About Dan Perata Training
Providing the right nurture for your dog's nature. It's not the biscuit in the hand, it's the hand that holds the biscuit.
At Dan Perata Training our mission is to support you in having a life-long, well-adjusted, good natured canine companion at ease anywhere.
Our Team Values
Compassion
Connecting people and dogs through kindness, understanding and care.
Support
Going above and beyond for our clients by fostering the growth of trusting and nurturing relationships.
Patience
Taking the time to listen, consider and explore all the possibilities for building success in a calm, kind and consistent manner.
Trust
Teaching with honesty and transparency, allowing canines and their owners to succeed.
Fun
We want you to enjoy this! Dogs are a tremendous source of love, fun and joy. The hard work that you put in now will pay off for the whole of your dog’s life.
Our Facility
A multilevel 12,000-square-foot space in the Bayview, between Bernal Heights and the Bay.
How we Train
Positive reinforcement built on energy management, not treats or corrections. Dan spent thirty-five years developing it.
Meet Our Team
From how we interact with our clients to the people and organizations we work with, DPT is committed to making a difference for our clients and community each and every day. It is a team effort, one that requires patience and trust throughout the training process. Whether it’s our clients and their dogs or our staff and organizational partners, each part of our team does its jobs so you will be thrilled with the results!
DAN PERATA
CO-FOUNDER, PRINCIPAL DOG TRAINER
(RUNS THE DOGS)
Third-generation San Franciscan, thirty-five years with dogs, and the origin of everything we teach.
NATASHA KORAL
CO-FOUNDER, CEO
(RUNS THE BIZ)
Built DPT around the belief that kindness matters more than the dollar.
SYDNEY PERATA
CHIEF OF STAFF
You can tell by her last name that she’s been here for a while. Next to Dan and Natasha she’s worked at the family biz the longest, going on 13 years. She started off cleaning kennels and feeding puppies as a kid and after all these years she’s now the Facility Manager.
Aside from managing the downstairs, she helps with creating new operation procedures and if you are lucky, you will see her either teaching or working with her Border Collie, Fox . After a decade she was able to run off to college for a few years, but because of the pandemic she’s back, and we are thrilled to have her!
She does plan to complete a master’s degree in public health and open an NGO someday, working to make the world a better place for women and girls. Of course where Syd goes, Fox goes too, and hopefully at that point Fox will be fully off leash!
PAUL FERTIG
HEAD OF HAPPINESS CLIENT SERVICES
Paul first came to Dan Perata Training when a mutual friend enlisted his last-minute help with our client holiday party in 2017. Paul showed up, hit it off with the whole crew and was ready to pitch in to make it a wonderful evening for our guests. That following spring, he joined our day-to-day operations as Natasha’s “Boy Friday”, providing administrative assistance and comic relief amidst the organized chaos that is all part of the fun at DPT.
Originally from suburban NYC with a few years' pitstop in Florida along the way, Paul has been living in San Francisco since 1991. While not helping to run the show at DPT, he enjoys meeting up with friends to enjoy fabulous food, museums and all the quirky culture that makes this city so special. It’s no wonder he’s decided to call it home.
If you’ve had the opportunity to speak with Paul, you know he’s a fast-talker. This might be a New Yorker thing or it could very well be the eleven thousand cups of coffee he drinks daily. Either way, he’s wide awake and ready to help with all the things!
SERSH
FACILITY MANAGER
Saoirse, or Sersh, is a fourth-generation SF native who loves people and paws!
Saoirse’s love of supporting others began at the age of 6 when she declared she wanted to be a judge when she grew up. In her early career, she has worked in education and case management for incarcerated mothers, inmates serving life sentences, and homeless & at-risk youth in San Francisco. Now, Saoirse is directing that dedication and love of restorative practices to furry friends who also need support.
As someone who has ALWAYS had a pet all her life from dogs to cats to hamsters, Saoirse is excited to help families connect and communicate with their fur babies in healthy and sustainable ways. In the future, Saoirse hopes to continue her path by pursuing her JD in the coming years to become an even stronger advocate and source of support for all who need a voice — even if their voice is limited to only bark barks.
JUSTICE FERNANDEZ WILLIAMS
JUNIOR TRAINER & FACILITY CARETAKER
Justice Fernandez Williams grew up with a deep love for animals. From a young age, he cared for frogs, fish, chickens, cats, and dogs, developing a natural curiosity about animal behavior and a strong sense of responsibility for their well being. That early connection grew into a lifelong passion for dogs and a desire to work closely with them.
Today he has found his place at Dan Perata Training, where he is dedicated to helping dogs and their owners build stronger relationships. Justice hopes to continue growing as a trainer and to make a positive difference in the lives of every animal he meets. Through patience, compassion, and a genuine love for dogs, he strives to help each dog reach its full potential. He is a junior trainer and manages the facility and overnight care for the dogs.
GUESS
(2001–2019)
Guess was and remains the muse and training standard at DPT. She was a Border Collie Lab, knew 100’s of commands in her prime and was better behaved than most small children. Guess powerfully impacted everyone that knew her; her beauty, self-assuredness and demeanor was special indeed.
Guess was a superbly trained, welcomed everywhere, beloved dog that inspired the creation of DPT and is what we strive for with every dog that comes to see us.
Her Spirit will be with us always.