Private Training | NYC | NJ
One-on-one training built for your dog.
From new puppies to adult dogs with complex behaviors — personalized, in-home sessions designed for life in the city.
WHAT WE OFFER
Training for every stage,
every challenge.
Whether you've just brought home a puppy or your adult dog needs behavioral support, our trainers customize every session around your dog's specific needs.
Puppy Training
For puppies under 1 year. We start with the foundations — potty training, bite inhibition, and socialization — and build toward a confident, well-mannered city dog.
Potty training & crate introduction
Sit, down, stay, drop it, leave it
Settling calmly when left alone
Leash walking basics
Handling, grooming & vet prep
Adult Dog Training
For adolescent and adult dogs. Whether it's manners that need a refresh or behaviors that need to change, we create a structured plan tailored to your dog's history and goals.
Obedience & leash manners
Recall & off-leash skills
Housetraining & settling
Socialization to new environments
Drop it, leave it, stay
Behavior Modification
For dogs with reactivity, anxiety, or fear-based behaviors. We use science-backed, force-free methods to reduce stress and build lasting confidence.
Reactivity to dogs or people
Urban anxiety & noise sensitivity
Resource guarding
Fear of strangers
Grooming & vet-related issues
Pre-Puppy Consult — virtual
Not yet home with your puppy? Our virtual Pre-Puppy Consult prepares you before your dog even arrives — covering travel, sleeping arrangements, house training, and introducing your puppy to other pets. Held over Zoom at your convenience.
📍 In-home training areas
NEW YORK CITY
Manhattan (below 96th St) and select areas in Brooklyn including Williamsburg.
NEW JERSEY
Hoboken, Jersey City, and Union City.
EVERYWHERE ELSE
Outside our areas? Virtual training is available anywhere and may be a great fit.
TRANSPARENT PRICING
Simple packages,
no surprises.
All new clients start with our intro 3-pack. Follow-up packages offer increasing discounts the more you commit.
FOLLOW-UP PACKAGES
3 SESSIONS
$599
$200 / session
Save 5%
Three 1-hour sessions
Training plans & references
Virtual or in-person
Homeschool eligible
Starter 3-pack — all new clients
Three 1-hour sessions with training plans, skill walk-throughs, videos, and references. Usable for virtual or in-person sessions. Continuing sessions available at $210/hr after your package.
MOST POPULAR
6 SESSIONS
$1,134
$189 / session
Save 10%
Six 1-hour sessions
Training plans & references
Virtual or in-person
Homeschool eligible
9 SESSIONS
$1,607
$179 / session
Save 15%
Nine 1-hour sessions
Training plans & references
Virtual or in-person
Homeschool eligible
$630
3 sessions
* Packages expire after 6 months to ensure consistency and maximize training success. In-person sessions available in Manhattan (below 96th St) and NJ (Hoboken, Jersey City, Union City). Homeschool sessions (trainer works with your dog without you present) available on follow-up packages — subject to discussion with your trainer.
WHY PAWS FOR THOUGHT
Training that actually sticks.
01
Tailored to your dog
Every dog is an individual. We build a training plan around your dog's history, temperament, and goals — not a generic curriculum.
03
Ongoing trainer access
Questions come up between sessions. You'll have direct access to your trainer for check-ins and guidance as you practice.
02
Written notes every session
You'll never have to rely on memory. We send training plans, skill walk-throughs, and reference videos after every session.
04
Force-free methods
We use compassionate, science-backed positive reinforcement — effective for all temperaments, from timid puppies to highly reactive adults.
THE TEAM
Meet your trainers.
Every trainer at Paws for Thought is certified, science-based, and committed to force-free methods — so you always know you're in good hands.
📍 Manhattan (below 96th St)
Maddie Messina
Founder · MA, ACAAB, CSAP-BC, FFCP
With over 7 years of experience and a Master of Arts in Animal Behavior and Conservation from Hunter College, Maddie founded Paws for Thought in 2021 to provide thoughtful, solution-oriented training that goes beyond basic obedience. She specializes in puppies, adolescent dogs, and complex behavioral challenges including leash reactivity and fear-based behaviors.
As an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, your pet insurance may cover behavior modification sessions with Maddie.
📍 Jersey City · Hoboken · Union City | Manhattan (West Side)
Erin Whelan
CPDT-KA, CSAP-BC, SFTD-CPT
Erin became a trainer when rewards-based training transformed her relationship with her dog Oliver — and now she helps other human-dog teams find that same joy. She specializes in fear, anxiety, aggression, leash reactivity, resource guarding, and cooperative care, and loves coaching clients to find training opportunities in their everyday environment.
📍 Manhattan (east side)
Anna Ostroff
CPDT-KA, FFCP, CGC, CTDI, CSAP-BC, SFTD-CPT
Anna has worked with dogs for over a decade — starting in rescue, then spending 7 years as a Behavior Therapy Trainer at School For the Dogs in NYC. She brings deep personal and professional experience with dogs who have behavior concerns, including reactivity, stranger danger, resource guarding, and urban anxiety. She also serves as a Mentor Trainer for students at CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and has a special love for tricks training.
CLIENT STORIES
What our clients say.
"
Anna has been amazing working with my newly adopted dog Muffin on leash walking, focus around distractions, and staying calm in busy NYC environments. She uses force-free, positive reinforcement methods and truly takes the time to explain how dogs learn. I've seen such a difference in Muffin's confidence and mine as a dog parent!
-Muffin’s Guardian
"
Maddie has been a huge help over the years. She first helped us tackle city noise anxiety and constant barking with simple, practical commands that made an immediate difference. More recently she guided us through reactivity — always so understanding of the unique stressors dogs face in NYC. Everything she's taught us is something we use every single day. Highly recommend!
-Maple’s Guardian
"
Erin is amazing — you can tell right away how much she cares about dogs. I especially appreciate her focus on training us, not just our dog, so we feel confident handling our easily overstimulated adolescent pup. She gave us tools, resources, and incredibly detailed session notes that have kept us on track. We've seen great progress!
-Joe’s Guardian
COMMON QUESTIONS
Everything you need to know.
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We offer in-home sessions in Manhattan below 96th St and select areas in New Jersey (including Hoboken, Union City, and Jersey C). Outside our service area? Virtual training is available anywhere and works just as well for many training goals (inquire to book).
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We have a lot of ground to cover in the early sessions — taking a detailed account of your dog's history, health, and previous training, setting goals, and building a foundation. Starting with a package ensures we can provide the continuity needed to actually make progress toward those goals.
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Yes — we call this Homeschool. A trainer comes to your home and trains your dog for you. It's available on any follow-up package. Not every dog is a good fit for Homeschool sessions; your trainer will discuss whether it's the right approach for your dog.
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Most clients do! Follow-up sessions can be purchased individually at $210/hr, or you can save with our discounted 3-, 6-, or 9-session packages above. Your trainer will help you figure out the right pace and volume for your dog.
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Absolutely — puppies and newly adopted dogs are some of our favorite clients to work with. We also offer a virtual Pre-Puppy Consult for families who want to prepare before their puppy arrives home.
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Yes. Veterinary behaviorists around the city and the US consider us trusted referrals for behavior cases. Reactivity, fear-based behaviors, resource guarding, urban anxiety, and other complex issues are all within our scope. If you're unsure whether we're the right fit for your dog's specific situation, reach out — we're happy to guide you.