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

When we were faced with the possibility of boarding our lab for over a week at one of the big nearby 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 :) read more

I am so happy to have found Paul and Nora at the Natural Dog. We were nervous about finding dog boarding that would work with Count Chocula, our pit/chow/beagle mix (we did a DNA test!). He was so used to hanging out on our couch so I didn't want him to locked up at a doggy hotel. They definitely came to the rescue. They are so good with him and all the other dogs! It was always a treat to find a new photo of him on his "doggy vacation" with Paul and Nora while we were away. They were also incredibly careful with him when he was injured - giving him medicine and limiting his movement. It really put us at ease. Your dog will be treated like a member of the family when they stay with them! read more

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Paul and Nora have been instrumental in helping us raise our high energy Ridgeback puppy over the past 3 years. Our puppy was a handful before we started the daily walks with Paul. Paul made a huge difference, our doggie went from being shy with people and dogs to being fully comfortable with both. We are extremely grateful to have met Paul and Nora, we highly recommend them. They are wonderful people, that truly care about the wellbeing of our furry family members. read more

I can't express how grateful I am for Nora and Paul (The Natural Dog). In the last three plus years they've been walking Lucy, they have been extremely reliable, excellent at communicating, amazing with the dogs AND they treat my dog Lucy like their own on the pack walks and when she boards with them. Lucy loves her hikes with them, and I love that Lucy does her happy prance every day when she returns. Also, Paul has helped me with Lucy's training - getting over her separation anxiety, and other challenges since when I adopted Lucy 3 years ago. I appreciate their perfect mix of professionalism and thoughtful, caring and kind approach. read more

The Natural Dog - Happy pup on a hike with The Natural Dog - Dog Walkers Near Me

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Riley--our now 8 year old Goldendoodle--has practically been "raised" by Paul and Nora. Nora started walking her when she was a puppy and we have been connected to them ever since as our dog walkers and boarding choice. With careers and travel, it was so important to us to find a reliable dog walker. But Nora and Paul are SO far beyond that. We just love them. They are professional, knowledgeable, trustworthy and deeply caring. They have helped us to navigate some health crises with our dog and care about her as much as we do! We recently moved and we miss our daily connections with Nora but are still staying connected as our first choice for dog boarding. They are the best, truly! read more

I dropped my dog with Nora and Paul for 5 days and they exceeded my expectations, my dog did not want to say good bye and he is a Momma's boy. They made sure I felt comfortable and confident leaving my dog with them and I did, on top of that I received daily picture updates of my pup. He came home straight to bed. I highly recommend using The Natural Dog for boarding your pup, they love dogs. read more

We feel so lucky to have found Nora and Paul when we joined the neighborhood. Our dog loves her daily walks and gets over the moon excited when they come to grab her. Great communication, easy to work with, reliable, knowledgeable. You can tell they truly care for the the dogs they work with like their own. Highly recommend! Thank you Natural Dog read more

Our pup Bernard has been walking with Nora and Paul for awhile now, and he loves loves loves it! We had some behavioral issues early on with Bernard. Paul went above and beyond to send us lots of helpful information to aid our training. We've also boarded Bernard with The Natural Dog on more than one occasion when we've been out of town. Such an easy experience, knowing that our pup was with a family that really cares about him! read more

The Natural Dog - Bernard in his Natural Dog habitat. - Dog Walkers Near Me

Paula and Nora are amazing! I'm also a dog pro and here's why I highly recommend them: when I see them out on the trails, I have the upmost respect for how they handle their dogs. The dogs are treated with patience, respect, and they really keep everyone safe and well socialized. They're very engaged with the dogs. I have sent clients their way for walks and boarding and they have all come back with glowing reviews! read more

5 stars is NOT enough for Paul and Nora at The Natural Dog! I am submitting 10 STARS! Think I'm exaggerating? Think again. They have been boarding and walking (and a bit of training) our beloved Molly a Golden Retriever for close to 7 years since she was a pup. They have loved her and cared for her like she was their own. They are super dependable, and Molly just loves them both so much. People, if you need someone to take care of your doggie, then contact The Natural Dog and you will quickly see why 10 stars just barely reaches high enough. Oh, and during these covid days, they are very safe and trustworthy to take all precautions to make sure you are safe also. And if your dog needs any training, they are the best at that as well. read more

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Awesome service! We and our dog Molly love Natural Dog! Our 7 year old do has been going on walks with them since she was one. She knows when it's time for them to pick her up and waits excitedly by the door. She was a timid, anxious pup, but with Paul and Nora's gentle supportive work, she's grown into a happy, confident, healthy, well-socialized dog. They treat every dog as their own. Molly also LOVES boarding at their house--they take such good care of her. 'can't say enough positive stuff about Natural Dog! read more

Paul is awesome, and he's been the key to us getting a handle on our difficult dog. A little over a year ago, my wife and I adopted a stray border collie mix. While being the sweetest guy, he's also an extremely anxious dog. That meant: howling while being left alone in a room for just a few seconds, barking out of fear and being out of control on a leash at pretty much anything in sight, and plenty of other crazy stuff. Junior is without a doubt the hardest dog we've had, and we considered bringing him back to the shelter a number of times, as we just couldn't handle it. We decided we needed a dog walker, and found Paul online. He was passionate on the phone, and quickly came over to meet Junior. He acknowledged Junior's "quirks," as he has a dog with similar challenges. He started taking Junior on pack walks, and it's been a real transformation for him. Not only does he get a walk, but Paul uses this time to teach all the dogs in the pack how to behave. They have a lot of fun but also get some structured discipline at the same time. Since then, we've had some private classes with Paul, and we board both of our dogs with Paul and Nora when we are away. Paul is always happy to discuss challenging situations that we've encountered and suggests training techniques to help us out. Thanks to Paul, Junior is a changed dog. We can now have him off leash in the park. He comes back immediately when called, and he's a much calmer dog. A couple of weeks back, I got complimented twice about how well behaved a dog I had at the park, and given where we started, it's nothing short of amazing. We trust Paul 100% with both of our dogs, and I can't count the number of times my wife says "thank god we have Paul." And we're not religious! read more

Paul is pretty magical with dogs. We adopted a 3-year-old Australian cattle dog, Smokestack Lightning, who is great but definitely had some quirks. He pulled on his leash, lunged at and asserted his dominance over other dogs, and freaked out at bikes, buses, motorcycles, and garbage trucks. We were pretty unequipped at handling Smokey. But Paul has helped us turn things around. Paul took care of Smokey for hour days. He sent us pictures of Smokey playing with other dogs and just hanging out. He had the best time! When we came back, we did a training session with Paul. Paul taught us how to use a prong collar and really communicate with Smokey. Just one session has really helped us with his training. Now we feel comfortable bringing Smokey to friend's houses where he can play with their dogs. He no longer freaks out at motorcycles and can even run beside us when we ride our bikes. He still hates garbage trucks, but no one's perfect. Paul really went above and beyond with helping us. He sent me several emails with tips and training videos at no extra cost. He shows a lot of interest and concern with Smokey. Just a note about prong collars - I was really skeptical of using because they look pretty intense and I didn't want to hurt my dog. It really has made all the difference in Smokey's training, and Paul helped us to learn how best to use it. read more

When the time came for us to get a dog walker, we were eventually introduced to Paul. In an eventful, new and sleepless time in our life, we wanted to make the transition to a couple with a dog to a family. We knew our dog was going to be a little lonely and needed more attention than we'd be able to handle alone. Paul helped to bridge the gap. He's exceeded our expectations and we find him to be an asset to keeping our lives running smoother. What started out as a few months "help" has continued to be 8 months of attention and outings for our dog and we don't see an end in sight!. I was scared starting her out with off leash ventures due to her incredible "hunting" skills. Paul patiently worked with her and we are proud to report we see such an improvement when we take her on off leash walks. On walk days she comes back home and curls up and naps. You can just tell she had a nice long walk! Paul is friendly, responsible and goes the extra mile and always makes you feel like your dog is #1. We also board our fur-kid with Paul and while we miss her like crazy, it's one thing I don't have to worry about. Paul sends us periodic pictures and I know she's in great hands! read more

I found Paul by observing him at a distance at our local hiking trail. I watched how gentle and caring he was with the six dogs he was walking. The entire pack was calm and happy. He was crouching down to pet each individual dog while he was giving them water. I could see how much he cared for the dogs. He had no idea I was watching him and, I knew from what I observed that he was truly different and I that I had to meet him. Having Paul and his wife Nora walk our dogs has been a wonderful gift. Our dogs don't just end up with a nice bit of exercise; its like sending them to Montessori school. They truly come back better dogs! I can't recommend them highly enough! read more

Paul is an outstanding professional! He clearly loves his work and is a talented dog trainer. He has been walking our mini schnauzer, Schmoopie, for almost a year and boarding her when we go out of town. Our dog loves him! Paul took time to talk with us about improving our dog's behavior issues and he incorporates training with the walks. We like that he walks small packs and he posts photos on Facebook. When we are out of town, he sends us photos so we can see how happy Schmoopie is playing with the other dogs. We completely trust Paul and would recommend him to anyone! read more

I can't say enough about Paul and Nora from The Natural Dog. We have left our 100lb Dobie with them many times, and she always comes back like nothing happened. ( which you know means she had a great time). Twice we had to take her to the vet before we left for a trip and had a list of meds, and instructions for them. They did not bat a eye. No problem. We got pictures and updates and and feel so great knowing she is well taken care of. Living in the Bay area for may years and using many dog walkers/ sitters. I can easily say they are the best around !! read more

The Natural Dog (Paul & Nora) are the absolute best. We got our first Brittany puppy (VERY high energy) in March and was struggling with giving him the proper mental and physical stimulation. Kobe suffers from leash reactivity so we changed our focus to ensuring he was great off leash and had proper play manners with other dogs. And OMG, getting Kobe on hikes 3 times a week with The natural dog has done so much for him. I never imagined he could be in a car CALM with 5 other dogs. His recall skills are IMPECCABLE. And best of all, Kobe has made some real dog friends with the other dogs on hikes. He has play dates all the time with them! Also, Paul and Nora have dog training experience which has given us an outlet to ask questions regarding training. Also, we work on using the same type of training for kobe, at home and on hikes, which has helped Kobe focus. All in all, I HIGHLY recommend the natural dog. It not only teaches your dog how to be part of a dog pack but also gives them an outlet to run and be free. We trust the natural dog 100000% with our fur baby. Oh and they are great at taking photos of your pup and sending them. read more

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After adopting a fairly difficult and reactive pitbull named Clementine, I got a lot of contradictory advice, from well-meaning people, about what the best course of action would be to correct her behaviors. We first tried the SPCA training classes, but she had trouble focusing around all the other dogs. Also, the training program only based on positive reinforcement wasn't working for our dog. Then we met Paul, from The natural dog! What we really like about Paul, is that he has a balanced approach to dog training. He taught us how to walk Clementine, how to train her to go to her place (her bed), and he explained her psychology. I plan to keep going to Paul for future training sessions. At this point I am so happy with the results. She is able to walk on a leash,and is much less reactive to dogs and people when we are out walking. We are so grateful for the relief Paul has given us, and Clementine. read more

Paul is fantastic. He helped my wife and I work through some issues we had with our ~1 year old pit/boxer mix. We were introduced to him through Shasta at Bow Wow Ventures (http://www.yelp.com/biz/bow-wow-ventures-oakland-5). Our puppy has some issues with personal space and leash reactivity, and Paul got on the phone with me and spent a long time just telling me about all kinds of tactics and approaches to our problems - and this was before we even had a training session. For our session he came to our apartment to meet us, taught us how to handle some of the unwanted behavior, and then taught us how to walk out puppy in a way that works for us. It was incredibly helpful. Paul is very knowledgeable about dogs and taught us so much in a short period of time. He's also a really nice and personable guy - we really liked him. I highly recommend Paul for any dog-related needs! read more

There are not enough stars and not enough good things to say about Paul and The Natural Dog! They are wonderful!! I was in a desperate situation. I went back to work full time but had a 2 year old very energetic Pit Bull/Cattle Dog mix at home. Paul worked so hard to fit us in, and thank goodness. Sam now anxiously awaits his two morning walks a week, loves the dogs in his group, and adores Paul (as do we!) Paul is kind, professional, and never too busy to take time to answer any kind of Sammy question. He is a wealth of knowledge. On top of that, Sammy desperately needs help with recall, so Paul incorporates this training into each walk. I am so grateful for Paul's dedication not just to the happiness of my dog, but to his safety as well. read more

Having our pitty, Pitunia, stay with The Natural Dog when we're away gives my husband and me the greatest peace of mind. We know she's being well socialized with a great crew of other dogs, exercised on the most beautiful forest trails, held accountable for good behavior (Paul also dog trains), and just genuinely loved and spoiled with loads of affection. We go ga-ga over incoming photos they send of her having a blast and lounging cozily with best friends. Paul and Nora's photos are EPIC. Seriously, they have many a talents. And we're waiting for calendars to come out. For daily smiles, follow their Instagram if you simply like dogs. We think the prices are super decent. They run a smooth operation and are responsive in their communication. Paul and Nora are a Godsend. read more

The Natural Dog - Pitunia is the drummer. - Dog Walkers Near Me

Rosie goes with Nora, of the Natural Dog, twice a week. She loves it, and so do we! We are so grateful that Rosie has a truly caring person to take her out to the parks and that she gets the companionship of other dogs. It's so important for an "only" dog, and Paul and Nora have been completely reliable, day after day, year after year. They also board Rosie 4 or 5 weeks a year when we do "no dogs allowed" travel. It's been great to have a safe place for her, where we know she is loved and well-cared for. We don't worry a bit because we know Paul and Nora take excellent care of her.'' read more

We love Paul and Nora- they exceed 5 stars. They have been walking and boarding our dog King for years (5?) King was a rescue dog and a generally nervous pup. But from the beginning, he has always been so excited to see either of them for his walks. They are so loving to him and treat him like their own. He has boarded with them on many occasions and is as happy as can be when he stays there. After King had a big surgery late last year and couldn't go for walks, Nora came by several times to let him out to pee and give him some cuddles. They have been very careful during COVID and text us when minutes away so we can let him outside. Makes for an easy, contact- free pickup. They are also wonderful people and so knowledgeable about all things dog. If they have a spot open, snatch it now! read more

Paul and Nora have been walking and boarding our Boston Terrier Murphy for almost five years. They are both incredibly reliable, knowledgeable, and responsible. When we are out of town for work (pre-COVID), they were happy to pick him up and love on him in their own home. We'd always get pictures of him snuggled up on the couch with them. When our son was born, I texted them when my water broke in the middle of the night, and they came and got Murphy the next morning, kept him for a few days, and then didn't charge us as a welcome baby gift. When Murphy almost died due to a septic infection earlier this year caused by a blocked intestine, and both my husband and I had to be away for the night for work, Nora took Murphy to she and Paul's home for the night and fed him food and numerous medications through a feeding tube. They truly care about their dogs. During COVID, they both have been responsive and incredibly careful. When we left the City five years ago, we thought we'd never find a walker for Murphy we loved as much as our first. I'm glad we were wrong!! read more

5+ stars - we love The Natural Dog! We recently moved to Oakland and needed to find a new dog walker for our two terrier/doodle mixes. We wanted someone that understood the sometimes complex personality of terriers and that we would trust coming into our home everyday. It's been ~6mo, and both Paul and Nora have been such a pleasure to work with and our dogs love them! Our boys eagerly rush down the stairs when they get picked up and come home tired and happy. We live vicariously through the pics from the daily walks they send us and sometimes envy the daily lives of our dogs :) We've already had our boys stay with Paul & Nora for two weekend trips and it's made our trips that much less stressful knowing they're in good hands. We've found their price for walks/stays to be competitive, especially considering the level of service and activity they get when they're with Paul & Nora! Services aside, they are just really great people! read more

Look no further - The Natural Dog is hands down the best dog walking outfit in the hills. Paul and Nora are absolute dog whispers. Responsible, reliable, caring, knowledgeable, communicative, and reasonably priced. They care for our pup Spark like he is their own. I trust them completely and Spark always returns happy and well-exercised. When we first joined them over a year ago, I was especially impressed with their process for introducing new dogs to their pack walks. They are experts in every way and lovely people besides. Your dog could be in no better hands than The Natural Dog! read more

Paul is the truth. We hired him for a private one-on-one session with our 2-year old German Shepard/Doberman rescue. Less than 24 hours after our training and I feel like we have a completely new dog. Our biggest issue was our dog becomes overly excited when he sees other dogs/cats/squirrels/etc. Paul showed us how to correct these issues and how to proactively calm him down before he gets into a super hyperactive state of mind. He also sent us a ton of links to blog posts, products, and videos that he recommends. If you need dog training, look no further than Paul. read more

Paul is great. On time, courteous, and happy to see my dog. I have him walk my 2 1/2 YO German Shepard twice per week, to help give here exercise and be involved in a pack. I recommend the Natural Dog. read more

I would give infinity stars if I could. Paul and Nora were so fantastic with our dogs, who were puppies when we started with them. One of our dogs is pretty challenging and they're both very excitable, but Paul worked some kind of special magic with both of them and they are much calmer now (Paul is probably the calmest person I've ever met). He also gave us some training tips that have helped. He obviously loves the dogs he walks, and our two can't wait to see him each time. Their rates are very reasonable too. read more

Paul is a true dog whisperer!! I boarded my 8 year old and one year old miniature poodles with Paul for four days, and when I got back, the two dogs were happy -- and calmer than I'd left them! While I was away, because this was the first time I had left my dogs with someone, Paul sent me many photos of my dogs hanging out looking very relaxed with the other dogs. When I brought them home, I realized that in the four days Paul had my dogs, they had learned "place", a technique that I now use to help them settle down after playing and to generally feel safe and secure while we are busy or have guests. I asked Paul to come for a session to help me learn how to control my 1 year old's hysterical reactions -- yelping, barking, jumping -- when he sees other dogs on our walks. It was magical to see Paul work: in one session, he gently and firmly had my pup inured to other dogs, sitting calmly and looking only at Paul for his OK to proceed walking. i was even able to accomplish this in that first session, something i'm continuing to work on. After having tried several other trainers with little success, my experience with Paul has me raving about him to all my friends with dogs. He also takes dogs on walks in the Oakland hills, which offers them the chance to be in the outdoors with someone who knows how to responsibly take care of them and see that they have a fabulous dog time! I'm really grateful I found Paul and highly recommend him to help you with your beloved canine friends. read more

When a dog "yelps"it is normally a bad sign, but when it comes to Paul it's a good thing. My dog Nandi would give Paul 5 stars if he could type. All I have to do is look at his wagging tail and his bright eyes when Paul arrives. Louise R read more

Paul was awesome! We adopted/rescued an English Mastiff last March and we were so nervous to leave her with anyone. She is 3 1/2 and we haven't been away from her since we had gotten her. She is a big dog and we wanted to make sure who ever she was with could handle her. We had a meet and greet and Babe took right to Paul and his home. Paul assured us Babe will do just fine while we were away and boy was he right. Paul would send us daily pictures of Babe..We were able to enjoy our trip knowing Babe was in great hands. Paul is very responsible. He has a lot of experience with dogs. We will certainly be bringing Babe when we go on vacation again. I highly recommend him. Your pet will feel safe and loved while you are gone. Robin G read more

Paul watched our beloved Katniss countless times for over 3 years. Paul is professional, caring and consistent. His diligence as a dog trainer, walker, caretaker extraordinaire, was absolutely priceless for our family. We recently moved away and will forever miss Paul, his business and wonderful family. read more

We had Paul help us with our newly adopted pit mix. We wanted to make sure we set our dog up to succeed as he was a shelter dog and displayed some fear based behavior. Paul spent a lot of time asking questions so he could understand our goals and our dog and then after that he took us outside and showed us the basics of the structured walk, the place command and how to work on recall with our dog. It was so amazing to see the difference in our dog's behavior and since that training session we have been working with our dog on all the techniques he taught us. We have had so much progress using the techniques that Paul taught us and I cannot thank him enough for changing the way we interact with our dog as it has had an amazing effect on our dog's behavior. Walks are so much more fun and rewarding for all of us thanks to Paul! read more

Paul is THE BEST! I recently left my 6 mo. old pup, Judith, with him for 5 days and I came back to a new and improved pup! After Paul's daily walks, loving discipline and care, she gained confidence and has become a much more balanced dog. He truly loves his job, and his passion is evident in his work. We will definitely be sending Judith back to Paul's, whether it be for boarding and/or pack walks! Judith loves Paul, and can't wait to go back for more! Thanks, Paul! You've been such an amazing asset to Judith's life :) read more

Nora and Paul have been walking & boarding my dog, Louie for over a year now. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE!! Before finding The Natural Dog I used other dog walking/boarding services so I can say with experience that The Natural Dog is by far the most professional and personable service for your dog. Paul and Nora don't just 'walk dogs' they get to know your dog, love your dog and work with them on behavior/self-control. My dog had always been stubborn and honestly was about 50/50 if he would listen to me when off leash around a lot of distractions. Louie is now a completely different dog off leash. Paul and Nora have taught me so much as an owner and have made my relationship with my dog even greater! I travel quite often for work and I love that I have a "home" for my dog to stay. He loves his time with Paul and Nora & I always have a piece of mind when he's with them. I seriously don't know what I would do without The Natural Dog! read more

Paul is absolutely amazing. Our dog, Disco, is anxious to be with him and is much calmer and easier for me to interact with at all times. I have some mobility problems and Paul takes the time to explain things to me and see that Disco is calm around me and that I can handle him . Paul has gentle but complete control of his pack and the dogs respect him. He is far more than a dog walker. He is the complete professional with excellent training skills. You and your dog are in for a treat, if you hire Paul. Harriet read more

We love Paul! My 3 year old Shepherd mix adores Paul, and has been going on walks 2x a week with him for almost a year. Paul is reliable, warm, loving and super positive with the dogs. He is knowledgable and thoughtful , and super easy going as a person. My dog has also boarded with Paul, and I've never felt so relaxed leaving my dog before. Paul has also gone above and beyond for me in times of need. I trust him completely. read more