I felt very fortunate to have found Sammy one month after adopting my pup Rio from the county shelter (when he was just 11 weeks old). Thru her Puppy Start program, Sammy helped me regain a semblance of normalcy back in my life, all the while successfully managing various struggles associated with puppyhood. Sammy is very eloquent in her science based explanations for both canine behavior modification as well as nutritional science. Her balanced training methods were humane and extremely effective, one can clearly sense her passion and love for all dogs. The no-non sense approach resonated with those of my own personal upbringing. In addition, after Rio completed "board and train" with Sammy during the first 3 weeks of June, 2022, I have one of the healthiest (thanks to her recommendation and assistance switching over to raw feeding), as well as well behaved dogs amongst my family and circle of friends. Rio just turned 17 months old and to this day he gets complimented by strangers in public for being so well-behaved and trained. We could not have done this without Sammy's help. read more

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We reached out to Rockem because we were struggling with our one-year-old Belgian Sheepdog, Leia. A scary incident occurred during a walk when a man we didn't know approached, and Leia lunged for his throat. It was traumatizing, and we immediately realized we needed serious help. Chelsea walked us through our options, and we decided that a five-week board-and-train program, along with a diet change, was the best course of action. The transformation Leia underwent in those five weeks with Chelsea and Sammy is nothing short of incredible. The dog we brought home is now food-motivated, comfortable around people, and able to join us in public without the fear of another scary incident. I am deeply grateful to Chelsea and Sammy for their guidance and expertise. I've learned so much from them, and the quality of life we have today is something we once thought impossible with Leia. I'm so proud of her progress. We now enjoy hikes, camping trips, and even dinners out downtown -- all activities we never thought we'd be able to do together. read more

Hi Chelsea and Sammy, It's Jules! I'm the Lab/Belgian mix with all the sweet puppy energy, smarts, and the best side-eye expression you've ever seen. I just wanted to thank you and tell you how happy I am that you trained my new friends so well. It was highly frustrating for me to try to communicate my needs to them. We started out pretty poorly on the first day when I tried to let them know that I needed to go outside to relieve myself, and they just ignored my clear signal by sitting at the door to their backyard. I had to bark at them to pay attention, and they thought I was bossy. Thank goodness they seemed to get it after that first day on their own, but your intervention and training at Rockem' Board and Train boarding school made it possible for us to have a much more amicable relationship. Besides the cool British dialect I picked up at boarding school, you helped them figure out how I can go for walks with them "in sync" instead of having to guess whether we should be running, trotting, walking, peeing, pooping, or hangin' out. I get fed more often and with better food than the crud they were feeding me in the first weeks. Jeesh! Where does that processed dog food come from, and how do people think that it's in any way healthy? My skin and fur look so healthy and shiny now. Also, you taught them to ride a bike with me so I don't get run over or bump into them. I can interact with other dogs in a way that doesn't make me so anxious anymore because I know they will keep me safe from danger. I appreciate you teaching them how to let me know where and when they want me to sit or lie down while we are together and when we are taking our own space. But the best thing you taught them is understanding when I need to take time alone. They were running me ragged, and without a break, I was constantly trying to figure out when they might need me to do something! This made me anxious and then really tired. Now I get much more rest during the day because we have a schedule. Anyway, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm grateful because I had a great time with you too. Now I get to hang out with these folks that found me by the side of the road. They are great pals, and now that you taught them how to hang out with me, we're all delighted. Love, Jules read more

Rockem Dog Training - Jules and her side-eye! - Pet Training Near Me

I've been training with Chelsea since Jan 2022, and I wish I had found her years ago for my 5 year old Aussie is a nervous pup who is dog and stranger reactive. Before we started training with Rockem, we followed a strict, structured routine i.e. only structured walks where she is expected to heel next to me at all times minus bathroom breaks, no treats/food as rewards, and regular place time. Chelsea provided a fresh perspective that I very much needed at this point in our training journey. She helped guide me on how to strengthen my bond with my dog and taught me how to read her body language in order to reward or correct at appropriate times. We completed our private sessions back in February but I will continue to attend all the group classes/events that Chelsea hosts because she provides a safe and fun environment for owners to train together. I cannot recommend her highly enough! Not only is she knowledgeable, but she also is the first trainer I've met who listens to you and sets realistic expectations without any judgement. Come join the Rockem fam! read more

I used Sammy after a recommendation from a couple friends. We saw her for our puppy lessons and did a board and train. The training our pup received was great! She got her basic training and we have been able to use her training in our every day life which has been very helpful with a toddler in the house. Thanks for your help. read more

We are so thrilled with the huge progress our pup Loki has made, and only wish we had done this program sooner! 4 weeks feels like a long time but Chelsea kept us informed and answered our many questions both before and during the program. This program is different than others I researched, in that the Rock 'Em team really gets to know your pup for the first week and there is a very thorough analysis of your dog's behavior, issues and triggers. The program is tailored to your dog, and not a "one size fits all". Walking our pup is now a joyful experience! Thank you Chelsea! read more

If you're looking for a dog trainer with a wealth of experience and knowledge, Chelsea is your gal! She's been working with dogs for years and it shows. We recently began bringing our dog to structured day care with her once a week and are so happy with the results! He doesn't have to be in his crate all day while we are at work and instead gets complete supervision along with training, walks, play time and chill time. He absolutely loves going and I feel confident that he is getting the best care. She's taught us quite a few things to keep working on at home with him and it has been so helpful. Reach out to Chelsea If you're in the market for an awesome trainer! read more

Rockem Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me

Chelsea and Sammie are exceptional behaviorists and trainers. They help owners get inside the minds of their dogs and adapt their interaction accordingly. I have an 18 month old golden retriever (it's our 7th golden) but he was exhibiting odd behavior that we hadn't encountered before. Our vet said he was physically sound and referred us to Rockem to address his behavior issues. He's like a whole new focused and well trained dog. They've helped me know what to do to maintain his new, better self. If anyone wonders, it was well worth the investment. Thanks to both of them for their excellent program. read more

As first-time dog owners we were hoping to do things right by our new puppy. I came across recommendations for Sammy on a local Facebook group and boy am I glad I did. Immediately Sammy helped us feel confident, listened to what we wanted out of our sessions, and was so patient with us fumbling through commands and leash handling. She amazed me at her knowledge and ability to read Harper and her personality. We had a few sessions which helped us a lot but then she offered to Board & Train her and we opted for that. Harper spent two weeks with Sammy (November 2021) and she came back to us with solid understanding of her markers and commands and this made it so much easier for us then to learn them better. She's sweeter than ever, we enjoy our walks so much more and she's got structure now that makes us all happier. I can't wait for the follow up lessons to help us keep improving and adding to our skills! December 2022 update: Harper is still doing great and as long as we keep up the skills we learned she does too. We had a great summer going off leash at the beach! I still rave about the Board & Train we did and Sammy's willingness to help us since then. She's always available for guidance. We boarded Harper for 5 days as well which made us feel at ease leaving her in good hands. read more

Rockem Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me

Our pup did a board and train with Chelsea and we were very happy with the results. Chelsea is knowledgeable, professional, and a great resource. Our pup went to her to work on walking properly, appropriate reactions to other dogs on leash, and general manners around the house. We were very satisfied with the results and with Chelsea's continue help as we implement her training and continue them at home. read more

Rockem Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me

We cannot say enough good things about Chelsea Calabria with Rockem Dog Training. Murphy is 5 years old and is a very, very special boy. He bonds strongly with his people but "his people" are few and far between. He's a good boy most of the time but, just like any other dog, has his quirks. Chelsea, very quickly, became one of Murphy's "people". Chelsea taught us how to embrace Murphy for exactly who he is, how to strengthen our relationship through engagement, and how to advocate for Murphy in order to set him up for success in a variety of different environments. Her balanced training methods provided us with all the necessary tools in order to become successful dog handlers for Murphy. Murphy LOVES Chelsea. Her patience, gentleness, and understanding of dog behavior and training is apparent from the moment you start working with her. Any dog, any owner, anyone would be lucky to have the opportunity to work with Chelsea Calabria! read more

Chelsea is AMAZING! She has so much knowledge about dogs and how to train them individually... based on their needs and their persons needs. She is NOT going to give you the same as every other trainer. She is excellent at fine tuning based on each individual case. I had worked with Chelsea when I had a very easy to train puppy and she showed me so many fun tools to use. Then I rescued an older dog that had no drive to train. Chelsea has given me the tools to understand the new family member and how to work with her. I can't say enough wonderful things about Chelsea. I recommend her as a trainer to ALL of my dog loving friends. read more

I'm so glad I heard about Chelsea and this board and train program. My mini Aussie puppy was pulling on her leash, struggled with learning commands, manners, needed a solid daily routine to follow, and was whining a lot to get her way. I needed help, felt overwhelmed and someone to set a foundation. My girl Gizmo is now at home and excelling at keeping with her training. No more of her choking herself on her leash. Gizmo has an amazing understanding now of what I'm asking of her and her happiness in her routine makes my heart full and eager to keep it up. Chelsea goes above and beyond for her clients and their doggos. She personalizes the training, is a great communicator, and her love for dogs shows in the actions she takes. This is the best Christmas gift and lifelong gift that keeps giving, getting my dog back and seeing the amazing improvements made in just two weeks! read more

Rockem Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me

We were ripped off by the trainer, Chelsea. Be careful. She used to operate in San Diego county but moved to Norcal. You have to pre-pay for the number of sessions upfront. Paid over 600 dollars for 4 of 6 lessons and she moved without reaching out to us! She also recommended we buy a shock collar in the first lesson, then changed her mind and said the dog would be too traumatized by it. more wasted money. My dog is a high energy rescue from Mexico. Lessons were making a small impact and we were seeing some changes in the dog but you could tell Chelsea was a bit frustrated in training her. It wasn't progressing as much as expected, so we decided to take a couple months break to work on training before having another session. Well, in that time, she never reached out to us to check on progress and then moved. we are very disappointed and did not feel like Chelsea cared much about her customers.. in the last lesson we did with her, she tried to push an expensive board and train program on us because she wasnt seeing enough progress...never heard from her again after we said no. gave her 2 stars because she has some good training ideas. I'd recommend someone with more experience who will honor their commitment. read more

Chelsea is such an excellent dog trainer! I have always been impressed with her classes for puppy raisers of future service dogs. She offers clear explanations, demonstrations, and meaningful focused practice. Her professionalism and friendly personality make for a very supportive environment! Recently, I scheduled a private session with Chelsea to address my pet dog's behaviors that I have been "managing" by following advice from other trainers. Chelsea goes beyond simply managing a behavior. She strives to reduce the level of management required, keeping both the dog and owner's needs and happiness a priority. She introduced activities that allow my dog to express his natural dog behaviors during appropriate times, suggested changing his equipment, and taught me new ways to work with him. I have already noticed a significant improvement after just a couple of weeks! Chelsea is extremely knowledgeable in a variety of training philosophies, so she has additional options when you think you've already tried everything! I highly recommend Rockem Dog Training! read more

Chelsea is an incredible dog trainer! Her board & train program is worth every penny!!! My very excitable 2 year old golden retriever just finished a 3 week board & train and I am over the moon thrilled with the results. He used to forge ahead on leash and jump on people to greet them. He now walks beautifully by my side even in a super distracting environment like Fashion Island. Additionally, Chelsea is helping me train my dog as a service dog to help me with my neurological condition. He advanced his commands significantly during his stay with Chelsea. If you're looking for a phenomenal dog trainer, look no further, Chelsea is amazing!!! read more

I have worked with a handful of trainers over the years but Chelsea of Rockem Dog Training is the best! She didn't just give me the basic commands to work on at home, but rather she tailored both the training and the equipment to each of my dogs' specific physical needs, breeds, and personalities. She was much more perceptive about what was going on with one of my dogs than other trainers with many more years of experience. Chelsea made time for all of my concerns and questions and she provides a judgment-free space for owners. Honestly, her understanding, patience, and flexibility with both dogs and owners has been unmatched. I highly recommend Chelsea/Rockem Dog Training to any dog owner and I look forward to the opportunity to work with her again! read more

Books, articles and podcasts are good, but honestly there is no match for the in-person skill and knowledge that comes with the vast experience Chelsea brings to the table. She has an amazing amount of know-how and since she has been in the business for years, she has seen it all. My pup has behavior issues that she has been able to identify and break down. She doesn't just train the dog, she trains the handler and I am the one who needs most of the work. She's pleasant, funny and humble -- a rare combination for someone with so much talent. My dog and I are so lucky to have found her. read more

I have always had wonderful experiences with Chelsea and my 2 dogs. This is a trainer who truly loves dogs, sees wonderful things in each one and wants what is best for them, and is honest about their capabilities. She is incredibly patient with my dogs (and me!) and I have always appreciated her honesty and tact in discussing my dog's behavior. Whenever she watched my golden retriever, Cedric, I knew he was in the best hands and she cared for him like he was her own. I know he was given 100% of the training and attention while he was in her care. Trusting someone else with your furry family members can be extremely nerve wracking, so I am glad to have found someone I can rely on for care and behavioral guidance. read more

Chelsea is a great dog trainer. She is professional, knowledgeable, calm and consistent. Not only does she work wonders with the dogs, but also with the pet parents and retains a sense of humor. She has helped me numerous times with puppies that need a bit of extra guidance. Would highly recommend Rockem Dog Training. read more