Official AKC Puppy Partner
Raise your puppy right with our
Puppy Foundations and AKC STAR Puppy Program
Click to see our AKC accreditation listing
Meet Mary, the founder of Puppy Foundations! She’s dedicated to helping your puppy grow into a friendly and wellhaved companion. Start your puppy off right with Mary’s expertise for a solid foundation in training Let’s begin this exciting journey together! Manhattan's, Upper East Side's favorite dog trainer!
Watch us in action at Instagram,
FaceBook and YouTube
Please view this site from a desktop computer to see all the information on the site.
Private In-Home or Outdoors Lessons
Puppy Foundations I
Puppy Foundations II
Adult Dog Programs
Behavior Modification
More Information
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Local Dog Trainer in Manhattan
Rates That Support Our Pet-Owning Community
Start Training with Us Next Week
Click on the certification images to go to the website listings for verification.
Tara's School for Dogs
HAPPY DOGS & HAPPY PET PARENTS * HAPPY PET PARENTS & HAPPY DOGS
Specializing in Private Dog Training in Manhattan on the Upper East Side
Customized Training and Behavior Modification
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Lessons will be customized to your specific training needs in a way that best fits the way you and your dog learn. There is no better way to start life with a new puppy than with the guidance of a professional trainer that can help you raise your puppy into the best dog possible. If you have a senior or disabled dog, training can be tailored to their needs. Let me show you how to teach an old dog new tricks!
Puppy Foundations 1, Puppy Foundations 2, Individualized Adult Classes
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American Kennel Club Certificates are now offered for Puppies and Dogs.
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Advance AKC Urban CGC
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Our private family dog training class will offer the opportunity to work as a team in training your dog. Not only will you enhance the human-animal bond between your family and your dog, but it will also give you a happier, well-behaved dog that you can do more with. All household members impact the dog's behavior, making that a positive experience by training the family dog as a team.​ Use the contact form for more information.
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Behavior Modification
Behavior modification techniques can help change unwanted behaviors in your dog. Behaviors such as jumping, barking, resource guarding and separation anxiety can be treated by use of behavior modification techniques. This approach to changing unwanted behaviors uses management, desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques.
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Private Lesson Locations - Why One on One, Private Lessons are Best
We offer private lessons, in-Home, out-doors or remote over Zoom. Each location offers its unique benefits in terms of the environment it affords your dog and you. When you purchase a package of classes you may use a different location for classes. We will discuss and decide which is best for you and your dog or puppy. For indoor locations, we are requesting that humans wear a mask and maintain a distance. Remember at Tara's School for Dogs having fun and loving the human-animal bond is required!
Instruction is Always Individualized
It's important that socialization occurs during this critical period of development that starts at 8 weeks and ends between 13 to 16 weeks of age. There is no substitution for intensive and ongoing socialization for your puppy during this critical period of development. Puppy socialization is fun and easy when we guide you through various activities to ensure you and your puppy get it right. It's not just about meeting other dogs and people, puppy playdates, or group classes. Think about puppy socialization not only in terms of interactions with other puppies or people but, as experiencing new things, learning about the outside environment, and enjoying enrichment activities. As a pet parent, you'll only get one chance to get this right as it's occurring only during this phase of puppy development. The weeks of the critical puppy socialization period will fly by more quickly than you can imagine. So make the most of it by training as soon as your new puppy arrives.
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At Tara's School for dogs we help make puppy socialization easy, fun, and effective.
Puppy Stages of Development on AKC website
Puppy & Adult
Problem Solving and Behavior Modification
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Problems in puppies and adults can come up in response to changes in the environment, daily routines or physical illness. It may be important to first rule out any underlying medical issues with a visit to the veterinarian.
Common problems include: Barking, Separation Anxiety, Chewing, Leash Pulling, Nipping, Resource Guarding, Jumping, House Accidents,etc. First we'll determine the underlying causes of your puppy or dog's issues and then decide on the best management and training methods to address them. Sign up on our BLOG for more helpful tips!
Dogs must be vaccinated according to their age and have documentation from a veterinarian. Titers are acceptable proof of immunity, rabies as per New York State Law. Please see resources and Protect the Pets for more information about vaccines and immunity.
Click on a dog below to see our Google Reviews
These position statements were developed through the cooperation of the members of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) and reflect the opinion of this association on a variety of topics related to the field of animal behavior. At Tara's School for Dogs we adhere to these postions.
The Primary and most important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life.1, 2 During this time puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely and without causing over-stimulation manifested as excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behavior. For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated
Choosing a dog trainer can be one of the most important decisions that you make in your dog’s life. The techniques that a trainer uses can strongly affect how you interact with your dog for years to come. Therefore, it is very important to choose your trainer wisely. Look for these characteristics among others:
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Reward-based training
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Good teacher
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Continual education
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Respectful
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Links to more Resources
What animals are thinking and feeling, and why it should matter | Carl Safina | TEDxMidAtlantic
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. In addition to maintaining its pedigree registry there's loads of helpful information for pet owners of any dog, mixed breed or purebreed. Click AKC Logo for more.
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Dr. Karen Becker, a proactive and integrative veterinarian,
discusses neutering or spaying pets. To watch Dr. Becker's discussion click the dog!
When should I spay or neuter my puppy vs should I spay or neuter my puppy?
Click on TEDEd to watch a video
Dogs see with their noses!
You may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their noses.’ But these creature’s amazing nasal architecture actually reveals a whole world beyond what we can see. Alexandra Horowitz illustrates how the dog’s nose can smell the past, the future and even things that can’t be seen at all.
Vaccines are necessary to protect your pet against deadly diseases. Please click the logo to learn more about Titer Testing. It's a test which can determine if your dog still has immunity from a past vaccine before giving a booster. Click for the scientific literature.
When vaccines are needed consider a dose based on the weight of the pet.
Click here for more information about correct dosing.
Titers are very affordable. Click here to learn more about labs and costs.
