Embracing Dogness,
Empowering Choice
Our Mission is to positively support the human-dog relationship by teaching dog parents how to speak canine thereby empowering them to get the best out of their best friend!
Our teaching style is safe, supportive, non-judgmental and non-forceful for all human and dog learners.
What You Get
What We Specialize In
• One-on-one coaching from a Certified Professional Dog Trainer
• Personalized, actionable behavior modification training plans
• Supplemental resources to support your education in various formats to suit your personal learning style.
• Ongoing support between sessions.
• A trainer who cares as much about you as they do your dog.
• Private coaching sessions held in our indoor training facility, ‘Studio Dog,’ plus field trips in and around Wailuku.
Also, offering virtual sessions. In-home sessions are available on a case-by-case basis.
Fearful & Reactive Behaviors
• Anxious around people, pets, or places
• Cowering
• Scared
• Skittish or flighty
• Barking at certain things (or everything)
• Growling
• Lunging
• Over-reactive (barking/lunging/trying to escape) behaviors on leash around people or animals
Nuisance Behaviors
• Not Listening
• Jumping on and or mouthing people
• Barking out the window or at the door
• Pulling on leash
• Chewing furniture
• Unable to settle- bouncing off the walls!
• Having accidents in the home
• Counter surfing
• Digging
Basic Initial Consultation Package
$200
*1 Session
Choose this package if you’re testing the waters and are unsure you're ready for the full training process.
*90-minute initial consultation
*Actionable, personalized training plan
*Additional resources
*Follow-ups available for purchase separately
Note: Most people need 3-6+ sessions to meet their goals.
Non-package sessions are $125 per hour.
Standard Initial Consultation Package
$500
*4 Sessions in 2 Months
Choose this package if your dog has 1 or 2 primary issues to work through.
*90-minute initial consultation
*Actionable, personalized training plans
*Additional resources
*3 follow-up sessions
*Supplemental check-in support via email, text, and zoom
Note: For best results aim to complete all sessions within 60 days of your initial consultation.
You may need additional sessions beyond your package.
$125/hour for follow-up sessions beyond your package
Advanced Initial Consultation Package
$750
*6 sessions in 3 months
Choose this package if your dog has multiple different behavior issues
*90-minute initial consultation
*Actionable, personalized training plans
*Additional resources
*5 follow-up sessions
*Supplemental check-in support via email, text, and zoom
Note: For best results aim to complete all sessions within 90 days of your initial consultation.
You may need additional sessions beyond your package
$125/hour for follow-up sessions beyond your package
Lahaina Behavior Support
$FREE
The largest disaster we have seen has devastated our Island and people, and the ongoing needs are still emerging.
To help, Dog's Choice is currently offering free Initial Virtual Consultations to Lahaina residents affected by the recent fires and who have dogs and kind-hearted community members who have taken in displaced dogs.
During this 45-minute Zoom consultation, I can assist you in resolving any issues your dog may be experiencing due to the fires.
Following the consultation, I will send you a recording of the session along with any relevant resources that can help you and your dog(s)
Give Your Pet A Voice
Choice Matters
Why is choice so important in our dogs’ lives?
Well, it’s fundamental in our human lives, and we don’t give it a second thought until it’s taken away from us, right?
Just think how many choices you make in a day…when to sleep, what to eat, what clothes to wear, where you’d like to work, who you want to socialize with and on and on… Many dogs live in a world where they don’t even have choices. And sadly, research demonstrates that a lack of choice leads to stress, anxiety, physical symptoms such as ulcers and high-blood pressure, and a condition called “learned helplessness” in which the animal essentially gives up and stops trying to express itself.
On the other hand, being given meaningful choice opportunities increases joy and reduces stress, even in potentially stressful situations. But don’t fret. Giving your dog choices isn’t as daunting as it sounds! My goal is to teach my clients how to create a choice-rich environment for their dogs with easy to implement steps that can be used at home, when training on walks or during playtime.
And when you give your dog more choice, his overall behavior will improve. That’s because most misbehavior is related to stress. When we increase choice, we decrease stress, and that leads to better behavior! Choice Matters.
My mission is to help you create an environment where your dog has many good options, and almost always makes the right choice!
Happier dogs make happier, less stressed pet parents, bringing joy and harmony to your home.
Positive Reinforcement
Dog’s Choice believes in the power of relationships that are based on trust and support. This belief applies to our dog-human and human-human relationships.
Positive Reinforcement – What is it and why does it matter?
Positive Reinforcement uses science-based, force-free techniques aimed at building trust and confidence with your dog. This empowers him or her to offer new behaviors and make better choices. Positive Reinforcement also takes into account the individual learner by developing their skills based on how they learn and what motivates them.
If you reward your dog with praise, play, food, toys, etc. when he responds to you or demonstrates a behavior you like, then that behavior will likely be repeated.
Positive Reinforcement rewards positive behavior that’s incompatible with negative behavior thereby lessening your dog’s frustration, anxiety and stress, while also enabling the dog to feel emotionally stable.
Emotionally stable dogs are less likely to display anxiety-based behaviors which are at the root of many common dog behavior issues.
Get to Know Us
Hi there! I’m Rachael, owner and trainer of Dog’s Choice and I’m so glad you’re here as it means you’re looking for a safe and supportive training experience for you and your dog!
You made the right choice! And I can’t wait to help you achieve your goals for your dog, while embracing their dogness!
Your dog is an individual, as are you, and we will treat you both with the utmost respect and compassion as we tailor your sessions to suit your needs.
Fun Tip!
Did you know many common behavior issues stem from a lack of enrichment, AKA doing doggy stuff that fulfills a specific need? This could be social interactions, sensory, physical, occupational, or nutritional enrichment.
A quick and easy way to add mental stimulation, build confidence, and fulfill our dog’s need to forage is by scatter feeding (see my Enrichment E-Book for more info). You can also offer foraging by feeding one or part of your dog's daily meals in a snuffle mat.
Tip for walks: If you walk your dog after they have engaged in some form of mental activity (training session, puzzle toys, hide n seek), they will be mentally fatigued and have less energy to put into pulling when on their walk.
For more info on me and my training methods and philosophy, check out my About Page.
By coming here, you have already made the choice to start working on a stronger relationship that fulfills your needs as well as meeting your dogs. Now let’s
get started!
Happy Friends
Our Gallery
What Our Customers Are Saying
Amazing Feedback
“The 1:1 training was completely customized to our specific needs. We were able to ask a ton of questions. She gave us homework every session and she followed up with us each time to review challenges and successes. Rachael is so caring and personable. Our pup loved her!"
- Keri M
Dog Guardian
Working with Rachael was very comfortable and her knowledge to let the dog have their own choice to their actions and choices was very nice to know and understand what can be done to let the dog make their choices. just in 4 lessons, I have seen a lot of changes with my dog. Thank you, Rachael.
- Bryce Fukuyama
Dog Guardian
“The one on one consultations and correspondence allowed me to talk openly about issues I was running into and finding solutions that work for me and my fur family. Rachael is professional and non judgemental and truly has my dog's best interest at heart.”"
- Lauren Whitley
Dog Guardian
Rachael has been instrumental in helping us understand how to work with a fearful, shy dog. We adopted a 17 month old mostly Border Collie/Kelpie mix that did not have a successful experience as a working ranch dog. Rachael brings many years of expertise in dealing with behavioral issues to training sessions and clearly she understands all things dog related. Wholeheartedly we recommend Dog's Choice!
- Terry Ann Heller
Dog Guardian
Rachael Magee is an amazing dog trainer! She trained my out-of-control puppy AND myself in no time at all. I am so grateful to her for helping me become a great dog mom and truly enjoying my four-legged best friend. Thank you, Rachael!
- Elizabeth S. Wood
Dog Guardian
"As a long time volunteer at Maui Humane Society I have had the pleasure and good fortune to work alongside Rachael many times. She has saved countless lives by working with dogs with behavior problems who would have been deemed unadoptable. She is educated, intuitive, gentle and kind. She makes training look effortless due to her natural ease with dogs. I have learned so much from her and I'm very grateful to have had that opportunity."
- Alice Bennett
Dog Guardian & Volunteer
Rachael is the best. She is professional, competent, and compassionate. Her experience and knowledge combine to make the best possible choices for helping a dog.
We adopted a high-strung, anxious dog, fearful from the Humane Society, and after almost a year of various trainers, we decided to find a certified trainer. Rachael was very highly recommended by our friend, so we went with her. She was patient and kind with not only the dog but also with us as she gently taught us how to help our dog. She always kept the dog's best interest in the forefront and taught us to always consider the dog's perspective.
Her online sessions were highly effective because she could observe the dog in an undisturbed setting. In-person was exceptional because we could immediately see how the best way to help this scared and anxious dog.
Rachael provided appropriate materials for us to use, including videos, handouts, and books. We also changed our perspective on using veterinarian-prescribed medications to help ease distress and anxiety for our dog.
Rachael's fees initially seemed high to us but after one session, we then felt that she wasn't charging enough! She was always willing to provide additional assistance and help our dog as well as us. We are forever grateful, and although our dog, Jill, is not the most social dog, she has moderated her behavior and her anxiety has greatly lessened—Mahalo to Rachael.
- Andrea Fleury
Dog Guardian
Rachael’s up-to-date knowledge of dog training and behavior is comprehensive. I always leave with a better connection and relationship with the dog I take in.
- Johanna Waters
Dog Guardian & Volunteer
