ABOUT US
Urban
Dawgs, LLC - Red Bank Dog Training is owned and operated by husband and wife team Vyolet
and Drayton Michaels. We are committed to providing the resources and support
necessary to build lifelong relationships between people and their
canine companions. Offering
a broad range of educational programs and services, our goal is
to help dog owners better understand how their dogs learn and communicate,
and how to effectively bridge that communication using proven positive
reinforcement training methods.
Vyolet Michaels, CTC, PDT, CPDT
 Born and raised in Monmouth County (NJ), Vyolet has worked with dogs professionally for over a decade. In May of 2003, she received her certification in dog training and behavior consulting after having graduated valedictorian with honors from the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, directed by renowned author and dog expert, Jean Donaldson (The Culture Clash and Dogs Are From Neptune). This intensive program, where a class of only ten students trains with the industry’s best dog trainers, has gained a reputation for being "the Harvard for dog trainers". Upon graduating from the Academy, Vyolet and her husband Drayton Michaels opened Urban Dawgs, LLC in Seattle and Vyolet was hired as a head dog trainer at the Humane Society for Seattle/King County.
In the Summer of 2004, Vyolet and Drayton opened Seattle's premier dog training center, where Vyolet taught group dog training classes and hosted a seminar for dog trainers by marine mammal trainer/dog expert, Kathy Sdao. In addition to giving feature presentations on Puppy Training and Clicker Training at the 2004 Seattle Pet Expo held at Seattle Center, Vyolet has also made TV appearances on NorthWest Cable News (NWCN) to discuss various dog training and behavior topics. In August 2005, Vyolet and Drayton Michaels returned to Monmouth County to open Urban Dawgs, LLC dba Red Bank Dog Training in central NJ. In March of 2006, Urban Dawgs was featured on the front page of the Asbury Park Press. Vyolet was also interviewed for inclusion in an article on Separation Anxiety in the AKC Gazette Magazine (in publication since 1889).
Vyolet is a twice certified dog trainer, by both the SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers (SFSPCA CTC) and the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (CPDT), and has the following professional memberships/affiliations:
- Professional Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT)
- Association of Animal Behavior Professionals (AABP) Endorsed Professional Dog Trainer (PDT)
- Associate Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
- Evaluator for the AKC Canine Good Citizen program (AKC CGC)
- Certified in Canine First Aid/CPR
Vyolet is committed to continuing education and is currently enrolled in the Companion Animal Sciences Institute (CASI) founded and directed by animal behavior expert, James O'Heare. She also continues to study dog training and behavior independently and attends continuing education seminars throughout the country to keep current with the latest dog training methods and techniques.
Vyolet lives in Red Bank, NJ with her husband and fellow dog trainer Drayton, their rescued 10-year old Lab/American Staffordshire Terrier Mix named Mojo and 7-year old American Pit Bull Terrier named Keyshia.
Drayton Michaels, CTC
  Drayton Michaels has been working with dogs professionally for over 8 years. He honed his dog training chops mentoring with world-renowned trainers and behavior specialists and while working as dog walker in both NYC and Seattle. In May of 2007, he received his certification in dog training and behavior consulting from the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, directed by award-winning author and dog expert, Jean Donaldson. In addition to his academic studies, Drayton has logged countless volunteer hours with numerous shelters and rescue organizations, helping to foster, rehabilitate and train pit bulls (his favorite breed of dog and perhaps the most misunderstood breed in the world today).
Upon graduating from the Academy, Drayton started a specialty subsidiary of Urban Dawgs called Pit Bull Guru to offer modern, reward-based training and behavior consulting for Pit Bulls and large breed dogs of all ages.
Drayton is currently working on a documentary film, titled, "Judging the Innocent", that sets out to debunk common myths about pit bulls and educate the public on basic care and training needs for pit bull type dogs. The film will feature the best and brightest of the professional dog world and includes interviews with Jean Donaldson, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Janis Bradley, Diane Jessup, Jane Berkey and Kate Fraser (Animal Farm Foundation), Karen Delise (author of The Pit Bull Placebo), Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Denise Herman, Marthina McClay of Our Pack; as well as interviews with people at the Vick sentencing. The documentary also features stories about some of the many wonderful Pit Bulls that have beat the odds to become ambassadors of the breed. Release date is set for fall of 2009.
In October of 2008 Drayton began the RRRUFF program with the Monmouth County SPCA in New Jersey. RRRUFF stands for Rescue Rehab Rehome Ultimate Friends Forever. Along with fellow dog trainer and SFSPCA Academy graduate Erica Young, Drayton works with Pit Bulls and Pit mixes from the MCSPCA three times a week at the Urban Dawgs training facility. These one-hour sessions range from basic obedience to behavior modification and socialization. All the dogs are given protocols and both staff and volunteers assigned to the dogs work with them throughout the week. So far the program has been a resounding success with the first half of the dogs adopted out in the first few months of the program!
With the opening of the Urban Dawgs training facility in 2008, Drayton teaches dog training and behavior seminars/workshops (including one on Pit Bull Awareness) for the general public as well as private seminars on training and behavior for the staff and volunteers of the MCSPCA. You can find the latest seminar announcements at our Events page.
Drayton continues to study dog training and behavior independently and is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). He is a correspondent blogger for Dog Star Daily and author of the blog, Trainer Tails.
When Drayton is not working with dogs, he can be found creating music (www.myspace.com/draytonmichaels and www.highalertstatus.com) or in the kitchen making food for humans and dogs alike. Drayton lives in Red Bank, NJ with his wife and fellow dog trainer Vyolet, their rescued 10-year old Lab/American Staffordshire Terrier Mix named Mojo and 7-year old American Pit Bull Terrier named Keyshia.
Erica Young, CTC
 Erica Young is an honors graduate of the SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, where she earned her certification in dog training and behavior consulting.
Since moving to Middletown in 2007, Erica has been working at the Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown, NJ as an Adoption Manager. Erica's role at the MCSPCA has given her the opportunity to train, rehabilitate and successfully place animals whose fear and mistrust of humans made them virtually un-adoptable. Erica works to counsel and support those looking to adopt so the right dogs are placed with the right people, every time. Keeping up with her education, Erica continues to attend seminars and workshops on dog behavior, shelter enrichment, and positive reinforcement training.
Erica has an affinity for herding dog breeds, having owned them since a child. She is very aware of their "high performance" needs and enjoys employing their drive to make them great companions!
Erica lives in Middletown with her husband, Chris, and their small family of animals: Jack, their 3 year old Australian Cattle dog; Yoda their 13 year old rescue; and their cats: Anthony, Opie, Floyd and MooCow.
Why Urban Dawgs?
Training dogs is not a second job or a hobby for us. It is our life and our love. More than 90% of our customers are referred to us by professionals in the pet care field or come to us by word-of-mouth referrals from other satisfied customers!
Our Methods
Urban Dawgs uses modern
training methods based on the scientific principles of animal learning
theory. Our highly effective techniques are 100%
dog-friendly and taught with an emphasis on trust and cooperation,
so you can truly be your dog's best friend!
 Positive reinforcement really works and you avoid the negative side
effects that can come with using corrections and other aversive
techniques. We use the presentation and removal of rewards as motivation
to get our dogs to work - just like employers use salary, benefits
and bonuses to motivate employees or as parents use privileges to
motivate their children. Rewards can be many things, depending on
the individual dog. The most obvious is food treats but there are
many more possibilities (access to play, walks, door opening services,
etc). Almost anything our dogs need and/or want on a daily basis
can be used as rewards. Training is incorporated into your everyday
life and is enjoyable on both ends of the leash!
Click HERE to read testimonials from colleagues and satisfied clients!
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