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Doggie Tech is a dog training business in Valley Center, California offering Private Lessons and Virtual Training, with published programs from $40.
Valley Center • CA • Home-based trainer • 5.0 ★ (6 Google reviews)
Last verified: Sep 5, 2026
92 / 100
Highly transparent
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
What they say about themselves
Shannon Schaefer, the founder of Doggie Tech, has been working in canine behavior since 1979, when she completed her certification at The Cobb Center, a California training school that has since closed. According to her site, she entered the field after losing a Labrador in 1977—an experience that revealed limitations in conventional obedience methods and shaped her subsequent approach. Over the years, she has written books and produced instructional videos, co-created a therapy pet initiative within a regional hospital network, and spent a decade hosting a call-in radio program focused on dog behavior in San Diego.
Her stated philosophy sets her apart from many contemporary trainers. She describes rejecting both treat-based and correction-heavy techniques, arguing that these create dependency or erode trust. Instead, her materials emphasize calm, consistent leadership from owners, with the goal of building a dog's confidence through clarity rather than rewards or physical pressure. Whether this resonates depends on an owner's own preferences, but the position is explicitly stated throughout her content.
Doggie Tech serves the Valley Center area and surrounding North San Diego County communities through private lessons, along with phone and video consultations. The site also advertises same-day support for urgent behavior situations—what they call emergency help—with downloadable resources and immediate phone availability.
Consultations and evaluations before you commit to a program.
This is a downloadable training manual paired with a one-hour phone or Zoom call meant for urgent behavior problems like housebreaking, biting, jumping, or aggression.
Best for: Owners facing an urgent behavior crisis who need immediate phone or video guidance.
Duration: 1 sessions
Focus: Basic obedience, Aggression
Private consultations run three hours at $100 per session and address basic obedience, aggression, and fear-related issues. Doggie Tech also offers self-paced virtual training options, from a $40 manual and DVD set to a $375 package that includes unlimited phone and Zoom support for life. The focus leans toward puppy training and foundational obedience skills.
A three-hour in-person consultation costs $100. Virtual options range from $40 for the manual and DVDs alone to $375 for the full package with lifetime phone and Zoom access. All prices are published upfront with no ranges or hidden fees.
The trainer works directly with the dog in front of the owner and family for at least three hours, explaining canine behavior fundamentals and demonstrating clear, direct handling without treats.
The trainer demonstrates hands-on work with the dog while the family observes and learns during an in-person session of at least three hours.
Best for: Owners dealing with common or rare, unpredictable, or undiagnosed behavior problems.
Focus: Basic obedience, Aggression, Fear & anxiety
Duration: 3 sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Hour Consultation with Shannon Schaefer at Doggie Tech | $100 per session | 3 sessions |
This is a self-study package consisting of a written training manual and two DVDs covering puppy training from the start or adult dog behavior problems.
The buyer receives a digital manual download quickly, followed by a mailed hard copy of the manual and two DVDs.
Best for: Owners of puppies just starting out or adult dogs with existing behavior problems.
Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience
This package bundles the training manual and DVDs with unlimited ongoing phone or Zoom coaching for as long as the client needs help.
The client receives the manual, DVDs, and can call or Zoom the trainer anytime for continued coaching through each lesson.
Best for: Owners of puppies from the start or adult dogs with any behavior problem who want ongoing access to coaching.
Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience
Includes: Lifetime support
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Doggie Tech Manual and DVD's | $40 per program | — |
| Doggie Tech Manual, DVD's, Unlimited Phone/Zoom Consults | $375 per program | — |
The program explicitly describes its approach as correction-based, making the training philosophy clear from the start. They do accept dogs with aggression issues, which not all trainers will take on.
Method: Correction-based
Uses corrections as the primary method. May include traditional or compulsion-based tools.
Certifications: Not specified on their website
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
This is a home-based operation rather than a commercial facility. The site claims guaranteed results, though specific terms or conditions for that guarantee aren't detailed. Insurance, certifications, and years of experience aren't mentioned.
Facility: Home-based trainer
Owner visits: not specified on their website.
Video updates: not specified on their website.
Overnight staffing: not specified on their website.
Insurance: not specified on their website.
Guarantee: Advertises guaranteed results
Waitlist: not specified on their website.
Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.
Booking: Phone only
Price: Doggie Tech does not publish board & train pricing. Across Valley Center, 7 programs publish prices from about $76 to $4,750.
Reviews: Doggie Tech shows 5.0★ from 6 Google reviews among 3 published Valley Center programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 92 out of 100 (price 100%, program clarity 67%). Certification disclosure is still sparse in this city.
Training takes place at a residential address on Old Castle Road in Valley Center. Parking availability and accessibility features aren't described on the site.
10365 Old Castle Rd, Valley Center, CA
Friday: 10:30AM-9PM
Monday: 10:30AM-9PM
Sunday: 10:30AM-9PM
Tuesday: 10:30AM-9PM
Saturday: 10:30AM-9PM
Thursday: 10:30AM-9PM
Wednesday: 10:30AM-9PM
Reach out directly or send a quote request through Doggie Tech.
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