SoCal Dog training - Rancho Mission Viejo, California

Kevin K.

If you are like me you don't read long reviews- so I will get right to the point with my experience for my 2.5 year old goldendoodle's (Milo) training:
1- Vladae has a proven system but also gives an individualized plan. MIlo was taught Vladae's system of off-leash skills, no barking, no jumping (and many other skills) but Vladae also identified that Milo was great around people but nervous/anxious in public and around other dogs. So Vladae taught him the proper social skills, arranged for dog pack walking and even hosts a weekly meet-up with his past clients to continue to work on Milo's socialization. No other trainer is doing this.
2- Vladae is the most knowledgeable person about dogs I've ever met. He tells you exactly what you need from food, toys, treats, equipment, etc. and he can assess your dog's behavioral issues like no one else- the knowledge and detail is amazing.
3- Vladae teaches the owner more than the dog- everything from your posture, stance, walking gait, tone of voice, inflection, hand signals, holding leash, how to play and so much more. He will give you all the tools for success.
4- Vladae treats you like family. He is always available by phone/text for any questions. He continues to check on you and sends helpful videos and training tips. He provides follow-up appointment without charge. We will be using him for boarding when we take trips and for any future new doggy additions to our home.

Jocelyn N.

If I could award SoCal Dog Training more than five stars, I certainly would. Vladae is truly exceptional at what he does, and his wife, Antonina, brings a level of warmth and professionalism that is equally commendable. After initially enrolling in a training class, it became clear that my puppy would benefit more from a customized, intensive program. Recognizing this, Vladae thoughtfully recommended transitioning to their boot camp program—a decision that ultimately exceeded all my expectations. From the outset, the professionalism, expertise, and genuine care shown by both Vladae and Antonina were remarkable. Vladae’s training methodology is grounded in structure, consistency, and clear communication. His approach goes beyond basic obedience; he emphasizes building a balanced, confident, and respectful relationship between dog and owner. By the end of the program, the transformation in my dog’s behavior was significant. She returned home noticeably more focused, responsive, and calm. Longstanding challenges such as leash reactivity, poor recall, and general disobedience had improved dramatically. More importantly, I felt empowered as an owner, equipped with the tools, knowledge, and guidance necessary to sustain and build upon that progress. Vladae’s training is firm yet compassionate, informed by a deep understanding of canine psychology. Antonina was a pleasure to work with throughout the process—always organized, responsive, and genuinely invested in our success. Their commitment to transparency was evident through frequent updates and detailed media, keeping me informed and engaged throughout my dog’s stay. The post-program support and follow-up were as valuable as the training itself. At every stage, I felt confident and reassured, knowing that my dog was in exceptionally capable and caring hands. The boot camp is a worthwhile investment for any dog owner seeking meaningful, lasting results. Vladae and Antonina are consummate professionals, and I am sincerely grateful for the positive change they facilitated in both my dog’s behavior and my approach to training.

Slava B.

Life changing results.
I’d like to start by offering my heartfelt sympathy to Vladae and his Ukrainian wife, Antonina, during these difficult times in Europe. Their strength and commitment to their work, despite the challenges, is truly admirable.
Now, to my personal experience.
I traveled from Michigan to Newport Beach just to work with Vladae from So Cal dog training and it was 100% worth it.
After spending thousands on different trainers, I was shocked when Vladae told me my dog only had basic training. But he was right—and starting from scratch with him changed everything.
In just a few sessions, my Australian Shepherd, Umka, made huge progress. His leash reactivity (which no one else could fix) is completely gone. He can now calmly pass barking dogs, even off-leash.
Vladae teaches you how to think like your dog and speak their language. His method is clear, focused, and incredibly effective.
He also genuinely cares. He treats clients like family and trains with a mix of love and gentle firmness.

If you’re serious about real results, Vladae is the one. I’d give him 10 stars if I could!

Michelle M.

Vladae's nickname "the dog wizard" is spot-on.

My dog, Wesley, started showing signs of reactivity at 12 weeks. I took him to trainer after trainer after trainer and could not get any results. My family jokingly called him the "$5k dog" because of all the money I had to invest into training. And then came Vladae.

Within just a few sessions, Vladae had Wesley walking off-leash at Fashion Island with tons of people and other dogs around. As you can see from the photos, Wesley not only listened and trusted Vladae, but he also enjoyed the training sessions.

Years later, Wesley was attacked by some off-leash dogs in our neighborhood and started to become fearful of dogs again. Vladae took the time to drive to us and give us personalized sessions to get him more comfortable with dog interactions again.

Through our training sessions, Vladae became family. Even though it's been such a long time, he continues to check in regularly and show that he really cares about Wesley. I highly recommend Vladae and So Cal Dog Training!

Suzanne C.

I would like to express how much I love Vladae, and share my personal experience about my journey.

My English Golden Retriever Lenny, at eight months old, started to show me all kind of problems, including disobedience, and most concerning to me, fearful and even aggressive behavior to some unknown people and dogs. I needed help!

Through my intensive research for all the dog trainers in Southern California in Orange County, I learned about many wonderful and effective dog trainers however, I decided to work with Vladae from SoCal Dog Training because he is not just a Dog Trainer, but also specializes in animal behavior with a background in intensive training on a universal level as an Animal Behaviorist.

Well, that was an amazing journey for Lenny and I. Lenny was totally unruly. It concerned me about my dog’s behavior, and I was too nervous and scared to walk him. He has now turned into a truly model dog, who has also become service dog certified. It is extremely important for me because I have some physical limitations.

Now, when I’m walking with Lenny, he can be totally off leash as well as on leash which is what I need. He ignores people and dogs and is truly a joy to be around and the additional benefit is that I can exercise him off leash everywhere. I learned from Vladae that walking the dog, especially in an environment where there are so many unruly dogs literally barking at him everywhere is very unhealthy and it is terrible for both of us. It’s not meeting his needs or my needs and especially his physical needs. It was just aggravating Him .

I don’t need to go to dog parks either because it has been dangerous because of so many unruly dogs.

I can exercise him anywhere I want because he is fully off leash trained.

Lenny is also extremely happy because I can take him and enjoy him everywhere , and I can go with full confidence that he will behave anywhere, not just at home, but anywhere I take him, regardless of circumstances and distractions.

He is no longer locked in my home or in my backyard because of his unsocial behavior of the past .

Also, I would like to thank Vladae’s lovely wife Antonina.

They are truly amazing and kind people and constantly strive for excellence.

And we all know nowadays, probably in each industry, there are just a few of those kind of people left, people that we can really trust.

So many people in my life over promised, but never delivered. Vladae under promised, but over delivered .

Thank you Vladae for really changing our life. We now can enjoy having Lenny with us EVERYWHERE.

Brian

We trained with Vladae 15 years ago with a puppy, German Shepherd and the dog was perfect. Now we adopted a five-year-old German, who was very hard to control and untrained by lesson number two we were working at fashion Island and it was amazing. lesson # three was totally off leash in a crowded area and Milo was so good hard to believe it’s the same dog as a month ago now a total pleasure to take in public and very easy to handle. No doubt it was the best decision to go with Vladae again. listen to the program it works amazingly follow Vladas program and your dog will be exactly what you want.

Kameron T.

Deciding on Vladae was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I now have a dog that I can take anywhere, can be off leash at the park (or even the spectrum!) and I know I wouldn’t have gotten him to this point without Vladae. It is absolutely one of the best investments you can make for yourself and your dog! Every time I am out with my pup I ALWAYS get compliments on how well trained he is, people are astonished that he’s only 1 and he’s trained so well. Training your dog right the first time is so important, and Vladae is the one and only trainer you should choose! SO worth the time and investment, because you will have a well trained and happy dog for the rest of your dogs life!

Joyce J.

When I was searching for a dog trainer for my very insecure but gentle standard poodle puppy, I knew I needed someone in Orange County with intensive education, experience, and certification in animal behavior.

My puppy was extremely fearful—afraid of everything, from people to everyday noises. Even taking her outside was a huge struggle. She would jump and panic at the sound of passing cars. It broke my heart.

Then I found Vladae from Socal Dog Training.

He performed a meticulous evaluation of my puppy’s personality and created the most comprehensive, personalized plan—with a strong focus on behavioral transformation before we even started obedience training. Every step of the way, Vladae was there. He customized the program down to the smallest details: where and how to place the crate, how to desensitize her to noise, and how to help her feel secure in her environment.

I signed up for his full program, which included both in-person puppy training and continued adult training.

To make a long story short—by the end of the program, I had a completely different dog. Friends and strangers can’t even recognize her anymore. She is confident, calm, and walks off-leash through malls, supermarkets, indoors and out—with her full attention on me.

Now I understand why so many people in Orange County call him the Dog Wizard.

I also want to give special thanks to his wife, Antonina. Knowing how much care, time, and energy they both pour into this work—and the impact it has on their personal lives—I’m beyond grateful.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You gave me a brand new dog. We love you！