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

We adopted a 1 year old chihuahua from the West LA Animal Shelter in November 2017. She had originally been owner surrendered, then adopted and later returned to the shelter. She had major aggression issues with other dogs and biting people. After bringing her home for the first few days she was a sweet little dog who enjoyed her twice daily walks. She was fine with my children and husband, and besotted with me. I saw no real issues with her and wondered if perhaps the people who returned her were making excuses for the fact that they had changed their minds about owning a dog. By day eight things began to change. She began growling and barking at other dogs on the street, later this became people on skateboards, bicycles, and individuals simply walking by. If we were in an outdoor restaurant and the waiter approached the table she growled and attempted to bite them. Things got progressively worse as she would no longer need to see another dog on the street to start barking and pulling at the lead. Walking her, something we had both previously enjoyed, became extremely stressful. She bit my husband twice while he tried to put a leash on her and would growl at my children on occasion. I contacted Leonard who assured me that during the 3-4 week period my dog would be with him and his pack 24-7 and do everything with them. Unlike some other training facilities it wasn't just a couple of hours a day, but effectively a round the clock real life training and rehabilitation programme. On the morning we left her my husband and I did so with some trepidation. But Leonard's reviews and video material on YouTube were very reassuring and I needed someone who understood dogs in a way that I did not. That very afternoon I got sent pictures of my little dog posing in a relaxed and confident manner alongside his two dogs on a walk. The same dog who only that morning had been snapping at dogs 10 meters aways on the street. Now she was walking and standing alongside them in a relaxed manner. I could not believe it. Evidently I had found the right man for the job. During the next three weeks Leonard kept me posted with frequent (and beautiful) photographs and videos of my dog alongside his and emails about her progress. He assured me she was a good dog but just needed the right training and consistency on my part! While the two of them had to resolve certain trust issues she had with him, they eventually got to a place where she was sitting on his lap and expressing genuine affection for him. I could see the change in my dog and it was a heartfelt relief and weight off of my shoulders. Before taking her home I had to spend some time with my dog as Leonard observed my behaviour as well as the dogs and how we both co-create the dynamic. Which brings me to a central benefit of working with Leonard - he not only understands canine behaviour but is an astute observer of human behaviour too. So much of what our dog expresses is a consequence of how we as dog owners treat them and how we relate to them - both verbally and non verbally. While many of my dogs issues were pre-existing, I had to learn what I was doing to contribute towards the problem and what I might do to help solve it. I found spending time with Leonard empowering. It helped me pay attention to my body language, how I moved, and how I viewed the terrain I was entering into and navigating with my dog as we took our walks together - the pack mentality. Also learning how to relate to my dog helped me be more assertive. It was a genuinely good dose of psychology for both of us. An animal is not a machine that can get sent in and fixed for good, they are living beings with all the complexities that involves. After three weeks with Leonard my dog and my work together is ongoing but I am now equipped with the tools, understanding, and confidence which I was lacking previously thanks to him. My dog is more relaxed, our walks have become enjoyable again, and she now listens to me. Revolutionary. Leonard is indeed a gem. Photo credit: Leonard Ludovico of Dominant Dogs

I have been pondering for a few years on getting a Shiba Inu, one of the most common stubborn dogs to train, and I did not gain confidence to achieve my dream until I met Leonard. I wanted to send my new puppy to the best boarding school or a training center around Los Angeles during his puppy stage, and everyone I spoke to was sweet and addressed their spiel of, "for this much money, I can train your dog". I finally called Leonard, and for once didn't hear about a package deal. Instead he was interested in what I wanted out of my puppy, what I wanted out of a dog, and then went into day-by-day detail on what I should do. He was the most intellectual person I have spoken to about training my dog, and explained certain situations that I did not even think about, but that I could already see were soon about to arise. Just by our conversation alone, I knew I met a guy who does not beat around the bush, and would help you get the EXACT help you are looking for in order for you to get what dog of your dreams. Leonard does not care about what he gets at the end of the day, but he cares about you and your journey with your dog. I have to send this review, because this man was the most enlightening, intellectual, and sincere dog trainer I have come across!

After having taken my german shepherd mix, Nava, to a couple other trainers to help with her dog aggression and receiving very little help and making no progress, I was at a loss as what to do and completely worried about her. As it was, I couldn't take her on a walk without her barking, growling, and lunging at other dogs. She couldn't be around them in any space, and would barely listen to me if there was another dog around. Other trainers had told me ways to help, but their ways were useless and I was having no success with her. Upon finding the Dominant dogs website online, I read over it and I called Leonard the next morning to speak with him. He was very confident in his ability to help, and had me bring Nava to him that same day. I had hoped to see even just a little bit of an improvement, just something to show me that my dog could be helped. Instead, within the first few minutes of us being there, Leonard had taken Nava and showed me how to correctly get her attention and keep her from being so dog reactive. In the hour and a half I was there for my consultation, he had her walking next to two other dogs with no problems whatsoever. I was definitely blown away, and hadn't thought it would be possible for that kind of progress to happen so quickly. Leonard showed me why my dog was being aggressive towards other dogs, and explained to me her behavior around them and me. More than that, he taught me how to watch for that behavior and correct it whenever I did see it, and how to keep her from completely losing it around other dogs. He taught me how to stop her from exhibiting dominant and unwanted behaviors as well. He was very firm with her, but also incredibly confident and that was exactly what Nava needed. He's helped her-already-more than the other trainers I'd taken her to, and she's already become so much easier for me to manage at home. It's amazing how much improvement he's made with her after only a few hours, and I'm looking forward to the next time he works with us.

I brought all three of my dogs in after two of them got into a fight. One was still pretty beat up, but Leonard worked with all three of them and I noticed a huge change in two of them immediately! It became clear that they had been in control and had been fighting over who held the control. The one dog that started the fight that made us look for this type of training was dedicated to maintaining control (she refused to walk on a leash and threw complete meltdowns). However, Leonard told us what to do at home with the three dogs and I am seeing major improvements! The two who first responded are doing well and the other dog has actually gone on her first short walk without pulling on the leash most of the time! Leonard really took the time to explain what was going on to my husband and me and called us out on what our expectations and actions were translating to with the dogs. It was an eye opening experience for sure! I look forward to going back and doing more one-on-one training!