We started working with Brian last year after a really scary situation--our dog bit our 12 month…read moreold daughter, and we were honestly desperate for help. Like any parent and dog owner, we were heartbroken and overwhelmed, not knowing how to move forward safely. After reading so many incredible reviews about Brian across different forums, we decided to reach out--and I'm so grateful we did. Brian helped us understand Hudson (our dog) on a completely different level. He took the time to explain the fears and anxiety driving Hudson's behavior and gave us practical tools to help him feel more secure and confident. Instead of just addressing the behavior itself, Brian helped us see what Hudson was experiencing and how to support him in a way that actually works. Over time, we've seen such meaningful progress. Most importantly, I now feel so much more comfortable and confident with my daughter interacting with Hudson. That peace of mind is something I truly can't put into words. If you're dealing with a challenging or scary situation with your dog, I can't recommend Brian highly enough. His knowledge, patience, and ability to help both dogs and owners understand each other is truly remarkable. We're incredibly grateful we found him.

We are so incredibly grateful for Brian and Way of the Dog. No other trainer even comes close to…read moreBrian based on my 4 years of dog ownership. He is deeply knowledgeable, his approach is thoughtful, and he truly speaks dog. Brian has worked with an incredible range of dogs and behavior challenges, and it shows. No matter the question or concern, he always had clear, grounded guidance that made sense and actually helped. Brian came highly recommended by our trusted vet, and finding him changed everything for our family. When our Miko turned 8 months old last summer, she suddenly began attacking her brother Rufus with no provocation (no food, toys, or attention) and developed territorial behaviors at home. Up until that point, they were best friends, with Rufus patiently playing with her and teaching her dog manners. It was terrifying and heartbreaking, and at our lowest point, we even had to confront the possibility of re-homing Miko after losing our other dog, Luna, suddenly during her spay surgery last year. Since then, my husband and I have been training and exercising them religiously, spending 3-5 hours a day between the two of us, and Brian was there every step of the way. He was endlessly encouraging and validating, especially on the hard days, helping us stay grounded and hopeful when things felt overwhelming. What truly sets Brian apart is how much he genuinely cares and his extensive experience with dog training. He has always been incredibly generous with his time, offering phone consultations during training and even long after sessions ended. You never feel rushed, judged, or dismissed, just fully supported. We're beyond grateful to say that Miko has now reached 6 months with zero aggression, and the two of my dogs play together again both inside and outside of our home. If you're struggling, losing hope, or just want someone who truly understands dogs in your corner, Brian is the real deal.

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.

The Puppy Academy in Hermosa Beach has been crucial in my family's journey in raising a puppy. We…read morehave a Doberman Pinscher puppy who started at the Puppy Academy around almost 3 months old. They built a structured routine for our puppy which set the perfect foundation for good habits and positive behavior. Our puppy learned many things from commands such as sit, stay, proper walking, come here, lay down, place, house. I think the most important thing built though was the potty training and the socialization provided. Puppies NEED early socialization to develop into confident and friendly dogs. We have happy to see our puppy grow (and still growing) into a friendly, brave "teenager" puppy. Friendly play style! A Doberman is a high energy and demanding dog breed. Normally I would train our puppy fully on my own as I did with prior Dobermans I had in the past, but due to demanding work hours and obligations, I am so grateful for the opportunity The Puppy Academy provided during these critical socialization and learning periods. They train and interact with the puppy all day until I pick him up after work. Then I can continue with following their training methods throughout our time at home and on the weekends. It made it so easy! I wish I had the Puppy Academy all along for my prior dogs too. I'm impressed with the friendly staff and how well they did with our puppy! Even though our puppy has completed the program and graduated, we have still seen ease with the teenager/adolescent phase and training on our own again because of all the Puppy Academy set up for us. Thank you!!

Could not ask for a better experience for my little guy . Everything about this was great- all the…read morestaff made me feel welcomed and comfortable. More importantly, they took such great care of my little Mochi. As a first time puppy mom, it was intimidating but Puppy Academy was the safety net I needed. I get compliments on Mochi's calm and sweet behavior all the time. From his dog walker to the groomer, they all love how well-behaved he is and it's all thanks to the trainers who put in the work. It speaks to the fact that the trainers took the time to get to know my puppy and really understand what his learning experience would require. Definitely recommend taking the homework seriously, the time you invest is absolutely key to your puppy's success!

We worked with Tim to help with our dog, Rocko, and it was truly life changing for our family…read more We have a young toddler, and Rocko was resource guarding me, which was causing aggression toward her. It was scary and stressful. Tim helped us realize that training is not just about the dog. It is about teaching the owners how to create healthy boundaries, provide structure, and respond appropriately to each situation. That perspective alone made a huge difference. Since implementing what Tim taught us, Rocko is calmer, more respectful of boundaries, and much better around our toddler. We now feel far more confident and comfortable with the two of them being around each other. Tim did not just help train our dog. He helped us become better and more confident dog parents. We are incredibly grateful and highly recommend him to anyone dealing with behavioral issues or wanting a healthier relationship with their dog.

Tim is an exceptional dog trainer and an absolute natural with animals! He genuinely 'gets' dogs…read more Bean had trouble with leash-pulling and at times, large dog/squirrel reactivity. It was also difficult for us to get his attention with commands during walks initially. From the very first session, it was clear how patient, intuitive, and skilled Tim is. My dog Bean is 6 years old, and Tim showed us that age is absolutely not a barrier. Just as importantly, Tim taught me how to be a better handler. He broke everything down in a way that was easy to understand, empowering, and encouraging, and gave me real, practical tools to help Bean become a better listener and walker. With continued exposure, Bean has made tremendous progress, far beyond what I expected at this stage, and it's all thanks to Tim's guidance and expertise. Tim's calm energy, deep understanding of dog behavior, and genuine love for animals make him truly stand out. Bean is happier, more confident, and better behaved, and I feel so much more confident as a dog owner. Thank you Tim!!

Highly recommend Zoom Room Torrance for training your puppy/dog! We've been taking classes there…read moresince Nov 2025, when our pup, Astro, turned 4mo. Astro (as well as my husband and I) have enjoyed and benefitted from all the classes we've taken (Puppy Training, Puppy Agility, Obedience). The training content and methods are logical and effective (especially if you put in extra time outside of the classes). One of the most beneficial aspects is taking the class with other dogs, people, and distractions nearby. The staff is incredibly kind and knowledgable. We also love the flexibility of booking classes around our busy schedule.

We just had our first puppy preschool today for our 3-month old, it was a bit overwhelming for our…read morepuppy but we can't wait to take him back again. The facility was specifically treated for under vaccinated puppies for these classes Saturday and Sunday mornings. Limited number of puppies to make sure there is social distancing during learning time and spacious room filled with wide range of surfaces for puppies to experience. Multiple experienced coaches are on hand during the unleashed time to avoid potential issues. We have also heard good things about agility training for older dogs. Generally, we have had good experiences so far and highly recommend the programs.

We've had a fantastic experience working with Justine from Bark Busters m. She works with both our…read morepuppy and our 4-year-old dog together while still paying close attention to their individual needs and personalities. Her calm, knowledgeable approach makes the training easy to understand and practical to apply in our daily routine. We've already seen great progress with both dogs, and Justine does a great job explaining the "why" behind the training so we can stay consistent between sessions. She's reliable, encouraging, and clearly cares about helping both the dogs and their owners succeed. I highly recommend Justine and the Bark Busters program to anyone looking for thoughtful, effective in-home training.

Justine from Bark Busters came to my home for an initial lesson, and I paid $300. My dog Happy is a…read more4-year-old Maltipoo and a small dog. During that visit, Justine explained the Gold Lifetime program ($1,895) and said she would come to my home about every 2-3 weeks for continued training. Based on that explanation, I decided to purchase the program. However, the first session under the program lasted only about 30 minutes. When I asked about the next visit, Justine said future sessions would be done through FaceTime instead of in-home training. During the initial lesson, I clearly explained that Happy does not pull on the leash. Despite this, Justine brought a metal collar designed to prevent pulling and tried to put it on Happy, which was confusing and disappointing. I also explained that because Happy is a small dog, I wanted to learn proper heel training so he could walk safely beside me. Instead, Justine said it was fine for him to walk behind me. I do not feel this is safe for a small dog, as he could easily pick something up from the ground or encounter larger dogs from behind. As a result, I paid $1,895 but received only one 30-minute in-person session. My request for a partial refund or reassignment to another trainer was denied. I am sharing this experience so that other customers can fully understand the training approach and contract terms before committing. Clarification: The three-hour visit mentioned by the trainer, Justine, refers to the separate $300 initial lesson, which I paid for in advance and which actually lasted about 2.5 hours. The first session under the $1,895 Gold Lifetime program lasted about 30 minutes. Update: The owner responded claiming I "refused to book lessons." Attached are text screenshots proving the opposite. When I requested in-person visits every 2 weeks, the trainer replied: "I don't work that way" and offered only FaceTime instead. I did not refuse -- the trainer refused to provide the service I paid for.

Such a quick and thorough explanation. Very helpful and informative. My sister had a great…read moreexperience with this organization and her young golden doodle. I just got a new bernedoodle rescue and would like this service.

Karen is such a skilled, professional dog trainer. I highly recommend using this training academy!…read more I could see the love and caring of training my crazy schnauzer. It is a great start in getting him to be less reactive. Now the hard part in the follow through of us continuing in the foundation that was made! Thank you!

Our 2 pups loved Courtney from Superstar Pet Sitting. She stayed at our home for 2 nights and 3…read moredays. She was very affectionate with them both and allowed them to sleep with her as we do! Thank you - We will use you again.

They are very professional and attentive! We use their services weekly and it has taken so much…read morestress off of our plate. Caden is fantastic and very patient with our anxious dog. Really appreciate that we have a back up walker and they are able to honor last minute requests! Thank you for everything!

They have a new groomer here! I love that I can leave my dog here for the day and that she is well…read morecared for. In addition to that, they have a new groomer, Erick, that has bathed her a couple times and also does fur cuts. We have been having issues with burrs in our backyard getting stuck in her curly fur (she is a goldendoodle) and he took care of that for me. Now we are set for the summer, and I don't have to worry about digging out burrs on a daily basis. This service makes it so convenient for our family. Plus: Convenient, knows what he is doing, reasonable cost Cons: can't think of any.

The facility itself is beautiful, clean, and clearly well maintained. However, the pricing…read morestructure is extremely high and continues to increase. Boarding is now (February 2026) close to $100 per night for a small/medium dog, which already places it on the higher end compared to other facilities. In addition to that, there is a flat $35 late checkout fee and a $25 same-day reservation fee! The added charges feel excessive, especially when availability could simply be declined if they are fully booked for boarding that day. (Like other facilities) Pickup and drop-off window times are very limited, particularly on weekends with verrry little flexibility. Communication can also be frustrating, as phone calls often go unanswered, and reminders about pickup times can feel overly aggressive. While the facility is aesthetically impressive, the overall cost and rigid policies, staff may not justify the value for many pet owners.

Perhaps this agency has all the customers they need. However failing to return an email from a…read morepotential customer is just poor business practice. Makes me wonder . . . . Update: This trainer has contacted me to apologize for the oversight - and states she never got my initial email. I sent the email through her web page - so apparently there is some sort of connection issue. That however does not change my initial review as I attempted to reach this business using the businesses own mechanism for communication and got no response. . It was a nice gesture to apologize and I do appreciate that.

I've known Betsy for several years. I have had the privilege to work with her on several cases over…read morethe years. I also have been with Betsy in our local trainers study groups. Not only is Betsy a skilled and knowledgeable trainer, she isn't one who settles for good enough. She will train you and your dog together as a team. She is also always trying to improve and better the profession. Working with Betsy will give you all you need to learn how to handle your dog's training and behavior issues. What's more Betsy promotes training based on cruelty free methods based on how dogs really learn and not force and correction type training that I could never recommend. As a trainer myself, I highly recommend Betsy and have every confidence in her.