Press & media
San Francisco's trusted dog training & care experts since 2004
Top Dog SF is a go-to source for journalists, editors, and producers covering dog ownership, pet care, canine behavior, and life with dogs in San Francisco. Our CPDT-KSA certified team is available for interviews, expert quotes, and on-camera commentary.
- 4.9 from 200+ Google reviews
- Certified trainers since 2004
- Fully insured
Quick facts for your story
- Years serving San Francisco
- 20+
- SF dogs trained & cared for
- 10,000+
- SF neighborhoods served
- 38+
- CPDT-KSA certified trainers
- On staff
Awards & recognition
Best of San Francisco 2018
Beast of the Bay 2019 runner-up
Top 3 dog walkers in San Francisco 2020
Three Best Rated, Best Business of 2022
About Top Dog SF
Founded in 2004, Top Dog SF is San Francisco’s premier dog training, small-dog daycare, and off-leash adventure company. Our CPDT-KSA certified trainers use reward-based, force-free methods to help SF families raise confident, well-adjusted dogs, from the critical puppy socialization window through adulthood. Top Dog SF operates a Sunset District training facility and PlayCare, a private off-leash ranch in Montara, and door-to-door adventure outings serving 38+ San Francisco neighborhoods.
Journalists may reprint the paragraph above verbatim.
Available for expert commentary
Our team can speak on-record about the following topics for print, broadcast, podcast, and digital media.
- Puppy socialization & the critical 3-14 week window
- Reactive & fearful dog rehabilitation (force-free methods)
- Off-leash reliability & recall training
- Small-dog-specific daycare & socialization
- Cost & realities of raising a dog in San Francisco
- Choosing a puppy class, daycare, or trainer in SF
- Preventing 'puppy blues' and new-owner burnout
- SF-specific dog laws, off-leash rules, and neighborhood dog culture
Ready-to-cite data points
For stories about SF dog ownership. Please attribute to "Top Dog SF" and link to topdogsf.com.
- Top Dog SF has served San Francisco dog owners for over 20 years, since 2004.
- The average cost of dog daycare in San Francisco is $70-$95/day; Top Dog PlayCare is $90/day for small dogs under 25 lbs.
- Puppies have a critical socialization window between 3-14 weeks, after which behavior problems become significantly harder to prevent.
- Top Dog SF operates a private off-leash ranch in Montara, with door-to-door SF pickup and dropoff.
- SF puppy group classes typically run $350-$450 for a 4-5 week series.
- Force-free, reward-based training methods (R+) are endorsed by the AVSAB, AAHA, and every major veterinary behavior organization.
Credentials & certifications
- CPDT-KSA: Certified Professional Dog Trainer (Knowledge and Skills Assessed)
- AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator
- Academy for Dog Trainers graduate
- Animal Behavior College (ABC) Mentor Trainer
- Pet First Aid & CPR Certified
- DogTec Dog Walking Academy Certified
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- SF Animal Care & Control Permitted
Reach us for interviews & photos
For interviews, expert quotes, on-camera / on-mic commentary, or high-resolution photos of our ranch, PlayCare, and puppy classes, please reach out. We reply to media inquiries within one business day.
- info@topdogsf.comPreferred for media inquiries
- Phone
- (628) 285-3700Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm PT
- Address
- 2121 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116Sunset District HQ & PlayCare