Instinct Dog Behavior & Training, New Jersey and Philadelphia

We adopted a leash reactive, prey driven, approximately 2 year old dog. We did all kinds of training with her. Through it all, while sweet and gentle at home, I still had trouble with her on walks, honestly fearing either she could get hurt, I could get hurt or we both could. Building my confidence with her was essential so that she could feel safe. We eventually worked with Meg Byrne. Something just clicked. Meg got who our girl is and taught me what I needed to do to be able to help all of us enjoy our walks. Miles and miles of thanks to Meg at Instinct Behavior in NJ.

After a dog park incident, we sought professional help at Instinct (Englewood), which was recommended by our dog rescue group. We first had a 15-minute introductory call, followed by a one-hour free consultation session with the trainer, Lauren. To our pleasant surprise, Lauren was already thoroughly familiar with the details we had provided in the pre-filled forms. This allowed her to dive straight into assessing our situation and recommending strategies tailored to our dog's needs, showcasing their dedication to individual dogs. We then enrolled our dog in the Board & Train program, where she received systematic training focused on impulse control from the trainer, Emma. Emma is excellent and extremely skilled in handling our pup. Throughout the program, we received detailed updates and video clips demonstrating the training techniques. After the training, we participated in a Go-Home Lesson upon picking up our dog from camp, followed by another In-Home Coaching session. These sessions provided us with hands-on training in the techniques used during the camp. Our dog has become noticeably calmer and more confident around Emma, and we hope to achieve the same. We started attending their free Canine Good Citizen classes for training alumni to get more structured practice. While there is still a long way to go for both us and our pup, the continuous professional support from the Instinct Team gives us the confidence to succeed.

I worked with Meg Byrne to train our fearful and reactive dog, and it was a wonderful experience for our dog, Lulu, and me. Meg is extremely skilled and extraordinary dog trainer. At first she showed me how to handle Lulu's barking when people enter our home, and it works extremely well, I'm not expecting the barking to stop completely - guarding the house is Lulu's job, after all - but, when I apply the techniques, she calms down a lot faster and warms up to guests a lot more quickly. Meg walked Lulu for the first several visits, all the while narrating to me how to observe Lulu carefully to determine her level of excitement and stop her from reacting and lunging at other dogs and creatures. After several sessions, Meg gave me the leash and coached me during our walks so that I developed the confidence to handle Lulu during reactive moments. The main reason we hired Meg was that Lulu was becoming increasingly reactive to other dogs during our walks, and, at one point, got away from me, pulling me down and attacking another dog. After that, I was terrified to walk her. But Meg's training gave me the confidence to handle Lulu during difficult times, and I now walk her fully knowing that I can handle all situations. I am thrilled that I can make Lulu's life, and mine, a happier one. Meg is also extremely personable, and we chatted non-stop about Lulu, dogs in general and, well, just life during our training sessions. This made the training easy and fun. I cannot thank Meg and Instinct enough, and I could not be more pleased with the results. Folllow-up: Lulu is doing extremely well, and I am now very confident in walking her. Believe it or now, in the last couple of weeks, she walked right by several squirrels WITHOUT LOSING HER MIND!. Oh, she knew she was there, but did not charge them. It was extraordinary. She is also behaving a lot better with guests, and even responds to some recalls when she is in the yard - something she never did before. I can see that she is feeling more relaxed and confident herself. Thanks to Meg and Instinct from the bottom of my heart!!!

From the Staff at Sammy's Hope Animal rescue is difficult and can be emotionally draining, but seeing the once homeless animals thrive in forever homes is what makes it all worth it. Sammy’s Hope takes at-risk animals from overcrowded municipal shelters throughout New Jersey, and we are honored to be part of their journey to finding their forever homes with loving families. There are times we recognize that a dog needs more than the love and attention that is provided by Sammy’s Hope in a shelter environment. Bruno was that dog. We loved him dearly but realized that his anxiety limited his attention span and ability to focus. He simply could not settle down and did not know what to do with all his emotions. Sammy’s Hope enrolled Bruno in the Board and Train program at Instinct Dog Behavior and Training, Englewood. The staff at Instinct provided Bruno with consistency and taught him the skills necessary to be the absolute best version of himself! Within a few short weeks we saw the difference in Bruno! He became much more focused and attentive. Shortly after completing training, Bruno was adopted! He lives in Brooklyn and vacations in Florida – an incredibly happy dog indeed! All of us at Sammy’s Hope are so grateful for the knowledge and expertise that the professionals at Instinct Dog Behavior and Training, Englewood possess! Instinct Dog Behavior and Training, Englewood is an invaluable resource for animals with challenging behaviors.