Jennifer is a masterful dog trainer. Two months ago, we picked up a 7-week old Golden-doodle, Max…read more We'd had dogs before. But it was a long time since we had a puppy. We knew that Jennifer was working with friends of ours and their dog, and they were very happy with her style and results. Knowing how busy Jennifer is, we asked them to find out if she'd make time for our new puppy. We are so glad she said yes! She is great! She trains the dog and the owner at the same time, with humor and discipline. There are two things you need to appreciate about Jennifer. First, she is a no-nonsense trainer. She loves dogs and takes the training seriously. You should be ready to do the same. The second is that she is a real expert in the science of training dogs. It's something special to watch how she treats the dogs with such a reach knowledge and understanding of what they need and when. Finally, Jennifer makes the training fun for the whole family. Our son has special needs, and it is wonderful to watch how Jennifer works with him and helps him learn how to train our dog. It is so fun to watch them together. She makes us all laugh. There isn't a better trainer around!

Jennifer has been a significant part of our dog's training for more than a year, ever since he was…read morea puppy. She understands dogs and getting the behaviors we want. She showed us how to motivate and train Leo and turn around any problem behaviors. On our first big trip out of town, she called us to see how things were going and helped us through some challenges. Recently, I wanted to do even more with Leo. Jennifer has been working with me to train Leo for AKC Rally, where he recently titled at the novice level and we're moving on! She has helped to make the person/dog relationship a pleasure. What more can you ask. Jennifer is GREAT. Knowledgeable, fun, passionate about dogs and their owners. She's also responsive, reliable and caring. She wants the best for our dog and us.

Hands down, Christi is the best dog walker in the East Bay. She is a first a dog lover, who is…read moreconscientious, organized, and thoughtful. Her pack walks exhaust the dogs while being safe and exciting for them. Her dog sitting sets my mind at ease as she knows dogs, her level head and knowledge ensure peace of mind while we are away.

this is also a long overdue review, I have used BARK AROUND THE BLOCK for many years. and…read more her staff are excellent. my dog; Rommel, a French bulldog he absolutely loves walking with her. She socializes the dogs with the group walks offered in the afternoons or morning walk. during the ongoing months The scheduling and communication is excellent ! My dog has improved greatly in all aspects of his socialization as well as his obedienc. Believe it or not for his breed he is so chill now. He loves his group walks! The trails are varied which is fabulous and keeps it interesting for the dogs. I have been extremely pleased with the excellent level of service provided by Bark Around the Block She is deserving of the Best Dog Walker of Alameda for the consecutive years, it has been awarded to her Company!

Our pups first groom and cut. Emily was great! Echo looks so…read morehandsome! He was happy and loving when we picked him up! He wasn't traumatized or unhappy. We'll be back!

Convenient now that there's a doggie daycare in Alameda where the old jazzercise used to be…read more Our dog has been here a few times and seems to enjoy it. The great thing is they take several photos and have a summary of your dog's day on a report card at the end of the day too. The only thing is I wish they were open Sundays too.

It is honestly impressive how many good reviews this daycare has. Understandable, considering…read moreclients see only a snippet of their dog's time with you including the happy images you share. I'll admit that when my dog stayed with you, my family assumed nothing but the best because those pictures of him enjoying a walk are just so cute. I was disappointed to find out that your facility is frequently understaffed, that your employees don't receive proper animal handling training, and that you house a DOG AND PEOPLE aggressive shepherd in the same facility as your clients beloved pets. A dog that has a history of attacks and that recently mauled an employee's arm (reported to animal control if anyone would like to fact check), a situation in which the owner has yet to take accountability for. If you are a person that cares how your dog is treated behind closed doors, or better yet a person who believes in workers rights and protections, I would steer clear of this boarding service. The few negative reviews are evidence of the chaos slipping through the facade. Do not ignore them.

Maya's team is amazing! The staff really care about your fur babies and put their best interest…read morefirst. Appa, my shiba inu is a selective dog and only likes a handful of dogs... But she's so excited when she gets picked up from daycare, she won't even turn around or notice us saying bye! That's phenomenal considering she doesn't care about dogs outside of daycare. So happy to have found this gem where Appa can thrive and socialize in a safe environment. Much love, Sherry

Pat is fantastic! I…read moreenrolled Harley, my very reactive doxie puppy, in one-on-one sessions followed by a 2-week board and train program and it was the best decision I've ever made. Pat uses these awesome analogies to help you understand the way dogs think and react. You can tell he is extremely knowledgeable and breaks down the training process in a way where it's straightforward for both you and your pup. I can see how it may be awkward to meet a total stranger who is then teaching you how to train your "child", but it never felt that way with Pat. He is super down to earth, hilarious and extremeley personable. I continue to use his dog sitting services until this day and I can tell my Harley girl adores him!

2 weeks of board and train with Pat has made huge improvements in reducing reactivity in my German…read moreshepherd mix rescue dog. Over the four years I have had her, she has progressively gotten more reactive to the point that I can no longer let her off leash except in the most controlled circumstances and walks were stressful and unpredictable. Whenever we encountered another dog or any other animal, I would have to brace myself for lunging, barking, and potentially getting dragged down the street. When I picked her up from board and train a week ago, she showed much improvement. I had been concerned that corrections could dampen her spirit but that was not the case. She's still as sweet and spirited as ever. Also, I noticed she had bonded closely with Pat which was a good sign. The improvement in her reactively became very apparent when I took her to Pat's group class for the first time today. In the past, she would have started barking from the car at the dogs in the park and I would not have been able to walk her anywhere near a park full of dogs. Today, I was able to walk her into the park without incident, and during exercises where the dogs had to walk near each other and sit within 3 feet of each other, I was amazed that she could do the exercises without a lot of stress and even seemed somewhat relaxed. That never would have happened before Pat! I look forward to taking my dog to as many group classes as we can! Thank you Pat!

We highly recommend Jayne, she is a very experienced dog trainer. Very flexible with scheduling…read more Also very responsive over text.

Disappointing experience -- not what I paid $2,000 for…read more I hired this trainer specifically to work on my dog's reactivity toward other dogs and her difficulty socializing. This was the main reason I was looking for a professional trainer, and I discussed this during our initial consultation. I paid $2,000 for an unlimited-session package. At the time, I was a nursing student working part-time, so I was grateful that she offered a payment plan because $2,000 was a significant amount of money for me. The first couple of sessions were in my home, which I understood because I assumed she wanted to meet my dog and get a better understanding of her behavior. However, the sessions were only around 30 minutes. Around the 4th or 5th session, she had me drive to a park in Oakland to meet her, which was already a considerable drive for me. She brought her own dog so we could finally work on my dog's reactivity around another dog. After she brought her dog to meet mine, the experience and sessions changed significantly. The interaction was very short--around 10-15 minutes--and the session ended shortly afterward. From my perspective, it seemed like she was not comfortable or confident handling my dog's reactivity once she actually experienced it firsthand. I reached out afterward because I wanted clarification about whether she was actually equipped to work with my dog's reactivity. She told me that she only taught manners in the home. That was extremely frustrating because dog reactivity was the primary reason I hired her in the first place. I explained what I needed during our consultation, and I would not have paid $2,000 for an unlimited package if I had understood that working on dog reactivity was outside the scope of what she provided. I ultimately requested a refund because I felt that the service I received did not match what I understood I was paying for. She told me that reactivity training (behavior modification) was not included in the contract. my concern is that this was specifically discussed during our consultation before I committed to the package. I was a student working part-time when I hired her, and $2,000 was a significant investment for me. I trusted that I was paying for help with the exact behavioral issue I had explained from the beginning. I'm sharing my experience so other dog owners--especially those with reactive dogs--can make sure they get very clear, written confirmation that dog reactivity training is specifically included in the services before committing to an expensive training package.

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.

Their 'training' is entirely anchored on fear-inducing techniques. We were given a contraption that…read moregenerates a harsh noise, and my dog was visibly terrified every time the trainer used it on her. All this while they constantly reassured us all their techniques are based on positive reinforcement - what kind of positive reinforcement is centered around fear?! It gnaws at us that we ever decided to go with this service. My dog - and every dog - deserves better.

Gusty us AMAZING!!!!! We saw great results after just 1 session and learn tons with each followup…read more If you keep up with her lessons you should see great behavioral improvement and management. Our dog was already amazing, but Gusty helped with the transition of our older rehomed puppy to our family. Something to note about the Bark Busters philosophy- it uses positive reinforcement with solid results...and also acknowledges that your dog is still going to be your dog. Their personality is their personality... so they teach you how to work with the dog that you have instead of the dog that you think you should have.

Their Buy 3 get 1 free deal is absolutely amazing…read more Great selection of snacks for a variety of different doggy dietary requirements. Love their toy selection as well. ESPECIALLY with the buy 3 get 1 free. The biggest draw though, super friendly staff that seems to really care about your pets.

Huge selection of cat foods - which is good because cats can be picky eaters. Vaccination clinic…read moreand easy freeway access. If you are looking for scenic window views while washing your dog - well, you found it. Overlooking the oakland estuary - it's pleasant on the eyes. Friendly staff. The vet clinic ladies were particularly above and beyond. Found food and immune supplements for Mrs Meow. She loved it all and is feeling better. I think she just needed more attention from me... she saw that with the luxury variety of foods I got here. All the best. Not some Walmart junk. Not far from the highway - just on the other side of the bridge. Convenient shopping center for everything else you might need.

Mitch and Patrick are amazing! We had 5 home sessions with our two Havanese dogs. We worked on…read moretraining them to be better at greeting people and on how to get them to not make at the door when the doorbell goes off. We also worked on walking and now they don't pull! So nice to be able to go on a walk without being pulled. We then did dog greeting and reactivity and got a lot of tips on what to do to help the dogs feel more comfortable. Mitch and Patrick really went above and beyond to help us!

We purchased the puppy package and worked with Mitch. Our experience was exactly what we were…read morehoping for and more. Mitch is knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging. He has a great way of pushing for progress in training and giving direct feedback while balancing it with knowing when everyone-humans and dog- need a break. Mitch was a lifeline in the early weeks of having our puppy and not knowing much about what to do. He has also gone above and beyond to listen to our concerns as they arise and help us problem solve. We just started attending puppy classes at Pet Food Express in Castro Valley, and those are excellent as well.