Michelle Hill started training in 2007, apprenticing under several trainers in Atlanta while studying at Penn Foster for a degree in Dog Obedience Training Instruction. Her goal was to become a Service Dog Trainer. She continued to apprentice under well-known trainers in aggression and rehabilitation. In 2009, she was involved with The Humane Society of the United States’ End Dog Fighting Campaign, teaching CGC and Agility Skills.
She moved to Rochester, NY in 2010 and apprenticed with a Holistic Trainer, learning about training the dog as a whole, for body, mind, and spirit. She fell in love with Rally Obedience. From 2012-2017, she trained in Retail settings, being Certified by both PetSmart and Petco. With Petco, she was a Mentor who trained other trainers.
In 2017, she left retail and opened Michelle Hill Dog Training Academy to focus on training Service and Therapy Dogs. She also works with The Beck Center for Veterans to help Owner Train Service Dogs for local Veterans. In 2018, she started writing for a UK magazine called Dogs Monthly as a Behavioral and Training Expert. In 2021, she joined the Arkansas Paws in Prison Foundation as the trainer for the McPherson Women’s Unit.
Training Philosophy
Michelle Hill believes in positive reinforcement training methods and emphasizes the importance of understanding canine psychology. She believes that all behavior is driven by reinforcement and that dogs learn from the consequences of their behaviors. She is a strong advocate for force-free training and believes that punishments do not work in training or education.
Services
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Service Dog Program:
Weekly sessions lasting 18-24 months, teaching owners how to train their dogs while developing the dog’s behaviors, alerts, and responsibilities.
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Private Coaching:
In-home training weekly for advanced training of obedience and behavior modification, including additional resources for extra training tips and assistance during business hours.
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Service Dog Etiquette For Businesses:
Educating staff on how to interact with service dog handlers and informing them of what they are allowed to ask by law.
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Behavioral Consultation:
Video call to observe the dog’s behavior in the home environment and discuss challenges. Planning a training strategy to make the home less stressful for the dog and owner.
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Animal Assisted Therapy:
Teaching therapists how to use their dogs in Animal Assisted Play Therapy during counseling services, including human and canine training basics during weekly sessions.
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Phone Consultation Session:
Discussing behavioral issues or training services over the phone.
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Therapy Visits:
Training for individuals who want to take their dogs to nursing homes and hospitals to visit other people. This program includes an evaluation to determine the dog’s training level and what is needed to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test and Therapy Dog Certification.
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Therapy Dog Training:
For therapists who want to learn to use their dogs in their practice or counselors in schools. This program includes training basics for both humans and canines, such as body language, marker training, potty training, social skills, basic-advanced obedience, leash walking, and practice specific skills such as anxiety/depression alerts, behavior interrupts, and reading dog behaviors.
Certifications
- Certified Service Dog Coach
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer
- Certified Service Dog Trainer
- Canine Behavior Consultant with IAABC
- Certified Trick Dog Instructor with Do More With Your Dog and AKC
- Canine Good Citizen Evaluator with AKC
Specializations
- Service Dog Training
- Therapy Dog Training
- Behavioral Consultation
- Obedience Training
- Puppy Training
- Aggression Rehabilitation
- Animal Assisted Therapy
Training Methods
- Positive Reinforcement
- Force-Free Training
- Operant Conditioning
- Marker Training
- Body Language Training
- Leash Walking Training
- Social Skills Training
- Basic-Advanced Obedience Training
- Trick Training
Customer Reviews
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Karen Vinson & Kiera SDiT:
“Michelle is an awesome trainer and I highly recommend her. She’s very patient and calm, but most of all, very knowledgeable. We look forward to every session!”
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Dani Huskey & Gus Mobility SD:
“Michelle is amazing! She is our 2nd trainer, and I’m so thankful we found her!! She is professional, tries to be flexible, and loves what she does….and it shows! I would highly recommend her!!”
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Steve Rerucha & Sam Therapy Dog:
“Michelle is an awesome trainer and individual. Sam and I have been training with Michelle for a year now and despite current obstacles to training, Michelle has found a way to help us stay on track with our training. She is always available to answer questions and help us with any problems that arise. Her knowledge of dogs and training is extensive and she always has a plan to help. When we were quarantined last spring and summer Michelle started us trick dog training and that was and continues to be so much fun and very rewarding. We have had Zoom Calls, classes online, text messages, and phone calls to help in our training. Michelle is also active in training service dogs for our veterans. I would highly recommend Michelle as a trainer without any hesitation.”
Media Appearances
- Writes for a UK magazine called Dogs Monthly as a Behavioral and Training Expert
