couldn't handle being in the crate. We got a couple of great videos about dog's training. He even sent us a link to the "maximum security" style crate he had her in on amazon and said he hadn't seen the problems we described. I was really excited for her to come home. When we went to the first homecoming owner training at his house, I noticed she still had dry kibble in her bowl, which meant our feeding instructions weren't being followed-dog gets a mix of wet/dry food and water. I asked about the leftover food and Tom mentioned that she'd been "bratty" in the crate recently and hadn't finished her food for the past couple of days. While this is highly unusual for dog, I dismissed it initially as stubbornness around plain dry kibble. Dog came home the next day, Sunday June 29. She was licking her lips a lot, but I thought it was anxiety. Wednesday July 2nd, I finally decided to look at her mouth, and was horrified to see her large upper right canine was chipped/broken so badly that the pulp was visible. This has been a massive and very expensive disruption in our lives. We want our 2 year old dog to have a long life with her tooth. Veterinary dental specialists are hard to find and come with 2-3 months waits. We've since spent many hours (and already over $1k) at emergency vets, xrays, and finding dental specialists who do root canals/crowns. We've can't take her to daycare or her cage-free boarding facility because she can't play with other dogs until it's fixed (per her vet). We've had to find in-home boarding people for pre-booked vacations and work travel. We finally got to see a dental specialist Thursday after a two month wait. The estimate for a root canal is $5-6k, and a crown is $10-11k. At that cost, our dog won't be made whole again, we have to settle for the root canal and annual xrays to make sure it's not infected. And we have to wait two more months for the actual procedure-still impacting our lives with no daycare, no playing with her friends. I gave two stars instead of 1 because dog is a lot better on her walks and can come with us to cafes and the market now which is great. But if I could do it again I would ask how many hours a day would my dog be in the crate, how closely will she be monitored, and what happens if she gets hurt. I'd listen to my gut about having my concerns dismissed and placed on me for "holding back my dog from her potential." You know your dog best, and if your dog is a rescue with related behavior issues, I recommend looking elsewhere for training. We did let Tom know when this happened, and all he offered was to have a call about it because "email is impersonal" (and leaves a paper trail?) but he didn't share what he thought needed to be discussed. As upset as I was at the time especially, I wasn't up for a chat about it unless it involved concrete resolution steps. There's been no follow-up since. I don't consent to my dog's name being used in any replies. read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - A closeup of a chipped canine fang showing the pulp at the bottom. - Pet Training Near Me

This is a long overdue review for Tom and Leaps N Bounds K9. Last year, we signed up both our rescue dogs up for the 4-week board and train program. Our Chihuahua Ollie is 7 years old, and struggles with fear, anxiety and territorial behavior, especially in the car or at the door of our home. Our newest rescue, Hazel, is young and strong. She was hard to walk on leash and lacked basic manners and impulse control. She had a strong prey drive when she came to us, and we realized pretty early on that we needed some extra help, and her needs were beyond our training knowledge. Tom communicated throughout the process and sent us updates. For each pup, he came to our home to help reinforce what the dogs learned, and he was available for questions any time. It's been almost one year since our dogs completed the training program with Tom, and we are so pleased with the results. We stuck with the program, and the changes we see are amazing. Hazel is a wonderful pup in public and at home: she is polite and --although still high-energy-- listens very well. Her recall and heeling make her a great hiking companion, and the confidence I've gained as a handler has been life-changing for us. Ollie is doing much better, too. He's far less reactive with strangers, and we can have guests knock on our door or go through a drive-through without all the drama we had before. Training is what you make of it once the dogs get home, but if you stick to the program, I think the results are well-worth the effort. Thanks to Tom and his team for all your help and support with our pack! read more

I'm so impressed with the change in our Aussie, Lola, after board + train with Leaps & Bounds. We've used several different trainers in the past, and have seen benefit each time. However we still struggled with distraction, distance, and duration of good behavior with our super high energy dog. Our previous trainers were very much focused on positive reinforcement. I was certainly nervous about a change in tact. Now having gone through it, I wish we started sooner! A couple important callouts: 1 - the e collar provided is a game changer. Tom let us try this out to get comfortable with the idea. The range is so wide, it truly is just a slight stimulation vs a traditional shock. While we use sparsely, it's really the only thing that can help with high reaction for our pup 2- this is also a training of your behavior, not just your dog! Our girl is so smart and eager to please. Given that, we quickly discovered that we needed to change our approach to drive the behavior we were seeking. This is for sure the hardest part, but Tom and Bailey set us up with resources to help us along the way. That includes 2 live check ups to help hold us accountable. The biggest testament to the process is that Lola has been ecstatic to see Tom and Bailey even after her board and train. We can't recommend the investment enough! Thanks again Tom and Bailey! read more

My wife and I welcomed our first baby boy back in October... and then immediately realized that our spunky little Corgi was going to need some (read: a lot of) work to learn to co-exist with her new baby brother. Sully is 5 years old and had some pretty stubborn, well-established behavioral issues that were heightened by the arrival of the baby... she barked at the TV, other dogs, the baby crying, and was pretty leash aggressive with other dogs when we were out and about. She also had a history of resource guarding which worried us with the kiddo. She has always been the most loving and affectionate little pup, but she definitely needed to learn some new skills and understand who is in charge. After a panicked search to find a trainer in the weeks after our sons birth I had a nice chat with Tom. He recommended the four week program as she was a little older and it might take longer for her to unlearn her old habits and learn new ones. We dropped her off and four weeks later picked up a new dog. She's the same loving, derpy dog, but she doesn't bark at anything (like ever), coexists with our baby perfectly, is a fantastic walker, doesn't care about other dogs when we are out, and is just generally easier to be around. We took her and the baby to a brewery on Sunday and she just sat there, surrounded by other dogs without making a peep. Just content hanging with mom and dad. We can't recommend Tom enough--both the skills he taught our dog, and the hands on teaching of how to manage our dogs' anxiety has created a new, healthier relationship for us all. I wish we'd done this 4 years ago! read more

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Wow, I'm so grateful for Tom. I have a 6 year old adopted pup, whose leash aggression got significantly worse over the years despite working with different trainers. I lost hope in being able to fix her reactivity due to her age, and was told by a previous trainer I was too soft spoken to get my pup to listen to me. When I reached out to Tom, my anxiety was the highest it had been, as my days revolved around taking my reactive pup out for walks. I considered a board and train as my last option due to the price and uncertainty if it could work for my pup. But I wish I committed to it sooner! It is the best investment I've made. When researching board and train programs, Tom's stood out. I appreciate that he runs his own business so all communication is directly to him. Having a trainer that's responsive and easy to reach was important as my experience with a previous trainer lacked those traits. When I reached out to Tom, he called me right away and we discussed my situation and his training methods. He recommended a book that helped me understand a different perspective regarding obedience and reactivity. We exchanged countless emails before my pup's training even began and he was so patient with addressing all my questions. Fast forward to now, my pup finished Tom's program 2 months ago and I cannot thank Tom enough!!! He's made the most positive impact on our family--one that I did not think was possible. Our once reactive pup, is now the most well behaved pup in public settings and in the house. We look forward to taking her to busy parks, walking trails, coffee shops. Her adorable personality is still the same, and it feels incredible to be able to bond with my pup even more--now that I'm no longer stressed and frustrated at her because of her uncontrollable leash reactivity (lunging, biting, pulling, barking). Tom continues to check-in with us and is available anytime I have questions. He's a great teacher and allowed our sessions to take as much time as we needed, and would make sure we left our training sessions with no unanswered questions. He also provides some written notes after the board and train which is helpful to look back on, since there's a lot to remember. We are still enforcing the training at home, but with practice and time, it takes little effort--especially because our pup is used to our new routines and is just used to staying calm on walks! I wish anyone with issues with their pup could have the opportunity to work with Tom. He's truly wonderful and I'm so grateful for his expertise. Thanks Tom, I can't thank you enough!!! read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Our pup on the left. Easy and calm walk, even with a dog approaching - Pet Training Near Me

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Tom helped us and our dog Desa, a stubborn 1.5 year mutt who did what she wanted when she wanted to do it - even when we felt like we were "disciplining" her. Discipline and rules meant something different to us than they did to Tom. Tom established and reinforced with us the foundations and basics that are critical to ensure Desa could go anywhere with us under control, and we both enjoy ourselves. Be ready to ask lots of questions, and be ready to change the relationship, old habits, and behaviors you have with your dog - because it will change. I appreciate Tom's training approach and communication, and met one of his trainers who worked with Desa and he was great too. Overall super happy and enjoy practicing with Desa since she's been with us when we got her back about a month ago. read more

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We worked with Tom for two sessions at his house with our pup, Cooper. Cooper is a two-ish year-old lab mix who we adopted from a rescue three months prior. Though we only worked with Tom twice, he made a big impact on Coop's training. The hour he spent talking to us (for free!) prior to our first session was also truly a training session for us too--we introduced things he coached us about on that call prior to meeting with Tom and saw progress before we even met. The critical things he taught us were 1) the safe and effective introduction of a prong collar, which has been essential for us in working with Coop, and 2) the implementation of lots of "self control" training (place, threshold training, staying put while we throw a ball, etc). The first week working with the prong collar was emotional. Coop would "freeze" and resist following a command, and our first walk we didn't make it down the street. This changed so, so quickly, and I'm glad we were firm and pushed through that first hard week. He hasn't resisted commands or forced us to escalate pressure on the prong collar in months. After about a week we started seeing him relax on the prong collar, wag his tail when we got it out and on walks, and instead of looking amped and frantic on walks, he looks calm, happy, and relaxed. Before working with Tom, 1/3 of our walks were pleasant, 1/3 were neutral, and 1/3 were stressful, with Coop lunging after birds, barking and whining at other dogs, and generally being on high alert. Now the vast majority of our walks are pleasant, and the rest are neutral. I find myself saying "you're a dream dog, you're a role model, you're such a delight" to my pup all the time on walks--we're having more fun, we're focused on each other, and our walks are really enjoyable. We can throw ball at the park off leash. We can walk in a "heel" past another dog calmly. I can put him in a "down" with just my quiet voice while another dog loses their mind across the street, with at most a little whine. He no longer rushes through the door. He is still sweet, snuggly, goofy, playful--none of that goes away. If you have the skills and the time to commit to working daily with your pup between training sessions, as-needed sessions with Tom are a great option. We will definitely be back if we hit a wall with Coop! read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Pet Training Near Me

Tom and Bailey did an incredible job with our 8-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu and our 5-year-old Cockapoo. Our dogs were generally timid/anxious around our son and as he reached toddler stage there were some troubling moments. We didn't want to rehome our dogs, especially with a second baby on the way, and were hoping Leaps N Bounds K9 could help. We were referred there from a friend who had a very good experience taking their puppy to Leaps N Bounds. Tom and I had an extensive initial discussion over the phone and he listened through my concerns, and I could tell he genuinely wanted our situation to improve, whether we ended up utilizing his services or not. He didn't guarantee success and expressed that it will be a lot of work, especially considering the age of the dogs, but he was optimistic they could help. I appreciated this because Tom is not a salesman pressuring you for your business, he just wants what is best for your dogs. After an in-person consultation (Tom did not charge us for this, I know some other trainers do) Tom felt confident and recommended the four week board-and-train program. Tom and Bailey kept us updated throughout with informative videos, documenting what the dogs have learned. We were pleased when we finally got the dogs back home, and Tom took us through two separate sessions, instructing how best to keep the dogs behaving the way they did at Tom's. We were specifically impressed by their discipline on walks, and around the house, especially when someone new enters the home. The easiest way to describe it is a 'night-and-day' difference. My wife and I hadn't realized how much extra stress the dogs were adding to our daily lives, and much of that has now dissipated. The best part is, the dogs genuinely seem happier to make us happy, they are eager to do the 'right' thing, and get excited when we let them know they are being good. read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Pet Training Near Me

I am so glad I found Leaps N Bounds by total accident on Yelp. When I initially spoke to Tom, my anxiety was at an all time high, we had 2 yo twins, an 11 yo beagle and a 5yo corgi. Our corgi, Pumpkin, is super sweet but was reactive on walks and barked at everything inside and outside of the house. Walking her became extremely stressful as we had to be extra vigilant and hide behind cars, trees, etc to keep her from reacting to other dogs. Furthermore, the barking was a major problem for us because she would occasionally wake up the babies (thank goodness for white noise). If a package was delivered at the door, she would bark, if a dog barked in the distance, she would bark, if we were coming up the stairs, she would bark, you get it, she barked all the time. I have a professional background in behavior and always assumed I could help Pumpkin without much assistance. We worked with a few trainers in the past, but we were always told "she has an impulse control issue" but never received guidance on how to help her. I was tired of managing the undesirable behaviors instead of working on them. Thankfully, I found Tom. Tom worked with Pumpkin for a total of five weeks. I cannot believe we didn't do this years before. Pumpkin came back to us as herself, but without the unwanted behaviors. We continue to work with her at home but at this point we're just generalizing and maintaining what she learned with Tom. Walking her is so enjoyable now with zero reactivity. I sometimes have to look down to make sure she is still at my side and I'm not just holding a leash because there is no pulling -- It's a great feeling. Additionally, not a peep since she's been back, unless it's a little vocalization during play, which I am totally okay with. It warms my heart to see how much more relaxed and happy she seems now. read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Pumpkin patiently waiting outside of the playground while our twins played. - Pet Training Near Me

Tl;dr: Tom is a confident and calm trainer who improved the behavior of our 3.5 year old black lab mix, Kumi, dramatically! Before Kumi's 4 week board/train program, she was very anxious, reactive, and did not heed commands when going on walks or outside the house. Now, Kumi has a routine and structure that makes her a pleasure to walk with around town! We adopted our black lab mix, Kumi, when she was about a year old from an animal shelter. She is a sweet and gentle dog at home, but when she goes out for a walk and/or meets new dogs, she suddenly flips a switch and becomes very reactive, anxious, and erratic. We tried various harnesses and collars to no avail, and when we moved to Seattle, we decided to find a trainer for Kumi. When we had our intro call with Tom, we can tell he was interested in diagnosing Kumi's behavioral issues and tackling it at the root. He suggested a 4 week board/train program with him, and we agreed. During the 4 weeks, Tom kept us updated with Kumi's progress, and even though Kumi was slow going at first, Tom was honest about the situation and never gave up. We had an in-person session together at the 3 week mark to understand Kumi's progress, and at the end of the 4 weeks, Tom dropped Kumi off and had an additional session to educate us on how to work with Kumi moving forward. Since the training, Tom has continuously been helpful, such as his regularly scheduled pack walk with alumnus of the training program so we can bring Kumi out and address any lingering issues she has. Also, Tom scheduled an additional follow-up session a few weeks after the training to evaluate and monitor Kumi's progress, which was much appreciated. We are very thankful for Tom's professionalism with Kumi, and we can tell he loves dogs and really puts his clients first! We totally recommend Tom as an amazing trainer who can bring peace and safety for your dogs!! Thanks so much Tom!!!! read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Kumi - Pet Training Near Me

Tom was clear and concise on the training he provides for dogs and their owners. I'm am so grateful for his advice, the resources he provided, the videos he shared and the stunning results of spending 3 weeks working with our dog. He has given us the tools to continue what he started and it has already been life changing. I am now confident that my dog will listen, be safe, and feel calm and secure. Thank you Tom! read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Pet Training Near Me

This review is long overdue! Our dog, Kona, did Tom's four week board and train program in March 2023-- but that should tell you the longevity of his training methods and how he has transformed our dog and our lives! This review is long, but I hope it's helpful to anyone looking to make the commitment of doing a board and train for their dog. Our 3.5 year old 55lb rescue Pit Mix did the four week board and train at Tom's house and was able to work with Tom, Bailey, and a couple other trainers during her stay. Prior to training, Kona was reactive on leash -- barking/lunging at other dogs, unsure and anxious at dog parks, and had very little (zero) recall off leash. It was stressful to walk her, let alone try and introduce her to other dogs. In the house, she is a model citizen -- the calmest, cuddle bug -- loves people and to be a couch potato. She also had a bad habit (our fault) of sleeping in our bed and would not listen to us when we tried to get her off the bed. When we let her out into the backyard, she would never come when called and it turned into a game of chase to get her back in the house at times. In general, it was clear she didn't respect us or listen to us. Kona also had car anxiety, as a result from a fender bender months prior. She would plant and lay down in our driveway, refusing to get into the car. When she finally got into the car, she would pant and be anxious the whole car ride. It was clear her confidence was shaken. Because she is low energy and more timid, my husband and I were not sure how she would cope with a board and train environment, especially with other dogs. We have never boarded her before (friends watch her when we travel) and she had only been to a doggy daycare once (and didn't do particularly well...). Before training: I was a nervous helicopter parent, unsure if I could be without my dog for four weeks. I was also afraid that my dog would lose her personality and come back a robot. I researched several training programs in Seattle and was unsure if this was the right approach for Kona -- to be honest, it felt like 'overkill' -- she was a good dog, and great with people. However, I knew she needed help to become the best version of herself. Tom was gracious and connected me to a former client who I spoke with for almost 30 minutes on the phone to understand her experience and heard her glowing recommendation. Tom also allowed my husband and I (with Kona!) to tour his home and see where she would be staying, walking us through in detail about his training methods and showing us where she would be crated alongside other dogs in training. (Another thing I was worried about since we never did crate training). It was so comforting seeing his home and training space before we committed to any contracts. During training: Tom sent us updates via texts (pictures and videos) and always took the time to reply quickly if we had questions. Since she is low energy, Tom worked with her to ensure she stayed engaged and did not overdo the training sessions. About one week before the end of the program, we did an in-person 'train the trainer' session at Tom's house. It was so good to see our Kona, but so hard to leave at the end. She did great during the session and showed us her new tricks (place, down, walking in a heel). Tom also showed us how to use the prong collar and e-collar which were tools we had never used before and it was reassuring to be taught by a professional to ensure we were using them properly and safely for Kona. After training: At the end of the four weeks, Tom brought Kona home to do an in-home session with us to set us all up for success. Prior to this, he sent us links to some elevated dog beds to buy which we used to reinforce 'place' with Kona at home. Tom spent over an hour with us in our home, showing us how to keep up the training from everything about how to feed her, put her in place, correct her if she did not follow a command. Now: almost one year later, Kona is our same lovable goofball, just with impeccable manners. Her recall is reliable, she listens to us, and we trust her on walks. We use the e-collar to let her roam off-leash at parks without worry. We had a great trip to the Oregon Coast over the summer and she loved running free on the beach. She stayed in a 'heel' and 'down' when horses walked past -- a huge accomplishment for us! She listens to us in the home, sleeps in her own bed, and is generally more relaxed. She is more confident outside of the house, and especially with car rides. She hops right in now, something that was a non-starter prior to training. She still does not love meeting new dogs, but she is much closer to neutral -- which was our goal. We learned that not all dogs need to be social butterflies, and we are better owners now that we know when to advocate for her in various situations! I highly recommend Tom and the team at Leaps N Bounds and am so glad that we decided to do the program for Kona. read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Kona running at the Oregon Coast off-leash. - Pet Training Near Me

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Well worth it, wish we had started sooner. Life is much more manageable now and working with Tom and Bailey was a treat. Would absolutely recommend Leaps N Bounds to anyone who is looking for a better life with their pups. read more

Tom is a miracle worker! We almost wanted to rehome our dog when the shelter recommended Tom. He trained our dog so well that he's perfect now! One of the best decisions of our life. Our dog was very reactive on walks, at parks, starting to nip, etc. With a baby on the way and many toddlers in the family we were exasperated. Treat based training hadn't worked; pure prong collar training hadn't worked. We just presumed we had a crazy dog (he's 90% perfect, 10% crazy!). When we called the adoption agency to discuss rehoming, they recommended Tom. I had multiple long conversations with Tom and he walked me through his training process... and what he can and cannot promise coming out of training. It's expensive but we love our dog so we went for it. Dropped off Chutney - Tom was quite flexible on start date. Tom sent videos and updates along the way, amazing to see the changes. 4 weeks later I went for my training. Tom was patient and walked through all the steps multiple times. A couple days later he brought Chutney home and trained him and us in the home environment. He was available to answer random questions in the first few days back. Our dog is like brand new! His fun quirky personality is still intact... but, the craziness is gone. No more reacting to squirrels and other dogs or delivery people. He walks behind me on leash. No craziness at home - he goes to place, sits in chair for one hour at a time, knows all key commands. We love it!!! Our dog loves it as well - he's calmer, no longer huffing and puffing by getting worked up. Tom also was gracious enough to have a couple of follow up classes to reinforce training. All in all, if you love your dog, get them trained by Tom! read more

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About 4 weeks ago, our dog completed the 4-week board and train program with Tom and his staff, and I could not recommend them highly enough. Our dog, Stella, is a 2 year old rescue with an incredibly sweet, but often stubborn, personality. Over our first 9 months with her, she developed pretty severe leash reactivity toward other dogs, squirrels, rabbits, etc. She was also consistently anxious in our apartment, reacting to and barking at any noise from outside or our neighbors. We worked with a positive reinforcement trainer for several months but despite everyone's best efforts, these behaviors continued to escalate and get worse. I kind of considered a board and train program as our last-resort option, but honestly I wish I had called Tom sooner. During our intro call, Tom was incredibly helpful and generous with answering all of my questions, including around my hesitations using any negative reinforcement techniques. Throughout Stella's stay, Tom kept me updated with her progress and was really great about making us feel like there were no silly questions, and that no question was too small to ask. He also seemed to really understand the emotional side to training for owners with reactive dogs and made us feel heard and comfortable with the difficult parts of the process. Stella has now been home with us for almost a month, and I can't believe her transformation -- I didn't think this progress was possible. She is now able to walk in busy parks and on narrow hiking trails with me without lunging at other dogs. She can lay down in a park and ignore the squirrels and geese nearby. She is so much calmer and more relaxed in our apartment and in general -- she really seems more happy and less stressed. She still pushes us from time to time and she's not perfect; we've worked hard to keep up on her training and it has taken time and diligence, but it's easy with the foundation Tom and his staff laid with her, and with the training they did for us on how to work with her. I'm finally able to bring my pup on adventures with me that I always wanted to, but didn't think were possible. She feels much more integrated into our lives, and being out and about with her is so much more pleasant and fun. I can't thank Tom and his team enough! read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Stella enjoying Greenlake - Pet Training Near Me

There are very few people I can say has significantly changed my life but Tom is definitely one of them! We adopted our pup, Moo Moo 6 months ago, and she had a behavior issues from her last home that were making day to day activities extremely tough. We tried using other trainers to no avail, and decided to give board and train a shot. After seeing Tom's glowing reviews here and researching quite a bit, we decided to contact him and he very comprehensively walked through his methods over the phone and gave us confidence in his abilities. Tom trains 3 dogs max at a time to give adequate attention for each dog, so he was booked out for a month. We were sad when we dropped our baby off initially, but Tom gave us frequent text updates, photos, and videos of Moo Moo's progress over her 2 weeks stay. Tom does bring the dog to you when he returns them, and spends a great deal of time (he spent 2 hours with us and 1 more hour 2 weeks after Moo Moo's return) giving you the walkthrough of how to maintain your pup's progress at home. Long story short, Moo moo is a completely different dog pre- and post-Tom. Not only is she extremely behaved and non-reactive, she is a happier and more confident dog in general and trusts us to be her caretakers. :) You won't go wrong with Tom, and I can not recommend him highly enough! read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Moo moo loves her special "place". - Pet Training Near Me

We can't say enough good things about Tom! Prior to Leaps N Bounds K9, we tried group behavior classes, an in-home trainer, and even a dog behaviorist. They all recommended the same kinds of "fixes", but only Tom was able to help us get there. We did a 4-week board and train program last fall with Tom (our dog Wicket had bitten a couple of people, so we weren't eligible for the shorter programs) and it was worth every penny. Tom really understands the spectrum of dog personalities and was able to help us learn to tell the difference between our dog's attempts to manipulate us and when he's genuinely in distress. Maybe most importantly, Tom was completely dedicated to ensuring that we were successful after Wicket came home. He was super responsive when we had questions and talked us through multiple unanticipated scenarios. He not only successfully trained our dog but also helped us become significantly better dog owners! If you're considering a private trainer and/or a board and train program, give Tom a call to talk it through, even if you're not sure. Tom didn't try to sell on anything and, even though we initially thought he wouldn't be able to help us because his schedule was so full and because he felt it would be better for us to go with someone who lived closer to us, he was great about educating me about the options and helping me to know what to ask for and look for from other operations. In the end, we decided it was worth it to wait until Tom could get us in, and it was one of the best decisions we've ever made as pet owners! read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Our dog relaxing on his "place", where he now spends most of his days since completing his training. - Pet Training Near Me

We can't say enough good things about Tom and the Leaps N Bounds team. We have a super high energy bernadoodle, George (75 lb.), who was really reactive (lots of leash pulling, jumping on visitors, counter surfing). He didn't have an aggressive bone in his body but with a newborn and more visitors coming through the house, we needed him to find his inner calm. We did a consult with Tom and started down the path of some of the basics (place, crate training, etc.) and George made good progress, but we weren't making the progress we wanted so went with Tom's 3 week board and train for George. We were apprehensive about shipping George off initially but Tom gained our trust through his caring but firm engagement with George. This mentality carried forward through our entire experience. Every time we saw George via interim videos from Tom and the mid-board and train human training session, George was having a great time even when he was working for Tom. Whether it is a gift or just that Tom is a super experienced professional, the results were amazing. George learned all of his commands and got WAY more self control. We're able to walk down the street and pass people without moving to the other side of the road and have been able to go to breweries with him and he keeps an amazing down. The best part is that George is still the goofy fluffball that he has always been, just without the behavior issues. Again, Tom is the man. He's professional, understanding, and an amazing trainer. read more

We are so grateful for Tom!!! We have a very high energy pitty mutt mix (Puca) who was very reactive on the leash at any dog he could see (truly regardless of how far away it was) - he'd bark and lunge and snarl. He also had impulse control issues with lots of pulling, chasing things unexpectedly, etc. While he's a huge sweetheart and cuddlebug, he was too much for us to handle even after having tried several other training programs, we were not seeing progress. Tom was dedicated to helping us from the beginning - chatted with us for an hour on the phone and met with us (distanced) in person for a meet and greet and for him to meet Puca. Ultimately we chose to do his board and train program, and Puca has come back a completely different version of himself - he's still his same goofy happy and energetic self, but he has impulse control and a self confidence that now means he doesn't get reactive on leash at all!! We are so relieved to be able to walk him in busy public places like greenlake, or new places he's never been without having to stress about his reactivity. Oh AND! Puca can be in the same room as our cats and completely ignore them - a thing that would never have happened before :) Tom also sends videos and photos every other day (or multiple times per day, or any time you ask for one) during the board and train, was very responsive to our questions/texts, and was very flexible about scheduling pickup/drop off/lesson dates which we appreciated so much. He even has continued to answer a few questions even after we completed the whole course! Thank you Tom!!! Puca misses you! :) read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Puca! - Pet Training Near Me

Let me start by saying Toms work with our boxer is life changing. My boyfriend and I have a 5 yr old male boxer named Jax. He has the typical boxer personality: lots of energy, endlessly loving and happy, extremely wiggly, and very selective hearing. For the last few years we've grown concerned that he isn't just going to "grow out" of certain undesirable behaviors. So this last September, after lots of research and failed attempts to implement self-taught YouTube techniques, we finally reached out to Tom. He tends to be booked several months out but I can assure you he's worth the wait (You've already waited this long : ) Our big concerns with Jax were leash aggression towards other dogs, pulling when walking, and that darn selective hearing especially when stimulated. Of course we were nervous to drop our baby off with someone we didn't know for a month but Tom was great about answering our texts, providing updates, and sending video. The videos made all the difference. I can hardly describe the feeling of seeing Jax walk on a leash with out pulling the SAME DAY we dropped him off. In the video he walked in a heel position and also kept his attention focused on Tom awaiting his command instead of whipping his head back and forth overwhelmed by all the stimuli outside. At the end of the month Tom brought Jax back to our home to educate us about the educational tools (e collar, prong collar, place, commands, corrections, rewards, etc.) I will admit there were somethings I was hesitant about, when I asked about Jax being allowed on the bed Tom said he didn't recommend it and at least not until Jax could prove he can consistently follow his training for several months. Well it's been a little over a month and in addition to Jax walking straight into his crate when he's tired and falling asleep right away WE are sleeping better because we have more room : ) Just one of the many benefits we didn't expect. Jax now walks in a heel position without effort and can walk by dogs and other stimuli with little to no distraction. When we have visitors or workers in our home he remains in place until he is released (he does still grumble a bit because at the end of the day he's still a boxer.) And over all he just has a higher level of self control that has improved our life and his so very much. I would highly recommend working with Tom AND the importance of following his after training guide. I wish we had contacted him sooner : ) Feel free to message me here if you have questions or better yet give Tom a call he is very transparent and upfront about his program and very easy to work with. read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - A sleepy graduate of Leaps N Bounds - Pet Training Near Me

We want to express our gratitude for Bailey and Tom's excellent work with our dog's training course. His improvement in obedience has been incredible and we are relieved. They've brought the best out in our dog and we are forever grateful. read more

Review of Tom Fulcher: Before we took Nando (our 10 month, 90 lbs. Chocolate Lab puppy) to Tom, we were constantly struggling with him. We is an amazingly fun puppy that we loved so much but he was completely out of control. He chewed up items in our house from our rug to built in furniture. He would jump on anyone who got close to him and would pull so hard when he saw people and animals during walks that we would fall down trying to hold him back. What was the most terrifying to us was when a few times our gate was left ajar or we accidently drop the leash while on a walk, he would sprint gleefully away stopping only to jump on someone walking or chase to neighbors' cats. We knew he wouldn't harm anyone or anything but the fear of him joyfully running from us and being hit by a car brought us to Tom. Before Tom, we have had a some sessions with other dog trainers for one on one sessions as well as completed a basic obedience class. However, our dog is exceptionally stubborn and nothing seemed to change these bad behaviors. But like magic after the 3 weeks board and train through Tom, Nando came back very well mannered, still goofy, and an amazing all-around dog. We had gotten so much more than we had expected! The investment was worth it and we are so glad we made that choice of the 3 week program. We missed Nando a lot during his time gone but now we are the people looking at un-behaved dogs on the street and getting numerous comments on how well-mannered he is. We still need to keep up with training, especially for the first month after the training session, but the techniques are now really part of our everyday lifestyle. We really appreciate that. Tom is a great instructor, who we can still call him for questions and get a refresher if needed after the training period. We found that very unique and felt it shows dedication to his past clients. We felt that Tom is extremely professional; not only did he do a great job training our dog and our family, but also showed immense devotion to our dog. Thank You so much Tom! read more

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Two years ago, we adopted an adult dog who happened to be a Shiba Inu. The first few months started off ok, but we quickly found ourselves in over our heads. There were deep-rooted anxiety and aggression issues that surfaced, and it just got worse and worse. He nipped both my husband and I, and would bark at us aggressively if we tried to leave the house due to his anxiety of being left alone. Neither of us work from home, so our daily routine consisted of distracting him with a peanut butter mat, and slipping out the door before he could turn on us. We started to aggregate our errands to be at the same time so we would only have to leave the house once instead of multiple times. I felt trapped and constantly worried about him as a liability. Enter Tom. We had tried positive-only trainers previously but to no avail. There were simply no harsh enough repercussions when our dog crossed the line, and as a smart Shiba, he knew it. We were at our wits end, when we enrolled our dog in the 1-month Board and Train program with Tom due to a referral from my husband's friend. Tom helped us identify that we were in an abusive relationship with our dog, and that we needed to change the dynamic so that we were the pack leaders. Tom trained with lots of positive reinforcement, but introduced structure and discipline when he knew that our dog was being a brat and when our dog knew what he should be doing but chose defiance instead. Tom was extremely responsive to all of our questions and even sent us videos and updates along the way. He also spent extra sessions with us after the program to ensure a smooth transition and that we were comfortable with the new dynamic. We noticed an immediate change. Tom focused on the basics, like "Place", "Heel", "Break", "Sit", "Down", and "Crate". I was skeptical at first, because my husband had spent hours every night trying to get our dog to walk alongside us, but we saw little improvement and thought that our dog was set in his adult ways. I was also skeptical that these basic commands could solve all of the different scenarios and problems we found ourselves in with our highly anxious dog. BUT, THEY DID. With the structure in place, we have redefined our relationship with our dog. He has a much calmer demeanor, and is overall happier. We feel like we have our freedom back because we are able to put him in a crate without aggression and leave and come back. He no longer rushes at people who walk through the door because he is on his "place". He walks right next to us and never pulls on the leash. People walking by comment on how wonderfully trained he is. Let me be clear, Tom does not perform miracles and give you back a perfect robot dog. And I don't think that's what people want. Our dog still has his personality and pushes the boundary every now and then, but we now have the tools and structure to keep him under control and it has made a world of difference. Thank you Tom for giving us our lives back. We are truly grateful. Please do yourself a favor and make this investment, it is well worth the money. We would recommend him hands down to anyone. read more

It's in the name...our ten month old Goldendoodle, Jude, is Leaps N Bounds better behaved then when we dropped him off with Tom a few weeks ago. After realizing that we didn't have the know-how to train our very strong willed and reactive pup, we reached out to Tom. He called us the next day and spent over an hour learning about our dog and discussing his training style. A couple of days later, we met him in person to drop Jude off. We got updates every couple of days and Tom was incredibly responsive if ever we had a question. He spends a great deal of time working with the doggo clients he takes on. At the end of week two we met with him to practice Jude's new leash skills and to see the progress Jude had made. At final drop off, Tom came by and spent a couple of hours teaching us how to implement the training techniques so that we could continue to build on Jude's new-found skills and responsiveness to commands. He also wrote out a book of instructions tailored to our pup. A board and train isn't a cure-all; you have to be willing to continue the work when your dog returns. But, I don't think ours could be better set up for future success. He now goes to his "place" (his safe zone) when we ask him to, is FAR less reactive to other humans and dogs, and I can finally walk him without wanting to cry in frustration. I now look forward to walks with my formerly mannerless dog! We are so thankful to Tom for instilling confidence and respect in Jude and giving us the confidence to properly handle him. If in doubt about whether the investment is worth it - don't be. Tom is your guy! read more

Leaps N Bounds K9 - Photo of Jude snoozing in his new favorite spot - Pet Training Near Me

We can't say enough good things about Tom or his program. We took our highly reactive two-year-old dog to Leaps N Bounds to board and train for three+ weeks. Not only did we get back a calm, confident incredibly well behaved dog who we can take just about anywhere, we also got the tools and training to keep his progress going. Tom truly cares about your pet and is deeply invested in your success as a family. We marvel at the dog we have now. It is hard to believe it is the same animal. Our family is truly grateful for Tom and all he has done. read more

There are no words to explain the kind of trainer Tom is. We chatted a couple times before he took my dog Luna into boarding for 2 weeks. When he arrived at my house, he tried to understand my dog as she was very territorial and was barking non stop when he approached. But he took his time to get to know her and eventually off she went with no problems. He would send me daily updates on her which included her daily activities and pictures. Once she was set to come home, he worked around our schedule so we could both be home and he would train us on what he taught my pup. Before he left us that day, he made sure that we were well acquainted with everything. He also left us a handbook specifically tailored to my pup. I've got to say I've never seen my dog get attached to someone so quick but he worked wonders. If you are looking for an amazing trainer, Tom is your man. read more

By far the best trainer Took my 95 pounds german Shephard to Tom and he treated him like his own dog he was happy he got trained a specially that he did not have any manners. Couldn't be happier with my dog's training. read more

I don't know how to begin to praise what a great dog trainer Tom is. Let me say that my chow was as stubborn as they come which made obedience training almost impossible. But somehow Tom was able to break through that stubborn wall and completely change my dog. Before Tom, my dog knew basic commands like 'sit' and 'lie down' but she would only perform them when she knew there was a treat to reward her. She would constantly pull on her leash during walks and never come when she was called. After only 2 weeks with Tom, the results were better than I could ever hope for. During walks she would always stay next to me on my left. She sit and lies down immediately when told to do so. She would stay sitting in one place until given the command to be released from the sit. Tom is a skillful and patient trainer. He lays down the most difficult foundations in behavioral training so you can reinforce those good behaviors with ease. I highly recommend him for any dog owner! read more

Our girl, Moxi, recently completed a Board and Train stay with Tom. Moxi is a 10 month old Akita, a breed that is known for their independent thinking and for being a bit on the stubborn side. We'd had a scary incident of her bolting out a gate that did not latch, which in her mind turned into a very fun game of chase with my partner and I, but for us was extremely scary as we live next to a busy street and she would not stop or come when called. We also have two cats, with whom she had started to ignore boundaries, letting her impulses get the better of her. So we reached out to Tom, hoping to narrow our risk gap on Moxi's recall, and instill better impulse control. We ended up chatting with Tom twice on the phone before deciding to sign her up for the Board and Train program. In each phone conversation Tom was professional, patient and thorough - answering all of our questions, addressing concerns and explaining his training methodology. When Moxi went to stay with him, it ended up taking her quite some time to relax and adjust to her new surroundings - but Tom NEVER forced her progress; he let her come around in her own time. He let her learn and work at her pace, thus building further trust with her...and us. When it was time for her to come home, it was OUR turn to be "trained" by Tom. We had a robust hand-off/training session, where once again Tom thoroughly reviewed all she learned with him and how we could best continue to reinforce the training she received. He then offered continued support through a follow-up call after she was home a week, answering all our new questions - and finally one more in-person visit, where we went on a long walk and focused on areas that we all needed more refinement on. Moxi has been home with us a bit over a month now. We continue to see a night-and-day difference in her impulse control. She is respectful of boundaries and she comes when she is called. Consistently. We had her in Montana a week ago, and visited a property where I felt comfortable having her off leash; she ran and played, visited the cows, and then promptly came back to me from across the field when I called her. It was a beautiful thing! Thank you, Tom, for being so patient with our girl and with us; for loving her so well while she was with you, and giving us all more confidence in our lives together - dog, cats and humans!! read more

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We had our mini golden doodle trained by Tom in the two week board and train bootcamp. Rogan was showing and exhibiting signs of aggression towards males around the house and outside of the house towards people on random occasions. He didn't have a structured obedience guide to go off of. Tom came to the house and was very thorough in explaining what it was and what would need to be done. He recommended the 2 week obedience boarding program with him at his home and we immediately saw the improvements. He posts videos and sends pictures so you can follow day by day what he is doing and watch the progress of your companion. It is awesome to see how well trained our dog is now and bringing him in public is a breeze now. The aggression was elminated and now he is a perfect part of the family. I def 100% would recommend Tom to do the same for your dog. He is a great listener and understands the dog communication barrier and how to break it. Thank you Tom again for the help and cheers to future success ~ Jason/Skylar read more

Tom is absolutely amazing! We sent our 10mo old crazy puppy to him and he came back a changed dog! No more pulling on the leash, followed all commands, knows how to control his crazy energy now....truly lifechanging! Tom sent videos and updates throughout the whole time Loki was with him, which made us really happy since we had never been away from our pup for that long. Overall 10/10, and already have recommended to family and friends in the area that have dogs. Thank you Tom!! read more

If we could rate Tom higher than a five star, we would. He is simply amazing and life changing. We adopted our Rottweiler at seven months old, and although he was a pretty well behaved pup, he developed some concerning habits, like sometimes lunging and growling at other dogs during the four months we had him. He was also getting extremely bigger and stronger each day. We had heard about Tom and called and chatted with him a few times, but we were concerned that our dog would lose his great personality through serious training. (We knew someone whose dog became pretty robot-like after a board/train situation). A few weeks after talking to Tom, a friend casually mentioned that having an untrained Rottweiler is like having a loaded gun with the safety off. Within that week, our dog had lunged again at another dog, and we decided to schedule training with Tom. OH.MY.GOSH. He kept our pup for a bit longer than two weeks (because he needed it, which we totally agreed with going in), and we got back a much happier, extremely well trained, awesome, awesome dog! Literally, I cannot believe what a difference this training has made in our lives and our dog's life. Just amazing. We cannot say enough good things about our experience. We received communication every single day. Pictures, texts, videos...all showing us how well our pup was doing. When training was over and Tom brought him to our home, he helped train us, and I think we needed as much help as our pup! Tom was patient, kind, amazing, and extremely helpful and gracious in answering all of our questions. I have already texted and called him a few times, and he has been so great about continuing our training and making sure our pup is as happy and well behaved as he can be! I would recommend Tom to ANYONE for ANY DOG regardless of their behavior. He is a miracle worker! read more

Honestly where do I even begin? Tom was amazing for one but transforming Bella omg .Bella the puppy gsd that you might see that he post or has posted in the past is my doggy. She is a high energy , no attention span what so ever ,fun loving dog . We did the two week board training just so that she would listen most of the time , I wasn't looking for her to perfect at all time but you know just the basics and not act like a wild animal when we go on walks . She would literally pull me on walks and when other dogs came around it was like they were the only thing that she sees or hears . Tom was amazing I can honestly say I enjoy taking out now and bowing her off because I was the one on the other side of the leash trying to get control and now I have that . He really has done amazing with better than what I could expect . He would always send updates and videos to keep you posted about how everything was going . Honestly best decision I could have made . I don't feel like I put money into something and didn't get anything out of it . I now can say I have a well behaved dog that knows her boundaries and respects them ,well for the 90% of time the other 10% is just her trying to keep me on my toes . Definitely, 100% would recommend him to anyone and everyone that I see or know ! Even if you think that the two week board and train isn't for you he also has 1 on 1 training with you and your dog , how much better can that get ! Definitely a 10 star service and I couldn't thank him enough ! read more

Tom is an excellent trainer, very knowledgeable and patient. I did private in home lessons, and he was more than willing to meet me anywhere (parks, Starbucks, pet store) to work on my dog's anxiety and behavior around other people and dogs. He also 'trained" me on how to teach my dog new commands and be the 'leader'. Very grateful to Tom and all the work he did with Lexi! read more

Tom has a huge heart for dogs and working with them! He is so patient and kind with all dogs (and people) and he will love your dog just as much as you do! He's excellent to work with and I highly recommend him to anyone who has a pup that needs some training! He has taught our pup so much and reinforced a lot of her previous training from another company. We will never be able to thank him enough for all he's done for us and our pup! read more

Tom is a great dog trainer. He trained my gooldendoodle Zeda. His hard work showed when I got Zeda back. He went over everything I needed to know. I decided to pick his services because of the continuing education classes he offered after he trained my dog. If you need a well behaved dog, Tom is the man for the job! read more

Tom is as good as you can get! He has a wonderful, loving but strict rapport with the dogs that gets the respect and trust that is needed to develop results. Can't recommend him enough! read more

I rescued a 10 month old mix, Poppy, who had lived with a handful of different care takers with different rules and approaches to her obedience by the time she reached me. She and I needed to figure out how to work with each other going forward and Tom at Leaps N Bounds K9 was the answer! He is so helpful and reassuring and very easy to contact. I was nervous to send Poppy to yet another care taker, if even for just two weeks, but Tom was fantastic at sharing updates via text and videos. The instructional meeting when he brought Poppy back was so useful to know how to implement the training he did in your own space. I can't thank him enough! read more

First off, Tom's training is simply life changing. I knew from the first conversation we had on the phone that I finally found the right trainer. He understood exactly what my family was going through and with just a brief description of our pup Pancho, he was able to predict all kinds of behaviors Pancho was showing and confidently had an answer and for every one. We had tried various other trainers from the time Pancho was a puppy and put in countless hours trying to reinforce and follow through with what we were being taught. Even with all the work we were putting in, we just weren't getting anywhere. It was getting to the point where we didn't want to take him on walks, because they were so difficult. He would constantly pull and tug, chase any animal he would see and paid no mind to us whatsoever. Even at home, he was anxious, chewed on everything and demanded our full attention every minute of the day. After the three-week board and train with Tom the transformation was unbelievable. Tom's training goes far deeper than teaching basic commands, he was also able to eliminate Pancho's anxiety. Most importantly, Tom taught us (the humans) how to truly think like a dog and understand how a dog perceives our actions. Tom is incredibly dedicated to his work and our experience with him was absolutely priceless. We are so grateful and now have the family dog we always dreamed of. read more