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.
Quick Links
Rukus is an amazing dog. The training he had at Happy Dog Training was life-changing for the better. He is so loving, and he listens so well. We can’t say enough about Ralf and the magic he has on our animals. Our Rukus is wonderful. He was good before, but he is great now. Thank you, Ralf!
— John & Isa
Ralf truly worked wonders on our Malinois puppy, Zeus. He was only ten weeks old when we took him to Happy Dog Training for two months of boarding and Training. Let me tell you that it was worth every penny. The puppy we dropped off and the puppy we picked up are two different dogs.
We had struggled with Zeus nipping at our girls and were fearful we would have to get rid of him. He discovered what made Zeus tick and developed a way to redirect his energy. Ralf communicated with us well during the two months, sending videos and pictures. Upon pick up, he gave us written instructions to help with his adjustment back to us. The piece of mind to be able to contact Ralf if we have any issues in the future is an added benefit. Highly recommended!
— Jessie G.
My husband and I had rescued a pit bull puppy that had been abandoned. She had absolutely no human interaction. She never had been on a leash nor had a dog collar on ever. Her name is Coco. We did not know what to do with her. We were not going to allow her to go to the dog pound. They would instantly euthanize her because of her out-of-control behavior. I was recommended to Happy Dog Training by my sister, who has had numerous dogs trained by Ralf. We sent the sweet little puppy pit bull Coco to Happy Dog Training for a three-month training program.
Unfortunately, during the training, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the USA. As a result, Ralf had to keep her for a few more weeks due to COVID. During her stay and training sessions for those months, she was like a new dog. He did miracles for this dog. When we first rescued this puppy pit bull, we did not think she would have a chance. The behavioral issue seemed like there was no chance. She had such bad abandonment issues, to where she would jump out of control and fight other dogs. When we would try to take her on a walk, she would just rip us down the street.
Coco Became A Great Dog
During her four-month stay with Ralf, she became a completely new dog. She stopped jumping like a crazy dog. Now walks on a leash without ripping you down the street and obeys all commands. As I said, I thought there was no hope for this dog. If anybody reads this post and you have a dog that has any kind of behavioral issues, do not give up, take the dog to Happy Dog Training. Ralf is the dog whisperer to our family and me. He treated our dog so wonderfully. He is a very knowledgeable, professional dog trainer. When the time comes for us to get another dog, we will for sure be taking the new dog to Ralf as well. I definitely will give Happy Dog Training 10 stars.
— Kara H.
We adopted Fergus as an 8-year-old pulled from Animal Control by a rescue group. He lived happily in a foster home with other dogs and cats. Imagine our surprise then when, on our first walk with him, we saw another dog being walked, and he became a lunging, screaming banshee. The other dog and its human looked scared and walked the other way quickly. People came out of their houses to see if we were okay because Fergus was so loud and crazed.
We tried many things to help him (and us), and they helped…a little. In desperation, we turned to Happy Dog Training and Ralf. Ralf instantly saw that Fergus was scared, not aggressive, and helped us learn how to build his confidence through play. He also taught us how to tell Fergus “NO” in a way that he could hear, even amid a freak-out. Now he’s much better on our walks and doesn’t bark whenever anyone dares to walk by our house. Thank you, Ralf, for giving Fergus a better quality of life and for helping us learn how to help him.
— Amy & Jerry
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
By using this website you agree to all Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy.
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.
