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My Approach to Training
Training goes beyond obedience. It shapes how your dog navigates their environment, what they find stressful or exciting, and how clearly the two of you communicate.
Behavior issues like reactivity, restlessness, difficulty settling, or pulling on leash usually come down to gaps in clarity or self-regulation. Dogs either don't yet understand what's expected, or don't have the skills to follow through. We work on both.
My approach is grounded in positive reinforcement, paired with clear structure and accountability so the picture makes sense to your dog. They learn through consistent, fair feedback about what works, without relying on fear or force, and I adjust based on what each dog responds best to.
Every plan is built around your dog's temperament and your day-to-day life. The goal is something that holds up outside of training sessions and a dog who can move through more of life with you.
If you're curious how I think about training in more detail, you can read more here.
Interested in working together?
Melissa
OWNER & TRAINER
My path into dog training started with foster work through local rescues, mostly dogs who needed behavioral support after shelter life. Working alongside experienced trainers and behaviorists taught me how to help dogs decompress and build new skills in real-world settings.
My background in behavioral neuroscience shapes how I think about learning and stress, and years in project management taught me to build plans that are structured, adaptable, and help people track progress. I love that I can now use both to provide science-backed, goal-oriented training.
When I'm not with clients, I'm on trails with Jameson, reading up on animal behavior research, or home making art and silly doodles for friends :-)
Jameson
ASSISTANT TRAINER & QUALITY CONTROL
Jameson came to me in 2021 as a reactive foster with strong opinions about other dogs. Through consistent work, he went from a dog who couldn't handle seeing another across the street to a reliable training partner calm enough to walk alongside client dogs and help with demonstrations. He's proof that reactive dogs have more capacity for change than people often expect.
On the clock, he assists with demos and provides calm exposure for dogs learning to be comfortable around others. He takes treat-testing seriously. Off duty, he's into scent work, barn hunt, and scouting Seattle's dog-friendly brewery scene.
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