Dog Training Focused on improving Behavior located in Anchorage, AK
Better Behavior, Stronger Bonds
I provide science-based dog behavior modification in Anchorage, specializing in reactivity, aggression, fear, and separation anxiety. In-home in Anchorage; virtual consults statewide.
Helping Alaskan dogs and people understand each other through gentle, effective guidance.
What is Behavior Modification and how is it different than normal dog training?
Behavior modification addresses the cause of challenging behavior and changes the dog’s emotional state, not just the outward actions. It’s designed for issues such as reactivity, aggression, fear, and separation anxiety, where stress, anxiety, or frustration are driving what you see.
How it differs from obedience training
Goal: Training teaches skills (sit, stay, heel). Behavior modification changes how a dog feels about triggers so better behavior is possible.
Scope: Training manages compliance; behavior modification targets emotion + environment + skill, producing safer, more durable change.
Methods: Beyond cues, I use management, counterconditioning and desensitization, and behavior plans tailored to your home and routines. When appropriate, I collaborate with your veterinarian.
What methods I use
Assessment & Safety: Clarify triggers, thresholds, and risk; implement immediate safety steps.
Management: Adjust the environment and routines to lower stress and prevent rehearsals.
Counterconditioning & Desensitization: Systematic exposure with positive outcomes so the dog re-learns what a trigger means.
Skill-building: Teach replacement behaviors (e.g., orient to handler, settle, let-go/leave-it) once arousal is manageable.
Practice Plan: Clear homework between sessions to maintain progress.
Fear Free LIFE methods: The use of aversive training techniques, such as shock and prong collars and leash ‘corrections’, have been well documented to cause harm to an animal’s well-being. Yes, they can be a ‘quick fix’, but frequently can cause an escalation in unwanted behavior and are not a long term solution. LIFE stands for Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective. It replaces the outdated LIMA Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive procedures.
When behavior modification is the right choice
Leash reactivity on Anchorage trails or busy neighborhoods
Aggression/guarding toward people or dogs
Fear/anxiety with visitors or novel situations
Separation anxiety and home-alone distress
I provide dog behavior modification in Anchorage (in-home) and virtual consults across Alaska. If you’re seeking reactive dog training in Anchorage, behavior modification directly targets the emotions driving reactivity. This is something obedience alone cannot do.
Why Choose LeadWise AK?
Choosing support for your dog’s behavior is a big decision, and not all trainers or programs are the same. At LeadWise AK, you’ll find a compassionate, science-based approach grounded in both education and lived experience located in Anchorage, AK and virtually available throughout Alaska.
Education & Expertise – With formal training in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington, I use proven, evidence-based methods tailored to your dog’s unique needs. This approach is effective for reactive dog training in Anchorage, dog aggression training in Anchorage, and separation anxiety dog training.
Personal Experience – My own journey began with a human-aggressive dog that traditional trainers couldn’t help. That challenge fuels my passion to offer the kind of support I once needed but couldn’t find. I became the help I needed, earning formal training in Applied Animal Behavior and building a humane, evidence-based practice. So today I provide clear assessment, safety-first plans, and step-by-step coaching for people who love their behaviorally challenging dogs.
Compassionate Approach – Every dog deserves to be understood, not punished. I prioritize safety, stress reduction, and trust, then build skills that last, an approach that outperforms obedience-only methods for reactivity and separation anxiety.
Support for You, Too – Behavior work isn’t just about the dog, it’s about the people who love them. I’ll walk alongside you with encouragement, practical tools, and ongoing guidance. Prefer remote help? Work with a virtual dog behaviorist anywhere in Alaska.
Local & Accessible – Based in Anchorage, I provide both in-home and virtual consultations, making help available wherever you are in Alaska.
At LeadWise AK, you’re not just hiring a trainer, you’re partnering with someone who understands the struggle, respects the science, and is committed to helping both you and your dog succeed.
About
the Mission
At LeadWise AK, LLC, the mission is to guide people and their dogs toward lives of greater harmony, understanding, and confidence. Rooted in Anchorage, Alaska, I am inspired by the resilience of dogs and their guardians navigating challenges unique to both Alaska and everyday life.
Born from personal experience with a human-aggressive dog, and the frustration of not finding the help I needed, my work is driven by compassion and a deep belief that every dog deserves a chance to thrive through humane, science-based behavior support. I am passionate about helping families uncover the potential in their dogs by using positive, force-free, fear-free methods that build trust, reduce fear, and foster lasting change.
Through empathy, education, and evidence-based practice, LeadWise AK, LLC strives to be a trusted partner for those facing difficult behavior challenges, transforming struggle into progress and paving the way from wild to wonderful.
