Bernal Beast: From Dog Training to Community Hub
The Beginning: A Service-Based Partnership
Dog Ownership in San Francisco
Stephanie “Steph” Miller and her co-owner, Alan Belgard, had a journey with Bernal Beast long before they took over the retail space. Both were experienced dog walkers and certified dog trainers who had worked with animals for over 20 years in SF, caring for packs of dogs and even pioneering off-leash dog exercise areas in Montara on unused commercial land. Steph also co-founded the first-ever puppy-only daycare and training center (SF Puppy Prep) in 2005.
“We co-parent, co-habitate, co-work, but don’t co-sleep,” Steph explains their unique partnership. “We’ve been friends for a very, very long time.”
The Transition to Retail
Before owning the shop, Steph approached the previous owner, Tony Crisanthis, with a proposition to offer in-store dog training services while customers shopped for training supplies. This collaboration worked well, with Steph writing training blogs for Bernal Beast and conducting sessions.
Then, in July 2019, Tony made an unexpected offer: “Hey, I’ve been thinking about your offer to work in my shop…I’m looking to retire from the retail industry. Do you want to take over my shop?”
Despite having no retail experience, Steph and Alan saw the opportunity to keep the business local and prevent corporate takeover. They officially took over on April 1, 2020 – right as the pandemic hit and retail shops faced unprecedented challenges.
Pandemic Pivot and Growth
The timing couldn’t have been more challenging, but it proved to be a learning opportunity. With retail closed, they had time to understand the business while Steph’s dog training services boomed as everyone adopted pandemic puppies.
“That was probably the busiest year in my puppy training business at Bernal Beast,” Steph recalls. “Everybody saw working from home as an opportunity to adopt a family pet.”
Steph adapted to the pandemic social distancing requirements during in-person classes by opening all doors for airflow, maintaining social distancing with paw print markers, and limiting handlers to one per dog. The puppy socialization classes thrived during this period.
Current Services and Offerings
Today, Bernal Beast has evolved into a comprehensive pet service center offering:
- Training Services:
- Puppy kindergarten classes
- Adult Dog Manners classes
- Intermediate Dog Manners
- Loose leash Walking workshops
- Recall workshops
- Saturday puppy socials
- One-on-one training sessions
- NEW! Free monthly “New Dog 101” seminars (humans only)
- Additional Services:
- Monthly anesthesia-free dental cleanings (through PetTooth.com)
- Self-serve dog bath
- Retail pet supplies
- Community education and behavior consultation
Competing in the Digital Age
Recognizing that pandemic shopping habits had permanently shifted toward online purchasing, Bernal Beast launched their e-commerce site on September 1, 2025.
“Really, what we have found is that since the pandemic, people are just shopping from their computers,” Steph explains. “So, we decided to build our own Chewy for the local community. This way, customers can continue to shop online while still supporting local businesses.”
The online platform offers free delivery throughout Bernal Heights, with plans to expand if needed. “If we could be the pet store for Bernal Heights residents, we would survive! We walk by a lot of chewy boxes outside of neighbors’ homes, and it always stings a little bit.”
Community Impact
As a woman and LGBT-owned business, Bernal Beast adds to the diverse fabric of the Cortland Avenue corridor. While Steph admits they haven’t fully leveraged grant opportunities available to minority-owned businesses, they actively support LGBTQ+ causes and maintain strong relationships with neighboring businesses.
The loyal customer base that shops in person often comes in to say hello and walk their dogs, creating exactly the community atmosphere that Steph and Alan envisioned.
In addition to Bernal Beast events and new ideas, Steph serves as a board member of the Bernal Business & Arts Alliance (BBAA), which organizes four annual neighborhood strolls. She also organizes the Bernal Heights Pet Parade. Steph hopes the community will come to understand that if businesses continue to shutter, they won’t be able to participate in these fun holiday events or feel safe in Cortland while out and about. She wants to emphasize the importance of shopping small and supporting local retailers, restaurants, cafes, and all the places that make a neighborhood like Bernal special.
Looking Forward
With their new website streamlining class offerings and their e-commerce platform now live, Bernal Beast continues to adapt and serve the evolving needs of its community. The combination of expert training services, retail convenience, and genuine community connection positions them as more than just a pet store – they’re a neighborhood resource for animal lovers.
“The hope is that our brand new website will make it easier for people to understand what we’re offering and how to sign up for both retail products on a subscription basis, as well as register for the appropriate training class for their pet,” Steph says, embodying the customer-first approach that defines Bernal Beast’s mission in an increasingly digital retail landscape.
Puppy Socials at Bernal Beast
Mike Doherty serves as Chief Experience Officer at Greening Projects, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming underutilized urban spaces into vibrant green areas