Michael’s Angel Paws
Michael’s Angel Paws was founded in 2011 by Stephanie Gerken, who was inspired by her son Michael Charles Gerken, who passed away shortly after birth. Gerken was determined to honor his memory by helping others through the power of dogs. The organization is dedicated to helping individuals and the community through the hope and magic that dogs can bring.
Training Philosophy
Michael’s Angel Paws training philosophy is based on positive reinforcement while adhering to the ethical standards of training with Least Invasive Minimally Aversive techniques (LIMA). They focus on rewarding the behavior you want while ignoring the bad behaviors through reward-based training. They believe every dog is unique and tailor their training to fit each dog’s personality and needs.
Services
- Service Dog Program: 18-24 month program includes basic to advanced levels of obedience, public access skills, and skills specific to your needs. Pricing: $75/session upon acceptance.
- Therapy Dog Program: Guide you and your dog to become a Certified Therapy Dog Team through Michael’s Angel Paws. Pricing: $75/session upon acceptance.
- Dog Obedience Training: Learn how to pawsitively communicate with your dog and strengthen the bond through fun training in a group or one-on-one session.
- Group Dog Obedience Classes: Fun and interactive training in a group setting. Classes include Foundation for Obedience, Therapy Dog Training, Advanced Obedience, Agility Training Level 1, AKC Canine Good Citizen, and Rally.
- Private Dog Training Lessons: Basic manners, potty training, loose leash walking, door manners, and reactive behavior. Options include Virtual Session, Single Session, and Package Sessions.
Certifications
- Certified Service Dog Trainer at Bergin University of Canine Studies
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
- American Kennel Club CGC Evaluator
- Certified Fear Free Professional Animal Trainer
- NePoPo® Gold School Graduate
- Graduate of Arizona Sport Dog Academy
Specializations
- Service Dog Training
- Therapy Dog Training
- Dog Obedience Training
- Agility Training
- AKC Canine Good Citizen Training
- Rally Training
Training Methods
- Positive Reinforcement
- Least Invasive Minimally Aversive techniques (LIMA)
Customer Reviews
- “Best organization to take obedience, therapy dog certification, rally-o classes from.” – Holly E.
- “To say that your visit was appreciated is an understatement. What you must know is that your visit brought smiles to students who struggle to smile. Your visit allowed our teachers and staff to see a different side of students that were not able to be seen before. Your visit was the highlight of some of those students’ months.
The lives that you touch each day with your efforts of providing therapy service to so many in the Las Vegas community are greatly appreciated.
We look forward to having your teams visit again soon.” – Missy G.
