NY Clever K9 Inc.

Christina is a miracle worker. She is the top behavior specialist in her field. Manhattan (NYC) is the most stressful environment for all dogs, especially a dog with behavior issues, Christina has the patience and professional expertise to turn what appears to be a hopeless situation, into hope with a bright future for both owner and dog. Christina is passionate about what she does. She is honest and fair. All her clients will tell you the same.

Christina is a very thorough and experienced animal behavioral specialist. That was indicative after her evaluation of our 6-month-old brussels griffon— who struggles with fear on walks and separation anxiety in our Manhattan apartment. In the training sessions that followed, Christina gave us tangible steps at the onset to help correct his behavior, while also providing a framework to accomplish another equally important aspect: training ourselves. Not only does our dog have the confidence and skillset taught by Christina to have an easier time walking and being independent when we have to leave him alone, but we also have gained a toolkit and ability to understand our dog’s behavior better that enables continuous improvement and a fulfilling relationship with our little guy. I could not recommend her services and methodology enough! If you are a new or previous dog owner, this training will make you and your pet’s lives better.

Christina is a lifesaver. She came to help our 6 month old puppy after we had been having a very difficult time acclimating him to New York City & the craziness that comes with living here. From the first session she made us feel so confident in ourselves and our dog. She trained us arguably even more than him— and we are so grateful! She taught us so much about our puppies behavior and how to read him, while also teaching him commands that would help on walks, at home, with separation anxiety, and in whatever moment comes. Christina transformed our dog into a confident young man and gave us the tools to continue growing that confidence.

I did not move forward with dog training beyond the evaluation session, but I wanted to share my experience for those considering working with NY Clever K9 Inc. Christine arrived about 15 minutes late for our scheduled evaluation, which was understandable given the long drive. I had arranged for her to use my parking spot in Ridgewood, Queens, to make things easier. Once inside, she briefly greeted my dog and then conducted a thorough walkthrough of my apartment. This made sense to me at first because it’s important to understand the environment the dog lives in, but the focus remained almost entirely on my apartment rather than my dog. I was advised to make several changes to my space, such as covering all the windows so my dog could no longer look outside and keeping the shower curtain open at all times. Christine also provided handouts listing toys and enrichment items I would need to purchase. Throughout the evaluation, I kept explaining that my dog only shows signs of fear on nighttime walks, which started after the Fourth of July. During the day, she walks confidently with no signs of anxiety, and she actually enjoys looking out the window. Her window seat is one of her favorite spots where she often naps peacefully throughout the day. Despite sharing this with Christine multiple times, I was told that my dog was still fearful during daytime walks and that she should not be looking out the window at all. I found it confusing and frustrating that these conclusions were made without any direct observation of my dog’s behavior. Aside from the initial greeting, Christine spent almost no time interacting with my dog during the two-hour evaluation, which cost around $425. I had expected a more hands-on assessment. In my opinion, much of what was discussed could have been covered in a shorter session or even over a video call, which would have saved time and cost. While I ultimately chose not to move forward with training, I do see many positive reviews and believe Christine may be a good fit for others. But based on my experience during the evaluation, I want others to have a clearer picture of what to expect before committing.