Hands down, Christi is the best dog walker in the East Bay. She is a first a dog lover, who is conscientious, organized, and thoughtful. Her pack walks exhaust the dogs while being safe and exciting for them. Her dog sitting sets my mind at ease as she knows dogs, her level head and knowledge ensure peace of mind while we are away. read more

Bark Around The Block - Christi often sends pictures or videos from pack walks so I can see how he's doing. - Dog Walkers Near Me - Alameda, California

this is also a long overdue review, I have used BARK AROUND THE BLOCK for many years. and her staff are excellent. my dog; Rommel, a French bulldog he absolutely loves walking with her. She socializes the dogs with the group walks offered in the afternoons or morning walk. during the ongoing months The scheduling and communication is excellent ! My dog has improved greatly in all aspects of his socialization as well as his obedienc. Believe it or not for his breed he is so chill now. He loves his group walks! The trails are varied which is fabulous and keeps it interesting for the dogs. I have been extremely pleased with the excellent level of service provided by Bark Around the Block She is deserving of the Best Dog Walker of Alameda for the consecutive years, it has been awarded to her Company! read more

Christi is the best dog walker and pet sitter ever. She fully deserves her recognition as 'Best of Alameda.' I've had a couple of dog walkers over the years and, in my experience, Christi is unparalleled - by far the most professional, attentive and caring. She really knows her dogs and works with their personalities and needs while keeping an eye out for health and behavioral issues. Look at her IG - you'll see so many smiling, happy dogs. She even assessed my sister's leash-reactive dog and integrated her seamlessly into the pack. It was a life changer for a dog that always needed to be isolated from other dogs and who was destined to sit home alone. She became the belle of the ball! My own dog was boarding with her when he started having some troubling health concerns. The vet said he was fine but Christi knew differently. She made his last week a happy, comfortable one and, when it was time to say goodbye, was there for us as a member of the family. It was always a comfort to know he was loved and well looked after. Christi is simply the best. read more

This review is long overdue. Christi has been taking care of our Aussie "Willa" for 2 years now. She does an amazing job and Willa always comes home really tired and looking like she had the best day ever. Willa is young and an active breed, but Christi knows how to channel her energy by taking her on long pack walks/hikes, swimming, playing fetch and off leash time (when appropriate). Sometimes she even combines multiple outings in one day! Willa is typically gone about 2.5-3 hours a day, so this is not just a quick walk around the neighborhood type of thing. Besides the variety of outings, I love that Willa gets to play with the other dogs in her pack. Its the perfect blend of dog socialization without the uncertainty of dog parks or overly crowded daycares. Willa has never come home with any cuts or mysterious injuries despite playing like crazy, and I attribute that to Christi's keen eye and safety first attitude. I've worked in vet hospitals and was an Animal Control Officer in the past and am very picky about who I let watch my dog because I know how bad situations can get when someone isn't trustworthy or reliable. That being said, Christi is one of the few people that I trust with Willa and am able to relax knowing she's in capable hands. Willa has also boarded with Christi at her home numerous times, even for over a week and had a blast. She never comes home stressed out, as she had with other sitters in the past. The icing on the cake are all of the photos you get to see each day on her Instagram story. You always know what your dog got up to that day and can sit at your desk and live vicariously through them. read more

See all

Christi is a lifesaver. Having such a reasonably priced dog walker who takes my barrel-bodied German Shepherd mix on pack walks for 3 hours a day means I don't have to worry about him while I'm at work. Honestly, he is remarkably happier when we get home... I've never heard him so vocal, like he's had such an event-filled day and he's just bursting at the seams to tell us all about it with, "Rooo-rurrrrr!" As a person, Christi is super nice, good-humored, and diligent with providing live updates via Instagram--so if you're ever wondering what's happening with your doggy, you can count on finding him/her grinning in some cute group/solo shot via Instagram stories @barkaroundtheblock. Anytime I hear of someone looking for a dog walker, Christi is the one I always recommend. read more

See all

My pup and I are moving and Christi is one of the people we will miss the most. In 2019, I was referred to Christi in my quest to find a dog walker that could handle my slightly neurotic, aging terrier while I worked on the peninsula and traveled for business. Christi started with a meet & greet assessment, took my pup on a trial pack walk and then we worked out a walk plan. To handle my dog's anxiety, Christi took her on a short local walk everyday and very quickly, my dog was in love! Eventually under Christi's care and attention, my pup was confident enough to join pack walks! In her pack walks, my dog returned exhausted and happy from excursions to the beach, the hills and more. Not only was my dog happy, but I was delighted with Christi's professionalism: she's a great communicator, sharing photo snapshots of my dog in action; she was trustworthy, letting me know when she was coming and always locking up when coming and going with my dog; and she was dependable, always prompt and never cancelling or no-showing. read more

It's hard to imagine a better person to have taking care of your dog every day. Not only is Christi reliable, always responsive, and on time, she truly cares about the dogs she walks, and treats them just like her own. Wouldn't consider anyone else. read more

Buyer BEWARE! I used Christi for a couple of short weekends over the last year and everything was fine, until I had her pet/house sitting for 2 weeks during the holidays. Her employee (boyfriend?) Syth stayed in our house, along with herself. The house was a mess when we got home. Furniture was rearranged, there was a hole in the wall, the neighbors reported a party going on as well as 2 other dogs living at the house. The trash was piled up, way more than my boyfriend and I would have in 2 weeks. They had been given a nice spare bedroom to sleep in and instructed to keep our bedroom door closed so the cats didn't go in there - they actually slept in our bed as well as ruined our sheets with stains. There was cat pee next to the bed when we got home, on some xmas presents we had bought. My electricity bill was $150 over normal useage for this time of year. Our bathroom hand towel was shredded in half and in the back yard, one of my plants was completely wilted, and on the floor dumped over with dirt spilling out... and the list goes on... Having known Christi, I was shocked by the unprofessionalism of how Christi handled the situation, we explained everything to her and just asked her to pay for fixing damages to the house and replacing the sheets/towel. At first she agreed, but then begged us not to put a review on yelp of what happened. We agreed but asked for a full refund for the services and instead, she stopped responding to all communications, but sent a certified letter with my contract and no reimbursement for any damages. I realize I'm the first negative review for this business, but that doesn't surprise me since Christi did everything she could to bribe me not to talk about what happened. Do NOT TRUST this person! read more

This is my very first Yelp! review, and I feel compelled to write about Christi because she is not just the best dog walker and caretaker we've ever had - she's one of the best service providers we've ever had period. She has been so good to our dog Milo (a long-haired mini dachshund), and often goes beyond the call of duty to make sure he's well taken care of. For example, when a faulty lock would not allow her to get our door to open, she promptly called me about the issue and asked if there was ANYTHING she could do to get our poor dog out of the house, to which I proceeded to tell her, "Short of hopping our fence, I honestly don't know." Needless to say, Milo made his walk that day . She has completely earned our trust with her constant communication and responsiveness. We absolutely love how she always texts us pictures of Milo when he's on his walks with the other dogs, and how quick she is so quick to respond to questions or issues whenever we have had them. When Christi started taking care of Milo, my wife and I had recently moved to the Bay Area and had so many questions about getting Milo (who was just a puppy at that time) acclimated to the area. Additionally, I was a first-time dog owner, so had even MORE questions about taking care of Milo in general. She was so helpful with getting Milo comfortable with all types of dogs, and with her advice on how to best keep him healthy and happy. Milo has been a joy to us, and we have Christi to thank in big part for that. As someone that often deals with clients of my own on a daily basis, I truly appreciate her diligence and passion for her work. I can tell that Christi truly cares for my dog, and Milo is SO happy around her as a result. That gave my wife and I such a peace of mind about our how our dog was doing every single day. We had to move from the East Bay, which is the ONLY reason we're now former clients of Christi's (if it were possible, I'd move Christi with us!!). And you can bet that we'll use her again any chance we get. I give her the very highest recommendation, and can safely say that anyone reading this review will NOT be disappointed if they decide to hire Christi and Bark Around the Block. She's just the best! read more

I highly recommend Bark Around The Block. I used the services multiple times and Felt great no need to concern or worry about anything. I'll definitely use their professional service with lots of care and personal attention. read more

I truly have nothing but good things to say about Bark Around the Block! I recently went back to work and was very nervous to leave my dog, who is a rescue, at home, as he has a bit of separation anxiety. (Okay.... maybe I'M the one with the separation anxiety...) I sent him on his trial run, expecting him to hate it and never send him again..... I couldn't have been more wrong. Not only did Martin happily go with Christi (he sometimes fights my husband if I am not going on the walk!), but when he came home, he was the happiest I've ever seen him! He zoomed in the door, so excited, ran back out to Christi, and was smiling from ear to ear! Not only does Christi take excellent care of him every time he goes for a walk (and sends some adorable updates of Martin and his pack!), but the pack walks have been amazing for his development. He's become so comfortable, confident, and is clearly finally learning how to be a dog. I'm so happy with Christi and Bark Around The Block, and can't recommend them enough! If you're looking for someone to take care of your baby, she's the right person for the job :) -Aleena read more

To Whom It May Concern, Chris or as my Mini-Aussie Barry knows her as "Auntie Chris" has been walking Barry for over five years. Barry started with Chris when he was about a year old. Chris not only took Barry out for exercise and socializing but more importantly helped to educate and train him on proper doggie etiquette. In our first initial interview she wanted to learn what commands we were using for different asks, she then continued to reinforce those commands daily in her walks. This was instrumental in Barry becoming the wonderful dog he is five years later. I work in software so my schedule can often be hectic with travel on short notice. Chris has always been great about taking Barry on extra days with short notice. She has even taken him over night when my travel schedule became complicated. If you want a great dog walker who can be trusted with the keys to your house then Chris is your person. I frankly don't feel comfortable with a service like Wag where just about anybody can have access to your house and possession of one of the most important things in your life. Thank you, Paul read more

I'm a little late with this posting but - better late than never! Christi took care of our German Shepherd "Cowboy" for three years. She cared for him like he was her own and she always updated us with pictures of the pack and tails (pun intended) of the walks. Cowboy loved Christi and his pack. We would not hesitate to use her again! read more

Christi is by far the best dog walker around! She is so generous and very flexible with my ever-changing schedule, and my dog absolutely loves her. Our 'little' Buckeye has become so much more well-behaved, socialized, and happy since she started her walks with Christi, thanks to Christi's awesome care and her ability to walk her with at least 3 other dogs every time she takes her out. It is very easy to see her love for animals, and her commitment to happy, healthy dogs (and cats) and I feel completely comfortable trusting her with my pup. I would highly recommend Bark Around the Block! read more

Couldn't have asked for a better sitter for my dog. She went above and beyond to make sure Sumo was safe and having the best time of his life. She even gave him a bath before I picked him up. I highly recommend Christi read more

Since my initial review of Bark Around the Block, I have to give further shout-outs. Other pet service people do not have the attention to detail that Christi has. She notices everything about our baby and tells us what she sees. Winston, being almost 11, and a rambunctious, high energy Golden, had started to have some weakness in his lower back/legs. She told us what she saw, and as observant as we are, we thought it was because our wood floors were slippery. When we brought him to his vet, he said Winston had sciatica (which we are treating with massages every other week and other holistic stuff). This is someone you want to look out for your babies; yes, even while out on pack walks. As mentioned before, she loves all her charges. Truly. And of course, I can't describe how much Winston adores Christi! The look on his face while he waits for her to pick him up is pure joy. We cannot recommend Bark Around the Block enough! read more

Christi is the best. The. Flippin. Best. We originally scheduled Bark Around The Block to come feed our two indoor cats and 6 garden cats while we were away. Just prior to our meet and greet with Christi one of our community cats gave birth. We brought mama cat inside with her kittens and when Christi arrived to meet us we hit her with the news. Before I could even finish telling her how she now had a semi-Feral mom and kittens In the upstairs bedroom to also care for, she was elated and saying 'yay kittens'. My kinda sitter. Roll with the punches and tend to the herd. And even though Mama Cat gave Christi a hard time, scratches and all, Christi came back again and cared for our expanding crew. Bark Around the Block is our permanent vacation sitter. All our felines love her, and we do too! read more

Such a loving caring lady! It's always such a great feeling to know my girls are in such good hands! read more

My experience with Christi was positive on an interpersonal level. I entrusted her company "Bark Around the Block" to take care of my animals (walking and feeding) with a live in pet sitter during the week, when I traveled. Things slowly became very suspicious to me. There was always a foul stench in the house when I returned. She washed two merino wool blankets from Italy in the washing machine and the dried them both (???) (there went 250.00 for each blanket). Finally after a month my neighbor informed me as soon as I left they brought a toddler into my house and that they never saw the dogs walked. I had cameras put up outside of the house one weekend and low and behold did I ever get an eye full (for the first day there was NO dog walking). I wont go on in detail but I did NOT receive the service I paid for and I had several expensive household items ruined. Maybe she is acceptable with walking the dogs and having NO other responsibilities....I am posting about my experience with her. I was not offered reimbursement and got a defensive attitude when I questioned her. I ran into her a few times and she always promised to get back to me but never ever followed through. I want to be clear. Despite what Christi is claiming...the negligence happened when Bark Around the Block was providing a service, PERIOD. I am posting my experience with Bark around the Block ONLY. read more

I can only review the customer service as I haven't contracted with Bark Around The Block due to scheduling conflicts. However, in working with Christi it became clear that she is a driven and dedicated business woman, willing to go well above and beyond the call of duty to help you and your dog(s). I'm fostering-to-adopt a high-energy boxer mix who needs a few weeks to settle in to her new routine and get back up to weight. Which means mid-day meals & walkies, but avoiding other dogs for a little while, until she settles in and can be socialized better. Christi was at first quite optimistic about finding room in her schedule to accommodate these requirements, but later came to the conclusion she just wasn't able to do it. But she didn't stop there - she called around to her friends and fellow dog walkers. After exhausting her search she sat down and figured out a way to re-arrange her schedule to fit in my dog. She then got back in touch to see if I was still looking for a walker. However, I'd already managed to find another service. Such dedication is rare and I'm sad that I can't reward it with my patronage right now. However, I can give a good review and will definitely recommend her to anyone. And should my situation change, Christi and Bark Around the Block will be my very first call. read more

We met Christi when we took a two week vacation and needed someone to both walk and board our dogs last minute. Christi was so flexible and helpful. She came to our apartment, met our dogs, asked lots of questions about their habits, and scheduled to take them to her house for a few days and then walks twice a day after that. We were able to relax on vacation knowing our dogs were well taken care of. She sent us photos of our dogs being adorable, and even babysat them last minute when our house sitter had an emergency. The most meaningful part of Christi's service was seeing how excited my dogs were to see her when she returned to the apartment. My dogs have a history of not handling separation from us well, but they loved spending time with Christi. It was like they went on vacation too :) We certainly plan on scheduling more walks in the future. read more

Christi has saved my husband and I on more than one occasion now! We were expecting our first child and looking for help exercising our energetic dog. She took him for two overnights last minute when I went into labor and has since taken him a few times a week for playgroup. He is SO excited whenever she comes to the door and waits for her out the window to arrive. She has made the transition for our family that much easier! read more

I found Christi thru Dog Bone Alley. My usual dog sitter was already booked for a week I needed our dog looked after while we were away for a week. I was a bit nervous counting on this person I had never met to be the right fit. Well that went away the minute I walked in her door! Christi is great! She has a great personality and you can tell she loves what she does and loves animals! All week she sent pictures and checked in and really made us feel at ease that our "baby" was ok. When we picked him up she even sent new toys home with him! I would definately recommend Christi to others and Chico looks forward to our next trip so he can go back and be with her. Thank you Christi for being the home away from home Chico loves. read more

Christi is simply the best! When my beagle puppy was old enough to trade doggy day care for some outdoor adventures, I trusted the yelp reviews and contacted Christi at Bark Around the Block. She came over the next day to meet my dog and discuss a schedule that would work best. It was immediately clear that Christi is a pro - she's knowledgeable and organized but also super casual and easygoing. She gives off a great vibe and my dog absolutely adores her! When I moved a couple months ago, my new house was off Christi's normal route but she worked out a plan so my dog could stay with her pack. I know Marlowe has a great time with her pals, not only because she's wiped out when I get home from work every day, but also because Christi sends pictures of all the dogs hanging out together. Thank you Christi for making Marlowe's days so much fun and for being great to work with! read more

This review is long overdue, but still applies! Our boy Iggy was part of the BATB family for a year (see Photo "Iggy learning to share the ball!") and loved his daily romp with Christi and Co. Sadly, we moved. But Christi is absolutely the best dog walker/pet sitter you could ever hope to find. read more

From one professional dog walker to another...a job well done. Bark Around the Block does a great job of keeping dogs safe while allowing them to be dogs and have a great time by utilizing positive-reinforcement techniques. I only wish all of my colleges did the same. read more

She had my dog for a weekend and came home to a happy clean dog. Not even a year old yet and she gave home structure that he needed which I totally liked the most about her business. I had a wild energetic pitbull mix and after being with her for a weekend I would definitely recommend this company for daycare and group play dates. Thank you Christi for taking care of my baby. read more

Bark Around the Block provides an amazing service! I trust Christi fully and I know that my dog Bubba is in good hands with her. She has a natural way with animals and I'm thankful she is in our lives. Thank you Christi! read more

My experience with Bark Around the Block has been wonderful! Prior to working with BAB, my beagle was very timid due to a previous incident at a dog park where another large dog attacked him. He was only about 9 months old at the time and it change his personality dramatically. It was very sad and we were having a hard time trying to get him reacquainted & socializing with other dogs. We met & spoke to Christi and she offered to give us a trial to see if she could help. OMG......what they have done for our puppy is amazing!! His attitude and overall demeanor has changed drastically. He is now back to his old ways of being a loving approachable, and playful boy that he is. He now freely socializes outside his pack and has new found confidence, which still amazes me to see Wrigley now runs to the door the second he hears the car coming down the street to pick him up for his walks. They truly care & bond with each & every dog, which shows in their excitement to go for their walks. Boy they must be having fun on those walks because he comes home and zonks out for snooze right after he walks in the door :) I cannot thank Bark Around the Block enough for taking such good care of my Wrigley boy!! C read more

Christi has now walked our golden Josie for nearly two years and we LOVE LOVE LOVE her. We recently had a baby and she came on-call to pick up the dogs when I went into labor. Does a dog walker get much better than that? I don't think so! I really don't understand these other couple of reviews. She's responsible, has an incredible attention to detail, is completely on top of her business operations. Our dogs are so happy and so are we! read more

I absolutely love Christi and Bark around the Block when it comes to my pups attention and exercise needs :) My boyfriend and I have a boxer and a Shar pei. We had first met Christi at the Alameda dog park when we had first moved to Alameda. She was always such a joy to run into and definitely knew how to handle a group of dogs, she was confident and all the dogs loved her. Over this past summer I was leaving town for 3 weeks and my boyfriend was staying home with the dogs. He works full time and we were worried about leaving the boys home alone all day long. So we hired Christi to walk the boys for an hour each day. She would update by with texted pictures, which i loved, and my boyfriend always reported back with great news with his experience. It was great to have the boys get some mid day attention and exercise. It made my trip a lot less stressful. The boys also absolutely adore Christi! In August my boyfriend and I wanted to go back home for a weekend trip so i contacted Christi to board the boys for a couple of days. She took our boxer on her group dog walks, we would get the most adorable pictures from their outings. I could tell that the pups were having an amazing time while being taken care of properly. I always felt comfortable and didn't worry while they were in Christi's care. I recommend Christi and Bark around the Block for all your Dog needs. I know i will always turn to her first when We are in need of anything. Highly recommended! read more

Bark around the block is nothing short of amazing. Hands down the best dog walking service in the bay area. Bark around the block has been providing top notch, training, exercise and TLC for my dog for about 6 months and during a very important time in my dogs life. I have a 1yr old boxer who is full of energy and personality. Since my dog has been with Bark around the block, he has learned better social skills and responds better to training commands and is MUCH better on the leash. Christi(the owner) met with me for over an hour when I first decided to have her walk my dog. We discussed what I would like my dog to get out of her service and what she felt he would need from her being around Gunner. I left the consult with a great feeling of relief knowing that I finally found someone that cared for my dog just as much as I do. That feeling has only intensified over the past 6 months. My dog absolutely adores her and she has my complete trust, which as any dog owner knows, doesnt come easy. Bark around the block also offers pet sitting which I have also used. Christi spent 2 weeks with my dog while I was away for work. During that time, Gunner went on every group walk with Bark around the block and then Christi would take Gunner to the dog park or on a private walk on top of everything else! Even though they had already been walking Gunner for a few months when I needed Bark around the Block to dog sit, Christi still personally came to the consult and went over everything I wanted done. I thought that showed that she really cared about my dog and me and client and wanted to make sure my daily routine with Gunner would go on like normal even though I was not there. Recently Gunner had an allergic reaction to food or a bug bite and broke out with really bad hives. Christi called me at work and said that she had just dropped him off but was worried about him and that I should try to get him into the vet. I was able to get off work and this is where Christi showed me how much her clients mean to her; she turned around and drove back to my house, picked Gunner up and met me at the vet with him. One would think that would be going above and beyond what most dog walkers would do, however Christi stayed at the vet with me the entire time just to make sure Gunner was ok! Christi Spann and bark around the block truly love their clients and it is such a great feeling knowing that my dog is in the best possible care. So if you are in the east bay and are looking for a dog walker. I promise you that you WILL NOTt find a better dog walker then Christi and Bark around the Block! read more

I give Christi and Bark Around the Block five stars after about a year and half walking and taking care of Woody, my Bernese Mountain Dog. Woody loved going on group walks with Christi and his pack every weekday. After I retired I kept him walking with his pack since he loved the interaction with other dogs. When Woody was injured (unrelated to Bark Around the Block) Christi was great with accommodating his recovery and limitations after the injury. Sadly, Woody passed, but I know that he enjoyed his last year and half with his friends at Bark Around the Block! read more

I have never come home to a happier dog! Christi and her team are very dependable, my dog is happy and tired when he gets home from his walks. Having someone who can pick him up and walk him M-F has made a big difference in both his life and mine. Thank you so much Christi!! read more

Christie and Syth are awesome. Christie did an initial visit to meet Charlie and was so thorough,; that in itself was reassuring. They sent me pictures of charlies experience and text all the time. I never wait more than a couple minutes for a return text. I was home twice to see charlies response when Syth picked her up, and she was so excited, it almost hurt my feelings, because she's only ever that excited to see me, or so I thought! I'm so happy that the most precious thing in my life is that happy when when I can't be with her. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Barks Around the Block. We got our 8 week old puppy and realized we would need someone to come let her explore our backyard a few times a day. Christi came through in 6 hours with a schedule that worked for us around her busy "adult" clients. We can't wait for our puppy to grow up and join Christi in her cool SUV! read more

I highly reccomend Bark Around the Block and Christi to anyone in need of dog walking, sitting, or boarding. The dog walking service, customer care, and personal assistance I receive from Christi are way above my expectations and well within reasons when it comes to price. My dogs don't socialize well with other dogs, therefore they receive daily private walks with Christi. Both me and my dogs love it! read more

Christi has done a great job with our English Bulldog, Sam. He is not the easiest dog to walk and I could tell he enjoyed his time with Christi and fellow dogs. I would get text message photos of Sam as he played with the other dogs on the walk. Christi was very flexible with my schedule and always accommodated my requests. Let Christi meet your dog and you will be sure to use her services. read more

I cannot recommend Christi and her team enough! She has literally changed my life and my dog's life. I had to start leaving my dog at home after a change to my job, I used to take him to work with me every day as he suffers from separation anxiety and barks non stop when left alone. I had little hope that he would transition well to staying home alone with a walk mid day but Christi has made the experience totally smooth and stress free. She took time to get to know him and put him with the right dogs for his temperament. I no longer am stressed about how he is coping and the barking has stopped, he comes home from his walk everyday and just falls asleep. A tired dog is a happy dog. She also texts me photos of him regularly and just makes me feel completely at ease when he is in her care. Christi takes Winston everyday and is consistent with pick up and drop off times, totally reliable. I wish I had found her sooner! read more