Instinct Dog Behavior & Training, New York NY

This is a review for Instinct's Board and Camp program in Harlem, NY. I sent my dog Dash to camp for 2 weeks to work on leash training skills and reinforce some commands for better behavior. I worked very closely with Rebecca who was super thorough in her communication and follow-ups. After camp, Rebecca visited us at home twice to help me implement the things both Dash and I learned in our regular environment. This was critical for both of us. Dash absolutely loved her and all of the trainers he interacted with at Instinct. We both gained a lot of confidence for our walks together and I went from being pulled down the street to walking with him beside me on a slack leash - pretty amazing. Can't say enough good things about how organized and helpful the staff at Instinct have been. Highly recommend.

We had an amazing experience here with Instinct. We opted to go with a 5 week at home puppy training with Mari, and it was perfect. Mari is kind, caring, patient and extremely knowledgeable, and has not only helped our new puppy acclimate to NYC, but also taught my girlfriend and I so much about our puppy and dog training/behavior as well. We are especially grateful as we found out after purchasing our puppy that he was from a puppy mill, and we were so nervous about what his experience would be like, and Mari and the folks at instinct helped us every step of the way and I would not change a single thing about my puppy or decision because of it.

We also attended the free puppy classes on Sundays with Rebecca, and she is awesome as well.

From my first phone conversation with Jessica, to the free in person visit to meet my puppy, to the home training and boarding, everything we have done with instinct has been phenomenal.

These folks really love dogs, and I highly recommend them!

Updated: The owner Jessica reached out to me after my review and apologized for the lack of communication/follow through from my original trainer. She also offered me an additional complimentary at home lesson (plus the original 2 that were never scheduled) with a different trainer, Mari, who was wonderful. Mari was able to accomplish so much with my dog in one at home training - it felt like more than the entire 2 weeks away at camp! I appreciated the extra at home lesson and wish I had Mari from the beginning as the trainer!

Original: I brought my dog here for the board and training program to help him have a calmer and more trained response to people arriving into the apartment. I spent thousands of dollars on the program, which was supposed to include 2 home visits. The training after 2 weeks was not sticking, and suddenly after the 2 weeks I was told for the first time that my dog was too hyperactive to learn from the training and needed to be medicated. I wish they had told me that before the 2 weeks - I wasted thousands of dollars because, by their own assessment, my dog needed medication just to learn from their training. Then when I tried to schedule my 2 at home sessions, which were supposed to be included, my trainer stopped responding to emails and never scheduled them. So I never got part of the service I paid for. Still giving 2 stars because at the very least I did finally learn that my dog needed medical intervention for his hyperactivity, and medication has helped tremendously now. But I wish they had told me that before the multi thousand dollar training instead of after so that I could have rescheduled training for after he was medicated (and could actually benefit) or canceled if the medication solved everything. And I do wish I could have had my 2 in home sessions. All in all, I feel like I wasted a bunch of money and they only cared about being paid instead of doing what was best for my dog. On top of all of that, when my dog came home from the facility, he had giardia and I had to take him to the vet for that too. They had some “at home” vet see him while he was there who never gave me the fecal test results, and once I got my dog home I had my vet run a new fecal test and sure enough, there was Giardia.

Instinct has been great to work with and meet our individual needs! We adopted Waffles at 9 months old after he was re-homed twice before for behavior issues and when we got him had no leash manners and was scared of all the city stimuli. Oyuki took the time to get to know waffles and us and has transformed our pup into a the really good boy he has always been under all his fear. Now he walks so well on leash and is so much better with his manners! Oh and waffles is in LOVE with Oyuki! We are too for all the great help she has given to waffles and us.

Jessica changed our lives! We came to instinct because of Winnie’s major fear reactivity and overall anxiety about the world. When we started we could barely go outside without Winnie reacting to something and it being really stressful for both of us. Jessica gave us both tools and confidence to move through the world together. 2 years later and Winnie is doing things I never thought imaginable for her. Going on hikes, taking vacations, running on the beach, happily meeting new people and dogs! Of course it’s still something we work hard for everyday, but we do it with confidence! We will always be grateful to Jessica and instinct! And highly recommend anyone to use them no matter the circumstances you and your dogs are facing, they will help you with kindness and compassion

Would give zero if I could.

I took my dog here last year and they informed me a few days prior to my vacation ending another dog might have kennel cough - but they said since he was a big dog mine was not effected.

Fast forward two days to me flying home from Europe an email demanding I get my dog as he now too had kennel cough. Poor management, absolute poor communication skills, and clearly an incompetent few members of staff. Also an absolute struggle to get my money back for him not staying the whole time.

Trainer was pretty good - so bummer about that, but I would never leave my dog here again.

Instinct has been a life changer for my dog and me.

We have a senior dog (14 y/o) who has always been active towards other dogs, and at this stage, we figured it was too late to even try, and figured walking would continue to be a chore. We moved into Manhattan, and decided to give some sort of training a try.

We met with Jessica and purchased 6 hours of training. Our dog picked up on the strategies and skills much quicker than we thought, and just continued to grow each time we went. Jessica and Instinct have changed the rest of our time with our dog for the better, and it is so important to know that older dogs can still learn new things!

They do a fantastic job of offering training programs as well as boarding. We like it because they have a nice outdoor space so the dogs aren’t stuck inside all the time. Completely trust then with our dog

My hysterically reactive, ever-pulling rescue dog is now one of the better-behaved dogs wherever we go. He is still afraid of other pups, but I can always distract him with a treat, and he doesn't pull at the leash excessively anymore. After one week at camp, plus several at-home lessons with Kelley, my life - and 100x over, my dog's life - is greatly improved. THANK YOU Instinct, Jessica, and Kelley! This place isn't cheap, but I tried working with multiple trainers before them - believe me, it's worth paying the first time.

Wouldn’t just answer a question about dog training - wanted me to do a 45 minute online assessment before a call.

How dumb. If you answer my question then I can decide if I want to do a long online survey. I didn’t do it and didn’t talk with anyone.

Assbackwards system

The dog trainer was great. She showed me some very good tips and also told me what to buy so he would not get bored.

Stay away from this place. You have amateurs acting like experts and the facility is very dirty. Boarding a dog in the neighborhood is dangerous. I saw marijuana bags right outside the office.
Prices are extremely high and you will get very little for your money.
There are alternatives. Very poor experience. Was given terrible advice about my two dogs which was incorrect according to the vet and two other trainers. Don’t waste your time and money.

I was very lucky to have Instict recommended to me for training. They are absolute professionals and extremely good at what they do. Max can be difficult with strangers but loves being boarded at Instinct which is a testament to how well he's cared for.