Dog's Best Friend of Central Florida Apopka, Florida

Great training session. Our pup Toby has taken well to our direction following Paul's instruction. Paul keeps it simple and focuses on a few key commands for maximum recall (for dog and human alike!) and effectiveness. Like a number of others, it's early but the returns have been positive. Thanks, Paul!

Paul came to help us just over a month ago. He a fabulous teacher, incredibly patient and caring about both the owners and the animals. In a months time, our pup has become so much better healing when walking, not jumping on people when they enter and not barking from indoors at people passing by outside. We're still a ways a way from not responding to people or dogs on walks, but we know that will take time and we're continuing to work on it with her. Paul has given us the tools, now it's up to us to do the work. We couldn't recommend Paul more! He has even answered a few texts with questions post-session.

It may be a little early to write a review as Paul only came this morning, but…I’ve been following his advice/instructions all day and what a difference already! Just went on a relaxed no pull no sniff walk! Feel very optimistic that if we stay consistent, our lovely (and annoying) pup will become a wonderful dog! Also nice to know that Paul is a call away for follow-up advice.

We really enjoyed our training session with Paul. His many years of expertise was very evident. Kind to our pup but got his point across. Highly recommend!

Paul was extremely helpful! We had him come over to help with our new puppy. We were having issues with her being bossy, barking, biting and growling at us. Paul helped us over the phone with the growling and biting before we even met. After his visit we noticed a big difference in her. He gave us 4 simple commands to apply to multiple scenarios and taught us how to become the pack leader. Before he left he said if we ever need help again we can just call. We are so thankful for all Paul’s help!

Great ???????? Easy and quick details on how to train my rescue dog. Very informative and knowledgeable.

I saw a change in my dog almost instantly when working with Paul. Everything he told and showed me made so much sense and I was able to apply it in practice easily! Our dog's main issue was leash reactivity so we spent most of the lesson focused on that: Paul would walk and show me what to do and then watch me do it and correct me on the spot. Before our lesson, we couldn't get within 50' of another dog without a reaction and DURING THE LESSON we were able to be within 10' with no issue. My mind was blown! Since then, we are continuing to make progress on those and other issues and can often be within a couple of feet! We're taking baby steps, but it's progress and I'm beyond happy! Thank you so much, Paul!

Paul was absolutely amazing and incredibly knowledgeable about what my errors were with training my dog Inca. His wisdom with dogs and their behaviors is invaluable, if you’re looking for a trainer look no further !!

Paul came and worked with Bailey whom I found out the behaviors I was having with him were me and not the dog. I have a lot of grief I have been dealing with and took that attention onto him. Paul was able to show me in a few hours of how to make myself the pack leader and not the other way around and how dogs crave it . I’m already seeing a calmer more behaved puppy ????! It’s so worth it to have him come to you to address one on one . Paul is caring and professional snd straight forward . In my case tough love. I’m so happy to work with him and he is available for any questions! Thank you Paul !

Paul spent about 2.5 hours at our house today training our puppy, and us! We learned a ton, and our dog quickly caught on. We're really excited to implement everything Paul taught us and have a calm, well-behaved dog. It all makes perfect sense and is simple!

I had a two hour session with Paul for my four month old german shepherd. Paul usually does not take puppies this young for retention reasons, but because I am moving out of the state this week he agreed to train her. I have already noticed such a different in my dog after just 24 hours. She is not a bad dog by any means, just a puppy. However, he showed me how I was reinforcing her bad puppy behavior. He breaks everything down for you and answers any and every question fully. His training is simple, yet effective. It is easy to see that he has a true love for dogs, and wants them to prosper in their homes. I definitely recommend Paul.

We have a 7 month old silky terrier who is now not jumping on furniture, learning to walk on a leash, and working on having a calmer mindset all thanks to Paul teaching us how to be a pack leader for our puppy. Highly recommend.

We have a three month old Labradoodle, a ball of love an excitement. When Paul finished, I have a much calmer puppy and a much calmer me. I learned how to rid my arms of love bites and walk Beau on a leash properly. I still have work to do, but I feel better with the right knowledge and tools to do it.

We had the BEST experience with Paul! In just 2 hours, our 9 month old Labradoodle was walking well on his leash, responding to stay and come and we were amazed! Highly recommend Paul for your dog - you will be happy you did!!!

We have two dogs that have anxiety and lack discipline. In just one training session, Paul taught us ways to be better “pack leaders” to our dogs so they would feel more confident and ultimately reduce their stress and anxiety while correcting behavior issues. We’ve noticed significant improvement in our dogs’ behavior and stress level. We definitely recommend Paul, Dog’s Best Friend!

Thanks Paul for training me to be a better dog owner. My 4 year Rot was the leader, Paul showed me what I was doing wrong and right. The first day I saw changes and they are continuing to improve. Thanks for the help John

As soon as Paul walked into our house, there was an immediate shift in our dog’s behavior. We have attempted training prior, but between the multiple sessions and/or constantly having to bribe our dogs with treats we knew it was not sustainable and quickly gave up. Paul was able to break down what we were doing incorrectly, and we were able to really understand why our dogs were acting out. We literally saw a difference in their behavior as soon as the next day. We appreciated all of the tips he provided, and we are using them daily. Consistency is key. If you have any questions after your session, he is more than willing to respond to texts/calls and provide feedback/guidance in a timely manner. Would highly recommend!

I just had my session with Paul and I was very pleased. I know it’s going to take a lot of work and consistency but I feel strongly that I can do this. He helped me to see the things that I’ve been doing incorrectly and why, helped me to understand better the way a dog communicates and thinks. I have been really concerned about getting my dogs good training due to the fact that they are big and strong dogs and as we know, they get a bad rap. By the time Paul left I was already seeing progress, even when it was my turn to try the training. Paul helped me to see that the dogs need balance and boundaries to be happy, confident and well behaved dogs and anxious behaviors that they exhibit can be corrected with guidance and repetition. Thank you Paul for giving me the tools! If I run into any problems you’ll be the person I will turn too with confidence.

Our puppy, Oreo, was almost 4 months old when Paul spent a few hours training my husband and I on what he’s learned over the decades of owning and training dogs. Once we were empowered with Paul’s words of wisdom and techniques, Oreo immediately responded to our clear boundaries and expectations the same day. We highly recommend Paul to train the owner, which will ultimately impact the dog’s behavior.. training the owner is key to a well behaved dog.. Paul is worth his weight in gold!

WOW!!! I'm so impressed with Paul, his knowledge of dog behavior, his ability to teach what he knows, and his kindness and passion for training dogs! I called Paul because I have two pugs, Ziggy almost two, and Zoey, 5 months old. I have trained dogs all my life and have always been successful with potty- training and behavior training, but with Ziggy and then later Zoey, I thought I had lost my abilities. I called Paul for help. The first thing that surprised me was that he talked with me on the phone for a long time about how I was potty-training them, walking them, taking them out, enforcing rules, etc. He didn't get a dime for doing that, but he took the time. He mentioned that a choke collar was a better choice than a harness for refocusing behavior. I had always heard that pugs should be in harnesses. He made an appointment for his next availability. That day, I purchased two choke collars and six foot leashes. I started following his advice. He came to see us for a two hour training session. The goal was to train us to train them by teaching us what our dogs were seeing in the things we were doing. Before these dogs, I was a high school teacher teaching over 150 kids each year, plus, I had children of my own I was raising. With Zoey and Ziggy, I was retired and had no children at home. They became my babies, and that's exactly what went wrong. Within five minutes of entering our house, Paul had correctly assessed that my puppy Zoey was insecure and scared. She would bark and run away when people came near her, including us. He got us to put her on a leash and then he started to teach us amazing, life-changing skills. Before long, our older pug was lying on the floor, totally calm, staying out of the training of Zoey. Zoey was on the floor, first sniffing Paul, then sitting, then lying down, totally relaxed. We were amazed! He taught us that letting the dogs on the couch taught them that they owned the couch. He taught us that when they thought there was no pack leader, they effectively became the pack leader. He taught us that when dogs get affection 24/7, they don't always want to come to you when you want them to and they don't always respect you. You have to earn their respect (Wow! Just like in teaching!) And you have to make rules and enforce them. Two hours later, he had gone over potty-training, toys, how to get the dogs to stay calm when someone knocked on the door or rang the doorbell, how to walk with them, how to correct pulling, how to limit allowing them into our personal zones unless we initiated it, and how to stop barking. Less than a week later, heck, the same day he came, our dogs were already very changed for the better. Now, one day shy of a week, they're different dogs. No more potty accidents. No more barking too loud for too long. No more barking fiercely at our neighbors for Zoey. She's braver, happier, and calmer than ever. Both of them look at us in a new way. They come when I call them, and Ziggy does not charge out the door when we open it. I'm thrilled! Paul is amazing! If you have a dog you love but don't love his or her behavior, Paul is your answer!! His fees are more than reasonable, his skills are more than fantastic. He's a good teacher and is very positive with dogs and people. He's gentle and kind with the animals and doesn't teach anything that is mean or unkind. Call him today!!!!!

We have two Australian Shepard pups, 8 months old, Paul had his hands full when arrived, he gave us great training advice. They are walking better, less pulling. Listening to commands more. We still have our work cut out with socializing, they are timid. Paul helped us a lot. He still keeps in touch with you and gives you advice after your session. Shows how much he cares on how they are doing and is a good support. I recommend him ????

My mom and I have a 2 year old Belgian shepherd malinois who's very hyper and wasn't accustomed to the recent huge change of place since we recently moved up to Orlando. She constantly barks at other people/dogs, drags us while walking her, and had attachment issues. My mom and I were desperate to find a dog trainer that would help us correct her behavior, and that's when we found Paul from Dog's Best Friend. It amazed me how my dog was obedient when Paul came over and followed his every step without being pushy. After a week of being trained, I can most definitely say that Paul has truly helped us take control and correct her behavior. She barks less frequently, walks beside us rather than dragging us, and respects our personal space without being pushy. This has alleviated so much stress from us and we're so happy that we found this trainer! I TRULY recommend Paul! Thank you so so so much.

Paul surpassed my expectations. I have a 9 month golden retriever who wouldn't obey or respect me. Paul went above and beyond to explain me what I was doing wrong. In a couple of hours, he was able to walk me through my dog's thinking process. The more I practice what Paul taught me, the more surprised I get by how much knowledge he has about canine behavior.

I have to admit I was skeptical about what Paul was telling me before we started. But I listened and learned and was amazed at the effect it had on my dog. I had Paul teach her how to get on a new bed, greeting people at the door and walking. He also gave me nutritional advice. But the best part of it all it that not only does she climb the ramp like a pro and walk like a princess I CAN STILL SPOIL HER, I JUST CHOOSE MY SPOTS !!!!!! Thank you Paul

Our Gracie is a one year old jagdterrier (YAKterrier). The Germans bred her to be a hunting or work terrier dog. My husband brought her home as a baby the day before Easter last year. A working dog now lived in a house with no job to do! This was huge because we lost our Pepper after 14 years with her and we we in the middle of quarantine in a pandemic. I immediately named her Amazing Grace, aka Gracie! She has been a blessing and a gift from God to us and especially me as I have worked from home for the past year. However, she has been a lot of work and very attached to me, since she sees no one else and had some behavior issues. I knew that we had to teach her how to survive in the real world and to be socialized because some day soon we will have friends and family coming to visit. I found Mr. Paul, who wasn't far from our home and he has changed our sweet Gracie in just a two hour visit. As I type this, she is resting at my feet in her new bed (that isn't destroyed). I have her on a leash and she hasn't tugged or pulled to get away once. I know that I have learned a lot from Mr. Paul and Gracie did as well. I have a lot of information to put to use and I am so thankful for the time that Mr. Paul took to spend with me and teach us how to be owner and pet instead of Gracie rules the house! I know that the skills we were taught will help make our time with Gracie to be even more positive and pleasant than it was before. Thank you Mr. Paul! Manny many thanks!

Paul came to my house today and he truly is a "dog whisperer" I have 2 4 month old crazy border collies and i went from being laughed at while trying to take them for a walk my neighbors were amazed at the change in the pups! Paul taught me the correct way to walk them on a leash as well as correcting their behavior when another dog or person comes by. I always had trouble getting them in their cage but with Paul's instruction they gladly go in and are so calm I can't believe it> Thanks Paul, you are a real life saver!!

We spend a few hours with Paul, my fiancée being the more skeptical, and after working our dog she is a completely different dog than when she started. He treated our pups with respect, dignity, and love and recognizes the incredible bond between people and their pets and the respect that has to be established between them. We have a happier family because of him.

Paul helped us with our first puppy over 10 years ago and she is the BEST dog thanks to everything we learned from Paul. However, bringing a puppy home this summer rocked our world. With small kids in the mix and what quickly became a fearful, very high-energy new dog, we were out of our depth. My only regret is not calling Paul sooner! I am not kidding when I say that I opened the door to let Paul in and Scout (the dog he was there to meet) ran out the door, marked on the front porch, and then chased our elderly neighbor who was walking her dogs all the way to her house, nearly making it through her front door before I caught up to him. After I got Scout home, he proceeded to bark at Paul for a sustained period of time, which was his normal behavior around any guest we'd had. After that lovely first impression, it was crystal clear we needed HELP! :) Our family is still in the thick of doing the work but thanks to Paul we have the tools we were missing. Our walks with Scout are truly ENJOYABLE now. He's more relaxed and we have better boundaries set for him as a whole. Overall, I feel hope where before there was just frustration. Loving a dog means being a leader, and Paul has taught me that twice now. Thank you for your guidance and patience!

I called and read alot of different things about training. So very happy I had Paul come help me with my one year old Buddy. Communication, proper communication, what a difference it has made.Thank you so much Paul. We have alot more work but Buddy is worth it????

This is probably a long review, the gist of it is - Paul is amazing. He’s a “dog whisperer” who has a miraculous impact on dogs just by his presence. You won’t need to look further for training needs. I had tried three trainers for my puppy before I contacted Paul. Each of them had different training techniques (mostly treat and redirection based) and it hadn’t worked because the choice to obey or not (stop the destructive behavior) was up to the puppy and he would make different decisions based on what he thought at the time. Redirection worked momentarily and then he would be back at the undesired behavior. My puppy also ended up getting diarrhea after the training class because he was being given treats for every correct thing he did. As he grew up, he became disinterested in treats. He barked non stop if crated, he would nip and jump on people, was never calm, constantly destroyed furniture and pulled clothes, pulled on the leash, and howled and barked non stop if I left the room. Paul was able to train and resolve all these behaviors in under 2 hours, unlike conventional training classes that need 6-8 sessions and may not work. As soon as Paul walked in, in the first minute, my puppy (who would always be in a hyperactive frenzy) calmed down and looked contented and relaxed. I had never seen him calm, relaxed or contented before this. My puppy respectfully sat on all fours looking attentively at Paul. The transformation I witnessed was miraculous. In the next two hours, Paul explained dog psychology and trained my puppy and me. We left my puppy in a crate in the next room, and for the first time ever, the puppy looked calm/relaxed and showed no signs of separation anxiety (no barking/howling). He was calmly lazying around in his crate. The puppy stopped nipping me the same day. Paul is a dog whisperer without a tv show! He doesn’t train behavior issues with treats. He’s able to get good behavior out of the dog - the dog actually wants to please you and obey and doesn’t need to be bribed anymore. And he taught me everything I needed to know about handling my dog.