Leash Reactive Dog Board and Train in the Bay Area

 Leash Reactive Dog Training with a Certified Trainer Specializing in Reactive Dogs

For dogs who bark, lunge, or struggle to stay calm on leash. Choose between Board & Train and Day School.

Walking a leash reactive dog is exhausting. The constant scanning, the tight grip, the embarrassment when your dog loses it in front of the neighbors. You’ve probably tried everything — different routes, different equipment, YouTube videos. And your dog is still struggling.

Board & Train and Day School take the daily grind off your plate. Your dog trains with KT every week while you get breathing room. When you pick them up, you get the tools, the practice work, and the support to keep the progress going at home.

What’s the Difference Between Board & Train and Day School?

Both programs use the same training approach, goals, and support. The only difference is format. Board & Train means your dog stays with KT at her home during training days, ideal if daily drop-offs don’t work for your schedule. Day School means your dog attends training during the day and comes home each evening, ideal if you want your dog home every night.

Both Programs Include:

  • Weekly practice work
  • Weekly troubleshooting sessions
  • Private coaching sessions
  • Direct trainer access outside of scheduled sessions
  • Private online community
  • Monthly support groups
  • Twice-monthly group hikes
  • Self-care days for pet parents

Which One Is Right for You?

Both options build calmer leash behavior, confidence, and a dog who can mind their own business on walks. The best choice depends on your dog’s needs and your daily commute availability. Not sure which format is right for you?  We’ll help you figure it out.

What The Program Covers

Through hands-on daily training, we help your dog replace barking and lunging with calmer, more reliable behavior. This program builds a strong foundation for neighborhood walks and the skills needed to progress to About Town. Rather than focusing on quick fixes, we address why your dog reacts and build skills that hold up in real-world situations using KT’s signature D.I.E.S.E.L Protocol.

Everything you need to feel confident and prepared on neighborhood walks.

Skills We Teach Your Dog

  • Strategies to prevent over reaction and setback on the walks

  • Calmer responses to replace barking and lunging with calmness

  • Choosing to look away and mind their ow business insteasd of overreacting to other dogs, people, cars etc.,

  • Stayig calm whe unexpected thigs happen on the walks

  • Improved engagement with their handler on walks

  • Loose leash walking in the neighborhood

  • Emotional regulation and self-control during neighborhood walks

  • Relaxation skills, including settling calmly in distracting environments

Tools You’ll Learn to Guide Your Dog

  • Understand your dog’s body language so you can step in before thigs escalate

  • Leash handling skills that keep you and your dog calm and conected walks

  • Emergency exit strategies to safely to safely move away before your dog over reacts

  • How to meet your dog’s daily needs for exercise, mental enrichment, and calming activities so they are set up for success on walks

  • How to stay calm and  guide your dog calmly past other dogs, people, cars, and unexpected distractions

Program Options and Investment

Leash reactivity changes with consistent, professional support. Our programs provide the structure, repetition, and real-world practice most dogs need to make lasting progress.

Board & Train: 6 weeks | $6,600 Your dog stays with KT at her home Monday through Wednesday for six weeks, with focused hands-on training every day.

Day School: 8 weeks | $6,600 Your dog attends training Monday through Wednesday for eight weeks, building calm leash skills while coming home each evening.

What’s Included in Both Programs:

  • Weekly 45-minute troubleshooting session at pickup
  • Four 45-minute private in-home training sessions
  • Direct access to KT between training days. Call or text anytime
  • One month of complimentary access to the Reactive to Distinguished Dogz membership after graduation
  • Three months of post-training email and phone support

Please note: Dogs with more established reactive patterns may require additional training time. This program focuses on leash reactivity and does not cover household or public manners.

Not ready to commit to the whole program? Start with an Initial Consultation & Goal Setting Session (1 hour 30 minutes): $420

Why Leash Reactivity Happens

Leash reactivity isn’t bad behavior. It’s an emotional response. Whether driven by frustration, fear, or over-excitement, your dog overreacts because they don’t yet know how to handle the situation differently.

Our goal isn’t to suppress the behavior. It’s to change how your dog feels about the things that set them off, so they can stay calm and mind their own business on walks. That’s the foundation of KT’s signature D.I.E.S.E.L Protocol, developed through 14 years of working with leash reactive dogs across the Bay Area.

Leash reactivity doesn’t have to control your life or your walks. Our Board & Train and Day School programs take on the intensive daily training so you can start enjoying outings again.

What Our Clients Say

Aussie was one of those dogs that made walks feel like an extreme sport. Reactive doesn’t even cover it. After working with Kaajal for the past couple years, I actually enjoy walking him now. What I really like about Kaajal’s approach is that she doesn’t just slap a band-aid on problem behaviors. She digs into the why behind what your dog is doing, which honestly makes way more sense than just yelling “no” all the time.

Her positive reinforcement methods work, and she’s really good at teaching you (the human) how to not accidentally mess things up.

Divya R, Mom of Aussie, a Cavapoo

I needed help with my fear-reactive (barking/lunging) mini Aussie who is afraid of both strangers and strange dogs. KT has not only helped me work on how to train my pup and improve his confidence and reactivity, but she has also really been there for me emotionally.

I can’t recommend KT’s services enough. Whether you’re dealing with a fear-reactive dog, or just raising your young pup – her focus on behavior really helps the dogs learn not only to listen but to be calm and confident both at home and out in the world. And ultimately, that’s really all you need.

motivating-thumb-dogAnn N, mom of Max, a Mini Aussie