Certified Dog Trainer Vista, CA

I’m a new “pawrent” and I recently adopted/rescued a 1 year old Bichon Frise and Poodle mix 3 months ago and we named her Bonnie. She is such a sweet dog, but the rescue told us she came to them with no training at all. At first I thought I could train Bonnie since I grew up with childhood dog, but since Bonnie was already 1 years old it was harder for me and it wasn’t easy as I thought it would be. I had so many questions on what’s good for a dog, I wanted Bonnie to respond to us, have better house manners, and teach her to not be reactive during walks. So I knew I needed to seek a professional. I’m so grateful I came across Michelle’s website and I knew she would be the best trainer for us after reading such glowing reviews online and her story. You can tell there was passion! I noticed that she has trained rescue dogs which is one of the reasons why I knew she was the one. I needed a trainer to be someone who was gentle with my dog and understanding with her and me since I was a new owner which is why I quickly called Michelle. She has such a calm aura that Bonnie would sense which is why she was always so eager to see her each session! Michelle is also very amazing at reading dogs and understanding them which means she was able to quickly tell us what the Bonnie might be feeling/she was possibly reacting a certain way which helped us understand her better. I have noticed a tremendous change with Bonnie after only a couple of sessions and I’m glad I continued more. As an anxious person, I feel so much relief now knowing that I had the best trainer to help guide me to understand Bonnie and she has taught me the meaning of patience and it was so worth it. She was so knowledgeable when I asked questions and I love the information/tips she would share especially when we were training Bonnie during her beach walks. I am so excited to continue to help Bonnie blossom using Michelle’s techniques because she responds positively to it. Bonnie has been amazing at listening now and is doing the commands that she has taught her. You can tell she is more well-mannered even though Bonnie is going through her “teenage phase” haha! Our walks have been greatly improved especially at the beach since it gets so hectic and loud. I was surprised how well she did even with all the craziness at the there. We utilized the techniques there and Bonnie responded to them. And now she has now graduated doggy training!! Thank you so much Michelle for making training so much fun and easy! We always looked forward to seeing you 🙂 I highly recommend her if you want someone who is patient, knowledgeable, understanding, and gentle that makes a positive difference for your dog(s) and also yourself too!

First let me say that Michelle Hartley is phenomenal! She was a godsend in helping us train our terrier rescue. Harley did well in the house for the most part, but the minute she got outside, she became very reactive towards other dogs (sometimes aggressive) was leash pulling the minute she hit the street and refused to listen to anything or anyone.
Michelle's training techniques are all done with positivity, love for your dog and understanding what they are experiencing. She instantly recognized the kind of help we needed, and the work began. Almost immediately, I saw a difference in Harley's outdoor behavior. She became a more confident and calmer dog under Michelle's guidance. The best part of Michelle's training is she follows up with a detailed recap of what was covered in the day's lesson which is a great reference guide in teaching the exact behavior you want from your dog.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Michelle and her training methods. She is without a doubt the best I've ever seen. Her patience with both human and dog are exceptional. I no longer fear taking Harley out now on walks where other dogs will be walking. She has given both Harley and I the tools and confidence to navigate situations and we are both happier for her invaluable training. Contacting Michelle was the best phone call I've ever made. I can't recommend her highly enough.

Michelle is INCREDIBLE, not only is she extremely detailed oriented, she is one of the kindest people I have ever met. Before our first session, she sent us an email to prepare with tips, tricks, do's, and dont's. The moment she walked in our backyard and interacted with our pup Milo, we knew she was amazing. She has a way with dogs and training owners on best practices, that makes it seem so effortless. Our little guy wouldn't eat much when we first got him -she made food recommendations and now, he will eat 24/7 if we let him. Thanks to Michelle Milo's recall for "come here" is amazing, he is potty trained, and he is extremely friendly with kids and adults. Without her Idk what we would have done. If you are debating on working with Michelle, look no further and call for a session! She custom fits the training sessions to fit your dog's needs and behaviors you wish to work on. Puppy pictures below

Michelle is truly the best. We have two HIGH energy sibling Australian Cattle Dogs, need I say more??? We had other trainers and they did not do a fraction of what Michelle and Riley did for our two. You can read the other testimonies for details, I don’t need to cover that ground. Let me add that Michelle becomes a pack member when she works with you and your family. Unlike other trainers she won’t shame you for what you pawrents don’t know. She just teaches and reinforces and makes magic happen. When out on socialization walks she is calm, confident, and protective of your babies like a mama bear. I love her beyond these simple words.

Michelle was a great trainer that did a great job of training my dog and me.

I had a chocolate lab, less than a year old, that was really giving me a hard time at home and on walks. At home, she was constantly chewing, acting wild, and not listening. While walking she was constantly pulling, reacting to other dogs, bikes, and motorcycles. She was a real handful and had to be watched continuously.

Michelle started me off on square one with training and provided great exercises for me to work on in-between lessons. Hazel started listening and paying attention right away after using the "name game", that Michelle taught me. The pulling also resolved quickly after several training walks with Michelle. The reacting to things on walks improved dramatically and she is much calmer at home.

Training with Michelle was absolutely spectacular, she was knowledgeable and really effective at training Hazel and me. I still use many of the things she taught us. I still check in with Michelle whenever I have a training question or need some guidance.

I would highly recommend her for your training needs.

Michelle is amazing at what she does. Her passion and knowledge really shines through when she’s working with a pup. She’s helped us tremendously with our goldador, Birdie! And Birdie absolutely adores her! Birdie is very particular about which humans she interacts with and I love how happy she gets every time she sees Michelle. She starts wagging her tail a mile a minute and she gets the wiggle butts! Michelle is so patient with both pup and owner. She’s extremely accommodating and really takes the time to teach you how to be successful with your pup long term. We can’t recommend her enough and will be using her again when Birdie gets a little sister ❤️🐾🐕‍

Michelle is truly phenomenal--in so many ways. It is abundantly clear that she has so much knowledge about dogs and how to help with reactive behavior. She also boosted my and my fiance's confidence as dog owners! She gave us clear and concise strategies and techniques that worked wonders for our dog. She worked around our busy schedule and was even willing to help through email as well. I can't express how truly grateful we are to her. Our dog is a DIFFERENT dog and is making progress every day!

Ms. Michelle was awesome to work with. She was patient, kind, and informative about the training. Artemis (my pup), did some cues that I thought he would never do. He is a reactive dog, but Ms. Michelle was beyond patient working with him. I look forward to our next sessions.

Michelle is truly a miracle worker! My precious Coco, a Yorkie-Maltese mix, may be sweet to those she knows, but she is an absolute "diva" and highly territorial toward strangers, not to mention her aggression toward other dogs. I reached out to Michelle early this year to address these behavioral issues and prepare her for our mom's 70th birthday celebration in the Philippines.

Michelle exhibited remarkable patience not only with Coco but also with my often hectic schedule. Over the course of several months of dedicated training, the transformation in Coco's behavior was nothing short of astonishing.

When the end of August finally arrived, and it was time for our trip to the Philippines, Coco was a different dog altogether. She didn't exhibit any aggressive behavior during our long flight, and even when surrounded by numerous people at the party, she remained calm and well-behaved. I was super proud of her.

The trip would not have been nearly as successful and enjoyable without Michelle's expert training and guidance. Coco's progress under her training was invaluable, making every moment and effort completely worthwhile. Michelle's expertise, patience, and dedication to her craft have significantly transformed my Coco and enriched our lives. I am incredibly grateful for her outstanding work. Thank you, Michelle!

If you are in the market for high quality dog training specialized to your needs, look no further than Furkademy Dog Training. There are no words to describe how thankful we are for Michelle’s guidance and patience. We started with an overly-anxious, energetic boxer who could barely go on a walk because she was so frightened of sudden noises. After a few months of working with Michelle, we were able to successfully take our boxer on a 20 hour international flight with no issues. Even more than that (which is already something I never thought we would be able to do) we have learned so much about how to continue our dog’s training on our own. Michelle specialized the sessions to focus on our unique situation (international military move) and our dog’s particular behavior (extreme anxiety and general boxer craziness). We learned techniques to help us be better owners and more in tune to our dogs needs so she can live a happier life. The entire time we worked with Michelle, she gracefully answered our list of unending questions and pivoted training when something wasn’t working out. She is a joy to learn from and I can genuinely say we would not have been able to take our dog across the world without Michelle’s support. You will not regret choosing Furkademy for any dog training need you have!

I wanted to make sure my puppy had the training needed to face any fears and challenges that would continue in a positive way through her adulthood. Several trainers were suggested to me but I didn’t feel they were the right fit until I found Michelle at Furkademy. I was very impressed with Michelle‘s knowledge of dogs and their behavior along with her continued passion for learning and how much that has helped me and others understand their dogs better. She approaches her relationship with dogs and their people with kindness and understanding and helps you every bit along the way. If you were searching for a gentle and loving approach to your pets training, look no further than Michelle at Furkademy. You won’t be disappointed!

Michelle is inspirational. She made me eager to work with my pup, Maya. She gave me tips on how to incorporate her training into every day situations; it did not have to be 'sessions' of me having to take a segment out of my day to work with my pup; just repetition (and patience) throughout the day. Maya absolutely loved her and welcomed her into our home without hesitation. I, also, liked how Micelle was very 'common sense' on how to interact with Maya. Michelle would even verbally reward Maya with 'Thank you'! She uses positive reinforcement and this worked with Maya. Michelle Hartley is very knowledgeable about dogs. I am highly recommending her to my friends who have dogs. I felt confident I had the right dog trainer for my puppy.

Michelle Hartley is the most effective dog trainer I have experienced. I have tried 2 others with no difference in my dogs behavior. My Silky Terrier who is a rescue is very reactive. He was not well behaved around other dogs, people or children. Taking him for walks was not only embarrassing but difficult with his constant barking and pulling on the leash. Michelle taught me different ways to help Jake relax and to be less reactive to everyday distractions. Jake is happier and more confident which makes me happier and we are enjoying outings with him so much more now.

We just rescued our 'little black dog' and he was understandably very shy and skiddish. Michelle was amazing at listening to what we wanted to work on and gave us great leadership, direction and tools to help us achieve better confidence and basic commands which led to a much happier and confident puppy dog. He even likes to do the training! I would highly recommend Michelle to anyone wanting to have a happier and healthier relationship with their pet. She's awesome and our LBD loves her to death.

BEST dog trainer EVER!! I recently rescued 2 sisters that were badly abused & were never inside or loved 😢 when researching many trainers, Michelle was the obvious & ONLY choice 🐾 she worked wonders with my new babies & her love and knowledge is worth every penny. I just cant say enough about her...except that she is a Dog Whisperer ♥️ anyone who seeks out her service will NOT be disappointed.. I am planning another 5 sessions soon. Thank you Michelle for everything you have done for us 💕🐾🐾🤗🤗

Michelle really helped me with my new rescue that was kind of a mess. She provided so many great resources that worked miracles!

Michelle is the best! We have a very reactive rescue dog and she’s been a huge help! We’re now able to enjoy walks instead of getting frustrated. Michelle is so kind and our dog loved the training time while learning so much.

We had a great time with Michelle. She's very knowledgeable and patient. The key behaviors we worked on have turned out great for our puppy (and for us!). Would highly recommend.

Jordy progressed very well after just a few sessions with Michelle. Michelle is great at answering all my questions when I text or call needing more advice or guidance. She is great at coaching 'me' to be a better dog mom and provides encouragement to stick with it.
In April, we decided to get Jordy a sibling. We again adopted a rescue who is now 3 1/2 mos old. "Sadie" is a little spitfire. And, while I can take what I learned about training Jordy, I've needed additional coaching and encouragement from Michelle on handling TWO puppies.
I would, without a doubt, highly recommend Michelle for any animal training. She is calm, encouraging, skilled in all aspects of training and any issues that may arise. And most of all, very reassuring to us dog parents that it will all be ok - we just need to follow through (often!).
Best of all, the pups LOVE HER!

It is not often that you have the opportunity to work with a trainer who is willing to work with special needs animals. I have a deaf Blue Heeler and was in desperate need of direction. It is very important to me that my dog to have a quality life and Michelle at Furkademy gave me confidence and the tools to take on this challenge. She has surpassed all my expectations because she is not only knowledgeable and professional, but she has also been available for all my questions (and I have a lot). I was extremely impressed with how she was able to get my puppy and I prepped for a last minute plane trip in one day!!!! It’s so amazing how dogs respond to her. I call her the dog whisperer...seriously...A MUST SEE!!"