We've had a fantastic experience working with Justine from Bark Busters m. She works with both our…read morepuppy and our 4-year-old dog together while still paying close attention to their individual needs and personalities. Her calm, knowledgeable approach makes the training easy to understand and practical to apply in our daily routine. We've already seen great progress with both dogs, and Justine does a great job explaining the "why" behind the training so we can stay consistent between sessions. She's reliable, encouraging, and clearly cares about helping both the dogs and their owners succeed. I highly recommend Justine and the Bark Busters program to anyone looking for thoughtful, effective in-home training.

Justine from Bark Busters came to my home for an initial lesson, and I paid $300. My dog Happy is a…read more4-year-old Maltipoo and a small dog. During that visit, Justine explained the Gold Lifetime program ($1,895) and said she would come to my home about every 2-3 weeks for continued training. Based on that explanation, I decided to purchase the program. However, the first session under the program lasted only about 30 minutes. When I asked about the next visit, Justine said future sessions would be done through FaceTime instead of in-home training. During the initial lesson, I clearly explained that Happy does not pull on the leash. Despite this, Justine brought a metal collar designed to prevent pulling and tried to put it on Happy, which was confusing and disappointing. I also explained that because Happy is a small dog, I wanted to learn proper heel training so he could walk safely beside me. Instead, Justine said it was fine for him to walk behind me. I do not feel this is safe for a small dog, as he could easily pick something up from the ground or encounter larger dogs from behind. As a result, I paid $1,895 but received only one 30-minute in-person session. My request for a partial refund or reassignment to another trainer was denied. I am sharing this experience so that other customers can fully understand the training approach and contract terms before committing. Clarification: The three-hour visit mentioned by the trainer, Justine, refers to the separate $300 initial lesson, which I paid for in advance and which actually lasted about 2.5 hours. The first session under the $1,895 Gold Lifetime program lasted about 30 minutes. Update: The owner responded claiming I "refused to book lessons." Attached are text screenshots proving the opposite. When I requested in-person visits every 2 weeks, the trainer replied: "I don't work that way" and offered only FaceTime instead. I did not refuse -- the trainer refused to provide the service I paid for.

We started working with Brian last year after a really scary situation--our dog bit our 12 month…read moreold daughter, and we were honestly desperate for help. Like any parent and dog owner, we were heartbroken and overwhelmed, not knowing how to move forward safely. After reading so many incredible reviews about Brian across different forums, we decided to reach out--and I'm so grateful we did. Brian helped us understand Hudson (our dog) on a completely different level. He took the time to explain the fears and anxiety driving Hudson's behavior and gave us practical tools to help him feel more secure and confident. Instead of just addressing the behavior itself, Brian helped us see what Hudson was experiencing and how to support him in a way that actually works. Over time, we've seen such meaningful progress. Most importantly, I now feel so much more comfortable and confident with my daughter interacting with Hudson. That peace of mind is something I truly can't put into words. If you're dealing with a challenging or scary situation with your dog, I can't recommend Brian highly enough. His knowledge, patience, and ability to help both dogs and owners understand each other is truly remarkable. We're incredibly grateful we found him.

TL;DR: The Way of the Dog is, quite literally, the best dog training experience in Los Angeles…read more Brian Lee is a pillar of the South Bay dog community. Across Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, and beyond, a surprising number of dog owners I've met have trained with him at some point -- and without exception, they speak highly of the experience. That reputation alone says a lot. What you get is not a typical obedience class. The program consists of five focused, no-nonsense behaviorist sessions grounded in a deep understanding of dog psychology, plus ongoing, supervised pack-socialization events (think structured dog parties, not chaotic dog parks). The emphasis is on how dogs think, not on rote commands. The training style is dense, unconventional, and unapologetically dogmatic -- in a good way. Brian does not start with commands. Instead, he teaches you to understand your dog as a born hunter with physical, mental, and social needs. Once you understand that framework, behaviors fall into place naturally. Watching him settle a dog mid-zoomie without a single command honestly looks like magic. If your goal is to teach tricks or formal commands, I'd recommend pairing this additionally with a balanced-method obedience school. I would not recommend "positive-reinforcement-only" programs like Zoom Room. In my experience -- and based on what I've seen firsthand -- that approach often fails in real-world situations. Many of the worst-behaved dogs I've encountered came out of those programs, including ours. So why listen to Brian? He has over 40 years of experience and has worked with more than 40,000 dogs. And in a time when "positive reinforcement only" has become the fashionable -- and often misleading -- default, The Way of the Dog is one of the few remaining programs that actually produces calm, stable, well-behaved dogs. We ended up here because Zoom Room training failed us badly. Our puppy was biting us so severely that I seriously considered rehoming her. This program changed everything. We learned how to be kind and strong leaders, how to meet our dog's core needs, and how to train both her and ourselves consistently -- especially through the very real chaos of the "teenage dog" phase. This business deserves five-star reviews across the board. If you look at the rare one-star reviews, they simply don't add up -- and Brian has already addressed them directly. Complaints about "teaching commands" are fake; and complaints about "fear-based training" miss the entire point of the program. Brian is direct, honest, and doesn't sugarcoat reality -- which is exactly what many people need, even if they don't want to hear it. In short, based on both my own experience and consistent feedback from other dog owners, our dog now behaves 10x better than most dogs we encounter -- calmer, more disciplined, and far less reactive. And yes, I'm officially a dog snob now. I have zero tolerance for poorly trained dogs at parks -- especially humping, biting humans, or owners who excuse bad behavior. Once you've seen what good training actually looks like, there's no going back.

I love the PetsHotel staff my dog comes often they're great!!…read more But DO NOT TRUST CATHY from the grooming department, I heard her talking crap and being aggressive to a dog she was grooming I reported it to the supervisor, poor doggie! She Definitely should not be near any animals with that type of aggression and attitude, wrong career evil, wicked and cruel!!!!

PetSmart has been absolutely fantastic with all our pet needs two cats and two dog and a fish tank…read morenothing but get staff and the dog hotel is awesome!!!!! I have nothing but great things to say about the pet hotel we take advantage of it 3-4 times a year with our elderly dog. That's to all that help my family pet needs!!!

We had such a wonderful experience with Tim during Coco's 10-day Advanced Obedience training! From…read morethe very beginning, Tim was kind, experienced, patient, and genuinely caring with Coco. Because of his calm and positive approach, Coco was always excited whenever it was time for his lessons. Since the training was done privately in our home, we were also able to see how attentive and happy Coco was whenever Tim came through the door. He also helped Coco learn how to behave appropriately and interact with other dogs at the park. Before his training, Coco was often scared and hesitant whenever we took him to the park. Now he is more confident around other dogs. Seeing that change has been amazing for us! We are very grateful to Tim for his patience, expertise, and dedication to Coco. You can truly tell that he loves what he does and understands dogs very well. We highly recommend Tim to anyone looking for an experienced, professional, patient, and compassionate dog trainer. We couldn't be happier with Coco's progress! Thank you, Tim, for helping our little Coco become a more confident and well-behaved dog!

I cannot recommend Tim enough for your fur baby!…read more Tim worked with our Great Dane/German Shepard mix for puppy training when he was just 4 months old, and again for "boot camp" when our dog was just under 18 months old. Tim taught our puppy the basics of potty training, to more advanced commands. He helped us get rid of our dog's "resource guarding" food habits, and made it so I could take him on walks without being pulled around! Tim's passion and love for dogs shines through in his interactions. He is kind, a clear communicator, and an expert in his field. Let Tim give your doggy the help they need!

It's not the same store it used to be. When I asked for a trash can to throw away my cup, they said…read moreno. I also asked to use the restroom and was told no. They no longer carry the Instinct brand of dog food I've bought here for years. The staff doesn't seem very knowledgeable either. It's hard to understand why the prices are so high when the service is this poor.

Love this place. Great customer service and friendly staff…read more Good variety of cat/dog food. Good toys and treats. Easy store to navigate with clear signage. Recommend it.

Highly recommend Zoom Room Torrance for training your puppy/dog! We've been taking classes there…read moresince Nov 2025, when our pup, Astro, turned 4mo. Astro (as well as my husband and I) have enjoyed and benefitted from all the classes we've taken (Puppy Training, Puppy Agility, Obedience). The training content and methods are logical and effective (especially if you put in extra time outside of the classes). One of the most beneficial aspects is taking the class with other dogs, people, and distractions nearby. The staff is incredibly kind and knowledgable. We also love the flexibility of booking classes around our busy schedule.

Everything! The nicest most efficient methods of training for owners and everyone has a great time!!read more

Our 5 month old labradoodle, Maverick just completed his puppy kindergarten course with Mr. Chang…read moreand we have had such a wonderful experience that we decided to continue sending him to daycare here twice a week. Our pup loves his teacher and his pup mates and comes home so happy and tired! He has learned several new commands and bites/lunges way less in just a few short weeks of training! I highly recommend Torrance Dog Training to anyone with a pup who needs a new or refresher course on obedience.

This is a long overdue review but want to thank Torrance Dog Training and their wonderful staff for…read moretaking my new puppy Oliver starting 5 + years ago and turning him into a well-socialized, well-behaved, trained dog who continues to be an absolute delight. Their very well-structured program with appropriate owner follow up really made a difference. I can take him anywhere and he's always well-behaved. I have since found a day care place a little closer to home he still misses going to play with his puppy friends.

The Puppy Academy in Hermosa Beach has been crucial in my family's journey in raising a puppy. We…read morehave a Doberman Pinscher puppy who started at the Puppy Academy around almost 3 months old. They built a structured routine for our puppy which set the perfect foundation for good habits and positive behavior. Our puppy learned many things from commands such as sit, stay, proper walking, come here, lay down, place, house. I think the most important thing built though was the potty training and the socialization provided. Puppies NEED early socialization to develop into confident and friendly dogs. We have happy to see our puppy grow (and still growing) into a friendly, brave "teenager" puppy. Friendly play style! A Doberman is a high energy and demanding dog breed. Normally I would train our puppy fully on my own as I did with prior Dobermans I had in the past, but due to demanding work hours and obligations, I am so grateful for the opportunity The Puppy Academy provided during these critical socialization and learning periods. They train and interact with the puppy all day until I pick him up after work. Then I can continue with following their training methods throughout our time at home and on the weekends. It made it so easy! I wish I had the Puppy Academy all along for my prior dogs too. I'm impressed with the friendly staff and how well they did with our puppy! Even though our puppy has completed the program and graduated, we have still seen ease with the teenager/adolescent phase and training on our own again because of all the Puppy Academy set up for us. Thank you!!

Could not ask for a better experience for my little guy . Everything about this was great- all the…read morestaff made me feel welcomed and comfortable. More importantly, they took such great care of my little Mochi. As a first time puppy mom, it was intimidating but Puppy Academy was the safety net I needed. I get compliments on Mochi's calm and sweet behavior all the time. From his dog walker to the groomer, they all love how well-behaved he is and it's all thanks to the trainers who put in the work. It speaks to the fact that the trainers took the time to get to know my puppy and really understand what his learning experience would require. Definitely recommend taking the homework seriously, the time you invest is absolutely key to your puppy's success!

They have a new groomer here! I love that I can leave my dog here for the day and that she is well…read morecared for. In addition to that, they have a new groomer, Erick, that has bathed her a couple times and also does fur cuts. We have been having issues with burrs in our backyard getting stuck in her curly fur (she is a goldendoodle) and he took care of that for me. Now we are set for the summer, and I don't have to worry about digging out burrs on a daily basis. This service makes it so convenient for our family. Plus: Convenient, knows what he is doing, reasonable cost Cons: can't think of any.

The facility itself is beautiful, clean, and clearly well maintained. However, the pricing…read morestructure is extremely high and continues to increase. Boarding is now (February 2026) close to $100 per night for a small/medium dog, which already places it on the higher end compared to other facilities. In addition to that, there is a flat $35 late checkout fee and a $25 same-day reservation fee! The added charges feel excessive, especially when availability could simply be declined if they are fully booked for boarding that day. (Like other facilities) Pickup and drop-off window times are very limited, particularly on weekends with verrry little flexibility. Communication can also be frustrating, as phone calls often go unanswered, and reminders about pickup times can feel overly aggressive. While the facility is aesthetically impressive, the overall cost and rigid policies, staff may not justify the value for many pet owners.

We truly cannot say enough amazing things about Kelli! Our Australian Shepherd, Briggs, has been…read moretraining with her for the past month, spending five days a week with her and coming home to us on the weekends, and the difference we've seen in him has been incredible. His behavior, manners, and overall demeanor at home have improved so much, and we feel like we have learned a ton along the way too. Beyond being an amazing trainer, what has meant the most to us is how much Kelli genuinely cares about Briggs. She treats him like he's her own, and any time he has had even the smallest health issue, she is always the first to check in, follow up, and make sure he's doing okay. It gives us so much peace of mind knowing he is with someone we completely trust and who truly loves and cares for him. Kelli has been so lovely to work with, and we feel incredibly lucky to have found her. We would recommend her to anyone looking for someone who is not only an incredible dog trainer, but someone who genuinely cares about the dogs she works with. It also helps that Briggs absolutely loves her!

I went back and forth on posting this since it happened a couple years ago, but figured it's still…read moreworth putting out there for anyone looking into Karma Dog Training. We enrolled Poppy, our 4 month old puppy at the time, in their 10-day reverse board-and-train program. I wasn't expecting her to come out perfectly trained in 10 days, but I did expect the level of intensive training they advertised on their site. The trainer we got was sweet and had a calm energy, which I liked since Poppy was skittish around new people. But the actual training didn't come close to matching what was promised. We have security cameras at home, so I could see exactly what was happening while we were gone. Most days were only 5-10 minutes of actual training. The rest of the time the trainer was watching TV or on her phone. If we'd wanted someone to watch TV with our puppy, we could've asked a neighbor for free. By the end of it, Poppy knew "sit" and "down" and not much else. The separation anxiety and potty training work we'd specifically talked about before signing up hadn't really progressed. I want to be clear, my problem wasn't that she wasn't fully trained in 10 days. It's that we paid for a specific service and didn't get it. I emailed the owner, Jeff, sent him the video clips, and asked for a partial refund. He wouldn't address any of it directly, just offered services that were already included in our package and turned down the refund. Then he was rude to my husband on the phone, which threw me because my husband is about as easygoing as they come and almost never gets worked up over anything. I also found it concerning that the exit document I was given included a clause saying clients agreed not to post negative reviews. I never signed it, but seeing that made me question how much honest customer feedback actually makes it online. Super shady. We ended up going with a different trainer afterward, and Poppy turned out exactly how we'd expected her to after actual, consistent training. Maybe we just got unlucky with the trainer. I can only go off our own experience, but between the training we actually received and how they handled it afterward, I wouldn't recommend them.