The call owners take when they've run out of easier answers.
This is the call for owners of difficult, misunderstood, or complex dogs. Owners who have tried 2, 3, or 4 trainers and are ready for someone who actually specializes in this.
This call is free. It's not a freebie.
Most 50-minute consults with a specialist in reactivity, anxiety, and aggression cost $150-$250. Mine doesn't, because most of the people I want to talk to have already spent that money on trainers who didn't help. Show up. Bring your dog's real story. I'll bring everything I know.
Booked by owners across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and Europe.
Watch this short video to learn more.
Who this call is for
This is a specialist call. Let's be honest about who it serves.
The consult is high-touch and direct. If your situation fits below, you're in exactly the right place. If it doesn't, we'll point you somewhere better.
This is for you if…
Book the consult
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Aggression, bite history, dog-on-dog fighting, or resource guarding.
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Reactivity that hasn't budged with force-free or tool-based approaches.
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Panic, anxiety, or a dog who can't settle in their own home.
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Complex cases where 2 or 3 trainers have already tried.
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You're considering board & train but want to be sure it's the right move.
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You want private, unlimited 1-on-1 lessons with Joel directly.
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Your situation just doesn't fit a self-paced course or a group class.
Your issue is leash pulling or walk-only problems.Better fit: Fix the Walk →
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You're looking for a magic quick fix.
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You want to be told you're doing everything right.
How the consult works
Here's exactly what happens on the call
No sales pitch. No pressure to buy anything. Here's the 50 minutes, step by step:
1
You explain what's happening with your dog.
The behaviors, the history, what you've tried, what's making you crazy. I mostly listen.
2
I ask questions.
Specific ones. Because your dog isn't every dog, and I need to understand the actual pattern before I can tell you anything useful.
3
I tell you what I'd do.
Not in vague trainer-speak. The actual plan - what to work on first, what to stop doing, what the path looks like.
4
We talk about what success looks like for your household.
Not "your dog will be perfect." Real, specific outcomes that would change your life with this dog.
5
If we're a fit, I show you the options. If we're not, I tell you that too.
Some dogs need something I don't offer. Some owners aren't ready. Some cases need a vet behaviorist first. I'll be honest either way.
In-person or virtual
Two ways to have the call. Both are the real thing.
In-person
Sharpsburg, GA · 30 miles south of Atlanta
I evaluate your dog in real time — watching behavior, body language, and how they read the environment.
Just south of Atlanta, an easy drive for the metro area.
Proof of current vaccinations required.
Choose "In-person" as the option when you book below.
Virtual
Zoom · From anywhere in the world
We'll have a conversation about the behavior. If there's something you want me to see, send me a video before your appointment.
Joel has clients in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and across Europe.
You get the same depth of thinking, the same plan, and the same breakthroughs.
No travel, no waiting — book a slot and hop on.
The method
One method. Every dog.
Play is mother nature's teaching tool. Every skill your dog needs — attention, motivation, confidence, emotional control, a great relationship with you — is built through play, not drilled through obedience. That's why the training sticks. That's why the walks feel different. That's why the dog you're living with in 6 months feels like a different animal. It's not magic. It's play, used on purpose.
Everything Joel does — private lessons, board and train, Digital Dog School, Fix the Walk — runs on the same method: the Trust to Train Relationship Reset.
"My dog doesn't play."
There can be lots of different reasons why dogs don't play. Whatever your dog's reasons are, this is not something to be overlooked. Play is basically experimentation that happens when a being feels safe enough to do so — whether they don't feel safe, don't understand, or don't see the point. Finding something they love and giving it to them regularly to help them build confidence, motivation, and most importantly a stronger relationship IS THE PATH TO SUCCESS.
Real lesson preview
Watch a real lesson. Edited to tell the story, not to look impressive.
Before you book, watch a two-minute clip from an actual coaching session. It's not edited to look impressive. It's just what a lesson looks like when the camera happens to be on.
What happens after the call
This is the front door to everything Joel offers 1-on-1.
Board & Train and Private Unlimited Lessons both start here. So does DIY. The consult is where Joel figures out which one is actually right for you.
1:1
Private Unlimited Lessons with Joel
Unlimited 1-on-1 private lessons start at $995. Payment plans available. Digital Dog School is included.
B&T
Board & Train
Board and train programs start at $2,150. Priced by case, length, and dog. Discussed on the call.
Whatever the right move is, you'll leave the call knowing.
Case study
Luna's Story
8 homes, 2 vet behaviorists, and 3 trainers before we finally started finding success. This is what a consult with Joel unlocked.
"Hey Joel! I'm Luna's Dad and Deb's husband. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time and effort to speak with Deb last night about Luna and providing her some guidance and ideas for Luna. I must tell you that I've never seen Deb so excited, charged up, so elated about any trainer or program than yours. It looked like the weight of the world on her shoulders concerning Luna prior to your meeting last night. She has a renewed vigour now about Luna and it's amazing to see."
"In truth, all of this is because of Deb. She's spent countless hours with Luna just to get her to this point. There were many times at the beginning that all of us wondered what did we just get ourselves into, but Deb and Luna have bonded hard together and Luna absolutely loves her mom. Deb is the first person that Luna rubs to for comfort, love and security when big scary things come out. I know you two will do great things together for Luna."
Case study
Inky's Story
Inky's family had already been through two trainers and a vet behaviorist before Joel. Anxiety. Sudden inter-dog aggression. Hyper-fixation. This is what happened when they stopped trying to fix the behavior and started rebuilding the relationship.
1.5 years later — the biggest win yet
@inkyinkblot @Scoob & I Dog training @Leah McManus 1.5 years of putting in the work. Through tears, failures, small wins, and baby steps of progress, board & train helped us progress pass big hurdles, but we still had a lot of work to do. We finally got the biggest win yet. 🙌💪 #dogtraining#nevergiveup#pitbull#fyp♬ A Simple Life - Morunas
Real owners · real consults
The owners who booked this call had already tried everything.
Not stock testimonials. Actual reviews from owners who found Joel after other trainers, classes, and even vet behaviorists. Tap any to read the whole thing.
Catie (@catieosaurus) on working with Joel
Before you book
The honest answers to what you're wondering.
How much does the consult cost?
It's free. 50 minutes with Joel. That's not a typo — the call is currently free, and it's a real diagnostic conversation, not a rushed sales pitch.
What if my case is really extreme?
That's exactly who this call is for. Aggression, bite history, dog fighting, panic — the cases other trainers won't touch are the ones Joel specializes in.
What if I'm not sure it's extreme enough?
Book anyway. If it's a better fit for Fix the Walk or Digital Dog School, Joel will tell you honestly. You don't have to earn your way onto this call.
Do you take international clients?
Yes. Joel regularly works with clients in Canada, the U.K., Australia, and across Europe. Virtual consults work beautifully — often better, because he sees your dog in your actual home.
Can I bring my dog to the in-person consult?
Yes — that's the point. The in-person visit includes a walk together so Joel can see your dog in real conditions. Proof of current vaccinations is required.
Is there any obligation to book something after?
No. Book the consult, take the plan, and do what you want with it. If working together is the right move, you'll know — but there's no pressure.
What if I already have a trainer?
If you're already in a training program and everything is going well, STAY THERE. Many dog trainers develop their own style and process — or if they didn't, they learned from someone who did. From one trainer to another, it's not always better or worse — maybe just different. Which means consulting with 2 different trainers could just end up being more confusing for you and the dog.
If you're unhappy with your current progress, or want to know if there's more that can be done for your dog, then you should ABSOLUTELY book a call.
