Follow The Leader K9

reached out to Follow The Leader K9 in a bit of a crisis. I had just fostered a small dog from the urgent list for growling and biting. As a lifelong vet tech, I thought I had the skills to help him…but within 48 hours he bit me out of fear, and I knew I needed professional guidance. From the moment I contacted Follow The Leader K9, I was given the tools and confidence to turn things around. In just a short time, we’ve made huge progress. No more biting incidents, and my foster is now sitting politely for his leash, meals, and to go outside. He’s sleeping peacefully in his crate, walking in willingly, and even meeting new people with manners I didn’t think were possible this soon. We still have work ahead of us, but I can honestly say that without Follow The Leader K9, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Their calm, clear approach gave me exactly what I needed to help this scared little dog feel safe and start thriving. I am so grateful for their expertise and would highly recommend Follow The Leader K9 to anyone struggling with behavioral issues. Thank you so much for helping us build this foundation—we couldn’t have done it without you!

I was referred to Follow the Leader K9 by my friend, who adopted a dog who was fostered here! I was also donated a free session as I’m fostering a long term (2+ years) shelter dog, Suzie! I learned a ton of new tools and practices to start with Suzie, and after our one session she was the calmest she’s been in the two weeks I’ve had her. We are very grateful to continue learning how to create structure and reward desired behaviors to get Suzie successfully integrated into a loving forever home!

If you're serious about your dog and ready to transform your life—call Eric. Period. Working with Follow the Leader K9 has been nothing short of life-changing, both for me and my dog, Hercules. I don’t say that lightly, and I don’t write reviews – ever. I’ve spent 15 years in the military, over half of that training elite teams in the Special Operations community. I have extremely high standards for training, integrity, and results—especially under pressure. Eric exceeded all of them—his combination of authenticity, skill, and calm confidence is rare. He’s not just a dog trainer—he’s a teacher, a mentor, and someone who clearly loves what he does. When I first reached out, I was overwhelmed and nearly defeated. Hercules is a high-drive, reactive rescue with virtually no off-switch, no food motivation, and a prey instinct that made him a potential liability both on and off leash. Despite my own background in leadership and instruction, I knew I needed help. From the initial consultation, Eric’s calm confidence, depth of knowledge, and genuine care stood out. Unlike most trainers, he actually took time to work with Hercules right away—not just talk. His love for animals is real, and his training approach is both structured and intuitive. He also granted me rare, behind-the-scenes access throughout my dog’s stay—I observed how he worked with other dogs, owners, and his own team. What I saw was consistency, dedication, and fundamental mastery. This is not a “drop your dog off and come back fixed” program. It’s a lifestyle shift for you, too. Eric makes that clear. If you're not willing to step into the role of a calm, clear, committed leader, your dog won’t either. But if you are—if you're willing to become a student again and put in the work—you’ll get the kind of results that change everything. Eric and his team customize the experience to each dog, and they care enough to stay late, tweak the plan, and pour in extra reps when needed. You’re not just getting a service. You’re gaining a partnership rooted in excellence. There are no shortcuts in dog training. No hacks. No magic wands. But if you want to learn how to truly lead your dog, with discipline, trust, and respect—this is where you go. Worth every single penny. I trust Eric implicitly, and will continue bringing Hercules back for graduate training, daycare, and boarding.

I brought my dog Ollie to Follow the Leader just a couple months ago and he's already made so much progress. We were having issues with barking, jumping, and just not being obedient for the most part. I wasn't sure if Ollie could change his habits because his behaviors were really excessive, and he was already 3 years old. But Eric and his team worked with us closely and showed me what I needed to do to be successful. They taught me to make changes in the way I interacted with Ollie and worked with me to fix what I was doing wrong. I'm so grateful I came to them because it's already made such a huge difference. I would highly recommend Follow the Leader for anyone struggling with training their dog!

Follow the Leader K9 has been an incredible gift to me & Mac. 6 months ago, when Mac came home for the first time, I was concerned that I had taken on a rescue dog that was too difficult, and I wouldn't be able to help him effectively. He was a LOT. Under three years old, and in the shelter for nearly a year, he had significant kennel anxiety, and little training or social skills with people or dogs. He jumped, he pulled, he nipped, he charged at birds and squirrels. Eric was referred to me, and he showed up at my home on Mac's second day home from the shelter. That initial session showed me that Mac could focus & listen, and learn how to behave differently. Working with Eric and the entire team is helping Mac grow into a social, happy dog that interacts with people and other pets. He is great on leash. He responds to commands. He gets excited to do training sessions. FTLK9's support in this process, with follow-up coaching and advice has helped me integrate what started as "training" into becoming regular behavior by Mac. Mac still has a way to go. There are no quick fixes, and it takes consistent work over time, especially when a dog had a rough start in life. For me and Mac, FTLK9 will continue to be a big part of that journey.