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Sparky is a Graduate of The Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers Longterm Immersion Program Sparky is a Certified Canine Good Citizen Test Evaluator
Sound Canine
Top Pro
$2500
Estimated price
Specific behaviors to address
Responds in about 1 min
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If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more
About
Are you searching for an award winning dog trainer to train your dog in San Diego, CA? Look no further! Sound Canine’s internationally awardes dog trainers are here for you! We are dedicated to helping dogs and their owners deepen their connection by creating strong and meaningful relationships. Whether it’s basic obedience commands, specialized tasks, or behavior modification, we customize our training programs to meet your specific needs and goals.
Sparky has a gift. His entire life has been dedicated to the study of the connection between human and canine. Now, a World Champion, from a very VERY young age, it was evident dogs were Sparky’s passion in life.
His immersion into dog training began with working dogs when he discovered a Police K9 trainer in his small hometown of Port Townsend, WA. Where Sparky was instructed to the sport of Schutzhund (IGP). Where, at the age of 11, competed with his German Shepherd, becoming the youngest person to compete in the sport. By the age of 13, Sparky had received his Schutzhund Level 1 and Tracking Level 3 titles, receiving multiple ‘High Tracking’ awards.
Sparky later graduated from the prestigious Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainer’s Longterm Immersion Program. Studying under the most influential dog trainer in the world.
Sparky is now a dedicated competitor in Mondioring, the most challenging dog sport in the world, having won the 2024 FCI World Championship in Greece with his dog Archie. Sparky and Archie also tied for the highest Mondioring Level 2 score in US history with 298/300 points, and has become 3x Mondioring Level 3 in the last 4 months.
Experiencing the possibilities when you and your dog are truly in sync with each other, inspired Sparky’s passion in the exploration of the canine/human connection. This expands far beyond working dogs and their handlers, dog owners and their beloved companions have potential to find the same level of deep connection and understanding of one another. Through his experience with working dogs, this is Sparky’s speciality. The level of connection needed with a dog to perform at such levels is extremely high, and something Sparky wishes to share and guide dog owners in finding with their best friends.
Overview
Current Top Pro
Hired 1 time
Serves Escondido, CA
Background checked
3 employees
8 years in business
Business hours
This pro hasn't listed their business hours.
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Cash, PayPal, and Venmo.
Social media
Services offered
Dog training package
Dog size
Extra Small (1 - 15 lbs)
Small (16 - 25 lbs)
Medium (26 - 40 lbs)
Large (41 - 70 lbs)
Dog training type
Private lessons
Board and train
Projects and media
25 photos
Projects and media
25 photos
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, work quality, and responsiveness.
Exceptional 5.0
8 reviews
5
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Read reviews that mention:
Kathryn G.
Sep 3, 2024
•
Hired on Thumbtack
Sparky is wonderful to work with! He’s an outstanding trainer and very communicative . He has a highly effective follow up program as well , to ensure the training sticks. I feel like Sparky is just as invested in our dog’s success as we are! We used another dog trainer prior to Sparky with no success so I recommend you save yourself time and money, and go directly to Sparky . You will be happy you did. !
Details: 2 - 10 years old • Large (41 - 70 lbs) • I'm flexible • General obedience training • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.
Dog Training
Joel B.
Oct 25, 2022
We love Sparky and so does my dog. We needed a complete transformation for our dog Smoke. Sparky and his team made it happen. They taught us what we needed to do and expect from our dog to be successful. I would highly recommend Sparky for all dog training. Joel
Daliah T.
Oct 8, 2022
When our family adopted Chaco, a GSD mix, he came to us with issues not uncommon to a Shepherd. He was described as being almost the perfect dog, but with some reactivity issues that could be worked through in the right hands. I believed that we were the right hands, and that the problem could be worked out with lots of love, exercise, and patience. Wrong. Chaco had specific needs and we were not equipped with the tools to meet them. When I realized that I couldn’t even walk Chaco without dread, we engaged a trainer who took a “positive-only” approach to training. Well intentioned and extremely competent in the positive-only style, she spent weeks working together with us and Chaco. Those weeks ended up being a waste of everyone's time and money. During that time, Chaco put his teeth on 3 people, drawing blood on one. The situation became dire, and following our desperately sought after advice from Dog Gone Seattle (rescue organization), we enrolled Chaco in Sparky Davis’ board and train program. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made.
Sparky only accepts a few dogs at a time for the board and train, to be able to maximize his time with each student. It is an immersion type of program because he is with the dogs 24/7. Sparky’s method is simple and effective. He trained Chaco in the behaviors that he needed to learn the most - walking on a leash without reacting to other dogs or people, going to his “place” in the home, not barking excessively at invited guests or delivery people, coming when he’s called (recall), and walking in the heel position on and off leash. Sparky would bring Chaco to our house every weekend after the intense work week that they had put in together so that we could learn how to implement the commands and progress as owners, while Chaco progressed in his training. This way, we were not faced with a situation where we would be overwhelmed with learning everything at once when Chaco came home after his boarding. We practiced with Chaco under Sparky’s clear and intuitive direction for an hour, and then he went on his way, back to Seattle with Sparky for the next week’s lesson.
When Chaco came home to stay, he was a different dog, and we were different owners. Sparky made that happen by teaching Chaco how to make smart choices in his behavior, and giving us the control and tools to set him up for success. Before enlisting his help, Chaco was becoming a menace to society. Sparky turned it all around. His communication to people and dogs is clear and direct, he exudes an obvious passion and respect for dogs, and he has the ability to be firm and kind at the same time. We would trust him implicitly with training any dog, no matter what breed, or how great the challenge.
Cole M.
Oct 8, 2022
Best thing we’ve done. Our dog ruby is a border collie golden mix who needed some help with recall, leash behavior, and over excitement. We can now walk her in heel while pushing a stroller in public with other dogs! She can settle in the home with great on place training. Comes when called out hiking or at home. Sparky gave Ruby the foundation to be a great dog, and us the tools to be better dog owners and trainers!
Kara G.
Oct 8, 2022
Sparky was so wonderful and our pup loves him! At first I was scared that my dog’s personality would change going to one of these board and trains, but instead it was the complete opposite, our pup is less anxious and has more time to be her goofy self.
Sparky built a strong foundation for communication and trained us as well to be able to communicate with our 110 lbs rescue. Before we would go on minimal walks because we were always scared we were going to pass another dog on our walk. Now we seek out dogs on our walk and do things like walk around the parameter of the dog park on a regular basis! Thanks for changing our lives!!
Credentials
Background Check
John Davis