The Dog Institute of Williamsburg

Elizabeth and her team are phenomenal. We found her when we were having the dreaded puppy blues with our baby Aussie girl, Piggy. She was so gentle with us with us as we wear nearing burn out. Elizabeth has a solid philosophy that works. She teaches at a pace that is perfect for new and previous dog owners alike. So far we have done puppy training, learned crate & potty training, lots of socialization, simple leash directions, sit, lay down, spin, roll over, follow me, this way, et al. Piggy learned so fast; she's just nine months old but so far she's mastered the baseline of having a happy, healthy, well adjusted dog. The biggest takeaway for me a second time dog owner was the important of building confidence in a young dog, positive reinforcement, socialization, chewing & licking to settle themselves, et al. We will be back from teen puppy and adult training in the fall and we're so pumped to build on what we know.

I couldn't have been luckier to bump into Elizabeth. She found me struggling to walk Moses (a new pit doggo i'm fostering) and immediately took us in, gave him a harness (he chewed through his last one from his last foster home) and treats. Then, she taught me how to hold him, walk him, and the first steps of training him. Before I met Elizabeth, Moses was dragging me around and I had lower back pain just from the 16 hours I've had him for. Now, (1 day later) I felt comfortable walking him from south williamsburg to Radio Bakery in Greenpoint. I would recommend everyone, especially new dog owners, to go to The Dog Institute. I was so overwhelmed by Moses and now I can comfortable take him out and know that I'm teaching him the right habits, making it easier for him to find his forever home.

What can I say, I wish I could enroll in The Dog Institute, and would probably be better at parties for it. In all seriousness, after my dog passed four years ago I thought I would never adopt a pup again, partly from heartbreak but also because I have a bossy take no prisoners cat named Mom Cat who has limited mobility and a long sharp set of active claws. But then I met Bruce. Bruce is a rescue pit puppy from a litter rescued from a backyard breeder in NJ that I happened to meet at Honeys in Brooklyn. The rescue called The Good Dog Rescue let me take him for two weeks to see if he could charm Mom Cat, hopeful because he had been fostered with 14 dogs and... "some ferrets." Well, Bruce luckily was a perfect gentleman with mom cat but sitting in my apartment I looked over at him while he gnawed on a dandelion green and realized Bruce deserved more than what me, a semi depressive tenants rights attorney, and a decidedly un-maternal grumpy cat could offer. Bruce needed friends, a community, and the opportunity to play, learn, and be showered with love, affection, structure, and freeze dried chicken breast strips as often and enthusiastically as and as possible. The next day I brought Bruce to Elizabeth at The Dog Institute. She immediately helped me identify strategies to make sure he and mom cat could develop their relationship while feeling safe and secure, helped me with walking, tethering, and crate training, as well as dialing in a food and treat program to keep him happy and active as well as avoiding foods that might be causing skin irritation. The three modes of training she developed and the care with which she teaches you them is so positive, thorough, comprehensive, confidence building for Bruce (and myself.) The classes on Sundays are creative and exploratory and responsive to the vibe of the group. But Bruce's favorite is the Play and Train sessions Monday through Thursday. He literally smiles when we pull up at 9 am SO excited to play with his friends, learn about impulse control, pose for handsome portraits, and listen to whatever calming avant guard music is on the speakers that day. Bruce is in LOVE with everyone who works there and turns into a wiggling ball of joy if he sees Elizabeth, Allie, Masami, Roshni, Maria, or Lacy on the corner. (So do I.) I get daily reports and videos and class pics every day. It has been such an honor and relief to have such a supportive, caring, and joyful community looking out for Bruce as he grows up. If you have any pup questions, are facing any challenges, or just want to make your pup skip around with happiness do not wait, GO straight to The Dog Institute.

Could not have had a better experience. The Dog Institute took the stress out of being a first time dog owner so that I could focus on the joy of raising a puppy. I did individual training and puppy school. The training was hands-on and accommodative. Elizabeth is wonderful and VERY knowledgeable. My frenchie loved going to school and there is a strong sense of community for the pawrents I really enjoyed. An absolute gem in the neighborhood.

Started bringing our (now) 13 wk old pup here a few weeks ago for puppy socialization classes and it's already so clear that it was the best "new parent" decision we could've made. We signed up for the Puppy Curriculum which comes with 1:1 training, and Elizabeth is thorough, patient, kind and so generous with her guidance and time helping us learn to read the cues, adjust our approach where needed, and confidently learn to train our new girl. You can tell everyone on her team really cares and is invested in all the puppies who attend classes. It's an awesome community. And best of all, our pup is obsessed. Highly recommend!