The Orlando Dog Trainer

We have been training our lab with the Orlando Dog trainer for about 18 months. She is training to be the service dog for my disabled son. Steven constantly thinks outside of the box with training. He is always willing to accommodate my son’s needs and comes up with great ideas to make the training personalized for the dog & my son. I highly recommend Steven and the Orlando Dog Trainer! He has made a huge difference with our dog and in our life!

I want to start by saying I had high hopes for this program. Our younger dog had developed unpredictable aggression/dominance toward our older dog — what began around food and toys escalated into sudden, random attacks even after we removed all triggers. On top of that, he had started snapping and biting aggressively whenever we tried to pick him up, which made daily life stressful and unsafe. These issues only ever happened at home, and only around me and my husband. With our dog sitter or houseguests, both dogs behaved perfectly. Because of this very situational reactivity, we were extremely clear about what we needed help with when we signed up. After being recommended The Orlando Dog Trainer by a friend, I felt optimistic that a 2-week board and train would help resolve the aggression and reactivity between our dogs. My main concern was that the training environment might not replicate the real problem since it doesn’t happen outside of our home — and unfortunately, that turned out to be the case. To their credit, communication during training was great. I received daily updates and videos, and it looked like real progress was being made. However, within hours of bringing our dogs home, the same issues resurfaced — including our younger dog biting when picked up and aggression toward our older dog. Despite additional in-person follow-ups, there was no lasting improvement. I respect the effort and time they put in, but in my experience the approach felt more like “distraction” than actual long-term correction. For $3,000, the results just weren’t there. On top of that, one of our dogs came home with kennel cough, which only added to the frustration. I do believe this company is a good fit if you’re looking for basic obedience — leash walking, sit, etc. They clearly care, and they do try. But for complex behavioral issues like reactivity or aggression, this program didn’t deliver what we needed. I wish my concerns had been taken more seriously before committing such a large investment.

I cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible work Steven has done as my service dog trainer through the TADSAW program. From the very beginning, Steven showed unwavering dedication, patience, and compassion—not just for my dog, but for me as well. Training a service dog is no small task, especially when you're also working through personal challenges like anxiety. But Steven never once made me feel like I was “too much” or incapable. He met me exactly where I was, offering consistent support and encouragement both in and out of class. His ability to balance firmness with empathy created an environment where I felt safe to learn, grow, and make mistakes without judgment. One of the biggest issues I faced was my dog's reactivity, especially around other dogs. I was overwhelmed, discouraged, and honestly unsure if we’d ever get through it. But Steven stuck with us—breaking down the training into manageable steps, teaching me how to read my dog’s body language, and helping me build confidence in myself as a handler. Thanks to him, my dog is now more focused, responsive, and calm in situations that once caused major stress. Steven doesn’t just train dogs—he empowers people. His dedication, expertise, and genuine care helped me rebuild trust with my dog and, more importantly, with myself. I truly couldn’t have asked for a better trainer, and I’ll always be thankful for the impact he had on our journey. If you're lucky enough to work with Steven, know that you’re in the best hands.