Dog Training in Santa Cruz, CA
Steve Brooks K9U provides private, in-home dog training throughout Santa Cruz and the rest of Santa Cruz County, led by Steve Brooks — a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) with more than 30 years of experience and over 25,000 dogs trained. Positive, reward-based, force-free methods; programs for puppies, everyday manners, and serious behavior problems; and a free phone consultation to start.
A Nationally Known Trainer, Now in Santa Cruz
Steve Brooks founded K9U in Los Angeles in 1999 and spent 25 years training there, celebrity clientele included. He has appeared as a dog training expert on CBS, NBC, FOX, Animal Planet, and National Geographic, served as the expert on the Marley & Me Blu-ray, and wrote "Dog Bites with Steve Brooks", now in its second edition. He is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild, and Family Paws Parent Education.
Today he lives and works in the Santa Cruz area, and local dog owners get what LA had for a quarter century: house calls from a certified trainer who has seen just about everything a dog can do. He works with dogs of every age — puppies, adults, seniors, deaf and blind dogs — helps families choose the right dog before they bring one home, and, as a licensed Family Paws presenter, prepares expecting parents and families with toddlers for life with a dog and a baby. His method hasn't changed — positive, reward-based, and force-free, summed up in one line: "You want your dog to listen to you because he wants to, not because he has to." The full story is on the about page, and his approach is laid out on the training page.
Training for a Beach Town
Santa Cruz asks more of a dog than most places. A morning walk along West Cliff Drive means surfers, strollers, bikes, and a parade of other dogs on a narrow path. The walking path above Pleasure Point, one of the most famous surf breaks on the coast, is the same story every day of the year. The dogs romping at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach will test any recall you think you have. Pacific Avenue serves up sidewalk cafes, skateboards, and street musicians; Capitola Village packs dogs and diners table to table; and the trailheads at Henry Cowell Redwoods bring horses, hikers, and banana slugs a curious nose shouldn't sample. A dog who can hold it together here is genuinely trained.
That is the standard Steve trains to — not sit-in-the-living-room obedience, but loose-leash walking along West Cliff, a rock-solid stay outside the coffee shop, a recall that works at Seacliff when a flock of gulls lifts off. Training starts at home, where the habits form. Once that phase is solid, Steve offers custom lessons out in public — a coffee shop, the path at Pleasure Point Beach — the places you actually want to take your dog.
Everything Steve Offers
Four ways to work together, all built on the same reward-based method.
In-Home Training
Private sessions at your house, where your dog's habits actually live — manners, leash skills, recall, and everyday obedience.
Puppy Training
Socialization, house training, bite inhibition, and foundations during the weeks that shape a dog for life.
Behavior & Aggression
Force-free behavior modification for aggression, leash reactivity, separation anxiety, fear, and resource guarding.
Virtual Coaching
Live sessions over Zoom or FaceTime, anywhere in the world — including continued support for Steve's longtime Los Angeles clients.
Serving All of Santa Cruz County
In-home training is available in every corner of the county, from the redwoods to the beach flats:
Somewhere else? Virtual coaching reaches everywhere.
What Clients Say
"We have never been happier with any kind of service ever than we are with Fergus' training. He's such a good boy now. We took him to a cafe the other day, put him in a down, and he was perfect. We took him on a hike. He's incredible. And we're 1000 times happier for it. So thank you. So much."
"K9U not only helped my dog have better behavior, but helped me be a better owner. It's been almost five years since my dog went through the two week course, and we still benefit from it to this day."
"Steve at K9U works miracles with dogs AND their owners. His firm but compassionate training helped make our problem dogs into the envy of the neighborhood. And Steve's free follow up sessions made sure we stayed on track. Two paws up!"
"I work with steve at k9u and I have never seen a dog leave without showing vast improvement! The combination of skill, communication and love at K9U has never failed to reach any dog, no matter how hopeless the case first appeared."
Dog Training in Santa Cruz: Common Questions
Do you come to my home for training?
Yes — in-home training is the heart of what Steve does in Santa Cruz County. He trains your dog where the behavior actually happens and coaches you at the same time, so the results hold up after he leaves. Virtual sessions over Zoom or FaceTime are available too.
What parts of Santa Cruz County do you serve?
Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, Pleasure Point, Scotts Valley, Felton, and Watsonville. If you're outside those areas, virtual coaching covers everywhere else.
What training methods do you use?
Positive, reward-based, force-free training — no shock collars, no prong collars, no intimidation. Steve's rule of thumb: you want your dog to listen to you because he wants to, not because he has to. He is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a member of the APDT, the Pet Professional Guild, and Family Paws Parent Education.
Do you work with aggressive or reactive dogs?
Yes — behavior modification for aggression, leash reactivity, and fear is Steve's specialty, and he has a long record of taking on cases other trainers decline. If your dog lunges at other dogs on walks, guards food or toys, or has bitten, start with a free phone consultation.
Do you train puppies?
Yes — and adult and senior dogs too. Puppy programs cover socialization, house training, crate training, nipping, and the basic skills — sit, down, stay, come, loose-leash walking — one-on-one, during the early window when they're easiest to build.
How much does dog training cost in Santa Cruz?
Every program is customized to the dog, so pricing depends on what yours needs. The consultation is a free phone call: (323) 422-8711. Steve will listen to what's going on and quote you a plan before you commit to anything.
Take Your Dog Anywhere in Santa Cruz — Happily
Whether you have a brand-new puppy, a leash-puller, or a dog other trainers have given up on, it starts with one free phone call.