Dan Perata Training

We cannot recommend Dan Perata Training highly enough. After nine years of trying different training methods, trainers, dog parks, and daycare services, DPT is the first program that has made a meaningful and lasting difference for our 9-year-old Husky/Lab rescue, Blue. Blue has always struggled with severe anxiety, and one of our biggest challenges has been his reactivity and aggression toward other dogs. We had tried multiple approaches over the years, but nothing seemed to consistently help him stay calm or make meaningful progress. Then we found DPT. What has impressed us most is Dan's ability to work with Blue in a way that earns his trust while maintaining structure and control. Dan is the only trainer we've personally observed who can keep Blue calm in the presence of other dogs without relying on treats or severe punishment. That alone has been remarkable to watch. The Board & Train camp has been an especially valuable part of Blue's progress. It gave him an immersive training environment while giving us the tools and understanding to continue reinforcing that training at home. Just as importantly, DPT doesn't approach training as something that ends when the initial program is over. Their ongoing group training classes for life provide continued support, accountability, and opportunities to reinforce what Blue has learned. Just as important, has been the ongoing support from the entire DPT staff and community of owners. The facility provides realistic training for real world application. It offers a simulator with a treadmill, a well designed training floor, a mock recreation room with a pool table, and a mock living room. We attended one class with 5 dogs and owners simply sitting in the mock living room enjoying conversation with calm dogs at our feet. AMAZING that Blue was calm during the entire session. We also really appreciate that DPT's boarding services reinforce the training program rather than working against it. Knowing that Blue can stay somewhere where his training, structure, and routines are understood and maintained gives us tremendous peace of mind. To be clear, we're still working through Blue's reactivity and aggression toward other dogs. It's a process, and DPT has never presented it as a quick fix. What they have given us is something we didn't have before: a realistic path forward and a training system that actually works for Blue. After years of searching, DPT has been the only program that has truly worked for our dog and our family. Our only regret is that we didn't find DPT nine years ago. If you have a difficult, anxious, reactive, or challenging dog and you're feeling like you've tried everything, I would strongly encourage you to give DPT a chance. We wish we had found them much sooner.

Dan and his team are fabulous with their training methods. It’s been 4 years since I started my Gracie at Dan’s training. Gracie loves going there. Mostly I want to tell you what loving, caring people Dan, Natasha, Sidney and their team are. Two weeks ago I was experiencing arm and chest pain. I called Dan’s place and told Sidney what was happening and asked that Dan come get pick up Gracie. I was having a heart attack. I was taken to Van Ness Er, Dan met me there and got the key to my home. He took Gracie and the next day I had a stent placed in my right coronary artery. Dan also came back and visited me in the hospital. Dan’s team took care of Gracie for over a week, at no charge I might add. When Dan returned Gracie back to me he also took the time to change a ceiling light bulb for me. Now I check in with them every morning to let Natasha and Dan all is good. Dan’s team not only loves the dogs they train but truly care about the owners too. I can’t thank them enough, love ❤️ them.

For well over a decade, Dan Perata Training has been my go-to for All Things Dog. I feel safe, secure, and reassured whilst leaving my littles with the compassionate, organized, communicative team at DPT. Many long years ago I had what we called 'The Tiny Iditarod,' a pack of geriatric Chihuahuas that demanded an incredible level of care and attention. When leaving on a three-week trip I was very nervous about anyone other than me caring for them, but they were treated like royalty and had a blast. From then on my pack spent their time at DPT whenever I was out of town. After the Iditarod passed on, I lied to myself and told myself this little spotty dog I saw on Petfinder was a merle Chihuahua - come to figure out really quickly she was all Daschund with Chihuahua ears and legs. I don't know if you know about Daschunds but they are really stubborn, cheeky, and because of breeding 'do not have a high need for human approval,' which kills me because it's true. She was the hardest dog I've never had, but a few weeks of board & train changed her dramatically from a hellion beast into a good girl (who never got over being cheeky, but was no longer a hellion and actually had recall). I am now a one-dog home with a quiet, spindly little lady dog of 17 pounds who is as delicate and sensitive as my Doxie was rough & tumble. Two dogs with two very different needs, and yet DPT knew what each of them needed and took amazing care of my ladies. Their staff is so on point about medication and feeding, they genuinely love their clientele and still talk about - by name - dogs they cared for years ago who have passed on (like my Iditarod). This true love for their work and clients - but two- and four-legged sets them above the rest. As a bonus, their building has super easy parking, so no stress during drop off or pickup, which is so rare in San Francisco. Cannot recommend enough.

We selected Dan Perata training after looking at and visiting a number of potential trainers. We chose Perata because of their positive training methods and focus on training us, as well as our dog. We appreciated having an option that did not involve an e-collar and liked the fact that our dog was home with us for the weekends. Our rescue dog, Blue, is reactive with other dogs and is much easier to handle since we started with Dan and team. We continue to go back to group lessons and always learn something when we do. The staff is very friendly and we enjoy seeing them. Best of all, Blue cannot wait to get in the door when we come in for lessons.