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San Bruno Dog Obedience School is a dog training business in San Mateo, California offering group classes, working from rented training space. They take aggression cases by assessment and publish pricing from $80 per course.
San Mateo, CA • Uses rented space • 5.0 ★ (3 Google reviews)
Last reviewed: Sep 6, 2026
34 / 100
Limited information
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
Based on what the business publishes about itself
Founded more than 45 years ago by Mal Lightfoot, who believed that "untrained is unloved", San Bruno Dog Obedience School has operated as a nonprofit serving Bay Area families across generations. Classes meet Saturday mornings in a parking lot at College of San Mateo rather than an indoor facility, giving the program a community-oriented, outdoor feel.
According to their site, instructors draw on positive reinforcement, operant conditioning, and relationship-based methods. The curriculum spans puppy orientation through advanced adult obedience, with specialized "Attitudes" classes for dogs with behavioral challenges. They also offer Canine Good Citizen preparation and testing, therapy dog readiness training, non-competitive agility, and competition obedience run-throughs at Novice, Open, and Utility levels, the latter led by instructor Linda Whisler. A four-week pet first aid workshop, taught by Melodie Farrell, covers emergency recognition and disaster preparedness.
The school describes its goal as helping owners understand their dogs and build a lasting partnership, whether they're raising a first family pet or pursuing competition titles. With instructors who collectively claim over 40 years of experience across pet, competition, and therapy work, this San Mateo-area nonprofit positions itself as an accessible option for owners at various stages of the training journey.
Group classes span puppies through advanced adults, with specialty tracks for reactive dogs (the "Attitudes" series), therapy dog prep, non-competitive agility, and Canine Good Citizen certification. San Bruno Dog Obedience School also runs competition obedience run-throughs at novice, open, and utility levels, plus a four-week pet first aid course. The range suits owners at different stages, from basic socialization to sport-level precision.
$80 per course
A workshop teaching pet owners how to recognize emergencies, perform a basic at-home physical exam, handle common emergencies, and prepare for disasters.
Owners attend a 4-week workshop bringing a dog mat, treats, water, and a chair.
Best for: Pet owners who want confidence handling emergencies before reaching a vet.
Duration: 4 weeks
Focus: Basic obedience
Price not published.
A class preparing dogs for the Canine Good Citizen test, followed by the test itself.
A multi-week class culminating in a test on a scheduled date.
Best for: Dogs preparing for the AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluation.
Duration: 4 weeks
Focus: Advanced obedience, Basic obedience
$15 per session
Practice run-throughs for dogs preparing for competition obedience trials at Novice, Open, and Utility levels, held twice monthly.
Handlers pay per run-through session held on select Saturdays.
Best for: Dogs and handlers training for competition obedience trials.
Focus: Advanced obedience, Agility & dog sports
Price not published.
A group class series for puppies covering foundational obedience and social skills, held Saturday mornings at the College of San Mateo.
Owners attend with their puppy in a group class setting on Saturday mornings.
Best for: Puppies (owners cannot bring puppies to the first orientation class).
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
Price not published.
An introductory group obedience class for adult family pets covering basic commands and manners.
Held as a group class series on Saturday mornings.
Best for: Adult family pet dogs new to formal training.
Focus: Basic obedience, Socialization
Price not published.
A follow-on group class building on beginning obedience skills for adult dogs.
Held as a group class series on Saturday mornings.
Best for: Adult dogs that have completed the beginning level class.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training
Price not published.
An advanced group obedience class continuing skill development beyond the intermediate level.
Held as a group class series on Saturday mornings.
Best for: Adult dogs that have completed intermediate training.
Focus: Advanced obedience, Recall & off-leash
Price not published.
A class for dogs with behavioral challenges, offered at beginning and intermediate levels, referred to as classes for dogs with attitudes.
Held as a group class series on Saturday mornings.
Best for: Dogs with attitude or behavior issues.
Focus: Leash reactivity, Aggression, Fear & anxiety
Price not published.
A non-competitive agility class introducing dogs to agility equipment and handling for fun rather than competition.
Held as a group class series on Saturday mornings.
Focus: Agility & dog sports
Price not published.
A class geared toward preparing dogs and handlers for therapy dog work.
Held as a group class series on Saturday mornings.
Best for: Dogs and handlers interested in becoming a therapy dog team.
Focus: Therapy dog training
Most class prices aren't published online, but two exceptions appear: competition obedience run-throughs at $15 per session, and the four-week first aid class at $80 total. For standard obedience or puppy classes, you'll need to contact them directly.
| Program | Price | Length |
|---|---|---|
| First Aid Class | $80 per course | 4 weeks |
| Canine Good Citizen | Not published | 4 weeks |
| Competition Ready Obedience Run Throughs (Novice, Open, Utility) | $15 per session | Not stated |
| Puppies | Not published | Not stated |
| Beginning Adult | Not published | Not stated |
| Intermediate Adult | Not published | Not stated |
| Advanced | Not published | Not stated |
| Attitudes (Beginning & Intermediate) | Not published | Not stated |
| Non-Competitive Agility | Not published | Not stated |
| Therapy Dog | Not published | Not stated |
Training philosophy isn't described in specific terms on the site, so the tools and techniques used remain unclear. Reactivity and aggression cases are accepted on a case-by-case basis through the Attitudes classes.
Public materials reviewed by Barklen do not specify which training tools are used.
As described in the business's own materials
According to their site, founded the nonprofit school and believed that dogs without training are effectively unloved.
According to their site, runs the competition-readiness obedience run-through sessions for Novice, Open, and Utility levels.
According to their site, teaches the pet first aid workshop covering emergency care basics for dog owners.
San Bruno Dog Obedience School trains out of rented space in San Mateo, CA, offering group classes.
Their site says they family pet owners across the Bay Area, from first-time puppy owners to those pursuing competition obedience, therapy work, or addressing behavioral issues in their dogs.
Classes are held outdoors on Saturday mornings in a college parking lot rather than at a dedicated indoor training facility.
Classes meet at 1700 W Hillsdale Blvd in the lot marked "X" in San Mateo. Parking and accessibility details aren't specified.
Barklen analysis
Barklen analysis based on 3 published San Mateo listings (1 with published pricing). These comparisons are computed by Barklen, not claims made by San Bruno Dog Obedience School.
Price: too few San Mateo programs publish pricing in the same categories for a like-for-like comparison yet.
Reviews: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, among 3 published San Mateo programs.
Transparency: 34 out of 100 (limited information), with 20% price transparency and 57% program clarity. 1 of 3 San Mateo listings show certifications; this business does not list any.
Generated from what their public materials leave open
1700 W Hillsdale Blvd Lot X, San Mateo, CA
Barklen reviewed San Bruno Dog Obedience School against the business's public materials and published this listing. That is not a check of licenses, insurance, or certifications. See our methodology for what a verified listing does and does not mean.
Details the public materials do not address (owner visits during programs, progress updates, overnight staffing, insurance, guarantee, certifications, and others) are turned into the questions above rather than filled in.
Last reviewed by Barklen: Sep 6, 2026
Contact San Bruno Dog Obedience School directly by phone or through their website, or request a quote through Barklen and we will pass it along.
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