Dog Trainer Turns Tragedy into Mission: Alpha Dog Training

Article by: John Pacenti
Photography by: Carri Lager

When Dobermans Thea and Chase come into the living room of Carrie MonteLeon’s Hobe Sound home to say hello, they appear like any other friendly dogs. Energetic and looking for attention, nuzzling you with their long snouts, hoping for you to pet their sleek chocolate coats.

Yet, both are highly trained animals. When MonteLeon of Alpha Dog Training gets Thea’s attention, the canine’s eyes never leave MonteLeon's gaze.

Photo by Carri Lager

'Dogs have the intelligence of three to five-year-old human beings. They are smart,' MonteLeon says.

“Watch everything I'm doing right now with my dog. See the focus that I have from her,” MonteLeon said. “They are like children. You mold certain behaviors.”

For dog owners seeking a comprehensive, compassionate training approach, MonteLeon offers more than just obedience lessons. She provides a pathway to understanding and communication between humans and their four-legged companions, one dog at a time.

MonteLeon has been training dogs for 31 years, but her story unfolds like a movie script replete with tragedy, acts of bravery and, a Miyagi-like mentor.

Growing up in Brooklyn and Staten Island, MonteLeon wasn't initially surrounded by animals. Her first childhood dog, Dusty, was a distant memory. Then, in her 20s, she rescued Buddy, a lab-shepherd mix that would change her life forever. "He was an absolute terror. Oh, my Lord. And I didn't know anything about dogs," MonteLeon recalled.

“He was breaking out of his crate. He was urinating and defecating all over the house, ripping the verticals off the windows, running away.”

Determined to improve both their lots, she enrolled her dog in what she calls "sit, stay, cookie” classes – basic training sessions where Buddy, at 10 months old, surprisingly excelled.

“Then one day we were walking and he got loose off the leash, and he looked at both my hands for food, and when he didn't see food, he ran in the middle of the street and was hit and killed by a car,” MonteLeon said.

MonteLeon was "completely and utterly inconsolable." Her singular thought became: "This can't happen to another dog."

Her pursuit of dog training began by consulting her aunt and uncle, Vic and Angie MonteLeon, who had experience training animals. She then connected with a trainer who went by T-Floyd.

In 1994, T-Floyd was world-renowned. MonteLeon says he was very much like a drill sergeant and in some ways, he trained her, before she could train canines.

"He was so tough that I used to leave there and I'd say, 'I don't know if I want to do this,'" she recalls. Floyd taught her that traditional "cookie training" is an insult to a dog's intelligence, which she said is akin to a small child.

"What we do when we ‘sit, stay, cookie’ train the dog, we're undermining the dog's intelligence," she explains. "Dogs have the intelligence of three-to five-year-old human beings. They are smart."

MonteLeon left her career at American Express and started building her dog-training business through grassroots marketing. She put flyers in supermarkets.

Her family was skeptical. "You don't have a salary, there's no 401(k), you don't have health benefits," they warned.

Her reputation grew, and in 2017, she made another bold move, relocating to Florida. She relocated Alpha Dog Training, focusing on creating reliable, well-behaved companions in South Florida.

“A huge part of my work is with families,” MonteLeon said.

One of her most meaningful projects involved training a service dog for Chasin A Dream Foundation. A six month-old German shepherd named Gracie was chosen for a young boy Giovanni who suffered from Dravet Syndome, which causes up to 100 seizures daily.

During their first meeting, the dog instinctively comforted the child.

When Giovanni became frustrated, MonteLeon said, "Gracie leaned into his face and started licking him, and just stayed there until he calmed down. I went, 'That's our dog.'"

She highlights the importance of consistent training over simple treat rewards, which is nothing more than bribery. "There isn't enough cheese in Wisconsin to make your dog listen reliably."

Her training philosophy centers on creating a true bond and partnership between the dog and its owners, including the children. "I want my dog to be my partner, my companion that I can take anywhere without being embarrassed," MonteLeon said.

Today, MonteLeon continues to train dogs of all ages and backgrounds, from puppies to senior dogs. She specializes in addressing behavioral issues, off-leash training, and service dogs.

Her current pack includes three Dobermans - Chase, Thea, and Cali.

At 11 years old, Chase still swims eight laps daily and goes for morning walks, demonstrating the effectiveness of her lifelong approach to dog care. Still, the memory of Buddy has never left MonteLeon – she mentioned him several times during an hour-long interview.

"I pursued dog training because I never wanted anybody else to suffer the heartbreak that I did," she said, reflecting on the journey that began with a tragic loss and transformed into a passionate career.