My husband and I cannot say enough good things about Gonzalo. We came to him when we brought home Juni, our Doberman puppy, knowing we needed someone who understood working dogs and he delivered. He's helped us become better, more informed dog owners and make sure we're meeting Juni's physical and mental needs, not just teaching her commands. The results speak for themselves: she has off-leash freedom we honestly didn't think was possible, walks nicely on leash, and has good manners with guests. We also did a board and train while we were on vacation, and she came back sharper than ever. What makes Gonzalo stand out is how much he gets dogs. He doesn't have a one-size-fits-all approach. He talks about different training methods and helps you figure out what works for your specific dog's temperament. The biggest thing we took away is how much mindset and thresholds matter. A lot of trainers we looked into were focused purely on obedience with treats (sit, down, stay) in low-distraction settings, with no real plan for when your dog is stressed or overstimulated. Gonzalo pushed us to proof those skills at higher levels and hold our very smart but airheaded dog to higher standards, and because of that, Juni is pretty dang reliable out in the real world. We've since moved to LA and we will still make the drive to San Diego to see him. Highly, highly recommend. read more

The Human Dog Team - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

I honestly cannot recommend Gonzalo enough. I first reached out to him in April 2025 because my dog was having behavioral issues after moving apartments in December. We had an introductory phone call and within just a few minutes I knew I found the right trainer. He was kind, patient, and supportive... not just with my dog, but with me as well. He made it clear that training is just as much about teaching the owner as it is about teaching the dog. He was tough and direct when needed, which I really appreciated. It held me accountable and helped me understand how my own habits were affecting my dog. He balanced that "tough love" with genuine care, encouragement, and always provided clear explanations that were easy to apply at home... and trust me, he'll know if you aren't doing the reps at home. But how could you not when you see how much he cares and truly wants to help?! I never experienced issues with my dog in the 6 years I've had him, so I was beyond discouraged before I started working with Gonzalo. In the last four months, my dog has grown so much in confidence and behavior, and I've grown as an owner. I now see that training doesn't just stop, so I will continue to work with Gonzalo and make sure to recommend him to anyone looking for help. read more

It is not an exaggeration to say Gonzalo really saved us from a state of hopelessness with our pup. As first time pet parents we did not truly understand what having a high energy, intelligent, working breed would mean. Our pup had not outgrown the mouthing phase at 4 months, like everyone and the Internet said he would, and with time this had become worse. We could not get him to relax and if we had him hanging around us while we were working from home he would mouth and bite us to demand attention. We had no time for anything but trying to (unsuccessfully) train this puppy. We would even take him on car rides to just get a break from the constant mouthing. We were at a loss. The instructions from previous trainers seemed to boil down to him not getting enough play time or exercise and management techniques that were just that management. Although play/exercise and management are important, unfortunately, these methods we learned did nothing to improve the mouthing issues we were dealing with. I am now writing this from my living room and Calcifer, after an off leash hike at a park nearby and some play time, is laying down and relaxing. All things we never thought would be possible to do (without being mouthed every step of the way). This is all thanks to the time Gonzalo spent with us to find out what methods would work for us and Calcifer. In the end it was about training us to better communicate with our pup. We still have things to work on in order to become better pet parents but it all seems possible now with the help of Gonzalo. We are lucky to have found him and are so glad we trusted him. Thank you for your patience and guidance, Gonzalo. read more

The Human Dog Team - Calcifer on a down in our living room. - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

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I appreciated the way that he interacted with my puppy, I was wanting a trainer who genuinely cared about a dog being happy and not just forcing it to do whatever in terms of training. But the way he communicates with you as the owner leave so much to be desired and genuinely the entire experience of your puppy being able to learn. He is not worth going to unless you are a Dog Trainer yourself and have 40 hours a week to dedicate to training your puppy while being condescended the entire journey. read more

After hearing from my breeder that perhaps it would be better to return my now seven months old border collie puppy, I had given up hope. It was disheartening to see that all the techniques I knew and had used with multitude of dogs were not working with my puppy. I spoke about this with Gonzalo (whom at the time was a friend and a dog trainer I admired) and he took on the challenge and offered to help me. The knowledge and insight that Gonzalo had on how a border collie dog works, the study of body language, the precision on how he could predict how my puppy will present next was mind blowing! He understood my puppy. And reassured me that with patience and understanding it could be done. If you are a science/biology/behavior/nature geek, you will definitely enjoy learning with Gonzalo! My puppy was fearful, touchy and I hadn't found the way to properly communicate with her. I was used to training labs, and goldens and pitties and mixes but this is my first BC and oh boy was I in for a ride. I have been working with Gonzalo for the last several months and we've been able to turn my puppy around. She's a joy, a never ending evolution of all the things I've learned and there's so much more of her that I can now access thanks to Gonzalo and the knowledge he has instilled in me. I would have not been able to either keep my puppy or make progress if it wasn't for him. Thank you Gonzalo for giving me the confidence, techniques and kindness to make progress with my girl and change the was we train together. I literally owe you my best friend! If you have a quirky dog, a special breed, a sensitive dog and you have the desire to change both you and your dog, you are in the right place. read more

The Human Dog Team - Broccoli, the border collie puppy - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

I can't thank Gonzalo enough for the incredible transformation in my puppy's behavior! My pitbull was extremely hyper-energetic and bitey when we started training, but now he's become the friendliest, most well-behaved dog. Gonzalo taught me how to set my puppy up for success by creating the right environment and understanding his needs and behaviors--like figuring out why he's acting a certain way. With Gonzalo's guidance, I've gained confidence as a dog owner and established a structured schedule that works for both me and my pup. Walks, which used to be stressful, are now calm and enjoyable for both of us. Gonzalo took the time to get to know my puppy and myself, understand both our needs and helped us throughout the process. His 1-1 sessions were very helpful, and his group classes were even more beneficial as I was able to practice training my dog in environments with lots of distractions. I highly recommend Gonzalo to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, patient, and effective dog trainer read more

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Gonzalo is a lifesaver! He has worked with me and my now 6-month old Puppy, Tucker, from when I first got Tucker at 2 months old. I spontaneously adopted him without putting much thought into it. I brought him home and realized I needed help.... like a lot of it. Gonzalo helped me with crate training (which is a huge MUST and blessing) and putting a stop to bad behaviors. The first time he came over to my house, within two hours my puppy was already less anxious and listening to me. I 100% would feel like if I didn't work with Gonzalo, my puppy would be absolutely insane today. He's already 40+ pounds and it was very important to me that Tucker knew his boundaries and respected other people and dogs. Gonzalo is professional and so kind! His hours are very flexible (awesome for me since I work late). His Instagram and website are also filled with SO much tips/advice, and he's so easy to get into touch with. read more

The Human Dog Team - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

I am a fellow dog trainer in the area and having support is critical for my mental health. Gonzalo's virtual training has been more valuable than therapy! Thank you Gonzalo! Appreciate all you do your the community! read more

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Gonzalo was able to completely change my dog's energy during walks and when around other dogs within a few short hours. I made sure to practice in between each visit on commands and walk expectations which allowed us to get so much covered in such a short amount of time! Can't thank Gonzalo enough - I was at my breaking point after my once super friendly dog changed into a not so nice pup around other dogs. Our dog now excitingly follows basic commands and has a new found confidence that has translated into peaceful walks once again!! read more

The Human Dog Team - Back to being a confident and happy pup! - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

My name is Etta J and I am a chiweenie. The sort of dog they might refer to abroad as 'a bitey dog.' I am also a senior rescue, so as you can imagine, set in my ways. Evidently I was baffling to my new persons and their cherished No. 1 dog. I crushed hard on the Female Person, slightly tolerated the Male Person, and nipped No. 1 into maintaining a healthy dose of 'fear the Chiween.' It was a splendid take down, once No.1 was subdued, I turned my attention to total domination of the Male Person, all the while maintaining a gross and unabiding love for HER. The Female adored me. Or so I thought, until the day Gonzalo walked into MY living room, separated me from HER, gave the Male Person the lead, and with one 'pop!'...SHATTERED ALL MY ILLUSIONS. He said all kinds of unjust things, that I wasn't a QUEEN. That I was resource guarding HER. That I was jealous of HIM. That I might always bite INTERLOPERS...blah, blah, blah. Three fourths of that is not true, but they believed him. Then he TRAINED THEM! Can you believe? Now I can't bark at everything or chase our visitors down the hall, now they make me walk on an agreement (WHAT), now I have to WORK for my food, SLEEP IN A CRATE (whatever, the Female still sneaks me in bed sometimes) or lure friends into a false sense of security before showing them THEIR PLACE. Point is, I am no longer the BOSS. TRAGIC. But on the flip side, it meant my Persons trusted themselves enough to take me on holiday across the country to sit by a lake and ride paddle boards. So all is not lost. (I still don't like big dogs by the way - but that's ok, Gonzalo also trained the People to manage that little situation, too. So I guess I'm satisfied.) - Etta J Babe?! Did you let Etta use the phone again?! - HER. read more

The Human Dog Team - The Chiween basking in holiday mode. - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best dog trainer is San Diego. My wife and I love Gonzalo. He has done so much for us teaching, training and caring for our Great Dane Kevin. Gonzalo is a wonderful professional that brings passion and caring communication to his job. One great example: when we were expecting our first baby, Gonzalo made sure to expose Kevin to babies and even got a little doll to help teach Kevin boundaries with the baby. I sincerely recommend Gonzalo to anyone looking for dog training services. read more

Our lives have been forever changed by Gonzalo's wisdom. He taught us how to rebuild our relationship with our pup. We came to Gonzalo desperate, after struggling for several months with our 2 year old Cavapoo's behavior. Our pup was aggressive on walks, anxious, resource guarded toys/food and overall had a severe lack of obedience. We were ready for a change. And after a few failed attempts with other trainers, we were loosing hope. We started off attending one of Gonzalo's group sessions (without our pup) to get a feel of his training methods. From the beginning we could feel his passion for teaching. He has a great skill to communicate and made sure to explain every step of the way. He took the time to listen and we did not feel rushed to do anything we were not comfortable with. We completed private sessions with Gonzalo. And after a couple months of dedication and hard work, we have seen our pup transform. He can heal on walks. No longer lunges at the biker or jogger that passes by. Eliminated resource guarding. Our pup is happier with the guidance and direction we have learned to provide. This was all made possible with Gonzalo's help and dedication to helping our family. We are continuing to work with Gonzalo at group classes to further strengthen our skills and we look forward to continuing this positive journey. If you're looking for a trainer that will help you achieve the best relationship with your dog, LOOK NO FURTHER. Gonzalo is the one! read more

Worth the read if you have a dog of any type...it all started with my long time bf and I being very frustrated with our 100lb Kuvasz named Rain. She was reactive on leash, in the car and within our property (to dogs on the sidewalk) and nothing we did helped to "fix" the issue. She was unpleasant to take for walks and we could absolutely NEVER take her to a brewery or restaurant. Add in us adding a quarantine puppy and we really were in over our heads. Our house was chaotic and not enjoyable. I initially spoke with Gonzalo for an hour on the phone and we talked about all the different issues that needed to be addressed and how we could start working on them for both dogs. Fast forward to the 1st session and holy s***!!! My house was calm, we learned new tools to communicate with our dogs and we ALL were making changes! Between a reactive large dog and an overly excited puppy I had a calm household! You could feel the calmness and the change in the energy of our house. The next couple of sessions Gonzalo helped us with how to teach basic commands to our puppy and how to reinforce commands to our adult dog, when to reward and how to correct vs punish. Our adult dog is significantly less reactive and is much more calm and we are able to communicate with her better! Gonzalo not only gives you the tools to communicate better with your dog but also educates owners on lifestyle changes that produce great results!! Fast forward to 3 months later and 7 sessions in the books and I have an adult dog that is calm and not reactive on leash and a young puppy that is well trained and is learning so much! As much as Gonzalo gives you all the tools and helps start the process of having well behaved dogs-it is up to you as the owner to do the work. Nothing can be substituted for the repetitions, reinforcements and time that you put into working with your dogs! Thank you for helping us Gonzalo and we always look forward to our training sessions!! read more

The Human Dog Team - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

Gonzalo is the best dog ( and people) trainer that I have ever come across. We got a puppy at what we thought was the "perfect time" which quickly turned into what might have been the worst time ever.( an avalanche of personal things came up literally 5 days into having him) We got a mini dachshund, not remembering all the hassle and work that went into puppy training. ( we currently have a 13 year old dachshund as well, and for some reason thought a puppy would be as easy and chill as he is, dumb us) I contacted Gonzalo on day~4 of having Randy (the pup) in a panic. I was ready to return him and felt helpless. Gonzalo and I chatted for quite a while on what we were doing and what kind of results we wanted. I felt immediately at ease, Gonzalo is not one of those trainers that makes quirky noises at your dog and claims he can communicate with them on some kind of telekinetic level, hes quite the opposite. He really made it clear to us that what Randy was doing was not to be bad or out of spite, hes a puppy, and puppies, quite honestly, are annoying. There is no magic juice that is going to train your puppy, Gonzalo is not going to train your puppy in 1, 2 or 3 sessions, you are. He teaches you how to communicate with your dog so it actually knows what you are saying and explains very clearly why it is probably doing the things that annoy you most. He is such an amazing person on a human level as well, so easy to talk to, and totally gets the frustration. He gave me SOOO many tools to deal with my puppy while working from home and not having an absolute freak out. His methods make sense and are quite obvious once you really consider them. From not giving food "freely", to tie backs ( an absolute godsend), to how to deal with a pup that is very timid ( something I never had to deal with in my older pup), Gonzalo has really opened my eyes and made life with a puppy much much more manageable. I really could go on and on about how amazing his help has been, he has even taught me some new tricks and tips for my older dog. If you have a dog or puppy that is giving you trouble Gonzalo is sure to have some things you can do to bring life with your best friend back to harmony. Training a dog takes work, and lots of it, but Gonzalo makes it fun and 100% worth it! Gonzalo! thank you so much for teaching me how to manage Randy in his crazy puppy stage I truly believe that without you I would. have had to give him back ! read more

The Human Dog Team - Randy and his older brother Leroy - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

Gonzalo totally changed our lives and perspectives on our relationship with our dogs. Everyone in the house (2 humans and 2 dogs) is happier after working with Gonzalo. We initially called because our little terrier was barking at other dogs while on walks, and we had recently moved to a new neighborhood and didn't want to be "those people". It was embarrassing. Also, I was traveling for work more and it was frustrating for my husband to wrangle both dogs for walks by himself, and dealing with them barking at anything outside while he was working from home was driving him nuts. We knew our other larger/older dog had his own set of issues but thought we could ignore those and just work with the younger one since we were able to live with the older guy's "quirks". What we learned was that dog training is much more holistic and deep rooted than just trying to address one habit from one dog. We had to start in our home with our daily routines to really address what was going on. This meant working with both dogs, and re-evaluating a lot of habits and communication methods that we had adopted over the years. Learning how to better communicate with your dog and understand areas where you may have caused confusion with your communication styles can be a little uncomfortable at first, but it is incredibly rewarding. You will be happier, your dog will be happier, your home will feel more peaceful. Our walks have become so much more enjoyable and I don't dread having to take both of them out by myself. We love our dogs to the moon and back and I can tell that they are happier when they are able to understand what we want from them so that they are able to do it. Our dogs are polar opposites in their behavior, size, strengths, weaknesses, learning styles, etc. Gonzalo was able to help with both in a way that made sense to us. Our dogs are 5 years old and 8 years old, it is never too late to improve everyone's lives. Anyway, I could go on and on about what we've learned and how much our lives have changed, but truly I want to say that Gonzalo is an incredible dog trainer (and human trainer...let's be honest, we are the ones that need the most training), he is a wealth of knowledge and takes a lot of pride in doing his research and taking the time to do something right. He is professional, fun, nice, easy to talk to, responsive, all of it. Gonzalo is the second dog trainer we hired and he will be the last. You are not going to find a lot of other trainers who will give you the level of thoughtfulness and care that Gonzalo will give you. And at the price? Forget it, he's the only one. If you're looking for a dog trainer, you're done looking, you found him. read more

I can't even describe how amazing the dog training with Gonzalo is. I know a lot of the reviews are extremely praising - for a good reason. I rescued a fearful little dog that had to go through a lot. He was growling at everything and everyone, reactive towards other dogs and not playful at all. Gonzalo made me realize that it will all work out with a lot of structure and training. And it did! Gonzalo did an amazing job in encouraging me to be confident with my dog and to create a strong bond. While training with him we became a real human dog team. All the issues I wanted to work on are solved. It was amazing to see the process! Gonzalo is very respectful, patient, kind and really cares about the humans and dogs he is training with. It's really worth the money and actually a lot of fun. read more

The Human Dog Team - A happy dog after a lot of training - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

I am so very happy with the work and progress my dog and I have made with Gonzalo! I am a believer as to what consistent and good work can do with a dog. He worked with not only Arlo and I but he also helped by 6 year old niece learn to be confident and a leader to Arlo. Arlo and I are so much happier during our walks and enjoy it so much more now that we both know what we're supposed to be doing. It was a team effort! We are appreciative of Gonzalo for agreeing to help us and teach us the ropes. Gonzalo also offers pack school and I will definitely be starting Arlo on those next month! read more

I know people always have lots of questions and doubts before finding a dog trainer. I get it and I was one of them. But if u find Gonzalo, he's the one and you don't need to keep looking !! We had classes in petco, had classes with other expensive trainers, but Gonzalo is the BEST! Very clear and consistent with all the instructions. Truly love animals and know how to train them well. Always encouragement more than correction and punishment. He can help to improve the bond and relationship between dog and owner to the next level. It's the fundamental of dog training. As Gonzalo said, sometimes ur dogs are not disobedient, they just don't understand. Gonzalo will help u to make u dog understand !! read more

The Human Dog Team - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

Thehumandogcoach as that name doesnt explain it already. I am happy to work with Gonzo not only does he tailor his approach to my dogs needs but he also take time to understand our life as humans how we deal with our day to day with my dog. I can guarantee that his not just in this for the money like other trainers we work with. He has the commitment to change our lives the way we communicate with our dog in the way that both human and dog can benifit in harmonious living having boundaries and giving love at the same time. If you have the time and commitment to really apply what he teach you it will immensely change your relationship with your dog and also understand your inner self the way you treat your dog. I'm looking forward to working with him again. And will recommend it to those who really want to get down in really immerse themselves in having a good relationship with their dogs to eliminate issues that had been develope due to lack of knowledge about how to properly connect with your dogs. read more

Gonzalo is an amazing trainer. I have had dogs my whole life, but this is my first puppy and only my second small dog. It was critical to me that Gracie be well behaved so that she can travel with me (when we are able to travel again). I saw immediate results after only 1 session because he helped me better understand how dogs learn, which made me realize that I was unintentionally teaching and reinforcing behavior that I didn't want. Gonzalo helped Gracie develop confidence when it was time to learn to walk down the steep stairs in our house, and then again when it was time to start socializing with other dogs. The return on this investment during her puppyhood has been amazing because it laid a solid foundation for Gracie and continues to get better over time because he didn't just teach Gracie to sit and stay, he equipped both of us with a system of communication so that she and I can continue to learn together. We are truly now a Human Dog Team :) read more

I rarely write reviews, but we have so greatly appreciated working with Gonzalo that I felt compelled to write one My wife and I started with Gonzalo when our pup, Annie, was around 5 months old. We loved the fact that his philosophy is one of positive reinforcement and although we definitely thought some of the technique were unique we stuck with the game plan and now we are reaping the rewards. Gonzalo carefully observed our interaction with Annie and was able to make very constructive suggestions on how we were progressing in our training. One thing we really appreciated was the fact that Gonzalo would be there for us even when he wasn't at our house. What I mean by that is while we were practicing the techniques on our own when he wasn't with us we were able to send videos if we weren't getting the reaction we wanted from Annie. From there he was able to course correct us which made a big difference. Gonzalo really makes training fun by using games and exercises to teach the dogs (and us) techniques. In our opinion our experience with Gonzalo was worth every penny and we have already referred him to 4 other people who will be utilizing his services. He has been an absolute pleasure to work with. The cost of training is definitely worth the positive outcome of having a well socialized, obedient dog who gets along well with people and dogs, and is a joy to be around Tim, Katie, and Annie read more

I would highly recommend The Human Dog Team if you are in need of a phenomenal dog trainer!!! However, Gonzalo is not just a dog trainer! He specializes in building trust between the human and dog relationship! It is absolutely amazing the knowledge he has about dog behavior and language! During the first session I was amazed at the connection Gonzalo achieved with our dog Chance! He prides himself on establishing a relationship with both the humans and the dog, opposed to only focusing on the training itself. We talked about setting boundaries, manners, eye contact, and "place". Gonzalo always incorporates teaching both the humans and dog proper communication to build trust and focusing on building confidence for the dog. Gonzalo teaches proper structure and consistency! We worked on basic key commands, impulse control, and personal space. We also focused on leash walk, reaction to other dogs, and re-directing high energy into a calm state. We learned that every behavior must be controlled inside prior to navigating outside, in order to have successful calm walks. We learned about motivation, and introducing new behaviors to Chance using playtime as a reward. During our fourth session we introduced another dog to Chance. It was astonishing, the positive behavior, such a difference after only three sessions! Chance was calm, relaxed, able to walk side by side the other dog without any negative reaction! Our very positive take-a-way....... A Happy Confident Dog, is a Happy Human!! read more

My family and I cannot be more grateful for the impact Gonzalo has made on our beloved Luna girl. He taught us the importance of communication in ways in which we never could have imagined. Throughout our sessions and use of his K-9 Portal and Youtube channel, he taught us commands and markers that decreased Luna's confusion to better understand what is being asked of her. As once an anxious and territorial dog, Luna has now been taught to seek guidance in our family and lives a much happier life. Gonzalo has given us the confidence we needed as first- time dog owners through his constant communication and endless support. We can't thank him enough for sharing just a glimpse of his overwhelming knowledge and would recommend him to absolutely anyone and everyone! read more

Gonzalo has my highest recommendations if you have ANY concerns about your dog. I give out his contact information at least once a week to friends and co-workers. I worked with a previous dog trainer before who taught me click training which was great in the beginning, but as Kari's personality came out, I realized she had some worrisome behaviors (likely from being abused) that I didn't know how to fix. He helped me turn my fearful Pit-bull who snapped at anyone coming over to my house to a well behaved little lady. Most importantly, he taught me that my dog wasn't 'aggressive,' but lacking in self control, and if I could control her excitement and environment my dog would be transformed. I swear it was like a light bulb moment, and from then on my communication with my dog has improved immensely. Most importantly, I trust this man implicitly. He is professional and honest and never late. His rates are reasonable and he always flexes his schedule around my 12hr shift work. He has helped me out so much in the past year while my husband was deployed, I can't thank him enough. read more

I would highly recommend Gonzalo for any of your training needs, big or small. You will be impressed! I contacted Gonzalo for help with a specific issue - My dog Paco would get easily distracted and constantly try and eat everything off the ground (poop, dirt, mulch, etc.). We completed 4 training sessions with Gonzalo. I knew Paco's issues wouldn't be solved overnight, but I didn't expect to see as much improvement as I did, so quickly. Paco has become overall so much more focused and attentive. He will completely ignore the plants that he would previously always try to eat on our daily walks. We are able to play fetch for longer periods now without him getting distracted and wandering off to try and eat something. Thank you Gonzalo! read more

I think it's a disservice to call Gonzalo, the owner of the Human Dog Team, just a dog trainer. Yes, he is very good at dog training, as many others have noted. But what makes Gonzalo extraordinary is his ability to deepen the relationship between you and your pet. He did this for me by teaching me to better understand our family dog, Lucy, and by coaching Lucy to pay better attention to the family's needs. Cutting through the communication barrier between us paid off right away and continues to provide us lasting benefits. Now that we better understand each other, we work together as a team. Lucy's bad behaviors stopped (barking and peeing on the carpet), and her good behaviors became the norm. Gonzalo has been working with animals almost all his life and his expertise is apparent. He is insightful and intuitive and can read even nuanced animal body language and cues. He taught me how to tell if Lucy was getting frustrated during training, or when she was processing a new command. I learned that even though to me, "down" and "dooooooown", mean the same thing, a difference in inflection can be confusing to a dog. I learned too that timing the reward can make a big difference in reinforcing good behavior. Beyond the usual commands, I learned "markers", words that could encourage Lucy to keep trying or let her know if she was on the wrong track. In other words, I became a better human to Lucy, and Lucy responded by being an even better dog. Gonzalo's guidance is professional and sincere, I never felt judged. I felt like we were being coached for success and we were all in it together. Gonzalo isn't the cheapest trainer around, but not the most expensive by a long shot. I couldn't find a better value though and I will likely save money because his methods are sustainable and durable. He provides free access to loads of videos and training material that you can refer to anytime, even if you don't hire him (but you'll want to anyway). Also, you can send him clips of your dog's behavior or a training, and he'll respond with feedback to keep you moving in the right direction. I really liked that because I didn't have to wait a week to learn what I was doing right or how I could improve. Then with the next session, we would focus on new material and didn't spend too much time with review. I couldn't have been more pleased with how training went with Gonzalo's coaching. If your dog has behavioral issues you'd like to correct, is a working breed that needs specific training, or if you just want a better relationship with your dog, you can't go wrong joining the human dog team. read more

We recently adopted a 9 month old dog, named Lava, that was being fostered by Gonzalo. Since we knew we wanted a young dog, we were expecting to put in a significant amount of work into training to reach our levels of expectation from a dog. When we came across the adoption ad for Lava that was posted by Gonzalo, we figured this would be a great way to not start from scratch since we'd be adopting a dog from a dog trainer. My wife and I were absolutely blown away by how well trained Lava was when we first met her. Gonzalo did an amazing job during her earlier months and I'm convinced that we hit the jackpot as far as adopting the perfect puppy. He was and has continued to be very clear with his training techniques and how we should continue to follow with her training. The most reassuring aspect is being able to be stress free and confident in all our dog walks, training sessions and play time. The communication methods set between handler (My wife and I) and dog (Lava), work so well that we don't even question whether we will be able to handle any situations. Having been around dogs all my life, it's been transformative to see what a truly, well-trained dog, is like. With a consistent training schedule and crystal clear instructions to perform and continue her training, we've had a pleasure having Lava around. I would, without hesitation, recommend Gonzalo to anyone who is looking to have complete control of their dog in any situations and environments. He is amazing with following up and giving you any last tips and pointers to may need to allow you and your dog to have that clear communication that is key to stress-free dog-human relationship. read more

We kept hearing from friends, strangers, literally everyone how French bulldogs are so hard to train. Gonzalo proved all those people wrong. As a true skeptic in life I appreciate him explaining why it's best to do things a certain way to help us understand our communication to our dog on a deeper level. As a trainer his passion and true love for dogs comes through in every session and every conversation. Gonzalo truly is "the human dog team". Attentive to us via text when we have questions or to show videos or share success. It feels like we have a team of trainers working with us because he really does try to make himself available to support us even when it's not a paid session. read more

Our puppy Pesto started being reactive on the leash when he was about 5 months old (pulling, growling, barking). We reached out to a friend who referred Gonzalo to us. I read his blog and followed him on Instagram. I started working with Pesto according to Gonzalo's tips that he shared online which helped a lot but after about 6 weeks, we found ourselves stuck so we reached out to him for private lessons. Gonzalo made sure to inquire about our lifestyle, manage our expectations and communicate clearly what had to be done on our part to reach our goals with Pesto. After only two sessions, it felt like we had a different dog on our hands. Gonzalo helped us understand his behavior and made clear what caused his reactivity. He gave us the tools, resources and confidence we needed to build a stronger bond with our dog. Whenever we had a question in between sessions, he'd be more than happy to reply via text, voice message or even call. He always made sure that we were on the same page and felt comfortable with the speed at which we were training Pesto. We had a total of four sessions with Gonzalo and will definitely return for more in the future to keep working on any unwanted behaviors that may show up along the way. TL;DR: Gonzalo is a kind human, amazing dog trainer and so fun to work with. He's worth every penny! Thank you so much for everything you've done for us, we're looking forward to seeing you and Blue again soon! read more

I could not recommend a better dog trainer. After 4 virtual training sessions with Gonzalo, I understand so much more about my puppy and our dynamic which has led to such a marked improvement in our relationship. It has been a little daunting having such a high energy puppy with a strong work ethic, but having a trainer that has taken the time to understand my dog and tailor training specifically for us has made all the difference in the world. Looking forward to many more amazing training sessions with Gonzalo! read more

It is my genuine pleasure to endorse the uncommon dog training skills of Gonzalo, the Human Dog Coach! I adopted Joey from a pet sitter's home where he'd been abandoned, quickly discovering he was much younger than had been guesstimated and was doing all the crazy-making things that an untrained pup will naturally do. I was dismayed, as I really wasn't up for all that - especially as the intensity was compounded by a phone call from my landlord soon after I'd gotten him saying they were selling the house and wanted me to move! I reached out to Gonzalo for help. I knew Joey had the temperament and intelligence to make a great companion for me so I really didn't want to give him away. I just needed him to learn a few things to be more cooperative during the transition so that once I moved I'd be able to properly focus and he'd already have some understanding of following commands. In just one extended session, Gonzalo demonstrated a mind-blowing level of mastery in canine behavior! A veritable treasure trove of tips and insights, we watched Joey respond instantly to his gentle instructions and transform into a happily obedient pet before our eyes. Clearly, he loves dogs and is passionate about what he does. Gonzalo was incredibly generous with his time and knowledge. He patiently answered our every question and gave us a crash course in dog psychology that has given us so much to draw upon and practice for months! Quite honestly, had I not moved far away from him, I would be continuing to call upon him regularly. If you are fortunate enough to cross paths with him and could use support in creating a more mutually satisfying relationship between you and your "best friend" you will be incredibly pleased and grateful, as I am! He really has a special gift. read more

In our first session with our 13 week old GSP puppy, Ted, Gonzalo quickly taught Ted to calmly go for walks using a prong collar. Prior to, Ted was reluctant to walk and easily distracted. But now he is focused and enjoys going for walks. Such an incredible change to see after one interaction! I would highly recommend Gonzalo!! read more

I have been doing virtual dog training with Gonzalo. He is incredibly knowledgeable and professional. In just 4 short weeks, my 9 month old Rottweiler can go to a "place" on command, has increased her impulse control, began to understand leash communication (improving our walks), follows my commands on the first time, and I am simply enjoying my relationship with her more because of this. Wasn't sure about virtual training at first, but Gonzalo explains everything so clearly, and then we practice while we are on the call. The benefit is that I gain confidence doing all of it on my own with my dog. Great experience and I highly recommend! read more

I adopted a 2 year old Pitbull, who is 70 pounds, was in a kennel for 6 months, and had 0 manners... on a whim. Ummmmmm I was in way over my head, like way way over my head. Gonzalo and I linked up through virtual sessions and got to work on the training. He guided me through the whole process with such ease and great direction. His website is an amazing tool to access throughout the training process and he was really good about answering the questions I had along the way. Leo has literally transformed over the few weeks we have been working together. I am so amazed by the whole experience and I am inspired to continue to deepen my understanding of communication. read more

In just under a month, my relationship with Anabelle has changed drastically ! She listens to me and trusts my judgement so much more already. Our walks are beautiful for the first time ever. I am so thankful for Gonzalo entering into our lives . read more

I reached out to Gonzalo after getting my very first, very energetic Boston puppy, Gus. Gonzalo taught me the building blocks like sit, stay, come. Then later how to translate that from the home to outside, along with loose lease and heel walking. Gonzalo is so good with Gus and can point out what Gus's body language and subtle cues mean and how to react to them. Gonzalo has helped me so much so far and I can't wait to continue training. read more

Excellent! Gonzalo made a way for us to do a crash course in loose leash training. He left us tons of notes so we can keep it going. Thanks Gonzalo. Dakota loves you and we really appreciate your calmness. read more