This is a nice place where my dog got trained in such a way that now I can play with it with out any hesitation and fear. This place deserves 5 stars, and then some.. read more

WOW what can I say...DAN IS the MAN! I just posted 2 photos of my REDZONE pit one taken a a few years ago and one a taken few days ago. Yes if you just happened to check yelp in the next few hours Indigo is now a red zone... Did we always know?? YES... Why did we.??? At 4 weeks we took him from a bad place in East Palto. We did all the things his mom did not get to do. He lived in a fruit box for a week in addition we already owned a red nose pit who is dog aggressive...(what were we thinking???) A girl...Yes A girl... an 8 years old a rednose. WOW she did NOT like the new puppy. OK Enough bable. Our experiance with Dan was AMAZING. He was our 3rd yes..3rd trainer. We made our "wish list & our problem list" and he addressed it all. He is a stright forward kind of guy. (we like that) No BS. I know now our Indigo will be a great dog . We have been doing as Dan showed us or talked about only for 3 days and our dog is DIFFERENT in a great way. If you need help with aggression DAN can fix it period! Yes you as dog owners need to be commited and I know it will change your lives! I even got the holt collar for my girl and she did a 360!!! You can't go wrong with Dan. I will keep you up dated on Indigo's progress.. Our wish is to go on a vacation!! And It will happen! read more

Dan Perata Training - this is indigo who was in the blue zone before he went red zone - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I have been wanting to write this review right after our training with Dan but there is so much to say that I kept postponing. Not knowing where to start. Today we finished a walk at Fort Funston with Dan and a few other dog owners. This is how the story started: My friend adopted a terrier mix -Shitsu and cotton- almost a couple years ago from a shelter. He is an amazing dog. Calm, friendly totally zen. I was back totally unfamiliar with dogs and fell in love with him. I wanted to have more than just co parenting which I do on a daily basis. So I decided to get myself my own dogs. So about less than a year ago I got myself two miniature schnauzers at the age of 2, they are siblings same litter-not from a breeder. I tried to do everything right with them as a new dog owner, read all the Cesar Milan books etc, watch videos etc. My whole life evolved around my 3 dogs. By the time they (the 2 schnauzers) got all their shots and got ready to be out I discovered that they would bark at other dogs. There were actually a couple of instances that one of my schnauzers nibbled the dog that I co parent. So we found a trainer on line. She came in for one session but I could tell from the moment she came in the house that she would not be able help. Another attack between my dogs took place and when I talked to this initial trainer on the phone she recommended medication and said that at this point that was the only solution. My puppies were only about 8 months old and it did not seem to me appropriate to get them started on medication. So I continued trying to train them on my own. The aggression between each other stopped but they would continue to bark obsessively at other dogs and at people in the street especially if I started a conversation with someone. And they would bark at my roommate and lunge at her. Same thing in the dog park: sometimes they would play or run after a dog or dog owner and bark. t was so embarrassing, stressful and at times frightening. And I felt that I had to also be careful to avoid any escalation that would lead to nibbling or biting. I did not know where to go since doggy classes would probably turn them down. So long story short I yelped. And that is how I found Dan Perata. When I called Vanessa to set up an appointment I remember I said: I would be in heaven if they could learn to behave. And she said "you will be in heaven within an hour" It was hard to believe but I kept my hopes up. I tell you the moment Dan stepped into my house, I knew he was the man!!! He knew what he was doing and he did not waist time giving me info that I already knew like: they shake to relieve stress. Who cares right? We are here to fix aggression. So we took all three of them for a walk. I tell you it was like Dan was taming wild horses. We went down Castro Street in the city where its packed with people and dog owners walking their dogs. The miracle happened. We would pass by others and my dogs were silent. We even passed by the outside of the Castro dog park, We had all these dogs run along the dog fence from inside the dog park barking their lungs out at my dogs and what did my dogs do? Nothing!!!! Just walked by our side calm and quiet. It was a miracle!!!!! ***************"Dan fixed my two little monsters within an hour"******************* And the good story continues. I followed every instruction Dan gave me to the T. I even made notes for myself right after our session of what he said how he used body language etc. And I keep following those instructions. And my dogs continued to be nice and calm ever since. I take them for walks now and I totally enjoy it. I don't need to worry if a dog is coming towards us or if a person is coming towards us either. I don't have to cross the street anymore and go the other way because there is a dog coming, or hide next to a car so that my dogs won't see the dog on the other side of the street. All these ridiculous avoidance behaviors do not need to happen anymore. Dan is awesome. The guy speaks Dog language. The dogs respect him. And for us dog owners: he is easy going, fun to talk to, interesting and has a great sense of humor. And he is so giving with his free advice and the dog walks! I truly feel blessed to have met him! Its such a gift!! ************Do not waste anymore time. Call Dan. He will fix your dog (s) literally in one hour!!! "Dan is the man"!!!!!!!********************* read more

There's a point in a dog owners life where you realize you need help from other people. Dan and his team are exactly them! They quickly assessed my dogs needs during our thorough consultation and we even had a mini lesson on the spot! Training, daycare, boarding, their vet will even go during daycare hours..they've got you completely covered. A no-BS method and never taking themselves too seriously---it all works. Now if they can help work on MY life next.... ;) read more

Dan Perata Dog Training is not a positive learning environment for any dog. The "trainers" patrol the facility shouting (and I mean shouting) "HUSH!" constantly without any obvious attention to real training or working with the dogs and their owners to build skills and discipline. The dogs are scared into obedience, and dog parents are trained to deny their dogs affection and positive reinforcement. Instead, they are encouraged to "control" their dog by walking them in circles, tugging on their lead, not letting them look you in the eye or allowing them to be petted. Is this really how anyone wants to have a healthy relationship with their dog? We pulled our dog out of the program after several excruciating weeks during which our dog lost 1/3 of her body weight and chewed through her collar while being tethered to a post outside. We've since found reputable trainers who teach affection and trust building, not "tough love." Every reputable trainer and vet who knows Dan Perata will tell you that this is not a healthy place for anyone's dog. Do not entrust your dog and her healthy canine spirit to this -- we regret every moment our dog was subjected to this place. read more

I've used Dan several times. Once for a new puppy who was determined to eat my chickens, another for a new rescue who was terrified of his own shadow and the last time for another rescue who was rejected by the posh Marin Humane Society for being too reactive. Dan, is well, just amazing. If you have any issues with your animals or need to help them fit better in the human world, Dan's your man. It's money well spent and sure beats getting rid of a dog because you're at wit's end. I beg anyone whose dog(s) needs work to contact Dan. It will be some of the best money you ever spend. I work with rescued dogs and thank my lucky stars for Dan! read more

Dan is one of the few people I've ever met who can seemingly look at a dog and communicate with it! I don't own a dog personally, but referred a friend to Dan who had picked up a rescue dog that like to bite anyone that came near it. In no time, Dan had this dog's behavior corrected and instead of having to put the dog down, my friend gets to keep his best friend! read more

What can we say that you haven't read already???? The man is a doggy-mind Jedi! It has been two weeks today since we had the privilege of having Mr. Dan Perata come to our home to personally train us and our 7-month old shepherd mix, Luna, to walk and live harmoniously together. Our appointment was for 9:30 AM, and was supposed to be for only one-hour. After the walk, the talk, and the dog socializing (he asked that our friend bring his dog over to help with our dog's dog-aggression - Thanks for the assistance, Yogi!) we were past an hour. Dan didn't flinch, nor did he expect us to pay more than what was agreed upon for the hour of training. Although he was uneasy about it, WE INSISTED on paying more, as his time and what he taught us was/is of great value - actually, it was/is priceless! We are firm believers in paying people their dues. It was definitely worth it and THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Luna before Dan: 1. Excessive barker 2. Could not be walked on leash 3. Biter 4. Aggressive toward dogs 5. Chewer 6. Jumping on people Luna after Dan: 1. Angel :o) Dan helped us and our Luna all in about an hour and a half and the best thing is that two weeks later, she is still the amazing pup we knew she could be. BTW, last week we got a surprise visit from Dan. He was in our neighborhood because one of our neighbors was in need of a doggy-mind Jedi master, so he picked up our Luna and took her for a walk with his new client. It was completely unexpected and so appreciated. Dan, we love you and can't wait for session two at the Fort! :o) read more

I have never been the type to be swayed by public opinion and so when I was given the opportunity to adopted my pit-bull Cash as a youngling I was not discouraged by the breed's notorious reputation which circulates within the doggy world. No other breed has been demonized as much as the pit-bull and for good reasons, based on the breed's media negative attention. Raised under the care of the right owner, I believe this breed can do amazing things. Unfortunately I adopted without the slightest knowledge on dogs or pit-bull and while I took steps to ensure a healthy minded dog (through training with a facility practicing positive training methods) I was fighting a losing battle with a ill mannered tank of an animal. Still I remained patient and devoted to the responsibility I had taken up a year ago and at the end of my rope I turned to Dan for some emergency intervention. Before Dan's arrival in my chaos of a partnership with my beloved companion, Cash was a loving, devoted and loyal FUCKER.(excuse my language). He would jump on people, had no impulse control, dragged me down the street, all this quickly deteriorated into dog on dog aggression. Still I remained committed and eager to show the world a better dog. That was a not even a week ago. Today, major progress. While he still attempts to turn at dogs on our walks, my corrections(advised by Dan) as helped control his impulse to go raging down the street. I continue to work on this factor of his behavior issue. He hasn't jumped on me since that day! And I don't race him to answer the front door anymore and for the first time in such a long time he doesn't try to attack my vacuum or any loud noises for that matter! I look forward to utilizing more of Dan's tips to fix all his problems (more so mine) since the intervention, my spirits have been lifted and I am a more confident pit-bull owner. I believe it is my responsibly to ensure a happy healthy life for this dog that has touched my heart in a special way, and I am glad I contacted Dan to help me! You are in no better hands than with Dan Perata. I will post a follow up in a few weeks. read more

Dan is WONDERFUL! I cannot stress this enough. About a month and a half ago I adopted a sweet, 3 month old miniature dachshund. However, when he came home I soon discovered that my little bundle of joy had some really bad separation anxiety that would keep me and all my housemates up all night long! I couldn't leave him in his crate even for 10 min. without him crying and barking at me. I did a lot of research online and tried all the different methods but nothing worked. A week passed and I was really stressed out about it so I decided to look up a dog behaviorist to see if it will help, and that is when I found Dan. After speaking with Dan I decided to enroll him in Dan Camp because I needed to get the anxiety taken care of before I moved away for school. Dan is INCREDIBLE. Hands down. The day that I went to drop off my puppy he was so good with him! He set his crate down on the floor and let him out and from the moment my pup stepped out and started walking around, Dan was already able to tell what my puppy's problems were. No confidence, fearful, aggressive, separation anxiety, not socialized, things Dan would fix no problem. (That day I was also introduced to Dan's two dogs that are AMAZINGLY well behaved by the way.) Now that my puppy is back at home with me he sleeps through the night in his crate, and I can leave him in his crate at various times throughout the day if I need to leave the house, confident that he won't annoy the neighbors. Additionally, I can take him on walks at the park and he'll walk right beside me instead of dragging me around. Besides my initial problems, Dan has also helped him develop into a well-behaved pup by curbing any bad habits that MIGHT have developed had I not reached out to him. He doesn't bite, he is not possessive, barely barks (within reason), and he plays very well. He is truly a bundle of joy now! Dan LOVES dogs and literally ALL of the dogs that come through Dan's fall in love with him too (including mine). That just goes to show how he would never abuse a dog. In fact, my puppy left Dan's camp with 3X more confidence than when I first placed him there. That is love! What I appreciated the most about Dan is his dedication to exemplary customer service. He is very very dedicated to ensuring his clients are nothing short of happy with his services. While my pup was at Dan Camp, he opened up his facility to me whenever I wanted to pass by and personally trained us both. When I mentioned that my future roommate's dog was very scared of my puppy, Dan told me to bring my roommate and her dog over. He not only gave my roommate tools to help her dog overcome his fears of other dogs (especially mine), but he also taught my roommate how to walk him on a leash at no additional cost to either of us. He is just truly invested in ensuring the success of our futures with our dogs. Even after his services have been completed he still invites his clients to contact him whenever they have any questions or concerns. I am definitely ALL about supporting honest businesses and I will back Dan all the way. I was skeptical when I was first looking up a trainer and saw how many good Yelp reviews he has but decided to give him a shot and I really really understand now why he is so loved here on Yelp. In short, Dan loves dogs and he absolutely wants nothing more than for you to love your dog as well. If there is anything keeping you from doing so, CALL HIM! read more

5 months ago I brought Casey home. A two year old Norfolk Terrier. She was adorable but afraid of any other animal. Not only would she bark and go nuts when seeing other dogs/cats but it would upset her so much she wouldn't eat for days. I had never owned a dog before and didn't even know where to begin... so I called Dan. I'm thrilled to say I know have an adorable well adjusted dog! Dan worked with both of us... he built up Casey's confidence and helped me with mine too! I don't know what I would have done without him. Now we can take walks without my blood pressure rising as I dodge across the street to avoid another dog and hope that Casey doesn't see him/her. In fact, we have been doing so well that a couple of weeks ago we flew to the East Coast to see my family. Casey was the perfect flying companion. She was quiet, snuggled into her carry on and flying was a breeze. And then once we arrived she had everyone "in love" within minutes. In fact they tried to talk me into leaving her there till Christmas. No way. I highly recommend Dan to anyone that is having problems with their dog or just not enjoying being a dog owner. He is terrific. read more

We brought our 4 month old rescue puppy to Dan hoping to give her a great foundation and to work on separation anxiety and terrible leash pulling and tracking. We were also interested in making sure she received as much socialization with other dogs as possible. Our previous two dogs, rescued as adults, had extreme behavioral problems and we wanted professional guidance on how to avoid making mistakes with our puppy. First, the facility is fantastic - clean, well-organized and its obvious a lot of thought and effort went into its various training and play zones. All of the staff we met were friendly and professional and we felt confident leaving our puppy for training. In discussing our issues with Dan we understood that we needed training as well, and he spent a lot of time explaining what we needed to do and why. He doesn't coddle or try to tell you what you want to hear and we appreciated his no nonsense directness. After her time at Dan's our puppy has made amazing progress. She's quiet and calm in her crate, has stopped nipping and biting during play and has shown great improvement walking without pulling. She also plays more gently with other dogs and doesn't go wild when she sees other dogs on leash. When we brought her back to Dan for more advanced work she was thrilled to be back, which made us think she actually enjoyed the work and attention - a win-win for both of us! We can't recommend DPT training enough - they know what they're doing, they get lasting results and hey, they really love and care about dogs - and it shows. read more

Our interaction with Dan Perata Training was unique for us. We are life long dog owners, Dobermans in particular, and have always trained our dogs ourselves and have enjoyed a lifetime with our pets, well trained, well behaved, etc. Then came our latest dog child, Jackson, our male Doberman. We reached out to Dan Perata because after nearly two years, we could not get a handle on the training with this beautiful creature. Some of his best skills were counter surfing, body slams to greet everyone who came thru our door, lunging on to our bed at full speed and strength, all 90 pounds of him, and the all too famous stealing. These were just a few of his favorite pastimes. Thankfully we had no aggression issues. So out of desperation to save our sanity and our household, we painstakingly researched local trainers and decided to contact Dan Perata Training. Like all good males, Jackson is strong willed, extremely intelligent, hard headed, stubborn, loving and kind. Dan Perata is strong willed, extremely intelligent, as well as loving and kind. Our dogs are part of our family, we love our dogs more than most people we know, so for us to trust anyone other than our immediate family with Jackson was huge. After meeting with Natasha and Dan, we decided to make the move and enroll Jackson in camp. At a minimum we would get a vacation from the insanity of this pup running our household. It is made very clear that the key to success with the program is the owner stepping up and showing up. It is not a place to leave your dog for a few weeks and come back expecting him or her to be trained. The program is designed for serious owner interaction, and yes homework. Dan's personality is strong, but the love he has for dogs shines through. Dan and the staff are very clear about what it will take to get things right with your training. Which is the key here, your training. We realized shortly into the program, that we are older now, and a little lazier now, than when we raised our last pup, and we had forgotten a few things along the way. We were the problem with Jackson's behavior. Shortly into the program, our bad habits were pointed out to us and we had to modify everything at home if we were going to succeed. Dan is not subtle, he tells it like it is and folks need to have a thick skin sometimes and just listen. We did not need a trainer to coddle us, we needed a trainer to help the situation. We had to show up for the weekly training sessions, and we added a side training each week. We had to do the homework. If we were going to invest our hard earned money in this program, we had to make sure we did our part. After the camp training portion ended, we showed up weekly for follow up visits. We probably drove Dan, Aaron and the staff crazy, but you would never know it, they welcomed us back each week. So where are we now a few months later? No bed jumping, no counter surfing, no jumping on us or guests, walks are great-no leash pulling. Jackson is a strong, well behaved dobie, while every once in a while showing us he is still a pup at heart. We continue to do our homework which is key, working on recall which he is doing great at, and make sure he gets plenty of exercise. We love the staff. The facility is spotless, and continue to board Jackson here if need be, as we believe Jackson is in good hands with Dan, Natasha and the entire staff. Special thanks to Aaron, Steve, Alex and all the other staff at Dan Perata who work hard taking care of our loved ones. Eileen and Paul O. read more

I was expecting a lot when I contacted Dan, but his response was extremely rude and angry not the type of person I want around my dog.

The DP team have been great to our little bulldog Wellington since we first brought him there for training two years ago. Their professionalism stand out among competitors, and friendliness of the staff makes it easy for us to leave our boy with them when we go out of town. Recently, Wellie had a medical scare while in DP's care (100% our fault), and they could not have handled the situation any better, and it calmed out nerves knowing how he was in such good care. I would recommend DP Training to ANYONE who is looking for a safe and caring place to leave their four-legged family member! read more

FIVE STARS! Dan Perata Dog Training is definitely your go to place if you are investing in your dog, yourself and your home. My daughter came home with an adorable Blue Nose "Pit Bull" puppy this past February. Of course I was not happy and had all the stereotype images of the highly criticized breed in my mind. We went on with some minor steps in socializing and what we thought was training (ha! ha!) and found that in order to make Nino a good citizen...and not have him taken away in the future and euthanized...it was time to invest in him. I did a lot of research online for a least a couple of months and kept coming back to Dan Perata. The following is our experience. If you are in need of a top notch dog training school...THIS IS YOUR 1ST AND ONLY PLACE...SERIOUSLY! We made an appointment for a meet and greet. I dropped off my daughter and Nino at the door and went to park the car. By the time I got in the front door and sat down, Dan had been talking to my daughter about Nino's temperament and disposition....and he was taking immediate steps to show "WHO IS BOSS." Dan spent over an hour with us and shared an enormous amount of information on how dogs process, what they need from owners/masters and how we can get the results we need to have the least amount of stress when out in public or at home. This initial visit and what we learned was absolutely amazing in Nino's behavior. By the end of the hour, I knew that Dan Perata was getting my business and our dog was in the best hands! We signed Nino up and he went in for the long haul...boot camp. We dropped him off and he stayed Monday through Friday for several weeks. Each week got better with him and the joint classes have really helped in molding our (human) behaviors. Even after the initial boot camp...the commitment does not stop...there is follow-up sessions to curtail bad behaviors that can arise...the dog's will test us...when we do not follow through on being their boss. HERE IS WHY YOU WOULD PICK DAN PERATA AND HIS CREW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG. This is not a fly by night dog training school...Dan and his crew are fully committed to your dog, you and your family. The investment is big at first...but with all the follow up...this man and his company is not getting rich from us...I truly see this! Dan's crew members and office staff are extremely polite and accommodating! They all get that we are emotionally attached to our animal and most often will have the tendency to get weak and give that over the top attention...extra pat on the head or look into their eyes...and when we do...some will take the ALPHA advantage and demonstrate bad behaviors. I know because we are so guilty of this...Dan saw this on follow up and he is reeling us all in to correct it. So...the devotion and loyalty of this business is up front and real...their word means something! That is a huge plus in most of our worlds today! I love the fact that Dan's training is taught to set and correct bad behavior in our dogs...he does not use what most training programs promote with treats. I really like this technique of not using treats...because we may not always have a treats with us and if we as owners give a command...we want them to obey...without a treat, right now...every time. It is not a surprise that most of these YELP ratings are 5 STARS and have long, passionate stories of each of our experiences and journeys...all of us...have less stress in our lives and our dog knows their position and role. If anyone is not sure or has questions...take the time for a meet and greet and I am so sure you will be convinced that Dan Perata Dog Training is not just an investment for your dog...but for yourself! Kat Villasenor read more

I can not say enough great things about Natasha, Dan and all their employees. I brought in my elderly neighbors 5 lb. Chihuahua who was mistreated with her previous owners. Because of it, she had severe anxiety issues. A couple weeks of being with Dan and she is a totally different dog. Thank you so much for everything. I would definitely bring my pet to them if any issues arose. Thanks again! read more

It's weird when your review runs against the grain, but I don't get the 5 stars for Dan Perata. Yes, their other staff is friendly, and yes, the facility is decent. Both pluses for sure. And maybe people with easier pets have a better experience. We didn't One of our dogs is a very anxious pit we took in from the street. She has a very hard time with other dogs. Dan couldn't get much progress in the short time he worked with her, but it was apparently enough time to write her off as a "spaz." Not at all professional, or even mature frankly. And after months of not going back, I decided to ask for a refund of my remaining daycare balance, which the office staff agreed to. But Dan called me back within 20 minutes hot under the collar, pretty aggressive and wondering what entitled me to a refund. When he finally understood it was of a credit balance for non-rendered services, he backed down. I'd sum him up as hot head, incapable (in our case), immature for blaming the dog. Sure as hell not worth $250 a session, or whatever it is now. Switched to Koru K9 and have had a better experience. Good luck to you and your beloved pup whatever you choose. ADDENDUM: Regarding Mr. Perata's comments, there was only one lesson paid for, and one lesson received. On that walk, out of the blue Mr. Perata went off (a theme with him) on people using the word "Nazi," which struck me as a bit off. Secondly, I paid the regular rate for doggie day care, with no discounts except those offered to all clients. Third, Mr. Perata does offer "free" walks (although I guess they come with paid service expectations), only one of which I ever attended, with my other dog. On that walk, two dogs (of the same owner) wearing e-collars were referred to as "real cases" in front of the group; equally impressive language. Fourth, I did not expect dog training at a daycare rate, but I also didn't expect to have find my dogs quivering at the end of the day in a dark crate, and one of them called "spaz." Lastly, I'm not sure why a refund of unused services should require any special consideration at all. And regarding my finances, I expect I'm not the only one in San Francisco who can't afford $3,500 for an intensive dog rehabilitation, or can afford to take up the offer of a $3,000 and we'll take your problem stray dog off your hands. Spend any extended time with Mr. Perata, or have exchange any differences of opinion, and you'll certainly experience what I've described. In fact, just read his sour comments. Oh, and no, Koru didn't pay me for this review. They certainly couldn't have paid me for the experiences I've detailed. And it's beyond me how this is cowardly. Or should I subject myself to another rage moment with Mr. Perata? read more

This is an update to our review. We were the first to review Dan on Yelp in 2008. Well, its 2016 and we have contacted Dan several times over the years to consult for help. We've called him to help with the introduction of our daughter (now 3) to our canine child. Dan nailed it. They have been buds ever since. If we have had trouble with other dogs, Dan's was on the end of the line walking us through the problem (not that we have had many issues thanks to his training). Now, I just got off the phone with Dan about 5 minutes ago to ask how best to introduce a kitten to our dog. Without hesitation Dan gave some solid advice that I will adopt without question. Yes that is right. Without question. I am that confident in Dan's abilities. I do not know of a company/person/service that, after nearly 10 years, can be called at any time for advice. It is always as if no time has past. Oh and by the way, were in CT for the last 6 year and are now in Long Beach CA. Nowhere near San Francisco! We love you Dan read more

We were about to give up our puppy until we heard about the great things Dan and his team have done. We were not disappointed. Our puppy had leash aggression, whining, jumping, and small dog dominance issues. After going through Dan Camp, we've seen extraordinary improvement and have fallen in love with our puppy all over again. I should mention that we adopted our puppy (a lab mix) from the SF SPCA, and while they do great work in placing dogs and cats in homes, their training methods and results are quite simply limited. Not all dogs can be saved through their positive, "treats for behavior" philosophy. After all, a treat won't save you or your dog from the real life situations you're trying to prevent. Dan Perata, Dan Charles and the rest of the team are open, sincere, trustworthy, and simply effective. If you care about turning your dog's behavior around, do yourself a favor and come here first. read more

Suffice it to say that we agree with all the 5-star comments and had the same experience. Here are the bullet points. - Dan Perata and his staff may have saved our dog's life. - Dan may not be for everybody but he is for EVERY DOG. You have to be open to what Dan has to say and you have to be able to take his sense of humor, but most importantly you have to put your dog's health and well-being first and foremost and be willing to put in the work. - He doesn't use treats but he does use positive reinforcement appropriately, praising and giving your dog loving physical attention when she is behaving well. He teaches owners to be firm and confident. He does use a water bottle and head leash for corrections, and this worked with our "reactive" dog, whereas positive-reinforcement only and high-value treats did not. - During a phone conversation, the SPCA staff told us that Dan uses shock collars and other abusive devices, but we told them that in our 3 months with them, we never saw anything like this and that our dog always loves going there and loves Dan and his staff. - When we talked to the SPCA staff, they admitted that our dog had been previously returned because she was "reactive" (aggressive) towards other dogs. This was in her file and they consciously made the decision not to tell us. Instead they told us she had been returned because the previous adopters "weren't ready." We continue to feel safe and supported by Dan and his entire staff. Our year-old girl is a different dog now, happy, confident and friendly with other dogs, instead of the fearful and aggressive dog she was when we got her a few months ago. read more

Very militaristic, tough, cool and rough approach to us it seemed - at least to us, and when we were there for our consult, it was cold in his huge warehouse. But, we did not sign up for his facility so this was just our first impression. It just didn't seem a good fit for us. But he gets all 5 stars, so obviously he is a great trainer. His facility is huge and seems he's thought out a great deal of different scenarios for dogs to learn in different situations. So, I'm glad for all the others who have taken up his services. read more

I have a 4 year old Standard Poodle who is exceedingly anxious, fearful, willful, and too intelligent....generally a neurotic loon! He has a huge personality but would freak out at all kinds of triggers. I went to Dan because my dog was unpredictably aggressive with many puppies and a few breeds of dogs. He is overly protective and behaved like an attack dog in the car when anyone or anything approached the vehicle. I had already visited the SPCA to meet with one of their experts and tried their recommended training techniques and started my dog on the prescribed medicines....to no avail. I was at the end of my rope by the time I approached Perata Training. I have owned many dogs, and I couldn't believe this dog was only a source of stress as opposed to pleasure. I am so thankful for Dan and Natasha! I enrolled my dog in Dan Camp, and after 4 weeks he became an out patient for many months ( all included in the initial cost of the camp). Dan's commitment to us as a challenge was unwavering! He devoted untold hours to our training, and he was extremely creative and persistent. Dan took my dog off his medicines (gradually) and established various other routines/practices. During my time attending training session after training session, I was able to witness first hand Dan's special talents with a variety of dogs all of whom adore him. His instincts are incredible, and he was determined to train me to be able to handle my dog as well as he could. At the beginning, I was terrified walking my dog in a room full of puppies, and I am not a meek soul. My dog would lunge, growl, and shake if a puppy approached. Over many weeks and much exposure, my dog would listen to my commands and trust that I was in charge. Puppies could come sniff his bottom (which he will never like), but my dog would look to me and "leave it" on command. Although I devoted more time to my dog's training than I anticipated or wanted, I loved working with Dan and all of the trainers. They are a fabulous group of guys, and I enjoyed every moment at the center. You cannot help but be fascinated by all of the dogs and the training going on. My dog is now much less anxious, much less aggressive, and less willful because I have good control of him. Dan is firm and consistent, and my dog loves him as the ultimate protector. Although I am still working with my dog, he is trusting that he can relax with me in charge. I no longer have to run around with treats in every pocket and purse and instead use my voice! Everyone in our family appreciates our dog so much more, and after months of eliminating much love and baby talk - we can indulge him once again with affection minus the anxiety provoking baby talk! I cannot recommend Dan Perata Training more. It is important to be ready to get trained to train your dog since you cannot bring Dan home to live with you! read more

I initially spoke to Natasha about taking custody over my elderly mom's 9 year old pet dog, Chester. I more or less told her that he is a small dog with a big bad dog attitude. She understood and immediately made an appointment for us to meet with Dan. We first met with Melissa who was very helpful and explained that Dan's Camp would help Chester's bad behaviors and abandonment issues. After Chester completed camp, I believe now that no dog is too old to learn to be less aggressive and be better behaved. Since he has gained confidence after the training he received in camp, Chester does not bark or lunge aggressively at other dogs and is even calm and playful around other dogs. Chester's vet has reminded me that being consistent with a dog regarding his behavior is very important. Dan along with Evan have also worked with me in what to do when Chester and I take walks and also how to handle any bad behaviors by Chester that can come back. Dan and his staff have not only helped Chester to be a better behaved and happy dog but have also helped me to be a better and more responsible dog owner. read more

WOW - we have had at least 6 different trainers for our 8 year havanese over the years and Dan is the first one that actually made a difference in our dog's life and our lives! It was the first time where we were able to walk our dog without him marking on everything and his 'no treat' approach really resonated with us. If you have any dog behavioral issues, don't waste your time or money with anyone else - go straight to Dan! read more

we had been desperate to find someone to help train us and our aggressive pit bull. the price was a bit of a shock, but the alternative to put our dog down was not an option. after 4 weeks (two more to go) we now have a dog that listens and is a pleasure to walk, he is getting better at home, obviously that depends on us! dan is an upfront kind of guy and doesn't mince words, he tells it like it is, and for some of the people that complain about this, really? i get it, his personality is upfront and some people may find him rude, but if it saves your dog, so what!!! grow up!! being PC is for the weak!! i prefer honesty and to be told upfront what it is i'm doing wrong, i wouldn't have it any other way. dan, and staff, don't stop what you are doing!!! there are some of us who really appreciate what you are doing for us, it is not only training for the dog but for the owner, and that is one of the key things, it is never the dogs fault! it is the owner who let the dog down and i'm so grateful for what i have learned. Gunther read more

in order for us to have a happy life with the new addition to our family, we need to understand their "culture" so to say.. If it's a human baby you already have the upper hand in that you know its needs and how to handle them but when it comes to another species you'd have to understand how they perceive things and ppl around them.. like it or not, your dog does not think he is the new "baby" of the household, your dog thinks he just joined a new pack and would want to figure out how they fit in that pack.. Now it is up to you to shape that the right way so you all live happily and peacefully together. Having Dan was the best decision we've ever made because he truly understands dog language and culture, how if fits into our human routine and can give you the best tips on how to make your dog happy as well as yrself too. A dog that knows its place in the pack (your household) is a happy dog because you'd simply taken out all the confusion and laid out the rules. We got a beautiful Siberian Husky at 6 weeks young. He was a very lovable dog, but did not listen most of the time - this was my mistake since I literally treated him like a spoiled baby so he got to the point where he's throwing fits when things don't go his way (he OWNED the house and us). When we took him out for his daily walks he would pull us like a sled (totally understandable him being a sled dog, but an awful experience to us) when this started getting out of hand, and he got to a point where he's the alpha of the house we knew we had to get some professional help.. We were referred to Dan and boy was that a blessing! He came into our home, took the time to hear our story, asked us so many questions and gave us a preview of what he's going to be doing and most importantly WHY. He introduced himself to Majnoon (our puppy) and started correcting actions right away. I won't say that Majnoon liked it but of course he won't if you think about it, bcoz he was basically taking away his power over the house and showing him his new place in the pack, much like a dictator getting thrown out of power. We then took off for a walk with the walk and train aid that Dan had suggested. The walk was long and painful for me to watch mainly because Majnoon didn't like it and was fighting for his "power to own" but it was also very eye opening. When it was my turn to walk him, I was in AWE for that magical change that had just happened! Majnoon still didn't like what was going on at that point and I wasn't very satisfied with the methods since I thought he was too rough with him, but given the change that had taken place I stuck to it coz I definitely needed something other than the mess I had put my puppy in spoiling him all that much! Every single day after that his behavior started getting better and better. He now knows that No means no, leave it means leave it and so on.. He knows he is loved, and he is a very happy dog because Dan taught us how get rid of all the confusion that we had made him live with! Every single person that meets Majnoon gets amazed of how well he is behaved, how easy it is to walk him in the dog park without a leash now and how well he listens - especially for ppl that know how tough it is to have a well behaved Siberian Husky given their heritage and traits. I had honestly postponed my review for a long time because I wanted to see the long term effects as well to be able to judge this one in-person session that Dan had provided us. Ours is a very happy dog and all thanks to Dan's training and tips.. He knows exactly where he stands, he knows what's acceptable and what's not and respects that. Overall I would recommend Dan to anyone, he is FIRM but by NO means abusive. So THANK YOU Dan for all your help - we couldn't have done it without you! read more

Having only had older rescue huskies we were at a loss as to what to do with our new 11 week little husky monster we brought home. We only had him for two weeks (but it felt like 6 long months) by the time Dan came to our house. He showed us what we were doing wrong, gave us some great tips on how to show him who the pack leaders were, and he even gave my 9 year old son some tools that gave him the self confidence to show our little tiny terror who was NOT the boss of the house. Before Dan came we were all pointing fingers at each other "well you were the one who wanted a little puppy, not me", that type of thing. After Dan left and after utilizing some of his methods, we enjoy our little monster so much more and with work will have the great husky pup we ALL envisioned. Highly recommend Dan and his no nonsense approach. read more

Let me be clear: Dan saved our dog. We own a border collie/rottweiler mix (Pepper) who had a very rough puppyhood, and had developed some serious fear-based aggression. Over the past 2 years, my wife and I worked with FOUR other trainers, none of whom really helped either the dog or us. Two suggested we put her down, 1 was totally useless on every level (see my post on her), and 1 suggested we keep her comatose on a heavy dose of xanax. We knew there was a happy and sweet dog under the scared/aggressive exterior (she is RIDICULOUSLY smart and obedient with us in most situations), but she continued to exhibit extremely aggressive behavior whenever someone came (or, I should say, TRIED to come) to the house and when on leash. We'd boxed ourselves into a life where we weren't able to fully enjoy our lives with Pepper, and she wasn't able to enjoy being a dog. With our first baby on the way, we had started the process of trying to find a new home for her when someone suggested we try Dan. Two hour-long sessions with Dan changed everything...literally. Pepper is an absolutely perfect dog outside the house (on leash and off), and she's SO much better about having people in the house...we even had a dinner party recently, something that we could never have even considered before Dan's help. The huge breakthrough came this week: my mom came to town to help us with the baby (due any day) and is staying with us. Pepper has been VERY aggressive with my mom before, and understandably my mom is/was terrified of her (she's a 3-time dog owner herself). She's been with us for 5 days/nights, and I'm happy to report the two of them are now best friends, and Pepper has been behaving wonderfully...gives us an enormous amount of relief with the baby coming and all the visitors that will follow. We were days away from either trying to place her in a new home, but now Pepper is a happy, behaved and obedient dog. Aside from the 2 hour sessions, Dan proactively stays in touch with us to check our progress, and is super-responsive via text/email and phone...we can't recommend Dan strongly enough, he literally saved our dog. read more

Dan cured our dog Layla of leash aggression in one one-hour session. We called Dan when we were expecting our first child. Expecting a baby, we were especially concerned with our dog's leash aggression and could not envision being able to walk the dog with the baby at the same time. One session with Dan and our dog was a different dog on leash. We are now able to walk dog and baby together and do so daily. read more

Let me start off by saying Dan saved my dogs life and my sanity. I know this sounds a bit extreme, and it is somewhat of an exaggeration. With that being said, Topper is alive and well and I am of very sane mind, thanks to Dan Camp. I had a very unique situation that allowed, and called for Dan's live in training program or what I've dubbed, Dan Camp. Topper is my two year old Boston Terrier, a true Adonis of the breed at that. I always was reassuring myself that "he's good for a Boston." lovable and always ready to be ultra charming with people, however, not so good with other dogs. In fact, in this sense, Dan did save Topper's life, he was so aggressive toward any dog he felt "threatened" by he was constantly fighting and against much larger and more powerful breeds, making it rough on everyone. Dan exceeded any expectations early on in Topper's stay by literally spoon feeding him every two hours during a two week postoperative recovery period that was totally unpredictable. Once, Topper was back in the condition for the training to begin Dan again rose to the occasion like the Babe stepping up to home plate. Topper was admittedly a challenge for Dan, but I returned to an entirely different dog. Different in the sense of a calm, confident, full of love, controlled little man. When I dropped him off with Dan his nickname was Pesci, after picking him up that name doesn't even make sense. The bottom line is Dan cares for and has a way with animals that is a gift, not a job. His love for the Animal's is really what it's all about. read more

Dan and his team went way above and beyond with my rescue dog Trevor. He was very scared and shut down and was a fear biter with a history of abuse. They kept him way past his anticipated "graduation date" and went out of their way to help him overcome his fear of men, and especially his fear of being touched around his neck. Dan quickly diagnosed the fear of his neck being touched as being a result of past abuse and taught him to expect cuddles when his neck was touched, not abuse. He encouraged his staff to interact with Trevor despite the fear biting as he figured this was a ploy of Trevor's to keep humans at arms length. I was always made to feel welcome by the wonderful team there and was on first name terms with all of the trainers and handlers. Every time I visited I picked up titbits of advice on how to help my dog. The best part is that I felt that the team at Dan Perata grew to really like Trevor, which could be tough with a fear biter! Trevor has relaxed a lot and is less unpredictable & ( mostly ) keeps his canines to himself. We have a lot more work to do but the best part of working with Dan and his team is that they assure you that they are there for you long after graduation. That's very reassuring! read more

My dog has gone to Dan's since he opened his location in the city. Staff is always friendly and helpful. I would give a higher review but the last time I picked up Spike he was couching and come to find out he got kennel couch! read more

My husband and I were first time dog owners and decided to seek out - based on friends and our network - the best possible training for our dog. We tried the Smarty Pups 8 week program but we just didn't feel like it was enough for our King Charles Cavalier puppy. We heard about "Dan Camp" from friends and decided that - even though the program is intensive - her barking and attitude weren't something we could fix or make better on our own. We enlisted the amazing team at Dan Perata Training and WERE SO IMPRESSED by their ability to help our puppy calm down and relax in our home and at work (I take her every day to the office). Additionally, we have been working with Dan and his dedicated team since May 2014 and consistently find them to be tireless advocates for what's best for our dog's long term health and happiness. They made critical recommendations on her nutrition (which turned out to be *very well* received by our puppy and she's never looked better) and during one of her stays they actually found a medical problem (while we were out of town) and took her to the hospital for emergency care in the middle of the night. What other trainer and boarder would take our puppy to the hospital at 2 am and stay with her the entire time? They love our dog like their own and because of that, we use them at least once a month for consistent boarding needs. They are WORTH EVERY PENNY and after trying other boarders and trainers we wouldn't ever consider anyone else. Thank you Dan for everything - we are so grateful! :) Dani Dudeck DeBoer & Victor DeBoer read more

Natasha, Dan, Bex, David, Mike and Vanessa. I can't thank you enough for stepping up to the plate when I needed help with Tux and a situation I've been going through. I have a great sense of peace when he's with you because I know he's receiving the training needed to work with me for a lifetime. read more

Dan is nothing short of AMAZING!! My husband and I recently rescued Tiny, a 5 yr old St Bernard from the Central valley. Mind you-nothing about this dog is Tiny, expect maybe the amount of training he has had before! So after about 2 weeks of him pulling on the leash, running or jumping on every dog he would see and barking or growling at our house guests we realized we were in desperate need of professional help. Enter Dan and team.... From the first interaction with Vanessa I knew this was the place to go. I had called a handful of places with top yelp reviews but these guys shined above the rest. Vanessa dedicated a large amount of time speaking to me, providing immediate recommendations and explaining Dan's approaches before we even committed to an appt with Dan. They accommodated our schedule and squeezed us in almost immediately. Then came Dan-everything he said made sense and everything he did just seemed to work. It was somewhat unbelievable to see. Be ready for some tough love on your dog, but trust in his system...it works. The hardest part is training yourself to have the control Dan does. Our first visit Dan worked with us and Tiny well into the darkness of the night. Showing us everything we were doing wrong and how to do things right. I swear when Dan handled Tiny you would have thought this was a trained show dog. Even in the single meeting we were already seeing improvement in our own hands. By the end of our appt we could easily re-direct our dog away from distractions, he wasn't pulling at all and he was just all around easier to deal with the first night. Dan has invited us back (with no additional charge) to work on controlling Tiny when seeing other dogs on leash-that has been Tiny's biggest challenge-without any additional charge. It turned out it was our biggest challenge-Dan could navigateTiny through a whole host of dogs remaining in complete control of the dog-we just weren't doing things right. But Dan was patient and showed us the things we were doing wrong and when we adjusted, Tiny did too. Most important: Please, please don't let the cost of an appt with Dan cause you to shy away. While the initial cost might be higher than other places you talk to, what you are really paying for is an initial consultation and on-going partnership from a team of people who know how to handle and train any dog. Dan and vanessa have both taken phone calls, emails and volunteered their mobile phones numbers for text or calling with our questions. All of this at no additional charge. It feels more like a membership I paid for then a single training appt. I probably shouldn't admit this publicly but they should charge you more for that type of offering! Like other reviewers have said-if you want a well-behaved best friend that you can take anywhere THIS IS THE PLACE!!! read more

I seriously cannot say enough good things about Dan. I had a very horrible situation in my house involving one dog killing another. Deciding the fate of the dog who did that has been the toughest decision I've had to make in a long time. I lost one dog and the though of losing another to euthanasia or rehoming was just too much. After driving up to my house and meeting my remaining pack of 4, I am now confident I don't have to do either of those things. He not only used training methods on my dogs, but also whipped me into shape. I am a weak pack leader and I need to "toughen up"! Yesterday I thought the situation was hopeless and now I'm feeling hopeful. My dogs responded well to everything he did, and I now know I can do it. He literally had my dogs doing everything he wanted them to do immediately. Now I will no longer accept that my dogs are just naughty. I will gain control of the pack and there is absolutely no way I could have done this without Dan. He is amazing and because of him my dog that I was considering other options for, will stay here and become a good dog. Thanks so much Dan!!! I will be forever grateful read more

Two days ago Dan came to the rescue!! Fabio our 8 yr old Toy Poodle that has been very aggressive towards other dogs, charging to bite them, you name it, just horrible, we couldn't take him anywhere with the fear he will bite a dog and the other dog will seriously injure Fabio. Dan knows dogs and humans. You would think how he can transform a dog's behavior in one hour, well he CAN. He brought his wonderful dog Ivan together and for the first time in his life Fabio walked along with him, sat on the ground by him just unbelievable!!! All we need to do is continue Dan's way of treating our dog and if already we see such a different already in his personality, I cannot wait to report his progress a couple of months from now. Dan and Vanessa are the people to talk to for whatever problem your dog has. Dan will fix it, just like that!!!! Thank you Dan and Vanessa!!! read more

We adopted a dog from a rescue group. The pup was thought to be a pit mix and was as cute as can be. We brought the dog home and noticed he demonstrated occasional reactions to being handled. We contacted the rescue agency and they put us in touch with a trainer. She came to the house and handled the young pup and he growled and snapped at her. She immediately suggested we put him down. We contacted another trainer for a second opinion, same thing. We had a hard time dealing with this and communicated the situation back to the rescue agency. They were very helpful and understanding working with us to decide the best course of action. They offered to take the dog back and try to find another home or the dreaded other possibility. We were crushed and had become very attached to the dog. I have raised other dogs before and never had this type of situation before. Someone recommended Dan to us and we thought it was worth a try. Dan came over and talked with us about the dog and the reaction and the other trainer's suggestion. Dan told us the dog is probably fine but just needs to be trained to not react and also needs to know his place in our pack. Dan explained he was going to handle the dog and when the dog reacted he would do a series of drills and then asked if we were ok with that. We said yes and he proceeded. They went through the routine a few times and the dog was never reactive from that point on. We ended up moving on to other training techniques for other typical items, more training us then the dog but great ideas to focus on. I think the dog was discriminated against because he was thought to be part pit. As he grew we recognized he was anything but pit. He's going on two years and is a great dog, great around people, other dogs and especially children. He doesn't particularly care for the neighbor's cat though. Anyway, a big thanks to you, Dan, we feel strongly you most likely saved our dogs life. read more

Dan is by far the best dog trainer money can buy. I recently got a Siberian Husky which is one of the hardest dogs to train and Dan took my puppy in and spent 2 weeks crate training him. When I finally picked him up the only expression I had on my face was WOW he was completely crate trained in a short amount of time and also learned how to calm himself down and sleep through the entire night without making any noise. This coming from a puppy which we all thought was impossible to crate train in the first month. I was so impressed with Dan's dedication and commitment for my husky that I will continue working with Dan on a weekly basis. Dan understand dogs and dogs understand him. I would refer Dan to anyone looking for an experienced dog trainer and looking for results. read more