Our Testimonials
On this page, you will find dog training reviews from our many wonderful clients. All client reviews are from real people we worked with. Many will gladly provide references when asked. These client testimonials are a testament to the work and effort we put into helping every dog develop its full potential. We recently also started collecting dog training reviews on Google. You can find them on our Google My Business Profile.
From 2012-2017, we also connected with clients through Thumbtack. You can read 46 more reviews on Thumbtack. Some were cross-posted on our website.
Our Dog Training Reviews Cover Many Areas
My clients have written me many five-star reviews over the years. I think the breadth of these speaks for itself. These testimonials cover a broad range of dog training areas. They include basic and advanced obedience training, helping fearful dogs gain more confidence, getting aggressive behaviors under control, training for GRC Dog Sports, shadow programs, and many other behavioral areas.
Does a dog training review with any particular client dog resonate with you? Does a case sound similar to what is going on with your dog? I love helping people whenever possible and often can make progress where others fail. I have and continue to spend a significant amount of time and money every year to further my canine knowledge. My clients benefit.
If you are ready to get help with your own dog(s), please use our dog training contact form to schedule a free phone consultation.
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Ralf’s methodology was exactly what our Malinois, Leo, needed. The foundation of his training is building a strong relationship with the dog and using intrinsic motivation for positive reinforcement of good behaviors. For Leo, that was the ball and it was enlightening how strategic use of the ball could help him learn so quickly (and while having fun).
My husband and I loved receiving weekly videos of Leo’s progress and they were also very helpful for learning Ralf’s techniques to use at home. When Leo needed correction, it was never excessive and always constructive towards mitigating undesirable behaviors. Ralf is incredibly knowledgeable and methodical in his work but he does it with heart; that made all of the difference for us. After Ralf’s board and train, Leo emerged a happier, calmer dog and we were better equipped to direct his high-strung nature in healthier ways. Thank you, Ralf!
— Katie O.
I cannot recommend Ralf enough! We needed to correct some behaviors in our Shiba Inu and had tried other trainers with few results. Unfortunately, it’s really hard to find good dog trainers and we found a lot of the training methods in use by other trainers to be ineffective and even silly in retrospect. Fortunately, we really lucked out by doing our research and ultimately finding Ralf. Ralf is an extremely experienced trainer with many years of experience with all types of dogs. Ralf worked with our dog through his board and train program and he came back completely changed! As soon as he got home, our dog listened to us so much better and we are now able to enjoy taking him out without worries about unwanted behaviors. Ralf sets reasonable expectations up front and we found that these were achieved. Day to day life is now much more enjoyable and everyone is a lot happier.
Ralf does an excellent job explaining his process for training and answering any and all questions about dogs. He always addresses questions in a friendly manner and he is super responsive and supportive even after taking your dog home. Training with Ralf was an excellent investment for our dog, and my only regret is not finding Ralf sooner. Ralf also has a podcast that provides great information about dogs and might give you more insight if you’re considering training with him. I really cannot thank Ralf enough for all the work he put in for us and the impact he’s had for our family.
— Milton M.
Ralf is a very great and well knowledgeable trainer! He does a very great job in explaining the dogs mind and way of thinking after carefully analyzing them during training. Every question gets answered in a very well explained way. He is very thorough during the training session and gives great tools and instructions for your own personal downtime/training with your dog after the session.
It didn’t take many sessions for my dog to get acclimated with him and go to him for comfort if she was feeling stressed during the session. He was also very funny at times which relieved any stress that I was giving off that affected my dog. The walks he took my dog on were very efficient with training her to be able to be around other people without her continuing to be filled with fear during the sessions. He showed me immediately how to handle and respond to her in order to stop her nervous behavior of barking and growling.
One of the really important aspects that he taught was how to instill playtime into training my dog at home which worked wonders. Hands down I would recommend him to anyone who needs to find a great trainer for your dog. He is well informed, efficient and very professional at his craft. This is more than just training with him it’s a great investment for the future of your dog! I give him five stars all day long! Very highly recommended! 🙂
— Heather F.
Ralf is a fabulous trainer. We sent our German Shepherd puppy, Zeus, to him when Zeus was about four months old. He worked with Zeus and spent the time that our dog needed. I really liked his combination of play reward, positive reinforcement and only when needed a bit of the negative reinforcement. He spent several session with my son teaching him how to continue to train Zeus. The results were great. It did take time, as he told us it would, for Zeus to settle into his new routine at home (after all he is a dog and you can’t tell him, “continue to do what he said….”). We did have to learn the new vocabulary and commands and continue to use them daily.
Right now, Zeus, at 8 months old and 85 pounds is calmly sitting on the floor, relaxed, and staring at me. He is still learning to “leave it” with the cat but she is starting to be able to walk around on the ground when he is in the same room without him trying to chase or lunge at her. This was a big deal for me to have him well trained enough with commands that I could train him not to chase the cat and our other small dog. Overall, I would highly recommend Ralf and his Happy Dog Training program. Zeus it truly a happy dog!!
— Leanne D.
Services and Area
We are located in Southern California and train dogs nationwide. Happy Dog Training currently offers local dog training services in the following counties. Riverside County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County. In addition, we offer our board-and-train program nationwide and all virtual training services worldwide.
Do you want your new puppy trained right from the start? Are you looking for help for your fearful dog? Do you need to resolve a severe aggression problem? You came to the right place! We are experienced, professional dog trainers. Ralf has trained over 1500 dogs in over 18 years, and Sarah has trained over 1200 dogs in over 11 years. Consequently, we can help you with any dog training goal.
What We Offer
For many of our clients, we train their dogs from puppyhood, getting them off to a great start. However, we also have extensive experience training rescue dogs from all imaginable backgrounds and circumstances. Our Board-and-Train program is our most popular.
We can help you, regardless of your dog's challenges or training goals. Being a professional dog trainer means having experience, knowledge, and skill. Further, we developed a highly effective training program to specifically help fearful dogs gain more confidence and become the best possible version of themselves. Building Confidence is our second most popular training program.
Last but not least, we are experts in dealing with all types of aggression in dogs and are often the trainers of last resort after many other programs have failed. Most of our aggressive dog clients previously spent significant money on half-baked solutions without much improvement. This is different from us. We will give you an honest assessment of what goals are realistic for your dog. We will tell you what can be resolved reliably and what likely needs to be managed before we start.
Our flagship product is our board and train program. But our virtual dog training and coaching services have become quite popular over the last couple of years. Our setup enables us to deliver online dog training services from our indoor and outdoor training areas. This allows us to help clients worldwide.
Other Resources
Also, check out our Free Dog Training tips on Separation Anxiety in Dogs, Potty Training aka Housebreaking, and Leash Handling for expert solutions to common challenges.
Additional Services: Presentations and Q&As on Dogs | Professional Service Dog Training
Contact Us and Start Training
Finally, once you're ready to move forward, please use our dog training contact form to schedule a free phone consultation or book a paid, in-person consultation.
Terms, Conditions and Privacy Policy
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About Ralf and Sarah
Happy Dog Training is the pet dog training business of Ralf Weber and Sarah Gill. We are certified professional dog trainers in Southern California. We are specialized in advanced obedience training, all forms or behavioral challenges and service dog training. For behavioral training, we are known for our work with aggressive and fearful dogs. Our service dogs, through Total K9 Focus, have a nationwide reputation for their reliability, longevity and performance.
Ralf Weber, MS, TWC CPDT, IACP CDT, CDTA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer Ralf Weber is lead pet dog trainer of Happy Dog Training. Ralf is a long-time dog owner of German Shepherds. During his career, Ralf has worked with over a 1500 dogs of many different breeds. Moreover, Ralf has a thorough understanding of all aspects of canine training. This includes evolutionary psychology, ethology, and, most importantly, learning science. Ralf is specialized in resolving dog behavior challenges—especially fear and aggression. Apart from this, Ralf trains dogs in basic and advanced obedience, service dog tasks, and GRC Dog Sports. Ralf is further certified in a broad range of other canine training areas. Last but not least, Ralf is the author of the behavioral book If Your Dog Could Talk: Understand Your Dog Like Never Before.
Ralf loves helping people have a better relationship with their dogs. He is a certified professional dog trainer in the Training without Conflict™ methodology by Ivan Balabanov (TWC CPDT). Ralf is also a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and also holds their basic and advanced dog trainer certifications (IACP CDT, CDTA). In addition, Ralf is an AKC-approved evaluator for the AKC Puppy Star, CGC, and Advanced CGC programs and is also certified in canine first aid by the Red Cross.
Sarah Gill, Certified Professional Master Trainer
Sarah Gill, is a professional service dog trainer and handler. Sarah entered the world of professional service dog training after a car accident. As a result, she had to use a wheelchair for almost two years, trying to maneuver in a house not designed for it. No one expected Sarah would walk again. This opened her eyes and became a driving force behind pushing herself to defy the odds. When she regained some stability, Sarah attended a dog training school and learned how to train service dogs. Sarah completed her Master Trainer Certification and gained further experience by training new trainers. However, the school wasn’t accommodating to those with physical difficulties and PTSD. Hence, Sarah moved home to Dallas. In 2019, Sarah teamed up with Ralf and moved to California.
Sarah started this journey because she had a trained dog to mitigate her disabilities. But Sarah needed additional tasking for a new diagnosis. The only option she could find was getting a second dog for the new diagnosis. She knew there had to be a different way to address this. Sarah's passion is changing the ways of the service dog training industry.
