Black Nose Trading Company

I love this place! They are incredibly flexible, dependable, and professional. I’ve used the doggy care care and bathing services.
Giving my dog the opportunity to socialize and play with other dogs is a priority for me, and I feel that Black Nose provides a safe, comfortable, and caring environment for dogs to do so.

My Shar Pei Sasha turned 2 years old last week, and he’s just as energetic today as he was as a puppy… if not more so! This means that ideally he should go on a long, athletic walk daily to provide him with the physical and mental stimulation he needs to be healthy and happy. Of course, that’s difficult to accomplish Monday through Friday when I’m at a downtown office. But that’s where Black Nose Trading Company comes in!
Walt and his staff have been walking Sasha since we returned from Hong Kong in January 2016. They make it super easy as they have my house key and pick Sasha up and then drop him back in the apartment after his walk. I know he’s typically gone for at least 2 hours if not longer — and when I get home, Sasha is usually shaking off a well-​deserved post-​walk nap. Sasha greatly looks forward to his daily M-​F walks (I can tell by the response I get when I let him know Walt will be taking him for a walk — lots of licking and tail thumping!).
You can also have your dog bathed which is helpful as I like to get Sasha professionally groomed once a month (nails, ears, etc) and then I touch up in between. Sasha also recently stayed with Walt when I traveled to Copenhagen for a week. They’re not the most inexpensive boarders in town, but it’s comforting to know he can stay with someone we trust and it won’t disrupt Sasha’s routine.
I still need to stop by the Black Nose retail shop sometime. Though considering how much Sasha adores Walt, it may require prying him out of the store!

What can I say in a review that goes beyond 5 stars?
Walt, Mark, and the Team are reliable, knowledgable, and extremely helpful. Black Nose is the place to go for all of my dog’s (and her paw friends) highest of quality products and nail clippings.
I always leave feeling confident that I will be able to provide the best for my best friend.
Yes, I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful they are. Not only do I feel like it’s a neighborhood staple but truly a family owned and operated business.
And if you can trust someone, it’d be Walt. I have never experienced such care at a store — he guided me with training tools and tips (importance of positive reinforcement and meeting goals). Also, I noticed a presence about him that is very sincere and I can see why animals would gravitate towards him and his shop!
They have been apart of our family since we had our dog and always look forward to every visit!
Thank you, Black Nose Trading Co!

My dog gets her baths at Black Nose and the environment is friendly and helpful. I really like all of the people who work there and they have all the stuff to meet my doggies needs. And if not, they can easily order it for you. It is a wonderful neighborhood dog hangout.

We have been loyal Black Nose customers since we adopted our beagle in February 2011 and I can’t say enough good things about them. They genuinely care about our little guy (most important) AND make being a pet owner so much easier by going above and beyond. Our little beagle boy gets a walk 3x week, but often one of us is traveling and/​or working late — which means he might not get dinner until well past 10pm– not good! Black Nose to the rescue! I can call them up, ask for an extra walk and to give him dinner and voila — problem solved! Missed a morning walk because of work — Black Nose can cover it. Need grooming (bath/​nails trimmed)? They got that covered, too — they return him after a walk all spiffy! Both of us traveling for work (which often ends up being last minute) — no problemo, they just keep him after his walk until we get back (and close the dog door for us, too)! They also have a great selection of treats, food, toys, etc.
I will note that it probably helps that we are a couple blocks away, but still the service we get it and the peace of mind it gives us is worth everything. Thanks to Walt, Mark and their excellent team for helping us be better pet owners.

I have been taking my dog Dazy to Black Nose for the last 2 years or more. I am absolutely thrilled to have Walt (the owner) look after my senior pooch while I am away on vacation and at work. His staff is incredible and they show obvious love, care, and affection for all of the dogs that have the privilege of staying there. I give Walt and his staff five stars on every level. My senior dog needs a few medications, I always feel 100% certain my girl Dazy gets her meds as instructed and is given the best overall attention and care. I am also pleased and placed at ease to know that Walt requires owners to provide all the necessary information around up-​to-​date shots and routine veterinary care. I cannot say enough nice things about this place, I am sooo glad I met Walt and introduced to Black Nose Trading Company, it is indeed my go-​to doggie BnB!

I have used Black Nose for walking (I did it anywhere from 1x/​week to 3x per week), day care, and the occasional overnight boarding.
Special kudos to Jess the walker (my dog loves her), as well as Mark at day care, and of course Walt is fantastic. We have not had a single bad experience, and Butch always returns from walks/​daycare/​overnights happy and tired!
Their prices for the walks are also extremely reasonable and I like how they get cheaper the more times per week you get walks. For the price they charge, even the $ 22 for once a week, you are getting a LOT for your money. A few times I have been home on days my dog was scheduled for a walk (and I didn’t cancel out of laziness), and he would be picked up and not come back until HOURS later. Around here it is hard to get a half hour walk for less than $ 25, so this is fantastic. They always take him somewhere fun and he comes back tired.
I am so grateful for Black Nose Trading — keep up the good work!

Walt and Mark at Black Nose have special ordered my dog’s food for me since I moved to the neighborhood three years ago. It always gets in in a couple days and I am super grateful that they are happy to offer this service.
Mark introduced me to the FYDO bagel beds that are made in nearby Berkeley, these are a great product — super tough and easy to wash, comfortable dog beds. Really glad that Black Nose carried these and showed me the light.
And when my dog’s nails are just too long, I can count on Walt to do the tough job of trimming them.
The one request I have is more «ordinary» dog toys, IE rope toys and squeaky animals. Black Nose has a more boutique-​ish toy selection that’s just not what my dog is into, so I have to go elsewhere for toys.

Great little spot to pick up a treat, sweater or food for your four legged friend! A little stinky on the inside, guessing due to the bathing part of it but worth the wet dog smell.

My five pound toy poodle, Tofu (@toytofu #toytofu) will have to give this review.
Paw-​tastic +‘s:
+ I can’t get to Black Nose fast enough. Have to drag Mom sometimes to drop me off.
+ Mom? Who’s that? I don’t look back when she takes off to work.
+ Yes I get treats. I can’t recall if I have to do a trick to get it but I can do high 5s, play dead, beg, shake, twirl and spread them (paws on wall).
+ Daycare hours are 7 to 7. I’m pretty exhausted when I get home.
+ There are package deals: 10 visits for $ 350 or cheaper for monthly rates.
+ Ton of toys, clothing, and treats to buy for me if Mom is feeling generous on our way out.
Pawsforthought -‘s (from Mom):
— Wish there was a video cam so I could watch Tofu during the day. Staff is friendly though when I ask how Tofu’s day went.
In the end all that matters is Tofu has a wagging tail.

Excellent customer service and competitive bath pricing! We are so glad we brought our pup here; we initially went with Black Nose because of the price which includes anal gland expression (gross). Most other places charge at least $ 10 more.
They actually called us right before they began bathing Lucy to tell us to change her bedding and anything she lays on because they found fleas. Really appreciated the prompt communication. Our dog also has issues with blow dryers and kennels. We were happy to find out that they don’t do kennels here. In short, Lucy is a pretty skittish/​dependent dog and when my fiancée dropped her off, she forgot about him in a few seconds.
And when we initially called yesterday, Friday, they had told us that the person who does the expressions wouldn’t be in until Monday. We can only make it on weekends so the guy made a call and called me back saying Saturday would work. That was pretty awesome.
We’ll definitely be back here!

My biggest objective this weekend was to get my two dogs’ nails trimmed. But after many attempts with this store, I never got it done. I was extremely disappointed in Black Nose and would never be able to rely on them again. Sure, it seems like a cute store and all, but they aren’t reliable.
Walt is the only guy who does nail trimming (for $ 10) and he doesn’t seem to work on Sundays. Saturdays he apparently can leave work indefinitely without the other employees knowing when he’ll return.

Black Nose is simply the best! My dog Bolton drags me into the store every chance he gets & Mark always spoils him with treats. They are the best dog walking service in the neighborhood, bar none! We do sporadic walks, only when needed because of commitments after work. I just give them a call a day ahead of time & it’s all taken care of. Boarding with them is just as easy. Wonderful service, trustworthy, and dependable. My dog’s love for everyone there is clear evidence of their great work!

Normalerweise passt unser Dogwalker immer auf unseren Hund auf, wenn beide von uns auf Reisen sind. Letzte Woche ergab sich aber der unglückliche Zufall, dass sowohl beide Herrchen, als auch der Dogwalker auf Reisen waren und so musste ich schnell eine Lösung finden. Ich fragte herum und alsbald erzählte mir jemand, dass Walt von Black Nose Trading Co eine exzellente Hundepension führte. Ich rief also gleich an und am nächsten Tag brachte ich unseren Hund zum «Vorstellungsgespräch» vorbei.
Und so läuft das alles ab:
— Der Hund muss gegen Tollwut geimpft sein und auch sonst alle «handelsüblichen» Impfungen haben;
— Tagsüber ist der Hund im Doggie-​Kindergarten im Keller der Tierhandlung und nachts nimmt Walt die Hunde mit in seine Wohnung (direkt über der Tierhandlung)
— Die Hunde weder tagsüber noch nachts in Käfigen eingesperrt
— Mehrmals am Tag werden die Hunde Gassi geführt.
Alles in allem bin ich sehr zufrieden mit dieser Hundepension. Den 5ten Stern würden sie bekommen, wenn ich zwischendurch ein paar Updates per Email oder Textmessage erhalten würde: Fotos, von meinem Schützling etc.

Thank you for always being able to trim the most difficult dog on the planets claws! Lola & I are very happy with your service & patience & non-​judgemental attitude when we lag between visits. Happily been coming in since you opened! Thank you again & again! I love your fun gift ideas & doggy style! Ruff!

The owner (Walt) and all the employees of Black Nose Trading company are some of the best people I’ve met for my frenchie, Goron. Loving, genuine, kind, thoughtful, and they really watch out for our dog — and all the animals. I feel such a sense of relief dropping Goron off here. And I can tell from his happy demeanor that he loves it there too. Having nice dogs to play with, walks during the day, and the opportunity to be out of a cage and socializing is well worth the daycare costs. Black Nose Trading Co. is a neighborhood gem. I can’t recommend it enough.

We’ve used three services here:
Day care — small area in the basement, but includes walks (i believe 1 – 2, depending on long of a day it is) and our pup loves it!
Daytime walk — our favorite walker is Norma. I was home today when Norma came to get Sierra, and Sierra could not have been more excited! Our pup clearly adores the dog walker. Reasonable rates — I think $ 22 for an hour walk, and you can call the morning of to schedule.
Nail trim — this is always a little bit traumatic, but Walt does a quick and thorough job, and ends it all with a yummy treat. $ 10 is well worth.

This review is only for their merchandise selection. Since I spoil my furbabies, I absolutely had to check out this store as I was exploring Divisidero. As soon as I stepped in, I was impressed by their selection of durable toys for those with power chewers. High-​end merch that you can tell was selected for quality. They’ve got a nice selection of treats, high quality dog food, dog clothes, accessories. Definitely items you won’t find at your local PetSmart or Petco.

Black Nose is fantastic. Walt (the owner) and his staff are professional, friendly, and truly care about their clients (dogs and humans). We boarded our then 4 month old puppy (Griff, the cutest dog in the world) with Walt, and were extremely pleased with the experience. The prices are absurdly fair — to quote Walt, Black Nose «doesn’t do the nickel-​and-​dime bull@#$@» that other pet boarders do — and the care and attention lavished on the pups are top-​notch. For comparison’s sake — will keep competitors anonymous — we paid half of what another larger pet sitter charges, without the extraneous charges for «snuggle time.» Yes, that’s a thing.
Before Black Nose, Griff was not very social with other dogs (hid between our legs), and enjoyed barking constantly. After we picked him up, he’s now King of the dog park, doesn’t bark nearly as much, and is overall a happier and more socialized canine. We will never take Griff anywhere else — Black Nose is tremendous!

I’ve never seen downstairs where they keep dogs for daycare but my 50lb hound mix Sora sure did love Black Nose. He has been going there on and off when I was busy with work. I was happy to often notice other dog’s smell from Sora’s head which is a sign he played (probably wrestled) with his friends. He tends to get nervous when surrounded with too many dogs but at Black Nose, he never had a problem. He came home happy and tired just as I wanted.
We’ve now moved to East Bay and I’m having a tough time finding a daycare that would make Sora happy as Black Nose.

GOD BLESS YOU BLACK NOSE TRADING CO!
this place and its associates came highly recommended from my esthecian. and because it was out of the way for me since i live in daly city and already commute to san francisco 5 out of the 7 days in a week… it took me a while to come check this place out. but because of a horrific experience that i had at petsmart… i drove all the way out here and let me tell ya… it is absolutely worth it!
The man there took my puppy to the back, and trimmed his nails in seriously…1 minute. (with the help of another associate holding my pup still of course!). i was so amazed! simply superb service! they then gave him treats and even when he tried to escape and ran around the store, the man locked the front door just to make sure no one suddenly opened the door allowing my pup to bolt.
They were so understanding there and had so many different doggy treats, food, toys and supplies! they even have them closer to the floor so that the dogs can check out the inventory! how adorable!
I would have stayed longer to buy some stuff but since it was my puppy’s first nail trim. he was definitely ready to get out of there! I’ll MOST DEFINITELY be back though! I’m telling all my friends about this wonderful establishment!!!

My boxer puppy Mia has been going to Black Nose since she was four months old. She’s 11 months old now and this place is her second home. About once a week I leave her with these wonderful people. She drag’s me there in the morning and in the evening she’s completely tuckered out from playing too hard («daycare hangover»).
I’ve used their overnights as well, and I wouldn’t trust Mia with anyone else.
This place is amazing!

I haven’t purchased any items here so this review is solely for daycare.
There’s something awfully suspicious about this place. I’m not sure what it is these people do here, but my little dog Cosmo often seems more excited to spend time with them than he does with me. Maybe it’s all the exercise, maybe it’s the doggie playtime, maybe it’s all the extra attention he gets, or maybe it’s all of the above, but he sure seems to love it. This has made walking anywhere within a 2 block radius extremely difficult because he thinks we’re headed to pay Walter and company a visit any time we get close. Some days when we’re out walking around the neighborhood, he’ll run up to a somewhat familiar «stranger» who will say, «Oh Hi Cosmo!» and his little behind will wag back and forth nonstop.
Post Black Nose trip he is excited, yet tuckered out and ready for a snuggle. It’s almost like it’s his job to sleep as hard as possible so he’ll be ready for his next visit. He is also all the more eager to say hello to his little dog buddies in parks and wherever else we go. Not that he was dog shy before, but now, with all the extra socialization, he’s happy to meet just about any dog who’s willing to engage in the usual sniff greeting.
I don’t really know what they do here, but I’m sure glad this place exists and that it’s so close to my apartment. With a busy law school schedule and no car, I don’t think Cosmo and I would make it if he had to spend those days alone at home or I had to travel far away to drop him off at a less fun place instead. All I have to do is drop him off in the morning (when he is *never* sad to see me go) and quickly pick him up on my way home. Walt and everyone else that works there are really nice and I love that every single person there knows who my dog is. It’s also super easy to schedule nail clippings or baths — just let them know in the morning when you drop your dog off and it should be done by the time you come to pick him up!

Marty the cat eats nothing but Nature’s Variety Prairie food. As a big-​boned house cat (let’s not call him fat, shall we?), he makes his way through his fancier-​than-​Fancy-​Feast food at a «healthy» pace.
My dilemma: all of our adorable pet stores in Lower Haight carry the petite 6 lb bag. To keep Marty stocked, Walt offered to order him his own 13 lb bag. All I have to do is give them a call when he’s running low, and they add it to their upcoming order.
Some day, when I convince my landlord to allow dogs, Black Nose Trading Co. will be my first choice for doggie needs too.