Surfside Dog Academy

(49 reviews)

I sought Melissa's help to train my dog to be able to pass the Pet Partner's evaluation, and become…read morea hospital visitation dog. We had to get past many years of no specific training and get to the ability to calmly put on a leash, sit, stay, come, leave it, watch me, etc. We did it in four sessions! With Melissa's expertise, patience and positive training techniques, we had fun with our challenges. Thank you, Melissa!

My experience with Pawsitively Perfect Pooches was great. Melissa had good advice, lots of…read morepatience, and modeled what I needed to do. As a result Bella and I are taking long daily walks- The 4 lessons that I signed up for was a game changer for us!! I definitely will contact Melissa if we need her again!

Zoom Room Dog Training

4.5

(187 reviews)

We purchased 20 classes for $750 when Zoom Room HB was having their Black Friday sale last…read moreNovember. As of May 2, we had attended 7 classes. On May 21, I received an email that their location had closed THE DAY BEFORE and that Long Beach and Lakewood would honor up to 5 class credits. Wtf. I went back to all my previous emails from Zoom Room HB and there was not a single announcement that they will be closing down. We immediately emailed the business requesting a refund for the unused credits and it has been over a week and we kept being told by Vince to be patient. My partner asked for a timeline, and in which Vince had requested another 5 days. I had filed a dispute for a portion of refund with my credit card company before they completely disappear. As someone in property management, the business owner would have at least known 60 days in advance (maybe even earlier depending on their lease contract) that they will not be renewing. They decided to wait until the day after closure to announce they are permanently closed to not deal with in person questions from their customers.

How cool!!! Small…read morepersonable classes ranging from obedience, tricks, agility and more. I randomly tried a package of classes when I stopped by - hoping to get my dog to stop nipping me when he is excited. Classes teach the owner how to train their dog. Go home and keep practicing! The instructors and owner totally care, giving tips to nip behaviors in the bud and to UNDERSTAND your dog. I've only started my pup here, he's 8 - but it's just been fun to interact with him and try something different. Here he's in tricks class!

The Dog Guru Whisperer & Ex K9 Officer Training

(660 reviews)

I genuinely can't recommend Brad highly enough. By the time…read moreI reached out, I had already spent months trying to fix Sunny's leash pulling and reactivity. I'd worked with two trainers, including a 3 week board-and-train program ($5,000 investment), followed every instruction, and practiced daily, yet I didn't see changes. I was managing the behavior without ever understanding what was causing it. That changed within the first two hours with Brad. He didn't start with commands or tools. Instead, he focused on the psychology behind Sunny's reactions: what was driving them, what was reinforcing them, and what I was unknowingly communicating. No one had ever explained it that clearly. That was the turning point. For the first time, I wasn't guessing or correcting blindly. I could see what Sunny was experiencing in real time and understand how my timing, energy, and responses were shaping his behavior. That clarity changed everything. Walks feel completely different now. Sunny is no longer pulls since my training with Brad, the reactive outbursts are gone, and the experience itself is calm. I'm no longer bracing for problems because I know how to prevent them. I am SO appreciative!

Great experience! We have an 8-year-old rescue Golden…read moreRetriever who developed some habits we wanted to correct and weren't able to do on our own with traditional training. A couple of these weren't terribly serious, but we felt we weren't "in charge" anymore, that our dog wasn't getting the message from whatever we were doing, and that if we didn't do something different, it could really get out of control. Brad really helped us with this, where traditional "training" wasn't working. We have two or three things we're working on with our girl, but here is the most dramatic change we had with one issue. She is very food motivated, and would beg from us at the table whenever we sat down to eat, and would be underfoot in the kitchen during prep. She got overly excited and would not settle and lie down. Brad explained we weren't communicating well with her on a dog level, so to get that communication kicked in to gear, he actually started our session not with this problem, but with making sure she would not dash out the front door when it was opened. This was to establish that we were in charge and what was expected of her. What he showed us how to do worked like you wouldn't believe. It was like a light bulb went off for our girl. What we did affected everything after that. It wasn't about dashing out the door, it wasn't about begging for food, it was about knowing what was acceptable in our pack and to look to us for direction. That night, at dinner, she went to her "spot" with a simple direction and was relaxed during our entire meal. She can now be directed to her spot and will stay quietly any time we need her to. Best of all, she seems truly relieved that she doesn't have to be in charge and that WE are. She is much more relaxed around so many other things. It gave us so much more confidence! I didn't think that what Brad taught us would work. It's quite counterintuitive. But trust me, it worked like magic. This is not dog training - it's communication with your dog. Brad answers all your questions, doesn't waste your time, shows you clearly and directly what will work. We're so thankful we found him!

Sit Means Sit Dog Training Orange County

(255 reviews)

Had our dog board for eight days and what a difference! We've been working with Jason a lot and…read morehe's been a tremendous help. He takes the time to teach us the commands but also explains the logic behind it so we can understand it better. Highly recommend working with Jason!

All of the trainers have been kind, gentle and very knowledgeable about the training techniques. My…read moredog is learning from each training session. I would recommend Sis Means Sit to all dog owners.

OC Paws Dog Training

(111 reviews)

We had such a great experience with OC Paws. My family and I signed up our pup, Duke, for the…read moreProactive Puppy training program and we are so happy with the results. Lindsay was so good with our rambunctious pup. We felt like our concerns were addressed every lesson and targeted Duke's specific needs. We were given explanations about his behavior and why the commands were beneficial to him. Everything was taken at the pace we felt most comfortable with and it helped us to be more confident going forward with our pups training at home!

We have two beagle puppies, Scout and Samwise. Trainers Stacy and Lindsay both helped us so much!…read moreWe took the pups to the Star puppy class with Lindsay where we learned valuable skills like place, and loose leash walking. We also had a personal training package where Stacy came to help us apply these skills and more into life in our home. She helped us problem-solve unwanted behaviors like barking at the door and anxiety with new people. She also taught good door skills and how to give our dogs more freedom on a long lead, among other things. Both trainers are knowledgeable, patient, and flexible. I highly recommend OC Paws! They have helped give us the skills we needed to truly enjoy life with our beagles!

Force-Free Dog Training

4.4

(19 reviews)

The little bit of training was fine. He has a real chip on his shoulder. After paying for full…read morepuppy training, I found out I had cancer and went immediately into the hospital for 2 months. We were out of state and were advised not to leave the state till it was under control. When we got back home, I called him to continue training my dog, and he told me my dog was no longer a puppy, so he wouldn't honor all the money I'd paid him. I suggested putting the money towards regular dog training, and he would not honor it. It was over $1000

I chose Jeff over other Trainers because of his loving nature towards Ginger, who was a member of…read moreour family! With over 30 years of experience in this Force Free training, he knows what he's doing. He knows how to communicate winning the dogs heart, while TEACHING both Pooch and Parent, how to achieve successful results without pain. Jeff debunks a lot of so-called "standard techniques" in favor of gentle, effective tools. We are still teaching. & learning things! Give him a call -he is responsive, timely and generous, WITHOUT the exhaustively huge "Egos" so many other SELF glorified Trainers personify.Cheers.

Canine Learning Academy

(55 reviews)

I have been going to canine learning academy since October of 2023 with my mini goldendoodle…read moreTimber. We are a strong advocate of positive reinforcement training. Your puppy or dog will grow and learn so many skills and be well mannered. With all the guidance and training I have the dream dog that I can take anywhere with me. Timber has learned so much through the puppy program, all day school, grad prep school, puppy and manner classes, canine good citizen, agility and so much more. This community is one of a kind. My dog and I have made so many strong friendships and have created so many memories that I hold close to my heart. I have been going to canine learning academy since October of 2022 with my mini goldendoodle Timber. We are a strong advocate of positive reinforcement training. Your puppy or dog will grow and learn so many skills and be well mannered. With all the guidance and training I have the dream dog that I can take anywhere with me. Timber has learned so much through the puppy program, all day school, grad prep school, puppy and manner classes, canine good citizen, agility and so much more. This community is one of a kind. My dog and I have made so many strong friendships and have created so many memories that I hold close to my heart.

Even though they train a large number of puppies and adolescent dogs at the same time with very…read moreindividual attention. A bit pricey, but when you figure out the per hour rate you'll see that this academy is a bargain. The big plus is all of the follow-up group classes on the weekends.

HB Hounds

(8 reviews)

Fast efficient thorough really like this girl knows what she's doing. I'm gonna go with her for…read moresure on anytime. I leave the house for more than a 24 hours.

Excellent service and communication. Arielle took care of all our cats while we were gone. She…read morewent above and beyond our expectations and communicated with us throughout our entire trip. Her visits were detailed prior to our trip and any changes were well communicated. If you need service for pet sitting visits, feeding and care, while on a vacation, Arielle is your go to sitter. Highly Recommend!! JD

TACT K9 Handling, LLC

(7 reviews)

Working with head trainer Martina and her partner and fellow trainer, Russ, at Tact K9 Handling…read morehas been the best experience. We feel very fortunate for all the amazing skills they have taught us and instilled in our dog Phil Collins. We contribute Phil's good manners both on and off leash to the training with Tact K9. We have been working with Tact K9 since our dog was 16 weeks old. We initially sought out training with Tact K9 for Therapy certification and through their program our dog was certified at a service working level since he took to their method of positive reinforcement so well. He became my psychological service dog aiding me through anxiety. They are incredibly knowledgeable, patient, gentle but also firm when it matters. They have a gift a forming an incredible bond with their clients and treat them with such care and respect as if they are one of their own dogs. This not a board and train because Tact K9 believes that it's about teaching both the human and the dog together which was very important to us since we wanted our dog to do therapy work. He also received his AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate. Their park sessions are informative and fun and they also love bringing their community together with fun themed walks :) We also love that they are giving back to the community through their Blue Spec K9 Foundation where they are specifically training service dogs. We have volunteered with their nonprofit by aiding in socializing the dogs in the program. It was so rewarding and also fun! We are honored to be a part of the Tact K9 crew!

Highly recommend TACT K9 Handling! We brought our 4-month-old Australian Shepherd, Donut, in for…read moretraining and saw progress during the very first session. He started out barking and reacting to everything around him, but by the end of class he was calmer, more focused, and successfully participated in a pack walk. Russ, Martina, and Brandon were patient, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain what they were doing and why. We left with a better understanding of our puppy and tools we can continue using at home. Training is a process, but we're excited to keep working with them and watch Donut grow. Looking forward to future sessions!

SoCal Dog Training

(460 reviews)

Watching Instagram and YouTube videos won't give you a well-behaved dog. Working with Vladae will!…read more We've been working with Vladae for about four months with our now six-and-a-half-month-old Golden Retriever, Coach, and it has been one of the best investments we've made. What sets Vladae apart is that he doesn't just train dogs, he teaches owners how to build a lifelong relationship with them. Every lesson leaves us with practical tools, clear direction, and the confidence to continue the training every single day. Because of that, the progress doesn't stop when the session ends. Vladae has an incredible ability to understand dogs. Watching him read a dog's behavior, body language, and mindset is genuinely fascinating. He knows exactly how to communicate with each dog in a way they understand, and it's clear this comes from years of experience and a deep understanding of canine psychology. He's also one of the most invested professionals we've ever worked with. Throughout the week, he encourages us to send videos, provides thoughtful feedback almost immediately, and is always available to answer questions or jump on a call if we need guidance. You never feel like you're figuring things out on your own. He truly cares about both the dogs and the people raising them, and he always follows through. Every recommendation Vladae has made, whether it's training tools, techniques, or daily routines, has become an essential part of Coach's development. We trusted the process from day one, and the results truly speak for themselves. (See the videos! Coach is only 6.5 months old in them.) Our puppy is happy, confident, well-mannered, and genuinely loves learning. We receive compliments on his behavior everywhere we go, and we owe so much of that to the foundation Vladae helped us build. We also had the opportunity to work with Erica, who trains alongside Vladae, and she was absolutely wonderful. One session with Erica is included in the program, and it was incredibly helpful. It's clear she shares the same passion, knowledge, and dedication that make this training program so special. Vladae brings unmatched energy, professionalism, and passion to every session. He genuinely wants every dog and every owner to succeed, and that level of commitment is incredibly rare to find. If you're looking for a trainer who truly understands dogs and is committed to setting both you and your dog up for long-term success, I can't recommend Vladae highly enough. Coach has become an incredible puppy, and we're excited to continue into adult school because of the foundation he's helped us build. We're so grateful we found him!

I wanted to address your recent claims regarding my review of your services. I assure you that I…read morewas a legitimate customer who genuinely shared my honest experience, which I believe is critical for other potential clients. While it's understandable to feel upset when receiving negative feedback, it's important to reflect on the reasons behind my review. I noticed that during our initial interaction, you made a comment about my background that many found to be a stereotypical and racist remark. In fact, I saw that you previously posted video footage of our encounter on your Instagram, but you removed it after receiving backlash for those comments. This indicates that others found your remarks concerning as well. I want to emphasize that my intention was never to harm your business; rather, it was to share my experience. Thankfully, I have since found another trainer who practices positive reinforcement, which aligns much better with my values and my dog's needs.

Paw Sweet Paw Pet Resorts

4.3

(580 reviews)

Great grooming and bathing services. Have been coming here for 5 years+ for both my dogs. They do a…read moregreat job with our corgis with shaping them and making them nice and clean. Very friendly staff as well, have never had an issue. Here is Harper after a bath below!

We've been bringing our pups to the Jamboree location for quite a while, and up until the beginning…read moreof this year, we had nothing but positive experiences. Last year, we brought them frequently and always felt confident leaving them there. The staff was friendly and welcoming, the facility felt clean, and our dogs always seemed happy to be there. That's why it's so disappointing to see how much things have changed since the ownership transition. Since the change in ownership, we've noticed a significant decline in the overall experience. The staff no longer feels as friendly or approachable. While there are still a few kind employees, several team members come across as cold and unhelpful, making drop-off feel uncomfortable and even a bit intimidating. It no longer feels like the warm, welcoming environment it once was. We've also noticed the facility doesn't seem nearly as clean as it used to be. Our dogs consistently come home smelling strongly of urine after daycare. We occasionally check the live cameras throughout the day and frequently see urine sitting on the playroom floors for extended periods before being cleaned up. If messes in the common play areas are left unattended, it raises concerns about how often the kennels are being cleaned when the dogs are resting. Combined with the odor our dogs come home with, it has made us question the overall cleanliness of the facility. Another noticeable change is how little time our dogs now seem to spend in the play areas. We'll pay for a half-day of daycare, and by the time we pick them up, we're lucky if they've spent more than 30 minutes interacting with other dogs. The majority of their visit appears to be spent kenneled. We choose daycare because we want our dogs to have a safe, clean environment where they can socialize and play. If they're spending most of their visit in a kennel, it's difficult to justify paying for daycare when they could be comfortably resting at home in a cleaner environment for free. Customer service has also become frustrating. Recently, one of our dogs came home without his collar. We didn't realize it until we got home, so we called the facility and were told someone would call us back because they were too busy at the moment. We never received a callback. After calling several more times over the next few days without getting an answer, we ultimately had to drive to the facility ourselves just to ask about and retrieve the collar. Pickup has also become much slower than it used to be, often requiring a long wait before our dogs are brought out. We're genuinely disappointed because we loved this location for a long time and trusted the team with our pets. Unfortunately, since the ownership change, we've experienced a noticeable decline in cleanliness, customer service, and the overall level of care. We hope these concerns are taken seriously because we'd love to see this location return to the high standard that made us loyal customers in the first place.

Bark Collective

(129 reviews)

I interacted with Dan Parks from the Bark Collective and found him to be very responsive, and fair…read morein our interactions.

Our dog Hank loves bark collective. They always take such good care of Hank and he is soo happy…read morewhenever we pick him up. I know he's been well cared for. We also just had or first training session with AJ and I'm so excited to implement her training methods that don't require and e-collar. The e-collar is optional and can be used on certain situations, but I saw her techniques with him work without the ecollar.. I'm so glad I scheduled the training session and will continue to schedule training session with her! Her training techniques are soo effective.

Paws Chateau

4.7

(226 reviews)

Truly a caring place to take your fur baby!…read more Our Doodle loves it here, shes excited everytime she gets playmates and boarding.

My parents brought Queen, her puppy, to Paws Chateau to have her trained. She was abandoned by her…read moreprevious family when she was 3 months old, so she is usually not trusting strangers and other dogs. They had tried other training places but none have been able to help Queen. My mother is very pleased to have found Paws Chateau. The staff here is very patient and kind. Ms. Louise was very kind and encouraging toward Queen. Ms. Madison was always attentive and caring. Mr. Todd is an excellent trainer. My mother is greatly pleased with his training method and Queen's behaviors. He makes them feel safe and at ease to bring Queen to class. Thank you, Paws Chateau, very much from our family!

Uptown Paw

4.6

(236 reviews)

Brand new puppy parents here. It's a bit overwhelming with all the training, food, vet & grooming…read moreoptions!! We tried Uptown as they were highly recommended & I couldn't be happier!!! The ease of scheduling appointments, the front desk staff & I can't even begin to describe how amazing he smells every time we pick him up. The prices are a bit higher, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for!!! Next I'll have to try the boarding.

We absolutely love Uptown Paw! My puppy Bandit gets so excited every time we pull up--he…read morepractically runs inside. It gives me so much peace of mind knowing he's happy, active, and well cared for while he's there. I especially love the report cards after each visit--it's so fun to see how he did and what he was up to throughout the day. The staff is always so kind, friendly, and genuinely caring, which makes a huge difference. On top of that, their pricing is very reasonable for the quality of care they provide. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a great doggy daycare!

Your Animals Best Friend

(103 reviews)

We take our two pups here 2 - 3 days a week for daycare. They are always happy to go and the staff…read moreis really positive and kind with all the dogs and give me good updates on my pups. They even work with my younger rescue who has back leg issues. My pups come home happy and go right to bed after playing and socializing. Great business, so glad we found them!

The owner was really easy to Acres's for a last minute booking. My giant schnauzer stayed for a…read moreweek and got daily messages about her. When we picked her up she gave everyone kisses so she loved them! My schnauzer is a lucky dog who she likes so they obviously treated her amazing. I will be bringing her back for day stays and all my future trips! Highly recommended.

Ruff Life Resort

(22 reviews)

I have 4 fur babies: Maxx, Lola, Thor, and Loki. After moving from Tustin I have had a difficult…read moretime finding a daycare for Lola, Thor & Loki (Maxx is 14 1/2 years old and is like a cat). I was taking the dogs to Sanders K-9, but after some recent reviews I became uncomfortable taking them there. I started looking around yelp and came across Ruff Life Resort. My husband got in contact with LeNay about pricing and LeNay encouraged us to bring the pups for an evaluation with Andrea. We went and met with Andrea and immediately I fell in love. The first thing I noticed was how clean it was. There was no smell and the facility was spotless. It was a huge difference from the last place we went to. Andrea spent over an hour with us evaluating the dogs and talking about how they run their daycare. Andrea explained that they like to take the dogs on 2-3 walks when they are at the daycare full day. Andrea asked us to go on a walk with the dogs so she can evaluate how they are on leash. I really appreciated the thorough evaluation because it made me feel that Andrea cared about our dogs and that every other dog that will be coming into the facility will be appropriate. Andrea told us since they are new they are offering 1st daycare for free so we tried them out and decided to buy a 30 day pass. So for we've taken the dogs 3 times and really appreciate Andrea & Brittany. Andrea texts my husband throughout the day and gives us updates about the dogs. I would HIGHLY recommend Ruff Life for pawrents who need a trustworthy place to drop of their dogs. They also offer grooming and baths at a great price. I can't wait for their hours to extend so we can start dropping them off on the weekends :)

I have 1 little puggy girl who is our baby!!! I was nervous to leave her with a place that was…read moreunfamiliar because she's always just been with family when not with us. We both work anywhere between 4-5 days a week and I felt so bad leaving my little girl alone all day while we were gone so I decided to check this place out. I met with the owner LeNay for the first "interview" and she was awesome, and you could really tell she opened Ruff Life Resort for the right reasons. Penelope has been here 2 times already and she loves it. They sent me photos and even a video throughout the day of her playing with another little dog and it made me so happy. She comes home and sleeps the rest of the evening because she's so tuckered out. It's great socialization for her to play with her kind and great for us that evening at least...it's like a free night for the hubby and me because she just sleeps. haha. Puppies have so much energy! Love this place! Wish I could send her here like 3 times a week.She always comes back happy, and the place is spotless. They take them on multiple walks a day, and are always supervised.

The Bone Adventure

4.4

(101 reviews)

I feel they neglected my puppy. The camera was always shut off when I was out of town trying to…read morefind him on the camera view. I had to call them to see if my puppy was okay. He did love the doggy daycare but when I picked him up from Bone Adventure Boarding where he stayed two nights on Sunday evening my dog was very ill. He got two ear infections, paws red itchy, and bloody. He seemed traumatized and very ill. I took him to the vet and they had put him on antibiotics, they gave him steroids and allergy shots and it's still 16 days after and his paws are not healed and my puppy is getting worse and lots and lots of vet bills. It is worth it to pay for a dog sitter.

Booked a pool day here and it was so fun! They have two people in the pool to help with the dogs…read more I've never seen our dogs has such a blast

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Jessie Q.

0

2

0

5 years ago

She seems nice but intense. I had called for more information about dog training and she gave me a rate and said she would reach out to me for an evaluation but never did. I then called to follow up and there was never an answer. Then I decided to call her again about a month later and she said she would get back to me and then doubled her rate. She just seems to spazy and all over the place like she doesn't know her own schedule. Just a shame because I had heard great things about her at the dog park at a pitty meet up. Also her group training is the same price as private training. Why? My dog isn't getting all her attention. read more

David S.

0

1

2 years ago

Dash, my Dachshund, has transformed remarkably thanks to our wonderful dog trainer. Previously, Dash had some challenges with obedience, but now he can confidently sit, stay, and is much more manageable on walks. The trainer's patience and tailored approach really catered to Dash's spirited personality, making learning enjoyable and effective for him. Their expertise not only improved Dash's behavior but also enhanced our bond. I highly recommend this trainer to any dog owner looking to improve their pet's manners and obedience. It's been a truly rewarding experience seeing Dash grow into a well-behaved companion. read more

Timothy H.

0

2

0

6 years ago

I highly recommend Sarah if you're looking for a dog trainer. My dog Cele is three years old and she started to revert back to some bad habits. After one session I was seeing results. Cele was responding to the stay command instead of always walking away after I asked her to stay in the past and I was amazed!! I've also seen significant results in Cele's lease aggression and she is no longer lunging towards other dogs when we're out on walks. I'm looking forward to seeing future results as Sarah continues to work with Cele. Thank you Sarah! read more

Patty H.

0

9

0

6 years ago

Sarah is so good with my two little crazies! They adore her and since she has started working with them, they are much better on-leash and better behaved. Thank you Sarah! read more

ryan s.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Sarah and her team do a fantastic job. My dog loves her and I love how my dog listens to me now. (:

Surfside Dog Academy - pet_training - Updated August 2026

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Brandi is AMAZING! We got our pup from a rescue he was not able to go on a walk without panicking…read moreout of control and hard to handle. We were referred to The Hounds Grounds and after a few sessions, you could really see him change, we purchased a package and just finished today. He is a completely different dog. We can walk him with confidence and actually enjoy it. He even learned a few extra tricks as well. You can really tell that Brandi gets dogs and loves what she does. 10/10 recommend her!

Brandi is great! Very helpful and provides clear and concise information. My dog has reactivity…read moreproblems as a rescue, and I left a group session feeling more confident about how to work with him. Looking forward to more sessions in the future! Thank you!

Canine Learning Academy

(55 reviews)

I have been going to canine learning academy since October of 2023 with my mini goldendoodle…read moreTimber. We are a strong advocate of positive reinforcement training. Your puppy or dog will grow and learn so many skills and be well mannered. With all the guidance and training I have the dream dog that I can take anywhere with me. Timber has learned so much through the puppy program, all day school, grad prep school, puppy and manner classes, canine good citizen, agility and so much more. This community is one of a kind. My dog and I have made so many strong friendships and have created so many memories that I hold close to my heart. I have been going to canine learning academy since October of 2022 with my mini goldendoodle Timber. We are a strong advocate of positive reinforcement training. Your puppy or dog will grow and learn so many skills and be well mannered. With all the guidance and training I have the dream dog that I can take anywhere with me. Timber has learned so much through the puppy program, all day school, grad prep school, puppy and manner classes, canine good citizen, agility and so much more. This community is one of a kind. My dog and I have made so many strong friendships and have created so many memories that I hold close to my heart.

Even though they train a large number of puppies and adolescent dogs at the same time with very…read moreindividual attention. A bit pricey, but when you figure out the per hour rate you'll see that this academy is a bargain. The big plus is all of the follow-up group classes on the weekends.

Calmer Canines

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Kate has been the best dog trainer for my family with a fearful, reactive pup. We have taken…read morevarious dog training classes with Kate, but the MOST important of all was the way Kate helped us prepare for a new baby joining the family. During my pregnancy, Kate helped us create success stations, work on management strategies, prepare for baby homecoming, and help our pup get ready for the big changes. My husband and I learned so much about safety and preparation and I cannot imagine bringing home a newborn with our dog without these sessions. Kate is extremely kind, personable, and knowledgeable and it is clear to see her passion for helping dog owners with pregnancy, toddlers, and all types of families. I HIGHLY recommend working with her for any growing family with any type of dog.

Kate is amazing and very knowledgeable about the relationship between dogs and kids. She was such a…read morehelp to our family. I highly recommend her!

First Instinct Dog Training

(15 reviews)

If you are looking for a dog trainer, go with Amie! Amie helped us train our puppy Coco for a…read morecouple months, and it has been the best decision we've ever made! Coco was struggling with dog reactivity, pulling on the leash while walking, barking, and other things that arise with most puppies. I was desperate to find help and even after the first session with Amie, Coco was walking without pulling and following directions! She has given us the tools we need to help Coco through her big feelings. It truly is like night and day compared to when we first started. Coco is a complete different dog because of the training Amie provided us. I would do it 1000x over without a doubt. She explained everything slowly and carefully, let us film so we wouldn't forget what to do, replied to texts when something would come up, drove to our apartment multiple times to train in Coco's usual environment, and listened to our concerns and what we wanted to focus on. Again, if you need help training your fur baby whether they are a puppy or not, I highly recommend Amie and her program!

Meatball started training with Amie when she was just 4 weeks old and the progress has been…read moreincredible. From the very beginning, Amie has been so patient, flexible with my schedule, and genuinely caring about Meatball's growth and overall wellness. We began with standard baseline training which gave us such a strong foundation. Those basics made it so much easier when I decided to move on to more advanced skills. One of the biggest things I have appreciated is that Amie did not just train Meatball, she also trained me. She taught me how to communicate better, be consistent, and really build a strong bond with my dog. Another amazing part of working with Amie is the community she has built. After private lessons, we have had the opportunity to join group classes and pack walks which will be so great for Meatball's socialization. She also goes above and beyond by offering support outside of in-person lessons. Whenever I have questions, she is always responsive via text and often sends helpful how-to videos, tips, and tricks that make a big difference in our progress. I truly cannot imagine what our training journey would have been like without Amie. She has made such a positive impact on both me and Meatball and I am so grateful for her dedication and support. I am going to miss our one on ones!!!

OC Canine Coaching

(66 reviews)

I 1000% recommend OC canine coaching. My Chihuahua/Xolo 1-year old, Patty Lupe, is a rescue, a…read moreformer street dog from Tijuana, and I was worried she would never be able to just enjoy walks. She would bark at everyone and everything, and was just SO anxious and nervous (understandably) in public. Other trainers we looked into wanted to use shock collars and other more aggressive forms of discipline on her, but I knew Patty didn't need more trauma to help her calm down. Bryndon, on the other hand, was patient, kind, and used treats and other strategies to help Patty gradually feel comfortable on walks. When he got her to go into a dog park - WITH NO LEASH - I was literally speechless (in a good way!). I never thought that would be an option for Patty, but here she was going up to other dogs and walking around without growling, barking, or lunging at them. After 4-5 weeks of training, I'm now able to take Patty to a dog park on my own, off leash, and she actually PLAYS with other dogs all on her own! I literally teared up the first time I saw her running and playing with other dogs; this was something I never thought would happen because so many other people and trainers told me that Patty would probably always be aggressive and scared. Now, she loves dog parks and I'm planning on enrolling her in agility classes in the future - just like Bryndon said would be a possibility one day. I cannot praise him enough. Trust him with your dog because he will take help them through patience, kind words, and care, and not through fear, pain, or aggression, which our dogs don't deserve.

I adopted Maya, a young Belgian Malinois mix, a few months ago. She came from an extremely abusive…read moresituation and had pretty severe behavioral and reactivity issues that needed to be addressed. I searched around extensively and contacted a few different trainers and specialists, but remained skeptical (worried about finding someone good enough to handle Maya). However, I finally managed to come across Bryndon who seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Within minutes of the first introductory session, I could tell Bryndon knew exactly what he was doing and gave me the confidence that I had made the right choice. He experienced first-hand what Maya's reactivity was like, and yet by the end of the first introductory session, he already managed to showcase how we could help her improve. I knew that her issues were bad enough that it would take a very long time for her to get better, but to my surprise she showed massive improvements literally within the first few sessions. Most importantly, he showed and taught me what I needed to do to help guide her along, which was my biggest worry. We've both learned a lot (and got to learn a lot of tricks along the way lol). I cannot express enough how grateful I am to have chosen him as Maya's trainer. He listens to your needs and concerns and actually addresses them, is extremely well informed, and gives you and your dog the confidence they need to be better. He has a good mentality towards training dogs and utilizes positive reinforcement to help correct the source of issues rather than training that only serves to suppress and hide the bad behaviors/triggers. I don't say this lightly, but I cannot recommend Bryndon enough! If you are someone like me who was both highly skeptical and unsure, try meeting him for an intro, he is very approachable and friendly, and is genuinely honest enough to tell you if he's the right fit or not. Thank you Bryndon!!!

Bark & Roll Dog Training

(19 reviews)

I cannot recommend Sara at Bark and Roll enough! I sent my 4.5-month-old golden retriever puppy,…read moreJetty, to her for a board and train program after being referred by a coworker who had a great experience. While Jetty was already a good puppy, he came back an even better one, and his progress on the leash has been a total game-changer for us. I'll admit I was pretty nervous at first because I'd heard horror stories about dogs coming back from board and trains acting "different" or losing their spark. Sara completely eased those fears. She managed to teach him discipline and commands while still letting him be his goofy, happy self. It's the perfect balance of structure and personality. Throughout the process, I felt totally connected to Jetty's progress thanks to the daily training videos and pictures Sara sent. You can truly tell he was in excellent care and that she treats the dogs like her own. Thank you so much, Sara, for all of your help and for making this such a positive experience for both me and Jetty!

This review is long overdue! We've been working with Sara since our dog, Luca, was an 8mo old puppy…read more(he is now 3) and still trust her for everything now from small questions to boarding whenever we need to be away. We've known her for 2 years now and have seen how much love she puts into caring and training him -- she's adapted how she works with Luca as he's grown and changed as well and we know he's in good hands when he's with her. Recently, we were having a hard time figuring out how to help him with his anxiety that felt like it escalated during his transition out of puppyhood so much that we started to avoid bringing him to many places--needless to say: we were getting anxious ourselves. After entrusting him with Sara again in the two week training program (in which she always shares daily updates), he came back to us with more confidence and a refreshed state for us to be able to continue all the things he learned with Sara back at home. Although the program did help him a lot, we know that ultimately it's our job to ensure his continued success, and Sara has been so patient and understanding when guiding us on how to work with him in the way that works best for him-- always creating space for us to share specific concerns so that she can give us tailored advice and instructions. I can probably go on and on endlessly, but I'll end it with the fact that we went from feeling stressed whenever we were out on walks to now constantly looking forward to the next walk with our boy and bringing him along whenever we can. Thank you Sara!!!!!

HB Hounds

(8 reviews)

Fast efficient thorough really like this girl knows what she's doing. I'm gonna go with her for…read moresure on anytime. I leave the house for more than a 24 hours.

Excellent service and communication. Arielle took care of all our cats while we were gone. She…read morewent above and beyond our expectations and communicated with us throughout our entire trip. Her visits were detailed prior to our trip and any changes were well communicated. If you need service for pet sitting visits, feeding and care, while on a vacation, Arielle is your go to sitter. Highly Recommend!! JD

For a Civilized Dog

(30 reviews)

If I could give For a Civilized Dog more than five stars, I would…read more Jacklyn and Cary are an exceptional husband-and-wife team who genuinely care about every dog that comes through their doors. They don't just train dogs--they take the time to truly understand each dog's personality, behavior, and individual needs. Their experience, knowledge, and thoughtful approach are evident in everything they do. I have a Rottweiler who developed dog reactivity because of mistakes I made while handling him on walks. Instead of simply training my dog, Jacklyn and Cary trained me as well. They helped me understand where I was unintentionally contributing to the problem and gave me the tools and confidence to handle him correctly. Thanks to them, my dog is no longer dog reactive, which has been absolutely life-changing for both of us. They've also become our go-to boarding facility whenever we travel. The best endorsement I can give is that my dog gets genuinely excited when we pull into their driveway. He can't wait to go inside! That peace of mind is priceless. Their facility is modern, clean, secure, and exceptionally well maintained. Because Jacklyn and Cary live on the property, I know my dog is safe and well cared for around the clock. Unlike boarding facilities we've used in the past, he's never once come home sick. One of my favorite touches is the daily report cards. Every day I receive thoughtful updates about how he's doing, along with photos of him playing, learning, and enjoying his stay. It makes being away from him so much easier. The entire staff is fantastic, but Danielle deserves a special shout-out. She is incredibly kind, patient, and talented, and my dog absolutely adores her. Seeing how excited he gets when he sees her says everything. Communication has always been outstanding. They're quick to answer texts, scheduling is easy, and every interaction leaves me feeling like my dog is in the very best hands. I trust For a Civilized Dog completely. Whether you're looking for behavioral training, obedience training, or an exceptional boarding experience, I truly cannot recommend them highly enough. They have made an incredible difference in our lives, and I am so grateful for everything they've done for both me and my dog.

When searching for a trainer I had specifics of what I wanted; Boutique Boot camp with Medium to…read moreHigh intensity with personal attention.... thats where FACD comes in! So glad I found Cary and the team--Jaclyn, Sadi, and Dannielle! I had a VERY active boxer mix puppy and zero experience, and from my first call with Jaclyn, I knew this was the right place. My pup did the 21-day board-and-train, and the results were amazing. We got regular updates, and when we picked her up, my whole family was blown away by how much she had learned. We also did in-home sessions with Cary, which made a huge difference in keeping everything consistent. Our house is honestly so much calmer and better now. Even when she boards or goes to daycare, they continue reinforcing her training--which I love. I recommend them to everyone. You truly can't go wrong!

Mac's Canine Consultants

(51 reviews)

My husband and I adopted a Lab who had grown up on a cattle farm in Northern California. Once we…read morebrought him home, we quickly realized that the social, human loving, on your lap labs that we had in the past, was not the case with our new family member. We knew immediately that we would need support with socializing our pup. That's where Cynthia, the dog whisperer came in. Cynthia came to our home to assess our fearful and anxious dog to see how she could best help. Looking back, we had a dog who had never been on a leash, heard everyday sounds, cabinets closing, babies crying, trains passing by...he was raised in a crate, outside with little human interaction. It was challenging to determine how we could help him become comfortable, trusting and of course happy and settled. There were moments when we thought maybe we weren't the right fit for him. Maybe he needed wide open spaces to run free and feel comfortable? Cynthia immediately calmed our doubts, after explaining her approach and plan of action, we signed up for the 21 day immersive training. She was so great about working with our schedule and keeping it consistent. Within a week we saw that Rock was able to walk on a leash, follow basic commands and more importantly build a relationship of trust with a human. Cynthia communicates very well with her clients, we received multiple videos daily documenting Rock's growth. In these videos we began to see a more confident, trusting dog. She literally took him everywhere. Lowe's, the pet store, dressing rooms, coffee shops, the post office, home goods....you name it. Cynthia's commitment to her craft is like no other. She is confident, knowledgeable, and willing to do whatever it takes to support your furry family member. Fast forward a year...we now have a happy, healthy, confident, human trusting lab. Rock runs up to people with a wagging tail, he displays trust for those strangers that he encounters. He allows children to kiss his face. He loves his new life all because Cynthia showed him how to trust in his new environment. We are forever grateful for the work that Cynthia did with Rock. She truly changed his life. If you are in need of a dog trainer who truly cares, Cynthia is your gal.

I can't recommend Mac's enough! Growing up we always had a yappy dog around who was cute in…read morepictures but borderline satanic in real life and potty trained at best. When I decided to raise my own fur baby (a precious poodle/weimaraner rescue) I wanted to do better and I can't believe the night and day difference it makes to put in a little more work and invest in training. Major bonus points for clear communication, easy scheduling, and convenient payment options. On behalf of Sprinkles, myself, and my security deposit, I have to say thank you Cynthia!

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