New York and Brooklyn each have 40 trainers listed, the most of any city in New York state, out of 336 trainers spread across 175 cities. 288 have a Bark Score. 107 are labelled Force-free, 19 Balanced and 10 E-collar-centric, and 200 don't state their methods. The CPDT-KA credential is held by 36 trainers here. Instinct Dog Behavior & Training in New York has a Bark Score of 4.8.
Find the right trainer in New York
Ranked by member recommendations, then Bark Score. Narrow the list down to what your dog needs.
Of the 40 trainers in Brooklyn, 17 say they train force-free, 1 balanced, 1 e-collar-centric and 21 don’t say how they train. 27 offer private lessons, 13 group classes and 12 online. 9 name a credential such as CPDT-KA.
Of the 40 trainers in New York, 21 say they train force-free, 1 balanced, 2 e-collar-centric and 16 don’t say how they train. 26 offer private lessons, 19 group classes and 6 online. 13 name a credential such as CPDT-KA.
Of the 6 trainers in Rochester, 3 say they train force-free and 3 don’t say how they train. 3 offer private lessons, 3 group classes and 1 board and train.
Of the 5 trainers in Astoria, 5 say they train force-free. 5 offer private lessons, 3 day training and 2 group classes. 3 name a credential such as KPA-CTP.
Of the 5 trainers in Syracuse, 2 say they train force-free, 1 balanced and 2 don’t say how they train. 3 offer private lessons, 1 group classes and 1 online.
Of the 4 trainers in Albany, 2 say they train force-free and 2 don’t say how they train. 3 offer private lessons, 3 group classes and 1 board and train. 2 name a credential such as IACP.
What the 336 trainers listed in New York offer, how to check them, and what to ask before you book.
01
What training methods do dog trainers in New York use?
Of the 336 trainers listed in New York, 107 say they train force-free, 19 balanced, 10 e-collar-centric, and 200 don’t say how they train.
It’s worth knowing a trainer’s method before you book, rather than finding out in the first session. Every trainer on this page carries one of four labels, and nobody is hidden because of their method:
Force-free
Rewards and positive reinforcement, with no aversive tools such as prong, choke or shock collars.
Balanced
Rewards combined with corrections when a dog gets something wrong.
E-collar-centric
Training built around an electronic collar.
Not stated
The listing doesn’t say, and we couldn’t check it yet.
If a trainer’s method isn’t stated, ask them what happens when a dog gets something wrong. Their answer will tell you more than any label.
02
How do you check a dog trainer’s qualifications in New York?
Look for an independent credential. 47 of the 336 trainers listed here name one on their listing.
A credential doesn’t guarantee a good trainer, but it means someone outside their business has tested what they know. That’s why credentials make up a quarter of the Bark Score.
The credentials held by trainers in New York:
CPDT-KA (36 trainers)
Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed, from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Passed an independent exam on training and behaviour, after logging hours of training experience. Kept up with continuing education.
KPA-CTP (6 trainers)
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, from the Karen Pryor Academy. Completed the academy’s dog trainer programme, which teaches reward-based training, and passed its practical assessments.
IACP (4 trainers)
International Association of Canine Professionals, from the International Association of Canine Professionals. A membership association for dog professionals. It also runs its own certifications, so ask which one, if any, the trainer holds.
CBCC-KA (3 trainers)
Certified Behavior Consultant Canine, Knowledge Assessed, from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Passed an exam focused on behaviour problems such as fear, aggression and anxiety, after logging hours of behaviour consulting.
IAABC-ADT (1 trainer)
Accredited Dog Trainer, from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Accredited by IAABC after a review of their training knowledge and case work.
CPDT-KSA (1 trainer)
Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge and Skills Assessed, from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). As the CPDT-KA, plus a hands-on assessment of their training skills.
03
Private lessons, group classes or board and train: which suits your dog?
It depends on the problem and on how much time you can give it. In New York, private lessons are offered by 184 trainers, and group classes by 140.
Private lessons (184 trainers)
One to one with the trainer, so the whole session goes on your dog’s problem. A good fit for a specific issue, or a dog who can’t cope around other dogs yet.
Group classes (140 trainers)
A class with other dogs and owners. Your dog learns to listen around distractions, though each dog gets less of the trainer’s time.
Board and train (74 trainers)
Your dog stays with the trainer for a set time and is trained for you. Ask how they will hand the skills over, because a dog who listens to the trainer won’t automatically listen to you at home.
In your home (50 trainers)
The trainer comes to you, so you work on problems where they happen: at the front door, in the yard or on your usual walk.
Online (46 trainers)
Sessions by video call. Handy for puppy questions and coaching you between visits, harder for problems a trainer needs to see in person.
Day training (37 trainers)
You drop your dog off and pick them up the same day, with the trainer working with them in between. Ask how many handover sessions with you are included.
Whichever you choose, the training only sticks if you practise between sessions, so ask what you’ll need to do at home and how long it should take each day.
04
What can a dog trainer in New York help with?
243 of the 336 trainers listed in New York help with basic obedience, 194 with recall and 188 with leash pulling.
Fewer take on behaviour problems: 68 list reactivity, 53 list aggression, 49 list fear and 43 list separation anxiety. 3 hold a behaviour credential (CBCC-KA or IAABC-CDBC), which means they’ve been tested on exactly this kind of work.
If the behaviour is new, or your dog has started growling, snapping or hiding, see your vet before you book a trainer. Pain and illness can cause behaviour changes, and a good trainer will ask about it anyway.
05
What should you ask a dog trainer before you book?
Ask these before you pay for anything. A good trainer will be happy to answer all of them.
1How do you train, and what happens when a dog gets something wrong?
2What training or credentials do you have?
3Have you worked with dogs like mine, with this problem?
4What does it cost, and how many sessions are included?
5What will I need to practise between sessions?
6What support do I get once the sessions are over?
Questions people ask
How many dog trainers in New York train force-free?
107 of the 336 trainers listed in the state are labelled Force-free. 19 are Balanced and 10 are E-collar-centric. The remaining 200 don't state their methods, so it is worth asking them directly before you book.
Which credentials do trainers here hold?
The most common credential is CPDT-KA, held by 36 trainers. 6 hold KPA-CTP, 4 list IACP and 3 hold CBCC-KA. Credentials make up 25% of the Bark Score.
Where in the state are the trainers?
The two biggest groups are in New York and Brooklyn, with 40 trainers each. Rochester has 6, and Astoria and Syracuse have 5 each. Trainers are listed in 175 cities across the state in total.
How much does dog training cost in New York?
We don’t show prices for New York yet, because none of the 336 trainers listed here publish prices on their listing, and we’d rather show you nothing than a guess. When you ask for a quote, check how long each session is, how many sessions are included, and whether help after the program ends is part of the price.
How many dog trainers in New York offer board and train?
74 of the 336 trainers listed in New York offer board and train, where your dog stays with the trainer for a set time. 37 offer day training instead, where you drop your dog off and pick them up the same day.
Can I find a dog trainer in New York who trains online?
Yes. 46 trainers based in New York also train online by video call, so you can work with them wherever you live in the state.
Are there dog trainers in New York who help with reactive or aggressive dogs?
Yes. 68 trainers listed in New York help with reactivity and 53 with aggression. 3 hold a behaviour credential (CBCC-KA or IAABC-CDBC). Filter the list above by what you need help with to see them.
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