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Force-Free Dog Training

4.4 (19 reviews)
Closed 9:00 am - 9:30 pm

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Services - Force-Free Dog Training

Private dog training

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Sitting/resting at a restaurant while we are able to eat. We never thought this would be possible.
Madisen H.

My husband and I bought an unsocialized 8 month dachshund about a year ago. His issues were primarily: pulling himself when he walked on leash to the point he would hurt my arm when walking, reactivity with dogs and people so much so, that he would continuously bark for up to 3 hours solid when a new guest was home. Lastly he would try and bolt out of the front door to a busy street. There were other behavioral issues but these were our main concerns. It is without exaggeration when I say that Jeff's force free dog draining saved my dog from living a life of fear and anxiety, to being a relaxed dog. It is not without your own consistent reinforcement of the training that leads to positive results. My husband and I are now able to have guests over, go on peaceful walks with our dog, and even have family vacations with busy Main Streets and crowds with other dogs present. I am forever grateful to Jeff's services and we will utilize him again when we get our second puppy. Thank you Jeff!

Chico behaves nicely now! Thanks Jeff!
Lisa K.

I have used Jeff before with my other dogs and had fantastic results. So I knew who to call. I recently adopted a 10year old dog after the owner passed away. Jeff was wonderful teaching my Chico how to get along with his brother Dakota. He also solved Chicos aggressive behavior when anyone got near me he use to growl, now he is a well behaved dog. Thank you Jeff and Force-Free Dog Training.

Rachel L.

I really wanted him to train my dog but I guess he's only good communicating with dogs and not people. I have told him SO MANY TIMES that my phone is having issues with making calls or receiving calls thats why I was communicating through email and text but he just don't get it. What's so hard about giving me an estimated price via text? If you are tired communicating with your clients about this constant repetition, then might as well put the pricing on your website just like everybody else.

My Aussies that Jeff promised to always be there for!
Kimber B.

*** I CANNOT RECOMMED JEFF HOLMES, FORCE FREE DOG TRAINING. PLEASE READ WHY!!!!! We hired Jeff Holmes several times. We had aggression issues when we just had 2 dogs. Then, when we added 2 pups to the family. We paid him more than $5,000. In fact, we still have one more session on his books that we haven't used. His agreement with his clients is that he will always be available to us via text or phone for advice when a situation arises. Over this past 10 months, I have texted him 4 times for advice. He did not respond. The first 3 questions were benign, so I just tried to figure things out myself. However, my text to Jeff on July 15, 2024, was urgent and scary!! Three of our 4 dogs were in a horrific fight and one of my dogs was severely injured. He had to have emergency surgery. In fact, had to have a second surgery one week later. I texted, I called and I emailed Jeff with no response. I finally found a way to message him on Yelp asking, begging him for help. I finally received a message from him saying "Sorry, I'm booked for this time". I don't know why Jeff Holmes is being this way towards us and our dogs. We've paid him a lot of money. We felt comfortable referring him in the past but not anymore. Because he has turned his back on us, because he has turned into something other than a compassionate dog trainer we are faced with re-homing one of our dogs because we cannot afford to start training with a new trainer/behaviorist. Jeff Holmes already knows all 4 of my dogs. A new trainer would have to spend hours just to get to know their personalities and the dynamics of the pack. The dismissiveness that he has shown us is appalling and unprofessional. Just know that if you hire Jeff Holmes, you probably won't get what you paid for. You definitely won't get the lifetime support he promises. He sure doesn't mind using pictures of my Australian shepherds on this Yelp page. Please think twice before hiring him!!! He may leave a rebuttal comment below. However, that won't excuse him from taking our money and going against his word that he would always be there to help.

Jeff is exactly the person I was looking for to help my new fur baby learn how to behave properly and FAST. I had recently taken my little girl to petsmart for a foo-foo private lesson and everything the trainer had told me to do only made the behavior worse and caused more stress for us both. I had reached out to countless people for training advice and got so much information that turned out to be totally useless and baseless. I've read hundreds of articles and watched SO MANY YouTube videos, trying to find a way to work with my new little companion. Still, we weren't getting very far. She needed something so much more than what I could do for her on my own and the hard days were quickly turning into weeks. My adorable little girl was turning into a bratty land shark and my limbs were slowly being eaten away. Without exaggeration, I feared for my future self. So, I called force free dog training. She's still small, which is the best time to jump on glaring behavioral issues. Professional help is an investment that will last for her lifetime, you truly CAN NOT put a price on peace of mind. I don't just want to have a dog, I want to peacefully coexist with my intelligent and loyal beast for as long as possible. Jeff doesn't mess around and he won't bs you out of your dollars to sell you snake oil. He clearly knows what he's doing, he made it a fun day for my girl and is deeply knowledgeable and personable. In two very short hours, I can literally say that my baby has transformed. I'm ecstatic. I learned so much and after immediately implementing our lessons, I have to say that tonight has been THE MOST pleasant evening I've spent with my puppy so far. We were both calm and relaxed and got to enjoy time together outside in our environment. I wish I had found force free training with my previous kids, I'll recommend this business to anyone and everyone that will listen, proper training saves lives. I can only imagine how much more we will learn in the future with Jeff. This business is a real gem

Jacqui M.

Jeff and his approach to dog training is a blessing to us and our latest dog companion. Casey is the fifth dog we've brought into our family over 35 years. We were sure we could handle training ourselves, but this big guy turned out nothing like our others. We struggled, tried everything, and finally called Jeff and Force-Free Dog Training. His approach was respectful, kind but firm, and effective. It was as though he could talk to the dog, figure out what his squeaks and yips meant. He taught us a lot about helping our puppy feel like a valued part of our family. We signed up for 4-5 sessions, once a week, and looked forward to all of them. Our puppy isn't perfect (what puppy is) yet, but we now have the tools for helping him adjust to this new life and his new pack. Thank you, Jeff, for making that happen.

8 week old Husky puppy & 10 year old chihuahua poodle

We highly recommend Jeff and Force-Free Dog Training! He is very informative, patient and funny. We have a few dogs of different ages/breeds and Jeff was very helpful in helping us recognize how to properly handle situations while respecting each dog's own unique personality and boundaries. We were very nervous about having new Husky pups with our senior dogs (one being a 10 year chihuahua with spine disease) but even after one training session we are feeling confident in keeping our senior dogs happy while raising our Husky pups to be well behaved. We're looking forward to more training sessions soon and highly suggest Jeff!

Jeff was amazing due to some unforeseen circumstances we didn't continue the training but he is not joking when he says he can make a huge change in dogs behavior in one session!

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8 months ago

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Ask the Community - Force-Free Dog Training

Review Highlights - Force-Free Dog Training

I chose Jeff over other Trainers because of his loving nature towards Ginger, who was a member of our family!

Mentioned in 18 reviews

Read more highlights

Zoom Room Dog Training - Earn Your AKC Tricks Certification at Zoom Room Huntington Beach!

Zoom Room Dog Training

(187 reviews)

I wanted to share my experience with Zoom Room Huntington Beach because I ran into several issues…read morethat made me decide not to continue with their training program. I attended an Obedience 2 session on September 27th. When I arrived, the waiting area outside had a strong smell of urine, which made me question how often that space is cleaned. During class, we were given a plate for treats, and I wasn't comfortable using it without knowing how frequently they're sanitized. Before attending, I had called for help with the app because I was unsure how to manage the class schedule. I was advised to try the first class before committing to anything else, and I asked to be removed from all waitlists. Even so, the next day--September 28th--I was still added to another class I had specifically asked not to be enrolled in. I canceled it immediately and requested confirmation that I wouldn't be charged for it. On September 30th, I emailed to request a refund for the unused classes. I was told I'd only be charged for the one session on the 27th. My total charge was $405, and I expected to be refunded everything except that single class. Instead, it wasn't until I filed a dispute with my credit card company that on October 25 I received a refund for only $324. I was charged for the class on September 28. I followed up multiple times from September through November 22nd--about six emails in total--and each time I was told that "Vince was out of the office" and that my refund was still being handled. I am still waiting on that refund. I shared this feedback with them directly because I do think simple improvements--like suggesting owners bring their own bowls or a mat for their dog--could make a difference. I was genuinely hoping to return in the future for trick or scent classes, but the lack of customer service and the difficulty getting a straightforward refund left me very disappointed. I hope they take this as constructive feedback and make changes that improve the experience for other dog parents.

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

The Dog Guru Whisperer & Ex K9 Officer Training - http://www.thedog.guru

The Dog Guru Whisperer & Ex K9 Officer Training

(648 reviews)

I almost didn't book with The Dog Guru because I saw a review calling him "verbally abusive," and…read moreafter working with him personally, I honestly could not disagree more. Pay ZERO attention to that review. As a psychologist, I pay very close attention to behavior, regulation, communication, and emotional energy, and at no point did I witness cruelty, aggression, intimidation, or abusive behavior toward me or my dog. What honestly amazed me most was that he never said one word to my dog. There was no yelling, chaos, or "training performance." It was all action, energy, body language, timing, and an understanding of canine psychology that I have never personally seen before. Before we started working together, Daisy was going after every dog she saw. Within two hours, we were calmly walking and standing next to dogs that were within a foot of her, even sniffing her, and she was completely relaxed. The transformation was honestly remarkable. I think some people may misunderstand firmness, honesty, or structure as being "mean," especially when dealing with difficult dog behaviors, but there is a huge difference between abuse and someone confidently leading both owner and dog. My experience felt safe, effective, loving, and honestly incredible. For the first time in a long time, I left feeling hopeful and relaxed instead of anxious. I am extremely grateful I trusted my own experience instead of one negative review.

Initial impression - First thought . There is only one…read moreCaesar Milan. Second thought. No doubt an excellent trainer for the military and if that's what you're looking for he may be just your speed ! His accolades can be found in so many of his advertisements which I'm sure are no doubt accurate. If you're going to pay a sum in advance to schedule a conversation, (as I did) , you may have to call him to remind him to call you on the last day that the call was promised . While, this truth may not sit well and I didn't actually hire him, no matter because your mileage may vary. He is a busy guy. All the best to you all.

Sit Means Sit Dog Training Orange County - Albie

Sit Means Sit Dog Training Orange County

(251 reviews)

We were going on a trip in a few weeks and asked if they could take our dog during the time. The…read moreeasily accommodated and took her in with no problem. Our dog was working with Bryan who gave updates on the days promised with no delays. We have a husky who is a bit skittish and of course a tad stubborn. When we watched her videos, she clearly was getting the training down well! Once we came home and picked her up, Bryan made it easy to understand the next steps and has consistently followed up with us to check how she's doing. It was suggested to train with an electric collar. My partner and I were considering it ourselves but didn't know how to use it properly. The SMS team have you try it - I wouldn't try something like this on my dog without knowing what it feels like a promise you, it's not at all painful. Since using it, our dog has followed commands and even does things naturally like being right at our side while walking or sitting and staying. We've only just begun and it's been great results. We hope that this keeps up and that once we ween off it, she'll be an even better dog. Two last things. They also understand a dog is a dog, her release command is literally "go play". Bryan helped train to lifestyle and our dogs specific needs. Secondly, they coordinated trainings on holidays - we flew in Christmas Eve morning and they easily accommodated us in such great manner.

Ryan is absolutely amazing, and my pup Maximus and I are so grateful to have him as our trainer (we…read moreboth need him ) I have a very tough, sassy and stubborn husky mix who was never socialized and he just turned 1. Ryan has been so great with us - patient, kind, accommodating and always goes above and beyond when I have questions or need some extra guidance. He's taken extra time and care to understand Max's personality and needs so he can guide me too, since all dogs are different, and I've learned so much about my own body language and energy and how it contributes to the training process. Ryan ALWAYS follows up, checks in and makes sure to ask if I have any more questions. Max has a really strong bond with him as well, which makes me very happy to see and feel more comfortable if I need to leave him to board and train for any more work he might need. Super grateful for Ryan - and I highly, highly recommend him!! Cindy is also absolutely fabulous - she helped me so much when we realized that Max just needed a little bit of extra work and attention. They've both really made all the difference in my experience with training a newly adopted, reactive and high energy pup!

Canine Learning Academy - Sunny Honey:)

Canine Learning Academy

(55 reviews)

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

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

SoCal Dog Training - Vladae in the NEWS

SoCal Dog Training

(458 reviews)

We started with Vladae when our Vizsla puppy was just a few months old and progressed quickly. It…read moreall made sense and yielded quick results. We were so happy with everything that we decided to progress further by sending her to his 2 week boot camp at 16 months old. When I asked why such a good dog would go to boot camp, Vladae responded with, "Same reason that the smartest kids go to university, to become all they can be and hone their skills." That made sense to me! If it was any other boot camp I would have been nervous about my baby. I know how well Vladae treats his campers though and his focus on health and exercise. "Only the tired dog is the good dog" Thank you Vladae!

As a first-time Cavapoo owner, I felt completely overwhelmed with the process of dog training and…read morehad no idea what to expect. It honestly brought back the feeling of being a first-time parent--questioning every decision, but without a nurse hotline for guidance. My husband and I were especially struggling with how to manage Chloe around our young kids. She was very unruly, reactive on walks, and difficult to control around other dogs. We found SoCal Dog Training through a friend's referral, and choosing Vladae ended up being one of the best decisions we've made. I'll admit, I was skeptical at first--so many trainers promise results--but Vladae truly delivers. The onboarding process was seamless. The initial FaceTime consultation helped set clear expectations, and I really appreciated how upfront and honest he was about the work required. What stood out most to me was his long-term commitment--knowing I could always come back for refreshers gave me a lot of confidence that I wasn't just getting a short-term fix. The training sessions are where the transformation really happens. After each session, it genuinely felt like we had a new dog--but that's also where the responsibility comes in. You have to consistently follow through with the exercises he gives you. In many ways, it reminded me that investing in my dog's future takes the same consistency and commitment as investing in my two kids. She's now quite literally my third kid. Chloe used to be extremely reactive--barking, pulling on the leash, and even jumping up on our toddlers. Vladae helped me understand the root of her behavior and showed me how to properly address it. Now she's calm, more confident, and walking her has become something I actually enjoy. Seeing that transformation has been incredibly rewarding. It wasn't an easy process, but it was absolutely worth it. Also, a special shout-out to Antonina for being so kind, responsive, and accommodating with scheduling.

Force-Free Dog Training - pet_training - Updated May 2026

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