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    Running Amok

    5.0 (40 reviews)
    Closed • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Services - Running Amok

    Dog boarding and training

    Private dog training

    Dog walking

    Running Amok Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Running Amok

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    Reviews With Photos

    Puppy cuddle pile from a recent stay with Ming at Running Amok.
    Kasey M.

    We've recently moved to SoCal, and I must say the thing we miss the most already is Ming! We've been using Running Amok for boarding (and walking when she still offered it) almost 9 years - ever since our labradoodle, Edgar, was a puppy. Ming is always responsive and happy to send pics and updates during boarding and she truly adores the dogs she works with. Edgar loved her right back, getting super excited when she arrived for pickup. On the training side - Ming is the main reason Edgar's recall is so good; he escaped while we were moving in (seemed to want to greet the movers) and came immediately when I called for him, even though we haven't directly worked with him on it since he was a puppy. I remember one of the first times we sent him with her we warned that his recall was a little inconsistent, and on drop off she let us know he was good to go. So, anytime someone asks me about boarding or training, I immediately send them to Ming at Running Amok! I trust her completely.

    Edna on an outing with Running Amok
    David I.

    Ming has been watching our dogs Edna and Ira for five and half years. Our dogs are polar opposite in persona. Edna is spicy and introverted. Some professional dog walkers and places have had trouble with Edna. But she feels super comfortable (maybe too comfortable :) and loved when she goes on an outing or stays at Running Amok. Ira is very friendly and extroverted. He also loves going to spend time with Ming because he gets to play with all of the other dogs. We feel comfortable leaving both dogs with Ming for both daycare and long trips because we know they will have fun and be loved.

    Aileen C.

    This review was definitely a long time coming. Oh goodness, Ming was so amazing with our boxer. He listens to us so well now. I really appreciate her dedication to helping us have an already amazing dog even better. Of course we needed to do our part to. She gave us some homework to do before each session. So it's all team work. I whole heartedly recommend Ming!

    Melissa B.

    We were first introduced to Ming 5 years ago, after having gone through two other dog walkers for our quirky SharPei/Dobey mix. Being a rescue, our dog can become skittish and fearful. We've even instances of him running away from the pack, which led us to separate from one other walker. I was skeptical we'd ever find someone that would build trust with him or us. Then we met Ming! Ming built an instant connection with our dog and her gentle but firm manner was exactly what was needed. The moment you meet her you realize she's a kind and gentle person that has a great demeanor with animals (and people!). We never had a single issue or scare in the 5 years of working with her. She's extremely reliable, great with communication and flexible. I love the peace of mind knowing that my dog will be happy and safe under her care. Ming has a deep love and connection to animals. She's become an important part of our family and any dog would be lucky to work with her.

    Happy Dogs!
    Nigel C.

    We have used Ming for a few years now when we go on long vacations. We have a Belgian Malinois that is not very friendly due to being bitten at an early age. Ming has a magical touch because she sends us videos and pictures of our dog playing with other dogs during her stay. I would highly recommend boarding your dog with Ming because of her knowledge with different types of dogs.

    Jordan S.

    We start our story with a dog who couldn't handle being in the same space as another dog. At the point we met Ming we could barely walk our dog down the street without her freaking out at every person, dog, or inanimate object. We had gotten some advice from other trainers but none of it seemed to be working for us and our girl. Enter Ming! The first time we met in person we went for a walk with our dog. We were so nervous since our dog did not do well with strangers (lunging, barking, etc.). But Ming knew the exact right things to do and the right energy to put out. They were besties within a half hour. We decided to have our dog board with Ming for a month. This was a game changer. She came back with really strong place, recall, etc. the basics that you need to build on. There was definitely a learning curve when our dog came back but we had amazing support from Ming and clear expectations. We are about 2 years into training. We still work with Ming regularly. Our dog is happier and more secure each day because of Ming and we have so much more confidence in our ability to communicate with our dog.

    I've walked and boarded my 14 year old Frenchie for many years with Ming. I really appreciated her skills, it helped my dog overcome some of his toughest times. I can highly recommend Ming's service. She is super reliable and helped me out countless times when I needed longer boarding. One of the things I especially loved was being able to see my dog at the park with the pack, on her Instagram account.

    Dog
    I Z.

    We highly recommend Ming and Running Amok for all of your dog training, boarding and behavioral needs. We had an interesting first experience with a trainer we sought out to help train our 5 month old puppy to be comfortable and calm around other dogs, animals, and moving objects which eventually led us to seek out someone who demonstrated more care, attention, and behavioral understanding. Upon my first interaction with Ming, I appreciated that she spent a quality 30-45 minutes with me listening and trying to understand the specific needs of our new pup. She was very knowledgeable about animal behavior, made us feel comfortable and at ease from the start, and offered great perspective on why our pup may have been exhibiting certain behaviors at a young age. Also what needed to happen going forward to ensure our baby could lead a happy and comfortable life as she explored the world around her. We decided to do a board and train where our pup would spend 4 weeks with Ming, away from us. Admittedly it was difficult with her being away for weeks at a time, but Ming would send frequent pics, updates and training advice throughout. We also did our best to meet once a week to go over and practice the training techniques ourselves both in and outside of our pup's normal environments. We'd meet in parking lots or near our home to practice being around different types of sights, sounds, and triggers. Those training sessions were followed up by frequent communication from Ming to gauge our understanding and ensure we would put the training into practice. Those 4 weeks ended up getting broken up due to holidays and some unforeseen sick days, but Ming more than made up the time and was very professional about ensuring she kept the 4 week timeframe. She even took our pup on long road trips out of town and camping which was good for our pup to experience. We also boarded her recently for a week with Ming while we went on holiday vacation with our family. She is used to Ming and loves her. Now that she's home, she has definitely exhibited strong improvement from when she first met Ming. She is demonstrating restraint through play and other techniques we are using to practice disengagement from triggers she once was very sensitive towards such as other dogs. Ming practiced this heavily with her and in the later weeks of her training introduced her to being around other dogs and animals in closer proximity. She can now be within closer proximity of these triggers and demonstrate good restraint and a better understanding of her environment. I appreciated that Ming helped us to understand that our pup will always have her spunky and tenacious personality, and to not take that away from her but taught us how to help channel her youthful energy through different techniques we need to practice consistently. They have been paying off so far and we couldn't be happier. She's now 9 months and we're so proud of her progress. We will definitely be boarding again with Ming and Running Amok in the future!

    Dog
    Meghan B.

    Ming and Eli have been taking care of my reactive Australian Shepherd for many years. Since she is not friendly to everyone, she requires special attention and she always gets that at Running Amok. We have used both their walking and boarding services and appreciate their communication, flexibility, and fair prices. I also love that Ming has a background as a trainer and is always continuing her education in dog training. It gives me the peace of mind that my troublemaker is being loved and corrected like we would at home. I highly recommend Running Amok!

    A well trained boy
    Ryan S.

    Ming helped me get on my feet as a new dog owner of a 6 month old rescue with a variety of behavior quirks to iron out, along with foundational obedience, deference, etc. She was able to give me tools to use in the long term to manage and develop good behavior and habits with my dog independently. Additionally she seems very knowledgeable about animal behavior across many areas. She is open and flexible to adapting her training approach to match the dog's specific personality as well as the living situation, owner's preferences and limitations etc.. I would recommend her to any friend who recently adopted a dog!

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    Our dog loves his time with Running Amok! We have relied on them for years to take care of our baby while we are away!

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    I absolutely loved working with Ming! She turned my pup who had never even walked on a leash into a loose leash, obedient dog dream!

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    Ask the Community - Running Amok

    Review Highlights - Running Amok

    “We were at a loss with our reactive dog (a large shepard mix) until we found Ming, an incredible dog trainer.”

    Mentioned in 34 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Cause & Effect Dog Training - Kathy and Benji after one of our sessions

    Cause & Effect Dog Training

    (145 reviews)

    West Berkeley

    Kathy is a phenomenal at training people and their dogs. She's helped us with in-home training,…read moreoff-leash practice, and everything that's come up in between. She also hosts monthly classes that are free for clients who work with her regularly and has put in lots of additional time inviting dogs (and their people) to tag along on pack walks. It's clear that she does this work because it's her passion and she cares about dogs being happy and well cared for. "Balanced" dog training includes tons of treats, lots of play, and the safety needed to make sure no one gets hurt. We weren't sure what to expect from training with Kathy, but it's been a wonderful balance of true fun, silliness, joy, and clear and firm boundaries. We're so grateful to have her in our lives.

    I cannot recommend Kathy at Cause and Effect Dog Training enough! When we first reached out, our…read moreSpringer Spaniel, Checkers, was fearful, anxious, and often growled at my spouse and sometimes even at our kids. We had already tried multiple trainers, different techniques, and even followed our vet's suggestion to try antidepressants--but nothing was helping (in fact, the medication only made things worse). The moment I spoke to Kathy on the phone, I felt confident she truly understood the problem and could guide us in the right direction. And she absolutely has. Over the past year, Checkers has made tremendous progress thanks to Kathy's knowledge, patience, and the clear guidance she gave us. We followed her suggestions carefully--even switching vets based on her recommendation--and the results have been life-changing. Earlier this year, we had to travel out of the country and trusted Kathy to board Checkers. During that time, he developed a beautiful bond with her partner Dan. This was nothing short of amazing, as Checkers has always been fearful of men. Watching their relationship grow has been such a gift. With Kathy's help (and the influence of her own two balanced dogs), Checkers has learned how to be a dog--something I once thought might never happen. He now participates in pack walks and can even run off-leash in the fields, something I couldn't have imagined a year ago. If you're struggling with your dog's behavior and feel like nothing is working, do yourself and your dog a favor and call Kathy. She and Dan have changed our lives, and I am endlessly grateful for the care and dedication they've shown to Checkers and to us.

    Happy Hound Play & Daycare - Inside or outside play all day!

    Happy Hound Play & Daycare

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    I have brought my dog to Happy Hound for over twelve years, after we tried another doggie day care…read more The staff at Happy Hound knows and cares about all the dogs, they have a thoughtful system for placing every dog in the appropriate group based on the dogs' energy level and temperament (mine is cranky with other dogs and wary of people), and the staff (all great) really understand how to accommodate different dogs -- no matter the size, breed or personality. For years my dog was there five days a week as I commuted into the City, and I always knew she was safe and happy there. Really the best facility for boarding dogs. M.A.B.

    Short version, they stole $2500 from us, and we heard they are oldschool and use punitive measures…read moreon the dogs. They claim to be positive reinforcement only, but I heard this from one of the two licensed dog behavioralists in the area. This tracks with talking to the boss and hearing her talk about the "alpha" which is antiquated terminology. long version - we were researching a place to board our dog, and went for the 1 month board and train. We then heard that they use punitive measures when training the dogs so in less than 24 hours we canceled. They take half the money as a deposit, which in this case was nearly $2500. We asked for a refund and they said no. They said it's in the contract, which it is, but they do not make it obvious, and certainly nobody told us that verbally. You really have to read that thing. They said we could use the money toward future services but as they use punitive measures we will not be working with them. So, they stole $2500 from us. Be careful of what you're getting into.

    Karan’s Dog Training

    Karan’s Dog Training

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    Karan has been an incredible trainer for my female Italian Greyhound. He first started working with…read moreher when she was about four months old and she was doing great! We moved away when she was 6 months old, and the transition was really hard on my pup. We returned to the area and she is now 16 months old, I called Karan right away. My pup had become very reactive toward other dogs and people, barking and freaking out, seeing red and lunging at other dogs. He was able to quickly help me see how some of the things I was doing -- with the best intentions -- were actually making things worse for my dog. That insight alone was incredibly helpful and reassuring. Karan is assertive, extremely knowledgeable, and knows exactly how to guide both dog and owner toward success. One of the biggest things he helped me realize is how important my own confidence is in shaping my dog's behavior. That shift alone made a huge difference. He is professional, reliable, and consistently follows through. He even drives out to us, which makes training so much easier. Beyond that, he is always communicative, responsive via text, and available when we need support. Karan has truly become our go-to trainer, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for effective, high-quality training. Thank you Karan!

    Karan is a super intuitive and grounded trainer. He has a calm, steady presence that my dog…read moreresponded to immediately. We've been seeing him two to three times a month for the past few months, and he consistently knows what he's doing. He gives clear suggestions, shows you exactly how to implement them in training sessions, and you get to see firsthand how well they work. Unlike other trainers I've spoken to in the Bay Area, he keeps things simple and effective, and he's great about answering questions between sessions when something comes up. He's flexible, easy to communicate with, and genuinely invested in your dog's progress. I suggest bringing a pen and paper because the small tips he drops are the ones you'll want to remember. Thanks to him, my King Charles Cavalier is now holding his pee for almost six hours, and I've learned how to attune without slipping into the "my dog must be sad" spiral. He's not sad -- he's a happy little guy who just needs structure, attention, and, well... training. Highly recommend!!!

    Mutt and Tumble Dog Training

    Mutt and Tumble Dog Training

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    Excelsior

    My husband and i were recommended Bryan, from a friend who also had a tough time with his pupper…read more Our 1 yr old Jax is a mixed Doberman and pinscher and before his training with Bryan, we had almost given up. Jax was very anxious, clingy, over protective and did not let people or other dogs near him or us. He would pull on his leash and would launch at anything that moved. When he would be at home without us, he'd howl his lungs out and would tear up his toys, my shoes, socks, couch pillows and cause all sorts of ruckus. He would poop and pee all over the house and would refuse to use his pee pads when we weren't home. We tried everything, as far as being affectionate and giving him the expensive food and toys, but it wasn't aiding our situation. Bryan took in Jax for 6 weeks and during that time, we would meet up with them and also be given lessons on how to work with Jax. After a couple of weeks, we started seeing a difference during his training; NO MORE PULLING!!! I couldn't believe it!! I sware I thought to myself Jax was never going to change, and here Bryan proved me wrong ! Jax was a whole new dog !! When it came time for Jax to come home, he was completely turned around. We are now able to walk him without a leash she no longer rips anything in the house and occasionally when he does have an accident, he goes on his pee pads. We are able to enjoy long walks out in public areas along with playtime at the dog park. Having a dog is a responsibility and a long-term commitment, so investing in our pupper is a no-brainer. It is 100% worth the training and has made our life so much easier and stress-free. I do want to also say, though that after the training, it is required to continue the same lessons that Bryan has given us so that our pupper continues with his routine. Thanks to Bryan, Jax is now well behaved and calm. We get compliments everywhere we go on how well behaved he is! We are proud doggy parents .

    We cannot recommend Mutt and Tumble Dog Training enough. Bryan helped transform our two doodles…read morefrom reactive, poorly behaved dogs into calm, obedient companions who are now a pleasure to walk and have around others. Before training, we struggled with leash pulling, barking, lunging at other dogs, and nonstop chaos whenever someone came through the door. We were honestly at our wits' end. Everything changed after I saw Bryan in Jackson Square walking a calm, perfectly behaved pack of dogs. We started weekly family lessons in January 2026 with our dogs and our two 12-year-old daughters, and progress began almost immediately. Bryan quickly helped us realize the humans needed training too. With consistent coaching, support, and a board-and-train program, the transformation has been incredible. Our dogs are now well-behaved both at home and in public. We can comfortably walk them, take them to parks and outdoor restaurants, and genuinely enjoy being with them. Friends and family who knew our dogs before cannot believe the difference in their behavior. Thank you, Bryan. You really can teach old dogs new tricks.

    Devoted Dog Training - My rescue pit that Courtney gave me the tools to help her separation anxiety!

    Devoted Dog Training

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    This review has been a long time coming. We've wanted to work with Courtney since 2019. Our dog has…read moreanxiety & noise sensitivity issues and we wanted to help her build confidence. I emailed Courtney back in October for a consultation. They responded quickly with dates and times, I booked a consultation in 11/8/2019. When it came time to our appointment, we had to be rescheduled multiple times due to whatever issue Courtney had. We didn't think much at the time, but this should've been a HUGE red flag. We ended up seeing her on 11/16/2019. Following that, we paid $310 for 4 packs of 30 min lessons on 12/16/2019. We scheduled 4 lessons around the end of January to February. We had to reschedule our lessons due to their dog passing away and health reason (totally unfortunate situation). However, in February, they said they would refund our money once Courtney recovered. We waited until March before we contacted them due to her health reason. Courtney responded via text message once on 03/6/2020 and they responded once through email on 04/5/2020 about how refunds are being worked on. They never responded again. We've emailed & texted multiple times. I really didn't want to write this bad review about a small business, but it's really unfair to take our money, not provide sessions, tell us they'll refund us, and then disappear when it comes time for refunds. All we wanted was for our dog is build confidence and now we're left with nothing. We have been waiting since February 2020 for our refund and it is currently August 2020. I have slowly come to terms that they scammed us, but I want to prevent this situation from happening to someone else. I would give Courtney 0 stars if I could. Please take your business elsewhere, there are other trainers who are more reliable all over the bay area. Don't make the same mistake we did. I attached pictures following the timeline of this whole situation.

    We first reached out to Courtney in 2017 for help getting our senior chihuahua more on track with…read morehousebreaking. Since then, Courtney has remained a consistent source of support in working with this highstrung but loving little guy, and most recently walked us through a pretty miraculous introduction between him and our newborn baby. Books the chihuahua is terrified of children and had barked and lunged at babies in the past, and I was so worried about bringing our daughter home to meet him and keeping them both safe and happy. Courtney coached us on how to prepare Books for having a baby in our pack, and gave us insight into how he might be feeling and thoughts he might have. When introduction day came, Courtney was there and walked us through the entire interaction. Books had some behaviors that worried me, but Courtney explained them and assured me they were normal. Before we knew it, he was licking baby's ears and feet! Thanks to that positive first encounter, he has accepted her as a pack member and wants to be near her all the time. He's still having anxiety about the change, and Courtney has been generous about texting with us and offering solutions that have worked (thundershirt and a lil' CBD tincture). I should also mention that Books was terrified of Courtney at first (as he is with most new people), and after training with her a few times, she became one of his favorite people and now he gets excited if he even sees her car in the neighborhood! Courtney was also very generous in advising a friend and I about a stray dog we rescued from a cemetery. The dog was terrified, and Courtney offered a lot of pro bono advice about separation anxiety and helping him relax, and eventually did a formal session with his foster mom. Courtney's help got him to relax enough to stay in a not-very-dog-friendly building until he was adopted. Thank you Courtney and Devoted Dog Training for helping our family be happy together!

    Running Amok - pet_training - Updated September 2026

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