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    Bay Area K9 Association

    4.7 (228 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Response time

    20 minutes

    Response rate

    100%

    Services - Bay Area K9 Association

    Group dog training

    Private dog training

    Puppy socialization classes

    Bay Area K9 Association Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Bay Area K9 Association

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    Reviews With Photos

    His reaction to getting kisses when I first brought him home

    When I first started training with Steve I was crying on a regular basis because I thought my Belgian Malinois rescue hated me. He had severe resource guarding issues and severe leash reactivity so bad that I refused to walk him but I had to because I couldn't trust anyone else handling him. We haven't had any resource guarding issues in the home and now I feel so much more confident in managing his leash reactivity and my lovable terror all together.

    Blue Heeler, Australian Cattle dog Venus

    Steven is an excellent trainer who explains concepts in a way that makes them easy to understand and absorb. He educated our family on dog behavior, helped us form a bond with our new puppy, and provided valuable guidance as we navigated the challenges of raising our blue heeler over the past nine months. I highly recommend him to anyone considering getting a new puppy or those feeling anxious about their dog's behavior. He great with teaching kids how to take care of their pets. He is always responsive to questions and flexible. We have already referred him to our family and friends due to his fantastic service.

    Brooklyn at Bay Area K-9
    T. L.

    We recused a 1 yo 1/2 Doberman and Hound dog, Brooklyn from up north and she's never been experience the world as we know it. Never seen a car, other animals, noises, sounds and even a language. We needed help! I researched a lot of dog training and was referred to Steve by a lady at a park playing fetch with her Doberman. Her dog was amazing, excellent recall, commands, and tricks. She told me how Steve helped her train her and her dog because it's about the relationship between the owner and the dog. There was an amazing transformation after a couple lessons. As the dog owner, you have to continue the trading at home and be consistent. My goal was to be able to walk with her off leash and I can do that now, after a couple months, thanks to Steve. He's always available in the evenings by text if I have questions and he's very responsive. If you put in the time, you won't be disappointed!

    WaiChee K.

    I am a first time puppy owner. I was overwhelmed with my puppy separation anxiety I almost returned my puppy to the owner. I reached out to Steve. He has been a great resource on and off classes on how I deal with Buddy's behavior. I thought I had picked up all the relevant knowledge required from YouTube in training a dog. I was wrong. Steven was able to pick up my flaws and inefficiencies in communicating with and training Buddy in the private lessons. He has directly improved our relationship and connection. He focuses his training and instilling the fundamentals on me training Buddy. I can say for sure this continues to improve my relationship with Buddy and helps me see the potential in Buddy,

    Steve is an excellent trainer and his approach of training you on how to build a solid relationship with your dog so you can train your dog obedience is key. Over this past weekend, we put this training to the test when my family and I attended the San Francisco Giants dog days of summer event where there were 1200 dogs in attendance. My family and I were amazed on how well my dog did thanks to the training we received from Steve for obedience, agility, and social skills, and it all came into play on this day. My dog did great and following directions and respecting other dogs social space along with climbing upstairs jumping over bleachers like a champ. Thanks to this training my family and I experienced our lifetime of memories that we will share with others for years to come.

    Tanairy C.

    This review is long overdue! Let me start off by saying that I'm so thankful to Steve for helping me understand my dog and her behavior. With that being said, Loba (our German Shepherd) has become my best friend. Before going to Steve, having her as a puppy was extremely stressful. It's been almost 2 years (our fault for not being consistent) that we have been getting her trained by Steve, and now she's a completely different dog. One of the most stressful things with her WAS her anxiety on car rides, but now I can't go anywhere without her! Steve is not hands which is what I like the best of his way of training. Instead, he guides me and helps me understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it a certain way. Now when I train with Loba, I understand how I need to control the environment to have her focus on only me and that makes taking her out less stressful. I'm able to have her off leash when needed without worrying that she will take off. I can go on and on about how much we have learned from Steve, but the main point of my review is that it takes time and hard work to train your pet. Steve is very helpful by making you understand your pet in a way I would have never thought. Please take into consideration that it takes time and patience, but it's sooo worth it!!!! Thank you Steve, we really appreciate you!

    Milo's Mom and dad
    George T.

    After getting my first dog I wanted to make sure I started off on the right food. Went to multiple places but the results were not good. After coming to Bay Are K9 the changes in behavior were instants. On the first training day of training Steve had all the bad behavior my dog had changed and showed my how to grow the changes from there. My pup is also my emotional support animal. Iam extremely thankful for Bay Area K9 . If you found this place , SEARCH NO MORE this is the place to be. Steve is friendly polite and has a great heart and great love for all animals . He knows how to change behaviors instantly . Thank you Bay Area K9 association for making life better for me and Milo.

    This photo was taken in my garage, doing her exercise for the evening.
    Mojean H.

    I want to take this opportunity to express my thought on Steve at Bay Area K9, association. I went to visit Steve in the month of August 2023 and he showed me the things I need to work on for my German Shepherd. His technique is very methodical, and extremely powerful, 30 minute training to the point. Highly recommended, and his training.

    After going to many trainers, one of whom said our dog was hopeless, we were feeling pretty despondent until we found Steve. His training approach is focused on developing a strong, playful relationship with our dog. We saw a huge improvement in her responsiveness to us and significant decreased reactivity to other dogs. We are feeling hopeful again thanks to Steve. Now break and play!

    I've been to several training sessions now with Steve now and he has been absolutely great. My staffy loves him and he is very patient. Both hands on and hands off. I checked reviews here prior to joining looking at the good and the bad. The take away of this, is that you have to be willing to put in the work yourself as well to see best improvements. Being structured and sticking to recommendations he gives will show progress. If you're a lazy owner looking to just have a trainer do it all for you then you don't understand the objective of training. This is not only to teach your dog, it is to teach the owner how to be the leader and use this training to your day to day. Any certified trainer can just show you tricks and how they would do things. You have to be the one at the end of the day to create that bond and spend time with your pet. Steve will show us methods for engagement and how to peak interest in several ways. Finding the niche that peaks your dog's interest will be on you and your time spent knowing your dog. Within the last few sessions my pup has been excelling in her training and continues to show progress every session we have. As said before creating that bond and using the takeaway recommendations that Steve gives, you have to actually do it and put in the work. Your pup will only give you their attention as long as you give them yours. Thank you again Steve for being patient and walking us through Baileys journey. You are passionate about what you do and you love dogs to the max. It shows in your work during sessions and the time you spend even texting after sessions show you really care about the process. Thanks from the whole fam.

    Tiffany L.

    Cashmere is a mini aussiedoodle I got during quarantine and I really didn't know what I was getting myself into. She was such high energy and I was overwhelmed and didn't know how to go about training her. I took her to Steve back in February and both Cashmere and I have come such a long way (especially me). She's still VERY high energy but with Steve's help, I've been able to better direct and control it. I feel much more confident in my abilities and I have a better relationship with my dog. Excited and looking forward to more of our progress with Steve in the future!

    We couldn't be happier with our training experience with Steve! When we brought our 5-month-old Aussie to him, we aimed to create a life where both our dog and we could enjoy each other's company. Steve emphasized the crucial aspect of building a strong relationship with your dog, debunking the misconception in some reviews that he only plays with dogs until they're tired. In reality, he highlighted the significance of play as a rewarding element in training, making it enjoyable for the dog. Steve also emphasized the importance of neutrality in different environments, especially around other dogs. His unique approach sets him apart as one of the top trainers in the Bay Area. We're incredibly grateful to Steve for teaching us effective communication with our pup! He also takes cool pics of your pup:)

    Mocha is very happy at Bay Area K9. @IG: corgi.mocha.love

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Bay Area K9 Association

    If there are certain behaviors you would like to help your dog with such as reactivity to ringing doorbell or anxiety and fear with kids would you recommend virtual training so that can be corrected in home or a private training program?

    Thank you so much for reaching out to Bay Area K9 Association! We look forward to helping you reach your training goals! In order to better assess your dog, I'd like to invite you to come in for a free evaluation so we can see your dog's response… Read more

    Do you have board and training program? I have a male corgi 7 months old neutered and how much it cost? When can it start the program? My name is Winnie THANK YOU

    I unfortunately we do not board dogs at the moment. I could refer you to a really good trainer his name is Antoine his phone number is (415) 694-8344

    I have a 100lb 2.5 year old non-neutered Doberman, due to past bad experience as a puppy, he's showing aggression towards dogs that gets "too close" or too high energy, can he still be a candidate for Schutzhund?

    Thank you so much for reaching out to Bay Area K9 Association! We look forward to helping you reach your training goals! In order to better assess your dog, I'd like to invite you to come in for a free evaluation so we can see your dog's response… Read more

    Does the Bay Area K9 Association train dogs that are not spayed/neutered?

    Yup! :)

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - Bay Area K9 Association

    Let me start off by saying that I'm so thankful to Steve for helping me understand my dog and her behavior.

    Mentioned in 133 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Wag Hotels - Santa Clara

    Wag Hotels - Santa Clara

    3.9
    (327 reviews)

    We cannot say enough amazing things about Wag Hotels Santa Clara. Our first beloved husky, Bolty,…read morespent his entire life going here, and it truly became his second home. When he passed at just 7 years old, we were absolutely heartbroken, but the compassion, kindness, and genuine support from the Wag Santa Clara team meant more to us than we can ever express. They didn't just care for Bolty, they loved him. And we felt that every step of the way. Honestly, I think Bolty had some of the best days of his life there... sometimes I even joked he loved it more than being at home with us. During one of the most difficult times in our lives, the team showed us such warmth and empathy. We are forever grateful. Fast forward two years later, we adopted another husky, and sure enough, he is obsessed with Wag Santa Clara too (must be a husky thing ). And we completely understand why. From the moment you walk in, you are treated like extended family. There is a level of trust and comfort here that is truly rare. We can leave knowing our pup is not just being watched, but genuinely cared for and loved as if he were their own. We've boarded our dogs here for years, and even the overnight staff, who you don't often see, show the same level of dedication, compassion, and attentiveness. That consistency says everything. We are huge fans of Wag Santa Clara and highly recommend all of their services from boarding, daycare, and grooming. If you're looking for a place that will treat your pet like family, this is it. Forever grateful

    The folks at the Santa Clara Wag Hotels were very kind and helpful. They accommodated our late…read moreevening pick up. My dog left as a very happy, tired girl. She had lots of fun.

    Lori Hamilton Dog Training

    Lori Hamilton Dog Training

    4.6
    (165 reviews)

    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.

    We learned lots of great skills with our 4-week board and train program. Our dog walks very nicely…read moreon the leash now, greets people much more nicely without all the jumping and barking, ignores other dogs if there's enough space. Much better, she doesn't go bonkers at the sight of another dog. We're very pleased with the results and will continue working on our skills.

    Bowser's Buddy Pet Care

    Bowser's Buddy Pet Care

    5.0
    (41 reviews)

    I have so many selfish reasons to not share this review and make Kim even more busy than she…read morealready is. But my goodness! She is a miracle worker. She took our sweet, shy, overly anxious little pup and made him feel at home within a short son of three weeks (2-3 times exposure for day care) before we let him stay overnight. She has been a godsend and I know that I can rest easy when our little fur baby is in her good hands.

    When I used this service: March 1-5 Why I chose Bowser's: I…read moredid 1-2 hours of research: Yelp reviews, calling friends from the dog park/other contacts, etc., and Kim always came highly recommended. Matt from Pawfection told me he refers all his clients to her who are looking for longer pet sitting, and no one has come back disappointed. Overall impression: I cannot speak more highly of Kimberley and Bowser's Buddy Pet Care! She was extremely professional and accommodating and made me feel like part of the Bowser's family from day one! More details: Kimberley is the epitome of professionalism. I really appreciated how she: - validated my sad feelings that I couldn't take him on the trip - had me over the weekend before my trip to see her space and meet the other dogs she was currently taking care of - was in constant contact about times/dates and how my dog Reeses was doing while I was gone - communicated (quickly) with me whenever I sent her a text message or gave her a call - loves my dog like her own (and he loves her back!) Pro-tip: Kim's place is dog HEAVEN. Very dog-friendly and lots of things to keep them entertained and comfortable: doggy door, fenced-in grassy yard, orthopedic beds, etc. etc. She doesn't give discounts, but it's totally worth the price, and that's coming from a med student in tons of debt currently!

    Bay Area K9 Association - pet_training - Updated July 2026

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