Today, we’re chatting with Michael Chill, a highly respected dog trainer with nearly 50 years of experience in the Los Angeles area. He has built a strong reputation within the pet industry, working alongside veterinarians, groomers, and pet professionals. Michael’s expertise and thoughtful, tailored training methods are especially known for setting both dogs and humans up for long-term success. He’s also an established writer, contributing regularly to pet care publications.
Michael works with the Amanda Foundation weekly to help prepare our rescue dogs for adoption, and he also leads exceptional six-week training classes open to the public, right here at Amanda. His classes offer real tools, expert guidance, and a supportive environment to learn in.
1. How did you get started in dog training?
I trained our family dog as a child, then trained the dogs of neighbors and friends. When I was 15, I found out people actually made a living at it, so I quit school and started working with dogs professionally.
2. What are group classes with you like, and how should someone prepare for their first one? Can someone still join if their dog isn’t great around other dogs?
Group lessons are fun and low-cost, offering an ideal environment for basic training, as well as the opportunity for socializing. Making sure your dog can be on a leash – even if they pull like crazy – is the only preparation necessary. Depending on the size of the dog, the age, and the degree of reactivity, group classes can be the perfect environment to teach a dog to play well with others. However, if the dog is too over-stimulated or reactive, then a group class would not be the right fit.
3. What kinds of behavioral issues do you see most often, and are they always fixable with training?
Training problems can be addressed with training. Typical training problems are jumping, pulling on the leash, running out the front door – things like that – and yes, those issues are “fixable.” Other behavior and/or temperament issues like barking, biting, destructive behavior, and house-soiling, etc., can be addressed as well, but need more than just training.
4. You work weekly with our Amanda Foundation dogs to help prepare them for adoption. How do you approach building trust with dogs who’ve had a tough start?
Patience, patience, patience. Each dog has his own background; some come from abusive situations, others suffer from neglect. The one constant is that each came from homes where the people didn’t live up to their responsibilities, and the dogs are the ones who suffer.
5. What do you wish more dog owners understood about their role in the training process?
They HAVE TO BE INVOLVED! Ultimately, it is the owner who needs to develop an understanding of his or her own dog, and they must be actively involved in the training process. Dogs are not like cars you can send to the mechanic, get fixed, and then expect anyone to drive.
6. What advice do you give people who say their dog is “too stubborn” or “too far gone” to be trained?
No such thing. There are realities as far as breed characteristics are concerned, and some issues might always be there, but every dog can be worked with and improved. The example I use is that anyone at any age can learn a new language. It is more difficult the older you are, and you may always have an accent, but anyone can learn if they are dedicated enough.
7. What are some signs a dog is ready for adoption from a training and behavior standpoint?
The right person making the right commitment. Wherever the dog may be in his or her training, the right person coming along and falling in love is the only thing that’s needed. The rest can be handled.
8. How do you keep training fun for the dog and the person?
I think training is fun intrinsically. I don’t think anything has to be added – just show up!
9. Anything else you’d like people to know?
Just that almost every problem and issue can be managed, if not completely solved. If people would put more thought into getting a dog, and then search for help to deal with the issues that may come up, we wouldn’t have the heartbreaking issue of almost a million pets being euthanized each year.
We’re so lucky to have Michael Chill’s expert guidance helping prepare our Amanda dogs for adoption. His weekly work with our rescues, and the exceptional group training classes he offers, make a real difference for dogs and their people. To learn more about training options that might be right for you, including group classes, in-home lessons, and board training, call Michael at (310) 559-5900 or email dogtrainingclass@yahoo.com.
