Buster is so chill on walks now! It's amazing! Thank you Real Dog Academy for all your help with training, care, and encouragement! Bravo!!!! read more

Derek is amazing and a wealth of knowledge. His methods are practical and effective. I learned a lot in an afternoon and ended the day feeling much better about how to control my dog. I would recommend Real Dog Academy to anyone who wants to improve their relationship with their pet. read more

I called Drake after I realized my new puppy was quite a handful! He listened to my concerns and was very professional in his advice. Rocky was nippy at us, and that is unacceptable behavior. He seldom nips now, and if he does, I know how to handle it. Rocky, is now almost 5 months old, and with Drakes direction & training, he's getting so much easier to co exist with! He sits, lays ( most of the time), fetches, etc. He's got a way to go, but, he's a puppy! Thank you, Drake! We will continue to train with you. read more

Real Dog Academy - Rocky after a training session. - Pet Training Near Me

We cant say enough Good things about Drake. He has helped us tremendously with our 2 new rescues. They each came with their own set of issues and we were extremely impressed the way he interacted with each dog based on their individual needs. He definitely knows what he is doing and has put us on the right path so our little ones will have the happy and full life they are so deserving of. Thank you so much Drake read more

Real Dog Academy - Cooper & Lexi - Pet Training Near Me

Real Dog Academy is a top notch training experience for dog and owner alike. We learned invaluable techniques for interacting with our dog, and our dog was always eager to learn. I highly recommend this business. read more

Real Dog Academy is a five-star business on all-levels. My wife and I are forever grateful to Drake for the expert training he provided us. We have two large-breed dogs who are lovable and kind, and yet presented significant leash aggression after they were attacked on a walk by another dog. We had also never trained our dogs on total recall--so that they weren't 100% when off their leashes--something we feared could get them hurt once again. Drake, the owner of Real Dog Academy, is nothing less than amazing. He has both a deep practical knowledge of dog training as well as a compassionate natural intuition for canine behavior. He worked with kindness and precision to train both us and the dogs. Subsequently to our training services, we have also used Drake as an invaluable border for the dogs. If you are someone like us that does not feel comfortable leaving your animals in a large kennel with strangers you barely know and have not screened--then look to Drake to care for your dogs when you are away. Our dogs are part of our family--and we wouldn't trust them with anyone we did not consider a friend. While Drake started out as a trainer to us, we now consider him a trusted friend. Having worked with three previous trainers--none compare to him. Drake and Real Dog Academy are unsurpassed in excellence. I recommend Real Dog Academy with the utmost confidence and enthusiasm. If you are reading this review because you need an expert and compassionate dog trainer or border, then look no further. With full assurance, Real Dog Academy is who you should call. read more

So grateful for Drake as a trainer and walker!!! He's got a reputation - He's the guy that OTHER walkers/trainers refer clients to when they don't know how to handle a dog they're working with - including mine! Drake was referred to me by another dog walker who couldn't handle Tia. I first called Drake to do a training session and told him all the things I was worried about - distracted around other dogs, lunging towards other dogs, etc. The first training place he picked was Lake Merritt on a weekend where there are TONS of dogs. Before this, I always walked across the street when I saw other dogs. By the end of a little over an hour, Tia was lying down just casually, letting other dogs pass by. I tried many group sessions with other trainers prior to this but still never felt confident enough to practice with Tia in such a busy setting. A lot of other trainers would give tips that sometimes seemed more appropriate for a small/medium dog (Tia is 60 lbs, I'm 110lbs - "no pull" harnesses and martingale collars were not cutting it). Drake was so much more relatable because he has so much experience with big dogs and small. I seriously give this guy so much credit for giving me the tools and confidence to work with Tia. Training now is actually fun and not daunting! I can now take Tia to trips on hikes, walks around the lake, breweries, etc. multiple times a week! Tia now also gets to hang out with Drake on a weekly basis and even has her own "pack." Since I've been able to better train with her and her walks with Drake, there's been a HUGE change in her behavior for the better! Can't believe I used to think she would not be able to be around other dogs! read more

Real Dog Academy - That's my Tia on the left with the pack - she's quite a handful but has been so much better since we met Drake! - Pet Training Near Me

Drake is awesome!! We brought our 2 dogs here for the first time past weekend and he was great with them! He was also very observant with how we interacted with them and was able to give us some useful training tips. read more

Drake is an amazing dog trainer! We called him because our four month old puppy was having some food guarding issues and growled when the kids pet him too much. Drake was personable and friendly and showed a true love for animals and helping people work with their dogs. While he worked with us he explained exactly what we needed to know to understand the reasons for the behavior and how to work on it with confidence. We saw immediate results and were able to get our kids involved in the training too. We highly recommend Real Dog Academy to anyone with a dog! read more

Drake came to our house today. He was such a great help with our English Cream Retiever. Pearl is very submissive. Drake was able to address the problems. He trained us and her. I highly recommend him. He knows dogs and their behaviors. read more

Drake is the best. We feel so lucky to have found him. Our dog Gordon is a bit of a handful but he doesn't seem to phase Drake at all. He has worked with Gordon and us in our home several times and we notice a real change in Gordon's behavior. As other people's reviews state, he knows his stuff. His flexibility, professionalism and attitude make him a delight to work with. And on top of all that, he's a hell of a nice guy. It's a big deal giving someone a key to your home to take your pet out while you're not around and I could not be happier about Drake being that person. read more

We're so glad we found Drake. He takes our dog out every day, and we use him for boarding when needed. He's reliable, responsible, flexible, and fantastic with our dog, who can be a bit troublesome sometimes. We trust him with our beloved beast, and with a key to our home. read more

We first learned about real dog adventures on yelp. Drake is absolutely wonderful; personable professional and reliable. He even pointed out a potential health issue that I can consult a veterinarian about. He's very good with dogs and made us feel completely at ease. Coconut (our dog) obviously had a good time as she went straight to bed as soon as we got home. She's not an easy one to wear out. Not expensive at all -- as a matter of fact I'd call it a good deal. I will absolutely go back and recommend him highly. The other 4 previous reviews here are completely spot-on. read more

I couldn't be happier with Drake as our dog trainer, walker and friend. He has changed our crazy grey hound / lab mix into a loving companion who I can now take on walks. Drake has a special connection with our dog and we are so appreciative for his efforts! I definitely recommend Drake and Real Dog Adventures and am happy to serve as a reference anytime. read more

We've used Drake for 3+ years for walks and boarding. As others have already said he's everything you want in someone caring for your pets: flexible, professional, trustworthy, friendly, etc. etc. etc. read more

Drake is one of my dog's favorite people. Bernie, my 2 year old Aussie knows when he sees Drake he is going on an adventure. He leaps into his vehicle with enthusiasm. Not all dog care professionals provide this type of service. My dog is young and loves to run. On all of the outings with Drake, Bernie gets to go to new places and be off leash in EB parks. Bernie returns from his adventures happy and well behaved - drained of energy and ready to go home. This is a great service and I highly recommend it for owners of young dogs. read more

After being told by our initial walker to go somewhere else, Drake has absolutely come through for our black lab puppy. She is a real handful and sometimes can be pain to deal with. Drake has actively worked with us over the last 3 months and is always available to chat and check in with. He continues to advise us on how to modify our training techniques and talks with me on the phone in the evenings about twice a month, for 30min if need be. We have found a partner to work with, and our dog is happier for it. He exhibits very good command and calm control of our dog and she responds very well to his guidance and walking regimen. He is simply a really nice guy who is professional, qualified and takes his job seriously. Taking his advice on training modifications has worked out very well and we feel like we have found a good partner for helping to raise our puppy, who is admittedly a handful and will be for some time to come. read more