Urban Dawgs

I was at the end of my rope with my pitbull, Dixie. I met with 3 other trainers - 2 in NJ and 1 in NYC - before finding Urban Dawgs. The first trainer basically tossed cookies at my dog for an hour and second one wanted me to use a shock collar. The third suggested that I euthanize Dixie! I spoke with Vyolet and she referred me to talk with Drayton because working with pitbulls is his specialty. I wasn't sure at first since I was already $1000+ in the hole from the first three trainers! After speaking with Drayton, I decided to set up a consultation. He helped me understand that my dog's behavior was NORMAL given the circumstances and he patiently helped me identify the root cause of the aggression. I now realize that some of the problem was caused by ME because I was mixing advice from different trainers and what I saw on TV. Drayton didn't judge me but helped me understand where I went wrong. He gave me instructions to implement right away and emailed me a written plan the next day. NONE of the other trainers sent me anything. I am amazed with how well Dixie has been doing ever since. She's not perfect but I'm no longer considering rehoming her and she is still alive. I can't tell you what a relief it was to finally find a trainer with real credentials who understands pitbulls! I just wish I had found Urban Dawgs sooner as it would have saved me a ton of money and a ton of wear and tear on my dog. At least there is a happy ending to this story. Pros: pitbull saavy Cons: 45 minutes from my house more

I could hardly believe how fast we trained Lucy and we all had a lot of fun doing it. Our community is lucky to have Vyolet and Drayton of Urban Dawgs - two of the best in the business! Pros: modern, cutting-edge, positive, effective, dog-friendly, people-friendly too! more

I met with two other trainers before finding Vyolet of Urban Dawgs. The other trainers had horrible people skills -- my dog and I both had a bad time. Then I attended a group class by Urban Dawgs. The trainer, Vyolet, was extrememly knowledgeable, attentive to the needs of everyone in the class (2-legged and 4-legged) and kept it all moving fast. Her dedication to modern, science-based, positive dog training was incredible and she made sure that everyone in the room was having success. The techniques were fun, effective and fast. I never imagined that training my dog could be so much fun. These days instead of being frustrated with my dog, we've bonded stronger than ever and communicate on levels at which I never imagined possible. If you are looking for the best dog trainer in NJ, look no further. Pros: People AND Dog Friendly! Cons: Training room had a low ceiling..... my husband is TALL! more

Dog Trainer Vyolet Michaels, CTC is a recognized expert in dog behavior who can get you and your dog on the right track! more

My entire family (kids too!) were included in the training and we couldn't be happier with the results. Vyolet knows dogs and how to train people! After working with two other trainers, Urban Dawgs is definitely the best. Pros: Great prices, Human & Dog Friendly, It works! more

Trainer Vyolet Michaels is an amazing resource! We have a new relationship with our dog thanks to her. We can now speak dog! Pros: Knowlegable, Professional, True Love of Dogs more

Urban Dawgs helped us understand and train our jack russell terrier, Stan. He was quite a handful and we were considering giving up on him when we called Urban Dawgs for one last try. The trainer helped us accomplish our goals with easy to understand training instructions and management techniques. We *highly* recommend Urban Dawgs for anyone in NJ with a dog!!! Pros: Professional, Smart, Effective more