Instinct Dog Behavior & Training

We went to Instinct after an upsetting incident with our reactive dog- we found them after hours of research, and were hopeful after reading reviews, but reticent about our dog’s ability to continue living in the city. Our dog spent three weeks with Oyuki and the team at Instinct, during which we were also trained on how to best support him and minimize unwanted behaviors. Oyuki was incredible, and made us feel comfortable taking on whatever situation we encounter. A year later, I can genuinely say I don’t know what I would’ve done without Instinct. Our dog’s reactivity is completely manageable and though it definitely took some work to get here, the way they were able to prepare us has made an unbelievable difference. I can’t say thank you enough!

I wanted to love my experience here as I invested money in it but looking back at a year ago it isn’t up to par. I took my dog all the way up to Harlem from lower Manhattan specifically to address her leash reactivity when seeing other dogs. I worked with a trainer for multiple sessions where my dog was seemingly not reacting due to the training environment. We did the same activity over and over for multiple sessions without really addressing the underlying problems, and I communicated to the trainer that the issues were persisting in our own neighborhood. She stated that we would “try to work on it closer to my neighborhood” in another session but this didn’t come to fruition. Overall I left my package of sessions with a tiny bandaid to a much larger dog psychology problem. After a few weeks out of the city for the holidays I sent a very long detailed email to the trainer about all of my concerns with her continued reactivity (and some newer bad behaviors) and I never received a response. I followed up a week later, no response. Super disappointing as I invested money and time into this, and I couldn’t even get a reply. I’m now taking my dog to a new trainer that has specifically called out they’ve seen dogs from Instinct before that they’ve had to correct the training practices from.

I am always thrilled to board my dog here whenever I go on vacation. I have complete peace of mind knowing she’ll be treated like family, and she’s always excited to return. The staff here is fantastic, treating both you and your pet with genuine care. It’s such a relief not having to worry about how she’s being looked after or whether she’s eating well. Instinct keeps you updated on your dog’s well-being, and my dog always arrives happy and leaves just as happy. 🩷 With love Big Bella and Mom

I initially expressed disappointment with the training at Instinct Dog Behavior & Training due to a lack of noticeable changes in my dog's behavior. However, I want to take a moment to highlight the positive follow-up I received from the team. They reached out to me to address my concerns and worked diligently to tailor a training program specific to my dog's needs. I truly appreciate their professionalism and commitment to meeting my expectations. It’s clear that they genuinely care about their clients and their pets. Thank you, Instinct Dog Behavior & Training, for your dedication to improving my experience!