Initial Consultation
A deep history intake, realistic goal-setting, and a customized training and management plan. We meet you in your home and start where your dog actually lives.
$150 · includes hand-outs & session recap
Boulder, Colorado · Family Dog Mediator Certified
Your dog isn't broken. They're misunderstood.
Brilliant Pup Behavior helps you and your dog truly understand each other — through science-based, positive-reinforcement methods that build lasting trust, not just obedience.
KPA-CTP Karen Pryor Academy
CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer
FDM Family Dog Mediator
Est. 2009 Founder, Summit Dog Rescue
Our Philosophy
The goal isn't a well-behaved dog. It's a relationship your dog wants to be part of.
Research from canine cognition labs around the world shows that dogs learn best through positive reinforcement — not pressure, not corrections. When their needs are met, cooperation comes naturally, and both of you can thrive.
We don't train dogs to comply. We help you understand the why behind their behavior, then build a plan that meets their needs as a species and yours as a human.
Meet Your Trainer
Emily Wolf, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA, FDM
Emily has spent her life around dogs — first as the founder of Boulder's Summit Dog Rescue in 2009, then as a certified trainer studying with some of the most respected names in the field.
She graduated from the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy, holds nationally recognized CPDT-KA certification, and earned her Family Dog Mediator certification in 2021 — bringing Kim Brophey's groundbreaking ethological approach to families across Boulder County.
KPA-CTP
CPDT-KA
Family Dog Mediator
Summit Dog Rescue Founder
Read Emily's Story
How We Work Together
Services tailored to you and your dog.
Every dog — and every human — is different. Each plan we build starts with listening, then unfolds at the pace that fits your life.
Follow-Up Lessons
Hands-on sessions focused on learning and practicing new skills. We build on what's working, adapt what isn't, and grow your confidence as a handler.
$125 · per session
Discounted Packages
For families ready to commit to lasting change. Multi-session packages save you money and give your dog the consistency they need to truly transform.
Ask about pricing · tailored to your goals
The FDM Difference
Most trainers teach obedience. We help you understand the whole dog.
As a certified Family Dog Mediator, Emily uses the L.E.G.S.® model developed by applied ethologist Kim Brophey — a framework that looks at every behavior through four lenses, not just the surface.
L
Learning
What your dog has been taught — through experience, reinforcement, and association — up to this moment.
E
Environment
The physical and social world your dog lives in — sounds, smells, routines, the humans and animals around them.
G
Genetics
The breed and individual instincts your dog was born with — herding, guarding, scent-driving, retrieving, companionship.
S
Self
The internal state — age, health, hormones, stress, pain — that shapes how your dog shows up each day.
Client Stories
Real transformations, in their own words.
Emily helped us understand why our rescue was reacting — not just how to stop it. The difference in our home is night and day.Placeholder · Boulder client Reactive adult rescue
For the first time, our puppy and our family feel like we're on the same team. The L.E.G.S. framework changed how we see her.Placeholder · Lafayette client Working-breed puppy
I've worked with three trainers before. Emily is the first who taught me what my dog actually needs — not just commands.Placeholder · Louisville client Multi-dog household
Real client testimonials coming soon · Emily will collect & share with permission
Ready to understand your dog?
Start with a free, no-pressure phone call. We'll talk about what's going on, whether we're a fit, and what to do next.
Book a Free Call