I adopted my dog a few years ago and after a few incidents of him trying to lunge at people and…read morebarking aggressively I knew I needed a professional to help me train him. I left Simon with Dan for two weeks and when I picked him up, a few things were obvious. First, Dan does what he does because he loves dogs and he wants them to have safe, happy homes. This is not a "job" for him it is a life calling. Second, I had not realized that training a dog is really about training the human. Dan can train any dog. Whether the training is successful depends on the owner. I learned how to understand Simon and how I was unknowingly encouraging bad behaviors. After I got Simon home I'd call Dan every month or two with questions and he'd happily explain to me how to handle situations where Simon was not responding the way I'd like. Finally, it took me a little while to understand how to communicate with Dan. He is can seem stubborn and rigid and doesn't sugarcoat what he needs to tell you. The key is to listen to his point even if it seems gruff. He's knows what he's doing and will tell you what you need to know -- it's up to you to check your ego and do what's really best for your dog. Simon is so happy now and I can't thank Dan enough.

Helped me with my service dog xean dog training during the pandemic of Covid 19 he's a real…read moreblessing thank you Dan Irish

I highly recommend Blue Collar K9. Tim goes above and beyond when it comes to helping both the…read moreowner and their dog. He has helped my dog more than I can say. If you are looking for a trainer that truly cares give Tim a call!

I had puppy classes that were great. More recently they were extremely responsive in helping me…read moreaddress an issue after a nasty dog fight at home. They really care about helping you be a great dog owner.

Everything went so well. What everybody says about her is true. She is really an amazing dog…read morehandler and a good teacher for me and isn't that the most important thing. Just ask your friends with dogs and I'm sure her name will come up and everything they say about her is true. And no, I'm not a relative just a happy customer who's getting his dog under control Kim mc

We heard about Marge and her business from a friend and decided to give her a try. We took our dog…read moreto a private session with her and saw fantastic results within 20 minutes of the training. Our dog is an Aussie doodle and very high strong. She was able to get our dog to calm down and showed us a bunch of ways to work with her. It has made an unbelievable difference, and how our dog acts towards us and others, as well as how she works on a leash. Thank you for helping us with our dog.

Several months ago, I found a husky mix on the street. As an experienced husky owner, I named her…read moreSky and decided to bring her into the family. However, I realized almost immediately that she had some serious behavioral issues--specifically intense leash aggression and barking--that I simply wasn't equipped to handle alone. After researching local options, I gave Bill at Sierra K9 a call. It was clear right away that he has a genuine passion for what he does. He took the time to listen to my specific goals: I needed Sky to truly become part of my "pack" and be well-behaved enough to join me at breweries, and events. Bill outlined his methods and experience in great detail, and we sat down to map out exactly what it would take to get her there. I opted for the two-week intensive Board-and-Train program. Bill made it clear that the training wouldn't end when I picked her up; he committed to meeting with me for as long as it took for me to feel confident. Throughout those two weeks, Bill and his wife, Shelby, sent regular progress reports, photos, and videos. Seeing her thrive gave me so much peace of mind--it was obvious she was making strides and was incredibly well cared for. On pickup day, Bill and I had a thorough hand-off session. While I was impressed with Sky's progress, Bill was honest with me: the foundation was there, but the real work was just beginning for both of us. When we got back home, I'll admit I struggled. The leash reactivity and pulling returned, and I felt completely hopeless. But Bill and Shelby didn't leave me hanging. They checked in daily, "talked me off the ledge" more than once, and quickly scheduled an in-person session at my house. When Bill arrived, he could tell I was frustrated. He calmly reminded me of the process and took Sky's leash; she immediately "snapped back into shape"--no pulling, no barking, just focus. He carefully observed my handling, gave me manageable homework, and, most importantly, helped me reframe my mindset. He taught me that training isn't a chore; it's an exercise in patience and a form of therapy for both the owner and the dog. Fast forward one month: I've been working with Sky every day and meeting with Bill weekly (and he is always perfectly on time). The transformation is night and day. While she's still a little better on the leash with him than with me (haha!), she is truly a different dog. I know now that with time and Bill's continued guidance, Sky is going to fit in perfectly. I'm actually enjoying the work, we celebrate the wins together, and I am sincerely grateful to the Sierra K9 team.

I had an incredibly positive experience with Sierra K9. I was dealing with a really stressful…read moresituation where my dogs were constantly fighting, and I honestly wasn't sure if they could ever safely live together again. Bill was patient, knowledgeable, and very understanding of how overwhelming it felt. Bill took the time to assess each dog's behavior and explained everything in a way that made sense. The training methods were clear, consistent, and focused on building trust rather than fear. Over time, I started to see real progress, not just in my dogs' behavior, but in my own confidence handling them. Thanks to Bill's guidance, my dogs are now able to coexist peacefully, and the atmosphere at home is so much calmer. I'm truly grateful for his help and would highly recommend him to anyone dealing with similar issues.

Eden and her team at Sierra Dogs are our top choice for boarding our labradoodle. A stay with…read moreSierra Dogs is akin to a vacation at a first-rate canine playground with plenty of opportunities for physical exercise, mental stimulation and social interaction. We can't help but smile and chuckle while viewing online photos of our pup running at top speed with her dog buddies or taking a break on the deck. Although we miss being apart from our wonderful companion, we are comforted knowing that our dog is supervised while happily frolicking around with dog friends and provided with professional, skilled, and nurturing care. When reunited with our dog, she retains all skills we have instilled and is clean and well-behaved. We are very thankful for Eden and her caring team!

Doesn't get any better. I got a French bulldog puppy and needed some help training him. I sent him…read moreto Sierra dogs for a 6 week board and train program and it was the best decision I ever made. Eden promptly responded to my initial email and patiently answered all of my questions. It was hard having him so far away (I am based in Palo Alto), but I would drive twice as far to have Eden take care of my dog. Each day Eden would post a photo on Facebook, so I could watch him grow and she was always available to talk on the phone if I wanted an update. Eden transformed my 3 month old puppy into a well-trained, well-socialized, very happy dog. My puppy knows how to come, sit, stay, leave it, drop it, shake, and walk on a leash. He now comes with me to work and is the best-trained dog in my office. Now that my puppy has graduated from board and train, I look forward to using Sierra Dogs as a boarding place. (FYI: It's a convenient location for people who are heading up to Tahoe for the weekend.) I highly recommend Sierra Dogs!

Sarah Harrington at Bark Busters Home Dog Training - Central Valley is absolutely amazing. She is…read moreknowledgeable, patient, and truly cares about both dogs and their owners. Her in-home training approach is clear, humane, and incredibly effective--we saw real improvements right away. Sarah empowers you with the tools and confidence to create lasting change, not just quick fixes. The lifetime support Bark Busters offers is a huge bonus and gives total peace of mind. If you're struggling with behavior issues or just want a better relationship with your dog, I highly recommend Sarah and Bark Busters Central Valley!

Our 8-lb, 3-year-old toy poodle suddenly began showing aggressive behavior. We immediately had him…read moreevaluated by two veterinarians, including appropriate testing, and confirmed the issue was behavioral--not medical. We contacted Bark Busters in Livermore due to strong reviews. That trainer referred us to the trainer covering our area, Sarah Harrington. She assured us she had handled similar cases many times and that their method--different from traditional training--could correct the behavior, although there is no guarantee. Based on that, we agreed to proceed despite the high cost. The fee is $1,875 (lifetime training), paid in full upfront. In hindsight, that should have given us pause. At the initial visit, our dog reacted very negatively--barking continuously and backing away. This was unusual, as he is normally friendly with new people. The trainer also appeared fearful, explaining she had recently been bitten by another dog. A significant portion of the session was spent reading from a binder rather than actively engaging with us or demonstrating techniques until after the total fee was paid in full. This method does not use treats at all. We followed the approach consistently for over three weeks. Instead of improving, our dog became more fearful, his personality seemed to change, and the aggression worsened. When we raised concerns, we were told to continue. The trainer did not proactively check in; we were told follow-up was our responsibility. Given the seriousness of the issue and the cost, we expected more support. We ultimately decided to stop. No partial refund was offered. We were told the contract would become void if we did not re-engage within seven days. We were also cautioned about posting a negative Yelp review. We are sharing our experience so others can make an informed decision. We hope your experience is better than ours.

I found Happy Dog Obedience on Yelp and feel so lucky to have connected with Dawn! She worked with…read moremy Pom-Pug, Titus, over the course of five lessons--and the progress has been incredible. From the very first session, Titus was immediately receptive to Dawn. She has such a calm, confident presence and a clear gift for connecting with dogs. What really set her apart, though, is that she didn't just train Titus--she trained me, too. Once she showed me how to properly work with him using clear, consistent commands and rewards, everything clicked into place. The improvement in his behavior has been fast and honestly kind of amazing. Dawn is patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about setting you and your dog up for long-term success. I can't recommend her enough--if you're looking for a trainer who really knows what she's doing, look no further than Happy Dog Obedience!

Our 11-month old, Sadie, just completed puppy training through Happy Dog Basic Obedience with Dawn…read moreLawrence. Dawn's gentle, loving methods guided both Sadie and us through the commands sit, down, stay, look, and leash walking. She answered all of our questions which went well beyond the scope of the training. We learned that we (the family) were in training right alongside Sadie. Dawn has been training animals most of her life and understands their behavior. She immediately and correctly assessed Sadie's personality, which she then aligned with her personalized training. We appreciate Dawn's patient, gentle methods and are thrilled with Sadie's progress! We can't wait to begin the Good Citizen program in a couple of months!

Julia is very knowledgeable in training and helping you train your fur-baby into a wonderfully…read morebehaved part of your family. Sometimes love just isn't enough and you need to help your loved pet become a perfect house companion or behave when you are out and about. Julia can help with all. She gives you the tools to teach and with your diligence in applying the tools you will see amazing results in behavior. She is very easy to work with and she would love to help you. Ronda Snow

When I met doggy, TEDdy Roosevelt, at the animal shelter, my heart said adopt him but my head…read morequestioned whether my husband and I could make it work. Ted is a big, strong, and young adult dog. We needed to find the right coach. Thankfully, we found Julia Priest- our canine & human coach! In less than three months, Julia has coached us to help Ted learn basic commands, "stay in place" in the house and outside, and develop skills to become our hobby farm canine companion! In addition, as part of the coaching experience, Julia provides safe and secure weekly doggy socials at her country property with fellow K9 coaching participants. We highly recommend Julia Priest with Coach for Canines - she is a masterful, patient and caring doggy and human coach!

Laura helped us with our excitable ` shepski`. This is our…read more4th dog and she helped make Lily one of our family. Greatly reccomend her services..

So helpful with training my puppy. I feel like I have been given tools to be a successful dog owner.read more

They took our little dog on short notice and were very nice and gentle. We were from out if town…read moreand needed a vaccine to stay at the RV park.

This is a great service and Tina and her staff have a great love for dogs and the service they…read moreprovide. We have been using this service for about a year now and our dog can't wait to go. When we mention going to daycare she yelps and barks with joy. Thank you guys.