If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll let them do all the explaining. We can only comment on the doggy daycare portion of From the Heart because that's all we've used, but our dog comes home wiped from a day of playing every day. For $30 a day we get the knowledge that she gets good socialization and time with other dogs she wouldn't get at home alone with a few rover walks throughout the day. The staff is friendly and attentive and I just wish she had some more energy at the end of the day for a walk, but she's loving it so far! read more

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I took my dog elsewhere and she did great. She follows commands and her behavior has drastically improved. I believe Barb just didn't like me, which is odd because I never really interacted with her. read more

Best thing we could have ever done for our new puppy... this trainer is amazing and a true dog whisper.

Very impressed with their dog training and doggie daycare services! Very clean space. Staff are professional and truly care about the pets that come here. read more

Barbara teaches us humans how to relate to dogs so the dogs can relate better to us. Through Barbara, I learned to treat my dog as I would want to be treated. I highly recommend her. read more

Since adopting a rescue dog 1 1/2 years ago, we've participated in the intro and intermediate classes, fungility and small dog social, so we're quite familiar with From the Heart. Everything Barbara DeGroodt does is for the dogs' sake and it shows. She has the experience and expertise to offer creative solutions to help our dogs (and us) learn together. If you're looking for a positive approach to training that will bring out the best in your dog, call From the Heart. read more

This is a review for Barbara Degroot private training. Our rescue dog was and still is quite reactive to other dogs so we decided on the individual private training from Barbara since our vet recommended it. For $650 for 6 sessions here is my review. The good: She came into our home and met our pet. All the times and days we agreed on, she was very prompt and stayed the whole time. She explained what we can do to calm our dog down and how to not get her overly excited. She brought in tools we can utilize such as a head halter/gentle leader and a spray collar. The bad: It was difficult to get a hold of her to initiate the training. 90% of the training she just sat down in my kitchen explaining what I can do and telling me stories about other dogs - I feel I could have just been given a link for all this. She was forgetful of the tools she promised to bring, I had to continuously ask her. She said she had a training do g to introduce to our dog to try and get her be comfortable with it and she literally only used the training dog once for 5 min of one session. The whole training was just us talking instead of proactively training our dog. Our dog is still reactive to other dogs but she has calmed down on certain things like bicyclists/busses/ trucks but the one main thing we hired a trainer for was to help with the reactivity to other dogs. Overall, I give Barbara a 2-2.5/5. The things she talked about were useful and helped our pup but I was more shocked she wasn't very hands on for what we paid for. She's a nice lady, but I can't recommend her to privately train your dog if they are extremely reactive as mine since she'll just come to your house and tell stories :( that's $650 down the drain that we could have used for a more active and hands on trainer. read more

Barb Degroot is an amazing trainer. Her methods have worked very well with our pup. She even put in extra tile with him at daycare to get him used to a transitional leash so I could work with my pup at home to stop pulling on the leash while on walks. read more

When you first walk in, my first impression was WHAT GREAT KARMA! It's so big and clean. What a happy training area. The staff is super & caring. The hole room is matted & double gated for the dog's safety. To top it all off It has one of the most knowledgable, 38 yrs. experienced training director, BARBARA DeGROODT, who is also hot on behavior modification, which comes in handy when you are training.. All the training classes & seminars I have attended have been well organized & informative. There is a mini shop with UNBEATA BLE prices for toys,healthy treats, collars, leashes,supplies and frozen RAW & high quality dry food. During the weekdays, there is well supervised doggy day care. You can even have your buddy groomed during his stay. In the back, there ia a gigantic swim spa if tour K-9 needs hydro-physical therapy. There is ample parking, even for motor homes. This is a well kept secret for bay area K-9 events.& fund raisers. This is a must see for yourself. . .so stop in if you are int he area. read more

From the Heart is a great name for both the service and the guidance that we received from Barbara DeGroodt. After rescuing Axel, our new addition to our family, we were at a loss on how to resolve some major behavioral problems. With Babara's one-on-one training in our home, we are now on our way to better understanding how to resolve these problems and she has given us some great tools. Axel will still need continued training by us, but I know that From the Heart is the only place that I will go for this wonderful insight and support. I look forward to a continuing relationship with Barbara and her staff and I have already recommended her services to a neighbor with some of the same "rescue" problems. Thanks Barbara and Axel says thanks for the balls! read more

This is a very large dog training facility that also serves as a daycare. We took our dog here for puppy training classes. Our instructor, John, was outstanding. Barbara, the owner, is also very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. There are a variety of classes, private lessons, daycare, activity courses and much more. The facility is very well suited to dog training. I would highly recommend for anybody looking for a quality training facility. read more

FTH offers doggie daycare! That's what I came here for originally and as it turns out, they offer so much more! When we can we like to bring our dogs to fun-gility. Barb sets up an obstacle course for the dogs and everyone gets three runs through the course. No pressure and no experience necessary. Our dogs love it, too. I think it really gave them a confidence boost to tackle the obstacles. Unlike at the vet's office, the dogs can't wait to get inside! That should give you an idea of the atmosphere. Barb also offers a variety of classes to keep your dog stimulated like scent class and obedience. Of course, she also does consultations if you need something specific. Most people know Barb for her love of Rottweilers. Her dogs are well behaved and loving towards her. If you know anything about dogs, you know that they are honest about relationships. Her dogs love her. Our dogs ADORE her. You couldn't be in better hands. Take it from the dogs. read more

Barb DeGroot is unprofessional. It's that simple. When we called the facility to coordinate appointments the staff was incompetent and confused. When we got ahold of Barb DeGroot she scheduled a time to meet for an in-home consultation and missed her appointment multiple times. She finally made it to our house. She's knowledgeable, but her lack of follow up and follow through is extremely disappointing. She gave us hope that our dog with behavioral issues could be helped. She recommended we schedule private lessons and attend group lessons. When we called to schedule appointments she was never available. I left multiple messages and the last time I called she said, "Don't call me, I'll call you." And of course she never called. I feel like we got taken for an overly expensive in-home consult. I don't care that we spent so much money, I'm saddened that she offered us a promise of help and did not follow through. She may promote herself with having years of dog experience and awards on her website, but that was all in the distant past, it seems in recent years that she has stopped caring. read more

I love From the Heart, even more my dog loves From the Heart. Barbara has an amazing staff. My dog is a little shy with people but he absolutely loves everyone that works there. He can't wait to go to daycare. Those are his favorite days. Barbara's dog classes helped my young dog build a strong foundation in his training. I strongly recommend. read more

Showed up a few minutes late to the Small Dog Social that is held on Saturday afternoon. Barbara promptly kicked us out & gave us a lame excuse as to why our dog couldn't participate. I called the day before to confirm they were having the social & should have been told we needed to arrive early. I have never been treated to RUDELY. What a witch. read more

We have trained four dogs with Barbara DeGroodt at From the Heart. I can't imagine a better place to train your dog or a better trainer to work with. There's a reason she was selected as national Dog Trainer of the Year in 2011 -- she's simply the best. She understands dogs and how humans can build communication and trust with their dogs -- and that is the basis of good dog training. She has taught us so much and made us better dog owners. She really works hard to get at the nut of an issue and I've yet to see a problem she can't work through with a dog. Sometimes the humans don't want to hear what's necessary, but she's always straightforward and caring. I can't imagine taking my dogs anywhere else. She's just the best. If you work with Barbara, and you work it with your dog, you'll have a great do and a great resource in Barbara and From the Heart. read more

We started taking our dog to From the Heart three years ago for puppy obedience training. We had such a positive result, we continue to utilize their daycare feature on a regular basis. The staff is well- trained and professional. The owner Barbara was selected as Dog Trainer of the Year by the national kennel club last year (congratulations!), and she is certainly deserving of this recognition. We heartily recommend their services. Mark W. Salinas, Ca read more

Eight months ago, I adopted 60 pounds of bouncy, wild and untrained labrador named Buddy who proceded to eat my sofa, my laptop transformer and countless pairs of shoes. Then I brought him to "From The Heart" where he went to dog training and attends doggie day care. Three days a week, Buddy bounces joyfully into the big, airy, clean room to play with his friends. Ten hours later, he falls happy and tired into my car. He LOVES it. He's no longer wild and untrained, but bouncy and happy. Shoes and laptops are safe. Buddy and I are happy, thanks to Barbara and her great staff. read more

Love Love Love From the heart! My boxer puppy needed to socialize with other doggies, so I learned of this facility.. Me being a worried mom took Poma for his first visit to stay a few hours at the Doggy Daycare...First impression was awesome! Clean, big facility! Evaluating my dog was a comforting feeling, and watching over him as he entered the 'pack' made me feel very comfortable leaving him:)..He will be going back again, and I will sign him up for puppy classes as well! Its great knowing Salinas has this great facility! read more

Barbara and her staff are committed to teaching dog guardians and canines alike about how to live well and lovingly with each other. The classes are varied and excellent, the daycare a lifesaver, and the availability for behavioral consults and training (both for training us humans ANDour canines) clearly demonstrates their love and committment to the human/canine bond. Give them a call! ps. they are also one of the very few places where you can access water therapy for your canine, just a wonderful option for healing after surgeries or injuries, or just a good swim! read more

We've been taking our dogs for about a year. We have participated in the dog training classes ( Excellent - all about training the owner), doggie daycare, agility training, and animal rescue. Barbara DeGroot and her staff are knowledgable and wonderful. We have learned so much from them. Barb is also an animal behaviorist, so has provided much needed advice for us. The dogs love to go to daycare. The dogs have benefitted by learning to get along others - 2 & 4 legged. The staff are also involved w/ animal rescue. I highly recommend From the Heart. They are providing much needed services. read more

It is obvious that Barbara knows how to train dogs. My big problem is that she ALWAYS tells a story when you ask a question and usually I can't figure out how it relates to my immediate question. I walk away feeling like none of my questions have been answered so I have stopped asking them to save everyone time (and I am sick of hearing the same stories over and over). read more