Tired of getting complaints? Start getting compliments!
Help your dog become the best dog ever
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to have guests without your dog being a nuisance? Wouldn’t you like to take your dog anywhere and not worry about his behavior around other animals or people? We can help you achieve better behavior from your dog than you ever dreamed of!
Teach your dog how to be calm around distractions
The biggest complaint we get from owners is that they can’t walk their dog on a leash without drama. We have helped thousands of dogs and their owners successfully navigate distractions like other dogs, wildlife, and people.
“I started working with Linda when my GSP was nine months old. She is an absolute rock star. The material she provides in person, in writing, and videos is invaluable. She is a miracle worker. Whenever I asked a question or shared a video with our progress during the week, she responded and gave further instruction. She is not only a talented dog trainer, but she is a true gem of a human being. She really helped heal my soul during this process of training my dog. I really can’t thank her enough! I feel so much more confident and that I have the tools and understanding to continue training my dog.”
“At the time of this review, I have put two dogs through Linda’s training program. Linda is an expert in her field and I would highly recommend her services to anyone that wants to get the job done right. She helped teach me the skills to effectively communicate with my dog and I will forever be grateful. Linda will always keep your dog’s best interest at heart, she wants you and your dog to succeed! If you have a dog and you want him/her trained right the first time, call Linda today.”
Effective communication, for both ends of the leash!
Dogs are a reflection of us. Learn how to communicate effectively with your dog, off leash or on, without conflict!
No problem too big or small!
One of the most frustrating things about the scared dog is never knowing what the right response is. Helping anxious or fearful dogs is easy, if you know what to do and how to do it!
“My dog used to be terrified of everything… I didn’t trust the process but once you fully devote yourself to the teaching methods, you’ll see results. I promise! Holly made it half way through the course when we had to stop because she had a total hip replacement. If Holly didn’t have the obedience she learned, that whole three month healing process would have been totally different. If you’re having dog trouble, Lionheart K9 is the BEST place to go. Forever thankful for Linda!”
If you are frustrated by any of these behaviors, we can help you!
- Chronic barking
- Pulling on the leash
- Growling or snapping
- Running through doors
- Fearful Behavior
- Housebreaking
- Chronic Chewing
- Separation Anxiety
- Jumping
- “Humping”
- Counter Surfing
- Running Away
- Begging
- Resource Guarding
- “Nipping” or Biting
We are ready to help!
Book your FREE consult!
Custom training programs to suit every problem
Since every dog is different, we can create programs to suit your dog’s emotional and mental needs. A scared dog is going to train much differently than a bold, confident dog of any age or breed. Knowing the individual breed differences and behaviors that are influenced by age and early influences sets Lionheart K9’s programs apart from other trainers, based on over 40 years of experience, practice and study.
Private Training
Meet in person with Linda to focus on the behaviors that matter the most to you and your dogs’ well-being. Structured private lessons assure individual attention on you and your dog. We provide you with the essential skills to not only maintain the training in between lessons, but continue to refine you and your dogs skills long after you complete the program!
Our Private lesson programs are designed for dogs of all ages and really benefit folks that wish to have a hands-on learning experience.
Dog Training Camp
Our dog training camp accommodates your dog in our home, not in a kennel, where your dog recieves around-the-clock, consierge care as a member of our household. We limit the number of dogs we take at any one time to assure a personalized experience, while your dog gets to travel to a variety of training locations throughout Carroll and Baltimore counties, meet many new people, and interact with other dogs, during their stay!
We are licensed through Carroll County and responsibly insured!
Lifetime Support
Lots of folks give lip service to “lifetime support” or attach it to specific dog trainng programs. We do things differently. We support our training, period. Whether it’s a one-time paid consult or an in-depth, long term training program, we believe in what we do, and we work every day to prove it. Our relationship doesn’t end when the training ends. We are here for YOU. Our Best-In-Class service is because of our exceptional service support.
We are willing and able to support our students for as long as they need us.
Read how other folks feel about their experience!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive about the training that we offer.
Where will my dog live while at training camp?
We don’t house your dog in a kennel. They live in our home as a guest, with concierge 24/7 supervision, on-call veterinary care, opportunities to interact with appropriately behaved dogs, travel in secure accommodations, under the banner of appropriate zoning, licensing and insurance.
What will my dog do each day?
Our day starts at 5:30am, taking dogs out on leash to assure they relieve themselves adequately. We feed breakfast between 6:30 and 7 am and prepare for the day. Each dog is individually aired a second time after breakfast before being loaded into our transport vehicle if it’s a ‘travel’ day. We are generally on location by 9 am and training commences.
- Individual training sessions between 9 and noon.
- Afternoon break and crate rest between noon and 2 pm
- Custom tailored fitness program including treadmill time or free range play with appropriate dog or dogs from 2 to 5 pm and additional leash work
- Dinner time at 6:30 pm
- Evening relaxation involving “quiet rest” with humans
- 10:30 pm: Last call for potty and good night!
Dog boot camps helps facilitate training because it allows the dog to be ‘immersed’ in the training process. Each dog is housed in a very controlled setting, where the routines of living have been designed to maximize our training efforts. From how the dog is housed (crated in our absence and overnight, on a leash when we are present) to how the dog is expected to behave in the presence of many other dogs and distractions in my personal home enhances the learning proces.
Our Boarding and Training program helps create a more cooperative dog so the transition back to your home is considerably easier. Our job isn’t over, however. We continue to work with you to help maintain and improve the trainng that has already been started for you!
Dog Boot Camps cost more than private lessons because we are including your dog a a member of a household and are providing essential needs that include multiple daily walks just to potty (never less than 4 generally more like 8 to 10, depending on weather) and opportunities to interact with humans in a home setting. This is a critical distinction from trainng facilities that house dogs in kennels, where intimate interactions are far less frequent.
Lionheart K9 has provided video and written training support for all of our owners since the advent of the internet (yes, I am that old) and continue to do so with every dog. We routinely hear positive feedback from owners that prefer to watch our video taped sessions with them over our prepared instruction!
Will my dog listen to me when he comes home?
We provide you with multiple lessons with your dog while he is in training, and are willing to schedule as many as you need to feel confident. We offer unprecedented follow up and support for you even after your dog has gone home. If you continue to practice the skills you and your dog have been taught, there is generally no diminishing of response, but you must remember that training is an ongoing process. In order for the training to ‘stick’, you must practice!
Do you use Positive Reinforcement?
Yes, we do use positive reinforcement. We use anything that has value to the dog, like toys or games. We tend to fade the use of food as a reinforcement pretty early, once the dog grasps a concept, and replace it with a more tangible reward. We employ many scientifically sound principles in our training, but we are not married to one philosophy, nor do we engage in rhetoric or dogma. We train dogs.
We advocate for results-based dog training, in a timely manner and do not engage in the rhetoric of “positive”, “negative”, “punishment based” or “fear”. We are well-versed in the use of all contemporary training philosophies and tools and are able to create a unique experience for our training clients, one that helps them meet their goals and expectations.
The intelligent use of reinforcement to motivate willing cooperation creates thoughtful, well-trained problem solvers that are a pleasure to own. We create positive relationships where none existed and improve those relationships where conflict has taken the place of companionship.
What training tools do you use?
We use a variety of tools to help facilitate communication between dog and owner. We follow a policy of “Least Invasive, Minimally Aversive” with all of our training, regardless of tool use. A training device is simply a tool like any other. It’s principle role is to disable the dogs’ ability to escape or avoid something it doesn’t want to do. We don’t yank on dogs or beat them up with collars, but enable them to discover boundaries in a thoughtful way. We have several great videos that show the equipment we use and clearly the dogs are working happily. You can view them on our FaceBook page or the many videos we post daily on our YouTube Channel.
Will my dog always have to wear training gear?
Our goal is to teach the dog right action so we can fade the use of the tool altogether. Through the way we train, you are taught precisely how to get your dog free of tools that simply manage his behavior. We select tools that help you control your dog more effectively throughout the training process. We don’t limit ourselves by using only one type of tool. Dogs are as unique as fingerprints. What may work for one, may not work for another. Being able to select based on the dog and the owner’s ability to control him, is a strategy that has served us successfully. With the appropriate guidance, any tool can be used safely and humanely.
Will my dog always have to wear equipment?
Our goal is to teach the dog right action so we can fade the use of the tool altogether. Through the way we train, you are taught precisely how to get your dog free of tools that simply manage his behavior. We select tools that help you control your dog more effectively throughout the training process. We don’t limit ourselves by using only one type of tool. Dogs are as unique as fingerprints. What may work for one, may not work for another. Being able to select based on the dog and the owner’s ability to control him, is a strategy that has served us successfully. With the appropriate guidance, any tool can be used safely and humanely.
Do you offer any other training options?
We offer a variety of training programs that enable you to choose based on your availability, comfort level and price range. We offer private training and online training as well. The boot camp option puts the ‘heavy lifting’ on your trainer to do the bulk of the work, while the private training and on-line options require you to find the time and do the work yourself. Each one has a trade-off. Boot camp offers results faster, private training is beneficial for owners that wish to learn along with their dog, and the online option enables the owner to work at their own pace.
Will my dog's personality change?
Your dog’s personality will remain intact. What will change is his behavior. Which is essentially, the point of training, right?
What can I expect my dog to know after training?
A better question would be what can YOU expect to know after training. You and your dog will have been introduced to basic obedience commands, like heel, sit, down, and to come when called, but you will need to continue reinforcing those commands. The duration of the training and how frequently these skil are practiced determines how fluently your dog performs these exercises. Training the dog is only part of the equation. Teaching owners how to be more effective communicators is the real task. Your continual daily practice will help him develop lasting memory.
As with any learned task, what you don’t use, you lose, and it is the same with dogs. Your persistent practice of the things your dog has learned on a daily basis will help keep him trained.
What kind of training do you do?
We train dogs. We don’t get into mental gymnastics about methods or tools, ‘positive only'” or “balanced” training discussions. Training ‘methods’ are as varied and unique as the dogs themselves, with each dog determining the best way to teach. Just like human children (and even adults), everybody learns differently, so it takes experience and the nuanced applications of skills created and practiced over time to best determine how to approace each dog, and each problem.
Although the results may seem pretty similar, how one achieves that is always a unique path!
Where can I find your price list?
We do not publish our prices for the same reason your mechanic, dentist or contractor doesn’t. Every encounter is different, and often the scope of the work or the lenght of time until completion is going to look different for each individual. We want to speak with you in person to deterine if we are a good ‘fit’ for each other and if we can provide you with a program that will help you. We work with dogs of all personality types and behavior issues, but occasionally an in-person evaluation is neccessary to make that determination.
What makes Lionheart K9 stand out?
Let’s start with over 50 years of experience.
Linda is an endorsed member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, which is the oldest organization of it’s kind in the world. Membership in this organization isn’t assured, as each applicant is examined through a rigorous process that truly measures ones competence with training dogs, and their ability to instruct others effectively.
Our specialty is our desire to help owners create happy, willing companions that are a pleasure to own. Using proven concepts to change their dogs’ behavior humanely and permanently, we enable owners to really enjoy their dogs, including them in activities other people can only dream about, easily, and without conflict!
Linda has achieved international recognition through her work with puppies and young dogs and remains dedicated to studying how dogs learn and how to maximize their potential.
We are committed to your progress
We have been in business since 1979 contiguously, and have handled thousands of dogs in a variety of disciplines, including upland bird dogs, retrievers, and AKC Obedience and Conformation handling.