My husband and I wanted peace of mind of our dog's care while we were away on our honeymoon and wanted to ensure we found the right fit - we read raving reviews through our local dog community and knew we had to reach out! Our 3 y/o dog Juna is highly anxious and had reactivity issues to other dogs (it's a wildcard when she's out in public). She had undergone another training program prior that likely contributed to some of these issues. Upon meeting Devon and the team for the first time, we were impressed on how thorough the consultation process was. Devon took the time to learn more about our goal with training, any past behaviors we wanted to correct, provided answers to our laundry list of questions, and let us tour the facility. Devon also guided us through a mini lesson, to which Juna took to so well in a matter of minutes. As someone who really appreciates insights into methodologies, I liked that she explained the WHY behind the training. We left feeling confident in our decision to choose Next Gen ACS for 2 weeks board and train. We were updated with Juna's progress throughout our trip and saw that she had so much fun being with the team. After her training, we were amazed at how calm and focused she had become. We have taken her on hikes off leash and are so proud of her for being more confident and neutral around other dogs. Her impulse control has also improved tremendously. I highly recommend considering Next Gen ACS for training! Thank you for not only making a huge impact on our dog's life but also to the community that you serve! read more

Next Gen ACS - Calm and focused while we are out in public - we are impressed! - Pet Training Near Me

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A year ago I brought my sweet mini Aussie for board and train. I should have trusted my gut to not follow through when they didn't allow a tour of the barn stating it was to not disturb the dogs, found out that they use prong collars halfway through training, that they didn't give me regular update, and that in all of the social media pictures my dog looked frightened/sad. Instead, I allowed an extension of the training (and more money) and tried to continue with the methods for nearly a year. I feel like the worst dog parent despite loving my dog to pieces. Update November 2023: I am upset to report that the methods taught by Next Gen have made my dog worse over the past year. She is more reactive than ever towards dogs (on leash) and fearful of people (she used to love saying hello politely). The balanced training method has changed my dog for the worse and I will have to live with that guilt. Prong and e collars have created more fear based responses than before. Not only that, but the Next Gen program was incredibly expensive and a huge investment of time over the past year only to no longer use these methods. It's incredibly disappointing. We recently enrolled in a positive and fully science based training program called Underdog Academy and have noticed some improvement. It's going to take time to undo the negative associations my sweet dog has and she'll never be the same, but at least I am no longer using "quick fixes" to instill fear. I encourage anyone exploring this training program to do research/try science based positive reinforcement training first and to put in the time. I've seen other more aggressive reactive dogs make significant progress in the program. I trusted these trainers with my best friend and am heartbroken that my dog's trust was destroyed. read more

My pup went for a 4 week Board and Train with Next Gen ACS. I was very nervous about it but after meeting Elly and the Team and seeing the location (ranch setting), I had no doubt that my pup will be well taken care of and that he will have lots of fun with all of the other pups there. Although there were lots of Aussies, I'm happy to see that there are other breeds as well (boarding) at Next Gen so that my pup can be calmer and less reactive around other (bigger) dogs. Next Gen gave us a free signing up lesson on how to loose leash walk my pup and how to manage his triggers better. That was super helpful in preparing my pup, Nori, for board and train. We also saw the actual training and the agility equipment, which was a plus! I wanted to make sure my pup, Nori, can have fun as well and not just training. The location is well equipped for rainy days, which was important for me because we were boarding end of October to November. Elly gave us clear instructions on what to prepare prior to board and train (only food and collar with tag was needed). I also appreciate the text updates and instagram reel which allowed me to see the actual trainings and not just pictures. Elly was also very responsive with my questions, and I really appreciate this! After the Board and Train, Nori, was like a brand new dog! More pleasant to take to places and meet people. Much calmer and better impulse control. Loves his crate way better too I really recommend Next Gen ACS for Board and Train or even just boarding. Well organized place with experienced trainers who also have dogs themselves. The trainers put your pup as priority and set your pup up for success! Thank you so much Next Gen ACS, Elly, and team! read more

Next Gen ACS - Pet Training Near Me

wanted to share my review of NextGen ACS, who I have used for boarding twice now. Once was short term as a test run for 6 days and then a long term board with Elly for 4 months. From the start it was clear that Elly, Devon and team are unique in their specialization. It gave me such peace of mind to know that they were not only experienced in training our quirky breed but also Aussie owners themselves. They are very professional; I appreciated their direct feedback and updates about Luna, and that they were confident to make decisions about her care with minimal input for me allowing me to enjoy my vacation. Their program is built around structure which was so important for Luna and took into consideration her behavioral challenges. The biggest thing for me was that I felt like Luna was loved and cared for as they would their own dogs. I got lots of happy photo and video updates of her getting lots of activity and attention which is the best feeling when you're away from your pup. The dog we got back is more obedient and calm, and our relationship is stronger after boarding with Next Gen. I am so grateful to Elly, Devon and the team and very excited for them as their team and facilities grow and improve. They are actively investing in providing great care for their clients and I will be using them whenever I can in the future. read more

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We brought our pup Thor to nextgen for a 2 week board and train and he instantly bonded with Elly, his primary trainer and saw strong improvement. Nothing but great things to say! We gladly drive the hour plus whenever we need additional services like boarding or follow ups. And the new facility is amazing! read more

Next Gen ACS - Thor and his new frienfs with next gen acs - Pet Training Near Me

We entered our 5-year-old mini Aussie, Jesse, into a two-week boarded training program in May. Our experience was unfortunately bad. I hope that what happened with us is the exception, but I'd like to share our experience for transparency for other dog owners who are researching trainers in our area. The trainer I interviewed with was kind and seemed to get along with Jesse well. Unfortunately, he left the day after Jesse was dropped off, and I was not informed. That was frustrating, as our family prefers to meet and get to know the person who will be responsible for our dog. I had a check-in call with Devon 2 days after drop off and she assured me all was going great. Six days into training, I received a phone call saying that Jesse was very ill. I called our vet and received care. The following issues were observed: - He was treated for severe dehydration, diarrhea and vomiting. The suspected cause was Giardia. - He had a badly infected rash on his belly as well as soreness in his shoulders and hips. Our vet advised these injuries would be consistent with a dog confined to a too-small kennel and in which he was unable to stand up properly and likely in contact with urine and feces for a prolonged period of time. - His paws were in terrible pain, raw with speckles of blood. Cause unknown, but educated guess was exposure to too-hot surface. I asked to meet Devon after this, in person to discuss Jesse's condition. During this visit, I met a man named Dylan, who received me with a combative attitude and proceeded to tell me that there is something "wrong" with my dog and that my vet "doesn't know what she is ****ing talking about." Thankfully, Devon came out and dismissed him. My family and I were disappointed at our highest moments, and angry at our lowest. Our advice to individuals considering working with Next-Gen ACS is the following: - Please discuss SLAs with them. When I arrived on site on a Monday at 2pm, the barn was closed with the dogs locked in. This observation, compared with my vet's diagnosis, makes me unsure about how much outside time they really receive. - Please do your research on the individual named Dylan (Maxwell Blau), the individual who appears on their social media but who is not officially affiliated with the business on their website. We would not have wanted him involved with our dog in any way after we researched on him. read more

Next Gen ACS - Our dog's tummy after being lying in his own urine and feces - Pet Training Near Me

My three fur children love Devon! And love walks with Elly! Reached out to Devon because my dogs became increasingly leash reactive to the point I couldn't take them anywhere or walks around our complex. Although they will always be somewhat reactive it's complete night and day. I can walk them past other dogs without worrying about them taking me down. It's all about practice and having the right tools and Devon really helped with teaching me and the dogs how to make the progress needed to be able to walk my dogs in public lol read more

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They took my out of control dog and gave me a whole new pet. She still at work in progress, but if it was not for them, she would not be where she's at right now. They are well worth it. read more

I have searched all over the East Bay for the right training and boarding facility with knowledge of the Aussie breed. There must have been 5 places that I reviewed. All of which were dirty, no areas for a dog to run and no experience of training. My dog Rusty is an Australian Shepard that is now 1 year. This is a very high energy dog. Aussie dogs need to be challenged with a job everyday. Devon has done an amazing job at working with Rusty. Devon knew what my challenges were and how to deal with this breed. Their place was the cleanest facility that I could find. I dropped off Rusty for three weeks while I took a job outside of California. It was a relief knowing that Rusty was well cared for and trained. At this time, Rusty has stayed with Devon on three separate times. Each time she was able to accommodate my travel schedule. read more

Our dog Tai doesn't do great with new people, so we are careful with where we board him, but will definitely being going back to Next Gen ACS! Dylan and Devon were both professional and awesome to deal with, and Tai loved his time there. Would strongly recommend to anyone! read more

Next Gen ACS - Pet Training Near Me

This is changing ours and our dogs life experience after our 2 dogs were boarded and trained with Devon and Elly for a month. We have Hazel (Border Collie) 2.5 years ago and she's a rescue. Then we adopted Sumo (Aussie) 6 months ago when he was 7 months-old. The family couldn't handle the stress of a puppy and missed the window of socialization with other dogs. He is extremely demanding, energetic and barks non-stop. He was bitten badly by another dog in the dog park because he didn't understand boundaries of other dogs and people. His behavior has pushed Hazel to the edge since we took him home. Hazel has a history of strong prey drive (which we learned that from Devon). She will bully or nib or bite smaller dogs when she's triggered. Therefore, we have not been able to keep them in peace in the same space. Hazel is a big risk and we couldn't take her out to meet any dogs. We have to exercise them heavily (2-3 hours) daily but still not able to keep them tired and rest. We're exhausted. We took them on a road trip and camping. We ended up have to shorten our trip and return home early. It was a disaster! We found Devon via an FB Aussie group recommended by another Aussie owner. The first meeting with Devon and Elly was phenomenal. Sumo was struggled to comply and tried so hard to fight to be constrained. In a few minutes walking with Devon, he turned into a mellow sheep walking next to her. We're completely stunned! So, we signed up for 1 month board & train. It's very expensive but they have payment plan that we can pay over 2-3 months that made it feasible for us. At that point, we have no option but either to give up one of the dog as my stress level was off the roof. After the training, they're incredibly easy to manage. They're super good with recall. We never had an incident of them fighting or not tolerating each other's presence. They live and share space in harmony and happily. It sounds like fairy tale to us. We recently take another road trip with them and with friends. It was the best ever trip. The dogs had a blast enjoying and playing with each other. We are so relax and so are the dogs. Just a note on the prey drive. We learned that we can't make it go away. But we have all the tools to manage and control the situation when it happens. Sumo no longer barks non-stop. We never have to walk 2-3 hours each day to tired them out. We feel extremely grateful and happy since we have our dogs returned home. Everyday, they grow to learn more about our boundaries and expectation. THANK YOU DEVON & ELLY!! We, and the dogs, love you!! read more

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Absolutely love Next Gen ! I don't even know where to begin. The setup is really nice and I like the agility course. My Aussie loves the challenge, and it's really fun to run with him and challenge ourselves on speed. The real amazing development is with my blind reactive Australian Kelpie. They're already a stubborn breed, and with his disability we got as far as we could in his training without help. With taking on two kids, I was so scared I would have to rehome him because he was having a hard time adjusting to my youngest. With their help, he now is more social with people and other dogs. He's making friends, and I just couldn't thank next gen enough. Without their patience and help, I can't even imagine what his future would have been. I'm so thankful for their help ! read more

We could not be happier with what Devon and Elly did for our Leo. He's a year and half old Aussie that had terrible leash manners, like pulling and reactivity with other dogs. He's easily distracted, had no impulse control and had no "chill" mode unless he was sleeping. We did a couple hour-long sessions with Devon before we sent him to her for the 4 week board and train. We were definitely unsure about how balanced training worked, as we were training with positive reinforcement, but that just wasn't cutting it with our dog. He's very smart and loves pushing boundaries. But with just a few sessions, we saw results and we were immediately convinced this was right for him, and us. We just picked him up, and couldn't believe he was the same dog we dropped off 4 short weeks earlier. He was calm, attentive and obedient. Never in a million years could we have brought him out to lunch with us, but we tested it upon pickup and he did so well. We were amazed. So was our server, who commented how calm he was. The trainers posted video updates on Instagram, which I loved, to see his progress and all the fun activities they did. We were so happy to see how much fun he was having. 100% , 10/10 recommend to anyone who needs help with their dog. read more

Next Gen ACS - Pet Training Near Me

Highly recommended for your fur babies for training !!Our Oliver was highly reactive while walking or just public place. With great advice and learning tools from Devon and Elly had given us , he had major improvement and made huge difference! I can now walk Oliver with great confidence knowing he is very much less reactive to dogs and go to public places . read more

Next Gen ACS - Oliver - Pet Training Near Me

I will just say that I really wanted this local business to work for us. I appreciate the owner Devon, but I cannot support them if Dylan still works there. Dylan was a real showman, but something felt off. When I refused board and train for a number of reasons including that our dog was very stressed by the board environment, he became manipulative and then aggressive claiming that he clearly loved our dog more than we did. It was incredibly unprofessional to say the least. A little research suggested this is a pattern I. His past work experienced. Google Dylan Maxwell Blau and you will see why. I have conferred with other trainers who have confirmed my suspicions. read more

DO NOT BRING YOUR DOGS HERE for board and training! I hate writing these but if I can help someone else save their dogs then I will because I actually care about their well beings. They will Neglect your dogs, they Won't train your dogs, your dogs will come back to you worst than you left them, they will have urine burns and rashes on them look uncared for when you get them back, they will blame you for your dogs behaving the way they are, and they will try to push that they care about your dogs and give you discounted prices only to tell you that you owe way more even with written proof of what they originally said. They are unprofessional and unnecessarily confrontational when you ask for their training progress notes and progress videos , and they won't provide progress videos when requested after stating they have a lot. I love my dogs and I trusted them to rehabilitate their bad behaviors and to help lead a better life but instead it furthered their traumas and reactivity. It's not worth it! read more

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I highly recommend Devon, her lead trainer Dylan, and their very professional team, and I thank them for the results they were able to achieve in 3 weeks of training our 20 month miniature Australian Shepherd, Blu. We live in San Francisco and Blu was in need of the kind of on-leash training in particular that was beyond my capabilities and knowledge. I do not know the proven techniques and routines necessary to train him, and I do not have access to the kinds of calm facilities and space needed to be effective, so we signed him up for a three week board and train with Devon. When we picked him up we were delighted with the results. Devon and her very friendly and fully engaged, highly energetic team have done a remarkable job with Blu. During the handover, when we were trained too, we experienced for ourselves the huge improvements in Blu's obedience to the commands of place, sit, down, come, and most importantly of all, his calm and obedient behavior on a loose leash, which is remarkable. Best of all, we experienced positive results immediately upon returning to the city, he is a much improved dog. I look forward to participating in their weekly refresher sessions for reinforcement and to continue the learning process. read more

I sent my pup to their two week board and train last summer and had a great experience. They sent updates regularly and the group classes afterwards helped me learn more and helped all the training stick. read more

Let me start this off by saying that we spent a LONG time looking for the right trainer for our pup, and we're so glad we found Devon and the Next Gen ACS team. Our dog, Lupi, is a 3.5 year old Aussie / Border Collie mix that we rescued and she was super anxious - leash reactivity, barking at strangers that dared to make eye contact with her (and many would since she's such a cute dog), and pretty severe separation anxiety to top it all off. Fast forward through a 4-week board and train with Next Gen ACS, and we now have a much calmer and more confident pup. She enjoys her crate time, relaxing in it regardless of whether or not we're home, and we're able to confidently bring her out to restaurants knowing she'll settle without jumping when anyone approaches. It amazes me how quickly she's able to settle compared to how she was before. The separation anxiety was the most important thing to address (which it was, thank you Devon, Elly, and Andy!), but she learned so much more in the process. Her off-leash recall is great, and she truly understands the words "no" and "leave it." We had done assessments with multiple trainers prior to landing on Next Gen, and after every single session we were largely underwhelmed either by the trainer or their program. However, once we did an assessment with Devon we knew right away that it was a good fit. It was the only assessment we walked away from having learned something new and it was clear how much she cares about every single dog she welcomes to the Next Gen pack. They're very transparent with their program and I'd highly suggest taking a look at their Instagram to see what they work on day after day. Like others have written, we spent years focused on positive reinforcement training, but it only went so far (especially with these super intelligent pups that will push boundaries every chance they can). Read up on balanced training - it has worked wonders for us and Lupi, and we can attest that she's a much happier and less anxious dog as a result. All in all, fantastic group of trainers that we give our highest recommendation! read more

Our 2 year old Aussie Juno lacked structure in her routine, and while generally well behaved, had dog-reactivity on leash and some resource guarding at times. Working with Elly at Next Gen ACS really changed Juno's level of calm and obedience both in and out of the house. Her recall and off leash walking behavior has improved dramatically, and we feel much more confident leaving her at home for long periods of time knowing we've given her a routine that fits her needs. Couldn't recommend more. read more

Devon, Elly, and the whole NextGen ACS did an incredible job with my pup kobe! They set the foundation for how to work with your dog on a day to day basis. I can say that Kobe's quality of life has improved drastically. I can take him anywhere with no worries; coffee shops, pubs, bars, hikes (off leash), and the list goes on. For anyone who has a working dog, I highly recommend giving NextGen a shot. They won't disappoint. read more

Our 1.5 years mini husky had issues with strangers and easily got nervous about other dogs or people. We boarded him with Next Gen ACS for 6 weeks. Oh, boy, that changed everything. Elly and her team spent good efforts and time in getting to know him and then developed the training strategies that fit his pace. At the end of the week 6, he totally changed: listening very well, overcoming anxiety issues, being not afraid of facing public. He is still not a people friendly dog but that is in his breed, which we sometimes love as he is our family member and loves us unconditionally as we do to him. Thank you, Elly for such a fantastic job!!! read more