We had a great experience working with Mitch on basic manners for our German shepherd mix puppy,…read moreLeo! Our puppy was a rescue and has a lot of anxiety. Mitch was very patient and has helped us work through it. Leo made a ton of progress from his first lesson. Mitch explains things very well, and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure we are set up for success. Highly recommend training at Athens, and working with Mitch.

Mitch and Patrick are amazing! We had 5 home sessions with our two Havanese dogs. We worked on…read moretraining them to be better at greeting people and on how to get them to not make at the door when the doorbell goes off. We also worked on walking and now they don't pull! So nice to be able to go on a walk without being pulled. We then did dog greeting and reactivity and got a lot of tips on what to do to help the dogs feel more comfortable. Mitch and Patrick really went above and beyond to help us!

Kayla and Mike have been taking my dog, Cross, on hikes and boarding him for about the past 4-years…read moresince he was a puppy. Among many other things, they've been an integral part of his development and socialization over the years. Most importantly, these dogs go on legit adventures daily! Professional, flexible and cool people. I highly recommend their services.

Kayla is the BEST! We've been using her services for the past 4ish years and are so happy we found…read moreher! She is very communicative, responsible and competent. I fully trust her with our high-maintenance boy and that's saying a lot coming from a serious helicopter dog owner! :) She will love your dog like they are her own and it is obvious how much she loves all her pack. She is flexible and adaptable - our lives can be chaotic so we cancel/add services at the last minute and she is very accommodating to our needs. She goes out of her way to say hello to our foster dogs to help with their socialization - whats not to love? Mike is great as well, every time my dog sees him he lets out excited happy barks and I know he loves our talkative dog and his silly antics. We have tried out other dog hiking services in the CV/Hayward area in the past and none compare to Kaylas Pet Services! Look no further if you need someone to look after your furry loved one!

Terry is an excellent dog trainer. She understood my dog's needs and behaviors and gave simple…read moreinstructions that were easy to follow. She provided great tips and trained my dog how to heel, sit, stay, and go for a walk.

I met Terry while inviewing dog walkers for my dogs. I have 4 dogs which includes a 120 lb…read morerottweiler. I did not want any dog walker, I needed someone who also was a trainer who could also work with my pack. They are a handfull at times. What struck me about her was her love and enthusiasm for dogs. Shes wonderful. Very protective and loyal to my babies. Cheryl, Castro Valley

I cannot say enough about Dan and his skills as a dog (and dog parent) trainer! I adopted my dog,…read moreDoug, from a golden retriever rescue in March 2026, believing he was a golden retriever mix. From the very beginning, Dan gently pointed out that Doug might have more cattle dog in him, based on his markings and behavior. When the DNA test confirmed Dan was right, it gave me a whole new understanding of my sweet boy. Doug turned out to be a beautiful mix of cattle dog and other herding breeds, and that insight has made such a difference in helping me understand him better. Dan has been incredibly patient--not only with Doug, but with me too--as I've learned to recognize Doug's triggers, better understand his behavior, and figure out how to help him thrive. Dan's experience with stray and rescue dogs is extremely valuable. Doug is such a sweet dog, about 2 years old, with plenty of puppy energy still in him. He's affectionate, eager for attention, and wonderfully responsive to training. Dan has helped me learn how to channel Doug's energy in positive ways and appreciate just how smart and spirited he really is. Doug keeps me on my toes, and Dan has reminded me that patience and consistency are some of the greatest gifts I can give him. After just three in-home sessions with Dan, I've already seen such encouraging progress. Doug is doing beautifully--he's a star at the dog park, walks nicely on leash, and has learned to respect the boundaries I've set around attention and behavior. Things like digging up the backyard and jumping into my face have stopped, which has been such a relief. Dan's guidance has made a meaningful difference, and staying consistent with the lessons has been key to Doug's success. Dan's availability by phone or text is a game-changer as I don't have to wait until our next scheduled visit to get guidance if new, unexpected and undesirable behavior arises between visits. Next week marks Doug's and my three-month anniversary together, which feels both exciting and emotional. We still have more to learn, but I'm so proud of how far we've come already. I'm grateful for Dan's support and look forward to continuing this journey--helping Doug grow into the very best boy I know he can be.

What an amazing team. So helpful. I was struggling with my German Shepard rescue. They helped me…read moreget him under control and happy.

We have a 2 1/2 year old Mini Goldendoodle - Louie and overall he's a good dog and we just needed…read morehelp with certain commands. I watched numerous training videos online and did a group training (I don't recommend that either) - nothing helps since you need hands on private training and that's how I found Patti on here. We did 6 sessions and she helped us train Louie and focused on his reactivity, basic walking commands, door bell reactions and recall. Patti came over to our house for a few sessions and the rest of the sessions we met at a park or a public place so that she can teach us the real world situations when we're out with Louie. She explains everything very well and why dogs behave the way they do. She'll take photos and videos and send follow up notes as well to help us remember everything we learned each session. It's a lot to learn and you have to continue to practice everything and you'll see a difference in your dog's behavior. We've seen a difference in Louie and very happy with the results. I definitely recommend Patti if you need help training your dog. Thank you so much Patti!

Amazing dog training sessions with Patti. She gave me incredible one on one training with my 8…read moremonth old French bulldog Rocky. She explained the importance of consistent positive dog training. Patti did a great job of not only showing me how to train my dog, but building my confidence through the fantastic results I was receiving from her training methods. I would highly recommend Patti for any dog owner who wants one on one in home dog training at a affordable price.

We boarded our 4-year-old English Springer Spaniel, Dior, at Uncle PawPaw for 5 nights -- his first…read moretime ever being boarded -- and Roy was absolutely amazing. From day one, Roy made us feel completely at ease. He sent daily photos and videos of Dior having the time of his life with his furry friends, which was huge for us since Dior never really got to socialize like that before. Seeing him so happy, relaxed, and genuinely enjoying himself made all the difference. Roy clearly loves what he does and treats the dogs like his own. We couldn't have asked for a better first boarding experience and will 100% be booking again. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a place where their dog will be truly cared for.

My boy Duke absolutely loves Roy and his team at Uncle Paw paws! My dog is like Energizer bunny…read morethat never runs out of the battery! Since he's been going to pawpaws, he comes home tired with so much play time. Roy also sends videos of him playing and pics, so I know he's in good hands. Drop and pickup is very convenient, and highly recommend Pawpaws daycare!

I want to give a shoutout to the Castro valley team, in specifics I want to thank Karlton and…read moreFabian for giving my little new puppy life. He was very sick we took our puppie to the vet and they didn't even know what was wrong. But talking to these guys we found out our puppy was having reaction to our new home and I cents. We have changed and our puppy is just as healthy. Thank you Castro valley Team

Definitely our go to pet store! This location is always…read moreclean, organized, and friendly. I appreciate their knowledgeable staff who are always open to sharing suggestions for the better needs of our pets. They offer vaccination clinics each month that are very convenient and affordable too. My family would love to highlight Karlton - he has specifically made all of our experiences so welcoming and supportive!! There's not one time we have came by and he does not have a smile on his face and ready to help! Karlton is very knowledgeable with all the products in the store and gives excellent advice on up and coming new items to add to our homes. Talk about service that's above and beyond, Pet Food Express you have an incredible leader on your team!! Also- we love the frozen bone marrow bones, love that this location keeps them stocked! Kannon & Jade your favorite English Bullies love and appreciate you.

So very grateful for Angela and Nikolett at Naughty to Nice Dog Training. When we introduced our…read morelabradoodle, Marlo, to his first class, he was sweet and eager to learn. He soon evolved into a ball of energy with increased enthusiasm and decreased focus. Angela welcomed him with such patience, kindness, and skill. She helped us understand how to channel all that puppy energy in the right direction and ease our concerns when we felt frustrated -- and we felt frustrated A LOT. With guidance and consistency, Marlo not only earned his STAR Puppy Certificate but also his Canine Good Citizen certification--something we honestly doubted would ever happen. What we appreciated most about Naughty to Nice was how supported we felt as new puppy parents. They celebrated every milestone with us and gave us the confidence to continue building on Marlo's learnings. Marlo indeed went from naughty to nice all thanks to this incredible team.

Toshi, my 14 week Shiba puppy and I came to Nikolett and Angela for a 1:1 private session after our…read morepuppy was having some biting issues and harness/grooming aggression. He overall is very eager to learn and was doing well with his early obedience training but definitely runs the house. Within ONE HOUR, Toshi was able to tolerate the harness, and for the FIRST TIME since he came home, he let me brush him for a minute straight without biting me!!! We got so many great tips and a list of homework to work on until our second private session later this week before we start our AKC STAR Puppy classes (already secured the date!) I cannot thank them enough for their tips, their kind words and efforts towards Toshi and I am confident to believe he will be a great dog with the right tools.

I used James' boarding and training service for a month with my dog, and was really happy with the…read morewhole process and the results. She's not the easiest dog, definitely not one to just listen to or work for someone she doesn't know or trust, but James handled it really well. He really cares about the process, took time to address any concerns I had, and answered all my emails afterward about training. One thing to note - you have to be involved too. It's not just about training the dog; you're also learning how to understand your dog, communicate better, and adjust your own behavior. The service was definitely above my budget, but honestly, I'd do it again. A nice bonus - now that my dog knows James and is comfortable at his place, I feel a lot better leaving her with him for boarding when I travel. It's hard for me to leave her with just anyone, so that extra peace of mind is huge.

James trained my dog Leo in 2019 and he is the best dog now. I have been so happy with what he did…read morewith Leo that I a retuning customer. I am currently having James train my 16 week old puppy Shadow (German Shepard) I can't wait to see the results!

As first-time dog owners, bringing home our Bernedoodle puppy felt equal parts exciting and…read moreoverwhelming. She was quiet and a bit confused in those early days, and we honestly didn't know what "normal" even looked like. We started working with Jared literally the day after we brought her home, and that made all the difference. What stood out right away is that he doesn't just train the dog, he helps you understand your dog's psychology. That shift was huge for us. Instead of guessing or reacting, we started to feel like we actually knew what she needed and how to respond. He guided us through the basics like potty training and getting her to sleep through the night, and once those clicked, life got dramatically easier. More importantly, he gave us a framework we can keep using as new challenges come up. Our puppy still has some separation anxiety and can be a bit needy, but now it feels manageable. We're making steady, incremental progress and feel confident we have the tools to keep going. Jared has also been great with our whole family. He builds trust quickly, explains things clearly, and makes everyone feel comfortable and capable. You never feel judged or overwhelmed. If you're a first-time dog owner, especially with a young puppy, I'd strongly recommend working with him early. It sets the right foundation and saves you a lot of stress down the line.

Working with Jared from Bark Busters has been an amazing experience. He brings a calm,…read moreunderstanding approach and takes the time to really listen and tailor his guidance to your specific situation. One thing that stood out to me is how much emphasis he puts on teaching *us* how to communicate with our dogs effectively, which makes the results stick long-term. Before his help, having guests over was nearly impossible--our dogs would get overwhelmed and reactive. Now, we're able to host gatherings without worry, and the difference in their behavior is night and day. It's been such a relief to see them more relaxed and balanced. The progress we've made feels huge, and it's all thanks to Jared's thoughtful and practical training style. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for real, lasting change.