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Cause & Effect Dog Training

4.9 (144 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

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Reviews With Photos

Abby S.

We fell in love with and adopted sweet Keba from A Girl's Best Friend Rescue. While she is incredibly loving with people, as she bonded with us it became clear she was dog selective. She once pinned a dog, bit another dog's ear, and aggressively stared at other dogs inciting lots of barking. Working with Kathy has been incredible. She truly is a dog whisperer. Keba LOVES Kathy and is over joyed every time she gets to see her. Kathy was actually training us more than Keba (who was keen to be trained). Working with Kathy was a game changer. In sessions she would demonstrate what she was teaching us, then have each my husband and I try and correct us while we practiced. She provided us so many tools (e.g. squirt gun, e-collar, pinch collar, muzzle) to help train Keba and showed us how to use them in a minimal and humane way. Kathy gave us confidence to keep Keba's aggression in check and reduce it. I'm excited to share that Keba is starting pack walks next week where she can socialize with other dogs. None of this would have been possible without Kathy. Plus, Kathy is a wonderful and fun person to spend time with. Thank you Kathy!

Bernie & Zoe
Shauna L.

Last year, we were so discouraged by the dog training market after striking out numerous times in hopes of finding a trainer for our rescue, Zoe. We didn't know anything about Zoe's story for the first year of her life, and believed at that time she may have had some past trauma. She had some undesirable behaviors and potentially dog aggression. We were in search of a trainer who could really take the time to understand our dog, her behavior, tendencies, and would help put together a personalized training program. I was also 7 months pregnant and desperate for help with the unknown of a new dog and baby at the same time. Insert Kathy. She went above and beyond anything we could have imagined. Kathy truly has a deep passion for dogs and helping their owners. She is extremely dedicated, patient, creative, detail-oriented (she would ask such detailed questions about situations we had with Zoe), and has experience with so many different methods and tools. Over the course of a few months and personal training lessons with Kathy, we were able to understand Zoe's personality and behaviors. Kathy put together a personalized approach to training Zoe by deploying tools like the prong and e-collar, using the tools correctly, teaching many different commands, and creating rewards systems. We were also incredibly relieved to learn that Zoe is not aggressive. Without Kathy, we may have never known and thus would not attempt to socialize her. Also, her group classes are amazing and a great way to socialize your pup and pick up a few tricks every time. We have learned and continue to learn so much from Kathy, and Zoe is all-around a better dog now thanks to Kathy. I could not recommend working with her enough!

Our pup Reggie!
Alexis K.

Our dog Reggie is a rescue and has separation anxiety, and seemed dog reactive. After working with him we determined multiple ways to help him. He also was dog selective and does great with structured meet and greets and is now in pack walks! We even have him close to off leash comfortably. She pivoted his training and met us where we were. She also provides free group sessions after initial sessions which is a great deal! Kathy is an exceptional and patient trainer! She's also urgent and knowledgeable when it comes to our dog Reggie.

Our white dog with her latest foster sibling

I can only echo what has been said before: Kathy is super competent, not only in assessing and handling/training the dogs, but also in communicating with the humans. I was so impressed how she explained every step of the aggression assessment in our case, and asked for our feedback on every step she proposed to take. She went above and beyond to introduce our dog to different dogs and situations to get a well rounded picture - and do a thorough assessment even though it went beyond the allocated time (which she double checked with us as well). And then she was available for follow-up texts and additional meetings, helping us help understand what our dog needed to be more comfortable around other dogs. Thanks to Kathy, our case had a very happy ending - our rescue dog now enjoys being the big foster sister to other dogs from the shelter and playing with her friends at Cesar Chavez Park. Long story short: if you have concerns about your dog - run - don't walk - to see Kathy!

Ian M.

I'm so grateful for Kathy! My (on leash) dog was badly attacked by a much larger, off leash dog in our neighborhood. Beyond her physical injuries, her confidence was totally shattered. Kathy was the perfect counterpart who could "read" her better than anyone I've seen. She gave us the tools, training and connections to help us help our pup regain her confidence and happiness around other dogs. Kathy is also incredibly generous with her time, holding awesome group sessions for her clients.

Final session with Kathy! The reactivity with other dogs was gone! Pumba loves training with Kathy.
Jasmine Y.

Kathy is an INCREDIBLE dog trainer! I'm forever indebted to Kathy for her work with my Pitbull mix Pumba which has changed my life. Pumba is a rescue from Mexico with a lot of trauma, and when I first adopted her, she had issues with reactivity around other dogs and was territorial with the other dog in the home, which led to multiple fights. As a first time dog owner, I did not know what to do, and I called Kathy asking her if I should send her back to the shelter in Mexico. Kathy convinced me to take a chance on Pumba and to work with her for 6 sessions to address her behavioral issues. In only 4 sessions, Pumba's reactivity and aggression towards other dogs was gone. It felt like magic. I am still in disbelief at how quickly Pumba turned around. Pumba is the sweetest, most loving, gentlest, and easiest dog to take care of now. I am an occupational therapist who works with at-risk teenagers, and Pumba is now a therapy dog who comforts these teens who are going through mental health crises. They all love her. I am endlessly thankful to Kathy for giving me the tools and skills to be able to keep my dog. She did more than train my dog - she taught me how to be a good leader. She taught me how to have my dog trust me by being calm, neutral, loving, and firm. Kathy imparted so much wisdom on me about dog behavior, dog psychology, and setting healthy boundaries. It's been over two years now, and I sometimes imagine the scary alternate reality of what would have happened if Kathy didn't come into my life. I'm so grateful she did, as she allowed me to have the most fulfilling relationship with the best dog ever.

Kathy Kear is simply the best dog trainer I've ever worked with. We came to her with a high intensity Belgian Malinois GSD who really needed some help calming down. Highly reactive, resistant to training and a terrible leash puller. And she was becoming aggressive with other dogs at the dog park. Yikes! Treat training had not worked and every time I went for a walk with her I had to basically run away from other dogs. It was genuinely scary. Cathy took us in hand and within the first hour had our dog completely under control. Then she taught me how to do it! And slowly this ship has turned around! Today our dog went off with a dog walker for the day, and she was amazed at what a perfect heel Zephyr had all afternoon long. Even on two pack walks! She didn't react once, didn't pull at all, and was perfectly well behaved the entire time. That's all the proof I needed. In fact, yesterday I ran into a friend in the park and she said she didn't recognize me because the dog was so well behaved Lol. Kathy has been endlessly patient with answering my questions, supporting me to get this right, and compassionately helping this dog, and us, get a grip. Whatever challenges you have with your dog, Kathy can absolutely help you get there. There is hope! And we are living proof.

Crystal M.

Kathy has worked with myself and my 2 year pitbull since he was 7 months. Our first lessons really helped with leashing pulling on walks, and has since transitioned to helping with Kobe being reactive to other dogs. Thanks to Kathy, Kobe has been able to successfully go on pack walks and helped build his confidence around other pups. Her tips and guidance has helped us tremendously - would highly recommend!

My boy Whitaker. He is 183 pounds.
Allison B.

Kathy has helped tremendously with my challenging giant English Mastiff. He has behavior issues with fear. In the time spent with Kathy, he has made great strides in overcoming fear and now participates in group classes (safely) and in a positive environment. Kathy has facilitated getting my boy to the vet in a pre-planned manner where I could not get him in the door before. I have learned so much and am a better parent for my boy as we have made adjustments together.

Diane C.

Working with Kathy has been a game changer. She taught us how to manage our young pitty- mix Luci inside and outside the home to help with her impulse control, reactivity and recall. She provided the tools and the training methods to help us gain confidence with calm greetings with friends and family, calm leash walking and taught my husband and I how to advocate for our dog at all times. Kathy's "balanced" training method includes mounds of praise and positive interaction combined with the tools to better communicate with your dog. We tried several other classes/programs with little success before meeting Kathy. She customizes training to your dog and family needs. She goes out of her way to make sure you and your pup understand what's being taught and is always available for follow up. I highly recommend Kathy Kear's Cause and Effect Dog Training for any size, age or breed. She is the best!

Luna

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It is a pleasure to work with you and your sweet girl !

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Kathy was awesome! She was very patient and helped me work through anxiety challenges with my dog.

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Page 1 of 4

Ask the Community - Cause & Effect Dog Training

Hello Kathy, I am dog sitting for close friends while they are in Europe. I found out the dog is very aggressive. He has already bit my hand twice trying to put collar on…

Oh dear yes I might be able to help. Please tell me where you’re located. We can definitely talk tomorrow Sunday at the very least by phone. Please text me at 707-641-2876.

I have two aggressive rescue large dogs. I recently got bit getting between the two of them. I live in the Oakland Hills....…

I’m so sorry this happened. I know it is very stressful when a situation like this occurs and yes, absolutely there are things that can be done to prevent and mitigate this from happening. I do provide a free 15 minute phone consultation I would be… Read more

View All 3 Questions

Review Highlights - Cause & Effect Dog Training

I know this is long winded but wanted to stress that a trainer who know how to work with aggression is rare.

Mentioned in 23 reviews

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Phenomenal Shelter!!!…read more My partner and I started off fostering dogs and ultimately foster failed. We worked closely with Ian who was phenomenal, supportive and so responsive. They gave us all the supplies (food, toys, advice, leashes, etc.) we needed to give our foster pooches what they needed. We fostered a sweet girl for nearly 4 months until she found her forever home, which was difficult for us but so rewarding to be a part of her journey to a home and family who could give her everything she needed. We fostered a bit more and ultimately foster-failed and have had our boy Rickey (formerly Kona) for nearly a year! Rickey has been the most perfect pooch we could've asked for. I am so appreciative of Berkeley Humane, Ian, and the whole team. Cannot recommend this shelter enough! Foster and/or adopt from Berkeley!!

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Out of all the dog trainers I have gone to with all my dogs, Bravopup is the best place! The owner,…read moreSandi is super informative and she can really tell you more about your dog and what struggles she sees while you're at the training. My dog Kaya has gone through many classes at Bravopup and has even completed her canine good citizenship class there! Sandi really ensures success with you and your pup. I would highly recommend trying this dog training out and see for yourself why everyone here on yelp gives this place 5 stars!

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We had adopted our Kody boy 8 months ago from a shelter. It was a very hard five months trying to…read moreget him settled with a routine. We all had different ways of how to train him and it was causing a rift in the family. I was turned down by some trainers until I came across Jonathan Wong's page. He was local, he was fast to get back to me and he was willing to give us a chance after everything I told him. Kody still has a long way to go and I will continue with Jonathan as his trainer, but it is night and day after three months of training with Jonathan. He was dog and people aggressive, to the point we had to avoid them entirely. We can now go for walks, albeit we move opposite of any dog and can keep walking without any barking or pulling. He was always actively pulling on the leash and bad at recall. He is loose leashed now and responds with recall with our daughter. In the end I had to get use to the idea that Kody was a crate or muzzle dog when it came to large crowds or people in our home. I felt awful but Jonathan was so supportive and positive as I came to terms with it. I hope as we continue to train with Jonathan and Kody builds his confidence that soon things might change for him. Jonathan has such a kind soul and so encouraging when it comes to both us and Kody. I cannot thank Jonathan enough for what he has done for us. He left solid foundations for us to grow on. Kody is such a sweet and smart boy, and we always want the best for him. Jonathan truly is the best.

Jonathan was very, very good. My spouse and I found a puppy not to far from our house. The pup was…read morehiding in a bush and upon pulling him out and knocking on various doors, posting on social media, and check if he was chipped, we concluded someone had just left this pup. After deciding to keep him and not knowing anything about dog training, we decided to look for some formal training classes. The group class at PetCo did not fair too well so private lessons were the next step, We had one assessment lesson and four lessons afterwards. The things we learned, the questions Jonathan was able to answer were all fantastic. The pup is about a year old now and if we did not have formal training, who knows what state his behavior will be. We are very grateful for the time, care, and lessons we were given to help train our dog and perhaps look forward to a couple more lessons here and there.

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Mutt and Tumble Dog Training - Loti 
Mutt & Tumble ambassador
Love her so much!

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Our dog, Maggie (2yrs - Cockapoo), is coming home tomorrow after a 2 week board and train and I…read morecouldn't wait until then to write a review for Bryan. Bit of background: Maggie has done 12 weekly group training sessions with another trainer and is generally well-behaved. However, she doesn't read the social signals from other dogs well (ex: when they want to be left alone), tends to jump on everyone at all times, doesn't respond to commands unless there's a treat involved, and lacks confidence. What I enjoyed about the program is that it includes several in person training sessions during the B&T. We got to see Maggie's progress as time went on and most importantly, we were trained on their behavior psychology and how to become the leaders of our pack. I will say I was nervous about implenting the ecollar but Bryan has demonstrated that it is a safe and effective training tool-- I got to see it used as a tool for correction that Maggie actually responded well to. Maggie is coming home tomorrow and hand-off includes an in-home training sessions to ensure her progress doesn't regress which I appreciate. From what I've seen, Maggie has become more confident, responds to recalls in distracting places (no treats involved), learned to self-soothe, and plays/greets other dogs/people with manners. Truly the best investment I've made in my dog and I'd highly recommend Mutt and Tumble to all dog parents!

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We brought Higgins here for his evaluation and a daycare. He had a fantastic time! We loved…read morewatching him play through the webcam. We tried a handful of daycares in Seattle and this is by far the cleanest, most professional, and most loving place. We plan to enroll him in training, and bought a 10 class pass for daycare so he can continue to make friends!

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West Berkeley

We have been boarding our dog and sending her for daycare to the Barkmont for about 3 years now. It…read moreis a fantastic safe place for her and a good price given other options (many more expensive options don't even have playtime included!!). She always runs right in when we drop her off and we can tell she has a lot of fun when we watch her on the webcam. Her latest stay was 2.5 weeks and while she was exhausted when we picked her up from playing so much she is very healthy and happy. In situations where our travel plans have delayed us in picking her up, they have always been incredibly kind and understanding. We started adding walks to her long stays so she gets some individual outside time in addition to all day inside playtime. I have nothing but good things to report about the Barkmont and they make being a dog owner in the Bay so much easier. I also think they are just really good people, I heard they now partner with local pet rescues to give their foster dogs some socialization and love. Makes us feel good supporting them. Picture is from home but the boarder in question.

This is an updated review. After getting my dog Ollie neutered - we returned to the Barkmont. I…read moreadmit that I tried another daycare facility - with not good results. At the other facility, Ollie for the first time displayed separation anxiety. The first time he did so, I thought he was just a bit nervous. The second time he had that look in his eyes that said, "do not leave me." Recently, we returned to the Barkmont. There was and continues to be a completely different response from Ollie. HE CANNOT WAIT TO GET IN THE DOOR AT THE BARKMONT. He absolutely loves the staff - professionals who are all very loving, kind and tender with the dogs. I should add that Ollie is somewhat of a higher maintenance dog - a 2-year-old 80 lb Samoyed who is an attention hound. I really like that the Barkmont has cameras so that you can log into to see how your fur baby is doing during a stay. The dogs are constantly monitored by staff who are in the various rooms - to ensure that no one gets out of line. Alot of additional services - meals, walks, bath etc. Kirk and Amanda - the owners both love dogs. They have provided in my opinion the VERY BEST DAYCARE FACILITY in the Bay Area.

Cause & Effect Dog Training - pet_training - Updated May 2026

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