Beckman's Dog Training

Joel Beckman claims he is "the leader in the dog training industry due in part to his experience training marine mammals and other exotics," which is very funny because he cites ZERO education/training in regards to dogs and numerous canine behaviorists/American Veterinary Medical Association has spoken out against the harmful methods he uses as carrying "significant risks to behavioral welfare and physical health” Despite this, he charges $400-$600 per hour ($250 for a 30 min phone call) despite citing no continuing education, peer-reviewed credentials, or professional development in canine behavior. His training approach is riddled with outdated thinking, rampant and ridiculous anthropomorphism demonstrate a profound lack of understanding of even the basics of canine cognition (e.g. "this dog has mommy/daddy issues"; "My dog is thinking, 'The owners kept walking away from the dog, I don’t think they want to be with the dog, I don’t think Joel wants them with the dog.'"), and he has a fundamental misunderstanding of modern dog behavior. While he touts “positive reinforcement” as his primary approach, his videos show him flooding dogs but mislabeling it "desensitizing," misidentifying body language, and dismissing well-established science in favor of tough-guy theatrics. He crops his dog's ears for aesthetics and spins narratives about dominance and “putting puppies in their place”—even excusing his own dog’s aggression as a lesson for others. Beckman’s extreme rates and flashy self-promotion can’t disguise the reality: his approach is rooted in entertainment-era animal control, not ethical, evidence-based dog training. It IS possible to watch your dog undergo a training session that isn't traumatic, that doesn't stress the dog, that doesn't overwhelm them, that doesn't push them beyond their threshold, and that they don't need to "recover" from. But you won't find that in Joel Beckman.

I was having issues with my female dobie that I needed guidance on so I did a phone session with Joel since I’m on the east coast. What a great guy with a wealth of knowledge. He gave me sound, solid guidance and was a pleasure to speak with. Fast forward 2 weeks, I followed every recommendation he made and my girl has made so much amazing progress, I’m thrilled!!!! Can’t wait to see how she continues to grow to be the amazing dog I know she’s meant to be! I highly recommend their services. Worth every penny!!! Their YouTube channel is great too!