Mahogany has trained and handled thousands of dogs over more than 15 years as a dog trainer and before that owning one of the largest dog walking services in the East Bay. Mahogany has worked with dogs of all breeds and addressed every behavior issue known to man.
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9 customer reviews
Lisa
We used Mahogany to help train our German Shephard when she was ~10months.. wow what a difference she helped make! Many people commented on our puppy being a totally different dog after training. .in the best way possible. She set great foundations for recall and non-pulling walking as well as helped cement basic commands we had started. Our puppy loved her! I have recommended her to many friends based on our positive results as well : ) More...
Taitlyn Dompor
Mahogany has helped my dogs more than any other trainer.
My first dog, a Pitbull rescue, had a lot of baggage (like fear of other dogs and people, and reactivity).
We were told by another local trainer that he’d never be normal. But we went to Mahogany and she accepted him and helped him learn to trust us as his owner and become desensitized to his fear triggers. After her board and train program, he was able to follow commands, ignore distractions, and be calm around house guests and in public (including around doting children). We now have the tools as owners to keep him consistently happy and focused which has freed us up so much to take him more places with us.
Mahogany has also trained our other Pitbull as a hyperactive puppy (5 months old). He had lots of issues with barking, walking with running ahead of us, and concentrating when given commands. She gave us the tools to keep his mind engaged and help him to remain consistent with important commands so he is able to function well out and about. Now he is out most well behaved dog with commands and loves to play engaging games.
With our youngest two dogs, the things that we’ve learned from Mahogany empowered us to train them on our own and she still gives helpful guidance along the way. She’s helped us with getting ahead of issues like barrier aggression and resource guarding and it has proven to be so helpful.
If you want an amazing trainer that gives you the confidence and tools to train and help your dog through any issues (big or small) look no further. Mahogany is the best trainer for the job.
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Erika Peterson
What distinguishes Mahogany from a lot of trainers is her extensive hands-on experience with dogs (particularly working breeds), her passion and dedication to understand dog behavior, and thoughtfully educating dog owners to be empowered and confident handlers.
During the spring of 2023, I reached out to Mahogany about my adolescent working line GSD who was experiencing reactive and destructive behavior. We started with private sessions where I learned how much I do not know about working breeds and as a dog owner - a very humbling and eye-opening experience! While my WGSD was making strides in his behavior, I saw the value in him going to a 6-week board and train with Mahogany. During that time (fall of 2023), I received updates, pictures, and videos, which helped me feel at ease about the progress he was making and the care he was in.
After the board and train, I had private follow-up sessions with Mahogany to apply and maintain what my WGSD learned. I spent nearly a year working with Mahogany and it was well worth my time, energy, and financial investment. Nearly a year later, my WGSD is such a different dog compared to who he was as an adolescent. He’s confident, relaxed, happy, engaged, and a super star off-leash. He is my favorite (don’t tell my two other dogs)!
I credit Mahogany for molding me into a better dog handler and igniting my interest and passion for working breeds. She’s an honest, thoughtful, trustworthy, brilliant, and fun trainer. When I’ve been asked for dog trainer recommendations, she’s the first person that comes to mind. When I get my first Malinois, she’ll be the first person I call!
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Stefanie Nash-Spangler
Dog Training
Haven’t had the dog there yet. But so far it is going well
Shay
I give 5 stars because I'm very particular about my dogs lifestyle. I met Mahogany with my first dog and I learned so much working with Infinite K9. Once I got my 2nd dog I couldn't imagine going anywhere else. Honestly everytime I'm out with my girls people ask me if I'm a trainer because my dogs are so well trained and I learned the skills to keep them that way because she taught me right along side of them. More...
Nadine K
Mahogany is an exceptional dog trainer whose expertise and dedication truly set her apart. She has extensive education in various training techniques, but what truly distinguishes her is her hands-on experience with countless dogs.
This practical knowledge allows her to effectively change behavior and tailor her approach to each dog's unique needs.
I have invested significant time in understanding how to train my own dogs by attending classes and working with other trainers. Mahogany has been the best by far in helping me understand how to address unwanted behaviors. Her genuine care for ensuring a dog's needs are met, combined with her skill in teaching appropriate boundaries, ultimately provides dogs with more freedom and confidence than they had before.
I can't recommend her enough. Mahogany is kind, straightforward, and extremely trustworthy. She is also my first choice for boarding when I travel.
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Rick steinberg
Best dog trainer I have met. She is a master at making a program just for your dog that make both dog and owner much happier. I have 3 mals and I wouldn’t be about to live with them with our mahogany. She has done board and trains with all my dogs with great success More...
Emily Bushra
Working with Mahogany was the best decision we ever made. We wish we had worked with her first. Our dog was so intensely reactive and had already been through four trainers. We were reluctant but Mahogany assured us that she could help with our baby. Our lives are so much different now. We can take our Abby anywhere and we do! We never imagined we could have this life with her, and we can’t recommend Mahogany enough. We’d give her 10 stars if we could! More...
Wendy C.
I have worked with Mahogany for about 7-8 years now. She has worked closely with me over the years to help me train and teach me how to train one of my past dogs and two of my current dogs.
They are all Belgian malinois and were difficult as young dogs with no manners. Through Mahogany's board and train program, she helped all 3 of them with basic obedience and basic day to day living. I've worked closely with her after they were through with the board and train to maintain the training and to teach me how to reinforce what they've learned.
One of my dogs was reactive towards dogs; through Mahogany's skilled hands, Siren was able to change her state of mind towards other dogs so now she is very neutral around strange dogs and is no longer reactive.
All of the dogs are always happy to see Mahogany so I know they were in good hands during their stay with her. I can't recommend Mahogany's services enough.
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What do you love most about your job?
I have helped thousands of dogs and families completely transform, and I love seeing those transformations more than anything. Dogs are wonderful to be around and every dog, no matter how challenged, has a wonderful spirit. I have seen just how amazing every dog can be and knowing I can be part of bringing that out in every dog makes me excited to do this work.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I enjoy collaborating with others and owning my own business allows me to do that better than I can working for someone else. I work multiple times a week with other trainers and we support one another and the dogs we are training. I can do this freely, which deeply benefits the dogs, because I have the flexibility that comes from having my own business. I also prefer personal connections with clients rather than connections through other business owners.
Why should our clients choose you?
Because I truly and deeply love dogs, as well as people, and I have an incredible amount of experience. I had two mentors that I had a cumulative 50 years as dog trainers. I spent a total of 10 years working with them, which is more education than almost any other trainer I know. I also have years of experience running an off-leash dog walking company, and I find that in the Bay Area many people ultimately want off leash dogs. I also work in sports and personal protection, which give me a very rounded and complete understanding of dogs. I have also coached and trained other trains for more than 5 years, and am asked to hold seminars across the U.S. and Canada to teach a variety of skills. I hold enrichment classes both in person and virtually, and have a breadth of knowledge and hands on experience that is unusual to find in one trainer. I owe all of it to my mentors for giving me an education like none other.
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
At this time I am only providing classes online and remotely.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
Much of my work is done in my home through board and trains and outdoors. I have been almost entirely unaffected by Covid-19.
Board and Train
Our board and train programs are fun and intensive programs where dogs live in my house and get daily training focusing on building new behaviors and addressing unwanted ones. The minimum time for obedience/off leash board and trains is 3 weeks. The minimum time for reactivity/behavioral board and trains is 4 weeks. More demanding programs or more deeply rooted behavioral issues often take up to 6-8 weeks. The length of the stay will be discussed prior to booking.
Private Sessions (5-session package)
Private sessions are available on a limited basis and include 1 hour sessions in the client's home or at a location that best suits the training we are working on. Private sessions are sold in packages of five sessions.
Personal Protection
Personal protection programs are the most intensive programs and require us either providing a dog or temperament testing a dog that you already have.
The program includes a series of board and trains where we build the entire foundation through teaching dogs the appropriate situational awareness and scenarios required for personal protection work.
This program typically includes four 4-6 week board and trains spread out strategically over the course of 18 months. Clients signing up for this service must commit to the full program.
