Dog Training in Venice, CA
Private sessions, board-and-train, and behavior modification for Venice dogs and their people. Thirteen years of experience. Real results.
Venice Dog Training That Actually Works
If you live in Venice and your dog is making daily life harder than it needs to be, you're not alone — and you don't need to live with it.
Venice is one of the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles to have a dog. The beach walk, Abbot Kinney, the Venice Canals, Penmar Park — there's no shortage of places to go. But when your dog lunges at every skateboarder on the boardwalk, loses it around other dogs on the Venice Beach Bike Path, or turns a walk down Rose Avenue into a tug-of-war, all that access starts to feel like a liability.
My name is Nate Liebermann, and I help Venice dog owners fix the behaviors that are keeping them stuck. I train in your home, in your neighborhood, and in the real-world situations where your dog actually needs to perform — not in a sterile classroom miles from where you live.
I'm a certified graduate of the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers with over thirteen years of hands-on experience. I bring experience and solutions to a broad range of dogs and dog training challenges. Effective training means having a wealth of knowledge and being able to apply it to the unique dog in front of you — and that's exactly what I do, every session.
Common Dog Behavior Problems in Venice
Venice's unique mix of crowds, noise, cyclists, other dogs, and stimulation creates specific behavioral challenges. These are the issues I work with Venice dog owners on most frequently:
Leash Reactivity
Lunging, barking, or fixating on other dogs and people during walks along the Venice Boardwalk, Abbot Kinney, and neighborhood streets.
Leash Pulling
Dragging you down the sidewalk, making every walk along the Venice Beach Bike Path or through the Canals stressful and exhausting.
Barking & Anxiety
Excessive barking at home, separation anxiety in Venice apartments, and stress-driven behaviors triggered by the neighborhood's constant activity.
Dog Aggression
Fear or aggression around other dogs at Westminster Dog Park, Penmar Park, or when encountering off-leash dogs near the beach.
Puppy Development
Setting your Venice puppy up for success from the start — socialization, house training, foundational obedience, and bite inhibition.
Rescue Dog Adjustment
Helping newly adopted dogs decompress, build trust, and learn to navigate Venice's high-stimulation environment safely.
Off-Leash Reliability
You want to trust your dog off leash — at the beach, at the park, on a hike — but right now the recall isn't there. I build rock-solid off-leash obedience so you can give your dog real freedom with real confidence.
Integrated Living
You want a dog you can bring with you — to restaurants, coffee shops, friends' homes, wherever life takes you. I train for the kind of reliability that lets you share more of your life with your dog and spend less time managing problem behaviors.
Dog Training Programs for Venice Residents
Every program is built — and priced — to suit the dog in front of me, not a template. All programs include lifetime follow-up support.
Private Sessions
One-on-one training in your Venice home and neighborhood. I come to you and we work in the real environments where your dog needs to succeed — your apartment, your block, the boardwalk, the streets around Abbot Kinney. Eight sessions, up to two hours each, with unlimited text and phone support between sessions. Starting at $1,725.
Stay & Train
Intensive training in your home — without the homework. I come to you multiple days a week for several weeks, working one-on-one with your dog while you go about your life. Ideal for owners who don't have time for foundation work between sessions, and for nervous or anxious dogs who struggle in unfamiliar settings. Starting at $2,775.
Board & Train
My most comprehensive — and most selective — program. Your dog lives with me for a minimum of three weeks with my full attention (one dog at a time). Includes preliminary sessions so your dog knows me before the stay, plus follow-up sessions at your Venice home for transfer. Contact for pricing.
Serving All Venice Neighborhoods
I train throughout Venice and surrounding Westside areas. Wherever you live, I come to you — because real training happens where real life happens.
How I Train — And Why It Works
The goal of every program I build is simple: I train you to train your dog.
Your dog doesn't need to perform for me — they need to listen to you, in your home, on your walks, in the situations you deal with every day. So that's what we build. I teach you the skills, the timing, the mechanics, and the understanding of your dog that makes lasting change possible.
I draw on thirteen years of education and real-world experience. My approach is practical, structured, and grounded in how dogs actually learn. No gimmicks, no ideology, no one-size-fits-all programs. I assess your dog, understand your goals, and build a plan that works for your specific situation.
And I don't disappear when the package ends. I provide ongoing support after training because I want your results to last — not just look good in a session.
Training for Integrated Living
The easiest and most natural way to enjoy life with your dog is to integrate them into your day-to-day. Effective training means sharing more of your life with your dog — and spending less time managing problem behaviors.
That's what I train for. A dog you can bring to a restaurant patio on Abbot Kinney. A dog who settles calmly while you grab coffee on Rose Avenue. A dog who comes with you to the Venice Farmers Market, to friends' houses, on errands — without stress, without apologies, without constant management.
This isn't about tricks or competition obedience. It's about a dog that fits into your real life — a dog you're proud to take anywhere because you know they'll be calm, responsive, and well-mannered. That's the standard I train to, and it's what my clients value most.
What Venice & Westside Clients Say
"Kylo went from reacting strongly to other dogs to calmly walking through busy areas like downtown Culver. He now enjoys walks, sits calmly in the car, and remains composed around other dogs. Our life in the city has become enjoyable. Nate's guidance has been invaluable, and I couldn't be happier with the results!"
— Lauren W.
"So thankful that I found Nate. We have been working on off leash reliability so that I could safely and responsibly give Rio more freedom. Nate helped equip me with the toolkit to be able to effectively communicate boundaries with Rio while giving him the opportunity to just enjoy being a dog. I am so much more confident in Rio's ability to make good decisions all on his own now."
— Julian K.
"We're very grateful to Nate for helping us with our new rescue dog Nyla. She was very reactive when encountering other dogs. I tried different online training programs but none worked. We've made huge progress with Nyla thanks to Nate. We highly recommend him."
— Lynn R.
About Nate Liebermann
I've spent over thirteen years working with dogs and their owners across Los Angeles. I'm a certified graduate of the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers, and I bring experience and solutions to a broad range of dogs and dog training challenges — from puppy foundations to complex behavioral issues and everything in between.
I live in Marina del Rey with my two dogs and my macaw, and Venice is one of my primary training areas. I know the neighborhoods, the parks, the specific challenges that come with raising a dog here — and I bring that local knowledge into every session.
Frequently Asked Questions
I come to you. All private sessions take place in your home and your neighborhood — the actual environments where your dog needs to behave. For board-and-train, your dog stays with me in a structured setting and we do follow-up sessions at your Venice home.
All of them. I work with everything from eight-week-old puppies to senior dogs with years of ingrained behaviors — reactivity, aggression, anxiety, off-leash training, leash manners, rescue adjustment, integrated living, and general obedience. Effective training means having a wealth of knowledge and being able to apply it to the unique dog in front of you. Every dog that comes through my program gets a plan built specifically around them, regardless of the issue.
Every session is one-on-one, in your real environment, built around your specific dog and your specific goals. I develop a customized training plan and work alongside you — teaching you the skills and understanding you need to maintain results on your own. You also get direct support between sessions, so when something comes up, you're not waiting until your next appointment to get help.
Every dog and every case is different, and the timeline depends on a number of factors. Many clients are surprised by how quickly things start to shift — and how addressing one issue often has a positive ripple effect on others. During your free consultation, I'll give you an honest assessment of what to expect for your specific situation.
I come to your Venice home, meet your dog, and talk through what's going on. I'll assess the behavior, answer your questions, and recommend a training program that fits your situation. No pressure, no sales pitch — just a straightforward conversation about your dog.
Yes. I serve Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Mar Vista, and the broader Westside LA area. Call me to confirm availability in your neighborhood.
Ready to Fix the Problem?
Book a free consultation and get a customized training plan for your Venice dog. No obligation, no sales pitch — just a straightforward conversation about your dog.
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