Dave is a miracle worker! My husband and I adopted a dog named Gigi who ended up having some major behavioral issues and aggression. She loved us but was very defensive toward other people and other dogs. We couldn't have visitors at the house otherwise she would absolutely lose her mind. We couldn't take her anywhere without her barking, lunging, and pulling on the leash. We didn't want to give up on her but considering I was pregnant at the time, we needed her to improve asap. Dave spoke with us over the phone to assess Gigi's behavior and come up with a plan. From the very first meeting at the park, we saw improvements and Gigi ended up loving Dave after the first walk. She became exited to see him from then on, something we didn't think she was capable of. We walked through Kensington, let her run around the nearby park, and got her used to seeing other dogs. We eventually incorporated some family members into the training sessions and she ended up accepting them as well. Finally, we moved the training to our home to improve her behavior with visitors there since the baby was coming any day. Over those few months, Gigi went from a dog who was scared and insecure, to a dog who feels comfortable with her family, is learning to allow visitors at home, enjoys walks, and is gaining confidence more and more each day. I am including photos of Gigi with one of our family members who, prior to working with Dave, she likely would have not been so friendly with. It's amazing she is learning to love other people! We were even able to leave town and have family watch her and it was a huge success. She is also much better around our other two dogs and enjoys laying around and playing with them now! Thank you Dave! We look forward to working with you for our other dog as well! read more

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I highly recommend Dave! This week we have suddenly been dealing with a rapid and distressing change of behavior in our 10 month old puppy. Dave offered thoughtful, practical, reassuring advice, and gave us good ideas for how to correct the behavior and move forward. He is knowledgeable, kind, and my puppy loves him! read more

I always tell people about Dave! He has worked with all 3 of our rescue dogs to much success. He is simple and practical and he really does speak dog. We have also used other trainers before him who were more aggresive with no success with our cattle dog, and so glad we found and settled on Dave! Our dogs love him. He's also funny and light, which makes it a good experience. Highly recommend. read more

Dave knows dogs. Dave has been training dog owners in Kensington since my son was in elementary school. Dave now trains my son & his dog Baggz! Honestly, I think Baggz might have the advantage over the young gun, just saying. Nothing better than driving to Vons & seeing Dave work his magic with overwhelmed pet owners. He seems to glide them across the bridge enjoined in mutual conversation, yet he never takes his eyes off the prize. There's something to say about reading an animal & them reading you, it's a wonderful thing to watch. The return from Vons always brings a smile to my face. Owners no longer have furrowed brows, the pups struts across the bridge as Dave returns to the library with owners in tow. No one looks stressed & somehow you just know the pup will graduate with flying colors. Dave is a great guy & excellent trainer. Baggz was deemed to smart for the owner! But we're working on training our son now! read more

Highly Recommend!! I had the pleasure of Dave working with both of my dogs over the past months, and I absolutely have to share. I've decided to do this review in two parts - the first being short, straight to the point and the second being longer and detailed for anyone who is looking for a more in depth look at my wonderful experience. The short and sweet: Dave was so great to work with for so many reasons. He is extremely knowledgeable, and while he was training my dogs, there was a lot to learn as the dog owner and how parts of my behavior needed to change to guarantee smooth training and more consistent outcomes. I am so thankful for his patience and attention to detail with each lesson to ensure the absolute best results for my pups. The longer and more detailed: I had originally contacted Dave about one dog of mine, Milo, who I had rescued from the pound. Milo came with a lot of anxieties and behavioral issues and needed to be rehabilitated. I had tried looking things up on my own and tried working with Milo myself. However, after working with Dave, I realized there is so much more to learn from an actual Dog Trainer versus browsing online. More specifically, how Milo was reacting to my own behavior, actions, and reactions. While Dave spent time training Milo, he was also ensuring that my boyfriend and I adapted the correct training actions ourselves so that the training could continue while we walk Milo on our own time. While Milo was a tough student, Dave continued the process. Slowly and steadily, Milo began improving. Milo's behavior at home changed after being in "school" as well. He seemed more relaxed, and at ease - he listened better overall. It was such a relief to see this dog that suffered some horrible past, begin to become more trusting and comfortable in all aspects of his doggie life. Once Milo's lessons were up, we purchased another round of training and introduced our other dog, Kona. Kona didn't have the past and anxieties that Milo had, but we still wanted the training on how to work with both of our dogs, together. Once again, the trainings were beneficial to both dogs, my boyfriend and myself - as there is so much to learn from Dave! Reflecting back on Milo's first lessons to where he is today, we are forever grateful for such a great dog trainer. Rehabilitating a dog is not an easy task, but with Dave's knowledge and patience - he has helped Milo transform. If you are looking for the best for your pup, go see Dave!! read more

My husband and I owe so much to Dave and his training! I reached out to Dave as a first time puppy owner when we got our little girl Abigail. A few weeks after we brought her home, we put her into puppy classes with Dave. It was one of the best decisions we've ever made in our lives. Dave was awesome! I love how he took the time to train Abigail over a period of time and that she was properly introduced to other dogs. Dave does a great job training the owner just as much as he trains the pup. As a responsible dog owner it is important to make sure you have a well behaved dog that you can control. Dave teaches you how to do this. Another reason we went with Dave was because he is a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator and could train her to pass the CGC certification, which Abigail did :). If you are in the San Diego area and debating hiring a dog trainers, don't. Just go with Dave! read more

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We had a fantastic experience with Dave and our dog Nilla. It started with answering some questions from Dave's assistant and getting some background info on cost and scheduling. After that we had a no-cost phone consultation with Dave where he learned about our puppy and explained his methods and strategies. The training has made a huge difference with Nilla. There are no shortcuts or magic answers to training, so Dave preaches consistency and has a way of explaining things from the dog's point of view that was incredibly helpful. Any time I had a question about Nilla's behavior Dave would have answers and a couple of suggestions of things to work on. And he would also bring up things about Nilla's behavior that I didn't think of. Dave knows his stuff on dogs and why they do the things they do. I really liked the format of meeting Dave at the park on a weekly basis. We started with one on one instruction and then worked in more interaction with other dogs. Dave is easy to work with. The few times I had to reschedule he was happy to accommodate. And since this all occurred during COVID times I found it very therapeutic as well. It's nice to be out in the neighborhood with Dave and the dog. Our dog isn't perfect, but I understand her so much more now and have Dave to thank for it. Nilla is still an alpha COVID puppy work in progress, but she has a heart of gold and Dave helped us curb her worst tendencies and enjoy the best things about her. If we ever get another dog, I will definitely be calling Dave to schedule another round of training. Thanks Dave! read more

Dave is the best of the best. We started training with Dave as soon as we could with our new puppy Biscuit. He taught us, even more than he taught the dog, how to properly walk on a leash, greet other dogs and humans, and so so much more. We were so thankful for all of his hard work and training because we are working on having Biscuit become a therapy dog and working with him made us more than prepared for the therapy dog prep program even when she was still so young. We are so thankful for Dave and would recommend to all dog owners! read more

Dogs With Dave - Biscuit's first day of training! - Pet Training Near Me

TLDR; Dave's awesome--train your dog with him. Long version, if you care to read my story--I rescued Gunnar, a (currently) 80 lb, 3 yr old Doberman Shepherd, from the Bonita animal shelter at the beginning of this year. He was a somewhat emaciated stray who seemed the most laid back, sweetest, smartest dog in the pound. I've had 7 dogs in my lifetime, not including my childhood family dogs. That includes 3 shepherd mixes and a chow chow--all rescues--so I didn't think adopting another large, smart, protective breed would be a problem for me. When I first broke Gunnar out he was quiet, friendly, got along with most of the dogs and all people we met, seemed all around wonderful--except for some separation anxiety, jumping on people, and a couple of indoor accidents. He learned tricks and basic commands at a lightning rate. After a few weeks, though, he began to change. He started to bark at dogs that barked at him through fences as we passed. He then started to lunge and bark whenever he saw a dog on the street. He was initially very friendly at the dog park, then suddenly he was picking fights with the largest male he could find like the new kid trying to make a point in the prison yard. Sometimes he would almost pull me off my feet trying to go after another dog. Then he started lunging and barking at certain people on our walks. I took him to Home Depot and to my horror, he nipped a passing shopper. Thankfully the man didn't press charges. Gunnar wasn't always bad--but enough to constantly put me on edge when I took him out of the house. I've dealt with many dog behavioral issues but never severe aggression from such a large dog. Not gonna lie; I thought about taking him back to the pound. I didn't think I could handle this extra large package of muscle--especially since I lived with chronic pain from an accident last year. However, I have a personal attachment to "problem children" and giving them the love they need to turn around. I talked to several different trainers. I wanted someone who focused on positive reinforcement techniques (btw, I've worked with Bark Busters twice in the past and because of their negative techniques I will NEVER work with them again). Dave was the second most expensive trainer I spoke to. I bring this up because with my current earnings, affording him was a challenge and I couldn't commit to the program lightly. However, he spent nearly an hour on our first phone conversation listening to my concerns and explaining his philosophy of dog training. He didn't promise quick results--he made it clear that it was going to be a few months' commitment of about two lessons per week, which actually reassured me as opposed to trainers who sell you expectations of only needing a few lessons. He was also willing to work with me on getting Gunnar socialized to be good in the dog park--at the very least, he needs to be able to get along casually with dogs that come into work (since he comes to work with me). I will mention Gunnar worked briefly with another professional trainer previously who was incredibly nice, but Gunnar wouldn't listen to her. During the first free in person consultation in the park with Dave, Gunnar went after a passing dog almost immediately, lunging and barking. Without using anything but a long lead attached to Gunnar's regular leather collar, Dave had him under control, quiet and attentive in about 30 seconds. Maybe in about 10. I will also add that during our free consult, Dave gave me basic advice to stop the jumping. Keep in mind I got advice from two other trainers previously without much success. Dave's advice stopped about 99% of the jumping after only 2 days. I was amazed. And I was sold. It's been about two months. We still have about a month to go, and some goals yet to reach. It's been a journey of ups and downs. Sometimes I wanted to give up. However, I now write this review in the middle of a semi-crowded restaurant. We passed a large, barking dog that was lunging at us on our walk here. Gunnar turned his head disdainfully away as we walked by, quiet as a mouse. A little chihuahua off leash ran up and got right in his face. He sniffed its butt and moved on. He sat quietly in line at the order counter, then lay down quietly by my feet as I ate and wrote this review. 6 people mobbed him for pets and he accepted their attention royally. One person asked me if he was a service dog, and said, "You got a really good one! He's so calm for a 3 year old!" So if you have a problem child, I wholeheartedly recommend you bring him to Dave...he really understands how a dog thinks. My super smart and sensitive Shepherman gives a paws up! read more

Dogs With Dave - Doggo and Catso napping on the porch in harmony. - Pet Training Near Me

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Dave is literally a lifesaver! I called Dave last year the day after getting my 16 week old rescue puppy, Branson, and began working with him immediately. I was a bit overwhelmed at first, to say the least. When I called Dave, Branson was skittish and timid around people and other dogs and had no training whatsoever. Within a week, he was able to sit and stay, was beginning to walk obediently on a leash, and had begun socialization with other dogs. Several months later, Branson is a changed dog who loves socializing with people and animals alike. He has passed his canine good citizenship test, loves the dog park, dog beach, and trips to the pet store. Dave was amazing working around my husband's military schedule when he was home, and working with just me and Branson when Mike was deployed. Branson LOVES Dave and is almost overcome with excitement every time he sees him. We recently moved across the country and my husband often jokes that he wants to fly Dave out to teach Branson new skills and tricks. Bottom line: I can't recommend Dogs with Dave enough! read more

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Dave came highly recommended by another client of his who had issues with a rescue dog of hers. I decided to give him a try as my rescue dog had some serious behavior issues that had me concerned as I have two small children at home and was starting to have some safety concerns. I never want to be in a position where I'm having to pick my kids over an animal and wanted to get the behavior under control ASAP. Dave was great with Max (my little 9 lb terrier/beagle mix) and we started seeing changes right away. The whole family was involved and Dave has done an excellent job teaching my children the proper way to interact with dogs. After all it's really people training too! We ended up getting a boxer puppy last summer. I know they can either be super anxious or extremely hyper and wanted to ensure with a larger dog that she had the proper training. She is such a sweetheart and has done so well with her training. We get compliments on her all the time with how well behaved she is. Dave definitely knows what he is doing! Any question or concern I have had regarding both of my dogs is always answered and addressed at the training session. He has really helped our family to enjoy our dogs and interact with them the right way. We are now expecting our third kid in a couple weeks and I'm relieved that I'm not stressing out about doggie behavior issues while wrangling three kids around. I would highly recommend Dave for anyone who's getting a puppy, rescue animal, or has a dog that needs corrected behavior. The results in behavior is worth every penny we have spent! Thank you so much for everything Dave! You've been a lifesaver read more

Dave has become a part of our extended family over the last 7 months! Training our Australian Shepherd puppy has been a whole family experience. Dave helped us as a family (husband, two daughters) to all learn the same techniques necessary to stimulate our girl Ayla, as well as make the whole experience a family affair. Coming to training 1-2 times a week for an extended period of time helps keep us consistent, and having the weekly homework that builds upon itself was so valuable! Over the last 7 months with an active breed the emotions run up and down, Dave was able to encourage us when we needed it, and give tough love when needed- he is just as good with humans as he is with dogs. Working with Dave was worth every penny, and I know we will utilize him with our future dogs. We are honored that Ayla was chosen to be a part of the mentor dog program, as we will be going through Dogs with Dave withdrawls! read more

Our pup, Remington, tips the scales at 150 lbs. so needless to say - training is very important. Dave was very in depth with his consultation process, he made sure that we were dialed-in on our expectations for Remington's training. Not only did Dave totally transform Remington's manners - he gave us more insight on what we can do as owners that we ever imagined. Overall, we are very pleased with the results that Dave delivered on. He genuinely wants what's best for your dog - and that is something that is worth the investment of training your dog. Go to Dave, you will not be disappointed. read more

My reviews are from my(i'm a dog ) point of view . Dave is my new found bestfriend. I was abused when i was younger and I've always been shy and scared of the world esp men. When dave first met me at the park, it took less than 20 min for me to turn my butt towards him and let him rub my butt. Normally this small encounter can take 5 hours! I sniffed him and he smelled pure kindness and patience and I immediately loved him. When i was still doing sessions with him, the walks to the park are highlights of the week. I especially love how his hands constantly smell of treats and he doesnt mind when i drool all over him. I also like our walks inside the bank where i can sniff and smell the money in the air. Dave and my mom probably just wanna make sure i have enough funds for my lessons. That's how sweet and thoughtful dave is! I definitely notice more confidence in me after training with dave. True , i still get scared of things with wheels like those things they call birds but dont look like birds , skateboards and bikes . but dave has definitely made me a happier and more confident dog. read more

My wife and I started our puppy Pippa (aka poopa) with Dave over 2 years ago when she was about 12 weeks old. We wanted to make sure we had a dog that was polite in public and was welcome in as many social events as possible. Dave works wonders. Pippa is a great dog she is 2 and a half now and everyone is always fighting to watch her. Our friends even ask when she doesn't come with us somewhere where she is and express that they miss her. We wouldn't have such a wonderful dog without Daves help! We highly recommend Dogs with Dave! read more

I cannot be effusive enough in my praise for Dave. I cannot express properly how greatly helpful Dave's training has been for our dog and for us. This is a long, long, long review, so I apologize for going on and on, but it'll give you a sense of how wonderful our experience with Dogs with Dave has been. We have a 7 year-old Jack Russell, named Lucy. Prior to Dave, my wife and I would DREAD going out for walks with her. She would pull incessantly at the leash, zip back and forth between our legs, threatening to trip us, and threatening to get stepped upon by us. We could never allow our elderly relatives to take her out, for fear that she would trip them and injure them on a walk. And, a walk like this would be considered a good outing, in fact. A bad outing would be a walk in which we encountered another dog. Whenever she would come across another dog, Lucy would begin making this incredibly high-pitched and painful shriek. Neighbors would poke their heads out the window wondering if we were perhaps performing "enhanced interrogation techniques" on our dog. As the other dog would get closer, Lucy would then begin lunging and snarling and snapping at the other dog, and it would take all of our effort to prevent her from biting the other dog. And nothing we tried would work. We would try picking her up to calm her down - and get clawed mercilessly by her flailing legs for our efforts. We would try to bribe her with treats, to focus her attention upon us instead of the other dogs - marginally effective at best. We tried yelling at her - not the least bit helpful. We considered using a shock collar - but we love her too much to do something like that. We were at our wit's end. So, why didn't we go to Dogs with Dave earlier? Because we got Lucy from a rescue organization when she was already 2. We have no idea what her life was like before we got her. And she had all sorts of fear issues and insecurities, so I guess we just thought, "Well, maybe she's the way she is, and there just isn't much you can do about it." Finally, one day, we were driving around, and we came to a stoplight, and saw Dave walking a dog, in his blue "Dogs with Dave" t-shirt. We saw that the dog was walking alongside him, heeling, as though glued to his side. The dog looked happy and confident. When Dave would come to a corner, the dog would immediately sit, without any command or signal from Dave. And I said to my wife, "Gosh, I wish Lucy could be like that." And, well, why not? Why couldn't Lucy be like that? At least we should give it a try, right? Now, I figured that there was probably only a 10% chance (at best) that after a training regime Lucy could ever be like that dog we saw Dave walking earlier. But, why not try anyway, right? We've had 5 lessons with Dave so far. And I have to say, I could NEVER in all my years have imagined such a revolutionary change in Lucy. She is an absolute JOY to take on walks now. I can't be effusive enough in my enthusiasm for Dave and for his training techniques. a) Dave immediately pointed out a number of things that my wife and I were doing that we thought were helping, but were in fact making things worse for Lucy. Easy to correct. b) Dave showed us some very simple equipment changes - what leash to use, what type of collar to use and why and these little changes have made a world of difference. c) Dave showed us how properly to walk and get Lucy to want to heel and obey commands, and pay attention to us during walks. All the techniques and training methods are positive-reinforcement, low-aversion techniques. After just 5 lessons, I would swear that Dave abducted our dog, and replaced her with a wonderfully-trained and well-behaved impostor. In fact, just this morning, on our morning walk, I came to a stop at a corner, and Lucy sat for me, without any verbal command from me. I was flabbergasted. After just 5 lessons, Lucy heels at my side, as though she were glued to me. Her tail is constantly wagging. She sits upon command. Other dogs come up, and she still gets excited, but I'm now equipped with positive techniques to ensure that her attention gets refocused on me, and that she continues to follow my commands, and doesn't end up attacking the other dog, much less shrieking like she used to. The other day, we went for a 3 mile jog. She jogged along at my side, followed my commands, and ignored other dogs. In the past, going jogging with Lucy would require me having to check up on my life insurance policy - she was always threatening to trip me up while running at full speed, and I was always afraid of falling and breaking my neck. Now, she's a wonderful running companion. We still have 25 lessons to go. Next up: Stay, down, wait, etc. We're so excited about all the coming changes. Now, I only wish we'd taken Lucy to Dave years before! Don't make the same mistake we did. Take your dog to Dave today! read more

Dave is AWESOME!! We were on a family vacation in Palm Springs when we first called Dave. We had just adopted a 1 year old poodle mix from a local shelter a few weeks before the trip and had an aggresion incident that caused us concern. I had seen him training other dogs around the neighborhood (Kensington) and decided to call him. He walked us through a series of questions about the incident and the current environment and gave us very specific steps on what to do and what not to do to get us through the week until we returned to San Diego. He explained the exact rationale of each step and why each one was important. It worked like a charm and everyone, including our new dog, was able to enjoy the remainder of our vacation! Once we returned home we started working with Dave a couple of times a week and we can't say enough about how much we appreciate his guidance and support! He has a great sense of humor and knows how to provide the subtle but effective motivation for those times when we haven't completed our homework. He gives you all of the tools to be successful and is sincerely concerned about the well being of our dog and our family. Dave came over to our house this past weekend for a home training visit and George (our dog) is now making amazing progress on not barking when the door bell rings in addition to his almost perfected skills of sitting, heeling on walks, coming when called and greeting friends and friendly strangers when we are out and about at soccer games, etc. We referred Dave to our friends who had a very challenging case involving severe separation anxiety. He successfully helped them, too and I cannot emphasize enough how great his interaction skills with both dogs and "parents" are - thanks Dave!! read more

Dave has been helping us train our vizsla pup for just over a month, but the difference even at this early stage is apparent. Our friends comment that they can see huge improvements already as we've been learning how to manage the energy level of our high-engery-level dog. She's already better-behaved, and we are already learning so many ways to set our dog up for success. My wife and I had taken a puppy class through the Humane Society (which was very helpful), but we really needed a more focused approach. Dave has not only helped us deal with the specific needs of the breed of our dog, but with her specific personality. Dave is super-friendly, patient, disciplined, patient, knowledgeable, patient, has a great instinct for interacting with dogs, and is patient. He's also patient. Seriously, though. He's really making our lives better by helping our dog become a better pup. And based on how many people wave at him every time we walk through the neighborhood, I'm not the first or last one to get amazing results. Go with Dave. He'll meet you where you're at and take you and your dog to where you want to be. read more

7-03-12 Well, Kali and I are 1/2 thru OUR training, and I am really happy with the results. Dave has taught both Kali and I a lot. When Kali and I do our homework it is fun and not "work". When I first started, I was concerned about her aggressiveness and separation anxiety, but I soon learned that Kali had to learn first other things. She knew SIT and that is about all. Well, she now knows sit, down, off, stay, and MOST of the time to come. :) She is not barking and charging at skateboards and bikes anymore at the park and she is much better with new dogs and people at the park but still needs more work on that. My two dog sitters tell me she has improved with being with them when I am not there and soon stops crying etc after I leave her with them. It does help that she really loves them and feels comfortable with them too. I will be back with my final review update when the final 10 lessons are done. Dave is really a great trainer and I am happy I found him.. read more

Dave, Your an AWESOME dog trainner! Huntley and I are going to miss our classes, now that he is finally graduating!! I remember reseacrching for a trainner last summer and almost every trainner did their trainning indoors. I'm so happy I found you, I think its extreamly inportant that dogs are trainned out in the real world. I also love that your pricing for One on One is the same as it would cost to go somewhere else and join an entire class. People ask me all the time, why do you have a trainer?? I tell everyone, It is SOOO worth it. I think its the best thing for the owner as well as the Dog. A must do! See you soon :) -Cassie read more

We started working with Dave when we adopted a one year old black lab. We have met with multiple dog trainers and he is far and away the most professional. He is really both a dog and people trainer and worked with my husband and me to teach us how to train her. Be aware, his methods require you as an owner to be fully committed and do your homework. This is not a quick fix, but after working with him for a little more than a month things really started to click. Now we are constantly complimented on how well behaved our dog is. More importantly, we have a dog we can take anywhere we wish without her misbehaving or pulling and we can introduce her to people, kids and dogs without barking or jumping. We have already recommended him to multiple friends who have been happy as well. I highly recommend Dave as an investment for a happy and productive relationship with you dog. read more

I am a first time dog owner who adopted a rescue cairn terrier. I had no idea what I was doing and my dog was pulling me every which way during walks and he was showing signs of aggression. I realized I needed help. I contacted Dogs with Dave because he had excellent Yelp reviews and he was in the neighborhood. We discussed Shazam's challenges on the phone and Dave offered a get-acquainted session in a nearby park. Shazam loved Dave immediately and jumped all over him (this was before training). I nearly cried with relief when Dave reassured me that Shazam was not aggressive. He was over-excited and didn't know his boundaries. He also needed some rehabilitation to overcome the abuse he had experienced in his previous life. As a first time dog owner I needed guidance and Shazam needed to learn some rules. By the end of the first session Dave had Shazam sitting and obeying the "Off" command. Things just got better from there. Shazam and I both look forward to our training. Our walks are so enjoyable now. Shazam walks along beside me and stops, sits, and waits at corners. There is no yanking on the leash, no fighting me. We are both having a good time and know exactly what to expect from each other. Dave has made me a confident pet owner and he has helped Shazam be the greatest pet ever! I highly recommend Dogs With Dave. read more

Dogs With Dave - Shazam at his first training with Dave. Already sitting on command. - Pet Training Near Me

We love Dave! My husband and I contacted Dave before we adopted our dog last year. We discussed breeds, ages, sizes - pretty much everything - to see what type of dog would suit our living situation and lifestyle. (Apartment living, we both work 8 hour days). After adopting our pup through a rescue, we went through many months of training with Dave. He quickly identified that we had no experience working with dogs, and he helped us build confidence in ourselves and also helped us build a strong relationship with our dog, Sylvie. We went over all of the basic commands, with Dave prioritizing that we understood and properly executed commands over learning as many commands and tricks as possible. We went over doggie play etiquette, and he even made a house call to answer any day to day interaction questions we may have. Our pup Sylvie has blossomed from a timid dog into a happy, well balanced one. She has become an integral part of our family, loved even by all of the neighbors for being so well behaved. Thank you, Dave! read more

Worth every penny and more! Three years ago our beloved 9 year old lab passed away so we decided to get a puppy. We had a lot of reservation due to our lab having crazy anxiety (eating blinds, carpet, scratching holes in walls, barking at everything) obviously we were lacking in the parenting department, and were scared of making repeat mistakes. My cousin told me about Dave so I went out and got a 2 month old Golden Retriever and called him up. We started training right away and I can't tell you how well behaved my now 3 year old is. She's calm, gentle, obedient and so well behaved. Dave not only trained our puppy buy trained us owners as well. Honestly I wasn't looking to spend hours and hours a day training my dog (we both have full time jobs and children). Dave was able to take her on one of his hour long magical walks then give us some training tips and we were all set to go. All the training has stuck with her and it was very little work on our end. Last week we purchased a new home with stairs and a doggie door and our little girl was just terrified to use either of them. So guess what, I gave Dave a call and out to Lakeside he came. Wow, did she remember him and cried with joy as he approached the house (it was truly amazing). After 30 minutes of Dave working with her up and down the stairs she went and starting to use the doggie door without fear. Two days later she was using the doggie door freely. This is how amazing this man is! He defiantly has a gift, Thank you Dave read more

I now have 2 dogs that can be out of their crates AT THE SAME TIME. Before Dave that was impossible! And a lot of work and coordination of who's in and who's out. We did that for 9 months. but not any more. I'm so happy! thank you Dave! read more

We couldn't be happier with Dave's training. He knows his craft and totally enjoys working with animals and people. Dog training is as much about training the humans as it is the dogs. So, his friendly manner and very helpful instruction has made training our 11 month Wiener/Lab (yes, a wiener dog and a lab!) fun and easy. In just a few classes, we could see a definite improvement in Wally. We tackled the big things first; walking by our side, coming when called, sitting whenever we stop walking. He is doing great! Next up, getting him to stop digging up our lawn! read more

Dave is the best dog trainer! He trained my GSD (Shiloh) when she was a young pup. She passed her Good Canine Citizenship with flying colors by the age of one. She is now three years old and a mentor dog. Shiloh is very confident; loves people/children and is great with all dogs. He works in Kensington at a small park with lots of stimulation which is the perfect set up for your pup...your dog cannot fail! I really liked one on one with Dave vs others' group classes. He uses positive reinforcements and have all the answers that you may have about your fur-baby and more. "A well behaved dog is a happy dog". Your pup will love Dave! read more

Our family had such high hopes when we found Dave but unfortunately it was a complete let down. After meeting with Dave he said he would call us that night. Three separate times he said he would get back to me but never did. I would always wait a day or two figuring he was busy but in the end I always had to reach out asking for an update. At one point he told me that he took his work very seriously and would get back to me that weekend, yet no phone call. Concerned that it had been a week and I still hadn't heard anything I sent a text. I explained that I was discouraged and asked if he was uncomfortable working with my dog too just let me know. Dave's response was I'm sorry I'm not moving quickly enough for you and referred me to Snug Pet Resort "since you need to start now." Wow, I was heart broken. I never said I needed to "start now". All I wanted was to know what his thought process was and plan of action. Guess I will be going to Snug Pet Resort. Heard they were fantastic. read more

I adopted a four-year-old retired show Yorkie. His previous owner told me that he was professionally trained and had a calm temperament. When I got him, I was shocked to discover that he was wearing a Huggies diaper (belly band) because he wasn't housebroken and he knew no basic commands. I immediately set about housebreaking him, which was pretty easy because Hudson is smart. I also taught him to sit within a few days but knew I needed professional assistance to make him a well-behaved dog who could accompany us in public. A friend had seen Dave frequently around Kensington, so I Googled him. After speaking with Dave on the phone, I knew he was just what we were looking for. He is extremely knowledgeable and uses only positive reinforcement to achieve your desired results. He was patient with us as we worked through all the requirements to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test in addition to helping me address my other training goals. Honestly, I needed as much training as Hudson did! I now know the right techniques and Hudson is a Canine Good Citizen. We loved working with Dave and I highly recommend him to anyone who truly loves their dog, regardless of breed or behavioral challenges. Hudson still heads toward the park every morning when we're walking in Kensington because he enjoyed seeing Dave so much. Thanks again and hope we see you soon, Dave! read more

I appreciate your response Dave but we did speak with your scheduler and she set up a time, then moved the time, then we were told you would call and did not do so. It happens I guess but it was disappointing and it did not instill confidence read more

Thanks Dave for taking Poppy down the calm behavioral path!! The early investment is paying off already and we know it will continue for years to come! Puppy to Princess is the way to go!! read more

I contacted Dave twice, 9 days ago, on December 18th, first by phone, then via email. All I got back from him was an auto response by email with the subject line "Dave can help!", assuring me that we would talk soon. Did we? No, we did not. And Dave did not help. He simply never got back to me. I don't know what kind of excuse one might come up with to justify that. Now, in the 21st century, everyone has mobile phones and email accounts used interchangeably. No matter where you are - at home with the flu, enjoying your vacation in Paris, or taking care of your sick auntie, you can and should respond to people looking for your professional services. So no matter what others might say, in my book, a person who doesn't have the discipline and respect to do so, cannot be possibly capable to teach those important behavioral skills to my dog. Unfortunately, there is no option for zero stars here. In my opinion, since Dave never bothered to get back to a potential client, a service that was never provided, didn't earn even one star. read more

We adopted a Great Dane puppy, and basically did everything wrong from day 1. No surprise that when the puppy hit 70-80lbs, what was cute before, was not causing trouble. That's when Dave was called. Actually we called right before my wife suggested giving the dog pack to the rescue, but anyways. Dave came in and got him under control. He taught us how to build a stronger bond with our dog, how to teach him to respect us, and most importantly, udnerstand that we are his owners, not the other way around. Long story short, after 8 months of training, I now receive compliments from people when walking my Dane on how well behaved he is. Some people in our neighborhood even ask if he is a "Dave dog" as they can tell by this training. Without Dave, we'd no longer have a Great Dane that the entire family loves, even my daughter whom was afraid of him before the training started. read more

Dave took on the tough job of helping us train our Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. Apparently it's not an easy task. I've never met as mellow and well adjusted RR, except maybe for one other who also received training from Dave. Thanks Dave! You helped us make Emma a treasured and loved member of our family! read more

We absolutely love Dave. He changed the game for us with our feisty Kerry Blue Terrier. Dave patiently helped us develop skills and techniques that made life with our dog better than we could have imagined. read more

I have a long history of working with animals....and have been in the Veterinary Field for over 10 years....I have a 2 year old Vizsla/Weimarainer hybrid mix.....Beautiful and sweet Miss Hazel was in serious need of some manners.....After only 1 training session I have seen remarkable changes in her...! Now 4 training sessions in, I only continue to see her growning into a young lady... ; ) I can't wait for the final outcome! Dogs with Dave ROCKS!!!!! Give him a jingle and get those 4 legged issues under control....!!! read more

My husband and I are about 1/3 into training with our 100 lb lab mix, Charlie. Dave came highly recommended to me from coworkers so we thought we'd give him a try. Charlie is about 3 yrs old and did some training as a puppy, but has grown into a big, pushy, overly excited pest with guests at our house. Right from the first session we noticed some great improvements, which we thought was incredible! He is also a scardey cat, and Dave has worked with exposing him to different situations and people with great success. Charlie even went to Chase bank on a busy Friday afternoon and sat calmly while people came in and out and said hi to him. Our sessions so far have taken place in the library park in Kensington, typically where Dave meets his clients. We spend the first part of the hour with him and then either Dave takes Charlie from there and we pick him up at the end of the hour or we go with them to the park down the street for further exercises. Once Charlie has mastered his basics again, Dave will work with him at our house, where we have the most issues. We will have friends and family come over as part of the hour training and teach Charlie how to behave around guests. I can't wait! I am so excited to have Charlie be a positive and calm part of our family. Dave is also very flexible with appointment times. My husband and I have very different schecules and have a 5 month old baby, so we haven't stuck to a set day or time, but choose appointment times as we have availability. Dave has been more than accomodating with this. Before we decided to go ahead with training, we had a phone consultation with Dave. We spent over an hour on the phone with him talking about everything from our past experiences with dogs to our current goals with training Charlie. He was so easy to talk to and helpful and had so many suggestions for us. We were super impressed just from the consultation. He offered a 20 or 30 hour program for a very reasonable rate. We can't wait to see what a great dog Charlie will be after 30 hours considering the huge improvement we've seen after only 8 hours! read more

Dave is an excellent dog trainer and all around great human being. We got Molly, our darling Havanese puppy, a year and a half ago and soon enrolled her in Dave's "Puppies to Princesses" program. We're so glad we started her early! She developed great behavior early on so we were able to avoid a lot of behavioral problems before they started. And Dave makes the training so fun! My 12 year old daughter Zion and I attend all Molly's trainings and we love it. We learn so many things - games to play with Molly, how to teach her tricks, how to walk her correctly. We always look forward to hanging out with Dave. And Molly goes crazy with excitement when we tell her it's time for "school." Dave has really helped us to bond with Molly and has made having a dog a joy! It's been enriching for all of us. Dave has been with us to provide support and guidance for raising our pup every step of the way. We're so happy we've got a great dog, and we've made a great friend - Dave. Money well spent! read more

Dave is an incredible dog trainer/people trainer. i rescued Isabella about 5 months ago. She came from a drug home tremendously insecure and afraid of brooms and papers. Very sweet & loving but not wanting me to leave her sight. With that came uncontrollable barking and crying while in the car or on a walk when she would see animals or people. Walks were nearly impossible as she pulled (all 60 lbs of her) to the point that it hurt my hands even with gloves on. Additionally, my other dog was suffering because her new friend had all these issues and needed all the attention. These issues were bigger then what we could handle & I was saddened to think that I was going to have to take her back. I spoke to Dave for over an hour regarding the situation and dave explained his approach to training and assured me not to give up hope. From the first day of training there was a remarkable difference and after the 26 hour course with Dave all those behaviors and remnants of her horrific past were gone. He worked with myself, my son, and my friend who watches my dogs so that we would all be consistent. He even worked with my other dog the last few visits! Thanks to Dave Isabella is a different dog and my son & I are now educated pack leaders. Car rides and walks are now a pleasure for all instead of anxiety ridden and most of all Isabella is a happy well behaved pet and a beautiful addition to our family. read more