The Dog Behaviorist NYC

Located in Brooklyn, New York

Address: 86 Fleet Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States

Phone: +1 309-620-4579

Rating: 5

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Review 1 (2024-12-21 - Rating: 5)
Murphy and I started working with Dominik to alleviate reactivity that Murphy was showing on walks & with guests in my home. Dominik took the time to really understand Murphys behaviors & triggers, educate me on them & my role in promoting them, and then developed a tailored plan to help us work through these behaviors together and establish confidence in one another. Within one session, I saw a change in Murphy. After several, Im happy to say that Murphy & I walk with confidence and hes now far more comfortable with guests in my home. The shift feels like night & day! Id highly recommend Dominik for your dog training needs :)

Review 2 (2024-07-18 - Rating: 5)
Dominiks approach is nothing short of miraculous. He took the time to understand Auroras history and our concerns, then developed a tailored plan that addressed her specific needs. His methods are based on positive and negative reinforcement and building trust, which resonated with both Aurora and us as pet parents.Within weeks, we saw a remarkable transformation in Aurora. She became more confident during our walks. Dominik’s techniques were easy to implement and he provided ongoing support, answering our questions promptly and adjusting the plan as needed.What truly sets Dominik apart is his passion for his work. Its evident that he genuinely cares about the well-being of both the dogs and their owners. He empowered us with knowledge and skills that have improved our relationship with Aurora immensely.If youre struggling with any dog behavior issues, dont hesitate to contact Dominik. His expertise, compassion, and results-driven approach make his the best in the field.

Review 3 (2024-11-03 - Rating: 5)
We had a fantastic experience working with Dominik to address some behavioral challenges our dog, Lennox, was facing. Over the course of six sessions, Dominik helped us understand and manage Lennox’s leash reactivity and isolation anxiety. From day one, it was clear that Dominik was very knowledgeable, and he tailored the sessions to specifically target Lennox’s needs. He walked us through methods and strategies to use both at home in our apartment and outside during walks. Thanks to Dominik, we’ve definitely seen noticeable improvements in Lennox’s behavior! We’re so glad to see all the positive changes in our pup, and would highly recommend Dominik to anyone looking for effective help with their dog

Review 4 (2024-05-02 - Rating: 5)
My husband and I are so thankful we found Dominik. In just a few months, both our dogs confidence levels have soared!! One of our dogs can be a real bully and reactive due to past attacks, but now he is much more friendly and relaxed around other dogs. It’s amazing!! We also adopted a second dog to add to our family and it was clear she had no manners, she was insecure, she was a MAJOR leash puller AND squirrel addict. All together, we were an absolute mess on walks. I used to be in tears and nervous to go on walks with the both of them. Dominik immediately gave us the tools and education to raise healthy and happy dogs who can now be trusted everwhere. We purchased a 6-pack of sessions and our newest dog is already working on off-leash training. It happened so fast considering where we started. Dominik also has this uncanny ability of explaining concepts to you so you can understand and really empathize with your dog. And I think the balance method is a great way for a dog to learn accountability and clear communication. It makes me so proud to see our dogs make a choice - good choices that ultimately give them freedom and happiness. I can’t express how happy we all are in our household. THANK YOU, Dominik.

Review 5 (2024-03-11 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is amazing! We reached out to Dominik to work on our 4 year old dog Forest’s leash pulling. Forest struggled walking on leash, would pull and lunge, and was hard to manage on walks. We did three sessions and it has completely changed Forest’s behavior. We saw the change immediately within the first session. Dominik gave us the tools, technique, and confidence to transform how Forest walks. Now walks are enjoyable and Forest is waking like a pro! We highly recommend Dominik to anyone looking for a dog trainer.

Review 6 (2024-07-29 - Rating: 5)
I worked with Dominik to help address walking issues with my 4-year old rescue pitbull mix. While her enthusiasm and curiosity are usually lovely qualities, they made our walks frequently stressful, with lots of pulling and unpredictable moves to smell this thing or greet that person. I had tried a variety of collars, harnesses and techniques, to no avail. I had also worked with another trainer, without getting things where we needed to be.My pup and I had three sessions with Dominik, and she is walking like a dream. Dominiks training process was fantastic. He is very clear in explaining his approach. He is extremely calm, and he assessed the situation quickly. I really appreciated that he used our time well, and he mixed demonstrating what to do with also giving me lots of time to practice while he was there, so that he could offer tips and clarifications.I highly recommend Dominik, and will definitely work with him again for any other training needs.

Review 7 (2024-02-15 - Rating: 5)
Our golden retriever mix, Ace, turns 6 years old this year and we never thought we’d see the progress that we’ve made with Dominik. We naively believed that we couldn’t teach an older dog new tricks, but we were finally ready to confide in a professional. It’s been night and day since our six sessions with Dom and the changes we’ve seen in our dog. There’s a reason he’s so booked up! He’s worth the wait.We primarily wanted to work on leash reactivity towards other dogs, walking better and less excitability when greeting guests. Dom provided us the appropriate training tools, commands, handling, and tips that were catered to our dog’s needs. He educated us on transitioning from harness to collar, proper leash handling/communication and using a place mat. He provided a lot of insight on Ace’s behaviors and why he does certain things that we’ve allowed him to do.Now after working with Dom I am much more confident and comfortable walking out knowing that I am equipped with the right knowledge and skills to help my dog. I can’t recommend him enough. He was communicative, flexible and thorough with his explanations. He also had some great stories to share and hilarious analogies that really added to the sessions. Thank you Dom!

Review 8 (2024-01-30 - Rating: 5)
I have to admit, I was a little dubious about all of Dominiks glowing five-star reviews but after just three sessions with him, I get it!We were struggling with our 1yr-old rescue. I got her as a puppy and was feeling lost and defeated in trying to train her. We even tried a handful of positive reinforcement trainers but they gave her so many treats during the session that I was up all night with her! I also didnt love this idea that you have to be constantly outsmarting and distracting your dog to get them to behave.Im so lucky that she is a wonderful dog who is brilliant with all people, animals and kids and she has a sweet demeanor, but living with her was becoming exhausting due to her lack of obedience and constant over excitement/frustration. Counter surfing, jumping up on guests, not allowing us space to relax or eat without jumping up or acting out. She pulled on her walks and was a fiend for eating street junk! Shes an incredibly smart and active mix and was clearly in need of some structure and boundaries.After one session with Dominik we saw a positive change. The few tools/equipment he suggested we get to help with training were affordable and easily accessible. She learned to stay in her place, how to walk without pulling, a protocol for when guests arrive, and towards the end we worked on recall. I feel like I understand my dog so much better now! Dominik pointed out that shes actually very submissive and we were able to lean into that. In many respects, he trained us! He has a way of engaging you and explaining things in a way that just clicks and makes you feel empowered.She still acts up now and then but she does something once and stops when shes told N-O, whereas before she would completely ignore you. Im confident that with consistency over the next few months she is going to be so well behaved and much happier.Its an investment for sure, but worth every penny!

Review 9 (2023-03-19 - Rating: 5)
Dominik was a life saver! We have worked with him the past few months with our young puppy and he has transformed his behavior for the better. He also focused on training us and improved our confidence in handling. Dominik has a uniquely balanced approach to training. Our dog now enjoys his time in his crate, is able to stay on “place”, walk without pulling or jumping on strangers, and respond when called. We are so grateful for Dominik!

Review 10 (2020-11-29 - Rating: 5)
We started working with Dominik since we got our Australian Shepherd puppy Ludi at 8 weeks. It was the first time for my boyfriend and I having our own dog. Knowing that Aussies are a very demanding breed, we wanted to be sure to train him properly early on. Dominik has been instrumental in educating Ludi to a well behaved dog. We’ve prepared specific topics we wanted to work on in each session upfront and communicated to Dominik. Based on these topics, Dominik suggested in which location to do the training in and what to prepare. Some lessons we had at our home, others outside in the park. We saw big improvements after every single lesson. Dominik takes time to first understand the dog by observing his behavior and then works together with you on developing training techniques that are tailored to your dog and also to your personality.Even outside of the training sessions Dominik is always there for advice.We can highly recommend Dominik to anyone who gets a new pup or needs help in training a dog. He is dedicated, experienced and reliable and thanks to him, our pup is now very obedient and well behaved so we can trust him in any environment.

Review 11 (2019-08-01 - Rating: 5)
My fiancé and I rescued a 3 month old Pit/Lab mix, somewhat impulsively… but definitely worth it ;) After bringing our new pup home we kind of looked at each other and realized we had no idea how to raise a puppy. Then came Dominik.Dominik was the perfect trainer not just for our dog, but for us. Since our pup is part Pit, our first priority was to ensure our new pup had basic obedience training and would be a great ambassador for his breed. Dominik has years of experience working with Pits, which was one of the many reasons we chose to work with him. He taught us about the breed, and how to effectively communicate with our pup. We hired Dominik for 6 sessions, which was perfect for our needs. Our puppy, now almost 6 months old, knows how to sit, stay, down, shake, and has a good grasp on recall. We still have work to do to get our dog to off-leash status, but we have made so much progress from the hyper pup we started with. He now responds well to our commands and we’ve developed a better relationship with our dog. Our lives have been so much easier thanks to Domink’s guidance. I recommend his services to anyone I know with a dog, regardless of age. If you have any behavioral issues, or just want to start off your new puppy’s life to a great start - Dominik can help you.

Review 12 (2023-07-25 - Rating: 5)
We had three sessions with Dominik and the change in Sammy, our 5 month old puppy was entirely transformative. We were struggling with leash pulling, leash walking in general, frustrated outbursts that sometimes manifested by her biting us in frustration/excitement, or barking at us for not paying attention to her. Working from home, that was increasingly challenging. With tools, guidance, and practice from Dominik, Sammy is now a happier puppy with structure, boundaries and she hasnt had an outburst in weeks. Would 100% recommend Dominik to any overwhelmed new puppy owner - it will make your life so much easier.

Review 13 (2023-03-06 - Rating: 5)
Dominik has been absolutely wonderful with our goldendoodle, Henry. I really appreciated that Dominik listened to our goals for Henry and tailored each session to reach them. Being first time puppy parents can be quite overwhelming, but Dominik taught us the tools we needed to be able to communicate with Henry and build a strong relationship with our pup. It was so sweet to see Henry so excited whenever Dominik came over for a session. A total game changer! Thanks Dominik!

Review 14 (2021-12-06 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is truly one of a kind. I searched and read reviews for a ton of dog trainers before deciding on him to help us with our dog Bella. I was worried that we waited too long because in the past, I made the false assumption that Bella would outgrow her behavioral issues but that only made them worse. She was getting more reactive on a leash, pulled me everywhere, refused to walk down blocks that were out of her typical walking routine, and more. It was extremely stressful and I was desperate for help. I knew that waiting even longer before finding the right trainer would make matters worse for Bella.After just ONE session with Dominik, Bella was a whole different dog. He taught us so much about communication and using the right tools (combined with quality training). I will admit, I was nervous about using things like prong collars and e-collars, but now I know theyre life-changing tools for dogs, when used with proper guidance and education. Bella is so much more confident now when she goes outside and actually looks to me to know what to do and where to go. I feel much more relaxed knowing that she wont drag me down the block. Training your dog is always a work in progress but Im way more equipped with the right tools and techniques to help her (and myself).Dominik is very responsive and always makes himself available, even outside of each training session. I definitely recommend him to anyone who wants to work on better communication with their dog, because thats really what its all about. Trust his expertise! Bella is so glad we did.

Review 15 (2022-08-13 - Rating: 5)
Dominik has been working with Douglas (my now 8 month Goldendoodle) and I since he was 13 weeks old. I decided to hire Dominik as Douglas is my first dog and I wanted him to be trained by a professional from a young age. Our experience with Dominik has been incredible. Dominik listened to my needs and tailored our lessons to ensure Douglas is well trained. During our 8 sessions, we covered crate training, place training, walk/ leash training, feeding, general mannerisms, and many more. Douglas loves spending time with Dominik during our lessons, and especially enjoys seeing him outside of our lessons. Douglas is very well behaved for his age and is a great listener, which I believe to be a direct result of working with Dominik.Lastly, Dominik is super responsive to any questions I have and promptly answers any concerns I had as well.

Review 16 (2023-03-11 - Rating: 5)
I am so grateful for Dominik! I had been dealing with my dog’s increasingly severe separation anxiety for months and had reached a point where I thought that I had completely run out of options. I didn’t have much hope that I would be able to find a workable solution for myself and my pup, but I figured that working with a behaviorist was probably my last shot. Even during our initial virtual consult, Dominik gave me invaluable advice that helped me start to see progress with my dog right away. He was a pleasure to work with in our sessions and I really learned so much from him. My relationship with my dog and quality of life for both of us has improved immensely in the months following our training. I feel much more calm and confident as a dog parent now and I can’t imagine what my life would look like if I hadn’t sprung for these sessions. I can’t recommend working with Dominik enough, especially for severely anxious dogs (and owners)!

Review 17 (2023-01-13 - Rating: 5)
Dominik has been working with our goldendoodle Pizza since he was just 10 weeks old. Being a puppy in New York City can be overwhelming but Dominik made sure Pizza had the tools he needed to become a great dog. Pizza started off a bit shy but with proper training and socialization from Dominik he came out of his shell, and now at 8 months he is the happiest, friendliest, well-behaved dog. Dominik worked with us on crate training, foundational commands, recall, leash walking, and so much more. He was patient and encouraging with Pizza, tailoring each training session to his needs at the time. Pizza loves visits from Dominik and we can’t recommend him enough!

Review 18 (2022-12-28 - Rating: 5)
Working with Dominik was a game changer. He met the needs of my 3 year old rescue pup Frannie, adding important boundaries to our daily routine. I am a first time dog owner, so having this support to get to where we wanted to be was a crucial step. I put in a lot of work between our sessions, but it more than paid off with where we are at now! Frannie and I are a happier pair and she’s able to be off leash safely and responsibly. I can’t recommend Dominik enough!! Frannie and I are so grateful.

Review 19 (2019-08-23 - Rating: 5)
I rescued Rollo when he was about 4 months or so and he was always very noise reactive and generally fearful/anxious. With Dominiks help, Rollo has come a long way and is fairly ready for a big trip ahead. He never liked crates and is now comfortable being in one for travel. Huge thanks to Dominik for his patience and guidance with Rollo! Please consider him for your dog!

Review 20 (2021-04-25 - Rating: 5)
Just finished up an 8-session puppy package with Dominik and couldnt recommend him more highly! He is very knowledgeable and patient - he has been a great instructor, teaching me critical training methods, how to use training tools, etc. so my puppy, Gus, and I can continue our work in between sessions. From basic obedience to behavior corrections, I have seen so much progress with Gus, and I feel armed with the necessary information and tools to continue our training moving forward.My recommendation is to note specific things youd like to work on ahead of each training session so Dominik can tailor each session to your needs. That will allow him to bring any necessary tools that may assist your pup for the better!

Review 21 (2022-02-15 - Rating: 5)
Where can I begin? Dominik has been a godsend and is worth every single penny you will spend on him. We hired him to help us train our 4-5 month old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Theo and we havent looked back. In fact, we re-upped from 3 sessions to 6 because we felt he had helped her so much.From the very first session we had with Dominik, we noticed a huge improvement right away in her behavior and in our ability to communicate with her. Truly, the following day. We didnt even practice leash walking on the first day with Dominik but the next day it was like night and day. I actually couldnt believe that he could have such a big impact in a single session but he did.Over the course of 6 sessions working with Dominik, Theo has turned into our dream dog. She listens, shes attentive, shes happier, and she is so well behaved. She can sit, stay, come, and sit on a placeboard for hours without moving. She doesnt bark or jump, she fetches, and she also knows how to use an e-collar. It was so fun to watch him work with her.I cant thank Dominik enough for everything he has done for us and I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone who has a dog in need of training. Hes a dog genius!

Review 22 (2022-09-21 - Rating: 5)
We met Dominick in November of 2020 when our dog Otis was 3 months old. We worked with Dominick on all the training you would need for a new puppy and he was terrific. Fast forward to August of 2022 and our now 22 month old dog had developed leash aggression. He would lunge at other dogs on walks and . in addition, he was too wild when we had visitors. We reached out to Dominick and two session later Otis is so much more disciplined, secure and happier. Dominick has an incredible understanding of dogs and with his training, his gave us the tools to continue to work with Otis. Otis no longer lunges at other dogs and he has learned to remain calm when we have visitors. He is a different dog and we owe it all to Dominick.

Review 23 (2023-04-15 - Rating: 5)
We had 3 training sessions with Dominik and went from having no idea how to deal with our territorial/aggressive dog to feeling confident that, with commitment and dedication, that we would have a well behaved dog. We had a specific problem of Mountain (our 50 pound pit bull) going berserk when anyone would come over to our apartment (and even running to nip people’s legs). We loved his holistic approach to dog behavioral training, and especially appreciated his way of explaining / teaching us using analogies that we could understand. 100% would recommend if you’re serious about solving your pup’s behavioral problems.

Review 24 (2021-04-15 - Rating: 5)
We started working with Dominik when we first got our bernedoodle puppy at 10 weeks old. I’m honestly not sure what we would have done without him.During the training sessions he taught our puppy in 60 min what would have taken us weeks/months to try and do. He took time to understand both mine and my fiancé’s needs and of course our puppy’s needs and thoughtfully created a training schedule from there. After each session there was a clear and noticeable change in our pup - to the point where we often get stopped on the street and people ask who our trainer is.Dominik is knowledgeable, professional, and also respectful of all Covid-19 protocols throughout this time. On top of the in-person sessions, Dominik never hesitated to respond to questions we had when we weren’t training. If you’re looking for a trainer or someone to trust with your pup - I’d highly recco Dominik. And our puppy Theo is obsessed with him too!

Review 25 (2020-08-04 - Rating: 5)
We had four sessions with Dominik to help with our boxador Zekes leash behavior. Within minutes of meeting Dominik and a few instructions, we saw an immediate shift in his behavior and responses. Zeke loved him too! During our sessions, Dominik was kind, clear, and incredibly helpful. He trained us as much as he trained the dog. He helped us understand why a dog responds to certain reactions. After our sessions, I felt like my dog trusted me more. Now, we all feel more confident on our walks. We also worked on other skills with Dominik like recall at the park and setting up a place in our home so our pup has a safe space. My husband and I would highly recommend Dominik to anyone looking to improve their dogs behavior.

Review 26 (2023-07-11 - Rating: 5)
As first time dog owners we had no idea what we were doing when we rescued our beautiful, sweet, insecure 2 year old cocker spaniel mix a few months ago.A few google searches led us to Dominik, based in Brooklyn, stellar reviews and seemed to focus on the areas that she needed the most help with. It was also important to find someone that uses positive reinforcement.Shadow was very reactive to people coming into the home, other dogs when walking, and very attached to me.We booked 6 sessions with Dominik. He is communicative, accommodating, and comes to your home.From the first session we saw a noticeable difference in Shadows behaviour. Dominik spent time talking us through the psychology of her behaviours so we were equipped to handle situations in between sessions.She responded to well to him, and to us, and with consistency putting into practice everything Dominik walked us through, she is now, 5 months later, a happier and less anxious dog. We can walk with other dogs now, which I didnt think was ever going to be a possibility. She is so much happier when we have house guests. We get comments all the time about how much progress she has made, and how good she is. We couldnt be prouder.Working with Dominik these past months has been a gift that we are so grateful for. Highly recommend. Thank you Dominik.

Review 27 (2022-11-22 - Rating: 5)
Dominik has been an absolute joy and pleasure to work with -- the things that hes taught my partner and I as well as our dog Archie, a Great Pyrenees / Mountain Cur mix, are definitely information and techniques that we will carry on with us for the rest of our journey together. When we first adopted Archie a few months ago, we quickly noticed that he seemed to have some separation anxiety as well as some fearfulness and lack of understanding for basic commands. Within the first session, Dominik had shared so much knowledge regarding the right ways to handle our relationship with Archie as to not reinforce bad habits, showing Archie how to be eager to learn and listen, as well as teaching us how Archie thinks and behaves and how to use those patterns to our advantage in our training. Archie absolutely LOVED working with Dominik, and we are so grateful for everything that he has taught us. We HIGHLY recommend him to anyone in search of a trainer who truly understands dogs!

Review 28 (2023-04-26 - Rating: 5)
We are hugely indebted to Dominik for the work he did with our pit bull Wally. We adopted Wally as 1-year-old from the ACC. He was very easy to deal with initially, but after a few months, he settled in and became quite reactive and almost completely unmanageable. While very sweet and loving, he became uncontrollable on leash, unable to meet strangers without jumping on them, and so frantic when we would leave the apartment we had to give him a bone each time we stepped out. We reached out to Dominik at our wits end.Dominik taught us how to manage Wallys anxieties and behavioral challenges through the use of tools and techniques. Wally responded almost immediately to each of the new things we introduced - the clicker, the prong collar, the place board, and the e-collar. He has gone from being totally out of control to a very strong work in progress. For every problem that we had, however weirdly specific it might have seemed, Dominik offered a concrete and practicable solution. These actions were not silver bullets - they took (and continue to take) a lot of work and practice, some of it very tedious - but all of them have paid off. Today, outside on the leash Wally is all manners - passersby are often openly impressed by his self-control, attentiveness, and politeness (all of which was literally unthinkable a few months ago before we began).Another thing we really appreciated about Dominik is that he is forthright, and does not over-promise. He is realistic about each particular dogs struggles and how they might and might not improve. This gave us a lot of confidence when he did identify improvements and strengths in Wally - we knew he wasnt just saying things to make us feel good.Finally - if you are wary of working with Dominik because you have read or heard from other trainers that aversive training tools like the prong and e-collar are always inherently inhumane, I would just say that if you could see the happy and (relatively) calm dog we have today and compare him to the bundle of nerves and aggression he was prior to using these tools, you might feel differently. It is so evident that, on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis, he feels safer and more confident, even if he is still highly excitable in certain situations. When paired with clear instructions, a very regular training regimen, and heavy dose of positive reinforcement, they can really transform a dog - even saving their lives. That said: it is clearly not advisable to use these tools without experience or the input of a professional.

Review 29 (2020-09-02 - Rating: 5)
Dominik was instrumental in our dogs transition into our home. Before we contacted him, our dog - Collette (a border collie/Australian shepherd mix) - was very fearful. She was afraid of leaving our apartment unit to go outside and also quite afraid of me. When Dominik came over for the consultation, he immediately recognized her behaviors and understood how to best approach them.We did six sessions with Dominik. His approach to training provided us with the right kind of guidance to give Collette the structure she needed. His teaching style is sensible, firm and kind. He was also responsive between sessions if we had any questions or concerns about Collette.My girlfriend and I noticed positive changes in Collettes behavior quite quickly as we were doing the sessions. We made sure that anything we learned from Dominick we reinforced regularly in the interim. By the time we reached the sixth session, Collette became a much more confident and happy dog :)

Review 30 (2023-08-01 - Rating: 5)
This review is long over due, but we feel so grateful for Dominik and the work that he put in with us and our dog. We originally contacted Dominik in 2020, and had a great experience across numerous training sessions. He was professional, insightful, and flexible. It was incredible the way our dog responded to him during our training sessions! Fast forward to 2023, we reached out to Dominik during a stressful pet emergency. He made himself available to us ASAP, even though he was clearly booked up for weeks. He was so supportive and helped guide us through the situation. We honestly cant thank him enough. I would highly recommend him to anyone!

Review 31 (2023-10-03 - Rating: 5)
Dominik has been really great at teaching our puppy who couldnt stop himself from jumping on other dogs and people on walks to become much more calm and great at following our lead. We would highly recommend him!

Review 32 (2023-06-28 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is an incredible and truly gifted dog trainer. We have tried a few trainers over the 2 years we have had our dog and none have even come close to comparing. Dominik has been working with us for the last four months on a variety of behaviors - resource guarding, recall and leash walking/aggression, etc. Homer (our pup) feels like a different dog. Dominik is patient and understanding. He explains everything in such a clear and logical and makes you understand the reason behind the training techniques. Homer is a really sensitive dog and Dom has tailored the training to fit his specific needs, to great success. To boot, Dominik is kind, funny, reliable and a pleasure to work with. Homer loves him - he runs into place every time he walks in! If you are looking for the best of the best in NYC - look no further and book a session (or several) with Dom. Worth every cent and we look forward to continuing working with him for years to come. We are so grateful to him and all hes done for our little family.

Review 33 (2023-09-30 - Rating: 5)
My wife and I are so thankful that we hired Dominik to help us train our puppy, Penny, starting at just two-months old. He was booked solid for over a month when we first reached out and he was gracious enough to schedule a virtual Zoom session so he could answer our most pressing questions until we could see him in person. He pointed out mistakes we were unknowingly making and set us up for success.We purchased Dominiks 6-session Puppy Package and it has been a great investment. Dominik is very direct and expects his clients to put in the work, but the results speak for themselves. Penny is five months old now and is thriving. She is much more confident, making huge progress on potty training, follows basic commands, and has way better leash etiquette. Walking her is a joy now instead of a constant struggle.We cant recommend The Dog Behaviorist enough.

Review 34 (2021-05-06 - Rating: 5)
Dominik was a 10/10 trainer. I found him before I got my 9 week old puppy and started working with him a couple weeks after. If anyone has had a puppy, you understand how overwhelming and daunting the process can be. Dominik entered the situation calm but also assertive, and gave me the confidence and tools I needed. In addition to the private sessions, he was always available by phone with any questions and was great at recommending training products.While nowhere near perfect, my dog has made a tremendous improvement. She is more confident and our relationship has drastically improved. Her recall is at a great place and general obedience (sit, stay, leave it) is consistently good.I cant recommend Dominik enough!

Review 35 (2023-09-02 - Rating: 5)
Our 3 year old Pit mix needed significant support when it came to walking on leash, recall, and interactions with dogs.After only one session we knew we hired the right trainer. Dominik is clearly knowledgeable about dogs and a great teacher to both the pup and the owners. He helped correct our dog’s walking on leash significantly, as our dog no longer pulls or refuses to walk.He also helped our dog with recall even in the most distracting of scenarios. We feel so much more at ease knowing our pup has been trained with the skills to keep both him and others safe.We couldn’t recommend using Dominik enough. He also uses genius analogies and humor to make the sessions enjoyable and memorable for all. Thank you a million for your help Dom!!!

Review 36 (2023-01-18 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is the absolute best! We adopted an older dog several years ago who has always had issues with other dogs, on and off leash (extremely reactive, snapping, etc.). After moving to the city, we decided to try and get him some training so he wouldnt be so anxious and reactive on walks, and to work on his separation anxiety which had gotten very bad post pandemic. Dominik could not have been more patient and kind with us and with our 9 year old mutt, and the difference in his behavior now vs before training is unbelievable! We followed all of Dominiks advice and worked on our dogs walk behavior, place training, and counter conditioning his fear of other dogs, and he has been much calmer on walks and rarely ever reacts to other dogs we pass on the street now. Weve even been able to get him to play with other dogs happily and bring other dogs in the house, which was next to impossible before. If you have an anxious/older dog, I cant recommend Dominik enough!

Review 37 (2021-09-15 - Rating: 5)
I cannot say enough positive words about Dominik and the impact he has had on my 8 month old puppy, in addition to making me feel more confident and comfortable as a dog owner! My dog had severe separation anxiety - in 3 sessions, Dominik was able to teach her how to maintain a calm presence and self-soothe. I am now able to leave my puppy home alone and my life is truly better as a result. Additionally, Dominik taught my dog how to walk properly on a leash (no pulling, no stopping unless I allow her to, etc.) as well as key lessons such as recall, out, leave it, sit, stay.While Im thrilled that weve had so much success in such a short period of time, Im legitimately going to miss working with Dominik! He is truly the best - look no further for an amazing trainer.

Review 38 (2021-05-29 - Rating: 5)
Book Dominik immediately! I cannot say enough incredible things about Dominik. I reached out to him based on a friend’s referral and it was the best decision we could have made for our fearful 6-year-old rescue dog. Our dog, Ruth, went from being scared, lunging and growling at other dogs to actively wanting to socialize with them.We booked Dominik for 3 sessions and just after the first session, there was vast improvement with Ruth. I nearly cried when I walked her. She stayed by my side and didn’t even look at other dogs. My partner and I thought we’d always have a fearful, dog hating pup that was aggressive. But that not the case thanks to Dominik and his experienced behaviorist skills.On a personal level, we really like Dominik! He’s super warm, safe to work with during COVID and patiently listened to all of our concerns. We also had lots of laughs during our training sessions.Thank you Dominik!!! We’ll always be so thankful to you and how you’ve changed ours and Ruth’s life for the best ❤️❤️❤️

Review 39 (2021-01-05 - Rating: 5)
An absolutely fantastic experience.After multiple trainers and weeks of frustration, we thought we would never make progress with our 9 month old lab/pitbull mix. Her leash reactivity and anxiety was just too much, and we had gotten to a place of dreading our daily walks.Within the first 20 minutes, Dominik was able to diagnose our dogs primary issue, and develop a method to work with her that *vastly* improved her walks in a matter of three sessions. Other trainers made us feel hopeless, as if she would never walk well in Brooklyn, and have to avoid dogs the rest of her life. Thankfully, Dominik has gotten us to a place where we know our pups needs and are confident walking with her in our dog heavy neighborhood. It is like night and day.Seriously: work with Dominik. He knows dogs, takes the time to get to know each one individually, and tailors your training to their exact needs.Hes the best.

Review 40 (2022-10-25 - Rating: 5)
Dominik was wonderful to work with. We did 6 sessions to help with our rescue puppys separation anxiety and reactivity and I can truly say its made our lives better. Before, we couldnt leave our dog for more than 1 minute without barking uncontrollably, now we can leave him for hours at a time and we know that he feels safe and as comfortable as he can be. My only regret is not doing this sooner. Our puppy also LOVED Dominik, every time he came over our pup felt so comfortable and excited to work with him which made us feel even better. We also feel way more confident walking him around other dogs whereas before he was very reactive. The 1:1 training is worth every penny and I highly recommend him!!

Review 41 (2022-11-28 - Rating: 5)
We just wrapped up a 6-session package for our 2-year-old German Shepherd/Beagle mix Bernie, and it was worth every penny. With Dominik, we wanted to fine tune and improve upon Bernie’s leash manners, separation anxiety, overexcitement/jumping on people, and recall, as well as address his fear/prey drive of skateboards.Dominik was straightforward, communicative and knowledgeable. He quickly identified key issues and walked us through everything from corrections to using proper equipment, but always explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. After every single session, we noticed a major improvement in Bernie’s behavior because Dominik provided us the tools to properly and effectively communicate with Bernie. Dominik taught us to reward Bernie’s calm behavior, and to also give Bernie a structured day where he is constantly told what to do because with his combination of breeds, Bernie needs to have a “job” to do the majority of the day. Understanding this was a game-changer for us because now Bernie is calmer and knows how to self-soothe in high-energy situations.If you are thinking about working with Dominik, DO IT! You won’t regret it.

Review 42 (2022-12-11 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is the best trainer we’ve had the opportunity to work with. Our 2 year old Vizsla Ollie was dealing with fear based reactivity and aggression, and we were desperate for help. By the end of the first session, we knew that we had found the perfect fit. Dominik is an extremely effective communicator and he is able to describe and demonstrate techniques in a way that is easy to understand. He is also great about setting opportunistic, but realistic expectations so that we set ourselves up for success. After 6 sessions, we feel fully equipped and prepared with the tools and tactics to manage Ollie. Our relationship with him has never been better, and we owe it all to Dominik’s patience, honesty, and understanding of dog behavior.

Review 43 (2022-07-06 - Rating: 5)
Do yourself a favor and just book Dominik! He has been a lifesaver for our 18 month old labradoodle. He’s a pandemic puppy and we were dealing with severe separation anxiety, as well as some other walking and impulse behavior we needed help correcting. We had worked with trainers before to no avail and after a couple sessions with Dominik, we feel like we have a new dog. We can leave the house and he is calm and happy and walks are so much more enjoyable for both us and him. He helped us understand the root cause of the behavior and the right tools on how to fix it.

Review 44 (2023-02-22 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is an excellent dog trainer. Over the course of our training sessions, he gave me the tools - and often the confidence - to effectively deal with my dogs aggression issues while also making me comfortable with methods (such as a prong collar) that Id previously misunderstood and dismissed.Im happy to have found him and find comfort in the fact that even though our sessions have ended, hes still responsive to the occasional question via text.

Review 45 (2018-07-21 - Rating: 5)
Dominik basically changed our lives. My partner and I rescued a puppy in the fall and by winter time we were very discouraged due to her fearful and aggressive behaviors. It was nearly impossible to walk her as she was afraid of every little noise or movement on the street. She also barked and pulled with any other dog we came across on walks. We felt defeated and thought we might have made a mistake by bringing this pup into city life. We first tried a group basic training class and that was a flop. She couldn’t even concentrate because of the other dogs around and the trainer couldn’t handle our case. So we searched a bit more and found Dominik! We had a phone chat and then he agreed to meet us at our home for a consultation. After a walk around the block with our pup, I knew he was the trainer we needed. Dominik was very patient with us and is excellent in explaining his methods. With just a few sessions, we were able to walk our dog on a loose leash with no strong arming or bribing. We have worked on a variety of issues and have made vast improvements in all areas. Dominik is an amazing teacher and very talented. We seriously can’t thank him enough for changing our lives and helping make our pup the happiest she’s been. She had a rough start to this life and it brings me to tears (happy) to know she’s comfortable and carefree now.It is with a strong recommendation to contact Dominik if you have any dog training needs.

Review 46 (2021-05-28 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is fabulous. We started working with him when our Duck Tolling Retriever was about a year old. We had been struggling with her walking/leash anxiety - she is a stubborn thing and would refuse to walk long distances, especially around loud noises and when other dogs were approaching us. Living in New York City, we tried tirelessly to train her out of this, but after a year of trying, we knew something had to change.Dominik arrived and within the first 30 minutes of our evaluation - yes, you saw that right, 30 minutes - he had our puppy walking in a heel and passing dogs with no problem. Since then, her confidence has completely transformed - we are now able to take her on long walks in the city without her anxiety getting the best of her.Dominik is knowledgeable, professional, responsive, and always checking in . Would highly, highly recommend.

Review 47 (2023-01-28 - Rating: 5)
We had the best experience using The Dog Behaviorist NYC! Dominik is so knowledgeable about dog training and an amazing teacher. After just three sessions, we have seen improvement in our dog and are confident our dog will keep improving with what we learned from Dominik. He is the best - highly recommend!

Review 48 (2020-08-03 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is amazing! During our virtual consultation he was very knowledgeable, patient and spoke to us like we were real human beings. He is committed to helping you with whatever issues may arise with you dog. His advice and counsel did not only help Gizmo become a better dog and ease his separation anxiety, but it also helped my wife Dayna and I become better dog owners. Every session we had with Dominik was professional, pleasant and worth every penny!

Review 49 (2022-12-09 - Rating: 5)
Long overdue, but Dominik is fantastic. We got the Puppy package, and learned so much from Dominik during our training sessions. Our dog also loves him, so that is a great plus.We felt the package was priced right and a great value. Dont hesitate to reach out to Dominik! Honestly, couldnt ask for more.

Review 50 (2021-01-14 - Rating: 5)
Before working with Dominik, I was feeling helpless and doubtful that I could create a good life for my 1.5 y/o pit mix in the city. Her play was becoming dominant at the dog park and I didnt know how to train her recall considering she also has a very high prey drive. After working with Dominik for 2 months, I couldnt be happier with the results. My dog is walking calmly on her leash, comes whenever I call her and is able to walk by squirrels without risk of pulling my arm out of the socket. I get lots of compliments about how well-trained my dog is now. Ive learned so much and Dominik clearly cares so much about the dogs he works with. Thank you so much!!

Review 51 (2022-04-29 - Rating: 5)
Not to exaggerate, but completely Dominik changed how we live with our dog in the most positive way. Moving from Texas we were used to having yard and fields for our dog, Kid, to run around and wear himself out. Transitioning to apartment living introduced challenges with getting Kid the right exercise, and with his poor off-leash and recall skills plus overexcitement playing with other dogs, running in the parks wasnt an option. After just a couple sessions with Dominik, Kid not only improved his ON-leash behavior, but can be completely trusted to roam off-leash and interact with other dogs. Dominik has a very practical and clear approach to teaching humans how to train their dogs, my wife and I both feel that we now have the tools to manage Kid in any situation. Couldnt recommend Dominik more highly.

Review 52 (2018-07-21 - Rating: 5)
Dominik gave us our sanity back.We adopted our puppy Riley from a local rescue. A few months later we noticed she had a few bahavioral issues. The biggest being fear/aggression. This made everyday life very challenging. Taking her on a walk, a dog park, or near a busy road was a nightmare. We had no experience on how to deal with these issues. Desperate to change this behavior and have some normalcy back in our lives, I searched for a dog behaviorist in Brooklyn and Dominik popped up in my search. I sent him a detailed email about Riley and the challenges we were facing, anxiously awaiting to see if he could help us. He replied within a day and very confidently expressed he had experience with dogs who had this behavior and wanted to meet her for a consultation. After meeting with Riley, Dominik offered to have our first session right away and assured us he could help.We opted to go with 6 sessions first. After the first 2, we had already seen some serious improvement and were so excited to keep the momentum going. Not only does Dominik show wonderful patience with both the dog and the owners, he has a remarkable way of explaining what he is doing, why he is doing it and how the dog perceives it. He is also extremely flexible.After our 6th session we decided to sign Riley up for an additional 4, at Dominiks recommendation, but he never pressured us into it which we really appreciated. We were so happy with the progress made that we wanted to focus on some smaller issues we began to notice after the fear/agression behavior was under control.I tell anyone I encounter who has a dog with any issues to reach out to Dominik because I cant say enough good things about him!!Thank you Dominik! We are forever grateful.

Review 53 (2024-04-29 - Rating: 5)
I reached out to Dom to work with my 3 year old Jack Russell Terrier Mozzie. I was having a lot of trouble walking him with out him being reactive towards other dogs, pulling and being anxious. Dom and I did 6 sessions and I instantly noticed a change after the 1st session we did. He gave me the tools-using a clicker to redirect my dogs attention, and the confidence-for my dog and myself to be able to walk with out issues. I cannot thank him enough for helping me with Mozzie. He was very patient, explained everything clearly, answered all my questions was very flexible, and gave me all the tools I needed to make walks a successful experience for Mozzie. After our last session Mozzie was a completely different dog. He was confident, would give me eye contact, and just seemed happier walking. I was also able to feel more confident in my abilities to be the leader when walking. I would recommend him to anyone looking to train their dog. Thank you Dom!

Review 54 (2020-10-15 - Rating: 5)
Back in March I rescued a pit bull who I found wandering skinny, scared and alone on my street in BedStuy. After three sessions with Dominik my dog was walking much better on a leash, listening better and overall seemed MUCH more comfortable with the world around her. Since we finished our training, she has transformed into such a good girl and listens to me so much better than she did before! I would highly suggest Dominik to anyone struggling with a rescue pup showing signs of behavioral trauma.

Review 55 (2021-08-09 - Rating: 5)
We decided on the puppy a package after reading a few reviews and are so happy we did. Our Corgi has been a handful from the day we got him but thanks to Dominik hes been a manageable handful. The package was a great way to get our puppy off on a good start on the basics which weve been able to keep working on even after the last class. We learned so much more from having hands on experience with a great trainer than what we could watching some random video. Would recommend.

Review 56 (2021-01-20 - Rating: 5)
Sorry this is long but I dont usually leave reviews and I just have to talk about our amazing experience with Dominik. My partner and I adopted Dusty--a very traumatized, 4 year old cattle dog with a limp--this summer, and it was clear early on that we needed a professional to help him. Dusty definitely had a ROUGH start, with a spinal injury and serious reactivity around cars or even the expectation of the sound of cars (not ideal for a Brooklyn boy!) He would be TERRIFIED on walks, didnt seem to know any obedience, and possibly even lacked basic socialization. So we didnt exactly have high sky-high hopes for the kind of dog he could become: If we could get Dusty to tell us when he had to go outside and maybe hang out with us in the living room instead of hiding in his crate, that would have been fine! Low bar.Enter: Dominik. From early on, we knew that he had the kind of expertise that could really tackle our dogs particular problems (and there were...many problems). He really broke down the barriers wed faced to training Dusty by pinpointing where certain issues were stemming from to get to the underlying cause of them, and then teaching him the skills that would stick. He also taught us how to redirect Dustys fear so that he could trust us enough to ignore his own fear triggers. Crucially, Dominik made my partner and I feel less hopeless and more confident when it came to training our dog. We purchased a pack of three sessions, and after every single hour spent with Dominik, wed say to each other, Wow, really did not realize Dusty could do that!Now, Dusty is SO different from the version of himself we first adopted. He is doing better and better on walks every week, he has a big repertoire of tricks, hes happy and excited to go new places. His reactivity is so minimal now--something I just never thought would happen. Dominik helped Dusty (and his owners!) gain a much better quality of life. If you have a dog who needs a good foundation for training, or who has reactivity issues that you just do not know how to deal with, I recommend Dominik so highly.

Review 57 (2019-05-17 - Rating: 5)
We contacted Dominik because our sweet dog Emma was struggling with anxiety issues that were so bad she refused to go to the bathroom outside. We had tried two other trainers but both only focused on training pups through treats for good behavior, which did not work for our Emma, as she was too scared to even take a treat once she saw a truck or heard loud city noises. Dominik helped us establish a dominance hierarchy with Emma that led to her trusting us and showed us that what we thought was letting her be a carefree puppy was actually not providing the guidance she needed and causing her anxiety. He showed us that gently correcting her and providing structure are the best things we could do to help her feel safe on noisy NYC streets. He is also very reasonably priced, and never pushed additional sessions on us (we went with the six pack of sessions). Dominik’s methods work, and we would absolutely use him again if additional problems arose with Emma in the future.

Review 58 (2021-08-09 - Rating: 5)
I am truly so grateful for Dominik. In three sessions I have become a more confident dog owner with Dominiks help and my 1.5 year old mixed breed pup is well on his way to being the best pup he can be.

Review 59 (2022-01-10 - Rating: 5)
Worth every single penny. Before we met Dominik, our puppy had issues walking on her leash (she was known in the neighborhood as the dog thats always laying down), eating trash off the street and resource guarding. I was worried that it would take ages for us to turn things around, but Im very happy to say that within one session, Lainey was walking on her leash right next to us, making no attempt to lunge for trash. She will now spit out items that she shouldnt be eating, and no longer guards them. Our sessions with Dominik have been such a lifesaver. Theres a reason he books up so far in advance -- his methods really work and he is 100% worth the wait. Thank you Dominik!!!!!

Review 60 (2018-07-18 - Rating: 5)
I searched the web for a dog trainer and came across Dominiks website. After seeing his success stories I knew he was a great match for my dog Buster. After a few session I now have a more confident, obedient and happy dog. I can have guests over at my apartment and Buster is no longer scared and aggressive. I would totally recommend Dominik to a friend. He is amazing!

Review 61 (2023-02-01 - Rating: 5)
I couldnt be more grateful to have found Dominick! I have a very very energetic young German Shepherd named Soba. I was really struggling to get her to stop pulling on walks and to find ways to focus her attention and spend her energy. Working with Dominick has bee quite literally life changing for me and Soba - he was extremely clear in his training and gave me all the tools I needed to continue training Soba on my own. Shes now well behaved on walks, were continuing to practice more commands, and she is able to calm herself at home which allows me to get more work done. I would recommend the Dog Behaviorist to EVERY dog owner!

Review 62 (2021-07-07 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is incredible! Literally a beam of light in my life at the darkest time. My 80lb labradoodle, Mars’ behavior has improved immensely even after one session. There’s so much less tension and much more joy between Mars and I. Dominik is an amazing communicator, professional, and efficient.

Review 63 (2020-01-15 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is a natural with dogs. His help with our rescue dog was simple but amazingly effective. After just a couple sessions most of her fear was put aside and she was way more confident on the streets of New York.

Review 64 (2021-04-05 - Rating: 5)
I had the opportunity to work with Dominick over the last 3 months, and when I say opportunity, I mean it. Dominick is there to train *you*, and if youre ready to work on yourself, your dog will follow.Dominick works with you on some of the toughest challenges you can face with a dog, and his methods are effective. When I told him about my dogs separation anxiety, he broke the issue down into much more easily-addressed building blocks involving authority, boredom, comfort, and solitude. Those are the things we worked on -- not the separation anxiety itself -- and that work reduced the anxiety and improved a lot of other behaviors.Id tried two trainers before, and with each of them, I felt both lectured to and disempowered. Theres no judgement with Dominick, and no sense that he just has an alpha energy that dogs respond to. Its instead calmness and specific techniques that had an immediate effect. Our last session together was definitely a sad one: my pup really loves Dominick!If youre reading this review, it means you need help and love your dog enough to seek it out. Id go ahead and book a consult with Dominick and see the effect yourself.

Review 65 (2021-05-09 - Rating: 5)
We got our dog in February, he was about one. Working with Dominik has been great, after each session it was like night and day. He really helped us understand how to deal with our dog and train him.I highly recommend him!

Review 66 (2023-06-28 - Rating: 5)
We truly can’t recommend Dominik enough. As first time dog owners we knew we wanted to start our puppy off on the right foot so we started training with Dominik when our Corgi, Rollie, was only a few months old. We started out with basic commands and making sure Rollie loved his crate, learned how to train Rollie to do a great job on walks without pulling and progressed from there. People ask us all the time when we are out and about in Brooklyn how we trained our dog to quietly lay under our table at outdoor restaurants and be so well behaved. Working with the place board and actually practicing what Dominik taught us was the key. We recently started working on recall and getting our 8 month old pup to actually drop things or spit them out when we ask snd they were always blown by the progress. We truly can’t thank Dominik enough for the amazing foundation he’s helped us set for Rollie. I think training is an absolute must do as a responsible dog owner and I can’t really imagine anyone doing it better than Dominik. I emailed and chatted with so many people in the city before deciding Dominik was the right person — let me save you some time and just take my advice — he is!

Review 67 (2022-08-22 - Rating: 5)
Apollo, our 2 year old Cattle Dog and American Dingo mix has a history of on leash reactivity and fear of other dogs. Past training had helped with his off leash behavior but he was still extremely fearful and reactive on leash. This only got worse when we moved from Colorado to NYC. We were desperate for guidance as we could barely walk down the block without Apollo screaming and lunging in fear at a moped, person, or bike. That’s where Dominik came in.After our consultation he got us scheduled right away for an in person session. This willingness to find time to work with Apollo right away may seem small (it was so so important to us) but it was a sign of the dedicated, honest, personable and knowledgeable trainer who trained us as much as Apollo. He identified the issues (largely Apollo’s lack of trust in us, our handling and improper tools) right away and walked through it with us. Due to Apollo’s prolonged reactivity I had become quite nervous walking him and that fear on my part was a large contributing factor to Apollo’s reactivity. Instead of just telling me that I was a major part of the problem, Dominik walked me through everything, practicing corrections, leash positioning, heeling, etc. on our block and in the park. This was crucial to Apollos and my fast learning and growth.We were able to apply everything Dominik taught us into our own daily training sessions. After just 3 in person sessions Apollo and I were able to walk everywhere without reactions. Apollo is so excited to go walking, run off leash in the park and explore the city (all reaction free!).We honestly didnt know if Apollo was able to be “a NYC dog” but Dominik showed us that it was possible. I think it is obvious, but I would highly recommend Dominik. Because of him we can actually have a high drive Cattle Dog/Dingo in NYC that is happy and truly enjoying city life!

Review 68 (2018-07-19 - Rating: 5)
Awesome Trainer! He had an instant connection with my Lab Cooper who was a handful when I first got him. Dominik showed me some helpful tips and tricks which turned my rambunctious, jumping and destructive Cooper into the well-behaved and calm dog he is today.

Review 69 (2018-08-01 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is the man! He managed to fix my dog’s separation anxiety in a few weeks.Very knowledgeable and kind, and an all around great dude.

Review 70 (2024-05-06 - Rating: 5)
My husband and I recently had the pleasure of working with Dominik for our Standard Poodle Hazel. From the start, Dominik exhibited professionalism, a deep knowledge of animal behavior, and a love for dogs. Each session was educational for us as he taught us how to better communicate and understand Hazels needs. Dominiks methods are kind, effective, and tailored to the unique personalities and needs of each pet he works with. We HIGHLY recommend Dominik to anyone looking for positive changes with their dog!! THANK YOU DOMINIK!

Review 71 (2018-07-24 - Rating: 5)
I highly recommend Dominik to anyone who’s having issues with their dog.He had a great training plan for my rescue Husky and accomplished more with him than I ever thought possible

Review 72 (2024-06-08 - Rating: 5)
My girlfriend and I contacted Dominik for some help with our 1.5 year old goldendoodle, Benny. Benny is a great dog but after training him ourselves for the first year or so we still needed to clean up a few areas of concern. We asked Dominik for help with the following:- Leash training. Despite trying to train basic leash skills with Benny it often felt like my girlfriend & I were out on a walk WITH HIM as opposed to the other way around. When he smelled or saw something interesting (plants, trees, stop signs, NYC street food aka chicken bones) he would quickly divert his path to go check that thing out & it would take us quite a bit of convincing to get him back at our side & walking again.- Reactivity to other dogs, and sometimes children, on the street. Benny would typically lay down prone when passing other dogs or children on bikes/scooters, encouraging them to come up to him, and then he would quickly pop up to say hello - sometimes startling the other dog and/or owner. We wanted him to stop with the laying down in the middle of the sidewalk & stop quickly popping up to say hello.- Reactivity to guests (expected or not) & delivery people. Benny would bark and growl anytime someone approached our front door or entered the house.Dominik helped us understand some of the bad habits we were utilizing as handlers and how they played into some of the behaviors we wanted to correct. Since working with Dominik Benny no longer lays down on the street to greet other dogs; hes still very curious and will look in their direction but he remains at our side without breaking stride. Along those lines, our walks are much more enjoyable now that he is obedient on leash, listens to our commands, and maintains eye contact/attention on us throughout our walks. Lastly, our final session was yesterday and we worked specifically on reactivity to unexpected guests and by utilizing place training + a positive reward system Benny was no longer growling at our friend who was there to act as a guest for the training session. Dominik also helped us work on off-leash recall skills & a proper heel position.Not only did he help us become better dog parents; he also helped Benny to be more confident when in new scenarios & improved his overall obedience. Dominik also introduced us to some tools that we were not familiar with (slip lead, clicker training, place board) and somewhat uncomfortable with before he taught us the proper techniques to utilize them (prong collar). Well be utilizing all of these tools moving forward as they have been a massive aid.After 6 sessions with Dominik we feel more informed, prepared, & confident in continuing Bennys training. We cant thank Dominik enough.

Review 73 (2020-10-02 - Rating: 5)
Dominik is awesome! We adopted our rescue puppy Otis at 10 weeks and spent the next 2 months trying and failing to get some of his basic behavioral issues under control. We finally decided to seek some professional help, and Im so glad we did! I had started to feel like I would never see improvement on his play biting and leash walking, but after just 4 sessions with Dominik we saw tremendous progress on both fronts. He also helped us strengthen our place command to start building up towards actually having Otis hang out calmly while we relaxed on the couch, rather than always having to go in his crate so that he wouldnt be destructive when we couldnt be giving him our full attention.Dominiks kind but firm approach worked so well for our slightly stubborn, high energy pup, and it was easy tell from the first few minutes that Otis liked Dominik and was eager to please him! Dominik got immediate results with him, and made it clear that progress was about training the owners even more than training the dog. Weve still got work to do with Otis but I now feel totally confident that we have the tools to turn him into an awesome, well-behaved dog. If any other behavioral problems arise in the future, I will definitely reach out to Dominik again.

Review 74 (2022-12-11 - Rating: 5)
We have a 7 month old Golden retriever puppy, our first dog. We had chosen the breed thinking that Goldens were calm and sedentary dogs. What a surprise! Our puppy Woody was quite a handful. He was basically nonstop, and walking him became very difficult, due to his pulling us in every direction. We were told by 2 different trainers that he was a field dog and would need a huge amount of mental stimulation and physical activity to prevent him from being overstimulated and difficult to handle, and would be that way for a very long time, even with training. We were at the end of our rope, when a friend recommended Dominik. He is nothing short of a miracle worker. Woody took to Dominik the moment he met him, and was suddenly a totally different puppy, who was willing to do whatever Dominik asked. He put him on the leash, saw the issues we were facing, made some adjustments and suggestions, and suddenly our crazy pup transformed into the well-behaved dog we had always wanted. We worked with Dominik for 3 sessions, and in each one, he taught us different skills and gave us tools to improve Woodys training. He now walks closely on the leash, doesnt pull, and has constant eye contact. He also helped us implement place, where Woody can chill out in the room with us on his spot. Dominiks warmth, patience and kindness gave us the confidence we needed to transform our puppy into the wonderful companion he has become. We can never thank you enough for all your help, Dominik! Youre a real mensch:)

Review 75 (2022-07-07 - Rating: 5)
I highly recommend Dominik and I have already referred him to many of my other friends.Dominik showed me new techniques and corrected things I had seen online. He also introduced me to gear and tools to really teach my dog. Most importantly, Dominik is great at vocalizing situations from my dogs perspective. Not only has this improved my dogs training, I understand my dog better.Thanks again Dominik - from Nicolas and Alphonse (the golden doodle)

Review 76 (2021-07-02 - Rating: 5)
We are so grateful for all Dominik has done for our family. When Coco joined our family we had no clue what we were in for. We never had a pet and never even cared for someone else’s puppy. We had no clue what we were doing until Dominik came to our home 3 days after her arrival. After just a few minutes with him we knew we were in the right hands. Dominik trained US how to train Coco. Coco quickly learned how to be comfortable in her crate (which helped immensely with potty training), where her safe place was when outside her crate, and basic commands. With Dominik’s guidance, we quickly mastered walking nicely on a leash and improved recall. He helped cut out naughty habits like nipping and chewing. He is still always available by text or phone call and answers all our questions readily. We highly recommend Dominik!