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A Dog's Life
Categories: Pets Pet Services Pet Groomers Pets Pet Services Pet Training Pets Pet Services Pet Boarding/Pet Sitting Pet Groomers, Pet Training, Pet Boarding/Pet Sitting [Edit]
1249 Birchwood DrSunnyvale, CA 94089
(408) 747-1111
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 7 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 5 pm
adrian f. said: "We got our rottweiler pup Nein from a family who got him at 5 weeks old. After two weeks their dog could not get along with him and they had to find him a new home. After we met the little guy we couldn't say no! Our first day together…" read more »
41 reviews for A Dog's Life
41 reviews in English
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Review from Kim P.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/26/2012
I really like this groomer. I've had dozens over the years. Part in searching for the "right" one and part due to moves, etc.
I have a 2 and half year old male (neutered of course) toy Havense. He's 5 ponds and the love of our (my hubby and I) life. He is sweet and loving and needy and so ....pliable.
He had a great groomer in Chicago that was awesome. I feel good I found a proper replacement. Two different groomers both times excellent results.
Here's the scoop!
I have major issue with groomers that have a cattle call intake. Like 10 people all show up at 10 with their pets for grooming. 75% of that time they caged (read Pound Puppies). Until they get around to your baby and get it done.
Not here. You drop off and 1 hour later they call for pick up. Just the way I like it! They listen to my needs and love on my baby and deliver top notch grooming. Each time I walk out pleased as punch. They do a fantastic job at nails too. Sometimes I take him in just for the pedi! So affordable too (10 bucks or so)
If you're in Sunnyvale and looking for a dependable groomer I urge you to at least check it out.
They also have daycare. I was there at Christmas time and people were dropping off pets left and right. All smiling and happy :) -
Review from Katie B.
San Jose, CA
5/8/2012
I've been taking my shih tzu (Duncan) here for grooming since he was a puppy. We used to see the weekday groomer until he left. Now we regularly see the weekend groomer, Melissa. She is so attentive to my requests and has been consistent in her work. One time his face wasn't as short as I wanted and they let me bring him back for a little touch up. People always compliment Duncan's cuts and want to know where I take him. I also really appreciate the front desk staff and the general management. They are professional and responsive. He's also been to doggy daycare here a few times. They always have a staff member watching the dogs and you can view the playrooms though a webcam. I highly recommend A Dog's Life!
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Review from Grace L.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/1/2011
This review is only for day care/boarding for my 11 month puppy - Smokey. (I haven't been there for grooming) He's an energetic Shepard mix puppy that has too much energy! He loves it here - as soon as we make that turn into ADL, he gets really excited. The people who work there know him by name and they recognize me as I walk in to pick him up. They really understand what works and how to work with an energetic dog.
The people who work there really care about the dogs and their owners. The web-cams are also a nice way to check on your dog during the day. At the end of the day, I know Smokey is well taken care of and I don't have to worry about him when I am at work.
Although it is more expensive than other day care programs, it is well worth it - they have all these activities for the dogs and I really appreciate it!
Thank you ADL for all that you do for Smokey - we appreciate it! -
Review from Monica F.
2/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It was my dog's first experience here yesterday for a full groom, and he looks amaaaaaazing!!!
Todd is an excellent groomer and really good at what he does.
I brought in my dog, Jeiko...who is suffereing from a complete matted hair dilemma. (i know it's completely my fault for always rescheduling his hair appt at Petsmart)...so anyway....Todd gave him a really nice shave and kept the teddy bear face on my yorkie. He shaped the hair on Jeiko's ears precisely too. It looked so cute. My 3 year old yorkie looked like a 6 month old puppy again.
It was my first experience at A Dog's Life and i dearly love them already. Making an appointment seemed like a phone tag, as we always got each other's voicemail. But i do like the fact that they call back asap and leave detailed and clear voicemails. Ashleigh, the front desk rep was extremely friendly and helpful and such a delight to talk to.
They have a full array of services, which include pet daycare, training and boarding. I am definitely considering them for Boarding after getting to know 2 of their staff.
I'll definitely have them take care of my dog's grooming from now on. =)
-1 star because it's a little bit pricey compared to the norm. I have an 8-lb yorkie and his full groom cost $65. i wonder how much a Lab or a German Shepherd, a Great Dane or a St. Bernard would cost.
But nonetheless, i'll come back. -
Review from Kevin S.
San Jose, CA
10/31/2011
As with Lisa S.'s review, it's only fair for me to make the disclaimer that the company's dir. of ops is a friend of mine as well. That said, my dogs are like my kids, and I would never take them somewhere that I didn't feel good about (even if a friend works there). I am a huge fan of the grooming at A Dog's Life - so much so, that I'm happy to drive the extra distance to get there rather than settling for something closer to home. My Yorkies always come home happy and looking their best, and I love that the groomers remember everything about my dogs (even on my second visit - a month after my first) and are candid with suggestions. I definitely feel like my little ones are in good hands! Highly recommended!
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Review from S L.
San Jose, CA
4/2/2008
I love taking Mochi to the Puppy Social on Sunday Mornings. The best thing is that once they start going as a puppy they can keep going for as long as you want to go! when we first got Mochi she was really shy and Janelle and Nancy really paid close attention that she didn't over stimulated, they were eventually able to get her out of her shell. And now Mochi has "graduated" over to the active side for playing.
they separate the dogs by temperament, and they watch that your dog doesn't get hurt, overstimulated, or bullied. They really are great.
The only problem is that well, its PUPPY social so there are a lot of Accidents, and then you have to wait for them to clean up the mess.
the Socials are a lot more organized than Downtown Dog', which i also take Mochi too. -
Review from J L.
Santa Clara, CA
12/29/2010
I've been hesitant about posting this review for a while because I hate posting bad reviews unless it's deserved.
I used to have a really wonderful review of ADL for a while and was an advocate for this place, but had to pull down my review based on my experiences after writing that first review.
I have two dogs who reguarly frequented daycare at this location. Everything was great until my older dog (who is scared of big dogs) became "too difficult" to deal with.
I can accept reasoning that their staff just isn't set up to devote extra attention to one dog, but that isn't all that they said to me.
They started by telling me that my dog required extra attention when the dogs were arriving in the morning (during the greeting process) which they were not wanting to handle. Then they told me that my dog probably was just tired of coming to daycare and that they have seen this with many other dogs. (WHAT?!?!) They then told me that they hoped I would still bring my second dog to daycare!!! They then suggested that I bring my two dogs to their Milpitas location instead. I found this to be strange since they just told me my older dog was probably tired of daycare.
When I inquired about other methods that we could try to work with my dog, I proposed sending my older dog to their Growly Dog program and when she graduated from the classes, we could re-enroll her. To my surprise, it's been almost a year and they have not re-run the Growly Dog classes anymore. I sent them an email asking when they would have this class again and have not heard from them in about a month's time.
I asked my pet sitter who has a B.S. in Animal Sciences about her professional opinion about what ADL said and she was surprised...
So, in my opinion, this is a good place for your dogs if they are mellow and don't give the staff any trouble. I'm not impressed with their experience level with dealing with dogs and how they try to handle issues (i.e. unresponsive).
BTW, I found another dog daycare facility who is working with my dog and I appreciate their efforts to work with us. -
Review from Saba O.
San Jose, CA
3/21/2010
This was my second time patroning A Dog's Life in Sunnyvale, CA. The first time I left early, as friends who had arrived right at 10:30 AM (the social began at 10:30) were not allowed in, despite being told by a trainer that they would be let in. That seemed a bit strict...
Anyhow, I thought I would try again for a second time (noteworthy is that my dog is an almost 4 M O F cavalier who has been in obediance training now for over a month). We went in and we were put into the shy/quiet dog section (appropriate as this was her 2nd time). The social got started things were ok. There were probably about 15 small puppies in the ring with us. First, my young pup was apprehended by an older, larger dog, who began to hump her. I was uncomfortable with this, but the trainer said it was fine...so I let it go. This happened a second time, once again no response. This is a dominance behavior and i didn't feel it was appropriate for the socializing stage.
A friend of mine was also at the social. Shortly after being bit (not the puppies fault, but moreso a result of poor attention on behalf of the trainer), she left the ring. I was standing in the ring beside the one she was in when the trainers began to speak about the incident questioning, "Why would she put her hands in there to get her dog?" Regardless of what exactly was said, this is very unprofessional. It is inappropriate to speak about a customer in that way in front of other patrons, regardless of the situation.
My dog was then asked to stay 10 minutes after the session to socialize with 2 other shy pups. My pup has been socialized with several other household dogs/animals, and is not classified by her vet or trainer as "shy;" however, we figured we would take the extra 10 minutes to get the full worth of the $10 we paid to get in. The trainer then CONSTANTLY provided treats to my dog. She never asked me whether it was ok to give her these treats, as they belonged to another dog owner. That, and I had my own treats readily available. My pup began to beg. This is a behavior she had not done recently. I gently told the trainer she is begging and we don't approve of that behavior. The trainer responded, "oh well you are just being an overly concerned mother." She continued to beg throughout the remainder of the day...and we are once again working to untrain this behavior.
All in all, the experience was not for me or my little girl. My dog also picked up on barking at other dogs in this social. She is not a barker; however, after today's session she barked at every dog we saw. Prosocial modeling? i think not...
Some others i know have had very positive experiences; however, buyer beware...unless you want to spend some time unlearning negative behaviors, this might not be the best option. Woof, Woof, and away we go.... -
Review from Katherine H.
Honolulu, HI
3/23/2008
This place is perfect for Toby. He came back happy and clean:) The staff is very friendly, the prices are reasonable, and the facility is clean. My Toby is definitely going back for all his baths and grooming needs.
The only reason this place isn't getting 5 stars is because their parking lot is not... very well laid out. Perhaps that's just a nit picky deal of mine, but I do believe that the structural components of a business is a big part of the experience. -
Review from yvonne g.
Cupertino, CA
3/16/2008
My good friend Lise and fellow dog lover introduced me to her dear friend Tracey Lee Davis after I shared my Marley stories.
We decided to give A Dogs Life a try and were lucky to schedule an evaluation for Marley and to get him in -- this place books up fast and for good reason.
When Ginger arrived, we knew we couldn't leave both dogs home alone. It was too risky to leave our two dogs -- who didn't grow up together nor have lived with each other very long -- unsupervised. We were very fearful of coming home to see one or more injured pups. So for a few days, I dropped Marley off prior to going to work. Marley had a wonderful time playing and got his run on. :)
The staff are knowledgeable, caring and friendly -- you can tell they enjoy working there and really care about the dogs. Their hours are flexible making it easier for me to pick him up.
My only challenges -- given that I live in the East Bay, work in the South Bay, and have a demanding work schedule, it's hard to schedule an evaluation during the weekdays (evaluations appts aren't scheduled on the weekends) and it's a challenge to do half-days for their first doggie day care. But once we got those out of the way, it has been a breeze. :)
Ginger just passed her temperament test, and we're looking forward to bringing them both there. This will be supplemental to their jaunts with Woofwalks :) -
Review from pam n.
Hayward, CA
2/18/2008
1249 Birchwood Dr
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Run 'em Ragged Doggie Daycare
Category: Pet Groomers
Love,Love,Love A Dogs Life(formerly Run'em Ragged) one of our dogs goes to daycare everyday, I am talking 7 days a week people!!the other goes on occasion for a special treat. I dont know what I would do without them, my dog is a high spazzy energy dog and needs so much excersize there is no way I could give him enough. They love him and really brought him out of his shell, he is a completely different and more loving dog because he is getting what he needs. My husband and I are now able to go away for the weekend because we know that are dogs are being cared for and we will return to dogs that are tired and happy. What else can you ask for?
01/22/2008
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Review from Ali F.
Santa Clara, CA
9/9/2009
It was really hard for me to decide what to rate A Dog's Life, so I'll break it down from my favorite parts (which deserve 5 stars) to my least favorite parts.
==Doggy Day Care- 5 stars==
I have 2 dogs who are completely different in temperament.
Jack, my puppy miniature pinscher, is friendly happy social silly and crazy playful. He loves daycare, full stop.
Rex, my other miniature pinscher, is almost 3 years old. He is very well -trained- and sadly not very well socialized. He needs a place where they will help keep him from being bullied or overwhelmed but will also make sure HE doesn't act out. So I am really rating their daycare for him.
They keep notes if your dog has issues during their time in daycare, they keep an eye on them to make sure they are interacting well, and they -know- if your dog is shy or under-socialized (important!).
There is a monitor IN the play area with your dog ALL DAY; this is one of the absolute best parts about the daycare since I don't have to worry about my older dog getting picked on or acting out... someone is there to regulate the dogs' behavior while they're playing.
EXTRA BONUS are the webcams! I've watched my boys at daycare for a few hours on the webcams on various days... not only is it comforting to see the excellent care they're getting, it's fun to watch how they act without me around. The monitors even pick dogs up occasionally (which would no doubt be Rex's favorite part) and there's a 'time out' for dogs who get a little too wild or rough.
I couldn't be happier with the daycare. The price for two dogs is not insignificant, but then I'm taking them to daycare purely for socializing and I'm one of those 'crazy pet parents' so... I'm happy to pay for an experience I can be happy about having tried cheaper options which were -horrifying-.
The daycare/boarding staff is great and friendly, they know my dogs on sight, and I feel very comfortable leaving them with such nice people. It can be a bit tough to get a call through at peak drop off or pick up hours, because the person manning the front desk is also bringing the dogs in and out, but I usually just call back later.
==Puppy Socials (Sundays)- 3 stars==
These have been invaluable for Jack. He's tiny, so we go to the 10:30 social, and his confidence now is so much better than when we started going. It's also kept him happy and outgoing, and I know from experience that without socialization that can change!
Nancy and the others do a -great- job of monitoring the puppy play and separating the groups by temperament.
The socials are BUSY ... not because of puppies, but because of people. There are several puppy owners who bring not only a spouse but also their children, or large groups, etc.
The only real downside is that my tiny dog must go to the 10:30 social. That would be fine, but there are always people who bring large dogs who don't seem shy at all! This means that half the room is taken up for 3 or 4 big dogs because they need the space, leaving 12-20 small dogs in the other half of the room. Some days this isn't a big issue, but some days I know he doesn't get to burn off much energy because of the cramped space.
==Training Classes (trainer: Nancy)- 5 stars==
This review is only for classes with Nancy as the trainer... I've been to several training classes with my dog Rex and so I know how big a difference the trainer makes.
Jack has done so well in Nancy's puppy classes that I have made a point of taking the classes she teaches! She's got a great manner and is really watching you while you train your puppy; her corrections are invaluable and make me feel like I've really learned a lot, even though this is puppy #2. He loves class, which includes a play session at the beginning... thank goodness, since the pups focus much better afterwards.
Classes are small, the training is treat-based with some clicker use (perfect for puppies) and overall the classes are very affordable!
==Dog Behaviorist- 0 stars, see below==
I found ADL while looking for a behaviorist. When I went to their training section, it directed me to call this trainer for an evaluation. I left a message detailing my dog's issues and the urgency I felt in addressing them... and then I waited.
And waited.
I left my message on a Thursday. I wasn't expecting a next day response, but it took her nearly a week to even call me back. By then, I had found another behaviorist... didn't surprise her, since the first thing she asked me when she called was 'do you still need training?'
Sadly not representative of the rest of my ADL experience! -
Review from Ann F.
Mountain View, CA
12/12/2007
I am recommeding their training classes and trainers. I "had" a reactive dog. It was awful taking him for a walk because he was barking and growling at every dog with we passed on the street. I tried several other trainers with no success. We are still applying what I learned (it has been less than a week), the difference is really noticeable already. [ It has been several months now and we have improved greatly, not perfect but I am walking a very different pretty good behaved dog.]
I also recommended the puppy social to my neighbor. He is always showing me new training techniques which are working on my dog. I plan to take more classes here to further my and my dog's education.
*** Update ***
I stopped using the doggie day camp about a year ago. I have a shy dog. When I arrived one evening, I was told that my dog had been "mauled" by a high energy dog and might be fearful about attending. The recommendation was to bring him in for an hour at a time. This didn't work for me. Also, my dog would no longer willingly go into A Dog's Life. -
Review from Diane B.
San Jose, CA
2/18/2008
Our dog has been going to Run 'Em Ragged for about two years now. We take him about once a month, sometimes less sometimes more, depending on our schedule. If we're both really busy and know we'll be working long hours in the office, we'll take him in. What a load off to know that he's well taken care of and having fun with other dogs instead of being stuck at home bored out of his mind.
The staff is super nice and friendly. When we've run into them outside of Run 'Em Ragged, like at the Walk 'N Wag or once at a park near our house, staff members immediately recognize our Kyle and his little tail goes wild.
We also boarded him one time when my in-laws were out of town as well. It was comforting to know that he was with staff that he already knew. What was even better were the webcams, being able to see him online while we were away was a godsend.
Please note: I reviewed their exceptional grooming services earlier, but I just called to make an appointment and the groomer we loved so much has left. Bummer!!! -
Review from Diana K.
Cupertino, CA
2/15/2011
This was my first visit here, the main reason being that they do grooming on weekends, which is convenient They're quite nice here and grooming for a small dog is around $50. The groomer is friendly and takes the time to meet with you and discuss how you would like your dog cut.
My dog looks pretty much like i expected except that there is this missing patch of hair on one side of her face. It looks a big odd, and i take it that it's a mistake of some sort. It's not a big deal, it'll grow back i know. But i'm not sure if i would come back because of that. -
Review from Mari P.
Palo Alto, CA
10/5/2011
I still cringe at my memories of bringing my puppy to this place for their puppy socials. I went to two of them. There were too many dogs, too many people and not enough dog trainer supervision. I was told by a trainer that my puppy was too shy and didn't have social skills. She encouraged me to put my very young 16lb puppy in a group of older and much larger adolescent dogs so that my puppy could learn how to "tell other dogs off." I'm glad I didn't listen to the trainer and hightailed out of there.
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Review from Katy L.
San Jose, CA
4/12/2008
My dog has a pretty good life, and part of the reason is because of "A Dog's Life". He's definitely deemed as part of our family.
Whenever we go out of town and can't bring him, we know he's in good hands at this place. When our dog comes home, he's definitely exhausted. He's done both daycare and overnight. They even have a camera where you can watch the doggy play area, it maybe hard to spot if you're dog is one of the many black dogs, but it's fun to watch if you're wondering what your dog is up to.
We've been pretty satisifed with their services and haven't tried to go to "cheaper" kennels that are nearby. Their prices are still reasonable and they continue to have our trust.
Our dog is a 55lb, Male, Retriever/Collie Mix -
Review from Liz H.
San Jose, CA
2/14/2008
We take both of our dogs here and they love it. The staff loves them to pieces and takes great care of them. Our dogs go for daycare and boarding and they always come home happy, healthy and exhausted. It's so great to know that your dogs are being taken care of by people that really care about them.
Tracey Lee Davis is the manager of the Sunnyvale facility and a professional dog trainer. She does a great job of evaluating dogs' temperaments before they're allowed to play. And the web cam is great (they're currently working on upgrading the speed).
We haven't done any of the training classes yet, but I think our little 12-pounder would love fly ball so we'll probably check that out.
The other thing that I really respect about A Dog's Life is their commitment to your dogs' health. If there is any kind of problem, they are right on top of it, whether it's a suspected case of kennel cough or a dog who stops eating while being boarded. They take excellent care of their charges. -
Review from Lisa S.
Bay Area
2/23/2009
I went back and forth on writing this review, since - I happen to be childhood friends with the director of operations of the A Dog's Life company, Tracey. Tracey is on site at either the Sunnyvale or Palo Alto locations every day - sometimes bouncing between the two. So she is right in the mix of the daily runnings.
I don't usually like to review businesses of my friends unless I feel strongly about their business. I absolutely will not write a review "just 'cuz they're my friend". I don't believe in padding reviews and someday if I own my own bakery (as I'd love to do) I would hope my friends do not blow smoke up my ass either.
HOWEVER; I think it's important to let the public know just how well run A Dog's Life is - NOT for A Dog's Life to get high Yelp scores, but to give the clients peace of mind.
I was thinking about this over the weekend when I had to leave my baby, Lucca overnight at the Sunnyvale location. I was feeling so thankful that I know Tracey. And in knowing her, I know how strongly she feels about animals. I know that she thinks of her own dog as her son. I know that her heart breaks when she hears about an animal not being cared for as they should. I know that she is even more responsible than I about training and grooming. I've even heard her complaints/praise of her staff as she vents to me and therefore know that she hires/keeps only those who think like her and care about animals as much as she does.
If I didn't know these things about her I'd be very wary about leaving my beloved fur-baby OVERNIGHT. I probably wouldn't do it. But since I know how she thinks - I know she wouldn't allow her business to be run at any level lower than her own standard.
I take Lucca to daycare at A Dog's Life too and can't offer you any additional information than others already have - it's spectacular! Drop your doggie off in the morning; leave them having the time of their life for up to 12 hours; pick them up and take them home to sleep for practically the entire next day... what's not to love?! The thing that just about kills me is how they read off the "report card" each day at pickup. "Today Lucca played with Carter and Kohl and... Lucca ate all her food... Oh and there was a little incident where another dog was resource guarding the water bowl from Lucca, but we moved her to another group..." Fur parents eat this stuff up!!!
We've also done a couple Puppy Classes and Puppy Socials and they completely helped form our little 8 week old baby (yes she was 8 weeks and 1 day old on her first class - we checked with the trainer and it was fine since she'd had her first 2 shots). Lucca is sweet and relatively polite now and while really, the classes are for the PARENTS to learn, the dogs have a great time and learn to socialize well with other dogs too.
In the same way we shudder at the thought of leaving our kids with someone we don't know - we feel similarly at the thought of leaving our beloved pets. But if you care to bank on me, I can vouch for A Dog's Life. Them, I definitely know. And I trust them fully.Listed in: When Dog is your Co-Pilot
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Review from Bryan W.
Santa Clara, CA
7/18/2008
Excellent doggy day care. Excellent and attentive staff. They have a lot of dogs and you sometimes have to book in advance, but they give personalized attention to every dog.
A dog's life is very organized and cares about the dogs. I notice a difference in my dog after he returns from A Dog's life compared with other day cares. He is much more calm, happy and balanced after he returns. He is also exhausted which is another bonus.
I highly recommend A Dog's Life. -
Review from Rachel E.
San Francisco, CA
12/24/2008
I'll start this by saying my dog has never been here. On my quest to find a place to board her in January for 8 days I've interviewed A LOT of different doggie centers.
I went on the website and filled out a boarding request form. I waited several days and didn't hear back. So I picked up the phone and called. It was regular business hours but I got an answering machine. I didn't hear back that day, or the day after, or the day after. 3 days later I finally received a phone call back from someone.
I would never bring my dog to a place where I didn't get a call back for 3 days. What if I actually had a concern and needed to speak with someone?!
I was not impressed and there are plenty of other places willing to take my $50 a day where they are more responsive. -
Review from teresa t.
San Jose, CA
7/12/2008
We love A Dog's life! Our VERY active pups have been attending ADL twice a week for almost two years. the facility is top notch, very clean and properly maintained. It is structured and organized for the dog's safety. The outdoor space with wading pools is a dog's dream.
The daily activities for the dogs are well planned and supervised. My dogs are getting the exercise, discipline and love they need. An added bonus, each day we pick up the dogs, we receive feedback on their day.
The staff is beyond comparison.
You just know every staff member loves what they do. The entire staff is professional, knowledgeable, responsible, and caring
When traveling we either board our dogs or have a slumber pary. Our pups have so much fun and are so well cared for they don't even miss us. My husband and I can enjoy our vacation knowing our pups are in the best of hands.
We have also taken just about every class offered, obedience classes, dog sports,free style and "hounds on the town". Our pups love going to training. ADL offers a great variety of classes. The instructors are outstanding! Top in their field. They are always up to date on the latest, and the classes are creative, well structured, organized and fun.
The best endorsement however, is the excitement our pups display knowing the are going to spend the day at ADL -
Review from Amy M.
San Jose, CA
1/24/2009
We just finished Canine Middle School with Cecilia and I must say I am pleasantly surprised with the results!! I was skeptical going in because I thought that reward based training was pretty weak. However, after participating in the training and realizing how the positive reinforcement encourages the reaction you are seeking, I am a believer! Not only was the class productive, I felt it was a lot of FUN for my dog, as well as for me. After completing the class, I am much more confident in how to approach training, and encourage the behavior I want from my dog. I have already signed up for the next levl class( High School) and look forward to continuing the training! The class sizes were small enough to allow for individual evaluation and feedback which was also a great feature for me.
I would certainly recommend this class, and encourage you to approach it with an open mind. -
Review from Rina D.
Fremont, CA
12/22/2011
Our dog has been going to daycare regularly here for about 6 months, and he's stayed on a handful of overnight stays for about a week each time. They take great care of our dog, and give us details on his day when we pick him up. The staff is really friendly, the playroom webcams are fun to look at when you're at work, and the rates are good. Overall, I feel at ease when I drop my dog off here because I know he's in good hands. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because often times they are fully booked. Several times I've tried to make a reservation 2 weeks in advance, but they were booked for the days I wanted.
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Review from Tanja F.
San Jose, CA
6/28/2010
I just took my dog Maddie to ADL for a "full" spa treatment.
Her groomer was Todd and he did an amazing job!! I love the way she looks and her coat has never looked better.
We have gotten nothing but compliments on her new look and she seems a lot more comfortable now with her new summer do as temperatures are rising.
I will definitely take her back to see Todd!! -
Review from Rio G.
San Jose, CA
2/17/2009
We take our Rhodesian Ridgeback, Ozzie, to A Dog's Life for their Sunday socials as well as their puppy training classes. We are on our third round of classes and Ozzie is learning something new every week. They have class options for puppies as well as older dogs. We have taken all three of our classes with Nancy Weller and highly recommend her; she is knowledgeable and very helpful when it comes to answering any questions you may have either in class or via email. They always have several assistants working during the class so there are always people around to help you and your dog through the training process.
Minus 1 star for how difficult it is to get a hold of someone through the phone. It took me several attempts throughout the week to book a class with someone over the phone. -
Review from JillO P.
San Jose, CA
12/11/2007
I can't believe I am the first reviewer of A Dog's Life ("ADL", formerly known as Runem Ragged - which they did!) when they just took top honors by readers at Silicon Valley Tails in 5 categories: Best Place for Agility/Instruction, Best Overnight Boarding, Best Groomer, Best Trainer/Training Class and last but not least Best Doggie Daycare. I swear I only voted once! Now I understand, by giving a positive review, I could be losing a future boarding slot to a newcomer - but if you care about your pup, you want the best and that I can't argue with. Loli, my Bernese Mountain Dog, was lucky enough to get a gift certificate from a lovely Golden named Ruby and after an evaluation where I was on pins and needles, my girl got in. The anxiety was palpable - but that she pranced by everyone smiling made me proud - and well, it made me feel good that ADL was taking the time to understand what challenges Loli might have and how she would fit in with the rest of the pooches. If you are like me and are trying to balance long hours at work, an intolerable commute and the desire to have the unconditional affection of a canine companion - A Dog's Life - gives you peace of mind.
Convenience: Drop off as early as 7am and pick up as late as 7pm; Two locations serving the peninsula (Palo Alto and Sunnyvale). They offer different pricing packages to meet your needs and utilization. Scheduling is a piece of cake through email.
Full service: Grooming, boarding in Sunnyvale (with people she knows and loves from her daycare and an overnight attendant on-site), training (Loli and I have been to numerous classes and will be back for more - Cecilia's classes rock!), supplies (Lupine leashes, Five Paw Bakery Treats) and a Report Card to let you know who your pup has been playing with and what challenges or accomplishments she may have had for the day. They also have a webcam, but I got over my separation anxiety a long time ago and don't view it much anymore. And I can't forget the special holiday events that come with dress-up and photos which are a hoot. What fun to compare Loli's First Day of School photo to the prior year!
When Loli first started going to daycare in August 2006, she was a nippy, under-exercised (my fault!) 5 month old. She is now a well-adjusted goofball who leaves my ankles alone and pretends to be a lap dog. I will admit it was strange to me at first to see the ADL staff care about Loli, as if she was their dog. I was maybe a teeny bit jealous...but, that is really what I was looking for - I just didn't expect to find it so easily. -
Review from Kathleen R.
Santa Clara, CA
10/17/2009
My dog used to go to A Dog's Life where she was on the verge of being kicked out because they could not "control" her...guess my dog liked to play to much and to rough for them. When I would watch her on the video feed at ADL she would be tethered to the wall because she was playing to rough and would not calm down with food treats. You can only motivate a dog for so long with snacks if they are smart. In addition to fights with other dogs at ADL because they were not equipped to handle her she also kept getting giardia...pray your dog never gets this...it is horrible. My dog didn't pick this up once from them, instead she got it 5 times...and I had over $1,000 in vet bills to treat her. The reason I know she picked it up from ADL was because a day after both of her last two visits she had contracted giardia, simple to prevent, use bleach to clean and separate or don't take in sick dogs. How do I know she got sick from ADL, because she hasn't been there in almost two years and the last time she got sick was the day after her last visit and the only thing that changed was Iwe stopped going there. Additionally I received email confirmation from ADL that they did have giardia issues and dogs getting sick so why pay if your dog isn't being exercised and getting sick to boot.
The other issue to watch out for which I hope has changed is the groomer. I would pay for a "bath" and instead of using soap and water on my dog she was given "waterless baths" because they were quicker and you can clean more dogs this way. Great for a quick touch up but not if you are paying $30. or so. -
Review from Peter T.
Cupertino, CA
6/4/2009
So let me start off by saying that I called this business several times and always got rolled to voicemail. After leaving messages and never getting a call back I'm disappointed with their lack of customer service. I could probably get my dog trained faster by watching the "Dog Whisperer" on TV because by the time I get someone to call me back it might be hell freezing over...
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Review from Katherine L.
Santa Clara, CA
Updated - 12/17/2008
Had Puppy 3 w/Cecilia that ended a couple of months ago. It wasn't a good experience. She promised me a free private lesson, which never happend.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/16/2008
Almost done with Puppy two with Ruthanna. She's great and works hands on with you. I love that she… Read more »
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Review from Amy A.
9/29/2008
daycare: jelli bean, our beagle, loves a dog's life and all the handlers. they're very attentive on behavior and signs of stress. jb's been going there since she was 5 months old (basically, a very small dog in the crowd) and has learned to socialize well.
training: ruthanna is incredible. we took puppy 1 and puppy 2 with her. she is our local dog-whisperer as she somehow manages to coax the dogs into successfully completing a new command on the first try. she is practical in her suggestions and thinks outside of the box. training with her is a must! -
Review from Jesse S.
San Jose, CA
6/2/2008
If you want your dog groomed, go somewhere else.
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Review from T T.
San Jose, CA
3/3/2009
Puppy is shy so he goes to the Sunday 10:30AM puppy social where there is a special section just for shy and timid puppies to play together. The puppy socials are crowded and are loud and a bit chaotic. I still like it though. Puppy likes it too. He can be around other calm and shy dogs that won't bully him but he is still too scared to play though, so hopefully after a few more of these socials he will become more comfortable and can leave the shy section and play with the more rowdy dogs.
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Review from Jaime K.
San Jose, CA
5/11/2010
Super knowledgeable staff and trainers. I have a 9 month old chihuahua mix, Lola, that went through A Dog's LIfe Puppy 1 and Puppy 2 classes and we learned a lot! We learned practical stuff like sit, stay, come, an emergency recall, and walking. They gave us a book that was a helpful resource. it was really worth the moderate fee.
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Review from MK P.
Santa Clara, CA
7/12/2010
We have been taking our four-footed child to A Dog's Life since day one. We learn about ADL from Nancy Weller, who was referred to us as an excellent trainer.
Kalla Lilly has gone to Puppy Socials as well as training classes: Puppy 1, 2 and 3 and "Hounds on the Town."
We found the training to be OUTSTANDING!! Not only was Nancy a fantastic trainer, but you can tell she truly is a dog lover.
We started taking Kalla Lilly to daycare at ADL after her first class. While I agree with the other review that getting to an evaluation during the day is a bit tough, it was well worth it. I have found the day care staff to be extremely observeant and responsive. They have also enforced the training from our Puppy classes, which makes it money well spent!
The staff is all knowledgable and helpful. When we leave a message on the VM, we receive a return call quickly and efficiently.Comment from Tracey Lee D. of A Dog's Life 3/22/2012
MK has been a regular client of ours since May 2007. They… More » -
Review from Kevin B.
Santa Clara, CA
4/16/2008
My wife and I have been taking our little guy "Regal Beagle" to A DOG'S LIFE Sunnyvale since September 2005. Regal is a frequent visitor of both Daycare and Boarding and boy does he love it there. It is definitely a win-win situation for us. Regal enjoys the dog socialization and the human attention he gets from all the staff. We love the fact that Regal burns off so much energy making him a very mild mannered pooch when he comes home at the end of the day. We also know that when we leave Regal at A DOG'S LIFE that he is in a safe environment where he is well supervised and will be treated with care by a very professional team of staff that is passionate about their jobs. We cannot say enough about the staff; they truly love what they do and care very much about each of their canine clients. Regal has evolved into such a wonderful companion and we know that much of this has to do with the time spent at A DOG'S LIFE.
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Review from Nicole S.
San Jose, CA
9/21/2010
I've only taken puppy classes here, so it's just on that...but I loved them a lot! Now I'm going to ADL in Milpitas, which is also great, but I prefer Sunnyvale a little bit. The instructors are really good and knowledgeable, and also good with both people and dogs. They really made the classes fun and informative. I feel like my dog is a lot better behaved now, and not only that, I also am more prepared to do training on my own. Highly recommend!
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Review from Mike R.
Iowa City, IA
8/17/2009
Great place for puppy socials on the weekends and expert training during the week. Nancy Weller is a wonderful trainer and is highly recommended from those of us with dogs who have attended her classes within the local ASPCA community. Customer service from the staff is also fantastic; same day responses via telephone or email for any inquiry that I have submitted. The only "downside" is the growing crowds for the puppy socials on Sunday @ 10:30. If you have a smaller dog (less than 25 lbs), you will want to arrive early (10:20 at the latest) to beat the line.
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Review from Snow F.
Mountain View, CA
7/15/2008
(This is a combine score for daycare and training classes. The break-down is: daycare = 5 stars; training&social = 1 star)
I love the daycare service here, but their puppy social and training classes aren't for every dog.
I have a friendly, loving, and fairly vocal 8-month old puppy that gets easily excited by other dogs. She barks only when she wants to play or when she's overly excited. She still submissively pees when she's too excited. My breeder told me that it runs in the family because all her dogs were doing that before they turned 1. Apparently these 2 personal traits got her kicked out of the puppy social because Nancy thinks my dog is too overwhelmed and needs to work on her social skill. So I thought I would register her for the Puppy 2 class to give her more social opportunities. She had already taken Ruthanna's Puppy 1 class in Palo Alto and loved it because it's very introductory (good for novice dog owners). Anyways, Nancy was the instructor for Puppy 2 class and she kicked us out of the class because my dog submissively peed twice within the first minute during social time after she ran around and gently sniffed a few dogs. I know my dog, and she was doing it mainly out of excitement! If she doesn't get more chance to socialize, how can she improve her social skills??? If we had kept her in class for 5+ minutes longer, she will calm down and will stop barking and submissively pee (that's what happens normally in Ruthanna's class too)! Nancy kicked her out within the first few minutes into class. Nancy may be good at training push-button dogs, but she is not experienced enough to understand/train my Northern Breed dog. The Northern Breeds aren't push-button dogs since they are smarter and more stubborn.
Also, my own private trainer did not think submissive peeing is a sign of social problem. Nancy had made me worry that my dog has "problems", but the dog just simply get excited too easily. She is a friendly dog and she can get very excited to meet any human or dog.
My dog has also been attending the daycare here twice a week for the past month and a half. She's totally loving to come to daycare and make friends! The daycare facility is spacious and it has an indoor and outdoor areas for the dogs. The daycare staff are friendly and helpful. The staff mops up any accidents, but I think my dog always comes home with the cleaning solution smell (probably from sitting/laying on the floor). They have toys and kiddie pool (on hot days) for the dogs to play. I have not boarded my dog here, so I cannot comment much on that. -
Review from Tina M.
San Ramon, CA
9/14/2008
Today was the first time I brought our newest puppy, Bailey, to the Puppy Social here. I have to say that it was a great experience for the both of us. They have an hour to mingle and play with other puppies and learn how to socialize. She was a little shy at first, but after about fifteen minutes, started chasing around a jack russell that seemed to have a limitless amount of energy. They separate the pups based on size, and there were about ten to fifteen puppies in each group. There are supervisors who make sure the puppies are playing well and not bullying each other. And they'll handle clean up in case of any "accidents" (how often are you going to get that???). I also got a chance to meet other owners who shared a lot of great advice on everything from where to buy cute harnesses to what dog parks to go to, etc. The best part, Bailey came home EXHAUSTED and totally ready for a nap. Maybe I'll take one too...
