The Pet Agency — Dog Training in Carmichael, CA

The Pet Agency is a dog training business in Carmichael, California offering private lessons, in-home training, and virtual training, working by traveling to clients. They describe their approach as reward-based training, take aggression cases by assessment, and publish pricing from $40 per session to $180 per session.

Carmichael, CA • Mobile / travels to you • 5.0 ★ (11 Google reviews)

Verified listing

Last reviewed: Sep 5, 2026

Transparency Score

66 / 100

Moderately transparent

How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.

Price transparency: 44%
Method transparency: 100%
Program clarity: 66%

About The Pet Agency

Based on what the business publishes about itself

Michelle Dillon, who owns and operates The Pet Agency, holds a Master of Science in Canine Life Sciences from Bergin University alongside a psychology degree with a behavior modification focus from CSU Sacramento. According to her site, she has practiced reward-based training for over twenty years and holds Fear Free certification, a credential focused on reducing stress and anxiety in dogs during training and veterinary care.

Her approach, as she describes it, relies entirely on positive reinforcement, no choke chains, prong collars, or shock devices. For behavioral issues, she gathers detailed history and recommends ruling out medical causes before building an individualized plan.

The Carmichael-based business, operating since 2002, offers private lessons, in-home training, and virtual sessions. Services range from puppy socialization focused on the critical first sixteen weeks to scent work, agility, and service dog training. One offering she highlights is "walk and train", addressing leash problems like pulling during actual walks rather than in controlled settings. Her site notes availability for same-day and weekend appointments, including phone and video options throughout the week.

What dog training programs does The Pet Agency offer?

Private lessons, virtual training, and specialized programs like agility, scent work, and service dog preparation make up the offerings at The Pet Agency. In-person sessions run 30 minutes each, while virtual options come in 30- or 60-minute formats. Puppy training eligibility varies by breed size, with giant breeds accepted up to 24 months old.

In-Person Training (per session, after initial consult)

$60 per session

Ongoing one-on-one training sessions covering behavioral issues, general commands, leash work, agility, scent work, and puppy training, tailored to the dog's specific needs.

Trainer meets the owner and dog at home, a park, or another convenient location for hands-on coaching.

Best for: Dogs and owners who have completed the initial consult and need ongoing behavior or obedience work.

Requirements: Local training customers around Carmichael, CA area; mileage fee applies further out

Duration: 30 sessions

Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Aggression

Individual Puppy Training

Price not published.

Individualized puppy training and behavior consults aimed at socializing puppies and addressing early behaviors like biting during the critical first 16 weeks.

Trainer works one-on-one with owner and puppy to address emerging behavior issues and build desired behaviors.

Best for: Puppies, especially those in their first 16 weeks of life.

Requirements: For puppies; small breeds up to 8-10 months, medium breeds up to 12-15 months, giant breeds up to 15-24 months

Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience

Advanced Leash Training - Head Halter/Head Collar

Price not published.

A session teaching owners how to acclimate their dog to a head halter leash and use it for gentler directional control while walking.

Trainer demonstrates fitting the head halter and shows the owner how to use it while walking the dog.

Best for: Owners of big, strong dogs that pull on leash.

Focus: Leash training

Agility Training

Price not published.

Fun, reward-based sessions where dogs learn to navigate a course involving pylons and jumps, available year-round.

Appointments are set up roughly two weeks in advance at an agreed location.

Focus: Agility & dog sports

Scent Work Training

Price not published.

Mentally and physically stimulating sessions teaching dogs to find specific scents, available year-round.

Appointments are set up at least two weeks in advance at an agreed training environment.

Focus: Scent work

Service Dog/Therapy Dog Training

Price not published.

Comprehensive, customized service dog or therapy dog training scheduled around the client's availability.

Focus: Service dog training, Therapy dog training

Dog Walking Plus (Walk and Train)

$120–$180 per session

Combines a dog walk with training addressing leash pulling, lunging, barking, and positioning issues while walking from the client's home.

The trainer walks the dog from the client's home while coaching the owner on leash and walking behaviors.

Best for: Dogs with leash-walking issues such as pulling, lunging, or barking.

Duration: 1 session

Focus: Leash training, Leash reactivity

Phone/Video Training (30 to 60 sessions)

The Pet Agency publishes 2 versions of this program. The table shows how they differ; anything not listed here was not stated in their materials.

Virtual Training options at The Pet Agency
Option	Length	Price
Phone/Video Training - 30 Minutes	30 sessions	$40 per session
Phone/Video Training - 60 Minutes	60 sessions	$80 per session

Phone/Video Training - 30 Minutes

Ask whether Phone/Video Training - 30 Minutes is delivered online, in person, or both.

Owner and trainer connect remotely via phone or video for the training discussion.

Phone/Video Training - 60 Minutes

Owner and trainer connect remotely via phone or video for an extended session.

How much does The Pet Agency cost?

In-person sessions cost $60 after an initial consultation, with a mileage fee for locations farther from the Carmichael area. Virtual training runs $40 for 30 minutes or $80 for an hour. Walk-and-train sessions range from $120 to $180, though several specialty programs don't list prices online.

Private Lessons pricing

Private Lessons pricing at The Pet Agency in Carmichael, CA
Program	Price	Length
In-Person Training (per session, after initial consult)	$60 per session	30 sessions
Individual Puppy Training	Not published	Not stated
Advanced Leash Training - Head Halter/Head Collar	Not published	Not stated
Agility Training	Not published	Not stated
Scent Work Training	Not published	Not stated
Service Dog/Therapy Dog Training	Not published	Not stated

In-Home Training pricing

In-Home Training pricing at The Pet Agency in Carmichael, CA
Program	Price	Length
Dog Walking Plus (Walk and Train)	$120–$180 per session	1 session

Virtual Training pricing

Virtual Training pricing at The Pet Agency in Carmichael, CA
Program	Price	Length
Phone/Video Training - 30 Minutes	$40 per session	30 sessions
Phone/Video Training - 60 Minutes	$80 per session	60 sessions

Consultations and evaluations

Initial In-Person Consult: $180 per session

What training methods does The Pet Agency use?

The program explicitly describes itself as force-free. Aggression cases are evaluated individually rather than accepted or declined outright, so owners should discuss their dog's history during the initial consultation.

Their public materials mention head halters. Barklen has not verified how or when they are used, so ask the trainer directly. The same materials say they do not use e-collars and prong collars.

Who runs The Pet Agency?

As described in the business's own materials

Michelle Dillon, Owner/Trainer

According to their site, holds a Master of Science in Canine Life Sciences from Bergin University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis on behavior modification from CSU Sacramento. She states she has been practicing reward-based dog training and dog walking for over 20 years.

Credentials listed on their site: Fear-Free Certified Animal Trainer, Certified Puppy Start Right Preschool Instructor, American Red Cross pet first aid certified, M.S. in Human and Canine Life Sciences, Bergin College of Canine Studies, and B.A. in Psychology (behavior modification emphasis), CSU Sacramento. Barklen has not independently verified these.

Where does The Pet Agency offer dog training?

The Pet Agency is a mobile trainer based in Carmichael, CA, traveling to clients rather than hosting them, offering private lessons, in-home training at the client's home, and virtual sessions online.

Their site says they dog and puppy owners in Carmichael, Fair Oaks, and the surrounding Sacramento area (including East Sacramento, Midtown, Downtown, Roseville, Rocklin, and Folsom for an added travel fee), with training customized to each dog and owner's situation.

All training happens in-home or on location rather than at a facility. The service area centers on Kenneth Ave and extends outward, with mileage fees applying for more distant clients.

How does The Pet Agency compare with other Carmichael dog trainers?

Barklen analysis

Barklen analysis based on 3 published Carmichael listings (8 with published pricing). These comparisons are computed by Barklen, not claims made by The Pet Agency.

Price: too few Carmichael programs publish pricing in the same categories for a like-for-like comparison yet.

Reviews: 5.0★ from 11 Google reviews, among 3 published Carmichael programs.

Transparency: 66 out of 100 (moderately transparent), with 44% price transparency and 66% program clarity. 1 of 3 Carmichael listings show certifications; this business does not list any.

What should you ask The Pet Agency before booking?

Generated from what their public materials leave open

Ask whether Phone/Video Training - 30 Minutes is delivered online, in person, or both.
Ask for current pricing on Individual Puppy Training, Advanced Leash Training - Head Halter/Head Collar, and Agility Training, which are not published online.
Ask which certifications their trainers hold and who issued them.
Ask how many dogs each trainer handles at once.
Ask about current availability and whether there is a waitlist.

Location and hours

Kenneth Ave, Carmichael, CA

Monday – Friday: 5:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Saturday – Sunday: 5:30 AM – 10:00 AM

How Barklen reviewed this listing

Barklen reviewed The Pet Agency against the business's public materials and published this listing. That is not a check of licenses, insurance, or certifications. See our methodology for what a verified listing does and does not mean.

Details the public materials do not address (owner visits during programs, progress updates, overnight staffing, certifications, dogs per trainer, and waitlist) are turned into the questions above rather than filled in.

Last reviewed by Barklen: Sep 5, 2026

What Barklen could verify

Programs listed: 9 programs (private lessons, in-home training, virtual training)
Published pricing: Published for 4 of 9 programs
Training method: Reward-based
Aggression and reactivity cases: Aggression cases by assessment
Facility: Mobile / travels to you
Insurance: Mentioned on their website
Guarantee: No guarantee offered
Years in business: 23+ years
Booking: Phone only