I have been working with Doggy Llama's trainer Vero Chavez Rojo for almost a year and she is…read moreoutstanding! Archie, my big rescue shepherd lab mix, is a sweet heart, however, he had a really hard first year of his life and I needed a lot of help with his sensitivity and reactivity. I tried several trainers and Vero's special touch has done the trick! What is special/unique about Vero: - Vero is very knowledgeable about all things dog-related and really takes the time to understand what is going on specifically for you and your dog - She is very kind and practical with her training and makes it simple so that it's easy to follow and be consistent - Vero is encouraging and supportive to help me feel more confident in what I am doing with Archie which is as important as anything else - Vero follows up and is very curious about how things are going and is eager to work with me to adjust as needed - She cares about the whole dog (and person : ) and helps to figure out what is going on health-wise since it is likely contributing to behaviors - We have been able to address a number of things with Vero that I was not able to make much progress on with other trainers - Vero continues to build on what we have learned whereas with other trainers I felt we kept working on the same thing and/or often regressed without much continual progress - Vero is very positive and clear in her communication which is incredibly helpful along the way

I have a parrot and contacted several pet sitting companies looking for someone with bird…read moreexperience. Doggy Lama was the only company that responded that they had staff experienced with birds. Dani came by to meet my bird before my trip and did a wonderful job taking the time to get to know her and understand her needs. Unfortunately, my travel plans changed and I ended up not needing pet sitting services this summer. Even so, I wanted to leave a review because I was so impressed with the company. They were responsive, professional, and genuinely seemed to care about both their clients and their pets. Communication was excellent, and their website made scheduling and payment incredibly easy.

Karin is amazing! She is a true dog whisperer and extremely diligent/ knowledgeable AND hilarious…read morefun throughout the whole process. Our puppy is a rescue with some real issues, she was honest and frank about who he is and provided a path forward. We are forever grateful for her care and support, without her training and mentorship we may not have been equipped to keep our pup. Thank you!!

I wish I had contacted Karin sooner! Don't wait like I did. If you want your puppy on the path to…read moresuccess give Karin a call. She's also very fun to hang out with and you will learn a lot about your puppy and tools and skills for positive behavior training.

Lisbeth is wonderful with our very shy dog. We used her for basic training skills as well as having…read moreher check on our dog while we were out of town. Our dog loves when Lisbeth comes over! We learned a lot about basic training and really enjoyed our sessions

My dog, Bo, and I were walking home one day and Bo would not let me continue to walk because she…read morewas so entranced by seeing Lisbeth working on a small obstacle course with another dog. When my dog pulled me across the street to meet Lisbeth, I learned that she took dogs out for group walks, which was serendipitous for us because I'd just been thinking about looking for someone. The following week, Lisbeth came over to pick up a copy of my keys and since then, she's been picking Bo up twice a week. Lisbeth is trustworthy, reliable, and Bo absolutely loves her. The walks have been a great way for my dog to socialize and the twice-weekly walks have been so helpful as I've returned to work since the pandemic. After two years of being home with her almost all the time, she is finally able to spend more time on her own thanks to Lisbeth's help. Thanks, Lisbeth! So glad we met you!

Our 2 1/2 year old Bernie doodle loves her weekly "dog pack" walks/hikes with Paul and pups. It has…read morebeen a game changer in releasing some of the boundless energy she has. Thanks to the Natural Dog and Paul and Nora!

When we were faced with the possibility of boarding our lab for over a week at one of the big…read morenearby facilities, I was determined to find a better alternative. I wanted somewhere she could feel cozy (not stuck in a kennel for most of the day!) and get plenty of loving attention and exercise. After a few lackluster interviews with sitters I found on our town's facebook group, I got a recommendation for the Natural dog. I was immediately drawn by their pictures of their pack on hikes in hills and appreciated the quick, thorough response I got to my inquiry. We scheduled a trial night to make sure our girl would be a good fit for an extended stay (we loved that they did this check) and I could tell right away from seeing Paul interact with her that she was going to be in good hands - he is definitely a bit of a dog whisperer. While we were away, we got daily photo updates of her living her best life, exploring the trails and snuggling on the couch. It gave us so much peace of mind knowing she was happy and well cared for. We've already booked two return visits :)

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!

Great improvement with Patrick's help!!…read more I have a 3 year old very reactive Maltese dog named Charlie & we did 3 sessions with Patrick and he is very knowledgeable in the dog world. Seen a great improvement after the 1st session as Patrick gives us homework's to help practice with our dog. Patrick makes training enjoyable & comfortable for both the pet and the owners. Would highly recommend training your pups with Patrick! Thank you!

I'm so pleased to be able to update this review from 2010. How time flies!…read more Our dear Penny whom Shasta helped us with back then passed away in 2015. We started working with Shasta again in 2017 when we got our new pup, a border collie rescue. He came to us emaciated and poorly socialized, needing love and positive experiences to bring him out of his shell. Shasta gave us much-needed training advice, and from there her staff started walking Hugo on group walks, which he's done once a week since 2018. He enjoys these walks so much; they provide wonderful socialization experiences. All the treats and training in the world can get a dog so far, but a strong adult with a great pack really helps with confidence-building and calm. Hugo walks with Toni, who send us pictures of him each week with his crew. I can tell that Hugo is happy with Toni and his pack: as we release him to the car (to maintain social distancing), our pup who usually does not like to leave my side will happy run down the stairs to greet him and hop in the car! Shasta also runs Puptown for boarding. We've only needed this service once, but having been in there and knowing Shasta for so many years, I know that this would be a great resource as well. It has been a pleasure seeing Shasta grow this business for over a decade, and watch it continue to provide the same excellent service it did in the beginning. If you need training support, especially with difficult dogs, a weekly walking group, or more, Bow Wow is a great choice. Review from 2010 I love Shasta. She has walked our dog for well over a year. She been amazing. We have worked with four dog walking companies, and Shasta is a cut above. As a handler, Shasta knows dogs and dog behavior. We switched to her when we were having some behavioral problems with our dog at home, especially after walks. Shasta worked closely with Penny and we've seen huge improvements in her behavior. Last year our dog needed surgery; Shasta worked with us on her rehab, and continues to be conservative with her play to ensure that she stays strong. As a business person, Shasta has been great. She handled our initial interview, paperwork, and invoicing professionally. We LOVE her daily dog walk "reports"--these little report cards let us know how our dog was feeling, what she did, and (sorry for the detail) even if and how she pooped! Who could ask for more? Our dog loves Shasta, responds well to her, and behaves well at home after a walk with her. That's what matters most.

This crew... where do I start? Shasta and her team have been walking our dogs since they were…read moremonths old. Now they're in their twilight years, we still feel the same. They are a wonderful team that treats these dogs like their furry children. Shasta and her team have been awesome, helping to transform these loving, high energy dogs to obedient and happily exercised ones. One of our dogs is socially awkward -- he's gotten kicked out of almost every doggy day care in the East Bay. o_O The off-leash hikes are must haves for them and our backyard - you should've seen what these two did before we hired Bow Wow Ventures! They're worth every penny. I'm not kidding when I say our dogs love them. When they hear the truck coming, they're raring to go. And they're the only ones we call when we need to board them. I cannot recommend them enough.

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.

Citizen Canine is the best. That's it. That's the whole truth. They aren't just voted the best by…read morethe community every year. They treat my dog like royalty. They offer training and special care packages. One on one care options and boarding. I could sit here until I reach the maximum character limit glazing their services and the care that they provide. They are also very close to the 880 fwy gas stations and food options so when you pick up your fur baby you can grab gas and dinner on those days you're too tired after work to think. Their fenced in play area has large umbrellas and misters that spray fine mist when it's hot. They love love love dogs here. I have not met one apathetic employee in the years my dog had been coming here. Everyone here is as amazing as these reviews imply. I owe my dog's health and happiness to her weekday daily routine of several walks and play times, baths and other spa day services when she is here. My work lets me bring my dog to work and I still bring her here. They are that beneficial to her wellbeing. All hail Muñeca, queen of chugs!

I can not thank Citizen Canine and Juju the dog trainer enough. Evie, our two year old Sheppard…read morelearned so much attending the academy. She grew leaps and bounds in her confidence. She is so well behaved! We continue to work on her new skills, and are so proud of her growth in such a short time. We highly recommend CC. Thank you!

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!

We took our 3 month old kitten here while we when to Tahoe…read more Let me just tell you, the facility is top notch. Super impressive operation. The owner Pam is super professional and sent us daily updates of our kitty. This is definitely going to be the place we used to board our pets.

I would highly recommend Critter Pet Care to any pet guardian/owner (even guinea pigs!) Their love…read moreof all animals shows from the lush inside arrangements where cats and dogs stay (separately, of course) to updating the yard with new astroturf for dogs to have more fun playing outside. I am sure my dog would agree as shown by him literally starting to whine with anticipation when we get close to the freeway exit. Pam has also been incredibly helpful and understanding while I continue to learn how to raise my very first dog. I also consider her a bit of a cat saint for all the cats she has helped.