Ellen the Dog Trainer

Ellen The Dog Trainer - Dog Training & Behavior Modification

With private training, Ellen will work with you and your dog to not only teach valuable skills but give you an even greater understanding of dogs and their behavior. Imagine: stress-free walks, easy reactions to strangers, and mutual trust. Invest in your dog's future so you can live your best lives together!

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Dog Tips In Your Inbox

Subscribe to our FREE newsletter to receive regular dog training tips, behavior insights and alerts on upcoming classes and free clinics!

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Join Us For Classes & Clinics

Want to learn more about your furry best friend and have some fun while you're at it? We've got FREE clinics and affordable group classes coming up! Bond with your pup and learn valuable training skills.

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Dog Approved Products & Resources

There’s so much misinformation online now that it’s really hard to figure out who’s right, or what’s best for dog training. Ellen has compiled some of the best resources on what she recommends for equipment, enrichment, calming aids, websites, local resources, other trainers, and books.

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Mischief & Mayhem

“Dogs read our bodies, not our minds. They hear our voices, not our thoughts.”

Okay, while mischief is not so fun for you, it might be a lot of fun for your dog. It’s certainly a way to get your attention, or relieve their frustration, or fulfill a need we’re not aware of. Training with simple solutions to what feels like complex, overwhelming behaviors is my specialty!

Reduce Reactivity

“It’s their walk, you’re in charge to keep them safe through dog training.”

Are you frustrated with your dog’s frequent barking, lunging, or growling? I call this reactivity, and it can be reduced and managed! Reactivity is there for a reason; to the dog, it works for them in some way. May not be how we want it to work – but to the dog, it’s there. I will work together with you to identify the root causes of the reactivity and then work on solutions for it.

Reducing Reactivity is a commitment. It’s rarely a one-off session to change the behavior. Packages or as-needed appointments are all available depending upon what’s best for your dog, and you!

Puppy H.A.S. Life Skills

“A dog who learns positively, thinks positively, behaves positively.”

Live your best life with your dog! Contrary to popular belief, training your puppy should be reserved for the most experienced trainer. I’m an expert in all things dog with 15 years of experience in helping families just like yours. I am a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI-KSA) and have held a certification with Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA). I love helping pet dog families all over the Central Coast!

Dog Training

Live your best life with your dog! Get the help so you and your dog are ready for all of life’s adventures. I’m an expert in all things dog with 15 years of experience in helping dog families just like yours. I am Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI-KSA) and held a certification with Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA). I love working with fluffy friends all over the Central Coast! Give me a call at (805) 431-7359 to learn more.

Serving The Following Areas On The Central Coast

Cayucos
Morro Bay
Los Osos
San Luis Obispo
Lompoc

Trouble with aggression, over-reactive behavior and problem behavior inside the home or outside on leash? Jumping on visitors? Lunging and barking on the walk? I am a specialist here to help you and your dog.

Join me in fun and effective methods for Dog Training & Behavior Resources. My services include instruction to trainers around the world, but my heart is working with you and your dog, in your home and neighborhood. I am so excited you joined me here!

Excellent

Based on 65 reviews

Carolyn Smith

2025-04-30

Ellen helped us over several visits with our 2 year old pup Willie, who although a sweet and lovable boy, has barking issues and likes to chase or bark at some people, especially if riding a bike or scooter. We found her friendly, easy to work with and knowledgeable. She provided training videos to help review and imprint our lessons. In using positive rewards she gave us with tools to minimize his barking and reactive behaviors. Without her help, I don’t know where we would be… probably still trying to sort out the myriad of on-line training videos and struggling to understand how Willie works! (Thank you Ellen). We highly recommend her.

Erin Meisse

2024-09-05

Ellen has been such an important part of helping me with my 2 x rescue teenage dog! Kaya had lots of trust issues and Ellen really helped me understand how to build trust in order to train. Ellen has really trained ME, so that I can help my dog gain confidence and become her full self. In just two sessions, Kaya was obeying the commands we felt most important in building connection and trust. Kaya's personality has really blossomed since we started with Ellen! I did a ton of research on local private trainers before choosing Ellen, so let me save you the time - I cannot recommend Ellen enough!!

Bobbie Cunningham

2024-08-16

Ellen is the absolute BEST. She is so kind, patient, and extremely receptive when it comes to dog behavior. I honestly noticed a difference after one session with Ellen. Our 2 year old rescue pup (shepherd mix) had food anxiety, was very jumpy, was a runner, and was destructive out in the yard. Ellen taught us some simple games and commands to give her, and she was so eager to learn. I love Ellen's philosophy on training, and making sure it fit within our family's schedule and capacity... no mandatory daily walks, 3-5 min of training/games per day. It was all so easy once Ellen explained what our dog needed. THANK YOU ELLEN!!! You are incredible.

Kahye Yu

2024-08-16

Ellen provided us the tools, skills and knowledge to help my dog with her reactivity. She gives a good balance between theory and practical skills/exercises and is always willing to answer your questions (which I had many of) during your sessions, or even outside of your sessions. What stood out to me the most was her ability to support and empathize with you. She was kind and patient with me as I was struggling through all the aspects of reactivity and now I feel more sure of myself as an owner of a reactive dog. I look forward to building my relationship with my dog using everything we learned from Ellen.

Ashley Madden

2024-06-30

Ellen is great at working with reactive dogs and their owners. Before each session she spoke to us on the phone to let us know what to expect and how to prepare our dog. She is very observant, really honing in on small body language cues that signify anxiety, frustration, or even signs of pain. She helped us understand how our behaviors could be having a positive or negative affect on our dog. And she let our dog determine how a session would play out, stopping a little early if he became too stressed or pushing ahead a little more if he seemed ready. I would highly recommend her.

Tamara Wise

2024-06-12

Ellen was great in helping my daughter (10yr old) train her 4 month old puppy. Our puppy (chihuahua) now comes when we call her as well as sits and stays on command. My daughter has a lot of fun taking the techniques she learned from Ellen and continuing puppy training. I think it is great to teach children how to train as well as interact with dogs at a young age. I would highly recommend this training course when starting your child out with a new puppy. Thank you Ellen! I would love to get a “how to train your teenage dog” class as well!

Gianna Rea

2024-06-02

Ellen is attentive to all of her clients and really took into consideration all of my dog’s sensitivities. Trust the process. In a world of instant gratification, working to help your dog overcome fears, anxieties and previous trainings, takes time and patience. After all the knowledge and take aways from our sessions, I have seen a change in Flynn’s behaviors. He’s not perfect, but we’re working one day at a time to make each day better than before.

Gretchen G

2024-06-01

Ellen was referred to me by my dog’s vet. My dog has pretty severe fear aggression towards people she’s not used to and Ellen was so willing and excited to work with her. She is incredibly knowledgeable with behaviors and also physical aspects that may be affecting behaviors. She provides so many tools that complement her training sessions and sets a up a personalized google classroom you can always access with videos she takes during the training which is so helpful. Her training/ teaching and tools / recommendations she made helped immensely with my dog. Ellen’s prices are vey fair and she is such a pleasure to work with!

lizzy sorce

2024-05-05

Ellen is absolutely wonderful. She is extremely knowledgeable, honest, and helpful. I specifically reached out to Ellen for her experience working with senior dogs and new behaviors, and she is really helping me understand what might be causing some behaviors, and how to manage them. I highly recommend reaching out to her if you have any questions or needs regarding your dog's behavior.

Rita Flores

2024-01-23

I was searching for a local trainer for our puppy and luckily found Ellen. The package of puppy lessons is the best money I spent thus far on our little buddy. He loves Ellen and she has great insight on how to adjust our human thoughts to be more in touch with our dog, Bernie. Her lessons have helped us earn trust with him and are shaping him into a very loving part of our family. Thank you Ellen!