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Tuesday 5pm - 8pm Wednesday 10am - 8pm Thursday 10am - 8pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Gonzo Dog

Gonzo Dog R+/FF Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) specializing in fear, reactivity, aggression

Gonzo Dog is a fully insured, certified CPDT-KA dog trainer, utilizing positive reinforcement methods and explaining animal behavior in a way that you can understand. It's incredibly difficult to train your own dog with the owner/pet bond, so contacting me to come in and offer my experience and knowledge will provide insight and guidance as to how to work more in harmony with your dog. I offer tra

ining services that range from puppy to advanced, potty training to roll over and play dead. Our trainer has a decade of experience training and handling, and has both the patience and persistence to get you and your dog working together in sync. Visit our website for rates, or contact us for a consultation and let us know what we can do to make your pet's life happier!

03/31/2025

When people meet my dog Smithers, the first thing out of my mouth is usually “please don’t judge my training skills based on my own dog” 😅 as he jumps up to hug them (with permission).

Why? Because I have different criteria for my dog. We work WITH his natural behavior, we don’t suppress it.

And that’s kind of how I’ve always approached dog training as a professional.

I LOVE dog personalities!! I have no desire to suppress them! I want your dog to be the normal, goofy, silly, and yes sometimes even “naughty” dog that you fell in love with!

Somewhere along the way, we were conditioned to believe that a “good dog” is one who barely acts like a dog at all. That’s a tough (and unrealistic!) expectation - for US and them.

Dogs acting like dogs is perfect to them. They’re just being who they are!

Rather than suppressing their natural instincts, the first thing I look for is what your dog likes and how we can meet that need in a safer, more welcomed way. You’d be amazed how much can change when you give a dog healthy outlets to express their natural behaviors!

Then we can focus on teaching alternative behaviors that fit better into both of your lives.

What’s something you love (and maybe don’t love) about your dog’s personality? Drop it in the comments!

[ID: black text on white background, slide one reads “One thing I will NEVER do as a dog trainer…;” slide two reads “…is train the personality out of your dog. Read caption for more info.”]

03/03/2025

I never thought virtual training could effectively match in-person sessions. How could it?! Then 2020 changed everything - and I learned dog behavior consulting actually transcends my physical presence!

The simple truth is: I’m not training your dog. I’m training YOU to train your dog!

I can teach a dog to do just about anything, but that means very little if YOU can’t get your dog to do the same. So I teach YOU the principles of positive reinforcement, the knowledge of canine body language and science, and the technical skills to make behavior change possible.

Imagine learning those skills, not just for your dog’s lifetime - but for your own!

And thanks to technology, I can virtually coach you anywhere: on walks, in your car, at the vet, leaving your home with separation anxiety (where me NOT being there is a GOOD thing!)… I can even demo things from my end with Smitty (although Cbass was KING of demo-ing)!

Some people question why I do all my consultations virtually, and it’s because I can get all the information I need and start teaching you what to do - without pushing a dog over threshold (out of the learning state) with my presence.

In fact, I train skills virtually to prepare a dog for my presence in advance, setting them up for success with in-person sessions!

Though I have relocated and I’m relaunching in-person sessions soon, I will still be virtually consulting because I know now that virtual training is just as effective - if not more, in certain cases! - as having me there in the flesh (pun intended, lol).

Still skeptical? Drop your questions in the comments or email me - let’s chat!

[ID in alt text or DM for transcript]

02/14/2025

Caption this:
Also shout out to my ole pal 👋 I was looking for songs to match this pic and I thought, this needs a Willie Ev Jr. jam!
[ID: Smitty, a tan and white dog, curled up on white comforter on a beige corduroy sofa with his front legs crossed and tucked underneath him so it looks like he’s folding his arms and mad]

01/21/2025

As I was sitting here this morning trying to motivate myself to post one of the many ideas I’ve written down while taking a break from social media, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it… I reminded myself: I’m doing the best I can right now.

And I think that’s something all of us need to be reminded of, frequently. We are living in unprecedented times and we have seen and are living through more than any human should have to bear. And that’s for those of us who have actually managed to stay alive.

Please take care of yourselves. Nourish your bodies and your mind. Take breaks from the social media and news. Play with your dog. Pet them, cuddle them. Breathe. Cry. Scream into the void. Build community.

We are still here. And we’re all doing the best that we can.

Not to turn this into a sales pitch, but I am opening a few slots in the books so if there’s anything I can do to help you manage life with your dog and make things easier, happier, more fulfilling… Please don’t hesitate to send me an email. I have new services and sliding scale spots so there really is something for everyone.

I love you all. I see you, and I know you’re doing your best 🫂

[ID: white cartoon bubble on red and maroon vortex striped background; black text reads: you’re doing your best; text below reads: read caption]
and

12/16/2024

These simple words changed my perspective forever. (From my dear friend !! 💗)

I first want to quickly state that this doesn’t mean that I’m the cause of my dog’s problems, and it doesn’t mean that you’re the cause of your dog’s problems either.

Also “needy” (my own word, reflected back to me) is a gross construct because we all have needs to be met and there is no shame in that.

A little background: Smithers gets very anxious (hyperactive, unable to relax, “needing” my attention) while I’m on phone calls and video sessions.

On this particular day, I was in the middle of an energy session - and Smithers was more stressed than usual so I (probably) was apologizing for his “neediness” when Ellen changed my whole perspective with one simple sentence:

“Smithers isn’t needy, he’s responsive.”

[insert mind blowing up here] 🤯🤯🤯

Most of my phone and video calls present some kind of uptick in emotions for me - whether it’s virtual therapy sessions for myself, phone calls with friends or virtual behavior sessions where I’m holding space for my human clients’ emotions about their own dog’s behavioral issues and the impacts they have.

Picking up the phone or tablet and starting to talk can be very emotional and Smitty RESPONDS to that.

Instead of adding more stress and emotions to my own plate, scrambling to suppress everything happening, it has now become a reminder to me to BREATHE and recenter. Just a few moments to re-situate and reassure Smithers can be all it takes for me to remember to acknowledge my own feelings rather than suppressing them.

Tl;dr: words matter. How we frame things matters. Behavior is communication.

[ID: black text on white background, reading “your dog isn’t needy… he’s responsive”]

12/06/2024

PSA from Smithers. Any questions?

If you need gift ideas, I think this sticker from would be appreciated by any guardian of a doggo with reactive behavior! It even comes in a G-rated version 🤫 Use code GONZO10 for 10% off your order!

[ID: closeup of Smithers, a tan and white dog, his head hanging low with a serious look next to a blue sticker that says “live, laugh, leash your fu***ng dog”]

07/01/2024

Hot Tip!! Literally, because summer is already turning the heat waaay up 🔥

When it’s too hot for more than a potty walk outside, there’s so much that we can accomplish indoors! Summer is one of my favorite seasons to train because it:

🔥 Starts indoors with a controlled environment for optimal learning

🔥 Builds a solid foundation to grow those skills outside once it cools

🔥 Explores other canine needs and burns energy right in your home

So no more worries about your dog not getting enough exercise, overheating or driving you bananas. Let’s get creative and explore indoor types of enrichment to keep your dog safe, happy and fulfilled.

Excited to announce that my books are OPEN for new virtual clients! Even though I’m still figuring out where to relocate (open to suggestions in comments!), this break has allowed me to add new services AND… **drum roll**

A Sliding Scale!! Many thanks to for their inspiring work 💖

Hit the link in bio to learn more and get started! Stay cool out there and let’s make the most of this heat with indoor fun!

[id: first slide is neon text on a black background; remaining slides are white and red text on black background; full transcript in alt text]

03/12/2024

Wow guys… it’s been so long since I’ve posted that we have new filters 🫠

First, if you’re still here - THANK YOU! To all my clients who stuck with me through this and keep coming back - THANK YOU!!!!

The last few years have been wild to say the least. A few months after losing Cbass in 2021, I began experiencing chronic illness. I did what I’ve always done and tried to work through the symptoms for over a year - while also going through dozens of doctors, specialists and tests - but sadly it just kept getting worse.

My body was FORCING me to stop and listen, so I bid farewell to my apartment and business in NYC and moved to the country to figure out how to heal. After dozens more doctors, specialists, tests and procedures… it turned out to be what my gut told me from the start:

STRESS and DEPRESSION. I was majorly burned out 😔

I’ve been on a huge healing journey and I’m happy to say things are starting to feel “normal” again. I’m easing back into work with new clients and making sure to maintain a personal balance for effectiveness and my health.

Not saying the stress is gone! I am currently looking for a new home and place to rebuild my business which is a lot 🙀 I’m working on some new things (website, business model and services, etc). Some of the newer services - like video analysis! - are already up on the current website.

I have missed you guys and DOGS so much (I have *not* missed social media - working to find the balance there too), but I’m still around! Working to bring an upgraded version of myself and my services to assist you with your doggos!

Tl;dr: I was sick from stress. I’m feeling better! I’m slowly coming back to behavior consulting but there are lots of new things to figure out. I love you all and thanks for hanging with me.

ID: Jack Nicholson from The Shining with his face sticking through a hole in the door; b/w text above reads “heeere’s an update…”; background is red and maroon vortex stripes.

Address

New York, NY

Opening Hours

Tuesday	5pm - 8pm
Wednesday	10am - 8pm
Thursday	10am - 8pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Website

http://www.gonzodogtraining.com/

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Our Story

Gonzo Dog is a fully insured, experienced dog trainer, utilizing positive reinforcement methods and explaining animal behavior in a way that you can understand to modify your dog’s issues. It's incredibly difficult to train your own dog with the owner/pet bond, so contacting me to come in and offer my experience and knowledge will provide insight and guidance as to how to work more in harmony with your dog. We offer training services that range from puppy to advanced, potty training to roll over and play dead. Our trainer has over a decade of experience training and handling, and has both the patience and persistence to get you and your dog working together in sync. Visit our website for rates, or contact us for a consultation and let us know what we can do to make your pet's life happier! (Gonzo Dog also offers cat visits in the Bedstuy/Prospect Heights/Crown Heights/PLG areas)