My dog has gone to Dan's since he opened his location in the city. Staff is always friendly and helpful. I would give a higher review but the last time I picked up Spike he was couching and come to find out he got kennel couch! read more

I seriously cannot say enough good things about Dan. I had a very horrible situation in my house involving one dog killing another. Deciding the fate of the dog who did that has been the toughest decision I've had to make in a long time. I lost one dog and the though of losing another to euthanasia or rehoming was just too much. After driving up to my house and meeting my remaining pack of 4, I am now confident I don't have to do either of those things. He not only used training methods on my dogs, but also whipped me into shape. I am a weak pack leader and I need to "toughen up"! Yesterday I thought the situation was hopeless and now I'm feeling hopeful. My dogs responded well to everything he did, and I now know I can do it. He literally had my dogs doing everything he wanted them to do immediately. Now I will no longer accept that my dogs are just naughty. I will gain control of the pack and there is absolutely no way I could have done this without Dan. He is amazing and because of him my dog that I was considering other options for, will stay here and become a good dog. Thanks so much Dan!!! I will be forever grateful read more

Two days ago Dan came to the rescue!! Fabio our 8 yr old Toy Poodle that has been very aggressive towards other dogs, charging to bite them, you name it, just horrible, we couldn't take him anywhere with the fear he will bite a dog and the other dog will seriously injure Fabio. Dan knows dogs and humans. You would think how he can transform a dog's behavior in one hour, well he CAN. He brought his wonderful dog Ivan together and for the first time in his life Fabio walked along with him, sat on the ground by him just unbelievable!!! All we need to do is continue Dan's way of treating our dog and if already we see such a different already in his personality, I cannot wait to report his progress a couple of months from now. Dan and Vanessa are the people to talk to for whatever problem your dog has. Dan will fix it, just like that!!!! Thank you Dan and Vanessa!!! read more

We adopted a dog from a rescue group. The pup was thought to be a pit mix and was as cute as can be. We brought the dog home and noticed he demonstrated occasional reactions to being handled. We contacted the rescue agency and they put us in touch with a trainer. She came to the house and handled the young pup and he growled and snapped at her. She immediately suggested we put him down. We contacted another trainer for a second opinion, same thing. We had a hard time dealing with this and communicated the situation back to the rescue agency. They were very helpful and understanding working with us to decide the best course of action. They offered to take the dog back and try to find another home or the dreaded other possibility. We were crushed and had become very attached to the dog. I have raised other dogs before and never had this type of situation before. Someone recommended Dan to us and we thought it was worth a try. Dan came over and talked with us about the dog and the reaction and the other trainer's suggestion. Dan told us the dog is probably fine but just needs to be trained to not react and also needs to know his place in our pack. Dan explained he was going to handle the dog and when the dog reacted he would do a series of drills and then asked if we were ok with that. We said yes and he proceeded. They went through the routine a few times and the dog was never reactive from that point on. We ended up moving on to other training techniques for other typical items, more training us then the dog but great ideas to focus on. I think the dog was discriminated against because he was thought to be part pit. As he grew we recognized he was anything but pit. He's going on two years and is a great dog, great around people, other dogs and especially children. He doesn't particularly care for the neighbor's cat though. Anyway, a big thanks to you, Dan, we feel strongly you most likely saved our dogs life. read more

Dan is by far the best dog trainer money can buy. I recently got a Siberian Husky which is one of the hardest dogs to train and Dan took my puppy in and spent 2 weeks crate training him. When I finally picked him up the only expression I had on my face was WOW he was completely crate trained in a short amount of time and also learned how to calm himself down and sleep through the entire night without making any noise. This coming from a puppy which we all thought was impossible to crate train in the first month. I was so impressed with Dan's dedication and commitment for my husky that I will continue working with Dan on a weekly basis. Dan understand dogs and dogs understand him. I would refer Dan to anyone looking for an experienced dog trainer and looking for results. read more

I am so pleased with the visit that Dan made to my house. He came in and did not pay any attention to my Doxie and sat down and talked to us about the issues that we had. Of course my Bunnie wanted attention and was smelling him all over. After we visited a bit, he then got up and "owned" the sofa as my cat (which she chases) was behind the sofa. I LOVE IT, IT REALLY WORKS. He then took her for a walk with my boyfriend which needed some help there. He also told him to not play "hand monster" with her any more as it makes her to aggresive. (thanks Dan) What I got out of his visit the most was the "leave it" commond. I LOVE DAN. I am so glad he is close by, I might just have to have him come back just for a visit! If you are just thinking about calling him, JUST DO IT. You will not be disappointed. read more

Our 5 year old rescue pup had always been a nervous dog and had obviously been abused. It took years to help her gain some confidence but then she started becoming dog aggressive. I was heart broken and missed our walks now she couldn't be let off leash to run. To compound the problem she had started acting out in the house also. I received all kinds of advice, much of it over priced, but nothing was working. I felt terrible that I couldn't let her run off leash and worried that this could morph into more aggressive behavior, perhaps towards people. When I called Dan's office Vanessa said that Dan can usually fix behaviors in a 1 hour visit. I was skeptical having been told that I needed all kinds of training and then intense continuing support every time something changed in my dogs life. I thought the price and the time commitment was too good to be true but she did not over sell his abilities. Dan was clear and concise about what we needed. In an hour he trained me, my husband AND our two children how to handle the dog. There were no pinch collars or harsh words. He explained the world from the dogs point of view and showed us just what she needed. After just that one hour she is a changed dog. I almost cried after he left from the relief. Our dog is happier, more relaxed and more attentive than she has ever been. She minds us all now, even the 8 year old! After just two weeks of walking her with the tools Dan showed us she is ready to get some training to get off leash again. After over 9 months of stress, worry and bad advice I am confident that we have turned the corner. Dan's prices are incredibly reasonable for the support he gives. From my research I thought it would cost me three times his fee and four times the time commitment to get this sorted. He has regularly scheduled free group training/walks and both he and Vanessa have been responsive and understanding all along the way. I can't say enough how grateful I am that we found Dan. I am completely confident that we can handle any issues and provide our pup with the very best environment. Thanks Dan! read more

Dan helped us transform our dog-aggressive chihuahua to a decent leash-abiding citizen in one afternoon. It's all in the details. We're readers. Thought we had a clue. But as it turns out there's no replacement for one-on-one training with an expert. We came home and immediately put what we learned to use as we encountered neighbor dogs that previously would have elicited crazed barking and lunging. She's like a different dog. Amazing what a little bit of knowledge can do. I wouldn't have believed such a dynamic change was possible in one day if I hadn't witnessed it myself. I'm actually psyched to take my dog for a walk and hope for (rather than try to avoid) encountering other dogs because we now understand and have the tools to succeed. Such a different feeling! Thank you, Dan. read more

Dan is a wonderful dog trainer. He is patient, knowledgeable and most importantly he loves dogs. He will not only train your dog but he will train you too which is so important. His team is highly efficient, friendly and has been trained by Dan so they are top notch when it comes to giving your dog commands and training you then as well. If you are looking for a place to train you and your dog Dan Perata is the man to do it. read more

Okay, so Dan really is what he says he is, an expert dog trainer that can fix any dog. We contacted Dan to help us with our dog Hank that ran away, wouldn't come back when called, chased anything dogs, squirrels you name it. The front door would open, and he would bolt! We were losing our minds with this constant worry if the door opened or if Hank got out and would get hit by a car because he wouldn't come back. I called Dan and he spent at least 45 minutes with me over the phone listening to Hank's issues (really they were my issues). He gave me tips and guaranteed he could help Hank with his recall skills. We met at Fort Funston for an hour. I was nervous because it was a large open area with many dogs/distractions so I just didn't know how it would go. By the beginning/middle of the session, Hank was listening, coming back when called, stayed right at our side and by the end of the training, he was walking OFF LEASH. We nearly died of happiness and relief. Without Dan's help, we would still be constantly worried about Hank's safety and our sanity! Plus, Dan is a super nice, easy going guy so it made the training fun, funny and relaxing! I have already recommended Dan to others and can't say enough about him and his true "dog whisperer" nature with dogs. Dan's already checked in to see how Hank is doing and he will continue to stay in touch. He truly wants the Hank to be successful and means it. Dan you're amazing, thanks everything! read more

Dan is magic. When we couldn't get our puppy in to Dan Camp for a few weeks, Dan came over for a free consultation and walk lesson to get our puppy on the right track. Before Dan, she would not walk up and down stairs and was crazy, uncontrollable on a leash. She'd pull like a 60-lb dog and jump on everyone who walked by. After Dan, it was miraculous. She was a calm, well-mannered puppy on a leash. We sent her to Dan Camp for separation and other behavioral issues, and the result is amazing. One of the best things about training with Dan is he truly loves what he does and is available for you for anything that may come up. Yes, he is busy, and the wait is worth it! (I don't know why some reviews rate him on the fact he's busy and in high demand and not on his actual service.) Highly, highly recommended! read more

It's over 5 months since we receive our first session with dan. Our german shepherd pup is reaching 6 months of age and start showing adolesent behavior problem(barking at people, pulling on leash). My wife is not big, she has a hard time controlling this giant pup on walks. So we setup a second session with dan, it's amazing within one walk, my pup becomes a totally different animal. And he even went to fort funston with us later that day for a longer walk. Now i can walk him with one hand, yes one hand , no pulling , walk besides/behind me. My advice is don't even waste your money on petco/petsmart/spca training, just give dan a call, one session with him is better than 6 week with those cookie trainer. read more

He's DEAD on... no BS type of guy... will tell you exactly how it is... we are extremely lucky to have Dan in our lives and so are our dogs! Keep doing what your doing, Dan! We have a rescue dog who was severely afraid of men... she prefers feminine men and Dan is hardly feminine.... he has become her favorite man of all! Thank you for all you do! read more

Dan spent time on the phone with me, offering advice on steps I could take to curb some mild behavioral issues with my highly intelligent but excitable schnauzer mix. Giving of his time and advice so freely shows how much he cares about dogs and how good he is at his work. Followed his advice on a particular dog collar and voila, worked like a charm. Dan could have easily tried to sell me on lessons, slapped the collar on the dog and claimed victory, but he didn't. Thanks for your help, Dan. Highly recommend to anyone looking to solve canine training issues. read more

Don't waste your time in to looking for another dog trainer. Dan is your man. He solved my problems with my two dogs in no time. Just one session is all you really need. I was having serious problems with my two dogs fighting and it turned bloody. I didn't know what to do at that point. I was thinking that I might have to give one of my dogs away but I couldn't bear to lose one. So, I call a friend and told her what was going on with my two dogs. She said her sister knows of a dog trainer that she was talking too. I got the information from her and looked him up online.I was impress with all the things that people said about him. At first I was not sure if this was even going to work out or not. But I decided to give Dan a call. Sure enough two hours later he calls me and I tell him my problems with my two dogs. Luckily, he was in the city already. At first I was not sure if I should do this but he assured me that he can solve my problems. So, he came over right over to my home in fifteen mins that same day. Now my dogs don't fight anymore and the other problems have been solved too. I am glad that Dan helped me and that I can call him anytime to ask him any questions that I have concerning my dogs. read more

We have two huge dogs, a 95 lb lab mix and a puppy Saint Bernard who is already weighing in at 120 pounds. Before we got our Saint Bernard, Sadie, Scout (our lab), had completed two doggie-obedience classes and was a very well behaved dog. It took us 3 years but he was very well-mannered and socialized, he was far from perfect but it was manageable. Fast-forward to the day we brought Sadie home, and throw that well mannered part out the window. He wasn't listening as well, it would take 2 or 3 times of giving him a command for him to do it. Add to that an energetic, bubbly, NOT well-behaved, and growing St. Bernard and we were overwhelmed! At a bit of a loss, because they regular positive-reward, completely treat-based training programs simply didn't work! (With one not so food-motivated dog what do we do when we don't have a treat or he simply decides he doesn't like the kind we have). When I found Dan on yelp, called him, and set up a date I already felt relief. Finally, someone who said no problem we can handle it, and in one hour to boot! I was ecstatic. We weren't dealing with any of the serious aggression issues that many people mentioned on Yelp reviews, but none the less we were in over our heads and needed help, badly! The training itself was literally life-changing for us. Let's just say we got trained along with the dogs! In the 4 days since our training session with Dan, I have two COMPLETELY different dogs. We will be continuing to work with them in the ways Dan taught us, however I am already totally satisfied with the radical changes we've already seen! Dan even called to check in on our progress the next day, and we plan on meeting him up at Fort Funston within the next couple weeks for even more work! Save yourself the time of trying those doggie classes that simply don't work, and call Dan!!! Thank you, Dan, for parachuting in to our situation of 220 pounds of dog-craziness and helping us attain well-mannered dogs! You're a lifesaver! read more

We rescued our 2-year-old beagle mix a month ago and she seemed to get wilder with every week, nipping, bolting- running away, digging, chewing up the kids' toys. So Dan came over and within a little over an hour he had our dog under control, and more importantly, he had taught us his simple method so that we could continue the training on our own. He was at our home 5 days ago and our dog's behavior continues to improve because it is all very simple and our dog is responding so well to this approach. He was also AMAZING with our 2.5 and 4-year-old children, even involving them in the training. The dog now hears, "Leave it!" from our 4-year-old daughter and will run off and go lay down!! Our dog went from crazy homeless menace to enjoyable, mellow family dog in one session! Thank you Dan Perata! He even called the other night to follow up and I didn't even have questions for him, only a good report about a very well-bahaved dog. read more

I took my two dogs (7 month old German shepherd, and 8 year old lamb) to see Dan for training. Let me tell you that I was amazed on how much the dogs learned and how much they literally changed their mentality. I showed up to Dan with the dogs pulling their leashes to the point that they were tangled. Dan immediately took charge and controlled the dogs. He taught me how to properly walk the dogs as well as keeping them focused on walking and not paying attention to any other distractions. Before meeting with Dan, the dogs would pull their leashes up and down the street to a point were I no longer wanted to walk them. After training with Dan, I walk the dogs everyday, practicing his techniques, and let me tell you that it is a huge difference. Dan explained to me what mistakes I was making as well as new ways to treat the dogs. "Dogs are pack animals" was key and clicked immediately to me. Both dogs have finally calmed down, they don't act up around the house, and both love to go walking which is awesome! I highly recommend having a training session with Dan, he is literally a dog whisperer and is an expert on dogs. I would also recommend bringing walking shoes, and asking Dan for what proper equipment to bring. read more

It's unbelievable how often we get complements for our puppy, Cooper. Comments like "I've never seen a lab puppy this calm", or "I wish my dog was so well behaved" are par for the course when people meet Cooper. Even my future mother-in-law, who has been scared of dogs all her life, feels comfortable enough to give Cooper a belly rub whenever she sees him. It's possible that we somehow managed to find the one lab puppy who is endlessly affectionate, never misbehaves and always listens to us. Honestly, though, the credit should go to Dan. Seeing him interact with our dog is like watching a Jedi master. Within seconds of meeting Cooper as a puppy, Dan had him doing all sorts of obedience tricks that I'm told usually take dogs months to learn. I can now say the best decisions we ever made for Cooper was to send him to Camp Dan as a 9 week old puppy. Dan worked with Cooper during the weekdays and by the end of the month Cooper was potty trained, crate trained, and well on his way with all of the basic obedience commands. This meant we got him from day one as pretty much the perfect puppy, ready to give Lassie a run for his money. Now, six months later, we still hear from Dan regularly. When I first signed up, Dan told me that I was a customer for life. I wasn't quite sure what that meant, but there are all sorts of little extras that are included in his service that you don't even know you're getting. We regularly get calls and texts from Dan to see how things are going. Whenever we have questions, Dan finds the time to swing by our place or we meet him at Fort Funston (aka "Dan's office") to get training tips. At one point, Dan even took a bunch of really great photos of Cooper and burned a DVD for us. Working with Dan for the last six months, it's so clear that this is not just a job for Dan, this is his passion. He goes the extra mile because he loves seeing owners have a great relationship with their pets. If you have a puppy and are thinking about working with Dan, I can't recommend it highly enough. After working with Dan, I now have a dog that I can take anywhere and and trust anywhere. And if your other option happens to be Ceasar Milan, I will tell you, don't bother. For your puppy's sake, you can do much better with Dan. read more

I recently adopted older super anxious dog. In the first couple months It was impossible to leave her alone, even for a minute. She even broke her tooth trying to get out from the crate once. If I left her for 3 hours, she would bark for 3 hours. Lulu was also very nervous of other dogs. Out of desperation I went to Dan and was persuaded to leave Lulu for 4 week bootcamp. Initially I thought it was brutal and had a lot of reservations. During the bootcamp I thought the weekly group sessions and having Lulu on weekends was very helpful. Now a month later, my dog is completely changed. Lulu loves her crate and sleeps and hangs out there most of the time. She never barks and is much more affectionate. I can leave her home alone now - she is calm and happier. I can definitely see how Dan and his team gave Lulu confidence, discipline and structure, which I was not able to do. I'm very thankful to them! read more

I was skeptical after he told my husband on the phone that it only takes one session to teach my dog not to do the bad habits hes been doing for the past 2 yrs., but now I'm a believer -- Dan performed some serious miracles with my dog, in just one session. we didnt even have to bring any treats. i went home and did what he told us to do and our dog has been improving a lot. thanks dan!!!!! read more

Believe every word that you read - Dan absolutely knows his stuff and gets results. We have 5 mutts and have spoiled them rotten. Essentially, we let them walk all over us and their behavior showed that. The jumped on people, pulled on the leash, barked noisily, chased after cats and other dogs...you name it, they did it. We met with Dan one Tuesday night and after 1 1/2 hours working with us and the dogs he had them totally under control. They walked nicely on the leash, didn't jump, didn't try to chase neighborhood cats, went to their bed when told to and even the barking was significantly reduced. The key is to practice what Dan teaches - it works. Dan arrived on time, immediately jumped into the lessons and was a pleasure to work with - he actually made it fun. If you're even remotely thinking of working with a dog trainer call Dan. He's more than worth it. read more

Just wanted to say what a nice individual Dan is. I called him asking for his services in my home in Fremont to help connect my dog with my dad because we recently lost my mom. Instead of having me pay for his services, he gave me helpful advice over the phone and offered his advice if I needed it further. Most people wouldn't hesitate to make a buck, but he didn't. Thanks Dan. read more

We adopted our dachshund from a rescue about a year ago. We knew that he had never been socialized as a puppy, but we figured that we could manage. We quickly learned that, although our dog was sweet with us and happy to have a new home, he was an aggressive terror to other people and dogs. At first, he was just antisocial. Over time, though, Bismarck got progressively worse. He started biting and attacking so many people that it became difficult to take him on walks, impossible to have people over, and unthinkable to sit out at a public place where there even a chance that a person might come near him. We had worked with a positive reinforcement trainer who charmed our dog with lots of treats, but he essentially told us that our dog might be a lost cause. If nothing else, the training regimen of simply stuffing Bismarck with treats every time he growled made him worse. We were at the end of our rope, and ready to give Bismarck up for adoption. We heard rave reviews about Dan from a friend who swore he was a miracle worker. Although hesitant to use another trainer, we thought it was worth a shot. The "miracle worker" moniker turned out to be an understatement. After writing about our troubles on Dan's website, he called us back within an hour to set up an appointment. He gave us tons of great advice over the phone and recommended that he come by our house to work with Bismarck. We were more than a little apprehensive, since it had been ages since someone successfully had walked through our front door without getting bitten. But Dan showed up and began working his magic. After one hour with Bismarck, Dan had fully diagnosed what was up with our dog, and had trained him and us about how to deal with his aggression. After he left, we were hopeful, but still worried that there was no way that one hour with Dan could change our Tasmanian devil. We were wrong. That was Monday. After a week of walks and a dinner party tonight (Sunday, 6 days after Dan's intervention), Bismarck is a changed dog. He still growls sometimes (it will probably be a short bit until he is completely chill), but tonight was able to have friends walk into our house and pet him, hold him, and play with him without a single incident. This was a dream come true. I can't possibly explain how impossible this seemed 2 weeks ago. For you dog owners out there who have given up hope that your aggressive dog can learn how to obey you and like other people, Dan is as good as all of the reviews say he is--better, in fact. Spending an hour with Dan is the best investment you'll ever make. Plus, Dan truly cares. You can tell that he wants his customers to succeed and for their dogs to be happy. Our first trainer never checked in; Dan has called almost every day to make sure that we are making progress, and he offers tips and tricks for new scenarios that you didn't think of while he was with you (e.g., when we told him we were having friends over for dinner, he suggested all kinds of ways to ease Bismarck into the situation without flipping out). All of that checking in he does for free. I have easily spent more than an hour (combined) on the phone with Dan before and after his visit, and he always ensures that I feel free to call him at any hour with any questions. In short, Dan is the best. This guy has a remarkable gift. I recommend him without any hesitation or qualification whatsoever. If he charged 100 times what he does, it would be worth every penny. I don't know how other dog trainers in the Bay Area stay in business. Feel free to contact me if you want to hear more: I could go on for pages with how much he's changed our lives with our dog. In the mean time, I know that we will be going to restaurants with our dog and hosting dinner parties again, all thanks to Dan. read more

Dan is great! He came to our house and took care of two problem dogs. My chocolate lab is three and is still quite rambunctious but Dan settled him down in no time. He also got our little Helenic hound to stop pulling on the lead which was a miracle in itself! He's followed up several times by phone and is very diligent. You can tell he's great with dogs immediately. I highly recommend him! read more

Not being as computer savvy as I'd like....it takes A LOT for me to figure out how to get into the right website and actually post a review...but this time, I absolutely HAD to do it! I want to let anyone who needs any kind of assistance with any kind of canine issue know that they should and must call Dan right off the bat! I have worked with a number of trainers over a period of years, read every book I could get my hands on, and watched Cesar Milan more times than I care to admit wondering how on earth he gets the dogs to behave as he does. Well....after spending about 5 minutes watching Dan with my 3 dogs, I began to understand! Dan is truly our own Bay Area "dog whisperer" and has completely changed mine (and my dogs' lives). I have a large 85lb dog and a small 15lb chihuahua, and the two (I thought) had worked out a pretty decent "lifestyle". Truth was...my little chihuahua was as timid as they come, and I had done everything to reinforce that timidity, creating more problems for her along the way. When a new puppy came into the mix, the combination was "over the top". My chihuahua couldn't handle the puppy energy and became extremely aggressive. Other "experts" I checked with gave me no good answers and even suggested solutions such as giving the chihuahua up for adoption, or worse, putting her down due to uncontrolled aggression. I knew there had to be a better solution. Thank goodness my husband found Dan's website. We had him over to our house, and within 10 minutes he had all three dogs out for a walk with us, and was teaching us(mostly me) how to lead our "pack". In the ensuing weeks, the two littlest ones have learned to be sociable, and we currently have the chihuahua at Dan Camp so that he can work with her more intensively to bolster her confidence(and undo some of the habits that I had instilled in her over the years). I am confident that I will soon three happy, playful.....and OBEDIENT dogs in my home, and will forever be grateful to Dan for giving us the tools to make that happen. Call him......don't hesitate.....you and your dog(s) will be glad you did! read more

This is an update to my previous post. Last Tuesday (11-15-11) my husband an I decided that it would be in Hank's best interest (safety too) to send him to Dan's Boot Camp. So worth it, Hank came home yesterday (11-21-11) we were concerned for Hank's safety as he wasn't responding well to us when we would call him and he wanted to bolt on us whenever he could. Not any more, Hank is doing so much better on his recall issue. He stays now doesn't try to trip you to get pass you when there is an open door. He comes back when called (we need to stay persistant with him). Hank is well on his way to becoming our perfect dog. I cannot say enough good things about Dan I could go on an on he listens and he trains you as well as your dog. I am so glad we sent him to Dan's Boot Camp we had some reservations prior since Hank was a rescue and had only been with us a little over a month I was concerned sending him away to camp would confuse him, I was so wrong it was a very positive experience for all. Awesome & Amazing thank you so much to Dan. read more

My dog is a 6 y.o.. Springer-mix. For 6 years I have been reading training books and watching countless training shows on TV, but my dog would not let anyone into my house with out jumping uncontrollably on each guest. Then he would settle down and be the "almost" perfect dog that I love. After One hour with Dan, I had a better understanding of the interaction between my dog and me. Now, I feel more confident and happy, with the knowledge that when someone comes to my door my dog will behave in a manner that's appropriate. This new found dynamic has also improved other behavorial issues, so I'm more pleased! read more

My border collie Bud has troubles socializing with other dogs. Dan had much specific advice on how to work through this problem . Dan has provided me with the path forward for both Bud and myself to get past this issue, and it is going very well. Dan also turned me on to Ft. Funston, where many dog interactions can occur. read more

Dan cancelled on us twice, which was pretty frustrating. We really appreciated that it was a one-time deal and then you could come to group walks. However, Dan was late, we couldn't figure out where to find him, and his secretary was little help in giving directions at the park. When he came, he had other dogs (and people) with him and immediately began talking about his great Yelp reviews and telling me the same stories he had said over the phone to show how great he is. After asking us to make lists to help with the training, he didn't even look at them, paid almost no attention to our individual dog's needs, and just showed us a few basic things. Basically, have your dog wear a gentle leader, be very stern and never praise them, "pop" them with the leash or "bite" them with your hand on the underside of their belly if they are being bad, and no treats. I understand the philosophy and appreciate how it works, but he is a terrible teacher and too full of himself. We wanted to go back to the group classes, but honestly did not want to bring ourselves to see him again. He also never bothered to learn our names, said "bitch" and a bunch of other horrible things during the "lesson," and was generally just unpleasant to be around... read more

Save yourself the time and money and come here at the first sign of misbehavior. I took Theo to two different trainers who relied heavily on treats, one of them using a prong collar as a staple training method, which was great until Theo learned to ignore treats and could care less about the pinch of the collar. He would behave perfectly in class, and then we would go home and Theo would act up. One of my trainers didn't even believe me that he would bark and lunge at people and dogs. I felt completely hopeless! I stumbled across Dan Perata Training and decided to give it a shot. We did the board and train program, so Theo was there for about 5 weeks. They worked on his walking and his separation anxiety- but lets be real he wasn't the real problem. I got trained for 5 weeks. They taught me how to project confident body language, use my voice when giving commands, and most importantly how to correct him. I've come a few times since for refresher lessons and they've set me straight each time! Since its a huge investment its nice to know that I have people I can come to for questions even after the board and train program ended. Thanks to both of the Dan's and the rest of the guys there for all the support advice and help! You guys are awesome! read more

There are no words that can express how grateful my husband and I are to Dan, Natasha and the trainers at Dan Perata Dog Training. We brought our dog, Chip, to Dan as we were frustrated and scared dog owners worried about the future with a 70 pound, aggressive dog we inherited from our daughter. From the first minute we arrived and met Dan and Natasha, we knew Chip was in good hands! Chip was taught to walk right next to us. He no longer tries to attack other dogs walking around the neighborhood. As a matter of fact, he totally ignores them! He no longer goes bananas when the doorbell rings or the postman is on the porch. If he does bark, we just say, "Leave it!" and he immediately stops. He is absolutely a pleasure to be around now because of the loving training he received and he is a much happier dog. We truly now understand the meaning of how a dog can be "man's best friend" and we owe it all to the amazing crew at Dan Perata. read more

Dan came to our house this week, spent 2 hours on a Monday morning and literally changed our world! I found Dan while researching local dog behaviorists and could not believe how many outstanding reviews were posted on yelp - I had to reach out to him. Our situation was a bit unique - literally days after welcoming a new french bulldog puppy into our family, our four year old french bulldog ruptured a disk in his spine (not due to the puppy!) and went into emergency spine surgery. For the first six weeks of living with us, our puppy was separated from our four year old frenchie who was healing. Once the two frenchies were able to interact it was chaos - barking, fighting, jumping on each other's backs, wrestling, battling for dominance, etc. Dan came over to the house and immediately the dogs knew he was in charge. Dan was amazing! He gave us the tools to guide our dogs and set up a structured home that was peaceful, free from barking and fighting, and was run by the people of the house not the dogs. Dan's style of training multi-faceted, not solely treat based. I have had treat based training before and it was not effective for us. Dan's techniques have behavioral theory behind them and also include educating you on how the dog mind works (this is a very important piece to understand!). Dan was up front with us, honest, invited us to meet him at no cost when he meets with his clients for walks, and encouraged us to contact him at any time with follow up questions. He was outstanding with our dogs and went above and beyond the call of duty to support us in working with our dogs. He does not pitch expensive packages (which is what I found while researching dog behaviorists/trainers) if you don't need it. Dan will honestly advise you on what you need and give you just that. read more

It has now been almost 2 years since Dan first entered our lives. The difference in both Reilly and me is absolutely amazing. I am a much more confident pack leader and Reilly knows that I am there to protect him and that he does not have to assume the role of the pack leader. I no longer have to worry about Reilly being aggressive towards other dogs when we are on our daily walks. He looks to me for guidance if encountered by an unfriendly dog or person and when I give him a command he obeys it. Dan taught me that to be an effective pack leader you have to give your dog exercise, discipline and affection in that order and I have witnessed first hand that this is absolutely true. Often times when we are walking together and I notice another dog approaching us with bad body language or bad energy I hear Dan's voice in my head talking me through the situation. The other thing Dan did when we first met was talked to me about what I was feeding Reilly. He explained that kibble was made from wheat and barley and other things that were not naturally found in a dog's diet. He recommended that I switch Reilly over to a raw food diet and although I was skeptical I followed his recommendation. Next to working with Dan changing Reilly's diet was the best thing I have done for him. He use to suffer from chronic ear infections that required him to be on prednisone almost constantly. As a result he was at least 30 pounds overweight. It took us a while but Reilly has lost the extra weight, no longer has ear infections, has a shinier and healthier coat (which means he sheds less) and seems to actually enjoy meal time. Occasionally Reilly and I see Dan while walking out at Ft. Funston and Dan has commented on the changes in both Reilly and me. Hearing him tell me that my hard worked paid off and that Reilly and I were now a much better pack really made me feel as though I accomplished something. When he told me that we were a definite success story I was estastic and thankful that Dan was there for Reilly and me when we so desperately needed help. By far the best part of working with Dan is that you not only get an experienced dog trainer who genuinely wants to help you and your dog become a calm, balanced pack but you get a friend. There are times that I still call Dan for advice and he is always there for me. As I said before if you and your dog need the assistance of a dog trainer who understands both canine and human behavior then Dan is the trainer for you. read more

Dan is awesome....He really helped out my yellow labrador. He is thorough and knows exactly what he is talking about. He is firm with Barklee and works with me on knowing what to do to help train me to help train my dog. He is always prompt and polite. Dan is just great with dogs. He has helped my dog out so much and if I just need a quick something he is always there for to aid me in whatever problems I am having with my dog Barklee. Dan sits down and discusses the problem behavior with you from a dog perspective. He then shows you how to train your puppy. He is very hands on with your dog. What I love the most is that he does not treat train. He trains from the perspective of the dog. He focuses on teaching you how to be pro-active with your dog and anticipate behavior from the dog and how to correct. I highly recommend Dan to anyone who wants an exceptional trainer who knows what they are doing! read more

I'm so thankful for Dan! Our pup was booted from his dog walking group for being a "punk" and we were in full panic mode. The first trainer we reached out to quoted us $1800 over a 2 month period. When she became flaky right before training began, we started looking for other options. What a blessing in disguise b/c we stumbled on the jackpot that is Dan! True to his word, Mosley improved by leaps & bounds in the one hour he worked with us. Mosley no longer pulls on the leash, waits for permission to start eating (he used to dive bomb the food bowl before it hit the floor), doesn't bark in the car, doesn't chew on non-dog items. We felt such a weight lifted! Mosley is still a work in progress, but that's why Dan makes himself available to clients via phone & group meet-ups (at no additional cost!). Dan is clear and up front that it takes ongoing time & dedication from the owner to complete the process. His recent group meet-up that I attended was a great refresher to keep me on point with our training. An added benefit was the peace of mind I received from knowing that I'm not the only owner out there with some puppy issues! Dan's training methods are effective b/c they are realistic to a dog's natural instincts. He is expert at teaching dominance without aggression. I know my dog seems happier now that we've taken the reins back from him. Our house is filled with less stress now! Do yourself a favor and just call Dan. I guarantee that you will not regret it! read more

We got our golden retriever puppy from the breeder July of last year and went straight to Dan's for puppy camp. Lucas was at Dan's from M-F for five weeks. We would pick him up on Friday night, practice everything Dan taught us over the weekend, and then drop him back off on Monday. Puppy camp made all the difference! Dan even came to our house to look at our set-up and make sure everything was puppy proofed and optimal for Lucas to learn where to go potty. Dan taught us how to be good puppy owners basically! After those five weeks, Lucas was potty trained, would settle down in his crate with no complaints, and knew the basic commands of sit and stay. I was worried that when puppy camp was over, we'd be on our own - but no! Dan was available anytime. He'd listen to our issues and give us advice over the phone. Recently I called them to let them know that Lucas is counter-surfing and Dan came to our house one afternoon to observe and to give us instructions. I have nothing but high praise for everyone in that facility - Dan, Evan, Justin, Paul, Vince. Natasha and Vanessa are awesome too! Very friendly, open to my ten million questions, ready to comfort when I'm confused or at my wits end on what to do. They are all pros! And they truly care for all the dogs. Don't let the whole "we don't give treats" attitude make you think they are mean and stern, they are very loving towards Lucas and I have 100% confidence in them. I know they take good care of him because Lucas is always always happy to go back. We have sent Lucas in for both daycare (on days when we feel like he needs playmates) and boarding (over the holidays) and we were always relaxed knowing that Lucas was having a good time and getting trained consistently too. One problem we had was Lucas pulling on walks. Dan showed us how to use a head halter on Lucas and he has absolutely stopped pulling. Walking is a joy with him now that I know I won't get dragged down the street! Guide Dogs for the Blind uses this type of head halter too for training their dogs so don't think it is cruel or painful. It isn't. For corrections, Dan has taught us to just do a quick and gentle tug in the direction we want him to go, never were we told to snap the halter really hard or jerk it so Lucas' feet are off the ground (one review said this). We have had nothing but wonderful experiences with Dan and I highly recommend him. If you are looking for a trainer who will teach you a few times and then go his merry way, don't go to Dan. Dan, Natasha, Vanessa, Vince, Paul, Justin, and Evan (am I forgetting anyone?) will be your partner in caring for your dog throughout your dog's life. There are no extra charges for additional help. Once you're a puppy camp customer, you can come and ask for additional training anytime. I love this place! read more

This review is long overdue! After years of wanting a dog I finally got the chance to get a new puppy! i was so excited, needless to say the puppy I got was not really the loving sweet puppy you would expect. She's a little chi pekingnese mix and I feel that her first four months was filled with neglect and possible abuse. She was a little terror! She had what I would call temper tantrums all the time, biting and growling even when she was relaxing on my lap. I couldn't take her to any training because she did not have any of her shots. After a month she finally received her last series of shots and after having the vet scold me about her behavior I immediately called Dan. I left a message and didn't really expect a response, but within a few hours Dan called me back and we had a 45min conversation about Mochi. He was very friendly and let me know about his training he didn't even mention the boot camp until I brought it up. I felt Mochi needed some intense training. He did warn me that it was going to be expensive, but I insisted that I thought this would be best. He was great about getting her in as soon as he could. She was in with him about a month, I had weekend visitations and even the first weekend I had her she was a different dog! Dan did amazing things for my little girl, I have to admit that after having her come back so sweet and loving that i've probably undid some of his amazing work which is why she is going back for some retraining. I am grateful that I have found Dan, not only is he incredible with dogs but whenever I have a question I always get a response. I know that he's very busy but he has always been very supportive especially when I ask so many questions. For a first time dog owner or for any dog owner Dan is definitely the man to go to! Thank you Dan!!!! read more

Best money I've spent in years. I called Dan as I am preparing to bring a German Sheperd puppy into our home with our sometimes dog aggressive 3.5 year old, Trixie. Dan came into our home assessed the pack dynamics with me and Trixie, and took us for a walk around our neighborhood. Along the way, an off leash dog charged us. My heart started to jump out of my chest, as Dan coached me successfully through the situation. Before this walk with Dan, I would have yelled "MY DOG IS NOT DOG FRIENDLY!" and prayed for no fighting and biting. He taught me how to lead so that Trixie could relax and be a dog. I was so pumped by this experience that I texted Dan the next morning a thank you and he invited me out to join his pack at Ft. Funston (free). We walked with so many packs of dogs and people without a single aggressive episode. He encouraged and corrected along the way helping to build my confidence. He would use examples of other dogs and dog walkers to demonstrate his teachings. In preparatioin for puppy, he gave me insight and directions to make the integration successful. And so far so good. He even called to check in on us on Sunday evening and invited us to join him at Ft Funston on Monday (for free). He is amazing at understanding the human-dog relationship and not afraid of offering his oppinion. No B.S. with Dan. Again I only paid for an hour session, and I got all of this from him and more. Best of all our home feels so much more relaxed now that I know how to behave. Thank you Dan. You have made a huge impression on me and our family (pack). read more

It's been a week now after our first session with Dan, and the hubby and I couldn't be happier with his training. We think our little furbaby is even happier now that her new friend has trained her adopted parents as well! Seriously, I use Yelp to research before I use almost anything (restaurants, services, etc.), and this is the first time I really felt the need to write a review. What everyone has written about him is so true. I couldn't believe that after just one session, he helped us realize the things we were doing wrong, and show us the things that we should do. Our 2-year old rescue, Lizzie, is now a much happier dog on our walks. She is (or rather, we are) for the most part no longer afraid of going out for a walk, she is no longer looking under all the cars for cats, and she is a lot less of a spaz at home! We were not only happy with our session, Dan has also kept in touch to make sure everything is going okay and to see if we have any other questions. He seems to truly care about our Lizzie's well-being, and for that, we are so grateful! Dan warned us that she will have good days and bad days, and this is true; but her worst day "after-Dan" is much better than her best day "pre-Dan". Call him, you won't regret it! read more