Best Dog Trainers in California

Cora Williams runs Prestigious Pooch in Los Angeles with her husband, Sim. The site says they have a combined 30 years of experience and education, and our records list Cora's CPDT-KA and FDM credentials. Private sessions happen in your home, starting with an in home consult. Their board and train program runs at a facility in the Los Padres National Forest. Training is reward based. The site lists reactivity to people and dogs. Anxiety and aggression are on the list. You start with a phone consultation.

Elisha Stynchula's I Said Sit School for Dogs has served West Los Angeles since 2006. The site calls its training 100% reward based, with no prong or shock collars. Educational daycare trains your dog while you work, and the boarding school is a live in program. Private lessons happen at the school or at your home. Online lessons are offered too. Group classes cover puppies and adult manners. Reactive dogs and Canine Good Citizen prep have their own classes. Our records list Elisha's CPDT-KA and CNWI credentials.

Fun Paw Care is Russell Hartstein's Los Angeles training business, and our records list his CDBC and CPDT certifications. The main program is a one on one board and train, and the puppy boot camp runs on a five acre fenced ranch with positive reinforcement. The site also lists private training and puppy training. Phone or video consults are available too. Behavior topics include puppy biting and house training. Aggression and separation anxiety are covered too. Fun Paw Care also trains service and therapy dogs.

Arrow Custom Dog Training serves the Los Angeles area, and our records list Bradley Arrowood as an associate member of NADOI. Service dogs are a big part of the work. The site offers fully trained service dogs and programs to train your own dog, following IAADP standards. Pet owners can choose basic and advanced obedience or board and train. There is also a class for recently adopted dogs, plus group classes in CGC prep and AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy. Boarding is indoors with no outdoor kennels.

Finest City Dog Training works across San Diego County. Founder Jessica McCloskey has trained dogs professionally since 2007, according to the site. Private training comes as a single evaluation session or as programs of four to eight sessions, and the site lists group classes as well. The site describes a balanced approach that pairs positive reinforcement with leash and collar corrections. Puppies and older dogs are welcome. Listed problems include barking and separation anxiety. The site also lists aggression and potty training.

Absolute K9 is a family owned San Diego business that says it has trained dogs since 1994. It shares a site in Sorrento Valley with Snug Animal Hospital and calls its training vet supervised. Mike Stone and Toni Menard run it. Services include private training and board and train. The site also offers puppy training and boarding. The site lists aggression and reactivity. Clients come from towns including La Jolla and Chula Vista. You can ask for a free evaluation.

Instinct Dog Behavior and Training has a San Diego location in Hillcrest. Instinct runs locations in several states. Its site lists private coaching and a board and train paired with coaching. Puppy camp and group learning are listed too. There is also an online school. The site doesn't say which programs the San Diego location runs today, so ask on your first call. It describes a positive approach rooted in behavioral health. Puppies are welcome. You can book a free discovery call.

Nathalie Mosbach's South Bay Dog Training is listed under San Jose in our records, though the site gives a Campbell address. Our records list Nathalie's CPDT-KA. The site lists group classes and a reactive dog class. NoseWork and other enrichment classes are offered too. Private sessions and day school round out the list. Puppy options include PuppyGarten and puppy socials. There is also Puppy Day School, and puppy groups are split by size. The reactive class is for dogs that bark or lunge on leash.

Rebecca Goldstone runs Willow Glen Paws in San Jose and says she has helped people with their pets since 1997. Our records list her as a Certified Family Dog Mediator and Certified Canine Behavior Counselor. Her site lists behavior consultations and one on one training. Boarding and board and train are offered too. Training is positive reinforcement, using games and exercises to build focus and calm. The site speaks to new owners. It covers puppies and adolescent dogs. Our records add aggression and reactivity.

D For Dogz is a San Jose business led by KT, who has served the Bay Area since 2012. KT is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and lists Family Paws Parent Education training. Private training happens in your home. Small group classes meet around Silicon Valley and cover puppy socialization and manners. The classes also cover leash reactivity. Dogs can live with KT for board and train or join her day school. Online classes are self paced. The site lists fearful dogs and separation anxiety.

Karyn Ellis runs Moxie Mutts in San Francisco, which the site says has helped dogs and their owners since 2005. Training covers behavior modification and teaching alternate behaviors. Separation anxiety work is part of it too. The site describes force free, positive reinforcement methods and a LIMA approach, short for least intrusive, minimally aversive. Moxie Mutts also runs pack hikes and lists pet first aid. Our records list Karyn's CTBC and SAPT credentials. They show private and group training, and they add aggression and reactivity.

PrimePaw is a training center in the Mission District that uses positive reinforcement only and caps classes at six dogs. Group options include Puppy First Steps and Puppy Kindergarten. Level 1 Foundations is offered too, and the reactive dog class is called Barky, Pulley, Lungy. Private training comes as a three session package at your home or the center. The site says programs are taught by CPDT-KA certified trainers. Private training is listed on their site as $585 for three sessions.

Ohana K9 Academy runs an 8,000 square foot facility in Fresno with indoor and outdoor training areas. Our records list a NePoPo Gold Certified Trainer credential, and the site claims over 25 years of experience. Board and train runs four or six weeks. Day training runs four to eight weeks, with your dog home every night and owner lessons included. The academy also lists puppy training and a group class. Behavior modification for aggression and fear is offered too. It also helps multi dog homes.

Roben Kennedy offers private training and behavior support across the wider Central Valley, including Fresno and Clovis. Her site lists Certified Family Dog Mediator and Licensed Family Paws Parent Educator credentials. It also lists Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course. Training is reward based and science informed, and Roben teaches you to make good calls after lessons end. Topics include puppies and reactivity, along with fear and anxiety. Dogs and kids is another focus. Our records add separation anxiety and assistance animal training.

Canefida Canine is Heidi Hurdy's business in Roseville and Sacramento. The site says Heidi has more than 17 years of professional experience as a dog trainer and behavior consultant. Group classes meet at Pet Food Express stores in Roseville and Sacramento, with puppy classes for 10 to 16 weeks and adult classes from five months. Private sessions happen in your home or on Zoom from anywhere. Behavior consulting covers aggression and reactivity. It also covers fear and alone time problems.

JPK9 Academy is a family owned Elk Grove business led by Juan Portillo, with more than 15 years of experience. Private lessons happen at your home or wherever your dog struggles. Board and train runs three to five weeks at the Elk Grove facility, where weekly group classes also meet. The site lists leash pulling and dog reactivity. Aggression and bite history are listed too. Prices are listed on their site as starting at $1,300 for private lessons and $3,200 for board and train.

Lesley Podesta runs Peak Pup Dog Training in Oakland and the East Bay. She holds a Certificate in Training and Counseling from The Academy for Dog Trainers and is a Fear Free Certified Professional. She has raised puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind since 2014 and has led the Berkeley Puppy Raisers since 2019. The site lists puppy training and day training. Leash walking and reactivity help are covered as well, and everything uses positive reinforcement. Our records list private and group training.

Camille Koue runs Dog Behavioral Health and holds the CPDT-KA from the CCPDT. Her site describes a behavioral health model that looks at why a behavior happens and what your dog is saying. In person work covers Oakland and Piedmont. In Sacramento, she covers the Pocket and Greenhaven area, and sessions also run on Zoom. The site lists reactivity and recall. Fear and anxiety are listed too. It also covers senior dog care and plans for families with young children.

K9 Pawsitive Training works with dogs in Bakersfield and nearby. Every program starts with an evaluation of up to 90 minutes. Basic obedience is private only, for dogs three months and up. Advanced obedience and behavior modification come as private sessions or board and train. A Saturday morning group class has met at Riverwalk Park. Training covers crate training and house breaking. The site says an electronic collar is used for off leash control. Listed problems include fearfulness and aggression.

Brandi Wade runs PupHub Dog Training in Orange County. Our records list her in Anaheim with a CPDT-KA, though the site gives a Santa Ana address. The site says it uses only positive reinforcement and force free methods. Owner coaching sessions teach you directly, and in day training sessions trainers work your dog first and then coach you. Highly reactive dogs with a bite history can start with virtual sessions. Listed problems include aggression and anxiety when you leave. Leash pulling is listed too.

Better K9 Pet Resort is Audrey Selaya's training business and pet resort in Riverside, with boarding and daycare on site. The site calls Audrey a Certified Master Trainer and says training began in 2008. Options include in home lessons and board and train. Group classes and puppy training are offered too. Our records add canine sports. One story on the site is a shelter dog that finished a 21 day training stay. The service area includes Corona and Moreno Valley.

Manners for Mutts is an Irvine training business whose site cites more than 20 years of experience working with dog owners. The trainers are described as Certified Professional Dog Trainers who take continuing education each year. Training uses positive reinforcement, and the site calls its methods gentle and fun. You can choose private training or online training. The site also lists group classes for dogs and puppies. The trainers work with puppies and family dogs. Rowdy dogs that disrupt the house are welcome too.

Calmer Canines is run by Kate, a CPDT-KA since 2014 who has worked with reactive and fearful dogs since 2010. Kate is a Licensed Family Paws Parent Educator and a Certified Family Dog Mediator, and she helps families get ready for a new baby or toddler. She also covers manners and puppy setup. Her methods draw on BAT and other programs built for reactive dogs. In person training covers Santa Ana and Irvine. Zoom sessions reach anywhere in the contiguous United States.

Zoom Room Long Beach is an indoor dog training gym where you train alongside your dog. The site lists puppy training and obedience classes. Agility and tricks are offered too. Playgroups and gym time aim to build calm, confident dogs in a controlled setting. Training uses positive reinforcement only, and the orientation covers clicker basics. You can start with a free 30 minute orientation without your dog or a 30 minute evaluation with your dog. The location also serves Signal Hill and Seal Beach.

OC Canine Coaching is Bryndon Golya's behavior business in Costa Mesa, open since 2010. Bryndon holds the Certified Dog Behavior Consultant credential from the IAABC. Private coaching happens weekly at your home or another spot. With day training, Bryndon visits two to five times a week and trains your dog himself. Virtual coaching works anywhere in the United States. Training is reward based, and the site says it avoids shock and prong collars. The site lists anxiety and aggression. Reactivity and bite history cases are listed too.

Penny Locke runs All About Canines in Santa Rosa and has more than 20 years of experience, according to her site. She serves Sonoma County towns including Sebastopol and Petaluma. Training uses positive reinforcement, and each plan is built around your dog. Services are grouped by life stage, from puppy support to adolescent and adult dog training. She also offers day training and rescue dog support. A follow up program called Staying on Track is available too. Sessions run in person or virtually.

Pasadena Humane runs dog classes at its Behavior and Training Center in Pasadena. Puppy classes start at seven and a half weeks. Older dogs can take Basics 101 or Paws and Play Agility. Reactive dogs have Large Dog Reactive Rovers for dogs 30 pounds and up and Little Dogs with Big Feelings for smaller dogs. Private consults use LIFE methods without punishment or force. Basics 101 is listed on their site as $215 for five weeks, and a Zoom consult as $95.

Santa Barbara Humane teaches dog classes in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. Some classes run online. Training is reward based, and classes ban choke and prong collars. Group classes include Puppy Kindergarten for puppies 9 to 14 weeks and Basic Manners. Shy Dog Class and Reactive Rover are on the schedule too. Dogs that finish basics can move to rally at several levels or AKC Canine Good Citizen prep. Basic Manners is listed on their site as $125 for six weeks, and financial help may be available.

Ratna Anagol runs California Canine in Pacific Grove, serving the Monterey Bay area. Our records list her CPDT-KA, and the site says the business has operated for more than 15 years. Group classes start with puppies at nine weeks and run through manners and Canine Good Citizen. Therapy dog prep and agility classes are offered too. Private sessions cover obedience and specific problems. The site describes force free training and says the trainers don't use prong collars or choke chains. Listed problems include leash reactivity and separation anxiety.

Shannon Riley runs a force free training business in Ventura. Our records list her CPDT-KA and KPA CTP credentials. She is also a Fear Free Certified Professional. Private sessions run in person and online. The site also lists a board and train program. Group classes in Ventura include Positive Puppy Kindergarten and Good Manners. Agility and nose work are offered too. Online, Shannon runs a reactive dog program and a puppy kindergarten. The site lists reactive dogs and separation anxiety.