A very cool place. They train dogs here. Lots of them. In German. It is a sight to see on a…read moreSaturday morning. Even if you don't have a dog you can come to watch how they train, and pick up great tips for when you do get a dog. Located in Corralitos, it is a bit of a haul to get here. Probably 30-40 from Santa Cruz and 15 or so from Aptos. The training is done on a large field that has a full obstacle course. Plenty of room for 70-100 dogs at a time. There is a lot of repetition in the training which is just what you would expect. We don't take our dog here, our parents do and they love it. We go to watch and see the dogs. It is a great experience. The trainers are competent and humorous and engaging. They care about you and your pet. One final note, we saw some puppy magic last time here. A dog who just was freakin out about laying down. Yelping and nippy and upset. Willful...not willing. The trainer stopped the class and worked gently and patiently with the dog to finally get it to lay. It was amazing to see it. I didn't think it would happen. After another short walk, the puppy was laying on its own. My wife was in tears. This is the place to get your puppy acclimated to other dogs and a bit of structure in its life.

Eight months ago, when I saw behavioral changes in my dog Scout I felt hopeless. Thank goodness I…read morefound The K9 Clinic. From the first evaluation I knew I had not only found the perfect solution for my dog but a kinship with the trainers as well. The Bootcamp was the best decision I've ever made. Not only did it re-set the mind/behavior of my dog but they also taught me the appropriate skills to be a handler for my specific dog. Before I started with The K9 Clinic Scout was unable to be off leash, around other dogs and her "naughty" behaviors felt unmanageable. Happy to report none of that applies today! Group classes, private lessons; we do them all! Thanks to The K9 Clinic I have the dog I always dreamed of!! Monique Cook Santa Cruz, CA

We have two German Shepherds. One of them is a 92 pound working shepherd thus a bit high…read moremaintenance. He tends to be vocal when he's excited and for people who are not familiar with the breed that can be intimidating. Also like a lot of working GSDs can be a bit particular with who they like. We over the years have struggled to find a kennel that we are comfortable leaving them with. I find that he goes running in wagging his tail when I drop him off. And I really appreciate the good humor that Robert shows with Kosmos. The second dog,Yasmin, is pretty easy she just follows along.

1-Star Review - Extremely Disappointed - Would Not Recommend…read moreI boarded my two dogs at Heritage Kennel in Santa Cruz for four days and was very disappointed with the care they received. One of my dogs, Winnie, arrived with a paw wound. She was wearing a cone and sock, and I provided all the necessary supplies: gauze, bandages, and ointment, along with clear instructions for treatment. None of the supplies were used. When I picked her up, her paw was noticeably worse than when I dropped her off. Additionally, when I collected their bedding to take home and wash, there were dead bugs on the bottom. I also specifically requested anxiety medication for the dogs for the car ride home. I'm not sure if it was ever given -- the dogs were extremely anxious and distressed during the drive. If the medication had been administered as requested, they should have been calm and sleepy for the trip. For the price paid (including what appeared to be charges related to Winnie's paw treatment that was never provided), I expected basic care and follow-through on instructions. This felt like a complete failure of the "VIP treatment" I was hoping for. If dogs could talk, I'd love to hear exactly what happened (or didn't happen) while they were there. I will not be bringing my dogs back to Heritage Kennel.

Literally cannot recommend Mike enough. My puppy Barbie and I work with him 1:1, at my house, and…read moreBarbie also loves the Puppy Socialization classes, in Aptos. Mike is the epitome of calm, powerful, energy - Barbie respects and loves him so much. He embodies the values I strive to implement in my dog training - positive techniques, that empower my puppy to "make the right choice." Mike, thank you so much for giving me confidence as a new dog owner. I can't wait to keep working together, to help Barbie be the best dog she can be.

Mike is an amazing trainer. He's helped my dog and I make huge progress in a short amount of time…read more Scheduling was easy, and the training is quality and clear. My reactive Aussie and I are so grateful.

I have tried other dog training services, and I prefer this clubs approach. My poodles are doing…read morevery well, and I am learning how to train them better. I have been training my dogs for years, but I always like to get pointers and tips for my education as well. Liked this club so much that I joined a couple of years after attending classes. I hope to improve my technique and eventually do some competition trials. The Conformation class is very helpful for getting dogs ready for the show ring. You don't need to commit to a session, you just show up on the designated day and time and pay $15. Really helped to get my dog ready for conformation competition. MBDTC was the only club around that offered these classes. The teacher is a breeder and shower herself, and she was very helpful and supportive.

This was the first time I used Monterey Bay Dog Training Club. The 2 classes that I have taken,…read morealong with my cockapoo, Jolene, has been taught by Luane and several support staff. Luane and staff and great. Luane clearly has tons of experience and she shares it generously. She explains what, why and how to train your dog. It's pretty clear that dog training is really people training. If I haven't figured out how to get my dog to accomplish a task properly, Luane knows all the subtle corrections to use to end up with the behavior that's required. Plus it's fun!

We are so thankful for the care and attention that Old Friends Pet Support provides. When Foxy,…read moreour rescue dog sees Nickie Z owner of OFPS, she is ecstatic which makes the hand over so much easier to bare. Nickie always goes the extra mile with doggie treats, long walks at the beach and comfy places for Foxy to sleep. Nickie has been a pet owner for years and her passion for animals is obvious. Foxy is well loved while under the care of Old Friends Pet Support. As our border collie mix, Idgie neared the end of her 17 years, we wanted Nickie to be part of the final show. Our jobs require us to travel. There were lots of options for Idgie care, but we were most comfortable having Nickie in our home during this challenging time. Idgie's tired wise eyes always lit up when Nickie arrived. We knew she would receive the best love and attention. We are so grateful for the specialized niche that Old Friends Pet Support has filled for pet owners in Santa Cruz County. We highly recommend their service!

Although there are dozens of very good pet sitters in town, no one is better than Nickie when it…read morecomes to taking care of old and special-needs pets. She is incredibly talented and intuitive in understanding what my little doggie needs and I would trust him with no one else!!

Five Stars! I've…read morebeen sending my dog Kaya to Pacific Paw for nearly a year now, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. Kaya started with some anxiety around other dogs and had a tendency to pull on the leash, but the transformation since joining Pacific Paw has been incredible. Thanks to their skilled and patient staff, Kaya's walking behavior has improved dramatically. She's now much more comfortable around other dogs, and it's been heartwarming to see her build friendships and enjoy her time out on the trails. She especially looks forward to her 2-hour walks and daycare time with her doggy pals! Every staff member at Pacific Paw is not only friendly and communicative but also impressively knowledgeable when it comes to dog behavior. You can tell they genuinely care about the dogs they work with. A special shoutout to Michelle, the owner--she's been amazing to work with. I even booked private lessons with her to learn how to walk my dogs while managing a stroller, and her guidance made a world of difference. Pacific Paw has played such a positive role in Kaya's life. She's thriving, happy, and so much more confident. I wholeheartedly recommend Pacific Paw to any dog owner looking for experienced, compassionate, and professional care for their pup. Thank you, Pacific Paw!

We can't say enough amazing things about Deb and Michelle!! We have LOVED having our little Lucy be…read moreapart of their pack walks twice a week! Every walker they have apart of the Pacific Paw team might be the friendliest most kind humans in Santa Cruz! Lucy comes home exhausted and in such a great mood. They give your dog so much Love! Michelle one of the owners is an amazing trainer who gave us so many tips and tricks to correct a few minor behavior issues with Lucy. They also write a cute daily report and always send amazing photos of your pup and where they walked that day! Highly Recommend Pacific Paw to any dog owner!

Where do I start... I contacted Steve to inquire about training. This took place in mid-summer,…read moremid-Covid pandemic. He was very thorough from the initial contact, all the way through training and post training contacts. I enrolled my 2yr old JRT, Olive in Steve's 4-week Bootcamp Training Program. Olive was separated fro her mom a bit too early and she has had issues with fear-aggression. To make matters a bit more challenging in her young life, I went thru the death of my husband and 4 foot surgeries in her young 2-year life, during a crucial development and training time for a rambunctious JRT pup, (which is normal for the breed). My training with her was inconsistent and ineffective. The last straw was when I couldn't get a recall for her to come in from outside in the boiling Palm Desert heat. Steve treats his students with the love and care as he would his own pup. His training methods are very positive and reward based. He teaches the human the crucial components of training to help keep the pup safe and out of mischief. He makes the training fun and introduces tricks that aid in behaviors for the dog to have successful interventions for vet treatments and the like. Steve is also published and has a great book that I reference frequently, "Dog Bites". It contains training basics, addressing problem behaviors, and some great recipes for dog & human "bites". For me, it serves as a reference textbook, to supplement our training. Toward the end of her 3-week Bootcamp, I had my last foot surgery scheduled a few days after she was scheduled to come home. With more understanding how prepared I needed to be to have an effective transition home, Steve was agreeable (as his schedule would allow), to board Olive for an additional 10 days & her training would continue. It was so important and helpful to have that extra time to recover and be the best for my girl. With the challenges of Covid and the heat of the summer, Steve's training was very effective. When Olive struggles with success, I look at MY behaviors on how I'm continuing to manage her training. Steve is very generous with his time in follow-up FaceTime & Zoom follow-ups when issues arise or I feel the need for support. Besides the progressional integrity, Steve is a great human being who absolutely loves dogs! I give Steve Brown K-9U 10 stars out of 5!

Look, guys. I can't not give five stars to K9U. I mean look at this:…read morehttp://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/steve-brooks-k9u-los-angeles?select=zMg3CkIksC7xGRv8wBwRQw#zMg3CkIksC7xGRv8wBwRQw I'm a little embarrassed to call Duke a college graduate when he is such a goof, but I know he got a great education with Steve Brooks. Duke is my son, and he is a basset hound. Matt B. and I first got him around ten months ago, when he was about a year old. Like many bassets, he suffered from a pretty persistent strain of separation anxiety, and for a while before we came to see Steve, he was going potty on the floor every time we left him home alone. That was our main issue with him, but I'll also admit that he wasn't the best trained dog in the world. He only knew "sit" and "down," and would only really do either if he thought he could get food out of the bargain. He was also a nightmare to walk because he would pull constantly and he is very strong. (All this said - he is and always has been a delightful boy, who is just full of love and without a mean bone in his wiggly basset body.) We got K9U's card at Duke's vet when we mentioned his separation issues. A couple months ago, we called Steve and set up our first meeting. We were a little stunned by the prices (I think they go $175 for the first session, $150, $125, and $100 for the second, third, and fourth sessions, and $100 for any additional sessions after that), but decided to give it a shot. We did four lessons, which were supposed to add up to five hours. We probably got closer to eight hours of training. Steve is not stingy with his time, and we got the most out of our lessons. Over the last two months, I have seen a marked improvement in Duke's behavior and general demeanor. He is more relaxed than he was before we met Steve, and though he still gives us problems, we are better equipped to address these now that we're a bit more educated. Steve's methods are based in positive reinforcement, and he taught us how to train Duke using a variety of rewards. He talked us through some of Duke's behavioral issues, and suggested a crate training regimen to help his separation anxiety, which has been largely successful. Duke learned to stay, and to come, and to walk better on a leash. The four sessions were very comprehensive, and pretty enjoyable, too. All three of us like Steve, who is a warm, friendly man who clearly loves animals. On the last day, Steve put Duke in a cap and gown and took pictures and printed out a diploma. This was wonderful. Going forward, we have the option to take more private lessons, and Steve also leads a monthly group class that is free to K9U graduates. We will most certainly be attending those. Matt jokes that our basset has been socially promoted - Duke still counter surfs and jumps on people, and is not quite a dog show quality dog. Even so, he is better behaved, and we know how to reinforce good habits. I'm happy we took him to K9U, and I'd recommend Steve Brooks to anyone.

GoDogz was founded by two of the most caring, and professional people I have ever met (Sean and…read moreHeidi). It is so rare to find people to care so much more, and go above and beyond. With Sean and Heidi it's about quality, and you have to admit now a days that's a great thing! They will love your four legged family member like one of their own. As a frequent yelper, I can guarantee you that your dog will be so much happier with their program they have for them. They will also send you progress reports of your pets as well to see how they are doing. The owners are also insured and Pet CPR/First Aid Certified as well. Did you know that a portion of their proceeds benefits the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter?! That's really awesome that these owners can give back to their community. They do offer a free consultation to discuss your dog's needs, so don't be afraid to call and set one up!

Sean and Heidi were loved by my dogs; and my little dog doesn't like too many people initially. I…read moreleft them overnight at home with Sean, when I got home, though glad to see me, my dogs were fine and no signs of stress at all. Loved the "tail" and pictures as well as the "report card" left for us. Highly recommended.