1 / 5
The Well-Heeled Dog is a dog training business in West Hollywood, California offering In-Home Training and Group Classes, with published programs from $30.
West Hollywood • CA • Mobile / travels to you • 4.0 ★ (1 Google reviews)
Last verified: Sep 6, 2026
54 / 100
Limited information
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
What they say about themselves
Susan Isaacs brings an unusual background to dog training. Before launching The Well-Heeled Dog, she spent more than fifteen years in corporate coaching, working with executives and employees on communication and behavior change. According to her site, she now applies that understanding of how people learn alongside her study of canine behavior—she holds a CPDT-KA certification and has trained with numerous behaviorists over her seventeen years in the field.
The business operates primarily through in-home sessions across the Los Angeles area, including West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. Their site describes a positive reinforcement approach and notes that for owners short on time, they can work directly with the dog first, then teach the owner how to maintain what's been established.
One area they emphasize is preparing households for life with both dogs and children. Isaacs is a licensed presenter for Family Paws Parent Education and Doggone Safe, and according to her site, she offers prenatal consultations and free safety workshops at schools, libraries, and hospitals. The business also provides group classes covering puppy foundations and AKC Canine Good Citizen preparation, alongside behavior work for issues like aggression or separation anxiety. Their site indicates referrals come from local veterinarians.
Consultations and evaluations before you commit to a program.
This is an in-home meeting where the trainer evaluates the dog's behavior and the owner's training goals, giving immediate tips for relief.
Best for: Dog owners seeking an initial assessment of behavior problems or training goals.
Duration: 90 sessions
Focus: Basic obedience
An in-home visit evaluating the dog and providing guidance on reading dog and baby body language, safety, household setup, and needed equipment.
Best for: Families expecting a baby or with a new baby or children in the home and a resident dog.
Duration: 60 sessions
Focus: Socialization
Private in-home sessions cover basics through serious issues like aggression and fear, with handoff training included so skills transfer to the owner. Group classes range from Puppy Manners (8-18 weeks) to Basic Obedience (16 weeks and up) to AKC Canine Good Citizen prep, which requires prior obedience training. The Well-Heeled Dog also offers a prenatal workshop for expectant families preparing their dogs for a new baby.
Only the prenatal workshop lists a price: $30 per session, with a minimum of six families required. Rates for private training and group classes aren't published, so you'll need to contact them directly.
After the consultation, the trainer designs a custom plan and either trains the dog directly then teaches the owner how to maintain results, or coaches the owner through the training step by step. Covers everyday manners issues as well as more serious behavior problems like aggression, noise phobia, and separation-related fear.
The trainer comes to the client's home and either trains the dog directly or coaches the owner through sessions.
Best for: Owners dealing with anything from basic manners issues to more serious behavior problems such as aggression or anxiety.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Aggression, Fear & anxiety
Includes: Owner handoff sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Private Dog Training | Not published | — |
A group class covering house training, crate training, mouthing, handling, socialization, and hand feeding, along with introductory obedience skills like sit, down, leave-it, loose-leash walking, and foundation recall.
Owners and puppies attend a group class together to learn foundational skills and socialization.
Best for: Puppies between 8 and 18 weeks old.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
A group class teaching attention, loose-leash walking, sit, stay, down, come when called, leave it, and go to your bed, along with everyday manners like staying calm around distractions and other dogs.
Dogs and owners attend a group obedience class covering core commands and manners.
Best for: Dogs 16 weeks and older.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Socialization
This class prepares dogs and owners for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, building a foundation for advanced obedience and community activities like therapy work.
Dogs and owners attend a group class preparing specifically for the CGC test.
Best for: Dogs 20 weeks and older who already have basic obedience training.
Focus: Advanced obedience
An interactive group workshop for expecting parents covering how to prepare their dog and home for a baby, get the dog used to babies and new routines, read dog and baby body language, and know what equipment is needed.
A group workshop of at least 6 families lasting 90-120 minutes.
Best for: Expecting parents who own a dog.
Focus: Socialization
Duration: 90 sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy Manners | Not published | — |
| Basic Obedience/Manners | Not published | — |
| AKC Canine Good Citizen | Not published | — |
| Private Prenatal Workshop | $30 per session | 90 sessions |
They explicitly identify as force-free, and the site confirms they work with aggression cases. No specific tools or techniques are detailed beyond that commitment.
Method: Reward-based
Uses rewards and positive reinforcement only, without corrections or aversive tools.
Certifications: CPDT-KA, AKC CGC Evaluator, CCPDT
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
The head trainer holds CPDT-KA and CCPDT certifications and serves as an AKC CGC Evaluator, with 17 years in the business. Insurance and guarantee terms aren't mentioned on the site.
Facility: Mobile / travels to you
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: not specified on their website.
Waitlist: not specified on their website.
Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.
Booking: Phone only
Price: The Well-Heeled Dog does not publish board & train pricing. Across West Hollywood, 11 programs publish prices from about $80 to $5,500.
Reviews: The Well-Heeled Dog shows 4.0★ from 1 Google reviews among 4 published West Hollywood programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 54 out of 100 (price 20%, program clarity 60%). 2 of 4 West Hollywood listings show certifications; this business lists CPDT-KA, AKC CGC Evaluator, CCPDT.
Training happens in your home rather than at a facility, operating out of West Hollywood. The site doesn't specify their service radius or travel fees.
9018 Keith Ave, West Hollywood, CA
Friday: 9AM-7PM
Monday: 9AM-7PM
Sunday: 9AM-7PM
Tuesday: 9AM-7PM
Saturday: 9AM-7PM
Thursday: 9AM-7PM
Wednesday: 9AM-7PM
Reach out directly or send a quote request through The Well-Heeled Dog.
See Spot Stay
West Hollywood, CA · 4.2 ★ (5)
Board and Train · Private Lessons · Virtual Training
8 programs
From $80
Reward-based
Paw Paw Dog Training & Behavior
West Hollywood, CA · 5.0 ★ (9)
Private Lessons · Virtual Training
6 programs
From $90
Reward-based
Pawcific Dog Academy LA
West Hollywood, CA · 5.0 ★ (7)
In-Home Training · Board and Train · Group Classes · +1
9 programs
Contact for pricing
Balanced
Dog Tribe LA
Los Angeles, CA · 5.0 ★ (33)
Board and Train
6 programs
From $750
Balanced
The Ranch Dog Training
Los Angeles, CA · 4.9 ★ (178)
Board and Train · Virtual Training · Private Lessons
6 programs
From $150
Balanced
Smart Paws Dog Training
Los Angeles, CA · 5.0 ★ (20)
Group Classes · In-Home Training
4 programs
From $45
Reward-based