This is not so much a review about the quality of training, which I think is mostly accurately covered in the other reviews, but about this business's practices. After reading reviews on Yelp, I set up an appointment with Dan for my Schnoodle. He did not show up at the appointed time. After some calls and texts, Dan said that he had mis-calendered the appointment and would come by in about half an hour. More than an hour later, he finally arrived. One hour and $200 later, I was satisfied with the appointment. Not everything was "magically" fixed, but I felt like I had a much better idea how to handle my dog's problem behaviors. As justification for his high price, Dan promised to be available by phone and for an occasional follow-up group session at an SF park. After many voicemails and text messages asking for advice on a specific issue and asking when I could join a follow-up session, Dan finally text'ed a one-sentence reply that my question would be answered when we met for a group session. After many more voicemails and texts, and more two months after our initial meeting, Dan finally said he was going to meet with clients at Fort Funston later that week. After clearing my calendar on a weekday for this group session, I called and texted for the details, but Dan never replied. After two months of pursuing the illusory group sessions, I finally gave up. March 2014 Update: As Dan states in his reply below, he has hired additional staff for his business which I think is great for him and for his clients because he can now give his full attention to his customers rather than running the day-to-day of his successful business. I have attended two of the group walks that Dan now regularly schedules which have been a very helpful refresher. I think that Dan has done a great job of turning around the business problems identified above (and also pointed out by other reviewers from around the same time). Therefore, I am changing my rating from 2 stars to 4 stars. If I were coming to Dan for the first time today, without the negative experience I had in December 2012, I would definitely give him 5 stars. read more

Dog whisper is the only way to describe Dan. He totally got Hans and I together before poor Hans was a scared of me or did not trust me, he is a rescue dog (Hans that is) Now we have a lot of fun together on walks and he even sits under me even when i am not eating ;-) Good times! I Plan to visit Dan again soon as i have a lot to learn!! read more

I called Dan Perata a couple of years ago when our 100 lb Irish Wolfhound mix "Mason" bit a smaller foster dog that our neighbor rescued. Dan immediately showed us several simple ways we could practice improving our walk with Mason and by doing this and having more boundaries at home as well, we could soon see changes in his social behavior and we would stop the nonsense with other dogs. His techniques are very helpful and they work, but you really have to practice and stick to it very diligently. As my husband and I have slipped a little with our technique over the years, we have followed up on our training lessons with Dan every few months as he leads free walks for prior paying clients and he has group training sessions for fun once in a while which are really helpful and a great value (free!). We both work for ourselves and we don't have a lot of extra time for practice during the week outside of our daily financial district (neighborhood) walks and routine, and recently after a few years of slow progress and a few setbacks here and there, we decided we wanted to leave Mason with Dan and his new beautiful boarding/training facility during a vacation we had planned to hopefully re-pattern his behavior. He is a stubborn dog, so when we got home he had made progress, but he really still needed our work and stick-to-it-ness to continue the training. Dan and his team have committed to helping us change Mason by allowing us to come for a few follow up sessions insuring that we feel comfortable with the techniques and that we can move beyond the aggression soon. Dan is a wizard, and his team is very competent as well. They want to do everything they can to accommodate each dog/owner and their training needs so they are flexible to work with all kinds of customers. We have worked with two other trainers in the city who I would not recommend. Dan's style is primal and logical as well, but nothing happens overnight. He won't baby talk to your dog and he won't give out treats for good behavior all day. But if you are committed to training your dog with a passionate, knowledgeable, professional, this is the place for you. read more

Dan is amazing. Our 1 year old rescue pup, Nina, while adorable, was very fearful. We had a lot of trouble walking her, and she was progressively becoming more and more fearful. Eventually, she was so fearful she wouldn't leave the apartment - that's when we called Dan. DanCamp was the best thing we could have done for Nina. Dan and his staff worked with Nina tirelessly, teaching her to be calm and confident. More importantly, Dan also taught us what we need to do to make sure we instill confidence in Nina. Now, Nina is happy to strut her stuff on the mean streets of SF. Rehabilitating a dog is a long process, and Dan understands this fully. During DanCamp, Dan gave us all the tools we need as owners to continue rehabilitating Nina - but sometimes we forget, so Dan and his staff are continuing to help us with Nina months after DanCamp, giving us on site lessons, answering our questions, and reminding us of how to work with Nina. read more

There are dog trainers and then there are imposters who waste your time and money, and ultimately your relationship with your dog. Then there are top professionals who take their craft seriously. This is Dan Perata. He not only is an amazing person and total blast to hang out with, but he deeply cares. He understands dogs on a level simple owners like myself do not. He is truly a gem and in less than 24 hours he took my puppy and had her on the road to obedience! If you are in need of a puppy trainer, you are wasting time, call him now! read more

Our doxi, Hansel, is a little bit spoiled... ok, actually a LOT spoiled. And unfortunately, all of the good intentions were actually causing quite a lot of bad behavior -- barking at other dogs & noises in the house, barking at our friends & family, etc. Frankly. Hans was becoming a real pest. After doing a lot of research, we were impressed with reviews from Dan's other clients, we figured it was worth a try.. what did we have to loose? A few month's later - we are so glad we took a chance! When we meet for our Training session, Dan quickly assessed the situation (Hans' behaviors - and where we, Hans' People, needed to step up). We spent a bit over an hour walking Hans with Dan - identifying challenges & how we could take control of the situation. First, by setting us up to be Top Dog at home. Second, by letting Hans know he could relax, knowing we had all the big stuff covered. In just an hour, we had a much better understanding of how our pup's brain worked, why our behavior was causing his anxiety & aggression. And in just 1 hour, we had already made great progress resolving those behaviors. Within just a few days - Hans was a different dog entirely. Still the lovable pup, but so much more calm, obedient & frankly - so much more fun to be around. There is still a lot for us, as pet owners, to learn & remember. After the first session, we've followed up with Dan & his team via email and calls to get a refresher on a particular point or a tip on how to start working on the next behavior. Dan's always responsive & helps as needed to keep us all on track and improving. And as a result of some focus & very actionable training techniques from Dan -- we've got a whole new dog. It's such a great feeling to have a stranger say "Wow - your dog is so well behaved"... my how far we've come! Thanks Dan! read more

I had another trainers and I went to SPCA training prior to going to Dan's. I know a lot of trainers want to use food, but you don't always have a piece of stinky cheese in your pocket to have your dog sit. I want my dog to sit because I said to sit. I have two crazy loveable pitbulls, but I didn't have any control of them. I would hold the leash tight, they would pull me, I had no control. When I went to the consult with Dan - he showed me around the facility and explained how the process worked. He was honest with me and didn't sugar coat anything, which I welcomed. I wanted real help. Even on the first meeting he showed me two things, that was before I even signed up. Dan does call you out when you don't do your homework. He is right, we have to put the time and energy. I can't can expect the dogs to have boundaries if I'm not consistent. My dogs were never crate trained and it was a fight for me BUT NOW it's the easiest thing in the world! I say bedtime and both dogs walk to their room where the crates are and walk in. Again, this did not happen over night I had to put the time in and be consistent. The whole staff at Dan's is great. When you drop off the dogs, they ask how dogs are doing. If you have any issues, they are all there to help. I can't go on how much Dan Perata's has helped my dogs and me. As anything in life, still have to put the time and work into it. If you are looking for a place that will train your dog and you - this is place to go. You can try the other ones, but at the end of the day you will waste more time and energy. read more

Dan is as good as it gets! I have never felt comfortable leaving my dogs with anybody that they were not familiar with. After dropping them off with Dan, I was completely relaxed and assured that I was leaving my 8 year old yorkie and 12 year old maltese in the best care. When I returned from my trip, I got my dogs back better than I left them. Seriously, it's like I have 2 new dogs - extremely playful and well behaved. I am thrilled to have found Dan! He is amazing at what he does and how he does it. read more

Dan Perata is an enigma. On one hand he is loud and opinionated; some would say obnoxious and gross. He is in your face and uses foul language. On the other hand, he is dedicated, knowledgeable, energetic, and generous. He will never give up on you and your dog. One of my dogs is a people lover and was a dog hater. She was attacked a few times as a young girl. Dan has been working at both ends of the leash for two years. My girl still has issues with dogs that bark aggressively at her, but she has made such progress, she is being used as a neutral dog in therapy animal evaluations! You will read other reviews about Dan. Some won't be flattering. Some say he mistreats dogs. I've queried a few of these people. Some of them have never met Dan and only know him by word of bad mouth. That's no way to judge anyone. If your dog is a fashion accessory or a four-legged over-indulged child, don't come to Dan. He sets boundaries. He treats dogs as dogs, with the respect they deserve as the one absolute unselfish friend we have. I leave the judging to my dogs. They love him. That's the endorsement that counts! read more

Dan and his team have been such a lifesaver for us. Our German Shepherd has been a handful since the day we brought him home. We've dealt with aggression, barking, leash reactivity, and just general stubbornness. Dan and his team have stuck through it, and now I'm proud to say that our dog is regularly complimented for his behavior. Changing any dog's behavior is a ton of work, from both the trainer and the owner (seriously - you're usually the problem). But, if you are willing to put in the effort this is a great group to have on your side! read more

So it has been a year and a half since we met Dan, Natasha and the whole Dan Perata crew. I wanted to update this review to say that they continue to be amazing to us and our giant dog, Riggins. Riggins goes to Dan's once a week for daycare and regularly for boarding and a little training refresher. We tell him in the morning, "you're going to Dan's!" and he starts wagging his tail. He wags his tail in delight as we turn onto the street and leaps out of the car with excitement. He then waits quietly by the door until someone comes to get him--even if other dogs are barking. For a dog that I used to not be able to control on leash if another dog was in 50 feet of him, this is pretty incredible. Dan's whole staff is incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, and they go out of their way to update us on how Riggins did and suggest things we can do. They always ask if there is anything we want them to work on. I just want to reiterate that this is a dog we didn't know how to live with and friends regularly come over to our house amazed to discover that Riggins is a great family dog now. THIS IS ALL THANKS TO DAN AND HIS TEAM. On the business side, Natasha and Vanessa always make things work for our family's crazy busy life--making my last minute boarding requests work and always answering questions immediately. I really do not ever write yelp reviews, but Dan Perata's team truly makes it possible for us to have a family with kids and a dog that was much more than we could handle. He's an amazing dog, but we simply didn't know how to deal with him. He is so happy now and so are we. My husband and i regularly say to people that Dan Perata saved us--we have no idea what we would do without those guys! Thank you, Dan, Natasha, Vanessa and EVERYONE! read more

Dan will teach you how to communicate with your dog so they aren't uncontrolled and hyped up. My girlfriend took her dog - a corgi - to moeller training where they said the pups leash aggressiveness and pulling was unredeemable and she should basically avoid contact with other dogs; My gfs pup was attacked as a puppy. I thought this advise was crazy; and thankfully so did dan. After an hour of training and lots of questions as well as a halter leash and water bottle, our pup can walk just about anywhere without freaking out. This is not a cult or anything. One hour session and I feel like we now have the skills to take our corgi anywhere; which we have been and the improvement is phenomenal. read more

Dan has worked with my animals for over 10 years in various fashions. He is patient and really talented at refocusing behavior issues and has always been available to help on short notice or just to talk through problems and find good solutions. I can highly recommend Dan as an amazing trainer with really high integrity, great communication and genuine care and kindness!!! read more

Alright where do I start!!?? I was first recommended to Dan and his team by a client of mine and checked out his yelp reviews and after reading them and comparing other dog training faculties I felt I had nothing to lose. On top of that Dan provided all the services I wanted in a doggy camp. I'm writing this review 6 weeks after my initial meeting. I sent them an email Friday night and was promptly responded to by Monday after noon. Vanessa had set the first 1 on 1 training with Dan. This will be a long review =) I brought my 12 week old Frenchie initially for a 1 on 1 session and told Dan that my Frenchie couldn't be around other big dogs yet because he had not had his last shot . They were very accommodating. After sitting with Dan and Natasha I truly felt this would be the right place for my Frenchie . I don't care that people say Dan is a mad man lol jk . Dropping my Frenchie off the first week of boarding school was tough because I wanted to be with him at all times but it was so beneficial . From the first week i could tell the difference . By the second week my Frenchie was potty trained and he did have this nasty habit of eating his poop!! That was taken care of by the third week !! I could go on and on about all the great things Dan and the staff has done for my little guy but bottom line they genuinely care and know what they are doing . They go above and beyond for their clients (staying later for a pick up and even making sure to give my puppy all his medication when he had an ear infection ) and they keep it real! I hesitated a long time to get a dog because I work 9 hour days 6 days a week and felt like I wouldn't truly be able to dedicate my love and time to a dog but having Dan, Natasha and the staff (Evan , Devon , Paul just everyone ) I am able to balance my work life and my relationship with my Frenchie . It's amazing how much joy a dog can bring to a persons life . Alright bottom line from a new puppy owner'a perspective ,Dan and the team are amazing !! They have implemented the fundamentals of a well behaved dog to my Frenchie and gave me the building blocks to be an awesome dog owner. I would be doing a disservice to anyone who reads this yelp review if I did not recommend Dan and his team . They are pretty much stuck with me and my Frenchie =) if anyone reading this still doesn't think Dan's training facility is right for them , you have to just go check it out ! This review really does them no justice because I really hate writing reviews =) P.s - I would leave my first born child here for day care read more

We have a rescue Tibetan Terrier mix that is ~4 years old, but acts like a puppy. Harvey has all the typical issues of a dog that has gotten away with too much for too long- pulls on the leash, jumps when greeting people, barks at other dogs, etc. I really hate that it took me over a year after we adopted him to reach out to a professional, but it always seemed like issues we could correct ourselves, or by watching Cesar on TV. In reality, I didn't know how to correct him and I felt his issues were starting to cause a rift with neighbors and family. I finally did some research, scoured Yelp and then found Dan. In ONE morning session he helped us understand how to make decision for Harvey so that he wasn't feeling like he had to protect us. He showed us how to use the gentle leader the right way and now Harvey never pulls. He instilled confidence in us and in Harvey and I am so grateful for the experience. There is no question that you need to work at it after your appt., but if you want to start looking forward to walks (without having to cross the street to avoid a confrontation), having people over (without having to pay for dry cleaning bills after your dog has put paw prints on their pants), and to have a neighbor that doesn't complain... CALL DAN. read more

I just picked up my rambunctious, little Frenchie after boarding her for a week and I couldn't be more pleased! I was initially nervous, having never boarded my dog before, but I had nothing to worry about. Dan and his team took excellent care of my dog while I was away. His staff is wonderful! Each person I spoke with was considerate and helpful. Melissa handled the scheduling and was prompt and very patient with me. The whole process from scheduling through pick-up was incredibly easy! I'll definitely be taking my dog back for some training. Her behavior has noticeably improved just from 5 days of being at this facility! Thank you to Dan and his entire staff for taking such good care of my little Yoli! read more

I first met Dan when he was working with my roommate's dog on her behavior issues of barking, lunging & overall hyperactivity. I saw her make serious progress after just one hour of working with Dan and my roommate in a private lesson. Now, a month or so after, she is doing really well and getting better all the time. He gave me and my roommate tips, we've been following them and its working. Now it's time to work on my dog! She's 10 and she has decided that we should never leave each other's side. While I love spending lots of time with her and do as much as I can, we all know that we can't be with our dogs all the time. More and more, she exhibits signs of separation anxiety. I tried some things but they weren't working so I called Dan. Right from the start, making my appointment over the phone, Natasha was kind and understanding. She got me in quickly and professionally. As soon as I walked into Dan's facility, he took Maggie and put her away in a kennel so we could talk. He asked a lot of questions and as I answered them, I realized that I've strayed from the rules I originally set down with her over 8 years ago in a big way. As she's gotten older, I thought I was doing her a favor by backing off. Now, I realize it is quite the opposite. Maggie was there for a week and it allowed both of us to "reset" (as Dan would say). We had a long conversation about the things that I could do to help her and I've been following them for the past few days since she's been home. I've went back to our old schedule (with the addition of a mid-day walk from a dog walker to break up the time) and I am implementing suggestions from Dan. She is doing great. No signs of separation anxiety! I am grateful to Dan and everyone at his facility for their hard work and great attitudes. The facility is awesome - it's huge and well kept. I highly recommend seeing Dan if you need to reset! read more

For the first time in YEARS, my toy-aggressive dog is showing signs of not actually wanting to rip my face off when I get near him and his toys! Thanks to Dan (and staff), he's slowly but surely getting better behaved. Dan is teaching my dog and me how to act around each other and what I need to do at home to make sure we're all happy and safe. I hope one day to have a dog that will not attack when around a toy/black boots/food at all. For now, we're still working on it but at least we're going in the right direction! read more

Dan Perata walks on water. We adopted the cutest, sweetest, loving little dog from ACC (who had been found wandering the 101) and brought him home to live in domestic bliss with our other rescue dog. The bad behaviour started immediately with the new dog marking EVERYTHING in the house, destroying property (including a very expensive leather sofa) nipping, barking and a marked vendetta against the dog next door who had never done anything to deserve the hatred inflicted by our dog. I first tried a training course that was treat based, it was a disaster, the new dog is not motivated by treats and we were eventually 'fired' by the dog training school after being told that the new dog was 'untrainable'. After a bad incident with the dog next door and at my wits end, I called Dan. I don't know what took me so long.... Within minutes of walking into the house, Dan had the new dog quiet and sitting at his feet. After an hour with Dan, the new dog was calm, under control and for the first time a joy to take for a walk. To reinforce the new behaviour, Dan asked for the next door neighbour's dog to also join and had that situation under control in 5 mins. By the end of our session, the new dog was trotting side by side with his supposed 'enemy' and didn't have a care in the world. Dan is also a great person, funny, larger than life and extremely personable.I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Dan, he is literally a life saver. read more

We recently adopted a 7 year old dog that had never been properly socialized. As a result she would lash out at dogs on our walks.....not the best experience! Come in Dan - within 5 minutes of walking with him she was ignoring other dogs, walking relaxed by her side and listening to everything he said. He then had us take over the leash and was very nice about pointing out what we needed to do - we were on a mission searching every dog in the vicinity to walk by. He stayed with us almost 30 minutes longer than the 1 hour session, and he was amazing with Shadow (our dog) and super friendly to us the humans. He really knows what he is doing. I am SOOOO excited that we found him, this is by far the best investment ever. I can't wait for his new facility, I am sure we will be visiting it once it opens its doors! read more

This review is for Dan's Dan Camp. At just 9 weeks old, we faithfully handed over our precious but precocious goldendoodle, Fozzy, to Dan. 4 weeks later, Fozzy was forever a changed dog and we had learned the basics of how to be a dog owner. Since that time, Dan has exerted more effort than we could ever have imagined helping us learn the most difficult lessons of dog ownership and partnering with us to raise a perfect puppy. We really don't know how to express our gratitude and respect for Dan. He knows everything about dogs and is one of the most honest people we have ever met. He doesn't sugar coat anything, he tells you exactly what you need to do, and he is always right - even if you don't want him to be. When we paid for Dan's services, he mentioned that he would partner with us to raise Fozzy correctly not only for the 30 days under contract but also for life. We did not believe it at the time - who would promise that? Fozzy is now 8 months old and Dan is STILL in his life. He was and is true to his word. He even recently offered to help us build a fence to make sure Fozzy's outdoor area is safe. This was Dan's idea! We respect Dan for being a wonderful trainer and an even better person. Thank you, Dan, for everything. read more

dan deserves every single freakin' star i can give him on yelp and more! we adopted bean about 1.5 months ago from a shelter only to bring him home to discover that he was a terror on four feet whenever we took him out on walks...he essentially freaked out whenever he saw another dog (big or small, it didn't matter - he didn't discriminate) or heard low rumbling noises (aka motorcycles). we didn't know about dan at the time, so we went with another trainer with whom we implemented a training method that we saw minimal results from. so, after a few weeks of patiently struggling through it, we decided to go another route and, thankfully, stumbled upon dan (thanks yelp!). let's just say that, for reals, dan is the man! he had us up and running with walking bean properly during our initial appointment. we learned oh-so-much about dog behavior...and were also trained ourselves in the process of how to walk bean properly (the latter is probably the toughest). :) we saw improvements immediately thereafter and are continuing to work on bean (and ourselves) to get us all to where we want to be. post consultation, we did a "city walk" with dan (just today) which was super helpful. we were able to meet up with dan and some of the dogs he's training and get in another walk with bean under dan's guidance - especially great when you need some additional coaching. seriously, what more needs to be said? dan's been a great partner in helping us out with bean (and he's pretty funny too). if you need help with your dog, dan's your guy! read more

On a recent visit to San Francisco I had the pleasure of meeting Dan, he told me all about what he is doing for a living, I told him that I'm in the market for a dog and left it at that. I went back to Las Vegas and got on with with my business not paying mind to my conversation I had with Dan. 3 month later I got a call from Dan and he asked me if I'm still in the market for a dog.. My jaw dropped... Dan: hey dirk, are you still looking for a dog? Me: who's this? Dan: dude? You asked me to find you a dog a few month back.. Me: oh shit.. Yes, I remember now, how are you? and yes as a matter of fact I am still looking. Dan: I have a rescue I took in, trained and think is perfect for you. Me: ok, what kind and what's its story? Dan: Maltese, got dropped with me as a puppy with a bunch of problems that the owner did not want to deal with, let me send you a picture. Me: ok,?! What kind of problems? Long story short.. Jeti has been with me for 4 weeks now, he had severe aggression and separation anxiety when Dan got him. I have the sweetest, loyal and obedient dog I could ever dream of. Dan, I would like to thank you for taking in rescue dogs, train them at your expense and remember people that look for a companion and match them up right.. Thank you! read more

Dan is solid. He knows his stuff and he genuinely cares about you and your dog. He possesses the perfect balance between a strict, stern approach and a caring, thoughtful disposition. I highly recommend Dan for many reasons, and I'm very grateful I found him for our puppy. read more

As a professional, mobile dog groomer I visit Dan Perata' facility once a week and groom dogs. I am amazed at the difference in temperment and behavior in the "regulars" i groom there. Dan's positive reinforcement techniques cause the dogs to be calmer and less aggressive toward me and the grooming experience which translates into a happier dog who is more likely to respond positively to any challenges in it's enviroment. Two dogs with severe aggression issues now let me groom them, no problem. A boxer that wouldn't let trim it's nails now patiently lets me. Positive reinforcement is not just biscuits, as evidenced by training techniques used by Guide dogs for the blind and numerous Police departments. Dan Perata understands this and achieves great results. read more

I started bringing my French Bulldog, Roux, to Dan and his team back in the beginning of April 2014. When we got Roux as a puppy (8 weeks old in July of 2013), he had serious separation anxiety and these issues had come and gone throughout his time with us but by April had completely broken us down. Roux had some allergy issues and infections that lead to a lot of cone and crate time that basically made his separation anxiety completely unmanageable. This was not only was a problem for Roux, but also us as dog owners and our other dog, Bacon. I spoke on the phone with Vanessa and she helped us work out a deal where Roux could be crated for most of the day and they would take him out on short walks and potty breaks while he continued to heal from his hotspots and swelling from surgery. After he got the all clear from the vet to play, we continued to bring Roux there and saw almost immediate results. Roux no longer tugs when we walk him up and down stairs, has learned how to sit, stay and leave things, and gets to play all day with other dogs while we work. He still has some potty training issues but that's more because of us and not him. Its been 9 months and we plan to keep bringing Roux for daycare. We often take advantage of the boarding options as well. The entire team has been a pleasure to work with and has really saved me from giving him away (I'm really not kidding here. His crying all day and all night was driving me crazy, especially when we couldn't walk him because of his sutures.) I get regular updates when I pick him up each night, the team is always on top of his medications / feedings when he stays overnight, and I can go to work without worrying about him at home. I plan to also bring my older dog Bacon in at some point as well. Not sure what I would do without the team at DPT! read more

Thanks DAN!! There is a world of difference between our old dogs and our new dogs. All of your insights have really helped us to understand the thinking process of the dog. Most of all you showed us that WE needed training just as much as the dogs did. Thanks from DAVE and KATHY!! read more

Dan and his colleagues are tremendously competent, thorough, and fair! We brought our nine month old labrador retriever mix, needing help getting rid of aggression and resource guarding issues. I came to learn that these were common problems and that many of the dogs I inspected while at Dan's facilities during our 6 week boot camp had similar problems. Our dog participated in the 6 week boot camp, came home for a week to work with us, then went back to Dan for another week. After those 8 weeks, her aggression and resource guarding were substantially diminished and she responded very well to "sit," "stay," and "here!" Dan instilled the proper base training in our dog and then taught us how to be effective trainers at home. It is difficult for me to relate to the exceptionally negative reviews as I spent a substantial amount of time with Dan and his colleagues. They were nothing short of highly capable individuals, effective communicators, and genuinely nice and reasonable people! Based on the consistently high rating his business has and my personal prolonged and continued experience, the negative reviews must be a reflection of the individual that wrote them, rather than Dan's business. My recent experience resolving a billing confusion from a previous month exemplifies how Dan and his colleagues interact with their clients. Basically, I forgot that we had boarded our dog for a few days the previous month and called Natasha to resolve this confusion. She called me back immediately, was attentive, and took the time to help me resolve the issue. She then gave me five free days of boarding, which I did not expect nor ask for. In my eyes, this was an active attempt to maintain our relationship and provide excellent customer service. In other words, once you start working with Dan and his colleagues, you become part of their family and they are entirely reasonable and accommodating in working with you to achieve your current and future needs! To sum up, I rated Dan on three fronts: dog training process, results, and customer service. We began using Dan roughly seven months ago and continue to be highly satisfied customers. With regard to training dogs, Dan knows his stuff! He employs a system that is time tested and continues to produce favorable results. If you participate in the boot camp, follow Dan's instructions, and are diligent about working with your dog, you will walk away a satisfied customer with a well behaved dog! read more

6 weeks ago we rescued a Rhodesian ridgeback puppy. Knowing that I am not a dog trainer and that the breed is notoriously stubborn I decided to look for a professional. Our Vet recommended Dan saying that they know several dogs that he has trained and all are happy pups with excellent manners. After a short phone conversastion with Dan, I decided to give him a shot. The next day I contacted his scheduler and was told that it would be several weeks before the could fit Koa in. By the end of the day Dan called me back to let me know that he had rearranged his schedule a bit and that he would be happy to start with Koa the next week. Upon arrival Dan gave me a quick tour, rundown of what he does, how he does it, and what I should expect. Each Weekend when I picked Koa up I got a full update on what he's been working on as well as a lesson on training and some homework. During the course of Camp I had to make a few unannounced stops to drop some things off. When I arrived there was always someone out in the open working with the dogs. I appreciated that the training was visible and nothing was being hidden behind closed door. After all this is a family member, I was glad to know that he's in good hands. At the end of the four week camp I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but when I picked him up I was made aware that training had just began and that Dan would be stopping by our house and meeting with us to continue the process. Since then, Dan has stopped by and contacted me several times to check up on Koa's progress and to schedule further training. Koa is always excited to see Dan when he stops by. I'm constantly impressed by the number of people that approach me to tell me how well behaved my dog is. Dan is a true professional that cares about the dogs. I highly recommend Dan to anyone looking for a full service dog trainer. read more

We just picked up our 3 1/2 month old Eskipoo. I've had other trainers and other dogs, Dan Perata and his staff saved our lives. First off, the facility looks, smells, and presents as a professional high class training facility. Every staff member went beyond and above with our puppy. After 4 weeks of training, our puppy has transformed from a nightmare to a great companion. I believe they are successful because they are not in it for the money, they guarantee their work and stand by everything they represent. AMAZING! read more

I was at my wits end for what to do with my pitty, Deilah. Over the course of the two years I had owned Delilah she went from mildly leash aggressive to basically agro upon the sight of ANY other dog. I had taken Delilah to countless doggie training classes, that were all treat based training, she had enough certificates to cover my fridge. I even hired an aggressive dog trainer to work one on one with, but they were also a treat trainer. Unfortunately before my boyfriend found Dan, Delilah had already racked up several thousands of vets bills for other dogs. :( I checked Delilah into camp Dan, with some hesitation and guilt -- about not being able to control my dog. But, what I got out in return was a controllable dog, that I could now comfortably walk down the street with and not worry that she might flip out if another dog approached. Don't get me wrong, there's still a lot of constant work I have to do to maintain this state of zen, but it's worth it to have such a wonderful dog in my life and it gets better. Because we worked with Dan, I was able to adopt a second rescue pit bull, Curly (from Copper's Dream), which had made my life, and Delilah's even more full of love and joy. Delilah and Curly are fantastic pack mates, and entertain each other for hours a day. I only wish I had known about Dan earlier. Thanks!! read more

We're so thankful for Dan Perata Training! This review is long overdue. In 2015, we had just lost our beloved previous pooch and were afraid to get another one because it just hurts so much to lose them. That said, I was still looking at Bay Area rescue groups to find one who needed a home. It turned out that Rocket Dog Rescue was at capacity for taking in more dogs but Dan Perata Training had stepped up and and volunteered to take their overflow to save them until they could be fostered or permanently homed. We called Rocket Dog to tell them we wanted to help and were referred to DPT to meet our new addition for the first time. Dan brought him out to us in the reception area and we were instantly in love with the hyper little black puppy and we decided to keep him. We named him Zoso after Jimmy Page's Zeppelin 4 symbol and because the first song on that album is Black Dog. (Pretty cool, right?) DPT arranged to have their veterinarian Dr. Kelly Smith examine him, ensure he was in good health, got all the vaccinations he needed and to have him micro-chipped and neutered. Dr. Kelly is still Zoso's vet and he loves her. (I need to write her a review too!) Once he was good to go with his health status, we began what I would call boot camp with Dan. We got to keep Zoso during the weekends but he spent M-F at DPT for training. My husband and I took turns showing up to meet Dan during the week for supervised walks and other lessons so we could be trained by the trainer. I think the misconception about dog training is that you drop them off then expect to pick them up completely trained with no work to be done by you, the owner. This could not be further from the truth. Raising and training a dog is work! After a few weeks, we got to keep Zoso at home so we could continue the training on our own. Zoso is such a sweetheart, is super confident and loved by all people, kids and other dogs he meets. Even our bratty cat likes him. He still has some of that puppy mischief but we know that's due to us dropping the ball and getting lazy about when he steps out of line more so than it is about him being a "bad dog". There are no bad dogs, only bad people. We are good people, we have a good dog and we have Dan Perata Training to thank for training us how to be good owners. It has now been over two years since we met Zoso. He has been on long trips, including 5 days of backpacking with a large group and several other dogs, hikes almost every weekend and is great in the car. He also comes with us for our annual 16 hour train trip to visit my parents in Oregon (yes there are potty stops) for Christmas every year and is very quiet, well-behaved and the people aboard the train love him. He's friends with everyone, is the life of the party and he's lived up to his name. He really is that cool Black Dog from Led Zeppelin 4 and we're so happy to be rockin' with him every day! Thank you Dan for helping us to raise such a fun, confident little man! He's the best and so are you! We love you both so much! :) read more

I honestly cannot praise Dan Perata Training enough. I was desperate when I contacted Dan. I finally got the puppy I had been waiting for, but she turned out to be a monster. Being in a wheelchair and having weak core strength, Sky would knock me over in my chair and taking her on walks on my own was impossible. I emailed DPT hoping for some pointers. Instead Dan came right over and offered to take Sky with him. In a couple days he came back with a completely transformed dog who could now pick things up off the ground for me!!! I didn't even think it was possible for this crazy dog had any hope of being a service dog, but now she is my trusted sidekick. Heart and passion is the backbone of DPT and I am forever grateful for all they have done for me!!! read more

Long overdue on writing this review. I give Dan, Erin and Natasha 5 stars for transforming my relationship with my stubborn Husky-Malamute boy, Raiko. Prior to our bootcamp, Raiko had zero respect for me as a leader to the point where he bit me on a few occasions when things didn't go his way. I became fearful of my own dog, a place no one wants to be if there's to be any hope of establishing leadership. Dan and crew taught me the necessary skills to bring balance to our relationship and I can honestly say it was worth every penny. As kooky and woo-woo as it may sound, I believe there is something inherently spiritual in the bond between an owner and his or her dog. Dan helped bring harmony to our dynamic and Raiko and I couldn't be happier. read more

WOOHOO!!! Dan is simply AMAZING! Even after reading all of the reviews I was still very skeptical about how he could help with my dog's behavior problems in 1 hour. I thought "Come on, really?? How can he fix my dog in one 1-hour session?" I adopted my dog from a shelter last summer, but only started seeing aggression issues surface in the last several months. She selectively barked, growled and nipped at other dogs, children and strangers for no reason. And the problem was getting worse. It was difficult to know when she would exhibit this behavior - very unpredictable and embarrassing, especially when she behaved this way to my neighbors! Dan showed me what I was doing inadvertently to encourage this type of behavior and provided training on how to reinforce the behaviors I would like to see in my dog. I've looked into other dog trainers and classes and they primarily focus their efforts on the dog, not the owner. But it's really the owner that needs to be trained and educated on how to communicate and interact with their dogs! Your dog will do a complete 180 degree turn once they have confidence in YOU! I can tell that the relationship you and your dog have with Dan is long-term. He will continue to address any questions that come up free of charge and invite you to join in group dog walks to further reinforce what you and your dog have learned. Dan truly understands how a dog thinks. My dog is transforming into the well-behaved and confident little dog I knew she could be and I am eternally grateful to Dan. I can't recommend and thank Dan enough - he is truly the dog whisperer of SF!!! What are you waiting for? read more

What can you expect from working with Dan Perata? Someone who is dedicated to your dog and your family having a successful relationship; A charismatic, funny and very outspoken guy with a singular perspective on working with dogs; Someone who has a lifetime of experience working with animals in a variety of situations, who "gets" dogs on a dog level. As a core volunteer with a local dog rescue, I've met Dan a few times. He has been very generous in providing advice and training to our rescue to help us understand the behavior and needs of some of our more challenging pups. Dan recently gave a group of our volunteers several hours of basic training: how to read a dog's body language, how to provide the essential level of security and decision-making that a dog craves, how to use the gentle leader in a calm and productive way that makes using "prongs" and other "after-the-fact" tools unnecessary, and how to intervene in more serious situations. Dan definitely knows what he's talking about. He understands dogs and loves them. While he may not provide the "positive reinforcement" that some folks have come to expect in the form of treats, he does provide love and cuddles and lots of praise to dogs, but as Dan would say, at the right time. What dogs crave as much as love is a predictable, dependable person who will help them feel secure. Dan is awesome. Thank you for the work you do to help dog families and for for the support you give to dog communities. read more

We have a 1.5 year old male pit/collie mix who started to show serious signs of dog aggression. He had always been a very anxious dog which only increased his dog aggression and our feeling of helplessness. After one hour with Dan we have already started to see major changes in him. Dan was able to coach us on how to take back control inside and outside our home. His behavior immediately switched to calm submissive and our lives are a million times better. I recommend Dan to anyone who is having issues with their dog. He knows a million tricks and can fix any naughty pooch! read more

I contacted Dan a few weeks ago in a bit of a panic - who am I kidding, I was FREAKING OUT! Miles, my terrier mix, had pushed my locked screen door open and ran into the street to confront a dog walking by. This is the SECOND time this had happened in one week. My dog, although a total sweetheart at home has serious issues with big dogs. Because of this I am afraid to take him anywhere. Dog parks, the beach, coffee shops, they are all out of the question as I am unsure as to how he will behave in a public setting. :( Being that Miles is a rescue and now five years old I had been afraid that his behavior could not be improved by anyone. I was wrong. Ladies and gentleman meet the bay area's "Dog whisperer," Dan (the man) Perata. From the moment I called Dan he put my fears at ease. During our initial (phone) consultation he didn't just quickly set up an appointment. He took the time to give me advice so that I could begin to address my issues with Miles immediately. ~ Fast forward two weeks to our appointment with Dan. From the moment he walked through our door he was in control. He showed Miles through his body language and energy that HE was alpha. We quickly discussed Miles' issues and then hit the streets for a walk. I beforehand had arranged for my neighbor's dog Moose to participate in Miles' training. Prior to our session with Dan, Miles had only had a few encounters with Moose, ALL of which were horrible. Within ten minutes Dan had them WALKING SIDE BY SIDE! At the time I couldn't believe my eyes! However, Dan taught me that this is was actually not rocket science. Through his short interaction with Miles he established a true alpha relationship with him, and because of this Miles felt that he could trust Dan to be in control of any situation. Dan was the pack leader and was leading him to walk with Moose. Although it wasn't his idea of a good time he didn't really have a choice, it was the alphas choice. By the end of the walk Miles was happy and relaxed. Dan helped him push through his issues and may have even helped him gain a new friend :) ~ I realized while watching Dan work that I actually had been FAILING my dog by not taking control in all situations. While confronting dogs out on our walks I had shown fear. Because Miles did not trust his environment he felt that he had to protect himself, hence his aggressive behavior. I WAS THE ONE WHO NEEDED THE TRAINING. Dan gave me the tools to make this happen. Although it will take a great deal of ongoing work (done by me) I know that I can help him get over his issues by establishing a healthy relationship with my dog. ~ If any of you would like more info about my session with Dan, or if you have any questions feel free to inbox me. I am not a friend or relative of Dan and have nothing to gain. What I am is a previously frustrated dog owner who has gone from feeling helpless, to having faith. Good luck on your quest... read more

Dan is working wonders with our pooch. However, this review in purely in response to his staff. I have been working with Dan for about 6 months now, which means I have also been in close contact with his team. They are truly a caring, motivated and awesome group of workers who have made my experience there so much more valuable. There was one instance where I was picking up my dog at around seven in the afternoon. I had gone to dinner before and was heading over to the facility. By the time I got there, it had become very apparent that I had consumed some bad food, and was about to become very ill. Surely, as soon as I was able to get to the bathroom there, it happened. Justin figured out what was happening, and was so attentive, even though his shift was over. Without hesitation, even went to the store to get me some medicine! Bex was also there, and was very kind by checking up on me and taking care of my dog while I tried to gains some sort of composure. I was so embarrassed, but the Justin and Bex were so nonjudgemental, we were able to laugh about it later. Another time I came in and saw a bunch of puppies. When I made a comment about how so many clients came in with puppies at once, they clarified that they actually rescued these dogs after the fires occurred in Lake County a few years ago. The staff had taken them in, got them medical attention and spent hours making sure the pups were clean of every tick and parasite. They then adopted them out, asking nothing in return. Again, they are all around amazing people. This is just a few instances of who awesome his staff is. It has truly been a pleasure to work with them. There is no shortage of caring (for both people and dogs!) going on a the facility, I can assure you that. read more

We have a rescue Border Collie mix that has a lot of fear and anxiety issues as well as dominance towards other dogs. She had bit my aunt and a couple other people, and we were in need of a dog trainer to help us so that we could have people in our house. Other trainers would really not give us the help we needed. Dan came over, immediately took control of the dog, and told us exactly what needed to be done to become pack leaders. We are now able to have people in our house with the dog, although she is still not perfect, we have the tools to work through it. He taught us how to easily walk the dog, and walks are now far more enjoyable for us and we are in complete control of the dog. I only wish that we knew of Dan from the day we brought her home, and maybe some of our issues would have been avoided. He really is the Bay Area's dog whisperer. I will say that I am amazed how many 5-star reviews there are since I can't imagine he is for everyone. He is very direct, can be a bit harsh, and doesn't always use the nicest language, but personally I find it amusing, and whatever he dishes out is always well deserved. The bottom line is that he gets results, and is excellent in following up. I believe about once a month we will get a call from him checking up on progress, and responds to texts about issues ASAP (usually within 5-10 minutes). While our dogs issues are not completely better, there is definite improvement, and we have all the tools to stay consistent in the training process. The other trainers we have gone through said that she would likely never get rid of her issues, and Dan refused to accept that. I don't think there is a dog-related problem Dan wouldn't be able to tackle. Give him a call if you have any issues and he'll be there for you if any other issues surface! read more