About Us

Hello! My name is Melody. I’m a dedicated community member, music teacher, dog walker extraordinaire, and, of course, a trainer. I have been proud to call the beautiful state of Oregon home for over 7 years. In my time here, I have spent all of it working with many different species in sanctuaries and in private homes, spanning disciplines such as training, cooperative care, and assisting in medical care. My love of my career as a teacher has naturally flowed into a love for teaching animals, meeting every individual (whether fur or no fur!) where they are with compassion and an endless toolkit of pedagogical approaches. My experience in education helped immensely when learning the principles of dog training, and likewise, I’ve applied a lot of the concepts I’ve learned in dog training to my teaching of humans.

Next to me is my wonderful pup, Bindi, who is the inspiration for the name “The Positive Pittie.” Bindi was rescued in the Houston, TX area after living on the streets. She was discovered to be heartworm positive and very pregnant when she was taken into the shelter. But thanks to the heroic efforts of Gulf Coast STARS Rescue, Bindi was brought into a foster home and safely delivered her babies just days later. After months of grueling but successful heartworm treatment, Bindi was ready to go to a forever home. I saw that face on the adoption website, and I knew she was the one. Bindi landed here in Oregon in December of 2018, and the rest is history. Little did I know how much she would go on to change so many people’s lives, including my own, with her joyful and naturally trusting nature. Through her, I have learned patience, to care less about what others think, to soak up the sun, to greet each new day with the attitude that it’s going to be the best one ever, and not least: I discovered my love for dog training.

Education:

  • All Big Canines Credentialing Mentorship (in progress, 20 CEUs)
  • PCT-A Certification (in progress)
  • PPG Canine Training Professional
  • Member of Force-Free Oregon
  • Aggression in Dogs Conference 2023 (19 CEUs)
  • Webinar: Force-Free Food Avoidance with Simone Mueller (1 CEU)
  • Webinar: Protocol for Relaxation with The Behavior Vets (1.5 CEUs)
  • Webinar: The Neuroscience of Communication with The Behavior Vets