Happy Hounds Massage & Fitness

5.0 Stars,1 Reviews
3955 17th St #19, San Francisco, CA 94114

Service area: Serves the SF Bay Area and worldwide via video conferencing.

Service Overview

Types of Dog Training

  • Family Dog
  • Therapy Dog
  • Competition / Agility
  • Behavior Modification

Specialty Focus Areas

  • Basic Obedience
  • Leash Pulling
  • Reactivity / Aggression
  • Jumping on People
  • Barking Excessively
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Biting / Nipping
  • Potty Training
  • Resource Guarding
  • Fearfulness
  • Recall

Training Formats Offered

  • Video Calls

Program Formats

  • One-Time Consultation
  • Sessions Package
  • Ongoing Weekly

Types of Dogs

  • Small
  • Medium
  • Large
  • Giant
  • Herding
  • Sporting
  • Working
  • Hounds
  • Terriers
  • Doodles
  • Brachycephalic

Age of Dogs Trained

  • Puppy (<1 year)
  • Adolescent (1-2 years)
  • Adult (2-8 years)
  • Senior (8+ years)

Dog Training Methodology

Methods: 

  • Positive Reinforcement Only

Equipment: 

  • Food Rewards
  • Harnesses
  • Obstacle Courses

Programs include personalized, science-based fitness plans and therapeutic massage tailored to each dog’s age, condition, and goals. Sessions are designed to be 15 minutes daily and can be integrated into home routines. Services include one-time consultations, ongoing weekly sessions, and recovery-focused programs that supplement veterinary rehab. Programs target mobility, strength, injury prevention, and performance enhancement for all activity levels.

Pricing & Policies

Pricing Summary

Pricing details not publicly listed; clients are encouraged to contact for personalized package information based on needs such as consultation, ongoing sessions, or recovery programs.

Policies

Policy details on cancellations or rescheduling are not specified; clients are directed to contact via email or phone to schedule or modify appointments.

Testimonials

“Happy Hounds Massage and Fitness is absolutely incredible! Shelah is truly a professional. When I brought my senior pit bull dog, Miss Piggy, into her for help with her declining muscle strength in the back legs, Shelah’s experience was incredible. She immediately noted that we needed to do core strengthening exercises to stabilise the lower spine, which is where the protruding disk was. I had tried acupuncture, but the work Shelah did helped to slow the progression of her neurological disease by strengthening the muscles she had left and of course, Miss Piggy couldn’t wait for her massages.

Were it not for Shelah, Miss Piggy would have been in her cart sooner. Shelah helped me to fit the custom made cart for the Pig and to help me with Miss Piggy’s first spin as dogs can have negative reactions to this weird thing attached to them. Then once she was in the cart, we worked to strengthen her upper body to help pull the cart forward. Miss Piggy loved the exercises we would do on a daily basis. The weekly trainings with Shelah were so exciting to her and she quickly learned what she needed to do. Then the massage was her reward!

I cannot recommend Shelah enough to those who are looking for canine physical training for injury protection or recovery and for those who just want to treat their dog to the massage of their lives! They will make fast friends with Shelah and you’ll suddenly be wondering why your dog isn’t interested in you anymore now that they’ve found a new best friend.

There are many people out there who claim to know what they’re doing, but Shelah truly has the inherent ability to understand dogs mixed with the scientific training necessary to understand their unique anatomy and get right to the source of the problem. I can’t recommend her enough to help with your precious furbabies!!!”
– Client

About the Trainer

Happy Hounds Massage & Fitness is a dog training and wellness business led by Shelah Barr, the only Certified Canine Fitness Trainer in the SF Bay Area with over 30 years of experience and 12 professional certifications in canine fitness, animal massage, physiotherapy, and behavior. The business offers personalized canine conditioning programs and massage therapy designed to build mobility and strength, boost sport performance, enhance quality of life, and support injury recovery for dogs of all ages and conditions—from puppies to seniors, couch potatoes to athletes. Sessions combine science-based exercise plans (as short as 15 minutes daily) with therapeutic massage to prevent injuries, aid rehabilitation, and improve overall well-being. Services are delivered through video conferencing, making them accessible worldwide. Shelah’s approach emphasizes prevention, individualized care, and a deep understanding of canine anatomy and behavior, backed by hands-on experience with rescue animals and professional athletes.

In addition to fitness training and massage, Shelah provides specialized support for canine athletes, senior dogs with mobility issues, and dogs recovering from injury or neurological conditions. She also collaborates with pet professionals and offers guidance on custom cart use and upper body strengthening for mobility-impaired dogs. Her work is grounded in positive, reward-based methods and a commitment to holistic pet wellness.

Shelah is a volunteer with Compassion Without Borders and integrates her passion for rescue animals into her practice, focusing on underlying issues to restore balance and health. Her clients report significant improvements in mobility, pain reduction, and quality of life, often describing her as a trusted expert who builds strong bonds with both dogs and their owners.

Accomplishments

Shelah Barr is the only Certified Canine Fitness Trainer in the SF Bay Area with over 30 years of experience and 12 professional certifications in canine fitness, animal massage, physiotherapy, and behavior. She has trained thousands of dogs and is a volunteer with Compassion Without Borders since 2016, applying her expertise to rescue animals.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to reach out via email or phone to discuss their dog’s needs and schedule a consultation. A ‘special care’ consultation is available for referrals from other pet professionals.

Happy Hounds Massage & Fitness featured image for this Dog Trainer
  • 31+ Years Experience

  • Free Consultation

Availability

  • Weekdays
  • Weekends
  • Morning
  • Afternoon
  • Evening

Hours

Monday: 9am-7pm
Tuesday: 9am-7pm
Wednesday: 9am-7pm
Thursday: 9am-7pm
Friday: 9am-7pm
Saturday: 9am-3pm
Sunday: Closed

Certifications

  • Credentialed

Associations

  • Accredited

Languages

  • English

Other Services Offered

  • Pet trainer
  • Pet groomer
  • Pet sitter

Location

3955 17th St #19, San Francisco, CA 94114

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