Aggressive Dog Training Santa Monica | Dog Trainer Los Angeles | Dominant Dogs

***UPDATE (August 2026): It's been about four months since our dog completed Boot Camp with Dominant Dogs, and we couldn't be happier with the results! The training has continued to make a huge difference in his behavior and our everyday life. He is calmer, listens better, and is much more manageable around other dogs and people. Most importantly, his training has continued to hold up several months later, and he seems much happier and at peace compared to the frightened rescue dog we adopted and brought to Leonard. We are extremely grateful for his progress and would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Dominant Dogs for professional dog training.*** Original review: When looking for a dog trainer for my newly-adopted senior rescue, I wanted to find someone patient who would care for my little guy as much as I do. Leonard’s approach on his website of not just training the dog, but teaching the owner as well, attracted me. Leonard provided invaluable guidance during our consultation which made me feel comfortable leaving my dog with him for the few weeks of bootcamp. While I was curious how my dog would react to being left alone with Leonard, I’ll never forget how, much like dropping a kid off at college, he curiously went with Leonard and didn’t look back. While I missed him terribly, Leonard provided daily pictures of him on their various adventures together. My dog who is normally scared of men and likely faced trauma in his past came out of the doggy bootcamp not only a completely different dog but also wholeheartedly adores Leonard. Leonard expertly identifies your dog’s personality (he even affectionately referred to my little man as a “business man” who needs a job to do) and has morphed my relationship with my dog to allow me to be in charge and a strong leader who provides security to my dog, eliminating his fearful and dominant behaviors, while I receive emotional support in return. Highly recommend Leonard, and get ready to learn a lot if you choose to utilize his unparalleled skill and kindness.

UPDATE (8/12/26): Just spent the afternoon having a picnic at the park with my dog. She was very calm and relaxed despite all the squirrels and dogs passing by. Months later and I’m still amazed at Leonard’s work. Worth every penny! — Where do I even begin with this review?! When we first reached out to Leonard, we were completely at our wit’s end with our dog. She’s a six year old Portuguese Water Dog with a ton of energy and was EXTREMELY leash reactive, constantly overstimulated by everything around her on walks. Despite wanting her to come everywhere with us, taking her out felt dreadful & exhausting. I always dreamed of having a dog I could take to a coffee shop, sit, relax, answer emails, and just enjoy being out together. But that felt completely out of reach for us. I knew something had to change, I just didn’t know where to start. That’s when I found Dominant Dogs and came across Leonard Ludovico. I was hesitant, but after our initial consultation, he gave us confidence that things could improve. He recommended his three week boot camp, and we decided to trust the process! By the two week mark, I was already blown away. By the time we picked her up at three weeks, it truly felt like we had a completely different dog. Walking her is now easy. Being outside with her feels fun, freeing, and effortless, something I never thought I’d say. What really stood out is that this training wasn’t just about changing our dog, it changed me too. Leonard helped shift how I showed up, not only with my dog, but in how I approach interactions more broadly. I truly cannot recommend Leonard enough. This was hands down the best money we’ve ever spent, and we absolutely plan to work with him again in the future. Thank you, Leonard, for everything. Your work is one-of-a-kind, and we’re so grateful!!!

Our lives have completely changed and its all thanks to Leonard Ludovico. I could not imagine the change in which I am now living on the daily. It's a life I always wanted with my dog, a life I previously thought impossible. I looked long and hard for a qualified trainer, it was all the same BS, none of it would have helped this dog. Our dog is a Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd Mix and she became too hard to handle. A high drive dog, needing more than I could give at the time, who became unruly often savage even. At the forefront: Extreme anxiety, separation anxiety and an unruly nature of alertness that did not mesh with said anxiety. Overprotective, disobedient, barking and lunging and terrorizing little and big dogs alike-- she was lost in terrible moments, unable to hear or care for us while she was lost in that world of anxiety. Elevators, car rides and anything that involved society became a big problem. We had to take her to the bathroom at the crack of dawn or in the middle of the night only, our lives became a big bubble of stress. I thought I was going to live a sacrificial life for this dog and just endure the pain and torture that anxiety created and leaked onto us.. it sucked. I found Dominant Dogs, Leonard Ludovico changed everything. I knew from the moment I met him, we had a chance.. I spoke to a lot of people, met with trainer x, y, z and Q, none of them gave me confidence, Leonard was the outlier. I'm going to tell you some of how Leonard has helped us, much of it I didn't even ask for, this man is a Godsend. She doesn't lunge or bark or react to dogs anymore, not even reactive ones. We can be walking on the same side of the sidewalk and, well, she's often the star of the show. If there is an inkling of an issue. A quick "leave it" and a leash correction and she stops.. and the initial response to seeing them, she might look their way, but even as that same dog reacts, mine really, does not. Holy. She is often confused with a service animal now, people ask me how I did it, I have no clue, Leonard did it. I'm just honoring the training he gave us both. The barking has stopped at night and in the morning. People passing our front door/balconies/hallways.. she lets us know once, here and there, but ultimately a completely different dog. Little dogs are no longer a problem.. Humans aren't a problem, big dogs, I have moved seamlessly through crowds with her by my side.. World Cup games at Century City Mall, people on top of us practically, she is incredible now. She listens, her attention isn't perfect to us, she is young still at 2 years old, but its getting better and the difference pre-Leonard is so drastic I can't even properly explain it... She looks happy, not fearful, her eyes have changed, she is more confident, we are more confident, she goes to the bathroom without being overly alert. She eats her food slowly now.. She chews and chomps the kibble, it crunches in her mouth, then she pauses and continues, her bowl used to be swallowed and gone in seconds, she now takes minutes.. I didn't expect this, Leonard just did it. I walk out of doors and through gates side by side with the animal and we move at a comfortable pace. The dog is not a menace anymore. She does not charge headfirst out the door anymore. She used to nuzzle at doors and doorknobs attempting to get out first like the lead dog of a sled or something.. The dog is now leash trained, obedient and by our side, but with care and protection, not the stress or hassle of pulling/barking, etc. She doesn't attack my hands anymore, she doesn't jump onto our bed and tear at the blankets to wake us up, she is a respectful lady now. She goes to outdoor restaurants with us now, laying or sitting by our side while we eat and calmly gets up with us when we leave. There is more, I can't fit it all. Dominant Dogs might be the answer to your dog's problems, your problems. The man knows psychology, people, animals, environmental/behavioral.. he is passionate, we got pictures and updates constantly as well. Everything.. awesome.. thank you..

Working with Leonard completely changed my German Shepherd—and changed me as an owner. My dog had become aggressive and reactive, and I felt overwhelmed. Leonard didn’t just train my dog; he taught me how to build a healthy, confident relationship where my dog no longer felt the need to control the environment. His commitment, structure, and care are unmatched. I had tried other trainers with no success, but Leonard’s approach created a transformation that felt almost immediate. Today, my dog is relaxed, responsive, and genuinely happier. I’m so grateful for everything Leonard poured into us. His work is extraordinary.