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Pawsitive Results
Professional Dog Training & Behavior Services
(724) 847-0577
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Rachel Michak, Professional Dog Trainer
(724) 847-0577
Full Member, Association of Pet Dog Trainers
For as long as I can remember, dogs have been my passion! I am fascinated by canine behavior and can
say that literally my entire life is training dogs, exercising dogs, watching dogs, and talking about dogs!
I have been training dogs professionally since 2006. Being on the cutting-edge of dog training is
important to me so I keep up to date on new ideas and techniques by regularly attending seminars,
subscribing to training journals, and by networking with other trainers from around the country on a daily
basis. I am very proud to say that numerous Beaver County veterinarians refer their clients to me for
training and behavior services.
I am a Full Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). As a member of this organization, I
adhere to the ethics set forth in the APDT Code of Professional Conduct and Responsibility. I am also an
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Approved Evaluator.
Prior to starting my own professional training business, I worked full-time as an Animal Care Technician
at the Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC), South Burlington, Vermont where some of my
duties included performing adoptions and animal relinquishments. Before that, I studied Animal Science
at the University of Vermont and was fortunate to get a year-long hands-on internship at HSCC where I
worked closely with the on-staff dog behavior counselor to temperament test and evaluate shelter dogs to
determine adoptability. During this intensive internship, I also worked on behavior modification plans for
dogs to improve their adoptability, trained shelter dogs in basic manners through clicker training, and
helped create and monitor dog playgroups. I gained a huge amount of knowledge and experience about
behavior assessment, aggression, dog-dog communication, and was able to work with a wide variety of
breeds and temperaments.
My Pack currently consists of:
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Zoe is my Alaskan Malamute/Siberian Husky mix. She has taught me
extensively about working with aggressive and reactive dogs. I know first hand
the daily challenges of living with an aggressive dog.
Zoe was a stray I adopted through HSCC. She came to me as a timid
adolescent and matured into an explosively reactive fear-aggressive dog with
both strangers and other dogs.
After years of intensive behavior rehabilitation and clicker training, Zoe is greatly
improved - although she will never be "done" training and will always be
behaviorally challenged.
She is an amazing dog with a great sense of humor. She loves hiking,
swimming, and chasing her green squeaky ball. She is one lucky dog that we
ended up together.
Giles is my retired racing Greyhound. He was adopted from a rescue group
in Vermont. Giles raced in Florida before being adopted by a family who later
returned him to the rescue. He then was bounced around to a number of foster
homes before I adopted him.
In addition to being a full-time couch potato, Giles is the official Canine Greeter
at my dog training classes since he loves meeting new people. He is also my
assistant on dog-dog aggression cases and has proven himself to be
extremely helpful and very dog-savvy in this job.
He loves to go for walks and starts his "helicopter" tail going the minute he
thinks we're going somewhere. Giles was quite a hooligan when I brought him
home but he has slowly mellow into an exceptionally sweet dog.
Zippy is my All-American Mixed Breed. My best guess? Hound, German
Shepherd, and Pit Bull. What a combo!
Zippy was adopted as a puppy from From Heaven to Earth Rescue in New
Philadelphia, Ohio.
Zip loves to hike in the woods, shred dog toys, and splash in the lake. His
favorite thing in the world is visiting the dog park for hours on end. Nothing
wears him out better than a good wrestling match with his canine buddies. He
and Zoe loves to beat the bejinkles out of each other on a daily basis.
He's a smart, intense, and independent dog and definitely lucky he was
adopted by a professional trainer.
Lakotah
July 2008-October 23, 2008
I adopted Lakotah, a 12 week old
Husky/Shepherd mix, from a pound in Ohio. I
had big plans in store for this sweetheart but
sadly by the time the pound allowed him to go
home, he was extremely emaciated and he
died of pneumonia just one week later.
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Bluebell
December 25, 1997-January 19, 2005
Bluebell was a once-in-a-lifetime dog. She was
both silly and dignified and loved meeting new
people. Bluebell got me interested in dog
training and I taught her dozens of tricks and
trained her in basic agility. Despite having a
severe case of separation anxiety, Bluebell was
a phenomenal dog.
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Fletch
December 23, 1997-January 22, 2004
Many dog trainers have owned a "problem dog"
who launched them into the world of training
and behavior. My 2nd greyhound, Fletch, was
the reason I became a dog trainer.
He was an amazingly sweet and funny dog but
also seriously aggressive. His behavior issues
were complex and overwhelming. I am deeply
thankful to him for the lessons he taught me.
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