Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    OC Service Dogs

    4.8 (18 reviews)
    Open 9:30 am - 5:00 pm

    Services - OC Service Dogs

    Pet boarding

    Private dog training

    OC Service Dogs Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - OC Service Dogs

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Nikki with Piper (2 yo Rottie) & Cru (7 mo lab)
    Trisha B.

    Nikki is the best! Her approach is all about the dogs & their humans working together, while having fun in the process. Whether you are looking for basic obedience, therapy dog certification, a service dog & training, or even board & train- you will get the best from OC Service Dogs!

    A J.

    Based on reviews I was excited to try this company out. I was interested in signing my puppy up for training and initially sent an email because I had a question about pricing. I received a response to my email right away to answer my question and was provided a phone number to call/text with further questions. When I initially text I was advised to create an account online. I did this but did not see the classes I wished to register for. I followed up and it took about 2 weeks for me to get a response. I replied right away and a few days later followed up after not receiving an answer. At that point the claim was that a text was sent to me but I must not have gotten it but my puppy was registered for training the second week of April (this was in late March). It is now the third week of April and I've heard nothing. I logged into my online account and did not see I was registered for any classes and also never received any follow up communication from the company. Not sure if they are unorganized or not interested. But if I am going to spend thousands of dollars and leave my puppy to train, its a red flag to me if you are not responsive and can't keep up with reservations.

    Archer. Pitbull/Boxer
    Brhi M.

    This training service is so helpful for my dog and I. I feel like every time I leave I have learned so much about dog training as well as how to cultivate a better relationship between me and my dog Archer. We have been actively training since September and Archer has come so far. Don't expect to attend one class and have a perfect dog, it takes a long time! I am super thankful that there are usually 3 trainers per group class so there are more perspectives on how to work with your dog. While all of the trainers usually work off the same learning theories, they have little tidbits of advice that are different and it helps so much.

    Nikki and Gizmo working on "hold." This command will help him to carry things (e.g., bags) and deliver them to his disabled handler.

    OC Service Dogs is run by Nikki Esser, a highly-experienced, professional, and compassionate dog trainer who specializes in training all kinds of working dogs, particularly service dogs and therapy dogs, but also offers obedience classes that are open to all dogs. I first interacted with Nikki over the phone when she responded to my inquiry about how to go about obtaining and training a Service Dog to help mitigate the everyday challenges I face due to my disabling chronic illnesses. Nikki has supported me through the whole process, from obtaining a dog (she recommended a fantastic breeder who connected us with an excellent Service Dog Candidate), to potty training and getting through the first hard months of obedience training, to task training, to phone conversations about questions and issues, and beyond. We are still in the training phase, but I have no doubts that she will support us through to certification. I highly recommend the group obedience classes (she offers these three times per week) for dogs of all ages. They really helped my Service Dog in Training get used to other dogs and focusing on me despite being surrounded by distractions. Private Lessons are another great option for folks who need individual attention to work on specific tasks or have difficulty training in a group atmosphere. Nikki also offers combination boarding and training, which has been very helpful for keeping up my Service Dog's training when I am feeling under the weather, training tasks, or working through complicated issues that I cannot solve on my own. You will not find a more empathetic, kind, or thorough dog trainer than Nikki Esser. Contact OC Service Dogs, you will not be disappointed!

    Lucy at her first day of training with Nikki. She 's Nikki and her team.

    See all

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A J.
    0
    149
    75

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna K.
    10
    55
    22

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - OC Service Dogs

    How many classes are required for therapy dogs?

    We are starting a new 10 week Therapy dog class in June To qualify for the Therapy dog class you dog needs to have good obedience be able to heel on a loose leash, down etc

    Can anyone tell me about pricing?

    4 classes for $100.00

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - OC Service Dogs

    (she can show you how to make your dog look like this in 5 minutes as can I BTW) Nikki is the real deal.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Dog Den

    Dog Den

    (177 reviews)

    The moment I walked in, I immediately had a really good feeling about this place!…read more You can truly tell how much care and thought has gone into everything -- from the clean and spacious environment to all the little details. There's plenty of room for the dogs to run around and play comfortably. What made me feel the most reassured is that they don't just "keep" the dogs there -- they actually spend time playing with them, observing their behavior, and caring about their emotions. If your dog wants to socialize and play with other dogs, they do require proof of vaccinations including Rabies, Bordetella, and DHPP. They also do a simple temperament test (around 20 minutes), which honestly made me feel they're super responsible and genuinely care about the safety and well-being of every dog. As pet owners, the hardest part about traveling isn't the distance -- it's worrying whether our fur babies are truly being cared for. At Dogden, you really get a sense of peace of mind. They understand dogs so well. It's not just boarding -- they treat every dog like a little kid and care for them with so much love and attention. When the dogs are happy, the owners can finally relax too Now I can travel without constantly worrying about my little baby at home

    I've tried a few dog daycare spots in OC, and Dogden stood out to me. The space is large, clean,…read moreand feels well maintained. I appreciated that they take time to understand each dog's personality -- mine is pretty social, so group play worked well, but it's nice they also offer more private options. The turf and overall setup feel very clean, and there's no overwhelming smell, which I've experienced elsewhere. Staff were friendly and attentive, and I felt comfortable leaving my dog there. Overall, a reliable option for daycare or boarding.

    Dogtown K9 Care - Any Dog, Any size.

    Dogtown K9 Care

    (68 reviews)

    John has been incredible with Gia (our husky x shepherd mix). We saw immediate and lasting…read moreimprovements in her behavior after her board and train (took her when she was about 10 months) and he equipped us with tools that actually work for continuing the training at home. We've also boarded Gia with him outside of training and she genuinely loves staying there. Couldn't recommend John more -- knowledgeable, thoughtful, and amazing with dogs. Bonus: John always gets some cute pics too.

    I am so so grateful for John and Sara for helping my sweet boy, Sully. Sully initially came into my…read morehome as a foster dog. As he settled in my home, he became increasingly aggressive towards other people -- friends, family, and strangers alike, whether in the home or outside of the home. Sully was even aggressive towards my husband, and it felt like I was at a loss. I needed to do something before he actually ended up hurting someone. After explaining what was happening with Sully with the organization I was fostering from, they said they would need to put him down for the safety of the community. I couldn't let that happen, so I decided to keep him and find professional help. This is where John came in. After doing research online, I came across his Yelp page, where there were raving reviews of him helping aggressive dogs, so I took a chance. On his first day meeting John, Sully growled, hissed, and lunged at John. Sully tried to bite both him and me. John spent about an hour with me explaining what was going to happen and some training basics, and honestly, it was hard for me to focus because I was so nervous of Sully hurting someone in the moment. John was very patient, and showed me 5x how to hold a leash properly because I just couldn't focus from nervousness. I've never seen Sully so aggressive, and John explained it's because it was the first time someone was checking him and keeping him in his place. Sully stayed with John for a little over two weeks, and in that time, they went on ADVENTURES. I mentioned to John that Sully was afraid of water, aggressive with strangers, and other very specific things, and John made sure to tackle all of them. He sent me pictures and videos of his adventures throughout their time together. They went on a ferry, hiked to a waterfall, and so so much more. When there was a concern or something to celebrate, John was sure to communicate with us what was going on. In addition, due to personal circumstances, we needed to have Sully stay with John a few more days, and John was so understanding and accommodated us. I finally have my sweet boy back, and I see so much of a difference. He is calmer, more responsive, and he's running through my sprinklers now. LOL. It still takes him a bit to warm up to other people, but he's not as on guard or on edge as he was before. I'm excited to continue his progress at home, and I'm sure we will see John and Sara for future stays! Here are just a few of my favorite pictures of his adventures with John and Sara. :)

    Pawradise Grooming - Tofu is is cleaned, "dressed up" and ready for playtime at the park!

    Pawradise Grooming

    (549 reviews)

    I took my dog Louis to get a summer hair cut and I was really surprised that the dog groomer was…read morehesitant about giving louis a summer cut; he's an American Eskimo. He was really worried about his hair not growing out nicely but I told him that he's received this haircut multiple times before by other groomers. Little did I know that because my dogs breed has a double coat, cutting into it will cause the inner coat not to grow out. Thank you for teaching me about my dogs coat and what is best. I appreciate the transparency and care you have towards the care and needs of our babies. Now for the experience: Louis came out looking fabulous! He smelled amazing and I could tell they treated him nicely. They left his tail fluffy which I loved. Any style or cut you're looking for this place can do it! A little on the pricey side but it's worth it for our fur babies!

    I originally left a 4-star review for this place, but I'm updating it after multiple visits and…read moreunfortunately, my experience has gone downhill. To be honest, I felt pressured to write my first review just to receive a discount, which already didn't sit right with me. I usually prefer to wait until I've had a few visits before leaving feedback. At the time, everything seemed fine the cut was good, and I liked how the master groomer handled my dog. However, during my most recent visit, I specifically asked them not to cut my dog's eyelashes. (Was growing them for a photo shoot) When I picked her up this past Friday, they had clearly cut them anyway. This was upsetting because I gave clear instructions, and they were ignored. I called to address the issue, and while the person on the phone did apologize, it felt very dismissive more like "what can we do for you?" than genuine concern. There was no real accountability, and it felt like it wasn't taken seriously. Over the four visits I've had, I've also noticed a pattern of upselling services and pressure tactics. On top of that, I've been told that tips given to employees don't actually go directly to them, which is very concerning. What really sealed it for me was being asked, after leaving a 4-star review, why I didn't give 5 stars. There was no appreciation just expectation for more. Because of all of this, I'm changing my review from 4 stars to 1. Honestly, if I could give zero, I would.

    Tails A Wag Inn - Sweet Miss Maizy

    Tails A Wag Inn

    (10 reviews)

    I would not recommend this place to my worst enemy!!! The…read moreowner threatened to drug my dog with Trazadone if I didn't pick him up before his scheduled pick up date. I had to cancel my plans to make sure my dog was safe and away from this establishment. She said he cried too much and disturbed her sleep. She said she had to take sleeping medication the one night he spent there because he cried and disturbed her sleep. She is very unprofessional and this is not a safe place for your pet. Be careful. I do not recommend this place.

    Business owner Nora ended the contract early despite having collected a $500 deposit from us. Our…read moretwo dogs only stayed at her place for four nights, so the total charge should have been $75 x 4 = $300. However, she charged us $400, claiming that our dogs have long hair, drool, and even accused them of being aggressive from thin air. That additional $100 was the extra "penalty" charge. We travel frequently for work every year, and our dogs are very well-socialized. They have boarded at many professional facilities without a single issue. Despite our repeated attempts to communicate and request a refund, Nora responded with a very disrespectful attitude and refused to return the overcharge. Dog owners, please be aware: this boarding service has no official certifications or professional credentials. It is simply a small, home-based operation. Also worth noting -- the business owner is a rude senior woman who may struggle to handle larger, or small size but more active dogs. There is a real risk she could be knocked over, tripped or injured if the dog is too strong or too quick for her to manage safely. If you're looking for reliable, qualified care for your pets -- and want to avoid the potential liability risks involved with a caregiver -- this is not the place to go. * Update( with image) : Nora is trying to play the victim, yet she threatened to report my puppies to animal control via text message. Dog owners, be warned--if you ever have a disagreement with this business, your beloved pets could be used as leverage. My dogs may be big, but they're gentle giants. After realizing Nora's lack of professionalism, we had a trusted friend drive them to a reputable, accredited boarding facility. There were no issues at all--our pups were safe, happy, and the staff treated them like family. As I mentioned earlier, be cautious--dealing with this business could unexpectedly shift liability onto you as the pet owner.

    OC Service Dogs - pet_training - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...