- Private Lessons
Thoughtful, Individualized Training for Real Life
- SERVICES
Private sessions in Newcomb, NY and surrounding areas
These one to one lessons are designed to support you and your dog in the situations that matter most, whether that is at home, out on walks, or navigating everyday life.
We can work on:
- Puppy foundations and early socialization
- Basic manners and everyday skills
- Leash walking and recall
- Jumping, barking, or impulsive behavior
- Confidence building for sensitive or unsure dogs
- Household harmony and routines
- Or any challenge you are currently facing
You will learn how to:
- Communicate clearly with your dog
- Understand what is driving their behavior
- Teach skills in a way that makes sense to them
- Support their emotional needs while building practical habits
- Create a relationship based on trust and cooperation
Your dog will learn:
- How to feel more confident and secure
- How to respond to you with more consistency
- How to make better choices in everyday situations
- How to navigate the world with more ease
- This is training that fits into your life, not the other way around.
- what’s included
Support That Evolves With You and Your Dog
We move at a pace that works for both you and your dog, building skills in a way that
feels manageable and sustainable.
One to one training sessions
tailored to your goals.
Flexible scheduling
to meet your needs.
Hands on coaching
in real life situations.
Clear, practical steps
you can use right away.
Written guidance and resources
to support your practice.
Ongoing support
between sessions as needed.
- WHY PRIVATE TRAINING WORKS
When training is personalized,
learning becomes easier for both of you.
Benefits for You
- Clarity on what to do and why it works
- Relief from confusion or conflicting advice
- Practical tools that fit your real life
- More confidence in your ability to guide your dog
- A stronger, more enjoyable relationship
Benefits for Your Dog
- Clear communication and consistent guidance
- Increased confidence and emotional stability
- Better understanding of expectations
- More success in everyday situations
- A deeper sense of trust in you
- Client Stories
Real Words From Real Dog Owners
“Doreen is deeply knowledgeable. I have a better relationship with my dog and I am so grateful for this. My dog’s behavior has improved a significant amount. I leave this class with hope and an improved relationship with my dog. I also take with me multiple tools to help my anxious dog feel safe.”
Darci
Lake Placid
“Doreen is knowledgeable and helpful. I received a huge amount of useful, practical, and applicable information. Her explanations were always thorough, and my questions always satisfactorily answered. She provided great simple concepts to apply in a non-confusing way. It was most helpful to learn my dog’s signals of stress, attention, fear, and joy. Over the last eight weeks I have watched my dog change before my eyes! I love her more than ever.”
Liz
Lake Placid
“Doreen’s knowledge base astounds me during every class. I never leave with questions unanswered, and she has directed me to great resources to continue my learning. Amazing one-on-one work that allowed me to ask questions, practice, learn, and work with my dog. This class addressed specific issues I was having with my dog, and in an even deeper way than I expected. This class improved my dog’s behavior a lot. She is a different dog now! Easier to communicate with, observe, and understand. I would take this class over and over again. My connection with my dog has grown so much, and I’ve learned more about her and myself than I thought I would.”
Anna
Lake Placid
“Doreen Alessi-Holmes has been our trusted guide to happy and healthy pups for many years. Her knowledge of dog behavior and critical observation skills paired with her compassion and respect for animals helped us navigate through some difficult times raising our 2 pups. Doreen helped us understand that what we thought was aggression in one of our pups was much more complex and rooted in anxiety. Doreen patiently observed and educated us, provided us with the necessary tools and then helped us work through how we could help our pup enjoy her life with us in a more relaxed way. With Doreen’s help we have a happy and healthy furry family.
“
Deb
Lake Placid
“Working with Doreen has been deeply enriching and transformative for the whole family. She is funny, insightful, and a pleasure to learn from! Her expansive knowledge as a canine behavioral specialist allows her to answer all of our questions thoroughly and with a thoughtful approach that takes into consideration our unique pup, our learning style, and our goals. When we adopted Misty, our Brittany Spaniel/Border Collie Mix, we were surprised to see some reactive tendencies in her. We found Doreen at the perfect time to begin learning how to truly understand our dog. Instead of only feeling despair and telling Misty, “No, don’t do that!” we now know how to say, “Hey pup, what’s going on?” and help to redirect her attention to create a safe and understanding environment. Doreen taught us how to live almost entirely frustration-free with a high-energy, protective pup that loves her people as much as we love her. The ability to dive deeply into understanding dogs with Doreen has been a gift and a pleasure and we recommend her every chance we get!”
Anna, Lori, & Mystic
Lake Placid
“I approached Doreen for help with our 3 month old puppy (littermate to her pup!) when we started struggling with emotional dysregulation leading to very intense behaviors and (over)reactions to the “big feels”. Our pup was very difficult to manage at times, and I was in tears and totally overwhelmed. Doreen helped me by using a two-pronged approach based on what our puppy was going through both physically (GI parasites and skin infection), emotionally, and developmentally. She shared science-based information on what was going on with his brain/body, as well as advice, suggestions and hacks that I could immediately put into practice – which I did! I’ll never forget the look on my family’s faces when “Karl” showed up in a huge box at our doorstep. Doreen’s passion for helping people and their pups is very clear. We had several consults, and she continues to follow up, genuinely wanting to hear how things are going. I really appreciate her support and encouragement, and she reminds me to recognize even the smallest wins throughout the puppy-raising journey. Our pup is one and a half years old now, and while we still have our challenging moments with our active and reactive adolescent, I am grateful to better understand our pup and my part in raising him with that understanding in mind. Thank you, Doreen!”
Carrie
Lake Placid
“I met Doreen at a puppy obedience class in the Adirondacks. She visited the class a couple of times to offer her expertise in relational human/dog training. I immediately recognized she had something special to offer. She was able to identify subtle body language between my puppy, Shadow, and I, and offer constructive feedback that resulted in surprising positive changes. I was so impressed with her keen insight and extensive knowledge of canine behavior, I decided to stay in touch when we returned to NYC and eventually hire her to help with the very challenging period I had transitioning Shadow to the city. Over the course of 2 months of virtual training with near daily in-depth communication, in addition to an abundance of training resources, we overcame many of the most difficult challenges of raising a puppy in a city environment. With Doreen’s help and her genuine care and devotion, Shadow and I were able to develop core behavioral and communication skills that continue to influence our growth and thriving life together.”
Julieve
Lake Placid
“Doreen has been extremely knowledgeable and helpful with my 8 month old puppy. The contents of the lessons targeted the problems we have been having with my puppy’s behavior. The homework and handouts are very helpful. Doreen has been able to diagnose the problems I’ve been having and provides great suggestions to help with them. I feel I’m improving as an owner/handler after working with Doreen. I think I have a better relationship with my puppy, too.
The course has helped improve my puppy’s behavior. Doreen has given me helpful suggestions and tools to train my puppy, Doreen’s knowledge of dogs’ behavior and physiology have been very helpful. Individualized suggestions that address my concerns are always done in a professional manner. She doesn’t judge and takes you from where you are to help you grow. Doreen is very friendly and easy to be working with. I would recommend her to anyone who needs help with their dogs.”
Beth
Lake Placid
“After working with Doreen, there are definite improvements in my relationship with my dog. She seeks me out in the house more, leans into me more, looks to engage with me more. She’s getting calmer when greeting people. She is now ignoring other dogs on our walks when they are reactive.
I feel like I’ve been given tools to continue to help with my dog. It was helpful to learn about foraging, playing games, and puzzles for enrichment. The most helpful information for me was connecting on our walks to reduce pulling. I would highly recommend working with Doreen!”
Jim
Lake Placid
“I had an adult high anxiety dog and a mastiff puppy I got from a shelter. Needless to say, I had my hands full. Doreen was absolutely amazing, a wealth of knowledge and support. I can honestly say I couldn’t have gotten to where we are today without her!!!”
Cindy
Lake Placid
“Doreen worked with my dog Faith and I in a small class that dealt with aggressive dogs. My dog had been attacked unprovoked 3x . After these events I was at a loss to control her defensiveness and aggression when she met with other dogs. She really helped me how to communicate better w Faith and how to cope with her Big feelings. We are definitely more of a team now!
“
Alice
Lake Placid
“Doreen is the absolute best! For 4 months my giant pup had stressed induced colitis and I didn’t get him socialized. BIG MISTAKE! When I met Doreen I was at my wits’ end. I couldn’t get Puck trained, I would only walk him at night because there’s less distraction—lowering the odds of him accidentally hurting me again. After a few weeks of one-on-one training with Doreen, I had a new understanding of Puck and his “big feelings”. By summers end I was walking him in daylight around people and animals without going face-skiing or getting my arm yanked out. I EVEN TOOK HIM TO A RALLY!!
Doreen probably saved his life and definitely prevented another trip to the ER for me.”
Christine
Lake Placid
From there, we take it one step
at a time
With guidance, support, and space to learn together.
- HOW TO GET STARTED
Ready for Support That Fits You and Your Dog?
- Getting started is simple
- Reach out by phone, text, or email
- Tell me a bit about your dog and what you would like help with
- We will schedule your first session and begin building your plan
- FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Puppy’s Brain Is Ready to Learn. Let’s Teach Them Together.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your goals and your dog. Some people need just a few sessions for guidance, while others choose ongoing support as their dog grows and changes.
Can we work on more than one issue?
Yes. Because this is personalized training, we can address multiple goals and prioritize what matters most to you.
What if I’m a first time dog owner?
That is absolutely welcome here. You do not need prior experience. Curiosity and willingness to learn are more than enough.
What if my dog has more serious behavior issues?
If your dog is dealing with reactivity or more complex challenges, we may recommend a more focused approach, but private training is often a great place to start.
- contact us
You do not need to have all the answers. You just need the right support.
With clear guidance, thoughtful training, and a better understanding of your dog, life together can feel easier, more connected, and a lot more enjoyable.
Reach out when you are ready. We will build something that works for both of you.