Zen Dog Training

I can’t recommend Elissa highly enough—she is truly a one-of-a-kind dog trainer and coach. I was referred to her by a friend who had worked with her years ago, and the fact that Elissa made such a lasting impact that she came up in conversation all these years later speaks volumes about her effectiveness and care. From the start, Elissa was incredibly compassionate, responsive, supportive, and refreshingly direct in her coaching style. What sets her apart is that she began by working with me first, then my pup. She took the time to truly understand my goals and partnered with me using the Zen methods to help us get there in a thoughtful, intentional way. My pup is one who requires clear expectations and boundaries, and Elissa has been an amazing guide in helping me learn how to shape his behavior—not just teach him commands. She’s helped me understand how to show up as the leader my dog needs, with consistency while remembering to take those cleansing breaths when inevitable frustration strikes. Raising a puppy is hard, and I’m so grateful for everything Elissa has taught us. If you’re looking for someone who will meet you where you are, empower you with the right tools, and bring out the best in both you and your dog, Elissa is the person you want by your side.

We met Elissa and her family while they were vacationing on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. We recently adopted a 3yo mini bulldog, Winnie. Winnie is the cutest, but quite stubborn and in desperate need of socialization and desensitization. She had not been walked much in her previous home and is terrified of everything and everyone. Elissa generously offered to help us on her vacation. She came to our home and endured a lot of barking from our scared and overstimulated girl, winning her over while teaching us how to play the Name Game. She spent several hours with us, teaching us the science behind training and how to communicate with Winnie, as well as making recommendations on harnesses, treat pouches, enrichment toys, etc. specific to Winnie’s issues and our lifestyle. Elissa even stopped by after dinner on her last night of vacation to give us some tips when I let her know we were struggling with crate training. We are so impressed with Elissa’s knowledge and her amazing ability to put everyone at ease. With her help, we feel a lot more confident and prepared to train Winnie to become a calmer, less anxious and more self-assured pup.

I had an uncomfortable encounter with Julie Mendelsohn from Zen Dog Training. In a highly stressful environment where I was managing my excited dog post-grooming, she approached without asking permission, let my dog sniff her, and then my dog barked. I corrected my dog, yet she approached again and condescendingly said, “Let me know if you need help with that” and handed me her training business card. It felt incredibly patronizing and presumptuous. A professional dog trainer should understand boundaries—both human and canine—and respect when an owner is actively handling their pet. This unsolicited approach was intrusive, dismissive of clear signals, and left me feeling insulted.

Our pup Artoo had significant issues with lunging and barking at people and other dogs during walks, making outings stressful for both of us. We worked with Elissa from Zen dog who we loved working with. She helped us understand Artoo and his needs better, which has helped us better manage him on walks and have seen significant improvement in his behavior. As an added benefit Elissa comes with lots of treats which makes her Artoo's favorite person! 😄