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    Deep Connection K9 Academy

    5.0 (51 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Ruby

    Diana did an amazing job training Ruby our Siberian Husky during her first year. She was patient, knowledgeable, and really understood how to work with Ruby's personality and energy. The training was always clear and easy to follow, and we could really see the progress over time. We really appreciated how supportive and encouraging Diana was throughout the process. She went above and beyond to come to our home and also find a park to help with Ruby's socialization. She genuinely cared about Ruby's development and helped build a strong foundation during such an important stage. If it wasn't for Diana's amazing training skills and teaching me and my fiancé and of course Ruby, Ruby wouldn't be this well trained, kind and confident husky she is today! If you are considering working with a trainer don't look elsewhere because you will get the best services through Diana. When we are ready for our second dog later this year we'll be working with Diana once again and we look forward to it!

    Our dog, Rizzo, and Moose, Diana's dog.
    Becca C.

    We worked with Diana and Deep Connection K9 after we adopted our rescue dog, Rizzo. Diana has been amazing. We did the 8 training session package and also had Rizzo stay with her for 10 days of board and train while we went out of town. We have really loved our experience and highly recommend Diana to others. Diana is very easy and enjoyable to work with. She is great with Rizzo and has helped us with crate training and general behaviors like how to walk on the leash and interact with other dogs and humans. It has made so much difference in our life. So glad we made this commitment and established such a good start to our life with Rizzo. Thank you, Diana!

    Rowan P.

    I came to Diana with my 1.5-year-old dachshund, Pepino, who had some bad habits I needed help with. From the very first session, Diana was warm, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. She understood Pepino's personality and tailored every lesson to fit him perfectly. Having one-on-one attention kept the focus entirely on Pepino and training me as an owner too :) He's much more obedient and confident now, and we learned lots of skills that we can use beyond training. Diana genuinely cares about the dogs she works with and Pepino absolutely adored her. I would recommend her to anyone with a dog of any age or breed!

    If you're currently looking for a dog trainer, just stop now and call Diana. We just finished an 8-week in home training course with her for our 1 year old terrier. We rescued him after he had been living on the streets for a bit and he was a complete disaster. He pretty much had every issue in the book - resource guarding, pulling on the leash during walks, attacking his older doggy brother, total emotional disregulation and he didn't listen to us at all. We started feeling a bit hopeless, but after working with Diana, he is like a new dog. He's getting SO much better with his resource guarding, he walks so nicely and doesn't pull, he listens to commands, plays well with his brother, and he sits in his "place" when people come to the door instead of attacking them. Diana is like a dog whisperer. She has a wonderful, professional demeanor and our dogs both loved her. She focuses on the psychology behind certain behaviors and also pointed out where we as humans can improve our behavior towards the dogs. I can't recommend her more and am so glad we found her!

    Diana and Blue's 8th and final session of the package. More to come....
    Sarah G.

    We have had the greatest experience with Diana and are so glad that we decided to invest our time and money with her and really rely on her guidance and expertise in training our dog to be better behaved, which has resulted in all of our lives being more comfortable and happy. Diana was incredibly communicative both with scheduling and in the training sessions. It's also been easy to get a hold of her to ask follow up questions or get specific training details clarified that we forgot. I also really appreciated that she came to our home or locations near us to do trainings. Diana has provided us with such a great foundation (and beyond) of tools to continue working with our dog. We saw changes in our dog after 1-2 sessions and have continued to see changes if we implement the homework and tools she gives us every session. It is very important to do your homework and really take seriously the directions she gives you and spend time doing them. You, the human, need to learn and unlearn just as much as your dog does. Diana is super knowledgeable, kind, patient, personable, flexible, has a sense of humor while remaining professional and driven, she loves dogs and cares about their boundaries and what is realistic for each one and so many other positive qualities. I don't have anything negative to share and look forward to signing up for another package of sessions with her after we get back in town from traveling.

    Romel P.

    Diana was the best! She was able to analyze my dog and able to give my dog Loki the tools he needed to control is energy level when at home and on off leash behavior outside. She came to see how he was at my home to see what his problems are and what I was doing right. I was able to put him into board and train about a month after because he was still a puppy. But she gave me a few tips and a bit of homework to help him progress faster in the training. During the board and train Diana gave me weekly updates on how he was doing (videos, pictures, etc.). As well as how his progress was. After I got him back. Loki was a well obedient, socialized dog and was able to take commands. As well as check all the boxes on what I wanted him to stop doing. She gave me a detailed discription on how my dog was and how his behavior is. As well gave me list of what he needs in order to keep him in the right mind set. This list consists of each tool which she provides and a step by step description on how you should proceed with your dog. So she doesn't just go here he is and its up to you. She is right behind you every step of the way. Diana is great! She checked up on me a month after to see how Loki was doing. As well to see if I needed any follow sessions. I am proud to say and recommend her without hesitation! Thanks Diana to you and your crew from Loki and I!

    tl;dr: Adopted a dog with previous trauma and anxiety, and struggled to train her using conventional methods. Worked with several trainers and not much progress was made until I met Diana. If you're looking for THE one to make a big impact on your dog's quality of life (and yours!), this is it. If you're looking for a trainer whose lessons will carry through to daily routines and life, look no further than Deep Connection. I adopted a 2yo husky who had a hard life; she was abandoned by previous owners, found at a stray, and ended up at a kill shelter. After I took her home, I realized quickly that the "normal" training methods wouldn't work: Korra wasn't food motivated, showed no interest in toys, and was very distrustful. I sought the advice of many trainers who gave me the same cookie cutter advice: use clickers to mark good behavior, lure her with treats, encourage play and good energy, etc. Unfortunately, none of that worked because my dog's previous anxiety and trauma led to non-responsiveness to these typical methods. I took the small wins as they came along (e.g. learning to sit!) and just continued to be patient with her. Diana came highly recommended by a friend who volunteers at an animal shelter. She fully understood my situation, and before even taking us on as clients, went through great lengths to get to know both me and my dog. She presented her observations and training plan, and I was all in. After just a month of following her program, I saw Korra change in little spurts. She got more comfortable eating outside of her crate. She came to ask for head scritches. She laid down with her legs in the air and passed out that way. She started arguing and gave some awoos. She was becoming a husky! I took it a step further and signed up for a board and train with Diana, and that further reinforced not only Korra's responsiveness to commands, but also helped her continue to open up and show her true personality. Diana not only helped Korra work through her anxiety and distrust, but also helped me understand the kind of dog dad I needed to be in order to continue building a connection with my dog. We're continuing to not only work on boring obedience commands, but also fun tricks, and both Korra and I are having a blast. Future goals with Diana: Husky obstacle course.

    Hope and me!
    Kathy M.

    Several months ago I signed up for private lessons for my 18 month old Shepherd-Belgian melonois pup. She's pretty big and energetic now and I wanted to get her (and me!) some training so that I could feel more confident in controlling her. I looked online saw Diana's business and read her reviews and decided this was a good fit for me. Diana was very kind and knowledgeable and patient with me as she taught me techniques of working with my pup, Hope. Hope was always so happy when Diana came to "visit"! Since our lessons, Hope is much more responsive to me and we both have a better understanding of our roles. We came a long way during the course of our sessions and I would highly recommend Diana for specific training needs, or in general for any dog, especially early on in their life!

    11 month old, Watson
    Alice H.

    Watson (my currently 11 month old puppy) and I started working with Diana when he was about 6 months old. After working with a few other trainers early on, it felt like we hit the jackpot after meeting Diana. I appreciate her balanced approach to training, which includes training skills like heel and recall, to developing a strong Leave It so he stops picking trash up off the floor, to getting Watson more comfortable with cooperative care. As a first time owner of a dog (with high expectations for Watson's behavior), Diana has also been training me to prioritize and focus on Watson's progress over time as opposed to immediate change, and to remind myself that he's still very young and just a puppy! For the first 3-4 months, we worked with Diana for 1-on-1 private sessions. And most recently, Watson was with Diana for a Board and Train for a month because I fractured my foot. Coming back from the B&T, Watson adjusted very quickly, and his improved (and proofed) skills has made it very easy for other members of my family to train and handle him too. I can tell that Watson loves Diana, and vice versa. He is excited every time he sees her, and she has gone above and beyond for him. I highly recommend Diana if you are looking for a well-balanced, compassionate dog trainer.

    Brisby practicing "place" at the training facility.
    Amy O.

    What do I love about Diana with Deep Connection K9 Academy? Where do I even start? First and foremost, her calm demeanor. Dogs feed off energy, so she puts out the most easy-going and relaxed vibe, which is clearly why she's able to connect with the dogs she's training. She takes the time to listen to both the pet guardian and even the dog to understand how the achieve the goals set forth. Secondly, and this is a big one, I love that she practices a balanced-training approach. She uses training tools correctly to ensure her method of training is conducive to the individual dog that's in front of her. She uses positive reinforce by rewarding often. With the frequent video updates she sends, you can see she makes the training fun for the dog. Because of her method of training, it's effective and you WILL SEE RESULTS whilst also knowing your dog is happy. Next up, she's patient with the dogs. She gives the dog time to come around to the idea of whatever she's implementing and if they aren't comfortable, she takes a step back for a few days and slowly tries again until they are comfortable. For example, with muzzle training and crate training. Lastly, she truly cares about the dogs she's handling. The bond she's able to create is genuine. All we want for our dogs when in an unfamiliar situation is compassion and she gives that at every moment. Brisby was my foster dog and he had a bite history. I wasn't sure I would be able to safely place him into another home, but after Diana laid the foundation of obedience and worked with him on being able to tolerate stressful situations, he's now on the path to the best life because of her and I couldn't be happier for him. Thank you for everything, Diana! 10/10, I will have you train again if the situation arises.

    Julie L.

    Our Shiba Inu, Bowie has always been a playful pup, but over the years has become quite reactive to dogs on walks. We have met with other dog trainers over the years but we left every meeting with the feeling that it was just not the right fit. From either explicitly stating they wouldn't work with us because of his Shiba behaviors or applying their dog training knowledge too generally without actually taking our individual problems into consideration, we were left without guidance or trust. Fast forward to a year later, we met Diana and our experience was a complete 180. Diana was so kind and compassionate from the first meeting, really taking the time to get to know us and Bowie. She was extremely perceptive and we felt that she was really able to understand who Bowie was and appreciate his unique personality, something we had not experienced from other dog trainers. We were able to make substantial progress in our walks in a short amount of time. Diana was an incredible source of information and she really takes the time to explain everything. If at any point we felt unsure or confused about the training, Diana made sure to really address any of our concerns and go through it at our pace. We are so proud of Bowie's progress in our short period of training with Diana, and while our dog is not just magically perfect now, our confidence as dog owners has grown tremendously. We feel that we have the tools to work through issues that come up, which has really improved our relationship with our dog. Even though our training with Diana has been completed, she has always ensured us that the door for communication is always open and we are welcome to reach out to her for any future questions and concerns. Diana was really wonderful for our dog training journey and we highly recommend her!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Deep Connection K9 Academy

    Review Highlights - Deep Connection K9 Academy

    we met with Diana for the intro and I knew right away she was going to be the perfect trainer for our beagle, Maddie.

    Mentioned in 50 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    My girlfriend and I have been working with Jenina at Smart Paws for a month based on a glowing…read morerecommendation from our neighbor who worked with her. Jenina is outstanding. She is a detailed, positive dog trainer, who is also great at training us, on how to properly walk our dog Charlie. He had issues barking at other dogs and thanks to her he is becoming more calm and we have learned how to work with him to curb his behavior. It has come to our attention that there is another dog trainer in the area who got a similar company name to Jenina and he is awful. Some of the criticism of him has been accidently hurtled at Jenina. This is truly unfortunate for her and I hope the facts come to light!

    This review is LOOOONNNGGGGG overdue. I had gotten a Shiba Inu puppy 3 years ago that had to be…read morehospitalized due to Parvo the next day. Then, once he recovered from that, had a fever that almost killed him and had to be hospitalized again. We had to keep him quarantined for a while and away from my other dog (a 7 year old Pomeranian at the time) and get all his vaccinations from the beginning. He was scared of literally every single noise and had anxiety about just about everything. Over time, he developed extreme food aggression and we were worried for the safety of my little Pom. He had been attacked a few times to the point of actual injury and it was extremely stressful for everyone. I was at my wits end and I felt like I had tried everything to help Gunnar (my Shiba) and protect Simba (my Pom). I did a lot of research and stumbled upon Jenina and sent her a message for private sessions where she would come to my apartment once a week. I believe I only used her for a little over a month but I am eternally grateful. The level of aggression Gunnar displayed was so dangerous that my roommate and I actually have been bitten with blood trying to protect Simba from harm where food is involved. The issue was that he wasn't aggressive with all foods and we were unaware the extent until it was too late (ex. we thought it was only wet food so we were giving a chew stick to them separately where I would have Simba sitting next to me on the couch and Gunnar would be on the floor away from Simba with my roommate and the switch was so sudden----from sweet to seemingly no warning lunging at Simba----I stuck my leg out to protect Simba and he bit my leg instead). I feel like at this point, a regular human being would give Gunnar up, but that wasn't an option. It wasn't an option when he came to me dying from Parvo, it wasn't an option when he had an almost fatal fever, and it wasn't going to be an option for me now. I was determined to find a way to help him because he is my baby and my responsibility. The vet suggested I contact a behavioral specialist and when I did, VCA told me the earliest appointment they had was months later. Fed up with waiting, I found Jenina. In a month's time, she had given me the tools to fix a seemingly impossible situation. Make no mistake---she made me work for it. She might come across brash to some people but she is very direct and straight to the point. She doesn't coddle you and makes sure she lets you know what you need to do because while the session is for dogs, it is actually more like training the parent. She gives you "homework" and training info and is only willing to help you if YOU do the work. Now, it wasn't a complete fix. He still has anxiety outdoors or unknown noises as well as food aggression but it is nowhere near what he used to be. Before Jenina, Gunnar couldn't even take a step outside the apartment building let alone go for a walk. Three years later, Simba has sadly since passed but he has a little brother that he is extremely patient with as he acts like a typical annoying little brother), his food aggression has gone down from 100 to 30, and we go out to all sorts of places. He is THRIVING and this is all thanks to Jenina. My roommate and I are on high alert and know what to look for in terms of triggers and are very quick to de-escalate aggression situations. We try our best not to avoid known triggers and we work with him every day to allow him to be his best self. He is the sweetest boy and we are so glad he's been able to show it instead of being overshadowed by aggression and anxiety. She also gave Gunnar his nickname---Gunny! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I am so sorry it took this long to leave this review but thank you so much for saving us. If we had listened to the VCA behavioral specialist that basically called Gunnar a monster and suggested we give him up, he probably would have been euthanized somewhere. We owe you so much.

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    Mikel is an awesome trainer within the Karma Dog system. He was always on time, went above and…read morebeyond, and really took a nuanced approach to your dog ensuring that your dog was receiving the personal training it needs. He provided us with strategies to help her walking etiquette, jumping/over excitement when people entered the home, and how to have them be okay at restaurants or busier public areas. If you are in the LA area, I would highly recommend asking/hiring him.

    We truly cannot say enough amazing things about Kelli! Our Australian Shepherd, Briggs, has been…read moretraining with her for the past month, spending five days a week with her and coming home to us on the weekends, and the difference we've seen in him has been incredible. His behavior, manners, and overall demeanor at home have improved so much, and we feel like we have learned a ton along the way too. Beyond being an amazing trainer, what has meant the most to us is how much Kelli genuinely cares about Briggs. She treats him like he's her own, and any time he has had even the smallest health issue, she is always the first to check in, follow up, and make sure he's doing okay. It gives us so much peace of mind knowing he is with someone we completely trust and who truly loves and cares for him. Kelli has been so lovely to work with, and we feel incredibly lucky to have found her. We would recommend her to anyone looking for someone who is not only an incredible dog trainer, but someone who genuinely cares about the dogs she works with. It also helps that Briggs absolutely loves her!

    K9 Logic Dog Training - Our favorite 3 legged student, congratulations Polar! ‍

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    I can't recommend K9 Logic Dog Training enough to people. My partner and I came to them to address…read moreseparation anxiety in our 1.5 year old French Bulldog. We had tried what felt like everything and his separation anxiety was so bad that it got to the point that my partner and I basically gave up our social lives, had to coordinate with one another one of us would be going to the market or if it would be a trip where we both can go but someone sits in the car with our dog. We met the team at K9 Logic Dog Training and they assessed our dog and determined what kind of training program would be best for him to address his separation anxiety and the other skills we wanted to work on. Within a week we noticed progress. We finally were able to leave the house for an hour and go to the market together. Week by week the time has gradually gotten longer where we have been able to leave him alone for longer periods of time to reclaim our social life back. I was skeptical at first, but after that first week I became a believer. We are so happy with the results that for the purpose of just giving him structure and routine we signed him up for more classes and he LOVES being at school. We've also participated in the weekend group training sessions and they are so helpful to not only give our dog routine, but it's a great way to reinforce structure and keep him sharp with everything he learned at school. Signing up for training with K9 Logic Dog Training was the best decision we could made for our dog to set him up for success.

    I enrolled my four-month-old mini poodle, in this training program after a very positive initial…read morecall and good communication with the staff. Unfortunately, my experience once training began left me uncomfortable, and I decided to withdraw him after two sessions. When I arrived for the first session, I was surprised to find that the training facility was a private residence. Everything took place outside at the front gate, and I was not given a tour, a clear explanation of the setup, or much of a welcome. I was expected to hand my puppy to a staff member I had never met, who would place him in a kennel until his training began. Since this was my first time leaving him with strangers, the lack of an introduction or information about where he would be staying made me uneasy. I had been instructed not to feed Fumi dinner the night before or breakfast that morning, so I packed his food and treats with the understanding that they would feed him or use his food during training. When I picked him up around 4:00 p.m., I discovered that none of his food had been opened or touched. Because he was only four months old and had not eaten since the previous day, this was extremely upsetting. I was told that he had received plenty of treats, and a manager later called to apologize, but the experience still left me concerned about leaving him in their care. I was also handed training tools without being clearly reminded that I would be charged separately for them. I later received a text with the bill and was told that the cost had been included in the contract. I would encourage future clients to review those additional charges carefully and ask whether they can purchase the tools themselves, as similar items may be available elsewhere for less. Sasha, the trainer, was very kind, and I appreciate the manager reaching out to apologize. However, between the feeding incident, the overall drop-off experience, the unexpected equipment charges, and not seeing improvement after two sessions, I ultimately did not feel that this program was the right fit for me or my puppy.

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    I genuinely can't recommend Brad highly enough. By the time…read moreI reached out, I had already spent months trying to fix Sunny's leash pulling and reactivity. I'd worked with two trainers, including a 3 week board-and-train program ($5,000 investment), followed every instruction, and practiced daily, yet I didn't see changes. I was managing the behavior without ever understanding what was causing it. That changed within the first two hours with Brad. He didn't start with commands or tools. Instead, he focused on the psychology behind Sunny's reactions: what was driving them, what was reinforcing them, and what I was unknowingly communicating. No one had ever explained it that clearly. That was the turning point. For the first time, I wasn't guessing or correcting blindly. I could see what Sunny was experiencing in real time and understand how my timing, energy, and responses were shaping his behavior. That clarity changed everything. Walks feel completely different now. Sunny is no longer pulls since my training with Brad, the reactive outbursts are gone, and the experience itself is calm. I'm no longer bracing for problems because I know how to prevent them. I am SO appreciative!

    Westside German Shepherd Rescue

    Westside German Shepherd Rescue

    (448 reviews)

    Historic South Central

    Westside GSD Rescue is a remarkable and inspiring organization. We have adopted 2 Westside dogs,…read morethe first, a GSD that came to us by way of a sister organization close to us in Oregon, and the second, a GSD-Mal mix that we adopted recently from Westside following the loss of our precious GSD boy in June. Both dogs we adopted were/are absolute jewels; healthy, happy, and obviously well-cared for. With limited, private and volunteer resources, dogs are NOT accepted to the shelter willy-nilly, but based on their temperament and adopt-ability; and once in the shelter, if a dog is not adopted, it is assured a full life. This is not a "pound," but more a sanctuary for adoptable dogs with GSD genes. As such, it's not someplace you can just "dump" your pup. Potential adopters are vetted base on their home environment, experience with dogs, and commitment to to provide a safe, caring home. The adoption process, which includes evaluation of both dogs and potential adopters in order to assure a "good fit," is thorough and reasonable. They want adopters to be experienced and committed to integrating a dog into their family. I fully expect the negative reviews are all from either owners who want to "dump" their dog and resent being turned away or deservedly browbeaten, or from failed adopters who were denied a dog they wanted due to something questionable in their home environment. Westside's primary concern is the best interest of the dogs.

    We reached out to this facility during one of the most difficult times our family has ever faced…read more Our dog has been a beloved member of our family for many years, and due to unfortunate circumstances beyond our control, we can no longer provide the care she deserves. Rehoming her was an absolute last resort after exhausting every option we could think of. Our communication with Csilla was incredibly disappointing. Instead of receiving compassion or guidance, we felt judged and shamed for reaching out for help. We were told that surrendering our dog was cruel, and the response went as far as explaining the euthanasia process and suggesting that our dog would likely be euthanized. We were already heartbroken over having to make this decision. We weren't looking to be criticized--we were looking for help. If the facility was unable to accept our dog, that could have been communicated with kindness, professionalism, and empathy. No family reaches out to surrender a pet without experiencing pain and heartbreak. We hope that in the future, people in our situation are treated with more compassion and understanding than we experienced from Csilla.

    Bark Busters

    Bark Busters

    (125 reviews)

    Downtown

    When we adopted our 2- year old Akita/Husky/Shepherd), who was a shelter baby, we knew we needed…read morehelp getting him to acclimate to our family and our other dog. We also have a small dog (chi) at home and we were worried about how to get them to acclimate and live together peacefully. Spoiler: they are now besties! Help came in the form of Carrie! She is funny, (not only one of the funniest and KIND, humans we've ever met, but also extremely knowledgeable and professional. She spent hours with us at our first meeting and we learned SO much. A lot of dog training is about "human training" IMO, and the tools she gave us changed the game for us. Their approach is based on understanding how a dog thinks/behaves and adjusting oneself to the dog's pov. It is crazy how using the tools Carrie gave us worked and did so, fast! And there's always ongoing homework and tools to use to help correct behaviors as they come up. And that is on us to continue that work. We saw big improvements right away, Especially with our chihuahua, (because if you have a Chihuahua, you know they have a lot of personality packed in a tiny body with a lot of opinions) and the tools that she gave us helped us establish ourselves as the leaders of the pack. Carrie is really like a dog psychologist. She has an innate understanding of dogs and was able to translate a lot of the anxious behavior my dog was exhibiting and helped us to address it in a calm and gentle manner. He really responds to what we are asking of him (be calm/don't bark unnecessarily,etc. and makes a HUGE difference in the quality our lives. Additionally, a lot of the tools that she gave us helped our big (newer) dog to have more confidence and as a shelter dog, whose history was unknown, it has also been a game changer. He now can interact confidently with strangers, lives peacefully, with our little dog, and does not pull on the leash and responds to basic commands Overall, he seems very balanced. Through training with Bark Busters, we can see that our dog has more confidence and is more trusting with us and the result is a very happy dog... Moreover, as our dogs grow and evolve, we know that Carrie is always available to us by text, email and open to any visits we need as things come up. We feel that Bark busters was absolutely worth the investment and we will continue to use their services. Thank you Carrie and Pasha for explaining and helping us with our "kiddos."

    We chose Bark Busters because of their promise that the high upfront cost was a lifetime…read moreinvestment. We were told we'd receive ongoing support, customized training, and help throughout our dog's life--even if our circumstances changed or we moved. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. When Henry was a puppy, we had one in-home training session and, if I remember correctly, one follow-up email much later. As he matured, he began developing some unexpected behavioral issues despite being neutered and having been a very friendly puppy. I reached out to our trainers, Paksha and the other trainer on our account, multiple times to schedule follow-up training that was included in the program. The biggest obstacle was scheduling. Appointments were only offered during the workweek for follow up. I had to reschedule once because of an emergency, and another time because I realized my husband should be present so we could both learn and consistently reinforce the training. I was told they would get back to me with weekend availability. They never did. That was months ago, and I never heard back. We paid thousands of dollars specifically because Bark Busters advertised lifetime support, but when we actually needed that support, it simply wasn't there. The contrast between Henry's training with Bark Busters and the excellent training we received years ago from a local Burbank trainer is significant. Charlie, our other dog- three years younger than Henry, has outstanding manners because of those sessions in group training. Henry never received the ongoing guidance that Bark Busters promised, and we're left feeling like we paid a premium price for a service that effectively ended after the initial visit. If you're considering Bark Busters because of the "lifetime support" promise, I would reconsider... For us, it did not live up to the expectations that were set when we signed up.

    A-Team Dog Training

    A-Team Dog Training

    (130 reviews)

    The amount of change that Dawit was able to do for my dog is a crazy amount. I'm not sure I'd be…read moreable to handle my dog without his help! My very alpha dog needed a lot of training and Dawit turned him into a more calm alpha dog who knows his place at home and in public. I'm so very thankful and cannot be more happy with how much of a good boy my dog is. As a first time dog carer, I've learned so much from Dawit and would definitely recommend his training to anyone.

    Where do we even start? Our dog, Cooper, was adopted from a shelter after being surrendered twice…read more We quickly learned that he struggled with severe separation anxiety and couldn't be left alone. We became prisoners in our own home. We either had to take him everywhere with us or have one of us stay behind. It became a huge burden, and we found ourselves scheduling our entire lives around our dog. We decided to work with Dawit, and little by little, things started to improve. When we got Cooper back from training, he was like a completely different dog. He no longer pulled on the leash, was not reactive when he saw other dogs, his recall was amazing, and many of our typical worries disappeared. However, the separation anxiety still persisted. This is where Dawit truly deserves recognition. He never gave up on us or on Cooper. Our training journey probably lasted longer than most because of how severe Cooper's anxiety was, but Dawit went far beyond the typical follow-ups. Over the course of several months, the training sessions, check-ins, texts/videos, communication, and home visits finally paid off. There were times when I genuinely thought we'd never be able to return to a normal life, but our consistency combined with Dawit's continued support and new techniques made all the difference. Cooper can now stay home alone in his crate without issues. That being said, training only works if you put in the effort. We followed through with everything Dawit recommended, even when it was difficult or when we didn't see immediate results. It's easy to fall back into old habits or give up when progress feels slow, but perseverance truly pays off. Side note: Dawit is just an all-around great person who genuinely cares about what he does. Our dog absolutely adores him. We also love the boarding services he offers -- especially because Cooper comes home exercised and happy. Another huge plus is that Cooper is now off-leash certified, and we fully trust him to make good decisions. Yes, it can be costly, but it's an investment and honestly, I don't know another dog as well‑behaved as ours. I'm incredibly proud of the work it took to get here.

    Happy Paws Dog Training LA - Best friends and cousins.

    Happy Paws Dog Training LA

    (107 reviews)

    Mid-Wilshire

    I was very anxious about my rescue dog because he would constantly pull on walks and was very…read morereactive toward other dogs and people. Raquel truly came to the rescue! I reached out to her very last minute, and after explaining my situation, she was incredibly understanding and was able to accommodate us right away. After just a couple of hours of training, I learned so much about how to better understand and communicate with my dog, Orion. The difference was honestly amazing--by the end of our session, he was walking so much better and no longer constantly pulling on the leash. Raquel was patient, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain not only what to do, but why certain techniques work. What I appreciated most was that she gave me more confidence as an owner and showed me how to continue reinforcing everything we learned at home. I already feel much less anxious taking Orion on walks and feel like I finally have the right tools to manage his behavior and reactivity. You can tell Raquel genuinely cares about the dogs she works with and wants both the dog and owner to succeed. I'm so grateful she was able to help us on such short notice, and I'm excited to continue working with her. I highly recommend her, especially to anyone feeling overwhelmed with a reactive or newly rescued dog.

    Raquel is exceptional. My dog Sasha is reactive, and my dog Rocky struggles with anxiety -- before…read moreworking with Raquel, I felt stuck and unsure how to help either of them. She didn't just give us quick fixes; she taught us "the way of the dog," a philosophy that helped me actually understand what my dogs were experiencing and why. What stood out most was how many practical tools she gave us. I now know exactly what to do in triggering situations instead of freezing or panicking. That shift has changed our lives -- we can go places together now, enjoy ourselves, and I'm not dreading outings anymore. She is also extremely compassionate and deeply committed to helping, and she was always readily available to deal with any road bumps along the way. Raquel is a wonderful trainer and human being, worth every session.

    South Park Doggie - Waterland LAX - Mika splashing on a hot day!

    South Park Doggie - Waterland LAX

    (736 reviews)

    Took advantage of their Spring Break special, which included a bath, to board my pup for a week…read more(Sat-Sat). It had been almost a year since we last boarded but Ethan helped us get acclimated to the new policies and was super accommodating, even working with me on pick-up when my return flight was delayed. A true life-saver. All the staff are always kind and helpful and they really love on the animals, which I appreciate. They also regularly update with photos and emails to keep you in the loop which is very reassuring. Loki loves it there and is always wiped out when she returns. (She's been napping all day. Very clearly a happy girl ).

    A little long but it's been nothing less than eventful with this place. I had hight hopes for this…read moreplace as the hours are so convenient for our family's busy schedules. Unfortunately, this place was a HUGE disappointment and had a huge negative impact on our pup. Long story short -- Everything here is a sales grab. The few girls care for the animals but the "managers" and men there are just there for the commission of your packages. I had a whole conversation about their unethical sales pitching with the employee while picking up my dog lol. It's "how they keep the place open" - the employee's words, not mine. Astounding. Said employee also asked what I did for a living because I questioned their sales pitch tactics -- I'm in sales. Also, If you need their VIP services for your unspayed or neutered pup, please spend your money elsewhere!! Before committing to a membership, we did a trial day and spent hundreds on drop in days, grooming, and overnight boarding to see if it was a good fit for our high energy pup. Our dog is not neutered and we don't plan on getting him neutered so we chose their VIP rooms. His breed is also extremely high energy and they promised they could accommodate. I also inquired about training multiple times and they kept saying the trainer would contact me. Everything went great after those few visits, they seemed caring and said he was a great fit for a membership so we end up signing up. Then everything went downhill. Upon the first day of the membership, our dog all of a sudden had behavior issues and needed to be picked up. In the middle of my work day I call the shift manager, and he states that if we want our dog to stay, he needs training ... (from their same trainer that I've inquired 3x about before committing to a membership, still haven't heard back). I asked why this wasn't communicated ever before committing to a membership and they didn't have an answer. I informed them that I would've paid for training before committing to a membership if they would've let me know that there were any issues. Our dog went a couple of more times until they could finally get me in touch with the trainer, 6 visits later. Actually I had lost complete trust at this facility. To add insult to injury, I was able to speak to one of their actual workers that is with the dogs and she let me know that our dog is only let out for about 10 minutes at a time, maybe 3 to 4 times a day during a 12 hour stay. This is their VIP option. So not only is he left in a room for about 12 hours a day, with dogs barking all around him, he's not being stimulated nor played with just being let out to go to the bathroom. Contradicting everything they say that they offer. Their "trainer" is also a joke. He is supposed to be from the Marines and well-versed in the breed of dog that we have. Upon washing him for 5 minutes, as I was told, he said that our dog needed to be neutered before he could be trained because of his energy. Our dog is a Malinois and is not supposed to be neutered before 2 years of age. We've since went elsewhere to get our dog trained from someone who is actually educated on his breed and he's worked on all of his anxiety and reactivity issues that our pup got because of this place.

    Deep Connection K9 Academy - pet_training - Updated September 2026

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