Dan Perata Training and Boarding - San Francisco, California

Melody Nasser

Dan Perata and his team are an amazing group of people. Their jobs are not easy, and they really are so good at what they do.

We signed up for Dan Perata Training back in 2018 after noticing reactive behavior in our [then 2 year old] Australian Shepherd. It was important for us to go with trainers who didn’t use punishment (shock or prong collars) or treat-based training, which this facility does not use.

Training is obviously a forever thing and not just a one and done event. I learned how to interact with our dog in a way that makes sense to her and we’ve now had years where I have peace of mind when we leave the house. Equipped with DPT knowledge, we were able to cultivate such a strong relationship with our dog by noticing her signs of reactivity (before the storm) and working with her on better behavior.

Training with DPT was invaluable and a huge quality-of-life changer. I now have the tools and confidence to handle myself around *other* people’s reactive dogs. Dan is always very helpful in identifying where we can do better as leaders and we’ve had check-ins when we feel like there has been regression. I can’t recommend working with him enough.

Cassady Churchill

Dan Perata Training is the best dog training facility there is. Dan and Natasha are not only experts at what they do, they’re great humans who care deeply for dogs and are able to help you get amazing results.

I took my dog to Dan Perata Training in 2018 after an incident that ended up with the police getting involved. No one was hurt, but things had gotten out of control at that point, and I’d already spent hundreds of dollars on hourly training that was ultimately (CLEARLY) ineffective.

I found Dan Perata Training and within one year they had helped me bring out the most amazing version of my dog, Sailor. After a lot of hard work - and I mean hard work! - she became a star pupil, and before the COVID-19 pandemic she was the exemplary office dog. She set the standard at the office: dogs were allowed, but only if they were as well trained as Sailor (no other dog passed the test). Talk about a major value add to my life! I no longer had to get doggy daycare everyday, and some of my coworkers were even asking me to help them with their dogs.

Most recently, my mom rescued a dog earlier this year and began going to DPT after doing hourly lessons that were ineffective, and she's already having great results. I could go on and on about all the ways that my experience with DPT has translated into so many parts of my daily life, but I also want to talk about how amazing Dan and Natasha are as humans.

I may be biased because I consider Dan and Natasha friends and I owe them everything for how they’ve improved my life since getting Sailor, but let me elaborate: in March of 2024, I got pulled into an unexpected dog situation and Dan and Natasha came to the rescue (no pun intended). A friend who works with a dog rescue in Las Vegas called me in a panic and told me there was a rescue they placed with a family in San Francisco that didn’t work out, and that this family was going to turn the dog over to the city if there was nowhere for it to stay that night. I had absolutely no idea what to do since I couldn't take the dog in, other than to drop Dan and Natasha’s name. Details aside, Dan and Natasha got involved in this last-minute mission right away and took the rescue in for 4 days so it wouldn’t get turned over to the city. Dan and Natasha didn’t hesitate to make space for this dog in their facility and have their staff take care of it for days, and they didn’t even know whose dog it was. In this world, there are people who talk the talk, and there are people who walk the walk - Dan and Natasha are unquestionably the latter.

Annie Prasad Vadillo

There aren't enough words to explain how great DPT (including Dan, Natasha, and all of the staff and trainers) are - do NOT miss training your dogs with them. We came to DPT with our Tibetan Mastiff Clifford (fearful, reactive out of fear, huge) and our corgi Jude (spoiled brat, everything on his own terms) back in Febraury 2022. It was extremely important to us to use a no-pain method of training, especially with a dog as big as Clifford (120 lbs) and DPT delivered. We enrolled in Dan Camp and Jude and Cliforrd came back completely different dogs - we've seen so much improvement in both of their behavior. The facilities are great (think large training spaces, a treadmill room to work on reactivity on walks, a separation anxiety exercise room etc.) and the trainers care deeply about the dogs. We also love that our dogs board at DPT and get extra training whenever we go out of town.

Because dogs are dynamic and training is a process, DPT offers support throughout the dog's lifetime and we take advantage of it regularly. This has been a HUGE help to us, especially when new issues pop up, new life changes happen, etc.

We love and could not recommend more highly DPT.

Jennifer Pisansky

The entire staff at DPT is incredible. I would recommend highly to anyone with a new dog.

I adopted a 7 lb chihuahua mix around 4 months ago. When I brought him home he was scared of everything and couldn't walk on a leash or go up and down stairs. After about 24 hours I was convinced I had ruined my life and found DPT online. Natasha was on the phone with me as soon as I sent an email and she enrolled my dog in Dan Camp the same day.

When I returned two weeks later I was amazed at the progress the trainer had made. My dog was walking (perfectly) on a leash and going up and down stairs like a pro. Now we walk 2.5 miles everyday and he LOVES to run up and down the stairs in my apartment. My once fearful dog happily joins us when we go out to eat, go shopping, or walk down Chestnut Street.

After 5 weeks he completed camp and was sent home full time but started to develop separation anxiety (my partner and I live in a small apartment and WFH) and cried anytime he was in the crate during the day or left home alone. This behavior was disturbing to my neighbors, so once again I found myself reaching out to Natasha for help.

They enrolled my dog in another week of camp (at no additional cost to me) and I received a personal phone call from Dan with advice on how to change my behavior and stop this issue. A couple of weeks later and it's like I have a new dog at home. Yesterday I was able to leave all afternoon and my dog didn't cry once.

The team at DPT are experts in dog behavior and they really care about dogs and about their customers. I know 100% that when I drop my dog off for training or boarding he is in the best hands. This program is worth the investment and I am so grateful to Natasha, Dan, Bryn, Sidney, and all of the trainers and staff for their help. They truly go above and beyond and thanks to them my dog is now thriving 🙂

Stefani Wolff

DPT is an amazing service, and Dan is a miracle worker for dogs. I had been to at least 5 other trainers/certified dog behaviorist before coming to Dan. I was at the point of thinking I needed to put my dog down for his aggressive behavior and my inability to control him. My dog was a birthday present to my then 10 yr old daughter. We got him as an 8 week old rescue. He was great until puberty and then he became reactive, aggressive, resource guarding and other scary behaviors.

Dan and his team were the only ones not afraid of him and willing to help me do the hard work. My dog was so reactive he could not stay at the facility like they typically do, so Dan worked one on one with me for almost a year to get my dog to be a completely differently behaved pet. And Dan and his team are still a resource for me several years after our initial training.

My dog is now considered sweet, well behaved, listens and gets along with our 2 cats and other dogs.

Dan and team rescued my dog from being put down, saved my daughter from heartache and helped me feel in charge of my dog.

They truly are an amazing group of people who I am still grateful to know

Logan Hedrich

Dan Perata's training and boarding truly changed our lives. We had an aggressive pitbull who would never listen to any of our commands, but after doing extensive training with Dan and his team, we were able to curb and change her tendencies and behavior. Their boarding has also greatly helped us out because of their proximity to the airport and their constant willingness to cater to our needs. DP truly is the best dog trainer in the city, you will not be disappointed with the results if you buy into the program!

Sami Pearlman

This review is very long overdue. We put our dog in Dan Camp for puppies in January 2019, and she is her best self as a result. She was a very shy rescue, and although she still has her timid personality sometimes, she impresses everyone she meets with her great behavior. Dan, Natasha, and the whole crew are so wonderful and care so much about the dogs. They gave us the confidence we needed to lead our dog! We've also been boarding our dog when we are out of town, and she's always thrilled to see team members and be dropped off. Truly can't recommend them enough!

Devon Davey

Dan saved my aggressive dog and he taught me how to be a dog owner to a high needs dog, I am SO grateful. My 80lb german shepherd rescue did Dan camp in 2018 and she learned her basic obedience, where as I went to weekly training sessions for almost 2 years! It was amazing they let me come that long but we needed it. I was able to socialize my dog, enforce the 5 basic commands and add on new ones and teach her to be a city dog where we could actually take dog walks without her going after another dog. Dan was firm but kind in his approach with me, encouraging me to stay consistent. They also were her boarders for years until I moved out of the city as I didn't and still don't trust many other people with my dog. If you need help figuring out how to be a dog owner/person for a high needs / active dog, definitely go to Dan! Also, years later with moves and a baby he has provided such helpful advice, thanks Dan!