Follow My Lead
Service area: Serves Manhattan neighborhoods including Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Tribeca, West Village, Lincoln Square, Morningside Heights, and Manhattan Valley.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Behavior Modification
- puppy
Specialty Focus Areas
- Puppy Training
- Leash Pulling
- Potty Training
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- Group Classes
- In-Home
- Private Facility
Program Formats
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
Types of Dogs
- Small
- Medium
- Large
- Giant
- Terriers
- Doodles
- Brachycephalic
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
Equipment:
- ✓ Clickers
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ Harnesses
- ✓ Flat Collars
Group classes include Basic 1 and Basic 2, teaching foundational commands like sit, down, recall, and leave it, with focus on distraction management. Private training is customized for home, street, or park settings, addressing puppy socialization, housebreaking, leash pulling, barking, chewing, and other behavior issues. Training uses positive reinforcement with rewards, and owners receive written materials and video follow-ups.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Group classes cost $385 for six 1-hour sessions. Private training is available seven days a week from early morning until 8 PM; pricing details require direct contact.
Testimonials
“Phyllis is quite the extraordinary trainer. Not merely because she’s skilled, smart and uncannily intuitive about dogs, but because she’s all those things for frazzled, overwrought new puppy owners…”
– Janny B, New York (Yelp)
“Phyllis breaks the skills down so clearly, gives a lot of practice, has amazing assistants and, as important, follows up by sending written materials and occasional videos that provide homework practice and extensive guidance…”
– Jessica L, Manhattan (Yelp)
“I signed myself and my 4.5 year old dog Maddie up for Follow My Lead’s Level 1 group class… In just six weeks there’s been a huge improvement in her overall behavior… Highly recommend!”
– Anonymous Client
About the Trainer
Follow My Lead is a dog training business in New York City, founded in 1992 and owned by Phyllis Couvares, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). The business offers positive, reward-based training for puppies and adult dogs, specializing in basic obedience, leash walking, potty training, and behavior modification for city life. Services include private in-home training and group classes held at partner facilities like Dog Days of New York and Mutt Hutt. Phyllis is known for her intuitive, patient approach, providing personalized guidance, written materials, and follow-up videos to support owners. Training emphasizes building a joyful, cooperative relationship between dog and owner through reinforcement, not correction. The business has served Manhattan neighborhoods including the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Tribeca, West Village, Lincoln Square, and Morningside Heights for over 30 years.
Clients appreciate Phyllis’s responsiveness, clarity, and emotional support, especially for new puppy owners navigating the challenges of urban living. Follow My Lead focuses on making training fun and effective, helping dogs become calm, well-mannered companions in a busy city environment.
Accomplishments
Phyllis Couvares has over 30 years of experience training dogs in New York City and holds CPDT-KA certification. She is a Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). Follow My Lead has been a leading urban dog training school since 1992.
How to Get Started!
Prospective clients can contact via phone or email to schedule private training or inquire about group class availability. Registration for group classes is done through the online class registration page.
Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Hours
Monday: 9am-8pm
Tuesday: 9am-8pm
Wednesday: 9am-8pm
Thursday: 9am-8pm
Friday: 9am-8pm
Saturday: 9am-6pm
Sunday: 9am-8pm
Certifications
- CPDT-KA
Associations
- APDT
Languages
- English
Location
117 W 74th St, New York, NY 10023Listing Tools for Trainers
For Follow My Lead Only
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