FormatTwo facilities + local parks (Columbia Station / North Royalton)
Training methodPositive reinforcement
Led byMichele Terlep
Photos
About Pawsitive Play Dog Training
Games-based, reward-driven training from a credentialed trainer
Pawsitive Play Dog Training is led by Michele Terlep, who lists a strong set of credentials: CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer), AKC Evaluator, and a Master of Education (MEd). The educator background shows in the philosophy – the approach is described as "positive, games-based dog training," built on the idea that "When training feels like play, dogs learn faster and remember better." Owners who want a clearly positive-reinforcement, play-driven method will find this a good match.
Locations and pricing
The site is refreshingly transparent on cost: single private lessons are $95, and a prepaid package of four lessons brings it to $90 each, alongside mini sessions and consultations. Training happens at two welcoming-sounding venues – the Beautiful Barn in Columbia Station and the Natural Pet Enrichment Center in North Royalton – with in-person classes and one-to-one training at both, plus mini sessions at local parks for real-world practice.
The site doesn't state how many years the business has operated, but the combination of a CPDT-KA credential, an education background, published pricing, and dedicated enrichment-center venues makes this a clear, well-defined option for owners seeking positive-reinforcement training in the Columbia Station and North Royalton area.
Early socialization, house-training and first manners for young dogs.
Certifications & verification
GetDogSchool checks each credential against the official public registry. We mark Certified only what we could independently confirm. How we verify →
CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CCPDT): the leading independent certification, 300+ logged hours plus a proctored exam. Confirmed in the CCPDT public registry.
A role recognized by the American Kennel Club. Listed by the trainer — not independently verified. check the registry ↗
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MEd
Listed by the trainer — not independently verified.
Reviews
★★★★★★★★★★5.033 reviews · Google
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Nicholas Sewell · 4 months ago
★★★★★
We can't say enough good things about Michele and the training she has provided for our dog, who is 1.5 years old.
We came to Michele with some specific issues we wanted to address, and she created a personalized training plan with clear instructions on how to work with our dog at home beyond our training sessions. Best of all – she makes it fun! Our dog has had a great time at each of his sessions, and we've seen steady improvement in his behavior.
We would highly recommend Michele if you're looking for private training for your pup that addresses the specific challenges you're experiencing. Thank you, Michele!
MM
Melanie Malone · 5 months ago
★★★★★
We couldn’t have been happier with the training our dog received from Michele. She truly understands dogs and knows how to communicate with dogs in a way that is compassionate, effective, and fun. Michele has a positive approach with clear guidance and encouragement. She took the time to get to know our dog, listened to our concerns, and gave us advice to use at home. We highly recommend Michele to anyone who is looking for a knowledgeable and caring dog trainer.
Melanie, Matt, and Reece
NJ
Nicole Juliano-Schmid · a month ago
★★★★★
Michele was incredibly helpful and fun to work with. We had tried a handful of other trainers and classes and not only were they not helpful, but it was always a stressful or frustrating experience. Working with Michele was the exact opposite. She listened to our concerns and developed a game plan, while explaining the “why” behind everything we were doing. We started with a chaotic nervous puppy and “finished” with a much more calm and confident dog. She was very insightful and helped us understand our dog and her behaviors and taught us how to correct or embrace them. I say “finished” because I don’t think we’re done yet, and we plan to continue to work with Michele for all of our training needs as they continue to arise.
TS
Timothy Simpson · a year ago
★★★★★
We are so happy and grateful for Michele at pawsitive play dog training. Our golden retriever Greta created an instant bond with Michele as we learned positive training techniques that were very effective from the first lesson. My wife and I enjoyed learning from Michele and continued our lessons every two weeks. Our Greta enjoyed the lessons and Michele. We will continue to consider Michele with all our training in the future as she truly puts her heart into all the time she spent with us. I highly recommend Michele. Thank you Michele
KS
Katelynn Schumitsh · 2 years ago
★★★★★
My husband and I highly recommend Pawsitive Play for any of your training needs! Michele is an excellent trainer and educator for both us and our puppy. We came here to get help with the traditional puppy behaviors and noticed a difference right away! Michele believes in training built on encouragement and positivity, we can’t thank her enough for the care and encouragement she shared for both us and our little guy. Thank you for everything!
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