We recently connected with Michele Girgenti and have shared our conversation below.

Michele, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

My very first dog walking client was a sweet boxer named Jessie, and she was the cutest little thing I’d ever seen. Her family found my profile on SitterCity.com, and that simple connection ended up shaping the path of my career. Jessie was full of energy and joy, but she had one big challenge, she pulled very hard on the leash out of sheer excitement. Working with her made me realize how much I wanted to help dogs and their owners build healthier, more balanced relationships and allow them to strengthen their bond and connection together. Jessie was the spark that led me to pursue dog training, and I’ll always be grateful she was the one to start it all!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Michele! I was born and raised in Connecticut and I’m the founder of Leader of the Pack Pet Service. Animals have always been my passion! I started out about 20 years ago just helping friends and family with pet sitting, and I loved every second of it.

In 2016, I met a dog named Jessie who really opened my eyes to animal psychology and behavior. That’s what inspired me to dive deeper into training and eventually turn this into the work I do today.

Now I offer dog walking, pet sitting, and private training sessions—both in person and virtual. My goal isn’t just to help train dogs, but also to coach owners so they feel more confident leading their dogs in everyday life.

What makes my approach different is that I focus on trust, empathy, and structure. I always meet animals where they’re at with patience and respect, but I also know that dogs need clear boundaries to truly thrive. Training isn’t all about obedience commands, it’s about helping owners building a better life with their pets.

Over the years, I’ve worked with all different kinds of animals including: puppies, senior dogs, cats, livestock, even amphibians! The thing I hear most from my clients is that I bring not only professionalism, but also heart, intuition, and peace of mind to their daily lives and that makes me so happy.

At the end of the day, Leader of the Pack Pet Service is more than just a business to me, it’s my heart and soul. No matter if I’m dog walking, training, or pet sitting, I treat every animal as if they were my own.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that a positive-only training approach was enough for dogs. When I first started out, I believed that rewarding good behavior and just ignoring everything else would solve most behavioral problems.

But as I gained more experience, I saw the limitations. Dogs who were anxious, reactive, or engaging in dangerous behaviors weren’t finding the clarity they needed. Simply piling on rewards didn’t help them feel more secure, it often made things worse and reinforced bad habits.

The turning point for me was realizing that true leadership involves both sides of the equation: rewarding the behaviors we want to encourage more, but also setting boundaries with dogs around what we don’t want.

Guidance doesn’t mean being harsh, it’s about giving a dog clear feedback, holding them accountable, and showing them the right path forward. Letting go of the ‘positive-only’ mindset allowed me to embrace a more balanced training approach, one that offers dogs both clarity and structure. That shift has been essential in creating real, lasting change for the dogs and owners I work with.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started sharing on social media, I didn’t have a plan. I was just posting little moments from my pet care visits and training sessions because I loved what I was doing and I wanted to help clients who were struggling with their dogs. What surprised me the most was how much people connected with those simple, real moments of watching dogs learn, grow, and gain confidence.
Over time, my audience grew because I showed what’s possible when you stick with training and give dogs clear guidance. Training isn’t about being perfect, it’s about small wins and helping dogs and their owners work together.
If you’re just starting out, my advice is just be yourself, share your work, and don’t worry about a perfect feed or perfect lighting. Social media is about connection and letting people see the real results of what you do.
At the heart of it, Leader of the Pack Pet Service is more than a business, it’s my therapy, it’s my purpose, and it’s what fuels me. Every walk, every training session, every pet care visit is a chance to make a real difference in their lives, to help them feel safe, happy, and loved, and that’s what inspires me to give my absolute best every single day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leaderofthepackpetservice.com/
• Instagram: @leaderofthepackpetservice
• Facebook: Leader of the Pack Pet Service
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@leaderofthepackpetservice?si=ddY-PVQ4fPozNLep
• Other: https://linktr.ee/leaderofthepackpetservice