Michael Ellis School For Dog Trainers

Programs include in-person intensive workshops, live webinars, recorded classes, and a monthly membership offering ongoing access to video content, lectures, and training resources. Programs are structured around core training principles including operant conditioning, marker-based communication, and balanced reinforcement systems. Topics span obedience, protection sports, dock diving, behavior modification, and training methodology for professionals and dedicated pet owners.

Pricing Summary

Pricing is not publicly listed for individual services. Membership access is available for ongoing learning, and in-person events and webinars require separate registration fees. Equipment and apparel can be purchased through the on-site school store.

Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers is an internationally recognized training facility founded by Michael Ellis, a dog trainer with over 40 years of experience in competitive dog sports, working dog training, and companion dog training. The school offers in-person events, recorded classes, live webinars, and a membership program designed to help dog owners and professional trainers improve their skills using balanced, science-based methods that integrate reward-based techniques with thoughtful corrections. Located on a 3-acre campus in Santa Rosa, California, the facility includes a 2500 sq ft training room, a regulation 48-foot dock diving pool, a school store with training equipment, a full kitchen, laundry, crate room, and student lounge. Michael’s teaching style is known for being clear, patient, and highly informative, making complex training concepts accessible to both novice and advanced handlers. The school has trained nearly 2000 dog trainers worldwide, many of whom have become leaders in their fields. While the primary focus is on training trainers, dog owners can access high-quality resources through memberships, recorded classes, and in-person workshops that directly benefit their own dogs.

The school specializes in obedience, agility, protection sports (IGP/Schutzhund, Mondioring), dock diving, and behavior development using a balanced approach that combines markers, rewards, and controlled corrections. Michael’s methods have influenced global training standards, particularly in integrating operant conditioning with traditional working dog techniques. The facility welcomes dogs of all breeds, sizes, and training levels, from puppies to seniors, and supports families, competitors, and working dog handlers alike.

Although the school does not offer direct private in-home training for the general public, dog owners can engage through group-based in-person events, online memberships, and recorded content designed to build foundational and advanced skills. The campus also serves as a hub for dog sports enthusiasts, offering dock diving pool rentals and a supportive community of trainers and handlers.

Accomplishments

Michael Ellis has over 40 years of experience in dog training, has taught over 300 seminars across six continents, coached national and international champions in IGP, Mondioring, and Dock Diving, bred over 30 years under Loups du Soleil kennel (one of North America’s top working Malinois breeders), was a past president of the American Working Malinois Association, and produced widely popular training videos for Leerburg Enterprises. He is recognized as a pioneer in integrating reward-based methods into protection sports.

How to Get Started!

Dog owners can begin by signing up for the newsletter to receive announcements about upcoming events, webinars, and membership access. They may also explore recorded classes or join the membership program to access training content immediately. In-person events require registration through the website.