PJH Dog Training - giving dog training a new look.

PJH Dog Training, founded by Dr. Pepe Hernandez, Ph.D., CPDT-KA, officially opened its doors last summer on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and is now gearing up for a grand-opening celebration this summer. As the school gains traction, Dr. Hernandez will host community events and demonstration classes in Central Park and Riverside Park—group sessions are capped at a maximum of 4–6 dogs per class, and his new indoor training space in a large, beautiful room in the basement of Advent Lutheran Church on 93rd St and Broadway stands ready as a rain-day backup to ensure uninterrupted training.

With summer weather upon us, PJH Dog Training brings its signature agility and obedience curriculum into outdoor settings that foster real-world generalization of learned behaviors and strengthen neighborhood ties. According to the American Pet Products Association, total U.S. pet-industry expenditures are projected to reach $157 billion in 2025—underscoring how high-demand this field has become—while Forbes reports that 65.1 million U.S. households own a dog, roughly 50 percent of homes nationwide.

Affordability remains a cornerstone of Dr. Hernandez’s mission. Although professional training courses in New York City can easily exceed $300 for a six-week program, PJH Dog Training’s group classes average between $30 and $80 per session—prices Dr. Hernandez keeps as close to $50 as possible. PJH Dog Training offers low baseline prices, sliding-scale fees, package discounts, and periodic scholarships, making its curriculum much more accessible than similar trainers. He believes cost should never bar a family from gaining the confidence that comes with a well-behaved companion.

In tandem with its grand-opening festivities, PJH Dog Training is unveiling a dedicated adoption-support initiative aimed at first-time dog owners and shelter adopters. Participants will receive comprehensive educational materials—covering crate training, leash manners, impulse control—and access to free or deeply discounted training sessions throughout the adoption process. Each year, approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter U.S. shelters (including 3.9 million dogs), and roughly 1.2 million dogs are euthanized annually; this program is designed to reduce returns and lower euthanasia rates by strengthening the bond between adopters and their new companions from day one.

As PJH Dog Training prepares its grand-opening celebrations, Dr. Hernandez sees the Upper West Side, Central Park, and Riverside Park not merely as venues but as vital community hubs. “Our goal,” he explains, “is to bring science-backed training into the city’s heartbeat, so every family has the tools and confidence to enjoy life with their dog.”