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    Deep Connection K9 Academy

    5.0 (47 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Diana and Blue's 8th and final session of the package. More to come....
    Sarah G.

    We have had the greatest experience with Diana and are so glad that we decided to invest our time and money with her and really rely on her guidance and expertise in training our dog to be better behaved, which has resulted in all of our lives being more comfortable and happy. Diana was incredibly communicative both with scheduling and in the training sessions. It's also been easy to get a hold of her to ask follow up questions or get specific training details clarified that we forgot. I also really appreciated that she came to our home or locations near us to do trainings. Diana has provided us with such a great foundation (and beyond) of tools to continue working with our dog. We saw changes in our dog after 1-2 sessions and have continued to see changes if we implement the homework and tools she gives us every session. It is very important to do your homework and really take seriously the directions she gives you and spend time doing them. You, the human, need to learn and unlearn just as much as your dog does. Diana is super knowledgeable, kind, patient, personable, flexible, has a sense of humor while remaining professional and driven, she loves dogs and cares about their boundaries and what is realistic for each one and so many other positive qualities. I don't have anything negative to share and look forward to signing up for another package of sessions with her after we get back in town from traveling.

    Romel P.

    Diana was the best! She was able to analyze my dog and able to give my dog Loki the tools he needed to control is energy level when at home and on off leash behavior outside. She came to see how he was at my home to see what his problems are and what I was doing right. I was able to put him into board and train about a month after because he was still a puppy. But she gave me a few tips and a bit of homework to help him progress faster in the training. During the board and train Diana gave me weekly updates on how he was doing (videos, pictures, etc.). As well as how his progress was. After I got him back. Loki was a well obedient, socialized dog and was able to take commands. As well as check all the boxes on what I wanted him to stop doing. She gave me a detailed discription on how my dog was and how his behavior is. As well gave me list of what he needs in order to keep him in the right mind set. This list consists of each tool which she provides and a step by step description on how you should proceed with your dog. So she doesn't just go here he is and its up to you. She is right behind you every step of the way. Diana is great! She checked up on me a month after to see how Loki was doing. As well to see if I needed any follow sessions. I am proud to say and recommend her without hesitation! Thanks Diana to you and your crew from Loki and I!

    tl;dr: Adopted a dog with previous trauma and anxiety, and struggled to train her using conventional methods. Worked with several trainers and not much progress was made until I met Diana. If you're looking for THE one to make a big impact on your dog's quality of life (and yours!), this is it. If you're looking for a trainer whose lessons will carry through to daily routines and life, look no further than Deep Connection. I adopted a 2yo husky who had a hard life; she was abandoned by previous owners, found at a stray, and ended up at a kill shelter. After I took her home, I realized quickly that the "normal" training methods wouldn't work: Korra wasn't food motivated, showed no interest in toys, and was very distrustful. I sought the advice of many trainers who gave me the same cookie cutter advice: use clickers to mark good behavior, lure her with treats, encourage play and good energy, etc. Unfortunately, none of that worked because my dog's previous anxiety and trauma led to non-responsiveness to these typical methods. I took the small wins as they came along (e.g. learning to sit!) and just continued to be patient with her. Diana came highly recommended by a friend who volunteers at an animal shelter. She fully understood my situation, and before even taking us on as clients, went through great lengths to get to know both me and my dog. She presented her observations and training plan, and I was all in. After just a month of following her program, I saw Korra change in little spurts. She got more comfortable eating outside of her crate. She came to ask for head scritches. She laid down with her legs in the air and passed out that way. She started arguing and gave some awoos. She was becoming a husky! I took it a step further and signed up for a board and train with Diana, and that further reinforced not only Korra's responsiveness to commands, but also helped her continue to open up and show her true personality. Diana not only helped Korra work through her anxiety and distrust, but also helped me understand the kind of dog dad I needed to be in order to continue building a connection with my dog. We're continuing to not only work on boring obedience commands, but also fun tricks, and both Korra and I are having a blast. Future goals with Diana: Husky obstacle course.

    Hope and me!
    Kathy M.

    Several months ago I signed up for private lessons for my 18 month old Shepherd-Belgian melonois pup. She's pretty big and energetic now and I wanted to get her (and me!) some training so that I could feel more confident in controlling her. I looked online saw Diana's business and read her reviews and decided this was a good fit for me. Diana was very kind and knowledgeable and patient with me as she taught me techniques of working with my pup, Hope. Hope was always so happy when Diana came to "visit"! Since our lessons, Hope is much more responsive to me and we both have a better understanding of our roles. We came a long way during the course of our sessions and I would highly recommend Diana for specific training needs, or in general for any dog, especially early on in their life!

    Julie L.

    Our Shiba Inu, Bowie has always been a playful pup, but over the years has become quite reactive to dogs on walks. We have met with other dog trainers over the years but we left every meeting with the feeling that it was just not the right fit. From either explicitly stating they wouldn't work with us because of his Shiba behaviors or applying their dog training knowledge too generally without actually taking our individual problems into consideration, we were left without guidance or trust. Fast forward to a year later, we met Diana and our experience was a complete 180. Diana was so kind and compassionate from the first meeting, really taking the time to get to know us and Bowie. She was extremely perceptive and we felt that she was really able to understand who Bowie was and appreciate his unique personality, something we had not experienced from other dog trainers. We were able to make substantial progress in our walks in a short amount of time. Diana was an incredible source of information and she really takes the time to explain everything. If at any point we felt unsure or confused about the training, Diana made sure to really address any of our concerns and go through it at our pace. We are so proud of Bowie's progress in our short period of training with Diana, and while our dog is not just magically perfect now, our confidence as dog owners has grown tremendously. We feel that we have the tools to work through issues that come up, which has really improved our relationship with our dog. Even though our training with Diana has been completed, she has always ensured us that the door for communication is always open and we are welcome to reach out to her for any future questions and concerns. Diana was really wonderful for our dog training journey and we highly recommend her!

    11 month old, Watson
    Alice H.

    Watson (my currently 11 month old puppy) and I started working with Diana when he was about 6 months old. After working with a few other trainers early on, it felt like we hit the jackpot after meeting Diana. I appreciate her balanced approach to training, which includes training skills like heel and recall, to developing a strong Leave It so he stops picking trash up off the floor, to getting Watson more comfortable with cooperative care. As a first time owner of a dog (with high expectations for Watson's behavior), Diana has also been training me to prioritize and focus on Watson's progress over time as opposed to immediate change, and to remind myself that he's still very young and just a puppy! For the first 3-4 months, we worked with Diana for 1-on-1 private sessions. And most recently, Watson was with Diana for a Board and Train for a month because I fractured my foot. Coming back from the B&T, Watson adjusted very quickly, and his improved (and proofed) skills has made it very easy for other members of my family to train and handle him too. I can tell that Watson loves Diana, and vice versa. He is excited every time he sees her, and she has gone above and beyond for him. I highly recommend Diana if you are looking for a well-balanced, compassionate dog trainer.

    Brisby practicing "place" at the training facility.
    Amy O.

    What do I love about Diana with Deep Connection K9 Academy? Where do I even start? First and foremost, her calm demeanor. Dogs feed off energy, so she puts out the most easy-going and relaxed vibe, which is clearly why she's able to connect with the dogs she's training. She takes the time to listen to both the pet guardian and even the dog to understand how the achieve the goals set forth. Secondly, and this is a big one, I love that she practices a balanced-training approach. She uses training tools correctly to ensure her method of training is conducive to the individual dog that's in front of her. She uses positive reinforce by rewarding often. With the frequent video updates she sends, you can see she makes the training fun for the dog. Because of her method of training, it's effective and you WILL SEE RESULTS whilst also knowing your dog is happy. Next up, she's patient with the dogs. She gives the dog time to come around to the idea of whatever she's implementing and if they aren't comfortable, she takes a step back for a few days and slowly tries again until they are comfortable. For example, with muzzle training and crate training. Lastly, she truly cares about the dogs she's handling. The bond she's able to create is genuine. All we want for our dogs when in an unfamiliar situation is compassion and she gives that at every moment. Brisby was my foster dog and he had a bite history. I wasn't sure I would be able to safely place him into another home, but after Diana laid the foundation of obedience and worked with him on being able to tolerate stressful situations, he's now on the path to the best life because of her and I couldn't be happier for him. Thank you for everything, Diana! 10/10, I will have you train again if the situation arises.

    Alejandra H.

    Diana is a very knowledgeable dog trainer. I always ask her for advice and she has really educated me on different things I did not know about dog behavior and training. The dog that I adopted had a lot of behavioral issues and a bite history so I felt lost on what to do. Diana gave me guidance and always answered my questions no matter how many I threw at her. Now just after a few sessions, my dog can wear a muzzle comfortably and I will be crate training next before we move onto the next concept. She really thinks about the dog and what we can do for them. Every trainer has a different way of doing things but I really like Diana's calm but confident approach to it. I'm so thankful and grateful for all the help she's given me. I would recommend her to anyone who is looking for a very patient and invested trainer.

    I adopted Felix from a rescue several months ago and quickly noticed him display two undesired behaviors: - Excitement reactivity around other dogs, resulting in fixation, leash pulling, and lunging - Skittishness in new environments During our consultation, Diana came to my apartment to observe Felix and focused on understanding my training goals. After listening to her training methodology, I was excited to move forward with her. Based on what I shared with her, she recommended her 8 session package. Over the course of two months, we met once a week, and between sessions Diana gave me "homework" to do with Felix to prepare him for our next session. We had our first few sessions indoors so that Felix could train in a familiar environment and build his basic obedience foundation. After that, we progressed into outdoor environments, working our way up from a quiet park to a busy open-air shopping mall for our final session. Felix has now reached intermediate obedience and has even started learning some advanced obedience! While Felix still gets excited around other dogs, I now have management strategies from Diana that make me so much more confident taking him into public areas. Felix has blossomed into a more stable, confident dog, and I regularly get comments from strangers about how well behaved he is. Some of them even ask if I'm a trainer (I tell them no, but I learned from the best). Diana truly understands dog psychology, and her balanced approach ensures that both dog and human can have fun learning together. We'll miss spending our Wednesdays with her and can't wait to keep her updated on our training progress. Thank you Diana!

    Alex R.

    I found Diana on yelp last year while looking for dog trainers and i am thankful that i did. My dog's reactivity began to escalate which created a very stressful home life. I knew that i had to find a trainer but majority of the trainers offer 1 day of training and they will "teach you everything" which in my opinion is not possible; fortunately i found Diana who puts a lot of time and energy into helping you and your pet. She is extremely knowledgeable and after finishing training i feel well informed. In about 8 weeks she got my reactive dog to trust me and learn not to act on impulse. On a scale of reactivity my dog went from a 10/10 to a 2/10. We have bad days and good days, but on the bad days i know how to manage her anxiety so she will not react thanks to the information Diana has taught me. When getting a pet I did not understand the time and dedication i had to put into building a trusting relationship. As much as the training is about your pet it is also about you. The trainings were mentally tiring for my pet and I; we would take a 3 hour nap every time we finished training but in the end it was worth it. If you looking for a trainer i would highly recommend Diana. I attached a photo of my reactive dog relaxed in a store.

    First time meeting Diana!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Deep Connection K9 Academy

    Review Highlights - Deep Connection K9 Academy

    Within the first week of training, Diana had enlightened us on how to best communicate and work with Beni.

    Mentioned in 46 reviews

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    This review is LOOOONNNGGGGG overdue. I had gotten a Shiba Inu puppy 3 years ago that had to be…read morehospitalized due to Parvo the next day. Then, once he recovered from that, had a fever that almost killed him and had to be hospitalized again. We had to keep him quarantined for a while and away from my other dog (a 7 year old Pomeranian at the time) and get all his vaccinations from the beginning. He was scared of literally every single noise and had anxiety about just about everything. Over time, he developed extreme food aggression and we were worried for the safety of my little Pom. He had been attacked a few times to the point of actual injury and it was extremely stressful for everyone. I was at my wits end and I felt like I had tried everything to help Gunnar (my Shiba) and protect Simba (my Pom). I did a lot of research and stumbled upon Jenina and sent her a message for private sessions where she would come to my apartment once a week. I believe I only used her for a little over a month but I am eternally grateful. The level of aggression Gunnar displayed was so dangerous that my roommate and I actually have been bitten with blood trying to protect Simba from harm where food is involved. The issue was that he wasn't aggressive with all foods and we were unaware the extent until it was too late (ex. we thought it was only wet food so we were giving a chew stick to them separately where I would have Simba sitting next to me on the couch and Gunnar would be on the floor away from Simba with my roommate and the switch was so sudden----from sweet to seemingly no warning lunging at Simba----I stuck my leg out to protect Simba and he bit my leg instead). I feel like at this point, a regular human being would give Gunnar up, but that wasn't an option. It wasn't an option when he came to me dying from Parvo, it wasn't an option when he had an almost fatal fever, and it wasn't going to be an option for me now. I was determined to find a way to help him because he is my baby and my responsibility. The vet suggested I contact a behavioral specialist and when I did, VCA told me the earliest appointment they had was months later. Fed up with waiting, I found Jenina. In a month's time, she had given me the tools to fix a seemingly impossible situation. Make no mistake---she made me work for it. She might come across brash to some people but she is very direct and straight to the point. She doesn't coddle you and makes sure she lets you know what you need to do because while the session is for dogs, it is actually more like training the parent. She gives you "homework" and training info and is only willing to help you if YOU do the work. Now, it wasn't a complete fix. He still has anxiety outdoors or unknown noises as well as food aggression but it is nowhere near what he used to be. Before Jenina, Gunnar couldn't even take a step outside the apartment building let alone go for a walk. Three years later, Simba has sadly since passed but he has a little brother that he is extremely patient with as he acts like a typical annoying little brother), his food aggression has gone down from 100 to 30, and we go out to all sorts of places. He is THRIVING and this is all thanks to Jenina. My roommate and I are on high alert and know what to look for in terms of triggers and are very quick to de-escalate aggression situations. We try our best not to avoid known triggers and we work with him every day to allow him to be his best self. He is the sweetest boy and we are so glad he's been able to show it instead of being overshadowed by aggression and anxiety. She also gave Gunnar his nickname---Gunny! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I am so sorry it took this long to leave this review but thank you so much for saving us. If we had listened to the VCA behavioral specialist that basically called Gunnar a monster and suggested we give him up, he probably would have been euthanized somewhere. We owe you so much.

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

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    (445 reviews)

    Historic South Central

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

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

    Bark Busters

    Bark Busters

    (117 reviews)

    Downtown

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

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

    A-Team Dog Training - Podcast about dog psychology.

    A-Team Dog Training

    (127 reviews)

    The amount of change that Dawit was able to do for my dog is a crazy amount. I'm not sure I'd be…read moreable to handle my dog without his help! My very alpha dog needed a lot of training and Dawit turned him into a more calm alpha dog who knows his place at home and in public. I'm so very thankful and cannot be more happy with how much of a good boy my dog is. As a first time dog carer, I've learned so much from Dawit and would definitely recommend his training to anyone.

    Where do we even start? Our dog, Cooper, was adopted from a shelter after being surrendered twice…read more We quickly learned that he struggled with severe separation anxiety and couldn't be left alone. We became prisoners in our own home. We either had to take him everywhere with us or have one of us stay behind. It became a huge burden, and we found ourselves scheduling our entire lives around our dog. We decided to work with Dawit, and little by little, things started to improve. When we got Cooper back from training, he was like a completely different dog. He no longer pulled on the leash, was not reactive when he saw other dogs, his recall was amazing, and many of our typical worries disappeared. However, the separation anxiety still persisted. This is where Dawit truly deserves recognition. He never gave up on us or on Cooper. Our training journey probably lasted longer than most because of how severe Cooper's anxiety was, but Dawit went far beyond the typical follow-ups. Over the course of several months, the training sessions, check-ins, texts/videos, communication, and home visits finally paid off. There were times when I genuinely thought we'd never be able to return to a normal life, but our consistency combined with Dawit's continued support and new techniques made all the difference. Cooper can now stay home alone in his crate without issues. That being said, training only works if you put in the effort. We followed through with everything Dawit recommended, even when it was difficult or when we didn't see immediate results. It's easy to fall back into old habits or give up when progress feels slow, but perseverance truly pays off. Side note: Dawit is just an all-around great person who genuinely cares about what he does. Our dog absolutely adores him. We also love the boarding services he offers -- especially because Cooper comes home exercised and happy. Another huge plus is that Cooper is now off-leash certified, and we fully trust him to make good decisions. Yes, it can be costly, but it's an investment and honestly, I don't know another dog as well‑behaved as ours. I'm incredibly proud of the work it took to get here.

    Happy Paws Dog Training LA - Mr Wiggles!! One of the cutest kids on the planet!!

    Happy Paws Dog Training LA

    (101 reviews)

    Mid-Wilshire

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

    Earlier this year, my partner and I adopted a maltipoo, Cinderella. Only 8 weeks old, she was full…read moreof energy and curiosity. We already had another dog, Sylvester, who was rescued 5 years ago, was a bit older, and the not the friendliest with other dogs. Maybe not the best two to pair in a home. Sylvester had already gone through some training, but was due for a refresher. Cinderella was wet clay ready for molding. After doing some research online, we reached out to Raquel, and after one phone call, we knew she was the best person to collaborate with. Raquel brought up a very key point early on in that Cinderella will follow the lead of the head dog already established, so we wanted to make sure she was learning good habits early on in her life. Over the next few months, Raquel has spent time with us in our home and the park as we've been learning how to better communicate with our dogs, and with each other with it comes to training them. So much of it is Raquel training us as the owners in as much as it is training the dogs themselves. Raquel is always a text away and within reach, has incredible insight into the minds of dogs, and so very kind and gentle with all of us. It can be very frustrating to re-learn habits from walking our dogs to feeding them to communicating with them when they're doing something naughty. Raquel is a great teacher who is able to simplify the process, and we're very happy with the results we've seen so far with our dogs. Whether it's Cinderella growling at everyone the moment she starts eating, or Sylvester going into attack mode when he sees another dog across the street, Raquel has been there every step of the way giving guidance and suggestions, and we've seen the progress. My partner and I highly recommend Raquel to anyone looking to become a better parent to their dogs. Because it starts with you.

    South Park Doggie - Waterland LAX - Mika splashing on a hot day!

    South Park Doggie - Waterland LAX

    (735 reviews)

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

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

    Deep Connection K9 Academy - pet_training - Updated May 2026

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