This place is everything! I struggled with my dog's behavior for a long time. She had several bad habits which I was convinced were irreversible (running away, excessive barking, aggressiveness towards other dogs). I also believe she is quite possibly the most stubborn dog on the planet so this was/is not an easy task! The team at Dan Perata has educated me in how to properly command Roxy & communicate with her effectively. By staying consistent (with what they have & continue to show me), it has worked wonders. You have to be willing to commit to the work from your end too, so this is not for the faint of heart! If you want obedience that lasts, you have to change the way you are interacting with your dog. But, luckily, Dan & Natasha have designed a strategy that works & they will show you how! Aaron has been extremely helpful & instrumental in my dog's improvement. He's professional, direct, and knows what he is talking about. I did not meet one person on the crew here that I didn't like & I feel very confident leaving my "fur child" in their care. I would highly recommend this facility for both boarding and training services! read more

My wife and I are so thankful for Dan Perata training. We brought our crazy, but fun-loving, Golden Doddle in a few years ago; he was a disaster and would chew up our furniture, scratch our wallpaper to shreds, and destroy our garbage cans. After a few weeks of due diligence and searching, we were introduced to Dan and Natasha and have been thrilled ever since. After an intense five-week training course, our dog was listening to commands, walking along side us rather than leading and pulling (it's all about the walk). Most importantly, he stopped terrorizing our home. It's been two years since training and our dog is a saint because of the techniques taught at Dan Perata. Now, we still continue to use their services for boarding while we are away and feel confident our dog is safe and getting trained well. One warning-just like anything in life, you get what you put into it. Same with dog training. Dan Perata can arm you and show you the way, but YOU have to be responsible to keep it up and execute. It's tough, but so rewarding. Happy training! read more

I cannot recommend Dan and his team highly enough. Their process flat out works, their staff goes above and beyond, and they make good on their promises. Period. I adopted a 1yr lab mix that had been physically (with scars to match) and emotionally abused. When I got her, she was completely emotionally shut down and extremely fearful of EVERYTHING. I was the 4th person to try and adopt her. Having had dogs all my life and rescued in the past, I thought I was equipped for the challenge. I was completely wrong and in over my head. I called the majority of recommended dog trainers in the Bay area and Dan's training program was the only one that resonated with me (affection based training, no shock/choke collars, etc.) and set up a consultation. After the consultation Dan pulled me aside and recommended full Dan Camp and let me know that my dog was going to need extra time. Dan camp is a 4-6 week or until complete, intensive training program where they train your dog and more importantly YOU. My dog and I were on the "or until complete" end of the spectrum due to all the abuse and neglect she received. We stayed in Dan Camp for weeks after the original 6 weeks at NO EXTRA COST. Before Dan Perata Dog Training, I had a dog that had: -Extreme fear of people, new places, loud noises, petting etc. -Would run away any chance she could get -Was completely shutdown and unresponsive After, my dog: -Gets constantly complimented on how sweet and well behaved she is -Is walked almost entirely off leash with voice commands -Has 100% responsiveness -And most importantly is Happy If you check your ego at the door, buy into the program, and do the homework you are going to see great results. Not only is Dan and staff extremely professional, they are great people. You will enjoy your time and learn a ton! read more

We sent our "batshit crazy" Yellow Lab to Dan Perata last year and it changed our life forever. I would have paid double knowing how amazing our dog is today because of DPT. He had always been the sweetest, but our main issues were boundaries, impulse control, walking on leash and just overall craziness. Our dog had been walking all over us for about a year and thanks to DP and his team we were able to regain control and change our relationship with our dog for the better. Our dog now: 1 year later, our dog walks ENTIRELY off leash through the streets of San Francisco. He passed the Canine Good Citizen Test, the Canine Good Citizen Urban Test, AND the Canine Good Citizen Advanced Test with flying colors. He keeps a perfect heel, walks through crowds, crosses the street, ignore any and all distractions and spends every moment looking at me. He stops the moment we stop, can follow us while we bike....off leash, all the time. We don't even need to worry about him staying at our heel because we know he never breaks it. It all started with perfecting the walk and the other rules that DPT establishes. It is so impressive, that even we still cannot believe it. We just had to change our relationship with our dog and follow all the rules, forever...not just for the 6 weeks of Dan Camp! It is important to note that you get what you put in: you can't just send your dog to DPT and not put in any extra work and expect your dog to be perfect. Its important to follow ALL the rules even at home, outside, ect and to continue working with your dog even once it goes home. We do know some people who's dogs have not ended up as "perfect" as they wanted but that is because they didn't continue with the training after the dog's were done with Dan Camp. We don't even know where to begin with how amazing our experience was.... 1. Dan and his team love these dogs : Sure they are strict and set boundaries but we learned very quickly that you can be "tough" while still loving and caring for your dogs as part of the family. Our relationship with our dog is better because of it. Dan is honest & frank but he is right - and its important to remember how much he cares about the dogs. Dan works hard to help rehabilitate aggressive dogs that many trainers wouldn't even consider - he is willing to take bites (many times) to help these dogs get back on the right track. Even though this wasn't a problem we were dealing with, we could tell how devoted the team was to making sure all dogs had a chance at a fulfilling life. 2. Our dog loved Dan & his team: We worried about leaving him in board and train at first but after a week we realized how much he loved it there. He was as excited to go to DPT as he was to go to the beach. He still is when we send him back for boarding when we are out of town. 3. We received unlimited support: After paying the one time fee, the team was available to help us everyday whenever we had questions. We went in person while he was at camp 1-2 times per week and then continued for about 6 months after camp. 4. Our dog was not "broken", he just became the best version of himself: A lot of people ask me if strict training breaks the dog's spirit - this couldn't be further from the truth. Our dog is more confident, mellow, even more affectionate than ever before. He's so much more pleasant to be around while still having the great personality that we've always loved about him. We think that all dogs can benefit from DPT. We can't thank the team enough for all they have done for us. We recommend them to everyone who asks us how we got our dog to behave so well. read more

Dan and his team are incredible! I cannot possibly express the full extent of my gratitude for what they do! I will give details, but for those of you that want a quick testimony DPT is the absolute best facility. They are knowledgeable, compassionate, and so incredibly patient. I never left feeling like I had unanswered questions, and they are always certain that I have tools to follow through. There are some reviews that were concerned their dog's temperament would change; for me the only changes that happened were positive. My dog is still extremely goofy, lovable, and affectionate, but Dan and his team helped him be a dog; not my bodyguard, not the head of the house, and not a 70lb ball of anxiety ready to pounce. This team saved Orson and gave me back my confidence in my best friend and myself. I adopted Orson and did what I thought every good dog owner does, enroll him in puppy classes, socialize him, and smother him with love. I was through the moon when he was house broken in the first week, had basic commands down, and didn't destroy a thing. I'm still unsure what caused his switch, but suddenly my sweet boy was not so sweet. I took him to the park regularly and one day he had a dog by the ear. Luckily, the dog was unharmed, but I was shaken. I contacted the puppy training facility and was not invited for a follow up or other options; instead I was told "carry good treats with you so he wants that more than a dog." Well, it turns out a Husky is more enticing than deli turkey. When I talked to them again I was told, "Orson might not get along with dogs. Try avoiding them." If anyone has ever gotten this advice, best of luck to you finding a street with no dogs in SF. So began walks where you could find me zig-zagging the streets while I push turkey in his mouth to distract him. Before I knew it Orson didn't want to just lunge at dogs. Soon it was motorcycles, skateboards, cyclists, etc. With every block I grew tenser and Orson more on edge. My breaking point was after many lunging attempts the corner I was stopped at had a dog behind me, another crossing the street, and a skateboarder approaching. Orson had me pinned against a building as he used me as a springboard. At that point I had nowhere to turn and frantically searched for trainers that wouldn't tell me to carry jars of baby food with me so he could lick them... I came to DPT and after the first session I had hope restored. Orson was obedient and they immediately recognized what was happening when I walked him. In that session I felt more prepared and ready to get to work. They worked with me for what I needed, and sometimes lessons went over the allotted hour and some didn't because the team was focused on where I was struggling and progressing. I made a mistake in not continuing after 4 sessions. I was feeling more consistent so when my busy season came I stopped going. Three months later Orson and I had a walk where he was lunging and I fell back into avoidance. I soon realized that everyday I was getting more anxious and he was harder to walk. A few months later we encountered a dog and Orson took off and knocked me to the ground. I picked myself up with ripped jeans and scraped wrists and pulled him off the neighbor's dog. Then I enrolled in Dan Camp. Dan Camp is pricey, but when I think about what it has saved me in potential vet bills and for my own peace of mind it was worth much more. One lesson I cried out of happiness because it was the first time in a year Orson had been in the same room as dogs. His demeanor had changed and he wasn't locking on. My friends noticed that he was calmer and were surprised that he stopped jumping on them. Walks were a night and day difference. I was starting to lose some of that nervousness that had been building from a year of tumultuous walks. Camp is hard work. Every day that I had him home I had homework and I was going to ensure that I worked as hard as I could for what they were doing; it won't work if you don't put the effort in practice. It's been a year that I've been going to DPT. Is Orson completely perfect? No. I'm still not able to let go of my nerves (which has been a more difficult task for DPT than Orson was) but I have partners now to turn to. I have trust in a group of people that have shown me nothing but kindness and patience. Orson and I had an incident a few months ago and when I emailed Vanessa about it she got me in for a lesson the next day at no cost. Since then I've had follow-ups and invitations to day care and a team of people that genuinely care about the well being of Orson and me. My days with Orson are easy and he doesn't flinch when skateboards and most dogs go by. Dogs have successfully approached him on hikes and at the park and I feel more confident! I'm a little sad that his good behavior means I frequent DPT less but I stay in contact and work towards more progress! I can't give this facility enough praise for the difference they have made! read more

Dan Perata and Team have become an extension of our family . For those of you looking for training or boarding , this is the place to take your pet. We started with Dan in 2015 with our Burmese Mtn Dog when he was 6 months old. We did the Bootcamp. The training was amazing for the dog and pet owner. I since then have made this Hunter"s home for day care passes and boarding. I find that the training is always reinforced all the time I bring him to Perata. I also love how easy it is to drop him off in the mornings and pick up in the afternoon . The staff once they get to know you , will remember your patterns and makes it easy after a long day at work . The customer service and ease of booking is 5 star. This will always be our home away from home for Hunter. read more

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This review is long overdue. If you have an aggressive young dog, our experience may be helpful. We tried three other trainers before meeting Dan and his team in May 2019. Ozzie started the board and train program shortly after our first meeting. We had a rocky start with Ozzie displaying a lot of dog aggression. One trainer told us since he was seven months old and showing hostility toward dogs, it was likely this would not change. Through weeks of board and train and ongoing lessons, we learned how to modify our behavior, which gradually began to change Ozzie's behavior. All of their advice works! A year later, Ozzie shows no signs of aggression towards other dogs on leash, in public, in our home, or when visiting friends or family. Their program requires work and patience, but it is so worth the time and expense. read more

We chose Dan based on his positive reviews and later regretted it. First off, we talked over the phone briefly about our dog's issues. Mainly, we wanted to control her excessive barking, separation anxiety, and be the alpha leader. Dan came over our house and met our terrier dog and took her outside for a walk. We were impressed how he managed to control her during the walk, but thought he was excessively rough on the leash. Our dog was barely 1 year old and getting a quick leash snap while walking was bit too harsh for her tiny throat. After the walk, we discussed the areas that needed correction and Dan gave us an expensive price. We talked about it and went forward with the dog boot camp. Our decision was based on his positive reviews. Later we felt duped. More on why later.... Dan came over our house to pick up our terrier. We specifically, asked for daily updates, photos and or anything to let us know her progress while we were on vacation for 2 weeks. We only received 1 update from Dan which left us with wanting more details, but he never responded. We were worried during our vacation. We came back from vacation and Dan dropped our dog at our house. We noticed our dog lost a lot of weight and Dan was supervising our dog into submission. Almost to the point of coercion and or fear-based type of control in our living room. Our gut instincts did not sit well because we did not recognize our dog's sweet personality and loving energy. Its as if we sent our dog to a "POW" camp vs. professional dog boot training. Dan gave us some instructions to control our dog and encouraged us to call him anytime with questions since its part of the expensive package. Over the past few weeks, we called Dan and he NEVER responded. When Dan did respond, it was 1 week lapsed time and by then, we gave up. Bottom line, we spent over $1k and Dan did not deliver, nor followed up on our questions and emails. Our suspicion was he assessed our home, us and then gave us an expensive quote and never returned our phone calls/emails. Folks READ all the reviews mainly 1 to 3 star (subjective vs. objective) reviews. Be aware of the positive reviews since Dan doesn't deliver what you are paying for. Do your due diligence before making a final decision.To this day, we don't understand or know what we paid except our terrier lost weight! It took us 3 months to bring back our dog's sweet personality and fun loving temperament. All in all, we self-educated our selves on training our dog based on her temperament. read more

He was late for 40 minutes, refused to apologize and simply mentioned that his secretary misplaced our appointment on his calendar. I am completely against beating animals and would never like to hurt my dog even if the intention is training. Dan put a tight leash around my dog's snout and popped it very hard every time my poor little dog tried to move around. He also hardly poked my dog a few times in the stomach and encouraged me to do the same. My dog was depressed for a few days after the 1he training session. I will never try his methods again on my dog and I would never recommend him to any of my friends. I think, he was solely focused on impressing me within the 1hr session by putting too much pressure on my dog. The 1 hr training session made both my dog and I feel extremely uncomfortable and sad that even lasted for a few days afterwards. I would never ever try his method again and would never want him around my dog again. read more

Cesar Milan and his horrendous DIY aversive, negative reinforcement training methods have spawned hundreds if not thousands of dog whisperer knock-offs such as Dan. If you'll notice, he ascribes absolutely no formal behaviorist training whatsoever, he simply touts his intuition and years of experience with making him the amazing trainer that he is. Unfortunately, a self-proclamation and a few hundred hours of dog whisperer reruns does not a behaviorist make. Our dog had recently come to us from a confirmed abusive situation and developed pretty bad separation anxiety. Despite expressing our desire to Dan for gentle training techniques to build trust and also clearly stating that we did not believe in, and I quote, "Cesar Milan-style training methods" this is exactly what we got. Dan kept telling us that the walk is the most important part of training our dog because it teaches the dog that we are the pack leader...sound familiar? He also said that our dog sitting at the top of the stairs when she heard us unlocking the door was a sign that she was trying to dominate us. Also, separation anxiety is her trying to assert herself as pack leader over me and my partner. Say what?! I have some background knowledge in dog training and dog body language and I can tell you that this dog is sugar sweet and timid. Ears are often back, tail a low, rattle of a wag, eyes squinting, rolling over on her back, etc. I personally don't believe in the dominance theory and was honest about this in my phone call with Dan. Even if I did all of these behaviors would, according to his own theories demonstrate a dog who is submissive not a dog attempting to dominate me or my partner. Either way we went along with the training because we were the worst combination of desperate and hopeful. Dan proceeded to take our dog on a Holt head collar and yank her body up so hard that her feet left the ground because she was rightfully freaking the fuck out over the atrocious head collar he told us she had to wear. Multiple times. I strongly disagree that this sort of aggressive handling to force her to submit to the head collar was necessary. I nearly called off the whole session right there. WTF. And then he yanked on the leash and snapped our dog's head if she was doing something that he didn't like. This included her tail position (halfway up, or neutral...), ear position, when her gaze shifted towards something that interested her on the walk. Basically, he was yanking on her head for the entire 1.5 hour walk. These head collars can damage the dog's sinuses via a crush injury when they are used in this manner. Not to mention her neck must have been so sore!! Were we not clear enough about our wishes???? After that the session consisted of Dan espousing constant dog-whisperer drivel to two traumatized dog owners while we secretly counted the minutes until it was over. Among other gems I think my favorite suggestion was that we should cover her crate with layers and layers of blankets so that the dog "can't hear us leave." I fail to see how blankets could create any sort of useful sound barrier or do anything besides leave her at risk of overheating. The most useful thing to come out of the session: Dan helped us move the dog crate into another room. Our dog continued to suffer from separation anxiety after Dan's training. For the record though, we learned how to manage her separation anxiety in a humane way that does not involve us physically forcing her to submit to anything. No thanks to Dan of course. Any trainer worth their salt should be able to modify their methods to match the temperament and needs of the dog. I wish that we would have done our research a little more so that we did not waste our money or subject our dog to rough handling by Dan. Always be sure to ask your prospective behaviorist about their credentials. If they have none, they aren't a behaviorist. Just in case someone reading this is wondering how to choose a good dog trainer or behaviorist I would like to take this opportunity to point you to a document written by the SF SPCA-- an organization with far more clout, experience and credentials than Dan-- that details how to choose a trainer: https://www.sfspca.org/sites/default/files/how-to-select-a-trainer-a-guide-for-owners_0.pdf I encourage you to check the list and see how Dan's methods stack up before you make your decision. read more

To be honest, I'm really disappointed with Dan. After looking at all the stellar reviews, I expected better service form Dan. I have a 6 month old German Shepherd that is really out of control, destroying the house and even the flooring whenever we're gone. And I'm really at my wit's end. First I tried calling Dan in December, it went to voicemail. Expected, as I assumed that he's a busy man. So I proceeded to texting him. It literally took an entire day for Dan to reply every one of my messages. There's being busy, and then there's what seemed to be apathy. Recently, I tried contacting Dan again as my puppy's behaviour worsened. It took another whole day for him to respond to one text message, saying that the earliest he could do is 01/08/2013. I wrote a lengthy explanation, asking him for a closer slot since I don't know what else my puppy would destroy if I wait for a week. I had to text him the morning after for him to reply to me just by saying "I'll call when I can." No temporary nets, No "meanwhile, you can try this and that" No sign of sincere compassion. After I wrote this review, Dan called me in anger - claiming hat I am ruining his business and by writing such a review, I've diminished the chance of having him train my dog. Now why would I trust my dog with someone like that?? Bottom line: Dan seems to care more about Yelp reviews more than customer service. Or politeness. read more

I don't know how to begin to thank Dan, Natasha, Aaron, and the entire team here. Not only are they incredible people, but they're the best in the business. If you follow Dan's advice and consistently work with your dog, you WILL get results. I really cannot recommend him enough. I live in Santa Cruz, and happily make the drive to SF to spend time with Dan and his team. My partner and I adopted our dog, Zooey, about a year ago from a family member who could no longer care for her. Zooey was 7 years old when we took her in. She absolutely loves people, but was never properly socialized with other animals. This posed a big problem... we have a cat. I thought I was up for a challenge, but I had no idea it would be so difficult. Every time she'd see another dog or our cat, she would get hyper-focused and completely stop listening to us. Her entire body would tremble, she'd lunge, whine, bark, and chase. She was aggressive. We tried to correct this behavior ourselves and quickly realized that wasn't going to happen. We hired a trainer to come to our house, but saw no change. In fact, we were told we'd probably just need to get rid of her. I was completely devastated. Then I heard about Dan. I was told he's the best trainer around, especially for aggressive dogs. I was skeptical but gave Dan a call. After one phone call, I was intrigued. After our first in-person session, I was convinced he'd be able to help us. As many have said here, what Dan accomplished in a 1 hour session was incredibly impressive. Now, I can easily say that my friend was right; Dan is THE BEST dog trainer, hands down. He has changed my life. He's changed Zooey's life. She is so much happier, more playful, and listens to us now! She can be in the same room as our cat and will not lunge, whine, bark, or immediately chase! She actually listens when we tell her to "leave it". She's not perfect or nailing this 100% of the time yet, but I cannot begin to express what a change this is from when we first got her. It is night and day. And she's continuing to show improvement. The other night, a very large dog I've never seen before walked onto our deck when I was outside with Zooey. I immediately feared the worse. If this was a few months ago, Zooey would have ran after the dog and there would have been a fight. She would have bitten the other dog, I just know it. Instead, she remained calm, let the dog sniff her, she sniffed back, and then she let me put her in the house. I was SHOCKED! I'm still shocked, days later. Dan and Natasha, from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!!! Mike, Zooey, and I are forever indebted to you. read more

I wanted to give these guys a high mark & shout out for all the great work they do. My rescue puppy, Stella, wasn't doing well with treat training. She would fatigue quickly on whatever treat it was and I didn't know what to do. I found myself scrambling for hot dogs & cheddar cheese every time I needed her to obey. She was a little terror on the leash & it was me pulling her or her pulling me. I was stressed, I didn't know what to do after trying out classes & a personal trainer. Money spent and no results, I frantically searched on line and then I found Dan Perata Trainers. I met them & signed Stella up for puppy boot camp. So thankful I did! My relationship with her has totally changed as well as her behavior. I want to thank personally Dan, Aaron & Dan. More than what Stella learned at boot camp is what I learned. It's just made a huge difference. I now have people at bustling cafes on a Saturday morning complement me on what a well behaved puppy Stella is. She is still a puppy & will want to do what puppies do but thanks to these guys I have tools to deal with her behavior that don't include a purse full of Oscar Meyer Wieners! I'm looking forward to ongoing classes and being part of the Dan Perata family! Stella LOVES going there. That little butt & tail start wagging a mile a minute as soon as we pull up at the gate. If you're frustrated and having a rough time with training, this is THEE place to go with your dog in SF!!! read more

Dan Perata Training - Stella behaving with her gentle leader harness! - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

I don't argue with the results that Dan gets, but his style is definitely not for me. He doesn't encourage positive reinforcement, and seems to focus more on aggressive, fear-based training. The gentle leader leash seemed overkill for my 10lb dog, and every time I went into a pet store to buy one, I was discouraged by shop owners as they said it should be more a last-resort for larger, unruly dogs. I've managed to get my dog to be great on walks with a harness that clips in front, and just some positive reinforcement. No gentle leader, no head whipping, no stomping necessary. In response to my separation anxiety concerns, his treatment was to shut my dog in a crate, and spray in her the face with water if she makes a noise. This doesn't really seem like it's addressing the issue of anxiety at all, but just causing your dog to be fearful of you. He said if she continued to make noise, or be upset, I should just put a muzzle on her. Again, it doesn't seem like it's actively treating the issue at all. That all being said, he and his staff were very friendly to me. But I found his training techniques to be very controversial, and have achieved great results with all my dog's issues from positive reinforcement, and a little TLC. I'd choose that over fear-based training any day. read more

My husband and I are very happy with the training results for our 5-year old rescue GSD. He no longer barks and runs at birds on leash (it had become dangerous for all of us) and his behavior overall has greatly improved. It was just as much learning for us as him. We made many important changes. All of the effort and time was very well spent. And great to know that we can go back for a refresher at any time. Dan, Aron and the entire time were wonderful to work with. read more

I'll omit the personal details so you can move on to other reviews, but please read this testimony if you are considering Dan Perata training. For your reference, we found our dog with an eye infection, Distemper, loaded with wounds and scars, severely emaciated, she was the definition of dog-aggressive, fearful of men (including myself for several months), and will herd ANYTHING she can...when we found her. She's a Cattle dog mut. If you choose "Dan camp," the staff will commit to your dog for life. I specify this because when they say "for life" regarding the camp option it sounds like a sales pitch; it's not. I run a small business so dollars=minutes is on my mind too often, but I stopped keeping track when Dan's rate amortized below $8.00/hour because he had devoted so many hours to Poppy AFTER camp was finished. I tried compensating him more; they refused. Dan will spend as much time as it takes with you, your family, and your dog until all is well. I have never worked with someone so committed. Related to commitment, some of these reviews talk about scheduling and customer time wasted. Yes, I've seen this happen (myself included), but I have also seen them go out of their way to amend the situation. So if you're discouraged by those reviews, don't be. Dan Perata is not a large corporate entity with a fool-proof ERP system. Nope. They're just honest people and will do right by you with a bit o' communication. Dan can get your dog to do any trick in the book by creating a positive experience and a few treats--I see him do it every time I drop Poppy off for boarding. If that's all you want to do, Dan will have you in n' out in a session or two. You can apply the methods at home and impress people with your dog that can stop, stay, come, lay down, load up, fist bump, walk other dogs with leash in mouth, walk off-leash, use a treadmill, ride a skateboard (I'm serious, the dog was fearful of skateboards and ended the session riding one), I can go on... ....Beyond tricks however, do not expect to see trainers walking around with treat bags and using terms of endearment (although your dog WILL GET plenty of attention, exercise and affection). NOTE: Some criticize Dan's methods. Dan is forward, and a bit rough around the edges. If you are sensitive to this sort of personality you may miss the mark with him, so I suggest listening carefully to the intent behind his instruction to understand the bigger picture before judgment. In short, your dog will be a well behaved angel while in his facility where he is in charge, but it is likely that after some time at home the same problems will reoccur. If you diligently APPLY and UNDERSTAND his methods and you're CONSISTENT, then you will be the dog's parent in every facet, and you will have a happier, more fulfilled, more calm (regardless of energy level), more obedient pup at all times, in any atmosphere. You will learn much about dog body language here. Maybe your dog is aggressive, anxious, pulls on the leash, chews, digs, barks, has separation issues, etc. Knowing the dog's body language is critical to your success (and your dog's success!) Dan can teach you this. I suggest you chat with his trainers and watch them interact with other dogs. Employees' behavior and words are often a good indication for the quality and effectiveness of their employer....you will be encouraged by what you see. Maybe some of you need that proof for yourself before leaving your pup with new people and strange dogs. Observe the staff and other dogs; you'll get a warm fuzzy about the place. Conclusion: the dog we found was extremely ill, fearful, aggressive, anxious, sporadic...the kind of dog you don't trust...she is just fine now. She's healthy, smart, and is the most obedient dog I know (aside from some I see at Dan's in passing). At this time, we have her in bed for the first 15 min or so when new people come over (and yes, If I say "stay" she will lay there). After that, she's a licky, wiggly, happy pup with guests. Dog introductions are controlled, and then OK at best. Poppy will try to ignore the dogs and hide behind me or my wife. Dan is helping her play again, and this is likely the last step for us. My wife loves Poppy, so giving up on this severely abused and sick dog was not an option. We would not have made it without Dan. I took the time to write this because if any of your dogs have severe behavior or aggression issues, it's important you know there is a resource in the bay area that can help you rehabilitate your dog. Or if you just want some simple lessons, or an issue addressed, or a tune-up, you're in good hands with Dan. Yes, positive reviews helps businesses and that's nice n' all. But this wasn't written for them. I thank Dan and his staff personally every visit. This is an honest review to "pay it forward" for another dog and for those of YOU looking for a quality, committed trainer, for whatever your scenario. Jarrod read more

OK, it's time I shared how awesome Dan is. Here's how it went down: 1. We got a puppy from the Oakland Animal Services 2. We brought said puppy home and while he was awesome around the house, he barked like a maniac whenever we left....the whole time we were away....neighbors were complaining.....it was frustrating. 3. We took him to SPCA puppy school which helped with come, sit, fetch, but did not help with his barking. 4. We took him to the vet, thinking it was "separation anxiety". They prescribed him with antidepressents....for our dog.....yes, they really did 5. That same day my partner scheduled an appointment with Dan and he came over. I was skeptical about Dan's confidence. How could he possibly fix all our dog's problems in 1 hour. 6. He did. He came over and fixed all our dog's problems in one hour. 7. Dan is San Francisco's Cesar Milan. read more

Dear DPT, Just wanted to reach out and send a special thanks to everyone at DPT and Dan (big time) for your persistence in working with me. Class yesterday was totally brutal, it felt like detention and I was exhausted at the end but I'm so grateful Dan keeps challenging me to be better with Beau. It was a breakthrough for sure, one of many I have experienced in this process. It brings a whole new meaning to tough love and I'm struggling to find the words to express the gratitude I feel. I knew this process would be a lot about training me, but I really had no idea what that meant in practice and I just want to thank you all for your honesty, compassion and thoughtfulness in everything you are doing for me and my pup. I am so thankful to have been connected with DPT and the awesome staff. Stay healthy, your work is so important. All my best, Kelly W. read more

Based on the great Yelp reviews we checked out Dan Perata training when our puppy reached the "obstinate teenager" phase of life. She was acting up in her dog walking group and we needed training intervention quickly. After a great call with the staff to learn about the program and all the positive Yelp reviews I was sure we would use Dan. Then we met with Dan and toured the facility and decided to use another trainer. You may notice many other reviews that say Dan has a "big personality". Well, its like when my mom says I'm a "curvy girl", everyone knows she's just saying I'm fat. So Dan's "big personality" is code for he's obnoxious and rude. You will also notice comments that say you will get "sticker shock" or his training is "not the cheapest". When we met Dan he looked at our puppy and the retractable leash we had and said "Get rid of that piece of shit!" and put a different leash on her. He continued to tell us how our dog walker and anyone who doesn't follow his methods are "idiots" who are "screwing the pooch". I'm sure he is passionate about his methods being the best but why does he have to belittle and insult anyone who doesn't use his methods? That's just unnecessary and unprofessional. People who are truly good at what they do don't have to put down others. His methods clearly work and many people think his prices are totally worth it. He wouldn't have more than one hundred 5 star reviews if that weren't the case. And he has a right to charge whatever he wants. I just prefer to give my money to someone who treats customers and others with basic courtesy. read more

Believe the hype. I strongly endorse Dan's work and believe he changed (and likely saved) the life of our dog, Banjo. We found Dan after multiple trainers (and a vet!) had told us that Banjo would never (never!) get along with other dogs. At just 4 months old, Banjo was reactive both on and off leash. No one we talked to had met a dog so young that had such an adverse reaction to other pups. We were at a loss. We loved Banjo, but without options for daycare or dog walking, it would have been impossible for us to keep him. Enter Dan and his team. Dan was not the first trainer we talked to. We had already completed 3-4 sessions with an experienced trainer who specialized in aggressive breeds. And while we had made progress in the home, attempting to take a walk or go to the vet was an increasingly stressful and unpleasant experience as Banjo barked, snapped, growled, and bit whenever in the presence of another dog. Knowing we needed a different option, I did extensive research on various training methodologies and spent countless nights scanning Yelp reviews to determine the best fit for us and for Banjo. I am SO glad that we chose Dan Perata. If you're in the process of choosing or debating options, here are the top three reasons to call Dan. The Facility and Team: Dan's facility is clean and completely equipped to handle any situation your dog is experiencing. For us, access to other dogs - friendly dogs, yappy dogs, big dogs - was an absolute necessity to condition Banjo and teach him to socialize. And the team couldn't be better. Everyone is friendly, helpful, and clearly cares about the animals. We never doubted that Banjo was in good hands during his time at Dan's. The Flexibility: What I loved most about Dan Camp was that we got to take Banjo home on the weekends. Many of the other board and trains we looked at ran multiple weeks, without a break for us or the dog. It was so important for us to reinforce new learnings in the home and also reconnect with our pup before sending him back for another week of camp. Additionally, Dan and his team were completely open to us joining training sessions. This ability to check-in and see exactly how Banjo was being trained not only made us feel good about the process, but gave us tools to bring into the home. The Commitment: Dan and his team will do everything that they can to deliver the results that you want. Dan never doubted that he could turn Banjo around, but he was also clear and upfront about the challenges we'd face, the methods he applied, and time it would take. And while Banjo is still far from perfect, he is light years beyond where we ever expected him to be. He happily plays with other dogs, bows, sniffs, and chases - just like he's supposed to. It might sound like normal stuff, but for us, this behavior is actually life changing. Many thanks to Dan, Natasha, Vanessa, and the entire crew. We are grateful for you guys and your work every day! read more

*Updating Since My First Review It has been ALMOST a month since Nori - my 3 1/2 month old PitBull has been home since Dan Camp (the month long one) and she is such an overall behaved little girl for being so young. She is completely crate trained (before bringing her she would cry for hours overnight) and she learned to hold her bladder overnight providing we follow Dan/Evans rules about not free feeding close to bed time. She has her puppy moments with nipping but she learned commands while at Dan Camp and she does very well with following the directions with those. We have been having issues with her listening while we are outside (calling her to come back to where we are) and I called the Office and Dan helped me out over the phone and even offered to come to our house to do an At-Home Training which I can't wait for! So happy we went through with the camp and how proud of our little girl for how she turned out not to mention, we gained Dan to help along this journey! 1st: In search to find the perfect dog school for our 7 week old american pitbull , I called and spoke with Natasha (Dan's wife) and she was amazing. Answered all of my questions and gave me great confidence that Dan and his staff will help us train our little puppy into a great family dog! I look forward to going in over the weekend and checking out the facility and meeting some of the staff! Providing I could convince my husband we will be leaving our pup for the month (or the 2 week class) *Update to follow once I get my amazing little pup back in tip-top shape! read more

Dan Perata Training - Nori - being a well behaved girl tanning at 3 1/2 months! - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

When we first got our rescue pup, Smokey, we couldn't believe our luck. He was perfect in every way -- he learned sit, shake & come in a matter of minutes, was amazing off leash, never jumped or barked & just an all around great tempered dog -- except when we would leave. Then all hell would break loose. I'm talking even closing the door to go to the bathroom & we'd hear these brutal sobs & cries complete with him throwing himself against the door. Given what he had been through (I'm sure I'd be a stress case, too if I got dumped at a shelter & was on Death Row for 3 weeks), we thought he'd grow out of it in a few weeks once he settled in. Well, after digging a hole through our carpet to China, attempting to claw through a closed door & howling for hours on end when we went to dinner and/or left his sight, we were wrong. It was time to call in the big guns: Dan. We were referred by our friend Erin B. (who also wrote a review!) & could hardly wait to meet with him. Given his schedule, we had originally booked an appointment a week or two out, but he called one morning shortly thereafter with a cancellation & was able to meet us just a few days after our request. As many others note, after introductions, Dan took us outside to show him how we walked Smokey -- or should I say, how Smokey walked us. It's actually amazing how much we learned about dog behavior in that 5 minutes alone. Essentially, dogs don't want to be Alpha but when they feel like there isn't a leader, they will assert themselves to fill that void -- which stresses them to the max if they aren't a natural leader. So, when we left the house it was less about Smokey freaking about when we'd be home to feed him & more about him fearing we couldn't fend for ourselves in the great wide open. For the first 20-30 minutes, Dan taught us to "master the walk" Once we did that, we'd start to see other behavior like separation anxiety ebb. In addition to that, Dan worked with us on kennel training & helped give us the insight & tools we needed to do it on our own. That's not to say it hasn't been a work in progress but the great thing about Dan is you can call, email, text & he'll ALWAYS get back to you. Which I've taken him up on a few times. For parents dealing with separation anxiety, trust me: I know how awful it is. I'd think about it EVERYDAY. I even got to the point where I was considering the sedative our Vet suggested (which we really didn't want to do) As someone who's been through it, I'd say half the battle is just understanding how dogs think & the other half, being patient with your little guy (and yourself!) Via Dan's counsel, we did kennel training for 3 months (also, a stuffed Kong proved to be a miracle coupled with the kennel) & practiced "the walk" everyday. Smokey can now be left alone sans kennel & while we're not 100% there yet, there are no more pulled up carpets, clawed doors or angry neighbors. Which makes for a pretty happy experience for everyone! read more

Dan made my wedding wishes come true. I got this crazy idea, a couple of weeks before my (kind of thrown together) wedding last Summer, that I wanted to surprise my husband with a puppy at our wedding (you know, in that lull between cutting and eating the wedding cake?). I know nothing about dogs, have never owned one before, and had no idea whether this was a horrible or genius idea. I knew that it wasn't going to work without someone to help me out in a zillion different ways, including (1) telling me if this is just a stupid idea; (2) helping me figure out what kind of dog might be best for us; (3) helping me find said dog; (4) taking care of and training the puppy 24 hours a day until our wedding two weeks later; (5) bringing the puppy to the wedding, fully trained, so I could carry off the surprise; (6) taking the puppy back immediately so we could go on a honeymoon; (7) helping us bring the puppy home; (8) training us on how to take care of and raise a puppy, in all possible respects; and (9) ongoing help including question-answering, training help sessions, overnights, references to dog walkers, and the like. I didn't think this would be possible. But then I was browsing around Yelp and found this Dan Perata guy. I contacted Dan that same day and within a week we had found the perfectest puppy ever. Over the next several weeks all of those above 9 things happened, more smoothly than I ever imagined it would. (The wedding surprise went perfectly.) Dan delivered to us the sweetest, most well-mannered, crate trained 11-week old puppy you've ever seen. When Dan and I first went to pick her out, all she wanted to do was bite my fingers with her little teeth. When we brought her home from Dan's a few weeks later, there was zero biting. And zero barking -- I think I've heard my dog bark twice, ever. Completely crate trained, she loves her crate. Practically already potty trained at 11 weeks. Knew basic commands already. We were THRILLED. And today she is the best dog. We take her to the puppy social, she gets along with every dog there. The smallest, shyest dogs, the biggest scariest dogs, the "problem" dogs, they all love our girl. The people who run the puppy social call her their "helper" dog, because they pair her up with dogs having problems and she makes them calm down (or come out of their shells) and play nice, with her sweet demeanor. And, to boot, we now have about 175 gorgeous photos from Dan, you've got to go see Dan's website www.caninepix.com, and see the beautiful photos he takes for his clients. This is all thanks to Dan Perata. Dan is totally knowledgeable about problems that dogs might have and how to fix them. But he also knows that owners need just as much training as the dogs do, and he's willing to work with you as well as your dog. He's no-nonsense, charges rates that are fair, and very available by phone to answer follow-up questions and such. I think one of the things that makes Dan unique is that he will take your dog off your hands for a couple of days (or weeks) and keep your dog at his place ("Camp Dan") to address the dog's problems if that is what's most effective, rather than just spending an hour or two with your dog. He's got two awesome dogs of his own, and usually has a project dog or two at his place at any given time, so there are lots of opportunities for socialization, which is often a huge part of addressing any dog's problems. Whether you are thinking about getting a dog, looking to pick out a new dog, or already have a dog but are having problems, even the worst possible problems, contact Dan. It's cliche, but he's truly the Bay Area's "Dog Whisperer." If you wish you could have Cesar Milan take your dog under his wing, but don't have a zillion dollars or celebrity connections, Dan's your man. read more

Thank you for your help with a last minute request with our dog. It's great to have a reliable resource for dog training and services. With so many choices, people should know that you get what you pay for. The best price doesn't equal the best service. With Dan and Natasha, quality is job number one. I'm willing to pay for quality and the reassurance that my dog's won't come back traumatized, but instead will lose anxiety and strengthen their bond within our family. That's what is all about. read more

Dan Perata Training - Two best friends enjoying each other's time. Jake is a lover who knows his boundaries. Thanks Dan - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow. I had my first training session with Dan this morning and all I can is wow. I have a 7 month old Labradoodle named Lucy. She's not aggressive, she's not destroying the house, she's not barking all the time but she is starting to develop behaviors that worried me. Walking her is a nightmare. I have leash burns on my hands, bruises on my arms and what feels like a dislocated shoulder from her jerking and pulling me around. Because nothing I tried worked (treats, coaxing, stopping/walking in opposite direction, etc) she started to exhibit other behaviors like not coming to me when I call her, refusing to "drop it" and just generally being a 7 month old jerk. Once I came to the realization that I needed something more than treats, I yelped and found Dan. It's basically what the other yelpers said - within minutes, Dan zeroes in on the behavior and teaches you how to fix it. I spent an hour and a half with Dan this morning (and two other dogs/parents) and walked away almost in tears. Within minutes Lucy was walking by my side without pulling, not reacting to other dogs, people walking by, children in strollers and all the other crazy traffic you see in the Mission. I could not believe it. Seriously. I walked away with the tools that I need to continue this at home. I waited to write this review until our evening walk. I thought it might have been a fluke. And sure enough, at the end of the driveway, she began to sprint - however, a quick snap on the gentle leader and she fell back in line. This is the first walk in months that I think we both enjoyed. I caught myself giggling like a fool at one point because I couldn't believe that she was WALKING BY MY SIDE! You don't even realize what a world of possibilities open up when you can control your dog on a leash. Worth every penny. read more

Dan is amazing! We left our two dogs with him over an extended time away over the holiday for training and I swear to god they came back better than we left them. Not only did they seem happier and healthier, they actually were! I can not recommend Dan's services more and there is no one else I will use for training purposes. He is exceptional. read more

Dan Perata Training - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

This dude knows what he preaches. This is the first time I have full control of my husky. She was a rescue and already a year old when we took her in. Even though we made great strides in the year and half we had her. One day with Dan and his team changed her whole demeanor. She listens to commands and the small corrections are working. He gave us the tools to we need. Anyone having behavioral problems needs to go see him. Thank you Dan and Dan! read more

Let me start by saying that what Dan accomplished in one hour was nothing short of a miracle. My 1.5 year old spaniel/shepherd mix Kismet is a handful. He's amazingly strong for 35lbs and has a real problem with people coming over to our apartment, and he drags me around on the leash. I've paid good money to two other training programs, and all that happened was sit, down and come, and Kizzy got a lot of treats. Nothing I've tried has helped with the pulling on the leash, or the territoriality. Enter Dan Perata. He taught me how to have people come over and teach Kismet that it's MY home, not his. With a new head collar, Kismet was walking right by my side around the block after only a few little battles. I did it again after Dan left and Kismet was just as good on the walk. He also gave me a great tip to stop him from jumping up on the people he loves. A+ rating! read more

If you want a happy, healthy trained dog, go to Dan. If you want new techniques for giving your dog treats, i.e. more and more and more positive reinforcement, Dan is not your man. While Dan is hesitant to admit it, he actually does use some very limited positive reinforcement, it is just not all that he (and his team) does. Dan and his team worked with my severely afraid, smart, but poorly behaved dog and turned him into a super-well behaved (still lovable) dog. He took all the time that was needed (well beyond the 4-6 weeks of "Dan camp".) Bex was especially great with our pup, but all of the team were dedicated and great. When the other trainers fail you, (as at least three others did with us), go to Dan. read more

We are so grateful for Dan, Natasha, Aaron, and the entire Dan Perata staff -- they are amazing and I recommend them to EVERYONE. Our puppy just went through Dan Camp -- and she is like a new dog. When we brought her in, we were struggling with her training. She had no on-leash skills, she was barking, having accidents...the list goes on. In just four weeks, we can take her on walks easily, she knows all of her commands, and easily sleeps through the night in her crate without any accidents. If you want results, all you need to do is come to Dan Perata and follow their recommendations. They invest in you and your dog, and if you do the work, they will make sure you have a great puppy coming out of camp. Lastly, they are professional and easy to work with on the operational side: scheduling additional boarding, grooming, checking-in...it's all simple and effective. I am so impressed by them. Thank you Dan Perata Training! read more

"Doggie Dan is the man" Pearle 3 yr old rescue. First week Pearle bit my husband, friend, the vet. Me, an experienced owner keep saying it will get better. NOT ! One night I left the local "dog friendly" park in tears. My neighbors & their dogs would leave the park when seeing Pearle & I coming. Her aggressive behavior was unsafe for people and other animals. Pearle's severe abuse and neglect issues were out. Doggie Dan to the rescue. Dan's knowledge and experience were apparent from session one. I couldn't erase Pearle's abuse and neglect ... I had to be trained. Dan gives you the "why" vs do this, do that. Doing the "homework" daily with Pearle was challenging but the work paid off...I now have the cutest, sweetest dog ever. Knowledge & experience is one thing, add Dan's love of animals to the mix, you have one heck of a trainer. A man that truly cares & loves what he does. read more

We are a family of 6 (kids ages ranging from 4 to 11) with a very busy and loud life. I heard from numerous people that if we get a puppy we will need to call Dan Perata. With all of his exceptional reviews I never doubted Dan being anything but an amazing trainer. My concerns were with my children, and how they were going to be able to reinforce the habits that Dan is teaching our puppy. I expressed this concern to Dan, and he has been incredible accommodating our family. Our puppy goes to Dan Camp during the week, and then Dan comes over to our house to help train our family in our environment. Dan is a funny outgoing person with a big heart, and my children love him! He makes learning fun for the kids, and they never lose interest when he speaks with them. Our puppy is constantly chewing (as most puppies do), and by having her crate trained at such a young age has cost justified Dan Camp! I can only imagine the damage she would have caused in our house! A huge plus to Dan's team is his assistant Vanessa! She is always a pleasure to speak with, and is extremely responsive. This whole experience is a lot of fun, and we feel lucky to have Dan as our dog's trainer for life. Thank you Dan & Vanessa! read more

Dan is awesome spent quite a bit of time with him getting tips for our new family boxer Bella. She was a bit aggressive and wayyy hyper. With Dans advice and help we were able to mellow her out and turn her into the family pet we knew she could be. We couldn't have don't it with out him!! Thanks Dan!!! We will make sure to refer all of our friends and family. Don't give up on your pet they are trainable they just need some Dan!!! read more

Dan Perata Training - Bella 1 year - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

I took my rescue husky mix puppy here as a neighbor recommended it. I knew a puppy needs a good foundation and I had done a lot of research to find the right trainer (there are so many conflicting advice out there). I had not read any of the yelp reviews, but when I got there, I knew it was the right place. I enrolled in the puppy camp and my pup is doing amazing. (We always get complements during our walks on how well behaved she is for such a young pup) Don't get me wrong - she is still as playful and get into mischief as pups do, but she does the right thing when it is important. [A recent incident involved a group of children who wanted to pet her - she sat and licked the children's hands while they crowded around her. At no point did I felt the pup was going to bite or freak out and the children felt super safe playing with her] The staff is super amazing. My pup got sick (not their fault) during one of the stay and they drove her to an emergency pet care (in San Mateo) and actually sat with her and waited for me to arrive. We were in constant contact, so I knew my pup was in safe hands as the staff treated her as if it was their own dog! I initially got 'sticker shock' on the cost - but in hindsight, its worth every penny. To have a pup start on the right path and seeing results every week. Would highly recommend (esp if you have a new pup and don't wait until issues start) read more

Just had to transfer this review from my old account: For the past 4 months my family has been battling against our puppy. She steals tissues and eats them, plays really rough, and couldn't walk on a leash to save her life. We had been trying to find a trainer, but only came across group training-- and our dog needed something else. We were referred to Dan by our vet, after it took 3 people to hold down this 6 month old Lab in order to draw some blood. We called Dan-- and he told us that it would be no problem to take care of her issues. We thought to ourselves, this guy has no idea how crazy our dog is. He pulled up, right on time-- and when he came to the door, our dog started to get really excited. He came inside but completely ignored her. She was going nuts! After 10 minutes he had her sitting on her bed. We took her on a walk-- and she walked perfectly! Dan is a miracle worker! His tips and tricks have helped us so much! I wish we knew about him 4 months ago! Thank you Dan! read more

Dan Perata Training has been a god send!! I have a 5 year old Jack Russell terrier mix that is too smart for his own good. As as much as I love him it has been a struggle raising him. His aggression toward other dogs on leash has been an issue since the day I adopted him. Two trainers, two different obedience schools, and four frustrating years later.... There still wasn't much improvement. Until Dan, Natacha, and their wonderful staff stepped in. Everyone at DPT is warm, personable, and have the care of your pup in their best interest. Jack came home more calm and walks without pulling on leash. After one month at Dan Camp. He even has recall! I couldn't believe it. Best of all is the continued daycare and boarding at the beautiful new Dan Perata facility. I cannot express how nice it is to have a place where positive training is reinforced, my pup gets plenty of exercise, and structured socializing! When I drop off Jack I feel like he is being cared for by family. Jack gets so excited the moment I exit off of 101. He is always so excited to be dropped off and always happily tired from a good long day of playtime when I pick him up. I've also boarded Jack at the facility and love how accommodating the entire staff is about his raw food diet. I've had great experience with all of the staff I've encountered. And I cannot stress how great Dan, Natacha, Vanessa, and Evan are!! They are the best. read more

We went "all in" with the month long Dan Camp for our very energetic Welsh Corgi puppy. He jumped, nipped, mouthed, growled, occasionally snapped, guarded chews and favorite toys, and could not behave AT ALL around our 5 year old daughter ( who is also a bundle of energy, and could probably use Dan Camp too). When we visited after 2 weeks we could tell he was significantly improved. After a month, we could hold him on his back and rub his belly. He can now sit with us as a lap dog. He has the same wonderful personality without all of the bad habits. He is still full of energy and can relapse to old behaviors but with the training Dan has taught us, we are better equipped to deal with him. For customer service, I've texted and called Dan with numerous questions and he always has helpful advice. He kept the dog for a week longer than we paid for AND offered to nurse him through a neuter operation with his vet. Dan is an honest businessman who wants mostly for you to be a satisfied customer. I can recommend him whole-heartedly without any reservations. He provides an invaluable service to frustrated pet owners. To those people who may be like me and just want a magic bullet to fix their dog, it doesn't exist. Dog training is just as much owner/people training! Dan is the closest you can get to that miracle cure you desire. read more

Hi there, now that my hubby had a chance to leave his review, i felt slighted and had to pipe in.... Dan ROCKS! there is now hope for our absolutely neurotic GSD. a dog who thought it was the coolest thing to greet me by jumping up, pushing off of me to get more height, and biting me on the nose - will now sit by the door when i come in. and yet she's still playful and happy and will still go for a jump, but only when allowed we went on vacation for 2 weeks and left the little spoiled princess in Dan Camp. I still can't believe how patient Dan was with our daily calls and texts. he was always available to tell us about how she's doing and he even send pictures. I couldn't imagine leaving her with anyone else and being that comfortable. oh yeah, and did i mention she came back even more behaved, gentle, and attentive? we do have one complaint though. our neighbors are complaining that is...... they don't hear her barking any more!!!! read more

Dan is the Man! No distance will stop him from giving any and all advice almost a year after his initial training. He is always just a phone call away. My dog barks incessantly and Dan discovered this is caused by separation anxiety. A simple crate training and a nudge remedied the situation. He knew exactly what to recommend. Admittedly, Dan's style of training is not for everyone. He doesn't use treats or baby talk. Instead, he uses energy and dog psychology to make your pooch feel secure. A secure dog is a happy dog. As much as we deny it (yes, me included that's why I come to Dan on a regular basis), they are pack animals. After all, they descended from wolves. Instinctively, they look for their leader and in the absence of one, they will take on that role. Other trainers will charge for follow-up consultation. Dan doesn't. He becomes your constant partner in giving your dog a balanced life and the owner a happy one. read more

Dan Perata Training - Niners faithful! - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dan's method of leash training did help my dog who pulled on the leash. Its more the business practices I have an issue with. The first dog we brought to Dan we were told that we would pay $250 for a private lesson. When we arrived, it was really a group lesson with 5-6 dogs. I thought, fine. And expected to pay a reduced rate. Turns out I was still asked for $250. I'm fine with a group lesson but I'd like to be charged for that. Or at least informed about what I was signing up for. I did like how the head collar worked, so I when we got a new dog we took her to Dan too. Again, I signed up for a private lesson. This lesson got changed several times...that happens. But when we showed up Dan wasn't available. He asked one of his workers to take us on a "walk". That worker walked our dog half way around the block and demonstrated the head collar technique. Then for another 30 minutes Dan talked to us about his method, what was wrong with our dog, meanwhile he didn't really demonstrate anything. It was raining so I had this vague sense he was just canceling the lesson. But then we were still charged $250. I should have asked for a refund but I was stunned that it happened again!! I do recommend Dan to people, but I also recommend that they be very clear about what they are getting and should ask for a reduced rate if the lesson is less than what is promised. Overall I do think Dan's methods are very helpful with dogs that are pulling on the leash. read more