About Us
Who We Are
Revival Dog Training® offers New York City's latest and most innovative training experience. Our training ideology is progressive, science-based and welfare-focused as we strive to consistently deliver practical and positive solutions to the full spectrum of behavioral challenges.
Our training philosophy regards the integrity of the dog as well as the owner. This approach can be applied to all breeds, ages, and behavior problems to create the most transformative outcomes for our dog-human teams. We believe that authentic and reliable behavior change is a process that requires instruction for both dogs and their humans. Our team of Certified Professional Trainers, behavior experts, and Training Apprentices are working hard each day to bring you and your dog a learning experience unlike any other.
Revival Dog Training and its Trainers are committed to the framework of LIMA which stands for Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive.
We rely on The Humane Hierarchy to ensure that we are practicing methods that:
- DO NO HARM. First and foremost, we do not believe in causing pain to any animal, whether this be physical, psychological or emotional. We do not subscribe to philosophies which involve the mistreatment of animals. In every case, we address the welfare and wellbeing of the dog first and during every step of our training processes.
- Ensures the dog is enjoying the training and wants to come back for more! This means that training should be FUN and should include plenty of things your dog loves; treats, toys, physical touch, freedom, and plenty of other life rewards!
- Improves the interaction, dynamic, mutual trust, and the overall relationship between owners and their dogs. This means that we help you understand one another better!
- Lessens the stress of the dog and improves their quality of life by building confidence and creating a common language that is clear, concise, and consistent! We want your dog to be fluent in the behaviors as well as their vocabulary.
- Implements protocols that are PRACTICAL for owners to follow through with. It’s crucial for dogs AND owners to be set up for success! This will ensure that the training stays reliable in the long term.
- Manages the behavior of the dog and the environment. We want to prevent the rehearsal of unwanted behaviors. We do not set dogs up to display undesirable behaviors at any point. This is all part of implementing positive reinforcement.
- Uses tools and equipment that are appropriate for you and your dog. For RDT, these tools are limited to harnesses (front and back connecting), martingale collars, flat collars, head halters, and slip leads. We heavily rely on owner preference when it comes to the type of tools we will use on a dog.
- Takes into account that EVERY dog, owner, and situation are different. RDT deals with the full spectrum of behavior challenges, thus we approach every human-dog team as unique individuals.
Meet The Owners
Hayley Kenner & Yennifer Mejia
Founders, Trainers, Owners
West University/The Heights/East Village
Dog trainers by trade, Hayley and Yennifer became fast friends over a decade ago, bonding over their passion and knowledge of animal behavior. They met in 2014 where they were both employed by another dog training startup in Houston and have worked together ever since. When Hayley founded Revival Dog Training in 2021, Yennifer followed shortly after, and then soon began her own investment in the company, where their business partnership started in full swing. Together, they created the immensely popular programs that RDT is known for. Within 4 years, they have expanded the business to 14 team members and 3 locations in The Heights and West University neighborhoods of Houston, and East Village of Manhattan.
Hayley and Yennifer have a team-oriented mindset, are extremely client-focused, and prioritize the training and safety of the dogs in their care. They work collaboratively with the team of RDT everyday to ensure that each dog receives the highest level of education and attention, as their dedication to canine welfare is at the heart of everything they do. United in their passions, Hayley and Yennifer are devoted business partners who balance each other perfectly, and who bring to one another complementary strengths.
Meet The Team
HANNAH BARNES
GRACEY SORIANO
GRACEY SORIANO
Hannah has always had a strong passion for all animals, that started with the two dogs she had growing up. Driven by that passion, she has dedicated her life to improving the lives of dogs and their owners. She takes special interest in dogs that suffer from extreme fear or phobias, but enjoys all aspects of training!
Now with over 5 years of professional experience, Hannah’s training mission is to help her fellow pet-parents grow and nurture a strong relationship with their dogs that will last a lifetime.
You will find Hannah in our New York city studio, where she loves taking care of dogs like they’re her own! In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her special needs rescue, Moose.
GRACEY SORIANO
GRACEY SORIANO
GRACEY SORIANO
Gracey has been helping pet-parents and their dogs for over a decade, with her sole focus being on training for the past 5 years. She has developed a special touch for early puppyhood development. Gracey has an amazing ability in teaching the youngest of puppies the ways of crate training, potty training, and socialization. In her free time she enjoys taking care of her plethora of house plants and her newly adopted Great Dane, Coal!