Fresh Start Dog Training and Boarding

We were referred to Karin from 2 friends in SF and are forever grateful for her expert training and guidance. I called Karin in the early puppy days when it felt like I turned my whole world upsidedown bringing home a 10 week old Cavalier King Charles. I was about to return her to the breeder, but Karin talked me through some strategic plans to work through the first month and survive. At 16 weeks we brought Lucy to Board & Train for three weeks with Karin, in that time she turned Lucy into a puppy we absolutely love to live with, that is well mannered and is a champ at loose leash walking! Karin sets clear expectations and taught us how to set clear boundaries and reinforce what she taught Our pup. When you consider the ingredients of successful training… consistency, repetition, correction, praise, patience and — possibly most important — humor, Karin will lead you and your dog to success. We have continued to board Lucy with Karin and she always greets Karin with her whole body wagging and we come home to a well mannered, happy pup. Much respect and appreciation.

Exceptional. That’s the word to describe Karin’s approach to training dogs and their families (owners, ok…). We have a 4 month old Russell Terrier, and we are building this relationship from the ground up with her patient, intelligent assistance and instruction. The results in just 2 visits have been quite remarkable and most welcome, in light of our adding a terrier to our small family.
Another post said it well — «The way she approaches her training is almost a common sense kind of technique, but the effects are powerful for the guardian and dog.» In short, what she teaches, works.
It’s great to know that she’s a phone call away for the Bay Area; one of Sonoma Counties best. Thanks Karin! We will see you again soon for Ozzy’s next session!

Karin is by far the BEST dog trainer around. My boss who has been friends with her and boarding his dog with Karin for years recommended her to us. We have a 10 year old shi poo that thought she was the queen of the household until she trained with Karin. Mia was extremely territorial and aggressive around her toys, our Mom and her food. She would bark at us from the moment she woke up until she went to bed at night to play ball, which was completely obnoxious. She wouldn’t walk correctly on leash and had no manners when around other dogs. We soon learned we were doing everything wrong from day 1 and that led her to be entitled and act the way she did. We didn’t think it was possible to actually teach an old dog new tricks, but Karin proved us wrong. Karin taught Mia how to act like a dog again instead of a princess and we are forever grateful for that. Mia is so much happier and so are we. We love you Karin and so does Mia!

Id would give Karin a billion stars if i could.
Our experience with Karin was with dog training, specifically puppy classes.
What i loved about Karin was her style in training. She is gentle yet firm. Gives clear instruction, and has an ease about what she is conveying to the animal/​guardian.
The way she approaches her training is almost a common sense kind of technique, put the effects are powerful for the guardian and dog.
There was no clicker, no nothing, simply leash, commands and energy.
She teaches energy work really…
Chaco (our dog) is now 10 years old, and wherever we bring him people always comment about how well behaved he is…
Thank you Karin for teaching us the ropes!
Karin Grahn is someone who clearly enjoys what she does and it shows.

I have known Karin for 14 years, she is warm, friendly and incredibly knowledgable. She helped me train our puppy when we first got him – and he is extremely well behaved and sweet. Recently, she has boarded him and provided excellent love and care. Karin has given me peace of mind, knowing that our dog was in safe and capable hands. I have recommended Karin to many people over the years, and everyone has been happy. Karin is the best!

I had never been a dog owner and here we got Tyler three years ago a wonderful chocolate lab puppy. Soon we discovered Tyler was a food guarder. Not sure why, but he would really growl and jump towards me. Unacceptable of course and I felt scared of my own dog. I was bitten when I was young. My husband said, I will handle this but also he saw how quite aggressive his behavior was. Let me not forget to say that for the remainder our dog is super sweet. So a friend recommended to call Karen. She was so helpful and gave us the understanding and tools to handle certain situations, like the food guarding. Today I called Karen after quite awhile to get some more pointers because our dog started his food guarding tendencies again. You can just feel she really cares for her dogs, but also her clients. She takes her time to explain things on the phone and who knows we might just have one more session. So thanks Karen for all your help and coaching me to handle certain dog situations. I feel empowered now and not helpless.

I can recommend Karin without reservation. We first met her 11 years ago after adopting a 7 pound terrorist toy poodle named Buck. He was our first dog. We brought Buck home from a local rescue organization and he proceeded to bite my spouse After a sleepless night we took him for an evaluation with a canine behaviorist at our local humane society; Buck bit her, too. Clearly, Buck was not an adoptable dog; the rescue group had made an error. Unfortunately, despite Buck’s enraged outbursts, he was a smart, generally sweet and adorable pup; we were hooked. After consulting with several vets and trainers, we found Karin. Karin is a dog in a human body; she just instinctively knows dogs. Karin worked with Buck privately until he was socialized enough to attend dog classes. Given Buck’s horrific reputation, Karin boarded him when we went on vacations and referred us to a groomer who worked specifically with difficult pups. Slowly we began unraveling Buck’s complex situation — he was a behavioral problem covering medical issues. Once the medical issues were finally treated, he was a different dog. Without Karin’s help, we wouldn’t have discovered or treated both the behavioral and medical problems and Buck would have undoubtedly been put down. This would have deprived us of nearly a decade of love, fun and devotion. We miss little Buck still. When it came time for finding our next dog, we consulted with Karin. We wanted another rescue dog, and Karin helped us find a dog with impeccable temperament. It’s been 2 years — and Louis is everything for which we could hope. A wonderful, wonderful dog! And, Karin is a wonderful consultant for all things canine. Again, we recommend her without reservation and with great enthusiasm.

I have a two year-​old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever mix who was born on a Navajo reservation in Arizona near the Four Corners. As a rez dog puppy left to fend for herself, she naturally acquired some unwanted behaviors — especially in the realm of aggression towards dogs her size and larger. She could be alongside another dog, and in a snap, start trying to wrestle that dog to the ground. A year ago, I had taken her to a facility in Petaluma to deal with resource guarding and aggression issues. It didn’t stick. Then Karin’s services were referred to me. During our first training session, she explained what I was up against from a physical, emotional, and spiritual level and how to solve these problems at these same levels. It clicked in my mind, and during those two sessions and subsequent homework assignments, something clicked in the mind of my duck toller too. Just today, we were at the Mill Valley dog show and friends remarked about her remarkable transformation. They could not believe that of all our dogs, I had the most well behaved one of the lot. As one friend put it, my dog was relieved and relaxed and radiated that energy. We still have more work to do, but the future looks brighter than it ever has. If you’re thinking about using Karin’s services, all I can say is try it. I think you might like the results.

Karin is both a wonderful person and terrific with dogs. She has trained and boarded both of my Havanese. The dogs respond well to her. They like her but they respect and obey her. Karin trained my first Havanese Obie as a puppy and then boarded him throughout his life. He died of congestive heart failure and she cared for him several times when he needed complex medication and he was staying with her when he died. I would never have left him with anyone but Karin because I knew that she would care for him as I would. It was a difficult situation for all of us but she did everything that I could ever ask and more. My current Havanese Nemo is healthy and sociable, and loves Karin. I feel like he’s going on vacation when he stays with her. I know he will have fun with the other dogs, and I know that Karin can and will deal expertly with any problem that might arise. She really is the best.

I am so grateful to my vet for recommending Karin Grahn. My adorable fluffy Golden Retriever puppy, Redford, who could do no wrong had turned into a handful. It became obvious to me that I had lost the upper hand and I did not know how to get it back. Enter Karin! When I consulted with my vet she told me she had sent a lot of «crazy Goldens» to Karin and the results had been miraculous. I told her that I was concerned that the training be gentle. She said, «Karin is firm but fair,» which turned out to be the perfect description. The minute Karin walked in my front door I could tell that Redford and I were in the right hands. He picked up on her energy very quickly and it became obvious he wanted to please her She was calm, firm and friendly. I realized very quickly that I needed training more than Redford. By the time she left Redford was behaving like a gentleman and I had the confidence and the tools to reestablish control in a gentle, loving but no-​nonsense manner. Redford and I cannot wait until our next session.

Karin truly was a life saver and a marriage saver. January 2012 we picked up our baby Puli from Grants Pass Oregon. Our puppy, Zeke, proceeded to bite three people in the first week we brought him home. Our vet said Zeke had fear aggression and we should consider returning him to the breeder. Our groomer, and friend of many years, said the dog is unbalanced and to return him. Of course by that time I was in love with Zeke. The vet recommended that for a dog with Zeke’s problems she could only recommend one dog trainer. Karin Grahn! I called Karin, the first time she came to the house she had Zeke’s number. As in number one drama king. When she found out that I was sleeping with Zeke in the guest room (instead of my husband) she gave me a funny look and said «you want Zeke to think you are his girlfriend» Argh, no.
I thought it would help him not miss his mother… wrong. To shorten what is a much longer story of having to retrain — me _​Zeke is doing fine. While Zeke is probably never going to be the therapy dog I had envisioned at least he is not a dog in need of therapy.
If you want a happy, obedient, well trained dog. Don’t mess around see Karin. The life you save may be your dog’s.

Karin Grahn is the most amazing dog trainer in the Bay Area. She has trained three of my dogs over the years, and each dog has developed into a wonderful, obedient dog. Everyone in the area, including all the Vets, swears by her. We all laugh about how you know a Karin Grahn dog when you see one in a park, because it has good manners and really listens to – and obeys – it’s owner. We ever a friend has a puppy or a challenging rescue dog, I say, «Oh, just call Karin Grahn.» And lo and behold? A beautiful dog, and a happy owner. Anne Lamott