Neal Goldberg has been training dogs for 35 years, and puppy owners since he opened this school in 2023. He won't sugarcoat the call, and he won't waste your time either - you'll get a straight answer about what your pup actually needs.
Debbie & Remy, Wall of Fame graduates
Everyone starts with a free consult. From there it's the same progression Neal worked out over six German Shepherds of his own - first "sit," then real obedience, then off leash around the stuff that usually blows it: other dogs, guests at the door, a squirrel. The Wall of Fame - full off-leash trust - is the goal, but the plan gets built around what you actually want for your dog.
A real 45-minute call, not a sales pitch. Book it before your puppy even comes home and you can start training day one, instead of waiting on a group class after the first round of puppy shots.
Sit, heel, come, place, loose-leash walking. Neal teaches it to you, not just the dog, with praise, treats, and hand signals the whole family can use the same way.
Getting your dog to actually listen with real distractions around - other dogs, guests walking in, the door. Once that's solid, the leash is more of a formality.
"I'm not a dog whisperer. There's no magic potion - just hard work, the right technique, and a pack leader who shows up."
Neal's been training dogs for over 35 years, starting with two ten-week-old German Shepherds in a Rutland, Vermont apartment that taught him, the hard way, exactly what not to do.
That's how he runs it now. One on one, live - over Zoom for anyone, anywhere, or in-home if you're local to Simi Valley. He believes Zoom is genuinely the more effective way to train, even when that surprises people. Either way, nobody's standing around waiting their turn in a group class.
Finish Basic Obedience on and off leash, and you're on it. Here's Debbie's version, in her own words.
"Working with Neal has been an incredible journey. From the very beginning, I was guided step by step toward becoming the true pack leader in my home. All of our training was done exclusively via Zoom - I never once felt like I was missing out by not training in person. What sets Neal apart is honesty - there's no sugarcoating, no empty praise. I can't recommend this training enough. It's life changing."
A running list of pups (and their pack leaders) who've made it official.
"His training techniques are working with my dogs. He takes time to explain what's needed and what you need to do to make it work."
Darren
Growing up with dogs in both of our families, we know that it is a lot of work and effort that goes into training a puppy. Neal's Naughty Puppy School has helped us more than we could have imagined. We got Tatum (Male German Shepard) at 9.5 weeks back in December 2022 and Neal has helped us every step of the way.
Jake & Tatum
"I got Ronin later in her life, she was nine months old, and sometimes it's a bit more challenging to train your dog when they're older. Things that would scare her to death like getting in the car, is now one of her favorite things."
Tara Hiljus & RoninNo pitch, no obligation - just a straight answer about what your pup actually needs, virtual or in-home.
