Meet The Team
Charlie Chun
Founder & Head Trainer (Salt Lake City)
Charlie found his love for animals at a very early age, and his passion for training not long after. By the age of 14, he dog sat and walked neighbor’s dogs for free just to spend time with them and try his hand at basic training.
When he turned 18 Charlie started his professional career and trained under Gerry Zimmermann, professional K-9 police and K-9 military trainer. Learning side by side with law enforcement professionals, he participated in bomb sniffing, bite training, and military K-9 exercises.
When he returned home to California, he continued his studies under a trainer in Malibu. After assisting in Malibu dog class for over a year, the class was passed on to him. Charlie relocated the class to Thousand Oaks where it currently serves as the most popular group class in Ventura County.
Charlie specializes in a number of training techniques from house dog to show dog to working dog, and he is always ready to accommodate all dog parents and dog lovers.
"I train dog owners, not just their dogs!"
Lexi Ruth
Trainer (Moorpark)
Lexi’s fascination with working dogs began early, sparked by a family friend who trained them. This exposure ignited her passion for exploring the incredible capabilities of working breeds.
Lexi began her professional journey by interning with Charlie for a year, where she refined her skills and learned the foundations of dog training. She then joined a private company, where she spent three years honing her expertise in working with high-drive breeds and high intensity training related to police and K9 protection. Ultimately, her journey brought her back to Charlie’s team, where she continues to learn and thrive.
Specializing in working breeds and dogs with bite histories, Lexi finds immense fulfillment in helping these dogs reach their full potential. She’s passionate about empowering owners to understand and work with their dogs’ unique abilities, ensuring they can build strong, successful partnerships.
Philosophy
We are what you would call in the dog training world, “balanced trainers”. We use the Quadrant of Learning theory coined in 1938 by neurologist/psychologist B.F. Skinner who developed the technique based off of classical conditioning. The Quadrant entails different consequences that make the behavior more or less likely. We utilize positive reinforcement (adding something to increase a behavior e.g. giving treats), negative reinforcement (removing something to increase a behavior e.g. removing leash pressure), positive punishment (adding something to decrease a behavior e.g. corrections), & negative punishment (removing something to decrease a behavior e.g. removal of food).
Our Pillars
Our #1 priority is to holistically understand the needs of the owner. Creating harmony within your pack can be difficult and we are here to support you and your dog through the entire process.
Understand
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Yes, we are dog trainers, but we are equally responsible for training dog owners as well. We seek to educate our community to empower their journey of being a responsible owner.
Educate
Advocate
The path to success is paved with trust. Our training methods are focused around building a solid relationship between you and your dog. Our job is to build confidence in you as their guide and them as your pack.
Persevere
The final part of our process is persistence. Our goal is that by the end of our time together, we have given you the tools to provide the structure your dog needs to thrive. A cohesive pack is only achievable through perseverance.