We're about half way through the training sessions now, and I can already see the progress. If you're patient and committed to training with your dog you will see the results. You'll get plenty of support you need along the way as long as you'll ask for it. I text Michael, sometimes daily, all my questions and concerns regarding the training, and I've never been left without an answer! He'll also provide a ton of materials (videos, books, articles) you need to familiarize yourself with to set you up for success. Me and my dogs are working on solving the fence fighting issue, and so far one of them is actually responsive to my efforts. When I reached out to Michael I didn't think that much can be done, but now I see a light at the end of a very, very long tunnel :). All our sessions have been online so far, as few days before our first scheduled meeting the stay at home order was placed. Online conference worked just as well for us, and we didn't have to delay the training any longer. A recent addition- online "support group" where his customers can share ideas and chat is a great idea too! Overall, I couldn't be happier with the decision to work with Michael. read more

Houston Dog Behavior and Training - Pet Training Near Me

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We contacted Michael for help with our big golden retriever puppy. He was overexcited most of the time. Playtime was not fun for us because he would get too worked up and end up with what I called a "zoomy meltdown", which involved a lot of jumping and nipping. Michael taught us to recognize the signs before he got out of control and helped us to keep OUR stress level down and redirect his energy. Finn is much more relaxed now, around us and guests. Thanks to the training, we have an energetic sweet boy instead of a lot of stress and worry. read more

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Michael is great with dogs - as anyone would expect of a dog trainer - but even better is that he's great with pet owners! I joked that he was training me and my bf more than the dogs, but it was kind of true... We had a lot to learn about how to work with our foster dog and our dog, and some bad Cesar Milan ideas that needed changing. We made a lot of progress with our boys, and ended up keeping the foster! I wish we had had Michael around earlier to help train our first dog from the start. Our issues were minor, compared to most Michael deals with: Doc had some separation anxiety, confinement issues, light destructive behavior, lack of boundaries, no concept of how to be a pet ("what, we don't walk on the dining room table?!"), and was slow to housebreak. But Michael specializes in handling aggression, so you should especially contact him if you need help on that front. My boyfriend and I are better pet owners thanks to Michael. Even if you think you know what you're doing, I promise you'll benefit from a session (or four) with him. And as an added bonus, he is very accessible via text, email, and phone - so your random late night questions and frustrations are likely to get a quick response. An important note to close: unless you send your furbaby off to doggie boot camp, no trainer can work wonders without your help. Commit to doing the homework with your dog every day, and you will see significant progress. Good luck! read more

Houston Dog Behavior and Training - A well-trained dog is a happy dog... - Pet Training Near Me

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We contacted Michael 6 months ago to help with training our 5 year old lab. Our lab had started to become extremely anxious and hyper the moment we stepped in the door or we had guests over. We also had a 1.5 year old daughter now, and it was making it very difficult for us to manage dog & toddler. I have never seen training like Michael's. He actually educates you on how your dog is feeling and what they are going through. It was immensely helpful to us in understanding the underlying causes of the anxiety. We have to work with our dog quite a bit but we know now the techniques to get him in a more relaxed state, which makes for a happier home. I highly recommend Michael to anyone looking for a quality dog trainer. read more

Michael saved us a dog! We had a rescue from the SPCA that had come from abuse and we were in over our heads. The dog was growling at our child and we couldn't even walk him because he was terrified of every moving thing. We consulted with a few other trainers before finding Michael and they all advised us to give up the dog. We ended up finding Michael through a vet recommendation of another dog trainer who then referred us to Michael. Even with virtual training, Michael helped us form a great bond with our dog. Our dog is now a happy, go-lucky dog who loves walks, loves the dog park, and is so, so sweet with the neighborhood kids! We are so grateful to Michael for the help that he gave us. read more

Micheal literally saved my dogs life. I was at my wits end of what to do with her. I decided to try one more training before putting her down because of her aggression, ( shes been kicked out of 2 ) I called Micheal and can not say enough good things. Within the first 3 sessions I can truly see a more relaxed and calm dog. I have learned things about dogs that I never knew. He has taught me why my dog acts like she does and how to control her and get her to relax. He is always accessible when I have questions and even encourages me to call more often. I no longer dread having people come over because my dog is so much more relaxed and does not want to eat them anymore. Thank you Micheal!! He truly is a " dog whisperer" read more

Houston Dog Behavior and Training - Micheal has literally saved my dogs life. His exercises have proven effective and the difference after 3 sessions is amazing! - Pet Training Near Me

Michael is fantastic! He was the first person that offered me a bit of hope with my rescued lab mix (Marvin). Marvin was an escape artist, small dog aggressive, no manners or boundaries, and a resource guarder. The experience I had with Michael as our trainer changed my view on dog training. He gave Marvin and I a set of tools that were easy to implement. Marvin now sits and waits at doorways (including the kitchen) and plays nice with my other dogs while using toys! He is also a much more mellow dog that no longer pants from constant stress and anxiety. If you are even thinking of using a trainer then make sure to give Michael a call! You will see results! read more

Houston Dog Behavior and Training - Pet Training Near Me

Great company!!! I spoke with Michael Curran, a man of great integrity. After listening to my concerns with our mini poodle--potty training & some crate training issues, Mr. Curran provided me with: several helpful resources, provided me with his own proven tips that should also help...all while refusing to charge me for his time/service. Wow! I was truly blessed by this level of service & grateful. I'd recommend this company 100%, based on Mr. Curran's apparent high level of integrity, compassion & care! -Kiya B. read more

Michael exceeded my expectations with dog training! Our 7 year old rescue was obviously older and I really didn't think it was possible to fix her leash reactivity. Michael's methods are not only teaching the dog, but more so teaching me to teach her. I believe that this method works incredibly well because after our time with him was over, I feel as though I know what to do in many situations now so much more than I did before. My dog, Lyla, used to see a dog and immediately bark aggressively and lunge at them on a walk and I was so certain she was going to be this way for the rest of her life. Fast forward to our last session at the dog park and she literally did not bark once. My husband and I (and even Michael) were so shocked & impressive & proud of the way she improved so much! Lyla is so much calmer and I really think she trusts me and my husband more due to the tools Michael taught us. I would highly HIGHLY recommend him to anyone who is having issues with their pup. He genuinely listened to my concerns and never downplayed how I felt even though I know he deals with other dogs with much worse issues than leash reactivity. He gave my dog a better quality of life and I am so, so thankful. read more

I won't comment on Michael Curran's training methods as I didn't work with him long enough to see any benefit. What I can comment on is that he promised to refund part of the large fee I had paid him, since his training methods were not helpful to me. He never refunded the money that he agreed to refund, and would not return calls. If you want to work with someone who does not keep his word, is evasive and unprofessional, this is your trainer. read more

Michael is an excellent trainer to work with. He has been invaluable in helping us with our Siberian Husky puppy who is very timid and a resource guarder with a strong prey drive. In some ways, we've needed more training than the dog. Michael was able to explain our dog's behavior to us and help us understand her and her communication. His techniques have enabled us to build a relationship of trust with her and avoid dangerous circumstances. Michael teaches you how to train and work with your dog, and he's always available to guide you through challenges in between sessions. read more

Michael was a pleasure to work with. I contacted him about a VERY high-energy 5 month old puppy (viszla) to help us give her a good foundation for obedience, but in a positive way. He spent many hours with us teaching our puppy the "basics" like patience and focus through positive reinforcement. He clearly loves dogs, especially puppies, and it was great to work within someone who cares about our puppy as much as we do. He never rushed us, and offered endless resources. I enjoyed hearing his perspective on the psychology of dogs, such as reading their signs, and this helped us understand our dog better. Finally, I was pregnant, and his tips/resources for planning for dog/baby were also much appreciated. read more

We contacted Michael for help with our 2 year old rescue dog. She was having a lot of issues, mostly with leash reactivity and fear aggression. He provided many resources/exercises and was helpful throughout the process. He taught us how to change our behavior so we could best help our dogs. For our fourth session, we were able to walk Teddy in public. She is not perfect, but we can truly see a more relaxed, calm dog. Everything Michael taught us was applicable to our 6 year old dachshund as well. We are learning how to properly set boundaries. Overall, we are very pleased with the progress our dogs have made and will continue to build on what we have learned from Michael. read more

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We are so glad my wife found Michael Curran to get us acquainted with Bruce, our rescue Golden Retriever. My wife had never had dogs before and developed a phobia towards Bruce after a couple months of having him. His zoomies along with him jumping on the bed and occasionally on her had her flustered. We were in a bad place which gave rise to thoughts of rehoming Bruce. Michael came in with a plan and allowed us to understand Bruce and calm him down with exercises which we performed diligently. He said it from the get go that the training was more for my wife and how she could understand Bruce better. After just a couple sessions, she was able to overcome all her fears and regain her trust in Bruce. Michael was always available via text and calls and his advice came in handy on some particularly tough days and nights. His constant encouragement was much appreciated and we really are glad we found Michael. I highly recommend Michael to anyone who is thinking of getting a dog or owns a dog because after going through his sessions, you get closer to your dog and have a great long lasting relationship! read more

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My husband and I have a male pointer who is about three years old. We rescued him two years ago and since then have had issues with worsening anxiety, aggression with males, and reactivity. His reactivity and aggression got so severe that we were unable to attend vet appointments or have visitors to our home or even cut his nails. We have even unfortunately had issues with him biting my husband. After working with several trainers here in our hometown in Nebraska, we were advised to seek out Michael in Houston for help. We have since then had multiple sessions with Michael over the last four months via zoom in order to help. Since our very first session we could immediately tell that Michael has a different level of expertise that we had ever worked with. He gave us more information on the science behind dog aggression and what we were doing wrong as his owners that could be attributing to his issues. He is well informed, does his research, and really wants to get every detail of your dog and your own history. He gets to see us via zoom work with our dog in a stress free environment via zoom and it's helped us learn new skills so quickly. He has helped us set very realistic goals with working on our dog's behavior and we can honestly say we have noticed marked improvement in all of his issues since starting work with Mike. It was such a relief getting to know Mike and hearing from him that these issues such as aggression are manageable. He likes to use a collaborative multidisciplinary approach and even helped us find a vet behaviorist who is managing our dogs anxiety as well as include our own vet here in town. Thank you Michael for saving our pup and for helping us see the light at the end of the tunnel! read more

We were having several problems with our rescue puppy. She was fearful which led to aggressive behavior. With Michaels help she has become a loving family dog. His services were worth the time and money. read more

We started working with Michael about 6 months ago after our 2 male dogs "suddenly" got into a fight and couldn't be in the same room together any more. I say "suddenly" because after going thru the training, I realize the signs were there prior and the mistakes we made that made it worse. Unfortunately, even with Michael's help, we could not get the 2 dogs to reunite BUT the training helped immensely in finding a new home for 1 of them that he is thriving in. In addition, the training for both us and the 1 remaining dog has helped so much that we were able to recently foster a female puppy with no problems. This was unthinkable several months ago, as the remaining dog had become extremely fearful off any other dog. We just signed up for some additional time with Michael and would highly recommend him to anyone needing help with their dog/s. BTW - Michael spent probably an hour on the phone with me the first time we spoke, assessing our needs, listening to the history of the dogs, and making sure we were a good match. He was also very candid in letting me know that while he would do his best, it was ultimately up to the dogs if they would reconcile and he could not in good conscience make any guarantee or promises that they would. This was all before he took a single $ from me. read more

My husband and I contacted Michael for behavioral issues with our 3.5 yr old Shiba Inu, Archer. Archer recently started guarding food and toys at our friends house with their other dogs. He was also not behaving well on walks and barking at the front door. Michael taught us SO much about dog behavior and how to read dogs. He also gave us the tools to help Archer with his problems. Michael was very promt in answering emails or texts and always had a great attitude. The entire training package we got included Michael coming to our house as well as an online journal for us to write in that Michael would review and post suggestions. One thing I should make clear is that training your dog and dealing with behavioral issues is not a one time fix kinda thing. YOU as a dog owner have to put in the work with your dog. You cannot expect results if everytime the trainer leaves, you go back to your old ways. We saw awesome results with Archer and are still using Michaels training techniques because they work so well. I highly recommend Houston Dog Behavior training with Michael. read more

My miniature schnauzer, Teddy, has continued to develop aggression issues over time when people enter our home. He initially started with barking and charging unknown visitors to eventually biting someone who entered our home. It became apparent we had to employ a professional to help our dog and make him and us more comfortable. I interviewed two other well established training facilities and their techniques were aggressive and potential harmful to our dogs well being. Techniques i even considered because our dog's issues were becoming overwhelming and stressful. After three sessions and dedicating ourselves to using the techniques Michael has provided, teddy has made tremendous progress. Looking back i could not imagine having put a shock collar on an already fearful and stressed animal. Micheal is extremely knowledgeable in his field and his behaviorist technique has proven to be the only solution i would recommend to a dog owner. I Look forward to posting months from now on the continued progress Teddy has made. Thank you Micheal to your dedication in this field and improving the mental health of our beloved dog. read more

Michael is great! He understood when I explained that Ellie is a member of the family and her well-being is important. At approximately 2 years old, Ellie developed a severe resource guarding habit....and her resource was me. She tried to bite/attack anyone who got within 10 feet of me. Michael taught me what I was doing to create Ellie's anxiety and how to correct both my behavior and Ellie's behavior. With his assistance, Ellie is back to being a friendly, loving fur-child. read more

In May 2013, my husband and I adopted a 3-6 year old Blue Heeler/Border Collie rescue. Being somewhat misled about the dog's past, we quickly noticed that she was a resource guarding velcro dog with isolation/separation anxiety who exhibited bad manners, such as air-snapping and soft biting when urged to do something she didn't want to do. Just prior to finding Michael and his reward-based training techniques, we had a horrific experience with a highly-recommended and well-established boarding "dog school" trainer who, for a month without us realizing it, was using very severe discipline-based techniques that incorporated violent punishment and force, including suspending the dog in the air with a leash to restrict her air supply, muzzling and pinning down by the throat, and shrieking commands in a terrifying growling voice. "This is the kind of dominant aggressive dog that gets euthanized," was the trainer's conclusive words to us. To say the least, the experience left us all -- humans and dog alike -- feeling completely defeated and utterly traumatized. Not wanting to give up on our dog, feeling very responsible for what the trainer did to her, and wanting very much to correct what had gone so awfully wrong, I decided to contact Michael after searching for trainers in Houston who deal with aggressive dogs. Michael's first promise to us was that we would never again have to use violence or aggression toward our dog. Over the course of 4 home visits supplemented with a significant amount of reading, homework, exercises, and shared journaling, Michael has guided us on fresh path to success. Our dog has been very receptive to the curriculum and has made significant progress. She loves her doggie-human exercises! For the first time since knowing our dog, she now wags her tail and approaches us to demonstrate affection toward us. She is much happier, calmer, trusting and more obedient. Michael is an excellent instructor -- he is positive, patient, consistent, skilled, and knowledgable. We are so happy we found him and we highly recommend him to those seeking professional evaluation and everyday tools for creating and continuing a positive relationship with dogs that need special attention. Thank you, Michael, for setting us in the right direction. With your wonderful help, we are more educated and equipped to maintain a happy, healthy and positive relationship with our beautiful pooch who we love so much. Thank you for helping us help our dog! read more