The Best Service Dog Trainers In California

There are over 500,000 service dogs in an active service role in the United States alone. Service dogs are an excellent way for people who have disabilities to gain back some of their independence and complete their daily tasks more efficiently.

However, the demand for service dogs is very high, with it sometimes taking up to 3 years to adopt a service dog after applying for one. With the wait time being so long, it might seem easier to train your own dog or a dog you are looking to adopt as your service dog instead of looking for one that has already been trained.

It can be frustrating when you search for a great dog trainer specializing in training service dogs and trying to distinguish them from your everyday dog trainer. Luckily, we have put together a ranked list of the best service dog trainers in California to make your search much easier for you.

Continue reading below to find out more.

California Service Dog Academy serves the Southern California area and is located in Visalia, California. They are a non-profit organization and offer free service dog training programs for veterans.

The facility was founded by Matthew and Rebecca Corso in 2018 after dealing with multiple clients of theirs who had difficulties finding a service dog to fit their needs. They use positive reinforcement to train all of their service dog candidates properly.

The flagship program at California Service Dog Academy is their Sentinel Service Dog program. Through this program, they are able to provide Sentinel Service Dogs to veterans who are wounded or disabled and facility or therapy Dogs for first responders at absolutely no charge.

Beyond this wonderful service, they also offer training for civilian service and assistance dogs, therapy dogs, and other facility dogs.

To learn more about California Service Dog Academy’s programs, you can visit their website. If you are looking to apply or have any questions, you can reach out and contact them through phone or live chat.

Fun Paw Care is a service dog training facility situated in Los Angeles, California. They offer basic puppy and dog training, as well as more in-depth training options for those looking to train their pup as a service animal.

The company was founded by Russell Hartstein, a renowned certified dog behaviorist, and professional trainer. He focuses the facility’s training style on improving the relationship and communication between each handler and their dog.

Fun Paw Care offers obedience training, therapy dog training, ESA training, and service dog training. They offer these training options either in the owner’s home or at their training ranch. They provide a board and train service, as well.

Another great service dog training option provided by the company is task training and troubleshooting, which costs around $345 per hour. For anyone looking to have their pup trained here, they provide phone or Zoom consultations to answer all of your questions.

Fun Paw Care has a website detailing all of their programs, information on dog behaviors, and facts about the company. For any questions or to start training, you can contact them through the options listed on their contact page.

If you are looking for a fantastic dog trainer in the San Diego area of California, look no further than Karma Dog Training. They offer a wide selection of services at their training facility.

Jeffrey Liebowitz founded the facility back in 2004. He created Karma Dog Training with the intention to allow pet parents to come from the most enlightened perspective when they are training and raising their dogs.

Karma Dog Training offers obedience and puppy training, as well as training for service dogs, therapy dogs, and hospice dogs. They have service dog specialists available to answer any and all questions you might have about obtaining or training a service dog.

They will evaluate your current pup to see if they are able to be trained as a service dog by testing their skill level and temperament. Not all dogs are able to achieve the high standards that come with service dog training.

If you would like to learn more about Karma Dog Training’s unique perspective on dogs or about the services they offer, you can visit their website. If you are ready to set up training or have further questions, you can get a hold of them by filling out a questionnaire found here.

K-9 Companions is a dog training facility located in Perris, California. The trainers use a mix of positive reinforcement and mild corrective techniques to give your dog the best training experience.

The facility was founded in 1979, giving the company over 40 years of experience in the dog training business. Their team of certified master trainers is made up of veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and United States military K-9 service experts.

K-9 Companions offers basic and advanced training, agility training, and service dog training. They train service dogs to assist with mobility impairments, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. The trainers involve the owners in the learning process as much as possible.

The service dog training program typically lasts for around 18 months. Through this program, your dog will learn basic commands, on and off-leash advanced obedience, Canine Good Citizen Testing, and other specific service skills as needed.

To read more about all of the services K-9 Companions has to offer, you can check out their website. You can also contact them through an online form or by phone if you have any questions.

Orange County Service Dogs is situated in Orange, California. The facility has been a leader in service dog and therapy dog training for a long time and has great reviews.

The owner of Orange County Service Dogs is Nikki Esser. She has over 20 years of experience with dog training and has been professionally training dogs for over 10 years.

Orange County Service Dogs provides training for therapy dogs and service dogs that will assist with PTSD or mobility impairments. They do not provide training for service dogs that would need to perform seizure alerts, diabetic alerts, or guide dogs.

For your dog or puppy to be eligible for service dog training, they will need to have their second set of puppy vaccines. It can take up to 2 tears to fully train your dog as a service dog.

To learn more about Orange County Service Dogs, you can visit their website. You can also contact them with any questions or to begin training by emailing, calling, or submitting an online form.

What To Look For When Finding A Good Service Dog Trainer?

The most important thing to consider when looking for a great service dog trainer is their experience in the field. A great trainer does not necessarily need to have decades of experience, but knowing where and how they were taught allows you to know if they will be a successful trainer.

You will also want to consider their certifications. Service dog training is an astringent and specific type of dog training. Anyone attempting to train your pup as a service dog should be certified by a proper organization as a professional dog trainer.

Also, make sure to consider your specific needs and the functions you will need your dog to perform as a working service dog. While a service dog trainer may be well-qualified, you will want to ensure they work with service dogs that perform the functions and tasks you require.

Lastly, check for trainers that will assess your current pup properly or help you look for a great dog to become your service dog. Not all dogs are cut out to be service dogs, as it takes a lot of skill. With these things in mind and the list above, you can find an incredible service dog trainer in no time.

Conclusion

The process of looking for a service dog trainer can be frustrating and stressful. In most cases, it is an expensive training program and can be needed to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

With all of the unhelpful trainer options out there, it can be a chore to get through them all. However, we went through them all to bring you the best service dog trainers in California. With the list above, you can find the right service dog trainer for your needs and situation in no time.

Now, you can head over to the website of the trainer that suits you and set up training for your future service dog.