Brooklyn, NY
Viviane Arzoumanian
Viviane has been training dogs and conducting behavior consultations since 2005. She is your guide in all things having to do with dogs, whether you are an animal professional or a family guardian.
Training Philosophy
All of our techniques are based on positive reinforcement and understanding the dog's triggers and motivations for behavior. This helps us teach new more appropriate responses to situations that are problematic for the dog. Our training is structured to be enjoyable for both the dogs and humans, making practice and learning fun and easy to do!
Services
PumpkinPups Dog Training offers a variety of services, including:
- Private Training: One-on-one sessions with a certified trainer to address specific behavior issues or to build a strong foundation of training.
- Group Classes: Small, fun-filled classes for puppies and adult dogs, covering topics such as house training, nipping/biting, chewing, socialization, recall, leash walking, and more.
- Scentwork Classes: Multiple levels of scentwork classes in conjunction with Brooklyn Nosework's Jess Elliot, teaching dogs to use their nose to find a non-food scent.
- Online Workshops: Single classes with live coaching and active practice for students and their pups, covering topics such as tricks training, cooperative care behaviors, and more.
- FREE! 'Ask the Trainer' Virtual Sessions: Weekly Zoom sessions where you can get your training and behavior questions answered in real-time.
- Free Puppy Social: Monthly events at Dogtopia in Brooklyn, NY, where puppies can socialize with other dogs under the supervision of certified professional trainers.
- PumpkinPups Pros Membership Program: A membership program focused on evidence-based, progressive training education for dog guardians, aspiring and new dog trainers, established trainers, and other pet professionals.
- Canine Good Citizen Classes & Testing: A course for dogs who are interested in earning the CGC title, covering skills such as polite greetings, calm behavior when greeting another dog, loose leash walking, down, sit, stay, recall, and more.
- Urban BAT (Behavior Adjustment Training) Webinar: A webinar about how to apply BAT in a truly urban setting, for anyone who has some familiarity with BAT.
- Fear Free Cooperative Care Class: A class that teaches dogs to be comfortable with regular grooming, handling, and veterinary procedures.
- Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Professionals: Coaching and mentoring for pet professionals, covering topics such as training and behavior plans, expanding knowledge and skill set, navigating difficult conversations with clients, and more.
- Counseling & Coaching for Pet Guardians: Counseling and coaching for pet guardians, covering topics such as navigating difficult decisions about their pet's health and well-being, and coping with pet loss and bereavement.
Certifications
Viviane is Licensed FDM-Behavior & Training, CDBC, CPDT-KA, CBATI, PMCT2, CGC Evaluator
Specializations
Viviane specializes in dog training and behavior consultation, with a focus on helping dogs and their families navigate a variety of challenges, including:
- Basic good manners for indoors and outdoors
- Common dog behavior problems such as house training, begging, leash reactivity, resistance to handling, resource guarding, fear and anxiety, destructive behavior, barking, and separation anxiety
- Urban BAT (Behavior Adjustment Training)
- Fear Free Cooperative Care
- Mentoring and coaching for pet professionals
- Counseling and coaching for pet guardians
- Pet loss and bereavement
Training Methods
Viviane uses positive reinforcement methods, focusing on understanding the dog's triggers and motivations for behavior. She is also a certified BAT instructor and uses this method to help dogs gain confidence and social skills.
Customer Reviews
Kim Baxter, Exeter, RI - PumpkinPups is simply amazing. Viviane and her team are absolutely wonderful and by far the best trainers that I have ever encountered. I got my puppy right after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and the virtual assistance they offered saved me! My puppy Bari, was exhibiting many undesirable behaviors such as mouthing, nipping, tearing clothes apart (while we were wearing them), etc. PumpkinPups helped us end and/or greatly reduce many of these behaviors in a short amount of time. I also learned how to socialize my puppy during the pandemic thanks to PumpkinPups, which was not easy. My pup has become extremely socially well adapted and very obedient. I frequently get compliments on his behavior while out and about with him. He is so well mannered now. Viviane and her team are so thoughtful and nonjudgmental in their responses. They really listen and are committed to individualizing solutions to your unique situation. Also, they have so many valuable low and no cost activities that help pups relax while meeting their need to be mentally stimulated. I am forever grateful to Viviane and everyone at PumpkinPups!!!
MC, pet parent to Doc - We started having trouble with our pup early on in the quarantine, which was terrifying because we didn't know how we'd be able to address it without seeing a trainer in person. Viviane at PumpkinPups was able to quickly meet us for a series of virtual training sessions that almost immediately improved things at home, plus providing us with lots of reading material and videos for reference in between sessions. I can't recommend these folks strongly enough!
Sherice, Marshmallow and Family - Thank you again for all of the training tips for our pup Marshmallow. In just 2 weeks after our virtual training session with Viviane, his behavior has completely changed. He is so much calmer. She gave us a lot of tools to help with his crazy outbreaks of nipping and biting, and he is just becoming so much more cuddle-y and friendly. Even though our session was via Zoom, Viviane was as hands on as she could be, coaching us step by step in how to train and handle Marshmallow. He's almost fully stopped biting and instead moved on to licking and giving a lot more kisses, it's the cutest thing! We still have some work to do of course, but we're so much more confident that we can manage him better now!
Erin & Sean - We've been with PumpkinPups since our Oso was a pup. Can't speak highly enough about their commitment to dogs and their overall competence. Every time we reach out to them they offer such great support. We always feel taken care of and their sensitivity to dog issues is unparalleled. During the quarantine, they've even done a live zoom session to help with all dog issues during this tough transition! If you're looking for training that gives you strong structure and support for a dog in the city, PumpkinPups is the place!
Danny H. - The leash handling you taught has made such an impact on my own walks with Billie! I've always tried to use the same technique but haven't paid much attention to how much I flap and swing it around.
Our walks have always been pretty relaxed but this takes it to a whole new level. I just wanted to let you know how big an impact it's made.
Media Appearances
Viviane Arzoumanian, owner and founder of PumpkinPups Dog Training, gives an interview about 'Settling Your New Rescue Dog in to a City Environment' on the Rescue Tails Podcast.
We've got the answers for your questions
Seriously, if you have any questions about training your dog, we have the answers.
We have created a directory of licensed dog trainers specializing in positive reinforcement methods. These trainers are not affiliated with Dogo, and all information is gathered from publicly available sources. Each profile provides a brief overview of the trainer's experience and expertise.
Start by evaluating your dog's needs and identifying your training objectives. Each trainer's profile provides insights into their areas of expertise. Match these with your dog's character and your goals to find the ideal fit.
All trainers listed here are certified professionals with extensive knowledge of positive reinforcement techniques.
Positive reinforcement centers on rewarding preferred behaviors, ensuring a pleasant learning journey for your dog. This humane approach is scientifically proven to be the most effective long-term training method, strengthening the bond between you and your pet. By consistently rewarding good behavior, your dog learns to associate actions with positive outcomes, leading to lasting improvements and a happier companion.
Yes, they are. Our trainers are adept in basic obedience or intricate behavioral challenges. Browse their profiles to identify a trainer who specializes in the particular issues you wish to address.
Simply click on the preferred trainer's profile to access their contact details. From there, you can get in touch to discuss your requirements and set up training appointments.
Group sessions offer a communal setting where your dog learns general obedience alongside other dogs. In contrast, private sessions grant focused attention, making them perfect for targeted behavior modifications or individualized training agendas.
All our trainers are committed to positive reinforcement techniques and steer clear of any harsh or punitive methods. Their primary goal is to make training a joyous journey for you and your dog.
Results depend on factors like your dog's nature, the specific behaviors in question, and your training consistency. While many clients observe improvements in just a few sessions, it's crucial to be patient and persistent.
Reach out to the trainer you're interested in to discuss possibly attending a session. It's a great way to get a feel for their approach and see if it aligns with your expectations.
