
Dominant Dogs: Transforming aggression into confident, well-behaved dogs
Dominant Dogs, Aggressive Dog Training & Rehabilitation in Santa Monica & Los Angeles is led by Leonard Ludovico. Clients describe him as a dog whisperer and skilled trainer who guides anxious and reactive dogs through bootcamps and personalized sessions. The program calms behavior, improves communication, and strengthens the bond between dog and owner.
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Intensive residential training program for aggressive or reactive dogs, focusing on behavior modification and rehabilitation.
Specialized sessions to address biting, lunging, and fear-based aggression using psychological techniques.
Tailored training for rescue dogs with anxiety or trauma, helping them adapt to new environments and build confidence.
Hands-on lessons for owners to learn communication and structure techniques for maintaining their dog's progress.
In-depth assessments to identify root causes of aggression and create customized training plans.
Overall rating
Monica Rubio
This guy knows his stuff. My husband and I are beyond impressed with his work. He is knowledgeable and a great teacher as well. We've learned invaluable information after only our first session. Our dog is already showing improvement based on what we learned from Mr. Leonard. We're looking forward to learning more with him and having a new start with our beloved dog.
Anitra Zobeck
My husband and I reached out 5 years ago, when we got our first rescue dog (a shepherd-pit mix), and again last week when we got our second (a Malinois) — Mr. Ludovico’s help was not only invaluable, but absolutely made us able to get the help we needed with an initially very difficult dog, that kept us able to keep her. Literally saved a life. Can’t recommend highly enough.
M Kim
After pulling out my hair speaking to multiple behaviorists (I even had a specialist in the past tell me to just hold my dogs head in a door frame), Leonard took the time to help me and break down what is actually going down with my intact male CBR. I’m currently out of state but he listened and figured out that my dog and I have a longstanding relationship issue that is at the root of his aggression. Have some legwork to do, can’t wait to follow up with Leonard when I’m in California.
Gianna Zembo
I can't say enough good things about Leonard and his 3 week bootcamp. My rescue Doberman, Nicky, had a rough start to her life. She was anxious, reactive, and would bite when scared. I was worried I would never be able to take her out in public. From our first meeting, Leonard changed my outlook. He has an incredible gift- not just as a trainer, but as a true dog psychologist. It was like he could see right through Nicky'a mind and understand what she needed. After two weeks of bootcamp I was able to see Nicky. She was relaxed and actually was enjoying her training. Even more important, I learned how to better communicate with her and give her the structure and balance she needs. She has been home 6 weeks now, and has been wonderful. If you have a rescue dog with challenges, don't give up hope. Leonard truly transforms not just the dog, but your relationship with them. I'll be forever grateful for what he has done for me and Nicky.
Gabby Zembo
I recently had the pleasure of working with Leonard Ludovico, of Dominant Dogs, for the second time. I cannot say enough about his incredible talent with dogs. He is truly a dog whisperer, with an innate ability to connect with your pet on a deep level. Leonard cares about the owner as much as he does about the dog and can help his clients understand their dog’s behavior and cultivate a great relationship with them. Our first experience with Leonard was so successful and made such a difference in our lives that when we got another dog, we called him immediately. We brought Gemma, a high drive European Doberman, to him in 2019. She had such a chasing issue that anytime she accidentally got out of the yard or pulled the leash from our grips we were certain she might be struck by a car. Leonard spent hours and hours rehabilitating Gemma, and when she returned from her three-week training, she was a different dog. We were able to take her anywhere on leash and off. I cannot begin to describe how our relationship with her changed and became so enjoyable and stress free. Leonard’s training allows her to live the best possible life accompanying us wherever we go. Enter a new dog, and new issues. Our new dog, unlike Gemma, is timid, fearful, and reactive. She would lunge and bark at other dogs and showed signs of aggression. We did not want this to escalate and immediately called Leonard. Leonard, again, returned to us a completely changed dog. Her demeanor is completely different. She is confident, calm and she too can walk calmly around other dogs, go on errands and just be a joy to be around. I highly recommend Leonard to anyone who owns a dog and wants that dog to fit seamlessly into their lives. The time and thought he puts into each dog is unparalleled. We are so happy we chose Leonard! It has again been a phenomenal learning experience.