Hey there, I’m so happy you’re here! Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I have a deep love and respect for all animals as well as immense gratitude to call the woods my workplace. I’m a dog mom to my fluffy 5 y/o son, Leo, and I know what it's like to seek positive and enriching opportunities for my fur baby while I’m busy during the day.
I have 3+ years of experience hiking dogs in the wild as I was a guide, co-owner and president at the locally renowned, somerville-based Adventure Pups Cooperative. I have worked with dogs of all breeds, behaviors and personalities and have a soft-spot for those pups who need extra care and attention due to fear, anxiety or reactivity. ​​My approach to working with all animals is to be patient, go at their pace, respect their boundaries and listen to what they’re trying to tell me - whether it be verbal or physical.
I’ve picked up loads of insightful tools after working with trainers and behaviorists, and I apply those
insights to nurture and support my canine pals. I exclusively use Positive Reinforcement (R+) and Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) techniques with all dogs in my care. R+ training strategies are used because they align with my brand of love and empathy, and because they are backed in science and positive long-term results. I always put the safety of my pups first and I am passionate about advocating for the needs of my dogs whenever necessary.
In my time as an Adventure Guide I have learned so much about dog handling and ways to keep both dogs and people safe while adventuring on shared trails. As a parent to a reactive dog I understand just how important it is to keep my dogs under control while we're hiking in the woods. I've observed other dog-hiking groups in the area bring huge groups (5 - 10+ dogs) at a time, letting them wander off leash and out-of-sight regardless of their inability to recall reliably. Sadly, I've found lost dogs from other hiking groups who took too many dogs and didn't notice that one (or three) went missing. I have also witnessed "friendly" off-leash dogs from other groups approach on-leash reactive dogs without their handler in sight, or without concern for leashing or recalling their dog to avoid injury. Many other groups don't seem to have a standard for safety so, when I opened Waggle Trails I made a commitment, to myself, to my clients, and to those on shared trails, to prioritize the safety of dogs and humans above all else. Before I became a doggy professional I was a licensed
STEM, science, ESL, and computer sci teacher for 10+ years. I worked with people of all ages in a variety of schools, settings and countries. I was happily surprised to learn how many of the skills I developed as a teacher were transferable to my work with dogs: communication with families, positive reinforcement, classroom management, leadership, organizational skills, problem solving, creative thinking and so much more!
I have a bachelor's degree in elementary education, with a specialization in art and science, and a masters degree in teaching science for middle school. I worked as a lifeguard and swim teacher for several years in Boston and Brookline, and I have saved pups from getting stuck in the water! I am currently in the process of getting certified in First Aid for dogs and cats which will be completed by the end of 2025.
Waggle Trails LLC services parts of Woburn, Winchester, Medford, Somerville, Arlington, and Lexington.
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Want to know more? I’d love to hear from you!
Testimonials
"Michelle is amazing! She is so kind, caring and patient - my two knuckleheads are a handful together and Michelle is incredible with them, they love going on adventures with her and I love that she cares for them so well!"
Mia & Murphy's mom