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Wu De Dog Training

Specific behaviors to address

Responds within a day

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If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more

About
At Wu De Dog Training, I approach dog training as a partnership built on trust, communication, and positive reinforcement. After a decade of building a successful, full-service dog training company, I sold Dogpanion, LLC. to downsize and return to my true passion. Today, through Wu De Dog Training, my focus is 100% on private training. By dedicating all my energy to one-on-one coaching, I can work directly with you and your dog in your real-world environment to deliver the fastest, most sustainable results. Inspired by the principles and practice of Kung Fu, training is never about force or intimidation, but about developing awareness, balance, timing, patience, and connection between dogs and their people. Through reward-based training, thoughtful guidance, and consistent practice, I help dogs build confidence, learn reliable behaviors, and make good choices in everyday life. My philosophy draws on concepts such as Qi (energy), Gong Fu (skill through practice), Wu Wei (effortless action), and Ting Jin (listening and awareness) to create a calm, intentional, and respectful training experience. My goal is to help every dog and handler develop the skills, understanding, and trust needed to move through life together with confidence and harmony. If this approach resonates with you, I cannot wait to work together.
Overview

Serves La Jolla, CA

Background checked

1 employee

Business hours

Sun10:00 am - 3:00 pmMon9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, and Venmo.

Social media

Instagram

Services offered
Dog training package
Dog size

Extra Small (1 - 15 lbs)

Small (16 - 25 lbs)

Medium (26 - 40 lbs)

Large (41 - 70 lbs)

Dog training type

Private lessons

Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, work quality, and responsiveness.

5.0

2 reviews

5

100%

4

0%

3

0%

2

0%

1

0%

Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our review guidelines.

pro avatar
Becks D.

Aug 25, 2026

I can’t say enough good things about working with Mel. I went into Wu De with my Labradoodle, Piper, knowing basically nothing about dog training, and they honestly exceeded all my expectations.
She made everything feel really approachable and never overwhelming, which I appreciated a lot considering my lack of training experience. The biggest improvements for us were leash walking and handling reactivity in public! Big wins. Walking a dog without a power struggle is huge and just enjoyable! Piper absolutely loved her, and you can tell she genuinely cares about both the dogs and their owners.
One of the most valuable things she taught me was how to balance play and relaxation. How to engage with her in a fun, structured way, but also how to help her settle and just be calm.
Mel is patient, kind, and super attentive, and it shows in how she works.
I feel so much more confident now, and Piper is happier and more balanced because of it. I’d 100% recommend her to anyone looking for real, practical training that actually makes a difference. The kind of training that when you are out in public you are raising a dog that people say “Wow what a great dog. You’ve done a great job!”
pro avatar
Wendy S.

3 weeks ago

I cannot recommend Mel Reichek enough! I hired Mel for private training to help with my four-year-old Scottish Terrier. Scotties are famously independent, but Mel knew exactly how to channel his energy using positive, force-free methods.
Our main goals were to get him to stop pulling on the leash and master loose-leash walking. I also wanted to manage his reactivity whenever he saw other dogs on our walks. Mel taught him how to stop pulling and to consistently check in with me when we are out, rather than him just doing whatever he feels like doing—a classic terrier trait! We also worked hard on his recall, and he is doing great at coming when he is called.
Because he is an extremely friendly dog, he gets overexcited and jumps on everyone. Mel is helping me master "polite greetings." He must have "four on the floor" and exhibit calm behavior before anyone pets him, whether they are coming into the house or meeting us on the street.
Mel hasn’t just trained my dog—she trained me. She has given me the confidence and tools to be a better dog owner. Her weekly summaries and homework sheets are awesome and make it so easy to practice between our sessions. If you want a trainer who truly understands dog behavior and sets you up for success, Mel is the one to call!
Credentials
Background Check

Melanie Reichek

FAQs

  • What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

    Sessions start at $100/session. Each session is an hour long. I offer a discount when you buy a package: 5 sessions for $475 (save $25), 7 sessions for $630 (save $70), and 10 sessions for $850 (save $150)

  • What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

    All private in-person sessions start with an initial training consultation. The purpose of the in-home evaluation is to learn more about you and your dog(s). I need to observe your dog in their home environment, gather your input, fully understand your training objectives, and take a complete history before recommending a training package. During the evaluation, you will receive helpful tips and information to set your dog up for success and prepare you for training. The fee for the in-home evaluation is $100 and requires one hour. The fee for dogs that exhibit reactivity with dogs or people, fear, anxiety, skittishness, resource guarding, or clinical separation anxiety (mild to moderate) is $150, and the evaluation requires approximately 90 minutes to complete.

  • What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

    I’m a CPDT-KA certified professional dog trainer and AKC evaluator, with additional certifications specializing in separation anxiety and service dog training. I’m committed to continuing my education so I can provide current, practical, and effective training for both dogs and their humans.

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