City Smart Dog Training

“I adopted my dog Leroy in 2018. He had been found abandoned in the Carolinas after a fall hurricane swept along the east coast, and the “possible anxiety issues” the shelter warned me about were present in Leroy in full force from day one. As a new dog owner, I was in way over my head; and after two different dog walkers gave up on us, someone recommended I reach out to Holmes. From the first time we met with her, I knew that at last I had found someone willing to patiently work with Leroy to help him become the “good boy” we both knew he could be.Holmes was skilled not only at training and working with my dog, but also in helping me as the new owner of an anxious pup. She was incredibly reliable, always calm, always gentle, and endlessly persistent, even when Leroy was at his most challenging. Between training, daytime walks, and overnight care, she provided Leroy with stable and consistent support that allowed him to make real and significant progress in their first few months together. She also provided me with peace of mind: I knew that whenever she was caring for Leroy, that he was with someone who was really, really paying attention to him and was as invested as I was in helping him be calm and happy.I can honestly say that I do not know where Leroy and I would be without Holmes. She helped Leroy adjust to his new life in busy Brooklyn while also helping me become a dog owner capable of handling his anxiety issues. With Holmes’ support and guidance, Leroy has evolved from hiding under the couch and refusing hot dogs (!) to now happily enjoying off-leash time outdoors with me. Quite simply, Holmes is the best, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.”
– Bridget, Leroy’s person

“Holmes has been something of a godsend for my dog Tombo and our family.At first, we worked with her to have Tombo boarded while we traveled. As soon as we saw them meet, we immediately felt the confidence and expertise that Holmes possessed, and we knew that Tombo would be in good hands. Holmes was very communicative in terms of giving us updates on how Tombo was adjusting, sending us daily writeups and videos of Tombo and always staying engaged with us about his status. Outside of boarding, Holmes has been incredibly patient with our family, teaching both Tombo and us as owners and giving us crucial tools to continue training at home.Most importantly, Holmes is super friendly, candid, and understanding. She always brings a positive and educational energy to all of our interactions, both highlighting our strengths as dog owners and giving us concrete advice on where to improve. She’s the best!”
– Adrian, Tombo’s person

“After introducing a second dog into our home, we needed help with managing the new and challenging dynamic. The new dog was a puppy mill rescue with trust issues and no socialization. Just taking her for a walk down the block was very difficult. Holmes developed a plan for our new fearful dog and one for the older dog who was also acting out. She was very patient in explaining dog behavior, how they would interpret and react to certain situations, and how to handle common scenarios. Her advice was invaluable! We really loved the post-session write-ups that we could go back and read for reminders on what to do. We still are following the advice Holmes gave us, and we have two well-behaved dogs because of it. Holmes is an exceptional dog trainer, and we highly recommend her.”
– Deka, Ziggy and Zuzu’s person