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    Cali K9

    4.7 (491 reviews)
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    Services - Cali K9

    Dog boarding and training

    Cali K9 Photos

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chilling after class

    I not gonna lie I was so nervous to start training with Cane Corso. He is a 4 year old male and has a reaction problem with all dogs and some humans. I made the decision things needed to change for the better. I wanted my dog to have a normal fun dog life. I signed up and had a great introductory calI with Jas. I was so nervous for our first in person class but Hamez the trainer is so calm and so knowledgeable about dogs and training them. He made me feel so much better about my situation. I had my last in person class today a d my big boy Ralph is doing so much better around other dogs and humans. The pa

    Ronin sitting quietly with 3 other reactive dogs! All doing great!

    I love CaliK9! I have a one year-old rescue GSD/Malinois that I adopted in November and has since developed some reactivity and aggression with dogs and people. We started the CaliK9 program about six weeks ago. We have had three private lessons, one semi-private lesson, 3 zoom classes and two very small group lessons. I can't believe how well he's doing! Most of his reactivity has come from lack of socialization with people and dogs in his previous life. With CaliK9, you are able to have (safely) access to socialization which is not something I have been able to find with any other trainer. Hamza (our trainer) is incredibly calm, knowledgeable and supportive. Constantly reassuring and letting me know we're doing well, even if there's a little setback. I am so excited to drive the 1 1/2 hours every week to get to class! Madison (administrator) is very quick to respond and always so lovely and helpful. She's been through this as well, so she understands what we are all going through. I can't thank CaliK9 enough and look forward to our future together!

    Our dog Carson far left in his 2nd group training. Very impressive.

    We absolutely love, CALI K9 and our trainer Hamza at Cali K9. He has helped us tremendously with training our eight-year-old American bully/pit mix and us

    Coco in place

    I sent my dog, CoCo to Cali K9 for the 2 weeks board & train and it was excellent, I give the program 5 stars! Jas and his entire team is fantastic. Drew the Board & Training Manager is kind, communicative and provided regular updates and educated us in training do's and dont's . He stayed in contact with me everyday via phone calls and texts letting me know CoCo's progress. He texted pics of CoCo almost daily. The onsite trainers Nyeusi and Candace worked their magic with CoCo, she was a completely different dog with her behavior! At pick up when they brought CoCo out she was bathed, happy and wagging her tail so I know they treated her well. She was happy to see us and we were thrilled to see her. We did a training session at pick up and they took us through the training and what to do once we took her home. I would HIGHLY recommend Cali K9 for training.

    Indiana Bones behaving at the office
    Ani G.

    I brought my 8-month-old Belgian Malinois/Pit/GSM/Husky mix, Indiana Bones (yes, that Indiana Bones ), to Cali K9 in San Jose, and from the moment we met Hamza, I knew we were in the best possible hands. Indy is high-energy, whip-smart, and--let's be real--easily distracted. Squirrels, bikes, vacuums and surprisingly giant metal chains?!--you name it, he's chasing it. I was starting to feel overwhelmed trying to get him to focus and listen. Then came Hamza, a total pro with an incredible sense of calm, confidence, and understanding of canine behavior. What impressed me most was how Hamza didn't just train my dog--he did the impossible and trained me as well (hope my husband doesn't read this ). He explained everything clearly and gave me the tools I needed to reinforce what Indy was learning. The sessions were structured, personalized, and most importantly, effective. Hamza knew exactly how to channel Indy's boundless energy into obedience and engagement, and Indy responded to him almost immediately. Watching their connection build was like watching magic in real time. Now, just weeks later, Indiana Bones can heel, stay focused even with distractions, and has learned boundaries and impulse control I never thought were possible this early on. I feel like I have a whole new dog--one who's still playful and full of personality, but now listens and respects commands. Our walks are no longer as chaotic, and I'm actually excited to take him out in public. If you're on the fence about dog training, don't wait. Cali K9 is the real deal, and Hamza is an absolute gem. Passionate, patient, and incredibly skilled. He transformed my wild pup into a focused, happy, and obedient companion. Thank you, Hamza--you've made a lifelong fan out of both me and Indy!

    Penny
    nida e.

    My dog, Penny, is currently 3 years old. She was adopted when she was just a puppy, and at the time of adoption, we were informed that she was a Beagle Boxer mix. However, after having a DNA test conducted, it turns out she is actually a mix of Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Belgian Malinois, and Border Collie. Prior to enrolling her in Cali K9, she had never undergone any formal training, which meant we were almost starting from scratch. Now, we work with our trainer, Hamza, in person once a week, and we also participate in weekly Zoom sessions. I'm thrilled to report that Penny is responding exceptionally well to the training techniques we're learning. Both Penny and I are benefiting greatly from Hamza's expertise; I find that I'm gaining a deeper understanding of canine behavior and training strategies, which is making a significant difference in our progress. I also want to acknowledge Madison who helps with the administration. Great experience all around. Thank you, so much Hamza and Jass!!

    Smokey playing Frisbee at the park.

    I have a half German Sheppard and half Belgin Malinois who has tons of energy, he has also has been reactive to other dogs. Last week at class we walked and zigzagged thru a line of 15 other dogs, from Frenchy,Corgie, pit bull, CanCorso, and what a difference. He didn't bark he just did his job. Met some really nice people along the way. I can see now after about 6 sessions Cali k9 especially Hazma our trainer system works. I've had dogs my whole life im 58 but I can only take my dog so far without the coaching of professional s. I would like to understand dogs better and take my obedience to the next level. Thanks Hazma for your encouraging us, and professionalism. Im in pittsburg and I drive to San Jose its been worth it to me.

    Aquiles the cane corso

    Hamzah is an incredibly knowledgeable and patient trainer. I've been working with him at Cali K9 to help my Cane Corso, Aquiles, who's a very reactive dog. As many people know, Cane Corsos are a strong, protective breed, and it's not always easy to find someone who truly understands how to handle them -- but Hamzah does. From day one, he took the time to understand Aquiles' triggers and behavior. He didn't rush the process, and he always made sure both my dog and I felt safe and supported. He showed us how to build trust, set boundaries, and stay consistent with training. The difference in Aquiles' behavior has been incredible -- he's more focused, less reactive, and I've learned how to manage situations that used to overwhelm both of us. Cali K9 offers several training packages, and they're flexible depending on your goals and budget. The environment is professional, and you can tell they genuinely care about helping both dogs and their owners succeed. If you're struggling with a reactive or powerful breed, or just want to build a better relationship with your dog, I highly recommend giving them a try.

    I have been eyeing Cali K9's training for YEARS and I am so glad signed up for it. My 3.5 year old Golden Retriever, Bandit, is exactly what you can imagine - energetic, ball-driven, derpy, and has incredible bouts of selective hearing... I finally signed up for the "In-Person 12 Session Training" because Bandit was starting to become reactive to other dogs while on walks, and significantly regressed from my informal/self-training. I was finding myself not wanting to take him in public unless the situation was just "right." I am blown away by how quickly Bandit caught on to the training with Hamza. Seriously, within 1-2 sessions I felt like I had a brand new dog in front of me. Thanks to Hamza, Bandit responds to me better than he ever has. Hamza made the environment comfortable and productive, and now Bandit & I are both learning new things and having fun doing it! I have several friends who have gone through their other training programs and I am so impressed with their behavior and obedience - on and off leash. If you're on the fence, don't wait 3 years like I did to have a better & safer relationship with your dog.

    Here is Jes Leverette admitting to their abuse and negligence and offering to reimburse me but then he went silent and unethical.

    I have been contacted by other customers who experienced the same horrific treatment. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. They abuse dogs. My dog still suffers from trauma even two years later due to the negligent, cruel, and dishonest practices of this business. He was less than a year old when I sent him for "training". Jas, the unethical owner, blamed his staff and made empty promises--to retrain, refund, and reimburse for proper training elsewhere. None of it happened. Instead, he continues to deceive customers, even offering discounts in exchange for positive reviews to manipulate public perception while animals continue to suffer. This business must be shut down by the appropriate regulatory agencies. They use electric shocks, tighten painful chokers, and leave dogs in unsafe, unhygienic, and inhumane conditions. It is unacceptable that they are still allowed to operate.

    Xochi in the box
    MJ L.

    After 3 years of managing fear aggression and lack of pack leadership in our household, we were at our wits end and decided to enroll the boys at CaliK9 in San Jose for the 4 week board and train. We were living with gates all over the house. We could barely have people oven in the fear that one of our pups would snap at someone or at each other. We were blessed to work with the amazing Hamzah Jones at CaliK9. His patience, compassion, empathy, and understanding of a dog's mind (and patience with us lol) is amazing. Without his leadership, I really don't know how we could operate our household to give our boys the life they deserve! Post board and train, the boys are walking together, they don't snarl at each other, they're more confident around each other and their surroundings, they're sniffing each other, they're eating treats together...everything we couldn't do before! We have a lot of work to do and the journey just started, but we wouldn't be here without Hamzah Jones and Calik9's guidance. Our follow up session was awesome! We learned more tips and tricks from Hamzah to keep continue to desensitize the boys to what once used to scare the shit out of them. We're working on our pack leadership skills and it's working! Shout out to Madison who has literally held our hand virtually during this process and shout out to Jas for checking in right away when we weren't feeling confident! We're proud to be a part of this growing family and we hope that their presence (Calik9) gets stronger in the Bay Area where it all began. Much respect to the CaliK9 fam! Forever #teamHamzah #westoaklandstrong

    Luna staying in sit position in her box focusing on me while I'm at at far distance.

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Cali K9

    1). Is the training punitive? Do they use shock collars or stuff like that? 2) Also, is there a…

    I don't know about their board and train, but I do know that they do use e-collars quite responsibly and quite expertly. When you train. Your dogs is best to train them one at a time and I think they would do that there unless you have a different… Read more

    Is it too late to train a three-year-old Pug?

    It's never too late to train a dog, and I think these people would do expertly with your pug. Good luck!

    How can I contact the business? The phone number does not seem to work.

    Email training@calik9.com or call 408.770. 7556

    Hello! Is a 3 year old Boerboel still trainable? Also would me and my partner both be able to attend the training sessions?

    I don't know about the boerboel breed specifically, but I started training with a dog over 3 years old - so I image so.… Read more

    Hi! Do you also train Shih Tzu's? They are almost 8 months old. I've actually been incorporating some of your techniques that I saw on your show... it seems to be working so far. I just want to make sure I do my pups Justice!

    We train dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds

    Hi, can we get more information about the advanced package? What is a good time to call since it doesn't seem like anyone is answering?

    You can email training@calik9.com or call 408.770.7556 Tuesday through Saturday 10 to 5. You can see the details here: https://calik9.com/pages/dog-training-packages

    Hi, does the on-leash obedience also include crate training?

    Crate training is done at home.

    One of our two dogs was killed by two dogs in our home (home invasion by neighbors dogs when we were not home) do you work with dogs that exhibit apprehension towards other dogs following trauma?

    Do you have a dog hotel? Thank you for responding.…

    Do you offer board and train?

    I had a phone consultation maybe a month or two ago and was planning on buying the package that includes 12 private or semi and 12 group classes. after purchase how soon will i be able to start the private sessions?

    Hi, depends on the schedule. Call 408.770.7566 or email training@calik9.com and Jaime will schedule you.

    We are very interested in training our 1.5yo German Shepherd mix with the Cali K9 method but don't live in CA. Is the online course as effective as in-person classes when a trainer isn't present to spot and correct our mistakes? Do you have reviews?

    The answer depends on the individual and the dog, and any behavior issues. Take the time to learn… Read more

    How much do you normally charge?

    There's no one answer to that question. We have in person training packages, board & train programs and an online training course. Best to go to calik9.com.

    Hi I bought a package but am not able to contact anyone to schedule a class. The website says that mail is temporarily disabled and if I call the phone number on website, I get a message that voicemail is full. How do I schedule a class?

    Because of the TV show this weekend, voicemail was full. Mail isn't disabled. The contact form was disabled but you can email training@ calik9.com and someone will call you back. Or leave you phone number here.

    If we paid for a package, how and when do we get notified about class dates?

    Your trainer will tell you after a couple of sessions.

    I live in San José and have bought your dog training starter kit. May I please pick it up today (instead of waiting for the mail)? My recent Humane Society adopted dog, Koleamoku, and I thank you.

    I'm happy this has been taken care of.

    Do you guys have any dogs available to sell? like a small dog for a small family not a protection but a normal dog

    Greetings. Cali K9 sells puppies from German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds and Belgian Malinois litters...most larger dogs. Best to visit a few local dog rescues to find your forever dog. Good luck!

    Do you use negative reinforcement (prong and shock collars)?

    No negative or punishment training. All rward-base like praise, training treats, and praise.

    Are you guys currently doing dog protection training?

    Yes, so call the office at 408.770.7556 or go online and schedule an evaluation. New dogs seeking protection training need an in-person evaluation.

    Hello. Do you offer potty training (especially indoors on grass patch/artificial turf) as part of the board and train program? Thank you!

    Hello. No, because puppies need to go out to potty at regular short intervals on a schedule and kennel environment is nothing like your home where the dog will live. Please call 408.770.7556 during office hour for other questions or visit… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Cali K9

    After interviewing several trainers, and having Sammy evaluated by Jas over a Zoom, I selected Cali K9.

    Mentioned in 140 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    (117 reviews)

    Willow Glen

    From "Cujo Junior" to "Polite Gentleman" -- Thanks to Mike! If you've ever adopted a 4-month-old…read moreSchnauzer who treats every living being like a personal insult, you know our pain. Our pup, Diego, didn't just bark; he acted like he was auditioning for a lead role in a horror movie. Walks? Impossible. Visitors? Forget about it. Even our long-time pet sitter--a woman who has survived literal wolves--couldn't go near him without fear. . Our first trainer took one look at him and basically told us we'd adopted a tiny, bearded landmine. She called him "one of the most reactive dogs she'd ever met" and gave us the kind of "good luck" that usually precedes a disaster movie. Enter Mike Hatjes from Bay Area Dog Training. We found Mike on Yelp, and honestly, we were just looking for a miracle. Mike is a unique breed himself: he's incredibly direct (no sugar-coating the fact that your dog thinks he's the CEO of Chaos) but also hilarious. He balances that "tell-it-like-it-is" energy with a sense of humor that kept us from losing our minds. The Transformation Timeline: * The Private Lesson Phase (8 Sessions): We went from "we can't leave the house" to "wait, is he actually sitting on command?" By the end of our eight private lessons, we were taking regular walks. My blood pressure dropped, and Diego actually started building confidence instead of seeing every mailbox as a mortal enemy. * The Group Lesson Phase (The Real Magic): If you told me six months ago my dog would be in a group with 10 other dogs, I would have assumed there'd be a SWAT team involved. But Mike's group lessons are shockingly amazing. Seeing my dog hold a "down" in a row of 10 dogs while each one weaves through the line? It's practically a glitch in the Matrix. The Verdict: Mike didn't just train our dog; he gave us our lives back. We can do family trips, have friends over, and walk down the street without looking like we're wrestling a caffeinated alligator. If you have a dog that makes other trainers cry, call Mike. He'll tell you the truth, make you laugh, and turn your "unbelievable" nightmare into a well-behaved companion.

    When we first got our dog, a 4-year-old Jindo from Korea, he had a stubborn prey drive and would…read morepull on the leash hard enough to drag me to the ground. He was also very reactive to other people and dogs. Mike taught me to watch my dog for cues and to communicate with him. After 7 private lessons and two months of weekly group classes, my dog is now a well-behaved walking buddy (most of the time). Thanks, Mike!

    Bay Area K9 Association

    Bay Area K9 Association

    (227 reviews)

    Bay Area K9 has been a lovely experience with me and my dog Cane for the past few months, from the…read moretraining and using the Sniffspot as well. This review is long overdue for sure! Training aspect: Steve, has helped my men reactive and dog reactive 2yo German shepherd adjust to our home and make our bond SO strong. I myself, have learned so much from him and have finally been able to teach my dog phenomenal manners and after a few sessions, his behavior at home is so much better now. We have more to learn, but Steve has taught us everything and been patient and kind, and it works out so well for our learning style. His photography is also phenomenal and has taken amazing progress photos of Cane, and I can guarantee I'm probably going to get one framed in the future. 10/10 trainer, couldn't recommend him enough. Sniffspot: This area behind the facility is SO nice if you don't have a backyard, which is very common in the Bay Area. Having a high energy dog, exercise is so important to keep him in shape, and keep him happy. The turf is always nice and clean, and the area is always quiet and we are never disturbed. Plenty of toys to play with and so much room to run! It's always worth the drive over for sure. Overall, no complaints whatsoever, if you are looking for a trainer that is kind, knows his stuff, and makes training FUN and makes your bond stronger with your dog, go here! I couldn't be any happier with our time with Bay Area K9. :)

    If your pet is running from you should be running to Bay Area K9 Association!!!!!!…read moreAre you looking for an amazing quality caring and experienced professional who will make your two naughty dogs a little bit less crazy? Look no further! Steve is an amazing professional who understands your pets needs and your own needs. Whether your pet is old (or young) Steve's your guy.

    Happy Tails To You Dog Training

    Happy Tails To You Dog Training

    (69 reviews)

    Cambrian Park

    This review is long overdue. We adopted a 2yo pit bull in February 2020 from a shelter. Then, as…read moreyou know, Covid hit the very next month. Our boy had been found wondering the streets of SJ. With my wife and I, he was the Biggest love bug. So cute, and funny, and cuddly. But we can only imagine the terrible experiences he had endured. He had a scar atop his head and was very nervous around new people, which led to behavior like growling and snapping at times. His fear was only made worse by social distancing and not being around new people. Once Covid settled a bit we sought out a trainer for him. I'll never forget the first day Dawna came to the house. Our pup growled and was very displeased that this stranger was in his space, and worse, trying to interact with him. Dawna was not a bit deterred, which I was impressed by but I remained skeptical. Fast forward something like 2 weeks: Dawna interacted with him with ease on training days and he loved receiving love and pets from her. We couldn't believe it. Dawna taught us how to train him and he was able to meet all kinds of new people and doggy friends on our outings. We are forever grateful. We only had 2 years with him. Cancer. I knew I would get emotional writing this review, which is why it has taken so long. Dawna and Megan (from Dawna's other business, Canine Corral Dog Daycare) changed our lives. We will be forever thankful for them. I couldn't recommend Happy Tails To You enough.

    Easy drop off and pick up. Staff is caring . My dog is always tired from her day. Highly recommendread more

    Sit Means Sit Dog Training South Bay - The Sit Means Sit South Bay team hanging!

    Sit Means Sit Dog Training South Bay

    (114 reviews)

    Berryessa

    We sent our 1.5-year-old golden retriever for three weeks. We were stunned by the results. If you…read moredon't know anything about goldens, just know that they're very welcoming and friendly, but are also overwhelmingly energetic for the first three to five years. Think zoomies x 10. They're easy to train, but that was the issue. He would ignore our commands because he wouldn't feel like doing it. We asked Ryan to focus on three areas: recall, drop it, and going off-leash. We would spend 15-20 minutes chasing after him after he'd bolt out the front door. He thought it was a game. As you know, running out to the street can be dangerous. 'Drop it' rarely worked. He would have everything in his mouth - sticks, trash, balls - you name it. Sometimes, he'd have things that aren't edible in his mouth. And frankly, we never trusted him off-leash, that was asking for it. Everything was resolved when we brought our pup home. We were so proud of him! His recall was better, he never bolts out of the front door, and with that, we trusted him off leash (only in confined areas, of course). We're super grateful for Ryan and the SMS team. Now it's on us to continue with the training! One more thing to add: our pup had perpetuating issues with digestion/stool and paw and ear infections. It was the worst! We tried everything and spent so much money. Ryan suggested that we transition to a raw diet and we haven't had an episode since. I'm so thankful for that too!

    My husband and I have 5 dogs. At the time we put 4 through…read morethe program because we did not have the 5th one. My oldest dog is 12 years old with no training. I soon got 2 more dachshunds and then a German Shepherd. Being that the 3 dachshunds had no training, we knew it was irresponsible on our part to have a bigger dog that was untrained. When I dropped off my first two (German Shepherd 6 mo. & dachshund 1 yr) I told Ryan, good luck! LOL They are very energetic since they are puppies and the GS was already taking in bad habits from the little ones. Always barking, was getting on top of our counters, very reactive. Typical dog stuff. After a couple days we received videos of them walking by other dogs and no barking! I was witnessing a miracle! After 2 weeks we got them back and we saw a MAJOR IMPROVEMENT. Dogs are dogs, so of course they are still a little reactive and bark, but it's much much much MUCH EASIER to stop it! No more haggling. I say quiet and they're quiet! Especially with as many dogs as we have, we had no idea how to train them all at once. Then they took in the other two dachshunds. The 12 year old and the 5 year old who are the most spoiled. To my surprise they were very disciplined the first couple of days! The little ones always pulled on the leash and was starting to hurt my shoulder. Not anymore!! They all walk beside me with no tugging. So now my husband walks the GS while I walk the 3 dachshunds. And yes they are actually pretty good at walking all together. IT IS POSSIBLE! Now that we have another puppy, a GSD Shar Pei mix, we have him into training too. Since the other dogs are into their routine, he falls into place. We also got him a place mat, and an ecollar. Not only does this program know how to train your dog, they are also very passionate and loving about it. You can tell they love your dog like it was their own. They are also very knowledgeable about the raw food diet. I highly suggest talking to them about it. I want to say a huge thank you to Jaden and Sam too who helped make this possible! Also, being that this is basically a franchise for dog training, it was a HUGE PLUS for being in a military family. Training is every week for the lifetime of the dog, so your dog can interact with other dogs that have been through the same program. My husband and I are moving across the country due to military orders, and we don't have to worry about the dogs not socializing with other trained dogs. They have someone out there too! I hope they are just as great as Ryan, Sam, and Jaden! We are truly going to miss this little family!

    Cali K9 - pet_training - Updated May 2026

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