What Our Clients Are Saying
Leash Aggression/Anxiety Issues – Boots & Spaetz
“Kate helped us understand the underlying reasons behind our dog Boots’ aggressive behavior, and worked to develop a training plan that my husband and I could both implement. The changes in Boots are amazing. He’s much more connected with us on walks, and is able to let us know when he’s uncomfortable and needs space from an oncoming dog. Friends have even commented that Boots seems like a different dog – much more relaxed and calm.”
“Kate is now working with our other dog Spaetz. Her anxiety was at such a high level that we were considering medication, but wanted to try behavior modification first. Spaetz is incredibly afraid of moving cars, and in NYC, that makes streets difficult for her. She’s not food motivated, and tends to lose focus quickly, so Spaetz requires creative training techniques, and Kate has been able to change and modify our plan to find what works. I’m already seeing changes in Spaetz. She is able to focus on our training games for longer each time, her loose-leash walking skills have improved significantly, and we’ve seen solid improvement in her fear of cars. I’m confident that as we continue to work with Kate, Spaetz will overcome her fears, and we will be able to avoid medication.”
“The best part about these training methods is that I never feel like I’m breaking my dogs’ spirits. Using positive, force free techniques means my dogs’ personalities continue to shine through while my husband and I are able to get the behaviors we want. Kate taught us to read our dogs’ body language, and as a result, our dogs are more confident with us because they know we’re going to be able to understand what they need from us.”
Emilee & Lee Terry, Astoria, NY 2013, Yelp
New Puppy Training – Luna
“We have been satisfied customers of SFTD since August when we rescued Luna, our Plott Hound mix. From our first private session, I got the feeling that SFTD was the place to be. Not only do they offer a completely flexible schedule and numerous training options, there is an ease about Annie and Kate that makes you feel confident in their approach and training techniques. Getting a new puppy as our first pet gave me so much anxiety. I was very concerned about my lack of experience. Annie and Kate made sure that we had all of the right tools to not only train Luna, but also feed, nurture, and love her. Thanks to Kate and Annie, Luna is a very happy, well-socialized, city dog who responds to both verbal commands and hand gestures.”
Alexa S., Long Island City, NY 2013, Yelp
Help With Fear/Anxiety – Apple & Delilah
“I have an 8 year lab and a 2 year old lab. Apple is a very nervous, jumpy dog. She was afraid to go out on the porch, afraid of the broom, the vacuum, you name it, Apple feared it. Annie has been working with Apple and Delilah since April. Now Apple can't wait to go on the porch and watch everything around her. She goes down the front steps and does not pull. Apple for some reason was frightened by something on the TV and would not come in the living room. Our last lesson with Annie, she worked with Apple and I followed up and 2 weeks later Apple is back in the living room laying on the chairs and on the sofa. Kate helped with the nutrition end and their coats are so shiny and with Annie's help, Apple is becoming well adjusted. Thanks much Annie, WE LOVE YOU!”
Maria W., Brooklyn, NY 2013, Yelp
New Rescue With Isolation Anxiety – Bonnie
“My newly adopted rescue dog was exhibiting some pretty bad isolation anxiety her first few weeks with us. We set up a few private training sessions with Annie and she showed us some tools and positive training techniques to help our dog with the adjustment, and they worked! She gave us the reassurance (that we needed) that things would get better. I was impressed with Annie's thorough follow ups after each training session. She really cares for dogs, and it shows in her enthusiasm and kindness towards them.”
Patricia C. New York, NY 2013, Yelp
Basic Training For Adult Rescue Dog – Sparkie
“My boyfriend and I adopted Sparkie, a three year old Yellow Lab/Shiba Inu mix, from a shelter and had our orientation with Kate a week after. Kate, having worked extensively with dogs in and from shelters, suggested we let him settle in for a month (amongst a lot more advice before we even signed up) and then begin training. In that month we learned what behaviors we wanted to train him for and Annie did an amazing job when we started doing the training. Our little guy will now sit, stay, and comes on command, will pay attention when we say his name, maintain eye contact when necessary to stabilize him from distraction, and walk by our sides with a loose leash rather than zig zagging all over the street.”
Chris M. New York, NY 2012, Yelp
Two Un-Housetrained Pups – Jack & Bella
“School For The Dogs helped me through a crisis when I got two un-housetrained dogs at the same time and I was thinking I might lose my mind. Annie taught me that training is not about imposing my will, but more about communicating, two-way, with my pooches. When I played ‘The Training Game’ at at their studio — wherein students pretend to train a person as though he or she is a dog, without words and using only a clicker — I learned it is harder to be the dog-trainee than it is to be the person-trainer. Illuminating. And great fun. In large part due to training I received at SFTD, Bella and Jack are the happiest and most manageable dogs – and they can’t wait to learn new things.”
Lynn S., New York, NY 2013
“Puppy school is as much for the owners as for the dog (if not more) and I think Annie and Kate did a great job of training my husband and me for puppy ownership!”
Stubborn New Puppy – Newton
“We're first time dog owners and not only that, we decided to get a Corgi. The rumors are true – corgis are devastatingly cute, but they are too smart for their own good and just don't listen. This little boy, adorable though he was, was willfull, headstrong, fearful of city living, and into LOUD territorial barking. I showed up to the first class thinking ‘I've got a hopeless basket case on my hands.' After a few sessions with Annie and Kate, the change in our pup was palpable. They made interacting with a snarky, barky little dude with sharp teeth seem effortless and fun.
We started off with a private introductory session, then embarked on the puppy class package. The class covered basics like attention and sit, as well as conditioning the dogs to not mind having their ears, paws, and fur touched. Throughout it all, Annie and Kate took the time to explain general dog training concepts, how to use a clicker, and the research behind how positive reinforcement shapes a dog behavior. This knowledge is key because it helped us realized how everything, even the tiniest leaf that you let him chase on the sidewalk, plays a role in shaping his behavior and habits. It really gave us perspective on what “dog training” even meant.
Weeks later, Newton is a well-adjusted city pup who rides the subway with us to work every day, sits for food and walks, and calmly lets me wipe his paws, ears and tush when he comes home at night. We've even used the basic training patterns we learned to teach him a few new tricks in our own. He now does a very good “high five” that always impresses people I cannot recommend them enough. Kate and Annie really do know how to speak “Dog”!”
Tina Y., New York, NY 2013, Yelp
Special-Needs Rescue Dog – Kirby
“From the moment we met Kate, we knew she LOVED dogs. Especially our little one-eyed Kirby. He was a shelter puppy with a lot of energy. Kate was a help from the start, often giving 110% attention to our dog. Her patience and devotion to helping new dog owners with their new dogs shines through. Quality is so so so important with something like this, and for us, we were ecstatic with the quality of training we received. She sent us detailed notes and training guides after every session and was super responsive to our questions even when we weren’t on the clock. We could not have been happier with our experience.”
Jesse B., New York, NY 2012, Yelp