Courtney has been a huge help. In the past we tried other trainers, but most just churn through volume at high hourly fees, and it was impossible to get enough investment for behavioral changes to stick. It's clear that Courtney genuinely cares about her product and value. She's always been accommodating and available for feedback, and most importantly, the results have backed up her claims! read more

We cannot thank Courtney enough for her guidance and support. Our dog was (understandably) a very rambunctious and completely untrained goofball after living in the shelter for so long. Within just a few training sessions, we saw HUGE progress - walks became thoroughly enjoyable and our dog quickly learned what was acceptable behavior at home and with our kids. Within just a month or so, we went from depending on a harness for neighborhood walks to going off leash at the dog park with good recall. I really can't stress how amazing our results have been. Additionally, Courtney's customer service has been great. She cheerfully answers all my nervous dog-mom questions by text or email and offers to follow up by phone or in person as needed. She includes our kids in the sessions and is super patient with our crazy schedule/life. I'm so thankful to her for giving us a clear plan and path to follow. She taught us skills that we can continue using without her direct guidance and we are excited to continue her group classes and walks. Mostly importantly, our sweet pup gets to thoroughly enjoy post-shelter life!!! THANK YOU COURTNEY!!! read more

The Whole Pet - Off leash :) - Pet Training Near Me - Petaluma, California

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We have used Whole Pet for three dogs. We had two, Buster and Ding Ding, when we moved to San Francisco. They were elderly. Whole Pet did a good job with special needs. Although they had multiple walkers, the quality was uniformly good. These are folks you have to trust. They not only come into your home, they have your pets, who are members of the family. They have to display competence and integrity. We had no concerns. Then after the dogs passed away and we had a hiatus because my wife wanted to wait before adopting another pup, we welcomed Bebe to the family. We eventually ended up with a regular walker, who was an aunt to Bebe, and whose dog became friends with our dog (until tragically she shuffled off her mortal coil, a profound sadness in the relationship with all companion animals). We feel that Yukiko is just akin to a relative. She is that close to our beloved dog. Courtney, the proprietor, is responsive and responsible. read more

I am hesitant to write a review about Courtney and the Whole Pet as I am afraid of people discovering how truly amazing she is. Our dog Owen has been staying with Courtney when we have been out of town since he was a little puppy. It was important to me that he stay in a home environment with loving people who allow him to be himself. Every time we drop Owen off it is always the same... he runs off with his tail wagging to say hello to his friends at his home away from home without even giving us a kiss goodbye. : ( Last year, when we were at a wedding, I got a call from Courtney that Owen was favoring one of his paws. I called our vet at the SPCA and he said that he could squeeze Owen in and a half hour later, Courtney was at the pet hospital getting Owen checked out. It turned out that a week earlier he had gotten a foxtail in his paw and we were able to get him taken care of. Every time I leave Owen with Courtney I am confident that he will get the personalized attention that he deserves. If you are considering Courtney and The Whole Pet for a pet sitter, look no further... just be sure not to take our little Owen's spot! read more

When I moved to San Francisco, I started asking around for a recommendation for a dog walker. She or he had to be completely trustworthy, strong and competent enough to walk two giant breed dogs, and have a firm but gentle training philosophy. In short, I wanted perfection. Fortunately, a friend knew just the right person, and referred me to Courtney Gunter of The Whole Pet. Courtney and Justin have been walking my dogs now for a couple of years, and they have become two of my dogs' favorite people. When I had an illness in my family, when my mom died, when my beloved dog Rebel died, they were there for me in a hundred ways -- and not just for me, but for my dog(s), too. When my mom was in the hospital they didn't just feed and walk my dog, they CARED FOR HER, and made her feel safe and not abandoned. These guys are the best. I'd given them ten stars if I could. read more

I bet the reason Courtney and the Whole Pet only have three reviews on yelp (now four) is because none of us (or our pups) want to share her with the rest of the world! However, all furry friends deserve to have Courtney and her group in their lives! High Tops first met Courtney through Muttley Crew (also fantastic). I first met Courtney, Stan, and Justin when High Tops freaked out upon seeing them at Golden Gate Park last year. Let me tell you, nothing makes a dog mom's heart as happy as seeing her girl with an uncontrollable wagging tail upon seeing her care givers. So naturally I was thrilled when Courtney began to offer her group walks. High Tops has grown so much in the last few months walking with Courtney. She has always been a really good girl with the exception of barking at the old, sick, and crazy. Or as Courtney likes to say "strangers." Courtney mentioned this in our "dog log" after her first walk. I have to admit I was a little embarrassed, but Courtney reassured me the group walks would help and they have! HT no longer barks at "strangers" and that is all thanks to Courtney, Stan and Boy (her four legged helpers). I swear I think Courtney could cure almost anything. Check out the Whole Pet. Your best friends will thank you for it! Oh PS...we have also used C as a pet sitter. The best as the dogs stay with her in her home. That makes a mama's heart happy too! read more

Courtney's the Best! Ok here's the deal, I have a Shiba Inu named Miso. She's awfully cute, she will melt your heart with just one bashful look, and if you see her at the beach she will surely get your attention with her non-stop chasing, teasing, and playfulness. But she is also skiddish, freaked out by almost anything she doesn't recognize, barks at strangers in hats, and will embarrass the hell out of you if she doesn't want to walk next to you because you're carrying something scary, like a grocery bag. We did all the right things when we got Miso as a puppy. She was socialized starting the first week, in training after 3 months old, she was potty trained, and taught to sit, speak and lie down the first two weeks we had her. As she got a little older we realized she needed much more training if she was ever going to come out of her shell and just be happy. Enter Courtney. She was so patient, supportive and understanding of our frustrations with Miso and encouraged us to keep trying and not give in. Miso still has her issues but she has made huge strides in her behavior and social skills. It's amazing! Courtney really helped us focus on one thing at a time and helped us get past the walls we'd hit with her in training. I haven't used Courtney as a pet sitter but knowing her she's just as attentive and warm to all the pets she cares for as she is for her own. If you need some help handling your pooch, don't wait, Courtney is your gal! read more

The whole pet is amazing. Since starting getting training with them my dog, Wilson, has calmed down so much. Wilson and I have an awesome relationship, he's more confident, and he's growing up to be a little gentleman. If I hadn't come to Courtney and Alex, I would not be in this spot. Before I came to them, Wilson was super anxious, didn't come when called, was having some basic behavioral issues, and normal puppy class wasn't working. Yes, their training packages can be pricey, but when you think about what you get out of it- it's actually cheaper then going through 14 different levels of puppy class just to get your dog to 'go to place'. At the end of signing contracts, Courtney let me know, that no matter when, I could call her for advice, or concerns of my dog, and she'd help me figure it out. You can't get that w/ an SPCA class once a week for a month. I've only gone to one of the group classes because of my schedule, but watching my pup run through an agility course was pretty much the coolest thing ever. Courtney and Alex are lovely to just call if you have a problem, or email, they genuinely care about Wilson and the other dogs that we live with (offering advice to deal w/ aging, etc) even though they don't train them, and I really just trust both of them w/ my dog. I honestly cannot speak more highly of Courtney and her team. When I started bringing Wilson to a dog park he normally couldn't handle 2 weeks after beginning training, I knew it was the right decision. I also get my walks through Courtney and yeah, amazing. Basically the whole pet is awesome and I'm so so so glad I found them. read more

I am a big fan of The Whole Pet's pet sitting service after having them sit for us this past weekend. We were in a bind - our list of friends who normally pet sit for us came up with nobody available. So, we had to find a pet sitter in a hurry and Courtney and her team came through. Within 48 hours we were meeting with our sitter, Vita, who was delightful and so in love with our pets instantly. Over the weekend, Vita took the dog to the beach and on many other walks. The dog LOVED all the attention she got. The house was kept tidy and they even watered the plants :). I'd highly recommend calling Courtney if you need a sitter! read more

Amazing that The Whole Pet has rave reviews. Good for them. However, I've tried to contact Courtney over e-mail and phone, and not once has she contacted me back even though she said she would. The only time I was able to talk to her was when I called her to follow-up on my initial request for service. There are so many other places out there that want your business. I am not going to chase after this one... read more

Courtney operates a highly professional service who we found through Yelp and we are more than pleased with our experience. We were in need due to the retirement of our catsitter, very apprehensive about contracting with a new serivce and departing to Europe on vacation. Beginning with the online registration of our four cats we were immediately put at ease when we spoke with Courtney and discussed our needs and concerns. We were introduced to Yukiko who now has become friends with all four of our cats including a feral rescue who has not let anyone close to her other than myself and my wife for 14 years. This in itself is a remarkable event but when you add the thorough, thoughtful and loving care she provides we are able to relax when our cats are in her care. Yukiko and the entire Whole Pet organization exceeded our expectations and we hope that we are able to continue the relationship and so do our cats who are thrilled when Yukiko arrives. I strongly recommend that you give The Whole Pet a call when you have a need for the services they provide. read more

We love Courtney and the Whole Pet team. Not only are they helping us train our unruly teenager (dog, that is), but our old gal is getting lots of loving from very compassionate caregivers/walkers. Courtney was a little hard to nail down at first, but once we got onto her radar, she has been very reliable. I encourage those who had problems getting in touch with her to give her another shot. She hired an administrative assistant to free up her time to manage and caregive. read more

Courtney is an amazing pet sitter! She has her hands full with my higher than much average requirements for cleanliness and standards for animal care, plus I've got a pretty diverse and large menagerie. She's always done a wonderful job and I never worry when she's taking care of my animals. My animals are my family and they mean the world to me. I'm not one to leave town often, but when I do, Courtney is part of the team that cares for those I care for most in the world. She's caring, professional, reliable, competent and responsible. read more

My husband and I are not impressed with Courtney and her team. We found Courtney to be over bearing, loud speaking, a bit disrespectful to us (she talks to humans like they are dogs), and made lots of empty promises to us and to our pet. I think Courtney had high hopes for our dog, but she never followed through, never checked in, never really seemed to care much about us or our dog after she took our very hefty check. Courtney is a good sales woman; she defiantly sold us on her program and experience but left us and our pet feeling like we were taken advantage of. Do not use this company; you will be out a lot of money with no results or improvement to show for it. read more

I am so impressed with Courtney and The Whole Pet's service. I love her holistic point of view and her extensive background. Those aspects helped me feel totally at ease while away from my kitties for eight days. Before I left, I explained a few issues one of my cats is having and she gave me such good advice. If you struggle to completely relax and forget about your furry face friends like me, I found Courtney's reassurance, her knowledge and her natural connection to animals the answer to those struggles. I was able to have a great time and know my kitties were in good hands! read more

My husband and I went out of town and I contacted Courtney about pet sitting for me. It took her a few days to contact me but she was super busy and in the middle of hiring an assistant to help her catch up to her increased client load. She had one of her employees Simone take care of our 2 dogs. She was absolutely wonderful. She left us daily notes and sent us daily emails with photos of our dogs having fun. She really got to know our dogs. I will definitely use The Whole Pet and hopefully have Simone take care of our dogs next time we go out of town! read more

Courtney and her pet sitters are the best! They are very accommodating to my schedule requests, but more importantly, they take excellent care of my dogs. They really seem to love them, which is what I look for in a pet walker/sitter. If they love my dogs, then I know they will take excellent care of them. I highly recommend, and I am very particular about who I trust with my treasures! read more

I've been working with the Whole Pet since Courtney first started up the business. She and her staff have taken wonderful care of my two kitties, who just turned 20 years old this month! I'm moving out of the city next week and am so sad that The Whole Pet doesn't work in Tiburon...and my girls will miss having Jen come over for some cuddle time on the couch. I recommend The Whole Pet wholeheartedly; they are responsible and responsive, and I appreciate the notes they leave describing the daily adventures of my kitties while I was away. When I come home, kitties are relaxed and well-fed, my food bowls are washed and drying on the counter, and the litter box is clean. I couldn't ask for a better pet sitter to take good care of my girls. read more

This was an extremely disappointing and expensive experience. Courtney immediately took my $825.00 check and cashed it. To make a long story short after a few visits and a $200 shock collar she canceled appointments never to be seen again. Our dog has not been able to go back to his dog walking group that was the goal nor have I received a refund. I seriously question these positive reviews I knew we were in trouble when she told me she kept a shock collar on her dog both in the indoors and outdoors. That is no way for a dog to live. In my opinion there is only one honest review and that is Joey B. there is always some excuse with Courtney diying dogs murder friends etc. Barney's Owners read more

I inherited my friend's cat that I had always loved a few months ago. When I left for Christmas break, my friend told me to just leave some water food and have someone come every 4 or 5 days. Since I was gone for three weeks, I needed someone to come in the interim to take care of my lovely Daisy Cat during that time. Courtney of the Whole Pet came highly recommended, so I felt comfortable handing over the keys to her. I had no idea that my precious kitty was so lonely and despondent, and my friend didn't seem to ever know or care about that. Courtney called me to alert me to her condition, and went above and beyond the call of duty spending extra time with her, adding visits, recording her condition every day - she even watered my plants! When I returned I noticed that my cat truly was lonely - I can't even imagine what she would have been like if Courtney hadn't taken the extra time with her and alerted me of the issue. She is a true professional and has a heart of gold. I am forever indebted to her, and give her the highest recommendation to anyone that needs ANY kind of pet assistance. She is the cat whisperer for me and my Daisy As for my "friend" that said the cat would be fine on her own - it's just one of the many things that made me realize what a mean person she is, so I"m out one friend and up one cat whisperer! I wouldn't have it any other way! read more

I can't say enough good things about Courtney and her staff. Our dog Jaydi was 4 months old when we adopted her. What a cutie pie, but what a handful! My partner and I are not inexperienced when it comes to owning pets, especially dogs. Jaydi, however, presented us with more than a few behavioral challenges. Courtney is one of the most knowlegeable trainers we have encountered. She was easily able to identify the issues we were having, and work with us on how to correct them. There were times when we became discouraged, but Courtney assured us with hard work and diligence that things would turn around for the better. Courtney was right! Jaydi has made a complete turn around. She comes when called, she obeys commands and she doesn't show the aggressive behaviour towards other dogs that she used to. We have found Courtney and her staff to be very professional and very caring. We always get a call back regarding any questions we may have. Thank you Courtney, and thank you Alex, Ariana, Vita and Lisa for taking such good care of our precious girl. We are the proud owners of a very happy, well socialized, well behaved and loving dog. We could not have gotten to this point without you. read more

Our dog wasn't really responding to our previous dog trainer's methods, so he referred us to Courtney. We are SO happy he did, because since meeting Courtney his behavior has dramatically improved! We signed up for several private lessons, where Courtney listens about your dog's history, etc, and tries to understand the root of the problems. Then we went over basic training once again, but with a training shock collar. We were very skeptical about this collar, as probably most people are before trying it, and we tried it on ourselves before agreeing to use it on our dog. He responds very well to it though and actually gets excited when he sees it. The private lessons were great though, and now we are attending a weekly class where he is learning how to be around other dogs. Courtney's been great, I'm so happy we contacted her about training our dog, and I look forward to keep attending group class! Oh yeah - everyone tells me how well trained my dog is - both on the street and when guests come to the house! read more

I was lucky enough to stumble across The Whole Pet because I met a former client of theirs out at a dog park one day. Her dog was the same breed as mine, which is rare in this area, and she highly recommended Courtney for training. My dog has recently started to work with Courtney and now is also attending her dog walking groups. The few training sessions and e-collar she uses have already been tremendously helpful and she also offers unlimited training sessions. She is very professional and is familiar with the specific needs of my dog and got her tempermemt and personality right away. My dog has only been in two of her groups and already happily leaves the house with her and comes back pooped. She also leaves daily notes about the groups which I really appreciate. Nice little touch that not every walker does but something I think most owners appreciate. read more

You know how it is when you come home from a fantastic trip only to find that your pissed-off pet has either (a) clawed up the carpet or (b) peed on your pillow - or both? Well, thankfully, now that we've found Courtney and The Whole Pet, that won't happen again (we hope). We usually have a friend house & cat sit for us on those extremely rare occasions that we take a vacation, but that didn't work out this time so we knew we'd have to hire someone. We were skeptical about having complete strangers in our house, until we met Courtney. She was very professional but sweet with our two affection-junkie cats. We loved that she (and Vita - gotta give Vita props too!) left us with a daily log, so we knew who'd been there, when, and how our girls had behaved. We suspect the cats may actually prefer Courtney and Vita to us, since they clearly gave the girls more attention than we have. But hey, we have 2 year olds twin humans who hog our attention. Thankfully, we now have The Whole Pet to turn to the next time we escape the city! read more

The whole pet team has been very helpful whenever we've needed cat care. They are pretty responsive in turnaround times and have met last minute requests very well. We've had nothing but positive interactions with them and the pets always seem just fine whenever we come home. Their team seems staffed with nice people who genuinely enjoy caring for animals and making pet owners' lives easier. read more

I cannot say enough good things about The Whole Pet! Initially, we were nervous to have a pet sitter for our dog and cat the first time. Confidence and professionalism from both Courtney and Vita put our minds at ease. Everything worked out perfectly. There was great communication between all parties and would definately recommend and use this service again. Thanks sooo much... read more