I adopted two five-year old pugs last year and quickly learned they needed help with their manners. Walks were a headache with one in particular barking constantly and rushing towards any strangers. I couldn't have guests and was always cleaning up messes. I spent a good amount of time researching various trainers and nothing really clicked for me. I wanted to find a training method that was firm but kind. When I found this quote ("If you treat your dog like a human, it will treat you like a dog. If you treat your dog like a dog, it will treat you like a human") on Dan Perata's website, I was intrigued. The team was warm and transparent on our first meeting about the cost, the commitment required from me, and the results I could expect. I saw a difference in my dogs' behaviors right away. During our training time, I got to know the trainers and facility, and my dogs happily go back inside now when I leave them for boarding. I know they are in the right hands. read more

Dan and his team are fabulous with their training methods. It's been 4 years since I started my Gracie at Dan's training. Gracie loves going there. Mostly I want to tell you what loving, caring people Dan, Natasha, Sidney and their team are. Two weeks ago I was experiencing arm and chest pain. I called Dan's place and told Sidney what was happening and asked that Dan come get pick up Gracie. I was having a heart attack. I was taken to Van Ness Er, Dan met me there and got the key to my home. He took Gracie and the next day I had a stent placed in my right coronary artery. Dan also came back and visited me in the hospital. Dan's team took care of Gracie for over a week, at no charge I might add. When Dan returned Gracie back to me he also took the time to change a ceiling light bulb for me. Now I check in with them every morning to let Natasha and Dan all is good. Dan's team not only loves the dogs they train but truly care about the owners too. I can't thank them enough, love them. read more

We adopted Blue, our rescue lab, on January 1 and he was a handful! We did not know how to walk him on a leash, he was reactive around other dogs, and he was wild when company came over. Thank goodness our neighbor recommended Dan Perata to us. We liked the positive training method and the focus on training us, as well as Blue. Dan and team gave us the tools to manage Blue and help him be the fantastic dog that he is. While we are all still a work in progress, we now can walk Blue without worrying about being pulled down and he is much better on leash around other dogs. He calms down more easily when we have company. We appreciate being able to attend group training after Dan Camp and always learn something new when we go. Thanks to Dan and team for helping us all. read more

Dan Perata Training - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We have been going to Dan Perata for many many years now for our pup. Our dog has done the board and train and also is a regular for boarding there! I really love this facility because everyone who works there really cares about the dogs and I have a lot of trust in them to leave my dog overnight. Would highly recommend this place to anyone who's looking for a trusted dog boarding facility that's going to keep your dog safe, treat them well, and keep them well trained! read more

Dan Perata Training - Oski - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am a repeat customer of Dan Perada's camp. 9 years ago I had a rescued cattle dog that was unruly and started attacking other dogs. Bobby was a real punk. I got a referral and ended up signing my dog up for Dan camp. They really helped me get him in shape using positive reinforcement and a gentle leed collar. Bobby ended up being the best dog ever. I also learned a lot about dog energy and how to read my dog and other dogs. So now, 9 years later I rescue my puppy Rosie and decided to send my puppy to Camp. My puppy is 5 1/2 months and graduated Camp now. Rosie is perfect on the leash, knows all her commands , stay, here (come), sit, down, off,leave it, Drop it and touch. We go to training classes each week, and Rosie loves to go there. She loves all the staff and trainers so much, I get a little jealous. It's a great investment and support system. I can still even Bring my older dog for lessons if I choose. They gave me tips for integration of my puppy to my older pup also. I am a big fan! read more

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I'm soo glad I decided to board and train my dog with Dan! I have a 3 year old pit bull that is extremely reactive and anxious. I honestly didn't think she was gunna do good. Boy was I wrong! After sitting in the consultation for 10 minutes my dog was already listening to him. The classes they proved teach both you and your dog how to communicate with each other and make things way more manageable inside the house and outside the house The staff also worked with my work schedule which was also a big deal I also seen all sorts of dog there, big, small, old and young. Seemed like no dog was a challenge for their team! A huge thanks again! read more

I've already reviewed DPT, but my groomer told me yesterday he wished all his clients' dogs were as well behaved as ours. Had to pass on the compliment because it is all from DPT! read more

We raised our female Rottweiler from a puppy, and when she was four, we rescued a 2-3 year old male Rottie to join our family. Unfortunately, the two did not get along, and we found ourselves overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. After vetting several trainers, we chose Dan Perata because of his thoughtful, structured approach--focused on discipline and communication through commands rather than treats or punitive methods. His philosophy resonated with us: training isn't just about the dog, it's about the owners putting in the work too. This isn't a "drop off your dog and pick them up all trained" program. It's a serious commitment. We spent many weeks working closely with Dan and his incredible team, and while we eventually "graduated," that was just the beginning. We continue to train with our dogs at home and periodically attend refresher group walks to reinforce what we've learned. Additionally, we also use Dan's boarding services when we travel, knowing our dogs are in good hands and staying consistent with their training. We wholeheartedly recommend Dan Perata Training to anyone serious about building a strong, respectful relationship with their dog. But be prepared: this program requires your time, effort, and willingness to grow alongside your dog. If you're not ready for that level of commitment, you may want to rethink dog ownership altogether. read more

Dan Perata Training - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This post is long overdue but here goes: I have a seven year old Australian Shepherd who I take almost everywhere and feel confident to have her off leash and in control in any scenario. Every week for the last seven years, I get asked where/how I trained my dog. At this point, I've probably told at least 100+ dog owners about Dan's camp and how great they are. Before I go any further, I have to add a disclaimer: Dan Perata training is NOT going to be a fit for everyone. This is not a pay-to-win environment where you just drop your dog off, write a check, and expect miracles to happen. The training is hard work, both for the dog and for the owners.... especially the owners. If you can't stand to correctively discipline your dog because they are just too cute, this is not for you. If you expect someone else to do all the work and you just get a trained dog out of it, this is not for you. If you are looking for a"daycare" for your dog where they are pampered and coddled while being trained, this is not for you. If, however, you are looking to take responsibility and make an investment in you and your dog and are willing to put in a few months of hard work so you can have an amazing relationship built on trust for the rest of your dogs life - then look no further. Don't even bother looking at other places, call Dan and Natasha today. Now as for the ethos: Dan's camp doesn't believe in treats for obedience or negative re-enforcement. They don't use shock collars (except for extreme cases which most likely won't apply to you). They believe in obedience as a baseline expectation and then treats for tricks! The gold standard is to have a dog you can take off leash anywhere and have the assurance that they will listen to you. The camp itself is a boarding school for your dog. Monday-Friday your dog will be boarded by the camp where they will live and stay at the camp while working on the weeks lessons. You as the owner are expected to go in at least once a week to get trained. Dan believes training a dog is only 20% of the work and the 80% is training the human (you'll see). On weekends you will have homework. you'll be tasked with various exercises to reenforce the learning. You will have write ups as homework that you will submit each Monday so the team can adjust the weeks lessons accordingly. This is a personalized program for you and your dog. and they will work on it for as long as it takes. Again, you will only get out how much you put in. But assuming you are willing to put in the work, Dan and his team will match your effort ten-fold. To Dan and Natasha and the training staff: thank you for all that you do and have done for me and Emma. We have an amazing relationship built on a solid foundation thanks to your guidance. We continue to practice your training to this day and will continue to send doggos and owners your way :) read more

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Raider is a very different type of dog now and I'm so grateful for Dan camp and all of the staff here is amazing thank you!

Leave it to the professionals at Dan Perata Training! I found myself in over my head after rescuing a dog while trying to help a friend. My dog was 4 years old, had never walked on a leash, was nervous in social situations, and would bolt if given the chance. Feeling desperate, I reached out to Dan Perata Training. They reassured me with a "No worries, come in." After a consultation with Dan and Natasha, I finally felt hopeful about having a future with my dog. We signed up for Dan Camp, and by the end of the first week, my dog was walking on a leash beside me on busy San Francisco streets--something I never thought possible. In the following weeks, we learned additional commands like "stay" and "here" and "leave it". My dog's energy levels have become so much more balanced. Most importantly, we learned how to set and maintain boundaries effectively. My dog has been truly transformed thanks to Dan Perata Training. Remember, the results depend on the effort you put in as an owner. There's weekly homework and training involved. My dog is still a work in progress, but we're achieving results I once thought impossible. With consistency, patience, and proper training we have overcome many obstacles. My dog's quality of life has improved. One thing that still mindblows me is that I use to feed her treats in order to listen to me, and now treats are for just fun. My dog values my affection more as a reward. If you're struggling with your dog and need hope, I highly recommend Dan Perata Training. The staff is professional, knowledgable, trustworthy and truly know what they're doing! I can't thank them enough! read more

Dan Perata Training - Lola doing great out in public "staying". - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

TL;DR We love Dan Perata Training. Both our dogs have gone through DPT, and they are simply amazing. Both our pups have much anxiety and they have made excellent strides with their behavioral development. One very useful benefit DPT offers to their clients is the opportunity to come back for training sessions to keep learnings fresh. The team has taken amazing care of our newest addition, a Mali/GSD mix who had nerve injury from FHO surgery when she was rescued. The team took extra care to ensure they followed her medication and care regimen, as well as advice for her recovery whilst in training. read more

Dan Perata is an investment and absolutely worth it. As first-time dog owners in San Francisco with an anxious, flight-prone whippet, we had no idea what we were doing. Dan gave us the foundation we needed. We'll never be perfect dog trainers, and our pup will always be sensitive and have selective obedience, but thanks to Dan, she's not as fearful or reactive as she could be. During her board and train program, she was very excited to see the trainers each week. However, we left the program a bit early because she was chewing her crate bars. Now we know her to be the comfort loving pup she is, we think she didn't like the noise, needed soft bedding, and might have been cold.We also tried boarding her there for a week, and she returned home with giardia. Hard to say where she could have picked that up, but we now board her in private homes, which suits her better. The training gave us a solid starting point. We're glad we started our pup with Dan Perata's training and recommend him to other dog owners. read more

The Dan Perata team is THE BEST! I adopted my dog in the thick of 2020 - I was under the delusion that we would all work from home forever, I was bored out of my mind, and I spent most of that year drinking White Claws starting at 2pm. So, it's no surprise that when Daisy, a charming "fully-grown, 25 lb, mixed breed" entered my life, I adopted her without hesitation, swept up by the illusion that endless love and cuddles would fix all. Only when I sobered up did reality strike - Daisy, far from the small mixed breed I imagined, was an energetic, aggressive, highly intelligent, growing pit bull and I was way in over my head. Barking, lunging, and biting were just the start of it - she was also scaling fences to escape enclosed yards, opening the fridge to help herself to food, destroying anything she could get her paws on... the list goes on. Life with Daisy was an arms race and I had resigned to the fact that, at best, she would never be an off-leash dog. I'm so grateful I discovered Dan Perata and his incredible team - not only did they whip Daisy into shape during Dan Camp, but they equipped me with all the necessary tools I needed to effectively interact with her and maintain her training beyond the DPT facility. That being said, it's important to understand that this is not a "pay to drop your dog off and receive it transformed" kind of situation; you'll hear it hundreds of times but YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK and you have to be an active participant in your dog's training. It was challenging and I was tempted to bend the rules with every puppy-eyed look, but I persevered and ultimately learned how to understand and interact with dogs effectively. Not only was everything I learned super empowering, but life became exponentially easier - Daisy is finally as sweet and social as her namesake implies (and she's off-leash with damn-near-perfect recall!). I'm not exaggerating when I say I have no doubt that the Dan Perata team saved her life. Now, four years later, when a shift in remote work policies disrupted our routine and caused some regression in Daisy, the DPT team was right there to support us. They welcomed us back for a refresher session and got us back on their class schedule. True to their word, their training includes lifetime support. It didn't take long for Daisy to adjust back - proof that their approach really works. I can't recommend Dan Perata and his team highly enough. If you're ready to fully commit to your dog's training, embrace some tough love, and actively participate in the process, this team will profoundly change both your and your dog's lives for the better. Much love to the DPT team! read more

Dan Perata Training - An off-leash, happy, confident dog (and owner!) - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

I went for a tour of the facility and met the owner after reading so many glowing positive Yelp reviews. I was so excited and felt really optimistic that I would enroll my puppy. Unfortunately, there were multiple red flags during the visit. The dynamic of the entire place (and of the staff) was that this is a profitable, fear-based dog prison. The owner came across as arrogant, aggressive, and even adamantly insisted that certain breeds are "crazy." The dogs were kept alone in crates, fearful, and were screamed at or sprayed if barking. You know that sad feeling when you're at a dog shelter? Imagine that but with even sadder and even more scared dogs. That's what it was like. The dogs all acted like they were terrified and in prison. The training sessions appeared to be based on breaking a dog's will and joy via negative punishments and physical aggression. I was so confused later at home... how could the positive reviews be so different than what I saw firsthand? That's when I decided to filter the reviews by 1 star to see what those said. Wow! There were so many 1 star reviews with people saying they regretted taking their puppies or dogs there. Several said their dog came back as a prisoner of war, with no happiness, and they had completely lost their personality. Others have said their dog returned with their former anxiety being replaced with aggression that is so bad that they may have to be put down. Please read the 1 star reviews before going here. This business is getting negative reviews removed. I've seen negative reviews disappear. See how nasty, condescending, and defensive the business is in their replies to reviewers who are just trying to help others be informed. To everyone who took the time to leave a critical review, despite intimidation from the business/owner: thank you. You saved me and my puppy from becoming another tragic outcome of this business. To this business: I understand that inducing fear and administering negative punishments like physical aggression may seem like an efficient and fast way to change dog behavior and optimize business profits. But please think about what long-term and irreversible effects you're actually having on these dogs and their owners. Dogs aren't meant to be fearful robots. If you're going to train dogs, do what is best and humane and not just what is fast and easy. To the staff: You probably started working here because you like or love dogs. At the end of each work day, do you question what you're being ordered or directed to do at work? Does it not sit right with you? If so, listen and trust your inner voice and intuition. It's not worth it to trade your morals, ethics, and principles for a paycheck. *** Update to Dan's response to my review: I'm genuinely sorry to upset you, but I promise that I have the right business. No one asked me or paid me to write this review. I respect small business owners. But small (or large) businesses should listen to their customers so they can improve. I'm sure it's extremely challenging to do what you do and that you're very passionate about your work. I acknowledge that and respect it. Please consider what the 1 star reviews are saying. It's totally healthy and okay to evolve or to make adjustments based on critical customer feedback. read more

Five stars! My husband and I discovered Dan Perata Training after being gifted a 10-week old Cane Corso puppy from our son. Adorable, sweet and affectionate, our puppy (Buddha), was a warm addition to our home - until he thought he owned our home. While potty training was (oddly) never an issue with our pup, he was thrilled to teethe on our baseboards, coffee table, vintage albums, books and our mail - and he was stealth while doing it - we never heard a thing. As he grew (fast) he didn't listen to us pleading for him to return indoors, or to sit, or to get into his crate - and walking him became a chore as he was nearly 110-pounds at seven months old! We needed help - and we found Dan Perata Training. After reading reviews and having a candid discussion with co-owner, Natasha, we met with Dan and had an eye-opening evaluation of Buddha. We elected the 5-week Dan Camp - because we likely needed this training as much as our pup. It was beyond worth it. His progress and attentiveness are great! Dan and team are deeply knowledgeable about how dogs perceive the world that they live in and finding their place in it. The team continuously provided insights about dog behaviors and also unique insights about Buddha. Dan quickly observed that even when we became frustrated with our pup's behavior, we still spoke to him as if he were a human child that needed coddling - and Buddha seemed to love that - and he took advantage of it, and of us. Now equipped with Dan's new intel, we can spot Buddha's attempts to manipulate and game us from a mile away! Until Dan Perata Training, we hadn't thought much about what our now 130-pound Buddha expects of US. We acknowledge that we've learned that having a happy and well-behaved pet is not only a time commitment for us, but also a promise to Buddha that we will be consistent in our commands and follow-up with him so that he will always trust that we will make the right decisions to keep him (and others) safe ("Untrained dogs don't make good decisions"). At Dan Perata Training they make it clear that for our pets to have a rich life that is lived well, they must have consistency in the directions given to them and the expectations of them. Importantly, besides being warm and terrific humans, Dan and Natasha and the entire Perata Training community are clearly caring, and truly invested in the well-being of the pets and their caretakers - all that, plus their ongoing enthusiasm make this training team and facility a fantastic choice. Buddha and "his people" highly recommend Dan Perata Training -- it's a process, it's ongoing, and it's worth it. read more

Dan Perata Training - Buddha and his brick. - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

Consistency. Consistency. Consistency! Anytime, something comes up for us, we reach out and someone at Dan Perata Training is always there for us. It's so refreshing -even if the information isn't what we always want to hear, since the problem is all too often us! Ha But we continue to learn and grow as pet owners and humans, and our dogs do as well. read more

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Wow I am shocked that this place still has customers after seeing the treatment first hand. I just moved to SF and was looking for a qualified dog trainer to help get my dog off leash. This place seemed to have the best reviews with people raving about the trainers and facility. Initially the tour went well, the staff was friendly and the lobby was nice. I did notice that the dogs in the lobby were not trained... The workers kept trying to put these in an office while I had my dog in the lobby but they would not listen or come, they also kept barking at my dog? First red flag... The next red flag was the facility itself, it is literally a dungeon. These poor dogs are kept in cages in the dark, no sunlight or windows. How do you expect a dog with separation anxiety to feel comfortable in such a cruel space? I can't speak on the actual training because we did not move forward based on the facility. The workers were also pushy and scammy. The dogs in the lobby were not trained at all, they kept asking me to sign a contract right away, and they kept asking me to put a credit card on file. It was weird and felt like they were trying to get my money fast. Please read the 1 star reviews and do not take your dog to this dungeon. read more

I've kept up with reviews on DP for years. After reading many of them, I thought I would submit a review YEARS after Dan Camp because the dog I have today is due in large part to the training he had back then. Since most of the other reviews are right after the fact, this has a broader perspective. First, I recommend owners be honest about what kind of dog they want to end up with and talk with Dan about that compatibility. I wanted a snuggle bug who would hang out on the couch with me. Their training highly recommends that you not let your pup do this. I understand why and DP has valid points but this is something I should have spent more time talking with him about. This is on me. Second, my dog is highly food motivated. I know using DP's methods I could have gotten him there but it would have been a longer road. After DP, I enrolled Charlie in other training that used treats at first. I then used the teachings from DP to solidify that training , weening him off treats. The tools DP provided enabled Charlie to get to where I wanted him to be -- no way Charlie gets there without DP but he did need a few cookies along the way just to move things along. Third, it is so hard to prove a negative but I am 100 percent convinced that due to Dan Camp, Charlie is not afraid of fireworks, he loves his crate and he is not dog reactive. That is all DP since Charlie's first year of existence was spent at Dan Camp during the 4th of July. I am also convinced that DP gave Charlie the temperament needed for us to welcome a kitty into our home during COVID (poor Charlie puts up with this cat like a champ!). He also does not react to squirrels. Can I prove all this? No. But I believe it so I'm going with it. Fourth, the only true disappointment was on the group training following Dan Camp. I think one or two of my one on ones got moved to group and a few of the group lessons had dogs that were very needy. As a result, staff time was spent on them leaving the other dogs with little to no instruction. Not the staff's fault. The owners of those pups should have either done a few more one on ones or seeing that this group became a one on one, been kind enough to free up the staff to work with the other dogs and owners. Maybe a tiered "intermediate" or "advanced" group class system? Perhaps they already have employed this concept. Anyway, this was not the case with all group lessons but for the ones during which it did happen, it was not a great way to maximize my time -- though I know any training is good training so NOT a waste of time. Fifth, I have no question that if Charlie had an incident and needed some DP training, they would honor their agreement (with Dan Camp they note they will help well after the fact if your dog is attacked by another dog and needs rehab training). They are honest people who want to see their pupils succeed. And they feel the pain of a mentally wounded dog. Finally, this has nothing to do with training but on their love of dogs. DP does a great deal to help Rocket Dog which is one of the best rescues around. This tidbit will not be on any promotional stuff they put out nor will Dan tell you about it during a consult. But Rocket Dog is able to thrive because of the support DP provides. I think that says a lot about Dan and all the other staff there. So, make your consult with Dan count. You need to be honest in order to understand if this is right for you. If it is, they WILL get your dog fully trained. If you are on the fence, give it a try. If not, he will not hold it against you. read more

Our dog is a totally different dog now after all the training he went through! Thanks Dan! He gave me a great dog!

Dans training is life changing and he will never lie to you to get your money like most trainers. Dan and Natasha live to train dogs and help the people who own them. I cannot recommend them enough and I honestly can't imagine the hell my life would be without them. I am and will always be eternally grateful to them and their one of a kind amazing staff!!! Dan and Natasha have and continue to change my life for the better . When I got my dog, the shelter didn't tell me she was dog aggressive, human aggressive and every other kind of aggressive . I tried everything I knew but nothing helped until I called Dan . He changed everything and helped me understand and work with my dog. That was 10 years ago we now have two dogs and 8 kittens and she loves them all . Dan and Natasha work with me through every big change in my life and when my mom had a massive stroke they even let me have the dogs with them way more so they didn't have to be in a crate 24/7 when the help was here. If you are considering them I highly recommend you call and go in for a consult . You won't be sorry!!!!! read more

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Almost 3 years ago we came to Dan with our 4 year old rescue Diego who had issues with Dog Agression after we adopted a new puppy thinking he was just lonely. He became aggressive with the new puppy to the point where we knew we had to do something about it. Diego came into Dan Camp with Dog Agression, Leash Pulling, Excessive Marking, Separation Anxiety and left able to walk on the leash without pulling without or reacting to distractions. He's also significantly calmer and able to not only be around our other puppy without trying to attack it, 1 year later and our 2 dogs are now playing together. Diego is a much happier dog because of it and we don't have to make excuses for our dog anymore and can actually take him out to places that used to be impossible to go. Dan and the team work really hard to make sure that our dog was well taken care of and received the training it needed. This training is not like any other training, a lot of work is done when you get to work 1 on 1 with your dog. Consistency and follow through! You can keep coming back for more training until you are satisfied with the results! Thank you to the whole team and Dan and Natasha for making us feel like family. I should also mention that we have boarded both of our dogs here multiple times, and when they start to whine and wag their tails at the entrance, we know we made the right choice. They are happy to be here! read more

Dan Perata Training - Diego (Left) 7 years, Nala (Right) 3 years - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent Service Amazing Results. Dan is an amazing instructor. Operations team runs a tight ship

The trainers at Dan Perata Training have officially saved our sanity. We adopted a dog who is insanely leash reactive- and 120 pounds. Tried treat based training to no avail (and to the detriment of our dog's digestive tract). I was virtually out of hope until I found Dan Perata. No prong or shock collars. No treats. And day one, Milo was walking with other dogs. He's gotten better with every training session, and we've become pup parents who understand what he needs to feel safe. As someone who has been rescuing animals for over 20 years and is rarely confounded by a four-legged child, I cannot recommend this facility enough! Call them! You won't be sorry! read more

If you are reading these reviews to decide whether you and your dog should go to DPT, the answer is yes. No amount of reading will fully convey how much you both will learn and bond with your dog. If you are into reviews in short novel form then read on. One Saturday morning I woke up and saw a picture of an adorable puppy on the ACC IG account. I had been thinking about getting a second dog. My then 13 year old dog Sheba had been sick, and although I had always said I would never get a bridge dog, well, I am a softie and changed my mind. This little puppy, Odin, happened to look a lot like Sheba when she was a puppy. Cute mutt, floppy ears, a lab mix of sorts. Those are usually chill, trainable dogs right? Perfect! I did not want to bring a crazy hyper dog into our household of 2 humans, 3 cats and a 13 year old dog. Well, Odin is not a lab mix, he does not have a chill demeanor, and he does not have floppy ears. Instead, Odin is an extremely intelligent, anxious, reactive, hilariously high energy dog. Odin has run multiple dogs to exhaustion on the same morning, after we went on a 5 mile run so he would "chill out". Odin had surgery and woke up from anesthesia so amped up, the vet called asking if we could pick him up 4 hours sooner than they had initially planned because they could not handle him any longer. It was clear from early on that Odin is, well, different, and he was going to require some serious training. Not only did he find creative ways to make bad decisions 99% of his waking time, but pretty quickly he realized he had the superpower of the most annoying non-stop bark. This tiny puppy would bark incessantly every time I left the house, even (or perhaps especially?) if he was left with my husband. It was not good, in fact, it was so bad, I stopped wanting to leave the house all together. And so the Odin training saga begins. At first we tried one of those online training programs, with videos and workbooks and whatnot. The content was fine, from it we learned we should definitely crate Odin. This online program, however, didn't show you how to deal with a puppy that had... unusual behaviors, and although you could email them for advice and they tried to be helpful, it is very hard to convey over email all the nuances of the behavior of a 3 month old gremlin. One morning while surviving through an Odin walk, a neighbor mentioned having sent their dog to a board-and-train program somewhere. I spent a number of days reading reviews and websites and anything else I could find about the trainers in the area. Some of the programs I filtered out pretty quickly. For example, I do not want to use a shock collar on my dogs, and I preferred training in a facility over having Odin go to someone's house. In the end I was between two programs, one of which was DPT. Honestly, I was pretty skeptical about DPT. I had read ~200 reviews and didn't know what to make of those 1 star reviews, considering the overwhelming number of 5 star reviews they have. But, DPT is in the city, really close to our house, so we decided to check it out. I called DPT and made an appointment to visit the facility. We showed up with Odin who was bouncing all over the place. I was mortified, we really had tried to teach him some manners but he was just out of control. Natasha seemed totally unfrazzeld by my little furry nutso. She asked us to ignore Odin, gave us her spiel, Bryn showed us around the facility, and that was that. It was, actually, pretty good. I liked it. It was obviously a no BS, dogs first, knowledgeable group of people kind of place. Although I told myself that I was going to sleep on it, I knew once we got in the car that we would be enrolling Odin into Dan Camp pretty soon. And so we did. A few weeks after our first visit I was dropping off my tiny little maniac for his first week at Dan Camp. I cried. I did not sleep at night that week thinking about whether my poor little furry baby was cold or hungry or lonely. That first week I could not wait for Wednesday to come so I would see the goober at class, and I never waited for a Friday so badly. I wanted my puppy back. It was so hard! One of the first lessons when you enroll at Dan Camp is to stop touching, looking and talking to your dog all the time. I was just so hilariously bad at this, I am pretty sure as soon as I picked Odin up that first week and got in the car, I gave him a big hug and asked him for forgiveness for leaving him alone all week. And so the weekend came and went, and we had just spent a bunch of money on this program, and I am a completionist, so we took Odin in for week 2 (and 3,4,5...), and slowly started seeing bits of progress. Odin was, by far, the worst behaved dog in group lessons, but progress was undeniably happening... (Continued @ https://bit.ly/dpt-part-two) read more

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We've been going to Dan Perata for boarding and training for years now and they truly saved our dog Lola. She is very fearful and reactive, and they take consistent good care of her whenever we are out of town. It's amazing to see how confident Lola has become over our time with them. read more

I really can't say enough good things about Dan Perata Training. My large, young, and very excitable pittie was becoming more than I could safely handle. She jumped - constantly knocking me and my other pittie over, she was very mouthy and super stubborn, but the biggest issue was that she was totally out of control on a walk. It was feeling like it was just a matter of time before something dangerous would happen on a walk. So, I researched a bunch of dog training facilities and this one is HANDS DOWN, the best out there. Others would take a dog for a month or two and just hand you back the dog at the end of that time. Dan Perata Training was the ONLY one that works with the owner too. The home on weekends approach is a great, not just because I missed my pup but also because we could work together on what she and I were learning. Additionally, what you pay is what you pay. You can continue to take classes with your dog and it's never going to cost you a penny more. These guys are really invested in your success. The last big plus point is the people. Dan and Natasha run a great business and it's super apparent they are here for the dogs and their people. Dan is truly a dog whisper and Natasha takes a really caring approach to running this business. The trainers are amazing. Luna and I have mostly worked with Josh and he's great! I just can't say enough good things about him and JV. They are so knowledgeable and are great at imparting their wealth of knowledge. They are patient and work individually with clients to tailor the program to meet each dog/person's needs. Luna has completed the initial 4 weeks of camp and is a different dog. She's so much calmer. She jumps far less and is so much less mouthy but the big thing is that I can safely walk her. We still have a ways to go but camp was a really great start. We're still attending lessons, working on long line training so I can hike with her and are working on her manners even more. I'll be honest, we're probably looking at most of this year continuing with lessons and the team encourages that - its one of the reasons why Dan Perata's approach is so great. I'm stymied by the few less than stellar reviews here. Most of them seem to be from folks who didn't actually hire Dan Perata Training. Here's the thing - this training is a commitment. Dan Perata is not interested in "fixing" your dog and handing him/her back to you. They are interested in helping your dog understand how to behave well and helping you learn to be a good and responsible leader for your dog. If you're not willing to put the work in, this isn't the place for you. But if you are, there is not a better place to help you develop a great relationship with your dog that allows to them to be confident, happy, and well behaved. read more

Dan Perata Training - Post Training: Calm, polite Luna sitting nicely with her brother. - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We have had such a wonderful experience with Dan Perata Training. We got our puppy at 4 months old and started with the puppy camp, and have done several follow up training sessions. Our little/huge guy is now 7 months old and he is EXCELLENT at fetch (so fun!) and best of all I am able to walk him most places off leash. I would highly recommend this program. It works. read more

I cannot thank the Dan Perata team enough. They are the reason I now have peace in my family. We first brought our dog Kingston (a pit bull/ Rhodesian Ridgeback) for a consultation with Dan himself where we sat down and talked about all of our concerns. Dan walked us through the thorough steps and communication they take with the dogs and gave us a tour around their facility. They understood Kingston had some aggression issues and got us in as soon as possible, they showed a level of care and concern as if it were their own dog. Kingston used to practically drag me down our stairs, would constantly lunge at other dogs and FORGET about a stranger walking past him or even wanting to pet him. He was super territorial over my husband and I to the point where we could not take him anywhere in public with a lot of people or dogs. Our only option was to kennel him when we had company over. Once training began, life with Kingston became easier. The first week of getting him back I was shocked at how easy walks became, I always dreamed of being able to walk past strangers without the fear of king lunging at people. He was no longer dragging me along on walks, he was right by my side. I will say training is very hands on with mandatory in person training and homework. Bottom line if you don't put in the required time you will not get long term results. You get the tools to work with your dog and have all your questions answered as the weeks go by. Every step of the way you have help and guidance. This is a place that understands dog training is for life and is willing to put in the time to work on that with you and your dog. What sets them apart from any other place is that if you need a refresher with your dog they encourage you to stop by and drop in for a class(even after boot camp is over no matter how much time has passed) Unlike most places that take your dog and do the training without you being apart of the process, so by the time you get your dog back they get back into old habits. We cannot thank Natasha, Dan perata, and the wonderful trainers enough, because of all their time and support with Kingston our day to day life is much smoother in every aspect. My husband and I are planning to have a baby soon and I now have confidence that Kingston can be apart of our family unit. read more

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Update: I'm not sure how to respond to the comment thread so I'm adding my response here as an update. His first time attacking anyone was the first night he was back from DP after his weeks of training were done and we emailed you the first day after. (SEE SCREENSHOT). We sent it in December and didn't get a reply until May - which I think was an honest mistake/didn't see it. Then we DID have a phone call with Dan directly because his new behavior was frequent and re-occurring. Dan offered to bring Jasper back (which I do appreciate) but because we saw it not work and also do harm, we decided not to bring him back for further stress and damage. --- Original post: I was scared to write this because I've seen Dan or his team be very hostile in the comments trying to discredit people and I didn't want the ugliness or drama of that. But I do want to share my experience. My dog Jasper has always had anxiety and we were looking for a trainer to help with that and we also loved the idea of making him an off-leash dog. Jasper was already potty-trained, knew sit, down, stay, and place from our previous dog trainer. He used to get along with all dogs. Our old dog trainer used a prong collar and we wanted him to be good walking on leash without a prong as well. Jasper came back from DP very aggressive and fighting with our other dog Atlas as well as biting us. His anxiety from before was now re-directed aggression. Sometimes he'd come back from DP covered in dried pee so we are wondering how long he was left in his crate and if he was getting enough exercise and outdoor time. And because he knew certain cues from the trainer before, we think that DP confused him with using different commands and not properly teaching/transitioning him to those new commands. It was also hard for Jasper to adjust to being away during the week then get used to being home on the weekends --and re-introduced to us and Atlas and re-establish his place at home-- just to be sent back a few days later. My fiance and I have spent 6+ months with a new trainer and SPCA dog behavioralist for anxiety medications in addition to the $4K we spent on DP, and $1,500 we spent on his first trainer. However, Jasper's anxiety and now aggression is still so bad that we may be having to put him down. He's only a year and 1/2 old. We think his first trainer, his breed/ the dog he is, DP, us, the environment of us living in an apartment before we got a house with a yard, and other things all played a part. It's been about a year so looking back, I don't blame just DP, but DP was definitely a part of it and a clear turning point in Jasper's development. read more

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I will never get another dog without immediately enrolling them in Dan Camp. Period. End of review. Well, not really, but if I had to sum up my feelings about DPT in one sentence, that's it. When we adopted our dog Charlie in late 2019, he was a pretty typical puppy. He loved everyone and everything. A little more than a year later, something changed. Charlie reacted aggressively to every single dog he encountered on walks. He barked fearfully at strangers. When we left him alone at the house, he destroyed socks and baseboards. We were miserable, and we had no idea what to do. In August of 2021, we enrolled Charlie in Dan Camp. To say that we were reluctant is an understatement. We hated the idea of leaving him there. We hated the idea of crate training him. We hated the idea of not looking him in the eye and ignoring him except to reward him for responding to a command (for the first few weeks, but not forever -- don't worry). We hated the idea of correcting him when he did something we didn't want him to do. Yes, you have to do all of those things. Yes, it's extremely hard. But IT WORKS. IT REALLY WORKS. YOU HAVE TO TRUST THE PROCESS AND DO THE WORK. After 6 weeks of Dan Camp and a year (yes I said a year) of weekly walks, training sessions, and zoom Q&A's... I can happily say that Charlie is a changed dog. He is confident. He is chill. He doesn't bark at strangers. He can make new friends. We can walk him without fear. We can enjoy our time together again! And let me tell you, Charlie LOVES Dan and every member of the staff, and he loves being dropped off for boarding. Seriously, he just walks in the gate like "ok see ya later," tail wagging, happier than a clam. He still loves us, but I'm pretty sure he loves them more. All that being said, DPT is not for everyone. What do I mean when I say that? Well, here's who Dan Perata Training is NOT for: If you don't like receiving critical feedback about your own behavior, DPT is not for you. If you are impatient and expect a quick fix to your issues, DPT is not for you. If you aren't willing to take complete responsibility for your dog's behavior, DPT is not for you. If you aren't willing to put in hours, and hours, and hours of hard work and do things that make you feel uncomfortable, then DPT is not for you. If you aren't willing to totally change the way you think about yourself as a dog owner and the relationship you have with your dog, then DPT is not for you. Dan Camp is a unique experience, and so is Dan. He's personable, funny, and observant. He loves dogs, and he truly does care about struggling dog owners who are committed to doing what's right. Dan is also brutally honest. He's not afraid to tell you what you need to hear. Combine brutal honesty with grueling training and stressed out dog parents, and it's easy to see why people have extreme reactions to the program. You either love it or you hate it. You know which side I'm on. Dan, I know you're reading this. Hug your haters! Keep being you! You're doing the lord's work. read more

Dan Perata Training - Charlie enjoying himself after a successful Holly Park walk. - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

DPT is an amazing service, and Dan is a miracle worker for dogs. I had been to at least 5 other trainers/certified dog behaviorist before coming to Dan. I was at the point of thinking I needed to put my dog down for his aggressive behavior and my inability to control him. My dog was a birthday present to my then 10 yr old daughter. We got him as am 8 week old rescue. He was great until puberty and then he became reactive, aggressive, resource guarding and other scary behaviors. Dan and his team were the only ones not afraid of him and willing to help me do the hard work. My dog was so reactive he could not stay at the facility like they typically do, so Dan worked one on one with me for almost a year to get my dog to be a completely differently behaved pet. And Dan and his team are still a resource for me several years after our initial training. My dog is now considered sweet, well behaved, listens and gets along with our 2 cats and other dogs. Dan and team rescued my dog from being put down, saved my daughter from heartache and helped me feel in charge of my dog. They truly are an amazing group of people who I am still grateful to know read more

There aren't enough words to explain how great DPT (including Dan, Natasha, and all of the staff and trainers) are - do NOT miss training your dogs with them. We came to DPT with our Tibetan Mastiff Clifford (fearful, reactive out of fear, huge) and our corgi Jude (spoiled brat, everything on his own terms) back in Febraury 2022. It was extremely important to us to use a no-pain method of training, especially with a dog as big as Clifford (120 lbs) and DPT delivered. We enrolled in Dan Camp and Jude and Cliforrd came back completely different dogs - we've seen so much improvement in both of their behavior. The facilities are great (think large training spaces, a treadmill room to work on reactivity on walks, a separation anxiety exercise room etc.) and the trainers care deeply about the dogs. We also love that our dogs board at DPT and get extra training whenever we go out of town. Because dogs are dynamic and training is a process, DPT offers support throughout the dog's lifetime and we take advantage of it regularly. This has been a HUGE help to us, especially when new issues pop up, new life changes happen, etc. We love and could not recommend more highly DPT. read more

Dan Perata Training - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you want an effective, humane dog trainer, get a list from the San Francisco SPCA. You'll notice that Dan Perata's name is not on the list. I didn't know to do that, so I paid Dan $4,100 to train my puppy. He was in puppy camp for six weeks and he learned nothing. After that, when your dog doesn't make any progress, Dan will tell you it's your fault. You're not doing this or that, but it has nothing to do with the fact that the dog didn't learn the basics at camp. Dan is extremely defensive and he doesn't listen to criticism or try to modify his methods to fit the dog. He will also waste your time airing grievances he has against people you've never met. He has a lot of grievances. You'll find yourself looking at your watch and thinking, "Grow up, Dan." I think a lot of people keep their mouths shut about him because he retaliates with such fervor. Be sure to read what he dreams up to say about me. read more

To hot for a cute photo shoot. But being off leash is helpful on these small trails. Just continue to work training sessions as you can and remember don't get frustrated at the pup. Be frustrated at yourself for not being clear. Team work!! read more

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I can't thank Dan Perata and his crew enough! I adopted Moose, a husky-mix in March after the passing of my most beloved pitbull, Matap. I completely forgot everything Dan taught me in the early years of training my pittie, so when I got Moose, I became so frustrated and stressed out. I haven't had a puppy in 12 years! But, Moose was definitely a different kind of puppy than Matap was. Moose did show signs of aggression and guarding and has separation anxiety. Naturally, I was worried about my 10 yr old daughter and him together. I even toyed with the idea of surrendering Moose, but Dan told me not to panic...every single time (multiple times). Fast forward to today...Moose is definitely still a work in progress, but we are getting along splendidly! Dan helped me with Moose's crate hate, his aggression and his guarding! I never doubted Dan, but I was totally doubting myself, especially in the beginning. But yet again, Dan taught me how to have the confidence I needed to train Moose. He even taught my daughter how to walk Moose, how to use her voice with commands. So now I don't worry when I have to work, and she takes care of him. Moose was food guarding his bully stick, now he drops it when I tell him to. This was a dog who would growl and snap at me if I tried to take it away. I know, why try to take it away from a dog eating? Well, in case Moose picks up something poisonous or can hurt his insides, I want to be able to take things away for his safety. Dan's training style takes time, patience and repetition. No treats, no fluff. You have to do the work..there's no getting around that! Call Dan...do what it takes to have a happy, healthy relationship with your dog. Thank you for not letting me give up, Dan. YOU ROCK! read more

Dan Perata Training - Moose just lounging on his lounge chair! - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been hesitating to write this review because of the guilt I feel about bringing my precious dog Julep to DP. Julep is a wonderful dog, well behaved, just doesn't like having other dogs in her face and in her space and has a tendency to overcorrect other dogs. I thought maybe Dan and his team could help with this and I truly regret not reading through the negative reviews before sending her there. Sure, their tactics worked in the sense that she'd lay down when I said lay down, but she wasn't the same cheerful girl I dropped off. Her behavior towards other dogs also didn't change. I honestly feel like she didn't learn anything there. Even Josh (who I would argue is a good trainer who listens and tries to help you work through issues) was like she's perfect, I usually forget that she's even there because she's so good. It honestly felt like I just sent her to prison for a month. Whenever we went back for follow up training, she never wanted to get out of the car. She didn't want to be there. Below are the reasons why I ultimately decided to pull Julep out of DP Training and have also convinced a few others to do the same: 1. They take a one size fits all approach for all dogs. There's no personalization, no behavioral evaluation or anything. Other good trainers, they'll work with your dog, try to identify what triggers your dog, etc. Good trainers will try to help your dog work through a behavior, figure out why it's triggering, and give you an honest assessment of where you can realistically expect your dog to be with the training methods in place. DP gives a blanket "we'll fix your dog" without knowing what's wrong in the first place. Dogs are sentient beings, they have emotions. You can't just use a one size fits all approach. They have personalities. 2. The "no treats, just praise approach" I don't believe it. Yes, they praise the dogs with pets, but they also use throw chains, squirt bottles, sharp tugs on the head halter where you can hear your dogs jaw snap shut if they're not doing what you ask. When you give a dog a cookie, you're not bribing them (which is what they say) when done properly and with the correct timing. It's a way for you to communicate with and to motivate your dog to want to work with you. You have to pay your dog for doing work, as you would a person. My problem with DP training is that I think their methods are fear based with not enough positive elements. 3.. There was a rainy day when I came in for a session. Julep was done with her board and train and we would follow up each week by going to a group class twice a week. He had chairs set up in a circle in the green room and he wanted us to sit there and have our dogs lay down on the ground. Julep did fine, but there was a German Shepherd who did not want to lay down. He was clearly stressed and didn't feel safe laying down because that's a vulnerable position for them to be in. Dan pinned this dog to the ground, foot on the leash, dogs face on the ground while the rest of his body was desperately trying to stay standing. This went on for about 10 minutes while this dog was barking and screaming. It was heart breaking and from that day on, I swore I would never bring my dog back there. I felt so guilty, wondering how could I have subjected my dog to this kind of treatment, but you don't know until you see it yourself. You think all of these bad reviews are from people who just didn't know what it takes to train and raise a dog and that it won't happen to you or your dog. I was there! But trust me, if you care about your dog and want them to be happy, don't bring your dog to DP. Since then, I've met a team of amazing balanced trainers who've worked wonders with me and Julep. She is happy, fully trained off leash, and listens to me not out of fear, but because our communication is clear and she's motivated to work with me. She still overcorrects other dogs, but something a good trainer will do is tell you what is realistic. For us, that means Julep doesn't interact with other dogs outside of our household. If she's off leash and I see another dog, I recall her and put her on a leash until we pass the other dog. I only received empty promises and false hope from DP. Funny thing also is that when I had my initial consultation with my current trainer, they mentioned they had another client whose dog came from DP Training that they needed to remediate. I will leave their names out of here so they don't get any backlash, but anyone who is interested can contact me on Instagram @julepwoodson and I would happily refer you. Dan, dogs listen to you because you're scary! Your methods are scary! Your attitude is scary! But, I don't want my dog to listen to me because I'm scary. I want them to listen to me because they're happy, motivated, and they trust me. Response: My dog was just as trained going into camp as she was coming out. ‍ What does that say about your training methods? read more

Dan Perata Training - Julep - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

Meant to write this a long time ago. These guys are crazy for what they do. I don't think as a client you can fully appreciate how crazy this profession is. Having said that, these people are the best at what they do. I've been all over the animal industry and Dan and his crew know dog behavior inside and out. Not only that but they are just crazy enough to facilitate an environment in which your animals' craziness can come out and then they'll teach you how to teach them to control it. On top of that Natasha and Dan are people that look out for animals AND humans that need help, which is remarkably rare. Give them your business and they'll find a way to help you should you need it. I hope Jack, Kolbie and Poppy are well. read more

Dan Perata Training is the best dog training facility there is. Dan and Natasha are not only experts at what they do, they're great humans who care deeply for dogs and are able to help you get amazing results. I took my dog to Dan Perata Training in 2018 after an incident that ended up with the police getting involved. No one was hurt, but things had gotten out of control at that point, and I'd already spent hundreds of dollars on hourly training that was ultimately (CLEARLY) ineffective. I found Dan Perata Training and within one year they had helped me bring out the most amazing version of my dog, Sailor. After a lot of hard work - and I mean hard work! - she became a star pupil, and before the COVID-19 pandemic she was the exemplary office dog. She set the standard at the office: dogs were allowed, but only if they were as well trained as Sailor (no other dog passed the test). Talk about a major value add to my life! I no longer had to get doggy daycare everyday, and some of my coworkers were even asking me to help them with their dogs. Most recently, my mom rescued a dog earlier this year and began going to DPT after doing hourly lessons that were ineffective, and she's already having great results. I could go on and on about all the ways that my experience with DPT has translated into so many parts of my daily life, but I also want to talk about how amazing Dan and Natasha are as humans. I may be biased because I consider Dan and Natasha friends and I owe them everything for how they've improved my life since getting Sailor, but let me elaborate: in March of 2024, I got pulled into an unexpected dog situation and Dan and Natasha came to the rescue (no pun intended). A friend who works with a dog rescue in Las Vegas called me in a panic and told me there was a rescue they placed with a family in San Francisco that didn't work out, and that this family was going to turn the dog over to the city if there was nowhere for it to stay that night. I had absolutely no idea what to do since I couldn't take the dog in, other than to drop Dan and Natasha's name. Details aside, Dan and Natasha got involved in this last-minute mission right away and took the rescue in for 4 days so it wouldn't get turned over to the city. Dan and Natasha didn't hesitate to make space for this dog in their facility and have their staff take care of it for days, and they didn't even know whose dog it was. In this world, there are people who talk the talk, and there are people who walk the walk - Dan and Natasha are unquestionably the latter. read more

Dan and the folks at DPT have put together an amazing dog training program and support system. It's no walk in the park and requires a lot of commitment and hard work, but it works, and I'm so glad we enrolled our dog Bento in Dan Camp. We adopted our dog, Bento, in March of 2019. We identified early on some issues with fearfulness and reactivity and worked with a trainer who helped us manage life with Bento a bit better, but after taking a cross-country road trip to visit family at the end of 2020, it became clear there was a lot more work we could do to make life with Bento not just manageable, but enjoyable.  We enrolled in Dan Camp starting January 2021 and I really loved how it was structured. The program starts with 4 weeks of board and train where your dog is in camp M-F, and home with you on the weekends. During each week, there are 2 in-person lessons, plus an optional video call where you can ask all your questions. After the first 4 weeks or so, Bento came home for a 2 week benchmark, followed by one more week of camp, then came home for good - but the work wasn't over. There are also optional video Q&A sessions and in-person lessons you can sign up once your dog is home from camp. The board and train lays the foundation for training and how to approach your relationship with your dog. The in-person lessons give you the skills to continue reinforcing what's being taught during camp. The Q&A sessions give you the space to ask all your questions, whether it be about the training philosophy or things you're specifically dealing with in your life. The ongoing support lessons and video calls after camp reinforce everything you've worked on so far and get you closer to that next level of having a 100% voice controlled, off leash dog. We're not there yet with Bento, but I'm super proud of how far we've come. It's incredible to think of the progress we've made over the past 7 months. We can now enjoy leisurely loose leash walks in our neighborhood, go on hikes without Bento going crazy from excitement, and his recall, which was essentially non-existent, is getting pretty good. Dan has also been coaching us on how to handle having guests over, which we've had trouble with in the past, and we're very happy with the progress we're making with that as well. When you sign up to work with Dan, it's not a transactional "fix my dog" sort of thing. You're making an investment and commitment to have a healthier relationship with your dog, and Dan and his team are there to support you the entire way. read more

Dan Perata Training - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California