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phone (04) 934-1560 michal@embarkers.co.nz 133D Park Road, Miramar 
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Meet the Owners:
Michal McCracken
As an Honors graduate of the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, and a professional dog walker, certified at dogTec's Dog Walking Institute (Richmond, California) I have worked with dogs with a wide range of behavioral issues and experiences.
In 2006 I returned to New Zealand to bring my knowledge and expertise home to aid local animals and their guardians and I'm so excited to now be offering dog daycare along with my dog walking, dog training and pet sitting services.
I have loved animals for as long as I can remember and naturally gravitate toward activities and choices that fill my life with animal companionship. I make it my lifelong goal to help and care for animals as much as possible, whether by rescuing, adopting, training, pet sitting, dog walking, or contributing to animal welfare organizations throughout the world.
My current live-in companions consist of Kolya (cat) - found wandering the streets of Los Angeles, Phineas McFEARsome (cat) - adopted from the San Francisco SPCA, Amelia (dog) adopted from the Wellington Pound, and Marla, a beautiful hand-me-down cat who is a real treasure.
Sonia Calvert
During my first 18 years, I was blessed with 16.5years of company from a Bedlington Terrier called Jasper. He was my best friend and it would be many years before I'd be blessed with canine company of my own again. When I finally felt ready and adopted from the SPCA in Wellington in 2002, it truly sent me on a roller coaster ride of canine behaviour education.
I read many books discovering the benefits of Positive Reward based training, have attended seminars by Nicole Wilde, Ian Dunbar and Susan Friedman, and journeyed as far as the USA to seek further knowledge.
I have educational certificates from Massey in Canine Behaviour, Canine Health and Husbandry and Wildlife health and Welfare.
I joined my local dog club, Central Allbreed Dog Training Club, for which I am now the President. I am also a member of DAWG (Dog Agility Wellington Group), NZARO (New Zealand Association of Rally Obedience), and most recently NZFDA (New Zealand Flygility Dog Association).
I participate in many dog sports including Rally Obedience, Agility and Flygility with my dog Sputnik.
I am a member of APDT (association of Pet Dog Trainers), Australia and NZ.
As well as actively running classes for these sports at our local dog club, I also take Domestic classes, where I often find the biggest rewards, helping people to get the most out of their Canine companion!
My home is currently brightened by Aimee, a 6yr old shepard/Ridgeback X, adopted from the SPCA and Sputnik (my little athlete), a 2.5yr old Welsh Springer/Huntaway Cross adopted from Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary in Auckland.
We also have 3 lovely Chicken ladies... Chicka and Feathers(ex battery hens) and Ezmay.