TLDR Beverly's reactive dog training services didn't turn out like I thought they would. She said…read moreit'd be personalized, but this was the most cookie-cutter training I could've gotten. Most of the training is self-driven based on old articles and videos you can find on her website that she compiles into emails and tells you to perfect before meeting again. Yelp reviews seemed more aligned with my experience than Google fyi. ----- Even though Beverly was on TV before, she wasn't friendly like you'd expect from a "celebrity" trainer. I thought maybe her experience made up for it. But what she said her training would be like and what it was like were totally different. The biggest difference between my expectations and reality was that she effectively refuses to meet unless your dog has 100% perfected the homework from the previous lesson (which she doesn't really practice with you). This condition was never mentioned in the contract or in the consultation. Further, to get a repeat training of the first lesson, it took us 6 months of negotiating and literally hundreds of hours of self-driven training (I even sent her proof of our efforts and she didn't care). Another important thing to note for anyone else with reactive dogs is that Beverly did not ever see what our dog was like in the "real world". Our one and only in-person training was in her garage, so she only saw our dog "calm". She also never demonstrated how to do things correctly in-person and all of her feedback on our technique came from her watching very short videos we sent her. In-person session was mainly theory (see Yelp reviews for others calling this out). There was at most 10 minutes of practical training in the first lesson and none of it was related to addressing problems like reactivity that might make the homework tricky. So, there was never a good feedback loop to help us succeed. This was a major problem when we tried to do her homework. We literally spent 6 MONTHS trying to complete the part of the FIRST homework that required our reactive dog to lay down calmly in public spaces in less than 30s (this time requirement was emphasized on several calls, not an exaggeration). Over those 6 months, we had 2 feedback sessions virtually, but she continued to threaten to "fire us" if we tried to book an in-person session. In that time, she never proactively reached out to check in, even as months went by and she knew we were struggling. After 7 months, when I asked for more structured help (for a 3rd time) or my money back, she acted like I was asking for magic (her words). In the end, I was done with it. Beverly was not helpful and it felt like anytime we wanted her help it was inconvenient for her. The only two positive things I will giver her were: 1.) She was quick and responsive; however her replies were often rude, unfiltered and lacking the nuance we needed. If her communication was better, maybe her virtual-forward style could work, but that would require a lot of work on her end. And 2.) She invited us to a free group training session so we could get in-person help, but we were getting married that weekend, so we couldn't attend. She said she'd have more of those events, but she never told us about others. Next, Beverly's refund rules were crazy --she charged $395 fee for texts and emails, $395 fee for what was effectively a sales call and another $100 fee for re-reading our messages to calculate the refund among other fees. We completed less than 20% of the package we bought, but were charged over 50%. Thankfully, her prices were so high that the refund was enough to still get a trainer who is willing to meet with us regularly, as we requested from her. Speaking of which, before you sign the contract, ask her why she has a clause in it preventing people from posting bad reviews...most people wouldn't need that...

After seeing Beverly's reply. I do want to say that at the time of service, I was not unhappy with…read morethe training Beverly provided. I was also naive and didn't know what to expect from a dog training session as it was our first time hiring a private trainer. She was indeed very responsive both by email and by text and was gracious enough to help my fiance reschedule our lesson so he can propose to me. With that said, this is a hindsight review after having trained with other trainers. The first is the high rate Beverly charged. Looking back we paid over $3k for 6 sessions with 2 dogs. This is not six sessions per dog, this is a combined six ONE HOUR sessions with both dogs present. Which means if she had focused on each dog equally, we paid about $1500 for 3 hours of lessons with her for each dog (that's a rate of $500/hour). Compare that to other trainers who offer five sessions for $750 for each dog. We didn't think that her lessons were way better or more valuable at $500/hour than compared to other trainers at $150/hour. It is true that Beverly did instruct us to practice with our dog around dog parks, but this didn't quite translate over to walks itself. Maybe we didn't follow her methodology closely enough, but at the end of the day, another trainer was able to teach us successfully. I'm sure Beverly's methods work for many dogs and many owners, but it did not work out for us. It certainly wasn't worth the $3k we spent for roughly 6 hours of private instruction and a couple group sessions. Our current trainer is also very responsive and supportive via email/text/calls. He is also great about rescheduling. He has also met us at a park twice to show us how to manage our dog's reactivity in a real life scenarios. These are all baseline expectations I have for hiring a dog trainer now. We were not getting premier service at the $500/hour rate. Beverly didn't go out of her way to check in with us in between our sessions or after our sessions have ended nor did she extend support in any way after. Again, we were not unhappy at the time of service because it was our first time hiring a private trainer. It was only after we worked with other trainers that we realized we didn't get our money's worth in training with Beverly. Thank you Beverly for everything you have done for us, but I can't, in good conscience, recommend you to other struggling dog owners, many of whom may only be able to afford hiring a trainer once. I am also sorry that this review came at such an inopportune time.

I would like to take this opportunity to speak about the amazing staff and all that they do. I have…read moreknown the owners for close to 20 years. Without pause or delay they have put their hearts and souls into the business of training, importing, breeding, boarding, and educating those interested in creating a better/ safer lifestyle for pets and service dogs. I truly appreciate all that they do. You will not find a better company. Bryant

I was raised with German Shepherds and other working dogs. In high school, I worked in a working…read moredog kennel and delivered security dogs to various locations throughout the Bay Area. I know a good German Shepherd when I see it. In 2006, I was looking for a German Shepherd puppy. Given my financial circumstances, I could have purchased a dog anywhere in the World. The sire and dam I found were 25 miles from my home at Randy Tyson's kennel. When I first went to her kennel, I realized that we had met 30 years earlier, working in her parents German Shepherd kennel while I was working for a different kennel. As it turned out, she bred the two dogs I liked. She didn't tell me. I discovered it by accident while still looking for a puppy everywhere else in the World. I have had about 20 dogs in my life, but I found my Once in a Lifetime Dog at Randy Tyson's kennel. My Once in a Lifetime Dog became my best friend and member of my family. Randy's support did not end with her selling me a puppy. Randy's support continued throughout the life of my Once in a Lifetime Dog. Her knowledge of the German Shepherd breed is unmatched. Even local and state law enforcement agencies obtain dogs from Randy. As well, people from all over the World obtain puppies from Randy. If you are looking for a German Shepherd puppy, my suggestion is that you consider Randy Tyson's kennel. If you find a litter of puppies you like, visit the puppies a couple of times a week. Perhaps you will find your Once in a Lifetime Dog. And to respond to the previous review about the puppies being expensive, I have told Randy that her puppies are under priced. If you are careful about the puppy you select, he or she will be a bargain.

I fell for the pandemic puppy trap earlier this year when I decided to get a puppy! Seeing my…read morefriends' dogs and cute puppies around, I only assumed it would be great to have a companion in my life. Little did I know that cuteness overload comes with a lot of responsibility and struggles, especially since I live alone, and have never had a pet in my life. In fact, as a kid, I was extremely scared of dogs! I knew I had to get a trainer when after the 2nd week, I started feeling overwhelmed with my puppy's energy and tantrums. Thankfully I found Diane! She has been a great mentor if I could use this word to guide me through my pup training journey. We had two formal sessions - 1st one was a 3 hour phone call where she patiently answered all my questions and gave me 100s of tools and things to buy and learn to build a "puppy training toolkit". The 2nd session was a 3 hour in person training session where she introduced training collar and other tools and showed me how to stop certain behaviors. The best thing is that Diane has been kind enough to answer stupid and repeated questions from me over text or phone at any time of the day. If I've felt overwhelmed, I've always had comfort to know that I have a personal counsellor/mentor available. Diane shared a lot of tools, tricks, and methods - most of them work great, some don't - some do, but not always - but that is just because each dog is different and each dog-parent relationship is unique. I am just glad to have all those tools and information available to tap into whenever I run into any challenge. I feel super confident in my puppy's training and the fact that I have all I need to train my puppy well, thanks to Diane! My puppy Zoya has been sleeping safe and sound in her crate from day 1, and sleeping all night from the moment I reached out to Diane. Zoya is fully potty trained, and walks on leash like a confident yet obedient queen! Diane is extremely knowledgeable about dog behaviors, illnesses, eating habits, and tantrums - and I always reach out to her first, before I reach out to my vet! I trust Diane, and I promise you will also!

When we brought home our 8 week Moyen Goldendoodle puppy, we needed help with so many things. We…read morelooked on Yelp and we're connected with Diane. The stars aligned in bring her to us because she is more than a rockstar dog trainer & coach, but she is a trusted member of our family who I hold at a high level of respect. She helped us organize our apartment so that our puppy could be introduced into our space over time, she taught us how to walk our dramatic doodle for the first time, she helped our doodle meet a pack of his own during his walks, gave us food, supplement, and toy recommendations. She walked us through what to do when our puppy was misbehaving and incorporates a firm, yet loving technique so the dog knows who is boss. I can still hear her voice in the back of my head, "Christine you need to be firm, he cannot win." Puppies test your patience and Diane truly is our advocate in learning how to not only redirect his actions but build confidence in being first time dog owners. I've learned more in the months with Diane than I could have ever learned through a book or online. I am forever grateful to her, the bond that she's helped us create with our dog, the bond that she herself has created with our dog, and the continued guidance she offers as we continue to grow. I would recommend Diane to my friends and family.

Polina is truly a dog whisperer. She helped us turn our spirited Golden Doodle puppy into a well…read morebehaved little lady! We have done lots of dog training in the past, but she opened our eyes to new ways of understanding our new puppy. She trained us just as much as the dog, which is probably even more important in the long run. We have done Zoom Room and have worked with and interviewed several other trainers -- Polina is in a whole other league. If you need training help, there's no better option out there.

We were referred to Polina by someone who spoke very highly of her and her thoughtful, methodical…read moreapproach to dog training. Our 10-month-old maltipoo, Sarah, had her first session at our home where Polina took the time to understand our setup and answer all our questions about how to get started. Polina is extremely patient, and it's clear she truly loves what she does. After just a few sessions, we noticed real progress in Sarah's obedience training. We also appreciated the follow-up Zoom sessions, which were convenient and surprisingly effective for both Q&A and virtual training. We plan to continue working with Polina as Sarah learns more commands and as we gain a better understanding of her behavior. We've already recommended Polina to friends and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a dedicated and effective dog trainer. Thank you Polina!!!

Chelsea has been walking our two dogs (Charlie and Nori) for almost four years. We could not have…read moreasked for a better or more caring walker. Both of our dogs are rescues and needed help adjusting. Chelsea has been patient and caring with them, and they clearly trust her and love going for walks. We also always use Chelsea for boarding and know they are safe and happy whenever we are away. Dropping them off is hard, but their excitement at seeing Chelsea makes all the difference. We could not have asked for a better walker or sitter.

We wouldn't trust anyone else to walk and take care of Frankie, our Frenchie, other than Chelsea…read morefor the past three years. She truly cares for him and has also trained "the most stubborn" Frenchie we've ever met. She's thoughtful, and very caring for him. He's always so excited to see her and go explore Golden Gate Park! I would suggest Chelsea to anyone looking for a caring, and very very experienced dog walker.

Lena aka the dog whisperer! After our first call with Lena, we knew we had found the right person…read morefor our dog, Daphne. We rescued Daphne from Beyond Rescue back in January 2022 (Lena is the co-founder which is a major plus!) Our dog was reactive on leash and had separation anxiety. We did a three week board and train program and let me tell you, we are SO happy with Daphne's results. Daphne has greatly improved on our walks and she no longer pulls us or barks when she sees other dogs and strangers with the techniques that Lena taught us. Lena is very responsive on text/emails and always kept us updated during Daphne's board and train. We're so happy that we found Lena and will definitely keep coming back to her when Daphne needs a refresher or when we plan to go on long trips. Plus Daphne loves her dog Diesel! It's the sweetest thing ever Thank you Lena!

Lena has changed our lives. She built the confidence our anxious dog needed and set up a foundation…read morefrom which we could build. We are better equipped to handle anxiety related situations and our dog is more relaxed, confident and patient. Truly life changing.

Margot and her team are a literal God send!! I was in a bind and needed my 9 year old German…read moreshepherd taken out for walks while I was adjusting to my new work schedule. She was able to fit me in and responded to me very promptly. Long story short my pup is always so excited when his walker comes. They give me updates while I'm at work on how his day is going which is such a joy! I'm so happy I was able to find Margot and her team. I can't recommend them enough. He is exhausted by the time I get home and I have the pics to show me that he's having such a great time!! FYI, I'm in the South San Francisco area/ San Bruno area. Thank you Dog, Gone Walking! (1st pic is when he gets home after his walks with Dog, Gone Walking )

We have been using Dog Gone Walking to walk our two dogs regularly for a while now and have been so…read morehappy. Our pups are always properly worn out and seem so much happier on the days they get out for walks! They have been very reliable and we never worry about our dogs when they are with Margot and her team. We recently had to leave unexpectedly and booked them for overnight care and were so lucky that Margot was able to accommodate our needs. We trust her with our home and our precious Stella and Janie's lives ! We didn't have to worry about anything while we were gone and got daily updates. We are so glad we found Dog Gone Walking

Amazing, highly effective experience in just 3 lessons. My reactive doodle and I learned the…read morefoundations of leadership (mine) and obedience (his). He learned to walk properly on a leash at heel, avoid fence aggression with the dog next door, go to place and crate. I have seen a remarkable change in his connection to me. Bara gave me all the tools I need to continue working with him on behaving calmly with company and in public places. She is incredibly encouraging and gives exceptional feedback. I look forward to future training and highly recommend her!

We worked with Bara to address Portia, our puppy's jumping and barking issues. It was magical that,…read moreby the second session, we already saw tremendous improvements. We didn't expect Bara would be able to address Portia's separation anxiety in 3 sessions so we didn't even focus on that; however she squeezed that into part of the training and we are seeing continued improvements already. We are more than grateful to have worked with Bara, that we finally have our lives back that we can go out and invite friends home without worrying Portia doing something crazy! Also, Bara not only just provided instructions during the sessions, she also responded via texts to provide guidance after each sessions. She truly cares about how much we are making improvements overall not just during the training sessions. We will definitely work with Bara again for future training!