Dog training results, shown honestly

via Yelp (opens in a new tab)·Aug 2025

“Bay Area K9 has been a lovely experience with me and my dog Cane for the past few months, from the training and using the Sniffspot as well. This review is long overdue for sure!

Training aspect: Steve, has helped my men reactive and dog reactive 2yo German shepherd adjust to our home and make our bond SO strong. I myself, have learned so much from him and have finally been able to teach my dog phenomenal manners and after a few sessions, his behavior at home is so much better now. We have more to learn, but Steve has taught us everything and been patient and kind, and it works out so well for our learning style. His photography is also phenomenal and has taken amazing progress photos of Cane, and I can guarantee I'm probably going to get one framed in the future. 10/10 trainer, couldn't recommend him enough.

Sniffspot: This area behind the facility is SO nice if you don't have a backyard, which is very common in the Bay Area. Having a high energy dog, exercise is so important to keep him in shape, and keep him happy. The turf is always nice and clean, and the area is always quiet and we are never disturbed. Plenty of toys to play with and so much room to run! It's always worth the drive over for sure.

Overall, no complaints whatsoever, if you are looking for a trainer that is kind, knows his stuff, and makes training FUN and makes your bond stronger with your dog, go here! I couldn't be any happier with our time with Bay Area K9. :)”

via Google (opens in a new tab)

“We had our puppy evaluated by Steve as soon as we got our dog, our dog was 8 weeks and 2 days old, a GSD from West German SV lines, and we wanted to start training him immediately. Steve suggested starting our training in two weeks to give the puppy time to adjust to his new home and his new family and to give us time to enjoy and adjust to having him. We started our regular training sessions two weeks later. Our puppy is now going to be 16 months old in a few days and we do not know how we would have done it without Steve. Steve is so patient with all of us, the humans, and our puppy. He will tell you outright what needs to be done and improved upon and how to do it. He will assign you homework and WILL check on your progress in the next session and address any concerns/difficulties you are having.

So many things set Steve apart from other trainers as a trainer, but in talking to others about their dogs and their experiences with other trainers, no one has told me that they were sent home because their trainer thought their dog was not in the right condition to train at that moment. Steve did just that. We were in his office and our puppy was tired and just wanted to take a nap. After several minutes of all of us trying to get him interested and Steve observing us and our dog, Steve told us to bring him home because our puppy was too sleepy to engage at that moment. We could see it too. Steve also told us that he was NOT going to charge us for the session because he wasn't able to work with our dog. Mind you, it was OUR PUPPY that was sleepy, NOT Steve. He advised us to observe our dog in the next few days and note what time he takes his naps and what time he is the most active and playful as those times may have changed. He offered to reschedule all of our future training sessions to meet on those active and playful times. I have shared this story with so many people and I have yet to hear of anyone else sharing this kind of story about their trainers.

Steve is an excellent trainer. He knows dogs. He knows how to train dogs. He knows how to train the humans who own the dogs. He is an honest person who genuinely cares about the dogs and their families. He will do what it takes to get the best results from both the dog and the owner in EVERY session, even if it means telling you to wait two weeks before starting training, and NOT charging you and sending you home because it's not the best time for your puppy. We have been training with him regularly for more than a year and Steve has never disappointed us or our puppy. THANK YOU, STEVE! YOU ARE THE BEST!”

via Yelp (opens in a new tab)·Oct 2025

“When I first started training with Steve I was crying on a regular basis because I thought my Belgian Malinois rescue hated me. He had severe resource guarding issues and severe leash reactivity so bad that I refused to walk him but I had to because I couldn't trust anyone else handling him. We haven't had any resource guarding issues in the home and now I feel so much more confident in managing his leash reactivity and my lovable terror all together.”

via Google (opens in a new tab)

“I can't say enough great things about Bay Area K9! From the very first session, it was clear we were in expert hands. My dog Cherry, who used to struggle with leash pulling, barking, anxiety, has completely transformed.

The training was not only effective but also compassionate and tailored to Cherry’s unique personality. Steve took the time to explain the why behind each technique, which helped me become a more confident and consistent dog owner.

Sessions were well-structured, progress was tracked clearly, and I appreciated the mix of in-person and follow-up support. It's not just about obedience — it’s about building a strong, respectful relationship with your dog. And thanks to this training, that’s exactly what we’ve achieved.

If you’re looking for real results with a trainer who genuinely cares, look no further than Bay Area K9. Highly recommended!”

via Yelp (opens in a new tab)·Jun 2025

“Steven is an excellent trainer who explains concepts in a way that makes them easy to understand and absorb. He educated our family on dog behavior, helped us form a bond with our new puppy, and provided valuable guidance as we navigated the challenges of raising our blue heeler over the past nine months. I highly recommend him to anyone considering getting a new puppy or those feeling anxious about their dog's behavior. He great with teaching kids how to take care of their pets. He is always responsive to questions and flexible. We have already referred him to our family and friends due to his fantastic service.”

via Yelp (opens in a new tab)·Nov 2023

“We recused a 1 yo 1/2 Doberman and Hound dog, Brooklyn from up north and she's never been experience the world as we know it. Never seen a car, other animals, noises, sounds and even a language. We needed help! I researched a lot of dog training and was referred to Steve by a lady at a park playing fetch with her Doberman. Her dog was amazing, excellent recall, commands, and tricks. She told me how Steve helped her train her and her dog because it's about the relationship between the owner and the dog. There was an amazing transformation after a couple lessons. As the dog owner, you have to continue the trading at home and be consistent. My goal was to be able to walk with her off leash and I can do that now, after a couple months, thanks to Steve. He's always available in the evenings by text if I have questions and he's very responsive.

If you put in the time, you won't be disappointed!”

via Google (opens in a new tab)

“I started bringing my Dutch shepherd puppy here when he was right at around 12 weeks and have been coming every week since! I’m excited to go to training every week and I love how Steve is always looking to help me improve my training and relationship with my pup. I also really like how he explains concepts in ways that are easy to understand and makes everything super fun and light! I think what sets him apart from a lot of trainers is he is always there for support and feedback or if I need an answer for a quick question. He makes me truly feel like he wants the best for me and my dog. Great trainer with lots of experience!”

via Yelp (opens in a new tab)·Dec 2024

“I was struggling with our newly adopted puppy (rescue) in the park. I saw a guy who was walking a relatively big dog, coffee mug in one hand... I was so desperate and asked the guy how he trained his dog. He referred me to Steve! Bay Area K9 was a bit far from us especially in traffic time...but again we were desperate.

Steve saved us. He educated us more than anything-else. The interesting thing is, our dog followed Steve's instruction so well even on our first visit. His voice is so kind and not even loud nor commanding. Steve told us not to raise our voice, that we could not help it!

It turned out our dog was a super-smart great dog, that Steve had called it on our first visit. She is still super active, energetic and playful dog, but we now have a solid relationship. We matter the most to her, and she listens us. We learned from Steve that we were the ones who did not do it right. Our previous dog was a very different kind. Just like we humans are all different... dogs are different too. Highly recommend Steve Bay Area K9.”