Left my dog shivering with fear after one session with Dan. He used dominance and squirting water in my dog's face as a way to establish dominance. I still feel guilty for putting my dog through that. My experience was years ago and occurred at our home with Dan, who explained to my husband and I that he had lost a finger after not listening to his friend about his dog's temperament then got the end of his finger bitten off. I'm not lying, this really happened. Hopefully the methods have changed since then. Well, I suppose the owner's response shouldn't surprise us. We had a bad experience and never shook our regret because our dog was trembling after, so we hired someone else with different techniques and that was successful. The business popped up today and triggered that regret, so I wrote the truth. And it wasn't 12 years ago. Anyway, I'm glad to read others are having better experiences. Dogs deserve the best treatment possible. read more

I know dog training isn't guaranteed. I will also admit that Kofi is a difficult dog. I held off writing this review because I wasn't sure if Kofi was just irredeemable or if Dan's methods that were ineffective. After a year of going deep down the rabbit hole of dog training and now having success with Kofi elsewhere, I thought I would share my experience and why I believe you should go elsewhere and find a better trainer. I adopted Kofi in April of 2021. He was a COVID return to the shelter. While he was a great dog inside the house where he felt safe, he was terrified when he went outside and was extremely reactive to all dogs and many humans. When I first adopted Kofi, I was desperate for help. I was naïve. While I had cared for many dogs previously, this was my first personal dog, and I was lost. I was already turned down by one trainer. I saw a lot of positive reviews here on Yelp and did a consult. Dan and his team said all the right things. I liked his unlimited follow up as it seemed like a good insurance policy, so I signed up for Dan Camp and continued to do his weekly walking classes through the fall. I stopped going to Dan's at the end of 2021 and sought help elsewhere. I first want to say that there are things I do agree with Dan on. Most dogs need more structure, which can help them understand their role and their job. The more you treat your dog like a dog and less like a baby, the quicker they will understand their job. Timing is everything. The owner also needs to put in the time and effort. The reason why Dan's methods won't work for some dogs is that he really only uses one of the four quadrants of operant conditioning - positive punishment - which is why I consider his methods compulsion based. While he doesn't use the prong collar, the corrections he applies to dogs with the head halter is worse. If the head halter corrections don't work to stop an unwanted behavior, he escalates to the pinch, which is a two finger jab to the dog's groin area. If that doesn't work, it's the throw chain, which is a chain that you throw at the dog's butt to startle them. The theory he espouses is that if you turn up the discomfort, at a certain point the dog will give up the behavior, then you can reward with touch and praise. When he says I didn't put in the work, it means I didn't correct Kofi hard and quick enough with the tools above. Here's the thing, escalation can "work" to shut a dog down to get them to stop an unwanted behavior. However, you are not changing the underlying mental and emotional state that's driving the behavior. Yes, Dan could walk Kofi into a group of dogs without him reacting. However, Kofi was shaking, with his butt lowered, and his tail between his legs flat onto his stomach. Kofi was scarred and was suppressing his reactions because he didn't want the punishment from Dan. This method of training only made Kofi more unpredictable, made clear when he snapped a few times when other dogs got too close during the walking classes Dan also prides himself on not using treats and only using pets and touch for positive reinforcement. Here's the problem, not all dogs like to be touched, so you're removing the most effective tool available to change a dog's behavior. If you find yourself a good balanced or force free trainer, you'll learn that positive reinforcement is about patterns and a random reinforcement schedule so that the dog is motivated and performing a task because it's been instinctively conditioned, not because you're dangling steak in front of it. I went to Dan's for 6 months. During this time, I saw one dog switch owners - the previous owners who paid for Dan's training gave up on the dog, so Dan offered the new owner the option to join the walking classes. There was also a super reactive Boston terrier, where Dan told the owner to just pick it up and flip it on it's back (basically an alpha roll) until the dog "gives it up" - despite the dog being terrified and continuing to bark. There is a reason why all top tier dog training (military, police, sport) has moved from Dan's compulsion methods to marker based reinforcement. Dan's methods may work for many dogs, but there are better ways to build drive and motivation in a dog. If your dog's core issue is fear, I implore you to really read the other negative reviews of people who have fearful dogs, research the continuum between compulsion to balanced to force free, google some of the key terms I've put in this review, and really think about what you want for your dog. Then go find someone else who is up to date with the science, and is willing to work with you to help figure out what works for your dog. Also ask to see the trainer's dog and judge for yourself. Lastly, if they ever overcharge you, good luck getting the credit applied to something else or refunded. Update - nope, $190 credit was never refunded or applied to boarding. read more

Dan Perata Training - Kofi doing well after finding a different trainer who could work with me to change his mental state - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

Please, please do not take your dog here. I will feel guilty forever for subjecting my sweet, trusting dog to this environment. I think I've waited so long to write this because typing it out makes me feel so horrifically guilty it's hard to bear. I brought my dog here in 2019 to work on recall because he was so easily distracted by other dogs / always wanted to play. I wish so badly I had listened to my instincts. Ron came back from week 1 reeking of urine. I gave him a bath and for some reason told myself he must have rolled around in something (when of course it occurred to me that maybe they had left him in a crate so long that he had urinated on himself). Bringing him back for week 2 I had never seen him so scared- completely unlike him. One of our supervised training visits (maybe week 3) was with a trainers dog, who was chasing him and attacking him and I was told that everything was fine when I expressed concern at the other dog's aggressive behavior towards mine. Eventually, I pulled Ron out and didn't bring him back. He was terrified. While he has a great life and is the best dog, he's never been the same - the dog who once loved to play with every single dog he met is now extremely fearful and reactive of all dogs. We can no longer bring him to dog parks or beaches that he used to love. The first obvious red flag should have been enough for me- a training method that requires you to ignore and not show affection to your dog is no way to treat an animal who loves and trusts you unconditionally. And I absolutely never should have brought back a terrified dog who was returned to me week 1 covered in urine. Please don't subject your sweet kiddos to this place and go to a behaviorist or positive reinforcement based trainer instead. read more

Background: I adopted Ollie (1 year old mixed breed) this past July, but quickly felt regret and stress as I discovered that he had severe separation anxiety. Within the first week of adoption, my small dog destroyed my room in a mere 30 minutes I was gone, and I was so devastated. I felt trapped in my own house because I was so scared to leave. I considered giving him back to the adoption center, but I wanted to try to help Ollie overcome his separation anxiety. I met a few trainers and there was some progress made, but I was only able to have Ollie be by himself for around 5 minutes (which took a long time to achieve). Through extensive research, I found Dan Camp! Initial thoughts: I was skeptical of a board and train camp because I've heard and read that dogs only learn a few commands, then usually unlearn these commands. However, at my consultation with Natasha, I learned that Dan Camp stresses the importance of training the owner on training the dog. *Natasha was very transparent with me that results would only be shown if I put in the work and effort.* Structure of Camp: Depending on your dog's needs, camp can be structured in many different ways. Generally, your dog will stay at camp for 4 weeks, come back home for the weekends, then come back home for two weeks (also known as benchmark weeks) before going back to camp for another week. During the last week, Dan and the staff will determine whether or not your dog is ready to go home for good. Due to Ollie's severe separation anxiety, Dan and his staff determined that Ollie needed more time, so he went to camp for a couple of more weeks with benchmark weeks in between. IMPORTANT: Weekends back at home and the benchmark weeks consist of you training your dog with everything that you've learned in the past weeks. Dan and his staff can only do much, so training your dog at home is extremely pivotal to seeing positive changes in your dog's behavior. It is a collaborative effort for all parties involved in the training process! Throughout the camp, Dan and his staff offer many zoom sessions (Q&A style usually) and (socially distanced) in-person classes where you will receive helpful and insightful advice from Dan or Aaron. After your dog completes camp, Dan and his staff will continually support you with classes and zoom sessions! Final Thoughts: Dan and his staff made me fall in love with my dog again. I had so many feelings of anger, confusion, and stress trying to take care of a dog who couldn't be by himself for more than 2 minutes and had to follow me into every room. Now, Ollie is able to stay in his crate for more than 2-3 hours by himself in the house and hang out in rooms with the door closed without me in it. This whole process not only has made Ollie a more confident dog, but has also increased my confidence AND patience. I was so timid and scared to do anything at first, but in order for Ollie to become comfortable and confident, I had to increase my confidence for both of our sake. Along with the improved separation anxiety, Ollie's recall skills literally went from 0-100 as did many of the other skills that we learned at camp. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am so much more confident that Ollie is on the right path to success. All of the staff is so so so supportive and I appreciate every single one of them so much. Everyone is transparent and readily available to answer your questions. You can ask in person, through e-mail, or on the phone. It is extremely clear that this training camp wants you to succeed, and everyone will be with you every step of the way (: read more

See all

Thanks to everyone at Dan Perata! Jupiter is walking right by my side no more pulling . Thanks Again read more

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

Life-changing training and care for our beloved Siberian Husky Our spirited Husky puppy was making life difficult, and was rejected by other boarding programs in the Bay Area. We were on the verge of needing to re-house him when a friend told us about Dan Perata. The five week training/boarding program really turned things around. Dan trains the owners, not just the dogs! Now we are back in charge, plus we have a wonderful, caring, safe place to board him whenever we need to. The facility appears to be less appealing than the rolling hills of some of the boarding places up the coast, but our dog absolutely loves going there. Dan gets what dogs want and need. It is not always what we humans think. read more

Dan and his team are not your typical San Francisco dog trainers. Most SF dog training philosophies revolve around treat based training. While that method may work for some dogs, it did not fully work for our dog, Mellie. We got Mellie from the SPCA when he was 3-4 months in March 2019. Everything started out great with basic puppy classes where we learned the standard treat training. Overall, he was great. He learned tricks quickly and was fun to have in our lives. We didn't realize it then but he actually had 2 problems that were developing... Anxiety that manifested throughout the year in 2 ways - separation anxiety and fear of loud noises (motorcycles, skateboarders, trucks). We didn't realize how bad this anxiety was until COVID hit. He became very aggressive in the car and in certain locations (specifically, in front of a friend's house). He was very skittish around loud noises. He would pull on the leash to lunge at things or run away from things. He was crazy. It got to the point where we didn't want to take him to the places we usually would because of his behavior and our lack of understanding of how to deal with it. A family friend recommended Dan and his team to us. We emailed and Natasha responded shortly after. We set up a consultation and soon enough, Mellie was enrolled in their board and train program. This program is not for the faint of heart. You need to truly, genuinely, want change and for your dog to be the best version of themselves, living with a calmer mind and healthier mental state. You need to be willing to put work in, change your perspective on how dogs are treated in the household. It is intense, it is rigorous, but it is worth it. Mellie is by no means 100%. However, since graduating the program, we've seen amazing changes in his behavior. It's been 5 months since he first began the program. He actually comes when he's called now. His listening and obedience skills have improved. He is a lot less aggressive, and way more calm and manageable. He is able to bounce back so much more swiftly after getting spooked or overstimulated. It's seriously a miracle. Dan and his team have continued to work with us weekly through the Zoom platform and in person classes as promised. They check in with us and give us tips on any new issues that may arise. We will forever be grateful to Dan and the team for the amazing work they've done with Mellie. There is no doubt in our mind that with continued effort, Mellie will grow into the best dog that he can be. Thank you for all of your help Dan and team. Best, Erin, Kevin, and Mellie read more

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

See all

We could not be more grateful to Dan and Natasha for the care, compassion, and expert training they provided. We are first-time dog parents and knew we wanted to give our pup the best chance at a happy life. Let me just say, when you have a well-trained dog, you can take them just about anywhere. Our friends and family jump at any opportunity to spend time with Penny. Sometimes people stop by just to visit with Penny. We don't mind! Dan Perata is a canine magician. When it was time to take Penny home, the breeder called us concerned that Penny had an incredibly fearful disposition. The breeder offered us up other puppies, knowing that working with a fearful dog is no easy feat. We were torn, called up Dan, and he told us if we would put in the work ( training is more about the humans than the dogs), that they had all the tools and experience to help grow Penny into an amazing dog. Fast-forward to 2023. Penny is completely off-leash training ( highly recommend Dan's advanced course). Dan happily did the advanced training for us a year after we attended puppy school for $0. When DPT says they are there for follow-up training they mean it. Stroll through the bustle of the Mission district off-leash? Penny Handles it with ease. Sits at every street corner and asks permission to cross? CHECK. We tell Penny to lay down and stay outside while we go for a meal or do some shopping. CHECK. Penny is where we told her to stay when we return. The Dan camp is pretty awesome. The pups live 24x5 for 6-8 weeks (M-F) at DPT and you come in for both group and 1:1 training sessions. You can attend as many group trainings as you like. Puppies ARE A LOT. It was a relief not worrying about tending to Penny during our work week. Weekends are for homework and bonding at home. We would attend our 1:1 training sessions on Friday then take her home over the weekend. It was sad to take her back into DPT on Monday mornings, but Penny had a great time and we saw great progress every week. You get what you put into the training program. It's some hard work at the beginning, but once you have the foundation in place, your dog is trained! If you walk-away from puppy camp unsatisfied ( we've all encountered those type of folk... always everyone else's fault), you have only one place to look, in the mirror, at yourself. Thank you Dan and Natasha, our life is so much richer and filled with joy thanks to your care, support, and training. read more

See all

Great place and an amazing team. Thank you much for all. We appreciated all the effort.

I experienced the strangest, most dishonest consumer experience trying to attain training for my dog here. It is important dog owners know what they're in for here. 1 month ago I contacted Dan Perata Dog Training to see if they could take in my dog to train him out of leash-pulling, anxiety, aggression, and other issues. Stephanie scheduled my dog to see Dan for a free diagnostic a week later. One day before my dog was to see Dan, I received a call from Stephanie saying Dan had to attend to an emergency situation in a dog class and therefore couldn't see my dog--she said it was important Dan meet my dog so that he could understand his situation better. I had no problem with this; emergencies happen. She rescheduled our visit with Dan to the following week. The following week Dan had a health emergency and therefore couldn't see my dog. I had no problem with this again; emergencies happen. She rescheduled our visit again with Dan to about two weeks later. Fast forward to today when we arrived to meet Dan. We walked in and were directed to a waiting area. A tall, heavy set trainer (I don't know if this was Dan) brought in another dog who was off leash at some point. It ran into my dog's face and looked like it wanted to play. The whole time the trainer was trying to get the dog back towards him by calling to it. It didn't listen, so he threw its leash at it from about 10 feet away. Then eventually it came back towards him. He tried to get it in the crate by yelling--not telling it sternly--at it multiple times till it did so. Then, the trainer said "fuckin' puppies" and said it was a good thing my dog had a muzzle on it, which isn't fair towards my dog because he was just waiting to see Dan, and this trainer didn't know whether my dog needed the muzzle or not (Stephanie directed us to purchase our dog a muzzle before coming in.) The trainer said Stephanie would be out with us shortly. This is the last time we spoke to a trainer during our visit. Stephanie came out and informed us that Dan was fully booked till January. She said it would be unethical for Dan to take in my dog, since their classes are so booked, and they don't want to overwork Dan and the other trainer (only those two could train my dog.) She gave us another trainer's contact info if we couldn't wait till January to get what she called my "monster" trained and said goodbye to us. Frankly, I wouldn't even want to wait till January to sign my dog up for Dan's training because: 1) We were rescheduled already three weeks ago for the sake of Dan being able to meet my dog, and Dan did not meet with us today whatsoever. 2) Stephanie told us today in person they don't use fear tactics to train their dogs, and we saw in person the trainer not only yell at a dog but also throw its leash at it when it came towards my dog and wouldn't leave him. This idea of "no fear" training isn't true. 3) If classes were booked all the way out till January, why didn't Stephanie tell me on the phone one month ago they couldn't take him in? I asked her if they could take him in one month ago, and she told me they could. Why did we have to waste our time driving to Dan's facilities today just to not see Dan? Why did she call us to confirm we could come in today to meet with Dan if Dan wouldn't meet with us anyway? Today was disrespectful to my time. Based on how my dog and I were treated, I would highly advise anyone, who cares about their dog's mental health and their own time, to consider other trainers. read more

This is a long overdue review- but I'm superstitious and didn't want to jinx myself. However- Dan and his trainers (including the office management staff) would say "stick with the program" and it's not about luck or superstition. Bare with me- this is a long review- but the story probably applies to many people in similar situations. We went to "Dan Camp" desperate and literally ready to give our dog away to rescue. Weimeraners are high energy dogs and we knew this going in. He is our 3rd weim as a family. But our other weims were rescues and we got them at about 2 years old. (They came with their other behavior issues- but this guy was different and we got him as a puppy). Our boy, Moses, was a little over 2 years old when we approached Dan for help. I had spent the first two years doing "positive reinforcement" training and it basically turned our dog into a resource guarding dog. He was socialized as a puppy but also had a health set back and then was bitten by two sibling dogs at a dog park (don't take your dog to a dog park). Because of "positive reinforcement" Training I basically was a "treat dispenser" and we had gotten some very interesting advice from other trainers on how to resolve our dogs possessive behaviors and guarding. Unfortunately (after thousands of dollars in training sessions and treats) for us- this created a poor dynamic in our home where the family was literally fearful of our dog because he guarded me- the "treat dispenser." My husband couldn't even walk down the hallway without the fear that the dog may attack him. Enter Dan Camp.... No treats! We gained the knowledge and tools on how to re-establish our household pack and Moses is no longer at the top. He even came home crate trained - after we were crate training failures. The money and time has been well worth it. Yes there is homework- but in a home with 4 people it was doable. Training is always ongoing (just as parenting a little human is always ongoing)- but now we have been given tools and guidance to help us be successful and not just a treat dispenser. Some people on Yelp comment on Dans approach as being heavy handed. I would disagree. Dan explains to you how dogs act in the wild and how we should help them integrate into our households. You can't treat a dog like a human baby with feelings. You have to set clear boundaries and rules for your dog to function by. We don't punish our dogs in the training. Our dogs earn our love and appreciate our guidance as a leader. Aside from positive reinforcement training I had raise my other dogs with corrective training and used pinch collars. If I get another dog in the future I will absolutely choose DPT - and not think about another training method. After 1 year with Dan Camp we still attend the zoom sessions and also go to the center for group walks. I always feel welcome with my dilemas and questions (i I have a lot) and then I get suggestions to help keep our boy in check. We still have a long way to go- but life is so much better now. Thanks to Dan and all his staff at DPT. We are so happy we found this dog training center. Well worth every cent. read more

See all

Dan Perata Training: where you go when you're serious about giving your dog the tools they need to have a positive quality of life. We enrolled our Australian Shepherd in Dan Camp after she displayed some reactive, "close-call" behavior, immediately taking the lessons seriously both at the facility and at home. We personally did not believe in shock/prong collar or treat-based training, and the results we received working with DP are a testament that there are alternative ways. The philosophy behind their guidance makes perfect sense when you think of animal behavior and diverge from the idea that dogs are exactly the same as humans - they're not! If needed, we are now able to anticipate her behavior in order to re-route her actions. Their team goes above and beyond to make sure that these poochies are safe and CONFIDENT. You don't come here, hands-off, just for them to train your dog - the training really is for both of you to do together. It takes patience, time, repetition, and a lot of love. Also, boarding is a huge plus: while I truly don't trust just anyone to take care of her while we're out of town, we routinely board her with DPT without worry. Dan is super knowledgable and a dog whisperer; the training we received has forever changed our relationship with our dog. I failed to mention that she just loves Dan and we get an earful when we drop her off out of excitement! read more

DPT saved my adopted dog and gave me the tools to help me keep her in my home. I adopted Winona when she was a year and a half and she came from an environment where she was an only dog and was never socialized with other dogs. I have 2 dogs and frequently watch a 3rd family dog. The first three months she was here, Winona attacked the other dogs and caused pretty serious injuries during mundane dog disagreements - she just didn't know how to 'dog'. Which is what caused me to reach out to DPT in desperation - a last resort after other trainers told me she would never fit in my household. After going to Dan Camp, there was never another injury - she learned to exist with other dogs and we all live relatively peacefully. I am so thankful for Natasha, Dan, JV and Josh - without who I would not still have the crazy and strange dog I love so much. read more

See all

I rarely leave a review on Yelp but I wish I had known a couple things before signing my pup up for Dan Perata's Dan Camp training. 1. You pay $4k up front and there are no refunds even if your pup is not the right fit for their style of training. Or if your puppy gets sick at the facility. 2. Our pup is a breed that is extremely sensitive and needs lots of close contact and love. The training tells you not to look at your dog and not to talk to them. This didn't work for us. We've never seen our dog so afraid. We walked away after 2 weeks in the camp with a sick puppy (she got Pneumonia from the boarding) and $4k down the drain. They wouldn't even entertain returning a prorated portion of the money. I would question their no refund policy and ask if you're willing to take that risk with your dog. read more

This place and the trainers and staff are so excellent. My Maltese, Honor, is 9 lbs of stubborn fluff and before we started Dan Camp, he knew vaguely what I meant by basic commands, but just decided on his own that he wasn't going to do it. I took him to training classes when he was super small at a pet supply store (don't do that, go to a professional). He had never come over after being called in his life and 'stay'? "No nooooo no no, I'm coming with you! :D Where are we going? Let's hang out every second of every day forever!" - Honor, every time. All of that was annoying but hey, he's 9 lbs. Whatever, I'll pick him up and move him if I tell him to do something and he doesn't do it. (Bad idea. It gives you the laziest/most manipulative pupper ever.) It was the barking that finally did me in. Ok, if you're trying to do something about your dog's severe separation anxiety because your neighbors are pissed, let me tell you, Honor screamed at the top of his lungs. Was someone murdering him? You would sure think so standing just outside my apartment door. I was nearly evicted over his barking/crying/howling. I took him to Dan Perata Dog Training and the result was really amazing. His basic commands are sooooo much better and he even comes when you call him. Thankfully, the barking/crying/howling is infinitely better too. It's not a miracle--you need to put in the work and give it time--and he's not perfect yet (it's only been a few weeks to try and cancel out almost five years of him walking all over me) but I'm really seeing him turn the corner and it's such a relief. I'm optimistic about Honor's behavior changing for the better and I really recommend you give this training facility a try if you're at the end of your rope. They're an incredible operation and in the weeks I've been there I've seen them working on every kind of breed with every kind of problem. Whatever's going on with your dog, it'll get better. read more

Short version: Working with Dan took my dog from a destructive, anxious stress ball, to a dog I can leave at home on his own for hours without worrying at all. Long version: When I first got Ollie, he had crippling separation anxiety. I couldn't leave him for more than two minutes (seriously, I timed it) without him barking and eventually tearing things up in the house. Over the years I tried every manner of training you can think of. Most of them are total bullshit, or at least ineffective on their own. (Thundershirt, treat training, playing dogTV while I'm gone, etc. There is no silver bullet.) Eventually I made do by taking a veterinarian's recommendation to give him anxiety medication. A trainer also recommended using a bark collar with the setting on vibrate. This bandaid solution held us over for a while, but I could tell that Ollie was still anxious. I'd treated the symptoms, not the problem. When I took him to Dan, my whole perspective shifted. I started learning how I'd trained him to think he was in charge of me. A big realization was that your dog doesn't actually want to do this. You're putting a shit ton of stress on them by babying them and making them the decision-maker. I also learned how to help him work through his anxiety instead of medicating it. Today, Ollie doesn't take any anxiety meds. When I want to leave, I can simply tell him to "go to bed." He hops into his crate and plops down and doesn't make a peep. He's incredibly obedient on the leash and is working towards being off-leash, and he listens to me when I ask him to do anything. I've never seen him happier or more confident than he is now. read more

We will be forever grateful to Dan Perata Dog Training for helping us keep our little family together. We've been dog owners our entire life and thought we knew everything, until we adopted two female Jack Russell Terrier puppies and they turned our whole world upside-down. Oh, Summer and Dot were cute, that's for sure, but they were so rambunctious, so stubborn, so completely out of control, they were like jackals. After months of tearing our hair out, we were ready to put them in a cardboard box in front of the grocery store with a "Free" sign. But who were we kidding, we loved them so much we couldn't bear to part with them, but what on earth were we going to do? They were unmanageable. We hoped they would grow out of it, but then adolescence hit and the real terror began. They started fighting each other, and by the looks and sounds of it, the fights were serious. We'd had two female rat terriers before and never had a problem, but what we didn't know is that female Jack Russells rarely get along, and once they start fighting, they don't stop. Without supervision, they could kill each other. We looked online for help, only to find other trainers and breeders recommending we get rid of one of them. We were devastated. How could we possibly choose? So exhausted and near tears, I called Dan Perata Dog Training. Natasha answered the phone. I was so choked up I could barely get the words "Jack Russell" out of my mouth and she immediately put me at ease explaining they had a lot of experience with this difficult breed. Then when I said I had two puppies, she said "Are you out of your mind?" And we laughed together. She was warm, helpful and compassionate. I signed up for Dan Camp the very next day. I won't kid you, the training facility looks intimidating. This is not some trendy spa where you hand over your dog to be trained while you enjoy a matcha latte on a comfy couch. They mean business here, and the surroundings reflect it, and they expect you to take part in the training as well. But the people that work at Perata are incredibly kind and compassionate. They train in a no-nonsense way, they don't use treats or punishment, just patience and positive reinforcement. It's like they speak a language that dogs understand. They teach more than just your dog, they help you too. They showed me how to be consistent and clearly communicate with my dogs. That was the hardest part for me, forgetting what I thought I knew and opening myself up to their approach. I fought it at first, but I could see the dogs responding to the training. I learned so much and so did my dogs! Our pups are now 2.5 years old and full of life and personality, and remarkably, they do what we ask of them (almost every time). If they have something in their mouths they aren't supposed to have, we say "drop it" and they immediately spit it out. When we say stay, they stay. They don't nuisance bark, they only bark to alert us of something. We can be in a campground full of barking dogs and ours are quiet. When we say potty, they do their business. They love their crates and happily run into them every night for bed. They still have some work to do with leash walking without pulling, but they are still young, and very exuberant. And . . . well . . . bird! squirrel! And just in case this review encourages you to go out and get a Jack Russell (or two!), be aware, there is a lot of dog packed into this small package, and they aren't for the faint of heart. They require a lot of commitment, exercise and definitely Dan Camp! One thing I know for sure, we wouldn't have been able to keep them if it wasn't for the training we got at Dan Perata. Thank you Dan, Natasha, Aaron, Stephanie and all of the staff. We owe you so much! We also love boarding our dogs at Perata. It's like they get a refresher course every time they stay there! They come home even more well behaved. Thank you for your excellent training and care! read more

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

Like many folks during COVID, my girlfriend and I decided to adopt a puppy. We've both had dogs before, so we knew what we wanted, and were willing to wait. Then, when a second puppy from the same litter was available at the last minute, I said, "Let's get two!". Enter twin Swiss Doodle puppies, Otis and Emma. Of course, we planned to do our own training (with YouTube and all sorts of resources, why not?). But after we got them home, we realized precisely how tough it was going to be to train two at once while holding down full-time jobs, even if we were working from home. So, we looked for professional help. That's when Marjorie identified Dan Perata Training. We enrolled them both in "Dan Camp" starting in July 2021. I have to say, it started a bit bumpy, at least in an emotional sense. We had to wait for two open slots, and by the time they opened up, we had become quite attached to our new puppies. Sending them away for most of the week was tough. But, we understood that dog training is as much for the owner as it is for the dog, so we toughed it out, doing all the Zoom meetings, in-person training sessions, and weekend homework. In the process, we got to know both Dan and his trainers pretty well--I accepted primary responsibility, so I was on-site for DPT for four hours every week (two hours per dog), plus an additional hour on Zoom. It's a commitment. The effect was almost immediate. After the first week, our whiny, needy, new puppies who got us out of bed out several times per night were suddenly comfortable in either kennel or crate without much complaint, after a single "hush". Although the on-site sessions were pretty monotonous, progress was noticeable week over week, particularly seeing the new puppies going through the process and realizing "Oh, yeah. I remember when they did that!" There are immediate rewards, too. I remember having trouble with Otis biting my hand hard enough to draw blood while playing--I brought this up to Dan, and he gave me immediate advice. The next time Otis tried to bite me was the last time he ever did! Magic. As we got to know Dan better, it became more apparent how effective his methods are. He's no "biscuit pusher" but instead provides concise instruction to both dog and owner through consistency and tone of voice without resorting to treats. He's not a "dog whisperer" either (more like a "dog barker"!), but his methods are way effective if you're willing to suspend disbelief for a week or two. I've seen a few reviews that question DPT's business practices. That's not been our experience at all. From Dan through his trainers to the office staff, we have seen but one conspicuous characteristic--They love dogs. Period. Not the fees, not the upsells, but the dogs they send out into the world. There's some understandable pride there in making the world just a little bit better through responsible companion animals, and I have to say that Marjorie and I are incredibly grateful. If you decide to take your pup to Dan, you need to go all-in, but you won't regret it. As a heads-up, it took us some time to appreciate Dan's sardonic sense of humor and occasionally non-PC commentary. You shouldn't expect a warm and cuddly sales guy. Dan is more of a Marine drill sergeant. He personifies "tough love" but with the emphasis on "love". As a final note, Emma and Otis are doing very well after graduation, with a minor regression on neutering. Dan takes pride in his dogs and has been regularly available for all sorts of dumb questions (dumb in retrospect, of course) even after the dynamic duo officially graduated from the program. I wish all the dogs were Dan Perata dogs! The world would be a better place if they were. read more

Dan Perata Training - Emma @ DPT - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Dan and his team are amazing! They taught my partner and I so much, not to mention our pup! We're so glad we made the decision to train with Dan! Avgo loves going back to see her friends! Thank so much Dan and team! You guys are the best! read more

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

See all

Dan was my last resort. He's not going to sugar coat it, but if you can remove your feelings and trust that he's just trying to help you and your dog - you'll find success. I have a 4 year old pitbull - rescued about two years ago and over the course of those two years, she has grown more and more reactive to dogs and people, and also outlets her energy on cars, skateboards - anything that moves really. It's fear based aggression, high prey drive, and what Dan helped me realize - emotional and leadership imbalance that caused an attachment to me that made the entire problem much worse. A combination that has slowly deteriorated my mental health. I was introduced to Dan and Natasha by a mutual friend back in November of 2024, after in person lessons and phone consults with about 8 different trainers and $8k in costs. Prong collar, e-collar, treats, clicker, slip lead, long lead - you name it, I tried it. Nothing worked. So I decided to drive from Reno to San Francisco and give it one final shot - before putting down a dog I became extremely attached to as well. Dan's methods aren't rocket science - it's actually quite simple. Just listen to him. He's going to be right by your side the entire time if you show up for yourself and for your dog. Cry once and then cut that shit out. I repeat, he's not going to sugar coat it, but he will be the secret sauce if you've found yourself at your wits end with a very difficult dog. And if you don't have a difficult dog yet - hire Dan so you don't end up creating one. It's not the dogs - it's us. I'm about three months into this new chapter and I'm able to walk Cici around the neighborhood again (a location we avoided for the past year due to her temper tantrums and my embarrassment and frustration). We've walked past dogs and people with little to NO reactions. Our journey isn't over yet and there's still work to do. It's going to take time to undo two years of the wrong training, but I finally have the right tools and it's only up from here. A massive thank you to Dan, Natasha, JV, Josh, Sydney and Bryn. -Alex & Cici read more

I'll start by saying this is not a bad training place. You want your dog to be trained? This place is as good as any. But that's the thing, 'as good as any'. It's no better or worse than any other (reputable) training place or method you can find. So why the bad review? Two main reasons. Firstly, Perata himself. The general staff is quite nice for the most part, but Perata himself is just a bully. They will quickly jump to his defense, saying he is just blunt, direct, or raw.. I've met many bullies in my life, Perata is just that. A simple minded, condescending, obnoxious, bully. It's perfectly fine to be direct, stern even. You don't need to belittle people or insult them in order to do so. It *is* possible to be direct, disagree, and correct people, and have basic manners at the same time. Secondly, their general admin is catastrophic. The tech they use looks like something some worker's cousin built during a weekend. It's clunky, unwieldy, and buggy. You have to use this, since you need to book your classes with them, so there is no way around it. With many 3rd party affordable programs you could use (and in the bay area to boot), this is befuddling. And their admin staff is beyond useless. I've had to repeat the same question over and over and they seem unable to give you a straight answer. So overall.. I can't really give it a 1-star rating because, as I said, it's decent dog training. But can't bring myself to give it more than 2 because for their price, it should be a lot more reliable - and Perata should do some growing up whilst he is able. Edit: just some additional comments following the 'business owner's response', to comment on some of their points. A response that was posted just a few minutes after my review came up incidentally. It looks like they jump like sharks to any less-than-glowing review here to tear you a new one (hint, you might want to consider some of the negative reviews as constructive criticism to grow, instead of just going full-on attack mode) : - Firstly, that 'my name is not in their system, therefore I'm the bully'; I don't really understand why having some anonymity would make me a bully here but, whatever. The fact is, I'm not using a fake name here. Jeez, I wonder if the fact they cannot find it would have anything to do with the atrocious admin issues I was referring to earlier... - Secondly, the laughable statement that their software is 'industry leader'. 1990s software was better than that, for heaven's sake. Any computer science student today should be able to write a better working system. It's fine if this is not a priority, but just admit that instead of trying to defend something that is clearly and obviously bad. - And finally the point that apparently because Perata 'gives back to the community' it's ok for him to be a bully? Or that because of that he could not possibly be a bully? I'm honestly not sure I follow those statements, seems like an apple to oranges comparison. But in any case.. giving back to the community is great, and I'm happy for y'all. It doesn't mean he's any less of a demeaning, condescending, bully. You know who else gives back to the community? Traditional organized crime (and no, I'm not suggesting this is what you are, just using it as an example that one thing has nothing to do with the other). As I said, it seems it'd be more useful for you to use negative reviews as learning points, not just jump to the jugular of anyone who dares post anything less than glowing about you in here. read more

I can't praise Dan and his team enough. My dog was 4mos old when we enrolled him. He was in training for 6 weeks and he came out the goodest boy ever! He was able to walk off leash, had great recall, mastered stay/here/leave it, and was fully potty and crate trained. He's almost 4 years old and is still such a good boy. When problems or issues arise, Dan always welcomes us back for touch up lessons and training. Not only that, Dan and his team have become family. They are so supportive and care deeply about Blue's well being and always makes sure I am supported as a dog owner. Thank you Dan, Natasha, Stephanie and Aaron! read more

I am so impressed with this facility. Dan and Natasha are amazing. They have an amazing staff that truly cares. From the moment I walked in I knew my puppy would be in great hands. After just three short days I noticed a huge improvement. We are now just finished with the full week but so very impressed. When first searching dog trainers we were skeptical and not sure because of prices and what trainer to go with. I could not be more content with mine and my husbands decision. Our pup was just 8 weeks when we started and a bit happy and peed everywhere. He now is a little angel. We of course have homework and he is still at school but we are so so delighted. Thank you everyone at Dan Perata Training! Rachael read more

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

It's been 3 years and I'm still having terrible flashbacks on how they treat your dogs. During initial visit they promise positive reinforcement and training with love. It's far from it. - make you use aggressive tactics (nose leash on a 7lbs dog and pull it hard if they misbehave) - throw my dog on the ground and pin him down - poke him in the groin if he misbehaved. - tell us to call him a piece of shit and keep him in a corner He was always scared shitless. We eventually pulled him out of this camp. I still think about the way he was treated and we were being taught to treat him. We have been giving him love and affection and he does much better now. read more

I have been excited to write this review! I took my 120lb rescue 'black lab' (not a lab whatsoever) to Dan for my consultation and decided to put my pup in Dans Camp. Not only did I learn sooo much at the one full hour consultation where he helped me understand my dog, but I got the see and experience the facility. All 10/10 rating. I spent sometime researching other places and there were MANY key reasons why I think Dans program is better than the rest. One of the key things that differentiate this place from others: 1.) Specialized help (for example we had resource guarding and energy management issues/social anxiety) they made sure we had everything addressed for our specific dog issues. They do this for every dogs needs! So awesome! 2.) they send the dog home on weekends! Not only does this help bc we all love our dogs so much. But I swear this must set a part other programs bc I was fully a part of the training! And as the nerd I am I LOVED the homework. It's not a lot at all. It's a guidance of what to work on during the weekend. 3.) lessons - Everytime I go to a lesson I get to be a better handler. I never find a lesson dull and Josh and JV are so creative with them and so helpful! At any point I thought 'Oh me and Whisky got this' they knew how to challenge us just the right amount. They also invite/encourage family to come. So my mom who babysits my dog (she can now, never in a million years did I think I could leave my dog with my older mom, but that has changed!) and my partner. This helps the whole group get on the same page. Bc if you have a difficult dog I know you and your family have been trying their best. My dog and I are excited for every lesson!! 3.) the team and facility - the team is amazing! I can't thank Josh and JV and everyone there enough! They are amazing, kind, smart, adaptive, knowledgeable and patient! (Patience is key bc I didn't know how bad at handling the dog I was, and it took me sometime to unlearn my bad habits along with my dog) I also found the facility to be well designed, clean and a cool place! I look forward to going to lessons and hanging out there. They also never make you feel bad - they are amazing teachers and cannot thank them enough. 4.) my dog visibly showed that he liked his trainers. Every Monday I carefully watched my dogs body language and he only showed happy signs. Tail wagging at the door. Happiness in his eyes. This made me feel good. They drop offs are amazing for ppl who have to get to work. It all is just thought out so well. Overall this is 10/10. If you are in a tough place with your dog I am so sorry I know what it's like. Go see Dan and his team! I used to think I had to live like this, that I made this decision with this 'naughty' dog and would have baby gates forever. Within the first week my dog could handle no gates up and I could get him away from the trash! They will help you with your specific needs. I could go on and on(seriously I could). Thank you SO MUCH Dan, Josh, JV, the rest of the team and family! You have saved my dogs life and mine. I can't imagine what I would do without you guys! If you're still unsure about Dans camp, my advice is to do the consultation with your dog and head on their website. It's a well designed site and has videos to get to know Dan and Natasha and their training style. I learned a whole lot about proper handling just from watching a video of them and talking to Dan. read more

Dan is amazing. He very quickly identifies dog and owner behaviors, what works, what doesn't, and gets a plan in place to correct it. He had our dogs going through the paces in minutes as well as us owners. :-) I highly recommend him. read more

We've now sent our second dog to Dan, this time a puppy. From complete spaz to off leash in a year. Not bad aye! His program is incredible and gives both the dog, but more importantly YOU, the tools to succeed. With the puppy program, even after they graduate you can always hop on a zoom or come in for a lesson. We've left the dogs there for boarding, training and recommend Dan to everyone. What sets this program apart is the approach, which is about the relationship you have with the dog (and not how many treats it takes for them to listen). With 5 simple commands, you and your dog will have an amazing life together. read more

You guys deserve more than 5 stars. I came to Dan Perata with a human- and dog-aggressive 6 month old. I grew up with dogs all my life, and with Covid having everyone separated, I figured he'd grow out of this behavior as things normalize because, hey, he's just a puppy and they grow out of running laps, digging, nipping, and barking at others. Getting back to work from quarantine and being around coworkers (horrible strangers, according to the pup) proved to me that he wouldn't be getting better without serious help. His fear-based aggression was beyond my experience. At my wits end, my coworker recommended Dan Perata. My dog went to Dan and the team as a scared wuss, and while he's always going to be a piece of work, I cannot stress enough that his behavior has taken a 180° turn. He *listens* when I command here, stay, leave it, hush - and I don't need treats! My favorite parts are how incredible he is walking on a leash, that he loves his crate, and how well he listens - especially to hush. I let a friend walk him the other day - something I would have never let happen before training - and she boasted about how much of a joy he is to walk. He's crate trained so well that when I'm in the living room and he's ready to sleep, he will get up and walk directly into his bed. He used to bark at any noise, inside and outside, and now he might perk his head and ears up, but he won't act upon his fear without checking-in with me first, which means I have the opportunity to apply either hush or leave it. Just like him, I'm always training. You get out what you put in. Your dog cannot be a better dog without you. And my dog would not have been a better dog without the team at Dan Perata Training. You are taken care of when you're with DPT. I came to them just as scared as my dog, but they have the answer; the have the experience. And you're with them for life, always a Dan Perata dog who can come back anytime for drop-in classes and to maintain the consistency of training. I cannot thank you enough, Natasha, Dan, Aaron, Stephanie, JV, Monica, and everyone. These are the people you want around your dog. read more

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

It has been almost three years since I first brought Chella to Dan and I have only grown more grateful with each additional year. She was so anxious and uncontrollably energetic before going to Dan Camp, but now she is a dog who can literally go anywhere in public with confidence. I moved to graduate school in another state and Chella literally flies in the cabin with me on airplanes when I go back home to California. She remains calm and lays down the entire time. I can take her to the mall, the beach, in Uber rides, or literally anywhere. But I can also leave her in my apartment without any separation anxiety or behavioral issues. Nothing bothers her anymore and she is so well-behaved that strangers regularly ask how I trained my dog. Dan Camp is an investment but no other program can match its caliber. There is no other trainer that I would trust to take care of my dog. If you're feeling doubtful and questioning if a Petco-type training program is the same...it isn't. Take the plunge and go to Dan, Natasha, and Aaron. You will never regret it. read more

We tried the drop in classes and we gave it several tries. It just wasn't a good match. The owner Dan is just far too aggressive for such young dogs. This company only has its rating because it requests yelp to remove most negative reviews. In the negative reviews you will have testimonials of the owner Dan stepping on a poor little dogs foot to "teach" the dog not to jump. Him snapping the leash and neck of a dog he is waking to "teach" it to obey him. Do yourself a favor and Choose one of these businesses instead: Premier K9 dog training, Dog secrets boot camp, bark busters and one day dog training. I have been to all but 1 of these and they are great resources and far better than this awful camp that inspired this review. I'm going to be intentionally obscure in this review as far as identity of "the person" that interacted with Dan and the ladies(staff) and the other abusive trainers because they have a history(also in a later review) of posting the full name and contact info of people who review them negatively. (It's in these reviews but they edited it out, look for it) ****this company has its rating in part because they get negative reviews removed. Read the comments about how they "crate train." It's just so heartbreaking. Don't give them your money if you believe they will hurt your dog please..**** read more

Not sure where to start our story- here is goes: Our younger rescue dog became more and more aggressive to other dogs once our older dog passed away. We were scared to take him outside of our house and yard. He barked (scary bark in our opinion) when any person or another dog passed our house. Our family spends a lot of time outdoors and on adventures and we no longer were able to do that with our dog. So we started looking into possible training for him, but were not yet ready to make that financial commitment. Fast forward a bit- we got a new puppy addition in our family and hoped that that since our rescue dog had a new friend he would make behavior improvements. NO go- now we had a puppy that we had to protect from our aggressive dog. So after a bit of research on high quality dog trainers for aggressive dogs- we found Dan. From the moment that we had our consultation with Dan- we were convinced that we needed his help. He demonstrated to us, in just one hour, that with the correct training (training us more than the dog) that our rescue dog could become a friendly member of our family. We signed up immediately. Bringing your dog to Dan camp takes a lot of work on the owner's part and we do believe that all of the training that we had made a difference. We completely agree that you can't just send your dog to someone else for training and then expect the dog to do the same for you at home. Dan and the rest of the staff are always there for you. They ask for information on what specific challenges each owner is having with their dog. They help build the confidence of the dog AND their owners. We were so excited to begin bringing our dog places with us again. To top it off, Dan and the staff encorporated our puppy in a lot of the training. We now have two dogs that we love to take with us everywhere. We are confident that we have the skills to thouroughly enjoy everything that we do with our dogs- especially outside of our house. We would not be where we are at now without Dan and the wonderful staff. Our dogs love to go on "vacation" and board at Dan Perata when we have to take a non-dog vacation. Thank you so much for all that you do! read more

I met with Dan and Natasha today and enrolled my puppy, Sassy into their camp. In the consultation, Dan was very informative and pointed out some important things that I was doing and while we were talking, he started showing me techniques with Sassy that will help. I am looking forward to learning from Dan and his team to teach Sassy and carry that knowledge with me to train my other dogs and help my clients dogs while they are in my salon for grooming. Thank you Natasha and Dan! Can't wait to start this journey. read more

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

Part 2 of a long review. Part 1 @ https://bit.ly/dpt-part-one Odin ended up enrolled at camp for 8 weeks. During that time we went to the scheduled group classes, but also Dan, Josh and JV spent countless extra hours working with us. They would stay with us after class, answering questions, working through some of the issues we were having. They let us bring Sheba in one afternoon to work on Odin being more gentle when approaching my old lady. I cannot tell you if camp felt like it lasted forever or if the weeks went by fast, but I can tell you it felt like a metamorphosis of sorts. Somewhere during that time something in me changed and I started to realize that what my dog needed from me the most wasn't fancy treats and beds in every room, but clear guidance, boundaries and structure. After camp, you are encouraged to keep attending classes at least once a week. This is a pretty important aspect of the program you will want to understand. Training your dog is a long term commitment. Your dog is not going to be 100% perfect and off leash after 5 weeks of camp. Camp is for you and your dog to learn some basic concepts, but the work continues well after camp and the program is designed to support you throughout the lifetime of your dog and as far into training as you are willing to go. If you want it to be, it is actually a really good deal. For ~6 months we took Odin to class 3-4 times a week pretty regularly, I went to class so often I almost felt guilty. Back then Odin was still the worst behaved dog in group lessons, even compared to the freshly enrolled Camp dogs. But progress kept happening, and Dan and his team kept going out of their way to help us out. Little by little Odin was getting better, he could pass for just a regular poorly behaved dog, then Good Odin days started happening, and those good days happened more and more often, until one day other DPT clients commented on how well behaved Odin is. (What? Odin? My Odin?). It's now been well over a year since we enrolled Odin at Camp, we still take him to class once or twice a week. The work is not done, he is still a willful teenager dog too smart for his own good, equal parts hilarious and annoying. But he is also such a different dog today from how he was a year ago it is hard to find the words to convey it. And yet Odin is still Odin, training him has not zapped the joy out of his life nor has it changed his personality, he has learned how to be himself while respecting the rules (most of the time, anyways). He listens, he walks well on a leash, we go jogging, he respects Sheba, he's off-leash when we go camping, he's goofy, he's cuddly. Just a few months ago Dan and Josh, in yet another one of their many displays of commitment and generosity, came to my house and walked Odin off-leash all the way to the bar. I thought I was going to have a heart attack, but this dog behaved perfectly, walking by Dan's side like a good boy. It is weird perhaps, but I feel so proud of Odin. He's worked hard to understand how to operate in a human world, and he's getting it. None of that transformation (for all of us) would have happened without DPT. The commitment from that team is unlike anything I have ever seen. They have put so much effort into helping us, you'll be hard pressed finding a trainer that cares this much. Dan and his team are truly dedicated to their customers and the dogs they work with and as long as you put in the work, they will keep helping you and your dog build a bond beyond anything you thought was possible. I remember a time when I would feel bad because people commented on Odin's head collar as being sad, or offered pets and treats and I had to tell them no thank you, or when friends wanted to go to the dog park and I had to tell them we don't do that. But then I realized loving Odin is not about treating him like he's a baby. The real act of love is to get over yourself, stop humanizing your dog and start giving them the guidance, structure and discipline they actually need from you... making it about them, not about you. It is hard as hell, it takes a lot of discipline and time, but it is so worth it. Still not so sure? I'll give you one more data point. I take Odin to DPT for daycare, and also use their boarding when we go out of town. For us it is great, we know Odin is not going to be picking up any bad behaviors while we are out of town, but most importantly, Odin LOVES it there. This is Odin we are talking about, the most stubborn dog on this planet even if better behaved. When this dog doesn't like something, he will definitely let you know. If he didn't like going to DPT, that dog would fight it with all his might. Instead, every time I drop him off for daycare or boarding, he walks in happily, hardly even looks back at me. I am pretty sure if I am not careful Odin will end up liking Josh more than he likes me. And honestly, if you actually read this far, you should at least go check out their facility. Nothing to lose :) read more

This review is very long overdue. We put our dog in Dan Camp for puppies in January 2019, and she is her best self as a result. We were thrilled with her progress after camp. She was a very shy rescue, and although she still has her timid personality sometimes, she impresses everyone she meets with her great behavior. Dan, Natasha, and the whole crew are so wonderful and care so much about the dogs. We've also been boarding our dog for years when we are out of town, and she's always thrilled to see team members and be dropped off. Truly can't recommend them enough! read more

I have been a client of DPT for more than 10 years. I adopted a rescue pitbull who was socialized very well to humans and had great house manners but she was naturally dominant. Prior to my adoption, she was attacked by a pack of dogs in her foster situation and was very reactive to other dogs especially while on the leash. That was a long time ago and sending my dog through Dan's training was the best thing for both of us. Fast forward to the present. My beloved pittie passed away last year and when I was ready to adopt a new dog, Dan spent 90 minutes evaluating her (on short notice too) and helped make the decision to adopt another rescue pitbull. There's lots of reviews here. Most, unsurprisingly, are glowing testimonials of people describing wonderful results with previously difficult and even dangerous dogs. Dan's training style is based on energy management. What that means is that the human must be aware of, manage and project the energetic vibe of being the boss, a benevolent and fair boss, but a boss who doesn't mess around. Believe it or not, that is the toughest thing to train and its got nothing to do with the dog. There's a growing controversy within the dog training world concerning so-called force-free/purely positive methods vs. so-called balanced training methods. However DPT is labeled, they DO NOT use shock or prong collars to train dogs. I'm not an expert dog behaviorist but I know what I have experienced and seen with my own eyes. If you have a problem with Dan's training it's likely you also have a problem asserting yourself as a calm leader with your dog. I had to learn that myself and once I did, most of the issues with my first pittie were solved. She lived to be 14, was able to socialize off leash with other dogs, enjoyed doggie friends, camping trips, hikes etc. (I still miss her). My new dog? It's only been a few days and we are doing great. Thanks to Dan's (human) training, me and my new pitbull are already walking all over the place with loose leash and zero issues with kids, skateboards, bikes, big dogs, little dogs, dogs on leash and off rolling up to us in various states of excitement. We have some fairly intense (she's a pitbull) resource guarding issues and I'm following Dan's methods around that. I've seen big improvement in a couple of days. It's still early in the game and I need to stay vigilant and make sure I'm consistent and following through on the basic rules like no jumping on people, no jumping on furniture, not allowed to overwhelm other dogs in the house etc. I also know can completely count on DPT to give me the individualized and customized support I need to make this new dog another great companion. Dan even called me to check in and ask how the new girl is doing. He gave me some excellent pointers and we'll be in for a few sessions in the coming weeks. Thanks Dan and Natasha!!! You guys are da' BEST!!! read more

6 months ago we were losing our minds. We have a very loving but neurotic, energetic and anxious australian shepherd. When we couldnt leave the house for 2 months straight for more than ten seconds without him barking and had already started him on trazodone, we met with Dan and Natasha. Thanks to Dan Perata Training, we have our lives back and a great relationship with a calmer, happier and more confident (and non-medicated) puppy. We honestly werent sure if his level of separation anxiety was "curable." We tried desensitization techniques, trazodone and were considering prozac, but nothing worked; he would just bark the entire time we were gone. We were hesitant at first because we didnt want any type of training to take away his loving and fun personality, but those fears were ultimately unfounded. 2 weeks into the program we had already noticed a huge difference with him. The homework on the weekend was challenging, but we took it very seriously, and immediately we noticed that most of the training was about how we were interacting with him. Dan's goal is always to have dogs AND people well trained enough to have safe off leash dogs, and we are probably only months away from that. Having worked with Dan and his team for 3 months now, and taking advantage of all the in person and zoom lessons available, its worth every penny. We wish we would have found Dan and his team sooner!! Shyam and Rachel read more

Dan Perata Training - Fitz sleeping on his back while we are away! This would have been IMPOSSIBLE months ago. - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This place lost our business because of their condescending, rude way of interacting with customers. Check the "not recommended" reviews and you will find many other reviews mentioning the same thing. Dan and co. evidently flag nearly all negative reviews as terms of service violations, which gives the business an inaccurately high overall star rating. The business's replies to negative reviews are telling, too: they almost universally accuse reviewers of lying and deny that Dan and his staff could ever possibly have done anything wrong. He'll probably do the same to this review. Two months ago, I was seeking training for my recently adopted dog-reactive dog. From my first phone call with Stephanie to my tour of the facility, the owners treated my very standard questions as though they were dumb, commented repeatedly on how much my dog's leash behavior "sucked" (I'm obviously aware; that's why I was seeking a trainer), and failed to ask basic questions about our dog that would have helped them understand her issues and needs (e.g. they never asked what her background was or when we adopted her). We met Dan on our visit. He commanded us not to look at our dog for the duration of our visit--a taste of their training method, which is based in the now-disproven "alpha dog" animal behavior framework. Dan then went on a long rant about how smart his own dogs are rather than answering our questions about his training methods. I can't imagine having to work with and trust these people for the $4500, six-week bootcamp they were trying to sell us. The facility is a bleak place, with trainers shouting "hush" at rooms full of crated dogs and spraying them with water every time they bark. We've thankfully found another trainer and our dog has made huge strides in her issues for far less money and with far more professional human/human interactions. read more

TLDR: If you are committed to working with your dog to instill confidence for a lifetime bond, DPT is a no-brainer. If you're a sparkle pony and want a band-aid quick fix for your social media muse--go find a charlatan hot dog slinger. I wanted a giant dog. I also wanted my giant dog to be impressively obedient. I got Lollipop, my Great Dane/Mastiff puppy at 8 weeks and wasted no time rolling up my sleeves to train her. I figured I'm good at online research and resourceful, so she and I made some progress, but it never felt like it was enough, I needed to turn to the pros to get the results I wanted. I knew I didn't want treat-based help, I want my dog to work for me because it loves me, not because I'm a biscuit dispenser. So I reached out to Dan Perata Training (DPT). Stephanie promptly scheduled me for a consultation with Natasha to tell me more about the program, show me the facility, and layout DPT's expectations from me, the owner. I knew immediately this was going to be a perfect fit. I didn't expect overnight miracles, I was prepared to work hard on my end (do the homework, weekend work, & Zoom sessions), and loved the frank, no BS, honest lessons & feedback. Lollipop started Dan Camp after finalizing her shots at 4 months old and THRIVED, she loved being there (as evidenced every Monday when I dropped her off), and I noticed improvement every single visit (both mid-week class and Friday pickups). Lollipop just wrapped up the boarding component at 6 months. Now, her potty walk around the block is always off-leash; on longer walks in the neighborhood, she is on the long line and always responsive to my verbal commands. She draws attention in public and people can't believe she's only 6 months old given her behavior (and size). We obviously still have improvements to make for her to get to that 100% off-leash, 0% excuses, take anywhere, quasi Schutzhund obedience K9 stage, which is why I continue to be glad to have chosen DPT for their lasting commitment to the dog. I'll continue to show up to the post-camp walking classes, and logging in to zoom Q&A's until she gets there, and the kicker is - I genuinely believe that the whole DPT family wants me to keep showing up to see Lollipop succeed (this "continued education" is included in the original cost). As much as it pains my ego to admit it, I wish I had signed Lollipop up for Dan Camp as soon as I got her, rather than stubbornly figuring out that I needed a comprehensive external structure to get the results I really wanted from my dog. My sincere gratitude to the whole DPT family for all their hard work and sincere commitment to both me and Lollipop. FWIW - There are abundant reasons why DPT is the go-to facility for tough dogs to get results, with the same curriculum--my sweet and slightly dopey sidekick has excelled. Dan also makes a killer margarita :) read more

Without Dan Perata Training, I would not have been able to keep my dog Nelson. I had rescued Nelson in October, and after a couple of weeks, I would come home from work to find he had pried his way out of his steel crate or that he had torn up doorways to the point where I could literally see blood on the walls from him trying so hard to escape. I tried leaving him loose in the house but he would bolt every time I opened the front door. Nelson was anxious all the time and compulsively chewed on himself. After a few weeks of this, I had come to the conclusion that a) Nelson needed an owner that could work from home and not leave him alone and b) I was totally ill-equipped to deal with this behavior issue as none of the tactics I could find online were working. This realization absolutely broke my heart and I was desperate to try and make it work with Nelson as he had been abandoned several times before making it to my home. After reading reviews on Yelp and finally feeling some hope, I was positive that even if I couldn't keep Nelson for myself, I could at least put him in a better position for his next home. Within 5 minutes of meeting Dan and seeing him interact with Nelson, I could tell that Nelson would respond to the training and I could hope for some improvement. What it really comes down to is the work that you are willing to put in for your dog. For the next 4 months, I came for lessons 3 to 4 times a week after work and spent all my time with Nelson at home reinforcing and practicing techniques on weekends and weeks off camp. Honestly, even after all that I can hardly believe the difference I see in Nelson. I'm able to leave him at home, alone, for over 8 hours without a worry or second thought--which even in the best case scenario I didn't think would happen. He very seldom chews on himself. His personality is finally coming out because he isn't terrified all the time and he is so calm and sweet and happy. He's literally the best companion and I am so, so grateful to have him in my life. Investing in Dan Camp for him is by far one of the best decisions I've ever made. There aren't words to express how I feel towards ALL the people involved at DPT. I owe them everything after all the work and love they've given to Nelson. I came to them for help when I was at my most desperate, and they never quit on me or my dog and they never took advantage of that desperation-- they were equally invested in Nelson overcoming his separation anxiety and that is the only reason I get to keep my dog. read more

Dan Perata Training - Nelson loves smiling (and hikes) - Pet Training Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dan and Natasha make you and your pet feel like family the moment you meet them. They tell ya how it is and that dog training takes work by YOU the owner. Their philosphy makes sense and works. You just have to comply with the homework. I've seen dogs during training sessions at various levels of the training process. The dogs showed restraint, intently listening and followed their owners commands with no problems. It's amazing. Although our baby boy Rocco still needs work, he'll get there... he needs consistency (from us the owners). Natasha is always accomodating and never turns us away when we need boarding - Love her! Dan & Aaron are great instructors. They tell ya how it is and how to do it better! I like the tough love and learning...2 thumbs up for Dan, Natasha and crew. Check them out. read more

See all