We used Sheila 3 1/2 years ago to train our very exuberant and frankly uncontrollable golden doodle…read morepuppy. We were a little taken aback by her methods but almost immediately there was a change. Our puppy, Yogi, had been through clicker training but mostly, he and another rambunctious pup were in a separate area rolling around and playing. From that first interaction, Yogi has impeccable manners. I was trying to find Sheila's number, saw some unfavorable reviews and realized that we hadn't left a review after our work with her. She may not be right for every dog but she was perfect for Yogi.

I will second what the previous reviewer wrote back in 2012. How I wish I had come across that…read morereview before scheduling Shelia to perform her "training" service with my dog. If I could only leave zero or negative starts on my review I would! To say that I was extremely upset and felt completely shamed upon her departure from our session is an understatement! DO NOT USE Sheila!!! I cannot express that enough! Apparently she also has 2 yelp pages and the name of her business website is misleading as it is not the same name as her actual business. (cards, paperwork etc is a different name) I will start by saying that my husband and I rescued a 1 year old German Shepherd whom we had for less than a week when we started researching dog training. We have countless years of experience with owning dogs and we already had 2 small/medium size neutered male dogs in our home upon adoption of the shepherd. However, since it had been quite a while since we had a large dog in our home we were in need of a refresher & some advice. We adopted an amazing shepherd. Smart, sweet, quick leaner and great addition to our family. Given that she was adopted, the transition amongst her to our small/medium neutered males started off challenging. The shepherd seemed to be on high alert, in full on attack mode to our boys. So for about the first 1-2 weeks we were cautious separating them all from each other for all of their own safety. It was stressful and I did feel desperate as it was rough on my husband and I playing musical dogs. So that was when my research continued and we were navigating towards in home dog training to curb the issue of what we believed was the shepherd's "small dog aggression". We came across Sheila's website, which is online as Ventura County Dog Training (not Sitting Pretty as she uses for the actual business name) and I reached out pleading my case via email. Sheila followed up with an hour long phone call which at the time we thought was a sign of good things to come. However during her phone call she went on and on about a very particular brand of dog food to which "she had no affiliation with" but that we needed to start feeding to the shepherd right away. We didn't give this too much thought and in the end our desperation lead to her coming to our home for a session. Both my husband and myself had to request a day off of work for our appointment. Since we work during the day and Shelia is against performing training in the evening and was somehow booked for many weeks in advance on the weekends we had no other choice. She was then 20 minutes late for our 12pm appointment, blaming her directions. However as we set the appointment over the phone days prior she had clearly stated she had in fact been in our neighborhood before and knew just exactly where and how to get there. Guess the streets magically moved from where she knew they were last LOL! As soon as she entered our home instantly she claimed our dog was looking "too" aggressive and was about to attack her. She claimed she has been in a yard with 3 dogs coming to attack her and the hair on the back of her neck was standing up making her feel the say way she did around those "3 attack dogs". That should have been our first major red flag since our shepherd loves everyone and everything meeting neighbors, children, family etc. She had NEVER showed signs of aggression other than we thought to our small dogs. But alas, she was newly adopted we didn't want to take our chances and continued on listening to Sheila's BS. I wont go into every single ridiculous detail, because it was all ridiculous and this will be the longest review in history. But in a matter of almost 3 hours all we had learned is that our Shepherd gets bored easily when not challenged. She spent most of her time wanting to lay down as there was NO ACTUAL TRAINING taking place. Sheila the "trainer" NEVER touched our dog, not even her leash ONCE. She only instructed my husband in a very rude and unprofessional way of how he should handle the dog. She advised us to never command the dog using her name, or touching the animal. She claimed "all dogs automatically come programmed to know the word sit once they are 8 weeks old" Really? That is beyond laughable!! Not every home even speaks the same language!! All session all we worked on was "SIT". To top it off she completely insulted my husband and I trying to dig into our background as to why we had so little patience. Really? So little patience? We spent 3 hours telling a dog to "SIT" not touching her, not showing her the action not even allowed to look her in the eye! Of course we were losing patience! So was our dog! About 80% of the session was also again as was on the first phone call to preach to that us we purchase a very specific brand of dog food. She kept reiterating "she had no connection to the company at all but to mention her name when purchasing to get a better discount". That is such an insult to our intelligence I can let yo

We enjoyed two levels of basic manners group classes. We learned a lot! Sit, stay, come, leave…read moreit, drop it, loose leash walking. :)

We moved to Ventura from a house with a yard to a condo without one, and our French Bulldog,…read moreLorenzo, really struggled with the transition. He started acting out on walks, clearly stressed and unhappy--and that took a toll on all of us. It even made it hard to enjoy our new surroundings. Then we had a training session with Veronique, and everything changed. Lorenzo opened up in a way we hadn't seen before. He's now so much better on his walks, more relaxed, and noticeably happier overall. We were given clear, practical tools to help him succeed--not just on walks, but in his interactions with other dogs too. This training truly helped lift the emotional weight Lorenzo had been carrying and made a huge difference for our family. We're so grateful. I absolutely recommend this service to anyone who wants to better understand and support their dog.

Well, I brought another very large puppy, Gumbo to be trained while I was recovering from back…read moresurgery. I was so worried that this 80 pound rambunctious dog would trip me on the stairs, jump on me and make my recovery impossible. Now he sits at the bottom of the stairs and waits for me to go up. He sits to be petted and has mellowed out tremendously. Five years ago, Linda trained Max after another surgery I love that she stays in touch with you daily and works on the specific things you are concerned about. She is very clear about how it is an ongoing process and she is there for you if you need continual help after the board and train. Definitely worth the expense. Our house is much calmer now!

I truly can't say enough amazing things about Linda (aka Be Free Dog Training) and what she did for…read moreour baby boy, Zephyr! Before training, we were struggling with constant biting and jumping, intense resource guarding, eating absolutely everything, and an inability to simply settle down. We loved him endlessly, but everyday life with him could be frustrating, exhausting, and overwhelming. After Linda's 2 week boot camp (in which she sent us daily updates) the dog Linda gave back to us is one we always knew was in there - a sweet, friendly, well-behaved little lovebug that was finally able to just relax and enjoy life with us. We will forever be grateful for the patience, care, and love she gave (even after training). We absolutely adore Linda and couldn't recommend her enough!

I sit here on my couch after doing my own morning training session with both dogs and I am in…read moretears. I cannot begin to explain the amount of relief from anxiety training my dogs with Ricky has brought me. No amount of therapy could touch how I felt previously. I have learned patience, clear communication (with my dogs), and appreciation of the minds ability to change after years and years of ingrained unwanted behaviors. Ricky does not sell a one size fits all package - each of my dogs are VERY different, and while the fundamental approaches and concepts in training are the same - the method and timing in which we applied and reinforced these were vastly different. Ricky is able to connect with two leggers and four leggers alike - he gives clear feedback to dogs and human and uses metaphors that we humans understand (driving the speed limit and getting speeding tickets haha) on how the concepts of his approach effects dog behavior. I couldn't be happier. I am humble and I know I need to continue management (and one of my dogs I am holding to higher standard so we are going to continue our own sessions based on what I have learned) but my dogs are completely different. I'm getting complimented by family, friends, and people on walks - impressed with how well behaved my dogs are. I smile and tell them "thank you it's lots of continued hard work" and move along. This morning in particular we walked during trash pick up, had lots of people distractions, and both dogs stayed heeled and attentive to me on their separate walks. Do not hesitate to consider Ricky for your training needs. Also, if you feel alone with your dogs behavior - please know you are anything but alone. The fact you are looking at reviews for dog trainers is a clear indicator that you want the best for your dog and intend to give them them best. :)

We have tried a lot of dog trainers. Ricky is fantastic…read more Apart from learning a lot at EPT, my dog now somehow seems a bit more mature, in a good way! Highly recommended.

Audrey was able to accommodate our last minute request for doggy daycare on a Sunday afternoon…read more The minute we met Audrey, we were put at ease by her warm demeanor and obvious love for animals. We left our puppy with her and came back later that evening to a very content and tired pup. Knowing that he was getting great one on one handling instead of being thrown into a giant pen with 15 other dogs at a traditional doggy daycare truly made all the difference for us. Audrey provided us with picture and video updates while we were gone which was a nice touch. Highly recommend her and plan to bring our puppy back later this week.

Pups had a great time out in the yard! Will definitely bring them back to Sandy Paws!read more

I was charged $53.00 For a false fee …read more I called the manager Diana to complain about it and ask for a refund. The manager called me and didn't want to have the owners call me to let them know my experience so instead of doing that she now won't let my dog come to Doggin around anymore ? This was after a serious heart attack I had and boarding the dog for six days and paying full price They then charged a full day price for picking up the dog after her bath at 3 PM and here's the response I got from the company manager Diana. I would hope the owners would call to find out what's going on in there doggy daycare. Diana should really be fired. I wanted to follow up regarding our conversation and your review. I was disappointed to read some of the statements made about me and our team, as I feel they do not accurately reflect the conversation or the steps I took to address your concerns. When you brought the late pickup fee to my attention, I listened to your concerns and credited the fee back to your account as a resolution. I also attempted to explain the policy behind your concerns, not to dismiss them, but to provide context. My goal was to have a respectful conversation and find a solution. I was very much in disbelief of the concerns, and I respectfully told you, they're concerns that have not been brought up by many. But those are your concerns and feelings and I respect that and I gave you space to express them. During our call, I felt that the conversation shifted from addressing the concern into criticism of my intentions and my role as a manager. I took a moment to process what you were sharing because I wanted to respond professionally rather than react emotionally. I respect that you have the right to share your experience and request further review from ownership. Your additional concerns will be communicated to them. However, after reviewing the situation, we, along with ownership, have decided that continuing a business relationship is no longer the right fit, and you and your pets are no longer eligible for services at Doggin' Around or any affiliated facilities. Regarding your payments, any transaction made today will be voided. For any prior charges that require a refund, please come into the facility with the card used for payment so we can process that refund. I'm sorry that after four years this is where we have arrived, but we believe this decision is the best path forward.

This is a bit overdue. I used to take my first two doggies. This was before the pandemic. Then we…read morehad the pandemic and they both passed (2021 & 2022). Fast forward to now, I adopted two little rescues from the ASPCA. I wanted them to have time with other little doggies and called up Doggie Around. My information was still in their system (from my other doggies). They updated the information and offered me condolences for my loss. I had an outpatient procedure coming up and was hoping to get my two new doggies into the doggie daycare. Well they made it happen. I took them on a Friday for their initial assessment and was able to drop them off that following Monday. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this. It was such a relief to be able to drop off my little loves and know they are safe and having a great time. I feel their prices are reasonable and most importantly, the staff is super nice and they remembered my little doggies names when I took them back on Monday. I know fur parents know how wonderful that feels when they remember you and your babie's names. Thank you Doggin' Around!

I initially put my youngest, out of control dog, Stormy, into their Board & Train Program, while I…read morewas going out of state. I could not get Stormy to walk on a leash, without choking herself. Because of this, she was under socialized. She was fearful of many things also. They ended up keeping her for 3 weeks. I had a couple "check in" one on one Training with her Trainer, Tiffany. At the first session, Stormy, was walking on leash in a "heel" position. Tiffany had also taught her "place", "stay" and "break" to release her from her "stay". Stormy was so much calmer when I brought her home. Before training, she would come in from the yard and jump over the back of the couch. If I was sitting on the couch, a few times, she landed on my head, on her way to the other side. She also jumped a lot. After coming home, she was calm inside and stopped jumping all over. It was a "joy" to take her on a walk and have her calmly maintain her "heel" position.She was much more enjoyable and was finally able to get out of"in the world"! This was entirely due to Tiffany's training. Tiffany was very good with her, very knowledgeable about dog behavior and cared for Stormy. She was professional, checked in with me to see how I was feeling about Stormy's behavior, gave helpful advice and answered any questions I had. In addition, I received daily photos of Stormy from Heather. That was awesome because I missed her and it was nice to get updates on Stormy's progress. Additionally, the Facility is very clean and everyone working there was very nice. Michael was very nice too. The groomer, Jacob, was nice and professional also. The Board and Train was expensive but after Tiffany gave me back a dog I could fully enjoy, I'd say it was worth it! Matan has a wonderful operation going there and I highly recommend them. My Veterinarian in Camarillo, gave me Matan's Card and said she'd gotten positive feedback on them. I also brought my "dog reactive", Dog, Bon Bon in for 3 week Board and Train. Tiffany, also trained her too! She did an amazing job with Bon Bon also. Bon Bon, was a challenging case for her because, of all things, she told me Bon Bon, could be a bit stubborn! LOL. Even though Bon Bon, was a completely different personality than Stormy, Bon Bon, was wonderful walking on leash when she returned. She's also not as reactive. I was even able to walk both of them together, which was a first and was also my original goal for training! My "pack walk"! Tiffany told me to wait to try to walk them together. There was no way I was getting out the door with just one! They both did remarkably well. At first Bon Bon wanted to walk ahead but I corrected her and she walked in a "heel" on my right side. I was finally able to get them both "heeling" on my left side, with Stormy closest to me. Yay! That's exactly what I wanted when I sent them both to "board and train". Finally, as a bonus, Bon Bon came home with "perfect weight"! It was all the extra work on Dog Pacer. Thank you to everyone at Matan Dog Training! You all made it a great experience for me!

I'm highly upset and disappointed with this company. If you didn't read my husband's review…read morealready, I want to explain my frustrations. My sweet 1-year-old German Shepherd, Oso, was scheduled for a 2-week board-and-train and came home under horrible circumstances. We've had Oso since he was a baby and taught him the basics ourselves (Sit, Down, Wait, Up, Free, Spin) using positive reinforcement. See Video 1 for an example. Oso has had high reactivity toward other dogs, which we made very clear was something he needed training on. The trainers kept saying that he likes to "pick fights" with other dogs. I understand Oso has a big bark, but he has never once been aggressive toward another dog. We understand aggression can occur, and I'm not a dog trainer, so if that's what you call "picking fights," so be it. (See Video 2 for an example.) In Video 2, you can also see two trainers come together to talk about Oso's dewclaw. They didn't even know what it was called and referred to it as "weird," which I took offense to. Keep this dewclaw in mind, because that story isn't over. Communication overall was poor. For $2,000, I would expect, at minimum, pictures or videos every day. Mind you, when Oso was home, I had a dog walker who walked him for 30 minutes every day and sent me multiple videos along with a map of where they went on their walk. With this company, the pictures we received were mostly just Oso sitting outside on their dirt patches. We received two videos of Oso on the dog treadmill, with no explanation until I asked how long he was on the treadmill for. I felt like I constantly had to ask for information, and if I didn't ask, it wasn't a priority. Oso also came home with what looks like pimples on the inside of his mouth (see image). He did not have these prior to going there, as I am very conscious of everything regarding his health and appearance. The facility may not have noticed this, but I believe they would not take responsibility for it. I'd love to hear the excuse they would give: "These things happen." On the last day of his training (go-home day), we were already struggling to make the appointment because my husband and I are both active-duty military and can't just leave work. My husband received a call that Oso was receiving his bath, and during his blow-dry session, his dewclaw got caught in the grate and RIPPED OUT. I can't imagine the pain he was in. They took him to a local pet hospital, which didn't even see him until SIX hours after his initial arrival. After many attempts to get in touch with them regarding payment, Matan finally called and said he would cover it and that "things like this happen." I would love to see the camera surveillance and a written report of what happened. I can only imagine what the excuse will be as to why I'm not able to receive these from Matan. Oso is home with us now and recovering. We are extremely dissatisfied and honestly can't forgive ourselves for giving this company $2,000 for this treatment. Matan, to make this right, a refund is due--or at least half. We should have known we made a mistake when we paid first and then signed the contract stating refunds are not given. You were so personable and reassuring over the phone before booking, which unfortunately fooled us. Never will Oso or any of us be near this company again. I hope this review helps other responsible dog owners think twice before choosing this company

Jeremy is a amazing trainer... we adopted a two year old black lab this past March. She had lived…read morewith four college girls and had zero training. She pulled on walks and chased trucks and other dogs.. it was terrible We knew she could be a great dog.. and now she is. She's a joy to walk, goes to her place and does chase trucks.. thank you Jeremy our sweet Lady Vader is now a happy well behaved family member

Calling Jeremy was one the best decisions I ever made for my dog and I. My 1 and a half year old…read moreBelgian Malinois Chomper came off as aggressive and crazy because he was a young ball of energy who had basically been able to do what he wanted all his life.He was also labeled as being a bit of a mommas boy, as told to me by Jeremy and a few others. Jeremy was very straightforward and blunt when it came to the training which helped me know I needed to be the same with Chomper. Jeremy gave me the tools I needed to improve my relationship with my dog. Training not only improved my but my dogs confidence. Training has become something too look forward to after a long day it's almost like a stress reliever at times I'm surprised to say as well as a real bonding sessions between us and our family. This is one of those investments that really paid off! Thank you Jeremy!