Michael Carmona, M.S.
Mr. Carmona has a Masters Degree in Psychology Specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis, and is a Certified Dog Trainer. While in graduate school, Mr. Carmona worked as a certified Senior Pet Training Instructor at Petsmart, an accredited Dog Trainer at Petco, a Dog Trainer and Behavior Specialist at Heavenly Pet Resort, K9-Loft, and private contracting for many veterinarians, groomers, and boarding facilities.
As part of Mr. Carmona's graduate program at CSULA, he conducted behavior modification services to the human population. During this time, Mr. Carmona realized that many of the behavior-change techniques used by behavior analysts were universally applicable across species, as were the scientific principles on which those techniques were based. Mr. Carmona felt that these well-validated practices used to help humans exhibiting behavior problems offered a rich and robust set of procedures and solutions for dogs with behavior problems.
Learning that behavior analysis provided a humane ethic from which to understand, predict and change dog behavior, Mr. Carmona decided to devote his life to helping canine owners with behavioral problems and founded Master Dog Training. Mr. Carmona believes in teaching dog owners about their dog's natural drives and how to work with them opposed to working against them for a harmonious relationship.
How to pick a dog trainer?
The dog training profession is not regulated and a person does not even need a certification to be a dog trainer! That means Joe Shmoe who lived with dogs all his life and has self trained his own dogs can decide to make business cards and a website and can claim to be a professional dog trainer! Or the new age "YES" dog trainer who's education comes from watching Youtube Dog Training videos and TV shows decides to give it a go on your dog. So how will you know if the dog trainer you choose is giving you good advice or detrimental advice? It is important that you look at your potential dog trainer's credentials, education, experience, and Yelp reviews!
Don't let cheap rates make you decide on a dog trainer or exorbitant rates.
Don't go with a dog trainer just because they trained celebrities' dogs.
Don't let trends be your decision maker for a dog trainer.
These reasons don't necessarily mean the dog trainer has the ability, knowledge, or skill to train dogs successfully!
The outcome of bad dog trainers is usually the owners thinking that they hired a "professional dog trainer" and the dog failed, so it must be the dog - he's just a bad dog. Then they give the dog up to the shelter. If the dog is not adopted, as the shelter fills up and their number comes up, they are euthanized. That is a horrific tragedy because you put your trust in an inexperienced, under educated, non-certified dog trainer.
Therefore, look for science based training, operant and classical conditioning knowledgeable trainers, and of course positive reinforcement as a base. Look for positive results (Yelp reviews), dog training credentials and lots of experience!
Credentials
2007 CSULA MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE, PSYCHOLOGY, OPTION: APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
2006 PETSMART ACCREDITED PET TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
2012 PETCO CERTIFIED DOG TRAINER
The Master Trainer / Behaviorist
Don't Paws, Call Now!
(626)201-3920
About
BUSINESS HOURS
Mon - Fri Day Light
Weekends: Closed
Services
Obedience Training
Potty Training
Behavior Modification
Service Dog Training
AKC - CGC Testing
What Procedures Are Used?
We use primarily positive reinforcement (aka reward) training. However, we will make use of all the other procedures available! We will apply the science of operant conditioning, i.e. the dog learning that his/her behavior has an affect on the environment. Every dog is different and will respond differently to different procedures.