About Us: 

               Meagan Giarratano is an animal enthusiast with an extreme love for dogs of all sizes and breeds.  After graduating college, she started volunteering at a local animal shelter where she taught dogs their basic commands and how to walk on a leash and to make them more adoptable. The first dog she ever took out was a scrawny, bald, pit mix that licked the side of the kennel and shivered 24/7. His name was Chase.  Little did she know he would change her life and teach her more about dogs than she thought she would ever know. 

Chase came with a host of issues including; resource guarding, male dominant aggression, human aggression and was overly protective. He also bit someone within four months of adopting him. Being at a loss, she was recommended to Jen Towers of Lead the Pack Dog Training in New York and was taught more than she could ever have asked for. Meagan worked hard with Chase and Jen and she became increasingly passionate about dog behavior and training.  Meagan apprenticed under Jen Towers of Lead the Pack Dog Training for a year and has been taking on her own clients since 2014. 

Meagan has trained dozens of foster dogs and now peoples personal dogs and has set them up for success in their homes. Every challenging dog she has trained has taught her something valuable. Every dog is different and her methods tailor to what works for the dog. The goal at Au Pair for Paws is to educate  owners about why dogs do the things they do and increase the bond between the dog and their owners. 
Meagan has continued her education and completed Michael Ellis' Principles of Dog Training I and Principles of Dog Training II interactive courses. She plans on continuing her education to better serve her clients.

Check out our Reviews on the Thumbtack Link in the Home Section and on Facebook!
           
 The Crew:
Maverick and Chase are both rescues from bad areas on Long Island where Meagan trained and rehabilitated them to be the best dogs they can possibly be. They both stayed with her because they could not be adopted out to the public. They are her helper dogs in different ways.  And this business wouldn't be what it is without them. Not every dog is perfect, but there are dogs that are perfect for certain people. ​