I've known Emily for 3 years now, first as a client of hers and now as a colleague. At risk of…read moresounding dramatic, she quite literally changed my life with my obnoxious adolescent Golden Retriever. My dog was horribly mouthy and unruly when we met Emily, and after a scarring experience with a different trainer in the area, my hope and faith were kinda down in the dumps. Emily, with her no-nonsense attitude and plethora of dog knowledge, left me with hope, homework and a multitude of things to ponder - Am I communicating clearly and fairly? Am I giving him everything he needs to be successful? A year and a half after our first session, Emily helped train the same (now less obnoxious) Golden Retriever on an e-collar so he could achieve full off-leash freedom. Emily has been, by far, one of the best investments I've made in my dog's life. I run a dog-walking company and refer my clients out to her and everyone is as amazed by her as I am. She answers all your questions about training for life, which is invaluable and puts on amazing events with other knowledgable trainers. She even organizes a free monthly pack walk where owners and their dogs can come learn to walk together in a neutral environment. My world with my dog opened up significantly since meeting Emily and we can't thank her enough.

I left a review on google which she replied "i have no one of this name and this never happened"…read more But it absolutely did happen. During a training Emily took my dog which had a choker on walked it to another dog that barked at my dog then proceeded to choke my dog behind her back while using the leash as leverage over her shoulder. A group of 20 people watched this and thats when I was done. Emily you know what you did and you cant push the illusion you haven't done this. It was beyond inappropriate and could have lasting physical effects on the dogs. Up until this point you were pretty good with the dog but there was something "off" that day and it was taken out on my dog. Other people should know this.

Great experience! We have an 8-year-old rescue Golden…read moreRetriever who developed some habits we wanted to correct and weren't able to do on our own with traditional training. A couple of these weren't terribly serious, but we felt we weren't "in charge" anymore, that our dog wasn't getting the message from whatever we were doing, and that if we didn't do something different, it could really get out of control. Brad really helped us with this, where traditional "training" wasn't working. We have two or three things we're working on with our girl, but here is the most dramatic change we had with one issue. She is very food motivated, and would beg from us at the table whenever we sat down to eat, and would be underfoot in the kitchen during prep. She got overly excited and would not settle and lie down. Brad explained we weren't communicating well with her on a dog level, so to get that communication kicked in to gear, he actually started our session not with this problem, but with making sure she would not dash out the front door when it was opened. This was to establish that we were in charge and what was expected of her. What he showed us how to do worked like you wouldn't believe. It was like a light bulb went off for our girl. What we did affected everything after that. It wasn't about dashing out the door, it wasn't about begging for food, it was about knowing what was acceptable in our pack and to look to us for direction. That night, at dinner, she went to her "spot" with a simple direction and was relaxed during our entire meal. She can now be directed to her spot and will stay quietly any time we need her to. Best of all, she seems truly relieved that she doesn't have to be in charge and that WE are. She is much more relaxed around so many other things. It gave us so much more confidence! I didn't think that what Brad taught us would work. It's quite counterintuitive. But trust me, it worked like magic. This is not dog training - it's communication with your dog. Brad answers all your questions, doesn't waste your time, shows you clearly and directly what will work. We're so thankful we found him!

Before working with Brad, my dog Cash struggled with severe separation anxiety and reactivity…read more Leaving him home alone felt impossible, walks were stressful, and I was constantly worried about how he'd behave around new people and situations. I met with several trainers before Brad & had little to no success in the areas we needed most, I was exhausted. Now for the first time ever, I can leave him home alone without the overwhelming anxiety and guilt that used to come with it. Our walks are actually enjoyable again, and I feel confident bringing him around friends and into new environments. What I appreciate most is that the training gave me the tools and confidence to understand and communicate with my dog better. I have my freedom back, and Cash is happier and more relaxed because of it. If you're struggling with separation anxiety, behavioral issues, or just want a better relationship with your dog, I can't recommend Brad enough. The impact has been life-changing.

Ela has been incredibly helpful with our new rescue dog, Brodie. Her training works! She is firm…read morebut loving with him and he eagerly responds. Now she's teaching me to handle him in that same way. I'm so happy we found Ela! She is professional, intuitive, calm and highly effective.

I learned of Ela/Pawminded through a friend whose pup had trained and boarded with her. Her review…read morewas glowing, and I was excited to have Kohl, my rescue husky mix, trained while supporting a new female-owned, female-run business. Kohl loved his two weeks with Ela, and she was great about sending daily updates and communicating regularly. Kohl came back 1000 times better on his leash and made major progress on the laundry list of things I asked Ela to work on. Her video updates help train dog owners so that clients can maintain her methods once their fur babies return home. This is the essential part of training - training must continue in the home as well! I had a million questions after Kohl returned home to me, and she has been incredibly patient and thorough in answering them. Would highly recommend Pawminded to anyone!

Unfortunately, I had to edit my drafted five star review down to a four star review because I feel…read morelike I was bait and switched. We are relatively new to OC Pup Scouts starting in Dec 2025, and have gone through the temperament assessment and puppy training, but now that we've "graduated" to the pack walks, they've changed their prices and increased them 10%. Seemingly nominal, but this should have been disclosed or at least acknowledged upfront when asking about the program and pricing. The walkers and admin have been great, and my pup seems to really enjoy the walks. It's just feels a little icky that they probably knew about the price increase and conveniently left it out when vetting the business. Maybe I just had unlucky timing with it, because they did say this price increase was the "first in years". I get it, cost of living goes up. I just wish they had been honest and upfront about it (or at least honor their quoted pricing for another quarter or two), hence the removal of a star. I was looking for a service where my pup could safely interact and socialize with other dogs, not necessarily for the walk itself, so I found what I thought would be a good pick in OC Pup Scouts. The pack walk services are great. The handlers all seem friendly and genuinely nice people. They will pick up your pup from your chosen location and drive them in a van to a park where they embark on an hour long walk at a time. I especially love that they provide you an update/pictures of their walks. The pups all seem to enjoy their time together. There have been a few last minute schedule changes that range from a few minutes to an hour delay, but they've been pretty consistent about communicating these. This is also to be expected when your clients are... well dogs, but I only mention it to warn others to be flexible. Overall, I'm satisfied with the services rendered. I am happy I found OC Pup Scouts, and would be happy to recommend them for their pack walks. Hoping that the prices remain stable for the foreseeable future, and they don't pull a Spotify and jack them up every year.

Love love love this company I use them every week my dog comes home happy and worn out I cannot…read morerecommend them enough

We have been bringing our 90lb Mastiff/Lab mix to OC Dog Ranch for the last few years every time…read moreour family travels 4+ days. I am so happy I found this place - was recommended by someone through word of mouth. It is wide open space for our dog to run, and I love that because it is SO much better than her being boarded in a room with 50 other dogs. Staff will send you updates - and we always get a picture of our happy dog with other happy dogs. Staff also sends a report card. Always respond asap when I reach out and ask how she's doing.

We love OC Dog Ranch... our dogs love it even more!!! We have boarded all 3 of our dogs (2 labs and…read more1 golden retriever) at the Ranch and one of ours has also stayed and been trained (1 lab). All of the Dog Ranch staff are amazing and truly care for all of the dogs. The property is a dog dream come true. The multiple acres are filled with play yards that include a swimming pool, play structures, etc. Every time I bring a dog to be boarded at the Dog Ranch something has been added or changed to improve the property. I love the new fence heights that were installed most recently (I have one jumper ). I give the OC Dog Ranch the biggest tail wags you've ever seen.

Tommy helped us with our Miniature Australian Shepherd puppy when no one else would! He came to…read moreour house when she was 11 weeks old (other trainers wanted to wait until she had all her puppy shots) and immediately got us off on the right foot for behavior training. He trained my husband and me as well as our puppy! So grateful. Tommy has a gift for knowing how dogs think and he shares that knowledge as part of the session. We never felt rushed to finish a lesson when he came to the house, he just dealt with our issues and reminded us to keep practicing with our dog until next time. We even decided to enroll in his weekly puppy class so that our puppy would learn to behave around other dogs. His private dog park is a god-send as we live in a condo and don't have a yard for our puppy to play in. She loved going there and we'll be back! We highly recommend Tommy. He showed us how to anticipate what our puppy was going to do before she did it and correct her misdeeds before they take place. Five stars!

Tommy came for our first private session and it went better than I imagined. My husband and I…read morelearned a lot from Tommy. He is very relatable and has a unique way of teaching that is very enjoyable and actually entertaining, all at the same time! Now that is talent! Tommy was made for this job and well worth his price. You get what you pay for. He definitely does not watch the clock and gives you more than 1 hr and does not leave until he has answered all your questions. My dog is already doing better on our walks. Tommy teaches but you have to do what he says or you have wasted your money. I signed up for 5 lessons and looking forward to the rest. I will update when we are finished.

We can't recommend Joshua at Bark Busters highly enough. Our English Bulldog struggled with…read moreanxiety, excessive barking, and unpredictable aggression toward people. After working with two other trainers and seeing little lasting progress, we were feeling hopeless. With a new baby in the house, we were genuinely worried we might have to rehome our dog. Joshua changed everything. Instead of just working with our dog, he taught us the skills and techniques to communicate effectively and create lasting change. In a surprisingly short amount of time, our dog made a complete 180. He's calmer, more confident, and his behavior has improved beyond what we thought was possible. Joshua gave us the tools to keep our family together, and we couldn't be more grateful. If you're struggling with your dog's behavior, we wholeheartedly recommend Bark Busters and Joshua.

From our very first session until now, he has taught me so much. He's incredibly knowledgeable, and…read morealways explains the methods from how dogs think and perceive the world and how the training ties into it. The progress I've seen has been amazing, and I've learned how to communicate with my dog in a way that has strengthened our bond. I highly recommend Josh and Bark Busters OC to anyone looking for a trainer who truly knows what they're doing!

Guys an absolute joke. Scheduled my afternoon around his oh so busy schedule. Just for him to…read morecancel and block my number when I'm already on the road to drive 45 mins I wouldn't do business with this inconsiderate prick even for a pack of gum. Disrespectful, rude and definitely deserves the same level of respect.

What would we do without Coach Canine! He has taken the BEST care of our two pit bulls. He's helped…read moreus train, exercise, and socialize them during these first two years of their life. They're growing up to be wonderful family dogs that are well mannered and obedient, thanks to Coach!

Bruce is great and very reliable. Highly recommend . My dogs are always happy to see him.read more

Amazing and patient. Provided training tips and was so great with our high energy puppy! Would…read moredefinitely recommend Bruce for dog training.

Can only but recommend! Our dog always comes home more…read moresocialised and better behaved every time she goes for daycare, pack walks and boarding. Alecia has been a fantastic help in teaching us to be better dog-parents. Walking our dog now after one session is a completely different experience and my anxiety of walking her has got a lot better, all thanks to Alecia! Boarding is like a home away from home for our pup; she loves it! Raya will be back soon :)

So lucky to have this gem here in San Clemente. Alicia and Fiona have gone above and beyond to take…read morethe best care, and provide the best advice for my rescue pup! My dog loves the pack walks and gets so excited as soon as we hit the parking lot. Thank you, It's A Dogs Life! PS great boarding too