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What is The Pooch Coach?
The Pooch Coach is a San Francisco dog training and behavior practice run by Beverly Ulbrich, who works one-on-one with owners rather than in group classes. The site presents two main service areas: dog obedience and manners (puppy training, house breaking, basic and advanced obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen preparation, and manners issues such as barking, pulling, or jumping) and dog behavior modification (aggression, fear and shyness, separation anxiety, resource guarding, temperament evaluations, and multi-dog households).
Important for anyone searching now: the site states that Beverly retired from general dog training as of 10/1/24. She is no longer taking new training or behavior clients, and is limiting her work to specialized cases, referrals, and temperament evaluations for court hearings, landlords, or therapy programs. Existing clients can still book appointments.
That makes the site most useful in three situations:
- You need a temperament evaluation for a legal, housing, or therapy-dog purpose and want someone with deep behavior expertise.
- You have an unusually complex case or were referred directly to Beverly.
- You are an existing client looking to book.
If you are a typical owner seeking a puppy class, basic obedience, or help with barking and leash pulling, this is not a current option — you would need a different trainer in the area. As a practical next step, decide which category you fall into before contacting anyone: evaluation, specialized referral, or routine training. For routine training, look for a local trainer who offers one-on-one sessions and can describe their approach to your specific issue.
How do I know if my dog's behavior problem requires a specialist like The Pooch Coach?
You likely need a specialist when the problem is a safety risk, has not improved with basic obedience training, or requires a formal evaluation for a landlord, court, or therapy program. The Pooch Coach's own page draws that line clearly: as of 10/1/24, Beverly is no longer taking general training or behavior cases and will only take on special needs cases and temperament evaluations that require her depth of knowledge. Existing clients can still book. So the practical test is not "is my dog difficult?" but "does this case need expertise beyond a general trainer?"
H3 When a general trainer is usually enough
- Puppy manners, house training, basic and advanced obedience, polite walking, not jumping, reducing barking.
- A specific, recent habit with no bite history and no fear or aggression toward people or other animals.
- You can practice daily and see gradual progress over a few weeks.
H3 When to look for a specialist
- Aggression, including bites or lunges that have drawn blood or frightened someone.
- Fear, shyness, or separation anxiety severe enough to affect daily life or safety.
- Resource guarding of food, toys, or people.
- Multi-dog household conflict that has not settled with management.
- A temperament evaluation needed for a court hearing, a landlord, or a dog therapy program. The Pooch Coach lists exactly these categories as the specialized work she still accepts.
H3 How to decide in practice
- Rule out medical causes with your veterinarian first. Pain and thyroid issues can look like behavior problems.
- Ask what credentials and direct experience the person has with your specific issue, not dog training in general.
- Ask how they measure progress and what a realistic timeline looks like.
- Check whether the format fits: one-on-one sessions versus a class. The Pooch Coach argues that classes cover basics, while individual needs call for one-on-one time.
If your case is a temperament evaluation or a serious aggression or anxiety issue, use the application or request form on The Pooch Coach rather than the general booking page. If it is routine manners, a certified local trainer or a good group class is the more proportionate next step.
What should I do if I need a dog temperament evaluation for a court hearing, landlord, or therapy program?
If you need a temperament evaluation for a court hearing, landlord, or therapy program, contact a qualified canine behaviorist directly and ask whether they still accept evaluation-only cases. The Pooch Coach's site states that Beverly is no longer taking general training clients but will still take on special needs cases and temperament evaluations, including evaluations for a court hearing, landlord, or dog therapy program. You can request an appointment through the site's evaluation request link at The Pooch Coach.
What to have ready before you apply
- The reason for the evaluation (court date, housing requirement, therapy program intake) and any deadline.
- The specific questions the evaluator must answer, such as whether the dog is safe around people or other dogs.
- Your dog's bite history, if any, plus vaccination records and prior training or veterinary notes.
- Whether the report must be on a specific form or follow a court or landlord's required format.
How to choose an evaluator
| Situation | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Court hearing | Experience writing reports that hold up to scrutiny, and willingness to testify if needed |
| Landlord or insurance | Clear written documentation of temperament and any breed or bite-history concerns |
| Therapy program | Familiarity with the program's screening standards and test conditions |
Ask upfront about cost, turnaround time, and whether the evaluator will speak with your landlord, attorney, or program coordinator. If the evaluator cannot take the case, ask for a referral to another behaviorist who does forensic or evaluation work.
As an existing client, how can I book a free training appointment with The Pooch Coach?
Existing clients can book a free training appointment through the booking link on the site. The page states that Beverly, The Pooch Coach, stopped accepting new general training and behavior clients as of 10/1/24 and now takes only special-needs cases and temperament evaluations, but that she will always have time for existing clients — so the free appointment option is reserved for people she has already worked with.
To book, use the "EXISTING CLIENTS Book an Appointment" link on the page: The Pooch Coach.
If you are not an existing client but have a highly specialized case or a referral, or you need a temperament evaluation for a court hearing, landlord, or dog therapy program, the site directs you to a separate request form rather than the free client booking.
What dog training services does The Pooch Coach offer for obedience, manners, and behavior modification?
The Pooch Coach is winding down general dog training. As of 10/1/24, Beverly (the site's named trainer and behaviorist) is no longer accepting new general obedience or behavior cases; she now takes only highly specialized cases, referrals, and temperament evaluations, while still serving existing clients and focusing on her own dog's acting and modeling work.
What the site lists as service areas
- Obedience and manners: puppy training, house breaking, basic and advanced obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen test preparation, and manners issues such as barking, pulling, and jumping.
- Behavior modification: aggression, fear and shyness, separation anxiety, resource guarding, temperament evaluations, and multi-dog households.
- Temperament evaluations: the site specifically invites requests for evaluations needed for a court hearing, a landlord, or a dog therapy program.
Who this matters for
| Reader situation | Practical read on the site |
|---|---|
| New client wanting standard obedience help | The site says new general training clients are not being accepted |
| Existing client | Booking for existing clients is still offered |
| Court, landlord, or therapy-program evaluation | A dedicated request path is described |
| Complex or referred behavior case | Application to work with Beverly is described |
The site's stated philosophy is that group classes cover basics, but individual needs are better met one-on-one, which is the model it presents.
Next step: if you're a new client with a routine obedience or manners goal, look for a current local trainer rather than applying here. If you need a formal temperament evaluation or have a complex case, use the site's request form and describe the specific issue, the deadline, and who requires the evaluation.
How can I contact The Pooch Coach for specialized cases or referrals?
For specialized cases or referrals, The Pooch Coach now uses an application form rather than general phone or email intake. According to the site, Beverly has stopped accepting general training and behavior cases (as of 10/1/24) and only takes on special needs cases and temperament evaluations. If you are an existing client, there is a separate booking link for a free training appointment.
How to reach out, by situation
- Specialized case or referral: Use the "request to work with Beverly" application link on the site. This is the stated route for highly specialized cases and for people who arrived by referral.
- Temperament evaluation (court, landlord, or therapy program): Use the request form to send your information and ask for an appointment.
- Existing client: Use the existing-client booking link for a free training appointment.
What to include in your request
- Whether you are a referral and, if so, from whom
- Your dog's age, breed, and history
- A specific description of the behavior (frequency, triggers, duration)
- Any prior training or veterinary input
- Your goal: evaluation, behavior modification, or something else
Decision criterion: If your case is routine obedience or manners work, this is likely not the right fit now, since new general clients are not being accepted. If your situation is complex or you need documentation for a third party, the application route is the one the site describes.
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