Karma Dog Training

I just recently adopted my first puppy, Luna, and after lots of research I decided to try Karma Dog Training’s puppy kindergarten because of their commitment to positive training. Right off the bat I was very impressed when I called and spoke to Jeffrey who was very nice and helpful on the phone and immediately sent me a very thorough email with everything I needed to know about the class, recommendations for different treats, collars, etc., and a coupon for $ 50 off. I also love that we were allowed to go and try out our first class before paying to see whether or not it would be a good fit – which it absolutely was!
We went to the Sorrento Valley location and had Aimee and Diana as our trainers, who were both fabulous, knowledgeable, and very loving with each of the puppies. While Luna is quite boisterous (to say the least) at home, we learned that she’s actually quite shy around other dogs. I was again impressed when after demonstrating the first skill to practice, the trainers separated off an area for the more timid dogs so that they wouldn’t feel so intimidated by the friendlier ones. In a matter of minutes, Luna was opening up to other pet parents, and even started playing with some of the other puppies!
During practice time, I felt like the trainers did a really good job of circulating throughout the class and spending time giving feedback to each parent/​pet. By the end of class, Luna was completely in love with Diana and when I mentioned this to her, she pulled out a handful of the treats she knew Luna was responding to and gave them to me to take home and practice with her (and told me exactly where I could buy more). I also really liked that the trainers scattered play breaks throughout the training exercises so that the pups could work out some energy and not become frustrated or bored with their training.
At the very end of class, I was approached and very gently asked how I liked it and how I felt Luna responded, but I didn’t feel like I was being pressured in to signing up for the class at all. Needless to say, I of course registered (and you should too!). So far, I am incredibly happy with the class and can’t wait to see all the progress Luna and I make by the end!

⁰¹⁵⁄₁₀₀ — 2016 Unilocal 100 CHALLENGE.
Disappointing. My miniature dachshund is kind of in her «unruly» stage right now (she’s almost nine months old!) and we have been hearing from the daycare we take her to that she has a very dominant personality and has gotten very rough when playing with other dogs. We have never seen her do this before, so hearing all these stories of her being aggressive, stealing toys, etc. was really alarming. Obviously we did not want to put other dogs in a situation that would lead to a dog fight, so we have taken her out of that particular daycare for now and decided to get a professional trainer to help us.
I called Karma Dog Training last Thursday (¹⁄₂₈) and was greeted with a very cheerful and very nice person on the phone. I was told that their best dog trainer (Amy) would contact me via phone with her availability, but because I called so late (7 PM?) she would probably get back to me tomorrow (¹⁄₂₉). In the mean time, the receptionist asked for my e-​mail so that she could send me the price sheet for personal training, group classes, and so forth. As soon as I got off the phone I received it, so that was fantastic. I thought to myself «this place is great, just gotta wait till tomorrow!»
Well… Friday rolled around and I did not receive a phone call whatsoever. I thought that maybe Amy was just incredibly busy and assumed that maybe she had tried contacting me but wasn’t able to. I e-​mailed Karma back to ask them whether Amy could reach out to me in another and gave my phone number again just in case.
I got an e-​mail almost immediately afterwards, so CLEARLY they check and respond to e-​mails frequently. The message pretty much told me that they were still checking for availability but they would be in touch with me shortly.
Well, guess what day it is and guess who STILL hasn’t contacted me?
They were nice enough to share some readings with me to help Mocha, but none of them had to do with dogs who play aggressively with others — which was the root of the original issue. The articles they had rehashed everything we saw on the internet in regards to basic obedience, etc. We have since moved on to another company (Pawtopia) and are much happier with their quick turnaround/​response.
The people at Karma Dog Training are nice when you get the chance to talk to them, but other than that their customer service is severely lacking.

We just finished our puppy class level 1. Everything went really well in the beginning weeks of the training with Aimee and Diana. They work really well together and know what they are doing. It wasn’t until Aimee had to go on vacation that things went downhill for us.
There were two other ladies that came in to help run the classes but instead of helping confused everyone in the group. Decisions were questioned between everyone in front of all of us and it was ultimately very unprofessional. At one point one of the ladies helping out started talking poorly of one of the parents saying rude comments I.e. «How do you come to a training class and not being treats?» I thought it was very disrespectful.
I would’ve hoped Aimee would have been there for the end and most likely wouldn’t have had such a bad experience. I would like to give this place 3 stars, but if Aimee is training then it is worth it.

I have been attending the puppy kindergarten class for the past few weeks with my new pup and have been thoroughly impressed with the structure of the class and training tips presented. Aimee leads the class and Diana is the assistant instructor for a group that has included five to seven puppies. The trainers make sure there is ample time for both puppy socialization and important training. So far, my pup has learned how to look at me, come when called, sit and stay consistently, all with positive reinforcement. Aimee has excellent strategies for any problems/​questions you have such as jumping up or anxiety in dogs. Karma is the only training center I found that includes puppies at an early age, a critical step in proper training. Our class is held at the Animal Accupuncture center and it always is clean and safe.
What better way to spend a weekend afternoon than watching puppies play!

I do not have the words to tell you how extremely impressed with how the entire staff of Karma Dog Training response to the following incident — from start to finish.
My 108 lb. mixed breed dog suddenly attacked one of the other dogs in class. The entire staff immediately jumped in, with no thoughts for their own safety, managed to separate the two dogs, taking them both outside in opposite directions. When I went looking for my dog I found her with one of the trainers, calmly walking her back and forth while in a soft, soothing voice telling her what a good girl she was.
There were no recriminations, from anyone! Not one single negative word was said as to placing blame on dog or owner. We are now working on a plan to re-​socialize my dog so that this will never happen again.
Stephanie M.

My husband and I just worked with Aimee and our two dogs. She is absolute magic! She was able to train our dogs in about 5 minutes! Of course training me took a lot longer.
She used all positive reinforcement with a gentle but firm hand. She was able to diagnose all of our problems, condense them into just a couple and then was able to train both dogs and humans.
I cannot say enough good things about Aimee.
Because of her, my life and my dogs lives have changed for the positive.

I had my first free session with my 13 week old puppy, and we loved the puppy socialization class. I did a lot of research for other businesses in the area, but couldn’t be happier with my choice to go here. The environment is relaxed, and in just one visit we have already learned a ton. My puppy has retained the training from the first class, and LOVED the time to interact with the other dogs in a controlled environment. It is also nice that Aimee brings her dogs as well, because they are a good example to the puppies. Definitely recommend!!!

Our rescue chihuahua-​mix had some serious abandonment issues, and I was not helping him at all with my well-​meaning, but incorrect behavior. Trainer John Curtis has been EXTREMELY helpful in helping us both through our issues. John’s guidance, tips, and insight into dog behavior have been invaluable. If your dog has problems, and you think you are helping him or her, but you are not getting a change in behavior, you are probably doing it wrong. Thank you John for putting us on the right path. I give this company and trainer my highest recommendation.

Biscuit gives it 2 paws up! =) John has been working with my dog just a limited amount of time, but has done a really thorough job of getting to know some of her goals and undesired habits I am trying to work out. With the assistance of a trainer, I am given solutions to some of the behaviors that can stress me /​us out. So excited to have this opportunity towards making her more service dog oriented. Thank you!!!

I was so happy to find Karma Dog Training! I did a lot of research online to look for a puppy class that would involve socialization off leash AND learning basic commands. I saw that this class was highly rated though didn’t have a lot of reviews and decided to check it out anyway. I also liked that this program provides the first class free to let you figure out if it’s the right class for you and your puppy. I had read in another review that someone commented about the cleanliness of the place — the floors were freshly wiped down and literally squeaky clean (still drying when I arrived a bit early) and everyone was asked to step into a combo of disinfectant and soapy water before walking into the room. I would have felt safe eating off that floor, no joke. There were a couple helpers walking around the room to monitor the interactions between the puppies during playtime and to help with the training during the work time. I also liked the tips sporadically thrown in during the training regarding separation anxiety, positive reinforcement and occasional negative reinforcement (just removing the treat, not punishing them), and grooming. There is about five minutes at the end to calm down your puppy (after all the fun play, work, and treats) with puppy massage, which is to get them used to being handled all the way from their ears to their paws. I really can’t recommend this class highly enough. I also enjoyed meeting the other owners there — all very friendly, responsible, and clearly cared about their pups.

Cleo is on her third week of training and also my husband and I too! We have learned so much and I must stress how this company philosophy of training dogs is truly wonderful. No dog is ever «bad» or a trouble maker necessarily. All situations are dealt with appropriately and best of all my dog gets to socialize with other dogs in a safe environment and I feel hopeful that our ultimate goal of having her be a dog that helps people in need can now be realized with this training! Unlike the trainer we looked into before finding Karma Dog training, Cleo has not scored a «D» on their test! Give it a try, you won’t be sorry. The prices are more than reasonable and they truly love dogs, it is evident!
The head trainer Aimee is the center of it all, her personality shines and makes everyone feel comfortable. The learning is easy to grasp and she is always professional and in control of the class. My dog was attacked going on two years ago and is nervous/​anxious so I can assure that safety is a very high priority here. We go to the Sorrento Valley location and look forward to every class! I can hardly wait until the next one! Speaking of which, Cleo and I have some work to do :)

I have to say that my experience with Karma Dog Training was fabulous. The day I called I was immediately provided the contact information for a trainer in my area. Later that day I also received a follow up call from Jeffrey. The same day my trainer Kelly Dies spent quite a bit of time on the phone with me answering all of my questions and explaining what I can expect my boxer puppy to learn. I was very happy with Kelly’s daily updates and photos. It’s not easy to let your 4 month old puppy go live with someone else for a while. My puppy returned able to sit, stay, down, touch, come and leave it! He is also much more calm when greeting people. I am completely impressed with the results Kelly delivered in such a short time. She has provided me with a strong foundation to build on. I highly recommend Kelly Dies if you are looking for an expert trainer!

Aimee came to our house to help with our two puppies. We just moved here from out of state and were dealing with a few issues. Aimee was so helpful right from the start. On the phone, before even meeting her she gave me so many useful tips that I never would have thought of.
She truly is a dog lover and amazing at what she does. Now the trick is to follow thru on all of her wonderful advice!

I want to preface my review by saying that Amiee who seems to be an amazing trainer was not able to be there the day that we visited. However, as a puppy owner I feel it only fair to share our experience. After loosing our 16 year old lab we purchased a puppy in mid June (a yellow lab). We contacted Amiee to help get our pup out and meet pups his age as our other dogs were just a bit too much. We were more than happy to make the drive from Alpine to allow our pup who was only nine weeks old to make new friends in a safe environment. According the their website they provide «a state-​of-​the art indoor training facility featuring climate controlled spacious rooms, the grounds our kept immaculate as they are parvo and distemper disinfected before each class». This was not the case for our visit, not only did I witness several people enter the area without sanitizing their feet but when our pup had an «accident» the floor mess I cleaned up was black and certainly not black from his accident. We looking for a safe place for our pup to make some new friends but were highly disappointed. Not to mention that they have a list of items to bring to class that we spent $ 30 on and were the ONLY ones who brought the items! Great concept but needs more regulation!

We are SO grateful to have found Karma Dog and their puppy socialization classes offered every weekend! My puppy is so much better for it!
We just finished our 7 weeks of classes — my 4m/​o puppy is fairly well behaved and I know it’s because of the training! We preferred the Saturday classes since Aimee was the trainer — and she is great! If you’re thinking you don’t need puppy training — YOU’RE WRONG! The classes are as much for the puppy as they are for the owner to know how to do things properly to ensure a well-​adjusted dog.
Saturday Class overview:
— puppies and their people gather at 12:30 pm
— we chat a little and then puppies are allowed some play time to socialize with each other and to wear off some energy
— we work on one command (sit/​stay, come, leave it, etc) after some instruction from Aimme
— more puppy play time
— more training practice
— Q&A on any puppy problems and then class ends with puppy massage and handling techniques (puppies need to have so much handling when they are young so they don’t mind the vet/​grooming visits in the future)
Aimee is really great at explaining why we do the things we do. She also knows when a fight is about to break out and does a good job as ending it quickly (I know, I couldn’t believe that puppies would fight until I saw it!) The revolving class schedule is really convenient too because if you miss a class, you can just make it up at the end.
Would recommend for any new puppy owners — I learned so much and my puppy LOVED all the play time!

I like the trainer at the Sorrento valley location a lot, Aimee is great and you just know that she loves dogs and helping people. She has a pretty bubbly personality that puts you at ease and makes dog training rewarding and not stressful.
The puppy kindergarten class was terrific for my pup because it was one of the few that admitted dogs w/​o their full set of vaccinations. To make sure everything is safe for the pups, people are required to dip their shoes in a disinfecting solution to get rid of any nasty germs before they enter the premise. I learned a lot of interesting tips about dog training from her, and my dog benefited tremendously from being socialized at an early age. Now he likes all people and all dogs! (Shiba’s are notorious for being a little standoffish — but he’s not!) You can often find him running up to people just begging to be pet, and he pretty much will play with everyone! I attribute this to the valuable early socialization he received from this class.

An absolute great place for your pup to get started with training and being around other dogs!
After getting an 8 week old puppy I logged many hours trying to find the best place to go for socialization and beginners training. I looked all over San Diego, had conversations with people over the phone, visited a class a PetSmart and more. I found Karma dog online and decided to give them a call. Jeff was very informative over the phone regarding what is all covered over the course of the class. I was allowed to attend the first class at no charge and also offered a discounted rate of $ 150.00 (instead of $ 199) for finding them online.
My girlfriend and I attended the first class, and ever class there after, along with our pup Hank. He was the smallest guy there in size, but definitely not in personally. After about 15 minutes on the first day we saw his personality blossom by being around other dogs during play time. Aimee, the instructor, teaches a very well curriculumed course that goes for 8 weeks covering a different lesson each week. One of the great parts is that each lesson builds off the previous and there is the perfect amount of repetition to ensure the dogs are keeping up. The classes are very flexible, unlike PetSmart, if you need to miss a class or go to a different class. Aimee takes great pride in the course that she puts on and her own dogs are always present and work with the puppies and dogs in the class very well. All of the owners are envious of how well trained her dogs are and she uses them to help show us proper training techniques.
Karma dog uses different facilities I believe, but we attended class with Hank at the one located in Sorrento Valley. The facility is great, the health standards and preparation are superb, and there is easy means for separating dogs if needed, for instance putting the smaller dogs on one side and bigger dogs on the other side.
In addition to completing the puppy kindergarten class with our now 6 month old and well trained and behaved dog Hank, we have also used Aimee to board Hank when we are out of town. We are very comfortable leaving Hank with her whether it be for two nights or more than a week. When we are away she sends text messages and picture messages of him, which we love.
I really mean it when I say that Karma Dog will give you, the owner, and your dog the best service and attention when looking for a kindergarten and/​or obedience class. At PetSmart we felt just like a number for a corporation and they couldn’t meet our flexibility needs. Karma Dog did everything and more for us. We will continue to use in the future for training, play dates, boarding and more. Aimee has also become Hank’s official Aunt through our experience and he is always so excited to see her and her dogs

I was searching online for a place to take my two small dogs to get some training. Well overall, they were good-​natured, social dogs, they did not have the best manners and would jump on people and the furniture. Not to mention they would pull excessively when they were being walked which does not make for a pleasant dog-​walking experience.
I found Karma dog training online and got a quick response from Aimee with pricing and general information. She mentioned setting up a time to meet for a consultation. I was choosing to do the board and train program as I thought this would give my two pups the best chance to learn through intense training consistently throughout the day. I went and met with Aimee and knew I must take Kingston and Jay to her. The aura of her house, her sweet dogs, and her demeanor when I met her gave me instant confidence I had found the right person.
I went and visited Jay and Kingston in the middle of their training and I could already see a huge difference. Even though I was getting consistent updates from Aimee telling me everything they were learning, I was astounded to see it in person. They had already been transformed into different dogs. Aimee was absolutely amazing with them… so calm, assertive, and you could just tell they were listening to everything she wanted from them.
They came home a few days later and though I was a little nervous they would go back to their old habits once they were in my home and not Aimee’s, Aimee dropped hem off and spent over and hour showing me everything she had worked on with them, answering any and all questions. While it is an investment, it was 110% worth it, Aimee transformed my dogs. Not only did she work on everything we discussed, she also taught them how to stay, wait, go to their bed, and just all around puppy manners. I cannot tell you how much more enjoyable they are to have now, not just because they listen and are well mannered, but because my dogs seem like much happier and relaxed pups. It was like they had a brain transplant and came home completely different doggies.
If you are looking for an amazing dog trainer, please consider using Aimee, she has changed my life as well as the happy little munchkins I call my boys. Your dog will appreciate it and you will have a much more enjoyable relationship. Aimee is the BEST!

Seriously?!? I cannot believe there are NO reviews on Karma Dog Training! Come on people start adding your reviews. Since there are no other reviews, I will make this one a long thorough one. I Unilocal everything and luckily my husband decided to go with Karma Dog Training even though there are no reviews. He was really impressed with their website and their price.
My husband and I signed our cocker spaniel mix puppy, Monster, up for the Puppy Kindergarten class and it was definitely worth it! At the beginning of the program, Monster was 14 weeks and only 5 lbs. He was a little guy, but LOVED all people and all other dogs. He would love to go to training and play with his friends. As he got older, he would become more hyper and he was like a puppy on speed some times. Aimee would give him «time outs» and it really worked. He calmed down and was focused.
We did 7 sessions which were from 2:30−4 every Sunday. The cost was $ 149.99, but if you mention Unilocal,you get $ 50 off. So it’s a great deal.
To be honest, I wasn’t into the idea of taking our puppy to training, because I’ve grown up with puppies/​dogs my whole life and thought, «Oh gosh, there are children starving around the world and now I’m spending this money on my dog for a class… I’m one of those people.»
Boy was I wrong! I’m glad my husband convinced me to give it a try. Learning the proper way to train our puppy was quick and much more efficient if we were to do it ourselves. Plus, the main reason my husband wanted to take Monster to class was to have him socialize with other pups and have him get used to strangers also. My husband was really scared of having another dog with severe separation anxiety, because in the past we adopted a Jack Russel terrier mix from the shelter, but it was rough. We loved him to death, but as the years went on, his anxiety became so incredibly bad that we had to give him up to another person. I really wish we would have found Karma Dog Training at that time, because I really think Aimee would have been able to rehabilitate our little Eddie.
The puppy classes are awesome! Aimee was our trainer and she’s amazing! I believe she’s the head director. She’s outgoing, thorough, and teaches us how to train our dogs properly. She definitely is an animal lover! She will help you with potty training, chewing, health issues, grooming issues, and anything that has to do with your puppy.
At the beginning of each class, the puppies run around for a few minutes to socialize. Then Aimee explains what we will be learning and why certain things are important. Then she shows us a command and we all start practicing with our dogs. Then it’s play time for a few minutes and back to training. Aimee was there to answer any type of questions. Monster is my 6^th dog, so I was familiar with having and taking care of a puppy/​dog. However, you can tell there were new dog owners in the class and they were scared. They asked questions about every little detail that some times was just plain common sense. But Aimee always addressed their concerns and calmed these new puppy parents down. lol.
Monster learned several commands: sit, down, leave it, go to bed, and come. My all time favorite is «leave it». Monster starts getting a little crazy and I just tell him leave it and he does! It’s like magic.
Once we learn a new command, our homework was to practice 3 times a day for 3 – 5 minutes with our pups. So for the first week, we learned «sit», we went home and the training began and you have to be patient. It obviously depends on you and your dog, but just be patient, learn to train properly, because most of the time, it’s our fault in confusing the pup. Be consistent and voila! They start obeying to your commands.
Near the end of the classes, my husband started confusing Monster by having him do sit, down, and leave it all at once. Eventually, Monster would sit, lay down, and leave it over and over until my husband gave him the cookie. Then my husband became really frustrated and blamed Monster for not learning. WRONG. My husband was the one messing things up. He addressed the problem to Aimee and she basically said Monster is confused and thinks he has to do all 3 to earn a treat. Then we went back to training ONE command at a time and Monster was able to pick it up right away.
We LOOOOOOVED the class and Aimee! We were sad that the class ended and wish we could continue to go all the time. It’s a great and fun environment for the dogs to all play.

We found Karma Dog Training several years ago when we got an Aussie puppy that peed all over the house. Karma was able to teach us how to fix the problem, which was gone in a week! And now, Karma has been so fantastic for our rescue dog, Kona. We got him at a shelter about a year and a half ago, and Aimee has really taught him how to be obedient, and a fun part of our family. Not knowing what his past was, or what traumas he went through, she has taught him to come back to a happy and healthy place. He’s now a sweet dog, with no outward social problems, no more potty problems, and a great demeanor. Thank you Aimee and Karma Dog!