This review is LOOOONNNGGGGG overdue. I had gotten a Shiba Inu puppy 3 years ago that had to be…read morehospitalized due to Parvo the next day. Then, once he recovered from that, had a fever that almost killed him and had to be hospitalized again. We had to keep him quarantined for a while and away from my other dog (a 7 year old Pomeranian at the time) and get all his vaccinations from the beginning. He was scared of literally every single noise and had anxiety about just about everything. Over time, he developed extreme food aggression and we were worried for the safety of my little Pom. He had been attacked a few times to the point of actual injury and it was extremely stressful for everyone. I was at my wits end and I felt like I had tried everything to help Gunnar (my Shiba) and protect Simba (my Pom). I did a lot of research and stumbled upon Jenina and sent her a message for private sessions where she would come to my apartment once a week. I believe I only used her for a little over a month but I am eternally grateful. The level of aggression Gunnar displayed was so dangerous that my roommate and I actually have been bitten with blood trying to protect Simba from harm where food is involved. The issue was that he wasn't aggressive with all foods and we were unaware the extent until it was too late (ex. we thought it was only wet food so we were giving a chew stick to them separately where I would have Simba sitting next to me on the couch and Gunnar would be on the floor away from Simba with my roommate and the switch was so sudden----from sweet to seemingly no warning lunging at Simba----I stuck my leg out to protect Simba and he bit my leg instead). I feel like at this point, a regular human being would give Gunnar up, but that wasn't an option. It wasn't an option when he came to me dying from Parvo, it wasn't an option when he had an almost fatal fever, and it wasn't going to be an option for me now. I was determined to find a way to help him because he is my baby and my responsibility. The vet suggested I contact a behavioral specialist and when I did, VCA told me the earliest appointment they had was months later. Fed up with waiting, I found Jenina. In a month's time, she had given me the tools to fix a seemingly impossible situation. Make no mistake---she made me work for it. She might come across brash to some people but she is very direct and straight to the point. She doesn't coddle you and makes sure she lets you know what you need to do because while the session is for dogs, it is actually more like training the parent. She gives you "homework" and training info and is only willing to help you if YOU do the work. Now, it wasn't a complete fix. He still has anxiety outdoors or unknown noises as well as food aggression but it is nowhere near what he used to be. Before Jenina, Gunnar couldn't even take a step outside the apartment building let alone go for a walk. Three years later, Simba has sadly since passed but he has a little brother that he is extremely patient with as he acts like a typical annoying little brother), his food aggression has gone down from 100 to 30, and we go out to all sorts of places. He is THRIVING and this is all thanks to Jenina. My roommate and I are on high alert and know what to look for in terms of triggers and are very quick to de-escalate aggression situations. We try our best not to avoid known triggers and we work with him every day to allow him to be his best self. He is the sweetest boy and we are so glad he's been able to show it instead of being overshadowed by aggression and anxiety. She also gave Gunnar his nickname---Gunny! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I am so sorry it took this long to leave this review but thank you so much for saving us. If we had listened to the VCA behavioral specialist that basically called Gunnar a monster and suggested we give him up, he probably would have been euthanized somewhere. We owe you so much.

When I adopted my dog, he was a still happy rumbustious puppy that needed a lot of training…read more Jenina took me under her wings, and taught me how to understand dog's behaviors and how to connect with them. I'm grateful of her.

Karma dog training has been amazing for our young dog. We worked with Monique for 4 months as a…read morespecific doodle expert for our mini Bernedoodle and she worked miracles. Was super helpful with all our questions, provided tips, and helped trained our pup, Penny, to be a full functioning doggo. Highly highly recommend, especially if you have a doodle. We also worked with Holly for the puppy kindergarten class, which I would really recommend for dog socialization and fundamental training tips! We saw a big difference in her socialization with this class. Lastly, we did board and train with Kelli, who was great at taking care of our dog while we were out of town in addition to hands on training. Everyone at Karma clearly loves dogs. The one issue is I did struggle at times to get in contact with Karma corporate to get things set up.

I've used Karma Dog Training for reverse dog boarding three times now and fully trust them in my…read morehome and with my elderly dog. Sydney was especially incredible. She cared for my dog for three weeks, stayed on top of all his medications and special needs, and was consistently communicative, trustworthy, and respectful in my apartment. As his medical needs evolve with age, she is honestly the only person I would trust to watch him if I travel without him again. Jeffrey has also been wonderful to work with and always goes above and beyond with scheduling and making sure the right sitter is matched to each client's needs. Highly recommend.

Rescuing a 125 pound Armenian Gamphr was the best and worst thing to change our lives. Aralez came…read morefrom a her first year filled with trauma and abuse. She is huge, headstrong and smart. She is also devoted and loving and funny. We did not know what to do when your puppy's chewing, pulling and charging might mean a trip to the doctor! But Alice and the exceptional trainers at K9 Logic sure did. They did not hesitate to take her on with love and firm discipline, teaching both her and us. With their training and support, Aralez was transformed in eight weeks into a dog that truly wanted to behave and interact with us so that she got the best results back. Learning how to use the E collar was the best thing ever now we can walk her past dogs and she doesn't charge, she knows how to Place and calm herself when she gets excited and she's really very responsive to just about everything we need her to do to keep her safe and us safe in an environment that she deserves to be in. Thank you, Alice for giving me hope when I really didn't know if it would be possible to keep her. We love our Aralez and really appreciate you!

I can't recommend K9 Logic Dog Training enough to people. My partner and I came to them to address…read moreseparation anxiety in our 1.5 year old French Bulldog. We had tried what felt like everything and his separation anxiety was so bad that it got to the point that my partner and I basically gave up our social lives, had to coordinate with one another one of us would be going to the market or if it would be a trip where we both can go but someone sits in the car with our dog. We met the team at K9 Logic Dog Training and they assessed our dog and determined what kind of training program would be best for him to address his separation anxiety and the other skills we wanted to work on. Within a week we noticed progress. We finally were able to leave the house for an hour and go to the market together. Week by week the time has gradually gotten longer where we have been able to leave him alone for longer periods of time to reclaim our social life back. I was skeptical at first, but after that first week I became a believer. We are so happy with the results that for the purpose of just giving him structure and routine we signed him up for more classes and he LOVES being at school. We've also participated in the weekend group training sessions and they are so helpful to not only give our dog routine, but it's a great way to reinforce structure and keep him sharp with everything he learned at school. Signing up for training with K9 Logic Dog Training was the best decision we could made for our dog to set him up for success.

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.

Judgemental and shamed me for considering about having to rehome my beloved dog who I've had since…read moreshe was 9 weeks old. I initially got her to become my psychiatric service dog. While we've made a lot of progress over the years, her skills have slipped and I really need her dialed in on her responses. While it's nobody's business, just in the past few months; we were both struck by a distracted driver while walking in the crosswalk and had the signal to proceed. I looked in every direction, but several steps into the crosswalk, an SUV did not slow down, and hit us...A week and a half ago, I was held at the ER on suicide watch. Three days ago, I was within feet of getting shot by a gun right outside of my business! I strongly considered a German Shepherd since they're also intelligent, loyal and can provide protection/barriers for those suffering from PTSD like myself. I've been suffering a lot with my clinical depression and anxiety for years, all the while, I'm a small business owner. Csilla replied to me and automatically denied my application for considering rehoming, and for "testing" if they don't make the cut. Rehoming is NOT an easy decision, I've been crying over the thought, I love my dog! I love my dog so much that I was only reaching out to close friends who my dog also loves, so I can still see here. My immediate family does not want a second dog in our household, so this was the only loving and responsible decision that I can come up with. It's neither fair for a dog that exhibits fear, stress, and anxiety to be forced into a job that only exacerbates their behavior. My mental and physical health are just as important as my dogs. This is the purpose of rehoming, I never once said that I would surrender her to a shelter or just simply disown her. Below is her response; ..."Unfortunately we're not able to approve your application. There is no guarantee that any of our dogs will work out as a service animal, and the fact that you would rehome her if that was the case, makes this an automatic decline for our rescue. It's very sad to hear that you are thinking about rehoming a dog that has been with you for 5 years. There are countless dogs in animal shelters dying every day because people consider them disposable. Your dog will be heartbroken if she has to lose her family. Her stress and anxiety will get even worse, which means many people will pass on her at the shelter and she will most likely be euthanized because of the overcrowding problem in the shelter system. We hope you will not let that happen and leave her behind to be killed. There is no reason why she can't stay with you as just a regular pet and part of the family, while you get a 2nd dog that has been proven to be a qualified service dog. It's not fair to the dogs for you to keep "testing" and rehoming them if they don't make the cut. Please work with one of the many organizations that specialize in placing service dogs. Any dog returned to a shelter (not rescue) has a much higher chance at being euthanized sooner than the ones who haven't been adopted and returned yet. Thank you, Csilla Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles" Absolutely disgusting response; full of guilt, shame, and judgement! I will NEVER contact them again! I will leave their response on here for potential clients to read for themselves. FWIW, I decided to continue working with my dog, despite the $6k training costs! My mom also couldn't let that happen and told me that if it came down to it, she would keep her.

Carol and her team went above and beyond to help my fiancé and I find our new dog. You can tell the…read morerescue love and care for each shepherd they have.

I adopted Gili, a 10-month old female poodle-schnauzer mix, who came to me with several behavioral…read moreissues that appeared to stem from being treated poorly before I adopted her. Despite this, Gili quickly revealed herself to be a joyful, funny, and incredibly intelligent dog who was easy to train. However, there were a few serious behavioral issues that I could not resolve, no matter how hard I tried. About two weeks after coming into my home, Gili began to feel secure with me and in her environment. Unfortunately, that security turned into extreme protectiveness of herself, the house, and especially of me. She became reactive to unfamiliar people to the point that no one could enter our home or even come near me unless I medicated her or confined her to a bedroom to prevent incidents. I hired different trainers who were kind and well-intentioned, but their methods and advice were ineffective for the specific issues we were facing. Then into our lives came Carrie, the owner of the local Bark Busters franchise. I do not believe I have enough words to describe how positive and effective our experience with Carrie has been. She is exceptionally knowledgeable about canine psychology and the development of behavioral issues, and most importantly, she has an incredible ability to identify the root cause of each specific problem with precision. In a caring, non violent yet effective way Carrie focuses not only on the dog, but also on how we, as humans, can unintentionally exacerbate issues while trying to compensate for our dog's difficult past. She teaches people how to gently, confidently, and correctly address unwanted behaviors through proper posture, attitude, and consistency. What I love most about Carrie is her upbeat, joyful, and generous nature. You never feel rushed or inadequate; questions and input are welcomed and encouraged, no matter how long it takes. Carrie made it clear that she is committed to being there for both Gili and I for as long as it takes to create real, lasting change. She patiently and thoroughly addressed each issue in a way that was easy to understand, carefully explaining not just what to do, but why. I truly felt that she cared deeply about my understanding the methods, the sequence of exercises, and the reasoning behind them. Although I have shared my adult life with five different dogs, this experience taught me something entirely new: my posture, energy, and state of mind during training are just as important as the commands themselves. I am incredibly grateful to have finally found a trainer who is not only a skilled behavioral therapist but also a master trainer--an essential combination, especially when working with a dog who was not raised from a young puppy and comes with a difficult history. In Gili's case, that history left lasting emotional scars that affected how she interacts with the world. Not only did Carrie spend several hours working with us, but a few days later she followed up with a detailed and thoughtfully prepared email covering everything we had discussed. It included educational videos to further clarify the instructions, links to recommended toys and helpful equipment, a clear overview of the exercises Gili and I should practice, and much more. It was evident that Carrie spent many hours compiling this instructional guide, and it has already proven to be an invaluable resource for us. Even though it has been less than a week since Carrie trained both of us, I am already seeing meaningful improvement in Gili's behavior. More importantly, I now feel confident that I have the tools to help Gili reach her full potential and become the best version of herself, a happy, loving, and confident little lady who was always there beneath the hardships she endured before coming into my life. I am also reassured knowing that as time goes on, Carrie will be there for us whenever we need reinforcement of learned skills or guidance with any new challenges that may arise.

Carrie was an incredible help to us and our Chihuahua-Pitbull, Zula! We were at a loss with her…read moreleash pulling, fear aggression, and general anxiety out in the world and Carrie equipped us with the knowledge and confidence to fix things one step at a time. We now feel like we have control because Zula feels safe alongside our firm alpha routines. This is well worth the investment of time and $$ to get a new lease on dog ownership!

The amount of change that Dawit was able to do for my dog is a crazy amount. I'm not sure I'd be…read moreable to handle my dog without his help! My very alpha dog needed a lot of training and Dawit turned him into a more calm alpha dog who knows his place at home and in public. I'm so very thankful and cannot be more happy with how much of a good boy my dog is. As a first time dog carer, I've learned so much from Dawit and would definitely recommend his training to anyone.

Where do we even start? Our dog, Cooper, was adopted from a shelter after being surrendered twice…read more We quickly learned that he struggled with severe separation anxiety and couldn't be left alone. We became prisoners in our own home. We either had to take him everywhere with us or have one of us stay behind. It became a huge burden, and we found ourselves scheduling our entire lives around our dog. We decided to work with Dawit, and little by little, things started to improve. When we got Cooper back from training, he was like a completely different dog. He no longer pulled on the leash, was not reactive when he saw other dogs, his recall was amazing, and many of our typical worries disappeared. However, the separation anxiety still persisted. This is where Dawit truly deserves recognition. He never gave up on us or on Cooper. Our training journey probably lasted longer than most because of how severe Cooper's anxiety was, but Dawit went far beyond the typical follow-ups. Over the course of several months, the training sessions, check-ins, texts/videos, communication, and home visits finally paid off. There were times when I genuinely thought we'd never be able to return to a normal life, but our consistency combined with Dawit's continued support and new techniques made all the difference. Cooper can now stay home alone in his crate without issues. That being said, training only works if you put in the effort. We followed through with everything Dawit recommended, even when it was difficult or when we didn't see immediate results. It's easy to fall back into old habits or give up when progress feels slow, but perseverance truly pays off. Side note: Dawit is just an all-around great person who genuinely cares about what he does. Our dog absolutely adores him. We also love the boarding services he offers -- especially because Cooper comes home exercised and happy. Another huge plus is that Cooper is now off-leash certified, and we fully trust him to make good decisions. Yes, it can be costly, but it's an investment and honestly, I don't know another dog as well‑behaved as ours. I'm incredibly proud of the work it took to get here.

I'm a first time dog parent. I adopted Bodhi, my 7 month old American PItbull and realized very…read morequickly that I needed help. It was already so stressful rearranging my life around his needs and training but also managing work and trying to keep up with my own. It felt so stressful to try to walk him because he wouldn't listen to me and pull to meet other people/dog's. I would walk him for 2 hours and he still wouldn't be tired when we got home. As a rescue, he naturally has so much separation anxiety. So we've been tethered together and this wasn't sustainable or healthy for both of us. I think many dog parents would understand the guilt, frustration, embarrassment of not knowing fully how to work through these hard moments. I found Racquel through yelp after a lot of research. I could've signed up for training that was weeks and weeks long but I needed help...ASAP. It sounds crazy to say that in a few hours she can rewire both you and your dog..but we are proof that it's possible! I also love that her holistic approach is backed by really practical, tangible tools. I learned about practical tools, psychology of dogs as well as how I'm contributing to his reactions and behaviors. I walked way from our session and the next day was already implementing the skills/knowledge I was given. I can't thank you enough Racquel, for helping us and continuing to support us and strengthening our bond.

Earlier this year, my partner and I adopted a maltipoo, Cinderella. Only 8 weeks old, she was full…read moreof energy and curiosity. We already had another dog, Sylvester, who was rescued 5 years ago, was a bit older, and the not the friendliest with other dogs. Maybe not the best two to pair in a home. Sylvester had already gone through some training, but was due for a refresher. Cinderella was wet clay ready for molding. After doing some research online, we reached out to Raquel, and after one phone call, we knew she was the best person to collaborate with. Raquel brought up a very key point early on in that Cinderella will follow the lead of the head dog already established, so we wanted to make sure she was learning good habits early on in her life. Over the next few months, Raquel has spent time with us in our home and the park as we've been learning how to better communicate with our dogs, and with each other with it comes to training them. So much of it is Raquel training us as the owners in as much as it is training the dogs themselves. Raquel is always a text away and within reach, has incredible insight into the minds of dogs, and so very kind and gentle with all of us. It can be very frustrating to re-learn habits from walking our dogs to feeding them to communicating with them when they're doing something naughty. Raquel is a great teacher who is able to simplify the process, and we're very happy with the results we've seen so far with our dogs. Whether it's Cinderella growling at everyone the moment she starts eating, or Sylvester going into attack mode when he sees another dog across the street, Raquel has been there every step of the way giving guidance and suggestions, and we've seen the progress. My partner and I highly recommend Raquel to anyone looking to become a better parent to their dogs. Because it starts with you.

We joined FitPals' pack walk earlier this year to train our puppy, and it turned into an incredible…read moreexperience. Not only did we learn new tricks, but we also met wonderful people. The organizers are kind, supportive, and truly dedicated. We're big fans and we highly recommend them!

Great pack walk with awesome people and a really positive vibe. It's always fun, the environment…read morefeels safe and welcoming, and I've learned a lot each time. Plus, it's a great way to meet new people and they support rescue dogs. My dog, Eli, highly recommends!

Took advantage of their Spring Break special, which included a bath, to board my pup for a week…read more(Sat-Sat). It had been almost a year since we last boarded but Ethan helped us get acclimated to the new policies and was super accommodating, even working with me on pick-up when my return flight was delayed. A true life-saver. All the staff are always kind and helpful and they really love on the animals, which I appreciate. They also regularly update with photos and emails to keep you in the loop which is very reassuring. Loki loves it there and is always wiped out when she returns. (She's been napping all day. Very clearly a happy girl ).

A little long but it's been nothing less than eventful with this place. I had hight hopes for this…read moreplace as the hours are so convenient for our family's busy schedules. Unfortunately, this place was a HUGE disappointment and had a huge negative impact on our pup. Long story short -- Everything here is a sales grab. The few girls care for the animals but the "managers" and men there are just there for the commission of your packages. I had a whole conversation about their unethical sales pitching with the employee while picking up my dog lol. It's "how they keep the place open" - the employee's words, not mine. Astounding. Said employee also asked what I did for a living because I questioned their sales pitch tactics -- I'm in sales. Also, If you need their VIP services for your unspayed or neutered pup, please spend your money elsewhere!! Before committing to a membership, we did a trial day and spent hundreds on drop in days, grooming, and overnight boarding to see if it was a good fit for our high energy pup. Our dog is not neutered and we don't plan on getting him neutered so we chose their VIP rooms. His breed is also extremely high energy and they promised they could accommodate. I also inquired about training multiple times and they kept saying the trainer would contact me. Everything went great after those few visits, they seemed caring and said he was a great fit for a membership so we end up signing up. Then everything went downhill. Upon the first day of the membership, our dog all of a sudden had behavior issues and needed to be picked up. In the middle of my work day I call the shift manager, and he states that if we want our dog to stay, he needs training ... (from their same trainer that I've inquired 3x about before committing to a membership, still haven't heard back). I asked why this wasn't communicated ever before committing to a membership and they didn't have an answer. I informed them that I would've paid for training before committing to a membership if they would've let me know that there were any issues. Our dog went a couple of more times until they could finally get me in touch with the trainer, 6 visits later. Actually I had lost complete trust at this facility. To add insult to injury, I was able to speak to one of their actual workers that is with the dogs and she let me know that our dog is only let out for about 10 minutes at a time, maybe 3 to 4 times a day during a 12 hour stay. This is their VIP option. So not only is he left in a room for about 12 hours a day, with dogs barking all around him, he's not being stimulated nor played with just being let out to go to the bathroom. Contradicting everything they say that they offer. Their "trainer" is also a joke. He is supposed to be from the Marines and well-versed in the breed of dog that we have. Upon washing him for 5 minutes, as I was told, he said that our dog needed to be neutered before he could be trained because of his energy. Our dog is a Malinois and is not supposed to be neutered before 2 years of age. We've since went elsewhere to get our dog trained from someone who is actually educated on his breed and he's worked on all of his anxiety and reactivity issues that our pup got because of this place.