Q & A
Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.
How much does dog training typically cost?
The average cost of dog training ranges from $60 to $155 per hour. But, your dog’s training might cost more or less depending on a number of different factors. For example, you might pay less if you schedule group classes instead of private instruction. The type of training (aggressive behavior, basic obedience, off-leash training, etc.) could have different prices as well.
Get an exact cost estimate by contacting severaldog trainers near you.
Learn more aboutdog training cost factors.
What do professional dog trainers do?
Dog trainers can perform a range of activities, ranging from training law enforcement dogs to working with therapy dogs or search-and-rescue dogs. However, most people hire dog trainers for obedience training. This is largely a process of training the human — much of how a dog interprets our behaviors, commands, tone and body language is counterintuitive at first. The trainer will typically come to your home to observe your relationship with your dog, teach you how to train a command and give you guidance for reinforcing it.
Is dog training worth the money?
Dog training can be a highly rewarding investment for most dog owners. With dog training, you can establish a better, healthier relationship with your dog, who will learn to understand your commands and wishes. Your frustration levels may decrease, and you might be able to resume activities you’ve put off, such as having people over or taking your dog to public places (though, this is hard to guarantee because each dog is unique).
Just remember that no amount of dog training will pay off if you don’t practice and follow the directions the dog trainer gives you. Consistency is the most important factor.
Is it ever too late to start training a dog?
It’s never too late to train your dog — “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a myth. Whether you adopt an older dog from the shelter or simply want to have a better relationship with your elderly dog, hiring a dog trainer can be a good investment.
How old should a puppy be for training?
Dog training shouldn’t wait until you’re having behavior problems. If you get a new puppy, start from the beginning with professional training to give both you and your puppy the tools you need for a healthy relationship. Dog training is as much about teaching the owner how to interact with their new dog as it is about the dog learning to behave. Puppy training can start as early as eight weeks old. Trainers who offer puppy training programs may works specifically with dogs between the ages of 8 and 18 weeks old. Trainers can teach owners about potty training and how to deal with accidents, working with separation anxiety, and training your pooch out of destructive behaviors like chewing, biting and demand barking. Puppies will start to learn to walk on-leash and other basic skills.
In addition to behavior training, socializing your puppy is an important part of dog training. Socializing your dog means they become comfortable and confident in a variety of settings and have a great foundation for becoming a well-adjusted adult dog. After your puppy has had the proper vaccinations, you can start to introduce it to a variety of different dogs and people in safe settings.
What is a dog boot camp?
A dog boot camp is basically a board and train program that focuses on training your dog or puppy. The trainers will work with your dog to curb unwanted behavior, teach them basic skills and show them how to walk on a leash.
Dog boot camps and training programs might differ when it comes to their services, so it’s always a good idea to do your research and ask them to explain exactly what they offer — and how much they charge.
How long does it take to train a puppy?
Dog training depends on the dog and how much homework the dog owner is willing to put in. Puppy training is similar to dog training in that the onus of the work depends on the owner learning new ways to interact with their dog. For a quick crash course, you can opt for a single, two hour smart-start puppy training consultation to teach you the ins and outs of being a new dog parent. You can learn how to manage potty training and what to do if the puppy experiences separation anxiety. As long as you’re willing to work on dog training a little bit each day, your puppy will quickly learn these new behaviors. If you’re not confident about training your puppy yourself, you can enroll in a 6- to 8-week puppy training course, with weekly lessons touching on everything from bite control to obedience. Puppies usually need to be at least three months old for group training classes. If you want more intensive one-on-one work, you can opt for private lessons. Some behavior problems can be resolved in one session if the dog owner learns and can implement new skills. In the case of more serious issues, 3 to 10 private sessions can typically correct challenges.
Which dog training method is best?
The best type of dog training for both you and your dog depends on the outcomes you hope to achieve. If you want your dog to learn agility training, go to someone who specializes in those techniques. Regardless of whether you want your dog to learn basic behavior or competitive-level tricks, the majority of dog training is actually about training the owner how to communicate with their dog. Most professional dog trainers agree that a model of training based on positive reinforcement breeds a happy, healthy, well-adjusted dog. The alternative to positive reinforcement training is using force or aggression techniques like physical punishment or shock-collar training to get the dog to do (or not do) a behavior. While the dog may learn how to behave as you direct, it is also learning to communicate with force and aggression, and will in turn use those behaviors on other dogs (or people) that are smaller or weaker than it is. Before signing up with a dog trainer, meet with the trainer and ask for references. Watch the trainer interact with your dog, and make sure they treat your dog with patience and firm kindness. Ask them questions about their training methods:
- What type of training methods do you use?
- What is your background and training, and how did you become a dog trainer?
- How long do you expect that we will work together before we achieve the results I’m after?
Reviews for Los Angeles dog trainers
Michael W.
Serious about dog training, consumate professional
Juan V.
Maria is very professional and very knowledgeable of dog training, my dog learned a few tricks in such a short time. Thank you!
Devarati D.
Chris is amazing! He gave us a lot of advice on crate training, potty training, how to deal with a new dog initially, and also leash training. Overall great value and a great trainer!
Jayson H.
This trainer explained her method of training unlike others who hide their "magic". More importantly, it all made sense. Immediately, I recognized Karen's training method goes deeper and she understands dogs and how to create an even stronger and healthier bond between dog and family.
Mathieu G.
Rebecca is an amazing trainer and extremely good with dogs. She made my dog getting much better in as short as 2 sessions and keeps very good track of training and what needs to be done. Very responsive as well if you need. Highly recommend :)
Rhodora A.
Rebecca is such an awesome trainer! She understands dogs very well and our Sunny just loves her. Rebecca is the dog whisperer. She provides great advice on potty training, and insights to what our Sunny is thinking. Sunny learned a lot quickly after the first session. We highly recommend Rebecca for puppy training.
Jisoon j.
She’s very accurate and kind. My dog loves her and she’s always communicate with me for plan of training.
Thumbtack Customer
Karen is an amazing trainer. After just 1 session, the behavior of my 4 dogs changed for the better. It is amazing how quickly they learned. She does work in a way that dogs understand, but it might seem counter-intuitive to humans. She talks about how your dog can read your mind. Don't worry, she knows what she is doing because the dogs respond to her energy immediately. I have used many dog trainers: I felt her prices were affordable, and she was able to accomplish my dog goals quickly. Highly Recommend!
Thumbtack Customer
Dave was such a great help to us in training our dog (or us, really)! He really took the time to explain the process and work with Sadie to overcome her fearful reaction to other dogs. She's made great progress & we look forward to more training sessions in the future. Highly recommended! Oh, and Sadie absolutely LOVES HIM.
Shareen s.
I'm so happy I found an affordable training service in LA. I love the convenience of the dog pick up and drop off. I was nervous sending my dogs off the first day, but Lauren sent updates while they were gone and I was glad to see them doing well. My reactive/anxious dog is making quick progress via the pack training, which is so beneficial to her because she didn't get much socialization due to the pandemic. Most importantly, Ivan and Lauren are so loving and kind towards my dogs and genuinely enjoy spending time with them and training them.
Christina h.
Isaac was GREAT. 1st session I learned effective techniques to curb unwanted dog behavior. My dog responded 1st session as well. Very knowledgeable and personable. I will be continuing my training with these guys and also exploring other Dog services that they offer. Highly recommend.
Emily P.
EVERYONE! I never ever leave reviews.BUT I just had to for ultimate precision K-9.I have a 1 year old German shepherd mix with a Belgian. I took him to a board training where they had him for 30 days when he came back, he was even worse. I decided to give dog training a chance again after my bad experience, and after working with ultimate precision k-9 even after the first hour I notice a huge change in my pup.Now my dog is behaving so much better, and we are seeing so many changes just in the few sessions we have had, and has actually built a amazing bond with the trainers .I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this .If you are looking for a dog trainer, seriously, do not go anywhere else!!!!!They really teach you how to properly understand your dog, and how to properly communicate with her dog because not every dog communicate the same .Don’t miss out on this amazing training school!!
Jeremie B.
Karen is a great dog trainer, she knows how to communicate with dogs and their owners. She explained a lot of our dog's behavior issues, answered all our questions, and walked us through real-life situation action items that we started applying. Results were immediate.
Olivia P.
Karen has been amazing for my dog and I. She’s got a great perspective that really helped me better understand dogs and their behavior. My heightened understanding has really helped me better communicate with and train my dog. His behavior is improving every day! I have a very stubborn dog and worked with a few different trainers before finding Karen. Teds improvement over the past month is exponentially better than anyone else we ever worked with. She’s really affordable and cares! 10/10 would recommend for anyone with all types of dogs!
JoEtta C.
Maria is the best! She is patient, pleasant, knowledgeable, effective, thorough, and everything I want in a trainer. The results of her efforts were immediately apparent. I'm looking forward to working with her on other aspects of my dog's training.
Laura B.
Karen is a dog whisperer! We got a new 8 week year old puppy that's now 4 months old and he was absolutely out of control. He had so much energy and was too smart for his own good. Karen helped us take control as the pack leaders and taught us how to be the Alpha Dog with him. She is more than a dog/puppy trainer, she is a people trainer too. She is extremely knowledgeable and helped us so much. Our pup now listens to us and is so much better on his leash, greeting guests, and finally potty trained! I highly recommend her to anyone in need of training for their sweet pup! :)
Darien A.
The team at woof wagon was a big help to me. They approach their training as an opportunity to train both the dog and the owner. They were very responsive and always made me feel comfortable throughout the process. Super appreciate all they’ve done to help!
Matt g.
Holly is an amazing dog trainer, and we are so appreciative for all she’s done for our family. Earlier this year, our stubborn dachshund bit our 1 year old when she was crawling towards her. We had no idea if we could keep our dog as part of our family. Despite it not being a usual time to accept new dogs, Holly made an exception for us and took our dog in ASAP. When our dog returned, she was a different dog in the best way, much more obedient and calm. Holly also gave us the tools to make the dog work within our family while keeping a safe environment for our baby. She definitely developed a customized program based on the needs of our family that we are continuing to work on now that our dog is back. She is incredibly attuned to the needs of dogs and their owners. We would recommend her hands down to anyone needing animal training!
Jasmine T.
Krystal is a lifesaver! I booked her for 2 sessions to train my dog and I already see a hugeeeeee improvement with his behavior! She’s really patient and makes sure you understand how to interact with your dog. 100000% recommend Krystal!
Sarah T.
I recently had a training session with Isaac and Ivan and we couldn't be happier with the results. These guys are truly professionals, passionate about what they do, and incredibly knowledgeable about all things dog training/psychology. They were able to quickly assess my doodle's needs and help me develop a plan that was spot on. I was blown away by their dedication and understanding and how much they clearly cared about helping my dog. The session was fun and productive, and I can already see a noticeable improvement in my doodle's behavior!! I would highly recommend this team to anyone looking for top-notch dog training. They are the real deal!
Kristen C.
My dog Bodhi, yellow lab who is almost 4, was highly reactive before we met Or. Over the years we have meet we a few other trainers but had no luck until Bodhi completed a board and train with Or and his team. Unlike the others, Or was able to provide detailed explanation for Bodhi's behavior and created a plan to rebuild his training and mentality. In addition to the amazing training and routine Bodhi received, Or taught myself and my family how to continue his training and the fundamentals to makeus confident handlers and to build on our relationship with Bodhi. Overall, Or has been the best trainer for multiple reason but I cannot speak highly enough on his dedication to his craft, the dogs, and owners and transforming our lives for the better!
Jessica T.
Theresa and Brad are absolutely the best! In just a few sessions My dog Missy (a 9 year old pit very set in her ways) was a a completely different well trained dog! Because the training went so well, I enrolled her in Santa Monica Paws Doggy Daycare and it's amazing!! Thank you Santa Monica Paws for being amazing, trustworthy and just all around THE BEST!!
Lisa S.
Although my dog hasn’t gone through Troys program just yet, Troys professionalism and knowledge during our initial call, surpassed my expectations. He understands the psychology behind training animals and I can’t wait to get my dog Oscar started in his program!
Wendy B.
I reached out to Sasha and Chris because I was in need of training my reactive rescue. From the moment me and Sasha talked on the phone, to our very last session with Chris I could see the care and genuine passion they both had for helping people with any and every of their training needs. Even though our sessions have ended for now, they still asked to please be updated and to reach out should I have any further questions or concerns with my dog. They are both so thorough and involved in helping you train your dog every step of the way. I reached out to 6 trainers and they ended up being the ones I went with and I’m so glad I did. After my consultation, Chris decided it was best that I participated in their Prodigy program and I learned so much a long the way! My dog has transformed so much in just a couple of weeks his behaviors are almost unrecognizable and I am so thankful we found a team like Sasha and Chris to help us! I’m excited to continue working with them in training my dog moving forward and would highly recommend them to anyone.
Brian S.
The training was amazing and better than we could have hoped. She did more for our dog than we or any other trainer has done before. She set us on the best path to help our dog become confident and not so nervous and scared. We’ve already seen improvements and look forward to seeing her get more comfortable with strangers and being outdoors. We plan on working with her more in the future. I would highly recommend her!!!
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