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    Smart Paws

    4.9 (66 reviews)
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    Updated 2 months ago

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    Services - Smart Paws

    Group dog training

    Private dog training

    Puppy socialization classes

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    Thelma A.

    Jenina has been a revelation. We rescued the sweetest pup in early September and were lucky that he was already housebroken and sweet as a pea, but we wanted him to learn and know basic commands, and we also wanted to know what some of his behaviours meant. We did the private training sessions, and I HIGHLY recommend this option. The individualized attention and training we received (cuz let's face it, it's us humans that need to learn a lot too!) has been invaluable. Within four sessions, he went from energetically running and wanting constant belly rubs, to knowing how to Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Go to Your Spot, and Leave it...we are currently working on Drop it (he only learned this one today). Jenina has such a great understanding and love for dogs and it shows. Archie loves her and so do we!

    Angel B.

    Jenina is great! We learned so much and it was a lot of fun. She is very understanding and patient, I'm really glad I signed up with her.

    Jenina teaching an earnest student

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    10 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Simply the best. Top marks on ability, reliability, friendliness and, above all, dedication to the job.

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    10 years ago

    Jenina was great. After just one session out little doggie was behaving so much better and we had fun too.

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    10 years ago

    Jenina is terrific. Caring, effective, and generous with her time. My puppy and I had a great experience!

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    16 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Smart Paws

    Review Highlights - Smart Paws

    Jenina took me under her wings, and taught me how to understand dog's behaviors and how to connect with them.

    Mentioned in 63 reviews

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    K9 Logic Dog Training

    K9 Logic Dog Training

    4.8
    (307 reviews)

    I can't recommend K9 Logic Dog Training enough to people. My partner and I came to them to address…read moreseparation anxiety in our 1.5 year old French Bulldog. We had tried what felt like everything and his separation anxiety was so bad that it got to the point that my partner and I basically gave up our social lives, had to coordinate with one another one of us would be going to the market or if it would be a trip where we both can go but someone sits in the car with our dog. We met the team at K9 Logic Dog Training and they assessed our dog and determined what kind of training program would be best for him to address his separation anxiety and the other skills we wanted to work on. Within a week we noticed progress. We finally were able to leave the house for an hour and go to the market together. Week by week the time has gradually gotten longer where we have been able to leave him alone for longer periods of time to reclaim our social life back. I was skeptical at first, but after that first week I became a believer. We are so happy with the results that for the purpose of just giving him structure and routine we signed him up for more classes and he LOVES being at school. We've also participated in the weekend group training sessions and they are so helpful to not only give our dog routine, but it's a great way to reinforce structure and keep him sharp with everything he learned at school. Signing up for training with K9 Logic Dog Training was the best decision we could made for our dog to set him up for success.

    We had an incredible experience with K9 Logic Dog Training! After looking into several options, we…read morechose their 8-week Day Training Program and are so glad we did. Our dog, Comet, struggled with leash reactivity after a bad encounter, and walks had become really stressful. This program made a huge difference! Comet spent one full day a week at the facility, and we worked on reinforcing everything at home in between sessions. We worked with Shea, who was amazing, knowledgeable, supportive, and great at explaining how to handle Comet's reactivity. The 30-minute sessions at pickup were especially helpful and really built our confidence. The pricing felt very reasonable for the value, and we also love the community they've created. Comet has made major progress, and we're excited to keep building on everything she's learned!

    Westside German Shepherd Rescue

    Westside German Shepherd Rescue

    3.9
    (445 reviews)

    Carol and her team went above and beyond to help my fiancé and I find our new dog. You can tell the…read morerescue love and care for each shepherd they have.

    Judgemental and shamed me for considering about having to rehome my beloved dog who I've had since…read moreshe was 9 weeks old. I initially got her to become my psychiatric service dog. While we've made a lot of progress over the years, her skills have slipped and I really need her dialed in on her responses. While it's nobody's business, just in the past few months; we were both struck by a distracted driver while walking in the crosswalk and had the signal to proceed. I looked in every direction, but several steps into the crosswalk, an SUV did not slow down, and hit us...A week and a half ago, I was held at the ER on suicide watch. Three days ago, I was within feet of getting shot by a gun right outside of my business! I strongly considered a German Shepherd since they're also intelligent, loyal and can provide protection/barriers for those suffering from PTSD like myself. I've been suffering a lot with my clinical depression and anxiety for years, all the while, I'm a small business owner. Csilla replied to me and automatically denied my application for considering rehoming, and for "testing" if they don't make the cut. Rehoming is NOT an easy decision, I've been crying over the thought, I love my dog! I love my dog so much that I was only reaching out to close friends who my dog also loves, so I can still see here. My immediate family does not want a second dog in our household, so this was the only loving and responsible decision that I can come up with. It's neither fair for a dog that exhibits fear, stress, and anxiety to be forced into a job that only exacerbates their behavior. My mental and physical health are just as important as my dogs. This is the purpose of rehoming, I never once said that I would surrender her to a shelter or just simply disown her. Below is her response; ..."Unfortunately we're not able to approve your application. There is no guarantee that any of our dogs will work out as a service animal, and the fact that you would rehome her if that was the case, makes this an automatic decline for our rescue. It's very sad to hear that you are thinking about rehoming a dog that has been with you for 5 years. There are countless dogs in animal shelters dying every day because people consider them disposable. Your dog will be heartbroken if she has to lose her family. Her stress and anxiety will get even worse, which means many people will pass on her at the shelter and she will most likely be euthanized because of the overcrowding problem in the shelter system. We hope you will not let that happen and leave her behind to be killed. There is no reason why she can't stay with you as just a regular pet and part of the family, while you get a 2nd dog that has been proven to be a qualified service dog. It's not fair to the dogs for you to keep "testing" and rehoming them if they don't make the cut. Please work with one of the many organizations that specialize in placing service dogs. Any dog returned to a shelter (not rescue) has a much higher chance at being euthanized sooner than the ones who haven't been adopted and returned yet. Thank you, Csilla Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles" Absolutely disgusting response; full of guilt, shame, and judgement! I will NEVER contact them again! I will leave their response on here for potential clients to read for themselves. FWIW, I decided to continue working with my dog, despite the $6k training costs! My mom also couldn't let that happen and told me that if it came down to it, she would keep her.

    Bark Busters

    Bark Busters

    4.7
    (117 reviews)

    I adopted Gili, a 10-month old female poodle-schnauzer mix, who came to me with several behavioral…read moreissues that appeared to stem from being treated poorly before I adopted her. Despite this, Gili quickly revealed herself to be a joyful, funny, and incredibly intelligent dog who was easy to train. However, there were a few serious behavioral issues that I could not resolve, no matter how hard I tried. About two weeks after coming into my home, Gili began to feel secure with me and in her environment. Unfortunately, that security turned into extreme protectiveness of herself, the house, and especially of me. She became reactive to unfamiliar people to the point that no one could enter our home or even come near me unless I medicated her or confined her to a bedroom to prevent incidents. I hired different trainers who were kind and well-intentioned, but their methods and advice were ineffective for the specific issues we were facing. Then into our lives came Carrie, the owner of the local Bark Busters franchise. I do not believe I have enough words to describe how positive and effective our experience with Carrie has been. She is exceptionally knowledgeable about canine psychology and the development of behavioral issues, and most importantly, she has an incredible ability to identify the root cause of each specific problem with precision. In a caring, non violent yet effective way Carrie focuses not only on the dog, but also on how we, as humans, can unintentionally exacerbate issues while trying to compensate for our dog's difficult past. She teaches people how to gently, confidently, and correctly address unwanted behaviors through proper posture, attitude, and consistency. What I love most about Carrie is her upbeat, joyful, and generous nature. You never feel rushed or inadequate; questions and input are welcomed and encouraged, no matter how long it takes. Carrie made it clear that she is committed to being there for both Gili and I for as long as it takes to create real, lasting change. She patiently and thoroughly addressed each issue in a way that was easy to understand, carefully explaining not just what to do, but why. I truly felt that she cared deeply about my understanding the methods, the sequence of exercises, and the reasoning behind them. Although I have shared my adult life with five different dogs, this experience taught me something entirely new: my posture, energy, and state of mind during training are just as important as the commands themselves. I am incredibly grateful to have finally found a trainer who is not only a skilled behavioral therapist but also a master trainer--an essential combination, especially when working with a dog who was not raised from a young puppy and comes with a difficult history. In Gili's case, that history left lasting emotional scars that affected how she interacts with the world. Not only did Carrie spend several hours working with us, but a few days later she followed up with a detailed and thoughtfully prepared email covering everything we had discussed. It included educational videos to further clarify the instructions, links to recommended toys and helpful equipment, a clear overview of the exercises Gili and I should practice, and much more. It was evident that Carrie spent many hours compiling this instructional guide, and it has already proven to be an invaluable resource for us. Even though it has been less than a week since Carrie trained both of us, I am already seeing meaningful improvement in Gili's behavior. More importantly, I now feel confident that I have the tools to help Gili reach her full potential and become the best version of herself, a happy, loving, and confident little lady who was always there beneath the hardships she endured before coming into my life. I am also reassured knowing that as time goes on, Carrie will be there for us whenever we need reinforcement of learned skills or guidance with any new challenges that may arise.

    Carrie was an incredible help to us and our Chihuahua-Pitbull, Zula! We were at a loss with her…read moreleash pulling, fear aggression, and general anxiety out in the world and Carrie equipped us with the knowledge and confidence to fix things one step at a time. We now feel like we have control because Zula feels safe alongside our firm alpha routines. This is well worth the investment of time and $$ to get a new lease on dog ownership!

    A-Team Dog Training

    A-Team Dog Training

    4.8
    (130 reviews)

    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.

    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.

    Happy Paws Dog Training LA

    Happy Paws Dog Training LA

    4.9
    (103 reviews)

    Raquel is amazing! She accomplished in five hours what my family and I, have been trying to do with…read moremy pup for a while now. She gave my family the tools we'd been missing, and even though the price is a bit steep, it's absolutely worth it. We're still a work in progress, but I can honestly say my dog feels like a new dog. Thank you, Raquel! I wish we could keep you on speed dial forever

    I'm a first time dog parent. I adopted Bodhi, my 7 month old American PItbull and realized very…read morequickly that I needed help. It was already so stressful rearranging my life around his needs and training but also managing work and trying to keep up with my own. It felt so stressful to try to walk him because he wouldn't listen to me and pull to meet other people/dog's. I would walk him for 2 hours and he still wouldn't be tired when we got home. As a rescue, he naturally has so much separation anxiety. So we've been tethered together and this wasn't sustainable or healthy for both of us. I think many dog parents would understand the guilt, frustration, embarrassment of not knowing fully how to work through these hard moments. I found Racquel through yelp after a lot of research. I could've signed up for training that was weeks and weeks long but I needed help...ASAP. It sounds crazy to say that in a few hours she can rewire both you and your dog..but we are proof that it's possible! I also love that her holistic approach is backed by really practical, tangible tools. I learned about practical tools, psychology of dogs as well as how I'm contributing to his reactions and behaviors. I walked way from our session and the next day was already implementing the skills/knowledge I was given. I can't thank you enough Racquel, for helping us and continuing to support us and strengthening our bond.

    South Park Doggie - Waterland LAX

    South Park Doggie - Waterland LAX

    4.8
    (734 reviews)

    Took advantage of their Spring Break special, which included a bath, to board my pup for a week…read more(Sat-Sat). It had been almost a year since we last boarded but Ethan helped us get acclimated to the new policies and was super accommodating, even working with me on pick-up when my return flight was delayed. A true life-saver. All the staff are always kind and helpful and they really love on the animals, which I appreciate. They also regularly update with photos and emails to keep you in the loop which is very reassuring. Loki loves it there and is always wiped out when she returns. (She's been napping all day. Very clearly a happy girl ).

    A little long but it's been nothing less than eventful with this place. I had hight hopes for this…read moreplace as the hours are so convenient for our family's busy schedules. Unfortunately, this place was a HUGE disappointment and had a huge negative impact on our pup. Long story short -- Everything here is a sales grab. The few girls care for the animals but the "managers" and men there are just there for the commission of your packages. I had a whole conversation about their unethical sales pitching with the employee while picking up my dog lol. It's "how they keep the place open" - the employee's words, not mine. Astounding. Said employee also asked what I did for a living because I questioned their sales pitch tactics -- I'm in sales. Also, If you need their VIP services for your unspayed or neutered pup, please spend your money elsewhere!! Before committing to a membership, we did a trial day and spent hundreds on drop in days, grooming, and overnight boarding to see if it was a good fit for our high energy pup. Our dog is not neutered and we don't plan on getting him neutered so we chose their VIP rooms. His breed is also extremely high energy and they promised they could accommodate. I also inquired about training multiple times and they kept saying the trainer would contact me. Everything went great after those few visits, they seemed caring and said he was a great fit for a membership so we end up signing up. Then everything went downhill. Upon the first day of the membership, our dog all of a sudden had behavior issues and needed to be picked up. In the middle of my work day I call the shift manager, and he states that if we want our dog to stay, he needs training ... (from their same trainer that I've inquired 3x about before committing to a membership, still haven't heard back). I asked why this wasn't communicated ever before committing to a membership and they didn't have an answer. I informed them that I would've paid for training before committing to a membership if they would've let me know that there were any issues. Our dog went a couple of more times until they could finally get me in touch with the trainer, 6 visits later. Actually I had lost complete trust at this facility. To add insult to injury, I was able to speak to one of their actual workers that is with the dogs and she let me know that our dog is only let out for about 10 minutes at a time, maybe 3 to 4 times a day during a 12 hour stay. This is their VIP option. So not only is he left in a room for about 12 hours a day, with dogs barking all around him, he's not being stimulated nor played with just being let out to go to the bathroom. Contradicting everything they say that they offer. Their "trainer" is also a joke. He is supposed to be from the Marines and well-versed in the breed of dog that we have. Upon washing him for 5 minutes, as I was told, he said that our dog needed to be neutered before he could be trained because of his energy. Our dog is a Malinois and is not supposed to be neutered before 2 years of age. We've since went elsewhere to get our dog trained from someone who is actually educated on his breed and he's worked on all of his anxiety and reactivity issues that our pup got because of this place.

    Beachwood Canyon Cockapoos

    Beachwood Canyon Cockapoos

    4.5
    (33 reviews)

    The good: Our puppy is an absolute angel with an incredible temperament. We truly couldn't ask for…read morea better match. She's unbelievably intelligent and obedient; while some of that is environmental, a lot of it clearly comes down to good breeding. Charles is excellent at what he does, and it shows in the quality and disposition of his puppies. The not-so-good: As other reviewers have mentioned, communication around timing can be a bit inconsistent. I completely understand that traffic and unexpected events happen, which is why I scheduled pickup specifically to accommodate his preferred timeframe. Despite knowing I had an evening commitment, he arrived more than 4 hours after the agreed-upon pickup time. A simple heads-up would have made a huge difference so we weren't left waiting around for so long, especially when we ourselves had to make a 1.5 hour long commute to meet him. Final thoughts: Charles truly seems like a wonderful person; I think very highly of him and his work. The only area that leaves something to be desired is punctuality, but otherwise he's fantastic. I would 1,000,000% recommend him!

    First off, I want to say our new dog (Bella) is wonderful and is going to be a great pet. She is 7…read moremonths old and is starting to adjust pretty well to her new home. I want to give Charles credit for breeding/raising a beautiful pup and communicating well enough for us to learn about her and adopt her into our family. Now for the negative. We discovered 20-25 live ticks on Bella within 4 days of picking her up (picked her up on 4/11/20). We found ticks all over her body including her face, rear, and in between the pads on her paws. She had numerous red bite marks from ticks. We also found 2 fleas and discovered a substantial amount of flea dirt in her fur and on the fabric anywhere she had been sitting. We live in San Diego in a condo and she has barely been outside, staying on one area of grass and sidewalks. She very clearly did not pick up the full amount of ticks & fleas within a few days of coming home with us. After a trip to the vet for blood and fecal matter tests, the vet confirmed that she was positive for a parasite - Giardia. We paid quite a bit of money for Bella but it feels more like we rescued her from a shelter than a caring/attentive breeder. And quite honestly a shelter might have checked her more thoroughly for ticks and fleas before the transition to a new owner. Charles has communicated his sympathy and provided suggestions on treatment but the presence of ticks in this quantity on a puppy that he was selling is extremely concerning. I've asked Charles to cover the cost for one month of flea/tick treatment and the parasite treatment but he has not responded to these requests. He has not offered to cover any of her treatment and it's stunning that he wouldn't offer a small refund ($50-$100) for the flea/tick or parasite treatments. I'm hopeful this is a one-time issue but it leaves doubt about the care and attention the parent dogs are receiving. It also creates a lot of uncertainty since Charles is adamant about keeping customers away from the breeding area (his home). Our primary complaint is our new pup Bella was infested with ticks (and a few fleas) within days of adopting her, but we also were annoyed on the day we picked her up. We originally had planned to meet at 2:00 pm but on the morning of the exchange Charles asked if we could move it to 3:00 pm. We had no problem with that. We showed up a few minutes after 3:00 pm but after several texts and phone calls did not see Charles until about 4:30. Charles did call back once at 3:30 to say he was 20 minutes away but did not contact us when he arrived 40 minutes later. We found him, and the puppies, only when we noticed some other families holding puppies across the parking lot. As I said, I'm hopeful Bella's ticks and fleas are a one-time incident and Beachwood Canyon runs a clean, safe breeding operation but it certainly makes me doubt things more. It may be that since he mostly sells puppies he did not think to check her. I would like to think that is the truth BUT please make sure to do your research and ask ample questions.

    Smart Paws - pet_training - Updated June 2026

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