The Pet Agency is a dog training business in Carmichael, California offering Private Lessons, Virtual Training, and In-Home Training, with published programs from $40.
Carmichael • CA • Mobile / travels to you • 5.0 ★ (11 Google reviews)
Last verified: Sep 5, 2026
66 / 100
Moderately transparent
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
What they say about themselves
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. When cases become too complex, she refers clients to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine's Behavioral Service, which suggests she recognizes the limits of what private training can address.
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.
Consultations and evaluations before you commit to a program.
This is the required first meeting where the trainer gathers background on the dog and family before customizing a training approach; it includes a preceding phone intake.
Best for: Any dog owner beginning in-person training with The Pet Agency.
Duration: 1.5 sessions
Focus: Basic obedience
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 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.
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.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Aggression
Duration: 30 sessions
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.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
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
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
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
Comprehensive, customized service dog or therapy dog training scheduled around the client's availability.
Focus: Service dog training, Therapy dog training
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| In-Person Training (per session, after initial consult) | $60 per session | 30 sessions |
| Individual Puppy Training | Not published | — |
| Advanced Leash Training - Head Halter/Head Collar | Not published | — |
| Agility Training | Not published | — |
| Scent Work Training | Not published | — |
| Service Dog/Therapy Dog Training | Not published | — |
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.
Focus: Leash training, Leash reactivity
Duration: 1 sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Walking Plus (Walk and Train) | $120–$180 per session | 1 sessions |
A remote session conducted by phone or video call to address training or behavior questions without an in-person visit.
Owner and trainer connect remotely via phone or video for the training discussion.
Focus: Basic obedience
Duration: 30 sessions
A longer remote session conducted by phone or video call for more in-depth training or behavior support.
Owner and trainer connect remotely via phone or video for an extended session.
Focus: Basic obedience
Duration: 60 sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phone/Video Training - 30 Minutes | $40 per session | 30 sessions |
| Phone/Video Training - 60 Minutes | $80 per session | 60 sessions |
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.
Method: Reward-based
Uses rewards and positive reinforcement only, without corrections or aversive tools.
Certifications: Not specified on their website
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
Insurance is mentioned on the site, and the business has been operating for 23 years. No certifications are listed, and guarantee terms don't appear anywhere in the published materials.
Facility: Mobile / travels to you
Owner visits: not specified on their website.
Video updates: not specified on their website.
Overnight staffing: not specified on their website.
Insurance: Yes
Guarantee: No guarantee offered
Waitlist: not specified on their website.
Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.
Booking: Phone only
Price: The Pet Agency does not publish board & train pricing. Across Carmichael, 8 programs publish prices from about $54 to $113.
Reviews: The Pet Agency shows 5.0★ from 11 Google reviews among 3 published Carmichael programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 66 out of 100 (price 44%, program clarity 66%). 1 of 3 Carmichael listings show certifications; this business does not list certifications.
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.
Kenneth Ave, Carmichael, CA
Friday: 5:30-9:30AM
Monday: 5:30-9:30AM
Sunday: 5:30-10AM
Tuesday: 5:30-9:30AM
Saturday: 5:30-10AM
Thursday: 5:30-9:30AM
Wednesday: 5:30-9:30AM
Reach out directly or send a quote request through The Pet Agency.
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