Consultation (Free) — $0/session
This is a free introductory session offered before other services begin.
Focus: Basic obedience
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itchytail pet services
itchytail pet services is a dog training business in Oakland, California offering Private Lessons, Group Classes, and Virtual Training, with published programs from $300.
Oakland • CA • Uses rented space • 5.0 ★ (5 Google reviews)
Last verified: Aug 23, 2026
Transparency Score
63 / 100
Moderately transparent
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
- Price transparency
- 33%
- Method transparency
- 100%
- Program clarity
- 73%
About this program
What they say about themselves
Itchytail Pet Services is owned and operated by Shae Clark, who is identified as the business's trainer and behaviorist. The company states that it began in 2005 with a goal of helping dogs remain in their homes and out of shelters. Shae describes a training background built through hands-on work and courses with Leerburg and Robert Cabral's Shelter Dog Training. The website does not publish a named third-party professional dog-training certification.
Private Lessons are one-hour individualized sessions shaped around the dog and owner's needs, with the website specifically recommending them for fear, aggression, barking, leash problems, biting histories, growling, and difficulty working around distractions. In-Home Training is also available through private instruction. Group Classes include a puppy curriculum covering household management, crates, socialization, housebreaking, engagement, redirection, and basic cues, plus a Basics class covering sit, stay, come, heel, down, greetings, and loose-leash foundations.
The business explicitly describes its training as balanced and reward-based. Its Basics Group Class begins with a reward-based foundation, while the About page says the broader approach uses balanced training to improve communication between dogs and owners. Virtual Training is available in one-hour sessions through Teams, focusing on behavior change, relationship building, root causes, engagement, and owner coaching. Itchytail also offers social play events and boarding, but these are separate from the standardized training programs.
Getting started
Consultations and evaluations before you commit to a program.
Behavior Assessment
A 90-minute assessment where the owner walks the trainer through issues and successes so far. It helps identify what might be triggering a behavior and offers guidance on next steps, and can be done online.
Best for: Owners unsure whether to pursue private or group training, or wanting to understand behavior triggers.
Duration: 90 sessions
Focus: Aggression, Leash reactivity, Fear & anxiety
What does itchytail pet services charge for board and train?
Training includes Private Lessons, In-Home Training, puppy and basic Group Classes, Virtual Training, and Consultation-based behavior assessments. Private work is recommended for more challenging behaviors, including aggression and bite histories. The website also advertises Puppy Social events and boarding services, but those are not treated as standardized training programs without a defined training component.
Most current training prices are not published. A Group Classes event dated February 22, 2025 advertised five weekly sessions for $300, which should be treated as historical event pricing rather than assumed current pricing. The introductory Consultation is identified as free. Private Lessons, Virtual Training, and Behavior Assessment prices are not listed.
Private Lessons
Private Training
One-on-one, hour-long sessions customized to the dog and owner's needs, delivered in and out of the home. This option is recommended for dogs with fear, aggression, barking, poor leash manners, or difficulty focusing in new environments.
Sessions are 1 hour long and shaped around the specific dog and owner's needs.
Best for: Dogs with fear, aggression, barking, reactivity to people or dogs, or leash difficulties.
Focus: Aggression, Leash reactivity, Fear & anxiety, Leash training
Duration: 1 sessions
Private Lessons in Oakland typically runs $143–$295 across 6 programs that do publish pricing. Ask this trainer for a written quote before comparing.
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Private Training | Not published | 1 sessions |
Group Classes
Group Training (Puppy)
This class covers house management, crates, toys, engagement, name recognition, socialization, redirection, house breaking, and basic commands, with fun drills and puppy playtime at the end of each session.
Owners and puppies work through drills together, ending each session with supervised puppy play.
Best for: Puppies roughly 3 to 6 months old.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
Group Classes in Oakland typically runs $229–$300 across 10 programs that do publish pricing. Ask this trainer for a written quote before comparing.
Group Training (Basics)
The class teaches five core skills — sit, stay, come, heel, and down — using a reward-based foundation, along with leaving objects, greetings, name recognition, and loose-leash walking. Skills are addressed weekly in a structured sequence.
Owners attend weekly structured classes practicing core commands with their dogs.
Best for: Dogs 7 months and older without aggression issues.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Socialization
Group Classes in Oakland typically runs $229–$300 across 10 programs that do publish pricing. Ask this trainer for a written quote before comparing.
Puppy Social — $10 per session
An hour of supervised puppy play with obstacle courses, balls, and other toys set up for free play.
Puppies play together under supervision for an hour while owners can wait onsite.
Best for: Fully vaccinated puppies.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization
Duration: 1 sessions
Group Training Classes (5-Week Series) — $300 per program
A five-week weekly class held on Saturdays for handlers and their dogs to build engagement skills and refresh basic obedience.
Handlers and dogs attend weekly Saturday sessions at the Oakland location for five weeks.
Focus: Basic obedience, Socialization
Duration: 5 weeks
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Group Training (Puppy) | Not published | — |
| Group Training (Basics) | Not published | — |
| Puppy Social | $10 per session | 1 sessions |
| Group Training Classes (5-Week Series) | $300 per program | 5 weeks |
Virtual Training
Online Training
Hour-long virtual coaching sessions conducted via Teams, focused on identifying root causes of behavior issues and addressing them. The first session targets identified issues, with later sessions tailored to what came up previously.
Sessions are scheduled in advance and conducted remotely via video call.
Focus: Basic obedience
Duration: 1 sessions
Virtual Training in Oakland typically runs $50–$100 across 4 programs that do publish pricing. Ask this trainer for a written quote before comparing.
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Online Training | Not published | 1 sessions |
What training methods does itchytail pet services use?
Itchytail explicitly describes its methodology as reward-based and balanced. The website says Group Classes begin with a reward-based foundation and describes the overall approach as balanced training intended to improve communication, structure, and the relationship between owner and dog.
Method: Balanced
Combines rewards with corrections, which may include tools such as prong collars or e-collars.
How do we verify itchytail pet services?
Certifications: Not specified on their website
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
Trust & facility details
Itchytail states that it began in 2005 and is led by Shae Clark, Trainer and Behaviorist. The website directly discusses working with aggression, fear, biting histories, and other challenging behaviors. Shae's education includes hands-on experience and courses through Leerburg and Robert Cabral's Shelter Dog Training.
Facility: Uses rented space
Owner visits: not specified on their website.
Video updates: not specified on their website.
Overnight staffing: not specified on their website.
Insurance: not specified on their website.
Guarantee: not specified on their website.
Waitlist: not specified on their website.
Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.
Booking: Contact form
How does itchytail pet services compare in Oakland?
Price: itchytail pet services does not publish board & train pricing. Across Oakland, 19 programs publish prices from about $106 to $320.
Reviews: itchytail pet services shows 5.0★ from 5 Google reviews among 4 published Oakland programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 63 out of 100 (price 33%, program clarity 73%). 2 of 4 Oakland listings show certifications; this business does not list certifications.
What to ask itchytail pet services
- Ask which certifications their trainers hold and who issued them.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance.
- Ask how many dogs each trainer handles at once.
- Ask whether you can visit during the program.
- Ask if anyone is on-site overnight.
- Ask about current availability and whether there is a waitlist.
Location & hours
A February 2025 Group Classes event was listed at 2850 Hannah St, Oakland, CA 94608. The supplied contact page does not publish a separate current street address, so the address should be confirmed before presenting it as the business's permanent location.
Mailbox #1, 2850 Hannah St Ste 103, Oakland, CA
Friday: 10AM-8PM
Monday: Closed
Sunday: 8AM-4PM
Tuesday: 10AM-8PM
Saturday: 8AM-8PM
Thursday: 10AM-8PM
Wednesday: 10AM-8PM
Contact / request a quote
Reach out directly or send a quote request through itchytail pet services.
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