Michael Hill Dog Training -

Parker Poliakoff

We are so happy with the training package that we purchased with Michael! Before adopting our rescue pup Walnut, we read a dog training book and thought we had everything under control. We were wrong!! Our puppy weighed only four pounds but would growl and bark at every other dog she saw. We didn’t think we would ever be able to socialize her. Michael explained that her aggression was coming from a place of fear and after two training sessions out and about in West Hollywood, she has never barked at another dog again.

After our first few sessions, Walnut was still having a hard time relaxing enough to be able to enjoy being around other animals. That all changed after we went out of town and boarded her with Michael and his dogs for four days! She returned from her stay at his house having learned boundaries around other dogs and finally had the confidence to really play and interact with them.

She is now nine months old, and we just took her on her first trip. She spent the weekend running around and wrestling with two giant golden retrievers. No barking, no growling, just bouncing around and having fun. I cannot recommend Michael and his approach highly enough. His focus beyond just the basics of sit and stay has made such a difference in our lives, and we are forever grateful for his time and expertise.

Jessica Tsai

We can’t recommend Michael enough! Our 4 year old Aussiedoodle had a traumatizing experience at a dog daycare, and was refusing to leave his crate when overnight with dogsitters. Needless to say, we were pretty anxious about leaving him with anyone. Michael worked with him for 7 days, and his calm, thoughtful approach was exactly what our pup needed.

Michael introduced us to a gentle leader and a training style that truly matched our dog’s personality and needs. It was such a relief to finally go on vacation knowing our dog was in excellent hands. Michael’s guidance not only helped our pup, but it also gave us peace of mind. His calm demeanor and thoughtful approach have made us feel so much more empowered. We have learned so much about our dog's behavior, including how to redirect and soothe some of his neurotic and anxious behaviors. While we were away, Michael sent incredibly detailed updates as well as photos and videos. We already notice so many positive changes in our dog's behavior and demeanor, and he even got introduced to a dog treadmill!

If you are looking for a highly empathetic trainer who truly understands and loves dogs (especially high energy dogs), Michael is the one to call! We are IMMENSELY grateful to Michael, and are so excited to continue working with him in the future.

Gaby Berger

Michael is truly a phenomenal dog trainer, and we can’t recommend him enough! Our dog, Cosmo, absolutely loves him. Michael has an incredible intuitive sense with dogs, and from the very beginning, he made our timid and scared puppy feel completely comfortable and calm. He not only trained Cosmo but also taught us, as owners, how to integrate Cosmo into our daily routine while honoring his unique needs.

Instead of trying to "train out" certain behaviors, Michael focused on redirecting Cosmo’s energy in ways that were helpful and productive in our home. Thanks to him, Cosmo was properly crate trained, and we now feel confident walking him with a leader—something we were struggling with before.

Perhaps the best testament to Michael’s expertise is that we’re already planning for Cosmo to stay with him when we travel to Japan. We’re incredibly confident and comfortable knowing Cosmo will be in his caring hands. Michael’s work has truly been life-changing for our family!

Elizabeth Mennonna

Michael changed everything
We used Michael as a dog trainer first for our 2 dogs we had had for many years. Guess what, you can teach an old dog new tricks. He helped our reactive dog to walk confidently on the leash. It turned walking her from a chore to actual fun! Sadly we lost one of our dogs after 17yrs. We turned to Michael for help. At this point he knew our family, how we lived, our activities & what we as dog owners needed. He helped us realize that just because a dog is cute doesn’t make it the right fit for us or the dog. Michael is so incredibly knowledgeable about dogs/breeds as well as human psychology, that he just knew the perfect match for us.
We didn’t want to take on a puppy so he connected us with a retired show dog that had all the life experience to be the easiest transition into our home.
We never even thought of a golden retriever, especially after having a chihuahua. He not only found the right breed, but the right dog for us. We are now all in golden lovers. As a matter of fact our pup’s middle name is Michael.

Raquel Fajardo

I’m not currently living in the Los Angeles area. So I ended up doing a group of virtual classes with Michael Hill from my home in Rosarito Mexico. It was such a wonderful experience and may I even say fun experience. The warmth and enthusiasm I felt from Michael was so inspiring. He went in depth to learn each of my dogs and any concerns my wife and I had for our girls. Asking the important questions and making the information shared very clear and concise.

No shock collars not serving out punishments made me fall for this style of training immediately. Instead-the use of calm and relaxed /specific body language with my dogs has changed the way we communicate. There were some small shifts made in our daily routines that have helped us navigate more effectively/safely. Using the gentle leaders the correct way and crates in the car have been game changers. We are still working on the grooming side like nails and teeth, but have a better idea of how to even approach those arduous tasks. We are(humans) always a work in progress.

Couldn’t recommend Michael Hill Dog Training enough. If you’re lucky enough to live close, I’m sure in person lessons are awesome. But don’t let distance keep you from learning more about you and your dog’s connection to one another.

So glad we finally did get the chance to have our girls meet Michael in person. It was love at first sight.

Jessica Nevins

I came to Michael a complete novice and a little bit of a hot mess - first dog (ever) and first puppy! My puppy, Pennie, was four months old at the time and I was losing my mind. I had no idea what to do—I was being driven to my breaking point. I was completely overwhelmed. Luckily, I found Michael and loved his vibe from the start. I signed up for the package (which I highly recommend) and we got to work. Fast forward to graduation day of training, Pennie has come so far. She is a well-behaved pup and such a joy to watch grow. Now that I have great tools from Michael, I feel more confident and that shows through in Pennie too. She absolutely loved her sessions and was so happy to see him too and that will make any pet parent happy :). I highly recommend Michael. I’m so grateful for the tools and the work he did with Pennie and me!

Adam Unger

We are so lucky to have found Michael! Our puppy, Lily, has benefited greatly from board and train and private sessions with Michael regularly. His matchmaking services are immensely valuable when searching for your next pup. Michael comes highly recommended by experts in the animal community including our local animal hospital which was very important to us. Michael is giving us the tools needed to live a happy dog-life. No challenge is too big for Michael and his confidence is exactly what we needed! Thank you for all you do, Michael!!

Remy Ungerer

Michael is truly one of a kind and took such great care of my 5 month old long hair dachshund, Theo. My puppy was particularly stubborn and in just one week made SO much progress. He was crate trained, potty trained and learned basic commands from Michael that have made my life so much easier! The difference was incredible when he came home. Michael is truly the best and all his reviews speak for themselves. He was also so great at sending me daily updates, photos and videos of my puppy's progress and I'm so thankful for all of his help. I had such separation anxiety and was so nervous to leave him with anyone but will never go to another trainer. Theo took to Michael right away and had the best time. Cannot say enough great things about him.