MindfulPups

Just one session with Dina and I already feel so much more hopeful about our training journey. My 1.5-year-old dog, Sonny, has elbow dysplasia, which means he lives a very physically restricted life. He’s often sore, uncomfortable, and understandably frustrated that he can’t run and play with other dogs the way he’d like. Our current issues are obedience (because we let him get away with too much because of his elbow issues) and anxiety and confidence. One of the hardest parts is that you can’t simply ask your dog how they’re feeling. Dina has already helped us better understand Sonny’s needs, emotions, and frustrations in a way that’s difficult to put into words. Her compassion, knowledge, and insight have given us a whole new perspective, and I can’t wait to continue working with her to help Sonny navigate his challenges and live the happiest life possible.

I cannot recommend Mindful more highly. It is one of the best decisions we ever made. The daycare is run like a posh preschool - they provide so much structure and variety for each dog. And they tailor the day to meet each dog where they are. My dog prefers more solo chill time during free play so they set him up with a cozy corner to rest in. Their day train program is phenomenal. Every dog gets their own training blocks and the challenges are created to build confidence in the dogs and help them "make good choices" as Dina says. We also had the opportunity to do a several weeks long board and train. Our dog Kermit learned so much, he is like a whole different dog now - much calmer, and so much happier. He's not a puppy, and yet they were able to shift hard-wired behaviors, like freaking out in a car, barking at guests, and refusing to sleep in a crate. Now, Kermit chills during car rides, accepts guests in our house, and sleeps all night in his crate. The post boarding training sessions that I have had with Dina have helped me feel confident in continuing to reinforce all the good work she and Lucca did with him. So I can also say that Dina trained me well, too! Five plus stars!!

It would be hard for me to overstate how amazing Dina and everyone at MindfulPups have been. It was clear from the minute our first session started that she is the woman you want helping you. Moreover, you can tell that she loves every second of it. In what seems like no time at all, we went from a pup that nipped at us, had accidents in the house, and barked everytime we went down the hallway, to a dog that is obedient, fully house trained, rarely barks, doesn't nip, and can sleep in his crate overnight. Most importantly he is confident and happy. If you're looking for training in Brooklyn, this is your spot.

Mindful Pups has truly been a transformative experience for our rescue puppy, Millie, and our family. I can't say enough good things about Dina, Luca, Sam and all the trainers who have worked so beautifully with Millie. We feel we hit the jackpot by finding them and can't imagine sending Millie anywhere else. We initially were looking for training because Millie needed help with her impulse control and her very real FOMO/distractibility issues - it meant she couldn't always really focus with us and could get overstimulated easily. Dina and the trainers quickly understood her needs and her personality and were able to tailor the training very specifically to help Millie overcome some of these challenges. By the end of her 2 week intensive, Millie has shown amazing growth: she is able to focus more, to self soothe and to remain calm for much longer periods of time. This has made a world of difference in her self-confidence and our family now has better tools to keep working on the skills she has developed at Mindful Pups. Most importantly, Millie has really loved going to Mindful Pups during her 2 week intensive. She couldn't wait to get there and get to work. It truly felt like taking a toddler to preschool who loves seeing their teacher! She loves every single trainer she has worked with - it speaks to their care, attentiveness, and the love they bring to their work. They were able to build trust with her so quickly and she was comfortable working with different people seamlessly. We hope Millie can continue to attend Mindful Pup's daycare. She comes home happy and fulfilled, and there's nothing better than hearing the contented sigh of a puppy who has had a good day. I can't recommend Dina and Mindful Pups and the whole crew highly enough!