MIKE'S BIO
Hello dog lovers,
My name is Mike and I'm one of the trainers with Wagging Rights Dog Training.
When I was 4, we had a German Sheppard named Jack. While I don't remember living with him, I do remember very clearly the day my parents decided to put him down because he was chewing on the furniture. I remember thinking "why does he have to leave our family" and so began my love for helping animals.
At age 7, while walking to school, there was a Doberman behind a fence that always barked at all the kids and I wanted to make him like me. I used to stand there staring at him while saying "I want to be friends, don't bark" in my head. This never worked as I was challenging him as far as he was concerned. After a week of trying this I decided one day to sit with my back to the fence and wait quietly. After what seemed like forever, the dog stop barking and I started to hear sniffing behind me. I placed my hand to the fence without turning around and the dog sniffed and then licked me. After a few days of doing this, I was the kid the dog didn't bark at! I made him like me!
Mike's Service Areas
In my teens I regularly volunteered at local animal hospitals walking and playing with the dogs. While doing that, I met many wonderful trainers and rescue operators who gave me a deeper insight into dog training, animal behavior and how to connect with them.
After my wife and I got out dog and I began training her, many of my friends and people I met at different pet events and dog parks were amazed at how well my dog behaved. I was the guy keeping bully dogs at bay at the park and the one all my friends and family turned to for help with their dogs.
20 years later, while growing my own dog training business, I was contacted by a friend who was using Tim as a trainer and we connected right away. While walking around a forest preserve dog park with Tim, I helped a lady get over her fear that her dog was aggressive, by showing her he was just excited and needed more instruction from her as to how to behave when meeting strangers. Tim seemed impressed with my knowledge and how personable I was with a total stranger and it seemed to seal the deal for my working with him.
Over a year later and I have trained a hundred dogs with Wagging Rights, ranging from nervous Yorkies to aggressive Pits. Each with the same intention I had at 7 years old... help connect with their animal in a deeper way.
I have a mission that began the day my dad loaded Jack into the car decades ago... stop that moment from happening to anyone else.
I look forward working with you all and helping you develop the relationship you have always wanted with your furry buddies.
Mike A.
