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

To say John at Premier Dog Academy is good, would be an understatement. His knowledge and…read moreprofessionalism superseded my expectations.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!

Hugo came back so much better behaved and responding to his commands. His behaviour improved…read moresignificantly.

Updating my review to say how incredibly happy I am with Powerhouse K9! My puppy is now 8 months…read moreold and has spent a total of 5 weeks here (3 weeks for board-and-train and 2 weeks for regular boarding). As a first-time puppy owner, I wasn't sure what to expect or if puppies just naturally outgrow certain behavioral issues. Either way, this is the only formal training she has ever had, and the results speak for themselves. She came back so incredibly well-behaved. And has reminded well behaved. When we go out in public, people always come up to see her because she's cute, but what they *constantly* comment on is how exceptionally well-behaved she is for an 8-month-old puppy. It is so validating to hear that from strangers! I love and fully agree with Anthony's methods and what he does here. If you want a well-behaved dog, Powerhouse K9 is the only place to go. Highly recommend! Full disclosure: I have a pure poodle and they are known to be smart. I brought her to PowerHouseK9 initially at 4.5 months, only weeks after adopting her so my reviews are specific to this. I cannot speak to any other situation or dog breed.

Today was my first visit to this Pet Food Express location, and it was such a wonderful experience!…read more I discovered a few months ago, while visiting the Pleasant Hill store, that Pet Food Express carries my dog's food. Since moving to the Bay Area a year ago, I've been ordering it online, so I'm still learning which stores carry what. Recently, the Concord location didn't have the smaller bag of my dog's regular food, so I decided to try a different formula from the same brand. Unfortunately, my dog wanted nothing to do with it. I stopped by this location hoping they might have what I was looking for, and that's when I met Brandi. She was absolutely incredible! Even though they didn't have my dog's regular food in stock, she took the time to help me explore other high-quality options and recommended products that might encourage my picky pup to eat. The biggest surprise was learning that if my dog didn't like the food, I could return it for store credit. I had no idea this was your policy! Neither the Pleasant Hill nor Concord locations had ever mentioned it, even when the Concord team knew I was hesitant about trying a new formula. Because of Brandi's outstanding customer service, I was able to exchange the food my dog wouldn't eat and bring home something different. As soon as we got home, my dog happily ate some right out of my hand, so I'm feeling very optimistic! I also brought my blue nose pit bull with me, and Brandi was so kind and patient with her. My dog was a little overwhelmed by all the exciting smells, but Brandi kept her happy with treats and made her feel comfortable while we talked. Brandi truly went above and beyond. She was knowledgeable, patient, compassionate, and genuinely cared about helping both me and my dog. Customer service like hers is rare these days, and she made me feel like a valued customer. Thank you so much, Brandi! You've definitely earned a loyal customer.

Drove here w my family to get stuff for a guinea pigs. A…read morefemale cashier got a disgusted look when she saw us upon our entry It appears she got another cashier to take her place when we had to check out These young employees now they get so traumatized And hello, it's a pet store July 5th approx 3pm Never stepping foot in again

Such a great company- always giving back to the community and the shelter animals…read more They have a great energy and compassion towards the dogs they work with. I first met them at an adoption event where they partnered with the Martinez animal shelter. They gave complimentary baths to all the shelter pups at the event. Even my foster pup- Susannah. They even put an adorable adopt me scarf on her and promoted her on their page I have been sharing their contact info with friends and neighbors

I had a bad experience with my small senior (17.5yrs old) dog at Diablo Dog in Martinez this past…read moreFriday. I'm not here to bash a small business. I'm here to share what happened to me and possibly help someone else out there, not have it happen to them. After looking at their website and social media posts, I was impressed with what seemed to be a top notch establishment. I only groom my senior chihuahua mix occasionally and I wanted to make sure they would treat him with gentleness and care. It was easy to see when I got him back from his appointment, that didn't seem to happen. He went in for a trim. I chose a #7 blade, which I now know was far too short. It woukd have been appreciated if the groomer would have made a blade suggestion or mentioned that choice was very short, because I wasn't familiar with all that, but that's on me and not my complaint. My complaint is that the groomer hurt my dog. I didn't notice it at first when I picked him up because honestly it was so chaotic in that small space with two big dogs coming in for service, a bunch of big dogs in the back barking and guys yelling at the dogs to shut up, I just needed to get my very nervous and stressed little guy outta there. It wasn't until I got home that I noticed the cut around and under his neck. I was literally stunned. I've never seen anything like that before and my dog was still shaking. I scooped him up and headed to the emergency vet. He is now on antibiotics and doing better, but it was a rough weekend. Between me crying and feeling like a bad dog mom for handing him over to them and him throwing up all day Saturday, I was not in a good place. I needed to wait a few days before I could even do this review. I love small businesses and want to support them more than anything, but I have to say I would not recommend this business for grooming small or senior dogs. I have no experience with them in any other area and larger dogs might do well here, I don't know. But this is what happened to me and if it happened to me....you know the rest. It was a really hard day that day. Pictures speak louder than words. The last photo is Jazz a couple of weeks ago how he looked when I took him in, all the others are from Friday at home and in the lobby of the emergency vet after his groom. Please think twice before you go here with your small or senior dog.

Wish I could give a 10 star! Absolutely a night and day difference from before and after with our…read morepup. Alex is wonderful! Knowledgeable, patient and always positive. Couldn't be more happy and more thrilled with all of Alex's hard work!

Working with Alex at Canine Insight Institute has helped me understand my dog's behavior and needs…read morein an accessible way. His approach is positive and supportive, and he is great at encouraging and keeping us on track when we encounter hiccups or new challenges. Beyond obedience and day-to-day behavior coaching, he's training us in scent work, which has been an excellent activity to funnel Sydney's boundless energy and drive. He's done such a good job that we passed all three scents in our very first ORT! All this combined has allowed Sydney and I to bond and have more fun together.

Rob and Sam are the absolute best! Our mali-mix cadence loves them both SO much. I think the…read more"magic" is that they teach you how to communicate with your dog in a way they understand and ALWAYS focus on keeping it fun for the dog. "Your dog needs to think you are Disneyland!" As someone who has worked with everything from cattle to goats to baboons, I have still had so much to learn. THANK YOU!!!

We are so incredibly grateful for NexGen K9 and the impact they've had on our rescue dog, Teddy…read more Teddy is a German Shepherd/Australian Cattle Dog mix who came to us with a lot of anxiety and insecurity, along with signs of reactivity toward other dogs and people. We knew from the start that helping him adjust would take time, patience, and the right guidance -- and that's exactly what we found at NexGen K9. We chose to do private lessons because we wanted to be hands-on in learning the tools that would best support Teddy, and Samantha was amazing from day one. She truly met us -- and Teddy -- where we were, with compassion, patience, and professionalism. Her approach was collaborative, thoughtful, and always focused on helping Teddy grow in a way that felt manageable and positive. Samantha went above and beyond for Teddy. Thanks to her support, Teddy is now far more confident and much less reactive. We're still working through his anxiety in new environments, but because of the foundation NexGen K9 helped us build, I feel so much more confident in helping him continue to thrive. We're beyond thankful that Teddy is part of our family -- and that NexGen K9 played such a key role in making that possible.

About a month ago, I went to Joybound People & Pets to adopt a kitten, and I had such a wonderful…read moreexperience. Everyone was so kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout the whole process. I was looking for a baby kitten, and thankfully I found exactly the little cat I was hoping for. The adoption process was easy and smooth, and you can really tell how much the staff cares about the animals. The cats are very well treated, and the conditions they are kept in are excellent. Everything was clean, organized, and the animals looked healthy, happy, and loved. Thank you to everyone at Joybound People & Pets for all the care and dedication you give to these animals. I truly recommend this adoption center!

My best friend lost her mom to cancer a few weeks ago. My friend lives out of state- so I have been…read moreassisting her locally. Her mom adopted the sweetest chihuahua from Arf back in 2021, the fur baby went blind about a year ago. So we were really concerned about how she would settle in a new environment, and we're trying to rehome the dog I went to Joybound a few weeks ago to ask if there was any chance they take back their animals in these circumstances. The woman at the welcome desk was so helpful explaining yes they do. She walked me thru the process to fill out the forms online They got back to my friend promptly to setup an appointment for a behavior assessment and vet evaluation. We had our appointment yesterday at 2. We arrived a half hour early so we wouldn't be rushed , and to help Lily stay as calm as possible. Everyone we encountered was delightful and so kind. No judgements- Lily came alive with tail wags and enthusiasm to be back at such a supportive rescue group. She was just basking in the attention and love. She passed her behavior test with flying colors. We were told she most likely will be going to a foster home first for a few weeks before she's available for adoption. We were told we can follow her online with her name, and see when she becomes available and she won't be on the website anymore once she finds her next loving home. Thank you Joybound for standing behind your animals and supporting families We also did not have to pay a surrender fee. We were encouraged to take our time and enjoy complementary coffee or tea, also offered a box of tissues We were already pulling out of the parking lot before our scheduled appointment time Can't think you enough for your kindness all around this hard experience

I cannot say enough about Dan and his skills as a dog (and dog parent) trainer! I adopted my dog,…read moreDoug, from a golden retriever rescue in March 2026, believing he was a golden retriever mix. From the very beginning, Dan gently pointed out that Doug might have more cattle dog in him, based on his markings and behavior. When the DNA test confirmed Dan was right, it gave me a whole new understanding of my sweet boy. Doug turned out to be a beautiful mix of cattle dog and other herding breeds, and that insight has made such a difference in helping me understand him better. Dan has been incredibly patient--not only with Doug, but with me too--as I've learned to recognize Doug's triggers, better understand his behavior, and figure out how to help him thrive. Dan's experience with stray and rescue dogs is extremely valuable. Doug is such a sweet dog, about 2 years old, with plenty of puppy energy still in him. He's affectionate, eager for attention, and wonderfully responsive to training. Dan has helped me learn how to channel Doug's energy in positive ways and appreciate just how smart and spirited he really is. Doug keeps me on my toes, and Dan has reminded me that patience and consistency are some of the greatest gifts I can give him. After just three in-home sessions with Dan, I've already seen such encouraging progress. Doug is doing beautifully--he's a star at the dog park, walks nicely on leash, and has learned to respect the boundaries I've set around attention and behavior. Things like digging up the backyard and jumping into my face have stopped, which has been such a relief. Dan's guidance has made a meaningful difference, and staying consistent with the lessons has been key to Doug's success. Dan's availability by phone or text is a game-changer as I don't have to wait until our next scheduled visit to get guidance if new, unexpected and undesirable behavior arises between visits. Next week marks Doug's and my three-month anniversary together, which feels both exciting and emotional. We still have more to learn, but I'm so proud of how far we've come already. I'm grateful for Dan's support and look forward to continuing this journey--helping Doug grow into the very best boy I know he can be.

What an amazing team. So helpful. I was struggling with my German Shepard rescue. They helped me…read moreget him under control and happy.

We had adopted our Kody boy 8 months ago from a shelter. It was a very hard five months trying to…read moreget him settled with a routine. We all had different ways of how to train him and it was causing a rift in the family. I was turned down by some trainers until I came across Jonathan Wong's page. He was local, he was fast to get back to me and he was willing to give us a chance after everything I told him. Kody still has a long way to go and I will continue with Jonathan as his trainer, but it is night and day after three months of training with Jonathan. He was dog and people aggressive, to the point we had to avoid them entirely. We can now go for walks, albeit we move opposite of any dog and can keep walking without any barking or pulling. He was always actively pulling on the leash and bad at recall. He is loose leashed now and responds with recall with our daughter. In the end I had to get use to the idea that Kody was a crate or muzzle dog when it came to large crowds or people in our home. I felt awful but Jonathan was so supportive and positive as I came to terms with it. I hope as we continue to train with Jonathan and Kody builds his confidence that soon things might change for him. Jonathan has such a kind soul and so encouraging when it comes to both us and Kody. I cannot thank Jonathan enough for what he has done for us. He left solid foundations for us to grow on. Kody is such a sweet and smart boy, and we always want the best for him. Jonathan truly is the best.

Yep, Jonathan knows his stuff. Highly recommend. Truth be told, my puppy (7 month Labrador) isn't…read moretoo difficult, but Jonathan got through to her quickly and made me feel like the pup wasn't such a menace.

We have been taking several training classes here and it has been a great experience!read more

My 15-month-old has been attending the programs here for more than 10 months. They have done a…read morespectacular job socializing and training her, first at the puppy socials and then graduating into Mini-Day School as a teenager. She now weighs 115lbs+ and is an active and intense mix of breeds. Because of David (positively the most patient person on the planet) and the supporting staff here, she is well behaved at home and in public. I constantly get compliments about her general manners and also behavior around other dogs. People are often surprised about the command I have over such a large and strong dog. I think things would have been a nightmare for us without this program. Tailored has not only worked with her directly, but they have educated me about ways to work with her on my own. I can't imagine getting another puppy without sending them through this program. These classes are always a priority in my schedule. Well worth the drive and very reasonable cost, and she loves it!