Never ever did I think I would require the services of a dog therapist! Ha. Yet here we are... and Malia is worth her weight in gold. I had been fostering a special needs puppy. And for 3 weeks straight I only had 2 hrs of sleep per night, in addition to the puppy's extreme anxiety and constant need for my engagement. He also kept making himself sick and eating his poop as a really unusual stress response. I heard good things about Malia and I needed someone who would feel safe coming to my home during the pandemic. Enter tough-as-nails-take-no-shit Malia. After our first consultation, she had sleeping tips that literally changed my (daily) life. I have been sleeping 6-8 hrs a night ever since our first visit and it's been almost a month by now... In our second visit, she helped my dog play on a leash, something I spent 3 weeks practicing with absolutely NO success. Ever since our second session, he has been happy with his leash and well behaved. This review really sounds too good to be true and I wouldn't believe it either if I read it. But I shit you not, this is not some snake oil salesman scheme to get you to spend money on a dog therapist (hell, you probably don't even spend money on your own therapist, am I right??) Fast forward several sessions and now he plays outside, stopped eating his poops, doesn't even try to eat other poops on the sidewalk, climbs the stairs, and even puts himself to bed for nap time. What a good boy! While he isn't perfect, and he requires A LOT of human effort, he's doing much better than anyone ever expected from a little guy born with so many major issues/disabilities. read more

Raise the Woof - Malia's magic - Pet Training Near Me

I can't thank Justis enough for helping me build a better relationship with my dog. Shia was rescued in March from a hoarding situation where she'd obviously never had a human love her. I adopted her in July and it was a few weeks before I could pet her...and a few more before she'd look me in the eye. She'd warmed up a lot by December but after a few dramatic escapes in the suburbs, I knew I needed more help. The difference was instantaneous - after the initial online consultation, I could feel that there was a shift in how she saw me. After a few more sessions, I can now say I have a pet instead of a needy roommate. This was the best investment I could have made in our future together and I'll be singing Justis' praises for a long time to come. read more

Raise the Woof - Pet Training Near Me

If I could give Malia Stevens 10 stars I would! She is a skilled and talented trainer, and so compassionate with both pups and their moms! There were a few instances where I was overwhelmed as a first time dog mom and she talked me through all. My little Boston Terrier Zellie adored her -- and would take Malia's shoe into her bed so Malia wouldnt leave! Her style of training encourages you to set your dog up for success, which makes them eager to learn. Malia encouraged me to video her during some training sessions so I'd have something to refer to when she wasn't there. I thought that was a brilliant suggestion. We still keep in touch with Malia and want her to be part of our lives. read more

Raise the Woof Dog Training is amazing! I am so thankful to Malia for working with me and my dog, Harry. Malia is patient, kind, understanding and is always available to answer questions or walk you through any issue that arises while working with your dog. I felt very overwhelmed with Harry's issues before contacting Raise the Woof, but Malia has helped to make Harry's quality of life better and she has taught me so much about dog behavior and she has given me the tools so that I feel my situation is much more manageable. I recommend Raise the Woof to any dog owner! read more

Professional yet personal dog trainers that really truly care! My pup Fiona was over the moon every time Malia came over for a session, and I learned a ton about how to make her a happier pup. Malia's advice was thoughtful, generous, and excellent. I couldn't recommend this more. read more

Raise the Woof - Fiona's first outdoor cafe visit went so well. Thanks Malia! - Pet Training Near Me

I adopted a 7-year-old Border Collie, Evelyn. She had been found wandering in the woods in a rural area, on lead, fifteen pounds underweight. NYC was overwhelming, the noise, the amount of people, but the worst was her dog reactivity: growling, lunging, barking, freezing. We couldn't move a foot from my building. I panicked. I didn't see how it could get better but here we are now--she walks easily and does not react to any dog, even if that dog barks and lunges at her. I saw the change almost immediately, within a week. It was a miracle, some might think. No, it was Malia, who in and of herself is a miracle with her sweetness, her practicality, her desire to make it all doable no matter what the problem, to encourage, to never castigate or strong-arm or patronize. Malia gives you everything she has and does it in such a loving and enthusiastic and positive way that you feel wonderful, spectacular, like going to field day as the miserable loner sitting far back on the sidelines in the bleachers but ending up on the podium with an unexpected glorious first prize. She made us champions. She saved us. We will be forever in her debt. read more

I wish I could give them more than 5 stars. After a so so training experience using one of the big retailers, we worked with Malia to correct a behavioral issue with our rescue dog. After just one session (no joke), Malia gave us a training plan, an evaluation and homework. And 7 days later, our dog's issue was fully corrected and hasn't been an issue since. I couldn't be more pleased. read more

I was fortunate enough to run into someone in Central Park when I was looking for a new dog trainer. This stranger's description of Justis at Raise the Woof really fit the bill: humane, sane, effective (my last trainer was disorganized and dicey)... The moment Justis entered my apartment (this, pre-COVID), I knew I had struck pay dirt. She was upbeat, but grounded, kind, but professional. In no time she had my dog doing exercises that I then practiced and succeeded with on my own. I have posted his many accomplishments on Facebook, I'm that proud. During COVID (pre vaccinations) we worked remotely, and Alistair (my Havanese) earned both his "Novice" and "Intermediate" Trick Dog status! We are ready now to apply for Advanced! - not a bad way to pass the time while waiting for better days on the upper West Side! read more

Raise the Woof - Alistair, my Havanese and Love! - Pet Training Near Me

My long time girlfriend and I just purchased the first dog either of us has owned in our adult lives. We'd read books, watched YouTube videos, and we felt that we had sufficiently prepared our apartment for a pet. However, when the day finally came to pick up our new puppy, we quickly found ourselves overwhelmed in spite of all the prep. We were fortunate enough to hastily schedule a Zoom session with Malia (per a neighbor's high recommendation). After just an hour with her, we felt instantly more secure and confident in our ability to train and socialize our puppy. Additionally, twenty-four hours after that first session, we began to see fast improvements in some of our dog's behavior that had been most frustrating to us before we met Malia. We're so excited to keep working with her, and we can't recommend her highly enough! read more

Malia was so helpful with easing my concerns as a first time dog adopter. Her expertise, advice, advice, and thoroughness helped me and my rescue get on a schedule and get her acclimated to her new home. Malia is accessible, kind, and professional and I will be recommending her to everyone I know! read more

We had a total of about twenty training sessions with Justis. Our dog Nessie is so much better behaved than before we started with Justis. Before our first appointment, I thought our dog was just one of those "difficult dogs" that was too stubborn to listen to commands. She strained on the leash, she freaked out at squirrels and golf carts, she chewed on the couch as soon as our back were turned. Within 5 minutes of our first appointment, Justis got our dog walking nicely by Justis' side on the sidewalk and looking at Justis for permission before crossing streets. Of course, it took a bit longer for Justis to teach us how to get our dog to behave like that for us, and a bit longer after that to get our dog to stay calm in busier environments, but still, it was immediately obvious that Justis knew what she was doing. Justis gave us a lot of useful advice on training the dog to stop chewing - she had a ton of strategies for redirection and a lot of tips for humanely, non-physically punishing the dog when all else fails. We also dedicated a number of sessions to acclimating Nessie to the horses. Some of these were just Justis and the dog and others involved my wife and me as well. At first, our dog would literally flip out when seeing the horse-drawn carriages in Central Park; she would start jumping up in the air and contorting herself every which way. Justis showed us training techniques for desensitizing the dog. We gradually exposed the dog more to the horses, giving her lots of treats, while keeping a tight hand on the leash or even keeping the leash tied to a bench. Now Nessie will walk right alongside a horse on the bridle bath and seems pretty indifferent to their presence. Our life with our dog has become much more pleasant thanks to Justis. We can not recommend her enough. read more

Anytime I hear anyone say they are having issues with their dog I immediately share Malia's information. I have a rescue, he's around 8 years old. He was a pretty bad abuse case and had a bunch of behavioral issues including being aggressive towards men. Malia was recommended by the rescue. I grew up with all kinds of dogs and thought I knew what I was doing, but boy was i wrong! Malia taught me so much about reading my dog, understanding where and when he would be successful and when he would not. She has thought me so many techniques to keep him calm, distracted, busy and most importantly happy! I don't think Noah or I would have been successful without Malia. She has a world of knowledge, you will learn so much from her! She is also the most incredible person, she really cares about dogs, i can't recommend her enough. read more

If it was not for Malia I may have given away my most precious girl. I rescued a little zuchon that was kept too long in a puppy mill. She had severe separation issues from the getko and seemed would never get potty trained. At the time I got her I had a shit tzu maltese mix that was 10 years old and so well behaved. Cgc certified and all. The first trainer I contacted for Leah thought he could help me by banging pots and shaking my little 8 pound dog. Then came Malia. Calmly step by step helping me to rehabilitate this little girl. 9 months later my other dog suddenly arrested. And my Leah blossomed into a terrific little girl. Smarter than my past 2 dogs. Perfectly potty trained. Does agility. Jumps through hula hoops. Just follow her on instagram @leahspirt and you will see what I mean. Thank you Malia!!!! read more

I've worked with Justis for just one session (!) and I'm already seeing improvement in my barky, very leash-aggressive terrier rescue. She came prepared with a homework sheet for Baxter (and us!), various educational tools, and was super hands on in decoding Baxter's "language" as well as working with us on walks. I've heard so many people tell me that their trainers wanted them to purchase a 10-pack of sessions in order to really make improvements. In one session, Justis gave us the tools we need for now, and told us to keep in touch once we're ready to move on to the next issue. Our vet, City Veterinarian on 72nd, recommended her to us, and I am forever grateful! Thank you Justis for making both me and Baxter less anxious on walks! read more

I can't say enough good things about Justis. She is knowledgable articulate and thorough. Having a dog with issues can be stressful and isolating, and Justis's patience is so reassuring. She is a thoughtful listener who truly understands dog behavior, and is generous with her advice and time. She knows how to communicate with both dogs and their people in a way that is positive, encouraging and most of all effective. Justis offers manageable advice and exercises for seemingly big issues, you will see results if you follow her guidance. She is giving me the tools to help my very timid puppy gain confidence and learn to be alone. I'm so happy with his progress, and so happy to have found Justis. read more

Best trainer! Patient,dedicated, and reachable. Trainers I worked with in the past were never available when I needed it or had a question. Not Justis, she is prompt and extremely courteous. Justis works with you and your dog. No challenge is too big. She transformed my terrier rescue, Maxwell, from a leash reactive terror (barking and lounging at dogs big and small) to an attentive student, who gets complimented on his manners and can pass dogs and greet a dog when appropriate. Justis creates a plan for you and your dog. Training is work, so be prepared to do your homework. Maxwell wouldn't be where he is today without Raise the Woof! read more

Raise the Woof - Maxwell working for his treats, post a "go to your bed" command - Pet Training Near Me

Have known Justis for over 3 years and worked with her for 2+ (stupid cross country move) (mine, not hers.), and I have to say she is simply amazing. I learned more about animal behavior working alongside Justis 2-4 times a week than I did working full time at a veterinary medicine clinic for over a year. I have seen her coax dogs of all ages out of their shells time and again, setting them up for success with amazing training drills (check out the RtW Facebook Page for squee-worthy videos and pictures) and boosting their self-confidence so that they walk with heads high, an easy stride, & tails at a lazy wag as they traverse the streets of Manhattan. Any person and their pet would be extremely well-served by spending quality time with this top-notch trainer. A very conscious and clear communicator, her capacity for caring is off the charts. read more

Justis was a Real Estate client of mine, we became friends along the way and then I became her client. I have a 13 year old Jack Russell who has basic training, and I didn't think additional training can work on my boy, but Justis proved me wrong. Moving into Manhattan was a big transition for my dog, he has anxiety and was scared to walk in the streets. With her training and advice, his anxiety has decreased, his walks became bearable and she also taught him new tricks with clicker training. He did very well with it, he is 16 now - the saying is wrong, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, with the right trainer Also, I've had the opportunity to get to know and love her beloved dog - who is the best, does every trick in the book and has the best personality. He's also a senior dog and still learning new things Since we now live in the same building, I've also met some dogs that she has done in-home training with and they have all been the sweetest! Because some are repeats I've personally witnessed their growth as well I recommend her to all of my Real Estate clients & friends who have dogs Thanks Justis! Wishing you lots of continued success! read more

My experience with Justis was outstanding. I adopted a 1 year old Chiweenie puppy and as puppies often do she barked quite a bit. So much so that one of my neighbors complained to the building management company who in turn sent me a somewhat threatening nastygram. Justis worked with Stella and me weekly for about 12 weeks and there was marked improvement. Giving me homework to keep up the regimen was a great help as well. I would highly recommend her! read more

A friend and fellow dog owner recommended I reach out to Justis after we adopted our sweet rescue pup. He was a wonderful dog and was adjusting well to his new family, but had one glaring behavioral issue - he had severe separation anxiety and would howl, bark, cry, and scratch and the door the entire time we were out of the apartment. Not only was it driving our room mates nuts, but we knew that he was in real distress and that we needed more information on how to make him feel safe and confident, even when he was on his own. It felt like we had tried everything... All the tricks and tactics we found online just weren't helping, despite our diligence. During our Skype session with Justis, she listened patiently and offered us tons of advice. She described him accurately as a "Velcro dog," only happy and content when he was attached to us. We talked about the ways we were inadvertently perpetuating that behavior: allowing him to be in our laps on the couch, laying in bed with us while we were on the computer, giving him affection every time he begged for it, greeting him too quickly when we came home, even when it *seemed* like he had calmed down. After a week or so of pointed "ignoring" (all his needs were met: we set aside playtime and time for training, and kept to our walking schedule) he started to catch on to the fact that he didn't need our attention at all times to be safe and secure. The change happened very quickly, and we now have a sweet, smart, independent pup that doesn't always follow at our heels, stop what he's doing to wait by the door, or howl and cry while we are gone. I'm grateful we had the expertise and advice from Justis to help us battle the first challenge we faced as a new trio, and would absolutely contact her again in the future should other concerns arise. read more

Raise the Woof - Pet Training Near Me

I can't imagine a better trainer than Malia. In knowledge and demeanor, she is simply the best! Also, she's one of the sweetest and most supportive people! She has done so much for both me and my rescue in only one session, I honestly can't imagine doing this without her. I was on the fence about whether the cost would make just one session worth it. Well, it was worth it! She came to my home and provided me with insight on my dog's behavior, concrete ideas on how to help with my dog's particular issues, and left me with very doable homework. My dog came to me extremely shy, had severe separation anxiety every time I left, and was afraid of other dogs. I immediately started to see a change after implementing Malia's advice. She even stayed in contact with me during covid to make sure both of us are doing well. I can't recommend Malia and Raise the Woof highly enough! read more

I have six Miniature Dachshunds, so there are always issues that come up, and Justis has helped us through them all.  She has helped my dogs and me with house training, leash aggression towards other dogs, fear walking outside in the city, aggression towards strangers who come into our home, anxiety when I introduced a new cat into the household, and managing squabbles that have come up within the group. She has also taught all of my dogs basic obedience and tricks. I ask Justis for her feedback on many dog issues and I trust her to handle my pups kindly and with care. I worked with a few trainers before I met Justis and she has been the best for us. read more

We have been working with Justis for a few months and she is awesome! She is very knowledgeable and good at understanding our dog's behaviors. Even from the first consultation she was able to help with a few issues. Every exercise she gave us worked out. And now our dog is super well behaved and it's amazing how much progress we made. I wish we had found her sooner! I highly recommend Justis! read more

A friend recommended Malia to us when our puppy Alfie was having a hard time adjusting to city life after being in the suburbs. Even after our first Zoom session we started to notice remarkable progress using the tools and exercises she gave us. We always feel more confident in Alfie and our dog training abilities after a session with her, and look forward to continuing training with Malia. read more

I am a bit of neurotic person, and that tends to rub off on my dogs. Once Justis walked in the door, my dogs were instantly at ease and I knew i was in good hands. My first dog, Darla, was a little terrior mix who was just the sweetest- but not very dog-social. I wanted to start taking her to the dog park, but she was afraid of bigger dogs. So we set up a meet and greet with a friend's bigger dog and Justis chaparoned the introduction. So with Jusits' guidance, Darla and the big dog got along great!! She taught me how to approach the situation and was hanging in the dog park in no time. Justis is so much more than a dog trainer- she taught ME how to behave for the benefit of my dog. Another highlight Darla's training was the first time she went off-leash. We went on a trail with both of our dogs, and Justis asked if I wanted Darla to go off-leash. I was TERRIFIED. Justis walked me through what to do, and how to coax her back to me, and within minutes Darla was off leash and having the time of her life. Justis had such an impact on Darla's life, making her a more social and confident dog. And you can tell how much she loves the dogs she trains, she is so caring.. she called her Darla-Dee:) I recently adopted another dog, named Connie. Connie is a 3 year old black lab mix rescue from Puerto Rico. She was a street dog, so Connie is terrified of new people, as she has never been domesticated. Jusits came over, gained Connie's trust immediately and very patiently taught us how to work with her and gain her trust. She also taught us how to train our house guests to treat her in these crucial beginning stages. In addition to being fearful of people, Connie is not house trained. Justis walked us through how to crate train her. And when Connie chewed through her crate, Justis answered my cry for help IMMEDIATELY, and told me exactly what to do as an alternative. Connie has a lot of special needs that we would not have been equipped to handle alone. Connie started out as a foster, but Justis gave us the skills and confidence to be able to adopt her! Justis is truly a dog whisperer. If you need a dog trainer, do not hesitate to call Justis!! She will change you and your dog's life. It's a no brainer! read more

My wife and I recently got an Australian Shepard puppy. We immediately wanted to get some training done and found Justis to not only be affordable, but extremely helpful and forthcoming about what we could do to help the puppy ease into our family. She is thorough and explains in great detail how she will help you and the puppy achieve the goals you set. I can't recommend her enough! read more

I cannot recommend RAISE THE WOOF highly enough. Our super sassy dog Bernardo has been through trainer after trainer and with the impending arrival of our first child, we knew we needed serious help. We called Justis and within just two sessions Bernardo made significant improvements. He is a happier dog now with limitations and structure in place thanks to Raise the Woof. Now we have our baby and our dog living happily under one roof! This couldn't have been possible without Justis. We're forever grateful!!!!!!!! read more

Raise the Woof - Pet Training Near Me

I'm sure Justis can be a great trainer, but unfortunately we had an absolutely traumatic experience with her that ended in our dog being attacked, bleeding, and at the vet getting staples. She has since given us a refund and we bear her no ill will, but we also feel that pet owners need to hear this information. Our sweet pug needed help with barking at big dogs, both on the leash and at the dog park. Our biggest worry was that one day he would bark at the wrong big dog and get attacked. Justis had a good energy and seemed in control-everything you want from a trainer-so we completely trusted her when she suggested that we walk about 20 feet away from our dog as he was barking at a much larger dog in the run. Ordinarily we stick very close by to protect him, but she said she wanted to "observe" him and see what he would do if we weren't within immediate reach. Justis is a certified trainer so we trusted her and went along with it. This wound up being an absolutely terrible judgement call. The dog totally snapped and attacked our dog. Our dog began screaming in terror and started to bleed everywhere. The walker of the attacking dog managed to get control of him, but we were too far away to grab Moose before he was bitten. If the other dog hadn't been pulled away, our dog could have been horrifically injured or killed. A dog trainer should NEVER suggest that owners put a dog in an unpredictable situation with a strange animal over twice its size. Ever. And it's unacceptable to then pretend that what happened was OK, which was Justis' recovery tactic. In fact, she told us we needed to calm down for the dog's sake, that we "learned a lot from this" and that his ear would stop bleeding with some pressure without even needing to go to the vet. Cut to us at our vet (still with Justis, who continues to train us as we wait), where we were told that our dog was very lucky, got staples on his ear, antibiotics, and pain meds. Could you imagine if we had followed her advice? What if the bite caused an infection? What if there was an injury that wasn't visible that was actually life threatening? These are huge concerns when big dogs attack little dogs. A dog trainer is not qualified to give medical advice, as they do not have veterinary licenses. If a dog in your care is attacked and bleeding, you stop training and take it to the vet. Period. Needless to say, we were totally shell shocked the ENTIRE time this was happening. We never imagined this could happen and were at a loss for words (and brains). Justis kept pushing forward with the session, trying to play it off and keep us engaged in training. Totally tone deaf to our energy, this made the event even more disorienting as it dragged on and on. We should have just fired her on the spot in the park, but her bag was left at our apartment so she had no choice but to stay with us during the emergency vet visit. When we got back home, she tried to make us sit down and do some of her training paperwork, but after a few minutes I think she got the picture that we were out of it. It was all good and valid advice (one star for that), but way too little too late. Perhaps the worst thing of all about our experience is that Justis NEVER ONCE apologized during this entire event, or even attempted to appear sympathetic. I think this was her way of trying to turn a bad situation into a good one by remaining in alpha-dog-trainer mode but there's a line where you have to realize that you totally blew it with human beings and their beloved pet. You can bet if a client of mine almost dies on my command and has to pay a hospital bill I will be profusely apologizing and offering to pay. When we wrote her after the fact to request a refund (she did offer us 1/2 off another session, but accepted full payment which was=to the vet bill), she refunded us but led the email with "I'm so sorry you feel that way" We didn't feel a way that was disproportionate with reality...our dog was attacked because of her guidance. His gorgeous right ear is now permanently scarred and he's prone to barking even more aggressively at big dogs. All in all, it was a totally shocking experience and took us a little while to get clarity and process everything that happened. It sucks to have to write a review like this because I'm sure Justis can be a good trainer, but these are fundamental missteps that violate the ethics and practices terms of her training certification outright. We needed her to help us fix a problem, but it only made our worst fears come true due to awful judgement. And there was no remorse. If you're reading this I hope you'll take our situation into account and be wary even when you put your faith in a professional. Just because they have positive Yelp reviews and are certified, doesn't mean you can 100% trust their judgement. I wish Justis all the best in her continued training efforts, but ultimately did feel this needed to be said. read more

I rescued my dog at 5 years old and she came with a lot of emotional baggage. Her biggest issue was extreme separation anxiety. Every morning as I would leave for work my poor little girl would run out the door and shake inconsolably. I felt awful for my dog and was late to work every day for months. Then I met Justis! Justis worked above and beyond for both me and my dog. Any question I have she always answers right away. She is in it to help the dog, and cares so deeply to help the situation. Now a year later, while we continue to have to do work, my leaving the apartment is no longer an issue. My dog and I are both so happy. She is getting more confident every day and I am getting to work on time! Training is work, nobody can magically fix your dog, Justis will help you learn what to do in the best possible way. read more

Raise the Woof - Pet Training Near Me

Justis helped us out so much with our GSP puppy. She was patient and articulate and very helpful. She sent us videos and handouts to expedite our learning and her advice was outstanding. Our doggy has become so well behaved in such a short time due to her training and care. I would highly recommend her. She listens to your needs and takes the thoughtful time and attention to work with both the dog and the new owners. She's the best! read more

Justis is really fantastic at her job (and an overall great and encouraging person to be around). Her enthusiasm, passion, creativity, skill, patience, flexibility and overall friendliness were perfect for both me and my dog. I have a rescue deaf middle aged dog (who was my first sole pet) who didn't know how to do anything and who snapped at food. I also did not know how to communicate with my dog. Justis has "fixed" his snapping, the dog has learned several commands (sit, stay, shake, down, tap, twirl) and most importantly, we can communicate. I probably would not have kept my dog (or have been very stressed/frustrated) if it wasn't for Justis' help and guidance. I am extremely happy that we have had Justis to help us out. read more

Justis has been invaluable in helping us with our Siberian Husky puppy Maya. We haven't had a puppy in 15 years, so we were a bit rusty on how to best approach her training. Justis is gentle, professional, and super knowledgeable...all the things you look for in a dog trainer. Because of her guidance, we have already made huge strides with Maya's socialization, bite inhibition, and overall training. We feel strongly that Justis's influence during such a critical period of Maya's development will allow Maya to become a well adjusted member of our family. It is obvious that Justis cares greatly for her animal and human clients, as her passion is more than apparent when working with her. Thank you Justis!!! read more

As a rescue we often come across animals that need a little extra care than others. We met Justis when i reached out to the training community for help and two very well respected people in the industry both of which weren't available gave Raise the Woof Dog Training a glowing recommendation. Finding the right trainer isn't easy it's a very unregulated industry. While some trainers work really well for puppies and new owners sometimes we need a little more to help and support our fur friends. Justis is very professional, kind and up to date with the most recent science based training. She worked directly with our foster parents and had stellar communication skills when it came to explaining behavior and how to positively focus on correcting it. I would highly recommend her! read more