Brandon Fouche

Brandon Fouche calls himself a dog rehabilitator, not a trainer—a distinction he emphasizes throughout his work. According to his site, he won't teach commands like sit or stay. Instead, his method, which he's developed over nearly 30 years, focuses on understanding why dogs behave aggressively rather than suppressing the behavior. He traces his approach to a childhood dog bite that sparked a lifelong study of animal behavior, including work with wolves, horses, and other species before specializing in dogs.

His Los Angeles-based program centers on aggression cases. During evaluations, he categorizes the type of aggression—fear, dominance, or more complex combinations—and assesses where the dog fits in pack dynamics. For intensive cases, dogs stay at his facility alongside what he calls "the miscreants," his own pack of previously aggressive dogs that were once scheduled for euthanasia. These dogs, according to Fouche, help in the rehabilitation process.

The approach is unconventional and clearly not for everyone. Owners sign contracts acknowledging risks during pack interactions, and dogs may be muzzled during evaluation. For those who can't travel, he offers phone consultations with daily follow-up. Fouche also hosts a podcast discussing his work and is associated with a nonprofit called CHIP. His site sells a 2012 seminar recording explaining his philosophy for those wanting to understand his method before committing.