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    Best Paw Forward

    5.0 (16 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Services - Best Paw Forward

    Dog boarding and training

    Private dog training

    Best Paw Forward Photos

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    Valerie boarded my service dog, Lily (75 lb., Shepard mix) when I had to go overseas years ago, and hers was the only place Lily was truly excited to live when we were separated. I had a smaller rescue at the same time, and Valerie trained and accommodated the smaller one also, which gave me complete peace of mind. Valerie is one of those rare humans who can communicate with animals. Her cage-free, roam-around, sleepover home was a loving menagerie; I wanted to check myself in! It is January 2025; my beloved Lily passed away eight months ago, and I felt I had to find Valerie on the Internet in remembrance since I left California in 2018. I am so happy to see she is carrying on her invaluable work, training humans to understand and truly love their pets. Bless you, Valerie. Lily has joined Fiona; I pray they are rolling in the grass nonstop.

    The Dogo's waiting to train
    Rachel C.

    Valerie is a brilliant mind and is extensively trained in animal psychology. If you let her train you your dogs will act better ! I needed more time with her but we moved to Houston. She cage a few times with private lessons to the house and I took her puppy training course for my 6 month old. She taught us so much in just a few lessons now if I could just train me better I have 2 large breed Dogo Argentino and a old English Bull dog with a variety of personality types she helped with each one ! Thank you I highly recommend her you just have to listen carefully and it may be a you problem not your dog

    This is Molly with her new friend Ghost
    Ann T.

    Valerie Mask is amazing. She took my Molly that would go crazy barking and jumping around. She could not go close to another dog. She now has Two buddies she has play dates with. Goes for walks without a problem. I am able to take her to the, street fair on Palm Springs. She even goes, to 5K races and walks with me. I take her to restaurants in town. My husband and I have taken her on two road trips. Valerie knows her stuff. You need help she is the person to go to. She trains you and your dog. Just do what she tells you. You and your dog will have a great life.

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    4 years ago

    Most experienced Trainer in the Coachella Valley with the vast experience she has in all the areas of Animal Training and Behavior.

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    7 years ago

    Valerie is a fantastic trainer. She works on behavioral training and always has ideas to help with my very active golden doodle!

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    9 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Best Paw Forward

    Do you work with dogs who display separation anxiety?

    Yes I do.

    My wife and I are getting a male golden retriever puppy 11 weeks old in mid-October. Do you offer puppy kindergarten training? If so, please provide some details ... number and frequency of classes, class time, objectives of each class and costs.

    I don’t currently. I usually have them at a vets office and they are not comfortable yet with Covid to let me start them yet.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Best Paw Forward

    Since Valerie has started working with her, she is transitioning into the "good girl" we know she can be.

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

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    Rayo's K9 Academy

    Rayo's K9 Academy

    (5 reviews)

    Luna & nova completed their 5 week board & train and they've shown awesome improvement in areas…read morethey needed extra support in. Luna engaged in a lot of leash pulling and some reactivity when she would see other dogs. Luna is now able to walk calmly and does not overreact when another dog is around or near her. Nova is an anxious pup and her board and train helped her be exposed to public areas, while working on her obedience, learning to settle, gained more confidence in herself and does really well with leash walking. Raymond was thorough and explained things with care and patience on how to continue their training at home, answered any question and concerns we had and provided us with feedback when he had us practice the tools he used with our girls. Def would recommend and come back for extra support in the future if needed.

    This program truly delivers!…read more I'm absolutely thrilled with the transformative results from sending my dog (doberman pincher, 3 years old, unneutered) to this 5 week-board-and-train program! Raymond's exceptional expertise, patience, and dedication exceeded my expectations. *Exceptional Training - Addressed reactivity on the leash and high anxiety levels with gentle techniques - Built confidence and responsiveness through tailored exercises - Achieved remarkable improvement in command follow-through *Outstanding Communication* - Regular updates with informative videos showcasing progress (on their instagram page mydays) - Transparent communication throughout the training *Excellent Value* - Competitive pricing without compromising quality (you can do payment plans) *Life-Changing Outcomes* - Noticeably calmer demeanor - Reliable command execution Special thanks to Raymond, Jessica, and their wonderful dogs for their invaluable help with my dog's training.

    Kat The Dog Trainer - Kat and Obi at Indian Wells Country Club. It was at the Club's on-going Yappy Hour.

    Kat The Dog Trainer

    (95 reviews)

    What a relief it is to be gone a week on vacation returning home to a very content 18 year old cat…read more( that we always think is dying) and a year and a half old dog that acted like I just returned from the market. How fortunate to find Kat and her team who are professional, provided great communication, pictures and videos, and I had a worry free time away. From the moment my pets met Kat, she commanded instant respect. Kat has that magic that animal respond to. My dog Bella watched her like a hawk and did everything she asked when she said it. Even things I didn't think she would understand! I realized in that moment my dog has been ignoring me! LOL Go ahead book your stay with Kat now, I already booked our next trip with her. I selfishly almost didn't want to share her if you know what I mean.

    I've sent my mini Sheltie puppy to Kat's in-home Board and Train program twice now and she has done…read morean OUTSTANDING job with him!! He first went for 7 nights when he was 4.5 months old and again for a 3 night refresher to reinforce existing skills and learn an important new command once he was more mentally mature at 7 months old. Kat took the time to really understand his lifestyle and shape his training goals with me ahead of both stays and both times we got back a happy, healthy and focused pup who loves to show off his tricks and manners! He was understandably a little nervous the first time we dropped him off but the second time he was thrilled to be back, which just shows how much fun he had there with her!! You can tell that Kat cares deeply about the dogs she works with and I'm so glad we found her out here in the desert. I highly recommend the customizable board and train service to provide structure, fundamentals and/or personalized learning (then you just need to stay consistent at home continuing to reinforce the new skills). Thank you Kat for all you've taught Ozzie - we will definitely be back!

    Majestic Dog Training - Brooke Fagel. Majestic Dog Training. Palm Desert & La Quinta Service Dogs

    Majestic Dog Training

    (73 reviews)

    We cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience with Brooke at Majestic Dog Training! We…read moreenrolled our 1-year-old heeler, and the transformation has been remarkable. Brooke isn't just a dog trainer -- she's a gifted teacher for both dogs and owners. Her gentle, positive reinforcement approach put our pup at ease right away, and we felt supported learning how to continue the training at home. Since working with Brooke, our dog has become such a little gentleman. His manners, focus, and behavior have improved so much, and our bond with him has grown stronger because of her guidance. She also helped build his confidence. He used to be timid on walks, and now he proudly struts around our Boulder neighborhood with ease. Watching his confidence grow has been incredible. We are so grateful we found Brooke. If you're looking for a compassionate, effective, and knowledgeable dog trainer in Boulder or Louisville, we highly recommend Majestic Dog Training. You and your pup will be so glad you did!

    I can't say enough great things about Brooke Fagel and Majestic Dog Training here in Boulder! Her…read moreapproach to positive dog training is truly amazing -- she uses her own calm, well-trained dogs to help teach others, and you can see the results immediately. Brooke is patient, knowledgeable, and really understands what motivates each dog. If you're looking for a kind, results-driven trainer in Boulder County, I highly recommend Majestic Dog Training. My dog absolutely loves working with Brooke and her incredible crew!

    Janine Allen Certified Dog Trainer - Skipper (Left) 
 Poppy (Right)

    Janine Allen Certified Dog Trainer

    (16 reviews)

    I have 2 teacup/toy maltipoos. Poppy is 3y and Skipper is 1y old. We love to take our girls on…read moreoutings through town including lunch and shopping. At home Poppy barks at new people coming into the house and then shortly after they enter, she stops. Skipper Pip on the other hand is a grand AHOLE that will continually bark till our guest sits down or stops moving and it starts back up when they start moving again. ‍ I can say that nothing I did worked to stop or curb this little booger from barking. I watched countless videos and NOTHING WAS WORKING! I created a tiny monster. I finally had had enough and sought out a professional. I found Janine here on the internet. I didn't really know what to expect or how hard this was going to be. I didn't care, I needed help and was willing to do whatever an expert would tell me to do. Getting to know Janine and working with her has been super easy. I listed in detail all of the behavior issues that I have with Skipper but mostly it's the constant barking. Lord have mercy on my ears. The first visit is an assessment, explanation of how your dog thinks and how they understand you, and for us; some basics to start getting *operation no more barking* underway. Janine is very thorough so you understand both human and dog points of view. I really like this comprehensive approach. She trains you to train your dog so that your pet can thrive. Janine is not a cookie cutter style dog trainer. She is adaptive in finding what works best for you and your pooch. This is just the hands on learning Skipper and I needed. Thank you Janine, you are a treasure. Skipper's Results after working with Janine: *No longer barks when in public (on leash or in a stroller.) *No longer barks at the gardeners or pool guy. *Walks on a leash with ease w/zero pulling. *Knows the difference between Working Walk and Leisurely Walk. *Does not freak out at other dogs. Is perfectly calm and confident that I will not let anything happen to her. *No longer licks paws unless right before bed. *Significantly less anxiety overall.

    The best dog trainer!!! Hands down!!…read moreYou owe it to yourself to hire her for ANY problems you have with your dog. Thinking about it...give her a call!

    Best Paw Forward - pet_training - Updated May 2026

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