UpSwing Canine Behavioral Services – Fetch & Fable
Service area: Serving Armstrong County, parts of Butler County, and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Fearfulness
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Separation Anxiety
- Resource Guarding
- Biting / Nipping
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- In-Home
- Private Facility
- Board and Train
- Day Training
- Video Calls
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
- Intensive Program
Types of Dogs
- Small
- Medium
- Large
- Giant
- Herding
- Sporting
- Working
- Hounds
- Terriers
- Doodles
- Brachycephalic
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
Equipment:
- ✓ Clickers
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ Harnesses
Programs begin with a behavior consultation to assess the dog’s needs and create a customized plan. Clients can choose from single sessions, multi-session packages, or intensive 2–4 week lodge-and-learn programs at Fetch & Fable. In-home and virtual sessions are available for ongoing coaching. Programs focus on behavior modification for fear, reactivity, and anxiety, with enrichment activities, emotional regulation techniques, and owner education. Drop-in manners classes and trail hikes offer supplemental learning opportunities.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Services range from $49 for a Trail Hike to $4,299 for a 4-week Lodge & Learn program. Behavior consultations cost $199 at Fetch & Fable or $269 in-home. Virtual consultations are $159. Session packages include 6-session ($559) and 8-session ($709) options at the facility, and in-home packages range from $549 (4 sessions) to $1,029 (8 sessions). A 10% discount is available until December 31 with coupon code “firstchapter”.
Policies
All visits to Fetch & Fable are by appointment only. Clients must sign a Services Agreement and submit vaccination and health records before beginning services. The website mentions a Privacy Policy but does not specify cancellation or rescheduling policies.
Testimonials
5/5 stars and more with Rachel! We had a very serious situation with our dogs and she swooped in to help us and save the day for our family. She’s understanding, non-judgmental and very experienced and great at giving the humans the tools necessary to help their pets. She has a knowledge of dogs that most likely 100% of the human race does not and she relates to dogs on an unparalleled level. We’d very highly recommend Rachel to anyone with a canine issue. She’s like the Superwoman of canines!!!
– Mike and Amanda Farina
Rachel has been an absolute godsend to our family, for our pups and for us. We’ve had our 2 year old rescue since she was a puppy, and she’s always struggled with over arousal and hyperactivity. Once she hit adolescence, it got worse because she started to redirect onto one of our other two pups and start altercations. We were really struggling, and from the very first session, Rachel has been amazing. She is supportive, beyond knowledgeable, and truly cares about our dogs and us, and helping all of us to succeed. So many places offer just “obedience” and use outdated methods and aversive techniques and tools that would only increase the issues we were dealing with. Rachel is a positive method behavioral trainer that helps our dogs learn to make the right decisions by their own choice, not because they are being forced to. Behavior modification is NOT easy, and there have been times where we have struggled and had setbacks, but overall, we’ve made SO MUCH PROGRESS and our pup has come so far in the 6 months we’ve been working with Rachel. She checks in with us in between sessions to see how things are, and encourages us to reach out if we have questions or if we need anything. She provides additional resources so that we understand the science behind what we are doing and gives us things to work on and incorporate into every day. She communicates with our vet to make sure everyone is on the same page, and I truly don’t know what we would do without her. You have to put in the work with your dogs, but Rachel is there every step of the way to guide and support and make adjustments as needed. We are really looking forward to continuing to work with Rachel and the new things she is planning at her property Fetch & Fable!
– Anonymous
Rachel is amazing! She helped me connect better with our deaf rescue dog and helped train our two pups to be much more pleasant to walk together! I no longer get tied in a knot or pulled in different directions when taking them out now! She had also been great with answering all of my crazy questions or concerns. I can’t recommend her enough!
– Anonymous
About the Trainer
UpSwing Canine Behavioral Services, founded by Rachel McMichael, CDBC, CBCC-KA, offers professional behavior support for dogs struggling with fear, anxiety, reactivity, and arousal regulation. Rachel uses a relationship-centered, enrichment-heavy, reward-based approach grounded in compassion and over 20 years of hands-on experience. Services include virtual and in-home consultations, one-on-one private sessions, and intensive lodge-and-learn programs at their dedicated facility, Fetch & Fable, located in Armstrong County. The business emphasizes understanding the emotional roots of behavior rather than enforcing obedience, helping families build trust and communication with their dogs. They also offer trail hikes, drop-in manners classes, and specialized programs for puppies and dogs with complex behavioral challenges. All methods are humane, science-based, and aligned with current canine behavior research.
Rachel holds dual certifications from IAABC and CCPDT and works closely with veterinarians to ensure holistic care. Her approach avoids aversive tools and focuses on empowering owners with the skills to teach their dogs effectively. Fetch & Fable is a 12-acre wooded property designed for dogs with big feelings to learn in a calm, natural environment. Additional services include pet etiquette education for children, shelter evaluations, and therapy dog visits.
All visits to Fetch & Fable are by appointment only, and services are tailored to each dog’s unique needs, with customized behavior plans and ongoing coaching to ensure lasting change.
Accomplishments
Rachel McMichael is a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through IAABC and a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA) through CCPDT, making her one of the rare professionals with dual certifications. She has 20 years of professional experience and is also certified as a Family Dog Mediator, CATCH Certified Dog Trainer, and Trick Dog Instructor. She maintains her credentials through continuing education and emphasizes science-based, humane methods.
How to Get Started!
Prospective clients must complete the New Client Form online to provide detailed information about their dog’s behavior, medical history, and goals. After submission, they will be contacted to schedule a behavior consultation, which can be conducted virtually, in-home, or at Fetch & Fable.

Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Hours
Monday: 9am-9pm
Tuesday: 9am-9pm
Wednesday: 9am-9pm
Thursday: 9am-9pm
Friday: 9am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-2pm
Sunday: Closed
Certifications
- CBCC-KA
- CDBC
Associations
- IAABC
- CCPDT
Languages
- English
Other Services Offered
- Pet boarding service
Location
233 Grantz Hollow Rd, Vandergrift, PA 15690Listing Tools for Trainers
For UpSwing Canine Behavioral Services – Fetch & Fable Only
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