The Human Dog Team

I can’t thank Gonzalo enough for the incredible transformation in my puppy’s behavior! My pitbull was extremely hyper-energetic and bitey when we started training, but now he’s become the friendliest, most well-behaved dog. Gonzalo taught me how to set my puppy up for success by creating the right environment and understanding his needs and behaviors—like figuring out why he’s acting a certain way. With Gonzalo’s guidance, I’ve gained confidence as a dog owner and established a structured schedule that works for both me and my pup. Walks, which used to be stressful, are now calm and enjoyable for both of us. Gonzalo took the time to get to know my puppy and myself, understand both our needs and helped us throughout the process. His 1-1 sessions were very helpful, and his group classes were even more beneficial as I was able to practice training my dog in environments with lots of distractions. I highly recommend Gonzalo to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, patient, and effective dog trainer!

It is not an exaggeration to say Gonzalo really saved us from a state of hopelessness with our pup. As first time dog parents we did not truly understand what having a high energy, intelligent, working breed would mean. Our pup had not outgrown the mouthing phase at 4 months, like everyone and the Internet said he would, and with time this had become worse. We could not get him to relax and if we had him hanging around us while we were working from home he would mouth and bite us to demand attention. We had no time for anything but trying to (unsuccessfully) train this puppy. We would take him on car rides to just get a break from the constant mouthing. We were at a loss. The instructions from previous trainers seemed to boil down to him not getting enough play time or exercise and management techniques that were just that management. Although play/exercise and management are important, unfortunately, these methods we learned did nothing to improve the mouthing issues we were dealing with. I am now writing this from my living room and Calcifer, after an off leash hike at a park nearby and some play time, is laying down and relaxing. All things we never thought would be possible to do (without being mouthed every step of the way). This is all thanks to the time Gonzalo spent with us to find out what methods would work for us and Calcifer. In the end it was about training us to better communicate with our pup. We still have things to work on in order to become better pet parents but it all seems possible now with the help of Gonzalo. We are lucky to have found him and are so glad we trusted him. Thank you for your patience and guidance, Gonzalo.

Teaming up with Gonzalo has been the best decision we ever made for Bailey. My wife and I first came across the Human Dog Team when we were looking for more advanced training. We initially had a different trainer that helped prepare us get through the puppy phase with Bailey (9 weeks to 6 months). However, once the basic puppy obedience training was complete, we were looking for something a bit more substantial as we quickly observed Bailey was capable of so much more. We began our search with the idea that we need to find an adult dog trainer. Someone who can help us better train Bailey to be a confident dog especially as we lived in a busier urban area. We narrowed down our search to a few different trainers, but eventually we went with Gonzalo and have been working with him for over 2 years now. Our mindset with dog training has completely changed since working with Gonzalo. My wife and I wanted to find a dog trainer and we found so much more. Gonzalo challenged us to believe in a world beyond a well trained dog. He inspired us to value the unique personality Bailey has and how our relationship with her can be one of companionship and team based. We came into training thinking that a well trained dog that does everything you ask of it is all you could ask for. Now, I will admit Bailey is well behaved and responds quickly and eagerly to anything we ask. But our relationship with Bailey is forever changed. My wife and I are always considering how Bailey is feeling and what needs or desires she may have and how that is factoring into each moment. Gonzalo was the one that taught us what it truly means to be successful and have a team approach with Bailey. She is always so excited to try new things with Gonzalo and continuously grow and show off her sharp mind. More importantly, Gonzalo was able to share his techniques regarding his teaching philosophy with us. My wife and I implement those teachings in everything we do with Bailey and the end result has been nothing short of amazing. Gonzalo will take the time to get to know you, your dog, and what relationship you currently have and what you want to have in the future. His process is tailored to what will work best for you and your dog. I have no hesitations in recommending Gonzalo to anyone looking to improve their relationship with their dog. There are plenty of trainers that can get your dog to mindlessly do basic commands. But there are only a few, from what we have seen, that care about the deep relationship and potential that you and your dog have as a team. Gonzalo will take your relationship with your dog to the next level if you work with him. Plus Gonzalo's husky, Blue, is such a great companion for your dog when you are working on socializing and creating/maintaining space in a safe way. Bailey and Blue are inseparable when they are together. Thank you Gonzalo!!

I cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible services provided by The Human Dog Team. Our dog was struggling with aggressive behavior, resource guarding, difficulty eating, and conflicts with our cats. Cleaning her ears or giving her medicine was nearly impossible. After trying another dog trainer and multiple "online solutions" and techniques, we found Gonzalo. From the very first session, it was evident that Gonzalo has a great understanding of animal behavior and that each dog requires a specific approach. By teaching us how to properly feed, walk, and adjust the rewards, we noticed changes in the very first week. Over time, the issues started to fade away; suddenly, we didn't have a dog that refused treats or needed "toppings" to eat dinner. She is now friends with our cat, the walks are smooth, and the hikes are amazing. The training sessions were not just about obedience; they were about building a strong bond between us and our furry friend, teaching us how to communicate and understand our girl. Gonzalo provided practical tips, valuable insights, and ongoing support that made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. We can finally have peace at home, and we owe it all to The Human Dog Team. If you're looking for a dog trainer who goes above and beyond, Gonzalo is the one to choose. His expertise, dedication, and genuine love for dogs make him a standout professional in the field. Thank you Gonzalo, Blue and little Lucy ♥️

After hearing from my breeder that perhaps it would be better to return my now seven months old border collie puppy, I had given up hope. It was disheartening to see that all the techniques I knew and had used with multitude of dogs were not working with my puppy. I spoke about this with Gonzalo (whom at the time was a friend and a dog trainer I admired) and he took on the challenge and offered to help me. The knowledge and insight that Gonzalo had on how a border collie dog works, the study of body language, the precision on how he could predict how my puppy will present next was mind blowing! He understood my puppy. And reassured me that with patience and understanding it could be done. If you are a science/biology/behavior/nature geek, you will definitely enjoy learning with Gonzalo! My puppy was fearful, touchy and I hadn’t found the way to properly communicate with her. I was used to training labs, and goldens and pitties and mixes but this is my first BC and oh boy was I in for a ride. I have been working with Gonzalo for the last several months and we’ve been able to turn my puppy around. She’s a joy, a never ending evolution of all the things I’ve learned and there’s so much more of her that I can now access thanks to Gonzalo and the knowledge he has instilled in me. I would have not been able to either keep my puppy or make progress if it wasn’t for him. Thank you Gonzalo for giving me the confidence, techniques and kindness to make progress with my girl and change the was we train together. I literally owe you my best friend! If you have a quirky dog, a special breed, a sensitive dog and you have the desire to change both you and your dog, you are in the right place.