David Utter helped diagnose and solve our dog's behavioral housebreaking problem. Our dog was very difficult to housebreak because he is a male Jack Russel (stubborn alpha breed) and was adopted from a rescue shelter when he was 2 years old. His habits were set in. I didn't know how hard it would be to housebreak him when we got him. We hired Dave's competitor who was extremely overpriced at $400 and did an terrible job (made us use a prong collar and his techniques for housebreaking didn't work). Friends of mine told me to send our dog to a 2-week obedience school camp for like $2,000. No way. Dave came over and taught us his magic techniques for a very fair and reasonable rate. I only needed to follow up via text a few times to get our dog fully housebroken. Not only is he housebroken now after 4 years, but his behavior all around is entirely more affable. Thank you, Mr. Utter. read more

David did a great job with my shih-poo who had fear aggression issues. He took her for two weeks and brought me a different dog back! She plays with my 8 month old grandson and lets him grab her, pull her and lay on her without even growling! She always used to growl and snap at my granddaughter so this is real progress! She is more sociable and is barking less at strangers. I highly recommend David! read more

We moved to a condo from our home in the 'burbs, and we needed to figure out how to potty train out little chihuahua mix. David came out twice to ny house and once to the ex's house. It was more about training us than the dog! Consistency with body language and commands was the key. Now our dog stays in his area when we are away and is rewarded with a walk when we get home. What a relief! Thanks, David. read more

Conclusively HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! Horrifying to imagine him working or boarding my dog again or any other dog for that matter. Demons should not work with innocent dogs. I wouldn't take any chances with David Utter again and no one should. Poor dogs can't speak to you....Besides the neglect portion of it, my dog was injured physically both internal and external and psychologically. The worst part is the internal and psychological injury. Him having many years of experience working with dogs, that's even more scary. I wouldn't trust 5 star reviews either. read more

A French Bulldog was surrendered to the FBRN, French Bulldog Rescue Network. The FBRN was thoughtful to seek training for 3 weeks to assess reported behavior issues, guarding issues and teach basic training commands before giving him a second chance. Many dogs are surrendered with zero former training or solitary lifestyles due to busy owner schedules. David was able to teach the dog new commands and asses his behavior so we could match him to a forever home. David's training style is around dog pack mentality or social hierarchy structure among dogs and helping you become the leader of your pack as opposed to the dog leading you. By giving the dog boundaries, leadership, guidance and love both you and your dog will have a relationship you desire. Our Frenchie is now ready for a second chance and we understand that the right personality fit is also a major factor in any dog's behavior. www.frenchbulldogrescue.org read more

We hired David to help train our Pomchi puppy a few months ago. He came to the house and did 3 sessions at our home. The sessions were helpful, but our puppy was a bit stubborn. We decided to have David take her for a 10 day program to help her learn how to be a dog and learn commands. He did a great job and returned her like a new dog. Since she has been back we haven't had any issues and she listens really well. He has even taken her for a few days when we had stuff going on at no charge. I would highly recommend David to anyone that needs help with their dog. read more

We used David a year ago for a new rescue dog. It was shocking but I did see some good improvement, as I followed his instruction and practiced with my dog constantly. He also informed me that not everyone should be a dog owner and I needed to be more forceful with my dog. What bothered me the most was that David would take phone calls during our hour training session, which was also was $150 an hour at my home. I used him four times and after the last time, he never did check on us to see how we were doing or for any follow up. He was supposed to have us have a fifth session the following few months. I'm sure he is good and it did help us out a bit. My dog still has some issues, which we are still working on. On a sidenote, one of the most shocking comments David stated to me was to get my dog off the tit and stop nursing her. Hope this helps. You would have to try him for yourself to see how it works for you and your dog. Everyone's different. read more

I went through so many trainers, ranging from petsmart to police academy dog trainers. I also read up on what to do, but nothing seemed to work for my German shepherd. She was extremely people aggressive and dog aggressive to the point where she can't be brought out in public. She'd lunge at bicyclists, children walking by, and she'd attempt biting those just sitting down and looking at her. The older she got, the worse and no matter what I tried with trainers, friends, and researching information, nothing worked. So I looked up David's reviews and they were great. I was skeptical at first because none of the trainers I used were able to get close to her even after weeks, but one hour with David and he was able to stand right in front of her, jump, shuffle around, and make loud noises. She was calm and kept her eye on me like she was looking for direction (something she never does). I finally felt like she trusted me and I was in charge. His methods are very effective, but they're definitely not for the light hearted or the not energetic type because it requires a lot of physical training from both yourself and the dog, but they definitely work! I'm still using the methods and she's gotten so much better where I can actually bring her out in public without being terrified of her jumping at someone. Bicyclists aren't a problem and when a someone she doesn't know comes into the house, I can get her to be calm by my side (something I would have never imagined possible 4 months ago).She's still insecure and nervous around groups of people, especially children so I'll still be going to David until both my dog and I are what each other needs. Oh and meeting with David is great since he'll meet up with you wherever it is so you'll be able to train your dog is plenty of different environments which is great since my German shepherd acts differently depending where she's at. read more

We sent our basenji puppy to David's two week long board and train. Our puppy was only 12 weeks old, but he was already showing undesirable behaviors. We couldn't get him to listen to at all, and we had even had an unsuccessful hour and a half long training session with a different trainer. After 2 weeks with David, our puppy's demeanor has completely changed. He actually listens to commands!! He isn't perfect, he is still a puppy, but with what David taught him, he is now manageable. We can even cuddle him without him bitting us (which is huge!!!). Thank you David! read more

David Utter is wonderful. I have a 6 year old English Mastiff that had not been trained or socialized much. We never took him out in public because he would pull and when approached by another dog he would try to go after it, in a playful but overly excited way, which was difficult to control since he weighs 180 pounds. On the first lesson with David our dog was walking on a heal, after only 15 minutes. He was also able to follow the sit and down command. On our 5th lesson we were working on the beginnings of off leash training. We put him on a down stay and walked several hundred yards away, and he stayed put. David is a miracle worker! He does not use treats, clickers, or shock collars. When training, he teaches you to understand the dog's natural behaviors and drives and how to work to modify their behaviors. He also teaches that a dog needs 100% obedience. I now have a 180 pound dog that my 9 year old can walk. Thanks David. We would recommend David anytime you need someone who is knowledgable, patient, and can get the job done as promised! read more

We have two 3 year old lab mixes with aggression & discipline issues. We have tried 2 other trainers one thru a pet store and another thru a doggie daycare, both using the clicker and treat methods (they did not work). What a HUGE difference, David has worked with our dogs once and we (humans & dogs) are very happy with the change in their behaviors. His method is spot on, already we can walk our dogs without them walking us. :-) We are looking forward to our next lesson(s). We will be recommending David to anyone looking for a dog trainer read more

I am disgusted with all these reviews on here that are based solely on RHBH. David has been training my Pomeranian, Teddy, since he was 13 weeks old. He is now almost 5 months and he is not at all the yappy Pom most people think of. He is so sweet and loving. Everywhere we go, I get compliments on his nature. He absolutely loves David and David has been nothing but gentle and playful with him. I would highly recommend David to anyone! read more

I am amazed! David has changed our dogs lives around (and ours as well) for the better. We had a 2 1/2 year old lab mix since he was 6 weeks old & decided we would love to rescue another dog. We got a 3 1/2 year old boxer. Much to our dismay the lab bit the boxer upon first sight. Needless to say, our lab had become a dominating, spoiled brat, with "only" dog syndrome. Our boxer was SO sweet we couldn't bare to think of sending her back after rescuing her. Our children would be devastated after falling in love with our boxer so quickly. I saw David's YouTube videos and yelp reviews & wondered if he could truly help or if it was a rip off. We decided we'd try him out for one session & if he didn't seem legit at least we'd only be out the money for 1 session. Let me tell you- I was shocked! Just in the FIRST session he had our lab listening, submitting, & staring at him for further directions!!!! David's explanations on how a dog's mind works made perfect sense. He gave my husband & I all the tools we needed to help our dogs become friends. The transformation of our lab took alittle time as our lab was getting used to the new boss, us! Now our dogs get along so well I can't stop them from constantly playing! I can't thank David enough for helping our whole family... if you're wondering if David is legit, worth it, or effective we can tell you ABSOLUTELY! read more

David Utter - Dog Evolution - Friends at last... - Pet Training Near Me

Wow! Very impressed after our first session.... We have a rescue that is a mixed boxer breed that is difficult to control...terrible walker, barker....within an hour David showed us how to be the pack leader and control Iggy!! We will be working on this and will meet with him again. I was not sure that a 4 year old dog could be trained to listen...now I believe he can! Thanks David! read more

As many others, we found David on yelp too. We have a chocho lab pup who, at the time, was 4 months old with agressive food issues. We tried eating first, then feeding him. pretend eating his food, holding him down to show we were the dominant ones and so many other tips and tricks. Nothing worked so we got David involved and he was awesome. Noticed a huge differance after the 1st session and we now have a controllable puppy after 4 sessions. He respects us and the house more than ever. We did have to throw out all the training we did prior and start new but it was so worth it! Thanks David, you are the best at what you do. - Meg read more

David is amazing! My pit bull was chalenging me quite a bit and David s showed me how to communicate with her by teaching me how dogs process things. It was pretty incredible to see the results so fast. His method makes sense and my dog understood and most importantly, I understood! He has several videos on you tube that show how to communicate with our best friend. I would, and do, highly recommend David to show how to be a leader for your dog using positive reinforcement and communicating on their level. Thanks David! read more

I really needed help with Teddy my Yorkie puppy. Totally an alpha stubborn little dude. Would not do his business outside, barked all the time, nippy, big dog attitude in a little package. So David took Teddy for over 2 weeks. He learned to walk on a leash, totally housebroken, sits on my lap quietly, etc. He learned the pack mentality, and realizes that I am the pack leader. Thanks so much David for teaching Teddy to be a great little dog. Everyone loves Teddy now and we are going great. read more

if you are looking for a dog trainer with results i definitely would recommend David utter. i have a 2.5 year old pit bull that had no training what so ever. David showed me how to communicate with my dog in a way that she would understand. With the use of my choke chain, verbal and physical commands, and body language, he has taught me how to communicate in a way that my dog will understand me. She is much more well behaved and I can now gain control over her quickly. Before i had no control over her. she pulled on the leash, didn't know any commands, hyper in the house, and feared new people especially men. now she walks right next to me when we walk on and off leash and listens to all my commands. She sits, stays, heels, and come's when I call her. now when i have company she comes right up to them even if she hasn't seen them before. Instead of running away with her tail between her legs. he is amazing at what he does. give him a try today, you wont regret it. read more

I have noticed that David has received some questionable reviews. I continue to use and recommend David because I know his training works! David is a consummate professional! I believe anyone slamming him is a troll. I stand by my review that if you want a well behaved dog and not one that lunges and barks at everyone or everything on your walks, you need to work with David Utter! I recommended David to a friend who had rescued a St. Bernard. The dog was fine with the family, but would attack other dogs and people. Their first trainer told them to Never look the dog in the eye because it would make the dog think you were challenging him! Really??!! The dog escaped from the yard and attacked a neighbors dog. I pointed out that a lawsuit might be forthcoming or worse a family member could be badly injured and they needed to get the animal under control, stat! They worked with David and now have a dog they can trust! read more

AMAZING!!!! Let me start with some background. My dog is a 110lb Mastiff-Dane mix. He had some serious health issues as a pup, spending lots of time at the vet, in a cage, recovering from surgical procedures. During that time he became untrusting of humans - especially while inside the cage. He would basically go crazy when someone came near him while in a kennel. That behavior started manifesting into ANY enclosed area - house or car. He became very aggressive to strangers, yet he was ALWAYS sweet and loving with his family. He could sit, stay, down BUT would NOT listen at all when he was throwing a fit. We tried several different trainers and training methods, all of which were useless when it came to his out-of-control aggression. We live in Colorado and recently bought an inn, where we now live. After the first big weekend it was obvious that Luke could not live there because of his size and behavior. He made guests feel very uncomfortable and afraid we could not control him. My wife found David on the internet, and we called him immediately. I was very impressed that he himself answered the phone. He told us he was with a client right then, was almost finished, and he would call us right back. He did, and we told him Luke's story. We were amazed that he was not intimidated at all! He suggested a two-week "bootcamp" - which sounded exactly like what Luke needed. I knew I needed to learn as much as he did, if not more, so we asked David if I could be with him every day as well. David agreed, so I packed Luke up, stopped at the Vet to get tranquilizes (I couldn't even get gas with him in the car) and drove fourteen hours to get there. The next day, we went to work. We worked two times a day for the first few days. Progress was fast, but the third day saw the biggest improvement. David said the third day was always a turning point - and he was 100% correct. He responded faster, corrections were far less. After that, we started tagging along on client calls. There were constantly new people, new dogs and new situations. Some days we started at 6 am and didn't get back to the hotel until 8 or 9pm. Luke and I learned so much - I can honestly say now that he is a completely new dog. Is he perfect? Not yet. But! I now have the tools to get him there. I don't think I could every repay David for what he taught me about both dogs and humans in those two short weeks!!!! read more

David is nothing short of excellent. He trains to be excellent and expects excellence and gets that very result. His techniques work well and make highly aggressive dogs like the four Russian Bear dogs he trained for us at the ranch so happy, social and obedient. They are able to meet new people and children with good manners. I am proud of them, because David knows his stuff. Don't be thin skinned, be willing to hear the hard truth. you can learn a lot from him, He will tell you the truth. read more

David does an amazing job. After the 1st lesson my dog was completely different. Walks and basic commands are great not. I would definitely recommend David for your dog training. I've done the petco and petsmart training before. This is a much higher quality training. read more

We just received our Vizsla Max back after being trailed by David for a few weeks and the transformation was nothing less than a miracle. Beginning about 2 years ago Max staring being aggressive and got to the point of extreme aggression. We could not take him to the vet, get his teeth cleaned, kennel him, or nails clipped without him wanting to "eat the person" as one trainer called it. We tried several well known trainers including Linda Michaels who was trained and endorsed by Virginia Stillwell. She came to our house and evaluated Max and basically told us there was nothing we could do. He might improve some but we could never have him around people. We tried Vet behaviorists (only 50) of them in the US, drugs, etc with no improvement. Even when David first came to our house, he said it was clear that if Max was not in a cage, that he would have attacked him. The long and short of it is, Max is now great with people, no longer is aggressive and a much happier and mellow dog. My wife and I still have some homework to do with him, but he is 90 to 95% there. I could not endorse Dave strong enough. I want to make it very clear to all who read my post, a consensus of all other trainers and vets who worked with and examined Max told us to get rid of him and find someone who lives in the mountains away from other people to take him. I've trained with David and while his methods are firm and strong, he is not abusive. My dog does not cower or hide from or afraid of people after we got him back. Actually quite the opposite. So when you read the negative reviews, its highly unlikely any of them had dogs trained by David. In closing Max went from being a werewolf at times, to now being calm without changing his Vizslas natural personality or traits. read more

Finally results! Started out with two rescues that needed training and did the old "give a command one time and wait for something to happen routine." That got me nowhere slowly. When two more dogs came my way, I needed help in a bad way. Saw David's website and gave it a try. It's the best thing I ever did! Saw improvement the very first day and every day since. The whole science/psychology that makes up David's training technique works. The dogs were living a very separated life: One dog behind the gate in the hallway, two dogs together in the backyard and one dog in the living room. I was living a life full of guilt with no control. My dogs only wanted to be with me as man's best friend and I had no skills to integrate them into one group with me being the boss. I am now the boss and just one dog away from being one big happy family, my idea of nirvana. read more

I have a 15 month old red nose pit bull that is high energy and nervous all the time. Taking him on a walk was embarrassing as he was so nervous he would poop diarrhea all over the sidewalk and I couldn't pick it up! This would happen about six times every time I took him on a walk! Not to mention he would pull his leash and ignore me as he tried to get to other dogs and made everybody nervous. He recently had become dog aggressive with all dogs that walk in front of our house! =( I had gotten to the point where I couldn't even take the dog for a walk and was fearful that he would hurt another dog. I found David's videos and website and called him immediately. He was very helpful and spent a good amount of time just on the phone with me and eased my mind even before we had our first training lesson. We have now had three training lessons over the course of two weeks and have had amazing results!!! My dog will already heal at my side while we walk and run and no longer has nervous diarrhea! No more getting yelled at for not picking up poops that you can't grab with a bag! My dog is overall so calm now that David is teaching me to be his pack leader. And as far as the aggression goes, in a matter of 10 minutes my dog was walking side by side by Davids dog. This man knows dogs and he knows how to teach you think like one. Highly recommended!!!!!!! read more

I'm disappointed to see reviews by people who have never trained with David and who are submitting reviews based on what they think they know about him or his training methods from an edited clip of some reality TV show. I have been working with David for several months now to help train and socialize my two rescue dogs. David's training has taught me how to earn my dogs' respect as their pack leader, which has made a world of difference. To clarify, in teaching me to be my dogs' pack leader, David has never hurt or hit my dogs or encouraged me to do so. My dogs love seeing David when he comes to the door and David is always quick with love and praise for my dogs. David taught me how to behave so that the dogs trust that I will protect and take care of them out in the big scary world, so they are no longer on red alert every time we leave the house. Since we've been working with David, my dogs no longer pull at the leash on our walks or lunge at every other dog that passes and I no longer see other dog owners cross the street when we approach. As a result, we're all enjoying our daily walks, rather than dreading them. My dogs have even started playing with me more (rather than just with each other) now that they view me as part of their pack, which has been great fun for all of us. I tried other trainers with limited results. David recognizes that training is so much more about teaching humans how to behave than it is about teaching dogs. If you set a good example for your dog, they'll follow you and obey you and that's what David's methods are all about. read more

I have been working with David for about 6 months. He by far knows how to work with dogs. He isn't the usual passive trainer that hand feeds treats to your dog for sitting or shaking. He is the real deal. I have a high strung Bernese Mountain Dog who has been controlling our household. David has taught me how to train my dog. I now have the confidence to walk my dog around other dogs and I feel comfortable for my dog to meet new people. What people saw on Beverly Hills Housewives is awesome. David can rehabilitate any dog. He has the confidence and the skills to show the dog and the owner how to have a relationship that is healthy and loving. No other trainer I know of that can walk up to any dog and get it to obey and act appropriately immediately He can help any of you owners who feel trapped in your home because you have an unsocialized dog. Hire him and you will have a new dog and a new life. read more

Our golden Retreiver puppy failed our local parks and recreation dog training course. We have had Goldens before that were so easy to train, this guy had a will of his own! As he grew older he became more stubborn and willful and we knew we needed serious help as he grew stronger! David was an answer to our prayers! The moment he walked into our home our puppy Sven had a major attitude adjustment! He solved many of our issues in just one visit! We have had several more sessions with him because he is truly a miracle worker! Instead of having a dog that just behaves, we now have a really well behaved dog. Sven has become the well mannered dog we had dreamed of having. We even boarded Sven with David and he came home so well socialized and calm. We have referred David to family members and everyone has been extremely impressed with the results. He can cure a problem in one session or develop your dream dog if that's the result you want. I can't recommend him enough, he is truly an amazing trainer! Dogs immediately respect him and so will you! read more

David works miracles. Ok I know this sounds a bit dramatic but let me explain. I wasn't even looking for a dog trainer when I came across David's website. My golden retriever was the sweetest dog inside the house but, as soon as we walked outside, he would turn into Cujo at the first site of another dog. It was becoming increasingly worse no doubt because I was losing more and more confidence every time we went outside. He was so strong that I was fearful I might not be able to hold him back and I didn't trust that he might not hurt a dog in the event that I accidentally dropped his leash. I had become an expert at avoiding other dogs, scanning the neighborhood all around us as we walked and changing our direction at a moment's notice. It was so depressing - all I dreamed of was being able to take him with me on walks to the park, beach, etc and yet his behavior outside was so unpredictable that I had resorted to the bare minimum - short, tense walks getting sick to my stomach at the thought of seeing another dog. I had worked with five other trainers - treats, clickers, special harnesses... nothing worked. So.. I had resigned myself to the fact that Whiskey would have to be an indoor dog aside from the necessary potty breaks outside. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw some reviews on Yelp about David. Some of the comments really hit home and then I watched his videos. Pretty amazing. First and foremost, he comes to your home. He trains you and your dog in the environment that you will be working with your dog. Within minutes of David walking in my door, he had Whiskey's complete and undivided attention (and respect). We headed out on a walk in my neighborhood with David holding the leash. We purposely sought out other dogs and walked within feet of dogs that would've previously caused Whiskey to bark uncontrollably. But, with David in control, he was able to recognize the signs and correct them before they became a problem. It was really eye opening and it became imminently clear that the problem was with me, not Whiskey. He taught me what I needed to do in order to become Whiskey's leader instead of him leading me. After just one session, I am so happy to say that I am now taking long walks with Whiskey and am able to pass other dogs and keep Whiskey's attention and focus on me (even when the other dogs are barking at him). Other dog lovers will understand how significant this milestone is for my dog and me. Not only has it made walks more pleasant for me but I sense that Whiskey is happier as well. David may not be the first trainer you've worked with but I'm confident that he will be your last. read more

I cannot recommend David enough! My parents got a Pungsan/Jindo mix puppy, Hodori, that was so scared and anxious. Although he was really adorable, he was basically the antithesis of a loving puppy - more like an abused puppy with the sad puppy eyes and everything. He never let anyone near him - he either ran away or started growling if he felt cornered. We couldn't even bribe him with treats. It got to the point that my parents were ready to give up on him and give him up. Luckily, I found David through Yelp and after only 3 lessons, Hodori has finally become the family dog that my parents wanted all along. Hodori (who is only 5 months) loves being petted, going on walks, and just being around the family in general. He is still a lil weary of strangers but he is not as unfriendly as he was when he was a young pup. If it weren't for David, my parents would have completely missed out on having such a great dog like Hodori. David isn't the cheapest ($150/lesson) but he is well worth every penny. read more

David Utter has trained my four-year-old boxer, Pete, since he was 12 weeks old. I had a major stroke five years ago which left me disabled. Owning a boxer was a dream but I knew I could not keep up with a high energy dog without a lot of help. The primary training goal (s) was to ensure that my very active fellow could be trained to listen, be a gentle companion and follow commands. People are amazed when they see Pete walking gently beside my walker without pulling, always listening for a command, trying to anticipate my next move. This dog has improved my quality of life in ways that are impossible to explain. For Pete, David is much more than a trainer, however - he is a friend. Pete can't wait to get out the door on training days. He has figured out which day of the week David comes because his feeding schedule is different on training mornings. Prior to David's arrival, Pete waits by the door and can barely contain his excitement when the doorbell rings. There is an unmistakable bond between them. read more

David is an not only an Unbelievable Dog Trainer...but an UNBELIEVABLE PERSON AS WELL....he is timely, professional, moral, and spiritual. He can feel and know a dog's move, before it happens, corrects the action and shows you how to do it. There is NO need for shock collars or physical rewards. He basically shows you "dog language" and how to communicate with your dog, that enriches the relationship for BOTH of YOU. I had recently adopted a 7 year old 150lbs female cane corso, that many handlers told me would NEVER get along with my 8 year old Doberman. David showed me what to do, how to take the appropriate actions to make this happen and IT WORKED!!! I can NOT Recommend David Highly Enough...there are many Dog Trainers out there, who "have the Talk"..there are NOT Many Who Can WALK THEIR TALK. David Utter CAN and Will Show you How to Train your dog and Correct Unwanted Behavior. Thank You DAVID!!!! Kean Ganan, Anesthesiologist read more