Celeb Trainer Teaches Puppies to Thrive in NYC: ‘If Your Dog Can Make It Here, They Can Make It Anywhere’

Life in the city is hard.

Local dog trainer Annie Grossman not only teaches puppies to be obedient and well-behaved, but also gives them coping skills – from walking calmly through sirens and loud construction noises to poised poise on subway carriers – for life in the Big Apple.

“If your dog can make it here — they can make it anywhere,” Grossman told The Post. “You’re swinging a weighted stick if you’re training a dog that can exist in New York City.”

Grossman, owner of Dog School in the East Village, has trained thousands of dogs, including those owned by stars like Amy Schumer, Olivia Wilde and Jim Gaffigan. And, she has a new book, How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science, out now.

She said New Yorkers should focus on the unique aspects of city life when it comes to Fido’s education.

“So much of understanding dog training is understanding that environment is everything. The environment is basically controlling your dog’s behaviors,” said Grossman, who also regularly works with rescue dogs from outside who are being adopted by Gothamites.

Urban chain walking is a key skill. At her school, makeshift cone courses and toy obstacles are used to mimic the stimuli of busy street corners, strangers and passing dogs.

Grossman once trained a puppy on the agility course after suffering a freak mishap when the pup swallowed a chicken bone off the street in Soho, resulting in a visit and costly veteran surgery.

What can pet owners do at home to help their dogs with city life? Here, Grossman offers some guidance.

Volume control

Dogs can learn to live with the sounds of New York through classical conditioning, or, as she describes it in her book, “learning by association.”

Grossman suggests playing the sounds of a siren at low volume around your home, perhaps in the kitchen or wherever your dog eats.

Give Fido a taste as the sound plays, then gradually increase the volume, giving him more tasty treats.

“Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to combine things with sweets,” she said. “Dogs are making associations 100% of the time. A lot of the associations that become meaningful are the things that dogs associate with food.”

Social sidewalk

City pups need to be comfortable walking around strangers—including strange dogs.

First, Grossman says, get an idea of ​​how far your pooch is comfortable passing another dog. Then build comfort by moving closer to another dog and giving them a treat.

“[The thought is] when I orient towards another dog – I’m going to get something good,’ she said.

However, in some cases, it’s okay for Fido to be afraid and want to avoid an intimidating dog. Practice turning so that in the heat of the moment such a maneuver is not stressful.

“To teach the owner and the dog to do a turn smoothly, so that when you have to do it in a stressful moment, they don’t get mad at the end of the lease,” she said.

Table manners

Grossman uses half-sized yoga mats to train little ones to sit and stand — even in high-stimulation environments like a busy outdoor restaurant.

“Put the mat on the ground and give your dog a treat when they go there. Wait three seconds for your dog to do something where he looks a little more relaxed – such as sit down, lie down, then give it another treat,” she said.

“The idea is to teach them that relaxing behavior is a good thing. Like any other behavior, you can break it down into small parts. that ‘sticking point'[like a mat or dish towel] it’s something you can then bring with you as a security blanket for your dog while you’re out and about.”

Working treats, such as a Toppl, a mentally stimulating contraption where the dog must work to remove food from the toy, are also a good way to encourage helpful behavior in restaurants, Grossman says, advising owners to bring toys in the restaurant.

Subway creatures

Walking a dog around on the subway can be a battle for puppies who resist their carriers, so Grossman suggests practicing with an open face and working up to the carrier.

“Start with a smaller bag and gradually work your dog up to a larger bag,” Grossman said, noting that having a treat in the bag can also help.

“Some dogs may need extra steps — literally getting the bag as low as possible. Putting your dog one foot in the bag, then two feet, then all in.”