The long version: We…read moreadopted a very timid, quiet pup at the beginning of October who, once he'd settled in, turned into a smart, energetic, stubborn and barking pup. That wasn't an option as we live in an apartment with WFH neighbors and going potty means walks around town with lots of other dogs. Overwhelmed, I started googling and found so many 5* reviews for Meryl from Bay Area Balanced Dog training. After a very thorough phone consultation where she took the time to talk about her process/our options and answer our many questions/concerns (we were nervous/uninformed about ecollars), we opted to do a 4 week board and train with a few private lessons beforehand. It was more than I had budgeted, but I was upfront about that, and she worked with us on a payment plan leading up to his stay. The private lessons were so helpful, and I highly recommend doing that before your dog's stay. So much about his good behavior relied on me being a good handler. This practice was also like a bandaid before his training, seriously reducing my stress on our daily outings, and made the transition after his stay easy as I already knew the basics of how to ask him for what I expected in a way he understood/had learned with the trainer. The board and train itself was easy, though be aware there's some additional cost to supply all the tools pup will need during his training. That was rough for me at Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, she was happy to keep and train him during the holidays when we would be traveling anyway. Very convenient and saved me additional boarding bills. She provided lots of daily video and picture updates on Instagram which was nice/really lessened my guilt about leaving him with someone for four weeks. He came home the same happy, sweet dog we'd sent away, except now he can walk nicely on a leash without barking his head off at every animal he sees. She also worked on recall training which is such a relief for a high energy dog I just know would chase a bear on a hike as off leash skills are really important to me in a dog. We work daily on everything he's learned and he loves it so much. It's a lot of money for what was an average dog with average bad behaviors, but we really believe that starting your dog off on the right path with the best guidance is the way to ensure a healthy, happy, safe dog. We went on our first hike just a few days ago, and after all that practice, he got to experiment with being fully off leash. He listened to every command, every time, even when there were tempting birds. I want to have a dog that is as fully involved in my family's life as possible, and now that we both have these skills, I know with consistency and practice, that's what I'll get. Tldr: The board and train is expensive, but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend. It truly saved my sanity.

I cannot recommend Bay Area Balanced Dog Training and Meryl enough!…read more In November of 2023 my husband and I adopted our adorable 3-year-old Pitbull-mix, Midnight, from our local shelter. Unfortunately, pretty much everything the shelter told us in regards to his behaviors/needs was incorrect. For example: he was over-aroused all day every day, had lots of destructive behaviors with our furniture/household items, did not respond to verbal commands/corrections, jumped on us and on top of tables/counters frequently, had zoomies where he would body slam us and progressively get more aggressive, tried to run full force after any dog/cat/squirrel/bird we saw on walks, tried to redirect bite me on walks and landed one of them (which broke my skin), frequently ate inedible things (like leaves and cat poop - yuck!) no matter how hard we tried to prevent him from doing so, and landed a bite that broke the skin on my husband's hand too when he was resource guarding a treat-stuffed toy. My husband and I have owned and trained pet dogs in the past, but Midnight's behaviors/needs were at a level that was way over our heads. After six weeks of trying to work with Midnight on our own, we were beside ourselves from trying to figure out how to safely meet his needs and began to fear that we may have to try to rehome him or bring him back to the shelter, which we desperately didn't want to do. So, I did some research and found Bay Area Balanced Dog Training's website. I reached out to Meryl and from our first phone conversation she put me at ease and began educating my husband and I about Midnight's behavior and needs. Midnight did a 4-week board and train program with Meryl, during which time she continued to educate my husband and I on how we could be the best owners possible for our energetic, willful pup. When Midnight came back home with us, he and we were finally speaking the same language and understood each other so much better, all because of Meryl's training. My household is peaceful again, Midnight is so much happier/content, and we have been able to bond with him in a much deeper way than we were able to before. Walks are a dream (he even ignores cats now!), my husband and I are doing a much better job of properly taking care of Midnight's activity/energy needs, and we feel certain since Meryl's training that we are a good fit for him and he is a good fit for us. Our little family is going to be just fine, due to the gift of Meryl's expertise and skill. Although things are going so well with Midnight, I still worried about who would take care of him if we have to go out of town and can't take him with us, due to his unique behavioral needs. Meryl boarded him for a week for us recently and Midnight had the best time! The little videos Meryl sent us of how he was doing erased any worries I still had in the back of my mind about him, and I felt so much relief knowing that Midnight was being cared for so well with so much love. Another time we needed to board Midnight was last-minute, and unfortunately Meryl was all booked up and didn't have space at that time. Meryl went above and beyond in suggesting another skilled trainer that she knows well that had space during the time we would be away - that boarding experience was great too, and Meryl was spot-on in regards to the other trainer being a great boarding fit for Midnight. Meryl has been an absolute blessing for Midnight, my husband and me. We look forward to taking more lessons from her in the future and feel lucky to have her support and expertise in our corner. Please, if you find yourselves in a situation even somewhat like ours, don't hesitate to reach out to Bay Area Balanced Dog Training - it'll be the best call you can make for you and your dog.

I reached out to Gary for help with my dog Peaches and her leash reactivity, and he was extremely…read moreprompt in responding. The initial consultation went very well, and I learned so much about dog communication and how to better support Peaches. I also learned that she is a highly anxious dog, which explained many of the challenges I had been concerned about. We enrolled in Gary's six-week program and finished with the tools and knowledge needed to keep Peaches on the right track toward recovery. Just like humans, dogs rehabilitate at their own pace, and over those six weeks Peaches made significant progress. We're looking forward to enrolling in advanced training once she's ready so she can enjoy more freedom off-leash. Gary is not like other trainers we've worked with. He doesn't rely on obedience-based shortcuts or gimmicks. Instead, he teaches you how to work through real situations and explains the theory behind his approach so you truly understand what's happening and how to handle stressful moments. Most importantly, Gary teaches you how to become the focal point for your dog, which has made a lasting difference for us.

We worked with Gary Maria for six weeks to help our 3-year-old rescue, Giorgi, who struggles with…read morefear and anxiety. Honestly, Gary was incredible. From day one, it was clear he knows his stuff and loves what he does. A lot of the time, Giorgi was too overwhelmed to participate. On day 1, Giorgi hid under a table the whole session. But that's ok because Gary was really training us. By the last session, Giorgi was walking around, watching other dogs and people walk by, and still listening to commands. Gary taught us how to help Giorgi feel safe, calm him down when he's stressed, and build trust. We've already seen such a difference at home. Gary is knowledgeable, patient, direct (in the best way), funny, and available when you have questions. He celebrated every little win with us! You can tell he truly cares about the dogs he works with. We still have more work to do, but thanks to Gary, we know how to keep moving forward. If you have a dog with anxiety or fear, seriously, go to Gary. He's the real deal.

Jayne is amazing! I actually called Jayne bc I was worried abt my young pom bc he jumped on another…read moredog on one of our walks. I was so worried and embarrassed! I called my vet as soon as i got home! My vet suggested I call this particular behavioral trainer she knew and so I did. (It wasn't Jayne). This behavioral trainer told me I should return my dog to breeder. I should never fall asleep with this breed on my bed (Pomeranians) as they could bite my face off. She continued to tell me all these horrible stories abt poms. I was so confused and upset when I hung up. My husband insisted I get another opinion. I found Jayne's info online the next day and called her. She came over same day because she knew how upset I was and she wanted to meet my fur baby. Needless to say, she is amazing! I am so happy I made that call! My pom is now 5 yo and he is fabulous! Sweet, entertaining, and so well-behaved because of Jayne's training!

We found Jayne through Yelp, and from the moment she arrived for our consultation, She was…read moregenuinely excited to meet us and our dog, making the experience comfortable and enjoyable. Jayne was highly professional, easy to talk to, and went above and beyond by offering additional helpful information for our dog, which we truly appreciated. We highly recommend her program to anyone looking for quality care and expertise. Thank you, Jayne, for your amazing customer service!

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.

Janice is an incredible trainer. Her wealth of knowledge is so impressive! She is thoughtful,…read moreresponsive and makes training really fun and informative. She helped my dog with leash reactivity and really meets pups where they are at. Highly recommend.

Excellent puppy class! I agreed with all of her philosophy, and my puppy's progress has been…read moreamazing to watch

If you're looking for a dog trainer, we can save you a lot of time researching; just hire Harry and…read moreZara at The Dog Wizard in Walnut Creek. Our experience with them was truly life-changing--not only for our dog, but for our entire family. We adopted our dog from a local shelter after spending nearly four hours observing him. During that time, we saw nothing that raised any concerns, so we felt confident moving forward with the adoption. Unfortunately, the day we brought him home he had been neutered, vaccinated, and shaved, and he soon developed kennel cough that progressed into double pneumonia. After nursing him back to health, we finally took him on his first walk--and it was a disaster. The moment he saw another dog, he would spin frantically on the leash, jump, bark, and become nearly impossible to control. We knew we needed professional help immediately. Over the next three months, we worked with four different trainers. While each had good intentions, they all ultimately told us some version of the same thing: our dog's reactivity would need to be managed for the rest of his life and that he likely may never be comfortable around other dogs. We weren't ready to accept that. After extensive research, we found The Dog Wizard and called Harry and Zara. I'll admit, we were initially skeptical of a franchise training program because any program is only as good as the people delivering it. In our case, we couldn't have been more fortunate. Harry is one of the most knowledgeable and gifted dog trainers we've ever met, and just as importantly, he's an exceptional teacher for dog owners. He has an incredible ability to explain not only what to do, but why it works, in a way that's easy to understand and apply. Over the course of five weeks, Harry worked with our dog three days each week while also spending several hours with us, ensuring we understood how to continue reinforcing the training at home. The transformation was nothing short of remarkable. Our once highly reactive, anxious dog has become a relaxed, confident, and loving member of our family. Harry and Zara exceeded every expectation we had. Throughout the program, they sent us videos of every training session, explaining what they were working on and why each exercise was important. They taught us how to communicate with our dog in a way he could clearly understand, and the depth of their knowledge was truly impressive. Beyond their expertise, what stands out most is how deeply they care about the dogs they work with. It was evident in every interaction. They carefully introduced our reactive dog to their own dog to help him learn appropriate social behavior in a safe environment. They gradually worked with him in public settings and at the park, where he learned how to calmly and confidently interact with other dogs. Watching his progress was incredible. In just five weeks, Harry and Zara accomplished what four other trainers couldn't come close to achieving in three months. Their program was reasonably priced and, in my opinion, represents the best value available in dog training. I cannot recommend Harry, Zara, and The Dog Wizard highly enough. Their combination of compassion, professionalism, technical expertise, and genuine love for animals created an experience that exceeded anything we thought possible. They didn't just train our dog--they gave him, and us, a better quality of life. For that, we will always be grateful.

I HIGHLY recommend the 15-Day training program through The Dog Wizard in Walnut Creek! Such a…read morewonderful team in Harry & Zara! Thank you both from the bottom of our hearts for giving Duckie Louise a strong foundation rooted in love and appropriate, attainable expectations. from Darcy, Ben, 13-year-old Precious, and 8-month-old Duckie Louise!

I trust Amanda and Kseniya more with my dogs than I do anyone else around. They are professional…read moreyet funny and kind.

If I could give 10 stars, then I would give 11…read more Ksenyia and Amanda are professional and trusted dog-trainers. For the past five years, these ladies have walked, trained and cared for our family dog, Hummus, who is a pit-bull mix. We adopted him from the San Francisco SPCA. Like many pit-bull mixed pups, his opportunities for finding a loving home were slim. He was anxious, nervous and afraid of others. Aggression is the first word that came to mind, but for us, he was just misunderstood. Kas and Amanda are patient, reliable and kind. Since we brought Hummus home they gave continuously worked with his anxiety and affliction to other dogs. We would be lying if we said he was perfect, but like humans, dogs are not perfect. Nonetheless, he has a come a long way from lunging, barking and growling at other animals. Kas and Amabda have made vast improvements in his temperament. We now have two human pups of our own. He is respectful and has nothing but love and compassion for them. Hummus boards with Kas and Amanda for periods of a time while we travel. They have always been reliable and responsive to our needs, not to mention flexible when situations arise. These ladies started out as our dog walkers, but as we continued to grow in family size our relationship grew as well. We are honored and proud to call them our dog trainers, but most importantly, trusted family friends. Their youth, passion and dedication are truly inspirational.

I was just raving about this place to a friend and then realize I had never taken the time to write…read morea yelp review! We love camp bow wow and so does our fur baby, Mellow. She is thrilled to go there weekly and they take such good care of her. She is a slow to warm dog but they worked with us until she got comfortable enough in their environment (they are diligent in their interviews) to start going there and now she is a big fan and so are we! The crew is consistently kind and awesome, which to me shows the owners are setting a great tone and have cultivated a wonderful culture.

I never placed our previous dog in daycare but we our current dog is a camper. We like bringing…read morehim to Camp Bow Wow to learn to "dog" and socialize. What eases our minds is they have cameras on during business hours so we can check on him. There are no camera kennels except for the dogs in the private rooms. For overnight boarding, I bring his food, bed and a toy. They have doggie bed cots but I like to bring the comforts of home with him. I have utilized the enrichment course so he can have one on one time. They also offer baths so you can pick up a clean dog. If I have a problem with an online order, I can always follow up via email/phone and they are responsive. Hours are 7am - 7pm.

I cannot recommend Kathy at Cause and Effect Dog Training enough! When we first reached out, our…read moreSpringer Spaniel, Checkers, was fearful, anxious, and often growled at my spouse and sometimes even at our kids. We had already tried multiple trainers, different techniques, and even followed our vet's suggestion to try antidepressants--but nothing was helping (in fact, the medication only made things worse). The moment I spoke to Kathy on the phone, I felt confident she truly understood the problem and could guide us in the right direction. And she absolutely has. Over the past year, Checkers has made tremendous progress thanks to Kathy's knowledge, patience, and the clear guidance she gave us. We followed her suggestions carefully--even switching vets based on her recommendation--and the results have been life-changing. Earlier this year, we had to travel out of the country and trusted Kathy to board Checkers. During that time, he developed a beautiful bond with her partner Dan. This was nothing short of amazing, as Checkers has always been fearful of men. Watching their relationship grow has been such a gift. With Kathy's help (and the influence of her own two balanced dogs), Checkers has learned how to be a dog--something I once thought might never happen. He now participates in pack walks and can even run off-leash in the fields, something I couldn't have imagined a year ago. If you're struggling with your dog's behavior and feel like nothing is working, do yourself and your dog a favor and call Kathy. She and Dan have changed our lives, and I am endlessly grateful for the care and dedication they've shown to Checkers and to us.

Kathy had great techniques and homework for me and my husband. She was punctual in every session…read moreand gave us constructive feedback. I really think having the training sessions with Kathy helped us bond with our dog more. It was a really rewarding experience. I absolutely feel more confident about my communication skills towards our girl Cub. Thank you for helping us work with her Kathy!!

Although I had a nice chat on the phone with very nice lady, I decided to drop by before my fist…read morereservation to check the place out for my 3 mo old tiny puppy that needs playtime and socializing, while I got called away for meetings at my usual wfh job. When I pulled up a younger male (long hair) was a bit standoffish and looked at me like I was insane asking if I could come check the facility out. I honestly felt like I was being shamed for so much as asking to come see where she would be after I dropped her off or meet any staff. I guess we are supposed to hand off our dogs through the car window on a rather busy street, to a virtual stranger? No lobby or anything? He said I could look at pictures online, but I have never had a boarding or daycare place gate keep their space like that.

I have never left a review on Yelp before, but feel I need to now. I have had 2 different dogs who…read morewe have taken here over the past 6+ years. I was always surprised when I would pick them up and they would be very wet, sometimes soaking wet. I was under the impression this was because it can be very warm in Lafayette and that is how they cooled the dogs off. imagine my surprise when I was told they use water from hoses to "correct" behaviors. I have checked around and found this is not a usual way to correct dogs. so, my dogs won't be going there. I am also going to clarify to anyone I have recommended Tail Haven to that I no longer recommend their doggie day care.