Cause and effect dog training -

Becca Wallace

I cannot count how many times my husband and I have commented to each other that working with Kathy was one of the best decisions/ investments we've made. Our dog had done training previously, but it was much more "one size fits all". He was still struggling with some anxiety on walks in crowded places and was pretty nervous around other dogs. Kathy took the time to truly assess what the root of the anxiety likely was and come up with options that could help. She is not afraid to say "I need to see more before I can give you advice", and that was so refreshing for us. She also helped us reframe our own assumptions/ expectations about what we need from our dog (For instance, if it makes him less anxious, why not let him fetch a ball somewhere instead of going for a walk in a perfect heel?). The long story long is that our dog is so much happier, less anxious, and has a much better life since we worked with Kathy. We now take him to the beach with other dogs regularly, and we took him for an off leash hike this weekend for the first time because his recall has gotten so good. Thank you, Kathy! You are amazing!

Franziska Marks

I can only echo what has been said before: Kathy is super competent, not only in assessing and handling/training the dogs, but also in communicating with the humans. I was so impressed how she explained every step of the aggression assessment in our case, and asked for our feedback on every step she proposed to take.

She went above and beyond to introduce our dog to different dogs and situations to get a well rounded picture - and do a thorough assessment even though it went beyond the allocated time (which she double checked with us as well).

And then she was available for follow-up texts and additional meetings, helping us help understand what our dog needed to be more comfortable around other dogs.

Thanks to Kathy, our case had a very happy ending - our rescue dog now enjoys being the big foster sister to other dogs from the shelter and playing with her friends at Cesar Chavez Park.

Long story short: if you have concerns about your dog - run - don't walk - to see Kathy!

Diane Cuyler

Working with Kathy has been a game changer. She taught us how to manage our young pitty- mix Luci inside and outside the home to help with her impulse control, reactivity and recall. She provided the tools and the training methods to help us gain confidence with calm greetings with friends and family, calm leash walking and taught my husband and I how to advocate for our dog at all times. Kathy's "balanced" training method includes mounds of praise and positive interaction combined with the tools to better communicate with your dog. We tried several other classes/programs with little success before meeting Kathy. She customizes training to your dog and family needs. She goes out of her way to make sure you and your pup understand what's being taught and is always available for follow up. I highly recommend Kathy Kear's Cause and Effect Dog Training for any size, age or breed. She is the best!

Li Mah

We love Kathy!! She trained our dog and her humans. Now, our dog can be off leash when previously she was territorial and aggressive towards other dogs. Highly recommend her!!!

Mark Rabinovitsh

Kathy is not only an amazing dog trainer but a wonderful person as well. You need to really be passionate about dog training to be successful. It requires a ton of patience, energy, experience, knowledge and great communication (not only with your dog, but with you!), and Kathy meets all of these with flying colors.
Me and my 10 month old poodle had a few sessions with her and they had a great impact both in the short term and long. I learned a few foundational concepts that allow me to better handle different and new situations and in my opinion this is the key to success.
I'm a first time dog owner but I spent alot of time researching and learning everything I can. There is an abundance of information out there and countless opinions and concepts and techniques that may be tempting to new dog owners as they may appear like an easy fix.
Dog training is a process and while you may be lucky to see fast results, it requires that you learn how to rinse and repeat the training over and over.
The support and guidance I got from Kathy is beyond expectations. Whether you have a puppy (especially if you have a puppy) or an adult dog; Kathy will show you just how amazing your best friend can be.

Bottom line - highly recommended!

Len Welsh

I run an animal rescue org and have been working with Kathy for over 15 years. I've worked with many dog trainers, and Kathy is by far and away the most effective. She has an uncanny ability to get into a dog's heart and head and come up with real solutions for difficult behaviors. I rescue and work with a lot of very difficult dogs from the pound, and I can't say enough about how helpful Kathy has been in assisting with getting these dogs in shape for adoption.

Isabella Wong

I have been working with Kathy for half a year now and she has completely changed my life. I went from daily stress about my dog's behaviors to being able to take them to most places (on and off leash!). Kathy took the time to thoroughly educate me about dog behaviors and dog psychology and I feel so much more prepared to be a good dog owner.
Not only has Kathy provided exceptional dog training for my dogs, but she has also been readily available for a multitude of questions and concerns I've had navigating my dog's health needs. Because of her, my oldest dog is healthy and well. Kathy even accompanied me to the vet to make sure I was getting the best care possible.
I am endlessly grateful to Kathy and I think anyone who owns a dog would absolutely benefit from working with her. I simply can't recommend her enough.

Julia Fogelson

Kathy was absolutely incredible with our rescue dog. I found her on Yelp and was thrilled with her level of expertise and her total sweetness with our sensitive girl. Kathy checked in several times with us after our session to check on our progress and gave great recommendations by text. I even sent her a video of my dog doing the behavior we were trying to change and Kathy gave me feedback. Thank you Kathy!