PawSessions

My dog Senna and I had an amazing first experience at Paw Sessions in Greenlawn today. I had spoken with Laurie twice by phone and text before scheduling an initial evaluation for my two year old Miniature Schnauzer. Right away I could tell how kind, knowledgeable, and accommodating she was—especially with my unpredictable schedule working. She got us in for a last-minute evaluation to observe his behavior and determine which group training class would best fit his level and my goals. The facility is in a beautiful part of Greenlawn. I’m not from the area (I drove about 45 minutes from Shirley), but it was well worth the trip. The space is large, clean, and air-conditioned, with a front office stocked with treats, leads, and info on local adoptable dogs. The training area in the back is incredible—designed to feel like a real-world outdoor space, but indoors. Think: dog park meets small town street setup, complete with benches and gates. It’s the perfect environment to simulate life scenarios without having to worry about weather or distractions. Laurie met us with her sweet, obedient dog Elliot and we dove right into the evaluation. She was hands-on, switching Senna’s leash to a training lead and teaching me exactly how to use it—why the technique matters, how it benefits both of us, and what cues to watch for. It was part evaluation, part mini training session, and incredibly helpful. Laurie's training style is rooted in kindness and positive reinforcement. No yelling, no punishment, no harsh techniques—just consistency, praise, correction when needed, and treats if needed. This approach aligns perfectly with how I’ve raised Senna since he was a puppy, and I felt confident trusting Laurie with his continued training. The evaluation itself was $175, which I’ll admit is more than some places I called. But let me be real: I’d gladly pay more to work with Laurie than deal with the impersonal, uninterested responses I got from other training centers. She was responsive, informative, and genuinely cares. We’ve now signed up for an advanced socialization class, and I can’t wait to continue. She offers a full range of classes: beginner obedience, off-leash recall, dog first aid & CPR, park outings, and more—all throughout the summer at various times, which is ideal for people with non-traditional work hours. Bonus: Laurie also makes her own single-ingredient dehydrated treats—and Senna LOVES the beef chips. He’s picky, but these were a hit. They’re the perfect size, break apart easily, and are ideal for training sessions. I even bought a bag to take home. They’re healthier than most store-bought treats, and supporting a local business felt great. Another plus: Laurie offers private, in-home or at work training sessions for those with unpredictable schedules like mine. She was flexible, easy to reach by text, and clearly passionate about what she does. Finding a good trainer in Long Island wasn’t easy—I filled out multiple contact forms and barely heard back from anyone. Laurie called me within hours and kept in touch every step of the way. If you’re looking for a dog trainer who gets it, who respects your time, communicates well, and truly loves what she does, go to Paw Sessions. I’m so happy we found her, and I can’t wait to see Senna grow through these next few months of training. I’ll update this review as we progress—but for now, it’s a solid 5 stars from both of us.

I don’t take the time to write reviews, but I really felt like I needed to take the opportunity to share what a wonderful experience I had with Paw Sessions. My dog, Molly, and I enrolled in the beginner class. From the first session you can tell that the trainer, Sarah, and her assistant, Terry, not only were very well versed in their craft, but they also genuinely cared about the success of each and every dog and there owner. The lessons were easy to understand and made significant impact on the behaviors of my dog. Each lesson was well thought out and built off the success of the previous exercise. I have owned dogs my entire life and have always done the training on my own. I thought I knew a lot, but even with my extensive knowledge and experience, I still found myself growing and learning during each class. Do not hesitate to enroll your dog in classes with them. I just completed the beginner class and will be signing up again for a more advanced session. Thank you Sarah and Terry for such a fantastic experience!

Absolutely amazing experience with Sarah! Her course transformed our puppy Cody into a well-behaved, confident little companion. Sarah is patient, knowledgeable, and truly passionate about what she does. The training was fun, effective, and completely tailored to our pup’s needs. We saw results right away and couldn’t be happier—highly recommend her to anyone looking for real results and a deeper bond with their dog!

I couldn’t be happier that I was fortunate enough to find PawSessions Dog Training! Not only is Laurie a great trainer, but she is a true dog lover as well! Laurie assessed our dog Bambi and developed training methods and approaches specific to our pup’s needs. Laurie immediately impressed me with her expertise and enthusiasm. She clearly modeled what was expected of me, so that I could learn and implement the appropriate training methods. Laurie gave both myself and Bambi the confidence to learn and grow together. I highly recommend PawSessions Dog Training and Laurie without reservation! Sincerely, Patty Leone

Sometimes You Just Need the Pros and PawSessions Delivered. Laurie and Sarah are quite the mother-daughter dog training duo! I recently attended one of their free open workshops to learn more about the difference between Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals, because let’s face it, it seems like everyone suddenly has a “service animal” these days. I was absolutely floored by the wealth of knowledge they shared, completely free of charge. The truth is, falsely claiming you have a service animal when you don’t is serious business. After learning more, I decided to continue using my dog as a certified Emotional Support Animal and committed to real behavioral training so he can not only enhance my life, but also be a positive presence for others. I had tried the online, self-taught training route with books and videos, but after enrolling in their Basic Obedience Training Classes, I’m already seeing a huge difference in my Havapoo (who turns 1 in July!). Thankfully, we were able to quickly reverse some of the negative behaviors that I just couldn’t manage on my own. This was a humbling reminder that sometimes you need to leave it to the professionals. Any responsible dog owner in the area should absolutely sign up for their classes and private sessions. Plus, you’re supporting a women-owned, family-run, local business, not lining the pockets of some corporate chain disconnected from their clients. That’s a win-win-win in my book. This was an unexpected investment, but my husband and I feel so good about the decision. Laurie and Sarah are not only incredibly knowledgeable, they’re also genuinely kind people to work with, true animal lovers that take their craft seriously. Thank you, PawSessions team, you are making our home a happier place!

I highly recommend Pawsessions. Our (very large) puppy was extremely reactive around other dogs. Sarah and Laurie and the entire staff were wonderful and reassured me that Gus could be trained. We can now take Gus for walks and he is friendly and well behaved towards other dogs. If another dog is reactive, we can walk right on by and Gus ignores the other dog with minimal redirection. I am completely impressed with PawSessions!

I am so happy and pleased with the training classes my pups and I have attended at PAWSESSIONS. Laurie and Sarah are the best!! The classes have been so helpful for both my pups and me (ESPECIALLY ME)!! This mom/daughter tandem absolutely love what they're doing. Their positive and easy going approach during class sets a relaxing tone, bringing out the very best in us all. My pups (and I) are truely grateful to have such a wonderful training center with passionate, caring instructors eager to help. I would recommend PAWSESSIONS everytime!!

We had such a wonderful experience at Pawsessions with our puppy. Sarah is the best and we were lucky she ran our group! We learned so much and our puppy loved her classes. Highly recommend Pawsessions to anyone with a puppy. 🐶😊

I want to share our experience at PawSessions in Greenlawn: Sarah is THE dog-whisperer. Our Jesse has been working with her, both in their beginner class and privately. I cannot say enough about her sensitive and caring instruction. She identified the best way to train Jesse so that we, her fur-parents, can work together as family unit. Jesse was wonderful as she was, but now she is our girl who walks, heels, leaves-it, and loves life (and Sarah, too)...!

Nice and knowledgeable trainers for my GSD pup's beginner training. Also interesting special programs.