Virtual Training
Most dog training is people training. That works fine over video.
Cara coaches you through the handling, the timing and the equipment over Zoom or FaceTime, in your own house, with your own dog, in the exact room where the problem happens. You do not need to live in San Diego and you do not need to load a stressed dog into a car.
- Zoom or FaceTime, from wherever you live
- The same trainer and the same methods as in-person
- Training in the room where the behavior actually happens
- Free consultation with Cara herself, no obligation
Book a virtual session
Tell us your dog's breed, age and what is going on. You will hear back the same business day.
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4.8 out of 5
Based on 48 Google reviews from San Diego dog owners
10+ years
Transforming dog behavior across San Diego County
Certified
Professional dog trainer through K9 Companions, North San Diego
240+ hours
Of specialized behavior and training education
Why it works better than people expect
The instinct is that a trainer has to be in the room. In practice, the thing that has to change is usually not the dog's understanding, it is the handling around it.
Over video Cara can see what your hands are doing, when you are rewarding, how the leash is being held, what your body is telling the dog and which of the household's twenty daily habits are quietly reinforcing the behavior you are trying to remove. Those are the things that decide whether training holds, and none of them require her to be standing beside you.
There is a second advantage that is easy to miss. Your dog is at home, unstressed, in the exact environment where the problem occurs, not on best behavior in an unfamiliar training room. You are working on the real thing rather than a version of it.
- No car journey with an anxious or reactive dog
- The problem is trained in the room it happens in
- You learn the handling, so it holds after the session
- No travel time, so scheduling is far easier
What we cover remotely
Distance is not a reason to keep living with the problem.
Leash pulling
The handling, the equipment and the timing that stop a dog towing you down the street. Very trainable over video.
Anxiety
Separation anxiety, noise fear and general nervousness, worked through with protocols you run between sessions.
Reactivity and aggression
Barking and lunging at dogs or people. Trainable remotely in most cases. Cara will flag it if yours needs hands on.
Basic obedience
Sit, down, stay, recall and the everyday manners that make a dog easy to live with.
Puppy foundations
Potty training, bite inhibition and socialization guidance during the 8 to 16 week window.
Barking and jumping
The two complaints that turn up in nearly every household, and two of the easiest to fix once the handling changes.
How a virtual session runs
Same trainer, same methods, no drive.
1
Free consultation
You tell Cara what is going on. She tells you honestly whether virtual is right for your dog or whether you need someone in the room.
2
We meet on video
Zoom or FaceTime, at a time that suits you. Phone, tablet or laptop, plus enough space to move around with your dog.
3
You do the handling
Cara watches you work with your dog and corrects the timing, the position and the reward in real time. This is where the change actually happens.
4
You practice, then we review
You run the plan through the week and report back. Adjustments get made on the next session against what actually happened.
Being honest about the limits
Virtual training is not right for every case, and you will get a straight answer about that before you book anything.
If your dog has a serious bite history, if the aggression needs physical management, or if you could not safely handle your dog during a session, then somebody needs to be in the room. In San Diego County that means an in-home program. If the real problem is that the household cannot sustain daily consistency, board and train will serve you better than any number of video calls.
Cara would rather tell you that on a free phone call than take your money for a program that was never going to work. For everything else, and that is most of it, virtual training gets the same result without the drive.
What San Diego dog owners say
4.8 out of 5 across 48 Google reviews, plus 4.9 on Yelp.
Cara of Dog Busters is the answer to your dog's behavior issues! We adopted a pit bull and struggled with him pulling and not behaving, and had failed other training courses that we tried for him. Literally the first day when she arrived, she knew what type of collar he needed and got him to obey and take his walk without pulling on his leash.
Our sweet pitbull shepherd mix, Annie, (1.5 years old) was barking and pulling on walks and I was looking for help. Cara immediately helped with practical tips and tools that have made a huge difference in a short time. Before Cara, I was not sure what behavior I would get in certain public places, and now I feel confident she will be very well behaved.
He came from a rescue and never had the proper training needed to be social out in the doggie world. Once before, we were never ever able to take him anywhere public with other dogs around because he would react and go crazy. Now he will actually sit or lay down if commanded and does very well on a leash.
Questions people ask before they call
If yours is not here, put it in the message box and Cara will answer it when she calls. There are 51 more answers on our dog training FAQ page.
Does virtual dog training actually work?
Yes, and for a specific reason: most dog training is really people training. The handling, the timing, the equipment and the twenty small daily habits that reinforce the problem are all things Cara can see and correct over video. What she cannot do remotely is take the leash, which matters for some cases and not for most.
What can you not fix over video?
Cases where someone needs hands on the leash. Serious bite history, severe aggression that needs physical management, or a dog that cannot be safely handled by the owner during a session. Cara will tell you on the free call if yours is one of those.
Do I need to live in San Diego?
No. That is the point of this program. Virtual sessions work anywhere, and clients well outside San Diego County use them. If you are local and would rather have Cara in the room, the in-home programs are there.
What do I need to run a session?
A phone, tablet or laptop with a camera, and enough room to move around with your dog. Zoom or FaceTime, whichever suits you. A second person to hold the camera helps but is not required.
What problems do you cover?
Leash pulling, anxiety, reactivity and aggression, basic obedience, puppy foundations, potty training, barking, jumping and the everyday manners that make a dog easy to live with.
Is it cheaper than in-person training?
There is no travel time and no drive across the county, which changes the economics. Ask on the free call and Cara will lay out the options honestly, including telling you if in-person would serve you better.
Can we do virtual sessions for a puppy?
Very well, yes. Puppy work is heavily about teaching the household consistency, and that translates almost perfectly to video. See puppy training for what gets covered.
How long is a session?
Long enough to work through the problem, demonstrate the technique, watch you do it and correct what needs correcting. Cara will explain the format on the consultation call.
What if it turns out my dog needs in-person help?
She will say so. If your dog needs hands-on work or the daily consistency of board and train, you will hear that rather than being sold a package that will not work.
How do I book?
Call or text (760) 978-5513 or send the form. The first conversation is free and there is no obligation.
Where we train, and what else we do
Serving all of San Diego County, including La Jolla, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Del Mar, Poway, Oceanside, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Chula Vista, Mission Valley and every other neighborhood we cover.
Other Dog Busters programs: Behavior Modification, Board & Train, Puppy Training, Emotional Support Dogs
Phone
(760) 978-5513
Call or text
Hours
Monday - Sunday
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Service area
All of San Diego County
Virtual training anywhere
Wherever you live, the problem is fixable.
Call or text (760) 978-5513, seven days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific.