Dawgz & Stripes is led by Manny, a retired sheriff's deputy and Army veteran who spent 22 years in law enforcement and trained under Jean Claude Balu at Balu Dog Training Center. According to their site, he now runs two K9 companies while training dogs in obedience, protection, and detection work. The team includes five additional trainers with backgrounds ranging from military K-9 detection and law enforcement work to rescue rehabilitation and media preparation—one trainer, Kristi, holds AKC Certified CGC Trainer/Evaluator credentials.
The business operates differently from traditional facilities: dogs board and train in the trainers' own homes rather than a centralized kennel. They describe this as providing a home-like environment and allowing trainers to notice subtle behavioral or physical changes that larger operations might miss. Their site indicates owners receive video updates during board-and-train stays and can make unscheduled visits to check on their dogs.
Their stated specialties span basic through advanced obedience, behavioral modification for issues like jumping and barking, protection training, and rehabilitation for aggressive or anxious dogs. They emphasize that their approach focuses on reading each dog's individual energy and communication style, with owner education built into the process so training transfers after the dog returns home. The Riverside-area business also offers private lessons and virtual training options.
