I found Gordon Webster through a post on Bark close to a month ago, and have done seven sessions with him. I can't recommend him highly enough.
My family adopted a rescue dog, about one year old, at the end of July. He's the third rescue we've had over the past twenty years; in that time I've worked with five or six trainers for various amounts of time.
Gordon distinguishes himself in a number of ways. He's knowledgeable; has worked with a large number and wide range of dogs; and has a family background in training & breeding dogs.
He won't just make your dog sit: Gordon will help you understand why your dog would +want+ to sit for you. He understands that canine psychology isn't the same as its owners, and while he clearly loves dogs, Gordon doesn't anthropomorphize. He is also clear that he's not really with you for an hour a week to train your dog. He's there to train +you+ how to best work with your dog to obtain the desired results.
On a practical level, Gordon's responsive, flexible, and generous with his time. He's encouraged me to text him questions in between our sessions, and has followed up with a detailed phone call rather than just a yes or no text. He's happy to tailor sessions to whatever it is I'm interested in working on.
There are lots of dog trainers advertising on the Westside of LA, many with little experience and dubious methods. Gordon's the real thing, and I feel lucky to have found him. read more