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SF Puppy Prep is a dog training business in San Francisco, California offering Board and Train, In-Home Training, and Group Classes, with published programs from $165.
San Francisco • CA • Training facility • 4.7 ★ (100 Google reviews)
Last verified: Sep 6, 2026
75 / 100
Moderately transparent
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
What they say about themselves
SF Puppy Prep builds its programs around a specific challenge: helping dogs navigate city life. According to their site, training extends beyond classroom settings into actual San Francisco streets and neighborhoods, where dogs learn to respond to cues amid urban distractions—traffic, crowds, other dogs. They describe this outdoor education component as particularly suited for adolescent dogs who need practice in real-world conditions.
Their approach, as they present it, relies on positive reinforcement and avoids fear- or pain-based methods. The business offers a tiered structure starting with puppy day school for dogs 8-18 weeks old, covering socialization and basic manners, then progressing through group classes up to Canine Good Citizen preparation. They note that class sizes are kept small. For puppies who are shy, reactive, or aggressive, they offer private sessions—often in-home—and emphasize a non-judgmental stance toward owners dealing with behavioral difficulties.
Additional services include daycare specifically for dogs under 20 pounds and supervised puppy socials focused on teaching social boundaries. The business mentions providing regular updates to owners, described as similar to parent-teacher conferences, and offers a free initial consultation call to help families determine which program fits.
Group classes progress from Puppy Fundamentals (7 weeks to 4 months) through Adolescent Fundamentals and on to Canine Good Citizen prep, each requiring specific vaccination records. SF Puppy Prep also runs a board-and-train Puppy Prep School for 8-18 week olds, outdoor education for adolescent dogs, supervised puppy socials, and private sessions for reactive or resource-guarding cases.
Four-week group courses run $300, while the six-week Canine Good Citizen course costs $400. Private training sessions are $165 each; pricing for the board-and-train program, outdoor education, and puppy socials isn't published.
This is a full-day program combining structured training with social play so young puppies can build early skills together.
Puppies attend an all-day session at the facility that mixes training and supervised socialization.
Best for: Puppies between roughly 8 and 18 weeks old.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy Prep School | Not published | — |
Trainers take adolescent dogs out into real city settings to practice reliable responses to cues despite distractions, while building confidence through structured play and enrichment.
Training occurs off-site in outdoor, real-world environments around the city.
Best for: Adolescent dogs adjusting to city life and distractions.
Focus: Advanced obedience, Socialization, Recall & off-leash
In-Home Training in San Francisco typically runs $138–$950 across 6 programs that do publish pricing. Ask this trainer for a written quote before comparing.
One-on-one sessions address individual behavioral challenges too intense for a group setting, such as fearfulness, reactivity, aggression, or resource guarding, using non-aversive methods.
A trainer typically comes to the client's home for individual sessions billed per visit.
Best for: Puppies who are very shy, reactive or aggressive toward unfamiliar people, or possessive over food or toys.
Focus: Fear & anxiety, Aggression, Resource guarding
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Education | Not published | — |
| Private Training | $165 per session | — |
Puppies gather for supervised play sessions designed to teach boundaries, communication, and cooperation among peers.
Puppies attend a session focused on play and social interaction rather than formal lessons.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization
Group Classes in San Francisco typically runs $56–$383 across 28 programs that do publish pricing. Ask this trainer for a written quote before comparing.
This beginner class teaches puppies foundational cues like sit, down, and come, alongside managing common puppy issues such as biting, chewing, and house training.
Weekly one-hour group classes run for four weeks, combining training with playtime.
Best for: Puppies aged 7 weeks to 4 months, whether or not enrolled in prep school.
Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience, Socialization
Duration: 4 weeks
This class targets the transition from puppyhood into adolescence, addressing difficult teen behaviors while reinforcing basic cues like sit, recall, and down.
Weekly one-hour group classes run for four weeks.
Best for: Dogs aged 5 months to 1 year, of any breed.
Focus: Basic obedience, Socialization
Duration: 4 weeks
This class builds on foundational skills, focusing on transitioning training into daily life through fading food rewards and practicing around distractions, including gentle loose-leash walking.
Weekly one-hour group classes run for four weeks, practicing skills in distracting environments.
Best for: Puppies aged 4 months to 1 year who have completed a 100-level class or equivalent.
Focus: Advanced obedience, Leash training, Basic obedience
Duration: 4 weeks
This class prepares dogs for the Canine Good Citizen test, teaching calm greetings with strangers, walking through crowds, staying calm around other dogs, and working at a distance from the handler.
Weekly one-hour group classes run for six weeks.
Best for: Dogs 6 months or older who are friendly with people and other dogs, having completed prior levels.
Focus: Advanced obedience, Socialization
Duration: 6 weeks
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy Socials | Not published | — |
| 100 — Puppy Fundamentals | $300 per program | 4 weeks |
| 101 — Adolescent Fundamentals | $300 per program | 4 weeks |
| 200 — Puppy Advanced | $300 per program | 4 weeks |
| 300 — Canine Good Citizen | $400 per program | 6 weeks |
They explicitly describe their approach as force-free and positive reinforcement based. Aggression and reactivity cases are considered on a case-by-case basis, typically through private sessions rather than group settings.
Method: Reward-based
Uses rewards and positive reinforcement only, without corrections or aversive tools.
Certifications: Not specified on their website
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
Training takes place at a dedicated facility on 6th Street. Insurance, certifications, overnight staffing arrangements, and guarantee terms aren't mentioned on the site.
Facility: Training facility
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: Book online
Price: SF Puppy Prep does not publish board & train pricing. Across San Francisco, 46 programs publish prices from about $68 to $783.
Reviews: SF Puppy Prep shows 4.7★ from 100 Google reviews among 13 published San Francisco programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 75 out of 100 (price 63%, program clarity 68%). 5 of 13 San Francisco listings show certifications; this business does not list certifications.
The 94103 address sits in San Francisco's SoMa district. Parking and accessibility details aren't listed on the website.
251 6th St, San Francisco, CA
Friday: Closed
Monday: 7:30AM-4:30PM
Sunday: Closed
Tuesday: 7:30AM-4:30PM
Saturday: Closed
Thursday: 7:30AM-4:30PM
Wednesday: 7:30AM-4:30PM
Reach out directly or send a quote request through SF Puppy Prep.
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