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!

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.

Update following the owner (Suzanne)'s response:…read more I appreciate the business taking the time to respond. I want to clarify a few points for transparency and for prospective customers considering Happy Hound. My concern was never the existence of a first-day assessment fee, but the value delivered. I have used dog daycares across NYC, Chicago, LA, and San Francisco and have never encountered one that charges more than a standard daycare day for a first-day evaluation. In many cases, the first day is complimentary. That context shaped my expectations going in. When I called to book, the 3:00pm time slot was the only option presented to me by Happy Hound. At no point during booking--or after the tour--was it communicated that the daycare credit would apply the same way regardless of whether my dog attended for a full day or only a couple of hours. Without that clarity, it is entirely reasonable for a new customer to assume that paying for a full day would result in receiving a full day of care. That is where the communication breakdown occurred. I am not disputing the sequence of events shared in the owner's reply. My concern is with the policy itself--specifically, requiring payment for a full day of daycare while not delivering a full day of service when scheduling limitations come from the business. The outcome was that I paid for care my dog did not receive. A prorated refund for the unused portion of that day would have been a reasonable, customer-oriented resolution. Sharing this simply so other prospective customers understand how the onboarding process and policies work in practice.

Emily was amazing! She was very friendly and easy to get along with. She is also flexible when it…read morecomes to scheduling drop off and pick up times. She was very thorough with her instructions and reminders. She gave us pictures of Twix (our dog) while we were on travel and that was very comforting to know that Twix settled and ate well and that he too was also enjoying his time. I will work with Emily again whenever I need a dog sitter. Great job, Emily, and thank you!

We originally found Emily when my work converted to a hybrid schedule and we needed someone to come…read morea few times during those days to let our puppy Mango out of her crate to get some play time, potty, and get fed. Mango seemed very comfortable around Emily, and she even sent us a picture while she was over watching her. We also discovered that Emily does daycare during our conversations with her, and have since tried that route once. It has worked out well knowing that Mango has someone to keep an eye on her throughout the day while we're gone, and not just barking up a storm while locked in her crate all day. Emily communicates primarily through text, which has worked out well for us in coordinating logistics and communicating schedule and updates.

Sade helped me immensely when I was recovering from surgery. As a single dog mom of 4, you can…read moreimagine it was hard to recover with rambunctious pups around that I was unable to walk at the time. Sade took them to the dog park for hours so I could have a breather. They returned happy and tuckered out so we could all sleep soundly. Sade is great at reading dogs' body language, and I appreciated the cute photo updates she'd send of my dogs' day.

Sade is excellent. She is knowledgeable, professional and a definite 'dog whisperer'. Her…read moreability to teach both dog and owner is wonderful. No judgement and very patient. I will definitely work with Sade again and highly recommend her business to everyone open to learn.

It was the first time with put our little Lily in a boarding house and we were nervous at first,…read morebut Lily was so well taken care of that we would not hesitate to use Cutie Pawz again!! Lily had a wonderful time playing with the other dogs and she was totally happy there. Wendy sent use cute videos and pictures almost daily, which took our worries away! I highly recommend Cutie Pawz if you need a good and caring boardinghouse!! Thank you Cutie Pawz Sonya

I can't say enough good things about this boarding experience. My dog, Lola, can be a little…read moresensitive with new environments, but they treated her like she was part of their own family. From the moment I dropped her off, I felt completely at ease. They were attentive, communicative, and genuinely invested in her comfort and well-being. I received regular updates, photos, and notes about how she was settling in, which meant the world to me. It's clear they understand dogs on an individual level -- their personalities, quirks, and routines. When I picked Lola up, she was relaxed, happy, and clearly well cared for. No stress, no overwhelm -- just a tired pup who had a great time. The facility was clean, safe, and thoughtfully run, and I appreciated how organized and responsive the staff were. I absolutely recommend this place to anyone who wants their dog cared for with kindness, consistency, and real attention to detail. Lola will definitely be coming back!

----------- TL;DR: Barak's 35-day Board and Train program is…read morea major investment, but it completely transformed my sweet but highly reactive dog. It fixed his severe leash reactivity, his 4 AM barking, and his total lack of recall when distracted. The cost includes 35 days of boarding and unlimited weekly group classes. One month later, the results were surprising: we went from a stressed caretaker dynamic to true companions. I can now take him on errands without fear, and finally having the power to tell him "No" has been game-changing. Highly recommended. ----------- DREAM DOG Totoro is what you might call the dream dog. He is incredibly kind, loyal, and mostly well-behaved. However, he had a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality. Indoors, he was docile and lazy. Outside, he was possessed by his excitement. He is so gentle he couldn't even get food out of a Kong! But we had three major stress-inducing issues: ZERO RECALL WHEN DISTRACTED: I spent a lot of time training him with high-value treats like bacon and ribeye. When it's just the two of us, he would shoot out of a cannon when I called him. But the moment he played with another dog, those ingrained habits were completely forgotten. He went totally deaf, which was a major safety concern. LEASH REACTIVITY: When he's leashed, he gets frustrated at times when he sees other dogs, and he might lunge and growl at passing dogs, making walks a bit of a chore. SUDDEN BARKING: He developed a habit recently of waking up at 4:00 AM and rush out the room barking like the house was on fire. Before Barak, I only used positive-reinforcement training. Totoro knew the commands, but positive reinforcement simply could not compete with his intense excitement around other dogs. Barak is a balanced trainer, using proper corrections alongside rewards to teach boundaries that hold up under extreme distraction. I was hesitant about negative reinforcement, but Barak showed me his high-quality e-collar. I used it on myself and could barely feel the low-level stimulation, which put my mind at ease. Enrolling in the 35-day Board and Train program was a significant investment. However, I factored in that I was getting 35 days of boarding included (which I planned a trip around). More importantly, the cost includes unlimited group training classes afterward. You don't just drop your dog off and forget it. The weekly classes give you structure so your money doesn't go to waste. Barak was also incredibly responsive via text whenever I have questions (and I had many). The results are night and day. It is like the show Severance :) there is no more "Outie" Totoro, just the well-behaved "Innie" Totoro! He isn't brainwashed; he is still his happy self, just infinitely better behaved. Barak figured out his leash reactivity was just him frantically checking if other dogs were "safe." Now, we walk past other dogs peacefully. Update: One Month Later MAN'S BEST FRIEND Barak's training has unexpectedly transformed our relationship. Before, I would never consider taking Totoro on errands. Even with only a 1-in-20 chance of him being reactive, I didn't need the stress. On walks, I was constantly on guard, which can turn dog ownership into a one-sided, anxiety-filled chore. Today, we have genuinely become companions. Instead of leaving him behind, I actively look for dog-friendly breakfast spots. The fear of taking him out has completely dissipated. I enjoy his company, and I can feel our bond grow, even in year 5. He is much happier now that he doesn't feel my stress radiating through the leash. THE POWER OF NO Previous trainers taught specific commands like "leave it," but never the general command "No." For example, Totoro has a habit of licking his ankles raw, leading to expensive vet visits, Cytopoint shots, and the dreaded cone of shame. Now, I can simply say, "No." He stops, looks up, and tries to figure out what he is doing wrong. Imagine being a parent without the ability to tell your kid "No." Having Totoro understand that single word is game-changing.

Sending my 3-year-old toy poodle, Gomi, to Barak's 35-day board and train has been the best…read moredecision of my life! Gomi has always been smart and quick to learn commands, but we struggled with dog reactivity, leash pulling, separation anxiety, and his ability to settle. My biggest concern was dog reactivity. We tried positive reinforcement consistently for 2 years and did make some progress, but it required constant monitoring and perfect timing. On leash especially, if I did not reward him the exact second he looked up at me while passing another dog, he would lunge. It became clear that positive reinforcement alone was not helping him. I initially thought private sessions would be enough, but during our evaluation, Barak explained why a board and train program was best for Gomi's reactivity. He emphasized the importance of proper exposure and healthy stressors to build confidence and independence. By the end of the evaluation, I felt completely confident starting the 35-day program! Throughout the program, Barak shared photos and videos with us daily and we met weekly for check ins, which were a crucial part of the process. When the e-collar was introduced, I was nervous, but Barak thoroughly explained how it worked. It completely changed my perspective! What I once viewed just as a correction tool became a clear and effective way to communicate with my dog. Gomi has been back for a month now, and life feels completely different. He is calm, confident, and able to settle both at home and in public! He's still as playful as before but now knows when to bring that energy! On top of this, Barak offers free weekly group classes which have been incredibly helpful in keeping us consistent. I also recently got a new puppy and started private and group puppy classes with Barak. He helped with her introduction to Gomi, and we continue to work with him to build a strong foundation early on. It has been great applying what I learned with Gomi while also learning from Barak how to keep training fun and appropriate for a five-month-old! Barak is one of the most patient and kindhearted people I have ever met. He never rushes or makes me feel bad for asking questions, and explains things as many times needed to make sure I fully understand it. If you are even slightly interested, I highly suggest setting up the initial evaluation.

Amazing work did a really great job with my pup. Just looking to make another appointment soon.read more

We were long-term customers here, but our last experience was enough to end that. After our…read moreappointment was cancelled twice, we rescheduled on a day that didn't work well for us (we prefer Fridays or weekends due to work) and arrived late as a result. The new groomer's response was to give us attitude. Our dog is a long-haired Bernedoodle. From the start, the groomer pushed for a summer shave, which we declined, consistent with every previous appointment we'd had. He then said that without clippers, he'd need to charge more, we agreed to that without hesitation. What we did not agree to was a shave. That's exactly what happened. To make it worse, they left his face with long hair, so the cut wasn't even consistent. And then my wife was charged an extra $100 for dematting, on a dog that had just been shaved! Let that sink in. Shaving a dog without the owner's explicit consent is not acceptable. Period. I had to go back and complain before they refunded the charge If you're a returning customer expecting the same quality and care as before, be aware that the previous groomers are no longer there. It shows.

As a first-time dog mom (and a proud Type-A), finding a daycare that truly put me at ease was…read moreincredibly important to me. I was actually referred to Dog Social Club by another daycare when I was frantically calling around, and I'm so grateful I was. From the very beginning, the team has been exceptionally kind, warm, and responsive. The intake and greeting process was thoughtful and thorough, not just a quick observation. Suzy took the time to answer all of my questions and shared genuinely helpful information, which immediately put me at ease. I felt confident and reassured that my puppy was in the right hands. Dog Social Club is extremely well-structured, with clear procedures and a level of care that really stands out. Every single person I've encountered, from Katie, the CEO, to the handlers, to Jenn who keeps everything running smoothly, to the front desk team who greet both pups and parents, has been friendly, attentive, and welcoming. I wish I knew everyone's name because they all deserve recognition. My pup absolutely loves going! He knows the smells and sounds as we get closer and I have to make sure he doesn't jump out of the car when I open the door. Also the care he received after being neutered... gosh I can go on and on about how wonderful our time has been with DSC. Most importantly, I truly feel that they care for and love my little Barnaby as if he were their own. As a first-time dog mom, that peace of mind is everything, and I honestly couldn't ask for more.

The facility is clean and has nice playgrounds. The staff is…read morevery friendly, they recognize my dog by name. Would recommend

I have a parrot and contacted several pet sitting companies looking for someone with bird…read moreexperience. Doggy Lama was the only company that responded that they had staff experienced with birds. Dani came by to meet my bird before my trip and did a wonderful job taking the time to get to know her and understand her needs. Unfortunately, my travel plans changed and I ended up not needing pet sitting services this summer. Even so, I wanted to leave a review because I was so impressed with the company. They were responsive, professional, and genuinely seemed to care about both their clients and their pets. Communication was excellent, and their website made scheduling and payment incredibly easy.

I have been working with Doggy Llama's trainer Vero Chavez Rojo for almost a year and she is…read moreoutstanding! Archie, my big rescue shepherd lab mix, is a sweet heart, however, he had a really hard first year of his life and I needed a lot of help with his sensitivity and reactivity. I tried several trainers and Vero's special touch has done the trick! What is special/unique about Vero: - Vero is very knowledgeable about all things dog-related and really takes the time to understand what is going on specifically for you and your dog - She is very kind and practical with her training and makes it simple so that it's easy to follow and be consistent - Vero is encouraging and supportive to help me feel more confident in what I am doing with Archie which is as important as anything else - Vero follows up and is very curious about how things are going and is eager to work with me to adjust as needed - She cares about the whole dog (and person : ) and helps to figure out what is going on health-wise since it is likely contributing to behaviors - We have been able to address a number of things with Vero that I was not able to make much progress on with other trainers - Vero continues to build on what we have learned whereas with other trainers I felt we kept working on the same thing and/or often regressed without much continual progress - Vero is very positive and clear in her communication which is incredibly helpful along the way

Aaron is a godsend…read more I adopted my wonderful big 10-yo pittie, Benson, last year. For the past year, we've been going at it HARDT on our Tues/Thursday daycare commutes. Up at 5 am; catch the train at 6; walk through West Oakland at 6.30 am; drop off Benson at daycare at 7. Do it again in the opposite direction at the end of the day. We are both worn out. I met Aaron randomly and told him about dog owners without cars needing transport for stuff. I mean, yeah, Lyft says they take dogs but dogs with a big head and reputations like mine...well, pits make folks nervous. Aaron said, We do that! I signed up as soon as I could. Aaron met Benson, took us on a test drive, and I have support as a Dog Mama! And now Benson and I aren't killing ourselves and wearing down our middle aged joints to get to daycare at the crack of dawn. My dog loves being in cars and now we're doing it safely and efficiently. I am SO GRATEFUL for Aaron and the No Bark Zone!

Aaron was able to fit us in last minute. Our nervous dog immediately ran up to him and wanted to…read moreplay during the meet and greet. He kept us updated and sent photos through out the day. Norman was definitely comfortable and well taken care of. We will for sure book again and use other services.