Dog Trainers in Los Angeles, CA
Dog training in Los Angeles covers the city’s core from Downtown and South Los Angeles to Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Hollywood and Koreatown, and east and south to Alhambra, Montebello, South Gate and Huntington Park. Most of the work here is one-to-one: trainers who come to your home, private lessons, day training and board and train programs, with a strong group of specialists for reactive and aggressive dogs. Group classes run outdoors at a long-standing obedience club in Griffith Park, at a church hall near Atwater Village, at daycares that keep their own trainers and inside pet store chains. Methods range from punishment-free, reward-based teaching to balanced training with prong and remote collars, so ask each trainer how they work before you book.
- Top-Rated Dog Trainers in Los Angeles
- What Kind of Training Does Your Dog Need?
- Training Formats and Typical US Dog-Training Prices
- Dog Training Schools & Classes in Los Angeles
- How to Pick the Right Trainer
- Dog Training by Los Angeles Neighborhood
- Los Angeles Dog Training Resources
- Common Questions About Dog Training in Los Angeles
- Start Here
This page is your starting point. Whether you need puppy socialization, basic obedience, off-leash training, or help with a serious behavior problem, we’ll help you understand your options, what to expect, and how to connect with the right professional in Los Angeles.
Top-Rated Dog Trainers in Los Angeles
Compare Los Angeles’s top-rated dog trainers below — each listing shows real Google reviews and, where we’ve checked them, certified credentials, so you can reach out with confidence.
What Kind of Training Does Your Dog Need?
Before you start comparing trainers, figure out which category your dog falls into. This determines the type of training, the format, and the realistic timeline.
Puppy (8 weeks to 5 months)
Priority: socialization and foundation habits. This is the most time-sensitive stage — the critical socialization window closes around 16 weeks, and what your puppy is exposed to during this period shapes their temperament permanently. Group puppy classes are ideal. Read our full guide: Puppy Training in Los Angeles.
Adolescent dog (5 to 18 months)
Priority: obedience and impulse control. This is the stage where most owners hit the wall — the cute puppy has turned into a teenager who jumps on guests, pulls on the leash, and has developed selective hearing. Group obedience classes or private lessons work well here. Consistency is everything.
Adult dog — new to training
Priority: basic obedience and household manners. It’s never too late. Adult dogs are often faster learners than puppies because they have longer attention spans.
Adult dog — specific behavior issue
Priority: targeted behavior modification. Reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, resource guarding, excessive barking. These issues need a qualified trainer or behaviorist — not a group class. Start with a behavior consultation.
Any dog — intensive training needed fast
Priority: results on a compressed timeline. Board-and-train programs offer intensive daily training over 2 to 6 weeks — the fastest path to results when done right.
Training Formats and Typical US Dog-Training Prices
The formats below are the same everywhere; the figures are national ranges, not Los Angeles rates. Prices vary by city and by trainer — confirm directly with the trainer before you book.
Group classes
Best for socialization and foundation obedience. Meet once a week for 5 to 6 weeks with other dogs. Most affordable option. Typical US range: $150 to $300 for a full course.
Private lessons
One-on-one with a trainer at their facility or your home. Best for specific goals, reactive dogs, or customized plans. Typical US range: $100 to $175 per session (facility) or $125 to $200 (in-home).
Day training
Your dog goes to the trainer during the day and comes home at night. Great for working professionals. Typical US range: $75 to $125 per day.
Board and train
Your dog stays with the trainer for 2 to 6 weeks. Most intensive option. Typical US range: $1,500 to $6,000+ depending on length and complexity.
Behavior consultation
A diagnostic assessment for serious behavioral issues — a professional evaluation that produces a treatment plan. Typical US range: $200 to $400 for the initial assessment.
Dog Training Schools & Classes in Los Angeles
Looking for a dog training school or group obedience classes in Los Angeles? Plenty of local trainers and facilities run weekly group classes — a structured, affordable way to cover socialization and basic obedience alongside other dogs. Browse dog obedience classes in Los Angeles, or use the trainer directory above to compare every dog school and trainer in the Los Angeles area by specialty, reviews and price.
How to Pick the Right Trainer
Choosing a dog trainer is a lot like choosing a doctor — credentials matter, but so does communication style, philosophy, and whether you trust them with someone you care about.
Training methodology
This is the most important factor and the one most people skip. Dog training ranges from purely positive reinforcement (rewards only) to balanced training (rewards plus corrections). There is no single “right” approach — but there IS a right approach for your dog. A fearful rescue needs a different approach than a confident, drive-y working breed. Ask every trainer what tools and methods they use, and don’t commit until you understand and agree with their philosophy.
Credentials
Look for recognized certifications — CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer), KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy), IACP, AKC CGC Evaluator, or for complex behavior, a CAAB or veterinary behaviorist. Credentials aren’t everything — some of the best trainers built their skills through decades of hands-on experience — but a trainer with no credentials AND no verifiable track record is a risk.
Transparency — red flags and green flags
Red flags: won’t let you observe a class or tour the facility, gets defensive about methodology, guarantees specific results, pressures you to sign up immediately, or trash-talks every other trainer. Green flags: welcomes questions, offers to let you observe a class first, gives references, is honest about what training can and cannot achieve, and tells you upfront if your dog’s issue is outside their expertise.
Dog Training by Los Angeles Neighborhood
The Los Angeles metro is large, and driving 45 minutes for a weekly class isn’t sustainable for most people. Here’s a quick overview of training availability by area:
Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz and the Eastside
The densest cluster of trainers. A reward-only trainer teaches evening group classes near Atwater Village and runs four- and eight-visit in-home programs, a volunteer obedience club has taught novice, puppy, advanced and rally classes outdoors in Griffith Park for decades, and a team of trainers offers private lessons, day training, a reactive dog class and nose work. A working-dog gear store adds virtual training for barking, separation anxiety and leash reactivity, and several daycares and pack-hike businesses on the Eastside build training into their days, from puppy classes to multi-week programs and a week-long boot camp.
Hollywood, East Hollywood and Koreatown
A training facility in East Hollywood runs structured daycare-and-train days, day training aimed at reliable off-leash skills and board and train for reactive or fearful dogs. Private trainers here specialize in reactive, pulling and large-breed dogs, and a marker-training coach works in homes across Hollywood and the Mid-Wilshire area. A daycare and grooming club south of Koreatown adds positive-reinforcement group and private sessions and a socialization hour for shy dogs.
Downtown, South Park and South Los Angeles
Downtown has a board-and-train program for puppies through aggression cases and a daycare near the university with obedience classes and private sessions. To the south and west, an in-home trainer covers obedience, separation problems, service and therapy work and protection, a private trainer runs six-week in-home programs for puppies and first-time owners, and a rehabilitation center works almost entirely with aggressive dogs. Some South Los Angeles listings publish only a phone number, so call to ask what they offer.
Alhambra, Montebello and the southeast cities
East of the core, training is thinner: the pet store chains in Alhambra, Montebello, Bell Gardens, South Gate and Huntington Park run in-store classes, and a small independent listing in Alhambra publishes only a phone number. Many of the private trainers based in the city travel, so ask whether your street is inside their area.
Los Angeles Dog Training Resources
Beyond professional training, Los Angeles has some excellent resources for dog owners.
Veterinary behaviorists
For complex behavior cases that may require medication alongside training, ask your primary vet for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist serving the Los Angeles area.
Dog Trainers by Community in the Los Angeles Area
Looking for a trainer in a specific Los Angeles-area community? Here are the local options town by town.
Dog Trainers in Los Angeles, CA
- The Ranch Dog Training — 5.0★ (184)
- THE DOGGO USA — 5.0★ (148)
- LAK9S — 5.0★ (107)
- ROCK DOG CA – Private Dog Trainer in Los Angeles — 5.0★ (101)
- Jans K9s — 5.0★ (77)
- SoCal K9 Consulting — 5.0★ (71)
- Michael Hill Dog Training — 5.0★ (50)
- Dog Tribe LA — 5.0★ (35)
Also in Los Angeles: Managed Dogs, Iconic Dog Training Los Angeles, PAWSitive Hound Dog Training, Smart Paws Dog Training, Shake Dem Paws LLC., Calidognia – Private Dog Training, Petco Dog Training, The Big Click Dog Training, Golda’s Happy Paws, Sandlot K9 Services, West Los Angeles Obedience, Willful Dogs, Petco Dog Training, Cognitive Dogs, Matters Matter Dog Training, Pup Round-Up, K9 Coach Dan, Day Night K9s, DirtyHounds Dog Training, Chutzpaws Dog Training, Alpha Dog Training, Kevin the Dog Trainer, Boo Dogs Training, Eastside Hounds Dog Training, Hikes, Grooming, Liberation Dogs, canine valley dog tra, Webster’s Dog Training, Fun Paw Care Dog Training, What A Good Dog! LA, Petco Dog Training, South Park Doggie – Doggieland (LA), Brandon Fouche, Dingo Doggies Campus, Hollywood Dog Obedience Club, Petco Dog Training, BlueCollar Working Dog, K9s Only, WagVille, Whitaker Dog – Dog Daycare, Boarding and Training, Canine School of Behavior, spcaLA Pet Adoption Center, Dog-E-Den Hollywood Dog Daycare Boarding Grooming and Training, Petco Dog Training, “I Said Sit!” School for Dogs, PAW LA LA, Petco Dog Training, PetSmart Dog Training, Petco Dog Training, K9 Connection, LA Dogworks, Tinseltown Dog Training, HickmanK9, Doggies Ade, The Good Dog, Zen4K9s, Canine Combine, Fetch Me Outside Training, Kruse’nK9s, – Top Tier k9, DogsAreGenius, K9-INDIGO® HOLISTIC DOG TRAINING & BOARDING
Dog Trainers in Alhambra, CA
- PetSmart Dog Training — 4.1★ (14)
- Take A Step 2 Change
Dog Trainers in Huntington Park, CA
- Petco Dog Training — 3.4★ (7)
Dog Trainers in South Gate, CA
- Petco Dog Training — 4.8★ (6)
Dog Trainers in Montebello, CA
- Petco Dog Training — 3.5★ (4)
Dog Trainers in Hollywood, CA
- Dino’s Paws Brigade — 5.0★ (44)
Dog Trainers in Bell Gardens, CA
- Petco Dog Training — 5.0★ (3)
Dog Training by Specialty in Los Angeles
Los Angeles-specific guides for each type of training:
- Puppy Training
- Puppy Socialization
- Dog Obedience Classes
- Aggressive Dog Training
- Separation Anxiety Training
- In-Home Dog Training
- Dog Training Prices
Also live across California: Anaheim · Antelope Valley · Escondido · Irvine · Long Beach · Oakland · Oceanside · Palm Springs · Placerville · Redding · Riverside · Roseville · Sacramento · San Bernardino · San Diego · San Fernando Valley · San Francisco · San Gabriel Valley · San Jose · San Mateo · San Rafael · Santa Ana · Santa Barbara · Santa Clarita · Santa Monica · Santa Rosa · Temecula · Thousand Oaks · Ventura · Walnut Creek.
Common Questions About Dog Training in Los Angeles
How much does dog training cost in Los Angeles?
It depends on the format. A consultation, a single private lesson, a package of in-home visits, a group class series, day training and a residential board and train are all priced very differently, and aggression or reactivity cases are often quoted separately after an evaluation. Several trainers here start with a free phone call, and in-home trainers may add a travel fee outside their core neighborhoods. Ask what the quote includes and how many sessions a typical program runs.
Do Los Angeles trainers come to my home?
Many do. A large share of the trainers in the city work in your home and neighborhood, from single long visits to multi-week programs, and several also offer online sessions. Most publish the neighborhoods they cover, so confirm your address is inside that area before you book.
Is there help for reactive or aggressive dogs?
Yes. Los Angeles has many behavior specialists: trainers who take reactivity and aggression cases in the home, board-and-train programs that accept them, and a rehabilitation center that works almost only with aggression. Most behavior work starts with an evaluation, so ask how the first session is set up and what follow-up support is included.
Where can I find group classes?
A volunteer obedience club teaches novice obedience, puppy, advanced and rally classes outdoors in Griffith Park through the year, a reward-only trainer runs evening classes near Atwater Village, several daycares teach classes with their own trainers, and the pet store chains run in-store classes. Ask about class size and what your dog should already know.
What about separation anxiety?
Several trainers here list separation anxiety or being left alone among the problems they work on, either in your home or online. Separation problems are usually worked on gradually at home, so ask how the trainer structures the plan and how they check progress between sessions.
Start Here
The best time to start training is today. Whether your puppy needs socialization, your adolescent dog needs impulse control, or your adult dog has a behavior issue that’s been building for years — the sooner you start, the faster things improve.
Browse dog trainers in Los Angeles on GetDogSchool.com. Compare programs, read reviews, and connect with professionals who fit your dog’s needs and your budget.
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