WALK Dog Training - STRIP DISTRICT

Pete and Luna were THE BEST teachers we could have asked for. As owners, my wife and I had reached our limit on what we could teach and communicate to our dog Rudy to keep him safe and engaged. Pete provided an excellent balance of positive reinforcement and discipline, which allowed us to communicate much more clearly with our dog. Pete evaluated Rudy immediately and less than 5 minutes later was able to not only have Rudy focused squarely on him, but he adjusted the planned exercises to meet Rudy where he was. This was by far the best money we have spent on our pup and we've already felt a huge strengthening in our bond with Rudy. We will be recommending Pete to all of our friends and family!

Pete and Luna were extremely helpful and accommodating to us and Winnie from the very beginning! Pete was very knowledgeable about the most effective training techniques and demonstrated everything confidently and patiently. He had a natural intuition for what our pup needed and made it a fun and calm experience for all. Luna was the perfect role model and showed our girl dogs don’t have to be scary! We have learned so much about creating a structured and safe environment with Winnie in public spaces, and there was substantial progress from the first session. Pete provided almost all of the necessary materials as well as a game plan to keep working at home. We’re so grateful to Pete and Luna for their model bond, and are so excited to keep them updated on Winnie’s journey!

I am absolutely thrilled to share my experience with WALK Dog Training. Pete and his wonderful canine companion, Luna, have done wonders for my two rescue dogs who were quite reactive before our sessions began. The transformation I've seen in my dogs is nothing short of miraculous. Prior to engaging with WALK Dog Training, our walks were filled with stress and anxiety due to their reactivity. Thanks to Pete, I now have a new confidence in what my dogs can do, opening up a whole world of opportunities for us. I am excited for the many more dog-friendly adventures we can embark on without the constant worry I used to have. I cannot express enough how grateful I am to Pete and Luna for helping us with these challenges. It's clear that Pete has a genuine love for what he does and it shines through in his work. For anyone struggling with similar issues, I cannot recommend WALK Dog Training enough.

My dog and I ran into Pete while we were on a walk and saw how well trained his dog, Luna, is! After finding out he was a dog trainer, I went home and signed up IMMEDIATELY. I needed no more convincing after watching how he and Luna interacted! My dog was new to the city and getting distracted so easily and would pull me left and right…like all of her previous leash training went out the window when we moved here. After just one session, her leash walking was better than it’s ever been and her other commands have been spot on. After the second session, I’m pretty confident taking her off-leash around the city and know she won’t leave my side. My dog absolutely adores Pete and is super stimulated by the balance between discipline and reward that she is getting. Pete gave me the tools to work with my dog one on one and continue all of the progress at home. It was much training for me as it was for the dog to build that relationship and it’s great that Pete works with you and the dog! Could not recommend more!!! 10/10!

It has hardly been a secret that our dog Lola has been challenging since the very beginning and we have done a lot of work to combat her fear aggression and struggles with unfamiliar people and dogs. Over the years we have worked with many trainers and have seen little progress which made us feel hopeless and that she’d always be isolated. One Saturday morning I ran into Pete and his sweet pup Luna at the Strip district and decided to give it another go. In just five short weeks Lola has significantly increased her confidence and ability to be in complex environments and we’re just getting started! We know we have a lot more work to go but we see progress every single week that we meet for training and Pete has been amazing at teaching us how to behave so that she is responding to us the same way she responds to him. We are thrilled to continue working with Pete until Lola is as well behaved as Luna! Different things work differently for different breeds but Pete has been amazing at understanding how to impact a working breed like Lola and we seriously can’t recommend him enough if you’re looking for any help with your pup!

Pete is absolutely amazing! If I could give 100 stars, that's exactly what he would deserve. He's compassionate and highly effective. I tried at home training through books, podcasts but I couldn’t make any progress in helping my dog with his severe separation anxiety and protectiveness of our house when guests came over. When my husband and I met with Pete, he took the time to break things down to the smallest details. Pete’s approach is direct and practical, providing you with the necessary tools to effectively train your dog. We have a rescued Doberman, and Pete was able to understand his personality within minutes of meeting him.  The modeling and exercises he demonstrated-and had us practice-were the lifeline we needed. Watching Pete work his magic with our dog was truly incredible. I will be recommending him to every dog owner facing challenges with their pet. Pete's talent in working with both the family and the dog is truly remarkable. Thank you, Pete, for everything you do! We are incredibly grateful!!!

I was referred to WALK DOG TRAINING by actually two different people. We took our Husky, Meeko to Pete for obedience training. The two years we’ve had her we’ve tried other trainers and training methods and nothing seems to stick. After one week of working with Pete Meeko is a new girl when it comes to obedience and walking. It actually makes me emotional seeing how much potential Meeko has if we can keep diligently training her after the tools and coaching Pete has given us. Pete takes into consideration your dogs breed and their personality instead of using a blanket approach for each dog. He teaches you how to understand your dogs limitations when it comes to training. One of the differences with Pete versus other trainers is he keeps you looped in the whole way, he doesn’t just train your dog, he trains you so that your dog can continuously work on your dog. Pete wants you to not need him after training but will still always be a resource to you and your family! I’m pretty sure WALK DOG TRAINING is the only affordable one on one trainer in the Pittsburgh area and it’s worth every single penny. Thank you Pete!!!

Pete’s training classes have been genuinely life-changing for my high energy, anxious cattle dog. My pup had issues barking and lunging at every dog/biker/runner on our walks in the city.. it was incredibly frustrating and felt impossible to overcome. Not only did we have leash issues, but he couldn’t stay calm in any public situation either. He would bark nonstop, couldn’t sit still, and just generally made it hard to bring him anywhere. After just a few weeks of these sessions with Pete, I noticed such a huge difference! The mix of praise and discipline worked wonders for Ollie, and he was quickly walking/heeling and sit/staying obediently - no matter what distraction walked by. Pete’s classes built up his confidence and gave him structure to know how to act in what situations. And I learned so many great tips and tricks to keep my pup engaged and well-behaved when we’re walking or in any public setting.
Really highly recommend this training for any pup with any issues! You will see amazing results.

To say that our lessons with Pete have been transformative is an understatement. Our family’s pit bull mix Sheba is 75 lbs of energy and muscle with a sweet, but strong, personality. Adopted from a shelter, she had unfortunately developed a reactivity and a fear-based aggression toward other dogs. We were at a point where we were feeling uncomfortable being able to maintain control when we walked her. I spoke with Pete and described her issues. I was immediately impressed that he was not put off by her behavior, but was matter-of-fact in what the training would entail and the changes we could expect. Within 10 minutes in our first session he had Sheba walking calmly on one side, eyes glued to him, his dog Luna on the other. To us it was like a magic trick! I couldn’t believe it was the same dog that I had struggled to control. Pete has a intuitive knowledge of the way dogs learn and how to tap into their natural instincts and reward the behavior we want to encourage. To see Sheba walking, leash trailing on the ground behind her, through groups of shoppers and past cafes, across intersections with all the noises of a busy city rumbling and honking was unbelievable. He gave us the tools to be able to handle Sheba’s potential reactions in various situations, and to feel confident in our ability to be in control. It’s made all the difference. With short daily at-home training sessions we continue to see improvement. The best part about it might be that Sheba is able to be more herself, and has so much fun training. She’s happy, less fearful, and able to be out and about with us. Pete and Luna are an incredible team and have made a huge difference for our dog, and for our family. If you want real training that will make a positive impact on your dog, Pete is the man!

A friend referred us to Pete and honestly I was terrified to bring our pups to train in the strip. But Pete seriously knows what he is doing! We have 2 hounds that are 5 yr old litter mates, both with different training needs. Pete did separate sessions for them with me and my dad (who I share dog custody with). Duke was a puller and would bark at other dogs, people and woodland creatures. Walking was always a challenge because he’s stronger than he looks. Within 20 minutes of our first session Duke was calmly walking with us on a busy street without holding the leash. It was absolutely astonishing and something that I didn’t think would ever be possible for us. Walking with him has become a joy and my dad often comments how nice it is to walk with Duke now. Daphne had some separation anxiety, especially when she’s not with her brother. Pete took a slightly different approach with her, but she was walking by my side through a busy street with vendors and other dogs with ease. After our session we even went to a coffee shop where she sat calmly while we waited for our order—no pacing or barking/whining. Luna was the best role model throughout the whole process. Sessions with Pete (and doing your homework!) has made such a difference in our lives. The training was just as much for us as it was for Duke & Daphne. We’re now excited to bring them with us and they are more confident! Pete’s training is great for dogs at any age, and we 10/10 recommend to dog parents!

Pete is truly a fantastic dog trainer. Since adopting my dog Macy 8 weeks ago, I have had one frustrating walk after another. Today was our 2nd session with Pete; he really is the "dog whisperer". Macy came home transformed, or maybe I did! We had the best walk around my neighborhood this afternoon simply by following all of the tips and pearls Pete shared. I honestly couldn't believe I was walking with the same dog. The clicker was truly life changing. For the very first time since adopting Macy, I am so optimistic that yes, I can do this. Thank you Pete. If you need help with your dog's reactivity or leash manners, don't waste time trying to figure it out. Call Walk Dog Training asap.