Z Dog Training Academy

Z Dog Training Academy We specialize in reactivity

Dog Training in Simi Valley | Puppies, Family Dogs & Online Programs

Heather Mazahri (ABCDT, ABCSDT) and her team provide professional, science-based dog training in Simi Valley and surrounding communities.

06/09/2026

Just some fun!!!

06/07/2026

This Pride Month, we’re celebrating something close to our heart: the feeling of being truly seen. 🏳️‍🌈

At Z Dog Training Academy, our whole mission is helping dogs feel safe, seen, and successful — and we believe people deserve exactly the same. Every dog, every handler, every human is welcome here, exactly as they are.

Just as we advocate for kind, respectful training, we stand for a world where compassion guides how we treat one another.

You belong here. 🐾

“She knows it at home.”If I had a dollar for every time I heard that as a dog trainer, I’d be retired. 🐾The truth is, yo...
06/05/2026

“She knows it at home.”

If I had a dollar for every time I heard that as a dog trainer, I’d be retired. 🐾

The truth is, your dog is probably not ignoring you.

Your living room is predictable.

The real world isn’t.

Outside, your dog is processing smells, people, movement, sounds, dogs, and a hundred other things at the same time.

That doesn’t mean the training failed.

It usually means the skill needs more practice in that environment.

A simple tip:

Before expecting a cue to work at the park, practice it in the driveway.

Before the driveway, practice it at the front door.

Build reliability one layer at a time.

That’s how real-world dog training works.

As a Los Angeles dog trainer working with families across Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Ventura County, this is one of the biggest mindset shifts we help owners make.

Question:

Where does your dog struggle the most?

🏠 At home
🚶 On walks
🐕 Around other dogs
👋 Around guests

Tell me below. 👇

06/04/2026

Why?

Because tension creates more tension. 🐾

The more frustrated we get, the more frustrated our dogs often become.

If your dog pulls on walks, try this:

✔ Slow down before they speed up
✔ Reward check-ins, not just perfect walking
✔ Give your dog a chance to reconnect before moving forward

Leash training is not about winning a battle.

It is about building communication.

This is one of the biggest things we focus on with our dog training clients across Los Angeles, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Ventura County.

Question for you:

What is the hardest part of walking your dog right now?

Pulling?
Reacting to dogs?
Ignoring you?
Wanting to greet everyone?

Tell me below. 👇

06/03/2026

Baylee 🩷

06/03/2026

🩷🐾 Meet Baylee!

Baylee is a smart, energetic mix with a lot of opinions about what’s happening around him.

Like many herding and working breeds, he’s quick to notice movement, activity, and changes in his environment. The challenge isn’t that Baylee doesn’t know how to do things—it’s that when he becomes highly aroused or excited, making good decisions becomes much harder.

His family came to us with goals that many dog owners can relate to:

✔️ Reliable recall
✔️ Better leash manners
✔️ A solid stay and place cue
✔️ Less barking at the fence and front door
✔️ Improved impulse control
✔️ More focus around distractions

One thing we explain often is that these aren’t separate problems. They’re connected.

When a dog learns how to disengage from distractions, regulate their emotions, and look to their handler for guidance, many of those day-to-day struggles begin to improve together.

Over the next several weeks we’ll be focusing on building communication, strengthening obedience skills, and helping Baylee learn that he doesn’t have to react to every sound, movement, or exciting thing happening around him.

Because obedience isn’t the goal—it’s the tool. The real goal is helping dogs and their families enjoy life together. 💜🐾

📍Serving Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Westlake Village, and surrounding communities.

Meet Mollie! 🩷🐾Mollie’s family wants to be able to enjoy adventures together, but right now the outside world can feel o...
06/03/2026

Meet Mollie! 🩷🐾

Mollie’s family wants to be able to enjoy adventures together, but right now the outside world can feel overwhelming for her. When people get too close or she feels uncomfortable, she’s communicated that discomfort by nipping.

One of the things we talk about a lot is that obedience isn’t the goal—it’s the tool.

Behaviors like attention, loose leash walking, place, and recall help create predictability and communication, which can support a dog who is struggling to feel safe and confident in the world around them.

Here at Z Dog Training Academy, we focus on more than teaching cues. We help dogs learn how to navigate their environment successfully, support their emotional well-being, and teach their humans how to continue that progress at home.

Over the next six weeks we’ll be working on building Mollie’s confidence, improving her communication skills, and helping her family enjoy more of life together. 💜

Because training isn’t just about teaching dogs—it’s about nurturing learners and teaching their humans along the way. 🐾

📍Serving dogs and their families throughout Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Oak Park, and surrounding communities.

Looking for help with reactivity, confidence building, leash walking, puppy training, or behavior modification? We’d love to help.

Patrick is joining us for our 6-Week Full Focus Day Training Program! 🐾Patrick is an absolute sweetheart with his family...
06/03/2026

Patrick is joining us for our 6-Week Full Focus Day Training Program! 🐾

Patrick is an absolute sweetheart with his family, but like many guardian breeds, he’s incredibly aware of everything happening around him. His job, in his mind, is to monitor his environment and make sure everyone is safe.

His family recently welcomed a new baby, and one of their goals is helping Patrick learn that he doesn’t have to carry that responsibility all on his own.

Over the last couple of weeks, Patrick has been settling into our program and learning that the world outside of his home doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. We’ve been focusing on helping him relax in new environments, build confidence, and develop the skills he needs to navigate the world successfully.

Our goal isn’t to change who Patrick is. We love his thoughtful nature and his loyalty to his family. We simply want to help him feel safe enough to take a step back, breathe, and realize that not every situation requires him to be on high alert.

We’re excited to continue watching Patrick grow over the next few weeks! 💜🐾

Most dogs do not say “I love you” the way humans do. 🐾They say it differently.They choose to be near you.They check in w...
06/02/2026

Most dogs do not say “I love you” the way humans do. 🐾

They say it differently.

They choose to be near you.

They check in with you when something feels uncertain.

They bring you things they care about.

They rest deeply when you’re close.

They look to you for information about the world around them.

As a dog behavior professional, one of the most beautiful things I get to witness is that trust often comes before obedience.

Before the loose leash walking.
Before the recall.
Before the training plan.

Because when a dog feels safe with you, everything else becomes easier to build.

To your dog, love often looks a lot like safety.

And that is something worth noticing. 🤍

If you have a dog sleeping beside you right now, this is your reminder that they probably think you’re pretty special.

05/31/2026

🐾 “How do I get my kids involved in training?”

This is one of the questions I get asked most often.

The answer isn’t to hand your child the leash and hope for the best.

It’s to model first, coach second, and support throughout the process.

Kids learn dog training the same way dogs do—through clear guidance, practice, and positive experiences. 💜

Before I ask a child to work with a dog, I show them exactly what success looks like. Then I coach them through it, helping them learn how to communicate clearly, reward effectively, and recognize what the dog is telling them.

The goal isn’t just a dog that listens to your child.

It’s teaching communication.

When we model the skills first and then coach our children through the process, they learn how to become clear, consistent, and fair partners for their dogs.

✨ Model the behavior.
✨ Coach the child.
✨ Support both the dog and the human.

When we slow down and teach both ends of the leash, everyone learns. 🐾💜

Address

Simi Valley, CA
93010

Telephone

+18183243558

Website

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