About Off Leash K9 Training Rochester, NY
Meet The Off Leash K9 Team
Michelle Guarino - Owner
Michelle Guarino is the owner of Off Leash K9 Training Rochester, NY. She is originally from Vienna, Virginia and received her BS in Economics from Virginia Tech in 2006. From cats and dogs to ferrets and chinchillas, Michelle has kept various pets in her household since she was a young child. She had hoped animal care and training would be a path she could pursue as a career one day.
Michelle began formally working with animals 16 years ago, starting out as a veterinary technician in 2000. She has honed her skills in various sectors of animal care; from emergency response at a veterinary clinic to oncology at a specialty practice in Vienna, Virginia. In 2016 Michelle transitioned into the training sector and began working at the headquarters of Off Leash K9 Training. Since joining the OLK9 team, Michelle continues to receive positive feedback from her satisfied clients.
Justine - Trainer
As the head trainer, I have been with Off Leash since we first opened in Rochester in 2016. I feel an immense amount of pride for helping to grow our business into what it is today.
Prior to making the transition to the dog training world , I worked full time in the restaurant industry. While I enjoyed it, it was time to move on to something that I was passionate about and filled me with joy and excitement.
Having been training dogs for almost 10 years now, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else! I grew up with dogs and cats in the house; animals have always been a part of my life and taking care of them and working with them gives me such a great feeling of purpose.
I also take great pride and gratitude in helping clients create better relationships with their dogs and helping them realize the full potential of their dog. I believe how you live with your dog is very important and your relationship with your dog is everything, and I love helping my clients understand how to get the best out of them! To me, training is about mutual respect, love, and trust; this is something I emphatically teach my clients.
Dogs are the best and as my dad always said, “you
Should always have a dog in your life.”
Rebecca Rizzo - Trainer
Rebecca is a dedicated dog trainer who has been professionally training since 2022, driven by a deep passion for helping dogs and their owners build strong, lasting relationships. What began as a fun hobby (training her own off-leash personal pet) quickly grew into a fulfilling career rooted in trust, communication, and understanding.
An avid animal lover, Rebecca shares her life with her own dogs and horses, further strengthening her hands-on experience and connection to animals of all kinds. She believes that every dog is unique, with individual needs, personalities, and learning styles. Her training approach is centered on building a strong bond between dog and owner, creating clear communication and mutual respect. By tailoring her methods to each specific dog, she helps clients achieve real, lasting results while fostering a positive and rewarding experience for both ends of the leash.
Cassondra Travis - Trainer
Cassondra Travis has been a dedicated member of the Off Leash K9 Training team since 2018 and brings a lifelong passion for animals and training to every dog she works with. Her journey into animal training began with horses, where riding and hands-on work first sparked her interest in behavior and communication.
Her passion for dogs grew even further after getting her first purebred dog in 2014. Since then, she has actively participated in dog sports and conformation events, continually expanding her knowledge and experience through ongoing education and hands-on training with her own dogs. Cassondra is committed to constantly learning new techniques and approaches to better serve both dogs and their owners.
A chance encounter with another trainer introduced her to Off Leash K9 Training, where she quickly found her professional home. Cassondra’s dedication, experience, and enthusiasm for helping dogs and owners succeed continue to make her a valued part of the OLK9 family.
Alex - Trainer
I grew up on a farm in Ontario county. I’ve worked with, and loved interacting with, animals since I was a child. I worked on farms and in stables throughout my 20s. I love dogs and coaching them on how to be their best self. It’s very rewarding to see dogs and people live better lives with each other. I volunteer at the Ontario county humane society which gives me a chance to work with shelter dogs who need outlets and support.
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About Off Leash K9 Training
Dog Trainers that Are Recognized Around The World!
Photo: A&E
Nick White is the Owner and Founder of Off Leash K9 Training. Nick is a former US Marine and former US Secret Service. He currently has over 130+ dog training locations throughout the United States.
Nick is globally recognized as being one of the top dog trainers in the world. He has 2 official world records in off leash obedience, named on Wikipedia as one of the top 20 dog trainers in the world, recently named top 10 trainer in the world by bestdogtrainers.org, has been featured in many magazines and shows, and he is regularly requested by the top celebrities and athletes! He has been called upon by people such as actor Ryan Reynolds, WWE’s John Cena, MLB All Star Max Scherzer, UFC World Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, and many more!
You can visit our YouTube Channel and watch over 1500+ before/after videos of Nick and his team’s work! Off Leash K9 Training has more documented videos than any dog training business in the entire world!