Central Florida Dog Training and Rehabilitation

Pulling, barking, jumping, out of control puppy or Dog?

Our most popular and highly successful Board and Train is where wild pups learn to be calm, obedient, happy, and well behaved!

DOG TRAINING IN ORLANDO, OVIEDO, WINTER SPRINGS, WINTER PARK, WINDERMERE, WINTER GARDEN, & SURROUNDING CENTRAL FLORIDA AREAS

 I started Take the Lead with the goal of creating harmonious relationships between humans and dogs.  Dogs have a language all of their own and my goal is to help owners bridge the gap in communication.  The first step to strengthening our relationship with our dogs is understanding what they are telling us, but most importantly what we REALLY have been saying to them.   Dogs can be such a joy in our lives, but they can also be an equal nightmare!  I know it's not a lack of trying when it comes to families trying to improve their dog's behavior, in the end it's just missed communication of expectations between human and dog! The good news is, with the right training it doesn't have to be like that forever!

 Together, we will take a hands on approach to building a great foundation with your new puppy or finding a solution to resolve the problems you are having with your dog!  Take the Lead K9 Training offers virtual sessions or board and train services for obedience training, puppy training, and dog behavior modification.  I know how important it is for your dog or puppy to be a well behaved member of your family!

I will help you start your new puppy off on the right paw, with crate training, potty training, important socialization experiences, and foundational basic commands. We will work together to resolve a variety of dog behavioral issues like not listening, jumping up, barking, biting, chewing, running away, chasing the cat, pulling on leash, not coming when called, aggression, and anxiety.  I teach basic dog obedience, such as proper leash walking, sit, down, extended stay, and recall to puppies and adult dogs alike!  I also train off leash advanced obedience with low level remote collar training, where your dog will respond to you off leash with high levels of distraction.  Big or small, your dog can learn and listen to you - in public, around distractions, off-leash, and without having to always have a treat to get your dog's good behavior!

My unique method of balanced dog training brings peace and harmony into the lives of committed clients and their families, who understand that real change is possible when the right approach to their dog's behavior is consistently applied and practiced.  My programs serve to bridge the gap between human and dog communication, by helping you and your dog improve your relationship and bring peace into your life!  I can relate to many of my clients, because I too used to struggle with my dogs and tried many different training methods that were not effective for us.  I am so fortunate that I am able to help my clients - especially those who have tried other training already - find a successful program that gives them consistency, peace of mind, predictability, and a lifestyle that they can enjoy with their dog and family.

I want to provide the help, answers, and hope for dog owners who are struggling, by giving them the compassion and understanding that they deserve.  I am looking for amazing clients who are looking forward to and are really excited about helping their dog,  their family, and ultimately themselves! If you are curious about what we offer or what it is like working with us, make sure to view our very active Facebook and Instagram Pages - I utilize social media to help current and potential clients see me working hands on with dogs, the methods we use, and to help continue education through daily videos and posts. I aim to be as transparent as possible when it comes to what I do, so that folks can see it doesn't have to take months or years to change behaviors and that dogs can learn fast (and have fun in the process)! The success of my clients following our work together is of upmost importance, so we offer many continuing education events like monthly Pack Walks and Group Classes, as well as daily educational posts on Take the Lead's Facebook page. I have helped many families and their dogs, and I can help you, too! I look forward to working with you :)

Leash Reactivity can be so challenging and embarrassing - stop barking and lunging on walks!

Start building a great foundation early and have an amazing puppy for life!

6 month old labrador puppy off leash with DISTRACTIONS!

 

Check out the links to know more about our training programs to get you and your dog on the right track! 

Click HERE for BOARD AND TRAIN | Click HERE for HOW-TO DOG TRAINING VIDEOS

New Puppy? 

Check out our BLOG for lots of information about potty training, crate training, developing a routine to help your puppy learn the ropes, socialization, and what you can to do start your pup on the right paw! Click HERE for information on out training programs for puppies and young dogs!

Virtual Dog Training

VIRTUAL DOG TRAINING PROGRAMS!

Do you live outside of the Orlando Florida area?

Take the Lead is now offering VIRTUAL DOG TRAINING options to help your family get your dog’s behavior moving in the right direction!

There are programs for dogs of all ages and behaviors - we can’t wait to help you!

Hire us from anywhere in the US or worldwide

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!
 

Want to know even more?!  FOLLOW my pack and I on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for DAILY dog training tips, videos, photos, free how-to training tutorials, and lots of other great stuff! 

Bailey MIGHT be having some fun at training ;) He's enjoying Saturplay with the spring break crew - Ghost seems to be his best buddy!
Bailey MIGHT be having some fun at training ;) He's enjoying Saturplay with the spring break crew - Ghost seems to be his best buddy!
Mark your calander! We've got another Free Pack Walk scheduled in two weeks on March 30th! These pack walks are open to all clients and non clients (who use appropriate training tools and are working on their dog's behavior) - to practice their leas
Mark your calander! We've got another Free Pack Walk scheduled in two weeks on March 30th! These pack walks are open to all clients and non clients (who use appropriate training tools and are working on their dog's behavior) - to practice their leash work in a new place with distractions and amongst a supportive community! We'd be happy to have you join us :) Follow the link in our BIO to sign up
It can be a frustrating reality, but the behaviors we see from our dogs ultimately come down to us...and the role we play in them. Some things, we know it's our own doing. Like begging at the table during meals? Well, if we've shared some snacks off
It can be a frustrating reality, but the behaviors we see from our dogs ultimately come down to us...and the role we play in them. Some things, we know it's our own doing. Like begging at the table during meals? Well, if we've shared some snacks off our plate- it's not surprising we have a dog who expects it regularly. Things with obvious reinforcement (like food or praise) tend to easily be identified as a behavior we've created in our dog. What about excessive barking? Resource guarding? Leash Reactivity? Aggression? Seperation Anxiety? Those things we definitely didn't try to encourage, let alone reinforce on purpose! While the is true, unfortunately, the environment that your dog has lived in and the role they have within that family unit reinforces behavior - without it being so obvious as getting a food reward for doing it. Shaping you dog's behavior is not only about the obvious "yes" and food/praise reinforce - there are a million moments between those obvious food reinforcement times that are leading up to and permitting, if not encouraging, the bad behavior. If our dog is not receiving meaningful feedback for the behavior, it will continue. If we don't correct, interrupt, change our behavior, and sometimes ask for help from a professional, those bad behaviors can and will continue. If we don't say "no" in a way that our dog understands, then the lack of "no" tends to mean "yes." The solution may take a lot more time, multiple approaches, and absolutely will require a change in OUR behavior and strategy with our dog, but the simplicity is that it's not our dog's issue - it's what we will, or will not, allow or our dog to do...and what are we going to do about it :)
Mr. Bailey is trucking right along through training! We are continuing his ecollar training by layering low level pressure over his commands of come, place, and down! Good boy!
Do you have a dog who's driving you crazy? 🤪 You love them so much, but living with them is becoming more difficult and stressful because of their behavior - whether it's pulling and barking on the leash, jumping up om friends and family, chasing the cat, running off and not coming when called, being destructive, barking all the time, having accidents inside, or even more serious stuff like aggression or anxiety...it can feel a bit overwhelming! At Take the Lead, we love helping families achieve their training and behavior goals with their dogs! Not only do we work diligently with your beloved pup to teach them all new skills and manners, but we also teach YOU along the way so that you can keep up with everything consistently at home! Let us help your family live their best life with your dog! #dogtraining #orlandodogtrainer #orlando #windermere #centralflorida #puppytraining #centralfloridadogtrainer #winterpark #oviedo #wintergarden #smallbusiness #dogtrainer #floridadogtraining #orlandodogtraining
Bailey the cockapoo is doing a great job today as we introduce the place and down commands! These are the foundation of impulse control and an important in helping him be well behaved at home. Good boy!
Love birds! Thor the Malinos wrapped up his last day of training today, but before his go home lesson with dad, he had a chance to play with his favorite girlfriend...Coco! Coco the Shepherd trained with us when she was a puppy, and her family has k
Love birds! Thor the Malinos wrapped up his last day of training today, but before his go home lesson with dad, he had a chance to play with his favorite girlfriend...Coco! Coco the Shepherd trained with us when she was a puppy, and her family has kept up with her training and let's Coco visit once a week for daycare! She met Thor last week and they hit it off, so it was a real treat to let these two sheppies enjoy some time together before he left! They ran, they played, and we practiced recall - a great way to work on our listening skills and social skills! Thor is back at home after our go home lesson, and dad already reports he's settling into place and practicing all his new skills :)
According to Biscuit's owners, she's been pretty bad about guarding her food from the cats at home. While we think dogs need to eat and be left alone while they do so, Biscuit was guarding her bowl that stayed down and full of food inside the house -
According to Biscuit's owners, she's been pretty bad about guarding her food from the cats at home. While we think dogs need to eat and be left alone while they do so, Biscuit was guarding her bowl that stayed down and full of food inside the house - she would graze as she wanted but charge across the house if she saw a cat go near it - even when she wasn't eating! We've got Biscuit on meals now, so there's no need for leaving the bowl down and being a point of friction - but we still want to make sure she can behave around resources. Good girl!
Victoria Smith Dog Trainer
 
 
Family Dog Training
Pack Walks Orlando Florida

Take the Lead K9 Training services the Central Florida area including Orlando, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Casselberry, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Winter Park, Apopka, Geneva, Heathrow, Lake Mary, Sanford, UCF area, College Park, Wekiva Springs, and Maitland.