Looking for a very talented trainer that does good deeds for animal rescue too! Support this wonderful business. I personally need to come back here with my personal pets. I'll also add, easy to work with, no mega ego. Great family business worth supporting. read more

Josh is simply a savant with dogs and owners. He taught me how the animal thinks and how to manage myself and messaging to the dog to encourage positive behavior. Josh is a kind person, who cares deeply about dogs and is direct with owners in explaining the "why" behind behaviors. This helped Winnie and I immensely. He is available all the time and always customer and dog health centric. So thankful we found him through rocketdog, where we adopted our pup from. read more

I'm working with Josh to help decrease my German Shepherd's reactive behavior when out on walks. Josh really goes out of his way to support his clients to be successful. He's been tremendous in helping me to understand my dog more and he's given great recommendations for things to work on to continue the improvements we've made. His understanding of dogs, their motivations and behavior is incredible. You can tell he really cares about the dogs and loves what he does. Josh is great at making the training feel less like work and more fun for both the dog and human, and it's really inspiring to watch him work. He's enthusiastic, engaging, and makes the training fun for the dogs, and that makes it fun for all involved! The dogs can't help to automatically follow his lead and it makes them excited to learn. Having fun together in this process has strengthened my bond with my dog and that's been an added unexpected bonus in this process. I'm so grateful to Josh for all of his help and highly recommend him! read more

I have used two trainers before finding Josh. I am beyond thrilled that I kept searching for what was right for my dogs. In just 3 sessions not only have my two GSDs skills and confidence improved tremendously, but so has mine! Everything they have been taught, I have as well. Everything we have done has been scaffolded so that when I walk away, I know exactly what to do to keep on working with my babies. This is exactly the type of trainer you want working with you and your dogs. Side note: Odin is reactive and Josh has been absolutely amazing working on this with us! read more

K9 Optima - Odin after a session :) - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

Josh was great with our dog, Auggie. He gave him time to acclimate to him, tested out some of his behaviors, and really helped us to figure out a game plan of how to help our little guy out. Having helper dogs on site was very useful and it was so fun to see Auggie responding to Josh and learning more from somebody so knowledgeable about dogs. I am looking forward to coming back and learning more! read more

K9 Optima - Auggie on his way to his first K9 Optima session! - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

Me and my sister took our dogs to Josh for a 'couples therapy' session and it was well worth it. He taught us so much about each of their behavior by assessing them individually with one of his dogs. He taught us what to look for when they interact and helped us create a game plan to get them to a place where they can play and peacefully coexist. He also just shared so much knowledge to help with individual behaviors for both of them. Definitely felt like we are in good hands and that he knows what he is talking about. I really like that he really assesses each dog and recognizes how different their personalities can be. We will be bringing them both back for more sessions !! read more

My husband and I make the hour drive to see Josh in Benicia and it is more than worth it. He has taught us so much as owners and handlers, not just teaching our bully breed dog. We originally reached out to him for reactivity training and we were amazed at the results. We now continue to go to Josh for obedience training as well. I will say before Josh we had tried 3 other trainers for our dog that we weren't happy with. I can't stress enough how thankful we are that we found Josh. If you think you can't make the drive, try a virtual session! read more

K9 Optima - Our dog Zero with Josh's dog Boo during his reactivity session - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

I can't say enough how very much I appreciate K9 Optima! We had an incident happen and didn't know if your dog was outright aggressive and attacking or if it was something else. Josh took it slow with our dog, found the root of the issue and gave us the tools to work with him. These are real results that last a lifetime and save dogs lives. read more

Josh and his facility are top notch. His experience and training methods are excellent. We have used him numerous times for our rescue dogs who come in with the most challenging behaviors. It's wonderful to have him and his services in our program. He's always available by phone even with expert advise for a dog that we need guidance with that is not even in his care. I would highly recommend his business for training needs and he has his whole heart in what he does! Amanda Schaffner Ngrr.org read more

I found K9Optima on TikTok. Josh was working dogs with some of the same issues I was experiencing in my dog. I was impressed as he understood the different dog breeds and acknowledged their strengths and weaknesses, while implementing tools and techniques which were curated individually for each dog. I live in Canada and Josh is in the US, therefore we met over Zoom. Josh listened to all my concerns and issues I was struggling with when attempting to correct the reactive behavior my dog was displaying. We worked together to come up with solutions that I felt were manageable to implement and goals that were obtainable for both my dog and I. Josh was awesome when explaining how to implement his knowledge; after discussing what it should look like he went through the actions. Josh used a dog he was training for similar reactive issues as he demonstrated what was happening and how to improve myself as the handler. As a visual learner, it was appreciated that he used different teaching styles during our meeting. Josh took time to listen to everything I felt I was struggling with, and after our discussion it alleviated much of my anxiety regarding how to work with my dog. For a year, I had worked with other trainers for the same issues, and hadn't seen any improvement in myself or my dog. Since meeting with Josh and implementing his strategies, my dog's reactivity has significantly decreased. I feel more confident in handling the reactivity when it arises, therefore my dog isn't picking up on my anxious energy anymore. Due to the geographical distance between us, I'm thankful Josh offered virtual training sessions. Though I do wish I could have actually brought my dog to Josh, as I feel my dog would have responded faster to the training. Josh was awesome at following up after training sessions and answering questions to issues that arose after working my dog. He gave multiple ways to reach him after sessions, which was appreciated. I 1000% recommend K9Optima for dog training and behavior needs. I trust Josh's judgement and sound advice, as I've seen the positive impact on my dog and I since meeting with Josh. I can't say it enough , I'm so happy to have worked with Josh. read more

You ever wonder the face people made when "Jesus turned water into wine"? Well, I for damn sure made an even more surprising face than those party people, when we went to test my skateboarder reactive 90lb one year German Shepherd after a few sessions. Josh (Mr. K9 Optima himself) had his own kid skateboard in front of my goofy wanna be killer and my dog gave us repetitive down sits and acted like skateboards and skateboarders were no longer enemies of the state that must be destroyed. To say my jaw dropped at this wizardry is an understatement. I honestly wanted to take a Xanax before doing this test with his kid but Josh had faith. He knew he already changed my psycho pup into a respectable street pup companion. I've been to many dog trainers for reactivity, obedience, etc. in the Bay and they never really solve my dogs problems (I have 3 space cadets and have spent thousands). They always gave me bandaids and dragged things out. Josh gets to heart of the issue and you will not only save money because he doesn't drag out the process, you will be more engaged and have a better relationship with your pup afterwards. You will have to put work in to on your end too (don't be lazy you have to do what he says and practice at home) but if you do, prepare yourself for amazing changes in your pup and your relationship with them to be out of this world. Apologies to the Bible folks if you are offended but Josh's dog behavior party tricks are 100x better than Jesus's party tricks in this case. I stand by my opinion and do so w/ my GSD pup who won't attack you now as you ride by on a skateboard ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

Had our first in person session today. Received a great evaluation of our dog and future needs. Josh is very knowledgeable and is guiding us in what I feel is a good direction. Best part is I know why I will be doing what I'm doing. Walked away feeling great about everything. I want to add we drove from Fresno for this and it was totally worth the drive. Thanks Josh. Look forward to working with you in the future. read more

Josh is great! So helpful with our dog Millie! He took the time needed to help us out. We really appreciated the attention to detail and thorough knowledge of dog training. read more

Josh is a phenomenal dog trainer. As a first time Australian Shepherd owner, it was important for me to find a dog trainer who is knowledgeable of the breed, has experience with the breed, and most importantly, is a great trainer who genuinely loves and cares for the animals they train. Josh checked all of these boxes and then some. Within 2 hours, Josh was able to identify what motivates my dog (it's a ball, go figure!) and use that as an advantage to better train him to obey heels and other vital commands. Josh also provided me with incredible insights and advice, from how to best play tug-of-war with River, what to do in stressful scenarios, etc. I find myself still using Josh's advice nearly every day and looking to his guidance when needed. The best part of my experience was seeing Josh bond so quickly with River and myself, which is truly a testament to how much Josh loves his clients and their pets. I seriously cannot recommend a better dog trainer! read more

K9 Optima - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

We acquired a 7 month rescue Shep/Cattle-dog mix that had been through an abusive hell in a box-car in Lodi. She was very reactive to both people and other dogs. We thought we could teach her ourselves but soon realized she was much more than we could handle. We found Josh locally and were immediately impressed with his style and demeanor. "Angel" didn't change overnight, but Josh taught us to use rewards, soft words, affection and attention the right way and consistently and she responded in kind. We believe Josh saved her and cannot thank him and his loving family enough. read more

I have a young reactive german Shepard/Australian Shepard that I rescued. I was looking for a dog trainer that helped with re-activity. With my dog he was barking at everything and was very "stuck" on what he was barking at and wasn't able to stop. I came across K9Optima (Josh) on instagram. I really liked his approach, when I reached out to other dog trainers, they immediately wanted to go into utilizing prong collars (which I wasn't comfortable starting there). When I reached out to Josh via email and explained what I needed, he recommended re-activity training. I had 2 sessions with Josh and with his thorough assessment. He figured out that my dog was really sensitive to sound. So training him with treats (even expensive ones), actually wasn't keeping his attention enough to be able to learn training. Once he realized that it was going to be squeaky balls that kept him engaged, everything changed ! My dog has shown so much improvement. He still barks at things, but is able to stop and re-bring his attention to me after a few barks. I actually booked 3 sessions of obedience with K9Optima to work on a few other behaviors before K9Optima moves. Trust me though... if my dog needs more training or I adopt another dog in the future that needs either obedience or re-activity training, I will make the drive to go see K9Optima. read more

Josh has always been helpful every time I have reached out. He gave me advice that I was able to utilize when I was introducing my dog into our household. His genuine compassion and love of animals is apparent! He will also advocate via his Tik Tok platform to get dogs adopted from local shelters, including my county shelter! read more

I found Josh through TikTok before realizing he was fairly local to me (an hour). I spent hours watching the way he, and other trainers, did things, as well as what the price point was for all of them (cause as much as we'd like to pretend it doesn't matter, we all know it does.) Josh was not only affordable, accessible and friendly - it's clear that this is his (and his whole family) passion. I started with one juvenile male belgian malinois in for obedience, and because of my relationship to the Optima family now have a second, who also sees Josh for obedience. Can't say enough good things about Josh and Natalie (and all the kids) as people, but also the way they run their business. I have referred several friends and family to K9 Optima and will continue to do so :) read more

K9 Optima - Valor giving his favorite funcle a big ol kiss. - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

I have a very reactive and fearful dog. I sought out a lot of dog trainers, but Josh is by far the most knowledgeable trainer I have come across who specializes in aggression and reactivity. He cares about his clients and most importantly about their dogs. He has helped my dog (and me) overcome so much, and has given me so much more knowledge about my dog's issues. If you are looking for a trainer for your reactive dog, THIS Is the guy who can help you! read more

If you're seeking a real professional dog trainer who goes above and beyond to bring out the best in your furry friend, look no further. Our experience with Josh was nothing short of phenomenal We brought our reactive furball, Tucker in, and the transformation is nothing short of amazing. Josh took the time to bond with Tucker before the 2-week board and train, making us feel at ease Throughout the process, he kept us in the loop with daily updates, providing insights into Tucker's progress and activities. His communication and transparency gave us peace of mind and reinforced our confidence in the training process. Tucker returned to us as "Tucker 2.0," a calm and responsive companion. We're immensely grateful to Josh and his family for their dedication and skill and even more grateful for the happy pup we got back. read more

Josh is a miracle worker. While I don't want to set unrealistic expectations, the results for us were tangible and immediate. Our little guy is extremely aggressive to strangers and we've tried a few different trainers, medicines, training methods, videos, virtual trainings, etc. Nothing made us see progress like a first and subsequent session with Josh. He's a really cool guy to boot and you can tell he cares about each dog and their owners. While our dog has a ways to go, Josh was the right choice for us and we're seeing great progress. HIGHLY recommended if you have a difficult pup on your hands. read more

My pup, Rio has spent a lot of time with Josh and family from reactivity training sessions to 2 board and trains. He has loved every second of it. I have spent a good amount of time with Josh and he been able to help out whenever I have needed with Rio's reactivity. He is great to talk to about dogs and he is really knowledgeable about the realm of dog training. It's a relief to have a dog trainer like Josh that I can trust with my boy and know he will do right by him. If you need a dog trainer in the area, Josh is your guy! PS. I drive all the way from Union City to make it out so you know I really trust and like his work. read more

We reached out to K9 Optima for some help with our French bulldog. He has started to become very reactive and territorial, so I thought I'd try a virtual session. We walked away with things to implement, and tactics to build into our every day life. The advice we walked away with was breed specific, not just run of the mill "throw him some treats" ideas. Within 2 weeks we've seen great improvements in his behavior. Highly recommend K9 Optima for training, this guy knows his stuff! read more

K9 Optima - Leo - the frenchie - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

Josh was a breath of fresh air! Such a difference, to see a trainer who worked with the dog, not forcing my Enzo to do things. Having had trainers quit working with Enzo, and only suggestions to train him was a Shock collar. It was nice to see how Josh took the fact that Enzo is a bloodhound, and as such training for him would be different. He worked with Enzo, allowing him to be himself, and using that to engage him to learn!! Even when we got home Enzo was happy. Which showed me, Josh made a big difference for Enzo!! Truly wonderful person! and trainer! Thank you Josh for all you do, and being a trainer!! read more

Josh has been amazing over the years helping me via chat regarding my fearful 120 pound lab baby. He has always responded and helped!! I love K9 Optima. And when I get another dog will look into his board and train program. He's just simply amazing with what he knows and the way he helps and treats not only the owners but the dogs as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

I reached out to K9 Optima after my 5 month old Australian Shepherd showed signs of aggression towards kids. She is a bearding dog. In 2 hours, we worked together getting her to understand heel and down so that when she reacts to kids nearby, I can get her to refocus with a ball or pet corrector and get her to come to me, heel and lay down, leaving the kids to play. In the short time period we've been able to practice she now just watches kids pass by with no barking and pulling and is more comfortable. I'm happy to know that her training doesn't just stop in out scheduled time. Josh let me know that I can text questions at anytime and also send video if I find something is not working and he can help correct. Josh helped me feel a bit more comfortable bringing her places with me and I expect that she will continue to learn and grow as she gets older. We're an outdoor family so being able to bring her with us is very important. read more

K9 Optima - Dakota enjoying a Port's baseball game during "Bark in the Park" - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

Josh with K9 Optima is amazing! We brought our newly adopted dog for a one hour session and we feel like we are walking out with a completely new outlook. Josh is incredibly knowledgeable and taught us the why behind each behavior as well as what to do. We can't wait to put these lessons to work to build a loving relationship with our new dog. We will be back for the next stage of training!! read more

I've worked with dog trainers in the past and K9 Optima blew them all out of the water. This family operation is truly focused on doing what is right for the dog and meeting you where you are with your current skillset. Their intake questionnaire is amazing and really helped us narrow down the best approach for my dog's needs. I wanted to do their most expensive program (because only the best for my fur baby) and they actually recommended a cheaper package because it was a better fit for the behavior we needed help with. Their rates across the board were completely fair compared to previous trainers I've worked with, and my pup and I gained so much for the time/ money spent. I have a 2 year old Australian Shepherd with some reactivity issues that had started to escalate. K9 Optima really listened to me and never made me feel ashamed for not knowing how to handle this issue. While they had some great recommendations on what collar, vest, and leash combo works best for them, they definitely did not rely on any equipment to magically "fix" my dog. The breadth and depth of their knowledge of dog behavior and genetic tendencies was so enlightening. I'd done hours of research before I chose this breed and was still totally blown away by the insight provided/ the "why" behind how my dog was reacting. They were super tuned in to my dog's body language, triggers, etc and quickly got to the root of the issue, providing actionable/ easy to understand steps for us to overcome them as a team. Everyone I worked with was totally approachable, answered all my questions genuinely and in detail. They never ONCE made me feel like I was inferior, which cannot be said of all training experiences I've had in the past. I had 2 sessions with K9 Optima and the bond I share with my dog and his confidence in public have both improved infinitely. I feel like I understand him better and heled him overcome so much in a relatively short time. The first session/ initial evaluation was at their property and then a few days later we met at a local skatepark to apply what we had learned in a real life scenario. I seriously cannot say enough nice things about this operation and I am just so thankful I had the opportunity to work with them! They are truly dedicated to educating owners and doing right by your dog. read more

I took my Pitty mix to Josh and was amazed at how well my dog behaved after just one visit! I will keep using Josh and K9 Optima! I don't worry about taking my dog anywhere now. he is a better dog. read more

We had a session with Josh for our rottweiler's excited social interactions with other dogs. Josh was very insightful and you could see his love and curiosity of our dog, making us feel warm and welcome. He made the whole session easy to understand and was very personable. He took the time to figure out what our rottie needed and then helped us figure out ways to combat his reactions. Only a week later, and doing everything Josh told us, walking is a much easier task. We are able to distract our rottie should he react toward another dog. The techniques are working so well that more than half the time he will check in with us first and choose to ignore the dog. We are so excited to go back for more training sessions for other things! We are confident that with Josh's help, our boy will be exactly as we wanted. read more

We took our rescue pup in for a session with our 11 year old son and K9 optima was fantastic at guiding our son in leading the training. They gave an incredibly useful assessment of our dog's needs and behavior along with great tips and recommendations for ongoing training. They also have an amazing family dog that joined the session for socialization training that revealed some really essential learning moments. We highly recommend K9 optima - especially if you have a new dog or one with issues and need some guidance and confidence! read more

We have always had dogs, mostly rescue dogs, and considered ourselves pretty knowledgeable with how to have a "good" dog. Then came Lena--- at about a year she became an anxiety prone, insecure fearful dog and we did the testing, & medical route , looked into what breeds were involved, but after a time felt that she was not benefiting from that course of action and neither were we. In fact we felt it was getting worse. I called K9 and spoke with Josh about our situation, and since one of our worries was reactivity to people coming to and into the house, he did a home visit. That was such a benefit to all of us. His observations and interaction brought us so much information and also the beginning of a game plan. Thoughtful, knowledgeable, calm is how I would describe his demeanor. He then asked for all the information on Lena to see what else may be a factor. We went on to have another session at his training center and gained more insight and tools moving forward. The improvement in quality of life for our family has been great, Lena is a much happier and secure dog and we have all reaped those rewards~from walks to Vet appointments, it's good, and drug free! I recommend K9 whole heartedly! read more

Today we had our second of three Reactivity Therapy sessions. We have put into practice recommendations Josh provided in our first session and our Lola girl's reactivity during walks has decreased significantly. At today's session we received additional instruction to improve communication between handler and dog during our walks, and recommendations for desensitizing Lola to the doorbell (practice, practice, practice) so that she understands what behavior we want from her and those we don't. We appreciate Josh's experience and his style of communicating to the humans to get the best results from our sessions and at home training. read more

Josh transformed our young pup within only a few sessions. He doesn't just teach your dog tricks, but breaks down why dogs behave the way they do and how to reward them for the behaviors you'd like to see. I've already bragged about him to all my friends and would 10/10 recommend to anyone needing a trainer! read more

K9 Optima - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

Josh is amazing. Roxy was adopted and alerted on everything. Josh was able to instill a sense of normalcy and commands that's have helped our family have more fun and better behavior. He even showed my children how to keep up the reps and train after the session. Had great recommendations on which direction to go when purchasing items for the home. Thanks Josh! read more

K9 Optima - Roxy - Pet Training Near Me - Antioch, California

I have worked with K9 Optima to help train my 2 year old dog in both 1 hour sessions and then board and train. My dog Oliver loves Josh and responds very well to his positive training and reinforcements. Josh is very patient with me in teaching me how to work with Oliver so that Oliver is successful in learning positive behavior. I would highly recommend Josh to train your dog. You will not be disappointed. read more

K9 OPTIMA is excellent!! I have a naughty husky who trained with them and now I have learned how best to calm my furry friend to listen and behave Thanks Josh!!!! read more

SO glad that I found Josh! I was on the verge of giving up on my dog. After just ONE session, I have been able to integrate the dog into the family and she's more manageable so that I can actually enjoy her and she can enjoy us. Josh was able to reassure me that what I'm looking for is possible, understand what I'm looking for, and give me tools to practice. I'm looking forward to my next session!! read more

I struggled to find a trainer that held our families beliefs on pet ownership. We consider our dog part of our family. So we are strongly against harsh training methods. We drove all the way from Sacramento to come to K9 Optima. To say we were blown away with our training experience is an understatement. Our dog was a new dog after his session. My dog is not food motivated which can be very challenging. Josh helped us find food that actually worked. But more importantly he helped my dog stop being reactive to other dogs. Each dog he brought to work with ours helped my dog relax and react differently. By the end of the session he could care less when other dogs were walking by us. I tell everyone I know to do it. You and your dog will be so happy you went!!! read more

We met Josh and Waffles, for our first training session with Alux. We were a bit apprehensive because Alux is a very nervous puppy. We did a lot of research before choosing K9 Optima. I watched their training videos on Instagram. I loved the calm and and kind attitude of the videos. Josh explained the how and the why of the behaviors. We know that we need a sold foundation for our puppy to be a GREAT dog. We would like for him to possibly be a therapy dog in a children's hospital. Waffles was A HUGE help to make Alux comfortable for his first training session. It made us so happy to see him relaxed enough to play. Alux was even taking treats from Josh before the end of the session!! read more