I rescued a lemon beagle mix (Diego) from North Shore Animal League and he is truly a sweetheart. However, being a rescue, he had a rough "childhood" and was exhibiting some rough behaviors that made having him in our home nearly unbearable. Diego was an excessive barker and chewer, very socially dependent on us, as well as a tough case to house break. My family and I fell in love with him, so giving him back was not even up for discussion, so something HAD to be done! With that being said, I found Pooch Pals through a friends recommendation and I got in touch with their office. I was delighted to receive a speedy reply, and a very clear breakdown of their training program. I went through it all and quickly decided to purchase a package of training sessions to help my fur-baby acclimate to his new forever home. Marc, the owner of Pooch Pals, came to my home on our scheduled date and time and we had our consultation. At that time, two things were clear. One, he knew very well what he was doing and two, he had a true passion for doing it. That's a combination one does not come across often in professionals whom we hire and entrust to take on a difficult task for us. Marc worked with me as much as Diego to train me on how to train my dog. Most other companies would only train the dog so you would still need THEM. However, Marc runs his operation in such a way that is designed to empower the dog's owner to train their pet. I found that a helpful staff member was always available to address any of my questions or concerns throughout the process (we scheduled our sessions about a month apart). In conclusion, my experience with Pooch Pals was tremendous in every way. Diego has come a long way and has truly adjusted to his role in our family. I am able to sleep without him barking, and I am able to read without him jumping all over me as if to say: "Look at me! I'm over here! HEY! It's me, Diego! Play with me!". Pooch Pals has me and my pet as a customer for life, as well as my full endorsement and recommendation to any pet owner in the market for any of their services. You will not be disappointed, so do yourself a favor: stop looking, stop researching, stop calling other companies, because Pooch Pals will be the right fit for you! read more

I am a loyal client and cheerleader for Pooch Pals. My cocker spaniel, Maybelline, was adopted as a rescue, and for the first year I owned her I was so sad that her behavior on the street was atrocious, hysterical, and aggressive. I contacted Kate Perry, and she suggested that I use a walker from Pooch Pals who would be a trainer as well. The change in my sweet girl is amazing. Admittedly, she still has her moments, but she is controllable and I no longer dread walks. She even has some doggie friends with whom we can visit. She will always be a work in progress. My walker is the best. He loves her as much as I do, and he is responsible and trust-worthy. Since Maybelline cannot be boarded because of her inability to socialize easily, he does overnights at my apartment. This is a gift because I know she is loved and in our home. When I had my first introduction to Pooch Pals, all the substitute walkers came to my apartment to meet us, so that if my regular guy was out, May's walker would not be a complete stranger. Marc Ellis who runs the business is efficient and answers phone calls and emails immediately. He even subs occasionally--which tells me he is so invested in the business., and he knows dogs up close and personal--not just from behind a desk. I have a part-time job just for my dog's meds and her walks. It is worth every penny. five stars!!!!!! read more

I have to say that I've gone through several dog walking/sitting/training companies over the years and Pooch Pals literally blows them out of the water! I have a 6 year old wheaten terrier who needs lots of exercise and attention every day while I am at work. And I care way too much about my dog to keep him cooped up all day. Pooch Pals is reliable, personable and genuinely seems to care about making my dog happy. This is really important to me since my dog is truly a part of the family. They leave me little notes with recaps of the daily walk. I find myself rushing home after a long day, not just to play around with my dog, but b/c I was excited to hear how his day went! Even better was the sporadic adorable cell-phone pics the dog walker would send me during the walks! It always put a smile on my face to see my dog was in good hands while I was in the middle of a long and drawn-out business meeting! I rarely write reviews on yelp, mainly b/c I am just too busy these days, but I just had to thank Pooch Pals for taking such great care of my dog. I've actually called the main boss on numerous occasions to let them know how much I appreciate them taking such special care of my dog! For any dog owner that truly cares about their dog, I HIGHLY recommend Pooch Pals!!! (i did not receive anything for writing this email...just a happy dog-loving customer) read more

The best dog training we could have asked for! My wife and I adopted a 2 year old shih tzu/yorkie mix earlier this year. He is such a lovable boy and helps our older Maltese with her separation anxiety issues when we leave the house every day. But our boy, Barley, had some things to work through of his own! We quickly noticed that he could not walk down the street without barking and lunging at other dogs. Soon we watched as dog owners and their pets would sprint in the opposite direction of us when they saw Barley outside. He was the Demon Doggy of Hell's Kitchen! We reached out to Pooch Pals and within days had our first meeting with Marc! He was incredible to work with and did a fantastic job training us on how to work with Barley and help him get past his insecurities while on leash. We still have a lot of work to do, but we now have all of the tools needed to build Barley's confidence! We already see such unbelievable results and we cannot recommend the service enough. We are better dog parents because of this experience. Marc and Pooch Pals remained in contact with us throughout the entire process, and continue to do so even as we've completed our program. They care, and when you're dealing with a member of the family who you love with all your heart, caring matters. read more

My husband and I were referred to Marc at POOCH PALS by our dog walker (GIMME PAW in LIC) because our new dog Addie, a rescue, was experiencing separation and environmental anxiety. Addie was scared of most new people, loud noises, strollers, kids and basically anything outside our apartment besides other dogs. Marc came to our apartment to really get to know us and our dog. He was passionate about finding a training program for Addie but was also VERY honest about the amount of work and consistency that was going to be needed to help our dog with her issues. He was positive and encouraging that we could reverse her anxiety. What really made the difference for us and why he is NOT like any other trainer is that when ADDIE's anxiety seemed to be getting worse with all the new techniques, He was deeply concerned and came back out to our apartment to see what could be done. He was honest and more concerned with the welfare of our dog then being right about his prescribed treatment. With a few Tweaks to the training program, Addie started To respond immediately. It is refreshing to work with a Professional that truly loves what they do. I would highly recommend him. read more

We've been walking with Pooch Pals since our little girl, Sophie, was only about 12 weeks old. She's now ten months.) All Pooch Pals walkers are trained in-house, and many, including the three amazing young women who walk Sophie. Both of our walkers have both been through rigorous dog training outside of Pooch Pals' program, and continue to take classes. They've taught us so much about how to help us develop good habits our our pup, including how to encourage healthy play with dogs she meets up with on her walks. They've also worked hard on desensitizing Sophie to loud noises, loud people, skateboards, strollers and other such things that can scare a puppy. When it's raining out, they train and play with her inside to reinforce the commands I'm working on with her, including not taking her high value chewy sticks under our bed and refusing to come out! It's clear that our walkers, and all other walkers who have substituted when our regular walkers are out of town. On that note, Pooch Pals tries very hard to have one of our three walkers, whom Sophie already knows, sub for each other. I can't recommend Pooch Pals highly enough! They are EXCELLENT! Elaine T. read more

This is a review for their dog walking service. Pooch pals has been providing daily walks for our young puppy Crosby for the past two months and the experience has been amazing. We were looking for a company that would provide a consistent contact instead of changing the dog walker each day. With the person having keys to your apartment, this was very important to us! Justin has been amazing since day 1. When he started visiting Crosby, our pup was not fully vaccinated so couldn't go outside yet. Justin played with him inside and helped reinforce our obedience training. He has been a great resource for us knowing that our little guy is safe and having fun while we are at work. He provides constant updates via text when arriving/leaving as well as what they worked on that day. It has been a great experience. The company is extremely easy to work with around scheduling. Cancelling appointments has never been a problem and they have always been accommodating if there were urgent situations. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a caring pet provider. Thanks Pooch Pals! read more

We hired Marc, owner of Pooch Pals, to work with our newly adopted 3 year old pit. All communication with Marc was very easy which made arranging a time for him to work with Dusty (our dog) a piece of cake. Marc came prepared with a folder full of information of which he went over with us in our home while at the same time, observed Dusty. We told Marc about Dusty's potential dog aggression and his apprehension toward men. Marc worked with us by pointing out situations where we should exercise the positive-reinforcement techniques he had taught us. Not only did he make sure we had a hands-on learning experience, Marc explained the reasons why Dusty felt uncomfortable in those situations and why a specific technique would help. After our two hour session, I felt fully equipped with information and techniques to help Dusty forget about his rough past and move toward becoming completely comfortable in all situations. Dog owners, if you're looking for a company that is responsive, professional, and effective -- look no further! read more

We absolutely love Pooch Pals and trust them completely with our dog, Zeus! We rescued our dog in October and were hesitant to put him in doggy daycare so as not to overwhelm him, but weren't sure where to start when it came to finding a reliable, trustworthy dog walking service. Our trainer recommended Pooch Pals and we couldn't be happier. Our regular dog walker, Gabriela, is truly an angel. She sends us detailed updates with adorable photos and gives us such peace of mind, especially at the beginning when we were very focused on setting up a good routine and support system for Zeus. Gabriela reinforced all of our training, whether it be commands (sit, down, stay) or encouraging appropriate interaction with other dogs and humans on the street. We would not hesitate to recommend Gabriela, as well as the other walkers that would fill in from time to time. Pooch Pals has been incredibly flexible, responsive, easy to work with, and most of all we can trust them to take great care of our little buddy. Highly recommend! read more

Marc came to work with our whole family on helping us walk (often with a stroller in tow) our two sweet but lively and often unruly terrier mixes. As I am the one often walking them with a stroller, I was particularly stressed when our dogs barked at other dogs (or people, or bikes or pretty much anything with wheels) as I found them hard to reign in when I was also focusing on my son. Through Marc's techniques (he brings a mix of structure and calm to the situation), his patience and knowledge, we've had a complete breakthrough with our dogs. I walk them now much more easily and with a lot more confidence. Marc uses positive reinforcement methods and has given us a skill set that we all now use with the dogs. Everyone is happier now that we have these methods to employ and we all feel a lot more confident when we are out mixing with other dogs in the park or on the street. I cannot recommend Marc and Pooch Pals highly enough. read more

While I was in my residency at NYU Hospital I had little time to look after my mini-pincher. I called around and spoke to a couple different walking companies but landed on Pooch Pals. I got a good vibe from the owner Marc. He was professional and personable. He also came to my home with the walker who would be caring for my dog so we could all get acquainted which I appreciated. I was impressed that they don't just walk your dog either. They have a team of people who learn to employ positive reinforcement techniques. After each walk I received an update about the walk; how training was progressing along with very specific notes about my dogs hair/skin. Living in NYC for some reason my pup was getting rashes which the walkers kept a close watch of and helped by wiping him down after each walk. I highly recommend Pooch Pals and it's team of walkers. They provided us with impeccable service and care. - Stan. read more

Pooch Pals has been a life saver to our family since the day we got Jelly. I can't imagine a company anywhere that is more caring and nurturing. They have guided us with great advice, potty training and basic commands all to assure we are working together to provide the best care for our pup. The entire team at Pooch Pals is responsive, professional and trustworthy - we know whether it's a walk in the day or overnight sit, Jelly is in the best hands at all times. Our walker, Mike cares for and loves our pup as if she were his own, he knows her habits, favorite neighborhood spots, various bulldog moods, everything. The daily status emails I receive from him put a smile on my face every time and relieves some of the motherly guilt I have while I'm at work and away from my pup. Thank you for all you do and how you do it Pooch Pals! read more

We love Pooch Pals, and, more importantly, so does our dog Einstein. Marc has assembled a truly phenomenal team. Over the years, each of Einstein's "Pals" has been so loving towards him -- and has helped him grow. That in and of itself would be enough for us, but the professionalism of the staff -- especially the operations team that keeps track of Einstein's sometimes erratic schedule -- is what truly puts Pooch Pals in a league of its own. Frankly, every dog walking service, prior to Pooch Pals, has been a disappointment. But then Pooch Pals is so much more than a dog walking service. They are a service-oriented team of professionals who really care about animals. We are so grateful to them and can't recommend them highly enough. Kimberly, Sarah, Kerry, and Marc -- thank you so much. Love, Lindsey, Josh, and Einstein read more

Earlier this year, we adopted a 5 year old terrier mix who is mostly deaf and has some anxiety related issues. Kate Perry helped us out with those and when we needed petsitting, she recommended Pooch Pals. We absolutely could not have asked for a better service than Pooch Pals. They have been both helpful and patient with our dog. We have used them for both sitting and walking and they are just outstanding. When we are away, we get regular reports, even photos sometimes! In short, there are no worries--we have confidence that our dog is in good, professional hands. Marc and his staff know what they are doing! And though we usually have the same sitter/walker, I know that anyone Marc sends will be a professional that we can trust. Look no further, you won't find a better service than Pooch Pals!! Laurie C. read more

After using PetsHotel for the longest time, we felt having someone come stay at our place with Bailey, our beagle, would be better. We tried PoochPals for Thanksgiving two years ago and were very happy with their service provided. For New Years, we tried another sitter in the neighborhood but after she FAILED EPICLY, we went right back to Pooch Pals for our sitting needs. I'm sure all the sitters are great but we just absolutely LOVED Jessica. While on vacation we never had to worry that Bailey was being well cared for; Jessica always put our mind at ease and went above & beyond. We are moving soon and one of the saddest things for us, and especially Bailey, is saying goodbye to Pooch Pals & Jessica. read more

Ever since the original owner left this has been a hellhole. The turnover in walkers is scary. It's like you get a different one each month. Certainly they all love dogs which is great but we miss the consistency. The office staff is brutal. The operator is a snorting little pig with no regard for the dog owners who pay her salary. The owners have less regard for the owners who pay their salary and keep their business going. They need a new operator with empathy and some less "deal making" owners as we are dealing with living animals. I could not recommend this place less and there are so many good options. I hope this review goes at the top of the review list as the company is disgusting. read more

Pooch pals has been a lifesaver. I cannot speak highly enough of Kerry and the rest of the dog walkers/ trainers. Izzy, our miniature dachshund puppy, has learned so much from Kerry -- sit, down, stay, drop it, etc. Kerry is so dedicated to what she does and cares so much about the puppies. She also did a great job socializing Izzy with other dogs. I was comfortable leaving Izzy at home knowing that Kerry would be there. Additionally, working in NYC with a stressful job, I knew that I could count on them to change around Izzy's schedule if necessary. They were also great when we traveled and needed them to stay for an evening. I highly recommend them! read more

Pooch Pals is my go-to pet care provider in Manhattan whenever I have to leave town. I initially was apprehensive about having someone stay in my home, but they came recommended by a friend. When they came over for a meet and greet beforehand, I was totally put at ease by them. They are super professional and I totally feel comfortable having them in my apartment unsupervised. Over the past couple of years I've worked with several of their staff members, all of which are consummate professionals who I trust to care for my dog. I recommend Pooch Pals to anyone who is looking for a premium experience. You absolutely get what you pay for! read more

Marc, A huge huge thank you for coming to LIC this evening and making such a big difference. We had a really successful walk tonight. A huge relief. We used the longer leash and found it's easier to keep it "loose" when Oscar is greeting other dogs. He played with a chocolate lab mix who was off leash and the extra length really made it such a better experience. Plus of course our relaxed vibe. We then met another black pit / lab mix who was rambunctious, also off leash and Oscar did great! and we gave him jackpot treats after both encounters. What a difference an hour makes! Thank you D&M read more