Specialty Dog Training

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...

Reviewed on Yelp

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...

Reviewed on Yelp

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...

Reviewed on Yelp

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...

Reviewed on Yelp

I dropped off an extremely hyper 3 year old Labrador here with Perry, who I couldn't control with a prong collar or a shock collar. I picked up a dog who was calm, disciplined, and a breeze to take on a walk. I don't have to turn around anymore when I see another dog passing by, making my life and Dallas' much easier, and more fun. Dallas also stays right at side on walks and doesn't try to take off ahead of me. HIGHLY recommend Perry, he formed a bond with Dallas and was incredibly knowledgeable on what Dallas needed. He kept me informed by sending me pictures and updates of Dallas training every few days. He also taught me exactly how to maintain his training at home, and I'm so grateful I sent my dog here. It was worth every penny!!!! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Julie worked with our dog, Zoey, for 4 weeks. Although we missed our baby so much, it was an amazing experience for her. She had listening issues and is a little skittish (liked to bark at trees and bushes, even)... And it was hard for us to give her the proper full force training she needed, since we work 9-5s. She still needs reinforcement and some direction, but her awareness has done a 180 and she listens. Much more manageable. Julie treated her like she was her own and made sure to give her the confidence she lacked. I highly recommend Julie at specialty dog training. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This place is amazing not only do they do shelter to solder training which I applaud they did not shy at My request to train my recently adopted 9 year old 5lb chihuahua. Perry her trainer started working on her confidence and Daisy responded immediately, the people at this organization are top notch and I am beyond grateful . My Daisy now enjoying her lessons, going thru tunnels,over ramps,jumping up and on balls. She also does basic commands sit,stay,come. So thankful Perry and all the amazing people at Specialty Dog training  thank you all so much for making this possible More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our Lakeland terrier, Kyrie, is quite the lovable character but she showed signs of separation anxiety and had trouble with interacting with other dogs. We waffled for awhile on enrolling her into a dog training program because we were worried that it may effect her spunky personality. Once we finally decided to pursue obedience training, it didn't take long to choose Specialty Dog Training because of all their outstanding reviews. After dropping her off, Julie later reached out to inform us that she was going to be Kyrie's lead trainer. We shared our concerns regarding separation anxiety and dog interactions and she assured us that these issues will be addressed. We were very thankful for the text updates (pictures and videos) and for the opportunity to ask questions about Kyrie's progress throughout the 3 week boot camp.Finally meeting Julie in person for our 1 on 1 training at the time of pick up and for the one week follow up was a real pleasure. Her positive energy and enthusiasm were infectious and it was obvious that this was more than just a job to her. Julie did a fantastic job of explaining the commands and the expected results. This was accomplished by the her focus on ensuring that we were able to properly execute the commands and also understand the nuances behind them. We were truly grateful that she also made herself available as a resource even after the boot camp was completed.We were very happy with the overall experience! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our rescue dog needed some serious training, and we knew with our work schedules (and lack of knowledge) we were not going to be able to do it on our own. He did a 6 week camp with his trainer, Julie and the rest of the team at Specialty Dog Training. I really can't say enough good things about it. Julie is an awesome trainer and really worked with us and him to make sure everything we wanted was accomplished, truly going above and beyond our expectations. The whole team has been AMAZING (and yes I needed to yell that.) Julie worked so hard with him, and Nicky was able to answer all of our many, many questions prior to sending him, and during his stay. Trust me, she put in a lot of time holding our hands before we even handed the leash to Julie. We are so happy we made the decision to send him to camp, and know that we'll be sending him for any "refresher" training he may need in the future (or, really, taking him for our refresher training. ;) ) More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I can truly say that this place has changed the life of my dog AND me! I have a 2 year old Great Dane, Apollo, that used to be extremely fearful and reactive to all dogs and most people. He is the sweetest thing when he gets to know you but that was getting harder and harder to accomplish. I hated that he was constantly living in fear and being uncomfortable. I tried two trainers before deciding to take the leap and do a board and train program. I spoke with and did evaluations with 5 places before deciding on Specialty Dog Training.  We met with our trainer, Perry, and Apollo fell in love instantly! I got multiple updates a week of Apollo's progress and you could tell how much fun he was having. Although he was training, he was engaged and having a great time. I still keep in contact with Perry and he has been so amazing. You can really tell that he cared for Apollo as if he was his dog. Since his training finished a few weeks ago it is is I have a new dog. He listens so well and is so much less fearful. He has newfound confidence and is so much more content in everyday life. I can not thank Perry enough and I will recommend him to anyone! My mom is even going to be sending her new puppy to him when he get older. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I can truly say that this place has changed the life of my dog AND me! I have a 2 year old Great Dane, Apollo, that used to be extremely fearful and reactive to all dogs and most people. He is the sweetest thing when he gets to know you but that was getting harder and harder to accomplish. I hated that he was constantly living in fear and being uncomfortable. I tried two trainers before deciding to take the leap and do a board and train program. I spoke with and did evaluations with 5 places before deciding on Specialty Dog Training. We met with our trainer, Perry, and Apollo fell in love instantly! I got multiple updates a week of Apollo’s progress and you could tell how much fun he was having. Although he was training, he was engaged and having a great time. I still keep in contact with Perry and he has been so amazing. You can really tell that he cared for Apollo as if he was his dog. Since his training finished a few weeks ago it is is I have a new dog. He listens so well and is so much less fearful. He has newfound confidence and is so much more content in everyday life. I can not thank Perry enough and I will recommend him to anyone! My mom is even going to be sending her new puppy to him when he get older. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

We recently picked up our pup Ranger from a two week training camp and we couldn't be happier with the whole experience.  The truth is that we were hesitant to leave our 10 month old aussie for two weeks because we didn't know whether it would be a pleasant experience or not (for him).As soon as we met our trainer Julie we knew that it would be a positive experience for Ranger.  It was immediately obvious that Julie is a "dog person" who has a genuine passion for working with dogs and their people.  Julie spent time talking with us about expectations and goals for the two week session, and really helped us to understand what kind of training Ranger would be working on throughout his stay.  We left him totally comfortable and confident about our choice.  Throughout Ranger's stay Julie gave us updates and photos via text, and she was available to answer our questions as needed.  Picking Ranger up was also a really positive experience.  Julie took time to show me the things they had been working on, and we even did a full training session so that she could show me how to continue his training at home.Ranger has become so good at proper loose leash walking which Is amazing considering he is still a puppy who previously would get so distracted by other dogs on our walks.   There have even been instances where we were walking him on leash and an off leash dog has approached him, but Ranger didn't get distracted, but instead just held a "sit" until the other dog moved on.  He has also demonstrated excellent manners when greeting people which is wonderful because he used to jump on everyone who would try to pet him.   The thing that most convinced me that the training camp was a positive experience for Ranger is the fact that Ranger seemed so happy to be there.  He didn't seem frantic or eager to leave the camp at all; in fact, it seemed like he absolutely loved his time there.  The facility has a day care, and daily play sessions were included in his stay which is amazing because Ranger loves play time!The facility was also so clean and everyone, including the front desk staff were so friendly and professional.  I really can't say enough about how great of a trainer Julie is, and how great of a facility they have, and how amazing the results of the training have been.  Julie has even been in touch after the training camp to check in on us. We will soon be starting to take our dog backcountry camping so we are planning on booking another training camp to really develop excellent off leash obedience so we can be completely confident with him out in the woods. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Perry was great with our boxer Bruno! Bruno went for 3wks boot camp. He was hyper, didn't listen, jumped on everyone, ran from us etc. he came back literally a fully new pup. He was 10mths when he attended the class. Super expensive but worth it. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Let's just say at first, I was very hesitant about sending my fur baby, Athena, away to training camp! I've trained all my dogs and have had a love for dog behavior since I was a child--though I am NO professional. I never owned a German Shepherd, and after realizing my pups potential, I knew I wanted the BEST for her! (That did not mean Petco training..haha!) She spent 4 weeks with head-trainer, Stephen and the team at Specialty Dog Training. When I dropped her off, I was a little uncertain because I didn't get the chance to meet Stephen (it was his day off), but I got updates from him twice a week with photos of her. He said it took her a little while to warm up to being there (the dogs, noises, and strange people made her nervous). She stopped eating, and Stephen made sure to bring her in his office so she felt safe and comfortable to eat. More than anything I wanted her to be loved and cared for, as I would care for her. There was NO shortage of that here. When I picked her up, she was bathed, and we got a quick demo of them together. We also got our one-on-one training with Stephen too. I could see the way Athena's confidence had changed. She knew what was expected of her and wanted to please us. Since I've enjoyed learning about dogs for many years, I was happy to see that Stephen truly understood Athena's behavior and what worked for her. Her confidence and self-control in our home and out in public is incredible! She needs subtle reminders, but understands the cues and with the right leadership and follow-through, she is going to do amazing things! Most importantly, my dog was loved, cared for, and came home confident, without fear, and with the same love and goofiness, just with more manners and control!! What else can you ask for? We look forward to our next training session with Stephen and continued training and support with Specialty Dog Training!!  You guys ROCK! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Perry Chapman may be the best thing that has ever happened to dog training. From the first time I I inquired about dog training and was unsure about the process, Perry talked to me for an hour over the phone without even knowing if I was going to commit or not. I was so nervous to bring my puppy, Luca, a 14 week old German Shepherd, to an unknown person for 2 weeks and spend money on something I wasn't sure he'd benefit from at such a young age. We decided that Perry would meet Luca and give me his opinion on whether or not he thought he was ready for training (no charge) and from the second I met Perry, I trusted him. He truly has a passion for dogs and is so realistic. He doesn't make promises he can't keep with regards to where your dog will be at the end of training. I trusted my gut and left Luca there and it was by far the best decision I have ever made. Luca came back a new puppy. Potty trained, not jumping, sitting, laying, place command, staying, coming when called, walking on a leash without pulling, and not biting! Mind you, his nickname was Jaws before he left. If you are on the fence about dog training, just do it. You will appreciate it in the long run when you have the most well behaved dog on the block thanks to Perry Chapman! Also, Specialty Dog Training gives back to our military veterans and trains rescue dogs for our men and women overseas that come back with PTSD. If my review didn't say enough about them, maybe the fact that they give back to our country will! Specialty Dog Training (specifically Perry Chapman, even though the rest of their staff is so friendly and knowledgeable), I am forever grateful for you! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

After a lot of research and phone calls to different facilities, I choose to work with Specialty dog training!  I started with in home training with Stephen! And from the moment I met Stephen and watched the interaction between him and Drogo I knew I had made the best decision for Drogo's training!  After a few months of in home training Drogo went to boot camp!  After 3 weeks I picked up a completely different dog!  Drogo has developed into a confident behaved dog under Stephens training! I can now take him to the dog store, to lunch at an outside plaza without drama!  I highly recommend Stephen and specialty dog training! It has been an amazing experience for me and Drogo!  As much as Stephen trained Drogo, he trained me how to be a better dog owner so I can continue to work with Drogo at home! Thank you Stephen and Specialty dog training! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Specialty Dog Training is AMAZING! Our dog, Sophie, had significant anxiety issues and she was starting to show signs of aggression towards other dogs. She also had a really hard time whenever we had people over or was usually terrified of meeting new people, which caused a lot of stress (for her as well as myself and my husband) and made things very difficult. We did PetSmart training and a home trainer with a different company, but these issues continued. Sophie went to a 5 week boot camp training at Specialty Dog Training, and it has been life changing! She is so much more obedient and confident. Her trainer, Perry, was very knowledgable and gave us updates on her progress while she was gone. We could not believe the difference when we picked her up! Perry has now been training us to be confident leaders and to maintain the awesome progress she made at the boot camp. On top of our pups progress and our wonderful experience with Perry, the whole entire staff at SDT is friendly and understanding. We HIGHLY recommend Specialty Dog Training!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Specialty dog training is amazing! Julie is my trainer and she is amazingly patient, kind and knowledgeable. She is teaching me how to be a confident handler. ....and she's good with my pup too. LOL! I've tried other training facilities in the area and they have yanked on and grew impatient with my pup and left me feeling stupid after each session. Julie on the other hand came along side me, listened to my concerns and provided solutions that worked! My pup is progressing in his training. He also enjoyed his day care stay. The caring staff took pictures of my boy and showed them to me at pick up time. I highly recommend Julie and the team at specialty dog training. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We tried to board our Belgian Mal, Zeus, at this location. We met with Steven for an assessment and I was surprised with the way Steven had handled our situation. We had previously been rejected by other boarders because our Mal is very timid and reacts by lunging or barking. Steven was able to handle Zeus leashed and give Zeus commands. He also was able to kennel Zeus. We set up an appointment for day care to see how Zeus would do without us. When we came back to drop off Zeus for his day care Steven was un-available and another trainer decided to try and work with him. That trainer did not listen to anything we had mentioned and just took the leash. Right away Zeus reacted and was not able to stay with the facility. That was okay, it shows that the trainers that listened to us and understood Zeus as Zeus and not another dog did better handling Zeus. When Zeus is much better with ALL humans we will try again, but for now I would like to thank Steven for listening to Zeus' many issues and being such a great trainer. I would recommend him! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Anybody reading this review will notice that this is only my second Yelp review I've ever written...so I mean business.Other than the fact that we needed our two crazy rescue dogs to be less reactive to other dogs and needed our walks to be less stressful, my husband and I knew nothing about what kind of training would be best for them (they've had zero structured training).  We scoured the internet for what we felt was the "most fitting" dog training facility and decided on selecting Specialty Dog Training (SDT) based on the positive reviews on Yelp, their mission, and based on the fact that they operate the Shelter to Soldier program.  Some of the reviews resonated with the issues we were having with our dogs and that helped with our decision.  However, we were very aware that our dogs might not have the same success.  Long story short, our trainer was Stephen Snyder, and we couldn't be happier with the results. Continue for the full story...After an initial 1-hour assessment, Stephen determined that both of them would benefit from SDT's Boot Camp.  Our 1 year-old Canaan dog mix was initially recommended a 2-week program, but we extended the program for another 2-weeks (4-weeks total) based on Stephen's recommendation since our dog was being more stubborn as time passed with training.  Stephen recommended the 4-week program for our 1.5 years-old Canaan dog mix and the amount of time worked well for him. Our custom training program focused on leash manners, basic obedience, and dog reactivity.Fast-forward 4-weeks later, and my goodness, we were in awe about how well behaved they were on their leashes and how well they responded to their cues. Our boys became more confident versions of their same goofy selves.  From the initial assessment till the day we picked our boys up, Stephen was simply awesome.   What we really appreciated from Stephen was that he is very honest, and did not make grand promises like our dogs will be "perfect" after the training.    Throughout the duration of their training he frequently sent us photos and messages on our boys' progress and this made us feel at ease that things were going ok. He expertly answered all of our questions and reassured us whenever we were worried about them.  We joke that SDT replaced our dogs with other dogs that look exactly like them because we can't believe their transformation. We used to be anxious about walking our boys because we did not know how to deal with them behaving badly, but now we look forward to walking them and are excited about creating that deeper bond with them when we are outdoors.  On our first walk them on our own, we noticed how little they were pulling and how easy it was for us to redirect their attention without resulting to pulling or yelling out their name (the old way).  The walk was amazing and we are looking forward to our follow-on training (for the humans!).  A quick note is that the entire staff at SDT are so nice and very professional. It was a pleasure corresponding with Ms. Nicky Moore through e-mail.  The staff took care of our boys as if they were their own dogs and we quickly knew that they were in the best hands possible.    Our younger boy had a minor skin issue prior to enrolling and we know they applied his medication everyday as prescribed because when we picked him up, his skin issue was completely gone! Additionally, our older boy is a VERY picky/nervous eater and we were worried about him not eating during his stay.  We left his favorite brand of dog food with SDT, and we found out that the staff would sit in the cage with him to make him feel more comfortable to eat!If you are in search of a trust-worthy, quality, trainer and dog-training facility, look no further, your search is over, we HIGHLY recommend Stephen at Specialty Dog Training!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

First thank you so much Specialty Dog Training  and particularly Perry Chapman for the outstanding job he did working with our "big boy" American bulldog Wyatt. We spent the better part of a year and a half  trying everything we could to control his pulling, stubborn attitude  and and leash aggression issues with little success.  Finally we agreed to look into a boot camp program and after much reasearch settled on SDT.  We can't express how happy we are with the choice and the results that exceeded our expectations!  We live in a very dog centric area and to have the stress of several a day walks go away and to now look forward to them is priceless! Perry gave us regular updates during Wyatts stay with photos, video and written progress reports.  When the training was complete he also gave "us" very clear direction and training (people wisperer?) to make sure we were able to take advantage of all the hard work and continue  Wyatts progress without confusing him.  Overall we are very happy with our experience with SDT  everyone was very friendly and you can feel that they love what they do and trully cared for our animals - worth every penny!    Thanks again! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We took our 5 month old Siberian Husky, Maxx, to Specialty Dog Training's 3 week Board & Training Boot Camp in Oceanside, and Perry Chapman was his trainer. We know that Husky's are stubborn and can be difficult to train but Perry was patient, firm and worked miracles. Maxx is now a much calmer, more mannerable member of the family.When Perry came for the home follow-up visit, it was clear he and Maxx developed a bond of trust and affection during the boot camp. Perry was then able to train each of us to give the commands Maxx will respond to. I recommend Specialty Dog Training and Perry Chapman to all our friends w/canine family members. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I sent my 7 month old Doberman for a 6-week board and train with Shan. This is my 3rd Doberman but his strong personality was much different than my other dogs and I realized quickly I needed serious help with his behavior. My dog has been completely transformed and I'm no longer hesitant to take him to public places. We are still practicing at home, and working to enforce the positive behaviors he learned, but the experience has been life-changing. The trainer Shan was exactly what my dog needed and his background with this type of breed is very impressive. I highly recommend Shan and this facility! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Specialty dog training has been an answer to prayers and just what we needed. Shan is training us and is a PERFECT fit, skilled, experienced, professional and excited about what he does. We adopted Korra as a rescue. Part German shepherd and lab and other stuff, she is stubborn and strong willed. I am a petite young woman, so I was afraid of having a dog too big for me to handle, especially one so stubborn. We tried the training I had used in past dogs, then tried a trainer who specialized in shepherds but he was training her to be an attack protective dog, so we tried another positive training but it was going to take weeks just to get her to learn to come when called. Then we found specialty dog training. We started with one on one with Shan for three weeks and Korra thrived. We figured out her stubborn nature was boredom and once we taught her to "work" she thrived. So, we had Shan train her for four weeks in boot camp. She is so well trained and even better, she is excited to "work", meaning loves working on new training skills. Shan gave me confidence with my big stubborn dog and gave my dog joy in training. We worried she might be hard to train but she thrives on it which makes me LOVE taking her everywhere. So grateful for Shan. We are continuing our training to see how far we can go. We are now working on off leash behaviors such as walking with us off leash in full obedience, lying down immediately on command from afar, come every time, etc. We are very happy with specialty dog training! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Is there a way to give 10 stars? Graham Bloem and his staff at Specialty Dog Training and Shelter to Soldier are a professional, caring, first class team. We have had the amazing experience of going through the training of a service dog from start to completion with them, and we could not be happier. My daughter has also achieved great results after taking their 5 session puppy training classes. They love the dogs, and it shows. I highly recommend them for any dog training needs you may have. And, I want to say thank you Graham, for being who you are, and doing what you do. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I would first like to state that I've been working with Graham for almost a decade now with training my dogs, but this review is for the newest addition to his crew, Shan Foster. So I recently got my first Doberman puppy, Panzer, and yeah... it was quite a surprise with just how BADLY this puppy needed training! I waited until he turned 16 weeks, and as soon as that happened and his rabies vaccine/puppy shot series was done, off Panzer went to boarding school. I currently have Panzer in a obedience/protection training package, and I just picked him up from his first phase of training. HOLY. CRAP. Honestly, I feel like Shan just played a switch-a-roo and gave me an entirely different dog! I'll explain - when I first brought Panzer to the Specialty Dog Training campus/grounds, he was so wild, he didn't even respond to his own name. It was embarrassing, frustrating, and really annoying to the point where I often wanted to scream. Well, Shan got a hold of him, and this dog... wow. Panzer is now 6 months old, and he is like a little gentleman. He doesn't pull on his leash, he doesn't do whatever he pleases, he knows his name, and best of all... omg. HE LISTENS!!! Again, I wasn't so confident that he was going to catch on because he was that bad, but I swear, Shan, he worked some magic there. Another thing I absolutely appreciated is how Shan broke down my new "job" as Panzer's handler. He explained, in explicit detail, what I will need to look out for/pay attention to, how to correct him appropriately, and what his exact commands were while training Panzer. He also gave me the lead after a brief demo, and let me test out his training! This all basically boils down to me, as a new handler of a well trained dog, having a super smooth transition into being able to handle Panzer accordingly. This gave me the reassurance and boost of confidence I needed in order to step off on the right foot. Very, VERY much appreciated. Again, I have Panzer in a obedience/protection training package, so he is going back to the SDT campus in about a month for his next phase; therefore, this is my initial review (for phase one). I'm very pleased, and it's been a blessing with how well behaved my puppy is now. Thank you so much Shan! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and everything. I'm very happy! If I could give more stars, I most definitely would. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our new puppy began to display signs of aggression toward people and dogs alike at around 7 months of age or so. We contacted the trainer we had used for our first dog about a year earlier. We worked with our puppy and the trainer's recommended course of action diligently for a couple more months with no real improvement.  She recommended a board-and-train, which was out of her scope of business and specifically told me to reach out to Graham Bloem and his team at Specialty Dog Training.  Our pup began a "boot camp" program where he was paired with his trainer Stephen Snyder. Upon meeting Stephen I felt very confident with their understanding of our pup's issues and how they would come to remedy them. Stephen set forth realistic expectations and goals and explained the techniques they use to get there.  I am so happy to report that though the humans still need to catch up to our dogs progress, with a couple of post-camp lessons, the team at Specialty Dog Training (who also train service dogs for Shelter to Soldier) could not have been, and continues to be, more pleasant, understanding and helpful. Thank you all, you guys are fantastic! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We had a great experience with Shan at specialty dog training. We had 5 training sessions with Shan for our 1 year old Aussie. He was very professional and knowledgeable on all techniques from the basics to more complicated obedience. We saw vast improvements even after the first session. He was excellent with our pup and really knew how to coach my husband and I as handlers as well. We could not have asked for more in a trainer and will definitely be purchasing more classes! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

To all future clients of Specialty Dog Training,

I was impressed with all at Specialty Dog Training: the founder, trainers and staff--all wonderful. But the trainer that shaped my aggressive Aussie Shepard 6 year old mix to a controllable obedient man was Shan Foster. The ability of Shan as a trainer for your loving four-legged family member is hands down one of the best! He's knowledge and skill exudes confidence with outcome to back it up. You as the owner will also have to do your part but as long as you allow them to help shape you to be a better trainer then your relationship with your dog will reach new levels.

With the highest recommendations we recommend Shan for your future clients and their family dog members. We loved Shan so much we sent our 2 newest puppy family members to him also. :) Love can come in many forms and with a trainer like Shan training you and your pup even the most aggressive cases will have a happy ending.

Blessings and gratefulness to all of you at Specialty Dog Training, but especially you--Shan Foster. Thank you from our hearts and soul!

Blessings of light and love,
Guillermina Galvan, Bodb Dearg, Suddhatman, Ch'omack and Bonkai More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Where do we begin.... we are so in love with SDT and what they did for our sweet bulldog. Bulldogs run the gamut  with issues and they can be very difficult to work with. Barbara was / is a puppy that had ingrained bad behavior when we got her. She was a bit older (4 months) so she had some time to develop bad habits. Those habits included, ONLY going potty in her crate , zero leash skills, and zero commands. She was , however, delightful in nature. Sweet, amiable and bit of a dumb dumb. Oh, and not to mention, in a cast for a broken toe ( hot mess). SDT was incredible. We devised a plan, Training proved to be too tough with the injury , so she boarded her with them for two weeks before her training began. She was slated for four weeks, we extended to eight and it was worth every penny. She is incredible. Her commands, potty problems and overall skill set is beyond what we expected. So, to Stephen, the best dog trainer we could have asked for... THANK YOU!  You were patient, kind and so darling with our dog. We are so impressed and grateful we got you!  To everyone at SDT- equal thanks. To anyone on the fence , call them  and go meet the trainers. We could not be happier. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We brought our Labrador for training here.  Murphy is a good dog and has a really good foundation of training, but he is a bit stubborn and lazy and we were having a really hard time with reliable re-call.  After speaking with Braelyn and Stephen, we decided to do some e-collar training sessions with them.  After just a few lessons with Stephen, Murphy is a new dog.  He listens much better now and his re-call is 100 times better now.  If you're having a training issue with your dog, I highly recommend the e-collar.  And no, it is not a shock collar, you are not shocking your dog, it's just a mild stimulation that I can't even feel when I try it on myself!  Stephen was great and really knows his stuff.  I would highly recommend Specialty Dog Training for your dog training needs. More...

Reviewed on Yelp