Marc is an experienced, serious dog walker that does amazing off-leash pack walks that my dog loves…read more- the packs are made up of all kinds of dogs and Marc does a good job of being a strong pack leader. I appreciate Marc and trust him with my dog completely - I especially like that he helps reinforce obedience / training commands during the walks which is super helpful. My dog likes him so much she howls when he comes and picks her up. Highly recommend!

Marc Kellond, dog walker, is sorely needed in the East Bay area of El Sobrante, Hercules and…read morePinole. He charges $30 for a 60-minute pack walk and goes to local dog parks to give the dogs the socialization they need. Website walkingmansbestfriend.com. Phone 510-685-0390; .walkingman17@icloud.com For $30, he will pick up your dog from your house, go to a local park (Pt. Pinole, Sobrante Ridge, Wildcat, etc.) walk for 60 minutes, and then return your dog to your house. The first walk/screening interview is free. Has been through the training program with Cause and Effect dog training, is licensed, insured, bonded, pet first aid certified, and a member of pet sitters international. Has experience with difficult dogs; or should we say, difficult owners who need training to know how to control their dogs.

Kathy is a phenomenal at training people and their dogs. She's helped us with in-home training,…read moreoff-leash practice, and everything that's come up in between. She also hosts monthly classes that are free for clients who work with her regularly and has put in lots of additional time inviting dogs (and their people) to tag along on pack walks. It's clear that she does this work because it's her passion and she cares about dogs being happy and well cared for. "Balanced" dog training includes tons of treats, lots of play, and the safety needed to make sure no one gets hurt. We weren't sure what to expect from training with Kathy, but it's been a wonderful balance of true fun, silliness, joy, and clear and firm boundaries. We're so grateful to have her in our lives.

I cannot recommend Kathy at Cause and Effect Dog Training enough! When we first reached out, our…read moreSpringer Spaniel, Checkers, was fearful, anxious, and often growled at my spouse and sometimes even at our kids. We had already tried multiple trainers, different techniques, and even followed our vet's suggestion to try antidepressants--but nothing was helping (in fact, the medication only made things worse). The moment I spoke to Kathy on the phone, I felt confident she truly understood the problem and could guide us in the right direction. And she absolutely has. Over the past year, Checkers has made tremendous progress thanks to Kathy's knowledge, patience, and the clear guidance she gave us. We followed her suggestions carefully--even switching vets based on her recommendation--and the results have been life-changing. Earlier this year, we had to travel out of the country and trusted Kathy to board Checkers. During that time, he developed a beautiful bond with her partner Dan. This was nothing short of amazing, as Checkers has always been fearful of men. Watching their relationship grow has been such a gift. With Kathy's help (and the influence of her own two balanced dogs), Checkers has learned how to be a dog--something I once thought might never happen. He now participates in pack walks and can even run off-leash in the fields, something I couldn't have imagined a year ago. If you're struggling with your dog's behavior and feel like nothing is working, do yourself and your dog a favor and call Kathy. She and Dan have changed our lives, and I am endlessly grateful for the care and dedication they've shown to Checkers and to us.

If you want someone who cares as much about your dogs as you, you've found the right crew!…read more Junko and her crew have been walking my dogs for 6 years. I can't say enough good things about how much they have helped my dogs stay exercised, socialized, and balanced. I am very grateful for Junko's dedication and care of my dogs. All of my dogs have absolutely loved going out with the pack. After my two dogs passed away, we added our newest puppy during the shut-down and I was worried about how to socialize her properly. Junko helped by starting my 14 week-old on neighborhood walks with her own dogs and then progressed her to walking with the pack. My insecure, fearful puppy is now a confident, friendly, and social dog. And her recall is really coming along (thanks Junko, Antonio and Stephanie!) Junko has also helped with consultations and resources on all sorts of doggie-related issues.

Words cannot properly convey what The Complete Pack means to me and my pup. Junko and her team have…read morebecome an extended family to us. On walk days, they are without a doubt, the highlight of my dog's day. My dog was not an easygoing social animal by any means. Skittish, afraid, and reactive. Over the years being in this pack has been nothing short of miraculous as I've seen her grow into a confident and communicative canine. When I travel for work, my dog gets to stay at "Aunt Junko's." It can't even count as dog boarding, as it's basically a vacation where she gets to hang out with her bf Bero. Junko's love for her pack and her passion for caring for dogs is tangible. As a protective owner who knows my dog isn't the type where I can just have a friend easily look after, I trust fully and unequivocally Junko and her team. We are forever and truly grateful to have The Complete Pack in our lives.

Emily has been walking my dog Lily for a few months now. She's always on time & very pleasant. She…read morealso wipes Lily's paws & bum when our walk is over (with wipes we provide). Emily is also very flexible with our schedule & I trust her with our elderly pup. I'm so glad we found Emily!

We had such a great experience with Happy Dogs! Our Mochi stayed for 5 days, and they took amazing…read morecare of him. We could tell he was loved and well taken care of. We felt completely at ease knowing he was in good hands. Highly recommend Happy Dogs! 「我們在 Happy Dogs 有非常好的體驗！Mochi 在這裡住了 5 天，他們照顧得非常好。我們感受到 Mochi 被愛護、被細心照顧。知道他在很好的環境裡，我們非常放心。強烈推薦 Happy Dogs！」

I will give 10 stars if I can. Our Great Dane puppy Phoenix attended multiple group training…read moreclasses with them and still attend their puppy/teen social every week. They are amazing and my dog is well socialized and behaved because of their excellent training using no force. I cannot thank Lesley (amazing human who works with Phoenix one on one), Sandi and Katy for all they have done in helping us raise an amazing dog.

I would give 500 stars instead of 5 stars if I could. My young, rambunctious Great Dane Otis and I…read moreLOVED the BravoPup class run by Anna Carlson. We took her Dog 1 and Dog 2 classes in Rockridge. Anna's methods are totally fun, totally force free - and they totally work! We had been having trouble with Otis's recall and after only our first 2 classes Otis had a super solid recall - seriously, wild horses couldn't keep him away when he hears his recall word. Anna later helped me with private sessions acclimating my older dog to a new rescue dog. It was miraculous how quickly and effectively Anna was able to diffuse the situation and get my older dog to be calm and relaxed in the presence of the new dog. Anna really knows what she's doing and it's obvious she has a special talent for reading dogs and figuring out stress free ways to guide them into the behavior we want. Updates to follow - I'm so impressed with Anna, we'll do more private sessions to help me continue to improve the behavior and happiness of my 3 Danes. PS: Check out this photo showing how happy Otis is with his off leash time now that he can be trusted to come back.

Oakland Pet Care has been so so good for our family! Our 2…read moreyear old dog Sasha has a couple issues: 1) he has a neurological condition that makes his balance really wobbly. 2) he is a nervous guy, and especially triggered at our house, which makes him a pup that needs someone to take their time to get to know him and build his trust. Through Oakland Pet Care, we met Caitlin, who is an absolute angel, and loves Sasha, and all her dog friends so much. She takes incredible loving care of him on his evening walks. Because of Covid, our previous dog walker (who took a pack on hikes in the area), had to close. So of course I reached out to Delia of Oakland Pet Care! Even though Sasha needs a bit more TLC (esp in the beginning) than most dogs, they took us on, and it has been SO GREAT! Olivia is the pack dog-walker, and she is incredibly responsible, punctual, and loving with the dog packs! With her, I feel that my dog is very safe, having so much fun, and in such good hands. She sends an adorable email every day with photos of the dogs, where they went, and how the hike went. The team of Oakland Pet Care is a true gem and godsend. I recommend them very highly!

Our experience with Oakland Pet Care has been amazing. Great team, professional, and reliable. They…read morehave taken great care of our dog for many years. They have gone above and beyond to make sure our dog's needs were met.

We recently moved back to the Bay Area and were really concerned about finding a responsible, safe…read morespace for our good boy to stay when we go out of town. We came across Cutie Paws online. Their reviews were good and they are close to us, so we booked a four night stay for the July 4th holiday weekend. Drop-off went great ...but I was still a bit worried since it was his first time there. My concerns were all swiftly put to rest. Wendy and Mantin took amazing care of our pup, sent photos and videos (their place is very cute and charming with a lovely backyard). We just picked him up and he is very happy and well cared for. I am so glad I found them and would recommend without hesitation.

I can't say enough good things about this boarding experience. My dog, Lola, can be a little…read moresensitive with new environments, but they treated her like she was part of their own family. From the moment I dropped her off, I felt completely at ease. They were attentive, communicative, and genuinely invested in her comfort and well-being. I received regular updates, photos, and notes about how she was settling in, which meant the world to me. It's clear they understand dogs on an individual level -- their personalities, quirks, and routines. When I picked Lola up, she was relaxed, happy, and clearly well cared for. No stress, no overwhelm -- just a tired pup who had a great time. The facility was clean, safe, and thoughtfully run, and I appreciated how organized and responsive the staff were. I absolutely recommend this place to anyone who wants their dog cared for with kindness, consistency, and real attention to detail. Lola will definitely be coming back!

I am writing a negative review about Metro Dog. I initially reached out to them for boarding…read morebecause I am traveling for vacation week. About two or three weeks ago, they scheduled me for an initial assessment, where they would assess my dog and figure out the best place to put him. I told them my dog is very vocal but that is normal for his breed (hes a husky). The assessment went great, my dog did very well, and he stayed there for half a day. Additionally, I was told to get him the canine influenza vaccine, which I did. The week after, I scheduled him for doggy daycare to get him used to it. The visit went well. They told me that my dog did great. He was vocal at the beginning, but he settled in. I said great. Nothing else was said to the contrary. The week of my vacation, I check the portal. It said my dog was still on the boarding waitlist. I called to confirm that he would be boarded and checked to see if they saw his updated vaccine record. They placed me on hold for a while until the man who did the initial assessment came on. He informed me, much to my surprise, that since my dog is still anxious (he barks, which is his normal), they would not be able to board him until he has a few more visits. I am very disappointed at Metro Dog. I feel like my time and money were utterly wasted. I followed their protocol and got my dog used to this place, and they declined my boarding request at the last minute. I now have to scramble and see if I can find another boarder for vacation. I am also very disappointed at the lack of communication. If I had not called them to check, I would not have known that he was declined. I received no indication that he would not be able to board by Metro Dog. I wanted to love this place but I am so good on Metro Dog. I hope this review can help others and push this place to be more communicative, honest, and upfront with fellow clients and their fur babies.

So happy we found this place. It's a great place for dogs her buddy really enjoys it and it has…read morebeen a good experience for social time and also looking forward to boarding when travel, great staff and location moderate prices.