Testimonials

Don’t take our word for it, see what our partners and clients think about us

Sapir Weiss, former Owner of Olivet Kennel & Training Resort in santa rosa, ca

“Carmel has the innate qualities that make him an extraordinary dog trainer. He is a kind, good-hearted leader who takes the necessary time to understand each dog he works with before designing a training program. His thoughtful, kind, and effective approach combines positive reinforcement with leadership concepts, setting Carmel apart from the pack of ordinary dog trainers. Dogs and owners trust his gentle yet firm approach, especially when dealing with dogs with behavior disorders. Having mentored countless dog trainers over the years, I can confidently say that Carmel is at the top of the pack. His integrity, innovative approach, passion, and dedication for communicating with dogs and their owners is what sets him apart from the rest.”

kasey, Kireina’s owner

“I can’t recommend Carmel enough, honestly. Carmel’s varied background, empathy for animals and extensive experience made him perfect for the job. Over the years, I’d really come to appreciate his guidance and friendship. I’d recently done a couple of routine obedience trainings with him and his ability to quickly fix a behavioral limitation and provide me with clear instructions on how to maintain it is something I will find hard to replace. Kireina’s gonna miss him as well, she’s always stoked to see him.
Nevertheless, I’m comforted in knowing that I’ve got an adept professional and close friend as close as a phone call away”.

Brendan, Sloan’s owner

“We got a recommendation from some friends who had great success with Carmel’s training, and we were not disappointed! Carmel has an amazing natural quiet and calm authority with animals. They seem to just immediately understand that he is the one who is in control. He never raises his voice. He just stays positive and confident and the animal seems to calm down and cooperate almost immediately. Probably the most important part is training for owners. Carmel is a wonderful listener and applies himself to finding out what the relationship is between the owners and the dog before he starts to work with both of you. In a very short time our pup was much more calm in group situations and much easier to walk with on a lead. We would unhesitatingly refer Carmel‘s training service to anyone who has a dog that has any type of problem”.

anne, kobe’s owner

“Carmel is fabulous. His skill with our dog was, as expected, expert. What I was surprised by was his skill with working with me and my husband. Our dog was a quick study and immediately understood what Carmel expected of him. The more difficult part was sharing his skill and expertise with the human members of the family to enable us to get the same results from our dog. In summary, Carmel is not only a fantastic dog trainer; he is also a very adept human trainer. I highly recommend Carmel, as the humans and the dog in our family are all happier and better behaved after working with him”.

KARI, PIPPA’S OWNER

“Our dog, Pippa, was extremely difficult to live with. She would never listen to any commands and we were unable to teach her any commands. Every time she was outside off her leash she would pick up a scent and disappear for hours. She would never come when called. She would rip food out of our hands while eating and tear up things around the house. She would periodically attack our little dogs. I delivered to Carmel a very bad and difficult dog and three weeks later he returned to me a wonderful dog. Pippa now listens, she comes when called, she knows numerous commands, she is much more calm and confident, and is no longer aggressive with our smaller dogs. If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't wait several months to send her to Carmel. Our home is a happy place again and we have a beautiful dog we can truly enjoy. I cannot thank him enough or recommend him highly enough.”

Kelley, BIRDIE’S OWNER

“I do not know what I would do without the support and training I received from Dogmind. I’m a first-time dog mom and Carmel was extremely patient with me as I navigated the lessons of raising and training a puppy. I now have a better sense of what my dog is thinking, how to react, and am able to adapt with confidence. I am so grateful for the work he does, and so is my Birdie. I highly recommend!!”

Maria, Mēka’s owner

“Through training & education, Carmel provided the missing piece in my relationship with my dog Mēka. In just a few sessions, he established strong basic training & helped me understand the relationship my dog needed from me. I now have a companion who listens, responds & craves my leadership. I feel great & she feels great! I can’t emphasize how important & seamless this training relationship can be with your animal, if you have the right trainer. The knowledge I gained from my sessions with Carmel made everything make sense & I now have a much deeper connection with my animal.”

CAPRI, JAKE’S OWNER

“Excellent! Carmel’s kind, calm, gentle approach made it a pleasure to work with him. He is very knowledgeable and helped us to understand our dog and his behavior. We were able to walk our 4-year-old dog without him pulling after our first session! We are so grateful to have found Carmel and highly recommend him.”

Lisa & tim, Ginger’s owners

“We bought a Golden Retriever puppy for our kids for Christmas and although she has brightened our lives, it was really hard before Carmel came into the picture. We thought Golden’s were easy to train but, no matter the breed, the owners have to know what they are doing….we did not. We got Carmel’s name from a colleague and it was the best money we ever spent! He came to our house and spent time with us and Ginger. Just after one training, she was learning to heel and walks were so pleasurable! Carmel is very knowledgeable, and not only trained Ginger but he also trained us! Even after our last session, he stayed in contact with us and has been available for any questions. We highly recommend Carmel! You can try other trainers, but why when you can have Carmel!”

FRANK & LARISSA, WAVY,CHAMPAGNE AND BRUTUS’S OWNERS

“The first thing that needs to be said,
Carmel; thank you!
When we had Carmel come to see our pack of puppies they were like a barrel of circus monkeys. His words were “ you have 5 dogs, there is no fooling around”
With that, we had work and homework. The result? My wife walks all five dogs in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Amazing that we got this far.. Well not really, you got us there!”

REBECCA & Brandon, Otto’s owners

“I highly recommend Carmel as your dog trainer! He educated us on how dogs minds work and explained to us the best way to communicate with our dog. He was so patient with us and went above and beyond our expectations. Carmel helped us with our specific needs and challenges in our own household. He was THE BEST investment we could have ever made. Not only are we happier but so is our dog because we are now communicating with him properly”

MARY, JACK’S OWNER

“Carmel is such an easy trainer to have. I have a 1 1/2 year old lab who is anxious and tender and shows it by barking and seeming aggressive, yet he is such a sweet dog. Carmel noticed his insecurities and also noticed mine. Carmel is very dog wise and human wise and sees the communication breakdown. He has a gentle but firm way of explaining how dogs think vs how humans think. I can now bring my beautiful dog into the world and we can both enjoy it.”

TYLER & LA DEANA, MAE-BIRD’S OWNERS

“Carmel is an incredible trainer for both dog and owner. He did a wonderful job training our Labradoodle, Mae Bird, while educating us on how to practice and continue the training. In a short time she drastically improved on recall, loose leash walking, demand barking, down/stay, and myriad other behaviors. He also gently pointed out what we as owners were doing wrong when communicating with her (which I feel was essential to the process). Highly recommended!”

AMANDA, BRODIE’S OWNER

“I am so happy we made the decision to have Carmel work with Brodie. We got Brodie from a rescue and didn't know a lot about his history. He wanted to see other dogs but would go crazy when he was around them. I never expected the amazing results we got. Carmel has a gift. He taught us how to handle situations and how to correct them. He also took the time to reinforce these commands with Brodie. He really takes the dog to heart and goes above and beyond to make sure the dog is the first priority. After 4 sessions, we had a totally different dog. Carmel was able to see Brodie was not well socialized and recommended him for daycare. This made the biggest difference. From his first day, he made improvements. We now have a very well-behaved off-leash dog that we can enjoy hiking, camping, socializing, and more. He has truly changed our lives with Brodie. I can’t wait to see how he grows and learns to love his new life.”

KELLY, RAY’S OWNER

“Carmel Lavi-Stern is hands down the most Professional & Knowledgeable Dog Trainer. He is Kind and Patient with both Dog and Owner. His Sessions are not by the hour, usually 2-3 hours. He works with You and Your Dog, as well as with He and the Dog Alone. He Truly Cares about You and your Dog, and Continues to Check In Even after Training is Completed. He is a true friend and is well worth his reasonable rate.”

Donna, DIXIE’S OWNER

“I HIGHLY recommend Carmel for anyone needing help with their dogs! Carmel’s knowledge, compassion and gentle attitude are a perfect combination! Carmel began working with us on our Yorkie Puppy! We are thrilled with her progress! If I have any questions or issues that arise, he is always available! Carmel is certainly amazing at Dog training!

DORIS, JAKE’S OWNER

“Wow,
We just want to thank you for what you’ve done with Jake. We could not be happier with the training. Carmel is very knowledgeable and always available and quick to respond to any questions we might have. We highly recommended Carmel. Thanks!”

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