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.

We have been bringing our 90lb Mastiff/Lab mix to OC Dog Ranch for the last few years every time…read moreour family travels 4+ days. I am so happy I found this place - was recommended by someone through word of mouth. It is wide open space for our dog to run, and I love that because it is SO much better than her being boarded in a room with 50 other dogs. Staff will send you updates - and we always get a picture of our happy dog with other happy dogs. Staff also sends a report card. Always respond asap when I reach out and ask how she's doing.

We love OC Dog Ranch... our dogs love it even more!!! We have boarded all 3 of our dogs (2 labs and…read more1 golden retriever) at the Ranch and one of ours has also stayed and been trained (1 lab). All of the Dog Ranch staff are amazing and truly care for all of the dogs. The property is a dog dream come true. The multiple acres are filled with play yards that include a swimming pool, play structures, etc. Every time I bring a dog to be boarded at the Dog Ranch something has been added or changed to improve the property. I love the new fence heights that were installed most recently (I have one jumper ). I give the OC Dog Ranch the biggest tail wags you've ever seen.

I can't say enough great things about K9 City in San Clemente. From the very beginning, Terrah was…read morean incredible communicator and made the entire process of caring for a new dog in my home so much easier. She kept me updated, made sure he felt comfortable in the facility, and ensured he was engaged and having a positive experience throughout the day. Paul also went above and beyond. He took the time to introduce my new dog to my resident dog in a neutral, calm setting, which made their first interaction a success and set us up for a smooth transition at home. It's clear that the team at K9 City truly understands dog behavior and is committed to providing thoughtful, individualized care. I left feeling grateful and completely confident that my dog was in the best hands. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a trustworthy, top-notch facility that prioritizes the well being of every dog that walks through the door.

Paul amd K9 City came by recommendation from a rescue foundation. Paul is knowledgeable and has…read morebeen a great resource for training my dog (and me). I drive over an hour each way to board my dog with them when we go out of town because they have a genuine care for our dog. They are an incredible resource and would recommend 1000 times over!

I have 2 dogs, a chaotic puppy and a fear reactive German shepherd. Before working with Josh, I…read morefelt like I was always managing my dogs but still couldn't fully trust them in real life. Now they're calm, confident, and make way better decisions on their own. I can take them pretty much anywhere, which wasn't the case before. He also helped my German Shepherd become a lot more comfortable around people and other dogs. Biggest shift honestly was me. I'm way more confident, less stressed, and actually know how to communicate and teach my dogs without relying on tools. If you want a dog you can actually live life with, I'd 100% recommend Josh!

USE JOSH - This guy is amazing!…read more My dog Nuggets, is a 6 year old 15 pound, timid, terrier mix, sweetheart, but when she is on leash she displays some pretty nasty aggressive tendencies and her demons come out. As a first time dog dad, I haven't sharpened my tools around understanding my dogs emotional state and how threatened she feels and how to react or treat such aggression. So its harder for me to empathize and as such know how to handle it. I ran into Josh while walking my dog. I always see him walking his dogs, and they are so well behaved and so focused on him. So, I inquired about their training and he and i scheduled a session. Josh shared tools to improve these behaviors first from a actual tools piece like replacing a harness with a collar and a firm leash rather than a flex leash. Next, he helped me understand the psychological state of my dog and why she does what she does, it was enlightening and helped me better understand Nuggets. Finally, Josh taught me exercises to employ to redirect Nuggets focus to me. I couldn't be more grateful for the service Josh provided. You can tell Josh loves what he does and it shows by how good he is at it. That being said, I struggle to understand how anyone could complain about Bark Busters, my experience was one in which Josh , an incredible professional, was trying to help me be a better dog parent, and for that I am eternally grateful.

I've been training my puppy with Karma Dog's instructors Chris and Brandon since my puppy was 3…read moremonths old and have made significant progress with puppy nipping, loose leash walking, leave it, come, stay, etc. The training sessions were very informative and the instructors explained every step so it is easy for everyone to understand. Both instructors were also very patient and answered all questions from all students including any random questions outside of the training topic of the week. The weekly training session was then followed by an hour of puppy playtime where all dogs can play and learn how to socialize with other dogs under the supervision of the instructors. Before the puppy playtime started, the instructors will come outside of the facility to get your puppies from you. They also wore masks during the entire playtime. My puppy is always super excited and happy when seeing Chris and Brandon and love to sit on their laps to be petted. My puppy also comes home happy and tired from the playtime every time. I wish they would have more puppy playtime sessions. I definitely recommend training with Chris and Brandon and I am looking to sign up my puppy to the more advanced dog obedient classes

Wow, I can't say enough good things about Cassie. From the 10 minute consultation, to puppy…read morekindergarten, to private sessions, she is amazing! My standard poodle puppy (Lexi, 9 weeks) was having a real rough time being alone in her crate or play pen. Cassie gave me some great pointers over the phone that made nighttime much easier. The HUGE difference came from our private session yesterday. I'm just over an hour, Cassie taught ME how to help Lexi know what she needs to do and make her comfortable doing them. The results were mind-blowing. Lexi took all of her naps peacefully in her pen or crate and SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT in her crate! I got a full night of uninterrupted sleep while my baby girl slept peacefully nearby in her crate. Wow, I am so grateful. I also want to recognize and thank Rebecca. She came and watched my little girl for a few hours so I could go to work. She was so good with Lexi and I loved the photos and updates! When I got home (after Rebecca had been gone about an hour), Lexi was chewing her bone peacefully in her pen. What more could a momma ask for? UPDATE: Lexi is now over a year and an AKC Canine Good Citizen, thanks to Cassie! We have completed puppy kindergarten, basic communication, and CGC classes with Cassie as well as had a few private sessions to work on things like counter surfing, accepting grooming, proper walking, separation, and a fear of certain types of people... Cassie is one of Lexi's very favorite humans and has been amazing at teaching me how to train Lexi. We're looking forward to continuing to work with Cassie down the road. We will be taking the Trick Dog class next time it is offered and working with her to get ready for therapy dog certification in a few years. Call Cassie for absolutely anything you and your dog need help with. She will amaze you!

Tommy helped us with our Miniature Australian Shepherd puppy when no one else would! He came to…read moreour house when she was 11 weeks old (other trainers wanted to wait until she had all her puppy shots) and immediately got us off on the right foot for behavior training. He trained my husband and me as well as our puppy! So grateful. Tommy has a gift for knowing how dogs think and he shares that knowledge as part of the session. We never felt rushed to finish a lesson when he came to the house, he just dealt with our issues and reminded us to keep practicing with our dog until next time. We even decided to enroll in his weekly puppy class so that our puppy would learn to behave around other dogs. His private dog park is a god-send as we live in a condo and don't have a yard for our puppy to play in. She loved going there and we'll be back! We highly recommend Tommy. He showed us how to anticipate what our puppy was going to do before she did it and correct her misdeeds before they take place. Five stars!

Tommy came for our first private session and it went better than I imagined. My husband and I…read morelearned a lot from Tommy. He is very relatable and has a unique way of teaching that is very enjoyable and actually entertaining, all at the same time! Now that is talent! Tommy was made for this job and well worth his price. You get what you pay for. He definitely does not watch the clock and gives you more than 1 hr and does not leave until he has answered all your questions. My dog is already doing better on our walks. Tommy teaches but you have to do what he says or you have wasted your money. I signed up for 5 lessons and looking forward to the rest. I will update when we are finished.

We really enjoyed the experience of working with the Sit Means Sit team! They were all very…read moreprofessional and stood out to us as really loving the animals and what they do. Our pup loved every minute of it and we are extremely grateful for the care they gave him. We did the 20 day program and immediately reaped the benefits of their training and guidance. Our pup is back showing us all his new skills and we are extremely proud of the graduate. Thanks for your wonderful work!!

We sent our dog, Duke, to the 10-day board and train program--and while 10 days felt like a long…read moretime to be apart from him, the experience was well worth it. He was paired with Andy, and we couldn't have asked for a better trainer. Andy clearly got Duke, and Duke really responded to him. The weekly updates and training videos were a huge comfort while he was away. It was amazing to see Duke's progress in real time--it definitely helped ease our nerves. When we got him back, we were amazed. Duke was still the same lovable, goofy guy, but now with real structure and command responsiveness. He listens, follows direction, and is clearly more confident. Andy laid an incredible foundation, and the follow-up training has made us feel fully supported in continuing Duke's journey. We genuinely can't recommend Sit Means Sit--and especially Andy--enough. It's been a true blessing for our family and for Duke. If you're considering it, do it!

We hired Emily to help us with our newly adopted puppy, Nala, an American Staffordshire Terrier…read moremix. As Nala approached 9 months old, she began showing signs of reactivity toward people and other dogs, especially on walks. We couldn't have anyone new come into our home without her barking, growling, and displaying dominant behavior. Walks became stressful--she would lunge at certain people wearing hats or sunglasses and at other dogs. We were starting to lose hope and knew we needed guidance to help Nala trust us and feel secure. We reached out to Emily, and from her very first consultation, we knew we had made the right choice. Emily arrived calm and relaxed, allowed Nala to approach her at her own pace, and immediately showed us how Nala should properly greet people. From that moment, I knew Emily was the perfect trainer for us. We've been working with Emily for 3 months, focusing on how Nala approaches people entering our home, and the progress has been incredible. Nala is now a very obedient dog, and we feel confident managing visitors. Walks were our next challenge, and Emily guided us through trying different collars, learning how to use our body language and tone of voice, and properly using the leash and collar. She emphasized praise, play, and rewarding Nala when she succeeded, which helped release her energy in a positive way. We have since enrolled in group sessions to work on properly introducing Nala to other dogs. Thanks to Emily's guidance, Nala has truly transformed into a completely different dog. Emily gave us the tools to feel confident, comfortable, and capable as dog owners. She doesn't waste time--she gets results while ensuring we understand what we're doing and why. We are so grateful for Emily and will absolutely continue working with her as we keep practicing and doing our homework. She is truly amazing, and we owe Nala's progress to her dedication and expertise.

After several awful experiences with other dog trainers--some so harsh that my dogs would literally…read morerun and hide at the sight of them--I was honestly hesitant to try again. But finding Emily of The Dog Listener has been one of the greatest blessings for me and my American Bully puppy. From the very first session, Emily brought a calm, confident energy that completely changed the way I relate to my dog. Through private lessons and her incredible monthly Pack Walks, she has helped my puppy grow into a balanced, well-behaved companion. Most importantly, she's helped me grow--into a more confident, peaceful, and capable handler. What truly sets Emily apart is her compassion. My dogs don't just tolerate her--they adore her. The excitement and joy they show when she arrives is real, and it speaks volumes about the kind of person and trainer she is. Her love for dogs is genuine, and they feel it. I get emotional thinking about where we started and how far we've come. Emily is a true godsend, and I can't recommend her enough to anyone looking for a kind, effective, and empowering trainer who truly understands dogs--and their people.

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.

They don't answer their phone. If they do too often get disconnected. Understaffed and caliber is…read moreimmature! DDM

Review for Grooming Department: Great team of groomers. I…read morebrought in my foster Asha for a bath. She somehow got into some motor oil and got it all over herself (luckily she didn't ingest any of it.) After multiple washes I had given her I decided to bring her into the grooming salon to get professionally cleaned. Lauren, Bart and there was a third person (sorry I didn't get his name!) They were the most helpful and was able to squeeze in Asha into their busy weekend schedule. I was worried that they wouldn't be able to get a lot of the oil off but they cleaned her up really good. They also followed up with a phone call and provided me with updates on the progress they had made. Thank you guys so much for taking such good care of Asha. She's now home and enjoying a well deserved nap.