Meet the Team
Director of Operations
Eric began his career with dogs as a dog walker pacing the streets of New York City. Eric’s love of dogs made him passionate about improving the lives of dogs and people in Manhattan. He had previous experience working with and growing small businesses, and he set out to combine his passions when he joined the team at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training. Eric is an exceptional person who brings love, kindness, and dedication to everything he does.
Eric has a 7-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog named Watson, who can often be found lounging about in the AGDT office.
Senior Trainer
Melissa Arbitman is a life long resident of NYC who has spent her life working with dogs. At the age of 14, she began volunteering with dog rescue organizations where she found her passion for dog training. After graduating Hunter College with a BA in psychology, Melissa went to San Francisco to attend the San Francisco Academy for Dog Trainers, from which she graduated with honors and learned about all things learning theory and science based dog training. Upon returning to NYC, Melissa ran a dog walking and training business for several years. She then returned to working in animal shelters, working in the behavior department at the Monmouth County SPCA and currently working as the Canine Behavior and Outreach trainer at Animal Care Centers of NYC. Melissa is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and she is excited to be a part of the team at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training. She currently lives in NYC with her Pit Bull mix, Pippa.
Certified Trainer
Michelle is a lifelong New Yorker and dog lover. She earned a bachelor's degree in criminology with a minor in music from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, but during her senior year of college she realized that working with dogs was her passion. Michelle is an expert dog handler and behavior technician, owing to her many years of dog handling experience in dog day cares and dog shelters. Her volunteer time includes excellent shelters such as Animal Haven Shelter and North Shore Animal League of America. Clients appreciate her singular focus, kind and diligent approach, and her deep understanding of dog communication. Michelle is certified by The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. In addition, She is an Accredited Dog Trainer through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.
Certified Trainer
Denver excelled during her Apprenticeship at AGDT, and we are so lucky to have her as a member of team AGDT! She first discovered her passion for training when fostering her first dog, Ninja. Over time, her keen interest in human and animal psychology led her to focus on research in animal-assisted therapy while earning her Bachelor's degree from Touro College. As an avid animal lover, who genuinely enjoys working with people, she strives to help strengthen the human/dog bond through the art and joy of training. Clients appreciate her enthusiasm, joyful energy, and tireless dedication to her craft. Denver is certified by The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Certified Trainer
Liz is overjoyed to join the team at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training. Liz was born and raised in rural Indiana on a farm where her pet Pygmy goats, who definitely thought they were dogs, shaped her love of animals from a young age. She even taught the goats to walk on a leash!
Liz moved to NYC in 2018 and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. To stay sane during acting school she became a part time dog walker on the UWS. The twist of fate of graduating into a pandemic led her to working as a dog handler at Far Fetched Pets since 2021. From there she realized her want to help dogs be their happiest self was just too strong so she completed the apprenticeship at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training.
In her free time you can find her swinging swords in Shakespeare shows and spending too much money in bookstores.
Liz is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Certified Trainer
Ilana Riggi became passionate about training when her pup, Lailah, developed fears and reactivity around other dogs. Through reward-based training, Ilana has helped Lailah to reduce her stress and reactive behaviors in her busy urban environment. She is especially interested in bringing early socialization to puppies as a way to prevent fears from developing in adulthood. Ilana’s training philosophy is to train through love and make it fun. Clients appreciate her gentle, patient approach and her dedication to designing training plans that make training engaging, fun, and sustainable.
Ilana Riggi received a certificate in dog training from the rigorous program at the Catch Canine Trainers Academy, is certified through The International Association of Applied Behavior Consultants. After completing her program at Catch, Ilana joined Doggie Academy in Brooklyn as an apprentice where she continued her education and further honed her training skills. Ilana also ran her own private dog training company before joining the team at AGDT.
Certified Trainer
Leanne Friedman is a dog mom, music teacher, and professional freelance flutist living in NYC. Dogs have always been a central part of her household throughout her life. She grew up surrounded by loving and rowdy rescue dogs, many of them with special needs.
In her world, no song lyrics are safe from being edited to include the nearest pup’s name. Leanne began her dog training journey in 2021 with group classes at AGDT with her rescue dog, Cooper, and the pair went on to become a certified comfort dog/handler team with The Good Dog Foundation. During that process, Leanne fell in love with the mutual learning and growth process involved in dog training. Now, Cooper is an NYC DOE comfort dog, and a staple in her music classroom at 75 Morton middle school in lower Manhattan.
Leanne is passionate about helping improve communication between humans and their pups, which helps strengthen their special and sacred bonds. Leanne is certified by The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Certified Trainer
Suzanne Remito has worked and volunteered with dogs, puppies, cats and kittens in the animal welfare field for over a decade. She successfully completed the Fear Free Shelter program while working as a manager for a local animal welfare organization, promoting enrichment opportunities and a fear free environment for the animals. She has a special affinity for dogs and cats who are shy and/or fearful and is passionate about learning how to build resiliency in animals and humans.
Suzanne has a Master’s Degree in Animal Behavior & Conservation from Hunter College. While studying for her degree, she spent several years dog walking and pet sitting, which allowed her to learn about and interact with a variety of dog and cat breeds and temperaments. Suzanne is certified by The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Certified Trainer
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Gail has lived on the Upper West Side for the past 25 years. She began her career in recording studio and audio post production management, but she eventually switched careers to pursue her lifelong passion for dogs. She opened and managed a doggy daycare, boarding and grooming facility called Playground Pups on the Upper West side in 2009 until selling it in 2019. She then stayed involved in the dog world as a dog walker until joining the amazing apprenticeship program at AGDT. Along with her apprenticeship duties, she is also training as an instructor at A Fair Shake for Youth, a nonprofit that brings therapy dog programs to underserved middle school students in New York City. She lives with her husband, their two silly cats, Papi and Oliver (the true bosses of her household) and their new rescue pup Bertie, a pittie/lab/cattledog mix. Gail is certified by The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Certified Trainer
Julie V Iovine is a former journalist (and lifetime writer) charging onward to a new career as a dog trainer. She is especially interested in games-based training and the latest science in animal behavior and welfare.
In 2022, Julie joined the Pets for Vets team, a non-profit matching rescue dogs to Veterans with PTSD. She has a certificate degree in Animal Behavior and Conservation from Hunter College, is the human half of a visiting team with Good Dog Foundation and is on the board of Animals & Society, a think tank and research forum dedicated to advancing real world science that will nurture and support our relationship to the animals with whom we share this earth.
She lives in Manhattan and Upstate New York with Sammy, the Boisterous Lab and Guiding Spirit. Julie is certified by The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Project Coordinator and Assistant Dog Trainer
Matthew started working with animals in high school through volunteer work with his local shelter, where he helped care for animals big and small. He worked in pet retail throughout college, teaching him more than most people need to know about owning a pet. After spending eight months with AGDT as our Facility Specialist, Matthew reduced his commitments to pursue graduate school. Now back working as an assistant, Matthew’s excited to merge his love of pets with his customer service experience to support AGDT trainers as they nurture the relationship between dogs and their humans. When he’s not working, you’ll find him in his apartment buried under his two beloved cats.
Client Care Specialist
Talia is a born-and-bred Upper West Sider whose love for all animals was apparent as a young child. She loved to learn about and play with the animals in nature, yet her everlasting question was “WHEN CAN WE GET A DOG?” After eight long years, (that’s a long time for a kid!) her parents finally made her Hanukkah wish come true!
A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a Degree in Communications & Media Arts, Talia has always felt an innate bond with animals - rescuing two cats who are now living the good life and working as a Pet Caretaker at Riverside Bark. Talia and her own dog, Riley, a terrier-poodle mix, love to go on hiking trips together during the warmer months and on the occasional beach trip!
Talia previously worked as a nursery school teacher and loved working with the kids - but what she really missed were the furry kids! It's safe to say she is right at home at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training.
Assistant Dog Trainer
Cheyanne is very proud to work with Amanda Gagnon Dog Training! She feels it's a dream, as she has been living and working with animals her entire life. Growing up in rural Virginia allowed for her family to keep a menagerie of 'critters' in and around the home at all times.
From lizards to squirrels, cats to horses, she loves them all equally and feels an almost spiritual connection to the magical abilities of canines. As a child, she participated and placed in a variety of local dog and equine competitions.
Cheyanne has more than a decade of experience working hands on with dogs in NYC every day. She has been working with Sam’s playgroup since its original inception. Many of the dogs in that group have known her since they were only a few months old. Her favorite aspect of helping dogs learn how to live with humans and other animals is observing their growth. "I love every dog I meet, pretty much immediately, but witnessing the various personalities grasp the training and gain confidence from it over time...that's the most rewarding part," she insists with a smile.
Assistant Handler
Avi has lived on the Upper West Side for her entire life, and is so happy to be working with the great trainers, clients, and DOGS at AGDT! She has often been called a “dog whisperer” by friends and family, because of her curiosity, empathy, and deep affection for all four-legged friends. Avi had the great honor and joy of sharing almost 17 years with her beloved cockapoo, Finney, who she still thinks about (and smiles about) every day.
Avi recently graduated from Goucher College in Baltimore with a Degree in Professional & Creative Writing, and is delighted to be back in NYC–especially with the presence of so many new and wonderful dogs in the City! Even though Avi has extensive experience dog sitting, cat sitting, and dog walking, she has found that working as an assistant dog trainer has caused her knowledge of dogs to expand exponentially. She is very excited to continue learning more each day, and is incredibly grateful to Amanda and her coworkers for giving her the opportunity to grow.
Founder and Training Director
Amanda Gagnon is an anthrozoologist, dog behavior consultant, and dog trainer. She has lived and worked with dog-lovers on Manhattan’s Upper West Side for more than 15-years, and she is passionate about improving the relationships between dogs and humans in her community. Amanda is unique in her approach to training, because she makes it fun and soulful while introducing people to the science and art of cross-species connection!
She has a masters degree in Anthrozoology. She is certified as a behavior consultant by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is certified as a dog trainer by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. She is a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She was a founding board member of Muddy Paws Rescue. She is a founder of The Riverside Dog Owner Group. She is sought after by major media outlets including; Good Morning America, Inside Edition, News Week, and Fox and Friends. She speaks worldwide at dog training events and workshops.
Amanda knows that the relationship between dogs and humans is a two-way street that should be enjoyable and soulful. She is passionately committed to staying abreast of current science, theory, and application so that she can provide the very best coaching methods for the dogs and humans in her community.
Amanda is the founder and training director at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training, where she teaches apprenticeship programs, conducts training programs for shelters and rescues, and researches dog-human cultures around the world. Her favorite thing to do is to work directly with humans and dogs during her group classes, private training sessions, and online courses.