About Windy Ridge Farm Dog Training

Who runs it

"Owned by Sandra Misaras, she has trained dogs for 35+ years, starting with her first puppy in 1976." She writes about growing up with dogs, and about the losses that shaped it: "I was raised with dogs, had dogs all over the neighborhood, and have a few bite marks to prove it! We had Dachshunds and German Shorthaired Pointers. Guess you could say I was raised in a kennel. They were a big part of our lives, but there were struggles too… a wandering Romeo, a dog that loved to run, and sadly, a death by car that didn't need to happen." She does not present herself as having always got it right: "As an adult, I had several dogs, and made my mistakes. Even after an obedience class or two. Pot roasts off the counter, a torn-up car seat, carpet, and housebreaking challenges. I learned a lot. But loved them all!"

The farm

"Windy Ridge Farm is situationed in beautiful Northern Michigan near Cadillac and about 45 minutes south of Traverse City Michigan. We are a smaller training facility where the focus is on daily attention and a lot of time working with the dog. We have 10 acres with a beginners bird field, woods and open play area. Across the road is access to 150+ acres of grass fields and a pond on private land for training, and that property is on the edge of the Manistee National Forest."

The one program

Everything runs through a single named system: "Our Amazing Dog in 60 Days or less program is our unique system – a dog training program that will, well, amaze you!" The site argues that a fixed process is the point: "there are a lot of good dog trainers out there. But having a process for training a dog is unheard of in our industry. What dog trainers do is constantly try to hyper-customize their training for each dog owner they have. What that means is that each dog owner gets a wildly different set of results from their dog training programs. Dog owners never know what to expect when hiring a dog training professional. We knew there had to be a better way."

The four goals it is built around

The program was reverse-engineered from what clients asked for: "They want great control of their dog on the leash. They want to visit pet stores, vet's offices, farmer's markets, and go on stress-free walks in the neighborhood." "They want control of their dog off leash. Hiking, camping, or just having their dog off leash…they want their dog to listen." "They want great manners…no jumping, barking, chewing, digging, house training accidents, etc." "They want to get rid of, or avoid, anxiety and aggression and fear-based problems." The site is equally direct about fit: "If that doesn't sound like you, we may not be the right dog training company for you."

Getting started

"Enter Your Info Below to to Schedule a Free Consultation or Temperament Test."

Other dog work on the farm

"While we do quite a bit of bird hunting with our dogs, we enjoy all aspects of dog sports, and love seeing the dogs strengths and abilities in whatever they are bred to do with their families."

Where it serves

The farm is in "Boon, MI," and the site states its reach as "Serving Northern Michigan Including Traverse City, Cadillac, Manistee," with the program page adding "dog training services in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana."

What to ask

For pricing, the site says "Contact us for pricing and information." Ask about certifications.