Dog training in Marina del Rey, CA

Dog Training in Marina del Rey, From the Elevator to the Docks

Calm dogs in lobbies, on the bike path and around the boats.

Marina del Rey dogs spend their days riding elevators, crossing busy lobbies and walking beside water, bikes and boat traffic. Raquel offers private dog training in Marina del Rey that starts in your apartment and finishes on the waterfront paths you use.

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Tell Raquel about your dog and your Marina del Rey home. She will call you back to talk it through.

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Dog gallery

Meet Some of Raquel's Happy Students

Real Los Angeles dogs, photographed by their families after training with Raquel.

Dog training in Marina del Rey

Dog Training in Marina del Rey Built Around Apartment Life

Most Marina del Rey homes are apartments and condos, many of them in large complexes around the basins. That shapes almost every dog problem Raquel sees here: barking at hallway sounds, panic in elevators, pulling through the lobby and accidents because the potty spot is several floors away.

Raquel’s dog training in Marina del Rey begins with that daily path from your front door to the street. She sets a calm routine for leaving and coming home, teaches your dog to wait in the elevator and walk past the front desk, then takes the leash outside to practice by the water.

What Trips Up Dogs in Marina del Rey

The marina mixes very quiet spaces with sudden noise. Dogs can go from a silent hallway to a crowded promenade in a minute, and that contrast is hard for nervous or young dogs. The waterfront adds birds, boats and cyclists moving fast in both directions.

At home

Long hallways with doors opening suddenly
Elevators shared with neighbors and their dogs
Lobby staff, deliveries and luggage carts
Balconies overlooking the water
Potty trips that start several floors up

Out on walks

For dogs who explode at bikes or other dogs on the waterfront walkways, Raquel usually begins with reactive dog training. For high-rise potty problems, she uses the same routines as her potty and house training program, adapted to elevators and a long walk to grass.

Marina del Rey Situations and Where Raquel Starts

Situation	What usually happens	Where Raquel starts
Elevator rides	Barking, spinning or lunging at neighbors	A calm sit in the corner and a cue to wait for the doors
The lobby	Dragging toward staff or other dogs	Loose-leash walking past people and luggage
Waterfront walkway	Chasing birds, jumping at bikes	Impulse control and passing distance
Balcony time	Barking at boats and passersby	Settling indoors and limiting rehearsal

Common Marina del Rey patterns; your dog’s plan is set after Raquel meets you.

Marina Dog Struggling?

Describe your building and your walk. Raquel will suggest where to begin.

Marina del Rey at a glance

The local details Raquel plans around

Governed byLos Angeles County

Typical homeApartment or condo complex

Nearby off-leash parkGlen Alla Dog Park

Waterfront parkBurton Chace Park

Main challengeElevators and bike traffic

First visitYour apartment, then the water

Goals marina owners ask for

Where Raquel Trains in Marina del Rey

Sessions start inside your home and building, because that is where most marina problems begin. From there Raquel practices on your usual route: the walkways along the basins, the streets around your complex and, once your dog is steady, the green space at Burton Chace Park on Mindanao Way.

For off-leash play, the nearest fenced option is the dog park at Bill Rosendahl Del Rey Park on Alla Road, often called Glen Alla. It is close enough for a training trip and useful for practicing calm arrivals. Raquel will tell you when your dog is ready for it rather than sending you on day one.

Training Programs Marina Owners Choose

Private in-home dog training covers most marina dogs in one long visit. For a new puppy in a high-rise, puppy training sets potty, crate and elevator habits early. If your dog panics when you leave for work, separation anxiety training can be built into the same plan.

Marina del Rey and nearby

Marina del Rey Areas Raquel Covers

Raquel trains in buildings and homes all around the basins and in the neighborhoods next door.

Admiralty Way
Via Marina
Mindanao Way
Panay Way
Bali Way
Fiji Way area
The Silver Strand
Del Rey edge

Nearby areas: dog training in Venice, dog training in Playa del Rey and dog training in Mar Vista.

Google reviews

What Dog Owners Say About Raquel

Read more client reviews →

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 64 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Yaesh P 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Raquel is exceptional. My dog Sasha is reactive, and my dog Rocky struggles with anxiety — before working with Raquel, I felt stuck and unsure how to help either of them. She didn’t just give us quick fixes; she taught us “the way of the dog,” a philosophy that helped me actually understand what my dogs were experiencing and why.

What stood out most was how many practical tools she gave us. I now know exactly what to do in triggering situations instead of freezing or panicking. That shift has changed our lives — we can go places together now, enjoy ourselves, and I’m not dreading outings anymore.

She is also extremely compassionate and deeply committed to helping, and she was always readily available to deal with any road bumps along the way.

Raquel is a wonderful trainer and human being, worth every session.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Christina Fontana 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We couldn't be more grateful for Raquel! Our pup was having issues with stranger danger aggression and anxiety and she completely transformed after a few hours under Raquel's guidance! It was mind blowing. Raquel doesn't just wave a magic wand over your dog. She helps you help your pup. We learned so much and know how to step in and guide when needed. Could not recommend more!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Christine Woertink 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Raquel doesn’t just train your dog — she teaches you “the way of the dog,” helping you build a genuinely confident and connected relationship rather than relying on quick fix tactics. She was with us every step of the way, checking in and helping our family grow together, and she gets to the root of discipline issues instead of just patching over them. Highly recommend if you want the best relationship with your dog, now and for the years to come!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   shannon ialongo 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Raquel is a true one of a kind behavioralist. After I adopted my 1+ year rescue with no background history and extreme leash reactivity, I was scared it wasn’t going to work as my neighborhood in Venice CA has a dog every 5 feet, it seems. My mutt rescue has ALL the working/over active breeds you could think of! But it didn’t matter. Raquel trained ME! I’ve been working with my dog for just over 2 weeks now and it’s seriously like I have a different animal. I followed her guidelines, and they work. They really truly work.

On top of everything else, she is a great human (as you would imagine for someone who knows dogs so well). She is available, inspiring (she’s even helped me breath to relax to help my dog!!!!). I have a whole new relationship with my kid (dog) now. I honestly couldn’t recommend Raquel enough. I have full confidence that if I stick with what she’s taught me, I’m going to have the most amazing life with my dog. I’m not blowing smoke!!! It’s so worth the cost. Skip the rest and just go to Raquel. Honestly, it’s changed my life! 💓💓💓💓💓

Edit 4.14.26 - I have to add. Even further down the road. I have truly stuck to what Raquel has taught me. My pup is now able to do things I never thought was possible when we first started. I said this to Raquel tonight: learning how to give paw is nothing like teaching your dog to not go bananas when on walks. My kid now is able to be around other dogs without having a meltdown. I still have to be vigilant. But it’s on me. We’re team and Raquel taught me that. I’m so over the moon that I worked with her. Honestly, I call her my “dog therapist”. Lol. She’s given me the tools and as long as I implement them… and stick to it. And work with her when it needs tweaking, it’s a game changer. I’m so in love with my dog Watson… and even more now. ❤️
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   2missbrooklyn 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My husband Aaron and I cannot recommend Raquel at Happy Paws Dog Training LA enough. She worked with us and our dog Mako, and what sets her apart is that she doesn't just train the dog—she trains the whole family. Raquel made sure that both Aaron and I understood the techniques so we could work together as a household unit, and it absolutely works.

She is kind, courteous, patient, and incredibly respectful, but most importantly, she knows exactly what she's doing. I also loved that she uses a form of psychology and other training methods that most trainers don't use—it really set her apart and honestly, she is like a true dog whisperer. Worth every penny. We highly recommend her.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Alexus Payton Leach 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tl:dr. Almost 1 year after our initial session with Raquel and we cannot recommend her enough!

Raquel made something we thought was impossible as simple as 1-2-3. Our pup Mia previously was abused and was so fearful of humans and other animals that she refused to walk outside (literally would freeze in terror before getting even 2 steps off the porch). Raquel not only helped us improve Mia's confidence so much so that Mia now craves walks and social hour with other pups, but we felt so well-equipped and educated with the lessons Raquel taught us that we added a second rescue to our household. Also, Raquel helped us teach Mia basic commands and facilitated the potty training process (we were really starting from square 1).

******
Detailed Review:

It's now been almost 1 year since Raquel helped train Mia, who at the time, was freshly 1 year's old and completely untrained.  We adopted Mia, a pitbull/bully mix from the shelter in January 2025 and immediately knew we would need a patient, kind, and knowledgeable trainer whose methods were firm yet tailored to our specific needs - especially given that Mia refused to take treats when she was scared (which was all the time) and we did not want to train her with any punitive or fear-based tactics.

Mia's history involved abuse and when she came into our home from the shelter, she was incredibly anxious and fearful of everything including other animals, humans, loud noises, ruffling bags, you name it. Any attempt to get her to walk outside and she would stand completely still and refuse to move. She was even afraid of stepping on grass. Initially, this was fine for us since we knew we'd be in for a long self-training journey. After about two weeks of us having Mia however, she started to get serious cases of zoomies indoors - which was a huge problem considering she is a 55-pound muscle machine running full speed in a condo.

At the time we contacted Raquel, we only cared about getting Mia to walk outside so that we could improve her quality of life. Our only expectation was that Mia would be okay to take even just one stroll around the block.

Raquel came into our lives and changed everything! She was able to get Mia to walk calmly and confidently on a leash, helped us teach her basic commands, and even gave us great tips that made the potty training process much smoother! Most importantly, Raquel taught us how to really understand and communicate with Mia in ways that improved her trust of us, and our understanding of what she needs - including things like structure and routine. Raquel isn't your basic trainer, she truly knows how to read a pup's energy and humans, too, which helps facilitate a baseline of respect that makes everyone's lives that much more enjoyable. I learned a lot about myself in the process as well.

Long story short, Mia is doing so well now that we added another doggie member to the household because Raquel not only improved Mia's confidence, but Mia also started craving soalization with other pups!

Highly recommend investing in training with Raquel because you'll set habits that stick with you, your current pup, and all future pups for life!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Harla Levitt 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Raquel provides a great balance between information about her philosphy to dog training with practical demonstrations and recommendations that are designed to take into account your dog breed and tendencies. This individualized attention is fantastic. The first in-person visit lasted more than 4 hrs, and it was clear that much of Raquel's approach is to 'train the trainer', changing and challenging our approach to training our dogs. Raquel emphasized that changing human behavior is a lot more challenging than a dog's behavior, and she was spot on. It has taken practice on our part to be consistent so that our new Aussie mix puppy and adult Havanese co-exist in great harmony. Each has had its own challenges, but the Havanese anxiety is so much better and the puppy - well is still a puppy, but Raquel's tutoring of us has produced much improved behavior. They go on fantastic walks without any behavioral challenges, play great together, and both have become very chill when we leave them - this was a major problem for us. At 8 months of age, our Aussie puppy is still a work in progress, so the extended service after the first in-person visit, to be able to talk through a challenge we are having, with Raquel, is a life- and time-saver. The  first in-person check-in at a neutral location just occurred, for over an hour, and it was incredibly helpful and reinforcing that we are making great progress - like a booster shot! Brief calls and emails to Raquel between visits are very helpful as well.  There may be many ways to train a dog. In our view, you get what you pay for, and Raquel has really delivered. One improvement would be to have a bit more face time with Raquel at critical junctures when a significant challenge occurs, even just scheduling a 30 minute session in order to have Raquel's great vision to help readjust our approach. Raquel is the real deal.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Paige Froelke 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It’s hard to put into words just how much Raquel has transformed our dog and family. We adopted our dog Shrimp at 4 months old and quickly learned he had severe anxiety, fears, and struggles from his previous owner. He didn’t know how to walk on a leash, and at just 5 pounds would charge at people so ferociously, barking non stop. After 3 months with Raquel we have a completely different dog. He walks calmly by our side, loves to people watch outside, and is overall a calmer happier pup.

Raquel truly changed Shrimp and our lives. Her teachings are incredible and truly deepened our bond with Shrimp. The best part is to see him transform before our eyes, to have the ability to feel proud of himself and enjoy the best of life. If you’re questioning starting with Raquel we hope this review serves as a sign to say yes. Her support was consistent throughout our time. She answered all our questions and sos messages calmly and within minutes, allowing us to come up with a plan for groomers and vet visits, in home visitors, and any new situation that was thrown at us. We truly don’t know where we’d be without Raquel and are so blessed to have found her.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Author Mary Ting 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t express enough how much Raquel has helped my little dog-Udon. We couldn’t take him out because he barked at everything. Even car ride was a nightmare, and walks were impossible. I paid a trainer before Raquel and there was no result. I wanted to give up, but thought to try one last time. I can talk Udon out for walks now without him barking at people and dogs. I cried when it first happened. Raquel is our angel and I can’t thank her enough. I highly recommend her!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   JoshChristman87 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Earlier this year, my partner and I adopted a maltipoo, Cinderella. Only 8 weeks old, she was full of energy and curiosity. We already had another dog, Sylvester, who was rescued 5 years ago, was a bit older, and the not the friendliest with other dogs.

Sylvester had already gone through some training, but was due for a refresher. Cinderella was wet clay ready for molding. After doing some research online, we reached out to Raquel, and after one phone call, we knew she was the best person to collaborate with.

Raquel brought up a very key point early on in that Cinderella will follow the lead of the head dog already established, so we wanted to make sure she was learning good habits early on in her life.

Over the next few months, Raquel has spent time with us in our home and the park as we’ve been learning how to better communicate with our dogs, and with each other with it comes to training them. So much of it is Raquel training us as the owners in as much as it is training the dogs themselves.

Raquel is always a text away and within reach, has incredible insight into the minds of dogs, and so very kind and gentle with all of us.

It can be very frustrating to re-learn habits from walking our dogs to feeding them to communicating with them when they’re doing something naughty. Raquel is a great teacher who is able to simplify the process, and we’re very happy with the results we’ve seen so far with our dogs.

Whether it’s Cinderella growling at everyone the moment she starts eating, or Sylvester going into attack mode when he sees another dog across the street, Raquel has been there every step of the way giving guidance and suggestions, and we’ve seen the progress.

My partner and I highly recommend Raquel to anyone looking to become a better parent to their dogs. Because it starts with you.
  
 
  
  
 
 
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Free phone consult

Questions About Your Building?

Elevators, lobbies and balconies all change the plan. Raquel will talk it through before you book.

Phone(323) 629-3767

VisitsMarina del Rey homes

First session3 to 5 hours

Marina del Rey questions

Dog Training in Marina del Rey: FAQs

Do you train dogs in Marina del Rey apartments?

Yes. Most of Raquel’s Marina del Rey sessions start in an apartment or condo. She works on the routines inside your building first, including elevators and lobbies, then takes training outside.

Can I pay someone to train my dog for me?

Raquel trains your dog and coaches you at the same time, because a dog that behaves only for the trainer will slip at home. In one long visit she does the hands-on work, then shows everyone in the household how to keep it going.

How do I stop my dog barking at people in the hallway?

Raquel teaches your dog to settle on a mat away from the door and changes what hallway sounds predict. Management helps too, like a white noise machine or blocking the view, while the new habit forms.

Where can my dog run off leash near Marina del Rey?

The closest fenced dog park is at Bill Rosendahl Del Rey Park on Alla Road, often called Glen Alla. Burton Chace Park is good for leashed practice near the water.

How do I potty train a puppy in a high-rise?

Use a steady schedule, a fixed route to the same potty spot and calm praise, plus a plan for nights and long elevator waits. Raquel helps you decide whether a balcony patch or pads make sense for your building.

How much does dog training cost in Marina del Rey?

Raquel quotes after a free phone call about your dog and your building. Training starts with one long Master Class rather than weekly lessons, and advice afterward is free.

Didn’t find your question? See the complete Happy Paws FAQ list.

Ready for Calm Marina Walks?

From the elevator to the docks, Raquel will help your dog stay relaxed in every part of marina life.