We adopted a young puppy who is only going to max out at about 10 pounds. At her first vet appointment, we were advised to enroll her in formal training and socialization. We love our veterinarian, and she highly recommended Dodger's Paws. Here is what I'm already loving, 2 weeks into the puppy program. . . Great communication and easy to sign up . Convenient hours for working dog parents . Clean Facility, safe set up . My kids are welcome to attend and participate, and we're ALL learning. . Martha is a wonderful teacher/coach/support. She is patient, she explains the how and the why regarding our puppy's behavior. In addition to learning basic commands, and going over safety guidelines, we are provided with a plethora of tips about happy and healthy dogs. Martha has 4 dogs of her own. She's empathetic, down to earth, very honest, and makes the class fun with her upbeat personality and stellar sense of humor. I love when the hour is coming to a close, and we have the opportunity to ask questions. It's been a great experience, and we are enjoying our sessions at Dodger's Paws very much. read more

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My dog Hobi took a class here in September 2020. That was during Covid, so there were no real options at that time. It was quite a drive for a puppy. They didn't really have any suggestions to help with that. Also, the classes are outside in a warehouse with an open garage door, so it was freezing. I had to dress my dog in a sweater, and I could barely stand to be on the cement floor for the duration. But here's the thing: my dog is a Maltese. Like all Maltese, he is barky, a bit whiney, and a very picky eater. Small dogs are often not food motivated. They had no idea how to deal with that. They would continually ask us to leave because we were a disruption. We literally got kicked out of every class! It was a dog training class, and he wasn't well behaved enough for it? I mean, they knew he was a Maltese when we signed up and paid the hefty price. If what you train is Labs then fine, say so and don't take my money. This is probably a great place to go if you have a lab or a big, food motivated dog, but if you have a small dog then don't waste your time and money. Look elsewhere. read more

Dodger's Paws - Hobi on a hike - Pet Training Near Me - Pleasanton, California

We just completed a puppy training (5-6 months old) with Katherin last month and I must say the skills we learned have been so helpful. The funny thing is, we have a little Shihtzu and most of the dogs training with her are the medium to larger dogs. As a first time dog parent, it was helpful to me to learn basic commands that are applicable to all size dogs. Of course there are more wilder, active dogs that Katherin was able to provide different tips/advice for all sizes. Good class and happy we did it. read more

Dodger's Paws - She graduated! Cute photo for all the puppies that finished the course - Pet Training Near Me - Pleasanton, California

My dog Misty highly recommends Dodger's Paws. We did the sampler class & each session was a good learning experience for myself and Misty. The instructors, Holly and Christine, are so sweet and super smart; they will make you and your doggie feel welcomed! Looking forward to taking more classes with Dodger's Paws in the future. read more

We got a new puppy in the fall and have been bringing her to Dodger's Paws for obedience/manners training over the past couple of months. Even with the precautions in place due to the pandemic, this business has gone out of their way to ensure that things are safe and clean and properly distanced. Holly went above and beyond to learn about our dog and give suggestions about what to work on at home outside of class. The class sizes were small and focused. The things we learned at class have made a HUGE difference in our dog's behavior and we are already signed up for our next session (these book up quickly!!) read more

Dodger's Paws - Pet Training Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Great puppy training Holly did a great job helping me train my puppy. Highly recommended to help you train your puppy.

I just started with the 1st class and it was amazing. Social distancing was strictly enforced. The area was very clean and well ventilated. Classes are small and Holly took the time to check in with all the puppies. Unfortunately my puppy has been feeling unwell and had to reschedule. Martha was very accommodating and understanding. She helped me reschedule and even gave suggestions on how I can help my puppy. Dodger's Paws is def a five star all around!!! read more

I highly recommend Dodger's Paws. They were responsive, courteous, and professional. I was set to start a training class but had to cancel due to a personal emergency. Through it all Martha was caring and considerate and I have no doubt that she exudes the same care with our beloved 4 legged friends. Thank you, Dodger's Paws. read more

Holly is the best! Tanq and I went through classes 1 & 2 and both were so worth it. A year later and Tanq still listens to all the commands learned in class. Most importantly is our recall. He decided to chase a bunny last night and without "touch" I don't know what would've happened. Do what's best for you and your dog and take these classes. Thank you again! read more

3 or 4 classes in to family dog training and it is going great. My whole family is on the same page now and my dogs really appreciate it.

I have completed a significant amount of classes at Dodgers Paws and have had a wonderful experience in every class. I started with taking my dog Odin to Puppy 1 and Puppy 2 which created a solid foundation for my dogs training. From there we moved onto continued Obedience which strengthened and built upon the basics learned in Puppy 1&2. We really enjoyed having Holly for both Puppy 1 and Continued Obedience as she could see the progress my pup had been making. We attended the Recall class which was taught by Shane. We also took the Summer School class with Rochelle and I found that class to be great as there were only 2 other dogs in the class so we got to work on specific things our dogs needed. We have also completed the two Nose work courses and have done two rounds of Rally with Dawn and are continuing with Nose work and trying Fenzi Team this upcoming August, in addition to Parkour in November. Dodger's Paw has been an excellent tool for the continued training of my dog. All of the trainers we have had (Holly, Shane, Mena, Dawn, and Rochelle) have been fun, professional, and chalk full of information. I will definitely be continuing with my dogs training at Dodgers Paws. read more

Remy has been going to Christine's classes since he was 9 weeks old back when it was still the Dog School. Now, we've followed her to Dodger's Paws a few doors down and he is currently enrolled in the Canine Good Citizen test prep. How time flies! We love the positive reinforcement methods and the group class format really helps with his socialization. He enjoys attending class there and goes into "working" mode because he knows that treats are incoming. While class is in session, Christine gets everyone involved in the exercises so that other dogs act as distractions while one dog is practicing his stays and heels. Unlike other doggy group lessons, you aren't sitting around and waiting for your turn and the dogs are always engaged. Remy comes home exhausted after the hour from all that mental stimulation! Beyond the puppy and adult obedience series, my pup has also enjoyed the tricks class and introduction to Treibball - something that all working dogs should try! Dodger's Paws offers a variety of other speciality and sports classes with different trainers (nosework, agility, conformation training, etc), which I hope we will be able to attend in the future. Remy absolutely loves Christine (and not just because she smells like treats all the time) so we'll definitely be continuing to further his "education" here! read more

We just completed Puppy Training Level 1 and it was awesome. The training program has been carefully thought out and is centered around a puppy's point of view. It isn't harsh or simplistic but instead trains YOU and your puppy using appropriate behavior rather than just 'commands'. Our trainer, Mena, was amazing. He clearly knows he is training both the people and the dog. He notices the body language and behavior of both and can patiently suggest changes that gets the right behavior. Our dog has an 'avoidance' behavior and gets easily overwhelmed, Mena gave us suggestions on giving our puppy an 'out' from an overwhelming contact by having the stranger throw a treat a short space away from themselves and our puppy so he can learn he can break the contact himself and not feel cornered. A great help. The classes build from simple behavior to more complicated. We learned how to make the 'lessons' fun, what treats work, what to look for..I could go on and on. The best combo was to also go to a couple puppy socialization sessions too. The young puppies NEED to socialize. Our timid guy made great strides in his confidence with other dogs and it wore him out so we had some quiet time later that day! Naturally we've signed up for puppy level 2 and I plan on continuing with more training. I know from past experience (this is our 4th dog) that the more your dog can be trusted to come when called, to walk easily, to interact with strangers..the more you can DO with your dog. We plan on going camping, traveling, playing with young grandkids so this training is crucial...and really, really fun. BTW, my only change is I plan on taking videos during class while my husband goes through the actual lesson. There is so much good info that I want to capture more of the nuances so we can look at it later. Really, after one hour my brain is full! read more

Dodgers Paws is the best! Christine is wonderful. I keep going back because she teaches me so much about how to train, guide and read my dogs. Christine is always so nice, funny, accommodating and insightful. Love Holly and Martha too. Classes are with others that love their dogs too so that makes it even better. It really is a great place! read more

Dodgers Paws truly cares about dogs and wants them to succeed! We took our rescue dog here to train and socialize him properly. He wasn't a great fit for a group class. Dodgers Paws not only realized this but referred us to one on one trainers to for us to get the help we needed. They were so understanding, helpful, and all around lovely to work with. I wish my dog was able to do more classes just so I could give them more business. read more

Christine is super knowledgable, friendly, and truly loves dogs. I've enjoyed every experience I've had. I bought a puppy for my parents in September, and low and behold, he would not go potty outside (for at least a month). I called her to have her come help my parents in their house, and she adjusted the way they were handling him and he started to change almost immediately. I then signed the puppy up for puppy classes, which were a HUGE help. He is a good boy, but just never listened when you gave him an order. He started listening and learning his tricks about midway through, and it's been great ever since. I'm definitely signing him up for the second class. Thanks, Christine! I'm suggesting you to all my puppy friends! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Dodger's Paws. I just moved to Livermore from Atlanta, and really wanted to start working on getting my puppy trained and socialized, especially since she is a "teenager" now. Christine is knowledgeable, pleasant, and fantastic to work with. She is patient with every dog she works with and gives advice that all dog owners can use, even if she is talking to one owner about their specific problem. Classes are fun and fast-paced, and my pup is good and tired at the end of each class. I also love the selection of classes, if you want to go past basic obedience to get into the show ring, learn nose work, do agility, whatever, there is a class that will fit your needs. Also, I love that they have "teen socials" for puppies over five months. These pups also need socialization, and Mena (who is also awesome) goes through normal dog interaction behaviors and gives great advice on things like how to introduce your pup to new dogs, what to look for if you think your puppy is getting overwhelmed/being overwhelming in dog-dog interactions, how to get your dog to calm down if they get too excited around new people and situations, etc. read more

Wonderful, wonderful classes. Christine is one of the BEST trainers I have ever come across. My 10 month old puppy is the best behaved dog wherever we go. I've taken two of her classes, and am taking my third in March. Even though I have only taken group classes, Christine somehow manages to talk to each of us one on one, helping us with individual issues. I credit a lot of our success to practicing every day and listening to what she says. My dog loves her, and we are looking forward to our third class together. read more

Dodger's paws has started puppy daycare! My pup Buttons has been going for a week now. It's great! I get reports on how my puppy has done every day. The play is supervised and my pup gets introduced to the other puppies at her own pace. As someone who does rescue I see the results of under socialized dogs during the critical period of 8-20 weeks. Their is a incredible need for a service like this. read more

Great puppy training class! 100% positive with great demos with all types of dogs (small and shy to large and excited). Small class size, clean facility and super instructor Mena! read more

Dodgers Paws is an outstanding dog school! We took our 4 month old puppy to the school for the Level 1 training and were amazed at how well Christine worked with the puppies and owners. It was like magic at first watching Christine work with the puppies, getting them to sit, stay, etc. But after following her guidance and thorough weekly worksheets, it was surprisingly easy to replicate her training. The puppies love the playtime at the beginning and end of each class, which provides the very important socialization skills. We are planning on moving on to the next Level 2 training, and any other courses she offers. Amazing results! read more

Just completed Puppy Training 1 with Christine and it was great. Puppies get to play and we learned some great basic commands. Homework and reference are provided and Christine gave us great answers and help to all our first puppy concerns! Can't wait to go back for Puppy Manners. read more

Christine is fantastic! I have attended her treibball class with more than one of my dogs and loved it. She is clear, knowledgeable and attentive to her students. I highly recommend her! read more

Both I and my dog LOVE LOVE LOVE Dodger's Paws classes. The instructors are awesomely creative and very knowledgable! The variety of classes makes for a fun and interesting learning experience for both of us. read more

Christine is an amazing dog trainer. She really focuses on your goals and is great at helping dogs build confidence and skills. I feel really proud of my dog because of Christine's help. She uses positive methods only and works on helping dogs shape their behavior in really fun ways. My dog actually asks me to set up training activities for her. read more

Dodger's Paws is the best dog training school I have ever taken my dogs to in the East Bay!!! We have just completed our second puppy class and will be starting Canine Confidence class this Sunday. Christine is an amazing trainer and I love all the positive reinforcement she incorporates in her classes to get the desired behavior from your puppy! We adopted Clark from VHS and he had a rough start. He had to have surgery and was very behind other puppy's in development and socialization. Christine was so patient with Clark and he has come a very long way!! I am so grateful to my vet, Dr Marianna Juergens for highly recommending Dodger's Paws to us!!! They offer such an amazing variety of classes and exceptional trainers!!! Thank you Christine for all you do for our four legged friends!!! read more

We love Dodger's Paw! Christine is an excellent dog trainer. She is very knowledgeable and approachable. She answered all our questions and offered insight to issues we were having at home. We took our timid 4 month black lab to Puppy 1 and by the end of the 6 weeks he was playing with every dog in the class (and every dog we've ever met) and was able to sit, come, lay down, and stay! We have signed up for the Holiday Manners class and we cant wait! If you're looking for a trainer for your pup look no further!! read more

Dodger's Paws and Christine are unbelievable. She actually loves the dogs and it shows in her class. My son and I brought our 6 month old German Shorthaired pointer Otto for the puppy 2 classes. When Otto first entered his hair stood up high on his back. He was scared and not sure what to do when other dogs started barking. Christine realized he was stressing and found a spot for him to relax. She placed a gate between him and another dog and later added a blanket to give Otto his space. He was unable to sit and stay for longer than a few seconds the first class but with practice he began to show great improvement. By the second class Otto walked in like he owned the place. We are very happy with his progress following his Graduation and look forward to more classes with Christine at Dodger Paws. Dirk and Chase Christensen and our dog Otto Von Fleck want to thank you again Christine. read more

I spoke to Christine one time over Christmas, she spent 15 minutes on the phone with me. In that 15 minutes she told me exactly what to do to keep our little Molly from going potty in the house now that her backyard has been taken from her because of landscaping renovations. Her only option is out in front of our house and she cannot wander around because it is not fenced or gated. She told us to keep Molly with us in the house at all times even if we had to put her on the leash for least for two weeks. If by then we didn't see any accidents then she would probably be good to go. We kept our eyes on Molly at all times and if she couldn't be supervised for any period of time she would go in her gated play area. Molly has had one accident inside the house since our phone call. Christine was just wonderful and forthcoming and spent a good amount of time with me and gave me free advice. I am now looking into her classes so we can continue great behavior. Thank you Christine! read more