After doing a thorough search of trainers on the area, I had consults with a few and Michael at ProTrain sold me on their process and methods. I was on the fence about an e-collar and I have never been so happy to be proven wrong. We brought our 6 month old, male Catahoula to board and train for fear-based issues and general disrespect due to lack of socialization opportunities (thanks covid). We had a scared, pushy a*hole on our hands and 3 weeks later, we had a respectful quasi-gentleman returned to us. Full spunk and happy disposition intact. I have been blown away in the change in our pup's confidence and obedience (especially with a young puppy). He is a true joy to have as part of our family and even more so that he mentally balanced. Shell and Michael have always been available for our questions and the complimentary refresher training has been wonderful. It really proves that they stand behind their training. I look forward to working with them in the future! read more

Hannah was awesome! I almost gave up on my hyper pup, but Hannah worked with him and like magic! He is a dream dog now.

I will keep posting this until they own what they did. They don't get to have a 5 star review I'm sorry. They trained my dog, she was boarded there once before and boarded there again in January. She got out. They said she freaked out. I do not believe that. She was missing for 20 plus days. They said they where looking, they said they where doing everything they could. I call bull! We Contacted Babs Fry. Who they did also and lied and said it was a dogs friend that got out. Well, she went starving, lost 30% of her weight. Got close to the freeway and the night we finally caught her on camera to find her. They sat and waited with a trap in place- for her only to be KILLED on the 15 freeway by a car. We were so close to getting her home. They are responsible for this! They need cameras on the dogs they claim to care about. I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

We cannot thank Michael and his staff enough! Obi is our almost 5 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback, who will potentially be 105+ lbs fully grown. Our experience to date was with a 26 lb Frenchie. Since we have two small kids, it is critical that such a large dog be extremely well trained, for safety purposes. Obi spent 3 weeks at Pro-Train and is like a completely different (better!) puppy. He has learned so much. We are blown away by how well behaved he is now! He still has his spunky personality, but now listens when we tell him to stop doing something. He is no longer nipping at our arms and legs at every chance he gets. He is a pleasure to take in public and on walks. We can't wait to see how he continues to learn and grow with our continued practice of these invaluable skills taught by Pro-Train. Highly recommend Michael and team! read more

Pro-Train Innovative Dog Training - Obi - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

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Thank you Mike and Shell and everyone at Protain! We brought out 18 month Shepherd male for training and got more than expected. Thor is a very dominant male and we really had no idea how to handle him. But he took to the training and direction and in three weeks was a well mannered, eager to please dog we can take anywhere. Shell also did a great job at showing us how to be good leaders and give him commands he would eagerly follow. We all benefited from our experience at Protrain and will use them for our next dog for sure! Thank you! read more

Protrain turned my dog around!!! I came to Protrain for my Boxer's out of control behavior. She didn't listen to anyone, couldn't walk on a leash, and fought with other dogs. I really didn't think there was any hope for her, especially in three weeks. I was wrong. By the end of 1 week I couldn't believe it was the same dog! She was still my happy Mocha, but she was walking on a leash without trying to drag me. She was listening, and most importantly, Shell taught me how to give her commands properly. In 3 weeks Mocha had a complete overhaul. She knows when to heel and when to play. She always comes to me when I call her. She doesn't fight with other dogs. And the follow-up lessons included with our training package keep our skills tuned up and our habits good. Thanks Shell and Mike for doing such an amazing job! read more

Pro train dog service is what the doctor ordered for my naughty but nice dog. Michael explained every service that pro train provided and followed through with a home run. My dog cane into his kennel an unruly dog and left an obedient one. Michael and staff thanks again for making my best friend Daisy the best obedient, caring and respectful dog out there. read more

Pro-Train Innovative Dog Training - Daisy - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

We had our Shepard puppy trained to be a service dog by Mike and his team. They did a great job from start to finish. They scheduled times for us to meet for training off site and ensured he was ready to pass the Public Access Test. read more

update: Mike got back to me with a lot of resources and an apology. I appreciate it. Hopefully the feedback will help him in the future with any other veterans who find him. When I googled PTSD service dog training San Diego Pro-Train came up first. Moving forward, this has become a positive interaction after all. Mike made me cry today. I wouldn't recommend his service to anyone. I'm a female veteran with PTSD. I reached out to him to help me with my rescue dog who has become my PTSD service dog. She has changed my life for the better and helps me with panic attacks and social anxiety. However, in public places there are dogs who trigger her to be dog aggressive. It's only in public and only certain dogs. I don't know what the trigger is for her. I only want to teach her not to fell like she needs to do that. In our house she doesn't care at all if other dogs come over. It's no problem. I also have a 4 month old puppy who is a pet. He's a good puppy. I just thought it would be neat to learn how to train him for basic obedience. Mike contact me back and quoted me $11,700. I about choked to death. I'm a veteran, with three little kids and an active duty enlisted husband. We've been living on one income during the pandemic because I can't work due to having to homeschool our children. We could never afford $11,700. I told Mike I wouldn't be able to afford the $11,700 but would appreciate if he could recommend some books or video training series or cheaper basic obedience classes. Mike completely ignored me once I told him I couldn't afford $11,700.00 as a veteran and mother of three small kids. It made me feel horrible and really discarded as a human that I wasn't even worth giving advice too because I'm not rich enough to pay him. read more

Pro-Train saved my dogs life. I have a 4yo black lab/great Dane mix. She is sweet and loyal to he people, but very fearful of strangers and almost everything else too. She bit a couple of guests in our home and animal control had threatened to destroy her. I came to Pro-train desperate and approaching hopelessness. Mike and Shell made me feel mediately at ease about the situation and confident that we could solve the problem. And that's exactly what they did. Turns out much of the problem with my dogs behavior stemmed from my nehavior. Shell helped me understand what I was doing to trigger Luna's aggressive reactions and how I could work to build her confidence. Long story short, I have a happy mentally and emotionally stable companion thanks to Pro-trian and I will have to keep working on my own mental state..lol. Best possible experience. I highly recommend them. read more

Our dog "Never" is an American cocker spaniel whom we took to training classes at another school-Petcoach which opened her up to bad habits of treats and jumping up constantly and nipping the kids hands for treats. Trying to unwind the bad behavior wasn't working with many consultants. We reached out to Pro-Train and did board/ train. Within a week no more jumping, she's got all her basic obedience / on and off leash. Her manners are incredible. She came home last night after training, going to the office was a dream she greeted everyone- no jumping. At home in the kitchen she sat on her mat while cooking. Absolute dream dog. Can't recommend this training enough read more

Pro-Train Innovative Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

We had a great experience with Pro Train. Our 2 female dogs were having aggression issues with each other so we decided to put them into the 3 weeks training. The dogs are much more behaved overall. Now it's up to my my husband and I to keep the training up at home but it's nice to know they offer free refreshers for pet and owners! Also love the fact that we can board them and they will get a refresher training as well. read more

Pro-Train Innovative Dog Training - Our 2 dogs - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

Shell was our trainer and she is amazing. I am Deaf and have a service dog. She not only trained my dog but also taught me how to work with service animals and educate others. Shell became less of a trainer and more a key part of our family. She connected us to a second service dog as well. The two dogs are incredible and we could not say enough about how amazing Shell has been through the whole process. The professional environment and the level of expertise her staff brings to any dog owners is amazing. I constantly get strangers on the street asking me where I got my dogs trained. My dog comes with me to teach middle school and she is exceptional. This training facility is amazing and Shell is brilliant. read more

Pro-Train Innovative Dog Training - Two off duty service dogs doing a "down-and-under" at the restaurant while I eat. - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

these guys did a great job with my dog. The last trainer was not able to do anything and Wayne at Pro Train with just a few sessions really made a great difference with my dog and gave me tips so that I could keep it up. very happy with their methods and they really care about these dogs! read more

Horrible!!!!!! My dogs were terrified and I picked them up in 24 hours and he would give me a refund over $3000

Pro train is extremely professional with a great staff of dedicated dog lovers. Special thanks to Kayla for all of her help during training and afterwords always accessible by phone. Night and day change between my pup and her abilities today. Thank you pro train. Especially like the ability to board her went out of town which allows her the benefit of additional training at no additional cost. Michael Luevano is very professional and I would highly recommend pro train! read more

We adopted our 4 year old pit mix Chanel 2 years ago. She was a rescue and not socialized much by the previous owners. She has been attacked a few times by some neighborhood dogs out here in Vista Ca when we go on walks. She is overly aggressive with large dogs and wants to fight. We brought her to Pro-Train to get some discipline and get her over some of her insecurities towards other dogs. The staff did a great job working with her and teaching us how to properly reinforce positive behavior and correct her aggressive behavior. She is so much better on leash now and we understand her triggers and how to correct them quickly before she over reacts. She is still a work in progress but after 4 weeks at their facility she has made so much progress. My wife is now confident that she can take Chanel on walks and handle her without concern. We highly recommend Pro-Train if you dog is not behaving properly, you will learn so much and become a better pack leader. - Paul & Mary Jane read more

Pro-Train Innovative Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

I was told my dog is unfixable, until I found ProTrain! I adopted a rescue Australian Cattle Dog mix and invested over $1500 in training to address her behavioral problems. She bit me a few times, attacked other dogs, barked non-stop, and was so anxious that she seemed miserable. I worked with other dog behaviorists who helped me manage her behaviors along with putting her on Prozac. However, she was still incredibly dog aggressive and only trusted me. I was skeptical to invest more money in training my dog only to be told she was unfixable. ProTrain blew me away. They understand dog behavior! I sent my dog there for boarding/training and had several sessions myself with them to learn how to address her behaviors. They taught me her loading cues, how to correct behaviors before they happen, and understand dog pack dynamics. My girl came home a new dog! I got her off Prozac and she is now a happy, relaxed dog that loves life! Thank you for fixing my girl! read more

Probably not a good idea to go around to dog parks picking on people that are hanging out with their dogs. Standing over one of us and trying to mess with us. Absolutely ridiculous way for an adult to behave. Also not a good idea to bring your company truck when you do that. I would never bring a dog to them for training based on that interaction and I would tell people to steer clear. read more

Such great trainers, my puppy definitely came back a whole new mature way! Something that i love is that his goofyness is still there. Nico used to jump on people while greeting them, pull on the leash, never listen or come to me whenever i'd call his name out. But now all of those things are so much better. Clearly it's a work in progress and training needs to be continued after training but this program was so worth it and i mean it. i was soooo scared leaving my pup at a board and train because i've had him since he was a baby and would be with him everyday but i knew it was the best for him and us and in the end he is so happy with more freedom that he gets from listening to recalls and just being a good boy in general! Also the e collar that goes with the program is the best in the game! it's called mini educator and his trainers actually let us try it on our palms and it's crazy but we didn't feel a certain level but our pup Nico does. It's just amazing and I would highly recommend. read more

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Our dog Bubba is soon to be 8 and we weren't able to take him anywhere without yanking on the leash, sizing up other dogs and barking at anyone or anything that went by our corner home. On one occasion, our sister was walking him and he lunged, pulling her down into the street while her dress flew up, exposing her to the neighbors who stood and watched in horror! Bubba is a family member and we needed him to obey us so we could live peacefully in our home and take him places. Our daughter had already taken her dog to Pro-Train and we needed help. The first week was easy as we were on vacation but when we returned home we decided that, at our first training session, we would take him home as we truly missed him. We arrived to find Bubba a new dog, obedient, happy, following commands. Thanks to the team at Pro-Train SHELL and WAYNE we knew he needed to stay! SHELL knows dogs so well and helped us to learn how to manage Bubba. We always thought when we gave a command that perhaps he didn't hear us but SHELL assured us that he heard and was choosing not to obey. We learned to give a command and wait until he obeys. Upon returning home we vowed to do what we were taught consistently to maintain his behavior. On the very first walk a lady came out to tell us what an obedient dog we had. We explained that he just came from three weeks of intensive training! On another walk the other day, the same lady was outside and saw Bubba obey all commands. She commented, " That training really worked!" We are so happy with Pro-Train and so grateful to the owner MIKE and the staff that trained him. It isn't cheap but you get what you pay for, it's guaranteed for the life of your dog, and will give you peace at home and the ability to take your pet places. We plan to take him back to board whenever we travel as we know he will be taken very good care of! We can't thank you enough Mike, Shell and Wayne! read more

Extremely happy with the training that my fiancé and I received for our loving dog, Deuce. The program was three weeks long. Each week we were trained on how to apply the techniques that he was learning. By the end of the three weeks, it was a completely different dog, a total 180 from when we brought him in. Would definitely recommend this location. Thanks again for all you've done for Deuce! read more

We brought Klaus, our 1 year old Doberman Pincher to Pro-Train and had a wonderful experience. Klaus was a rescue and we adopted him and he came home with all kinds of aggression issues. The agression was towards people and other dogs, it got so bad that after he attached another dog we were going to take him back to the rescue. After calling Pro-Train we decided to bring him there for 3-5 week advanced obedience course. We interviewed with Saeed and he was very professional and seemed to be a great teacher so we went for it. Klaus stayed almost the full 5 weeks and since getting him home 2 weeks ago we are thoroughly impressed with the complete 180 that he's done. We are still fine tuning his training at home and Saeed has been helping us along the way, even making a home visit to further the progress. Before you give up on your fur baby, give Pro-Train a call and ask for Saeed! read more

This company knows what they are doing! My wife and I rescued a 1yr old Malinois from the Humane Society at the end of 2022, where she was listed as behavior consult prior to adoption. Was also being heavily medicated at the shelter. She suffered from no socialization or training as a puppy and resulted in her severe aggression on leash or in the car, and beyond normal anxiety for that breed. It was so bad that she would even go off on street signs or parked cars when we drove by. My wife and I came across Pro-train by referral while looking for place to address her extreme issues. I called a hand full of places for consultation, and not one of them got back to us for days. When I called Pro-train, Mark called me back instantly to talk about her situation. That next Saturday, we went for a consultation with Shell (Trainer), and got our pup enrolled that day. She did a three week board and train, we got regular updates on her progress, and in person sessions. Needles to say, we got a fresh start with our Malinois! She is fantastic on/off leash, as well with her commands, oh, and the car rides. Take this review from someone who has been around high energy/drive dogs their whole life, and never experienced what our Malinois's was displaying behaviorally. They worked magic with her, and now we have a happy dog/happy life, and take her everywhere. Mark, Shell, Wayne and Pro-Train Team THANK YOU! We Could see the bond/trust you gained with our pup, and we will also board her there when we need to. You took great care of her and she loves you guys! read more

Pro-Train Innovative Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

I was prepared to pay 3500 for 3 weeks of training for my Belgian malanios puppy. I would have loved to meet the owner, as I've heard great things about him. However I got some younger blond woman, who told me she was the head trainer. She was very unprofessional. I never got her name, seemed scattered and all over the place. She could not string together a coherent sentence. She was anxious, and extremely high strung. She put my puppy on a leash and began to drag him in a disturbing way. He got free and she couldn't call him back or gain control of the situation. I called him back, got my dog and got the hell out of there. I would NEVER trust my dog in their care. read more

I'll keep it short. Very professional, friendly, helpful staff. Exceptional service. Results on training my German Shepherd exceeded all the expectations. Will continue training with them and they are the only place I will be going to from now on. Tried different trainers all over San Diego, none of them did even close to these folks. I worked with Shell and Mike and I'm happy that I met them. read more

Mike and team did a great job training our one-year old corso who was starting to be protective and just plain stubborn. As our boy was getting very strong, it was becoming a challenge walking him on a leash and getting him to listen was a "hit or miss" despite us having worked with other trainers and attended puppy classes, etc. We signed up for the 3-week board and train program with Pro-Train and are happy with the results. Our boy is still very loving and sweet, but much calmer and he is not acting as the alpha anymore. Now we just need to maintain his training and be firm leaders. Nicely done! read more

The big guy you have working for you was just at the dog park and very rudely and very confrontational he put him self in my face as i sat on the bench and proceed to get violent at me and i will be contacting you as a result read more

Fantastic dog trainers and a great program! I am clueless about dogs and Pro-Train has been very patient and helpful with me in training my dog. I sincerely appreciate that when I call on the phone, an actual person answers the phone. That is exceptionally rare for a business these days. The trainers are available to help pretty much anytime. My dog has made huge progress with Pro-Train. The program is pricey and it requires a lot of at-home follow through, but it is worth it. I'm very happy with the results. I updated my star rating from a 4 to a 5. The minus 1 was only because it's so pricey. I changed my mind on that. Yes, it is expensive. However, it's guaranteed lifetime training. I can bring my dog back in anytime, for any reason, with anyone (like say, my dog doesn't like my cousin, I can come back anytime and have my cousin train with my dog for free). If you look at Pro-Train's onetime fee as basically a lifetime of guaranteed training, it is very reasonable. read more

I just realized I never updated my review on the final result so I'll share my novel of memory now ;) It was rough for me to be away from her for so long and I went to visit as much as I could. She was stressed out having to sleep in a kennel that is exposed to the elements, training everyday, and not seeing us but that's to be expected & wasn't something that caused me too much concern (she is a dog after all and very resilient). Upon arriving home she instantly found her toys & bed and slept for a very long time. My biggest worry was that my request to have her be a more protective (bark on command) was going to break her spirit. I honestly felt that if I was attacked she might bark but would never attack someone. (I'll never forget marks reaction when I made this request "so you want me to train your pit bull to be more aggressive?" ) haha. He is very realistic in telling you that the consult and requests are just that...requests. They figure out what your dogs personality is going to allow and work from that point forward- which I VERY much appreciated! The area I have to pass during our walks has an apartment complex with a lot of crime, so I wanted her to be able to intimidate someone if I was feeling uneasy. They did a great job in working on this although she wasn't completely comfortable with it & it seemed to stress her out. We should probably take her back for some refresher training soon since she's older now & we've not kept up on it :/ One of my favorite parts is that they also do a GREAT job of training the owners! This is one of the hardest parts for the owners and staff alike. If you cannot follow through on what the dog is learning, show leadership, you allow them to get too excited, or become the alpha in the relationship then no amount of training is going to help. They are very clear on this point and expect you to learn just as much as your dog. An example: when going to visit it's easy to become excited when you see your dog being brought up (and the dog can become VERY excited) but they expect you to remain calm and reinforce the training they have worked so hard on helping the dog learn. If you resort back to how things were the dog will only follow training around staff and all will be lost upon arriving home. One of the major things we learned are not to use a finger to snap & point. They also use different words/sounds during training so it's not common things the dog will hear and possibly react too. They take the dogs to Home Depot to work on training them to be calm in public and leave other people and animals alone. A staff member (it's been so long I don't remember his name) fell in love with Tierra & was always around her when we showed up. He couldn't believe how mild tempered she is and how much she loved everyone & the other dogs. I appreciated their full commitment to the job and our baby. They give thorough updates on progress and are realistic about what you can expect from your dogs personality traits (instead of treating them all the same). I highly recommend mark and his team to anyone! read more

I cannot thank Mark and the gang enough for the great work they did with my Shiba Inu, Penny. When I first called Pro-train I was at my wits end, my dog was breaking out of the yard, attacking my neighbor's dogs, treeing the neighborhood cats and barking her head off all day while I was at work. I was having weekly conversations with Animal Control. My girl had always been spunky but her behavior was becoming a liability and no matter how many episodes of The Dog Whisperer I watched nothing I did was working. Three weeks after I dropped off my 6year old, 28lb terror on 4 legs I returned to a happy, healthy and (most importantly) WELL BEHAVED pup. The dog aggression was gone, she no longer pulled on the leash and while she retained her original spunk, she was happy to let me be in charge. It's been almost 2 years and Penny is still that spunky, yet obedient dog. She still pushes from time to time but I am able to correct her with the skills and techniques I learned at Pro-train. My only regret is that I waited so long to call! read more

I sent my rescue dog to Pro Train for behavior modification for severe separation anxiety - she jumped through a closed truck window, ate through an airline rated crate, ate through our fence and jumped through our kitchen window, all within a few days. While she was at the Pro Train facility Mark kept me updated on her progress and assured me that the behavior modification was working. When we got her back we were able to leave her home alone and she would be OK and as an added bonus, she was obedience trained. Mark has always made himself available to answer any questions I have and to schedule refresher training when we get off track. My dog is happy to see Brian, who worked with her on her obedience training and I can tell he and the other trainers at Pro Train care about the dogs they are working with. I highly recommend Pro Train! read more

I cannot thank Pro Train enough for giving me the gift of a dog that makes my life better. I have lost my balance completely and most of my hearing due to an auto immune disease and have days when my left side is too weak to walk safely. I lost my independence and confidence until Mark and Pro Train made it possible for me to be myself again. A Service dog can be a challenge to obtain from the non profit organizations so I turned to Mark and ProTrain. They trained my Golden Retriever to assist me in walking, let me know when I need to respond to an alarm or the telephone and to be obedient and calm no matter where we go. They are kind and gentle with the dogs and offer affectionate praise which is not something you find with most trainers. The guys at ProTrain really understand dogs. Call them and go visit. It will be a life changer. read more

This is a very unprofessional organization of dog trainers the GM Lee could use some classes in customer service. No mention of a SHOCK collar until I got there. My dog returned home skinny and afraid. Also my dog has to where that shock collar 24/7. If she is not wearing it she will not listen all. I was fooled thinking I would have a trained dog in 3 weeks I should have went to Petco and saved myself all kinds of money read more

DON'T GO TO PRO-TRAIN!!! Here's a few reasons why: 1.) Forged Rabies Certificate: I called the clinic where my dog supposedly went for a rabies vaccine and not only had they never seen my dog, they hadn't seen anyone from Pro-Train in over a year! 2.) Abusive E-Collars: When used properly an e-collar can be a great training tool but these guys intimidate and punish their dogs with painful shocks and choke collars. I saw dogs yelping and cowering in fear. They end up aggressive. 3.) No Vet Care: My dog has a painful growing condition that causes him to limp. Mark, who is not a vet, made up a diagnosis for him and never took him to the vet. Mark also "doesn't believe in pain medication" according to the vet he uses and doesn't even give pain killers to dogs after a spay/neuter surgery. 4.) Poor Training: My dog, supposedly a fully trained service dog, had never been exposed to basic household items since he spent his whole life in a kennel. He was scared of TV's, floor lamps, vacuum cleaners and plastic bags when I brought him home. Dogs are wonderful companions and training them is very important. Please don't put your dog in harm's way by leaving him/her with Mark. read more

Mark and Pro- Train have been training our Dobermans for over 15 years. I cannot imagine a better place or people to trust your dog. The training is extensive and effective. The boarding is wonderful. Follow-on training is provided when needed and has proven to be on point. We would not take out dogs anywhere else. thank you Mark! read more

We purchased a very expensive puppy from Mark. He was extremely skittish, as the only way of life he had never known was shock collar training. We were not comfortable using it. When he was off of the collar he was skittish and afraid. Then he became crazy and rambunctious. They swear by shock collar treatment as a more effective and rapid way of training. Poor puppies read more

My wife's service dog, a three year old female German Shepherd had been trained by Mark for another party with different service need than my wife's. When we originally obtained her she was not responding to basic commands. Little did we realize that in addition to her training the handler needed training. We took her back to Pro Train and we were given our training by Mark. After that we waited almost a year to enroll her in Pro Train's multi week immersion training to learn how she could provide basic services for my wife. When we picked her up we were totally amazed at the results of the training. She is truly a working dog when work is needed but she in still our loving pet when we goof off with her in the evenings. Our only regret is that we did not send her back to school sooner. Mark you and your team are the greatest! read more

Got a puppy german shepherd from Dogman, fully trained. She's a great dog! She listens well and plays well with my kids. I've had several dogs over the years that I've raised from pups. It's a lot of work, From now on I'm taking my dogs to Dogman! read more

I have had 4 dogs trained by ProTrain over the past 20 years. All of our dogs were pound puppies, with "issues" when we adopted them. Every dog became a wonderful addition to our family. There is NO way I would ever adopt a dog without putting him/her through the ProTrain program. It is an initial investment, but spread over the life of the dog (in our case 10-12 years for every dog), it is insignificant. We have had Golden Retriever, a Black Lab/Mastiff mix, a Chow/Golden mix and now a German Shepherd all with excellent results. The only issue I have ever had with the dogs are people wanting to adopt them from me because they are so well behaved. I only provide feedback when I fully endorse a business. read more