Floyd County · Southwest Virginia

Heads and tails better training — for the dog you live with.

Calm, positive-reinforcement training for puppies, family dogs, and service-dog candidates. From the basics through AKC Canine Good Citizen and psychiatric service dog work.

Book a free consultSee the programs

What we do

Four programs. One calm approach.

Group classes, in-home sessions, board-and-train, and longer service-dog work. Every dog gets a plan built around their pace.

Start your pup on the right foot. Crate, potty, social skills, the basics that matter.

Puppy & Foundation

Start your pup on the right foot. Crate, potty, social skills, the basics that matter.

Puppy & Foundation

Start your pup on the right foot. Crate, potty, social skills, the basics that matter.

6 weeks · weekly group·Starting at $225 (6-week class)
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Loose leash, reliable recall, calm at the door. The dog you can take anywhere.

Everyday Obedience

Loose leash, reliable recall, calm at the door. The dog you can take anywhere.

Everyday Obedience

Loose leash, reliable recall, calm at the door. The dog you can take anywhere.

4–8 weeks · in-home, group, or board-and-train·Starting at $95/session — or $2,400 for a 2-week board-and-train
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Six-week prep plus the official 10-skill CGC test. A great milestone for any family dog.

AKC Canine Good Citizen

Six-week prep plus the official 10-skill CGC test. A great milestone for any family dog.

AKC Canine Good Citizen

Six-week prep plus the official 10-skill CGC test. A great milestone for any family dog.

6 weeks · weekly group·Starting at $260 (course + test)
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Public access manners, deep pressure therapy, and task work for handlers managing anxiety, PTSD, and related conditions.

Psychiatric Service Dog

Public access manners, deep pressure therapy, and task work for handlers managing anxiety, PTSD, and related conditions.

Psychiatric Service Dog

Public access manners, deep pressure therapy, and task work for handlers managing anxiety, PTSD, and related conditions.

3–12 months · phased·Starting at $3,800 (3-month foundation block)
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Why Bootlegger

What you actually get.

Reward-based

Positive reinforcement only. No prong, no shock. The dog learns because they want to.

Family-friendly

Built for the dog you live with — calmer walks, easier visitors, fewer arguments at home.

Built around your dog

Every plan starts with a free consult. Your dog's pace, your family's goals.

See the progress

Board-and-train and PSD clients get a private video portal with daily updates.

From our clients

What families say.

“We came to Erik with a year-old golden who was running our house. He gave us back a dog we can actually live with — calm, listening, and ours again.”

The Patterson Family

with Rosie

“Erik is patient with the dog and patient with us. Two months in, Hank passed his CGC test and our walks are finally enjoyable.”

Maria & Tom Whitley

with Hank

“Erik's foundation work made all the difference. Juno can settle in a restaurant now, and her DPT response is the calmest part of my week.”

Carla R., USAF (ret.)

PSD handler · with Juno

From the yard

Latest work.

Calm leash walk at the trailhead

Calm leash walk at the trailhead

Calm leash walk at the trailhead

What a good Tuesday at Bootlegger looks like — calm, focused, slack in the leash.

Puppy class — first sit-stay

Puppy class — first sit-stay

Puppy class — first sit-stay

Ten puppies, one focused minute. Reward-based, no pressure. Heads and tails better.

Next step

Let's start with a conversation.

Every plan begins with a free consult. We'll talk through what's going on with your dog and what would actually help.

Book a free consultSee the calendar