We have left our dog Star with Samantha several times, for up to a couple weeks at a time. He now…read more_loves_ her. We sometimes suspect that he likes being at her place more than he likes being at home. Samantha has always been great about providing us with regular updates and photos. She has a backyard where he can run around and relieve himself. But most important, she's so caring -- she would sometimes even ask us how he's doing after he came home. So we always have complete faith that she will make sure he's well taken care of.

YOUR DOG WILL BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF…read more When I first took stitch to Samantha , of course I was hesitant, but when I came to pick him up, he did not want to leave. For me, that was a great sign that he created a bond with another person. I usually drop my dog off four times a week and so far the same thing he does not want to leave. Samantha is such a kind soul. She loves the animals and she loves what she does and you can definitely tell she has experience with all breeds, and most importantly, she knows dogs, body language, which is hard to find with somebody, my dog is a blue heeler pitbull mix and people don't know how to handle his behavior and know how to recognize when he's having a temper tantrum. Samantha is definitely experienced and seasoned. She knows how to take care of large dog breeds pit bulls pretty much all dog breeds. For my people out there who are looking for someone who can manage pitbull behavior, and actually find someone to take care of their pitbull She is the person. I don't want to give my business to anyone else, because not only does my dog have a great relationship with her in a bond as well. Have a great relationship with her. She is so kind like I said before and very understanding. There's been times where I forgot my dogs essentials and she already had it , she's such a wonderful person and she's doing so many good things such as training and keeping up with the regiment I have my dog on she takes the dogs to the dog park and overall she make sure that they are very happy.

Billy Mays here with another fantastic product!…read more Getting a dog in Northern California comes with a host of challenges for two working parents. Who can walk him during the day? Where can we board him when we leave? How will we get him there? All of these questions can be answered with Benji's Backyard. Sure there are services that come and walk for a half hour or so, and we use them too, but who picks up your dog at your home (trustworthy enough to enter with your spare key) and take the pup for a long walk at the beach with other dogs? That's great, but I didn't expect the detailed notes and pictures to verify that your dog wasn't just watched, but cared for. Even if your pre-neutered pup happens to Lothario every four-legged canine regardless of gender. But wait, there's more! What if you're leaving for a few days, and you can't have a house sitter? Benji's will pick up your barker and provide the same service they do for the long morning, notes included. And they bring him home. All of this for a price that I really don't know, The Wife handles that part. I can say during my monthly review of expenditures that it hasn't reached my What The Hell? threshold. So yep, this service earns the 5 stars. Great communication and care with no mistakes.

I needed to update this review because Marie and her band of merry dog walkers has expanded their…read moreservices and gotten even better! 1. They pick up and drop off at your house 2. They do beach hikes (Ft Funston most often, and others) 3. They do day care with enrichment and some training 4. They will wash your dog off before returning your pet home if they got very muddy or filthy 5. They train their dog handlers (who are already amazing) and she continues to get further certifications in various dog therapies, modalities, and techniques 6. They do overnight boarding for regulars including pick up and drop off making your flights/business trips/family trips that much less stressful 7. Your dog will have a wonderful time. Only downside is they probably won't miss you as much, lol. 8. Oh, and the pricing is competitive to all the other Silicon Valley services. You won't find another service that includes pick up and drop off and all day daycare/dog hike for this much. 9. Marie always does the meet and greet intake appointments and all of her handlers are awesome (I've had Jade, JR, David). They're all awesome dog people. 10. Bonded, insured, all the rest of it. They check all their guests vaccinations, health records, and health so you don't have to worry that your pet will pick something up while playing. These guys are a gem.

My husband and I are so grateful we came across Dogs in Harmony and Shanni (shoutout to our friend…read morefor the rec!). We rescued a nervous jindo mix puppy last July who turned out to have several behavioral issues (fear barking at strangers at home/outside, reactivity to dogs, anxiety around dog dad, not engaging on walks) we didn't anticipate, and we were desperate to get some help. Given our pup's tendency to get very nervous, we needed a trainer who understood her needs and was willing to work at her pace. And Shanni was that exact trainer we needed -- she recommended 1:1 training lessons specifically tailored around our dog's threshold, and we learned how to identify body language and types of barks (i.e. fear barking, demand barking). She equipped us with all of the tools to continue working with our dog after our lessons finished. We didn't think leash manners would even be possible, but our dog now is so engaged and attentive on walks! Really could go on and on here, but long story short, if you're looking for a trainer who truly understands your dog's and your needs, equips you with the right tools to continue training beyond lessons, works at your dog's pace, we highly recommend working with Shanni.

Dogs in Harmony saved my sanity and helped me develop a loving relationship with my puppy! I cannot…read morerecommend the entire staff at Dogs at Harmony enough, but especially Shanni and Brenna. As a first-time dog owner raising a puppy by myself, I was completely overwhelmed. The staff has been with me every step of the way, even helping me decide on a Portuguese Water Dog's temperament to best suit my active running lifestyle. My puppy Yumi, now 17 weeks old, has been through Harmony School from 9-12 weeks, which came with 4 group lessons, and 1 private instruction. She's still going to school once a week to help give me some much-needed relief, and I'm hoping to start private lessons soon after my travel plans. Shanni and Brenna were instrumental during those first brutal two weeks with Yumi. I had major puppy blues - stressed about making sure she was okay, stressed about accidents, and desperate to set her up for success. This stress, combined with virtually no sleep (taking Yumi out every 20 minutes when awake and sleeping near her the first few days to soothe her), was a recipe for doubt and regret. I was that pet parent who would call frantically about any diarrhea or accident, text essay-length questions, and send way too many videos and notes about the schedules and patterns I'd observe, obsess over, and worry about. This incredible team met every single concern with patience, understanding, and practical solutions. The first time I dropped Yumi off at school was the first time I'd taken a break in a week - it was much-needed relief that allowed me to reset and find a routine that worked for me. Instead of fighting against her nature and her age (she's just a toddler!), I learned to work with her and celebrate every victory. The resources and support I received have set both Yumi and myself up for success. Yumi has grown into a beautiful, confident, and sweet-natured pup. She's well socialized, sleeps through the night from 10-7am, tries her hardest to not jump when greeting others, and can now be left alone for 3-4 hours at a time, which has been huge. She's still a working dog with tons of energy, but Shanni has guided me through how to tire her out mentally via shaping, soft chews, increasing difficulty in fundamentals, and teaching me how to actually train my dog. Her guidance helped me learn to see Yumi for who she is instead of who I want her to be, and how to debug and break down behaviors to address instead of treating undesired ones as 'issues' (like barking, digging, or jumping on people). It's been such a joy and privilege raising Yumi, but I definitely wouldn't have gotten here without Shanni and her team - the true village supporting my single pet parenthood lifestyle. Their approach is holistic, compassionate, and incredibly effective. Highly recommend for both new and experienced dog owners!

My dog loves it, and seems happy to go there.. I've used it…read morefor a few years now for both day care and boarding for multiple days when I travel. So I ve been very happy with it's services.

We absolutely love Klub K9 for our dog, Otto! If you are looking for a reliable boarding spot, this…read moreis the place. The staff here is incredibly friendly and they genuinely care about the dogs. They always greet Otto with so much enthusiasm, and it is clear he loves going there. One of our favorite features is the webcam access. The cameras are a bit old and fuzzy, but we can still make out Otto playing and having a great time. It gives us so much peace of mind to be able to check in on him while we are away. The convenience is also unbeatable. They are open 365 days a year, and their 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM pickup and drop-off hours make scheduling so easy no matter what our travel plans look like. We highly recommend Klub K9 to anyone needing a safe and happy place for their pup!

My experience with Josh was great! Adopted my dog a few months ago, he felt anxiety and had…read moreboundary issues. Josh helped me understand about his situation and how to curb it. Would recommend him to anyone looking to get help understanding their dog.

I was really skeptical about hiring a dog behavioral therapist at first. Part of me just wanted to…read morebuy a training program or send my dog away for professional training so she'd come back "fixed" My French Bulldog, Mango who was 2 at the time, was super stubborn and reactive, and she suffered from pretty severe separation anxiety. She couldn't leave my side, cried the moment I walked away. It was overall super stressful. Josh helped me understand where that anxiety was truly coming from. Turns out, IT WAS ME! He encouraged me to create healthy boundaries with Mango and offered practical solutions, along with dietary supplements, to support her emotionally and physically. I had no idea that excess energy could actually contribute to anxiety in dogs! Josh suggested adjusting her meal plan, and that alone made a huge difference. He also gave me plenty of tips and tricks to help Mango naturally regulate her anxiety. And since his program includes lifetime training, he's continued to guide me whenever I have questions or notice old behaviors resurfacing. Josh reassured me that if I stayed consistent with the regimen he provided, Mango would be okay, and he was absolutely right. She's like a whole new dog now! At 4 years old She can stay home calmly without destroying furniture or becoming overly needy. I'm beyond grateful to Josh for his guidance and to his partner, Nicole, who helped me prepare for our first session. If you get a chance to talk to Nicole, let her know she's an absolute gem! so kind and caring, even behind the scenes!

Brad did a GREAT job socializing my pup and helping him be confident in all kinds of situations. Mo…read morewas always the biggest sweetheart, but he lacked confidence in situations outside our house. He loved working with Brad (and I enjoyed it too) and he became more outgoing, eager to explore and learn after a few weeks of Brad's training. I credit Brad with helping bring out his good character. Brad is hands-on, great with getting dogs engaged, figuring out what's going on in their heads, and helping them get past their own fears and stuck patterns. I'd definitely bring him on board to give your puppy a great start in life.  Brad's methods are 100% positive - I NEVER saw him use any negative or aversive methods with Mo. He also has created an online training course for his clients that has a ton of good information about how to work with dogs so that they understand what you're asking for. I've learned a lot about how to communicate more clearly and consistently with my dog and I've got a lot of tools to use when I train him now. Learning fun things to do with Mo - some things I hadn't even thought of as "training" like teaching him nose work and a reliable "drop it" when he fetches a ball - engage his mind and improve our communication and relationship. Mo is thriving and I know I can turn to Brad for help to resolve any issues that might arise as he grows older!

Brad was recommended to me by a behavioral vet, and helped me work on my puppy's separation anxiety…read moreand other behaviors. He also helped me lessen my other dog's demand barking. There are many things that make Brad great at what he does! The bottom line is that he's adept at teaching owners positive methods to change many types of unwanted dog behavior, and helping people and their dogs to develop happier and deeper relationships. And, he's always a pleasure to work with!

Shawn is amazing and one can tell she has a passion and love for animals. On our meet and greet,…read more she went down to the ground to be eye level with my cat and pet him the moment she walked through the door and saw him. I went on a 2 week vacation and she made sure my cat was doing well. Visited every day, petted and played with him, cleaned the litter, took out the trash, watered my plants, and updated me daily. She went above & beyond and even offered to buy more cat toys for my cat. She is also very transparent about costs, sent me her business license when asked and is a lovely person to talk to. Would definitely reccomend her.

As a helicopter pet mom who was nervous about pet sitters for a long time (especially after hearing…read moretoo many stories about Rover)... I cannot recommend Shawn enough. It was my first time seeking a cat sitter, and I completely lucked out when Shawn got back to me right away (after I had sent inquiries to multiple parties). From the get-go, Shawn was responsive and professional. She promptly shared her business license info, insurance info, and references with me - which nobody else had bothered to do. And she was so warm when we met in person, for our initial meet-and-greet. It's clear that she loves the animals she cares for, coming from a fellow animal lover. My kitty warmed up to Shawn much faster than she normally warms up to anyone (?!) - a testament to her character, given that my kitty suffers from plenty of "stranger danger"! Shawn sent plenty of updates and photos, was always a text message away, and allowed us to enjoy our trip with zero worry. Kitty was completely relaxed when we came home, even though it was her first time being alone for multiple days. I'm so happy knowing that we can lean on Shawn for any future trips we take. I completely trust her with my fur-babies and my home.

We have been working together with Zane for almost a year, and he has been an incredible trainer…read morefor our two puppies. Zane always comes prepared and helps us work on specific skills that make a real difference in our daily life. Zane has taken the time to get to know our family, our environment, and the fact that we have young kids- and he tailors his approach accordingly. He also provides detailed notes after each session, checks in between visits, and is always available for questions or support. His patience, expertise, and calm demeanor have not only helped Nico and Nacho thrive but have also made us feel more confident as dog owners. We truly couldn't have done it without him and highly recommend Zane to anyone looking for a thoughtful and effective trainer!

Zane has been working with our rescue German Shepherd mix since May and is wonderful with her! He…read moreis extremely positive and knows so much about dogs. We have learned a lot from him and he has been a huge help. Our dog is always so happy to see him too! His sessions are very informative and if we have any additional questions, he always responds to texts and emails quickly. We highly recommend Zane!