Dog Trainer

Training programs begin with a personalized assessment via the “Tell Me About Your Dog” form. Services include one-time phone consultations, ongoing private sessions, intensive board and train programs, and guided manners training. Clients receive consistent communication between sessions and customized plans based on their dog’s behavior, age, and goals. All programs are tailored and adaptable to evolving needs.

Pricing Summary

Private sessions start at $70 for 1 hour; board and train programs start at $75 per night; meet and greet is $50; dog walking drop-ins start at $55. Pricing varies by service duration and type. Packages and tailored solutions available upon consultation.

Guiding Tails LLC is a dog training business led by Julia, an IAABC-ADT Accredited Trainer and Certified Family Dog Mediator, offering science-based, force-free, positive reinforcement training to dog owners in the Tacoma and Seattle area. Julia helps dogs feel safe, regulated, and understood through relationship-based methods that prioritize clear communication and trust over dominance or aversive tools. She provides services ranging from basic obedience and puppy training to behavior modification for issues like reactivity, separation anxiety, and fearfulness. Additional services include private sessions, board and train programs, dog walking drop-ins, and phone or Zoom consultations. Julia has years of hands-on experience fostering and working with behaviorally complex, medically fragile, and rescue dogs, shaping her compassionate, individualized approach. She is committed to ethical training and actively supports local animal welfare through partnerships with Tacoma Humane Society.

Julia does not use intimidation, alpha theory, or aversive tools, and instead focuses on helping dogs choose to cooperate willingly. Her training philosophy is grounded in current animal behavior science and emphasizes long-term bonding over quick fixes. Clients are encouraged to reach out via a personalized “Tell Me About Your Dog” form to begin the process, ensuring each plan is tailored to the dog’s unique needs and the owner’s goals.

Accomplishments

Julia is an IAABC-ADT Accredited Trainer and Certified Family Dog Mediator. She has years of hands-on experience fostering and working with behaviorally complex, medically fragile, and rescue dogs. She partners with The Rosewood Café to support Tacoma Humane Society through adoption events and community outreach.

How to Get Started!

Begin by filling out the “Tell Me About Your Dog” form on the website, which sends your responses directly to Julia for review. She will then contact you to discuss your dog’s needs and recommend the best next steps. Phone consultations are also available to help choose a plan.