Dog Dynamics

Dog Dynamics was an actual lifesaver for us and our young Golden Retriever! We met with Bonnie via Zoom for our first training as we waited to get into her private lessons. We learned so much in that first hour online - we were amazed. Our main focus was leash/toy reactivity that we started to notice in Fin's behavior. The in person private lessons helped us become better dog trainers/owners and helped our pup find the confidence, commands and flow he needed to correct his behaviors. Bonnie is understanding, smart and so patient with humans and their dogs. Fin is now able to live a better life with the skills we learned at Dog Dynamics. Thank you Bonnie - we are SO grateful for you!

We just completed the three week training course and couldn't say better things about Dog Dynamics! Kona is a very affectionate and energetic 10 month old black lab. We have 3 kids at home and between Kona pulling her leash on every walk, eating every toy on the ground, and counter surfing, we were in need of some help. Emily taught Kona how to stay in place, walk beside me, and respond to every command.

We have taken her to the park off leash multiple times and feel secure knowing that Kona will come right back to us when called. I can not thank Emily enough for the fantastic training she provided to us! The difference between the before and after is night and day! We are now blessed to have a very well behaved, still affectionate pup who I can take on walks :

I'd recommend Dog Dynamics for anyone in California (Briones, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Danville) who wants to see real results with guidance from professional dog trainers. Bonnie and her team offer group classes, private dog training, and they are now doing virtual classes as well!

Training techniques for specific tasks were good, but answering situation specific scenario questions (what do I do if my dog.) sometimes were vague answers and once a non-answer. One instructor was occasionally rude and snappy with people even though no one, including me, was ever rude or abrasive to them. Being sarcastic with an older lady in our group put a dead silence over the entire class. l skipped two lessons because I just didn't want to deal with the attitude.

I had previously taken my older dog to HSSV for training and they were fantastic. Unfortunately, they're too far away from where we live now and I had to find somewhere else. It was an overall negative experience for us.

I've been working with Dog Dynamics since October of 2018. I first signed up for the Reactive Dog class through WC Parks and Rec with my lab, who was six at the time and extremely anxious, reactive, and generally out of control. I've had this dog since he was a puppy - we were too lenient and didn't socialize him well, and after moving into a home with essentially no yard, we were out of crutches to help us deal with his poor behavior.

He would pull like no other on the leash, lunge aggressively at other dogs, and was nearly un-walkable. We couldn't take him anywhere, because he would bark, lunge, growl, and similar. I knew he wanted to please us, but I didn't know how to communicate with him. After one six-week class, we saw an unimaginable turnaround - my dog and I knew how to communicate!

He was still a handful, but he was making progress and I could take him out of the house with far less stress than before. I signed my husband up to take the next round of the class so we'd be on the same page. Then in January of 2019 we started training privately with Kristin, and I can't explain what a lifesaver she's been. By mid-February, my dog was walking amazingly on leash, had near-perfect recall, stopped lunging and barking, and hung out on his place in our kitchen while we were at home.

This dog now goes to work with me every day, goes shopping with me at all the dog friendly stores, goes out to eat with me, walks downtown with me, and elicits countless comments that "He is so well-trained!" I give Kristin's email address out multiple times a month to people who stop me and ask about my dog's obedience because he's just that good.

I can't thank Kristin and Dog Dynamics enough. A year and a half ago I told my husband "I'll never get rid of our dog, but I really don't like owning him anymore, " and today, he goes everywhere with me and spending time with him is by far one of my favorite things. (He even has an instagram because he's so good - jackson.the.explorer if you'd like to see where Kristin has gotten us!) I wish I could give more than five stars!

I just finished a 3 day seminar with Julien Ryckenbusch and I have to say it was the best training experience of my life. I am a pet dog owner who loves training with my dog and Julien has a way of explaining and helping you get the best from your dog no matter if you are a novice or an experienced trainer. thank you Bonnie for bringing this gifted teacher to us!

If you have a chance go to this class! We have also done puppy and rattlesnake training with dog dynamics and have always had a great experience. Thank you Julien -can't wait for next year!

This is in regards to the rattlesnake aversion training class. We took our dogs to this since we live in a heavy rattlesnake prone area. We have three little dogs, so a rattlesnake bite is a pretty big deal. Our "middle" dog has been through the class twice. Our plan was to repeat the training yearly. He had his second training last year in late April.

Two months later, while in our backyard, he walked straight up to a rattlesnake, sniffed it, barked and was promptly bit in the face. (We have a backyard camera system, we did not know what had occurred until we watched it play back.his face was so swollen up my first thought was that it was a bee). At any rate, after a $3000 emergency visit bill, a two day stay, and lots of pain for him.our little guy was ok. But I am beyond disappointed and upset that we had invested the time and money into this training (not once, but twice) only to have my dog get bit.

Bonnie is amazing! Direct, patient, and no BS! I've used many dog trainers in the past and I've never seen such great results. I have a dog that has a very active prey drive. Bonnie helped us work on lessening the prey drive and now we have relaxed enjoyable walks twice a day. Bonnie tells you exactly what to do without all the doggy psycho babble I've heard from other trainers. We still have some work to do but I look forward to our classes and then hopefully group training.

I recently took a reactive class from Bonnie and thought it was great. She does recommend that you feed all your dog's food from a food pack. She clearly told us all that we were feeding the same amount of food but just when the dog performed the desired behavior. There was absolutely no deprivation involved. Based on some of the negative reviews above, I think maybe some people did not understand the instructions.

I had great results with this technique and have used it extensively since taking the class. It works and it's kind. My dog came to value me quite a bit since I handed out all the food. When I said his name his responses became quicker. He wanted to come to me. He was and is extremely happy. he just has been given another reason to listen to me. The class was great.

I attended a puppy head-start class at the rec center in Walnut Creek that was put on by Dog Dynamics with my son. The woman who hosted the class was extremely rude to me on the very first class. We sat during the ENTIRE hour with the exception of a 5 minute puppy social break, at which time my dog started circling to go potty so I took her outside.

On my way back in she came to the glass doors and slammed the door on my face and started yelling at me that I can't open the doors during puppy social time and acted as if she wasn't going to let me back in. I asked her are you really not going to let me back in the class? My son and purse are inside. I told her she didn't explain what the rules are in the begining of class, which she did not offer any other explanation for her nasty behavior. Here's the thing if you are teaching puppy etiquette you should have the bare minimum of people etiquette as well.

I called the company to talk to them about it and they did not return my call, which overall if you are running a business is a very bad sign considering if you are going to pour money into dog training, go somewhere that treats their clients with respect and also appreciates the business. So many other options out there.

The agility class was so FUN! Sue and Cheryl are masterful teachers who 'keep it light'. The dogs clearly enjoyed themselves and we all laughed a lot! Mine was one pooped pooch for much of the rest of the afternoon. THAT was a nice bonus! Haha!

I have a one year old female German Shepherd that I recently adopted from a rescue group. Since my dog was not food oriented I was having problems training her in the basics. My main concern was that I wanted to be able to hike with her off leash. It only took two private lessons with Bonnie for me to acquire the skills necessary to properly bond with my dog and get all the basics resolved.

My dog now has a good sit, stay, down, and a great recall. When we are out hiking she can be off leash and she is always aware of where I am. Our hikes are now safe and a pleasure for both of us.

I have been working with Bonnie for nearly three years. I have two very active, young dogs and without Bonnie's instruction, my house would be a physical wreck and my family would be living in complete chaos. I have done group classes as well as private lessons. We started with basic obedience training and have progressed to intermediate, off leash, and rally.

My personal experience has been that dog training is a journey. It has taken lots of practice and repetition outside of class in order to appreciate meaningful carryover. Bonnie is very patient, and she goes out of her way to get to know you as well as your dog and to provide tips that are relevant to your situation. Her training methods are based on sound principles, and they work. Bonnie is the best.

I did a session with Bonnie Brown through the city and would never recommend this way of training. She lacks people skills, is condescending and bases her training on keeping the dog hungry and feeding only out of your hand. No bowl feeding until your dog starts listening to you. If you cook for your dog you're out of luck as she expects you to carry your food in a hip fanny pack.

This was absurd to me as all dogs in the class were young around 6 months old, and my dog will not listen to anything when he's hungry. There are other ways of training besides using the hunger tactic. Bonnie also got annoyed with me and was pretty condescending in front of the whole class when I did not bring my dog to class hungry. My dog was extremely stressed in her class so I finally gave up. She collaborated with Cesar Millan (Dog Whisperer) on his book and there is lots of controversy with his training as well. Look elsewhere.

We have been working with Bonnie at Dog Dynamics for several years. We have a mixed pack and she has helped us balance our own dogs with visiting family dogs, worked on obedience and basic puppy training and, recently, on refining our off leash work with my very active Jack Russell terrier. I am so impressed with her common sense approach to creating a wonderful living relationship with my dogs.