Gary Maria
The trusted name in dog training for over 45 years

Puppy development
Training puppies early (10-20 weeks of age), helps your puppy adjust to its environment and ensures your puppy pays attention and engages with you.

Basic dog obedience
Teaches your dog the fundamentals of manners and control. It opens healthy communication and a positive relationship with your dog.

Advanced off-leash dog obedience
Gives your dog the off-leash exercise it needs and enables the dog owner to control the dog while it's off-leash.

Behavior modification
Addresses unwanted behavior. For example, aggression towards people, separation anxiety, and resource guarding, require behavior modifcation.
Gary Maria
The trusted name in dog training for over 45 years
Over 15,000
Dogs successfully trained and temperament tested
250 Reviews
Over 250 5-star reviews
Winner of Best Bay Area Dog Trainer for 3 years.
Best dog trainer for Bay Area, Walnut Creek, and Livermore.
Gary’s philosophy
I have successfully trained and temperament tested over 15,000 dogs. My consistent success is built on my system of dog-friendly training techniques. In addition to using positive-reinforcement training techniques, I also understand the critical role of the owner and I work with each dog owner to ensure the owner understands what triggers negative behaviors in dogs.
Given that each owner-dog relationship is unique, I customize my programs to ensure that each owner-dog relationship is built using clear and consistent communication techniques. Essentially, I train each owner in how to demonstrate that he or she is pack leader.
As a result, my clients experience an immediate and positive change in eliminating negative behaviors. Whether the need is to train a new dog or address an existing behavior with a current dog, I’ll work with you to develop a customized program that will eliminate unwanted or negative behavior.




Winner of Best Bay Area Dog Trainer Award for Four Years
About these Awards
Gary Maria Professional Dog Training has been selected four years in a row as Best Dog Trainer for the Bay Area, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Livermore.
The Best of Bay Area, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Livermore Business Awards Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses. Recognition is given to those businesses that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
Hear from our clients

I reached out to Gary for help with my dog Peaches and her leash reactivity, and he was extremely prompt in responding. The initial consultation went very well, and I learned so much about dog communication and how to better support Peaches. I also learned that she is a highly anxious dog, which explained many of the challenges I had been concerned about. We enrolled in Gary's six-week program and finished with the tools and knowledge needed to keep Peaches on the right track toward recovery. Just like humans, dogs rehabilitate at their own pace, and over those six weeks Peaches made significant progress. We're looking forward to enrolling in advanced training once she's ready so she can enjoy more freedom off-leash. Gary is not like other trainers we've worked with. He doesn't rely on obedience-based shortcuts or gimmicks. Instead, he teaches you how to work through real situations and explains the theory behind his approach so you truly understand what's happening and how to handle stressful moments. Most importantly, Gary teaches you how to become the focal point for your dog, which has made a lasting difference for us. 


We just completed both the introductory and advanced training programs with Gary and we could not have had a better experience. Gary helped our high energy dog (GSP) and more importantly, helped us to understand the fundamentals of training and dog behavior. We are now able to take our dog on off leash hikes with total faith in his recall which we couldn't have dreamed just a few months ago. Thank you so much Gary!!! 


We worked with Gary Maria for six weeks to help our 3-year-old rescue, Giorgi, who struggles with fear and anxiety. Honestly, Gary was incredible. From day one, it was clear he knows his stuff and loves what he does. A lot of the time, Giorgi was too overwhelmed to participate. On day 1, Giorgi hid under a table the whole session. But that's ok because Gary was really training us. By the last session, Giorgi was walking around, watching other dogs and people walk by, and still listening to commands. Gary taught us how to help Giorgi feel safe, calm him down when he's stressed, and build trust. We've already seen such a difference at home. Gary is knowledgeable, patient, direct (in the best way), funny, and available when you have questions. He celebrated every little win with us! You can tell he truly cares about the dogs he works with. We still have more work to do, but thanks to Gary, we know how to keep moving forward. If you have a dog with anxiety or fear, seriously, go to Gary. He's the real deal. 

Ensuring your dog is a loved member of your family
Gary Maria is one of the most sought after and experienced dog behavior specialists in the Bay Area and is recognized as an expert in the field.
Since 1977, Gary has improved the behavior of thousands of dogs using his combination of proven techniques.



