Book a Call
  • Reactive Dog Training Program

From Overwhelmed to Understood: Support for Reactive Dogs

For owners who want calm, confidence, and clarity — not
constant stress.
  • SERVICES

Your Dog Isn’t “Difficult” —

They’re Overwhelmed and Trying to Cope

Help Your Dog Feel Safer, Think Clearly, and Move Through the World With More Ease

If you’re here, you may be living with a dog who feels unpredictable, intense, or hard to manage in certain situations.

They bark, lunge, or shut down on walks.
They react to other dogs, people, sounds, or movement.
You find yourself constantly scanning the environment, avoiding triggers, or feeling anxious before you even leave the house.

It can feel isolating. Frustrating. Sometimes even discouraging.



But here is the truth
Your dog is not bad.

They are not stubborn or dominant.
They are overwhelmed.

Reactivity is not a behavior problem in the traditional sense. It is a nervous system response.

Your dog is trying to create safety in a world that feels unpredictable or too intense.


And with the right support, that can change. As a certified professional dog trainer and canine behavior specialist, I help reactive dogs and their humans build safety, understanding, and practical skills that make everyday life feel more manageable and more hopeful.


This is where things start to feel possible again.

  • ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Thoughtful, Individualized Support
for Reactive Dogs

Private training in Newcomb, NY and surrounding areas
This program is designed specifically for dogs who struggle with reactivity, anxiety, or big emotional responses. We focus on helping your dog feel safe enough to learn, while giving you the tools to guide them with clarity and confidence in real life situations.
You’ll learn how to:
  • Understand what is driving your dog’s reactions
  • Recognize early signs of stress before behavior escalates
  • Support your dog’s nervous system in the moment
  • Respond in ways that reduce fear and build trust
  • Navigate walks and real world situations with more confidence
  • Create a calmer, more predictable daily life for both of you
Your dog will learn:
  • How to feel safer in triggering environments
  • How to recover more quickly from stress
  • How to make different choices when they are able
  • How to look to you for guidance instead of reacting
  • How to move through the world with more confidence and less tension
  • Create a calmer, more predictable daily life for both of you
Progress does not come from forcing your dog to “get over it.”  It comes from helping them feel safe enough to do something different.
  • what’s included

A Complete Support System for You and Your Dog

A pace that respects your dog’s emotional capacity and learning style
Every plan is individualized. No templates. No one size fits all approach.

Private training sessions
tailored to your dog’s needs and history.
Real world coaching
during walks and everyday situations.
Clear & practical guidance
you can apply immediately.
Written materials and resources
to support you between sessions.
Ongoing support
to help you troubleshoot and adjust as needed.
  • Why This Class Works

When dogs feel safe, they can learn.
 When humans understand, they can lead.

Benefits for You

  • Relief from constant stress and second guessing
  • A clearer understanding of your dog’s behavior
  • Practical strategies that actually make sense in real life
  • More confidence handling challenging situations
  • The ability to enjoy time with your dog again

Benefits for Your Dog

  • Increased sense of safety and predictability
  • Improved emotional regulation
  • Greater confidence in the world around them
  • Reduced intensity and frequency of reactions over time
  • A stronger, more trusting relationship with you
  • Client Stories

Real Words From Real Dog Owners

“Doreen is deeply knowledgeable. I have a better relationship with my dog and I am so grateful for this. My dog’s behavior has improved a significant amount. I leave this class with hope and an improved relationship with my dog. I also take with me multiple tools to help my anxious dog feel safe.”
Darci
Lake Placid
“Doreen is knowledgeable and helpful. I received a huge amount of useful, practical, and applicable information. Her explanations were always thorough, and my questions always satisfactorily answered. She provided great simple concepts to apply in a non-confusing way. It was most helpful to learn my dog’s signals of stress, attention, fear, and joy. Over the last eight weeks I have watched my dog change before my eyes! I love her more than ever.”
Liz
Lake Placid
“Doreen’s knowledge base astounds me during every class. I never leave with questions unanswered, and she has directed me to great resources to continue my learning. Amazing one-on-one work that allowed me to ask questions, practice, learn, and work with my dog. This class addressed specific issues I was having with my dog, and in an even deeper way than I expected. This class improved my dog’s behavior a lot. She is a different dog now! Easier to communicate with, observe, and understand. I would take this class over and over again. My connection with my dog has grown so much, and I’ve learned more about her and myself than I thought I would.”
Anna
Lake Placid
“Doreen Alessi-Holmes has been our trusted guide to happy and healthy pups for many years. Her knowledge of dog behavior and critical observation skills paired with her compassion and respect for animals helped us navigate through some difficult times raising our 2 pups. Doreen helped us understand that what we thought was aggression in one of our pups was much more complex and rooted in anxiety. Doreen patiently observed and educated us, provided us with the necessary tools and then helped us work through how we could help our pup enjoy her life with us in a more relaxed way. With Doreen’s help we have a happy and healthy furry family. “
Deb
Lake Placid
“Working with Doreen has been deeply enriching and transformative for the whole family. She is funny, insightful, and a pleasure to learn from! Her expansive knowledge as a canine behavioral specialist allows her to answer all of our questions thoroughly and with a thoughtful approach that takes into consideration our unique pup, our learning style, and our goals. When we adopted Misty, our Brittany Spaniel/Border Collie Mix, we were surprised to see some reactive tendencies in her. We found Doreen at the perfect time to begin learning how to truly understand our dog. Instead of only feeling despair and telling Misty, “No, don’t do that!” we now know how to say, “Hey pup, what’s going on?” and help to redirect her attention to create a safe and understanding environment. Doreen taught us how to live almost entirely frustration-free with a high-energy, protective pup that loves her people as much as we love her. The ability to dive deeply into understanding dogs with Doreen has been a gift and a pleasure and we recommend her every chance we get!”
Anna, Lori, & Mystic
Lake Placid
“I approached Doreen for help with our 3 month old puppy (littermate to her pup!) when we started struggling with emotional dysregulation leading to very intense behaviors and (over)reactions to the “big feels”. Our pup was very difficult to manage at times, and I was in tears and totally overwhelmed. Doreen helped me by using a two-pronged approach based on what our puppy was going through both physically (GI parasites and skin infection), emotionally, and developmentally. She shared science-based information on what was going on with his brain/body, as well as advice, suggestions and hacks that I could immediately put into practice – which I did! I’ll never forget the look on my family’s faces when “Karl” showed up in a huge box at our doorstep. Doreen’s passion for helping people and their pups is very clear. We had several consults, and she continues to follow up, genuinely wanting to hear how things are going. I really appreciate her support and encouragement, and she reminds me to recognize even the smallest wins throughout the puppy-raising journey. Our pup is one and a half years old now, and while we still have our challenging moments with our active and reactive adolescent, I am grateful to better understand our pup and my part in raising him with that understanding in mind. Thank you, Doreen!”
Carrie
Lake Placid
“I met Doreen at a puppy obedience class in the Adirondacks. She visited the class a couple of times to offer her expertise in relational human/dog training. I immediately recognized she had something special to offer. She was able to identify subtle body language between my puppy, Shadow, and I, and offer constructive feedback that resulted in surprising positive changes. I was so impressed with her keen insight and extensive knowledge of canine behavior, I decided to stay in touch when we returned to NYC and eventually hire her to help with the very challenging period I had transitioning Shadow to the city. Over the course of 2 months of virtual training with near daily in-depth communication, in addition to an abundance of training resources, we overcame many of the most difficult challenges of raising a puppy in a city environment. With Doreen’s help and her genuine care and devotion, Shadow and I were able to develop core behavioral and communication skills that continue to influence our growth and thriving life together.”
Julieve
Lake Placid

“Doreen has been extremely knowledgeable and helpful with my 8 month old puppy. The contents of the lessons targeted the problems we have been having with my puppy’s behavior. The homework and handouts are very helpful. Doreen has been able to diagnose the problems I’ve been having and provides great suggestions to help with them. I feel I’m improving as an owner/handler after working with Doreen. I think I have a better relationship with my puppy, too.

The course has helped improve my puppy’s behavior. Doreen has given me helpful suggestions and tools to train my puppy, Doreen’s knowledge of dogs’ behavior and physiology have been very helpful. Individualized suggestions that address my concerns are always done in a professional manner. She doesn’t judge and takes you from where you are to help you grow. Doreen is very friendly and easy to be working with. I would recommend her to anyone who needs help with their dogs.”

Beth
Lake Placid

“After working with Doreen, there are definite improvements in my relationship with my dog. She seeks me out in the house more, leans into me more, looks to engage with me more. She’s getting calmer when greeting people. She is now ignoring other dogs on our walks when they are reactive.

I feel like I’ve been given tools to continue to help with my dog. It was helpful to learn about foraging, playing games, and puzzles for enrichment. The most helpful information for me was connecting on our walks to reduce pulling. I would highly recommend working with Doreen!”

Jim
Lake Placid
“I had an adult high anxiety dog and a mastiff puppy I got from a shelter. Needless to say, I had my hands full. Doreen was absolutely amazing, a wealth of knowledge and support. I can honestly say I couldn’t have gotten to where we are today without her!!!”
Cindy
Lake Placid
“Doreen worked with my dog Faith and I in a small class that dealt with aggressive dogs. My dog had been attacked unprovoked 3x . After these events I was at a loss to control her defensiveness and aggression when she met with other dogs. She really helped me how to communicate better w Faith and how to cope with her Big feelings. We are definitely more of a team now! “
Alice
Lake Placid

“Doreen is the absolute best! For 4 months my giant pup had stressed induced colitis and I didn’t get him socialized. BIG MISTAKE! When I met Doreen I was at my wits’ end. I couldn’t get Puck trained, I would only walk him at night because there’s less distraction—lowering the odds of him accidentally hurting me again. After a few weeks of one-on-one training with Doreen, I had a new understanding of Puck and his “big feelings”. By summers end I was walking him in daylight around people and animals without going face-skiing or getting my arm yanked out. I EVEN TOOK HIM TO A RALLY!!

Doreen probably saved his life and definitely prevented another trip to the ER for me.”

Christine
Lake Placid
Getting started is simple
Get Started
  • HOW TO GET STARTED

Ready for Things to
Feel Easier?

  • Reach out by phone, text, or email
  • Share a bit about your dog and what you are experiencing
  • We will schedule an initial session to begin building your plan
  • From there, we take it step by step. At your dog’s pace, with support the whole way through
  • FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my dog ever be normal?
Your dog may always experience the world a little differently, and that is okay. Our goal is not perfection. It is helping your dog feel safe, capable, and able to navigate life with you more comfortably.
Every dog is different. Many clients begin to see meaningful shifts in understanding and daily life early on, with continued progress over time as skills build.
Reactivity is not something we simply eliminate. It is something we understand, support, and work with. With the right approach, it becomes much more manageable and often significantly improves.
Most people I work with feel that way at first. The difference here is that we focus on why behavior is happening, not just how to stop it.
  • contact us

Your dog is not giving you a hard time.
They are having a hard time.
And you do not have to navigate it alone.

Reach out when you are ready. We will take the next step together.
With understanding, support, and the right approach, life with your dog can feel calmer, more connected, and even joyful again.
Start Your Journey
Scroll to Top