Lance Santino has an educational background in clinical psychology and physiology. He integrates science, theory, and application into his assessment and treatment of fear, anxiety, and phobias in dogs. He has been immersed in human and animal behavior since he was involuntarily attacked at 11 yrs old by an e-collar, Dogo Argentino that escaped his yard and displayed dangerously unwanted behaviors.
As an aggressive dog assessor today, Lance understands that the Dogo’s involuntarily responses to environmental stimuli were driven by instinctive mechanisms and electric stimulation of behavioral suppression and redirected aggression. The breed was not the predictor. As a matter of fact, the breed is never the predictor, because any dog can exhibit aggressive behaviors. It was the e-collar that gave the dog no consent or agency, and the guardians who were not trained or educated to know how to channel their dogs predatory motor patterns in a safe and playful way.
As the second child attacked within a month, there was a trigger-stacked effect that the dog continued to sustain— high cortisol and low vagal tone, which created a negative feedback loop. Guardians putting their dog back in their yard without safe management, co-regulation, and without a 3-week cortisol vacation, was a recipe for tragedy. Lance was hospitalized in the ER with multiple deep punctures to his left arm and leg.
This post traumatic growth experience didn’t just make Lance return to baseline; it reflected development beyond previous levels of functioning. Fun Integration Theory with Coach Jeremy Russotti, taught him the fun factors associated with skills development, competitive greatness, and cognitive reappraisal. Self-Determination Theory with Coach Keith Simons, boosted his intrinsic motivation, attentive focus, and stress resilience. Great sports coaches understand sports psychology. Coach Russotti, & Coach Simons, understood the psychological principles to influence him to stay mindfully present under pressure, and to methodically manage his distractions in highly stressful situations.
If Lance wasn't active in sports training, he was interactive in play training with his siblings German Shorthaired Pointer, Mini Aussie, Beagle, Rottweiler, Pitbull, Boxers, Border Collie and English Lab. Competitive sports with great coaches, and dyadic play with great dogs, helped Lance reclaim his nervous system and innate capacity for resilience and regulation. Lance has risen to a higher level of 360 panoramic awareness, while training racing greyhounds in central Florida, and training Milo Foundation, West Coast Boxer Rescues in northern California.
These positive changes experienced after his traumatic event, where he not only recovered but he fully healed. Lance emerged with a wide-angle awareness, and a spiritually transformed 3rd eye perspective. Lance's panoramic vision is that behavior issues are only the surface of the real problem. We often only pay attention to once our dog’s behavior is undesirable or problematic. The real cause of the behavior lies much deeper in our physiological states, and the dog’s micro-aggression behaviors.
Lance is an inter-species interpreter and canine social behavior expert. He has dedicated his life to understand the how and why our dogs and guardians, (including himself), behave as we do. He doesn’t look at the well-being of the dog itself, but rather the behavior of the guardians and how it can influence their own perceptions and interactions. He thoroughly studies video footage of the emotional impacts that a reactive or aggressive dog has on dog owner relationships through their nervous systems and body language reactions.
Connection Before Direction Dog Training implements psychological theories and protection motivational theories to create tailor effective interventions and successful behavioral modification outcomes. Lance uses a Play-Based Curriculum, Constructional Aggression Treatment, and Systematic Desensitization techniques to treat trepidation in dogs and owners. He fervently focuses on interspecies cooperation and training guardians to better understand their dogs, emphasizing that changing human behavior is the most effective way to transform the dog's behavior.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES FOR INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION
ANIMAL TRAINING 101 PROFFESOR, CAL STATE UNIVERSITY, MONTEREY BAY, DR. JENIFER ZELIGS states, "Aggression that is motivated by fear or pain can only be addressed through careful desensitization."
IAABC INSTRUCTOR, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PROFESSOR, DR. CAMILLE WARD states, "Instead, we can attempt to expose our dogs to as many other dogs when they are young and if we pay careful attention, we will notice which ones they like best. When such preferences our mutual, opportunities for prolong canine friendships arise, and we should make the best of them,"
PROFFESSOR OF BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS, DR. JOSE ROSALES-RUIZ, quates, "Sometimes a person engages in a behavior that produces suffering for themselves or that causes another person to suffer... Even if a behavior causes a great deal of suffering, a person may continue to engage in the behavior if they do not have alternative, appropriate behaviors that allow them to access important reinforcers."
NONLINER CONTINGENCY ANALYSIS, GOING BEYOUND COGNITION & BEHAVIOR, DR. JOE LAYNG, states. "After a particular traumatic event or series of events, for example, what transpired to shape and maintain the behavior that we see today? Eliminating the disturbing behavior, thoughts and feelings is never the goal. Instead establishing patterns that provide important outcomes and enjoyable thoughts and feelings is the goal."
IAABC INSTRUCTOR, DR. KRISTINA SPAULDING asserts, “I firmly believe that providing dogs with access to a diverse range of locations (rather than confining them solely to their homes or yards) is equally crucial for their overall well-being.”
ANIMAL TRAINING 101 PROFFESOR, DR. JENIFER ZELIGS states, “Predatory behavior will likely be seen to arise from hunger, a particular attack posture or prey behavior such as running away."
KARYN PURVIS INSITUTE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AT TCU. DR, PURVIS, states " It takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, but only 10-20 repetitions when done in play.”
UCSF PROFFESSOR. AUTHOR OF STRESS PRESCRIPTION, DR. ELISSA EPEL says, “Many people also resonate with the soothing sound of rhythmic ocean waves—it affects our breathing, slowing it down and encouraging deeper breaths than the shallow and insufficiently oxygenated breathing that is our habit.”
THE SEAT OF THE SOUL BOOK AUTHOR, GARY ZUKAV states, "When the deepest part of you becomes engaged in what you are doing, when your activities and actions become gratifying and purposeful, when what you do serves both yourself and others, when you do not tire within but seek the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work, you are doing what you were meant to be doing."
FOR HUMAN DIRECTED AGGRESIVE CASES INITIAL ASSESSMENT IS OVER ZOOM
SPECIALIZING IN BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION Aggression/reactivity to people, children, dogs and or anxiety/fearfulness. Experienced in working with and assessing rescue dogs from the Milo Foundation, West Coast Boxer Rescue, Underdog Rescue in conducting foster/adoption placement assessments. Experienced in working with dog guardians in management and prevention strategies to decrease the frequencies and rehearsal of undesirable behaviors. Careful systematic desensitization requires understanding the dog's initial stimulus strength and breaking the provoking stimulus down into small component elements and exposing the dog at lesser approximations before progressing to the end result.
In-person support in Tiburon, Mill Valley, San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma, Saint Helena and surrounding areas. Animal Training 101. The practical guide to the art and science of behavior modification. Dog Specialization Certificate. Dr. Jenifer Zeligs. On-going mentorship with Dr. Zeligs to further develop a cross-species approach of animal training, behavior, husbandry and to additionally add an advanced certification in behavior modification. Canine Social Behavior Course. (IAABC) Dr. Camille Ward. Certified Family Dog Mediator. Applied Ethology & Family Mediation course. Applied Ethologist. Kim Brophery. Canine Aggression & Anxiety mentorship course. (IAABC)
Dr. Camille Ward.
Lance's first career was as a loan officer for SRI Mortgage in San Francisco's, Financial District. He later went on to work for Equinox Fitness, LA Fitness, Golds Gym. and 24 Hour Fitness. At 24 Hour Fitness in Memphis, Lance received the state's highest civilian honor by Tennessee Senator, Curtis S. Person with the Aid De Camp Award. Lance was personally recognized by the Tennessee Assembly for his significant contribution and outstanding achievement of finishing #1 in production out of 346 health clubs nationwide. Lance has a big heart and altruistic attitude for creatures who need us, rather four legged or two.
.
University of Central Florida: Clinical Psychology
Santa Rosa Junior College:
A.S. Physiology
Football
Track & Field
.

COMMUNICATION & MOTIVATION
"Within our first session, I saw a difference and within our second session, we felt the difference. Lance showed me exactly what to do, how to do it, and the reason behind doing it. Lance broke down the components of why the behaviors are occurring. Then, he put the pieces back together, and the picture changed. He provided creative solutions and substitutions to prevent it from happening. Lance helped me calm down the arousal in a quiet and focused environment, with minimal distractions and noises. This included helping me on implementing evidence-based practices that allowed my dogs to make choices and learn to manage their own reactions to triggers. Within the third session, Lance demonstrated how to take the adrenaline levels down, and keep them down, in the presence of provoking stimuli. Lance gets his clients immersed in every lesson. He encouraged me and supported my dogs every step of the way. Within the fourth session, Lance motivated me how to get my confidence flowing down loose leads, rather than my dog's anxiety traveling up tight leads. Within the fifth session, the communication was flowing the other way. Lance had me walking Sam & Colleen with no reactivity. Lance broke a vicious cycle. His delivery was at the highest level, and the transfer was finessed without force. I honestly didn't think these were the same dogs. My dogs went from reactive dogs, to thinking dogs. Now, they are like completely different dogs. It was a total transformation! Over the years, Lance has trained and desensitized several of my rescue German Shepherds, as well as my friends Vizsla in the Los Altos Hills."
Kirsten J.
MA Psychology
International Fitness Professional, Leisureesports INC
Los Gatos

"Thank you, Lance! Lola is very lucky to have you!"
Thomas T
Attorney
San Anselmo, West Marin
FULLY BOOKED WITH BEHAVIOR CONSULTS
We are fully booked with behavior consultations until November 10th. I limited the number of cases I take on at one time to ensure that every client and every dog receive the dedicated care and quality time that they deserve.
ONE-ON-ONE BEHAVIOR TRAINING: 60 MIN $175 PER SESSION
ONE-ON-ONE VINEYARD WALK & TRAIN: 60 MIN $150 PER SESSION
(Sonoma, Saint Helena, Napa areas only)
DYADIC PLAY SESSIONS & WALKS FOR MILL VALLEY & SONOMA VALLEY: 60 MIN $55-$75 PER SESSION
(3rd additional dog maybe added in group)
RANCHO SANTINO RESORT & SPA STAY: $100-125 PER DAY
(In order to qualify, behavior assessment & successful completion of training. At Rancho Santino Retreat & Spa there is a two dog minimum. Guardians provide their own dog food during their dogs stay.)
SINGLE VISIT CONSULTATION $150
In-home one hour behavior assessment, summery report, treatment plan within 1 week of our assessment. 30 min (in person or remote) follow up consultation and two weeks of limited email support. With a 10-year track record of success, I offer award-winning dog behavior services that you can rely on. Whether your dog is suffering with challenging behaviors, like leash frustration or more intensive issues, such as separation related and aggression, my customized training and stress resilience programs are tailored to address and resolve these challenges effectively and efficiently. Travel fees may apply. We accept Zelle, Apple Pay, "No PayPal, Venmo or checks." Payment is due at time of booking.

180 PIVOT INHERENT RECALL
At Connection Before Direction Dog Training, we offer advanced recall training services that specialize in the 180 Pivot Inherent Recall. Santino is very fluent at switching directions in the middle of the predatory chase. CBDDT builds the highest value and reinforcement history that the long distant target behavior becomes an inherent or instinctual response, even when faced with high levels of distractions *(like chasing deer, rabbits, squirrels etc),

PREDATORY MOTOR PATTERN & ULTIMATE ROCKET RECALL SPECIALIST
Can you recall your dog in any environment or situation?
Can you recall your dog from wild animals or livestock?
Can you recall your dog from other dogs or puppies?
Can you recall your dog from people or children?
Can you recall your dog from skateboarders or bikers?
If not, let’s work together as a team for you to be the guardian you have always wanted to be. Enjoying walks, trails, beaches, lakes and parks and enjoying your dog anywhere and everywhere.
Everyone knows that being a guardian is never easy and you can feel helpless, anxious and even out of control. Believe it or not, you are not alone. We can break the cycle through one-on-one training from lower distractions to higher stimuli environments. It’s far easier than you think.
(415)-720-4800 Lance Santino

WINDANSEA BEACH, LA JOLLA
RECALL IS A MATTER OF TRUST
Building trust in our relationships with our dogs and people can only be manifested, if we experience positive emotions.
CBDDT changes lives for guardians that have concerns about their dog's fear, frustration, and anxiety. Lance is a critical thinker with extremely fast mechanics in timing, precision, marking and reinforcing behaviors. Every time he touches a leash, he creates a solid foundation and meaningful patterns. He creates consistent and predictable positive associations through maintained pairing. Lance is one of the best in the Bay Area at using play and exploration to treat and prevent aggression and reactivity.

"My husband and I were extremely concerned with our Australian Kelpie being off-leash and running away, until we met Lance. He changed everything!"
Eric & Carainne L
Business Developer & Teacher
Fairfax, West Marin

"Highly recommended by my friend, Shelly Camp. Lance is professional. compassionate and available. I saw instant improvements training with Lance. I used him for boarding and received wonderful pictures and daily updates."
Luxury Real Estate
Rissa B
Strawberry, Mill Valley
CONNECTION BEFORE DIRECTION DOG TRAINING, goal is to mitigate or eradicate your dog's problematic behaviors through effective and positive behavior modification techniques. Our multi-faceted approach includes positive reinforcement, enrichment, play and other scientific principles based on learning theories, applied ethology and neuroscience.

SEPARATION & FRUSTRATION OF DOMESTICATION
"Lance was recommended by our rescue adoption coordinator. We loved training with Lance. He was helpful in changing our puppy's confusion into clarity. Our crazy golden puppy is no longer a wild child and extra clingy. Isla's confidence and independence has grown. She has developed life skills, and we have made the appropriate changes within our environment for her to adapt and thrive. Lance worked on the Goldilocks increments approach to build frustration tolerance and treat her separation related problems. He really narrowed it down. He identified times during the day with a high probability of vocalization and destructiveness. He worked with us on a choice based positive reinforcement program to reduce those times and by increasing Isla's autonomy and enrichment. Lance guided us to shape positive interactions with scatter feedings, free work, tug and counting games. We used heavy stimulus and voluntary control inside and outside of our home. We increase the degrees of freedoms by creating more agency and pathways to control her world through giving her new tools--active calmness and generalized repertoires, replaced old tools of barrier frustration and separation pain. In our absence, we used the most challenging food toys and the best psychoacoustically arranged classical music, such as the ruffwear gnawt-a-rock treat dispenser and Lisa Spector's solo piano sounds. Lance added a thunder shirt for a swaddling effect and put up a baby gate to block the kitchen. This provided Isla with a secure base and safe haven within our living room setting, which deactivated her attachment system and significantly reduced her vexation. Lance found us a reliable local dog walker that takes her off-leash four days week. After her doggy adventures, Lance made sure that Jessica turns on Through A Dogs Ear or Dog TV and leaves a dog buster food tube or licki-mat. Isla no longer redecorates our home, barks with frustrations or counter surfs. Thanks to Lance, and his positive and preventive techniques. It's true, when you trust the process, it works!"
Jeff H
UPS, Circle of Honor
Sebastopol
Santa Rosa

TRIGGERED TO TRANQUILITY
Lance is the best kept secret! He is not on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, or social media. He is very private and unequivocally like anyone that you will ever meet. I met him at the Bounty Hunter Wine Bar and I found Lance so easy to talk to. He listened intently and provided effective feedback. He was an active participant and engaged learner from start to finish. We had repeated texts, calls, zooms and in-person lessons for two months. This made our process so personal and helpful.
Lance helped me create positive training environments that facilitated effective learning through tiny manageable steps. He knows his ABA fundamentals, and he provided me with the education and guidance on how to apply the ABC model. He instructed me how to identify triggers before Abby gets set off and how to avoid or change the antecedent to prevent an over-the-top reaction. He influenced me how to work under Abby's threshold, so she doesn't lunge forward and bark at skateboarders or dogs. He taught Abby and I how to have a split focused resilience between the trigger and myself and how to predictably work together to regulate our nervous systems. Lance motivated me how apply the techniques to work at the edge of the bubble, where she is aware but not stressed to accept jackpots for functionally equivalent behaviors.
Lance is a behavior technician in everything he does. He educated me on how to read and reward Abby's subtle body language, soft eyes, and sweeping tail wag with tasty treats and cheerful praise. Beyond improving my observational and mechanical skills, we made several small behavioral adjustments that led to substantial behavior shifts. His passion ignited my own drive to build joint attention and confidence without feeling overwhelmed. From far and moderate distance to close proximity, we surmounted challenging behaviors through positive behavior support. We minimized the reinforcement of problem behaviors through response prevention, and we maximized the reinforcement with a variety of replacement behaviors through response substitution. This was a major confidence booster, and Lance made sure I linked our successful outcome with instant positive reinforcement. Positive emotions shapes habits faster through celebrating wins immediately after the desirable behavior occurs.
We couldn't have attained this optimal co-regulation state without CBDDT education. He taught me how to me how to apply the bubble theory and learning theory in every interaction. In front of Lance and his decoy white boxer puppy and assistant, I exhibited handler dexterity and adroitness in executing how to stay within Abby's personal space and comfort zone. Lance praised my progress, but made sure I was gradually shrinking the bubble, by working outside of Abbys threshold to foster trust and voluntary compliance through gradual exposures. He made sure new behavior patterns were sticking and stacking. Most importantly, he made sure Abby could happily transfer her new emotional regulating skills with cross-contextualization.
At times we took breaks to prevent sensory overload and handler frustrations. We lowered the criteria and switched up our context dependence and reward systems to motivate wanted behaviors. Lance made the necessary changes that were so small, they were too small to fail. Environmental restructuring and higher rates of reinforcement is a game changer through the unexpected turns of sudden environmental contrast. Lance encouraged patience and builds momentum. I can't emphasize this enough, but starting small with slow sustainable steps creates automaticity and lasting changes. When Lance raised the criteria, it was because he was making sure, I was attuned with Abbys learning patterns and behavioral patterns through my own critical thinking patterns. Through predictive analysis and matching motivations, I methodically moved Abby's threshold and ensured triggers (e.g., other dogs and skateboarders) remained in the green zone. We learned to stay composed with predictable sequences and pattern games. I modified the reactions to Abby's aggressive behaviors, by changing her emotional responses that triggered her fear and anxiety.
Abby and I built paranoic and bubble awareness through practicing his stop-and-wait and approach-and-retreat exercises. Lance helped in expanding my peripheral awareness and in moderating our emotional surge. I really appreciated how often we took breaks and changed our scenery to let Abby and I decompress and reset. He has a wonderful way with managing the stress of high wired dogs and their peeps. Lance has behavioral intelligence, and he has added a tremendous amount of accuracy, influence, prediction and compassion to our lives. He has talked me through my worries and helped me navigate traumas together with absolute optimism and relaxed confidence. Abby no longer lunges and barks at dogs and skateboarders anymore. We enjoy our walks together with generality. I can now take Abby to cafe's, bars, restaurants, markets, and our local parks. Several of my neighbors and friends have complimented me for our change in behavior. If you're thinking about training your reactive dog, don't hesitate to go with Lance. He is really good at alleviating discomfort and creating environments that provide optimal animal welfare,"
Meagan L
(NP) Nurse Practitioner
Napa Valley

AGENCY & EMPOWERMENT
I was starting to feel hopeless with our new rescue puppy, Paige. We couldn't quite figure it out. She seemed to always be having digestive problems. The grumpiness towards everyone in the house started more recently. Our new veterinarian explained that gastrointestinal issues and stress colitis can lead to increased reactivity, excessive licking and withdraw. Dogs that are sick can show changes on a behavioral side.
Our veterinarian and her vet-tech both recommended Lance Santino, in Sonoma Valley. Lance and my vet took a holistic approach to target illness and behavior. The Vet recommended changing kibble to a fresh diet. She prescribed the prescription diet and Metronidazole to remedy the chronic gastric issue. Lance gave me expert insight into Paige's emotional world. He described, "When any puppy's protective emotional system is overly activated, overly aroused, overly protective, overly attached, it's what leads to hormonal stress and gastrointestinal issues every time. Constant construction projects and recent renovations can interrupt and disrupt any puppy's sleep patterns."
We worked together virtually, in-person and combination of both. From micro-sessions to micro-sessions, Lance, took notes and collected data to track our behavior responses and to make sure our treatment plan is based upon evidence and facts and not assumptions or intuition. Lance helped us discover the hypothesis of why our puppy is engaging in these maladaptive behaviors. He trained with my girlfriend and assistant, and he deepened our understanding of how our thoughts and emotions influence our dogs' thoughts and emotions and how Paige perceives it and smells it.
Human-and dog interactions can be viewed through parenting analogy, where my behavior and attachments have influenced Paige's relationships and behaviors. Lance articulately explained mind wandering, emotional contagion and how dog owners stress hormones can unintentionally reinforce their dog's reactivity. Lance went on and said, "I completely understand what you are going through. I have been there myself, and my heart goes out to all owners of leash frustrated dogs." It's so true, if we can't learn to control ourselves, we will never be able to control our dogs." We all couldn't agree more with (Clarke & Loftus) research that dog owner's psychological characteristics predict dog behavior traits.
Lance first established a solid baseline through identifying triggers, threshold distance and in-depth skilled assessment. He set up our settings to create new, positive and safe associations with the antecedent iceberg-- men in hats with direct movement, and medium to larger dogs. This function-based intervention required me to learn how to be a skilled shaper of negative and positive reinforcement. Lance and his decoy dog and intern helped with the manipulation of environments. He modified settings to make it easier for Paige to succeed and learn desired skills. Small changes led to big transformations.
Lance helped us find the right reinforcers--certain environments, certain times of day, certain distance, certain approximations, certain engagement, certain disengagement, certain functional rewards, certain sniffing, certain calming, certain movements, certain tones, certain decoy dogs, certain caretakers and certain trainers, certain treats and certain toys, He made sure that I understood the power of reinforcements and how important it is to have a diverse toolkit of behaviors to handle conflicts calmly and constructively to prevent outburst. It took us some time to get down the timing, mechanics and patience of the procedures. Lance made sure that we minimized real life triggers outside of training and we restructured her daily routines.
We worked several short & sweet sessions at 6am and 1pm, Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Breaking up the trainings with double days prevents overarousal. Dogs that frequently rehearse aggressive behaviors have low thresholds. Training sub-threshold exposures, and below Paige's threshold she learned to display none-aggressive reactions in the presence of triggers. She was rewarded for offering relaxed postures and decoy dog, and intern was promptly removed. Paige easily grasped that her calm state of mind could control her stressful situations. We slowly developed and conditioned a repertoire of behaviors, instead of mitigating or eliminating a repertoire of behaviors. Lance taught me how to be extremely sensitive to Paige's facial features, body language, tail wag, and how to accurately interpret her social interactions and emotional states.
We first shaped calmer behaviors from a distance as reinforcers and affiliative behaviors, such as approaching, investigating and sniffing as reinforcers. We incrementally increased duration and reinforced appropriate behaviors. We proofed affiliate social behaviors, soft exploratory body language and relaxed response substitutions with aversive stimulus. Once Paige exhibited excellent stimulus control and her calm responses successfully controlled her environment and made her perceived threat go away, her emotional states shifted from insecure to secure, stressed to calm, and fearful to friendly. Our perception metamorphosed, and we no longer viewed ambiguous cues as provocation. Collecting data from each training session was crucial for time sampling the exact moment of behavior change, from seeking distance to choosing to engage.
It was in the beginning of our 3rd session at the Historic Fuller Park with his second decoy dog and different handler, Paige experienced behavioral cusp. We first examined her happy and relaxed facial expressions. Her ears ranged from forward and relaxed, to pointed back and relaxed. Her tail was at the mid-level with slow loose wag with wiggly and playful body language. Through learning how to decode her signals and execute operant procedures, we altered her fearful responses and conditioned emotional responses from aversive to appetitive. This empowerment of epiphany initiated significant growth and social change that Paige has been graving. Without hesitation, Lance started delivering the mini meatballs skillfully within a second or two of calm check-ins and other voluntary behaviors that are within her repertoire. Effective systematic desensitization and counterconditioning took place with dog-to-dog greetings and polite play followed.
In downtown Napa, we showed Lance how to calmly communicate the appropriate emotional tones through getting the calmness flowing down the leash. We demonstrated to him how we managed our inner coherence and how we altered Paige's emotional responses to her triggers through habit formation. Paige's initial respondent behaviors with second decoy dog and handler that appeared and reappeared have been fully replaced with playful and calm signals. We showed Lance how we consistently practiced and how she felt our relaxed nervous system syncing right down the leash and back up. Paige anticipates previous triggered events and offers post switchover to positive reinforcement in a complete friendly manner with other dogs and men in hats.
Lance monitored our progress closely and adapted our micro sessions to achieve favorable results. He knew how to tweak and adjust his methods accordingly. He had multiple decoy dogs and handlers to swap in and out for resetting situations and for environmental and context shifts. Lance is a great troubleshooter who understands dog's and people's emotions, motivations and cognitions. He measures behaviors to make data-driven treatment decisions. His acumen allowed us to move beyond the surface of her symptoms to change her underline issues faster than we expected. Lance helped us understand what was happening before the behaviors transpired and gave us the practical skills to solve the problems. We enjoyed the process, and we were thrilled by the outcome. Lances follow up emails were an additional help."
Entertainment Industry
Ryan. S
Napa Valley

CBDDT is the first off-leash, small group hybrid training program in southern Marin. Our canine social behavior experts were the first to use play behaviors to treat fearful behaviors for Milo Foundation rescues that were on death-row. Rasco (Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever-Border Collie Cross), Mother saved his life, and she granted
CBDDT is the first off-leash, small group hybrid training program in southern Marin. Our canine social behavior experts were the first to use play behaviors to treat fearful behaviors for Milo Foundation rescues that were on death-row. Rasco (Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever-Border Collie Cross), Mother saved his life, and she granted me the opportunity to give him his best life! Karen B from Mill Valley stated, "Lance, is gifted at working with rescues with fear-related challenges." Karen was not just an extraordinary dog mom and caring client, but she was an extraordinary creative writer and book author.

Oakland French Brittany is no longer on high alert. Rabi is starting to feel secure in the presence of other dogs. Calm becomes a byproduct of safety. Rabi's breath deepens and muscles are relaxed. Rabi's brain no longer has to spinout and repeats. Slow thinking helps avoid fast twitched decisions. Rabi is generously rewarded and praised for coping and cooperation at the exact time.

At Town Center Corte Madera, systematic desensitization paired with classical conditioning. Decoy dogs that I know are introduced at Brice's pace of learning. We are gradually getting closer to less potent aversive stimulus to build trust and optimism to overcome fear and insecurities.

"Lance is a play expert. He has incredible anticipation in managing and motivating play groups. I have used his services for training, socialization and boarding. Additionally, my parents used his services for over six years."
M.D. Melissa P
Belvedere, Tiburon
"I have seen a marked improvement in Daisy & Butter. They can't wait to go out with Lance - grabbing the leashes and ready to go! My Labs have stayed with him overnight and get treated like dog royalty with tempur-pedic beds and beach runs!"
Jena W
Attorney, SF
Belvedere, Tiburon
"Luna was so excited about her playdates. She was so happy after spending time with you and her friends."
M.D. Julie W
Dermatologist, Bon Air Center
Belvedere, Tiburon

"My Boxer used to go bananas. Brody would maul any guest that would walk through our front door, even our own son. He started climbing over our six-foot fence. It got to a point that his safety was in jeopardy. We called up Lance, and he came over and set everyone up for success. He made me feel comfortable and put Brody at ease. Lance listened to my concerns and made great suggestions. This is what separates him from others. He gets people and knows that the dog can only succeed, if everyone is on the same page and follows the treatment plan. Lance provides specific recommendations and a solid plan of action, to help Brody relax and settle. A lot of dogs didn't respond well to his boundless energy on walks. It was a bit difficult to socialize him. With the right advice and safe introductions, Brody became a more adaptive dog. Brody really shined through his training cues and play partners. His new white Boxer friend, named Lyla, became his BFF. When my husband became hospitalized with a life-threatening health condition, Lyla hosted Brody at The Resort. Lance is professional, patient, and kind. He gives so much of himself and time to dogs and their owners. I couldn't recommend him enough."
Real Estate Agent
San Marin, Novato
Sandra O

FOUNDER OF ROCKET RECALL TRAINING SCHOOL
& PLAY PARTNERS PROGRAM
(RRTS & PPP) specializes in advanced fundamentals, polite social play and vigorous and safe exercise for dogs from Mill Valley to Sonoma Valley. Qualified, clinical, experienced, and effective behavior support.
IN DYADIC (TWO-DOG) PLAY, COOPERATION-RELEVANT TRAITS
"My veterinarian strongly suggested to reach out to Lance with CBDDT.
Lance is a wonderful educator and influencer. He puts real passion and precision in every dog he trains and socializes, such as my shy Ridgeback, Roc. Lance is very talented at introducing and matching dogs in play groups. He has an unusual ability to work a variety of dogs in a variety of contexts. Lance also provided me with an opportunity to ask specific questions about my daughter's dogs and get his recommendations and suggested solutions for the problems. He didn't just explain the techniques, but he helped us both understand why they work. Roc and I are so happy that we found him."
RN Carole C
Traveling Nurse
Marin General Hospital
Greenbrae, CA
Chattanooga, TN

"Without Lance's professional guidance, it's very unlikely that I would still have my Pit Bull Great Dane Rescue."
Nathan M
Software Engineer
Sausalito
"I have been a foster mom for over 100 homeless rescues. I've connected with many dog experts in northern California. One expert that has been a valuable resource is Lance Santino from Mill Valley, Pacheco Valle, Sonoma Valley to Green Valley. He collaborates with new fosters and adopters in Marin, Napa and Solano Counties. He is quite simply, as good as it gets. He has a natural affinity with dogs who have well-being issues. He is a stress resilience expert and teaches dogs and owners how to regulate their emotions in various situations. He specializes in socializing shy dogs with fear memories. He is gifted in overcoming trauma and building sociability in dogs from puppy mills, backyard breeders, hoarding, shelters, and rescues. What inspires me about Lance is that he doesn't get caught up in the labels of behavior, and he doesn’t apply breed-based stereotypes. Lance is not a breedist and he doesn't discriminate against certain breeds. He never blames the dog or shoots the messenger. He clearly understands there is a combination effect to aggressive behaviors. It's multifactorial and it's not mono-causal. It's not one single inherent personality trait. Human and canine aggression can be rooted in a complexity of underline issues, such as genetic predisposition, prenatal stress, musculoskeletal pain, hormonal imbalances, thyroid problems, neurological conditions, cognitive dysfunction, aversive training, resource guarding, environmental factors, inexperienced handlers, displayed anger, situational stacking, noise phobias, emotional states, fear, anxiety, frustration and a lack of early socialization to dogs and people. It's not one behavior. It's not one trigger. Multiple symptoms can often compound each other to create the manifestation of aggressive behaviors. With an integrated approach, these complex symptoms can be either treatable manageable or treatable rehabilitable. Lance has great instincts in being able to recognize the pre-warning signs. He believes that early intervention is a worthwhile investment to permanently change behaviors, change perceptions, change emotional states, and change response to triggers. I have seen him working a lot of dogs on my property. Lance has strong intuition in reading and interpreting human and canine body language. He is great at explaining and teaching emotional centered coping and reinforcing prosocial behaviors. He embraces the present moment with a non-judgmental acceptance, and he effectively monitors and supervises dog-to-dog interactions. He understands that most challenging behaviors are rooted in insecurities and unmet needs. He uses compassionate listening and genuine altruism to get through to new fosters and potential adopters. He doesn't take things personally. He genuinely cares about dogs and owners' welfare. It's evident in his patience and practice. He is cerebral at making the sessions fun and reducing or eliminating events that are perceived to be aversive. Lance uses play-based social learning to deepen dog owner relationships. For over four years, he has helped me match homeless dogs with suitable homes and stable families. He has assisted me in providing the best placements. As a result, we have worked together to create long lasting adoptions."
Betty F
Novato
Los Altos, Rocklin, SF
Property Flipper & Broker
Kids Animal Rescue Fund


CBDDT SERVICES OFFERED:
Aggressive Behaviors
Leash--Induced Aggression
Reactive Behaviors
Maladaptive Behaviors
Stereotypical Behaviors
Separation Related Behaviors
Relaxation Behaviors
Foundation Behaviors
Canine Social Behaviors
Play Behaviors
Greeting Behaviors

"We definitely lucked out finding Lance. He used a multifaceted approach to shift our puppy's attention and to ameliorate Max's misbehaviors. Lance used play and reward-based methods to align treatment with his specific needs and to follow his motivation. Lance taught Max differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors to make good c
"We definitely lucked out finding Lance. He used a multifaceted approach to shift our puppy's attention and to ameliorate Max's misbehaviors. Lance used play and reward-based methods to align treatment with his specific needs and to follow his motivation. Lance taught Max differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors to make good choices a habit. Instead of Max barking, licking or softly mouthing at guests, he now gets us his new squeaky toys or tug ropes for visitors. Lance said, "Max is so smart in picking out the best distractors and engaging every guest in play." After tug or toy games, we redirect his attention and provide the appropriate consequences. I delivered Max's rewards for choosing to go settle on his dog bed with durational down stays. Max loves the fact that we put his new treat & train remote training dispenser right in front of his dog bed. Lance advised us that during the puppy's teething phase, we want to pro-actively substitute the undesirable behaviors with desirable behaviors, even if we are 10 yards away. Through play-based social learning, we have conditioned relaxed replacements with positive affect. Playful and skillful reinforcement helped make unfamiliar stimuli less salient and helped us with regulating his emotions. Lance’s ethical alternatives helped Max swap his associations with guests with a rainfall of reward games. It was a lot easier than I thought. Lance has proved to be the most successful at solving our issues. We have been so impressed with his methods and results."
Sonoma
Napa
Sergio D
Luxury Real Estate

"Lance is fantastic. He has trained both of my Labradors, Beckett & Macklin. Best money I have ever spent!"
Katie C
Senior Project Manager
Webcor
East & North Bay

1-SECOND LATENCY IS A ROCKET RECALL!
"Lance, you are the Whippet Whisperer! Your beautiful photos of Lupe, bring me so much peace and comfort, especially with what I am going through right now."
Susan P
Owner
Sofia Jewelry
Mill Valley, Fairfax

"Having a reactive dog has made neighborhood walks quite stressful. Having worked with Lance, Darby no longer sees dogs as a threat. The difference is quate remarkable."
Joann C
Founder of Limited Editions West Gallery, SF
San Rafael

"PLAY GURU"
Puppy and doggy development shaper and generalizer through successive approximations from lower to higher distracting environments. CBDDT understands the stages of puppy development and how it can affect adult and problem behaviors, if the dog is not thoroughly assessed and trained in foundation behaviors and counter conditione
"PLAY GURU"
Puppy and doggy development shaper and generalizer through successive approximations from lower to higher distracting environments. CBDDT understands the stages of puppy development and how it can affect adult and problem behaviors, if the dog is not thoroughly assessed and trained in foundation behaviors and counter conditioned in a step-by-step process. This elite and customized play program of only 2-3 dogs per group, puts the highest emphasis on the importance of safe and fun social relationships from the dogs and scientific perspectives. CBDDT are the only off leash program that accurately interprets body language and body mechanics. We preemptively link body language and movement with the dog's emotional states and communication systems from social play to greeting behaviors
Our canine social behavior experts, build the strongest reinforcement history with your dog. and dogs in our program also build the strongest reinforcement histories with each other. Being a polite play partner helps enable our dogs to feel secure and develop independence.

Lifesaver! Lance's play based, personalized approach meets the dog and the owner where they are. His programs are tailored to dogs with complex issues. Lance is skillfully attuned to you and your dog's emotional needs. He used a client centered interviewing and collaborative approach in our assessment. Lance is empathetic, but yet realist
Lifesaver! Lance's play based, personalized approach meets the dog and the owner where they are. His programs are tailored to dogs with complex issues. Lance is skillfully attuned to you and your dog's emotional needs. He used a client centered interviewing and collaborative approach in our assessment. Lance is empathetic, but yet realistic about what stretches dog owners can manage. He has great insights and analysis. He's a master of preventive maintenance and he has a knack for problem solving.
Lance is a play specialist! He used play training to combat frustrated reactions. He used play for motivation and exploration. He used play as a primary reinforcer. He used play training for teaching dogs the physics of the world. He used play for conflict resolution. He used play for counter conditioning. He used play for emotional regulation and generalization. He used play training to prepare for the unexpected. He used play for incompatible behaviors. He used play for mental stimulation and social facilitation. He used play training to identify play through meta signals, activity shifts, self-handicapping, role reversal. He used play training to strengthen social bonds. Lance used play to create deeper connections that transformed our life. Our family is so happy that we have skills to keep playtime moving forward."
Fairfax, West Marin
M.S. Psychology, Christina G.

C-Barq's Behavioral Assessment Questionnaire that measured 14 behavioral traits and problem behaviors, including the subscales of aggression and escape. This comprehensive evaluation for Jack included.
1. Stranger Directed Aggression: hostile responses towards men.
2. Owner Directed Aggression: leashed induced aggression by an inaccessible trigger on walks and takes it out on nearest target--owner.
3. Dog Directed Aggression is towards unfamiliar dogs.
4. Dog Directed Rivalry: not observed or applicable.
5. Stranger Directed Fear: stressful body language in the presence of strangers, especially men.
6. None Social Fear: trepidation from foghorns, loud but yet low-pitched noises and sound waves that travel across the air and water from San Francisco to Tiburon.
7. Escape is driven by predatory, exploratory, boredom, roaming and reproductive urges.
8. Separation Related Behaviors with panicking, chewing, howling and pacing soon after owner leaves home.
9. Attachment & Attention Seeking by following owner from room to room and excessive need for attention and reassurance.
10. Chasing Behaviors: squirrel's, birds, coyote's and neighbor's dog.
11. Trainability: generally cooperative and loves to work for reinforcement.
12. Excitability: measuring strong frantic reactions to arousing events and extreme difficulties in calming down.
13. Touch Sensitivity: measuring consent and cooperation with grooming, nail trims, vet visits, while being handled and touched by unfamiliar people.
14. Energy Levels: highly active, high drive, playful, always on the go, and struggles to settle down after exercise.

Jack chewed through drywall in our homes in Las Vegas and Tiburon. It wasn’t soon enough that he escaped through our window chasing a squirrel. I received a call from a woman in Strawberry that spotted him swimming across Richardson Bay. Miraculously, she caught him before animal control. The officer offered a resource list of local dog professionals.
It was obvious that Jack was not going to outgrow these problems. I thought we would benefit from an ethical and force free intervention. We tried everything from shock collars, vibration collars, beep collars, citronella collars and prong-collars. Aversive tools broke Jacks trust and his ability to work with me. I was ridden with guilt in sending him away to a board and train that operated behind closed doors and lacked my involvement. That was a fatal mistake on my part.
My fiancé and I exhausted all possibilities. Lance was my last hope, and his dog savvy suggestions were spot on. He first advised us to have Jack evaluated by Dr. Sung to make sure he didn’t ingest any of the material in the drywall. Our veterinarian concluded there was no nutritional deficiencies and medical issues. Lance requested a vet release, video footages to figure out the reason why Jack was behaving this way.
Lance asked questions, listened carefully and responded thoughtfully. He opened my eyes to concepts in a way that resonated with me. I was literally at my wits-end and could no longer handle Jack snapping at dogs and snapping back at me. I was so embarrassed of my dog’s behavior in public. He had an abnormally elevated intensity that I have never seen in dogs.
Lance taught me how to walk Jack with coherence and not control. He worked with us on the reciprocal dance of co-regulation and strategies that anticipated situations that triggered his microaggression. Jack doesn't need me to be perfect; he needs me to be present and for me to get down to his level with tactical and positive reinforcement.
Lance helped me establish safety and security through being physically and emotionally present. He trained us on how to inhale and exhale together to create emotional flow and autonomic intimacy. Achieving these interconnected states through deep breathing helped us feel grounded and stay committed to the present moment—without getting caught up in the external and internal distractions.
I learned that training should never fight Jacks natural instincts, it should be mindfully partnered with it. We exposed Jack to stimuli in small, controlled increments with contact comfort and successive approximations. Lance proceeded with caution and kept his head on a swivel. He demonstrated how to turn adversity into opportunities, while scaffolding safety and hiking up the anxiety hierarchy with relaxed responses.
Jack first learned not to react to the least increasing triggers before the most increasing triggers. Lance monitored our steps, until the temporal contiguity was closely timed with the behavior and consequence. Once Jack linked the two effectively, Lance added his trainer dog, and I started building on our resilience and regulation. This was the first time I matched Jacks rhythms and mirrored his state of relaxation in the present of a calmer dog. This was an immense breakthrough and the most powerful shift without force.
With Lance’s professional guidance, I learned to safely de-escalate Jacks arousal and squash cognitive distortions that were driving my stress downward. Lance taught me that once we learn how to calmy respond to our dog's distress, it will determine our attachment bond. This made total sense. It brought me peace of mind, and trust back into our relationship through proximity seeking and counter conditioning. Jack learned to defer to me and offer durational engagement. Lance helped us build life skills for greater awareness and coping skills to navigate stressful situations. He arranged the environments in such a way to promote a particular outcome.
Lance didn't just customize a stress resilience program to train his brain, but he also designed it to train his body through emotional refueling, and mixed intensity with added endurance. He suggested to continue to use an assortment of high rewards and praise to practice what we learned on early morning hikes at Ring Mountain Upper Lyford, Marin Headlands trails or at Cavallo Point with his sweet Sausalito littermate.
The combination of training with Lance and Jack and then working with Jack alone, new behaviors started sticking within a month and more complexed behaviors started sticking within two months. We hacked automaticity by firing positive feelings of emotional contingency between Jack and myself. Two sessions a week for two months. Sixteen training sessions, along my work with Jack, focused on feeling good, not just frequent repetition. Positive emotions create habit stacking, ten times faster.
After training sessions, we diverted Jacks attention through a smooth transition with every departure. We lowered Jacks arousal state into a blue state through pairing the other half of his breakfast in a frozen kong. We turned up the calming music and turned on the high velocity tilting pedestal fan to block window of my neighbors' excessive barking dog and loud sound waves that travel from San Francisco to Tiburon. Lisa Spector's, classical piano music, definitely calms dogs with severe separation and noise phobias. The high-powered fan effectively blocks out distracting noises through sound masking. Meet the need and then take the lead and put the animal's welfare first and foremost.
Lance is very proficient in solving a serious case of redirected aggression and creating a safe place for Jack to deeply rest through the activation of his parasympathetic nervous system. Lance helped me developed trusting cooperation through voluntary participation to make behavior change to a socially significant degree. Lance's program is designed very well. He has high levels of excellent experimental control to roll out confounds. His intervention observed and tracked behaviors systematically and regularly. Lance helped me understand exactly what was happening and he gave me the tools to solve the problems at every giving moment. Hands down the most important element of my dog's developmental journey. Highly, highly recommended!
Justin D
Tiburon
Las Vegas
Financial Advisor

"Working with Lance was an absolute joy. He navigated our neighborhood walks with new and positive environmental contingencies. We built new repertoires, rather than just removed old ones. We can now take peaceful strolls through big crowds' stress free. Lance didn't just show me what to do but he demonstrated and supported me when working through the training stages. Owner education is the solution. Thanks to Lance and Connection Before Direction Dog Training for creating more collaborative pathways that led to a full transformation.
Olivia B.
Restaurant Manager
Vacaville

"Remarkable results! Lance overdelivered and provided us with the knowledge to manage Loki's behavior on and off leash. We couldn't believe the difference so quickly, especially with our stubborn Huskie that ran away from our first two trainers in SF & Napa. Lance maximized our dog's potential and resolved his learned irrelevance. He transformed our fearfully insecure Huskie, by building trust, and clarity, resulting in rapid recall improvements beyond our backyards."
Lisa A
Fashion Model
Investment Consultant
San Francisco
Napa Valley

My Flashy Fawn Boxer, Santino Marco, either escaped or he was abandoned on the streets of San Bernardino, California. He was malnourished with bones protruding out of his body. He had a missing canine tooth, and numerous scars from punctures, all over his body and face. This was the result of him being a bait dog in a fighting ring. He was taken to an animal hospital in critical condition and then to Devore animal shelter —a shelter with very limited resources that has the highest kill rate.
Within a week, Santino was immediately interjected and proactively picked up by legendary rescue guru, Jackie Snell, and her life saving organization that she founded that has helped saved the lives of thousands and thousands of homeless dogs —West Coast Boxer Rescue.
Over 250 inquires and applications were submitted to adopt “Luis”, who is now named Santino. His back story was extremely profound and thought provoking. His sweet face and disposition, despite his neonatal, transitional, socialization and testing periods of developmental adversities, was awe inspiring. My off-leash stress resilience training program put us at the top of the list, just like when we adopted his little sister, a young white boxer that actually was homeless on streets of Lancaster, California for weeks.
Santino’s intervention and behavior support plan, included the what and when’s, management, and prevention, pairing and substituting, engaging and disengaging. Adjustments were made when needed. We aligned his environments for desirable behavior outcomes. Systematic desensitization (CC/DS) is hard work. We can’t be lackadaisical. Any mistakes we made became discoveries. We used our errors to proceed forward with better awareness. Smaller steps were more transformative.
We never blame the messenger, which leads to outdated dominant theory strategies. That only suppresses behavior, not changes behavior. Instead, we used learning theories strategies to mitigate, shape and strengthen behaviors. When we changed the context and environment, we changed conditions and behavior. The difference between a confused dog and a thinking dog.
Through Santino’s predictable routine of mental enrichment, reciprocal greetings, appropriate play, and a habitual routine of diet and nutrition, foundations and behavior modification, Santino, climatized and generalized to his new surroundings from nor-cal to so-cal.
When we went on airplanes, he went on airplanes. When we went to resorts, Santino went to resorts. When we asked for upgrades, it was because Santino was present. Don’t get me wrong, we could have left him with licki-mat or frozen kong, bumping Lisa Spector. When we went to dinner, he went to dinner. When we went to breakfast, he went to breakfast. When we sat poolside, he sat poolside.
Have you ever met Santino Marco! His refinement, poise and charm is on a whole another level. He walks with complete confidence and makes his own choices. He has liberties to do whatever he wants. This was the reflection of receiving early, safe and secure social bonds from his owners, siblings, friends, kids, deer and other animal's. At his pace of learning, not ours, Santino established the strongest attachment connections and high emotional intelligence. He is not only a well acclimated and well-adjusted dog, but he is a well-trained and well-behaved dog.
I will always believe that pro-active dog owners are better able to assess and redesign the environments for their dogs to successfully adapt, make choices and problem solve with the highest percentage of success. During his early stages of adolescence at around 8, 9 months, Santino started overcoming his shyness and fear and building high levels of self-efficacy and ambiguity tolerance. It’s disrespectful to ever to put a leash on him but he respects leash laws.
Santino has been to every beach from the SF Bay Area to San Diego, and all throughout Orange County. Surf & Sand Resort upgraded us many of times because staff fell in love with his sweet disposition and sophisticated elegance. Anything he touches, people, kids, animals or dogs he makes it better. His healing power is truly magical and one-of-a-kind.
At 12 yrs old, Santino, receives cold laser, legend, Adequan, Galliprant, Flexadin. physical therapy, PST, sniff-based enrichment, canine massage and vagal brake exercises. I also ice his osteo hock joint on both sides of his ankle after every play session, no matter our location.
Santino Marco has given so much to the world and his surroundings. When he was 1 1/2 yrs old, he did volunteer work and animal therapy at a def children’s school in San Diego. For the last 12years he has been used as my “trainer dog” with all new dogs in my one-on-one and dyadic play programs from Saint Helena to Half Moon Bay. He is the COO of my rocket recall training school program.

"Daisy took immediately to Lance and his elite canine regimen. I have seen a dramatic difference in her overall disposition since she started training with him."
Whitney P
First Degree Blackbelt Instructor, Winery Owner
SF Clay Park, Calistoga

"Look at my sweet boy, waiting calmly for cake. Lance taught my Rottie self-control and voice control."
Meredith R.
Financial Advisor
Walnut Creek

"Lance is amazing! His knowledge of dogs is outstanding. He is professional and easy to deal with. Flexable when I need him to be. Always communicative."
Julie C
Fashion Designer
Tiburon, New York

"Lance was recommended by Dr. Mary Pess. at Twin Cities Veterinary Hospital. Lance has visited our homes in Belvedere and Saint Helena. Lance worked wonders with our puppy boxer, Rose. At times he brought his boxer, Santino for puppy socialization. We have recommended Lance's services to several of our friends in Sausalito and Pacific Heights."
John H
Commerical Real Estate
Belvedere
Saint Helena

"I highly recommend Lance. He provided science-based training and fun prearranged playdates for our Pit Bull, Koa! He is consistent, prompt and absolutely wonderful to work with."
LMFT Paulina S
Psychotherapist
Marin County
Pahoa, Hawaii

"These pics are Amazing. You make her so happy...it almost brings tears to my eyes. Words cannot express how grateful I am. She's a really calm dog and I know its so much about you and her pack...Very much appreciative of your professionalism, devotion and care."
Dr. Julie H
Child Psychologist
Corte Madera

"Lance is so good! Fast results and noticeable change within our first training session. Maverick learned quickly as he guided me on how to work with him. He gave me incredible info to get into the mind of Malinois, which also included my neighbor's dog that is leashed aggressive. His knowledge he shared was top notch. My only regret is not coming to Lance sooner. Every three months, I call him for a refresher. Only because my dog loves him and he is so good!"
Danielle A
Wine Industry
Napa Valley

" I received a lot of encouragement from Lance. In only 6 training sessions with him (which I really enjoyed, he had an open ear and asked really good questions.) He had valuable insight into my dog’s perspective. He was the first person that helped me gain clarity into what was driving my Beagles behaviors. We had an open dialogue and support between our time together. It’s very evident that there were thoughtful preparations that had gone into my trainings with Lance. He taught me a lot in a short period of time. I can now forward that knowledge."
Shelley O
Wealth Management
San Francisco

I r
Sonoma, CA, USA
Connection Before Direction Dog Training
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.