Way of the Dog

My husband and I were first-time dog owners when we rescued Ziggy, a high-energy Australian Cattle Dog with a lot of love and personality. We feel incredibly lucky that we found Brian. We were well-intentioned, but we didn’t fully understand how to best meet Ziggy’s needs or channel his energy. Brian’s guidance was invaluable in teaching us how to raise a confident, well-adjusted dog and how to better understand what Ziggy was communicating to us. He helped us learn how to socialize Ziggy thoughtfully with other dogs, people, bikes, vehicles, animals, and all the stimulation that comes with everyday life. He also taught us how to recognize what was driving certain behaviors and how to respond in a way that helped Ziggy learn, build confidence, and develop good habits. Ziggy is now nine months old, and people constantly comment on how calm, social, and well-behaved he is—especially for such a young, high-energy dog. We credit so much of that to what Brian taught us. What makes Brian’s program so unique is that he doesn’t just train your dog—he teaches you how to understand and raise your dog. I genuinely believe our experience as first-time dog owners would have been very different without his guidance. We now have an incredibly happy, confident dog who plays well with others and fits beautifully into our lives. I could not recommend Brian more highly. Thank you, Brian, for everything.

It’s challenging to verbalize how much Brian’s knowledge and guidance helped during the training of my puppy. It’s been years since I owned a dog, and I decided to take the puppy route with the full intention of going through training. For me, it was important that I sought out 1:1 guidance, with a trainer who understands dog language, and Brian truly delivered. The program is broken down into easy to digest steps, with personalized guidance based on your pups needs and behaviors, and the puppy parties are an incredible way to socialize your dog in a safe environment while they’re young. While enrolled in the program, my pup and I encountered a dog attack when walking in our neighborhood, and unfortunately it set us a back a bit with my girl being scared. It created a challenging time of stubbornness mixed with fear, and Brian’s suggestions helped us over the hurdle and now she’s thriving. Funny enough, I’ve ran into neighbors who’ve utilized Brian’s training for reactive dogs, and the feedback is always the same. I highly recommend Brian’s program whether you have a puppy, behavioral issues you’re needing to overcome, or simply need a program that will ensure a well mannered and happy dog. Kudos to Katie for running a great business. She’s a gem to work with, and Brian’s knowledge and understanding of dogs truly set him apart from any trainers! They’re the best in the business!

We are so incredibly grateful for Brian. Over four years of dog ownership, we worked with five different trainers (private trainers with glowing Yelp reviews, group classes like PetSmart, and more). No one even comes close to Brian. He is deeply knowledgeable, his approach is thoughtful, and he truly speaks dog. Brian has worked with an incredible range of dogs and behavior challenges, and it shows. No matter the question or concern, he always had clear, grounded guidance that made sense and actually helped. Brian came highly recommended by our trusted vet, and finding him changed everything for our family. When our dog, Miko, turned 8 months old last summer, she suddenly began attacking her brother Rufus with no provocation (no food, no toys, no attention) and developed territorial behaviors at home. Up until that point, they were best friends, with Rufus patiently playing with her and teaching her dog manners. It was terrifying and heartbreaking, and at our lowest point, we even had to confront the possibility of re-homing Miko after losing our other dog, Luna, suddenly during her spay surgery last year. Since then, my husband and I have been training and exercising both dogs religiously, spending 3–5 hours a day between the two of us, and Brian was there every step of the way. He was endlessly encouraging and validating, especially on the hard days, helping us stay grounded and hopeful when things felt overwhelming. What truly sets Brian apart is how much he genuinely cares and his extensive experience with dog training. He has always been incredibly generous with his time, offering phone consultations during training and even long after sessions ended. You never feel rushed, judged, or dismissed, just fully supported. We’re beyond grateful to say that Miko has now hit 6 months with zero aggression, and the two of my dogs play together again both inside and outside of our home. If you’re struggling, losing hope, or just want someone who truly understands dogs in your corner, Brian is the real deal.

Started from scratch with an 8-week-old working line Dutch Shepherd pup earlier this year and did a good amount of research into trainers across the South Bay. Brian was a common rec amongst a lot of people but also vets and other dog care professionals. His philosophies described on his site also stood out to me, particularly in regards to teaching the owner more than just the dog and vast experience specifically targeting dog behavior. I went with my gut and pulled the trigger on a puppy package and couldn't have been happier with the investment. My dog knowledge probably shot up 20x in just the first hour of conversation before my pup even arrived; infinite tips and details on environment, relationship, socialization and more were crucial to prepping for my puppy adventure. Brian actually gives logical answers for all "why" questions every dog owner has, backed by experience with dog behavior but also experience and awareness of how people's relationships to dogs usually have a ton of thoughtless flaws. He teaches you to be a leader with your dog, and I would bet most people who try his program feel a surge in confidence and control around all dogs/situations in the future. From consistent puppy parties for safe and "referee'd" exposure during the crucial developmental windows to specific recs on the best vet/daycare resources, dog products, etc. for YOUR specific breed and situation--if you start your dog journey with Brian (especially before you even get the dog), you will feel 10x more confident and exceedingly prepared for any scenario. You'll have a detailed program outline to take notes in and refer to forever that will cover everything from basic needs and leash training (somehow he worked his magic and taught me and my pup on AND off leash training with JUST leash work in all of 20 minutes) to socialization management, relationship dynamics, communication that actually works and sticks, and other deeper, crucial, and overarching concepts. My rather challenging, high-drive pup in a 2 bedroom apartment was better behaved than any dog I've had or dogsat in the past 25 years within the first two months of seeing Brian, and it's not like the progress stopped there. My entire perspective towards dogs has changed for the better. I'll bring every pup I ever get to him for as long as I'm local enough and recommend him no matter what age, prior/lack training, situation, or breed to others.