SEARCH NO FURTHER! Johnny is an incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and patient trainer that will have you impressed and feeling inspired to change within our first session! After months of reading books, scouring the Internet on diff approaches to handle situations, I adjusted daily and felt defeated at times with a smart, stubborn/strong willed puppy. Thankfully, he was in the Bay Area visiting and I got a session in with him and instantly saw a difference during the session (and after while I continued his tips and suggestions). I've already recommended friends and old colleagues to watch his free content and reach out for 1:1 training for their dogs. @GOTTATRAIN is worth the investment for a strong and happy, lifelong bond with your doggo! read more

GottaTrain - zoey place stay melt thanks to Johnny! - Pet Training Near Me

See all

John is AMAZING!!!! I rescued a pitbull/Shepard mix dog and she is such a handful. I would walk her for hours to get exercise and lived in constant anxiety about seeing other dogs as she would bark/lunge/growl. Now John has given me not only the tools to help with our walks, but how to properly live with my dog and give her what she needs to be happy - not what I want (cause what I want was NOT working). I just walked her today and it was the most fun I've had with her. There so SOOO much work I need to do, as John implements changes that are life long - not just "band-aids" training tools - but my dogs and I's happiness is worth the work. If you are struggling, HIRE JOHN!!!! He flew out to Houston, Texas to help me!! He's worth every penny!!!!!!! Best thing I've done since I got my dog was hire Gottatrain read more

GottaTrain - Cali being a girl good on place stay - Pet Training Near Me

See all

John truly has a gift for working with animals. He is positive, upbeat and the type of person you feel comfortable with in your home and leaving your most precious 4 legged roommate with. My Italian Spinone, Sargissimo, is a sensitive guy, eager to please, but a little naughty. John has helped mold him into the little Italian gentleman he was born to be. He is always so excited to see John which is a very positive sign when you have a dog that tends to be timid. He has truly gone above and beyond for Sarge and is just a kind hearted, positive person doing good in this world. Hire him- you won't regret it. read more

GottaTrain - Pet Training Near Me

See all

John has been amazing to my two pups! With in-home training lessons he's taught Molly, my 7-month old Great Dane puppy, to walk in heel with a loose leash AND spent some extra time teaching my other dog Teddy some new tricks. This weekend I had to spend some time away from the pups and decided to leave them with John for doggy day care. He sent me photos and videos through the day so I knew they were well taken care of, and even let all 100lbs of Molly snuggle into his lap. He's also way more affordable AND flexible than any other trainers I've spoken to. (Also he has some pretty adorable dogs of his own) Thank you GottaTrain! Molly and Teddy and can't wait to come play again soon! read more

GottaTrain - Pet Training Near Me

See all

I am SO happy and extremely impressed with our first training session!! Penny had some basic commands down but not perfected... John was able to expand on what she knows so far and use that to help her learn some more challenging skills. He is not only teaching your dog, he's teaching YOU the tools on how to help your dog be successful, how they learn & how to get the behavior/skills you're looking for in your dog! He knows his stuff, he loves what he does and you can feel his passion & that he genuinely wants the best for you and your dog! I will be recommending him to all my puppy/dog friends.. & we already can't wait for our next session!! read more

GottaTrain - PENNY - Pet Training Near Me

John is an amazing trainer! He worked with my entire family, helping us create clear boundaries and expectations for my pup. He taught my 10 year old how to interact well with Raiden and he also taught my 3 year old son and 2 year old daughter how to give commands and rewards. He went over loose leash walking with us as well and gave recommendations on types of activities that would best help Raiden exert a lot of that puppy energy. He also gave my son the job of feeding our pup to make sure he was included and to help the two of them have a good relationship. Raiden now knows not to jump on the counters or people. He knows how to sit and wait until we give him the okay to grab something he wants. He lays down on command and he plays dead now too thanks to John's technique. John even showed us how to get him to do cute little puppy circles. We're working on shake now too. I highly highly highly recommend John! read more

GottaTrain - Raiden, Border Collie/Cattle Dog mix - Pet Training Near Me

We adore John and have had tremendous success with our reactive cattle dog all thanks to his help and guidance (and of course putting in the work)! John not only cares about working through difficult problems, but is also always encouraging us to have fun with training! We continually receive compliments from our friends at how well behaved our little guy is and his calm demeanor in our home even while we have guests over. John is our go to 110%, I couldn't be more grateful that we found him! read more

Jon came out to Dallas to work with Buckley this week on some recall tools so we can get him well trained off leash. We came into this fully prepared to hear the hard truth. No flowery nonsense that doesn't actually change anything. About half way through it was still HARD to hear about some of the attention withholding we'd have to practice to create the respect needed to accomplish our goals. But we KNOW that it's what's best to help our dog thrive. When the day comes that we'll be dog + a stroller, it will all be worth it. We spent 2 hours together and his tools and examples were excellent. I wish I would have taken a few more notes but he did give me an outline to take home. Within minutes you know that this guy is a pro and you won't regret hiring him. Worth every penny and he's a cool guy! read more

GottaTrain - Pet Training Near Me

We recently added a Cane Corso puppy to the family and currently working with John to set us up for success with such a strong breed. Already our family has learned so much that the books, shows, and YouTube channels leave out. John has even taught our two children (10 and 5 yrs) how to work with the puppy, training and caregiving. They love helping with the puppy now. The way he structures his sessions and availability leveraging videos/social media is so helpful and supportive. We are thoroughly impressed with John and have welcomed him as just another part of the family now. I interviewed several trainers in preparation for bringing our girl home....John was the right choice! Don't wait until you have a problem...bring him in early. You will be so glad you did! read more

My border collie, Rebel, was left with a long term foster while i am taking care of some mental health trouble i'm having.. While the foster was out of town, he was handed over to John to be looked after for a few days... John quickly learned that Rebel has some issues with nervousness, fearfulness and aggression among many other things... he decided over the course of these "few days" that Rebel would be better off staying with him for the remainder of his time in foster care and voluntarily offered to foster, himself. he has taken the time to work with and to build confidence in himself... he also takes the time to keep him groomed and well fed when he refuses to eat kibble. he also sends me pictures and videos regularly so that i can rest a little easier knowing he's in good hands and he's a happy baby! he has literally and legitimately gone ABOVE AND BEYOND here. i wish i could give him 25+ stars for the level of care, kindness, love and patience he has displayed with Rebel. THANK YOU JOHN AND GOTTATRAIN! read more

See all

We flew John out to Cali and he was worth so much more than he charges. As new puppy owners, we were overwhelmed by our pups energy. We also have kids at home and didn't know how to handle him nipping at them. John pointed out that our dog was overstimulated and gave us a clear, practical framework with detailed steps on how to raise an obedient, happy and calm dog without killing his spirit. John taught us games that both excited our dog and forged a connection between dog/family but also practical ways to turn off / redirect his excitement without feeling we have to keep our dog entertained or occupied. And while John reminded us the changes we saw during our sessions were just glimpses of what's to come if we stay consistent, we already feel so much more confident. Having John guide us was the best decision we made since bringing our dog home. read more

We LOVE Gotta Train. Not only is John an skilled trainer he is also an incredible person. I work with a dog rescue and he takes on some incredibly difficult dogs (who wouldn't have had a chance otherwise) on a 100% volunteer basis. We also use him for our personal dogs. The difference in our dogs after just one session with John has been incredible. He takes the time to explain to us how we can better communicate with our dogs. He uses a variety of methods and tailors his training to every individual dog/owner/situation. He understands all dogs learn differently and his methods are not one size fits all. If you're looking for an outstanding trainer and want to support someone who dedicates their time giving back, you've found your guy! read more

We half a husky mix who was honestly too much pup for how under-skilled we were as dog parents. I read books, watched hours of YouTube and after months of trying to do things ourselves it was obvious we needed professional assistance. My dog controlled the house, knocked over my kids, and would potty wherever she felt like going. It was chaos. After a few months of following John on social media, I finally reached out to make an appointment. We live all the way in Tucson but John was super responsive and worked around our schedule for an in-home training session (which was impressive considering how busy he seems to be). John provided insight into how we could better support our pup's intellectual needs and how we can make her happier and thus better behaved. Even just after our first experience, the tools we took away were invaluable and our dog's behavior made a 180° turn. We've seen him for more tips and guidance since and i couldn't recommend his services more. Your dog does not have to control your life! If they are, you're doing both yourself and your dog a disservice. You NEED this balanced trainer in your life. Thanks John!! read more

GottaTrain - Pet Training Near Me

John is amazing at his craft! We rescued a very energetic and strong willed dog from The LovePup Foundation. Our dog Frank, would basically pull us down the street on walks, jump at cars, bikers and go crazy when other dogs walked by. After only 2 sessions with John, and us taking what John taught us and applying his teachings to our dog, we have seen a complete turn around in Frank. John teaches the human how to train their dog, not just the dog to listen to a command. We highly recommend John to anyone in need of how to handle their dog. Matt & Jen read more

John is passionate about your dog and you living your best life together. His common sense tools work so well. I have two active young Labradors who are over friendly when friends and family come over. He provided me with tools to manage my dogs so my guest are not overwhelmed when they walk into my house. He also taught them some fun tricks like spin/dance and taught me how to play hide-go-seek. So fun! I highly recommend John...it would be difficult to find a better dog trainer! read more

John is the BEST dog trainer I have ever met and have the privilege to learn from. He is the trainer for my daughter and her dog...from day 1 an amazing change in her dog from love, structure, and consistency. I have even used the tools he taught us on our other 2 dogs. They all now know their "spots" and it makes doing things around the house so much easier not having to worry if they are into anything. None of them bolt to the front door anymore either. I highly recommend him. Only trust reviews from ACTUAL customers. read more

GottaTrain - Pet Training Near Me

I've been looking for a trainer for our 1-year-old golden retriever; however, a lot of the in-home training that I'm looking for is very expensive and time consuming. I met John when dropping my dog off at day care and he quickly gave me just 1 tip for walking our dog and that was a game changer. I knew right away he would be great for in-home training. We had one session so far and already feel so much more confident when it comes to walking and to door / jumping management. John is very passionate, good at what he does, great with dogs, easy to talk with and to learn from, and affordable for in-home training. Great value overall. Looking forward to continuing lessons with him! read more

I rescued a precious bulldog puppy from LivePup our sweet girl - scared of sudden moves - HATED her leash and she was fearful of laundry baskets, broom and vacuum ... John has walked us all through our lil loves fears and anxiety - she likes her leash it's process we realize she was abused so with TIME and consistency she is doing pawsome and John is AWESOME ... I love his passion and support ... he genuinely LOVES and cares about the process and the success fir the doggos & hoomans! John we ALL thank you for walking along side us read more

John at Gottatrain has worked with my wife and I for the last year to train a three-year old female Mastiff that we rescued. He has an easy to understand approach to training, focusing on consistent messaging from us and recognizing behavioral cues from the dog. When the Mastiff (previously she had been in a puppy mill breeding) arrived, she knew no commands, was extremely fearful of people, noises, and any movement around her, would not actively engage, and could not be allowed off a leash. With John's direction (both in-home meetings and group gathering), he showed us how to gradually address the dog's fears by changing our behavior and help her develop coping skills for unfamiliar environments. After a year, she now knows approximately 25 commands, follows those commands, can be left without a leash, openly initiates play on her own, and has traveled with us on multiple trips. One of the keys to working with John is the time he spends to understand you and your family, what your environment is like, and how to match those with your dog's personality. He develops a custom training regimen to accomplish your goals for you and your pet that you use 10-15 minutes a day. We have used other trainers in the past and John is far and away the best. Plain and simple, he gets results by being direct and showing how your behavior limits your pet. If you want the most for your pet and your relationship with your pet, John is the one trainer you need. read more

I have a 3 year old Cane Corso named Ruby and she is very fearful. It has been very difficult to walk her because she freaks out every time a car or person goes by. The same goes when anyone came into my home... I've been through two other trainers with no dividends. I've been working with John for the last two months and I finally have some hope. she's walking great and he helped me understand that her skittish behavior is similar to a person with ptsd... THank you so much! read more

John works with my Australian Shepard and is an awesome trainer ! Highly recommend working with him both on any tricks and or obedience! Very good with dogs and very knowledgeable in his field! read more

John is awesome! He truly has a gift for working with dogs. He helped us understand our pups behaviors, which in turn helped us tremendously in his training. We have a very playful and hyper golden doodle who gets super excited when he is outside on a leash and one session with John made a world of difference. It is a work in progress but now we are hopeful that he will be a well mannered pup! Can't wait to schedule another session soon! read more

John is an amazing, accomplished dog trainer! After only two trainings I have learned how to effectively communicate and connect with my German Shepard. I am very thankful for his knowledge and expertise in making our dog more sociable and friendly to be around! I look forward to continuing his services! read more

I have two labs - they're 3 and 4 years old and have lots of energy. My labs (Jamo and Jack) had behavioral issues such as charging the front door, jumping on people, pulling the leash and leash agression... On past walks, I've embarrasingly fallen down multiple times - I stopped walking them for this reason. A friend referred John to my husband and I decided to give him a call, very informative and warm to chat with, so I asked him to come by for a training. Within 15 minutes, John showed me how to walk my dogs (one at a time) the right way so that I am the "boss" and not them. He showed me the difference of using a normal collar rather than the harness we had used in the past. Not sure how he did this, but now that the dogs know I am the "boss", they stopped pulling and no longer have leash agression. John taught me that I need to be consistent and practice makes perfect. I am so forunate we worked with John, I can now walk my dogs in peace and control Jamo and Jack in a way I didnt know would be possible. Thank you, John - meeting you changed my life (and my dogs are happier dogs)! read more

My dog was "that dog" of the neighborhood and would lunge and bark at people cars and everything else. One session with John Gotta and then weeks of practice and training on my own, helped to make my best friend, Duke, a great dog! I will tell you, it's not always about the dog's issues, it is also about the human's. If you love your dog and want a no nonsense approach to training, then John is your guy. read more

John is on a whole other level when it comes to dog training. I hired him (he traveled to WA for us) to help me with leash/dog aggression that my pitbull was having (and it was getting worse). It was a concern as he could previously be around other dogs, but that was no longer the case. I had hired other trainers, but they all had a 'one size fits all' training style (and they weren't helping). When John showed up at my house, he immediately began his assessment. Prior to John, I had spent countless hours training my boy (he came to me as a rescue at the age of 6/7). He had the foundational work down. Over a couple of days, John was very clear (honest) with me about what I needed to do differently (I.e. my own behavior changes) as well as teaching me new ways to engage with my dog. This new level of engagement has been a life changer. My dog will probably never be able to 'play' with another dog again (and I'm okay with that), but learning some tools to manage his behavior has gone a long way. I love that John didn't come with a manual because he was able to focus on the needs of my individual dog, which I now realize was desperately needed! And - by the time our few days were done, I had forged an excellent relationship with someone who is extremely bright (and resilient), but also a true professional in the dog training field. I would not hesitate calling him again for help. Additionally, he's my number one recommendation for anyone looking for training (any age, stage or issue). read more

GottaTrain - John doing what he does best! - Pet Training Near Me

John is a great trainer. My dog learned I am in charge and John helped me understand and redirect puppy behavior. I have a high energy cattle dog. read more

I recommend for every dog owner. Worth the investment. This helped my dog so much! Now my dog is well behaved and I am more educated thanks to John! read more

I couldn't be happier with the service I received from John G. I have a giant breed Newfoundland who needs a little help with focus and obedience. Within an hour John taught me how to guide my pup into the perfect come here, sit and down. He showed us walking etiquette and how my dog must wait until I release him from any command. My dog now waits at the door instead of running out before me and is well on his way to having all the manners I need him to have. Also, I felt comfortable having him in my home which is extremely important to me. He explained working with my doggo on my own, in short manageable sessions a few times a day is the perfect way to ensure he retains all of his training. I'm so confident and excited to continue these sessions and really see how much my pup is capable of learning. 10/10 would recommend. read more

John is an amazing trainer! He knows what he is doing and was great to work with. We were having issues with an overly excited/fearful dog. He helped us understand what were doing wrong and gave us the tools/knowledge to be better dog owners. Would highly recommend hiring him to help with whatever issues you may have with your dog. read more

John was so patient and extremely knowledgeable! Our lab had serious separation anxiety and after one session she already is acting so much better. John was extremely nice and you could tell the true care he has for animals. He offered to go on walks with us to improve our dogs walking on a leash, and so much more. I would 100% recommend him, and his services are very affordable. He was so kind, and we will be using his services from here on out. read more

John at Gotta Train has been a life changer! We have 2 labs (age 2 and 6) who have different behavioral issues. The 6 year old jumping on people and attacking front door every time anyone came over. Both unwalkable on leash as they were walking me! John taught the dogs ( and more importantly me) how to get back in control. Highly highly recommend!!! read more