In October 2025 as a favor for a friend, I agreed to take care of Jeffrey for two months while Jeffrey's sibling recovered from knee surgery. Jeffrey is a male lab mix and was 10 months old when he came to stay with me. When Jeffrey came to stay with me, I already had Koda, a male chow-huskie mix, four years old. About two months into his stay, Jeffrey became my forever dog. Also, at about that same time, Jeffrey and Koda began to get into some bad fights that needed human intervention to stop. My friend had taken her dog to Devotion to Dogs with great results, so I took Jeffrey for training. Jeffrey completed his training about one month ago and no fights with Koda have occurred after the training. Josh was great with Jeffrey and did Jeffrey's home visit. I am grateful and thankful to Josh and the whole team at Devotion to Dogs!! read more

What a great place to take your dog for training as a puppy to one on one professional trainers who have years of experience and make your idol their top priority. read more

Devotion To Dogs - Pup in training - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

I can't say enough wonderful things about Devotion To Dogs! My Puppy did a 2 week board and train to learn basic obedience training, treadmill & crate training. We attend their weekly Social class, and we have used their daycare & overnight boarding. All the trainers are just fabulous! They are knowledgeable, kind, and most importantly they produce results. Anytime I have a follow-up question or issue, they are on it! My dog gets so excited every time we pull into their parking lot - he can't wait to run inside and see everyone. I highly recommend Devotion To Dogs!!! read more

Devotion To Dogs - Arthur - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

Ben, the owner, assured me my 160 pound Great Dane would be kenneled in a 6x6 space during the two weeks he was there for boarding. Pictures show the small space my dog had while he was boarded there, which is definitely not a 6x6 space. He was in this space except when taken out to walk, treadmill and social interactions. In the kennel he had no room to move, stand on even surface or walk or lay down. The bed stayed in there so he couldn't move or stand on an even surface and the bed was too small for my dog as well. I picked him up this morning at 7am and he was in there as well. I am extremely concerned with the conditions my dog was placed in that I did. it consent to. This was not a temporary space for him but where he stayed when kenneled the whole two weeks he was there as the staff informed me there is no larger kennel space than this despite Ben telling me my dog would be in a 6x6 space. Accommodations were discussed and Ben told me my dog would be in a 6x6 kennel but his employees informed me at pick up the facility does not have any 6x6 kennel and my dog was kenneled in the attached pictures and not any larger kennel space. Ben informed me via voicemail the kennel he was placed in was "more than big enough for him." The attached pictures are where he was kenneled and no larger kennel space is in the facility despite Ben telling me my dog would be in a 6x6 kennel. I consented to my dog being in a 6x6 kennel space but was lied to about this by Ben. At pick up the employees told me the kennel in the pictures in the largest kennel in the facility, which is definitely not 6x6. Don't blame the customer for lying about the kennel conditions you placed their dog in. The pictures speak for themselves and this is not what was consented to. I trusted Ben with being truthful and proving g my dog kennel space he said he would get but found out at pick up I was lied to. The kennel my dog in no way it was 6x6. He was in the left kennel and to the right are two other separate kennels. the one my dog in was approximately 5x3 with no level standing room for my dog as you can see in the picture. This is how he was kenneled for two weeks. Unacceptable and not what I agreed to. A 6x6 space would be a square, not a rectangle, basic geometry at work here. This space is most definitely not a rectangle with one direction being much narrower than the other. As you can see in the pictures, his water bowl was bone dry with no specks of water even though there are staff on site 24/7. This is equally concerning. A couple years ago at their old location we arrived to the facility at approximately 1am to pick my dog up from boarding unexpectedly and we found the doors unlocked and opened in an area you wouldn't want the building unsecured. We attempted to find the employee and couldn't so we called the police in case something happened to them. The police found them sleeping somewhere in the back of the facility, which was a significant safety issue for my dog and all other dogs there. We were there inside the facility for about one hour without the employee ever knowing we were in the building where we could easily roam free or anyone else could have. Even when the police arrived the employee still did not show up. The police roamed the facility to find the employee. I thought this was a one time concern with a specific employee so I continued to use them as Ben told me that employee would not work there anymore. He told me he allows the night shift to sleep but the doors need to be shut and locked I now have a pattern of concerns. I don't post this review lightly. I have very limited options where my dog can go for boarding because of his reactivity to other dogs but there is no way I will return to Devotion to Dogs. I am not okay with how my dog was kenneled and I am not okay with how I have been treated by Ben as a customer for reporting my concerns to him. I find them to be very disrespectful to me as a long standing customer. read more

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10/10 stars if I could give them. Ben, Cortney, Martina, and Josh and the rest of the team are so beyond incredible at Devotion to Dogs. Our little Gizmo, a 2-year old Shih Tzu, came in for some behavioral and obedience challenges, and was horrible at recall. The whole staff not only made Gizmo feel at ease, and got him to actually recall back to us in less than a week of Board & Train, but now he no longer dashes through doors, is polite and kind to anyone who comes in contact with him, and his collapsed trachea (which he has had since birth) has greatly improved due to his body being better regulated! He is also having the best time with his at home doggy treadmill (which has been the best especially living in an apartment), and new structured daily routine. Grateful is not even enough of a description to express our love for you guys. Thank you, and so excited to be apart of the family! read more

Devotion To Dogs - His new doggy treadmill! - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

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We love Devotion To Dogs! Could not recommend Ben and his team enough. We have two Cane Corsos and they are the only people we trust with training and boarding our dogs. If you are looking for great trainers and socialization classes you 100% need to reach out to them for their services, you will not regret it. read more

Devotion to Dogs is a wonderful training facility! Ben (the owner) and his trainers Martina & Josh are all very knowledgeable about dogs & their behaviors. Our Malinois, Cowboy, has come a long way after training with them. By the way, Cowboy just LOVES Martina! They truly care about your dog making progress. read more

I'm on week 2 of puppy training! Martina is very creative and uses a variety of techniques to address each need whether it be to teach standard activities such as sit, place, and walking on a darn leash. Martina obviously enjoys the challenges and rewards of working with Boots & Dukes. She's upbeat, never discouraged, and projects humor and joy in helping me shape my puppies into a top mf'n dogs! MARTINA = GAME CHANGER! MARTINA = THA' DOGGMOTHER! "Dogs, we keep 'em, busters we sweep 'em And when it's drama, my Dogs'll bite your mama" - Snoop read more

We did the two week board and train for our husky Wallen because he had an incident of aggression. The results were incredible! Josh and Martina know what they are doing! They were patient and professional through the entire process, listened and worked with all of our questions and concerns, and kept us up to date daily on Wallen's progress. They were understanding with knowing our schedule constraints and made sure we had enough follow-ups to make sure we knew how to continue training after we left. We cannot recommend them enough. read more

Devotion To Dogs - Wallen Graduated from the program - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

Bets dog training! absolutely love and would recommend to anyone. My dog has had leash aggression and social anxiety, after just one session he is a changed dog. I loved how responsive devotion to dogs were when I first reached out. During our first session, I felt all of my concerns were listened to and fully addressed. If you want your dog to be perfect bring them here. read more

Changed my dogs quality of life 200%! I also now feel like a member of a community. They're driven to help people and their dogs. It's a lot of work but well worth it! read more

I had started to lose faith that I'd be able to keep my German Shepherd mix, Walnut, due to her intense reactivity and territorial behavior. She was resource guarding, had poor recall, and was incredibly stubborn. I was overwhelmed and didn't know what else to do. Devotion to Dogs was recommended to me, and it was the best decision I've ever made for my girl. Walnut completed their two-week board and train program and came back a new dog, in the best way. No more lunging at strangers or other dogs. She plays nicely at the park and dog beach again, just like when she was younger before the reactivity set in. She can even relax in a coffee shop with me on a Sunday afternoon while I read, and I can trust her to stay calm and settled. The training is just as much for the humans as it is for the dogs. I didn't know how to set boundaries or communicate clear expectations before. The trainers worked with me 1:1 to make sure I knew exactly how to maintain everything Walnut learned once she came home. Huge shoutout to Ben, Joshua, and Martina for their patience, consistency, and genuine care for every dog that walks through their doors. Walnut and I will be forever grateful. The weekly free socialization classes are such a gift and help us keep everything fresh. Thank you Devotion to Dogs! You gave me my dog back. read more

Just finished the 10 day stay and train program. We are blown away by the progress our new rescue pit Charlie has made. Our main concern was his high prey drive. We had no control and now have all the control and tools we need to keep improving and enjoying life! On top of that he's now fully trained, obedient, and confident with his skills. We are thrilled to death with devotion to dogs. The training was worth every penny. The ENTIRE staff is above and beyond amazing - they are so knowledgeable, caring, patient, and helpful - we are confident moving forward knowing we have their support. Thank you!!! read more

Devotion To Dogs - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

The time taken to make sure my Dogs had everything needed for a smooth transition was amazing. After 5 days of training they are coming along nicely. I would highly recommend read more

After years of owning Cane Corsos, we decided to adopt/rescue a 1 yr old Corso that was highly reactive, among other things. We decided we needed the help of someone experienced. Ben and team came highly recommended from a rescue org. Ben gave us the guidance and tools to turn our Corso into a law abiding citizen, to the point we were comfortable rescuing a female Corso. He helped us get them to the point where they are best friends. Ben's a walking encyclopedia who will not just stick to one method, he'll try multiple methods along with phsycology to get your dog in the right mindset. read more

Devotion To Dogs - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

Devotion to Dogs = Professional Trainers with that Family Vibe. Ben and his staff are very professional and amazing dog trainers. We brought our 10 month old to Devotion to Dogs. Let me tell you a Complete 180 from where we started. He was people aggressive, very cautious of dogs. His obedience was so so... Now after Devotion to Dogs. He can now go anywhere with absolute no problems. Crowds, Restaurants, stores, Dog Beach and Parks. He Loves people and dogs now. We can have him down stay. Walk around the store. Come back and he's in the same spot . Tell him let's go heel, stay with me, he's right back to our side. If you ever question if dog training would really help? Absolutely, yes... Don't wait and call "Devotion to Dogs" today. What you learn from Devotion To Dogs trainers will stay with you and your dogs forever. read more

I would highly recommend Devotion to Dogs for dog training, especially for an aggressive dog. The staff is extremely friendly and cares about the dogs that they are training. Our 5m.o. Cane Corso was attacked on the beach by a bigger dog. Afterwards our dog was more aggressive towards other dogs and people. We were worried that he would become more aggressive as he got bigger, so we found Devotion to Dogs and started training with them when he was around 6-7 m.o. He learned how to sit, stay, lay down and come when called to us with in a week and a half. With consistent training his behavior has improved significantly and is not aggressive towards other dogs and people. He will also listen with no hesitation to my husband and myself when we yell a command at him even when he is around other dogs and distractions. read more

Me and my girlfriend adopted a dog, Pinky, back in 2025, when we adopted her they said she was quiet calm and shy, a week after bringing her home she started being very people and dog aggressive and even attacked people and dogs. We were scared to even bring her outside on a walk because she would go insane at anything that moved. As two teenagers who just moved out on their own we were lost and felt very hopeless on what to do. The last thing we wanted to do was have to surrender her especially after her past. We looked around for weeks trying to find the right place but many places weren't reliable and didn't seem like they would work. We contacted devotion to dogs and right away I knew we had to at least give it a shot. Going in I wasn't sure if it would work or if I was just wasting my money but I had to give it a shot. Even just after the first appointment, I felt confident taking her on walks and even being able to have her look at other people and dogs then look back at me for approval. It was really a night and day difference. I could not recommend this place more and honestly without them and without their help through this process I don't know where I would be with her. I can bring her confidently to a park and drop the leash knowing that she will come back to me the second I say. If you are looking for a sign to get your dog trained here this is it! read more

Devotion To Dogs - Pinky! - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

Devotion to Dogs is FANTASTIC!!! My husband and I rescued a pup from the San Diego Humane Society, and we had no idea the struggles that were to come as she adjusted to her new life with us in our apartment. Luna had all this energy and was very reactive towards people and dogs, both inside and outside of the house. We had tried other trainers in the past, but we couldn't seem to break through her behaviors and it was a constant struggle. When I got pregnant, I knew I needed more help with her reactivity so I could take her on walks with a baby and not have these concerns. I was referred to Ben and Devotion to Dogs through a friend who also used them for her reactive pup and we decided to reach out. Ben came over for our first initial consultation and immediately saw her reactivity issues. He spent hours with us talking through his experiences, his recommendations and the structure of the training he could provide. We did a stay and train with Luna for 3 weeks with Devotion to Dogs, which included us having in-person training sessions with Josh and Martina. She was a changed dog! We got her a doggy treadmill at home to help with the energy, she was conditioned with an e-collar to help us with her training, and she has changed so much for the better! I can now walk down the sidewalk next to dogs and people and not have to worry about her reacting. We can introduce her to strangers and even have people come over again without worrying she will react or show aggression. Once you book with Devotion to Dogs, you have access to the wonderful trainers to answer your questions, and even attend group socialization classes to keep up with the training for your pup. Luna loved her time so much that Ben, Josh, Martina and Courtney are some of her favorite people and she even gets excited to hear their names when we go to class! I can't thank Devotion to Dogs enough for helping us have a well behaved pup before we add a baby to our family in March. I know they will continue to support us through our next chapter as well. If you are thinking about reaching out to a trainer in San Diego, you should absolutely consider Devotion to Dogs! They are so friendly, treat your pups as their own, and are so knowledgeable. Thank you Ben & Team! read more

Devotion To Dogs - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Ben is the BEST! We didn't work with him as much as we should have because my dog and I both had health issues, but he really changed the way our walks went and gave me lots of great advice and methods to deal with Mila's behavior. I highly recommend him for anyone who has a reactive dog, or any dog issues for that matter. read more

Devotion To Dogs - Mila behaving herself. - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

We have a big, one-year-old German Shepherd who, while not aggressive, used to run up to other dogs--especially smaller ones--which could be intimidating for both the dogs and their owners. On walks, he would zigzag behind me on the leash, making things a bit chaotic. I chose the five-day drop-off/pick-up training program, and I'm so glad I did. They were even flexible enough to accommodate my schedule, which made everything easier. By the end of the five days, I could already see such a difference! As soon as we pulled into the facility, he was eager to get out of the car and head straight to the door. (Thanks to training, he learned to wait for permission first--but he was still just as excited!) They introduced the E-collar gradually and, once the initial training was complete, took the time to teach me everything I needed to know so I could continue reinforcing what he'd learned. Now, our dog listens so much better, responds immediately to commands, and brings a sense of calm to our walks and interactions. It's not just about obedience--it's about peace of mind for everyone. These five days made a lasting impact and even helped correct behaviors I didn't realize could become problems down the road. What really sets them apart is how much they care. They continue to check in and offer support, making sure we're staying on track. The owner, the facility, and every trainer we worked with are truly beyond five-star. I can't recommend them enough! They all feel like family . Down to earth , good people, excellent training . read more

Just commented on a review that disturbed me who gave a very poor review. I gave my perspective, below. Once again I have to comment on a recent review by someone who was very dissatisfied with Devotion to Dogs. Although I understand everyone is entitled to their opinion, it is best to look at the whole picture. A trainer cannot magically fix a dog. Although I have seen Ben do just this. It takes time and the owner is the responsible party to keep up with the training, to use the tools recommended and most of all, to go to the events that Devotion to Dogs offers For Free, like the socialization classes, the monthly pack walks, and a phone call to the office expressing what is still happening with your pup! I'm wondering if this person who did the one star review ever utilized these things or called the office for advice? Ben would have talked to you on the phone and undoubtedly would have told you to come to the facility. Did he not go to your home a few times as well? Honestly, I paid more for a session with my dog many years ago. And I ended up doing board and train for two dogs different years. I recommend anyone to use what free things they offer that are all a part of the initial three+ trainings or more originally received. These are for life as being a part of Devotion to Dogs. No, I do not work for them, just have been a devoted client to Ben and his trainers and staff since 2017. I am proud to always recommend them. read more

Communication. I took my dog to Devotion to Dogs and I've left a review previously. This is a followup. I received an email a couple weeks ago, three years after our visit asking how things were going. I repeated my complaint from my first review, and got an email" oh no, we're sorry." I reiterated that $500 for what they did was ridiculous and she proceeded to deal me I had a discounted price! That $500 was for approximately one hour total of his time. No offer was a full or partial refund. All I'm saying is your dog might need something more than this place offers. Especially for such a ridiculously high price. Get consultations with a variety of trainers until you find the one that clicks with your puppy. Devotion to Dogs might not be the one. read more

I write this review with a heavy heart. We came to Ben after paying for FOUR other trainer interviews. Our pup Wilbur was very reactive and had already bit myself and a lady at his daycare. When we met with Ben, we had no control, we had no plan to how we were going to ever control our puppy. Over a month of working with Ben, he actually gave us control. He gave us a system and a process that gave us hope. After weeks of working very hard, Wilbur remained very reactive and it became very apparent that he had another level to his brain that we could not reach. We attempted to rehome him but 0/6 of the shelters we contacted would take a staffie mix with a human bite history. My wife and I are starting a family soon, and we have another dog. We were terrified that something would happen to our future children or our other dog, because Wilbur was very very unpredictable and had biting as his first reaction to anything exciting. We put Wilbur down after consulting with Ben, but we only did so because we saw no progress, and Ben's experience helped us trust that we were making the right decision. We love dogs, but no dog is worth sacrificing human safety. We're very appreciative of Ben. He gave us a path to hopefully fix our pup, and although it did not work out, Ben guided our decision-making the right way, that was the safest and made the most sense for our future. If you have a dog with aggression, reactivity, or other problems, I highly recommend giving Ben a call. You have to go to someone that has 15+ years of experience in dealing with difficult dogs. read more

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I have some great dogs, DTD was a key part of the process. Each one of my dogs has a Diverse array of vocal and hand signals. Meaning I don't use words like sit or stay stuff like that. DTD did not have a problem with that. I wanted them to also train my pups with my commands so when I let them stay with other people my pups would listen to them as well. I was reminded of this today when I was at the dog park how important it is to be able to have full command of my pups as well as letting others be able to take my pups to the dog park and my pups would listen to them as well. priceless read more

When we first rescued our pup from the Humane Society she was extremely reactive and distrustful of others, lunging at every person/dog/car/bike/ANYTHING that came near us, to the point that it was a safety concern for both our dog and everyone around us. We had worked with another trainer for a few months and made decent progress but eventually reached a plateau, which prompted us to seek additional help at Devotion to Dogs. Ben has been extremely helpful at guiding us in this process. He not only taught us how to train our dog to not lunge, but also how we can structure her environment to that she's more comfortable meeting others and being in public settings. Now, 4 months later, I feel like we have extremely good control over our dog. She almost never lunges (except when directly provoked/surprised, which we are much better at preventing now), and she follows our obedience commands to a tee. Above all, she is happier than ever. While we always maintain proper precautions, she is now able to go hiking with us off-leash and can join us at restaurants, which NO ONE (including our previous trainer) thought would be possible. This has been a huge relief and has allowed us to confidently take our dog out so she can finally enjoy the life that she deserves. As with anything in life, you will not see results unless you are willing to put in the time and effort. But if you are motivated to do right by your dog, and are willing to trust Ben and follow his advice, you will not be disappointed. read more

My dog Cosmo came here to get his boarding training. We were having issues with his behavior. He would run out the front door as soon as it opened, he was overly excited when anyone would visit (so much so that he broke my mothers arm). He would chase the other animals in the house, jump on the couch, counter serve, steal food off the table, and just basically be unruly. The first few days of Cosmos training were very difficult for him. He did not like being told what to do. We expressed our concerns over him not eating and we were assured that he was going to be OK. The process of training was explained to us very clearly and at that point we had to just trust in the process. And I am so glad we did. Cosmo now is one of the best behaved dogs. His training was done in a humane loving way. He bonded with his trainers and is excited when he returns to review some of the things he learned. The staff was very attentive and was always willing to answer my questions or allow me to come and visit him when I was feeling nervous. Their system is excellent, their staff is trained, and they know what they are doing. I would and do recommend them to anyone who has a dog that could use some obedience. It's worth every penny. read more

This business is great. Very well run and friendly. Staff is extremely knowledgeable and able to teach pet parents how to make real changes with their dogs. read more

just the first visit brought immediate help. very professional and helpful. plus friendly to our dog. Can hardly wait for 2nd visit

Ben, the owner, and his incredible staff helped us get our 7 month old puppy trained and obedient in ten days!! They offer two additional complimentary follow up visits to check in and complimentary doggy social classes during the week. Looking forward to attending in the future! read more

Look no further for your training needs!!! The Devotions To Dogs team is absolutely incredible. We have used them with both our goldendoodles. Our oldest doodle had a hard time with reacting to other dogs and people when on walks. She was not afraid of anyone or anything and thought everyone wanted her. It was very hard to take her out in public before working with the Devotions to dogs team. We are now able to take her out for a walk and she is even able to go off leash! They have totally changed our lives and Minnies. This week we even were able to walk by a construction site off leash and both pups walked nicely and did amazing! Our youngest doodle did a board and train at just 4 months old. She went in not knowing much since she was so young. She came home and has been such an amazing pup! We take her in public and at just 5.5 months old people can not believe how well behaved she is. We can not speak enough great things about Ben and his team. They are our go to for everything our dogs need! read more

Devotion To Dogs - Down stay while I cook in the kitchen. - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

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I'm so grateful to Devotion To Dogs for helping me with my newly adopted fur baby. Within a few days of adoption we realized that our fur baby had a real bad case of food guarding and if not "treated" soon, some one in the family could get hurt. I turned to them and after boarding we received a well mannered, easy going dog, who now understands what I want from him and that he no longer has to guard his food. The name could no be more fitting. From Ben, the owner who is amazing at following through with his product - your dog after training. Every single trainer that learns his method and works with your dog there is amazing!!!! Every one there is great!!! I looked at several different places before deciding on DTD, and there hasn't been a moment I felt I didn't make the right decision. read more

Devotion To Dogs - My 12 year old and my 3 year old babies. - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

This review is really quite long overdue. I started working with Ben back in March for my (then) almost 1 year old mini Aussie/blue heeler mix, Toby, who started becoming aggressive. I stopped having anyone over and was always anxious that he was going to bite someone. I decided it was best to seek professional help because I wanted the best for Toby but also to make sure he wouldn't hurt anyone. I found Ben and it was the best thing for Toby and I. Now, let me just say this. YOU have to be willing to put in the work if you want to see changes. Ben trained me on what to do in certain situations and was straight forward in letting me know that I wasn't setting proper rules/boundaries. Its not something you want to hear but it was the truth and I am so thankful for Ben's honesty. I have now been tread-milling Toby 1-2x/day, taking him out and about for training and working with him in the house since March. I work with him as much as I can when I can and I have seen continued improvement. Don't get me wrong, he's still a little turd who is quite stubborn and likes to challenge me from time to time, but he doesn't do it for long and understands that I am now in charge. I fully believe with more work over time and with age, he will only get better. People are now able to come over and Toby is able to play around them and remain focused on me for direction. He used to hone in on the person coming in the house, aggressively barking and lunging at them, and I was a complete after thought to him so, this to me has been a huge improvement! We are slowly easing Toby in to meeting friends and family who are aware of his behavior and so far so good. Overall, I feel like Ben gave me so many valuable tools in just a few sessions. I would have loved to have continued working with him but unfortunately personal stuff came up that prevented me from being able to do so. Ben, my apologies for dropping off but please know I have continued working with Toby everyday and was serious about putting into practice everything you have shown me. Truly, thank you for all that you have given Toby and I. It's because of you that I now see a bright future full of potential for Toby! If you're reading this and considering working with Ben, just do it. You will not be disappointed. You might think you know how to fix the problem, but trust me, Ben can teach you so much more than you realize! read more

Devotion To Dogs - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

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A few months ago, our family grew by one fluffy baby German Shepherd named Xada. She is a smart girl but very stubborn! Against my better judgement, I called another local trainer before Ben. He taught us a few things to try with Xada, however we did not see results. After being referred to Ben by multiple people, reading his reviews on yelp and a phone consultation, we scheduled our first training session. Ben came to our home for a few hours and by the time he left Xada knew sit, stay, stay, come, down, etc. It was amazing to see how fast she picked up on these basic obedience skills. Before our next session, Xada developed some undesirable behaviors, especially being in a home with small children. She would regularly jump on people, nip/bite hands anytime she was pet (this was beyond the normal puppy behavior) and was completely unmanageable on a leash. We decided to do a two week board and train with Ben which was completely life changing! Xada was introduced to other dogs and conditioned to behave in stores, at parks and other crowded public places. Ben even took Xada home with him for a few days to teach her how to behave around children and in the home, which was extremely beneficial to us. The progress I have seen is indescribable. Did I mention she is treadmill trained!? Xada has only been home a short amount of time, however I have already seen a night and day difference! She listened perfectly outside, off her leash. When Ben teaches you how to continue your training at home, he not only teaches how, but the reasoning behind it as well. He is extremely thorough, knowledgeable, passionate about what he does! He offers a weekly Q & A, pack walks and is always available by phone to answer any questions before/after training (and trust me, I had a lot). I highly recommend Devotion to Dogs!! Thank you, Ben, staff and family! read more

Devotion To Dogs - Xada the German Shepherd - Pet Training Near Me - El Cajon, California

Ben offers kind and practical training for your dog and you. It has been very effective with my German Shepherd and makes my GSD more fun to be around. Ben is wonderful to work with. read more

Just want you to know that Martina was just great working with Murphy and me! Her direction, advice and patience was greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to the socialization training in the next phase! read more

I can't say enough about DTD and the wonderful trainer we have been working with, Josh Raczka. Over the past year my 2.5 year old golden doodle Cosmo had become extremely reactive, especially while on leash. Lunging at every dog we passed, and sometimes even snapping at people who wanted to pet him. We had no idea what was going on, since he's a total lovebug at home. Daily walks had become so stressful and unpleasant. My vet recommended Devotion to Dogs. We met with the owner Ben , who took a lot of time to explain their process and philosophy, and so far I've had four individual sessions with trainer Josh. COSMO IS LIKE A DIFFERENT DOG! Josh has such a great understanding of dog behavior and he quickly pinpointed and clearly explained the things we needed to do to help Cosmo react positively to potentially triggering situations. Cosmo LOVES Josh and his German Shepard Tilly, and clearly enjoys the training outings. Cosmo can now pass other dogs on the street, sit calmly while I stop and chat with someone walking his own dog, and meet new people happily. It's really just amazing and has dramatically improved Cosmo's --and our!--quality of life. Walks are fun and relaxing, and Cosmo is so happy. I'm looking forward to participating in the DTD pack events with other well trained doggos! Thank you Devotion to Dogs and Josh Raczka! read more

We just completed our board and train program and are blown away by the results. Our dog Frankie is a 1.5 year old rescue that began showing signs of aggression and biting strangers, lunging at other dogs on walks at about the same time we had our second child, a few months ago. With two small children we could not take the smallest risk with him. Devastated, we attempted to surrender him to a shelter, he was there for two days when they called and asked us to sign a permission to euthanize because they were unable to handle him. We immediately went to get Frankie and walked him right out of there, never looking back. I called everyone I could - trainers, shelters, and finally our vets office, where we were referred to Ben. I explained our situation and she guaranteed me that Ben would CHANGE our dog. Working at a vets office and Knowing the stakes (that children were involved), I knew this had to be the place. Fast forward 1 month later - we have a different dog. It's absolutely amazing what ben did. It's not magic, (although it certainly seems that way), it's Ben and his team. At the sake of sounding cheesy, they are 100% without a doubt, actually DEVOTED to training and correcting dangerous behavior in dogs. He put in endless hours, effort and truly worked to make sure Frankie knows his place. What's more, he will put in however much time is necessary to teach US (the people) how to continue this new reality. This is not a 9-5 gig for these guys. We would receive texts of Frankie throughout the day, at the park or in a bank or store, being greeted by strangers. I've got a newborn and a 4 year old and a busy schedule - but it doesn't matter. Ben tailored a development plan specific to our life to ensure not only that Frankie can stay alive but that he can thrive and our family can achieve harmony with Frankie. Simply put, these guys are amazing. Don't hesitate for a minute to train and board your dog here. Thank you DTD!! read more

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I've been attending Shih Tzu meet ups since 2014 and have met a handful of "human" friends from them. Well, I got invited to to a basic dog training session with Ben from Devotion to Dogs on Sunday 5/22/16. Ben and his assistant drove all the way to a dog park in the Corona area. We had about 10 dogs participate along with their owners. Ben was really good at explaining dog behavior and the way they think and act. He was also great at providing examples of things us humans do and how our dogs react. You can only learn so much from watching The Dog Whisperer on t.v. Hands on experience with a live trainer and personalized training for your dog is the way to go. We have 3 dogs and one in particular has been deemed our "trouble dog". Generally, she's the sweetest dog, obedient towards me and my husband and gets along with other dogs. The thing that gets her is - men (other than my husband and dad). She hates men and will bark at them and try to charge at them. She's even bitten a few male family members. She'll get into a state and doesn't even know I'm there and she's bitten me once by accident when she was trying to attack my husband's step-dad. This was very obvious during our training session. She was good for about the first 15 minutes, but once she noticed a man standing close to her she went crazy and wouldn't stop barking. Ben put on a loop leash around her neck and taught us how to try to correct this behavior and even walked her around the park and got her close to the man she was barking at earlier. Obviously, since this was a group event, it would have been hard to just concentrate on her, but he gave us some helpful tips for all 3 of our dogs. Too bad Ben is not based in our area, but I would definitely try to set up another group training session with my friends from work and their dogs. 60/100 Reviews for 2016 read more

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We had our first visit recently. We had adopted 2 rescue dogs 2 weeks previously. They are very sweet but not trained at all. One is reactive to other dogs ( we don't know her history or what she may have been exposed to) the other dog was genial but could not learn any commands or looked confused. I was actually thinking maybe he wasn't that bright. But in 2 hours what a difference we saw. We needed someone to see their behavior and behaviorally tell us what actually is going on so we can make sure these dogs have a great life. For the reactive dog (Honey) we worked with his dog and it helped show us what to do around other dogs until our Honey could gain confidence around other dogs. The other dog (Lucky) was just being a little stubborn and not not understanding the commands. He gave us some real good coaching. Both dogs have had big improvement after just 1 session. We are going back to fine tune what we learned, and to see what else we can do better. I feel so grateful and confident that we will have a great, full life with our new pals. Best money we have spent! read more