I found Dave through his wonderful Yelp reviews so I realize that my opinion is certainly in the…read moreminority. However, I still think you should know of my personal experience. After adopting a 2 year old min pin mix from the humane society, I emailed Dave to set up a training session. I explained that she was already pretty good with walking on the leash, etc. but we wanted to definitely focus on some separation anxiety issues and just general command following. He showed up on time (a big plus in my book!) but did not acknowledge our dog at all when he came in. He said "she'll have to warm up to me." A little background - we'd had our pup for two weeks and she'd never barked. She just cuddled everyone who came over. The humane society had said they too had never heard her bark so we weren't even sure that she'd hadn't been de-barked previously. Well, Dave came upstairs, without acknowledging her, and with his big booming voice talking a mile a minute and the second he reached the top of the stairs, she barked. We should have listened to her. Dave immediately launched into telling us about training and giving us seemingly random information about how to train her to do this or that. He did not ask us about her background. He did not ask us what we wanted to accomplish, he just ran full steam ahead. It was a whirlwind but my Husband and I tried to keep up. He got out treats and commanded our dog to sit, which he did get her to do, but he did not tell us why or how he was getting her to react. Next, he said we should all go on a walk. He proceeded to ignore how she was walking on the leash and spent the whole 20 minute walk telling us stories about how he tamed giant aggressive dogs. Impressive, but that's not what we have nor what we were paying for. On the walk, he told us that we needed to get down to her eye level to show her our hand signals because she couldn't see if we did them high up. Okay, fair enough. However, back at home, he was getting her to sit some more and he said "you have to stand and give the hand signals, you're not always going to bend down for her." Literally contradicting what he had just told us on the walk. He never let us practice giving her commands so he could correct what we were doing wrong and he never seemed to take any interest in listening to us about our concerns. He also kept referring to her as a "he" and while we corrected him at least four times, he kept calling her a boy. I give him two stars and not one because my Husband and I do think he knows what he's talking about. However, he's probably much better with bigger, more aggressive dogs. When he left, my Husband and I looked at each other, exhausted from the high-energy that Dave puts out (he's loud and boisterous and constantly expelling anecdotes) and said "never again" at the same time. Dave wasn't for us and my suggestion would be to pay attention to your dog and your gut like we have. In the end, she knows all kinds of tricks now and is a great learner, but she needed a different approach.

Let me start by stating I do think he knows how to get a dog to behave, but he's not the right…read moretrainer for my dog nor I. I am amazed at his work and respect him. However, I wished I knew the details on his work. Pros: ~Has shown results. My dog did, amazingly, behaved nicely and David was able to correct him if he wasn't. Wish there was more of that. ~He does let you practice with your dog and corrects you so you can do it when he's not around. ~Each session is at least 2 hours, he doesn't rush his work and take his time with the lesson. ~Uses his own well behaved dogs to train people's dogs. ~Has the energy to keep up with even the most hyper of dogs. ~Isn't afraid to get bit. ~My dog loves him (but that's probably not a big perk, my dog loves everyone, I have yet to see him NOT love someone instantly). Cons (with explanations): ~He uses prong collars. I understand my dog may bite him and thus the prong collar may curb his behavior. However, I am not comfortable with having to pinch my dog into behaving. David did say it doesn't hurt - he's placed it on his own leg and pulled as hard and he can and it doesn't hurt him. I did this at home to my own leg and it actually hurts me. I wouldn't want to think about how it hurts my dog. He's very adamant on the collar and I ended up having to purchase my own. Good thing my dog loves everyone cos he still loves me and David, even when he has to wear that darn collar. ~Talks a lot. Which is both good and bad. The explanations helped at first but he became very repetitive about them. He is also very passionate about some things and will rant on and on about them. He complained about how animal shelters give out dogs with behavioral issues because they don't care. I had to bite my tongue to not point out the animal shelter's purpose is population control and rehoming dogs, not perfecting dogs to adopt out. Seems to like bragging about his worst clients and seems proud of his bite scars. ~Communication skills leaves something to desire. Granted he has a older phone model but after a few weeks break (we had other things planned), he forgot who I was/my dog was when I texted him to confirm the next class. Maybe at least save your client's number and a brief description of their needs rather than having to ask 'who is this?'? ~Pricing varied. He quoted me a cheaper price for the next visits but since we skipped a few weeks, he must have forgotten and charged me the same price as the first time. But considering each lesson was more than 2 hours long, his hourly rates are still really cheap, I'm just a little annoyed he didn't keep his word. ~No follow ups? He didn't discuss a next session and just left me in the middle of a lesson to practice on my own at home. I don't know why I decided to do a second session (probably cos I didn't want to find another trainer and pay all over again) but at least his lack of interest in ensuring my dog actually learnt something made me not go with a third session. I felt weird about posting a less than 5 star review since every other review is a glowing 5 star but seeing someone else review him less than stellar made me realize I'm not the only one out there. I agree, maybe he's not the right trainer for smaller/medium sized breeds. I'm surprised none of the other reviews mention this - the prong collars, the rants, the repetitive anecdotes. I wished I have saved my money and gone with a different trainer with different methods because he wasn't the right trainer for me. (My dog has no say in this since he loves all his trainers and even his vet.)

I can't say enough great things about Michael at Master Dog Training! From day…read moreone, he showed incredible patience, skill, and a true passion for working with my puppy Schnauzer, Floki, He worked with basic obedience, leash pulling, jumping and so on, and thanks to Michael's expertise and patient guidance, I've seen incredible progress! Michael also provided clear, effective training techniques that were easy to follow at home. If you're looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and caring dog trainer, I highly recommend Michael at Master Dog Training! Five stars all the way!

Poor communication skills. I have been waiting for a reply since Wednesday. It's now Sunday. I…read moreguess that's a no? It would have been nice to know sooner as I need a trainer asap.

After one private class with Francesca, my relationship with my dog has already improved! She's…read moreinformative, encouraging, clear in her recommendations, asks open-ended questions, demonstrates pros and cons, and observers my interaction with my dog to make sure I understand how to better communicate. It's been three days since our session with Francesca and I'm already seeing such a positive difference in how I can help my dog's nervous energy, and how her trust is already growing. We're excited to take advantage of Francesca's pack walks and group classes. Look no further for your dog trainer! Francesca's got you!

Francesca's dog training programs were excellent. She is very knowledgeable and even offers pack…read morewalks for her clients. Very satisfied with her and her team!

Lily is a true dog whisperer, she can read their minds, and translate to us…read more I called Lily for help with my older dog's aggressive behavior towards a new rescue, and after just the initial phone call, I was hopeful we were on to true unlock. Lily delivered, really making is aware of what the older dog needed and how to make him feel safe and comfortable. After three sessions, and lots of homework in between, we see a huge difference. It's going to be a long road, but I'm confident we'll get there. I highly recommend Just Good Dogs, training the dogs and just as much the owners, helping is understand and support our good dogs.

Lily provided great insights about our two dogs personalities and techniques of how to handle each…read moreone, a variety of creative approaches and covered a well rounded program for training.

I've tried several grooming places but this is my first mobile one. Josh is very responsive and…read moredetailed. Panda, my French bulldog, was hesitant at first. But he did such a good job. He rarely let's me trim his nails and when Josh says Panda was excellent ... that makes me happy. Josh and his partner did an awesome job. Panda is a happy dog, now with a soft, glistening fur, trimmed nails, clean ears, and sparkly teeth. I appreciated the advice for Panda's wellbeing. I highly recommend.

Such a convenient and stress-free experience with this mobile grooming service. They were…read moreincredibly gentle and patient with Cali, making sure she is comfortable the entire time. We love how caring they are.

Bringing our pup Valentina to Wigglewag was a well worth investment! Being first-time dog owners of…read morea high-energy, but nervous rescue, we knew we needed help with correcting unwanted behaviors as well as learning more about dog psychology and improving our relationship with V. We brought her in for the 3 week boarding & training where Nestor and his team worked with V to help her with her nervous behavior, socialize with other dogs and people and there has been so much improvement. We would get constant updates on how she was doing, behaviors the team was noticing and tips for how to address things when she came home. Every dog is unique and we understood that the work would continue even after her stay. During the time she was away, we had to do our own work and research (with Wigglewag's help) to prep for her return with new routines, boundaries, and adjustments. It's a work in progress, but Nestor gave us the tools to help give V a more balanced life and both he and Cynthia have been so supportive and encouraging. V is much happier; we're still working on practicing calm behavior, but she's learning and doing better each day. We started bringing her to daycare twice per week as a way to maintain good habits and continue socializing her with other dogs that are also establishing good behaviors. I personally appreciate how lead trainers Mailynn and Mike have bonded with V and how they take the time to give me a quick summary of how their sessions with her go. It has been a great experience working with this group of people, especially during this time of high-stress and social distancing, which can absolutely have an impact on our pets. I can't recommend this independent business enough.

This company needs better lines for communication. Left several messages and text messages with no…read morereturn calls.

David, Howie and the rest of the crew have been absolute angels. I was struggling, having a 1 year…read moreold puppy and a 15.5 year old I'd had since college. So I did some research and came across "Obedience, Please!" I was thrilled! I had been joking that, in honor of Taylor swift, we were going to do a "Life of a Showdog" film once I got her trained. So to find out Howie trained dogs for show biz back in the day?! What a dream. Being part boarder collie, the training was much more difficult than I had previously been hoping for on my own. Despite (and maybe because of) her incredible intelligence, she also has a tremendous amount of energy, and love to give. With my chronic condition it was just becoming too much. She's been in the program for seven weeks, has taken a huge liking to David and behaves beautifully with him. I'm nervous to have her on my own but she just graduated today and I am so much more confident! She listens like spring and she talks like June, my sweet baby angel. I've been singing to her "she's a maniac" but swapped it out with "brainiac" all afternoon: lovin' it. We have already been practicing the commands at home and plan to be diligent about continuing education. Thank you, David, for your hard work, determination and diligence with her training. You clearly care very much about this work and these dogs. Aphrodite has seen great improvement since I first dropped her off and I couldn't be more grateful. And Howie, thank you for carrying on this work for a lifetime and building such a valuable practice and team. I will always be impressed by you and your work. Sincerely, Montana

We're incredibly pleased with the training by Greta and Ina. Not only has our pup been trained but…read morewe have as well. Our little guy is a 10 month old shelter dog. Needless to say he had never had any training whatsoever. Within a few sessions he was sitting, staying, and coming on command. At the completion of training he has also learned to heel while walking. Since he quite a large dog even at 10 months, his ability to walk without pulling is crucial. Our dog is now a delightful and happy companion all thanks to Greta and Ina! I highly recommend them!

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

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

I had a fantastic experience at Petco Pasadena! I came in with questions about setting up my fish…read moretank and was lucky enough to get help from Cameron. The were incredibly knowledgeable- answered all my questions with confidence and clearly has a real passion for aquatics. It made the whole process so much easier and more enjoyable. Beyond the great customer service, the store itself was clean and well-organized, and parking was a breeze. Will definitely be coming back for all my fish tank needs. Highly recommend!

This store is one of two Petco's I frequent regularly for over a decade…read more Overall, the Pasadena location is my favorite. Reason being, it's one of the bigger store formats among Petco's. And further, the staff is the most consistent. I have gotten to know a few of the staff including Alyx and Nicholas. They have helped me countless times when I stop by for in-store pickup orders or just a random stop-in for something I ran out of. Just the nicest people who love animals. I've only had positive experiences at this store and with everyone who works there. Inventory on hand is also usually consistent/good. They do seem to run out of doggie shampoo/conditioner more than other products I usually look for, though. Not sure why. The parking lot is a bit small but that is outside of their control due to the layout of the plaza in which Petco is located and shares with other businesses. Overall, a very well run establishment that I look forward to visiting each time!

I'd like to tell you about Lindy, the owner of Dig My Dog. A…read moredear friend - whose name I'll withhold here - was diagnosed with glioblastoma tumors and was understandably struggling with the idea of giving up her sweet, three-year-old male dog. He'd never had formal training, but he's overflowing with love. At 88 pounds, he would have been incredibly difficult to place in a foster situation or new home. Lindy stepped in and took on finding a foster and the volunteer-training of this dog simply out of the goodness of her big heart. Not only did Lindy find a loving placement for our friend's pup who lets our friend visit him when she wants, she also offered free training to the new dog parent and took on additional responsibilities that are practically unheard of these days, especially from businesses focused almost solely on the bottom line. Lindy and her staff showed a level of genuine generosity and care that feels rare. I want to nominate " I Dig My Dog' for a Mayor's Day - so many hours quietly given in the service of our wonderful friend!

Forever Grateful for I Dig My Dog…read more When our entire family traveled to Mexico for a week-long wedding, we needed a safe and loving place for our 8.5-pound chiweenie, Bolt. It was his very first time boarding, and naturally, we were nervous. From the very beginning, Kendra P. made the process smooth and comforting. She guided us through the initial assessment and even suggested a short drop-off visit to help Bolt acclimate, such a thoughtful touch. We opted for a private suite, knowing Bolt could be sensitive. On Day 2, he wasn't adjusting well and had stopped eating. But that's when the incredible team truly showed their heart. They made him a cozy little bed in the front office, spent time with him, and surrounded him with gentle care and affection. Slowly, he started eating again, and soon he was out trotting happily on the grass patch like it was home. The compassion and attentiveness Kendra and the entire staff showed both Bolt and me were extraordinary. The photos they sent reassured me daily and gave me peace of mind during an emotional and joyful time away. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking such good care of my little guy. I Dig My Dog didn't just board Bolt, they loved him. Robert A. & EODBolt