Orion Dog Training has been an enriching and transformative part of Marshy's life. Marshy is our lively 14 month old deaf husky/cattle dog my wife and I adopted 9 months ago. From Nose Work to Agility to Control Unleashed, every class has brought something new, fun, and confidence-building. We're currently in multiple classes and already signed up for Tricks in January. Whether it's weekly training or festive events like the Halloween social, Orion Dog Training continues to be a place where Marshy thrives. What makes this space special is Dieuwke van der Velde herself. She leads with softness, kindness, and deep empathy, and it's easy to see the pure delights dogs bring her. Dieuwke is always rooting for the dogs and she meets each one with genuine curiosity and care, connecting with their individual strengths and helping them grow in ways that are natural and supportive. Watching her work is impressive and engaging. She brings magic to every class. Dieuwke is clearly passionate and deeply committed. Her own dogs are often featured in her Instagram trainings, which we love watching and sometimes even practice ourselves. Her willingness to share her learning process is just one more way she supports the dog training community. The classes at Orion Dog Training are thoughtfully curated. There's something for every type of dog and guardian. Dieuwke will also bring in other expert trainers like Vicki Huebner for Control Unleashed. Marshy especially loves (and I mean LOVES) going to Orion Dog Training. The moment we pull into the parking lot, she starts whining with excitement and knows something super fun is about to happen. Marshy's confidence has blossomed, and Dieuwke's support has played a major role. As a deaf dog, Marshy benefits from agility training tailored to visual cues, and Dieuwke adapts the training with ease and grace. There is always something new, active, and enriching happening at Orion Dog Training. Boredom is simply not an option. We're grateful to be part of such a vibrant and supportive learning environment. Dieuwke and Orion Dog Training have truly become part of our extended dog family! read more

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The new location is beautiful. There's plenty of space for dogs to feel comfortable. This Pre-agility class has been really fun. Leena gives really clear instructions and helpful feedback read more

Orion Dog Training - Learning to go around the cone. - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

My Dalmatian puppy loves going here. He did puppy pre K, socials and now AKC start puppy 1. It gives us knowledge and proper guidance to train our dog and have a pleasant, structured bonding time with them. We will continue going to classes as he gets older! read more

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The trainers are caring, knowledgeable and fun. I'm on my 3rd class. I've taken AKC puppy 1, AKC puppy 2 and puppy agility. The socialization classes are the perfect size especially for shy pups. They offer very flexible scheduling. The facility is big, air- conditioned and has free parking. I highly recommend this business. read more

Orion Dog Training - Super mutt - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

This is the WORST experience that I had with dog training in the bay area. The trainer was SO rude from the beginning. I decided to leave early even before the hour was done because she just stared at her phone, no feedback, just didn't care about anything. It was such a waste of time and money. As soon as I walked in she crossed her arms and keep interrogating me whether I read into the course info on her website when I emailed her exactly that I'm not familiar with all those names of the agility equipments and want her feedback on which level my dog needs to be in since my dog had some experiences on agility in her obedience training at a different facility. She looked at me like trash for correcting my dog by popping the leash as I learned in the different facility to correct her. Correcting my dog is necessary since I have a border collie that has very high drive and she had biting issues when she was a puppy. This trainer doesn't care about the history of my relationship with my dog. read more

Both Yogi and I love this place! We've taken 3 classes here - Oh Rally, Puppy Olympics and Control Unleashed, apart from drop in agility classes and have had very positive experiences. They use positive reinforcement to train the pups and are very observant, diligent and suggest several tips or tricks applicable to each pup and their style. Yogi gets so excited as soon as we pull into the parking lot since he associates the place with fun. Diuewke especially is patient, encouraging and very passionate about what she does. I also appreciate all the little events and paw-ties they organize that helps local businesses and the community. read more

We enjoyed working with Dieuwke van der Velde in all agility classes. She was friendly, flexible, and guided us on how to approach and run through each obstacle successfully. Constructive feedback on how we ran through the course was helpful. We primarily attended classes when it was offered in Palo Alto though they are primarily based in San Jose area. We hope they will come around through mid peninsula again soon. read more

My dog Bo and I are learning a lot and having fun. Orion dog training is so patient and kind and helpful. I am an experienced dog owner but I've learned a lot. The agility is a blast and the loose leash class is very helpful. I'm starting the nose work next week. I highly recommend. read more

We found Orion training on Yelp so it's time to pay it back! We have attended many puppy socials and the puppy training now and I cannot wait to try an agility class! Dieuwke is the calm, non-judgmental type that my mom always said to look for in a pediatrician when my kids were born As first time puppy owners, but many time dog owners, we thought we knew enough but puppies are a new adventure She has helped us to give our pup manners, given us etips and gotten us through the first quarter of puppyhood Definitely recommen read more

Orion Dog Training - Puppy action shot! - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

I have taken my puppy to Orion as soon as he had the necessary vaccines. The classes are very well organized and not overcrowded. Dieuwke obviously loves dogs and is very good with them. My puppy loves her! She also gives very good advice on any questions you have. My puppy started out very shy and is becoming much more social through the socials and classes. There so many fun classes listed that I am excited to enroll him in. He is learning a lot. I take home a tired and happy puppy after class is over. read more

We attended a puppy social and we were impressed with the instructors ability to create a very positive atmosphere for the wide variety of pups that attended. We definitely will return for another social and will enroll our puppy for Puppy Training. read more

My pup Oski and I love everything about Orion! Puppy social was great to build Oski's confidence. Agility class was super fun. All trainers are very experienced and caring. I wholeheartedly recommend this place. read more

5/5 for Orion and our amazing training instructor, Vicki! Our 9 month old corgi puppy is super reactive/distracted, and my husband and I were having a hard time training him at home with our current practices. This led us to signing up for the Advanced Pattern Games for the Distracted Dog with Orion. All I can say is: going to a structured 6-week training program with a professional is a WAY better experience than struggling at home and rewatching Tiktoks/Youtube without someone there to assess and give us real time help. We've definitely seen some improvement in our puppy's behavior over the 6 week course, and we are continuously using the tools we learned in class since it ended. We enjoyed Orion so much, we're going to sign up for another class in the new year! read more

Dieuwke gave my dog specialized training just for him! We both learned so many new skills in the adult basic obedience and manners class! His biggest challenge was loose leash walking, where he would pull non-stop on walks. The trainer gave us great tips and now he doesn't pull, and we both enjoy walking together. He learned to walk close with me when we cross a street, "leave it" when there is food on the ground, and he also learned tricks and commands like shake, catch, and search. I really appreciate how she listened to what our challenges are, then she trained us both to overcome them. It was so fun!!! We plan to take agility training next, or advanced manners. I recommend this training if you want to be proud of your dog's success. Also if you need more attention than in a regular big class. Fantastic experience with Orion dog training! We highly recommend them. read more

Orion Dog Training - Rex - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

Excellent place to have them help you/teach you how to train your dog or puppies. Small groups and personalized to each one in the class needs. Dieuwke is very observant, kind and knowledgeable, we highly recommend this place to anyone. Sincerely Ivy ( Isaias & Greg here) read more

Awesome puppy social! Nice environment, small group, knowledgeable instructor. Everything that I hoped for in a puppy social. I train my dog to compete in agility and it is very crucial to have a nice puppy social, so my dog will be friendly to other dogs and not get fearful. This puppy social is perfect. Highly recommended. read more

Dieuke has been fantastic in helping my husband and I build a strong bond with our 7 month old Australian Shepherd puppy. We have learned so much about our pup's needs in Puppy 1 and 2 classes (AKC S.T.A.R. Program), especially through positive reinforcement training. We highly recommend Orion Dog Training to all fur parents! read more

Orion Dog Training - Our puppy, Dune, graduated from Puppy Class 1 (AKC S.T.A.R. Program). - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

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Orion Dog Training is an amazing place for your pup! We have been taking puppy and dog training classes exclusively with Dieuwke at Orion Dog Training since our golden retriever was only a couple months old. We have now been through Puppy I, Puppy II, Puppy III and an AKC tricks course. Throughout these courses, our dog has learned a number of unique obedience commands (not just the basics that you would get at a major pet retailer training) and so many fun tricks. Our puppy has also consistently attended puppy socials with Orion Dog Training since he was a couple months old. This has been extremely beneficial to how he behaves and interacts with other dogs. These socials allow puppies to interact playfully in a safe and neutral environment. There are also multiple calming sessions throughout the puppy socials, where dogs get a chance to relax, catch their breath and focus on their owners. Dieuwke taught our dog to be the best boy - but has also taught us how to be great owners. We will happily continue to enroll our dog in tricks and training courses with Dieuwke at Orion Dog Training. We would absolutely recommend for both dog/puppy training and puppy socials. read more

Orion Dog Training - Our same dog at Orion now that he is 7.5 months old :) - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

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We've really enjoyed our puppy training classes and socials with Dieuwke! The puppy socials are especially fun because we get the opportunity to have our puppy Daisy learn to play in a supervised environment with like minded owners. As Daisy develops, we can't wait to have her try out some of the other classes! read more

Orion Dog Training - Daisy; 5 months - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

Great puppy socials. Lots of classes available beyond the normal obedience. Highly recommended!

Great puppy socials! I've only attended the puppy socials at Orion with Dieuwke, not any of the training classes (however--I'm very interested now). Compared to the other social we did, it became obvious that Dieuwke provided the next level of care and attentiveness. Though the other social we did was structured, it was chaotic, and the instructor did not tailor the flow of the social to the specific dogs that were present. Dieuwke however tailors the social to the specific dogs, ensuring that the social meets all dogs where they are so they get the most out of it (and the owners, too). She watches all the dogs intently and spends more time watching/listening to the dogs than the other social we attended. I've already returned to do two more socials, and plan to do as many as we can afford. And, we are definitely interested in her training classes/services! read more

Back for more puppy socials with our second puppy, Winston. Couldn't be happier with having a safe, secure space for Winston to meet and play with puppies his own age. Great for socialization and positive reinforcement training. Winston is also attending a STAR puppy training class here and the owner, Dieuwke, gives clear and gentle instructions on what behaviors we puppy parents should be encouraging with easy and effective tips. Can't wait for the next class! read more

Our 8 months old puppy Petey has been attending puppy class level 2, a tricks and agility class and Kindergarten and Debutante puppy socials at Orion Dog Training. Thanks to a positive reinforcement approach and a calm, confident and resourceful trainer Dieuwke, Petey has learned to become a more confident pup around people and using the agility equipment. Petey loves his trainer and is always excited to go to puppy socials where he has met so many dog friends and people. Thanks for helping Petey, needless to say he loves Dieuwke. read more

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Great positive reinforcement approach. I have attended many dog training classes over the years, this was one of my best experiences. We attended the Puppy 2 and CGC classes, really helped my puppy come out of his shell and build his confidence. read more

We recently finished 6 weeks of puppy training with our little girl Minnie and can't say enough good things about it. Dieuwke is so wonderful, a fantastic teacher who knows her stuff. Very patient and knowledgeable which made teaching our little girl fun and easy. Minnie always looked forward to class to learn new things and happily show off her new skills. We highly recommend her to anyone who loves their doggie and wants the best! read more

Orion Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

I unexpectedly took in a puppy and although I have dogs and have been active as a foster/rescue/rehabilitation, I've never raised and trained a puppy. I had tried a dog trainer in the past but he used techniques I didn't feel comfortable with so I was a bit hesitant trying another trainer. I am so glad I did- I've had a great experience at Orion and highly recommend it. My dog Hattie has been attending puppy socials for the last month and its her favorite thing. It brings her so much joy and also gives us a safe place for her to socialize and learn cues from other dogs. We've also been taking the puppy 1 course. Between these two classes and reinforcing the lessons at home, I've seen tremendous progress in Hattie. The best part is that Dieuwke has showed me how to train Hattie without punishment or fear. Dieuwke is teaching us how to communicate with one another and to build/reinforce our bond. Dieuwke seems to genuinely love dogs and enjoy her classes. It comes through with how she interacts with the dogs in class. She's also been incredibly helpful in answering all of my (probably too many) questions and has made a huge impact for Hattie's integration with the other pets. I've signed up to continue to puppy course 2 and puppy agility. If your looking for a trainer who genuinely adores dogs, is highly knowledge and uses only positive reinforcement- this is the place to go. read more

Started attending Orion Dog Training puppy socials with my very small breed puppy. I have nothing but positive things to say. These socials are structured and tailored to your puppy's specific needs in mind. I have attended other socials that are more of a free for all where shy puppies and outgoing puppies romp together or are not being watched over. Orion Dog Training is not like this at all. The owner and trainer, Dieuwke, keeps a watchful eye and knows when separate someone from the pack or when to split up shy puppies into their own separate group. On one of the socials it was just me and my puppy, Dieuwke offered to give me my money back or just work with my dog alone. I opted to stay and we basically worked on my puppy's confidence and walk through a maze of obstacles. Like our own private session. I will continue to attend these socials and also am considering taking a basic puppy school course to further nurture my puppy's confidence. read more

Fun and energetic positive reinforcement training in San Jose! I took a AKC Trick class with my dog and he earned three trick titles after the class and we learned a ton more! read more

My dog Max is as stubborn as dogs come. We first did a canine good citizenship course and my dog actually did really well under dieuwke's expertise and training. Seeing the results, we went back and did a tricks class and my hard to train dog actually ended passing the AKC intermediate tricks class. I cannot recommend Orion Dog training enough. read more

Orion Dog Training was an extremely positive experience for my dog and I. Dieuwke was such a great person to work with and really helped me get my puppy Mochi acquainted to all the skills he needed to know. I really loved the positive teaching tools that were used to motivate my puppy. I would highly recommend this dog training school. read more

My puppy Pepper and I have been attending training classes and socials at Orion Dog Training for several months. Dieuwke is a very good trainer and is very 'dog savvy, ' reading each dog and knowing how best to work with them. I look forward to many more classes there. read more

great place for puppy socials, small setting with more attention. good option for puppies to gradually get comfortable with humans and other dogs. read more

I'm so glad I found Orion Dog Training and Dieuwke. My pup and I love going to classes and puppy socials at Orion. Dieuwke has a very pleasant, patient style and explains everything in a logical way. All training is done with positive reinforcement methods. Dieuwke really wants to see us all succeed with our pups. I highly recommend Dieuwke and Orion Dog Training! read more

I took my 3 month old for the puppy social and it was a great experience. My puppy was shy at first but with Dieuwke's gentle guidance my pup was happily playing with another puppy by the end. I am definitely signing up for more socials with Orion. read more

This is really long overdue. It looks like I started to write a review in November, but never finished it. We started training with Dieuwke in October 2022 for Puppagility 1. We began agility closer to home since my pup was about 17 weeks, but I really enjoyed more detailed skills like target & around. Recently, we had to use target to ensure that my then 10 month old Pomsky knew not to jump off the A frame too early which could cause an injury. Her safety has been really important especially now since she was diagnosed with a knee issue when she was 8 months. So, now we frequent the Practice Makes Perfect class which we work on some agility, but mostly prehab exercises we get from physical therapy. Dieuwke has been super supportive with my pup's physical issue & helping us navigate to get as much help as possible in hopes that we can avoid surgery or maybe a less severe surgery if my pup's bones can form properly by strengthening. The exercises are not easy & Dieuwke is awesome at having us try various ways to get an exercise done. If it weren't for the Practice Makes Perfect class, we would not have progressed as well in PT & I would not have been as consistent with the exercises. We have also attended 2 levels of Scent class which I found useful for my pup. Our walks have been better & I can tell that my pup is making better use of the sniffing for information rather than just randomly sniffing things just to eat or destroy. In general, it has helped her to make better decisions. Scent class was with Vicki who we also learned a great deal of information that I am still processing & classes ended for us about a month ago. From our first class, I liked how methodical Dieuwke teaches. I am a first time dog owner & it has been useful to have Dieuwke as a resource. We attend a lot of dog classes around the area & online. However, I find that I could ask both Dieuwke & Vicki questions that go much deeper in helping my pup grow into the brave & smart companion. We still have to work on the obedience more, but we do that mostly close to home or online. I realize I might not have mentioned that we drive 35 mins (1 total) to train with Dieuwke a couple times a week. The other thing I like is that Dieuwke has a nice line up of classes that I have never found at any other place. Lastly, early on Dieuwke taught me how to play with my pup which helps with her drive & manage energy. We are beyond grateful for all the things Dieuwke & Vicki have taught us in these 7 short months. They made us confident that we can take all they have taught us & continue working on our own until we are ready to advance or try something new. read more

Dieuwke van der Velde and Orion Dog Training has been an absolute blessing in our lives! Our rescue puppy Leia has trained with Dieuwke through Puppy I, Puppy II, Puppy III and is now currently enrolled in a Tricks course and enjoying every minute of it. Dieuwke's approach is calm, patient, positive and always encouraging for both dog and human. Her training methods are always focused on the well-being of the dog and she does a really good job helping the humans understand how to best set our dog for success and create realistic expectations. She's incredibly knowledgeable and full of resources about dogs and puppy training. We really can't imagine what it would've been like to go through training training our pup without her guidance. We will continue to attend classes with Dieuwke for as long as we can, as it is not just about training our dog, but it is about learning how to de-program our own human patterns and focus on learning our dogs' language. We have so much fun and have made several friends in class that our pup gets to grow up with! Dieuwke is also really great at answering all our questions and helping us troubleshoot with daily life challenges as our pup navigates through adolescence. We couldn't recommend Dieuwke more! She will help make your experience with training your pup a really rewarding and fun one. Her prices are also very affordable compared to some of the group classes that are out there! So gratef read more

Orion Dog Training - Puppy Graduation - Pet Training Near Me - San Jose, California

Brought my puppy here for a puppy social. Great experience. Puppy went from being afraid of other puppies to confidently playing. Plus as a bonus she was sleepy rest of day. The puppy social was very well run with multiple areas for puppies of different size, age, and/or confidence. Puppies were closely monitored to make sure all experiences were positive. read more

I can't thank Dieuwke enough for the wonderful experience we had with our very timid and reactive puppy. As new pandemic puppy owners we had no idea where to start with getting her socialized and trained. There were very few options given COVID, but Orion was open for in person classes and socials. Dieuwke picked up right away our puppy needed extra attention and to take things very slow to avoid her becoming overwhelmed and fearful. We have taken numerous socials and puppy classes and been extremely pleased and happy to see our puppy progress. She is now more confident and very dog social. She had given us a great foundation of positive reinforcement training that works very well for us. Highly recommended! read more

Our 10-month old border collie just finished his 2 classes at Orion Dog Training with Dieuwke (Adolescent and adult manners and AKC trick). We had so much fun and learned a lot from Dieuwke, especially the AKC trick class. Dieuwke has a lot of props to allow us to explore close to 60 tricks in just 6 classes. She not only showed us different approaches to help our dog learn a trick but also explained how we can modify the technique and apply it on more advanced tricks in the future. In the end, we earned the beginner, intermediate and advanced AKC dog trick titles! What an amazing trainer! Highly recommend Dieuwke's class. read more

This was a fantastic place to attend puppy training for my 4 month old puppy. Dieuwke was excellent and very helpful. Hudson learned a lot from the Puppy 1 classes and is doing really well. I highly recommend Orion! read more