San Francisco Dog Trainer Jeff Stallings

Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant

I’m San Francisco dog trainer Jeff Stallings, accredited by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers since 2013, with over a decade of experience addressing a range of dog training and behavior issues.

I offer private, in-home behavior consultations and training sessions in San Francisco, the Bay Area and the Santa Cruz Area, or we can meet at parks or other outdoor locations.

I also offer Zoom and FaceTime appointments, which work well for many behavior and training issues. Contact me to explore what might work best for you and your dog.

Please visit my contact page to get in touch; I respond to all inquiries within a few hours.

Modern Dog Training Methods

I help my clients train their dogs and puppies using positive reinforcement and other humane methods of behavior modification. This science-based approach considers each dog’s background, temperament and household environment to guide clients towards more gratifying, healthy relationships with their four-footed companions.

Together we’ll explore how your dog perceives the world and communicates, allowing you to build upon and enhance desired behaviors.

After each appointment, online or in-person, I email a customized training plan and then remain available via email and text to answer any questions.

Reward-Based Dog Training

Incorporating positive reinforcement methods to shape behaviors and teach commands, I sometimes incorporate marker training to speed things along. The purposeful use food rewards—and knowing when to use fewer—helps improve command compliance. (Hint: Become your dog’s slot machine!)

Most dogs enjoy having a job to do, so I encourage the Nothing in Life is Free strategy, making every interaction with your dog a training opportunity.

For building leash skills, I tailor collar and harness recommendations to each dog’s body shape and leash issues. I never use aversives (shock, pinch, choke), and often recommend front-clip, no-pull harnesses, head collars such as the Gentle Leader, and the occasional Martingale for those sighthounds out there.

Getting Your Puppy Off to a Good Start

My “new puppy” appointments take the guesswork out of how to start your puppy off on the right, um, paw. The first few months of a puppy’s life impact everything else that follows; I love helping clients socialize, train and bond with their new family member in the best way possible.

Dog Training Services:

Bringing a new puppy into your life and home
Potty training issues
Command/obedience training
Recalls: Teaching your dog to come when called
Leash pulling
Jumping on people
Biting, chewing and digging
Excessive barking
Aggression/reactivity
Separation anxiety and isolation distress

Teaching You to Train Your Dog

My training approach takes advantage of many aspects of dog cognition—the way they perceive the world; how they learn and communicate; their ability to read our emotions; and social behavior—to train dogs and modify behavior.

My focus is on helping you to more effectively interact with and train your dog. After appointments, I am available to answer questions about shaping and improving the relationship between you and your dog.

For more information about my dog training methods, please read through my articles and published magazine pieces.

Contact me more information or to explore a Zoom consultation or in-person appointment.

Why choose a CCPDT-accredited trainer?

Veterinarians generally prefer to refer patients to trainers who have attained the CPDT-KA (knowledge assessed) distinction.

I first earned this nationally-recognized certification in 2013 and after attaining the necessary continuing education in 2022, am certified through 2025. This credential requires years of experience; references from veterinarians, colleagues and clients; and a formal examination to confirm expertise and proficiency in dog learning theory, canine husbandry, and ethology—the scientific study of animal behavior.

Off-leash Adventures

Bay Area parks and beaches that allow dogs off-leash

What better place to take advantage of your dog’s rocket recalls and heeled walks than at the San Francisco Bay Area parks, beaches and preserves that allow dogs off-leash?

I have researched and hiked many gorgeous San Francisco Bay Area beaches, parks and preserves that allow well-trained dogs to be off-leash and provide information about them on my Offleash Adventures page, including directions to the trailheads.

While most national and California state park hiking trails do not allow dogs, there are many options for local off-leash adventures, including regional preserves and beaches.

So take a hike with your best friend while enjoying the Bay Area’s ample natural beauty.

Jeff and Otis Hiking

Tennessee Valley / Marin County

Zoom or In-Person Behavior Consultations

For dogs with behavior problems, such as leash pulling, reactivity, mild separation anxiety and destructive behavior, I provide Zoom or in-person behavior consultations to help you understand and address the issues.

Training with Positive Methods

For basic training, including commands and recalls, I focus on positive training methods and effective use of reward-based methods, often incorporating marker training (clickers) and humane harnesses and collars.

Set Your Puppy up for Success

My new puppy appointments focus on everything you need to know about potty training, socialization, basic commands, encouraging desired behaviors and avoiding unwanted ones (jumping and biting.)

Referrals to Other Professionals

I sometimes refer serious behavior cases to other professionals, including board-certified veterinary behaviorists in San Francisco and at UC Davis.

Reviews

Below are excerpts from recent client testimonials. You can read these reviews and others in their entirety by clicking on the red yelp button.

As a first-time puppy/dog parent, I don't know how I would have handled things without Jeff keeping me from falling off the proverbial ledge. He was great in helping me manage expectations … stressing positive reinforcement while keeping strong boundaries and demonstrating an understanding of the individual animal. Jeff is fantastic at working through and prioritizing areas to focus on depending on where the dog is in their development cycle.

Jeff is so helpful. He's quite insightful but approaches every dog with humility, recognizing that each dog is unique and every training challenge is an opportunity for him to learn more. We had him do an in-person consultation and training session, and followed up by phone. We took his advice and watched our dog's behavior improve. He is generous with his time and his advice. We recommend him wholeheartedly!

I've worked with Jeff twice now and each time his provided great customized advice that we've been able to put into practice. The latest time we met I was having major problems with my dog becoming fearful and aggressive in my dog friendly office. Jeff had some specific suggestions that have helped a ton and probably more powerful he really changed my mindset about what was going on so that I could relax and in turn my dog could start having success. Thank you so much Jeff!

Jeff's a great guy, and he's a very experienced and knowledgeable dog trainer. We recently had a session with Jeff where he spent time with our 9 month old rescue, Coby, and our family to discuss Coby's behavior and strategies for training Coby. Jeff quickly and clearly understood what was best for Coby in terms of how we need to respond to his behaviors and train him moving forward. I found Jeff to be very thoughtful and instructive. He was also excellent at explaining exactly why his recommended training techniques make sense given Coby's background and disposition. We had a very positive experience working with Jeff and he is highly recommended!

I had a few trainers stop by to meet my puppy Sophie and Jeff was the best by far. He was great with her and I could tell that Sophie really trusted him and enjoyed working with him. Jeff was amazing at showing me how to use positive reinforcement to shape her behavior and gave lots of great tips on potty training, preventing separation anxiety, encouraging calm behavior when greeting new people, and how to continue with mat training.