It’s Never Too Late: Long Island Dog Trainer Left Career In Real Estate To Follow His Passion

MINEOLA, N.Y. - Nov. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- MINEOLA, NY — For years, people told Michael Schaier that he had a way with dogs. Friends and family members noticed how he was able to calm and train their unruly pets fairly easily and were marveled by the results. While Mr. Schaier enjoyed dog training as a hobby, he never thought this late in life that he could forge a career out of his passion.

However, six years ago, that’s just what he did. A real estate professional for 26 years, he decided to follow his dream, sell his business, and focus on dog training full time. It was a risky move for someone at his age, but Mr. Schaier knew he had the experience and the drive to develop a career out of something he had considered only a hobby his entire life. That’s when he decided to obtain the necessary certifications and “Michael’s Pack (http://www.michaels-pack.com/)” was formed.

“I had trained and shown dogs my whole life and knew it was something I had a knack for,” says Mr. Schaier. “Friends had always asked me to train their dogs and would then refer me to friends of theirs. The business truly grew organically, by word of mouth.”

Based in Mineola, Michael’s Pack offers both group and private training sessions throughout the five boroughs, allowing clients and their pets to come to his state-of-the-art facility or going to their home to train their dogs in their natural environment. During the sessions, he provides helpful information on various topics such as nutrition, behavioral issues, and “dog thoughts.” Most importantly, all of Mr. Schaier’s training is based on positive reinforcement, coupled with a holistic method, making it as easy and rewarding as possible for dog owners to bond with their pets.

In 2011, he published Wag That Tail: A Trainer's Guide to a Happy Dog, based on some of the most common issues he encountered in his field. Such behaviors included nipping, biting, chewing on furniture, bolting (when dogs run out the front door), not coming on command (recall), leash pulling, lack of socialization, and almost anything and everything related to puppies.

“Following the holidays, we tend to get very busy,” says Mr. Schaier. “Many families receive a new puppy as a holiday gift and are overwhelmed when they realize how much time and training is involved. We really break down training techniques to make it as seamless as possible — for both the owners and their puppies.”

To that end, Mr. Schaier offers “Puppy Playtime” at his training facility every Sunday and Wednesday, in addition to private lessons and group classes. The cost for a five-week group program is $250 and the sessions are broken out by Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Of utmost importance for any dog owner is exercise, says Mr. Schaier. “Dog owners tend to overanalyze or misinterpret actions by their dogs. The majority of training issues can be resolved simply through adequate exercise, socialization, and communication with your pet. It’s our hope that we can help you better understand your dog and his or her needs by teaching you positive training techniques and proper pet communication.”

For more information, please call (516) DOG.PACK (364-7225) or visit www.michaels-pack.com.

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About Michael’s Pack

Michael’s Pack (http://www.michaels-pack.com/) provides private and group dog-training sessions that are based on positive reinforcement, coupled with holistic methods. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced sessions are offered, both at the Mineola training facility and in private residences. The author of Wag That Tail: A Trainer's Guide to a Happy Dog, Michael Schaier holds the following certifications: AKC-C.G.C: American Kennel Cub — Canine Good Companion Evaluator; ABC-D.T: Animal Behavior College Dog Trainer; and CPDT-K.A.: Certified Professional Dog Trainer — Knowledge Assessed. For more information, please call (516) 364-7225 or visit www.michaels-pack.com.