Say goodbye to outdated dog training methods
and welcome a new era of training that nurtures your dog's emotional well-being while achieving harmony and cooperation.
Having faced my own hard times, I understand the power of unwavering support, patience, and second chances.
Meet our stellar trainers!
Check out our Sit. Stay. Stella. Training Service Area map for in person sessions!
lauren
“As a certified dog trainer, LAUREN’S journey has been shaped by both HER professional expertise and personal resilience”
Lauren's love for dogs evolved into a passion for training, catalyzed by her late dog Sammy and her current pup, Stella.
Sammy, a Shiba Chi mix, overcame a history of aggression through Lauren's dedicated rehabilitation efforts during the COVID pandemic. Despite his extensive bite history, he eventually became a source of joy for many, enjoying outings, brunches, and trips to Marshall's.
Following his passing, Lauren quickly adopted Stella, trusting the rescue’s high praise of the puppy despite limited notice. However, Stella’s transition to NYC proved challenging—initially anxious and bursting with energy, she struggled with barking, leash pulling, potty accidents, isolation distress, and early signs of fear aggression, all of which took a toll on Lauren’s mental health.
With early interventions, veterinary support, and positive reinforcement training, Stella overcame her anxiety and reactivity. These experiences deepened Lauren’s empathy for her clients, allowing her to connect with their struggles on a personal level. Employing force-free methods, she prioritizes both the dog’s agency and the client’s emotional well-being. Her innovative approach, which includes stress-reducing sitting services, positions her as a compassionate and consultative trainer.
certifications:
claire
Claire has been working within the animal welfare and veterinary medicine fields since 2001. She received her MA in the Advanced Psychology of Animal Behavior and Conservation in 2008. The most rewarding aspect of her work is strengthening the human-animal bond and seeing her clients achieve a deeper understanding of their dog’s communication, motivations and behaviors. She specializes in urban anxiety, fear-based aggression, leash reactivity, dog-dog sociability, impulse control building and of course, working with puppies to set them up for success!
Claire started her own business in 2009 and since then, has supervised, managed, and trained animal behavior staff across all sectors of the animal behavior world, developed curriculum for training programs for training schools, municipal shelters, and therapy dog programs, given webinars on canine behavior topics, built behavior assessment systems, and developed individualized behavior training plans for dogs displaying a wide variety of behavior concerns.
She is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a Fear Free Certified Professional and also is an instructor at CATCH Academy as well as a behavior consultant for Petcademy and Black Dog Behavior and Training in Delaware. Previously, she held positions as a Behavior Consultant for Behavior Vets of NYC, the Private Trainer Manager at School For the Dogs in NYC, a behavior consultant on the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team and was the executive trainer and coordinator for The Good Dog Foundation.
certifications:
Sedef Dündar Varriale (KPA-CTP) is a certified dog trainer specializing in positive reinforcement and relationship-centered training.
She is currently working toward certification as a Certified Behavior Consultant. Raised in Istanbul, where stray animals are part of everyday life, Sedef developed an early awareness of how animals think, adapt, and communicate, an understanding shaped by observing how they naturally coexist within densely populated urban environments. She now works with dogs and their people to bridge the communication gap betwen species, helping them build trust, understanding, and a more connected life together.
She especially enjoys working with puppies and first-time dog owners, with a focus on building strong foundations and everyday life skills. Her approach is rooted in empathy for both ends of the leash, creating individualized and sustainable plans for each case.
sedef
As a Latina-owned business, Sit. Stay. Stella. embraces diversity and avoids judgment, understanding that Dog guardians operate based on their knowledge and circumstances
Meet Stella!
The one who inspired it all!
This spirited soul embodies the perfect blend of spunk and sass, adding a playful spark to every moment. With a knack for keep-away games and a never-ending love for balls and squeaky toys, playtime is always an energetic adventure. Embracing the unconventional, Stella finds joy in the quirkiest of pleasures—yes, even trash becomes a source of entertainment!
Despite a touch of shyness, Stella’s heart is as vast as her playful spirit, readily sharing affection and forming deep connections. She has exuberant zoomies which are a testament to her zest for life and uncontainable enthusiasm.
My favorite part of working with her is that her focus is to train Hippie to make our bond stronger and my life a little easier.
“Lauren is the best! My favorite part of working with her is that her focus is to train Hippie to make our bond stronger and my life a little easier. I now have a dog that I can really enjoy and when I get frustrated with something, I know that Lauren will know just how to work on it. She is realistic in her expectations of her clients’ schedule when it comes to training and she makes sure that I have the tools to help Hippie on what we really need. Lauren is super knowledgeable and great to work with!”
-Alina & Hippie
Meet The stellar sitter squad
For your anti-walks and pet-sitting needs!
Sabrina
Sabrina, based in Brooklyn, does her best to ensure that any dog staying with her has their needs met and they are treated like kings and queens. Sabrina is happy to keep the dogs routine and requirements the same while they stay with her.
Her dog, Parker, also loves having other dogs over but also is happy to respect their space if they are on the more independent side. She would love to host or stay with your pup!
hannah
Hannah, an avid dog-lover, lives in Upper Manhattan with her best friend Babka, a 12 pound Miniature Schnauzer who is very social and adores the company of other doggies.
Located just a stone's throw away from the park, Hannah and Babka cherish their daily strolls amidst the serenity of nature. With a deep-seated dedication, Hannah ensures that each pup entrusted to her care feels secure and cherished, going above and beyond to provide a nurturing environment.
Sarah
Sarah is an actor and a WFH content writer based in Lower Manhattan. She first began her dog training journey while playing Dorothy on the 2015-2016 North American tour of The Wizard of Oz, where she trained under esteemed show animal trainer Bill Berloni. On tour, she spent a year working and snuggling with two adorable rescue cairn terriers named Nigel and Loki.
She is happy sitting in your home to help ease pup anxiety and provide companionship (and tons of snuggles as requested). She is available for separation anxiety/isolation distress dogs and is a cat sitter as well.
Join our stellar team!
Join the fun at Sit. Stay. Stella.! We're looking for amazing Stellar Sitters and trainers to join our team. If you have a passion for pets and love making tails wag, we want to hear from you! Please email admin@sitstaystella.com to reach out or click here:
