5/5 StarsI brought my new dog in today for their Rattlesnake Aversion Training (RAT)--a very inquisitive Cattle Dog / Malinois mix--and the entire operation ran like a well-oiled machine.From the start, Gina took about five minutes to ask detailed questions about my dog to figure out the absolute best way to train her. It felt exactly like going to a doctor for the first time for a thorough history and physical exam. She truly customized the approach to fit my dog's specific personality.I have been through several other rattlesnake aversion trainings in the past with two of my other dogs, and those places just did a lazy "sniff the snake, get shocked" routine. It was very unsettling and, frankly, it didn't even work.Do not try to cut corners by going with cheaper alternatives. The quality care and outstanding training I received today from Ma & Paw Kennel was worth every penny. Five out of five stars! read more

Ma & Paw Kennel - Pet Training Near Me

I have 2 dogs Ma & Paw has been training them for Rattlesnake class for 3 years. I fell it has been a game changer for them on our mountain hikes. Jim read more

I have taken two of my dogs to the rattlesnake avoidance training and both of them were bitten by rattlesnakes. Both dogs knew that the snakes were there and they still approached them. This training didn't work for my dogs. read more

DO NOT TRUST GINA! SHE'S A FUCKING THIEF!!! Gina called us nye rushing to get FULL cash payment $1855 for puppy training. My husband transferred half $927.50 so our puppy could start training by first week of Jan. When he came to Gina's home at scheduled tim 9am, he saw her peak through the window but didn't answer the door. He called her to notify he's outside, she ignored the call and sent him a text "Jennifer won't be here til 10am on Monday's" My husband was very frustrated with how Gina handled the situation and lost trust with the establishment. We were under the impression that our puppy will be trained t GIna herself not the assistant. When he called to cancel the services and requested for the $927.50 deposit back. She refused to issue the refund. We never signed any documents with her company , she was rushing to get all the money upfront and should have been a red flag! Specially when she wanted it paid in cash on NYE! Until today we are still waiting for refund and she refuses to send it back. There was no service done and she has no problem keeping $927.50! How can you live with your self Gina!? SHE IS A THIEF!!! DO NOT TRUST THIS ESTABLISHMENT. Just go elsewhere! read more

Good Rattlesnake Avoidance Trainer for dogs- terrible business person. Gina Gables, owner of Ma and Pa charged my group $175 per dog. This was contrary to the stated price of $135 for returning dogs. Five dogs in our group were returning customers. The reason she stated was our group of 7 were a lot of paper work for her. Even though our group of 7 arrived on time, she was busy with other dogs for 1 hour. Turned out to be a very long, expensive and frustrating day ! read more

I have taken my dog to Ma & Paw for boarding a few times. She seems to really enjoy it. She always comes homw completely exhausted. I enjoyed all the videos they posted and could see her having fun and feel good knowing she was not locked in a boarding kennel for most of the day. My only thin is I only wish they had Sunday pick up. I miss my dog when I come home on late Stardays or Sundays and know she's just a block away and I have to wait until Monday to get her. I always try my best to plan around that. read more

I've used Ma & Paw Kennel twice for my German Shorthair Pointer (his initial avoidance training as well as a follow up the following year). I've been been very happy with the results both times. It is money well spent should he encounter a rattlesnake while in the field. Gina took time with my dog to make sure he exhibited the proper avoidance at all the stations: sound, smell and sight. At one point, Gina had me walk between a tree and the speaker with the rattling sound. I wasn't prepared for that, and at the sound of a "rattlesnake" a couple of feet from me, I about jumped and froze in place. LOL I highly recommend Ma & Paw for top-notch avoidance training. read more

Called and spoke to the receptionist one week ago. She told me she'd get back to me to let me know if they could accommodate my request for boarding. No follow up call, no responses to several voicemails after 7 days and nobody answers the phone. I really liked this kennel but where is the 1 day response? read more

I've used this agency before and it was great training for my pup. They seem to definitely care about the canines they help train and provide plenty of education regarding the subject matter. My only con on this is how expensive it's gotten it seems like everyone now is tagging on the extra post-covid charge for loss of revenue and forget that many of us also alike have been without jobs or steady income. So if training your dog to avoid rattlesnakes DOES NOT take priority over buying gas, food or paying your mortgage I would strongly suggest getting your dog the rattlesnake vaccine offered at your local vet. It would be about the same price as the training and reflecting back on it... the training does not necessarily make your dog immune to a rattlesnake bite so you end back on the same page as you started. read more

We brought both our dogs for in home training for an agreed upon 5 weeks. We were to have a midway training session included in the package to see them and review what's been done so far. After emailing and calling numerous times to set it up and no firm commitment, 5 weeks had passed. During this time the trainer stated they were a week behind in training because of an injury and needed them to stay another week. Of course we were upset but obliged and tried to understand. That week went by and more excuses and more delays as to why we couldn't have our dogs back (another injury, sickness, an assistant on vacation, other clients, too many dogs etc...). After 10+ emails and phone calls to set a date for us to pick up our dogs, we were asked for more time for a 3rd time because of a neck injury sustained that set training back. So, we decided just to stop by and who do we find in the front yard training 6 or so dogs??? Hmmmm...the one with the severe neck injury...miraculously healed!?!? Addition - we got our dogs home and saw a 6"x1" scab on one dogs neck...we find out a shock collar was used on him admittingly knowing it can do that...we were NOT happy! We did get our money back after all of this so I give credit for that. read more

Horrible communication & customer service. The owner cancelled a scheduled rattle snake aversion training class on our property without informing us. Constant phone calls were required on our end to determine the status of our class. I would not recommend their services to our clientele or to anyone for that matter. Such a shame, as I understand they had a good reputation. read more

‌For the past three years, my pack has attended Rattlesnake Aversion Training offered by ManPaw Kennels. My review speaks specifically to these trainings. After the first year we were so impressed that our Rescue Group sponsored an event for our members; also open to any community member. Had a great turnout and the training was run in an efficient but thorough fashion. Gina and her Team definitely know their training, the live snakes are handled humanely and safely, and the dogs LEARN this skill. They have safety at the top of their priority list and carry excellent liability insurance (critical when attempting to secure a public venue such as a park or open space). My oldest dog recently ALERTED when out on a hike with a group--saving all of us from a potentially dangerous encounter as the snake was in dappled shade across a trail & very hard to see. Great Job, Gina, Herpetologist, and Team! Refer A Friend Ma & Paw Kennel | manpaw.com | Like us on Facebook 127 26th St 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001 (805) 870-8226 Unsubscribe Powered by Signpost read more

Several years ago, and put my dog through rattlesnake training with Ma N Paw kennel. This summer, she wouldn't stop barking in the backyard to alert us of a 4 foot rattlesnake. I highly recommend this class to anyone who owns a dog in Southern California. read more

Ma & Paw Kennel - Firefighter came to remove the rattlesnake our dog alerted us to! - Pet Training Near Me

This was my post on Nextdoor.com on September 19, 2018 It's still Rattlesnake season... Late this afternoon, going into the backyard and what was hiding there on the threshold? A very young and virtually silent rattlesnake. Happily, neither my daughter nor our dog had any direct contact with the snake, and that brings me to the point of this post. Last year when our dog was about a year old, we took her for Rattlesnake Avoidance Training, let me tell you it absolutely works. Our dog is a hyperactive one who is generally chasing everything from rabbits and birds all the way down to grasshoppers too. She made NO attempt at checking out the rattlesnake and in fact kept my daughter from the area too. They were both safe due to the training our dog went through with Ma & Pa Kennel in Simi Valley. I can't say enough about how pleased I am how the dog acted to a genuine threat. http://www.manpaw.com/ read more

I just completed rattlesnake aversion training with my 2 year old dog, Duke and we're so impressed with the course! We weren't sure if our dog would show any interest in a snake, but the moment he saw one, he approached and was very curious. Gina uses a small e-collar to alert the dog that the snake is "bad" and after a few mild buzzes, Duke finally got it and bolted away from the snake. The course is setup so that the dog can interact with the snake (although the snake is humanely muzzled for safety) in several different ways. The dog first sees the snake, then smells the snake, and then hears the snake. There are several stations and as soon as your dog shows that he wants to avoid the snake-smell or snake itself, you move on. Gina handles your dog the whole time, so not only is your dog safe, but so are you. By the end, which was about 15 minutes, Duke waned nothing to do with snakes. We're very happy with the immediate results and will be taking Duke for yearly refresher courses. read more

I've waited 8 months to write this review. Our German shepherd was exhibiting some reactivity toward other dogs. She was a rescue and to be honest, we didn't know what we were dealing with. We went to Gina as advised by a coworker. The initial consult was just all over the map. About 3 hours of Gina talking at us with little interaction with our dog. Fortunately, she had a friend in our neighborhood with dogs that she trusted so we were able to show her our dog's reactivity. The entire time she kept referencing materials for us to review, but kept saying "I should've brought _______ with me but it's at home". Overall, she didn't seem prepared. Because the consultation was $250, we went through with one training session at her house despite the red flags I saw. She brought out a few dogs for my dog to see through the fence. When my dog reacted, she immediately retreated and brought her dog back inside. She came back out with a shock(not an ecollar) collar. I didn't really know what to do because at this point I had no clue what was happening. She put the collar on my dog, brought out another dog and when my dog reacted she stimmed my dog with the collar. My dog LEAPT off the ground, yelped and was terrified by the dog. I didn't know what was wrong, but I knew that wasn't right. I didn't go back to Gina after that. After that, I researched on my own and learned a ton about dog training. I can happily say my dog is no longer reactive and never had to use a shock collar for her to have dog friends now. I do use an ecollar on my dog, for reliability in behavior, but my dog has never ONCE leapt off the ground or yelped like she did that day with Gina. I went to another trainer for ecollar training, when I told them this experience he said without a doubt this is no way to use a shock collar. She is known for her snake avoidance classes which use shock collars and now I know why. Of course if you stim a dog at a high enough level to scare the shit out of them, they won't go back to the snake. read more

It had been a long time since I took my dogs to Ma & Paw Kennel. They got so excited when I turned into the driveway and they recognized where we were. You'd think I was taking them for a vacay at doggy Disneyland! They love the attention and extra special treatment they get at this facility! As it happens, I used to patronize a famous and prestigious deluxe doggy boarding ranch in the Shadow Hills area, but because my dog obviously hated to be left there, I stopped using it. When I leave the dogs at Ma & Paw with Gina and her crew, the dogs are so happy to be there that they hardly notice when I go. They have an unmistakable way of communicating their opinions clearly. I know that the dogs are in good hands there. read more

I took my pup to the Snake avoidance class. It is very thorough and everything is run well and explained. The next year we took him back and he remembered his training! Immediately was hesitant at the first snake! We came to the course because we had a rattlesnake in the garden. So far others have not visited. I highly recommend it, especially if you live in the hills or nearby grassy areas read more

Excellent rattlesnake avoidance training. It was way more comprehensive than any other training I found; they have about 5-10 different stations with a live adult rattlesnake, a baby rattlesnake, rattlesnake scent, a rattlesnake nest, rattlesnake audio, a rattlesnake statue, etc., so your dog will be trained to avoid a rattlesnake based on sight, smell, and sound. They take the time to get to know your dog -- my dog, Georgia, is nervous, but Gina worked with her and made sure she was responding to the training. Highly recommended. read more

Great training for rattlesnake avoidance. We have taken our two dogs and one had a refresher course. They are safe and caring of the dogs working well with the owners too. They have a variety of locations, dates and times and we trust them to keep Barrett and Benelli from tangling with a rattlesnake! read more

Gina was really great! From the first moment of the process till the very end, everything went smoothly. I hate snakes, so it was not a fun experience for me to have to be anywhere near rattle snakes, but Gina made the whole process as painless as it could be for us. She's professional and makes sure the job is done right. She won't let you go if she thinks your dog hasn't learned what they should and she's very patient and kind. So far we've done our initial RAT course and the refresher RAT to generalize our little girl to snakes everywhere and we'll be doing another one again next year to keep up her training. I highly recommend Gina and her group at Ma and Paw Kennel. They're friendly and knowledgeable and have snacks and water and shade for when you're waiting. Great operation! read more

Gina is a remarkable trainer. My GSD has had all the basic obedience training but she has always been a puller, which has affected my back and shoulder. She showed me how to finally correct this behavior and literally in less than 5 minutes, our daily walks are now enjoyable instead of being an ordeal that I did not look forward to . I do look forward to another session to work on other behaviors read more

I made a great decision in going with Ma & Paw Kennel. I've done other avoidance training courses before, but they were by far the most thorough. Multiple stations to expose your dog to all different types of rattlesnake scenarios. They make sure your dog is avoiding the triggers before they graduate. They were also very considerate of the dog's well being. It was a very hot day, and they had a wading pool set up to cool off your pup's feet before and after the course. There's both a trainer and a snake wrangler present at the site throughout. Great experience for both pet and pet parent. read more

Amazing professional caring and effective rattle snake avoidance training ! I highly recommend this training ! Thank you for helping teach our dogs to be safe ! read more

We contacted Gina about boarding one of our rescue dogs. As a non profit we have a very busy schedule. However, we had to work around Gina's schedule in order to accommodate HER, and not the other way around. This was all during her "work hours". The first night of boarding we were called at around 10PM and told our dog had kennel cough and possibly fleas. We brought the dog to the Vet, only to be told the dog was very healthy and NO FLEAS. So after paying for a vet visit (which our non profit didn't need to do) we brought the dog back to Gina. After a couple of days we had a prospective owner for this dog! Now we had to start the process all over again to meet Gina's schedule to pick up the dog, during her business hours, a second time. After we told Gina the dog was not returning - he had a new home - Gina started sending nasty, unprovoked, unprofessional texts attacking our character. In order to collect our belongings, she left them outside her compound and we were told to hang her check on a clip. Gina did not return all of our items. She suddenly claimed that they were destroyed by our dog. When we asked for the destroyed items, she refused. We deducted the expense of these unreturned items from her final check. She continues to harass our non profit. Bottom line....I would never use Gina again, or recommend her service. read more

We have taken our dogs to Rattlesnake Avoidance Training since we moved into the Upper Ojai Valley. This was by far the best training, a more extensive "course". We will now continue each year with Ma & Paw RAT program. Thank you ! read more

Great training! A year after the training, my dog took the refresher course and remembered everything. We now live in Northern California and wish they would do the course here! It is so professionally done, effective and very safe. The handlers have total control over the rattlers and the dogs learn rapidly. Works for all dogs and breeds! read more

When we first contacted for a scheduled consultation, the trainer came by and gave us info and some basic tips. After this the trainer asked for $250.00. Least to say I was a bit shocked and irked because this was not previously announced. We decided to still go with the lesson package to help with our dogs. We asked for dog socialization skills but never got that training. The training was kind of all over the place with no real structure. The whole point was that we wanted to be able to take the dogs to a dog park. There were 6 sessions purchased and we just let the 6th one go. The wife and I felt this was a waste of money and felt trapped because of her secret consultation fee. Save your money and use the pet store training which is cheaper. I just noticed Cesar"s training at the dog center is $400. I rather have done that! read more

This was truly a fantastic way to learn about rattlesnakes - dog interaction -and your own interaction and has been of tremendous value to us. Our dog Umbra was led by one of their handlers through a path of obstacles. Umbra was equipped with a special collar for the event. It could give the dog a vibration, air puff or electric shock if needed if the dog wasn't reacting appropriately. The handler would always start by doing the least harsh punishment and we were told of what had been done and where along the path. My husband and I were told to walk by a large rattler with its mouth taped shut. The snake was moving around on a mat quite a bit. We were to walk as close as we felt comfortable with while the handler walked our dog. Umbra seemed to think we were crazy walking as close to the snake as we did so he passed that part with flying colors. What was excellent was not only to see how the snake reacted to us but also our dog's behaviour. We also walked by areas they had scented with snake smell and they made rattle noises to see the dog's reaction. They had 2 kinds of rattlers as well and 3 live snakes. In addition they had a stuffed snake ( umbra got a little curious here and had to be given a vibration punishment). The last station was another taped mouth shut snake that held Umbra's favorite toy. Fortunately for Umbra he decided that toy was no longer his. Excellent training! A year later we hiked on a trail and suddenly Umbra started acting weird - he had the same behaviour as he had shown during the rattler training. We carefully looked around and sure enough, a couple of yards away was a huge rattler- maybe 6 feet. So if you pay attention to your dogs reaction while doing this training, it can save not only your life but your dog's life as well. I would love a repeat of this just to give Umbra a refresher although I'm not sure he needs it but just in case....a suggestion I have if you are interested - we were on the east coast and a black stick looking thing was on the ground. I imagine it might have been a razer or similar non venomous snake and Umbra walked towards it thinking it was a stick and when he got too close the snake slithered away. Umbra was extremely surprised and suspicious of any stick after that. I was going to suggest to include maybe a 4th live snake in the training fi a gopher snake for that reason but no matter whether you do or not, this is truly an amazing training. read more

We were in the middle of a move over Thanksgiving. In the craziness of it all, I forgot to book my pups at our normal kennel. So by the time I had called them, they could take them before thanksgiving and after the holiday, but not during. I knew it was going to be tough enough for them to be boarded for 17 days. I didn't want to have to move them back and forth to different places. So I turned to YELP to see if I could find somewhere safe to take them. I contacted Ma & Pa Kennel after reading all the amazing reviews. Gina couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating on the phone. I took my dogs to her the next day for a quick meet and greet. Then left them in her loving care the next day. For 17 days they stayed with Gina and her team. We got amazing videos and updates on our pups. Even when I had a moment of weakness and wanted to bring my babes to the place we were temporarily staying (which would have been a huge mistake) Gina and Rosemary put my mind at ease and helped me through MY separation anxiety. When I picked my pups up, Gina even had a special gift for us that she helped the pups do over Thanksgiving... they made little paw print turkeys!!! I cannot wait to frame those adorable art treasures and hang them in the house with my human children's artwork. Thank you so much to everyone at Ma & Pa Kennel for being a home away from home for our pups. You will be my first call anytime I need to have my babes cared for outside of the house. read more

The very first time we took our morkie Roxy at Ma and Paw 's today. My husband and I are so happy and very much satisfied on the result. Owners are very friendly and do really care of the pets. We've been taking our puppy somewhere else before but after today we will stay and keep their business. Seeing our puppy looking so cute with two hair beret on her , a perfect cut, and best of all she smells so good too. We are definitely coming back. This place is highly recommended and their prices are pretty reasonable too. read more

This is the best place for rattlesnake avoidance training. I have tried two other places and I feel that this is the best. Reasons? 1. Thorough (they run thru the course twice and there are many different stations to pass - other place have 3-4 stations but Gina had at least about 6 (?), more than any other place) 2. Much more personable and friendly than other places. Other places were much more stern and rushing us through. Everyone is very nice here. 3. As a result, much less scary for my dogs (chow/husky and border collie/shepherd mix). They are already nervous going and if the environment and people are too rough, they are not concentrating on the task at hand and just too worried about the environment. 4. They also offer to come to your home to train, if needed. I will continue to use Ma & Paw Kennel forever. Thank you Gina and Team!!!! read more

Gina and her staff are wonderful with my dog. He just loves going to day care and for overnights. I completely trust he's in excellent and highly skilled hands when he's there. Awesome care and fun for all the dogs!! Highly recommend!! read more

Don't listen to the two 1 star reviews. They have no clue what they are talking about. Gina is a true professional in her field and the best in the business. My wife and I have been taking our bulldog to her for both training and doggy care for over a year now. Our boy Winkston, who is a special needs dog with one eye, loves Gina and her team members. We trust her completely with our pooch and are beyond happy with our decision to exclusively go to Gina. After the training we saw a dramatic improvement in Winkston's social skills with other dogs. Gina has a great set up at her house for all dogs and is a huge dog lover at heart. It's her passion and it is quite evident after spending 20 minutes with her. read more

Location was not the best but the instructor was very thorough and very focused on us when it was our time slot. Thank you!

Took their Rattlesnake Avoidance training and it was well organized and well run. I hope my dog remembers the training, she seemed quite engaged during the training, hard to tell when we come across one on the ranch. The people were professional and had a good setup to simulate the rattlesnake's sight sound and smell. read more

Took my Aussie to Rattlesnake Avoidance Training at Bonelli Park. It was a half day of great training. If my dog every goes anywhere near a rattler again, I will be shocked. They did a great deal of introducing her to the smell, sight, and sounds and rattlers, then shocking her if she showed interest or got near the lure. They treated her with kindness but were firm but kind in the training. Great day! read more

This is a very good grooming place with reasonable prices I go there all the time now since I found out about this place. It's awesomee c:

So happy to have found Gina and Ma & Paw Kennel. Lua and Cooper stayed with Gina for 8 nights. We had never left our dogs for an overnight and were pretty nervous about it. They had a fabulous time and were well taken care of. Lua is nearly 2 years old and Cooper is just 1 years old and have very different personalities. Cooper is very out going but Lua is a little shy. They are very rowdy and loud with each other. We needed to find a boarder who could deal with their high energy. Gina was perfect. She was relaxed about their craziness and antics. She was very understanding about our nervousness and kept us updated regularly. She was quick to respond to all of our inquiries. The videos that were posted helped us to relax and enjoy our vacation because we could see that they were having a great time. I highly recommend Gina for doggy day care or overnight care. read more

My 4 year old Cocker Spaniel has boarded at Ma and Pa Kennel several times over the years and has loved it every time. Gina treats the dogs as if their her own, they have the run of the house and outside acces. There is even a pool for water inclined pooches. We recommend her highly for your furry friends. read more