We learned lots of great skills with our 4-week board and train program. Our dog walks very nicely…read moreon the leash now, greets people much more nicely without all the jumping and barking, ignores other dogs if there's enough space. Much better, she doesn't go bonkers at the sight of another dog. We're very pleased with the results and will continue working on our skills.

I hardly ever leave reviews, but I want to give hope to anyone who is struggling with their dog and…read morefeeling frustrated and helpless. The first year with my golden retriever, Luka, was extremely hard. He was a mouthy dog who had zero boundaries at home or outside. He would get excited or frustrated and grab/bite onto my shoes or clothes daily. Walking him became an impossible task because he was extremely dog-reactive, and he dragged me a couple of times while trying to chase another dog. Walking him also became a two-person job, with someone always on the lookout for other dogs so we could turn the other way. He also began to resource guard and snapped at my dad twice.. I had already spent thousands on another trainer and didn't have much success. I began to feel like this was just what life with Luka would be like forever. It got to the point where I felt scared of him, and the life I was giving him out of that fear wasn't fair to him. So I decided to try and get help one last time. I found Lori's page and after reading the reviews I became hopeful again. I took Luka in for an evaluation, and Lori recommended their board-and-train program. I can't thank Chelsea and Lori enough for everything they've done. I've learned so much about Luka, how to manage different situations, and how to better understand his behavior. We had training lessons throughout his board-and-train stay and afterward, because we are the ones who need most of the training! Chelsea did an amazing job with Luka. At home, Luka is unrecognizable in the best way. We can actually go on adventures outside without being terrified that we won't be able to handle him. Those who knew Luka before his stay and see him now always comment on how well he is doing. I cannot recommend Lori Hamilton's Dog training enough to anyone who feels like they've tried everything and is feeling discouraged. I am so thankful because it finally feels like Luka and I can start living life and enjoying everything around us.

Dawna is MAGIC!! We have worked with her for 20+ years with many different dogs. She is a…read morefantastic trainer with a true gift backed up with extensive knowledge. She is an expert at training us humans so that we can have beautifully behaved canine companions. I love the positive reinforcement (R+) training methods she employs. So grateful for her expertise to help us.

This review is long overdue. We adopted a 2yo pit bull in February 2020 from a shelter. Then, as…read moreyou know, Covid hit the very next month. Our boy had been found wondering the streets of SJ. With my wife and I, he was the Biggest love bug. So cute, and funny, and cuddly. But we can only imagine the terrible experiences he had endured. He had a scar atop his head and was very nervous around new people, which led to behavior like growling and snapping at times. His fear was only made worse by social distancing and not being around new people. Once Covid settled a bit we sought out a trainer for him. I'll never forget the first day Dawna came to the house. Our pup growled and was very displeased that this stranger was in his space, and worse, trying to interact with him. Dawna was not a bit deterred, which I was impressed by but I remained skeptical. Fast forward something like 2 weeks: Dawna interacted with him with ease on training days and he loved receiving love and pets from her. We couldn't believe it. Dawna taught us how to train him and he was able to meet all kinds of new people and doggy friends on our outings. We are forever grateful. We only had 2 years with him. Cancer. I knew I would get emotional writing this review, which is why it has taken so long. Dawna and Megan (from Dawna's other business, Canine Corral Dog Daycare) changed our lives. We will be forever thankful for them. I couldn't recommend Happy Tails To You enough.

5/5 Stars -- A true puppy genius and an absolute lifesaver!…read more If I could give Amelia Olson ten stars, I still don't think it would be enough. Navigating puppyhood can be an overwhelming journey, but working with Amelia has completely transformed the experience for us. From our very first session, she proved herself to be nothing short of a puppy whisperer. Amelia has been working with our little Maltipoo, Mercedeh, and the progress has been remarkable. What sets Amelia apart isn't just her deep knowledge of dog behavior and training techniques--it's her boundless patience, warmth, and genuine love for canine companions. She doesn't just train the dog; she lovingly guides and empowers the owners every step of the way. She has shown endless patience with all of our questions, always meeting us with encouragement, clear communication, and practical solutions tailored specifically to Mercedeh's personality. Mercedeh absolutely adores her, and we genuinely look forward to every single session on our calendar. You can feel how much Amelia truly cares about the animals she works with; her dedication, heart, and passion shine through in everything she does. I want to voice our deepest and most sincere gratitude to Amelia for all of her hard work, care, and commitment to our family. We will unquestionably continue to train with her, and we cannot recommend her highly enough to any pet parent looking for top-tier, compassionate, and effective training. Amelia is simply the best in the business!

We had 5 sessions with Amelia over the past year and working with her has been great. We never had…read moreformal training for my dog, Dash, prior to working with Amelia, and the only reason we wanted training for him was because he was struggling with separation anxiety. Amelia gave us really powerful tools to improve Dash's behavior, and overall and tips and tricks for how to get him more comfortable at home. Dash is a lot more attentive to my cues on walks and is a lot less reactive to dogs on walks. He was a well mannered dog to begin with, but is even better now. I really appreciated that Amelia was able to come to my home in San Jose to do the training. Even though Dash primarily lives with my parents in San Bruno, he still spends a fair amount of time in my home in San Jose and getting him trained in a familiar environment has seemed to be beneficial for him. We also went to the Campbell Farmer's Market and Santana Row to expose Dash to a lot of children/other dogs and all were really great outings for Dash. Thanks Amelia for your patience and guidance!

We've tried a few different daycare/boarding places and K9 keep fit ended up being the best fit for…read moreour dog! We rescued an energetic husky with body boundaries and questionable social skills and the k9 keep fit staff have demonstrated deep understanding and respect for our boy. Since he isn't a good fit for the large daycare setting (rough play, doesn't understand social cues, etc), the staff always ensure 1:1 staff playtime or try to pair him with another dog with similar play styles. Husker seems to love his time here and is always tired after we pick him up. I also love that the staff is very communicative and will send us pictures and video updates when we board him.

K9 Keep Fit is the BEST place to board your dog. There's no other place we would trust to take care…read moreof our husky. They go above and beyond to give our husky the best home possible while we're away. We love Renee and her crew! Highly recommend this place!

I contacted Steve and One Day Dog Training upon the suggestion by a close friend who had worked…read morewith him several times over the years. Lana, my 3 1/2 year-old lab mix, a foster fail that I took in as a 2 yr old, was getting bigger and stronger, jumps on anybody that comes in the door etc. She's a sweetheart, but I needed to be able to mange her energy and size My other two dogs are small and this is the biggest dog I've had. I knew going into this training that it was me that needed most of the training! Steve explained that I needed to learn how to communicate with my dogs, that they communicate differently. What an eye-opener! Everything he explained made sense and in just the few hours we spent together, Lana was already following the cues that Steve taught me. Consistency and repetition is key. We are just 2 weeks in and the process is going great! Steve was absolutely terrific to work with. Somehow, he makes the whole process easy and effortless. His follow up calls to check in are much appreciated and he's available for questions that might come up. I'm so glad I made the call and was able to work with Steve.

Steve is a miracle worker!!! I was at my wits end with my 2 1/2 year old Yorkshire terrier…read moreClementine. He was anxious, pulled on walks, barked, and was incredibly difficult. After just a few hours of training with Steve, Clementine is a new dog!!! He doesn't pull the leash on walks, doesn't bark when people come inside and most importantly he is calmer and less anxious. Steve is THE BEST dog trainer and I highly recommend him.

From "Cujo Junior" to "Polite Gentleman" -- Thanks to Mike! If you've ever adopted a 4-month-old…read moreSchnauzer who treats every living being like a personal insult, you know our pain. Our pup, Diego, didn't just bark; he acted like he was auditioning for a lead role in a horror movie. Walks? Impossible. Visitors? Forget about it. Even our long-time pet sitter--a woman who has survived literal wolves--couldn't go near him without fear. . Our first trainer took one look at him and basically told us we'd adopted a tiny, bearded landmine. She called him "one of the most reactive dogs she'd ever met" and gave us the kind of "good luck" that usually precedes a disaster movie. Enter Mike Hatjes from Bay Area Dog Training. We found Mike on Yelp, and honestly, we were just looking for a miracle. Mike is a unique breed himself: he's incredibly direct (no sugar-coating the fact that your dog thinks he's the CEO of Chaos) but also hilarious. He balances that "tell-it-like-it-is" energy with a sense of humor that kept us from losing our minds. The Transformation Timeline: * The Private Lesson Phase (8 Sessions): We went from "we can't leave the house" to "wait, is he actually sitting on command?" By the end of our eight private lessons, we were taking regular walks. My blood pressure dropped, and Diego actually started building confidence instead of seeing every mailbox as a mortal enemy. * The Group Lesson Phase (The Real Magic): If you told me six months ago my dog would be in a group with 10 other dogs, I would have assumed there'd be a SWAT team involved. But Mike's group lessons are shockingly amazing. Seeing my dog hold a "down" in a row of 10 dogs while each one weaves through the line? It's practically a glitch in the Matrix. The Verdict: Mike didn't just train our dog; he gave us our lives back. We can do family trips, have friends over, and walk down the street without looking like we're wrestling a caffeinated alligator. If you have a dog that makes other trainers cry, call Mike. He'll tell you the truth, make you laugh, and turn your "unbelievable" nightmare into a well-behaved companion.

When we first got our dog, a 4-year-old Jindo from Korea, he had a stubborn prey drive and would…read morepull on the leash hard enough to drag me to the ground. He was also very reactive to other people and dogs. Mike taught me to watch my dog for cues and to communicate with him. After 7 private lessons and two months of weekly group classes, my dog is now a well-behaved walking buddy (most of the time). Thanks, Mike!

I found A Canine Affinity from a recommendation in a Facebook group. I had recently adopted a dog…read morefrom the shelter and I suspected she had separation anxiety, so I was looking for someone that was specialized in it. The advice online is confusing and conflicting -- from keeping your dog in a crate or letting them free roam, giving them a kong toy before you leave to not giving them anything, etc. So I scheduled a consultation with A Canine Affinity to learn more about the trainings and determine if it was in fact separation anxiety, or just normal decompression from the shelter. Melissa was wonderful right from the beginning and was very thorough and explained everything very clearly. You can tell she has a passion for this area. I decided that it wasn't too early and it couldn't hurt to do the initial assessment and get some good foundation to try to nip the separation anxiety that she in fact was showing. Melissa built us a solid plan and gave great advice on things like how and where to get my dog situated before I leave, stress body language, desensitization trainings, etc. I'm excited to share that my dog, Birdie, can now be left alone for about 1 hour and she lays down on her bed that's right near the door I leave from while I'm away (although she is still very alert/has her eyes on the door). I even saw her on the camera lay her head down for about 30 seconds, which is such a small thing, but such a BIG WIN! It means Birdie is starting to get a little more comfortable alone. I find myself so proud of my dog and celebrating her small wins, which has been the most rewarding part of this training. Birdie does regress every once in a while, which I'm told is normal, so I am trying to take it one day and one week at a time. Birdie has made HUGE strides and is building confidence and comfort being alone. Just 5 months ago, she couldn't even be left alone for 30 seconds without pacing, howling, scratching at doors, and having accidents in the house. So thankful for Melissa and the wonderful foundation she set me up with. We'll continue with our trainings and hope Birdie continues to progress over the next few months, but if she doesn't, I won't hesitate to reach out to Melissa for some more trainings and guidance. Thank you Melissa, you are a lifesaver!

I am a veterinarian and worked with Melissa on my own dog, I would recommend her to anyone. She is…read morevery knowledgeable and very good at what she does. I love that she is truly an advocate and voice for pets. She has a lot of patience for both me and my dog - and that is definitely what we needed. My dog was very fearful and was scared of everything in the world. My dog would panic and freak out on her walks, afraid of strangers. Through private trainings and her "while you're away" day training - I saw my dog becoming more confident, and is enjoying her walks more and is not freaking out at every little thing. Melissa helped me understand dog behavior more, what my dog needs with a lot of positive reinforcement. She helped me set realistic expectation and taught me tools that is helpful in the long term.

My experience with Josh was great! Adopted my dog a few months ago, he felt anxiety and had…read moreboundary issues. Josh helped me understand about his situation and how to curb it. Would recommend him to anyone looking to get help understanding their dog.

I was really skeptical about hiring a dog behavioral therapist at first. Part of me just wanted to…read morebuy a training program or send my dog away for professional training so she'd come back "fixed" My French Bulldog, Mango who was 2 at the time, was super stubborn and reactive, and she suffered from pretty severe separation anxiety. She couldn't leave my side, cried the moment I walked away. It was overall super stressful. Josh helped me understand where that anxiety was truly coming from. Turns out, IT WAS ME! He encouraged me to create healthy boundaries with Mango and offered practical solutions, along with dietary supplements, to support her emotionally and physically. I had no idea that excess energy could actually contribute to anxiety in dogs! Josh suggested adjusting her meal plan, and that alone made a huge difference. He also gave me plenty of tips and tricks to help Mango naturally regulate her anxiety. And since his program includes lifetime training, he's continued to guide me whenever I have questions or notice old behaviors resurfacing. Josh reassured me that if I stayed consistent with the regimen he provided, Mango would be okay, and he was absolutely right. She's like a whole new dog now! At 4 years old She can stay home calmly without destroying furniture or becoming overly needy. I'm beyond grateful to Josh for his guidance and to his partner, Nicole, who helped me prepare for our first session. If you get a chance to talk to Nicole, let her know she's an absolute gem! so kind and caring, even behind the scenes!

Ive been working with Cali K9 for about 2 months now. Hamza is the man and a great trainer. Its…read morebeen nice seeing the improvements in my dog and im excited to see what the future brings with more classes! Highly recommend

We have been training with CaliK9 for the past few months and have been so incredibly impressed…read morewith our experience. Hamza is extremely knowledgeable and has such a great understanding of how to handle, communicate with, and build confidence in dogs. What we've appreciated most is that the training hasn't just been about Dakota -- Hamza has given us confidence too. We are learning how to communicate with her more effectively and how to create an environment that encourages learning, growth, structure, and success. Dakota continues to improve every day, and it has been so rewarding watching her confidence and skills grow. We are truly grateful we found CaliK9 and Hamza! I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for knowledgeable, effective, and supportive dog training. And the Turbo Treats are an added bonus! Dakota goes absolutely CRAZY for the chicken hearts! Thank you, CaliK9, for helping all of us become a better team!

I genuinely had to leave a review for Sarah and Rylie (i think that's how it's spelled) because…read morethey were genuinely so kind to me today. I brought in a tiny kitten I found that was absolutely covered in fleas, and I was honestly overwhelmed, but they immediately jumped in to help without hesitation. They helped me bathe the kitten, brought me supplies and tools, gave the baby treats, and even helped me call someone while I was trying to wash the cat hahaha. They were both so patient and sweet the entire time and made a really stressful situation feel manageable. You can tell they truly care about animals and people. I seriously appreciated them so much and I'll definitely be coming back because of how amazing they were.

This store is the perfect size: big enough to have everything you need and small enough not to feel…read moreoverwhelmed. Moreover, the people who work there seem to really want to help. Especially Brian! He went the extra mile with us, telling us the pros and cons of various types of treats as it related to health and explaining to us all of the services and products that were relevant to us about the store. This will definitely be our Store for our new puppy! Thank you so much for creating such a great place with such a perfect vibe.