To say John at Premier Dog Academy is good, would be an understatement. His knowledge and professionalism superseded my expectations. I had a terrible trainer for a very short time prior, and was hesitant to try someone new. My boy Finn was a crazy Labrador. John taught me how to be in tune with my dog, and I have learned how to be with Finn as a team. I can't express enough gratitude. I'm now educated and Finn still loves going to group class every Saturday after three years with this trainer. FIVE STARS! FIVE STARS! read more

Excellent dog trainer ! Did one on one training , learned a lot . It was my SHIBA first formal training . She did well doing basic obedience. read more

I cannot recommend John's training program enough. I came in with a one-year-old dog GSD mix that was a constant challenge on walks due to intense leash pulling, fearfulness and reactivity toward other dogs. It had reached a point where walks were more stressful than enjoyable, but the transformation we've seen in the last 6 months is nothing short of incredible. Honestly, even after the first couple of sessions there was so much noticeable progress. John's approach was patient, professional, and clearly rooted in a deep understanding of canine behavior & psychology. Not only did he provide effective techniques, proper use of training tools to manage the pulling, but he also gave me the confidence to handle reactive moments. As well as to anticipate any upcoming behavior from my dog. It is still a lot of work that we as the owners need to put in, training just isn't for the dogs but for us as well. But it is so worth it. I am beyond satisfied with the outcome, my dog is now much more confident & focused, and our walks are finally peaceful & enjoyable. I am also able to understand my dog's cues more so I can stay one step ahead of him. If you're struggling with a reactive dog and need some help, John & his program is exactly the help you are looking for. read more

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We have now trained both of our Australian Labradoodles with John from Premier Dog Academy. I will be forever grateful for the strong relationships he's helped me grow with my dogs. I don't think I ever would have understood dog behavior like I do now if it weren't for the patient, articulate, and consistent guidance we were given. He is such a passionate and thoughtful trainer. Thank you John! read more

John is extremely great to work with. He responds quickly to questions and inquiries. He is straightforward and visited us before we signed the contract to see our dog. Our dog is a rescue pug mix and has never been used to socializing, he is very good in the family but barks and chases everyone that comes in and around the house. John knew exactly what our dog needed and gave us options of boarding, private and group classes. I like that the schedule is mindful for those with M-F work schedule. He is particular during classes and corrects mistakes right away and his technique is very efficient, he is patient with dogs and dog owners and we've already seen progress in a few short weeks. Not only he is training the dogs but us dog owners are learning so much to be responsible dog owners. read more

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John j is an amazing trainer. I attended his classes when my pitbull was about 8 months old. He is consistent, professional and really good at what he does. He does have other classes for different trainings and will definitely sign up for those classes. read more

We got a new puppy and thought we could train him on our own. Shorty after he turned a year old he began to show fear in new environments. We found Premier Dog Academy thru a vet recommendation. It was the best fit for our lab. He has grown immensely in his skills and his obedience has completely turned around. He is working on his confidence and we've learned productive ways to drain his high drive. He was doing so good we even tried bringing our 11 year old "lost hope" reactive dog too. I'm amazed at the progress we have been able to make with both dogs. Our reactive girl, has learned to be around other dogs (and people) without lunging and even looks to us because she knows she's not supposed to look at the other dogs. John's training methods are balanced and taught the way a dog understands. I highly recommend him! He definitely knows dog training and loves helping owners have balanced and calm dog. 10/10 call him today!!! read more

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Excellent training at a good value. John is a very professional and effective trainer. No miracles here, you will have to put in the effort of working with your dog to build trust and obedience. read more

My puppy is getting great training here. We are so happy to have signed up with Premier Dog Academy.

my Rottweiler, chop, had a insane transformation in his demeanor and his attitude for the dog training business is great. He helped me be able to control my dog way better than I could within the first 30 minutes of our first session. Pricing is unmatched and you should definitely train your dog with this guy! read more

My wife found John to help us work with our 2yo mini Aussie who just wouldn't listen to us. John has been teaching us how to communicate with our pup. Now we, as owners, understand that our boy just didn't understand what we were trying to communicate. Only after a few sessions, Kona has made giant leaps, and we as owners have too. Can't wait to have my doggie, my wife, and me learn even more. read more

I'm very blessed and fortunate to have found John and Premier Dog Academy. I have a 1.5 y/o Shiba Inu, who is a very loving and wonderful dog, but can also be very stubborn and would not listen to me at times. I was very frustrated with my dog's obedience. I reached out to John and signed up for his board and train for my Shiba. John is very personable, very responsive, a great communicator and truly an expert in his field. He is also very passionate about the work that he does and puts a lot of hard work and care in training. It was very evident that the training paid off when I picked up my dog after 30 days. My dog no longer has issues with pulling on his leash during walks, he listens to me on commands, he is comfortable with staying in a crate for extended periods, he can focus and he no longer chews up my house up. The powerful tool and information that John shared with me is how to correct bad behavior and how to reinforce good behavior. He did this during the transfer of command process and it worked seamlessly. The responsibility is now on me to continue this great progress that John has built up within my dog. I look forward to living harmoniously with my Shiba. 5 stars all around, I cannot thank John enough for all that he's done for us. I highly recommend him to anyone needing dog training services!! read more

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We adopted a doberman pinscher (Itachi) a couple of months ago, and it was very frustrating in the beginning. Excessive barking, counter surfing, leash pulling, reactivity, owning the bed/couch. We tried looking for a solution ourselves because some people say they learned in the internet, but it was not helping at all. We decided to enroll Itachi for a 30-day board and train program. Our doberman came back to us structured, and did not lose his personality from when we first got him. We could tell our dog is starting to build his confidence as we also gain confidence in him that he will not be a harm to other dogs and people. read more

My daughter's godmother gifted her a pit bull. She named her Tyson. After having her for a month, we decided that she should be trained. Tyson was 4 months old. We have busy schedules and did not have the time to train her as much as we've liked. A good friend of mine referred John. I gave him a call to inquire. John was very knowledgeable and professional. After Tyson was fully vaccinated, we scheduled a pick up for board and train (3 weeks) with John. He did an assessment with Tyson, told us what to expect, filled out paperwork , and was open to answering all of our 10,000 questions. John kept us posted through text and Instagram. Once Tyson was ready for pick up, John started the transfer training sessions. We saw a HUGE difference when Tyson was handed back to us. She no longer jumped on top of our 4 year old daughter. She no longer "walked" my 10 year old son. Potty training was established (THANK GOODNESS). Overall, John was always willing to answer our questions. Our kids attended the training sessions with Tyson. Like John says, "you have to be consistent." John is straight forward and a master at his craft. Very thankful to John for all his help and knowledge. We're pretty picky when it comes to finding childcare for our kids. We were picky finding the right trainer for Tyson. Going forward, we will have John train our future dogs. Many thanks! read more

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John is an amazing trainer. My dog Bishop was very hyper before I sent him to Premier Dog Academy, now Bishop and I have a better understanding on how to interact with each other which has enriched our bond! We love taking advantage of the classes on Saturdays and if you put your dog through the academy they offer to board your dog for a killer deal. I couldn't be happier with my experience! read more

Taking my 14 month puppy Nico to Premier Dog Academy was the best investment I had made since I brought him home at 3 months old. The training has exceeded my expectations after Nico boarded with John for a month. Seeing Nico's results first hand is amazing. John is professional, very knowledgeable, and experienced in training dogs. I definitely recommend Premier Dog Academy for anyone wanting a well behaved canine companion. read more

I have a reactive 1.5 year old male labradoodle and have gone through multiple trainers with no results. I have been working with John for 3 sessions for behavior modification and have seen incredible results so far. My dog went from barking and lunging at John to being tolerant to him and is also much more manageable than he was before. We are just in the beginning of the training and have so much more work and progress to go, but results have been great so far. As for John, he is professional, knowledgeable, and very patient with training me and my dog. read more

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John is a knowledgeable and competent trainer. I have a very reactive mini aussie (11 years old) and after she tried to bite my boyfriend the third time, I needed a trainer. John teaches you that dogs are physical creatures and needs physical discipline. He taught me that I babied my dog too much and needed to fix that. We started with a prong collar which I was reluctant to use. But after he taught me how to use it and taught my boyfriend how to handle her.. she's a different dog! John has a great program after personal training, you get to attend his weekly group sessions. Highly recommend! read more

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Before our Belgian Malinois puppy turned a year old, he started training with John at Premier Dog Academy. An 8-weeks extensive training for personal protection. My husband and I were very impressed with how he trained our fur baby- Maverick. He's not dog reactive anymore, and knows exactly what to do when "activated". Maverick gets excited every time he sees John, he knows it's "playtime"!! I highly recommend Premier Dog Academy. John's training techniques & work ethics are amazing. If you want quality training for your furbabies, do not hesitate to contact Premier Dog Academy, you will not regret it!! read more

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We recently acquired a new dog and he needed some training and socialization. We found John through an online search since we have never needed training services with our other dog. I am so glad we brought our dog to him. Toby has become much more calm and relaxed. He listens to us and has a better attention span. He doesn't have as much social anxiety as when we first got him. John offers a variety of services that are tailored to each dog's needs. We chose to have Toby board and train with John. He communicated with us throughout the training about Toby's progress. After we got Toby back, John has guided us in our progress on working with Toby. John really cares about making sure that Toby continues his path of training and has post training group classes to ensure that the dogs he has trained continue on their path to becoming well trained. Thank you so much for your help John! read more

Investment in your dog's training is a commitment, but if you want a professional to train and love your dog The way they deserve, DON'T LOOK ANY FURTHER! John is highly experienced and fully committed to any dog he takes on. He limits the number of dogs in his care at any given time to ensure plenty of 1:1 time with your dog and he cares deeply about their well-being and happiness in the process. Before I found John, my dog Honey had shown some fear aggression towards people she didn't know. She bonds pretty hard to humans she can trust, so I worried greatly about letting her go for a month for training, but John worked overtime to earn her trust and even adjusted her diet when he noticed she got bored with her food towards the end and supplemented it with broth and fresh chicken. John also took additional time with her to smooth out her training before returning her because she took about a week to get to know him. John equipped me upon the transfer back and gave me homework to continue her training so she can be a confident obedient dog for life. Although Honey was very happy to see me again, she was looking for John as we drove off- he truly cares for the dogs he trains and makes sure they have the skills they need to be successful. During our transfer training, I noticed Honey being aware of distractions but still focusing on me for direction instead of getting riled up, aggressive or scared- she's learning to have control- this was a huge relief and win. Can't recommend him more, highly responsive, easy to work with, and so very impressed with his work. Thank you John!! read more

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My partner and I have been working with John for about a year with our BGSD. We had training in the past, and my partner had done his own training with our dog initially. Out of the few other trainers that we have worked with, it was John that really showed us the dynamics of the relationship one needs to have with their dog. We started with the basics and worked our way up, but always including the basic obedience. This is crucial; especially when we began doing protection training. Dog training is not something that needs to be done on the weekends, but daily in order to ensure your pup is always ready. Including obedience into the bite work allows me to have the upper hand and getting my dog to do what I need him to do right then and there. With any concern we have about our dog, John has taken the time out to explain, address and give us the tools to fix it. When we left the state, he boarded our dog and took care of him. John is the only person I would trust should both my partner and I be out of state. Everything John shows you, he is giving you the tools to incorporate and have your dog be the best version of themselves. It is challenging, but this is the commitment that comes with owning pets. Especially dogs that are stigmatized, I work as hard as I do in order to protect myself and him in a worst-case scenario with another animal/human. John has given me those tools to protect myself and to teach my dog how to protect me. I am beyond grateful to have met him -- invest into training your pup to set you both up for success!! read more

If you want effective training for your pooch, look no further. John has been great with training my energetic 4 month lab and & training us as well. We are learning so much and every session we have is so exciting and informative. We always look forward to it! We get compliments on how well behaved our puppy is and we couldn't have done it without Premiere K9 dog training. Thank you John! read more

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John's academy is one of the best dog training services I've encountered. Before coming here I had three failed services with my dog who experienced trauma. John understands the psychology of the human dog connection and both are transformed through positive reinforcement growth and learning. It's an absolute investment worthy of time and resources. I recently had them board and train my second fur.baby and as a result both dogs are thriving and obedient. read more

We are so grateful that we found John! Before training with John, we were struggling to train our 1.5 year old mini aussie, Tilly. We had gone to multiple trainers, but never saw much progress with her. She is such a sweet and smart dog but was extremely reactive toward other dogs when on leash and had recently started to bark at people she didn't know. Bringing her out for walks or out in public was always so stressful, because we constantly had to scan for other dogs passing by and do our best to create distance or distract her. My back was also hurting every time we walked her, because she was pulling so hard on the leash! We did four private lessons with John, where he trained us on the basics of his training program and helped her gain confidence around another dog in a controlled environment. Just in those four private lessons we saw a huge amount of progress in Tilly and saw a boost in her confidence. When we concluded the private lessons, John invited us to join the group classes, which we have continued to go to just about every weekend. This has really cemented in the skills and it has been a HUGE benefit for Tilly to be around so many new dogs each week. We (Tilly included) look forward to group lessons every weekend and each week she is becoming more and more obedient and happy. I can happily report that Tilly can now, walk politely by our side on leash and pass a dog on a walk without reacting, which is something that I never thought was possible before we met John! Gone are the days of crossing the street every time we see a dog in the distance. She's also gotten so much better with stay and recall. I cannot recommend John enough and if you commit to a training program with him, you're guaranteed to have a happier pup. read more

Premier Dog Academy - Tilly practicing socialization in private classes. This was our last private class and she had gradually worked up to this! - Pet Training Near Me

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John is good with disciplining dogs. We took several private lessons with him and my dog picked up all the tricks read more

If you're looking for a knowledgeable, trustworthy and reliable dog trainer, John is the guy. I have a 15 month old Cane Corso, and I always thought he was a stubborn dog who wouldn't listen. It wasn't until after the first obedience training session; I realized my dog wasn't stubborn. My dog was stubborn because I lacked giving clear instructions. After the first obedience training session, my dogs attitude changed. He walks nice on the leash, sits and downs on command, knows place, come and heel. We've only done 4 training sessions and Capo is already a different dog. John is the type of trainer who trains you the handler, and not the dog. He will tell you everything you need to know during his training sessions. His methods of training are clear, concise and straight to the point. John does a phenomenal job explaining his training techniques and why it's effective. If you're looking for a dog trainer, look no further! read more

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We have found John to be professional, knowledgeable, and very patient in helping us with training our dog. He is clearly experienced with dog training and we have been learning a lot from him. read more

We got a mini Aussie Sheppard puppy around the time of Covid lockdown. Because of this our puppy didn't get proper socialization. We were able to reach our dogs simple commands. After lock down was lifted and small gatherings were approved we noticed that our dog wasn't as welcoming to strangers as he was to us. It was difficult to have guest over, or even go out in public. He was anxious around people and animals. He barked at everyone who didn't live in the house. He barked at everyone in the dog park. He wanted to be carried when we walked in strip malls. He never bit anyone but we were scared that he would. Some strangers didn't hesitate to dog shame us because they just assumed we had uncontrollable loud bad dog. It was upsetting to hear the comments they would say around us. We have a very loving and smart dog, we just couldn't fix his insecurity and reactiveness. We were unsure that anyone could help us. A family member recommended John from Premier Dog Academy . When we contacted him, he responded right away. We were able to set up a meet and greet. During this first meeting, he was able to gain control of Our dog's leash. By the end of the first meeting, our dog was not only tolerating John standing next to him, he was walking along side following his lead. Our dog was still anxious and would intermittently try to break away from the patient dog trainer. We opted for the board and train. Our dog stayed with John for approximately a month. John would update us and also post videos on the traing progress. When we got our dog back, there were considerable changes with our dog. John showed us what our dog learned. He was able to control his reactivity. He followed commands with distraction. He still had some separation anxiety and would cry if I walked 10 ft away from him. Before I couldn't even walk 2 steps without the dog going crazy. After John showed us what our dog learned , he taught us ( through a couple private lessons) we had to learn and reinforce what our dog learned during his board and care. The group training class is part of the package. It's essential to reinforce the new learned behavior. It takes time and commitment to reinforce good habits and break bad ones, so the owner has to commit. Just like everything else in life, there's maintenance and effort. John trained our dog, he's giving us the tools to reinforce it so that all that effort and money doesn't go to waste. We look forward to doing the group classes. Our dog can continue to train with other dogs in a safe and controlled environment. Thanks John. read more

John has been an amazing help with my 2 year old cattle dog rescue. John responded to my first inquiry call and was at my house within the hour to assess my dog. We did the first session right then, and I knew he was the right trainer for me. I was overwhelmed with the energy of my dog, but John showed me how to capture that energy, and utilize it in training. My dog also showed some signs of reactivity, which John has helped with a lot, including joint lessons to socialize, and teaching me the proper way to approach his reactivity. He is happy to answer any questions that I have during training as well outside of training sessions. It's obvious that John genuinely cares about the dogs improvement. He also put an emphasis on teaching me how to train my dog which is very valuable. I'm so much more confident in my dog and in myself as a trainer after my classes with John. I can't recommend him enough. read more

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The skills we've learned from John are truly life-changing. For the first two years of her life, I couldn't bring my dog out of the house or around other people because she was unruly and very energetic. It was always stressful. After just a month of dog training with John, I can confidently bring my dog out in public without worrying about her jumping on people or making a scene. The difference is like night and day. My dog has definitely learned basics of obedience. More importantly, I have learned how to effectively communicate with my dog! I only wish I would have signed up sooner. All dog owners owe it to their dogs and to themselves to get dog training like this! I was referred by a friend, and I hope to refer many more friends in the future. read more

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We have a Pekingese Pomeranian mix. Before he went to training he was very stubborn and had a lot of reactivity issues. My husband and I decided that we needed outside help when he started to show aggression towards other family members. We will be welcoming a baby this fall so we knew we had to get these issues under control. We did some research on yelp and found John. He is very knowledgeable and really takes the time to access your dogs issues. After Gabanna's initial evaluation, John recommended that he attends a 4 week board and train program at his facility. During those 4 weeks Gabanna learned how to correctly walk on a collar, down stay commands as well as worked on his reactivity and aggression. At first Gabanna was reluctant to listen to John, but with John's continued patience and knowledge Gabanna began to show progress within the second week. John kept us updated with videos and was available to answer any of our concerns during Gabanna's entire stay. Gabanna recently completed his board and train program and we were shocked to see the difference in how he behaved. Gabanna now listens to commands and does not show reactivity or aggression. I am so happy to have found John to help with Gabanna's issues. We will recommend him to all of our friends and family members that are experiencing dog issues. We are looking forward to attending group classes with John to continue Gabanna's training. read more

Premier Dog Academy - Gabanna practicing down stay on his training box - Pet Training Near Me

John is an amazing dog trainer.Yoda improved by miles. He is one the very best in the Bay Area. read more

Premier Dog Academy - John with Yoda - Pet Training Near Me

We signed up for obedience training for our 7 month old puppy, Nikita. Seeing that this is our first time doing professional dog training, we wanted to be careful who we picked as our trainer. After looking at reviews and comparing other options like the cheap classes at petsmart, we are so glad we picked John! Each class is about an hour - and a lot of practice is jammed into each session. The first several sessions were 1:1 until our puppy progressed and we started doing a small group session with another dog handler. Our puppy has improved so much from being terrible on the leash and not listening to having good leash etiquette, knowing how to heel, sit, come, lay down, and focus on us when there are distractions. Not only is she more well behaved but she has bonded to us in a deep way. Part of that is due to the agility training John has us complete during each class as well. John's methodology is very sound, and you can really tell he cares about the dog's progress and the bond between the handler and their dog. The cherry on top is how fun he makes each class for everyone involved! Worth every penny!! read more

Our family had a unique or maybe a common family issue. I wasn't so keen on adding a four-legged family member, but the rest of the family was. I was firm that everyone needed to be on board and have solid training so the puppy knew how to behave. After a looooong search we got a VERY energetic chihuahua-dachshund mix. he sensed the beta in me and that created a lot of tension in there house. I knew I had to find a trainer to help us or else we could not keep him. Thats where I landed on John's Yelp page and seeing all his great reviews, I reached out to a warm and re-assuring conversation. We were had already planned a week vacation and so we thought this would be the best time to do some board and training. 3 weeks was the recommended time frame John advised and it was worth every penny (very affordable). John posted videos on IG when he trained with him and it was jaw dropping!!! So well behaved and well behaved with other dogs as well. After the 3 weeks, it was over there! We had 1:1 training with every family member and John was so patient. We plan on continuing with all of John's advanced training when we solidify initial leash training!! Highly recommend!! read more

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Premier Dog Academy has a world class service for dog training. I'm so glad i got reconnected with the owner John, this guy is so passionate about his work. We had our 5 month old doberman, karma go to their 6 weeks - in kennel basic to advance training and super happy with the results. I highly recommend John if you need a trust worthy dog trainer. Thank you John! from the Family. We appreciate you! read more

Premier Dog Academy - Karma - Pet Training Near Me

I used John's in-kennel 4 week obedience training for my dog Nala. She was a quarantine puppy and didn't have a lot of socialization with other dogs or anyone outside of our house, and was hard to control whenever we would take her out. After her 4 week training, I can see a huge difference! First off, John did an amazing job keeping me updated on her progress. And during her pick-up, he gave a whole lesson on how to reinforce the training she had received, answering all of the questions I had - which were a lot. Now that we're at home, I feel prepared to continue to reinforce what she learned. I can't wait to continue training her with John! read more

Premier Dog Academy - Pet Training Near Me

We got ourself a Giant Schnauzer puppy (Vader) and being this a very large breed we wanted to make sure he's well trained and social, so after all my research decided to go with Premier Dog Academy and it was the best decision. Since the very first interview John was very clear on the process for both, Us and the puppy. Vader is almost six months now and is amazing how much he has learned and me too :) . John is very professional and very committed to the dog's training. One of the things I like most about John is his patience with the owners and the time he takes to explain why a specific exercise is the way it is. Would recommend Premier Dog Academy to any one, eyes closed. read more

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I wish I can give more than 5 stars. 1 month of training with John made my life easy. Ollie WAS an aggressive 1 yr old German shepherd , who barks at people and dogs uncontrollably. I get frustrated every time we do our daily walks, leash pulling was the problem. John assessed my dog , he spent time explaining to me the problems and personalities my dog had. He gives me updates, videos almost everyday. If I have questions, he responds to me right away. He patiently corrected all the bad habits Ollie had. NOW, Ollie is so amazing! She is well behaved that she follows all my commands. We went for a walk and she didn't even pull me! It is so overwhelming that this is the beginning of our good times together. I am Looking forward to many great adventures with Ollie. JOHN, You are the man! Thank you for all the help AND I really appreciate all the effort I highly recommend to everyone!!!! HOME SWEET HOME OLLIE read more

John has been working with my German Shepard Hennessey since she was 10 months she attended his 5week boarding training program. John is patient and knowledgeable with his training for dogs. My family and I have learned a lot. John not only teaches four legs friends but he also teaches us humans how to control, discipline and praise our dog. I highly recommend Premier Dog Academy for all your dog needs. Thank you John read more