Meet Your CCAS:
Michelle Shadwick, CCAS
(Certified Canine Athlete Specialist)
Glorified Pez dispenser, Chauffer, Ribbon Collector
BS RT(R), CCAS, AKC Fit Dog Instructor, CGC Evaluator
Helping You AND Your Dog Thrive
You love your dog. You want them to be happy, healthy, and full of energy. Maybe you have a sport dog who needs to stay in top shape, or maybe you just want your best friend to live a long, active life. No matter your goal, you know one thing for sure—your dog deserves to feel their best.
But where do you start? How do you build their strength, improve their movement, or keep them engaged without risking injury? That’s where Paragon Pups comes in.
With expert guidance, fun exercises, and a clear plan, you’ll learn how to support your dog’s fitness in a way that feels natural and rewarding. Imagine seeing them move with more confidence, gaining endurance, and even building a stronger bond with you through training.
Many dog owners have seen this transformation—including me. When I started fitness training with my own dog, Echo, it wasn’t just about exercise—it was about connection. The more we worked together, the more trust we built. Now, she seeks me out for affection and loves every moment we spend training.
That’s the power of fitness. It’s not just about getting stronger—it’s about working as a team.
Dagon showing a cookie stretch
Dagon sourcing a hide
Dagon's UKC Elite Nosework title
Certified Canine Athlete Specialists (CCAS)
Think of us as personal trainers - for your dog!!
CCAS's go through an online training program and we learn about:
Canine anatomy
Exercise physiology
How to evaluate a dog for correct posture and movement
Red flags to refer to a vet
Proper form for each exercise
How to design a balanced fitness program
How to train YOU - the human - to implement the program
And a lot more
Your dog is active—they love to run, jump and play. Whether they’re a sport dog or an energetic pet, their body works hard to keep up. But have you ever thought about how those movements affect their muscles and joints?
When your dog weaves through poles, jumps for a frisbee, or hits the flyball box, their body takes a lot of impact. Certain sports put stress on specific muscles and joints, which can lead to injuries. So how do you keep them safe while helping them perform their best?
That’s where I come in. I help you understand how your dog moves, what injuries they might be at risk for, and how we can build strength to prevent those injuries.
But it’s not just about your dog—it’s about you, too.
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What are your goals? Are you training for a big competition, or do you just want your dog to stay active and healthy?
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Do you have any physical limitations? If you have knee or back pain, I can adjust exercises so you don’t have to sit on the floor.
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How much time do you have? Whether you can train daily or just a few times a week, I’ll help you find a plan that works.
I take all of this into account when designing a program just for you and your dog.
Every program (except for the AKC Fit Dog classes) is built around the specific movements your dog does in their sport or daily life. The goal? To strengthen the right muscles, improve performance, and reduce the risk of injury—so your dog can keep doing what they love for years to come.
Manners & AKC CGC Training
Paragon Pups is also an AKC CGC and Fit Dog III approved instructor and evaluator.
There's more to dogs than fitness. We look at the dog as a whole.
Manners, leash walking, boundaries and calmness are important too.
We frequently hold STAR Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, trick dog training and evaluations. We want to thank Jane at Springfield Family Dog Training for collaborating with us and inviting us to use her space.
Why "Paragon Pups?"
According to the Oxford dictionary, a Paragon is
a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality
My goal is to help you transform your canine into a Paragon Agility Dog, or a
Paragon Conformation dog, or a Paragon (insert your sport here) dog,
but most importantly, a Paragon PET dog by adding sport specific or custom conditioning exercises to your pup's weekly skill training routines.
A football player doesn't just practice on the field, they have a dedicated team of coaches,
personal trainers and physicians to help them be their best.
Your dog deserves the same.
I collaborate with you and your dog (the athlete), your agility, scentwork, or other sport trainers (coaches), and your veterinarians (physicians) to help your dog
improve sport performance and reduce injuries.
We use positive reinforcement, clean training loops, shaping, luring and molding in all our training.
Mission • Vision • Values
Yes, I know. It's silly.
But it's important for you to know what our goals are at Paragon Pups and how we achieve them.
Mission: Provide specialized training programs that empower pet owners and sport dog handlers to foster healthy, well-behaved, and high-performing dogs.
The main benefits of canine fitness are to reduce the risk of injury and improve sport performance. As my scentwork dog's muzzle starts turning white, I'm seeing his quality and quantity of life improve because of his fitness program. You can read more about the Benefits of Canine Conditioning.
Vision: Become a collaborative leader in canine fitness and manners training, promoting strong dog-owner relationships and healthy lifestyles for dogs.
Values: I do a lot of shaping and luring. The dog learns where their paws are supposed to be, how to get into position, and what muscles to engage when we set up the environment so they can be successful.
I also value using the method that works best for you and your dog. There's usually more than one way to train behaviors.
I also value you as the handler. What are your goals as the human for your dog?
Do you have any physical or emotional limitations?
How can we work together to modify your exercises and training schedules so you can meet your goals? These are all things I consider when designing a custom fitness plan.
*Conditioning is NOT a substitute for vet or rehab care. I know your border collie or Malinois thinks they can "walk it off". They can't.
*I can NOT diagnose or treat your pup for an injury, illness or chronic condition. I am not a vet.
*I cannot recommend supplements or medications. Please see your vet for these concerns.
Positive Reinforcement Training Methods
Shaping: This is the BEST way to train a dog.
We set up the environment so your dog chooses the behavior you want. You want them to put their paws on a platform, Shape it! You want a formal competition heel? Shape it! When our dogs decide to do something, then get rewarded for making good choices, they keep making good choices on their own!
Luring: We can't shape everything.
Your dog's body will follow their nose. We take a treat to the dog's nose and let them follow the treat. Their bodies move into position. We stretch our dogs with a lure. We lure sits, stands and downs.
Molding: What if you can't lure or shape a behavior?
Sometimes we need to pick up a paw and move the dog into position. We have to physically place the dog where we want them. If I'm using paw pods, I usually need to fine tune adjust their feet to the pod.
