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ABOUT Dogs-in-the-Hood Training
Sue Nastasi sue@canisphoto.com 212.595.3353 25 West 87th Street New York
NY 10024
Dogs-in-the-Hood Training offers private lessons in your home with Sue
Nastasi, Certified Pet Dog Trainer and top rated trainer from the book,
Urbanhound:
The NYC Dog's Ultimate Survival Guide. Sue's methods are gentle and modern and
use effective and fun techniques such as lure/reward and clicker training.
Lessons
are personalized to suit you and your dog's needs.
Private Instruction
Providing lessons in your home and neighborhood available seven days a week
to deal with behavior issues such as: housetraining, jumping up, chewing and
nipping, excessive barking, and anti-social fear or aggression. Your dog CAN
learn to walk nicely on leash and to come when called. It's easier than you
think. A private lesson (60 to 90 minutes) costs $110. A set of three lessons
costs $295 for a savings of $35.
Therapy Dog Certification with the Good Dog Foundation
Sue is the executive trainer in Manhattan for The
Good Dog Foundation, helping
to certify dogs and their people to visit hospitals and schools and promoting
the dog-human bond. If your dog is social, safe, and healthy, and you'd like
to volunteer your time, please call to arrange for a free evaluation of your
dog. We offer classes every Sunday at the ASPCA at 424 East 92nd Street and
we are now offering classes at All About Dogs at 210 East 23rd Street on
Tuesday evenings.
Training by Sue
If you want your dog trained at home, but don't have time to participate in
lessons, this is the program for you. Sue will train your dog and provide follow-up
lessons so that you understand how to work with your trained dog.
Canine Good Citizen Classes and Testing
Your dog can earn an award from the American Kennel Club. Started in 1989,
The Canine Good Citizen® Program is designed to reward dogs who have good
manners at home and in the community. CGC is a two-part program that stresses
responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs
who pass the CGC test receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club and
are automatically recorded in the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Archive. Sue is
a certified evaluator and can schedule a time for you and your dog to take
the test.
Rescue and Adoption Programs
Helping to train and socialize dogs for these New York City rescue groups:
N.Y. Pet-I-Care is a grassroots program of professional and volunteer "Friends
of the Program" who give their time and talents to provide shelter, medical
care, training, and socialization to as many abused and abandoned stray animals
that can be accommodated. To adopt a fantastic pet or to volunteer your time,
please contact Marilyn Teres at NYPetiCare@aol.com.
Stray From the Heart is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the rescue,
rehabilitation and placement of abused and homeless animals. For more information
and to see all the deserving dogs who need homes go to www.StrayfromtheHeart.org.
Sue is on the Board of Directors of Art
For Animals, an organization dedicated
to promoting the rescue, care, and adoption of companion animals in danger
or in need, through financial grants. Art for Animals' Art Program offers original
works of art for sale with proceeds raised to benefit their Life Fund and Rescue
Fund. Sue recently created the Stay Put Training and Adoption program for AFA
which offers low cost or free training to people and their adopted dogs.
Press
The Sensation
Harness is a new alternative to the Gentle Leader head halter - many of
my clients are trying it out and finding that it works great. See the New
York Post article.
What People Say
Sue Nastasi has been invaluable to The Good Dog Foundation. Her enthusiasm,
energy and commitment to animals and their handlers is rare. ---Nancy Jainchill,
Research Director, The Good Dog Foundation, NY, NY
Sue Nastasi's invaluable skills as a trainer are critical to the happiness
of dogs that enter any rescue program or city shelter. As a board member of
Art for Animals, Sue has developed a new program, sending volunteer trainers
to work with dogs who are not quite ready to move into new homes. In my experience,
Sue is the first trainer out the door to help any dog in need. She is generous,
extraordinarily humane and a true friend to all animals. ---Elizabeth Hess,
Vice President, Art for Animals. Author,
Lost and Found
I was skeptical about whether puppy kindergarten would work for my puppy who
had begun to show some behavioral red flags at the age of 4 months old. She
was terrified of the other puppies and I was very frustrated with her behavior.
My expectations for success were low but I was happily surprised when my pup
seemed overjoyed to get to class after a few sessions. The single most important
thing I learned from Sue was that there ARE solutions to most puppy problems.
Without Sue's expertise I felt overwhelmed by my puppy's behavior, even though
I'd had dogs my whole life. (this one barked her head off at other dogs and
peed on my bed.) I learned basic rules that I could return to over and over
that worked. Above all, Sue's methods were based on being gentle with the dog
and setting the dog up for success. The experience was invaluable to my dog
and to me. If more people availed themselves of a good trainer they probably
wouldn't decide to give up on their pets when the going gets rough. I think
Sue is a gifted trainer and anybody who works with her will be very happy with
the results. ---Delphine Blue, NYC Radio DJ and mom to Tulip. Sue
is fantastic. She restored my sense of HOPE that communicating successfully
with my dog is possible. She really is a great trainer of PEOPLE to be
better dog housemates! Boy, do I wish I had hired her back in February.---Victoria
C. Rowan, Cultural Writer and Creativity Coach...and mom to special big
boy Hugo. How many people do you know that are omnilingual? Sue Nastasi knows every
dialect, every variation, every intonation, every mode of expression of DOG.
AND, if that isn't enough, this is a woman whose soul comes out to play whenever
a dog is near. I see it and my dogs see it and know it -- she has a remarkable
gentle touch and is a colossal source of inspiration...and knowledge.---Susan
Lotas, mom to Good Dog therapy dog Steamer girl.
I adopted my dog, Bailey, after the family who had him since he was a
puppy had to give him up because he was biting their children. Bailey took
very badly
to his "relocation," and constantly bit me for the first two months
I had him, displayed willful behavior and was obstinate in doing things his
own way.
Then I was given Sue's name by my veterinarian, Dr. Rebecca Campbell, who
highly recommended Sue as a trainer who taught dogs (and their owners!) through
reward for good deeds done, rather than punishment. We had two really good
training sessions with Sue, and I worked with Bailey on a daily basis to reinforce
what I'd learned during those sessions. After the first session, Bailey became
somewhat more docile and obedient. After the second, he stopped biting altogether.
He is now a different dog, lovable, friendly, affectionate and no longer willful.
It's now 8 months since I adopted Bailey, and it's like he's been with me his
whole life.
The people who had him before me said he was very resistant to training
when they hired someone, which is part of why they had to give him away.
Bailey
blossomed under Sue's tutelage, and now enjoys his training sessions, both
with me and Sue, and with me alone. Many people questioned why I would
adopt a dog that bites. I can now answer that question: with Sue's help, Bailey
is now a well-adjusted dog. Thanks,
Sue! ---Susan Santaniello, NY,NY
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10 Reasons to Let your Dog Play with Other Dogs:
1. According to Dr. Michael Fox puppies that play more grow up to be "more
intelligent and highly evolved." You want a smart dog, right?
2. Dogs who don't play with other dogs as puppies can grow up to be fearful
or aggressive toward other dogs.
3. Play teaches inventiveness and problem solving.
4. Play deflects natural aggression and teaches cooperative behavior.
5. Puppies learn how to inhibit their bite when playing with other pups and
that's good news for us.
6. It's a REALLY easy way for you to exercise your dog. Your dog will be tired
and a wonderful sleeping angel in the house.
7. Dogs are naturally social creatures who crave the attention of humans AND
the companionship of other canines.
8. Play is a lifelong activity for dogs, especially when fostered early. Adult
wolves do play and we have exaggerated this behavior even more in our pet dogs.
(The Dog's Mind, Bruce Fogle, 1990)
9. Dog runs and the parks are a wonderful way for us humans to meet each other
and talk dog.
10. Watching dogs play is just so fun.
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