Initial Meeting — $175/session
A first meeting that includes an assessment, some initial training, written handouts, and a personalized training plan.
Duration: 1.3 sessions
Focus: Basic obedience
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Joan 4 Pets
Joan 4 Pets is a dog training business in San Francisco, California offering Private Lessons, with published programs from $50.
San Francisco • CA • 5.0 ★ (2 Google reviews)
Last verified: Sep 5, 2026
Transparency Score
92 / 100
Highly transparent
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
- Price transparency
- 100%
- Method transparency
- 100%
- Program clarity
- 68%
About this program
What they say about themselves
Joan, the trainer behind Joan 4 Pets, brings a background that sets her apart from many solo practitioners. She graduated from the San Francisco Academy for Dog Trainers—a program associated with Jean Donaldson that she refers to on her site as "the Harvard of Animal Schools"—and spent eleven years as Coordinator of the San Francisco SPCA's Adoption Outreach Program before launching her own business in 2000.
According to her website, Joan's training approach is aversion-free and relies on positive reinforcement. She offers two distinct formats: "solo" sessions where she works directly with the dog while owners reinforce the results at home, and coaching sessions where she teaches owners to train their dogs themselves. Her site lists specialties including basic obedience, socialization, separation anxiety, and behavior modification walks for dogs that have already received some training.
The business also provides pet sitting and dog walking services in San Francisco, making it a single point of contact for owners who want training and care from someone familiar with their dog. Joan mentions ongoing education through industry courses and seminars, though specific recent credentials aren't detailed on the site.
Getting started
Consultations and evaluations before you commit to a program.
Pre-Puppy Consultation — $175–$200/session
A consultation for new puppy owners covering what supplies to get, how to set up the home, house and crate training basics, scheduling, and name recognition.
Best for: Owners preparing to bring a new puppy home.
Duration: 0.5 sessions
Focus: Puppy training
What does Joan 4 Pets charge for board and train?
Private lessons cover basic obedience, socialization, and leash reactivity. Joan 4 Pets also offers behavior modification walks in half-hour and hour-long formats, focusing on dogs that struggle with leash manners or reactivity toward other dogs and people.
Sessions range from $50 for a half-hour behavior modification walk up to $120 for coaching or solo trainer sessions. The hour-long behavior walk falls in between at $90. All prices are listed clearly on the site.
Private Lessons
Trainer/Dog Solo Sessions — $120 per session
The trainer works one-on-one with the dog to speed up learning, then transfers the trained skills back to the owner at the end of the session.
The trainer handles the dog directly during the session, then hands the leash back to the owner to reinforce the lessons learned.
Best for: Owners who want quick, hands-off results with the trainer doing most of the work.
Focus: Basic obedience, Socialization
Coaching — $120 per session
The trainer teaches the owner directly how to train their own dog, working together during the session rather than the trainer doing the training alone.
The owner and dog work together with the trainer present to learn training techniques directly.
Best for: Owners who prefer a hands-on approach and have the time and patience to train their pet themselves.
Focus: Basic obedience
1 Hour Behavior Modification Walk — $90 per session
A one-hour walk-based session used to work on and maintain previously learned skills such as reactivity and leash manners.
The trainer takes the dog on a walk focused on reinforcing previously learned behaviors.
Best for: Dogs that have already received prior training in reactivity or leash manners.
Focus: Leash reactivity, Leash training
Duration: 1 sessions
1/2 Hour Behavior Modification Walk — $50 per session
A shorter half-hour walk-based session to maintain previously learned skills like reactivity handling and leash manners.
The trainer takes the dog on a shorter walk to reinforce previously learned behaviors.
Best for: Dogs that have already received prior training in reactivity or leash manners.
Focus: Leash reactivity, Leash training
Duration: 0.5 sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Trainer/Dog Solo Sessions | $120 per session | — |
| Coaching | $120 per session | — |
| 1 Hour Behavior Modification Walk | $90 per session | 1 sessions |
| 1/2 Hour Behavior Modification Walk | $50 per session | 0.5 sessions |
What training methods does Joan 4 Pets use?
The approach is explicitly force-free. Aggression and reactivity cases are considered individually rather than accepted or turned away as a blanket policy.
Method: Reward-based
Uses rewards and positive reinforcement only, without corrections or aversive tools.
How do we verify Joan 4 Pets?
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
Twenty-six years in business, though the site doesn't list certifications or insurance. No details appear about guarantees or waitlists.
Facility: not specified on their website.
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: Phone only
How does Joan 4 Pets compare in San Francisco?
Price: Joan 4 Pets does not publish board & train pricing. Across San Francisco, 46 programs publish prices from about $68 to $783.
Reviews: Joan 4 Pets shows 5.0★ from 2 Google reviews among 13 published San Francisco programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 92 out of 100 (price 100%, program clarity 68%). 5 of 13 San Francisco listings show certifications; this business does not list certifications.
What to ask Joan 4 Pets
- 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.
Location & hours
The 11th Avenue address sits in San Francisco's Inner Richmond neighborhood. Parking and accessibility details aren't published.
245 11th Ave, San Francisco, CA
Friday: 8:30AM-5:30PM
Monday: 8:30AM-5:30PM
Sunday: Closed
Tuesday: 8:30AM-5:30PM
Saturday: 9AM-5PM
Thursday: 8:30AM-5:30PM
Wednesday: 8:30AM-5:30PM
Contact / request a quote
Reach out directly or send a quote request through Joan 4 Pets.
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