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    Vibrant K9

    5.0 (24 reviews)

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    1 day

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    Services - Vibrant K9

    Dog boarding and training

    Private dog training

    Puppy socialization classes

    Vibrant K9 Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Vibrant K9

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    Reviews With Photos

    Michael W.

    My wife and I met Elly through a previous trainer and business. We've since followed her to her new business and couldn't be happier. Elly was a great trainer for Fiona and helped us become more educated dog owners. However this review is mainly for her dog boarding. We only trust a select group of people to be responsible for Fiona, and Fiona has an even smaller circle of people she likes. Luckily Elly falls into both of those groups and we wouldn't trust anyone else to watch Fiona while we are gone. I get high anxiety when leaving Fiona to go anywhere but it gives me peace of mind knowing I am leaving her with someone who cares so much. We usually get daily updates either via Instagram or text message and every time I can tell Fiona is having a great time. I highly recommend using Vibrant K9 for any training or boarding needs

    Cooper in an ultimate chill state on place at home.
    Victoria W.

    We would recommend Elly and Vibrant K9 a billion times over. Cooper, our high-drive 14-month Australian Shepherd, used to struggle a ton. Walks were very tough and exhausting, any dog would make him lunge/cry/bark, and he had a very hard time settling at home. As a young puppy, we did several positive reinforcement training and while positive reinforcement usually worked, once more drivers were introduced, Cooper was incredibly difficult to manage. We enjoyed taking him to puppy socials, but with his high drive, the excitement started turning into reactivity toward other dogs. Because Cooper was brought up with positive reinforcement training only, we were initially unsure about introducing tools into his training. We were unfamiliar with using tools for balanced training and Elly took plenty of time to explain how tools are used in combination with positive reinforcement in order to communicate effectively. During our private lessons and pick-up lesson after board and train, Elly made sure we were confident about how to use the tools and when to use them. We've worked with Elly on several occasions: board and trains, boarding only, and both private and group lessons, and all have been amazing. Elly is so good with Cooper; she completely understands him, and has worked with him to improve not only his obedience but also our ability to communicate with him. Whenever Cooper stays with Elly, Elly regularly sends progress videos and updates to keep us actively engaged with the work they are doing. After working with Elly, Cooper is a transformed dog. He's well-mannered and understands how to manage his excitement around dogs. Walking with him is relaxing and pleasant, settling at home is a breeze, and his off-leash handling is consistent and reliable. Cooper is still the same high-drive, dog-loving dog, but with Elly's support, he has learned to understand how to control his excitement and drive. He loves playing with Elly's dog, Dakota, but only after he shows calmness and the ability to listen to commands. Not only is Elly amazing with training dogs, but she's also excellent at training dog owners. She takes the time to explain everything she teaches. She checks in to see how Cooper is doing and if we come across instances with Cooper that we don't know how to handle, she's always available to talk over the situations and offers advice on how to address them. Cooper isn't just another dog she churns through a stagnant program, she truly cares about the dogs she works with.

    Sheyla U.

    Our experience with Elly, the owner and head trainer of Vibrant K9, has been nothing but phenomenal! She has been working with Churro since he was 1yr old. He used to be really reactive (screech bloody murder because he wanted to say hi to other dogs and humans), and she was able to help us curb that behavior by filling in the training gaps he had. He completed a 2 week board and train where she was the lead trainer. Upon coming home, his obedience and confidence was vastly improved and he's been living his best life ever since! Fast forward 10 months after his B&T experience, Elly continues to check-in on him and us. She will gives us constant tips on how to refine his basic training and enhance his trick training. Whenever we have seen her in person for group meet ups, Churro is always exteremely excited to see her. During the meet ups, Elly is always open to answering our questions for improving our training techniques that work with Churro. We are truly lucky to have Elly as Churro's trainer.

    Beau
    Jennifer B.

    Such an awesome experience with Elly and Vibrant K9! She was the primary trainer of my dog Bella while at a previous business. Bella was a complete 180 in her training. Elly helped her with her human and dog reactivity, she is now able to have a neutral mindset. As soon as I got my puppy Beau, I knew I had to work with Elly and have him go through training. He started in puppy classes and eventually did a board and train with her! I couldn't be happier with how great she is but also how much she still helps if I have questions or need guidance on certain things. I have learned so much from her and it's helped my relationship with my dogs! I continue to bring my dogs there when I'm on vacation because I can trust that Elly with take care of them as well as they are both surrounded but other dogs that have gone through the same training. Elly has helped me be a better dog owner and I feel I'm able to give both Bella and Beau the best out of life now! I will forever recommend Elly and Vibrant K9!

    Ceren T.

    We originally met Elly at a facility that specialized in Aussies and Shepherds where our dog did a 3 week board and train. Elly was one of our dogs main trainers and we loved her style of communication and handling of our dog so much that we decided to follow her as she went off to pursue her own business. My husband and I truly don't trust anyone else with our dog expect for Elly - she is true magic! We recently just went away for 3 weeks in Europe and left our Aussie with her for a one week refresher and two week board and he did fantastic! She sent us videos of their training sessions together and lots of pictures where he looked so happy. Our Australian Shepherd sadly has a bite history, leash reactivity, and noise sensitivity (garbage cans rolling, skateboards, loud motorcycles, etc.). Prior to our trip, we had some behavior regression as we had just recently moved to a new house and neighborhood but with Elly's guidance, care, and structure, we returned home to a pup that is more confident and well mannered. Training isn't a one size fits all and you will have to commit to training with your dog post any board and train program (it's a lifetime commitment) but Elly has provided us with a solid foundation and I am forever thankful. She always answers my texts and calls when I have questions or concerns with my dogs behavior. It's nice to know that she is always available and it's not just a one and done. We've also done a handful of follow up sessions with her out and about in Campbell which we've loved. We constantly get compliments about how well behaved our dog is and we can take him with us everywhere and he's such a good friendly boy! If you're thinking of sending your dog to Elly, just do it! It's 100% worth it.

    Todd G.

    Our new addition to our family, Jeff, was adopted from a tough situation. He had some issues to work through that Elly helped immensely with through an evaluation and board and train. He can now more comfortably enjoy activities with us and Thor and continues to get exposures in group classes and improve!

    Puppy
    Kourtney H.

    We were referred to Elly by a mutual friend. I could already see how well she trained pups based on how great both my friends dogs were. We took our 7mo old puppy for obedience board and train for 2 weeks with a few private lessons before and after. Our pup is half Aussie so naturally she has a lot of energy but, she is so good! She knows all her commands and does so awesome off leash. Elly is the sweetest and most patient trainer. We will be sending our pup back for boarding when we go out of town. We trust and love VibrantK9!

    Our girl enjoying her best off leash life thanks to training
    Nathalie L.

    Elly is an incredible trainer and resource in helping our mini aussie Bailie thrive and live our best lives. Bailie has confidence issues and has struggled with a heavy handed approach from a previous boarding program. She's thriving with Elly as her trainer for the past 2 years. Our girl is more confident and is less anxious. This is the result we wanted from professional training. Elly puts in the time and effort, she really cares for the welfare of the dogs she works with. We continue to support Vibrant K9 because Elly has built a great client relationship with us. She is always professional and is great with communication. We have a lot of trust in Elly's abilities because she produced great results in her training with Bailie. When out in public, we get an abundance of compliments about how well behaved + trained Bailie is. We continue to use all of Vibrant K9's services from group classes, day camps, and overnight boardings. When we are at group sessions, it's a comfortable and supportive atmosphere that we look forward to. Bailie continues to do day camps with Elly at least once a week. Our aussie comes home happy and fulfilled. When we go on trips, we never hesitate to book overnight boardings with Elly, who makes it easy to coordinate. We've previously experienced another boarding location where our dog came home incredibly stressed out. The way Bailie engages and behaves around Elly, it is clear that Elly has earned her trust and respect. Elly prioritizes our girl's well-being and happiness, we couldn't ask for a better trainer to work with and highly recommend!

    Dakota (Elly's dog) and Selah
    Lauren G.

    My dog Selah has been training proactively with Elly from Vibrant K9 for the past 6 months now. For a little bit of background, my dog has a few reactivity issues including leash and dog reactivity and a pretty large degree of resource guarding. Last year, the resource guarding had gotten so bad, she started to resource guard me. Three other trainers had said my dog was "aggressive" and that she could not be helped. I decided to consult with Elly and found on my first impression that she was warm, compassionate, and even moreso passionate towards dog training. I finally decided on getting Selah into a 3 week board and train program to manage her resource guarding issues. The first week she had Selah, she gave me a call to discuss her particular plan to help combat this. It wasn't taking food away whenever the trainer wanted, it wasn't messing with her paws and bothering her while eating, it wasn't dropping treats to trade resources for higher value treats. It was all in the communication. Additionally, during the duration on Selah's stay, Elly provided me with several videos that showed her working on direct communication with my dog. After 3 weeks with Elly, Selah saw an immense improvement in her resource guarding, so much so that my family almost forgot her past behaviors. She had a great go home lesson for me when I picked up my dog from her and it was very evident that her board and train program has shaped Selah into a confident and obedient dog. Now, I can proudly say I am able to take Selah in any public space - without the overwhelming fear of her being reactive.  Now, 5 months after Selah's board and train, she keeps in touch, asks for updates about how she is doing, and always invites us to her group trainings. I fully recommend Elly to any dog owner looking for behavior modification or even just basic obedience; her compassion and diligence towards dogs and dog training is crystal clear and we will ALWAYS make the trek from Oakley to San Jose for training and boarding.

    Appa now stays on place even if food is nearby, he is happier and such a well behaved pup!

    Our almost two year old pup Appa went to a 5 week B&T with Elly. Appa struggled with severe reactivity towards dogs and people. It was anxiety producing for my husband and I to take Appa out or even have guest over. Appa would lunge at other dogs while screaming/barking or pull the leash to the point where I had fallen. When guests would come over he would bark non stop or jump up and steal their food. We had a variety of training classes prior to meeting Elly but they were no help! Not going to lie we were scared of the idea of board and trains for a long time but after meeting Elly and seeing her work she is the ONLY person I would ever do a B&T with. She truly cares for our pup and provides individualized training per Appa's needs. She goes above and beyond to provide Info to support our pup along with videos or meet ups while he was at B&T. She is always open to endless questions and support. Appa has made such amazing progress and his home manners have been great and overall I'm so proud of our pup. He was made a major transformation in his obedience, reactivity and settling. Not only did Elly take time to train our pup but she has been patient In training us to be the best fur parents we can be. She takes time to explain things and is an amazing teacher. I will be forever be grateful to the hard work and dedication Elly put into our pup Appa.

    Elly started working with Harley at about eight months old doing private lessons, and then a board and train at about one year. Since then he has returned for day camp, boarding, pack walks, and private lessons. I can't tell you how much peace of mind it gives me to have someone I trust give Harley as much love, attention, and activity as he would (if not more!) if he was at home. Harley is a sensitive guy and is often slow to warm up with new people. That is not the case with Elly, he adores her! You can really see her expertise, care, and love of dogs in how much Harley loves and respects her. I also love the sense of community with the opportunity for pack walks with other dogs and their owners. Can't recommend Elly enough!

    Chief and demo dog Dakota on place
    Catalina F.

    I cannot say enough good things about Elly, owner of Vibrant K9! A few years ago, our dog Chief completed a board & train for dog reactivity elsewhere and Elly worked there at the time. Though she was not the main trainer we worked with, we really took notice of the care she put in with Chief, and always felt more comfortable with her training style and communication. We followed her this year as she ventured on her own and continued lessons with her for Chiefs anxiety and reactivity. She really helped us through some of the things that Chief's original trainer had done with him that ultimately weren't the best for the type of dog he is and allowed us to learn so much more about what worked as well as what didn't work for him. She tailors the training to the needs of each dog, which we really appreciate. Chief completed 4 weeks with elly and we have seen a huge decrease in his anxiety as we're now in our adjustment period back home. Training has become much easier and more manageable and we owe it all to her. Elly is always available for advice and questions, and genuinely cares for your dog when they're in her care. With our previous trainer, another issue was the feeling of judgement when we continued to have issues afterward. I can happily say we have never experienced that with Elly; we never feel uncomfortable to ask questions as we continue to refine our skills, as it's a learning process for us as well as Chief. Elly not only tells us, not only shows us, but guides us on what to do. I'm really grateful to have such a caring trainer who I can trust with our dog when we need boarding or daycare services in the future. I would recommend Vibrant K9 to anyone out there who is struggling with their dog in the way we were.

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    Review Highlights - Vibrant K9

    He had some issues to work through that Elly helped immensely with through an evaluation and board and train.

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    Cali K9 - Our dog Carson far left in his 2nd group training. Very impressive.

    Cali K9

    (491 reviews)

    Fairgrounds

    We've been working with Cali K9 for the past 8 weeks to help train our dog, Luna, and address some…read morebehavior challenges--and the experience has been amazing. Hamza has done an incredible job guiding us through the process, helping us build Luna's obedience while also giving us the tools and structure we needed as owners. The training has been clear, effective, and tailored to Luna's needs. What we appreciate most is that this isn't just about short-term results--it's about setting Luna up (and us!) for long-term success. We're excited to keep learning and improving with Hamza's guidance and the support from Cali K9. Highly recommend to anyone looking for professional, results-driven dog training!

    We have an adorable and STRONG 4 year old Rottweiler with reactivity issues that needed to be…read moreaddressed. After our initial intake phone call with Cali K9 we decided on the 8 week semi-private and 8 week group session training package (with additional remote assistance). From the first session Hamza was professional, patient and firm with our dog (and us!). He gives detailed guidance in a structured environment, always remaining calm. It has been a journey, but halfway through our program we are seeing significant results - both in and out of class. We see our Rottie understanding and following commands much better, and our confidence in him and ourselves has grown tremendously. Hamza is not intimidated by large breed dogs and keeps the atmosphere super positive. While I see that this program is beneficial to all breeds, I would especially recommend Cali K9 for strong, reactive dog breeds.

    Lori Hamilton Dog Training

    Lori Hamilton Dog Training

    (163 reviews)

    I'm coming out of the dead to leave this review because I hope it helps someone who is thinking…read moreabout seeking professional training for their dog(s). We are not new dog owners and with our previous dog, we lived the best life - traveling across US and Canada, flying on planes, staying in hotels, dining at Michelin star restaurants, going to work at the office, walking off leash, etc - with zero professional training. He actually was a puppy school drop out! We learned that all dogs are different and with our new pups, we needed help on dealing with behavioral issues like reactivity. Through positive reinforcement, Amy coached us on how to loose leash walk our dogs in heel position. She also showed us how to do "place" work, use spatial pressure and how to get our dogs to focus on us around distractions. We also learned how to turn up our praising game verbally and with treats! Trainings were mainly at Butcher Park which is a very high pressure environment given the amount of dogs at any given time. It really put us to the test and honestly, we were challenged! It's hard work. We had homework after each lesson, but we committed to practicing in between lessons. We weren't perfect but we always showed up ready to learn, and to give and receive feedback each time with the goal of growing and improving. We ended up doing "board and train" for both of our dogs (one at a time) and we couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome. We needed a jumpstart and Amy gave us the knowledge and tools to set us up for how we want to live our lives with our French bulldogs. She truly loves dogs and wants the best for them and their owners. We highly recommend Amy!

    This review is long overdue. And one will understand why when they finish reading this review. Do…read morenot fall for their success stories, testimonials, publicity, fame, etc. Their website has changed from last fall/winter 2025. They had YouTube videos of their training (videos still active on YouTube website) as well as being interviewed by tv station (https://youtu.be/HfhZbTuIAPA?si=ec-mDnkjKXPa6zUE). Their "accolades" are MISLEADING. Second, the comments in the poorest ratings reviews are absolutely 100% true: condescending tone, treats everyone like an idiot, no manners, rude, and even causes trauma to owner and dog. My experiences with the head trainer and owner of facility (whom I will not type her name because she DOES NOT deserve the recognition by name) were downright awful for me and my pup. I paid upfront for 5 sessions but after the 2nd session, I stopped attending. It was too much trauma for my then 5 months old pup and myself. As one reviewer put it, the trainer/owner "break(s) dog's spirit." The first negative experience with trainer/owner was within 10 minutes of the 1st session when she said aloud my leash is "yuck." She walked away from me, leaving me embarrassed. She went to get a leash from her personal collection and with a negative tone told me to put on said leash. There was no explanation to this new leash or why my leash was "yuck." Because I believed she was the "expert," I immediately followed orders. It was 15-20 minutes later she explained why my leash was "yuck." Couldn't she have said in at least an encouraging (or neutral) tone "you may want to consider another type of leash because..."? But she didn't consider her words carefully. Instead, she used her age as an excuse because she has "no filter." Yes, trainer/owner said "I'm ___ years; I have no filter." Regardless of one's age, you should treat everyone with respect. The age-old wisdom of "think before you speak" speaks volumes. The owner needs to practice this. As well as practice people skills. Owner talks to you. Not with you. Owner talks in your face. Not provides you space. A trainer is equivalent to a teacher. A teacher guides. A teacher explains. A teacher is patient. A teacher motivates. The owner of this facility does not demonstrate any of these characteristics. Please, seek dog training elsewhere. NOTE: Follow-up. Not an edit. I believe this is the only way to reply to the recent post of owner. I will not message directly via Yelp or contact them with the email provided. Their attempt in extending the proverbial olive branch publicly is merely to save face. The damage is done. The review remains.

    One Day Dog Training - Steve trains dogs of all ages and sizes.

    One Day Dog Training

    (225 reviews)

    Steve at One Day Dog Training is truly one of the most special and remarkable people I have ever…read morehad the privilege of learning from, and an absolute delight to spend a day with. I have decades of experience fostering dogs and personally adopting many of my own, and over the years I've worked with a wide range of trainers. Without question, Steve is in a league entirely of his own. His talent, intuition, and depth of understanding when it comes to dogs is extraordinary. He doesn't just train dogs; he teaches humans how to truly understand them. What made the experience even more unforgettable was the joy he brought into the day. We laughed constantly. At one point my cheeks genuinely hurt from hours of smiling and laughter. And yet, amid all of that warmth and humor, we walked away with an incredibly clear, grounded, and practical understanding of his methods and a deep sense of confidence in our ability to apply them. Steve's approach is refreshingly doable: just five minutes of training per day, paired with his ongoing availability as a resource. That combination alone feels invaluable. We literally just completed our training day today, so I plan to update this review in a few months with more detail about long-term ease of execution and results with our dog, Griffin. But one thing I feel compelled to share now is this: throughout the entire day, even while Griffin was dramatically protesting (vocally, and with flair), Steve remained calm, steady, and completely unfazed. Griffin didn't love everything he was being asked to do, but he clearly adored Steve. He never cowered, never shut down, never showed fear. That level of trust speaks volumes. At one point, I asked Steve about scheduling an additional training day for one of our other dogs. His response was thoughtful, sensible, and deeply ethical: he told me it wouldn't be necessary. He explained that the principles I was learning with Griffin would absolutely apply to our other dogs as well, and that he'd be more than happy to answer questions along the way. That moment really matters to me because it so clearly reflects that Steve is driven by genuine passion and care for people and dogs, not by squeezing every possible dollar out of his clients. I also want to wholeheartedly acknowledge Tasha, who was incredibly kind, responsive, and compassionate throughout the scheduling process. We had to cancel our original training day due to a traumatic injury our other dog, Enzo, sustained: a spinal stroke. Tasha immediately offered to refund our deposit without hesitation. When I shared that I still very much wanted to work with Steve, she later went out of her way to find us an earlier date than originally offered after I asked to be notified of any cancellations. That level of care and humanity meant so much during a really difficult time. I am profoundly grateful for Steve and his entire team. This was one of the most positive, affirming, and empowering experiences I've ever had as a dog guardian. If you're looking for the best, congratulations. You have found it with One Day Dog Training!

    Amazing Dog Training session with Steve Miles of One Day Dog Training today!…read more My husband and I were "beside ourselves" with the incessant barking, lack of focus, dog walking struggles behavior that Finn (1 1/2 yr old) Maltipoo had started displaying over the past 6 months. We had tried various tactics, treats to rid Finn of his "bad habits" We were referred to One Day Dog Training through some close friends who had worked with Steve to train their 2 dogs. From the start.. Finn really took to Steve. Steve is personable, knowledgeable, and patient. His love for dogs is felt. He put our minds at ease from the start. Through the training, Steve took time to teach us how to better understand dog behavior and how we can better communicate what we want our dog to do...It was very enlightening. It was an education for us and Finn! At the end of our 3 hour session, we were really amazed to see a transformed young dog. We are soooo proud of Finn. The 3 of us have learned so much! Thank You, Steve!

    Bark Busters Santa Clara County West

    Bark Busters Santa Clara County West

    (63 reviews)

    Josh at Bark Busters West has been absolutely outstanding. He has worked with my dog and me for the…read morepast two years, and the difference he has made has been remarkable. When I first brought my dog home, he was a recent rescue, very undisciplined, and difficult to handle. Josh immediately understood that the training needed to involve both of us -- not just my dog, but me as well. He taught me how to communicate clearly, set boundaries, and handle my dog with confidence and consistency. Over the past two years, we have met with Josh in person more than a dozen times, and he has always been available by text or phone whenever I needed guidance. That kind of support is rare and incredibly valuable. The transformation in my dog has been amazing. He is now well behaved, much calmer, and far easier to manage. It is obvious that Josh truly loves dogs and has a real passion for helping them. When you watch him work, you can see how much he cares. I honestly think Josh has become my dog's favorite friend. I highly recommend Josh and Bark Busters West to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, patient, and committed dog trainer.

    Josh is absolutely phenomenal with dogs. I loved how he uses non-food reinforcement and how ethical…read morehe is with animals. He is a former education professional and he brings the most humanistic approach with animals while giving a plethora of resources and plan along the way. He showed us tangible rewards within our first session and the most notable moments being my dog behaving as I passed through to grab my cup of coffee and also her manners as we were walking around and with creating ranging proximity to enable her to understand walking versus exploring. Definitely would recommend supporting this small business owner here locally!

    Bay Area Dog Training - Now loving bond with energetic independent pup bouncing like frog. Mike's a skilled educator with precision, praise, reinforcement THE BEST

    Bay Area Dog Training

    (117 reviews)

    Willow Glen

    From "Cujo Junior" to "Polite Gentleman" -- Thanks to Mike! If you've ever adopted a 4-month-old…read moreSchnauzer who treats every living being like a personal insult, you know our pain. Our pup, Diego, didn't just bark; he acted like he was auditioning for a lead role in a horror movie. Walks? Impossible. Visitors? Forget about it. Even our long-time pet sitter--a woman who has survived literal wolves--couldn't go near him without fear. . Our first trainer took one look at him and basically told us we'd adopted a tiny, bearded landmine. She called him "one of the most reactive dogs she'd ever met" and gave us the kind of "good luck" that usually precedes a disaster movie. Enter Mike Hatjes from Bay Area Dog Training. We found Mike on Yelp, and honestly, we were just looking for a miracle. Mike is a unique breed himself: he's incredibly direct (no sugar-coating the fact that your dog thinks he's the CEO of Chaos) but also hilarious. He balances that "tell-it-like-it-is" energy with a sense of humor that kept us from losing our minds. The Transformation Timeline: * The Private Lesson Phase (8 Sessions): We went from "we can't leave the house" to "wait, is he actually sitting on command?" By the end of our eight private lessons, we were taking regular walks. My blood pressure dropped, and Diego actually started building confidence instead of seeing every mailbox as a mortal enemy. * The Group Lesson Phase (The Real Magic): If you told me six months ago my dog would be in a group with 10 other dogs, I would have assumed there'd be a SWAT team involved. But Mike's group lessons are shockingly amazing. Seeing my dog hold a "down" in a row of 10 dogs while each one weaves through the line? It's practically a glitch in the Matrix. The Verdict: Mike didn't just train our dog; he gave us our lives back. We can do family trips, have friends over, and walk down the street without looking like we're wrestling a caffeinated alligator. If you have a dog that makes other trainers cry, call Mike. He'll tell you the truth, make you laugh, and turn your "unbelievable" nightmare into a well-behaved companion.

    When we first got our dog, a 4-year-old Jindo from Korea, he had a stubborn prey drive and would…read morepull on the leash hard enough to drag me to the ground. He was also very reactive to other people and dogs. Mike taught me to watch my dog for cues and to communicate with him. After 7 private lessons and two months of weekly group classes, my dog is now a well-behaved walking buddy (most of the time). Thanks, Mike!

    Bay Area K9 Association

    Bay Area K9 Association

    (227 reviews)

    Bay Area K9 has been a lovely experience with me and my dog Cane for the past few months, from the…read moretraining and using the Sniffspot as well. This review is long overdue for sure! Training aspect: Steve, has helped my men reactive and dog reactive 2yo German shepherd adjust to our home and make our bond SO strong. I myself, have learned so much from him and have finally been able to teach my dog phenomenal manners and after a few sessions, his behavior at home is so much better now. We have more to learn, but Steve has taught us everything and been patient and kind, and it works out so well for our learning style. His photography is also phenomenal and has taken amazing progress photos of Cane, and I can guarantee I'm probably going to get one framed in the future. 10/10 trainer, couldn't recommend him enough. Sniffspot: This area behind the facility is SO nice if you don't have a backyard, which is very common in the Bay Area. Having a high energy dog, exercise is so important to keep him in shape, and keep him happy. The turf is always nice and clean, and the area is always quiet and we are never disturbed. Plenty of toys to play with and so much room to run! It's always worth the drive over for sure. Overall, no complaints whatsoever, if you are looking for a trainer that is kind, knows his stuff, and makes training FUN and makes your bond stronger with your dog, go here! I couldn't be any happier with our time with Bay Area K9. :)

    If your pet is running from you should be running to Bay Area K9 Association!!!!!!…read moreAre you looking for an amazing quality caring and experienced professional who will make your two naughty dogs a little bit less crazy? Look no further! Steve is an amazing professional who understands your pets needs and your own needs. Whether your pet is old (or young) Steve's your guy.

    Happy Tails To You Dog Training

    Happy Tails To You Dog Training

    (69 reviews)

    Cambrian Park

    This review is long overdue. We adopted a 2yo pit bull in February 2020 from a shelter. Then, as…read moreyou know, Covid hit the very next month. Our boy had been found wondering the streets of SJ. With my wife and I, he was the Biggest love bug. So cute, and funny, and cuddly. But we can only imagine the terrible experiences he had endured. He had a scar atop his head and was very nervous around new people, which led to behavior like growling and snapping at times. His fear was only made worse by social distancing and not being around new people. Once Covid settled a bit we sought out a trainer for him. I'll never forget the first day Dawna came to the house. Our pup growled and was very displeased that this stranger was in his space, and worse, trying to interact with him. Dawna was not a bit deterred, which I was impressed by but I remained skeptical. Fast forward something like 2 weeks: Dawna interacted with him with ease on training days and he loved receiving love and pets from her. We couldn't believe it. Dawna taught us how to train him and he was able to meet all kinds of new people and doggy friends on our outings. We are forever grateful. We only had 2 years with him. Cancer. I knew I would get emotional writing this review, which is why it has taken so long. Dawna and Megan (from Dawna's other business, Canine Corral Dog Daycare) changed our lives. We will be forever thankful for them. I couldn't recommend Happy Tails To You enough.

    Easy drop off and pick up. Staff is caring . My dog is always tired from her day. Highly recommendread more

    Sit Means Sit Dog Training South Bay - The Sit Means Sit South Bay team hanging!

    Sit Means Sit Dog Training South Bay

    (114 reviews)

    Berryessa

    We sent our 1.5-year-old golden retriever for three weeks. We were stunned by the results. If you…read moredon't know anything about goldens, just know that they're very welcoming and friendly, but are also overwhelmingly energetic for the first three to five years. Think zoomies x 10. They're easy to train, but that was the issue. He would ignore our commands because he wouldn't feel like doing it. We asked Ryan to focus on three areas: recall, drop it, and going off-leash. We would spend 15-20 minutes chasing after him after he'd bolt out the front door. He thought it was a game. As you know, running out to the street can be dangerous. 'Drop it' rarely worked. He would have everything in his mouth - sticks, trash, balls - you name it. Sometimes, he'd have things that aren't edible in his mouth. And frankly, we never trusted him off-leash, that was asking for it. Everything was resolved when we brought our pup home. We were so proud of him! His recall was better, he never bolts out of the front door, and with that, we trusted him off leash (only in confined areas, of course). We're super grateful for Ryan and the SMS team. Now it's on us to continue with the training! One more thing to add: our pup had perpetuating issues with digestion/stool and paw and ear infections. It was the worst! We tried everything and spent so much money. Ryan suggested that we transition to a raw diet and we haven't had an episode since. I'm so thankful for that too!

    My husband and I have 5 dogs. At the time we put 4 through…read morethe program because we did not have the 5th one. My oldest dog is 12 years old with no training. I soon got 2 more dachshunds and then a German Shepherd. Being that the 3 dachshunds had no training, we knew it was irresponsible on our part to have a bigger dog that was untrained. When I dropped off my first two (German Shepherd 6 mo. & dachshund 1 yr) I told Ryan, good luck! LOL They are very energetic since they are puppies and the GS was already taking in bad habits from the little ones. Always barking, was getting on top of our counters, very reactive. Typical dog stuff. After a couple days we received videos of them walking by other dogs and no barking! I was witnessing a miracle! After 2 weeks we got them back and we saw a MAJOR IMPROVEMENT. Dogs are dogs, so of course they are still a little reactive and bark, but it's much much much MUCH EASIER to stop it! No more haggling. I say quiet and they're quiet! Especially with as many dogs as we have, we had no idea how to train them all at once. Then they took in the other two dachshunds. The 12 year old and the 5 year old who are the most spoiled. To my surprise they were very disciplined the first couple of days! The little ones always pulled on the leash and was starting to hurt my shoulder. Not anymore!! They all walk beside me with no tugging. So now my husband walks the GS while I walk the 3 dachshunds. And yes they are actually pretty good at walking all together. IT IS POSSIBLE! Now that we have another puppy, a GSD Shar Pei mix, we have him into training too. Since the other dogs are into their routine, he falls into place. We also got him a place mat, and an ecollar. Not only does this program know how to train your dog, they are also very passionate and loving about it. You can tell they love your dog like it was their own. They are also very knowledgeable about the raw food diet. I highly suggest talking to them about it. I want to say a huge thank you to Jaden and Sam too who helped make this possible! Also, being that this is basically a franchise for dog training, it was a HUGE PLUS for being in a military family. Training is every week for the lifetime of the dog, so your dog can interact with other dogs that have been through the same program. My husband and I are moving across the country due to military orders, and we don't have to worry about the dogs not socializing with other trained dogs. They have someone out there too! I hope they are just as great as Ryan, Sam, and Jaden! We are truly going to miss this little family!

    Vibrant K9 - pet_training - Updated May 2026

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