Nova Pack Dog Training LLC

Much appreciated with Stephen from NoVa Pack Dog Training. He is the top dog trainer with extended knowledge in dog training as well as human training 😉 if you are looking for help with your dog he is your go to trainer.

We did a three week board and train for our two dogs (90 lb Lab mix, age 4 and 65 lb pittie mix, age 1) and could not be happier with the results. I am a 5 ft 4" lady in my 50s who is in decent shape but was getting pulled down the street on every walk by 155 pounds of dog! I've had several back surgeries and it was becoming painful and near impossible to keep my dogs reigned in during walks -- it was constant pulling and being yanked in different directions to sniff or pee on things and it was painful and exhausting. Not only was it tough on my back being half-dragged down the street during our walks, but I also was hurting my hands by having their leads wrapped so tightly around my palms while I tried to maintain some semblance of control. The final straw: when I reached out to Nova Pack in mid-October, my dogs had tripped me during a walk and I fell and injured myself. I was literally laying across the sidewalk in tears and with all sorts of cuss words coming out of my mouth in pain and frustration! I limped back home and vowed to myself that I was going to get the right trainer for these dogs so that we could enjoy our walks and I would not get hurt. It wasn't that we hadn't tried before… Our older dog had done some successful training when he was a puppy, and with both our dogs, I was trying to work with them using step-by-step videos and all kinds of guides I found on the Internet. At the end of the day, I realized they really needed a reset with somebody who was an expert. Stephen can really speak dog, and the boarding time with him meant my dogs had someone who could spend the time to work with them and set up training for their unique temperament and motivations. This meant that each of my dogs had different types of leads and collars and ways that they were rewarded -- one size definitely does not fit all! We were away on vacation for the first two weeks of our board and train (highly recommend this since you're going to pay for dog sitting anyway), so we didn't get to work with the dogs in person until the start of week three. However, Stephen had a ton of videos and status reports that he shared with us so we could see their progress. I was very hopeful that we would see some progress when we had our first meet up with the dogs, and that my husband and I could learn the Jedi master ways of Stephen (🤩). I honestly gasped the first time I saw each of my dogs walk on their leash. The leash was slack. There was no pulling. The dog was right beside the Stephen. They were constantly looking up at him to pay attention to his gait and his voice and whether he was moving fast or slow or turning. I simply could not believe the amount of positive change that had happened in just two weeks. Stephen then taught us how to think more like the dogs and understand their motivations and how to correct them and reward them when they make the right choice. I've definitely learned a lot, and in fact some of the things I thought I was doing right ended up being counterintuitive. I'm thrilled to say that we no longer own sled dogs who want to go as fast as possible down the street, or freak out at a squirrel, or lunge in front of me to mark territory. We have proper gentlemen who are still very much their doggy selves but understand self-control when needed. I was a tiny bit nervous about leaving my dogs for three whole weeks (because I'd miss them, but also because I wanted to make sure we had chosen a trainer who would be positive and kind, but firm). We vetted a number of different training options, including places that had many trainers and bigger operations. In hindsight, I'm really glad that we went for an individual trainer so that the dogs have absolute consistency in how they are trained, and they are in a place where there can be fewer doggy clients who get more attention. We have never been able to take our dogs out on a hike or in the town and just have them chill out while we are sitting outdoors at a restaurant, and I finally think we are ready to go this spring when it gets nice out. Success!

Steve definitely has the talent to understand dogs' behavior! He is very knowledgeable to introduce proper collar, leash, or even e collar at different stages. I wish I knew him when my German Shepperd was a puppy! Steve trained me and my dog patiently; I am very satisfied with the result!

Our 15 month English Bulldog, Dozer was very excitable, knocking us over on walks and had way to much energy when meeting other dogs. We worked with Stephen through in person training at our house, which taught me and my husband the best way to train our dog and then we did the day training program where Dozer got tons of reinforcement and learned new skills at his trainers home twice a week. We have a much calmer pup now. We actually enjoying walking him now, we are able to go to coffee shops and him lay at our feet and hang out and he is doing so much better when we hang out with his doggy friends. We are so happy we went with Nova Pack dog training. I couldn’t recommend Stephen enough. We learned so much through this experience and will keep coming back!

We wouldn't have a dog if it wasn't for Stephen. We rescued a puppy and we were not prepared for her special needs. We were about to make the difficult decision and return her to the shelter, but we reached out to Stephen first. We were skeptical about board and train programs because us HUMANS need just as much training as the dogs do, and Stephen was the only business I could find that even considered doing a hybrid program. After the meet and greet we knew right away he was a perfect fit. He is always available to answer my questions and truly wants you and your dog to succeed. Our girl isn't perfect after the program - but she was never supposed to be. We all now have the foundations and tools to be able to work together and continue to learn as she grows into adulthood. We almost had to give her up, but because of Stephen, I'm thrilled to say she's stuck with us forever.