Relationship-based training for puppies and dogs on an eight-acre estate in Northern New Jersey, built on our unique approach: dog psychology before dog training.
4.9 · 106 Google reviewsA first puppy or a last resort, a city apartment or a Bergen County backyard: families come to us with every kind of dog and every kind of need, and the answer begins in the same place. We work on the state of mind beneath the behavior, and we train the human as well as the dog, because the relationship is where results live. It is why our families stay for life.
The magic happens on our eight-acre estate in the Northern New Jersey countryside, in a lodge of more than 5,000 square feet in the middle of nature. Some puppies and dogs come for the day, for training sessions or The Canine Social Club. Others stay at the lodge as guests for a training residency. And for graduates of our programs, the ranch remains a trusted place that knows your dog whenever you travel. Families come to us from New York City and across the metropolitan area. From the George Washington Bridge or the Lincoln Tunnel, the drive is 50 to 60 minutes outside of rush hours.
Every human, every dog and every situation is different. Each relationship receives a custom plan, drawn from the human’s energy, the dog’s energy, the relationship between the two and the behaviors being shown. All based on Dog Psychology.
The Maddie Ranch is an estate that sits on eight acres of countryside, watched over by a team of dog professionals around the clock, so every guest is safe, secure and thoroughly occupied. Nature does half the work out here: a dog returns to their roots and their instincts, and calm comes easier. Owners call it a resort. We call it home.
Thousands of dogs and people over fifteen years, many arriving after everything else had failed, even dog professionals. We intend to be the last stop on your training journey: behavior resolved at the root, a relationship rebuilt at home, and a 4.9-star record across 106 Google reviews to show for it.
Your dog returns balanced, and you are part of the process. The most complete program we offer.
Two to four weeks in puppyhood, learning beside balanced adult dogs.
An hour, one on one. The method travels, because the method is for you.
Weekdays among balanced dogs at the ranch, with door-to-door pickup from Ridgewood.
Ninety minutes to start, then hour-long follow-ups, all at the ranch and built around your dog.
Steve Del Savio introduces The Maddie Ranch.
“It’s not just the dog. It’s also the human behind the dog and the relationship between.”
Steve Del Savio, Founder
Obedience training teaches a dog what to do with their body. It rarely asks why the dog was pulling, lunging or barking in the first place. The answer lives in the state of mind: a dog who is anxious, overexcited or unsure will not be able to achieve new manners, much like a panicked person can’t follow instructions. So we start where the behavior starts. We return the mind to balance first, calmness before commands, and then the manners come quickly and results hold.
And because dogs learn by association, we train the human as well as the dog. You learn to read energy, to lead calmly, and exactly what to do to keep the balance at home. That is why our results last: the dog changes, and so does the relationship.
We are honored to have worked with so many remarkable dogs, and their owners too. Discretion comes first here; these are a few names shared with their blessing.
Debra Messing shares her and Henry’s experience with Steve and Pack Leader Dogs on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Vinny Guadagnino on his dog’s Pack Leader Residency with Steve and the pack.
“Do not hesitate to reach out if you need help with your dogs… I seriously don’t know what I would’ve done without Steve’s intervention. I highly recommend Pack Leader services because this team is truly excellent.”
Bethenny Frankel, Biggy & SmallzReal Housewives of NY
Steve Del Savio has spent over fifteen years of hands-on work helping thousands of dogs and owners around the world find balance. He was selected to teach alongside Cesar Millan and is the longest-serving trainer on his team. The approach he teaches today is his own, built on the foundation of Dog Psychology, where he focuses on helping the owner understand their individual dog, their relationship, and exactly what to do to achieve lasting results. Nearly two million people follow his work across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Owners say the same thing in their reviews: his unique ability to connect with the dog, and with them as owners.
“We’ve gone through 6 trainers over the years and Steve was going to be our last resort… Within 5 mins of our first meeting, Steve was able to assess Odin and us as owners, and gave us clear and direct feedback… He made the biggest difference, and was the best investment we made in ourselves for Odin. Steve is like a dog psychologist, behavior expert, life coach, and therapist for humans all in one… and he’s funny too!”
Mami WakimotoOdin
“If you witnessed how it was previously, this is the closest thing to a miracle I’ve ever experienced… For this reason, I have not and will not train my dogs anywhere else… I am eternally grateful to The Pack. Next puppy we get, our first stop will be Pack Leader Dogs!”
Ronni WeinerGoogle review
“I hired him to help out with my Cavalier’s separation anxiety, within 20 minutes (no joke) he had already fixed the problem! I already notice a dramatic difference in my dog’s demeanor and confidence just from one session.”
SaraRuxin, Cavalier
Tell us about your dog. You will hear from us within one business day.
A small team, on site day and night. These are the people who will know your dog by name.
Steve founded Pack Leader Dogs and The Maddie Ranch, and has trained under Cesar Millan since 2010 - the longest-serving trainer on Cesar's team, and the only one in the Northeast. He still works with dogs and owners directly, and the ranch runs on the rule he started with: state of mind first, obedience second.
Dave has worked with dogs professionally since 2011 and has trained alongside Steve since 2018, learning the work hands-on and rehabilitating dogs beside him ever since. He's especially skilled at meeting owners where they are and staying with a family through the hard parts - as one recent client put it after five weeks with their reactive German Shepherd, Atlas: “We cannot thank Dave enough for his knowledge and techniques that have helped us, help Atlas.”
Jamie has run the business and operations side of Pack Leader Dogs since 2017, and she's the reason everything behind the scenes actually moves, from the moment you apply to the day you pick up your dog. Clients consistently tell us she's the most on-top-of-it, friendliest person they've worked with, and she treats every family's experience like it's the only one that matters.
Whichever program you have in mind, it begins the same way. The application takes five minutes, it is read personally by Steve Del Savio, and you will hear from us within one business day. Residencies are limited each season.
An application opens a conversation. Nothing is booked until we have spoken.
Prefer to talk first? 201 528 3647. Whoever answers will know the ranch, the programs and the calendar.