Dog Obedience Training
Price not published.
Requirements: Pricing is the same for one or two dogs trained together.
Duration: 5 months
Focus: Basic obedience, Recall & off-leash, Leash training
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A Better Dog Trainer — Dog Training in San Rafael, CA
A Better Dog Trainer is a dog training business in San Rafael, California offering in-home training, working by traveling to clients. They accept aggression and reactivity cases and have been in business for 20+ years.
San Rafael, CA • Mobile / travels to you
Last reviewed: Sep 5, 2026
Transparency Score
20 / 100
Minimal information
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
- Price transparency
- 0%
- Method transparency
- 35%
- Program clarity
- 37%
About A Better Dog Trainer
Based on what the business publishes about itself
A Better Dog Trainer is listed among dog training programs in San Rafael. Published program types include in home training. Ask about staffing, methods, and follow-up support before you book.
What dog training programs does A Better Dog Trainer offer?
In-home training covers obedience, puppy development, and behavior problems including aggression and separation anxiety. A Better Dog Trainer offers a five-month obedience program covering recall, leash skills, and basic commands, and notes that pricing is the same whether training one or two dogs together. Puppy training can start before the dog even comes home.
Puppy Training
Price not published.
Requirements: Best started as early as possible, often before the puppy comes home.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
Dog Behavior Problems
Price not published.
Focus: Aggression, Leash reactivity, Fear & anxiety, Separation anxiety
How much does A Better Dog Trainer cost?
A Better Dog Trainer does not publish program pricing online. Contact them directly or request a quote through Barklen for current rates.
In-Home Training pricing
| Program | Price | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Obedience Training | Not published | 5 months |
| Puppy Training | Not published | Not stated |
| Dog Behavior Problems | Not published | Not stated |
What training methods does A Better Dog Trainer use?
The site doesn't specify training techniques or tools used.
Public materials reviewed by Barklen do not specify which training tools are used.
Who runs A Better Dog Trainer?
As described in the business's own materials
John Vinton, Owner / Lead Trainer
According to their site, grew up in Chappaqua, New York with German Shepherd Dogs and has worked with all breeds, mixed breeds, rescues, and therapy dogs, including dogs later trained to assist people with PTSD, TBI, and mental illness.
Credentials listed on their site: Licensed business owner of A Better Dog Trainer (#04766), Registered dog expert with the Expert Institute, submitting dog behavior assessments for court cases, Previously ran a therapy dog class focused on preparing dogs for the therapy dog test, Interviewed on dog aggression by NPR and quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, and Worked as dog handler for a Sungevity video sent to President Obama, a Milk-Bone ad campaign, and product testing for a Fortune 100 company. Barklen has not independently verified these.
Karen Vinton, Trainer
According to their site, retired from a corporate Senior Vice President role to return to working with animals. Grew up near Chicago training and showing horses in 3-Day Eventing and Dressage, later moved into dog obedience, tracking, and high-level agility competition and training, and trained her own golden retriever as a certified therapy dog.
Credentials listed on their site: Former Director of Training for The Windy City Agility Club, Spoke to dog training clubs on conditioning the canine athlete, and Led specialized training classes for therapy dogs and advanced competition dog handlers. Barklen has not independently verified these.
Where does A Better Dog Trainer offer dog training?
A Better Dog Trainer is a mobile trainer based in San Rafael, CA, traveling to clients rather than hosting them, offering in-home training at the client's home.
Their site says they dog and puppy owners throughout the San Francisco Bay Area counties (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma), including owners of all breeds, rescues, and those who have tried other trainers without success.
Sessions take place in clients' homes throughout the San Rafael area, with the business based on Del Ganado Road. No information about service radius or travel fees appears on the website.
How does A Better Dog Trainer compare with other San Rafael dog trainers?
Barklen analysis
Barklen analysis based on 3 published San Rafael listings (6 with published pricing). These comparisons are computed by Barklen, not claims made by A Better Dog Trainer.
Price: too few San Rafael programs publish pricing in the same categories for a like-for-like comparison yet.
Reviews: no Google review count is shown on this listing; compare review volume across the 3 published programs in San Rafael.
Transparency: 20 out of 100 (minimal information), with 0% price transparency and 37% program clarity. 1 of 3 San Rafael listings show certifications; this business does not list any.
What should you ask A Better Dog Trainer before booking?
Generated from what their public materials leave open
- They don't publish pricing. Ask what a full program costs and exactly what is included.
- Ask which certifications their trainers hold and who issued them.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance.
- Their site describes their approach in general terms. Ask which specific methods and tools they use.
- Ask how many dogs each trainer handles at once.
- Ask for a written outline of daily structure, skills covered, and follow-up support after the program.
- Ask about current availability and whether there is a waitlist.
Location and hours
987 Del Ganado Rd, San Rafael, CA
- Monday – Sunday
- 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
How Barklen reviewed this listing
Barklen reviewed A Better Dog Trainer 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, insurance, guarantee, certifications, dogs per trainer, and others) are turned into the questions above rather than filled in.
Last reviewed by Barklen: Sep 5, 2026
What Barklen could verify
- Programs listed
- 3 programs (in-home training)
- Published pricing
- None published
- Training method
- Method unclear
- Aggression and reactivity cases
- Accepts aggression cases
- Facility
- Mobile / travels to you
- Overnight staffing
- Not staffed overnight
- Years in business
- 20+ years
- Booking
- Phone only
Contact A Better Dog Trainer or request a quote
Contact A Better Dog Trainer directly by phone or through their website, or request a quote through Barklen and we will pass it along.
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