Breakthrough K9 Training
Service area: Serves Richmond, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Charlottesville, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Fairfax, Roanoke, and surrounding counties in Virginia, plus clients from Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Oregon.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Behavior Modification
- Family Dog
Specialty Focus Areas
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Biting / Nipping
- Fearfulness
- Recall
- Leash Pulling
- Separation Anxiety
Training Formats Offered
- Board and Train
- Private Facility
Program Formats
- Intensive Program
Types of Dogs
- Working
- Herding
- Sporting
- Terriers
- Doodles
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Balanced Training
Equipment:
- ✓ Martingale Collars
- ✓ Pinch Collars
- ✓ E-Collars
Breakthrough K9 offers intensive board-and-train programs lasting 2–4 weeks, where dogs live at the trainer’s home facility and receive multiple daily training sessions in real-life scenarios. Training includes obedience, impulse control, leash manners, and behavior modification for aggression and reactivity. Dogs practice calm behavior during household activities like cooking, working, and receiving guests. Structured pack walks, “place” commands, and environmental exposure are core components. Post-program, owners receive home visits and refresher sessions to maintain progress.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Pricing details are available on their Programs & Rates page, with training programs typically lasting 2–4 weeks. Board-and-train packages are offered at set rates based on duration and dog needs, with no public pricing listed. Follow-up sessions and boarding are additional services with separate fees.
Testimonials
“Breakthrough K9 Training made a world of difference in the mannerisms of our dog Jaxon…it was a positive experience that we would recommend to anyone. The Zannin’s were very dedicated…Lenny and Stephanie provided daily updates on Jaxon’s progress… they even conducted a follow up home visit to give additional guidance to our family. Thank you Breakthrough K9 Training! ”
– The Motley Family
“Breakthrough K9 has been such a game-changer for us and our dog, Milos. He spent the summer of 2024 training with their team, and even a year later we’re still seeing the benefits. The difference in his behavior and confidence has been huge.
What I really appreciate is that they didn’t just train Milos, they taught us how to work with him. We still have our good and bad days… but now we actually have tools and strategies that make a real difference. It’s taken so much stress out of everyday life.”
– Client
“We have had great success with Breakthrough K9. Lenny and Stephanie are wonderful people to work with. Our first dog was a boxer, full of energy and hard to control. After only a couple weeks at breakthrough, it was like we had a new dog, calm and relaxed in public, no more pulling on walks, no more aggression with other animals, including cats, easy to handle when guests come over. It’s been 3 years since her training and it’s like we just brought her home.”
– Client
About the Trainer
Breakthrough K9 Training is a family-owned dog training and behavior modification business based in Mechanicsville, VA, specializing in board-and-train programs for dogs with behavioral challenges. They help busy families by taking dogs into their home facility for intensive training, eliminating the need for owners to do homework between sessions. Their approach focuses on real-life distractions and structured environments to build confidence in dogs struggling with aggression, reactivity, fear, or poor obedience. Dogs learn commands like “place,” leash manners, impulse control, and calm behavior around guests, doorbells, and other triggers. The facility is located on a tranquil hobby farm with climate-controlled kennels, artificial turf play yards, and live camera access. They also offer dog boarding with daily structured walks, one-on-one play, and pack socialization. Training is reinforced during everyday activities like cooking, working, or having visitors, helping dogs generalize skills to home life.
They serve clients across Central Virginia and beyond, including Richmond, Charlottesville, Virginia Beach, Fairfax, and even out-of-state clients. Their team provides follow-up home visits and refresher sessions to ensure long-term success. The business emphasizes balanced training methods, using structure and consistency to empower dogs and their owners.
In addition to training, they offer pet boarding, daily updates, and educational resources through their blog and video gallery.
Accomplishments
Lenny Zannin, a former K-9 handler with 20+ years of experience, founded the business. He has trained dogs for law enforcement and now applies that expertise to help reactive and aggressive dogs transition into calm family companions. Their facility and methodology have earned consistent client praise for results and care.
How to Get Started!
Prospective clients contact BTK9 to schedule an initial consultation, after which a home visit may be arranged to assess the dog’s behavior. Based on the evaluation, a customized board-and-train program is recommended, with enrollment confirmed upon agreement and payment.

Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Hours
8am-5pm
Languages
- English
Other Services Offered
- Pet boarding service
Location
2535 Westwood Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23111Listing Tools for Trainers
For Breakthrough K9 Training Only
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