After calling 3 other trainers and getting no response from 2 and another wanting a 2 wk board & train i called Garrett and he responded the same day. He explained his training method and how he uses both reward & consequences. I signed up for his workshop immediately. Attended his workshop on 9/19/26. The presentation was fantastic and he did a great job evaluating me & my dog's disposition & drives. He offered great advice to make me a better handler for my dog. It's only been 3 days and by following his advice my dog isn't pulling and is much more engaged with me on walks. He pointed out why my dog acts like she does and gave me a gateway to working with issues. Definitely not a one & done but very effective. I will go back in 2-3 weeks to evaluate me & my dog to go to next level. read more

I have two GSP's under the age of 1 and an old German Shepard that I rescued in the last year. Garrett has been an unbelievable resource. He came out to my property for a session with each of my dogs and trained me on how to successfully ecollar train my pups and gave me tools, resources and confidence to do the work with my dogs. We are only at the beginning of our journey, but I'm so excited about the progress that we have made in a short amount of time and I'm looking forward to continue working with the Ridley K9 Academy. read more

Ridley Training Academy is the BEST!! Garrett and Nikki had our pup, Sonny Liston, for two weeks of "board and train" in January of 2024. He is a two-year-old Boxer and we are training him to be my husband's "Service Dog." He was trained extremely well there, and we have been continuing to train with Garrett and Nikki for two months following. He will be readu to take his Canine Good Citizen and Service Dog exam in April of this year. Can't say enough about the dedication and LOVE these two show for their charges! HIGHLY recommend!!! Stever and Carol Pollock Pines, CA read more

Ridley K9 Academy - Pet Training Near Me

I cannot find words to adequately express the profound gratitude I feel for having found Garrett as our dog trainer! The transformation he has brought about in my once-aggressive and uncontrollable dog is nothing short of miraculous and has been an immense relief in my life. My deepest desire was for my beloved Rory to be able to interact with other dogs and people, allowing them to see the incredible dog I've always known him to be when we're alone. From our very first session, it was abundantly clear that Garrett possessed an unmatched expertise and a profound understanding of canine behavior. His approach to addressing my dog's aggression was marked by boundless patience, unwavering compassion, and a meticulously tailored training plan that catered to my dog's unique needs. One of the things that truly set Garrett apart for me was his genuine love for animals, something I held in high regard when searching for a trainer. The progress we've witnessed has been nothing short of astonishing. My dog now mingles safely with both people and other dogs, and his overall behavior and obedience have improved beyond my wildest hopes. We've longed for another dog to be his companion for some time but never felt confident that bringing home a new pup would not end badly, with Garrett's help we've joyously welcomed a new puppy into our lives - one that Garrett has also worked wonders with. Witnessing them snuggle together for the first time brought tears to my eyes. Garrett's distinction doesn't lie solely in his exceptional skills but also in his unwavering dedication to both the dog and the owner. He took the time to educate me on how to sustain and reinforce positive behaviors at home, which has proven to be invaluable. As someone who thought they knew dog training from previous experiences but clearly did not as my dog was having so many issues, Garrett helped me recognize subtle behaviors my boy exhibited, enabling me to swiftly intervene and manage his behavior before it could escalate. The trust, the bond, and the transformation Garrett has fostered between my dog and me are genuinely priceless. I wholeheartedly recommend Garrett and his training program. I must also mention his wife, Nikki, who has been equally wonderful and hands-on with our pups. Their love for animals, coupled with their profound understanding and effective guidance, make them the best in the business. To Garrett and Nikki, from the depths of my heart, thank you for bringing about an incredible change in Rory's life and making our lives immeasurably better. Each one of these five stars is richly deserved, and then some! read more

Ridley K9 Academy - Pet Training Near Me

Every training, whether group or private, with Garrett, has been a tremendous help with our young large dog. Garrett is completely dedicated to you and your dog having success. Even in a group class, I gained a lot of insight and training tools to improve my dog's behavior. I can't thank Garrett enough. Having his guidance and training available makes a invaluable difference in the lifestyle with our family dog. read more

I can't say enough about this business and the wonderful people who own it. They are the kindest and best dog trainers I have ever come across. They truly love the animals and give them their all when training and boarding. If you'er looking for great place to train or board your dog this is the place!! read more

Garette was our answered prayer 2 Months ago we adopted a 2 1/2 year old chocolate lab mix from Sacramento shelter. From the start our new dog seemed to adapted very well to our home. His personality very smart , sweet and semi listened to commands. Things changed as soon as we had several Family members at our house for a baby shower. He was aggressive , territorial protective and we became fearful He would attack a neighbor ,family member or grandchild and our worst fears would come true:( The thought of returning him back to the shelter broke our hearts ,We were Inlove with him. We weren't gonna give up on Our new fur baby, so we searched help and I strongly felt led to call Ridley K9. Garrett Spent a long time speaking to us on the phone helping us understand Far more about our dogs behavior and The tools that are necessary. We were able to get an appointment right away at our home ,40 miles away ,one on one with our dog. As We anticipated Garrett's entry into our home was actually nail biting ,in fear of our dogs behavior towards him. But Our dog was not aggressive towards him Surprisingly , Garrett stood firm in his commands and body language and our dog responded amazingly. I can't express enough with our 2 hour appointment all that we learned and by the end , our dog was like a new dog! My husband and I worked with our dog as instructed. The following week we put him to the test And had family members and grandchildren at the house. Incredibly no problems and all went well . I can't tell you the peace that we now have and so happy knowing that as long as we put in the work we will have a well behaved fur-baby. So worth it ! All thanks to Garrett for his time and knowledge he really knows what he's doing!! We thank God for him :) So don't hesitate to call if you need help with your furbabys he's the man to guide you ! read more

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My dog has made so much progress since meeting Garrett! He was a very fearful pup that had not been socialized. He would not go for walks. All of Garrett's ideas have helped him become more confident. We now go to a nearby park where he plays with other dogs and people, up to 10!!! It's so much fun to see him becoming a more balanced pup. read more

Ridley K9 Academy - Nice dog pack at the park sharing toys and playing! - Pet Training Near Me

I had an amazing training session with Garrett. He helped me understand my dog's feelings and actions, and now I feel I can work with Grizz in a partnership. We worked on his confidence building, and mine, to help us feel better outside with distractions. My boy is only 8 months old and with today's session I know we are going to have a great future together. I cannot thank Garrett enough for the help he provided today, and I will be recommending him to anyone who asks! Couldn't be happier with my experience! read more

Ridley K9 Academy - Pet Training Near Me

Outstanding job with my 2 year old German Shepherd Mix. After 2 weeks came home a brand new obedient dog. Thank you for all your help! Will be back with my next fur baby. read more

I adopted a rescue pup, six months old, MinPin and Chihuahua mix. For reasons unknown to me or the family that fostered him, he was absolutely terrified of collars or harnesses. When I attempted to put either one on him, he would cower and hide behind furniture, in one instance for over 24 hours, refusing to come out even to eat. It saddened me that I couldn't take him out for walks, but it so traumatized him that I quit trying to get a collar on him. I reached out to Garrett Ridley, and while it was a difficult experience for everyone involved, lol, after about 30 minutes he was able to get my pup, Harley, to allow him to put a collar on him. The little guy fought madly, bit at the leash, pulled and tugged, and after he had exhausted himself, finally he just gave in. And not only that, when he did quit fighting, he climbed up on Garrett's lap and accepted his praise.There were no hard feelings between them, it was just that Harley has a strong personality and did not want to be controlled or told what not to do. Garrett was patient, consistent, and didn't give up. In the following days, I was able to get the color back on him, and walk him around the house with a leash. Today might have been the best day of Harley's life. I got the collar on him, and I took him for like a 20 minute walk around my neighborhood. I can't tell you what a change I saw in him. He pranced and looked around like he had never seen the big world out there, and he never once, not once pulled on his leash. I attribute this all to Garrett, for his patience, and not giving up on us. Harley and I now experience a better relationship with one another, he respects me, and a whole new life has opened up to him since I can now take him out on walks and car rides. I would recommend Garrett 100%. read more

Garrett is a kind of dog whisperer! If you have a dog that has issues I can't recommend him highly enough. He has helped get my fear struck pup to be able to sit with other dogs within the first visit. He has a way with reading dogs and showing the owner what to do to control them. He was my third trainer and I'm so glad I was able to find him ! read more

I've have been using Garrett to educate me in training my 2 Rottweilers and German Sheppard every week for about a year. His extensive experience always produces desired results. Garrett has been exceptional at training me and my wife! We then pass this knowledge down to our pups. We strongly recommend ridley k9 academy for all your k9 needs. read more

Garrett came to our home for our first training session with our 5 month old Shepherd. Garrett coached us and gave us the training we needed to understand our dogs cues. Looking forward to utilizing the skills we learned today. I highly recommend Ridley K9 academy. read more

We hired Garret to help us with our 2 year old pup who was having some behavior problems. Garret has great information and has gone out of his way to help taking time to answer any of our questions and show us how to communicate more effective with our pup. The methods he has presented have been super effective in helping our pup gain confidence and good behavior. We are so thankful we found Ridley K9 Academy Dog Training! read more

I have watched Garrett Ridley train dogs for several years. His compassion when speaking with dog owners mixed with his knowledge of training skills makes for a great learning environment for both dog and handler. If you are looking for a place to train your dog you have an excellent one with Ridley K9 Academy! read more

Garrett helped us immensely with our young golden doodle puppy. It was amazing seeing how quickly our puppy could learn new skills with the proper teacher- absolutely could not have made this much progress on our own!! I would absolutely recommend his training to anyone who needs direction with a new puppy!! read more

We bought Garrett Ridley's book. It is very informative. Garrett is an invaluable resource for American Bulldog owners. Sadly, we live too far away to get training sessions in person. He instead, was able to speak to us several times at great length by phone. He is generous with his time and willing to share his knowledge. Our puppy's behavior immediately improved after using Garrett's advice. read more

Garrett is passionate about canines, there care, training and breeds winner American Bulldogs. He's an expert on all these subjects and has years of experience to back up his effectiveness. He does not disappoint! read more

Garrett is an amazing dog trainer who understands dogs & people! Overjoyed with the behavior of our German Shepherd mix and Husky! Liked that he worked with the dogs at home and I won't have to sell a kidney to pay for it! read more

Garrett has been my families trainer for many years and through multiple breeds: German Shepherd, Rottweiler, and of course American Bull Dog. Garrett loves dogs and really understands how precious they are to your family. He has a very balanced approach to training for whatever behavior you desire out of your dog. Garrett has a deep understanding of a each dogs temperament and which training methods work best for each individual dog. My wife and I recently had twins and our old Rott. passed away. Garrett meet with us to determine our wants and needs for a new puppy. He did an extensive evaluation of breeds and temperament for us and hand-picked our American Bulldog. He is absolutely the perfect dog for our stage of life and is so very gentle with our twins! He is our first call for anything dog related and should be yours too! read more

Garret helped us train our 8 week old Springer Spaniel at our own home. He spent a couple of hours teaching us training techniques and gave us more insight into our puppy's personality traits. It was a great start to us training our puppy as a family. read more

We wanted to wait to write a review so we could see the REAL damage our Standard Poodle has received since being abused, hung from a tree, left in the snow, starved, drug and used as dog training bait on his property, and admitting to the D.A. in Placerville that he did choke out and strangle my 11 week old Standard Poodle cause he was not listening! Well facts today = four years later! Our dog is super friendly, recovered with love, and will still to date run or freeze if a garbage man, landscaping suited up man, or pack of dogs comes at him! Yes, Poodles are smart! The worst part - he has permanent damage to his neck / tracia, scar tissue on esophagus, and we get him checked every six (6) months for chest damage. This guy is disgusting and abusive to animals and thrives on fighting dogs! RUN!!!!! read more

He is with out a doubt someone to call on. He makes sure you get it right and make it a pleasant experience with you and your dog. In my opinion he is actually training you to make your pet what you want out of them. He is super nice and loves what he does. He gives great advice and always there to help you. Call and get your loved one in a better place!!!! read more

After several trainers came to our house & deemed our dog too big a problem for them to remedy, Garrett Ridley showed up and saved the day. It was like having a visit from the dog whisperer. Like that, but better. Garrett is the consummate professional, he understands dog behavior, and he literally saved my dog's life. I cannot begin to thank him enough. His kennel is located in Placerville, but he was happy to come all the way to Sacramento to evaluate our situation. His fee was nominal for the initial consultation and he spent more time with us than he promised. He gave us lots of good advice and training techniques just in that first visit. It only got better from there. I wish there were more stars to rate him higher. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Garret Ridley if you need a dog trainer or think that you may need dog training advice. read more

I interviewed several dog trainers 2 year ago before choosing Garret. I chose him over all of the others because of his approach using positive reinforcement and gentle correction. Garrett worked with me to give my dog the structure and discipline that he badly needed. I could easily see that he is a man who loves to see dogs be successful. Recently, my dog Murphy began having behavior problems that were endangering his health. I called and left a message and within the hour I received a concerned call back. Garrett just came out to my house and Murphy greeted him like an old friend. Garrett worked out a behavior plan using positive reinforcement for me to implement. I was very disheartened to learn that such a great trainer was maligned in the media. Knowing him and the fabulous service he provides I can say that he would never harm an animal. He is excellent at what he does. read more

This trainer speaks a dog's language! We were so impressed that he would come to our home and patiently answer all our questions and work with us and our very large, full-of-life puppy! He does not break a dog's spirit but instead, helps you to embrace and enjoy your dog as a puppy. We have worked through some very annoying behaviors yet feel we are positively engaged with our puppy, thanks to Garret's guidance. You will not be disappointed and feel more confident as a puppy parent. read more

I used Garret over year ago and absolutely loved him and his dogs! I referred him to a friend of mine and she has now referred him to two other people. Garret knows dogs and treats them with respect and they in turn treat their owners with respect. I would recommend him to everyone! read more

We won in court and at least recovered some of our expenses related to emergency vet bills but, this experience will haunt us and our dog for years to come. read more

I have seen the product of Garrets training. The dogs Garret trains are confident, well behaved, smart and loving. They all turn out to be the perfect animals. What i love best about this company is that you can just see that the owners are true animal lovers, they love what they do and they take special care of all animals that they board just like they were their own. I have never seen any 2 people who understand their dogs better. Anyone would be lucky to get a puppy from them or have their animal trained by them. I cant even express how highly I recommend this business. read more