Specialty Dog Training

Savannah did an amazing job working with my dog Theo. Not only did she help correct some bad habits but she also gave Theo targets to meet when he left camp. She was able to check-in with us weekly to give us updates on his progress and send some pics of my baby. Since then, she has checked-in to make sure adjusting to life at home has been smooth. Really looking forward to our first virtual session! Can't recommend Savannah enough! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We sent our new 10mo old pup to a board-and-train with Savannah at SDT and she did an AMAZING job! We have done follow up lessons on-site and also in-home to help us/him transition to his everyday life. Her depth of knowledge and experience helped us with taking our pup from a high kill shelter EUTH list to living his best life! Savannah is always ready to field a question and make sure I have the concepts from our lesson down! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We took our two dogs to speciality dog training and they both worked with Andres. Our older dog is 10 and has had minimal training which was a challenge being that old but also had a behavioral problem with resource guarding. Our 3 year old dog had done a board and train previously but was still quite nervous in public and around strangers. Andres adapted his training to their individual needs finding what worked best for each of them. Once their 6 weeks were up they both had really good base training which gave us tools to work through their issues. The follow up sessions were great to come with things we needed help working through and Andres was always able to break them down and come up with drills for us to work on. Could not recommend Andres enough! There's been such a difference with both of our dogs and now we have the training skills to work through any future issues. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Andres from Specialty dog training worked with my wife and I to train our new puppy, Daisy. As first time puppy owners we found ourselves pretty frustrated during our training with Daisy. We watched tons and tons of videos and things got slightly better but we really didn't see much behavior change until we worked with Andres. It's not that information online was good enough, it was that we didn't understand how to best execute the information. We also didn't know what information was good and what was garbage. Having Andres in our corner was truly helpful. He would answer any questions we had and I enjoyed his teaching style and his ability to breakdown concepts to us. He also genuinely loves the dogs he trains which made us feel comfortable leaving Daisy with him when she did board and train for a few weeks. Thanks for every Andres! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I would like to share my experience with Specialty Dog Training, Graham Bloem and his team. This could be long lol. In December 2020 I lost my best dog (Great Dane #11) to bloat. After a bit, I went on the search for my next one and I saw Hessi on Specialty Dog Training's website. After a couple hours on the phone with Graham, he agreed to a meeting between Hessi & I. She was such a sweetheart that I committed to give her the life she deserved. She and I began training together which was Such a Valuable experience for us both. On Feb 8th, 2021 I brought her home and we have been together 24/7 ever since. She goes to work with me and has a bed at the side of my desk in a multi-line motorcycle dealership. Her distraction avoidance training was done SO Well!! She lays on her bed calmly everyday while there's people walking around her, ATV's driving around her. All the things you could expect in a Motorsports environment. She has been doing this everyday for the last 5 years. If people approach her while she's laying on her bed, she stays placed until I come over and ask her if she wants to "Say Hi".. Everyday I hear someone say "I didn't know that dog was real" or "I thought she was a stuffed animal" by how still she is. She gets a break at noon and at 4pm. We left the San Diego area in late July 2021. Put everything in storage and proceeded to hop into the car and take a roadtrip. We covered the Western 18 states from N. Dakota to Texas and everything West. What a Great Bonding experience. That trip lasted 4 1/2 months and just over 10,000 miles. Over the last 5yrs she's logged over 78,000 miles in the car and loves every minute of it. Hessi is the best girl. Loves everyone and everything. Specialty Dog Training's socialization training is wonderful. Hessi has never shown any aggression to any animal or person. She especially loves kids. She is so gentle with them. Specialty Dog Training also taught me about how to handle her in the most stress free way possible. Taught me what not to let her get away with and when to mark good behavior. They taught Hessi and I how to be a team, not just me being a dog handler. Even though I'm in the Pacific Northwest now, I would use Specialty Dog Training again in a Heartbeat! If you'd like more information from me, reach out to Graham and he can get ahold of me. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Savannah is the BEST ever. She has become a beloved best buddy to my pup, and has been tantamount to the success in helping me get my Service Dog to become the perfect companion. Specialty Dog Training is great, but Savannah makes it the best. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I enrolled my 3-year-old Rottweiler, Athena, in Specialty Dog Training's 6-week boot camp in Oceanside from May 7-June 18, 2025, paying $4,400. She was healthy, fully vaccinated, and entered the program for leash control and mild resource guarding--especially important since I have a young nephew and a senior Great Dane at home. I asked multiple times to see her living space but was told no, as it would "disrupt other dogs"--something I now deeply regret accepting. Midway through training, my Great Dane was diagnosed with bone cancer. I called to stress the importance of Athena's continued progress. A trainer suggested extending her program, which I considered, but ultimately declined. I wanted her home while my Dane was still strong. On June 11, days before her return, I dropped off food and was told training had slowed because the trainer "assumed" I was extending--something I never confirmed. Then on June 15, I received a text saying she had mild nasal discharge and would see a vet. By 4:00 PM, I was called by that vet: Athena had a 106°F fever and was in critical conditionwith suspected pneumonia. I found her barely breathing, still wearing a prong collar, and rushed her to the ER. She required oxygen sewn into her nostrils, IV fluids, and overnight emergency care totaling $7,500. Vets confirmed pneumonia typically incubates over 2-14 days, meaning she was likely sick long before staff noticed. I was later told there had been an increase in kennel cough cases at the facility--yet I was never informed. No one at Specialty Dog Training has taken responsibility--financially or emotionally. I was left with: * A dog who nearly died * A traumatized animal with worsened behavioral issues * Thousands in emergency bills * A sick dog I had to isolate from my terminally ill Great Dane * And zero visible results from the training I paid for This experience was devastating, both emotionally and financially. Specialty Dog Training failed my dog, failed my trust, and offered no support or resolution in return. I strongly caution others to think twice before enrolling a pet in their care. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Savannah was great! We sent our mini Aussie Doodle for a 4 week puppy boot camp. Savannah communicated with me each week with texts and videos. She was great with Rocky. When I picked Rocky up she explained everything very well and took time to answer all of my questions. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

i was referred to this training facility from a friend who happens to be very much in the public eye - but unfortunately the treatment she got was much better than i did. when scheduling my dog for training camp they were very helpful and very confident with everything he'd come back home having learned. i was told the age i was sending him was the perfect training age but later after he came home with numerous issues they quickly took that back and said he was "too young" ?? this camp is quite expensive so i was really trusting them with helping my dog be the best he can be at home. crate training and walking were high on my list and i was assured it would be handled. quite soon after he got back home, his crate training was actually worse than before i sent him, he broke through multiple crates from having so much anxiety in there. i was doing exactly as they told me to keep up the training at home and none of it worked. and when i reached out to them, they recommended a 1 hour lesson. i don't think 1 hour is going to do anything with crate training if SIX weeks didn't! as for walking, he's much better besides pulling the leash away and running down the block. aside from all of this - i was told 4 weeks would be the perfect amount of time for him, which kept getting extended and ended up being 6 weeks. his trainer would take days to get back to me, & they misread his feeding instructions and fed him double so i had to keep buying and sending food. unfortunately - i wouldn't recommend this place and feel as though all of my money was wasted. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This dog exceeded our expectations , everything that was promised was delivered and then some , extremely stable and most importantly very good with our 3 year old son . Additionally the trainer that delivered her to our house was top notch , he went through explaining everything we needed to know down to the smallest of details as well as being extremely patient as he trains us ! I would definitely recommend specialty dog training for anyone looking for very good dogs and training ! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Ten Stars for "Specialty Dog Training"! I contacted them last year for a service dog, and Cassie got in touch with me. Right off the bat, she took the time to understand all my needs. I was impressed with her knowledge of all the breeds, and what type of services each was best for. I had asked for a small breed with soft fur, and Cassie suggested Poodle + Bichon Frisse mix for the size, coat, and temperament of a service dog. Knowing that I was a student, she also worked with her manager to get me a good payment plan. Cassie kept me posted on various dogs they considered. First few did not have the right temperament, so they were not selected. Finally they found the right dog, and I named him Casper. Cassie kept me posted on the training progress, plus regularly sent me Casper's pictures and videos. They trained "touch" (nose boop to hand that I have now transferred to nose boop to my knee/nose boop to an object on a wall) and "across" (deep pressure therapy, laying across my lap) which they don't normally teach, but they did for me so I could have a basis for him to be trained as a service dog. They also taught him to heel/right on one side or the other because I walk with a cane, so he can't just be trained to heel on my left side. They also had a wheelchair on site and got him used to heeling next to Cassie while she was in the wheelchair. I liked that they have the perfect balance between positive reinforcement and boundary-enforcement through corrections. Their training is as positive as possible while still maintaining the trainer as a strong/confident leader. Finally the day came for me to come pick up Casper. Cassie gently introduced me to him, and facilitated the bonding quickly. They spent 4 days with me for the transfer training. During these 4 days, they noticed that Casper had kennel cough. They arranged for a local vet to look him over right away. They paid for the vet visit as well as the antibiotics prescribed. Casper had a small rash on his shoulder on the day I was headed home. They treated him with a rash spray so he wouldn't be itchy, and then gave me the rest of the bottle to take home to continue treating him with. I left with a bag of Casper's kibble that would last two weeks so I would be able to smoothly transfer him onto a new brand at home. As a bonus, they put Casper and I through the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test and got him certified before we left. Once I got home, for the first few weeks whenever I needed help, Cassie was there to help me over Zoom and texts. I would send a video of Casper with training questions, and Cassie would send me helpful suggestions. It's been 3+ months, and things are working amazingly well! At Specialty Dog Training, you can tell that the dogs there are loved and cared for. You can see that for the trainers this is not just a job, but this is their passion, and a calling. Thank you! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Cassie, Graham, Nicky, and the SDT team are the dictionary definition of exceptional. The whole process was well planned, thorough and flawless. The end result, of course, is a perfectly balanced new family member. Beyond that though, their ability to turn you into a well prepared, eager to learn, and competent handle makes all the difference. Huge thank you to team SDT. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Just finished a four week program for our English Bulldog and are amazed at the results. Prior to the program, our one year old dog had issues with pulling on the leash during walks, surging and jumping up on guests. He would never be able to hold a sit or down for more than a few seconds, but he has come back a transformed dog. Walks and outings in public places are much less stressful now and other dog owners have come up to me saying what a calm, gentle dog we have. Andres and the front desk staff were absolutely amazing. I would highly recommend Specialty Dog Training to anyone. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My Dog is a totally different Dog after his time with Specialty Dog Training. He's more fun because he is always looking for a command. He's a high energy Dog that needed to be trained professionally. I highly recommend them you will love the results. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We enrolled our dog in a 4-week board and train program at this facility, but the experience quickly turned into a nightmare. Not long after drop-off, our dog developed a bad cough. The facility brought him to a nearby vet they work with. I received a call from the vet, not an in-person consultation, telling me he needed medication and isolation. After 7 days, he was cleared, but less than 24 hours later, his cough came back. They isolated him again and said it might be contagious or even life-threatening, and that antibiotics hadn't worked. They pushed for more testing. The way everything was presented over the phone made me panic. I was alone at the time and felt pressured to make decisions on the spot. I told them clearly I needed to talk to my husband first. That pressure, paired with how quickly they escalated the situation didn't sit right with me. So we decided to pick him up and bring him to his regular vet for a second opinion. We're so glad we did. Our vet immediately told us it was not life-threatening. He said our dog hadn't fully recovered because he kept being re-exposed to the same virus at the facility. The recommendation? Let him rest at home for two weeks, away from that environment and that's exactly what we did. During his entire illness, he was kept in their medical ward. He never left their facility. So the idea that he was "cleared" and got sick again the next day doesn't add up, unless the problem was coming from the environment itself. When we asked about cleanliness and how this happened, we were met with deflection. They said things like "he was probably already sick when he arrived" or blamed it on the possibility of another dog passing it to him on the way out as our dog was coming in. They even suggested he might've caught it from a dog park days before and it just happened to show up while he was in their care. For context, we hadn't taken him to any parks or boarding facilities for at least a full week prior to his stay. What a coincidence. It was frustrating how they repeatedly tried to shift the blame instead of taking any responsibility. Our dog is fully vaccinated, healthy, and has never gotten sick in any other setting like this. It's also worth noting that the facility and the vet seemed very closely aligned. We can't say for certain, but it felt like they were operating hand-in-hand and the tone of the call from the vet felt more like a scare tactic than sincere concern. After doing our own research, we found other dog owners who had similar regrets about not getting a second opinion sooner. We even asked if we could have camera access to check on him during his stay, we were told it wasn't allowed due to their privacy policy. Even after all of this, they said they'd restart the training or explore hybrid/home options. But the moment we started asking for clear details and pricing, they stopped responding altogether. No service. No communication. No refund. We're sharing this because we were ignored and left without the care or service we paid for. Don't let the good reviews fool you. Ask questions. Trust your gut. Always get a second opinion. And never trust a facility that pressures you into medical decisions over the phone, especially when the problem likely began under their watch. If I could give them 0 stars, I would. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

10/10 Recommend Andres, He is an Excellent Teacher, with both the pups and us humans alike :) Night and Day difference between When Our Doggo Beeno checked in VS after the Training, instilling confidence in both our Dog and Us, Always has answers for any questions or concerns, and was willing to coordinate and be flexible! Its nice to have a Doggo that listens now :) especially the first time is AWESOME! Thank You andres! And thank you Specialty Dog Training! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I do NOT recommend this company. Save your money and find a trainer who actually listens and cares enough to do more than just take your $5,000. I enrolled my 7-pound Yorkie, Lenny, in Specialty Dog Training's 6-week program specifically to address his outdoor reactivity--mainly barking and lack of focus around other dogs. During our phone consultation, I clearly explained that Lenny obeys commands well indoors, but completely struggles in public. Despite this, when I picked him up, the trainer admitted he had only worked on basic commands--not reactivity.The biggest red flag was when he said he didn't notice how "feisty" Lenny was until four weeks in. That behavior was obvious the first day I adopted him and something I emphasized from the beginning. I truly believe Lenny's needs were underestimated because of his size, and unfortunately, I got the same dog back with no improvement in the area I sought help for.To make matters worse, I had to spend an additional $500 on vet bills after Lenny returned home with injuries caused by the metal prong collar they used on him. The trainer casually mentioned he had to switch to a different collar but didn't disclose it was a prong collar until I specifically asked just days before pickup--only because I wanted to make sure I was consistent at home.When Lenny got home on 2/14, I immediately noticed something was wrong. He had visibly lost weight, the fur on his paws had turned brown (Lenny is a white-gray Yorkie), and his bark sounded different. I attempted to use the prong collar once, but it felt wrong and made me extremely uncomfortable.I sent an email to SDT on 2/16, which was ignored. I also texted the trainer to ask whether Lenny had been trained around other dogs, because his behavior hadn't changed at all. I received no meaningful response outside of meeting but I cannot see what a 1 hr training can do if you could not help him in 6weeks.On 2/18, I took Lenny to the vet. The vet confirmed what I feared: metal prong collars should never be used on small dogs, especially Yorkies, because they are prone to tracheal collapse. Hearing this was devastating. I was genuinely trying to do the right thing for my dog--and instead, I sent him away only to be harmed.As a first-time dog owner and a veteran living with PTSD, I trusted this company to help my emotional support dog become more stable in public. Instead, I was left with the same behavioral challenges, unexpected vet bills, and emotional distress.This experience was incredibly disappointing and damaging. Please think twice before trusting this company with your dog.------------------------------------UPDATE:I'm updating my review to share additional context and concerns about my experience with SDT.---------------The Training Director reached out and claimed it was "normal" for a dog not to show their true behavior until four weeks into training. That explanation doesn't sit right with me--especially because this wasn't Lenny's first time being away from me, just the longest. He has stayed with friends and weekends with Rover sitters before, and his reactive behavior has AWAYS been consistent.From the beginning, I made it explicitly clear that Lenny's outdoor reactivity was the primary issue I needed help with. He listens very well when indoors and alone, which I communicated upfront. So I'm confused as to why the training seemed to prioritize indoor commands--something he already did well--instead of focusing on the core issue I was paying to address.It should not take four weeks into a structured training program for a professional facility to begin addressing the very behavior that was clearly outlined as the main concern. If his outdoor behavior wasn't addressed until late in the program, it raises serious concerns about how closely his individual needs were being prioritized.Additionally, I noticed that Lenny's paws had turned reddish-brown by the time I picked him up. A quick online search revealed this can be a sign of prolonged exposure to urine--not something that should happen in a clean, attentive facility. As of May 15, his paws have returned to the same color as the rest of his coat, confirming that this was an issue during his stay.I'm sharing this because I trusted SDT to support Lenny's behavioral needs and care for his well-being. That trust was not honored, and I hope this review helps other dog owners make a more informed decision. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We were a little disappointed with our training experience here. We adopted a 1 year old dog with some jumping, pulling, barking and nipping issues. They had him for 6 weeks which was really stressful for us. They only check in once a week, which seems long without a picture or a note to let you know how your dog is settling in or doing. Also, they ended up expecting us to use tools that we don't agree with. A prong collar and/or electronic collar. I asked how these tools help with their anxiety, which causes the bad behavior and was not given an answer, only that we would probably not be able to help his issues without using these tools. In addition, he got kennel cough while there, has been on antibiotics and is still not 100% back to health after 3 weeks home. With the risk of passing it along to our other pup. If I had known this was their main source of training, I probably would not have taken our pup there. I was desperate for help and rushed into going there. We are continuing with some of the training that we picked up there and adding training from our previous experience with another trainer and he is coming along nicely. Be sure to clearly understand how they train before choosing this training. Positive feedback and lots of love go a long way. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great service, Cassie was my trainer my pup came back super smart and is now extremely obedient.

Reviewed on Yelp

The training was awesome. Before the 28 days training she would pull all the time when walking outside. Now I even let her off the leash to walk when there are not people or dogs. Most of the time she walks just fine but stills pulls when she wants to get closer to another dog. Recall is good except when she is playing with other dogs or sometimes when she wants to greet someone she knows well. Play well with other dogs and is 100% better than she went to training. For a young dog, She 85% fully trained. The training surpassed my expectations. Thanks to Andres who was an excellent trainer for my 6 month dog. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Buying a highly trained dog, let alone a protection Dog is a big decision, and a big cost. Finding the right company can be really difficult. When I began this journey, I spoke to many people, and early on it was apparent that many of these companies were not the type i want to do business with. I have a family with children. I need a protection dog, but I also need a family companion for my children. After speaking with many different organizations, I Eventually, I landed on Specialty in Oceanside. At first to be honest, I was quite apprehensive. I thought to myself. OK let's see how this plays out. Some time passed and i got some updates... The the big day, delivery! Recently Our dog was delivered, and I can say that the dog could not be any better from a mannerism standpoint, both the way it interacts with my family and the way the obedience comes into play. Gabby and Tom did the delivery, both who I found to be absolutely amazing people! I could tell how much energy Gabby had put into the dog and how much the dog meant to her, she is amazing! This touched me a lot, the relationshiop the dog and Gabby had. As for Tom I could see how much he cared about training and what a wonderful person he was. For me, the people behind and organization are far more important than anything and I give Gabby and Tom 10 out of 10 with flying colors. I think they are wonderful people. I'm happy I met them not just for this delivery of our new family member. But i also look forward to staying connected with them in the future, and for any of our other dog needs. I would recommend Specialty to anyone looking for a highly trained dog or a protection dog. P.s. the office manager lady is also very sweet and nice! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We absolutely love our protection dog we purchased from specialty dog training. Graham was very professional from start to finish, and our trainer did a phenomenal job. We have small kids and needed to feel the dog would be gentle and safe and they met that expectation. Our dog is gentle and hasn't growled once at us or our kids but has a ferocious bark and demeanor on demand. We are beyond happy with our purchase and their ability to match our needs with a dog. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Julie is an absolutely incredible trainer. Our dog had some pretty major leash reactivity to other dogs on walks.  It got so bad at times that she would re-direct and bite me. We were at a crossroads and knew we were either going to give her up or send her to a board and train. We opted to send her to Specialty Dog Training boot camp for 4 weeks. Julie would update us twice a week with how she was doing. I really appreciated that she was upfront and honest with what was going well and what still needed work. By the time we got her back she was a new dog. Her recall is perfect. Her "leave it" is incredibly solid. Her house manners are excellent. She's a real pleasure to have around now.  We had a few issues with reactivity after boot camp, but Julie gave us a free extra follow up training session. It turns out that we needed some training ourselves as handlers. Now we have complete control over our dog on walks, and the reactivity has disappeared. Our pup isn't stressed on walks anymore and has confidence in us. When she sees another dog, we give her a "leave it" and she immediately switches her focus to us and we can walk by peacefully. Highly recommend Julie and Specialty Dog Training to anyone dealing with similar issues. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Specialty Dog Training is the ABSOLUTE BEST! I have a 15 month old pure breed German Shepard Dog (GSD) from Poland.  While he is beautiful, he is very reactive to anything with four legs. His reactivity also occurs with TV's four legged animals. I tried relentlessly to put him in puppy classes with other dogs but Petco, Petsmart and three private trainers wouldn't accept him because of his reactivity. I couldn't walk him or take him anywhere in public for fear he'd attack another animal and be put down. Watched channel 8 and they had a segment about the Specialty Dog Training (SDT) Shelter to Soldier. At that moment I knew this was the trainers for my reactive GSD. My dog attended an 8 week bootcamp. At bootcamp the trainers were able to train my dog to no longer be reactive to other animals.  I've been working with trainer Julie from SDT to continue the progress achieved from his bootcamp because I too needed training along with my dog. I'm gaining confidence. Im not afraid to take my 80 lb dog for walks, or to my local Home Deput. My dog just attended his very first group lesson. While we both have to work extra hard to keep his progress up, i can't thank STD enough for giving me my life back. Once again Specialty Dog Training has saved two lives. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Perry and the rest of the Specialty dog training team were amazing! They helped build confidence in our Tripawd Saber and give him a great foundation for obedience training. Before Saber was in training he was not comfortable with being left alone and barked incessantly when in his crate. Being a German Shepherd, Saber is naturally very emotional due to his breed and with the additional stress of being a Tripawd, made it very hard for us to train without any expertise. Saber spent 4 weeks at training, mainly with his trainer Perry who built a strong connection with him and it was unbelievable how much they accomplished during their time together. Saber is much more calm, confident and has a new found love for working to earn treats and praise. While at training, I received updates, pictures and videos of Saber's progress every couple days and communication overall was great! Staff at the front desk were always attentive and available to answer any questions. I didn't have to worry about Saber while he was away because staff treated him like family and always looked out for his best interest. One of the best features of Specialty Dog Training is having an amazing resource after Saber has completed training. After bringing Saber home, I had extra questions and I was able to reach out to Perry who was able to give me guidance on how to handle situations. I fully recommend this training service even if you have a Tripawd like Saber! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

AMAZING! I can't say enough about Specialty Dog Training, especially trainer Stephen.Having a special needs pup, with a lot of issues, I did tons of research before choosing Specialty Dog Training. They have far exceeded my expectations. At the in-person consultation, Stephen carefully went over all the challenges my dog faces to help pick the best training program to tackle his bad behaviors. That extra attention to the specific needs of my pup, set him up for success. He went from Cujo to becoming a Canine Good Citizen! Something I never thought my deaf pup, with all of his special needs, would be able to accomplish.Stephen is wonderful!! His knowledge is remarkable. He is incredibly patient, thorough, and accommodating. He took the time to thoroughly explain everything as we worked through each bad behavior. He tailored each command, and behavior modification technique specifically to my pup, and all of his special needs. In addition to lessons at the facility, we did lessons in public at the places my pup displayed the worst behaviors, as well as at my home. The real life scenarios made a HUGE difference. The entire SDT staff is great. Even while we were waiting in the lobby for our lessons to begin, other trainers would stop and greet my pup, knowing that we were currently working through some issues specific to greeting. I cannot recommend SDT enough. The level of training, care, knowledge, and professionalism is second to none. Choosing SDT will be the best decision. Thank you to Stephen and everyone at SDT. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Amazing!!!  If you have to sum it down to one word, it would be AMAZING!!!!  We enrolled both of our Pitbulls, Moose and Lola for training with Specialty Dog Training.  Moose went in for 8 weeks and Lola for 4 weeks.  With a tremendously busy schedule, Graham was more than accommodating to work around us and also to take Moose on a short notice arrival.  From the very beginning, you can tell this is an institution that loves dogs and animals.  Several times in our conversation, the comment "we only want what's best for the dogs" came out.  The end result is to have a happy and trained dog.  Lola came in at the 4-week mark,  this was especially hard for me since she has been my stabilizing rock knowing when I'm not doing well or just having a rough day.  Since Specialty Dog Training works with veterans, they showed a level of compassion that I had not witnessed before.  Graham and Stephen were there when I brought her in and assured me that she would be fine, and when I broke down, Graham instinctively reached out and offered a hug.   So off they went to training, we received weekly updates and pictures would just show up with a quick greeting.  The first thing you could tell was that the pups were happy.  Stephen was excellent and did not sugar coat anything. Some days they didn't have a good training session, or they might be struggling with a training item.  Stephen would inform us but always had incredible positivity towards the dogs.The day came to pick up Moose and Lola and to say the transformation was astonishing would be an understatement!  The dogs are a pleasure to have in the house. Using the commands that were taught, and the follow-up sessions with Stephen makes it feel like the dogs were always like this.  A quick note on the follow-up sessions, do them!  Stephen took the time to answer all of our questions and to show us the proper way to handle Moose and Lola.  The sessions are not rushed, and Stephen is patient, allowing us to get it right while offering suggestions and reasons of why to do commands in a specific way.  During the follow-up session, it becomes abundantly apparent how much Stephen loves his job, his professionalism, and lastly his expertise in the art of training dogs.So what am I trying to say after this long review?  Simply Thank You!!  If you are trying to decide where to have your dog trained, Specialty Dog Training is the one and only place to go.  This is a place that makes you feel like family, treats your dog as one of their own, and shows love and compassion in everything they do.  Thank you again, Stephen, Graham, and the rest of the Specialty Dog Training Family, for the wonderful and amazing job you did with Moose and Lola.  I'll end this review the ay I started it, AMAZING!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Perry is just as great as all the other reviewers say. Within a month, he changed two years of my dog's bad behavior. My main problem was that I couldn't wear my infant and also walk my dog because of his pulling-- but with Perry's instruction, my dog now can walk side by side with me. He's given me the tools to be a better dog owner and in turn, I think my pup will be happier too. Highly recommend him and Specialty Dog Training. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I cannot rave enough about Julie and Specialty Dog Training. They are all very professional and know what they are talking about! After some bumps in the road, Captian my 6 month old doberman went to a month boot camp with Specialty Dog Training. He came back really respecting the collar and leash and us. Yes you will still have to work with your dog after training, especially the smart ones. They will always try to push  your boundaries every so often, but the ingrained muscle memories of the commands and what is expected of our furry love ones is still there. Captain was already good on a leash, but he became even better. We are now working towards our Good Canine Citizen certification.  We got an update once a week with photo and sometimes video. We have had one follow up class post boot camp to go over any additional issues we may have.  Now Captain is 9 months old. Three months post camp.. and all the commands are still there as a good foundation. We are now building onto the commands he has already learned and also some tricks in the process! We have had some slips but that is too be expected when as an owner I sometimes get too busy to give boundaries. If you are good and willing to be consistent with your dog, getting them into this Boot Camp will be one of the most beneficial and long lasting gift you can give your family and your dog. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Hands down Specialty Dog Training is the Best!  Our  Max definitely needed some training to tame his young behavior! Our trainer ,Julie is the absolute best ! Her knowledge and experience for dogs training needs is impressive! The entire staff is friendly, timely, and jump right in to make sure all our needs met! I highly recommend this group of professionals ! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I have NEVER, not ever reviewed anything on here until now. The staff here are sweet, nice, understanding, and most of all, ANIMAL LOVERS! My trainer was Dustin & honestly I'm just amazed at the DIFFERENCE he made with his methods. They make sure to always check in with you and give you updates! It's expensive, but worth it! Every Penny! My big guy is a South African Boerboel. His breed is MASSIVE! Before he went to boot camp, he didn't listen. He was obnoxious, embarrassing to take out, aggressive to other dogs, bad manners in and outside, you name it. They took very good care of him, trained him VERY well and even made sure he finished his training after having a rough time with allergy season! He was taken to the vet when his allergies kicked in just to make sure that's what was wrong. They put him on antibiotics just for precaution. He was very well taken care of. They truly do care about your puppers! I would, & DO, recommend this facility to anyone & everyone whether it's for training, boarding, or just pet sitting for the day! The change is amazing! More...

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After researching several board/train facilities, we decided on Specialty Dog Training...and we are so glad we did. Our two pups loved this place. Perry was their trainer and he's been extremely knowledgeable and great with our girls. They love him and all of the staff in the office. While they were at boot camp, we received multiple updates each week with photos and videos and explanations about the progress they were making. It didn't end up feeling like we were away from them for 3 weeks! Our girls were trained well and exceeded our expectations. They sit, lie down and stay on command. Of course getting home is a little rough since they need to realize they can't revert to old ways at home but Perry is teaching us and giving us the foundation on how to continue training them. Couldn't be happier! More...

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Fantastic experience. My dog had some formal training, protection work, etc... but needed to work and fine turn some obedience. Perry was amazing with her, super gentle but firm, she loved working with him which made it much easier to leave her at the facility. I highly recommend Specialty Dog Training, the entire staff was super friendly and very professional. The facility is kept in pristine  condition. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Hands down worth every penny!! We have a 1 year old pure bred Belgian Malinois who we sent to a one month bootcamp. Perry was his trainer and we couldn't have asked for a better person to help train Jax. Before bootcamp Jax was constantly hyper and would destroy clothes, shoes, or anything in sight. We couldn't hardly walk him because he would pull the leash hard and run all over the place. We did teach him basic commands in German of sit, down, off, and out. But he was stubborn and would only do them when he wanted. Being a dual military couple, we struggled with finding time to really fix his habits and weren't sure how to. Also with a baby on the way, we wanted to ensure that he had proper manners with not only others, but around the house and with us. After bootcamp, Jax is a changed dog! He knows many commands, all of which he listens to when we tell him. We can go on a walk and he will walk right by our sides, with us very loosely holding the leash. We don't even need the leash anymore, but have to have it in our community. We can leave the room without having to worry about him chewing our things and can take him out on hikes-off leash- without worrying about him running away. We weren't sure what the month long bootcamp would be able to accomplish, but it was the best thing to ever happen with Jax! Perry was patient and explained how and why he did the things he did with Jax. He even still texts us to check on how Jax is doing! Jax was in the bootcamp from the end of January 2019-end of feb 2019. Here's pics of our sweet boy! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our dog Laika is a very sweet but high energy dog who needed more training than we were able to provide.  She knew basic commands but only listened when she wanted to.  Her recall was so bad that we had to stop taking her to the dog park because we couldn't catch her when it was time to leave.  She constantly misbehaved in order to get attention.  We couldn't have friends over to our home or take her out in public places because Laika was just too wild.The results of the bootcamp were exactly what we wanted and needed.   Her training has improved the quality of our lives.Laika now has wonderful house manners.   She quietly lays at my feet when I am in the kitchen.   She does not surf counters.  She sits quietly when we eat our dinner.  Laika now has good social skills.   She is able to act calmly around people and other dogs. She walks without pulling on the leash. She comes to me when she is called. We can take her to parks and dog-friendly restaurants.Laika now has confidence and self control.   She does not misbehave just to get attention.   She is a pleasure to be around and we are having so much fun with her.We can't thank Julie enough for working with and loving Laika.  She sent texts, pictures, and videos to keep us up-to-date on Laika's progress.    She was able to address every question and concern we had.   She even managed to include a rabbit in the training when I commented that rabbits were an ongoing challenge in my daily walks with Laika!  Thank you!We highly recommend Specialty Dog Training to any dog owner looking to improve their dog's behavior and the quality of their life together. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Dustin is a great trainer and my fiancé and I are more than happy with this place! We got our Belgian Malinois from the shelter a couple months, who had been bouncing around house to house and used to doing whatever he wanted with no discipline or leadership in place. He was biting, not listening to commands, pulling on the leash, etc. After the 4 weeks training with Dustin, it's like Winston was completely transformed. He listened to us (well, sometimes testing us), walked next to us on the leash, and respecting us as his leaders. Dustin was great the whole time and texted us often to tell us about Winston's accomplishments. Dustin himself has a Malinois and lots of experience with the breed and similar dogs, and It shows. Before investing in the training we wonder if it would be worth it, because this was a pretty big investments... it was worth it! Thanks again Dustin and team. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I have nothing but the highest praises for all the staff at Specialty Dog Training! From the moment you walk in you can tell that these people absolutely love what they do. I took my 5-year old pitbull Griffith in for a 2-week board-and-train program while I was on vacation and I was absolutely shocked by the progress he made while I was gone. With the help of the head trainer Perry and all of the amazing staff/trainers at specialty dog training were we able to elevate Griffith's obedience and focus to levels I previously thought would be near-impossible to accomplish. Not only that, but we were even able to get him AKC Canine Good Citizen certified! Cannot recommend them enough! If you have high expectations for your dogs - casual or service, and want a level of service, care, and professionalism second to none, go no further than Specialty Dog Training. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The work and intention of this group is wonderful! You can feel from the staff that they're authentic in their service. I've worked for a few months now with Julie McLaughlin the trainer, who is a gem! She's become one of my favorite people because she's helped both my Bernerdoodle dog Violet and myself to improve the way we work together, the way we communicate, and the way we've come to understand each other. She's opened my eyes to understanding the importance of body language and vocal tone, and she brings attention to my unintended actions which don't align with what I'm trying to covey to my dog. I needed these eyes on the outside, and I'm very grateful to Julie, Nicky and the whole gang. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Specialty Dog Training and Perry is handsdown the best thing that happened to us and our dog Yony. Yony is a two year old Jindo, which is known to be a very sweet and loyal but challenging breed to train. In addition Yony was very skittish and very difficult to walk on leash because of his skittishness and dominant behavior and need to mark every single pole we run into.  After a month of Boot Camp, he returned a changed dog. He is much more confident, loves working with me and became much more comfortable generally.  No problem waling him in the neighborhood although we still need a little more work around other dogs but that was expected. Nevertheless, Yony responds well to leave it commands and it is much more manageable when other dogs are around.  Perry was also very kind and took extra time to explain to us what he did and what we should be doing going forward.  Thank you thank you thank you!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I am so grateful to Julie and Specialty Dog training! I have a new and improved dog!!! I rescued Bentley (20 lbs mini poodle terrier) in 2017 he was two at the time. In November 2018 I became interested in volunteering and discovered the need for therapy dogs. SDT was highly rated and another plus was the "Shelter to Soldier" program. SDT saves dogs and helps soldiers and wanted my money to go to SDT to support this much needed program. I contacted SDT and an appointment was scheduled to have Bentley evaluated. The trainer took an hour to evaluate. This was a free evaluation too!Side note, on walks or out and about with Bentley I couldn't stop and talk to people without Bentley whining and pacing restlessly, nervous energy/anxiety. Also, on walks and at coffee shops/restaurants he would react to dogs. He would pull me to get to the other dog and if I pulled back he would sound aggressive so I stopped pulling and allowed him to see the other dog. Coffee shops/restaurants were not enjoyable for either so I would leave Bentley home.Back to the evaluation, the trainer thought that his whining and reaction to dogs may be an issue and may not go away and could be an issue at the facilities. I was impressed with the trainers honest evaluation and appreciated his thoughts. I left disappointed. The next several days I couldn't stop thinking about obedience training especially after our walks. I contacted SDT again, several times, with questions about boot camp. Nicky and the owner contacted me and answered my questions. It took me a week or so to decide. I was hesitant about not seeing Bentley for four weeks and the cost but in the end I knew it would be good for both and looked at it as an investment.I sent a long informative email about Bentley's background, behavior and quirks as well as what I wanted addressed during boot camp. I wanted the trainer to know as much about Bentley as possible thought it to be helpful. Nicky responded and forwarded to Julie his trainer. I dropped Bentley off for the four week boot camp training in mid December 2018. Julie sent pics and videos with updates twice a week. Mid January arrived and was excited to see Bentley and what he learned. I was so proud of Bentley! He learned so much. Bentley USED to whine on car rides, he did no such thing on our drive home. We stopped at in-n-out for a treat, Bentley did not beg or get in my face he remained in the down position as I let the burger cool. As days passed I noticed things he used to do he was no longer doing! I had no idea the training would help with those things. I train Bentley every day to reinforce the training. I take him to coffee shops and into stores where dogs are allowed...he sits calmly!!! He no longer whines on car rides either. He is calmer and listens to my commands. He still reacts to dogs and at our last training session we switched training collars and that worked. He responds faster. I am so happy with the results of the boot camp!  Julie gave us the green light for therapy dog training! Thank you so much Julie and SDT!!! More...

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I started lessons for my Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd Clyde. 5 lessons one on one at home. The trainer Julie was great with Clyde. She was full of knowledge and great tips for me to practice with Clyde on our own. She was very open and accommodating to meeting at parks and other locations to guarantee Clyde's training was successful. She really helped improve Clyde's leash behavior and social interactions with other dogs.  I plan on continuing one on one services with Julie periodically. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

From the first phone call I made to Specialty Dog training I knew I had found the right place. I spoke with Nicky on the phone for over an hour about my dog and her issues. They didn't back away at all from my dog reactive 95lb American Bulldog. They were actually excited to get to work with her. I dropped her off on a Tuesday and she was paired with their trainer Julie. Julie is so amazing. She is kind and caring. She is the easiest person to talk to. She is like a human and dog therapist! She worked with my dog for 5 weeks and sent up photo and video updates 2-3 times a week. I am so pleased with the results. Before I dreaded taking my dog on a walk. Now if there is something my dog doesn't like, I just say "leave it" and we continue on our way! She still checks in with us to see how our dog is and we have been back for a 1-1 session. I seriously look forward to seeing everyone there. They all LOVE the dogs and want to do whatever they can to help you. I cant thank them all enough. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I don't really have words to express my gratitude for this establishment. I got my rescue pup at 3 1/2 months in January. He was such a great little pup but as time went on he became extremely aggressive towards others (especially ON WALKS) . I was at a loss and had no idea what to do. I started calling trainers and they would come to my house, however none made a clear difference. I got to the point where I had to either send him to boarding school or get rid of him. I am so glad I called speciality. I talked to Graham and he was so supportive on the phone. As a psychologist I could hear how he spoke about training and behavioral changes and I really could tell they would do good, so I took a chance. I sent Scouty to training for their one month intensive program. He came home a month later as a different dog thanks to Julie and the whole staff. I seriously cried on my way to pick him up because I knew this was my last resort. I am beyond pleased with his results. Not only is he a different dog but Julie has been by my side since I picked him up. No matter time or day or hour I can text her and she has been extremely responsive. I could not have gotten through this period without them. I recommend them 100000000 percent. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Nikona just completed a 5 week bootcamp with Julie. Her confidence has gone up so much! Julie is super helpful, even texting me as I adjust to have Nikona back home. My dog's progress since I adopted her has been amazing. From not being able to walk because she was terrified, to a happy confident dog. I think Julie has really helped her be more balanced. Now I have to learn how to handle her so she doesn't slip back to old ways. Overall very happy with the experience. It was good to know she was well taken care of as I traveled, and even better to see such good results. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

If I could give 10 stars for this review I would! We came to specialty dog training through recommendations from some very knowledgeable people. It was the help we have been looking for, for our 10 year old rescue Doberman; who has multiple behavioral issues including intense separation anxiety. Because of this, we curtailed our family activities for many years because we couldn't identify a reliable dog sitter that he would trust. And we knew without a doubt we would be called back from wherever we were because Doberman was having issues that could not be managed. We decided to put Dobie into a two week Boot Camp so that we could take a 20th anniversary wedding trip with our son. We didn't expect much behavioral issues to be resolved but we were assured after multiple discussions with Stephen that Dobie and his caregivers would be safe. This was all we hope for and wanted at that point and believe me that was a gift in itself. Flash forward post boot camp. We have a different dog. Never in our wildest dreams would we have been able to imagine such a difference they made in such a short period of time, in an older dog. Our trainer is Perry and we cannot describe how Amazing he is. We have had other dog trainers help us in the past but Perry is in a whole other stratosphere. His kindness, attention to detail, ability to explain everything to us like we are two-year-olds and in a very short period of time implement significant behavioral changes for Dobie (and us!) is remarkable! We have continued in-home sessions with Perry to address the issues that occur at home. With every session we learn so much and see remarkable changes in not only Dobie but his other dog mates!  Perry has brought a sense of peace to this dog which we never thought we could achieve. On another note here is a really cool video of Perry with his own rescue dog:  m.youtube.com/watch?v=MK…Finally I would like to point out the community service work they do. The Shelter to Solider  program is amazing. Saving lives two at a time Is an extremely powerful message, and the work they do gives back to the community 100 fold. We also support this program because Perry is a veteran. So in this small way we hope we can demonstrate our gratitude and respect for Perry and all he does. He is just outstanding. Thanks Perry and the team at Specialty Dog Training! More...

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