Pack Leader Help is a dog behaviorist and training service based in Alexandria VA, serving Northern Virginia and the DMV area.
We specialize in reactive dogs, dog aggression, leash reactivity, and behavior modification for dogs with serious or persistent behavior issues. With over 15 years of experience, we work with owners to understand what is driving their dog’s behavior and how to create clear, reliable change through structured, real world training.
We offer private dog training, in home training, and behavior evaluations tailored to each dog and household.
Our goal is simple: help you live with a calmer, more manageable dog you can trust in real life.
Training & services
Training goals
Behavior consultationProgram details
Structured training to change unwanted behaviors at the root, including aggression, fear, and reactivity.
Obedience training
Puppy trainingProgram details
Foundational training for puppies including structure, socialization, and early behavior development.
Socialization
Behavior support
Aggression trainingProgram details
Dogs showing aggression toward people or other dogs. Behavior modification training in Alexandria VA.
Reactivity trainingProgram details
For dogs that bark, lunge, or overreact on leash. Serving Alexandria VA and surrounding areas.
Resource guarding
Separation anxietyProgram details
Support for dogs struggling with being alone, including structured plans to reduce stress and destructive behavior.
How training happens
Board and train
Group classesProgram details
Work on your dog's reactivity with dog group class training in Alexandria, VA.
In-home trainingProgram details
Private sessions in your home focused on real world behavior issues and structure in Alexandria, VA.
Online or virtual trainingCustomer-reported
Private training
Dog age
Puppies
Support between sessions
Homework and practiceCustomer-reported
Other listed services
View 2 additional details
Dog BehavioristProgram details
Behavior specialist for anxiety, reactivity, and aggression cases in Northern Virginia.
Dog Trainer Near Me
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Questions & answers
From Google
What people have asked about this business.
How will behavioral training help my dog with reactivity?
Reactivity is a symptom, not the problem. Most training is focused on getting the dog to "heel" or doing obedience while the dog is highly aroused and stressed. We focus on building clear communication and a healthy rapport with the dog parent and more importantly, we address how the dog behaves at home where 90% of behavioral problems start and end. This is often the missing piece to training is not recognizing how all the small day to day interactions at home either make or break a dog's overall behavior. We create training plans that are realistic for both human and dog- not just cookie cutter.
Do you offer aggression dog or reactive dog training focused on behavior?
Yes, all of our training programs are focused on behavior and emotions first. Meaning, we are interested in resolving the root of behaviors like reactivity, aggression pulling etc. Most of the clients who come to PLH have already been through 1 or more failed training program because much of the training was focused on symptom management.
Can you train my dog to become my PTSD service animal?
Hi Harper,
Unfortunately, we do not train service animals we offer rehabilitation and training for dogs with behavioral issues and for puppies to create calm on command dogs.
5/5Brianna’s knowledge, both virtual sessions and free content she provides has been life changing. I found Pack Leader Help after many failed sessions with other trainers for my human and dog aggressive dog. After that dog passed, I was able to to apply my foundational knowledge to…Read full reviewClose full review
Brianna’s knowledge, both virtual sessions and free content she provides has been life changing. I found Pack Leader Help after many failed sessions with other trainers for my human and dog aggressive dog. After that dog passed, I was able to to apply my foundational knowledge to the newest member of my family. She helped me work through my own insecurities with dog behavior, and overall has made me love working and training my pup. I recommended her to every dog owner out there!
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Megan McMillan
5/5Abby has been a lifesaver. After working with 3 different trainers we finally found THE one. She has been amazing in helping us with our 2 year old Golden Doodle who is incredibly reactive with strangers and dogs. It was impossible to walk him and have a chat with a neighbor. Com…Read full reviewClose full review
Abby has been a lifesaver. After working with 3 different trainers we finally found THE one. She has been amazing in helping us with our 2 year old Golden Doodle who is incredibly reactive with strangers and dogs. It was impossible to walk him and have a chat with a neighbor. Completely impossible to have someone new in our home. Abby gave us the psychology behind his reactivity and helped us understand the difference between obedience and behavior. She has been great about working with our family of 5. She’s able to field all our rapid fire questions with patience. Abby trains the humans with kindness and non-judgement while still helping us be accountable. I cannot recommend Abby and PLH enough! It has been life changing for us and our pup.
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Fernanda Reh
5/5I highly recommend Pack Leader Help!! I can’t thank Brianna enough for helping me with my fearful/aggressive dog. She helped me to gain my dog trust back after going through a bad training. My dog is a completely different dog after Brianna’s methodologies training. She is a happ…Read full reviewClose full review
I highly recommend Pack Leader Help!! I can’t thank Brianna enough for helping me with my fearful/aggressive dog. She helped me to gain my dog trust back after going through a bad training. My dog is a completely different dog after Brianna’s methodologies training. She is a happy, relaxed and more confident dog! Brianna is also very caring person and she is always willing to help me at any time I reach out to her.
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Emily Schweitzer
5/5
Absolutely amazing and beyond patient for our reactive rescue dog! Provided homework and support throughout sessions and always available for questions!
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Alice Fornari
5/5Brianna has given me the tools to improve my communication, confidence, and understanding of my dog with human aggression and reactivity. She is one of the most intelligent people in the business. Training a high energy, anxious dog is not an easy feat, but Brianna and her team h…Read full reviewClose full review
Brianna has given me the tools to improve my communication, confidence, and understanding of my dog with human aggression and reactivity. She is one of the most intelligent people in the business. Training a high energy, anxious dog is not an easy feat, but Brianna and her team have broken down drills and psychology in a palatable and approachable way. Not to mention they are the nicest, most personable team that cares about building human-dog relationships. What more could you want/need? I can’t rave about them enough, they truly have changed my life and I'm indebted to the hard work they all do! At the end of the day, you have to be willing to put in the work, consistently, and repeatedly to see results, and they help you to get though all the sticky moments!
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.
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