Pat is fantastic! I…read moreenrolled Harley, my very reactive doxie puppy, in one-on-one sessions followed by a 2-week board and train program and it was the best decision I've ever made. Pat uses these awesome analogies to help you understand the way dogs think and react. You can tell he is extremely knowledgeable and breaks down the training process in a way where it's straightforward for both you and your pup. I can see how it may be awkward to meet a total stranger who is then teaching you how to train your "child", but it never felt that way with Pat. He is super down to earth, hilarious and extremeley personable. I continue to use his dog sitting services until this day and I can tell my Harley girl adores him!

2 weeks of board and train with Pat has made huge improvements in reducing reactivity in my German…read moreshepherd mix rescue dog. Over the four years I have had her, she has progressively gotten more reactive to the point that I can no longer let her off leash except in the most controlled circumstances and walks were stressful and unpredictable. Whenever we encountered another dog or any other animal, I would have to brace myself for lunging, barking, and potentially getting dragged down the street. When I picked her up from board and train a week ago, she showed much improvement. I had been concerned that corrections could dampen her spirit but that was not the case. She's still as sweet and spirited as ever. Also, I noticed she had bonded closely with Pat which was a good sign. The improvement in her reactively became very apparent when I took her to Pat's group class for the first time today. In the past, she would have started barking from the car at the dogs in the park and I would not have been able to walk her anywhere near a park full of dogs. Today, I was able to walk her into the park without incident, and during exercises where the dogs had to walk near each other and sit within 3 feet of each other, I was amazed that she could do the exercises without a lot of stress and even seemed somewhat relaxed. That never would have happened before Pat! I look forward to taking my dog to as many group classes as we can! Thank you Pat!

Ming has been an amazing addition to our family's and our dog's life! I truly feel like we hit the…read morejackpot -- she is considerate, thoughtful, communicative, knowledgeable, and wonderful with our dog!

Running Amok has been wonderful for our dog, Maggie. Ming is extremely responsible, caring, and…read moretrustworthy, and we always feel confident that Maggie is in great hands. Maggie absolutely lights up when she sees Ming, which tells us everything we need to know. Our dog trainer recommended her after a long search for someone truly high quality, and that recommendation has absolutely held up. Highly recommend.

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.

Hands down, Christi is the best dog walker in the East Bay. She is a first a dog lover, who is…read moreconscientious, organized, and thoughtful. Her pack walks exhaust the dogs while being safe and exciting for them. Her dog sitting sets my mind at ease as she knows dogs, her level head and knowledge ensure peace of mind while we are away.

this is also a long overdue review, I have used BARK AROUND THE BLOCK for many years. and…read more her staff are excellent. my dog; Rommel, a French bulldog he absolutely loves walking with her. She socializes the dogs with the group walks offered in the afternoons or morning walk. during the ongoing months The scheduling and communication is excellent ! My dog has improved greatly in all aspects of his socialization as well as his obedienc. Believe it or not for his breed he is so chill now. He loves his group walks! The trails are varied which is fabulous and keeps it interesting for the dogs. I have been extremely pleased with the excellent level of service provided by Bark Around the Block She is deserving of the Best Dog Walker of Alameda for the consecutive years, it has been awarded to her Company!

Update following the owner (Suzanne)'s response:…read more I appreciate the business taking the time to respond. I want to clarify a few points for transparency and for prospective customers considering Happy Hound. My concern was never the existence of a first-day assessment fee, but the value delivered. I have used dog daycares across NYC, Chicago, LA, and San Francisco and have never encountered one that charges more than a standard daycare day for a first-day evaluation. In many cases, the first day is complimentary. That context shaped my expectations going in. When I called to book, the 3:00pm time slot was the only option presented to me by Happy Hound. At no point during booking--or after the tour--was it communicated that the daycare credit would apply the same way regardless of whether my dog attended for a full day or only a couple of hours. Without that clarity, it is entirely reasonable for a new customer to assume that paying for a full day would result in receiving a full day of care. That is where the communication breakdown occurred. I am not disputing the sequence of events shared in the owner's reply. My concern is with the policy itself--specifically, requiring payment for a full day of daycare while not delivering a full day of service when scheduling limitations come from the business. The outcome was that I paid for care my dog did not receive. A prorated refund for the unused portion of that day would have been a reasonable, customer-oriented resolution. Sharing this simply so other prospective customers understand how the onboarding process and policies work in practice.

I wish that all human daycare centers were this good. They have a perfect organizational system,…read morewhere dogs are placed in groups according to size and energy levels, the facilities are squeaky clean, and the staff is professional. Archibald loves this place.

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!

Karan has been an incredible trainer for my female Italian Greyhound. He first started working with…read moreher when she was about four months old and she was doing great! We moved away when she was 6 months old, and the transition was really hard on my pup. We returned to the area and she is now 16 months old, I called Karan right away. My pup had become very reactive toward other dogs and people, barking and freaking out, seeing red and lunging at other dogs. He was able to quickly help me see how some of the things I was doing -- with the best intentions -- were actually making things worse for my dog. That insight alone was incredibly helpful and reassuring. Karan is assertive, extremely knowledgeable, and knows exactly how to guide both dog and owner toward success. One of the biggest things he helped me realize is how important my own confidence is in shaping my dog's behavior. That shift alone made a huge difference. He is professional, reliable, and consistently follows through. He even drives out to us, which makes training so much easier. Beyond that, he is always communicative, responsive via text, and available when we need support. Karan has truly become our go-to trainer, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for effective, high-quality training. Thank you Karan!

Karan did two separate 2-week board and trains with my dogs Paul and Sylvie and I can't say enough…read moregood things. Paul is a high-energy bully breed who was all over the place. Karan got him to a place where he can actually hold a down-stay and respond to commands even with distractions. Sylvie is a pit bull who knew some commands but was selective about when she felt like listening. Karan worked through that stubbornness and tightened up her obedience across the board. Ever since they've been back, their obedience has held up. Highly recommend Karan if you've got a dog that needs structure and solid training.

We cannot recommend Mutt and Tumble Dog Training enough. Bryan helped transform our two doodles…read morefrom reactive, poorly behaved dogs into calm, obedient companions who are now a pleasure to walk and have around others. Before training, we struggled with leash pulling, barking, lunging at other dogs, and nonstop chaos whenever someone came through the door. We were honestly at our wits' end. Everything changed after I saw Bryan in Jackson Square walking a calm, perfectly behaved pack of dogs. We started weekly family lessons in January 2026 with our dogs and our two 12-year-old daughters, and progress began almost immediately. Bryan quickly helped us realize the humans needed training too. With consistent coaching, support, and a board-and-train program, the transformation has been incredible. Our dogs are now well-behaved both at home and in public. We can comfortably walk them, take them to parks and outdoor restaurants, and genuinely enjoy being with them. Friends and family who knew our dogs before cannot believe the difference in their behavior. Thank you, Bryan. You really can teach old dogs new tricks.

Our dog, Maggie (2yrs - Cockapoo), is coming home tomorrow after a 2 week board and train and I…read morecouldn't wait until then to write a review for Bryan. Bit of background: Maggie has done 12 weekly group training sessions with another trainer and is generally well-behaved. However, she doesn't read the social signals from other dogs well (ex: when they want to be left alone), tends to jump on everyone at all times, doesn't respond to commands unless there's a treat involved, and lacks confidence. What I enjoyed about the program is that it includes several in person training sessions during the B&T. We got to see Maggie's progress as time went on and most importantly, we were trained on their behavior psychology and how to become the leaders of our pack. I will say I was nervous about implenting the ecollar but Bryan has demonstrated that it is a safe and effective training tool-- I got to see it used as a tool for correction that Maggie actually responded well to. Maggie is coming home tomorrow and hand-off includes an in-home training sessions to ensure her progress doesn't regress which I appreciate. From what I've seen, Maggie has become more confident, responds to recalls in distracting places (no treats involved), learned to self-soothe, and plays/greets other dogs/people with manners. Truly the best investment I've made in my dog and I'd highly recommend Mutt and Tumble to all dog parents!

Their 'training' is entirely anchored on fear-inducing techniques. We were given a contraption that…read moregenerates a harsh noise, and my dog was visibly terrified every time the trainer used it on her. All this while they constantly reassured us all their techniques are based on positive reinforcement - what kind of positive reinforcement is centered around fear?! It gnaws at us that we ever decided to go with this service. My dog - and every dog - deserves better.

Gusty us AMAZING!!!!! We saw great results after just 1 session and learn tons with each followup…read more If you keep up with her lessons you should see great behavioral improvement and management. Our dog was already amazing, but Gusty helped with the transition of our older rehomed puppy to our family. Something to note about the Bark Busters philosophy- it uses positive reinforcement with solid results...and also acknowledges that your dog is still going to be your dog. Their personality is their personality... so they teach you how to work with the dog that you have instead of the dog that you think you should have.

This review has been a long time coming. We've wanted to work with Courtney since 2019. Our dog has…read moreanxiety & noise sensitivity issues and we wanted to help her build confidence. I emailed Courtney back in October for a consultation. They responded quickly with dates and times, I booked a consultation in 11/8/2019. When it came time to our appointment, we had to be rescheduled multiple times due to whatever issue Courtney had. We didn't think much at the time, but this should've been a HUGE red flag. We ended up seeing her on 11/16/2019. Following that, we paid $310 for 4 packs of 30 min lessons on 12/16/2019. We scheduled 4 lessons around the end of January to February. We had to reschedule our lessons due to their dog passing away and health reason (totally unfortunate situation). However, in February, they said they would refund our money once Courtney recovered. We waited until March before we contacted them due to her health reason. Courtney responded via text message once on 03/6/2020 and they responded once through email on 04/5/2020 about how refunds are being worked on. They never responded again. We've emailed & texted multiple times. I really didn't want to write this bad review about a small business, but it's really unfair to take our money, not provide sessions, tell us they'll refund us, and then disappear when it comes time for refunds. All we wanted was for our dog is build confidence and now we're left with nothing. We have been waiting since February 2020 for our refund and it is currently August 2020. I have slowly come to terms that they scammed us, but I want to prevent this situation from happening to someone else. I would give Courtney 0 stars if I could. Please take your business elsewhere, there are other trainers who are more reliable all over the bay area. Don't make the same mistake we did. I attached pictures following the timeline of this whole situation.

We first reached out to Courtney in 2017 for help getting our senior chihuahua more on track with…read morehousebreaking. Since then, Courtney has remained a consistent source of support in working with this highstrung but loving little guy, and most recently walked us through a pretty miraculous introduction between him and our newborn baby. Books the chihuahua is terrified of children and had barked and lunged at babies in the past, and I was so worried about bringing our daughter home to meet him and keeping them both safe and happy. Courtney coached us on how to prepare Books for having a baby in our pack, and gave us insight into how he might be feeling and thoughts he might have. When introduction day came, Courtney was there and walked us through the entire interaction. Books had some behaviors that worried me, but Courtney explained them and assured me they were normal. Before we knew it, he was licking baby's ears and feet! Thanks to that positive first encounter, he has accepted her as a pack member and wants to be near her all the time. He's still having anxiety about the change, and Courtney has been generous about texting with us and offering solutions that have worked (thundershirt and a lil' CBD tincture). I should also mention that Books was terrified of Courtney at first (as he is with most new people), and after training with her a few times, she became one of his favorite people and now he gets excited if he even sees her car in the neighborhood! Courtney was also very generous in advising a friend and I about a stray dog we rescued from a cemetery. The dog was terrified, and Courtney offered a lot of pro bono advice about separation anxiety and helping him relax, and eventually did a formal session with his foster mom. Courtney's help got him to relax enough to stay in a not-very-dog-friendly building until he was adopted. Thank you Courtney and Devoted Dog Training for helping our family be happy together!