DOGS.
PEOPLE.
CONNECTION.
The Ruff Ranch is built around a simple idea: dogs do better when they are understood, supported, challenged, and treated like family.
Welcome to The Ruff Ranch
We believe dogs are more than pets. They are family members, adventure partners, comedians, alarm clocks, professional snack negotiators, and occasionally the reason your favorite shoe disappeared.
Our job is to understand the dog in front of us and help create a happier, more confident relationship between dogs and their people.
Good training should work in real life.
And dogs should still get to be dogs.
Meet Justin Davanzo
Justin has spent more than a decade working with dogs, their behavior, and the people who love them.
What started as a career in dog training became something much bigger. Justin wanted to create a place where training was not limited to an hour-long session and where dogs could learn through everyday experiences, structure, socialization, play, and real life.
That idea became The Ruff Ranch in January 2020.
Today, Justin remains deeply involved in the Ranch — from training programs and behavior decisions to the daily environment the dogs experience while they are here.
His philosophy is practical: understand the dog, create structure, build confidence, and make training something that actually works once everyone goes home.
Training Has to Work Outside the Training Room
Life with a dog happens everywhere. That is why Justin’s approach focuses on practical situations dogs and owners actually encounter.
By combining real-world training with structured socialization, we help dogs become more adaptable, confident, and well-balanced companions.
We Train the Dog in Front of Us
There is no one-size-fits-all dog.
Some dogs arrive ready to meet everyone in the room. Others need time, structure, patience, or a little help finding their confidence.
Our approach considers the individual dog, their temperament, their history, their environment, and the family they go home to.
The goal is not to make every dog the same. The goal is to help each dog become the best version of themselves.
The Ruff Ranch Is More Than One Trainer
Behind Justin is a team of up to 20 people who help keep the Ranch running, the dogs cared for, and every day moving in the right direction.
Up to 20 Team Members
Trainers, kennel staff, bathing and grooming staff, transportation, maintenance, front desk, and operations all play a part.
Days a Week
Dogs do not take weekends off, and neither does the responsibility of caring for them.
Shared Goal
Safe dogs, thoughtful care, good communication, and an environment where dogs can thrive.
Knowing the Dogs Matters
Good care is not just feeding on time and opening a kennel door.
It means noticing when a dog is acting differently, understanding social dynamics, recognizing stress, communicating between shifts, and knowing when a dog needs more activity — or more quiet.
That attention to detail is only possible when a team works together and knows the dogs in their care.
The Ruff Ranch Way
Treat Them Like Family
Every dog deserves to feel safe, supported, understood, and cared for.
Make It Useful
Training should translate into better everyday life, not just look good during a lesson.
Communicate Clearly
Good dog care depends on people sharing information, noticing details, and working together.
Let Dogs Be Dogs
Structure matters. So do play, exploration, goofy moments, and having a genuinely good day.
Meet Otto
Every serious organization needs someone responsible for maintaining morale.
At The Ruff Ranch, that responsibility belongs to Otto.
Otto specializes in noisy office appearances, strategic treat acquisition, poorly timed interruptions, lounging, and reminding everyone that sometimes the correct response to a busy day is simply to go play.
A Few of the Faces That Make the Ranch the Ranch
Different sizes. Different personalities. Different opinions about treats.
Join the Ruff Ranch Team
We are always interested in meeting dependable, positive people who genuinely enjoy working with dogs and being part of a hands-on team.
Tell us who you are.
Send Julia your resume and a short cover letter / letter of motivation telling us what kind of role you’re interested in and why The Ruff Ranch sounds like a good fit.
Resume
Tell us what you have done and what experience you bring.
Cover Letter / Motivation
Tell us why you want to work here and what interests
you about working with dogs.
It does not need to sound like it was written by a corporate robot. We would rather hear who you actually are.
Bonus points if barking, slobber, fur, early mornings, and the occasional mystery mess still sound like a pretty good workday.
Or email directly:
julia@theruffranch.com
Want to Learn More About The Ruff Ranch?
Explore our services, meet the team, or get in touch. We’re always happy to talk dogs.