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The Best Dog Trainers in San Jose, CA of 2025

David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

This is a list of the top dog trainers in San Jose, CA, based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public.

Stacy Braslau-Schneck
MA CPDT-KA CBCC-KA CAP2
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Santa Clara County/Silicon Valley
I am dedicated to helping pet dog owners solve their behavior problems and love their well-trained dogs through my unique combination of experience, education, knowledge, and skills. I pursued a Master's degree in Human and Animal Cognition (Psychology) and then founded Stacy's Wag'N'Train in 1998. I have been continuing my education, refining my knowledge and my skills, since then, through me...

M Cecilia Sternzon
CPDT-KA, PPG Member, CGC Evaluator
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Agility training, Off leash training, Puppy training
South Santa Clara County, CA; Milpitas, CA; Remote
I'm a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), and Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and Pet Professional Guild (PPG). With over 20 years of professional experience in dog training, I stay on top of the latest scientific discoveries in learning and behavior, and work to remain knowledgeable and up-to-date with consistent continuing education.

Nathalie Mosbach Smith
CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified, Dog Aggression Certification
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training
San Jose, Campbell, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Cupertino
Nathalie started her professional dog career in 2007 as a dog hiker by taking up to 10 dogs on-leash to local parks and preserves. She continued her education in dog training and dog behavior and specializes in fearful, anxious and aggressive dogs. Nathalie's approach to dogs is based on the dog's need using reward based training methods which are non-confrontational and non-violent methods.

Nancy Le
Honors graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers, 2-year program (CTC) Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) Separation Anxiety Professional (SAPRO) Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) Animal Behavior College (ABCDT) AKC CGC Evaluator
Puppy training
South Bay area
Nancy Le is a certified professional dog trainer that's been serving the South Bay Area for over a decade. She is committed to effective training using force free and reward based training methods. Nancy is an honors graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers, 2-year program (CTC). Also known as the "Harvard for Dog Trainers," she continues her education under the guidance of world re...

Erika Liljefelt
- CTBC-Certified Trainer & Behavior Consultant - FDM-Certified Family Dog Mediator - SAPT-Certified Separation Anxiety Pro Trainer - CDW-Certified Dog Walker
Reactive dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
San Jose, CA, and surrounding areas
I am a dog trainer that is committed to using only humane, education-based training methods that are based on a positive reinforcement & force-free philosophy. I believe that kindness and a relationship built on a foundation of trust and joy are the most important parts of helping a dog and their caregivers work through whatever they are struggling with or need. I believe that we need to look a...

Sue Rusnak
CTC
Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Off leash training
Sue had always wanted a dog growing up but her mom always said I already have too many animals, we don't need a dog. See there were 6 kids in her family. Only later did Sue find out that her mother was actually scared of dogs after being bit by one as a child. Though dog ownership came later in life, Sue didn't have her own first dog until in her late 20's, she always seemed to be around other ...

Nick Arnold
In home training, Puppy training
Nick's journey into dog sports began alongside his wife, Kaylee, and her black lab Lexie, igniting a passion for dock diving that would pave the way for his exploration into other dog sports.

For eight years, Nick has been actively immersed in Barn Hunt, including two years of judging experience. His dogs, Trigger and Cinder, have amassed an impressive array of titles across Barn Hunt,...

Rochelle Ball
In home training, Puppy training
Rochelle was raised in central Africa, but has been a Bay Area resident for over 20 years. In her previous lives she was a biologist and then a registered nurse. She first fell in love with training and the science of learning during an internship at the Oakland Zoo, working with a mentor and helping to care for and train the giraffe. Rochelle has worked at the Hayward and Alameda Animal shelt...

Dawn Bushong
In home training, Puppy training
Dawn became fascinated with training animals at a young age, and taught the family pets (dogs and cats) to do silly tricks for treats, even teaching one cat to jump through a hoop like the big cats in the circus. After she picked up a used book at around age 12 about training dogs to win obedience titles, it was all over. Dawn trained the family dog at the time - a basset hound - many of the ...

Jena Casey
Puppy training, Agility training
Jena has been a dog lover and animal caregiver since her most formative years. As a child she sought adventure trekking the Santa Cruz Mountains, creeks and beaches. One of her prized recent doggy memories is walking her German Shepherd companion Gordon as they tracked wildlife in the African bush. Her dog training qualification stems from years of work in wildlife behavior and child behavior m...

Mike Colucci
Puppy training, Agility training
Mike Colucci is always interested in evolving methods and applying them to modifying canine behavior.

"I enjoy training because there is gratifying feeling when you see a light bulb come on above a dogs head. When the behavior you were focusing on settles in and the dog is on the same page, eager to earn more reinforcement, it is very exciting!" Mike enjoys teaching Puppy, Family Dog 1...

Jen Conrad
Puppy training, Agility training
Jen has been an animal lover and advocate all her life. Growing up on acreage in the Sierra Nevada foothills, her family always had lots animals around to take care of. She has a passion for helping animals in some capacity, whether through activism, rescue and rehabilitation or human education. She has spent some time volunteering at organizations like the Sacramento SPCA, Santa Cruz County An...

Chad Culp
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training, Agility training
Chad Culp is the owner of Thriving Canine, a full-time dog training business in Gilroy Ca. (San Francisco Bay Area) Chad is a certified dog trainer, canine behavior specialist, writer, author, speaker and world-wide dog advice persona via Facebook, YouTube and ThrivingCanine.com. His formal credentials are that he graduated from Animal Behavior College. He is also a graduate of Global College o...

Ani Elmaoglu
In home training, Puppy training, Agility training
Ani is a Certified Training Partner of the Karen Pryor Academy, Fear Free Certified and an AKC CGC Evaluator. Ani was involved in animal rescue for over 20 years and transitioned that passion into providing effective and convenient solutions for people top meet their dog's needs. Ani continues to to pursue her ongoing education in dog behavior by attending courses and seminars and keeping up to...

Martha Ghofranian
In home training, Puppy training
Martha is originally from Long Island and moved to the Bay Area over 20 years ago. She has always had a love of dogs but childhood allergies prevented her from having one of her own. When she got her first dog Ruby at the age of 23 her whole world changed. Martha now has 4 dogs (Jasper 14, Lovey 10, Denali 7 & Cheyenne 4). Martha has had customer service related jobs since she was 16, from ...

Stacy Goldstein
In home training, Puppy training
A California native, Stacy grew up in LA with a passion for both wild and domestic animals. Having a dog in her life since the day she came home from the hospital, she has been training and caring for dogs, cats, and horses her entire life. After adopting a completely wild, young Mustang horse, she studied natural horsemanship and positive reinforcement methods for horses and then applied them ...

Shannon Hall
Puppy training, Agility training
Shannon is our Disc Dog instructor. Shannon comes from a long background of professional competition in barrel racing. For the last ten years, she has found a new love in the sport of Disc Dog. She and her husband, Ryan, are members of the demo team for the Disc Dogs of the Golden Gate and have performed at major sporting events as the halftime show. She has 4 border collies, Emma, MacLaren, Ni...

Jessie Hawkes
Jessie's lifelong passion for animals blossomed as she cared for her family pets and observed her mother's work in the veterinary and pet sitting industry. In 2014, she began volunteering at the SFSPCA, where her special fondness for nurturing dogs and assisting with challenging cases quickly emerged.Through dedication and hard work, Jessie quickly advanced to the position of kennel master, lea...

Shanni Hendler
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training
Throughout her life, Shanni has had a love for animals. She grew up in a unique farm environment where she had access to livestock, pets and fowl and has learned to care for many species.

She has always been fascinated by dogs and has studied the relationship between dogs and humans for years. Through practice and study she has learned how dogs communicate and interact with the world ...

Dee Hutton
Agility training
Dee works with all levels of students from beginning through advanced competitors. She competes in USDAA, AKC, ASCA and NADAC and has achieved numerous advanced titles on her dogs.

Dee's training philosophy emphasizes the relationship between you and your dog by using play and positive reinforcement in training and competing. She enjoys watching the beginning handlers as they learn to ...

Danny Kimbrell
Aggressive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Army Veteran Danny specializes in Board and Train, and working with dogs with a bite history Founder of both Athens Dog training and non-profit Real Service Dog Inc. Danny Makes assisting dogs in behavior modification a main priority. A mentor for new trainers Danny continues to pass on the science of positive reinforcement training to developing trainers that are assets the community.
...

Leena Koivuniemi
In home training, Puppy training
Leena Koivuniemi is an experienced dog trainer who graduated from Animal Behavior College. She made her externship at Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where she participated with puppy to intermediate dog training classes. Prior to joining the Humane Society Leena was an agility class teacher at Fetch Sam! having taught 3 different agility classes at the center. Leena is a positive reinforceme...

Alisha Krishnayya
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training
Alisha is an internationally certified Dog Trainer and Behaviorist and CPDT-KA. She has been passionate about dogs since she was a child, and decided to take the plunge into the world of training after quitting her corporate job back in 2018. She started her training journey with Shirin Merchant, a pioneer in the field of dog training in India and has completed her Basic training, Therapy Dog a...

Sangeetha Lakshminarayanan
Puppy training, Agility training
Sangeetha has been a foster for over two decades and with the perfect dog rescue for the last nine years byfostering, training and supporting the rescue in many ways. She loves the time spent in rehabilitating dogs, of all sizes and breeds, with behavioral or medical issues and setting them up for success with a furever family.Sangeetha started, just over a year ago, a community group, 'Sustain...

Cathy Leavitt
Puppy training, Agility training
Barn Hunt Judge and instructor Cathy Leavitt of K9 Rat Pack and K9 Sports Dynamics of Fremont teaches the Barn Hunt classes and conducts the Barn Hunt trials. Barn Hunting is the fun sport of locating rats hidden in a cylinder in stacks and tunnels built of hay. No experience or training needed for dogs but a sense of humor is required! She has two dogs, Sykes, a New Zealand heading dog and Sac...

Ed Mabie
Puppy training, Agility training
Ed is responsible for building, maintaining and running all of our agility and training equipment. You'll see him weekend mornings at the agility classes. He is a mechanical whiz with patience for problem solving. Sandi and Ed were married on a 50' sailing yacht with the family Golden Retriever at their side. Ed also loves sailing and racing out of the Santa Cruz Harbor. Ed graduated from Sant...

Kait Martone
Puppy training, Agility training
Kait has extensive experience working with many species on her family's ranch. Kait handles many aspects of training from organizing our office and keeping communications on track, to working with clients and animals and maintaining our training facility in Aptos.

Nannette Morgan
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training
Nannette Morgan has been training dogs for over 15 years, and spent 20 years training and competing with horses in dressage and jumping competitions. But for her, experience isn't enough. Nannette believes in formal education and training, and striving for the highest levels of excellence in her field.To that end, Nannette is the only IAABC-certified Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant ...

Lee Morrow
Puppy training, Agility training
Lee Morrow has decades of experience working with reactive dogs and adopting reactive dogs who need behavioral help. Lee is a member of the Pet Professionals Guild and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and attends their annual conference in October. Lee teaches some fun Puppy and Family Dog classes for us.

Sandi Pensinger
Puppy training, Agility training
Sandi has decades of experience working with animals and has been working as a full time professional trainer since 2000. Sandi teaches a full range of classes including Puppy, Family Dog and Dog Sports (Agility, Scent Work, Treibball). One of Sandi's priorities is to help dog owners prevent dog behavior problems with training, fun sources of exercise, and enrichment. Sandi is a member of the o...

Monica Pielage
Puppy training, Agility training
Monica Pielage has been training dogs since her teenage years in 4-H. She has trained dogs in cattle herding, search and rescue, as a Therapy Dog and now focuses on Treibball or Urban Herding as it is also called. Her Australian Shepherd, Jojo, has achieved the following titles from the National Association of Treibball Enthusiasts; TE-N, TE-I, TE-A, OTE-N, OTE-I. Monica taught 4-H dog project ...

Christine Salazar
In home training, Puppy training
Christine is a California native, who was raised in the Bay area. With a love of animals from an early age, it was not surprising to find her living with two dogs, five cats, and a blue and gold macaw at one time as an adult. Where it all really began was with her purchase of a German Shepherd puppy back in 1998. Determined to have a stable, well rounded dog that would be welcomed anywhere, she...

Liz Stewart
In home training, Puppy training
Liz has been doing pet therapy work for 10 years. She started with her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Angel, in 2008 with Pet Partners formerly Delta Society while living in SoCal. They then became certified with Valley Humane Society once they moved up to the Bay Area. Liz prepared Chloe to take over for Angel when she was getting close to retirement. Chloe was certified at VHS after completing her ...

James Taylor
Board and train, Off leash training, Puppy training
James Taylor has always had a special place in his heart for dogs. James grew up in Chicago with his Shepherd/Collie mix named King. James was in the 1st grade and found himself locked out of his home in the dead of winter, with no way to contact his parents. Cold and scared, he sat by the back door, King sitting next to him, and waited patiently for his family to come home. He grew tired and s...

Kelly Vaillancourt
In home training, Service dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training
I'm Kelly Vaillancourt, the owner of WunderDog Training. I teach in-home, reward-based dog training within Santa Cruz County. Using humane, scientific training methods, I will teach you how to effectively train your dog using positive reinforcement. Whether it's basic training, resolving leash reactivity, or addressing behavioral problems; teaching your dog using force-free techniques has a ...

Dieuwke Velde
Puppy training, Agility training
Dieuwke (Dee-you-kuh) van der Velde, certified positive reinforcement trainer through Animal Behavior College, interned at Humane Society of Silicon Valley. With a background as a research technician at Stanford, I believe in continuous learning to learn evolving techniques and tools staying abreast to successfully train dogs. I fully subscribe to positive reinforcement training and adopt this...

Sophie Webb
Puppy training, Agility training
Sophie is our Agility Instructor. Sophie's passion is agility. She enjoys teaching novice up to advanced students in the nuances of relationship to build a strong agility performance. Sophie is competitive in Agility with her dogs, Daiya and Cash. Sophie is a world-renowned artist, scientist, and author of peer reviewed scientific papers, field guides and extraordinary natural history books

Holly Wolff
In home training, Puppy training
Holly has been training animals most of her life. She trained a horse at age 12. She studied zoology and animal science at UMass Amherst and volunteered as a zookeeper at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician in California and worked at the East Bay SPCA and Valley Humane Society. Holly has fostered more than 200 cats and dogs for local animal shelters. On ...

Welcome to San Jose’s list of top dog trainers. The San Jose, California list is based on 164 votes from the California Sniffspot community. Only the San Jose dog trainers with the top number of votes made this list. Trainers are ordered by number of votes, with Stacy Braslau-Schneck at the top of this list with 82 votes. We also counted 2983 votes for California, with the remaining trainers listed outside of San Jose.

Our rankings include trainers certified by CPDT-KA and CGC Evaluator. They also specialize in Puppy training, In home training amongst other training programs.

San Jose dog trainer services include:

Puppy training
In home training
Reactive dog training
Agility training
Aggressive dog training
Off leash training
Board and train
Service dog training
Deaf dog training

Behind every successful San Jose training session lies a passionate professional. Stacy Braslau-Schneck shares why they chose this path: I was asked to teach classes at the SF/SPCA when I was volunteering at the city shelter, and fell in love with helping pet owners find their dogs' greatest potential!. All 38 trainers on this San Jose list are committed to positive reinforcement. Trusted San Jose trainer, M Cecilia Sternzon, uses the following methods: In my behavior consultations, I take a full history and perform a functional assessment prior to giving any recommendations. I also work with the clients to establish clear and reasonable goals for the program. The methods I use are dog-friendly and science-based, emphasizing positive reinforcement for desirable behaviors. In some cases, I may refer to a veterinarian to rule out medical issues for certain behavior problems. Along the way, I give my clients clear training plans, with written follow-ups to our meetings..

Explore the top dog trainers in San Jose as voted by our community:

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See The Best Dog Trainers In Other Cities Near San Jose

Ordered alphabetically, only included cities where there is enough data to compile a list

See The Best Dog Trainers By Type In San Jose

FAQ: Meet the Top San Jose, California Dog Trainers

Who are the top-rated dog trainers in San Jose, California?

In San Jose, Stacy Braslau-Schneck has earned the highest recognition for their expertise in Aggressive dog training. They, along with M Cecilia Sternzon and Nathalie Mosbach Smith, provide personalized training services to meet the diverse needs of San Jose dog owners.

What drives San Jose dog trainers to excel in their services?

Stacy Braslau-Schneck and other leading trainers in San Jose are motivated by a passion for helping dogs and their owners. Stacy Braslau-Schneck was inspired to offer their services in San Jose because I was asked to teach classes at the SF/SPCA when I was volunteering at the city shelter, and fell in love with helping pet owners find their dogs' greatest potential!.

What are the top services offered by San Jose trainers?

The top trainers in San Jose, such as Stacy Braslau-Schneck, specialize in providing Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training. They describe their services as: I help pet dogs and their owners! I specialize in reactivity training and helping shy or fearful dogs, as well as puppy training!.

What is Stacy Braslau-Schneck’s best piece of advice for San Jose dog owners?

Stacy Braslau-Schneck recommends: Evaluate your timing, your rate of reinforcement, and your criteria. Make sure you are rewarding the moment/action you mean to; that you are rewarding those actions more than the environment is rewarding the old default actions; and that you are setting your expectations small enough to achieve success yet high enough to create progress!. This advice is particularly relevant for dog owners in San Jose looking to improve their dog’s behavior.

How can I choose the right trainer in San Jose for my dog’s needs?

Choosing the right trainer in San Jose involves considering their services, such as Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Agility training, Off leash training, Puppy training and Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training, as well as their qualifications, including CPDT-KA, CGC Evaluator, CTC, Fear Free Certified, PPG Member.

Why are certifications important for San Jose dog trainers?

Certifications like CPDT-KA, CGC Evaluator, CTC, Fear Free Certified, PPG Member are crucial for trainers in San Jose as they ensure that each trainer has the necessary skills and knowledge to provide effective and positive training.

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David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

David Adams

About the author

David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development. David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners. Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature. David is based in Salem, MA.

About Sniffspot

Sniffspot is a community marketplace that enables anyone to rent land by-the-hour as a safe and private dog park.

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Sniffspot provides the best experiences and fun for you and your dog. Our dog parks are designed for the ultimate dog exercise. Our private spaces help you minimize distractions or triggers and maximize time with your dog. We provide off leash enrichment - exploration and activities you can't get anywhere else; wear your dog out for days. We make it easy to have playdates. Socialize your pup in a controlled, private spot - it's great exercise and it's fun for you and your dog.

The Best Dog Trainers in San Jose, CA of 2025

Stacy Braslau-Schneck

M Cecilia Sternzon

Nathalie Mosbach Smith

Nancy Le

Erika Liljefelt

Sue Rusnak

Nick Arnold

Rochelle Ball

Dawn Bushong

Jena Casey

Mike Colucci

Jen Conrad

Chad Culp

Ani Elmaoglu

Martha Ghofranian

Stacy Goldstein

Shannon Hall

Jessie Hawkes

Shanni Hendler

Dee Hutton

Danny Kimbrell

Leena Koivuniemi

Alisha Krishnayya

Sangeetha Lakshminarayanan

Cathy Leavitt

Ed Mabie

Kait Martone

Nannette Morgan

Lee Morrow

Sandi Pensinger

Monica Pielage

Christine Salazar

Liz Stewart

James Taylor

Kelly Vaillancourt

Dieuwke Velde

Sophie Webb

Holly Wolff

See The Best Dog Trainers In Other Cities Near San Jose

See The Best Dog Trainers By Type In San Jose

FAQ: Meet the Top San Jose, California Dog Trainers

Who are the top-rated dog trainers in San Jose, California?

What drives San Jose dog trainers to excel in their services?

What are the top services offered by San Jose trainers?

What is Stacy Braslau-Schneck’s best piece of advice for San Jose dog owners?

How can I choose the right trainer in San Jose for my dog’s needs?

Why are certifications important for San Jose dog trainers?

David Adams

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