Dan Perata Training and Boarding

When we adopted our Chihuahua mix Mingus he had a real chip on his shoulder and was practically feral adn very aggressive to strangers and all dogs. He couldnt walk properly on the leash, be he was too busy barking and lunging at all dogs, looking for a fight around every corner. Me and my husband could not agree on training tactics and we feared we would never be able to have visitors over again after he bit my mother in law. After doing Dan's 5 week training program, Mingus is a new dog. He's calmer, and more secure in himself. He can walk on a leash, barks less at other dogs, and actually has boundaries that he can follow. Me and my husband all know the same training commands which helped our arguments about Mingus to subside. After we had our first child, Dan was kind enough to come to our house for a free at home training session to help strategize on how to get Mingus acclimated as we feared his aggression would flare up again with our new baby. Luckily this has never happened bc Mingus is truly a completely different/better dog bc of Dan's services.

When I started going to DPT, I had been with Leo for about 10 months. I had tried several other trainers, but nothing had improved, and in a way, things had gotten worse. By the time I met with Dan, Leo was counter surfing, peeing on the bed when left home alone, eating feces, and everything else off the ground. After having completed board and train with Dan, Leo now walks much better on leash, and I actually look forward to walking with him now. Leo now has little to no interest in eating garbage off the ground; he plays with toys, interacts with dogs and people, and is able to be left alone at home (outside his crate) for up to two hours. His playful personality has truly come out, and even though he is not 100% perfect with his commands yet, the personality development is the biggest reward I never expected.

I never thought I’d feel comfortable leaving my new little guy somewhere without me, but from the very first walk-through at Dan Perata Dog Training I was instantly at ease. Dan, his employees, and his family care so deeply about these animals—it’s clear in everything they do. Beyond knowing my pup would be kept safe, I quickly realized I was also going to get back a confident, well-mannered dog thanks to their training. What surprised me most was how much I actually enjoyed going to the classes. Honestly, I dreaded the idea at first, but they turned out to be fun, informative, and a great bonding experience. No smoke and mirrors and no-frills in the best way possible: just solid, lifelong training that will keep your pup safe and you not losing your mind! I can’t say enough good things about this amazing family and the work they do. If you’re looking for training that truly transforms your dog (but keeps their unique personality and strengths your bond!) and gives you peace of mind, I couldn’t recommend Dan Perata Dog Training more highly.

Dan was the third trainer we went to for our pitbull. We adopted him in 2020, and from the beginning he was extremely reactive toward both dogs and people. My wife couldn’t walk him at all because of his strength and the intensity of his reactions. I was the only one handling walks, and that was becoming a huge source of stress for me. We had already worked with two other trainers and spent thousands of dollars, only to be told that “this is just how he is” and that we’d always be managing it. Despite the time and money, things kept getting worse. We got to the point where he had to wear a muzzle just to leave the house. Working with Dan was different from the start. When we began the board and train, he gave us a document outlining the whole training process — what to expect each week, what we’d be working on, and how progress might look. After the initial board and train, he came to our home regularly, and even brought his own dogs to help with. He was honest about the work it would take, but also patient, supportive, and consistent throughout. I can still remember the first time we walked past another dog without an incident, about 3 weeks in. That was the first time I felt like this might actually work. Now we can walk around our neighborhood off leash and go to parks and play fetch and let him all the normal dog things without worrying about an incident. It’s hard to overstate how different our lives feel now. Our dog is visibly more relaxed inside and outside the house. Our neighbors even asked who our trainer was since they are also dog owners and could see the obvious transformation. We are really grateful we found Dan. I recommend him to anyone who cares about their dog.

Dan Perata is an investment and absolutely worth it. As first-time dog owners in San Francisco with an anxious, flight-prone whippet, we had no idea what we were doing. Dan gave us the foundation we needed. We'll never be perfect dog trainers, and our pup will always be sensitive and have selective obedience, but thanks to Dan, she’s not as fearful or reactive as she could be. During her board and train program, she was very excited to see the trainers each week. However, we left the program a bit early because she was chewing her crate bars. Now we know her to be the comfort loving pup she is, we think she didn't like the noise, needed soft bedding, and might have been cold.We also tried boarding her there for a week, and she returned home with giardia. Hard to say where she could have picked that up, but we now board her in private homes, which suits her better. The training gave us a solid starting point. We're glad we started our pup with Dan Perata's training and recommend him to other dog owners.