We brought our 1 year old golden retriever (Charlie) to the Rex center to learn how to swim. The trainer - Alice - was wonderful! She very patiently helped ease Charlie into the water, encouraged him to get comfortable without pushing him. By the end of the session he was already starting to swim on his own. Really happy with this first lesson and I highly recommend the Rex Center to anyone who's looking to introduce their dog to the water. read more

See all

The Rex Center is such a great experience for dogs of all ages and needs for their services. Cant praise them enough :) In our sweet Maddox's situation (14 y/o Golden Retriever), we came to the Rex Center in hopes to help alleviate his severe/chronic arthritis, after his arthritis meds stopped working after 2 years. I shared more on his condition and our solutions below, but ultimately this experience at the Rex Center (IMO) helped extend Maddox's life by 7+ months. Big thank you to Ellen and Robin for your empathetic support, and just overall knowledge and skills, while helping to make Maddox's chronic arthritis livable again. ~~ More context to Maddox's arthritis condition for anyone that may be facing similar challenges -- hope it helps! . Maddox's arthritis meds (Adaquan/carprofen/gabapentin), which had worked great for ~2 years, mostly stopped working in early June 2023. By late June 2023, and about 3 weeks since the meds stopped working, it was to the point that Maddox couldn't get up effectively, or walk on his own; nor could he hold himself up while going to the bathroom. To me at this time, it seemed like something was sprained, whether that was in his paw or around, etc, as he was also regularly knuckling / curling his paw during these 3 weeks. First we got him a X-Ray, it came back as nothing being sprained or broke. Then a MRI with an orthopedic (Marin County), and that all but confirmed Maddox's debilitating arthritis as the singular cause. The orthopedic was even surprised it was only arthritis and nothing more. So after the MRI, he was prescribed prednisone (early July 2023) by the orthopedic. It worked! **This is also when I set up his first swim session with Ellen and the Rex Center ...and this worked too! Mainly, the Rex Center + prednisone was the only solution that provided results. Where once a week, over a few months, Maddox had a swim session at the Rex center. Progressively stabilizing into what came to be a situation where he was playful again, getting up and going to the bathroom on his own strength, and overall about as good as it could be given the circumstances. I can't thank Ellen and Robin enough. On the video and images I shared, those are from the very first session. Maddox got right in, swam great, and overall was relaxed (like a spa day!). Of note, Maddox in his entire 14 year existence NEVER swam too, for whatever reason he hated the water. With Ellen and Robin though, you never would have known. Thanks to the team here again, and I only wish we had Maddox in the water during those 2 years when his arthritis meds worked great. **My recommendation is if your dog has any level of arthritis, the earlier the better, get the pups in that warm water at the Rex Center. read more

The Rex Center - Maddox and Ellen (July 2023)! - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

See all

Had an appointment for our elderly dog for a quick nail cutting session and Robin was amazing. Very patient, understanding, and informative. I wish we had known about this place when we moved in the area. read more

This place is wonderful. Our dog Pepsi had a wonderful time on his first visit. He enjoyed his first swim ever with Robin. Robin immediately made him feel comfortable and safe, and within a few minutes Pepsi was swimming without any assistance! This truly was a great experience for our dog and we will be back often! read more

The Rex Center - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

My pup's first experience with swimming wasn't the best. Another dog aggressively played with my dog and cornered him against the edge of a koi pond, which forced my dog to plunge in the pond. I saw my dog's survival skills kick in as he swam to the pond's edge and pulled himself out. So I know my dog can swim, but I was concerned if this experience may have traumatized him. I previously heard of The Rex Center from our Flyball Coach at Fetch Sam! in the South Bay, and I remembered her recommendation during this time of need. The wait for the next available lesson appeared to be a month and a half, so we booked the earliest that worked out for us. What was cool was that The Rex Center offered a discounted rate for first time clients, which we definitely took advantage of. Cassie was our swim instructor, and she was amazing! Nothing but great energy from her, and you could tell she is just so passionate with what she does. She was patient about easing our pup into the water, and he put his full trust in her immediately. She was great with positive reinforcement, and she also educated us on how to continue developing his swimming skills. The lesson took about 45 minutes, and the time flew by. It was such a joy watching our pup swim laps up and down the pool. We couldn't be prouder! After the session Cassie gave us advice on next steps, and we look forward to coming back for 1 more assisted swim and moving up to an advanced swim. read more

Our senior yellow lab has enjoyed each week of swimming with great instruction by Robin. Sadly, he has been steadily getting more debilitated from arthritis, other age related issues and we have come to the decision to let him go to Rainbow Bridge. I can tell anyone out there that each week we would arrive at the Rex Center, our guy's ears would go up and he would be VERY happy to see Robin and enjoy a nice warm water swim and massage. We cannot give enough praise for the professional, loving treatment our boy got over the past two years. Thank you SO MUCH Robin and Ellen and the house kitties and Chando for being all you can be. We will see you again. Joey GDB'10. read more

The Rex center is truly an amazing place to take your dog. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Big shout out to Autumn, Ellen, Robin, and all other Rex center staff that have helped my Appa thrive. They know how to work with bulldogs for sure! They have the right combo of love, patience, and encouragement when working with my sweet but stubborn pup. With regular sessions, I continue to see significant progress in Appa's mobility and energy level (he has arthritis and hip dysplasia). The Rex Center has been a total blessing in helping keep Appa in shape and living his best life. 10 stars if I could. read more

The Rex Center - Appa the English bulldog - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

Having our puppy be comfortable with water is super important to us because we live in such an active lifestyle, so we signed our cattle dog mix for two swim lessons with Autumn, and she was fantastic at getting him comfortable and when he didn't love it initially. Since then, we've scheduled a couple swim sessions to help him build more confidence with swimming. We are so lucky to have a facility like this in the Bay! All the staff has been so welcoming and incredibly helpful. We love coming here read more

See all

This place is amazing. I took my pupper the first time there and he love it. We will be coming back atleast once a month for now. And Robin was amazing as well read more

The Rex Center - Dimi enjoying his swimming - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

This review is for Joule! He's the best swimming instructor ever. It's my puppy Butter's first time swimming and Joule helped it look so easy. Joule began by explaining to me what he was doing, such as first trying to make my pup relax, play and trust him, let Butter understand that he could put his feet down into the water and the stairs underneath would support him, and figuring out that I was my puppy's motivation to swim toward to. My pup Butter is usually a shy dog with strangers and strange environment but he was able to relax and trust Joule. This says a lot! Joule was very patient and encouraging. By the end of the session, Butter was able to swim a full lap and seemed to enjoy it! I really like the facility. It's very clean. It's also easily accessed to from highway 1 and only within walking distance to the Pier. Indeed, Butter and I took a walk toward and back from the center. They do have strict rules about how you should let your dog poop and pee first before coming into the pool. If incident happens, you will be charged a cleaning up fee, which is fair in my opinion. Since it was our first time here, I signed up for the New Swimmer session which lasted 45 minutes. Their regular assisted swimming lesson normally lasts 25 minutes (there is a 50 minute session option if you want to). Butter got the whole pool to himself and one-on-one assistance/instruction from Joule. The pool area is a gated and private section of the facility. Once you're in there, you cannot see what's going on outside and outside people cannot see you. Which is a good thing so our pups can have less distraction and focus on swimming. They're totally equipped with all the floating toys, treats, floatation devices and towels. Overall, we're really satisfied and happy with our first puppy swimming here. 45 minutes went by fast. I already booked Butter's next swim with Joule. Thank you and highly recommend the facility! read more

The Rex Center - Butter swimming like a champ! - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

See all

I brought in my rottie for hydrotherapy, and his instructor was Autumn. She was absolutely wonderful and so knowledgeable. The session was great, my dog loved it and I'm looking forward to going back!! read more

The Rex Center - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

We were super aware of how ridiculous it was to be taking our 1 YO Aussie pup - an animal that innately knows how to swim - to a swimming lesson, but really wanted him to have a good first experience in the water. After an hour with Robin, it doesn't seem ridiculous at all. He was really uncertain at first, but she knew exactly when to transition him from floating with her, to swimming a little independently, to entering the pool himself and swimming out to fetch a ball. She knew exactly when to introduce a life jacket, and what body language signaled that he was starting to feel more comfortable in the water. By the end of the hour, our little guy went from trying to skitter out the sides of the pool to being pulled out of it because he was fetching so enthusiastically. He's also been exhausted for the past 24 hours, which is hard to achieve with a baby Aussie. Robin, Cedar Pup thanks you! read more

My German Shepherd is four years old and never had the opportunity to go swimming or to the beach. I took her to the Rex Center on November 2022 and continuing as of current.. She absolutely love this place and the staff, is absolutely wonderful. Very caring to all animal that comes to the Rex Center.Sheba instructors name is Autumn, and she's great! read more

If I could give no stars I would have! I booked an appointment yo bring my 2 dogs in for swim lessons. I apparently booked the wrong session and got an email from the company to call them. When I did so, the person I spoke to said in a VERY condescending tone, "did you read the email?" WOW. JUST WOW. I explained that I read the email and that it stayed to give them a call, which is what I was trying to do. The person proceeded to speak to me in a rude and condescending tone and so I interrupted her and cancelled my appointment. Was she having a bad day? I don't know but I am not going to be treated like that by a company who is supposed to have compassion. I would never recommend this company to anyone! read more

Five stars for Ellen, who is such a sweetheart and will help your dog get adjusted to swimming with lots of TLC. We really enjoyed our session with her and she is wonderful. All good things to say about her and the actual class! Knocking off a star for the front desk staff, who were not welcoming and downright rude. Rex Center shares a facility with A Well Adjusted Pet, so it seems that the receptionist and customer facing staff might be from there. They have a turf area in the front that looks like it might be a potty area, but it's actually not. When I unknowingly tried to take my dog there, I was sharply reprimanded and informed it was 'for sitting.' It's an easy mistake to make for first time customers. However if your dog goes there they will get very upset and be aggressive toward you, especially one staff member named Alisha. If not for these unfriendly attitudes, we would have had a 5/5 experience at Rex Center. Their unwelcoming behavior will make you hesitant to want to go back. Also heads up, there is no bathroom available for customers to use. So that can be inconvenient for folks who are coming from a bit further. read more

Fabulous first water experience for our pup. Highly recommend for high energy dogs to get some energy out in a fun way. Amber is awesome!

I stopped by the Rex Center to check it out before I brought my dog. The Owner, I think she said her name was Ellen, was at the front of her business with doors open and writing on a white board. It appeared she was open for business. When I asked about her dog swimming business, she rudely responded that she was closed and just got back from vacation last night. She told me to go online to learn about the place, when I told her I had seen her website and that I was interested in viewing her place before I signed up my dog. She disrespectfully said she was too busy for that and appeared angry that I was asking her questions about her establishment. I am new in Pacifica and was searching for a caring place for my dog to swim. I do not recommend The Rex Center and I would not advise anyone to sign up there. The Owner clearly doesn't want your business or mine. How well do you think she would care for your special pet? read more

My dog was diagnosed with a partial CCL tear and was limping on and off for about a year before I brought her here. Prior to The Rex Center, we took her to physical therapy at a veterinary hospital where they did underwater treadmill, massage, and cold laser therapy. After 6 weeks, Luna only had minor improvements and was still observed limping from time to time. The vet said it might be a good idea to discuss the possible need for surgery because Luna wasn't improving. Of course, at the mention of surgery I started looking for alternatives... that's when I discovered The Rex Center. After our second hydrotherapy session at The Rex Center, it was like Luna never had an injury. She completely stopped limping and gradually, as she undergone more sessions, she had more energy and was willing to go on longer walks. I cannot explain the joy I felt when I was able to see Luna run around with other dogs again; a dog's legs are their life. Despite not initially liking the water, I can tell she really enjoys swimming once she's in the pool. That, and all the treats she gets! Even though Luna no longer limps, it's imperative that she stays in tip-top shape so she doesn't have recurring injuries. Hydrotherapy is the best form of exercise because it's low-impact, soothes stressed muscles, and provides a great outlet for all her energy. Her quick recovery was nothing short of miraculous. The amount of money I spent on vet visits, physical therapy, and medication was astronomical, but I love my dog and I want to give her the best. This is the best. I highly recommend this place. read more

The Rex Center - Looking for food around the pool.. - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

See all

Disappointed with the setup, as it was not an ideal setup for a tripod. There's no ramp or device to get your dog in and out of the water. I called the owner prior inquiring about the setup and she was very pushy and condescending about the safety of my dog and said insisted it wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, this was not the case and only safe way of getting your injured dog in and out of the pool is by one personally lifting your own dog. Also, very poor customer service, the own kept repeating herself every time I spoke trying to explain my dogs ACL tear and missing leg, rudely repeated herself "ahah" and then in person right after visit which was not was not the full session we paid for, she immediately tried to upsell services, i.e., brace and multipack swim sessions. Instead of being concern for the dog! Note: Aside from the owner Ellen, the swim coach was very nice. read more

I highly recommend Rex Center! It's a great, safe way to teach your dog water skills and have them get some exercise at the same time. My dog is cautious of new places, but at our second visit, he was almost dragging me in to see his new favorite person. It's super easy to make appointments online, and the staff were super responsive to my emails. My appointments were spread out over a few months, I was happy with the flexibility of picking the times that fit in my schedule. I also found it to also be a great bonding experience for both my dog and myself. My dog looked to me for guidance and encouragement the whole lesson. I really have to give props to my dogs swim teacher, Autumn. My dog is actually very cautious of most people and honestly, takes a long time to warm up to someone, but with Autumn, he felt very comfortable. Within the first few minutes, he was sitting on her lap and she welcomed it! I signed up for an initial appointment, not sure what to expect. My dog loves water, but I've been trying to get him to swim for 3 years. After the initial appointment, I bought a 3 pack, and it was amazing to see my dog progress! By the end of the third appointment, my dog was able to finally figure out how to jump off Autumns lap and swim around a little bit. This week, with a very slight push, my dog finally took a jump and did a small swim on his own! Which never would've happened before our lessons at Rex Center read more

I wish I could give this place a positive review, we were very excited to bring our pup here to learn how to swim. Unfortunately she got very sick the night before her appointment (GI upset), so I called Rex Center in the morning to let them know she has a bad tummy and I was berated for canceling the appointment "an hour before" (though it was actually 3.5 hours before). I understand that the business is very busy and I even understand that they aren't able to provide a refund with a last minute cancellation, but I was treated by the staff very rudely and condescendingly, as if it were my intention to have a sick dog the morning of the appointment. I will not be going back due to the rudeness of the staff. read more

We decided to take our young Cocker Spaniel here for assisted swimming classes. We haven't had an opportunity to take him up to Lake Tahoe/Reno to experience the lakes there. We wanted him to get use to water before we take him there. Ellen and Joy are wonderful. They make our baby, Jello feel more confident in water. Thank you! read more

The Rex Center - Cozy - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

See all

For Coco's birthday I took her to The Rex Center in Pacifica. I'm so glad I did. Who thought my dachshund would be such a great swimmer! Ellen the owner must have the magic touch. Her passion and love for dogs is spot on. Coco was giving Ellen kisses by the end of her lesson. Coco looks so happy and content now . Noticeably more energetic and relaxed in her gait. I recommend The Rex Center. Open until 9pm too. read more

We take our dog swimming weekly at The Rex Center and it really helps with his arthritis. It's so nice to see him walking better. They also offer great rehabilitation services for dogs in the same facility. I highly recommend. read more

I was really happy to find the Rex Center! Our dog loves to swim but the ocean is always too cold and she's shivering her butt off after every fetch. It's a bit of a drive for us but we try to go every few months. Pacifica is also a very nice little town to visit. The first time we brought our dog, she had an assisted swim with one of the instructors. She did very well and the instructor was very kind and patient. Afterward, we were able to book appointments for open swims (25 or 50 minutes) without an instructor present. It has been a great experience for our dog and as she gets older, hopefully it will help with her joints as well. Everyone at the Rex Center is great and it's a very laid back environment. Booking appointments are very easy online but make sure to book ahead of time as some weekends they're fully booked. Minus one star because one time, a client in front of us was running late. We waited 15 minutes after our scheduled time to go in. We thought since we started late, we would still get the full 50 minutes for our session. Unfortunately, this was not the case and one of the employees rudely asked us to leave. Maybe she thought we were trying to get more time in but we explained the situation. Initially she was firm and still rude about our time being over but then said we could stay. We had already packed up our things by that point. I wanted to mention this since the cost is $65/50 minute session. Hoping this doesn't happen again next time we visit. Edit: Just wanted to point out that we didn't arrive late. We were on time but the client before us was running late and didn't leave the pool until 15 minutes after our session was supposed to start. There might have been some confusion and maybe the client didn't realize there was another session after theirs, but our dog only had 35 minutes of swimming when she should have had 50 minutes. We still recommend the Rex Center to dog owning friends :) read more

Really fantastic, welcoming place. My senior dog had a great swimming session here with a lovely therapist. They provide towels and everything you need as an observer. My dog was not too comfortable initially and needed the doggie vest, but by the end of the session was swimming like a champ. Thank you friendly humans of The Rex Center! read more

What a fabulous experience for our 2 dogs!! My husband and I have a 2 1/2 year old Labrador retriever, and a 11 year old westie. Although the assumption is that a lab (or for that matter, any dog) can swim, is not necessarily a true fact. Thus where The Rex Center comes in! Our intention was to have both our dogs get accustomed to being in the water (I.e pool), especially our 11 year old westie. Ellen is fabulous. Patient, understanding, and calm. As a "parent", it can be daunting when you see one of your "kid" panicking in the water, but Ellen was calm throughout the experience, which in turn, calmed the dogs, as well as the "parents" - while explaining the whole process of what the dog experience will be for them. Within a few minutes, you see a transition from full terror (the dog), to calm (the parent and the dog), to pure enjoyment on both sides. What we take from our first experience will lead us to multiple visits. Knowing there are benefits for our dogs from a) comfortable when around water (SAFETY), b) health benefits (low-impact exercise for their joints), c) Exercise - thus tiring them out - makes this a win win all around. read more

This review is long overdue... I've been coming here for 2 years with my dog Bulleit... He was 7.5 months old when he received his first assisted swim with Joy... His first few times he was rather timid with the water, once he finished his assisted swims, he realized his love for water... Bulleit looks forward to his monthly swims at the Rex Center... You just have to tell him he's going swimming and he will practically drag you to the car... He knows the route we take and will pull you straight out of the car and straight for the pool... Great place to get a low impact workout... They also have swim therapy for older dogs... I know when the time comes I will def. be using them for that service as well... read more

The Rex Center - Pet Training Near Me - Pacifica, California

See all

This could have been 4 stars considering their booking system isn't great but it's 5 stars because they were very accommodating. I'm so happy I found this place. My dogs didn't need physical therapy. I just wanted to get them accustomed to the water because I hope that they will be able to swim when we go to dog friendly water environments. I knew they enjoyed the water, but never "swam" (i.e.: beach). I researched and debated if I should go here but I came to terms that I just don't have the resources. It was pricey (but then again, it makes sense) $72 for two dogs for 25 minutes and assisted swim. I literally am always tight on ends but I will forgo my own "wants" when it comes to them. I make it work, honey! Lol! I called them SO many times and they were seriously so kind and responsive. I should've written all of my questions down but I don't know- I didn't. I booked online and it states that you are not confirmed for the scheduled date unless you get an email confirmation. So I called them and fortunately I did because the system overbooked me and another client of theirs. Joy was able to squeeze me in later in the day. When I got there, my dogs were insane. Literally. It was weird considering my dog who usually more quiet was actually barking at other dogs! Struggle moment. The staff was actually really accommodating to ensure safety of other pets and also to keep the mood okay. Thanks! The swim. They went separately and they get orange neck and butt floaties. So cute lol. She let them swim a bit and would pick them up, pat them and give them a "thigh massage". It was so cute to see them smile in the water. Flapping. Sheesh. They were nervous but calmed down with time. I wish that I chose the 50 minute because I think they were doing well and 25 minutes flies. Instructor: Joy was pleasant. I was chatty and probably ruining the mood but she was cool about it. I got to save my coins so I could get them back there! Thanks again, staff. You're awesome. read more

We took our 3 month old chocolate lab, Zeppelin for an open swim. He ended up having to be assisted because it was his first time and it went great. He loved being a little guppy in the warm water and it was an over nice time and environment. We hope to bring him back for a swim soon! read more

See all

Such a great place to help your pup love the water -- still working on it, but Ellen helped my scared pup do a great job :)

I cannot say how happy I am this place exists, it has helped our dog's after-surgery recovery so much! It's super easy to book, reasonably priced, and very easy to get to. The people who run it couldn't be nicer and more accommodating, and we are very grateful to them. read more

We took our Maggie (Chi mix) there. The people were kind and supported Maggie throughout the swim and talked us about some others ways to help her if she was able to. Unfortunately we brought her in too late. Really wish we knew of this place months ago when she was still walking. After the first swim she rested and then ate more than she had in weeks, even walked a little. Made us so grateful but we knew she was not going to be able to have any quality of life and was in significant pain. We made sure she was able to go to The Rex on her last day wtih us. She loved it, we were so grateful. Lastly, The Rex sent us a card. Did not expect that and meant so much. Thank you Rex! We will be taking our dogs there while they are healthy and if needed for healing. Great place for dogs of all sizes! read more

I've been taking my dog Frida here for almost two years now and it's about time I reviewed this wonderful doggie place. The Rex Center has a great reputation in the Bay Area and so happy that it's right here where I live. Initially I took Frida here because she was slowing down and I thought this would be good for her to keep her senior legs strong. A year later we got an actual diagnosis of Spondylosis, so coming here has taken on an even greater importance. The therapy pool is a nice, jumbo, excellent size and it is well taken care of -- although they use the proper chemicals to keep things as sterile as possible, predominantly chlorine, Frida comes out of there NOT smelling like a chlorine furball at all (whereas another place I've gone to where she's not even in the water as long she smells like chlorine for days after). They keep the place clean and it feels clean and does not have any offending smells! One of the main attractions of The Rex Center is its longtime hydrotherapist and now new owner Ellen. What a big, wonderful personality Ellen has and she makes it fun for both the dog and the human. We always have a good time. Ellen has a great way with dogs and makes sure they get full mobility -- and it includes massaging Frida's muscles in the pool in between laps. Ellen knows her stuff -- not only doing what needs to be done in the pool, but also with excellent advice on nutrition and other care. Of course, the most important thing are the results, and Frida comes out of there with renewed vigor for the rest of the week. She's a 13yo Lab mix and she's doing REALLY well on her feet -- thanks to Ellen and The Rex Center (oh, and can't forget their mascot, Bishop!). read more

After having Turbo for 6 years, I finally decided it was time to figure out whether or not my dog knew how to swim. We've gone to the beach on numerous occassions and Turbo always seems to run up to the ocean water but quickly retreats after he sees the waves come his way. Do dogs intuitively know how to swim? I wonder. As I was browsing online, I came across The Rex Center. They are located in Pacifica, which isn't too far from where I live, and best of all, they have very convenient hours of operation, which makes it easy for me to take Turbo there after work on a weekday. I signed Turbo up for a 50-min. assisted swim session with Ted. And to my surprise, Turbo loved it! Not only did Ted provide utmost patience and care for my dog as he was guiding him in the pool, Ted also provided Turbo with the right amount of emotional confidence to help him stay comfortable in the water. In the short span of 50-mins, Turbo went from not understanding what he was to do in the water to a pup that could swim back to the landing when released from the farthest end of the pool. All in all, it was a wonderful experience for Turbo & me. Just from the 50-min swim session, Turbo received enough exercise to keep him content throughout the evening and into the next afternoon. And for me, I have enough videos on my Flip camera to provide me with a lifetime of memories from Turbos' first day of swimming. I would highly recommend swimming sessions at The Rex Center for anyone that is looking for some supplemental exercise for their dog or for any dog that needs low impact exercise in the water due to joint pains or old age. Everyone I spoke with (from the receptionist to the dog trainers to the swim instructors) were all very friendly. I think The Rex Center is truly one of those establishments that have your pet's best interest in mind and the people that work there are genuinely nice people. read more

Our little female Labrador Retriever Maxine got into some knee trouble trying to keep up with her uncle Jackson who is just bigger and more powerful. According to our wonderful vet Adam at Healthy Pets in Portola, she either sprained, partially or fully tore an ACL or medial collateral. we were faced with the possibility of surgery and a LONG recovery. Fortunately, he recommended visiting Ellen at the Rex Center to try some warm water therapy to see if we could get the injury to heal on its own. We showed up for our first session and ellen spent 50 min in the water with Maxine doing retrieves and guiding her around the huge therapy pool. immediately i saw the stretching and strengthening that was going on in the water and we booked 8 more visits. owners are not allowed into the pool and each visit is 25 min. you need to be prepared for lots of splashing so bring a suit and trust me, 25 min is plenty for most dogs, esp with the jets on. maxine had to stop numerous times and rest, and this is a dog that goes hard in the cold water. and now i'm ecstatic to report that maxine has made a huge recovery, mostly due to the combination of rest and hydro therapy in a controlled environment. as far as i know, there is no other facility like this in the bay area so unless you have a private pool or access to one, this is the place to go. read more

What an awesome little place! My Jack Russell/Labrador mix, Felix, is a natural in the water. Oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams - he's all over them. Swimming pools? Ummmm, not so much. I learned that this is because of a dog's lack of depth perception. When they can walk in and feel the ground before going into the water, it's no biggie, because they realize that they will come back to ground. But in a swimming pool, they just see one big ole sheet of water glass. Now, if you are lucky enough to have a dog who will just jump on in, good for you. Little Fe just runs around the pool wildly whimpering, wondering how he's going to get to the ball. Enter The Rex Center. I won an auction that provided a couple of assisted swim sessions. Cathy is AMAZING!!! What a nice soul she is, with an obvious love for canine friends. She coaxed Felix safely into the warm water pool (it was like bath water - so cozy), holding on a little less and less and then he was over his fear, swimming after the Chuck-It toy! She also gave him little massages to get him comfortable. Once Felix understood that the stairs into/out of the pool were his "ground", he was swim-ming (ala Forest Gump) I can't wait to take him back. Since he's got the hang of it, we're splitting his remaining session into two "open swims", where you can bring your dog and swim without Cathy. Now, you don't get in the pool, but you're right there playing next to the water with your pooch! If you've got an arthritic dog, just want to do a new fun activity with your dog, or need a new pooch photo op, go to the Rex Center. read more

Ellen helped my dogs learn swimming. They were both super afraid of water, they never got there paws wet while running on the beach before seeing Ellen. Ellen was very patient and friendly, and she taught my dogs swim and they are not afraid of water any more. read more

Great place, caring people. I take my 15 year old terrier, Marnie here and though she is scared (never having liked the water), she is doing great and the water therapy is helping her a lot. The pool is lovely and large and heated. I want to get it ;) I love to see her swim and get stronger!!! Ellen is a hard working, caring and kind lady. Will be taking Marnie at least every other week to keep her strong and fit :) read more

Brought my puppy here before she turned one and she was introduced to the water and learned to swim. I know, I know, you are thinking, don't they just know how to swim naturally? My yellow lab loves the water but only knew how to paddle hard with her front legs. After some help, she figured out she needed to kick her back legs much harder and was able to swim and not sink her butt. In addition to the wonderful teachers at the Rex Center, other lessons are taught. Just because your doggie knows how to jump into the pool does not necessarily mean they know how to find the stairs or shallow area to exit the water. In the end, who cares? It is just a lot of fun to take your doggie swimming! read more