My Labrador retriever was extremely dominant and leash aggressive -which is rather off for a lab and unlike any other lab that I had. Anytime she was on leash, she wanted to eat every dog, person, animal in her line of sight. It became difficult to walk with her. She would lunge and try to spin out of her leash, collar, harness (I tried every contraption out there). Clearly I needed help with her. After research, I called OJ. He told me to just show up to the basic class. Easy enough. I arrived and she lunged at nearly every dog there. I was nervous! OJ put me at ease. He first went over the basics with me: collar, leash, positioning, recognizing signs that she was giving me, and how to build trust. I swear he spent 5 minutes with us and we settled right in the class. After the first few sessions she was a completely different dog. From then on she and I learned and excelled in everything OJ taught us. Before I knew it she was invited into advanced classes and laying alongside other dogs in class looking at me waiting for her next command. Today, my sweet lab walks on and off leash right by my side. She doesn't lunge or want to eat people or other dogs...the possums and squirrels in the yard are still up for grabs. We enjoy our walks again! While I no longer attend classes as my work schedule has changed, I continue to work on the skills OJ taught us...including holding a stay on the table (only allowed on the table when told). We are forever indebted OJ! read more

OJ K9 Coach - Pet Training Near Me

We came to OJ after paying for 3 trainers prior who couldn't do a thing to help my aggressive shepherd. By the time we had finally called OJ, my dog Xena had already nipped an old lady on a walk, chased after a family with a baby, and jumped out the window of my moving car in an attempt to catch a biker. The first day we brought Xena to his weekend class, he was able to stop her from the constant lunging and barking in just about 5 minutes. I have been training with OJ for about 2 years now. My dog who was once almost impossible to take outside of home has completely changed. My life has become 10x better because I get to enjoy it with Xena. The greatest thing about OJ is that he's not training the dog, but he's training YOU. If you put in the time and work, you will see that you and your dog together will learn things you never thought were possible. I write this review in hopes to help people out there who are struggling with their dog. If you're at the point of feeling like no one can help you, you're wrong! Thanks for everything OJ!!! read more

OJ is the BEST!!! We were ready to turn out dog back into the shelter, but after just one lesson, we finally felt like we had control over our Belgian Malinois; apparently the previous owners had not trained the dog or worked with him at all. If you are ready to give up, DON'T; instead, reach out to OJ. Even dog rescues, that haven't been able to control or train a particular dog, send their dog to OJ to work his magic! read more

I am the owner of a black German Shepherd, that is approximately three and a half years old. Early in the morning of July 1, 2016 I came upon this beautiful creature, digging at road kill on the 14 Freeway, 7 miles south of the town of Mojave. Holiday traffic was heavy, even on that desolate stretch of desert highway. Fortunately, I was able to pull off after he was close to being hit by a large RV. with some food & water that I had for my other dog, I was able to lure him close to the car and when I opened the back door, he miraculously jumped into the back seat. No collar. No visible identification. His face and ears were nicked up and it was 95 degrees at 7 a.m. someone had obviously dumped him. Off we went-headed to Reno-another 400 miles. I had a new companion. his name is BOO! What does this have to do with OJ Knighten/Canine Coach? It is important to tell this brief version of the story, because the reader needs to understand the unusual predicament is was just thrown into. I grew up with dogs; Collies, Shetland Sheep Dogs and my grandfather had German shepherds. I have owned Yorkies, a Toy Poodle and currently have an 18 lb. rescued Terrier Mix, along with a 40 lb. rescued Finnish Lapphund. Now add BOO. I volunteered at a large GSD rescue in Los Angeles, but have never had any "true" formal dog handling training. THAT"S WHAT OJ DOES. HE TRAINS THE OWNER/HANDLER. He teaches communication. Proper communication and calm energy., that then gets transmitted from the handler to the dog. Picking up BOO, as an abandoned, discarded dog, obviously put us both in a difficult situation - starting with trust. Obviously I had no idea of his past. He had no name. I called him Backus, because that was the nearest exit on the highway where i picked him up (Backus Road). No response after several tries. After many other attempts at names we finally got BOO! He was thrown into a new environment, with new dogs and new people. He had anxiety. So... I needed and was looking for a trainer. A GOOD ONE. There a lot of them out there. Posers, Pretenders with glossy websites. Fortunately, I met a girl loading a black GSD just like BOO into her truck, following a LOS ANGELES POLICE CANINE ASSOCIATION event. When I asked her who she trained with; she said OJ KNIGHTEN. The rest is history. BOO and I have been training with the K9 COACH for two years. now. That's what he is-a coach. He starts off by demanding the use of proper training equipment: leashes, collars, treat pouch and instills the importance of "commitment" to training, even though there is no pressure. I have seen people come and go and some really difficult dogs, that OJ has transformed. Little dogs, big dogs- you name it. His fees are gracious. He cares about the dogs, but doesn't tolerate nonsense. We get out of the training what we put into it. There is no instant success. But there are pleasant surprises. I really enjoy seeing and being around the other dogs and handlers in class, as does BOO. Together we have moved from Basic obedience to the Advanced Obedience Class. There is still work to do and I look forward to the journey. BOO deserves the best and I know I know OJ can take us as far as we want to go. Patience, tolerance, endless learning, endless possibilities. Confident Master/Confident Canine Family. Just as (I) believe God put BOO in my life; (I) believe he lead us to OJ and for that I am Grateful. DESTINY! read more

There was this adorable English Bulldog. Who someone had tied up in a balcony for almost a year. She called me to help her relocate the dog. I did... at the rescue, they asked me to have him at home, in the meantime they would find a trainer... I told this persons, and then without telling me, she took him to Burbank Animal Shelter and asked specifically for the dog to be Euthanized. With help from an amazing Rescue I was able to take him out of the Shelter after almost a month. This Rescue referred me to OJ. The dog had issues when putting the collars on and off, leashes, toys... he has been with OJ and he is a completely different dog, no he engages, he gets commands, and we can manage the triggers he has. He is much much better, I would highly recommend OJ and his team. This is dog, with the help of them is now ready for his forever home! read more

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Best trainer ever. OJ helped my dog and I understand and communicate. If I hadn't of found OJ my rescued adult German Shepherd would of had to be returned to the shelter. Trust in OJ, he knows what he is doing. read more

We have been participating for 2 months of OJ's Training. We mostly have had Mike and Julian assisting and they both have been extremely helpful. Mike is a natural trainer, very clear in direction, and also provides patience when anyone needs help. What I like about the training -- is the time they make available after training where anyone can ask "dog questions." I shared that my dog developed a fear of skateboards and the beach - which was something he was not afraid of before. Mike provided some detailed suggestions on how to approach my concerns and I have to say it has helped - a lot! My dog is not completely overcoming his fears, but he's not running away as he did before - thanks, Mike! As for Julian, he too is very helpful - Julian provides adjustments to us "dog parents" in class when he sees some folks needing guidance, which is great as I too didn't know I was making minor mistakes in my training approach and Julian definitely helped me and my dog communicate better. Overall, OJ has done great with his group of trainers and they are extremely knowledgeable and helpful -- we are looking forward to many more courses. read more

I have never met anyone who understands the way dogs think like OJ does, nor anyone who can teach it to a wide array of personalities so that they can be responsible dog owners. When I first went to OJ, I was frightened of dog to dog contact because my previous dog was "dog aggressive" and had attacked other dogs. At my first class, my heart was racing as I clutched my German Shepherd's leash and weaved in and out of the other class members who lined up with their dogs sitting quietly next to them. I was so amazed at myself for getting through that, and now I am confident enough to take my dog anywhere without reaction; I constantly get praise from strangers on the trail about how well-behaved my dog is. In a million years, I never thought I could achieve that with this dog, then I learned from OJ what it was that I was doing that created the situation. His training is simple, common sense, and about understanding why the behavior occurs. If your dog pulls on a leash, acts aggressive, or bites, please see OJ, or if you just want to have a better relationship with your dog, small or large, see OJ. I have watched amazing transformations in his class, including my own. Recently I took in a high-drive, completely untrained GSD and it would never have been a successful adoption except for the knowledge I have gained from working with OJ. He loves all dogs and tolerates us owners, and every once in a while, he even remembers the owners' names, and now I go to his class for the practice and the friendships I have made with the other crazy dog people. Oh, and his assistant, David, is a huge asset to the team, so you get two for the price of one. If you have a dog and you spend some time training with OJ, I promise your life will be better for it. read more

OJ K9 Coach - Some of OJ's students discussing class earlier in the day. - Pet Training Near Me

I met OJ a little over a year ago and I honestly don't know what I would do without him. I was looking to rescue a dog, didn't care what breed, but I wanted something that fit my lifestyle. Another fabulous rescue had OJ take in a young GSD, he called me the day he got her and I was down at his place 2 days later to meet the dog. The minute I met the dog, I knew she was supposed to come home with me. I live in Sonoma, which is 6.5 hours from OJ, and drove down multiple times for a few months to make sure that the dog was a good fit for me & I was a good fit for her. OJ truly cares about finding genuine people who are going to give dogs a good life. I have now had that young GSD for almost a year and we continue to drive from Sonoma to come to OJ's obedience classes....I couldn't imagine my life with out him, his knowledge and his team. I highly recommend OJ to anyone who has a love for their dog-- he is the man to work with! UPDATE: with OJs help and training, my GSD & I passed our AKC Good Citizen test in early August 2018. read more

Oj knighten is truly incredible. He cares about every dog that comes in contact with him. He is the best trainer I have had the privilege of training with. He has trained numerous dogs for my rescue and I have referred many people to him and they give me overwhelming great responses. My personal dogs are training with him and they are doing incredible. I have learned so much from him. I truly feel lucky to have met him. read more

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OJ was instrumental in getting our large shepherd chow hound to behave. Awesome for big dogs

I wanted a Belgian Malinois and a friend introduced me to OJ in the summer of 2016. I made several trips from Calabasas to Aqua Dulce to observe his training and get some instruction on dog handling. It was made clear to OJ at the time that I was not a dog handler , I wanted a Mal for companionship and protection. He assured me he had the dog for me and would get it trained. He showed me a dog which he claimed came from Belgium and had champion blood lines. I agreed on a $25,000.00 price for the dog which would take about 6 months to train. So began the process, weekly visits and training. Listening to OJ talk about himself and realizing nothing was ever his fault . Ok fine I've dealt with ego maniacs before so this was nothing new. As time continued i became very attached to the dog , but he still had a very wild side, leash biting , going after car tires, other dogs , balls etc. OJ assured me that he would correct all that behavior. Granted a Malinois is a very high energy powerful dog. After finally getting delivery of the dog in late April of 2017, OJ made it clear on several occasions that he would come to my house And office to work with the dog so he understood his new environment. OJ showed up once to my house and once to my office. That was it He then told me he would outline a new financial arrangement for additional training at his facility in Agua Dulce. Why do I need more training? I thought that was all part of the original deal !?!! So I went along with it because my dog was still not the attentive well behaved protection dog i was told I was getting. The new training regiment consisted of me driving an hour each way to Agua Dulce waiting for 3 hours so my dog could get 10 minutes with OJ . It took about 3 weeks for that to grow old and my dog didn't seem to be improving and I still didn't have the trained dog I thought I bought. I got all the paperwork from OJ and his cohort Fon Fon but I never received the breeding info on the dog, i was told on several occasions that it was being mailed to me.....never arrived . I since had my dog with 2 other trainers both who agreed that I got ripped off by OJ. The last trainer really got the dog to his maximum potential , but he was not impressed with the overall package. The last straw was when my dog went after a chocolate lab, completely unprovoked , the lab was unharmed but the owner was clearly upset and understandably so. The dog was a huge liability at this point so he was returned to OJ under the premise that he would sell him and give me the proceeds . OJ quickly backed out of the financial obligation to me and blamed any issues with the dog on anyone other than himself. At the end of the day it's possible the dog and i were not the right match, he was a beautiful dog and very sweet at times. I put my trust in OJ and he took clear advantage of me for the sake of making a buck . I won't miss the money, it just would have been nice to see OJ step up and do the right thing. I'm sure he will sell the dog again to someone as a perfect specimen and collect more money. Dog trainers get a bad reputation because of this and understandably so. OJ may have been a mediocre dog trainer at one time, but his glory days are over . read more

Dont waste your time with any other trainer. OJ is the best in LA by far! I went to 3 different trainers before discovering him.. and his crazy amount of control and knowledge is unbeatable! I have a 5 month old puppy so we are just working on basic obedience.. after the first class my dog was listening to me and now comes when he is called. The classes are so much fun! Everyone is pretty much laughing the whole time. Safety is OJ's first priority.. so if you have an aggressive dog or a puppy like me.. this is the best place for you to be. The guy is amazing.. a true dog whisperer! read more

I was on my third trainer. One person didn't even want to deal with my dog, thankfully he recommended OJ to me. My dog was as problematic as possible. He couldn't be walked because he was so aggressive to anything he didn't understand and he was not a rescue. He was raised in a good home but he was a little cray cray will truth be told he was a lot cray cray. When I introduced him to OJ I had him in a muzzle because I was really unsure what antics would be happening. OJ had the muzzle off after about 20 minutes and was able to assess the dog. I have trained with OJ for over two years because my dog loves going to class. He was able to get his Canine Good Citizenship about 18 months after we started. I won't tell you what happened the first time he tested, that story is for another day. Prior to my dog getting his CGC OJ saved my dogs life, literally. I am not going to tell you that you will be able to turn all dogs into happy friendly outgoing animals that you don't have to worry about but you can help them change. Whereas I was really the only person besides OJ that could handle my dog on this past Sunday I handed him off to a friend from the advanced class so I could train my other dog in the beginning class. That would not have happened if I had not gone to OJ. You could not find a better trainer if you tried. You will have to put the work in as dogs are not plug in play but if you are willing to do the work he can help you. I guarantee you that. It doesn't matter what type of dog it is be it Shepherd, Pit, or Malinois. I have seen little dogs in class and I have some some huge dogs in class. He is patient beyond belief and has an innate ability to read a dog and understand the issue. More often then not the people or handlers are compounding the problem. He will teach you how to establish order with your dog and will spend time answering questions after class. There is a very famous trainer that is on TV all the time who specializes in Pits, when he has a aggressive dog he sends them to OJ. What does that tell you? You can come out to the park and observe the class for free and you will see what it is like. He does private sessions as well. If you are at the end of your rope like I was, hang on just call OJ. Be prepared to do the work but you will thank him and your dog will thank you. read more

OJ K9 Coach - CGC!!! - Pet Training Near Me

I take my GSD to OJ's training class Sundays and I am very happy with the progress of my dog's behavior. My dog never had behavior issues but was shy and timid since coming from the rescue shelter. After 4 months of training with OJ my dog is doing fantastic and is such a great well behaved dog. This is my 4th dog and 2nd GSD. I trained my first GSD myself but like OJ's style and patience. I would highly recommend these training classes to anyone with a large dog especially a GSD or others whose owners want to create a well behaved and social dog. The cost is very reasonable too. Good luck. read more

I can't say it enough - OJ works wonders. We'd taken our 100+ pound shepherd, Roger, to 4 absolute failure trainers before we were recommend to see OJ. No exaggeration: he did more in the first 15 minutes to improve Roger's behavior than the months of previous trainers were able to do in repeated sessions over 5 months before we got it right with OJ. Roger, the world's sweetest pup, was leash aggressive, would pull my wife down, bark at everything, and generally be a jerk that would have either been returned to the shelter or left to a sad life in the backyard. OJ turned Roger into the sweet puppy we knew he was, and OJ and his team are the nicest, most patient people who continue to work with not only Roger, but us to make sure we are working with Roger the 'right way' and continuing to expand Roger's tricks and keep his behavior as we need it! Do not waste your time with other "trainers" - go with the real deal! It's almost comical how quickly he can get a dog to behave, and how much the dogs love him! OJ, and his team, are amazing - and I cannot sing their praises enough. Roger, the world's greatest dog, is great at home, he's great when I take him to my office, and he's fantastic with people and kids, and more! Everything has worked, and worked quickly, and we have the dog we'd hoped we were getting when we got him from the shelter! Here's a simple cheat sheet if you're looking at going to OJ: Pros: Everything he's done works. Cons: I worry my dog may like OJ and his team more than me. :) I am incredibly thankful that we get to work with OJ, and his team, and that he saved our pup! read more

I own four dogs, 3 German Shepherds and 1 small dog. We had some issues that needed to be corrected with our dogs and with us as well. Oj s trainings and advise has been very helpful to our pack..I highly recomend his services..Excellent trainer, excelent results. read more

OJ is unlike any dog trainer. Let me tell you how we met. I have an absolutely beautiful pure sable GS female who was socialized a bit late. She was skiddish and did not react well to new people coming into the home or other dogs except the two that I have at home. She is an incredible dog with the family. I have had dogs all my life and never had one that was skiddish or that I could not take anywhere. I was referred to a well respected trainer in Orange County. After his trainers worked with her a few times he proclaimed that she would never get any better and always be a problem dog. He recommended returning her. To me that was an unacceptable answer. So we sought out a another trainer who gave us a less dire but somewhat similar opinion. Heartbroken, I called a very well respected breeder I know who recommended I speak with OJ. She called OJ on the phone while I was standing there and all I could hear was her side of the conversation..... that is until she explained the issues and what the other two trainers had said about my girl. What I heard loud and clear from the other side of the phone was OJ laughing. He told the breeder to tell us to bring her to him. OJ worked with us and has a totally different perspective on dog training or rather people training because the dogs are smart enough. OJ got a sense of my dog and had a different opinion of her prospects and what needed to be done. Needless to say from the 5 star review the other two trainers and especially the one who suggested we return my girl haven't a clue what a real dog trainer is. A quick story. While training in a group of 5 other very well behaved dogs, my dog was distracted and refused to comply with any command. She was worried about the other dogs, would not sit, stay, down. This went on for 45 minutes and was incredibly frustrating and upsetting, especially with 5 other well behaved dogs next to her. What was wrong with her?. Were the other trainers right? Almost ready to take her out of the class OJ prompted me to stick it out a while longer. Twenty minutes more of torture in which my dog would not do anything I asked her to do. (And I was doing everything right). OJ sensing my desperation asked to take my dog. I gladly handed her over. OJ walked over and with two fingers took the leash and with a gentle voice said "come on mama". She followed. He continued to teach the class and asked my girl to sit. She sat. He asked her to down, she downed. He asked her to stand, she stood. He asked her to do things we had never done before, she did them with no hesitation. OJ could have asked my dog to do calculus and she could have done it. Stunned and this spectacle, the first thing that registered was the laughing of the other 5 dog owners. With each one saying, "we know, we've all been there". I came to learn that each one of those gentle, well behaved dogs that performed flawlessly in his class, were all previously uncontrollable dog, people and leash aggressive dogs. OJ told us the issues we had with my girl required work but were nothing compared to the other dogs in his class. There is no doubt in my mind that OJ has a special connection and communication with dogs. He understands them and they understand him. More importantly, OJ has trained me to better understand how my dog thinks and how to work with her. OJ trains people who have dogs, oh and he trains the dogs too. OJ has a special gift. He is without a doubt the best!!!!! read more

Spoke with him over the phone. He asked me to buy a couple high end shock collars. I did. He asked me to acclimate the dogs to the collars for a few weeks. I did. Then he never returned my calls for follow-up. read more

The best boarding I have experienced as a dog owner. My dog returned peaceful and content.

OJ Knighton works miracles with dogs - well, with people first! I was unable to even take my Doberman for a walk because she pulled on the leash (much stronger than me!) and lunched at cars, other dogs and squirrels. I had many bruises and scrapes and wrestling matches with her. In TWO MINUTES OJ fixed me -- and helped her! I'm now taking his training classes and the change in my relationship with my dog and my ability to handle her is, truly, nothing short of miraculous. This trainer is an actual trainer! Not a glorified dog walker. I recommend him to absolutely everyone. read more

You won't find a better dog trainer than OJ. After suffering through a sub par group class with another trainer and getting nowhere fast, I heard about OJ's training program through Westside German Shepherd Rescue and saw first hand what he could do with dogs. OJ specializes in dogs with more serious issues, but he can do anything from basic obedience to your hard core aggressive dogs. Having a special needs dog, born completely blind, within just a few months, OJ had my dog in situations where I could control him and he could be around dogs with out any problems. In fact, after several months, OJ told me my dog was ready for the Canine Good Citizen test and I had my doubts, but sure enough, my dog passed (and some of the seeing dogs didn't!). OJ has a special gift when it comes to dogs. You can rest assured, if you've been to other trainers and had no success, if you are lucky enough to hire OJ as your trainer, he will definitely be the last trainer you'll have. Hard work pays off in the end and you get what you put in. read more

My story will likely echo the others who left reviews. I was unable to safely walk my Malinois mix. I couldn't keep her under control because she was so dog aggressive. OJ came to my house to do an initial assessment and he had her under control in minutes..........which taught me that it was me who was doing things wrong. I was able to attend his park classes and was in shock when we were able to walk safely near other large dogs thanks to my new found control. He made my life with my dog possible. This was about 8 years ago and my senior canine will be turning 10 this year. I love this dog and I truly think that OJ made this happy life I have with her possible. I now have a daughter and my dog is well behaved near the little one. Let him help you! He is the best. read more

Ok,,,here is my story! I went to the AKC website looking for another dog that would fit our family. We have an 8 year old lab and a yorkie mix. I decided on a GSD from Westcoast GSD's. Great place BTW! So off I went with this adorable 10 week old love of my life puppy not knowing what was ahead. After deciding a name, "Johnny Cash", "Cash" , life began with our new pup. He had some people issues which were a concern due to liability issues like, losing our house, ect......My wife wanted me to take "Cash" back to the breeder, but by this time, the love affair was already in full affect. (You all know this!) We found a reputable trainer who supposedly trains aggressive dogs, and $600 later, "Cash" nipped both of them as well. I did not know what to do or where to go at this point. I stuck with training him twice a day, but did not really know what I was doing. (You all know this feeling) I called the breeder, and she told me to call this guy "OJ" and that he was the best around. I called OJ and told him my situation. He giggled for a minute, and told me to bring "Cash" the next day to his ranch and that he would need him for a five week period. When we arrived with "Cash", OJ placed two "Chokers" on Cash and within 2 minutes, OJ had him under control. My wife and I were in complete shock, in a great way! I knew at that moment, that everything was going to be OK. I drove 1 hour once a week to go see my boy up at OJ's ranch and see the progress. OJ would give me weekly updates on his improvement. Now to OJ!!!! I cannot put into words how much I appreciate what he has done and is presently doing for "Cash" AND ME!. I am presently taking Cash to weekly obedient sessions with OJ and I cannot believe HE is the same dog. OJ has a VERY special gift with dogs and I am sooooooo grateful for meeting him and guiding me through this journey with "Cash". I felt completely helpless because of my lack of knowledge about training "Cash" the correct way and possibly having to give him up. This experience with OJ is something I will never forget and will be forever in his debt. I know there are many people out there with similar issues and feelings as I had, but there is a TRUE dog whisperer out there. HIS name is OJ!!! Thank you so much for helping "Cash" and I. Jeffrey Dohlen read more

I am convinced that we adopted the most high energy, over-exuberant dog in the shelter. We spent months frustrated and exhausted until we found OJ. Fast forward 9 months later after weekly training sessions with OJ, and our dog has transformed into a loving, fun pet -- a far cry from the mischievous, uncontrollable terror he was when we first got him. OJ is a miracle worker for dogs and their owners! Thank you OJ! read more