Frequently Asked Questions

Common reasons Oakland pet parents reach out include leash pulling and reactivity, jumping up, housebreaking, excessive barking, separation anxiety, destructive behavior, and general impulse control, as well as foundational puppy training and socialization. If you're not sure whether what you're dealing with fits, the free phone consult is the easiest way to find out.

It starts with a free phone consult, so we can talk through what's going on with your dog and whether we're a good fit. From there, we schedule a Meet & Greet, which includes a behavioral assessment and some training tips. Out of that, we create a training plan with goals built specifically around your dog's needs.

Yes. Every session ends with Takeaways: a text update with Learning Points to practice before we next meet, and a note on how your dog is doing relative to the goals we set. Often a photo or two as well.

If something comes up between sessions, text or call me. I'll always respond. Training happens in the days between sessions as much as during them, so you're not left to work it out alone. I still hear from clients years later with questions and progress reports, and I'm glad when I do. Once you're a client, you're under my wing and I'm there to help in any way I can.

No, we don't run group classes. Every session is private, one-to-one training in your home and in your neighborhood. That's a deliberate choice, not a limitation. It means the training plan is built entirely around your dog's needs. The whole family is welcome and encouraged to take part in your sessions, so everyone can be on the same page with your dog.

It depends on what you're working on. Basic manners and puppy foundations often show real progress within a few sessions. Reactivity, fear and separation anxiety can take longer, because they're built on consistency and repetition rather than a quick fix. There are a number of variables that go into the "how long" question: things like your dog's learning process and the humans' ongoing follow-up training play an important part.

Positive reinforcement means your dog learns by being rewarded for the behavior you want. Corrections happen in a timely way because dogs live only in the moment, so a well-timed correction lets your dog know what to stop, and the reward that follows shows them what you want. There's never punishment, never a prong collar, never a shock collar, and never force. It's built on Consistency, Repetition, And Patience (C-R-A-P for short): showing up the same way every time until the right choice becomes the obvious choice for your dog. Just clear, humane teaching that holds up over time.

Preydar is a protocol I teach for leash reactivity, and it's about you rather than your dog. Using Preydar means scanning the environment ahead for whatever is likely to trigger your dog (another dog, a skateboard, a human, etc.) and spotting the trigger before your dog sees it. You then preemptively correct. Preydar practiced with C-R-A-P (Consistency, Repetition, And Patience) curbs leash reactivity, and many owners find it relatively easy to get good at.

Yes, and often. Older dogs are not "set in their ways": if anything, they've already learned how to learn, which can make certain kinds of training faster than with a puppy. Whether it's a new behavior, an unwanted reaction, or just a behavioral refresh, age is not the obstacle people sometimes assume it is. All dogs can learn. Even the old ones.

We start by understanding why your dog is barking, because there's a reason. Barking at the window when someone walks past is different than barking when you pick up your keys, and they each need a different plan: the first is about what your dog thinks their job is, the second is often about separation anxiety. Excessive barking is one of the most common things Oakland pet parents ask me about, and it responds well to training. Shouting at a barking dog rarely helps, because to your dog it sounds like you've joined in. We'll work out the trigger, teach your dog alternative behavior and reward that behavior until it becomes the easy choice.

Yes, this is an important part of the training process. Humans need to show leadership for dogs to become well mannered, calm and confident. Leadership is clear communication and consistent guidance, delivered with that same calm confidence. Leadership helps dogs feel secure. It reduces stress and anxiety, builds trust, and strengthens the bond we have with our dogs.

Dogs need three things to live a balanced life: exercise, discipline and love. Many people are generous with exercise and love, and less sure about discipline. But love without discipline creates an unbalanced dog. So part of what I teach is how to become the leader your dog wants you to be.

No prong collars, no shock collars, no choke chains, no punishment. The Way of the Wag trains with positive reinforcement only. Dogs are encouraged to choose the right behavior and rewarded when they do. Correction is part of that process. Because dogs live in the present moment, a clear, well-timed correction is genuinely useful and a normal part of how BB works.

The Way of the Wag trains dogs across Oakland, including Montclair, Glenview, Piedmont, Trestle Glen, Laurel, Grand Lake, Woodminster, Oakmore, Lincoln Highlands and the Dimond District. Sessions happen in your home and neighborhood, so training reflects the real environment your dog lives in, not a studio or a training facility.

Sessions with The Way of the Wag run $100–$150 each, with a four-session introductory package available for dogs and owners just getting started. Every plan is built around your dog's specific needs, so the right number of sessions depends on what you're working on: a quick manners tune-up looks different from a full reactivity plan. We'll talk through what makes sense for your dog on your free phone consult and further solidify this at the Meet & Greet.

BB holds a Master's Degree in Education from Stanford University, taught in Mexico and Europe, and founded a school in Paros, Greece, before discovering a talent for reading and changing dog behavior while working as a professional dog walker. She's certified through DogTec and continues ongoing education with leading trainers to learn the latest in dog training and care. Every session with The Way of the Wag draws on that background: patient, structured teaching, applied to dogs and humans.