Private  Training

In-Person

Why Private

In-Person Training

In-person private training allows us to closely assess your dog’s behavior in their everyday environment to craft their unique program. Through this hands-on approach, we identify your dog’s natural talents to enhance their stage of learning, and uncover the underlying root of their challenges to determine their individual learning style, and solutions. The end result is training tailored to your dog’s needs to achieve their full potential, and overcome their difficulties.

Free Virtual Meet-And-Greet

Finding the right fit is paramount to the success of achieving your goals!

We offer a free no-obligation 15 virtual meet-and-greet to explore our program, meet your dog behaviorist and trainer, and get answers to questions about our our approach.

The Curriculum

  • Puppy training can start at 8 weeks of age.

    It teaches practical and social skills vital for puppies to grow into balanced adults, helping them reach their potential, and live happy, active lives.

    Our robust puppy training curriculum includes among others:

    • Socialization with exposure training

    • Obedience Cues (release, watch, sit, stay, wait, down, off, drop it, leave-it, come, touch, place, settle, and more.)

    • Loose leash and heel walking

    • Home, greeting, and travel manners

    • Cooperative Care

    • Enrichment & Elective Activities

    • Resolves common behaviors (puppy nipping, biting, chewing, barking, jumping, separation tolerance, lack of impulse control, fear, anxiety, and aggression disorders)

    • And much more!

  • Basic obedience helps dogs to listen to cues or gestures to do actions, and walk nicely on a loose lead.

    Basic manners teaches dogs to apply their obedience to polite in everyday situations, in and outside the home.

    Basic Obedience and manners training include among others:

    • Obedience Cues (release, watch, sit, stay, wait, down, off, drop-it, leave-it, come, touch, place, settle, and more.)

    • Loose Leash Walking

    • Heal Walking

    • Home, Greeting, and Travel Manner

  • Behavior modification is a systematic process to help dogs change how they think, feel, and behave towards stimuli that cause them difficulties.

    Common behaviors addressed include fear, anxiety, and aggression based disorders, among others:

    • Intolerance to People and Animals

    • Leash Reactivity

    • Separation Intolerance

    • Resource Guarding

    • Destructive Home Behaviors (Chewing, Digging, Barking)

    • Noise Phobias

    • Physical Handling Intolerance

  • Socialization combines with other training programs.

    Socialization helps dogs learn how to behave properly with people and other animals. It builds healthy relationships and prevents and can modify behavioral difficulties.

    Exposure training is a positive and deliberate gradual training process that helps dogs learn to handle to different sights, sounds, smells, touches, people, and other animals they will encounter in life.

  • Cooperative care combines with other training programs.

    It uses positive reinforcement and voluntary techniques to teach dogs to accept and participate in being physically handled.

    These voluntary and accepting behaviors include among others:

    • Medication Administration (oral, eye and ear drops, injects, thermometer)

    • Veterinary Care

    • Wearing body equipment (collars, harnesses, head halters, boots, coats, muzzles)

    • Grooming (teeth cleaning, nail trimming, hair cut, brushing, blow and towel drying)

    • Being handling in social encounters

  • Transition support facilitates a healthy adjustment for newly adopted dogs into their new home while addressing any preexisting behavior challenges.

    This training may include a wide variety of curriculum.

Rates

Initial Consultation

In-Person

90 minutes

Starting at $225

+ $60 Each additional dog

Our comprehensive one-on-one 90-minute initial consultation takes place conveniently in your own home! It includes an in-depth assessment of what your dog training program would entail so that you have a clear path forward in meeting your goals. This consultation is thoughtfully designed to provide you with initial guidance, complete with actionable steps through a personalized starter training plan, enabling you to kickstart effective training right away.

Individual Sessions

Available for purchase after initial consultation.

In-Person

1 hour

Starting at $165

+ $60 Each additional dog

Our one-on-one, 60-minute individual sessions are conducted in-person, either at your home or a designated location. During these sessions, we systematically implement your dog's personalized program in a practical manner while addressing real-world scenarios. The primary objective of these sessions is to enhance your dog's development and skills, addressing any challenges to achieve their training milestones.

Meet your Behaviorist & Trainer

Meet Carmen

Founder and Certified Dog Behaviorist & Trainer

Private Sessions & Group Dog Training Classes Instructor, AKC Family Dog Program Evaluator, Judge, and Instructor

  • Bachelor of Arts (with double majors)

    University of California, Berkeley

    Certified Dog Trainer, ABCDT

    Animal Behavior College, Honors Distinction

    Certified Animal Trainer, FFCP

    Fear Free®

    Certified Service Dog Trainer, ABCSDT

    Animal Behavior College, (In Progress)

    Approved Evaluator

    American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen®

    Approved Evaluator

    American Kennel Club Temperament Test

    Approved Judge

    American Kennel Club Fetch

    Approved Instructor

    American Kennel Club FIT DOG

    Graduate, Fear Free Shelters™

    Fear Free®

    Certificate, Aggression in Dogs

    Master Course, Michael Shikashio CDBC

    Authorized Mentor Trainer

    Animal Behavior College

    Certified Pet CPR & First Aid

    American Red Cross

  • Pet Expert News Guest

    KCRW Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Santa Monica Mirror

    YO! Venice

    Brentwood News

    Century City/Westwood News

    Westside Today

    Palisades News

    Watch, Read, Listen: Interviews

    News Features

    Spectrum News 1 Socal Everyday Heroes,

    The Argonaut

    Pet Sitter’s World

    Watch, Read: Features

    Guest Columnist

    Pet of the Week, Column, Santa Monica Daily Press

    Read: Pet of the Week

  • American Kennel Club®

    Association of Professional Dog Trainers

    International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

    Pet Sitters Associates, LLC

    Professional United Pet Sitters, LLC

    Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce

    Buy Local Santa Monica

  • Winner: City of Santa Monica Most Loved Pet Services 20021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and Independent Business 2024,

    Finalist: Los Angeles Times Best of the Southland’s Westside, Downtown, and East LA Dog Trainer 2023

    Runner-up: Santa Monica Mirror Group’s Best of Pet Services Santa Monica 2021

  • CAMP (Community Animal Medicine Project)

    501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

    Canine Companions

    501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

    Beagle Freedom Project

    501(c)(3) Nonprofit Animal Rescue Organization

    The People Concern

    501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

    Meals On Wheels West

    501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

  • Santa Monica Animal Shelter (5,000+ Volunteer Hours)

    EZ Heart & Soul Rescue & Sanctuary

    Santa Monica Animal Shelter Foundation, Chairman of the Board, 2020-2021