Cause and Effect Dog Training

I have come to Cause and Effect Dog Training, namely Kathy Kear, for help with two of my very fiesty Labrador retrievers. Kathy has taught me how to take and maintain leadership with my dogs . She's also helped me understand what my dogs are telling me with their behavior. What a difference her help has made in my life!!! My dogs are good companions now and I am in control! Thank you Kathy for all you have taught me! More...

Seems like she is a wonderful gal, and the only dog trainer in the vicinity. :)

Reviewed on Facebook

It's been more than three years since we completed our program with Kathy Kear and Cause & Effect. Our dog Leila continues to blossom and become more reliable, more comfortable with meeting new people, and is considered a balanced teacher and leader for other dogs in her twice weekly pack walks. All because we have continued to apply what we learned from Kathy. Kathy teaches the fundamentals of loving dog leadership and guidance, with specific approaches that are completely tailored to your dog - who she is, and what will be needed in order to build her confidence and set her on a path to greater socialization and clarity of her role. If you choose Kathy to be your trainer with a dog who has manifested anxiety or aggression...please understand. You have to be ready to grow, to develop personally, and to change what you're doing. Be open and be coachable. This is not a plug and play training system. You have a dog whose behavior does not fit into what we expect of dogs in our world. That means radical change is probably going to be part of what will help. Have faith. Give into that. And you will very likely have a result that will bring you to your knees with gratitude. You could save your dog's life, and you bring a whole different level of quality to your own life. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Kathy's training methods are life changing if you are struggling to control an anxious, fearful, or aggressive dog. My sensitive dog had a rough beginning to her life and needed a lot of guidance (and so did I, being a brand new dog owner). Separation anxiety, food/toy guarding, dog aggression, distrustful of strangers, territorial, etc were the issues we we're dealing with. Kathy worked with us on every issue and the sweet dog that I got to see and know, is now what everyone else gets to experience as well. She is a changed dog and I give it all to Kathy and the tools she introduced to us. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I found Kathy after spending several thousand dollars on a different trainer. My dog Maisy was pretty leash aggressive and I wasn't able to handle it on my own. I was always nervous and taking her in public became really difficult. After working with Kathy and correctly using the training tools, we are able to take her almost anywhere now. We still need to remain diligent and watch her closely, but our lives have really opened up. In addition, she helped me determine that a dog that needed a home was a good fit for us. So she helped save Squeegee's life by giving me the confidence to adopt a dog I wasn't sure about. Now we have two strong, powerful dogs that are well behaved and I feel comfortable and confident walking them. I don't know what I would have done without her! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I was out of my depth and thought I failed Bosco until we found Cause and Effect. We began training with Kathy and her team, and her methods turned Everything around for us! Now we can go anywhere and I know he will be a perfect ambassador for bully breeds. Worth every cent and we would do it all again. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Kathy is the reason we were able to keep our dog, Nacho, and feel confident in our ability to take him anywhere again. About 6 months in to having Nacho (an older rescue, no context of background) he started to develop serious signs of aggression. She shifted the way we thought about his insecurities and gave us strict pack rules to follow. It was so impactful. We cannot recommend her enough- she understands dogs in such a special way. Thank you for everything, Kathy! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

My boyfriend and I worked with Kathy for about half a year. We have (because it’s always a work in progress) a reactive and aggressive dog who did not like us having people over and would lunge at anything walking past it. He was food, toy, and kennel possessive. We were sad to see her move out of the Bay Area but remain thankful. Firstly, we were thankful that she urged us to get our dog onto a diet to take care of his allergies, since often times, anxiety and allergies go hand in hand. Secondly, She also gave us the tools we needed to provide structure not only in our dog’s life, but in ours. We have slowly built trust and guidance into our relationship with our dog that could not have been done without her training and support. When Kathy first came into our home, she saw a dog that was scared and reactive to her. By the end of our time with Kathy, our dog was excited to not only see her, but see his friends Bernie and Patrick❤️ Thank you again Kathy, for providing us with the tools we needed. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I highly recommend working with Kathy! She is amazzziiing! Our dog a Great Pyrenees/Bernese Mtn dog mix, a big 130 lbs dog, was having fear aggression towards other dogs and that was quite difficult for us to handle. He would get triggered if he saw a dog across the street, he’d lunge, bark and try his best to go attack that dog. We worked with Kathy and soon enough our dog’s behavior dramatically changed. He now goes on pack walks with a range of dogs and is such a happy pooch. We are also more confident in managing his behavior should it escalate since Kathy not only trains the dog but equips you with the tools necessary to address challenging behavior. ❤️ More...

Reviewed on Facebook

When I moved Tilly to the Bay Area in June, I began to notice that her leash reactivity and anxiety was getting worse. She was also not reliable off leash and was often very possessive of her ball, water bowl and practically anything she thought of as hers. When visitors came over, she would bark and growl often sprinting to the front door intimidating them. Feeling helpless, stressed and unsure of how to tackle these issues, we contacted Kathy. I honestly do not know where we would be without Kathy and her guidance. After one session and with the start of implementing in home structure, I saw a change in Tilly- she seemed calmer and more relaxed. We learned how to use the prong and e-collar in a mindful way. Tilly now listens to my commands, is able to have dogs walk past her on leash, can lay directly next to dogs and no longer lunges, growls or barks at people passing by on the street (and I know how to correct for when she does). During the last pack walk session, I could tell Tilly was nervous and unsure, but instead of reacting, she would check back in with me. Kathy also instilled the importance of exercise. Tilly is now a well exercised, happy pup that gets to run to her hearts content. When I am busy, she goes on structured pack walks which tire her out. We still have a road ahead of us, but it is very clear that Tilly has made great strides and will continue to. We have long completed the 4 session package, but Kathy still regularly checks in with us because she CARES! She is always there to provide support and guidance when needed. Thank you, Kathy! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Biscuit, my rottie/dobie mix, and I just completed a four session package with Kathy and I can't tell you how different things are now from when we started. Two years ago I was working as a dog walker/sitter and contemplating a career in dog training. My rottie, Garth, and I spent most of our time at the dog park and I had an active social life there. I took classes in positive reinforcement training, and we had to sign an agreement not to use tools like prong collars or e-collars. At the time I never thought I would use them.Then came Biscuit. I adopted her at about a year old and we immediately began training on our own and in group classes.  I was still walking dogs and often went to dog parks until it became clear that Biscuit was having some aggression issues. She loves to play and was good with 90% of dogs but would escalate issues and sometimes start fights for what seemed like no reason at all.  I hated to isolate her but just couldn't trust her.  I began contacting private trainers to help me deal with it.  Four positive reinforcement trainers and almost 2 years later things were no different. I had stopped dog walking and pet sitting because I couldn't trust Biscuit and was exhausted just keeping her exercised. I was miserable and felt like a failure. I contemplated rehoming her on a daily basis. I must have spoken to 10 positive reinforcement trainers who all told me Biscuit would never be able to handle a dog park. I decided my options at this point were to try other training methods or rehome Biscuit.  That's when we called Kathy at the recommendation of a dog park friend who was also dealing with aggression issues.  I'm so glad we did! Before Kathy my anxiety was through the roof any time we encountered another dog. I wanted to let Biscuit play but was never sure if she'd be ok.  She tolerated a muzzle but it stopped her from engaging and she just seemed depressed. Since we started working with Kathy Biscuit is a different dog! She wants to avoid situations that will get her in trouble. We have been near a couple of fights at the park and she just runs over to me and lies down, not wanting to be involved. We will have to continue to work hard for these results but now I feel like I have the tools to communicate effectively with Biscuit.  Positive reinforcement training can be great for some things but it just wasn't enough for Biscuit.  Now we can enjoy a full life and be around other dogs! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Kathy really changed our lives and the quality of life for my dog. I was terrified to walk him because of his reactivity. But after the first session with Kathy I already noticed an improvement in him . In three sessions, I had a different dog. I can take him out on a walk without fear, he is obedient, controllable and happy. Kathy is an amazing trainer and I am so grateful to have found her. She was always in constant communication and it is clear she cares about dogs and is 100% invested in improving your dogs behavior. I can't recommend her enough! She is an incredible person and will change your dog for the better! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Kathy helped us change our (formerly) wild dog "Mama" from kind of wild and rough and very reactive to calm (most of the time), obedient, and good with practically all people, kids, and other dogs. I can't understate how positive of an impact Kathy had on both us as dog owners and on Mama. Thanks, Kathy! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I am writing this for all the people who have a seriously reactive dog, that is a terror to walk on leash, and that you wouldn't even consider taking off leash for fear of the potential harm they could do to other animals.  If your world with your dog has become very small, and your quality of life together meager - I want to tell you don't give up -- THERE IS HOPE!We adopted our 7-year-old Aussie, only to discover his extreme reactivity towards other dogs, which was very firmly entrenched.  Fast forward one year after adoption - we had diligently participated in no less than 5 different courses geared toward reactive dogs and had gone through several personal 1:1 dog trainers using only positive reinforcement methods, yet our dog Shiloh was just as reactive as ever towards dogs. We couldn't drive anywhere without an internal uproar upon dog sightings. Worse - he now went after flying geese like a maniac (deaf to our frantic calls as he almost went into oncoming traffic), chased leaves rustling in the wind, and even barked uncontrollably at airplanes flying overhead.  We were afraid to go outside with him - his life and our lives were miserable.  I must admit, we were extremely wary of using anything other than positive reinforcement methods, yet we could see with our own eyes that it hadn't worked.  On the other hand, we simply couldn't stomach the militaristic use of force and fear tactics that other trainers recommended in order to have a sense of control over our dog's behavior.  Then we met Kathy, and our whole experience has been nothing short of miraculous and life-changing.  She understood our dog immediately and knew exactly how to help him and us.  Within the first 15 mins, he was already walking with two other dogs - it blew us away.  Over time, she taught us how to humanely use the prong and e collar which have been irreplaceable tools.  But what we admire most about Kathy is how fair and balanced her training is - (she uses rewards: praise, food treats, toys, etc. along with correction techniques) and dogs LOVE her because she translates what she expects from them into language that they really understand.  She sets them up for success so that they build confidence in themselves, and the bond they have with their caregivers.  And she makes training FUN - they genuinely look forward to it.  After each session, we make so much progress and keep building on our past lessons, experiences and milestones.It isn't magic - you must put in the work in order to see the results - it WILL take time, patience, consistency and commitment.  But having done so, our dog is now a much calmer, less anxious and happier dog, whose whole mentality has changed.  He can socialize with other dogs now!  We go on quiet car rides, neighborhood walks, hikes, and we even regularly go to dog mecca, Point Isabel, no longer having to worry that there's going to be an outburst or an attack - on leash or off.  Kathy's skill and gift as a dog trainer is undeniable - but she is also a real pro with her clients - evident that she truly cares about your well-being in addition to your dog's. She works with your schedule and at your pace, giving plenty of time during each lesson to ensure that you are in your comfort zone.  We are so happy with the progress we have made - and have so much gratitude for Kathy's holistic and effective approach!  Enlisting her help was one of the best decisions we've ever made - thanks to her, we and our dogs are living a much better life! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Kathy is an amazing trainer . . we adopted a deaf boxer/pit and withher training Luna is a happy, well trained (mostly :~) dog who can walk off leash anywhere and comes to us when we use the e-collar.  Kathy responds very quickly to any concerns you have via text or e-mail.I highly recommend her services.  Don't wait - a better, happier dog is right there in front of you. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Cause and Effect has been an absolute life changer for our family. Kathy Kear is an incredible dog trainer that really assesses the individual needs of each dog she works with. We tried a number of positive reinforcement techniques recommended by vets and other trainers but nothing seemed to be working. Penny's aggression just wasn't subsiding, even getting worse, and we were at a loss of what to do.In comes Kathy to the rescue! Before meeting Kathy we were a little hesitant about using certain tools like the prong or e-collar as part of training because we didn't really understand how they worked. Kathy showed us how to use these tools effectively with Penny while still incorporating positive reinforcement to encourage wanted behavior. Her well rounded approach was so different from the "all or nothing" type of training we were so used to hearing. She is no cookie cutter trainer.When you watch Kathy work with your dog you really see her getting into the dog's mind and figuring out what methods work best for certain situations. She does a great job of walking you through the process so that you'll be able to handle your dog the same way, because at the end of the day you have to be able to show your dog good, consistent leadership. Anyone who's looking for a quick fix isn't taking their dog's well being seriously. It's definitely a process and a commitment but I promise you it is so worth it. We started the program around June 2017 and finished our last session end of August 2017. The difference we see in her behavior towards other dogs and her relationship to us is night and day. Penny's obedience and attention to us as leaders has improved ten-fold since we started the program and the best part is that she's actually enjoying it! She never looks to us with fear when we bring out the prong or e-collar. She gets excited to be out with us and looks to us for guidance when a situation arises that she seems to question, whereas before she would just completely ignore us and unleash her aggression. We cannot say enough about how amazing Kathy and the Cause and Effect program have been to us. These are lessons that we can take with us forever and apply to any new dog that comes into our lives. We will always be grateful. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Kathy was wonderful instructing me and my dog. I am now enjoying Lucy that much more. She's a natural.

Reviewed on Yelp

We are lucky to have Kathy as a trainer and an advisor when it comes to our dog, Otis. She helped us early on, suggesting that we consider the temperament and needs of different breeds before choosing any dog from the many available through different rescue groups. We ended up with a sweet pitty-mix puppy. Although Cause & Effect often works with challenging dogs, Kathy was able to offer us a series of puppy training sessions -- focused on issues like how and how often to exercise, setting a schedule for feeding and getting out to pee : ). She talked us through using a crate and how to interact with Otis in the house. Getting him to understand 'no', not jumping on people, and not mouthing so much when playing. We've also worked on not pulling when walking, waiting at the curb, a little bit of down stay and some basic recall. We feel we really have Otis on a good path at this point and look forward to our next round of obedience training when he gets a little older.As others have said, Kathy's training involves the whole relationship between the family and the dog -- not just the dog. It becomes obvious when you go through it why this approach makes sense. Here's to a happy dog, a happy family and the confidence that comes from clear guidance! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Working with Kathy through Cause & Effect has completely changed my relationship with my dog. She has helped us move from frustration and anxiety to growth and confidence. I have a giant breed, working dog with issues many trainers prefer to avoid but Kathy takes cases like ours head on and has helped so many dogs and their humans because of this. Kathy works with thoughtful, balanced training methods, which is exactly what my dog and I needed to grow and learn together. My gigantic, powerful dog now waits at the door before his walks, which I am able to truly ENJOY because he walks respectfully on lead and is getting even better at this every day. Kathy is a fabulous trainer with an intuitive understanding of dogs and a willingness to work with even the most difficult ones! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Cause and Effect training has truly changed my day to day life and I genuinely could not be more grateful to have found Kathy during my search for the right trainer. I am a strong pit bull advocate and when I adopted my young pit mix, I knew I wanted someone who had lots of experience with the breed. My dog Dexter is a very sweet, goofy guy with way over the top energy. In addition to his over excited personality, he is 80 pounds and very strong. Before meeting Kathy, he had no understanding of boundaries, especially with other dogs. His over-excitement mixed with his size and play style would often quickly overwhelm others. If he was off leash and saw another dog, he would take off, and almost immediately tackle the other dog, basically forcing them to play wrestle with him.  He was extremely pushy and did not take no for an answer.  If I tried to stop him, he would completely blow me off and I felt I had no control over him in off leash situations. Although he loved other dogs more than anything, I ultimately had to stop allowing him to interact with them because I felt so out of control.Kathy immediately helped me understand what my dog needed from me all along, a strong, fair and consistent leader. By the end of our program I felt confident that he would drop what he was doing and come when called, even in a location like Point Isabel with dogs running by us in every direction. I felt confident that I could stop his play when I wanted, if it started to get too escalated or if the other dog started to feel overwhelmed by it. I feel so relieved that he can enjoy the freedom of being off leash while I enjoy feeling in control of my giant boy. He now gets to play and socialize with other dogs as much as he wants because I trust his choices.We worked very hard throughout the program and after the program to get to this point and there is no question that you must be dedicated to see results. Kathy helped change the dynamic between Dexter and I and my bond with him has never been stronger. Kathy is not only an amazing, dedicated trainer, but she is a wonderful person. I truly enjoyed each training session, as did Dexter. If you are ready and willing to put in work, there is no one more capable than Kathy. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Incredible experience. Came to Kathy because we were having issues with our pitt/boxer mix and a cat. My dog's behavior is completely different now. Her anxiety levels are incredibly reduced, she's more relaxed, I can actually take her places with me more, we have such a better bond. Kathy understands high impulse dogs like no other. Thank you! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Kathy is passionate about her training work and truly understands aggression and reactivity. The work she did with our pitt mix was nothing short of a miracle. Backstory: We had a baby on the way and met with three other trainers that suggested that we " re-home" our dog rather than continue trying to work on his anxiety/reactivity. We had tried strictly reward based training in the past and initially overlooked Cause and Effect because of the use of corrections( prong and e-collar, muzzle). These tools have been invaluable to us and we finally have made progress with this balanced approach. The corrections are minimal and necessary for us to keep control of our dog. ( my husband shocked himself with the ecollar, it doesn't hurt). We now can enjoy walks, and our pup has made dog friends, (which seemed impossible before). Kathy is thoughtful and thorough with her assessment and took the time to figure out what our dog needed. She will put you to work, it is a strict training program, but she is realistic about how much time owners can put into training and she offers additional services like pack walks and group classes to keep up progress. Most importantly, we got to keep our wonderful dog with the addition of our baby and we now know how to keep everyone safe. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

If it were possible to add more stars, I would. Let me start by saying Kathy saved our dog's life. Now let me explain. We adopted a rescue 1 year ago, a lovable, 90 pound, teddy bear (shepherd/lab mix) who loves people. He is extremely strong and powerful (he broke through the bars of the crate on the first night). After a couple of weeks with us, his true colors emerged. He was extremely dog reactive (not sure if it was anxiety or herding or both) and would lunge at any dog in the vicinity, even if 10 yards away. He was also super under-socialized, We decided to hire a trainer after much research who used only "positive" methods, meaning lots of treats, etc. Then, after one terrible episode where he knocked down my wife while holding the leash and attacked another dog, we knew we needed more help. We couldn't risk injury to person or dog and knew we were lucky animal control wasn't called.  We found Kathy. She convinced us we needed to get out the heavy equipment (prong and Ecollar), but more importantly, began to help us establish a foundation to 1) set expectations, 2) build the dog's confidence, 3) build our confidence and 4) diminish his anxiety. She set a high goal for the dog - being able to eventually socialize with or ignore all dogs. Our goals were much lower - just to be able to walk him on leash on a dog-friendly trail  without being concerned about every encounter. That was 8 months ago. Over that time, there have been many ups and downs, progress and regression. When we got discouraged, Kathy would get us back on track. She really understood our dog, assessed his personality and worked very closely to balance praise and correction. Correction is not for the faint of heart and when we reminded ourselves that his life depended on it, we found the will. Kathy would not allow us to lower expectations and built a curriculum that enabled all of us to progress over time. After a few weeks, he learned to walk past 80% of dogs. After a few more weeks, he learned how to cope by lying down. After a few months he could heel and "leave it" more consistently. This summer he experienced a little success on a long leash and closely-monitored interaction. In the last month, the biggest breakthrough yet - he now is able to go to Pt Isabel, OFF-LEASH, and meet other dogs. He even trots after them and makes new friends, If I ever have any concerns I simply call him and he runs back, or I calmly tell him "down" (even 30 feet away) and he goes down. I thought it would take years, if ever to get to that point and often thought he'd be an closely watched, on-leash, on-muzzle dog forever, But we stuck with Kathy's plan, which was strategic and tailor made for our dog. Considering our dog used to dread Pt Isabel and try to go back to the car, watching him now run to dogs with his tail up is nothing short of miraculous. As the owner, you have to be committed, but we couldn't have done it without Kathy. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We highly recommend Cause and Effect for training you and your dog.Writing this review on Thanksgiving Day is appropriate, as I cannot think of anything else I am more thankful for this year, than the transformation of our dog, Roxy.  This was not a magical transformation...it can be attributed to i) Our hard work and dedication, and ii) Cause and Effect's training program.Roxy is a 35lb terrier mix that we rescued when she was 2mo old, supposedly from a dog-hoarding situation.  She was the sweetest, most loving and socialized puppy you could imagine.  Loved people and played with every dog she encountered, was never aggressive. We were good parents:  took her to puppy pre-K and obedience school, and she even passed the Canine Good Citizenship Exam.  When she was almost 1 yr old, she got into a small tiff with another dog at a boarding farm while we were traveling.  When we came back and then moved to Berkeley, the first time we took her to Willard Park, she bit a small dog, drawing blood, and required stitches.  New to the area, but proficient at Yelp, I perused our options.  The first thing that appealed to me about Cause and Effect, besides their awesome reviews, was their proclamation (on their website I think) that you should stop asking "why" your dog is aggressive and move forward toward changing it.  This shocked me out of the self-blame and self-pity that were emotional roadblocks to getting started with training.  When Kathy, Shannon, and Eleanor all showed up at our apartment in person for our orientation session, I just had a good feeling about the whole thing.    All three of them intently studied Roxy for an hour without any guarantee we would move forward with the program. From the very first time you meet them, there is no doubting their passion for not only dogs, but their profession.As you proceed with the program (we had 12 sessions over 4 - 5 months), you realize that the trainers are really training you, more so than your dog, and that they are quite masterful at dealing with humans and their difficulties in learning and executing the techniques.  They make sure you are comfortable with the techniques and watch you perform them over and over.  I am on the shy side, but around Kathy and Shannon, I felt quite comfortable asking any question or requesting a repetition of something for the umpteenth time.  The sessions are organized so that they build on one another, so you are continually having to recall techniques from previous sessions...as a teacher myself, I appreciate this....repetition is the key to long-term memory and learning.  They supplement the in-person sessions with written notes, which are surprising well-written and useful for reviewing the material on your own.  A little over a year after starting training, Roxy is a different dog.  She is not perfect...we have to watch her around dogs, but the difference is so remarkable that even other dog owners ask us what we did to change her behavior. Be forewarned, to be successful in this program, you will likely have to confront your own instincts and emotions about dog ownership.  We no longer cuddle with our dog in bed and are sensitive to giving Roxy too much affection.  However, the trainers are very sensitive to this and guide you every step of the way. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We contacted Kathy Kear of Cause and Effect a couple of times before retaining her awesome services.  She is dedicated to training people on how to raise a confident, emotionally healthy and stable being.   When she sensed our dedication to bully breeds, she went out of her way to help us.  We retained her services for a foster pit bull that we thought could benefit from her program.   Through just the basic obedience program conducted by Elizabeth and Mahagony, we have learned and have taught our dog to be independent (no crying when we leave the house, no tearing up car seats, etc), to be housebroken, to be able to be a dog - off leash having the time of his life with other dogs, to not pull during leashed walks, to lie calmly in establishments that allow his presence - coffee shops, hair dresser, restaurants with outdoor seatings, to not chase our cats, to be accepting of other homeless dogs who may need a few nights to stay (they learn their manners as well).  People who were influenced by the negative media spotlight on bully breeds soften when they see our foster, Pumpkin.Simply put, we cannot say enough about Kathy Kear and Cause and Effect.   She and her organization has literally changed our lives.  You will enrich your dog's life, you and your family's life and every single living creature that you and your dog happen to encounter. There is no reason go elsewhere. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Kathy is such a fantastic trainer. She's very cognizant of and kinesthetic with dogs and dog behavior. You won't regret working with her. My dog had developed some bad behaviors (territoriality, some human aggression, etc) and she was able to work right through them. The program has you work with two trainers (my second trainer was Beth, who has a different approach then Kathy, but is also great). More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I have known and worked with Kathy for over five years. I had the honor of being a client in her behavior modification program where I learned how to set boundaries with my dog, Charley, and when to praise him for good​ and calm​ behavior. The program truly modified his behavior, but it also ​strengthened my relationship​ with him.​ Charley was a shy and aggressive pup several years ago. But with Kathy's ​support, I learned how to guide him into being who he really was - a more confident and playful dog. He has come so far​.​ I am grateful for the ​program's ​lessons​​, especially ​around​​​ lean​ing​ into the things we fear. I am also thankful for Kathy's consistent encouragement, support, and friendship through out the program and for many years after having finished the program.I was fortunate also to ​have had the opportunity to work with Kathy as a dog walker for Happy Hound, her dog walking business. ​As a young walker, I learn​ed how to run a business, and​ received great mentorship around crisis intervention​. There are many stories to tell! Sadly, I have since moved on​ ​to a different ​line of work​ (​​​clinical psychology), ​but I love​ this work​ as much as I loved my time with​ Kathy.  I cannot help but look back fondly on my experience with ​Happy Hound​​ and Cause and Effect. I can ​also ​see that​ like Charley​ I​ have also come a long way. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My dog Mowgli and I finished our classes with Kathy about three years ago, but it was attending last weekend's group class (yes, graduates can continue to attend bi-monthly group classes, for free, for life! ) which inspired me to finally write this review.  For me, working with Kathy and Shannon was almost like a religious conversion: it involved a complete paradigm shift and a whole new kind of consciousness about what it means to be responsible for a dog.  I had adopted Mowgli, my very sweet pit bull, when he was about one, and around a year later he began to get increasingly aggressive with other dogs.  He never actually made contact with another dog, but I was afraid he would.  I got more and more scared to go anywhere we might encounter other dogs, and our walks were fraught with anxiety.  Mowgli is the first dog I've ever owned, and I'd done a basic obedience class with him, but treats, praise, and ignoring bad behavior weren't cutting it for his aggression.  I learned about Kathy and had her do an assessment of Mowgli, during which he lunged at Kathy's dogs repeatedly.  Kathy corrected him and he yelped, which was hard for me to watch-- and I really had to do some soul searching about whether this program would be a good fit for me.  I knew that for it to be effective I needed to give it 100% and really buy into it, or it would never work.  So I took a leap of faith and we embarked on our journey.  It was nothing short of transformative for Mowgli and for me.  I learned how to be a strong, calm leader, and Mowgli learned that my job is to take care of him (not the other way around).  He is now the best dog in the world.  I can take him anywhere, including places with lots of other dogs, and I'm confident that he'll be calm and appropriate with them.  He is a much, much happier dog now.  It is seriously the best money I've spent, and I'd do it again with any future dog, because all dogs (and their owners) can benefit. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Cause and Effect dog training has helped me significantly with the two dogs I have had. I love the strong minded terriers but with that comes a dog that will make its own rules if you them. Both dogs were rescues and came with some unwanted behavior.  My female needed to learn the basics and once she mastered that, the negative, rude behavior to other dogs seemed to dissipate and she became well socialized and happy.  As for the male, he is much stronger minded and very leash aggressive. He would lunge at every dog we passed on the sidewalk. He would also lunge at skateboarders and scooters. Kathy and her team worked with me and my dog to teach us how to meet and greet other dogs, people and to tolerate skateboards. Cause and Effect will first do a thorough evaluation of the dog and its behavior. The training methods used are based on behavior issue and the dog's character. All the trainers I have worked with in the group are passionate about dogs and are dedicated to helping them be the best they can be. They are a group of trainers that specialize in correcting behavior issues - not all dog trainers are skilled at this. They make the training fun for the dog so that it stays focused and interested. In my case, my boy loves learning tricks and agility stunts. It builds his confidence and also makes it fun for him. They will teach you how to get your dog to focus on you while constructing a better relationship - with this, you will learn to better understand your dog. Treats, toys and play are the reward for him/her and a well-balanced, happy dog for you.Kathy helped her own dog with this method. He was in the "red zone" with aggressive behavior and was told to "put him down." She transformed him into a happy, well-adjusted dog and has continued to help others to bring their dogs to peace and happiness.Their training methods work, I've seen it over and over again. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Cause and Effect dog training is the best. We were in desperate need of help because our two dogs were fighting in the house, and my boxer had become very dog aggressive.  We trained with Mahogany and Kathy, and they were awesome! They are very knowledgeable trainers who really understand dogs. They remember what it is like to rehab a dog with lots of behavioral issues because they have applied their methods with their own dogs.  They teach you how to become a leader that your dog will respect by teaching  obedience, structure, how to promote calmness and confidence. They first do a thorough assessment and evaluation of your dog to see what they need to work on for the their program because every dog is different and may require different things such as prong, e-collar, or muzzle. They combine correction techniques with reinforcing good behavior with treats and lots of praise. They show you how to create a stronger bond and trust with your dog, as well.  And the most impressive thing of all, and hard to find in trainers, is they DON'T AVOID hard situations- if your dog is dog aggressive and not socialized- they WILL give you the tools and show you how to meet and greet every dog with confidence and what to do if your dog acts out.  Even after we completed the training program, the support they provide is amazing!  They hold free group classes for us to attend, and if we ever have a new issue arise or question, they are just an email or text away.It has been about 10 months since we started the program- it requires time and lots of dedication, but our dogs are much more happy, relaxed, and confident. There is still work to be done, but we now see a transformation in not just our dogs but ourselves as well. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Cause & Effect has truly been a life changer for me and my 70 lb pittie. Cricket is a rescue and while almost everything about her was perfect, it quickly became obvious that she was very dog-reactive. After getting into a fairly serious dog-fight with a friend's dog, I learned that she would have to be muzzled on walks for fear of running into any off-leash dogs. Walks were always filled with stress and anxiety, and I knew the basic obedience and training I'd been working on wasn't doing anything for her issue. After meeting with several different trainers, who tested her, I was told that she might just have to be a lone dog, who wears a muzzle outside. It was heartbreaking to think that this would be Cricket's life from now on. That's when we found Cause & Effect. Cricket's transformation was obvious from the moment Kathy Kear met her, and I knew after the initial interview that everything was going to change. We have just completed their 8-week training and we couldn't be happier. Within weeks, the muzzle was off and Cricket was moving on to dog-parks and pack walks! The program was fantastic, and included everything from home visits/assessments to long sessions at Pt Isabel. Cricket still has a long way to go, but that is solely because we can raise the bar so much higher now. In reality, she surpassed our wildest expectations within the first two weeks of training. I worked with both Eleanor Post and Kathy Kear, and they are exceptional. I could never thank them enough for all their hard work and endless patience. If I could give a sixth star I absolutely would. Obviously, high-quality trainers (and I mean very high, Cesar Milan quality) aren't cheap, but I would have paid twice the cost if I'd known what kind of results I would see in Cricket. Thanks Cause & Effect! And thanks for showing Cricket how awesome she could be!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This review is for Mahogany and Beth!  We adopted an adult Pit and had immediate difficulty integrating her into our household with our existing Aussie mix. After a biting/snapping incident between the two dogs,  we were referred to Cause and Effect by a co-worker of mine who is also a client.We started with Mahogany, and then finished up with Beth. Over the course of just about 6 months, we went from having one super anxious Aussie (a stage 5 clinger) and one Pit who scared us and made us very nervous (since we were clueless about reading her and training her)  to having two super well adjusted friendly dogs!   We did basic training sessions with both dogs and then worked on anxiety, social situations (dog-dog) and confidence building for the dogs.Lo and behold - The dogs  are now 99% less freaky/crazy/scary  and 100% awesome. I have recommended these folks to many, and will continue to do so.It wasn't super cheap, it wasn't super awesome to spend most of my (infrequent) weekend days off  doing dog training sessions over what felt like an eternity,  and sometimes it was a drag... HOWEVER,  I'm forever glad we did it, and I'd do it again if  we got a new dog or encountered new issues. If you have dog problems - HIRE THESE PEOPLE, DO WHAT THEY SAY... and be SO HAPPY you have GOOD dogs.  :) More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Contacting Kathy was the best thing I have ever done in my life. I rescued Penny, the sweetest white Pitty, on a bad street in Philadelphia. She was young, happy, and full of energy. She had no problem meeting and living with our other dog, Luna. She was amazing in the house, but out of control outside. She wanted to charge  towards and yelp at every person and every dog we passed, she was taking us for walks. We tried every harness, lead, Cesar Millan's books, collars etc. I mean EVERYTHING (I think we spent more time, money, and energy on products claiming to help than going through Kathy's program)  Penny pulled so hard and yelped every time we went outside. All the while we thought it was normal for a dog to pull....normal for her to yelp like a seal.....head butt every dog and person she met. We thought... 'oh she's a puppy'...'.that's what all puppy's are like'. Her behavior became our norm and it took over our entire life. We would pass by parks. Run across the street so she wouldn't freak out at another dog. We would even walk her at Midnight and early in the morning so we wouldn't be embarrassed or freak anyone out. We weren't able to give her the exercise she needed all the time because we were scared that we wouldn't be able to control her.After we moved cross-country, we were desperate to find help because we couldn't deal with how out of control she had become outdoors and with other dogs, besides Luna.  I found Cause & Effect through an yelp ad, and we immediately identified with the reviews. I was nervous to contact and meet Kathy because I thought I was being crazy and that nothing could help Penny. The first home visit with Kathy and Eleanor was amazing and for the first time we saw hope for Penny. We first worked with Eleanor, she was incredible, consistent, clear, and was always there to help anytime. Kathy was spectacular, she helped us overcome the fear of letting Penny off the leash in a park, she showed us the potential that Penny had and helped us harness it. Kathy, Eleanor and the whole Cause & Effect team helped turned our crazy Penny into a manageable, happy and obedient pup. Through-out the program you meet other people and dogs that have gone through or are going through the same thing you are, so you never feel alone. Once you go through the program, you have the whole Cause & Effect family for life. If you ever need help, have a question, or need support, they will be there for you. This program is a lot of work and you have to be consistent, but the results are incredible! Now we can go to the park and know that we have control of our pup, we walk her with confidence, and we aren't scared to bring here anywhere.  Penny is truly happy because we have a way to communicate with her, she gets the exercise she needs, and she can socialize with other dogs and people. The quality of all our lives have greatly improved because of Kathy and Eleanor! Thank you Cause & Effect, we can't express how much this has helped us and how amazing you all are! If you have any doubts about contacting Kathy and Cause & Effect, CONTACT THEM!!  this is the best thing you could ever do for you and your pup! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I cannot say enough good things about Cause & Effect dog training! We adopted a two-year old terrier mix that was described as "slightly reactive around other dogs. " A few days after we took our dog home, it became clear that his issues were much more severe than we had thought. Every walk was stressful, and I would constantly cross the street or change directions to avoid other dogs because our dog would bark and lunge wildly when another dog was in sight. In the house, our dog was extremely agitated and anxious, and I was worried that no training could help.After a few months of stress, I found reviews for Cause & Effect, and got in contact with Kathy. Kathy and Eleanor were able to suggest changes to make around the house and on walks to provide a more structured environment for my dog. Within a couple of months, we started to see dramatic changes in our dog's behavior. He started to respond rapidly to commands and walks became more fun. Now, we are able to go to off-leash dog parks and I no longer worry about my dog behaving aggressively! Although we still have some work to do (mostly around cats), after completing the program, I feel confident and in charge and see progress every day.I am so happy that Cause & Effect was able to coach us so that we can help our dog relax and succeed! More...

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Cause and Effect has allowed my dog to run again.  Never have I seen a dog who loved to run as much as Junie.  He has the biggest sloppiest smile on his face as he races at break neck speeds.  After too many aggressive interactions on his part, we could not trust him off leash any more, occasionally we'd let him run in fenced in tennis courts but even then we were on guard.  His fear aggression towards other dogs became more extreme and we struggled with what to do.  We had tried to work with another trainer who did not work out at all.  We finally found Kathy and the Cause and Effect team.  It has been a journey.  Lots of challenges to the ways we had been doing things, as well as many times when we felt like we were not up to the job.   I came into this process scared and skeptical.  But here we are, Junie runs off leash, meets other dogs on leash, goes for long pack walks and is a lovely guy.  We are still working on being off leash in the midst of lots of other dogs but we're doing it.  Just getting to see him run has been such a joy.It has not been an overnight or easy process but Kathy has always been there, coaching me and supporting me.  I can recommend the whole Cause and Effect team more. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I adopted a 2 year old pit mix a year ago. I needed help with impulse control, recall, anxiety, and very dominant dog-dog interactions. Working with Eleanor and Kathy changed everything for me. From the very first lesson I saw immediate measurable improvement. I had tried other trainers and hands down Cause and Effect is the best!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I first met Kathy 10 years ago through her amazing work at the Berkeley Animal Shelter where I volunteer.  We have worked together with my shelter foster dogs ever since.  She has taught me many things - and isn't that what dog training is really all about?!  The most important lesson that I learned was, "Don't be attached to the outcome."  If I do that, I can stay centered, calm, and peaceful.  The dogs sense it right away.  Kathy and her team are my go-to recommendations for friends and others with challenging dog issues.  Besides her expertise, her generous spirit infuses all the work she does.  She gladly helps me with my shelter fosters and cares ongoingly about all the animals who come her way.  Amazing!  Thanks, Kathy!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I highly recommend Cause and Effect for anyone struggling with dog-dog or dog-human aggression. Even an overly anxious dog would benefit. Beth Peterson with Cause and Effect literally saved our butts.  We adopted a gorgeous and sweet chocolate lab from a rescue organization when he was 6 (about 1.5 years ago).  2 weeks later he bit me and then a stranger on the street.  He would seemingly out of nowhere bark and lunge at even the sweetest dog-friendly old ladies.  Our rescue organization hooked us up with Cause and Effect and so began about 4.5 months of intense rehab for sweet Percy, and my wife and I.  We were taught how to be strong leaders for Percy and he learned to rely on and trust us.  Beth and Kathy were always available with suggestions and tips.  We slowly graduated from wearing a muzzle to now getting to go off leash at the dog park.  We still go to the group classes and Percy is a star! He loves seeing Beth and it helps us remember how far we have come.  About 9 months into our lives together we realized that life with Percy had gotten easy, effortless. Our family thinks he is the best behaved dog and he is! Thanks Cause and Effect! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It's been over two years since I first reviewed Cause & Effect, so I wanted to add this update.  Benny's dog aggression is now dormant.  It took about six months of intense behavior modification training, plus another six months of socialization training.  And we continue to do ongoing "maintenance."  Don't get me wrong: training is not a chore or something we check off our to-do list, but rather something that is integrated into our lives in a convenient and enjoyable way.  (Read: once you have a dog that waits at the door, you'll never go back!)We are still active members of the Cause & Effect community.  Over the years, we have had the pleasure of working with various members of the team and we've absorbed different lessons from each of them.  Kathy taught us the training tools.  From Beth, we learned about the importance of structure and consistency.  Shannon taught us about how to make training fun.  Denise helped us to understand balance as it relates to our work with Benny.  And Eleanor taught us about how to integrate training into our lives.  Finally, the community of Cause & Effect clients are a constant reminder that we're never alone.  We just attended a group class last weekend.  The weather was dreary with rain coming down on us, off and on, throughout the entire hour.  Nothing is more inspiring than seeing 15+ dog owners withstanding the rain in service to their dogs.  That's commitment.  And commitment is what it takes.Thanks to all that we learned from the Cause & Effect team, we were able to adopt a second dog last month.  Benny welcomed our newest pack member with respect and patience. It's so gratifying to watch the student becoming the teacher... More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It's been nine months since our initial meeting with Kathy & Shannon and it's remarkable how much our lives have changed!  At our first meeting, our then three-year old bulldog  was exhibiting significant aggression towards other dogs, and I was simultaneously overwhelmed and terrified .  Walks were my worst nightmare, and I'd do anything necessary to avoid seeing another dog while we were out and about.  After an especially challenging weekend, we decided to look for trainers once again.  At this point, we'd already tried a number of trainers and programs without success and was skeptical that anything would "work".  THANK GOODNESS I WAS WRONG.Our initial meeting with Kathy & Shannon was a bit of a wake up call.  We were going to need to make changes, and they needed to be effective immediately.  The first two weeks created a huge shift in the ways in which I responded to my dog (and him to me) and it was during this time that I began to see some change.We continued on over a few months - working with Kathy, Eleanor and Shannon - and have seen such remarkable change in ourselves and our pup.  We are now free to enjoy dog parks, our dog responds to our commands, and we feel that we get to experience the very best parts of being a dog owner.  I'm no longer overcome with fear when we go on walks, and I even occasionally get to be the very proud dog owner whose dog listens impeccably well!We are so grateful to the Cause & Effect team for coaching us to be better dog owners and for creating an environment for our dog to life a happy, full life! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

An update to the underserved 1 star rating earlier. Kathy reached out to me and apologized for missing my message. (Sometimes these things just happen) But I'm really grateful to Kathy for giving me a free phone consultation and a lot of detailed useful advise for my newly adopted dog for separation anxiety. I believe she spent a good 45 minutes talking to me on the phone and giving me advise on some of the things I can implement at home. Kathy was very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and approachable. She gave me some great tips and I am in the process of implementing them into my dog's routine. I will give another update/edit this review a little later on after I have seen changes in my dog's behavior. Although, Kathy is not accepting new clients at the moment. I would definitely recommend her services for your dog. Whether it's to ask for some advise or maybe setting up something for the future.If your message happens to slip through her fingers, I wouldn't hesitated to give her another call! I got the sense that Kathy is a very hard-working honest person that doesn't just ignore your calls if she doesn't want your business. Overall:I would give Kathy a email or call first to see if she's available for your doggy needs! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Kathy Kear and Eleanor Post, the two personal trainers who worked with my dog Enzo and me, exhibited exceptional professionalism, expertise, and commitment. As it turned out, I was in greater need of training than Enzo (I'm not good at giving firm and consistent discipline), but Kathy and Eleanor always yanked on my chain just enough to get my attention and make their case. Enzo and I are both happier because of our training. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Ditto...ditto...ditto.You can read the multitude of glowing reviews for Kathy Kear and Cause and Effect all over this page. And all the accolades and positive feedback are not only well earned, but deeply deserved. Kathy and her team know their stuff, ESPECIALLY with troubled dogs and their troubled owners. Whether you have a rescue dog that is fearful after being bounced around before finding you, or a biter or a leash aggressive pup (like ours was) or one with separation anxiety, Kathy and her trainers can truly help resolve your issues and will have you loving every minute with your fur baby, instead of being fearful of what s/he might do out in the world (or in your own home).As many others have pointed out, the universal truth of dog training is that it truly is OWNER training. Provided that you possess the pack leader pole position, your dog will follow your lead, doing as you indicate should be done. If that direction is unclear, you'll have a dog that acts out simply because it doesn't know how to act appropriately and doesn't know where to look for direction (yet).Our dog loves other dogs, but would get agro when she was leashed and another dog came near. Clearly not an appropriate response. So we found Kathy and marched Duchess off to 8 weeks of training. In just 8 lessons (which were lovely and enjoyable opportunities to bond with our dog in the various parks of Berkeley, BTW), we had a girl who was happy and docile on leash and no longer felt the need to protect us or herself with snarls and growling (she was a big "talker"). Is it an investment? Absolutely. It takes time, lots of energy, and money. But I have taken other dogs of mine to other (less expensive) trainers in the area and have never had as successful of a behavior modification as I had with Kathy. Quite simply, I would no longer trust anyone to train a dog of mine with the same skill and heart and understanding. So in my estimation, it is worth every minute and every penny to have a dog you can trust and who can trust you. You and your relationship with the companion you have hitched your wagon to for the next several years will be forever altered for the better! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I really cannot speak highly enough of Cause & Effect.  Kathy, Shannon, and Eleanor are absolutely fantastic with their patience, guidance, and leadership.  They are always response and helpful with any question or concern.  I found my little Larry in the road and after a short while realized he had a number of socialization and aggressive behaviour issues.  I tried some standard training classes and was told to just keep him away from other people and dogs.  I didn't think this was an appropriate solution and reached out to Cause & Effect after finding them on Yelp and reading some their reviews.    Their program is not just about training your dog but also educating you as the pack leader on what you need to do in order to help your dog succeed.  It takes work and dedication but is worth every second you put into it and you have support every step of the way.  As no dog is the same and each of their issues/needs are different, the team tailors the program to meet the needs of your dog and you. Although we still have some work to do, every day I see progress.  I really could never have imagined Larry would come this far and am gratefull to Cause & Effect for all the tools and guidance they have provided.  After completing the training program I'm now able to take Larry to dog parks, on pack walks and have people over to my house. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We'd give a hundred stars if that were an option. My husband and I adapted lab pit mix 9 months ago, he was 8 months old at that time and 60lbs, a big boy.  I always loved dogs and was very happy to have my dog at our house. But I did not know how hard it would be. Our dog, Choko used to:-Pull on leash, out of focus on walk, easily distracted by any noises or objects. (skateboard, motorbike, kids, cat, birds, other dogs) I was avoiding even quite little pretty streets in the mornings because Choko pulled very hard if he saw squirrel. -Bark at home by any noises from outside, if someone drag trash can at night, he barks.-Chasing his tail aggressively, we tried ignore him, scream "no!" to him, we moved other room and left him alone other room etc... Well, nothing stopped him.-Barks at us and nip me every day. He started barking and nipping a while after we adopted him. We had no clue why he barks at us and I was afraid to be home with own my dog alone at night. My arms were covered by bruises and seeing it made me feel powerless. My husband pinned him down on floor every night, we fought with Choko every single night for 2 months, no relaxing nights, every night so tense until we met Kathy. We were lost, completely did not know how to address his behavior. He was not aggressive but I even could not tell if he was or not. Because he barks and nips aggressively. I could not trust the dog. I searched dog walkers, and found couple of them and Kathy was the only person who wrote me back on the same day. She was very kind, very helpful, gave me specific advise, she listened to my feelings and encouraged me. She was a big support for me and always there for us before we even met her in person. I was saved.She came to our house and saw Choko and said that he has no aggression, he's just a pushy submissive dog, who needs solid leadership. She did one correction on him and waa laa, she made him a clam submissive dog. After her visit, Choko' s behavior changed a lot, only one correction she did to him changed him a lot. Soon, Choko started to join her pack walk service "Happy Hound Pack Walks". Choko goes on adventures with a balanced pack of dogs off leash, learns how to behave from other dogs, runs, plays, and has made a lot of good friends during his pack walks. We signed up with the "Fundamental Focus Obedience Program"; 8 one to one sessions. For the first 4 sessions, Beth taught us focus walk, wait, down, down stay, tie down, heal, and how to do reinforcement/ correction using a prong collar. The hardest thing for me was tie down and reducing affection. It was hard, but as we implemented the tie down and reducing affection, we saw big differences in Choko. He became more calm and relaxed, no longer all over the house,  no whining, no demanding. During the first 2 weeks, I bugged Beth A LOT, asking her if I can reduce the tie down time etc.. She was very supportive, very patient with me. Answering my questions. After 4 sessions with Beth, Kathy taught us how to handle Choko for the rest of the 4 sessions. She taught us recall, sudden down, down out of sight. We met her at point Isabel, marina, and 4th street. She is very clear and firm with what she is doing. She gave us assignments after the lessens and we worked on them, every day. The progress was 3steps forward and 2steps back but definitely moving forward. We bonded with Choko through the training, and seeing the change in the way Choko looked at us was amazing. Now, Choko no longer pulls the leash, he is right next to me and looks at me every once in a while and we can take him anywhere we go, park, cafe, friends' houses, etc... He can run freely off leash in parks and nature trails. The better he behaves the more freedom he gets and the more time he gets to hang around us.Through the training with Kathy and Beth, we built confidence and bonded with our dog. We highly appreciate Kathy and Beth and Kathy's pack walk team, who gave us the tools and great on-going support, even now after the all lessons. If you adopted a dog, and don't know what to do with him, "Cause and Effect Dog " is the way to go!!!!! More...

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