Instinct Dog Behavior & Training

We first sent our girl Mica to Instinct for a one week board and train, while we were in Mexico for our wedding. She’s a rescue, shy, an incredible love bug but - anxious, high octane and the awful humans we rescued her from didn’t exactly do any work with her or socialize her. I had met a “balanced trainer” before instinct, and not only did he want to use aversives, but he basically wanted to scare her into being a “better dog.” No thank you. Our meet and greet at instinct assuaged all the fears the previous trainer had brought up in me. There really is something to be said for positive reinforcement training. I could leave my sweet Mica, knowing that the people caring for her would intelligently choose different tactics to get desired behaviors. And just this past week, we had a family emergency and had to find boarding last minute for our girl. I’ve read so many horror stories about boarding places, where biases against pit bull breeds and untrained staff end up hurting your animals that it was a relief to know Instinct was there for us. We emailed them at 7am, got a prompt response, and dropped off our dog that day. Mica actually pulled to the training facilities she was so excited! Afterward, we got a report card and photos! So wonderful:) Ps- I think it’s important for everyone considering this place to read up on positive reinforcement and to also be realistic about what’s possible during the length of your board and train. This includes looking at your breed, and how ingrained their behaviors are. Expecting your dogs to come back out magically changed is not only unrealistic, but also unfair to your animal... More...

Reviewed on Facebook

My dog, Max, is a young Jack Russell mix and FULL of energy. I was able to train him on some things, but he had EXTREME reactions to skateboards, Rollerblades, and motorcycles. I could hang onto him because he's small, but he would completely freak out, and once he would hit that level, he stayed there. Because of his energy level, he requires a lot of exercise, and after two summers trying to deal with the issue myself, this year I decided to get professional help because I love walking with him, but I dreaded going out with him from March until winter. So I did a lot of research, talked to several trainers/training organizations, narrowed it down to two, then met with those two. I picked Instinct -- the NYC location -- and I opted to do their training camp program. Max was there for three weeks. They allow you to visit your dog on weekends, and they also provide training sessions for the dog's person. The also send two updates a week full of pictures, and the trainer sends updates with videos showing the actual training. When I showed those pictures and videos to people, the most common reactions was, "He looks so happy." You could just tell he was comfortable and well taken care of. Max is now home, and the difference is remarkable. He no longer even notices motorcycles. And instead of hitting a 10+ with his reaction to skateboarders and Rollerbladers -- and not coming down from that -- he has a mild reaction that I can stop in its tracks, and I'm able to bring him back down. I know that as time goes on, he will completely stop reacting. Plus, his behavior in general is much calmer. His primary trainer, Maggie Withum, is amazing. She is patient and loving, and she definitely knows what she's doing. And her patience extends to the dog's person -- my sessions with her and Max were invaluable. I wanted to be SURE Max didn't revert to his old habits once he got home, but I didn't know what to do. But after my three sessions with Maggie and Max while he was staying there, I'm now confident when Max and I go out. Also, I still get a couple more sessions at Instinct, AND I get one session with Maggie on Max's home turf. I would HIGHLY recommend both Instinct and Maggie. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Instinct Dog Behavior & Training was exactly what we needed for our rescue dog! Our trainer Casey, specializing in leash reactivity (our pup's most pressing issue), helped us see humane and effective results from our very first consultation. She coached us in clicker training on everything from loose leash walking to dealing with potentially dangerous on-leash situations. It was an excellent bonus that Instinct provided 'bomb-proof' helper dogs during the sessions to address the problems head on. After each of our 4 meetings, we felt like we had clear ideas of how to work to improve our dog's behaviors. After finishing the package with Casey, and with continued daily reinforcements of her recommendations, we see ongoing improvements in our dog's behavior. We will definitely return for a brush up session on leash reactivity, to address any other unmanageable behaviors that may arise, or to visit the Canine Good Citizen Classes provided for Instinct graduates. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I sent my puppy to stay with them for a week to be trained and the experience was amazing from moment we walked thru the door to our post-visit follow ups. Eddie's so much better behaved, knows quite a lot of commands, and is overall easier to manage than prior to his visit. My dog walker even commented that he's so much easier to walk now. Devi was fantastic with training him, and their whole team was great with their updates and constant communication. Well worth the money spent, and recommend them highly. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Instinct has been invaluable in helping Gypsy reduce her aggressive tendencies. They are responsive, supportive, and totally understanding of the needs and behaviors of dogs--and owners!!

Reviewed on Facebook

We love Instinct for our pup Chelsea. She is a pit mix we adopted from the ASPCA - when we first brought her home she had a lot of behavioral issues and anxiety that caused her to act out. We took her to Instinct's board and train program and it completely changed our relationship with her, her comfort in our home and around other people, etc. She is now affection and responds very well to commands. Instinct has great resources available for their alumni pets, which have really helped us keep up with Chelsea's training and reinforce new positive habits. We are so grateful to Instinct for all of their help improving our relationship with our pup, who we absolutely adore. Highly recommend! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Instinct NYC is amazing! We worked on some reactivity issues with Maggie and couldn't be more pleased + surprised at how quickly we made progress. I love their positive-reinforcement training methods and that it's a female-owned business. We always felt like we were in a super inclusive, friendly environment. Also, Maggie was an incredible trainer -- she was so supportive and laid out extremely realistic plans and timelines. We couldn't have moved forward in our training without them and it was absolutely worth the price. Plus I love how they support rescue pups and all their unique quirks! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We have been working with Instinct to help our pup Oliver who struggles with anxiety.

Reviewed on Facebook

Sarah Dixon was incredibly helpful and patient while working with my dog, as was the entire Instinct team. 5/5 would recommend.

Reviewed on Facebook

I have a poodle puppy few months ago and with a few personal reason, I need someone to help me to train my puppy, after searching on internet, I find Instinct and Caitlin is my puppy trainer, not only Caitlin is very professional and able to train my puppy, I find out every one of them in Instjnct is very professional and helpful! Caitlin also email me and follow up how’s my puppy doing after the training session done! I will highly recommend this place to any of my dog lover’s friends More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I was a first-time dog owner this past year, and I'm now in love with my sweet puppy but I could not have gotten through the early puppy times without the crew at Instinct. Jessica was amazing! These are smart, lovely people who truly care. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Amazing trainers and a clean, organized facility. Teddy had a great experience and learned a lot. His trainer Casey was caring and excellent. He stayed for two weeks and has maintained his lessons at home. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Instinct is the best! They have made great progress with our 100 pound Mastiff rescue and he loves boarding there. The staff is professional, helpful and fun to be around!

Reviewed on Facebook

We loved this place for our dog. Super helpful. Our new rescue needed some advanced tlc and she got it here. They work with all kinds of dogs, ours is a pit so it’s very important her behavior is good as she will be the one that is blamed in all situations. We are super happy with the results. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Help a lot interesting gets back to u quick

Reviewed on Facebook

My puppy Cashew went to a 2 week puppy training camp and came home fully crate trained, well on the way to being housebroken, able to sit, down, stay and "go to your crate". I just booked them again for a 1 hour ini home training session to deal with his anxiety walking outside (he's a bit nervous since he's a rescue put via the fabulous #rescuedogsrock More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We sent Ava to Puppy Camp for two weeks with Instinct. She worked with Maggie who worked with her on a number of basic foundational puppy skills, but primarily on impulse control and walking patiently on a leash. Ava came back having learned so much, and Instinct left us with a number of techniques and drills for us to continue to work on with her. In addition the puppy camp gave us access to a weekly obedience class which continues to challenge Ava and provide us with a good community and forum to ask any ongoing questions as we continue to train puppy Ava. We are so happy with the ways that Ava was able to socialize with a number of different dogs and humans during her time with them. She is a whole lot better on the leash. And her struggles with impulse control (jumping, pulling on the leash, crying) have greatly improved. In addition, they left us with a number of tools to continue to work with her on managing those issues as the grows into an adult dog. Communication could have been a bit better at times. The take-home lessons were something we were looking forward to, and they were inconsistent; and not all of our questions along the way got answered directly (to be fair, we asked a lot of them). That said, overall, Maggie was/is extremely committed to Avas training, and we really value our ongoing relationship with her as well as her willingness to be a training resource for us by receiving and responding to our questions and concerns. With a whole lot of help from Instinct, Ava has a great foundation of puppy behavioral skills and we are excited to see the dog she will grow into. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I cant say enough good about this Emergency Vet services. The staff was excellent friendly and understanding , and was a huge help with my emergency kitten crisis. A big Thank you to Rachel who help with a warm heart and open arms, I highly recommend them in any case they are just a wonderful vet services where no one else could help me at 10pm at night. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

This place and the brilliant team of doctors saved my baby Bella! Long story short my bella was mis diagnosed with what they thought was an autoimmune disease for 3 agonizing months. ( at another animal hospital) it seemed for a short time she was improving but she became very gravely. I knew something else was happening that this doctor wasn’t finding, So I brought her in for a second opinion to AERA. BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE. dr staruss and dr Kantrowitz wasted no time. Bella stayed for 2 days because she was in desperate need of a blood transfusion. They did many tests and finally found the answer we have been looking for. CANCER. My baby was dying. They introduced us to their brilliant oncologist Dr.Alsarraf which wasted no time and gave Bella her 1st treatment the day of our consult. Although Bella really didn’t have much time and they prepared us that she most likely wouldn’t make it to the following week treatment. We didn’t care. We all thought it was worth the shot. Bella barely moved that week she was gravely. But before we knew it , it was time for her second treatment. And now she is on her 7th and her cancer has been in remission since her 4th. This brilliant team of doctors saved my baby girl. I could never thank them enough! This place is wonderful. The girls up front are the BEST! Thank you to everyone at AERA. You saved my best friend!!! She is back to enjoying her life all thanks to you!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Our vet referred us here when out pit bull Diesel tore his ACL. Dr Hunt and the staff were so wonderful with him and us! 4 months after the first surgery, he tore the other ACL. Dr Hunt was able to see him and operate just a couple days later. In total, he's had over 10 visits in less than a year, and he is always in great hands. Diesel is so happy every time we bring him, and he usually doesn't want to leave.
We've also had to bring Diesel and our other pit bull Roxy for minor emergency visits. It is obvious that the vets, techs, and receptionists truly care about their furry patients. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We just wanted to offer our thanks to Dr. Lloyd and the staff for everything you did for our dog Abby. We were so sad that we had to let her go after such a sudden and unexpected illness. The compassion that was shown to us and our two kids when we made the decision to let her go was so appreciated. It made a difficult decision and difficult time a little easier. We will miss Abby forever, but we know that everything that could have been done, was done to try and save and prolong her life. Thank you for all you did. Sincerely, The Loconsolo Family More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Top notch care from the door through on the way out! When we had an emergency with our little Yorkie-Poo late last night, he was taken back immediately and assessed. We were explained what the problem was and what they prescribed to do. He was admitted and we got to say good night. We received a call in the morning with an update and when the admitting vet returned she called and said he had improved enough for at home care. We received written care instructions and verbal and all our questions were answered. They made a very stressful situation better for us and took great care of him. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I can never speak highly enough of this place. I'd give it an all star rating, but every time I go they get better and better.
I have used (and absolutely love) dr Straus (internal medicine). I have also used dr hunt (orthopedic).
Both Drs interactions have been straight forward, direct, and incredibly informed. They are very patient with me (I ask a ton of questions) and I couldn't ask for better care for my pets/fur kids.

Dr Straus and I have developed dr/patient relationship over both feline and canine and he has been absolutely wonderful. I don't know what I would do without him. Thank you...
The front desk staff have always been friendly, and (unfortunately) know me by name and constantly greet me with a caring warm smile.

Highly highly recommend!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

My cat has been a patient on the oncology service for a little over a year. She has always received top-notch, compassionate care from Dr. Glasser and the entire team, and I believe the fact that she is doing well, and every once in a while my 15-year-old lymphoma kitty still chases the laser pointer like a kitten, is a testament to that. I have always meant to write a review, but it was something that happened this week that finally made me sit down and write: I had to cancel a routine appointment because I was hospitalized and would not be discharged in time. I called and spoke with the receptionist who very courteously rescheduled us, and said she would let the department know. The next day I received a call from Shana from the oncology department, just to check on ME, and wish me well. I must say, a little bit of my faith in humanity was restored by her call. Thank you all for the work you do, your dedication, and your kindness! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

They helped me out with my cat boo and keep
My bill within reason if it wasn’t for this place and the services they render 24/7 I might not have my cat today I’ve never had any issues with the vets or staff keep up the �

Reviewed on Facebook

Dr. Michael Palescandolo gave a calm reassuring diagnosis & the receptionists were nice.The hospital moved up Bloomfield on right past Passaic Ave. Much bigger facility since my Sammy was there with Dr Hunt in 2001.Beagle girl home resting.ThankYou More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I went to this clinic based upon a recommendation from my vet. At first i was very impressed dr Levine seemed to have addressed my dogs issues. We set up a plan of action The trainer Suzy was excellent but when it came time for my program we didnt touch upon the aggression issue I brought my dog in for I am so disappointed we never finished the last session because they could not make time for it,. instead they preferred to refund $75 dollars and call it done. Please be careful when dealing with them. Since all this happened the clinic did come back with a date that works for us and we are able to complete the training. I thank you and therefore I have amended my review More...

Reviewed on Facebook

OK so there were a few things that really bothered me, but they are more administrative and issues I see as a business than with level of care so I will address them at the end. I will first start with the fact that I brought my dog here after he was diagnosed with a primary lung tumor, and the Oncologist and surgeon were very responsive to all my inquiries and questions. Dr. Hunt did a great job and my little sweet doggie is on the mend. I was so nervous about the surgery because my dog is only 5 pounds but he put my mind at ease and did an amazing job. I can not say enough good things about him, his surgical staff and even the girl at at the front desk. Almost everybody was beyond nice. However, the prices at this place are outrageous and you can really feel like they are strictly a business concerned with the bottom line. There are only 2 facilities in the area that are surgical, here and Oradell and while they are both pricey, this place is out of control. A one hour consult with the oncologist in oradell is $195 but here they charge $277, even the emergency exam fees are almost $50 more just to walk in the door here. Look, I understand it costs a lot to run a business and everybody is entitled to get compensated for their skill set, I don't have a problem with that, but I agreed to a surgery and "HAD" to have a consult which cost $264 and then paid an additional $7,000+ for the surgery. I understand if I had a consult and opted out of doing a service that I should pay for the consult as I took up time and they shared their knowledge with me, but really, $264 for a 30 minute consult before spending 7 grand on a surgery, this is the part where I really feel the greed, and its not coming from the staff. $65 infusion pump use fee, this is like getting gas and then being charged additional to use the pump to fill your car. It was these sort of fees that added up and were just a bit offensive. I love my dog and am happy I did the surgery and I won't put a price on his life, it is worth noting that this doesnt seem to be the case on their end as a facility, which is kind of crappy as you assume that even though it is a business that people in this line of work do it for their love of animals and not just $$. Apparently they went corporate 2 years ago and a lot has changed since then. I was even told that there is no staff discount on procedures...reallly?!? More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Although pricy, it’s nice to know that there is a place open 24 hours with level of care and compassion for my pets. Friday night after 7 pm, my cats face was swollen (otherwise he was normal). I was addressed immediately and my cat was taken by a tech within 5 mins. When i spoke to a vet, she explained his situation & the plan for treatment with options. An hour or so later, we were on our way home. This case wasn’t a fatal or serious situation but it’s nice to they’re there and will treat my pets well & me with respect & compassion. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Dr. Davis and Dr. Peddle are amazing doctors. They took great care of my cat Leo and were very patient with me when explaining the issues. The entire staff at AERA is amazing. They are always so nice. Thank you! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

My little Charlie was running a fever and lethargic They kept him for a few days and have diagnosed his condition I was very happy with the Vetenarian that took care of Charlie Vet called me and had many conversations with me and cleared all tests with me including cost It is a very expensive facility,however the facility is open 24 hours My vet was closed thank god this facility is open The front desk staff was polite enough.

Reviewed on Facebook

Took my bunny here for ear mites because her regular vet wasn’t available for another week. Dr. Norton was kind, understood that my fiesty little girl HATES to be handled and called in a nurse to do the dirty work of holding her still “so she doesn’t associate you with anything negative”.
It’s hard to find a good vet that treats rabbits and even harder to find one that doesn’t suggest you do your follow up appointment with them instead of with your regular vet. Dr. Norton gave me all the information I needed and encouraged me to make my follow up appointment with my regular vet. A lot of emergency vets suggest you come back to them. It was a refreshing change of pace and I’m grateful for her and AERA for treating my cranky girl More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I have been here on several occasions, the staff is always courteous and helpful and all of the drs. always know exactly whats going on and how to treat the issue. I will always come here in the event of an emergency or a specialist is needed. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We took our dog Buca last Sunday night cause he couldn’t breath. He sees Dr Peddle regularly for congestive heart failure. They put him in oxygen and seemed to breath a little easier. We went to see him Monday afternoon with our whole family thinking it was his time. Dr Peddle said let’s give him 24 hrs to see how he does. Well he is GREAT! Thanks to Chris and Holly, without you two helping Buca take his pills along with Dr Peddles expertise we would be in a different place today... a heartfelt thanks!!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Whether your dog wants to learn fun playtime activities or is reactive (as mine was) and learn some fun playtime activities, Instinct is the place. The trainers are top notch and have worked on some very difficult cases. They treat each dog individually, care about you and your pup's future. I cannot say enough good about them! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Love having the certainty that my puppers is being well taken care of!

Reviewed on Facebook

The owners of Instinct are both very skilled, and very committed to constant improvement and the latest research on both training methods as well as animal welfare. They do a great job with all sorts of training goals/needs including the easiest of training fixes as well as those animals with more challenging issues. It's a full service facility offering both training and boarding, and everyone I've ever dealt with has been kind to me and my, ahem, sometimes difficult and nervous pooch. The owners are good people, and good to do business with. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

My wife and I are very happy with Instinct. The staff is always very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We adopted a 6yr old pitbull in June 2017 who had dog aggression. We sent Redman for training a few times and continued to reinforce the training at home. So far we have seen 100% improvement with him. We are no longer afraid to take him out for a walk in our neighborhood. In addition to the training in the facility they also have continued to be a resource to us when we travel when we utilize their boarding services. They are always open to listening and assisting us in any questions we have had as we integrated Redman into our family. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Instinct saved my dog. As a veterinarian, I am usual the one helping people with their pets, but in this instance I have an amazing group of trainers to thank. When I brought Betty into my home, she quickly bonded to my senior Boxer, Lucy. When Lucy passed suddenly due to cardiac disease several months later, Betty immediately became fearful of all strangers- at home, at my office, on walks. This incredible sweet, friendly dog started exhibiting aggressive body language, and I had no idea what to do.

When I consulted with Sarah, she suggested a 3 week board and train. Leaving Betty for 3 weeks was hard, but the results were unbelievable. I never, never expected to see the turnaround in my dog that I did. While there was, and is, still work to be done, Betty and I can live normally and peacefully. They gave me back my girl.

I cannot highly enough recommend Instinct Dog Behavior and Training. I travel from New Jersey and it is worth the trip, every time. If you are lucky enough to live nearby this facility and need help with your dog, well, you just found it. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

When I adopted my rescued cattle dog, Vinnie, he was a loveable gentleman at home, but was very reactive when we walked on busy streets. He became wary and tried to herd people by bumping with his nose, even nipping at some people. (He once actually took the glove off of a lady's hand when she walked too close and touched his head. OMG!! Lucky for us she's a dog lover.) Worse, Vinnie was aggressive with other dogs, would fixate on them, even from quite a distance, and would lunge and growl at them. To avoid these confrontations I would get up really early and stay up really late so we could go for long walks when the streets were quiet. I studied all the streets in my area to find the least busy ones to walk during the day. Exhausting!
I had to find a solution. A trainer/walker who volunteers with the rescue group, Mighty Mutts, recommended the board and train program at Instinct. Seeing the spacious and clean facility, and meeting their professional trainers gave me hope. Vinnie spent 4 weeks living at Instinct, with Trina as his trainer. He formed a great bond with her, and she has helped him to develop much calmer behavior on the street. Trina also gave me some personal training in how to help him to relax on the leash and form positive associations with going out for walks. She is patient and devoted to our success, and has even brought her own dog down to my neighborhood so that Vinnie could practice walking next to another male without becoming aggressive. I've seen great improvement in his behavior, and I've learned a lot too. I'll continue to work with Trina to develop Vinnie's social skills. I have also used Instinct for boarding Vinnie when I went out of town. He really loves the canine care staff, and has fun playing in the nice big yard there. Overall, Instinct is a great resource for training and boarding dogs. I'm very glad they're in New York City. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I love love love the folks at Instinct! They take the time to understand your dog and give him what he needs to be happy. Our dog loves Instinct and so do we!

Reviewed on Facebook

Our dog could not really be trained to stop attacking other dogs - that was a major disappointment for us, but Instinct and our trainer told us the difficult and honest truth after only one week. They offered to curtail our original contract and let her go home early. They also helped us deal and work through other difficult options in a calm and respectful way. In the end, we kept her there for 3/4 of the planned time and they provided excellent coping strategies that have been very useful for us, even if our original goal could not be realized. We continue to be grateful for that. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Instinct is the place to train or board your dog. Positive reinforcement and skilled personnel is the perfect combination. My blue nosed pit, now called the best behaved dog in my neighborhood, only loses this title as he ENTHUSIASTICALLY approaches Instinct, as he can’t wait for the fun activities that await. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Im so glad I took the recommendation to try out Instinct for my dog reactive pit bull.
I met with Suze for an hour assessment in studio and started our training right away with a helper dog. She clearly explained everything to me and made sure I understood what we were going to do. Everyone is so accommodating and super friendly.
Coming here gave me a much needed breath of hope and positive outlook for my girl and I have no doubt we will make great progress.

Only positive reinforcement which was a requirement for me.
Worth every penny. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Our rescue dog became quite reactive on leash a few weeks into adoption. Kate did a wonderful job training her - and maybe more importantly- training me to handle walks and encounters with other pups on the street with confidence. We saw great improvement after the 2-week boarding camp. My dog’s leash manners are still in progress but Instinct gave us a great foundation to build on. And the care team took a terrific care and kept me updated on our “happy camper.” More...

Reviewed on Facebook