Respect the Hooligans
Providing affordable dog training in the comfort of your home.
About your trainer
Hi! My name is Syd deVictoria-Michel and I am excited to get to know you and your pups. I’m queer. I’m non-binary. My wife and I have 4 dogs, a senior cat, and at least one rotating foster dog. I’m a Minneapolis native that took a 20- year side journey before coming back to my roots.
My journey to training started 11 years ago with a border collie/cattle dog puppy and a requirement to sign up for training before we could leave from the shelter. I was working as a school counselor but wanted to find a way to work with dogs. So, I took on a job at a dog bar and got a crash course in dog body language and play behavior. I learned to help customers decode their own dog’s play behavior and body language. I loved it.
In 2022, my wife and I moved to New Orleans, where we quickly became immersed in dog rescue and animal welfare. What started with a temporary foster dog soon cascaded into rescuing dogs from abandoned homes, managing a rescue facility, running behavior assessments for shelter dogs, and driving multi-state transports to get dogs to safety.
Our move back to Minnesota gave me the opportunity to pursue a path towards dog training. I took on a job at a facility that worked with the tough cases. Dogs that needed to live in muzzles for a few days while we gained their trust. Owners who felt that their only other option was euthanasia. And dogs that were not allowed at other boarding facilities because of their reactivity or aggressive behaviors. I wanted to learn how to move dogs through these challenges. And then, I wanted to break down the financial barrier for families that couldn’t foot the bill for bigger facilities.
I am constantly learning. From the dog in front of me, the people that love that dog, and each foster dog that comes through our door. I am usually signed up for at least one online course to further my knowledge base and broaden my skills. I will recommend my favorite books if you have the same drive to learn more about the dog in front of you.
I am ready to learn more about you and your pup and get you both on a journey to become Respectful Hooligans.
