Mireille studied to be a dog trainer when she lived in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was one of only a handful of dog trainers at that time using clickers and reward-based training.

Unlike many trainers who have switched from traditional to positive training, Mireille has been committed to using positive, dog-friendly training from the beginning.

 

When she and her husband obtained their first dog, Taeya, an extremely shy, fearful black-and-tan German shepherd puppy, they were totally unprepared for the change their lives would take. Their puppy was petrified of strangers and life in general, and Mireille was desperate for a way to help her dog overcome her fears.  A positive, clicker-training class was recommended to them, and Mireille’s foray into dog training began.  The beginning puppy class led to more classes and a lifetime of training to help Taeya overcome her fears.  In the long process of working with Taeya, Mireille developed a special interest in shy, fearful and aggressive dogs, and she firmly believes in the benefit of positive methods in helping these dogs overcome their behavioral issues.

Currently, Mireille has a bright, friendly white German Shepherd named Artoo (pictured, right), whose only fear is taking baths.

 

Mireille earned her bachelor’s of science degree in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California, San Diego.  She attained CPDT status in March, 2006, from the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers and is certified by the American Kennel Club as a Canine Good Citizen evaluator. Mireille is also a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), a group promoting positive training methods in dog training.