Linda Michaels

Linda Michaels, M.A., Psychology, international speaker (US, UK) and renowned author of the trailblazing best-seller, "The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook—Featuring the Hierarchy of Dog Needs," is the founder of the “First, Do No Harm” approach in dog training. Linda is considered one of the modern-era dog psychology experts, influencers, and problem-solving writers in the field of canine behavior modification. The creation of the widely acclaimed “Hierarchy of Dog Needs—Standards of Care and Best Do No Harm Practices”, translated into 14 languages, catapulted Linda into a leadership role in understanding and treating dog behavior problems. Linda provides a clear, dog-centric code of ethics in training methods, guiding pet parents and trainers away from the use of aversive treatment and toward meeting our dog’s real needs as the optimal path to resolving behavior problems, endorsed by the greatest minds in science. With a master’s degree (Hons) in Experimental Psychology and laboratory research conducted in behavioral neurobiology, Linda’s unique combination of academic excellence and hands-on skill with dogs, wolfdogs, and the famed Belyaev foxes, creates a bridge between the worlds of research, dog trainers and pet parents. Focusing on the psychological aspects of dog behavior that often mirror human conditions, such as separation anxiety and aggression, Linda works without the use of dominance methods or devices, addressing the underlying causes of behavior. Linda’s many years of shelter/rescue experience working with the most difficult behavioral cases at the San Diego Humane Society changed her life and forms the foundation of the work she does today—speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves—the heartbeats at our feet. While there, Linda explored every aspect of dog care, adoption, and behavior and witnessed the suffering caused by abandonment, making the connection between human and dog attachment disorders, and learning to apply her graduate training to helping dogs. Living in the homes of more than 50 different dogs of various breeds, sizes, with clusters of various behavior problems as part of her early ‘pet sitting with training’ service, Linda honed her skills ensuring her methods are practical for the average pet parent, and both new and seasoned trainers. You will find Linda in international trade magazines, as a featured expert in Psychology Today online, Newsweek online, Huffington Post Live, Wolf Dog Radio, and named one of the top ten rated dog trainers in the United States by Top Ten Magazine. The Hierarchy of Dog Needs pyramid guide, used worldwide by everyone from veterinary behaviorists to the average pet parent, is now available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin), Danish, German, Estonian, Korean, Arabic, and Greek. Linda’s ground-breaking handbook includes a foreword written by Dr. Marc Bekoff, behavioral ecologist, and co-founder with Jane Goodall of the Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Linda Michaels founded the wildly popular “Do No Harm Dog Training” group, solving dog behavior problems for both pet parents and professionals seeking help. Linda is a certified dog behavior consultant and certified veterinary assistant.