What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 6pm Tuesday 8am - 6pm Wednesday 8am - 6pm Thursday 8am - 6pm Sunday 8am - 6pm

JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting

Home
United States
Alexandria, VA
JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting

JW Dog Training provides expert dog training and behavior support for everyday pet parents.

From basic dog training tips on this page to specialized 1-on-1 behavior services, we can help you change your dog’s behavior and improve your relationship.

09/15/2025

💔➡️🐶 Living with a reactive dog comes with so many emotions, and every single one of them is valid.

From overwhelm and frustration… to gratitude, compassion, and unconditional love. If you’ve felt this rollercoaster, you’re not alone. Reactivity is hard, but it doesn’t mean you’re failing your dog. In fact, it means you’re learning, adjusting, and showing up for them in the ways they need most.

👉 Swipe through to see the common feelings dog parents experience with reactive dogs. Chances are, you’ll see yourself in more than one of them.

Remember: your reactive dog isn’t broken, and neither are you. Progress is possible, support is out there, and your bond with your dog can grow stronger through this journey. 🤍

BTW - we have a variety of training options to support you and your reactive dog, from customized private training to a low cost training app. All your options are at the link in our bio.

09/06/2025

I had an incredible time moderating a panel at the National Book Festival! We had a packed house as I interviewed three authors who have each written about, of course, DOGS.

We talked about so many dog-related topics. emphasized the power of the human-canine bond by telling us how just this week he helped reunite a dog who had been stolen from her guardian. Mark Rowlands shared why he thinks dogs benefit from doing less self-reflection than humans. And explained how important a dog’s sense of smell is when it comes to how they see and process the world. And so much more! The audience asked some great questions, too. This panel could have easily been 2-3 hours.

I love how the topic of dogs is not only super popular, but also uniting. What I enjoyed about this specific panel was how different each book is and how we got to hear different perspectives from each author. Yet the overall theme was clear: we love dogs and we want to do right by them.

Thank you for putting on an amazing event! Happy 25th National Book Festival!

08/25/2025

We got a new chair so we moved his perch that used to live in this spot in front of the old one. That lasted about 24 hours lol. I had no choice 🤷🏼‍♀️😇

Dying @ us being so worried about the way the corner with the new chair looks and yet we have an old cardboard box sitting next to it that has been there for probs a year and will be there for the foreseeable future because our one cat loves it 😂😂📦

Who else can relate to wanting to have a nice house and also give your pets absolutely whatever they want 😂🙋🏼‍♀️ (because sadly those two goals are sometimes in conflict with each other 😅🥲)

Btw his name is “New Cat” 💞

07/27/2025

Inspired by ’s recent post that reminded us one day we will miss the accommodations we made for our behaviorally special needs dogs and the journey we’ve been through together.

A heavy perspective but one I am grateful to have while we navigate this final chapter with Lola.

It’s healing to have a space to talk about the anticipatory grief that comes with a senior dog and dogs who have terminal diseases. Thanks for listening 🤍

08/29/2024

Don’t overlook any of these categories when training your reactive dog! ✅

Which of these interventions helped your dog the most? Share in the comments 🐶⬇️

08/18/2024

Resurfacing on Facebook to share that I wrote a book! About management! After working on it for two long years it was finally published two weeks ago and the response has been incredible. The audience is the average person with a dog and it's all about how to use management to improve your life and bond with your dog. Links to purchase below if you're interested!

https://amzn.to/3AFxluY

https://www.dogwise.com/manage-it-hacks-for-improving-your-dogs-behavior/

06/10/2024

Stillness =/= calm. A lack of behavior does not automatically indicate a dog is relaxed.

Let’s assess two scenarios ➡️

Dog A: Lying down around a group of other dogs. If you look closer you see their ears are flat back, their mouth is tightly shut, their eyes are squinting, and their brow is furrowed. They continuously yawn and lick their lips. They seem to be stuck in the exact piston they’re in. They are on a 4-foot leash and cannot move away if they tried. They are likely very stressed.

Dog B: Lying down around a group of other dogs. They have a soft facial expression with neutral ears and no wrinkle lines around their mouth or brow. They give a soft wag when they notice a person or dog. They stretch out, sigh, and flop on their side. They are on a leash but it is 10 feet and there is slack to get up and move if they want to. They are likely relaxed.

Both dogs are lying down around other dogs. They are having two very different experiences.

Fear responses can include fight, flight, or FREEZE.

Keeping a dog still does not ensure a positive experience. Look closely at behavior and the context to assess how a dog might be feeling.

Have you noticed a time when your dog was still but not calm/relaxed? Share in the comments 🐶⬇️

05/19/2024

Being over tired can contribute to behavior issues! ESPECIALLY when it is a chronic issue.

Like with humans, consistent restful sleep is critical for combatting stress and anxiety in dogs. It’s also an important part of the equation for adolescents and puppies whose brains and bodies are often working over time and absolutely NEED rest to be their best selves.

Sometimes in an effort to fulfill our dogs and make sure they’re getting enough exercise and stimulation we accidentally create a lifestyle that lacks the proper amount of sleep. Recognizing this and making some changes can have a big positive impact.

What are some ways you encourage your dog to get good sleep? Share in the comments! 🐶⬇️

05/06/2024

Behavior is information! What is your dog trying to communicate? 🧐

Dog training and puppy training are about opening up lines of communication between you and your dog. We don’t want a relationship where we are just telling our dog what to do all day long. We want them to be able to talk to us and express their needs, feelings, and preferences.

It can be confusing to figure out how to navigate behavior change while also listening to and prioritizing your dog’s needs. We’re here to help—a virtual consultation with our behavior consultants can give you tailored advice specific to your individual dog and situation. You can always find info about our consultations at the link in our bio.

And yes, we got Louie a water bowl for his crate to prevent this from happening again. Historically he has knocked bowls right over and made his crate a swamp so he needed a special bowl that locks to the side and can’t tip over 😅

When was a time you’re grateful that you listened to your dog’s communication? Share in the comments! 🐶⬇️

02/29/2024

Like what you see on our page? Let us help you apply to it your own training journey with your dog!

Our tips here on IG are meant to be general and broad. There will almost always be tweaking for individual dogs and cases to see the best impact. That’s where private training can be so helpful.

Our trainers are all excellent coaches and can effectively walk you through every single training exercise you learn via Zoom. The benefit of this is YOU are the one training your dog and building the necessary skills.

You can start with a consultation so you can meet your trainer, get immediate tips, and learn more about what the program would look like with your individual dog. You can then choose if you want to pursue the full package.

Sign up at the link in our bio! 🐾

01/01/2024

What did we miss!?

Comment what you’re leaving in 2023 or bringing to 2024 down in the comments 🐶⬇️

12/31/2023

We are so so so grateful for another year of helping dogs and people 🤍🤍🤍

We’re coming with even MORE training, learning, and support options for you all in 2024…stay tuned! 🐶

Address

Alexandria, VA

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Sunday	8am - 6pm

Website

http://www.jwdogtraining.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service in Alexandria?