I hardly ever leave reviews, but I want to give hope to anyone who is struggling with their dog and…read morefeeling frustrated and helpless. The first year with my golden retriever, Luka, was extremely hard. He was a mouthy dog who had zero boundaries at home or outside. He would get excited or frustrated and grab/bite onto my shoes or clothes daily. Walking him became an impossible task because he was extremely dog-reactive, and he dragged me a couple of times while trying to chase another dog. Walking him also became a two-person job, with someone always on the lookout for other dogs so we could turn the other way. He also began to resource guard and snapped at my dad twice.. I had already spent thousands on another trainer and didn't have much success. I began to feel like this was just what life with Luka would be like forever. It got to the point where I felt scared of him, and the life I was giving him out of that fear wasn't fair to him. So I decided to try and get help one last time. I found Lori's page and after reading the reviews I became hopeful again. I took Luka in for an evaluation, and Lori recommended their board-and-train program. I can't thank Chelsea and Lori enough for everything they've done. I've learned so much about Luka, how to manage different situations, and how to better understand his behavior. We had training lessons throughout his board-and-train stay and afterward, because we are the ones who need most of the training! Chelsea did an amazing job with Luka. At home, Luka is unrecognizable in the best way. We can actually go on adventures outside without being terrified that we won't be able to handle him. Those who knew Luka before his stay and see him now always comment on how well he is doing. I cannot recommend Lori Hamilton's Dog training enough to anyone who feels like they've tried everything and is feeling discouraged. I am so thankful because it finally feels like Luka and I can start living life and enjoying everything around us.

Lori helped transform our 1.5-year-old golden retriever Ruben from an 87# spirited, jumping, land…read moreshark to a calm, obedient family member. He was an anxious, leash pulling, cat chasing, chewing, biting and jumping-- hiding inside an adorable shell. We started in Lori's group class, then did private one on one training with her and ultimately 4 weeks of board and train at her facility. She trained us and trained him and ultimately transformed life at home. Our 3 cats are now able to be in the same room as him. Our visitors no longer have him standing up on their chest in exuberant greeting. We can relax and have dinner without Ruben trying to eat our feet or running zoomies around the room. We can walk him without having our arms ripped out of our sockets. He is calm around other dogs. He is crate trained and easily goes to sleep at night. He has his own treadmill and works out twice a day, in addition to our daily walks. We been to Pack walks with Lori and 15 other dogs, all walking obediently through the Pruneyard shopping center. The dogs get to work on socialization and good manners on these field trips. Lori came to our house and we staged a meal with a visitor. It really helped us learn how to keep him on his best behavior during meal time with a guest!!! Our first year with Ruben was really tough, he was not the mellow golden retriever we anticipated. Lori's teaching changed everything. She provided the methods and the tools to help us have the best outcome and a relaxed home life with our beautiful dog; more than we ever expected!!!

We didn't have a great experience with Randy, the prior owner of Los Gatos Bark Busters. The Bark…read moreBusters 'approach' is pretty hands off with puppies....they just teach you to repeatedly growl at bad behavior or spray your dog with a water bottle....both of which didn't work for our pup who didn't care and loves water. There was no additional tactics and it got weird. ChatGBT was more effective and we found a new trainer more experienced with puppies. The new owner gave us a full refund at her own expense. It's worth exploring more with her, she may have a smarter approach.

Gusty is an Exceptional Trainer - Forever Grateful…read more We are beyond grateful for the incredible work Gusty did with Daisy, our rescue Rottweiler. Daisy needed not just training, but patience, understanding, and someone who truly cared about her. That is exactly what we found. Gusty easily connected with Daisy in a calm, confident, and compassionate way that immediately put both of us at ease. The progress Daisy made was truly remarkable. Not only did she learn important skills and boundaries, but she also gained confidence, trust, and a sense of security. Watching her transform into the happy, well-adjusted, and joyful dog has been a rewarding experience. Gusty also transformed me - I am less anxious about Daisy now. Gusty has a deep understanding of canine behavior, body language, and emotional needs and she applied that knowledge in thoughtful, effective ways. Every technique was explained clearly, and we always understood the "why" behind each step of the training process. Gusty's level of expertise is both rare and impressive. However, what makes this trainer so special is not just technical expertise, but genuine love for animals and deep respect for their unique stories - especially rescue dogs like Daisy. Daisy was in the best possible hands. We cannot recommend this trainer highly enough. Gusty helped Daisy become the very best version of herself. Thank you for giving Daisy such a beautiful start to her new life. We will always be thankful.

I contacted Steve and One Day Dog Training upon the suggestion by a close friend who had worked…read morewith him several times over the years. Lana, my 3 1/2 year-old lab mix, a foster fail that I took in as a 2 yr old, was getting bigger and stronger, jumps on anybody that comes in the door etc. She's a sweetheart, but I needed to be able to mange her energy and size My other two dogs are small and this is the biggest dog I've had. I knew going into this training that it was me that needed most of the training! Steve explained that I needed to learn how to communicate with my dogs, that they communicate differently. What an eye-opener! Everything he explained made sense and in just the few hours we spent together, Lana was already following the cues that Steve taught me. Consistency and repetition is key. We are just 2 weeks in and the process is going great! Steve was absolutely terrific to work with. Somehow, he makes the whole process easy and effortless. His follow up calls to check in are much appreciated and he's available for questions that might come up. I'm so glad I made the call and was able to work with Steve.

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!

Even though I had to put down my dear Lizzy July 13th, my 11-year-old kitty, Los Gatos D & G was…read morecompassionate and took gentle care of her during her final hours. She had tumors throughout her body, and she was suffering. Prior to giving her the injections to hasten death, they allowed me to hold her in my arms. The vet sat by me and comforted me, which she did not have to do. As we lay Lizzy on the table, they gave the final injection. I was bawling my eyes out. I was saying thank you to my dear Lizzy for all she gave me, how she helped me, and what she meant to me. I could tell that the vet and the vet tech were almost in tears as well. This is not just a job for these folks; they love and care deeply about animals. Are they always able to save our dear fur babies? No. But they care deeply and want the best for their clients. I have always felt the deep caring from the front desk to the exam rooms. Thank you, Los Gatos D&G, for everything.

this incident occurred back in March 2024 but remains concerning. I brought my French bulldog,…read moreLola, in because she was panting and unable to sleep at night. The first thing the vet tech did was scan her microchip, and she seemed very angry. It was strange. I think she thought that I stole my own dog who I have had since she was a puppy, but without even explaining anything, she just threw down the microchip reader and walked out of the room. So that was a terrible start. Then, the doctor came in and said that the dog was in distress and needed to be seen by emergency right away, did not prescribe any painkillers or give any explanation as to what was going on. So she directed us to Sage. Around $10,000 later, it was determined that Lola had a mild case of IVDD and she was sent home. Only after we brought her to our regular vet for a check up, was she correctly diagnosed with bladder stones. I strongly believe that Sage gets kickbacks from hospitals that recommend their services. They ran tests for pneumonia, they ran an x-ray, they recommended an MRI that would cost several thousand dollars, all of this and no one thought to ever check for bladder stones. This was a pretty ridiculous experience that started out terribly with LG Dog and Cat hospital.

Dawna is MAGIC!! We have worked with her for 20+ years with many different dogs. She is a…read morefantastic trainer with a true gift backed up with extensive knowledge. She is an expert at training us humans so that we can have beautifully behaved canine companions. I love the positive reinforcement (R+) training methods she employs. So grateful for her expertise to help us.

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.

We've tried a few different daycare/boarding places and K9 keep fit ended up being the best fit for…read moreour dog! We rescued an energetic husky with body boundaries and questionable social skills and the k9 keep fit staff have demonstrated deep understanding and respect for our boy. Since he isn't a good fit for the large daycare setting (rough play, doesn't understand social cues, etc), the staff always ensure 1:1 staff playtime or try to pair him with another dog with similar play styles. Husker seems to love his time here and is always tired after we pick him up. I also love that the staff is very communicative and will send us pictures and video updates when we board him.

K9 Keep Fit is the BEST place to board your dog. There's no other place we would trust to take care…read moreof our husky. They go above and beyond to give our husky the best home possible while we're away. We love Renee and her crew! Highly recommend this place!

5/5 Stars -- A true puppy genius and an absolute lifesaver!…read more If I could give Amelia Olson ten stars, I still don't think it would be enough. Navigating puppyhood can be an overwhelming journey, but working with Amelia has completely transformed the experience for us. From our very first session, she proved herself to be nothing short of a puppy whisperer. Amelia has been working with our little Maltipoo, Mercedeh, and the progress has been remarkable. What sets Amelia apart isn't just her deep knowledge of dog behavior and training techniques--it's her boundless patience, warmth, and genuine love for canine companions. She doesn't just train the dog; she lovingly guides and empowers the owners every step of the way. She has shown endless patience with all of our questions, always meeting us with encouragement, clear communication, and practical solutions tailored specifically to Mercedeh's personality. Mercedeh absolutely adores her, and we genuinely look forward to every single session on our calendar. You can feel how much Amelia truly cares about the animals she works with; her dedication, heart, and passion shine through in everything she does. I want to voice our deepest and most sincere gratitude to Amelia for all of her hard work, care, and commitment to our family. We will unquestionably continue to train with her, and we cannot recommend her highly enough to any pet parent looking for top-tier, compassionate, and effective training. Amelia is simply the best in the business!

We had 5 sessions with Amelia over the past year and working with her has been great. We never had…read moreformal training for my dog, Dash, prior to working with Amelia, and the only reason we wanted training for him was because he was struggling with separation anxiety. Amelia gave us really powerful tools to improve Dash's behavior, and overall and tips and tricks for how to get him more comfortable at home. Dash is a lot more attentive to my cues on walks and is a lot less reactive to dogs on walks. He was a well mannered dog to begin with, but is even better now. I really appreciated that Amelia was able to come to my home in San Jose to do the training. Even though Dash primarily lives with my parents in San Bruno, he still spends a fair amount of time in my home in San Jose and getting him trained in a familiar environment has seemed to be beneficial for him. We also went to the Campbell Farmer's Market and Santana Row to expose Dash to a lot of children/other dogs and all were really great outings for Dash. Thanks Amelia for your patience and guidance!

Roman is a true dog whisperer. He transformed our female German Shepherd from an unruly puppy that…read morechallenged my wife for dominance into a wonderful family member. Roman even taught our GSD some service dog skills. We highly recommend Calero Canine.

I know he is still being charged currently for animal cruelty - as he deserves. ANOTHER yelper…read moremessaged me that their dog was injured while in his possession!!! You disgust me that you're still advertising your "business". What is most horrifying about him is that not only did he kill our puppy but that he tried to claim he was blameless, first our witness that tried to alert him our dog was loose in the back of his truck while he was weaving in and out of traffic on 17 and speeding!! Then said our dog was smart and got out, again not his fault. Oh and third said the cage he used to "secure" her was faulty. But he did know that about this particular type of cage, yet still used it. THE WITNESS WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO ALERT YOU IF YOU HAD USED A NON- FAULTY CAGE IDIOT! Of course dogs are smart, she was smarter than you! She was a beagle, she got out because the Cage door was faulty! You said "she was just a dog, so how much was she worth $700?" - NO, NO AMOUNT for a family members life which you cut short. This clearly demonstrates how you treat other people's pets, which you called her "property". I'll be contributing to this ongoing case, to ensure no one places their dog with you ever.

THIS IS the place to start your puppy training, whether for socialization or manner classes…read more They help you, help the puppy and set you both up for a success. Kimberley is so kind, knowledgable, personable and dogs loveeeeee her! The facility always clean and my puppy doesnt come home with pee smell. Whatever they do, it works!! And I've been to many dog training/daycare facilities in my 20years of being guardians for dogs. Highly recommend this place!

Nine months ago, my wife and I adopted Marshy, a deaf pup from the Humane Society. What we didn't…read moreknow then was that she was also an active herding breed mix, Husky and Cattle Dog, which meant our journey was going to be more complex and more rewarding than we ever expected. Marshy is now 14 months old, and she is an absolute joy. I firmly believe that Kimberly at South Bay Training has played a major role in that transformation. We would not be where we are today without her guidance. Kimberly and her husband, Larry, were essential in helping Marshy learn how to socialize and play with other dogs. We joined their puppy socials when Marshy was about six months old, and I look back in awe at everything we learned. With such compassion and care, they helped her ease into appropriate puppy play. Marshy began behind an x-pen to observe, and soon she was out with the group, frolicking, making friends, and eventually even helping guide more energetic and vocal pups into play. Watching her grow into that role was incredible. We also enrolled in Manners 2, where we learned how to teach Marshy to settle, stay at a distance, and engage in cooperative care. These skills have made grooming and daily routines so much smoother. What sets Kimberly apart is her clarity and presence. She is a trainer who understands boundaries, reads dogs with remarkable accuracy, and takes the time to show guardians what to watch for. Her thoughtful instruction helped us understand not just Marshy's body language, but also how to gauge safe and joyful play between dogs. Marshy is now a confident, well-socialized dog who can stay, settle, and stay connected with us on walks. Kimberly and the South Bay Training team have been core to that growth. They are, without a doubt, one of the best parts of our training journey.

5 woofin' stars! If…read moreyou have a pup, I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend that you work with Vikki. We enrolled in the Private Puppy Head Start Course ($145.00 - Three 45 Minute In-home Private Lessons) which covered how to teach your puppy bite inhibition as well as potty training, leave it, sit, down, come, nail trimming, ear cleaning and introduction to loose leash walking. Our pup adapted quickly to her knowledgeable training. Having someone right there (without other distractions) made a huge difference with our pup's developmental stage. Vikki is AWESOME. I cannot recommend working with Vikki enough. She is worth every penny and more!

It was our lucky day when I contacted Vikki to help us select a dog breed and then train our new…read morepuppy. I'd hire Vikki a million times over. Vikki is a wonderful trainer and very observant of dog's behaviors. With her attentive observation and caring heart she easily taught our family how to care for our dog and train her. Vikki's recommendation on the breed and training were all spot on. Our dog, Jade, a Havanese is a wonderful pet, well trained and loved by all. See for yourself from the pictures below. After my initial phone call to Vikki she came to our house to talk to us about getting a dog and what breed would be a good fit for our family. She is a good listener and asked a lot of questions about our family's lifestyle. Then we took a tour of our home and backyard so she could see where the dog would be living. While we had thought we wanted a medium size dog, Vikki recommended a small companion dog. Vikki advised us that a small companion dog would be more appropriate as we wanted the dog for our daughter. We trusted Vikki's opinion and got busy finding a Havanese. Prior to receiving Jade, Vikki made another visit to help us get our house "puppy ready". She emphasized that getting a doggie door before the dog came was instrumental for potty training. She also had us set up an area right outside the doggie door that was penned in. She had us use an x-pen and fake grass called "puppy grass" in the fenced in area. The puppy grass acts like a litter box and makes clean up easier as everything is in a small area. It's like a litter box for dogs. This is a lifesaver! The day Jade arrived Vikki came and met Jade. She spent a lot of time just observing Jade and her behavior. Vikki also had us take her out the doggie door and observed her going to the bathroom. She gave us tips on how to recognize when Jade needed to go to the bathroom, food and how some general training ideas. Jade adapted quickly to our house and potty training! Thanks to the great tips from Vikki. Since then Vikki has continued to help us with training Jade to walk on a leash, training Jade to respond to safety commands like stop, be in public, sit in cafes and to come. Vikki is an excellent trainer and is so knowledgeable about dogs. Jade is an adorable dog and everyone loves her because she is cute and well trained. Thanks to Vikki for everything, 5 star dog-training service with style!