Leading the Way Dog Training & Doggie Daycare offers all levels of training, private and group classes, board & training, doggie daycare, and overnight care. The practice focuses on addressing aggression and behavioral issues, supporting dogs and their owners for over 25 years. Certifications include training equipment such as buckle collar, clicker, treats, praise, humor, harness, gentle leader, halti, and Weiss Walkies. The training philosophy emphasizes enhancing the relationship between both ends of the leash through knowledge, compassion, and long-term client relationships using shaping.
The service area covers Western MA, CT, VT, NH, and extends to New England and the Tri-State Area. The approach is rooted in the latest scientific research on canine behavior, offering doggie daycare, all levels of training, private lessons, group classes, board & training, as well as workshops and seminars. Additionally, behavioral lectures are provided for shelters, clubs, junior handlers, conferences, and retreats on a variety of subjects.
Leading the Way Dog Training & Doggie Daycare was founded by Shannon Fitzgerald in 1992. They provide various types of training, doggie daycare, behavior assessment, and modification using the most up-to-date research and science available. Methods focus on positive reinforcement, shaping, and modifying behavior to meet client goals, with a professional experience spanning over 25 years.
The philosophy holds that dog training should be customized to meet individual goals and needs, educational, hands-on, positive, humane, easy to implement into clients’ lifestyles and households, and most importantly, fun for both the owner and the dog. Various training options are offered including private, in-home training, and group lessons throughout Western Massachusetts.
Classes and workshops are conducted in a state-of-the-art dog training facility, featuring spacious, heated, and air-conditioned training spaces in a warm and welcoming environment. All lessons and classes are designed to meet the unique needs of clients and their dogs, employing a fun, educational, hands-on approach using only humane methods.
Leading the Way offers an extensive range of class and workshop educational options, covering manners, behavioral issues, agility, tricks training and shaping, Frisbee/disc dog, Rally-O, AKC CGC, scent classes, breed handling, and other canine sports, including reactive/aggression classes and private lessons, clicker work, and more. Workshops offered include leash walking, recall training, pet nutrition, senior dog care, social play, animal behavior, massage, polite greeting
