About Honest To Dog

The premise

Honest To Dog builds its name into its method: the site says the practice is "honest to who dogs are, honest to what dogs need, and honest to how dogs communicate". The training is described as positive and fear-free, providing a foundation of care based on trust and cooperation using modern, science-backed practices.

Services

The services page lists puppy training split at five months of age, a basics program, a cooperative care program called Handle With Care – offered for dogs, cats, guinea pigs and more – and behavior modification for dogs of all ages with serious behavior issues. The opening questions are concrete: a puppy that jumps on guests, a cat that hisses and scratches at the vet, a dog that barks or lunges at other dogs or people.

How they start

Before training begins, the practice looks at the whole picture – the owner's schedule and lifestyle, which areas of the home are open to the pet, where it eats, sleeps and plays, and the owner's pastimes and how they would like the pet involved. A training plan is then designed around that.

Who trains

The owner and Director of Training is Michelle Mullins, who states she has trained animals professionally since 2001 and has spent over 15 years studying the science of animal learning. She is a video contributor to the Fear Free Animal Trainer Course and uses clicker and marker training methods.

Credentials

The site publishes an unusually full list: Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, CPDT-KSA, Fear Free Certified Professional Level 2, TagTeach Level One, supporting membership of the IAABC and professional membership of the APDT, along with coursework at Purdue, the University of Richmond, the University of Georgia and the Karen Pryor Academy.

Community

The trainer lists involvement with FETCH a Cure, VETFund and Richmond Animal League, and the practice offers to connect clients with other trusted local pet professionals.