Dogs in Harmony saved my sanity and helped me develop a loving relationship with my puppy! I cannot recommend the entire staff at Dogs at Harmony enough, but especially Shanni and Brenna. As a first-time dog owner raising a puppy by myself, I was completely overwhelmed. The staff has been with me every step of the way, even helping me decide on a Portuguese Water Dog's temperament to best suit my active running lifestyle. My puppy Yumi, now 17 weeks old, has been through Harmony School from 9-12 weeks, which came with 4 group lessons, and 1 private instruction. She's still going to school once a week to help give me some much-needed relief, and I'm hoping to start private lessons soon after my travel plans. Shanni and Brenna were instrumental during those first brutal two weeks with Yumi. I had major puppy blues - stressed about making sure she was okay, stressed about accidents, and desperate to set her up for success. This stress, combined with virtually no sleep (taking Yumi out every 20 minutes when awake and sleeping near her the first few days to soothe her), was a recipe for doubt and regret. I was that pet parent who would call frantically about any diarrhea or accident, text essay-length questions, and send way too many videos and notes about the schedules and patterns I'd observe, obsess over, and worry about. This incredible team met every single concern with patience, understanding, and practical solutions. The first time I dropped Yumi off at school was the first time I'd taken a break in a week - it was much-needed relief that allowed me to reset and find a routine that worked for me. Instead of fighting against her nature and her age (she's just a toddler!), I learned to work with her and celebrate every victory. The resources and support I received have set both Yumi and myself up for success. Yumi has grown into a beautiful, confident, and sweet-natured pup. She's well socialized, sleeps through the night from 10-7am, tries her hardest to not jump when greeting others, and can now be left alone for 3-4 hours at a time, which has been huge. She's still a working dog with tons of energy, but Shanni has guided me through how to tire her out mentally via shaping, soft chews, increasing difficulty in fundamentals, and teaching me how to actually train my dog. Her guidance helped me learn to see Yumi for who she is instead of who I want her to be, and how to debug and break down behaviors to address instead of treating undesired ones as 'issues' (like barking, digging, or jumping on people). It's been such a joy and privilege raising Yumi, but I definitely wouldn't have gotten here without Shanni and her team - the true village supporting my single pet parenthood lifestyle. Their approach is holistic, compassionate, and incredibly effective. Highly recommend for both new and experienced dog owners! read more

Dogs In Harmony - Pet Training Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Our little Cavapoo, Momo, had a great experience in her puppy training. It was a wonderful opportunity for her to socialize with other puppies at an early stage, which will be a big advantage for her future training. read more

Dogs in Harmony was recommended to me by my vet and I just can't say enough good things about them! We adopted our rescue Whiskey when he was barely a year old and, because he required immediate extensive knee surgery, he was really behind developmentally and required a lot of one on one training. I have had other dogs and I've been through basic training at the big "box stores" and I was completely amazed how different Dogs in Harmony was. The facility is well organized and very clean. Now let's talk about Shanni who is simply Ah-Mazing! It was obvious from the start that she was the best fit for our family. She gave our dog Whiskey a thorough assessment, listened to our concerns, and customized a training plan specific for his needs. She was extremely knowledgeable and patient, making sure we understood everything so that we could be successful with continuing his training. It's obvious she loves what she does and our guy just loves her! I definitely recommend Dogs in Harmony! read more

Dogs in Harmony puppy socials have been a truly wonderful experience. Our puppy had two setbacks with other dogs during his first week home and we found the best community at Dogs in Harmony. Shanni has been endlessly patient, kind, and incredibly informative--both during the Saturday sessions and through her thoughtful emails. Her calm and knowledgeable guidance has helped our puppy build confidence around other dogs, and each week we see real progress. We're so grateful for the supportive environment she creates and highly recommend Dogs in Harmony. We miss chatting and visiting very much. read more

Dogs in Harmony was exactly what we needed, and Shanni was incredible with our puppy, Leeloo. Leeloo started Harmony School scared and shut down, but Shanni's steady energy helped her feel safe enough to open up--and once she did, her wild puppy side came out! Shanni helped Leeloo gain confidence while teaching her important skills like impulse control, and she gave us the knowledge and tools to continue Leeloo's training in the real world. We're so happy with Leeloo's progress and felt so supported throughout the process. We're so glad we found this place! read more

Wonderful team with deep insights on dog training. My pup learned very fast new behaviors in a healthy and sweet way. Loved the harmony classes and the private classes on top of it. Highly recommend read more

Great orientation! Very detailed information. All our questions were answered and more. The location is very clean and a pleasant environment. We signed up. We are ready to get started.. Will update review after a few lessons. read more

Dogs In Harmony - Our rescue puppies ready for training! - Pet Training Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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From my month dropping off the puppy that I had taken care of to be in Shanni and her assistants' care, I felt things went smoothly and I clearly saw each time how Shanni was very sweet, positive and caring towards the pups in her care, and that she was a great trainer that all the puppies/dogs eagerly listened to. When I first dropped the puppy off in Shanni's care, I noticed overall how she was very timid, scared and shy around Shanni and the other pups that were around her. Since the pup that I took care of was a Japanese breed that's generally more reserved/shy at first around strangers, I made sure to enroll her in puppy classes, as I didn't want any behavior problems to occur when the pup was older. I'd noticed the difference in the puppy's behavior very soon after she attended the first of Shanni's classes - she was much more confident, friendly and playful. In time, she was always so happy when she got to see Shanni, which says A LOT! I went with the lowest priced Flex option for the combination of puppy classes where you drop off your pup at around 9am, pick up at 2pm, and evening classes; back in June 2022, this was approximately $1,500 for the 6 day classes (twice a week) and up to 4 evening classes. I did not get to attend any of the evening group classes, so I'm not able to comment on that, but for the day classes during June 2022, you'd text Shanni when you arrived to the parking lot and then she'll let you know when to come in with your pup. You can carry your pup with you to inside of their training area, or if your pup is too big, you can walk him/her in on a leash. The training area is beautiful and it's a good amount of space, there is an artificial grass/potty area located right near the entrance and about 10 or so glass-door suites across from each other for each pup. I believe the max amount of pups that can be in the day class at one time was 6. Shanni sent a report card after each class which detailed how your pup did during class, their behavior, homework on what you need to do to help your pup, and very helpful tips. She also sends photos of your pup while in her care to update you on how he/she is doing. Once, when Shanni had to cancel a class due to becoming ill, I really appreciated how she took the time to speak to me over the phone regarding a concern that I had about the puppy -- that was very thoughtful of her and I really respected that. On the very last of the day classes, the pup received an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certificate and ribbon, which was a nice and proud moment. Although due to a change in my personal circumstances, I had to ultimately make the difficult decision to return the pup that I took care of to the breeder, nonetheless, I most highly recommend Shanni at Dogs in Harmony. I've had my previous dog go through puppy/obedience classes and training with a few different trainers in a span of 2 years and I really liked Shanni's training style and program the most. In fact, if all goes well in the future and I'm able to bring a puppy home again, I definitely know to keep Shanni and Dogs in Harmony in mind! read more

Shanni and her team are fantastic! Our mini bernedoodle, Phil, absolutely adores her. Phil is a typical puppy with several behaviors we needed to work on and Shanni has helped him with every single one. We finished 3-weeks of Harmony school and are now starting our evening training sessions this week. We are very excited to continue working with her. I can't recommend Shanni enough. She is passionate about her profession and truly loves dogs. read more

My teammates and I went on a team offsite here. We paid $10 each to play with puppies for 1.5 hours. It was pure heaven. Shanni, the owner was very knowledgeable and helpful. We learned a lot!! read more

My husband and I were looking around for puppy training near us and we were hooked on Dogs in Harmony after speaking with Brenna. She was so knowledgeable, helpful, and provides fantastic customer service. We enrolled our 3 month old Blue Heeler mix puppy, Millie, to Harmony School for 3 weeks and with that comes 4 Harmony Academy classes. We have not yet begun Harmony Academy so this review is just for Harmony School. Shanni & her team are absolutely amazing. I cannot say enough good things about Shanni. Millie made so much progress in such a short amount of time! We have learned so much going through this process as well and Millie is turning out to be a wonderful adolescent. She is now 4 months old. Through Harmony school we were able to discover just how intelligent and hard working Millie is. Each night you receive a report card for your pup + homework and plenty of pictures and videos of her training. We feel the homework was vital in continuing the hard work they are putting into your pup during school. We follow up on all the tips we receive because we are so dedicated to having a happy, healthy relationship with our pup. We are so excited for Harmony Academy! read more

My husband and I are so grateful we came across Dogs in Harmony and Shanni (shoutout to our friend for the rec!). We rescued a nervous jindo mix puppy last July who turned out to have several behavioral issues (fear barking at strangers at home/outside, reactivity to dogs, anxiety around dog dad, not engaging on walks) we didn't anticipate, and we were desperate to get some help. Given our pup's tendency to get very nervous, we needed a trainer who understood her needs and was willing to work at her pace. And Shanni was that exact trainer we needed -- she recommended 1:1 training lessons specifically tailored around our dog's threshold, and we learned how to identify body language and types of barks (i.e. fear barking, demand barking). She equipped us with all of the tools to continue working with our dog after our lessons finished. We didn't think leash manners would even be possible, but our dog now is so engaged and attentive on walks! Really could go on and on here, but long story short, if you're looking for a trainer who truly understands your dog's and your needs, equips you with the right tools to continue training beyond lessons, works at your dog's pace, we highly recommend working with Shanni. read more

I adopted a puppy not too long ago and was looking for a place he could go to to not only learn but also socialize especially since he's not able to go on walks yet. I came across Dogs in Harmony and after some thought, I decided to send my boy here and I'm sooo glad I did! Shanni and her team are so wonderful and knowledgeable; they always checked in on how he was doing at home and if I had any concerns or questions, they would give really great advice on different technique on how to work through any problems or toward goals. The facility is clean and spacious - no concerns on sanitation and there's plenty of room for play. At the end of the day, Shanni would send daily report cards and give brief summaries that my partner and I always looked forward to reading; she also told me how my puppy did in class that day when I pick him up. My partner and I attend group classes in the evening when we have time, and it has been great working with our pup along other dog owners with guidance from Shanni and her team! 10000% recommend coming here! :) :) :) read more

Dogs In Harmony - received this precious gift on his last day & just about lost it because of how adorable it was :,-) - Pet Training Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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I finally took the plunge and got a puppy during Covid, when I would have more time at home to spend with him during his developmental months. However, this caused challenges with puppy socialization and training during those crucial first few months. My puppy was nervous around other dogs and people, yet I didn't know how to safely socialize a pre-vaccinated puppy in a Covid world. Thankfully I discovered the Dog in Harmony School. They provided the right balance between socialization, training and letting puppies be puppies. My Corgi puppy absolutely loved his time there, Shanni was incredibly knowledgeable and was always happy to give advice to a new puppy Dad during pick-up and drop off. Also included were Zoom training sessions on a Saturday, videos of my puppy at the school and some tack home mementos of their time there. I can't recommend it highly enough. I now have a happy, sociable and friendly puppy who loves being around other people and dogs. read more

Shanni is amazing and so knowledgeable! 3 months ago, I adopted a 5 year old Kelpie / Border Collie mix, and she is my first dog, so I was struggling! I researched a ton of trainers in the area, and chose Shanni because a few other reviews mentioned what I really wanted - foundational knowledge in dog training. A lot of other dog trainers do only a board and train, which is fine, but I wanted to bond with my new foster dog by training her myself and had no prior training knowledge, so I really wanted to learn just as much as my dog would. Shanni is great in providing techniques, guidance, and the reason behind WHY you do things a certain way or HOW to communicate with and build trust with your dogs, and this is what really helped me progress so much faster than we expected. A few details on what Shanni helped me with over 8 weeks 1:1 training: * basic obedience (sit/down/touch/stand) * getting her to focus during training (especially outdoors, which used to be such a struggle!) * recall * loose leash walking * wait * leave it / look * a couple fun tricks * potty training (consistently going in one spot) * heel read more

It's a rarity in life to meet someone that is completely genuine, whose sole focus is to help spread happiness. Both experiences we have had with Alisha and Shanni have shown us that they are both focused on helping families have the best possible relationship with the right dog. When we sought advice, as first time dog owners, about our newly adopted dog, we were in over our heads. A dog we were assured was perfect for us and for our young children was showing lots of signs of aggression. After a behavioural assessment Alisha told us that ultimately she did not think the dog was a fit for our family, given the age of our children. We were so upset, heartbroken in fact to have to contact the shelter to tell them this. Alisha could see that we were devastated. But she didn't try to sell us more training sessions (which we would have purchased if we thought it would help). She provided the most professional advice keeping the safety of our family top of mind. Alisha also gave us excellent advice on how to go about finding the best dog for our family, when we were ready to take that step. Along with lots of helpful follow-up information, as well as a check-in on how we were coping given the sad news that we had received at the assessment. What happened next was a really heartwarming outreach from the owner, Shanni. Alisha had told her our story and it just so happened that a friend had reached out about a dog looking for a home. A dog that sounded like a match for us. Shanni went COMPLETELY out of her way to organize a meet-up with us and the dog. She even did a behavioural assessment before we met the dog to make sure there were no signs of aggression or red flags. Shanni did this out of the goodness of her heart and refused payment. As I said to begin with, sometimes in life you get to meet the good people. The people who work with their heart. Shanni is a genuine dog-lover and a fountain of knowledge. She gave time, effort, and her expertise to find us the best dog for our family situation. I will be recommending Shanni and Alisha to anyone that is looking for advice or training. read more

Shanni is an amazing trainer. She's also great at teaching people how to communicate with their dog in the most positive way. All the classes I've attended had a maximum of 4 pups. So not only do you learn and practice key concepts in each class, but you also get feedback that's more personalized to you and your pup. This is so much more effective! My puppy really benefitted from the variety of classes offered here. Enrichment and shaping are incredibly helpful tools that are barely mentioned, if at all, by most training schools. I also liked that the same class was available more than once a week and at different times, so you can plan your training based on your workload, and not worry about having missed anything. Shanni responds to emails/texts reliably and she is easy to reach. She takes symptoms seriously, which is so important when you're waiting for your puppy to get all the required shots. She was quick at adapting her services to the lockdown. She has a lot of information on anything dog-related, for example contacts for agility and search & rescue training, what toys are better-suited for your dog's needs/nature, and puppy anatomy and development. read more

I'm hesitant to post this review because more positive reviews means more clients, and probably less class spots for our mini poodle! But that would not do justice for the services we get at Dogs In Harmony, so a TLDR first: Shanni is a great trainer for both human and dog, highly recommended! What we love: 1. School is safe for not fully vaccinated puppies. Shanni has strict requirements about vaccinations for dogs that comes in to school, the area is kept clean and safe for puppy. Unlike some other places I went to, while they say they require vaccinations, they don't actually check the documents. 2. Harmony School (the day school program) is expensive but well worth it for the intensive training your dog gets for 5 hours. Especially for young puppies, where they get a lot of socialization to different objects. Shanni also tailors the school for specific needs of our dog, such as grooming prep, desensitization of mouth, drop-it command, etc. We went through the initial 12-day program and will continue with more classes. The drop off service after school also works great for us since we work full time and won't be able to pick up our pup at 2pm. 3. Class format is modular. With a monthly pass (single pass also available) you can choose a wide variety of classes that you think your dog needs, from obedience training, enrichment, to puppy parties! Puppy party is my (dog's) favorite where he gets supervised play with other puppies, always lots of fun. She provides so many classes each week, you can always find a slot that works best for you. 4. The online scheduling system is great. This part always gets under looked but the online scheduling system is very nice to use, I can easily see what the class schedules are and how many spots remaining for each class, easy to enroll, cancel, and/or join a waitlist. It's 2020 now I really don't want to call - leave a message - wait for you to get back to me in 2 hours and then know for sure whether I'm scheduled or not. What we don't love: 1. My dog likes Shanni more than me, obviously. read more

Let me see if I can count the ways in which Shanni Hendler is a wonderful trainer.   1. She does only positive reinforcement (+R) training.  Most trainers claim to do this, but I can attest that she genuinely believes with her whole soul that the best way to train dogs is to teach them how to make good decisions on their own.  You can see her belief in the details of how she trains. 2. She is a very skilled trainer with her own school.  I've taken large group classes before and I've worked with expensive private trainers before.  She has the expertise of a private trainer but the accessibility of a group trainer.  She is certified by the APDT and is qualified to do behavior assessment and modification, and she'll do that on a one-on-one basis.  But she also teaches group classes which means you get to see her for regular training for a very reasonable price.  She is an absolute gem, and I feel very lucky to have access to such a high caliber trainer in her own training school.  The fact that it's her own school means she won't very likely be jumping ship and moving somewhere else. 3. Her maximum class size for most classes is 4.  And she offers enough class times that often there are fewer dogs than even that.  You get a lot of personal attention! 4.  She has her own facility that is safe for under-vaccinated puppies younger than 16 weeks old.  I started my pup there at 9 weeks, and because he was able to start in the program so early he is already turning into a very well-behaved dog at age 5 months.  Taking every advantage during the critical socialization period is, well, critical!  And you can safely do that with her.  And I'm sure she'll get us through adolescence as well! 5. She absolutely loves dogs, and dogs absolutely love her.  You'd think this would be obvious for a trainer but it's not to be taken for granted.  My puppy seems to think she is the source of all happiness in the world.  She is such a clear communicator with him and has such a happy presence that he 1) is always extremely excited to see her and 2) does everything she asks, all the time, as though she really speaks dog (because he doesn't do that for me!). 6. She's a good teacher of humans.  After all, dog trainers have to be able to train both species.  She gives you feedback on how to improve, but she also tells you what you're doing right, and points out progress in your dog that you might not notice yourself because you don't have the trained eye.  Balanced feedback keeps us motivated and improving. 7. She teaches topics that many trainers don't cover, but which every dog needs, such as impulse control and vet/groom prep.  I also really like her enrichment class, where dogs can become socialized to objects like wheelchairs and uneven surfaces, and even play in a ball pit.  The puppy socials are great too because she teaches us how to watch dog-dog play and judge what's appropriate behavior, when to stop play, how to call dogs away from play, etc.  So helpful! (And so illuminating regarding dog parks...) 8.  I really like her format.  I like the modern web interface where I can see the class calendar and manage which classes I attend. I like how I can sign up for however many classes per month I want and attend when I want.  You can go at your own pace (or your dog's pace) and she keeps track of your progress, giving you exercises in class that are appropriate for your dog's level. So, in a nutshell, you should bring your dog to Shanni.  She's a gem! read more

Shanni and team did a fantastic job with Quinn and with educating us as well! We learned so much from her and we hope to continue with the solid foundation she's established with our our 13 week old Aussie Quinn. It was a little rough going when we first got Quinn. She was sweet most of the time but she got into this mode where she was nipping our heels and clamping onto our pants and shoes almost in a frenzy. My younger daughter and wife started to get frightened of our puppy and was really sad about it. We were were like "what did we get ourselves into". We decided to enroll Quinn into Harmony puppy school and my wife and I are so glad we did. First of all, Shanni was always encouraging and explained to us a lot of this is expected and normal in a puppy especially a herding breed. Second, she thought us how to train Quinn impulse control and help train Quinn out of unwanted behavior. Life with Quinn is so much enjoyable now. My younger daughter and wife feel comfortable around Quinn again and enjoy playing with her. Looking forward to the weeks and months ahead with our wonderful little puppy. Thank you Dogs in Harmony! A++ read more

Dogs In Harmony - Quinn, our 13wk old Aussie. We love her. - Pet Training Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Shanni is incredible! We've just finished six personal training sessions with Shanni and our rescue pup Charlie is a completely different dog! She's helped us with Charlie in so many ways, but I'll just list a few here: 1. After puberty hit, Charlie developed a lot of bad behaviors - he'd be anxious and fearful with certain dogs and people (strangers as well as family and friends), and would charge up to them to bark aggressively, either at home or outside. It would happen at random and we couldn't figure out what his trigger was or how to stop him. Shanni taught us how to watch out for those signs and how to stop it before he goes full boar. After practicing for a few weeks (starting with baby steps), we can now go out with Charlie stress-free and confident he won't traumatize someone! Unfortunately we haven't practiced with people in our home yet due to covid, but I'm confident we have the necessary know-how to work on that when things open back up. 2. Charlie learned how to heel in puppy class but refuses to do it when he's in a new environment - there's just too many diff smells and distractions! Shanni taught us techniques on how to keep his attention on us, including how to switch him from our left side to the right side in case there was a dog/distraction to avoid. I was amazed watching her demonstrate - Charlie made the maneuvers so smoothly on the first try! It reminded me of how anyone can ballroom dance beautifully with the right leader. Charlie just needed us to be better leaders and guide him properly! He was so happy during the entire lesson...we practiced today right after the lesson and already see a huge improvement! 3. In just one lesson, Shanni helped us teach Charlie recall when we are at the park and how to play with other dogs safely. Again, amazed at how quickly Charlie learned with the right techniques. Overall I can't recommend Shanni enough. While Charlie's always been an A+ dog at home with us, I'm so glad that we can show off Charlie as a solid B+ dog when we are outside. He's definitely not a perfect dog by any means, but at least we know now how to communicate to him what kind of behavior we want and he's shown that he's more than eager to learn. Thank you Shanni! You've changed our lives! read more

This is a wonderful space to learn how to better communicate with my dog. We've been training basics with our dog since he was a young pup and have started doing impulse control and shaping work with him here. He loves it, and it works out his brain so he's a tired boy at the end. Shani is really patient and fun to work with, and is invested in our learning goals. We love coming to class! read more

Shanni has been a phenomenal dog trainer! I came to her when my rescue pup was nine months old. He had severe issues of fear due to under socialization in his puppy months and with Shanni's expert guidance I was able to train Cocoa into a more confident pup. Shanni has taught us so much that I now have a much deeper connection with him and am able to manage his behavior much better. Thank you!! read more

My puppyBella did the harmony school program with Shanni and team and absolutely loved it! My puppy was always so excited to see her and go to school. Shanni worked with Bella to help her gain confidence in her daily routine, not be afraid of anything and everything. She was also very accommodating of our needs, took extra care of Bella when she was a little exhausted and kept us posted about her always. Thanks for everything Shanni! read more

I worked at two other dog facilities before this one and could not stand the environment. The environment at Dogs In Harmony is definitely the ideal environment for young pups. I worked there for a year, and I can say it's the cleanest dog facility I've been in. The floors are always clean, there's a designated potty area for potty training, the toys are cleaned at the end of every day and so is all the equipment. The dogs here are never just thrown together while we hope for the best. Each dog gets individual attention, and if dogs do play together it always two dogs together under very close supervision. I've seen dogs come in so scared at the beginning and by the end of three weeks of school, I've seen them leave as happy confident pups. Puppies that have been scared of other dogs have left having developed great play styles and left having made best puppy friends. Puppies that don't do well confined in a pen or crate have grown to being perfectly happy chewing and entertaining themselves in their area. Afternoon classes are also pretty great for dogs and their people to learn how to train and become accustomed to being around other dogs. I wouldn't trust my puppy anywhere else, because I've personally seen how much puppies grow into confident pups with good habits and longer focus. Shanni and Brenna are great people who really love dogs and do what is possible to foster good habits in your pup with positive reinforcement. If you want to learn how to raise your puppy in a way that helps them become a happy well-rounded adult, then Dogs In Harmony is the spot. read more

I was recommended to Dogs in Harmony by my veterinarian so decided to give them a try. I called multiple times with no response. I was going to move onto another trainer but their name kept coming up so I tried one last time and by some lucky chance they answered. I had a great, extended conversation about my dog and they said tbey could help and just needed to check their schedule and get back with me. I felt hope - and then nothing. I had provided all my information - email, phone number etc. but one day went by, then two days, then 3 with no follow-up. Eager for the support, I decided I decided to check-in and I texted - no response. I called - no response - I did so several times over the course of a week each time leaving my contact information again, and nothing. It's now been months and I've still not heard anything from them. I've never experienced anything like this with a business. Perhaps they are really good at what they do but I'll never know. read more

Dogs in Harmony is the BEST! My two cockapoo puppies, Ollie and Finley, LOVE Shanni. They get excited every time they see her, knowing there is a fun adventure in store for them. They have participated in her puppy school, private training, and day trips. In addition, Shanni has stayed in my home with them more than once when we have gone out of town. It is clear that she loves Ollie and Finley, too, as if they were her own dogs. Over the years, I have had five dogs who have gone to various puppy schools; Shanni's is by far the best. Rather than crowding the class with too many puppies, she keeps the classes small and provides personal attention, developing a relationship with each dog. She focuses on individual needs of the dog and owner, giving expert advice and instruction. When Ollie was eight months old, Shanni helped us make the transition from one puppy to two when we adopted Finley, Ollie's two month old half brother. The private sessions in our home developed habits and patterns that work for us and the dogs. We couldn't have survived two puppies at once without her help. Recently, we went on a ten-day trip, and Shanni stayed in our home with the dogs, not only taking care of them, but also the house and our two cats. Although it was hard to leave the pups for so long, I never worried because I knew they were in good hands and having a blast. Shanni sent me pictures each day of their adventures, and the dogs always looked happy and exhausted from all of the fun. When our flight home was cancelled due to bad weather, Shanni took care of everything at home an additional day. With all of the stress of trying to get home, it was wonderful knowing Shanni was with Ollie and Finley. One of the best things our dogs have gotten out of working with Shanni is how well socialized they are. Because of the classes and day trips, Ollie and Finley have been around many other dogs of all sizes and temperaments. Although Finley is a little apprehensive at first, probably because he is still so small, he and Ollie both easily get along with whatever dogs are on the day trip. Shanni sends me videos of the dogs running as a pack on the beach or trails, having a great time. The other day I took Ollie and Finley to a dog park, and it was packed with big dogs. My little pups jumped right in and ran and played for over an hour, and they clearly didn't want to leave when we did. read more

My dog Obie is an over excited 70 lbs Labrador Puppy. Before finding Dogs in Harmony we took Obie to many different classes and many different trainers. Each place wanted us to use a pinch collar and yank Obie around to "MAKE" him behave. One trainer even wanted us to knee Obie in the chest when he jumped up as a way to teach him not to jump. Well, needless to say these techniques only served to increase Obie's excitement and frustration. Shanni was the first trainer who really seemed to understand Obie and how to work with him. She is masterful in setting up the environment so that every dog/dog parent in class can succeed. She doesn't "MAKE" a dog do anything, but rather through rewards and management of the training environment sets us up for success. I really like that each dog can progress at their own pace. For many weeks we worked to get Obie to be calm in class around other dogs before trying to get him to do anything else - that was exactly what Obie needed. Now he knows class is a safe environment and he can focus on his work. I highly recommend Dogs in Harmony for any dog and dog parent - and particularly for those who feel like their current training is just not working for them. Don't give up, go to Dogs in Harmony. read more

Dogs in Harmony is amazing! We adopted our 5-year-old rescue dog, Dunkin, in December, and he was very leash reactive to everything, but especially other dogs. Dunkin did a few drop-off sessions with Shanni because of COVID and she helped us understand so much about who Dunkin is as a dog and how we could help him feel confident and comfortable with us as his new family. She connected us to a great vet behaviorist who helped us immeasurably and then we began Zoom training sessions with Shanni's colleague, Diana. Diana is an incredible, knowledgable trainer who obviously loves dogs so deeply. I could feel her love and pride for Dunkin through the screen as he learned more each week! We learned so much from our sessions with Diana and went from a family who stayed at home with our dog 24-7, scared to take him out into the world, to a family who can now confidently take leashed walks with a dog who listens and pays attention to us! Our training sessions have helped us build a loving relationship with our dog and troubleshoot any behaviors that came out as we got to know him better. I highly recommend Shanni and Diana and Dogs in Harmony. They know so much about dogs and positive reinforcement training and they also love dogs so deeply. They will love your dog right along with you and help you become the best owner and companion for YOUR dog. I am so grateful for them. read more

If you want to have fun with your dog and learn at the same time Dogs In Harmony is the place for you!! Whether you want to train your dog to be an awesome family dog or have other goals Shanni is an excellent trainer that will guide you and encourages you . She explains things really well and cares deeply about each dog. I've been taking my dog since he was 8 weeks old and the progress have been amazing. The place is spacious, clean and stays cool during the hot days! This is a friendly athmosphere and I never get tired of going there!! Try it, you'll love it! read more

One Word: FABULOUS Shanni was highly recommended to help me work through various issues with my rescue pup, including being under socialized, fear of being handled at the Vet's office, and I was a hostage, as he was not crate trained. We had in home private lessons and focused on various issues; when something I thought was important to be done first, Shanni was very flexible and re-evaluated her plan and worked to reach those goals. Fun, pleasant, professional, very supportive of any progress I made, and ever helpful, at times going out of her way to achieve an important goal. My dog absolutely adores her and Shanni has been very patient teaching me to train my dog. We started working together last Sept and I'm looking forward to continuing our work in her new facility and likely some in home sessions as well. Highly recommend her services. read more

Shanni is equal parts dog whisperer and human whisperer, except with less whispering and more enthusiasm! In a moment of ambition or stupidity, we decided we could handle a 4 month old puppy with a 18 month old baby (and three older kids). Our pup is truly awesome. Our life is hectic. Clicker training was definitely working, but Shanni came to our house twice to work with our *real life scenario* and it made all the difference. She became a champion of our toddler and our dog. She helped me see how to keep them apart and let them play. Mostly, she just gave me confidence. Now we are driving 12 miles to be able go to classes on the weekend. The are closer classes to Menlo Park, but she speaks our language. I learn a lot from how she sees and reads our dog and from how she loves our dog. When I'm in a fit of dog angst, I think what would Shanni do? And I drop what I'm doing and play and change my voice and stop acting like the world is on fire because I'm trying to get dinner made. read more

Shanni and her staff are the best! Our puppy Bloo learned how to be an amazing dog citizen and even learned to ride a skateboard! I highly recommend their training programs. read more

Nora, our Bernese Mountain Dog, will be 3 years old soon and she is with Dogs in Harmony since she was 2 month old. She is now the best behaved dog in the whole neighborhood, thanks to Shanni. We had private lessons at home first, then group lessons in the center, outdoor training and lately Nora was enjoying Walk and Train sessions with Shanni. Shanni knows what she is doing and she is very professional. We just signed up for Dog only Group Lessons and Nora can't wait so see Shanni again. Thank you Shanni, you are wonderful. read more

So glad we found Shanni and Dogs in Harmony! Like many, we were struggling to socialize our puppy during a pandemic. We decided to enroll her in the Harmony School and after just the first week she was more confident, had lost the fear of other dogs we'd seen her start to develop, and was learning how to learn. By the end of the 3rd week, she was quietly occupying herself during time alone in her confined area, showed better impulse control, continued to develop confidence and comfort in a variety of situation and had learned a lot of basic commands. Through the included zoom sessions, Shanni conveyed what they had been working on at school and helped us learn how execute the commands. She demonstrated with her own dog, was clear in instructions, gave lots of suggestions to help at home, was an excellent trouble shooter and always positive. At the school, she is meticulous about precautions for both humans and dogs. She has set up a safe procedure for drop-off/pick up and follows all public health and common sense recommendations. Highly recommend! read more

Shanni is born to do this: our BC Mollie is so excited to go to class, so excited to be there and learns fast. I always have a good time too - it's fun and rewarding time spent together. The coolest trick Shanni pulls off is by demonstrating the new behavior we are going to teach Mollie (for example, 'Drop it') by asking Mollie to drop it and she does. It's like Mollie always knew how to do it, we just weren't asking right: proof that it's all about teaching us - the humans - how to communicate with our dogs and Shanni has that gift. She's a great communicator with dogs and humans alike and I always get the impression that she's really put in the time to study the craft of dog training. The classes are never more than 4 dogs, and that's great because your dog will get personal attention. Because the (unique?) way Shanni structures the class, you have a huge variety of classes to choose from, and she'll always customize each class to your individual dog's level. Mollie has been going for 3 months now and I'm delighted when she adds a new trick to her repertoire - I call it a pupgrade ;) read more

I highly recommend Shani from Dogs In Harmony. She put together a very effective program that is modular, flexible and than can accommodate every training need you can imagine. Under her guidance, our dog has shown significant improvement in impulse control within days and is continuously improving. read more

We first met Shanni when she was teaching puppy classes at the Silicon Valley Human Society, and when she left we followed her over to her own training facility in Sunnyvale- she's that good. We have two Formosan rescue dogs from Taiwan, and we depend on her expertise so we can work with our dogs to make sure they have the best shot at being well behaved and happy pups. Shanni has made such a huge impact on the lives of our pups and we can never thank her enough. read more

Shanni is amazing! Shanni is a true dog lover and professional. I've seen her in action over the years and she truly loves what she does. Highly recommend Shanni and Dogs In Harmony. read more

Shanni is knowledgeable, professional, and kind. My dog is a rescue with some fear issues, and Shanni helped me to understand and respond to what was happening. She brings an extremely positive attitude to all her sessions, and helps you work with your dog in a practical, cooperative way. She is good at listening to your goals and needs, and adapting her training program accordingly. I had both some one-on one training sessions and some group classes, and everything was excellent. Three months in, my dog has made a ton of progress. If you want to address a behavioral problem or just have a better friendship with your dog, I recommend hiring Shanni! read more