Raquel, Dog Trainer in Los Angeles

One trainer, one plan built around your dog, and direct support from the person doing the training.

Your Trainer

The Dog Trainer Who Comes to Your Door in Los Angeles

Raquel is a dog trainer in Los Angeles, the founder of Happy Paws Dog Training LA and the only person who will train your dog. Happy Paws is a one-woman operation, so she is always available to her clients. Since 2011 she has worked one-on-one with LA families in their homes, on busy sidewalks, in apartment buildings and at local dog parks, on everything from puppy manners to serious behavior problems.

Known as Los Angeles’ premier natural dog behaviorist, Raquel resolves most issues in one intensive session. Her method, The Way of the Dog, is simple: help you understand your dog, and help your dog understand you. As an ethical dog trainer, she never uses pain, punishment or treats as bribes. Read the Happy Paws story

“Our dogs are always speaking to us, if you just know how to listen.” Raquel, founder of Happy Paws

Raquel, dog trainer in Los Angeles and founder of Happy Paws, with a client dog

Training Dogs in LA Since 2011

Training dogs and coaching families in Los Angeles since 2011, and BBB accredited with an A+ rating since 2016.

Behavior Problems Are a Major Focus

Reactivity, aggression, fear and anxiety are a large part of Raquel's work, along with puppy training and everyday manners.

A Clear Plan From the First Call

Before you book, Raquel talks through your dog's behavior, your goals and what training may involve.

      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!
  
 
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   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!
  
 
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   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. ❤️
  
 
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   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).

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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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Raquel's Path to Training Dogs

Childhood: spent hours with her German Shepherds on a remote farm in Australia.
Training: built an American Kennel Club (AKC) training background.
2011: started Happy Paws Dog Training LA in Los Angeles.
2016: Happy Paws became accredited by the Better Business Bureau, where it holds an A+ rating.
Today: trains dogs one-on-one across Los Angeles with her One-Day In-Home Master Class, park follow-ups and phone support.

Raquel Your Dog Trainer

You Work Directly With Raquel

There is no team of trainers at Happy Paws and no handoff after the first call. When you get in touch, you speak with me, and I am the one who trains you and your dog. I believe 80 percent of training is about the human, so I make sure you know exactly how and why it works before I leave.

Tell me about your dog: share your dog’s age and breed, what the behavior looks like and where in Los Angeles you live.
Get a plan and a quote: I’ll recommend the training that fits your dog and explain what it will involve.
Train with me: every session, park follow-up and phone check-in is with me.

Is Raquel the Right Trainer for Your Dog?

Raquel works with dogs of all breeds and ages, and with people from all walks of life, including veterans, police, people with disabilities, families with children and seniors. The LGBTQ community is warmly welcomed. She is often a good fit for:

Puppy owners: puppy packages for pups under 6 months.
First-time dog owners: routines explained in plain language, and obedience that works outside the house.
Dogs who bark or lunge on walks: her work with leash reactive dogs.
Growling, guarding or bite risk: safety-first aggression training.
Dogs who panic when left alone or fear noises: help for anxious and fearful dogs.
Newly adopted dogs: settling in a rescue dog.
Deaf, blind or disabled dogs: calm, adapted behavior work at a pace your dog can handle.
Owners who tried another trainer: a fresh look at what is driving the behavior and what was missed.
Families who want training at home: Raquel’s One-Day In-Home Master Class, with the whole household involved.

Common Questions

Questions About Raquel

Who is Raquel, the dog trainer at Happy Paws in Los Angeles?

Raquel is the founder, owner and only trainer at Happy Paws Dog Training LA. She has trained dogs in Los Angeles since 2011 and works one-on-one with families in their homes and neighborhoods, anywhere within 50 miles of the city.

What is Raquel's dog training background?

Raquel grew up with German Shepherds on a remote farm in Australia, then built her AKC training background before starting Happy Paws in Los Angeles in 2011. Since then she has focused on in-home training and behavior problems such as reactivity, aggression and anxiety.

Is Raquel a certified dog trainer?

Raquel has an American Kennel Club (AKC) training background and more than 15 years of hands-on work with Los Angeles dogs. California does not license dog trainers, so it is always fair to ask any trainer about their training, experience, methods and reviews.

Is Raquel a dog behaviorist?

Yes, in the practical sense. Raquel is known as a natural dog behaviorist who works on the root cause of behavior problems. She is not a veterinary behaviorist, which is a separate title for vets, and she recommends a vet check when a behavior may have a medical cause.

Has Raquel worked with aggressive or reactive dogs?

Yes. Reactivity and aggression are a large part of her work, and most of these cases improve in the one-day Master Class. One example is Frenchie, a German Shepherd whose family now enjoys peaceful walks in Brentwood. For aggression toward people, she works with dogs under 35 lbs.

How does Raquel keep sessions safe with a dog that bites?

Any bite history must be shared with Raquel before training begins. She may recommend a vet assessment first. Sessions are planned so the dog stays below its reaction point, and she will pause or change a session if anyone could get hurt.

How does Raquel figure out what is causing my dog's behavior?

She starts by watching. The evaluation happens on the day of your session: Raquel looks at when the behavior happens, what sets it off, how your dog’s body language changes and how the household responds. That shapes the plan from the first hour.

What is Raquel like to work with?

Clients describe her as patient, direct and caring. One Google reviewer wrote that she is “extremely compassionate and deeply committed to helping.” She explains the reason behind each step and stays available afterward, with free advice for as long as you need.

Is Raquel an ethical dog trainer?

Yes. Raquel never uses pain, punishment, fear or anything cruel. She also avoids treats as bribes and generic drills. Her method, The Way of the Dog, works on how your dog thinks and feels, so good behavior comes from calm understanding.

Can Raquel help if another trainer did not work for my dog?

Often, yes. Many clients come to Raquel after trying other trainers without success. A fresh look can uncover what is really driving a behavior or what was skipped. Tell her what you tried before, so the plan does not repeat what already failed.

More questions? See the Happy Paws FAQ page.