Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Dog Over Breed

    4.6 (53 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Services - Dog Over Breed

    Dog boarding and training

    Private dog training

    Puppy socialization classes

    Dog Over Breed Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Dog Over Breed

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Jason H.

    Wow these guys did such a nice job grooming my 3 yr old golden retriever mix. He was shedding a lot and needed a good brush out. He also had a patch my vet shaved from a bad grooming elsewhere. They were able to blend his coat and thin out the bulk around his tail. Smells great too without any heavy perfumes. Check this place out!

    I cannot recommend Dog Over Breed highly enough. Mo and Vic are a Godsend. By the time I reached out to them, I was convinced I would never be able to vacation or have strangers into my house. Let me start at the beginning. My daughter talked me into adopting a pandemic puppy. When we rescued our Rookie, he was only about 8 weeks old. This was our first ever puppy. We were given a lot of bad advice in the beginning. We were told only to bring him to the vet and not introduce him to any other dogs until he was fully vaccinated. Due to COVID, when we went to the vet, we were not allowed to enter. They would come to the car and get him and then return him. When I took him back to the vet for his last round of shots, he started freaking out. He was terrified. He was so scared, they actually had me walk him in. Shortly after this, I took Rookie to his first puppy social. He was scared and acting in an aggressive manner. The trainer told me that he was suffering from fear aggression and due to his age, he missed his biologically opportunity to be socialized. She suggested finding a good trainer ASAP. I found a trainer and she helped me with socialization and basic obedience. This was helpful, but Rookie was often times taken away from the pack because they had too many dogs to work with mine. During this time I also struggled having people in my home because Rookie wasn't comfortable with this. By this point, Rookie was 80lbs. He is a Shepard/pit mix and can be very intimidating when he is barking. Due to some issues at the vet, I ended up switching vets. When I requested Rookie's records, it appears there was an incident at the vet that triggered his fear and nervousness. After reading his vet report, along with all the negative reinforcement I had received from several trainers, I was afraid of what my dog would do. I was not afraid at home, when it was just us, but definitely did not want to bring him around people. I was not willing to give up on Rookie. If I had surrendered him, he would have been put down. I resided myself to the fact that for the next decade, I would be tied to my house with my sweet, scary looking dog. After a few months, I really needed a vacation. This is when I started to research trainers and boarding that work specifically with more challenging breeds. Dog Over Breed came up in my research. Based on the reviews, I decided to give them a call. Mo answered my call. He asked me what I was looking for. Instead of answering his question, I started to explain Rookie's story and he immediately stopped me. He asked if he could meet Rookie and form his own opinion. He said he did not want to know anyone else's opinion before he met Rookie. We made an appointment to meet up. We met in the parking lot of his place. When I got there, Rookie was going ballistic. There were all kinds of people walking by and Rookie was not comfortable. Mo stood back and just ignored Rookie. We chatted a bit as Mo stepped closer and closer to me. Rookie was calm as Mo never acknowledged him. Mo put his hand out for the leash and I freaked out a little, but I handed over the leash. Mo walked away with Rookie. He gave Rookie all the basic commands and Rookie listened. At this point Vic arrived. Rookie was a little bothered at first but quickly calmed down. Mo and Vic both said Rookie was a good, well-trained dog. They said he was not vicious, but he was nervous. They said my fear was a large part of the problem. I completely agreed with them. It was then that my training and Rookie's socialization began. We have been going to Dog over Breed for about 10 months. We do daycare and overnight boarding. In that time, Rookie has become more comfortable around other dogs and people. We can now have company over and I have been to Hawaii twice. Mo and Vic have taught me so much. The most important lesson they have taught me is that Rookie will never be a mellow, easygoing dog. He is who he is and that is okay. It is okay to not bring him around everyone that comes into my house. It is okay if he is uncomfortable to put him in his crate. It is okay to trust myself with Rookie. Dog Over Breed gave me back my life. Mo and Vic and Chris are phenomenal with Rookie. They are good and what they do and I feel fortunate to have found them.

    Henry E.

    Mo, Vic and Chris are GREAT! My family and I have a 18 month old Rottweiler (Nala). We found Dog Over Breed because boarding places in Antioch and Brentwood where we live were scared by the breed. I talked with Mo over the phone. We arranged a pre-board meeting so that he could meet Nala. They hit it off immediately. Dog Over Breed is the only place we feel comfortable boarding Nala. Mo, Vic and Chris recognize that there is no such thing as a bad dog, just uninformed owners. They are good with dogs, GREAT trainers and even better people.

    Before

    I am SO lucky to have found Dog Over Breed! My dog Bean (5 years) is a ball full of energy. I've tried boarding at places like Wag Hotels before but they often put her in a room by herself because she had "too much energy" and they either didn't have the time or staffing to watch her. Dog Over Breed is a completely different experience. Bean gets to hang out with a bunch of dog friends ALL DAY and she enjoys every second of it. Because of all the dogs there she's always able to find another high energy dog friend to play with and they keep each other busy, and I even get lots of videos of her playing around! I never like leaving Bean when I travel, but now I can do it guilt free because I know she's having the time of her life while I'm gone. Sometimes she even seems more sad than happy to return home If you have a very social high energy dog look no further! This is the place to go. The owners know how to instill great behaviors in the dogs and make sure that they are properly exercised and engaged throughout the day.

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 4

    4 months ago

    Highly recommended! Very knowledgeable and caring about dogs. They've done great things with our pups over the years.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lisa R.
    14
    41
    27

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 5
    Love this 2
    Oh no 8

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara S.
    152
    17
    3

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eden G.
    130
    11
    5

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Chris E.
    302
    15
    64

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S G.
    0
    30
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sean C.
    216
    30
    1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike N.
    58
    60
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 6

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Luz T.
    1
    76
    16

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Dog Over Breed

    Review Highlights - Dog Over Breed

    I called Mohit at Dog Over Breed to help me and give me tips on walking my very large, very strong black lab.

    Mentioned in 14 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Great Pups Dog Training - Off Leash Dog Training

    Great Pups Dog Training

    (26 reviews)

    We highly recommend Jayne, she is a very experienced dog trainer. Very flexible with scheduling…read more Also very responsive over text.

    Disappointing experience -- not what I paid $2,000 for…read more I hired this trainer specifically to work on my dog's reactivity toward other dogs and her difficulty socializing. This was the main reason I was looking for a professional trainer, and I discussed this during our initial consultation. I paid $2,000 for an unlimited-session package. At the time, I was a nursing student working part-time, so I was grateful that she offered a payment plan because $2,000 was a significant amount of money for me. The first couple of sessions were in my home, which I understood because I assumed she wanted to meet my dog and get a better understanding of her behavior. However, the sessions were only around 30 minutes. Around the 4th or 5th session, she had me drive to a park in Oakland to meet her, which was already a considerable drive for me. She brought her own dog so we could finally work on my dog's reactivity around another dog. After she brought her dog to meet mine, the experience and sessions changed significantly. The interaction was very short--around 10-15 minutes--and the session ended shortly afterward. From my perspective, it seemed like she was not comfortable or confident handling my dog's reactivity once she actually experienced it firsthand. I reached out afterward because I wanted clarification about whether she was actually equipped to work with my dog's reactivity. She told me that she only taught manners in the home. That was extremely frustrating because dog reactivity was the primary reason I hired her in the first place. I explained what I needed during our consultation, and I would not have paid $2,000 for an unlimited package if I had understood that working on dog reactivity was outside the scope of what she provided. I ultimately requested a refund because I felt that the service I received did not match what I understood I was paying for. She told me that reactivity training (behavior modification) was not included in the contract. my concern is that this was specifically discussed during our consultation before I committed to the package. I was a student working part-time when I hired her, and $2,000 was a significant investment for me. I trusted that I was paying for help with the exact behavioral issue I had explained from the beginning. I'm sharing my experience so other dog owners--especially those with reactive dogs--can make sure they get very clear, written confirmation that dog reactivity training is specifically included in the services before committing to an expensive training package.

    Bark Busters Home Dog Training - Walnut Creek Concord Pleasanton

    Bark Busters Home Dog Training - Walnut Creek Concord Pleasanton

    (70 reviews)

    I cannot say enough about Dan and his skills as a dog (and dog parent) trainer! I adopted my dog,…read moreDoug, from a golden retriever rescue in March 2026, believing he was a golden retriever mix. From the very beginning, Dan gently pointed out that Doug might have more cattle dog in him, based on his markings and behavior. When the DNA test confirmed Dan was right, it gave me a whole new understanding of my sweet boy. Doug turned out to be a beautiful mix of cattle dog and other herding breeds, and that insight has made such a difference in helping me understand him better. Dan has been incredibly patient--not only with Doug, but with me too--as I've learned to recognize Doug's triggers, better understand his behavior, and figure out how to help him thrive. Dan's experience with stray and rescue dogs is extremely valuable. Doug is such a sweet dog, about 2 years old, with plenty of puppy energy still in him. He's affectionate, eager for attention, and wonderfully responsive to training. Dan has helped me learn how to channel Doug's energy in positive ways and appreciate just how smart and spirited he really is. Doug keeps me on my toes, and Dan has reminded me that patience and consistency are some of the greatest gifts I can give him. After just three in-home sessions with Dan, I've already seen such encouraging progress. Doug is doing beautifully--he's a star at the dog park, walks nicely on leash, and has learned to respect the boundaries I've set around attention and behavior. Things like digging up the backyard and jumping into my face have stopped, which has been such a relief. Dan's guidance has made a meaningful difference, and staying consistent with the lessons has been key to Doug's success. Dan's availability by phone or text is a game-changer as I don't have to wait until our next scheduled visit to get guidance if new, unexpected and undesirable behavior arises between visits. Next week marks Doug's and my three-month anniversary together, which feels both exciting and emotional. We still have more to learn, but I'm so proud of how far we've come already. I'm grateful for Dan's support and look forward to continuing this journey--helping Doug grow into the very best boy I know he can be.

    Dan has been great to work with and our dog has become so much easier and more fun to be around…read more The barking at the dinner table has stopped. The leash pulling has stopped. We are enjoying him so much more. Dan has been clear, patient, helpful and easy to work with. A real game changer.

    PowerHouseK9

    PowerHouseK9

    (146 reviews)

    We had such a great experience working with Anthony! We have a Cane Corso puppy Jax and from the…read morevery beginning Anthony was knowledgeable and made training easy to understand. He took the time to explain not only what to do but why it works, which helped us feel much more confident continuing the training at home. We've already seen a huge improvement in Jax's behavior after Anthony's 3 week board and training program. He now heels and walks right next to us instead of constantly tugging on the leash, which has made walks so much more enjoyable. He's also much calmer, listens so much better, and is overall becoming a well behaved puppy. It's clear Anthony genuinely cares about the dogs he works with and wants both the puppy and the owner to succeed. We truly appreciate Anthony's help!

    Updating my review to say how incredibly happy I am with Powerhouse K9! My puppy is now 8 months…read moreold and has spent a total of 5 weeks here (3 weeks for board-and-train and 2 weeks for regular boarding). As a first-time puppy owner, I wasn't sure what to expect or if puppies just naturally outgrow certain behavioral issues. Either way, this is the only formal training she has ever had, and the results speak for themselves. She came back so incredibly well-behaved. And has reminded well behaved. When we go out in public, people always come up to see her because she's cute, but what they *constantly* comment on is how exceptionally well-behaved she is for an 8-month-old puppy. It is so validating to hear that from strangers! I love and fully agree with Anthony's methods and what he does here. If you want a well-behaved dog, Powerhouse K9 is the only place to go. Highly recommend! Full disclosure: I have a pure poodle and they are known to be smart. I brought her to PowerHouseK9 initially at 4.5 months, only weeks after adopting her so my reviews are specific to this. I cannot speak to any other situation or dog breed.

    Diablo Dog  - (Photo by Joey)

    Diablo Dog

    (97 reviews)

    Such a great company- always giving back to the community and the shelter animals…read more They have a great energy and compassion towards the dogs they work with. I first met them at an adoption event where they partnered with the Martinez animal shelter. They gave complimentary baths to all the shelter pups at the event. Even my foster pup- Susannah. They even put an adorable adopt me scarf on her and promoted her on their page I have been sharing their contact info with friends and neighbors

    I had a bad experience with my small senior (17.5yrs old) dog at Diablo Dog in Martinez this past…read moreFriday. I'm not here to bash a small business. I'm here to share what happened to me and possibly help someone else out there, not have it happen to them. After looking at their website and social media posts, I was impressed with what seemed to be a top notch establishment. I only groom my senior chihuahua mix occasionally and I wanted to make sure they would treat him with gentleness and care. It was easy to see when I got him back from his appointment, that didn't seem to happen. He went in for a trim. I chose a #7 blade, which I now know was far too short. It woukd have been appreciated if the groomer would have made a blade suggestion or mentioned that choice was very short, because I wasn't familiar with all that, but that's on me and not my complaint. My complaint is that the groomer hurt my dog. I didn't notice it at first when I picked him up because honestly it was so chaotic in that small space with two big dogs coming in for service, a bunch of big dogs in the back barking and guys yelling at the dogs to shut up, I just needed to get my very nervous and stressed little guy outta there. It wasn't until I got home that I noticed the cut around and under his neck. I was literally stunned. I've never seen anything like that before and my dog was still shaking. I scooped him up and headed to the emergency vet. He is now on antibiotics and doing better, but it was a rough weekend. Between me crying and feeling like a bad dog mom for handing him over to them and him throwing up all day Saturday, I was not in a good place. I needed to wait a few days before I could even do this review. I love small businesses and want to support them more than anything, but I have to say I would not recommend this business for grooming small or senior dogs. I have no experience with them in any other area and larger dogs might do well here, I don't know. But this is what happened to me and if it happened to me....you know the rest. It was a really hard day that day. Pictures speak louder than words. The last photo is Jazz a couple of weeks ago how he looked when I took him in, all the others are from Friday at home and in the lobby of the emergency vet after his groom. Please think twice before you go here with your small or senior dog.

    Gary Maria's Professional Dog Training - Sitting for the camera

    Gary Maria's Professional Dog Training

    (228 reviews)

    We took in a 5+ month old puppy from a challenging situation and needed help as the pup was…read morereactive, not socialized, and terrified of everything. Gary was just the right amount of direct but supportive. He taught us lessons that built upon themselves and after the full course, we now have the tools to help our pup live his best life. Totally worth it. Very flexible with schedule and good communication. Already our new family member has made huge strides. Thanks, Gary!!

    I reached out to Gary for help with my dog Peaches and her leash reactivity, and he was extremely…read moreprompt in responding. The initial consultation went very well, and I learned so much about dog communication and how to better support Peaches. I also learned that she is a highly anxious dog, which explained many of the challenges I had been concerned about. We enrolled in Gary's six-week program and finished with the tools and knowledge needed to keep Peaches on the right track toward recovery. Just like humans, dogs rehabilitate at their own pace, and over those six weeks Peaches made significant progress. We're looking forward to enrolling in advanced training once she's ready so she can enjoy more freedom off-leash. Gary is not like other trainers we've worked with. He doesn't rely on obedience-based shortcuts or gimmicks. Instead, he teaches you how to work through real situations and explains the theory behind his approach so you truly understand what's happening and how to handle stressful moments. Most importantly, Gary teaches you how to become the focal point for your dog, which has made a lasting difference for us.

    Bay Area Balanced Dog Training - Piper paying attention in a new location/environment

    Bay Area Balanced Dog Training

    (37 reviews)

    The long version: We…read moreadopted a very timid, quiet pup at the beginning of October who, once he'd settled in, turned into a smart, energetic, stubborn and barking pup. That wasn't an option as we live in an apartment with WFH neighbors and going potty means walks around town with lots of other dogs. Overwhelmed, I started googling and found so many 5* reviews for Meryl from Bay Area Balanced Dog training. After a very thorough phone consultation where she took the time to talk about her process/our options and answer our many questions/concerns (we were nervous/uninformed about ecollars), we opted to do a 4 week board and train with a few private lessons beforehand. It was more than I had budgeted, but I was upfront about that, and she worked with us on a payment plan leading up to his stay. The private lessons were so helpful, and I highly recommend doing that before your dog's stay. So much about his good behavior relied on me being a good handler. This practice was also like a bandaid before his training, seriously reducing my stress on our daily outings, and made the transition after his stay easy as I already knew the basics of how to ask him for what I expected in a way he understood/had learned with the trainer. The board and train itself was easy, though be aware there's some additional cost to supply all the tools pup will need during his training. That was rough for me at Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, she was happy to keep and train him during the holidays when we would be traveling anyway. Very convenient and saved me additional boarding bills. She provided lots of daily video and picture updates on Instagram which was nice/really lessened my guilt about leaving him with someone for four weeks. He came home the same happy, sweet dog we'd sent away, except now he can walk nicely on a leash without barking his head off at every animal he sees. She also worked on recall training which is such a relief for a high energy dog I just know would chase a bear on a hike as off leash skills are really important to me in a dog. We work daily on everything he's learned and he loves it so much. It's a lot of money for what was an average dog with average bad behaviors, but we really believe that starting your dog off on the right path with the best guidance is the way to ensure a healthy, happy, safe dog. We went on our first hike just a few days ago, and after all that practice, he got to experiment with being fully off leash. He listened to every command, every time, even when there were tempting birds. I want to have a dog that is as fully involved in my family's life as possible, and now that we both have these skills, I know with consistency and practice, that's what I'll get. Tldr: The board and train is expensive, but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend. It truly saved my sanity.

    I cannot recommend Bay Area Balanced Dog Training and Meryl enough!…read more In November of 2023 my husband and I adopted our adorable 3-year-old Pitbull-mix, Midnight, from our local shelter. Unfortunately, pretty much everything the shelter told us in regards to his behaviors/needs was incorrect. For example: he was over-aroused all day every day, had lots of destructive behaviors with our furniture/household items, did not respond to verbal commands/corrections, jumped on us and on top of tables/counters frequently, had zoomies where he would body slam us and progressively get more aggressive, tried to run full force after any dog/cat/squirrel/bird we saw on walks, tried to redirect bite me on walks and landed one of them (which broke my skin), frequently ate inedible things (like leaves and cat poop - yuck!) no matter how hard we tried to prevent him from doing so, and landed a bite that broke the skin on my husband's hand too when he was resource guarding a treat-stuffed toy. My husband and I have owned and trained pet dogs in the past, but Midnight's behaviors/needs were at a level that was way over our heads. After six weeks of trying to work with Midnight on our own, we were beside ourselves from trying to figure out how to safely meet his needs and began to fear that we may have to try to rehome him or bring him back to the shelter, which we desperately didn't want to do. So, I did some research and found Bay Area Balanced Dog Training's website. I reached out to Meryl and from our first phone conversation she put me at ease and began educating my husband and I about Midnight's behavior and needs. Midnight did a 4-week board and train program with Meryl, during which time she continued to educate my husband and I on how we could be the best owners possible for our energetic, willful pup. When Midnight came back home with us, he and we were finally speaking the same language and understood each other so much better, all because of Meryl's training. My household is peaceful again, Midnight is so much happier/content, and we have been able to bond with him in a much deeper way than we were able to before. Walks are a dream (he even ignores cats now!), my husband and I are doing a much better job of properly taking care of Midnight's activity/energy needs, and we feel certain since Meryl's training that we are a good fit for him and he is a good fit for us. Our little family is going to be just fine, due to the gift of Meryl's expertise and skill. Although things are going so well with Midnight, I still worried about who would take care of him if we have to go out of town and can't take him with us, due to his unique behavioral needs. Meryl boarded him for a week for us recently and Midnight had the best time! The little videos Meryl sent us of how he was doing erased any worries I still had in the back of my mind about him, and I felt so much relief knowing that Midnight was being cared for so well with so much love. Another time we needed to board Midnight was last-minute, and unfortunately Meryl was all booked up and didn't have space at that time. Meryl went above and beyond in suggesting another skilled trainer that she knows well that had space during the time we would be away - that boarding experience was great too, and Meryl was spot-on in regards to the other trainer being a great boarding fit for Midnight. Meryl has been an absolute blessing for Midnight, my husband and me. We look forward to taking more lessons from her in the future and feel lucky to have her support and expertise in our corner. Please, if you find yourselves in a situation even somewhat like ours, don't hesitate to reach out to Bay Area Balanced Dog Training - it'll be the best call you can make for you and your dog.

    Dog Over Breed - pet_training - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...