“Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” — Proverbs 16:3
🎉 Veterans, First Responders, Rescue Dogs & Seniors: 10% OFF the 21-Day Transformation & In-Home Training See details

Professional Dog Training in Southern California

Retired Orange County Deputy Sheriff with 23 years of service. Specializing in reactive dogs and rescue transformations.

In-Home Private Training
$175 / 60-min session
Pay as you go. No packages.
21-Day Transformation
$5,000 / program
One dog at a time. Lives in my home.
📞 Phone: (949) 636-3469
📍 Based in: Lake Forest, CA
In-home training within ~20 mi • see service area
🎓 Background: Retired OC Deputy Sheriff, 23 years
💰
Veterans • First Responders • Rescue Dogs • Seniors
10% off the 21-Day Transformation & In-Home Training
Free Consultation Call Now
Yvette Warner with her dog Krona

Training Programs & Pricing

Mutt Mama offers two distinct services. They are not two price points for the same thing — they are two different levels of involvement. The right one depends on your dog, your goals, and how much structure your household needs.

One-on-One Coaching

In-Home Private Training

$175 per 60-minute session

Pay as you go — no packages offered or required

Individualized, one-on-one training in your home and your dog's everyday environment. This is for owners who want to work directly with their own dog on specific training or behavioral issues, and who want to build their own handling skills along the way. Every session is customized to the particular dog and the issues you are actually living with.

A session may cover:
  • ✓ Manageable behavior and unwanted behaviors
  • ✓ Household structure, boundaries and responsiveness
  • ✓ Leash skills in your own neighborhood
  • ✓ Your handling and communication with your dog
  • ✓ Reasonable phone and email support between sessions
How scheduling and payment work
Training is scheduled and paid for one session at a time, with payment due in full before each session begins. Booking one session at a time keeps the plan flexible and lets us both evaluate progress after every visit.
If your dog needs more than sessions can give

For many dogs and owners, individual sessions are exactly what's needed and nothing more is required. For others, the behavior runs deeper. After roughly two in-home sessions, if you and I mutually agree that a more immersive approach would be the best way to reach your goals, you have the option of transitioning into the 21-Day Transformation Program. This is never automatic and never required — it's a decision we make together.

In-Home Training Service Area
Mutt Mama is based in Lake Forest and offers in-home dog training within approximately 20 miles of Lake Forest. This includes Irvine, Tustin, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Ladera Ranch, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, and nearby communities. If you're near the edge of the service area, contact me with your address and I'll confirm availability.

💰 10% off for veterans, first responders, rescue dogs & seniors

Book an In-Home Session
Flagship Program
Full Immersion Board & Train

21-Day Transformation Program

$5,000 for the full 21-day program

One dog at a time — your dog is my only training client

Mutt Mama's premium, immersive training experience for dogs who need a deeper level of training, structure and behavior modification than sessions can provide — and for owners ready to follow through at home. Your dog lives with me for a full 21 days as part of my household.

How it works:
  • ✓ We review your dog's behavioral issues and agree on goals before day one
  • ✓ A customized plan is built around your dog's needs, temperament and history
  • ✓ Daily hands-on training, structure, socialization and real-world exposure
  • ✓ Progress updates throughout, including photos and videos
  • ✓ Visits are encouraged — come see the change and train alongside your dog
  • ✓ A 4-hour hands-on transfer session with you at graduation
Booking and payment
A $500 non-refundable hold fee reserves your dog's spot and is applied toward the total. The remaining balance is due in full no later than your dog's scheduled start date. Accepted payment methods: cash, check or Zelle.
Where clients come from
Your dog lives in my Lake Forest home for the full 21 days, so the in-home training radius does not apply here. Clients travel to me from across Orange County and beyond — if you are willing to make the drop-off and pick-up, distance is not a barrier.

💰 10% off for veterans, first responders, rescue dogs & seniors

Ask About Availability
🐕

ONE DOG. 21 DAYS. MY FULL ATTENTION.

Mutt Mama accepts only one dog at a time into the 21-Day Transformation Program, allowing each dog to receive a truly individualized training experience while living in my home as part of my household.

This is not a kennel-style board & train. There is no run of client dogs being worked in rotation, no crate row, no shared attention. For those 21 days, your dog is my sole training client — in my home, in my routine, in my truck, on my walks, and in the real world. That is the reason this program costs what it costs, and it is the single biggest thing that separates Mutt Mama from a facility.

Because only one dog is in the program at a time, spots are genuinely limited and booked in advance.

👋

Visits Aren't Just Allowed. They're Encouraged.

Most board & trains send you home and go quiet.

Three weeks is a long time to hand over your dog and wait. I don't want you waiting — I want you to come see it. Watching your dog change day by day is a completely different experience from hearing about it, and you should get to have it.

Visits are also working sessions. Every time you come out, you get hands-on training with your own dog while I'm standing right there to coach you. By graduation day you've already been practicing for weeks, which is exactly why the training holds up once your dog is home.

Why this matters: the single biggest reason board & train results fade is that the dog learns and the owner doesn't. Visiting closes that gap while there's still time to fix it — not in one rushed session at pick-up.

Everything Included in the 21-Day Transformation

The $5,000 is not just three weeks of training. It covers the handoff, the equipment, the follow-up, and a relationship that continues long after your dog comes home.

🦴
Daily hands-on training

Individualized daily work on training, structure, socialization and real-world exposure.

📋
A customized training plan

Built around your dog's specific needs, temperament and history — agreed on with you before day one.

📸
Progress photos and videos

Updates throughout the program so you can see the change as it happens.

🤝
4-hour owner transfer session

A full hands-on handoff at graduation, plus an in-person demonstration, so the training transfers to you.

🔁
Two follow-up sessions

To be used within 60 days of pick-up, once real life has had a chance to test the training.

🎒
Training tools and equipment

Included in the program cost and sent home with your dog at graduation.

📡
Mini Educator collar, when appropriate

Used with dogs 6 months and older when it fits the dog, and included in the equipment that goes home.

🎓
Separate Mini Educator owner session

If the collar is used, a separate two-hour hands-on session teaches you to use it correctly. This is in addition to the 4-hour transfer.

🍽️
Graduation breakfast or lunch outing

Your choice. We take your dog out in public together so you see exactly what calm, appropriate behavior looks like in the real world.

📞
Lifetime coaching

I remain your lifetime coach for your graduating dog, for reasonable ongoing guidance, questions and support.

🏠
Boarding for graduates only

Mutt Mama is not a boarding business, but graduates of the 21-Day Transformation get access to boarding as a benefit of the program.

🔧
Remediation stay option

If new behavioral issues develop later, your dog is eligible for a one-week remediation stay at a steeply discounted rate, subject to availability.

Boarding, lifetime coaching and the remediation stay apply only to the same dog that completed the program and are non-transferable.

Which One Is Right for My Dog?

In-Home Private Training
  • › You want to do the training yourself, with coaching
  • › The issues are specific and situational
  • › Your household can practice consistently between visits
  • › You'd rather start small and see how it goes
  • › You want to keep your dog home throughout
21-Day Transformation
  • › Behavior is entrenched, reactive, or unsafe to manage
  • › The dog needs full-time structure to reset, not one hour a week
  • › You've tried sessions or other training without lasting change
  • › You want deep behavior modification plus owner education
  • › You're ready to follow through consistently once your dog is home

Not sure? That's what the free consultation is for. Tell me about your dog →

💰

Save on Training

Special pricing available for those who serve and those who rescue.

10% off
The 21-Day Transformation Program
$5,000 → $4,500 for eligible clients
10% off
In-Home Private Training sessions
$175 → $157.50 per session for eligible clients
Veterans & Law Enforcement First Responders Rescue Dogs Seniors

Click any category for details and terms. Discounts cannot be combined with other offers.

My Commitment to You

I stand behind my work completely. But I won't promise you a guaranteed outcome, and you should be skeptical of any trainer who does. Dog training depends on genetics, temperament, health, history, and above all on what happens once your dog comes home and whether the training is followed consistently. Those are not things any trainer controls.

So instead of promising a result, here is exactly what I commit to giving you:

Individualized training

A plan built for your dog specifically — and in the 21-Day Transformation, my undivided attention, because yours is the only dog in the program.

Extensive owner education

Training the dog is half the work. I teach you to handle, communicate and hold structure, because you're the one who keeps it going — starting with visits during your dog's stay.

Follow-up sessions

Two follow-ups within 60 days for 21-Day graduates, so we can adjust once real life has tested the training.

Lifetime coaching

I stay your coach for your graduating dog — reasonable guidance, questions and support, for as long as you have that dog.

A remediation option

If new issues surface down the road, your dog is eligible for a one-week remediation stay at a steeply discounted rate, subject to availability.

An ongoing community

Two Mutt Mama Social Club meetups every month, so you keep practicing with your dog alongside other trained dogs and their owners.

Mutt Mama uses balanced training principles and works with both the dog and the owner. Consistent follow-through between and after sessions is an essential part of achieving and maintaining progress.

Is This You and Your Dog?

Don't worry - you're not alone! Here's a little humor to brighten your day.

"Is this you and your dog?"
(From Dr. Phil show)

What Clients Say

⭐ Read all our 5-star reviews on Nextdoor →
🐕
Brian & Banjo
Nextdoor • Reactive Dog

"Mutt Mama is a pro! She really knows what she's doing. From extreme cases of reactive dogs to simple leash training, she does it all. It's a shame she only trains dogs and not children, otherwise she could have turned my whole household into perfectly behaved angels. But we're glad to settle for a Mutt Mama trained pooch. If you're looking for reliable, high-quality service at a great price, Mutt Mama is an excellent choice."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐶
Teri & Teddy
Sun City South • 4yo Aussiedoodle

"Absolute perfection! I was getting desperate because I couldn't manage my sweet dog. Yvette is THE dog whisperer! The minute she took over Teddy's leash, he knew who was in charge. He walked beside her like a champion at a dog show!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🦮
Debbie & Bella
Sun City West • 8yo Poodle/Terrier Mix

"I'm THRILLED! Bella was impossible due to extreme reactivity toward other dogs. Even watching TV was a challenge because she would go into a frenzy over commercials or any program with an animal. After just two sessions, Bella watches TV without barking and stayed calm when Yvette brought her own dog to our house. It felt like we were watching a totally different dog!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐕‍🦺
Laurel & Clover
El Toro • Rescue Dog

"My rescue dog was extremely reactive on leash and had a big fear of other dogs. Mutt Mama worked with us patiently and consistently. Clover needed to pass an evaluation in order to be accepted into the assisted living facility I was moving into. When evaluation time came, Clover passed with flying colors! Thanks to Mutt Mama, we're now happily settled into Freedom Village."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐕
Gannon & Pelu
Lake Forest • 80lb Poodle/Pointer Mix

"After our 3-week board-and-train with Mutt Mama, Pelu is a different dog. Before, he reacted to everything — excited dogs, delivery trucks, squirrels, you name it. Now he passes squirrels and geese with zero reaction, holds a down while UPS trucks drive by, and walks calmly past excited dogs. He'll even chill in a coffee shop — something I never thought possible. Yvette walked me through her handling so the handoff was seamless. It's not just the dog learning — the owner learns too."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🦮
Donna & Cami
Mission Viejo • 7mo Mini Goldendoodle

"Cami was excitable, nipping at people, jumping on anyone who tried to pet her, and pulling hard on the leash. Yvette taught me boundary training, which was a game-changer. Now I can keep Cami under control and I'm learning to be the pack leader she needs!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨

Your Success Story Next?

Join these happy clients and transform your dog's behavior with proven results.

Get Started Today
For Mutt Mama Clients

MUTT MAMA SOCIAL CLUB

Because training may end, but you're always part of the pack.

Your relationship with Mutt Mama doesn't stop when the paid training does. Twice a month I host a social meetup for clients and their dogs who have completed training with me — a chance to keep practicing, enjoy structured socialization with other trained dogs, and spend some real time together.

🌇

Yappy Hour

Sip. Stroll. Socialize.

An evening pack walk and social where Mutt Mama clients and their dogs get together, keep practicing their training, socialize, and enjoy some casual time together with light refreshments.

Evening Pack walk Light refreshments
🥕

Barks & Bites

Nibble. Stroll. Wag. Repeat.

A daytime pack walk and social with simple nibbles for the humans — think finger foods, fruit and veggie platters, and easy grab-and-go bites. Nothing fancy. Just good company, happy dogs, and a chance for everyone to spend some time together.

Daytime Pack walk Snacks & company
🐾

Yappy Hour and Barks & Bites are a benefit for existing Mutt Mama clients and their dogs who have completed training with me. Two meetups every month, all year long.

Meetups are offered subject to scheduling, weather and availability. Current clients are notified of upcoming dates directly.

Yvette Warner - Deputy Sheriff

Meet Yvette Warner

I'm a retired Orange County Deputy Sheriff with 23 years of service and the founder of Mutt Mama Dog Training. I specialize in helping reactive and rescue dogs, and I work closely with owners so they feel confident continuing their dog's training at home.

"Having worked under pressure in law enforcement, I understand what it takes to stay calm, consistent and fair — and dogs respond to exactly that. I can't promise you a specific behavior on a specific day, because your dog is a living animal and the work continues at home. What I can promise is that I will give your dog everything I have, teach you how to carry it forward, and stay in your corner long after the training is paid for."

Dogs Available for Adoption

All dogs have completed our 21-Day Transformation Program and are ready for their forever homes.

🐕

Coming Soon!

We're currently updating our available dogs section. Check back soon or contact us directly to inquire about dogs ready for adoption.

Inquire About Available Dogs

Get Started Today

Fill out the form below to schedule your free consultation (valued at $175)

Or Contact Directly

📞
Phone
(949) 636-3469
✉️
Email
muttmamadogtrainer@gmail.com
📍
Service Area
Based in Lake Forest, CA
In-home training within approximately 20 miles.
21-Day Transformation clients travel from farther.