★★★★★ GOOGLE REVIEW
"Not obedience, but guiding and coaching with understanding and compassion to work through behavior hurdles. She is such a beacon of knowledge and an incredible teacher and mentor."
Ashley Badgley · Life Skills Group Class
WHAT KIND OF HELP DO YOU NEED?
Choose the right path for you and your dog.
Every situation is different. Virtual consultations are available year-round from anywhere. In-person classes are held in Johannesburg, Michigan, serving Gaylord, Petoskey, Traverse City, and the greater Northern Michigan area.
YEAR-ROUND · VIRTUAL
FOR: BEHAVIOR CONCERNS, ANY AGE DOG
Family Dog Mediation
You're dealing with something that feels confusing, difficult, or serious: growling, biting, fear, anxiety, tension between dogs, something that came out of nowhere. You need a real picture of what's happening and a practical path forward.
A one-hour virtual consultation that helps you understand your dog's behavior, identify what needs to change, and leave with a practical plan for moving forward.
Many cases resolve in a single session.
$200 · 1-hour consultation + 15-min follow-up · Virtual via Zoom · Available year-round
SEASONAL · IN-PERSON · NORTHERN MICHIGAN
FOR: DOGS READY FOR REAL-WORLD PRACTICE
Life Skills Group Class
Your dog is doing okay but struggles when it counts: out in the world, around distractions, when routines shift. You want connection, loose leash walking, reliable check-ins, and the skills that make daily life easier.
The program begins with an online video curriculum and then continues with four in-person group classes in Johannesburg, Michigan, just outside Gaylord.
For dogs who are ready to work in a small group setting.
Limited to 6 teams per class.
$250 · In-Person May through September 2026 · Online Year-Round · Johannesburg, MI
Clarity.
"One of the first things and probably the most important thing she did was explain the characteristics of the breed. But not only the characteristics but how they could manifest themselves in my pup's behavior. This tempered the expectations I had for my pup's life with me which greatly lessened my anxieties."
It is a process but each week that goes by my pup and I become closer and because I now understand the breed's characteristics my anxiety levels are down.
Matt Dost · ★★★★★ FAMILY DOG MEDIATION
WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT
Behavior makes more sense when you
look at the whole picture.
Your dog’s behavior is shaped by more than the moment in front of you. Genetics, learning history, environment, daily rhythm, emotional state, health, and past experience all influence what your dog does and what they are able to handle.
That is where I begin at Drop the Leash. I look at the full situation so you are not guessing or throwing random advice at the problem. You get a clearer understanding of what is happening, what needs to change, and which kind of support fits your dog, your household, and your life.
That is why this is different: the goal is not to keep you coming back. The goal is to help you understand what is happening, change what needs to change, and move forward with a plan you can actually use.
From crisis call
to the most perfect dog ever.
"I contacted Valeria after my 10 week old golden retriever attacked two of my Pomeranians. I'm 100% sure that if she hadn't answered my call, that my puppy would have gone back to the breeder that day."
My pup is now 5.5 months old and is the most perfect dog ever. He has no signs of his past problems and I believe it's all because of Valeria.
Lori + Storm · ★★★★★ FAMILY DOG MEDIATION
START HERE
Leave the call knowing exactly where to start.
A Discovery Call is a short, no-pressure call to talk through what's going on with your dog and what you're hoping life can look like instead.
I call you and ask a few questions to understand your situation and what feels most important right now. By the end of the call, you'll have clarity about what kind of support makes sense for you and your dog.
This call isn't about quick fixes or committing to anything. It's a place to get oriented, understand what matters most right now, and decide what comes next.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A conversation, not a sales call.
1 Book your call and pick a time that works for you
2 I call you and ask about your dog and your situation
3 You get clarity on what's happening & where to start
4 We decide together, no pressure
Want to share more before the call?
Complete the K9 History Form anytime. It helps focus our conversation.
★★★★★
"We got great help training our dog, and really help training us to set our dog up for success. It was over zoom which I was a little skeptical of at first, but the meeting was great and very informative. We were given some exercises to do with our pup that ended up working quickly and great!"
Randy Reddell · Family Dog Mediation
SOUND FAMILIAR?
These aren't obedience problems.
They're communication problems.
For over 30 years I've helped people across the country make sense of what their dog is actually doing and why. Through military moves, different states, and a lot of life in between. Returning to my home in Northern Michigan and virtually from anywhere. The answer is almost never more commands. It's understanding what's behind the behavior in the first place.
→ Growling, snapping, or biting
→ Tension between dogs at home
→ Not wanting to share food, toys, space, or you
→ Barking or lunging at strangers
→ Jumping, mouthing, ignoring you
→ Anxiety: pacing, whining, shaking, destruction
→ Fear, anxiety, shutdown, or big feelings
→ A new dog or puppy who needs a clearer start
→ Pulling on leash or struggling in new environments
Your dog has been trying
to tell you something.
Most people never find out what it is.
One conversation with Valeria usually changes that.
No pressure. No commitment. Just a conversation.
Virtual consultations available year-round · In-person classes in Johannesburg, MI · May–September · Serving Northern Michigan