Village Dogworks

 Price: $450* / 3 visits
* Each session is 90 minutes. Price based in East Village. Additional charges may apply to other neighborhoods

It can be a shock when you bring a new puppy home. Even more when you need to leave them alone to go to work. We can help you set up a program to quickly navigate the difficult journey through puppyhood including house training, crate training, and leaving your pet home alone.

Socialization is another important part of puppyhood however socializing isn't just about meeting others, it includes teaching your puppy how to cope with everyday events such as politely greeting strangers, enjoying car rides, not reacting to traffic noise, bikes & skateboards as well as walking comfortably on lead.

Our Puppy Visits are especially useful for owners who have not raised a puppy in the city before. They will help you understand your puppy's behavior and can reassure you about what is normal.

All Puppy Visits include 3 home visits. Puppy visits also include written notes from your appointment, follow-up calls and the basics of teaching obedience. 

Areas your appointment may cover:

• Housetraining

• Crate Training

• Best Foods

• Play-Biting

• Jumping

• Chewing

• Barking / Attention Seeking Behavior

• Introducing new puppy to other family pets

• Learn to Sit and Down

• Teaching your dog to follow

• Walking on lead

• Handling your dog

• Preparing your dog to be groomed or handled by a vet

• Puppy-proofing your house

• How to leave your dog home alone

 Price: $450* / 3 weeks
(Course is taught in (2) 3 week sessions. Graduation exam & diploma after 6 weeks)
* Each session is 90 minutes. Price based in East Village. Additional charges may apply to other neighborhoods

Basic Obedience is the foundation for all training. In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of positive-based training and formalize your dog's response to the 5 core commands -- Sit, Down, Stay, Come and Heel.Our training methods are kind and constructive, using positive reinforcement to help you succeed. We aim to teach you how to com

This course is a great place for young dogs and puppies (4 months and older) as well as for older dogs who have learned not to listen. In addition, portions of every class are devoted to teaching the techniques to develop perfect leash walking.

Classes meet in your home, at a nearby park or wherever you'd like. We will focus on teaching your dog basic obedience as well as utilizing those skills in the context of your home, learning to walk politely on a leash, or wherever you have an issue. 

Commands Taught:

• Introduction / Fundamentals of Positive Reinforcement

• Timing & Rewards

• One Command / One Action

• Polite Greetings / No Jumping

• Touch (Emergency Reca

• Find Heel (at my left side)

• Leave it

• Sit

• Sit / Stay

• Down

• Down / Stay

• Come

• Heeling (walk at my side without pulling)

 Price: $450* / 3 weeks
(Course is taught in (2) 3 week sessions. Graduation exam & diploma after 6 weeks)
* Each session is 90 minutes. Price based in East Village. Additional charges may apply to other neighborhoods

Intermediate Obedience builds off the foundation of basic. This is a course for people who love working with their dogs -- or who NEED to work with their dog.

This course enables you to further develop training, improve what your dog has learned and introduce new skills which are both useful and enjoyable for you and your dog.

At the Intermediate level, dogs learn to listen and focus on your commands from both the heel position and from a distance. Attention is placed on developing a 100% reliable recall, teaching your dog to walk comfortably at your side as well as working with your dog off-leash.

This class is a must for anyone interested in advanced work with the dog such as certified service dog training, visiting therapy dog, competitive titles or Canine Good Citizen.

Commands Taught:

• Advanced Leash Work

• Heeling (Walk when I walk, sit when I stop)

• Heel (Swing to my side)

• Stay (while dog is moving)

• Long Stays (while I walk away)

• Come (no matter what)

• Down (from a distance)

• Stand

• Distance Work (with all of the above)

• Sequencing (with all of the above)

• Distractions (with all of the above)

 Price: $450* / 3 weeks
(Course is taught in (2) 3 week sessions. Graduation exam & diploma after 6 weeks)
* Each session is 90 minutes. Price based in East Village. Additional charges may apply to other neighborhoods

Teaching Tricks is a great way to keep working with your dog. Many owners find that tricks class helps them develop a stronger bond with their dog as the two of you learn to work as a team. 

Owners improve their communications & handling skills by asking more of their dog — and learn how to  “capture,” “shape” and “mold” desired behaviors. Teaching Tricks is also a great and positive way to increase your dog’s confidence, strength, balance and focus.

Plus, it’s just plain fun. 

Prerequisite for Tricks Class is completion of Basic Obedience.

Tricks Taught:

• Jump Through Hoop

• Paw/Shake

• High Five

• Wave

• Rollover

• Play Dead

• Bang

• Spin Walk

• Weave Through Legs

• Peek-A-Boo

• Commando Crawl

• Speak

• Sit Pretty

• and many more...

 Price: $550* / 3 weeks
* Each session is 90 minutes. Price based in East Village. Additional charges may apply to other neighborhoods

Does your dog have a few issues? Do they hate being alone? Do they bark and lunge at other dogs or strangers? Are they getting into frequent fights at the dog park or bothering your neighbors with nuisance barking?

Fixing problem behaviors can be a great way to forge a positive relationship with your dog and help them overcome their stress to lead a more balanced & comfortable life.

Behavioral Consutlations are designed to work over a three week period so we can measure your dog success through the program. During the consultation, a detailed assessment of the problem will be made and you will be given a prognosis and detailed instructions about the work needed to solve the problem.

Training takes place in your home (or in the environment where it happens) with the owner taking an active role in managing and eliminating the problem.

Common Behavior Problems Include

• Dog vs. Dog Aggression

• Barking at other dogs while on leash

• Separation Anxiety

• Dog vs. Stranger Aggression

• Fear

• Adult House Soiling

• Barking

• Dog Park Issues

• OCD Behavior

• Growling at owners

• Possessiveness around food or valued resources

• Interactions and introductions to children

• And the most common of all: My dog is perfect at home but I can't take him anywhere!

Price:

Private Lessons 10 Visits / $1400

Board & Train 2 weeks / $2500*
* $1000 each additional week

Accelerated Learning

Our Accelerated Training Program lets us do all the work for you. 

Choose Private Lessons and our trainer will visit your dog every day for a minimum 2 weeks.

Choose Board & Train and your dog can stay with us for a minimum of 2 weeks.

Our Accelerated Program is a great option for busy professionals or for your next vacation. We will work intensively every day with your dog for 2-3 weeks. During this time your dog will be socialized with other dogs, learn household manners and top-notch obedience skills.

We’ll send videos during your dog’s training to keep you updated. Plus your attendance is required upon completion to give you instructions on how to best implement your dog's training in your household.

Dog Walking Rates:
1 hour: $35 based on 5 walks per week
* Price based in East Village. Discount for additional dog in same family

Away at work? Village Dogworks can provide your companion with an energetic walk every day

Some dogs enjoy long walks outdoors. Others enjoy closely supervised visits to the local dog park. Still others require a more active workout such as a long run or jog through the park. Or have special needs such as help with walking because of an injury -- or special attention around other dogs or strangers.

All walks are arranged on a private or semi-private basis.

Call today so we can set up an exercise program that's right for your dog:

Overnights: $90
Space Limited. Reserve in advance, especially around the holidays (646) 675-2125
*Priced does not include pick up or delivery

Overnight Pet Sitting

I don't blame you if the thought of leaving your pet overnight in a boarding facility upsets you. It's something I've never done. I have a limited amount of appointments for your dog to stay in my home when you have to be away. 

I do not use cages or kennels unless you prefer that. That means sleeping on the couch, watching TV, playing with other dogs, enjoying lots of exercise and long walks -- in short, all the comforts of home.

Mission

I set up the training program at Village Dogworks to help owners navigate the unique challenges of raising their dog in the urban environment. Dogs in the city tend to be our constant companions hence we need to teach our dogs to walk comfortably at our side as well as navigate greetings inside stores, around other dogs, when they approach children, or when the visit the local dog park.

Biography

Garrett Rosso began training in the spring of 2000. He completed Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of obedience training with his two Rhodesian Ridgebacks —Java & Kai. Wishing to further his understanding of animal behavior, he completed a multi-year apprenticeship in basic and advanced behavior modification training. He is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and regularly attends and teaches seminars on science-based dog training and behavioral methods as well as taking academic courses in the field.

Garrett teaches group and private obedience classes as well as tricks and agility trials. His training and behavioral consultations are always designed for the individual client and come with written diagnosis and comprehensive notes. When appropriate, referrals are made to a board-certified veterinary behavior specialist for medical evaluation. Garrett's special joy is working with reactive dogs or those with behavioral issues (such as fear or separation anxiety) to help reintegrate them into their families and their fellow canine community. Modern dog training is solidly grounded in science and requires no force to shape desirable habits in place of undesirable ones. Most owners find these techniques open a new path of discovery to understanding their dogs and forging a closer bond with them.

In addition to his work as a trainer, Garrett was one of the founders of Friends of First Run -- the first official dog park in New York City. "Friends of First Run" works in conjunction with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation promoting responsible pet ownership throughout the city. Garrett has brought various workshops to NYC parks covering topics from Obedience Training, teaching Agility and Tricks to Spotting Aggression & Safe Handling Practices inside and outside of the dog run. He also promotes a holistic approach to animal care and has presented nutritional workshops which help owners prepare home cooked or raw diets for their dogs.

In 2004, Garrett was invited to speak in front of the New York City Council on the danger stray sidewalk voltage pose to our pets. His group advocated yearly inspections of the city's underground electrical grid which received a unanimous vote by the City Council and passed into law in 2004.

Garrett was the designer and chief fundraiser - and is currently the manager -- of the newly renovated Tompkins Square Dog Run in New York City which is ranked by Dog Fancy Magazine as one of the Top 5 Dog Parks in the country. Garrett has also served on the Board of Directors of the New York Council of Dog Owner Groups (NYCdog) and consults with the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation on the construction, design and renovation of city dog runs.

As an animal advocate, he has appeared on ABC, CBS & NBC News, WPIX, Animal Planet and The Today Show. His writing on animal behavior and dog parks appear in "The Bark" magazine. Garrett is the owner and training director of Village Dogworks