In October of 2006, Hickory Springs Farm welcomed Mike Friend as our Certified Dog Trainer and Behaviorist. Mike brings a wealth of animal experience to the team and has trained over 150 dogs in the short time he has been here. It continues to be exciting to see the results of him working with our clients on a wide range of training services.

In 2003 Mike graduated from the School of Dog Grooming in Tampa, Florida as a fully certified groomer.  After learning the craft of all breed grooming, he expanded his education in the dog industry by becoming a dog trainer.  Mike attended Triple Crown Dog Academy in Hutto, Texas, known for it’s commitment to being the worlds leading educational center for professional dog trainers.  He successfully completed this competitive program in January of 2006, which earned him a certification as a Dog Trainer and Behaviorist. 

Obedience and behavior modification are the foundations of our training programs, but Mike has continued his education in order to be able to offer additional training opportunities, such as Protection, Agility and Search & Rescue/Tracking. Mike earned a certificate in Schutzhund Theory and Techniques in 2007 from Triple Crown Dog Academy and is also a Certified AKC "Canine Good Citizen" Evaluator. In his spare time Mike participates in the Fair Hill Schutzhund Club, in Fair Hill, MD with his German Shepherd Kilian.

Marissa started out at Hickory Springs as a kennel handler, spending free time assisting Mike with his training dogs. Over a period of a year she developed a real love for the art of dog training and decided to pursue her own career as a certified dog trainer.

In January of 2008, Marissa attended Tarheel Canine Training Academy where she earned a certification in Professional Obedience and Protection. Marissa is now an important member of the Hickory Springs Farm training staff.

Our Training Philosophy

Training dogs is based on the communication between each dog and their owner.  This is accomplished through lure and reward, bridging signals and utilizing canine communication techniques.  Opening up communication with your dog and letting them know when they are doing something right or wrong accelerates training with less stress while maintaining your dog’s motivation with positive results.

Our method of training is flexible, meaning that we create and tailor each training program so that it fits the best interest of you and your dog.  Mike uses all humane techniques utilizing all training collars such as head halti, gentle leader, harness, flat collars, slip leads, prong collars, etc.  He will work with you to determine which method would be most effective for your particular dog.

We also specialize in behavior modification training, particularly dogs with aggression.  A free evaluation of any dog is for available for clients considering training.  Evaluations can be scheduled Monday to Thursday from 9 to 3, Saturday and Sunday by appointment only.