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Top Dog SF is a dog training business in San Francisco, California offering Group Classes, Board and Train, and In-Home Training, with published programs from $35.
San Francisco • CA • Training facility • 4.9 ★ (104 Google reviews)
Last verified: Sep 6, 2026
93 / 100
Highly transparent
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
What they say about themselves
Natalie Tondelli Walsh started Top Dog SF in 2004 while attending SFSU, initially walking dogs part-time before completing certification through the SPCA's Dog Training Academy in 2009. After spending roughly five years as a police officer in San Mateo County, she returned to lead the business in 2024. Her team includes trainers with credentials from the Karen Pryor Academy, Animal Behavior College, and similar programs, and the company states its staff holds CPDT-KA certifications.
The San Francisco operation runs group puppy classes and in-home private sessions, with their site emphasizing force-free, reward-based techniques throughout. According to their materials, puppies completing their preschool and kindergarten curriculum can earn the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy designation, and they offer preparation for the Canine Good Citizen evaluation as well. One notable feature mentioned on their site: a dedicated daycare program for dogs weighing under 25 pounds, run from their Sunset District facility with what they describe as small enrollment numbers and higher staffing ratios than typical operations.
The business also offers something less common in urban areas—transported outings to private ranch acreage for off-leash play, which they position as an alternative to busy public dog parks. Their site indicates they maintain consistent pricing across San Francisco neighborhoods rather than varying rates by location.
Puppy programming dominates the offerings here, with AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy classes split into Preschool (8 weeks to 5 months) and Kindergarten (5 months to 1 year), plus drop-in puppy socials for younger dogs. Top Dog SF also runs private sessions, a 6-session package for deeper behavior work or multi-dog households, and a 4-week Puppy Head Start board-and-train for dogs 2–6 months old. Small Dog PlayCare provides daycare-style socialization for dogs under 25 pounds.
Group puppy classes run $300 for a 5-week course, with puppy socials at $35 per drop-in. Private sessions cost $125 each or $600 for a 5-session package, while the 6-session package is $700. The Puppy Head Start board-and-train ranges from $1,525 to $2,015 for four weeks, and Small Dog PlayCare is $48 per day ($750 for 10 days).
An all-day daytime program for puppies covering socialization, basic obedience, play, crate/alone time, and potty training over four weeks.
Puppies attend daily during the day for structured training and socialization, though this appears to be a daytime rather than overnight program.
Best for: Puppies between 2 and 6 months old.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
Duration: 4 weeks
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy Head Start (4-week) | $1,525–$2,015 per program | 4 weeks |
A single 60-minute in-home training session delivered anywhere in the client's neighborhood, covering real-world manners like loose-leash walking, recall, and polite greetings.
The trainer comes to the client's home for a one-hour, one-on-one session.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training
A six-session in-home training package designed for more involved behavior issues or households with multiple dogs.
Six in-home private training sessions delivered over time by the same trainer.
Best for: Households needing deeper behavior work or with multiple dogs.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash reactivity
Duration: 6 sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Private Session (60 min) | $125 per session | — |
| 6-Session Package | $700 per program | 6 sessions |
This is a five-week group class combining basic training with structured puppy socialization. Classes are capped at six to eight puppies and run fifty minutes, including one puppy social and materials like a clicker and treats.
Puppies and owners attend weekly 50-minute sessions together, with week one being a humans-only orientation.
Best for: Puppies between 8 weeks and 5 months old.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
Duration: 5 weeks
This class continues training and socialization begun in preschool, for slightly older puppies. It runs five weeks with small group sizes and includes a small-dog social required for certification.
Puppies attend weekly group sessions with their owners, working on continued obedience and socialization skills.
Best for: Puppies aged five months to one year.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
Duration: 5 weeks
A weekly 50-minute drop-in social event held on Saturdays for young puppies to interact and socialize under supervision.
Puppies attend a single weekly session focused on supervised social play.
Best for: Young puppies under 18 weeks (small breeds) or 16 weeks (large breeds).
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization
A small-group daycare program exclusively for dogs under 25 lbs, offering supervised play, leashed walks, enrichment activities, and rest breaks throughout the day.
Dogs are dropped off and spend the day in supervised indoor/outdoor play with structured rest and walk breaks.
Best for: Small dogs under 25 lbs seeking socialization in a low-enrollment setting.
Focus: Socialization
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Preschool 101 | $300 per program | 5 weeks |
| AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Kindergarten 201 | $300 per program | 5 weeks |
| Puppy Socials | $35 per session | — |
| Small Dog PlayCare | $48 per program | — |
The site explicitly describes the approach as force-free. Aggression and reactivity cases are evaluated individually rather than accepted or declined outright.
Method: Reward-based
Uses rewards and positive reinforcement only, without corrections or aversive tools.
Certifications: CPDT-KA
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
Twenty years in business and a CPDT-KA certification are listed, along with mention of insurance coverage. Video updates go out occasionally during board-and-train stays, though overnight staffing and visitation policies aren't specified. No guarantee terms appear on the site.
Facility: Training facility
Owner visits: not specified on their website.
Video updates: Occasional updates
Overnight staffing: not specified on their website.
Insurance: Yes
Guarantee: not specified on their website.
Waitlist: not specified on their website.
Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.
Booking: Contact form
Price: Published board & train pricing is still limited among other San Francisco programs, so a midpoint comparison is not available yet.
Reviews: Top Dog SF shows 4.9★ from 104 Google reviews among 13 published San Francisco programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 93 out of 100 (price 100%, program clarity 70%). 5 of 13 San Francisco listings show certifications; this business lists CPDT-KA.
The Taraval Street facility in San Francisco's Parkside neighborhood operates as a dedicated training space. Parking and accessibility details aren't published.
2121 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA
Friday: 7:30AM-6PM
Monday: 7:30AM-6PM
Sunday: 7:30AM-6PM
Tuesday: 7:30AM-6PM
Saturday: 7:30AM-6PM
Thursday: 7:30AM-6PM
Wednesday: 7:30AM-6PM
Reach out directly or send a quote request through Top Dog SF.
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