We the Dawg Mother! And our dog does too - she'll fully abandon us when we go to drop her off!…read moreFrancesca is always super on point and so sweet with all of her pups, has excellent communication skills, and is a great pack leader. She is able to be attentive to dogs on an individual level and as a group - she showers us with vids and pics of our pup when we're away so we can stay updated. It's so cute to see our dog on her own mini vacation! She's also wonderful at handling changing dietary needs or medication for our pup - I cannot recommend her enough. We always feel safe and our dog feels thrilled. Five stars!

Francesca has been an absolute godsend for us, and I can't recommend her enough. We have hired her…read moreseveral times to take care of our kitties and she has been joyful, trustworthy, communicative and patient. We loved meeting her in person, and I feel so comfortable and confident when i travel knowing she is back at home, making sure my babies are well taken care of.

I'm so pleased to be able to update this review from 2010. How time flies!…read more Our dear Penny whom Shasta helped us with back then passed away in 2015. We started working with Shasta again in 2017 when we got our new pup, a border collie rescue. He came to us emaciated and poorly socialized, needing love and positive experiences to bring him out of his shell. Shasta gave us much-needed training advice, and from there her staff started walking Hugo on group walks, which he's done once a week since 2018. He enjoys these walks so much; they provide wonderful socialization experiences. All the treats and training in the world can get a dog so far, but a strong adult with a great pack really helps with confidence-building and calm. Hugo walks with Toni, who send us pictures of him each week with his crew. I can tell that Hugo is happy with Toni and his pack: as we release him to the car (to maintain social distancing), our pup who usually does not like to leave my side will happy run down the stairs to greet him and hop in the car! Shasta also runs Puptown for boarding. We've only needed this service once, but having been in there and knowing Shasta for so many years, I know that this would be a great resource as well. It has been a pleasure seeing Shasta grow this business for over a decade, and watch it continue to provide the same excellent service it did in the beginning. If you need training support, especially with difficult dogs, a weekly walking group, or more, Bow Wow is a great choice. Review from 2010 I love Shasta. She has walked our dog for well over a year. She been amazing. We have worked with four dog walking companies, and Shasta is a cut above. As a handler, Shasta knows dogs and dog behavior. We switched to her when we were having some behavioral problems with our dog at home, especially after walks. Shasta worked closely with Penny and we've seen huge improvements in her behavior. Last year our dog needed surgery; Shasta worked with us on her rehab, and continues to be conservative with her play to ensure that she stays strong. As a business person, Shasta has been great. She handled our initial interview, paperwork, and invoicing professionally. We LOVE her daily dog walk "reports"--these little report cards let us know how our dog was feeling, what she did, and (sorry for the detail) even if and how she pooped! Who could ask for more? Our dog loves Shasta, responds well to her, and behaves well at home after a walk with her. That's what matters most.

This crew... where do I start? Shasta and her team have been walking our dogs since they were…read moremonths old. Now they're in their twilight years, we still feel the same. They are a wonderful team that treats these dogs like their furry children. Shasta and her team have been awesome, helping to transform these loving, high energy dogs to obedient and happily exercised ones. One of our dogs is socially awkward -- he's gotten kicked out of almost every doggy day care in the East Bay. o_O The off-leash hikes are must haves for them and our backyard - you should've seen what these two did before we hired Bow Wow Ventures! They're worth every penny. I'm not kidding when I say our dogs love them. When they hear the truck coming, they're raring to go. And they're the only ones we call when we need to board them. I cannot recommend them enough.

Fabi is one of THEE best trainers in The Bay. She is super accommodating with your schedule, my…read moreBelgian Malinois LOVES her so much and loves the training work Fabi does with her. Every time I get her back from doggy daycare or from long weekend boarding she comes back with a great demeanor and in great spirits. I also love all the videos and photos I get while I'm gone. Constant updates and communication is incredible and I know Luna is in amazing hands while in traveling. If she can handle multiple Malinois at the same time, you know she's a dog whisperer.

Leaving my dogs behind when I travel used to give me so much anxiety. Durk and Simba are my babies,…read moreand the thought of them being somewhere unfamiliar always made it hard to enjoy my time away. That all changed when I found Fabiola. From the very first visit, I could tell Fabiola genuinely loves what she does. She treats Durk and Simba like they're her own. She takes the time to get to know their personalities, makes sure they feel comfortable, and gives them the love and attention they're used to at home. What truly sets Fabiola apart is her constant communication and care. While I'm away, she sends me updates and pictures of my boys having fun, playing, and training--it seriously brings me so much peace. Knowing they're not just being "watched" but actually thriving in her care makes all the difference. Durk and Simba get to socialize with other dogs, which they love, and Fabiola makes sure they're engaged, active, and mentally stimulated throughout their stay. She continues their training while they're with her, and it shows when they come home--they're happy, calm, and well-behaved. Fabiola doesn't just board dogs. She creates a safe, fun, and loving environment where dogs feel like they're part of her family. I'm so incredibly grateful for her. Thanks to her, I can travel with peace of mind knowing my fur babies are in the best hands possible. If you're looking for someone who will love and care for your dogs like you do, Fabiola is the one. I can't recommend her enough.

Lyla of Dang Dawg is the best daily dog walker ever! She handles our "spirited" doberman Daisy with…read moreease and gentle compassion. We have had a few dog walkers over the years and Lyla is tops. She's responsive, caring and reliable. In addition to regular dog walks, she is available to dog sit or do drop-in visits whenever we're out of town. It's so nice to have peace of mind knowing that Daisy is in such capable hands. Thank you Lyla, we're so very lucky to have found you!

Lyla of Dang Dawg is incredible. My wife and I have a 9 year old chihuahua who is very barky and…read morefinicky about humans and Lyla totally welcomed her to the group and now our pup absolutely loves her pack walks! Lyla came over and spent time with us and our pup before the first walk and we could really feel how great she is with pups. Our dog looks so visibly happy on walk days now, we are so super grateful to Dang Dawg!

To say that working with Victoria has significantly changed our lives for the better would not be…read morean overstatement. Our pup Pluto started walks with Victoria at about 18 months. He is a sweet, high energy dog but with his energy levels, he can be a lot. He also has a lot of anxieties and in particular has anxiety around people touching his neck, which can make it hard for people he doesn't know well to take his leash on and off. And he struggled with this and the busy environment of a daycare. As soon as Pluto started walks with Victoria, she was extremely patient and he took to her immediately. The leash issue only took a couple walks to get over, and he is ecstatic with his walks and pack. He goes on walks multiple days a week when we are at the office all day, and it is such a relief knowing that he is in a safe environment getting his energy out with his friends. Victoria is fantastic. She truly loves her pups and sends pics every time they go out on a walk. She also is extremely reliable and they go out every walk rain or shine. She also approaches everything in partnership. Instead of presenting anything that comes up as a problem, she presents them as an opportunity to work together and find a solution. We feel so fortunate to have met and work with Victoria.

Victoria is amazing! She takes good care of the pups And they always come home tired. She is…read moredependable and we like her very much. Highly recommend!

This review is on the owner Tania. I've never taken a…read moreclass. My Pup Senta! (IG Senta_the_weimaraner) was booked for a photo shoot for Norton Life Lock. The shoot required a professional Handler and expert on set for Senta's protection and well being. Senta! and I were paired by and amazing photographer Michelle Russ from Hilarious Hounds who booked Senta!. I met Tania and was impressed. Her professionalism, thoughtfulness and attention to Senta's well being was above reproach. Senta! took to Tania immediately. Tania's constant attention to detail, not only to the shoot schedule but Senta's interactions with the other "talent" was on point. Tania's care to explain to others on set how to approach, interact and proper human to service Dog interaction kept Senta! overly chill and settled through the entire process ensuring maximum return for the client. I can highly recommend Tania for your needs too. Please note Senta! is very well trained but that being said the over stimulation of a photo shoot/Comercial environment is daunting even to the seasoned professional let alone an animal. Feel free to reach out to me if you'd need additional information. Please see attached photos.

Tania is nice however, given the fact that I paid almost $200 for an initial consultation I do not…read morefeel as though I received any real guidance or clarity on the issues I am having with my dog. Most of what she shared was no different from what you can find with a quick google search on the internet.

I'm so happy I found Merika and the Citi Hikes team for over 4 years by now - she is a great…read morecarrier and I know I can rely on Merika always to give the care with love . Timely informing updates , plus keeping my place clean! Merika is also taking cool pictures of my cat (one is attached I recommend Citi Hikes to take a reliable personal care of your pet

Super responsive and attentive to our pets needs. Highly recommend! Merika and the team are very…read moreknowledgeable and deeply care about our pets needs. The only people we trust when we're away on vacation.

We worked with our dog trainer, Fiona for about three months, and the experience genuinely…read moretransformed our relationship with our puppy Chulo. When we first started we didn't fully understand his behaviors, his needs, or how to communicate with him in a positive and effective way. Fiona patiently guided us through everything from basic training to deeper behavior work. We learned so much more than we expected. She taught us important safety skills for our children and our puppy and helped us understand Chulo's Cane Corso Shepherd temperament. Fiona showed us how to actually read his cues instead of guessing. We learned how to teach him to relax on a mat, muzzle train, and practice "look at that," checking in with us, and socialization picnics. One of the biggest things was teaching him to spit things out instead of swallowing everything, which used to send us to the ER. It honestly felt like gentle parenting but for our puppy. Fiona also helped us teach Chulo not to jump, not to pull on the leash, how to stay off the couch, and how to use positive reinforcement to shape the behaviors we wanted. Now we can sit at coffee shops while Chulo relaxes calmly on his mat. This is something we never imagined our puppy could do. We even learned two types of recall, a casual one and an urgent one. Before training, we didn't even want Chulo inside the house because we felt overwhelmed. After learning how to manage him and understanding his communication, he's now inside with us every day and doing amazing. He no longer bolts out the gate when we open it, listens well, and overall is a completely different dog because Fiona taught us how to support him. We're so grateful for Fiona's patience, knowledge, and all the practical tips and tools she gave us. She helped us better understand our dog and gave us the confidence to guide him. Truly an incredible trainer. We can't wait for after the holidays to book more lesson as Chulito approaches his teen era.

Working with Fiona and It's Not Magic Dog Training has been a worthwhile investment for our entire…read morefamily. Fiona is experienced and well-educated in dog behavior and psychology, and she ensures that both you and your dog are on the same page with positive reinforcement. She works with you as much as your doggie, and the entire process becomes a group effort. She is patient and compassionate and energetic, and I cannot recommend her enough!  Our puppy Stripe responded so well to her, and he loved it when she came over to work with all of us. Fiona was professional and punctual too, and she kept communication open. Her practice sheets after each session were personalized to what we worked on each week with Stripe, and I used those sheets frequently to refer back to our training. Please invest in Fiona and your dog and yourself!