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Ruff Times Dog Training

Top Pro

Contact for price

Specific behaviors to address

Responds in about 1 min


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About
Nothing makes me happier than seeing the difference that training can make in a dog’s life, and I strive to have my clients feel the joys of dog training too! My goal is to help create respectful relationships through effective communication between people and the pets that enrich their lives so much. Every dog is a unique individual - each with their own personality, drive, and of course learning style. Using a modern, balanced training approach, I create customized programs best suited to the needs of each client and their dogs in order to achieve their full potential - resulting in happy, obedient, and confident dogs from puppies to adults. OFFERING: ⭐️ 1 Hour PRIVATE TRAINING SESSIONS in your home or an agreed-upon location to work with you and your dog. ⭐️ Boarding and Training ⭐️ Day Training School Basic to advanced obedience, puppy training, potty training and housebreaking, socialization, leash manners, and more! I can also help resolve a variety of unwanted behaviors, including: biting, reactivity, barking, separation anxiety, and more. ABOUT THE TRAINER: My name is Sofia Ramirez de Arellano. I’m a Professional Dog Trainer and proud owner of Ruff Times Dog Training. I am fluent in Canine, as well as English and Spanish. My love for animals began early on in my life, but it turned into my true passion when I started working at a dog day care in 2017. 1 became fascinated with dogs and their behavior - I immediately dove into books and pursued any learning opportunity within my reach in order to better understand dogs and advocate for their well-being. After cultivating my career as a dog trainer and handler, I had the opportunity to refine my skills and training methods through mentorships with experienced trainers. In addition to working in dog training facilities, I’ve gained a wealth of experience in the field of animal behavior from working as a groomer assistant, veterinary technician, and pet sitter. Dedicated to the ongoing pursuit of knowledge, I’m always continuing my education and growth as a trainer to find more ways to help dogs live the best life possible. 🎖️Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR. 🎖️AKC CGC Evaluator (#107529) for AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen (CGC), Community Canine (CGCA), Urban Canine (CGCU), Trick Dog Novice (TKN), Intermediate (TKI), Advanced, (TKA), Performer (TKP) and Elite Performer (TE). 🎖️Speaker for The Be a Tree program (a dog bite prevention seminar program for school-age children).
Overview

Current Top Pro

Hired 36 times

1 similar job done near you

Background checked

1 employee

3 years in business

Business hours

This pro hasn't listed their business hours.

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Cash, Check, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

Social media

Facebook, Instagram

Top Pro status

Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

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2025

Top Pro Icon

2024

Services offered

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

Dog training package

Puppy training

Aggressive behavior modification

General obedience training

Therapy or service dog training

Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, work quality, and punctuality.

Exceptional 5.0

53 reviews

5

96%

4

4%

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Read reviews that mention:


pro avatar
Alisa B.

Nov 18, 2025

Hired on Thumbtack

Sofia is heads & tails above the rest. She trains dogs with a studied, measured and fun approach while making it fun for the dogs to learn! We will absolutely use her again with our Klee Kai, Sofie. She understands the different temperaments of the dogs she trains, personalizes her approach and does great work!

Details: 0 - 6 months old • Extra Small (1 - 15 lbs) • Board and train at a facility • Puppy training • Leash pulling • House training • Digging • Biting • Chewing • At the pro’s location

Dog Training
pro avatar
Russiann d.

Jul 23, 2025

Hired on Thumbtack

I can’t say enough great things about Sofia from Ruff Times Dog Training! She worked with my two German Shepherds while I was on vacation, and even though they were only with her for a short time, the results have been amazing. Before training, I honestly believed my dogs just couldn’t be around other dogs without issues—but Sofia completely changed that. She worked wonders with them! They are now so much more patient, especially on walks and when they’re near other dogs. I’ve even started taking them to the dog park, something I never thought I’d be able to do without stress or worry. Sofia clearly has a gift with animals and treated my dogs with the same love and care I would. I'm so grateful for the work she put in—she truly gave me peace of mind and gave my dogs the confidence and structure they needed. If you're considering training for your pups, I highly recommend Sofia. She's the real deal! 🐾

Details: 2 - 10 years old • Large (41 - 70 lbs) • Board and train at a facility • General obedience training • Leash pulling • House training • Barking • Digging • At the pro’s location

Dog Training
pro avatar
Julie S.

4 weeks ago

From Google

Sofia is an incredible trainer! Her strategies started working from day 1! She is kind, yet firm, and gets to know you and your pup before tailoring the training. She makes the sessions fun for all. I give my highest recommendation for Sofia and Ruff Times Dog Training!
pro avatar
Leah G.

2 weeks ago

From Google

I cant say enough incredible things about Lucys trainer, Sofia of Ruff Times Dog Training. The level of professionalism, knowledge, and attention to detail is truly exceptional. She has such a kind , calm energy that immediately puts both dogs and owners at ease. I even have fun while we are training Lucy and enjoy the training also !What I appreciate most is how she customizes the training to fit real-life situations. Lucy has already made noticeable progressespecially with commands like down and we feel so much more in control and confident as owners. Every session feels intentional, structured, and results-driven.She doesnt just teach commandsshe educates you on the psychology behind them, which makes everything click and actually stick long-term. Its clear she genuinely cares and is fully invested in each dogs success.If youre looking for a trainer who delivers real results with a thoughtful, elevated approach, she is absolutely worth it.
pro avatar
Skyler H.

Mar 23, 2026

From Google

Working with Sofia has been one of the best decisions weve made for our dog. She has a really calm and approachable way about her that immediately put both us and our dog at ease. You can tell she has a deep understanding of dog behavior, and she explains things in a way that actually makes sense.What we appreciated most was how personalized everything felt. She didnt take a one-size-fits-all approach and instead tailored the training to what our dog specifically needed. The results have been incredible, not just in terms of behavior, but in how much smoother everyday life feels now.Sofia is also just a pleasure to work with. She is reliable, encouraging, and genuinely invested in your progress. We are so happy we found her and would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for a trainer who truly knows what they are doing.
Credentials
Background Check

Sofía Ramírez De Arellano

FAQs

  • How did you get started doing this type of work?

    My love for animals began early on in my life, but it turned into my true passion when I started working at a dog day care in 2017. I became fascinated with dogs and their behavior - I immediately dove into books and pursued any learning opportunity within my reach in order to better understand dogs and advocate for their well-being. After cultivating my career as a dog trainer and handler, I had the opportunity to refine my skills and training methods through a mentorship with the amazing Brianna Alamo from Canine University.

  • What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

    Look for a dog trainer that does NOT offer any kind of guarantee for training or behavior modification. Offering guarantees is not only unrealistic, but it is unethical too. Dogs are not robots — they are living beings and, just like people, they all have different learning curves. There are many factors that determine the outcome of training and behavioral modification, the biggest one being the owner’s level of commitment to the recommended program. Other factors include the dog’s genetics, learning history, current environment, medical conditions, etc. Promising to fix a dog's problems ignores the number of variables that affect behavior. Teaching a dog a new skill or tackling a behavior issue is not something that any trainer can magically accomplish overnight. What I DO guarantee is that I will do everything that I can to set your dog up for success, to provide a firm foundation of training, and to be there to support you throughout the process. I also guarantee to make training fun and rewarding — the more fun you have while training, the more you'll want to do it and the faster your dog will learn!

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