Dog Trainers in New York City

What can I say, I wish I could enroll in The Dog Institute, and would probably be better at parties for it. In all seriousness, after my dog passed four years ago I thought I would never adopt a pup again, partly from heartbreak but also because I have a bossy take no prisoners cat named Mom Cat who has limited mobility and a long sharp set of active claws. But then I met Bruce. Bruce is a rescue pit puppy from a litter rescued from a backyard breeder in NJ that I happened to meet at Honeys in Brooklyn. The rescue called The Good Dog Rescue let me take him for two weeks to see if he could charm Mom Cat, hopeful because he had been fostered with 14 dogs and... "some ferrets." Well, Bruce luckily was a perfect gentleman with mom cat but sitting in my apartment I looked over at him while he gnawed on a dandelion green and realized Bruce deserved more than what me, a semi depressive tenants rights attorney, and a decidedly un-maternal grumpy cat could offer. Bruce needed friends, a community, and the opportunity to play, learn, and be showered with love, affection, structure, and freeze dried chicken breast strips as often and enthusiastically as and as possible. The next day I brought Bruce to Elizabeth at The Dog Institute. She immediately helped me identify strategies to make sure he and mom cat could develop their relationship while feeling safe and secure, helped me with walking, tethering, and crate training, as well as dialing in a food and treat program to keep him happy and active as well as avoiding foods that might be causing skin irritation. The three modes of training she developed and the care with which she teaches you them is so positive, thorough, comprehensive, confidence building for Bruce (and myself.) The classes on Sundays are creative and exploratory and responsive to the vibe of the group. But Bruce's favorite is the Play and Train sessions Monday through Thursday. He literally smiles when we pull up at 9 am SO excited to play with his friends, learn about impulse control, pose for handsome portraits, and listen to whatever calming avant guard music is on the speakers that day. Bruce is in LOVE with everyone who works there and turns into a wiggling ball of joy if he sees Elizabeth, Allie, Masami, Roshni, Maria, or Lacy on the corner. (So do I.) I get daily reports and videos and class pics every day. It has been such an honor and relief to have such a supportive, caring, and joyful community looking out for Bruce as he grows up. If you have any pup questions, are facing any challenges, or just want to make your pup skip around with happiness do not wait, GO straight to The Dog Institute.

Jenny is an INCREDIBLE trainer. She worked patiently, consistently, methodically, joyfully, and sensitively with my rescue dog, Boots. Boots is challenging—she has a range of behavioral issues, including being territorial around food, reactive to sounds outside, having trouble settling down, and needing to learn a host of commands. Jenny made amazing progress with Boots—teaching her to orient towards a resting place, helping her decompress, giving her regulation tools when she gets reactive, helping us both to improve her leash and play manners, and on. Most importantly, it’s clear that Boots LOVES working work Jenny. She was always appropriately challenged and deeply engaged, focused, tail wagging. I couldn’t recommend Jenny more highly.

I had an amazing experience working with Deanne, and I can’t recommend her highly enough. When we first started, my puppy was struggling with separation anxiety, barking, and some challenges on walks (such as eating non-food items). Deanne created a clear, personalized plan that helped us address each issue step by step. Deanne taught my puppy basic commands (sit, down, stay, etc.), no jumping when greeting people, walking calmly on leash, introduced him to the dog run in a safe and positive way, and gave me the tools to manage and greatly reduce barking that used to happen throughout the day. What I appreciated most was how patient, knowledgeable, and supportive Deanne was. She not only helped my puppy but also helped me understand how to reinforce good habits and maintain consistency at home. If you’re looking for someone who truly understands dog behavior and sets you and your pup up for success, Deanne is absolutely the best choice.

Working with Dominik has been a game-changer for our (almost) 1 year and a half Vizsla. As any Vizsla owner knows, they are incredibly high-energy and sensitive, which can make training a challenge. Dominik’s balanced, common-sense approach was exactly what we needed. He helped us establish clear boundaries and solid obedience while still respecting our pup’s unique personality. The transformation in his focus, recall, leash walking and manners is night and day. If you’re looking for a trainer who truly understands dog behavior (especially for high-drive breeds) we cannot recommend Dominik enough!

My dog Gizmo started training with Stephen when he was about six months old- after he had already completed a course of puppy kindergarten. Gizmo learned so many important skills during his training with Stephen but more importantly I learned training skills! I had to leave NY for a while- so I continued Gizmo’s training with different trainers and I could absolutely tell the difference! I am telling you as someone who has done two courses of puppy kindergarten, a board and train program, at home training for about 12 sessions and recently learned from professional gun dog trainers in Ireland that Stephen is the absolute real deal! As Gizmo continues to get older and recently hit the adolescent phase, you can tell that the things he’s retained are the commands that Stephen taught us.