About Drop the Leash LLC Dog Training and Behavior Consultant
Dog behavior problems are rarely about the dog. I help Northern Michigan dog owners understand what's really behind their dog's behavior and how to help them.
As a certified specialist (KPA CTP, CBCC-KA, LFDM) with over 30 years of experience across breeds, behaviors, and the full complexity of life with dogs, I give as much attention to the person holding the leash as the dog on it.
Through Family Dog Mediation, private behavior consulting, practical Life Skills group classes, and virtual services nationwide, I provide simple and effective behavior solutions no matter your location.
Serving all of Northern Michigan for in-person group classes and nationwide virtually. Visit my website to learn more and schedule a Discovery Call.
Training & services
Training goals
Behavior consultationProgram details
Elite, board-certified behavior consulting delivered straight to your home via Zoom. Providing families with safe, science-backed solutions for complex fear, aggression, and reactivity. I address the root causes so you get real, lasting relief.
House trainingProgram details
Leash trainingProgram details
Obedience trainingProgram details
Practical Life Skills programs for Northern Michigan families. Serving Johannesburg, Gaylord, and surrounding communities with in-person small-group workshops and online programs. Learn how to replace stress and chaos with a reliable connection and cooperation when the world gets exciting.
Behavior support
Aggression trainingProgram details
When your household is in a behavior crisis, simple advice isn't enough. I help you slow down, clarify the patterns causing growling, snapping, or severe reactivity, and establish immediate safety and relief. Virtual behavior consultations available nationwide.
Reactivity trainingProgram details
How training happens
Group classesProgram details
Practical Life Skills programs for Northern Michigan families. Serving Johannesburg, Gaylord, and surrounding communities with in-person small-group workshops and online programs. Learn how to replace stress and chaos with a reliable connection and cooperation when the world gets exciting.
Online or virtual trainingProgram details
Elite, board-certified behavior consulting delivered straight to your home via Zoom. Providing families with safe, science-backed solutions for complex fear, aggression, and reactivity. I address the root causes so you get real, lasting relief.
Dog age
PuppiesProgram details
Training level
Beginner trainingProgram details
Support between sessions
Personalized training plansProgram details
Elite, independent board certifications specializing in complex canine behavior. I provide families with safe, science-backed solutions for fear, aggression, and reactivity by looking at the whole picture. I address the root causes of behavior so you get real, lasting relief.
Your dog’s background
Rescue dogsProgram details
Training approach
Clicker trainingProgram details
Positive reinforcementProgram details
Other listed services
View 30 additional details
Dog trainingProgram details
Practical Life Skills programs for Northern Michigan families. Serving Johannesburg, Gaylord, and surrounding communities with in-person small-group workshops and online programs. Learn how to replace stress and chaos with a reliable connection and cooperation when the world gets exciting.
Behavior AnalysisProgram details
Elite, independent board certifications specializing in complex canine behavior. I provide families with safe, science-backed solutions for fear, aggression, and reactivity by looking at the whole picture. I address the root causes of behavior so you get real, lasting relief.
Behavior ChangeProgram details
When your household is in a behavior crisis, simple advice isn't enough. I help you slow down, clarify the patterns affecting your dog's behavior, and establish immediate safety and relief. Virtual behavior consultations available nationwide.
Canine Behavior CoachProgram details
Elite, independent board certifications specializing in complex canine behavior. I provide families with safe, science-backed solutions for fear, aggression, and reactivity by looking at the whole picture. I address the root causes of behavior so you get real, lasting relief.
Certified Behavior ConsultantProgram details
Elite, independent board certifications specializing in complex canine behavior. I provide families with safe, science-backed solutions for fear, aggression, and reactivity by looking at the whole picture. I address the root causes of behavior so you get real, lasting relief.
Dog Behavior SpecialistProgram details
Elite, independent board certifications specializing in complex canine behavior. I provide families with safe, science-backed solutions for fear, aggression, and reactivity by looking at the whole picture. I address the root causes of behavior so you get real, lasting relief.
Dog Trainer & Behavior ConsultantProgram details
When your household is in a behavior crisis, simple advice isn't enough. I help you slow down, clarify the patterns affecting your dog's behavior, and establish immediate safety and relief. Virtual behavior consultations available nationwide.
Family Dog MediationProgram details
Licensed Family Dog Mediation assessing your dog’s genetics, environment, history, and individual self. I decode what your dog is communicating so you can make practical changes that actually make life easier for both of you.
Personalized CoachingProgram details
Private Coaching ProgramsProgram details
Canine Behavior ConsultantProgram details
When your household is in a behavior crisis, simple advice isn't enough. I help you slow down, clarify the patterns causing growling, snapping, or severe reactivity, and establish immediate safety and relief. Virtual behavior consultations available nationwide.
Coaching SessionsProgram details
Dog ConsultationProgram details
Elite, board-certified behavior consulting delivered straight to your home via Zoom. Providing families with safe, science-backed solutions for complex fear, aggression, and reactivity. I address the root causes so you get real, lasting relief.
Dog LearnProgram details
Dog Training ProgramsProgram details
Practical Life Skills programs for Northern Michigan families. Serving Johannesburg, Gaylord, and surrounding communities with in-person small-group workshops and online programs. Learn how to replace stress and chaos with a reliable connection and cooperation when the world gets exciting.
Dog's BehaviorProgram details
Family Dog ProgramsProgram details
Practical Life Skills programs for Northern Michigan families. Serving Johannesburg, Gaylord, and surrounding communities with in-person small-group workshops and online programs. Learn how to replace stress and chaos with a reliable connection and cooperation when the world gets exciting.
Family Dog TrainingProgram details
Practical Life Skills programs for Northern Michigan families. Serving Johannesburg, Gaylord, and surrounding communities with in-person small-group workshops and online programs. Learn how to replace stress and chaos with a reliable connection and cooperation when the world gets exciting.
Online CoachingProgram details
Elite, board-certified behavior consulting delivered straight to your home via Zoom. Providing families with safe, science-backed solutions for complex fear, aggression, and reactivity. I address the root causes so you get real, lasting relief.
Problem BehaviorProgram details
When your household is in a behavior crisis, simple advice isn't enough. I help you slow down, clarify the patterns affecting your dog's behavior, and establish immediate safety and relief. Virtual behavior consultations available nationwide.
Specific TrainingProgram details
Teaching Your DogProgram details
Practical Life Skills programs for Northern Michigan families. Serving Johannesburg, Gaylord, and surrounding communities with in-person small-group workshops and online programs. Learn how to replace stress and chaos with a reliable connection and cooperation when the world gets exciting.
Training & BehaviorProgram details
Animal CareProgram details
Dog Training InstructorProgram details
Homeschool ProgramProgram details
Master TrainerProgram details
Online ProgramsProgram details
Study ProgramProgram details
Training Your DogProgram details
Practical Life Skills programs for Northern Michigan families. Serving Johannesburg, Gaylord, and surrounding communities with in-person small-group workshops and online programs. Learn how to replace stress and chaos with a reliable connection and cooperation when the world gets exciting.
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Business-stated qualifications
Qualifications stated by the business, not independently verified.
5/5We got great help training our dog, and really help training us to set our dog up for success. It was over zoom which I was a little skeptical of at first, but the meeting was great and very informative. We were given some exercises to do with our pup that ended up working quick…Read full reviewClose full review
We got great help training our dog, and really help training us to set our dog up for success. It was over zoom which I was a little skeptical of at first, but the meeting was great and very informative. We were given some exercises to do with our pup that ended up working quickly and great! Did a follow up call, and will definitely be using Val again once we master these issues we’re working on. Highly recommend!
C
Cassandra Galbraith
5/5
We were having issues with our dog being aggressive towards strangers, even nipping at them. We learned ways to facilitate our dog’s behavior and modify our daily routines that has made a big difference in his behavior in just a month’s time. I would definitely recommend these dog training services.
N
Nancy Root
5/5
We brought a scared, anxious rescue pup to class and left with a more confident, secure dog. Highly recommend. Val knows what she’s doing and genuinely cares about her student’s success.
A
Ashley Badgley
5/5There's few that I would ever entrust with guiding me and my dog. Valeria is at the very top of that list though!
Valeria is doing it for all the right reasons. Not obedience, but guiding and coaching with understanding and compassion to work through behavior hurdles.
She is suc…Read full reviewClose full review
There's few that I would ever entrust with guiding me and my dog. Valeria is at the very top of that list though!
Valeria is doing it for all the right reasons. Not obedience, but guiding and coaching with understanding and compassion to work through behavior hurdles.
She is such a beacon of knowledge and an incredible teacher and mentor. I know I can trust her for honest and the most up-to-date information when it comes to working with dogs.
If you are looking for help with your dog, look no further. Valeria helps deepen the bond between you and your dog through connection and enlightenment. And it can be fun!
Thank you Valeria for all you've done to help me and so many others and their dogs! 🐾🥰
M
Matt Dost
5/5About 6 months ago I brought home from a shelter a 4 year old female German Shepard. Although I have owned dogs just about all my life this is the first GS I have had. While at the shelter she showed no signs of aggressive behavior towards people or other dogs. However, within…Read full reviewClose full review
About 6 months ago I brought home from a shelter a 4 year old female German Shepard. Although I have owned dogs just about all my life this is the first GS I have had. While at the shelter she showed no signs of aggressive behavior towards people or other dogs. However, within the first month she showed a very aggressive behavior to other dogs. This was quite disconcerting to me. I did not want a dog that attacked other dogs, especially my neighbor's dogs. I bought an e-collar but was not comfortable using it on her. So I set it aside and started looking at alternatives. One of the options I looked at was a dog trainer in the local area. After a Google search I found "Drop the Leash LLC" and Valeria. Valeria is tremendous! One of the first things and probably the most important thing she did was explain the characteristics of the breed. But not only the characteristics but how they could manifest themselves in my pup's behavior. This tempered the expectations I had for my pup's life with me which greatly lessened my anxieties. The next great thing she did was not train my pup but trained me. I had always punished bad behavior but because of Valeria's experience and expertise I accepted that I should reward good behavior as the main training regimen. The training resources on her website are very beneficial as well. Her fees were money very well spent. It has been about 3 months since my last session with Valeria. Is my pup still aggressive towards other dogs? Yes. Is she becoming less so? Yes. It is a process but each week that goes by my pup and I become closer and because I now understand the breed's characteristics my anxiety levels are down and I know I must accept some of her behaviors. Would I recommend Valeria and "Drop the Leash LLC" to anyone wanting to learn a better way to train their dog(s)? Absolutely!
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.
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