Dog Training in West LA — With Colleen Steckloff

Most dog training teaches commands. Colleen teaches dogs and owners.

Teach the human to lead, and the dog will follow.

At LAK9s, you work one-on-one with Head Behaviorist Colleen Steckloff — former Head Trainer for Cesar Millan and creator of the original training programs at the Dog Psychology Center. Her approach is rooted in dog psychology: addressing your dog's state of mind and instincts, not just surface behaviors.

In your first session, Colleen evaluates your dog, the dynamic between your dog and your family, and shows you exactly what's possible. You'll see results that day — and leave with the skills, structure, and confidence to keep the work going at home.

Our training is roughly 50/50 — half training your dog, half training you. Because the truth is, lasting change doesn't happen in a session. It happens at home, with you leading the way.

Puppy. Rescue. Reactive. Aggressive. Anxious. Colleen has worked with all of it, and gets to the root — not just the symptoms.

Choose Your Session

Tier 1 — Private Training Session | $450 2-hour one-on-one session with Colleen at our Culver City facility, plus a copy of Colleen's personal session notes — so you leave with clear takeaways and next steps to continue the training at home.

Tier 2 — Private Training Session + Custom Training Program | $650 2-hour one-on-one session with Colleen, plus a fully custom training program built specifically for you and your dog. Colleen personally develops your plan based on everything she learns in your session — a day-by-day roadmap tailored to your dog's behavior, your lifestyle, and your goals. Not a template. Not generic advice. Yours alone.

"What about follow-up sessions?"

We get this question a lot — and the honest answer is most clients don't need them.

Our training is built so you walk away knowing exactly what to do. Colleen teaches you the why behind every technique, hands you the tools, and shows you how to apply them in real life. By the end of your session, you're not waiting for the next appointment to make progress — you're already doing the work.

That said, follow-up sessions are always available if you want one. But we'd rather send you home empowered than keep you on a schedule.

Day Training — $315/day

Drop your dog off in the morning, pick them up trained in the evening. Your dog spends the day working directly with Colleen — structured training, real-world practice, and reinforcement built into a full day. It's the fastest way to make real progress, and we'll loop you in on the work so you can keep it going at home.

Two-Week Board & Train — $4,000

Our flagship program. Your dog lives and trains with Colleen for two weeks of full immersion — daily structured training, real-world exposure, and total behavioral reset. You'll have training sessions with Colleen throughout the program, so you're learning alongside your dog and ready to lead when they come home. This is the program for serious behavioral issues or owners who want a complete transformation.

Ready to start? Every program begins with an in-person session so we can meet your dog and get to work.

Outside the LA area? Work with Colleen virtually

Our Training Department
Developed by Head Behaviorist Colleen Steckloff

The LAK9s Training Department was developed by Head Behaviorist Colleen Steckloff, whose life’s work is rooted not only in her deep love for dogs, but also in her belief that no dog should ever be given up because of a behavioral issue.

This conviction was shaped early on. As a child, Colleen experienced the heartbreak of losing her beloved dog Wendy. That experience left an indelible mark and ignited a lifelong passion to help dog owners understand and resolve the behavioral issues in their homes.

While studying film and zoology in college with dreams of becoming a documentary filmmaker, Colleen began working in the TV and film industry alongside many of Hollywood’s top animal trainers. In 2001, she graduated from Animal Behavior College and launched her own company, serving dog owners throughout Los Angeles. She quickly became known as “the girl who could walk your aggressive dog.”

Her reputation spread, and she became the go-to trainer for local rescue organizations who needed help with unadoptable dogs. Over the years, Colleen has successfully rehabilitated many of LA’s toughest rescue cases, helping them find their forever homes.

Colleen believes education is the key to communication—between dogs and their human counterparts. She has studied tools and techniques under renowned behaviorists such as Martin Deeley and Linn Boyke, becoming one of the first to complete Linn’s extensive seven-month shadow program focused on extreme dog aggression. She continues to refine her craft through her affiliation with the International Association of Canine Professionals.

Though she trained dogs for film and commercials, Colleen’s passion has always remained focused on behavior.

In 2010, Colleen’s expertise was recognized when she was invited to work under Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer. Cesar saw her natural gift with both people and dogs and invited her to help frustrated owners featured on the show The Dog Whisperer. By 2013, Colleen had joined Cesar’s international team, working with dogs and their owners in 28 countries to teach Dog Psychology and behavior principles.

That same year, she designed and led the very first weekend training courses at the Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita, CA. Colleen later became the Head Trainer for Training Cesar’s Way Fundamentals I and II workshops in California and Florida, mentoring students from around the world.

Colleen has also worked with hundreds of rescue organizations across the U.S., helping to rehabilitate and rehome dogs in their care. Her Certification and Shadow Programs are sought out by professional trainers globally.