Heart To Heart Dog Training — Dog Training in Simi Valley, CA

Heart To Heart Dog Training is a dog training business in Simi Valley, California offering board and train, private lessons, and group classes, working from a home-based setup. They list CPDT-KA credentials and have been in business for 27+ years.

Simi Valley, CA • Home-based trainer • 5.0 ★ (1 Google reviews)

Verified listing

Last reviewed: Sep 5, 2026

Transparency Score

31 / 100

Limited information

How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.

Price transparency: 0%
Method transparency: 35%
Program clarity: 81%

About Heart To Heart Dog Training

Based on what the business publishes about itself

Xaviera Ladd, the owner and trainer behind Heart To Heart Dog Training, brings an unusual breadth of animal experience to her work. According to her site, she's spent roughly 30 years studying animal behavior across species, including birds of prey, wolves, and horses, before focusing on dogs. She holds a CPDT-KA certification and a degree in Animal Science and Animal Training & Management, and describes working with thousands of dogs over 27 years of professional training.

The Simi Valley business offers private in-home lessons, group classes, and a board-and-train program where dogs stay in Ladd's home for four to six weeks. Her site emphasizes a positive training approach paired with what she calls owner leadership, teaching people to guide their dogs rather than just issuing commands. Programs range from puppy pre-school for dogs under four months to intermediate and advanced obedience work focused on off-leash control and handling distractions.

The site appears somewhat dated, but the underlying experience and credentials are clearly documented.

What dog training programs does Heart To Heart Dog Training offer?

Private lessons cover puppies through advanced obedience, with a four-week board and train option that includes follow-up sessions. Heart To Heart Dog Training structures its puppy program for dogs under four months, while basic obedience starts at four months and up. Group classes are also available, though session details aren't specified on the site.

Boot Camp

Price not published.

The dog lives in the trainer's household while learning basic obedience commands including heel, sit, down, stay, and come, along with house manners like waiting at doors, not jumping, and staying off furniture and counters. The dog also learns a pillow send-and-stay behavior. After the program, the owner receives homework and follow-up lessons to transfer leadership skills.

The dog stays and trains in the trainer's home for the program duration, then returns home with owner follow-up drills and arranged follow-up lessons.

Duration: 4 weeks

Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training

Includes: Follow-up sessions

Basic Obedience & Manners

Price not published.

One-hour private lessons delivered in the owner's home, addressing problem behaviors like jumping, chewing, and barking, alongside teaching commands such as heel, sit, down, stay, come, pillow stays, leave it, and wait. Family leadership training is also included.

Customized one-hour private lessons take place in the owner's home on a weekly basis.

Best for: Dogs 4 months and older.

Requirements: This program is for dogs 4 months and older.

Duration: 4 sessions

Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training

Puppy Pre-school

Price not published.

Covers introducing a new puppy to its environment, potty training, crate training, bite inhibition, leash introduction, and other basic commands, focused on early socialization and coping skills.

Delivered as private lessons focused on early puppy skills and habits.

Best for: Puppies up to 4 months old.

Requirements: This important program is for puppies up to 4 months old.

Duration: 4 sessions

Focus: Puppy training, Socialization

Intermediate & Advanced Obedience

Price not published.

This program builds on foundational obedience skills, teaching control at a distance, focus around high-level distractions, and off-leash control.

Delivered as a series of private lessons continuing from the basic program.

Best for: Dogs that have already completed the Basic Obedience program.

Requirements: This program builds on the commands learned in Basic Obedience.

Duration: 6 sessions

Focus: Advanced obedience, Recall & off-leash

Group Classes

Price not published.

Group setting classes that add controlled socialization and real-world distractions, helping dogs build lasting skills, confidence, and manners.

Focus: Basic obedience, Socialization

How much does Heart To Heart Dog Training cost?

Heart To Heart Dog Training does not publish program pricing online. Contact them directly or request a quote through Barklen for current rates.

Board and Train pricing

Board and Train pricing at Heart To Heart Dog Training in Simi Valley, CA
Program	Price	Length
Boot Camp	Not published	4 weeks

Private Lessons pricing

Private Lessons pricing at Heart To Heart Dog Training in Simi Valley, CA
Program	Price	Length
Basic Obedience & Manners	Not published	4 sessions
Puppy Pre-school	Not published	4 sessions
Intermediate & Advanced Obedience	Not published	6 sessions

Group Classes pricing

Group Classes pricing at Heart To Heart Dog Training in Simi Valley, CA
Program	Price	Length
Group Classes	Not published	Not stated

What training methods does Heart To Heart Dog Training use?

The site uses general language about training philosophy without naming specific tools or techniques. Whether they work with aggression or reactivity cases isn't addressed.

Public materials reviewed by Barklen do not specify which training tools are used.

Who runs Heart To Heart Dog Training?

As described in the business's own materials

Xaviera Ladd, Professional Dog Trainer / Owner

According to their site, has spent about 30 years pursuing a passion for animal behavior and training, working with species including birds of prey, parrots, raccoons, horses, and wolves. Holds a degree in Animal Science and Animal Training & Management, and has worked as a professional dog trainer for 27 years with thousands of dogs and families, including multi-generation clients.

Credentials listed on their site: CPDT-KA. Barklen has not independently verified these.

Where does Heart To Heart Dog Training offer dog training?

Heart To Heart Dog Training runs a home-based training operation in Simi Valley, CA, offering board and train stays, private lessons, and group classes.

Their site says they dog owners and their families, including puppies through adult dogs, with some clients returning across multiple generations of their family.

Sessions operate out of a home-based setup in Simi Valley. The site doesn't publish a street address or details about the training space.

How does Heart To Heart Dog Training compare with other Simi Valley dog trainers?

Barklen analysis

Barklen analysis based on 5 published Simi Valley listings (9 with published pricing). These comparisons are computed by Barklen, not claims made by Heart To Heart Dog Training.

Price: too few Simi Valley programs publish pricing in the same categories for a like-for-like comparison yet.

Reviews: 5.0★ from 1 Google reviews, among 5 published Simi Valley programs.

Transparency: 31 out of 100 (limited information), with 0% price transparency and 81% program clarity. 3 of 5 Simi Valley listings show certifications; this business lists CPDT-KA.

What should you ask Heart To Heart Dog Training before booking?

Generated from what their public materials leave open

They don't publish pricing. Ask what a board and train stay costs and exactly what is included.
Ask for proof of liability insurance.
Their site describes their approach in general terms. Ask which specific methods and tools they use.
Ask whether you can visit your dog during a board and train stay.
Ask if anyone is on-site overnight.
Ask how often you will get photo or video updates.
Ask how many dogs each trainer handles at once.
Ask about current availability and whether there is a waitlist.

Location and hours

00 No Address, Simi Valley, CA

Hours are not published in the materials Barklen reviewed. Confirm before visiting.

How Barklen reviewed this listing

Barklen reviewed Heart To Heart Dog Training against the business's public materials and published this listing. That is not a check of licenses, insurance, or certifications. See our methodology for what a verified listing does and does not mean.

Details the public materials do not address (aggression and reactivity cases, owner visits during programs, progress updates, overnight staffing, insurance, guarantee, and others) are turned into the questions above rather than filled in.

Last reviewed by Barklen: Sep 5, 2026

What Barklen could verify

Programs listed: 5 programs (board and train, private lessons, group classes)
Published pricing: None published
Training method: Method unclear
Facility: Home-based trainer
Certifications: CPDT-KA
Years in business: 27+ years
Booking: Phone only