Instinct Dog Behavior & Training

"I have had two dogs trained at Instinct. To say the trainers and caretakers are passionate about their work with dogs, would be an understatement. These folks go out of their way to make sure the dogs and families they’re working with are set up for success. Oyuki has been our most recent trainer with our 160lbs, protective mastiff mix. She has given us the tools to prevent leash aggression which has been our biggest issue to date and as you can imagine, quite the challenge when walking a giant breed. Jupiter is much calmer thanks to the tools we were given at Instinct and when he’s boarded there, we know he’s well taken care of and stimulated. We’re so grateful for everyone at Instinct for showing love and patience to our big guy."

"I cannot say enough amazing things about Instinct. When we adopted a puppy I realized I was lost! I'd only had adult dogs, and I needed help! We've done training and boarding with instinct and I feel so incredibly lucky and thankful for their support and genius. they are worth it! Sam and Karen are incredible trainers, but I suspect they all are."

"Casey K and all the staff at Instinct are so professional, knowledgeable, and treated my puppy as if she was a part of their family! I left my puppy Bean with Casey for two weeks as a part of their puppy raising program, and I recommend it so highly to anyone looking to get their puppy on the right start. I would have been lost without their training and expertise honestly! We will definitely be back to board and train again for our little girl!"

"Instinct Dog Behavior and Training provided an exceptional experience for both my dog Ginger and me. Facing Ginger's separation anxiety last summer after moving to a new apartment was distressing. She couldn't stand being by herself, was panicking, had anxiety attacks. Jessica's help at Instinct and personalized approach made all the difference. Her compassionate guidance helped us manage Ginger's anxiety and strengthened our bond. I didn't think that in just 6 months things would be better but in just this amount of time, with weekly meetings, and daily training, Ginger was better! Now we are training in person for reactivity and scent work. My experience at Instinct changed my confidence and trust in the communication between my dog and I. From the warm welcome to the ongoing support, Jessica's dedication to our success is evident at every step. I highly recommend Instinct Dog Behavior and Training to anyone facing similar challenges with their furry companions."

"Instinct has been truly amazing for my pup Hendricks and me! For background, Hendricks is a 1 year old rescue. When I first adopted him in August 2023, he was high energy, very reactive towards other dogs, sensitive to loud noises and would react with very loud barks, and just in general had a hard time settling down. I researched a lot online and started training him on my own, but decided it would be beneficial to seek professional help, specifically from those that used positive training and would train him in NYC. I started with 3 at-home classes with Mari, who really helped teach me the basics and prioritize what to work on with Hendricks. Then, I signed him up for two camps that coincided with my travel plans over Thanksgiving and Christmas. He stayed at the East Harlem facility for 2 weeks in November, then was back with me for a couple weeks, then back at Instinct for 3 weeks across Dec-Jan. There, he worked directly with Oyuki to help learn settling skills, loose leash walking, navigating around other dogs and dealing with his reactivity, and more (Recall, Drop, etc.) While he was at camp, Oyuki and the canine care team all sent frequent updates, along with pictures and videos to show me how he was doing and what he was learning. He clearly had a blast there and loved playing in the big backyard and running around with other pups who were specifically selected to match with his needs. From a training perspective, Oyuki was very responsive to my many questions and very helpfully showed and taught me what I would need to do. The videos were also especially helpful for me to see how to continue to train Hendricks, once he transitioned back home to my care. The camp also came with a mid-camp in-facility lesson, as well as ones at the end when I came to take Hendricks home, and it was great to be able to talk with Oyuki and see in person how she handled certain situations with Hendricks. It was also so sweet to see the bond that they built up with each other! Hendricks absolutely fell in love with Oyuki, and he’s learned so much from her! He’s calmed down significantly and can now settle on his own comfortably without me having to guide him. His reactivity has also improved tremendously, and he can now mostly walk neutrally by other dogs. Of course, he’ll always stay a reactive dog, but he’s learning to deal with it, and I have much better control over it as well. He’s better with impulse control, and can take time to think and listen before he acts. His basic cues are also much improved and more consistent. And personally for me, I feel like a better, smarter dog owner and much more confident in my own ability to train him too. All in all, I cannot recommend Instinct enough. From the start with in-home lessons to his camps to all the follow-up afterwards, it’s so clear that each and every one of Instinct’s team members care so much for Hendricks and also do their best to help me learn as much as I can. Thank you so much to everyone at Instinct for all that you do - Hendricks and I are forever grateful!!!"