Reviews
“Alex and Kelli have been an amazing resource for our rescue!”
Alex and Kelli have been an amazing resource for our rescue! Many of our rescue pups have come from a one of the many Southern Cal shelters. Alex and Kelli give our fosters and adopters the tools needed to make adjustments to their routines, the way they interact with the pups, and the way they handle “sassy” behaviors (resource guarding, separation anxiety, unpredictable nipping, etc). Their approach to training has been very effective – they do an initial consultation in home (within the Los Angeles area) or virtually. From there a program is developed and shared with the humans, progress is shared via text, uploaded videos. There are regular check ins with Kelli and Alex. What is really nice is they are always available if something needs to be addressed real time. We absolutely love their philosophy and approach “often times people put so much pressure / excessive expectations on dogs when we just need to find a connection naturally like we do at work, in our neighborhood, at the park, etc.” Highly recommend The Grateful Dog, we are so very grateful for the gift they have given to our “sassy” pups - the opportunity to smooth out their rough edges and to find their happily ever after. Can we give The Grateful Dog more than 5 stars?
Bichon Rescue Brigade Partner "Not only great at training dogs but wonderful at helping us humans understand..."
Alex and Kelli have saved me countless times with taking care of my dog. They have both worked for rescues for years and they look out for and love all animals. They have helped me with my own dog and they are the ones I turn to when I have questions about a dog issue. I have watched them work with countless difficult dogs and they really get to the root of the problem and turn the dog’s behavior around. They are not only great at training dogs but wonderful at helping us humans understand the reasons behind the techniques they use so that we can apply them at home and in unanticipated situations. I can’t say enough about these two and my dog loves them!
Angela Client
"His behavior is much calmer"
Alex watched my dog Cliff for a couple of days and was amazing. He taught Cliff the "stay command" and to this day Cliff still knows the command and gave me tons of tips while also showing me videos of all of the training he did so I could continue to reinforce it! Another time I had a behavioral assessment with Alex because Cliff was getting mouthy while playing. A few months have gone by since then and Cliff's mouthiness behavior has significantly reduced and his behavior is much calmer
Arianna Client “Their gentle approach is very effective—not only for the animals but for me.”
Kelli and Alex are the best! They have helped me while working with a foster dog who resource guards me from my own dog. Their gentle approach is very effective not only for the animals but for me. They follow up and give specific steps to alter behaviors that are easy to utilize in a high stress situation. I highly recommend them! They’re dog whisperers ❤️
Kendra Client
"I don't trust anyone else with my dogs"
Kelli and Alex are the BEST with dogs. My dogs are very specific rescues that aren't very trusting. But when my dogs are with Kelli and Alex, they warm up so quickly. K&A are able to take them around other dogs (something I can't even get them to do), they do better on walks, and they have so much fun at Kelli and Alex's. I don't trust anyone else with my dogs except these two amazing humans.
Paige Client "Our dog has immensely improved her skills"
Alex and Kelli are truly the best in the biz! We have been using their services (walking, sitting and training) for over 5 years, and they love our dog like she's their own. Since working with Alex and Kelli, our dog has immensely improved her skills in on the leash, listening to commands and not reacting to other dogs that approach her. This type of trust and care is so rare to find, and we highly recommend their services (in fact we already have to many friends and family)!
Jen Client
"A valuable asset to our family"
We have been using Alex's services for years and there's no one I trust with our dogs more than him. He is compassionate and patient with our pups and always has amazing insight and tips for us to help improve our dogs behavior. We've noticed significant improvement with our new puppies day to day living; everything from crating, to walking well on a leash to potty training. Alex gives us thorough notes and reports on their current status as well as tips and ways to always improve. He's a valuable asset to our family with a vast amount of knowledge and experience and I don't know where we'd be without him!
Christina & Jake Clients "We trust them implicitly with our dog"
Alex and Kelli are the absolute best. Best humans, best dog trainers, best EVERYTHING. We trust them implicitly with our dog.
Josie Client
"They come home as polite creatures"
I couldn't recommend Alex more! I've boarded my dogs, a French Bulldog and English Bulldog, with him, and the minute we arrive they jump excitedly out of the car; they know where to go and why they are there. At the end of thier boarding, they come home as polite creatures, happy and obedient!
Andrea Client “They are always phenomenal—so attentive, caring, professional, and have years of experience.”
THIS IS THE BEST PLACE! Truly if you love your doggies, this is where you take them if you need someone amazing to watch & care for them! We've taken our dogs to Alex & Kelli for years and they are always phenomenal - so attentive, caring, professional and have years of experience. I can't recommend them enough - definitely give them a call and start taking your doggies here!
Jace Client
"So damn reliable"
Kelli & Alex are downright the best and I admire how much love they have for all animals, not just our sweet little guy. They care for our dog as if he is their own and somehow have time for other clients, dog rescuing, fostering and volunteering. I;m happy to report that they are always on time and have never missed a walk or visit when we have them in the books. If anything, we're the unreliable ones and they are always so patient with us! HAHAHA This is the easiest testimonial to write because they are so damn reliable, trustworthy, loving and so good at what they do!
Stacey + Jason Clients "Loving, attentive, and stimulating care"
When you are anxious to leave your dog…but are thrilled to see how excited he is to come here!! Loving, attentive, and stimulating care—thank you!
Shazi Client
"We're SO GRATEFUL to have their guidance"
Alex & Kelli at The Grateful Dog helped us tremendously with our rescue pup, Waffles! They were recommended to us by another rescue we fostered with, and even in that foster process they were always super helpful and patient as we navigated through different types of dogs than we were used to. When we adopted Waffles from a different rescue, we were told he was older than he actually was and displayed some pretty challenging puppy behavior for his first couple of months with us. Alex & Kelli came to our rescue with his potty training, recall, separation anxiety, and hyperactivity at night. They gave us helpful tips not only with training activities but also with long-lasting management tools that we'll use even after our package ends with them. Without Alex & Kelli, we might not have been able to handle Waffles and we're SO GRATEFUL to have their guidance. They were patient with us and with him, understanding of our frustration, and always checking in to make sure we had what we needed and their services were helpful (which, of course, they were beyond!). Also we could just tell how much they love and respect animals, which meant a lot to make us feel safe and comfortable with them. My husband, Waffles, and I highly recommend working with The Grateful Dog to help transition a puppy or dog with behavioral *quirks* into your home peacefully and successfully! We'll miss working with them, but know they are always there if we need additional help.
Waffles Client "Exceptional professionals and remarkable human beings"
I had the privilege of getting to know Alex and Kelli during my 8-month comprehensive dog training certification program, and I could not be more grateful for the experience. Alex was assigned as my mentor, and his guidance was instrumental in my growth as a trainer. He not only helped me understand core curriculum concepts but generously expanded my understanding with additional training philosophies and real-world applications. Shadowing Alex in the field - working directly with pet parents and their dogs - affirmed for me the power of gentle leadership paired with thoughtful training techniques. His calm presence, clarity in communication, and deep respect for both dogs and their humans demonstrated what truly effective training looks like while respecting animal well-fare. I am sincerely thankful for my time learning from Alex and Kelli, and I would entrust both of my own dogs to their care without hesitation. They are exceptional professionals and remarkable human beings!
Homer Client
"The best of the best!"
The best of the best! Alex and Kelli are some of the most compassionate and loving people I know. Their love for dogs is exactly why they do what they do, and I have no doubt that your fur baby will be well taken care of with Alex and Kelli. They have provided training support for our 7 month old puppy and it has made the biggest difference in her behavior. Working with Alex and Kelli has also helped us feel more confident in ourselves as dog parents. We know so much more after working with them, it has been a great learning experience for us. 10/10 would recommend!
Hunter Client
