We had the pleasure of working with ED and finding him here on yelp, so glad we did. We have a 17 month old PIT that has High drive and is very reactive towards dogs, cats, lizards, birds or anything that moves and Ed went right to work. In just 60 days of classes here and there, our DOG has made insanely huge improvements. Ranging from more structured walks, instead of towing us around, sit, stay, recall and being around other dogs and not getting too anxious. Our dog use to not be able to be around another dog without whining and anxiety taking over, he is making huge progressive every week though with Ed's classes and guidance!! We just finished his 6 week group training and I plan on going into the next class, which is more advanced with more dogs, higher pace and continue the learning and training with our dog TANK! Thanks a ton ED, we can't wait to get on the next class and Tank is stoked too! read more

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Cannot rave enough about Ed! As a former K9 trainer with decades of experience, Ed really knows his stuff. We took his 6-week beginner course and within the first hour of training we saw a marked difference in our dog's behavior. He is amazing at not only reading dog behavior, but also owner behavior. For example, he taught us to cue in when our dog would alert to a dog, person, etc; or, how our behavior, timid/excited, would affect our dog's demeanor. I am a timid person, but Ed was so patient in teaching me commands that it gave me confidence in handling my dog at training and at home. We look forward to taking his advanced courses in the future. read more

In Total Command Dog Training - Keeping Bear's focus on me - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

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I can't say enough good things about Ed's class! This class is a must!!! It was worth every penny! We brought our golden crazy puppy at 5 months old and he came out with so many skills and obedience. Ed taught everything from walking on a leash, commands, even breaking bad habits at home. Ed is very personable, logical and gets right to the root of the problems you are facing. He makes it fun for both you and your dog! He is backed with over 30 years of experience and he can transform your dog in no time! You won't regret taking his 6 week course! read more

In Total Command Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

I went to a training session this morning and I still feel horrible about it several hours later. Within the first 5 minutes, Ed said my dog was giving him a headache, then put a choke collar on him. He proceeded to talk about how when you come home and your dog has peed on the carpet and you yell "come here" and you beat your dog because they peed, so then they associate come with a bad meaning. I should have left immediately. Who would use "beat your dog" as an example? The remainder of the session, orders were barked at me like I didn't do this or that correctly. This guy is like a military drill sergeant. I'm not a fan of this "leader of the pack training" and certainly not when a trainer is condescending towards me. He grabbed my dog's leash several times to use his choke method training while my dog cried. He kept saying it wasn't hurting my dog, but my dog had red pinch marks on his neck. 100% not my style of training, this was more like animal abuse than positive reinforcement. read more

In Total Command Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

Ed is a great dog trainer! He has helped me gain control of my pup and has given me the confidence to handle all situations. He will tell you like it is and I truly appreciate that. He also is there for you and doesn't mind check in's between sessions. Ed is awesome! Thank you! read more

My dog, Rusty, is a rescue and can be aggressive on walks and with strangers. We met with Ed today and within the first 15 minutes I already saw a huge change. He was walking calmly without tugging and paying attention to me instead of getting distracted by everything else around him. Ed was able to explain where is behavior is coming from and what I can do to support him. His motto is set up every dog up for success and that is truly what he does. We look forward to joining his group classes next month! read more

Ed is fantastic! My dog, Kona, is a 3 year old lab/bully mix and such a sweetheart but he is so strong that I have not been able to walk him on the leash since he was a puppy. Ed came over and was very friendly and knowledgeable about the dog training process. He addressed every one of our concerns and issues and fully explained the reason my dog was behaving in certain ways. When it came time to put Kona on the leash, Ed immediately saw the strength he had over me and the lack of control on my end. Ed brought out a chain collar (or choke collar) which I was very hesitant about at first. But he quickly eased my mind in showing me how it works and that it was not hurting Kona. After about a half hour, Kona was like a different dog. I could walk him down the street with him by my side. I finally got back my control of the situation. Kona has made so much progress just in the past week. But I think the true training is the training of the dog owner on how to handle their pup and how to set the rules. They really are like our children and we love them unconditionally. But it's easier to love them when they behave :) We will definitely be inviting Ed back to make sure Kona and I both keep up the progress. read more

Ed is a very straightforward and experienced dog trainer offering group and private training services. You will receive Great instruction on how to properly correct negative behavior and establish a trust and bond with your dog. Ed's understanding of how the dogs mind works is very impressive and the results you will see are a testament to that understanding. Pricing is very fair for the amount of experience Ed has and for the personal attention given to each dogs training needs. My personal experience with Ed has been with the training of my four-year-old dog Sparky who was a very nervous and fearful dog. Sparky has come a long way and continues to improve with the training that Ed has provided us. read more

1. I did my research on trainers for my Malinois/GS mix on NextDoor and kept seeing Ed's name pop up as a great trainer for this breed. 2. Once I found out he was involved with police dogs, etc, I called him and set up a personal session. 3. We met at the park and within that hour I was re-learning my lost assertiveness/leadership skills and addressing what I had allowed my dog to become; super stubborn, willful, a little lazy, and a barker/lunger at almost all other dogs. 4. I then enrolled in his 6-week training and continued to learn how to watch my dog for the behavioral cues I had missed prior and how to rehab myself. 5. I kept/and will keep practicing and now my dog is way more adjusted, happy, and more enjoyable to be around. 6. If you can set aside your ego and allow yourself to hear the contributing factors/bad habits that you have brought into the mix, then this is the trainer for you! 7. His prices are super-fair too. And he doesn't just cut you off at the end of the hour; if you need more time to talk to him, he stays and helps you. 8. He doesn't just train and know about police dogs; he was able to tell other owners specific info about their dogs' breeds and how it related directly to their outward behaviors. 9. If you are willing to put in the work on yourself and your dog, then I highly recommend Ed. Both of you will come out of this stronger and more well-adjusted! 10. But there is no magic wand here; you have to be 100% committed to taking the action steps he teaches you in class and work on these steps on your own over the six weeks in order to see a change. read more

I am so very lucky that a friend of mine referred me to Ed. I have two 15-month-old Goldens, each weighing just about 80 pounds. So needless to say, they were walking me. I didn't have the tools to train them correctly so our walks were a struggle and painful. My decision to get help came after I got tangled in leashes and was knocked out when I hit the pavement. Luckily a friend was with me at the time. When I called Ed and told him my dilemma and would really prefer private lessons, he made an appt for us to meet and from the very first session with Ed, there was a big difference in their behavior. He has never been gruff with my pups, he has been firm!! And he is not stingy when giving praises. He tells me I am "too nice", and that's probably true. Jack and Dash, and I are very happy to be able to train with Ed. Dogs want to please their owners and you can see how happy they are when they are training and learning how to behave. Our last session I even tried to walk both pups at the same time and Ed stood on the sidelines telling me what I needed to do while walking them together on a double leash. He is even training me to distinguish between my "right and left"!! This man is worth his weight in gold as far as I am concerned. I now have much better-behaved pups and my life is simpler!! read more

In Total Command Dog Training - Jack & Dash - Pet Training Near Me - San Diego, California

Echo all of the positive comments. Our 1-year old dog was incredibly nervous and occasionally aggressive with other people and dogs, but I didn't really know how to help her. Ed encouraged us to join the group classes, immediately recognized the issue, and set us on a path to correct it. Our dog has made tremendous progress in a few short weeks and now I have a much better idea of how to bring the training home. Plus the trainings are kind of fun! read more

I had two trainers who refused to work with our rescued and severely abused dog. an acquaintance recommended Ed and said he had made a world of difference with her strong dog that she could now walk with ease. My husband and I doubt any one else could have adopted our dog, she required so much commitment to working with her and helping her overcome her trauma. But we both recently retired and felt we were her best hope.she is very powerful, strong, reactive to other dogs, Reactive to people,goes nuts with anything that moves such as lizards and squirrels, dislocated my ribs on a weekly basis by yanking on the leash and jumping on Me. I tried every walking device recommended by the other two trainers and nothing worked. I had no control of her on walks and even in the house and yard. As a retired canine officer Ed is exceptionally skilled working with powerful dogs, understanding the Reasons for certain behaviors and how to correct it. His instructions are extremely clear and from the first class she started to improve. She's had 11 one hour group classes with Ed and is now a completely new dog. I have strangers comment on every walk on what an amazingly well behaved dog she is. If they only knew The wild dog I started with. But I also highly recommend Ed even if you have a friendly fluffball dog. All dogs that are well behaved are much more enjoyable to be around. I also think the dogs enjoy training sessions in class and at home conquering all the new commands. Ed is without a doubt the best trainer! read more

Just did our first private lesson tonight with Ed. We went over basic skills for training our dog Nova and learned new things us owners needed to work on at home. Within the first few minutes I already saw an improvement on how Nova was walking on a leash. We have a lot more training to do but glad Ed is helping us train our hyper pup! Ed was patient and full of useful information. Would recommend him to anyone in need of a trainer. read more

ED is hands down the BEST best dog trainer in San Diego. We have attended his classes in 2013 with two of our pitbulls, and again in 2018 with our newest pitbull puppy. Ed professionally handles ALL dogs, and has a profound understanding of dog behavior. HE won't turn you away because your dog is REALLY bad...He WILL help you!!! HE trains police dogs, so HE WILL teach you how to FIX your dog, and get control of your dog! He'll include your spouse/nanny, your kids etc... So you end up getting actual results, that improve each week of training. What I love about Ed, is he is a "no bs" type of person... He Listens and then gives SOLUTIONS... Since I love Yelp, and reading the reviews left before I write one, Ed has 5 star reviews from ALL except from one yelper- which I did find it super hilarious- that the person who I don't think actually finished a whole class with Ed, and left a 1 star review... Just left a poor review of a 'doggie daycare' who last month "kicked out of her dog from the doggy daycare for aggressively humping other dogs.... for hours on end" :) Perhaps she should have stayed long enough to finish the class with Ed! read more

Ive had animals my whole life and never felt like i needed them to be trained, but after i rescued a pit from a local shelter i realized i was in way over my head. I started looking for a obedience school for tucker (my red nose pit) soon after i brought him home and realized that he wasnt able to get along with my other animals. If youve ever owned a pit you know that finding anyone who is willing to work with your companion is a feat of its own. Then i met Ed. Not only was he very polite and personable, he was also a straight shooter, getting to the point with no BS. I began seeing results with Tucker after the first session! I would highly recommend using him. Not only does he walk you through what needs to be done, he also instills in you the tools needed to achieve the required level of discipline needed to change a negative behavior in your dog! read more

My corgi/terrier mix is a rescue. I'm Sassy's fifth or sixth owner and she was adopted and returned over and over. I've had her for about five years, she's now nine and have made a commitment to keep her. Her sweet side is pretty sweet, but her ugly side is awful. I took Ed's group class about three years ago, saw some improvement and in time, I slacked off becoming a slave to Sassy's barking, attacking my other corgi, dogs that are visiting and my roommate's dog. She even managed to get me in a single car wreck once. In desperation, I almost got suckered into an over $2K "lifetime guaranteed" dog behaviorist, but before diving in, I texted Ed to get his take on it. He called and talked to me taking the time out of his day reminding me what he taught in class. Asking of her surroundings and exposures. In his no nonsense, matter of fact, direct way, he said that I was basically telling her that the bad behavior was okay. That got thru to me (FINALLY) and I had to change, period. It was a tough pill to swallow. That was exactly one week ago and today, I have a new dog. It's far from over, but in seven days of following his direction loyally this household is peaceful beyond belief and I'm proud of my monster. I'm still blown away that it only took just seven days to see major improvement. Ed knows dogs better than anyone and he knows people. On top of that, he really cares. His training me at 62 years old was epic! I'll never be able to thank him enough. read more

Ed is the best. We brought our 77 lb. American Bulldog/Pitbull mix to Ed within weeks of adopting him from the rescue. A dog as big as ours needed rules. No way did I want a dog I could not control, which was a bit of a challenge since our dog was an adult when we got him and already had some bad habits. I knew I needed help to get my dog to be the gentleman we wanted. Ed got the job done. Our giant beast is now an obedience rockstar, thanks to Ed. He went from being dog-aggressive and unsure to confident, obedient and practically perfect in every way. Ed will answer any question and come up with a solution for any problem. He takes the time to listen to any issues you might have with your dog outside of class. And our dog loves going to training! He knows when it is Saturday and follows me around all morning until it is time to go. Ed makes it fun for the dogs and the people while getting great results. My dog's focus is now on me and we can go through even the worst distractions without missing a stride. I could go on and on, singing his praises, but if you are in the market for a dog trainer, you should be giving Ed a call! read more

Ed really takes the time to listen to the problems I'm having and answer all of my questions with patience. And he never misses a thing. Even when I know he's talking to someone else he always notices whatever issue I'm having and comes to me next to help me out with my dog. Good sense of humor too. read more

Amazing! I had Ed and he helped me so much with my little noise maker and really made a difference on how she has been acting these last couple days! Plus she is more obedient to me and she responds to the commands we were taught to use. read more

Ed was very helpful. He responds promptly and I can really see that he wants to help. I am still working on training my 8 month old dog but he has given me great advice to work with. Thanks Ed! read more

In just 6 weeks Ed's training did wonders for my dog and myself. Ed knows everything there is to know about dogs and he understands how to work with the different personalities of the dog and the owner. It was amazing to see improvement in my dog each week. Thanks Ed! read more

Ed was fantastic with training obedience. I have a dog that is s few years old and was great with commands but not obedient when new people or dogs were introduced. Ed taught how to gain and hold attention and to train obedience. Highly recommended for new pups or any dog that needs to learn commands and to be obedient. read more

Ed is nothing short than amazing. My Jack came was a very rambunctious 1 year old who was a spastic both on and off the leash. Within the first couple of lessons he now follows not only my lead, but my command. The transformation for us both has been life changing. I am a better dog parent and Jack is a better dog because of Ed. I continue to see Ed because Jack likes to go and I love to take him. It further educates us both! read more

As an owner of 4 smaller breed dogs, our more recent two (siblings) were in need of some work. One was so nervous that he stopped wanting to go on walks and barked at every little thing. He began to pull out of his harness and we feared losing him out on the streets. His sister was just silly crazy and she also started trying to avoid walks. So, we enlisted the help of Ed. He offered to meet with myself and the male pup to evaluate and offer suggestions before we even began the class. As usual, it was a matter of myself and my husband knowing what to do and when. We followed up with a 2nd course for the female pup. A year later both love walks, sit mannerly while their leash is attached. Walk along side us, sit and come on command - a world of difference. Mealtimes are no longer a crazy swirl of dog bodies. They sit and stay until the food is down and they're given the sign to eat. We began lessons when they were close to 2 yrs old and only wish we'd done it sooner. We did try a class at Petco but it was a nightmare and both pups 'flunked out' due to their freaking out with the noise and commotion. Ed meets out in a quiet section of a large park area and it was ideal for us and our situation. Thanks Ed! read more