“We have worked with Sioban over the past 15 years on training first Sammie, our Norwich terrier; then Paco, our rescue Lab mix and most recently Carly, our Golden retriever. Sioban was great at successfully guiding us in the training of our 3 dogs even though the dogs had very different temperaments and sizes. She has so many tricks up her sleeve!!
None of our problems have been the same with our dogs yet she always seems to have the answer and a very easy fix to any problem.
She made the training lessons fun for us and for our dogs. Sioban is definitely a “dog whisperer”, with a unique ability to bridge the communication gap between canines and humans. We highly recommend Sioban for any dog training need.”
— Norwich terrier, Sammie, Labrador retriever mix, Paco, & Golden retriever, Carly’s family, Lafayette
“I have known Sioban for many years, through our community, mutual friends and work environments. When I found myself rescuing a yellow Labrador puppy, I knew to call her for training and advice. Sioban customized our training sessions to match my puppy’s breed and energy styles, and my full-time work schedule. Sioban genuinely shows her love and affection for all dogs, with a matter-of-fact approach that her trained dogs can elevate to her expectations.
She has a unique set of qualities that allow her to be warm and fuzzy, yet set a tone for obedience. She knew that teaching my 5-month-old puppy was just a step appropriate for his age and stage, and recommended a refresher course for 1 year later. My dog Luka looked forward to her visits and was very happy to learn her lessons!
Additionally, Sioban knows that a major part of her job is training the pet owner. She recognizes the importance of including all members of the household in training and teaching good manners. She scheduled our lessons at a time when my 7-year-old son could participate, and actively showed us several training tips and tools. Her goal was for my son to be able to handle the leash on my energetic, yet well-behaved, dog.
As a veterinarian, I recommend Sioban on a regular basis to my clients, for all types of issues – regular obedience, personalized one-on-one training sessions, anxious dogs, all breeds, and all ages. She is my go-to dog trainer, and I have received many thanks from my clients when they have met her and used her services.”
— Mona M., DVM, Lafayette
“I started working with Sioban on dog training my American bulldog puppy, Max, back in 2006. We
already had some training experience from a previous dog, but every dog is different! With two
toddlers and a lot else going on, we weren’t really up for intensive training with this pup. Sioban
recognized that and helped us with the basics.
Over the years, she was there to help us through rough patches. Always knowledgeable, always helpful, and never judgmental.
When Max passed, I adopted an 8-year-old pit bull with stranger danger. Once again, Sioban was there to help guide us. Once again, she taught me things I didn’t know, despite my many personal experiences with rescue dogs due to my work in animal welfare.
Sioban has the ability to not only understand the dog in front of her, but the people she is working with as well. This is so important since it’s the owners who need to be trained on how to work with the dog. I still remember how in tune she was with how sensitive my Pittie is. One of my biggest takeaways was how important it was for me to recognize his propensity towards anxiety when training him. Dogs don’t learn when they are stressed! Today, I work in adoptions at a large Bay Area municipal shelter and I regularly refer adopters to Sioban. Shelter dogs are wonderful animals but often come with baggage, ranging from poor manners to trauma. They require a level of understanding and patience that is often underestimated.
Sioban understands that every dog is different. She does not have a one size fits all solution, but often what feels like an insurmountable problem to an adopter has what feels like a common-sense solution to Sioban. Sioban also doesn’t shy away from being completely transparent about the work that lies ahead. It’s apparent that Sioban enjoys what she does immensely and the dogs love her for it. When she shows up for a training session, the most excited one in the room is the dog. Dogs thrive on connection, communication, structure, and guidance. That’s exactly what Sioban provides.
— American bulldog (pictured) Max, and Pitbull terrier, Junior Mac’s Family, Oakland
“As a veterinarian, I have had the pleasure of working with Sioban as a client with her own dogs, but also as a colleague to whom I make referrals for behavioral consultations. She is one of only two trainers to whom I have referred clients over the last 20 years, especially for problematic behaviors such as anxiety, fear, and aggression, which in most cases would otherwise warrant intervention by a board-certified vet. She is personable and warm with people and dogs, but also steadfastly no-nonsense (because that's what dogs and people need!), and 100% transparent about what owners can expect from her. Every dog (and dog owner) should be so lucky to spend an afternoon (or more!) with Sioban to experience her magic!”
— Pam Wittenberg, DVM