If you’re looking for service dog trainers in California, we’ve selected 10 of the best and featured them for you in the list below.
1. California Service Dog Academy (Visalia)
California Service Dog Academy specializes in service dog training in Southern California. Based in Visalia, CA, they are a non-profit organization whose services are free to veterans. Their team of trainers can evaluate your dog and (if your dog has the right temperament and ability to learn) train your dog to become a service dog.
California Service Dog Academy trains Sentinel Service Dogs. They can train service/assistant dogs, therapy dogs, and facility dogs, depending on your needs and requirements. Contact California Service Dog Academy here to learn more.
2. Fun Paw Care (Los Angeles)
Fun Paw Care is a Los Angeles-based dog and puppy trainer. Founder Russell Hartstein is a certified dog behaviorist and professional trainer who strives to improve relationships and communication between owners and their dogs. They operate throughout Los Angeles and offer obedience training and therapy dog training, ESA training, and service dog training.
At Fun Paw Care, service dog training is offered in your home or at their training ranch. Board-and-train services for service dogs are offered, as well as task training and troubleshooting services for service dogs that can be carried out in your home for $345/hr. Phone consultations for service dog training are also offered – contact Fun Paw Care to learn more.
3. Orange County Service Dogs (Orange)
Based in Orange, CA, Orange County Service Dogs has long been a leader in training service and therapy dogs. With almost two decades of professional experience, their trainers can train therapy dogs, as well as service dogs for either psychiatric (including PTSD) or mobility assistance.
Orange County Dog Services can start training your dog to become a service dog as soon as they have had their second set of puppy vaccines. Typically, it can take up to two years to fully train a service dog. Orange County Service Dogs does not train dogs for seizure alert assistance, guide dogs, or diabetic alert dogs. Contact Orange County Service Dogs for more details.
4. Karma Dog Training (San Diego)
Karma Dog Training is a San Diego-based dog trainer that offers a wide range of services. As well as basic obedience and puppy training, they also provide training for service, therapy, and hospice dogs. Their service dog specialists can help answer any questions you may have.
While service dogs are typically bred and trained by specific organizations, many training businesses like Karma Dog Training are now offering these training services. They will evaluate any breed and determine whether your dog may be trainable as a service dog, though please note that not all dogs have the temperament qualities required. Contact Karma Dog Training to find out more.
5. K-9 Companions (Perris)
K-9 Companions is made up of a team of certified master trainers with a diverse background, including veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and previous US military K-9 service experts. Their trainers use positive reinforcement and mild corrective techniques such as slip collars, and offer basic and advanced obedience training, agility training, and service dog training.
Based in Perris, CA, in the Lake Mathews region, K-9 Companions can train service dogs for owners with mobility impairments, anxiety disorders, and psychological conditions such as PTSD. Their trainers involve owners in the training process where possible, and typically run an 18-month training program for service dogs, which covers basic commands, on and off-leash advanced obedience, Canine Good Citizen testing, and specific service skills as required. Contact K-9 Companions to learn more about their service dog programs.
6. Service Dog Tutor (Belmont)
Service Dog Tutor is a business specifically focusing on training dogs for service roles. Based in Belmont and serving the Bay Area, Trainer Jean Cary has more than three decades of experience in training therapy dogs and dogs with other specialized roles. Service Dog Tutor offers service dog training, as well as obedience training for family pets.
The focus of Service Dog Tutor is training service dogs for assisting owners with mobility issues, autism, or PTSD. If you don’t yet have a dog, they can assist you in choosing a breed that best suits your needs. If you already have a dog, they offer obedience training, specific service task training, and public access training, as well as preparation for service dog testing, including Canine Good Citizen and Public Access tests. Contact Service Dog Tutor with any questions you may have.
7. Ultimutt K9 Services (Fresno)
Ultimutt K9 Services has trainers in various locations across the United States, including Fresno, CA. their team offers puppy training, basic and advanced obedience classes, board-and-train services, plus training for service, therapy, and emotional support dogs.
Service and therapy dog trainers at Ultimutt K9 Services are highly trained and will ensure your specific needs are catered for. As service dogs must display the ability to perform specific tasks for their owners, the team at Ultimutt K9 Services will ensure your pup is trained in the skills that will benefit you the most. Contact Ultimutt K9 Services for more details.
8. Dogpanion Private Dog Training (San Diego)
Dogpanion Private Dog Training is a San Diego-based trainer specializing in both puppy training and service/therapy dog training. Trainer Mel Reichek is a certified professional dog trainer who has over ten years of experience training puppies to become both household pets and service animals.
Mel trains both service dogs and emotional support dogs, and teaches dogs to help owners with mobility issues or provide support for children on the autism spectrum. Your dog will first undergo an evaluation to ensure their temperament is suitable, and can then be enrolled in the program, which takes 1-2 years to complete. Contact Dogpanion Private Dog Training in San Diego to learn more.
9. Arrow Custom Dog Training & Services (Los Angeles)
Based in Los Angeles, CA, Arrow Custom Dog Training & Services is a specialty dog trainer that focuses on advanced obedience training. They offer AKC-CGC and Puppy S.T.A.R. qualifications, as well as service dog training, with an emphasis on service dogs for PTSD assistance.
Training your dog for service dog duties first starts with a $65 assessment. Individual training sessions are then offered for $140, or 4 x sessions for $500. CGC tests and board-and-train services are also provided. Your dog can be taught specific tasks to aid your disability – contact Arrow Custom Dog Training for more details.
10. Loving Dog Training (Fresno)
Loving Dog Training is run by professional dog trainer Viviana Esteves, who graduated from the Animal Behavioral College. Based in Fresno, CA, Viviana uses positive reinforcement and other modern training techniques and offers both behavior modification and service dog training.
Service dog training is available for $80/hour for private sessions. Your dog can learn specific tasks like retrieving dropped objects, placing objects in your hand or in their place, opening doors/cabinets, or bracing you as you get up. Your dog can also learn to comfort you when you are experiencing anxiety, a panic attack, or PTSD. Contact Loving Dog Training to get started.
