I purchased my first Great Dane in September 2025. At nine months old he was 135 pounds - and I am…read moreonly 120 pounds! My dog (Goliath) and I needed some serious training so I did not get dragged. Bill worked with us for 6 weeks (1 x per week) and he was truly amazing. He was firm and compassionate. Goliath had the utmost respect for Bill and did what he asked. Every week we met, Goliath became more of a pleasure than a puppy pain-in-the-a@##! I've had dogs forever and have worked with several trainers. By far, Bill is the most knowledgeable and effective trainer I've ever known. I am now confident in taking Goliath anywhere and having him remain obedient. I can take him on walks without using the claw collar - something I thought I'd never be able to do. Bill makes himself available after training ends in case further help in needed. I would strongly recommend Bill - he is worth every penny.

I also want to share how impressed I am with Bill's ongoing support. After making great progress,…read moreone of my dogs had a setback and took a step in the wrong direction. Instead of leaving us to figure it out on our own, Bill continued to offer guidance, answer questions, and provide additional support until we were back on track again. His commitment to our success went far beyond the initial training. As a result of the confidence and skills we gained through working with Bill, my daughter decided to enter her dog in a 4-H Dog Show. We were thrilled when she placed in the competition! It was a wonderful experience and a testament to the progress both our dog and our family have made. We are extremely grateful for Bill's continued encouragement and dedication. Knowing that he is there to help when challenges arise has made all the difference. We highly recommend Bill and Sierra K9 to anyone looking for not only excellent training, but also exceptional ongoing support.

We worked with Susanna with our recent rescue pit mix. She is very experienced, kind and clearly…read moreloves dogs. She also helped us practice training behaviors and provided handouts for reinforcement. Highly recommended!

We adopted our one-year-old rescue lab, Duncan, about two years ago. He was very friendly, strong…read moreand very "active". We decided to get some professional help and interviewed several trainers in the area. Susanna quickly rose to the top based on her attitude, personality and credentials. We started with a few private lessons then transitioned to her group classes. Susanna's classes are well planned, safe, and appropriate for all types of dog personalities. Duncan quickly progressed through her AKC Good Citizen basic and advanced classes and loves to demonstrate his new skills. Duncan enjoys his weekly day at their "Dog Day Camp" and comes home very happy and tired! He also has enjoyed his stays when he has been boarded with The Canine Coach and again comes home a happy camper. Recently Duncan went through a background check, observation and testing regimen with the national Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) and is now a credentialed Therapy Dog. He will soon be visiting medical facilities, schools, first responder facilities and the court house. This honor is due largely to Duncan's ongoing relationship with The Canine Coach. While there are a number of canine services in the area, you won't do better than The Canine Coach.

I have a very active Bernedoodle puppy and the pack integration has had such a positive impact on…read moremy dog. One of the owners has really helped me figure out solutions and my pup is so well socialized and can really play with all puppies and dogs. My dog transformed from a landshark to a loving pup within the first 2 visits. I highly recommend to family, friends and others. The owner truly cares about dogs and makes sure new dogs integrate well with the pack. Basic obedience is scheduled. I am sure it's going to be great!!!

Lauren, Adam and staff go above and beyond for the dogs in their care. They interact with the dogs…read moreand also make sure the dogs are interacting well with each other. Our Lab, Luka loves his time here and we have complete peace of mind when we board him here knowing that he's well cared for ALWAYS!!

As I've moved around Northern California, I've been able to continue classes with Georgeanne. I've…read moretaken 4 dogs through her class starting at Santa Clara Dog Training Club. Georgeanne was one of my first instructors, and waaaay back then, many of the instructors were still using force training like pushing dogs into downs and sits. I can get any 8 week old puppy into a sit in 2 seconds so on earth would you ever need to push an adult dog into a down? Georgeanne was before her time, using praise and allowed her students to bring treats to reward the dogs-but, she's not a cookie pusher trainer. I learned a lot from Georgeanne and was able to show my dog in obedience which in a million years I never thought I would, or could because my dog didn't like being close to other dogs. After her classes, my dog learned to ignore other dogs and pay attention to me 100% of the time. A lot of trainers are set in their ways, and if you don't do it their way, then they don't like you as a student. I've quit many classes because of that. Georgeanne is different. She's sweet, patient, and never judges you. She'll also be honest with you. My last dog was pretty wild, and wasn't ready to go off leash for heeling. Georgeanne will tell you when is the right time for your dog to go off leash heeling and recalls. Nothing worse than having a loose dog disrupting the entire class. Georgeanne is talented trainer and also a good people person.

We highly recommend Georganne . While my training experience was some time ago, it has proven to…read morebe the best decision I made concerning our Dobie. It is truly a pleasure to have a dog so well behaved. Her expertise not only as a trainer but judge has been most valuable . He earned a CGC and TDI CERT.

I have taken 3 dogs through Top Dog. My older dog is very reactive, the classes gave him confidence…read moreand focus. My 2 young dogs are currently going through classes and are doing AMAZING! Lori always puts the dogs needs and emotions first. I highly recommend these classes!

It is great to have a great trainer when you adopt a puppy! Lori is extremely helpful with all…read moreaspects of dog obedience. She generously shares her knowledge and makes sure you get it.

I have every confidence in Empire Kennels that my two Chihuahuas are very well cared for every time…read morethey stay. One of my dogs has food allergies and I've never had a problem with them being aware of that and feeding only what I provide. it's a great place for your fur babies.

I'm super confused about all the good reviews but maybe I'm missing something? I went to drop my…read moredog off for the first time and asked to see the facilities. Its just like a shelter. Dog are not exercised and expected to go the bathroom in one half of the kennel. I asked when they go outside and she said they don't so I left with my dog. This is a super stressful environment for a dog with the close quarters and all the barking plus no exercise. When I called to make the reservation I was told all the dogs got one on one time. The staff person said they are only taken out of the kennel once per day while they clean it in the morning and that's it. No walks, playtime, etc unless they have "downtime," which she said they wouldn't because it was too busy. The staff I dealt with was super kind and understood my concerns. I won't be back.

We had Anna out for our first session yesterday. She was AMAZING. Our dogs learned so much in…read morejust one session - but also, so did us humans. We've always had door greeting chaos. She showed us the best ways to work on calming things down when visitors arrive, and also provided ways our children can help be involved training - and making sure our dogs are responding to small children in appropriate ways. She had so much knowledge to share, and seemed to pick up on their personalities very quickly. I am so grateful we were able to get on her calendar so quick after her year of traveling. We will definitely be referring her to anyone we know looking for a dog trainer. Hank and Waffles look forward to their next session.

Anna was seriously the best! We have peen putting off training our little pittie puppy who we love…read moreto pieces, but isn't the best behaved dog (jumps, barks, doesn't listen, is scared of a lot of stuff), and we were nervous we had waited too long. Anna gave us so many tools that our girl ACTUALLY responded to. She brought out the sweet dog that we see all the time, but others don't because of how excited and anxious she gets over everything. We learned a ton about reading body language and how to help build our dogs confidence so she can enjoy more of this world. Anna was super funny and was constantly teaching us things about our dogs and how to read them and reminding us that we are doing good! Not once did we feel judged or insecure about anything. we look forward to our next training session!

Amanda is an exceptional boarder. We know that our dog, Sully, is always in the best hands. Amanda…read moresends us daily pictures and videos in which we can see Sully is ridiculously happy playing and running around with the other dogs. In addition to treating Sully like a part of the family, we also know Amanda is highly qualified and experienced in case something happens. We never worry about Sully and he is always super excited when we arrive and immediately ditches us to go play with his friends (aka the best feeling ever for us)! We trust Amanda to take care of Sully the same way we do and we are so glad we have found her.

I was lucky to discover Sama Dog when looking for a place to board my 17-month-old Cavapoo near…read moreNevada City. Every other option consisted of kennels with scheduled exercise and social breaks. At Sama Dog my Sparky was quickly and easily incorporated into the home life of Amanda and Renee and their two dogs, Violet and Bennie. Amanda listened carefully to my concerns and desires for Sparky as he had recently been experiencing significant separation anxiety with all the changes in our lives. She sent me daily videos and messages. Sparky slept in the bed with her and Renee as he is used to sleeping with me. She worked on methods to calm his barking and anxiety. She makes healthy dog biscuits which he loves. I could tell her attention and care was focused on Sparky's well-being. It was if he was away at a private camp. Sama Dog is any pet owner's dream and source of peace-of-mind. Sparky ended up staying 8 nights due to extenuating circumstances. When I picked him up he was clean, healthy and very happy. His barking and anxiety has noticeably lessened. I am so grateful for Amanda. I can 100%, unequivocally recommend Sama Dog to any pet owner!!

We are regular customers of Sue Lester and Susan Murphy. They both take the time to explain…read morethings, are skilled and kind. The help is skilled and very approachable. No complaints, but if we could give them eight stars we would. Joan, Michael and Morty

We have a male rat terrier that we couldn't get to see a vet because he was so fearful from past…read morevet experiences in another state when we were traveling. We live in Grass Valley now and Four Paws clinic has excellent veterinarians and a nurse who specializes in trauma dog handling. We now can bring our dog there without so much stress for him and ourselves.

We just graduated from the six-week Basic Obedience class with Take the Lead Canine Coaching, and…read morewe couldn't be happier with our experience! Taylor is truly amazing at what she does. She gives clear, easy-to-follow instruction and shares so many helpful tips for working with your puppy both in class and at home. Each week focused on a new skill, and it was incredible to watch not only Olive, but every dog in the class, grow by leaps and bounds over just six weeks. By graduation, the dogs were confidently heeling, sitting, staying, lying down, and coming when called--such important foundation skills for raising a well-mannered, confident dog. We are so thankful for Taylor and Ashley for their knowledge, encouragement, and dedication. We highly recommend Take the Lead Canine Coaching to anyone looking for quality training and support. We're excited to continue our journey with Olive and can't wait to start the Intermediate Obedience class!

I can't say enough good things about the dog training and the trainer Taylor who I refer to as "The…read moreDog whisper". My dog has made incredible progress in such a short time.The training methods are positive, effective, built on trust and easy to follow. Every class felt supportive, encouraging and the way they explain everything makes it easy to practice at home. If you are on the fence about training, this is absolutely worth it. It's made a world of difference for both myself and my rescue dog Ozzy. My dog has graduated Basic Training from Take the Lead and is already signed up for the Intermediate classes in two weeks.