PetSafe Pet Author
Michael K. Shafer
Mike has been a dog trainer with PetSafe® Village for 5 years and has helped people meet behavior goals with a wide range of training methods. He has vast experience using reward based training, such as clicker and treat training, remote training collars, and problem behavior solving. This allows him to not only address the issues his clients have, but do so using a method that makes the most sense for both the client and the pet.
Mike currently offers private lessons and the “PetSafe Unleashed” board-n-train program. In addition to his role as a dog trainer he also heads the community outreach team at PetSafe Village. The program focuses on educating children of all ages about responsible pet ownership and bite prevention.
Mike began his training career by attending Animal Behavior College while he was transitioning out of the Marine Corps. After the formal training, he conducted an internship with a local animal behaviorist. Mike joined Radio Systems Corporation and advanced his education in dog behavior by attending the DOGS course at Purdue University and has attended various Association of Pet Dog Trainers conferences.
Mike and his family enjoy the company of a terrier mix named Arnie, a German Shepherd named Jiri, and a English Bulldog named Matilda.
Articles by This Author
One common problem that most dog parents struggle with is bed manners. It seems like some of us try so hard to teach our dogs not to get on our beds but fail to reliably reach this goal. So I thought we could discuss some ways to help keep your dog off of your bed.
One of the most fun and rewarding things to do with your dog is trick training. The good news is trick training is easy! And it only requires patience and treats. Today I want to focus on Roll Over. I have seen this trick turned into all types of fun cues. As you go through this you will see that your dog will start to offer new and funny behaviors. This is because he is learning that this pays off in a big way!
Have you ever wished your dog would be more obedient? Or that he would just do some of the basics that other dogs can do? Well, with a little guidance and some consistency, you can have Fido honor-roll-ready!
At last, summer is in full swing! Lake days, vacations, and day trips with the kids are all now the norm. And the best part is that so many places are now dog friendly so you can bring Fido along. With all of this extra time, activity, and heat we must keep one thing in mind: hydration. This goes for both two and four legged family members.
As soon as you get your puppy, you can and should start training.
Getting your children to help train your dog can strengthen your kids' bond with their dog and help your dog learn better behavior.
Dogs who like to dig can cause many problems for their owners. Luckily, there’s an easy way to stop the digging behavior.
Dogs want to explore, but we want to keep them safe. Follow these easy steps to teach your dog yard boundaries.
One of the most frustrating things to go through with your dog is leash pulling. This behavior can be dangerous and cause injuries. Most dogs learn to pull on their leash, but with a little effort and training you can teach Fido to stop.
With some simple, consistent dog training, you can easily stop your dog's jumping.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were walking down the street with your dog and he stops to investigate something inappropriate? Ever try to eat a sandwich while watching TV, look...
By Mike Shafer, PetSafe Village Trainer Using a remote trainer can be intimidating. Many people feel uncomfortable because they are unsure of exactly what to do, but with a little practice...
