About Golden Paws 

At Golden Paws Dog Training, we believe a well behaved and socialized dog leads to a happy home! However, we also know some dogs need more attention than others when it comes to behaving. There are many reasons a dog may act out including medical reasons, fear, lack of confidence, and lack of trust. We want to ensure the root of the problem is identified, not just the symptoms, and focus on that.

Michelle Turner
​CCTBS, CACTP, CAATP, CCSC

It was a long and winding road to get to where I am able to follow my passion. I spent over a decade in the U.S. Air Force traveling the world. Although it may not seem like this has anything to do with where I ended up, this experience allowed me to see the difference between the symptoms of a problem and the root cause of a problem. I realized this concept did not only apply to human problems and human processes, but also to dogs!

I have always loved dogs and since 2009 I have rescued four from different circumstances; each dog had their own personality and their own set of behaviors. Trying to identify what caused their different behaviors led me to receive my certification in canine training and behavior as well as my certification in advanced canine training. I learned many behaviors could be retrained and refocused by identifying and focusing on the root cause. But I also learned some behaviors might just have to be managed!

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Mandy German
​CCTBS, CACTP, CAMadvocate Level 1

Dogs have always been a big part of my life, especially rescue dogs. My husband and I have fostered 40+ dogs with local animal rescues and we currently have 3 rescue dogs of our own - Molly (hound mix), Jupiter (beagle), and Fozzie (foxhound). Working with so many different dogs of varying breeds, ages, health statuses, and temperaments through the foster program helped me realize my passion for dog training and behavior modification. My special interests include aggression, fear, reactivity, and chronic pain awareness. I take a holistic approach and create a plan specifically for the dog in front of me. There is no one size fits all!

I attended Animal Behavior Institute for certifications in Canine Training & Behavior as well as Advanced Canine Training. I share Michelle's philosophy of first identifying and treating the root cause and not just the symptoms. We don't believe in "quick fixes" and our positive, reward based methods create long lasting results. I am so excited to be working with Michelle and Golden Paws Dog Training!

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Rachel Smith
Certified Assistance Dog Trainer

​As far back as I can remember, dogs have been a huge part of my life. I was very fortunate to grow up with family dogs that ignited my passion and desire to have a career with animals. I have experience with dog behavior, training, and care from day care facilities, animal shelters, and my life changing experience with paws4people foundation. 

This experience allowed me to be responsible for the care of service dogs in training. Each of these dogs had different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses that I learned to embrace and manage. Two of the dogs that I worked with were trained to help military veterans with PTSD. After this training experience, I knew that this is where my heart lies and after moving from college I did my research and found this amazing organization - Golden Paws!

I currently have three pups. Reuben (German Shepherd/Great Pyrenees), Gypsy (Belgian Malinois/Australian Shepherd), and Winnie (German Shepherd mix). My goal is to help dog owners become more educated and find the best methods that work for you and your dog. I am very excited for this opportunity and look forward to helping you and your furry friend reach your true potential! 

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