The Dog Institute of Williamsburg

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.

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The Dog Institute is truly exceptional. From the moment I first spoke with Elizabeth, the owner, I knew we had found the right place to support us after bringing home our American Shepherd puppy, Ruby. In that very first phone conversation, Elizabeth could hear the uneasiness in my voice. I was feeling overwhelmed and stressed about doing everything right to raise our puppy well and give her a great life. Elizabeth immediately put me at ease with her calm, thoughtful approach and clear depth of experience.

Since then, The Dog Institute has been an incredible resource for us. Ruby attends Play & Train regularly, and it’s easily her favorite thing in the world. The staff are fantastic: friendly, attentive, and clearly very experienced with a wide range of dogs and personalities. It’s such a positive, well-run environment, and we always feel confident knowing Ruby is spending time with such a great group of people and dogs.

We also work with Elizabeth for Ruby’s 1:1 training sessions. Her knowledge and experience really shine in how clearly and effectively she teaches both dogs and their owners. The sessions are practical, approachable, and incredibly effective. Ruby soaked up her early lessons and quickly grew into a confident, well-behaved puppy thanks to Elizabeth’s guidance.

We feel so lucky to have found The Dog Institute and are incredibly grateful for Elizabeth and the entire team. We’re excited to continue working with them as Ruby grows.

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If you’re planning to get a new puppy, don’t hesitate to enroll in training with Elizabeth and her team at the Dog Institute. I grew up with dogs and did plenty of prep before bringing home my sheltie, Oslo but there is truly no way I would have been set up for success without Elizabeth. The intro lessons went far beyond basic commands. They helped me thoughtfully set up my home, routine, and expectations for life with a new puppy in Brooklyn.

Along the way, we made practical adjustments to everything - my daily schedule, feeding routine, crate size, harness and gear all tailored specifically to Oslo. I got endless insight into the types of enrichment toys that would suit Oslo to which pet stores in the neighborhood have the best chews. Elizabeth has a wealth of knowledge and an incredibly thoughtful approach. She doesn’t just teach skills, she empowers you with the confidence and toolkit you need to raise a well-adjusted, happy pup in NYC. Despite lifelong dog experience, that guidance was invaluable for me.

Oslo loves nothing more than his Play & Train sessions. He literally runs into class and sometimes even tries to lead me to the Dog Institute on our walks. The structure of supervised play with both puppies and well-mannered adult dogs has done wonders for his confidence and social skills.

I also feel completely at ease leaving Oslo with Elizabeth and her team. Many of the dogs are regulars, which creates a safe, familiar environment that gives me so much peace of mind. Not to mention plenty of adorable photo and video updates.

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I can’t praise Elizabeth and her team more! I got a cavapoo puppy in October and don’t know what I would do without the Dog Institute, they have been so incredible, especially as a first time mom. Elizabeth is amazing and was so thorough and dedicated in our puppy training sessions. Hazel has been going to the play & train sessions and it is by far the highlight of her week. They take the best care of all the puppies there and I feel so comfortable leaving here as I know she is in good hands. She is the happiest there playing with all her friends. Highly recommend!

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Incredible place, especially for puppy training. We felt so well taken care of and the techniques we learned really helped our dog adapt to life in Brooklyn. She is a cavapoo and 5 years later we still come back to so many of the tools that Elizabeth taught us especially since we had a baby a couple of years ago. She has been really generous with additional guidance and was flexible with our sessions. Cannot recommend more highly. The sitting facilities and dog supplies they have are also super high quality — our lead from there is still in great shape after 4 years of daily use!!!!

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