Apex dog training

My girlfriend and I decided to do a 3 week board and train program with our dog L’Rae and are happy that we made that choice. She is an 8 month old German Shepherd Poodle. She is a smart, curious, and sweet family dog with A LOT of energy. However, we often felt a total loss of control in public settings. We needed help building trust, learning her body language, and capturing her attention in certain situations. James at Apex is awesome! He worked with her, sent me updates, and took his time when we spoke. At the end of the program, we met at the mall, so we could see what she has learned and get trained ourselves. We got our goofball muppet back, but wow, I can’t express the shift in confidence. The photo is from the day after. That’s her sitting in the middle of a park off leash patiently waiting to recall. We celebrated with some treats at the coffee shop. Before James, I would have never been able to do this. Even better, Apex offers follow up training as a part of the program which we greatly look forward to!

James is an amazing trainer who knows dogs very well. He also provides an incredible service for the price. He traveled a long distance to the customer's (my) location. He met with my wife and I weekly in and around Pasadena when he is based in Palm Springs. I did some searching and do not know of others with this type of customer service. That paired with his knowledge of dog training provides a service that I don't think many others can compare to. James provides a very balanced dog training that works. It isn’t one of these BS positive reinforcement only (although of course it incorporates positive reinforcement) types of training. He introduces tools, techniques, and situations in which to use corrections and when it is proper to do so. Just as with positive reinforcement, timing is very important for communicating what you want from the dog and James was very good at helping us understand what to do and how to do it. He will also bring his own dog to help with behavior training and as a role model. His dog Loki is a very good boy. We hired James for a rescue that we got a year ago. She is a sweet dog, but has some behavioral problems that my wife in particular was struggling with. We hired James to not only train the dog, but train us to communicate effectively with her. We did this through 6 or 7 sessions once a week. Obviously, we had to practice during the week to make progress and also because through the act of training on your own, you develop questions. James was available by phone all week for such questions. That said, obviously it is more useful to show him what we are experiencing and have him show us the solution in person at our weekly meeting. I do wish that we had hired James right off the bat, as it would have saved us some money in the long term. He will introduce you to the proper tools and how to use them, rather than us experimenting and buying things that ultimately proved to be useless. My one bit of advice for the customer would be that if you live a long way from Apex’s base, then make sure you have flexible plans for the day of training. Life happens and plans may have to be changed. James was always very flexible, but there is little he can do about traffic or accidents or other customer dog emergencies (which if you are one of them, I am sure you will be very happy with his ability to prioritize).

Apex dog training is truly top-notch! From the moment I enrolled my dog, I could tell this was a place that deeply understands both dogs and their owners. The trainer is incredibly knowledgeable, patient and professional. He used positive reinforcement techniques that are not only effective but also kind and respectful to my dog. My pups behavior improved dramatically after just a few sessions and I feel so much more confident handling him now. What really sets Apex apart is their personalized approach. They take time to understand each dogs unique needs and tailor the training to suit their personality and challenges. The facilities are great, well-maintained and provide a safe environment for training. I also appreciated how the trainer took the time to explain everything to me. There’s a strong focus on making sure the owner is just as well trained as the dog! The communication is clear and the support is ongoing. I appreciate that. I would highly recommend Apex dog training to anyone looking to strengthen their bond with their dog and improve behavior. It’s been a game changer for us!