Emilio Marotta

Background
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EMILIO MAROTTA'S BACKGROUND

Although Emilio is originally from Boston, he is now a 20-year resident of San Diego. Emilio worked for many years in the financial and sales industries but felt that he didn't receive the rewards that he gains from working with man's best friend on a daily basis.

Emilio is a former Marine and college athlete as well as an avid dog lover. He was immediately drawn to training and working with pets and their owners, helping to improve their relationships. Emilio has spent the majority of his time helping people in San Diego in these very circumstances. He has also worked with several rescue organizations, helping to rehabilitate many pups throughout San Diego County. "It's a great feeling knowing I am helping people shape the pet they always wanted," he said.

As Emilio has grown into his position, he is finding his role in Lorenzo’s Dog Training Team evolving as well. He is growing his presence in San Diego by building and mentoring his team as a Regional Director. He went on to say, “This gives me the opportunity to provide and pass on to other trainers what I received from Lorenzo and my fellow trainers. Plus, the impact on San Diego will be huge. This will allow us to reach more families and their dogs throughout the county and that’s the bottom line. Helping as many families, dogs, and individuals grow in this company is my mission”.

Whenever he's not training dogs or helping people, Emilio spends his time with his family, which includes his beautiful wife, Trina, and his two Rottweilers, Sofia and Champ, and Rocco, a Pit Bull mix.

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Steve and Trisha Baker

We would like to thank you for your help with our dog, Corbett.

We adopted a rescue dog at the end of November 2012. He is a 7-year-old Silky Terrier who we were told had been given up by his owner due to excessive barking (she lived in an apartment). In the four months that he was with the rescue, he lived in 6 foster homes and was adopted and returned twice. When he came to live with us, we could see that he had some trust issues. He was not comfortable getting too close or affectionate. He definitely kept a "wall" up. After a few weeks, he began to show signs of dominance and then aggression. He became extremely aggressive towards all other animals and people while on leash. Walking him was a nightmare and was absolutely miserable. Then he started showing aggression in our home. He started by growling at us, then it progressed to snapping. He started marking, urinating, and defecating in our home, even though we knew he was housebroken. He would run the inside perimeter of our home constantly grunting, growling, and barking as if "guarding" it. He wasn't sleeping well at night. He just seemed miserable and angry. We were not comfortable around him and did not trust him with our two kids. We felt helpless and hopeless. We had already bonded with him and the thought of not being able to keep him in our family was truly gut wrenching. We decided to look into experienced dog trainers.

We researched and made calls. We were shocked to find out the cost and that there was no guarantee. In fact, many we spoke to sounded doubtful. We were devastated. Thank goodness for our dog's amazing foster mom and for the rescue who led us to Emilio. My husband called Emilio, who sounded positive, confident, and willing to help from the first call. He worked within our budget and even allowed us to make payments.

Emilio showed up to meet and assess our dog and our situation. After just 5-10 minutes with our dog, we noticed a shift in our dog's behavior and attitude. I will be honest and say that it was a lot to take in as our dog needed behavior modification. This was not about trying to teach him simple commands or tricks. However, it was obvious Emilio knew what he was doing. We decided to proceed with setting up sessions.

We had 5 sessions with Emilio. He came to our home one time each week for over an hour each time to work with our dog and us. We did everything he told us to do. We did our homework. Our dog picked up the commands and instruction very quickly.

It has now been over a month since we finished our lessons/training with Emilio. We couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Our dog behaves on leash and enjoys walks now. We could barely walk him for 5 minutes just outside our home a few months ago. Yesterday, we took him to Lake Murray for the day, and he did amazing. There were bicyclists, runners, other dogs, etc., and he did great! He doesn't mark in the house anymore. He doesn't run the perimeter. He sleeps like a rock at night now. He hasn't growled or snapped once. We can see a calmness and happiness about him now. The greatest thing? He has let his wall down and is now so affectionate with all of us.

We are truly grateful to Emilio.

Steve & Trisha Baker

Santee, California

Michelle and Mike A.

Sometimes a testimonial can be given too soon. You really loved the meal at the new restaurant and made sure to tell everyone that night that they should go there. But when you go back after all the raving you have done, you find that the service isn’t as good and the meal not as perfect. This is not the case with the training my dogs received from Emilio Marotta of Lorenzo’s Dog Training Team. Our dogs’ training was not only professional and targeted to our specific needs, it was lasting!

Our dog, Gunner, is an Olde English Bull Dog. My son’s dog, Mylo, is Pitbull mix. The two of them were fine towards family, however, neighbors and strangers were not tolerated. The dogs would bark when anyone came to the gate. Gunner had started snapping and finally bit one of our neighbors. We knew that we couldn’t make excuses anymore. Both dogs needed intense training help. I went online and read about several local training companies, but nothing I read made me want to have my dogs with those companies. My vet had recommended Lorenzo’s, so I googled them. I liked what I read and called them to set up a time with their trainer.

Emilio came to the house and assessed the behavior of the dogs. Then, he assessed the behavior of the humans. Turns out, we were enablers of the dogs' bad behavior. Emilio showed us how to take control of our dogs through leash handling, firm corrections, and consistency. It sounds so easy as I write this down, but it was actually hard at first. Our dogs were family, right? No, our dogs are dogs. Together, we are all a pack. And as humans, we are the leaders of the pack. Remembering this was the key to the training.

3 weeks after the training sessions were completed, our house was flooded and we had to move out. This meant that the dogs would be in daycare and then at the hotel with us every evening. If this had happened before the training, we would not be able to be in the hotel, and the dogs would not be able to be in the daycare. Our dogs go to outdoor restaurants and sit at our sides without any issues. It is as if we are alone. Our dogs walk through the corridors in the hotel without any aggression towards people who pass. Our dogs go to daycare and complete strangers pet them, walk them, and even cuddle with them (for that last part we pay extra!). My point is, without the training of both the canines and humans, we would have had more problems than just a water-soaked house.

Emilio gave us the confidence to be great dog owners. The method is simple and sustainable. We use the leash training daily. The dogs will sit and wait to have the leashed hooked to them as soon as we pick it up. Neighbors can visit without hesitation, and we are comfortable walking the dogs in crowds. I have recommended Lorenzo’s to many friends and coworkers, and I absolutely recommend Emilio as a trainer for Lorenzo’s. You will be amazed at how much of a change a well behaved dog can make in your life.

Thank you, Emilio, for everything!

Michelle & Mike A.

Carlsbad, California

Ryan with Percius

I rate Lorenzo's a 5 star and two thumbs up! I spent hundreds of dollars on two other training programs prior to consulting Emilio and got absolutely no results from either of them! This program teaches the owner basic dog psychology and pack dynamics, whereas most systems reward your dog with unhealthy treats and don't render any results. I have a one-year-old, 170-pound, unfixed English Mastiff that I can walk up in public with no leash thanks to this system. Best of all, I had a great time working with Emilio. He is funny, knowledgeable, and truly cares about the dogs. Thank you!

Ryan with Percius

Terry M.

I just wanted to tell you how pleased I am with the outcome of your referral to Lorenzo's Dog Training.

When I brought my female, senior Pitbull in for dental cleaning in February, I was reminded once again how difficult it is to enjoy her when she barely tolerates other dogs being near her. (I also have her 7-year-old female "puppy", who exhibits the same dog aggression and had bitten my neighbor's dog while off leash, also biting my neighbor in the process.) Without much hope, I asked if your staff knew of a good dog training and was referred to Lorenzo's Dog Training, with a card for a free evaluation.

Emilio from Lorenzo's returned my call quickly, set up an appointment for a few days later, and, within minutes of handling my female Pitbull (the one with more serious dog aggression issues named Makai), had her in the down-stay position, resting peacefully next to his huge Rottweiler, Sofia. We signed up for weekly training immediately, and I started using the techniques Emilio showed me with Makai to also train her mother, Roxi. It felt like the cost of training had been cut in half, being able to use it with both dogs while Emilio worked weekly with Makai.

Emilio's training has made a world of difference in how I enjoy my 2 female Pitbulls. After the biting incident, I had stopped taking them for walks, fearing another incident that would result in the forced death of my dog(s). Emilio showed me the correct way to handle my dogs, urged me to use the correct leash and training collar, and helped me become confident that my dog can go where I go without any negative outcome.

When you recently held a dog training demonstration, I attended with Roxi (who doesn't tolerate other dogs getting anywhere near her) to see how she would behave with 30 or more other dogs in close proximity. In the past, she would have stayed on high alert, tail rigid, constantly low growling... but not that day. I am proud to say she ignored the other dogs and sat or laid down by my chair during the entire demonstration... never a lunge, not even a growl, relaxed enough that she appeared to sleep. I was able to thoroughly enjoy the demonstration, and it reinforced the training Emilio had been doing in my home. Lorenzo has a winning technique, and I was pleased to see he was there for the demonstration. What a difference it has made in my dogs!

Thank you for introducing me to Lorenzo's Dog Training and giving me back the great quality of life I've always wanted to have with my female Pitbulls. Each of them gets a daily walk now, separately, and we are pleased to show off our new, more friendly behaviors to our neighbors in La Mesa.

Terry M.

La Mesa, California

Emilio, this is Ron Gross, Henry's owner. I appreciate what all you guys are doing. I love being around people who are passionate about what they do. It is a great story going from stock broker to dog trainer. I am glad you found your passion. It sure was apparent today. I am glad I came today.

Ron Gross

Joyce and Bernard L.

We adopted Cooper from our local rescue organization who had rescued him from a high kill shelter that had picked him up off the streets covered in ticks and fleas, skinny, and running out of hope. We immediately started looking for a professional trainer to teach us how to help him adjust to his role/place in his new “pack” and “re-civilize” him. Cooper has a wonderful personality, eager to please, a sweet and affectionate fellow, still a puppy at 1.5 to 2 years old, but he is also a 90-pound German Shepherd – capable of “loving me into a coma” with his exuberant licking and desire to be a lap dog. He was jockeying for dominance and quickly took ownership of me as his new favorite and beloved toy. Not only did he need to learn the basics of polite and safe behavior at home and out in public (heel, sit, lie down, stay, come, leave it, etc.), but I also needed to learn how to project an aura of “alpha” calm and confidence to him so he would accept that I occupied the dominant role, not him, and feel secure and confident with that.

From the moment Emilio walked into our living room and started interacting with Cooper, I could see he had the knowledge, the skill, and the inside track on dog psychology to teach us how to reach those goals and bring harmony, control, and willing cooperation to the new dynamic in our household. And this proved to be absolutely correct! After just the first week of training, things improved dramatically. I could sit down on the couch without having my beloved but LARGE dog try to climb up on my lap and show his affection by mouthing me to pieces. I was no longer covered in slobber and could sit in a chair by myself while he would lie on the floor next to me happily chewing one of his real toys, not me or my shoes. By the end of the 3rd week, he knew how to sit, down, down stay, heel, leave it, etc. Through positive, patient, clear, calm, consistent, and self-assured authority, my 90-pound puppy understood what I wanted from him and was eager and willing to comply knowing his reward was ample and hearty approval and "at-a-boy"s from me. By the end of the 5 weeks, we now have complete confidence in him to follow our lead when we are out and about and to respect our boundaries and house rules when we are at home. He is much calmer and cooperative because he knows what is expected of him. Emilio’s teaching and training is responsible for this peaceful coexistence. We just practice what we learned everyday and stay consistent in our expectations and in our manner of communication, and the unruliness and chaos is ancient history.

I keep in mind what Emilio made clear straight out – Cooper is a dog, he thinks like a dog, reacts like a dog, and as smart as a German Shepherd is, he’s still a dog who has learned to live with humans through domestication. His basic instincts, his mentality, and social behaviors and needs – the pecking order he observes are canine. Understand these and you can make yourself understood to your dog, and he will react to you in a predictably canine way that you can anticipate and count on. Emilio trained us to understand Cooper, how to communicate to him what we wanted from him, and he trained Cooper to understand and cooperate with us. We are very pleased with the outcome. The cost is very well spent time and money. We very much recommend Emilio and know that we would never have gotten anywhere near this point with our beloved pup without his services. Cooper is our ever-loyal dog, our best friend, a member of our family – we are the alpha members of his pack. Thank you, Emilio. You are very good at what you do!

Joyce & Bernard L.

San Diego, California

Sierra Cox-Caldon

How exactly do you say thank you to someone for saving the life of a beloved fur family member? Because that's basically where we were at with our dog, Tucker. Blue, Tucker's trainer at Lorenzo's Dog Training Team, essentially saved him from being put down. I would call Blue a miracle worker, but I don't think that would give him enough credit for all the time, patience, and work he had to put in. Instead, I will call him one hell of an animal lover who has found his calling through dog training. Blue is our hero. Now I know most people's dogs aren't extreme cases like ours, and I've seen how beneficial and important basic dog training is in general (the sooner you start the better life will be), but I write this review for those who feel like they are at their wits end and don't know what to do. When everyone else told us to put our dog down because he was a lost cause, Lorenzo's Dog Training Team said they could help.

At roughly 7 years old and 110 lbs., Tucker had the attitude of a Chihuahua stuck in the body of a Great Dane/Pit Bull/St. Bernard mix. By the time we decided we needed professional help it was almost too late. I researched for months. Places that advertised working with aggressive/dominant dogs would tell us we needed to put him down after meeting him, that he was too old to learn, too set in his ways, too large, too aggressive towards animals, and definitely too aggressive towards people. I was sick of being told no, but we were also out of options. Then, I found Lorenzo's Dog Training Team. After speaking to Emilio on the phone, we immediately knew that these guys knew what they were doing. Emilio was very forthcoming about what they could do to help, what we immediately needed to change at home, and how to manage our expectations with Tucker.

Emilio and Blue came to our home for Tucker's assessment and to take him for training. In true Tucker form, he did everything possible to show he was going to be a challenge. Despite Tucker turning into what I can only describe as a cross between a T-Rex and the Incredible Hulk, Blue and Emilio remained calm and professional never once giving us the impression that this dog was something they could not handle. Throughout the weeks of training, Blue kept us up to date on Tucker's progress. Whenever I turned into a total dog mom and would text to see how he was doing, Blue was always quick to respond. In doing some human training, it was reassuring to see how Blue interacted with Tucker. Where us non-trainers would have responded with annoyance or agitation (or fear) at a certain reaction from Tucker, Blue was always calm. It was nice to see someone have patience with our dog while breaking him of all his bad habits, to keep the end goal in mind.

Tucker has returned home a whole new dog! That's not to say we sent away a T-Rex and he came back a Golden Retriever. We had reached a point with our very large dog where he was no longer able to be controlled even within the home. He was a safety risk. Nobody else was willing or capable of taking on this challenge except Lorenzo's Dog Training Team. Blue accepted the challenge with a smile (even from the beginning when nobody else was smiling...) and was able to transform an unmanageable dog into a well trained, calm, and much happier dog. Both Blue and Emilio explained a lot of what us humans were doing wrong at home and how we had gotten to the point we were at. But if we stick with the rules and boundaries set forth, and keep up with the training Tucker has received, we can have a balanced home. All the skills and training explained to us makes sense. It's simple to adhere to. It's just a matter of not being lazy. It really is. Seeing how well Tucker responds to the changes has been all the motivation we need to properly adhere to everything we've learned (and what to stop doing).

To train a dog is a skill. To train a dog and have the people skills to train the dog's owners is a special skill. To take a dog that was going to have to be put down because nobody else could train him, be able to effectively train that dog, manage the overly needy dog owners and keep them reassured in the process, train said overly needy dog owners, and then return them their dog who is now so well behaved that the owners never ever want to stop obeying the rules because they see what a positive change doing things the right way has brought about... that is an art form. So thank you to Blue, Emilio, and Lorenzo's Dog Training Team!!!

Sierra Cox-Caldon

Orange, California

Scott and Trish P.

We are amazed!

The instruction we got from Emilio with Lorenzo's Dog Training Team has helped us so much with our Golden Doodle, "Cody". Prior to the training, he was nervous, over-protective, and sometimes unpredictable. We were almost feeling that we might have to get rid of him. Now, we have the confidence and control to take him outside, introduce him to people and other animals, or just walk with him without feeling threatened by his behavior. We know now that he'll grow old with us in a safe, peaceful, loving, and happy environment.

Scott & Trish P.

Rancho Bernardo, California

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