K-9 Consultants, Inc.

Holly failed to keep her aggression in check when she showed up for her first day of school.

So the 118-pound Great Dane was expelled before setting foot in the classroom.

"She went ballistic," said Holly's owner, Allison Ward. "I was scared I could not control her. I was afraid she would hurt another dog or a person."

Ward and her husband, Matt, called K-9 Consultants Inc. for help. Owner Jemi Hodge specializes in training aggressive dogs and helping "pets and owners live in harmony."

"It's not always about the dog," she said. "It's about the person at the end of the leash."

When Hodge established K-9 Consultants in Chesterfield County 15 years ago, about 35 percent of the dogs she worked with she deemed aggressive. Today, she estimates that more than 60 percent of her business is devoted to calming aggressive behavior.

The main reason for the increase, she said, is that dogs are being bred for profit instead of temperament and personality. That means more dog owners are turning to people like Hodge for help. Her business has grown from 1,700 clients a year to about 3,000.

While pit bulls have a reputation for being aggressive and are making headlines in the Michael Vick dogfighting case, Hodge does not view them as problematic. The majority of dogs she sees for aggression are golden retrievers, herding dogs, Rottweilers and mastiffs.

"They are coming out of the woodwork," said Hodge, who lives in Powhatan County with her husband, Chuck, and eight dogs and two cats. "I think it's because of the high-profile mauling cases. People are scared of the legalities."

The Virginia legislature last year passed measures to address dangerous dogs -- making it a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison for the owner -- for malicious attacks. The actions were driven by the mauling death of 82-year-old Dorothy Sullivan of Spotsylvania County, who was killed with her small dog by roaming pit bulls in 2005.

Pit bulls might be the ones making headlines, but any dog can be vicious, said Lt. Shawn Sears, supervisor of Henrico County's animal protection unit.

"There are so many different breeds out there," he said. "They all have teeth and they all can bite."

According to the Humane Society of the United States, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, with more than 500,000 seeking medical attention.

"Dogs don't have to be aggressive," Hodge said.

Aggression comes in many forms. Biting and growling are

obvious signs, but dogs that ignore your call, jump the fence, steal food off the table or get on furniture when they are not allowed are also exhibiting a form of aggression.

The key to correcting these problems is early socialization and basic obedience training, experts say.

"That helps the dogs learn," said Sarah Babcock, chief of education and training for the Richmond SPCA. "They only know what we train them to do."

The SPCA offers basic manners and agility classes, and in 2002 set up a 24-hour hot line. Since then, more than 4,100 pet owners have called for assistance in dealing with everything from housebreaking to aggression. Local pet stores and boarding facilities also offer training classes, and animal behaviorists will come to your home for more personalized service.

"Trainers can do a lot of good," said Dr. Mike Anthony, partner at Stonehenge Veterinary Hospital. He refers three to four clients a month to obedience training. "But remember that training is an ongoing thing."

Once dogs reach middle age, Anthony said, it's harder to break them of bad habits. And those dogs that have been bred and raised to fight may never change their ways.

"These poor dogs are forced into it," Anthony said. "It's do or die for them. It's an ego thing for the people involved, and the dogs are the ones that suffer."

If they can't be rehabilitated, aggressive dogs are typically euthanized. Even Hodge has recommended such an extreme, but only a handful of times. She and her eight trainers provide training camps, group behavioral classes, boarding, puppy training and in-home services.

"Everything is very calm and quiet and unemotional," Hodge said. "Dogs learn by association, not repetition. You need to be fair, be kind and never cruel."

That means no hitting, scolding or grabbing the dog's collar. Hodge's arsenal instead consists of an air horn, keys and squirt gun.

These tools were lined up on a table recently when 18-month-old Holly arrived for her one-on-one session. The Wards opted for training after Holly tried to attack the other dogs at one of Hodge's group obedience class a few months ago.

The first lesson of the day was "leave it." Hodge attached keys to the leash and made them jingle loudly as she shouted the command every time Holly tried to snatch a piece of cheese from the table. At first, Holly disregarded the noise and lunged for the food. This went on 12 times before she understood.

During her second session, it took just one jingle.

Another lesson teaches dogs to stand back from the door when guests arrive. For this one, Hodge broke out the water bottle. When another trainer knocked on the door, Hodge got up to answer it with Holly at her heels. As she opened the door, Holly made a move to investigate the person on the other side. Hodge responded by giving her a squirt and a "leave it!" every time the dog tried to bolt outside.

The horn came into play when Allison Ward took the leash and attempted to walk Holly past another dog. On the first pass, Holly reared, barked and growled. Hodge instructed Ward not to clench up on the leash or hold the dog back. That only tells the animal there is something to be afraid of, she explained.

After a few more passes with little improvement, Hodge took over. She yelled "leave it!" a few times and blew the air horn. Within 15 minutes the two dogs were peacefully lying next to each other.

"Everything is about leadership, control and lots of praise," Hodge said.

And living in harmony with your pet.

"We have seen a huge improvement in our livability," Matt Ward said. "It's like a load has been lifted."