Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Specialty Dog Training in Oceanside

4.7 (63) 2909 San Luis Rey Rd, Oceanside, CA 92058, United States

Categories

Dog trainer

Location on the map

Oceanside, San Diego County, California, US

Phone: +1 855-287-8659
Site: https://specialtydogtraining.com/

Opening hours

Monday:8 AM–5 PM
Tuesday:8 AM–5 PM
Wednesday:8 AM–5 PM
Thursday:8 AM–5 PM
Friday:8 AM–5 PM
Saturday:8 AM–5 PM
Sunday:9 AM–5 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.7

63 Reviews for Specialty Dog Training 2024:

Review №1

2024-06-19 06:12:19

I’ve had an excellent experience and results with Specialty Dog Training!Like many of us who got a dog during the pandemic, socialization was definitely over looked, unfortunately this led to my Pitbull, Blue, being very reactive and aggressive towards other dogs. My wife and I couldn’t take him for a walk or outside the house without a ton of anxiety from both of us! Blue would lunge and go very quickly to a high level of aggression towards animals and dogs that he would see.This all came to a head when Blue got out and into a fight with my neighbors dog, resulting in an injury to my neighbor. I immediately called over a dozen trainers and found Specialty Dog Training, I loved their balanced training approach and wide range of experience from family puppies to executive protection dogs!My trainer was Tom, who had over ten years of experience, who even worked as a military dog handler. Tom was great, with regular check ins and videos, keeping me in the loop on Blues progress and milestones. He was very patient and direct with all my questions.By the end of our board and train, my wife and I were able to walk Blue around other dogs with amazing control. And now Blue loves obedience training as well.This was definitely not a cheap service, but you get what you pay for and this was worth every penny!

Review №2

2024-01-31 15:19:53

A bit late in posting this review but we loved dealing with the folks at Specialty Dog Training. We had picked out a dog through their website that we wanted to take with us on trips in our RV. Not always being familiar with some of the places we were camping at, we wanted to make sure we had protection. My husband, a veteran, has disabilities and so we asked Graham to train the dog to help my husband. A few weeks later, he contacted us and stated that the dog we wanted would not be a good fit but he had several others that we could choose from. He gave us our pick but we told him that he was better educated on the dogs temperaments and personalities so we asked him to pick the dog that would be able to provide the protection we were looking for and also be able to help my husband when he needed it. He called us a few weeks later and said that he found the right dog for us. We brought Remington home and had a minor incident a few months later but Graham and Remis trainer, Garick, worked with us, did a reevaluation, helped reassure us that all was well, and made sure we were happy with our boy. It was refreshing to see Graham stand behind his organization/dogs and be so willing to make things right. Weve had Remington for nearly 2 yrs now...hes a great dog, loves to work, takes good care of us, and he’s been great with our family (grown children and grandkids). He is the right balance of play and work. Graham did a marvelous job of selecting the perfect dog for our needs. Graham, Garick and the rest of the staff were extremely helpful and worked hard to make sure we got the right dog for our family and lifestyle. We would definitely recommend this organization to others. We cant thank them enough for everything theyve done.

Review №3

2023-11-09 04:06:52

I’ve been meaning to write this review for months, and this might be long, but I really need to give our trainer Doug a much deserved shout out.I decided to work with Shelby Semel Dog training after I got my 4 month old rescue puppy back in late March/early april. I originally did a one time consult with Doug and immediately bought a package. My pup Millie was having some behavior issues that needed to be rectified ASAP. He provided very effective solutions and was attentive to my concerns. He focused on things I wanted to focus on while still working on things that he saw were needed, things I never even thought about (which was super helpful!). He even met me in Central Park to work on distraction training, especially around squirrels. We made tremendous progress over the 10 weeks.Sadly after those sessions were complete, Millie and I set off on a two month road trip to relocate to west coast (otherwise I 100% would have gotten a second training package). During that road trip we hit several cities, numerous national parks, had a lot of new experiences/situations, and Millie saw a lot of new wild animals. During this time I realized how much Doug taught me about training Millie. I was able to use a lot of the tools/techniques he provided and because of that, we had a fantastic trip! Still to this day I will look back on some of his follow up emails to continue training properly. Even after the sessions stopped, Doug was there to answer questions and address any concerns.Hiring a trainer through Shelby Semel was the best dog dad decision I’ve made to this day. Doug’s services were worth every penny and really helped build a strong bond/trust between me and my new best friend. If I ever move back to NYC I’ll be reaching out to Doug!

Review №4

2023-05-31 00:30:10

We decided on SDT after interviewing three other trainers/kennels and, are THRILLED with our results!We had specific items we needed help with: bikes/eBikes, motorcycles, office etiquette and cats.The hardest part was being away from our baby for six weeks and now that we have him home and hes a MUCH better behaved dog, we are MORE THAN HAPPY.Nicole Powell was our primary dog trainer. We hit it off with her right away and knew Gus would be in great hands with her. We were right. Nicole kept us informed of his training via videos and text updates which made us very happy. We appreciated her time and attention of the dog-to-owner transfer also. Thank you Nicole for making Gus a better dog. We are GRATEFUL for you!!The SPD staff were also communicative and positive and never made us feel like we were too much of an overprotective or worried parent. We like their promptness on communication as well.Gus now has minimal to zero reaction to bikes/eBikes, motorcycles and is less excited about our cats. Weve only had him home three days so we are still apprehensive of Gus and the cats together BUT, the BIG difference is noticeable and they are getting closer and closer every day without altercations.We feel our decision to pick SDT was definitely the right one. They are professional dog trainers and took great care of our Gus.We highly recommend SDT!!!

Review №5

2024-04-23 17:15:38

I have a really challenging working dog with reactivity issues. Specialty dog training made sure that after he came home that I was confident and comfortable with Jaxx in public settings. We did lessons at public places with other dogs where I could learn to control and get comfortable with his reactivity. I appreciate their help in training a difficult dog.

Review №6

2022-01-09 23:49:19

Trust your gut!I’ve debated on writing this review for over a year now, and after much debate I decided I need others to know what a horrible training experience I had. I paid for the 3 week training program for my GS puppy to learn the basics and hopefully continue to work on skills for him to become my service dog. I was referred to this program from a friend my mother knew from her work, and after calling around, I decided to go with Graham and his facility. The biggest fear I had was that I’d leave Dublin and he’d become a scared puppy. My fear became reality.A few red flags that I should’ve paid attention to:I was denied access to physically look at the crate area where the dogs slept and after leaving Dublin there, where they spend the majority of their time, not actually training.The “home” like area to train house skills became unavailable during my puppy’s stay due to remodeling. This was not mentioned when I took the tour, and not until I picked Dublin up did I find out he was never trained in that situation.I was sent a text message in the end of the second week stating Dublin was going to the vet for bloodshot eyes perhaps due to allergies. I gave Stephen the trainer the benefit of the doubt and waited for the vet to share her findings. When she called me to describe her concerns, she said he was pulled around his neck so tightly that it gave him bloodshot eyes. So basically they choked him out because I presume he was not following directions- isn’t this what I was paying them to do?! Train him, not choke him until his blood vessels break in his eyes. The vet advised that he not use any type of collar for a week following the incident. I immediately sent a text to Graham the owner and had to wait until the following day for his response. He stated that Stephen was his head trainer, the most knowledgeable, and very passionate about dogs, he didn’t feel that the vet was accurate. Stephen stated he didn’t pulled him. I decided to believe both Graham and Stephen and continued with the week without collar training and only the use of a harness. Graham offered an additional week due to not being able to use a prong collar and saying basically no training went on during that week of healing the vet required.The day of pick up came and I literally felt like Dublin was sad, dirty, and untrained. Part of the drop off process is to create a list of ten skills you’d like your dog to know at pick up. It is stated that 5-7 is a more likely goal during the training. Dublin was barely able walk on a leash. That’s it. He stilled jumped, wouldn’t stay in place continuously, couldn’t jump in my car, jumped on the counters, mouthed, and was so anxious it was hard to see, as that was my fear.I asked Stephen, as I was leaving, if he could jump in my car. He said- he tried once, but didn’t get to it. Stephen proceeded to open my door and physically try to pull him into my 4Runner, until I told him to stop. He was literally showing me how he gave him bloodshot eyes the first time!Since this horrible experience, I’ve been trying to build trust again with Dublin, calm his anxiety, and train him to complete basic tasks. With that said, Dublin has picked up more with me training him at home after watching different YouTube videos, then he could ever learn at that facility.I refuse to go back for the 3 follow up training sessions offered in the contract due to the negative feeling both Dublin and I have with Stephen and the facility.Now, I’d like to say that the major reason I chose this place was due to the personal referral I received, and the fact that they run the Shelter to Soldier service dog training program for military vets. With this said, I’m sure they have more success with this training program due to the fact that the trainers choose the dogs with the type of personalities that are easily trainable. If your dog is a strong willed German Shepherd, I suggest you stay far, far away from this facility and it’s trainers.

Review №7

2024-06-06 03:18:01

Everyone’s experience is different, but I think that the fact that my dog came home ILL with Giardia after being at this facility for a month would be important to consider before making the costly decision to send your beloved dog away to training here.

Review №8

2021-01-27 23:11:16

Wow! Sending my dog Cody here for the 4 week boot camp was absolutely worth it! Seeing him home demonstrating his new skills and behaving so well honestly brought tears to my eyes! From the initial consultation, to picking him up, the staff and Codys trainer ( Becca) were professional and friendly the whole way through! I received pictures/videos and progress updates throughout Codys time at specialty dog training, and it was really nice to see the hard work him and Becca were putting in. Ive had such a great experience here, Ill be sending my other dog here too!(:

Review №9

2023-10-12 23:05:25

We have no idea about Charlies background but we think he was a street dog before we adopted him. We had several trainers trying to help us with him but he continued to be very reactive towards people on our walks and no one could come into the house. (He loved dogs tho!). We received several recommendations for SDT and we are so happy that Charlie got to work with Cassie. He is so different, and in a very good way. Our silly dog is still there but he has calmed down significantly. There was no way we could have trained him without her. Shes a lifesaver!!

Review №10

2020-11-13 19:35:32

Graham Bloem and his Specialty Dog Training Team are the best in the business! I searched globally for a year for my canine companion to enjoy the golden years. Having family pets throughout my life, I knew that the choice I made was similar to adopting a child. I had very specific needs on my want list: Breed, sex, age, specialty training, physical characteristics, personality, and, most of all, a family member to love and be loved by all who visit our home. Graham went above and beyond my expectations in his personal involvement in my case. The result was perfect. Reina, the queen of our hacienda. Our lab retriever, with a heart of gold, trained like a service dog, yet full of playful energy and joy.

Review №11

2019-10-22 19:09:21

At first glance I was skeptical about leaving my Abby for over 4 weeks. What I was looking for was a 3 -week quick fix - getting back a well behaved doggie with nothing left for me to do but give her daily belly rubs.Graham Bloem called me and spent more than 15 minutes talking, giving me a breakdown of each day and week. I reluctantly gave in to a 6 week program. Was assigned to Perry ; soft spoken, owns an Australian Cattle Herder so I felt more relaxed. Perry gave me feed back along with pictures and videos. On the day I picked up Abby I must say I was afraid and overwhelmed, as I wanted to follow through with all of their efforts and hard work. Perry was clear, direct and again- soft spoken on what I needed to do daily.When I adopted this 2 year old herding doggie it was apparent she had no training, no social skills, constant barking at all dogs, jumping on everyone and everything. Growled at me and my mother when we hugged her. I could not walk her anywhere as she was too aggressive- lunging and barking. My initial goal was to get her grounded and loved. I introduced her to people first and just focused on that as well as getting her to trust me. Which I did!! But could not get thru to her on anything else.The time that she spent at Specialty Dog Training and with the training Perry gave her was priceless. I now have a dog that can go anywhere, she does not require a leash, loves my mom and is now walking along with other doggies in a pack as well as boards with 5 other dogs roaming free in a private home. That person has introduced her cat to Abby .I could not have accomplished this on my own. Perry gave Abby confidence and instilled in her willingness to trust. To top it off she has this amazing personality and intelligence.

Review №12

2019-09-16 01:16:06

Like most people, our dog is a huge part of our family and we have always enjoyed taking him for long walks and adventures. Unfortunately, about a year ago he started developing leash aggression and protective behaviors such as barking, growling, and lunging at other dogs and people. Our pup, Cruz, is a 5 year old Bouvier Des Flandres and we learned that this is common for the breed. Being a large dog, it was very difficult for us to control him and we started dreading the walks that we used to love so much!We are so thankful that we found Specialty Dog Training and especially thankful for our wonderful trainer, Perry. We opted for the 6 week bootcamp and are proud to say that Cruz was released a week early on good behavior. We cant believe the changes in Cruzs demeanor! It has beyond exceeded our expectations. Cruzs aggression has drastically subsided and we now have tools to maintain this. We can easily take him for walks without having to worry about him lunging at someone or pulling us around town. The training that Perry provided for Cruz also seems to have given him structure and hes all around a happier, less anxious dog. This was truly money well spent! It turns out that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Thank you Perry and Specialty Dog Training!

Review №13

2023-04-03 14:10:26

So impressed. My 4 yo herding mix did 6 weeks of behavioral training and really came back a new dog. She has quite a bit of anxiety and prior to training she tugged on leash, was out of control in the car, used barking to control situations and people at home, physically resisted anything she didnt want to do, and basically had us all wrapped around her finger.She has been home for a week now and heels and obeys on leash, sits quietly in her crate in the car, only barks when encouraged to, will stay in place until released, and comfortably stays at home (usually in her crate she has really seemed to love) when I need to get out of the house.I was initially nervous about what would need to go into making such drastic changes to an adult dog, but when we came back for our week 1 training session she was so excited to see her trainer, Cassie, that it really confirmed what a great job these trainers do. I really cannot recommend them enough...well worth the money spent.

Review №14

2021-02-10 17:36:50

Graham and his team are devoted to their lifes work. Im SO happy I found them!! Their Pre trained dog program & boot camps are invaluable. Easy to follow instructions for the owner as well as their Canine Companions.Thank you for everything!!

Review №15

2023-10-08 16:42:42

Thank you so much for helping bring Nyx into my life. She is a true gift. I took her home yesterday and she has been an absolute dream dog. So sweet and so forgiving of a new dog owner. Dahlton, Phil, and the entire team did an amazing job.Dahlton was not only great at training Nyx, but also very patient in his guidance throughout the handler lessons. I appreciate how much he genuinely cares about the dogs he trains and the time he dedicates in helping forge a strong bond between an owner and their dog.The whole experience, from first talking about getting a PPD with Graham to bringing her home has been surreal in the best possible way. Thank you for everyones kindness and for what Specialty Dog Training does for others

Review №16

2017-06-23 21:32:12

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! Hes 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, Chomack and Bonkai

Review №17

2021-10-24 23:34:35

Sent my 1 year-old cattle dog mix here for a 4-week boot camp, and he’s a new boy!Trainers are friendly, knowledgeable, experienced, and good communicators. This isn’t cheap, but so worth it.

Review №18

2017-04-20 21:57:08

Regardless many warnings about stubbornness of Shiba Inu, we love them due to their super-soft wonderful double coat but short hair and their cute face and curly tail. Their size is perfect (22lbs). We got our first Shiba, Happy. He is a doll, super sweet, calm and measure. So we got another one, Pino, with the confidence that it would be as easy as Happy. Oh boy, we were so wrong! Pino is not only stubborn, but possessive and insecure. Pino goes after every moving things including people, this made walking impossible. Pino barks at every little noise he hears, close or far, including barking at us when we get home. The worse is we couldn’t stop him. He was very meant to Happy who scares of him. We were so concern and worry. Our friend referred us to Graham at Speciality Dog Training. After 8 weeks in-home boot camp with Graham, Pino became a wonderful dog very structured. We walk Pino every day with loose leash, no pulling, no go left or right, he focuses on his walk by our side. He comes and sits next to us each time we call him. He can sit at one place for hours until we say he can go. He is kind to Happy too. It is like night and day! We feel so bless that Graham helps us to regain our love and happiness. Nothing is worth more than happiness in life. We really appreciate everything Graham has done to our Pino and believe that our next dog will be another Shiba and it will go directly to Graham before we take it home :)!

Review №19

2022-02-27 10:55:12

I had my consultation with Callie, the individual in charge of establishing the contract and training. During our conversation I asked Callie about how the training would go and she was very vague. I explained to her that I wanted to feel confident with their training plan and that my dog would be safe there, especially if I am going to spend around $4,000 for a four-week session. I expressed how my dog suffers from separation anxiety and that I want to make sure he is handled properly. When I asked Callie for this confidence or even continuity in their training she was still vague and started to get an attitude. Callie was not able to instill confidence of their plan and had a condescending tone when continued to be asked about it. Callie was extremely UNPROFESSIONAL, RUDE and NOT A GOOD individual to work with. I don’t understand how you could feel safe sending your dog away for four weeks to people that can’t even speak to you professionally and not emotionally. Towards the end of the conversation I asked Callie what could be done if my dog was not receptive to their training, her reply was that follow on training could be applied THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR on top of the money that you’ve already spent.At the end of the conversation I asked Callie to send me an email of their training plan and the other plans they offer, which she has completely blown me off. I DO NOT recommend working with these people.

Review №20

2020-12-24 21:33:10

Graham and his team are one of the most dedicated training teams you could find. We have a strong willed mastiff puppy who was proving a difficult challenge in both behavior and obedience. Despite our best efforts home training we were at a loss. Graham, Chris and Dustin all teamed up to help us get our boy in the right direction. They have given us methods, tools, and training to help us work through our puppy’s issues. I’m honestly tearing up writing this. I’m forever grateful to the team at Specialty Dog Training. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Review №21

2017-07-30 19:18:03

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.

Review №22

2018-07-14 20:17:01

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.

Review №23

2018-08-04 00:58:27

I dropped off an extremely hyper 3 year old Labrador here with Perry, who I couldnt 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 dont 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 doesnt 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 Im so grateful I sent my dog here. It was worth every penny!!!!

Review №24

2016-04-10 23:52:30

Ive been very impressed with Graham and his team at Specialty Dog Training, and all the wonderful training assistance hes provided for our dog, Gracie. Last year, my husband and I got an 8-wk. old German shepherd puppy at a local rescue and set about training her. Having had shepherds before, we felt confident that we would be able to manage her training. But the combination of her being on the larger size, and our desire for her to be well-trained enough that we could relaxedly take her to the park and feel confident she would come when called, AND be on leash and not react to other dogs, led us to explore investing in professional training.When she was 8-months old, we sent Gracie to the boot camp that SDT offers - initially for 4 weeks, but ultimately kept her there for a total of 6 weeks. Graham and Christina did a great job keeping us apprised of her progress and sending us pics and videos. The results have been nothing short of amazing - Gracie has gone from a very sweet but unruly and independent-minded puppy, to a consistently obedient and reliable dog. She not only knows all of the basic commands, but is now a joy to take to the park and on walks, and is very predictable with people or dogs she meets. What was once so stressful for us, has completely turned around.Graham is an amazing dog whisperer, and is a passionate promoter of how to live well with your canine companion. He truly cares about the dogs he brings into his SDT family, and has gone the extra mile to make sure that Gracies transition back to her family life from boot camp has gone well. This was a big decision for us - but it has turned out to be a great decision for us and for Gracie. She continues to amaze us, and we have Graham, Christina, and the rest of SDT to thank for her incredible progress! I highly recommend Graham and his team - they will exceed your expectations.

Review №25

2014-01-07 03:30:07

Graham has been phenomenal! We rescued a 40-pound, schnauzer, bearded collie mix from Long Beach. She was fine with our immediate family but was VERY aggressive with anyone outside the home. Since we have 9 and 11-year-old children, we could not risk having other children over to the house (or anyone for that matter) for fear she would bite someone. After spending 5 weeks with Graham, she is absolutely amazing - a completely different dog for sure. Now, she shows ABSOLUTELY NO aggression and is actually friendly and tail wagging whenever we have visitors! To top if off, he does this through positive reward and reinforcement. In addition, she is amazing in the car and immediately goes to her place, she waits at the door to be invited out, she comes when called, and overall has become an incredibly well behaved part of our family. Graham does an amazing job following through with his clients (both people and animals) and is committed to customer satisfaction. You will definitely be pleased with your results.

Review №26

2020-07-28 02:02:43

Let me start by saying I am not the kind of person to overstate, or hype a business/service unless I REALLY feel it deserves it. That is the case with Specialty Dog Training. HUGE shout out to Dustin, who trained our Giant Schnauzer puppy Odin. When we dropped Odin off he was a completely unruly 7 month old puppy. Nothing short of a wild animal living in the house with us. My wife and I were at our wits end with trying to train him ourselves. We even wasted over a thousand dollars trying to work with an in home trainer, but nothing would take. Specialty Dog Training puppy bootcamp came at the recommendation of a work colleague. I had witnessed the change in his dog first hand, and we decided to dive in and give Odin the opportunity to become the companion we so desperately wanted him to be.Odin is a completely different dog now, in all the best ways. He is SO well behaved and well mannered. Even his regular vet noticed a massive difference. They couldnt believe it was the same dog. No more jumping on the counters, no jumping on people, will stay in his place bed until given his release command, sits, downs, stays...its like a dream come true. Specialty Dog Training was 100% worth it. We will be recommending this place to everyone we know who either has, or is planning to add a dog to their life. We cannot thank Dustin, and specialty dog training enough for what they have done to our sweet boy and for our family because of it.

Review №27

2016-05-27 19:13:39

My wife and I rescued a doberman in July 2015. After 9 months of trying every trick, class and almost every article suggested, we had almost given up on having a well trained dog. We went to Graham as a last attempt for help and it is the best thing we did for our dog. Graham met with us and we knew right then and there that he was the saviour we and our dog needed. After his suggested training regiment we have our dog back and could not be happier with the results.

Review №28

2014-09-10 16:53:01

We came to Graham with a 2 year old Rottweiler Male who was starting to have some serious aggression issues. We brought our Atticus home at 12 weeks and he was a joy until he hit his teenage years and really wanted to control our family and lash out at visitors. He stayed with Graham for 6 weeks and the dog we brought back was night and day. He is obedient and respectful, he listens well and understands his role in our family. We cannot thank Graham enough for his time and dedication to working with our sweet Atticus. We missed him terribly while he was gone, but it was so worth it. I have since shared my experience with every dog owner I know. I highly recommend Graham and Specialty Dog Training, he will help you create a relationship with your dog that is mutually beneficial. Atticus is so much happier due to his time with Graham, thank you.

Review №29

2013-11-29 20:10:06

My husband and I can not speak more highly of Graham, he is truely gifted with animals. We came to him with our one and a half year old Bernese Mountain Dog who was afraid of people when they would try to interact with him on the street. He went to Specialty Dog Training for 6 weeks. Graham kept us updated on a regular basis sending pictures and updates to keep me from missing him so much. When we got him back he was a totally different dog. He is now a 110 lb dog that is well behaved and easy to handle not to mention he is more comfortable with strangers. We have been working with Graham in private lessons to fine tune his behavioral issues. I could not recommend him enough and we have used 3 other trainers in the past and none that compare to his dedication and compassion for helping your pet be a better part of your family.

Review №30

2014-03-30 23:51:02

Graham is an amazing dog and human trainer. Weve used Graham since 2008, when we rescued a 1 year old, very timid, challenging and troubled female lab/husky mix. When we first got her, she was so shut down, we couldnt even approach her and take her for walks without her anxiety overwhelming her. He spent 3 weeks with her in boot camp, and she came back to us able to be out in public, walking daily and was relatively behaved for 4 years. In 2012, we decided to rescue another pup, this time a 1 year old, male lab/shepherd mix. He came to us submissive, skinny and little shy. After 2 months of living together, the two dogs got into their first skirmish. Graham came to assist, and has been working with us on and off for the past year to get the two of them past their tension with each other. A huge obstacle is the pecular issues that our female lab/husky has with random things that cause her anxiety, stress and competition with our other dog. His patience teaching us the tools necessary to be a strong dog leader has been invaluable. We have seen the possibilities of our dogs living in peace together (they do great when they are with Graham and at boot camp), so his training and presence allows us hope that we can overcome their challenges. He has been a diligent teacher with his training of us, to make sure they are successful under our leadership. His ongoing guidance and support has made an otherwise overwhelming situation bearable and hopeful. We have a long ways to go to become better dog parents, but it isnt due to the lack of effort, knowledge and support on Grahams part. We expect he will be with us and our dogs for the rest of their lives, to help us through the trials and tribulations of dog ownership and leadership.

Review №31

2015-10-11 21:37:24

Braelyn with Specialty Dog Training is absolutely awesome!!! She is not only an extremely gifted dog trainer, shes and incredible person! Like so many dog owners out there, I was searching for the perfect fit, style and environment for my puppy, Walle! I knew he needed training but the idea of choosing a trainer was overwhelming, not to mention costly. After reading endless reviews and speaking over the phone with Graham I finally picked a trainer. My puppy, Walle was 9 months old when I brought him to Braelyn. He had already developed a whole list of bad behaviors that I was not handling correctly. Walle spent 4 weeks with Braelyn, yes I know that sounds like a long time to be away from your baby and it was not easy. However, Walle came home a completely different dog. Still super loving, playful, and attached to the family, but he was now more relaxed, less anxious, extremely easy to correct, and an absolute joy to be around. We can now take him anywhere....restaurants, horse shows, BBQs, running, hiking, etc. With one command he is back to being focused and ready to listen. The complete success of your dogs training is dependent on you the owner learning and consistently using the techniques that Braelyn uses. She was also so incredibly patient as she helped our family and me learn and understand how to maintain, understand, and utilize all of your dogs new skills! Braelyn is the BEST!

Review №32

2016-07-14 01:32:03

My wife and I took our 1 yr bull terrier Beau with many issues food aggression, dominance of us and things, terrible leash manners, and not listening at all. We thought we did everything right but he was just to hard headed. We ending choosing Specialty Dog Training to put him boot camp for a month and some at home visits now he is the perfect puppy he gets so many compliments on how his behaviors in any situation good or bad his training was a world of difference and I would recommend this for any dog. Braelyn has been perfect and awesome very helpful with any of beaus miss behaviors its like she can talk to him and knows exactly what to do to fix it and shows great amounts of love and praise. She treats him as if he was her own dog. She expects nothing but best from him and pushes him to be better every time.

Review №33

2023-09-07 03:02:08

Great staff! Super helpful, knowledgeable, and patiently work with clients (both two legged & four legged). Our chocolate lab is the best boy and now has a solid foundation for his hoomans to build on. Thanks SDT team

Review №34

2013-11-07 12:41:48

We first met Graham after we rescued a 5 year old heeler that was very dominant, aggressive, very behaviorally challenged. Graham has the presence that our dog immediately clued in to and with his patience, his expressions, his manner, he was able to connect with our dog on his level, to gain his trust and have him respond to his training. Grahams main interest truly is to provide the structure for a happy, confident, obedient dog. And always in a soft but firm and non-aggressive manner.Graham is now working with a third dog for us; this one is a young dog that is learning from the beginning acceptable behavior in all situations. Graham has also kept us tuned in to how to direct our dogs attention the right way, to keep us sharp to notice pattern changes and how to quickly bring the focus back to where it belongs, and help us all to better understand each other.It has been a pleasure to have Graham in our lives; we are much a happier ‘pack’ thanks to Grahams skill and devotion. Graham is an awesome dog trainer and is someone I highly recommend, if you want what is best for your best friend.

Review №35

2016-06-16 17:58:26

Our puppy Ravioli, born 11/17/15, is an English Cream Golden Retriever. We are due with a (human) baby on 9/15/16 and decided that we wanted to make sure our puppy would be ready to be a big brother and also have some basic house manners down. We started doing our research and came across some great options. We visited and interviewed a few different places/people. I think fate led us to Specialty Dog Training. They have been the BEST thing that has ever happened to us. In specific I want to write this review about Braelyn (although Graham the owner is awesome, and Christina who does sales is basically our bff now! We LOVE everyone!! Lori who runs Paw Paradise, the boarder, on site, is also amazing!). Braelyn is so naturally talented with dogs and animals. It was really her calling since she was 6 years old! We found out that she has trained 4 generations of chocolate labs for one family- we are so glad Braelyn is so young because she will be our dog trainer for life now!In regards to what kind of training we were after, we were not a super typical case since we did not need to correct any behaviors. We simply wanted to establish good habits with our new puppy. We decided to go with the 3 week package (we got new wood floors and had to move out of our house for 2 weeks, and then a couple weeks later we took a week long babymoon and Rav did his last week). This worked really well for us since we got to break it up and that also meant breaking down the cost. In regards to cost, I wouldnt think twice about it. Its a huge chunk of change but this is going towards your new family member who will be around for over a decade. Braelyn is not only an amazing dog trainer but she is very compassionate and truly loves every dog she works with like her own. This was so important to us as Ravioli is our sweet baby and we didnt want him in a kennel getting minimal training and no love. Braelyn gave him the best of both worlds. She taught him so much and he came back a better dog. With the fate thing- we got so lucky because Braelyn recently had a baby and she brought Ravioli around her son and reassured us he would be a great big brother!! Even as a 7 month old puppy he is calmer (still has his goofy personality) and LISTENS to us. And not only listens but he understands!!! He hasnt barked once since coming back this last time. He does what we say, such as going to his PLACE and staying there (he is still a pup so we are still working on this- we think he has ADD haha). He is perfect at sitting, lying down, healing, drop-it, leave-it, and so much more I cant even think of it all. He is very obedient now and we constantly get compliments on him while out in public. People are shocked that he is so young. We work with him everyday to keep up the training he has learned (this is very important!) but Braelyn also texts us everyday or we text her to see how he is and to get updates. We feel fully supported by her and the whole Specialty team. These people feel like family now. We could not be more happy with our choice of Specialty Dog Training. We will be sending Rav back in the future for refreshers and new stuff too. We love them all so much! Thank you!

Review №36

2015-12-01 03:54:07

I have a two-year old American bulldog mix, Cash, who I rescued about 5 months ago and he is incredibly stubborn, but sweet. After he got out of our house and ran down the street, I knew it was time to take him to experts for training. I had taken another dog to a different place for training years ago and hadnt been pleased, so I searched for more highly qualified trainers this time.From the first meeting we had with Braelyn, she understood Cash and knew exactly what to do to help him break old habits and learn to respect and obey me. After each session, we would practice what we had learned for about five minutes each day and now he is listening to my commands. Now, he walks perfectly on his leash, heels, ignores distractions and comes when he is called. I am so confident in his behavior now that I brought him to a friends house for Thanksgiving and told him to lay in his bed while we prepared the meal. He stayed there despite other dogs running around and was the best behaved dog there. I highly recommend Braelyn and Specialty Dog Training; they truly care about the animals in their care and taught me how to be a better dog owner.

Review №37

2015-01-16 00:23:58

Graham and his team have been amazing! Our dog had some aggression issues and a lot of insecurities. Graham has transformed him into a well behaved, confident, and perfect dog. He is now able to be around other dogs and strangers without showing aggression, and actually, shows a desire to greet them. He most definitely saved my dogs life! Much thanks to Specialty Dog Training!! :)

Review №38

2015-04-06 23:27:08

We came across Specialty Dog Training in a frantic search to find someone to train our one year old male Mastiff (Ronin) who was becoming a little aggressive with unfamiliar strangers. We had no idea how to properly handle the situation and we were getting to the point where we just wanted to give up. Luckily, we stumbled upon Specialty Dog Training and were able to get in touch with Graham and Braelyn right away. They are simply amazing!! They kept us updated often with pictures and his progress during his 4-week boot camp. Ronin came back a completely different dog, in the best way possible! He knows his commands, he respects us as handlers, and is all-around a more balanced, well-behaved pup! We will forever be grateful for the patience and love that Graham and Braelyn had for Ronin to make him the way he is today. Thank you SDT!

Review №39

2021-02-05 17:04:44

There really aren’t enough words to express my gratitude towards Specialty Dog Training. For the past 6 years I have always known I had a “special” dog. She was very aggressive due to her fears of the world. I knew her as a lovable, sweet, cuddly girl. But to the rest of the world she was terrifying.My dog, Bear, is the perfect definition of a mutt. She’s an Akita, German Shep, Pitbull, chow chow mix. These breeds have always been known to be incredibly difficult to train and handle if not done properly. I had never owned a dog before, let alone knew about different breeds and their varying personalities. 2020 was an incredible breaking point for me, as it was for many people. My dog and my parents’ dog kept getting into aggressive dog fights. In total, my dog got into 5 major dog fights in the span of 6 months. I had hit my breaking point with her. I knew there was no way I’d be able to keep her if she continued down the path she was on. So, in a desperate attempt to find her help I went onto Yelp. I typically don’t like taking peoples comments at face value, but most of SDT’s comments were so positive. Unfortunately, none of the commenters mentioned anything about their dog being aggressive prior to being board and trained. So I took a chance and reached out.Graham, the owner of this amazing establishment, got back to me within 8 hours of me sending my message on Yelp and had me call into their offices. I spoke on the phone with Callie, who was the kindest woman. Completely understanding, compassionate, and really listened to my woes regarding my girl. The process went rather quickly after I spoke with Callie. Within a month and a half I was dropping off Bear knowing that this was it for her. If SDT couldn’t help, I didn’t know what I’d do. For the 8 weeks she was there, I had weekly updates (sometimes twice a week) on her progress and how she was doing overall being in a new environment. The videos I received were shocking. My scared, timid, aggressive dog was being walked by strangers. She was being walked near people, near dogs, near big items that would have typically terrified her. But she was smiling and seemed so relaxed.2 months flew by, and by the time I got my dog back I was ready to start a new chapter with her. She, on the other hand, decided to try slipping back into old habits. When I went back to Graham with my concerns he immediately suggested bringing her back for a 2 week retraining session to teach her new hardware (hardware being her collar type). I couldn’t believe it. This company had done so much for me and my sweet girl already, but now they were willing to take her back for FREE to retrain her with different hardware. At the end of those 2 weeks, I was blown away. The sweet girl I know is the one everyone else gets to see now. This dog who was petrified of the world due to deep seeded trauma was now completely trusting of me that the world isn’t so terrifying. That’s not to say she’s perfect either. I went into this with zero expectation other than to help Bear out. She still has her moments, but they are just not comparable in any way.If you got to the bottom of this, and need to take away a single thing, let it be that you consider SDT with your pet. These trainers are angels helping people reconnect with their dogs, and at the end of the day, helping dogs to finally be able to live carefree and loved.

Review №40

2016-07-18 22:22:38

I adopted a rescue at 2 months old. Not sure of his history, but I took him everywhere with me and did puppy school and socialized him with dogs and people as best I could. After all that, he was still very fearful of people and would growl and back away from anyone who approached him. Walks were tough because he would pull himself away from situations he didnt like and having people over to my house was a stress for me and my dog. On a recommendation I sent him to Braelyn for a two week boot camp. I cant believe what she was able to accomplish in just the two weeks!! My arm doesnt get ripped off when we go for walks and have even taken him to places like Home Depot and he and I follow the training! I am able to have people over without worry! Best money Ive spent for both our quality of lives.

Review №41

2013-10-11 22:07:23

We adopted Max from Coastal German Shepherd Rescue Nov 2012. After getting to know him, he exhibited behaviors of a dog that had not been properly socialized nor good house manners. He knew no commands other that the few that the I assume the rescue org taught him. We enlisted Graham on the referral of Victoria at CGSR and started training sessions.Obedience training was really key to a good relationship with Max. We had dogs in past that we worked with on obedience from the puppy stage, but did not have the right skills to work with Max; an adult dog. It was almost as if he was starved for leadership from his human companions. Graham helped us all to better understand each other. Max wants to please us, and thru obedience training - knows now how to.Things were going well during our sessions and the time in between, but not fast enough for us considering our limited time to work with Max since we both work. We decided to send Max to boot camp where he worked with Graham daily over 2 weeks and got a crash course. He improved A LOT and we were pleased with the new and improved Max. He really is a great dog, and with the proper social skills and training, he is even better. He is not perfect, but I suspect that with Maxs personality and being VERY SMART, he never will be. That said, the difference is day and night and we dont expect him to be perfect.It is now almost 1 year since Max joined our family and I cant imagine him NOT being part of our family, our home and our hearts.

Review №42

2020-02-21 23:42:49

Our trainer Alayna was amazing. Our sweet but unruly one year old dog named Tank spent a month in boot camp. He came out so well behaved, with amazing manners, commands and our small kids have even been able to get him to listen. Alayna was patient, kind, treated Tank as part of her family and sent us great updates on his progress while in camp. Highly recommend both Specialty Dog training and Alayna who was the ultimate professional. Tank still has his sweet personality but is much more obedient.

Review №43

2015-07-23 16:52:35

Absolutely love both Braelyn and Graham. Grahams understanding of dogs is outstanding and being able to see the temperament of an animal and know what it needs in the way of training is truly his gift. Braelyn was my trainer for my 5 month old standard poodle, Teddy. He is now 3-1/2 years old and the BEST dog I have ever owned thanks to her training. Braelyns techniques matched Teddys mood of the day! Sometime he would be an angel for an hour; sometimes hed get brain-dead in 20 minutes, and Braelyn could always distinguish when to push through the stubborness and when to let go! She is kind, patient and well equipped to be a trainer. Thanks to both of you for giving me my very best friend!

Review №44

2019-05-20 21:44:07

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 Im just amazed at the DIFFERENCE he made with his methods. They make sure to always check in with you and give you updates! Its 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 didnt 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 thats 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 its for training, boarding, or just pet sitting for the day! The change is amazing!

Review №45

2016-08-31 20:42:06

Braelyn is an amazing trainer. I was desperate when I reached out. I had adopted a blind puppy and I was at a loss as to how to get some behavioral issues under control, especially her barking and biting at the hands. Braelyn was so kind, and gentle while getting the message across to both my puppy and me. After just two visits, the stress level in my home was cut in half. I highly recommend Braelyn to help with your training needs.

Review №46

2013-08-05 17:06:20

I rescued my pit/lab, Maverick, about two years ago. He needed some basic training so I started researching dog trainers in San Diego. Graham Bloem’s name came up as a top trainer in San Diego County. After meeting with Graham I was very impressed with his experience and also his passion for helping rescued dogs. We started working with him one on one, once a week, for about 2 months. Maverick was finally starting to reach his potential.We stopped going to training sessions because Maverick was doing great! Then, in October 2012, Maverick was attacked by two dogs and started developing bad behavior traits. He would bark for no reason, stopped listening to my commands, and most of all he became extremely insecure. I thought with time he would snap out of it and become the loving, obedient dog I knew. Months passed and Maverick just got worse and worse.Then out of the blue I saw Graham doing a segment on TV and I took that as a wonderful sign to get Maverick some help.I sent Graham an e-mail and by the next day we were discussing a game plan for Maverick. We decided to do a three week bootcamp so that Maverick would be fully engulfed in a training regimine. Finally, three weeks were done and I was able to see the progress Maverick had made!Graham didnt end his commitment to Maverick on that last day of boot camp. To ensure that Maverick continued to make progress he met with us to show me training techniques. I can 100% say that I am a better dog parent and Maverick has made tremendous progress due to Grahams’ skills and devotion.

Review №47

2014-04-25 16:13:24

I have a Great Dane pup (Maximus) who was very timid.After dog camp with Graham, hes a new pup! His behavior & attention span was transformed.Graham implemented new commands such as Leave it & Place allowing me & my parents to have my HUGE dog inside their house all the while exhibiting excellent manners.My walks with Max are much more connected & are a wonderful bonding time instead of a constant struggle to get him to pay attention & stop tripping me!Thank you Graham for your passion for dogs & for training Max (& me!)

Review №48

2014-09-12 14:59:16

We love Braelyn. We sent our first puppy to her because I refused to be dragged around by a big dog and he came back to us impeccably behaved. And he adores her. Then my sister in law sent her pup to Braelyn boot camp, and we sent our housekeepers pup, who comes to our house everyday, and she is now beautifully behaved. Finally, our newest pup who Braelyn says is sassy came back to us extremely well trained. We have a house filled with dogs, but it is calm and manageable thanks to Braelyn. She makes it easy for the humans to follow the training instructions, which is really more than half the battle. And she is simply lovely to work with. Dedicated, competent, delightful. Cannot recommend her highly enough.

Review №49

2015-10-12 18:11:02

We have 2 rescue dogs, now ages 2 (Ecko) & 4 (Raven). About a year ago, Raven started to attack Ecko. We had seen some aggressive behavior and lack of socialization in Raven, before we brought Ecko home, but we never thought she would act out on it.Raven had lost her best friend / sister to cancer about 6 months prior to us adopting Ecko. We thought she was anti social because she was missing her friend. We also thought that adopting another dog would help ease that sorrow and bring back her playful spirit.The first attack happened at home. The girls were playing in the house and then Raven snapped over a toy and bit Ecko. They usually rough house a bit so at first I didnt think anything of it but once I heard Ecko yelping I ran over and separated them. Raven had broken skin. My husband and I started to work with the girls, getting them out more, to exercise and working one on one with each dog. We didnt know what Raven needed but thought some solo attention would help.About a month later Raven attacked Ecko again. This time it was worse. She bit her on the face, barely missing her eye. I broke down and told my husband we were not going to live like this. It wasnt fair to Ecko as she was becoming a very timid dog and she didnt deserve to live in fear. We either needed help or we would need to give Ecko up for adoption, as Raven would be harder to re-home.I asked friends about dog trainers and was recommended a few, but Specialty Dog Training was recommended by a few people and based on reviews seemed like the best choice. We contacted SDT and decided to purchase some in home training sessions, as most of our issues stemmed within the home.The training with our girls went back to basics; teaching them they were not the alpha and in charge, but that we were. We worked on basic commands (sit, stay, down ... etc) and built upon that base each week. While our girls knew these commands, we were enforcing them more constantly, giving them a more structured environment.After the first 2 lessons we were already seeing results. THats not to say that Raven was better or we didnt worry about more attacks, but we could see that the training was working and they were respecting us more, thus creating a better home environment.The training progressed, the girls learned to stay for long periods of time, to ignore distractions, to leave it when a dog passed or barked at them, and they learned to play like sisters again. It was a huge change for us as we were no longer walking on egg shells, waiting for the next attack.We learned a lot about how to properly train our dogs, to make them respect us and not be push overs when they act cute (that was mainly my learning curve!!), and how to introduce new dogs to a home environment that already has a dog. Everything we learned was hands on and something we can apply to future adoptions as well as something we can continue to practice at home.What I loved most about Specialty Dog Training is how easy they were to work with, how accommodating they were AND how passionate they are about what they do. I could tell right away that our trainer, Braelyn, was not here to make a buck, but she was genuinely interested in helping us keep our pups together and making our home a peaceful place once again. She still sends us messages, to check in and anytime i have questions she is readily available.I would (& have) recommend Specialty Dog Training to anyone seeking advice, training, boot camp for their dogs. They will evaluate the situation before offering services so they know they are actually addressing your issues in the environment in which makes the most sense.

Review №50

2015-05-25 22:39:19

I heard there was a Bull Terrier at San Diego Animal Control and could not bear to leave him there. So, I went to meet him, he was so wound up and tense. Even so, he charmed me by showing his sweetness and his goofiness. I named him Isaac and after bringing my other dog Maxine to meet him, brought him home knowing the challenge BTs can be. Id had a BT named Buster that had passed away a couple of year before.However, this guy was about 4 years old, he had not been neutered until a couple of weeks before, he had been adopted once and returned to the shelter, he had no socialization, he was pushy/bossy and had no house manners at all and is completely deaf.After 2 weeks of basically standing up all the time, or being plowed over by him, I called Specialty Dog Training. I spoke with Graham and he set me up with Braelyn Chapman. She specializes in aggressive, hard to handle dogs.At first I signed up for in home lessons and that went well until Isaac decided to attack my other dog Maxine one day. It was over a chew bone that I was just taking and putting away when Maxine walked out, he saw her and I guess associated my taking the bone with her, and attacked her. I grabbed his collar and he immediately let go of her but the damage was done. Although she is 15 years old and pretty frail, she recovered with a vet visit and some TLC.Now I had to figure out what to do about Isaac. I had already fallen in love with him too but was so worried about Maxine and him getting along. I called Braelyn. She came and saw that he was still wanting to be aggressive with her. So, I sent him with her thinking to find him a new home. However, I couldnt let him go. So, we started a 6 week boot camp program for him.Braelyn is WONDERFUL. She kept in touch every day or two to keep me posted on how Isaac was doing. He was a pretty big challenge with his history and being deaf but, she was able to work through his behavioral issues and teach him how to basically, be a dog, with manners. He is a sweet, calm wonderful boy now that Braelyn had him for 6 weeks. I owe her a debt of gratitude I will never be able to repay. We had some lessons at home after boot camp and Braelyn was so patient teaching me how to work with Isaac. She is such a good teacher and Isaac adores her!She is firm and loving, patient and the best thing that could have happened for Isaac and I. Thank you so very much, Braelyn!

Review №51

2015-01-06 16:50:11

I am a Medically Retired U.S. Navy Veteran. I suffer from several conditions that are related to a service connected brain injury I suffered while deployed. The VA had suggested I look into service dogs and the potential help they could give me. Unfortunately, the VA has suspended all service dog funding so I started doing some research. I was very disappointed to realize that service dogs cost a tremendous amount of money for the training, housing, food, etc. and as a disabled Veteran, I had no way of paying the 20-35 thousand dollars required for a service animal.What is NOT on Specialty Dog Trainings Google+ is that Specialty Dog Training also has a nonprofit 501C3 called Shelter to Soldier! Shelter to Soldier rescues dogs in area shelters that have uncertain futures and then spends about a year training those dogs AS SERVICE DOGS FOR VETERANS! How awesome! And there isnt any cost to the Veteran! I know this is a review on Specialty Dog Training, but if they are running a nonprofit whereby they are giving dogs and Veterans a second chance on life, that sort of conviction and responsibility translates amazingly well into the daily operation of Specialty Dog Training and their commitment to the people they serve (whether customers or Veterans).I was fortunate to be selected to receive a Shelter to Soldier service dog (Kira) and I my life has changed so much! Kira has allowed me to have the confidence to be a part of my childrens life and experience so much with them. I am so grateful and truly appreciate all Shelter to Soldier, Graham Bloem and Specialty Dog Training for all they are doing!I wasnt asked to write this and in doing so, hope I can convey the community responsibility Specialty Dog Training has taken on and how much they are constantly giving back to the community and to Veterans and their families. Forever Grateful! If you go to their website, you can find information about Shelter to Soldier.

Review №52

2015-01-08 19:34:53

Taking any test is nerve wracking but taking a test with your personal pet adds a whole new level of stress! Thanks to Graham Bloem of Specialty Dog Training I was able to put the anxiety to rest. He worked with my dog Bruno and I to prepare us (as a team) for the Therapy Dog International (TDI) certification. We practiced basic obedience with emphasis on repetition and homework assignments (daily training with Bruno). Once we were able to perform the basic obedience tasks at 90% we began dry-run tests in various environments with other dogs present. We practiced our tests as a group providing ample distraction; most certification tests are conducted with up to 15 dogs. Another thing I wasn’t expecting was the level of obedience from the 14 other dogs and their handlers. Most of the dogs could only sit for a fraction of a second and behaved more like family pets at a dog park. Having worked with Graham on my leadership and Bruno’s obedience allowed me to bond with my dog in a way I never expected. More importantly it gave me the ability to deal with any situation that may arise. I am happy to report that the quality of preparation Graham provided enabled Bruno and I to pass with flying colors. We are TDI certified members of the Shelter To Soldier Pet Therapy Team.

Review №53

2015-01-07 17:38:56

In 2013 I decided to join Therapy Dogs International with my chocolate lab, Cody. This was the beginning of journey that not only helped and cheered others, but had unexpected benefits for my dog and me.Cody and I began working with trainer Graham Bloem to prepare for the intense certification exam we needed to pass in order to be a member of Therapy Dogs International. Graham’s insight, high standards and balanced approach were just what we needed to become a high level therapy team.We spent a lot of time re-programming both Cody and me. For instance, my delivery of a command was soft and gentle (you could almost hear a “please” after the command). Cody’s response was “Whatever! I’ll get back to you when I’m done sniffing here.” When I became a stronger leader, Cody got inspired. This was possible thanks to Graham.Now we both feel a sense of doing something that matters. It’s magical to watch a small child overcome her fear of dogs and interact with my “chocolate moose” or see the stress of finals week melt away from a college student as Cody calmly rests his chin on their lap.As a bonus, I now have a dog that has beautiful public manners. He waits at doorways until I give the IOK to enter, he sits by my side in the bank while I complete my transaction and he’ll lay down in the boutique and wait while I’m in the dressing room trying on clothes.I would strongly recommend Graham Bloem’s training to anyone who’s interested in pet therapy.

Review №54

2015-01-09 03:52:06

From the moment Graham Bloem entered our home, I knew we were in expert hands. He is incredibly knowledgeable, professional and he put me at ease immediately. We had taken our ten month old Cotton de Tulear, Banana, to three other trainers previously. We had some success, but only with a few tricks.Banana, is a humane society rescue, she was found in the streets of Oceanside, with two of her siblings, at 3 months old. This left her insecure, needy and with separation anxiety. She also feared men, particularly with hats on. She would bark and whine if left alone or someone came to the front door. I had to be with her constantly. If I took her to my work (I own a hair salon) she would bark at the clients when they came through the door. Not very welcoming to say the least.The worst problem was, she would pee on my armchair and the sofa. Also our brand new outdoor furniture. Graham told me the reason why she was doing this on the first meeting. She also ate so many of my favorite shoes and chewed the furniture as well.I fell in love with this crazy dog, but could not deal with the huge list of problems. I enrolled her in a four week boot camp at Specialty Dog Training, We dropped her off and I was sad to see her go, but Graham assured me she would come home a more secure and happy girl.Well, he was right. Although I missed her, I was happy to know she was safe and happy while away from us.Braelyn Chapman is one of Grahams top associates. She is also amazing with animals and Banana took to her right away. She took on Bananas case. Braelyn completely turned Banana around. She also took her on several outings while in her care, texting me pictures and info regularly. She took her to a coffee shop, mall and other areas to teach her how to behave around distractions. All of the above issues are completely gone. Her behavior is top notch now. I really cant believe that Braelyn could be so successful in only four weeks.People actually stop me and ask where and who trained her. (really).I could leave Banana in the middle of the park, walk away and she will now sit stay until I call her to me. She no longer pees on the furniture or anywhere in the house and the barking and chewing is gone too. The first week home was hard for me as I was not completely up to the task of being strict with her, but Braelyn has shown me how to behave too and now I understand how to be a better doggy owner.Braelyn is truly amazing, completely professional, smart, kind and sweet. Thank you so much for a really fantastic experience. Well worth the money and time.

Review №55

2015-01-22 16:08:30

We had a great experience working with Braelyn Chapman training our 6 month old Pit mix Terrier Annie.Braelyn took the time that Annie, myself and my spouse Kendall needed during our training sessions.Braelyn was able to train Annie and the both of us. She pointed out and corrected us of bad habits that we had developed with other dogs.We now have the tools that we need to continue training Annie on our own.We know Braelyn will be available for us if we need refresher sessions or will answer a quick question when needed.I strongly endorse Braelyn and Specialty Dog Training.Dog training isnt only about the dog, more importantly its the training of dogs owners that is the hardest part.Thanks

Review №56

2017-08-19 18:50:11

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!

Review №57

2014-07-25 05:23:29

We cannot say enough about our trainer Braelyn. With skill and great professionalism, she worked with us to train our 80 pound, unruly and aggressive Japanese Akita mix. He is now obedient and controlled in public and at home. Braelyn was wonderful to work with and we recommend her with confidence.

Review №58

2016-07-24 03:03:53

A week ago today we got our dog back from Specialty Dog Trainings 4 week boot camp. Our dog, Piper, a Belgian Malinois, was loved at home, but lacked common manners and we werent confident enough to take her into public because of her embarrassing ill mannered behavior.Today we went to a birthday party in a park with over 100 people and over 10 dogs. Piper was the best behaved dog, the life of the party for kids and adults alike, we received numerous compliments on her behavior, and she was simply a joy to be with.I cant thank our dog trainer, Braelyn, enough. Not only did she train our dog, but shes taught us. Shes helped us understand that its not rocket science, that we can do it, and with the correct techniques we can have the dog we always wanted.Thank you, Braelyn, and Specialty Dog Training.Nate

Review №59

2021-11-24 16:12:01

Krystal trained my dog Lady and she came back A++. She loved her time there and is excited when we return for post training sessions. Krystal was excellent at transferring her back to me and showing me how to work with her.

Review №60

2021-04-09 23:56:42

They should tell you up front and clearly that they expect you to keep your dog on a leash, at your hip, and you to be fully focused on training your dog and doing nothing else FOR WEEKS after you get them back. Because nobody ever told me that, I don’t know who has time for that, and I consider it blatant false advertising. Literally, they stole 2500 dollars from us my dog is as awfully behaved as ever and their only solution is that I ignore my kids and anything else I need to do in life and attach my dog to my hip for at least a FEW WEEKS and, yeah, can’t say how much I hate this place.

Review №61

2015-07-26 20:49:13

I would write a longer review but my phone isnt working properly. All I have to say is Braelyn is the BEST! She has changed my life completely. I sent my two pit bulls to boot camp and they came back so well behaved. I have so much less stress now that they are so well trained. Thank you so much!!!

Review №62

2018-09-28 22:23:39

Never even got to talk to anyone. No one ever answered the phone.

Review №63

2019-08-18 22:31:30

I will be bringing in my lab for training