Living With Dogs

Mike is a phenomenal instructor. Kind, friendly, responsive, and patient. In just a few sessions, he's helped us better understand our dog and work *with* her natural curiosity and energy. If you need a trainer, Mike is the guy. Fo sho.

Mike is so kind and patient with Waffles. I'm learning so much. Highly recommend LWD for dog training.

We have had a few classes with Mike and I highly recommend it. He teaches you how to teach your dog. ( you would think all dog training does but you would be wrong). He uses the latest techniques and is great with the dogs. Looking forward to more learning!

Living with Dogs to my rescue! I desperately needed a training program to help my boy learn to be a gentleman around other dogs. My big girl Roxy learned her manners under Sandy years ago, so I was eager to see how Mike, who now owns the business, was going to handle things. He's fantastic! Love him. Super nice, knowledgable, confident and competent. I've also greatly appreciated how thoughtful he's been in making sure that everyone has a positive experience. It's clear that he always has his eye on everything that's going on, and his specific feedback is right on target. My boy's impulse control and tolerance around other dogs has greatly improved. Thank goodness! Oh, and scheduling and cancelling classes is a breeze.

Check dates on reviews! I wrote a rave review when Sandi P was running Living with Dogs (years ago), but I now must revise the rating downward. The new owner, Mike, is a nice guy, but he and the other trainers just don't do as well. Partly because of Covid restrictions, having owners/pets separated, and thus no group interaction. My dog was disinterested much of the time, wasn't thrilled by treats for motivation, and I didn't learn enough to feel I'd gotten much from the classes.

Most classes were redundant regarding training. over 1/2 was review. I ended up not bothering to use all the classes I'd paid for as it didn't seem worth my time. I was disappointed.

Amazing well kept facility for dogs. Positive reinforcement training. Tented areas for classes in any weather. Butterfly garden for monarchs is lovely too.

Where to start with Mike Colucci?!?! He is AMAZING at training dogs (and their humans). When I first started with with Mike, our Aussie was a nine month old wild boy. He was defiant and I was having a hard time getting him to listen, I was even worried that he and I wouldn't ever bond. I am a lifelong dog owner and all my dogs have had some sort of training but nothing compared to the quality Mike gave us.

The moment he walked into our yard, I knew I found the right trainer. Mike was calm and kind with our Aussie (Oso) and with me. He worked with the both of us, reminding me little tricks and tips along the way. Mike is a straight up guy that knows dogs and their behaviors. I highly recommend using him to help work out the little kinks in training and also the big training needs. Oso LOVES Mike and very much benefited from his training and I sure did too.

I truly believe the training helped Oso and I bond. We now have this amazing, happy, sweet and not-too-wild Aussie and I would like to attribute a lot of that to Mike's great teaching/training skills!

I may return for the adult classes with Mike, who is a wonderful and knowledgeable instructor and because I purchased a one year course. However, I would not recommend their puppy class as currently modified for COVID, puppies can not socialize at all during class an have no off leash time. I was very disappointed that the owner will not permit any direct socialization in an open air facility, and I would encourage anyone looking for a socialization class to check out dog training in Pacific Grove, it is well worth the drive.

I understand COVID restrictions on humans, but not allowing dogs to interact based on the possibility of COVID transmission in dogs really is not evidence based on what we know so far based on the risk and science of zoonotic transmission. I have been taking my dog here since he was 8 weeks old and he is severely under socialized with dogs, which thankfully another dog training group has started to correct.

I brought it to their attention and it was dismissed as not a critical component of the course, which I strongly disagree with, and that I should organize puppy play on my own time. If you are needing or looking for proper puppy socialization please consider another facility.

I really enjoyed the positive training methods I learned. My untrained, newly adopted 1 year old unresponsive dog became an entirely different, positive, confident pleasure to be around companion.

Such a waste of money! I took my 7 month old pup, and lee didn't want to get near because of her knee or back problems, totally understandable as she is small and my dog is tall, but i felt like she avoided us the whole class. when she asked to do doggy sit up, i asked what that was and she replied with a "you don't know what they are?" obviously not, i just asked you! and then said it was a sit and down back to back, i told her he didn't know down yet, she did show me how, but then suggested i take another class? the classes aren't chronological. most of the time in class is just spent on your own, you can watch youtube and do it at home.

Great place for Scent work training and other fun dog activities.

We did a weekend agility class and had so much fun. The outdoor grass area is just beautiful. We had a bit of difficulty finding the way to the facility because you can't see it from the street. You actually have to drive down on the right side of a small strip mall and there will be parking spots down there. We will definitely be back.

We enrolled Alli in puppy classes after taking her to dog 1 which I would not recommend for a puppy that is not socialized. We took her to puppy class. She would hide under the couch for two weeks till she came out and had some fun. At class she responded well to the the program. When she was well socialized we started the year program. Alli was always the star of the class.

At home she is the master of her territory. Because Alli is an alpha hunter and has an extreme prey drive, we use a collar as a reminder when we are in the field. We only use a tone to get her attention; thanks to Living with Dogs. At home she responds to what we have learned in class. This review is something that I would have never thought I would write. I always trained my dogs the traditional way. Hard on me and hard on the animal. Living with Dogs taught me a better way

I started training my puppy with Living with Dogs 7 years ago. I have learned so much about positive dog training methods. Mac, my Westie, is a beautiful, well trained dog who I can take to work and public places. I attribute this ability to the training methods learned from Sandi. So far we have taken Puppy Preschool, Family Dog, and Agility classes. Mac earned AKC Canine Good Citizenship and Therapy Dog designation. Mac 's favorite activity is Lure Coursing each month. Yesterday, Living With Dogs hosted an awesome Barn Hunting Clinic and Fun Trial it was well organized and flexible, as more dogs showed up than expected. Living With Dogs introduces dog sports in a fun environment.

I searched the Santa Cruz County area for a dog training program that was positive, reward based. I didn't want to be punishing or negative in my relationship with my dog. I have been training my dogs for the past year & a half with Living With Dogs and I have been so pleased with all the classes we've participated in. My dogs have been through Puppy School, Family Dog (obedience) Agility, & Nosework (a great scent detecting sport). I have experienced a greater, deeper bond with my dogs grow through these training programs. I proudly recommend this program to everyone who really loves their dog.

I have been taking my puppy to puppy school and now obedience 1 and obedience 2. I have had great results. I attend the Aptos trainings with Sandi and find them to be very informative. I bring a training/obedience issue to Sandi each week and she provides great feedback and strategies to address it. I will continue to go to Living with Dogs for other classes once we are out of the puppy stage. I highly recommend it for your dog.

Sandi knows more about dogs than any trainer I've met. I'm a dog trainer too, so I know quite a few! Her ability to "read" your dog is amazing, and instant. She has a special knack for suggesting just the right remedy. I've seen her stop a potential dog fight with just one word (phew!) Her school has 3 trainersand 3 locations. The week is filled with classes, 5 days/week. Puppies, adult dogs, and lots of sports -- agility, treiball (doggie soccer), and nose games (sniff out the treats, dogs love it).

And also help for fearful reactive dogs. My favorite training location is a beautiful soccer field in Aptos. Its private, well tended and enclosed. Its also available off-hours to students who want to play/exercise their dogs. Nice.

I did not take puppy classes with Sandi even though a friend recommended it. Mainly because I was reading an Ian Dunbar book at the time and because where I live. it was just as far to go to Los Gatos as it was to go to Aptos. i went and did Sirius instead. I really liked my experience at Sirius and my puppy learned some good basic manners with the techniques. but when i asked the trainer about taking my dog past puppy 1 and puppy 2 she recommended Sandi and Living with Dogs.

My first class with Sandi was a doozy because my dog was going thru the height of her rebellious adolescence and she's a very big dog and was dragging me all over the place. Sandi was awesome from the start. I saw instant improvement over the course of 3 classes. I too had heard some of the critiques of the other reviewers about Sandi prior to entering the class but after two series with her. i've come to the conclusion that people are focusing on how she treats THEM; not how she teaches the dogs.

I really don't care if my dog trainer is a people person (Sandi's mannerisms are on the quiet side and isn't very touchy feely.) She's an AWESOME dog person. She takes a long view on building a relationship with you and your dog and her games are fun and the dogs love them. I have a breed that is considered willful at times. and her techniques really engage my pup's mind.

The only reason I gave her 4 stars and not 5. is because if you have to miss a training session she's not always good at reminding you to make it up. But once again. i chalk to up to her human communication skills. not how she trains my dog. So if you want someone to ask about your family and know your kids' names and butter you up about your dog and feed you a bunch of sales pitches. i don't think sandi is your trainer. If you want someone to read your dog and instinctively train in a way that is going to be helpful over the course of dog's life? I say give Sandi a try.

I have been training with Sandi for 6 years now. I have attended puppy, family dog, agility and lure coursing with her. Her style took me some adjustment since I have owned dogs for over 18 years and was used to rushing to the desired behavior. Positive reinforcement is not a rush it is a bonding period between you and your dog that will not be broken if you put the time in, listen and work at it.

Nothing in life worth anything is easy is it? We are now attending with our third "Sandi dog" and the breeds I have are not "easy" and Sandi is positive, receptive and always reminds me gently that it is me that the training of a particular behavior isn't working and make this adjustment and it will work.guess what? It does. Her brand of training may take longer but if you put in the time and effort that she does (certainly it is for the love of dogs and not to make millions) you will succeed.

Do you want to know why? She will not let you fail if you just ask her for help and follow her advice. To those who want the "quick fix" I wish you the best. I will choose to learn about myself and bond with my dog through positive reinforcement any day and Sandi is an absolute GEM!

I agree completely with Elle L. Don't waste your time or your money. I left after the 3rd class because she kept on taking more and more dogs every week and the only thing the dogs were learning was "to touch" since she had to start from the beginning every week. It was ridiculous! She ignores the dogs, sits or stays in the same spot the whole time, doesn't really knows the dogs or gets involved with the people.

The worst part was that she sent my dog a certificate of achievement at the end of the puppy education. She didn't even know that we were not longer in the class! What a joke!

We did Lure Courcing today for the second time with them and are very happy with that business! A lot of fun and very well organized event on very nice green field! Will do again and again and again. Our dog love it! Thanks from Shasta