Bay Area Dog Training

I’ve been working with Mike since the early 90’s! I’ve trained four dogs, and one in particular was as difficult as they come. Without failure, we’ve had fantastic outcomes. Pro tip: Try a mix of group and private classes. We’ve had very high goals, in particular, solid off-leash control and the ability to take the dog virtually everywhere. We constantly receive praise for our dog’s behavior and leash work. Mike is a unicorn.

From "Cujo Junior" to "Polite Gentleman" -- Thanks to Mike! If you've ever adopted a 4-month-old Schnauzer who treats every living being like a personal insult, you know our pain. Our pup, Diego, didn't just bark; he acted like he was auditioning for a lead role in a horror movie. Walks? Impossible. Visitors? Forget about it. Even our long-time pet sitter--a woman who has survived literal wolves--couldn't go near him without fear. . Our first trainer took one look at him and basically told us we'd adopted a tiny, bearded landmine. She called him "one of the most reactive dogs she'd ever met" and gave us the kind of "good luck" that usually precedes a disaster movie. Enter Mike Hatjes from Bay Area Dog Training. We found Mike on Yelp, and honestly, we were just looking for a miracle. Mike is a unique breed himself: he's incredibly direct (no sugar-coating the fact that your dog thinks he's the CEO of Chaos) but also hilarious. He balances that "tell-it-like-it-is" energy with a sense of humor that kept us from losing our minds. The Transformation Timeline: * The Private Lesson Phase (8 Sessions): We went from "we can't leave the house" to "wait, is he actually sitting on command?" By the end of our eight private lessons, we were taking regular walks. My blood pressure dropped, and Diego actually started building confidence instead of seeing every mailbox as a mortal enemy. * The Group Lesson Phase (The Real Magic): If you told me six months ago my dog would be in a group with 10 other dogs, I would have assumed there'd be a SWAT team involved. But Mike's group lessons are shockingly amazing. Seeing my dog hold a "down" in a row of 10 dogs while each one weaves through the line? It's practically a glitch in the Matrix. The Verdict: Mike didn't just train our dog; he gave us our lives back. We can do family trips, have friends over, and walk down the street without looking like we're wrestling a caffeinated alligator. If you have a dog that makes other trainers cry, call Mike. He'll tell you the truth, make you laugh, and turn your "unbelievable" nightmare into a well-behaved companion.

I cannot speak highly enough about Mike Hatjes and his instruction/advice with our kelpie/lab mix Milu. Milu is a rescue from Taiwan, and has a lot of anxiety. Prior to getting in touch with Bay Area Dog Training, she was growling at guests in our house, being somewhat difficult on leash, and actually nearly got hit by a car when something spooked her during a walk. Mike taught us how to correct all of these behaviors - including how to teach Milu to use her doggy door at home. He is incredibly knowledgeable, easy to work with, and an overall fun person to be around. But he also takes discipline/training very seriously; at the end of the day, YOU have to put in the work to train your furry child using the tools he gives you. Milu is now a much happier dog. Her walks are enjoyable for all of us. She now understands that guests in the house are welcome unless *we* say otherwise. Reach out to Mike and the team at Bay Area Dog Training - it worked wonders for our little family!