Our Story
The path to a canine world
It all began when I was asked to help out friends with their bustling boarding and daycare business. The first thing I realized was how little I knew about dogs. Sure, my family had dogs the whole time I was growing up and I actually had a dog at college my senior year but there was so much more to know than I could imagine. I immediately went to school and got certified as a trainer. Most of my experience in the beginning was as a volunteer at various rescues. I then started Leading the Leash and worked with family dogs, gravitating toward the more severe behavioral issues. Personally it was very interesting and it was great to help the people and the dogs. I was then asked to be the head trainer for a non for profit service dog organization. At this point Leading The Leash was growing too fast for me to handle so my son Tyler joined the company and we haven’t looked back since. Now we are able to provide the highest level of assistance to anyone looking for help with anything from puppies to aggression to service dogs. Both of us can’t even think about doing anything else. There is nothing like helping people and dogs with a smile on your face all day long.
Jeffrey Fritz
Founder and Co-Owner
Washington and Lee University Bachelor’s Degree
Animal Behavior College Graduate
Association of Professional Dog Trainers
After graduating from Washington & Lee University, I worked on Wall Street for a couple of decades. I also played and coached lacrosse the whole time unknowingly amassing an enormous amount of knowledge in how to train people and dogs. The fact is that we spend most of our time training humans. The dogs are the easy part.
I began in the industry taking any job I could get not only to get my foot in the door but to learn as much as I could. It wasn’t long before I was really making a name for myself. Veterinarians were now recommending me to clients who were really struggling.
The second I had an opportunity to work with Service Dogs I knew I was hooked. Not only are you training dogs at the highest level but the humans are helped by the dogs doing tasks for them that they cannot do themselves. We have simplified the process and use only Positive Reinforcement. We realized that the more simple you make it, the easier it is for both the dog and human to understand.
Tyler Fritz
Co-Owner
SUNY Albany Honors Bachelor’s Degree
Animal Behavior College Graduate
Association of Professional Dog Trainer
American Sign Language
After years in the corporate world leading an international team of penetration testers helping companies and organizations find and fix potential threats, I realized I was unhappy in the corporate environment and looking for something more fulfilling. Fortuitously, Leading The Leash was taking off and my father needed help. Starting as the head of boarding for Leading The Leash I found the type of calling where talent meets skill. With the combination of learning on the job with my father, attending and graduating with a dog training certification from Animal Behavior College, volunteering at North Shore Animal League America, and training service dogs for a non for profit, I turned my talent into a very high level of skill.
As a very strong advocate and practitioner of positive reinforcement, no matter whether it is puppy training, service dogs, and everything in between I have proven time and again that I am more than capable of handling any and all of your canine needs. The best part is that I wake up with a smile every day.
Client Testimonials
There are truly no words to describe the experience we have had with Jeff and Tyler at Leading the Leash. Their ability to engage with dogs in a way that seems so natural and easy is incredible to watch. One of our dogs has always been extremely anxious, distant and afraid of any and all strangers and new places; but you would never know it seeing the way she runs to greet them. Even more impressive than the way they so quickly made her feel comfortable and safe; the way she actively listens, engages and responds to them is something we had never seen before with her. The difference between people who just happen to work with dogs and people who truly understand how a dog behaves and communicates becomes so clear when you see it in action and the results firsthand; and the Leading the Leash team is definitely part of the latter. We can say with absolute certainty that both of our dogs have benefitted immensely from their time with Jeff and Tyler.
We had the privilege to work with Tyler and Jeff for over a year, with multiple different dogs. Training Service Dogs requires experience and patience, and is difficult anywhere, let alone in a city like New York. Tyler and Jeff showed up every week to not only train the dogs but also correct the issues that would arise from the chaotic city environment. They did so with diligence and kindness both to us and the dogs. We worked through house training, aggression issues, separation anxiety, and socialization with other dogs, people, and in stores. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Jeff and Tyler to anyone who needs help with training pets and service dogs from the ground up. Tyler and Jeff were not only there to train the dogs, but also taught us how to interact with them in ways that allowed our dogs to view us as leaders. They were always kind and consistent, and their passion for their profession is truly apparent. We are grateful for their help and feel confident that the skills they have taught us make us better dog owners. We appreciate their hard work and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
Contact Us
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Location
Westchester, NY
Phone
914-462-1570