Michelle Smith

Certified Professional Dog Trainer

If you have a puppy or a dog who feels a little unsure of the world, you’re in the right place!

Training your dog doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—it can become something you both genuinely enjoy. At Clicks Dog Training, I help puppies get off to a great start, gently build confidence in shy or fearful dogs, and support adult dogs at any stage of learning in making lasting behavior changes, using kind, science-based training that fits into everyday life.

My sessions are designed to feel supportive and encouraging—for both you and your dog—so you can enjoy the process while building real-life skills that last.

I’m Michelle Smith, a certified professional dog trainer with over 10 years of professional animal training experience. My approach is positive, reward-based, and rooted in clear communication and trust so your dog can learn without fear, and you can feel confident every step of the way.

About Me

Let's Train Your Dog

Professional Expert Guidance

I can support you and your dog with...

Specialties

Puppy Training

proactive training of good manners and fundamental behaviors
- look, touch, sit, down, wait, come, stay, place, leave/drop it, loose leash walking and others!
troubleshooting puppy specific behavior
- potty and crate training, biting, chewing, etc.
enrichment and management techniques to support puppy safety and development

Basic Manners

training and strengthening of fundamental behaviors
troubleshooting and resolving misbehaviors
- front door manners, coming when called, polite walking, settling on a mat, barking and being quiet on cue and others!
enrichment and management techniques to support safety and cognitive/physical well-being

Fearfulness

building confidence through a non-invasive, kind, strategic approach to FAS (fear, anxiety, stress)
- training targeting, middle, focus and others!
understanding the underlying FAS and applying behavior modification to help alleviate discomfort
enrichment and management techniques to support safety and aid in tackling fearfulness

At this time, I am not accepting cases involving separation anxiety or aggression

Training Rate

Initial Consultation & Training Sessions: $100/45 minutes

Learn More

My private training sessions are offered on a pay-as-you-go basis. You pay for each session at the end - no upfront packages or long-term commitments required.

Book An Appointment

Book your preferred time using my interactive scheduler. Please note that my service area is within 20 miles of Loveland, Ohio to ensure quality time for every client.

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Affiliations & Certifications

Certificate: 1217827

Certificate: 67625

Working with Michelle has been an immensely positive and empowering experience! Michelle went above and beyond to research my dog’s special needs and to tailor the perfect plan to meet her needs.

- Olivia Hamilton

With contagious enthusiasm and a certainty of a successful outcome, Michelle cheerfully coaches you to train your dog or puppy. After each session, Michelle leaves me feeling like I am one amazing dog trainer who is doing a wonderful job.

- Heather Smith

Michelle is an outstanding trainer. She quickly demonstrated how effective an exclusively positive reinforcement program is. She is creative in her training and adapts her training skills to the needs of the individual dog and handler.

- Pat Kuykendoll

Kind Words from My Pack

A pointer mix with BIG feelings 💛
I’ve always had a soft spot for GSPs after being a guardian to so many over the years and this handsome boy is no exception.

Right now, we’re working through those big, excited emotions that show up when he sees other dogs on leash. We’ve started building his Click to Calm foundation using “Fake Frankie” (my very convincing stuffed dachshund decoy), along with other skills that will support his reactivity journey.

He’s already making thoughtful choices, and I can’t wait to watch his confidence grow.

“Great training is simple behaviors done well.” — Bob Bailey

Today this sweet boy and his shy sister were the perfect reminder of that. We kept it simple and focused on building real fluency in “look/focus”… because honestly, it’s that valuable 🐾

The basics, done really well, are what change everything.

Some dogs bloom where they feel safest 🌿

This sweet girl finds bravery hard inside the house, especially around guests. But today, outside in the sunshine on a perfect 80° March day in Cincy, she showed me a different side - lighter, happier, just a little more confident 🐾

Progress looks different everywhere. Meet them where they feel good and build from there 💛

So proud of you, brave girl.

Switched to freeze-dried salmon (and pumpkin) due to a special diet… and surprise…my fish-tossing skills are still on point 😂🐟
Loved seeing this guy light up over some high-value treats I tracked down just for him. Even better? Watching him and his human bond through the process.

Especially meaningful as we work on building confidence and gently navigating some resource guarding 💛

Some reunions just make your heart so happy. 💛

Reconnected with a former client I absolutely adore today and it felt like no time had passed. So good to spend time with this sweet boy again… and I get to see him again Tuesday. 🐾

She’s just too darn adorable not to make another appearance on my feed. 🐾 This beautiful dapple girlie crushed her training session yesterday! Her new little “speak” cue and sweet kisses were definitely the highlight. 💓

Interrupting my regularly scheduled dachshund clients to reintroduce this handsome guy! A couple times a year I get to spend time with him and his mom exploring creative enrichment ideas tailored just for him. They’re such special clients. Today’s win? Yogurt in a lick bowl slow feeder - big hit!

This wirehaired dachshund is such a joy to work with.
He’s social, food-motivated, and eager to engage and like all of us, there are skills that come easily and others that take more time.
Good training honors both.
Progress isn’t about perfection - it’s about support 🐾

Another day, another dachshund stealing my heart. 🌭💗
This guy has picked up his quiet cue and whistle recall like a pro and we’re adding even more helpful (and fun!) cues to make everyday life smoother in a house full of weenie dogs. Smart, eager, and such a joy to train. 💛

Just a very sweet dachshund…

…learning that visitors, touch, and resources can all feel safe and predictable 💕

Confidence, in the making 🐾

Training alongside kids who want to learn and really think things through is pure joy. It’s a bonus that this sweet girl is insanely lovable! 👧🏻👦🏼🧠🐾

Those ears are popping…and so are her puppy skills! This bold, silly girl has been busy learning all her puppy foundation skills and mastering the art of coexisting with kitties and her super patient dog sibling! Big ears. Big personality. Big future.

Bonjour, petit chiot! 🇫🇷🐾
Foundation behaviors? Oui! ✔️
Early desensitization + counterconditioning for those “hmm… not so sure” moments? Oui! ✔️
This little Frenchie and his guardian are an amazing team!! 🩵 Très bien!

Smart, motivated, and eager to learn — this girl checks every box. ✨
She’s moving through her training plan so smoothly that we’ve already begun layering in a few extra skills for enrichment. Credit to her guardian for such skillful use of the clicker and reinforcers — their teamwork truly shines. 🐾

Sometimes all a client needs is a little support getting their new pup settled in. With some clicker coaching and a few foundation skills, this sweet one picked things up quickly and the goals were met. 💛

The hard part? Falling in love with a dog and then having to say goodbye. If I’ve done my job well, they don’t need me anymore (though I secretly hope for a reason to reconnect 🐾). Maybe I should add a clause for quarterly pup updates… kidding, not kidding 😉

Sometimes when you adopt a dog, they’ve already rehearsed some habits you might not love—like jumping on guests or chasing the family cat. 🐾

I introduced his family to positive reinforcement and clicker training, and it has been great to see the progress towards change. They are seeing firsthand how motivated he becomes with each click and reward—and how this approach can reshape old habits, encourage polite responses, and even shift the emotions that drive certain behaviors.

Walk training in progress! We introduced foundational skills in December, and now we’re advancing those skills with new techniques to improve leash manners. The goal? Walks that are both enjoyable and enriching—without the constant pull to forge ahead

We’ve wrapped up all the core puppy fundamentals! 🐾 With continued practice — lots of healthy reps, ongoing shaping, and real-life applications — we’ll sprinkle in future sessions as needed to fine-tune, build on, and expand behaviors. This is exactly why I love offering à la carte sessions to my amazing clients!

This morning I reunited with this sweet, sensitive boy for another training session, and I’m so proud to see the progress he’s made since the winter.
One thing my clients really value is the flexibility to reach back out whenever they’re ready. I only offer a la carte services, so whether it’s been weeks or months, I’m always here to pick up where we left off. Progress isn’t always linear, but it’s always worth it! 🐾

We’re helping this pup keep his “cup” from overflowing when he gets too close to other dogs on walks.

I explained to his Guardian that his brain works like a cup—every exciting or scary thing adds a little more water. If too much pours in too fast, it overflows—and that’s when we see those big reactions she’s hoping to change.

We’re using psychology and the concept of a “threshold” to help him stay calm and learn in a manageable state. With consistent practice and patience, his cup will start to fill more slowly, and he’ll be able to handle being closer without spilling over.

So far, so good—for both ends of the leash!

Training this future therapy dog is a joy! Clicker training has helped us build on his strong foundation, add new skills, and have fun together. Yesterday we started proofing behaviors in dog-friendly stores—he’s nearly fluent and ready to be formally assessed.
The frisbee is his ‘station’—a new cue that allows him and his younger Lab sister to train together at their own spots.”

My regulars deserve the spotlight every now and then—especially this handsome guy I get to hang with every Thursday! Today we explored a new walking route and practiced his ‘wipe’ cue, where he adorably dabs his mouth on a towel after a drink. Hydration with manners!💦💧💦💧

Yesterday was our last session — or at least it was supposed to be! I showed up ready to teach the “middle” cue, and her dad was already using a hand target instead of a food lure. AMAZING! That’s a seriously impressive training move.

Her mom worked with her every single week, and this tiny genius flew past the basics and into advanced behaviors like it was nothing. She’s smart, sweet, and surrounded by an incredible family.

I’m hopeful we’ll work together again soon… because I’m definitely not ready to say goodbye just yet.

Go melt hearts, cause chaos (the good kind), and make someone ridiculously happy, you perfect little goofball.

She might be a late bloomer, but she’s blooming beautifully! 🌸 With private lessons and lots of love, she’s learning so much—polite leash walking is our top priority. Her favorite reward? A squeeze of something soft and tasty from her treat tube!

Meet my sweet client who has megaesophagus, a rare condition where dogs need to eat in an upright position to safely digest their food. Enter the Bailey Chair—an awesome invention that helps make that possible.

We took things slow and positive: first desensitizing her to the chair, then introducing targeting, paws up, leave it, and stationing near the chair. Using the shaping method (breaking a skill into small, rewarding steps), she learned to feel comfortable enough to eat her meals sitting up.

Her guardians have been AMAZING—so patient, loving, and skilled. Working with them has been a total joy, and the bond I’ve formed with this pup is something really special. I treasure the update texts they send me, and I can’t wait to go back and teach her even more.

This journey is still ongoing, but seeing her progress is such a beautiful reminder of how powerful positive training—and teamwork—can be.

Missing this little face since we’ve had to hit ‘paws’ on training for Spring break. He’s such an eager learner, and I’m excited to hear how his trained behaviors were ‘generalized’ (aka practiced in new environments) and how everyone’s experience went!”

Patience is key when it comes to training. Dogs need patience with their Guardians as they learn new techniques and skills. Likewise, Guardians must have patience with their pups, who may need a few extra moments to process a cue after it’s been given. It’s a partnership built on understanding and time. In today’s session, we saw this in action as this lovely girl and her sweet Guardian worked together so beautifully.

This little superstar is absolutely crushing it in training! Whether it’s nailing those touches (nose boops), rocking his recall, or just being the best pup to his Guardians and older fur-sister, he’s proving hard work (and lots of treats) pays off! Keep shining, little rescue pup! The sky’s the limit for you! ✨⭐️🌟🤩

Had a breakthrough in training today with my client while shaping the ‘down’ cue! We were expecting too much too soon, but once we celebrated the ‘almost down’ and reinforced that, things clicked. After a few more reps, we had a solid ‘down’! Remember accepting less can actually lead to more and quicker progress.

“It’s always so rewarding to see a dog instinctively default to a behavior we just introduced in their last session—proof that their Guardian has been putting in the work! And I have to admit, I may have given this guy excessive pets during our training session… he’s just so soft and sweet! ☺️🐾”

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@clicksdogtraining

Contact Me

Location & Service Area

Loveland, Ohio (suburb of Cincinnati)

Service Area: 20-mile radius from city center

Email: info@clicksdogtraining.com

Phone: 716-812-1269

Cincinnati, Ohio