Dogtown Athletic

HUGE gym with CrossFit, boxing, and bootcamp training. The staff here is super cool, and there is a wonderful community among the athletes.

Kettle bells and hypercompetitive douchebags with bad tattoos who take themselves too seriously… This is what I thought of when I heard ‘Crossfit,’ that is, before joining Dogtown. The kettle bells are still there, but I couldn’t be more pleased with the Dogtown coaches and members.
This review is long overdue since I’ve been a member for over 10 months and have absolutely loved it. I take Crossfit, HIIT, and Mobility classes. Fabien, Matt C., Matt A., Dan and the rest of the staff are phenomenal! The coaches are not only amazing athletes but also fun to be around. They push you without being dicks about it.
Crossfit with Fabien and Matt A. toggles from pain to joy, in the best way possible. HIIT and Mobility coach Matt C. always has a new challenge up his sleeve and remembers specific things that I need to work on.
Members range from former pro athletes to off-​the-​couch beginners who actually encourage one another.
Great facility! Great vibe!

Dogtown Athletic is an awesome gym. I personally started they gym for the top notch boxing classes and have since tried all their other classes as well. Its a nice way to work with professional coaches and mix up your work out. This gym has a great facility and awesome staff. Highly recommended for all your work out needs.

As a recent Sac to East Bay transplant, finding a gym to replace the one I was heartbroken over leaving was priority #1. I started checking out websites and Unilocal reviews months in advance, from Walnut Creek to Oakland. My requisite gym needs: well equipped, lots of space, high ceilings, huge garage doors, good vibe.
Before ever setting foot inside, I had a really great feeling about Dogtown. One evening, while procrastinating over unpacking, I made the quick drive to Oakland to check the place out… and I *knew* I was home the moment I walked in.
I honestly can’t say enough positive things about Dogtown… the trainers, the member, the space — all incredible! I’ve been to some pretty great gyms, but they pale in comparison to Dogtown and the community they have built. :)
To begin with, the floor is amazing — it’s large, open and spacious, with great use of the layout. While the boxing ring certainly takes center stage, there is so much equipment available… boxing bags, climbing ropes, 30+ yards of turf, sleds, prowler, multiple racks, rowers, and all the kettle bells and dumbbells a person could need! In addition to all the indoor equipment, there’s a parking lot on site which doubles as an excellent place to workout, push the sleds on, etc.
Each and every trainer I’ve worked with has been amazing. So many reviews mention head CrossFit trainer Fabien… every single word you’ve read is true — he’s an all around phenomenal coach! Fabian is always encouraging, always pushing us to go a little harder, and always making sure we’re executing moves safely (propelling heavy ass weights into the air is no joke!). I look forward to each and every class he teaches… even when dreading the workout itself. ;)
When I can’t make it to Fabien’s classes, I train with Matt, another force to reckon with. While there are many things to appreciate about his training style, I really value his balance between being a serious bad ass athlete and coach while maintaining his characteristic sense of humor. Make no mistake, Matt will push you… there’s just laughter mixed in with trying to catch your breath!
While my primary focus is CrossFit, there are HIIT and Boxing classes available, which I’ve been encouraged to take by both trainers and members alike. That said, open gym time has given me time to observe things I don’t pay attention to while getting my ass handed to me during CrossFit. I can say with certainty that any class you take at Dogtown is going to challenge you, push your limits, and keep you coming back for more… while the workouts are grueling, I see nothing but smiles and camaraderie each and every day — it’s not just the coaches pushing you, but fellow Dogtowners cheering you on as as well. It’s this very encouragement keeps me inspired and motived — the community here is easily one of the best things about Dogtown.
Do yourself a favor… stop by during class or –better yet– take one for free. Sign up and get your sweat on!

After scouring the internet for decent Crossfit boxes and not finding any within my budget or near my house I came across this awesome joint.
I’ve only been coming here for a few weeks, but here are my first impressions:
I was really nervous about joining this gym, mainly due to the fact that I haven’t been consistently active for a year at least, and wasn’t sure that I’d be able to keep up, and also worrying I’d make a fool of myself in front of the coaches. But pleasantly I was surprised! Yes, the workouts are brutal, and yes I do feel like a fool half the time, but while working with Fabien (who is the lead crossfit coach there), I started feeling a lot more competent with the moves. From what it seems (seeing as I’m still new) is that all the coaches really work to create an environment where people feel comfortable and accepted, but also challenged.
I’m already trying to convince friends to sign up with me!

I’ve been coming to Dogtown’s CrossFit classes for 3 months now, and it has been lifestyle-​changing.
The facility is very well equipped, clean, and altogether fun. It has its own parking lot, so no need to stress about where to park. (Yes!)
Fabien, the CrossFit coach, is just the best. He’s very knowledgeable and makes sure everyone’s comfortable with what the workout’s all about. I came in without any experience, yet Fabien takes his time to make sure I know what I’m doing and ensures I’m doing it right.
The crowd you’ll be working out is so nice and welcoming. A few classes in and you’re already feeling part of the family. Plus, there’s cute, friendly doggies roaming around the front desk!
Altogether, Dogtown has been the best choice in terms of being active, achieving my fitness goals, and having a great time while sweating. 5+ stars and super recommend it!

My experience at dogtown has been great. I’m solely a crossfitter and when joining Dogtown I was new to it. Crossfit coaches Fabian and Matt really helped me with my form and movements and continue to tweak and educate on how to do workouts correctly to get the best results without injury. The Crossfit programming is great and always leaves me feeling like I got a great workout. If you’re new to crossfit this is a great place to start, Fabian and Matt remind us that everything is scalable and if you are still working on your technique give substitute workouts. The facility is great and has a parking lot so you won’t have to worry about street parking. Woo Dogtown!

I’ve been working out here for 5 months and I’ve been having a great time there. The coaches are knowledgable and make learning Crossfit or Boxing really accessible. Everyone that goes there is really cool and supportive of all levels.
And to top it off, the space itself is sick. No bumping up to other folks working out. Huge astroturf. They even have a fan.
Highly recommend if you want to have fun and get fit

Props to Dogtown. I am far from a gym going person, but I will keep coming back as long as I am around. Great open space; quality, clean equipment; respectable trainers; and great community. H.I.I.T is by far the most interesting and dynamic hour of the day. Plus they’ve got sweatshirts in 18 colors.

Hands down best gym I’ve ever been a member of! Joining this gym gives you access to top-​notch training, and it gives you an automatic community of awesome people!
The trainers are great at tracking your progress and giving individual training throughout the session. I never feel left out or overwhelmed.
Both the trainers I work with, Fabien and Alhaji, push their clients to perform the best they can. They both have solid personal training styles and any athlete would benefit from their coaching.
This place makes me want to go to the gym because I am surrounded by people who care and I am pushed to perform at my best.
Oh and they play the best music.

These are a great group of guys doing some great things at Dogtown. I was in search of a new Crossfit Box as I was transitioning from my old one. A friend recommended trying Hella Crossfit found within Dogtown and so I went. First I love the location, right on Adeline close to 580 and in a developing neighborhood. You are close to Artist studios, Defremery Park and Emeryville. I walked into Dogtown not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised at how welcome everyone was. These guys talk to you straight up, will laugh, tell jokes and push you hard while giving great instruction. Fabien is an great Crossfit coach, whom has been able to identify some problem areas that I’ve had in my squats right away. The workouts are hard but I feel myself getting better.
Recently I tried out Boxing and at first didnt know what to expect. However, it is a hard and fun workout that will force you to improve your cardio output. As soon as I can last 3 minutes in the ring, I’ll then venture off in trying HIIT. I highly suggest trying out the place and finding your fit.

I got to try out Dogtown during Unilocal’s Booty Camp, and was very impressed with the facility as well as the staff. Fabien put us through our paces with a warm up, followed by a sampler of circuit training exercises. He was motivating and encouraging throughout, and I enjoyed the group aspect too since I normally work out alone.
Dogtown also offers boxing classes, but we didn’t get to do any of those. I might consider coming back to give those a try, but it’s a pretty good drive from where I live. If it wasn’t such a long commute, I would seriously consider joining.
Facility: There is a small, secure parking area for the gym, and neat, clean locker rooms. When I took my class they were still working on getting their showers up and running. Unsurprising given the name, they also have some resident pooches that greet you in the lobby.

I love this facility, but more so, I love the people here. I started training here when the doors opened and have been a part of the DOGTOWN family since.
I train in boxing, with Tony, who I must say pushes me to strive for excellence through efforts. He is a BEAST!
New equipment, clean, and a positive atmosphere

«Nothing, not even pain, lasts forever. If I can just keep putting one foot in front of the other, I will eventually get to the end.» –Kim Cowart
Certainly one of the best quotes that continuously encourage me to push harder and finish my daily workouts strong. Fabien, the Head CrossFit trainer of Dogtown, is the epitome of what a CrossFit trainer should be. Currently Functional Movement Screen Certified, and former boot-​camp trainer, he has quite a few accolades under his belt. Fabian competed in several Ironman Triathlons and Olympic Weightlifting competitions along with additional credentials such as Olympic weightlifting training at Catalyst Athletics and attending the Level One Gym Jones Seminar.
Prior to attending my first (Beginner’s) session here at Dogtown with my fellow Elites, I only heard about the frightening, and incredibly intimidating CrossFit stories from articles, magazines, and CrossFit-​addict friends. Such stories like being so exhausted one would pass out or throw up, or herniated disks, muscle and tendon ruptures, and Rhabdomyolysis, which is unfortunately common in the CrossFit world. I definitely knew what I was getting myself into. What made me want to attend then, you may ask? It would have to be my tremendous amount of curiosity and the want to attain a sense of accomplishment and say, «Yes! I survived my first CrossFit session!» and maybe even like it!
I would have not made it through this class without the encouragement exhibited by Fabian and my fellow Elites. We were all exceedingly encouraging throughout the 1 hour session, which I found profoundly comforting. I once read in an article titled, «A Beginner’s Guide to CrossFit» (
) that one of the benefits to joining CrossFit is the close-​knit community. Let’s face it– you’re not going to receive the same amount of encouragement when working out by yourself.
My review will discuss about the «Beginner’s Level» class, in which, Fabian conducted. Although our group came in with various fitness levels ranging from joggers to marathon runners to hikers to weight trainers, we all learned one thing at the end of our session — no matter how fit (or unfit) we were, this class still kicked all of our butts. And I really mean it.
The 1 hour session began with a brief warm up on the «grass area». Quick stretching, sprints up and down the lawn, bear crawling, box pushes (the worst thing I’ve ever had to do, in my opinion), and last but certainly not least, hot potato with a 10 LB ball that was like ¾ths my size. I will emphasize that the box pushes was the most challenging workout for me because I totally underestimated several factors: 1. the weight of the box 2. the weight of the box when pushing it down faux grass 3. my arm and leg strength. It was definitely harder than it looked. Mentally, I was saying «yes, this is totally do-​able, mind over matter, mind over matter…» meanwhile physically, my body was screaming «no more box pushes no more no more…» With the encouragement of Fabien and the workout group either by verbal reassurance or applauding here and there, each of us were able to push through and complete the box pushes. Hot potato didn’t sound so atrocious until Fabien mentioned that every dropped ball resulted in 5 burpees. At first, we began with one ball and nearing the end of the session, we were handling 3 balls. Everyone remained vigilant and focused, trying their best to not drop the ball. This was both mentally/​physically challenging.
Second training session was similar to that of Circuit Training — a 5 station workout, 30 seconds each and 1 minute rest intervals. Station 1 — Burpees, Station 2 — Box Pushes (oh no, not again), Station 3 — Smash Balls Station 4 — Lunges and lastly, Station 5 — Kettle Ball Rope Pulls (which was a team effort). Lastly, Fabien finished us with a series of plank moves (finally, my cup of tea).
Overall, Fabien was amazing. One of my main concerns was having improper form which would lead to a higher risk of injury, but Fabien remained attuned with everyone and did his best to oversee the group, even when we split up to different stations. He even noticed that one dude was missing for about 75% of the session. (lol)
If I still lived in the East Bay, I’d most definitely consider signing up for more CrossFit sessions here at Dogtown. I highly encourage those who are reading this that live close by (and when I mean close by, I mean within the East Bay as I live in the Peninsula) to sign up. If you’re looking for: 1. A workout that will test your limits 2. A close-​knit workout community 3. more encouragement (either by a personal trainer or by others), then I highly recommend you get your butts up and sign up at Dogtown. I assure you that you won’t be disappointed!
Number: (510) 328-​DOGG (3644)
Directions:
Schedule/​Rates:

I really liked this gym having experienced a sample class during Unilocal CMYE event. if I moved to West Oakland, I would consider joining because I really enjoyed the class. I loved that the trainer was really aware of the participants and knew how hard to push.
In addition, I thought the exercises were unique, basic and really provided a workout. Very interesting equipment and format.
I would recommend checking this place out. There’s a parking lot and street parking looked fairly easy too, so I don’t ever imagine a big problem with parking.
I also like that it’s new. I do not like going to regular gyms where there’s a bunch of people and no place to stand. There’s a lot of space here and things to do to workout.

I went to Dogtown for a Unilocal Open Event –Yelps Booty Camp !!! I’m glad I did Dogtown Athletic is a Nice Facility.
They have a Lounge Area where Drinks and Healthy Snacks are available .
They have a Large Private Parking Lot, Lockers and Showers .
Their Workout Equipment is Brand New. They have a Boxing Ring.
They Offer Boot camp, Personal Training, Plyometrics, Boxing, Speed and Agility, Kettle Bell Workout, Prospect Training, Sport Specific Training, Rope Conditioning and Power Plate Training.
Its a Family Owned and Operated Place. They all are very nice. The Gyms Mascots are the 3 family dogs 2 Pit bulls and a Chocolate Lab.
They are located on Adeline a few miles off 880 a pretty convenient location .
The Gym itself is Huge. Our Cross Fit Trainer Fabien a former SJPD officer was very High Energy and Encouraging .
He gave us an Intro into Cross fit.
Fabien had us Warm-​up by Jogging, Bear crawling, and Pushing Boxes up and down the track.
We also Played Hot Potato with Medicine Balls 3 to be exact. Penalty for dropping a ball was 5 Burpees LOL.
Fabien set up a 5 Station work out Consisting of Burpees, Lunges, Box Pushing, Smash Balls and Kettle Ball Pulls .
Fabien Ended the workout by having us do Plank Poses to warm down and stretch.
Thanks Jon G, Dogtown Athletic, Fabien and Unilocal for a Great Unilocal Event!!!
2015 The Year of Self Awareness and Swagger. S.F.F.S !!!

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?
On a rainy Sunday morning, a bunch of dedicated Unilocalers came out for Unilocal’s Booty Camp… a round of applause to all. Rockstar Jon G. organized a Sunday Funday for us to burn off calories consumed at many foodie Unilocal events — everything in moderation.
Our trainer Fabien worked our butts off, my body is still sore from CrossFit. We burpee’d and bear crawled our way up and down the training turf, followed by pushing boxes. After pushing those boxes repeatedly, you start gasping your way towards the finish line. We played a game of «Hot Potato», which was fun. I was thinking of how I could have been a «Couch Potato» had I not been motivated to come workout.
Thanks to my fellow Unilocalers for all the motivation during the rotation stations, as I was still gasping and recovering from exhaustion. I wouldn’t want Fabien’s advanced CrossFit, he’d probably make us crawl in mud, climb over walls, do push-​ups, and drag a 200-​lb dummy across Oakland to Berkeley, transforming us into some Spartan beast!
Thank you Dan for sharing your vision and allowing us to learn the basics from your awesome trainers. I like how you offer youth programs, many gyms won’t allow young kids and childcare is miserable. I can definitely work my way up and feel like a Warrior afterwards. I grabbed some brochures to share with my family, friends, and colleagues; they will truly embrace this State-​of-​the-​art facility and elite sports training.

Today there was a Unilocal Event and was it a doozy. The Unilocalers did come in full force. No storm will hold us back!
LOCATION
It’s deep in Adeline. So coming from the East Bay, it was driving up and wondering where the heck I was! I did see the Dogtown sign and saw the gated private parking.
INSIDE
There’s a little lounging area, but as soon as you turn through the white gates, BAM. It’s a large hot box filled with all the equipment to train your body to the max. They do boxing and cross fit which is great. There’s a bathroom for both men and women. Inside there are 3 bathrooms, and two showers. There are lockers but I think you need to bring your own lock. There’s water to fill up your water bottle.
WORKOUT
As we were of all fitness levels, Fabien gave us a little sample of a beginner’s class and it was great! We started off with a warm up on the grassy area. First a jog up and down the lawn. Then bear crawling. Then a few pushes of the darn boxes. wooden boxes that will haunt me in my dreams. Who knew pushing boxes would work out your thighs like no other? Then we did a weighted hot potato. Fabien basically tossed in a couple extra balls. Punishment for dropping a ball? 5 BURPEES! Burpees suck, but it’s great for your body!
We then moved into a 5 station workout. Each station was 30 seconds each. First was a burpee station, then pushing those boxes again, smash balls, lunges, and kettle ball rope pulls. After a couple rounds, we then ended with a series of plank moves. Fabien was great. He demonstrated through all the moves and was cheering us all on.
OVERALL
If I lived closer, I would consider taking crossfit here as I love getting a nice swift kick in the butt. But I’m sure others do live near here and would benefit from this place. Great owners and great instructor.
Thanks Jon G for running the event and doing the workout with us!

Dogtown is fantastic! The 10.000 sq foot facility and awesome equipment alone is enough to join the gym! Add great trainers, amazing community, and parking and the value only goes up.
I work out in the Crossfit classes and HIT classes and find that the combination of training techniques are helping me quickly get back to my «fit» self. The classes are challenging but the trainers in both classes are great at scaling to meet your fitness level.
I highly recommend anyone interested in working out at a gym with community, fun, and fantastic trainers join Dogtown.

Dogtown is full of positive and encouraging people! The staff cares about you and works hard to find a work out plan catered to your needs. All of the equipment is new and the trainers are super helpful.
Crossfit is the BEST here! Coach Fabien pushes us hard and makes the work outs fun and challenging. This gym is beginner friendly and steps it up for advanced cross-​fitters too. Plus the music is always bumpin.
I love it here!