Last Updated on February, 2025
Let’s cut to the chase; you’re in New York and need the fool-proof best dog training in NYC that ideally doesn’t break the bank.
I got that right, didn’t I?
Well, you’re in the right place, and I’m listing down 7 best dog trainers here in NYC.
But why trust me? Why rely on this list?
Table of Contents
Why Trust Me?
It’s because me and the iPetGuides team did the work for you.
We had enough calls with selected top ten classes (eventually cut off the last 3), tested some, evaluated hundreds of online reviews, and reached out to REAL past students of these classes.
That’s why what Itell you won’t be anywhere else (unless copied in the future).
So, before I start the list, let’s have a quick summary.
Quick Summary
Training Types | Price range | Online / In-Person | |
K9 Training Academy | Essential behavioral training & potty training | FREE | Fully online and FREE |
Instinct Dog School | behavioral therapy & obedience training | Free – $2085 | In-person |
Calm Canine Academy | Anxiety-related training & behavioral training | Free – $620 (+tax) | In-person |
Dream Come True K9 | Behavioral training & specialty classes | $700 – $8,250 | Both |
Yuruani Olguin Dog Training | Behavioral & obedience training | $150 -$2700 | In-person |
School For Dogs | Puppy socialization, Behavioral and obedience training, Separation Anxiety | $40 – $230/hr | Both |
Amanda Gagnon Dog Training | Behavioral & obedience training | Both |
Top 7 Dog Trainers in NYC
1. K9 Training Institute
Finding a comprehensive and online dog course in NYC completely free sounds too good to be true. But it exists, and it’s the K9 Training Institute.
There are several reasons why this is the best solution for New York, NY dog owners.
As I said, it’s completely free with no obligations.
Not only that, it’s more of a workshop that covers EVERYTHING that has trained over 2.7 million dogs.
In a way, you could call these workshops more effective group classes just as much as private training too.
Why is it so effective? Two reasons.
The workshop is designed and delivered by two remarkable dog trainers. One is Dr. Alexa Diaz, who carries a Ph.D., and Eric Presnall. Remember, many dog trainers in New York aren’t qualified.
The other reason is the method. The training is based on force-free techniques AND body language. I haven’t come across such a combination before.
It’s fascinating to learn all the secret methods of training service dogs and apply them to your furry friend. These methods and the workshop are designed based on Harvard University and Stanford University research.
Including potty training, this dynamic duo covers the some of most common dog behavior issues.
These include:
So, whether you have a new puppy or an adult dog, the course works just fine.
Before you try out any paid services, I urge you to try this out, as I believe this is more than enough to home-train your dog if you’re in New York, NY.
Read our in-depth review for more information!
Pros
Cons
Online or In-person: Online
Types of training: Bad behavior training, puppy training, intelligence training, body language training
Price range: FREE
Link to the official website: https://k9ti.org/free-workshop/
2. Instinct Dog Training
After the K9 Training Institute comes Instinct Dog Training.
They provide you with both in-person and virtual training.
They have a separate online training school where you can enroll for both free and low-cost courses.
For in-person classes, you get five training options such as:
They have a mission to fix any dog’s temperament by using science-based and force-free modern training methods. It’s because they believe any dog deserves effective and comfortable transformation.
The school’s areas of expertise, such as behavioral therapy, socialization skills + basic obedience + basic manners, adolescent and senior dog behavior support, and even dog + kid safety, are remarkable.
Seeing that they offer of consultations was great, but the price was a bit demotivating to me. But you can get solid behavior consultations for specialty cases.
Even on leash aggression.
Certified and partnered with many organizations and led by qualified and experienced certified trainers, Instinct is the second-best dog training in NYC.
Pros
Cons
Online or in-person: Both
Types of training: behavioral therapy & obedience training
Price range: $199 – $250
Link to the official website: https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/
Phone number: 619-860-0112
3. Calm Canine Academy
Didn’t like Instinct Training School? Let’s look at the third best: the Calm Canine Training Institute.
The school positions itself as not only dog trainers but also anxiety experts or animal behavior counselors.
NYC-based pet owners can receive their services in three methods: private coaching, group coaching, and free webinars.
Free content? Sounds intriguing. I checked this, and I felt they were very introductory lessons to merely raise awareness; I’ll let you judge that.
Calm Canine is highly credentialed, bringing more credibility. Especially for behavior consultation needs.
As I said, they specialize in dog anxiety, separation anxiety, urban anxiety, and intermediate obedience.
The cherry on top is how they teach kids to be with dogs, too.
It’s hard not to notice that the school is women-owned and women-led, and all of them are experienced and qualified to train dogs.
In my experience, female trainers are more successful when coupled with non-violent and reward-based methods; this school leverages that advantage.
But they don’t have any house training. All of their prices (which are a bit high) and details are readily available too.
Overall, it’s definitely one of the best canine training schools in all of New York, NY.
Pros
Cons
Online or in-person: Both
Types of training: Anxiety-related training & behavioral training
Price range: Free – $620 (+tax)
Link to the official website: https://www.calmcanineacademy.com/
Phone number: (347) 380-4777
4. Dream Come True K9
Can your dream of a well-trained dog come true with Dream Come True K9? Let’s see.
Their approach is a positive reinforcement approach to foster a peaceful relationship with the dog.
DKT K9 offers in-person and online training, but it’s mostly content for online.
This is not the same as K9 Institute’s approach and lacks house training.
For example, they have a unique course branded as “3 Step Fundamental Communication System,” a $99.99 video series focusing on communication and relationship building via a strategic training journey.
But don’t worry; their in-person training will provide behavior services such as fixing whining, excessive aggression, jumping on people, pulling on leashes, and even housebreaking.
In-person has two training options: dog training and private classes. Dog training includes board and train, group classes, and private training. As expected, these session-based plans are expensive.
Exclusive training is for their old customers, where they provide overnight boarding, train & plan, and socialization classes.
This family-owned canine training school is led by qualified and experienced professionals; it’s a reliable training school for improving canine behavior for sure.
Pros
Cons
Online or in-person: Both
Types of training: Behavioral training & specialty classes
Price range: $700 – $8,250
Link to the official website: https://www.dctk9.com/
Phone number: 212-677-1800
5. Yuruani Olguin Dog Training
This training school was founded in 2014 by Yuruani Olguin, a certified professional dog trainer and behavior specialist.
Is it worth the money? Let’s see.
Home training and non-physical and personalized dog training services are Yuruani’s specialties.
The approach is sophisticated as she brings her behavioralist knowledge to training.
She offers three training options:
Across these options, your dog’s behavioral and disobedience issues can be smoothly resolved.
The prices mentioned there are per session, and I think they are very affordable compared to most competitors. 45-60 minutes per session is sensible too.
However, NYC pricing comes with the premier home visit program, where everything will be covered in 15 visits.
I admire how this dog trainer offers email support for all 3 lessons, but it’s a downside that there are no lesson plans for virtual and in-person training.
But that paves more room for personalized training. However, if you’re looking for weekend training, this option is not viable.
All things considered, I confidently recommend this training course for NYC parents.
Pros
Cons
Online or in-person: Both
Types of training: Behavioral and disobedience training
Price range: $150 – $2700
Link to the official website: https://www.dogtraining.nyc/
Phone number: (646) 948-4455
6. School for the Dogs
If your program isn’t for all dogs, it’s better to help dog parents figure it out.
School For The Dogs (which I’ll call SFTG) provides free consultation for that.
That’s a great start, isn’t it?
From leadership to administration, SFTG in NYC has been well-established and operational for over a decade.
That’s why you get 6 training programs. For starters, they have private one-on-one canine training and small group classes, especially basic obedience classes.
Then there are Drop-off classes where you get half-day sessions. You also can try off-leash sessions, which are trainer-supervised playgroups with other dogs.
The cherry on top is the on-demand online campus. This typically works as a monthly subscription, where you get access to hundreds of training courses.
In summary, SFTG has both in-person and virtual training options.
It’s convenient since they also have a store for dogs. So, if you choose SFTG, although there isn’t anything free, you can train your dog well, getting almost everything in one place.
But it would have been better if the pricing was public.
Pros
Cons
Online or in-person: Both
Types of training: Puppy training, Behavioral and obedience training, Separation Anxiety
Price range: $40 – $230/hr
Link to the official website: https://www.schoolforthedogs.com/
Phone number: (212) 353-3647
7. Amanda Gagnon Dog Training
Amanda Gagnon Dog Training: That’s my last recommendation. Let’s see what makes them special in NYC.
This canine training school was founded and led by an Anthrozoologist/ dog behavior consultant, Amanda, with over 15 years of experience.
Her team is definitely up for the job. I like how they put forth how highly credentialed they are, bringing a lot of accountability.
Amanda Gagnon’s school offers you both online and in-person dog training.
These come in as private (in-home) customized training, group classes, or as a day school.
Online training is live virtual group classes or pre-recorded online courses whose prices vary.
Group classes are level-based. Once you finish the puppy training (with a little bit of trick training), there’s the adolescent dog training.
It’s better to call them since there are so many options. But remember that there are no free consultations.
Rest assured, leash training, basic commands, digging, and even basic obedience training can be acquired here.
Pros
Cons
Online or in-person: Both
Types of training: Puppy training, anxiety, potty training, behavioral issues,
Price range: $25 – $2299
Link to the official website: https://www.amandagagnondogtraining.com/
Phone number: 540-327-3288
Online Vs In Person Dog Training in NYC
Suppose you asked me which is the best out of online vs. in-person training programs. In that case, I’m more inclined towards online dog training services since K9 Training Institute is as impressive as it gets.
But let me make a comparison first.
Comparison aspect | Online | In-person |
Convenience | Can be done from anywhere | May require constant driving |
Accessibility | Accessible from anywhere | Limited to premises |
Flexibility | Fits busy NYC scheduled | Have to adjust to their schedules |
Cost | More cost effective in NYC | Very expensive |
Personalization | Somewhat similar in both occasions | |
Feedback | Little or no feedback | Immediate feedback |
Socialization | Limited but you can spend more time with the dog | More interactions with people and other dogs |
I understand that we all want the best for the most affordable price, and that’s why online/ virtual training should be given priority.
Other dog training programs in other regions:
In Conclusion
You’re not the only dog parent in NYC struggling to find a cost-effective dog training program, there are so many. But upon unbiased comparison, can the rest really beat what the K9 Training Institute offers?
Covering everything necessary for free to result in a properly trained dog completely online?
So, before you try any of the paid programs, I would check out the free ones. What’s the worst that could happen?
I hope this review helped you, and I wish you and your furry friend well.
FAQs
Was this article helpful?