Honestly, I probably wouldn't be leaving a one star review if Jeff had asked a single question over the hour we spent with him. Our somewhat complex issue wasn't addressed in any helpful way. A good guy to call if you're unsure how much water to give your dog. The answer however, will cost you 100$ (Even if that's not why you called). read more

After moving to California I wanted a dog being so far away from home. When I got my pup I did what most puppy parents do. Shower my pup with love and scooped her up every time I walked in the door. Unfortunatly this created a lot of anxiety for my pup when I was away from her. I looked to Jeff for help. And Jeff worked wonders with my pup! With his guidance, we tackled clinginess and separation anxiety, turning it into a positive transformation. Jeff's training tips made discipline and obedience a breeze. Now, our bond is all about love and having a happy, well-trained furry friend. I can't thank Jeff enough for making me a better puppy parent. Highly recommend his expertise! read more

Waste of $2500.... So disappointed. I am a dog lover and have had many rescues. My newest, sweet, little rescue dog needed to build confidence. She has submissive peeing when picked up and she wouldn't walk on wood floors. She would if you used a leash, but, not by herself, she was afraid. She stayed with Jeff over three weeks and when she got home, she still wouldn't walk on the floors and he came over once to give me some tips at home. I did what he suggested for two weeks and nothing changed. So, when I talked to Jeff about how much money I spent he got super defensive and rude. I still wanted to work with Jeff to help me with my dog, he refused. I pleaded for him to help me and he blew me off. Never heard back from him again. My dog still does submissive peeing. I will say though she is better on a leash. That's what i got for $2500. read more

I left my dog with this trainer for 3 weeks. I noticed my dog lost a lot of weight and came back with an injury on her left thigh. read more

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Jeff can read them! We adopted our 10-month hyperactive dog in May. We thought to make her obey just based on our previous experience with dogs and on dog training books;) Failure! We faced some drama-queen unexpected reactions to the most common things, overexcited behavior with other dogs and people, chewing and destroying all the furniture and absolute lack of attention etc. We left Choonya with Jeff for a 4-week obedience course in July. We got all the updates, replies whenever we contacted him, followed the Instagram page, could see her companions and conditions she lived in as well as her achievements. 4 weeks later we took our trained dog back home, and still get 1- or 2-times a fortnight follow-up lessons with Jeff. That helps us correct her and our behavior and improve the skills we got. Bottom line: we got a well obeyed dog that can focus on what we want from her, listen to us and be involved in communication despite all the distractions around her; a dog, well trained with basic commands (heel, sit, down, stay etc.). However the most crucial thing is that Jeff could read her character and interpret all her actions and reactions; and worked out the training plan that suits her best. She's happy! Jeff is a talented trainer, with extraordinary expertise and intuitive thought. He helped us to communicate with our thinking dog more effectively and revealed her potential. P.S. Might be a good tip: make the start of the training when you plan to travel without a dog. Thus, you don't think about non-stop visiting your lovely pet when he/she is on a 4-week training just near you in the same city, plus you solve the problem with leaving your dog in a safe and comfortable place where she gets all the attention. read more

Smart Dogs Training Academy - Sit & stay, Choonya! - Pet Training Near Me

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Jeff is an absolutely phenomenal trainer. This man speaks dog! I have been struggling with a fearful aggressive dog I rescued. After he became aggressive towards me I honestly was questioning whether I could still keep him. In just a few weeks Jeff has taught me how to properly handle him and I feel so much more confident and safe. So thankful that he has come into our life. read more

Jeff and the staff at Smart Dogs have helped our family with two very tricky dog situations. Jeff successfully trained a husky/shepherd rescue that was all over the place. She is now super responsive to all commands, house trained, and continues to build off of her training. Jeff also trained our 4 month old pug puppy, who is extremely opinionated and strong willed. She's now thriving with our family. Boarding & training them with Jeff was the best decision we made: he took great care of them while training them, and it helped our family set them up to succeed at home. HIGHLY recommend Smart Dogs Training Academy for anyone with a problematic dog or a dog that needs to brush up on commands. read more

I couldn't recommend Jeff and his team more! We had just rescued an Old English Sheepdog (Doc) and after about a week we saw all of his previous abuse and trauma start to come up. Doc had two completely different personalities, one so sweet and the other completely aggressive, scary, and not to be trusted around our young kids. We were at a complete loss of how to handle this situation and a regular "once a week trainer" was not going to solve this. We sent Doc to Jeff's house for three weeks and he came back a completely new and obedient dog. And in the meantime, Jeff met with us and trained US on how to continue Doc's progress and helped us understand the psychology of a dog's mind. He was regularly available for quick advice or a reminder on our strategies. Fast forward a few months and Doc doesn't pull on a leash, listens to commands and is an all around great family dog. He is a favorite in the neighborhood and such a social and loving animal. Taking Doc to see Jeff was the best decision we ever could have made and I believe he completely changed this dog's life trajectory. Thank you a million times Smart Dogs! read more

Smart Dogs Training Academy - Pet Training Near Me

Jennifer is amazing and her whole team is great! The ranch is like a carnival park for dogs and other animals. I highly recommend this place. I always leave my two dogs at Sunny Day when we travel and NEVER worry about them - they come home happy and healthy every time! Jeri read more

Jeff was very professional and a real expert at what he does. Prior to taking our 1 year old Australian shepherd (Bleu) to Jeff. Bleu was very aggressive to dogs and humans. Aside from this, he had separation anxiety (we couldn't leave him by himself at home alone). So me and my girlfriend decided to take him to Jeff to help shape Bleu up for 5 weeks. Bleu stayed with Jeff for 5 weeks. Within that 5 weeks we got to do hands on training with Bleu twice along with Jeff leading and instructing us. By the time Bleu was finished, he was a totally different dog and me and my girlfriend were astonished. Now Bleu doesn't bark at people, other dogs and we can leave him at home alone without any excessive barking/crying. Overall, Jeff is an amazing dog trainer and whoever works with him will not regret it! read more

Smart Dogs Training Academy - Jeff training Bleu at Home Depot - Pet Training Near Me

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I just called for an estimate for socialization training and the guy I was talking to told me there was nothing they could do to help my pitbull and beagle mix dog because "she's an aggressive breed". This is DISGUSTING that someone in the dog care industry is making this generalization about a dog they have not met. Telling all my friends to never take their dog here read more

Let me first say that I have had animals my entire life; dogs, cats, horses, sheep, cattle to name a few. I have a college degree in Animal Science. However, we thankfully found Jeff based on a recommendation from a friend to help work with our Boomer, which is the first animal I have ever sought "professional help" for. Our family was at our wits-end when we dropped him off for a month long training with Jeff, and thanks to his amazing ability to "get" dogs, train dogs (and train owners), we now have a GREAT family dog and we are incredibly grateful. I disagree with a previous reviewer who said that the dog came back "skinny". Boomer was treated amazing and fed appropriately, and if he had been mistreated in any way, he wouldn't have responded to seeing Jeff with the enthusiastic "thump, thump, thump" of his tail every time he saw him for follow up visits. Jeff was also great with follow ups; texts and phone calls were not only welcome but encouraged. A great experience overall. read more

Smart Dogs Training Academy - Pet Training Near Me

Jeff Todd is a professional. I looked him up on Yelp and read the reviews. I scheduled our first meet and greet and was impressed by him from the get go. He has command of the dogs he trains and emphasizes that he trains the owner as much as the dog. I had a 1yr. old pitbull and an 11 yr. old daughter and Jeff worked with all of us to create a much better family dynamic. Sky (our dog) has truly improved in behavior and seems happier in the process. Like anything, it's a work in progress and we are on top of it. Since graduating puppy class, Jeff continues to follow up on our progress. I highly recommend him if you are willing to put in the time and be trained as well. read more

We purchased a very cute Havanese puppy a couple of years back. Having been around dogs all my life, I thought it would be no trouble training him. Turns out, this very cute puppy was also very stubborn and difficult. After trying for a few months on our own, we came across Jeff. He has a couple of different approaches you can choose from, but we chose to have our puppy live with Jeff for several weeks, as this is the most reliable and shortest approach. When Sammy was ready to come back home, he was a different dog. We continue to be in regular touch with Jeff and he continues to be a great coach for us and Sammy. If you are looking for assistance with your dog, we do recommend you consider Jeff. read more

Jeff is great. I have a small Yorkie. I was very nervous about sending him away for training especially because he is only 4 pounds. BUT - he was a terror. Non stop barking, no tolerance for sitting, staying, laying down. He would go to the bathroom wherever and whenever he wanted. After speaking with Jeff and understanding that he works with dogs of all sizse, I met him and was able to see him working with one of the dogs he was currently training. I was also able to meet the owner of that dog and was told that the dog was completely changed and she couldn't have been more pleased. I felt the same way when Jeff gave my dog back. He was extremely obedient and Jeff had done a wonderful job. Its been 4 months and my dog is still extremely familiar with all of the commands Jeff taugh him. Thanks Jeff! - You should definilty use him read more

Jeff was recommended by a friend who swore by him. He started working with my labradoodle, Noodle, when he was several months old. He took the time to come to the house to see how I was doing things, then I sent Noodle to him for a month of "boot camp." (You don't have to do it this way, but I thought I'd give it a try.) I got back an amazing dog who still had his puppy spirit. Over the last couple years, I've taken Noodle to him for boarding -- a bonus option only avail. for those who do training with him. Much more reasonable than another other boarding situation and he already knows my dog so well. While there, Jeff continues to work with my dog instead of just boarding and feeding him. He's taken him to the park with other dogs he's working with and reaffirms commands and leash training. Noodle always comes back better. And I know that my dog is happy to see Jeff. Even though Jeff is firm in his training techniques, he's not unfair and he doesn't mistreat. I know this because unlike when I take Noodle to the vet or to the groomer, he doesn't get nervous and sheepish. He's always happy and wagging when he sees Jeff. What better and clearer sign do I need than that?! Many of us love our dogs so much that we can't handle seeing them treated with a firm hand. And I see a couple negative reviews here that reflect that. I'm admittedly guilty about spoiling my dog shamelessly and regularly. But I am also able to see things objectively and know that my way isn't always the best way. I've had other dogs with other training methods, and it took a whole lot longer and I spent more money. All I know is the great results I've gotten, and a dog who still loves to see Jeff. I'd recommend him to anybody! read more

Smart Dogs Training Academy - Pet Training Near Me

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We adopted a 18 month old Bullmastiff from a family who treated him like a human who's "favorite part of the couch was the corner on a sectional" and "sleeps inside the sheet on with a pillow on the bed". Jeff came in and trained him for 4 weeks. We met him at the park and Bane, our pup, was like a new dog. Jeff followed up, gave training, encouraged in home lessons and also provided a sheet of information on housebreaking. I highly recommend Smart Dogs! Professional, reasonable, communicative.. read more

Smart Dogs Training Academy - Pet Training Near Me

Worked with Jeff on my American Bulldog. He was able to teach me appropriate handling and helped me teach Buster how I want him to be. Within three sessions he had a maniac down to sitting with another dog and not tweaking. I highly recommend Jeff! read more

Sending my two golden retrievers (2-year-old and 8-month-old) to Jeff for his 4-week boarding training program was the best decision and worth every penny. Jeff taught both of my dogs how to walk on a leash without pulling, how to sit-stay and down-stay - basically how to be calm, well-mannered dogs instead of golden goofballs! They are a pleasure to be around now and I love them even more. He is an expert in not just dogs but people. He was able to wean my very sensitive 2-year-old off of her anxiety medication and teach me how to train her through the things that frightened her. My biggest challenge was getting her into the car. She was terrified and refused to jump in, which led to me lifting a very unwilling 80-pound dog every time we need to get in the car. Because of her fear and the hassle, I avoided taking her places. After 4 weeks in Jeff's care, she came home relaxed and confident. My first goal was to tackle the car fear. Within one week I had taught her to happily jump in the car! She now goes in the car every day to go to the park, hiking, or out on errands. Without Jeff's guidance, she would be stuck at home. The world has opened up because she is now able to travel. Have you ever encountered an 8-month-old golden retriever puppy that can heel, sit and stay? Most are hyper, pulling, jumping, chewing, furry beasts, but life does not have to be that way. Because of Jeff's boarding training and my daily work with her, my 8-month-old can heel, sit, stay and come. That doesn't mean she is not still a puppy and full of energy, but I know how to communicate with her and she understands when I tell her it is time to sit and stay. She knows what I expect and listens to me. Thank you, Jeff, for giving me back two happy, confident, well-mannered dogs that I love being with every day! read more

Jeff is amazing, truly has a gift. He has worked with 2 of my dogs and is absolutely amazing in how he handles them. I will use him forever, he is now part of the family! read more

We were, and are, very impressed with Jeff. He took an 18 month old "puppy" with tons of energy and intelligence and taught him and us how to take control of the house back. Jeff has been doing the follow ups after the 4 weeks Chester was with him without fail. Some might think it a little expensive, I did, but it turned out to be well worth it. It is not expensive if you receive value and with Jeff, you certainly receive value read more

I had a wonderful experience with Jeff and Smart Dogs Training Academy. I had adopted a 5 year old Boston Terrier who is a lovely dog but could tell had no formal training before. She was not leash trained, did not know basic commands and was aggressive towards other dogs, which made walks and bathroom excursions outside very challenging. I was very worried with how difficult it may be to "teach an old dog new tricks," but I felt encouraged once I met with Jeff, who was very knowledgeable and thorough in his initial consultation, and I decided to move forward with the private lessons. Throughout the eight weeks, Jeff was great in explaining dog behavior and their nature, and how to communicate with my dog so I could build the foundation for her to actually learn and listen to my commands in a progression that can be built upon and sustained with her moving forward. He walked me through the proper techniques, was always available for questions, helped me trouble shoot and gave me the proper tools to be a better dog parent and for her to thrive. We just recently graduated and she is like a new dog. So much more well-behaved and we are having lovely walks now. Even neighbors who have seen me on walks with her have commented on seeing the huge difference and improvements in my little Bostie! I will continue to reinforce all that we have learned and be consistent. Thank you Jeff! read more

I had kept putting dog training off for my two year old dog who I had adopted a year a go. After some behavior issues got a bit out of control, I spent all day scouring different programs for someone I could trust to take of my dog with an affordable price tag. That's when I Came across Jeff's reviews on Yelp and called. After a good 30 minute conversation on the phone, I was sold. Dallas was dropped off to Jeff the day of our consultation and 3 (long ) weeks later, I had a dog who was transformed. Jeff takes care to reset your dog to a good starting point of respect for their owner and obedience. The hardest part is when you take your dog home and keep up the regimen but Jeff always checks in and offers sessions and support to keep your dog on a good track. I can not thank Jeff enough for his program, treatment of my dog, and overall support system that comes with the program. I would recommend Jeff to anyone who needs dog training. read more

Just finished our 8 training sessions with Jeff. He primarily does a bootcamp where he boards and trains dogs. Did not have the financial resources for our two, LARGE, mixed breed rescue pups. So started training with him when they were 8 months old. Took one dog, learned techniques with him then worked both dogs, on our own between sessions. He is very knowledgeable and skilled with dogs and people. Answered questions and provided guidance when realizing that each dog had such different personalities and responded differently to training. Though we contracted for training one dog, we came out with two great pups with the skills we learned from Jeff. You have to commit and work with your dog. You will get out of it what you put into it. Jeff is a great teacher, flexible, straight shooter and knows his stuff. Now our pups have a great basis for becoming great dogs. We know Jeff will be available if we need assistance in the future. Well worth the time and money. read more

Jeff really understands dogs and people, he has a natural gift in recognizing and understanding the needs of each individual animal. He's also very much about the dogs and is goal driven, he will help you with your dog to get the results you want, and he will put in the time as long as you will put in the time. I took my rescue pup to him to help her overcome her fears and street dog mentality, to get some basic training, and to feel less anxious when I'm away. She's come a long way! Again, Jeff saw her individually and recognized and understood what would work for her. He's very much a pack leader and uses such a method on his dogs. I say he also understands people because he can tell when you're part of the problem, haha. You have to trust in the method to get the most out of it. Thanks, Jeff! read more

Jeff knows what he's doing and can absolute help you the owner learn how to handle your dog. I call jeff any time I have a question and he's always willing to help! So glad to have met him! Highly recommend him for dog training!! read more

I could not be happier (overjoyed) in the remarkable results, many ongoing, that Jeff has achieved with our dog! His incredible achievements moving forward with his progress has made it possible to experience a well behaved four legged member of a very happy family. I have had animals large and small surround me my whole life and have truly never witnessed a more insightful, smart and common sense approach to dog (and people) training. Jeff has a extremely successful Training Academy. read more

Naturally, I was not happy about leaving Fremont for one month, however the outcome had more positive results than I could have possibly anticipated. Jeff was totally available for calls and texts, throughout Fremont's stay, which was very reassuring. Being able to see and speak to Jeff post-training was very valuable as it allowed me to continue the work and behavior modification in the comfort of my own home. Fremont's behavior has changed significantly-as a result he is calmer and more cooperative and we are ALL happier! This was an excellent and worthwhile investment in the lives of my family members, most importantly, Fremont. read more

I believe Jeff should rename his academy Smart People instead of Smart Dogs . Jeff has helped me understand that with the tools he has taught our puppy and us, and our commitment to consistency there is no reason we cant have a happy and well behaved dog. Jeff is smart and practical and explains things in a very clear way. Its really about our consistency and our smarts that keeps Tanner going in the right direction Jeff is very good at training and seems to have an astute handle on dog psychology. I trust him and I like his approach. Tanner our puppy is well on his way to a becoming a dog who pays real attention. Jeff always makes himself available if we have questions or need a follow appointment. That has been very, very helpful. I highly recommend Jeff to you. Joi, Studio City Ca read more

Jeff is the best! I took my 6 month old lab to him for a month of training. Pepper was super crazy hyper, full of energy and no rules, when I dropped her off. I had a training session while she was there and have had one since she left. She is a completely different dog, probably 75% calmer than she was when she went there. Not sure how he managed to accomplish that and give her a vocabulary of commands that she actually follows. After researching several facilities, I'm so happy that I chose Jeff as Pepper's trainer. It was so hard having her gone for a month, but I was able to check in with him every few days to hear about her progress. I always knew that I would never regret having my dog trained and always regret not training her. She is doing fantastic at home and I'm so thankful to Jeff for molding such a happy and well trained dog. read more

I can't really speak to Jeff's long term efficacy as a trainer, just to our short experience with him which wasn't very positive. First off, there are many different schools of thought and approaches to training. Jeff's is mainly fear and respect based. He's a hard-@ss with dogs and doesn't exactly believe that love is the way. We paid him up front for two sessions at our home and halfway through the first one I put a stop to it as I didn't feel that his approach was going to be effective for our super sweet and gentle - but stubborn - Rottie mix bitch. What happened next was the really weird and unsettling part. Jeff became somewhat abusive, told me that I had no idea the trouble I was in for, the danger this dog posed to my family and infant son etc. etc. and then stormed off in a huff. Repeated calls and emails to him to request a refund for the second lesson went unanswered. Needless to say our Rottie remains sweet and loving and a superb friend and guardian to our now 4 year old son. She's been trained by other, more gentle trainers, and while not a robot, is pretty awesome. And we didn't have to be harsh to her to get her that way. read more

We have a very loving but very high strung standard poodle who had taken to lunging at anyone who came near our baby (which did not make for very relaxing Starbucks/frozen yogurt outings!). We also had some other problems with him, like excessive barking and running into the street. We found out about Smart Dogs through another onsite listing and called the owner, Jeff Todd. Jeff is a very cool guy - patient, reliable, knowledgeable, experienced, etc. (And he's not mean to the dogs he's training!) After working with him for a few weeks our dog's behavior greatly improved! We had read countless books but didn't get positive results. Highly recommended. read more

Jeff Todd did a great job training my dog Bo when he was about 6 months old. He's now over 2 years old and has turned out to be the best dog I ever had. The basic training that Jeff instilled in him continues to pay off. I highly recommend Jeff to train any type of dog with any type of behavioral problem. read more

Jeff did a fine job training my newly adopted shelter dog who was having real difficulties being on leash. After working with her, she consistently sits, heels, and is much better behaved on leash. I've also boarded my dogs with Jeff with traveling and I feel confident they are happy and well cared for when I'm away. Jeff is a great trainer. read more

We were about to find a new home for our terrier mix Nelson when we took him to Jeff for board and train. I am so glad we did! Within one week, we were able to walk Nelson without stress or tension. Within two weeks, we were able to enjoy Nelson as a fun part of the family without him tearing through the house, or constantly getting him off furniture. Jeff worked with my kids and I to help us be clear and consistent and stressed that we still needed to work and train Nelson, but he did so in a way that was simple, straightforward and easy for us to maintain. I had tried 2 other places for training prior to Jeff that just were not effective. I wish I had gone to him FIRST! read more

I was a little more than nervous to leave my new 11 week old maltipoo puppy with someone I found on the internet to say the least. But I was going out of town, and she was a holy terror for a busy guy. Jeff did a fabulous job with Flow and she is walking on a leash, sitting, listening, and doing quite well at now 14 weeks. I know she'll only get better with age. Jeff's customer service and follow up is great. I highly recommend Jeff and his services. read more

We have a soft coated Wheaton puppy, which while a very loving dog could be quite a handful. Jeff not only trained him, but acted as a top notch psychologist to my wife. I would highly recommend him. read more

Jeff Todd is a great dog trainer.. he has helped us immensely with our super active, chocolate lab, Lucy. She is most certainly a different dog because of the help and training Jeff has provided and as huge dog lovers, my husband and I comfortably and enthusiastically recommend him to anyone interested in having a well trained dog! We also highly recommend starting as early as possible.. Lucy is amazing at seven months and we believe it's because we started training her at two months, don't wait for bad habits to form. Call Jeff today! read more

My wife and I rescued a female Australian Shepherd last September. As she is partially deaf, and was an "owner-surrender" at the age of 11 months, we knew we were getting a difficult dog from the start. We first hired a 'treater' trainer, who just wanted to feed the dog when it was doing what it was supposed to - that is to say, when it wasn't barking at a stranger or another dog. Hard to do, when you've got a mouthful of cheese. After a couple of months, and the dog about 8 pounds heavier, we decided to try another method of training. We had been referred to Jeff by a neighbor who had a well-behaved German Shepherd, who swore the dog was 180 degrees from what he had been prior to Jeff's training. We met with Jeff, and decided to send her with him for however long it would take. She had to be muzzled, as she had a tendency to nip at strangers within reach. One week after being with Jeff, we met him and our dog at a public park, where we encountered her in a completely relaxed state, obeying commands, allowing strangers to pet her, and ignoring the presence of other dogs in the vicinity. We were able to take her home after about three weeks of boarding, and while we continue to work with Jeff on a weekly basis to improve her skills, we feel like we have a different dog. She still shows some signs of fear in certain circumstances, but she improves every day, and we have learned how to avoid unacceptable situatations altogether. We are very happy with Jeff's work, and I have already recommended others to utilize his services. read more

Jeff is the BEST! A friend recommended Smart Dogs when I was thinking about getting a puppy. Jeff took the time to answer all my questions & recommend the type of dogs that would fit in best with my lifestyle & family. I must admit that I was a little worried when we purchased our 3 month old yellow Labrador retriever weighing in at 30+lbs. Jeff took him in for slightly over a month, and all my fears went away as soon as he came home. We got back the most well-behaved and happy puppy. Jeff knew exactly how to teach me the things I needed to know & gave us step-by-step instructions on how to manage life with a puppy, 1yr old & 3yr old. He continues to be part of our team with ongoing lessons, check-ins & answering the questions that come up along the way. Thanks to Jeff, we have been able to smoothly introduce Scoobs into our family. Great guy & unbeatable service. I recommend Smart Dogs Training to anyone with (or thinking of getting)a dog. read more