Although we are a little over half way through our training sessions with Kathy, I know that I have received a priceless experience for my dog as well as my boyfriend and I. Our dog Darby was my first dog as an adult and my boyfriend's first dog in general. We were a little less than careful when deciding to bring him in to our family. I made a rash decision in adopting a dog and as a rescue dog, we knew little about where he came from. As he grew to a year old, we researched his breed based on looks and characteristics and realized that we had a Dutch Shepherd mix, a high energy, high drive dog, that was becoming increasingly aggressive with other dogs and some people. Darby was insecure around other dogs and did not have great social skills. In the house he was territorial with our roommates and visitors. Even though he knew many commands and tricks, he knew how to manipulate my boyfriend and I and would do what we wanted when he felt like it. He was in control for the most part. All of this has progressively changed as we work with Kathy. After spending time working with him on walks, the tie down, and a down stay command, we have established leadership with our dog. We have moved from not being able to walk next to dogs to having Darby in a calm heel while moving through a crowd of dogs at Point Isabel. Darby is now able to greet dogs appropriately and is much more obedient and looks to us for direction in most situations. He is much more enjoyable to be around and I am sure this will only get better. Kathy and her assistant Beth have worked with us extensively one-on-one and have really personalized the sessions to meet everybody's lives and needs. Along with the training sessions we have with Darby, Darby also goes on training walks with Beth. These have helped him along even more by allowing him to socialize more with other dogs and put him in situations where he can benefit and grow. Kathy and Beth are also supporting us through email and phone calls and are always available to answer questions and field concerns. They have also been able to establish a supportive community of people going through the same thing through group trainings and having her clients visit each others' home sessions. All and all Kathy and Beth have helped Darby to lead a much happier and calmer life so far and have given us the tools to enjoy our dog. We can't wait to see where we are with him a year from now. Kathy has helped us move from a constantly frustrating situation to a hopeful future. read more

My wife and I signed up for Kathy's services after she came highly recommended by our neighbors. Kathy was so busy that we worked with a partner of hers, Beth. We had adopted a 1-year-old Rottweiler/Retriever mix who was wonderful but had very little training and a high level of separation anxiety. We wanted to make sure that we trained him very well because of his breed. The sessions with Beth (who also follows Kathy's method of course) were great. We had 8 hour-plus sessions on leadership building, name recall, proper leash handling, focusing our dogs attention, commands such as the down-stay, "no," "leave it," and "wait." The foundation that Kathy and Beth establish from the beginning builds over time as you work with your dog in increasingly more difficult situations. Our sessions culminated with a trip to Berkeley's busy 4th street where we had our dog lie down in the middle of a crowded thoroughfare--and he didn't get up even with strangers greeting him! Because of the training sessions with Beth (and the ongoing maintenance classes with Beth and Kathy) we have a calm and obedient dog who loves everyone (including children), comes to us when called from *any* distance, and will stay down, relaxed for an hour-plus until we release him. More importantly we learned how to be calm, confident leaders for our dog and guide him through his anxiety. Kathy and Beth's methodology is flawless and Cause & Effect Dog Training comes with our highest endorsement! read more

Kathy is a gem! She is smart, kind and so in tune what our dog needed from us. We adopted our large puppy about a year and a half ago. All was going well until around a year he started to display some concerning behaviors. Barking, acting aggressively toward the mail carriers/delivery drivers at our gate. He had also started showing some leash aggression with other dogs and some resource guarding, all very concerning to us. We decided before these patterns became entrenched we should get some professional help. After much research and reading lots of reviews we contacted Kathy. We have clearly made the right choice! After our first session with Kathy we noticed a marked improvement, she showed us how to effectively correct him and how to take our place in the house. He has improved in all areas of concern and stopped acting aggressively at the gate. He now walks in a heel (very important with a 85 lb dog), no longer pulling my arm out of its socket on our walks and is not reacting to other leashed dogs. Last week he was so calm with our mail carrier that he was able to pet him and give him treats. She is worth every penny! read more

Cause & Effect Dog Training - Poppy - Pet Training Near Me

Kathy is an amazing trainer . . we adopted a deaf boxer/pit and with her training Luna is a happy, well trained (mostly :~) dog who can walk off leash anywhere and comes to us when we use the e-collar. Kathy responds very quickly to any concerns you have via text or e-mail. I highly recommend her services. Don't wait - a better, happier dog is right there in front of you. read more

We are lucky to have Kathy as a trainer and an advisor when it comes to our dog, Otis. She helped us early on, suggesting that we consider the temperament and needs of different breeds before choosing any dog from the many available through different rescue groups. We ended up with a sweet pitty-mix puppy. Although Cause & Effect often works with challenging dogs, Kathy was able to offer us a series of puppy training sessions -- focused on issues like how and how often to exercise, setting a schedule for feeding and getting out to pee : ). She talked us through using a crate and how to interact with Otis in the house. Getting him to understand 'no', not jumping on people, and not mouthing so much when playing. We've also worked on not pulling when walking, waiting at the curb, a little bit of down stay and some basic recall. We feel we really have Otis on a good path at this point and look forward to our next round of obedience training when he gets a little older. As others have said, Kathy's training involves the whole relationship between the family and the dog -- not just the dog. It becomes obvious when you go through it why this approach makes sense. Here's to a happy dog, a happy family and the confidence that comes from clear guidance! read more

Where to even begin?! Words can't begin to accurately describe how grateful I am for Kathy. My pup is the best thing to happen to me. But that is not to say it wasn't a difficult process having her. She would get reactive around other dogs, naturally scared by nearly everything, and tons of anxiety whenever left alone. Truth be told, there were times where I seriously considered giving her up. I get teary-eyed even admitting this, because I can't imagine my life without my dog. All seemed lost back then, but then came Kathy with her kindness, insight, intuition, and that ability to not only understand your furry family-member, but also understand you as an owner (because yes, you, as did I, need some training to maintain consistency for my dog). My pup is the happiest she's ever been, having found confidence, and an ability to enjoy being comfortable and calm. She knows how to socialize and communicate with other dogs, and it's opened a whole new world for both of us. Kathy's incredible because when you get her, you also get the massive community she's established out here. I kid you not, hundreds that she's helped that still routinely check-in via facebook groups. On top of that, I've found the most incredible pack-walk group (The Complete Pack) as a result of her. Calling Kathy was the best decision I made 3 years ago. Things could've been so different if I hadn't. I am so eternally grateful for her. read more

Kathy changed our lives! We were on the verge of giving up with our lovable but extremely high energy and dominant dog Casey who we did not know how to train. Working with Kathy and an e-collar got us to where we now take our dog hiking off-leash, she can meet other dogs without making us nervous, and she can even play fetch off-leash in an un-fenced city park. We always say to ourselves, we never thought we could have this level of confidence and do these activities with Casey when we first adopted her. Thank you Kathy! read more

Kathy Kear is an amazing dog trainer. I have rescued four pit-bull and pit-mix dogs in the last few years and each with different issues. She has helped me with each of them, with a different approach for different problems, and has helped me also with handling the pack. She helped me over the years to address issues with the dogs (fear reactivity, arousal, aggression) when they came up and she helped me to regain confidence when sometimes I felt overwhelmed by fear. I feel I could write a whole book about all the things I have learned from her. Doing training with her was not just beneficial for the dogs and for my relationship with them, it was a deeply transformative personal experience. Things that I had difficulty to do at first have become a way of being, a way of seeing and relating to the dogs, and not just my own dogs but the ones I encounter on trails or at the dog park, walk at the shelter, or foster in my home, that feels incredibly fulfilling and empowering. My regret is that I waited too long before I contacted her the first time, thinking that to see a trainer, especially one with her reputation, I had to have a real problem. And that was such a big mistake, because I actually started to have problems well before I was able to see them and because doing training, and especially with her, even if the dog has no 'issue' is just so enlightening and gratifying. It reveals aspects of the dog's personality we did not know were there and it takes the relationship to a whole different level of mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual love. To have had the chance to meet her and learn from her is one of the very best things in my life and one that I am the most grateful about. read more

Our dog was getting into fights with other dogs at the dog park and developing increased leash aggression with other dogs. We started hated taking her out of the house. We had tried numerous dog trainers before we met Kathy and it just wasn't working. During the initial consultation with Kathy we saw immediate results, including our dog tolerating a pit bull inside our house! Kathy zooms right into a dog's psychology and quickly establishes a strong bond. While using correction was initially a little intimidating, I firmly believe it is what some dogs need. Both our dog and her humans are so much happier now. Not to mention our dog is obsessed with Kathy, every time she hears her voice she gets so excited. read more

I read all these good reviews and think maybe we got the wrong Kathy. She has completely transformed my dog into an unpredictable mess after 7 sessions. We started with Kathy in hopes to calm our dog down around our son. Our first meeting- She and her 3 dogs came to the car and our dog started barking. Natural response? Maybe/Maybe not but Kathy put our dog into a muzzle. During our first session, Kathy seemed really nervous (enough to bite her cuticles and make her fingers bleed) and she told us that we had a anxious and insecure dog. We followed all of her lesson including homework every week. We didn't feel that our dog was making an progress on calming down. Our seventh visit- After our 7th visit at Point Isabel, we had our dog on a 20ft leash with a muzzle. When we were practicing our commands another dog came up and bit our dog 4 times. Our dog was muzzled and leashed making it impossible to defend herself and she just got bit over and over while we sat back and watched. It was horrible to see my family member being attacked. We spent 7 weeks training our dog to be more trusting of us and the situations that we put her in. (Which according to Kathy was our problem in the first place.) In 5 minutes we lost it all and got a dog that is completely different from the fun-loving, quirky, energy ball that we originally had. What 800 bucks got us- A dog that can lay in a relaxed pose A dog that can stay for 5+ min A dog that will not eat her food until released A dog that we CANNOT take to a dogpark/off-leash trail A dog that is so unpredictable around other dogs A dog that is not our old dog We didn't finish our last session read more

I found Kathy last summer. We were in a tough situation; pregnant with our first child, and worried that our dog Baxter-- an adopted male terrier with severe anxiety and aggression around strangers and dogs -- was going to be a threat to our baby and need to go. Kathy was clear, calm, and resourceful from the very beginning. She certainly thought he was a "tough case", but saw how smart he was, and how much we cared for him. We signed on for the full training regimen with her, and started meeting with her weekly for training sessions. The sessions always delighted me because Kathy's professionalism, creativity, trust, and devotion to dogs are so evident. Sometimes, absurdly so -- such as the several sessions when she'd bring along 2 associates and 8+ dogs to get Baxter used to a "pack", or when she helped organize a party at our house so that we could establish in-house guidelines for keeping Baxter calm with guests. The training was completely customized to Baxter, us, and our needs, and included several check-in emails each week. It's certainly a lot of work, and required us to become comfortable disciplining Baxter with corrective training (prong collar and, currently, an e-collar). I'm a "softie" but I'm glad we used corrective training. These training aids give him the feedback he needed to get past his stubbornness and become more comfortable with triggers. While the training was expensive, it was worth every penny for us. Baxter will never be completely at-ease with strangers (he's a terrier...not a golden retriever), and still requires lots of oversight, but he's an utterly different dog than the one we had in July. One that we can control, contain, and most importantly, trust with our 3 month old baby boy. We are so glad that Kathy's training allowed us to keep our first "baby"! read more

Kathy is an amazing dog trainer. When we first adopted our dog, Maya, she was super reactive. It was really hard to walk her because she would lunge, growl, and bark at all other people, dogs, cats, and really anything else that moved. We couldn't take her anywhere, and even walking around the block was so stressful that i would be in tears by the end of it. We tried working with another trainer before Kathy, who basically wanted us to bribe Maya with treats to distract her from reacting. Not surprisingly, it didn't work at all. We found Kathy through friends who also worked with her for their reactive dog. After 2 sessions with Kathy, we saw a HUGE improvement in Maya. Kathy's use of balanced training techniques and tools really worked for Maya. It turns out that Maya actually loves other dogs, and her reactivity was frustration from not being able to greet them. Using Kathy's techniques, we've been able to teach Maya the appropriate way to act on a leash and around other people and dogs. Maya is happier than ever, because she is actually able to do things she wants to do- like go on long hikes and play with other dogs. And we're happy too, because we have a dog we can enjoy. I would recommend Kathy to anyone who needs help training their dog! read more

Kathy is amazing! Just a few months ago, I was questioning my ability to train and stay sane, or even go outside, with my dog. That time is actually hard to imagine now because of the incredible success I've had working with Kathy. I had trained my dog through attending local positive reinforcement classes early on. My dog and I loved training together and had a great foundation (she could heel perfectly through obstacle courses and do tons of tricks). BUT, her outdoor recall was crap, and she was getting in fights with other dogs since I had not established a way of correcting her or reducing her anxiety around other dogs. While I was very hesitant about using tools like the e-colar and prong, I felt like my dog's life and safety around other dogs was more important than sticking to any dogma, and decided I would see how she reacted. These tools have been extremely valuable in establishing boundaries and balance for me and my dog. She is so much less anxious and noticeably calmer and happier in all situations. Her recall went from me waiting around for her to come back when she felt like it, to immediate return to me regardless of the stimulation (deer, other dogs, food). While I'm still a little nervous about dog fights, she isn't! We are now regulars on off leash hikes, at dog parks, and beaches without any issue!! She plays appropriately with other dogs or ignores them if I want her to. People always comment on what a sweet, well-trained dog she is. Of course, we're not perfect and I'm still working on improving her social skills and obedience daily, but the progress we have made is amazing. Kathy will make a personalized plan for you and your dog depending on your unique situation. She provides excellent exercises and support and truly cares about people and animals! It takes a lot of work, but guiding your dog to be well adjusted in a stressful city environment is so very satisfying and joyful. I frequently say that working with kathy was the best investment I've made. read more

We adopted our dog a year ago from Oakland Animal Services. We didn't know anything about her past, but we fell in love with her when we went to meet her. Within days of getting her home, we realized that we were in way over our heads. Without listing all the terrible things that took place, it's enough to say that she had severe separation anxiety and had never been socialized with dogs. She was terrified and that fear manifested itself as significant dog aggression. I found Kathy on Yelp the first week and I was already desperate. I couldn't bring myself to return our pup to the shelter (knowing it would likely mean her being put down), but I had no idea how we would ever be able to handle our dog. So, I began searching for someone who could help me, and Kathy's reviews convinced me it was her. Kathy was there for us from the beginning and long before we ever hired her. The first time I met her I was waiting outside her house to because she offered to get me a tie down- I was freaking out about this one dog we were trying to raise and Kathy pulls up with two giant pit bulls who are the calmest, happiest, sweetest dogs you'll ever meet and I was immediately in awe of her. At first, we didn't think we could afford to do her training program, but she still answered my emails at all hours of the day just because she cares about dogs and dog owners surviving. We have Kathy to thank for getting us through those first few months of dog ownership, and we hadn't even started the training program. Finally, after our dog attacked a dog while with the dog walker, we realized that we couldn't afford to keep our dog and not hire Kathy. The improvements in the pup were apparent from the first training session and today our dog is a completely different dog. The program is hard and it's not for everyone. Kathy is very upfront about her methods and her program and makes sure potential clients understand before any commitments are made. The program is a combination of positive and negative reinforcement, and yes it was difficult to us to physically correct our dog. However, Kathy's program isn't based on always having to do it- the idea is that if you train your dog with these methods, you won't have to physically correct your dog going forward. She routinely says that the goal is not to correct your dog for the duration of his or her life, but rather to do it correctly for a short time so that the dog learns and changes. Her training program is so much more than the negative correction, though. It's about make your dog feel safe and giving him or her a structured environment where he or she knows what is expected of her. The other thing that Kathy did was change us in ways that we'll never be able to thank her for enough. We were the people who went to the shelter and said we don't want a pit bull. We are also the people who were so naïve about pit bulls that we left with a pit mix - we were scared of them but we didn't even know enough to recognize one. Kathy taught us so much about this breed, and did so without ever shaming us for our initial views. We love our pit mix, we are convinced that these dogs are the greatest dogs ever, and when our girl leaves us, we'll get another shelter pit or pit mix. Kathy let us learn that we had been wrong, but never made us feel bad for what now seem like such close minded and offensive views on the breed. The style of training may not be for everyone and it's a personal decision that each dog owner should make. For us, our dog had severe issues and she hurt other dogs and we needed to change that if we were going to be responsible dog owners. Kathy worked with us and made us believe that our dog could be trained. She didn't shy away from our dog's history of aggression, which was an experience we had with a number of other people and trainers. Today, our dog is amazing. She doesn't love all dogs, but she behaves appropriately. When a dog is aggressive towards her, she looks to us for guidance. People stop us on the street to say how well-behaved she is, and I feel like she gives her breed a better public image. Most importantly, I believe she is genuinely happy now. And this is thanks to Kathy. read more

If you are considering Cause and Effect (C&E) Dog Training, a few words of advice: Focus on the reviews written by C&E's current clients, not those written by onlookers at the dog park or people who knew Kathy Kear 10 years ago. If you find you can relate to C&E's current clients--their concerns about their dogs and willingness to change their relationships with their pets--then you probably are a good fit with C&E. For my family, C&E has been a godsend. We will be forever grateful that Kathy taught us how to handle dog-aggression problems in our beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Phoebe. When we started 7 months ago, Phoebe had already been turned into the City for biting a neighbor and his dog, had been kicked out of dog daycare for aggression and bolting from the off-leash walks, had killed two skunks, attacked cats and raccoons, and almost lost an eye in a fight with the next door neighbor's dog. We were willing to do everything we could keep Phoebe, but were genuinely concerned that she was a danger to herself. We were not willing to treat her like a "disposable pet" for the sake of our kids. But we were starting to run out of alternatives. We worked hard and C&E was a serious time commitment for us. (I'm a professor, my husband runs a software company and we've got two kids--no need for more responsibilities but there you have it.) Kathy worked with our family at home, in the neighborhood, through email, in written "cheat sheets"-- in a very intensive and close-up way. It took daily effort. But that's what we needed. We needed nothing short of a "reboot" in our whole relationship with Phoebe. And because we were willing to change, Phoebe changed. Ultimately, our kids got an important lesson: even if you've got major problems like Phoebe did, your loved ones will find help and work hard to make things right. It took a lot of effort--and yes, careful use of a prong collar, e-collar and muzzle--to get Phoebe to respect us, behave properly in an urban area (to stop trying to kill anything that moves) and come when called (JRT's have unnecessarily short life spans because they are so prone to bolt and get hit by cars). I was not familiar with leash and e-collar corrections when we started, but kept an open mind and questioned things at every step. (You can be sure that I tried that e-collar out on my own bare skin before I put it on my dog!) It really took time, effort and momentum to follow through on all the changes needed to rehabilitate our dog's aggression. But Kathy proved even more tenacious than Phoebe. Her care and understanding helped us stay the course. Even now, long after we've finished the program, she is part of our lives. She understands that rehabilitating an aggressive dog is a long term project and simply refuses to give up on us or our dog. If there's any good analogy, I'd say that Kathy's approach is similar to the one used on NatGeo TV by the "dog whisperer." Cesar also skillfully uses leash corrections and e-collars with aggressive dogs. But the main focus is to teach the human how to communicate correctly in the dog's language. This means using body language, gestures and sounds that quietly read "do that" and "don't do that" to a dog. It means that the owner stops yelling "Sit! Fido sit!" and starts moving and giving the dog boundaries, rules and limitations. This makes the dog feel like the owner is in control so she doesn't have to be. Phoebe clearly gets now that it's not her job to constantly protect me from other dogs, guard the territory, bark at strangers, and aggress on trespassing raccoons that are twice her size. As a result, she's no longer vigilant and anxious around the house. She's relaxed and just plain happy. It's very important that people not confuse leadership with cruelty. Kathy trains people to be leaders so their dogs can relax and stop protecting their families in all the wrong ways, like Phoebe used to. In America, we are affluent enough to have the luxury of being able to treat our pets as if they were our children. But dogs are a whole different species. They don't live in democracies. Kathy taught me how to establish leadership in the dog world so my dog could relax and be a follower. Yes, now I'm my dog's dictator, but I'm a loving, benevolent one! To me, this is the essence of compassion towards animals: fulfilling their needs and protecting them on their terms. There's a gulf of difference between leadership and tyranny. My guess is that picking a dog trainer is like picking a school for your kid: it's all about finding the right fit since every dog is unique and has particular needs. I've had dogs my whole life but never a JRT, and never an aggressive dog. For this unique little canine, C&E Training was the perfect fit. read more

We adopted Arlo from Oakland Animal Services when he was 10 weeks old. Our initial training went well and he completed 2 levels of puppy training. When he was about 12 months old his play became much rougher and he was bitten badly. Arlo became quite anxious eventually involved in a fight with his good buddy. He no longer tolerated dogs coming near, snarling and lunging at them. We tried a trainer who used treats to change his behavior. After 3 months we saw no change and seriously considered returning Arlo to the shelter. We asked our vet for any recommendations and were given Kathy's name. I could never have imagined the changes we see in Arlo. Through her calmness, patience, and guidance Arlo and I are quite a team. I was very hesitant to use an electronic collar although Kathy felt another training tool was needed. After a few more lessons I became open to using the e collar. He has now progressed to walking a long line and has not lunged at another dog in nearly 2 months. He is very calm in the car no longer barking loudly when anyone comes near. Kathy and Shannon welcome us on their pack walks allowing Arlo to spend time around more dogs. He looks forward to the walks allowing other dogs to greet him. Thanks to Kathy we now have an incredible dog who continues to amaze me. read more

It's been over two years since I first reviewed Cause & Effect, so I wanted to add this update. Benny's dog aggression is now dormant. It took about six months of intense behavior modification training, plus another six months of socialization training. And we continue to do ongoing "maintenance." Don't get me wrong: training is not a chore or something we check off our to-do list, but rather something that is integrated into our lives in a convenient and enjoyable way. (Read: once you have a dog that waits at the door, you'll never go back!) We are still active members of the Cause & Effect community. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of working with various members of the team and we've absorbed different lessons from each of them. Kathy taught us the training tools. From Beth, we learned about the importance of structure and consistency. Shannon taught us about how to make training fun. Denise helped us to understand balance as it relates to our work with Benny. And Eleanor taught us about how to integrate training into our lives. Finally, the community of Cause & Effect clients are a constant reminder that we're never alone. We just attended a group class last weekend. The weather was dreary with rain coming down on us, off and on, throughout the entire hour. Nothing is more inspiring than seeing 15+ dog owners withstanding the rain in service to their dogs. That's commitment. And commitment is what it takes. Thanks to all that we learned from the Cause & Effect team, we were able to adopt a second dog last month. Benny welcomed our newest pack member with respect and patience. It's so gratifying to watch the student becoming the teacher... read more

Simply put, Kathy is an amazing trainer and person. I could see during our initial consultation that our dog felt safe and calm around her, and looked to her for leadership. Over the course of the eight sessions we had with her, I witnessed a significant transformation in our dog's behavior and relationship with my partner and me--from one of willful disobedience, to looking to us for guidance and leadership. Unlike some of the other training programs we had researched, Kathy does not offer a cookie cutter program; instead, she really tailored each session to the specific needs, weaknesses and strengths of our dog. She was always patient and understanding of whatever issues or setbacks we had in our training, but at the same time very honest and firm in what she expected from our dog and us. It's obvious that she takes training seriously and demands that of her clients as well. The sessions were just as much about educating us on dog behavior and how to be more effective leaders, as it was about training the dog. I really appreciate that she makes herself available by phone and email to answer any questions that we have about training or how to handle specific situations or behaviors. Even though we have completed our training with her for quite some time now, she checks in with us to see how our dog is doing and to invite us to her free monthly group training sessions. She is not only a fantastic trainer, but her passion for her profession and dogs shines through in every interaction and communication I have had with her. No matter the age or breed of dog, I truly feel everyone should get their dog trained through Cause and Effect Dog Training. read more

In January 2012, my husband and I adopted a rescued pit bull/lab mix puppy whom we promptly named Hippo for his cute pink belly and googly eyes. Hippo was as cute as a button but quickly revealed a serious nervous streak that took us by surprise. As long-time dog guardians, we thought we were pretty savvy about dog training and could handle whatever situation presented itself. When Hippo started growling and charging people (including children), we realized that we had a problem on our hands and needed help. To make matters more serious, three months after adopting Hippo, I got pregnant. We needed to make sure that Hippo got the training he needed to be a solid dog around all kinds of people, especially children. Giving him up was not an option for us - we made a commitment to Hippo. Kathy Kear had generously offered a free training session to Hippo's adopters (Kathy is very dedicated to rescue and adoption) and we quickly took her up on the offer. We knew from the very first training session with Kathy that she was precisely the person we needed to help us help Hippo overcome his anxiety. Kathy assessed Hippo and gave us a few ideas on how to work with Hippo while we considered doing a longer program with her. We took our time figuring out what we could manage financially and in the meantime, Kathy provided invaluable, expert advice all for free simply because she wanted to help. She is truly one of the most generous people we've ever met. We ended up doing an eight-session program for Hippo. The first three sessions were with Kathy's associate, Beth, followed by Kathy once we had learned the basics. Beth and Kathy both showed tremendous flexibility and professionalism, observing us as we worked with our dog and listening to our concerns as they arose. Their techniques have worked miracles on Hippo, who remains a nervous dog but has made enormous strides in becoming a more confident, reliable dog. We have gone back to Kathy for additional training several times when new issues have arisen with Hippo. Thanks to Cause & Effect, we can safely have Hippo around children, which is critically important with an infant in our house. In addition, we have Hippo join Kathy twice a week for her pack walks, which allows Hippo time to play with other dogs and to be with one of his favorite people in the world -- Kathy. We cannot recommend Kathy and her team highly enough. I'm coming back to this review to add one more important aspect of Kathy's training. You have to be ready for change and to change. A lot of people think that training a dog is about the dog but ultimately, it is about the dog's person - YOU. The training is for YOU. Dogs will do what we ask of them if we know how to ask it in a language they understand. That's the thing about Kathy - she speaks the language and will teach you if you are open to learning. Being open is not always easy. You have to let go of thinking about your dog like it's a human being, providing it with what you think a human child might need. This is very hard. It means limiting affection and providing strong canine-style leadership. Kathy will teach you and help you but you have to be ready to change. read more

Cause and Effect dog training is the best. We were in desperate need of help because our two dogs were fighting in the house, and my boxer had become very dog aggressive. We trained with Mahogany and Kathy, and they were awesome! They are very knowledgeable trainers who really understand dogs. They remember what it is like to rehab a dog with lots of behavioral issues because they have applied their methods with their own dogs. They teach you how to become a leader that your dog will respect by teaching obedience, structure, how to promote calmness and confidence. They first do a thorough assessment and evaluation of your dog to see what they need to work on for the their program because every dog is different and may require different things such as prong, e-collar, or muzzle. They combine correction techniques with reinforcing good behavior with treats and lots of praise. They show you how to create a stronger bond and trust with your dog, as well. And the most impressive thing of all, and hard to find in trainers, is they DON'T AVOID hard situations- if your dog is dog aggressive and not socialized- they WILL give you the tools and show you how to meet and greet every dog with confidence and what to do if your dog acts out. Even after we completed the training program, the support they provide is amazing! They hold free group classes for us to attend, and if we ever have a new issue arise or question, they are just an email or text away. It has been about 10 months since we started the program- it requires time and lots of dedication, but our dogs are much more happy, relaxed, and confident. There is still work to be done, but we now see a transformation in not just our dogs but ourselves as well. read more

My experience with Cause and Effect was disappointing... and unfortunately, Kathy did not solve my dog's reactivity issue. Kathy worked with my dog from January through March 2018 at different intervals, depending on her schedule, not mine. Kathy shows great command on dogs and a no-nonsense attitude towards them. The biggest problem I experienced with her was her unreliability. She postponed my sessions several times, invariably, at the last minute, giving different excuses (car, plumber, rain, etc...) I needed someone who I could depend on, Kathy was not that person. While I was overseas for 5 days on an urgent matter, she was suppose to work with my dog; however, once again, she let me down. The evening when I arrived home, after travelling for 20 hours, I found out that she had not taken out my dog that day, per our agreement. Also, I was extremely concerned to find my dog wearing a prong collar that she had left on him since the previous day! I did not get value for the money I paid... read more

Kathy Kear and Eleanor Post, the two personal trainers who worked with my dog Enzo and me, exhibited exceptional professionalism, expertise, and commitment. As it turned out, I was in greater need of training than Enzo (I'm not good at giving firm and consistent discipline), but Kathy and Eleanor always yanked on my chain just enough to get my attention and make their case. Enzo and I are both happier because of our training. read more

Ditto...ditto...ditto. You can read the multitude of glowing reviews for Kathy Kear and Cause and Effect all over this page. And all the accolades and positive feedback are not only well earned, but deeply deserved. Kathy and her team know their stuff, ESPECIALLY with troubled dogs and their troubled owners. Whether you have a rescue dog that is fearful after being bounced around before finding you, or a biter or a leash aggressive pup (like ours was) or one with separation anxiety, Kathy and her trainers can truly help resolve your issues and will have you loving every minute with your fur baby, instead of being fearful of what s/he might do out in the world (or in your own home). As many others have pointed out, the universal truth of dog training is that it truly is OWNER training. Provided that you possess the pack leader pole position, your dog will follow your lead, doing as you indicate should be done. If that direction is unclear, you'll have a dog that acts out simply because it doesn't know how to act appropriately and doesn't know where to look for direction (yet). Our dog loves other dogs, but would get agro when she was leashed and another dog came near. Clearly not an appropriate response. So we found Kathy and marched Duchess off to 8 weeks of training. In just 8 lessons (which were lovely and enjoyable opportunities to bond with our dog in the various parks of Berkeley, BTW), we had a girl who was happy and docile on leash and no longer felt the need to protect us or herself with snarls and growling (she was a big "talker"). Is it an investment? Absolutely. It takes time, lots of energy, and money. But I have taken other dogs of mine to other (less expensive) trainers in the area and have never had as successful of a behavior modification as I had with Kathy. Quite simply, I would no longer trust anyone to train a dog of mine with the same skill and heart and understanding. So in my estimation, it is worth every minute and every penny to have a dog you can trust and who can trust you. You and your relationship with the companion you have hitched your wagon to for the next several years will be forever altered for the better! read more

My lab Izzy's problem is not aggression. On the contrary, she is sweet natured and submissive toward other dogs. I got her when she was eight months old. A kennel dog, she was afraid of anything unfamiliar, such as strollers, children, bikes, steps, strangers, traffic, loud noises, and crowds. Having had no obedience training, she was so wild I didn't want to take her anywhere. Then Kathy Kear came into our lives. The moment she took the leash, Kathy worked her magic on Izzy. My dog instinctively knew who was boss; Kathy has a way of quietly taking command and initiating trust. She taught me to calmly, but firmly, control Izzy on leash. Together we worked on basic commands and while Izzy began channeling her enthusiasm for life, I learned to center and calm my reactions to Izzy's hyper, puppy behavior. Praise and correction, slowing down and being present with one's dog, creating and taking advantage of diverse learning situations, and learning how I could be an effective dog trainer- these are keys to Kathy's instruction. The end result is the enjoyment of having the companionship of a happy, socialized dog. Kathy's training generates success. On a busy Sunday afternoon, Izzy can now navigate College Avenue, walking by busy shops, crowded outdoor cafes, a brigade of strollers and toddlers, noisy buses, and bikes of all kinds. She can stay on a "down stay" for my designated allotment of time, not on her terms. We are still working on the magic and all powerful "Come" command, but I know with Kathy's guidance and patience, Izzy and I will be successful. Now if Kathy could broker a friendship between Izzy and my vacuum cleaner . . . that would really be a miracle! I should also point out that one other component is absolutely essential: the dog owner MUST BE committed to devoting time to reinforce Kathy's lessons. Without repeated practice of Kathy's training guidelines, dogs and owners go back to their bad habits. Sorry. Magic only works for a while; hard work and continued practice are essential. Izzy and I give Kathy five stars. read more

Last year we adopted a rescue lab who was bing fostered by Beth, who works with Kathy. We had no idea what we had gotten ourselves into, not realizing how to really raise a centered dog. We signed on for a full obedience training program, and we are so thankful we did so! Our dog had some fear aggression issues, and additionally, we needed to learn to be his "pack leaders". Throughout the whole training program, Beth was always there for advice or reassurance, by phone and email, and she made us feel confident that if we put in the work, we would end up with a dog we could take anywhere! As stated in other reviews, she assessed his needs and adapted the training to us, no one size fits all solutions. We also find the group classes held every few months very useful to refresh our skills, provide socialization, and a supportive group of dog owners. It has been a year now, and we get so many compliments on how well behaved our Addison is, and how much he has improved since we adopted him. We have continued on with weekly pack walks with Beth, and rain or shine, Addison gets a great romp with his canine buddies! read more

I forgot to mention that Kathy has an amazing team of trainers that work with her! Shannon, Sarah and Beth all offer unique perspectives and personalities. They share the same methods and fundamental ideas about dog training that Kathy does, and depending on what you need, may be the perfect fit for your situation. I feel the need to write a bit about Shannon, who reached out to me and Pearl. Shannon Davidson has her own style and that is "badass mama". She is the woman that struts along with 12 dogs heeling or trailing behind her like it's nothing. When I first met Shannon I thought "you don't mess with this lady" and I still feel that way, but I also see that she is one of the most kindhearted people you'll meet. She also really knows her stuff when it comes to reading dogs AND people. I like watching her work with dogs. Firm but gentle would be how I describe it. Shannon noticed that I would get stressed out if I felt a lack of control or if my dog wasn't paying attention to me when I wanted her to. She started chatting with me about engagement with my dog...a type of working play. I began using the techniques I'd established with Kathy in combination with engaged play and it has been fun, rewarding AND it's strenghtening the skills I learned in the Behavior Modification program. It's weird. Shannon and I will talk about dog training and then I'll get home and realize.."hey...that's what I should be doing". Kind of like she was using the discussion to plant a seed. knowing that my obsession for dog training would be the nourishment needed to help it grow. Smart lady. Shannon is a great trainer for people who have dog agressive dogs. She has been walking packs of dogs for years and is comfortable in dealing with dog/dog agression. Some people get nervous around dog agression...Shannon gets calm, but with a little edge of "Oh yeah...I'm up for this challenge!" read more

I adopted a 2 year old pit mix a year ago. I needed help with impulse control, recall, anxiety, and very dominant dog-dog interactions. Working with Eleanor and Kathy changed everything for me. From the very first lesson I saw immediate measurable improvement. I had tried other trainers and hands down Cause and Effect is the best!! read more

Contacting Kathy was the best thing I have ever done in my life. I rescued Penny, the sweetest white Pitty, on a bad street in Philadelphia. She was young, happy, and full of energy. She had no problem meeting and living with our other dog, Luna. She was amazing in the house, but out of control outside. She wanted to charge towards and yelp at every person and every dog we passed, she was taking us for walks. We tried every harness, lead, Cesar Millan's books, collars etc. I mean EVERYTHING (I think we spent more time, money, and energy on products claiming to help than going through Kathy's program) Penny pulled so hard and yelped every time we went outside. All the while we thought it was normal for a dog to pull....normal for her to yelp like a seal.....head butt every dog and person she met. We thought... 'oh she's a puppy'...'.that's what all puppy's are like'. Her behavior became our norm and it took over our entire life. We would pass by parks. Run across the street so she wouldn't freak out at another dog. We would even walk her at Midnight and early in the morning so we wouldn't be embarrassed or freak anyone out. We weren't able to give her the exercise she needed all the time because we were scared that we wouldn't be able to control her. After we moved cross-country, we were desperate to find help because we couldn't deal with how out of control she had become outdoors and with other dogs, besides Luna. I found Cause & Effect through an yelp ad, and we immediately identified with the reviews. I was nervous to contact and meet Kathy because I thought I was being crazy and that nothing could help Penny. The first home visit with Kathy and Eleanor was amazing and for the first time we saw hope for Penny. We first worked with Eleanor, she was incredible, consistent, clear, and was always there to help anytime. Kathy was spectacular, she helped us overcome the fear of letting Penny off the leash in a park, she showed us the potential that Penny had and helped us harness it. Kathy, Eleanor and the whole Cause & Effect team helped turned our crazy Penny into a manageable, happy and obedient pup. Through-out the program you meet other people and dogs that have gone through or are going through the same thing you are, so you never feel alone. Once you go through the program, you have the whole Cause & Effect family for life. If you ever need help, have a question, or need support, they will be there for you. This program is a lot of work and you have to be consistent, but the results are incredible! Now we can go to the park and know that we have control of our pup, we walk her with confidence, and we aren't scared to bring here anywhere. Penny is truly happy because we have a way to communicate with her, she gets the exercise she needs, and she can socialize with other dogs and people. The quality of all our lives have greatly improved because of Kathy and Eleanor! Thank you Cause & Effect, we can't express how much this has helped us and how amazing you all are! If you have any doubts about contacting Kathy and Cause & Effect, CONTACT THEM!! this is the best thing you could ever do for you and your pup! read more

Incredible experience. Came to Kathy because we were having issues with our pitt/boxer mix and a cat. My dog's behavior is completely different now. Her anxiety levels are incredibly reduced, she's more relaxed, I can actually take her places with me more, we have such a better bond. Kathy understands high impulse dogs like no other. Thank you! read more

Kathy Kear is more than just a dog trainer. She is a teacher. She shares insights and wisdom with people to help them integrate leadership, not just for their dogs but also for being in their authentic power, grounded in themselves. I walked with Kathy during her training walk and my two dogs, who normally are aloof and agressive, were absolutely mesmerized by her and wanted to have her attention and approval. What Kathy does cannot be defined with words. You just have to see it yourself. I cannot put into words what I see that happens when dogs are with her, except that she tells me "Dogs trust me and I trust them". Trust is a funny thing. We humans trust other humans only if we think they are trustworthy. I see that dogs trust Kathy because they can experience energetically her SOLID COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP, which allows her to correct whatever behavior effectively and effortlessly. I give Kathy a 5 Star rating, because her entire life is dedicated to speaking the language of "TRUST" energetically with dogs. read more

5 stars ***** !! My vet referred me to Kathy -- after my dog bit a homeless man. I needed a trainer that worked with dogs that had behavioral issues. Rusty and I met with Kathy for 10 lessons. Besides teaching basic commands she also focused on Rusty's particular issues (dog aggression and anxiety around certain humans). Sometimes we met at Pt. Isabel where Rusty practiced being with other dogs. Sometimes we met on busy streets in Berkeley where Rusty worked on being around humans that trigger his anxieties. These exposure exercises really helped my dog. Rusty and I made incredible progress with Kathy. She's patient, firm, smart and totally dedicated to the dogs she works with...and Rusty loves her! read more

Stella and Pancho, both rescues, were aggressive with other dogs when they were young. After a serious incident with another dog in our neighborhood, my husband and I isolated our dogs on our own property. Fortunately, we have a big yard, but we missed taking them on walks and excursions with us. They were both 10 years old when we met Sparky, a puppy in need of a home. We both fell in love with Sparky but had little hope, if any, of bringing him home with us. Then we met Kathy Kear, who changed everything for us. Kathy saw the potential in Stella and Pancho and believed from our first consultation, that they were trainable. And she was right. Although clearly based on her understanding of dogs, the basis premise of her techniques were familiar to me as a teacher ...correct for wrong behavior, praise for good behavior. The training has been a lot of work for us, but worth every minute of it. We now have three dogs who live and play together happily, without aggression. We take them on walks together in the neighborhood, in the parks, at the beach. Sparky, now 2, has great playmates at home; Stella and Pancho, now 12, have been rejuvenated and their worlds opened up again. We call Sparky the "miracle dog" for bringing everyone together, but the miracle is actually based on three things: Kathy's strong and individualized guidance, our learning to take the leadership role with our dogs, and their amazing willingness to learn from us. read more

Kathy Kear changed my life. We had an unruly ranch dog rescue that was at various times aggressive to dogs and people. We did the full ten session program and gained a completely new understanding of dog training. Within three sessions we could see real progress and by the end of the program we had exceeded our wildest dreams for reforming our dog's behavior. Just as important, I think I learned important lessons about how to deal with other social animals like humans too. Unlike the 5 trainers we had previously worked with, Kathy is very hands on and worked with us to teach us the training techniques rather than giving us homework we didn't understand. Overall, I cannot give a higher recommendation than I would give Kathy Kear and Cause and Effect Dog Training. read more

After years struggling with a leash aggressive dog, Kathy Kear changed our lives. Our dog was so sweet in the house but every outing was stressful because she would bark and lunge at people, dogs, UPS trucks and skateboarders. We thought that giving our active dog daily exercise would help but it wasn't enough. We went through four trainers and felt like failures. One trainer told us, "Good luck dealing with aggression issues, you'll have to mortgage your home." Then someone recommended Kathy. Kathy knew just what we needed to do. We started training with Kathy in late January and by July, I took our dog to the Treasure Island Triathlon and all these people came up and petted our dog and commented on how calm she was! It is truly amazing to see how much more relaxed our dog is now that she trusts us to lead her. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Cause & Effect dog training! We adopted a two-year old terrier mix that was described as "slightly reactive around other dogs." A few days after we took our dog home, it became clear that his issues were much more severe than we had thought. Every walk was stressful, and I would constantly cross the street or change directions to avoid other dogs because our dog would bark and lunge wildly when another dog was in sight. In the house, our dog was extremely agitated and anxious, and I was worried that no training could help. After a few months of stress, I found reviews for Cause & Effect, and got in contact with Kathy. Kathy and Eleanor were able to suggest changes to make around the house and on walks to provide a more structured environment for my dog. Within a couple of months, we started to see dramatic changes in our dog's behavior. He started to respond rapidly to commands and walks became more fun. Now, we are able to go to off-leash dog parks and I no longer worry about my dog behaving aggressively! Although we still have some work to do (mostly around cats), after completing the program, I feel confident and in charge and see progress every day. I am so happy that Cause & Effect was able to coach us so that we can help our dog relax and succeed! read more

If it were possible to add more stars, I would. Let me start by saying Kathy saved our dog's life. Now let me explain. We adopted a rescue 1 year ago, a lovable, 90 pound, teddy bear (shepherd/lab mix) who loves people. He is extremely strong and powerful (he broke through the bars of the crate on the first night). After a couple of weeks with us, his true colors emerged. He was extremely dog reactive (not sure if it was anxiety or herding or both) and would lunge at any dog in the vicinity, even if 10 yards away. He was also super under-socialized, We decided to hire a trainer after much research who used only "positive" methods, meaning lots of treats, etc. Then, after one terrible episode where he knocked down my wife while holding the leash and attacked another dog, we knew we needed more help. We couldn't risk injury to person or dog and knew we were lucky animal control wasn't called. We found Kathy. She convinced us we needed to get out the heavy equipment (prong and Ecollar), but more importantly, began to help us establish a foundation to 1) set expectations, 2) build the dog's confidence, 3) build our confidence and 4) diminish his anxiety. She set a high goal for the dog - being able to eventually socialize with or ignore all dogs. Our goals were much lower - just to be able to walk him on leash on a dog-friendly trail without being concerned about every encounter. That was 8 months ago. Over that time, there have been many ups and downs, progress and regression. When we got discouraged, Kathy would get us back on track. She really understood our dog, assessed his personality and worked very closely to balance praise and correction. Correction is not for the faint of heart and when we reminded ourselves that his life depended on it, we found the will. Kathy would not allow us to lower expectations and built a curriculum that enabled all of us to progress over time. After a few weeks, he learned to walk past 80% of dogs. After a few more weeks, he learned how to cope by lying down. After a few months he could heel and "leave it" more consistently. This summer he experienced a little success on a long leash and closely-monitored interaction. In the last month, the biggest breakthrough yet - he now is able to go to Pt Isabel, OFF-LEASH, and meet other dogs. He even trots after them and makes new friends, If I ever have any concerns I simply call him and he runs back, or I calmly tell him "down" (even 30 feet away) and he goes down. I thought it would take years, if ever to get to that point and often thought he'd be an closely watched, on-leash, on-muzzle dog forever, But we stuck with Kathy's plan, which was strategic and tailor made for our dog. Considering our dog used to dread Pt Isabel and try to go back to the car, watching him now run to dogs with his tail up is nothing short of miraculous. As the owner, you have to be committed, but we couldn't have done it without Kathy. read more

Kathy is passionate about her training work and truly understands aggression and reactivity. The work she did with our pitt mix was nothing short of a miracle. Backstory: We had a baby on the way and met with three other trainers that suggested that we " re-home" our dog rather than continue trying to work on his anxiety/reactivity. We had tried strictly reward based training in the past and initially overlooked Cause and Effect because of the use of corrections( prong and e-collar, muzzle). These tools have been invaluable to us and we finally have made progress with this balanced approach. The corrections are minimal and necessary for us to keep control of our dog. ( my husband shocked himself with the ecollar, it doesn't hurt). We now can enjoy walks, and our pup has made dog friends, (which seemed impossible before). Kathy is thoughtful and thorough with her assessment and took the time to figure out what our dog needed. She will put you to work, it is a strict training program, but she is realistic about how much time owners can put into training and she offers additional services like pack walks and group classes to keep up progress. Most importantly, we got to keep our wonderful dog with the addition of our baby and we now know how to keep everyone safe. read more

Cause & Effect Dog Training - Marlowe is now able to down-stay and relax when he is feeling anxious! - Pet Training Near Me

I have 2 large dogs that I got as puppies and took to the dog park often. They were great with dogs, great with people, but when they hit 2yrs old they started getting aggressive towards other dogs. I didn't understand it. Kathy helped me understand their behavior....they were insecure and a little too babied. They didn't see me/us as the dominant ones. Kathy showed me on day one, our first meeting with her 3 dogs, that mine could behave and not be aggressive if they were told. They just needed to learn what the correct behavior was expected of them. She really understands dog behavior. So, she taught me how to be confident, stay calm when my dog reacted to another dog, and show him who was boss. It was also great to have that weekly meeting with emails during the week to remind me to get out there and practice. I'm a strong believer that a dog is only as good as his trainer. I was definitly looking for a method similar to what I saw in the dog park and the german shepards that were always lined up. And she has that method. It may seem a little agressive to some but it didn't even phase my dogs. I worked one dog with her at the dog park and at the end of our training he had advanced from the muzzle to a little haltie. I was so happy with the results. Now I'm working my other dog on my own with the lessons I've learned. I know it's just a matter of time before he gets there too. read more

I would give Kathy 500 stars if I could! She is incredible and has totally transformed my dog-owner experience! The story: my (soon to be ex) wife and I own an Akita. Like a typical Akita, he is simultaneously dominant and insecure, traits that lead him to be aggressive to other dogs and people. Although he has never actually hurt anyone, he weighs in at 100 pounds and thus the thought of an attack is no joke. After an initial consultation with Kathy, we purchased eight private lessons with her and began to see dramatic results in our relationship to our dog immediately after we started working with her. Now, after six months or so of training, he is a totally different dog and owning him is a totally different experience. The days of being terrified whenever we go on a walk seem like a distant memory. I could write pages about Kathy's virtues, but I want people to read this, so I will be brief. Here are the highlights: - Kathy loves dogs and is committed building healthy relationships between them and their owners. She conveys this enthusiasm in all of her instruction and her motivation is contagious. - She is an extremely good communicator and helped me understand not only how to treat our dog, but why a particular course of action is advisable. - She is supportive and tolerant. Kathy understands that working with your pet can be very emotional and is gentle. She never makes you feel badly if you forget something or get confused. I could go on, but I'll leave it at that. Kathy is the best! read more

I inquired about my dog's issues and was told that they are not positive reinforcement trainers - they use tools like the prong collar and the electric collar. Yikes! How the hell would I want anyone to put an electric collar on my little dog? It's 2015 for God's sake!!! read more