Cara is excellent training your dog. She is very knowledgeable and very patient. Has great methods…read morethat does not include a shock dog collar. I would highly recommend her!

I can't recommend Cara enough! From the very first session, it was clear that she truly understand…read moredogs and their behavior. Cara took the time to assess my puppy's individual needs and developed a training plan with the goal of forming a strong relationship with my dalmatian, Ruth. Cara was incredibly patient, calm, and encouraging. Check out her YouTube videos to get Cara's vibe for traning and see if her apporach works for you. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, we were not able to complete our eight-week training plan, but Cara was completely understanding and refunded me for the remaining sessions. I was beyond grateful that she was so understanding of situation. Cara has a genuine love for animals, and it shows in every interaction. If you're looking for a knowledgeable, kind, and results-driven dog trainer, look no further. I'm so grateful for the transformation in my dog's behavior (even in the short time we spent training together) and I would recommend Cara for anyone struggling to train their dog basic obedience, or develop a relationship with their new puppy, and much more!

About a year ago, we took our puppy Milo in for a…read moreconsultation. Something happened to him when he was a pup and he did not like people or other dogs. He was only a few months old at the time and he lashed out at anything or anyone besides me an his mom. We were told by someone who worked here (I don't remember his name but remember he had a slice of pizza tattooed on his arm) that if we didn't give them 5k and leave our dog for a few weeks, then our dog would be euthanized within a year. Anything other than the 5k service would "be a waste of his time and ours". We left that day and his mom (my gf) was in tears. We just couldn't afford it and felt completely helpless that day because we just couldn't do the service. Welp, it's been a year since that consultation and happy to say Milo is not only still alive, but has made incredible progress. He has even made a few new friends the last few months (both dog and people). Fear mongering a young couple who just wanted to take in this dog was so wrong. They left us feeling devastated. If we can train our dog ourselves, then most other people can to. Please consider this before giving in to this company.

The staff repeatedly told me they gave Mike my information and I'd get a call back regarding…read moreSchutzhund training. That was in November. I guess my green isn't as precious as some football star's green. Although, Schutzhund training would probably cost about 20x what basic bootcamp costs. Oh well. You're loss. This kind of brush off doesn't inspire confidence. Seems, actually, pretty arrogant.

I could not be more grateful for all the knowledge that Pilar has shared over the course of…read moretraining my ACD mix. Piper can be a frustrated greeter and is strong enough to really pull while on the leash, but both behaviors have been minimized with the right tools under our belt. Walks went from being stressful to being a fun experience for us both! We learn new games and training exercises - time spent with Pilar is always rewarding! Her experience time and time again has helped me communicate more clearly to my dog as well as understand her behaviors. Pilar's positive reinforcement training has helped me build a strong bond with Piper built on trust, and I'm so grateful!

Pilar treats your dog as if it were her own. You will be thankful you called her for your dog or…read morepuppy training because she a certified trainer and knows the proper techniques so you don't have to worry about your dog being mistreated or doing further damage as some "dog trainers." Your dog will love you for calling her!

I used Andrea's basic puppy classes for both of my dogs after a recommendation from a friend. She…read morehad used them for her dog, as well as her sister-in-law! The basic puppy classes focus on socialization, simple commands, leash walking, etc. Both of my dogs enjoyed the classes and although they have selective hearing, they benefited from her courses and early introduction to other dogs and humans. She is extremely flexible in make-up classes which is great since weekends can be busy. What I really found to be the most wonderful thing about Andrea is that once you have taken her classes, you can continue asking questions in the future about behaviors, etc. My friend and I texted her about safe introductions and I texted her about resource guarding when I got a new puppy, before she had even met him. She is highly committed to dog training and their success. I also utilized her 1:1 training services for my first dog who has zero recall and had some safety issues as a puppy (opening the oven, trying to jump on counters like a cat, weird stuff) so she came to the home a few times to target specific behaviors. I found her prices to be reasonable and her homework to be useful. Our classes had dogs ranging from 5 pounds to 70 pounds so she can definitely adhere any training needs to your dog and adapts on the spot. Highly recommend! And again, if you're wanting more than just basic sit, stay, lay down, socialization, you would probably want to continue on to the more advanced classes, as the basic puppy course we took was simple and focused more on socialization and basic cues!

I used Andrea before she started Spot On, but that's how good she is. I did all of the classes she…read moreoffered and my dog and I really enjoyed them and continue to use what we learned. Andrea is a wealth of info and has great lesson plans with just the right amount of dogs in the group classes. I recommend her to everyone, she's worth it. Think of it as an investment in your doggies future :)

Caring sweet staff. Great experience for our puppy. They sent several pics, which we appreciated.read more

We've been bringing our two golden retrievers to Kamp Kanine since they were puppies, and they…read moreabsolutely love it. Tyler and Hali are next level when it comes to care and communication. They send photos, pay close attention to each dog's needs, and always have them washed and ready right on time when we ask. I also really appreciate how thoughtfully they group the dogs to keep everyone happy and safe. I've tried other daycare centers, and none compare to Kamp Kanine. The drop-off and pick-up process is so easy, and I have complete peace of mind every time. M Rivera

Many years ago, my husband and I paid for a package of lessons. We had the first two lessons and…read moreafter that were unable to reach John to schedule the rest. Similar story to others on here. Be weary of paying. The first two lessons included showing the use of the prong collar and introducing his dog to ours. However, after that he suggested to pay for additional sessions. After that didn't hear back from again.

Our 5 year old dog, Nala, had a rough past before we adopted her (2 different homes, neglected,…read morevery anxious). We had already gone through 1 basic training class through Petco to socialize her, and then another private trainer who just sucked the money out of us with no result. We did not want to give up on our sweet girl, so I did my research and felt optimistic starting with John. Our first session showed how anxious she was and her lack of confidence. As we progressed, she loved being a part of the pack with his 2 sweet, large German shepherds who accompany John himself. Throughout our sessions, Nala learned better loose leash walking, more efficient sits, down, became more comfortable around other dogs, and developed confidence. We also learned which training collar works best in lieu of a harness, ALL without using treats. It's tried and true. Overall, we were able to have an ongoing dialogue about how to acclimate her to stressful situations and what not to do. She is a changed dog due to the consistent training methods we witnessed and learned. John is very understanding and wants the best for your furry friend, no matter their history. She will never be 100% in terms of her personality, but we got her dang near a 90% and you would never know her past. Give him a try!

They ensure a safe environment for all the pups! We have 2 different personality dogs with…read moredifferent needs- the staff has provided a loving environment and met each of them with where they are at (a recent rescue and an old lady with opinions)!

Will never return here after my dog required veterinary care due to an injury sustained during a…read moreboarding stay at Alcala in April 2024 that was directly caused by their care. When I picked my dog up after five days of boarding, I was shocked to learn that he had been put into solitary confinement an hour after I dropped him off due to "showing aggression with another dog" and he stayed in solitary for the entire five days he was there. When I asked why I wasn't informed of this at all, the employee told me they "didn't have all of the information at the time" which made no sense considering they were the witnesses and decision makers. When I brought him home I noticed a large sore on one of his elbows that he didn't have when I dropped him off at Alcala. His veterinarian told me it was likely caused by laying in the same spot and not moving for hours, a result of Alcala confining him in an area too small for him. He ended up requiring topical medication to treat the wound. My dog had never shown aggression while with me, at any previous boarding facility, nor at daycare sessions at Alcala prior to this boarding. Regardless, even if their accusation was true, the fact they never communicated anything with me and just left my dog to rot in a crate for five days straight was inexcusable.

I'm really disappointed in how this business handles communication and customer service. I enrolled…read morein a 4-week group training class for my 9 month old puppy. I reached out nine days before the first session to ask about moving to the following 4 week session since I would be missing two out of four classes. I wasn't asking for a refund--just to switch sessions. My email went unanswered, and I had to call the facility to leave a message before the owner finally texted me back. I was told there are no changes or cancellations allowed, and to simply watch videos for the weeks I'd miss. One of the main reasons I chose this trainer was for the in-person group training and socialization, which can't be replaced by videos. I can find plenty of training videos online. This 4 week training was expensive, but I was very much so excited to grow with a training facility nearby. As a Carlsbad local, I love supporting small businesses, but this experience has been very disappointing. A little flexibility and better communication would have gone a long way.

I have taken classes with Laura since 2004, and just graduated my third dog/student with her... I…read morereally can't say enough good things about her thoughtful, positive reinforcement common sense approach to training, dogs and their humans! She really understands dogs and is a gifted trainer. Highly recommend her, and we will be back again and again!