trained rescue puppies:
we do the work so you don't have to.
what makes us different:
We rehabilitate and train one puppy at a time round-the-clock in our home. We partner with a local dog rescue called Pokie & Friends (a 501c3 nonprofit that rescues puppies from bad situations in Tijuana) to help find you your perfect pup, then your pup lives with us for a set time - depends on your budget, most people do 1 to 4 weeks - and comes to you with a foundation of manners and a love for snuggling.
Most times, you have to adopt the puppy & then send them off to training after weeks of struggling to do it on your own. With us, we help you find your perfect dog, and then you have the option to have your pup receive training by living with us and our dog to learn basic manners.
Watch this 60-second video about the work we do with rescue puppies
Many trainers don't take young puppies because it's such a full time job. People love that with us, they not only gain a pre-trained companion that's been working on potty training and daily pup socialization, but also contribute to our mission of opening a dog sanctuary to rescue and rehabilitate more dogs.
Read one of our adopter's reviews on Nextdoor.com
Meet some of the 35 puppies we've successfully rehabilitated
what sets us apart as dog trainers
We foster, rehabilitate & train one puppy at a time, so you can enjoy the puppy phase without the headache!
We focus on small dogs (under 15-20ish pounds full grown) that are raised to be cuddle buddies, and train them to be carried around in a sling so you can take them anywhere!
Our puppies are rescued from the streets of Tijuana, Mexico, where there are thousands of strays roaming the streets.
We take extra time and care to help these dogs return to their natural state of peace, playfulness, innocence & companionship, training only a small handful of dogs each year.
We raise our dogs in a serene environment, attuning them to the frequency of calmness.
We practice respect-based training, we never force them, yell, or show aggression.
We offer post-adoption support for your family & UNLIMITED training for the entire life of the puppy.
Our puppies are guaranteed to be super sweet, can be taken to work & friend's houses with you, have been socialized with kids/cats & dogs, and are potty trained.
They'll be your sweetest, calmest, gentlest puppy ever. Guaranteed.
Rescued, trained,
& ready to cuddle.
Meet our most recent puppy in training: Violet
Name: Violet
Status: ADOPTED
Nicknames: Vi Vi, Lady Long Legs, String Bean, Lovebug
Estimated Birth date: May 8, 2023
When we took her in: June 18, 2023 (about 3 months ago)
Gender: Female
Current Weight: ~9.5 pounds (under 3 pounds when we took her in!)
Current Age: 4 months old
Estimated Breed: a mix of jack russell terrier, parson russell, chihuahua, and italian greyhound
Estimated Size: around 15 pounds, mom is 8 pounds
Her backstory: Violet's mom was rescued from an abusive situation in Tijuana, Mexico about a week before giving birth to 4 puppies. Her 3 brothers have been adopted, and Violet was brought into our puppy training academy where she will be pre-trained before she meets her new adoptive family.
What we love about her: Violet is so incredibly sweet and snuggly. She also has an adorable spunkiness to her, she speaks her mind if she wants something, and she loves to take long naps. She's great with kids, cats, and dogs of all sizes. She's one of our top favorite pups of the 35 we've fostered & trained, and will make an excellent companion in any family.
videos of sweet Violet
Violet_14 weeks_aug 16 2023.movViolet_bottle feeding_13 weeks_aug 2023.MOVMeet her foster parents & trainers:
Alyssa and Andrew
A word from the full-time trainer & foster mom, Alyssa:
Welcome! We're proud of our work rehabilitating pups like Violet and finding them forever homes.
My journey in dog rescue began 17 years ago when I found a sick puppy in a gutter. This experience ignited my passion for fostering and training puppies in need. My husband and I have fostered 35 dogs and partner with Pokie & Friends Dog Rescue, a 501c3 nonprofit.
We help matchmake with the right pup and also offer training, to increase successful placements and fund our dream of opening a dog sanctuary. For less than the price of an untrained purebred, you can save a stray puppy's life, get them fully vetted and ensure they are trained using a 55-point checklist - in addition to Unlimited Training for the whole life of the puppy, included!
We love this work and thank our adopters for providing loving homes. Your support makes it all possible!
Another person's words about sweet Violet
click your preferred option:
WHAT WE DO & HOW WE DO IT
We train dogs to be the chillest, sweetest, most laid-back pup you've ever had. Guaranteed or your money back. We work with a local dog rescue to save a puppy from Tijuana, Mexico, and they come to Carlsbad where a calm and experienced dog trainer raises them for 6 to 8 weeks (or more) before adoption.
We use a 55-point checklist to ensure they're ready to go - including potty training, leash manners, desensitization to loud noises, sleeping through the night, socialization with dogs/cats/kids, and so much more!
updates from our adopters
ready to meet your cuddle buddy?
The checklist we train
our puppies with
FAQ
Where do your rescue dogs come from?
We partner with Pokie & Friends Dog Rescue, a 501c3 nonprofit that rescues dogs from Tijuana, Mexico, which is about 45 minutes south of us in North County, San Diego. We like to focus our efforts on Tijuana as our team leader has family there and frequently finds strays while visiting. We find these dogs are in desperate need of food, water, vet care, and shelter, so they become our priority.
Do you only rescue small dogs?
Currently, yes. While we love big dogs (and have one of our own), for now, we are limited on space. Plus little dogs are fun because they can be carried around in a sling, allowing for them to come everywhere - giving them more chances for socialization and more opportunities to snuggle :)
What if I want to train the dog myself?
If you'd like to train the dog yourself, we are still happy to matchmake for you, to connect you with your dream pup, free of charge. If you'd like some support, our puppy training caters to those who want the puppy experience but don't have the time, energy, or knowledge to fully train a puppy.
We'd love to help match-make you with your next dog through the 501c3 nonprofit rescue we partner with, called Pokie & Friends Dog Rescue. Just send an email to alyssa@alyssablackwell.com. The dog you adopt will come with vetting and will be up to date on vaccinations. And then you can come back to us for individual training sessions if you'd like some extra support.
How is the money spent from the training fee?
Funds primarily focus on four areas: saving for a dog sanctuary, helping more dogs, paying trainers, and covering puppy expenses. The funds are saved for establishing a sanctuary in North County San Diego, providing a safe haven for stray puppies from Tijuana. Additionally, funds cover essential items, such as beds and food, and compensate trainers for their dedicated round-the-clock care.
I'm not ready to adopt yet. do you have a waitlist?
Great! We love to see great families added to our waitlist. Please use the link to submit more about the pup you're looking for and we will do our best to find one for you when the time is right! Spend 5 to 10 minutes filling this out and we will be in touch --> Click here
What training experience do you have?
Great question! We are very well-versed in dog training. Here's a few key things to know about Alyssa, the lead trainer:
I trained under a dog trainer when I was 18, for multiple years
I've been training dogs for over 23 years, starting with my childhood dog. Learning & understanding puppy behavior has been a bit of a lifelong obsession
We've fostered 35 dogs ranging from 8 weeks old to 6 years old, majority of them have been young puppies, so we have at least the 10,000 hours it takes to be an expert in a topic. Any puppy issue you can imagine, I've researched in depth.
I've been studying puppy behavior and training since I was very young. My 10th birthday gift was "Raising puppies for dummies" and I read that book over and over, I still have it.
I found a puppy walking in the gutter when I was 16, and she became my first foster dog. I've fostered dogs every year since
I've been obsessed with dogs since I was little - I recently found all my dog books and puppy drawings from childhood, it's clear the Universe was leading me down this path
I love to give back, so I volunteer with other organizations that train & educate around dogs
Can we hire you for individual training sessions with our puppy?
Yes! While we primarily train one dog at a time via fostering, Alyssa does offer individual sessions in your home to train both your pup & your family (who usually need more training than the puppy!). The emphasis of our training is getting the dog to be calm, gentle, and well behaved.
The sessions are $150/session if you buy a 4 pack ($175 if purchased individually), and last 90 minutes. You can see the options for training below. And please email alyssa@alyssablackwell.com to connect further.
*A portion of all proceeds go to helping dogs in need.
client testimonial for puppy training:
Dog training for your existing dog:
client training testimonial from Nextdoor.com:
So we've come to the end, what would you like to do now?
Got questions? Contact us:
Primary Contact: Alyssa Blackwell
Email: alyssa@alyssablackwell.com
Phone: 240-409-2641
