I cannot express how grateful I am to Lauren Tapp of CCA! Over the last couple of months, she has…read morehelped my Maltese, Tessa, with separation anxiety. Through well-planned sessions, Lauren has taught me how to successfully work with my puppy. In our eight weeks, she has been readily available to help answer my questions and guide me in Tessa's training. She's been an awesome teacher and cheerleader and has been at my side with helpful suggestions when I've needed her most. It will be a few months yet before I can leave Tessa for several hours (I can now leave for an hour!--major progress!), but I have faith in the process and absolutely know it will happen. Thank you, Lauren, for everything.--Without you, Tessa and I wouldn't have such a bright future! Marilee W

Calm Canine Academy is hands-down the best training experience I've had with my pup! Not exactly a…read morepandemic pup, but we got our baby in the fall before Covid struck. We tried a local in-person puppy class but our dog was too nervous to be around other dogs and then COVID sit down the training options. I found CCA from following one of their famous clients Dog With Sign and figured I would try a virtual training class. Boy was I surprised! Not only were Karishma, Gemma, and Ingrid knowledgeable trainers, they also have a few differentiators: 1. First and foremost the virtual training method worked really well for my nervous pup. She didn't have to be around other dogs and smells and trainers to have a quality experience. 2. CCA was virtual before virtual was cool! They are masters of the format, running classes that seamlessly shift presentation mode to "god mode" offering observation coaching and teaching easily. 3. The trainer in your pocket support between classes was awesome for holding You accountable and troubleshooting between sessions. 4. I've done three sessions and each one has been more wonderfully diverse than the last!! It's a treat find a trainer and community that will use your correct pronouns and create an incredibly inclusive community. We love CCA and look to them as leaders in the compassionate and consensual dog training space!

I recently took a virtual Manners 1 class with Kizz and Jess, and cannot recommend it highly…read moreenough. The class was small, so each pup got plenty of personal attention, and the class aspect meant that we could all learn from each other as well. Each class is recorded so you can reference them later, and their post-class emails also give you homework for the week and great resources to use if you want to learn more about topics discussed. I really like that the instructors have done tons of research on dog behavior and training and cite their sources--it's both fascinating (from an intellectual standpoint) and comforting (from a nervous dog mom standpoint) to hear the research and science behind their methods. They teach a positive reinforcement only method, which I really appreciate after previous experiences with other trainers who advocate things like prong collars. The emphasis is on building a relationship with your dog through understanding the way their brains work and how best to communicate with them. I look forward to taking our next class with PumpkinPups--they are an incredible source of info for all things dog and we are lucky to have them in Brooklyn!

Viviane assisted me with an urgent issue with my dogs. She went above and beyond in helping me…read morequickly, assessing the situation and assisting me in handling a painful situation with the confidence of knowing that we are doing the right thing. She is incredibly knowledgeable, wonderfully compassionate and understands dogs in such a beautiful way. I am so thankful I was referred to her.

5-stars for Inna and the Wag The Dog training program!…read more My wife and I found Inna (via Yelp) shortly after taking our miniature poodle home with us at 11 weeks old. Being our first dog, we did not know what to expect. Inna visited us for 4x1hr sessions over the course of about 8 weeks and we could not have been happier with the results. In short - the puppy is trained, but it is really the "masters" that learn all the tricks. Inna was patient with us as we learned the benefits of positive reinforcement. Bebop the Poodle has become most excellent with the basic commands - come, sit, stay, touch, watch - and we, as owners, feel confident that we can continue teaching more desirable actions on our own now that *we* have been trained. Inna is very accommodating and provided a quality service in-person, but is also available for help via phone or email when we've had questions. She clearly loves dogs and is a much-welcomed visitor for little Bebop. We heartily endorse Wag the Dog for personal 1-on-1 training, and imagine that group sessions are equally effective.

Inna was super helpful in setting up a framework to deal with my dog Ellie's reactive behaviors…read more Through gradual exercises and follow-ups, the difference for my pup in just two months is impressive. Definitely recommend!

professional, accommodating, easy to work with and responsive…read more Eddie, my cockapoo enjoys his walks and treats.

we have entrusted NYC Pooch for 3 years with our two dogs between living in Manhattan and Brooklyn…read more The one constant has been their reliability and attentiveness. We never have to worry.

I can't thank Justis enough for helping me build a better relationship with my dog. Shia was…read morerescued in March from a hoarding situation where she'd obviously never had a human love her. I adopted her in July and it was a few weeks before I could pet her...and a few more before she'd look me in the eye. She'd warmed up a lot by December but after a few dramatic escapes in the suburbs, I knew I needed more help. The difference was instantaneous - after the initial online consultation, I could feel that there was a shift in how she saw me. After a few more sessions, I can now say I have a pet instead of a needy roommate. This was the best investment I could have made in our future together and I'll be singing Justis' praises for a long time to come.

Never ever did I think I would require the services of a dog therapist! Ha. Yet here we are... and…read moreMalia is worth her weight in gold. I had been fostering a special needs puppy. And for 3 weeks straight I only had 2 hrs of sleep per night, in addition to the puppy's extreme anxiety and constant need for my engagement. He also kept making himself sick and eating his poop as a really unusual stress response. I heard good things about Malia and I needed someone who would feel safe coming to my home during the pandemic. Enter tough-as-nails-take-no-shit Malia. After our first consultation, she had sleeping tips that literally changed my (daily) life. I have been sleeping 6-8 hrs a night ever since our first visit and it's been almost a month by now... In our second visit, she helped my dog play on a leash, something I spent 3 weeks practicing with absolutely NO success. Ever since our second session, he has been happy with his leash and well behaved. This review really sounds too good to be true and I wouldn't believe it either if I read it. But I shit you not, this is not some snake oil salesman scheme to get you to spend money on a dog therapist (hell, you probably don't even spend money on your own therapist, am I right??) Fast forward several sessions and now he plays outside, stopped eating his poops, doesn't even try to eat other poops on the sidewalk, climbs the stairs, and even puts himself to bed for nap time. What a good boy! While he isn't perfect, and he requires A LOT of human effort, he's doing much better than anyone ever expected from a little guy born with so many major issues/disabilities.

Leanne is the best walker EVER. Not only does she clearly love dogs, she is attentive,…read morecommunicative, and I always feel safe leaving my pup with her. All of the training I've taught my pup, Leanne is happy to reinforce (and teach her more!) on their walks together. She knows the neighborhood and the best spots to take pups to potty and the best spots to take them to mingle (if you have a very social pup like mine). Best of all, she sends a detailed report card with pictures (and sometimes even video) after every walk, so you know exactly how it went. My pup is always so excited to see Leanne, I decided to use her pet sitting services overnight while I went on vacation. Needless to say, I received so many pictures and videos of pup enjoying her "sleepover", I felt like I was there with them. It took all the stress out of being away from home. I can't sing the praises of Pups Who Stroll loud enough! Highly recommend to anyone looking for pet care services.

We set up a training appointment with Denise on the advice of our vet. We were hoping for a more…read moremanageable set of pups, what we got was a miracle! Denise intuitively understands dogs and tailors her training to accommodate differences in personalities. She is a lovely blend of professional and personal warmth. It is like having a canine expert for a best friend-- even from session #1! In just two sessions, our dogs are so much happier, healthier, better adjusted, and all of our lives are significantly improved. Each training tip, product, and recommendation has proven indispensable in elevating the quality of our puppies' lives. After our first session, we were much better dog parents and our dogs seemed touched by an angel. They were so much calmer and their listening improved significantly. They knew a couple commands and looked forward to training sessions! We were both so pleased with the amount we accomplished in this initial session-- much more than our original expectations. The handouts she provides, along with personalized homework assignments, are concise and easy to follow to ensure maximum success as well. Denise followed up with us to check on our progress after the sessions and was thorough and thoughtful in her kind answers to our many questions. In addition to being a trainer extraordinaire, it is clear that Denise is a truly loving, gentle, awesome person. We are so glad to know her and her services have improved our lives and our relationship with our little rascals so much! We highly recommend her to the yelp community with bells and whistles! We were left with a beautiful blend of instant gratification and long-term results! She is worth every penny and more. You'll be so glad she was your trainer.

Denise is an amazing dog trainer, just about as good as it gets. When we got our dog Chewy he was…read morescared of almost everything, didn't know where to go to the bathroom, and didn't want to walk outside on his leash. With Denise's advice he was able to grow up to be a great pup who loves taking walks outside and doing his tricks! Denise is always there for her clients, I would write her emails at all hours of the day and night and she would always respond as quickly as she could. We recently left Chewy with Denise for one night when we went on a short trip and got tons of pictures and texts updating us on how he was doing. I recommend Denise to everyone I know who has a dog or is thinking of getting one. She rocks!

The facility looks great and the staff were kind, but our experience was deeply disappointing. Our…read moredog Keiko returned from a trial stay with a painful paw injury that went completely unnoticed by staff. Despite this, she was approved for future boarding, even though she came home clearly traumatized - shut down, not going outside, and not peeing or pooping for nearly 24 hours. They called me repeatedly during work hours to discuss after I flagged the injury, and though I responded promptly via email and text, I was accused of being unresponsive. After requesting a refund for the vet bill, they stopped replying entirely. While they did refund the stay itself, their lack of accountability and care makes me question how much attention dogs truly receive at this facility. This review is meant to caution other dog owners - our dog deserved better.

I'm honestly disappointed to be here writing this review as I was very excited about this facility,…read morebut I feel like people need to know. My dog went for a board and train to work on loose leash walking, basic manners, impulse control, things like that. I filled out a survey with my training goals and was told I'd have a call with the trainers prior to the start of camp so we could better define the goals. That call never happened, and my emails with additional questions were ignored. I was also promised regular communications throughout the week: two training updates and daily photos. My second update came over 24 hours late and my dog was rarely in any of the photos taken during play time. Upon returning home, my dog had not gained much in the way of new skills but had developed a severe increase in leash-related human reactivity, which has not historically been a problem for him. I can't definitively say that FFA and their training methods caused this directly, but it's pretty hard for me to think of another likely explanation. Especially since it has now begun to subside as more time elapses from his stay at FFA. I was told that FFA believes in only using positive reinforcement training, but looking at videos of what transpired at camp tells me that their definition of R+ is a bit creative. I saw them using leash pressure (a form of negative feedback, and NOT R+) in multiple different training scenarios, something I specifically asked about on the phone prior to booking and a staff member assured me that was not something my dog would encounter. Overall, I'm incredibly frustrated to have spent so much money on what could have been a great experience for my sweet dog, only to learn I unintentionally traumatized him. I'm now spending more money with my local trainer who is truly R+ to reverse the damage done at FFA and we are making great progress, but we should never have had to work on this in the first place.