Better Nature Dog Training - San Francisco, California

Cindi Keen

Can't recommend Jeff enough!

I adopted a rescue about two years ago and he had some major stranger danger vibes and didn't get along well with dogs that weren't fixed. Jeff gave me some really helpful tips and training methods to combat these issues, and the little guy is doing great. We just spent a weekend with an unfixed dog and they were bffs by the end of it.

Jeff is incredibly responsive, and has always been available when I need advice, even via text. If you're looking for a knowledgable, empathetic dog trainer he's your guy!

Stephanie Peters

We've been working with Jeff on training and learning how to adjust to a new puppy in our family. During our sessions Jeff has taught us everything from basic command training to how we should approach crate training. Jeff's approach is to be gentle yet confident, never punishing the dog but also teaching us how to set limits. He's even done a great job of "training" our 7 year old on how to interact with the puppy!

After each lesson, Jeff sends us a comprehensive overview of the things that we discussed and goes above and beyond by answering any additional questions we might have in between appointments.

I would recommend Jeff to any new dog owner who is looking to find some balance in their day to day with a new puppy!

Dawn Hartman

Jeff is AMAZING! He has helped me socialize my sweet but “awkward” rescue. Jeff has shown great patience w/both me + my dog. His communication is clear + he thinks creatively to resolve unique issues as each dog/situation is different. With Jeff’s help, my dog has progressed in ways I didn’t think possible. It’s a joy to see him relaxed on walks + playful with other dogs! Jeff is now helping me support my dog through a move across SF from a house with a yard to an apartment; his advice is making this transition less stressful for both of us. Both my dog + I are forever grateful! Xox 🐾🐾

Caroline Barton

I called Jeff in a panic after my dog had attacked a friend's dog. He was going on vacation for a few weeks, but gave me incredibly detailed advice over the phone and followed up several times over email while on vacation. I held off working with another trainer as I liked Jeff's positive approach to training which didn't completely rule out consequences (i felt like other trainers i had worked with were either one or the other).

In general, I have felt overwhelmed by all the behaviors I wanted to "fix" in my dog and all the different training methods out there. As soon as he got back from vacation, Jeff reached out and we had an intro session. Jeff helped me determine the proper training method for my dog (ended up being clicker) and gave me a few focus areas for her, laying out clear steps for me to follow over the course of a few weeks. He talked me through it, showed me what to do during our session, and provided extensive written guidance so I could refer back to his recommendations.

Working with Jeff feels like a partnership, where he is completely invested in seeing by dog (and me) succeed. Having a dog with behavioral issues can be really overwhelming, and its great to know you are not alone. He has given me tons of (free) advice via email/text/phone both before and after my intro session and I will definitely be following up with another session or two in a few weeks.

Thanks Jeff!

Caroline

Aaron Danzig

Jeff Stallings came highly recommended from the folks at Bernal Beast (which is a huge endorsement already for those who know that crew). I engaged Jeff before I adopted my GSD at 8 weeks to help me with initial house management, and then met with him every other week for the first couple of months, and now meet with him 1 - 2 times a month. As a first-time puppy/dog parent, I don’t know how I would have handled things without Jeff keeping me from falling off the proverbial ledge. He was great in helping me manage expectations (i.e., adopting a puppy is an upheaval - be prepared), stressing positive reinforcement while keeping strong boundaries and demonstrating an understanding of the individual animal. I definitely did my homework and treat every day as a training day, and Jeff is fantastic at working through and prioritizing areas to focus on depending on where the dog is in their development cycle. As a ‘single dad’ I think it was good for me to have a male trainer. I have taken my pup to classes at SF Bernal Beast (also great for when you want to train your dog in a group setting!) and the teachers are amazing women with that voice that so many dogs - including my girl - just fall in love with. I do not have that voice/personality, and Jeff sets a great example for any male handler. Having him come to my home and work through real-life in-home challenges and behaviors has been indispensable. Jeff was also with me and my pup on her first leash walk and dog park excursion, and it was great to have him set the example, and help me understand what to expect, and what will come over time. I highly recommend Jeff for anyone interested in in-home training, I know he’s helped many dogs with challenging behavioral issues, I can speak as a new puppy dad, it’s been a great experience thanks in large part to Jeff’s guidance.

Andy Scott

Jeff did an amazing job with our Golden Retriever puppy. We are so grateful to have worked with him.

Jeff responded immediately to our email inquiries. He was even able to stop by our house in Los Altos to do a home assessment the day after we contacted him. He showed up promptly at the appointed hour (which was much appreciated).

This is our second Golden, but we'd clearly forgotten the puppy stage from years earlier (lots of fun.. but LOTS of work). Plus, we now have several small children and cannot focus all our energies on a new puppy, so we have to use the time we have with our dog to really matter.

We needed help setting up a puppy area in our home for our dog and getting her to stop jumping up on our small children. After Jeff's coaching and advice, the results were hugely helpful. He worked with us and our puppy both in the house and in the yard. As we were talking through various subjects, he took detailed notes of his recommendations and later sent a long email with guidelines to follow. Now we know to keep our puppy in her fenced off play area during mean time and when the kids are running all over the place. Major improvement. Also, he pointed out how critical it was to get our dog to some Puppy Socials.. and the reasons why they are so important.

Plus, Jeff has reached out to us several times over the past weeks to see "how are we doing?". He has also been fast to follow up on several quick questions we had via email.

Dave Bartoletti

Jeff has been working with our mutt, Blue (Shepherd/Weimaraner mix), since the day after we adopted her at eight weeks. Immediately, Jeff established a strong bond with Blue, with a firm, gentle hand and a loving manner -- a bond that is just as strong four years later. Jeff reinforced her recall and taught her how to heel and walk securely on a short lead. Jeff is one of her favorite, special people, and she loves the attention and encouragement (and direction) she gets from him every time they interact. Jeff has a remarkable relationship with dogs and a keen understanding of how they think, learn, and respond to stimuli. Highly recommended with no hesitation!

Camille Mai Davis

Jeff is truly a dog whisperer! I called him when I first adopted my (very shy) dog and he knew exactly how to engage with her without scaring her. Four years later, I called him again and she ran right up to him wagging her tail! He's a very skilled trainer with great insights on dog behavior. After each session, he will send you a detailed email covering everything that was discussed in the session. Highly recommend!!