The Hub by Pack Animals — Attraction in San Ramon

We joined when my dog was about 2.5 years old & have been attending usually Friday, Saturday, & Sunday for the last 3 months. Since our drive can be anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, we try to take as many classes as we can & we double our training to about 8-9 classes/play a week.

We love the variety of classes we can get in 1 place. I also like how Andrea tailors class based on each dog’s ability & Andrea is clear about telling us what each dog should be focused on improving. I have been trying to teach our dog neutralization since she was a puppy & it has taken almost 3 years to get her 80% there. Another one of our favorite classes is restaurant simulation. Luckily we were able to take a couple to get us ready for the community events we had to celebrate Thanksgiving & the holidays. I have noticed by being consistent & structured, our dog has had incremental improvement. Taking our dog to daycare used to be a challenge when she returned to us. The last two times she came back into class she was much more focused. We have taken many classes on conditioning & we even have a physical therapist & a chiropractor. Even though we are pretty structured in exercise routine, it is helpful to work on other aspects of strength training. The community is pretty awesome as I haven’t seen such a dedicated & connected group. Healthy play was a good class for us since our dog gives very subtle warning signs that she is not comfortable. In healthy play we are watching other dogs, but I did learn a lot about my dog in the playgroup. I have been taking our dog to play groups since she was 12 weeks. For almost 2 years she went regularly 1-2 times every week. In our first play group, our dog showed teeth which can be hard to see in a 10lb dog that is so close to the ground. I had never heard her snarl except with her biological sister. In other play groups I was used to giving her a timeouts when she got too rowdy, but now we can redirect her until she is ready to go back in & play. We have attended a couple Engagement Superset classes which is good if you need to get in the reps to improve a skill, but for us it was more of a mental class of teaching our dog a pattern & changing it so she wouldn’t anticipate the pattern. Jump-Free Greetings has really helped us a lot as our dog is quicker about getting all four paws on the ground. Greetings are rarely as drawn out as they used to be. I never knew we needed Tackling Separation Anxiety until I saw the slides of what anxiety could be. Our dog is generally ok in the home, but not when left in the car. Even if you don’t have a dog, the community events could be a good time to come in & be surrounded by some amazing dogs. There is Game Night & Movie Night, but I haven’t attended since we spend close to 4 hours a day at The Hub. I often pick up lunch in between classes & come back so my dog can roam around safely while I eat. We do practice her place skills while I eat, but it is nice that she has the option to roam around. As a first time dog owner, it is nice being around people who truly love their dogs & want to keep our dogs happy & healthy. This may be the only dog I own, so I try to learn as much as I can. In 2025 we have a lot more body awareness to teach our dog to get her ready for post surgery rehab & having spent the last 3+ months working on so many different skills helps her to have focus on what she is being asked to do. The schedule is always evolving so if there is a topic you need work on & it is not being addressed there could be a class coming soon. The biggest challenge we come across at other training places is the schedule stays the same for 3 months or even a year which is why we often have to change places to train.

If you are on the fence, I suggest giving The Hub a try. I was curious when I saw that a rescue group we had been following had an event at The Hub. Joining was probably one of the best things I could have done for our dog’s training. I never thought 3 months of training would level up all the training we had been doing for the...

Discover The Hub – Soju’s Second Home (And Ours Too) Our journey with Soju, our little Golden Doodle, began even before she arrived home. From the start, we believed that a dog is not a home accessory… she's family! That’s why we wanted to be fully prepared and give her the best start possible. We found exactly what we needed at The Hub. By becoming members, we gained access not only to expert training, but also to a supportive and vibrant dog-loving community. Andrea, the head trainer, guided us through setting up our home for Soju…from crate placement to designating training zones. We started learning basic commands early on, and those have become the foundation of how we communicate with Soju today. Her holistic, positive reinforcement approach has truly transformed our experience as dog parents. With our membership, we can attend regular group training sessions with Andrea or any of the highly qualified trainers. But the one-on-one sessions? Absolutely essential, especially in the beginning or when working on specific behaviors. Another huge perk? Supervised playtime with other dogs. Every dog is carefully evaluated and placed in the right group based on energy and temperament, ensuring a safe, friendly, and stimulating environment. It’s also a great chance to connect with other pet parents and share stories, laughs, and tips. We see The Hub as a gym for dogs — a place where pups can grow both physically and mentally through creative, fun, and enriching activities. Soju loves it. When it’s not operating as a daycare, members can even enjoy co-working spaces — with or without their pup by their side. Yes, you can sip a coffee, send emails, and take Zoom calls while your dog relaxes next to you! And now, with their newly opened “Kinderdogten” daycare, The Hub has taken things to the next level. It’s a thoughtfully limited-capacity program where dogs enjoy guided play, basic command reinforcement, and mentally engaging fun — all under the care of an attentive, well-trained staff. Soju comes home happy, calm, and beautifully worn out. This is what doggie daycare should look like. We wholeheartedly recommend visiting The Hub, chat with the team, take a tour, and discover how they can help you enjoy an even more fulfilling life with your furry...

100% recommend! The Hub offers outstanding training and truly helps you build a stronger bond with your pup.

I began working with Andrea at The Hub in August 2024, feeling overwhelmed, emotional, and unsure how to help my dog Athena. Athena is a 2 year old, 57 lb, reactive shelter mix (German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, American Bully) with an unknown past. Athena is extremely reactive to dogs and very excitable to other moving beings (e.g., turkeys, runners, children). From the very first session, Andrea’s warmth, deep knowledge, and genuine care brought me hope and clarity on a journey that had previously felt isolating and hopeless.

Andrea customized every private session to meet Athena’s specific needs. She even opened the center early to minimize triggers, regularly checked in by text between sessions, met with me during the week to answer my questions, and gave us clear, structured homework that we built on week after week. Her guidance helped me reframe Athena’s behavior and gave us practical tools to manage reactivity on walks and at home. She also brings in up-to-date research during training, which helped me understand the "why" behind Athena's behaviors. To take a truly holistic approach, she connected us with a behavioral vet who helped us explore medication as part of Athena’s plan.

One unforgettable milestone was when Athena maintained engagement with me while Andrea brought her dog Maggie in and out of the room. I cried tears of joy watching Athena stay focused and regulated! She’s now graduated into the Reactive Dog Guardians Unite group class and is doing so well!

What really sets The Hub apart is not just the excellent training, but the incredible community that Andrea and co-owner Chris have built. They go out of their way to connect dog owners facing similar challenges and create a space that feels welcoming, supportive, and empowering. Their membership also includes great training resources and community events—all at a very reasonable rate.

I would highly recommend The Hub to any dog owner. It is a truly impactful place for both dogs and...