We recently had the chance to connect with Ben Berkowitz and have shared our conversation below.
Ben, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Having our older kids working with us part-time on school breaks and weekends. We often learn from them about the dogs as well. Seeing the amazing care they take in their work, makes my wife and I very proud and happy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ben Berkowitz, co-owner of We Love Dogs, an LA-based dog daycare and training community built around connection, calm energy, and Pack leadership. My wife Noreen and I started the business the most hands-on way possible — walking and training dogs one by one, meeting families where they were, and building real relationships. In 2022, we moved into our current home in Mid-City’s Miracle Mile neighborhood, and that’s when our Pack really began to grow.
What makes We Love Dogs special is that we don’t just “watch” dogs — we guide them. Our motto is PLAY TRAIN CHILL – Everything we do centers around Pack walking, structured movement, and helping dogs tap into their natural instincts in a healthy way. When dogs walk together with purpose and direction, something shifts. They settle. They listen. They learn from us — and from each other. That follow-mode energy carries over into playtime, classes, and even life at home.
We also incorporate sound and relaxation techniques — including structured Chill time — to help dogs regulate their nervous systems. It’s important to us that dogs don’t just play hard, but also learn how to relax together. That balance of movement and calm is where the magic happens.
Every day we see dogs build confidence, reduce reactivity, improve their leash skills, and truly find their place in the Pack. Puppies learn boundaries from older dogs. High-energy dogs learn patience. Shy dogs gain courage. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch them grow healthier and happier — not just here with us, but in their homes with their families.
At the heart of it, We Love Dogs is about community — for dogs and for people. We’re building something that feels supportive, structured, and joyful. And honestly, getting to do that work alongside my wife and a Pack of incredible dogs every day? That’s pretty special. 🐾💛
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Without a doubt, my wife Noreen has shaped how I see myself more than anyone else. She’s my biggest supporter, my business partner, and the person who constantly reminds me to think bigger. We complement each other in a way that feels natural — where she might focus deeply on the dogs and the hands-on work, I am always seeing the broader vision and encouraging growth. We make a great team.
When we first started working with dogs, we were walking them one by one, building relationships slowly. I was passionate about it, but Noreen was the one who encouraged me to take it further — to study more seriously, to invest in education, and to build something beyond just dog walking. She believed in my potential before I fully saw it myself.
That push led me to find a mentor, Ernesto Robles, a trainer who had studied with some of the most respected trainers in Los Angeles, including Cesar Millan, known as “The Dog Whisperer.” Working alongside Ernesto was a turning point. I learned not just technical skills, but philosophy — the importance of calm energy, leadership, structure, and truly understanding canine psychology.
Between Noreen’s belief in me and Ernesto’s guidance, I began to see myself differently — not just as someone who loved dogs, but as someone capable of leading them, teaching others, and building a community around that work. Those relationships helped shape both the trainer I became and the person I continue to grow into.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be: listen more and talk less. Slow down. Pay attention. The answers are usually there if you’re willing to observe — whether it’s people, dogs, or life itself.
I would also tell him to trust what he already knows deep down: that he is happiest when he’s working with dogs, learning from them, and simply being around them. That instinct was always there. It just took time — and a little courage — to fully embrace it.
I’d say it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away. Take your time. Keep learning. Stay humble. The path doesn’t have to be perfectly clear for you to move forward.
And most importantly, I’d tell him this: one day soon, you’re going to build a beautiful life centered around exactly what you love. You’ll have a wonderful family, a growing community, and a Pack of incredible dogs to play, train, and Chill with every single day. Keep going — it’s all unfolding exactly the way it’s meant to.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
If you asked my friends what matters most to me, they would probably say one word: family.
And I don’t just mean family in the traditional sense. I mean the friends who become family. The dogs we care for every day. The owners who trust us with someone they love. The neighbors, teachers, and small businesses in our community who show up for one another and build something bigger than themselves.
Relationships are everything to me. They’re the foundation of my life and of We Love Dogs. What makes me most proud isn’t just that we’ve built a successful business — it’s that we’ve built something people count on. Families trust us. They rely on us. They recommend us to their friends. They come back year after year. That trust is not something we take lightly.
Being a true part of the community — not just operating in it — means everything to us. It motivates me to work hard, to keep learning, and to continue innovating new ways to help dogs and their owners live happier, healthier lives together.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about dogs. It’s about connection. And those relationships — the people and the Pack — are what matter most.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
That one is easy for me.
I feel most at peace standing in a room with 30 or more dogs, all of them relaxing together — releasing nervous or anxious energy and settling into calm. I’m in the center of the room, gently playing a Tibetan singing bowl, and you can actually feel the shift happen.
At first there might be small movements, a little restlessness. But then the tone of the bowl fills the space, and one by one, the dogs begin to soften. Breathing slows. Bodies lower. The room gets quieter — not because anyone is forcing it, but because the energy changes.
For a few minutes, our world becomes smaller and still. We’re all just there together — breathing deeply, grounded, connected. It’s a reminder that peace isn’t something complicated. It’s something you create through presence, intention, and calm leadership.
Then, of course, we transition back into the fun — playtime, training, all the movement and excitement of the day. But that moment of collective stillness? That’s where I feel completely aligned. That’s my reset. That’s my peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.welovedogsla.com
- Instagram: @welovedogsla
- Linkedin: @welovedogsla
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/we-love-dogs-la-los-angeles
Image Credits
All photos credited to and owned by WE LOVE DOGS inc
