Testimonials

Michael is truly wonderful. He took the time to really get to know my dog before offering me advice on how to best proceed with her training. He is very knowledgable and told me about every possible course of action we could take to improve upon her issues with separation anxiety. My dog loved him from the get-go, and so did I! we strongly recommend visiting Michael for any of your training needs!

We have a pitbull terrier mix puppy and are currently working with Phil who is amazing! Kind, patient and always available for questions. Michael, the owner, met with us for the initial intake before starting our sessions and you could feel his love for animals! I highly recommend this facility!

My husband and I would like to thank PHIL SMITH, one of Michael’s Pack trainers. He worked with our 18 months old lab mix in our home, and we are so pleased with Lucy’s progress. Phil is kind, positive, and professional. He quickly sized up Lucy’s needs and taught my husband and me to be consistent with our commands. Lucy is a high-spirited, affectionate pup, and she looked forward to “Princess School” (as we called her lessons), and she quickly learned good manners such as sit, stay, come, and walking on a leash without pulling. One of the biggest problems we have had with Lucy, and the main reason I called Michael’s Pack, is that Lucy was jumping on people and accidently scratched a child. Phil addressed this issue with solid, practical advice that works. A case in point is that just 3 hours after Lucy’s lesson today, a neighbor came to visit us. Lucy stayed in her “place” rather than charge at the person and jump. We are thrilled with Lucy’s display of “princess manners” and cannot thank Phil enough, and we look forward to group lessons for Lucy at Michael’s Pack.

My seven year old mini schnauzer had always been a nervous dog, and it only got worse once we moved from the city to the suburbs: he was anxiously alert, became wary of all strangers, and began nipping at and biting people, and was very overprotective of me and of the house. I contacted Michael after a recommendation from our vet, who herself had noticed the escalating change in my dog.

Michael was a god send! Not only does he really know and love dogs, but he’s a great teacher. He was great at helping me understand the way dogs think and taught me what I needed to do in order to better command my dog and give him the boundaries, direction, and leadership he needed to feel more calm and confident. Not only did my dog LOVE our sessions with Michael (he would even wait for him by the door when he knew he had “school”), but he learned very quickly and is now a LOT calmer over all. Situations that were once stressful and even sometimes dangerous for us are now calm and much better controlled, and we can resume normal life activities again. Michael taught me to understand what my dog needs from ME, so that I can get better behavior from and provide a happier and calmer life for HIM. That being said, remember that dog training involves training the owner in order to train the dog, so you also have to put in the work! Just calling Michael and not doing any of the training on your own between sessions will not solve anything!

Additionally, Michael is very professional and kind, is quick to respond to questions or problems via text, email, and phone, and is very flexible with his scheduling (we did the private in-home sessions). He takes the time to address all your concerns, and always aims to use safe and positive reinforcement training methods, rather than other trainers I had researched that use methods that include things like shock collars and consequence-based training, which I personally did not prefer to use for my dog if I could avoid it. Calling Michael was the best thing I could have ever done for my dog, and for my family as well. I can’t say enough about how great our experience was with Michael! I would highly recommend him!

When we were getting a new four legged addition to the family, the only option for us was Michael. His patience, understanding and guidance with our new pup has set us on a path of mutual understanding and respect between all family members! I would highly recommend getting in touch with Michael’s Pack for help with all areas of training for you and your canine companion – Thank you Michael – Boux says Hi!

My wife, myself and our Golden-Doodle would like to thank Michael for assisting us in the training of our dog.

We had a total of five private lessons with you coming to our house when our dog was about 11 months old. Your teaching and coaching skills are excellent and gave us the wherewithal to manage our very spirited dog. Each lesson built upon the prior sessions and the plan for the hour was established when we explained the difficulties we experienced the week before.

We have had three dogs over the past 25 years. The present dog was a much greater challenge! We became confident in our ability to manage the problems we had and to continue her training as she matures and becomes more tractable.

Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge and for providing continuous encouragement.

Thanks to you, Michael, I have a wonderful friend and companion. Silver is a great blessing in my life and I am forever grateful for your help.

Michael Schaier has saved our lives. Our family thoughtfully decided to get a dog and went to the Westminster Dog Show, “Meet the Breeds” to find the right dog and we fell for the Japanese, Kishu Ken. After proper vetting by the Texas breeder, we picked up Belle from Laguardia airport at 5 months of age. This beautiful, yet dominant breed needed socialization and training, and fortunately Michael was already engaged by us after he previously helped us with the rescue of an elderly Husky we boarded for a short time (Michael donated his efforts based on his love for animals). Belle the Kishu Ken was overwhelmed by her new congested-suburban environment, incessantly barking at anyone outside of or entering the house; afraid to go outside for a walk; afraid to meet other dogs during her walks; and displaying instinct-based behavior of herding. Well, Michael trained US how to train our dog! Michael taught us patience, yet firmness, using rewards/positive reinforcement methods (as opposed to negative based use-of-force methods to establish dominance over our dog, as suggested by others). Well, thank God for Michael because in a few weeks Belle had responded to Michael’s methods and responds to commands of “come” and “sit.” After another month, Belle learned to “stay,” “down,” “walk” on leash without pulling or tugging, no longer has fears of meeting other dogs or of environmental noises (cars, doors opening, fears of walking past garbage cans or piles of trash bags during our walks). At this point, Belle was ready for the “Big Time”: Belle was allowed to enter Michael’s Pack Play-Time arena where she could run free with other dogs of her size in an enclosed room supervised by a trainer, and really learn to socialize with other dogs. This two tiered approach has truly transformed Belle from a scared, instinct-driven canine to a loyal pet which responds to commands, tolerates guests in the house, befriends return-guests with tail-wags, and greets other dogs with playful behavior. Without Michael, I am unsure how we would have been able to keep our Belle. We feel blessed to have come in contact with Michael and his organization. Currently, Michael is teaching Belle and my daughter how to work the canine obstacle course as practiced in the dog shows. There seems to be no limits to Michael’s abilities and professional prowess!

Thank you, Michael! At first, our puppy was so out of control, that we wondered whether we could even keep him. After 6 sessions with Michael training both our dog and us, we could not imagine our lives without Petey. His expertise, consistency, and patience helped us in addressing all of the problems. He gave us the tools and understanding to help improve our relationship with Petey going forward. It was a great success and we are all so happy. Thanks again, Michael!

Cody is half of our dynamic duo of dogs. He is a 4 1/2 year-old Boxer mix adopted from a private rescue group. When we first got Cody, he was apprehensive, but wanted so badly to be part of our family. Gradually he adapted and is a major part of our family unit. About one month ago Cody became unfriendly with me. He would not let me touch his neck and would growl at me. He actually nipped me a couple of times. His behavior had me fearful and I truly believed I would have to get rid of my beloved dog. Not knowing what else to do, I called my vet and was put in touch with Michael’s Pack. After the initial call (and some helpful hints from Michael), my husband and I signed up for three sessions at home to figure out Cody’s issues. After the first session alone, Cody’s behavior has reverted back pretty much to the way it was and our pack is back in sync. We are still working on some minor things, but we couldn’t have done it without Michael and his wonderful advice and practical approach. Thanks Michael!

Thanks so much for your training tips over the past five weeks for our little Dunkin. They were quite helpful for him to become a happy dog that will give us years of pleasure.

Beginner class exceeded our expectations. We all learned a lot and had fun. Great class

Thanks Michael for an incredible training experience!!!! You made living with a new, energetic, powerful puppy pleasant and exciting. The results are amazing. Oreo is becoming a beautiful, well-behaved pup bringing us much love and happiness. Thanks again!

Michael is a wonderful, caring professional. My husband and I have learned a lot about training our puppy with love and discipline. Our dog benefited from this program and we highly recommend the group class to others

After what happened on our walk the other night we felt compelled to share this so that anyone considering hiring a trainer would know that Michael should be his or her first choice. Our dog Winnie is 7 ½ years old and because of a near fatal illness when she was just six weeks old she was never properly socialized. Since given a clean bill of health at close to a year old, we tried puppy class and exposing her to the “real world”, but she’s been riddled with anxiety issues and fear aggression her whole life. She spent her days getting herself sick over every noise and crazy over every person that passed the house, tried to enter the house or even tried to leave the house. We were beside ourselves trying everything we could to work with her, but also never stopped spoiling her because we are big pushovers for her pretty face. A few months ago we met Michael at a pet store and talked, well actually cried, about Winnie and how hard it was for her and for us. The stress was hurting all of us. He offered to try and help us, and I can say emphatically that he has. We have only had a few sessions to date, but the changes in all of us are enormous. We used to have to walk Winnie very late at night to avoid crossing the paths of any people or animals, but now she is getting better with every trip on the leash and even manages the occasional stroll in the bright sunlight. She has learned to listen and seems to be giving up on her need to be in charge. We have had people to the house without confrontation, no small feat for a dog that would bark so viciously, you just knew it was a matter of time before she bit someone. After a couple of sessions, we ventured to a dog park with Michael at the front of the pack. The first trip was anxious and tentative, but the second trip was better -she was “sniffed”and didn’t react badly! We’ve also learned the value of “flooding”to change bad behavior and bad habits, and it is working. Winnie can now sit by the front door when it’s open and watch the outside world without trying to attack it. All of this brings us to the other night. Miss Winnie has never approached strangers, ever. In fact, she pulls to walk in whatever direction would take her away from the. The other night on her walk, we were passing a couple and their young son who was in a wheel chair. The boy said “What a pretty doggie. Pretty dog, pretty dog.”And that’s when it happened -Winnie took a few steps towards the boy, sat down and when the boy put his hand out, she nudged forward and allowed him to scratch her ears. It was only for a few moments and then she rose to walk away. The boy said “pretty dog”again, Winnie let out a muffled howl and we went on our way. I could have cried right there, but it was in a state of shock. Thanks to Michael’s patience, knowledge and love of what he does, our little girl is starting a new path to a much happier life, and so are we. Thank you Michael. Thank you for sharing your love of animals and your vast knowledge with us.

The training was wonderful. I know I am a better owner because I know how to direct and train Zack. The training exceed our expectations. Zack benefited from participating in Group Class and we absolutely love this place. I highly recommend Michael’s Pack Dog Training Center.

I never had a dog in my entire life, but decieded to bring a yellow labrador puppy into my home last February, 2012. Needless to say, I had no idea what was in store for me and quickly realized that I needed help in training Eli. My children and I were actually scared of dogs before meeting Eli. My husband and I hired Michael to train Eli and it was by far one of the BEST decision we have ever made. Michael is extremely knowledgeable and possesses a rare gift, sort of like a dog whisperer. He immediately had Eli enthralled with him and soon Eli was obeying his directives and so was I. I had been very nervous with the undertaking of having a dog, but having Michael by my side gradually put my fears at ease. Michael not only trained Eli to be the wonderful, sweet dog that he is, but he also trained my family and me in understanding Eli. Eli and I both looked forward to Michael’s visits, we were both eager to learn. Eli even costarred in a channel 12 exerpt with Michael about dog training. When Eli first came to live with my family, life was crazy, but now Eli is a member of the family and we couldn’t imagine him not being in our lives. Michael is the dog trainer everyone should have for their dog(s), he is caring, knowledgeable and an all around genuine good person.

Michael Schaier is an extremely knowledgeable dog trainer. He has taught my husband and me an enormous amount about living with our two terriers. We learned how to communicate with them better and establish ourselves in the “pack.”Michael has an obvious passion for his work and possesses expert knowledge of canines. He uses patience and positive reinforcement to train. Appointments were flexible and punctual. During our personalized sessions, Michael was able to balance both dogs and answer all of our questions. With Michael’s help, we were able to improve on simple commands and learn some more advanced ones. We decreased barking and jumping while greeting visitors and the aggressiveness between Brandi and Luke has diminished. We have seen great results! Our home is more calm and controlled because the dogs are better behaved and live more agreeably. We highly recommend Michael’s Pack.

We have been FORTUNATE ENOUGH to have engaged Mike for dog training services for the past several months, with exceptional results! Mike’s RESULTS HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE… HE’S VERY very intuitive, not only to our dog (10 month old Golden Retriever, “Jake”), but also to us humans… Mike has CONSISTENTLY helped our family be aware of the impact of our emotions, during the training process, has on our dog… meaning if Jake senses our frustrations, distress, he will escalate.. If however, we are all on the same page, calm, unified in our consistent approaches that Mike teaches us, remain confident that all will go as expected… all will go smoothly and we will have a happy, obedient dog! Mike is a pleasure to work with for millions of reasons, in that he has an at ease, warm manner, interacts beautifully with all family members, particularly the children and those who may be inclined to “resist” improved ways of training techniques, in that he teaches by the example he sets during his sessions, he’s a wonderful role model to watch in action, which is the best proof possible! Mike is very encouraging to all of us and he ‘s very loving to our dog… always taking the time to truly listen to what we consider to be important, what will work best for our family and then molding all of these things into his teachings, in a easy to understand, concise manner. Mike truly wants us, to help Jake achieve his fullest potentials, which truly, is much easier for the dog to grasp consistently, then sometimes us humans. He quickly sizes up, not just the dogs personality, but also the family members, which I believe is the key to his success, in working with our family, any family really. Mike is always willing to help, whether that means calling him in between sessions to ask a question, or at times, plea for help, generously sharing his time and wisdom, patiently answering our questions, calming us in an instant, with his reassuring, wise manner. Without question, I would urge you to engage Mike’s professional services, because if you do, you will have no need to worry, he will help see you through till the end, he will guide you throughout, he will teach you the meaning of dog training, in a way that all family members will be thrilled to follow through and as a result, you will have a happy, delicious dog that you will love to be around, your friend for life, just as we will always consider Mike, as he too is our friend for life, a lifelong family member, along with our Jake. Thank you Thank you Mike, for the caring, concern you extend, for always knowing what to say, how to say it and for the sensitivity you show, not only to our Jake, but to all of us…

Bella just finished puppy group class at Michael’s Pack Training Center. Michael was very knowledgeable and helpful. This class is very helpful for a puppy who needs to learn basic commands.

Michael taught our crazy 18-month-old Golden Doodle, Flynn, with patience and firmness. He has since become a better listener. Not only did he train our dog, but also he got our entire family involved in the process and taught us how important it is for each member to follow through with the same goals in mind. Thank you Michael!

Shortly after getting our puppy Bianca (a 3 month old Boxer at the time), we decided to have Michael come and help us out. We are both first-time dog owners and Michael turned out to be a lifesaver! Besides for teaching us how to train Bianca to sit, stay, lay down, and “give paw”, he was able to answer and address all of our questions and concerns whenever they arose. Michael taught us how to provide a loving and nurturing environment for our puppy. We could not be happier with our decision to have him as our trainer.

I am so glad that I found Michael to train my little girl Emi He started training her after I had taken her to another trainer that was putting a choke collar on her when she was only 3months old. After the one lesson she was already showing signs of becoming more aggressive and didn’t want me to put on her collar or leash. I knew then that I had to change trainers. After my first phone conversation with Michael I was confident that I had made the right choice. Michael on the first visit had Emi eating out of his hand ( no pun intended.) He taught her with kindness and patience and praise. She was a very fast learner and a little show off!! She will do anything to get her treats. I highly recommend Michael. Believe me you will be more than satisfied if you have Michael as your trainer. He will teach you and your pet how to have more communication and understanding with each other. Emi and I are a little disappointed that her sessions are over, as she grew fond of her new friend Michael. I plan on having Michael again for some follow up sessions later this year. Thank you so much Michael you did an excellent job. We will stay in touch.