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    Bay Area Balanced Dog Training

    5.0 (37 reviews)

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    40 minutes

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    Services - Bay Area Balanced Dog Training

    Dog boarding and training

    Private dog training

    Puppy socialization classes

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    Piper paying attention in a new location/environment
    Tasha H.

    TL;DR: Meryl has made a huge difference in both our and our pet's life. We went from having an anxious, reactive dog that we couldn't take anywhere, to a happy, engaged pup that we can confidently walk around lots of other dogs. We loved working with Meryl because of how honest, professional, and effective she is. The long story: Before working with Meryl, our adopted 5yo pit/sharpei/chihuahua Piper was really reactive to other dogs to the point where walking her basically involved running from car to car and hiding behind them when other dogs went by; she would lunge and bark and make a huge scene. We tried a group class and even worked with another trainer 1:1, but did not see any lasting change until we started working with Meryl. Through lessons and a board/train, Meryl introduced us to the proper equipment that worked for Piper and taught us how we could use it effectively to manage her reactivity. The board and train process was very organized and efficient. We had a clear checklist of what to do/bring beforehand, and Meryl provided updates with photo/video right on schedule every time. While Piper's reactivity was the main thing we wanted to work on, as an added bonus Meryl also helped Piper learn how to stay calm while getting her nails trimmed (something I had been working on unsuccessfully on my own for months), really improved her recall, and got Piper comfortable wearing a muzzle when needed. I cannot emphasize enough how big of a change we have seen in Piper. She is a completely different dog that is engaged with us on walks, and stays calm even with many other dogs around. Meryl's balanced approach to training is so effective and allowed me to feel so much more confident in handling our dog. Owners have to put in the work as well as the dog, and I appreciated how direct and realistic Meryl was with us. She is so knowledgeable, is fantastic to work with, and clearly loves what she does - anyone looking for help with their dog would be lucky to work with her!

    Jackson on the right, walking next to (!!) our friend's dog! Never thought we'd see this day!
    Ilana S.

    Meryl is amazing!!! We have a 3-year-old Aussiedoodle who is super alert, anxious, and has exhibited some reactive behaviors toward other dogs in the past. Determined to nip those bad behaviors in the bud, we signed up for a fear aggression course based on only positive reinforcement, which did absolutely nothing but confuse all of us. Why are we throwing treats on the ground and walking in circles?! How will we ever take an actual walk? What if dogs are coming from both directions? We knew we had to find something better- enter MERYL! From the minute you meet Meryl, you know she means business (everyone, dog and humans included) and she knows her stuff. We saw improvements after one session with new gear (replaced harness with prong and e-collars). After 5 sessions, our pup no longer pulls on walks, and can walk past multiple reactive dogs without exhibiting any concerning behaviors. He can even walk on crowded paths, which is something we never thought he'd be able to do! He also no longer barks excessively at noises, and actually stops barking when told, "Quiet." Mind. Blown. A couple recommendations before working with Meryl: - Have realistic expectations about where you'd like your pup to be. Jackson is anxious. Will he ever want to go to a farmers market? No. Should he be able to walk down a relatively quiet street. Yes. - Get their food drive up. Meryl likes a dog to work for their food, not treats. We never really got there which was okay, but it definitely helps her do her best work if your dog is hungry for their food. THIS WOMAN IS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!

    Maria T.

    TL;DR: Meryl saved us and our dog! I'm thankful for her every day and her impact on our family has been transformative. She's an incredible trainer and a true professional. Because of Meryl, our dog is happier, healthier, and safer, and we live more peaceful lives. If you're lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with Meryl, take it! Our Story: We have a male Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Arlo) with generalized high anxiety. He is an incredibly sweet and very intelligent boy, but his temperament makes it difficult for him to remain calm and focused around other dogs, people, and sometimes in very basic and routine situations. From the day we brought Arlo home at 8 weeks old, we noticed that he seemed nervous nearly all the time. His vet also noted at his first puppy exam that he had an anxious demeanor. To socialize him and help with the nervousness, we immediately enrolled Arlo in puppy socials, hired trainers for private lessons and group classes, and took him to as many new places as we could. We did this for months and his anxiety and reactivity slowly got worse. Trainers would ultimately "pass" Arlo through their classes and programs, we believe, because they recognized him to be a difficult case and they weren't equipped, or interested, to engage with him further. Arlo was able to be very obedient when in the right state of mind, but so quickly he'd become overly anxious and high-strung to the point that he was overwhelmed and impossible to train. He also started to display significant gastrointestinal issues and food sensitivities, which meant almost all training treats were off-limits. As Arlo grew to 120 pounds, managing his anxiety and reactivity became a true test of mental and physical strength, and we simply didn't have the experience to know what to do. We felt hopeless and very alone, and we could see the frustration in Arlo climbing. We were desperately scouring the internet one day for someone that could help us, and found Bay Area Balanced Dog Training. We read everything we could about Meryl that day. It was clear that she has extensive experience with working dog breeds, difficult behavioral cases, and has worked with Swissys before (see the "Cali" review below). It was also clear that she's incredibly passionate about what she does and executes with a tremendous amount of thoughtfulness and intention. Meryl was one of the few trainers who didn't start off by making us feel inadequate or doing a "shock and awe" bit where they show you that THEY can make your dog behave. What she did show us was that she could establish a strong working connection with both us and our dog and communicate in a way that is constructive for all involved. She immediately demonstrated that she cares about Arlo and us. She asked questions about our experiences with him, listened intently, and paid close attention to his stress signals and his specific reactions to situations. Arlo completed a 5-week Board and Train program with Meryl and we continue private sessions with her. Our lives are forever changed. With Meryl's guidance and support, we've laid a new foundation and maintained the right structure for Arlo to condition behaviors that lead to a calmer state of mind. We've learned how to be Arlo's advocates so he continues having positive and safe experiences that he can trust. We now take him for enjoyable walks multiple times a day, have safe interactions with people, and our house is calmer. Arlo's physical health has also improved as his controlled anxiety and stress levels have led to fewer gastrointestinal flare ups (now officially diagnosed as Inflammatory Bowel Disease). Our work with Arlo will never be done, but our days with him are now rewarding and fun and we have a much better understanding of how to help him and ourselves. We wish Meryl had been our first call when we brought our sweet boy home two years ago. Despite our best efforts, we didn't know how to properly socialize and train an anxious dog and were very likely flooding him with experiences that made things worse over time. We're thrilled to know Meryl and will continue to work with her for as long as we can.

    Taking a break during an off leash stroll :)
    Amber N.

    I reached out to Meryl after a co-worker recommended her to me after their successful experience and I cannot say enough wonderful things! I appreciate how direct she is - she knows what she's doing and and helped me understand realistic expectations that were unique for both me and my staffy mix, India.  The behavior issue of my dog I came to Meryl for was primarily leash reactivity with other dogs which she was able to quickly correct while helping me understand the "why" behind the behavior. We were also able to implement so many more commands and desired behaviors such as heel, off leash recall, and cleaned up India's manners overall. I had never worked with a remote collar before, and Meryl was really patient explaining everything so I felt more comfortable using it on my own. I think my biggest take away was learning the importance of engagement and seeing firsthand how establishing that with my dog has helped her essentially choose me over anything that would have previously created unwanted behaviors. So many more doors have opened up for me and my dog to enjoy life together and I would tell anyone looking to improve the relationship with their dog that has behavior concerns to contact Meryl ASAP. India and I can't thank her enough!

    Working on some long distance sit/stay/recall out on the trails.
    Caitlin A.

    We completed a board and train with trainer Meryl in early November 2019 and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for anything from small training refinements to resolving major issues. Our one year old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Cali, while sweet and loving, was in serious need of help. Her behavior on leash as well as her extreme anxiety in high traffic places like city streets or playgrounds was making it hard to bring her out with us. The more she stayed home, the more unhappy and anxious she became. She is a working breed and was completely bored. My husband and I have always had big dogs and have handled training ourselves successfully, but we knew with Cali we needed professional help to get her back on track. Cali stayed with Meryl for a 2 week board and train, and we followed up with a few additional sessions. Cali came back a completely new dog. Still the same sweet, loving nature, but relaxed, focused and confident. Meryl taught us how to better work with Cali and set us up for long term success. We can now bring Cali anywhere, malls, playgrounds, busy sidewalks, and she will remain under voice control the entire time. She can calmly and happily take part in all of our family activities - and that is what we wanted from our family dog, a companion to join us on our everyday adventures. I bring Cali hiking several times a week now. I am completely confident in her off leash recall, her ability to heel even with distractions on the trail. Even on close encounters with coyotes, we can keep Cali safely under voice control out hiking. Cali has become the dog she was meant to be and is so much happier now. We are exciting that with the amazing foundation Meryl built, we can continue layering in new skills for Cali to keep her adventuring with us wherever we go.

    At about 18 months of age, we decided we needed professional help with our adopted coated German Shepherd, Linus. A great temperament from the get go, he was surprisingly reactive on leash, fence-fighting other dogs, going after crows and squirrels and cats. Twice he pulled down my wife on walks. Then we decided to add a baby to the mix. That's a lot of stress for a dog we love in an environment he didn't exactly ask for. A quick internet search and a call to Meryl, and we never looked back. Right away, she wasted no time setting our expectations and recalibrating our mindset. There are dog lovers for whom their dogs are people and there are no boundaries. There are dog lovers who understand and respect the human-dog boundary and work with and appreciate their canines within that structure. We were the former. Meryl, I think, is the latter, and we've come to see that as the healthier approach - for dog and human. We so appreciate her no-bull!@#& approach, her professionalism, her responsiveness, organization, and above all, her care for the animals with whom she works. And then there is, possibly most importantly, the training of her clients' humans. We're still a work in progress, but Linus did excellently. Linus boarded with Meryl for six weeks with a focus on leash reactivity, recall, confidence building, and basic obedience. It was a hard six weeks to be separated, but when he came back, he checked all the boxes. Meryl showed us how to use equipment like e-collars and prong collars safely and effectively, how to structure our lives and Linus's environment to set him up to succeed, and was not shy about giving us homework and showing us our shortcomings as owners/ handlers. Every day, from now to forever, is training. And Linus is aloof from other dogs and distractions on walks, responds to commands, is comfortable in his "place" and his crate, heels like a dream, is food-motivated, and generally more comfortable in his own skin. And we are somewhat more confident and competent handlers. We will hopefully get to work with Meryl again in the future as Linus grows and matures - Meryl is invested in the long term health and well being of her students. We would recommend Meryl and Bay Area Balanced Dog to anyone invested in their canine companion - it's an investment that will reap benefits for a lifetime.

    Meryl has helped me so much with my golden retriever! I have worked with her for over a year solidifying his tasks (as he is a service dog) and essential skills such as his heel. She explains everything so clearly and outlines what steps we can work on after each session to reach our goals! However the thing she most helped us with is identifying how I can change my lifestyle and have a better overall relationship with my dog! Following a car accident, my dog became too nervous to go into a car again, and I thought his working career was over as I assumed he may never be comfortable in the car again. Meryl helped us identify that it wasn't that he was scared of the car, but he had built up too much anxiety around it for other reasons and once we were able to address those with more structure and lifestyle changes, we were able to see changes almost immediately! He now jumps into the car without me having to drag him in each time! She has also helped my parents with their leash reactive dog! They were having trouble walking him around the neighborhood and she helped us figure out how to communicate with him and better understand him a little more. She explained everything very clearly to my parents who have never worked with a dog trainer before!!

    Dog
    Skylar B.

    I reached out to Meryl in 2019 when I was proofing obedience with the e-collar for my 1 year old Weimaraner. Meryl taught me how to be confident as a trainer and build a lasting and engaging bond with my dog! Now a year later my dog is confident, happy to work, and we get complimented almost everywhere we go!! I cannot recommend Meryl enough, if you're at all hesitant DO IT!!!

    Mario J.

    Meryl is a amazing trainer that really takes the time to understand you and your dogs needs. She was instrumental in helping us build a great relationship with our boy Luka. He recently did a board & train to focus on his recall and we couldn't have asked for better results! We will continue to use Meryl and Bay Area balances dog training for all of our needs. If you are looking for a great trainer with lots of experience and knowledge give them a call!

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    Ask the Community - Bay Area Balanced Dog Training

    Review Highlights - Bay Area Balanced Dog Training

    Overwhelmed, I started googling and found so many 5* reviews for Meryl from Bay Area Balanced Dog training.

    Mentioned in 34 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Gary Maria's Professional Dog Training - Sitting for the camera

    Gary Maria's Professional Dog Training

    (232 reviews)

    I reached out to Gary for help with my dog Peaches and her leash reactivity, and he was extremely…read moreprompt in responding. The initial consultation went very well, and I learned so much about dog communication and how to better support Peaches. I also learned that she is a highly anxious dog, which explained many of the challenges I had been concerned about. We enrolled in Gary's six-week program and finished with the tools and knowledge needed to keep Peaches on the right track toward recovery. Just like humans, dogs rehabilitate at their own pace, and over those six weeks Peaches made significant progress. We're looking forward to enrolling in advanced training once she's ready so she can enjoy more freedom off-leash. Gary is not like other trainers we've worked with. He doesn't rely on obedience-based shortcuts or gimmicks. Instead, he teaches you how to work through real situations and explains the theory behind his approach so you truly understand what's happening and how to handle stressful moments. Most importantly, Gary teaches you how to become the focal point for your dog, which has made a lasting difference for us.

    We worked with Gary Maria for six weeks to help our 3-year-old rescue, Giorgi, who struggles with…read morefear and anxiety. Honestly, Gary was incredible. From day one, it was clear he knows his stuff and loves what he does. A lot of the time, Giorgi was too overwhelmed to participate. On day 1, Giorgi hid under a table the whole session. But that's ok because Gary was really training us. By the last session, Giorgi was walking around, watching other dogs and people walk by, and still listening to commands. Gary taught us how to help Giorgi feel safe, calm him down when he's stressed, and build trust. We've already seen such a difference at home. Gary is knowledgeable, patient, direct (in the best way), funny, and available when you have questions. He celebrated every little win with us! You can tell he truly cares about the dogs he works with. We still have more work to do, but thanks to Gary, we know how to keep moving forward. If you have a dog with anxiety or fear, seriously, go to Gary. He's the real deal.

    Bark Busters Home Dog Training - Walnut Creek Concord Pleasanton

    Bark Busters Home Dog Training - Walnut Creek Concord Pleasanton

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    We cannot recommend Dan highly enough! We were struggling with a wide range of issues with our two…read morevery different dogs--a Red Heeler and a Chihuahua. From constant barking at the front door and leash pulling with our Heeler to 'micro-aggressions' between the two of them, our home felt chaotic. The fact that Dan offers in-home training was a huge selling point for us, and over the course of eight weeks, he systematically addressed every single concern we had. Dan's expertise and patience are unmatched. He even helped us navigate our somewhat complicated family dynamics to ensure we were all on the same page. Our dogs are now better versions of themselves--we honestly don't even recognize their old behaviors anymore! If you are looking for a trainer who truly understands dog behavior and delivers results, hire Dan.

    There are not enough great words to describe Dan and his success. Our Boston Terrier, Wally, was…read morethe ultimate wild child when we got him from rescue. He was impossible to take a walk, we could not answer our front door, he terrorized the cats. The best thing about Dan is his method and approach. No prong collars, no harsh methods, no bark collars. He teaches you to "speak dog". He explained how dogs communicate with each other. He helped us understand Wally has anxiety from basically not having boundaries. His tools of choice are your "bark", a squirt bottle and baggie full of water. All gentle but so effective. We have had 3 sessions. The first was some basic commands and behavior corrections. They worked! I could answer my front door without him running out or just going crazy. The 2nd session we got potty training help. Wally had been doing well until our older dog got sick and had accidents. After that he only went in our house. We started using Dan's suggestions. The 3rd session was like magic and the skies opened giving us a new dog. We took Wally on a walk with Dan and he was a different dog. No lunging, no climbing up the leash or going berserk when he sees other dogs. Now he is a pleasure to walk-he heals, he minds us. Potty training is amazing. He has not gone in the house since the last session. Today I was in the yard with our cats. They have a fenced area. Normally Wally would be uncontrollable and trying to get to the cats. Today he just stood there when I corrected him. I cannot recommend Dan and Bark Busters enough. Gentle corrections, simple methods and immediate results. If you do what he says you get an amazing dog.

    Sunshine K9

    Sunshine K9

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    I trust Amanda and Kseniya more with my dogs than I do anyone else around. They are professional…read moreyet funny and kind.

    If I could give 10 stars, then I would give 11…read more Ksenyia and Amanda are professional and trusted dog-trainers. For the past five years, these ladies have walked, trained and cared for our family dog, Hummus, who is a pit-bull mix. We adopted him from the San Francisco SPCA. Like many pit-bull mixed pups, his opportunities for finding a loving home were slim. He was anxious, nervous and afraid of others. Aggression is the first word that came to mind, but for us, he was just misunderstood. Kas and Amanda are patient, reliable and kind. Since we brought Hummus home they gave continuously worked with his anxiety and affliction to other dogs. We would be lying if we said he was perfect, but like humans, dogs are not perfect. Nonetheless, he has a come a long way from lunging, barking and growling at other animals. Kas and Amabda have made vast improvements in his temperament. We now have two human pups of our own. He is respectful and has nothing but love and compassion for them. Hummus boards with Kas and Amanda for periods of a time while we travel. They have always been reliable and responsive to our needs, not to mention flexible when situations arise. These ladies started out as our dog walkers, but as we continued to grow in family size our relationship grew as well. We are honored and proud to call them our dog trainers, but most importantly, trusted family friends. Their youth, passion and dedication are truly inspirational.

    Cause & Effect Dog Training - Hans on a pack walk with Kathy off leash and loving life

    Cause & Effect Dog Training

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    West Berkeley

    I cannot recommend Kathy at Cause and Effect Dog Training enough! When we first reached out, our…read moreSpringer Spaniel, Checkers, was fearful, anxious, and often growled at my spouse and sometimes even at our kids. We had already tried multiple trainers, different techniques, and even followed our vet's suggestion to try antidepressants--but nothing was helping (in fact, the medication only made things worse). The moment I spoke to Kathy on the phone, I felt confident she truly understood the problem and could guide us in the right direction. And she absolutely has. Over the past year, Checkers has made tremendous progress thanks to Kathy's knowledge, patience, and the clear guidance she gave us. We followed her suggestions carefully--even switching vets based on her recommendation--and the results have been life-changing. Earlier this year, we had to travel out of the country and trusted Kathy to board Checkers. During that time, he developed a beautiful bond with her partner Dan. This was nothing short of amazing, as Checkers has always been fearful of men. Watching their relationship grow has been such a gift. With Kathy's help (and the influence of her own two balanced dogs), Checkers has learned how to be a dog--something I once thought might never happen. He now participates in pack walks and can even run off-leash in the fields, something I couldn't have imagined a year ago. If you're struggling with your dog's behavior and feel like nothing is working, do yourself and your dog a favor and call Kathy. She and Dan have changed our lives, and I am endlessly grateful for the care and dedication they've shown to Checkers and to us.

    Kathy had great techniques and homework for me and my husband. She was punctual in every session…read moreand gave us constructive feedback. I really think having the training sessions with Kathy helped us bond with our dog more. It was a really rewarding experience. I absolutely feel more confident about my communication skills towards our girl Cub. Thank you for helping us work with her Kathy!!

    The Tail Haven - Lafayette

    The Tail Haven - Lafayette

    (71 reviews)

    Although I had a nice chat on the phone with very nice lady, I decided to drop by before my fist…read morereservation to check the place out for my 3 mo old tiny puppy that needs playtime and socializing, while I got called away for meetings at my usual wfh job. When I pulled up a younger male (long hair) was a bit standoffish and looked at me like I was insane asking if I could come check the facility out. I honestly felt like I was being shamed for so much as asking to come see where she would be after I dropped her off or meet any staff. I guess we are supposed to hand off our dogs through the car window on a rather busy street, to a virtual stranger? No lobby or anything? He said I could look at pictures online, but I have never had a boarding or daycare place gate keep their space like that.

    I have never left a review on Yelp before, but feel I need to now. I have had 2 different dogs who…read morewe have taken here over the past 6+ years. I was always surprised when I would pick them up and they would be very wet, sometimes soaking wet. I was under the impression this was because it can be very warm in Lafayette and that is how they cooled the dogs off. imagine my surprise when I was told they use water from hoses to "correct" behaviors. I have checked around and found this is not a usual way to correct dogs. so, my dogs won't be going there. I am also going to clarify to anyone I have recommended Tail Haven to that I no longer recommend their doggie day care.

    Bay Area Balanced Dog Training - pet_training - Updated May 2026

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