About Hair of the Dog

Hair of the Dog is a Brooklyn dog training and pet care company based out of Gowanus at 142 10th St. It describes itself as small, boutique and woman-owned, has called Brooklyn home since 2005, and states it is insured, bonded, professionally CATCH certified in dog training and CPR/first-aid certified.

Who does the training

Andrea, the founder, is the CATCH Canine Certified Trainer and works with owner and dog one to one. Her background is published in full: a Philadelphia native who made her home in Brooklyn over fifteen years ago, a BA in urban planning from the University of Pittsburgh and an MS in education from Brooklyn College, with teaching experience in a local preschool and in public elementary schools. She holds a Dog Walking Academy certification and is an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator.

What the training covers, and what it costs

The named problems are leash walking and reactivity, manners and obedience, two-dog household introductions, recall and separation distress. Private sessions are $180 each, with three for $510 and five for $825, both packages carrying published expiry windows.

Puppy packages

For puppies from eight weeks to five months there are three- and five-session in-home packages at $480 and $700. The published curriculum is specific: how dogs learn and how to communicate with them, the importance of socialization, cooperative care techniques, play, crate training, creating structured alone time, house training, nipping and biting, and jumping. A pre-puppy consult for people still deciding on a dog is $150.

Alongside the training

Small-group walking runs about thirty minutes at $24 for twenty minutes and $34 for thirty, with published surcharges for second dogs, evenings, weekends and early mornings, plus state sales tax – a rate card with no hidden edges. Personalized boarding is also offered. Walks are used as training time too: the stated aim is to instil good leash manners and urban etiquette while the dog is out.