The long version: We…read moreadopted a very timid, quiet pup at the beginning of October who, once he'd settled in, turned into a smart, energetic, stubborn and barking pup. That wasn't an option as we live in an apartment with WFH neighbors and going potty means walks around town with lots of other dogs. Overwhelmed, I started googling and found so many 5* reviews for Meryl from Bay Area Balanced Dog training. After a very thorough phone consultation where she took the time to talk about her process/our options and answer our many questions/concerns (we were nervous/uninformed about ecollars), we opted to do a 4 week board and train with a few private lessons beforehand. It was more than I had budgeted, but I was upfront about that, and she worked with us on a payment plan leading up to his stay. The private lessons were so helpful, and I highly recommend doing that before your dog's stay. So much about his good behavior relied on me being a good handler. This practice was also like a bandaid before his training, seriously reducing my stress on our daily outings, and made the transition after his stay easy as I already knew the basics of how to ask him for what I expected in a way he understood/had learned with the trainer. The board and train itself was easy, though be aware there's some additional cost to supply all the tools pup will need during his training. That was rough for me at Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, she was happy to keep and train him during the holidays when we would be traveling anyway. Very convenient and saved me additional boarding bills. She provided lots of daily video and picture updates on Instagram which was nice/really lessened my guilt about leaving him with someone for four weeks. He came home the same happy, sweet dog we'd sent away, except now he can walk nicely on a leash without barking his head off at every animal he sees. She also worked on recall training which is such a relief for a high energy dog I just know would chase a bear on a hike as off leash skills are really important to me in a dog. We work daily on everything he's learned and he loves it so much. It's a lot of money for what was an average dog with average bad behaviors, but we really believe that starting your dog off on the right path with the best guidance is the way to ensure a healthy, happy, safe dog. We went on our first hike just a few days ago, and after all that practice, he got to experiment with being fully off leash. He listened to every command, every time, even when there were tempting birds. I want to have a dog that is as fully involved in my family's life as possible, and now that we both have these skills, I know with consistency and practice, that's what I'll get. Tldr: The board and train is expensive, but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend. It truly saved my sanity.

I cannot recommend Bay Area Balanced Dog Training and Meryl enough!…read more In November of 2023 my husband and I adopted our adorable 3-year-old Pitbull-mix, Midnight, from our local shelter. Unfortunately, pretty much everything the shelter told us in regards to his behaviors/needs was incorrect. For example: he was over-aroused all day every day, had lots of destructive behaviors with our furniture/household items, did not respond to verbal commands/corrections, jumped on us and on top of tables/counters frequently, had zoomies where he would body slam us and progressively get more aggressive, tried to run full force after any dog/cat/squirrel/bird we saw on walks, tried to redirect bite me on walks and landed one of them (which broke my skin), frequently ate inedible things (like leaves and cat poop - yuck!) no matter how hard we tried to prevent him from doing so, and landed a bite that broke the skin on my husband's hand too when he was resource guarding a treat-stuffed toy. My husband and I have owned and trained pet dogs in the past, but Midnight's behaviors/needs were at a level that was way over our heads. After six weeks of trying to work with Midnight on our own, we were beside ourselves from trying to figure out how to safely meet his needs and began to fear that we may have to try to rehome him or bring him back to the shelter, which we desperately didn't want to do. So, I did some research and found Bay Area Balanced Dog Training's website. I reached out to Meryl and from our first phone conversation she put me at ease and began educating my husband and I about Midnight's behavior and needs. Midnight did a 4-week board and train program with Meryl, during which time she continued to educate my husband and I on how we could be the best owners possible for our energetic, willful pup. When Midnight came back home with us, he and we were finally speaking the same language and understood each other so much better, all because of Meryl's training. My household is peaceful again, Midnight is so much happier/content, and we have been able to bond with him in a much deeper way than we were able to before. Walks are a dream (he even ignores cats now!), my husband and I are doing a much better job of properly taking care of Midnight's activity/energy needs, and we feel certain since Meryl's training that we are a good fit for him and he is a good fit for us. Our little family is going to be just fine, due to the gift of Meryl's expertise and skill. Although things are going so well with Midnight, I still worried about who would take care of him if we have to go out of town and can't take him with us, due to his unique behavioral needs. Meryl boarded him for a week for us recently and Midnight had the best time! The little videos Meryl sent us of how he was doing erased any worries I still had in the back of my mind about him, and I felt so much relief knowing that Midnight was being cared for so well with so much love. Another time we needed to board Midnight was last-minute, and unfortunately Meryl was all booked up and didn't have space at that time. Meryl went above and beyond in suggesting another skilled trainer that she knows well that had space during the time we would be away - that boarding experience was great too, and Meryl was spot-on in regards to the other trainer being a great boarding fit for Midnight. Meryl has been an absolute blessing for Midnight, my husband and me. We look forward to taking more lessons from her in the future and feel lucky to have her support and expertise in our corner. Please, if you find yourselves in a situation even somewhat like ours, don't hesitate to reach out to Bay Area Balanced Dog Training - it'll be the best call you can make for you and your dog.

We took in a 5+ month old puppy from a challenging situation and needed help as the pup was…read morereactive, not socialized, and terrified of everything. Gary was just the right amount of direct but supportive. He taught us lessons that built upon themselves and after the full course, we now have the tools to help our pup live his best life. Totally worth it. Very flexible with schedule and good communication. Already our new family member has made huge strides. Thanks, Gary!!

I reached out to Gary for help with my dog Peaches and her leash reactivity, and he was extremely…read moreprompt in responding. The initial consultation went very well, and I learned so much about dog communication and how to better support Peaches. I also learned that she is a highly anxious dog, which explained many of the challenges I had been concerned about. We enrolled in Gary's six-week program and finished with the tools and knowledge needed to keep Peaches on the right track toward recovery. Just like humans, dogs rehabilitate at their own pace, and over those six weeks Peaches made significant progress. We're looking forward to enrolling in advanced training once she's ready so she can enjoy more freedom off-leash. Gary is not like other trainers we've worked with. He doesn't rely on obedience-based shortcuts or gimmicks. Instead, he teaches you how to work through real situations and explains the theory behind his approach so you truly understand what's happening and how to handle stressful moments. Most importantly, Gary teaches you how to become the focal point for your dog, which has made a lasting difference for us.

We highly recommend Jayne, she is a very experienced dog trainer. Very flexible with scheduling…read more Also very responsive over text.

Jayne is amazing! I actually called Jayne bc I was worried abt my young pom bc he jumped on another…read moredog on one of our walks. I was so worried and embarrassed! I called my vet as soon as i got home! My vet suggested I call this particular behavioral trainer she knew and so I did. (It wasn't Jayne). This behavioral trainer told me I should return my dog to breeder. I should never fall asleep with this breed on my bed (Pomeranians) as they could bite my face off. She continued to tell me all these horrible stories abt poms. I was so confused and upset when I hung up. My husband insisted I get another opinion. I found Jayne's info online the next day and called her. She came over same day because she knew how upset I was and she wanted to meet my fur baby. Needless to say, she is amazing! I am so happy I made that call! My pom is now 5 yo and he is fabulous! Sweet, entertaining, and so well-behaved because of Jayne's training!

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.

Dan is great with dogs and even better with people! He does a fantastic job teaching us how to…read moreapproach training with our dog in a way that actually makes sense and feels manageable at home. He's warm, approachable, and never judgmental when we inevitably get something wrong. He's also always punctual, professional, and genuinely a joy to work with. We've learned so much from him and would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a great trainer.

Would not recommend. $1,700 and three weeks of training for 6 hours a day and all my 20 week puppy…read morelearned was to walk on a leash. None of the requests (sit, stay, come, etc) were taught. Hilary didnt do a great job at communicating or setting expectations.

What can I say except that I feel incredibly lucky to have found Hillary. I can't imagine a better…read moredog trainer out there. She was always right on time for our appointments and was incredibly focused on the lesson. We bought a ten pack and it was well worth the price. Our dog, Stella, loves her so much! We call her "The Hot Dog Lady" because she uses hot dogs in her training and our pup is very motivated by food. She also did a great job training my kids on how to work with our puppy. I truly believe that dog training is also people training, especially considering this was our first dog ever,. Hillary is a gem in the East Bay!

I HIGHLY recommend the 15-Day training program through The Dog Wizard in Walnut Creek! Such a…read morewonderful team in Harry & Zara! Thank you both from the bottom of our hearts for giving Duckie Louise a strong foundation rooted in love and appropriate, attainable expectations. from Darcy, Ben, 13-year-old Precious, and 8-month-old Duckie Louise!

We had a great experience with The Dog Wizard! Harry was our…read moretrainer and he was exceptional. We did a board and train with our dog and truly noticed a big difference after the training. Harry set a great foundation for our dog and we can confidently say there is a significant positive impact. We shared our concerns and goals with The Dog Wizard and they executed in jump starting it for us. We feel confident and comfortable to continue training with our dog because we've been provided with great tools and resources to help us succeed. We have done different trainings in the past and this was definitely the best one for us. I would highly recommend!

I trust Amanda and Kseniya more with my dogs than I do anyone else around. They are professional…read moreyet funny and kind.

If I could give 10 stars, then I would give 11…read more Ksenyia and Amanda are professional and trusted dog-trainers. For the past five years, these ladies have walked, trained and cared for our family dog, Hummus, who is a pit-bull mix. We adopted him from the San Francisco SPCA. Like many pit-bull mixed pups, his opportunities for finding a loving home were slim. He was anxious, nervous and afraid of others. Aggression is the first word that came to mind, but for us, he was just misunderstood. Kas and Amanda are patient, reliable and kind. Since we brought Hummus home they gave continuously worked with his anxiety and affliction to other dogs. We would be lying if we said he was perfect, but like humans, dogs are not perfect. Nonetheless, he has a come a long way from lunging, barking and growling at other animals. Kas and Amabda have made vast improvements in his temperament. We now have two human pups of our own. He is respectful and has nothing but love and compassion for them. Hummus boards with Kas and Amanda for periods of a time while we travel. They have always been reliable and responsive to our needs, not to mention flexible when situations arise. These ladies started out as our dog walkers, but as we continued to grow in family size our relationship grew as well. We are honored and proud to call them our dog trainers, but most importantly, trusted family friends. Their youth, passion and dedication are truly inspirational.

I was just raving about this place to a friend and then realize I had never taken the time to write…read morea yelp review! We love camp bow wow and so does our fur baby, Mellow. She is thrilled to go there weekly and they take such good care of her. She is a slow to warm dog but they worked with us until she got comfortable enough in their environment (they are diligent in their interviews) to start going there and now she is a big fan and so are we! The crew is consistently kind and awesome, which to me shows the owners are setting a great tone and have cultivated a wonderful culture.

I had surgery and boarded my dog for two weeks at the Concord Camp Bow Wow. Such a great…read moreexperience! I could see him on the webcams which set my mind at ease. They took care of my Buddy really well. I couldn't be happier with the people and their services. I'll take him there again if need be. It really set my mind at ease. Thank you Concords, Camp Bow Wow!

I can't say enough wonderful things about Kathy, She has been absolutely amazing to work with and…read morehas shown so much patience, understanding, and compassion with both me and my Benji boy throughout this process. She has helped me understand Benji in ways I didn't before and has taught me so much about his behavior, body language, and the reasons behind some of the things he does. I've realized that training isn't just about teaching your dog it's also about learning how to communicate with and understand them, and she has really helped me see that. I wasn't prepared when i got Benji as a baby and have had him for about 2 years over time i noticed he was leash reactive along with a few other sensitivities , and Kathy has been so so amazing in currently working through that with us in so many ways! She has never made me feel judged or discouraged. Instead, she has been patient, encouraging, and willing to take the time to explain things to me so I truly understand. I've already noticed slight differences in both Benji and myself, and I feel much more confident because of the guidance she has given us i truly couldn't thank her enough for coming into mine and Benjis life when we needed it the most. She is not only an amazing trainer, but an incredible person to work with. I'm genuinely grateful for all the help, patience, and knowledge she has shared with us. I'm so happy and grateful we found her, and I truly hope we can continue working together. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for someone who genuinely cares about both their dog and the person behind the leash. We appreciate you Kathy!!

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.

Although I had a nice chat on the phone with very nice lady, I decided to drop by before my fist…read morereservation to check the place out for my 3 mo old tiny puppy that needs playtime and socializing, while I got called away for meetings at my usual wfh job. When I pulled up a younger male (long hair) was a bit standoffish and looked at me like I was insane asking if I could come check the facility out. I honestly felt like I was being shamed for so much as asking to come see where she would be after I dropped her off or meet any staff. I guess we are supposed to hand off our dogs through the car window on a rather busy street, to a virtual stranger? No lobby or anything? He said I could look at pictures online, but I have never had a boarding or daycare place gate keep their space like that.

I have never left a review on Yelp before, but feel I need to now. I have had 2 different dogs who…read morewe have taken here over the past 6+ years. I was always surprised when I would pick them up and they would be very wet, sometimes soaking wet. I was under the impression this was because it can be very warm in Lafayette and that is how they cooled the dogs off. imagine my surprise when I was told they use water from hoses to "correct" behaviors. I have checked around and found this is not a usual way to correct dogs. so, my dogs won't be going there. I am also going to clarify to anyone I have recommended Tail Haven to that I no longer recommend their doggie day care.